HSN2 Will Be Streamed On HSN.com, Says HSN CEO Mindy Grossman

We’re going to have to give you an abbreviated post on HSN’s second-quarter conference call Wednesday, because we’ve been writing since 8 a.m., and it’s 10:30 p.m., and we’re tired.

During the Q-&-A part of the call, HSN CEO Mindy Grossman spent a lot of time talking about HSN2, the sister channel to HSN that launched Aug. 1 on Dish Network.

“It expands our shelf space,” Grossman said of the new network, adding, “It’s not going to be a clearance channel.”

HSN2 is now in 13 million homes, and Grossman said she expects to have additional distribution soon.

Video from HSN2, which “will offer a curated assortment of encore airings of HSN’s must-see shows, products, brands and personalities,” so we are told, will be streamed on HSN.com, just like HSN, Grossman told analysts. That’s good news for us, because we’re curious to see what HSN2 looks like, and we’re a Comcast subscriber, not Dish.

Grossman reiterated what’s already said about HSN2, namely that it will not only repackage content from HSN but will also be a test vehicle for the mothership network. HSN2 will also have original programming.

“We will be creating original programming for HSN2 that could and would be different than what we traditionally do on HSN,” Grossman said.

She pointed out that HSN shoots video that it doesn’t get a chance to run.

“We already do a lot of B-roll for a lot of our shows,” said Grossman, and that “B-roll” can air on HSN2.

Grossman also touted HSN’s “Eat, Pray, Love” promotion coming up this weekend, a partrnership with Sony Pictures. It ties in with the movie based on Elizabeth Gilbert’s bestseller, which stars Julia Roberts and debuts Aug. 13.

The HSN “Eat, Pray, Love” event will feature 30 brands and designers, with 400 new products, Grossman said.

And HSN’s 33rd birthday celebration, live from Las Vegas, Aug. 14 to 15, will be telecast from Planet Hollywood and magician Chriss Angel will make a special appearance, according to Grossman.

Copycat QVC Has A Shop-By-Remote Offering In The Works, Like HSN’s

We’re very late to the party on this one: MediaPost had it back in July.

But taking a page out of HSN’s book, namely HSN Shop By Remote, copycat QVC plans to also offer viewers shop-by-remote options. Thanks for the tip, Ensequence CEO Peter Lowe.

He’s a Cablevision Systems and MTV Networks refugee who we know from our former life at Multichannel News. We recall sitting next to him and his wife at a very, very long business dinner that Scripps Networks had at the gorgeous Rainbow Room, with its spectacular view of Manhattan. The wine was flowing, and we think at one point ol’ Pete made fun of our lipstick.

Take my word for it: Most business dinners are not like popping a cork on a bottle and enjoying great food with friends. They are more often like the forced socializing you see on “Mad Men,” like that fun Christmas party Sunday where Roger Sterling had to wear a Santa suit for that repulsive Lucky Strike client, the on-the-down-low guy who hit on Sal and got him fired.

Anyway, here is the press release that we are more than a day late and a dollar short on:

QVC Selects the Ensequence Interactive TV Platform to Enable QVC Viewers to Shop via the Remote Control

NEW YORK (July 26, 2010) – Ensequence, the interactive TV company, today announced that QVC, one of the world’s largest multimedia retailers, has selected the Ensequence Managed Services Group and the Ensequence iTV Manager Programmer Edition to deliver its customers an interactive TV remote control shopping experience.

“We are excited to be entering into a long-term relationship with QVC,” said Peter Low, Ensequence CEO. “Recent quantitative research has proven that consumers are interested in shopping and buying with their remotes. With interactive TV, viewers are able to respond immediately to product offers.”

Interactive TV from Ensequence will provide QVC the opportunity to offer a selection of products for viewing and purchase across cable set-top boxes. In addition, using the Ensequence iTV Manager Dynamic Data module, QVC will have the ability to change its “shop window” to suit the products available along with multi-product display capabilities. Product details will also be able to be quickly updated, modified and synchronized to video content on a daily or even hourly basis.

“We’re thrilled to roll out this service to our customers, with our initial deployment scheduled for next year,” said Al Ulozas, QVC’s senior vice president of affiliate sales and marketing. “Ensequence will provide QVC with the necessary tools needed to deliver iTV to our viewers, making it easy for them to complete purchases using their remote controls.”

HSN Shop By Remote is now in more than 30 million homes, HSN CEO Mindy Grossman said on a second-quarter conference call Wednesday. That rollout has been in Cablevision Systems, Comcast and Verizon FiOS homes.

HSN’s Sales Rise 3 Percent In Second Quarter To $466.4 Million

The No. 2 home shopping network HSN Wednesday reported a 3 percent increase in net sales for the second quarter, to $466.4 million.

HSN’s gross profit increased 6 percent to $162.2 million, its parent, HSNi, reported.

HSN.com sales increased 10 percent over the prior year and now represent 30.4 percent of HSN’s net sales, up from 28.4 percent in the prior year.

Gross profit margin improved 120 basis points to 34.8 percent from 33.6 percent. These results were primarily due to a strategic shift in product mix towards fashion and wellness, according to HSN. This mix shift also resulted in a 6 percent increase in units shipped and a 2 percent decrease in average price point.

“At HSN, strong growth in fashion and wellness helped drive an increase in gross profit of 120 basis points and contributed to the 11 percent growth in the number of best customers,” HSNi CEO Mindy Grossman said in a prepared statement.

HSN’s adjusted EBITDA increased 17 percent to $45.1 million from $38.4 million as a result of increased gross profit, partially offset by a 2 percent increase in operating expenses, excluding non-cash charges.

The home shopping network’s operating income increased 20 percent to $34.5 million compared to $28.7 million in the prior year.

HSNi, which owns HSN and Cornerstone, saw net sales grow 8 percent to $690 million in the second quarter over the prior year. Internet net sales increased 16 percent and now represent 38.5 percent of HSNi net sales.

“HSNi’s positive performance continued in the second quarter with a net sales increase of 8 percent and an EBITDA increase of 47 percent,” Grossman said. “Our focus on creating multi-channel experiences for our customers resulted in e-commerce revenue growth of 16 percent and an increase in our Internet penetration to 39 percent from 36 perclent in the prior year.”

Cornerstone’s net sales increased 20 percent to $223.6 million, which included 23 percent growth in Internet sales.

“At Cornerstone, the recovery of the business accelerated with net sales increasing 20 percent led by renewed demand for the Frontgate, Ballard Designs and Garnet Hill brands, turnaround efforts at TravelSmith and e-commerce initiatives across the portfolio,” Grossman said. “We are focused on building our business for the long-term – intelligently, strategically and with a commitment to delivering sustainable results and value for our shareholders.”

Mary J. Blige Breaks Records On HSN, Which Stiffed Us, By Selling More Than 60,000 Bottles Of ‘My Life’ Perfume

What took so long, HSN? We were expecting this Mary J. Blige press release by Monday, at the latest.

We watched some of her shows, and had heard that singer Blige shattered sales records Saturday with the debut of her new fragrance, My Life, exclusively on HSN.

And by the way, why weren’t we among the bloggers invited to the launch — which we found about in the release? Was it too packed with the hundreds of home shopping bloggers that inhabit the cyber world? Thanks for stiffing us, Bill Brand. What happened? You didn’t like our Miss-Tina-is-gone blog, and wanted some payback? Or was it the ShopNBC-Had-The-Same-Ring-As-HSN blog that did it?

Anyway, we finally got the long-expected HSN press release early Tuesday night, which said, “Mary J. Blige’s My Life fragrance on July 31 drove the sale of more than 60,000 units with about 6 hours of air time, shattering fragrance records at HSN for units sold and placing the launch amongst the most successful in the prestige fragrance market.”

Here’s the canned quote from Blige, who was humble, gorgeous, delightful and charming on the air.

“I am thrilled with the success of My Life, the experience on HSN with Carol’s Daughter and the overwhelming donations to FFAWN,” Nine-time Grammy Award winner Blige (or HSN’s PR department) said. “I can’t wait to share another touch of my heart. Thank you to all my fans – new and old – for being there for me.”

The launch of My Life helped support the Foundation of the Advancement of Women Now (FFAWN), a non-profit created by Blige and Chairman & and lead investor of Carol’s Daughter, Steve Stoute, to assist women in need. For every unit of My Life fragrance sold, HSN Cares, the corporate social responsibility arm of the home shopping network, will donate $1 to FFAWN.

“The groundbreaking success of My Life on HSN changes the existing business model for a prestige fragrance launch and reinforces our role as a retail innovator,” HSN CEO Mindy Grossman said in her canned statement. “We were thrilled that Mary’s inspiring story, her character, and, ultimately, her fragrance drew such an enthusiastic response.”

My Life, which was the first fragrance created by Ms. Blige and the first celebrity fragrance developed by beauty-lifestyle brand Carol’s Daughter, attracted nearly 20 percent new customers to HSN. In addition, as part of HSN’s continuity program, almost 10,000 customers signed up to receive shipments of the new fragrance on a regular basis.

“This launch proves that consumers are looking for new ways to engage with a brand,” said Stoute, who was the macher who put together Blige and HSN. “Long gone are the days of traditional marketing that rely only on sampling and advertising. Consumers want to connect, believe and immerse themselves in the experience. They want to see themselves fit into the story. “Mary delivered herself in the purest form outside of her lyrics. We look forward to telling the next chapter of the story on HSN in the near future.”

Carol’s Daughter, a partner of HSN over the last two years, has had success in telling its universally appealing story, about the creation of the beauty products in a home kitchen. Given this success, Stoute and Blige committed to bring their story to HSN.

“HSN gave me a unique platform to tell my story,” Blige said. “It took time — I had to find a place that allowed me to be me. I never do something that I don’t believe in. My Life presented by Carol’s Daughter on HSN was the only way to show my fans another labor of love.”

My Life was introduced to consumers via the most comprehensive, 360-degree marketing campaign in HSN’s history, including television, online, mobile, print advertising, public relations, events and direct mail. Social media efforts drove millions of impressions, key celebrity endorsements, and involved a blogger press trip to HSN headquarters to document the launch.

That’s the part where we were stiffed.

Video segments of Blige’s life story were featured on HSN and online at http://www.HSN.com, as well as Facebook and Twitter. In addition, HSN distributed 100,000 direct mail brochures and 300,000 targeted inserts to its customers; featured ads in Allure, Glamour and Essence; created a cross-channel spot; and distributed 50,000 snap bracelets embedded with the My Life fragrance at the Essence Music Festival.

“The fragrance industry is excited to explore the opportunities of new channels of distribution with supportive, creative and innovative partners like HSN,” Rochelle Bloom, president of The Fragrance Foundation, said in a canned statement. “The success of Mary J. Blige’s fragrance and her personal message proves their power to reach out and entice a vast, broad consumer who loves and wants fragrance. Bravo HSN and Mary J.!”

Watch Out Lisa Robertson, Hello Robert Lee Morris: The Homeshoppingista Is Coming To West Chester

God willing, The Homeshoppingista will be making a pilgrimage to West Chester, Pa., to meet Robert Lee Morris and Michael Dawkins, among other QVC jewelry designers, later this month.

We got the invite Monday from QVC to its Aug. 21 designer meet-and-greet, which the home shopping channel holds periodically for viewers at its headquarters. That night, and throughout Aug. 22, QVC is doing a 25-hour Sterling Designer Gallery event.

At the meet-and greet, another one of our favorites, Ann King, will be present, as well as Naomi Pevsner, Elizabeth Rand, Elizabeth Showers and Margaret Thurman.

Mom, sister Karen and BFF Ann are supposed to be coming, too.

But then we learned the drive is 2 1/2 hours from Montclair, so we are going to have to stay ovenight rather than make that long drive home at night.

The Homeshoppingista reserved two rooms at a local hotel, but mom and Karen don’t know about that. We hope they still decide to come. Ann is in!

We better leave our AMEX card in Jersey.

Christie Brinkley Showed Off Her QVC Jewelry At Hampton’s Super Saturday Benefit

There were several stories in Big Apple newspapers Monday about Super Saturday, the annual charity event in the Hamptons that QVC telecast from this year.

The Daily News interviewed Christie Brinkley, one of QVC’s newest jewelry designers, who waxed on about the tragic BP oil spill in the Gulf and got teary-eyed talking about it.

In the photos that accompanied the item, Brinkley is wearing two pieces from her QVC collection: a blue lace agate necklace that sells for $195 and a braided leather bracelet for $45. The supermodel debuted her jewelry on QVC Sunday.

The Wall Street Journal also did a story on Super Saturday headlined “A Celebrity ‘Garage Sale.'” It mentioned that celebrity stylist and QVC vendor Rachel Zoe was there.

The Journal also gave QVC a shout-out.

“QVC broadcast interactive live shopping,” the paper wrote.

Financially Ailing ShopNBC Makes QVC Veteran McGrath Permanent CFO

Bill McGrath

After serving as chief financial in an interim position, William McGrath Monday was officially named ShopNBC chief financial officer and senior vice president.

QVC alum McGrath has more than 20 years of multi-channel industry expertise as well as global operations and financial leadership experience. He joined ShopNBC in January as vice president of quality assurance and was named interim chief financial officer in February, replacing Frank Elsenbast, who left the company.

Prior to joining ShopNBC, McGrath served as vice president global sourcing operations and finance at QVC. During his tenure at QVC, he also served as vice president corporate quality assurance and quality control; vice president merchandise operations and inventory control; vice president market research and sales analysis; and director financial planning and analysis.

Previously, McGrath held a variety of financial leadership positions at Subaru of America, and Arthur Andersen. He holds an MBA in Finance from Drexel University, and a BS in Accounting from Saint Joseph’s University.

“Bill brings over two decades of diverse financial and operational leadership experience in his appointment as our CFO,” ShopNBC CEO Keith Stewart said in a canned statement. “He has the right balance of industry financial acumen along with practical domestic and international operations experience that uniquely positions him for this role. Bill is an invaluable addition to the management team, and we very much look forward to his continued contributions and keen insights in driving the business.”

McGrath obviously knows where his bread is buttered, and kissed up to the boss.

“It is a pleasure to work with such a veteran leadership team and talented group of team members at the company,” he said in his canned statement. “I look forward to helping ShopNBC meet its goals of delivering shareholder value today and tomorrow.”

Jerry Seinfeld’s Ex-Shoshanna Is Bringing A Jewelry Line To QVC Aug. 10

Shoshanna Gruss, who has a hip clothing line, will debut her first effort in the jewelry arena Aug. 10 on QVC at 9 p.m.

Gruss, well-known for her romantic relationship with Seinfield, has a line called Shoshanna’s Fashion Jewelry Essentials that’s coming to the No. 1 home shopping network.

“Each jewelry piece is designed with versatility in mind that, like her clothing line, will flatter all body types and delight all women,” QVC’s online program guide said.

“The bold features and colors combine instantly to create a glam look that’s elegant and beautiful like the designer herself, taking you from a casual day of shopping to red carpet events with ease. Her keen sense of style incorporates some of the hottest trends as well as some of your jewelry box classics. Tune in and see why Shoshanna continues to adorn the world’s most celebrated women and grace the pages of the top fashion magazines month after month.”

Shoshanna won our hearts by designing sundresses and gowns for voluptuous women bosoms. We can’t wait to see what she does with her jewelry line.

She gave viewers a peek when she was interviewed on the red carpet this weekend by QVC at the network’s event in the Hamptons. We didn’t see it, but Mom said it was a long and very pretty.

We Missed Christie Brinkley’s Debut Show On QVC, But Went To The Video

Christie had a lot of sellouts on QVC

We missed Christie Brinkley on QVC!

We got home shortly after 9:30 p.m. Sunday and tuned in to the Q to see the debut of Brinkley’s jewelry collection. But all we saw was the Ross Simon dude and host Antonella Nester. My sister even called to ask me what was going on, adding that my mother was watching Brinkley at that very moment.

We finally figured it out: My mother Ida had recorded the show on her DVR, and she was watching that, not the live QVC feed. Turns out most of Brinkley’s unique jewelry sold out early, and by the time we turned on QVC she was gone.

Anyway, we checked out Brinkley on the video on QVC.com. She’s the same age as us (and has the same birthday as Ida, Feb. 2) and look fantastic. She had a gorgeous turquoise one-shouldered dress on, and her long blonde hair was perfect.

Best of all, Brinkley is not just another celebrity just putting her moniker on a jewelry line.

Brinkley, warm and very sweet, explained that she started out as an art major, and painted and did photography before she got into modeling and became a superstar in that field.

She explained that nature is her inspiration, for items like the crystal quartz drop earrings that we coveted. Those earrings were inspired by the dew drops that Brinkley would see in her organic garden.

“I am so inspired by everything I see in nature,” Brinkley said. “I wanted to create jewelry that reminds you of the beauty of nature.”

QVC was giving the perfect opportunity to combine her love of nature, jewelry and art, she added. “I feel so lucky to do this.”

Uptown Girl Christie Brinkley Brings A Fine Jewelry Collection To QVC Today

Christie Brinkley

Model and uptown girl Christie Brinkley is bringing her latest collection of nature-inspired fine jewelry to QVC, debuting today, Sunday. at 9 p.m.

QVC promises that Brinkley will give viewers an inside look at the inspiration for the Christie Brinkley Jewelry Collection.

“This line is a celebration of the all the things I love,” the beautiful blonde 50-something said in a canned statement. “I’m excited to work with QVC to share these bright and beautiful pieces with so many women at such affordable prices.”

Each Brinkley piece that appears on QVC was created especially for QVC. Brinkley’s ultra-feminine bracelets, cocktail rings and dangle earrings feature luminous gemstones such as Sky Blue Topaz and Moonstone, reminiscent of the ocean waves near her Hamptons home.

Flowers are also an echoing theme with a braided leather bracelet updated with a sterling rosette, a blue lace agate statement necklace with floral accents and a flower bouquet ring and earrings. According to QVC’s press release, Brinkley believes that every day is an occasion to celebrate and each piece is designed to be a visual reminder of this philosophy.

“Christie’s unique aesthetic will resonate with our viewers,” said Diane Paccione, QVC vice president of merchandising. “As one of the most recognizable and enduring style icons, she is a fantastic addition to our ever-growing list of celebrity designers.”