The Challenge

When Lululemon prepared to open its first retail stores in Italy, the global HR team needed a trusted partner to manage all local HR, legal, and compliance setup activities.

The company required expert guidance on:

• Italian labor laws and retail-specific employment regulations,
• Health and safety obligations for retail environments,
• Employment contracts, policies, and HR processes, and
• Ensuring that all local employment practices aligned with corporate HR standards.

Given the short setup timeline and the complexity of Italian employment law, Lululemon needed a specialized HR compliance partner with on-the-ground experience

The Solution

Europe HR Solutions supported Lululemon Italy throughout the full setup process for multiple retail stores.

Our work included:

• Designing employment frameworks and contracts compliant with Italian labor legislation.
• Drafting HR policies and operating procedures tailored to the retail sector.
• Advising on legal compliance, payroll coordination, and onboarding.
• Implementing health and safety processes to meet Italian and EU standards.
• Providing HR compliance training and documentation for store leadership and management.

Throughout the setup, Europe HR Solutions acted as Lululemon’s local HR compliance expert, ensuring every operational and legal element was correctly implemented before launch.

The Results

• Successful HR and legal setup for multiple Lululemon stores in Italy.
• Full compliance with Italian labor law and retail-sector regulations.
• Health and safety standards implemented across all new locations.
• Smooth store openings achieved within corporate timelines.
• Ongoing advisory relationship established for continued compliance and expansion.

This case highlights Europe HR Solutions’ expertise in cross-border retail expansion, HR compliance setup, and operational readiness for global consumer brands entering Europe