Available to book
Mary Portas
Marketing
Business Strategy
Business Ethics
Navigate the evolving retail landscape and discover strategies for meaningful consumer engagement with Mary Portas, speaker, brand and retail expert.
Inspirational Female
Female Empowerment
Pride
Innovator
Podcast
Advertising
Fashion
Retail
Entrepreneur
Thought Leader
Business Leader
Broadcaster
Author
Female CEO
Women in Business
Founder
TEDx
Philanthropy
Mary Portas is a renowned retail consultant, brand expert, broadcaster, and author, whose transformative work has reshaped the retail and business sectors in the UK. As the founder of Portas, a creative agency specialising in brand communication, Mary has established herself as one of the foremost authorities in retail, branding, and consumer behaviour. She is widely known for her innovative work with leading global retailers, helping them understand and adapt to changing consumer trends. Mary’s journey began in the world of luxury retail, where she gained early recognition for her role as creative director at Harvey Nichols. Her groundbreaking work, including award-winning window displays, revolutionised the way fashion retail was perceived in the UK. Later, her consultancy, Portas, expanded her reach to major global brands, from Clarks and Louis Vuitton to Swarovski and Patek Philippe. Her business success is built on an in-depth understanding of human and cultural behaviour, which she applies to shape strategies that blend commercial success with social progress. As an advocate for better business practices, Mary’s commitment extends beyond commercial work to championing the role of retail in community-building and regeneration. She led a government review into the future of Britain’s high streets, which has informed revitalisation projects nationwide. Her passion for a more ethical approach to business is reflected in her bestselling books, Work Like a Woman and Rebuild: How to Thrive in the New Kindness Economy, as well as her role co-chairing the Better Business Act. Mary’s expertise is also shared through her widely listened-to podcast, Beautiful Misfits, where she interviews changemakers from all sectors. Mary’s ability to blend creativity, business acumen, and social consciousness makes her a highly sought-after speaker on the future of retail, consumer behaviour, workplace diversity, and building a kinder economy. Her insights continue to inspire businesses and individuals seeking to thrive in an ever-evolving world.
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frequently asked questions
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Email mary.portas@getapeptalk.com or call PepTalk on +44 20 3835 2929 (UK) or +1 737 888 5112 (US), and one of our speaker agents will contact you within hours to confirm Mary's availability and fees. If you can, please include your budget upfront – it helps us fast-track your request. It’s also helpful to know the date, format (virtual or in-person), location, and a bit about your audience.
Mary Portas draws on her experience as a retail consultant, brand strategist, and government adviser to structure talks around case studies from her work with global retailers and her review of Britain's high streets, grounding observations in documented shifts in consumer and cultural behaviour.
Mary Portas OBE speaks on retail and brand strategy, the future of high streets and community regeneration, workplace diversity, and building an ethical or "kindness" economy. She is the founder of Portas, a brand communications agency whose clients have included Harvey Nichols, Louis Vuitton, Clarks, and Patek Philippe, and she led the government-commissioned review into the future of Britain's high streets.
No. PepTalk adds no booking fee, so you pay the speaker's fee and nothing beyond it. The service, from shortlist through to contracts and event-day logistics, is included. For repeat or multi-event bookings, PepTalk can agree preferential rates with your procurement team.
Share your event date, audience, format, objectives and budget, and PepTalk sends a hand-picked shortlist within 24 hours. Each suggestion comes with a profile, a fee and a recommendation on the strongest fit. Once you choose, PepTalk handles contracts, travel and logistics through to event day.
The typical fee range is the speaker's standard in-person fee in their home market, shown in their local currency. It moves with format, location, date and session length: virtual sessions and shorter slots usually cost less, while international travel and peak dates cost more. Send your brief to PepTalk and the team will confirm the exact fee in your currency.
Not all of them, and it makes no difference to your booking. PepTalk's network of 15,000+ speakers covers talent the team works with directly alongside speakers represented by agents and agencies worldwide. PepTalk approaches the speaker, negotiates the fee and handles contracting either way.
Three to six months ahead is comfortable for most events, and 12 months is better for large conferences, peak-season dates or one specific in-demand speaker. Shorter timelines are workable, and PepTalk regularly fills last-minute and replacement bookings within days. Availability is the constraint, so get in touch as soon as you have a date.
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