Page 185 - 597 Business Ideas You can Start from Home - doing what you LOVE! (Beginner Internet Marketing Series)

1 78 You r Idea, Inc.

TV Shopping Channels

Getting your product featured on a shop-at-home television chan­
nel such as QVC and the Home Shopping Network can be a dream
come true for a sta rt-up company. These channels sell products
around the clock and have made household names out of many
makeup artists', clothing designers', and hairstylists 'lines.

Dream big and pursue QVC-it is known for launching small,
ique items sold on a i r directly by the inventor. According

their website, "QVC reaches approximately 166 million

homes worldwide." If you think your product would be fan­
tastic on one of the home shopping channels, but you don't
want to actually appear on television, don't worry! You can
find companies that have trained "on-air personalities· who

will sell your product for you, for a fee or percentage of sales.

Here are a few methods for getting your product considered for
a TV spot:

• Watch the shows and determine where your product could
fit into one of their segments. Then send a press kit much
like you did to other media, but tailor it to a specific show and
explain how the product would mesh well.

• Look for special events. For example, sometimes QVC offers
"Product Searches" in a variety of cities around the United States.
You can bring your product to one of these events and get imme­
diate feedback from a buyer. Visit www.qvcproductsearch.com for
upcoming dates.

• Go online. Both HSN (www. hsn.com. click on "Become an HSN
Partner") and QVC (www. qvc. com. click on "Vendor Relations")
accept online product submissions.

• Emphasize that you're an inventor. Home shopping channels
love featuring the "inventor"-it offers their audience a chance
to connect with the people behind the products they purchase.