Ever wanted to get your product on America’s #1 TV shopping network? 

Founded in 1986, QVC (Quality, Value, Convenience) has retail operations in the US, the UK, Germany, Japan, and Italy. Worldwide, QVC reaches over 200 million homes via 12 TV channels, plus millions more via digital and TV livestreaming, websites, mobile apps, and social media pages. 

Each year, thousands of people apply for a chance to showcase their product on QVC. But only a small percentage will ever make it on air. 

In this guide, you’ll find:

• 4 ways to get a product on QVC 
• A step-by-step guide to the QVC Vendor Application process
• A list of information you need for the QVC Product Submission forms 
• Top tips for pitching a product to QVC
• QVC retail fulfillment and drop ship requirements

Let’s get started.

Why Sell on QVC?

QVC broadcasts 24/7 (20 hours live), 364 days per year to 94 million US households and a further 100 million homes worldwide. QVC’s customers are highly loyal: In 2020, 92% of US sales across QVC/HSN came from repeat customers, and existing customers ordered an average of 27 items. QVC.com is a top trafficked ecommerce marketplace.

Live on air, QVC hosts and vendors promote a curated assortment of products. They demonstrate how the products work, highlight features and benefits, and share the brand’s story with viewers. That’s one of the biggest advantages of getting a product on QVC—you get to demonstrate in real-time how the product works. 

QVC promotes a range of products in categories such as Home, Fashion and Beauty, Electronics, Jewelry, and more. They’re always on the lookout for new finds to promote to their audience.

How to get Your Product on QVC

Quick facts:

• Every year, QVC receives approximately 10,000 vendor applications
• Only about 500 new vendors will be selected from that pool 
• The average time it takes to get on air is 12-18 months

Only 5% of applicants will get to promote their product on air to an audience of millions. The competition is tough, and QVC has strict requirements for their vendors and products—as well as a lengthy product testing and Quality Assurance process. 

There are a few ways to get your product on QVC. But first, you’ll have to make sure you can meet their requirements—and that your product will resonate with QVC’s customer base.

Make Sure Your Product is a Good Fit

QVC wants products that meet the following criteria for success:

• Highly demonstrable
• Solve a problem or make life easier
• Appeal to a broad audience
• Have unique features and benefits
• Bonus: Great story of discovery, invention, or entrepreneurship

In their words: “We seek brands with great stories to tell and great storytellers who can bring products to life in live presentations.” They also list the following desirable product qualities: new, revolutionary/innovative, entrepreneurial, demonstrable, exclusive, unique, solution-oriented, great value, high quality, and relatable.  

QVC’s main product categories are Home, Fashion and Beauty, Electronics, and Jewelry. More specifically, they’re interested in products that fit the following categories:

Women’s Apparel/Accessories	Home Improvement
Bakeware and Cookware	Home Textiles
Bed and Bath	Kitchen Gadgets
Beauty	Household Cleaners
Cookbooks	Patio and Garden
Bed and Bath	Jewelry
Consumer Electronics	Kitchen Gadgets/Electrics
Cookbooks	Patio and Garden
Food	Personal Care
Handbags and Luggage	Pet Products
Health and Fitness	Storage Solutions
Home Decor	Toys

Pricing and Manufacturing Costs

You might be wondering about the differences between QVC and HSN (Home Shopping Network)—especially considering that QVC’s parent company (Qurate Retail Group) bought HSN in 2017, and now the two shopping networks are often referred to as “QVC/HSN” or “Q/H.” 

One of the main differences is the minimum purchase order. Both QVC and HSN require vendors to have a certain amount of retail-ready inventory before they go on air. But where HSN starts lower, with a typical first-time minimum purchase order of $5,000 worth of product, QVC’s minimum purchase order is typically $30,000-$35,000 at wholesale price. 

That means if your product has a wholesale cost per unit of $20, you must be prepared to produce and deliver 1,500 retail-ready units before the product goes on air. 

Because all products must be shipped to customers, QVC generally doesn’t sell anything for lower than $10-$15, and their ideal price is $50-$100. You can still sell low-cost items—you just might need to sell them in bundles. For example, items like household cleaners are almost always sold in sets of 3-4.

Exclusivity

In QVC’s words: “We are particularly interested in products that are debuting on QVC or are exclusive to us.” 

A key part of the QVC model is offering QVC-exclusive items that can’t be found anywhere else. This is something you can leverage in your product pitch if you’re a relatively young brand—QVC loves to “get in on the ground floor” with unique products that haven’t yet gone mainstream. It’s a huge bonus if your product is patented, so it can’t be copied by other sellers if it becomes a hit.

Can it be Demonstrated?

Live product presentations are the foundation of TV shopping. On air, you have 5-7 minutes to tell your story, demonstrate how your product works, and sell as many units as possible. 

That means you and your product have to make for compelling, engaging TV. If you’re selling a cleaner, your demonstration has to be more interesting than just spraying cleaner on a stain, because your goal is to keep people watching. Similarly, if your product is a clothing item or something else that likely can’t be patented, you have to find other unique selling points that set you apart from competitors. 
The reason QVC emphasizes storytelling so much is because that’s what makes for good TV. If your product has an interesting, exciting, funny, heartwarming, etc. story of invention or entrepreneurship, that’s what will keep eyes on the screen. You have 5 minutes to communicate the value of your product, how it will help customers and make their lives easier, and why they should buy it from you instead of someone else.

Will it Resonate with QVC Customers?

QVC asks for products that “appeal to a broad audience,” but their customer base—though large—is very specifically defined. QVC’s core customer is a woman between the ages of 35-64, with disposable income, who is the primary shopper for her household. 

Due to the nature of TV broadcasting, most viewers are watching from home during the day—meaning they likely work from home, or their main job is running the household. 

Age, mobility, and location also come into play. Older people spend more time in the home, as well as people with mobility limitations—which often overlaps with age. In addition, people in suburban or rural areas are more likely to choose the comfort and convenience of TV shopping over traveling a long distance to a shopping center. 

So, when trying to figure out if your product is the right fit for QVC, think about the people watching. What do they value? What do they need? What do they find compelling? What day-to-day problems, big or small, are they facing? What would make their life easier, more pleasurable, less stressful? What would take a weight off their shoulders? What do they look for in a product?

Develop Your Product’s Story

No matter how unique or useful your product is, the thing that will truly make viewers stop what they’re doing, pay attention, and pick up the phone to place an order is a compelling story. 

People watching QVC want to connect to the person on-screen. They want to relate to you. They want to understand you, understand the problem you’re trying to solve, and why you care about solving it. And they want to be entertained.

Questions to jumpstart your storytelling:

• Who are you? Where do you come from? What’s your backstory? 
• What’s the origin story of your business? 
• What did you overcome to get where you are?
• What prompted the idea for your product?
• What roadblocks did you face when creating your product? How did you overcome them?
• How does your product help people? What problem does your product solve? 
• How are people currently dealing with that problem? Why is the current solution not working? 
• Why are you passionate about your product, or about creating in general? 
• How has your business or product changed your life?  
• What did you learn in the process of creating your product? Any hard lessons? How did you apply that knowledge moving forward? 
• How are you different today than when you started this journey?

Obviously, not everyone has a pitch-perfect underdog story about conquering insurmountable odds. But everyone does have a story. 

If you’ve created something, that means you saw a need for that thing to be created, and you figured out how to do it. That’s wonderful. You probably made mistakes along the way, and (hopefully) learned from them. That’s wonderful, too. That’s something people can relate to. 

The best stories are about change. How you changed, how your product changed in the making, how your product can change other people—by making their lives easier, less stressful. 

That’s what they want to hear: How will this product change my life for the better? How has it already changed you, the creator? How can I make that happen for me? 

For even more information and tips about pitching to QVC/HSN, check out our deep dive: The Ultimate Guide to Selling on HSN.

Build a Brand

QVC’s Vendor Application requires high-quality photos of any and all products you’re submitting. Again, they only accept applications for products that will be retail-ready (able to be mass produced in quantities and timelines that meet QVC’s standards) before going on air. They don’t require products to be manufactured before submitting an application, but it’s greatly preferred. 

A significant social media following is also a bonus—though follower count alone doesn’t mean much if those people won’t actually tune in and buy your product. Being able to prove social media engagement and brand recognition is a huge plus.

4 ways to get a product on QVC

Know your product is the right fit for QVC? Then it’s time to take the plunge and try to get on air.

Here’s how.

1. Submit your pitch on QVC’s product discovery platform

QVC uses a platform called RangeMe to source new products. This is the main way to get discovered by QVC/HSN retail buyers (professionals who source products for a retailer). 

How it works:

• You create a profile for your business
• You fill out Product Submission forms for the products you want to pitch
• You wait for a buyer to reach out.

QVC buyers browse RangeMe for innovative products. If they’re interested in your product, they’ll contact you directly via RangeMe, phone, or email to discuss it further. 

We’ll go into detail about the official Vendor Application process down below. 

(You can’t submit a product to QVC via email, fax, or US mail. Product submissions must be completed electronically via RangeMe.)

2. Hire a retail brokerage service

Retail brokers act as middlemen between SMBs (Small and Midsize Businesses) and retailers. They introduce you to buyers, help you pitch, help you negotiate a contract, and generally facilitate your partnership with that retailer. 

Brokerage services tend to specialize in one or two retailers, or smaller local chains. They’re generally more focused on brick-and-mortar stores than TV or ecommerce. They’re a good option if you’re focusing on a specific retailer or retail location—and if you make sure to verify the broker’s connections and claims.

3. Attend trade shows or product expos

Vendors sometimes get recruited from trade shows, craft fairs, product expositions, and other events. It’s an option if you know for sure that QVC buyers will be in attendance, and if the travel and other costs involved are doable with your budget.

4. Choose EcomHalo, a Preferred Drop Ship Partner

Hey, that’s us! 

Here’s what we do:

• Directly introduce you to a retail buyer in your category  
• Fast-track the pitching and testing process, cutting 1+ years down to a matter of days
• Manage all your inventory management, order fulfillment, and drop shipping needs

We’ll talk more about who we are and how we help later on.

For now, let’s take a deep dive into the official QVC Supplier Application process.

Start the Application Process

How to fill out the QVC Vendor Application

Head on over to QVC.com’s Product Pitch page, which directs you to the QVC RangeMe page.

There, you’ll be prompted to create an account and fill out your business profile. 

This is the first step of the Vendor Application. 
You’ll be asked to provide basic information about your business or company:

• Business name, logo, year founded
• Business type: Manufacturer, Broker, Reseller, Other
• Annual gross revenue (if applicable) 
• Are you EDI (Electronic Data Interchange) capable? (They want to know if you’re using software that can send electronic notifications of customer transactions, such as Purchase Orders and Shipping Confirmations, via approved file formats.)

Once you fill out the basics, you can start adding products you want to pitch. Each product requires that you fill out a Product Submission form.

How to fill out the QVC Product Submission form

This is where you get into the nitty-gritty details of your product and brand. 

You’ll be asked to provide a lot of practical information about your product:

• USP (Unique Selling Proposition): a keyword or label that categorizes your product to make it easier for buyers to find. Examples: organic, sustainable, award-winning, etc. 
• SKU (Stock Keeping Unit): a unique, scannable product ID number assigned by your manufacturer 
• Cost to retailer: the wholesale price per unit that a retailer pays you (i.e., the dollar amount HSN pays per unit if they buy your inventory at wholesale price)  
• MSRP (Manufacturer-Suggested Retail Price): the retail selling price (i.e., the dollar amount HSN could sell your product for, via their retail channels) 
• Product images: clear, high-quality photos of the product appearing how it would in stores (in the packaging, against a white background)

Then, you’ll be asked about manufacturing and distribution:

• Development status: Working Prototype, Factory-Produced Sample, Fully Developed and In Production
• Where is the product manufactured?
• Is the product currently being sold anywhere? 
• Lead time: the time it takes to manufacture, ship, and deliver a finished product  
• Products per case: the number of products in each case you’re able to ship to a retailer
• Case price: how much the retailer pays you for one case of product
• Can you drop ship?

Drop shipping is a form of order fulfillment where a seller accepts customer orders without keeping stock on hand—instead, the supplier ships products directly to the customers. 

In recent years, QVC/HSN and other top retailers have begun pivoting to a drop ship model with their vendors. In retail, a drop ship model means that vendors are responsible for managing and shipping their own inventory. 

Being able to drop ship isn’t a requirement to partner with QVC, but it’s a huge bonus. 

Sometimes they’re able to set you up within their own drop ship program. If they can’t, you’ll need to partner with a 3PL (third-party logistics) company.  

We’ll go into detail about the QVC drop ship requirements later on. 

Next on the application, you’ll be asked about marketing:

• Target audience or ICP (Ideal Customer Profile) 
• Market protections: if you’ve filed a patent, trademark, copyright, etc. 
• What’s the story? If there’s a unique or compelling origin story behind your company, founder, product, etc., they want to hear it. 
• You can also upload a pre-recorded product presentation video (2 minutes or less). Unlike product images, this is optional.

Don’t have all the data? Don’t panic. Many fields are optional. QVC (even more so than HSN) prefers to source products that are already being manufactured, but it’s not 100% necessary to submit the application—though, as stated earlier, it is necessary to be retail-ready before going on air. You need more than a concept (you must at least have a Working Prototype), but it’s not an automatic deal breaker if you don’t have a warehouse of product just yet. 

Once you’ve completed the Product Submission form, click Submit for Approval. 

RangeMe’s Product Approval team will review your product(s) within 24-48 hours to make sure it meets their basic requirements. QVC buyers won’t see your product until it gets approved.

If your product doesn’t get approved, you’ll get an email explaining why and what to do next. 

Common reasons a product won’t get approved:

• Unacceptable product image (dark, low-quality, etc.) 
• Unrealistic pricing 
• Descriptions not in English
• Listed in the wrong category

Once your product is approved, it automatically becomes visible to QVC and HSN buyers. 

For 28 days, your profile will only be visible to QVC/HSN. After that period, you’ll be discoverable to other retailers on RangeMe. 

So… I submitted my application. Now what?

Now you wait.

Ideally, you’ll hear from an interested buyer (via RangeMe, phone, or email) within 30 days. But due to the high volume of submissions, you’re not guaranteed to receive a response. 

If a buyer does contact you, the next step is to discuss your product further. That might mean setting up a phone call or virtual meeting. The buyer may also request a sample of your product.

What happens if my QVC Vendor Application is accepted?

Got a bite from a QVC retail buyer? Congratulations! However, this is only the beginning of your journey. The standard QVC pitching and testing process takes 12-18 months—with most of that time dedicated to product evaluation and Quality Assurance testing.

How does QVC product evaluation work?

Before your product gets on air, it must be reviewed by QVC’s internal Quality Assurance, marketing, and manufacturing teams.

They spend months testing your product and packaging for performance, functionality, safety, and so on. They have to confirm that your product meets performance, regulatory, and compliance standards, both internal and federal. 

Any claims you make about your product must be substantiated with evidence. That means if you claim your product is biodegradable, or does something 2x faster, etc., you must be able to back it up with data from laboratory testing.

Meanwhile, you’ll work with the marketing, branding, and licensing teams. They’ll want to be sure you have a strong, consistent brand look and story, that demand for your product exists, and that they know how to position your product to QVC viewers.

What are the QVC drop ship requirements?

QVC has a built-in drop ship program and distribution network that vendors can use. However, sometimes their program isn’t the best option for a vendor, or they need to otherwise supplement the vendor’s drop shipping capabilities with a third-party service provider. 

Whether you’re using QVC’s drop ship program or a 3PL drop ship provider, you must be able to comply with QVC’s requirements. This includes strict SLAs (Service-Level Agreements) related to product quantities and shipment timelines. 

A drop ship vendor must be able to:

• Reliably manufacture, store, and deliver a certain number of units in a certain timeframe (quantities and timelines will vary)
• Process and handle returns 
• Send electronic notifications of Purchase Orders, Shipment Confirmations, Customer Returns, and other customer transactions via approved file formats (EDI, XML, CSV)
• Label and load cartons, cases, and pallets according to QVC’s requirements
• Pass regular on-site inspections and Pre-Shipment Finished Goods Audits (PSFGAs)

Failure to comply with any of the requirements will result in penalty fees. For example, the fee for a late drop shipment is 5% Cost of Goods. (You can read more about QVC/HSN’s Vendor Supply Chain Compliance regulations via QVC.com.) 

The accuracy and efficiency of a vendor’s order fulfillment reflects on QVC, so they have a low tolerance for compliance issues. 

If you’re sourcing your own 3PL partner, you’ll need to make sure they:

• Show a deep understanding of QVC’s drop ship requirements
• Have the logistical infrastructure to meet or exceed deadlines and regulations
• Take responsibility for any penalty fees incurred as a result of compliance issues

Need a drop ship provider you can trust? Ask QVC to refer you to an approved third-party service provider such as EcomHalo. Or, contact us directly to get started. More on that below (we’re almost there!).

How much does it cost to sell on QVC?

There’s no charge to submit a Vendor Application, undergo the product evaluation process, or get set up in the QVC Drop Ship Program. QVC doesn’t sell airtime.

Work with a Retail Accelerator Like EcomHalo Instead

A retail accelerator is a partner that provides guidance, support, resources, and access to retailer networks.

We’re EcomHalo: a retail accelerator and drop ship provider redefining what it means to be a partner. 

We don’t just handle your end-to-end, purchase-to-porch order fulfillment needs. 

We also leverage our partnership network of 25+ top retailers to help you expand your brand, enter multibillion-dollar channels, and reach millions of customers in stores and online. 

We’re your personal guide to the retail landscape—from first step to final mile. 

Here’s what we do:

• Directly introduce you to a retail buyer in your category  
• Fast-track the pitching and testing process, cutting 1+ years down to a matter of days
• Manage all your inventory management, order fulfillment, and drop shipping needs

Why choose EcomHalo?

QVC TV Feature	QVC Fulfillment & Drop Shipping	QVC.com Ecommerce
Whether you’re a nationally known brand looking for retail growth opportunities, or a small business ready to enter big new channels—getting on QVC puts your product in front of millions of viewers. We get you on TV—and help you make the most of your airtime.	Already a vendor with QVC—or hoping to land a QVC partnership? Either way, we’ve got your inventory management, order fulfillment, and drop ship needs covered—always exceeding QVC’s strict standards.	QVC.com is a top trafficked ecommerce marketplace where shoppers can order your product any time, not just when it’s on air. We get you set up and selling on QVC.com in a matter of days—sometimes in less than 24 hours.

What We Provide

Direct buyer introduction	Digital content creation	Fast-tracked product evaluation
No need to submit your Vendor Application online and hope for a response. We directly introduce you to a buyer in your category, then guide you through every step of the pitch.	We handle product setup, content creation, digital assets, and all other QVC onboarding requirements for you. We know what information they’ll ask for and how to prepare it.	Remember that 12-18 months of product evaluation? We handle that process for you, without you having to deal directly with QVC’s internal teams. That alone cuts months down to days.

Conclusion

In this guide, we covered:

• 4 ways to get a product on QVC 
• A step-by-step guide to the QVC Vendor Application process
• A list of information you need for the QVC Product Submission forms 
• Top tips for pitching a product to QVC
• QVC retail fulfillment and drop ship requirements
• A way to do it faster—with EcomHalo

Whether our services are the right fit for you or not, we hope you’ve found this guide helpful and informative. Wherever your journey takes you, we wish you safe travels, big windfalls, and the absolute best of luck.

Ready to reach an audience of millions? Get your free 15-minute consultation with an EcomHalo Guardian to receive:

• An overview of our retail acceleration, drop ship, and fulfillment services
• Pricing information and a free quote
• Referrals to other 3PLs if we’re not the right fit