another rambling post...
Thanks for the post Preebs and you're right about earlier events giving lasting happy memories; LipstickCherry and I went a couple of times to the NYNY events which were held at The QE2 building. We were a pair of giddy kippers but still managed to chat with some of the Q beauty buyers about the usual bugbears: postage and price of beauty TSVs pushing almost £40 in some cases (sigh). The guests were fab, Daniel from Smashbox was genuinely helpful and interested, Angela Flanders (perfumer) was there in person rather than the company's PR or sales rep. All real characters passionate about their products, not all that eager to toe the QVC party line which was refreshing; it made them seem genuine and honest.
I missed out a couple of years (probably not spending enough) and then went to my first BB format last year with my daughter (then 17) and the whole thing seemed superficially slicker but less personal.
I now it does seem churlish to look a gift horse in the mouth, but £120 on rail tickets (plus lunch in London afterward) is a lot of money to me and a huge physical investment because it'll take me a fortnight to be walking pain-free (that sounds melodramatic but true). Yes it's a freebie, but we know QVC wouldn't do anything unless it had a knock on beneficial effect (££££) for them. At trade shows (a long time ago so may have changed) the brands gave out samples and freebies at their stalls because it creates goodwill, positive associations with that brand name, as well as tempting future sales by allowing new faces to try their range so I think QVC, by monopolising the handing out of the goody bags, are aiming to attract all the positive association to themselves rather than the brands. QVC know that they have to complete with hundreds of beauty websites offering special offers and free p&p so they schmooze new customers over rewarding old ones, aiming to maximise sales to these buyers in that heady honeymoon period before the novelty wears off and they start to shop around.
Going back to the brand "personalities" yesterday, it seemed that those fronting their own brands were confident enough to slip an extra sample to guests when the QVC goons weren't watching, whereas those employed as sales staff by other brands were sticking to the rules. By talking to the customer they can tailor the sample to their needs or skintype so maybe fewer bits would end up on ebay? And being told one minute to choose a freebie, then to be pulled up by another staff member for doing so was a bit like being treated as a shop-lifter! So all the goodwill and bonhomie built up during the morning was negated by being told to put down a sample with no retail value (and ml for ml value of about £3) and then finally the greatly reduced goody bag (including discontinued items) is yet another PR own goal by Q.
Leighton Denny, as always, was a hoot. Listening in to his chats while DD had her nails painted by one of his girls he was refreshingly honest and open and hilarious! He had on display each drop from his next auto-delivery TSV which includes fab new colours, four different bags and different treatments in each. He was also inviting written feedback (good and bad)or suugestions for future products or sets on little pieces of paper.
Highlights of my goody bag are the LE superskin neroli sample which I'd love to try (the plain one smelled fishy on me), Eve Lom cleanser will get used as will the small Cleanse & Polish. Sadly there's not much suitable for my DD's young skin and our bags were identical thsi year whereas last year we had a good share out of products; she got most of the make up items and I the anti-aging stuff.
If I get another invite, would I go? Not sure yet. I certainly wouldn't buy a ticket. QVC might be better inviting new people each year who don't remember the good old days.
