Retail dragon questions Portas’ credentials
03 February 2012 11:24
It has been reported that retail entrepreneur and co-star of BBC's Dragons' Den Theo Paphitis has called into question whether fellow retail celebrity Mary Portas has the right credentials to save Britain's high streets.
The self-styled 'Queen of Shops' was called in to help develop more prosperous and diverse high streets by the coalition government in May of last year and released her report containing 28 recommendations in December. At the time of commissioning the review Prime Minister David Cameron said that he was "confident that her straight-talking, no-nonsense approach will help us to create vibrant and diverse town centres and bring back the bustle to our high streets".
However, according to TheBusinessDesk.com, Mr Paphitis in a stinging rebuke said that he wouldn't be taking advice from "a window dresser" who has "never run a shop". Long-time retailer Paphitis, who recently launched lingerie chain Boux Avenue and currently chairs Ryman Stationery, is reported to have said that the Government would have been better off asking someone like WH Smiths' boss Kate Swann to lead the high street review.
He said: "If anyone knows about the pressures on the high street she does, and I would listen to what she had to say, rather than a window dresser who has never run a shop anyway."
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