By 2006, after six years at Nike, Grossman desired a CEO position, preferably in a company where she did not need to commute across the country as she did at Nike. Nike had recently appointed its own new CEO and a new president, so she actively looked to find an opportunity in another company, seeking this time one that was direct-to-consumer, entrepreneurial but not a start-up, and one that she could transform by taking advantage of new technological advances. A recruiter approached her about IAC/InterActiveCorp (IAC), the parent company of HSN, Inc., and after studying HSN’s broadcasts Grossman realized that, in her words, “HSN really needed to become more of a lifestyle network that would inspire people through products”. Her vision was to offer inspiring lifestyle programming, particularly with charismatic celebrities, with all the products for sale – rather than the usual dry and old-fashioned standard sales format.
She took the idea to Barry Diller, the head of IAC, and even though she had no television experience, no direct-to-consumer experience, and no experience in most of the product categories HSN sold, he hired her. In April 2006, Grossman was appointed CEO of IAC Retailing, overseeing HSN, the catalog company Cornerstone Brands, Shoebuy.com, and IAC’s international retailing operations.
HSN had had seven CEOs in the previous 10 years, and according to Grossman, the company, offices, and employees seemed downtrodden and frozen in time. One of her first actions was to throw out all the old, broken, or dirty office furniture and give all employees Aeron chairs. In order to focus on revitalizing HSN, she closed IAC’s failing UK auction business, sold its German shopping channel, closed the down-market DirecTV clearance-shopping channel, and put another executive in charge of Cornerstone brands. She also eliminated negative or “toxic” employees, sought out committed, knowledgeable people within and outside the company to head up important divisions, and ensured that all employees were on board with the company’s new vision.
Grossman also found that the network and brand itself was a “very stagnant, linear, non-immersive experience”. By October 2006 she rolled out HSN’s new brand image, tagline, vision statement, customer intention, and advertising. The company’s new manifesto was “to create a new lifestyle experience for consumers”. To implement the plan, she stopped selling $150 million worth of unsuitable brands, and worked hard to entice higher-end brands, and new personalities to sell products. Among many others, early on she recruited Sephora, Emeril Lagasse, and Todd English to sell on air. She also aired a two-hour fashion show of high-end apparel. In addition, she brought the company’s call centers back to the U.S. from overseas.
World Liberty TV’s Executive Producer Sat Down and did an exclusive interview with Mindy Grossman CEO of Home Shopping Network, at Serena Williams fashion Show During NYFW 2016, See What she had to say to World Liberty TV , Fashion Channel.
American sabre fencer, and a member of the United States fencing team. She is best known for being the first Muslim American woman to wear a hijab while competing for the United States in the Olympics. In individual sabre at the 2016 Summer Olympics, she won her first qualifying round bout, and was defeated in the second round by Cécilia Berder of France. She earned the bronze medal as part of Team USA in the Team Sabre, becoming the first female Muslim-American athlete to earn a medal at the Olympics.
She is best known for being the first woman to wear a hijab while competing for the United States in the Olympics. American-born and raised Sarah Attar had run in the 2012 Olympics with her hair covered, in keeping with a request that she do so to respect Islamic law by Saudi Arabia, for whom she ran on the basis of her father having been born in Saudi Arabia.
Muhammad became the first female Muslim-American athlete to earn a medal at the Olympics.She earned a bronze medal in the Team Sabre, along with Monica Aksamit, Dagmara Wozniak, and Mariel Zagunis, by defeating Italy 45-30 in the medal match. This came after defeating Poland 45-43, and losing to Russia 42-45.
See More about Ibtihaj Muhammad Bronze Olympic Medalist in Rio in Fencing in our World Liberty TV, Sports Blog Channel.
Oxygen Media is giving a greenlight to “Strut,” a new original series from Executive Producer Whoopi Goldberg and 44 Blue Productions, it was announced today by Rod Aissa, Executive Vice President of Original Programming and Development, Oxygen Media. “Strut” will follow a set of driven and determined models who are pursuing their passion of becoming household names in the world of fashion while challenging stereotypes of gender and beauty. Supporting them every step of the way is Slay Model Management, the world’s first exclusively transgender modeling agency. The series is set to premiere later this year.
“‘Strut” follows a group of inspiring and resilient trailblazers who are working to change the modeling industry, and the world around them, by simply being true to themselves,” said Rod Aissa, Executive Vice President of Original Programming and Development, Oxygen Media. “These individuals will empower viewers as they live their lives fully and unapologetically, despite facing many obstacles throughout their journey.”
See More of Whoopi Goldberg and Strut in our World Liberty TV, LGBTQ Blog.
USA –made products with fair wages are inherently more expensive than foreign made goods.The profit margins for each piece are small relative to those designer labels manufactured overseas.Think of how expensive it is to have a piece of art professionally framed –several hundred dollars for a small pic.
A small team and over $1000,000 of equipment go into making each bag.
“Is it hand-painted” no.The Designer creates the image ,which is then digitally printed onto the canvas ,laminated, assembled,and sewn all fron his workshop in Rhode Island.
“Is it leather” no.It is a digital print on a coated cotton canvas.Note for vegan customers: we use scraps from our leather products to make the very small tabs that hold the shoulderstrap d-rings in place. This is part of our commitment to generating no waste-however by request we can make a bag using vinyl for this piece.
“How does it wear?” The prints are coated ,so they are durable .They wear like colored leather ,so should be stored in their dustbags for travel ,and avoid excessive abrasion or scratching.
“Will the thing fall of the flap?” not without extreme efforts .The Flap attachments are all fused on with industrial –grade adhesives and then sewn in place with bonded nylon thread .The attachments are made from foam, resin ,and polymers.If the attachment is “squishy “. Do not squeeze it hard as it can crack.
Fun Facts: –There are nearly 50 steps that go in to making each bag.
-We believe that the inside of the bag is an important part of the experience of using a bag, and therefore your customers will be surprised and delighted when you share the vibrant linings that individually complement each print.
-Each piece is hand-traced and cut without dies.
-The entire process is done in the USA, and the majority of materials and components that go in to making each bag are USA-Sourced .
-Although sold all over the world and popular among celebrities, our production facility can only produce 10,000 pieces a year, making them truly special collectors items.
-Every piece is made-to-order, there is no overstock ,and we do not mark-down.
-Our ecologically –conscientious production facility generates only one bag of trash a week.
-Getting each print to “line up” is a painstakingly exact process that takes very careful preparations and individual attention for each piece.
To learn more about Kent Stetson and his wonderful Stetson bags.
World Liberty TV, had the pleasure of interviewing Mr Kent Stetson at the ATS New York Show recently , see what he had to say to us, right here in our World Liberty TV, Fashion review channel.
