Craig Rowe: My first four months as a QVC presenter

QGossip caught up with Craig Rowe, the winner of QVC's Search for a Presenter competition and the channel's newest presenter, to find out how his first four months have been.

What's been your high point so far?

I think the high point for me so far at QVC was definitely the Christmas Carols Breast Cancer Care event. That was the first customer event that I had gone to and I met loads of QVC customers and it was good to hear people saying 'I voted for you' and 'I watched the competition'. It was just a really good night, I really felt like a proper presenter then because I was there with Dale and Julia and meeting customers. So that's been a definite highlight.

Have you had any embarrassing moments?

I still look at the wrong camera quite a lot! For some reason, even though I've worked in TV for four years, I still get cameras wrong. I try not to hide it, I just make a joke of it, 'Oh there you are, hello'. But no, I haven't gone on-air with my flies undone or fallen off a treadmill - yet!

Have you had any trouble adjusting to life at QVC?

Some of the early starts are quite difficult. At the moment, because I'm new, if I'm on air at 9am I try to get here for about 5.30am - 6am, which means that the alarm goes off at 4.30am. I'm quite an early person but that is really early. So my body clock has taken some adjusting to the early shifts. But other than that it's been good.

What part of the job do you enjoy the most?

I like talking to people who call in and reading the texts. I really like that because it feels interactive and when you're speaking to someone on the phone or you see the text messages come in saying 'Hi Craig, etc' it's really, really good because it suddenly makes you realise that I'm not just here in a studio in London, there are actually people out there!

I also like romancing the product. Who this thing would be for, how they might use it and, even if it's something that I'm not going to use myself, like a diamond ring, thinking of the enjoyment someone will get when it arrives and the years ahead they'll be using it for and the stories they'll tell and the comments they'll get. So suddenly everything comes out of this building and goes off into somebody else's life and along other strands and I find that quite fascinating. I'm a little bit sad actually aren't I? I should get out more!

Do you get along well with your fellow presenters?

Yeah, I get on really well with everyone. They're all really supportive. I can go to any of them and ask them questions, ask for advice and they'll always make time, which is good.

Have pre-show nerves eased any with practise?

I'm still getting lots of first-time shows, and those are the ones that I get quite nervous about. But things like Northern Nights or craft or health and fitness, things I've done a couple of times, it's less nerve-wracking going into it. I still get a mixture of adrenalin and stage fright. Half of me is really feeling more and more comfortable as I'm going on but half of me is still a quivering wreck. So it just depends on what show it is.

Do you have a favourite product type to work with?

To be honest I like all of it because the great thing about QVC is that you can do different shows all the time. I like doing jewellery, especially gold, and I like doing Northern Nights because I can just lie in bed for an hour, and stroke the bedding and go, 'Ahh, that's so soft and so smooth and so silky' - so I like doing bedding! I quite like doing the health and fitness shows as well.

What's the hardest part of your job?

Getting all the information across in the time that you've got. Because with every product there are certain things you have to do and information you have to give. You've got to say what it is and why someone would want it and then you've got to try and bring personality and warmth and humour into it.

Anything you want to add?

I say thank you a lot to people when they come through and they say 'Oh, I voted for you' but I'd just like to say to QVC customers thank you again and thank you still for your support. You've put me here and it's because of you that I'm here and I just hope that you're liking what I'm doing so far.

Go to QVCUK.com

Comments

[JULIA HORNER]

I LOVE WATCHING CRAIGS SHOWS - HE IS SO POSITIVE, AND WITH THAT BEAMING SMILE HE COULD SELL ME ANYTHING!!
I ALSO LIKE THAT WEST COUNTRY ACCENT. KEEP UP THE SMILES CRAIG, YOU'RE DOING A GREAT JOB!

[Frances Joyce]

I think Craig is great. I would like to see more of him presenting shows in the afternoons as I never get up early. I have worked many years on nights hence long lie ins.Hope to see you soon in the afternoon doing fashions.

[Elizabeth]

Craig comes across as a lovely person. He puts across the information about the products in a bright and friendly way. Love his accent too!

[Elizabeth]

Craig comes across as a lovely person. He puts across the information about the products in a bright and friendly way. Love his accent too!

[Rosanna Wren]

I think Craig is doing a magnificant job at QVC! He is very natural in front of the camera and despite his nerves always looks at ease!