QVC Updates iPhone App, which Accounts for 2.4% of Sales in UK

 Distribution Channel, Mobile telephone, Technology  Comments Off
Nov 222011
 

Gina Deeble (courtesy of QVCUK.com)

A story in Broadband TV News today quotes Gina Deeble, director of multi-channel planning and commerce, QVC UK, saying: “our iPhone app has proved to be incredibly popular since it launched in February, now representing 2.4% of sales, and we anticipate that it will generate 5% of sales by the end of next year.  As a result we have been looking at ways to enhance the customer experience.”  The latest update offers iPhone viewers 16:9 streaming of the live TV feed, and enables them to watch that live programming and browse for products simultaneously.

 Posted by Walter Verfenstein at 11:35 am  Tagged with: , ,

QVC to Celebrate its 25th Anniversary on Black Friday, Nov. 25th, with Special Sales Event

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Nov 152011
 

QVC will make Black Friday, November 25th, and Cyber Monday, November 28th, bookends of  a four-day sales event themed “The Joy Of Giving Weekend.”  On the first day of the event, the retailer will also celebrate its 25th Anniversary, and call it a “Better than Black Friday” event for good measure.  Here is what QVC promises:

“The Joy of Giving Weekend” will feature QVC’s largest selection of special “event prices” on thousands of products that are in stock.  This extended assortment allows customers to easily find great values – and is not limited to early bird shoppers, who quickly deplete limited Black Friday deals at traditional retail stores.  Free standard shipping and handling will also be offered during Cyber Monday on the most ever gift items.

The event will also mark the debut of two new interactive tools to aid in shopping for gifts.  QVC.com’s Gift Finder, powered by Gifts.com, will help shoppers find “a personalized assortment of items to fit every taste.”  (Actually, the service accepts a few inputs like gender, age, hobbies and interests, and then spits out a list of products likely to appeal to that demographic/psycho-graphic profile.)  QVC will also roll out a new Gift List application for the iPhone® that will enable customers to create, edit, and save personalized gift lists for friends and family.  The mobile app will also allow users to set up reminders for gift-giving occasions all year round and share their wish list items with family and friends.  QVC, Inc. Press Release  Nov. 14, 2011

 Posted by Walter Verfenstein at 10:51 am  Tagged with: , , , ,

QVC Wins “Best iPhone Response Time” Award

 Distribution Channel, Mobile telephone  Comments Off
Oct 262011
 

An iPhone, although seemingly one not visiting the m.QVC.com site

“QVC’s mobile site, m.QVC.com, produced the fastest iPhone access time among large web retailers in September, says Compuware Gomez. Last month, m.QVC.com produced an average iPhone mobile response time of 1.75 seconds.”  Pinch yourself: Internet Retailer’s piece will even tell you which retailer came in second place!

This is good news for QVC for two reasons.  First it suggests that users to their mobile site have a good experience.  And second, it probably means that salesmen and women from the test’s sponsor, Compuware Gomez, which of course is in the business of improving web-based application performance, will spare QVC and hound the poor-performing mobile-platform marketers.  Pity those poor folks.

 Posted by Walter Verfenstein at 9:33 pm  Tagged with: , ,

From the “Good News” Department: FedEx Expects a 12% Increase in Holiday Shipments This Year

 Catalog, Distribution Channel, DRTV Retailer, Mobile telephone, Research, Trends, Forecasts, Worldwide Web  Comments Off
Oct 242011
 

Memphis-based Federal Express — which will add some 20,000 workers to handle the additional volume — is the beneficiary of gradual economic improvement and ever-increasing internet sales, according to analysts.  Reuters  Oct. 24, 2011

 Posted by admin at 2:15 pm  Tagged with: , ,

QVC M-Commerce Site Wins Speed Test on 4 Handhelds

 Distribution Channel, Mobile telephone  Comments Off
Sep 282011
 

The results are in, and the M-Commerce site response time speed winner is QVC … at least on four popular handheld devices.  Against heavy-hitting competition like Dell and Sears, m.QVC.com posted the fastest response times on the  iPhone (1.74 seconds), Sprint’s HTC Hero (1.90 seconds), T-Mobile’s HTC Dream (3.59 seconds) and Verizon’s Droid (1.97 seconds).  The tests were conducted by Compuware Corporation, a software and technology provider.  Internet Retailer  (Sept. 28, 2011)

 Posted by admin at 10:02 am  Tagged with: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Republican Governor Supports Democratic House Member’s Plan to End Internet Tax Exemption

 Catalog, Distribution Channel, DRTV Retailer, Infomercial, Mobile telephone, Worldwide Web  Comments Off
Jul 302010
 

In an interview yesterday morning, South Dakota Governor Mike Rounds (R) announced his support of the Main Street Fairness Act, sponsored by Rep. Bill Delahunt (D-Mass.) which would make it easier for states to charge sales taxes on catalog, mail order and internet sales.  One analysis of the mail order and internet sales tax exemption by the Brookings Institution found that the amount of lost sales tax in 2008 was $3.9 billion.

 Posted by admin at 10:46 am  Tagged with: ,

Pressure Mounts to Tax Catalog, TV and Web Sales

 Catalog, Distribution Channel, DRTV Retailer, Geography, Infomercial, Mobile telephone, USA, Worldwide Web  Comments Off
Jul 212010
 

Influential tech columnist Bill Snyder advocated for an end to the sales tax exemption for catalog and web retailers earlier this month.  And in an editorial today, the Lincoln (NE) Journal Star seconded the motion.  Here is how Snyder put it, “The Internet is no longer a baby that needs to be cosseted and protected from the real world, and favoring Internet business over brick-and-mortar ones via a tax exemption is not fair.”  He goes on to suggest that the current fiscal crisis in many states may pave the way for passage of the Main Street Fairness Act (H.R. 5660), which was introduced this month by Rep. Bill Delahunt (D-Mass.)

No industry wishes to lose out on tax breaks, special treatment or other favors from government, but non-store retailers should prepare for the end of this one soon.  It is wholly without merit, and there is a long list of government services to be paid for.

 Posted by admin at 11:11 am  Tagged with: , , ,

QVC’s Mike George Sees Web Accounting for 50% of QVC’s Revenue in Future

 Distribution Channel, DRTV Retailer, Mobile telephone, Worldwide Web  Comments Off
Jul 082010
 

During a recent conference call with analysts hosted by investment firm Goldman Sachs, QVC CEO Mike George outlined a three-part strategy for the company’s continued growth.  First, QVC plans to increase the productivity of its existing customer base by improving its technology platform, and by expanding into new product categories and brands.  Second, the company plans to attract new shoppers, largely through social media and mobile commerce.  Lastly, QVC will continue expanding into new markets, such as Italy this October.  By that time, QVC’s worldwide customer base will exceed 200 million households.  Internet Retailer Jul. 7, 2010

 Posted by admin at 11:15 am  Tagged with: ,

ERA Announces Opposition to Latest Online Sales Tax Push

 Catalog, Distribution Channel, DRTV Retailer, Geography, Infomercial, Mobile telephone, USA, Worldwide Web  Comments Off
Jul 082010
 

The Electronic Retailing Association (ERA) — of which the major DRTV networks are members — has announced its strong opposition to H.R. 5660, the proposed bill from Congressman Bill Delahunt (D-MA) to require online merchants to collect tax on internet sales.  H.R. 5660 would allow the 24 states who have adopted the “Streamlined Sales and Use Tax Agreement” to require out-of-state sellers to collect tax, whether or not they have a physical presence in the state.  In a prepared statement, Julie Coons, president and ceo of the association, said, “This misguided Internet tax scheme constitutes a heavy blow to online retailers by imposing significant new costs and regulatory burdens as they struggle to survive in these harsh economic times.”  Note the use of the word “scheme” to describe the efforts of lawmakers who — whether you agree with them or not — are doing their jobs.  Electronic Retailing Association Press Release Jul. 8, 2010

 Posted by admin at 11:00 am  Tagged with: , , , , , ,

HSN Releases Partial List of “Eat Pray Love” Tie-In Suppliers

 Distribution Channel, DRTV Retailer, Mobile telephone, Product Categories, Suppliers, Worldwide Web  Comments Off
Jul 062010
 

On Tuesday mid-morning, HSN elaborated on the information contained in the Variety story about the Eat Pray Love movie tie-in by releasing a partial list of vendors and brands whose products will be offered for sale during the three-day event.  They are: Naeem Khan, Robin by Me & Ro, Rebecca Moses, Padma Lakshmi, Lancome, RK by Ranjana Khan, Hutton Wilkinson, Carlton Varney, Sony Electronics, Nicky Butler, V by Eva, Tagliamonte, Sajen Silver, Dalia, Clever Carriage, Casa di Francesca and Sarita Handa.

The HSN release also features this comment from HSN CEO Mindy Grossman, “Eat Pray Love is an event motion picture for women, and we are very excited to partner with Sony Pictures in an alliance that allows us to support the film while also providing immersive content and product experiences for our core female consumer … Our customers will be able to experience the journey of traveling through Italy, India and Bali as we bring Eat Pray Love to life through stories, engaging personalities and unique products that complement the themes expressed in the movie. We have no doubt our customers will love Eat Pray Love!”  HSN Inc. Press Release Jul. 6, 2010

 Posted by admin at 12:57 pm  Tagged with: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
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