Real Housewife Gretchen Rossi Coming to ShopNBC

Real housewife Gretchen Rossi posted on her Bravo blog that she is not just a idle realty star resting on her stiletto-heeled laurels, but a hard worker who aims to create an empire for herself.

Gretchen has already launched her makeup line, Gretchen Christine Beaute (that's pronounced beau-tay, y'all), which has not been without controversy, and has mentioned plans to develop fashion and lingerie lines too.

According her website:

"I've been working on a very exciting new project for over a year now, and I am so excited to share the news with all my fans very very soon! It's been something you guys continue to request from me regarding my fashion!"

Like her fellow Real Housewife Ramona Singer who parlayed her reality fame into a jewelry collection on HSN, sources say Gretchen's exciting news is a new fashion collections launching on ShopNBC.

Since controversy follows Gretchen wherever she goes, in the very least she'll probably spice up ShopNBC and bring it out of it's watch-show doldrums.

Silvana the (former) Ojon Lady is Here to Pump You Up!

Have you ever wondered what happened to Silvana, the Ojon lady with the lustrous, flowing hair?

After the divorce from Denis Simioni*, who you can still watch on QVC presenting Ojon Hair Care, Silvana  dove into the world of competitive bodybuilding. And this isn't just a little "I teach aerobics down at the YMCA" hobby either. Silvana won the first two fitness & figure bodybuilding competitions she entered and has gone on to become a professional bodybuilder.

According to an interview Silvana did with SeriousAboutFitness.com, here’s what she had to say about her unique look:

I have people guessing my ethnicity all of the time. My mother is of Spanish decent and my father is Italian. Right away people assume I'm hot headed because of the reputation Italian and Spanish women have for being hot-blooded, but the opposite holds true for me. I'm a very calm and quiet person who borders on shyness. I've lived in Canada my entire life and grew up in Pembroke, Ontario, which is a small town outside Ottawa.

How she got started in competitive bodybuilding:

It is something I've always admired but I never thought I could get into the same kind of shape as the girls in the magazines. Last year, I was speaking with a friend who is in her early 40s and also has children. I was really inspired because she looked fantastic, and she mentioned that she would be competing later that summer. Right away, I went to her trainer and learned a lot about dieting, which was something unusual for me to do, because being from an Italian background I had always indulged in food.

And based on this quote, I’m pretty sure that she’s moved on since the divorce:

I'd like to thank my boyfriend, Adam Lychak, who trains and competes in mixed martial arts. He understands my needs when it comes to nutrition, dieting and training hard. His continuous support in and out of the gym makes it easier for me to achieve my goals.

Watch a video interview with Silvana by RX Muscle here. And check out a picture gallery of Silvana at one of her competitions here, here, here, and here.

*Divorce details coming up in the next post!

(hat tip to Cindy Tash)

HSN is a Cabaret with Liza Minnelli

Liza at the Sex and the City 2 premiere wearing ... ummm ... well, I'm not exactly sure what that is. Hopefully it's not something from the new HSN collection! And, in all seriousness, what's going on with her boobs? They look like Barbie boobs!

Get your Fosse hands ready, y'all! Liza Minnelli will be debuting The Liza Collection on HSN June 30 and her appearance marks the kick off the big HSN goes to Sin City 33rd Birthday Celebration.

"My life has provided me the ability to amass a wonderful wardrobe designed by fashion's brightest stars," said Liza Minnelli. "I am excited to work with HSN in launching The Liza Collection and to have the opportunity to share my favorite looks with millions of women who want to look fabulous and feel their very best."

The collection will include many of Liza's signature looks--you know, the sequined suits and flowy pants. She will also be selling recreations of her personal jewelry collection.

The Liza Collection will debut at 10 p.m.–midnight EDT on June 30 at HSN and hsn.com. Retail prices for apparel will range from $29.90 for a Charmeuse Scarf to $129.90 for a Sequined Boyfriend Blazer and for jewelry from $39.95 for Silver-tone Triple Heart Pave Drop Earrings to $79.95 for a Silver-tone Pave Rose Bangle.

Liza is one of the few entertainers that has won an Oscar, a Tony, an Emmy, and a Grammy--where else does she have left to go but home shopping?

The Truth About Tony Little's Hair

Twitter Contest: Win Santa Fe Shades and a Stardust Hat

Ever wonder what happened to Amy from Motto on QVC?

Amy decided to leave her position representing Motto in order to spend more time with her family (no, not in the same way those sleazy politicians who are always resigning to “spend time with their families”). Amy is a wife and mom of three boys, two dogs and a goldfish. Her two youngest are still in elementary school, and Amy wanted to get more involved with their after school activities.

After taking 6 months off, Amy Jo Scaglione has joined the Physician Endorsed and Global Glamour family. So the good news is that she’ll be back on the air at QVC in the next few weeks. I spoke with the creator of the Physicians Endorsed brand, Elissa, about all the new changes.

So what exactly is Global Glamour?

It’s Physician Endorsed’s alter ego, born out of a love for all things accessories. Because the Physician Endorsed philosophy of 100% UV Protection precludes us from doing anything that is not UV rated, we decided to create Global Glamour Fashion and Global Glamour Home Accessories.

How did Amy come to represent your brands?

Amy and I have been "Green Room Friends" at QVC for many years. When I told her that we desperately needed a back up guest for Global Glamour (as Desiree our main guest is very pregnant with her first son--and in fact is in the hospital now awaiting his arrival!) She offered to pitch in, and things grew from there. I soon found out, she also loves accessories. In fact, she was heavily involved with the first "Head to Toe" show with Dan. She will also be helping to grow the Global Glamour product lines. Working with Physician Endorsed/Global Glamour allows her the flex time she needs to spend more time with her family.

In celebration of the new accessory line and Amy’s return to QVC, Queen Bea is giving away a pair of Physician Endorsed Santa Fe Sunglasses (coming soon to QVC) and a Global Glamour Stardust Hat.

Here's what you have to do:

1) Follow @QueenBea on Twitter. (You must have a Twitter account in order to follow someone.)

2) At some point before 10PM EST on Friday 5/28/10, tweet:

Follow @QueenBea and ReTweet to win a pair of #PhysicianEndorsedSunglasses and a #GlobalGlamourHat http://bit.ly/aH2wnZ

3) That’s all there is to it! Anyone can enter, but I will only count one entry per Twitter ID. I will randomly select a winner on Saturday, 5/29/10. Good Luck!

Say Goodbye to ShopNBC

I don’t enjoy muddling through dense text filled with financial number, so here is the bullet point version of what ShopNBC reported for the 2010 First Quarter if you’re interested (if you're not, just meet me down at the first paragraph):

• Although ShopNBC managed to get their average price point per item down from $144 last year to $108, this is still nearly twice as much as QVC’s average selling price.
• Overall sales sank 6.6%, which ShopNBC primarily attributed to lower sales of electronics.
• ShopNBC increased their net shipped units by 23%, up from 877,000 to 1.1 million.
• E-commerce sales accounted for nearly 40% of all sales.
• New customers went up 48% and active customers were up 30% .
• ShopNBC had a net loss of $11 million, but this was down from last year's $15 million loss.
• Watches continue to be a strong category.
• Jewelry outperformed expectations, especially gold, diamond, gold-plated items, and colored gemstones.

So obviously the numbers aren’t looking good for ShopNBC, but what else is new? The real news from their first quarter results is the announcement that ShopNBC is being forced to change their name.

About ten years ago, a trademark licensing agreement was struck between NBC Universal and Value Vision (ShopNBC’s original name) that allowed Value Vision to use the NBC name and logo. However, the agreement expires next year and NBC Universal, which is being bought by Comcast, does not want to extend the agreement. This leaves ShopNBC without a name and without a logo.

On top of all that, NBC Universal also acquired over 6 million shares of ShopNBC in that licensing deal and they are currently making plans to sell all of it. TV retailing no longer fits in with their strategy. To make matters worse, another company under the same umbrella, GE Capital, owns another 6 millions shares of ShopNBC and they want to sell too. When the largest stakeholder in a company wants to sell, investors get a little nervous.

ShopNBC plans to gradually roll out the new, and as of now unknown, name on social media in the near future and then slowly incorporate the change to their website and finally on air by February. No name has been chosen yet, but there is a “short list.” Rumor has it that they will retain the “Shop” part of their name and tack on something new to the end. There are no plans to enter into another licensing agreement.

According to the Star Tribune, the roll out is intentionally slow:

[ShopNBC CEO Keith] Stewart said the company "learned from the past" after ValueVision burst onto the scene as ShopNBC in 2001.

"Customers puked all over the idea," Stewart said. "Sales were crimped for a few months. It's a long lesson we've learned many times over: Never take hard turns when dealing with the customer."

So where does this leave ShopNBC? What’s going to happen to their stock price now that NBC is selling their stake? Will the new name and logo be the beginning of a whole new and successful brand, or just the beginning of the end?

Get Out the Door with Mommy Makeup

Have you ever tried to apply eyeliner with one baby screaming in the crib and the other frantically climbing up your leg?

After becoming a mom, New York City makeup artist Debra Rubin-Roberts realized that if she ever hoped to wear makeup again, she was going to have to re-think her entire makeup routine. Debra simplified the process by cutting out as many time-consuming steps as possible and focusing on a few multi-tasking products. She is also debuting her Mommy Makeup collection on ShopNBC this month. And that’s where I come in! This is Queen Bea’s review of Mommy Makeup’s “Out the Door Kit”:

What’s in the kit?

Mineral Dual Powder with SPF 15 in Lullaby

Small Kabuki Brush

Any Wear Crème in Twinkle

Just so you know where I’m coming from, I have very dry, sensitive, roseacea-prone skin--sounds lovely, doesn’t it? Anyway, since the makeup did not cause a rosacea flare up, I was able to give it a good trial run before I reviewed it.

The Mineral Dual Powder is a pressed mineral makeup. Unlike other mineral makeups, this one is in a compact instead of loose in a jar, so it’s not as messy. Per the instructions, I used the kabuki brush to buff the makeup all over my face. The kabuki brush picked up the product nicely and the bristles did not fall out like some others I have tried. There is also a foam pad included in the compact, but I don't recommend using that. The coverage is sheer, but buildable. However, I found it easier to add extra coverage to red areas first using my own small flat brush for application, allowing me to use less makeup on the rest of my face. The finish is not matte, but more luminescent and I did not notice the makeup settling into fine lines. I also checked the side of my nose, where my pores are the worst, and there wasn't any of that horrible “swiss cheese” look that some makeups cause.

The Any Wear Crème comes in a teeny, tiny jar, but that little jar will probably last forever. This product is extremely thick and pigment dense—trust me, you do not need much! The consistency is very similar to gel eyeliners. The idea of Any Wear is that you can use it anywhere—eye shadow, blush, and lips. The Twinkle color is a nude bronze with sparkle. If you don’t like sparkle, this is not for you. Honestly, with a name like Twinkle, what do you expect?

As eye shadow - Application is simple; you just smear a little on your eyelid with your finger. Depending on how much you use, the coverage can be completely sheer or opaque. However, I felt like I had to let my finger sit in the pot for a few seconds in order for the product melt a little. Probably a makeup brush would have helped to get the product out more easily. Once I got it on my lids, the eye shadow did not budge all day. In fact, I passed out and slept in it (don’t judge!) and it was still there in the morning. The next day, using my own brush, I decided to try it as an eyeliner. Once again, it went on smooth and lasted all day.

As a blush – Because this product is so dense and my skin is so sensitive, I had trouble spreading the Any Wear Crème on my skin without causing my cheeks to get all red and blotchy. You do have to work to spread it around evenly. On a positive note, I did like the highlight it gave my cheekbone.

As a lipstick - The first time I put this on as lipstick, I applied waaaay too much and my lips looked horrible! The next time I tried it, I just dabbed on just a tiny amount with my finger. Apparently, that's all you need. My lips looked so much better. They were a very subtle nude color, but due to the matte finish, I thought it looked best with just a little soft gloss on top. Keep in mind that Any Wear doesn't have the same staying power as a lip product as it does as an eye shadow and a blush.

Overall, the Mommy Makeup “Out the Door” kit gives you a very understated but iridescent look in not much time. If you hate sparkle, this probably isn't for you--not that I looked like a thirteen-year-old going to a Justin Bieber concert or anything! With the addition of some gloss and mascara, the “Out the Door Collection” could actually get you out the door quickly.

Mommy Makeup will debut on ShopNBC 5/20/10 at 11 a.m. and 7 p.m. EDT.

You can find Mommy Makeup:
Website: http://www.mommymakeup.com/
Twitter: http://twitter.com/mommymakeup
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Mommy-Makeup/86786773230
You Tube: http://www.youtube.com/user/MommyMakeup
ShopNBC: http://www.shopnbc.com/

This product was provided for the purpose of review.

Bob Bowersox has the Write Stuff

So what has Bob been up to since he was so suddenly booted out of the Q kitchen last Christmas?

The Renaissance Man himself, Bob Bowersox, is currently working as an actor, director, and playwright at the People's Theater of Key West and the Red Barn Theatre. Most recently playing Juror #8 in 12 "Angry Men."

Bob is also facilitating a screenwriting workshop, and according to the Miami Art Guide, one of the plays he penned will be featured in the New Plays in May series at the Waterfront Playhouse.

This year's series will feature staged readings of three original scripts from Key's playwrights. “Going Again” by Bob Bowersox and “Fortune Cookie” by Mike Tomes will appear May 19th and “Poof” by Josh Kaplan will appear May 26th. Audience feedback to playwright, director and cast after each reading is desired.

“Going Again” is a comedic assembly line of Travelers checking in with Facilitators on their way from one life to the next. Questions of life and death are a common theme for Bowersox, a resident of Key West who has written numerous scripts for both stage and screen.

I keep reading rumors that Bob has a restaurant too, but how could he run a restaurant and do all this?

GemsTV Host Brook Roberts Headed to JTV

Brook's audition tape for The Amazing Race.

Michele Lau, who has already made her on-air debut, was the first GemsTV host to announce her move to Jewelry Television. Then Craig Rooke soon followed in her footsteps, with his wife, Katie Rooke, not far behind.  And now Brook Roberts is the latest GemsTV host to make the leap to Jewelry Television.

If I were a current JTV host, I think I'd be a little scared for my job right about now.

By the way, Karen Connelly has also alluded to the fact that something is about to happen ... JTV? ShopNBC? Hmmm ....

Quick Note from Queen Bea

Yes, I know the posting has been a little light lately. No, it's not because I recently posted about my grandmother (we all know what happened last time I did that!)

Actually, the homeschooling year is coming to a close and I've been a little bogged down in my teacher duties lately. The good news is that since the semester is almost over, I will have some extra time to focus on the blog.

In the meantime, join me on Twitter! I can tweet 140 characters or less faster than Lisa Robertson and can apply her faux tan! Click here: https://twitter.com/QueenBea

The Cutest Mama on Home Shopping!

Every time Ken Paves makes an appearance on the Q, I'm always on the lookout for his cute mama. I just love that he uses his mother to model his products and I love how supportive she is of her son. Quite frankly, it's adorable. His friend Jessica Simpson might have the star power, but his mama has the cute factor in spades.

Not to mention that I love my Ken Paves hair extension. For real! I have long-ish, straight, fine, Marsha Brady hair. No matter what you try to do to it, my hair always just ends up hanging there like a limp noodle. Fake hair totally rules!

Is Jacque Gonzales Pregnant?

According to Google and all the emails I've been getting lately, people really want to know if QVC host Jacque is pregnant.

The short answer ... No.

The long answer ... She is taking a medication that has caused her to gain weight.

I swear, if I were a host getting closeups every day in high definition, I would not only develop a serious eating disorder, but I would also have everything on my body sucked, tucked, plucked, plumped, and filled. After that, I'd shellac what was left of my face and stuff myself into Spanx. I don't know how they do it.

Happy Mother's Day, Grandma

This is my first Mother's Day without my grandmother. Surprisingly, that thought didn't even occur to me until I was standing in the middle of a crowded aisle in Kroger this morning with all the rest of the last-minute Mother's Day card purchasers. I was silently tallying up all the cards to make sure that I hadn't missed anyone when suddenly my throat tensed, my eyes welled up, and I just knew the ugly cry wasn't far behind. I felt like such a fool crying in a grocery store. At least I had my ridiculously big diva sunglasses to cover up with until I made it to my car!

In her memory, I'm going to post one of her many stories. She wrote all the time--her journal (which let me tell you has been quite eye opening to read!!!), stories for church publications, and stories just because she she had a tale to tell.

This is the story of how my Grandma Norma met the love of her life, my Grandpa John, as told by her:

February 15, 1991

Dear God,

I’m sitting in the blue chair in the living room—my corner—listening to a birthday gift from Judy and Dave: “Carreras, Domingo, Pavarotti in Concert.” Today is my birthday. Why I thought about writing this today—who knows? Maybe because I’m snow-bound and thought it would be fun.

You see God, I have this very special friend who edits all I write for publication of sorts. You know I can’t spell worth a bean and could care less where to punctuate correctly because I talk to people when I write just like they were in the chair next to me—just like I talk or write to you. Unless you’re Victor Borge, people don’t talk with : ; . ! ? as such. By the way, I’m eating popcorn as I’m writing this. The music is BEAUTIFUL!

“The Spiritual Growth Area,” or whatever at Church of the Savior—I know You know everything, but just in case You don’t know our church by name—ask persons in the “The Church of the Savior” to write “What the Bible means to me”—as you know I did that, but my friend didn’t think it was that great. She likes a story. A couple of days ago, a story about the Bible and Norma came to mind. Not really suitable for “The Lenten Book”—I can see you smiling and shaking Your head, because of course.

When I was a young girl, I used to open up my Bible in the morning with my eyes shut tight, and in like fashion would run my finger down the page to where I was sure God had me stop to read. That was “The Word,” so to speak, for my day. I did this whenever I needed help with problems also.  Norma was doing this Bible help into her twenties.

The time of this story I was in my twenties and was working at McDonald House at University Hospitals. There was to be a formal dance at the Union Club, but it was to be for the upper crust—so they said. I had charge of the nursery on the relief time 3-11 P.M. Our team worked hard taking care of the newborns. We had a happy, quiet nursery and some staff resented that—believe it or not.

I loved to dance, and romantic soul that I am, a formal was too much for Norma to resist. How I loved to dance in a long, beautiful gown. A good doctor friend secured two tickets for me. I was more than a little afraid to go, because at the time, it was true the hospitals had a definite cast system. One did not even eat in the hospital cafeteria with anyone in or out of your cast. I really wasn’t in the upper crust, BUT—I had chutzpah to the nines and no one was going to put Norma in any cast—top or bottom—that just wasn’t kosher—Jesus said so!

To make matters worse, I had fallen out with the only person I was dating at the time that could dance. I was desperate! I had paid for two tickets, new dress--no date—Oy Vey!

In order to get to work, I took the Noble Road bus to Euclid Avenue to catch the street car to the hospital (Yes most people rode buses and street cars in those “olden” days)—I had been to a big welcome home party for a friend a while back and met this handsome man named John. We talked for just a short time and that was that, never thought much about him after—until I got on the Noble Road bus and who was piloting it—John! And he could dance! 

Let me tell you, all the light bulbs went off in my head. He remembered me very well. I talked to John like I wouldn’t even believe. You could have heard a pin drop in that bus—everyone was listening. By the time we reached Euclid Avenue, John was going to the dance with me and the whole bus applauded!

What had I done—going to the upper crust dance with a man I really didn’t know that well? What if he wore the wrong clothes, and maybe WHITE SOCKS of all things!

Norma went to her Bible, closed her eyes, ran finger down the page and prayed “God what will happen?”—opened her eyes and read “YE SHALL BE THROWN OUT”—Well—what would you do? God had smited me, or so I thought. But it was too late. John came dressed proper with lovely flowers for me, and could that man dance!

We were not thrown out, but applauded (again).

I married that John, had four children—Judy, Sally, Clark and David. We loved, fought, laughed and danced for 35 years until John died. God must have been winking--Don’t you think?—when I read that Bible verse.

Never did know if he wore white socks. Forgot to look. J

Doris Dalton Apologizes for Offensive Language

During Friday Night Beauty with Lisa Robertson, beauty vendor Doris Dalton used the word "retard" during the presentation. Needless to say, many viewers were taken aback, if not offended completely.

We all say things from time to time that we wish we could take back and I'm assuming that her intent was not to insult people with mental disabilities, so I'm not going to pile on.

Doris issued a written apology that QVC posted on their website:

It is with sincere and heartfelt apologies that I am writing this. Regrettably, last evening I used a term during my presentation that would be considered incredibly hurtful to certain individuals. It was never my intent to deliberately harm or offend anyone. I am however, personally responsible for my own actions and words, and it should not have been said. I am deeply saddened by the fact that anyone would suffer any ill feelings by something that I would say, and for this I am truly sorry. I hope that you find it in your hearts to forgive me.

If you are interested in how Doris was able to build up her cosmetics business, watch her recent interview on Mary Talks Money.

On a side note, did you catch Lisa's "I Dream of Jeannie" hair last night???

QVC States Returned Cosmetics are Tossed Out, Not Re-Sold

I tried to warn the Q that the "reselling used cosmetics" story was going viral. Read Queen Bea's warning here. It's not hard to figure out that when Perez Hilton is covering the story, you're in trouble!

Lo and behold, what story turned up on Huffington Post? Yeah, you know the one.

Finally, QVC has posted a short response on their community blogs:

I'd like to take an opportunity to comment and provide clear guidance related to recent postings in the QVC community about what happens when customers return cosmetics to QVC. I want to offer you some assurance that the practice and policy we follow is this: cosmetics returned to QVC are disposed and are not returned to stock.

Please know that if you ever feel you've received a cosmetics item from QVC that appears to have been opened or used, you can just call and report it to our Customer Services team at 1.800.367.9444. We'll promptly help you return the item for a full refund.

You gotta nip this stuff in the bud before it grows out of control!

Home Shopping Bingo!

Be sure to click on the picture for a closer look!

Next time you're spending the night curled up on the couch with a good box of wine (Hey! Don't judge!) and your favorite home shopping channel on the boob-tube, add some some fun to your festivities with Queen Bea's Home Shopping Bingo!

Trust me ... it doesn't take a long time to play!

Let Them Eat Cricut Cake!

HSN recently launched the Cricut Cake machine, which cuts designs out of gum paste or fondant for decorating cakes. I had no idea that this seemingly innocent machine was steeped in controversy.

The vendor rep for the Cricut Cake machine is cake decorator Carrie Biggers of Carrie’s Cakes. On a recently blog entry, there were hints of the controversy:

There has been some controversy about the Cricut and the rules and regulations surrounding it, I personally am not prepared to go into all of that, (Carrie will be able to address that) however I would love to show off the beautiful cakes that have been created using the Cricut Cake.

From what I could find, it appears that they might be referring to the issues professional cake decorators were having selling their cakes made using the Cricut Cake. The manufacturer, Prvo Craft, recently released an official Angel Policy authorizing the sale of “up to 10,000 completed projects annually.” However, they aren’t authorized to sell “individual, unassembled cuts.”

But that wasn’t the real controversy.

The real controversy is figuring out who exactly invented it.

Cake Designer Linda McClure, who trained Carrie Biggers to use the Cricut Cake machine, posted a long and detailed statement on her website claiming to be the original inventor of the machine’s concept and the proper techniques needed to use it.

The rumor mill and the crafting message boards were fueled with anger and accusations on both sides. In a rare move, Provo Craft posted a statement directly addressing the allegations. In response, Linda McClure posted a point-by-point rebuttal of their statement (Linda's comments in bold):

It is not typically our practice to publicly discuss private business matters, but because of the misperceptions that circulated this week on the message boards, we believe it is appropriate to share a brief statement to clarify the facts about the development of Cricut Cake.

In 2009, Linda McClure approached Provo Craft about a method of cutting gum paste, a method with which Provo Craft was already familiar and whose documented development dates as far back as 2007. 

Where is the proof they were working on this? When I first presented my method, they had no idea you could use a cricut for cake decorating. They did not know what gum paste was, the product we use in cake decorating. It took me 30 minutes to figure this out on my own. I did a very intense search on the internet looking for any information about this method. I developed this method to perfection and presented this to Provo Craft. 

We reached an informal agreement that provided for Ms. McClure to be compensated at fair market value for her time and consulting services as we prepared to launch Cricut Cake in 2010. 

You paid me travel expenses and a fee for doing demonstrations for you at CHA. There was never an agreement for consulting services, you did send me a contract the week before CHA which I told Jon Lee I would not sign. One part of the contract was you wanted me to sign over all my copyrighted materials. I told Jon Lee I would not do that and that my attorney would look at the proposed agreement and get back with Provo Craft. 

She accepted, performed certain activities, and was compensated accordingly. 

That’s right, you paid travel expenses and a fee for my demos. 

More recently, Provo Craft and Ms. McClure discussed the possibility of extending a formal consulting agreement. We believe that some of her requests, including both financial and non-financial terms, were unrealistic. Further, Linda was adamant that her requests were non-negotiable. As a result we chose not to enter a long term agreement with her, and unfortunately our relationship deteriorated. 

Provo Craft called and talked to my attorney about his counter contract. I will not go into detail, but I did ask for an amount more in the line of the value of what they had gotten from me. I did not cut off negotiations with them. They asked for a conference call and I showed up at my attorney’s office at the appointed time. I waited there for an hour and no call came in. 

Provo Craft’s initial research and development for Cricut Cake began in 2007. Since then, Provo Craft has conducted extensive market research and consulted with industry leaders, and both professional and aspiring cake decorators. We’re grateful for the valuable input and the enthusiastic support of these individuals, and we look forward to our continued relationship with them. We also hope you share our excitement for the fun possibilities that Cricut Cake will bring to creative kitchens everywhere. 

It is my opinion that Provo Craft would not have this new product if it were not for me developing the technique and showing it to them.

Linda's entire story can be read at her website here. But these four points is what she states it all boils down to:

1) We presented this cake decorating technique to Provo Craft 

2) We were promised a non compete, non discloser agreement

3) They did not give us the agreement we asked for

4) They took my ideas, and did not give me one penny for my invention

So who's telling the truth? I’m trying my best to be objective, but I have to admit, I’m biased. My instinct is to always take the side of the little guy against the big, powerful corporation.

Although it’s a long and expensive process, Linda did apply for a patent and is awaiting approval. If she is approved, how this will affect Cricut Cake and their relationship with HSN? It will interesting to see how all of this unfolds.

Toni Brattin Leaving HSN

No, I'm not yanking your Toni Pony!

When I noticed the Toni Pony stock dwindling down to just a few colors and a smattering of styles, I was afraid Toni might be packing up her fake hair and leaving HSN just like Ken Paves did.

Sadly, it's true, Toni Brattin hair extensions and beauty products will no longer be carried on HSN.

What are they doing at HSN to scare the hair extensions off these vendors?

I contacted Toni, and this was the statement she gave me about the situation:

"I have been offered an amazing opportunity to partner with one of the most recognized companies in the world, AVON. This wonderful opportunity will allow me to spread my wings and help women around the world."

You can now find Toni's products on her website, ToniBrattin.com, and at Avon.com.

~qb

Sonia Bitton Back at ShopNBC

Charla and her favorite face ring ... I miss my Charla!

Sonia Bitton and her high-end line Galerie de Bijoux jewelry sadly split with ShopNBC several months ago--probably because her average price point was too high. Since then she's been selling her jewelry on QVC UK and the Australian home shopping channel, TVSN. She's also launched the online site, SoniaBLive.com.

But good news, y'all! Sonia will be back on ShopNBC with her CZ line at the end of June and her diamond line in August.

All the people rejoice!

GemsTV Takes a Bow

~qb

QVC Host Antonella Nester, Made in Italy

If you're a fan of QVC host Antonella Nester like I am, you need to check out the inspiring interview that she recently gave to her hometown paper, the Harrisburg Patriot-News.

Antonella tells the tale of how--with just an amateur video audition tape and a dream--she was able to become a host on one of the world's largest home shopping channels without a shred of experience in sales or television. How's that for determination?

She also reminisces about how her family came to this country:

Nester’s family — mom, a seamstress; dad, a barber; and three sisters — came to the United States from a town about four hours outside of Rome in southern Italy. Nester’s mother was pregnant with her at the time; the family stayed with Nester’s grandfather in Harrisburg. Her dad’s lifelong dream was to come to America, she says.

“I was made in Italy,” she cracks, “but born in the U.S.A.”

The family lived on North 17th Street in Harrisburg until Nester was 4.
“My mom and dad on Sundays (would) go driving around looking at churches,” she said. “So they saw this pink dogwood tree in front of this house, and my mom had to have it — it wasn’t even for sale.

“My dad goes up to the door, in his Italian accent, and he says, ‘My wife really likes your house,’ and (the owner says), ‘We were just going to put a for-sale sign up.’ All over a dogwood tree,” she recalls. Her parents still live in the house in New Cumberland.

Read the full interview at PennLive.com. It's worth the read!

All Male Review Coming to HSN

Depending on your point of view, pick one: 

Don't worry, this video is safe for all audiences!

 -or- 

I'm sorry, this video is safe for all audiences!

Home shopping is full of half-naked ladies parading around in lingerie. Rhonda Shear has her "Ahh" Bras and Panty Raids ... Dr. Rey reshapes and fondles all his models with the overflowing cups ... but where-oh-where is the eye candy for the ladies?

But fear not! There's a rumbling sound rolling through home shopping land. The tanned, waxed, and buff hunks of the Thunder from Down Under all male review at the Excalibur Hotel in Las Vegas will be bringing their Aussie Ab fitness routine to HSN May 22. Wouldn't it be awesome if HSN brought out Adrienne Arpel to slap on their makeup (and I do mean slap!)

As Cartman would say, "Beefcake!"

Joan Rivers is Some Piece of Work

Joan Rivers' new documentary “A Piece of Work” just debuted at Sundance. In order to show the reality of what is takes to stay on top in a merciless industry, the QVC Queen of Comedy granted a camera crew full access to her life for a year. Although I’m just dying to see what life is like behind-the-scenes for my favorite foul-mouthed comedian, it’s not scheduled to show at a movie theater near me any time soon.

Until I get the pleasure of seeing the movie for myself, I’ll defer to my favorite critic Roger Ebert (and if you aren’t already following him on Twitter, you should be!)

Joan Rivers: A Piece of Work If ever a movie has an accurate title, this is the movie. Joan Rivers gave the filmmakers access to her life for a year, she was frank, open and honest, and the result is one of the most truthful documentaries about show business I've seen. Also maybe the funniest.

… Rivers is 75, something she repeats several times, and at 67 myself I know it sounds condescending to say she hasn't lost a beat, but she hasn't. She remains one of the most transgressive and fearless of comedians, and one of the quickest, fastest and most merciless. The doc shows a life force of formidable energy. In one stretch she closes a show in Toronto, flies overnight to Palm Springs, does a gig, flies overnight immediately back to Minneapolis, and performs another one. She's upfront about plastic surgery, her husband Edgar, her daughter Melissa, and how after she left as Johnny Carson's permanent guest host he never spoke to her again and she was blackballed by NBC until last year. In the Q&A session Rivers gave her opinion of the Leno/Conan/NBC matter: "Fuck 'em all." Urgent to MSNBC: Feature this woman as a guest commentator and crawl under your desks.

Piece of Work Facebook Page
Piece of Work on Twitter

Meet Home Shopping's New Class Clown, Shop Laughing

"While TV hosts ooze with enthusiasm and an almost terminal next-door neighborliness, the home shopping genre hasn't evolved much."

“Spin Man” Tom Madden, CEO of the PR firm Transmedia and former NBC Programming VP, created Shop Laughing, a new online home shopping show that launches today.

Described as "American Idol meets QVC,” Shop Laughing hopes to combine entertainment with home shopping. Apparently not everyone finds plain old vanilla home shopping channels quite as entertaining as Queen Bea. Who knew?

But exactly how will this work? Will the hosts have to balance on a unicycle while juggling ginzu knives and singing a medley of Michael Jackson’s greatest hits?

I got the opportunity to ask Tom how he was going to put a variety show and home shopping into a blender come out with something both entertaining and profitable.

QB: Will you be live 24/7?

TM: Eventually. Right now, the two-hour pilot will be looped and shown continuously 24/7. The format is five minutes shopping, three minutes entertainment, back to five minutes shopping, etc.

QB: I'm assuming that not every person who brings a product will have a comedy background, but will the hosts be comedians?

TM: Hosts are funny, but not comedians. The talent segments will feature comedians, singing, dancing, etc.

QB: I read that you will sell funny items like wallets that open by fingerprint, a Germ Bullet that mortally wounds flu bugs up your nose, and your own invention of Knife and Forklift (www.knifeandforklift.com), a combination of dumbbells and utensils that lets you exercise while eating. Will some of the products be more "serious?"

TM: Yes indeed. Look at Stazem1, a stun device that is the ultimate in personal protection.

QB: Will it be interactive with viewers (such as voting)?

TM: Yes. Audience can text vote for their favorite performer

QB: How will you utilize social networking?

TM: Heavily. We’ll be Facebooking and Tweeting about press coverage, including you, QB!

Check out Shop Laughing ... and feel free to laugh at them. They don't mind.

~qb

Larry Muzzy Pays Tribute to Bill Fahey

Former Home Shopping Club host, Larry Muzzy, remembers the man who showed him that ropes of the brand new home shopping business twenty five years ago:

I met Bill Fahey my first day as a newbee show host to the Home Shopping Club in 1985.  He greeted me with a strong handshake and a warm smile.  In the few weeks that followed I was taken under his wing.  He was extremely professional, funny, and loved what he did.  Although this industry was in its infancy, America responded to Bill with open arms and that love followed him throughout his career.

After he left to join upstart CVN, I knew I had big shoes to fill.  Before he departed he pulled me aside to fill me with encouragement and kicked me out of the nest to fly on my own . . . which I did for nearly 20-years within this electronic retailing industry.  I thank Bill Fahey for showing me the way.  As we know he will be missed on Earth . . . Heaven will now be blessed with that smile that lights up a room.

-Larry Muzzy

Bill Fahey's obituary and guest book can be viewed at the Star Tribune here.