Meghan Markle‘s lifestyle brand, American Riviera Orchard, reportedly faces challenges due to difficulty finding a CEO. Despite the early buzz about her jam and dog biscuit gifts to celebrities, the brand has yet to launch.
The Duchess of Sussex is said to be seeking investment, with product plans revealed to include tableware, kitchen linens, and edible goods.
Meanwhile, Prince Harry will visit New York in September to support his patronages and philanthropic efforts, furthering work with the Archewell Foundation.
Meghan Markle’s New Lifestyle Brand Is Reportedly Struggling To Find A CEO
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Meghan’s new lifestyle brand, American Riviera Orchard, is reportedly struggling to secure a CEO, which has hindered its progress.
Although the duchess announced the venture back in March, the brand has yet to launch, and little is known about the products it plans to offer.
Insiders have suggested that the delays stem from Meghan’s ongoing difficulties in finding the right leadership for the brand.
“The numbers don’t lie and to have almost 20 members of staff quitting on them tells its own story,” an insider told Closer (per New York Post). “It’s unprecedented, even for a startup.”
The source also mentioned that working with Harry and Meghan has proven challenging for many, describing them as “the toughest of taskmasters,” “very demanding and difficult to work for,” which has reportedly created tension within the team.
Though Meghan’s lifestyle brand hasn’t launched its products for sale yet, she started generating buzz by sending strawberry jam to a select group of celebrities in April, giving the company a promising initial boost. She also sent out dog biscuits to her celebrity friends.
Expert Says Meghan Markle’s ‘Jams Have Been A Success’
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Last month, rumors emerged that Meghan was looking for investors. Branding expert Lucie Greene told The Sun, “I imagine the pop-ups, the seeding, and a series of dinners will continue until some kind of official launch.”
“It could be that she’s still courting investment,” Greene added. “If the brand is direct to consumer, versus wholesale, there will need to be a substantial marketing budget for consumer acquisition.”
She continued, “It’s unclear what leadership she has in place at this point, too. It could be that the jams were the precursor and example to show proof of concept to talent and investors.”
Greene further noted that the jam promotions have played a significant role in generating excitement around Meghan’s brand.
She remarked, “I think in the sense that they’ve proven the brand is happening, not just a press release – the jams have been a success. And there’s something smart and strategic to starting simple, but targeted, in terms of the influencers and celebrities she sent them to.”
The Duchess’ Trademark Application Faced A Minor Setback
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Amid anticipation for the launch of American Riviera Orchard, the former actress filed to trademark the products she intends to release. However, Meghan encountered a roadblock due to “irregularities” with her application.
According to the Daily Mail, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, which is responsible for granting trademarks, requested Meghan make “corrections” to address these issues.
While the extent of the irregularities remains unclear, it was reported that Meghan’s application to the agency incorrectly classified some items, such as yoga blankets and recipe books.
Additionally, if her application is approved, the duchess is expected to pay $11,382 in fees to various entities for the trademark registration.
Meghan Markle’s Brand Launch Will Come Alongside A Netflix Show
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Meghan, who has previously expressed her passion for food, will collaborate with Netflix to bring American Riviera Orchard to the market.
The streaming giant will handle significant arrangements for the lifestyle venture’s official launch and has assigned its team to oversee deals with wholesalers, designers, growers, and retailers.
The actress and her husband signed a deal with Netflix in 2020, which has led to the development of several projects in collaboration with the couple’s Archewell production company. This includes the duo’s 2022 bombshell documentary, “Harry and Meghan,” which told the story of their courtship and exit from royal life.
Meghan is also working on a cooking show with the company, which will complement the lifestyle brand’s official launch.
Although filming for the cooking show is believed to be complete, it has yet to undergo several post-production processes, including editing and subtitling, before its release date, which has not yet been disclosed.
The Duchess Of Sussex Is ‘Excited’ For The Launch Of Her Lifestyle Brand
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According to insiders, Meghan’s lifestyle brand “will reflect everything that she loves — family, cooking, entertaining and home décor.”
The mother of two is believed to be deeply “excited” about the prospect of the venture, particularly because it centers around things she “loves.”
“She is excited about her latest, personal venture,” an insider said, per People magazine. “This is something she’s been wanting to do for a while. She is excited to share her style and things that she loves.”
