
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, November 10, 1994                   TAG: 9411100063
SECTION: BUSINESS                    PAGE: B8   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: SANDRA BROWN KELLY
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

QVC TO SHOWCASE VIRGINIA PRODUCTS

Small-business operators with new products they want sold on the QVC television shopping network will have a chance to meet the show's buyers Dec. 7 and 8 in Richmond. The sessions will be at The Richmond Centre during an exhibition sponsored by the state.

QVC introduces hundreds of new products each week and has been known sell thousands of one product in a few minutes. Items selected from Virginia companies will be featured during a two-hour live broadcast Feb. 18 from the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg as part of QVC's "Quest for America's Best." QVC, which has headquarters in West Chester, Pa., broadcasts 24 hours a day, seven days a week to 50 million viewers nationwide and another 17 million worldwide.

Virginia will be the first state to have its products showcased, the company said. QVC will be looking for items in six categories - housewares and home furnishings; automotive supplies; gourmet foods and beverages; jewelry; health, fitness and beauty products; and apparel and accessories. The items must be capable of shipment by UPS.

Businesses interested in participating in the exhibition should contact Mac Forehand at (804) 371-7683 to receive a copy of QVC's product guidelines and show registration materials. Deadline for registration is Nov. 21.

Three state agencies - the departments of Economic Development, Agriculture and Consumer Services and Minority Business Enterprise - are working with QVC on the program.

by CNB