How I do it....
I opened the first LuLu's in April 2005. What a long exciting, nail biting journey it has been. I left a successful technology career after thirteen years because I always new I was destined for something a little more exciting and something where I could use the knowledge that I had gained up until that point to do something for myself. I was tired of making other people successful, it was time to do it on my own. My definition of success is doing something I love, doing it well, trying my best to do good business and in turn it will allow me to support myself and my two young daughters.
Sometimes I do forget that each week I am honored with having new people come into our little shopping sanctuary. Some find us on Facebook, other people just wander in and some come because they saw an article or work with a LuLu obsessed fashionable friend.
I just wanted to take a few minutes to give everyone a crash course in LuLu. The number one question that I get asked each weekend is " Do you go to New York and get all of your stuff ? " and my answer is mostly No, I do go to New York, I have been there twice in the 7 years LuLu has been around. The truth is, most of the prices that you see in our shop is what is typically considered Wholesale to the Public. Here is a perfect example..
On Ebag right now the are selling the Red Lotus Bag from Mad Bags for 41.60
We are currently selling the same bag at LuLu's for 15.99 !!!
And that's not even a Sale Price. It is our everyday LuLu price.
So here is what is really happening at LuLu's and why we are a Three Time Winner of Philly's Hottest Accessories.
I work directly with vendors both stateside and overseas to buy their odds and ends. I always find the easiest explanation as saying, LuLu's is like a little teeny tiny TJ Maxx . I go in after the big buyers from companies like Chico's, Macy's and Express and claim my goods. At LuLu's I can stock just one of a particular item where as bigger retailers needs a large stock. Their pass overs are truly my treasures and because the manufactures want to close out their lots I can buy things for pennies on the dollar. The more pennies I have to spend, the more buying power I have, the more goodies for all, so please be a friend of LuLu and share the LuLu love, online, in person anyway you can !
Another great example of how I do what I do is my legendary Jewelry Boyfriend - he buys back things from stores like Target, Anthro,Ann Taylor and QVC.Items that don't sell , items that are customer returns that are in New with Tag condition and overstocks. He usually sells them in large lots to store like Tuesday Morning and other off price retailers but for some reason he and I have a great working relationship and he lets me come to his glorious warehouse and pick thru to find my treasures. That is why you will see Express Headband swith 16.99 price tags on our Dollar Wall. We have Jewelry Boyfriend to thank for that.
The only downside to how we do it is that most items we only have once. You truly need to buy it when you see it because of the way we buy we are not a traditional store that stocks our shelves deep of one style week after week. It also makes it tough for meto sell online because it takes a good chunk of time to get each item online and buy the time I do that, the piece is usually gone.
I always have some old fashion connections, magazine stylists, sales reps, business brokers that contact me to buy the contents from photo shoots, stores going out of business or sales reps samples. Those are usually my most coveted pieces. The ones that really have a super amount of sizzle.
It's truly a " you snooze you lose" experience that has made people line up at our doors on Friday mornings, that is when we are the most stocked, that is when we are usually at our FRESHEST.
And just one more thing, my name isn't LuLu - although I will gladly answer to it, LuLu is really my Chihuahua - but who really wants to shop at a place called " Jill's " Thank you for supporting me, loving LuLu's like you do and being a kindered accessory obsessed soul mates that keep my life so colorful and have let me stay at Booths Corner this long, if not for you, I would have to get a real job !!!
xoxo,
Jill aka LuLu
One Last Great Example from Overstock.com
Gevena Platinum Women's Rhinestone-accented Silicone Watch
I love this stuff !!!!
Sometimes I do forget that each week I am honored with having new people come into our little shopping sanctuary. Some find us on Facebook, other people just wander in and some come because they saw an article or work with a LuLu obsessed fashionable friend.
I just wanted to take a few minutes to give everyone a crash course in LuLu. The number one question that I get asked each weekend is " Do you go to New York and get all of your stuff ? " and my answer is mostly No, I do go to New York, I have been there twice in the 7 years LuLu has been around. The truth is, most of the prices that you see in our shop is what is typically considered Wholesale to the Public. Here is a perfect example..
On Ebag right now the are selling the Red Lotus Bag from Mad Bags for 41.60
Mad Style Red Lotus
Available Colors at $41.60
We are currently selling the same bag at LuLu's for 15.99 !!!
And that's not even a Sale Price. It is our everyday LuLu price.
So here is what is really happening at LuLu's and why we are a Three Time Winner of Philly's Hottest Accessories.
I work directly with vendors both stateside and overseas to buy their odds and ends. I always find the easiest explanation as saying, LuLu's is like a little teeny tiny TJ Maxx . I go in after the big buyers from companies like Chico's, Macy's and Express and claim my goods. At LuLu's I can stock just one of a particular item where as bigger retailers needs a large stock. Their pass overs are truly my treasures and because the manufactures want to close out their lots I can buy things for pennies on the dollar. The more pennies I have to spend, the more buying power I have, the more goodies for all, so please be a friend of LuLu and share the LuLu love, online, in person anyway you can !
Another great example of how I do what I do is my legendary Jewelry Boyfriend - he buys back things from stores like Target, Anthro,Ann Taylor and QVC.Items that don't sell , items that are customer returns that are in New with Tag condition and overstocks. He usually sells them in large lots to store like Tuesday Morning and other off price retailers but for some reason he and I have a great working relationship and he lets me come to his glorious warehouse and pick thru to find my treasures. That is why you will see Express Headband swith 16.99 price tags on our Dollar Wall. We have Jewelry Boyfriend to thank for that.
The only downside to how we do it is that most items we only have once. You truly need to buy it when you see it because of the way we buy we are not a traditional store that stocks our shelves deep of one style week after week. It also makes it tough for meto sell online because it takes a good chunk of time to get each item online and buy the time I do that, the piece is usually gone.
I always have some old fashion connections, magazine stylists, sales reps, business brokers that contact me to buy the contents from photo shoots, stores going out of business or sales reps samples. Those are usually my most coveted pieces. The ones that really have a super amount of sizzle.
It's truly a " you snooze you lose" experience that has made people line up at our doors on Friday mornings, that is when we are the most stocked, that is when we are usually at our FRESHEST.
And just one more thing, my name isn't LuLu - although I will gladly answer to it, LuLu is really my Chihuahua - but who really wants to shop at a place called " Jill's " Thank you for supporting me, loving LuLu's like you do and being a kindered accessory obsessed soul mates that keep my life so colorful and have let me stay at Booths Corner this long, if not for you, I would have to get a real job !!!
xoxo,
Jill aka LuLu
One Last Great Example from Overstock.com
Gevena Platinum Women's Rhinestone-accented Silicone Watch
Today
$29.99
Always Just $ 10.00 at LuLu's
I love this stuff !!!!
Great article,Lulu's is one in a million treasure just like you Jill!
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Love LuLu's
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