Home-Shopping-Host Revolving Door Continues: Heather Hall Exits ShopHQ

OK, we’ll be the first to admit it: We can’t keep up with the turnaround of home shopping hosts.

So Heather Hall, a pretty classy lady and longtime host at ShopHQ, has abruptly left the building.

Here’s what she had to say on Facebook:

“After 14 years of taking you shopping here at shop HQ Saturday will be the last day that we shop together on TV ☺️,” she wrote. “After that I will be shopping at home just like all of you . I am stepping away from TV shopping to spend more time with my children and grandchildren.💛💛💛 I want to extend a huge thank you to shop HQ and Invicta for an amazing journey! Drop me a comment so I can give you a shout out.”

So who else are we missing?

Speaking of missing, what happened to the Hispanic host that JTV had on-air a few months ago. We can’t find her on the host page at JTV.com.

We’re all for hiring Latina hosts — we’re half Puerto Rican — but when we saw her she was awkwardly throwing Spanish words into her sales spiel.

And with JTV losing missing a few more hosts, including Kristen Keech, they’ve brought someone back who worked at the network quite a few years ago. We can’t find her on the webpage.

Sending Healing to Celebrity Stylist Michael O’Connor

Prayers for celebrity stylist and veteran home shopping vendor Michael O’Connor, who recently disclosed he has been diagnosed with prostate cancer.

We loved Michael when he was the Affinity Diamond rep on QVC, and we’ve enjoyed his stints on other nets like Jewelry Television and as the rep for Passport to Gold on HSN. He is charming and informative.

Michael said he has known for a year now that he has cancer, and at this point he has decided to take a more aggressive approach to his treatment, with surgery.

Wishing him health and happiness.

Wendi Russo Returns to Evine, And Libby Does a Cameo

Pardon us for being a little late on this but two former Evine-soon-to-be-ShopHQ-again hosts are back at that home shopping network.

Wendi Russo was the first one to return, with a full-time gig, and we rather enjoy her presentations.

And lovely Libby Floyd, who did a stint at Jewelry Television after exiting Evine, appeared back on the Minnesota-based channel earlier this month. We’re weren’t quite sure if she was permanent. But someone on Facebook said she was only appearing for a week, that she didn’t want to relocate from sunny Cali to frozen Minneapolis.

Smart move.

Floyd herself posted on Facebook, “Hey everyone! So fun seeing all my old friends at Evine/ShopHQ today and look forward to shopping with all of you this week.”

She did at least one show with jewelry vendor Michael Valitutti.

Ex-QVC Host Lisa Mason Joins JTV

Another QVC alum is joining Jewelry Television, with former host Lisa Mason coming on-board.

Last week Mason announced on Facebook her debut on JTV with a jewelry line. She noted that she is joining former QVC diamond expert Michael O’Connor on the all-jewelry, all-the-the-time jewelry network.

“I am thrilled to share with you that I will see you next Friday evening on JTV!” she wrote. “I am representing a collection of jewelry called ‘LoveMore by Lisa Mason.’ It is a mixed collection comprised of solid silver, 14k gold, CZ and natural diamonds. Inspired entirely by the journey I have traveled with my Beloved, every piece is timeless and elegant. Some items are replicas of my personal collection (yes, the Flower ring will be offered in January!) and some are brand-new designs.”

She continued, “I want you to know how much I loved my time at QVC! My experience there was so very valuable and precious. So many QVC friends, in front of the camera and behind, are so extraordinary supportive of this new endeavor. I am so thankful! But I now have a new home at JTV! Joining my dear friend, Michael O’Connor, (who I hope to do a show with soon!!) I am so blessed to work at this loving, warm company. Based in my home state of Tennessee, it allows me to be close to family when I am there!”

Mason said that two holiday items are already available on JTV.com.

“Just in time for gift-giving, the silver heart-charm bracelet was one of the first gifts Gino gave me,” she wrote. “I love it! Today, I offer my version of that bracelet along with the silver heart-charm necklace to you! And, thanks to JTV’s generosity, both items have a special sale price, 5-stretch payments, and free shipping!”

She said, “I look forward to being on air next Friday, Dec. 8. I will be joining Nikki and Misty on their show ‘Girl Friend Friday’! I’ll pop in between 8 and 10 p.m. for a quick chat about my two holiday items! I hope you can join me! Then, I’ll see you for the full launch of the entire collection on Jan. 31 at 8 p.m.”

Gino, of course, is Mason’s husband, who is suffering from brain cancer. He remains in everyone’s prayers, of course.

Wieck’s Daughter, JTV’s Coggins Tie The Knot

There were two blog-worthy weddings in the home shopping world this weekend, and if you want to peek at the photos you can go to Facebook.

First, Jewelry Television host Nikki Coggins married her “big lug” Chuck, who is a police officer. She is now Nikki Coggins-Devotie. This Southern belle is very sweet and the couple look very happy, so we wish them luck.

https://www.facebook.com/nikki.coggins.7

And then Beverly Hills jewelry designer Victoria Wieck’s daughter RFachel tied the knot, as well. Wieck, who was on HSN for 18 years, recently joined Evine’s roster.

https://www.facebook.com/victoria.wieck

If you want to get a gander of Wieck and her daughter and husband go to Facebook.

JTV Alums Moseley, Lau To Be QVC Gem Experts

Gem expert Peyton Kelley is gone from QVC, but two Jewelry Television alum are coming to the No. 1 home shopping network: Jeff Moseley and Michele Lau.

Both Moseley and Lau posted almost exactly the same messages separately on their Facebook pages.

“I’m thrilled to announce I have officially accepted the offer from QVC to be one of their two Gemstone Jewelry On Air Guests!” Moseley wrote.

And Lau posted, “It is a done deal! I have officially accepted the offer from #QVC to be one of their two Gemstone Jewelry On Air Guests!”

We enjoyed them both on JTV, and this is no reflection on them, but we are a little perturbed if Kelley was let go to make way for them.

As we recently reported, not only Kelley, who was at QVC for years, but most recently host Jacque Gonzales are gone. As one former QVC host suggested, companies like QVC often let veteran employees, who are at the top of the pay scale, go as a belt-tightening measure. Hell, we were laid off at two newspapers for the same reason. It sucks.

Now that that’s off our chest, we note that this news about Moseley means that yet another husband-wife team is on home shopping. Moseley’s wife Erin is already on on-air rep for QVC’s Diamonique line.

Evine has jewelry vendors Judy Crowell and hubby Paul Deasy. And the network also has Pam McCoy, who used to appear on the channel back in the day with her husband Wes.

JTV Supports Women’s Heart Disease Awareness

Here’s the kind of news we like to hear from a home shopping network.

Jewelry Television is once again joining “Go Red For Women” in February to support the fight against heart disease, promoting a “Love Your Heart” comprehensive campaign to increase awareness and educate viewers about the risks of heart disease and raise funds for the American Heart Association.

“Cardiovascular diseases kill nearly one in three women each year,” JTV CEO Tim Matthews said in a canned statement.

“That’s approximately one woman every 80 seconds, but about 80 percent of cardiovascular diseases may be preventable with education and action. The majority of our viewers are women so we are thrilled to help ‘Go Red For Women’ raise awareness on the importance of knowing the risks of heart disease and stroke.”

For every purchase from the exclusive 2017 ‘Love Your Heart’ jewelry collection, JTV will donate 10 percent of the selling price to the American Heart Association’s Go Red For Women movement.

JTV is also offering several additional opportunities to participate and show support for the cause. If you contribute $5 or more to JTV’s “Love Your Heart” fund this mlonth you will get a $10 promotional offer to use on a purchase.

Funds raised will go directly to Go Red For Women and help fund important research and educational programs.

Here’s a tip: To learn about the risk factors and symptoms of heart disease go to JTV.com/GoRed.

Celeb Stylist O’Connor Brings Red Carpet To JTV

Celebrity stylist and TV commentator Michael O’Connor, MIA from the home shopping world for two years, will be back on the scene on Tuesday with his Bella Luce collection for Jewelry Television.

We recently blogged about O’Connor’s return to home shopping, now that his non-compete clause with QVC has ended, but last week we got to chat with him about why he is doing this cubic zirconia line for JTV.

Ex-QVC Diamond Expert Designs Line For JTV

He said that his debut JTV collection — more than two dozen pieces hitting a top price of $190 — includes “a nice mix” of classic and dressier jewelry set in sterling silver. Pieces are already online.

http://www.jtv.com/s?q=bella%20luce%20by%20michael%20oconnor

O’Connor, whose Yorkie was yipping in the background as we spoke to him on the phone, said he has already shown some of his celebrity clientele pieces of his JTV jewelry. Actresses Lesley Nichol of “Downton Abbey” and “Glee” alum Jane Lynch are in photos sporting it. Lynch has O’Connor’s version of an angel-wing pendant, and Nichol has already worn her earrings on the red carpet, according to O’Connor.

Michael O’Connor, his angle wing pendant and actress Jane Lynch.

A number of the pieces are inspired by what has appeared on the red carpet (which can cost $200,000 to $2 million), scaled down but including the detailing and the “impeccable” quality that O’Connor said he wanted. That would include the back of the pieces being as finished and as gorgeous as the front, according to O’Connor.

“It’s beautiful no matter what way you look at it,” he said.

To get the drift of what we’re talking about, take a gander at the backside of a John Hardy piece.

O’Connor, who spent 14 years on QVC essentially repping its Affinity Diamond line on-air, said that the feedback he often got from viewers then was that they wanted “more important,” grand pieces with larger stones.

But that was virtually impossible to do affordably at QVC, because the price of diamonds had shot up 40 percent to 70 percent and gold also skyrocketed. After O’Connor parted ways with QVC, he did some work for JTV, acting as a judge for its national search for “rock star” jewelry designers.

He was eventually approached by JTV about doing a line for it, and O’Connor said he was impressed with the quality of the CZ, or as he called it that “diamond simulant,” that Bella Luce incorporated. The deal was sealed when he found a manufacturer who could produce jewelry of the quality he demanded.

O’Connor’s signature stamp will also be on his collection, a mark that includes a small pink Bella Luce stone. Kinda reminds us of the ruby that Roberto Coin uses as a signature on its jewelry.

O’Connor’s initial pieces will be mainly white, but O’Connor said he is looking to branch out to colors such as blue and yellow.

He has been posting photos of his JTV jewelry on his Facebook page. So far O’Connor said the collection has been well-received, and he is even listening to suggestions.

https://www.facebook.com/michael.oconnor.9210

For example, O’Connor said one woman was was lamenting the fact that she needed a size 4 ring, and he is hoping make that size a staple to his jewelry in the future.

His collection will air 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday.

Ex-QVC Diamond Expert Designs Line For JTV

Celebrity stylist Michael O’Connor, who spent years on QVC presenting its Affinity Diamond line, has designed a collection for Jewelry Television. But it ain’t diamonds.

We hope to speak to O’Connor next week about why he decided to do faux diamond pieces for JTV’s Bella Luce collection, a collaboration that the shopping network announced on Wednesday.

The jewelry will debut Jan. 3 at 6:00 p.m.

Charming O’Connor has more than three decades of experience in the jewelry and fashion industry, and is a celebrity stylist and fashion commentator.

“Michael has always been at the forefront of jewelry trends and is someone who has influenced celebrity style for many years,” Jill Johnson, JTV’s vice president of marketing, said in a canned statement. “So we know our customers are going to love each piece in this new collection.”

Here’s the pitch from the press release:

JTV’s exclusive Michael O’Connor for Bella Luce collection delivers elegance and style day or night. O’Connor creates stunning jewelry with the look, feel and quality of luxurious red-carpet designs.

Each piece is crafted in sterling silver with Eterno accents and is stamped with O’Connor’s signature logo. Additionally, a pink Bella Luce jewel is tucked within the interior of many of his designs.

“As a brand for passionate jewelry advocates, JTV is the perfect partner for this collection,” O’Connor said. “This is an exciting time and I’m looking forward to sharing these pieces with the JTV family.”

JTV Posts Near 11 Percent Sales Increase In 3Q

Unlike QVC and HSN, Jewelry Television is crowing about its success in the third quarter.

The 24/7 jewelry home shopping network reported that its third-quarter sales rose 10.6 percent, “continuing the company’s outperformed of the broader retail industry,” according to JTV’s press release.

During the same period, JTV’s shipments also increased 18.5 percent, “aided by the largest grossing Labor Day Weekend for the brand since 2009.”

JTV does not disclose its actual sales figures.

That compares to the revenue declines that QVC and HSN just posted.

“For 10 consecutive quarters, JTV has not only delivered positive sales growth, but double-digit growth,” JTV CEO Tim Matthews said in a canned statement.

“The ability of this organization to consistently generate the type of results we have, especially in tough retail market conditions, is a testament to our team and our differentiated, ‘omni-digital’ strategy, which continues to resonate with consumers.”

JTV’s previously reported quarterly second-quarter sales growth of 15.2 percent.

The Knoxville News Sentinel recently did a story about JTV’s success, which attributed much of the network’s good news to its CFO, Crawford Wagner.

http://www.knoxnews.com/story/money/business/journal/2016/11/07/wagner-helped-steer-jewelry-television-explosive-growth/92350620/