Meghan Markle has always wanted to stand out. After leaving the Hollywood scene, she embarked on a new adventure with American Riviera Orchard, a brand dedicated to the art of living. Announced with great fanfare on March 14, this initiative now seems to be at an impasse. Indeed, nearly six months later, the project remains as vague as it is uncertain. No product or launch in sight. Only vague promises of jams or household items.
This delay could be explained by a trademark issue. Indeed, the USPTO rejected Meghan’s application to trademark the name "American Riviera Orchard". The latter refers to a geographical region, Santa Barbara County where Meghan and her husband, Prince Harry, reside. And the rules are strict: no geographical names for a brand. A hard blow for someone who presents herself as an accomplished entrepreneur.
An aspiring entrepreneur in difficulty
Since leaving the royal family, Meghan Markle seems to have struggled to bring her projects to fruition. Despite a stated desire to venture into business, her initiatives have struggled to take shape. Although she seems to want to establish herself as a businesswoman, her repeated failures show a real difficulty. Indeed, she struggles to turn her ambitions into concrete successes. Her latest attempt, with American Riviera Orchard, is no exception.
Meghan has already tried to reinvent herself after her marriage to Prince Harry, by venturing into lifestyle. Yet, her successes in entrepreneurship remain limited. She is often seen with celebrities like Kris Jenner or Mindy Kaling; but it is mostly her appearances that draw attention. Her projects resemble more communication operations than real commercial successes.
A Hollywood past with tensions
Before meeting Harry, Meghan had already tried to break into the entertainment world. Her marriage to film producer Trevor Engelson, whom she married in 2011, had undoubtedly facilitated some of her early breakthroughs in Hollywood. Nevertheless, after two years of marriage, Meghan decided to break up, sending her wedding rings back by mail. This abrupt breakup marked the beginning of her distancing from the film and television industry.
She has turned the page on Hollywood. However, her experience in showbiz continues to inspire her sense of staging. Today, far from the film sets, she seems to want to reinvent herself as an entrepreneur. But it must be noted that, despite constant media presence, the results are slow to follow. Her attempts to stand out in the business world have yet to meet the expected success.
An influence strategy more than entrepreneurship
Meghan also seems to have found another way to shine: becoming an influencer. Regularly, she appears with products from ethical brands. She promotes them by investing in these companies before publicly praising their merits. This strategy, smart on paper, allows her to earn significant commissions. However, it looks more like a marketing strategy than a true entrepreneurial success.
In the end, despite her public appearances, Meghan seems more comfortable in communication than in running a business. Her journey since leaving the royal family is punctuated by unfulfilled promises and delayed projects. Today, with the obstacles faced by American Riviera Orchard, it seems that the young mother will have to rethink her strategy if she finally wants to succeed in the business world. But for now, the road still seems long.