There’s nothing circumstantial about Sharon Case’s pumping new accessory line, Pomp.
The Emmy-winning Young & Restless star will officially unveil her jewelry line for purchase Aug. 10 on QVC (check local listings).
Below, Case bejewelled TVGuide.ca with tales of why she unearthed her own bauble line (what happens in Maui, ends up on QVC), and how she became a fledgling entrepreneur in the process.
TVGuide.ca: Congratulations on your new fashion accessory line. What’s been the reaction so far?
Sharon Case: Thank you. It’s been mostly favourable. Of course, there’s always a couple of bloggers who [groan], ‘Oh, great here’s another celebrity with their jewelry line.’ But this isn’t just any new line. I’m working with a stylist who really knows what she’s doing. I think the entire collection turned out great.
TVG: You and your Y&R alter ego have always been consistently well-dressed. This new venture seems like a natural fit.
SC: I think so. I, too, like the way they dress Sharon on the show.
TVG: Tell me how Pomp came to be.
SC: My partnership between [Y&R stylist] Elif Inanc and I [was cemented in] Maui. We took a holiday together which afforded us serious time to talk about creating this partnership. Before that, one of the manufacturers from QVC approached me and presented me with an offer to start my own line. But I knew I couldn’t do it myself. It’s a lot of work.
TVG: Even just the business side of things can be time-consuming. How would you define Pomp in a few sentences?
SC: Pomp means pageantry and bling. When we were looking for a [synonym] for bling, Pomp just seemed perfect. We love the whole pomp and circumstance [vibe].
TVG: You’re obviously the face of the line but how much influence do you have on the line itself?
SC: A few of the pieces are mostly my influence. Of course, Elif is the expert. I give my impressions because I follow fashion and trends closely. Some of the pieces were more my influence and vice versa …
TVG: Is Y&R cool with you moonlighting?
SC: A lot of people have done this. This isn’t brand-new territory. A lot of actors have sold makeup and other products through direct marketing.
TVG: So far you’re only reaching out through QVC, right?
SC: So far, yes. But it’s always been our intention to pursue a retail line. We figure next year we’ll have the time to create a retail line that will be different from what we’re selling on QVC. Then we’ll shop it around. Thanks to all the PR I’m doing for the QVC line, a retailer, and a big one at that, has already approached me. We’re exploring that opportunity now.
TVG: That’s great. I would imagine the manufacturing part of the line must take forever …
SC: No, actually, it didn’t take as long as I thought it would. The turnaround is really quick. Maybe that’s the state of the economy right now … It’s far easier and quicker to get samples to the manufacturer than I would have ever thought.
TVG: Is there a store in your future?
SC: Perhaps. That usually happens to a designer down the line.
TVG: Are you only sticking with jewelry or can we expect your Pomp line to branch out?
SC: Right now we’re only sticking with jewelry because we’re extremely busy as it is.
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TVG: You’re on the Y&R front burner and you’re launching Pomp full throttle — are you sleeping?
SC: Yes, Pomp adds a lot to my day, particularly in the last month. Pomp launched its press tour the day of the Daytime Emmys; so it’s been particularly crazy busy this past month with interviews and red carpets. Every day, there’s something new.
TVG: Do you feel extra pressure to look perfect on the red carpet now that you’re amongst the fashionistas for hire?
SC: It’s given me more purpose to be at the red carpet events because I don’t run around town jumping on every red carpet, especially when I have no reason to. Now that I have a purpose, it makes it more fun for me — and interesting for the reporter — to engage in a conversation. I make sure when I’m on the red carpet that I promote my line by doing interviews and wearing [it on my person]. I wear my jewelry in my everyday life —even if I’m just going out to dinner — so it hasn’t been that much of a transition. |
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TVG: Who are your fashion and style icons right now?
SC: There are some brands I really love, Theory and Alice + Olivia. I stick to them because they’re hip and fun. Their clothes fit me, especially the way they are cut. In my world, [comfort and style are key.]
TVG: Should Sharon become a fashion designer, too? She needs a J-to-the-O-to-the-B!
SC: It would be great. Right now, I have a lot of great story on Y&R so it’s not like I’m unhappy or think I need more story but if Y&R wanted to go in that direction with her, in terms of her career, I think it would make sense. But you have to be careful that you don’t put your character in a job that lands them on an island away from the other characters. Sharon used to be the spokesperson for Beauty Of Nature, so something along those lines would make sense. For now, Sharon will be wearing Pomp on the show so you can look forward to that.
For more on Case’s thoughts on shooting Adam, reuniting with Nick, and being considered Genoa City’s biggest tramp, tune into this week’s Suds Report for Part 2 of the interview.
Want to dish the soaps with Nelson Branco? Join The Suds Report discussion Facebook group today.
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Nelson Branco is a Toronto freelance entertainment journalist, who regularly contributes to Hello! Canada, The National Post, The Los Angeles Times' theenvelope.com, TV Guide USA, tvguide.com, Inside Entertainment, OUT, and fab magazine, along with spearheading the soap coverage for TVGuide.ca's popular daytime TV hub. After graduating from Ryerson University in 1997, he moved from Toronto to New York in 1998 to take on the roles as senior news editor at Soap Opera Update. Branco first freelanced for Soap Opera Weekly as an intern in 1994, and after leaving Soap Update to help create and launch Bauer Publishing's In Touch Weekly in 2003, Branco continued to freelance occasionally for its sister publication, Soaps In Depth. Most recently, he helped create and launch Canada's first celebrity magazine, Weekly Scoop in 2005 as its news and entertainment director. Branco is also a contributor to a new TV show titled Planet Soap to air in Canada and America. |
