We were told so many times that Party Pieces was incredibly successful, successful enough to finance the private educations of all three of Carole Middleton’s children. Successful enough to allow Carole and Michael Middleton to finance Kate’s Waity Decade, where she barely held down one job and went on vacation constantly. It never made any sense – while I think Party Pieces had a niche market and probably made *some* money, it was mostly shady Uncle Gary Goldsmith financing the Middletons’ lifestyle. I still believe that it’s even weirder than that, what with that pot-growing factory adjacent to the Middletons’ property.
But I digress. For several years, Party Pieces’ financial losses have been well-known. The official reason for the business’s downturn is that the pandemic affected the business. I would also think it’s probably pretty easy to find inexpensive party decorations literally anywhere, especially on Amazon or discounted party-supply stores. So to save the business, Carole has inked a deal with Saker ShopRite, which is a chain primarily in the Northeast. ShopRite is now carrying Party Pieces crap exclusively in America. Carole traveled to New Jersey to pose at a grocery store, which already put up their Party Pieces display. From Party Pieces’ IG:
To mark the launch of our Party Pieces Collection in the United States, Carole visited a few @shopritestores to meet associates, speak with customers and see our product ranges on the shelves.
This marks the brand’s first retail partnership outside of the United Kingdom and is the beginning of larger expansion plans in the United States. This next phase of growth for Party Pieces will make the products available for the first time in retail in the U.S. at 39 Saker ShopRite stores. It comes only a year after a successful e-commerce launch in the UK, which saw Party Pieces Collections quickly become a best-selling ranges for the brand.
“It’s very exciting to see our Party Pieces Collection expanding into the U.S. starting with Saker ShopRites, a leading retailer in New Jersey and family-owned business with a long history of commitment to the customers and communities its stores serve. This is the culmination of great teamwork, and we’re happy to partner with Saker ShopRites for our initial launch,” said Carole Middleton, Founder of Party Pieces.
“We are thrilled to be the first U.S. retail partner for British heritage brand Party Pieces. We know our customers are coming together again to mark special occasions in their lives and they want to make their parties spectacular. We’re sure our customers will enjoy celebrating memorable milestones and moments with these fantastic new lines from Party Pieces,” added Richard Saker, president and CEO of Saker ShopRites, Inc.
From the IG pics, it looks like they put the Party Pieces display section in the greeting card aisle, right next to the deli/bakery. Which sounds about right – people are running into ShopRite to pick up a birthday cake and look, there’s an assortment of Party Pieces paper plates, party hats, decorations, etc. Honestly, no shade – this is a pretty good fit? It makes me wonder why Party Pieces hasn’t expanded internationally before now. Also: it’s hilarious to me that Carole wanted her own (hyper-airbrushed) image to be part of the display. Yeesh. Anyway, I hope Carole liked Jersey.
Photos courtesy of Avalon Red, Instagram.
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- 62362, LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM – Tuesday June 7 2011. Matching Middletons! Pippa Middleton and Carole Middleton step out in matching nude shoes! The mother daughter duo were out with Pippa’s father Michael Middleton at Harry’s Bar in Mayfair. ***NORTH AMERICAN USE ONLY*** Photograph: ©Optic Photos, PacificCoastNews.com **FEE MUST BE AGREED PRIOR TO USAGE** **E-TABLET/IPAD & MOBILE PHONE APP PUBLISHING REQUIRES ADDITIONAL FEES** UK OFFICE:+44 131 557 7760/7761 US OFFICE:1 310 261 9676,Image: 525175204, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: WORLD RIGHTS, DIRECT SALES ONLY UNLESS STATED OTHERWISE IN CAPTION – Fee Payable Upon Reproduction – For queries contact Avalon.red – sales@avalon.red London: +44 (0) 20 7421 6000 Los Angeles: +1 (310) 822 0419 Berlin: +49 (0) 30 76 212 251 Madrid: +34 91 533 4289, Model Release: no, Credit line: Optic Photos / Avalon
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- Carole Middleton and Michael Middleton arrives at the state funeral and burial of Britain’s Queen Elizabeth, at Westminster Abbey in London, Britain, September 19, 2022.,Image: 724081127, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: -, Model Release: no, Credit line: Geoff Pugh for the Telegraph / Avalon
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- Carole Middleton The State Funeral of Her Majesty The Queen, Service, West Door, Westminster Abbey, London, UK – 19 Sep 2022,Image: 724158170, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: , Model Release: no, Credit line: James Veysey/Shutterstock / Avalon
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- Carole Middleton The State Funeral of Her Majesty The Queen, Service, West Door, Westminster Abbey, London, UK – 19 Sep 2022,Image: 724158734, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: , Model Release: no, Credit line: James Veysey/Shutterstock / Avalon
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- WINDSOR, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 19: Carole Middleton and Michael Middleton arrive at Windsor Castle ahead of the Committal Service for Queen Elizabeth II on September 19, 2022 in Windsor, England. The committal service at St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle, took place following the state funeral at Westminster Abbey. A private burial in The King George VI Memorial Chapel followed. Queen Elizabeth II died at Balmoral Castle in Scotland on September 8, 2022, and is succeeded by her eldest son, King Charles III.,Image: 724191188, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: -, Model Release: no, Credit line: Leon Neal / Avalon
Well, you know, Meghan and Harry are a big success in America. CarolE’s streaming deal can’t be far behind. Maybe “Jersey Shore Meets The Crown?”
I wonder if one of the places she visited was the East Orange ShopRite where I used to get groceries…
LOLOLOL you know they didn’t bring her to the one in East Orange!! I bet it was in Bergen County.
I had to check where Shaker Shop Rites are located – mostly in Central/South Jersey. So a” Jersey Shore Meets The Crown” is not far fetched. LOL.
I wonder which ones she went to, too.
There are two I shop at, one near home and one near work. I will tell you, as a VERY regular Shop Rite shopper, I never buy my party pieces at Shop Rite, it’s Target all the way for stuff like that. Much better selection and less expensive.
she should have tried to make a deal with Target.
I had to look it up, and she went to the Aberdeen, Hazlet, Shrewsbury, and Middletown stores. HA! Have to do that Middletown/Middleton connection.
All the stores are basically right below NYC.
Whatwhat?–or Party City. Much better prices.
Harper–yeah, no Newark or Elizabeth for her. 🤣🤣🤣
Had a pretty good idea she wouldn’t be taken to Essex County.
“Jersey shore: Windsor edition – GTL: Gym, Tiara, Money Laundering”
Actually shoprites are all over Warren County where I live, which is NW Jersey. Can’t wait to go shopping. (Sarcasm).
Perfect.
And this woman is a wannabe Martha Stewart or GOOP or Kathy Ireland? Her image doesn’t sell, but they did make a concerted effort to amplify her Kate-ish features so one might think this crap was Khate-endorsed. Still doubt anyone would care enough to buy it…unless it prominently displayed little tiaras for the “birthday girls.” It should have featured a little Disney Princess-like tiara-clad child as the main display.
@laurie – those shoprites aren’t owned by Saker.
Safer Shoprites are slim below the Driscoll bridge
https://www.shoprite.com/sm/pickup/rsid/3000/sakershoprites
It’s not a bad idea in theory for the last minute party supply run, or you’re going to a bday party so you need a card, gift bag, tissue paper, whatever.
But still…..is PP in grocery stores in the UK like this? Why start with Shop Rite in New Jersey?
I twill be interesting to see how this does. I wonder if this is a last ditch effort to get serious buyers for it, in a “look! we’re in the US market too!” kind of way?
no it’s not in any stores in the UK, online only (although I think maybe they had a catalogue to begin with). Each of our supermarkets has their own range of party stuff and, personally speaking, anything else we get from Amazon. I have looked at PP in the past and thought it seemed cheap and tacky.
Agree. I’d go to Amazon, and certainly wouldn’t buy this tat if I saw it at a uk supermarket.
As far as party crap goes, I find PP crap much nicer than Party City crap.
Cheap and tacky. Isn’t that the middletons brand.
How many Americans would know who Carole Middleton is? I find it odd that she thought posting a picture of herself would be helpful in the States, especially when this type of thing tends to be reserved for people with high name recognition or established brands, like Martha Stewart.
I thought the same thing. And such a large, full size photo. It’s weird, right?
The 2 ShopRite’s near me are part of this group, I’ll have to scope it out.
Came here to say the same thing. You know shoppers in NJ will see her crusty image and just say – who TF is this? And then if there is a sale then maybe they will pick up some of the stuff. 😂😂😂
Agree – willing to bet 99% of Americans haven’t a clue who she is.
I shop at ShopRite and I’ll let you all know if this venture last. I can’t think of what she’s offering to differentiate from the rest. Most people here go to Party City for party supplies. Many 99 cent stores also have party plates, balloons and stuff and to be honest I rarely see anyone buying cards or books in ShopRite, it’s not a well trafficked aisle and this seems to be where they have her party supply.
yeah, this totally. Party City, Target, 99 cent stores…
and I agree, there are hardly ever people in that aisle, which is also the “school/office supplies” aisle. people, in general, don’t buy those types of things in Shop Rite unless they are there for groceries and are like “Oh, I need tape…”. No one browses the books or magazines they have in that aisle, either.
if your shopping SPECIFICALLY for party supplies, Shop Rite ain’t it.
My MIL shops there as well but I think she’s farther north than where it sounds like the PP line is going to be sold? (NW NJ). She’s coming this weekend, I’ll have to ask her if she noticed AND if she knows who Carole M is (or if she recognized her.) my guess is she would not recognize her lol.
I regularly shop at ShopRite in Paramus (Bergen county – northern NJ) I’ll have to check if they have a display this weekend when I go for groceries. Honestly, many people I know get party supplies at Dollar Tree, or other dollar stores or at Party City. And NO ONE I know would recognize CarolE Middleton. Even if you told them her name, they would still be like, “Who?” So this should be very interesting.
But, you never know, maybe they’ll actually do some business – (Whispers: I hear they need the money).
Maybe she tried at Waitrose, Tesco, Sainsbury’s et al., & they wouldn’t have her? Boots might have been a good option, too, if they’re putting this stuff in the greeting card section. I don’t know, it’s been a while since I’ve been in the UK. And it flat out made me laugh that her image is used!! Who does she think she is, Joanna Gaines? Martha Stewart? Rachel Ray? OPRAH???Those women built careers much more substantial than Carole’s, that’s why we recognize their images.
I’m surprised she didn’t try Aldi’s. But her price point is probably too high for them.
I’m surprised she didn’t have a pic of her with Kate. No doubt wouldn’t be allowed or she would have.
I can’t but think this kind of bought for one special occasion and never use again kind of non-sustainable concept and the conditions in which this stuff most likely is being produced doesn’t quite seem to fit the environmentalist image Carole’s daughter and son-in-law seem to want to create with all their Earth-whatnot hype. Just wondering why nobody seems to point that out. Another thing I’m wondering is whether this kind of crap still is popular. I no longer have kids who’d be young enough to want paper hats and cheap decorations for their parties, but those friends who have seem to try to find more sustainable choices nowadays.
This is a good point. I remember clearing up after our kids’ parties and shovelling all the stuff into bin bags. I felt really guilty. It certainly doesn’t sit well with Earthshot to be pumping out these one use items. It’s funny (read disgusting) that Carole is making money off the back of her royal connections to a man who reckons he’s Mr Green.
They’ve repeatedly been caught violating rights issues (Olympics knockoffs), selling sexualised costumes for kids, making money off royal events (Prince and Princess baby party supplies, etc.) and selling products made by child labour in Mexico. A real journalist needs to do a deep dive in to the money behind this (ie. Gary) and how much is actually made. But Carole signing with Shop-Rite in Jersey? Sounds like she’s desperate because nobody wants to buy her failing business.
Bingo – we have a winner. They’ve been trying to sell that business since way before the pandemic, no one was interested then and no one is still not interested. They have struggled to even get investors outside her brother and SIL.
When GDPR was made law EU wide in 2018 the lost a nice little earner with their mailing lists – they apparently used to make a lot of money selling these on.
@nota
I remember some of the controversies you’ve listed off, but I don’t remember any consequences (or anything, really) for those actions. The press obviously buried the stories for the palace, similar to how there was an initial report on the pot farm found near their house and then there was never another peep about it. The Middletons are so shady and I really wish an American journalist would do a deep dive into their finances and what the palace does/promises to get the stories buried about William’s in-laws.
I’m also confused where this money is coming from to expand into the US. There have been stories in the press that PP is not doing as financially well as they used to (and there have been whispers that PP is actually in pretty serious financial trouble). This is not a cheap business move and I can’t imagine their new American business partner would take on all the up front costs so who is paying for this expansion? I really wonder how the Middletons have any money left these days, after raising 3 kids and putting them all through private school and then paying all of their expenses all through their 20’s. I don’t think Uncle Gary outright financed the Middletons as much as he supplied clientele for their weed business because nobody can convince me that the pot farm found right by their property is not theirs.
Exactly this. It’s wild to me that the heir to the throne’s MIL is hocking disposable plates in New Jersey and the media has absolutely nothing to say about it. How is it possible for Will to have absolutely any credibility as an “environmentalist” influencing the world when he can’t even influence his MIL to at the very least make something biodegradable?? It’s just another example of the hypocrisy of the British press and the unfair, enormous pass the Wails get thanks to the (not so) invisible contract.
It’s not just the environemental issue, thought that’s bad enough, it’s the whole trading in on her connection to the RF to land this gig. The picture of her on the display is the tell. The only reason anyone in the UK or abroad would know her is because of who her daughter married. So if it’s wrong for H&M to trade in on their royal status, it’s wrong for the heir to the throne’s MIL to do it. I can’t wait for all of the pearl clutching and outrage from the rota rats /snark.
‘British heritage brand’.
I’m dying. I mean technically yes but come on. Way to big yourselves up! Oh, sorry, I forgot who we’re talking about here.
I would like to talk about the life size pics of CarolE in the store.
I absolutely LOL’d my ass off at that – grasping much.
The fact that ole Carol(e) has made herself the ‘face’ of the brand in the US means that they are totally cashing in on the royal connections to sell their cheap over price sh!t.
That family are TOTALLY triggered by H&M and are clearly riding on their coattails in the US to sell their crap.
Am sure this is not in any way going to coincide with the Keens upcoming visit which am sure Carol(e) will have known about in advance – also not a coincidence that its New Jersey.
Well, her daughter is the Princess of Wales and the future queen consort, when her son-in-law becomes king. How much closer could she get to royalty? She probably thinks she can become Royal by osmosis, so of course she must have a life-size image of herself flogging her stuff.
I wonder if she has plans to come to Australia. It would be a massive fail. We have a huge home and craft store here: sheets, blankets, towels, cushions, rugs, blinds, pots and pans, dinnerware, cutlery, sewing fabric, sewing machines, Cricut, knitting needs, buttons, zippers, every kind of craft item you can imagine… it’s quite the Emporium. Aaaaaaaand, they have separate party store that sells everything you could possibly need for any party. Then we have the two dollar shops. A few of them that I frequent have the most beautiful party and gift supplies, and their prices are fantastic. Perhaps she is going to build it up there and then sell it off. She needs to put her efforts into becoming the Queen‘s mother. She is already the future Queens mother, but she’s not queenly enough yet. CarolE and Cathy are a double act.
The royalist contingent in the States isn’t that large and I can only see them being interested in this.
I don’t think they realize that that phrase is an incredible turn off. Sure, maybe a few older folk would be wowed by that phrase but the people buying party supplies are not impressed by that term. Everything about her business screams out of touch. No, we don’t want your cheap, earth-ruining english crap in our grocery stores. Gross.
Mmm. So let me see…do we think that ShopRite would have been in the slightest bit interested in stocking this British brand if it HADN’T been owned by the Future Queen’s Mum? That America doesn’t have plenty of home grown plastic party tat brands that could have been stocked?
Talk me through how leveraging Royal connections to make commercial deals is SO AWFUL again, why don’t you.
Precisely what you said, @The Hench.
Precisely this. PP cashing in on BaRF connection.
The Party Store’s HQ is in Rockaway NJ. Unless Shop Rite is going after the party business this makes no sense at all.
Not to mention the zillion dollar stores around here, where most people get stuff for kids parties.
I always assumed that Party Pieces was like the mail-order catalog Oriental Trading Company, and I actually thought they were somehow connected because all the stuff looks the same. But I guess it’s more like Party City (which we have in MD, and I’ve seen in other states so I think it’s pretty known in the US). It’s shocking to me that there is a market for more party junk over here
SHOPRITE, LOL, can’t wait to see if they use it in their Can Can sales, just kidding.
With Party City, Costco, BJ’s and so many other discount stores in N J, if this is successful, I will be shocked.
King’s is a more upscale supermarket and used to be Owned by Marks & Spencer. Right now all the Xmas goodies from England are out, including crackers.
Folks in Jersey love their outlet malls.
I am a Party City person all the way. Second choice is a Hallmark Shop which is more up-scale.
OMG now you put that stupid can can sale song in my head! TODAY IT’S GREAT TO SAVE SOME CASH SO COME TO SHOPRITE’S CAN CAN BASH
😂
@Andrea, me too 😫
I was going to say the same thing about Kings! ShopRite might have more stores in the region is the goal is expansion to whole North East market. But man alive, this is statement about brand price in this marketplace. A brand with non-exclusive positioning in Kings would have been far better. Bristol Farms in Southern California. And the other smaller rich person chains elsewhere.
Or gosh, wholesale relationship with Papyrus stores would have been good for maintaining or increasing perceived brand value.
To me this deal says a lot about the internal resources at PP. They obviously do not have the staffing needed for building wholesale client base. A singular deal like this likely looks more like a licensing deal, a big payment with ongoing royalties for promotion. A nice influx of cash, but not the long game when it comes to money. They are either being paid so much on this deal and the terms are long enough in duration to negate the value of building wholesale in the US market OR they need money bad enough now that staffing to build a DTC line via Amazon and hire wholesale sales reps or sign on with a NA distributor to build a more lucrative long term business.
This feels like the result of really needing money, revisiting previous outreach after finding out better deals were not out there, and signing on for a marketing bonus with terms that offered more money for use of Carole’s image. She can get separate funds as the face/rep/model for marketing the product, and the company has a separate deal for likely just licensing the brand for product Shop Rite manufactures and white labels.
That’s likely why Carole is the face, because if Carole is the face, she gets fees for use of likeness and potentially builds a brand name for herself for other future product.
Is shop rite a regional chain? I have never heard of it. I personally wouldn’t purchase her brand just on principle. I do like hallmark stores and party city and always find what I need there.
Yes, it’s regional – mostly in the Northeast (New Jersey, New York, parts of PA).
I also think of ShopRite as a bargain supermarket, like Stop & Shop in MA and CT.
If I want party stuff, I’d go to Party City. They’re everywhere, and have a wide selection.
I hope this is a massive failure. The US needs fewer visits from these scumbags, not more.
Welp. Good luck, I guess. I’m unfamiliar with ShopRite so I have no idea if this is a good thing or not, but I know it’s better than Dollar General.
It’s slightly better than Dollar General. It’s, uh, not prestigious. Maybe they’ll have success over here, who knows, but it’s not going to be because of her “celebrity.”
Shoprite isn’t comparable to Dollar General. And also, they vary in quality depending on who owns it.
For instance, in Union County, you go to the one in Clark and it’s a much higher end store than the one in Linden that’s maybe 4 miles away.
Different owners.
They will buy food at Shoprite and go to the $ store for their party supplies.
A future kings grandmother promoting her business of course will be praised by the media and wails fans.
In fairness, the cropped gingham jacket and tailored trousers is a great look?! Kate, take notes
Paired with Carole’s crisp hair do. Kate would make it look fussy and dowdy clinging to her hair.
As much as I’m disgusted by this marketing, Carole 💯 looks better than anything her daughter puts together.
She looks very middle-aged. Unfortunately, so does her daughter.
It’s such a weird reverse anachronism to see a Middleton existing in the modern world. They belong in the early 19th century taking luxurious turns around the lavish gardens, gossiping about the neighbors.
And cue the outrage from the RR / british media on Carole cashing in on the royal connection / name… Oh, wait.. she’s not Megan, so of course its ok!!!
Wasn’t the time to strike on this about a decade ago, right after the Royal Wedding? Carole blamed “investors” in that Telegraph interview for why she was suddenly doing interviews. If she didn’t even do an interview with the Star-Ledger (nj.com), I can’t see this gaining much traction as a brand. I also wonder how many Shop-Rites the that franchisee owns. People asking how good it is, Shop-Rite isn’t a “high end” like Whole Foods grocery store, it’s a “normal” one with some high end products. But this franchisee’s Shop Rites are in middle to
Upper middle class areas. NJ and NY had their own grocery store chains and are very hard markets to break into. Shop Rite’s main competitor which owned A&P and PathMark, filed for bankruptcy last year after a hedge fund bought it and loaded it with debt. Anyone else here remember the ShopRite can can sale commercials?
PS: I do find it interesting that this appears to be one of at least two deals we know of (Tindall’s reality show appearance) in which the publicity and announcement came after the Queen’s death
Here’s a thought, with everything going on around Billy Beans and Kathy right now, why is her mother trying to get a foothold in the US market using herself as the face? What is the long game.
an’t do it around the Royal wedding because it didn’t feel necessary. And it would seem crass. But now, now Carole is all in on including herself as a spokesmodel. More money in it, more potential benefit to her, potential personal brand recognition and all that glorious American money in a time when Brexit has made business hard AF for companies, and even harder for companies who mainly source overseas.
None of that would probably feel like it mattered if the Middleton’s felt secure in Kates position buffering them if they were to lose out. Wouldn’t matter if failure of their company would be perceived as an embarrassment to the crown. But apparently that is not the case. Because being in US grocery stores is just as embarrassing to this crew.
And doing anything in the US now is like pulling a Megan and Harry to this crowd as well. So why would they do this? Money, because they need it, and a future, because the one they have right now does not feel secure.
Perhaps Carole was waiting for the queen to die
This is an interesting take. Carole has to protect her investment (her company) and make it more marketable so she can sell it for $$ because she isn’t going to be set for life as the mother in law of the QC. Hmmmm.
I don’t even understand what is meant by “pulling a Meghan and Harry” if Carole does business in the US, because Meghan was born in the US. Also, the “embarrassing” part about Carole conducting business in the US.
I took @What?What? said to mean, the effort to bandwagon and jump onto M&H’s coattails. Salty Isle crew seemed to have no clue how successful M&H could be. They completely underestimated Meghan and they’d always used Harry and taken him for granted.
Of course, as you say @Debbie, Meg was already very successful in her home country and in Toronto prior to meeting the Ginger Prince. The Salty Isle bitters were foolish not to try and really get to know Meghan and stop looking down their noses at her. Harry was always a creative, passionate guy and a leader, but used and held back by the firm. Meghan helped him tremendously, and he admits that. The love and support of a good, strong, brave and brilliant woman can do wonders. Firm made a big mistake in rejecting her. ‘Huge’!
What makes M&H’s hard-earned success even more satisfying is that coming to the U.S. wasn’t their original plan. It happened organically and out of necessity due to the pandemic that they ended up in Meg’s home base of California, which truly was the best move for them. Also rewarding is the fact that the rota and the firm tried so hard to smear M&H, which has strangely done more to help their profile rather than to sully their image or stall their success.
CarolE and the rest of the Midds are apparently like a lot of Britishers who dream of being successful in the States, all the while looking down on American culture. The royals are no strangers to that desire either. It’s laughable how they continue to throw mud at M&H, all the while envying what M&H have created together. Enter W&K invading Boston and New York. Now CarolE in New Jersey. LOL! CopyKeening at its best.
Shoprite stores are Franchises, they cater to the area where they’re, so you can get one Shoprite carrying Caribbean/South American food and at others carrying other foods.
Shoprite supermarket use to be dumps, but they have built new stores and are updating others, changing the tiles.
There are two Shoprites. Saker Shoprites which are just in NJ and Shoprites which are in 6 states in the USA Northeast. She’s with the Saker Shoprites.
@heatherc. Thanks for the clarification. I wasn’t aware if this
Dang. If you look quickly it looks just like Kate strolling through that Shoprite aisle. It’s been strongly suspected but here’s solid confirmation of where she gets her style tips from!
As for her shilling PP here in the good ol’ US of A…..I’ll stick to Party City and Amazon, thanks. Give me a break, girl.
I picture Carole and Tindall sitting and waiting for HMQ to die so they could jump into down market deals
LOL
This lady is really counting on the racists Karen’s and KKKate’s wanting to be royal adjacent and buying up her party favors. I mean MA’AM. We have Party City here. We do not need you.
Maybe when Will and his lazy wife come Stateside they will also have a photo op with mummy and daddy’s favors.
Yeah. This reeks of an ultra royalist owner or spouse of owner embiggening themselves by pushing Carole’s company. I bet the staff are rolling their eyes.
Irish here, would people in America recognize who Carole is? Would they look at that poster of her and go “Oh, well I just have to buy paper plates from her, she is the future, future king of England grandma”. I don’t know anyone here who would recognize her and she is just across the pond.
ITA this giant photo is a waste of space. they could be hanging crap for sale there.
The local paper calls her the “new princess of wales’ mother” so, no. But there are tons of lifestyle brands with the same one woman personality cult branding and none of those are really in grocery stores, so people may look at it and look her up
I could see Carole repping as being a part of the terms required by PP. That way Carole gets a separate fee and can potentially build her own brand recognition in the States.
I have a friend who works with NBC and previously worked with BBC and the amount talent is paid in the US makes the UK look skint. Having a known face and brand in the US makes BANK. So wanting to be the face of something and establish a personal brand matters money-wise.
I don’t even think most Canadians would recognize Carole Middleton because she’s rarely seen in entertainment magazines over here.
They’re all cashing in now that Liz has popped her clogs.
They sure didn’t wait long! Has it even been six weeks? SMH
Pretty sure this market is saturated here as it probably is in Britain. And most Americans have no idea who Carole Middleton is, and, if they do, really don’t care about her party favors.
I just found a more local paper’s coverage (Asbury Park Press) – they were all ones in Monmouth County. She went to ones in Aberdeen, Eatontown, Hazlet and Shrewsbury. So middle class/upper middle class. And they’re offered in Monmouth, Ocean, Somerset, Middlesex and Mercer. So essentially none of the urban Shop Rites and none in real North Jersey.
Blujfly– no surprise there.🤮🤮 But unless her stuff is lower than Shop Rite’s–or looks better– she’s going to have a real uphill battle.
Well, if this collection will be in Shop Rites in Mercer county, I’ll be interested to see if it ends up in the one on Olden Avenue which is technically in Ewing township, but for all intents and purposes would be considered the Trenton location—-which is more urban.
Saker Shoprites have even less locations than Shoprite. Neither are nation wide chains.
Now I have this image of Rudy Giulani hosting his own going away to jail party decked out in tacky Party Pieces in the parking lot of a random landscaping company, as he tries to get at least Fox News to cover it. Because let’s face it, besides novelty seekers, the audience base that will buy from this company are the MAGA white supremacy fools who stan the monarchy.
I am completely convinced that this is yet another arm of a multi pronged campaign by the royals to try to “take over America”. Will & Chuck know they are NOT well liked in the US, but they know they NEED to be liked in the US, so, through various insidious methods, are trying to endear the royals to Americans.
“Oh look thats Duchess Kate’s mom! What a wholesome family they must be!” Positive images of royals to become part of the American landscape
I think Samanthas lawsuit is another arm of the campaign, mainly because EVERYONE knows it’s un winnable and how TH is Samantha paying for it anyway?? The BM and royals are paying for it. If it’s not winnable, why sue? So Americans will start making all kinds of negative associations with Meghan. They want us to think Meghan=lawsuit, family strife, etc etc
I think Deadline and their ex daily mail twat is part of yet another arm. They want British talking points to become normal and accepted in America
^^ Yeah, sadly @Annalise, the Salty Isle bitters have never given up trying to throw dirt at M&H in the hope that something might stick, especially among Magas and ignorant haters. Thanks for pointing this out.
My question is why PP never had a partnership with a retail outlet in the UK and why start in the US?
Looking at the Party Pieces website, some of the Halloween stuff is quite cute but goodness it’s pricy! Six pounds for eight napkins? I N S A N E.
One thing you don’t see in the photos nor in the IG caption are the price of these items. How overpriced are they going to be? Also, this clearly is a -all-hands-on-deck to “conquer America” which is hilarious to me. The fact they need so many “family members” (both royal and not) to be seen/working in the US to counter “The Sussexes” says it all really.
I’ll bet when Katie was making “moves so Meghan and Harry moved to Africa” not once did she envision they’d move to Montecito which is a few hours from LA. Karma is really that girl.
I can’t believe the grandmother to the ffk is in NJ, selling her wares to the yankees. How common. And Chuck is having a slimmed down, dollar store coronation. The royal family isn’t looking too royal right now, lol.
I love this for them!
Everything about it is so, so trashy. Just imagine the headlines if this was Doria!!
I also think it’s possible that Ma Middleton just needed to dump a bunch of inventory, because Amazon has destroyed their catalog business, and thought “retail! I’ll see if Chuck will let me sell my shit at his Douchey Organics stores!” But Chuck was all “oh dear! You simply CANNOT attempt to sell this rubbish here in Britain! Oh no no no no!!!” And so Ma Middleton thought America!!! Their economy isn’t great right now but at least it’s not imploding like ours! I bet I can find some American chap to take this cheap garbage off my hands for a few quid! After all, there’s no more need to do all that money laundering for Gary, now that Katie has that Douchey money!!
The huge photos are very odd. Why would someone shopping for party stuff think, oh, there’s a late middle aged woman in jeans, that’s where the kids’ things are. In reality, you’d be looking for photos of kids with a birthday cake or something. Her blown up picture should be in the aisle selling pasta sauce or laundry liquid. It’s therefore likely the arrogant woman thinks she is so recognisable even in America that people will gravitate towards her tatty stuff just by seeing her photo. Yuck. She really did wait for the queen to go before going full on Middleton money maker. Talk about using your connections. I wonder if Kate is embarrassed? I would be.
Kkkhate hasn’t the class to feel embarrassed. This is about competing with the Sussexes in America. They are angling to “conquer America”, doncha know. Never mind that they’ve stated that they loathe Duchess Meghan for being “too American”. But they want those American $$$.
Yeah, no. They can miss me with that.
I have to wonder if this is a blatant Martha Stewart imitation.
MY God, I thought I was looking at a short-haired Kate in that first photo.
Suddenly America is cool aka, ‘we love American $$’. Harry and Meg are living in America and now everyone wants to be in America. I hate these grifters.
^^ Bingo! On target 100%!
Saker ShopRites is a large franchisee of the ShopRite corporation in Monmouth, Ocean, Middlesex and a couple of other SE NJ counties. They’re actually quite upscale and large – not just for ShopRites, built in the last 4-5 years. The ones she went to were in Middletown (accident? I think not!) and Shrewsbury which are both very wealthy areas. (Think Springsteen, Bon Jovi, and a slew of investment types.) She did not go down-market for sure.
Like people in a New Jersey Shop Rite know or even care who British aristo Carol is with her overpriced party goods. And to help them out knowing who she is – the big blown up almost life sized photos of her! Still won’t ring a bell for them. Who does she think she is? Martha Stewart?
That photo of her in the jacket. Does Carol dress like Kate or does Kate dress like Carol? They even have the same headturn/tilt.
Oops, I had not seen your comment before I posted my own. The display really does feel very Martha Stewarty. Except Martha wouldn’t wear double denim. (Or that godawful necklace she wore to QEll’s funeral.)
Discount consumer here. It’s not like Carol Middleton is Chip and Joanna Gaines. What’s up with her pic next to her pieces. No one, beyond the small niche of Royal watchers knows who she is. At least the pic is relatable in her denim laid back look. I get the merchandising, but I don’t know why she’s part of it. That’s just wasted space from a retail perspective. That should be stock image of someone actually using her pieces IMO.
Why on earth would people buy cheap Chinese manufactured crap from party pieces when it’s already easily available here? And globally? Something is really off here. I still think it’s a money laundering operation and the international expansion has something to do with that. It’s a front, it always has been. Nothing else makes sense. Their stuff isn’t high end, there’s nothing unique about it.
I can get cute party stuff at the Dollar Tree ten blocks from my house. They have really stepped up their game since everything now costs $1.25!
I shop exclusively at 3 different Shop Rites in Central Connecticut and haven’t seen any of this stuff yet.
Also…Shop Rite….probably isn’t the demographic they were hoping for. I grew up with it but…its not posh.
There are apparently two Shoprites. One, like the one by you and me (NY) in the US North East and one, Saker Shoprite located just in NJ.
TACKY.
How very Kris Jenner of her, the build a brand model
Step 1, marry up and make connections with rich people
Step 2 appoint self as manager/guru of favorite daughter
Step 3. Pimp out favorite daughter
Step 4 Appoint self as manager/guru of remaining brood
Step 5 develop marketing/PR of how wonderful, attractive and desirable the family is
Step 6 then pimp out the rest of the brood.
Step 6 carefully select marks, er I mean suitable rich men with issues, for manipulation and breeding purposes.
Step 7 keep the male offspring out of the way by repeatedly funding their terrible business ideas. She did manage find a suitable rich wife for James. Rob got Black Chyna and loads of drama but they had adorable little girl Dream (and the only grandchild with the last name of Kardashian)
Step 8 maintain visibility throughout as momager so everyone knows who’s the brain behind the scenes and a brand in your own right. Also keep them emotionally dependent on you
She skipped Step 9 though -make sure all offspring have separate lucrative businesses to help build the family empire/legacy and make sure you get a percentage. But that’s actually making them “work” and therefore a no no.
It’s kind of uncanny isn’t it?
“British heritage brand Party Pieces”
😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
Burberry is a British Heritage Brand.
Royals Royce, Ashton Marton, and Jaguar are British Heritage brands. Land Rover, Barbour, or hell, even Cadbury or Victoria Beckham are British Heritage Brands.
Party Pieces is nowhere near a British Heritage Brand.
Total turd polishing. You can sprinkle all the PP glitter on a turd but it’s still a turd.
LOL.
Wait, didn’t Party Pieces post losses last year and the year before? How can they afford an international expansion? Curious.
I was wondering if prince son in law loaned them some money.
Wouldn’t surprise me. Or that shady uncle.
ShopRite? They couldn’t even get it into a Safeway/Kroger/Albertsons or some other less-discount-y supermarket chain? Yikes.
Why not fancy-ass Wegman’s? Shop Rite is better than Publix though.
Omg I would have loved to run into Carole at that ShopRite. Also, Shop Rite is a pretty big chain around here in the NorthEast. I’m actually impressed she is doing some sort of collaboration with them, I didn’t know they even did those? Kind of surprised she couldn’t get Target though which is more commonly known for collaborations?
She’s not though. The Saker owned Shoprites are a tiny portion and don’t extend beyond New Jersey. I was bummed, I was hoping I could take a selfie with a cut out at my Shoprite here in NY.
My hometown Shoprite is among those ‘blessed’ by Carole Middleton’s wares, and I cannot wait to roll in there at 8 am on Sunday, search out the gigantic Carole Middleton picture, and take an ironic selfie to send to my CB reader BFF, who sadly does not live in Saker Shoprite land.
I really wish we could post pictures on CB!!
Maybe we should start a twitter thread!
Yes yes yes please post on twitter!!
If you post on twitter or any social media, you will be making Ma Mid’s image more recognizable. I say DON’T post anything and let her dwindle into obscurity.
“My hometown Shoprite is among those ‘blessed’ by Carole Middleton’s wares…”
And I would bet you guys have been waiting with bated breath for this honor. No? 🤣🤣🤣
Maybe she thought ShopRite was comparable in prestige to Harrod’s? Bwahaha!
I shopped in the Middletown NJ ShopRite last Sunday and came across the line. It is ok. Nothing special. Most the ShopRites near me are Saker family owned.
Maybe I have missed a few Carole photo ops/articles, but looking at that one that looks to be at the recent funeral….was her face always that wide/broad/puffy? I understand the struggle of aging (I am right there with ya Carole!) but I also recognize that at some point fillers and Botox make us look worse—and obviously different—than we ever did before. Has she always looked that round faced or is it just me?
No one in the US would know who Ma Middleton is unless Kate’s face is slapped on the ads. This looks like a cheap quick cash grab.
Is Carole going to sign autographs now
LMAO. I’m from New Jersey and I like ShopRite but it is a dinky local grocery chain. I used to see them filming commercials in the back aisles late at night when I was picking up milk or whatever. Dying at the thought that Carole is trying to spin this as a big American debut.
There are no Shop Rites at all near me. Might not have any in my state. Wouldn’t buy that sort of stuff from there anyway.
Susan, I noticed the same. Don’t know what the puffiness is.
I have no problem with Party Pieces stocking in stores, it’s a business after all. But the fact that Carole’s imagery is used all over this to promote is tells me this was entirely and endorsement for the middletons, not the business. If she wasn’t Kate’s mum would there really been a life sized cardboard cut out of Carole? No exactly, she cashing in on her royal connections.
I don’t think she would have done this years ago (otherwise she would have done it), so it’s just further proof kate and the middletons are half way out of the door.
Chantal, thank you for making my day. And maybe CarolE thought New Jersey was comparable to New York (I know I’ll get a lot of flack for this, but REALLY).
Excuse you. 🙃 If it weren’t for NJ, Law And Order’s various terrorists, murderers and serial killers would have no place to hide, secure alibis, or hide bodies. Hmpf. 🤣🤣🤣🤣
As a retail marketer I would not have used a near life size photo of her to promote the product. It looks like an ad for women’s clothing. Better to see the paper products or whatever this is styled in use. As a customer, show me how to make this crap more fun than the mermaid plates I can get at PartyCity. And as the CFO, I’d want to show customers that they need one of every mermaid product to make the party tops.
Would most American shoppers even know who she is?
Deering24, I accept what you say. Also, the Sopranos would not have killed, maimed and bludgeoned their way into America’s heart. It’s all good!
Most Americans will NOT know who she is. Pure vanity on her part thinking she’s world famous. She obviously thinks England is the whole world.
ShopRite is just a regular grocery store chain here in the Northeast, nothing exciting. But I’ll see if my local stores will have PP stuff soon. And how is PP a “British heritage brand?” lol. I think many of us have seen brands we’re not familiar with and get curious about the product. Although I commend Carole for coming up with PP’s own line, they REALLY need to work on the design because it just looks boring, unexciting and doesn’t entice me to buy the product. I’m not sure if I’ll use a gift bag with Jaws’ big face on it. Target and even Walmart have more variety and better designs.