QVC Invites Customers to Choose the Next Great Innovator

WEST CHESTER, Pa. (May 12, 2015) – QVC, Inc., the global leader in video and ecommerce retail, has launched the official voting period for The Search for a Better Tomorrow, a nationwide product search to discover the next big thing. In conjunction with the film release of Disney’s “Tomorrowland,” coming to theaters May 22, QVC invites customers to vote for their favorite new products online, now through May 15, and play a role in recognizing and celebrating the spirit of innovation and invention.

“For almost 30 years, discovery, entrepreneurship and storytelling have been at the heart of QVC. We are committed to uncovering the inventors and products that make our customers’ lives easier, and input from our customers has always been a part of this,” said Doug Rose, senior vice president of marketing and programming for QVC. “Just as Disney’s ‘Tomorrowland’ celebrates the next generation of innovators, The Search for a Better Tomorrow honors products, personalities and perspectives that embody imagination and originality.”

QVC invites customers to vote for their favorite new products online, now through May 15, and play a role in recognizing and celebrating the spirit of innovation and invention.

The Search for a Better Tomorrow product search is being conducted by the QVC Sprouts program, QVC’s ongoing crowd-sourced competition in search of the best up-and-coming products from inventors and entrepreneurs. In March, QVC collaborated with the United Inventors Association (UIA) to invite inventors to submit their product ideas for the next big thing. On May 5, 30 inventors were invited to pitch their products to a QVC selection panel at the Las Vegas Hardware Show. Of these 30 inventors, six were selected to have their products featured on The Search for a Better Tomorrow web page, where customers can vote for their favorites from now through May 15.

The six products include:

• Floor Register Glove Dryer – a non-electric dryer that uses your home’s existing heating system to dry your wet items from the inside out.
• Micro Easy Grab – a simple solution to handling hot items in the microwave.
• eTape 16 – a digital tape measure with two long-term memory inputs and a digital display.
• The Seally Cap – a versatile kitchen utensil that allows you to reseal items like canned goods, glasses, canned beverages, fruits, veggies and more.
• Tank Case Propane Storage Case and Cooler – helps prevent damage and hassle when transporting 20-lb propane tanks, and is also capable of being used as a cooler or outdoor stool.
• UpCart – an innovative all-terrain, stair-climbing hand cart.

The inventors of the top three products, as determined by public vote, will appear live on QVC during The Search for a Better Tomorrow special, which airs May 22 at 8 p.m. EST to coincide with the film release date of Disney’s “Tomorrowland.” The inventor receiving the highest number of votes will have the chance to sell his or her product live on air during The Search for a Better Tomorrow special. The show will also include a behind-the-scenes look at the product search, clips of Disney’s “Tomorrowland” and QVC’s most successful products and personalities that exemplify creativity and innovation.

For all that Walt Disney imagined about the future — rapid mass transit, robotics, space travel — it’s hard to believe he died decades before many of his dreams would become realities of tomorrow. Walt Disney was granted U.S. patent 2,201,689 for his “art of animation” multi-plane camera on May 1, 1940. This camera was then used to make many stories come to life on the big screen – and it’s still being replicated by studios around the world today. This amazing fore-thinking and many more of Walt Disney’s visions were shared by Becky Cline, Director of Archives for the Walt Disney Company at the United Inventors Association of America Convention (National Hardware Show) on May 5, 2015. This presentation celebrated the spirit of imagination, innovation and inventors; encouraging them to always strive to discover and reach for their dreams, just as is shown in the upcoming release of Disney’s “Tomorrowland,” which opens in U.S. theaters on May 22, 2015.

For almost 30 years, QVC has provided a platform that fosters the growth of entrepreneurs and small businesses. Through the QVC Sprouts program, QVC discovers and nurtures entrepreneurs and small businesses with unique, up-and-coming products. QVC Sprouts offers the opportunity for inventors to tell the stories behind their product to a highly engaged audience and educate them directly on how their product works. Since the program’s pilot launch in March 2012, QVC Sprouts has sold more than 70 new products online and on air.

For more information about The Search for a Better Tomorrow and to vote for the next big thing, please visit qvc.com/QVCSprouts.content.html.