In May 2020, I had the honor of representing Ravenox as one of only 20 small businesses selected nationwide for the Qurate Retail Group and National Retail Federation Foundation’s Small Business Spotlight. This initiative, launched during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, gave small business leaders the opportunity to share their stories on platforms like QVC, HSN, and Zulily, reaching millions of households at a time when visibility and support were critical.
Sharing Our Story on National Platforms
As CEO of Ravenox, I was interviewed by several HSN and QVC hosts, including David Venable. These conversations were an opportunity to share how Ravenox, a U.S. manufacturer of ropes, cords, and hardware, adapted during the pandemic, and how we leaned on American-made quality, sustainability, and customer trust to remain strong.
Through this spotlight, I was able to bring national attention not only to Ravenox, but to the broader challenges faced by small businesses in 2020; and the resilience, innovation, and determination required to move forward.
Why the Spotlight Mattered
For small businesses like Ravenox, the pandemic created enormous uncertainty. Qurate Retail Group’s production resources, digital platforms, and mentoring initiatives provided more than exposure, they offered tangible tools for survival. As part of this program, Ravenox received:
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National air time on QVC and HSN, airing on May 20, 2020 at multiple time slots.
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Digital promotion across QVC, HSN, and Zulily’s websites, email campaigns, and social media.
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Mentorship opportunities with Qurate team members on solving pandemic-related business challenges.
This support was part of Qurate’s $29 million global COVID-19 relief effort, which provided both national visibility and direct business guidance at a critical moment.
Representing Small Businesses and Veterans
I am proud that Ravenox was chosen not only as a small business but also as a service-disabled veteran-owned business. For me, this spotlight was about more than promoting a company; it was about representing millions of small business owners, entrepreneurs, and veterans working to create jobs and build resilient local economies.
“Ravenox is honored to have been selected to help represent the millions of American Small Businesses who have been displaced by the COVID-19 pandemic,” I shared at the time.
Looking Ahead
The Small Business Spotlight gave me the chance to highlight Ravenox’s mission: manufacturing in America, supporting sustainability, and giving back to the community. It also reinforced my broader goal as a leader, to advocate for small businesses, share lessons learned, and continue building opportunities for others.
Being featured on QVC, HSN, and Zulily wasn’t just recognition of Ravenox. It was recognition of the power of small businesses to adapt, inspire, and drive America forward.