LuLa Rich

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

Just watching it it seems like their biggest issue was when they got too big and only saw $$$$$$

It didn't seem like their quality was bad when she was just doing maxi skirts or the leggings when they first started or the shirts either. But greed seems to have gotten the better of them.

MLM's are however always a risky thing to get into. While legal there's an ethical issue to many of them in modern times. I can see how they met the definition of a pyramid scheme their business model was altered to skew that way.

The owners seem very egotistical and give off creepy vibes. They also seem like they had zero idea of what their business plan would actually be and just was going with stuff on the fly haphazardly and recklessly. And they had a blame game answer for every issue brought up.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

It was interesting and how they showed the family as villains (which yes absolutely) but they portrayed the “whistleblowers” some who had roped in tons of “consultants” under them as victims when they too earned big money scamming other women…

Many, many people were perpetrators here- not just the weirdo family.

Eh I don't blame the people under them the same way. MLMs are a defined legal business model, whether people like it or not. If you watch the limited series the top earners and the early designers were under the old business model when it was less about getting more and more money and the quality of the merchandise was a lot better. Watching it you can see a point where the quality and designs went bad is when it soured quick and for many of those people they were already in too deep at that point. You'd have to understand the situation many of them got put into. They aren't necessarily perps just because they benefited from someone beneath them, that's how MLMs work, it doesn't mean those who have people below them are scamming people intentionally or believe they are part of a pyramid scheme (when it crosses over into that definition). How many celebs have unfortunately got caught up in these messes ya know?

I do think the people working in the behind the scenes at the office had background knowledge but I think it tends to run along the lines as a lot of people who are concerned about what to do if you know your company you work for is engaging in bad business practices. The leaving of the product outside is improper storage and some office employees knew it but we don't necessarily know if they advised of the issue and were told to ignore it. The designers yes that was bad, you can't just take another person's work and that should be a separate issue. However if your head bosses don't care about this infraction and in fact encourage it in order to meet a goal they are culpable.

A lot of the perception around MLMs are how the company is run. Ultimately they are the ones with the most accountability.

 

[mousefan73]

I have a question about various MLM stuff. What was a red flag for me was how the order/distribution worked for lularoe. You could order the article type/size but not the design. You ordered a bulk set and sold with mark-up as you owned the product then. But isnt tupperware /Avon different. I never sold any of this stuff but you ordered from a catalog and the seller ordered and that was it.. limited risk on being stuff with inventory?? right?? I have FB friends that sell all this powder, shake stuff. I ignore it, but assume you order based on demand.. Same with Pampered chef?? Curious if LuLuroe was different than most sell from home models in the fact you got stuck with inventory you couldnt choose.

 

[mousefan73]

Just watching it it seems like their biggest issue was when they got too big and only saw $$$$$$

It didn't seem like their quality was bad when she was just doing maxi skirts or the leggings when they first started or the shirts either. But greed seems to have gotten the better of them.

MLM's are however always a risky thing to get into. While legal there's an ethical issue to many of them in modern times. I can see how they met the definition of a pyramid scheme their business model was altered to skew that way.

The owners seem very egotistical and give off creepy vibes. They also seem like they had zero idea of what their business plan would actually be and just was going with stuff on the fly haphazardly and recklessly. And they had a blame game answer for every issue brought up.

the bold! They have zero sense.. So many red flags,, not have a CRM database ( BASIC!!!) and using google docs,, their design process, inventory /distr. storage a disaster.. They made billions!! and it seems invested in nothing.. Seems like a family run business with kids involved that were clueless. They were very good in getting a cult started... that's about it.

 

[DisneyHardin]

I watched it over the weekend and thought it was really interesting. I was cracking up at the clips from the deposition where they just kept saying "I don't recall" when they asked them the hard questions.

I had a good friend that sold Lularoe and she made really good money - from actually selling clothes because she only had one or two people under her.

 

[AustinTink]

Before covid every festival, fair, flea market, and celebration that had vendors selling things usually had 2 or 3 LuLaRoe women there. Usually with the most hideous looking leggings for sale.

That's the part about this whole thing that astounded me. Those leggings (and all the other clothes) were so awful!! How on earth did it become so popular?

I had only vaguely heard about Lularoe and obviously never owned any of the clothing, so this documentary was super interesting to me. The level of craziness in the company from the top down was off the charts

 

[dez1978]

That's the part about this whole thing that astounded me. Those leggings (and all the other clothes) were so awful!! How on earth did it become so popular?

I had only vaguely heard about Lularoe and obviously never owned any of the clothing, so this documentary was super interesting to me. The level of craziness in the company from the top down was off the charts

I have (or had) several items that I got 6-7 years ago and the prints weren't bad then. They weren't always ALL hideous. When they started doing Disney prints, some of those were really cute, but quickly got to be awful. I had a few tops that were just solid colors too. Then the quality really started going downhill and I stopped buying it.

 

[footballmouse]

Never heard of this show, I think I'll have to watch it.

 

[mousefan73]

Never heard of this show, I think I'll have to watch it.

You have to watch it. I totally binged it in 2 sittings and I didn’t even really know the brand. Look out for how different they are between the deposition interview and the documentary interview and the highlights are an employee of them called Daryl and a black employee and her comments and cruising. So meme worthy.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

You have to watch it. I totally binged it in 2 sittings and I didn’t even really know the brand. Look out for how different they are between the deposition interview and the documentary interview and the highlights are an employee of them called Daryl and a black employee and her comments and cruising. So meme worthy.

I started watching it got 15 mins in and my husband joined me and then decided he was intrigued (having never heard of of them before though I had) and we binged the whole thing in one sitting I'm a sucker for documentaries though.

 

[AndreaDM]

I'll admit, I bought a few pair of leggings because they felt so soft. But, they all ripped by the 2nd or 3rd wear. I was told to contact the consultant who sold them for a replacement but of course that never happened. I despise MLMs of any kind, but a coworker had some and talked me into buying some. I'll have to watch this.

 

[MamaMermaid]

I had a few pairs of leggings and really want to watch! I'm not a fan of MLMs and am completely fascinated by all the hubbub.

 

[sarahann77]

I watched over the weekend. Most MLMs do all of the predatory tactics they were showing. Other MLMs that push inventory just aren't in the high numbers that Lularoe is aka Mary Kay was pushing 600 - 2000 startup inventory but were just as happy with the minimum quarterly wholesale order as well - 200.

The largest differences I saw with Lularoe was the huge startup push, design copying, the warehouse issues, and their taking away the buy back. I do wonder if Mary Kay had the large orders that size if their recruiting bonuses would end up being similar.

My mom had bought me a few pieces. They're nice but when I went to the pop up I didn't buy anything myself as the designs weren't what I'd consider or not in the size I needed.

 

[AuntieMe3]

I watched yesterday and wow....the owners really are something else. I wonder how they felt after watching. I liked when they showed parts of their deposition after they said something contradictory. The wife even seemed a little uncomfortable when the husband gave some of his answers...wow.

I had a couple friends and my niece who sold so I did buy some stuff from them way, back when. It definitely seemed cult-ish to me even back them how everyone was so obsessed at the time. And when they were talking about the weight loss surgery I was like WOAH....one person I knew who was selling had it done back then but I don't know if she had it done in Mexico like those other ladies....wow. My niece didn't last long as a seller so I don't think she made much or was out much when she quit. One friend got out when they had the buy back and the others ending up losing out and just ended up donating the rest of their inventory when they couldn't sell it. It's wild to me that there are still people choosing to be involved with all the trouble the company has been involved in.

 

[tarheelmjfan]

I have a relative that makes $120,000 a year at her day job. She also sells Lularoe & seriously considered quitting her job to sell it fulltime. She decided not to, when her DH couldn't find a job that had good insurance. I have no idea how much she makes selling it, but she obviously does very well. Apparently, there are a lot of people who love those clothes. It's not my thing, but to each their own.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

And when they were talking about the weight loss surgery I was like WOAH....one person I knew who was selling had it done back then but I don't know if she had it done in Mexico like those other ladies....wow.

I found that part of the series so off-putting and her talks about the role of the wife and mother.

I'm not against weight loss surgery at all not in the least but feel very much it should be a decision you make because it's what you want and it's for you. The way she kept bringing it up it was very critical and cringe worthy to me.

I also didn't understand her viewpoint on it being for the family and that was very important to her. These sellers were working to the bone where they weren't seeing their family. So how does that work?

 

[serenitynow]

I had never heard of LuLaRoe until a few months ago, when 6 huge, contractor sized, black, plastic bags stuffed full of clothes were left by the door of our local women’s shelter. All the clothes were new with tags, some still in plastic bags. The tags and bags said LuLaRoe.

At the time it seemed very strange, but since I watch LuLuRich on Amazon Prime, now I understand. Wild stuff, but thanks to whatever poor victim of LuLuRoe who donated the clothing to the shelter. At least something good came out of the experience

 

[colleen.jeanne88]

I binge watched it. I had quite a few friends who were decently high up in the ranks that all quit around the same time.

 

[emer95]

A few years ago many of the teachers I work with became enamored with LuLaRo. I could not get past the hideous prints. Huge kitten faces or skeleton heads on leggings? That stretch at your most unflattering body parts?
I’m glad I never got caught up in that. I’m finding the documentary to be fascinating. I hope it puts a spotlight on MLMs as a whole. People are still out there shilling like mad.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

I hope it puts a spotlight on MLMs as a whole. People are still out there shilling like mad.

The downside to FB is it's become a haven for MLMs. They seem to just go in phases of what you see. I remember when 31 bags were all the rage and I still actually see them at the one or two trade shows that I usually go to in a year (although covid disrupted that) but their desire seems to have waned some.

Then there's Scentsy also a lot on both FB and the trades shows.

A friend of ours does a wine one.

Then a couple years back my best friend was really into this spice, herb, oil one (it was like a healthy/allergy one). Luckily she didn't go through with becoming a consultant but she did host a party and her sister who is a consultant hosted several. Sure that spice, herb, oil one (I'm blanking on what it's called) did have the merchandise and I found the quality good but the products were outrageous in pricing and about 60-65% of the party the host spent time talking about becoming a consultant and how you could really help your family out income-wise and all.

Then another friend of mine approached me about a nail one (that was a new one for me) via a FB watch party though I've always declined those (and actually the wine one too). I went to the spice, oil, herb one for support for my friend.

I don't think MLMs will go away any time soon. Some people can make a good amount of money, some are only doing it for hobby money anyhow. Not all are crazy full of money hungry people either and not all are awful in terms of the ratio of product sold to consultant recruiting or bad types of goods sold. People certainly seem to like Scentsy a lot. The big danger with MLMs is the promise they tend to sell potential consultants, if their business model relies too heavily on recruiting and not really caring about the product any longer and yes if they are severely taking advantage of people below them.