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Mary Portas
Find In:
- Keynote Speakers
Mary Portas Biography
Topics:
- Business
- Marketing & Branding
- Women
Retail marketing guru Mary Portas is probably the United Kingdoms foremost authority on retail and brand communication. As Creative Director at London’s most respected retail branding and communications agency, Yellowdoor, Mary is recognised throughout the trade as the “Queen of Shops” and has turned round the fortunes of some of the biggest names in retail across the globe. Mary is available as a conference speaker on the subject of branding, retailing & market trends.
Branding & Retail Trends
Mary’s foresight and unique knowledge of brands, retail trends and consumer insights prompted her to launch Yellowdoor in 1997 when she saw a need for integrated and creative brand communication in the retail, fashion, luxury and beauty sectors. Under Mary’s guidance, Yellowdoor have created category challenging campaigns for a wide range of brands on the high street including Clarks, Louis Vuitton, Oasis, Swarovski, Dunhill, Boden, Thomas Pink, Miss Selfridge, and Patek Philippe.
Author
Her first book “Windows – The Art of Retail Display” published by Thames and Hudson in five languages, quickly became the worldwide authority. "How to Shop with Mary Queen of Shops" is an insider's guide to how to be a better shopper. It goes behind the scenes to show you the tricks of the trade, how to shop more efficiently, when to hit the sales, and where to shop according to your shopping 'tribe'.
TV & Radio
Mary has starred in several series of her popular BBC television series Mary Queen of Shops and the book (mentioned above) accompanied the series. She is now renowned as a national spokesperson for the retail and fashion industry appearing and talking regularly on the Today programme on Radio 4, Panorama and all national lifestyle TV shows.
Early Career
Marys first contact with shops came in the guise of a job as a floater at John Lewis, quite literally floating between departments on a Saturday. Her first job was designing and dressing the WAY IN windows at Harrods.
She spent a year having fun designing and installing windows for fashion boutiques on the Kings Road out of the back of her Triumph Spitfire. The most famous of which included Vivienne Westwood and Malcolm Maclarens shop BOY in the early eighties.
Mary joined Top Shop in the mid eighties most famously putting Gary Glitter and Marilyn singing in the large windows to Oxford Street.
Absolutely Fab & Harvey Nicks
Mary launched the new generation designer show as part of London Fashion Week when at Harvey Nichols. She brokered a deal with Jennifer Saunders to make Harvey Nichols the famous fashion empire in Absolutely Fabulous and subsequently repositioned the Harvey Nichols brand into the world renowned store and restaurant group it is today. She won the first D&AD gold for a window display and opened the first Harvey Nichols outside of London in Leeds.
Keynote Speaker
Mary regularly travels around the world advising on retail strategy and frequently speaks on the theme of brands and retailing.
For further information or to book Mary Portas for a corporate event, call us on +44 (0) 20 8365 3200 or email info@speakerscorner.co.uk
Outside of appearing and speaking at live corporate and private events Mary Portas has a number of retail products available that can be purchased through Speakers Corner. For upcoming new book and product launches related to Mary Portas then please contact one of the Speakers Corner booking agents on +44 (0) 208 365 3200 or email info@speakerscorner.co.uk
Mary Portas Books
How to Shop with Mary, Queen of ShopsPrice: £14.99
Windows: The Art of Retail DisplayPrice: £29.95
Mary Portas News
A selection of relevant news related to Mary Portas and Business stories. For more information on Mary Portas or details as to how to book Mary Portas for your corporate event, then please contact one of the Speakers Corner booking agents on +44 (0) 20 8365 3200 or email info@speakerscorner.co.uk
Mary Portas is Renovating Retail – Hold on to your hats!
22nd June 2010Mary Portas strode through the door last night proclaiming “Don’t think I’m coming in here with a wand or stick of celery” as the eyes of the staff widened with concern. This wasn’t a theatre performance, but the start of last night’s episode of Mary Queen of Shops on BBC2, the second episode of the series where retail consultant and shopper supreme Mary Portas sets out on a mission to improve ailing retail businesses.
22nd June 2010Mary Portas strode through the door last night proclaiming “Don’t think I’m coming in here with a wand or stick of celery” as the eyes of the staff widened with concern. This wasn’t a theatre performance, but the start of last night’s episode of Mary Queen of Shops on BBC2, the second episode of the series where retail consultant and shopper supreme Mary Portas sets out on a mission to improve ailing retail businesses.
Mary Portas' next challenge - to take on struggling non-fashion retailers
3rd July 2009The Queen of Shops, Mary Portas has expressed her desire to apply her proven trouble shooting skills to struggling non-fashion retailers in the third series of her BBC2 programme. Previous series have featured fashion boutiques and charity shops. After seeing the effects of the recession on Tewkesbury's high street in her last show - Save Our Shops, Mary wants to help other independent non fashion retailers around the country.
3rd July 2009The Queen of Shops, Mary Portas has expressed her desire to apply her proven trouble shooting skills to struggling non-fashion retailers in the third series of her BBC2 programme. Previous series have featured fashion boutiques and charity shops. After seeing the effects of the recession on Tewkesbury's high street in her last show - Save Our Shops, Mary wants to help other independent non fashion retailers around the country.
Mary Portas in new TV programme 'Mary, Queen of Charity Shops'
1st June 2009Our number one business retailing and motivational speaker, Mary Portas, is hoping to sprinkle her magic on the charity market by changing the attitude of the wonderful army of volunteer staff and encouraging us all into the fundraising high street shops with her new BBC2 programme 'Mary, Queen of Charity Shops'
1st June 2009Our number one business retailing and motivational speaker, Mary Portas, is hoping to sprinkle her magic on the charity market by changing the attitude of the wonderful army of volunteer staff and encouraging us all into the fundraising high street shops with her new BBC2 programme 'Mary, Queen of Charity Shops'
BBC Two creates a series of programmes to look at how the recession is changing Britain
30th April 2009BBC Two's spring-summer season will feature a series of programmes hosted by some of the channel's leading presenters which will examine how the recession is changing Britain. Mary Portas will look at the High Street, Newsnight's economics editor Paul Mason will examine unemployment and Sir Gerry Robinson will tackle manufacturing and the motor industry.
30th April 2009BBC Two's spring-summer season will feature a series of programmes hosted by some of the channel's leading presenters which will examine how the recession is changing Britain. Mary Portas will look at the High Street, Newsnight's economics editor Paul Mason will examine unemployment and Sir Gerry Robinson will tackle manufacturing and the motor industry.
Mary Portas reclaims London Fashion Week
24th February 2009Today at London Fashion Week Mary Portas will attempt to convince journalists, celebrities and models to ditch their fast fashion outfit in favour of recycling and refashioning second hand clothes. Mary is supporting Oxfam's attempt to get more people in to sustainable fashion. Mary will be joined by supermodel Erin O'Connor and actress Natalie Press to restyle members of the fashion week contingent live on stage in the British Fashion Council tent.
24th February 2009Today at London Fashion Week Mary Portas will attempt to convince journalists, celebrities and models to ditch their fast fashion outfit in favour of recycling and refashioning second hand clothes. Mary is supporting Oxfam's attempt to get more people in to sustainable fashion. Mary will be joined by supermodel Erin O'Connor and actress Natalie Press to restyle members of the fashion week contingent live on stage in the British Fashion Council tent.
The Sunday Times Business Person of Year - The Finalists
23rd December 2009The Sunday Times has announced its list of contenders for their annual Business Person of the Year award. The finalists have shown true grit and determination - many have hauled their businesses through a rather perilous time unscathed and are survivors in the business world. The contenders are Angela Ahrendts (pictured left), Ross Brawn, Frank Chapman, Richard Cousins, Founders of Twitter, Jack Dorsey, Biz Stone and Evan Williams, Steve Jobs, Sam Laidlaw, Alan Mulally, Kate Swann, and John Varley.
23rd December 2009The Sunday Times has announced its list of contenders for their annual Business Person of the Year award. The finalists have shown true grit and determination - many have hauled their businesses through a rather perilous time unscathed and are survivors in the business world. The contenders are Angela Ahrendts (pictured left), Ross Brawn, Frank Chapman, Richard Cousins, Founders of Twitter, Jack Dorsey, Biz Stone and Evan Williams, Steve Jobs, Sam Laidlaw, Alan Mulally, Kate Swann, and John Varley.
BSkyB is Britain's most admired company 2009
2nd December 2009Media firm BSkyB landed the top spot in Management Today's Britain's Most Admired Companies awards on monday night. Led by CEO Jeremy Darroch, the organisation is one of the youngest to be handed the accolade, topping each of the nine criteria to secure the award. Matthew Gwyther, editor of Management Today said: 'It (BSkyB) is barely more than a stripling upstart amongst the great names of UK business, some of which have been around for centuries in one form or another. It has shown that a class-leading product, well marketed and slickly delivered, can continue to grow and prosper even in the most challenging circumstances.' Tesco and Johnson Mathey took the second and third slots respectively, with Cadbury, GlaxoSmithKline and Rolls-Royce trailing at numbers four, five and six.
2nd December 2009Media firm BSkyB landed the top spot in Management Today's Britain's Most Admired Companies awards on monday night. Led by CEO Jeremy Darroch, the organisation is one of the youngest to be handed the accolade, topping each of the nine criteria to secure the award. Matthew Gwyther, editor of Management Today said: 'It (BSkyB) is barely more than a stripling upstart amongst the great names of UK business, some of which have been around for centuries in one form or another. It has shown that a class-leading product, well marketed and slickly delivered, can continue to grow and prosper even in the most challenging circumstances.' Tesco and Johnson Mathey took the second and third slots respectively, with Cadbury, GlaxoSmithKline and Rolls-Royce trailing at numbers four, five and six.
Heavyweight keynote speakers are expected at the CBI Conference today including Gordon Brown, David Cameron, Dominique Strauss-Kahn & Stuart Rose to name but a few
23rd November 2009Heavyweight keynote speakers are expected to address the CBI conference in London today. Talking to the most influential and important of business audiences will be our political leaders Gordon Brown, David Cameron and Nick Clegg, business chiefs such as Sir Stuart Rose and Stephen Hester, as well as Lord Adair Turner, BBC Economics Editor Stephanie Flaunders and the CBI's Director-General Richard Lambert. Chairing the conference will be CBI's President, the recently appointed Helen Alexander, former chief executive at The Economist and the first woman in the role.
23rd November 2009Heavyweight keynote speakers are expected to address the CBI conference in London today. Talking to the most influential and important of business audiences will be our political leaders Gordon Brown, David Cameron and Nick Clegg, business chiefs such as Sir Stuart Rose and Stephen Hester, as well as Lord Adair Turner, BBC Economics Editor Stephanie Flaunders and the CBI's Director-General Richard Lambert. Chairing the conference will be CBI's President, the recently appointed Helen Alexander, former chief executive at The Economist and the first woman in the role.
Lessons learnt from Steve Jobs, co-founder of Apple - one of the greatest speakers ever
19th November 2009The Times is featuring extracts from Simon Maier and Jerremy Kourdi's book 'The 100: Insights and lessons from 100 of the greatest speeches ever delivered'. Read The Times article on lessons learnt from one of the world's best speakers - Steve Jobs, co-founder of Apple and former chief executive officer of Pixar Animation Studios.
19th November 2009The Times is featuring extracts from Simon Maier and Jerremy Kourdi's book 'The 100: Insights and lessons from 100 of the greatest speeches ever delivered'. Read The Times article on lessons learnt from one of the world's best speakers - Steve Jobs, co-founder of Apple and former chief executive officer of Pixar Animation Studios.
WHO MOVED MY GURU?
19th December 2008The economy may be tanking, but not Malcolm Gladwell. His new book, “Outliers,” a characteristically snappy look at what made the Beatles, Bill Gates and other superstars so successful, enters the hardcover nonfiction list at No. 1
19th December 2008The economy may be tanking, but not Malcolm Gladwell. His new book, “Outliers,” a characteristically snappy look at what made the Beatles, Bill Gates and other superstars so successful, enters the hardcover nonfiction list at No. 1
If you are interested in booking Mary Portas for your live event or require any additional information regarding Mary Portas then please fill in the enquiry form below and one of the Speakers Corner booking agents will contact you within 24 hours.
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