Meghan Markle’s new business venture hasn’t even officially launched yet, and she’s already facing the need to change its name? There are some serious rumors circulating, and honestly, I find them believable. If Meghan isn’t dealing with this, then it’s even more baffling than we thought. As we’ve previously discussed, the name “American Riviera Orchard” apparently isn’t something she can get trademarked. And you can’t launch a major business—especially one that’s going to feature her brand on products like jars—without securing a trademark first.
Reports say that Meghan is now considering a name change for her upcoming lifestyle brand after her trademark application was denied. This isn’t exactly unprecedented; similar situations have happened before. We’ll touch on a past example shortly, but let’s pause and reflect on this for a moment. She’s launched an entire business venture—one that includes a store and various products tied to her Netflix show—and didn’t ensure the trademark was sorted out beforehand. It’s a massive blunder and could be an incredibly costly mistake.
The rejection was specifically due to the fact that geographical locations can’t be trademarked. How did this not get flagged earlier? It’s baffling that an attorney didn’t catch this issue before Meghan and her team began branding and production. This situation has reportedly thrown Meghan and her team into a frenzy. While they might be trying to downplay it, the stress must be significant.
Insiders close to Meghan say the situation is reminiscent of when Kim Kardashian faced similar issues with her shapewear brand in 2019. Kim had to change the name from “Kimodo” (a terrible choice, to be honest) to “Skims” after accusations of cultural appropriation. While Skims turned out to be a much better fit, it’s likely that the rebranding was quite expensive. Meghan’s team is currently brainstorming alternative names, and I wish I could be a fly on the wall in that meeting.
What do you think Meghan’s new brand name should be? Drop your suggestions in the comments—I’d love to hear your ideas and might even share them in the next show. Despite the last-minute rush, Meghan’s team isn’t too worried because they know Kim Kardashian also managed to rebrand successfully after launch. However, comparing herself to Kim Kardashian might be a red flag in itself.
If Meghan’s team does need to change the name, it will certainly be costly, considering all the branding materials that have already been produced. It’s a classic case of why you need to ensure everything is in order before going public with a new venture.
We don’t know exactly when Meghan’s brand will officially launch. While there’s been talk and some products like jam and dog biscuits have been sent out, the precise launch date remains unclear. The intended brand name, which is a nod to Santa Barbara, might be seen as an attempt to stake a claim on that location. The addition of “Orchard” doesn’t change the primarily geographic nature of the name, as stated by her team. They have three months to respond to the trademark office’s decision and pay a $700 fee.
I believe the team is scrambling to find a new name—an essential move for any rational business person to salvage both face and finances. Given that she might have already started creating products, the stakes are high.
Overall, while there’s likely to be some initial curiosity and support, this brand doesn’t seem to have long-term potential. Meghan’s plan to sell high-priced products in limited quantities is intriguing, but the comparison to similar ventures like Will Ferrell’s honey is not flattering.
Meghan Markle’s approach to branding and product pricing seems questionable, and it remains to be seen whether her efforts will pay off.
