I binged LulaRich last night and was enthralled. I have always been sceptical of Multi-Level-Marketing companies. I think in today’s society brand awareness is too often tied to “lifestyle” and aesthetics. These MLM scheme’s turn into cults of people (speculatively mostly women) who eat, sleep, breathe the product they sell because it requires a specific “mentality”.
Watching the LulaRoe scandals pile up through this limited docu-series had predictable endings. Still, my jaw was agape. Directors Jenner Furst and Julia Willoughby Nason did an incredible job putting together a piece that explores, exposes, and entertains. The lighting, colour, and overall look of the documentary is appealing to the eye. The editing captivates the viewer.
The people they chose to interview outside the founders of LulaRoe were all high ranking or closely related employees with valuable stories and information, character and charisma.
The most meme-able talking head is Derryl Trujillo, an ex-data entry and customer service representative at LulaRoe. He has many memorable lines throughout the series.
Also, thank you Becca Peter for making me feel seen. She essentially had nothing to do with the company, scandals, or lawsuits but personally investigated the ongoings, failures, and tea related to the company. Apparently, by doing so, she garnered enough knowledge to be deemed an expert on the topic by the documentary’s directors. Becca Peter and I have obsessive research in common.
Lularich3
There are some heart-wrenching moments throughout the series where you see previous retailers detailing how LulaRoe left them bankrupt or caused rifts in their relationships. According to the series, LulaRoe has had over 50 lawsuits put against them, including one from the State of Washington. In the mix of these suits, they have claims of defective clothing (mouldy, stinky, damaged) and refusal to payout refunds.
If anything, what this documentary sheds light on is the slippery skin of MLM company CEOs. If LulaRoe can remain operational after all this and Washington State filing against them, there’s no true justice for pyramid schemes, and MLM companies need better regulation.