Tuesday, July 8, 2014

Shopaholic's Confession



It's true.  I LOVE to shop.  But even more than that....I love to find inexpensive alternatives to pricier items.  I feel an overwhelming sense of victory when that happens...like I just got away with something.  It was getting pretty bad, until I came up with a way to feed my addiction and get paid for it.

Case in point....Lululemon.  I love their clothes and their designs, but I simply can not afford to indulge in their clothing on a consistent basis.  So I look to the more discounted stores to find alternatives that look, feel and behave like Lululemon.  Some companies just outright copy Lululemon and sell for a 1/4 of Lulu's price.  I feel like a I've won the lottery every time that happens!

I am a yoga teacher and student, married mom of two and I have to help make ends meet, so I decided to see what would happen if I took my treasures to Ebay.  There have to be other women out there who love Lululemon, too, but can't justify the price, right?  As I suspected, I was right.  Just like me, other women don't want to drain their bank account on Lululemon when they can find alternative brands on Ebay that sell for a quarter or half of Lulu's price....and the designs are nearly identical or they are a combination of different Lulu designs rolled into one piece.

I have been really fortunate lately(can't say the same for my credit card) to have found several designs in store that mimic Lulu's designs and I have made them available in my Ebay shop.  Yes, I may charge more than some sellers, but here's what my customer's get when they buy from me:

1. My honest review of the product from both the perspective of a teacher and a student.  I won't sell anything I wouldn't wear myself or would gasp at if I saw on a student in class.  As a result, my yoga clothing collection is extensive!  Since I use the products for myself, they have been "field tested".  If they meet my standards, they are sold in my shop.  I absolutely will not sell anything that doesn't meet with my quality standards.  As such, the yoga pants I sell can NOT be see through!!!!  And more often than not, the clothing I sell looks a lot like Lululemon.  If I can provide a "Compare" photo I will, so you can see for yourself how similar the products are.

2. Quick, courteous communication if a question needs answering or more info is needed.

3. Fast and affordable shipping costs within the U.S.!!!  I ship worldwide as well, but cost varies with destination and I try to keep that as low as possible.

4. My guarantee that my customers will be happy with their purchase, but if not, returns are welcome with a prompt refund within 14 days.

5. My cost can also be considered a finder's fee....or if you wish, a personal shopper's fee.  I'm happy to do the leg work, so long as my customers understand that shopping for them is my "job".  Just like any job, I have to get paid for my time.

Like I said, I need to help make ends meet, too, and sadly simply teaching yoga doesn't cut it.  I have found this way to bring great designs to other women who want the Lululemon look, but without the crazy financial burden.  And like I said, my prices may be a little higher than other sellers, but at most, you end up spending half of what Lululemon charges for their clothing.  Not bad.

Here are some of the designs I carry in my shop that could easily pass for Lululemon!

Nimbus Stripe Sports Bra

Flow Freely Tank

Studio Pants

CYB Tank

Energy Bra


I am always on the hunt for great yoga clothing and athletic apparel....and if it looks like Lululemon and the quality is good, you can bet I will be carrying it in my shop.  Other sellers are pretty indiscriminate about what they sell.  I've field tested some of the clothing other sellers have on Ebay and I know which pants are see through, so I place them in my "Items To BEWARE Of" collection on my home page.  It's worth checking out if there is a cute item in question or you can simply contact me and see if I have any intel on a particular product.  However, if it's not a brand I typically carry, I may not have much in the way of information.

Looking forward to sharing my treasures on this blog and keeping readers abreast of which products rock and which ones suck, so you can make informed decision about how you want to spend your money.  You don't have to spend a fortune to look like a million bucks!  Let me help you with that.

Kristen

Visit my shop and take a look around: Awesome Yoga Gear

#LuluLooks4Less #LuluOnABudget #CloseEnough


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