Meghan Markle's lifestyle brand, American Riviera Orchard, is taking an unexpected turn.
The brand, which Markle announced back in March, teased an array of products including preserves, nut butters, jams, and an extensive homeware and cookware collection. Despite the buzz, an official launch date has yet to be confirmed. Interestingly, another company has swooped in to use the brand name for an entirely different purpose: selling coloring books.
According to the Independent, an unknown seller on Shopify is using the American Riviera Orchard name to sell coloring books. One book, titled "Working Class Royalty," is priced between £6 and £8 and has already sold out. Additionally, two financial planners are available at the same price points. This situation highlights the importance of trademarks, as Meghan’s brand name is being used without her authorization to sell these products.
The description of the "Working Class Royalty" coloring book reads: "Unveil the hidden royalty in everyday life with our coloring pages celebrating the strength and grace of women from all walks of life." This seems to reflect Meghan’s own blend of royal allure and resilience, as if she penned it herself. The book aims to merge the elegance of royalty with the hardiness of the working class.
When Meghan first soft-launched her brand, she shared an Instagram story showcasing the brand’s aesthetic with a short video trailer. She also posted the brand's logo across a collage of nine grid posts. However, after distributing 50 jars of handmade strawberry jam to a curated list of famous friends, the brand's momentum appeared to stall.
Royal author and expert Tom Quinn suggests that Meghan is facing difficulties in finding staff who are both innovative and compliant with her vision. Biographer Angela Levin echoed these sentiments, revealing that Meghan is scrambling to staff her company and is quite upset about the current state of American Riviera Orchard. Levin also noted that the jam gift received minimal responses, leading to a stalemate in the brand’s progress.
Despite these challenges, Meghan has ambitious plans for American Riviera Orchard. Levin explained that she has applied for a global patent and aims to offer a wide range of products, from fabric gift wraps and cocktail napkins to meditation maps and pet pillows. The scope of the brand spans from A to Z, showcasing Meghan’s extensive vision.
Levin also commented that Meghan may have underestimated the effort required to make her brand successful. She likely expected widespread acclaim and easy success, but the reality has proven to be more challenging. Building a brand is, indeed, hard work, and Meghan is finding the journey more difficult than anticipated.
