GloveStix Named TODAY’s Next Big Thing
For the second year, QVC and NBC’s TODAY have crowned a winner in their search for the most innovative new product.
The winner, Krista Woods of Ashburn, Va., developed GloveStix, a deodorizer designed to help prevent odor-causing bacterial growth in everyday items including gloves, shoes, boots, cleats, slippers and more.
GloveStix are treated with an impressive antimicrobial agent, IonPure WPA, to help absorb excess moisture. Woods got the idea for the portable odor-management solution when, as a mother of three athletic children, she struggled to stop the foul smell of sporting activities from entering her car or house.
The competition to find the “Next Big Thing” began in February as inventors were asked to submit their products for a chance to pitch their breakthrough ideas to a panel of NBC TODAY and QVC experts. Nine finalists were chosen across three different categories including: “gadgets for mom’s purse,” “mom on the go” and “mom gets organized.” All of the products are created by moms, for moms.
The competition to find the “Next Big Thing” began in February as inventors were asked to submit their products for a chance to pitch their breakthrough ideas to a panel of NBC TODAY and QVC experts.
During the week of April 18, each finalist pitched their product live to a panel of judges including Doug Howe, QVC’s executive vice president of merchandising, Jill Martin, NBC’s TODAY contributor and creative director of QVC’s contemporary fashion and accessories line, G.I.L.I. got it love it, and Savannah Guthrie, NBC’s TODAY anchor.
After three days of pitching, voting and deliberation among judges, Woods’ product was the winner on April 22. Hours later, Woods traveled to QVC Studio Park to participate in a guest training class before stepping live on QVC’s Saturday Morning Q the next morning. Before Woods and program host Kerstin Lindquist even began to sell GloveStix, the initial shipment sold out. After being on air for just eight minutes, Woods sold out of the remaining product, totaling over 4,000 units sold.
Click here to watch Krista’s winning moment.
“Joining together with TODAY once again provides us with the opportunity to highlight budding entrepreneurs and inventors across the country,” said Howe. “The joy of discovery and the power of storytelling is a big part of what we do at QVC. Through TODAY’s Next Big Thing, we’re able to discover promising mom entrepreneurs and provide them with national distribution and a powerful platform to showcase the story and inspiration behind their products.”
Last September Leslie Pierson, inventor of GoodHangups, a reusable magnetic display system of posters, art, photographs and more, was named the winner. The product achieved immediate success on QVC, selling out during Pierson’s first appearance on air, and it continues to be a popular item. The experience has given Pierson the opportunity to expand and further develop her business.
“Presenting my product on TODAY and then QVC was such an amazing opportunity to tell my story and demonstrate my product to millions of people and get instant feedback,” said Pierson.
Over the past 29 years, QVC has launched and fostered the growth of some of today’s most successful brands. TODAY’s Next Big Thing aligns with QVC’s commitment to bring their customers and ever-changing mix of new and innovative products from inventors and entrepreneurs as well as national and boutique brands.