Meghan Markle’s recent brand launch has come under scrutiny, with public relations expert Nick Ede suggesting she made critical mistakes that may have damaged her brand’s potential. Ede’s comments, reported by uk expresshighlights what he sees as flaws in Meghan’s approach with her brand, American Riviera Orchard, which he believes has left the duchess “worse off” after her initial debut.
Ede began his criticism by pointing out what he considers a lack of effective strategy behind Meghan’s launch. “From the brand’s point of view, as an expert in that, I think whoever helped it has done very badly, especially with Riviera Orchard,” he said. He explained that the initial excitement and anticipation around the brand was well executed, but follow-through was lacking.
“When you build a brand, you generate people’s expectations about it,” Ede explained. Meghan’s initial steps—creating an Instagram page and sending samples of Riviera Orchard products, like jams, to celebrities with large followings—were the right steps to gain early attention. “This is all basically branding 101. This is exactly what you should do,” he acknowledged. However, he suggested Meghan’s misstep came when the brand paused without offering any further commitment.
According EdeThis lack of continuity has created a gap between initial interest and a deeper connection with the brand. “Then all of a sudden Meghan stops and there’s no through line, there’s no story and you can’t get it back,” he said. He emphasized the missed opportunity to engage potential customers, saying: “There’s no option of ‘Oh my God, I can buy jam, or I can get a T-shirt, or I can go to the site and register my name, and that gives me a newsletter.’ with all the information.’ “There is literally nothing.”
Ede’s comments were echoed by a source familiar with Martha Stewart’s reaction to comparisons between her established brand and Meghan’s new effort. According The Irish starstated the source: “Martha is tired of people asking her how she feels about Meghan’s company because honestly, it’s irritating and insulting to her to be compared to a newbie!”
This comparison to Stewart, who is an icon in the lifestyle and homemaking industry, further underlines the challenges Meghan faces in establishing her own brand identity. Stewart, with decades of experience and a well-defined brand, has a loyal following and a proven track record, something Meghan, as a newcomer, is just beginning to build.
For Meghan, the next steps could be crucial. Like Nick Ede and others Industry experts suggest, Focusing on coherence, storytelling, and engagement could help regain some of the lost momentum. By building a brand that not only captures initial attention but maintains it through clear offerings and updates, Meghan could still turn American Riviera Orchard into a lasting success. However, as things stand, industry insiders feel Meghan has some catching up to do if she hopes to make an impact comparable to household names like Martha Stewart.