Mary Portas
William Barry Theatre, University of West London, London, W5 5RF
Friday 1st May 2026
I SHOP THEREFORE IAM - THE '90S, HARVEY NICKS - AND ME
‘Absolutely irresistible.’ Joanna Lumley
‘A book with all the grit, gossip, beauty and brutality of retail. I couldn't put it down!’ Michelle Ogundehin
Join acclaimed author, retail pioneer and one of the UK’s most innovative businesswomen Mary Portas as she shares the inspiration behind her bold new memoir. With her signature wit and no-holds-barred honesty, Mary charts her transformation of Harvey Nichols from a tired, fusty department store into a fashion powerhouse, as she juggled the challenge of two young children and a sceptical all-male management team..
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
Mary Portas is one of the UK’s most prolific businesswomen and creative leaders. A regular on our TV screens, her proudest achievement to date is the creation of twenty-six Mary’s Living & Giving shops for Save the Children. She is the author of Shop Girl, Work Like a Woman and Rebuild: How to Thrive in the new Kindness Economy.
In association with Mary’s Living and Giving, Ealing.
Event duration: 1 hour
‘Absolutely irresistible.’ Joanna Lumley
‘A book with all the grit, gossip, beauty and brutality of retail. I couldn't put it down!’ Michelle Ogundehin
Join acclaimed author, retail pioneer and one of the UK’s most innovative businesswomen Mary Portas as she shares the inspiration behind her bold new memoir. With her signature wit and no-holds-barred honesty, Mary charts her transformation of Harvey Nichols from a tired, fusty department store into a fashion powerhouse, as she juggled the challenge of two young children and a sceptical all-male management team..
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
Mary Portas is one of the UK’s most prolific businesswomen and creative leaders. A regular on our TV screens, her proudest achievement to date is the creation of twenty-six Mary’s Living & Giving shops for Save the Children. She is the author of Shop Girl, Work Like a Woman and Rebuild: How to Thrive in the new Kindness Economy.
In association with Mary’s Living and Giving, Ealing.
Event duration: 1 hour
