Notable Career Milestones
Before the age of 30, Portas became a member of the board at Harvey Nichols.
In 1997 Portas left Harvey Nichols to launch her consultancy business, Yellowdoor. When asked in a Radio Times interview why she left Harvey Nichols, Portas is quoted to have said "I wanted to create my own world. I wanted freedom."
Mary's first television appearance was a a guest on Richard & Judy in 2005, where she was spotted by television producer Patricia Llewellyn who would go on to sign Portas to production company Optomen Television.
Portas began writing her weekly 'Shop!' column for the Telegraph Magazine in 2005, in which she reviews a different retailer every week.
The column is said to have inspired Mary's first television series, Mary Queen of Shops, which aired on BBC2 on 31 May 2007.
On 19 June 2009, in a ceremony at Galashiels, Heriot-Watt University awarded Portas a Doctorate of Letters in recognition of her career and her contribution to the advancement of marketing and brand communications within the retail sector.
In December 2009, Portas opened her first permanent 'Living & Giving Shop' in support of charity Save the Children. She was also named as the charity's Global Retail Ambassador.
In 2011, Portas moved from BBC to Channel 4. Her first series for the channel was Mary Portas: Secret Shopper which aired in January 2011.
In August 2011, Portas opened her own shop, called "Mary & House of Fraser" within UK department store House of Fraser's Oxford Street flagship. The store stocks her first fashion collection, called 'Mary Portas', as well as other product collaborations including a footwear collection with Clarks - "Mary & Clarks", and a hoisery collection with Charnos - "Mary & Charnos". Portas also launched a new product innovation, 'Armery', which is a hoisery-type garment for the arms. The product is designed to "banish bingo wings".
In the December 2011 issue of fashion industry journal Drapers, Mary was named as the 6th most influential person in fashion.
On 13 December 2011, Mary published The Portas Review, an independent report into the future of Britain's high streets. She was appointed in May 2011 by British Prime Minister, David Cameron. The report sets out 28 key recommendations to rescue Britain's high streets.
Read more about this topic: Mary Portas
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