Life as a Guest Host at QVC
If you haven’t heard my big exciting news yet, I have been presented with the opportunity to be a guest host on QVC! I’m representing a proprietary line of beautiful and whimsical garden accents called “Marigold”. Today, I thought you might like to take a peek behind the curtain and see what it’s like to go on air at QVC!
A Bit About QVC
If you’re not familiar with QVC, let me enlighten you. QVC stands for Quality Value and Convenience. They are part of a bigger corporation called Qurate. They have come a LONG way from the home shopping network you remember from the 1980’s!
QVC connects with their customers via a “non-salesey” approach. They present quality products on air in a girlfriend-to-girlfriend style that seems like you’re talking over the fence with your backyard neighbor. They’re in 96 million households across the US and they have 3 channels! Now you can also stream QVC live on Facebook, watch on their Mobile App or stream at QVC.com.
Their parent company, Qurate, is comprised of 8 leading retail brands, reaching approximately 380 million homes worldwide through 15 television networks and multiple ecommerce sites. Their brands include QVC, HSN, Zulily, Ballard Designs, Frontgate, Garnet Hill, Grandin Road and Ryllace. (Ryllace is pronounced [ril-is] and is a quality plus-size line of fashion inspired by the amaryllis flower. They believe quality and style shouldn’t stop at a size 14. Hear hear!)
Being “On Call”
So what does it look like to be an on-air guest host for QVC? It’s a harder question to answer than you think! Every guest host situation is completely different. Some guests are employees of the brand they represent. Others are long-time lovers and users of the product and have been given the opportunity to represent them on-air. And some are the actual creator of the product/brand they’re presenting.
Whatever role they fit into, a QVC guest host’s schedule can be very random. I’ll get notified that I’m going on-air anywhere from 3-5 days in advance of the actual airing date. Sometimes those notifications can be more last minute, but that’s the average. QVC doesn’t schedule their TV programming much further than 10 days out due to the reactive nature of their business.
My schedule is one of being constantly “on call”. I can go on-air any day at any time. Luckily Marc and I are at a place in our lives where that’s not a problem. We don’t have children and our cats are self-sufficient, so boo-yah! I’ll get an email that I’m going on air on a particular day presenting a certain product from the Marigold line. I confirm that I’m available and then I start preparing. I’ll study up on the specs and come up with clever ways to present it on-air.
Camera Ready
Once the airing day arrives, I’ll get myself camera ready by doing my own hair and makeup. That usually involved hot rollers and a lot of hairspray! I’m still learning the makeup side of things, so I do my best, and their salon staff touch me up so you can see my face on camera. I’ve picked up a few really cute tops with bright colors because I’m finding they look really nice on set. Some days I’ll look more “gardeny” with a chambray button up top. One thing I’ve learned is that you probably shouldn’t wear a color that’s similar to the product you’re presenting, like I did with this pink blazer.
You have to really think about your clothing and your appearance when you go on-air. My nails need to be manicured for close up shots. I’ve never been one to always have my nails done since I’m a furniture painter. I have to watch the necklaces I wear so they don’t bang against my microphone. Bangle bracelets will clank and make too much noise. I even give my wedding ring a quick scrub with a toothbrush so it sparkles on camera!
It’s A God Thing
One of the most frequently asked questions I’m getting is how I got the gig in the first place. Honestly, it was a total God thing. There is literally no way that I could have forced this myself. I could not have contrived and concocted this opportunity no matter how hard I tried. This is 100% the Lord!
Now I won’t share all of the details, but essentially, I’m friends with a current QVC host. She’s been following my business and really likes my girl-next-door vibe. She told me about an on-air opportunity and asked if I’d be interested. It took all of about 2 seconds to say, “YES” so I applied and was given the chance to audition. QVC is very particular about who they allow on-air. This was all around mid-October of 2019. A few weeks later, I got a phone call from QVC offering me the position! They loved my bubbly personality and sunshine demeanor. It fit their brand perfectly and I was overjoyed to have been chosen based on my natural personality. I didn’t have to pretend or do anything out of the ordinary. Who I am naturally suited their brand.
That’s why I say that this is all a God thing. There are no casting calls to be an on-air guest host. There are no job applications for it. And the way God made me was exactly what they were looking for? C’mon…you can’t make this stuff up!
My Airings So Far
So far, I’ve been on air 4 times. I’ll be on again this coming Thursday, February 20 three times – once on QVC Main Channel and twice on QVC2. I share when I’ll be on air on my Facebook page and Instagram feed so you can stay up to date. After the airings, I’ll share the links to my presentations on this page of my website.
People have asked me if I’m nervous being on camera and I’m honestly not. I was a middle school science teacher prior to owning my own furniture business. If I can handle a classroom of 30 hormonal 13 year olds, I can handle talking to you through a camera! Plus, I go live all the time on Instagram and Facebook so the concept is very familiar to me.
Behind The Scenes
The only part that has caused me some anxiety is all the behind-the-scenes stuff. It’s a bit of a maze in there and I’m still learning where everything is physically located. I’m also learning who everyone is that’s involved in this brand. There is an entire team of people behind every product that goes on air, and it can be quite confusing to keep them all straight! That will come with time though, so the essential part (actually being on camera) is well in hand.
Every time I’m on TV, my family blows up my phone with screen shots and videos while they’re watching – so much so that I can’t wear my FitBit because it buzzes too much from their texts! It’s been so much fun to check my phone afterwards to read all of their messages. It truly means the world to know people are behind me in this new venture. Some of the photos they send me are pretty funny! Here’s a collage of my best faces.
I’ve had a few negative messages about this whole thing on Facebook from some of my followers, but I’ve dismissed them all. I’m confident that God has given me this opportunity for a reason, and it’s my aim to bring Him glory for as long as He allows me to be a part of the QVC world.
With that said, I do realize a lot of you are following me for furniture-related things. Just know that there are lots of facets to a small business, and this little branch off is part of mine. If you’re not into QVC, you can dismiss my notices and keep on scrolling. I still love ya!
How To Watch
You can watch QVC on television by checking your local channel listings. I found it by speaking “QVC” into my Comcast remote. You can always stream on qvc.com or download their phone app and watch that way.
Thanks for supporting me and the Marigold brand as the 2020 Garden Season gets rolling!
