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Retail guru takes Lightwater Homecare in hand for the latest series of her BBC show Mary Queen of Shops, with live product demo at the trade exhibition.
The BBC filmed part of the third series of the popular ‘Mary Queen of Shops’ at the Totally shows on Monday. Presenter and retail guru Mary Portas was on hand to take staff from the latest featured retailer, Lightwater Homecare, through their paces.
Lightwater Homecare owner Tony Leach and Jane Curtis, who works at the shop and had never visited a trade exhibition before, were given the chance to look around the shows and check out the new products on stand. They were spotted with Mary in tow, looking at the latest offerings from Faithfull Tools.
The pair was then thrown in at the deep end when it was announced that they would each give a product demo to a packed demonstration theatre at the show. Both had to give a 10-minute presentation on the Irwin Quick Grip – a product that Ms Curtis knew nothing about before the day. Luckily, Nigel Blow, product manager from Toolbank was available to run them through the clamp’s features before they had to take to the stage.
The first series of Mary Queen of Shops saw Ms Portas help turn around struggling clothing stores on the high street. However, for the latest series of the programme, she is turning her attention away from fashion retailers and is now focusing upon the non-fashion independent retail sector, including hardware stores, DIY retailers, cookshops and garden centres.
DIY and general store Lightwater Homecare is based in Guildford Rd, Lightwater, Surrey. The show will be screened on BBC2 this summer.
