Suggestion Box

[Flamom]

I first found QVC when they did the 50 in 50 tour.  That's when Quaker Factory/Jeanne Bice  first appeared.  I loved seeing what artisans and creators were producing. I bought something from Quacker and still have it.

[TheMemphisVette]

i miss the rotary phone

but here we are

[We rescue cats]

The 50 in 50 shows were so awesome, I loved watching them and often 'taped' them! They were the Etsy of their time!

[Estellee]

One show I miss is Boyds Bears with Gary Lowenthal. He was a hoot!

[shoekitty]

I too like in the old days the mosh mash of merchandise.  In all fairness, everything was new then.  No internet, social media, etc to,complete with. In the early days most of the clothing was made in USA as well, simply because we hadn't gone global then.  That started in 2000. Some a little before. Many of the items QVC sold in the beginning came from sears, lol.  Like nesco, some appliances, amcor ionizer, that red light therapy for pain thing.  Then they started with celebrity merch like Rue McClanahan, Joan Collin's, Morgan Fairchild, Angie Dickinson, Linda Dani, Delta Burke..now she was very popular, gosh the list was long.  Then somewhere along the line, as costs rose and changes occurred,  QVC  seemed geared toward self merchandising or in collaboration with someone else.  Like a denim and Co, Susan Graver, Kim Gravel and many others I can't name due to not really watching in years.  The control and profit may be there. 

[shoekitty]

I wanted to add, because darn I am long winded...lol. Because of the way Q sells things, it is hard for smaller business, or many companies to keep up.   QVC works a few ways. They own things outright, or in partnership which they have more control over.   another  way is vendor. makes or provides item, then boxes it up ready to ship, delivers to warehouse, or they do forementioned, BUT they get order from QVC AND SHIP PRODUCT OUT THEMSELVES.  Return products can eat into vendors pocket to much, and perhaps many bow out.  Then There are a couple other ways they work as well. I know a few plans I mentioned as I applied for the first 50/50 show, and received guidelines.  I went to meeting with them anyway, knowing I didn't think I could produce the items , handmade in quantities they wanted.  And boy was I right, quantity was way more than I dreamed of.  But they were nice to work with and had a super team. Kind

[CalminHeart]

Welcome to the forums!

I agree, Q is not what it used to be and I don't think it'll ever be as great as in the past. 

Watching Q is like watching the movie, Groundhog Day. It's the same thing day after day, month after month. 

Their finances are in the toilet. Until they actually enter the 2020s and the future, update their product lines, are price competitive, and are service (shipping, returns, etc) competitive, nothng will change.

Going to X might draw in some people. Not me. Not anyone I know. 

Q announced plans to merge stock shares so the price per share goes up. While not illegal, it's just a way to fool people into thinking stock is worth more than it really is. 

[OutOfTheBlue]

All of you reminded me of the old Q days and I had to smile.

YES!   Remember:

-Bob Mackie and his wonderful designs

-Bruce Makowsky handbags shown what seemed like every day

- KOOS and his krazy designs (he was interesting)

- The Company that sold those stuffed bears

- Judith Ripka Jewelry shows ad nauseum

- Susan Graver, the star of Q with shows on what seemed like almost every day.

- The 50 in 50 state to state shows were fun

- Jean Bice of Quacker who was UNfiltered ! Ha!

- Bob Bowersox withh his laid back demeanor selling just about everything

I could go on and on.

In those first days of Q, If I didn't run to the phone fast enough, and often times I didn't - I would miss out on an item.

Times are VERY different now.

Lots of online shopping has opened up a whole new way of buying - and Q I think is trying to stay relevant.

A set of "touch" to turn on bedside lamps have lasted me over 30 years now - I just recently donated them, But they were made well (solid brass) and were a deal when I bought them.

I have MANY fond memories of the early Q days, as well as how young I was ! 

I bought a lot of items over the years; some OK...some really great.

I will always shop the Q for as long as they are around.

I can still find things here that I can not find anywhere else.

[shoekitty]

@OutOfTheBlue  I do remember those vendors. The company that sold those cute little bears was Boyd's Bears. Had that crazy fun vendor.  Gary.?    Also, remember all the Capademonte porcelain?   Annette Funicello bears...I still have Bobby and Annette!  The nesco shows with Virginia Olsen, those were my favorites.  The food, the fun...real fun with Steve Bryant, I loved him with Virginia!   And let's not forget TFal.  There cannot be one person who ever shopped on QVCthat didn't wind up with one of those pans! And the doll shows.  Mary Beth did a lot of those.  Lot of stuff they no longer have. They even used to have Isabella Fiore handbags, probably the highest name designer in hand bags they ever had. I remember when I bought IF handbags at Nordies, and Neimans and Saks, they were expensive!   I bought one from QVC, I loved to death, and my granddaughter just weaseled from me, she said, oh that's so vintage, lol.  I used to love the Kirk's Folly shows with Judy Crowell.  Those were the days.   Then around 2000 it became the Susan Graver channel and they went from there talk about over exposure at the time. All the smaller brands Wentz kaput

[OutOfTheBlue]

@shoekitty Thank you for all the recall you gave me on the old Q days and the vendors and hosts.

YES! I remember everything you posted.

Wow...it was really fun back then, wasn't it??