QVC and HSN launch search for fashion and beauty talent

Shopping platforms QVC and HSN have joined forces in a quest to uncover the next big thing in fashion and beauty.

The retail giants have announced the launch of ‘The Big Find,' a US-wide search to discover exciting brands and products in the worlds of beauty, fashion, accessories and jewelry. Video entry submissions will be open from June 13 through July 12, whereby all applications will be reviewed by a panel of QVC and HSN merchandising experts, before a shortlist is invited to present their ideas in person in August. Entrepreneurs that make the final cut will premiere their products on QVC or HSN from the final quarter of 2019 and throughout 2020.

"The Big Find is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for entrepreneurs to share their stories with an audience of millions across our QVC and HSN platforms," said Mary Campbell, Chief Merchandising Officer, Qurate Retail Group, and Chief Commerce Officer, QVC US, in a statement. "We're looking for entrepreneurs who are passionate about their products, have great stories to tell, and are engaging storytellers."

Brands such as philosophy, bareMinerals and Spanx have all been given a major boost by QVC and HSN in the past, thanks to the ability of both platforms to offer vendors the opportunity to engage with a global shopping community.

The companies are not alone in seeking out fresh talent in the lifestyle industry: beauty giant Sephora regularly champions female entrepreneurs as part of its annual Sephora Accelerate Cohort business program, while 2018 saw Sally Beauty launch the "Sally Beauty Cultivate - For Women by Women," a business accelerator program that aims to help female-owned hair care brands develop and expand, via a combination of financial support and mentorship.