If QVC’s New Black Friday Is Returning, How Can It Be ‘New’?

Those wacky scallywags at QVC Wednesday promised that their upcoming Black Friday will have “all of the deals, none of the craziness.” Do tell.

It seems that we can look forward to the return of QVC’s New Black Friday.

“This 28-hour event will allow customers to enjoy amazing deals without enduring the craziness associated with traditional Black Friday shopping. The savings kick off not long after the turkey is packed away, enticing customers to get a head start on holiday shopping,” the No. 1 home shopping network said in a press release.

The fun starts Thanksgiving evening at 8 p.m. and goes on that Friday at 11:59 p.m.

“Last year we observed our largest Black Friday ever, confirming that our customers welcomed the chance to escape the mayhem of long lines, traffic headaches and chaotic crowds,” Claire Watts, QVC’s president of U.S. Commerce, said in a canned statement. “This year, we’re again providing special gift ideas at exceptional values, while allowing our customers to shop with ease.”

From what we gather, QVC will be launching its Black Friday Today’s Special Value at 8 p.m. Thanksgiving eve, instead of midnight.

The savings continue at QVC.com, with additional, specially priced products and featured online countdown offers in every hour. Shoppers will also have the opportunity to preview the weekend’s Today’s Special Value offers.

ShopNBC Secures $25 Million Term Loan

ShopNBC has entered into $25 million term loan with a lending group led by Crystal Financial LLC, the network said Wednesday.

The loan has a 5-year maturity, bears a variable interest rate, which will initially be set at 11%, and will be used to finance general working capital needs.

The loan replaces a previous $20 million revolving credit facility, and is secured primarily by the company’s inventory and accounts receivable. The PrinceRidge Group served as financial advisors to the company.

Actress Kate Walsh Sold Out Her ‘Boyfriend’ On HSN

Actress Kate Walsh, a “Grey’s Anatomy” alum and now the star of “Private Practice, apparently picked the right venue to launch her women’s fragrance “Boyfriend.”

Flame-haired Walsh’s fragrance train case, including Boyfriend eau de parfum, pulse point oil and votive candle, sold out on Day One, Nov. 11, of her HSN appearance, exceeding sales expectations, so we are told.

“The success of launch day sales of the Boyfriend Fragrance train case, which offers a collection of fine fragrance and bath and body products, occurred in just 50 minutes of air time,” HSN said in a press release Wednesday.

“Walsh began selling the single pulse point roller ball, solid perfume and body creme on Day Two. The pulse point oil and body cream both sold out by day’s end. The launch day sales of Boyfriend, further reinforces the success that HSN has achieved with celebrity fragrances.”

Here is some more hype from the release:

Walsh describes her inspiration for the fragrance coming from a mysterious ex-boyfriend whose scent she missed. She wanted to be able to recreate the scent of that shirt he left behind. “A warm, nuzzly scent, this fragrance embraces you like a big hug. I really wanted women to have that delicious feeling of romance whether ‘he’s’ in the picture or not,” says Walsh. “I was thrilled to launch on HSN and to share my vision of the Boyfriend story with HSN viewers.”

And HSN honchos managed to get their two cents in.

“Boyfriend’s success further reinforces our role in changing the paradigm for a prestige fragrance launch and our commitment to continue to innovate in the retail space,” Lynne Ronon, HSN’s executive vice president of merchandising, said in a canned statement.

But here is some interesting dope on the social-media marketing of the scent.

Leading up to the launch of Boyfriend, Walsh released eight webimercials that she wrote and direcred, “relaying the sentiments the Boyfriend scent was developed to evoke,” HSN said.

Launched via various social media channels, including Twitter, YouTube and select blogs, the Boyfriend webimercials have been viewed more than 200,000 times to date and were released by Walsh prior to her appearance on HSN to drive excitement and anticipation.

No. 3 ShopNBC Retains N.Y. Investor Relations Firm For Outreach

ShopNBC is embarking on an investor relations outreach program to raise its visibility with the investment community and financial media, hiring the New York City-based investor relations firm, Jaffoni & Collins, the company said Wednesday.

“Having made substantial progress over the past two years in rebuilding and repositioning ShopNBC, we have reached the appropriate point in our evolution to initiate a more proactive investor relations program,” ShopNBC CEO Keith Stewart said in a canned statement. “The team at Jaffoni & Collins shares our passion for the business of multi-channel retailing, and we look forward to a strong partnership.”

ShopNBC made its announcement a day before the home shopping channel is set to report third-quarter earnings.

Here is the boilerplate on the firm.

Founded in 1996, Jaffoni & Collins is a full-service Investor Relations agency exclusively focused on creating and executing long-term communication programs that generate tangible results for publicly traded companies, particularly those in the media and leisure sectors. The firm’s company-specific programs have helped clients build more productive investment community relationships, drive substantial valuation increases and execute over $37 billion in financings and M&A transactions.

Will Suzanne Somers’ ShopNBC Styler Get Our Curls Under Control?

Maybe she used the Suzanne Styler for this straight do

Best-selling author/actress/ShopNBC vendor Suzanne Somers is moving into the hair-apparatus arena.

Somers is hawking a “Suzanne Styler” that is similar to a gizmo with a rotating barrel that QVC was trying to shove down our throats for several months.

Somers was promoting her styler via her e-mail newsletter this week, timed to her appearance on ShopNBC.

The Suzanne Styler, which is already available on ShopNBC.com, promises to “straighten, lift, volumize and curl with one extraordinary styling tool.” It is selling for $94.

Here’s what we are promised:

The styler straightens with its rotating barrel, which polishes hair and gives it frizz-free shine.

It adds lift and volume at the hair’s roots.

It can create soft curls or tight spiral curls.

It has a titanium plate that evenly distributes heat.

This is all illustrated with photos of Somers with straight hair and sexy loose curls.

We admit, we are a little intrigued.

Here is the full dope from ShopNBC.com.

The Suzanne Styler adds body and volume as it straightens

This is done in two ways:

-First, the Suzanne Styler straightens with a polishing titanium barrel–it fluffs the hair, creating extra volume
-Secondly, the rotating barrel actually lifts hair from the scalp and creates volume at the root

Even those with short or thin hair can achieve amazing volume with the Suzanne Styler

The barrel is titanium — Titanium is known for its strength and high temperature stability. It is corrosion resistant, conducts heat more evenly and heats up faster than ceramic

Titanium has an ultra-polished surface allowing the hair to glide smoothly through the Suzanne Styler for silky soft, smooth and shiny hair

The advantage of the Suzanne Styler is it doesn’t crush hair between two static plates like a flat iron or curling iron does
The barrel on the Suzanne Styler is rotating and polishing as opposed to two static plates on most hair tools which burn and crease the hair

It has a Floating Styling Plate — the floating plate on the Suzanne Styler allows it to adjust for the varying amounts of hair you want to style

Each time you use the Suzanne Styler, whether you are doing wide, thick sections or thin sections, the floating plate will automatically adjust to make certain there is constant consistent pressure against the rotating cylinder
This ensures that your hair gets the absolute most benefit from the smoothing and straightening effect of the Suzanne Styler

It has Aligned Pin Bristles — The first set of bristles aligns the hair before it passes over the heated plate allowing even styling

The second set of bristles keeps hair in line after it passes over the rotating barrel and heated plate leaving hair smooth, silky and shiny

Promises, promises.

Here Is Your B. Makowsky Contact, Unhappy Handbag Buyers

Well, we got some info about where disgruntled B. Makowsky handbag buyers should direct their complaints.

Here is the first post we got regarding a contact for Makowksy customers whose purses bled when wet or otherwise did not hold up.

The first was rather huffy.

“They are not ‘Bruce’s customers,'” it said. “They are the customers of Li & Fung Limited, a Hong Kong corporation, who purchased the BM, KVZ and Tignanello brands a few years ago. L & F does have an American subsidiary, The Millworks Trading Co., Ltd., a/k/a LF USA. Direct your complaints there.”

The “BM” obviously refers to B. Makowsky, while the “KVZ” refers to Kathy Van Zeeland, Bruce Makowsky’s handbag-designer wife, while Tignanello is their lower-priced leather line, which QVC also sells.

First off, you can try to blow smoke up someone else’s behind, dear poster, but make no mistake: These QVC shoppers and other women are Bruce’s customers.

If we go into Pizza Hut and find a bug on our personal pan pizza, we are customers of Pizza Hut, not its corporate parent Yum! Brands. Who the hell knows who Yum! Brands is?

If we shop at Kmart, we are a Kmart customer, not a customer of Sears Holding Corp., the chain’s parent.

Here is the site for Li & Fung, as well as Bloomberg BusinessWeek’s info on U.S. unit Millwork Trading Co., which does business as LF USA Inc.

Then we got a second posting that said this: “Contact for B Makowsky: VZI Investment Corp. 1359 Broadway, 21st Floor New York, NY 10018 648/839-7000.”

That address is the same one as for LF USA Inc., but is a different phone number.

Let us know how you make out ladies.

Got A Problem With A Makowsky Bag? Call QVC. If You Bought One Elsewhere, You’re Apparently Screwed: Think Twice About The TSV Boots

The complaints keep coming into our blog about women having trouble with pricey B. Makowsky handbags, which are sold on QVC and in retail.

The problem remains that while Bruce Makowsky keeps boasting about his so-soft, untreated “naked leather” purses, that leather can bleed ink when it gets wet.

Women are complaining to us that B. Makowsky has no company phone number that customers can call to get a remedy for their reuined bags. Here’s the company website, and we can’t find any contact names or numbers on it.

Over the weekend we asked QVC PR about this issue, which is timely since Makowsky has the Today’s Special Value Monday, a pair of soft leather slouch boots for $160.

Here’s what QVC told us Monday:

“We received your inquiry about a customer service number for B. Makowsky handbags. If your readers are having issues with B. Makowsky bags purchased through QVC, they should call our customer service line at 1.800.367.9444. They would be more than happy to help resolve any issues customers are experiencing. Thank you!”

So ladies, let us know what happens when you contact QVC with any complaints about your B. Makowsky handbags.

And we guess if we didn’t buy your “bleeding” Makowsky bag at QVC, you’re screwed.

Not the best way to treat your customers, Bruce. No phone number for dissatisfied customers to reach your company?

And if we were QVC, we’d think twice about dealing with a vendor who has created ill will with the handbags he sells at places like Macy’s — or that wind up at TJ Maxx.

And in light of the problems with the handbags, we’d think twice before ordering any of the Makowsky boots. If the purses bleed dye when they get wet, what will happen to the boots?

Makowsky, for those out of the loop, is married to fellow handbag designer Kathy Van Zeeland, who also sells her purses at QVC.

Spicy-Tongued Chef Gordon Ramsay Returns To QVC Wednesday

Celebrity chef and reality TV star Gordon Ramsay often uses spicy language on his shows, and now he will “spice up the holidays” with his QVC collection, the home shopping network said Monday.

British restaurateur Ramsay is coming back to QVC to unveil the latest additions to his specialty cookware collection.

Reality TV star Gordon Ramsey will be back on QVC

The “culinary connoisseur,” as QVC called him, enjoyed a successful QVC debut in late September. Now he is scheduled to make appearances on Wednesday with special shows at 11 a.m. and 7 p.m.. He is also scheduled to return Dec. 5.

“After his exciting debut, we are thrilled to have Gordon returning to QVC,” John Kelly, QVC vice president of merchandising, said in a canned statement. “Whether it’s a gift or to help create a memorable meal, his cookware line is the perfect present this season.”

Ramsay’s first cookware line was inspired by the tools that he uses in his own kitchen – both at home and in his award-winning restaurants.

The items are priced from $22 to $70, and his collection includes an assortment of culinary pieces that are designed for experts and novices alike, we are told. Put us in the novice category.

The product lineup will include the Gordon Ramsay Six Quart Nonstick Low Pressure Stovetop Cooker, Gordon Ramsay Signature Three-in-One Hand Blender with Cup, and Gordon Ramsay Nonstick Aluminized Steel Two-Piece Muffin Pan Set.

The Gordon Ramsay Signature collection will be available through QVC starting Wednesday.

Is HSN Jewelry Designer Heidi Daus Our Montclair Neighbor?

During her two-day stint on HSN, we heard jewelry designer Heidi Daus say that some of her pieces are inspired by the gorgeous iris garden in her town.

Well, we know Heidi lives in New Jersey, like us. And guess what, our current town of Montclair has a world-famous, gorgeous iris garden.

It sounds to us like Heidi may be a neighbor.

Anytime you want to grab lunch at the Blue Stone Cafe, let us know Heidi!

Actress Kate Walsh, Out Of Scrubs, Tells Us About Her Boyfriend On HSN

We caught a bit of actress Kate Walsh’s debut on HSN with her “Boyfriend” perfume Thursday morning, and she seemed pretty at ease hawking her new fragrance for women.

Walsh, a gorgeous redhead, was wearing a red dress. She was a bit of a tease. She told host Diana Perkovic that some of her co-stars on ABC’s “Private Practice” — “You know who they are,” she told HSN shoppers — had sniffed her Boyfriend and loved it.

We're getting sick and tired of running this photo

Walsh’s cast mates on “Private Practice” include hunky Taye Diggs, Tim Daly and Amy Brenneman.

Walsh described her fragrance as a mix of vanilla and musk, and explained how she came up with Boyfriend.

The actress broke up with a boyfriend (small “B”) five years ago, and missed him and his scent.

“You know how your guy smells,” Walsh said, noting that you can smell your man’s aroma and pheromones on his shirt and other clothing. (Funny, the shirt of the guy we’ve been dating is hanging on our doornob, and we can’t smell him on it. And we’ve been sniffing it like a hound looking for a hare all week.)

Anyway, after her break-up Walsh went to a store looking to buy a men’s fragrance to remind her of her guy, and they were all too strong. Hence, she came up with her softer version of man’s fragrance for women.