Letter from Executive Director, Marcel Avargues.

9th December, 2011

–

Dear ERA Europe Members

After careful evaluation of our current dues model, the Financial and Executive Committees have presented to the Board an evolution of the model for the 2012 membership of ERA Europe. This new model was unanimously approved by the Board and will be presented for validation to the General Assembly of members, January 27, in Ljubljana.

The 2012 dues model has three global objectives:

1. Reflect the actual and current business models in our industry
2. Update smoothly the values of our dues schedules – which have remained unchanged for 7 years – and allowance in the future for optional annual small adjustments, based on a general European price index
3. To be fair to all categories and sizes of members, and consequently foster an honest application of the model by each and every member of ERA Europe.

The 6 key features of the 2012 model are:

1. Clarification of the nature of D2C channels included in the revenue base for retailers and product marketers
2. Inclusion of 50% of Retail revenues on D2C products, in the revenue base for retailers and product marketers
3. Adjustment of the dues level brackets for inflation (limits to reach the next level are 20% higher)
4. 3.3 % adjustment of dues amount at each level, for inflation
5. Creation of a ‘three dues levels’ model for associate members and sole proprietor categories
6. Adjustment of the additional dues model for ERA UK members – only top dues members pay €1000. There is now a decreasing sliding scale for lower dues levels.

ERA Europe members will receive before December 15:

1. The new dues schedule for their category and territory of membership (DUES SCHEDULES 2012 )
2. A proforma invoice reflecting their 2011 dues level
3. If you are a retailer or product marketer,  we have created a DUES DETERMINATION TEMPLATE 2012 which members are encouraged to use to determine their 2012 dues level and amount.  (This is a protected Excel spreadsheet. Entering the values of different sections of your company revenues will automatically display your appropriate dues level and dues amount. We don’t need to receive this template back! It is a tool to help you determine your 2012 dues level, on the basis of your expected 2011 revenues..

You will have to indicate to Marcel Avargues, director of ERA EUROPE, the appropriate dues level for your company. If it does not change in 2012, please simply use the proforma invoice you will have received to make your payment by bank transfer.

Online Payment

This year members can renew their membership and settle their dues payment online. Please connect to the Membership renewal pages, and follow the simple instructions. Members will have the opportunity to provide us with current contact information, pay by Credit Card or Bank Transfer, and have an invoice printed immediately.

Members can, at the same time, register for the 2012 Annual Members Meeting in Ljubljana – January 26-27, making a single transaction for both.

We hope you will find this useful and that it will facilitate and accelerate your membership dues payment and annual meeting registration. Your cooperation and diligent processing are key to streamlining our administrative tasks (I should say MY administrative tasks since I am personally taking care of this process….No unnecessary overheads at ERA EUROPE!). Please minimize in 2012 the number of kind reminders I have to send every year…

Don’ t hesitate to call me: + 33(0)6 70 57 44 10 for any comments or questions you may have.

Looking forward to receiving soon in December, the confirmation of you continuous support of ERA Europe.

Warm personal regards

Marcel Avargues

Executive Director, ERA Europe

tel: +33(0) 9 63 63 94 42  | fax: + 33 (0)1 34 89 22 48

CC: John Mills – Chairman of the Board; Matthias Epp – Treasurer; Julian Oberndoerfer – Chair elect.

Now, for the first time, you can download and print the complete interview in which QVC UK’s Director of Media Operations Richard Burrell discusses the latest technologies, channels and breakthroughs at QVC both in the UK and worldwide.

Download Richard Burrell Complete Interview

Dear ERA EUROPE Members,

In a few days, I and around 170 other delegates from Europe will gather at the ERA D2C Convention 2011 in Las Vegas. Registration levels are excellent for the industry’s largest annual US–International business gathering. A “product-packed” show floor, and for the most studious among you, an exciting education programme.

This is therefore a good time to bring you some news from Europe and your Association:

Membership

With 20 new members in 2011 and a general stability in our industry, the number of active members is back to what it was before the recession, at 72 member companies. The significant achievement in 2011 is the return to membership and an active role, through a presence on the Board of Directors, of the European Home Shopping leaders QVC UK, QVC Germany, QVC and HSE in Italy. ERA EUROPE has now a strong Board of 18 members, representing all facets of our industry, from all the key European markets.

You will be pleased to know that Julian Oberndoerfer, Vice President Media Law, Media Politics and Distribution, at Home Shopping Europe in Germany, was nominated Chairman-elect at the June 25 Board meeting, and will succeed John Mills, our current Chairman, in June 2012

2011 Electronic HomeShopping Conference and Trade Expo – Stockholm

Nancy Barkan, our Conference Director and I want first to thank all of you who sent us messages of satisfaction after the largest and highest ranked ERA European Conference in history! Onsite, the comments were unanimous for the quality, for you the participants, of this 2011 meeting.

The venue and the space-management provided superior business efficiency on the Show floor and Business Club, while limiting more than ever before, the “off conference” trafficking. The limited but relevant programming attracted an unprecedented number of delegates in fully-packed Business Information sessions.

The new cycle of locations starting in Stockholm, the choice of an attractive venue, the Grand Hotel, an “all-inclusive” pricing policy, were obviously a winning combination. The promotion of these elements in Europe and North America, and a special effort of ERA EUROPE in Asia resulted in the largest attendance since the ERA started its European Conference 15 years ago, with 367 attendees (27% increase on 2010) and 46 countries represented. US and Canada was up 40% at 118 attendees, Asia up 40% and Europe 9% with 192 attendees.

Our August site visit to the 2012 ERA European Conference venue, the Marriott  Hotel Berlin, confirmed that Berlin has all the ingredients to surpass Stockholm. With the venue, will be the excitement, and high quality of business opportunities for all of you… at very reasonable rates!! As for our now worldwide-celebrated Monday  Night Networking event… we will surprise you again!

Self Regulation programme

6 years after its creation, the ERA Europe Self Regulation programme  has recently been reviewed by a working committee of members. The charter and guidelines have been updated, simplified and will be an improved resource and benefit for members, while remaining a key element of our by-laws. This 2011 update benefited again from the legal advice and participation of law firms and general counsels among our membership.

This second era of the programme coincides with, and will benefit, a significant breakthrough in Germany. Our Self Regulation programme, through the diligent action and institutional networking of ERA EUROPE leadership in this key market, is now officially recommended by TV regulators as a model of relations between the Broadcasting industry and compliant Teleshopping companies.

PR activities, supported by these same institutions, are now scheduled in 2011 in Germany and will culminate at the June 2012 Conference. Having the annual gathering of the Teleshopping Industry in Berlin is welcomed by all here and seen as a mutually beneficial opportunity by all stakeholders we met in Germany. A specific programming group was formed in August, to maximize the positive impact of this event for our German speaking market members – Germany – Austria – Switzerland – Lichtenstein, and for ERA EUROPE at large.

This is an exciting model which will have a positive influence on the choice of our 2013 – 2014 Conference locations, in other capitals of Europe.

As a clear signal of recognition by the Self Regulation European Community, ERA EUROPE has been accepted as a member of EASA, the European Advertising Standards Alliance, regrouping and federating in Brussels all National Self Regulation Independent bodies such as the ASA in the UK or the AARP in France.  ERA EUROPE will present our programme at the Board and annual EASA members meeting in Warsaw, October 26-27.

Government Affairs

Following the legislative agenda in the European Institutions (Commission and Parliament) in 2010 – 2011, ERA EUROPE is giving priority this year to an active cooperation with our relevant allies in Brussels, on issues and European Directives crossing many “Multichannel”  industries. The EMOTA (Distance Selling industry), FEDMA (Direct and Interactive Marketing), and the EASA were represented in Stockholm. As a result, we have actively participated in consultations and working groups on the Consumer Rights Directive (voted in June) and in all working groups on Internet Privacy (especially OBA – Online Behavioural Advertising).

2012 Annual Members Meeting and General Assembly

We will soon be announcing the place of our 2012 Annual Member meeting & General Assembly. Stay tuned and keep January 19 – 20 and 26-27 free in your 2012 calendars.

The location and date of this friendly and essential meeting will be decided at the Board meeting in Las Vegas.

See you soon in Sin city..!

Very best regards

Marcel Avargues

Mihał Cieśla (Corporate Strategy & Business Director, Mango Media Sp. z.o.o., Poland)

Jerome Dillard (CEO, TF1-Teleshopping, France)

Isabelle Fournier (TV Shopping Business Manager, Best of Shopping, Ventadis, France)

Edwinn (Ed) Garrubbo (CEO, Creative Commerce LLC, USA)

Nicola Gasperini (Managing Director, HSE24, Italy)

James Keegan (Director of Customer Services, QVC, UK)

Giovanni Molteni (Purchasing, TV Production & Planning Director, Mediashopping-Mediaset, Italy)

Manos C Markakis (General Manager, Telemarketing SA, Greece)

Nathalie Pijcke (COO, Intersourcing SA, Belgium)

Dr Julian Oberndoerfer (VP, Media Law, Media Politics & Distribution, Home Shopping Europe Gmbh, Germany)

Jean Camille Raymond (CEO, Best of TV – RAF Inventions, France)

Eivind Schackt (CEO, Studio Moderna, Switzerland/Slovenia)

Rainer Sura (Director, Multimedia Reach Development, QVC, Germany)

Bernie Veldhoen (CEO, Tommy Teleshopping, Netherlands)

Mike Wells (Director, Dolphin TV, UK)

With record delegates, a hefty on-site registration, taking us to over 375 participants – a 25% increase on 2010.

Equally importantly, the industry gave clear signals of a new spirit in Europe, with almost no undesirable business outside the Conference & Trade Expo area. Thanks to the ethical pledge made by most of you, we now have a model which could and should inspire our industry at large on other continents.

I personally felt too the value you gave our contribution to a new era of growth in Europe and elsewhere. You attended, in unprecedented numbers, informative, lively and very interactive business information sessions, covering all aspects of the industry’s global dimension and opportunities, with 47 different countries represented in total!

The audience composition confirmed the recognition by the industry itself, of  ERA EUROPE’s persistent efforts to gather under the Self Regulation model created in 2005, all market leaders in the Live shopping or Infomercial business models. They are now all active in membership and on the ERA EUROPE Board of directors. With already 20 new members in 2011, our membership is back to the 72 members we had before the recession… . Partners and allied organizations from Brussels, and also from Germany, were actively present in Stockholm.

ERA EUROPE has been accepted as an active member of EASA, the European Adverting Standard Alliance and will present our unique model at the October 26, 2011 General Assembly of EASA members in Warsaw.

All these facts and numbers are the result of a remarkable leadership effort, and a Europe-specific model of decision making and action management, closely associating the ERA EUROPE Board and officers with a small Executive staff.

Since you are all members of Social Media groups and communities, such as the many DRTV ones on Linkedin, may I kindly ask you a special “social networks” contribution? Please post as soon as you can a few words of appreciation about your business and personal experience in Stockholm?

The ERA EUROPEAN Conference can look ahead with great optimism to next year’s venue, Berlin 2012.

I wish you pleasant and sunny Summer Holidays.

Very best regards

Marcel Avargues

European Markets as a growth territory for North American DR product marketers

As Executive Director of ERA EUROPE (the European affiliate of ERA), I am asked about the following two issues almost daily:

1. US marketers of successful DR products, are eager to expand into the major markets of Europe, but don’t know where to go, whom to deal with, or what the legislative issues are.
2. New European manufacturers and product owners want to expand through DRTV, in Europe and in the US, but have heard that the best infomercials are produced in the US, and that it will cost them a fortune. They want to know what other options there are.

At ERA EUROPE our mission is to bridge this knowledge, understanding and networking gap, and to facilitate education and networking between DRTV professionals around the world.

My personal opinion, supported by the privileged observational position I have at ERA EUROPE, is that this industry may be only scratching the surface of trans-Atlantic cooperation…

View Complete Article

by Kym Bramm

It was with shock and sadness that we recently learned of the all too soon and sudden death of a passed European Board member, Cathy Wood.

Many of you will remember Cathy as the professionally elegant yet fun-loving English beauty who became so well known and loved for her success in helping to launch and build QVC UK, HSE and Interglobal International before moving back to her retail roots and her passion for Jewellery at Signet UK as Buying and Merchandising Director.

Cathy was always the true professional with an eye and passion for business that made her the success she was. She had simply that unique quality to be respected and loved by her colleagues and will be so very much missed by all.

Cathy unfortunately developed Secondary Skin Cancer back in June 2009 and battled as bravely as we would expect of her until Feb 11th when unfortunately she died in peace. Cathy sadly leaves behind the true love of her life, her husband Andrew. Wherever or whenever Cathy flew around the world, Andrew would always be at the airport waiting for her and she vice-versa. They truly inspired me and many people to believe you “can have it all” – both professionally and personally.

The world will be a sadder place without Cathy and our sympathies are sent to Andrew and family at this difficult time.

German teleshopping giant HSE24 reported this week an increase in net sales of around 12 per cent to €441m, wIth EBITDA rising more than 40 per cent over last year’s figures.

“Our growth is the result of an outstanding assortment policy and the systematic implementation of our multi-channel strategy,” explained HSE24 CEO Richard Reitzner. The company statement focused on three main news areas:

- Growth over-proportional in scale when compared with the rest of the market
– Pioneering use of new technologies and platforms
– Geographical expansion with an Italian channel launch in June 2011.

View the complete story HERE

Best known as the driving force behind Best Direct, Michael passed away while on holiday with his family in Mauritius, on 29 December 2010.

His erstwhile colleague and friend Paul Marks has written a special tribute to Michael on behalf of the industry in Europe, also containing contributions from three other key industry figures, John Mills, Katie Williams and Richard Whinfrey, who all knew Michael well. Read the Michael Levene Tribute .