PULLMAN, Wash. – The first day of June could be the first day of a whole new business experience for 20 Washington entrepreneurs thanks to a cooperative effort between the Washington State University Small Business Development Center (SBDC) and the QVC electronic shopping network.
As part of its “50 in 50 Tour,” in which the network highlights products from each of the 50 states during a 50-week period, QVC will be broadcasting live from the Flag Plaza and International Fountain at the base of the Space Needle in Seattle. The program is scheduled for noon to 3 p.m., Sunday, June 1.
Products from 20 businesses across the state will be featured during the program which will also include feature segments from several sites of interest in Washington. Viewers can call in to order products throughout the broadcast.
For the 20 businesses, the broadcast will mark the end of a four-month process which began with two specially organized trade shows in Bellevue and Spokane. The WSU SBDC organized the two shows in February to help small businesses present their products to QVC officials. Marketing specialists reviewed 419 different products over the two days.
“We felt the QVC program would be an excellent opportunity to introduce Washington small businesses to a national marketing program,” SBDC state director Carol Riesenberg said. “A major portion of our mission is to help small businesses open the door to success, and to be there to help them cope with the challenges of growth.”
According to QVC, seating for up to 500 visitors will be available at the site of the telecast. In case of rain, the program will be held in the Flag Pavilion.
The Washington SBDC, part of Washington State University’s College of Business and Economics, is the lead office for 23 education and 24 counseling centers statewide. These centers provide small business counseling, education and research services in conjunction with the U.S. Small Business Administration.
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