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The News & Observer

By Alan M. Wolf, The News & Observer, Raleigh, N.C.

Nov. 13--ROCKY MOUNT -- QVC Inc., the home-shopping television channel, plans to eliminate 700 jobs to reduce costs as its business slows.

The cuts announced late Wednesday included less than 10 jobs at a distribution facility in Rocky Mount, where QVC now employs more than 1,300.

QVC is cutting costs as customers are spending less and missing payments on company-issued credit cards. Parent Liberty Media said last month that profit fell 23 percent because of slowing sales at the home-shopping unit. The West Chester, Pa.-based company eliminated 160 jobs Wednesday. More will be cut as QVC phases out most operations at its West Chester distribution center and switches customer service to a work-from-home model.

QVC will shift some home-product lines to its Rocky Mount facility, which could create opportunities for those workers, said spokeswoman Tara Hunter. The company will cut 900 jobs over the next 14 months, but create 200 new positions, resulting in a loss of about 6 percent of its U.S. workforce.

Staff writer Alan M. Wolf

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