Lululemon is recalling nearly 320,000 women’s tops from the U.S. and Canadian markets, and there are rightfully concerns about Lulu’s second Lemon product within a few years and the negative PR of the two incidents. Just when Lululemon looked like they had put the see-through yoga pants behind them, now they are getting smacked in the face with hazardous drawstrings. And, of course, that means not only are they dealing with the current fallout but the ghosts of yoga pants past hover only a breath away once again.
The good news is that they are addressing the problem. These tops in a variety of styles and colors have all been fitted with a drawstring at the neck to pull the hood or collar tight. The problem is that at each end of the drawstring is a heavy metal or plastic clasp that makes it easy to thread through the casing and keeps the cord from fraying. But the metal/plastic clasps are at the perfect length to come swinging upward when pulled and released to smack them in the face causing injuries.
Lululemon has had seven reported injuries from the tops that were all manufactured and sold between January 2008 and December 2014. However, there have been no lawsuits filed, and Lululemon’s spokesperson says none of the injuries were serious. The company has made a wise decision in removing the products and should consider additional possibilities of reversing the negative PR. The faster they turn this situation around, the better will be their forward momentum.
If you happen to have one of these tops, stop wearing it or remove the drawstring. You can also contact Lululemon on their website to request a non-hazardous drawstring and instructions on how to put it in place. You can also check their website for a full list of the 20 styles of tops with this problem.
But one thing is certain Lululemon needs to create better guidelines when developing new products so their sales in the future will not generate another marketing fiasco. Three strikes is not what any company wants to face. And it is a good lesson for all companies that manufacture products, look for possible problems or hazardous impact attachments before releasing your product to the public.
Juda Engelmayer's Blog 