The new series of Mary Queen of Shops kicked off on Monday, 9th June, on BBC2. The target: a womenswear boutique in Ascot (Berkshire) specialising in large sizes.

The script was as simple as usual: shop owner doesn't know her business, therefore doesn't make any money and Mary Portas comes to the rescue. It's the same formula as Gordon Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares really - but without the continuous swearing...

Some of the morning after tv reviews described Ms. Portas as 'scary' but I actually didn't think that was a fair comment. She had A LOT of patience with the owner of the shop and had to try really hard to open the woman's eyes to see her mistakes and make things better. Eventually (and after quite a few cringing moments) the penny dropped and the shop owner finally realised the potential of her business, so she began to implement some much needed changes.

Mary Portas seriously knows her stuff when it comes to retailing and I really do admire her, not just for her individual sense of style and the gorgeous chunky jewellery she wears all the time (maybe one day we'll see her in something from Caradiaz?) but also from a fashion business point of view. I'm totally with her on the subject of good customer service (something that we take extremely seriously at Caradiaz) and also agree with her views on the downfall of high street quality fashion as a result of the proliferation of big chains selling dirt cheap clothes. "Younger shoppers are starting to ask who is suffering to make it possible to sell a £7 dress." - she said in a recent interview with the Daily Mail.

I really hope she's right and the tide turns!

Mary Portas
Picture: www.maryqueenofshops.com