2008 December » Pitch and Ship

Do Live TV and Web Sales Compete or Complement Each Other?

DRTV Retailer, Worldwide Web Comments Off

Dec 032008

National Jeweler tackles the question that the DRTV networks have wrestled with for almost a decade now, and in the process reveals the growing share of internet sales among the DRTV networks. Online sales as a percentage of total sales has increased at all four networks in recent years:

At QVC, from 16% to 20% between 2005 and 2007

At SHopNBC, from 21% to 28% during the same period

At HSN, from 31% to 33% between 2006 and 2007

At JTV, from 15% to 18% during the same period

JTV marketing executive Randy Saddler thinks the big question isn’t between live TV and the web, but rather whether “at-home” shopping as an integrated marketing approach — including on-air sales, e-commerce, catalogs and other direct marketing strategies) can win out against brick-and-mortar retailers. National Jeweler Dec. 1, 2008

Cyber Monday Sales Expected to Rise — But Not by Much

Worldwide Web Comments Off

Dec 032008

According to a survey of 100 retailer chief marketing officers by accountancy BDO Seidman LLP, online sales for Cyber Monday are expected to increase by 2.4% over last year — with consumers responding to steep discounts and free shipping offers. As the WSJ chart shows, the rate of growth in online sales has slowed dramatically over the past year. The Wall Street Journal Dec. 1, 2008 Paid subscription may be required.

QVC Supplier Relios Jewelry to Open Second Retail Store

Suppliers, Talent Comments Off

Dec 022008

Bill and Carolyn Pollack of Relios Jewelry

Relios Jewelry Inc., the southwestern jewelry maker, which derives about 60 percent of its revenues from QVC, 28 percent from the Internet and around 5 percent from retail sales, is apparently looking to boost sales in that last category. In November, Relios opened its first retail store in its Albuquerque, NM, base of operations. The company has one other retail outlet, a gift store in a resort north of the Dallas/Fort Worth airport. Link article is a very informative overview of Relios’s 33-year history under the leadership of Bill Pollack, president & CEO, and his wife, Carolyn, its head designer. New Mexico Business Weekly Nov. 28, 2008

Longtime, Local News Anchors Get the Axe

Talent, USA Comments Off

Dec 012008

Gravitas, “schmav-itas.” Faced with dwindling advertising from stalwarts like automotive dealerships, local TV stations are cutting costs — and the quarter-million-dollar salaries of veteran anchors make inviting targets. Stars at top-rated local stations are probably safe, but their counterparts at number-three stations are increasingly getting pink-slipped. ”‘The industry is moving from star players to more of a team sport,’” according to observer Tom Petner, who edits the television industry newsletter ShopTalk. The New York Times Nov. 30, 2008