HSN Partners With Score To Help Small Business And Aspiring Entrepreneurs

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla., Nov. 16, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Leading entertainment and lifestyle retailer HSN, an operating segment of HSN, Inc. (NYSE:HSNI), and SCORE, the nation’s largest network of volunteer business mentors and a resource partner of the US Small Business Administration to benefit and empower small businesses, announced today a new collaboration that will serve entrepreneurs and aspiring business owners through educational opportunities and firsthand experience pitching products and new business ventures.

Leveraging HSN’s experience scouting and elevating talented entrepreneurs as well as SCORE’s history as a resource for mentoring, workshops and business tools, the partnership will provide for jointly-held training forums and webinars; networking events; and opportunities to pitch new products to business experts for customers and clients of both organizations.

“For decades, SCORE has played a key role in educating and empowering innovators and entrepreneurs to meet their full potential through access to educational forums and mentoring programs. Partnering with this important nonprofit will ensure that aspiring small business owners can leverage the educational resources of SCORE as well as the networks and practical expertise of HSN and its affiliate organizations,” said Bill Brand, HSN President. “HSN looks forward to working with the talented experts at SCORE to identify and empower America’s next generation of small business leaders and innovators through this new partnership.”

In addition to highlighting HSN’s success stories as a supporter of small business owners, SCORE will work with HSN to develop new training activities and techniques to reach its own clients and affiliate organizations, including HSN’s first ever American Dreams Academy, a two-day educational forum for more than 125 entrepreneurs from across the East Coast. The Academy is being held November 16-18 at American University in Washington, D.C. and will feature workshops and breakout sessions, including the opportunity for participants to pitch their products to a panel of experts.

“We are thrilled to partner with HSN to give our clients access to the expertise and services of a leading small business creator in the United States,” said W. Kenneth Yancey, Jr., CEO of the SCORE Association. “This collaboration will allow our two organizations to share information, resources and business proficiency in new ways that will elevate and empower existing small businesses as well as budding entrepreneurs seeking professional guidance so they can go out on their own.”