lululemon - bad karma

[Very Veronica]

So lululemon has a new ad campaign/manifesto (red picture) which imo is total rip-off of Dr. Bronner's decades old packaging (Dr. Bronner's liquid soap is covered with inspirational phrases, blue picture.) A few months ago LL got caught in a lie about their gear having seaweed in it.

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/14/business/14seaweed.html?_r=1&ref=business&oref=slogin

Not to mention the utter hypocrisy of yoga & big biz profit.

I have no problem buying overpriced goods but they better stand for something & from what i can see, lululemon needs major work on its postures. Namaste.

 

[Small pleasures]

Better targets to fire at

There's bigger fish to fry, IMO.

Lu lu is using inspirational slogans, ripped of or not, and lying about seaweed. Yup, pure fucking EVIL. Gives me chills.

I guarantee you wouldn't have to look very far to find companies doing far worse.

Get perspective.

Choose your battles.

Disclaimer: I still adore & respect you VV, just had to speak my mind. See u tonight?

 

[Small pleasures]

Dude

We're talking about a company using inspirational slogans to sell sweats! Just take a second to think about that.

I don't disagree with the 'principle' of what you and VV are saying, I just think that you're wasting your valuable energy on an unworthy target.

Maybe because I've just returned from India/Thailand/Cambodia and New York and feel like we're so spoiled in Vancouver that we get our feathers ruffled over silly things when the rest of the world has real problems we could be helping with instead.

Disclaimer: I adore and respect you too Nina. See you tonight?

 

[d_Duck55]

We're talking about a company using inspirational slogans to sell sweats!

Sweats? On the right ass they transcend mere sweats!

 

[butthead]

American media propaganda. Americans always have a bone to pick at when a NON american company is showing success.

In response to the NY times column:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

lululemon athletica inc. Confirms VitaSea Fabric Contents and Testing Process

VANCOUVER, Canada ¬ November 15, 2007 – lululemon athletica inc. (NASDAQ: LULU; TSX: LLL) today announced that independent tests have confirmed the content of the VitaSea product line to be consistent with the garment care and content labels.

Robert Meers, CEO of lululemon, stated: “Product quality and authenticity are of the utmost importance to lululemon. Integrity goes to the core of everything we do and is at the heart of our relationship with our guests. For this reason, we test our products for content using a leading testing facility. We absolutely stand behind our products, our processes and refute any claims in recent press reports to the contrary.”

lululemon has a comprehensive product testing process and partners with SGS Group, a leading independent inspection, verification, testing and certification company. The Switzerland-based firm conducts a battery of tests before each season on all of lululemon’s fabrics across all product lines, testing for a variety of attributes including content, pilling, shrinkage, and colorfastness.

In December 2006, Smartfibre AG, the developer and innovator of SeaCell® Pure used in lululemon’s VitaSea products, conducted independent tests that confirmed the presence of vitamins, minerals, and amino acids in the fabric that was provided to lululemon’s manufacturers. To create the fiber, SeaCell®, a seaweed derivative, is combined with a cellulose material, and spun into lyocell special SeaCell® fiber. Specialized testing is required to measure SeaCell® on the lyocell fiber.

Recent tests on the VitaSea fabrics were performed in June 2007 in the SGS Laboratory in Hong Kong as well as confirmatory retesting conducted last night in the SGS Hong Kong lab. Findings from SGS confirmed that the fabric contains the lyocell fibers consistent with the care and content labels on the product. Smartfiber AG further confirmed these findings to contain lyocell special SeaCell® fiber.

Recent tests on the VitaSea fabrics were performed in June 2007 in the SGS Laboratory in Hong Kong as well as confirmatory retesting conducted last night in the SGS Hong Kong lab. Findings from SGS confirmed that the fabric contains the lyocell fibers consistent with the care and content labels on the product. Smartfiber AG further confirmed these findings to contain lyocell special SeaCell® fiber.

Gerhard Neudorfer, Sales and Marketing Director SeaCell® Fibers, said, “We pride ourselves on our quality control and oversight in all of our manufacturing processes. SeaCell® is permanently incorporated in the spun fiber we provide to lululemon and is of the highest quality. In addition, we conduct our own quality assurance procedures, including regular visits to production facilities, to ensure the manufacturer is producing products in strict compliance with our specifications as well as lululemon’s.”

Mr. Meers concluded: “Innovation and integrity are at the heart of lululemon. We pride ourselves on innovative and technical design. We are committed to continually bringing new and cutting edge products to the marketplace.”

 

[Maury Beniowski]

Just the first line on the red label demonstrates they are mere commercial lemmings.

Consuming large volumes of water on a daily basis was recently debunked and has landed on the gargantuan pile of Urban Legends...

Water Consumption Myth

 

[Yman]

Design Perspective

From a purely visual perspective, I find the type design on Lululemon's is far more interesting and pleasing to the eye to Dr. Bonner's product. And I guess the design is also dependent on context and placement. It's a bit like comparing apples and oranges-- one is designed as an ad campaign and another for packaging. Hard to compare.

 

[Sit_on_my_face]

Just the first line on the red label demonstrates they are mere commercial lemmings.

Consuming large volumes of water on a daily basis was recently debunked and has landed on the gargantuan pile of Urban Legends...

Water Consumption Myth

It is a myth. Water in terms of nothing being added ( IE . preservatives, sugar etc ) is the most natural liquid we can drink. Pure fresh water CANNOT do your body harm like other drinks in the long term such as POP or other drinks with preservatives added.

I recently viewed an Doctor being interviewed and I have read other Doctors stating the same answer that there is no evidence that shows that your body needs 8 glasses of water a day.

I know people who rarely drink water but drink other Liquids ( coffee, tea, energy drink etc) and they're fine. The fact is your body breaks down and absorbs any liquid and doesn't know any better. Alot of this is Psychological .

One the guaranteed about pure fresh water is that it has no calories and is free of added preservatives! Thats it. When I workout I drink alot of water because it's refreshing but I don't do it for the 8 glass theory.

There is many many debates as to what is good for us and what isn't.

Marketing is a powerful thing and society puts they're trust in that. A majority of them do anyway.

IMO cigarettes, alchol and drugs are an exception.

 

[littlejimbigher]

I recently viewed an Doctor being interviewed and I have read other Doctors stating the same answer that there is no evidence that shows that your body needs 8 glasses of water a day.
.

You can actually die from drinking too much water at once But I guess you can die from doing too much of almost anything.
Including pooning if you SO catches you. LOL

 

[blondgirl]

Lu Lulemon used to make great products and they were well worth the money....Sometime in the last year they were sold to Reebox and now their clothes are shit.Complete waste of money.........Completely corporate now and really they do not stand for anything......

 

[Very Veronica]

Plagiarizing the marketing of a company which is the holy grail of corporate responsibility (Dr. Bronner's) by the oxymoronic yoga 'industry' is a big stinky fish & lulu was homegrown so i hold it to a higher standard. I'm not going to lose any sleep over this one but this forum allows me to reach a whole lot of people with a small investment of time. Corporations rule the world & i think its incumbent on us all to make better consumer choices which in turn decides what kind of world we & those who don't have a choice live in. I'm gonna shut up now & let Dr. Bronner's son take it from here:

(click on any of the videos) http://www.drbronner.com/ralphs_corner/ralph_bronners_stories_and_clips.html

ps. Do you own lulu stock? And yes, i will be at the party..we'll discuss this some more! And you guys thought we talked about you!

There's bigger fish to fry, IMO.

Lu lu is using inspirational slogans, ripped of or not, and lying about seaweed. Yup, pure fucking EVIL. Gives me chills.

I guarantee you wouldn't have to look very far to find companies doing far worse.

Get perspective.

Choose your battles.

Disclaimer: I still adore & respect you VV, just had to speak my mind. See u tonight?

 

[edmontonsubbie]

Corporations rule the world & i think its incumbent on us all to make better consumer choices which in turn decides what kind of world we & those who don't have a choice live in.

I am and have been an avowed fan of capitalism and I think that's to my detriment. Capitalism, by definition, responds to the perceived "needs" of the consumer. How else to make money????....and, really, if I am investing in a corporation, I expect my investment to return.

So....how to marry capitalism (excellent way to control markets) and....socialism???....(excellent way to do the "right thing")....

I doubt there is a perfect solution. The world would be "heaven" if there was one. Never doubt the ability and tendency to "copy" the best idea out there. It only makes sense and will yield the highest return....having said that, nobody has come up with the perfect solution. Some would argue Castro?...some might say the U.S.?...some might say Norway...India....and on and on and on it goes....I just never doubt that the people involved in forming/running those countries didn't nor do fail to try to do the "right thing". I firmly believe that people, regardless of circumstance, try to do the "right thing". Of course, they fail....

I am old now and have simple truths....I love simple things...I care far less about what I used to care about....I have passion still....what is life without passion?....I have amazing children and an amazing life...my children are a bonus and are amazing due to the efforts of their mother...my amazing life is a given and it is exactly what I take of it. Sometimes I think life is not so amazing but those times are brief....the advantage of age.

eddie.

 

[peacemaker88]

Just curious....

I am wondering what the ladies and gentlemen feel in general about the high end luxury clothing and apparel (i.e. Louis Vuitton)? Do you think the goods that you get are good value for money because of the quality and craftsmanship or are we just buying into the marketing?

http://money.cnn.com/2007/08/30/magazines/fortune/mass_vs_class.fortune/index.htm

I read something recently that there are very few high end luxury fashion houses that still have not gone mass market, maintained small but exclusive production and still use old-school craftsmanship.

 

[jordan_]

I am wondering what the ladies and gentlemen feel in general about the high end luxury clothing and apparel (i.e. Louis Vuitton)? Do you think the goods that you get are good value for money because of the quality and craftsmanship or are we just buying into the marketing?

http://money.cnn.com/2007/08/30/magazines/fortune/mass_vs_class.fortune/index.htm

I read something recently that there are very few high end luxury fashion houses that still have not gone mass market, maintained small but exclusive production and still use old-school craftsmanship.

I think it really depends on what you are buying
Do I think a $3,000 purse is worth it? No, I don't. No way in hell. Haha
But a $500-$1000 purse
yes, I think that can be... if you use it. not buy it, then use it once or twice, just to have it because of the label. That's silly.
I don't think wallets are ever worth it from those big names because they are usually 300-500 and its so small and gets kinda trashed anyway, At least mine do.

 

[oppai]

I'm sorry but give me a break. Lulu Lemon, and WestBeach before it has done a terrific job in promoting a certain style/lifestyle. Whether for profit (well, obviously for profit) but I'd say they've had great business sense and done very well and have very good products. I've never worn clothes as comfortable and worth Lulu lemons stuff. I wear it all the time for working out and find it a far better value than Nike or any other workout/yoga gear.

As far as us being sheep, we have a choice, we have access to an immense amount of information. If you or anyone is a sheep it is simply because they are too lazy or ignorant to think for themselves. I hate how everyone blames capitalism or big business when they have the choice to boycott, or buy from more socially responsible vendors. Blame is such a waste of time DO SOMETHING instead.

 

[H.Miller]

Plagiarizing the marketing of a company which is the holy grail of corporate responsibility (Dr. Bronner's) by the oxymoronic yoga 'industry' is a big stinky fish & lulu was homegrown so i hold it to a higher standard.
ps. Do you own lulu stock?

Some poor unlucky folks do hold the stock--$60 to $30 last fall, ouch. Homegrown disaster. Interestingly enough, and coincidentally as well, I have a buddy who lives across the street from the pres. of lulu in Pt. Grey. Last Nov., just after the stock tanked, I was visiting ---- THREE large paper shredding trucks pulled up, and a procession of fellows, arms laden with cardboard boxes then made their way out of the house.

A lot of shredding went on there that day.

 

[Osiris]

Prioritize

The earlier posts had it right. Pick something worth fighting for. This has to be about 1,999th on the list.

 

[H.Miller]

The earlier posts had it right. Pick something worth fighting for. This has to be about 1,999th on the list.

So I guess you don't own any stock, or care about the people who do? Nor do you care about corporate malfeasance? I dunno, these seem like worthy topics, IMHO, considering the company is a Vancouver story.

 

[Big Dog Striker]

Its unfortunate to see the price of Lululemon shares drop in the market as in shares of hundreds of companies in Wallstreet or the TSX. But isn't the market facing challenging times as well. I think its unfair to make an Enron or Worldcom out of LuLu. The IPO price of LuLu was $ 21.00 in 2006. The company's balance sheet remains strong and bottomline has greatly improved. Once the market recovers, then investors and fund managers will surely patronized companies that are performing well and shares would move up again.

Lulu wasn't acquired by Reebok but they did install Reebok's ex-CEO to run the company. This CEO will in turn retire this June and a new lady CEO from Starbucks will take over. Expect Lulu pricing to be more competitive and customer service to improve much further. Lulu is still a Vancouver success story and proudly Canadian owned not like Future Shop, Molson, or Canadian Tire. Plus, it continues to gain great stride south of the border.

The originality of the company's recent inspiration ad campaign might have been questionable but what was Lulu trying to do - inspire people. It should be taken into consideration that most ad campaigns are also proposed by the ad agency to their client.

Lulu is not perfect, it makes mistakes and blunders like any other company but it is not Enron or Worldcom.

Shouldn't we be proud that an idea of a guy in Kitsilano put Vancouver in the map. That's something worth inspiring for.

 

[leelee]

Imagery is borrowed all the time...

Veronica:

Perhaps Lulu Lemon is guilty of borrowing imagery from Dr. Bronner's, but aren't you guilty of the same offense?

Your eros pictures look remarkably similar to past Agent Provocateur ad campaigns; therefore, how original are you?