Royal family
Here’s why a royal commentator is calling the Duchess of Sussex “Meghan Mark-Up.”
After launching her first batch of As Ever products in April and selling out in less than an hour, Meghan Markle reportedly restocked items with a larger inventory. But they quickly sold out again when she released her second batch of products in early June.
Because the actual number of products available for purchase has not been released, just how much As Ever actually produces has been debated. But something that can’t be debated now is that the duchess’s teas come from a retailer headquartered in Larkspur, California –350 miles away from her home in Montecito — with a factory 2,000 miles away in Nashville, Illinois.
The Daily Mail reported that Prince Harry’s wife‘s teas appear to be made by a firm called The Republic of Tea. A wide range of teas, like Meghan’s hibiscus are being sold on the company’s website for much less than what customers are being charging under the Suits alum‘s As Ever brand.
The price of 36 teabags from Republic of Tea are between $11.50 and $14. Meghan sells hers for three times that much as her teabags are $12 for a tin of 12.
Royal expert Margaret Holder told The Sun: “Customers are paying a considerable increase for Meghan’s label. She is taking advantage of celebrity branding. It’s a case of Meghan Mark-up not Meghan Markle.”
As Ever’s website did list its brand as “republic-of-tea”‘ on product pages for the teas and flower sprinkles. However, after this news emerged, the brand name was changed to say “As Ever store.”
It’s not clear if Meghan bought her tea directly from Republic of Tea and had it packaged separately, or if the company is responsible for the product, packaging, and branding.
