Meet Shannon, our amazing St. Louis Showroom Manager!

What is your role at lululemon?

Community Creator (a.k.a St. Louis Showroom Manager)

What is the difference between a showroom and a store?

A showroom is a "cozier" version of a lululemon store; small and intimate, and more boutique-like... it’s like stopping by a friend's home to catch up and see what’s new. We operate just like a retail store in terms of offering tons of great product, but we spend as much time out in the community as we do in the showroom, so our hours are a little funny as we are not open every day and may close early for private events and trunk shows. We do our own painting and arranging. Some may call it "kitschy", but I prefer "homey", perhaps even "endearing". The showroom atmosphere engenders such a personal guest experience that ultimately creates authentic relationships. It's so amazing!

How did you come to lululemon?

I received my first pair of Groove pantsa few years ago and fell in love with the product. After completing my Masters in Spanish Literature and realizing the academic route was not for me, I began researching companies and met MK Letchworth who came to St. Louis to open the showroom here – her energy was INCREDIBLE and her enthusiasm for lululemon, contagious. It was an instant connection; we had so much in common! I applied online for positions in New York, was contacted by lululemon and ended up finding the best fit and opportunity right here in St. Louis with the fabulous MK (now lululemon masonville assistant manager!).

Tell us about your community:

St. Louis is friendly, loyal and authentic. It is a cosmopolitan city with world-class restaurants, museums, sports teams - but all coupled with a quaint, small-town feel. In terms of health and fitness, this is a running and fitness community where yoga is really taking off!

Inside the St. Louis Showroom!

What is a typical Wednesday like for you?

No typical day really – but in general I rise early, take a cardio class or go for a run, eat breakfast, participate in a conference call, grab a coffee and head to the showroom where I hang out with friends and make new ones talking about the latest and greatest lululemon gear, fave yoga class, new restaurants, goal setting, etc., and receive new product! After work I will drop in on a yoga class (or as of November in St. Louis, run with the lululemon run club!) make dinner and spend time with family and friends.

How do you usually sweat once a day?

I love to run, spin, practice yoga and take crazy cardio classes with some of the amazing instructors we have in St. Louis.

Why do you have the best job in the world?

Because I enable people to live longer, healthier and more fun lives by being a hub of health and fitness knowledge in my community. We offer complimentary yoga and fitness classes and educate the community on super high performance gear for however they choose to sweat!

No two days are ever the same. I wear stretchy pants to work and get paid to work out and have authentic conversations with people about health, fitness and living a GREAT life. My company is constantly challenging me to create a life of possibility and never settle for mediocrity, providing me with the developmental tools and support to make that happen! And, seriously, our manifesto includes such words of wisdom like "Dance, sing, floss and travel"and has monthly challenges that include dancing the running man once a day!

What piece of advice do you have for future showroom managers?

Be yourself and have fun. Sounds simple, but you are hired into this incredible company because you are incredible, so just keep doing that thing you do. And, well, if you are not having fun every single day, then you are doing something wrong. Get out there and connect in your community - love, laugh, sweat and breath deeply every day! Honestly, just read the manifesto, it’s all there!

What makes your showroom unique?

Simple - our community makes us unique: from the educators to the guests, to the ambassadors and R&D team, to our fantastic Central West End neighborhood. There is no showroom like it!

What's your Big Hairy Audacious Goal!?

My BHAG is to bring lululemon into Spanish speaking countries, uniting my passion for the Spanish language and culture and sheer enthusiasm and desire to continue to spread the lululemon love… en español!

See the amazing opportunities at lululemon with the new showrooms opening up!

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.

Above: Meet Suzanne! She is our Online Community Manager Carolyn's mum and one of our biggest fans! Suzanne is from the small town of Oliver, BC, which is home to the World's Largest Cherry Pie!

Here on the lululemon web team, many of us are from small towns. We're from places with claims to fame such as the World's Largest Cherry Pie and the Salmon Capital of the World.

For October's monthly photo challenge, we want to meet your tiny towns! Show us your landmarks, your monuments, the roads you run and bike on, your town's yoga studio, or where you have your morning coffee. We can’t wait to see what you come up with!

You can either upload your photo our monthly challenge photo pool on flickr or send it to onlinecommunity@lululemon.com and we'll add it for you (we won't publish your email address). If you'd like, add a sentence or two about your small town so we can share your town and why you love it with the world.