Jamie Kern Lima

And anyways, at the very end, she gives me her card and she says, let's have a meeting at QVC. And I know. And I was like, and then I was like, wait, does she mean it? Like, if you've ever had anyone go DM me and then like I'm on my Instagram looking and there's no DM. I didn't know if she meant it, but she did. And we flew out to Pennsylvania. We had a meeting and we got our very first big yes.

And anyways, at the very end, she gives me her card and she says, let's have a meeting at QVC. And I know. And I was like, and then I was like, wait, does she mean it? Like, if you've ever had anyone go DM me and then like I'm on my Instagram looking and there's no DM. I didn't know if she meant it, but she did. And we flew out to Pennsylvania. We had a meeting and we got our very first big yes.

But, huge but, what it meant was I got one shot. Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. So everyone imagine this. QVC is live to 100 million homes. I got one shot in this 10-minute window to go on live and either hit their sales goal or not come back. So I learned that I have to sell over 6,000 units of our product in a 10-minute window to hit their sales goal.

But, huge but, what it meant was I got one shot. Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. So everyone imagine this. QVC is live to 100 million homes. I got one shot in this 10-minute window to go on live and either hit their sales goal or not come back. So I learned that I have to sell over 6,000 units of our product in a 10-minute window to hit their sales goal.

Because remember, on QVC, every minute of airtime, you're competing against the numbers Apple iPhone could do or any other big product. So you have to deliver these high numbers. So then I learned... And... Yes.

Because remember, on QVC, every minute of airtime, you're competing against the numbers Apple iPhone could do or any other big product. So you have to deliver these high numbers. So then I learned... And... Yes.

But wait, there's more.

But wait, there's more.

I then learned that it is a consignment offer, okay? And what that meant was we somehow had to pay for over 6,000 units of product. And if it doesn't sell, I have to take it all back and we're not paid. So you should never say yes to that. You should never say yes to that.

I then learned that it is a consignment offer, okay? And what that meant was we somehow had to pay for over 6,000 units of product. And if it doesn't sell, I have to take it all back and we're not paid. So you should never say yes to that. You should never say yes to that.

Well, and here's what's wild. We couldn't even afford to put on a credit card. So we were like, how are we going to do this? We went to 22 banks trying to get a loan, an SBA loan. They all said no, and they should have because we had no accounts receivable. 23rd Bank, California Bank and Trust, gave us an SBA loan that covered the amount of this one big purchase order and then a little bit more.

Well, and here's what's wild. We couldn't even afford to put on a credit card. So we were like, how are we going to do this? We went to 22 banks trying to get a loan, an SBA loan. They all said no, and they should have because we had no accounts receivable. 23rd Bank, California Bank and Trust, gave us an SBA loan that covered the amount of this one big purchase order and then a little bit more.

And we decided to go all in because I was like, I don't know how we're going to make it if we don't. Oh, I have chills. And we used that little extra money. We hired third-party consultants and they're amazing. They all said the same thing. They said... okay, if you want a shot at actually hitting these sales numbers and making it on KVC, here's what you need to do.

And we decided to go all in because I was like, I don't know how we're going to make it if we don't. Oh, I have chills. And we used that little extra money. We hired third-party consultants and they're amazing. They all said the same thing. They said... okay, if you want a shot at actually hitting these sales numbers and making it on KVC, here's what you need to do.

In your 10 minutes, you need to put this type of model demonstrating your product. And then, and they would tell me all the things to do, which was all like literally girls that looked like they were 12, all with the same skin tone and no skin challenges. And so I said to them, okay, Here's the thing. Here's my authentic vision for the brand.

In your 10 minutes, you need to put this type of model demonstrating your product. And then, and they would tell me all the things to do, which was all like literally girls that looked like they were 12, all with the same skin tone and no skin challenges. And so I said to them, okay, Here's the thing. Here's my authentic vision for the brand.

What if I put a model in her 70s or 80s and then I put someone who's dealing with under eye circles and someone who's struggling with acne and hyperpigmentation? And what if I take my own makeup off on national TV? I show my bright red rosacea and I prove the product works. And they were mortified. And so I'll never forget this. A week before my one big shot on QVC, we fly to Pennsylvania.

What if I put a model in her 70s or 80s and then I put someone who's dealing with under eye circles and someone who's struggling with acne and hyperpigmentation? And what if I take my own makeup off on national TV? I show my bright red rosacea and I prove the product works. And they were mortified. And so I'll never forget this. A week before my one big shot on QVC, we fly to Pennsylvania.

I go and I sit in this rental car all alone in the QVC parking lot, like watching the front doors of the building. Going the next time I go in that building, I'm going to go on air. I'm either going to leave. bankrupt or I'm going to leave with my entire life changed. And there is a moment in the car where I remember just like praying, crying.

I go and I sit in this rental car all alone in the QVC parking lot, like watching the front doors of the building. Going the next time I go in that building, I'm going to go on air. I'm either going to leave. bankrupt or I'm going to leave with my entire life changed. And there is a moment in the car where I remember just like praying, crying.