Small Business Spotlight Marks Two-Year Anniversary With Over 200 Entrepreneurs Featured So Far
Qurate Retail Group℠, a leader in building businesses and brands through video commerce experiences across linear TV, ecommerce sites, digital streaming and social platforms, is celebrating the two-year anniversary of its Small Business Spotlight, which gives entrepreneurs from underrepresented groups national exposure on QVC®, HSN® and Zulily®.
Since launch, Small Business Spotlight has provided over $7 million in donated airtime, digital support and other pro-bono, in-kind services to more than 200 featured entrepreneurs. In 2021, many of the participants who appeared on air on QVC or HSN reported doubling their sales following their exposure. On average, these entrepreneurs experienced a 78% increase in web traffic, a 41% increase in number of customers, and a 26% increase in email subscribers.
“We’re proud to use our shopping platforms and national reach to help entrepreneurs from underrepresented groups build and grow their businesses,” said Virginia Nguyen, Chief Diversity Officer at Qurate Retail Group. “Our Small Business Spotlight reflects our commitment to supporting entrepreneurship and advancing diversity, equity and inclusion in the small business community and in society at large. We have pledged to highlight 500 underrepresented small businesses by 2025 through Small Business Spotlight and other initiatives.”
Qurate Retail Group offers small businesses a robust platform for growth. In the U.S. alone, the company’s vCommerce brands, QVC and HSN, reach 92 million homes via 5 television networks and reach millions more via multiple streaming services, social pages, mobile apps and websites. QVC and HSN achieve unparalleled customer engagement in their TV broadcasts, with approximately 66 billion minutes viewed on the U.S. broadcast channels and more than 166 million units shipped. In addition, online retailer Zulily serves millions of Moms everywhere by offering a fun, personalized shopping experience featuring everyday deals, fresh styles and unique finds for herself, her family and her home.
Qurate Retail Group introduced Small Business Spotlight in May 2020 in collaboration with the National Retail Federation Foundation as part of Qurate Retail Group’s $45-million global response to the Covid-19 pandemic. The first phase featured about 20 small businesses impacted by pandemic stay-at-home orders, with some businesses appearing live on-air on QVC or HSN and others receiving digital exposure. Later that year, Small Business Spotlight highlighted about 40 Black-owned businesses as part of Qurate Retail Group’s response to addressing social and racial injustice. Since its inception, participating small businesses are also given the opportunity to apply for pro bono skills-based mentoring from Qurate Retail Group team members. The virtual mentorship program builds small businesses’ capacity to solve a barrier to their growth whether that’s creating a marketing plan, customized brand book, sourcing strategies, website audits, SEO guidance or other project deliverable.
Since then, Small Business Spotlight has continued to expand. For 2022, all participating businesses – approximately 100 – are appearing live on-air on QVC, HSN or QVC2 during one of seven heritage and recognition months: Black History Month (in February), Women’s History Month (in March), Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month and National Military Appreciation Month (both in May), Pride Month (in June), National Hispanic Heritage Month (September 15 – October 15), and National Disability Employment Awareness Month (in October). In addition, Zulily is offering specially curated shoppable events during each featured heritage and recognition month, with products from select Small Business Spotlight businesses that meet certain sourcing requirements.
Applications for Small Business Spotlight are open on an ongoing basis at https://www.rangeme.com/quratesmallbusinessspotlight, which has more information on eligibility and criteria. The application process is supported by RangeMe, a product discovery and sourcing platform for retailers and suppliers.
