August M
Launching a new business venture always brings a mix of excitement and nerves.
When a high-profile celebrity steps into the lifestyle market, the stakes get higher because everyone is watching. According to The Express, even a highly anticipated rollout can trigger sudden pushback from disappointed consumers
A summer launch
The Duchess of Sussex recently unveiled the latest offering from her lifestyle brand, As Ever. She teamed up with a vegan coffee company, Clevr Blends, where she already works as an advisor and investor.
The online rollout began with a teaser video on Monday before the package went on sale on Tuesday. The new Strawberry Matcha Set costs $56, which equals about £47. According to The Express, the partner company was started in 2018 by Hannah Mendoza and Roger Coppola.
The brand used Instagram to share the news. As Ever posted, “Introducing the Strawberry Matcha Set strawberry emoji. A celebration of summer mornings. Strawberry Spread, Flower Sprinkles and Clevr Matcha SuperLatte come together in a trio that’s bright, fragrant, and full of simple pleasures.”
Thrilled but slammed
Meghan also shared her excitement online. She posted a story stating, “I’ve proudly supported Hannah and @clevrblends for so many years now. Thrilled about this new collaboration with one of my favourite gals and two of my favourite brands.”
But many fans felt completely let down. The main complaint centered on the fact that the bundle did not include any new items. Instead, it just packaged old products together without offering a discount.
Angry buyers quickly flocked to social media. On X, one user openly questioned if Meghan was simply riding on the backs of other brands instead of creating new items, pointing out that buying the matcha, spread, and sprinkles separately costs the exact same amount.
Fans vent online
Other comments were even harsher. One critic added, “She is terrible at business. Just awful.” Another commentator opined, “For a drink that gives you energy and focus, she seems to have neither.”
Still, the founders are defending the launch. Mendoza posted on social media, “Nothing compares to having ba***s women in your life that lift you up, especially on the WILD journey of building a brand [pink heart emoji] Our #AsEverbyMeghan collab is officially live!”
Sources: The Express, Instagram, X
