Enthusiasm and Persistence Results in QVC Appearance for Past INPEX® Exhibitor
The $7 billion home shopping industry represents a rare and exciting opportunity for inventors, providing them with a chance to market their products directly to the millions of households that are watching at any given time. For past INPEX exhibitor Ed Kurpieski, appearing on a televised home shopping program was merely the second monumental development in just over a year.
Kurpieski is the inventor of The Bear Backscratcher™, a wall-mounted device that can be used to scratch your back without any stretching or straining.
Kurpieski's first life-altering experience came in October 2003, when he was selected as one of seven finalists whose inventions would be featured on the Oprah Winfrey Show. In addition to the extraordinary publicity generated by the airing, the winner of the contest was given a chance to appear on QVC, the juggernaut of the home shopping industry. Kurpieski ultimately did not win, but he used the Oprah cameo as a springboard to reach another of his goals.
"I was disappointed that I was not selected, but I refused to let it get me down," he said. "I immediately approached the QVC executives, who were on hand for the taping, and lobbied them for an opportunity to sell The Bear on their network."
The persistent Kurpieski followed up with QVC after the Oprah show and, much to his delight, they expressed some interest in his invention. He made numerous calls to the network over the following year, and finally, on October 28, 2004, Kurpieski was invited to QVC's headquarters in West Chester, Pennsylvania for a Guest Excellence Seminar. The seminar, which all prospective vendors must complete at least one month prior to going on the air, entailed several practice runs for Kurpieski's forthcoming television appearance.
"The people conducting the seminar were extraordinarily helpful and patient," he said. "They went through each of the mock tapings with me and gave me tips on how to improve my performance. When the seminar ended, I was told that I would be scheduled for a live segment within one month."
Sure enough, a network representative soon called to tell Kurpieski that he was slotted to appear on QVC at 6:00 a.m. on November 29. Returning to company headquarters for the airing, he was ushered into an operations area to receive makeup and have a brief sit-down with the host who had been assigned to The Bear segment.
"I went over everything with the host to ensure that we were on the same page, and just like that, I was in front of a live camera," Kurpieski said. "It's one shot only — no do-overs — but I overcame my nervousness, and the six minutes and forty-five seconds that I was allotted went by quickly."
Kurpieski says that he is thrilled with the number of Bear Backscratcher units he sold that day, especially considering the very short time frame he had to work with. He hopes to be invited back on QVC, but feels that the experience was invaluable either way.
"There can be as many as 10 to 20 million people watching QVC at any given time," he reflected. "This was truly a second opportunity of a lifetime."
Kurpieski insists that it was not so much his product itself that grabbed the attention of QVC representatives, but rather his energetic, never-say-die approach.
"I believe it was my genuine, heartfelt belief in — and enthusiasm for — The Bear that won them over," he stated. "If you are not excited about your product, then who else will be? There is a lesson to be learned here, and it is one that we must tell ourselves, our children and our friends: Never give up!"
