Alicia Vitarelli gets inside look at QVC
WEST CHESTER, Pa. (WPVI) -- West Chester-based QVC has been a pioneer for television and for retail since its launch in 1986.
Now, the network is using social media to expand its already massive footprint.
QVC is kind of like its own city. A city that gets one break a year, on Christmas day. And it literally takes a village. QVC employs more than 17,000 people worldwide.
More than 2,000 people alone work at their headquarters in West Chester, making it the second largest employer in Chester County.
Host Jennifer Coffey took Action News behind the scenes. The first stop was the talent service center.
"It's basically the concierge desk at the busiest hotel you could ever check in to," Coffey said.
Then it was onto the set which looked just like a home, both indoors and out.
There are more than 20 sets in all, to showcase everything from food to fashion. And hosts like Coffey do it all off the cuff with a little help on the floor and from the producers giving them instructions in their ear.
The hosts also get some high tech help from the control room.
Coffey said the technical director manages the cameras with "her right hand, left hand, right foot and left foot."
At least two of every single item shown on air is kept in an area called "product central."
"Basically this is QVC's closet. And since there are two of everything we call it Noah's Ark. Every single day, over 800 come into this room. And that means a total of about 300,000 different products that are pretty much always at the ready," Coffey said.
Those items are then sold on QVC's three channels - including its newest venture, Beauty IQ. It's not only seen on TV - but also broadcasts online and on Facebook Live.
Host Albert Popaj conducted a Facebook Live while Action News was there.
"And people can actually chime in during our broadcast and ask us their questions live and we can ask our experts," said Popaj.
It's a new spin on the premise QVC has been operating on for more than three decades.
And QVC is about to get even bigger. This summer the parent company of the network announced it is buying its rival HSN in a $2.6 billion deal.
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