Us Weekly Reports that Nicole Richie Will Premiere Fashion Line on QVC in February

 Celebs & Stars, Talent  Comments Off
Nov 102011
 

Nicole Richie (Photo courtesy of Us Weekly)

Last night, Us Weekly cited an anonymous source in an exclusive story about a new fashion line by Nicole Richie that will premiere on QVC in February, coinciding with the premiere of Fashion Star.  Ms. Richie already designs two fashion lines — House of Harlow and Winter Kate, and has agreed to appear as a celebrity mentor on Fashion Star, which is a new reality competition series that will be hosted by Elle Macpherson and will “…search for the next big brand in fashion.”

 Posted by Walter Verfenstein at 11:12 am  Tagged with: ,

Former QVC Exec John Sullivan is the New EVP/COO of Ascena Retail Group

 Talent  Comments Off
Nov 092011
 

Ascena Retail Group, Inc., announced Monday that it has appointed John Sullivan executive vice president and chief operating Officer — a newly-created position for the company that operates the dressbarn, maurices and Justice brands.  Sullivan will head up Information Technology, Distribution, and HR Information Systems across all of the company’s brands, reporting to President and Chief Executive Officer David Jaffe.

Previously, Sullivan held senior positions for QVC and Liz Claiborne Inc.

RTT News  Nov. 8, 2011

 Posted by Walter Verfenstein at 10:04 pm  Tagged with: , , , , ,

Iman and HSN Take a Step Up the Pricing Ladder with The Platinum Collection

 Apparel, Celebs & Stars, Geography, Product Categories, Talent, USA  Comments Off
Nov 022011
 

Though she fretted over marketing higher-end apparal in the current economic environment, fashion Icon Iman decided to take the plunge.  This fall, she launched Platinum Chic as an upscale companion to her Global Chic line, which has been the second most best-selling designer label for HSN in the past three years.  The new line features luxe materials like faux fur and leather at prices that range from $40 to $300 for coats.  Accessories average around $40 and leather bags will start at $180.  This last bit of information is more critical than one might think.  In an interview about her new collection, Iman said, “Accessories make the girl—and the boy, for that matter.”  DrJays.com  Nov. 1, 2011

 Posted by Walter Verfenstein at 10:04 am  Tagged with: ,

Nonagenarian, Former Bergdorf Goodman CEO Offers Retailing Advice

 How-To, Talent  Comments Off
Nov 012011
 

Ira Neimark (courtesy of IraNeimark.com)

Remember the old TV commercial: “When E.F. Hutton speaks, people listen?”  Well, the same is — or ought to be — true of retailing legends when they’re taking their victory laps or sitting on their verandas in gated, golf communities.  Yesterday, Kevin Coupe of MorningNewsBeat.com picked up a WSJ story about former Bergdorf Goodman CEO Ira Neimark, in which he offers a bit of advice.  Here are a few tidbits:

Customers are always looking for something new to make their lives a bit more exciting, no matter what age or gender, in good times or bad.

Always take the opportunity to visit every business that relates to your own…There is no question, in any business, that it is imperative to know as much as possible about your present and potential customer.

Neimark swears by the under-appreciated MBWA degree – Management By Walking Around.  For him, focus groups are like “kissing a girl through the screen door.”  On another topic, you, dear reader, likely escaped Mr. Neimark’s disapprobation by dint of being in electronic retail.  The former exec regarded with disfavor the few salespeople he did find during a recent visit the Westchester mall, near his home in Harrison, N.Y.  Their dress, their manners and (one imagines) any number of other things were all found wanting.

 Posted by Walter Verfenstein at 10:43 pm  Tagged with: ,

Kris Jenner Blogs from QVC Studios

 Apparel, Books/Cookbooks, Celebs & Stars, Talent  Comments Off
Nov 012011
 

Never mind the marital difficulties of the most famous Kardashian daughter, mom Kris Jenner keeps the marketing juggernaut humming right along.  From the QVC compound in eastern Pennsylvania, she posted to her Celebuzz blog about her appearance on the network tonight between 7 and 10 p.m. ET.  Jenner will push apparel and a new memoir, Kris Jenner and All Things Kardashian.  She promised that a top very similar to the one she wears on her book cover will be among the items on offer this evening.

 Posted by Walter Verfenstein at 11:54 am

Why Doesn’t Kelly Clarkson Have a TV Shopping Home?

 Celebs & Stars, Talent  Comments Off
Oct 312011
 

 

Kelly Clarkson

The New York Times ran a near-fawning piece over the weekend on Kelly Clarkson, in particular, about the deep connection she has formed with female fans, who respect her independent streak and her forthrightness about her stuggle to maintain a healthy weight.  It almost seems that she’s Oprah with a voice!  So I wonder if she has been approached by any of the shopping networks.  Perhaps she was and simply declined, although I can’t imagine why.  DRTV would seem to be the antithesis of the glammed-up pop music scene that Ms. Clarkson derides and largely avoids.  A comfy couch on one of the shopping networks would be a great forum for her to connect with her fans.

 Posted by Walter Verfenstein at 7:41 am  Tagged with:

Liberty Interactive Names New CFO and New Head of “Alternative Investments”

 Distribution Channel, DRTV Retailer, Talent  Comments Off
Oct 252011
 
Yesterday, Liberty Media Corporation announced two executive appointments to take effect November 1st.  Christopher W. Shean has been appointed to the position of Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer with responsibility for all accounting and treasury functions at Liberty Media.  Mr. Shean most recently served as Senior Vice President/Controller, and held several executive positions in the Liberty group prior to that. Before joining Liberty, Mr. Shean was a partner in the assurance practice of the accounting firm of KPMG. David J.A. Flowers has been appointed Senior Vice President and Managing Director, Alternative Investments, and will be charged with deploying Liberty Media's capital in opportunities in a broad range of areas. Mr. Flowers has been Senior Vice President/Treasurer since 2000 and has held other executive positions with the Liberty group since 1995.   He will relinquish his position as Treasurer of the company. Both executives will report to Gregory B. Maffei, Liberty Media's president and ceo.
 Posted by News for Liberty Interactive Corp - Google Finance at 8:27 pm  Tagged with: ,

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

ValueVision Appoints Multichannel Veteran Annette Repasch as CMO

 Distribution Channel, DRTV Retailer, Talent  Comments Off
Oct 132011
 
Annette Repasch, a multichannel retail veteran of 25 years, has been appointed chief merchandising officer by ValueVision Media -- having served just joined the company as vice president of softlines in May.  Ms. Repasch will spearhead the company's merchandising strategy and product development. Before joining ValueVision, the retail vet punched her ticket as senior vice president and general merchandise manager of Stage Stores, Inc., as vice president and general merchandise manager of apparel & accessories for QVC (U.S.), as well as in senior merchandising roles at Saks Inc., Lane Bryant and Bon-Ton.  Statements from Ms. Repasch and ValueVision President Bob Ayd appear after the jump. Continue reading »
 Posted by News for ValueVision Media, Inc. - Google Finance at 4:48 am  Tagged with: , , , ,

ShopNBC Appoints QVC Alum Nancy E. Kunkle SVP of Customer Experience

 Bricks-and-Mortar, Distribution Channel, Talent  Comments Off
Oct 112011
 

Nancy E. Andres Kunkle (from the Andres Consulting, LLC., website)

Yesterday, ShopNBC appointed Nancy E. Kunkle to the newly-created position of senior vice president of customer experience.  Reporting to company CEO Keith Stewart, Ms. Kunkle will lead ShopNBC’s
customer experience program with a mission to maximize customer satisfaction, acquisition and
retention.  An alum of both the home shopping business and the military aerospace industry, Ms. Kunkle’s skill set seems to combine an unusual mix of “planes, brains and TV’s best deals.”  She can both “lock and load,” and “shop til she drops.”

Ms. Kunkle had worked for ShopNBC as a strategic consultant since April, “focusing on
process engineering and customer engagement initiatives to foster a premium
customer experience,” presumably through her business Andres Consulting, LLC.  The following message above the introduction to that site suggests that she will shutter the business to focus on her new, ShopNBC responsibilities:

Oct 10, 2011 update:  Dear friends and clients,  I am pleased to let you know that, due to a full time assignment with Value Vision Media/ShopNBC, I am no longer available for consulting work in the ecommerce/retail area.  Please be sure to visit and shop with ShopNBC! I think you’ll be pleased with the value and customer experience; and by all means let me know if otherwise so we can make improvements.     This web site site will remain up only for a limited period of time to allow for contacts via email.

 

 Posted by admin at 9:37 am  Tagged with: ,
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