All posts by : themporium editors

Lululemon debuted just two decades ago with a single pair of yoga pants. Now the athleisure behemoth is a bona fide lifestyle brand with an envy-provoking retail strategy, opening stores and launching new product lines at a frenzied clip.

The Vancouver, Canada-based global activewear empire, which first attracted a cult following for its $100 yoga leggings, said sales rose 20% for the first quarter of the year and that it expects to double its revenue over the next five years. Under its new chief executive, Calvin McDonald, Lululemon is growing its global footprint, planning nearly 30 new locations this year in Asia, the Middle East and elsewhere.

Meanwhile, the multibillion-dollar luxury apparel company is expanding its product offerings far beyond its core yoga clothes and into categories such as travel, work and self-care.

The efforts are helping Lululemon buck the global trend that sees brick-and-mortar retail losing share to online sales. At the end of 2018, the apparel giant’s stores accounted for nearly two-thirds of its sales, proving that Lululemon is more than a status symbol: It’s a retail strategy for the modern age.

Obsession with Product Innovation

From anti-odor technology to fabric from food byproducts, innovative products fuel Lululemon’s growth. At the company’s Whitespace lab inside its Vancouver headquarters, scientists test how people experience their environment—including temperature, humidity and sound—and how their bodies interact with fabrics when performing different activities. The company also developed its odor-wicking Silverescent fabric technology at Whitespace and is exploring incorporating byproducts from pea processing into its fabrics.

Customers may try the lab’s “Signature Movement Experience” treadmill, which maps their unique movement patterns as they run. The data collected is fed through an algorithm that determines the best products for customers based on how their bodies move. The brand hopes to put more of these treadmills in its stores to help sales associates customize product recommendations.

Price Point Perseverance

Even as competitors engage in markdowns and discounts, Lululemon’s success shows that luxury customers are happy to pay full price for $100 yoga pants or a $78 sports bra.

Executives say the high price points keep the brand aspirational while generating profits to innovate and grow. “You have to make the choice as a brand to fund discounting, or you can make the choice as a brand to invest in innovation and invest in experiences,” McDonald said earlier this year.

Category Expansion

After attracting a widespread following among women, Lululemon is turning its attention to a new market: men turning to yoga and mindfulness. The company is expanding its menswear line, using the same “anti-ball crushing” technology from its top-selling ABC jogger pants to make lightweight, anti-odor tanks and T-shirts in its stretchy, sweat-wicking proprietary fabric. This spring, it debuted its first men’s fashion label with designer Robert Geller.

In June, Lululemon found a way to solve post-workout hygiene issues and tap the skyrocketing beauty market: The retailer rolled out a line of gender-neutral self-care products to address exercise-related skin and hair problems. The Lululemon “Selfcare” line, which comprises a facial moisturizer, a dry shampoo, a lip balm, and two spray-on deodorants, is sold online and in about 50 stores. More products will follow later this year.

New Store Strategy

While Nike, Adidas, and other competitors seek to bring their business online, Lululemon continues to open brick-and-mortar stores. Its retail strategy calls for 25 to 30 new locations this year in fast-growing markets such as China and the Middle East.

In addition to its web sales, the company distributes its clothing and products across its 455 stores. Bucking the trend that sees retailers shuttering shops and migrating to the web, Lululemon plans to grow its square footage annually by a low double-digit percentage rate through 2023.

The Sweat Life

The athleisure giant has developed a sweeping lifestyle brand under its three-pronged philosophy, “The Sweat Life.” The three elements—sweat, grow, and connect—seek to help customers reach their fitness goals, develop themselves through mindfulness, and connect to the larger community. The Sweat Life vision provides Lululemon with a natural foundation to extend its reach beyond apparel and into other categories such as work, travel, and self-care.

By branding itself at the intersection of fitness and wellness, Lululemon can attract loyal customers and repeat foot traffic to its new experiential stores, such as the aforementioned new mega-flagship in Chicago. The site boasts space for yoga, meditation, and communal gatherings, as well as a juice bar and café. Executives expect these mega-stores to comprise nearly 10% of Lululemon’s total store mix by 2023.

The Big Picture

Even retailers without Lululemon’s cult following, in-house innovation lab, or robust real estate portfolio can learn from the global activewear giant’s triumph. Lululemon’s success in providing innovative products at luxury prices signals a bright spot amid softening sales for the apparel industry.

The company’s strong financial performance shows that a strong brick-and-mortar retail strategy can prevail even in a challenging retail landscape that has competitors focusing on markdowns and online sales. Its five-year vision calls for quadrupling its international sales in hot spots like China while doubling overall revenue from its men’s and digital businesses. With its new mega-store format, Lululemon is well-positioned to cater to a trend that sees shoppers moving away from a pure consumption to a more experiential economy.

Notice Something You Love In The Next Person You See.

Tell Them, If It Gets Weird, BLAME US

— Lululemon

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So, you’ve seen Shein.com ads all over the internet, and thought they were too good to be true…right? They have so many envy worth items, dupes from designer brands, and trendy pieces, for affordable prices. When I first saw Shein, I thought “there’s no way this isn’t a scam”.

But, being as willing as I always am to try out a sketchy site (lol) for the sake of cute, affordable clothes, I placed an order. I crossed my fingers that everything would be okay, and paid with Paypal to protect from any potential fraud. And alas, the clothes came in. My verdict? I loved them!.

Now, while I was excited about the purchase, I could definitely understand some of the bad reviews I read online prior to purchasing. Some of the sizing was a bit off, some material wasn’t what I expected, and I could see the potential for irritation. Once I learned that all of the info I needed in order to shop smarter was available on Shein, my orders have been virtually perfect ever since. Even though it takes a bit more time, I truly believe Shein is worth giving a try since it’s so budget-friendly and affordable. Let’s talk about what I love Shein for, and what I don’t think the brand is as good for.

WHAT SHEIN IS GOOD FOR:

• budget-friendly style
• trendy pieces you don’t want to invest a lot of $$ into
• designer dupes aka look-alikes
• small accessories like hairpieces, bags, and jewelry
• statement pieces

WHAT SHEIN ISN’T GOOD FOR:

• timeless pieces that will last for years
• pieces you can put everyday wear and tear on and expect them to hold up
• standard American sizing

 Top 5 Tips For Successful Shopping On Shein

1) CHECK THE SIZING MEASUREMENTS

This is VERY important. In my experience, clothes from Shein run small. While this isn’t true across the board, 90% of the time I have found this to be the case. This is why checking the sizing is important. When you hover over a certain size on the page of the item you’re interested in, measurements come up. In this case, I’m not saying you have to measure yourself every time, I would just check measurements you’re familiar with. For example, if I know a Medium is regularly a 28-inch waist and I see that on Shein, a Medium is a 25-inch waist, I know to size up.

2) READ THE REVIEWS

One of the best things about Shein is that they allow their customers to provide reviews. This is great since it provides real, candid thoughts from people who already own the item you’re looking to purchase. Often times, reviewers leave photos of what the item looks like on, and provide sizing info for others looking to buy. I can’t tell you how many times reading the reviews have made or broken a sale for me. Sometimes seeing a piece on someone else is so helpful and makes you want to purchase, and other times if I see too many negative reviews I’ll move on from that item.

3) BUY THE SHIPPING INSURANCE

When you go to check out at Shein.com, there is an option to add on shipping insurance for $2.99. This allows you to return items for free, no questions asked. This always makes me feel a lot better when I make a big order of 10 or so pieces. I love knowing that even if half don’t suit me, I can send them back quick and easily for a full refund. Shipping info can be found: here.

4) READ THE DESCRIPTION OF THE ITEM

There are 3 important things to look for here. The Fit Type, Details, and Fabric.

• Fit Type: Shows if the item is slim, regular, or oversized.
• Details: Provides info on the construction of the item.
• Fabric: Tells the material of the item. This is really helpful when determining if something is going to stretch or not. If something has stretch, I will sometimes stick with my normal size, but if no stretch is provided, I size up.

5) LOOK FOR PROMO CODES

As if Shein isn’t already cheap enough, there are almost always promo codes floating around! I often find them on Retail Me Not and by simply doing a google search for “Shein promo codes”. I also use the app Honey, which automatically applies every promo code to your cart and determines if they are applicable.

& THAT’S A WRAP!

Those are the top 5 tips I use each and every time when shopping on Shein.com. I hope these tips are helpful for you guys when ordering, and feel free to let me know if you have any further questions! I would also love it if any of you have ordered from Shein if you could share your experience in the comments! I think it helps us all to have a little perspective from others.

HAPPY SHOPPING LOVES.

While cycling is a great low-impact activity, it’s also extremely repetitive and can often lead to limited range of motion.

To combat tightness and pain, it’s important for cyclists to maintain a consistent stretching routine that focuses on the muscle groups that contract concentrically (shorten) during pedaling and can limit the mobility of your joints.

1. DOWNWARD-FACING DOG

What it helps: Since power is generated from the core and lower back during cycling, these areas can become fatigued and tight. This stretch releases tension along the entire spine and opens the hips while stretching the calf and hamstring muscles.

How: Begin on your hands and knees. Raise your hips up by straightening legs, keeping your hands on the ground and slightly in front of your shoulders. Contract the quadriceps, and push your hips back. Concentrate on pushing your heels toward the ground and keeping your spine as straight as possible.

Reps: Hold for 20–30 seconds, and repeat 3 times.

2. DOORWAY STRETCH

What it helps: Because you never reach full leg extension during the pedaling motion, the hamstrings are in constant contraction. Hamstring flexibility and lower back pain often result. To counteract these common complaints, work on hamstring flexibility — particularly within 10–15 minutes of your ride.

How: Lie in a doorway with one leg flat on the ground. Place the other leg straight up on the frame of the door. Scoot your butt as close to the door frame as you can tolerate. Keep your back and hips flat on the ground.

Reps: Hold for 20–30 seconds, and repeat 3–4 times.

3. SEATED GLUTE/PIRIFORMIS STRETCH

What it helps: The glutes are your workhorses during cycling. You rely on your glutes to generate power during hard efforts like hill repeats. If these muscles become fatigued or tight, it could lead to lower back pain. This stretch will target the glutes and piriformis muscles, which attach to the backside of your pelvis.

How: Sit in a chair and cross one leg, with your ankle resting on the opposite knee. Keeping your back as straight as possible, bend forward at the hips so your shoulders fall toward the shin of the crossed leg.

Reps: Hold for 20–30 seconds, and repeat 3–4 times with each leg.

4. UPPER TRAP STRETCH

What it helps: Because of the bent-over position common in road cycling, the upper trapezius can become fatigued from the constant contraction needed to hold up the head. This stretch will help to loosen the muscles, which run from the base of the skull along the back of the neck to the upper shoulders.

The stretch: Sit in a chair with your head in a neutral position, and place your left hand behind your left hip. Place your right hand on the left side of your head, and apply gentle downward pressure, bringing your right ear toward your right shoulder. If you want to isolate the stretch higher in the neck, slightly rotate your chin toward your right shoulder.

Reps: Hold for 10–15 seconds, and repeat 3–4 times on each side.

5. REVOLVED BELLY POSE

How it helps: Lower back stiffness and pain are common complaints among cyclists, particularly after long or hard efforts. This stretch will help you relieve those symptoms by releasing tension in the lumbar spine.

The stretch: Start on your back with the knees bent. Stretch your arms straight out by your sides. Bring your knees into your chest, then lower them slowly to the right side. If you cannot lower your knees all the way to the floor, place a pillow on the floor, and allow your knees to rest there. Repeat on the opposite side. As you feel your lower back begin to loosen, you can increase the stretch by extending your lower legs so that your feet reach toward your outstretched hand after you’ve lowered your knees.

Reps: Hold for 20–30 seconds, and repeat 3–4 times on each side.

6. LUNGE AND REACH

What it helps: Another core muscle, the iliopsoas, can become tight from aggressive riding styles and the upstroke during the pedaling motion. This stretch will help to relieve tension on the front side of your hips.

How: Lunge your left leg, and put your right knee on the ground. Keep your back straight, and lift your right arm straight up in the air, reaching for the ceiling. Twist your torso away from the knee you’re kneeling on. Repeat with the opposite leg and arm.

Reps: Hold for 20–30 seconds, and repeat 3–4 times with each leg.