This is a guest post by Monica, part of the lululemon Strategic Sales team!

Did you know lululemon is in many small towns where stores don't yet exist? That is part of the work that we do in our Strategic Sales department.

We love small towns! We work with athletically driven businesses like yoga and pilates studios, fitness centres and spas; many of which are in smaller hubs away from big cities. We supply these pre-approved locations with our goods for small town folks to wear while they sweat.

If you are unable to make it to one of our stores, you might be in luck! You never know if a yoga studio or fitness-inspired location near you may carry our gear.

See if there is a Strategic Sales partner in your small town or learn more about the Strategic Sales program.
Monica from Strategic Sales introduces us to her favourite small town!

Where did you grow up?

Grande Prairie, Alberta! It is wild rose country and home of the Trumpeter Swan.

What is the thing you miss the most about your small town?

While the lights of the big city skyline can take your breath away, nothing can quite compare to the Northern Lights.

How far is your town from a city

Grande Prairie is located 460 kilometers (286 miles) northwest of Edmonton, Alberta.

How does your small town sweat?

Well, my favourite thing to do growing up was ride my bike through the trails at Muskoseepi park. The trails went from one end of the city to the other.

What is something that you can only do in your small town, and not in a city?

Grande Prairie is host to many annual hot air balloon races. It was so amazing as a kid to go down to the park and watch the balloons being set up and make their way up to the sky. The city would be covered in hot air balloons. A sight to see!

Last but not least, a big shout out to our newest partner in my own hometown – Love Life Hot Yoga in Grande Prairie, Alberta.

As we talked about the small town experience in our meeting we realized two things: a) complimentary shipping is a great way to thank guests of ours in faraway towns who have to take road trips to get their lululemon fix, and b) many of our web team members are actually from small towns!

For the shipping details of online orders between Oct. 15 and Nov. 15, please visit this page http://shop.lululemon.com/help.html#shipping

And to learn more about some of the people behind lululemon.com and why we're loving small towns so much this month, keep on reading!

Alexandria, Online Product Specialist: Coldlake, Alberta

Alexandria pointing out (roughly) where Coldlake is.

Where did you grow up?

I grew up in Coldlake, AB, and the city slogan is "Strength in Unity."

What's your favourite thing about Coldlake?

It had a bunch of lakes for swimming in the summer and great snow for snowmobiling in the winter.

How far is your town from a city?

356Km from Edmonton, AB.

How does your small town sweat?

I was too young for most of the sports there at the time but my dad would suit me up and take me snowmobiling with him all the time. It is my favorite memory.

What is something that you can only do in your small town, and not in a city?

SNOWMOBILING!

Nate, Art Director: Huntsville, Ontario

Where did you grow up?

Huntsville Ontario (was where Shania Twain learned to sing and perform).

What's your favourite thing about Huntsville?

Everybody knows everybody.

How far is your town from a city?

1 hour.

How does your small town sweat?

Hockey, beer league slow pitch.

What is something that you can only do in your small town, and not in a city?

Hmmm, you can ride into town on a snowmobile and no one will think it's odd.

Alana, Online Content Specialist: Campbell River BC

Where did you grow up?

Campbell River, the Salmon Capital of the World!

What's your favourite thing about your small town?

The fresh air, the pier, my parents, and stormy days when the trees almost snap in half and the ocean gets all crazy.

How far is your town from a city?

About two hours (to Nanaimo), and fiveish to Vancouver including ferry time.

How does your town sweat?

Campbell River is on the ocean and very close to mountains, so you can do lots of outdoor activities like hiking, skiing/snowboarding, kayaking, and mountain biking. Other activities: walking to Tim Hortons and, when I was growing up, tap dancing (little known fact about me: I am a very good tapper)!

What is something that you can only do in your small town, and not in a city?

You can swim with salmon! Also, you can hike Ripple Rock - site of the world's largest non-nuclear explosion!

Carolyn, Online Community Manager: Oliver BC

Carolyn showing us where Oliver is... approximately. [Editor's note: it is about a millimetre above her finger!]

Where did you grow up?

Oliver, BC - Wine Capital of Canada, and home to the World's Largest Cherry Pie!

What's your favourite thing about Oliver?

The slushes from Eastside Grocery of course, and the spectacular natural beauty. The juxtaposition between the dry desert and the lush vineyards take my breath away every time I come home.

How far is your town from a city?

Penticton is the closest city to us and it's about a 45 minute drive.

How does your small town sweat?

Oliver is a desert, and surely one of the hottest places in Canada - so we sweat just living there! We also love to golf, to ski in the winter, to ice skate, and to swim / canoe / windsurf / sail! It's an active place, and even though it's a small town I'm sure you'd find almost every activity available.

What is something that you can only do in your small town, and not in a city?

Drive along Black Sage Road. This is most beautiful drive and to me it rivals the jaw dropping beauty of the Pacific Coast Highway.

What's another little-known fact about Oliver?

Apparently the Ogogopo, the Okanagan's version of the Loch Ness monster, was born in our very own Tuc-el-Nuit lake!

Sheena, Ecommerce Operations Coordinator: Oromocto and Fredericton, New Brunswick

What's your favourite thing about your small town?

It's always safe to cross the street

How far is your town from a city?

Oromocto is about a 30 minute drive.

How does your small town sweat?

It's a hockey town.

What is something that you can only do in your small town, and not in a city?

Get your picture taken next to the Big Potato.

small town love

So, small towns everywhere - we've been thinking about you! If you feel inspired to tell us more about your own small town, send us a photo for October's monthly challenge. Details are here: http://www.lululemon.com/community/challenge