In Episode 4 of BUILT DIFFERENT, Erin Sykes sits down with Laurissa Gendel, President and Fashion Lead at Gendel Girls, the family-run brand behind Breezies, QVC’s top-selling lingerie brand for more than three decades.
Laurissa shares what it’s really like to grow up inside a live television retail empire, from her parents’ early innovation in moisture-wicking fabric to building a category-defining brand that has sold millions of bras and panties nationwide. Erin and Laurissa unpack the psychology of live selling and dive QVC’s “backyard fence” philosophy - and why authentic connection matters more than perfectly scripted sales.
The conversation also touches on entrepreneurship, fashion, motherhood, family business dynamics, and personal reinvention. Laurissa opens up about balancing life on air while raising kids and reflects on navigating divorce and remarriage. She also shares how she stays creatively relevant in a fast-moving retail world and why passion remains essential to building a brand that lasts.
Listen if you’re:
- Curious how brands succeed on QVC and live shopping platforms
- Building a consumer brand rooted in authenticity and storytelling
- Interested in fashion, retail, and live commerce
- Navigating family business, motherhood, or reinvention
CONNECT
Laurissa Gendel Website: https://gendel-girls.com/laurissa/
Breezies on QVC: https://tinyurl.com/4ujdp63h
endel Girls Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gendelgirls/
BUILT DIFFERENT Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/built.different.pod
Erin Sykes Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sykesstyle
Email Erin Sykes: erin@sykesproperties.com
BUILT DIFFERENT YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@built_different_pod
BUILT DIFFERENT Website: https://www.builtdifferentpod.com
BUILT DIFFERENT Community: https://connect.builtdifferentpod.com
BUILT DIFFERENT is recorded at PodPlus Studios in Jupiter, Florida. Learn more: https://www.podplusstudios.com
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