Christa in New York

My friend, Sara, recommended I stop into Athleta to check out their newest location in my neighborhood. I’m not one for fancy yoga retailers, mostly because I’ve found that few of them have products that live up to their hype and because the commercialism around yoga makes me ill. However, Sara knows me well and is one smart lady so I gave it a go. I’m so glad I did! I learned a lot about business as I took a stroll online and in-store.

Tapped in
I tweeted how much I loved their new catalog that arrived in the mail and they tweeted back almost instantly to welcome me into my neighborhood store. This was a good sign. I love socially savvy businesses who pay attention.

Ambiance
The store itself is beautiful. It felt so comfortable the moment I walked inside. A) they have a water bowl for the neighborhood pups (a move that always earns brownie points with me since I’m a dog lover) and B) it has a very rustic design with lots of natural light, warm wooden beams and floors, and very comfortable areas to try on the goods. The staff was helpful but not pushy in the least, a difficult line to tread but Athleta does it beautifully.

The Goods
And the product is amazing. Their Kickbooty pant is the most comfortable piece of clothing I’ve ever out on. AND…finally a yoga clothing company makes clothes in petite, tall, and plus size. They also make street clothes, running, swimming, and general workout clothes and accessories as well. All high quality, all beautiful. The website is very clean, easily navigated, and has great sales.

A few other bonuses:
1.) No-hassle return policy. This means take the product home, put it to the test, and if for any reason it doesn’t stand up, return it with no problems. Seriously. Not only does this policy endear customers to the brand but it’s a huge benefit to Athleta: they will get real live feedback about how to fix their products. They’re learning and pleasing customers. A win all-around!

2.) Yoga teacher discount. Provide your business card and registration card, and you’ll get a very handsome discount on the product. (I provided both my Compass Yoga business card and my Yoga Alliance membership card.) The website site offers a 10% yoga teacher discount on full-priced merchandise.

Business owners from a variety of industries can use Athleta’s example to delight customers and keep them coming back in the door. Yogis, finally a great shopping experience made just for us!