ARO thread 2

[OneHeartySnail]

To continue the discussion...

What next? What did the launch aim to achieve? Did it get the desired result?

Anyone familiar with this kind of start up? Ideally as it works in US.

How long is a typical interval between soft launch and actually selling stuff (and/or uploading content)?

I think it's a bit strange - loss of momentum from the first appearance of site. But I know nothing about launching an online business

I just looked on Instagram and was a bit surprised that there are fewer than 600,000 followers!

I think people are getting the hint they're filled with hot air and emptiness lol 😂

It may well increase when( if) products appear but it really doesn’t seem a lot for someone of Meghan’s fame .

I’m not sure there is much to discuss is there? They’ve started a business. Good for them. It will either thrive or it won’t. Most new businesses take time to establish and the first year can be very difficult. I hope it goes well for them.

But don’t new businesses have products to sell ?
A new cafe has opened near us and I’m trying to imagine it opening but no tables, chairs, food etc ?

I’m not sure it even classifies as a soft launch. Literally all there is is an insta page of the brand name.

a soft launch goes to a small amount of users, or doesn’t have a heavy marketing push. With aro there is literally nothing past a brand.

id be very very surprised if something hasn’t went wrong. That something more was planned, and had to be stopped. She even had a wait list to join her insta page when she launched the brand. But there is nothing there. It’s literally the same nine tiles to show the brand. She hasn’t even got a page saying what it is, when it’s coming, something to tease, a timeline.

I think they had to stop whatever was planned. Which takes us back to it was flamingo Estates and tney got the lawyers involved.

There is no pressure on them to be an overnight success. They have funds. A lot of businesses establish a presence first and build up slowly according to interest. I was always of the mind that you had to have everything perfect first but generally those who “do it and see” tend to be more successful.

I think some people are just willing them to fail tbh or criticise the business when it’s barely begun in order to find another way to find fault with H & M (not saying this is necessarily the case here btw).

I hope they just ignore the on-line nastiness and follow their own path.

That is interesting, 580k now, they had around 650k very soon after the Instagram account was announced. It looks like the bots have been cleared out.

By the way it seems the owner of flamingo estate sent a cease and decist letter and threatened legal action as he felt aro infringed his trademark and Megan was basically just copying him

apparently there were meetings as she wished to be a partner. But he declined and then it looks like she then tried to copy it, and would habe had a lot of inside info. so he has now claimed trademark infringement, basically if she doesn’t stop he will take legal action against her. That’s not a good look when you launch. To do so with someone accusing you of copying them. It’s deeply embarrassing.

i suspect that’s why it’s stopped. She’s going to have to tweak it enough that she doesn’t infringe his trademarks. And her plan was just to rip off what he’d done.

https://www.mercurynews.com/2024/03/27/did-meghan-markle-get-more-than-inspiration-from-luxury-l-a-lifestyle-company/

I'd expect the website to carry some kind of statement of their vision for the venture, and its underlying principles, with a 'coming soon....' teaser.

I'm assuming there is a vision, and they're not just planning to flog stuff. I think Jeff Bezos has that covered.

But whatever it is, I don't see how they plan to generate the volume they will need to bring in the income to maintain their lifestyle.

Which takes us back to it was flamingo Estates and tney got the lawyers involved.

'We will collaborate with Flamingo Estates'? Unutterably stupid, if they were intending to go ahead without having legal agreements in place. But I'm surprised something hasn't leaked out.

That’s odd, I saw it at 540, and it’s slowly escalated since, as I’ve check a few times. I never saw it at 650, and the media comments are based on the lower number. Plus if you click on some of the followers the fake accounts are obvious, zero followrs or posts , just empty profiles.

Thanks for the new thread. I am PMSL that Flamingo whatsit sold an actual sack of shit for $75!

And that video of The Tig, whoever said on the previous thread that it was all about Meghan and very little about Toronto was right!

The Flamingo Estate website is unintentionally hilarious!

'We will collaborate with Flamingo Estates'? Unutterably stupid, if they were intending to go ahead without having legal agreements in place. But I'm surprised something hasn't leaked out.

Rather like 'in collaboration with Her Majesty.' Bet this one wasn't cleared with the counterparty first, either.

Why? I think it looks lovely. Well out of my reach but I can see the attraction.

I’m not sure they are entirely clear what the verb “to collaborate” means

@Rememberthereasonswhy They are following their own path, it’s just everything they touch seems to go south.

Leaked out in what way, the fact they had multiple meetings, that Megan wished to be an active partner, that the owner declined, that he then sent a cease and decist letter, that he threaten legal action over trademark infringement, as he felt she was copying him too closely , that she wanted to do jams, cooking etc, (like flamingo estate) has all been leaked. What else would be leaked?

It's not 'their business'. It's hers.

And sure, some businesses start out small and then expand. However, I've never heard of a 'business' which launches and then goes weeks without offering any indication of what it plans to sell.

Have you?

I still think there are things going on behind the scenes as this venture goes against the Sandringham Agreement.

Hmm I don’t think it does. They are allowed to earn money as individuals. They are not using their titles.

I had a poke around the website. It's a one page Wordpress site. I hope she didn't pay much for it!

And as for them "starting a new business" - I still don't understand why they had to announce an Instragram account and a one page website on the night of the Diana Awards. An account and web page that they have done nothing with since.

So, imo, one of two things happened - a) they are venal and cruel, and self-obsessed to the point of trying to outshine the Awards created for his mother. Or b) they are all those things and the Flamingo people lawyered up.

@Mylovelygreendress no tables, chairs, food etc 😂

She is clearly using her title !