Mary Portas | I Shop, Therefore I Am

Mary Portas is one of the UK’s most high-profile and innovative businesswomen.  In conversation with Gaby Huddart,  Mary will shares the inspiration behind her bold new memoir, I Shop, Therefore I Am: The ‘90s, Harvey Nicks and Me.

With her signature wit and no-holds-barred honesty, Mary charts her transformation of Harvey Nichols from a tired department store into a global brand destination. Mary will discuss how, armed only with the blank canvas of a shop window and her own creativity, she reimagined what luxury and style could be. Hear about the vivid world of ‘90s Britpop and retail, fashion-world revelations, and the highs and lows of a career that shaped the high street.

After making her name transforming Harvey Nichols into a global fashion destination, Mary launched Portas, her own creative company, with the mission to transform businesses into brands, places and spaces people want in their lives. Today her team work with clients ranging from Mercedes to Sainsbury’s. She has been a regular on our TV screens, advised the government on the future of high streets and developed a fashion label. Her proudest achievement to date is the creation of twenty-six Mary’s Living & Giving shops for Save the Children. 

 Praise for the book:

“…in the quiet eye of this storm of a book lies great wisdom and truth. Absolutely irresistible.” Joanna Lumley