#CVS Exclusive Doll

[dat2ndaccount97]

Several hours later I finally unboxed my Be You Crew Briana, and she is genuinely impressing me. She feels decent quality, her hair feels really soft, her clothes feel nice (esp. her dress. & she didn't have any plastic tabs in her scalp either which is a plus. I would honestly gift this to a child or doll collector friend. She is a lovely doll (with 2!! Fits) for $20.

[archoneddzs15]

Sony PlayStation - Castlevania Chronicle Akumajo Dracula (Castlevania Chronicles)

Title: Castlevania Chronicle Akumajo Dracula / 悪魔城年代記 悪魔城ドラキュラ

Developer/Publisher: Konami Computer Entertainment Tokyo

Release date: 25 May 2001

Catalogue No.: VX236-J1 / SLPM-86754

Genre: Action

This game is basically a home console port of the Sharp X68000 entry in the Castlevania series. The plot of Castlevania Chronicle is similar to that of the first Castlevania: at the end of the 17th century, the dreadful vampire Dracula is resurrected after a century of slumber. The people in Transylvania flee in horror, but the brave Simon Belmont takes his Vampire Killer whip and ventures into the ominous castle to put an end to the Lord of Darkness. This is the exact same plot as found in the Sharp X68000 original.

When it comes to graphics, I feel I must be honest. These graphics are fairly average, especially for a game released on a platform supposedly capable of arcade-quality graphics, and in 1993 no less. I would say Simon and other sprites, backgrounds, etc. are probably about the same quality as Castlevania Bloodlines. Not bad, but one must always consider the hardware when reviewing. Many arcade ports were lacking on the X68000, but certainly closer to arcade graphics than this version of Castlevania, which looks like an early Mega Drive effort. Think Alex Kidd in the Enchanted Castle.

Aside from that rant, the familiar-looking Castlevania stages have all been redone, and look definitely better detail-wise, compared to the FDS and Famicom original that kickstarted the series, so at least we can acknowledge them as upgrades. Simon's sprite is certainly different looking as well and it is nice to see the slight redrawn changes of Dracula, Death, and other famous bosses and enemies. The crystal man in Stage 4 sucks ass though. I don't care for his appearance at all, it seems so out of place!

On the bright side, there are many classic Castlevania tunes redone for this release, which include Bloody Tears, Vampire Killer, and Simon's Theme. Exclusive pieces (due to the stages not being present in the MSX, NES, or myriad other versions of the original Castlevania) include Tower of Dolls and Etude for the Killer, both solid compositions that earn their place among CV music. Lastly, Dracula's boss music, while it can't touch Super Castlevania IV (aka Akumajo Dracula on the Super Famicom), is awesome simply because of its name: You Goddamned Bathead! Classic! The gameplay has several changes from the original versions of Castlevania. Simon can whip diagonally down left or right while jumping. He is also able to slightly correct his jumps in mid-air, saving you some unnecessary deaths. We also have a new subweapon that helps to conquer the notorious difficulty of this remake. This is a laurel/herb and for 10 hearts, you can refill 6 life bars. A very helpful and neat idea, proving that the game is not without rules.

The challenge is merciless; this is the hardest traditional Castlevania there is, mostly due to the huge amount of damage that enemies take off with each hit. In the early stages, it is only 2 or so bars. In the later stages, every single attack does 4 bars, causing Simon to die in only 5 hits. This coupled with the still limited dodging and mobility of Simon makes having the aforementioned laurel seem like a necessity if you want to beat this game without a great deal of frustration. The laurel certainly helped me to do as such.

Now you might say that this was the case in the FDS and Famicom Castlevania too. Still, this is an ultimately harder game because of the new enemies and stages. Many more enemies have projectiles that they use to hit you from far away. The dolls in Area 7 are especially annoying, all this adds up to a deeper and greater challenge. Replay value for this specific game is no more significant than the original. There is the added challenge of new enemies and greater incurred damage for each subsequent playthrough, but that cannot be defined as a true incentive to replay as the stages and bosses are identical. The only real difference is that enemies hit harder and that there are more of them.

In conclusion, Castlevania X68000 was mostly unknown at the time of its release, and in playing this, I'm glad it has received greater availability on the PlayStation. There are minor differences in the PS1 version mostly involving the internal system clock option affecting certain stages and graphics, nothing to really write home about.

I try to look at this remake in the context of a Japan-only release or the 1993 release year, but neither bit of reflection gives this product much reason to exist, especially as a far superior remake of Castlevania had already been made in Akumajo Dracula on the Super Famicom. That remake was on a far superior and more accessible system. Perhaps this X68000 version was nothing more than an attempt to sell the Sharp computer (which was sold at super expensive prices with prices starting from US$3,500 for the base configuration) by putting respected franchises on it, similar to the Mario and Zelda games on the Phillips CDi, and we all know how bad those games turned out. Castlevania X68000 is not as bad as those games, it is at least playable, but it feels like an unclear project. Given the PC's limited user base, who was this game meant to appeal to? It is worth a playthrough on the PlayStation version, but I can't fathom the complete sense that would make a gamer hardcore enough to buy the Sharp PC just to play this fairly mediocre remake of the original Castlevania. The limited new features of this version just don't do enough for me.

However, all this pales in comparison to the fact Konami actually added an Arrange Mode to the PlayStation port. Castlevania Chronicle's arrange mode is all about the little changes that may not be initially apparent. It really feels like it was made for the fans, as these are the groups likely to enjoy the changes the most. These are both obvious with the complete musical overhaul and subtle with the slight graphical changes. I think the best way to express my approval is to say that the Arrange Mode not only makes the Sharp X68000 version better, but it also makes it more acceptable as part of the Castlevania series.

[superdad71]

Check out this listing I just added to my Poshmark closet: The Island of Misfit Toys Christmas 🎄 Ornaments.

[kentonramsey]

The Best Trends Of The ‘90s Are Brought Back To Life In Julie And The Phantoms

There’s little costume designer Soyon An wouldn’t do to achieve the perfect look. For her most recent project, Netflix musical series Julie and the Phantoms, An, whose CV includes American Idol, Step Up All In, and So You Think You Can Dance, even picked up scissors more than a few times for some creative tailoring — cutting decorative elements out of boots to place on a blouse, and turning a dress that didn’t fit into a jacket. “I feel like this whole interview is turning into a ‘Soyon deconstructing stuff,’” she tells me midway through our talk, laughing. But all the detail-oriented work paid off: Julie and the Phantoms costumes not only stand out, but they’re also full of hidden meanings that go beyond what you’d see in most costume work.

Madison Reyes plays Julie, a high schooler who loses her love for singing after her mother dies. Then, things get weird: The ghosts of three young musicians who died in the ‘90s (played by Charlie Gillespie, Jeremy Shada, and Owen Joyner) appear in her mum’s old music studio. And then things get weirder: The ghosts convince Julie — the only living person who can see them, no big deal — to start a band with them so that people can hear their music despite them being, well, ghosts.

As you can imagine, all of this has a big effect on Julie — and it’s reflected in what she wears. As she goes from being unable to perform in even a classroom setting to singing on the stage of the biggest music venue around, her wardrobe evolves from a sweater featuring a smiley face, jeans with sun-patches, and oversized slippers to crystal-adorned jackets and tulle skirts. “Julie is in mourning for her mother, so I wanted to be able to tell a story through costume, where, in the beginning, she is kind of hiding under a hat and under the hood and wearing more of an oversize fit, and then eventually she starts to walk into her own,” says An. “She is a sneakerhead, and she’s a little tomboyish. You can tell she doesn’t put much thought into her style, but it always looks cool.”

An pulled a covetable selection of sneakers, and even bid on a pair of limited-edition Air Force 1s, to feature in the series. “I wanted to get her kind of exclusive sneakers and really live up to the character being a sneakerhead. So I went on StockX, and I bid on the cheetah-print sneakers,” she says. “Because they are limited-edition and Madison had a body-double, we then had to paint another pair of Air Force 1s to match the original for her body-double.” She added special touches to other pairs, too: “Her Filas, I custom painted those sneakers, so it looked like something her character did herself. She is one to doodle on her pants and draw on her sneakers.”

For her clothing, An says that 50 percent was custom-made, while the other 50 was pulled from brands like Kate Spade, Urban Outfitters, Forever21, and I.Am.Gia and vintage stores. For one of her first performances with the band, Julie wears a camo jumpsuit, which An got in a vintage store in Highland Park in Los Angeles, serving as a nod to Reyes’ mum: “We discussed how wonderful it would be to pay homage to her mum, who’s serving our country.” An then customised the jumpsuit with patches she found at an unlikely place: the UGG store in Vancouver, where the series was shot. “It was hilarious. On the display, they had the patches on the UGG boots. For a split second, I was going to buy a pair [of boots] and cut all the patches off to use on the costume, and then [the salesperson] was like, ‘No, you have to buy them individually and then accessorise your boots,’” An says. “I was ready to cut them out for the series!”

This wasn’t the only scene for which An was willing to deconstruct some shoes. During one of Julie’s big public performances, she wears a white shirt adorned with colourful butterflies. “I loved the translucent butterflies on these clear plastic boots that I found on Dolls Kill, and I cut the butterflies off the boots and put them on her top.” Butterflies, a common theme with Julie’s clothing, are symbolic of her evolution as a musician. “A butterfly goes through a stage of metamorphosis, from caterpillar [to] cocoon to flying-free butterfly, and I think her character represents that,” she says. “There she is as a caterpillar before the series even starts, then she is a cocoon because her mother passes away, and, once she meets the phantoms and she finds her voice and music again, she is flying free.” Nowhere is that more evident than in a scene in which Julie performs wearing a crystal hat and sparkly pants featuring over 5,0000 Swarovski crystals (see top photo). “Those crystals were punched in, the grommets with the prongs. I think the pants weighed more than Madison,” says An. “She was like, ‘This is the heaviest pair of pants that I have ever seen in my life!’”

For another performance look, a turquoise dress with a fringe vest, An also applied her custom touch. “That turquoise dress was hand-painted. I think that dress was a black Armani Exchange dress, and I painted over it to give it that grunge, punk, rock and roll look.” As for the vest? I won’t spoil it, but it shows up first in episode 1: “There’s like, an Easter egg that I hid in there.”

For the final performance of the series, Julie wears a custom-made purple dress with a beaded leather jacket, made from a dress that An deconstructed and transformed. “The original idea was that she would have something fabulous from her mom’s closet, so I was looking at some vintage stores. On TheRealReal, I found this Balmain dress,” she says. While fitting Reyes, An realised that it was too big. “I couldn’t let go of the dress. I loved it so much that I took the outer layer of the dress and I used it as fabric and I made it into that leather jacket,” she says. 

But Julie isn’t the only one with an enviable wardrobe. Her best friend, Flynn (Jadah Marie), dons some of the most memorable looks of the season. ���From the moment I read the script and could hear Flynn’s voice, I was like, ‘She is a fashionista, the cool kid on campus,’” says An. This resulted in Fenty-like tie-dye shirts, leopard-print everything, and brightly coloured dresses and jumpsuits, as well as can’t-miss accessories like a bulldog-shaped purse, heart-shaped glasses, glitter backpack, and earrings spelling “What.” “That’s her personality. It’s like, ‘What?’ Like, ‘I don’t care, it’s cool.’ I wanted to embrace that language in the clothing,” says An.

In contrast to Flynn and Julie is their classmate Carrie (Savannah May), the spoiled daughter of a former rockstar, who makes Julie’s life hell in school, all while wearing a tweed matching set and loafers with bows, a feather boa over a denim top and skirt (with her boyfriend matching in a jean jacket, a la Britney and Justin at the 2001 American Music Awards, no less), and a “Royalty” T-shirt. As the leader of Dirty Candi, a girl group who feels threatened by Julie and the Phantoms’ new success, Carrie goes even more over-the-top with her looks with glitter shorts and high socks. While Dirty Candi’s costumes, with each girl dressed in a specific candy-coloured top and wearing a matching wig, appear to draw from K-Pop, according to An, her biggest inspiration was the bright, iridescent hues of Jolly Ranchers. “One of the first looks when you see the Dirty Candi girls, they’re in the vinyl, translucent clear plastic jackets, and that right there is Jolly Ranchers,” she says. “I was like, ‘We have to spell Candi with an “I” [on the back of the jackets] so that the “I” can be a lollypop. That’s their logo!’”

On another stage, viewers can see dancers that could rival the best of Jazz Age and Moulin Rouge at the Hollywood Ghost Club, a speakeasy that sees ghosts and “lifers” mingling, owned by Caleb Covington (Cheyenne Jackson), a ghost-magician who can make ghosts visible to people. While luring Luke (Gillespie), Reggie (Shada), and Alex (Joyner) into the club, Caleb wears a rich purple velvet suit custom-made by British designer Joshua Kane. “[Director] Kenny [Ortega] was like, ‘Think: Houdini — he is a magician. And think of Cary Grant, those old beautiful movie stars, black-and-white films, and how dapper and regal they were,’” says An. To add to the wow factor, An and her team customised the coattails. “The look didn’t get there until four days before we started shooting, so then we had to fit Cheyenne, do all the alterations, then stick about 10,000 Swarovski crystals on that jacket until the morning of when we started shooting,” she says. After running out of the crystals that An brought from L.A, she had to source more from a local bead store. “They didn’t have all the colours, so then I had to implement other colours and recreate the design of the Swarovski pattern so that it was symmetrical.” While Caleb’s look is undoubtedly the centrepiece of the scene, which An calls one of the most challenging of the series, it’s hard not to be mesmerized by the sparkle of the rest with musicians in flapper-like dresses, performers in cabaret-like costumes, and the waitstaff in pink coattails, all inspired by “Old Hollywood — but with a twist.”

As for Luke, Reggie, and Alex, An wanted them to exude ‘90s fashion while also appealing to the modern viewers who are currently enjoying the resurgence of the era’s trends. “I wanted to bring all the timeless ‘90s pieces for the boys so that, looking at it today, you know that it’s ‘90s but still, it’s like, ‘That’s something I would wear today.’” She created a unique ‘90s look for each one, with Luke dressed as the “die-hard rockstar” with cutoff muscle shirts and the tight pants; Reggie, the “timeless rock and roll guy” who wears flannel while simultaneously channelling James Dean with the leather jacket, white T-shirt, and black jeans; and Owen “bring[ing] in some of that ‘90s street in a hoodie-cargo pant look with the cool ‘90s sneakers.” 

Indeed, the ‘90s staples of today, like Champion hoodies, tie-dye shirts, and retro-esque Nike sneakers, are all on display, proving just how cyclical fashion is — and how much foresight An had while filming. “I like to think forward,” she says. “I like to do, like, trend forecasting and create fashion trends on projects that I am working on that I foresee happening.”

Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?

Newcomer Madison Reyes Is Ready To Do It All

‘Baby-Sitters Club’ Features ‘90s Trends For Gen Z

‘Valley Girl’ Remake Is ‘80s Fashion Gold

The Best Trends Of The ‘90s Are Brought Back To Life In Julie And The Phantoms published first on https://mariakistler.tumblr.com/

[myresearchworld]

Offers on Monday, December 2, 2019

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AT&T Wireless Christmas Deals, Sales & Coupons 2019

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Walmart Christmas Deals, Sales & Coupons 2019

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[dat2ndaccount97]

Did I really spend $20 on a doll just for the outfit she came with? Yes, yes I did. I *N E E D E D* that sparkly dress. She's Briana from the Be You Crew which is exclusive to CVS btw. She's made by Just Play Toys but apparently shares the same body mold as the Naturalistas dolls by Purpose toys.

[newsintodays-blog]

From blue lipstick to Facebook Live, home shopping networks refine their pitch

New Post has been published on https://newsintoday.info/2018/08/15/from-blue-lipstick-to-facebook-live-home-shopping-networks-refine-their-pitch/

From blue lipstick to Facebook Live, home shopping networks refine their pitch

WEST CHESTER, Pa. (Reuters) – HSN, once known as the Home Shopping Network, is getting an image makeover.

A U.S. television network where shoppers can buy everything from electronics to kitchen gadgets, HSN is overhauling its lineup to offer more beauty products while adding streamed video content to win over shoppers without cable TV.

A division of Qurate Retail Group, the network is facing growing competition from Amazon Inc. and Evine Live Inc for consumers like 24-year old Erin Bounds, who regard buying products through TV shows a relic of the past.

“Someone who is 24 doesn’t have the time nor desire to watch an hour-long show about a piece of jewelry or a vacuum when they can get an answer and the product quicker and probably cheaper on Amazon,” said Bounds, a resident of Ellicott City, Maryland.

For decades, the main difference to shoppers between HSN and Qurate’s other shopping network, QVC, typically came down to variations in branding and merchandise, with HSN selling more electronics. Qurate acquired HSN in late 2017 for $2.1 billion so the two shopping networks could join forces to better compete against Amazon and its home-shopping-style online video promotions.

Qurate executives told Reuters they now are culling HSN’s core merchandise offerings to eliminate many higher-priced electronics and some home goods, such as vacuum cleaners and blenders.

Instead, they are adding more niche cosmetic and apparel brands to help draw some distinction with QVC. They are also pushing both QVC and HSN to pursue younger shoppers with click-to-buy links on Instagram and Facebook Live for items such as earrings, shoes and Vince Camuto jeans, in a bid to spark a rebound in demand.

Second-quarter revenue at HSN declined 12 percent to $473 million from $533 million a year later the company announced Wednesday. Stock in the company, which counts media mogul John Malone as one of its largest investors, is down about 8 percent year to date, compared with a 14 percent increase for the Nasdaq index, and 64 percent increase for Amazon.com year to date.

“You’re seeing the impact of them digesting a large organization that is clearly not growing if you look at the numbers,” said Ben Claremon, partner and research analyst at investment firm Cove Street Capital, one of Qurate’s shareholders.

“There’s just not the degree of demand for home shopping products, and the desire to spend hours of the day watching them diminishes as you go down in age,” he said.

A studio set is seen at the QVC Studio Park in West Chester, Pennsylvania, U.S., June 4, 2018. Picture taken June 4, 2018. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid.

BALANCING BLUE LIPSTICK WITH BRACELETS

The new strategy is aimed at creating more distinction with the two cable channels after the merger, according to Rob Robillard, the new VP of Beauty Integration at Qurate.

In beauty, for example, one of HSN’s top selling products is Too Faced “Unicorn Tears” blue lipstick, which sells for roughly $22. One of QVC’s best products is the Doll 10 Nude lipstick with a price tag of around $25, noted Robillard.

“We were sort of hoping there would be this real big difference between HSN and QVC,” he said. “But the two are actually very similar.”

Qurate will partner with Robin Burns-McNeill, chairman of Batallure Beauty, a company specializing in brand strategy, product and package development, sourcing and manufacturing in the fragrance, cosmetics and skincare categories, to create a collection of proprietary beauty brands, the company told Reuters exclusively.

The first manufactured beauty products from this partnership are slated to launch in fall 2019 on QVC.com, and, if all goes well, the company said they would likely tap on Burns-McNeill’s shoulder to create proprietary brands for HSN as well.

They have a tall order. Amazon is the top online destination for beauty and the fifth-most-popular retailer for skincare and cosmetics, according to Coresight Research, behind leaders Walmart, CVS Health, Target Corp and Walgreens. QVC and HSN do not rank on the list.

In March 2016, Amazon launched “Style Code Live,” a daily live fashion show which has since gone off-air.

This June, Amazon unveiled Prime Wardrobe in the United States, allowing Prime members to try on clothing, shoes, and accessories before purchase. Customers have up to seven days to try their clothes on at home, and are charged only for those items they choose to keep.

Celebrity-driven shows and videos on QVC still have their upside, according to vendors such as Xcel Brands Inc Chief Executive Robert D’Loren. A QVC apparel vendor for more than six years, D’Loren cites on-air appearances of fashion designer and QVC host Isaac Mizrahi – D’Loren’s largest, most successful brand on QVC – as strategic advantage for selling goods on TV.

D’Loren thinks Qurate, which currently accounts for 60 percent of Xcel’s brand volume, is well-positioned to take on competitors Amazon.com and video retailer Evine, and that it’s “only a matter of time” before millennials like Bounds give Qurate’s QVC and HSN a shot.

“There is something to tuning in, watching, having product fully demonstrated to you that is unique and has great value, and I haven’t seen that anywhere else in the market,” he said.

(This version of the story corrects initial reference to HSN from Home Shopping Network)

Slideshow (21 Images)

Editing by Vanessa O’Connell and Edward Tobin

Our Standards:The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Source link

[smartwebhostingblog]

From blue lipstick to Facebook Live, home shopping networks refine their pitch

New Post has been published on http://affordablewebhostingsearch.com/from-blue-lipstick-to-facebook-live-home-shopping-networks-refine-their-pitch/

From blue lipstick to Facebook Live, home shopping networks refine their pitch

WEST CHESTER, Pa. (Reuters) – The Home Shopping Network is getting an image makeover.

A studio set is seen at the QVC Studio Park in West Chester, Pennsylvania, U.S., June 4, 2018. Picture taken June 4, 2018. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid.

A U.S. television network where shoppers can buy everything from electronics to kitchen gadgets, the Home Shopping Network is overhauling its lineup to offer more beauty products while adding streamed video content to win over shoppers without cable TV.

A division of Qurate Retail Group, the network is facing growing competition from Amazon Inc. and Evine Live Inc for consumers like 24-year old Erin Bounds, who regard buying products through TV shows a relic of the past.

“Someone who is 24 doesn’t have the time nor desire to watch an hour-long show about a piece of jewelry or a vacuum when they can get an answer and the product quicker and probably cheaper on Amazon,” said Bounds, a resident of Ellicott City, Maryland.

For decades, the main difference to shoppers between HSN and Qurate’s other shopping network, QVC, typically came down to variations in branding and merchandise, with HSN selling more electronics. Qurate acquired HSN in late 2017 for $2.1 billion so the two shopping networks could join forces to better compete against Amazon and its home-shopping-style online video promotions.

Qurate executives told Reuters they now are culling HSN’s core merchandise offerings to eliminate many higher-priced electronics and some home goods, such as vacuum cleaners and blenders.

Host Sloane Glass sells beauty products during a Facebook live event at the QVC Studio Park in West Chester, Pennsylvania, U.S., June 4, 2018. Picture taken June 4, 2018. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid

Instead, they are adding more niche cosmetic and apparel brands to help draw some distinction with QVC. They are also pushing both QVC and HSN to pursue younger shoppers with click-to-buy links on Instagram and Facebook Live for items such as earrings, shoes and Vince Camuto jeans, in a bid to spark a rebound in demand.

Second-quarter revenue at HSN declined 12 percent to $473 million from $533 million a year later the company announced Wednesday. Stock in the company, which counts media mogul John Malone as one of its largest investors, is down about 8 percent year to date, compared with a 14 percent increase for the Nasdaq index, and 64 percent increase for Amazon.com year to date.

“You’re seeing the impact of them digesting a large organization that is clearly not growing if you look at the numbers,” said Ben Claremon, partner and research analyst at investment firm Cove Street Capital, one of Qurate’s shareholders.

“There’s just not the degree of demand for home shopping products, and the desire to spend hours of the day watching them diminishes as you go down in age,” he said.

BALANCING BLUE LIPSTICK WITH BRACELETS

The new strategy is aimed at creating more distinction with the two cable channels after the merger, according to Rob Robillard, the new VP of Beauty Integration at Qurate.

In beauty, for example, one of HSN’s top selling products is Too Faced “Unicorn Tears” blue lipstick, which sells for roughly $22. One of QVC’s best products is the Doll 10 Nude lipstick with a price tag of around $25, noted Robillard.

Slideshow (20 Images)

“We were sort of hoping there would be this real big difference between HSN and QVC,” he said. “But the two are actually very similar.”

Qurate will partner with Robin Burns-McNeill, chairman of Batallure Beauty, a company specializing in brand strategy, product and package development, sourcing and manufacturing in the fragrance, cosmetics and skincare categories, to create a collection of proprietary beauty brands, the company told Reuters exclusively.

The first manufactured beauty products from this partnership are slated to launch in fall 2019 on QVC.com, and, if all goes well, the company said they would likely tap on Burns-McNeill’s shoulder to create proprietary brands for HSN as well.

They have a tall order. Amazon is the top online destination for beauty and the fifth-most-popular retailer for skincare and cosmetics, according to Coresight Research, behind leaders Walmart, CVS Health, Target Corp and Walgreens. QVC and HSN do not rank on the list.

In March 2016, Amazon launched “Style Code Live,” a daily live fashion show which has since gone off-air.

This June, Amazon unveiled Prime Wardrobe in the United States, allowing Prime members to try on clothing, shoes, and accessories before purchase. Customers have up to seven days to try their clothes on at home, and are charged only for those items they choose to keep.

Celebrity-driven shows and videos on QVC still have their upside, according to vendors such as Xcel Brands Inc Chief Executive Robert D’Loren. A QVC apparel vendor for more than six years, D’Loren cites on-air appearances of fashion designer and QVC host Isaac Mizrahi – D’Loren’s largest, most successful brand on QVC – as strategic advantage for the home shopping network.

D’Loren thinks Qurate, which currently accounts for 60 percent of Xcel’s brand volume, is well-positioned to take on competitors Amazon.com and video retailer Evine, and that it’s “only a matter of time” before millennials like Bounds give Qurate’s QVC and HSN a shot.

“There is something to tuning in, watching, having product fully demonstrated to you that is unique and has great value, and I haven’t seen that anywhere else in the market,” he said.

Editing by Vanessa O’Connell and Edward Tobin

Our Standards:The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

[lazilysillyprince]

From blue lipstick to Facebook Live, home shopping networks refine their pitch

New Post has been published on http://affordablewebhostingsearch.com/from-blue-lipstick-to-facebook-live-home-shopping-networks-refine-their-pitch/

From blue lipstick to Facebook Live, home shopping networks refine their pitch

WEST CHESTER, Pa. (Reuters) – The Home Shopping Network is getting an image makeover.

A studio set is seen at the QVC Studio Park in West Chester, Pennsylvania, U.S., June 4, 2018. Picture taken June 4, 2018. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid.

A U.S. television network where shoppers can buy everything from electronics to kitchen gadgets, the Home Shopping Network is overhauling its lineup to offer more beauty products while adding streamed video content to win over shoppers without cable TV.

A division of Qurate Retail Group, the network is facing growing competition from Amazon Inc. and Evine Live Inc for consumers like 24-year old Erin Bounds, who regard buying products through TV shows a relic of the past.

“Someone who is 24 doesn’t have the time nor desire to watch an hour-long show about a piece of jewelry or a vacuum when they can get an answer and the product quicker and probably cheaper on Amazon,” said Bounds, a resident of Ellicott City, Maryland.

For decades, the main difference to shoppers between HSN and Qurate’s other shopping network, QVC, typically came down to variations in branding and merchandise, with HSN selling more electronics. Qurate acquired HSN in late 2017 for $2.1 billion so the two shopping networks could join forces to better compete against Amazon and its home-shopping-style online video promotions.

Qurate executives told Reuters they now are culling HSN’s core merchandise offerings to eliminate many higher-priced electronics and some home goods, such as vacuum cleaners and blenders.

Host Sloane Glass sells beauty products during a Facebook live event at the QVC Studio Park in West Chester, Pennsylvania, U.S., June 4, 2018. Picture taken June 4, 2018. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid

Instead, they are adding more niche cosmetic and apparel brands to help draw some distinction with QVC. They are also pushing both QVC and HSN to pursue younger shoppers with click-to-buy links on Instagram and Facebook Live for items such as earrings, shoes and Vince Camuto jeans, in a bid to spark a rebound in demand.

Second-quarter revenue at HSN declined 12 percent to $473 million from $533 million a year later the company announced Wednesday. Stock in the company, which counts media mogul John Malone as one of its largest investors, is down about 8 percent year to date, compared with a 14 percent increase for the Nasdaq index, and 64 percent increase for Amazon.com year to date.

“You’re seeing the impact of them digesting a large organization that is clearly not growing if you look at the numbers,” said Ben Claremon, partner and research analyst at investment firm Cove Street Capital, one of Qurate’s shareholders.

“There’s just not the degree of demand for home shopping products, and the desire to spend hours of the day watching them diminishes as you go down in age,” he said.

BALANCING BLUE LIPSTICK WITH BRACELETS

The new strategy is aimed at creating more distinction with the two cable channels after the merger, according to Rob Robillard, the new VP of Beauty Integration at Qurate.

In beauty, for example, one of HSN’s top selling products is Too Faced “Unicorn Tears” blue lipstick, which sells for roughly $22. One of QVC’s best products is the Doll 10 Nude lipstick with a price tag of around $25, noted Robillard.

Slideshow (20 Images)

“We were sort of hoping there would be this real big difference between HSN and QVC,” he said. “But the two are actually very similar.”

Qurate will partner with Robin Burns-McNeill, chairman of Batallure Beauty, a company specializing in brand strategy, product and package development, sourcing and manufacturing in the fragrance, cosmetics and skincare categories, to create a collection of proprietary beauty brands, the company told Reuters exclusively.

The first manufactured beauty products from this partnership are slated to launch in fall 2019 on QVC.com, and, if all goes well, the company said they would likely tap on Burns-McNeill’s shoulder to create proprietary brands for HSN as well.

They have a tall order. Amazon is the top online destination for beauty and the fifth-most-popular retailer for skincare and cosmetics, according to Coresight Research, behind leaders Walmart, CVS Health, Target Corp and Walgreens. QVC and HSN do not rank on the list.

In March 2016, Amazon launched “Style Code Live,” a daily live fashion show which has since gone off-air.

This June, Amazon unveiled Prime Wardrobe in the United States, allowing Prime members to try on clothing, shoes, and accessories before purchase. Customers have up to seven days to try their clothes on at home, and are charged only for those items they choose to keep.

Celebrity-driven shows and videos on QVC still have their upside, according to vendors such as Xcel Brands Inc Chief Executive Robert D’Loren. A QVC apparel vendor for more than six years, D’Loren cites on-air appearances of fashion designer and QVC host Isaac Mizrahi – D’Loren’s largest, most successful brand on QVC – as strategic advantage for the home shopping network.

D’Loren thinks Qurate, which currently accounts for 60 percent of Xcel’s brand volume, is well-positioned to take on competitors Amazon.com and video retailer Evine, and that it’s “only a matter of time” before millennials like Bounds give Qurate’s QVC and HSN a shot.

“There is something to tuning in, watching, having product fully demonstrated to you that is unique and has great value, and I haven’t seen that anywhere else in the market,” he said.

Editing by Vanessa O’Connell and Edward Tobin

Our Standards:The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

[hostingnewsfeed]

From blue lipstick to Facebook Live, home shopping networks refine their pitch

New Post has been published on http://webhostingtop3.com/from-blue-lipstick-to-facebook-live-home-shopping-networks-refine-their-pitch/

From blue lipstick to Facebook Live, home shopping networks refine their pitch

WEST CHESTER, Pa. (Reuters) – The Home Shopping Network is getting an image makeover.

A studio set is seen at the QVC Studio Park in West Chester, Pennsylvania, U.S., June 4, 2018. Picture taken June 4, 2018. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid.

A U.S. television network where shoppers can buy everything from electronics to kitchen gadgets, the Home Shopping Network is overhauling its lineup to offer more beauty products while adding streamed video content to win over shoppers without cable TV.

A division of Qurate Retail Group, the network is facing growing competition from Amazon Inc. and Evine Live Inc for consumers like 24-year old Erin Bounds, who regard buying products through TV shows a relic of the past.

“Someone who is 24 doesn’t have the time nor desire to watch an hour-long show about a piece of jewelry or a vacuum when they can get an answer and the product quicker and probably cheaper on Amazon,” said Bounds, a resident of Ellicott City, Maryland.

For decades, the main difference to shoppers between HSN and Qurate’s other shopping network, QVC, typically came down to variations in branding and merchandise, with HSN selling more electronics. Qurate acquired HSN in late 2017 for $ 2.1 billion so the two shopping networks could join forces to better compete against Amazon and its home-shopping-style online video promotions.

Qurate executives told Reuters they now are culling HSN’s core merchandise offerings to eliminate many higher-priced electronics and some home goods, such as vacuum cleaners and blenders.

Host Sloane Glass sells beauty products during a Facebook live event at the QVC Studio Park in West Chester, Pennsylvania, U.S., June 4, 2018. Picture taken June 4, 2018. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid

Instead, they are adding more niche cosmetic and apparel brands to help draw some distinction with QVC. They are also pushing both QVC and HSN to pursue younger shoppers with click-to-buy links on Instagram and Facebook Live for items such as earrings, shoes and Vince Camuto jeans, in a bid to spark a rebound in demand.

Second-quarter revenue at HSN declined 12 percent to $ 473 million from $ 533 million a year later the company announced Wednesday. Stock in the company, which counts media mogul John Malone as one of its largest investors, is down about 8 percent year to date, compared with a 14 percent increase for the Nasdaq index, and 64 percent increase for Amazon.com year to date.

“You’re seeing the impact of them digesting a large organization that is clearly not growing if you look at the numbers,” said Ben Claremon, partner and research analyst at investment firm Cove Street Capital, one of Qurate’s shareholders.

“There’s just not the degree of demand for home shopping products, and the desire to spend hours of the day watching them diminishes as you go down in age,” he said.

BALANCING BLUE LIPSTICK WITH BRACELETS

The new strategy is aimed at creating more distinction with the two cable channels after the merger, according to Rob Robillard, the new VP of Beauty Integration at Qurate.

In beauty, for example, one of HSN’s top selling products is Too Faced “Unicorn Tears” blue lipstick, which sells for roughly $ 22. One of QVC’s best products is the Doll 10 Nude lipstick with a price tag of around $ 25, noted Robillard.

Slideshow (20 Images)

“We were sort of hoping there would be this real big difference between HSN and QVC,” he said. “But the two are actually very similar.”

Qurate will partner with Robin Burns-McNeill, chairman of Batallure Beauty, a company specializing in brand strategy, product and package development, sourcing and manufacturing in the fragrance, cosmetics and skincare categories, to create a collection of proprietary beauty brands, the company told Reuters exclusively.

The first manufactured beauty products from this partnership are slated to launch in fall 2019 on QVC.com, and, if all goes well, the company said they would likely tap on Burns-McNeill’s shoulder to create proprietary brands for HSN as well.

They have a tall order. Amazon is the top online destination for beauty and the fifth-most-popular retailer for skincare and cosmetics, according to Coresight Research, behind leaders Walmart, CVS Health, Target Corp and Walgreens. QVC and HSN do not rank on the list.

In March 2016, Amazon launched “Style Code Live,” a daily live fashion show which has since gone off-air.

This June, Amazon unveiled Prime Wardrobe in the United States, allowing Prime members to try on clothing, shoes, and accessories before purchase. Customers have up to seven days to try their clothes on at home, and are charged only for those items they choose to keep.

Celebrity-driven shows and videos on QVC still have their upside, according to vendors such as Xcel Brands Inc Chief Executive Robert D’Loren. A QVC apparel vendor for more than six years, D’Loren cites on-air appearances of fashion designer and QVC host Isaac Mizrahi – D’Loren’s largest, most successful brand on QVC – as strategic advantage for the home shopping network.

D’Loren thinks Qurate, which currently accounts for 60 percent of Xcel’s brand volume, is well-positioned to take on competitors Amazon.com and video retailer Evine, and that it’s “only a matter of time” before millennials like Bounds give Qurate’s QVC and HSN a shot.

“There is something to tuning in, watching, having product fully demonstrated to you that is unique and has great value, and I haven’t seen that anywhere else in the market,” he said.

Editing by Vanessa O’Connell and Edward Tobin

Our Standards:The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Tech

[sinful-liesel]

~September 2017~ Drama CDs

Please note that unless specified, the purchase link will be for Animate International. This list is for those who want to import Drama CDs with Animate exclusive bonuses without having to use a forwarding service.

Bonus: Please note: 1. Not all Drama CDs offer a bonus. 2. Bonuses are offered only as stocks last

Missing Purchase link: The Drama CD is not available yet in Animate International. You can contact Animate International and request the series that you’re interested in. I will update the link once it’s available, however, if for any reason they can’t offer it, I will try to look for another international seller.

Do you want to sin? {Yes, take me to the Drama CD R18 section!} {No, I’ll pass ↴ }  (Previous Month)

Release date: 9.6.17

THE MARBLE LITTLES(マーブルリトルズ) 第1巻 紳士の夢と汽車の旅 ～アラン編～

THE MARBLE LITTLES Drama CD Vol. 1 Shinshi no Yume to Kisha no Tabi - Aran  Purchase

Release date: 9.10.17

一途なカレにひたすら告白されるCD 腹黒天使編(CV.千葉翔也)

Ichizu na Kare ni Hitasura Kokuhaku Sareru CD Haraguro Tenshi Hen (CV: Shouya Shiba) Purchase

Release date: 9.15.17

Love on Ride ～ 通勤彼氏 Vol.7 霧島匡(CV.小野友樹)

Love on Ride ~Tsuukin Kareshi Vol.7 Kirishima Kyo (CV. Yuuki Ono   Purchase

Love on Ride ～ 通勤彼氏 Vol.8 巴月奏翔(CV.花江夏樹)

Love on Ride ~Tsuukin Kareshi Vol.8 Hazuki Kanato (CV. Natsuki Hanae) Purchase

Release date: 9.20.17

アクマに囁かれ魅了されるCD Dance with Devils -Charming Book- Vol.6 ローエン (CV.鈴木達央)

Dance with Devils -Charming Book- Vol. 6 Roen (CV: Tatsuhisa Suzuki) Purchase

オネェパラダイス 少女漫画家 橘☆シャルロッテ(CV.島崎信長)

Onee Paradise Shoujo Manga Artist Tachibana☆Charlotte (CV: Nobunaga Shimazaki) Purchase

カレ���と24時間生き抜くCD クリミナーレ!DUELLO Vol.4 ネロ&カラ (CV.平川大輔・下野紘)

Criminale! Duello Vol. 3 Chara & Nero (CV: Shimono Hiro, Hirakawa Daisuke) Purchase

ダミーヘッド官能ロック THANATOS NiGHT Re:Vival Vol.5 リアム (CV.鈴木裕斗)

THANATOS NiGHT Re:Vival Vol. 5 Liam (CV: Suzuki Yuuto) Purchase

超密着!取り憑かれCD 幽幻ロマンチカ 破天荒 第六の謎 化け猫 アラハギ (CV.梶裕貴)

Chou Micchaku! Toritsukare CD “Yuugen Romantica Hatenkou” Vol.6 Bakeneko Arahai (CV: Yuki Kaji) Purchase

Release date: 9.26.17

押しかけ親友ドラマCD トゥッティ!フルッティ!! 上巻 ～雨宮楓のありえない目覚め～

Oshikake Shinyuu Drama CD TUTTI FRUTTI Part 1 Amamiya Kaede no Arienai Mezame Purchase

押しかけ親友ドラマCD トゥッティ!フルッティ!! 下巻 ～佐竹結城のありえない目覚め～

Oshikake Shinyuu Drama CD TUTTI FRUTTI Part 2 Satake Yuuki no Arienai Mezame Purchase

Release date: 9.27.17

Corpse†Heart 3rd Night クー (CV.豊永利行)

Corpse†Heart 3rd Night - Kuu (CV: Toyonaga Toshiyuki) Purchase

DIABOLIK LOVERS CHAOS LINEAGE Vol.3 ORANGE

Purchase

DIABOLIK LOVERS Para-Selene Vol.6 逆巻スバル (CV.近藤隆)

DIABOLIK LOVERS Para-Selene Vol. 6 Sakamaki Subaru (CV: Kondo Takashi) Purchase

S+h(スプラッシュ)&Frep(フレップ) シャッフルドラマCD アイドルの1日を追え!3 ～グルメに温泉、地方ロケ編～

S+h & Frep Single Drama CD Idol no no Ichinichi wo Oe! Vol. 3 Purchase

おとどけカレシ Vol.3 芦屋奈義 (CV.田丸篤志)

Otodake Kareshi Vol. 3 Ashiya Nagi (CV:) Purchase

CHARM OF FATE Route.3 言田深詞 アニメイト限定盤(CV.新垣樽助)

CHARM OF FATE Route.3 - Shinji Kotoda (CV. Tarusuke Shingaki)  Purchase Regular | Limited

俺様レジデンス ―西園寺三兄弟―

Ore-sama Residence -Saoinji San Kyoudai- Purchase

和奇伝愛 永恋詩 ～弐ノ巻 赤翅・白十～ (CV.平川大輔、木村良平)

Waki Denai: Eiren Uta Vol. 2 - Akabane & Shirato (CV: Hirakawa Daisuke & Kimura Ryouhei) Purchase

終極のDOLLS 第3巻 ディートリヒ (CV.浪川大輔)

Shuukyoku no DOLLS Vol.3 Dietrich (CV: Kondo Takashi) Purchase

Release date: 9.29.17

茜さすセカイでキミと詠う ～戦う男たち、それぞれの戦場～ 

Akane sasu Sekai de Kimi to Utau Drama CD: Tatakau Otoko tachi, sorezore no Senjou - Purchase Regular | Limited

双子の魔法使いリコとグリ ソロシリーズ ディア「SWEETEST STORY」

Futago no Mahoutsukai Lico to Gli: Solo Series - Dia: SWEETEST STORY Purchase

[todaynewsstories]

From blue lipstick to Facebook Live, home shopping networks refine their pitch

WEST CHESTER, Pa. (Reuters) – The Home Shopping Network is getting an image makeover.

A studio set is seen at the QVC Studio Park in West Chester, Pennsylvania, U.S., June 4, 2018. Picture taken June 4, 2018. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid.

A U.S. television network where shoppers can buy everything from electronics to kitchen gadgets, the Home Shopping Network is overhauling its lineup to offer more beauty products while adding streamed video content to win over shoppers without cable TV.

A division of Qurate Retail Group, the network is facing growing competition from Amazon Inc. and Evine Live Inc for consumers like 24-year old Erin Bounds, who regard buying products through TV shows a relic of the past.

“Someone who is 24 doesn’t have the time nor desire to watch an hour-long show about a piece of jewelry or a vacuum when they can get an answer and the product quicker and probably cheaper on Amazon,” said Bounds, a resident of Ellicott City, Maryland.

For decades, the main difference to shoppers between HSN and Qurate’s other shopping network, QVC, typically came down to variations in branding and merchandise, with HSN selling more electronics. Qurate acquired HSN in late 2017 for $2.1 billion so the two shopping networks could join forces to better compete against Amazon and its home-shopping-style online video promotions.

Qurate executives told Reuters they now are culling HSN’s core merchandise offerings to eliminate many higher-priced electronics and some home goods, such as vacuum cleaners and blenders.

Host Sloane Glass sells beauty products during a Facebook live event at the QVC Studio Park in West Chester, Pennsylvania, U.S., June 4, 2018. Picture taken June 4, 2018. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid

Instead, they are adding more niche cosmetic and apparel brands to help draw some distinction with QVC. They are also pushing both QVC and HSN to pursue younger shoppers with click-to-buy links on Instagram and Facebook Live for items such as earrings, shoes and Vince Camuto jeans, in a bid to spark a rebound in demand.

Second-quarter revenue at HSN declined 12 percent to $473 million from $533 million a year later the company announced Wednesday. Stock in the company, which counts media mogul John Malone as one of its largest investors, is down about 8 percent year to date, compared with a 14 percent increase for the Nasdaq index, and 64 percent increase for Amazon.com year to date.

“You’re seeing the impact of them digesting a large organization that is clearly not growing if you look at the numbers,” said Ben Claremon, partner and research analyst at investment firm Cove Street Capital, one of Qurate’s shareholders.

“There’s just not the degree of demand for home shopping products, and the desire to spend hours of the day watching them diminishes as you go down in age,” he said.

BALANCING BLUE LIPSTICK WITH BRACELETS

The new strategy is aimed at creating more distinction with the two cable channels after the merger, according to Rob Robillard, the new VP of Beauty Integration at Qurate.

In beauty, for example, one of HSN’s top selling products is Too Faced “Unicorn Tears” blue lipstick, which sells for roughly $22. One of QVC’s best products is the Doll 10 Nude lipstick with a price tag of around $25, noted Robillard.

Slideshow (20 Images)

“We were sort of hoping there would be this real big difference between HSN and QVC,” he said. “But the two are actually very similar.”

Qurate will partner with Robin Burns-McNeill, chairman of Batallure Beauty, a company specializing in brand strategy, product and package development, sourcing and manufacturing in the fragrance, cosmetics and skincare categories, to create a collection of proprietary beauty brands, the company told Reuters exclusively.

The first manufactured beauty products from this partnership are slated to launch in fall 2019 on QVC.com, and, if all goes well, the company said they would likely tap on Burns-McNeill’s shoulder to create proprietary brands for HSN as well.

They have a tall order. Amazon is the top online destination for beauty and the fifth-most-popular retailer for skincare and cosmetics, according to Coresight Research, behind leaders Walmart, CVS Health, Target Corp and Walgreens. QVC and HSN do not rank on the list.

In March 2016, Amazon launched “Style Code Live,” a daily live fashion show which has since gone off-air.

This June, Amazon unveiled Prime Wardrobe in the United States, allowing Prime members to try on clothing, shoes, and accessories before purchase. Customers have up to seven days to try their clothes on at home, and are charged only for those items they choose to keep.

Celebrity-driven shows and videos on QVC still have their upside, according to vendors such as Xcel Brands Inc Chief Executive Robert D’Loren. A QVC apparel vendor for more than six years, D’Loren cites on-air appearances of fashion designer and QVC host Isaac Mizrahi – D’Loren’s largest, most successful brand on QVC – as strategic advantage for the home shopping network.

D’Loren thinks Qurate, which currently accounts for 60 percent of Xcel’s brand volume, is well-positioned to take on competitors Amazon.com and video retailer Evine, and that it’s “only a matter of time” before millennials like Bounds give Qurate’s QVC and HSN a shot.

“There is something to tuning in, watching, having product fully demonstrated to you that is unique and has great value, and I haven’t seen that anywhere else in the market,” he said.

Editing by Vanessa O’Connell and Edward Tobin

Our Standards:The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Source link

The post From blue lipstick to Facebook Live, home shopping networks refine their pitch appeared first on Today News Stories.

from WordPress https://ift.tt/2Pc47YG via IFTTT

[smartwebhostingblog]

From blue lipstick to Facebook Live, home shopping networks refine their pitch

New Post has been published on http://webhostingtop3.com/from-blue-lipstick-to-facebook-live-home-shopping-networks-refine-their-pitch/

From blue lipstick to Facebook Live, home shopping networks refine their pitch

WEST CHESTER, Pa. (Reuters) – The Home Shopping Network is getting an image makeover.

A studio set is seen at the QVC Studio Park in West Chester, Pennsylvania, U.S., June 4, 2018. Picture taken June 4, 2018. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid.

A U.S. television network where shoppers can buy everything from electronics to kitchen gadgets, the Home Shopping Network is overhauling its lineup to offer more beauty products while adding streamed video content to win over shoppers without cable TV.

A division of Qurate Retail Group, the network is facing growing competition from Amazon Inc. and Evine Live Inc for consumers like 24-year old Erin Bounds, who regard buying products through TV shows a relic of the past.

“Someone who is 24 doesn’t have the time nor desire to watch an hour-long show about a piece of jewelry or a vacuum when they can get an answer and the product quicker and probably cheaper on Amazon,” said Bounds, a resident of Ellicott City, Maryland.

For decades, the main difference to shoppers between HSN and Qurate’s other shopping network, QVC, typically came down to variations in branding and merchandise, with HSN selling more electronics. Qurate acquired HSN in late 2017 for $ 2.1 billion so the two shopping networks could join forces to better compete against Amazon and its home-shopping-style online video promotions.

Qurate executives told Reuters they now are culling HSN’s core merchandise offerings to eliminate many higher-priced electronics and some home goods, such as vacuum cleaners and blenders.

Host Sloane Glass sells beauty products during a Facebook live event at the QVC Studio Park in West Chester, Pennsylvania, U.S., June 4, 2018. Picture taken June 4, 2018. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid

Instead, they are adding more niche cosmetic and apparel brands to help draw some distinction with QVC. They are also pushing both QVC and HSN to pursue younger shoppers with click-to-buy links on Instagram and Facebook Live for items such as earrings, shoes and Vince Camuto jeans, in a bid to spark a rebound in demand.

Second-quarter revenue at HSN declined 12 percent to $ 473 million from $ 533 million a year later the company announced Wednesday. Stock in the company, which counts media mogul John Malone as one of its largest investors, is down about 8 percent year to date, compared with a 14 percent increase for the Nasdaq index, and 64 percent increase for Amazon.com year to date.

“You’re seeing the impact of them digesting a large organization that is clearly not growing if you look at the numbers,” said Ben Claremon, partner and research analyst at investment firm Cove Street Capital, one of Qurate’s shareholders.

“There’s just not the degree of demand for home shopping products, and the desire to spend hours of the day watching them diminishes as you go down in age,” he said.

BALANCING BLUE LIPSTICK WITH BRACELETS

The new strategy is aimed at creating more distinction with the two cable channels after the merger, according to Rob Robillard, the new VP of Beauty Integration at Qurate.

In beauty, for example, one of HSN’s top selling products is Too Faced “Unicorn Tears” blue lipstick, which sells for roughly $ 22. One of QVC’s best products is the Doll 10 Nude lipstick with a price tag of around $ 25, noted Robillard.

Slideshow (20 Images)

“We were sort of hoping there would be this real big difference between HSN and QVC,” he said. “But the two are actually very similar.”

Qurate will partner with Robin Burns-McNeill, chairman of Batallure Beauty, a company specializing in brand strategy, product and package development, sourcing and manufacturing in the fragrance, cosmetics and skincare categories, to create a collection of proprietary beauty brands, the company told Reuters exclusively.

The first manufactured beauty products from this partnership are slated to launch in fall 2019 on QVC.com, and, if all goes well, the company said they would likely tap on Burns-McNeill’s shoulder to create proprietary brands for HSN as well.

They have a tall order. Amazon is the top online destination for beauty and the fifth-most-popular retailer for skincare and cosmetics, according to Coresight Research, behind leaders Walmart, CVS Health, Target Corp and Walgreens. QVC and HSN do not rank on the list.

In March 2016, Amazon launched “Style Code Live,” a daily live fashion show which has since gone off-air.

This June, Amazon unveiled Prime Wardrobe in the United States, allowing Prime members to try on clothing, shoes, and accessories before purchase. Customers have up to seven days to try their clothes on at home, and are charged only for those items they choose to keep.

Celebrity-driven shows and videos on QVC still have their upside, according to vendors such as Xcel Brands Inc Chief Executive Robert D’Loren. A QVC apparel vendor for more than six years, D’Loren cites on-air appearances of fashion designer and QVC host Isaac Mizrahi – D’Loren’s largest, most successful brand on QVC – as strategic advantage for the home shopping network.

D’Loren thinks Qurate, which currently accounts for 60 percent of Xcel’s brand volume, is well-positioned to take on competitors Amazon.com and video retailer Evine, and that it’s “only a matter of time” before millennials like Bounds give Qurate’s QVC and HSN a shot.

“There is something to tuning in, watching, having product fully demonstrated to you that is unique and has great value, and I haven’t seen that anywhere else in the market,” he said.

Editing by Vanessa O’Connell and Edward Tobin

Our Standards:The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Tech

[lazilysillyprince]

From blue lipstick to Facebook Live, home shopping networks refine their pitch

New Post has been published on http://webhostingtop3.com/from-blue-lipstick-to-facebook-live-home-shopping-networks-refine-their-pitch/

From blue lipstick to Facebook Live, home shopping networks refine their pitch

WEST CHESTER, Pa. (Reuters) – The Home Shopping Network is getting an image makeover.

A studio set is seen at the QVC Studio Park in West Chester, Pennsylvania, U.S., June 4, 2018. Picture taken June 4, 2018. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid.

A U.S. television network where shoppers can buy everything from electronics to kitchen gadgets, the Home Shopping Network is overhauling its lineup to offer more beauty products while adding streamed video content to win over shoppers without cable TV.

A division of Qurate Retail Group, the network is facing growing competition from Amazon Inc. and Evine Live Inc for consumers like 24-year old Erin Bounds, who regard buying products through TV shows a relic of the past.

“Someone who is 24 doesn’t have the time nor desire to watch an hour-long show about a piece of jewelry or a vacuum when they can get an answer and the product quicker and probably cheaper on Amazon,” said Bounds, a resident of Ellicott City, Maryland.

For decades, the main difference to shoppers between HSN and Qurate’s other shopping network, QVC, typically came down to variations in branding and merchandise, with HSN selling more electronics. Qurate acquired HSN in late 2017 for $ 2.1 billion so the two shopping networks could join forces to better compete against Amazon and its home-shopping-style online video promotions.

Qurate executives told Reuters they now are culling HSN’s core merchandise offerings to eliminate many higher-priced electronics and some home goods, such as vacuum cleaners and blenders.

Host Sloane Glass sells beauty products during a Facebook live event at the QVC Studio Park in West Chester, Pennsylvania, U.S., June 4, 2018. Picture taken June 4, 2018. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid

Instead, they are adding more niche cosmetic and apparel brands to help draw some distinction with QVC. They are also pushing both QVC and HSN to pursue younger shoppers with click-to-buy links on Instagram and Facebook Live for items such as earrings, shoes and Vince Camuto jeans, in a bid to spark a rebound in demand.

Second-quarter revenue at HSN declined 12 percent to $ 473 million from $ 533 million a year later the company announced Wednesday. Stock in the company, which counts media mogul John Malone as one of its largest investors, is down about 8 percent year to date, compared with a 14 percent increase for the Nasdaq index, and 64 percent increase for Amazon.com year to date.

“You’re seeing the impact of them digesting a large organization that is clearly not growing if you look at the numbers,” said Ben Claremon, partner and research analyst at investment firm Cove Street Capital, one of Qurate’s shareholders.

“There’s just not the degree of demand for home shopping products, and the desire to spend hours of the day watching them diminishes as you go down in age,” he said.

BALANCING BLUE LIPSTICK WITH BRACELETS

The new strategy is aimed at creating more distinction with the two cable channels after the merger, according to Rob Robillard, the new VP of Beauty Integration at Qurate.

In beauty, for example, one of HSN’s top selling products is Too Faced “Unicorn Tears” blue lipstick, which sells for roughly $ 22. One of QVC’s best products is the Doll 10 Nude lipstick with a price tag of around $ 25, noted Robillard.

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“We were sort of hoping there would be this real big difference between HSN and QVC,” he said. “But the two are actually very similar.”

Qurate will partner with Robin Burns-McNeill, chairman of Batallure Beauty, a company specializing in brand strategy, product and package development, sourcing and manufacturing in the fragrance, cosmetics and skincare categories, to create a collection of proprietary beauty brands, the company told Reuters exclusively.

The first manufactured beauty products from this partnership are slated to launch in fall 2019 on QVC.com, and, if all goes well, the company said they would likely tap on Burns-McNeill’s shoulder to create proprietary brands for HSN as well.

They have a tall order. Amazon is the top online destination for beauty and the fifth-most-popular retailer for skincare and cosmetics, according to Coresight Research, behind leaders Walmart, CVS Health, Target Corp and Walgreens. QVC and HSN do not rank on the list.

In March 2016, Amazon launched “Style Code Live,” a daily live fashion show which has since gone off-air.

This June, Amazon unveiled Prime Wardrobe in the United States, allowing Prime members to try on clothing, shoes, and accessories before purchase. Customers have up to seven days to try their clothes on at home, and are charged only for those items they choose to keep.

Celebrity-driven shows and videos on QVC still have their upside, according to vendors such as Xcel Brands Inc Chief Executive Robert D’Loren. A QVC apparel vendor for more than six years, D’Loren cites on-air appearances of fashion designer and QVC host Isaac Mizrahi – D’Loren’s largest, most successful brand on QVC – as strategic advantage for the home shopping network.

D’Loren thinks Qurate, which currently accounts for 60 percent of Xcel’s brand volume, is well-positioned to take on competitors Amazon.com and video retailer Evine, and that it’s “only a matter of time” before millennials like Bounds give Qurate’s QVC and HSN a shot.

“There is something to tuning in, watching, having product fully demonstrated to you that is unique and has great value, and I haven’t seen that anywhere else in the market,” he said.

Editing by Vanessa O’Connell and Edward Tobin

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