Lululemon Tries New Store Concepts in Effort to Woo Shoppers
Lululemon Athletica is saying, “namaste” with a new in-store initiative, inviting consumers to linger as well as shop. The Vancouver-based seller of yoga apparel will open its largest flagship to date in Manhattan’s Flatiron District neighborhood on Wednesday. Roughly one-third of the 11,500-square-foot shop will be dedicated to a new concept called Hub Seventeen, a community gathering place where shoppers can take yoga workshops, view art or films and attend concerts. The store will also boast a concierge service to help shoppers book nearby gym classes or other city events.
According to Carolyn Manning, U.S. director of brand and community at Lululemon, the new features are another example of the brand’s grassroots approach to marketing to consumers. “Our local teams seek out and partner with leaders in the community to create experiences that excite and inspire our guests,” she said.
While Hub Seventeen is unique to the Flatiron store, a spokeswoman noted that the concierge service is in the testing phase and could be rolled out to other locations.
