Harry and Meghan’s time on Vancouver Island has been chronicled by international media at great length. A little home shop Harry stopped into days before Christmas on has now received press all over the world.
Over the past couple weeks, Lilaberry Home & Decor in Sidney has been featured in Daily Mail, Better Homes and Gardens and The Telegraph among others. That’s huge media for a little island shop whose past press was making reader’s choice lists in the Peninsula News Review.
It’s coverage businesses pay PR agencies top dollar for, but you just can’t buy this type of association.
The two soon-to-be-former royals may be leaving their titles behind in part due to the media, but when tied to the businesses and places they visit coverage about them has an extremely high value.
Clothes Meghan is photographed wearing often sell out within minutes. Aritzia, one of her go-tos and a Canadian brand, has seen six consecutive quarters of double-digit growth. Not all that can be attributed to the star power of British royalty…but it certainly didn’t hurt.
After media rumours started swirling that Harry and Meghan were looking at a $35-million home in Vancouver’s Point Grey neighbourhood, the Vancouver Sun’s Harrison Mooney wrote, “Not such a bad investment now that they’ve potentially attracted a flippin’ prince, are they?” I wouldn’t be surprised if that’s exactly what a lot of investors are now thinking.
There’s also the added boost of UK media now (potentially) setting up shop in BC. With her visit to women’s charities on Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside, Meghan will likely be making appearances and keynoting charity events, which will be sure to draw high ticket prices and crowds.
Saanich will surely see a tourism boost with fans wanting to vacation where the couple did.
In stepping down from their royal roles and choosing to spend time in Canada, the celebrity couple’s presence and surrounding media coverage has been incredibly good for business. It looks like this is just the beginning.
Ada Slivinski is the Founder & Principal of Jam PR, a boutique agency focused on helping small businesses get big exposure. You can reach her at [email protected]
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