So this year my seawheeze writeup is from the perspective of someone NOT running, that did NOT lineup overnight for the showcase store and just wandered in sometime around noon to see what product was left after all the runners had made their purchases, and to see what the lineup was like. If you’d like to see what product was available at the Seawheeze 2017 Showcase store, click the link to see the preview.
As I said, I wandered in to downtown at noon today with both of my kids and came in with low expectations of being able to find anything at all, or that my kids would be patient enough to wait in a line with me. I had been watching online the past few days and sadly the showcase store lineup started at 8am on Wednesday morning, a full 48 hours before it opened. The much hyped and anticipated reflective items where so limited that Lululemon only made 600 pieces of them, and had a 3 item limit per shopper. That is 200 items available (no guarantee of your sizing) for 10,000 runners, plus the public shoppers. Not surprisingly the items where gone in 25 minutes (mostly to aggressive resellers and angels) and even if you had waited in line since Wednesday morning you probably missed out.
I put the blame of that squarely on Lululemon. They knew these would be hot sellers, and they made them in seriously limited quantity. Had they made 5000 pieces of these, they still would have sold out. If they’d make this design for the general uploads, they would sell out. Lululemon has the ability and creativity to make these fun and exciting designs that we’ve all been begging for, but they withhold them in favour of the drab monochrome items we’ve been seeing all year.
As you can see in this first picture here, Lululemon had a display of the reflective items where people had to lineup to get their limit of three items. Lululemon also did not allow the hoarding of piles on the floor this year so you had to sort your items quickly and give back what you didn’t want. This was a great proactive move by Lululemon and I’m hearing that the volunteers and eds where so on top of redistributing clothing. There where still pile hoarders but Lululemon handled them as best they could. The overall shopping limit was 10 items per person, but resellers chose to spin that as 10 items per check-out.
Enough of that though. I would have been remise not to report everything I could about this event, including the negative, but now I want to focus on the great stuff I found, because there was a lot. I was really curious to experience the showcase store as someone who would not have lined up, or had very specific shopping list items so I’m really glad I did it this way this year, and got to bring my girls with me.
I was really surprised that by the time I got to the store there was a 5 minute lineup to get in, and plenty of ‘good’ product available that you could at least find one treasured item. I found plenty, and I put stuff back at the now empty display which was being used as a trade in station. I first saw the Tofino Shell Gather Me Lightly Jacket in a size up for me, and it was the only one so I grabbed it. 20 minutes later I was able to swap it for my correct size. The black/white printed version of the jacket where plentiful and although it was not my first pick between the two, I ended up liking that one the best.
These are the items I ended up purchasing. I really shouldn’t have purchased two jackets, but I couldn’t choose in store and thought I’d decide at home. I really like them both though so I think I’m going to keep them. The Swiftly was also a maybe since it’s sort of plain, but I LOVE the color on. Such a pretty sky blue.
The wildcard for me in this pile are the Speed Tights. I didn’t love this print at first but most of the eds working were wearing these and they where so pretty on, very flattering and nicely contrasted. I decided to stalk around for them and it took some work of loitering by the fitting rooms before I found my size. I didn’t try them on until I got home and when I did I fell absolutely in love with them. These are my favourite purchase.
After this my kids where done with the showcase store so I quickly checked out (5 minute lineup) and headed outside. This was my kids favourite part! They loved the entertainment, especially the racoons on stilts. They also where given bubble wands by an awesome Ed, and my kids blew bubbles for as long as they wanted. Then we wandered the stands and the kids got to pick out some fruit and check out more of the fun entertainers. We where at the showcase area for an hour and a half tops, start to finish and I’m really happy with the hole experience. I’d definitely like to run next year as I’ve done most of the previous years but this just wasn’t a good year for me to sign up. We are in the middle of real estate stuff which has taken up our entire summer and I know I would not have been able to spend this entire weekend enjoying seawheeze festivities. It was great being able to take an afternoon away though and distract myself a bit.
If you are running tomorrow, have a fantastic run!! Soak up every second of it because it is a truly amazing experience. Start hydrating tonight, especially if you where in that crazy lineup. Hydrate with electrolites, eat well, rest!
