17 Pros and Cons of Becoming a Lularoe Consultant

LuLaRoe is a company which sells apparel with a purpose. It was created to help others find their own path to success, providing the freedom to build a business at your own pace while pursuing fashion and independence. Every purchase that someone makes from this company goes to help an independent fashion retailer, their family and their community.

This clothing brand that sells through the classic multi-level marketing setup where consultants can purchase items to sell directly, encourage online orders, and work with their customers in a variety of other ways. The brand first started to sell products in 2012, quickly gaining popularity thanks to its variety of leggings, yoga pants, and similar products. Now the organization has 45 styles of clothing, with more being added to the inventory frequently.

What sets LuLaRoe apart from its competitors is the variety of prints that are available on their clothing and leggings. Each one comes in a limited number of 2,500, which is then split up between the various sizes, styles, and options. That means your clothing options will look unique, creating a hard-to-find category for shoppers to consider since supplies are specifically limited.

If you’re thinking about becoming a consultant, then these are the pros and cons to consider before joining LuLaRoe.

List of the Pros of Becoming a LuLaRoe Consultant

1. You get to choose your inventory when joining LuLaRoe.

When you decide that joining LuLaRoe is the best decision for your entrepreneurship activities, then you have the opportunity to select you inventory. You will get to pick from a fantastic collection of skirts, dresses, tops, leggings, and much more. Each one features the stunning, limited edition prints that makes this such a fun opportunity to be a part of as a consultant. Then you can refresh your inventory with new styles as they launch throughout the year based on what you believe will sell in your community.

2. Every box that you receive from LuLaRoe offers something unique and different.

Because of the limited variety of colors and patterns that you receive with this multi-level marketing opportunity, LuLaRoe provide you with a box of excitement that always has something different and unique to offer. The company produces prints and patterns that are always working with the current trends in fashion for the time, giving you a unique selling point because each product is in a limited quantity.

That also means every independent retailer and consultant across the United States offers a unique set of inventory from which to choose so that no two entrepreneurs are selling the exact same thing simultaneously.

3. You can start selling as soon as you receive your inventory.

LuLaRoe allows you to start selling as a consultant as soon as you receive your inventory. You can sell it through Bless, which is the point-of-sale system for the MLM company, set up an in-person pop-up boutique to run our own sales, get active on Facebook Live, or start your own e-commerce platform. Since you get to be the boss, it becomes possible to create an entrepreneurial activity that works around your lifestyle instead of forcing you to adjust your schedule just to earn a living.

The profits that you can receive from each sale are competitive with other MLM entrepreneurial options that are available in the United States today. When you purchase wholesale inventory and sell it to your customers at the suggested retail price, then the average amount you make from each transaction can be up to 60%.

4. You will receive specific benefits as a LuLuRoe consultant.

When you become a consultant with LuLaRoe, then you have the opportunity to purchase inventory at wholesale rates. Even if you decide to keep some of the items for yourself, there is no need for you to pay retail prices for what you want. You will also receive a 5% discount on all orders, extending the sales opportunities even further for this entrepreneurial effort. You won’t be paying a shipping charge unless you want something expedited either.

Then there is the fact that there is no real competition among the consultants and retailers with this brand. Even if your neighbor sells it too, there is no reason for you to go up against each other.

5. There really is something for everyone when you choose to represent this brand.

LuLaRoe is a brand where the product really does sell itself. There is something for everyone, including kids and men, so no one feels excluded when you start talking about the various patterns and colors which are currently available. Whether you need to get dressed up to have an elegant dinner or do you have a relaxing afternoon at the beach waiting for you, your role as an independent consultant will help your customers look and feel great every day because of the options that are available in your inventory.

6. You can decide if you want to sell online, offline, or both.

When some people begin to explore the idea of selling LuLaRoe, they want to create an online presence only because that seems like the easiest way to manage inventory while offering convenience to their customers. Some consultants preferred to sell offline because they enjoy the one-on-one relationships that develop because of this opportunity. After you secure a sponsor, then it is up to you to decide how you want to structure of the retail experience.

Offline sales can be just as successful, if not more so, then what you can achieve online. The best outcomes usually occur when you sell in both locations, but LuLaRoe allows you to use whatever works best for your needs.

7. You will help other people build up their self-esteem and confidence.

When you offer beautiful clothing options that speak to the personality of each person, then you can help your customers to build up their confidence and take advantage of their self-esteem to do great things. If you know that you look great, then you can do something amazing. That’s what LuLaRoe offers. When you have a bunch of kids at home, work long hours, or rarely have time to spend by yourself, then a positive self-image might be the last thing on your agenda.

By becoming a LuLaRoe consultant, you’ll find that there are clothes available that make anyone feel like they can look awesome. This advantage is something that you get to share with your community every day.

8. The owners of LuLuRoe are active in the company’s trajectory.

Many MLM opportunities provide you with a lovely story about the ownership group that started the company. You can then use this tale as part of the marketing pitch, but it also leaves you wondering if there is any truth to what is being said. You won’t have that issue when you decide to join LuLaRoe as a consultant.

DeAnne and Mark Stidham are the founders of LuLaRoe, and they are very present in the operational aspects of the company. You can take advantage of the weekly home office videos or calls, of which the Stidhams are almost always a part of the process. You can also find them at numerous training events across the United States.

9. You can encourage more parties thanks to the hostess rewards.

If you can encourage one of your friends to host a party, then there are a variety of hostess rewards that you can offer them as a reward. When you can generate sales from that party, then the hostess can receive more free items as well. Some offers are 1 free LuLaRoe product for every 10 that are sold. It can be a lucrative way to get your network involved with your efforts, have everyone looking and feeling great, while helping your financial bottom line once you establish your initial inventory.

10. You can take this business opportunity with you when you move.

Military families and households who need to constantly move because of one person’s career responsibilities find that LuLaRoe is an excellent side hustle. You can take your inventory to any community and begin to establish yourself there as a provider. That is one of the advantages of MLM, no matter what you decide to sell. Although you cannot advertise or offer a discount on products online and that can leave you with some items that no one loves, it is an easy way to get to know a new town or monetize your capabilities in your spare time.

List of the Cons of Becoming a LuLaRoe Consultant

1. You must have a LuLuRoe sponsor to get started with this opportunity.

You can join LuLaRoe at any time if you think that this is the right entrepreneurial opportunity for you to pursue. The company wants you to have a sponsor as part of the sign-up process. If you know someone in your community, then you can use their sponsor link to become part of their team. If you need one, then someone from the home office will connect you with a qualified sponsor to assist with the onboarding process.

You cannot join LuLaRoe by yourself to create your own team. You must join up with a sponsor to get your sales process started.

2. The initial investment can be a significant expense for some households.

When you go through the onboarding process with LuLaRoe, then you have an opportunity to order from any or all of the styles that are currently in stock. The company allows you to purchase as many as you would like to have for your initial inventory order. You do have a minimum threshold of $2,500 to reach before you can begin your work as an independent consultant. Then you will begin to work with your sponsor getting your business started, with some assisting you in the choices of styles and sizes that might work better in your community.

Although the minimum order amount is much lower than it used to be, there are not many multi-level marketing opportunities that require you to make such an extensive investment before you can start selling products.

3. You are still working for someone else when you join LuLuRoe.

Although you will have more freedom with this employment opportunity because you are working as an independent consultant, it is not a 100% business where you get to pull all the strings. You are still working for someone else when you pursue an opportunity with LuLaRoe. There are specific rules and regulations that you must follow to maintain your status as a retailer. You are also supposed to present yourself in a specific way when you represent the brand, and that means you have to be engaged at all times since your identity becomes your personal brand.

4. Selling LuLuRoe is a lot of work.

Although there are some retailers who make the work of selling LuLaRoe look easy, it takes some time to establish yourself as a legitimate consultant in your community. It is a lot of work. The processes might be simple and the goals will eventually get you to where you want to be, but this is not an opportunity at easy money. If you are unwilling to put in the work that will take you toward the success you want, then you might not find this MLM opportunity to become as profitable as you want it to be.

One of the ways that you can make life easier for yourself is to get on the training calls that are offered free to retailers each week. Planning your schedule around this time can help you to take this opportunity to the next level.

5. You will need to learn how to use Bless and Audrey

LuLaRoe keeps everything fairly simple when it comes to tracking your inventory, managing your invoices, and running your schedule as an entrepreneur. You will need to spend the time it takes to learn the systems that are in use because these tools are what lead you toward success. When you get an onboarding call, put this disadvantage at the top of your list so that you know how they work before you need to invoice your first customer.

6. There is a lot of physical inventory that you need to manage.

LuLaRoe may have you managing it up to 1,000 items of inventory all at once. If you have limited space, then it can be a challenge to manage that many clothing items. You will need to become creative on how you display it to encourage more customers to want what you currently have. The tracking systems which the company offers to manage the situation are helpful, but it is still an adjustment for those who aren’t familiar with this aspect of retail.

You must also keep refreshing your inventory to ensure that your customers stay interested in your LuLaRoe shop, which means you must keep funneling profits back into your inventory. That action can have tax consequences at the end of the year, so you may wish to consult with a tax advisor before you start this journey.

7. You must continue to make minimum orders to maintain your status.

LuLaRoe doesn’t really care if you can find customers for the items that you ordered from them as part of your work as an independent consultant. It is up to you to make your inventory turnover several times throughout the year. If you are unable to create the sales you need to fund the next minimum order, then you can lose your active status with the organization. If you took out a loan to get this effort started, then that needs to be paid back as well.

There are approximately 80,000 consultants who are active with LuLaRoe during any given month. Only 30% of them earn more than $5,000 in sales – and that is the gross figure, not the net profits.

Verdict on the Pros and Cons of Becoming a LuLuRoe Consultant

When you work as an independent consultant or an entrepreneur full-time, then you will be putting in a lot of work and time that a traditional employment opportunity would not require. You will need to be up front about the time and money necessary for your initial investment to see if this opportunity is right for you. If you’re trying to balance a family, a job, and LuLaRoe, then you might not find much time left for yourself during the day.

You will need to learn how to work during your free hours to maximize your productivity. There will be nights when you will tuck the kids into bed, and then crash for the evening yourself because you’re so tired. Since there is zero guarantee of success, you might go through months of work with little return.

The pros and cons of being a LuLaRoe consultant can be challenging to navigate, but it can be a business opportunity that travels with you. Because there is less competition thanks to the variety of colors and patterns, you can always update your inventory to reflect the needs of your community while setting yourself apart from all of the other retailers who are working out there right now.