Saturday, April 3, 2010

Connie Stevens Forever Springs


Connie Stevens ... 70 and beautiful

Actress and singer, Connie Stevens, had a hugely successful skincare line on HSN in the 90's called Forever Spring. And then suddenly Connie and her skincare line disappeared from the network.

So what happened that caused Connie and HSN to split?

According to a Los Angeles Magazine article from March 2000, sales of the Forever Spring line dropped from a peak of $30 million per year to just under $6 million in 1999.

HSN VP David Ender said that it's all about "dollars per minute" and that "when her products began to sell less, we had to cut back her airtime." Ender also said that Connie did not take the news well. (Honestly, who would?)

HSN was obviously interested in keeping the sales volume high and pressured Connie to lower her prices. This would have forced her to lower the quality of her packaging and ingredients, and that wasn't something Connie was willing to do.

I just want to point out that one of the most commonly heard complaints from customers is that the longer a product line is on a home shopping channel, the more the quality goes down. This story only serves to reinforce that belief. If Connie would have listened to them, her returns would have increased and her reputation gone down. I can't say that I blame her for sticking to her guns on this one.

Relations between Connie and HSN continued to fall apart. At one point, she even openly questioned HSN's integrity during a national interview with Larry King.

During Connie's time on HSN, she was also being sued by her manager, Norton Styne. He felt that he was due a ceratin percentage for all the sales she made on HSN for originally landing her the deal with the network. Connie did not agree and stopped paying him. The case went all the way to the California Supreme Court.

Connie's case was cited in a similar case involving Billy Blanks, which summed it up nicely:
Connie Stevens, a well known entertainer, developed a restorative skin care line known as Forever Spring, Inc., which she personally sold on the Home Shopping Network (HSN) through infomercials. Profits from Forever Spring, Inc. exceeded everyone’s expectations. During the first couple of years of selling this skin line on HSN, Stevens regularly compensated her manager, Norton Styne. Payments, however, ceased at some point resulting in Styne filing a breach of contract lawsuit against Stevens seeking more than $4,000,000.00 in unpaid profits. The issue of whether Stevens acted as an “artist” when selling her products on HSN via her infomercials, was raised in the talent agency controversy. In concluding that Stevens’ show-business life and her wholesale business enterprise life were “inextricably interwined,” the Labor Commissioner noted that Stevens used her name, personality, charm and charisma to sell the product on television. Additionally, HSN required Stevens to appear on television as a condition of the sale. The Commissioner also noted that a rough script was followed and entertaining stories were told by Stevens during the infomercials.
So Connie had two new beauty lines, Serious Skin Care and Signature A Club, nipping at her heels while she was being sued by her manager for $4 million. And then HSN cut her airtime and demanded that she cheapen her product. No wonder she cut ties!

Now at 71, Connie is still continuing to reinvent herself. She most recently wrote, produced, and directed the film, Saving Grace B. Jones, which starred Tatum O'Neal. You can read an in-depth review of the film at The Passionate Moviegoer blog.

And if you want to purchase her skincare products, they are still available on her website.

29 comments:

  1. Interesting! I can't believe HSN would want her to cheapen her products. Speaking of SSC you know on the message boards (esp. when they used to have special sections for SSC, Italian Bath, etc.) people would always want to know the percentage of certain ingredients in products? But Jennifer would always say, "It's the recommended dose." Well, how do we know that? She never says. If Adrienne's original Arpel products were so great, why Signature Club A? I believe Beauticontrol owns Adrien Aprel.com
    I remember watching Connie's 10th anniversary show, and soon after she was gone. While the hosts might care and be friends with a vendor, the suits, only care about the bottom line. Connie always seemed like a nice lady, and I always assumed she'd wind up on the Q. It's sad that HSN backstabbed her.

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  2. Carol ... you are a wealth of information, my dear! --qb

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  3. Hi Queen Bea, HSN used to have official categories on their message boards for Serious Skin Care (SeriousJohn and SeriousLinda used to post) and Italian Bath & Body. (Scip used to post). I can't remember if SCA had her own board. Then they took those boards down and instituted blogs for the vendors.But,many shoppers comment their displeasure over the issues-of-the-day on the blogs comments section. I think that the reason the vendors (and/or associates) stopped posting in an official message board setting was that many ladies were angered that SSC used their email addresses for their at-home distribution program.(Same products, just different names)
    I did hear a rumor from the very reliable folks at the off-site Italian beauty board that Scip and Amanda are bringing the original Snowdrop formula back. So, the vendors do listen to what, we, the customers have to say.That doesn't mean that they honor every request. I believe if Facebook, myspace, etc. were out during Forever Spring's dismissal from HSN, it would have been a message board "war" of epic proportions! :) Thank you for letting us know the real truth to what happened.

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  4. I have always love Connie Stevens products and was sad not to see her on hsn but I still buy her product and know it is a very good product. I am glad to know what happened. I did hear some of what she said but was never sure what happened. Thank you

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  5. i have been using Connie's Products for close to fifteen years and I am proud of the way I look. I will be seventy in a few weeks. I will continue to use the products and I also had the opportunity of meeting Connie at a luncheon she gave for a selected few users. I wish her all the best in the future.

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  6. I started using Connies products when she firs aired on HSN and use them to this day. Her ginseng creme and skin quencher cannot be beat by anyone. She introduced the time machine first and then the other lines followed her. Forever Spring has her heart and soul in it and it cannot be beat. Kim Hurley, Ohio

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  7. I used Connie Steven's skin care collection when she was on HSN for 10 yrs. then one day she was gone and I ran out of it.I didn't know where to get it after that. I didn't have a P.C. at the time. then the other day my daughter asked me why we didn't get the Baby soft clay anymore, and I said that's a good question. I told her I would go on line to try and find it. I found MS. Steven's website i was really happen, but then wouldn't you know it she was out of the baby soft clay even in the small tubes, that must be everyone's favorite. LOL. So I will wait until she get's it back in and surprise my daughter with it. I hope it's soon.
    Maryann Long Island NY

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  8. I am so happy to have found this site to, once and for all, put to bed why Connie Stevens left HSN. I, for one, have been a very happy customer of her products and to this day (many years have gone by since my purchase of the Time Machine)I would NEVER be without it and the Collagen Skin Quencher. I just happened to assemble picture of myself from over the last 30 years and more importantly, 15 years since I initially first purchased C.S. Forever Spring products to send to my rep at Forever Spring. I was heartbroken when Connie was no longer on HSN. Truthfully, I've tried some of the above-mentioned companies with no results. CONNIE STEVENS PRODUCTS HAVE LONG-TERM RESULTS....thank you, thank you.

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  9. I am glad I finally found your website Ms. Connie Stevens. I ordered the time machine a while back and also the Collagen Skin Quencher from HSN and I wanted to order the Collagen Skin Quencher again but you were no longer there. I am glad I have a computer and I finally found you and I ordered some more of the Collagen Skin Quencher (2 packs)and I will keep ordering from you because I really love your products because they really help my skin to look younger. Thank you, thank you very much. Keep up the good work!

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  10. Your post really informative as well as helpful for my Beauty and Personal Care Homeshopping Market Research and Development.

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  11. What happened to the gentleman who used to sell Maggie Sweet on HSN?

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    1. google danial kiviat (not sure of the
      spelling) a lot of info. I too was a Maggie sweet customer. I still have some
      of the top, and they look brand new.

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  12. I LOVED CONNIE STEVENS ON HSN, AND HER PRODUCTS, ESPECIALLY THE TIME MACHINE. HUNTED DOWN HER WEBSITE WHEN SHE LEFT HSN. I HAVE TRIED OTHERS ONLY BECAUSE I AM A FEMALE AND CURIOUS ABOUT WHAT IS OUT THERE.

    I CAN TELL YOU THAT I HAVE BOUGHT AND TRIED THE ENTIRE LINES OF THE FOLLOWING: ADRIEN ARPEL'S PRODUCTS ARE JUNK, AND SERIOUS SKIN CARE'S PRODUCTS ARE JUST USELESS, PRICEY GARBAGE.

    FOREVER SPRING IS STILL THE BEST AS FAR AS I AM CONCERNED. I AM PURCHASING ANOTHER TIME MACHINE FROM CONNIE BECAUSE AFTER 15 YEARS, I DROPPED AND BROKE MINE. SHOULD USE IT MORE, BUT I GET LAZY. STILL LOVE HER COLLAGEN SPRAY AND SKIN QUENCHER.

    WHILE I AM AWARE THAT COLLAGEN IS TOO BIG A MOLECULE TO PENETRATE THE SKIN, IT DOES SMOOTH AND BRIGHTEN MINE ON THE SURFACE, AND THE TIME MACHINE DOES WORK. I LOOK LIKE I AM 25 YEARS YOUNGER THAN MY CHRONOLOGICAL AGE.

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  13. I ADORE Connie's Ginseng Facial Feed! I am so glad it is still available!

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  14. You can go to her site forever spring.com and order all kinds of products. I have just started using the time machine and love it.

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  15. I too began using Connie's products many many years ago, after seeing her on HSN. When she left them, I immediately sought out her website. I still order products from her--they are the best. My special favorite is the ginseng facial feed.

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  16. forever spring products are the best I have ever used and believe me I tried them all! The integrity of these products is unsurpassed and the fragrance is terrific I hope Connie never stops selling this wonderful line.

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    1. I agree but miss the Energi C serum!

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    2. Can anyone tell me where to find a new time machine? I didn't see any on Connie's website??? Had one years ago but have no idea what happened to it. Any suggestions?? Thanks! Cathy

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    3. I have two time machines that I barely used. I have used all of Connie's products, and am still ordering them because they work!!
      cjustpeachie@aol.com

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    4. i have looked online for a Time Machine and cannot find one. I have two, just gave one to my friend, however, would like to know where I can find an extra, Connie was the first to bring this technology to our homes. I always enjoyed her and her products and still order them. Perhaps sending a message on her site for the Time Machine may result in some answers?

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    5. I've been using "Forever Spring" since it was first offered on HSN. I found an 800 phone number - and hooray - I still use it! As a woman who is pushing 80 years old you can imagine I am pleased when told I have such lovely skins. Thank you Connie Stevens.

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    6. In my 30's, I used Connie Steven's and the time machine. I LOVED IT. When she left, I found Dimitri James on HSN. Then he disappeared so I found a delightful lady on ShopNBC and then Dimetri Again for Skinn. I am 74 and pleased to say most folks think I am in my 60's. I am glad I found Connie Steven's. She started me on my journey to beautiful skin. I am glad I found this info as I loved her Ginsing too. I am going to order it now!

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