Looking to score a great deal on lululemon clothes but aren’t willing to brave the cold or the crowds for the upcoming annual Warehouse Sale? Well, if you are lucky enough to live in Vancouver (the birthplace of lululemon) there is a Factory Outlet that is open 7 days a week, year round, to supply all your penny pinching needs.
Located at the corner of East 3rd Avenue and McLean Drive (just off of Clark Drive) the Factory Outlet is a hidden gem in East Vancouver. The outlet is very non-descript, and if you didn’t know it was there you would have a hard time finding it. The building has an avocado green exterior and there are red staircases gracing the sides. The outlet itself is marked by a small laminated sign and a sandwich board. This building also houses the Canadian factory and used to serve as the lululemon head office. The head office is now split between this building and one in an old coffin factory up the street.
Inside the outlet you’ll find an ever changing selection of goods - most about 30%, but from time to time there are some incredible deals. The other day I snagged a tennis dress for under $10. Most items have small defects - like a logo that is in a slightly different place, or an extra seam on a shirt. All defects are clearly marked, and without the marking sticker most would be very hard to detect. Old merchandise also shows up - such as tanks from two or three seasons ago, or groove pants that you haven’t seen on the store shelves in years!
I find that Saturday is often the best day to visit the outlet store, as keeners come in early on Friday and pick over the items.
Additionally, if you bring in an old lululemon product or mat that you are ready to retire, they will give you a small discount off your next purchase. This encourages people to recycle their old clothes, rather than to throw them out. Hemming, like at lululemon stores, is free here as well.
Hours of operation: Callthe call the GEC at 1-877-263-9300 to get updated hours. During the holiday they often offer extended hours.
With the price of gas where it is, and me being extremely lazy, I find it easier to shop online for lululemon clothing. I’ll usually hit the main lululemon site and figure out what I want, then head over to a site like lululemon outlet and buy it there. They’ve got the latest lululemon styles at outlet store prices!