WEST CHESTER, Pa. (SEPTEMBER 28, 2015) — Having trouble turning your idea into a reality? Take notes, as nine budding entrepreneurs take center stage this week to showcase their innovative inventions on TODAY’s Next Big Thing, a collaboration between QVC, the world’s leading video and ecommerce retailer, and NBC’s TODAY to discover the next big product to be sold on QVC.
The country-wide search began in August as inventors were asked to submit their creative ideas. From those submissions, nine finalists were chosen across three different categories including: apparel and accessories; home, households and pets; and kitchen and gadgets. Beginning Tuesday, September 29, the products in each category will be pitched live on TODAY to a panel of judges that includes Doug Howe, QVC’s Executive Vice President of Merchandising, Jill Martin, TODAY contributor and Creative Director of QVC’s G.I.L.I. got it love it® contemporary fashion and accessories line and Al Roker, TODAY anchor.
Viewers can vote on their favorite product each day, beginning Tuesday, September 29, by visiting TODAY.com. On Friday, October 2, the inventors of the product receiving the most votes in each category will have one last chance to win over the judges and explain why their product deserves to join the ranks of QVC’s best-selling items. The overall winner selected by the judges will sell their product live on QVC Saturday, October 3 at 10AM (ET).
“The joy of discovery and the power of storytelling is a big part of who we are and what we do at QVC,” said Howe. “Together with TODAY, we are able to collaborate with entrepreneurs and inventors in an effort to help make their products successful while providing the winner with a powerful platform to tell their story, and distribute their products on a national scale.”
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 find new products and inspiration for customers, and supports QVC Sprouts, which is QVC’s ongoing crowd-sourced product search. They seek the best up-and-coming products from inventors and entrepreneurs, giving those with a retail-ready product the opportunity to be sold on QVC.com and the chance to grow their businesses through a scalable and nurturing process.
Tune in to Saturday Morning Gifts on Saturday, October 3 at 10 AM (ET) for a firsthand look as the TODAY’S Next Big Thing top contender showcases their winning product. Visit QVC.com to purchase the products of all nine finalists. To learn more about QVC Sprouts, visit www.QVCSprouts.com.