“ShopNBC narrowed its first-quarter loss to $12 million from $17.6 million a year ago. Gross margin slipped to 31.5% from 32.0% last year, but marked an improvement of 260 basis points over the previous quarter. Sales dropped 14% to $134 million owing to a 26% decrease in average selling price.”  During an earnings conference call yesterday, Keith Stewart, president and ceo of ShopNBC, detailed plans to broaden the retailer’s vendor base and expand into new product categories.  He said that the company “…is headed in the right direction.”  Home Textiles Today  May 20, 2009