I will never forget my first time touring HSN, I could not believe my eyes and although I had been instructed and advised about what to expect of my visit and the process, nothing compares to the physical experience.

It is like a university campus, with many state of the art studios that work 24 hour live TV and a few football-sized fields of operators answering calls.
The screening and security to get in there is possibly better than TSA.
It is a business like non other and one I had not ever sat and thought much about. I did develop a kick back in the 90’s where I would come home in the wee hours after closing the restaurant, at night, and to decompress would tune in for mindless TV.

Once you pull the trigger and order your first item, you sort of get hooked and it becomes addictive. My list of impulse buys is big. I will admit to actually buying a thigh master, a Susan Powter training video with fat measuring tool, a George Foreman Grill, Total Gym, Nordic Track, rowing machine, every kitchen gadget, tool and pot and pan they had. I believe my last purchase was a Toni Robins 24 CD program on how to achieve your dreams. At that moment, I recall my now ex-husband putting a ban on TV purchasing only because there was no space to fit any of the equipment. However, much time has passed since and in today’s world, getting on HSN, is the road to a successful retail career.

So, here I find myself, entering this world which took many a trip, many meetings and presentations to finally have been picked with my cookware line and gadgets, made by 2 completely different manufacturers, T-Fal and Furi.

Making products, just like books and TV shows, takes so long and is so intense; it feels like delivering a baby! And it is, in a sense, because you truly start an idea or concept from nothing and see it evolve and grow until it comes to life. Often, there are many big hurdles along the way. Seeing my cookware for the first time, just like when I saw my book, brought me to my knees in tears of joy and amazement! I could not believe that we actually pulled it off; it takes so many people and players to make it happen.

Needless to say, before debuting on HSN there were many sleepless nights of fear and insecurity. What if it bombs? Going to market with product that is traceable is a very scary thing to do, because, if the timing is not right, it can affect all your branding and cause big damage. But, I was determined to make this work!

So I immersed myself into coming to as much training as HSN would give me to learn the TV selling formula, which is very different from making a TV show. It is nerve wrecking! There are all of this monitors that indicate the call volume per item and a per dollar minute ratio right in front of you. You can’t help but be worried of how that is doing. Then you have two people talking in your ear telling you commands, a host who you have to interact with while cooking and saying your selling points and, of course, make it all look like a walk in the park. It is a simply insane and surreal experience, no other words to describe it.

I remember my first rehearsal, I was so lost I did not even know what was happening to me. Thank God for the amazing team of absolutely special people at HSN who have been supporting me.

I am lucky enough to say that thanks to the success of my first airing in November, I have been asked to come back regularly. I am very proud to announce that sales have surpassed my, and everyone else’s, expectations. Let me be clear, I do not believe it has anything to do with me. I am smart enough to not drink the Kool-Aid. I do believe it has everything to do with great design and quality products at affordable prices made by reputable companies. More so, I have to give credit to the loyal support of my fans who, time and time again, stand behind me.

Thanks guys! You definitely make my often 18 hr days worth every minute.