The LuLaRoe clothes will be the focus, of course, but there are still plenty of items helpful for successfully launching this business. I’ve spent hours comparing and researching options for every item from hangers to shipping envelopes. I found video’s and list’s from other consultants a great jumping off point and thought I’d pay it forward by sharing my list. If you here after viewing my You Tube video, welcome! If you haven’t watched the video, here is the link, it does give you a visual, especially of the racks.

Business Management

• A computer is a must for shipping, inventory management, invoicing, etc. Our son just started high school, I gave him my desktop and got a Macbook pro. Settled on it, due to its ability to process video easily.
• A phone or tablet is currently needed to go live on FB and both serve as a great camera and video recorder. I’m using my i-phone and will see if using a i-pad for live sales is necessary. I’ve been told having the larger screen is helpful.
• TūlBot (also known as TulBot, and formerly known as LulaBot) is loaded with powerful tools that allow you to quickly and easily understand and plan your business. Manage your inventory, accounting, and customer insights in a fraction of the time. (above from website) I have watched lots of tutorials and lots of consultants on my upline team (Girls on Fire) utilize the program. The creator did a webinar with our group and it is the kind of detailed info I was looking for. That being said, I haven’t started using it. An excel spreadsheet, quickbooks or EZPZ Spreadsheets can all be utilized. After speaking with our tax accountant, I felt that TulBot would provide me with a great way to keep on top of the business side of things and be prepared for tax season.
• Open a checking and savings account, separate from your personal accounts. Use the checking to have Lularoe deposit to and then transfer money into savings to cover your year end taxes. I also opened a credit card thru the bank, so everything is kept separate from our personal stuff.

Photographing Inventory

• Basic Tripod. This one works great.
• Adapter/mount for iPhone or iPad. Mount for my phone came with this iPhone tripod that can attach to almost anything (very handy).
• Bluetooth remote control for phone or camera
• Dressform – Make sure its a small size, so your XXS items will fit. You can pin and clip excess fabric on larger sizes in the back of form. As I pay back the initial investment, I do plan to get a few different size forms. Also I think the patterned forms are great looking, but I personally think the patterns compete with the clothes. Don’t forget the clothes are the star of your show!
• Blanket ladder for photographing leggings
• White board or white piece of headboard for flat lay photos. Have yet to purchase this. Need to further research size needed.
• Lighting kit – In my opinion from previous ventures, soft box lights are much easier to control than umbrella kits.
• Backdrop. I purchased this one from Amazon and I am not a fan. Not sure if I’ll just use freshly painted wall or backdrop at first, but will keep looking for a good solution.

Live FB and Periscope Sales

• Phone/Tablet – easiest on a mobile device for FB Live
• Some form of a mic. This Rode Shotgun Videomic mounts to a camera and works great. I use it for You Tube as well. Suggested by my awesome sponsor Lularoe Epooddle on this video. Amy and Eric have tons of great video’s on You Tube for both customers and consultants.
• Create a “set” to do sales in front of. It brands you and gives your customers a glimpse at you. Decor can be purchased or made. I have a lovely friend who created signs with the names of the various items we will be carrying. Love the way they are coming out. Here is the set wall so far:

• Number system. We purchased a listing on ETSY and have printed and laminated both regular numbers and reversed for FB (so they show up to viewers correctly). Lots of consultants use coat check tickets. Some put number labels on bags. Doesn’t matter what you do, just get prepared with a system.
• Bins or bags for sorting orders. Again, doesn’t matter what system you use, just come up with one.
• Have a supply of post-it notes, sharpies, maybe scissors handy during sales.

Lularoom & Pop-up Boutique

• Racks. I chose to go with a combination of racks. We didn’t want to put a permanent system into our walls. We aren’t sure that the space we have dedicated a office and dining room by the front door of our home, will work long term. Perhaps we move to basement or rent an office space for the Lula business. So besides clearing furniture from the rooms and a few nails to hang pictures, nothing is permanent. We have a combination of commercial, folding racks, heavy duty Z-racks with extra hang bar, a light weight rack for kids clothes and some waterfall racks for leggings. This is the first rack I purchased and it is smaller than other commercial ones, I don’t like it as much. See video for size comparison of the folding racks and Z-rack.
• Sizing rings and small sizers for hangers. I couldn’t find XXS size rings, so the plan is to put XXS and XS together, but have the small sizers on those hangers. Same with kids tops, dresses, skirts.
• Hangers. Shop around for Velvet hangers. COSTCO, Aldi, BJ’s, Marshalls, Amazon and other regional chains have the hangers. I got some at Amazon and some at Marshalls. Also purchase pant hangers and kids hangers and pant hangers. Found in our personal stash some nice wood hangers if I chose to use them to photograph inventory ever.
• Tag gun to attach tags to leggings, etc.
• Hanger Stand to keep hangers organized at Pop-ups and handy in Lularoom.
• Cash Box. Make sure before launch to get some change.
• Order a square in case Audrey is down. It is free and can be ordered on Square website. Make sure to load the app and attach to your Lularoe bank account.
• Large Bags Ikea or Pink Lularoe to transport items on hangers to pop-ups. Also helpful taking packages to post office if you don’t arrange for pick-ups. I got both, the Lularoe bags are larger and much cuter! But if you are near an Ikea they are much cheaper.
• Price list and Size Chart signage. Other signage and style cards as needed.
• Hair ties for securing rolled leggings.
• Full length mirror.
• Bags for items customer’s purchase. I ordered some smaller bags for a one or two item purchase and then handled frosted bags for larger purchases. I will be putting larger 3″ round stickers I had made with our shop branding. If the Lularoe bags become available again on supply site, we will purchase those.
• Have tissue paper on hand.
• Purchase some power cords and chargers to keep on hand at pop-ups.
• 6 ft table and a Lularoe tablecloth.

Shipping

• Postage Scale (signed-up for Stamps.com and just paid shipping, use code “register50”
• Poly-mailers for lighter packages.
• Order express bubble mailers (free from USPS.com and you can get 100 at a time) for heavier packages. Express flat rate boxes in various sizes available at post office, but bubble mailers only online.
• Packaging tape. (especially if not using thermal printer – print labels and then tape on package with tape.
• Zip lock bags or some form of a bag to package items into.
• Thermal label printer. I noticed whenever consultants asked what they wish they would have purchased from start, the Demo 4xl is always the answer. Shop around, I got it at Jet.com with a coupon for under $200. Amazon makes it deal of the day from time to time.

Printed Items – Had designed on ETSY or from Assets in Audrey, then sent out to have printed.

• Business cards
• Thank-you & Care Instruction Combo from ETSY – had postcards printed.

• Spotted Roe’in in the wild – enjoy a discount in our shop cards.

• Launch Postcards
• Lula-cash
• Gift Certificates
• Stickers on a Roll for branding in both 2″ and 3″. Will use in packaging and also on bags with purchase.

• Tally Sheets
• Mailing list sign-up and a cute clipboard.

Obviously not all these items are needed. Just sharing the list of items I am starting out with or have on my list to get. Shopping around for the best deals and also the FB quebie groups are great for sharing deals with other soon to be consultants. Pinterest was also helpful to me for ideas. I have put together a nice board full of ideas on my pinterest.