QVC: TV For One

Hello!

I seldom watch live TV anymore, who has time to sit down, channel surf, and watch daily for extended periods of time?  I sure don't.  Plus, I'd rather be on Pinterest vigorously pinning recipes I'll never make, but I digress.  With the advent of Hulu, Netflix, Amazon Prime, I'm not sure people are even flipping through channels on their television anymore.  But a few weeks ago I found myself doing that very thing.  When skimming the channel line up, I saw a familiar friend, er, a familiar channel rather: QVC.  This stands for "quality, value, convenience", if you didn't know.  QVC is a channel that sells products 24/7, it's shopping via your television.  If it's a KitchenAid you fancy or facial products to preserve your youth, chocolate from Harry David, a Dyson, a trinket to cut potatoes, or Christmas in July, all being served to you by someone disguised as your friend, then QVC is where you need to be. 

QVC is the comfort food of television.  It's warm, it's familiar, it's inviting, and it ultimately makes you feel good.  While I have never purchased anything from the company, it sure reeled me in with its bright-lit sets and well-placed displays.  When I moved a few years ago, there were times when I was nervous about my new surroundings and needed something to comfort me.  Enter QVC.  When I stumbled upon this channel back in the day, I could not stop watching.  There are no commercials to speak of, so there's no real need to ever stop.  I assume this is a tactic to keep you watching (and buying), the continuity of it all.  And continue I did.  It made me feel warm and fuzzy inside having QVC playing in the background.  If there's no one with you, it provides good background noise, as if you are a fly on the wall at a party overhearing a conversation of happy, slightly demented, simpletons.  I often fell asleep on the couch to the sounds of a Dooney & Bourke purse being sold to a 57 year old woman in the Midwest at three in the morning.  Said woman might sometimes say its her 3rd or 4th acquisition and she has them in several colors, so she has to get just one more to complete her collection.  This typically results in a rush of feigned enthusiasm from the host or hostess.  What else did we expect though?  Despite being fully aware of the ridiculousness of it all, there I was, fully engrossed and fascinated by every minute of this fake exchange.  The people just seemed so nice and happy, that in turn made me happy.

Clocking numerous hours than I care to admit watching QVC did lead me to conclude that QVC is good for filling a void and making its audience feel like they have a friend that's accessible 24/7 and who is always just there.  In my mind I have to believe that if a person truly has a need for a product, they are going to the internet (or Costco) to get that item.  There's no need to watch hours of this channel, why would anyone?  So QVC can tell you what you think you need?  It can't always be the affordability factor, because it's not always the lowest price.  I think that is what's happening there, in addition to products, they are selling an aura, an environment, a feeling - which in turn drives some folks to actually stop to watch the channel and ultimately buy their wares.  Many may say this is marketing done very well.  At the end of the day, this is not TV you have to think about, its mindless in every sense of the word and makes you feel good, and I think that's a large part of its appeal. 

It has been some time since I've given up QVC, but on the rare occasion when I pass the channel on the guide, I can't help but stop for a minute to visit my old friend (or friends as it may be) and see what they are peddling that day on their sparkling, precisely manicured set.  While I will likely never purchase anything from there (I think most things are a scam on QVC), I have to thank QVC for making me feel content and at ease at a time when I needed it most.        

Sincerely,

Carrie     

Song of the Day:  "Tarzan Boy" by Baltimora