You’re probably here because you saw headlines or Reddit threads wondering if ShopHQ is done for. Let’s get this out of the way up front: ShopHQ is NOT going out of business. It’s actually survived one of the messiest retail implosions we’ve seen in a while, and now there’s a new team trying to reboot it for the digital era.
But the story isn’t straightforward. The changes are big, and the future is still a work in progress. If you’re a longtime fan of TV shopping, or just curious about how a legacy player is adapting to this Amazon-and-TikTok world, it’s an interesting ride.
How We Got Here: The Rise, Fall, and Rescue of ShopHQ
ShopHQ launched back in 1991 in Minnesota under the not-very-catchy name ValueVision. It was part of that cable TV shop-at-home boom, like QVC and HSN. Over the years, it kept changing stripes first ShopNBC, then EVINE Live, and finally ShopHQ.
For a while, the numbers were huge. They were pulling well over $500 million in annual revenue at peak, selling jewelry, watches, electronics, home goods, beauty, and lots of fashion. They tried everything, including celebrity partnerships and 24/7 live shows. But every time they tried to reinvent themselves, the challenges just got bigger. As shopping habits changed and streaming took over, old school home shopping channels lost their audience.
By 2023, things had deteriorated. Parent company iMedia Brands was deep in debt and the sales just weren’t coming in. iMedia ended up filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in an attempt to restructure. This wasn’t a “clean up a few books” kind of bankruptcy. This was the kind where employees got laid off, the TV channel faded to black, and fans started wondering if they’d ever see ShopHQ again.
The Arena Group Steps In: What the New ShopHQ Looks Like
Then, in October 2025, The Arena Group a big New York-based media and e-commerce company bought what was left of ShopHQ. If you’ve read Parade magazine, checked TheStreet for business news, or scanned Sports Illustrated, you’ve already come across Arena’s portfolio.
Arena didn’t just pick up a failing cable channel. They bought the ShopHQ brand and, maybe more important, a treasure trove of data on millions of customers. They aren’t interested in bringing back a network full of hosts trying to sell jewelry at 2 a.m. That whole model is out.
Paul Edmondson, Arena’s CEO, outlined the shift in interviews and press releases. The vision is clear: ShopHQ’s future is as an online, digital-first marketplace. The big bet is on live social selling (think influencer streams, YouTube, and TikTok), shophq.com, and mobile. They want to make it easy for customers to shop trending products with a tap, not a remote control.
One big strategy change: ShopHQ is ditching traditional warehouses. Instead, they’re moving to a “drop-ship” or marketplace model. That means ShopHQ won’t hold much inventory they’ll just take the orders, and sellers ship directly to buyers. The hope is this makes them nimble and less risky financially.
Jessica Gregory is now in charge as general manager. She’s leading the new team, and the early focus is building ShopHQ’s presence outside TV, starting with social media and, of course, their main site.
ShopHQ’s Financial Situation: Recovery in Progress
There’s no sugarcoating it ShopHQ’s numbers shrank a lot before and during bankruptcy. In 2022, they had a gross profit of $210 million, but the company was still operating at a loss almost $47 million in the red.
In 2024, while limping through bankruptcy, ShopHQ’s shophq.com pulled in about $100 million in revenue. Most of that roughly 60% came from selling fashion. All sales here were “first-party,” meaning ShopHQ was handling and shipping the product, without outside (third-party) sellers. There wasn’t much expansion into marketplaces or partnerships yet.
The predictions for 2025 are pretty flat less than zero percent growth, which means revenue will stay the same or slip a bit. For 2026, some estimates see the new ShopHQ raking in $33 million (though that seems to depend on how fast the digital reboot takes off).
Old revenue numbers, like the oft-cited $500 or $596 million, just aren’t realistic right now. ShopHQ has downsized their team, streamlined their inventory, and hit the reset button. Recent business listings and retail trackers all show very low activity levels. This isn’t the old TV machine churning out hourly sales it’s a business in transition, still finding its next gear.
From TV Screens to TikTok Streams: ShopHQ’s New Model
The old version of ShopHQ made its mark on live television, bringing up-close shots of sparkling jewelry and on-air hosts calling out “last quantities!” in practiced tones. But that era’s gone.
Arena Group’s bet is that shopping especially impulse shopping now happens where scrolling and streaming meet. So ShopHQ is working to carve out a space in online commerce led by influencer streams, product launches on YouTube, and an upgraded website.
They’re also testing the drop-ship model, which means ShopHQ isn’t bogged down by warehouse costs or the risk of unsold goods. This is what makes it possible for smaller, digital-first retailers to survive against giants like Amazon, even though the competition is fierce.
Right now, ShopHQ’s web presence is lean a handful of categories and a lot less volume than old-time fans might expect. There’s no return to traditional TV, but there’s been a steady trickle of loyal buyers especially in the jewelry and fashion categories who track their favorite hosts and brands online.
The transition has meant a lot of change for customers. Some hoped for the old cable show’s return, but the company’s messaging has stayed consistent: no more massive TV operations, just a push to make digital shopping personal and interactive.
What’s Ahead? Opportunities and Hurdles for ShopHQ 2.0
It’s rare for a brand to survive bankruptcy, asset sales, and a complete industry shift. ShopHQ is unique in that the brand still matters to some shoppers and carries trust, but the name alone won’t be enough to guarantee survival. Arena wants to use its content reach and relationships with big-name media outlets to funnel audiences into e-commerce sales.
That said, they’re walking into a crowded space. Amazon’s marketplace is massive and efficient. TikTok Shop and Instagram Live are rewriting how younger buyers discover new products. ShopHQ has to find an edge maybe in curated brands, influencer personalities, or by getting creative with live, interactive selling events.
There’s also the internal challenge. Going from running TV studios to running on the cloud means a big culture change. Staffers need different skills, and the playbook is still being written. Arena’s leadership says they’re all-in on precision-targeted commerce using all the customer data they’ve acquired to make smart product recommendations and pump up average order sizes.
A lot of the new strategy will sound familiar if you follow side businesses and digital entrepreneurship. ShopHQ’s relaunch is one part shoppable blog, one part influencer platform, and one part legacy retail trying to find its footing.
The Bottom Line: ShopHQ Isn’t Gone, But the Game Has Changed
If you’re nostalgic for the old TV shopping days, that era has sailed. But if you’re interested in how old brands get updated for a shopping culture built around social media, livestreams, and click-to-buy, ShopHQ is worth watching. The transformation’s been rocky, but the doors well, the website are still open.
Arena Group now owns ShopHQ’s brand, its customer data, and the right to experiment with new ways to reach shoppers. They aren’t promising a miracle recovery, and there’s plenty of competition, but they are trying something different instead of just fading away. The new ShopHQ is slimmer and more digital, hoping to pull in both loyal fans and a new generation of online buyers.
If you stop by the website today, you’ll see more focus on mobile shopping and influencer hosting. There’s a new app in the works, and Arena’s team keeps dropping hints about more features to come. The full results? We’ll all have to wait and see. But as of now, ShopHQ is hanging on even if it looks nothing like the old channel your grandma loved.
So no, ShopHQ isn’t out of business. It’s just trying to figure out how to matter again, one online purchase at a time.
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