As I wrote earlier this evening, there are some corporate changes over at Lululemon HQ. Chip Wilson is stepping down as chairman, and Laurent Potdevin is taking Christine Day's position as the new CEO. Here is is official introduction.
Welcome Laurent Potdevin!
Post a Comment
Remember this stupid Libertarian ad campaign that Lululemon thought would be cute with its radically anti social message? Right on the heels of the Occupy Wall Street movement. Well, they are at it again using the US Furlough situation for their Product Alert emails in the US. 'How Furlough Can You Go?' they ask. I wonder who they are asking? Their customers? The ones that may currently not have an income, let alone extra spending money to use at Lululemon? The customers that provide them with a comfortable profit? This is not the same as Furlough Freebie ad campaigns that some US companies are publishing, this sends a completely different message. American readers, what are your reactions to Lululemon's latest politically motivated ad?
 |
| Lululemon 'Who Is John Galt' |
An article out today on CNN Money, Lululemon: In An Uncomfortable Postion, is a fascinating read about the dynamics of Chip Wilson and Christine Day over the past year.
As a brand follower and fan, a lot of the tension from the executive team was really noticeable, especially after Sheree Waterson was terminated/left (which I feel was a mistake) and then subsequently Christine Day stepping down as CEO. The results of this dysfunctional dynamic has been several class action law suites alleging fraud with the handling of shares and disappointed and embarrassed customers at being the butt of sheer luon jokes.
I do feel that in the past month, Lululemon is slowly finding its way back to the designs that really captured my attention. As much as the Billionaire CEO Chip Wilson has made me cringe at times (Ayn Rand and his libertarian beliefs, Landmark, and his many 'interesting' quotes) for sure he is an equally charismatic and eccentric billionaire, he is the creative energy behind Lululemon. I am always interested to see what kind of genius that creative, half reckless megalomaniac will create next because you know he has it in him to produce something the scale of Lululemon again. Christine Day on the other hand, to me has always been the antitheses of that creative Lululemon energy. Its true that lululemon needed that structural organization. Unfortunately she was not able to do that without simultaneously stagnating the brand and resorting to cheap tricks of watering down designs and relying on sub par materials.
As a brand follower and fan, a lot of the tension from the executive team was really noticeable, especially after Sheree Waterson was terminated/left (which I feel was a mistake) and then subsequently Christine Day stepping down as CEO. The results of this dysfunctional dynamic has been several class action law suites alleging fraud with the handling of shares and disappointed and embarrassed customers at being the butt of sheer luon jokes.
I do feel that in the past month, Lululemon is slowly finding its way back to the designs that really captured my attention. As much as the Billionaire CEO Chip Wilson has made me cringe at times (Ayn Rand and his libertarian beliefs, Landmark, and his many 'interesting' quotes) for sure he is an equally charismatic and eccentric billionaire, he is the creative energy behind Lululemon. I am always interested to see what kind of genius that creative, half reckless megalomaniac will create next because you know he has it in him to produce something the scale of Lululemon again. Christine Day on the other hand, to me has always been the antitheses of that creative Lululemon energy. Its true that lululemon needed that structural organization. Unfortunately she was not able to do that without simultaneously stagnating the brand and resorting to cheap tricks of watering down designs and relying on sub par materials.
 |
| Incognito Billionaire. |
Oh boy! Chip Wilson's neighbors wont be to pleased too read this. Perhaps this will further delay the construction of the concrete palace amidst the old wealthy tudor style homes in his neighborhood. Chip Wilson's home has been under construction for a few years now. Wilson was Tuesday's biggest percentage loser amongst the billionaires Forbes tracks.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)