One week into the New Year! Slow start, isn't it? I have laid on the sofa more than I will admit publicly. But, heck, I can still write Substacks whilst horizontal, there's no rules.
In this short article, I want to share a few things about one corner of my work, and that is QVC. To those that aren't in the know, QVC is a shopping television channel in the UK. You'll also find QVC in USA, Japan, Italy, Germany and a few other locations too. I've been working with them for a few years, in the role of Gardening Expert.
Your thoughts of QVC might be gadgets and decor, but there's a lot more to it. In the last year, QVC have made a big move into the world of gardening, with the launch of My Garden Escape, a 360 content project which includes daily live shows, content on a dedicated App and an ever-expanding family of key horti brands and their top-notch products.
The shows for My Garden Escape re-start on Monday, 8th January, so I thought this would be the ideal opportunity to give everyone a little sneak peek into what's coming up!
I was very honoured to have a tour of the new showcase with QVC's team of gardening buyers back in November. As ever, their focus is on items you simply cannot find elsewhere, with many designs being made exclusively for QVC. There's a focus on lux and innovation. QVC know their customers very well too, with many distinct categories- so you can truly say the 2024 range has something for everyone!
Furniture is always a big focus, and with a market that has certainly warmed up since we all discovered our 'outdoor lounges' in 2020, competition is stronger than ever. QVC specialise in 'convertible' furniture, meaning a consumer can choose just one item and experience a myriad of uses. A corner sofa that becomes a sunlounger, oh yes! The best part - I get to demo many of these unique items live on air!
This convertible bench (see above video) is also super innovative, and is a great solution for those with only balcony space outdoors. This is set to be a hot offer during the spring.
The hanging cocoon chairs have become something of a QVC icon, and new colours are coming through in the popular Oslo style. I have one myself, and it's in my top 3 best purchases ever, hands down!
Another unique solution, a high class seating set that has the appearance of wood, yet it's lightweight aluminium! This really is the type of innovation you can't find elsewhere!
QVC have always excelled in water features too, and many of which don't need mains hook-up. International brand, Bernini, are back in 2024 with their well-respected designs.
The decor range at QVC also continues to go from strength to strength, and here you'll find sub-brands, such as the new 'Eden' and 'Enchanted' ranges. These ornaments are the perfect way for many customers to add a touch of their own personality to their own outdoor space.
There's also a focus on the 'staycation' (and 'staying close to home') vibe at QVC during 2024, with collapsible barbecues, rechargeable power banks and more! You might also like the look of the new inflatable sofa range!
As we get into 2024, regular QVC viewers will see a range of these new items, yet also many redesigns of existing items. QVC are always taking consumer feedback on boards, and tweaking designs wherever appropriate.
In terms of practical garden care, QVC is really making a splash in 2024 with the introduction of some very well-known brands. From Flymo to G-Tech, the digital shop will be expanded to include plenty of recognisable products. From brushless mowers to robotic mowers, it's also a one-stop shop for lawn care.
Gardena are new with their excellent watering and irrigation kits, plus Richard Jackson is back with a new formulation of his iconic Flower Power, a QVC best-seller through the years. He's also making a move away from plastic packaging across his product selection.
Harmony Gardens are a big intro, with their peat-free compost blends - they're the first carbon neutral compost company and are picking up awards left right and corner right now!
Gosh! Where do I stop...?? You'll see there are so many premium brands joining QVC, alongside their tried and tested unique products - from the pair of gloves you'll never lose to a corkscrew weeder and pop-up greenhouses, there really is something for everyone!!
I hope you'll choose to join some of the first live shows on the QVC Style channel, every weekday from 5pm to 7pm. My regular day is a Wednesday - I'll see you there!!!
What’s coming up on My Garden Escape on QVC?