Qurate Retail Group has a long-standing commitment to nurturing entrepreneurs, so that startups can become sustainable sources of income, inspiring others to pursue their dreams. A sustainable way to retail requires we support entrepreneurs of all backgrounds, including women and other under-represented entrepreneurs.
Between 2020–2025, commit $100 million in total contributions
With $50 million directed towards women’s empowerment and entrepreneurship
Between 2020–2025, complete 100,000 team member volunteer hours
International Women’s Day and Women’s History Month
As a company that recognizes the accomplishments of women every day, we’re excited each March to join the global celebration of International Women’s Day (IWD). In 2022, each of Qurate Retail Group’s brands and markets embraced the IWD theme, "#BreakTheBias" by celebrating the women in our lives and challenging gender bias and inequality in the world around us. With our customers we spotlighted many women stylemakers and entrepreneurs sharing personal stories of inspiration and empowerment. All through March in honor of IWD and Women’s History Month, QVC and HSN supported women-owned businesses through the Small Business Spotlight and highlighted women-owned businesses within our own vendor base. In addition, our brands held multiple events for our team members internationally during the month, featuring hosting women keynote speakers, workshops, roundtable discussions, and programs focusing on women’s empowerment and success. Additionally, charities for women’s rights have been supported with cause-marketing initiatives in some QVC International markets, such as Women for Women International in Germany and Smart Works in the United Kingdom.
“We are delighted to continue our work with Qurate Retail Group to spotlight women-owned businesses this Women’s History Month,” said Rebecca van Bergen, Founder and Executive Director, Nest. “Our ongoing work ensures that thousands of creative entrepreneurs have the tools to both grow their businesses and support their communities and families.”
“The generous support that Qurate Retail Group, along with its women-led brands, provides to Nest makes a huge impact for artisan women around the world who are striving to realize their dreams.”
Rebecca van Bergen, Nest Founder & Executive Director
QRG Fellowship
Another way we support Nest is through our Qurate Retail Group Fellowship Program, launched in 2019. Team members from across our various retail brands and markets leverage their exceptional skills and expertise to make a positive impact on female artisan businesses. By participating in a 10-day immersive experience, team members work alongside female artisans to support their efforts in building their own business. This program helps to position Qurate as a champion of women’s empowerment and entrepreneurship, while helping emerging entrepreneurs and our team members alike realize personal and professional growth. The 2020 program was held virtually, with team members supporting 15 artisan businesses, directly impacting 4,534 artisans and indirectly impacting 21,296 individuals. The total valuation of the pro bono work for 2020 was over $405,000.
“Learning really took place on all fronts – business, philanthropic, philosophic, cultural, etc. It definitely surpassed expectations.”
Qurate Fellow
The Big Find
In 2021, QVC and HSN helped entrepreneurs introduce their brands to millions of people through an international product search called The Big Find , where entrepreneurs, creators and inventors with products in apparel, beauty, culinary, home décor, home innovations and/or electronics are discovered. Selected candidates were invited to pitch their product to a panel of QVC and HSN judges comprised of QVC and HSN merchandising executives and program hosts as well as brand founders from established QVC and HSN brands. Brands awarded “Big Tickets” were invited to continue the product discovery process with us. Successful candidates worked with our team to ultimately launch their product through video-driven shopping across linear TV, ecommerce sites, digital streaming, and social platforms. We also tapped into the expertise of our vendor community to offer mentoring sessions for the winners where they met with founders and other established entrepreneurial brands to ask questions and receive coaching on live, authentic product storytelling.
Since the Big Find was introduced in 2019, more than 100 rising brands have debuted across QVC and HSN including Mented Cosmetics (beauty), Sassy Jones (fashion and accessories), Cleo + Coco (beauty), Truth and Style (fashion), Bossy Cosmetics (beauty), and Chunk Nibbles (culinary).
Through The Big Find and similar initiatives, QVC and HSN have built a track record of launching and fostering the growth of up-and-coming brands and small businesses by harnessing the power of storytelling and discovery-driven shopping experiences. Over the years, we have helped multiple entrepreneurial brands become national and international success stories, including IT Cosmetics, TATCHA, SPANX®, Junior’s Cheesecake, Korres, and others.
“Being a Big Find winner has been unbelievable for Bossy Cosmetics! We’ve had the opportunity to meet an entirely new and exciting group of ambitious women who love our products!! They’ve reached out to us on social media and become a core part of the Bossy family. Having the access to millions of new shoppers that are looking for high-performance beauty products has been a tremendous lift to our business and we look forward to launching more products with QVC.”
Aishetu Fatima Dozie, Founder and CEO, Bossy Cosmetics
Small Business Spotlight
In 2022, Qurate Retail Group℠ expanded its Small Business Spotlight program to further support entrepreneurs from underrepresented groups by giving participants more opportunities for national exposure on QVC®, HSN®, and Zulily®. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. It is currently expected that at least 100 diverse businesses will be selected for the program in 2022, adding to the approximately 160 small businesses that participated in the program through the end of 2021. The 2022 participants will appear live on-air on QVC, HSN or QVC2 during one of seven heritage and recognition months in 2022: 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). QVC and HSN reach a combined total of more than 90 million homes via 5 television networks and reach millions more via multiple streaming services, social pages, mobile apps and websites.
New for 2022, online retailer Zulily is proud to enable shoppers to make a difference through specially curated shoppable events during each featured heritage and recognition month, with products from the selected Small Business Spotlight businesses.
Zulily launches thousands of products at amazing values each day, curating personalized shopping experiences to help moms around the world discover incredible deals and fresh style for themselves, their families and their homes.
2021 on-air Small Business Spotlight participants responding to our survey reported that they more than doubled their sales following their on-air appearance.
These respondents also reported an average 78% increase in website traffic, a 41% increase in number of customers and a 26% increase in email subscribers!
QVC Next
Our support of entrepreneurs extends beyond our backyard, to across the Atlantic Ocean through our program, QVC Next®
QVC Next finds high-potential entrepreneurs and helps them use our platforms to bring their innovative products to life. First launched by QVC Italy in 2016, QVC Next was expanded to QVC Germany in 2017 where we offer trainings, workshops, networking and mentoring to entrepreneurs in each market. The program includes a training and empowerment program specifically designed to help entrepreneurs develop their go-to-market strategy. So far, more than 125 entrepreneurs have participated.