Christmas countdown

This week I started thinking about my Christmas list. Each Autumn, I retrieve the small notebook of festive jottings in which I write what I have given my nearest and dearest - partly to make sure I don’t repeat myself but also to keep track of the growing number of nephews, Godchildren and family friends I’d like to buy a little something special for over the next oh-so-short two months. I’ve also made a shopping list of the ingredients for our Christmas cake which I’ll make soon too, on an afternoon when all four children are home so they can all stir the fruity mixture and make a wish. Once made, I tightly wrap the cake in baking parchment and clingfilm (having first sprinkled liberally with brandy to soak in) and leave to ‘mature’ in the pantry until it’s iced. It’s a simple tradition, but one that, for me, marks the beginning of the Christmas countdown and I really enjoy the sense of anticipation for festivities yet to be enjoyed and presents soon to be wrapped (and with a bit of luck, unwrapped!).

This week has also been a busy one on the Island for the team as we get ready for one of the real highlights of the year on QVC, the shopping channel. This is our Christmas TSV and it is a hugely exciting 24-hour period of live broadcasting when we launch a very special offer (and lots more besides), live on-air. For those who have never been part of the experience, TSV stands for Today’s Special Value and QVC launch one every single day at midnight (yes, I know, but this is a very popular time of day for the QVC viewing family…). For one day only, we produce a beautiful set of skincare at an extremely ‘special’ price and promote this as our TSV. The exact contents have to remain a secret and so I’m afraid I’m absolutely not allowed to reveal the details, except to say that this year, the team have really excelled themselves and there’s something really very special that’s been included. Don’t say I didn’t tip you off in advance.

One of the best things for me about the event is the opportunity it gives me to chat live on-air to callers who ring into the studio – which always reminds me of the live phone-ins I used to do on Richard and Judy’s This Morning programme so very many years ago. I love it because it’s so real and inter-active – we also get lots of text messages and emails coming through, so do tune in and join me if you’ve not done so before, especially if you’ve any wonderful stories or skincare experiences to share.

One of the things I’ll be launching on Saturday is our brand new Christmas box range and this year they are all especially beautiful. We’ve spent almost the entire year working on these (our first planning meeting happens in January, just after we’ve taken the tinsel down). We’ve lots of shapes, colour and sizes but the overall theme features a beautiful beach botanical Eryngium maritimum, or Sea Holly. Up-close, the flower of this special, spikey plant looks just like an intricate snowflake but it’s actually an endangered species, found in very few places and one of them is on our very own Isle of Wight. I was fascinated by this unusual botanical, which is not only beautiful and rare, but also extremely useful as this coastal plant has an extensive root system that helps bind sand on our sea shore. This is especially important in areas where there has been much coastal development, as it can help preserve sand dunes and the unique wildlife habitat they attract. If you’re visiting the Island, watch out for this pretty plant which we’ve spotted growing wild in Yarmouth’s Norton Spit, St Helen’s Duver and Newtowns Creek, but don’t pick it as it’s on the Sussex Rare Species Inventory (and even has regional protection in Northern France).

I do hope you’ll be able to tune in over the weekend and join me – either at our live midnight launch, or for some of the many live shows being broadcast throughout Saturday, from mid-morning right the way through the day until late evening. And do let us know what you think of both the shows and our new Christmas boxes by leaving a comment here on the Blog – the team and I really hope you’ll be as dazzled and delighted as we all are.

Comments

[Rachel Giles]

I cant wait for the TSV on QVC...! I love love love the whole Liz Earle range and the TSV NEVER fails to impress me! Its also amazing value for money, even more than the prices on Lizearle.com....if thats possible! Thank you Liz and everyone else involved, in bringing me my most favoured skincare range, from top to toe!

[CLAIRE MORLAND]

I'M VERY EXICTED ABOUT THE FORTHCOMING TSV AT MIDNIGHT TONIGHT. THE TSV'S ARE ALWAYS SUCH GOOD VALUE AND LIZ AND HER TEAM ALWAYS EXCELL THEMSELVES WITH THE RANGE OF PRODUCTS IN EACH TSV FOR SUCH A BRILLANT PRICE. BESIDES THAT LIZ'S RANGE IS THE ONLY RANGE THAT SUITS MY SKIN. BEFORE I CAME ACROSS THE RANGE MY SKIN WAS AWFUL BUT SINCE FINDING LIZ'S RANGE MY SKIN IS LOOKING BETTER THAN EVER!

[Ange]

I know this will exciting as the Liz Earle products are tops in everything.
Good luck to Liz & the team on launching the TSV

[Rebecca Brown]

I am looking forward to the TSV, not long to wait now. I discovered your fantasic range on qvc and will be forever grateful. I really really love all that you do and sell. My wish is that one day you will produce naturally active haircare!! Enjoy your day and I cant wait to tune in.

[Helen Wells]

Thankyou so much for the fantastic TSV on Saturday, I ordered mine at midnight! The new christmas gift boxes look gorgeous, can't wait to get mine. Thanks again for your lovely products.

[Helen Wells]

Thanks for the fantastic TSV on Saturday, I ordered mine at midnight and can't wait for it to arrive. The new christmas gift boxes look gorgeous, thanks again for such lovely products.

[lisa kate clayton]

Hi Liz
Have been a fan of the range for a long time-watched you on QVC and bought the special 10piece skin set-cannot wait for it to arrive -great value and in the new stunning Christmas box-really looking forward to ordering these for family/friends.Thanks Liz
Cannot wait for,hopefully , a haircare range!

[Claire Dixon]

Hello Liz, Kim and all your very hard working staff, I tuned in to the launch of the TSV and bought it and can not wait to receive it, that will be like Christmas Day for me! I use all the range and its such a delight to use and always leaves me feeling totally pampered. I so much wanted to thank you for the snippets of information that are on QVC when you talk about the plants which are in the products, I did send in a suggestion for something like this, and its so lovely to be able to see some of the many natures goodies which you use to create this fantastic range that so many of us could not be without, its also nice to see your very special and talented team. Thank you to you all and best wishes for the season ahead.

[Mira]

Hi Liz and everyone,
I watched the show as I always do and I was stunned. I can honestly say that I have NEVER seen presents wrapped so beautifully. I don't know how you manage to come up with these things, but they are stunning. I didn't think that you could wrap your skincare in any better way then you already do. I had to use all my will power to stop myself from buying the beautiful boxes of my favourite treats. I did that only because I hope that receiving them from my husband at Xmas will only feel 10x better!

[gail partin]

I love the TSV but prefer your wonderful bags instead of a box. Also, when will you have a full size of the Superbalm in a TSV it is a long time since that has been done.

[Tracy]

Hi

Just a quick note to say thank you to everyone for a great TSV. Mine arrived this morning. The last 2/3 years I have had a problem with the fragrance of the Skin Repair moisturiser being raher to sandalwoody and headache inducing. Have you once again changed the fragrance of the moisturiser as the one included in the TSV is much fresher than the pot of unused moisturiser I have in my cupboard? Many thanks once again.

[Jo Collins]

Thank you Liz for another wonderful TSV all with my fave products and the box is lovely too and very well made as usual I would also love to see a haircare range in the future we (me, mum and sister) have been using your range for years now and I would never use anything else was talking to my mum the other day and she said I don't think my skin has ever been in such condition and I would most certainly echo that too x

[Sue Collins]

Hi Liz & Team,

Myself and my sister purchased your TSV, the products are really excellent - but I was very disappointed with the box, it was very pretty, but was not the right size for all the items. Liz was saying on the show how all you had to do was pop a bow on and put under the tree.
I didn't get much help from QVC. Any suggestions.

Regards
Sue

[Andrea]

Reply to Tracy's comment:

We’re so glad to hear you liked the TSV. The fragrance of Skin Repair Moisturiser hasn’t changed, but as we rely upon many natural ingredients within our formulations for their wonderful benefits on both skin and mind, our products can sometimes vary in aroma, colour and also texture. This is often due to harvesting plant extracts or essential oils in different seasons or from different locations.

[Andrea]

Thank you so much for all your comments on our latest TSV, we really appreciate your feedback and will certainly take on board all comments made. Our idea with this October’s TSV was that there were two parts to it - you keep your ‘daily essentials’ (Cleanse & Polish, Skin Repair Moisturiser and Instant Boost Skin Tonic) and pop the additional products inside the gift box to give to friends or family as a special Christmas present. A little treat for you… and someone you love!

[Beverley]

Hi Liz & team

I purchased two TSV's although I much prefer shopping directly with your team I only make the exception to support your order numbers on the channel on your special day. The TSV with the blue bag was a fantastic one and was for me.

The products and the boxes were excellent although I have had to use both boxes for one gift to make it very special as I think the presentation is as important as the products.

If these had been for myself I would have loved the size of the box as I can think of lots of things to use it for including my needlework threads, just like Liz is doing :)

I will add to the second gift with a bag or different box. I would even purchase a box if it was possible to give a second ultimate gift wrapped in luxury.

The rest of my Liz Earle skincare gifts will be purchased directly as I have the confidence they will be perfectly gift boxed for me. I can't wait to start shopping as the gifts shown on the site are pretty.

[Beverley]

Andrea, I posted my comments about the TSV yesterday and only discovered your reply about the idea of the box. This would have been fine apart from the fact the Ultimate skin care brochure (beautifully presented) included details of everything in the TSV.

I had purchased two for gifts to people who have never used Liz Earle before one of which I know wouldn't know how to use the products unless I included the guide.

Please don't think this is a big complaint as I am going to use both boxes for this ladies gift and will replace the other gift box with a bag or something pretty.

I understand the team's idea for the TSV but to only give the boxed contents would have still shown the details of the tissue wrapped essentials. My gifts were to give the Ultimate complete set with brochure.

My next gifts will definitely be from the website. Hope it is ok to add this to my previous comments although they haven't been posted.

My own supplies will need replenished before the Christmas shopping starts in full!

[susan cassidy]

i have just recieved my first order from you and am delighted with it-everything was so beautifully packaged-and the free gift was great.I will shortly be placing my next order to beat the christmas post-Once again many thanks

Sue

[joan kaplan]

Dan Vie Nails and Spa on Madison Ave in NYC carried your products and closed a few months ago. Can't seem to find their new location. Can you help? Many thanks.

[Andrea]

Reply to Joan Kaplan's question:

Thanks for your enquiry. Unfortunately we don’t currently have any official stockists in NYC, but we do regularly review opportunities for new US locations. At the moment the simplest way to purchase our products is through our US website or by calling or Customer Centre toll-free on 1-800-515-5911.

[Kathy Collyer]

Super service and excellent quality! I ordered my Christmas boxes from you on Tuesday and they arrived today. I am sure everyone will be delighted with their Liz Earle gifts.

Kathy Collyer - Milton Keynes