Pitching Products Dozens Vie For Chance To Appear On Shopping Channel

Mark Haley had a shot at national exposure during his first day of business.

“This is the entrance into the market,” the Spokane man said. “It’s just worth trying it out and seeing if someone will buy it.”

Haley presented his “seat saver” - a colorful foam pad that protects car seats from damage by children’s safety seats - to QVC representatives Thursday during the home-shopping network’s visit to Spokane.

QVC is touring the country, selecting 20 products from each state for on-air programs.

Haley was one of about 100 Eastern Washington entrepreneurs vying to win a coveted spot on the home-shopping network, which broadcasts to about 60 million households.

Haley’s product was designed by his sister-in-law in Seattle but it has never been marketed. It comes in jungle, dinosaur and balloon patterns and doubles as a changing table or sleeping pad for babies.

QVC’s trip to Seattle on Tuesday made the odds tough as 300 small businesses showed up to present their products. With 400 businesses statewide competing for exposure, the chances of getting on QVC will be one in 20.

“It’s going to be hard (to choose),” said QVC Local Buyer Carroll Thomas after two hours of meeting with businesses. “I’ve seen 10 people, and I’ve already seen nine I want to put on the show.”

Still, said Thomas, QVC has three other outlets - an Internet site, an infomercial and a smaller cable channel - for which some of the other products could be considered.

“We always keep them in mind,” Thomas said.

Idaho entrepreneurs are invited to present products in Boise on March 4.

There was a little bit of everything on Thursday, as businesses filed in and out of the Spokane Intercollegiate Research and Technology Institute, host of the event.

A hand-held fire starter. A laminated, re-usable grocery list.

Coffee beans roasted and mixed with Washington apple chips. Salsa touted as the nation’s hottest.

“It’s exposure, let’s face it,” said J.C. Zavala, who sells No Joke Hot Sauce. Zavala has been marketing his products nationwide for years, but jumped at the chance to tout his scorching salsa on QVC.

After meeting with all the vendors from Washington state, QVC’s buyers will get together and select the lucky 20 products. Businesses will be informed in about two weeks, said Alexandra Soumbeniotis, a spokesperson.

The products will be broadcast on QVC on June 1.

“I honestly came with zero expectations,” said Jim McAndrew of Greenacres, sitting beside his display of silver jewelry inlaid with gold nuggets from Northwest mines. “If it works, it works. If it doesn’t, you try again next time.”

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Photo