Megan Markle's endeavor to trademark her Lifestyle brand, American Riviera Orchard, appears to have hit a snag, leaving an opportunity for others to seize.
Presently, a seller is peddling exorbitantly priced notebooks under the brand "Royal Wealth Reign." Although this entity lacks affiliation with Megan, someone has successfully trademarked the American Riviera Orchard AO brand and is leveraging it to market high-priced merchandise via Shopify.
The product labels conspicuously mirror Megan's distinctive style, adorned with phrases like "working-class royalty," "the crowned women of everyday Majesty," and "Royal Wealth Reign: empowering women's financial sovereignty."
The website's about section argues that titles hold little significance in America. The fact that there are so many imitators and another entity has trademarked the name suggests missteps on Megan's part. She initiated the brand without securing trademarks on March 14th, 2014.
Megan unveiled her next project, a Lifestyle brand dubbed American Riviera Orchard, believed to be an ode to the lifestyle in Montecito, California, often referred to as the American Riviera. The brand's Instagram went live, featuring a grid of the brand's name inscribed in Megan's signature calligraphy. Confirmation of Megan's involvement came with one glance at the bio, which read, "By Megan, The Duchess of Sussex," with a link to the website.
A 16-second clip showcased Megan arranging flowers, cooking, and donning a gown, set to Nancy Wilson's "I Wish You Love." Lyn Carratt of Pressbox PR evaluated the soft launch of American Riviera Orchard, opining that it might not resonate with the general public. She questioned who possesses a luxury kitchen akin to Megan's depicted in the promotional material. Furthermore, she pondered the affordability of the products. Carratt contended that the brand's alignment with Megan's charity work was questionable, given its apparent luxury focus.
Rachel Bowie, from Royally Obsessed, delved into Megan's venture, tracing it back to a 2022 interview where Megan hinted at the project. Megan hosted Alice and P. Davies at her home in Montecito, adjacent to an orchard. At the interview's conclusion, Megan presented Davies with a harvest basket containing homemade jams labeled "Ly Bunny Garden" and "Ladder." Bowie discussed her findings, noting Megan's history of jam-making for several years. However, the proliferation of imposters for American Riviera Orchard indicates that Megan's trademarking efforts were lacking.
Megan's priorities seemed skewed, with a focus on outshining Prince William and garnering attention, whether positive or negative. Her actions suggest a penchant for dominating the news cycle rather than focusing on building a sustainable business. Rushing announcements without fulfilling basic preparations further underscores this point.
