Home shopping really comes home when The Michigan Shopping Network debuts, at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 13, in five markets.

          Television viewers in Birmingham, Bloomfield Hills, Bingham Farms, Franklin and Bloomfield Township can tune into Booth Communications Cable Channel 3 to watch a new half-hour program showcasing merchandise from Michigan retailers.

          Producer and host Michelle Valentine of St. Clair Shores, said she came up with the idea after watching QVC home shopping shows and wondering how to make this new form of retail advertising work for local business owners.

           “I own L’Vogue Boutique on Mack Avenue in Grosse Pointe,” she explained. “And I also used to have my own craft show on cable. Combining these experiences makes me a natural to offer the Michigan Shopping Network.”

           Valentine said five minutes of air time on the Michigan Shopping Network costs a retailer $1,300 or more. She guarantees no competitors will be featured during the 30-minute broadcast.  A retailer can offer one or more products during their five-minute segment. A logo box appear on the screen with each product revealing the price, store location, phone number for ordering, and brief merchandise description.

           Valentine chats about the product while it is displayed or presented by professional models. Each presentation is peppered with “Look at this!” and “Call now!” The first show features a Farmington Hills cosmetics company, Koueter Jewellers in Grosse Pointe, Young Clothes of Grosse Pointe Farms, and Valentine’s own dress shop.  

          After Tuesday evening’s broadcast, the show moves to the weekend where it is repeated 30 times.

           “Michigan Shopping Network reaches 23,000 viewers is six of the most affluent cities in the United States with an average disposable incomes of $73,000,” Valentine said.

           “From clothing, jewelry, automobiles and homes to computers, antiques, brokerage firms or medical services, shoppers can order directly from the retailers themselves. Consumers will also help contribute to a stronger area economy by purchasing from area retailers, not sending money to who-knows-where with other home-shopping channels.”