Lululemon Athletica inc. (LULU) News: Grand Opening, Expensive Clothing & More

Editor’s Note: Related tickers: Lululemon Athletica inc. (NASDAQ:LULU)

Claim: Lululemon Doesn’t Like Plus-Size Shoppers (InvestorPlace)
Yoga apparel company Lululemon Athletica inc. (NASDAQ:LULU) is being accused by former employees and consumer advocates of snubbing overweight people by only marketing to those who are in shape. The Huffington Post reports that Lululemon Athletica inc. (NASDAQ:LULU) makes its most popular and modern styles in smaller sizes and hangs them at the front of the store. Elizabeth Licorish, a former Philadelphia employee, said the larger sizes of the store’s yoga pants are usually hidden somewhere in the back, and their designs were out of date compared to the smaller sizes. Since Lululemon Athletica inc. (NASDAQ:LULU) doesn’t sell pants in sizes larger than 12, many overweight people who check out the store quickly realize that they can’t shop there.

Lululemon makes Mississippi debut (ClariOnLedger)
There’s been A LOT of chatter in the active community about Lululemon Athletica inc. (NASDAQ:LULU) opening its first ever location in Mississippi. Here are a few photos from this morning’s grand opening and complimentary yoga class led by Scotta Brady of Butterfly Yoga in Jackson. The Lululemon Athletica inc. (NASDAQ:LULU) Fondren Showroom, located in the former Fischer Galleries space on Duling Avenue, will be open until 8 p.m. today for Fondren After 5. Learn more about Lululemon Athletica inc. (NASDAQ:LULU) and its fitness mission in this Saturday’s C-L.

Former Lululemon Athletica Employee Says Store Kept Plus-Sized Clothing In Back (OpposingViews)
A former Lululemon Athletica inc. (NASDAQ:LULU) employee is claiming that the upscale athletic clothes store discriminates against plus-sized women by making larger-sized clothing less accessible to customers. The former employee, Elizabeth Licorish, said she worked at a Lululemon Athletica inc. (NASDAQ:LULU) store in Philadelphia for four months, when she noticed store managers were keeping larger sized yoga pants in the back of the store and restocking larger pants less frequently than they did those for skinny people, according to the Huffington Post. The Lululemon Athletica inc. (NASDAQ:LULU) brand is known to sell expensive clothing, with its yoga pants costing about $100.

LULULEMON TO OPEN JUST-FOR-MEN STORES (PhillyMag)
In more Lululemon Athletica inc. (NASDAQ:LULU) news (when it rains, it pours, right?), word on the street is that Lulu is aiming to open stores for just for dudes by 2016. Or, as Bloomberg.com puts it, “Lululemon Athletica inc. (NASDAQ:LULU), having won over millions of women with its high-priced yoga gear, wants to keep growth going by chasing men.” Although Lulu says sales of its men’s clothing do okay, the hope is that by separating them from the women’s lines entirely will entice more guys to get their Luon on. No word yet on where these stores will pop up, but do I have a name suggestion: LululeMEN. Ha ha! I kill myself.