Club Libby Lu

Club Libby Lu was an experiential/experience-based retailer for young girls. Founded by Mary Drolet, a former executive at Claire's and Montgomery Ward, in August 2000, the store chain operated 98 stores in 28 states in the United States before closing in 2008.

Club Libby Lu was an interactive children's retail environment that encouraged celebrating being a girl. The popular chain was created by Mary Drolet. An experience at Club Libby always began with a wish. At the front of every door was a "fairy," who would grant the wishes of people of all ages, by sprinkling fairy dust onto guests as they walked into the store. On a typical day, girls of all ages sat in front of hot pink, heart shaped mirrors, listening to hip music and were transformed into rock stars, princesses, and favorite celebrities including Miley Cyrus and Ashley Tisdale. A makeover cost between $25–$60, depending on the package of choice, and included a full up-do, nails, and makeup. In addition to playing dress up for the day, Club Libby Lu VIP's (Very Important Princesses), were guided by their Club Counselors over to various stations including a "potion bar" where a VIP could make her own lotion, perfume, fairy dust, or lip gloss, and a Pooch Parlor, where the guest could adopt a stuffed animal of their choice. At the end of every experience, each VIP was encouraged to join the free club, and was given a friendship inspired bracelet. In early November 2008, parent company Saks Incorporated announced that due to the dismal state of the economy they would be closing all 98 locations.^[1][2]

Hannah Montana Essay Contest

Club Libby Lu was the subject of controversy in late December 2007 when Priscilla Ceballos of Garland, Texas made her 6-year-old daughter Alexis Menjivar write a fake essay about her father named Jonathon Menjivar as part of a contest held by the company where the winner would receive a Grand Prize of four tickets to a Hannah Montana concert in Albany, New York. In the essay, Priscilla claimed that Jonathon died in Iraq via a roadside bomb while serving in the military. While Alexis was getting a makeover in preparation for the concert at the Club Libby Lu store in Garland, Reporter Byron Harris of ABC affiliate WFAA in Dallas went to the store as part of an investigation for the station and informed Ceballos that there was no man by that name who had ever served in the military or died in Iraq. After the story surfaced and gained national attention, Alexis was disqualified and the tickets were awarded to an alternate winner, who was not identified.^[3][4]

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