Lululemon makes lots of money, thanks to Oprah

Canadian athletic wear powerhouse Lululemon saw its profits almost double in the third quarter of this year, thanks in part to the big O. Oprah featured the brand’s relaxed-fit pants on her “Favourite Things” episode last month, which probably helped shares increase by a whopping 77 per cent and on-line sales increase 200 per cent over last year. Analysts are saying that the company has plenty of room for growth, and that’s just what it’s doing. Plans are set for up to 25 new stores in North America next year and two slated for Australia; it’s also considering opening up shop in Asia.

• Lululemon profit rises steeply, sees more growth [Reuters]
• Online sales have Lululemon clicking [Globe and Mail]