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Jun 23
2008
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Mary Portas strikes backPosted by Marisol in jewellery, fashion retailing, fashion, caradiaz |
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The new series of Mary Queen of Shops kicked off on Monday, 9th June, on BBC2. The target: a womenswear boutique in Ascot (Berkshire) specialising in large sizes.
The script was as simple as usual: shop owner doesn't know her business, therefore doesn't make any money and Mary Portas comes to the rescue. It's the same formula as Gordon Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares really- but without the continuous swearing...
Some of the morning after tv reviews described Ms. Portas as 'scary' but I actually didn't think that was a fair comment. She had A LOT of patience with the owner of the shop and had to try really hard to open the woman's eyes to see her mistakes and make things better. Eventually (and after quite a few cringing moments) the penny dropped and the shop owner finally realised the potential of her business, so she began to implement some much needed changes.
Mary Portas seriously knows her stuff when it comes to retailing and I really do admire her, not just for her individual sense of style and the gorgeous chunky jewellery she wears all the time (maybe one day we'll see her in something from Caradiaz?) but also from a fashion business point of view. I'm totally with her on the subject of good customer service (something that we take extremely seriously at Caradiaz) and also agree with her views on the downfall of high street quality fashion as a result of the proliferation of big chains selling dirt cheap clothes. "Younger shoppers are starting to ask who is suffering to make it possible to sell a £7 dress." - she said in a recent interview with the Daily Mail.
I really hope she's right and the tide turns!
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written by fionamw , June 24, 2008
Hi Marisol
I totally agree with your comments above - as an ex-retail guru myself (!) I cringe when I still hear archeaic comments from shopkeepers who think they know their customer. Mary Qu of Shops is one of my fave programmes - along with makeovers ones of course! She has a personal stylist by the way - so probably doesn't look like that on her days off! Mind you, neither do I!!! Interesting to read about your jewellery - will check out your website next. With your name are you Spanish? Reason for asking is that I lived near Alicante for 5 yrs 20yrs ago! That's where my passion for fashion first emerged - I ran my own boutique; Where was Mary Portas then???!!! (it's a case of "if only I knew then what I know now!").
Fiona
written by karenm , June 24, 2008
Hi
This was a fantastic opening episode for Mary Portas, and i know some of our members actually know the owner of the shop!
Yes really, Amanda is also a personal trainer and used to train me and others in Body Combat and also Thighs, Bums and Tums.
If you think Amanda was really rude, you don't know the half of it, this was really her, but a toned down her! Mary Portas was right on the mark when she said that Amanda has an issue with the bigger lady she really has, i stil hear her voice in my ear, from the classes i used to attend.
I am really glad that the shop has turned around, and i am going to pop over in the next few days to see if th change has lasted and i will report back!
The episode last night on the mens store near Manchester was really fantastic also!
