Meghan Markle’s lifestyle brand has yet to put a single product on sale five months after its glitzy Instagram launch, prompting concerns from experts about its future.
American Riviera Orchard, which plans to sell kitchenware, jams and jellies, has so far only shared some of its products with famous friends.
The brand’s Instagram page and website also remain empty and there is still no option for customers to purchase products.
Visitors are greeted by a logo and brand name displayed in gold in front of a faded background.
“If I were an investor, I would have serious concerns,” said Matt Yanofsky, a public relations and brand marketing expert. The times.
Pictured: Meghan Markle speaking on stage at the Archewell Foundation Parents Summit in October.
Meghan had sought to trademark the name of her service, American Riviera Orchard, for international use ahead of a full-scale launch next year.
“If I were an investor, I would say, ‘You need to find a CEO with a straightforward business plan that shows profitability, or at least a revenue plan within the next 60 to 90 days.'”
“Otherwise, I will withdraw my money.”
The new concerns come after the Duchess of Sussex’s brand suffered a trademark setback earlier this month.
Meghan had planned to trademark the name of her service for international use ahead of a full-scale launch next year.
But records show that in July, about four months after applying for registration, there were a number of “irregularities” that needed to be “corrected.”
The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office notified the Sussexes’ lawyers of several issues, including the misclassification of yoga blankets, picnic baskets and recipe books.
And the agency said fees must be paid to various bodies around the world to register the trademark, totalling $11,382 (almost £9,000).
There are also reports that Meghan has so far failed to hire a permanent CEO for American Orchard Riviera.
Potential candidates are said to have been deterred from taking on the role because of high staff turnover at Archewell, an organisation Meghan and Prince Harry set up in 2020 to look after their business and charity work.
Earlier this month, Josh Kettler became the ninth member of staff to leave the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s office in three years, after resigning from his role as Harry’s chief of staff. Kettler had been in the role for just three months.
Pictured: Meghan Markle chats to people inside the Drawing Room during a visit to Cardiff Castle in January.
American model and television personality Chrissy Teigen poses with a jar of Meghan Markle’s jam
Meghan, Duchess of Sussex rides around The Mall in a horse-drawn carriage during Trooping The Colour 2018
Meghan shared a video on Instagram that gives viewers a hint of what they can expect from her brand. There’s a clip of Meghan cooking in a kitchen, filled with high-quality kitchenware.
However, sources close to Meghan have dismissed rumours that there are concerns about the brand.
People magazine, a publication considered close to Prince Harry and Meghan, reported on August 28 that the duchess was “preparing for the launch of her new lifestyle brand.”
The source said Meghan was “excited about her latest personal project” and that it was something she had “wanted to do for a long time.”
Meghan launched American Orchard Riviera in March with a provocative ad that showed her arranging flowers and stirring a bowl of something while being filmed in soft focus in her cream-hued kitchen.
The video was posted on the brand’s Instagram account, which experts initially predicted could generate six-figure sales in a matter of weeks.
Pictured: Meghan and Harry attend the Royal Salute Polo Challenge in aid of Sentebale in April.
Meghan helps prepare food during her visit to the Hubb Community Kitchen in 2018
However, sources close to Meghan have dismissed rumours that there are concerns about the brand.
A source close to the show told US entertainment website Page Six that the brand would focus on “things that are close to her heart” and would be an extension of her former lifestyle blog, The Tig.
It is expected to sell items such as spices, condiments, nut butters, jams, jellies, ‘edible oils and fats’ and spreads made from legumes, garlic and sesame, as well as herbal teas, honey dippers and bird feeders.