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Gerald Sisk’s Revised Book about Gemstone Jewelry to Debut on Jewelry Television, January 28th

Walter Verfenstein — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 17:06:32 +0000

In a press release today, Jewelry Television announced the publishing of a newly revised book, called the Guide to Gems & Jewelry. This full-color educational guide — which details the histories and legends of gemstones as well gemstone formation, mining, cutting and design – was edited by Gerald Sisk, a co-founder of JTV, who currently serves as executive vice president. The book is scheduled for an exclusive release on JTV, Jan. 28.

Earlier this month, Gerald Sisk helped lead JTV’s first annual international Gem Congress, which brought industry experts from many countries to JTV’s Tennessee headquarters for thepurpose of promoting innovation, collaboration, and transparency within the international gemstone community.

Singer Sewing Company to Launch New, Antique-Look Sewing Machine on HSN Tomorrow

News for HSN, Inc. - Google Finance — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 18:08:08 +0000

Singer Sewing Company to Launch The SINGER 160(TM) Limited Edition Sewing ...MarketWatch (press release) - 18 hours ago

Created to commemorate its 160th anniversary, Singer will unveil an easy-to-use machine with an antique-inspired design. The product will be sold on HSN and at HSN.com, beginning tomorrow.

ShopNBC to Debut Calvin Klein Handbags Tonight at 9 p.m. EST

Walter Verfenstein — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 13:37:38 +0000

Ulrich Grimm

The hour-long premiere of Calvin Klein Handbags on ShopNBC will feature an assortment of styles, including clutches, satchels, totes and duffel bags, all in nappa leather. The line will be presented on-air by Ulrich Grimm, Calvin Klein’s Creative Director for Shoes and Accessories. (Photo at left photo courtesy of Mr. Grimm’s LinkedIn profile.) ShopNBC and Calvin Klein, Inc., Press Release Dec. 7, 2011

Rapaport Reports Lower-than-Usual Wholesale Jewelry Trading and Possible Scarcity of VS2-SI Stones

Walter Verfenstein — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 17:15:33 +0000

In a market report issued yesterday, Rapaport also noted growing demand for fancy shapes in the United States, as consumers shift to more affordable price points. Diamonds.Net by Rapaport Dec. 1, 2011

Yo, Pimp Your Tweezers!

Walter Verfenstein — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 15:23:02 +0000

One or two of the DRTV networks that are seeing softness in their jewelry sales might consider broadening the category to include bathroom basics and other small household goods. Pictured at left and featured in The New York Times this week is a Luxe Edition Crystal Slant Tweezer & Stand from Tweezerman, which retails for approximately $200. While this particular bauble is covered in Swarovksi crystals and looks like its owner’s surname should be Hilton or Khardashian, Tweezerman does make subtler, decorative tweezers. If $200 tweezers catch on, may I suggest another upscale indispensable for women’s purses — packets of tissues fashioned from steam-cleaned and perfumed $100 notes.

Tim Janis to Perform on QVC’s The Christmas Shoppe on Monday

Walter Verfenstein — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 13:57:54 +0000

QVC will broadcast a live Christmas music performance of Tim Janis on The Christmas Shoppe, Monday, Dec. 5th at 1:00pm EST. The pitch will be for a 3 CD package of Christmas Music (Item # F09608), featuring old favorites and original compositions in the “Janis-Style.” A preview of some of the arrangements is available at: www.TheHopeCafe.net/Open-Mic.html. QVC Press Release on Christian Newswire Dec. 2, 2011

QVC Strikes Deal with UK Touring Company to be its Jewelry Supplier

Walter Verfenstein — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 13:29:10 +0000

Louisa Lytton as Cinderella donning QVC Jewelry

The Daily Mail is reporting that QVC UK been announced as the jewellery supplier of Castaway Pantomimes, the UK’s number one touring company. As part of the arrangement, performers will wear QVC-supplied jewelry, as Louisa Lytton (as Cinderella) does in the photo here. Ms. Lytton will play Cinderella in a Holiday production at The Camberley Theatre in Surrey, England, that will begin December 7th and run through the new year. The Daily Mail (UK) Dec. 1, 2011

While They Still Can, West Hollywood Shops Show Off and Sell Fur

Walter Verfenstein — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 19:08:14 +0000

Rabbit fur vest at Arcade in West Hollywood (courtesy of NYT)

Calvin Klein and Ralph Lauren have banned fur from their collections, and beginning in September 2013, those designers won’t be at a competitive disadvantage when offered for sale in West Hollywood, California. That’s when the city’s legal ban on selling fur is scheduled to take effect. Meanwhile, swanky boutiques along Melrose Avenue are upping the fur quotient in their windows to make a political statement. Apoplectic shop owners are considering moves outside the city limits and their personal shopper and stylist clients stand ready to steer their cars toward Robertson Boulevard (in Los Angeles) or Rodeo Drive (in Beverly Hills) when the time comes. The New York Times Nov. 30, 2011

The Skinny on QVC’s Paula Deen Pork Wings (They’re Ham Shanks)

Walter Verfenstein — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 16:54:05 +0000

The New York Times ran a fascinating investigatory piece today on pork shanks, which are usually two-ounce pieces of pork cut from the fibula of a ham shank, and are sold by QVC as Paula Deen’s Smithfield 7 oz. BBQ Pork Wild Wings. Seems the fibula used to be left in hams back in the days of yore and functioned as a convenient handle for the Norman-Rockwell-like fella carving at the table. Nowadays boneless hams are all the rage, and so processors are using a special saw to cut the fibula into pieces, plump them up with a marinade of water, salt and “natural pork flavorings,” cook them for six to eight hours and then send them out to market. The process just described is the one employed at Appert’s Foodservice in St. Cloud, which handles about 40% of the processed ham shank business in the U.S., while QVC’s Paula Deen product is processed by Smithfield, but I think we can assume something similar. In any event, these tasty tid-bits can be dressed up all sorts of ways and (at sports bars and other casual dining establishments) go by names such as “squealers,” “French pork confit,” and “Eskimo Pies of pork on a stick.”

Footwear News Names HSN “Retailer of the Year”

Walter Verfenstein — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 17:00:21 +0000

HSN CEO and Self-Avowed "Shoe Lover" Mindy Grossman

HSN has piled up one successful quarter after another over the past year and shoes have been a growing part of that success. In 2011, the retailer introduced its first 18- and 24-hour shoe sales and also collaborated with Paramount Pictures to present a footwear-focused shopping event inspired by the remake of the movie Footloose. Interestingly, as much as 70 percent of HSN’s footwear offerings are proprietary, according to John Bosco, HSN’s SVP of apparel, accessories and jewelry.
As part of its outreach to the fashion community in recent years under the direction of CEO Mindy Grossman, HSN has partnered on footwear lines with big names, including Steve Madden, Stuart Weitzman, Vince Camuto and Mariah Carey. “We are really maniacal about bringing our consumers products that have great personalities and stories behind them,” Grossman said. Presumably for all of these reasons, Footwear News honored HSN with its “Retailer of the Year Award” in 2011. Footwear News Nov. 28, 2011