You should never underestimate the value of good training, in fact quality training may be the single most important factor when it comes to consistently delivering an excellent customer experience. Over the years I've conducted and participated in many different types of training, but I have to say that the training program that QVC requires its new vendors to take, was one of the most thorough "non-employee" vendor training programs I've ever been through. QVC really understands their business, what their customers want and have a very clear vision of who they are in the market place.

QVC's sales philosophy is straightforward, honest with an emphasis on value. In a nut shell, when you under promise and over deliver you're always going to have winning customer service model. They do over 7 billion dollars a year in sales and every single product is delivered by UPS; that makes QVC one of  UPS's largest customers. To make sure every purchase arrives in perfect condition and works as promised, QVC has an intensive QA (quality assurance) process, if your product doesn't pass QA it won't make it to the purchasing department and you'll never see a PO.

The next topic covered in training was how to properly ship to one of QVC's six warehouses and most importantly what you need to do to get paid. As companies go QVC offers more support and online reports than just about any other company around. Out of all the companies I contacted or tried to do business with, QVC is by far the most pro-entrepreneurial to work with, they are an inventors best hope.     

After months of preparation, multiple phones calls to my agent, developing a solid relationship with a Chinese importer and successfully passing through quality assurance, on April 28th I officially received my first QVC purchase order. Now I just have to complete their Guest Excellence class and get in front of a camera.  I'm almost home free, or maybe not!