Mary Queen of Frocks

Launching a retail outlet in a recession would be a major issue for anyone creative or indeed any retail creative team. Whilst the financial investment is large – the emotional termoil is even more demanding. But as Mary Portas starts her new series on Channel 4 – Mary Queen of Frocks – we get a unique chance to grab a peek back stage and watch Mary achieve the dream of her own shop.

Here are the key things from the first episode:

1. Identify the gap in the market. Mary has clearly done this by analysing what the high street offers her. She has put herself as the centre of her target market.

2. Vision. Mary demonstrates this of course through her experience, but by knowing what she wants and what it looks like – she demonstrates a really important ingredient for any business: ‘don’t settle for anything less than brilliant’.

3. People. If you were not inspired by Mary’s methods of recruitment then you clearly have missed the most important point and perhaps even the plot itself. Happy staff = happy customers. In Mary’s own words – ‘this is where it starts to get different.’

Congratulations to the show producers for managing to diplomatically demonstrate some key ingredients needed in order for retail to survive. We will of course be watching the series with a really excited pair of eyes.

Watch the series on Channel4.com