Topic: How To Invest

Pat: What is your opinion on Lululemon? My wife loves their clothes and it seems to be picking up interest in the U.S. Best regards.

Article Excerpt

lululemon athletica Inc., $95.16, symbol LLL on Toronto (Shares outstanding: 71.9 million; Market cap: $6.8 billion; www.lululemon.com), is a Vancouver-based designer and seller of yoga-inspired athletic wear and accessories. lululemon first sold shares to the public at $18 each, and began trading on Toronto in July 2007. The shares also trade in the U.S. on the Nasdaq market under the symbol LULU. Dennis “Chip” Wilson founded lululemon in 1998, after noticing that more women were taking up yoga and other physical activities. Wilson had 20 years of experience making surf and snowboard clothing. He believed that the all-cotton fabrics then used for yoga were inappropriate. When Wilson opened the first lululemon store in the Kitsilano Beach area of Vancouver in 2000, he positioned its staff not just as salespeople, but as “lifestyle” educators. Wilson invited yoga, Pilates, fitness and dance instructors to join lululemon’s “R&D team,” and give feedback on its apparel, in return for a 15% discount. He also recruited…