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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Home Shoppers Buy Montana Products

From Staff And Wire Reports

The nation’s home shoppers apparently consider Montana-made products hot items.

Twenty Montana products went on display Saturday on the QVC network - and several of them sold out while the special three-hour telecast was still on the air.

The 300 stuffed bears offered by Yvette Soltis and Sharon Hawke’s company, Bear Fax of Polson, were snapped up in five minutes - at $87.30 apiece.

The women had spent six weeks stitching the bears.

“It took me a while to realize what happened, it happened so fast,” Soltis said.

Another big seller was a miniature homestead made of weathered barnwood by Marcia Staigmiller and her daughter-in-law, Lynne Staigmiller, of Great Falls. Same price - $87.50 each.

The show was broadcast from Giant Springs State Park outside Great Falls. The 20 Montana items were chosen by QVC from more than 300 offered at a craft fair in the spring.

Marcia Staigmiller said QVC sells the products at about a 40 percent markup, then returns unsold items to the makers.

QVC, the nation’s largest home-shopping network, is viewed in an estimated 50 million households. The Montana show was the 25th in a series of 50 that are featuring products from each state.