QVC UK Gives Itself an Image Makeover

 Distribution Channel, DRTV Retailer, Geography, UK/Europe  Comments Off
Oct 282011
 

Forget about a new you.  QVC in the UK has assiduously given itself an image makeover — with the help of Mischief PR.  QVC UK had upgraded its offerings over the past half-decade or so, but perceptions are clearly a lagging indicator.  They weren’t very good.  Still there is evidence that Mischief has helped the retailer turn things around.  The UK’s PRWeek honored the PR shop with an award for “Consumer Marketing Communications (annual fees £100k+).”

In doing so, the trade journal cited Mischief’s work securing media coverage outside of the product pages by pitching newsier stories about, for instance, whopper sales of a Kate Middleton replica ring immediately following her engagement to Prince William.  Mischief also extended their outreach to bloggers like Lauren Luke, whose beauty vlogs reach some 500,000 YouTube subscribers.  And they added Twitter and Facebook sharing functionality to the product pages of their website, which went on to rack up record sales.  PRWeek (UK)  Oct. 26, 2011

 Posted by Walter Verfenstein at 6:56 am  Tagged with: , , ,

ShopNBC Lures Brooks Brothers into First TV Sales Appearance

 Distribution Channel, DRTV Retailer, Fashion - Womens, Geography, Product Categories, USA  Comments Off
Oct 252011
 

Lou Amendola (photo courtesy of FORA.tv.)

The number three shopping network today announced that it has landed a decidedly top-tier, iconic, American brand.  Brooks Brothers will make its first-ever TV Sales appearance on ShopNBC, November 8th, as part of the retailer’s All Star Event.  During an hour-long premiere, the Brooks Brothers collection at ShopNBC will feature women’s accessories, including leather handbags, cashmere wraps, and silk scarves.  Pricing and other product details were not made available.

In this morning’s announcement, Lou Amendola, chief merchandising officer at Brooks Brothers, characterized direct-response, network TV as “…a unique and modern way to reach women who are already drawn to our products or may be discovering them for the first time.” ShopNBC Press Release  Oct. 25, 2011

 Posted by Walter Verfenstein at 10:35 am

Jersey Shore’s Snooki to Premiere New Fragrance on HSN, November 10th

 Celebs & Stars, Distribution Channel, DRTV Retailer, Geography, Talent, USA  Comments Off
Oct 252011
 

Nicole Snooki Polizzi (Photo from LaLate Celebrity News Site)

The pint-size partier with the outsized personality will sell Snooki-branded handbags, slippers and sunglasses, in addition to her signature fragrance during a one-time-only, Holiday-giving-themed, 2-hour show, November 10th at 8 p.m. EST.  Prices will range from $19.90 to $69.00.  In an announcement from HSN about the program, the reality TV star says, “I can’t wait to appear on HSN and Snookifiy it!”

Brace yourself for more “Snookification.”  The announcement details Ms. Polizzi’s still-growing popularity, as evidenced by 3 million Twitter Followers, 625,000 Facebook Fans, dozens of talk show appearances in the past year and extraordinary online traffic.  (A recent Google Search of “Snooki” returned 18,000,000 Results.)  The news release ends on this ominous note:

Major manufacturers are eagerly signing licenses for the new ”Snooki” brand, including for fragrance, beverages, indoor tanning salon products, social media and mobile Apps, live video online-sharing and celebrity voice messaging, with more licenses to be announced soon.

 Posted by Walter Verfenstein at 10:07 am

QVC UK’s Knowsley Call Center Raises £500,000 for Breast Cancer Care

 Geography, Philanthropy, UK/Europe  Comments Off
Oct 212011
 

The successful fundraising drive took place earlier this week during a three-hour, dedicated show called, “Be Aware, Show You Care,” which featured a variety of products, donated by vendors and sold at special prices with net proceeds going to the UK-based charity Breast Cancer Care.  This year’s event bested last year’s tally by 15%.  Of the three on-air auctions, singer/musician Joe McElderry’s offer to perform several of his songs in a viewers home raised the most (£6,350).  He will perform for the family and friends of a Liverpool girl.  CallCentre Helper (UK)   Oct. 19, 2011

 Posted by admin at 10:11 am  Tagged with: , ,

In a First, ShopNBC to Devote 24 Hours to Food

 Distribution Channel, DRTV Retailer, Food, Geography, Product Categories, USA  Comments Off
Oct 132011
 

ValueVision Media is lifting the lid on its first-ever 24-Hour Holiday Cooking Event, which will debut Saturday, October 15, and employ a holiday entertaining theme to sell merchandise from Sur La Table and Cuisinart.  The bulk of the press release appears after the jump. Continue reading »

 Posted by admin at 4:20 pm  Tagged with: ,

QVC UK Setting Up One-Day Store in London’s Diamond District to Promote Diamonique

 Bricks-and-Mortar, Distribution Channel, DRTV Retailer, Fashion/Costume jewelry, Geography, Product Categories, UK/Europe  Comments Off
Sep 292011
 

QVC UK will open a one-day-only, “pop-up” jewelry store in London’s historic diamond district — Hatton Garden — on October 11th to promote the retailer’s line of simulated diamonds called Diamonique.  Shoppers will be able to see QVC recreations famous jewelry of from the movies made using hand-cut, Diamonique stones.  The purpose of the exercise is to demonstrate the close similarity between actual diamond and Diamonique jewelry.  Programming on the TV network that day will serve the same end.  The shop will be located at Clerkenwell House, 23 – 27 Hatton Wall, London.  Professional Jeweller  Sept. 29, 2011

 Posted by admin at 11:52 am  Tagged with: , , ,

UK Store-Based Retailers Look to “Telly” for New Revenue Stream

 Bricks-and-Mortar, Distribution Channel, DRTV Retailer, Geography, UK/Europe  Comments Off
Sep 292011
 

With established UK TV retailers like QVC and Ideal Shopping Direct posting gains during the recession, London’s established High Street retailers are looking to break into television, too. It seems the recession has more people sitting in front of screens in their homes, instead of popping into stores all over town.   Argos (which sold £4.3 billion in general merchandise during its last fiscal year, mostly from 700 stores in the UK and Ireland) began a year-long trial of a new shopping channel on Sky TV this summer.  Department store Debenhams, meanwhile, is demonstrating products by way of online video clips in an experiment called Debenhams TV.  Financial Times  Sept. 28, 2011

 Posted by admin at 11:17 am  Tagged with: , , , , ,

UK Retail Sales Slip in September

 Geography, Research, Trends, Forecasts, UK/Europe  Comments Off
Sep 272011
 

UK retail sales slowed in September, according to a survey by the Confederation of British Industry (CBI).  CBI’s “monthly sales volume balance” — which indicates the percentage of retailers reporting a rise in sales on the year minus those reporting a fall — dropped to minus 15 in September from minus 14 in August.  The September number is the lowest such number since May of last year.  The Wall Street Journal  (Sept. 27, 2011)

 Posted by admin at 5:25 pm  Tagged with: ,

September U.S. Consumer Confidence Barely Budges from August’s Low Mark

 Geography, Research, Trends, Forecasts, USA  Comments Off
Sep 272011
 

The Conference Board’s September consumer confidence index increased ever so slightly to 45.4 from a revised 45.2 reading in August that was the lowest since April 2009, when the economy was in a recession.  In an announcement today, Lynn Franco, Director of The Conference Board Consumer Research Center, said, “The pessimism that shrouded consumers last month has spilled over into September. Consumer expectations, which had plummeted in August, posted a marginal gain. However, consumers expressed greater concern about their expected earnings, a sign that does not bode well for spending. In addition, consumers’ assessment of current conditions declined for the fifth consecutive month, a sign that the economic environment remains weak.”  Conference Board Press Release  (Sept. 27, 2011)

 Posted by admin at 4:12 pm

QVC UK Using New Accounts Payable-Tracking Software

 Distribution Channel, DRTV Retailer, Geography, Technology, UK/Europe  Comments Off
Sep 272011
 

QVC UK’s accounts payable team has replaced a laborious, painstaking process designed to prevent double-paying its vendors with a software suite called AP Forensics®, which largely automates the process and catches mistakes before checks are cut.  The retailer, which processes some 50,000 invoices annually, recouped its initial investment in the technology within its first month us use by preventing mistaken payments.  AP Forensics® is a product of Fiscal Technologies.  FISCAL Technologies Press Release (Sept. 26, 2011)

 Posted by admin at 1:41 pm  Tagged with: , ,
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