HOME SHOPPING COMPANIES TO MERGE

BETHESDA, Md. -- Two companies -- one that developed interactive, shop-at-home technology and another that provides home-shopping services -- will merge to form Shopper Vision Express.

ket to offer its customers a home-shopping option via interactive cable television.

Elan Blutinger, president of Shoppers Express, will serve as chief executive officer of ShopperVision Express. Sandy Goldman, president and founder of ShopperVision, will become president of the newly formed holding company.

Consolidation of marketing and administrative functions of the two companies is expected to be completed within 18 months.

This month, Shoppers Express will begin to take shop-at-home orders placed via home computers through America Online and CompuServe.