Meghan Markle’s Orchid Brand Delayed Amidst Tough CEO Search

Meghan Markle’s highly anticipated lifestyle brand, American Riviera Orchid, seems to be facing significant delays. The Duchess of Sussex is reportedly experiencing difficulties in finding a suitable CEO to take the helm of her venture.

This challenge comes amid reports of high staff turnover, with more than a dozen staff members having left the project. A source told Closer, “The numbers don’t lie, and to have almost 20 members of staff quitting on them tells its own story. It’s unprecedented, even for a startup,” the source remarked. They added, “The brutal reality is that Harry and Meghan are the toughest of taskmasters; they’re very demanding and difficult to work for, and that puts a lot of people’s backs up.”

Since Markle’s announcement of the brand in March, there has been little progress visible to the public. Consumers are still unaware of a release date for American Riviera Orchid products. The launch announcement included a new website and Instagram page, with Markle appearing in an Instagram Story where she was seen arranging flowers and cooking. A source revealed that American Riviera Orchid is a venture Markle has been keen to develop for some time, reflecting her interests in family, cooking, entertaining, and home décor. The brand also pays homage to Markle’s residence, Santa Barbara, with its name.

In July, a source told US Weekly that initial interest in the brand seemed promising, notably with the website attracting over 100,000 sign-ups. This early enthusiasm was undoubtedly encouraging for Markle.

A trademark application filed in February detailed a variety of “goods and services” Markle plans to offer through American Riviera Orchid. The application included items such as tableware, cutlery, cookbooks, servingware, and dinnerware. Additionally, it mentioned more specialized goods like jellies, jams, marmalades, fruit preserves, edible oils, and butters. The trademark also seeks approval for “retail store services” and online e-book offerings.

Despite the initial flurry of activity, American Riviera Orchid’s website and Instagram page remain sparse, featuring only the brand’s aesthetic logo without any product information. However, interested future customers can join the waitlist by providing their email addresses on the website.

Moreover, the New York Post reported that Markle sent jars of strawberry jam to celebrities in April. Expectations were high that the brand would achieve a seven-figure revenue within its first year.

Source: Closer, People, US Weekly, New York Post