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QVC Facts

QVC is a West Chester, Pennsylvania, USA, based multinational corporation, specialising in televised home shopping. Founded in 1986 by Joseph Segel, QVC broadcasts in four major countries to 141 million consumers. The name is an initialism—standing for “Quality, Value, Convenience”—ostensibly, the three pillars of Segel’s vision for the company

QVC History

QVC was founded on June 13, 1986. The first live broadcast took place at 7:30 ET on November 24 of that year. Hosts Kathy Levine and Bob Bowersox featured a shower radio for $11.49. Initially running live for 16 hours a day, the channel extended its broadcast hours to 24 at the beginning of 1987. The corporation set a new record for first full-year fiscal sales for a new public company of $112 million.

In 1993, QVC, Inc. formed a deal with British Sky Broadcasting to create a UK version of the channel. QVC The Shopping Channel first broadcast in the UK on October.

On February 2, 1995, Comcast purchased a majority shareholding in QVC, Inc., taking control of the corporation. QVC kicked off the “Quest for America’s Best—50 in 50 tour” a 50-week nationwide product search.

QVC’s shopping network went online on September 9, 1996, when the company’s interactive division, iQVC, launched QVC.com, allowing customers to purchase their items online via the Microsoft Network. QVC Germany launched in December of that year.

QVC was named “Official National Retailer for the 53rd Presidential Inaugural” in 1997, and US operations at Studio Park commenced on September 24.

On August 8, 2001, QVC @ the Mall, a flagship store at the Mall of America in Minnesota, opened. QVC shipped its 500 millionth package on October 29, 2001.

July 3, 2003 saw Comcast sell its majority share to Liberty Media, setting the value of the company at $14 billion.

In March 2004, the integrity of the company was impugned when the Federal Trade Commission charged QVC with making “deceptive claims” about weight loss products and the United States Department of Justice filed a lawsuit against the company. At the same time, QVC Inc. bought out BSkyB, becoming sole shareholders in QVC UK.

Also that year, over 105 million units were shipped, more than 160 million phone calls were handled, 2 million new customers were gained, and QVC had its biggest sales day ever, December 4, both online and on air.

QVC Products

QVC carries a large range of products, and offers a 30-day money-back guarantee on all of its items. Items are presented by hosts, who may be assisted by guests—typically, people who work for the item’s manufacturer or an expert on the subject.

Each item is identified by a unique item number, allowing for easy identification when ordering. In commonality with many of its rivals, QVC offers one product at a reduced price for that day only—the TSV or Today’s Special Value. In the US, the Today’s Special Value was launched on August 11, 1987 with a 30″ long wave necklace. When a TSV sells out, there are several “One Time Only” items good only on certain shows the rest of the day.

QVC offers products from a wide variety of famous brands and well-known celebrities. Joan Rivers and Uri Geller are amongst those whose products are demonstrated on-air.

QVC’s flagship brand is Diamonique, a simulated gemstone exclusive to the company (having acquired manufacturing facilities, proprietary technology, and trade name rights from MSB Industries, Inc. in 1988).

QVC’s most popular brand of apparel in the US is Denim & Co; others include Dialogue, Sport Savvy, citiknits, and Susan Graver Style.

The most popular beauty brand on QVC in the US is Bare Escentuals, followed by philosophy beauty and Laura Geller Make-up Studio. On June 15, 1998, Models Prefer Color Cosmetics, QVC’s first exclusive color line, was introduced. Other beauty brands include Le Mirador Skin care, smashbox cosmetics, Joan Rivers beauty, Peter Coppala Hair Care, Dessert Beauty, and Jonathan Product Salon Hair Care by Jonathan Antin.

QVC usually has many types of programming in one day, but sometimes a day has a single theme. Such 24-hour events include Fashion Day, Big Bonanza Silver Day, Now You’re Cooking Day, and others.

Once a year, QVC broadcasts FFANY Shoes on Sale with designer and brand name shoes at half the price, benefiting breast cancer research.