Retail and digital media executive Cary Deacon has been appointed to the board of directors of PNI Digital Media, the company announced in a press release yesterday. PNI Digital Media supplies major retail chains with a software platform that enables consumers to order photo prints, personalized photo gifts and printed materials either online or in-store. Mr. Deacon, in the late 1990s and early 2000s, served in several senior positions at ShopNBC/ValueVision Media, including president.
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
Primo Flavorstation™ 100
In a press release this morning, Winston-Salem, North Carolina-based Primo Water Corporation announced that it will sell its new Flavorstation™ 100 Home Beverage Maker at ShopNBC.com, Lowes.com and in participating Lowe’s Home Improvement stores. The product is available in a kit at a price point of $120 on ShopNBC.com now. John Maples, Primo Water’s chief marketing officer, wrote to say that the Flavorstation kit will premiere on the ShopNBC TV network, November 28th.
The Primo Flavorstation enables consumers to create naturally-flavored sodas, fruit sparklers, fruit flavored teas, zero-calorie sodas and energy drinks without high-fructose corn syrup. It promises to deliver, “the taste of national [beverage] brands at a fraction of the cost and calories.” The product also promises an environmental benefit by reducing the number of cans households send off to landfills. Primo Water Corporation Press Release Nov. 23, 2011
ValueVision Media Inc.’s fiscal third-quarter loss widened as its consumer electronics and watch product categories posted weaker-than-expected sales, a condition to which investors were alerted earlier this month. The company reported an Adjusted EBITDA loss of $0.5 million on lower than anticipated sales and additional TV distribution costs owing to a 5% increase in average homes and improved channel position in certain markets. These investments in generating audience and potential new customers will likely take several quarters to become fully productive.
For the third quarter, which ended Oct. 29, ValueVision reported a loss of $6.4 million, compared with a year-earlier loss of $5.8 million. Per-share, the loss was 13 cents, versus 18 cents during the year-ago period, due to more shares outstanding. Revenue increased 2.2% to $135.2 million.
ValueVision CEO Keith Stewart, commented in today’s earnings release:
…lower than expected Q3 net sales and adjusted EBITDA is a disappointing setback in our progress toward rebuilding the business. Third quarter sales were principally impacted by a sales shortfall of 20% in consumer electronics along with a greater than anticipated decline of 13% in sales of watches, which off-set double-digit sales gains and strong margins in our jewelry, home, health and beauty and fashion and accessories categories … We are focused on improving the consumer electronics business with specific action plans underway. This includes recruiting new talent and expanding its merchandising team as well as improving product and brand assortment. The number of new vendors across our other categories continues to grow, as our multichannel retail business presents an attractive sales platform to expand their business and brand visibility. We expect to further reinforce that trend with additional prominent brands, such as Brooks Brothers and Hartmann luggage, that will delight the customer and further differentiate ShopNBC.
Despite the poor quarter, ValueVision did note improvement in the form of double-digit sales gains and strong margins in its jewelry, home, health and beauty, and fashion and accessories categories. ValueVision Media Press Release Nov. 16, 2011
