Warning - Slightly Biased Review (that goes both ways)
So my one of my bestie's Leah is the Assistant Manager - there, I've done my duty. I stopped in today to say hi to her and I noticed a few things that I really liked about the location.
There's free parking in the back. For an urban retail store. Thank you. That is always what stops me from going downtown, even with Calgary's Spot the Lot $2 parking on like what, Sunday nights?
There were fresh flowers on the counter - sure they're a chain store but at least they do what they can to make it their own!
A little quieter - I know for a fact that the 4th Street Store does less business than the mall stores, der. But I like the quiet, the lack of 13 year olds pushing me out of the way to get to the halter tops. And also - one can only assume that they have more stock than other stores because it's not as heavily picked over.
Cons: WARNING this is with lululemon in general...
About 5 or 6 years ago, they began outsourcing their production to somewhere in Eastern Asia. Sure fine, everyone's doing it. But their cost savings is not reflected in their price point. lululemon's manifesto statement is "The lululemon manifesto is our "truth check" and inspiration." Well - making a killing off those 13 year old girls who push me around isn't all that truthful, non? Paying $13 and charging $110 is tough to swallow so how about truth checking yourselves, perhaps?
I was in Victoria when lululemon first got going - and I didn't mind paying $100 for pants made in Vancouver. Now, I sometimes fantasize about picketing their stores on Boxing Day.