Mary Portas: Difference between revisions
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===Career=== |
===Career=== |
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After college, she had a part-time and later a full-time job with [[Harrods]] where she was responsible for window displays for about three years |
After college, she had a part-time and later a full-time job with [[Harrods]] where she was responsible for window displays for about three years.<ref name="TADI5"/> and later joined [[Harvey Nichols]] where she joined the board before the age of 30. |
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Portas |
Portas is credited with turning Harvey Nichols into the modern [[fashion]] powerhouse that it is.<ref name="BrandC">{{citeweb|url=http://www.thebrandcouncil.org/53943|title=Mary Portas|publisher=The Brand Councilaccessdate=2008-07-05}}</ref> She created the Harvey Nichols show windows that became part of the tour guides of London, persuaded the store's owners to use younger designers; and got free [[publicity]] in the [[BBC]]’s ''[[Absolutely Fabulous]]'' series in the [[1990s]], after promising writer and star of the show [[Jennifer Saunders]], the run of the store for research if she namechecked the business.<ref name="TADI2">{{citeweb|url=http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/industry_sectors/retailing/article4275439.ece?token=null&offset=12|title=Tills ring for Mary Portas, queen of shop - Page2|author=Davidson, Andrew|publisher=Sunday Times|date=2008-07-05|accessdate=2008-07-05}}</ref> As a consequence, Harvey Nichols went from being a dowager of retail to the favourite shop for fashionable women, including [[Diana, Princess of Wales]]. |
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She regularly travels around the world advising on retail strategy and frequently lectures on the theme of brands and [[retail]]. |
Portas is claimed to be one of the [[UK]]'s foremost authorities on [[retail]] and brand communication.<ref name="BrandC">{{citeweb|url=http://www.thebrandcouncil.org/53943|title=Mary Portas|publisher=The Brand Councilaccessdate=2008-07-05}}</ref> She regularly travels around the world advising on retail strategy and frequently lectures on the theme of brands and [[retail]]. |
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===Journalism=== |
===Journalism=== |
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Revision as of 00:57, 6 July 2008
Mary Portas | |
|---|---|
| Born | May 28, 1962 |
| Nationality |  English |
| Citizenship |  British |
| Education | St Joan of Arc Convent, Hertfordshire |
| Alma mater | RADA, Watford School of Art |
| Occupation | Retail consultant |
| Employer | Yellowdoor |
| Known for | television presenter and author |
| Spouse | Graham |
| Partner | Melanie Rickey |
| Children | Milo, Verity |
| Website | http://www.maryqueenofshops.com |
Mary Portas (born May 28, 1962 in Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire),[1] is an English retail adviser, journalist and television presenter. She is the founder and creative director of Yellowdoor, a retail communications agency, where she works with Peter Cross to advise fashion, retail, and beauty brands on PR and marketing.
Biography
Brought up in a large family in Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire, her early ambition was to be an actress. Educated at St Joan of Arc Convent, Hertfordshire,[2] she has a younger brother, whom she looked after with her father after her mother died when she was 16.[3]
She studied at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, where she was in the year belowRalph Fiennes. She said, "It was hideous. I left RADA after six months. I couldn't deal with it. Financially, emotionally, I was at a loss." Instead, she went to Watford School of Art and studied graphics and visual display, where she hated the course.[3][4]
Career
After college, she had a part-time and later a full-time job with Harrods where she was responsible for window displays for about three years.[2] and later joined Harvey Nichols where she joined the board before the age of 30.
Portas is credited with turning Harvey Nichols into the modern fashion powerhouse that it is.[5] She created the Harvey Nichols show windows that became part of the tour guides of London, persuaded the store's owners to use younger designers; and got free publicity in the BBC’s Absolutely Fabulous series in the 1990s, after promising writer and star of the show Jennifer Saunders, the run of the store for research if she namechecked the business.[6] As a consequence, Harvey Nichols went from being a dowager of retail to the favourite shop for fashionable women, including Diana, Princess of Wales.
Portas is claimed to be one of the UK's foremost authorities on retail and brand communication.[5] She regularly travels around the world advising on retail strategy and frequently lectures on the theme of brands and retail.
Journalism
Portas's first book, Windows - the Art of Retail Display, was published in five languages. She writes a weekly column, Shop! for the Daily Telegraph magazine, reviewing shops across the country. She started writing the column in 2005 and it was her shop critiquing that formed the inspiration for the BBC documentary and accompanying book.[7]
On June 7 2007, BBC 2 began airing Mary Queen of Shops, a four part series featuring Mary as she goes around a number of ailing shops, aiming to help the owners revitalise their business. The tie-in book to this TV series, entitled How to Shop with Mary Queen of Shops is claimed to be an insider's guide to being a better shopper. It claims to go behind the scenes to show the reader the tricks of the trade, how to shop more efficiently, when to hit the sales, and where to shop according to the reader's shopping 'tribe'. [citation needed] Mary Queen Of Shops returned for a second 5 part series on June 9, 2008.
Personal life
Married to chemical engineer and Unilever executive Graham for 13 years, the couple had two children: son Milo and daughter Verity.[2] She left her husband for Grazia magazine fashion features editor Melanie Rickey. Portas and Rickey now live in Maida Vale with her children, after an amicable divorce from her husband.[3]
She spends her money on art, wine and theatre; enjoys gardening and drives a black Toyota Prius.[2]
Mary's golden rules of shopping
Portas states her golden rules of shopping as:[3]
- Don't stand for shoddy service. If you're not being served, simply walk out of the shop. There are few stores selling an item that can't be found elsewhere. It may be an inconvenience, but these shops won't improve their standard of service until their sales figures give them reason to.
- Never shop on a Saturday. OK, you've got the day off, but so has the rest of Britain. By the afternoon, the merchandise can be all over the place and the staff are flagging.
- Dress the part. Wear flat shoes, jeans and vests so you are as comfortable as possible when you are walking up and down the High Street. And go shopping on a good hair day - if your hair looks bad, the whole outfit won't feel right. The same applies with make-up.
- Go online first. Use the internet to do your research before you go out to the shops. Log on after the major catwalk shows to get ideas for what's coming up and check out the season's key fashion pieces.
- Don't buy in haste. If you're not sure, don't buy it. If you've got time and don't mind taking the risk, put everything back - except exceptional items - until the end of the day before making a choice.
References
- ^ Davidson, Andrew (2008-07-05). "Tills ring for Mary Portas, queen of shop - Page4". Sunday Times. Retrieved 2008-07-05.
- ^ a b c d Davidson, Andrew (2008-07-05). "Tills ring for Mary Portas, queen of shop - Page5". Sunday Times. Retrieved 2008-07-05.
- ^ a b c d Sands, Sarah (2007-06-01). "I'm Mary, Queen of Shops - with all the advice on shopping you need". Daily Mail. Retrieved 2008-07-05.
- ^ Watson, Shane (2007-06-17). "She's the business". The Times. Retrieved 2008-07-05.
- ^ a b "Mary Portas". The Brand Councilaccessdate=2008-07-05.
- ^ Davidson, Andrew (2008-07-05). "Tills ring for Mary Portas, queen of shop - Page2". Sunday Times. Retrieved 2008-07-05.
- ^ The Daily Record