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Blink Fitness, a budget-friendly gym chain owned by luxury fitness company Equinox Group, has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. The fitness brand, with more than 100 centers in the U.S., is the latest chain to seek bankruptcy post-pandemic, following companies such as New York Sports Club, 24 Hour Fitness and Gold's Gym. Earlier this year, Equinox also launched a $40,000 annual gym membership aimed at its most affluent member base in an effort to improve its finances as well. Unlike Blink, Planet Fitness reported strong membership growth of 7% year over year in its second quarter to reach a total of 19.7 million members. Planet Fitness shares recently hit a 52-week high, reaching levels not seen since May 2023.

Persons: Guy Harkless, Blink, — Organizations: Equinox Group, New York Sports Club, CNBC, Fitness, Planet Fitness Locations: U.S

☆ Behind America's divided economy: Booming luxury travel and a jump in 'relief' loans
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-10 | by ( Alex Harring | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +11 min

First-class travel has exhibited special strength, though management noted that can be tied in part to a resurgence of business trips. People taking these loans are more likely to be lower-income with no more than a high school diploma, Lanier said. Daniel Acker | Bloomberg | Getty ImagesFrozen food maker Tyson Foods has seen consumers shifting more to eating at home than the quick-service restaurants it supplies. It's also important to remember that lower-income Americans were feeling financial pressures before the pandemic, said Tyler Schipper, an associate professor of economics at the University of St. Thomas in Minnesota. Airbnb touted interest in travel to events like the Paris Olympics and the European Cup in Germany this summer.

Persons: there's, It's, Christophe Le Caillec, underscoring, Blair Lanier, Lanier, McDonald's, Tyson, Daniel Acker, Tyson Foods, Stanley Black, Decker, Jane Fraser, CNBC's Sara Eisen, Fraser, Nancy Lazar, Piper Sandler, Tyler Schipper, Thomas, Schipper, Eric Thayer, We've, Cliff Pemble Organizations: TSN, American Express, Federal Reserve, CNBC, People, University of Michigan, San Francisco Federal Reserve, U.S, PepsiCo, Bloomberg, Getty, Tyson, Management, Adobe Analytics, Furniture, Citigroup, University of St, Airlines, Delta Air Lines, JetBlue Airways, Caribbean . Booking Holdings, Paris Olympics, European, Ticketmaster, Cedar Fair, Flags, Wayfair, Garmin Locations: America, U.S, Minnesota, New York, Germany, Valencia , California

Connected fitness company Hydrow, which Peloton once tried to buy, is growing sales and has acquired a majority stake in strength training company Speede Fitness as gymgoers move away from cardio exercises in favor of weights, the company told CNBC on Thursday. It said it acquired Speede Fitness so it can expand into strength training, one of the fastest-growing segments in fitness today. Hydrow's acquisition and sales growth come as Peloton, which is credited with creating the connected fitness market, struggles to turn around a slowing business. Hydrow's delivered unit sales for its connected rowing machine jumped 23% this year from the year-ago period. Peloton debuted its rowing machine, the Peloton Row, in September 2022, but has done little to advertise or highlight the $3,000 machine.

Persons: Hydrow, Bruce Smith, John Stellato, Smith, Travis Kelce, Justin Timberlake, Thomas Fitzgerald, Hydrow's Organizations: CNBC, Kansas City Chiefs

☆ Peloton cuts jobs and is looking for a new CEO after its turnaround plan spins out
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-02 | by ( Jordan Valinsky | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

New York CNN —Peloton CEO Barry McCarthy is leaving his role, and the company is cutting about 15% of its workforce as numerous attempts to regain its pandemic-era glory have failed. McCarthy, who was named CEO just two years ago, will become a strategic advisor through the end of the year, Peloton said in a press release. In his place, Peloton has started a “comprehensive search process” for his replacement and two executives will become interim co-CEOs in the meantime. Peloton also announced that it’s eliminating 400 jobs, which will help the company cut $200 million in costs. McCarthy, a former chief financial officer of Spotify and Netflix, tried to engineer a number of ideas to turn around Peloton.

Persons: Barry McCarthy, McCarthy, Lululemon Organizations: New, New York CNN, Spotify, Netflix, Consumer Product Safety, Sporting Goods Locations: New York

☆ Peloton CEO Barry McCarthy to step down, company to lay off 15% of staff as it looks to refinance debt
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-02 | by ( Gabrielle Fonrouge | In Gabrielle-Fonrouge | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +9 min

In a letter to staff, McCarthy said the company needed to implement layoffs because it wouldn't be able to generate sustainable free cash flow with its current cost structure. "Achieving positive [free cash flow] makes Peloton a more attractive borrower, which is important as the company turns its attention to the necessary task of successfully refinancing its debt," McCarthy said in the memo. McCarthy had also expected Peloton to reach positive free cash flow by June — a goal the company said it reached early during its third quarter. In a letter to shareholders, Peloton said it generated $8.6 million in free cash flow but it's unclear how sustainable that number is. The company didn't provide specific guidance on what investors can expect with free cash flow in the quarters ahead but said it does expect to "deliver modest positive free cash flow" in its current quarter.

Persons: Barry McCarthy, McCarthy, Karen Boone, Chris Bruzzo, Jay Hoag, It's, John Foley, hasn't, Goldman Sachs, Boone, Barry, Bruzzo, —, hadn't, Creditsafe, it's, Foley Organizations: Interactive, Allen & Company Sun Valley Conference, Spotify, Netflix, JPMorgan, LSEG, outperformance, CNBC Locations: Sun Valley , Idaho, lockstep

☆ Peloton quietly drops unlimited free app membership because it failed to bring in paid subscribers
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-15 | by ( Gabrielle Fonrouge | In Gabrielle-Fonrouge | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Peloton has quietly removed its unlimited free-membership tier on its fitness app less than a year after it debuted because the initiative was failing to convert users into paid subscribers, the company said. People who signed up for the company's unlimited free membership before it was removed will continue to have access to it, Peloton said. McCarthy, a former Netflix and Spotify executive, had long wanted a free tier on the company's app. Soon after, the unlimited free tier was no longer available. While app subscribers declined during Peloton's fiscal second quarter ended Dec. 31, Coddington said the company still "believe[s]" in its app strategy and it remains "an important part of the business."

Persons: Barry McCarthy, McCarthy, Morgan, Liz Coddington, Coddington, we'll Organizations: Netflix, Spotify Locations: Manhattan, New York City, U.S

☆ Tesla's design chief leads workouts in the company parking lot
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-19 | by ( Grace Kay | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Tesla's design chief, Franz von Holzhausen, conducts fitness sessions at the company's parking lot. Von Holzhausen leads a team of around 300 at a converted airplane hangar in Los Angeles. AdvertisementTesla's design chief Franz von Holzhausen isn't all work and no play — at least according to a new profile of the Cybertruck designer. Von Holzhausen, who has worked closely with Tesla CEO Elon Musk, likes to lead fitness training in the company parking lot, The Wall Street Journal reported on Friday. Though, von Holzhausen told the publication the billionaire is still "very involved" and sometimes shares design ideas from social media.

Persons: Franz von Holzhausen, Von Holzhausen, Elon Musk, —, Franz von Holzhausen isn't, von Holzhausen, Von Holzhausen didn't, Tesla, Walter Isaacson's, Musk, who've, Von Holzhausen's, Holzhausen, Jay Leno's Organizations: Service, Tesla, Street, Business, Volkswagen, General Motors, Mazda, Twitter, Apple, Jay Leno's YouTube Locations: Los Angeles

☆ Peloton shares plunge as turnaround plan garners mixed results
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-01 | by ( Jordan Valinsky | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

New York CNN —Peloton shares slid more than 20% Thursday after the fitness company said it expects to report another loss in the current quarter and is trimming its full-year revenue forecast, signaling that its several years-long turnaround is spinning out. CEO Barry McCarthy wrote in a letter to investors that some of his ideas have failed, including a push into selling Peloton bikes with college colors. McCarthy revealed that the company “sold substantially fewer bikes to alumni and boosters than we expected.” The short-lived program will be discontinued. He said the experience has “tarnished our brand” and that the busy holiday shipping season was “particularly taxing” for customers. The connected fitness company adjusted its full-year revenue lower from the previous $2.7 billion to $2.8 billion expected, with Peloton now forecasting it to be between $2.68 billion and $2.75 billion.

Persons: Barry McCarthy, McCarthy, Lululemon “, TikTok Organizations: New, New York CNN, Sporting Goods, Consumer Product Safety Locations: New York

☆ Tech layoffs are expected to continue as companies seek to hire more AI talent, analyst says
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-26 | by ( Aaron Mok | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

And more Big Tech layoffs may be coming this year as companies bet big on AI, an analyst told CNBC. As of January 2024, 89 tech companies have laid off almost 25,000 employees, according to tracker site Layoffs.fyi. "Google and the rest of Big Tech are betting big on AI while cutting back on non-strategic areas," Dan Ives, a tech analyst at Wedbush Securities, told CNBC. Layoffs will continue in some areas, while"the hiring frenzy in AI will be unprecedented as this arms race continues across the tech world." But while growing investment in AI may soon put more out of work, new roles are being created within the AI space.

Persons: —, it's, Dan Ives, Ives, Sundar Pichai Organizations: Big Tech, CNBC, Google, Service, Wedbush Securities, Business, Amazon, Prime, Amazon MGM Studios, SAP, Apple, Meta, Nvidia

☆ The 12-3-30 'hot girl workout' is a waste of your time — these 3 routines are better for building muscle and burning fat
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-18 | by ( ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

The viral 12-3-30 workout is fine, but there are better ways to spend your exercise time. Rowing and rucking are easy ways to combine cardio with resistance training to build muscle. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . The "12-3-30" workout, otherwise known as the "hot girl workout" is the zombie exercise trend that's trying to suck the life out of your gym sessions. You may not even need a full 30 minutes, since 15 minutes of rucking can be a great entry-level workout.

Persons: —, I'm, …, Rucking, Olga Pankova, rucking, Michael Easter, Noam Tamir, Thomas Barwick Organizations: Service, TS Fitness, New Locations: New York City

☆ The 'Ozempic effect' is weighing on gym stocks. But it could turn out to be a boom for the industry
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-16 | by ( Brian Evans | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Will gym stocks be hurt by an "Ozempic effect" similar to the blow that has rocked the medical device and food sector? Stock in Planet Fitness has slipped more than 16% from the start of the year, while Life Time has added roughly 20%. Planet Fitness sunk to a 52-week low in September after the company's board ousted Chris Rondeau as chief executive officer . PLNT YTD mountain Planet Fitness stock. At Life Time, anti-obesity medication is being incorporated into the weight loss programs it offers to members.

Persons: Simeon Siegel, it's, Jefferies, Chris Rondeau, Bahram Akradi, Warren Cheng, PLNT, Cheng, Jeff Zwiefel, Alexander Perry's, Perry, Curtis Harman, Harman, It's, Piper Sandler, Korinne Wolfmeyer, Wolfmeyer Organizations: BMO Capital Markets, ISI, Bank of America, GLP, Wellness, CNBC, Holdings, Nordisk's Ozempic

☆ Garmin raises annual sales forecast, beats quarterly estimates
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

A large replica of a fitness smartwatch from Garmin is on display the international consumer technology fair IFA in Berlin, Germany September 2, 2022. REUTERS/Lisi Niesner/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsNov 1 (Reuters) - Navigation equipment maker Garmin Ltd raised its annual sales forecast ahead of the crucial holiday shopping period as strength in its auto and fitness businesses helped it beat third-quarter revenue estimates. The company had previously forecast revenue of about $5.05 billion and adjusted earnings of $5.15 per share for the year. All of Garmin's segments registered growth in the quarter, except its marine business, which posted a 7% decrease in sales. Excluding items, Garmin earned $1.41 per share, topping expectations of $1.29.

Persons: Lisi Niesner, Cliff Pemble, Juby Babu, Saumyadeb Organizations: Garmin, IFA, REUTERS, Audio, BMW, Thomson Locations: Berlin, Germany, Bengaluru

☆ Life Time stock plummets as company spends more on premium fitness experience
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-25 | by ( Brandon Gomez | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Life Time Group shares plummeted 15% Wednesday after the company's third-quarter results revealed higher spending to boost the premium member experience. The cost of running its fitness centers, including new and ramping locations, rose 8.2% year over year during the quarter to $319.4 million, the company said. The program changes are an attempt to keep Life Time's affluent customer base satisfied as prices rise across the board and many consumers increasingly value premium offerings. Life Time increased its prices at many of its locations in recent years, though pricing varies by market. "We aren't taking advantage of all the different connections we have and all the different programs we have, so there is essential work being done to systematize all of that."

Persons: Bahram Akradi, —, Akradi Organizations: Time Group, Lifetime

☆ Peloton shares drop 25% after posting wider than expected loss, falling sales
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-23 | by ( Gabrielle Fonrouge | In Gabrielle-Fonrouge | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Peloton on Wednesday reported a wider than expected loss and a quarterly drop in new subscribers that it blamed on its recall of its Bike seat post and seasonality, sending shares plunging about 25% in premarket trading. It ended the quarter with 3.08 million subscribers, up 4% year over year and in line with the company's expectations. But compared to last quarter, subscribers declined by 29,000. The former Netflix and Spotify executive has spent the last three months focusing on new strategies aimed at getting the fitness company back on a path to growth. Clients include Volvo, which has Peloton bikes in its company fitness center and offers employees access to the Peloton app, its all access membership and discounts on hardware, including the Bike, Bike+, Tread and Guide.

Persons: Barry McCarthy, McCarthy, Leslie Berland Organizations: Refinitiv, Consumers, Netflix, Spotify, Business, Volvo, Dropbox, University of Michigan, Big Locations: Dusseldorf, Germany

☆ Alo Yoga says it's the 'Tesla' of athleisure, and it's loosening Lululemon's grip on Gen Z
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-07 | by ( Leslie J. Allen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Alo Yoga's "studio-to-street" fitness clothes are a hit with Gen Z and Gen Alpha, the Wall Street Journal reports. Segment leader Lululemon faces growing competition not just from upstarts like Alo, but also legacy brands like Nike. Alo Yoga is building a following among two key demographics, Gen Zers, loosely defined as those born between 1997 and 2012, and their younger counterparts, Gen Alpha, according to an article in The Wall Street Journal. Alo YogaAlo's growth was boosted by influencers and its digital rootsAlo Yoga started in Los Angeles in 2007. It's created openings for others beyond Alo, but Alo certainly has started to set itself apart as a power brand in its own right."

Persons: Alo Yoga's, Gen Z, Alpha, Alo, —, Lululemon, Alo Yoga, Gen Zers, Gen Alpha, it's, I'd, Andrew Lipsman, Lipsman, Hailey Bieber, Bella Haddad, Budrul Chukrut, Danny Harris, Wall, It's, Lisman Organizations: Wall Street, Nike, Service, Street, Intelligence, influencers, Ford, GM, Chrysler Locations: Los Angeles, China, Alo

☆ Amazon Prime signs on to stream professional pickleball tournaments
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-16 | by ( Jessica Golden | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Amazon's Prime Video streaming platform announced on Tuesday it's signed a multiyear deal with the Professional Pickleball Association for global streaming rights to four live PPA Tour events per year, including the 2023-2024 PPA Tour World Championship Series. "When something has an explosion in growth, naturally it catches our eye," Charlie Neiman, head of sports partnerships at Amazon Prime Video, told CNBC. Connor Pardoe, CEO and cofounder of the Pro Pickleball Association, called the deal "monumental" for the burgeoning league. "We're always looking at content and making sure our offerings on Prime Video reflect our customers interests," he said. Earlier this month, the PPA Tour announced that ESPN will cover eight of the league's tournaments.

☆ Factbox: Linda Yaccarino: the advertising executive Musk picked as new Twitter CEO
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-12 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

May 12 (Reuters) - Elon Musk has named former NBCUniversal advertising chief Linda Yaccarino as Twitter's new CEO, as the company tries to reverse a plunge in ad revenue at the social media platform. Yaccarino has been a key figure in modernizing the advertising business at NBCUniversal, which is owned by Comcast Corp (CMCSA.O). NEARLY 20 YEARS AT TURNER ENTERTAINMENTBefore NBCU, Yaccarino was at Turner Entertainment for about two decades in the roles of chief operating officer and executive vice president across its advertising sales, marketing and acquisitions divisions. Turner Entertainment operates CNN and is owned by Warner Bros Discovery (WBD.O). INTERVIEW WITH MUSKYaccarino interviewed Musk at an advertising conference in Miami last month, where she lauded his work ethic.

☆ CEO of fitness band maker Whoop mocks the demise of Amazon's Halo health device
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-04 | by ( Annie Palmer | In Annierpalmer | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

The CEO of Whoop, a fitness band favored by athletes, is claiming victory over Amazon after the e-retailer pulled the plug on its line of Halo devices. Amazon said last week it will discontinue its Halo health and fitness devices, and shut down the Halo program, resulting in some employees being let go. Whoop CEO Will Ahmed said he views the demise of Halo as a win for his startup. He claimed the Halo wristband, which tracks users' physical activity, sleep and mood, was a knockoff of Whoop's own device. Whoop launched its first product, the Whoop 1.0, in 2015.

☆ Amazon to shut down Halo division, lays off some staff
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

April 26 (Reuters) - Amazon.com Inc (AMZN.O) said on Wednesday it was shutting down its Halo division that sells health and sleep trackers as the technology giant kicks off wider company layoffs. The company said it will stop supporting Halo services from July 31, and will fully refund Halo devices purchases made in the preceding 12 months. The company had introduced the original Halo band in 2020, which came as a fitness tracker along with a subscription to certain health monitoring and analysis services from Amazon. It later released a new version called Halo View and Halo Rise, a contact-less sleep tracker and smart alarm clock. Heads of Amazon Web Services and the People Experience and Technology team emailed affected staff about the cuts, the company said.

☆ Leaked memos show Google is closing some of its cafes 'until further notice' as it cuts back on employee perks
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-13 | by ( Rosalie Chan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Google is closing some of its cafes "until further notice," according to memos sent on Wednesday. As part of its plan to cut costs this year, Google is closing some of its cafes "until further notice." Cafes at Google's campuses are one of the search giant's most famous employee perks as workers have access to free meals. The cafes called Steam, Costa, Go!, Slice, and Deja Brew Hub, and some lunchtime food trucks, will be "closed until further notice." The cafes called Till Cafe, Java Corner, Share, Fresh Market, Cornerstone, and lunchtime food trucks, will be "closed until further notice."

☆ Peloton forecasts third-quarter revenue above expectations; cash burn slows
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-01 | by ( Priyamvada C | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Shares of the fitness equipment maker were up 4% before the bell after it also reported a slowing cash burn on a string of cost-cutting measures. In response, the company had announced plans to sell its fitness equipment on e-commerce giant Amazon.com (AMZN.O) and at Dick's Sporting Goods Inc (DKS.N) stores. Peloton CEO Barry McCarthy, in a letter to investors, outlined goals of returning to revenue growth and reach cash flow breakeven on a sustained basis in his second year in the role. For the third quarter, Peloton forecast revenue between $690 million and $715 million, above expectations of $689.1 million, as per Refinitiv data. Cash burn fell to $94.4 million from $546.7 million.

☆ Peloton to offer refurbished bikes at discounted prices
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Dec 26 (Reuters) - Peloton Interactive Inc (PTON.O) is offering refurbished bikes across the continental U.S. and Canada at a discount of up to $500 over new bikes, the company said on Monday. The program, called Peloton Certified Refurbished, will provide models priced at $1,145 and $1,995 with the same 12 month warranty provided with new bikes. The fitness equipment maker was all the rage among fitness enthusiasts during COVID-19 lockdowns, with the company hitting a peak market valuation of nearly $50 billion in early 2021. However with people returning to gyms the company saw demand for its fitness equipment dwindle and saw its market cap slump to $3.02 billion currently. The company earlier this year expanded its rental program in the U.S., giving consumers a month-to-month option on its Peloton Bike and Bike+ models.

Nov 8 (Reuters) - Peloton Interactive Inc (PTON.O) and rival Echelon Fitness on Tuesday said they had settled all pending litigation between them, more than three years after Peloton sued the Tennessee-based fitness company for patent infringement. Echelon has agreed to stop using Peloton's patented leaderboard technology in on-demand classes, the companies said in a statement. Peloton, known for its exercise bikes with live-streaming and on-demand group workouts, had filed the lawsuit against Echelon Fitness in 2019 alleging it infringed Peloton's patents and sold "cheap, copycat" products. Peloton escalated the dispute in 2021 by filing another lawsuit for allegedly copying its remote-workout technology. Peloton was all the rage among fitness enthusiasts during COVID-19 lockdowns, but with people returning to gyms, the company saw demand for its fitness equipment dwindle.

☆ Peloton forecasts weak revenue for holiday quarter, shares slump
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-03 | by ( Kannaki Deka | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Nov 3 (Reuters) - Peloton Interactive Inc (PTON.O) on Thursday forecast second-quarter revenue below Wall Street estimates as the company grapples with weak demand for its fitness equipment amid a challenging macro-economic environment. The exercise bike maker expects current-quarter revenue between $700 million and $725 million, compared with analysts' estimates of $874 million, according to Refinitiv data. But with people returning to gyms the company saw demand for its fitness equipment dwindle. The company's revenue for the first quarter fell to $616.5 million from $805.2 million a year earlier. Peloton posted cash burn of $246.3 million in the quarter, compared with $651.9 million a year earlier.

☆ One office building is trying a radical new ploy to lure Google and other firms to Brooklyn
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-20 | by ( Jordan Pandy | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

An office building in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, is slashing rents and offering flexible leases. At 25 Kent Ave., it's offering 50% off to lure tech and media firms that are attracted to Manhattan. In July 2019, Rubenstein opened an eight-story, 511,000-square-foot office building at 25 Kent Ave. in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. Bilyana DimitrovaTarget tenants include Google, Facebook, Amazon, and companies that have over 500,000 square feet of office space in Manhattan. People who work at 25 Kent have access to its fitness center.

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