Mary Queen of Shops: Part 1

Earlier this year, I came across a post on RetailDesignDiva.com that pitched a pretty interesting TV show idea: The Retail Reality Show. On the show, retailers would compete against one another to determine, in a weekly, head-to-head competition format, who was the best retailer. Considering some of the reality TV shows out there, the idea seemed intriguing. Remember the excitement of Supermarket Sweep? Retail could make for some pretty entertaining TV.

Last week, I read a news blurb promoting a new retail-inspired reality show playing on BBC America. It doesn't put retailers against each other, but the store makeover theme sounds promising. Mary Queen of Shops originally aired in the UK, and now the concept has crossed the Atlantic to America with the first episodes airing earlier this month. The idea behind the show involves experienced retail veteran Mary Portas helping struggling retailers rehab their concepts and bring them back to life.

While the show, which airs Wednesday nights at 9/8c, is currently replaying episodes from the UK series and features UK boutiques, maybe we'll see the show's host coming here to shoot a few episodes featuring US retailers? Until then, I have plans this Wednesday night to settle in and check out Mary Queen of Shops to see what it's all about. Check out my review Thursday morning, right here at the The Dadson Diaries, in Part 2 of this post.