Latest news with #DuBois
Sky News AU
3 days ago
- Health
- Sky News AU
'It pulled me out of the darkness': Channel 10's Barry Du Bois says the words 'I'm not okay' helped save his life, and could save countless others
Barry Du Bois has weathered more storms than most- the death of his mother, a debilitating back injury, years of unsuccessful IVF, the loss of a pregnancy, his wife Leonie's cervical cancer diagnosis, and his own battle with an incurable blood cancer. But Channel 10's The Living Room co-host says one of the most important lessons he's learned through it all is the power of a few simple words: "I'm not okay." "My mental health unravelled after those years of heartbreak," Du Bois told "I spiralled into a very lonely, low place. I even contemplated ending my life. But a friend encouraged me to open up - and that conversation pulled me back." At 65 years old, Du Bois is living with multiple myeloma, a rare and incurable type of blood cancer. He was initially diagnosed in 2010 with solitary plasmacytoma, another rare form of blood cancer. This diagnosis progressed to myeloma in 2017, a condition that impacts the immune system while attacking the bone marrow. Eight years later, he continues to defy the odds, and he's using his platform to inspire others to speak up before they hit crisis point. "I know personally, when you realise that people will support you, that's when your journey out of that darkness starts to happen," he said. That philosophy is why Du Bois has joined the Heart on My Sleeve "I'm Not Okay" campaign, founded by mental health advocate Mitch Wallis. The initiative urges Australians not to wait to be asked if they're struggling. Instead, they're encouraged to put their heart on their sleeve, literally, and say it out loud. Alongside Du Bois, the campaign's ambassador line-up includes world champion surfer Layne Beachley, TV host David Koch, NRL star Kieran Foran, actor Sharon Johal, ironman Guy Leech, Gogglebox's Jad Nehmetallah, entertainment reporter Richard Reid and journalist Antoinette Lattouf. The father-of-two, who is also a proud ambassador and board member of R U OK? Day, said his work with Heart on My Sleeve is "incredibly complementary". "I think (the campaign) really complements what I do at R U OK? Day," he said. "One encourages people to check in on their loved ones and the other encourages people to speak up. Really, it's all about strengthening society and understanding the value of emotion, the positive and the negative, and not being afraid to share the tough stuff." Du Bois admitted that was not something he learned growing up. "I was raised not to show your emotions, and that took me to a very, very dark place," he said. "So now I'm incredibly passionate about telling people that they can be brave enough to show their emotions." As the proud father of 13-year-old twins, Bennett and Arabella, he's determined they'll always feel "heard". "So many children, in the busy lives that we have today, don't feel heard by their parents," he said. "The first reason is that parents often… speak in a solution-based conversation. "They see that there's a problem and the parent wants to solve it. "And when you've got a child that craves autonomy or craves independence… You telling them what they should do doesn't help." Instead, he says, parents should create conversations "where you're both learning something". Without that, kids may look elsewhere, often to social media, for validation and connection. From his own experience, Du Bois knows that perspective matters- not just for kids, but for carers. Supporting Leonie through her cancer battle gave him a new understanding of the toll it can take. "When you're a carer, you're going through something that's called borrowed trauma," he said. "You're dealing with the trauma of others as well as your own trauma, and it's really important to make sure that we get some reprieve from that. "We have to make sure our personal cup of empathy is full. We need to care for ourselves so that we can care for others." Looking back, he admits: "I refused to share the emotion and pain I was in. I sort of resented caring for myself because I believed others needed it more. But that's just not a balanced way to think." And for those facing their own illness or cancer battle, Du Bois has a simple message. "So often in this world, particularly in the medical industry, they do give up as a number, but we're not," he said. "Never give up believing there's an opportunity to do better. "Be curious about every possibility there is- new treatments, lifestyle changes, support networks. We're not defined by the diagnosis we have today, but by how we get up and thrive after it." For Du Bois, joining I'm Not Okay is another step in what he calls putting "grains of sand" in front of the wrecking ball of mental ill-health- small but vital acts of advocacy and connection. "I believe, as a modern day elder (that's how I describe myself these days) it's our duty to be as curious and to be as aware on how we can how it can improve society and how we can strengthen society," said. "Because if we're vigilant to constantly change for the better society, that means my children will have a place where they'll be able to thrive and where they will have their best opportunities."
Fashion Network
08-08-2025
- Business
- Fashion Network
A 240-year-old Swiss watchmaker's race to beat Trump's tariff deadline
As a US tariff deadline neared this week, Swiss watch manufacturer DuBois et fils rushed to ship five high-end watches worth thousands of dollars each to the US. By Wednesday the firm had blocked orders on its US website. Now CEO Thomas Steinemann is calculating the price hikes he'll need to make. The whipsaw week for the Swiss horologist, as US President Donald Trump slapped a surprise 39% trade tariff on imports from the European country, underscores how businesses big and small are being forced to adapt and rejig operations under pressure. DuBois et fils, founded in 1785, accelerated shipments on Monday from its factory in Muttenz, near Basel, to get through customs before the U.S. tariff on imports from Switzerland came into force. The 39% rate - up from the baseline tariff rate of 10% since April - took effect at 0400 GMT on Thursday after the Swiss president came back from an emergency trip to Washington without a deal. "For the watch industry it's a huge disaster," said Steinemann, who explained that he'd blocked US orders because prices would need to be recalculated to account for tariffs. The firm would not soak up the hit, he said. "The US was a big driver in the last two years. Now this kills a lot of the business." His US prices were going to rise, he added. The DuBois DBF008 watch, for example, would likely go up to $14,500, from $10,800. The US accounts for around 15% of the global sales of DuBois, which sells directly to US consumers. The wider Swiss watch industry is feeling the pinch, planning price hikes, pausing US orders, and looking for alternative markets for its expensive, hand-made timepieces. The country is home to brands such as Rolex, Patek Philippe, LVMH -owned Tag Heuer, Swatch -owned Omega and IWC Schaffhausen, owned by Richemont. The US accounted for 17% of Switzerland's total 26 billion Swiss francs ($32 billion) of watch exports last year, according to the Federation of the Swiss Watch Industry. Exports to the US surged in April as watchmakers frontloaded shipments ahead of a first tariff deadline. Combined with a weaker dollar against the Swiss franc, the tariff hike will make Swiss watches some 65% more expensive on average for US consumers, estimated Amarildo Pilo, owner of Pilo & Co watchmakers. He said that many brands had already shipped some product to the US in advance, but warned this was not a long-term solution. The United States had been a market that everyone was focusing on recently and wanted to develop, he added. "My personal opinion is that what's going to happen is that Americans will no longer buy watches in the United States," said Pilo, who is also founder of the Swiss Independent Watchmakers Pavilion, which represents 28 independent brands. "But those who want them and who like watches will buy them elsewhere. So honestly, it's a loss for the United States." The tariff hit is a wider broadside against Switzerland, even if talks are continuing with the hope of eventually striking a deal. Trump argues that tariffs are needed to undo trade distortions and bring manufacturing back to the US. "The impact could be very strong on the Swiss economy," said John Plassard, partner and head of investment strategy at Cite Gestion Private Bank. Analysts estimate the tariffs could knock between 0.3% to 0.6% off Swiss GDP growth over the next year. "It will cut the potential growth in half, I would say. So the indirect impact could be more unemployment in the Swiss economy," said Plassard. In Sacha Davidoff 's vintage watch boutique in Geneva, there was a sense of shock. Many in the country had expected a deal similar to or better than the 15% that will be levied on most imports from the European Union. Switzerland is outside the bloc. "Right now we're living the nightmare that we had hoped wouldn't come to be. You kind of like wake up in the morning and you're like, 'no, that wasn't real'," Davidoff told Reuters, saying that 39% was a hammer blow for exports. "(It) is kind of a 'game over' number for us. It basically cuts the U.S. market as a possibility for export of vintage watches entirely." He hoped, however, that the situation would be resolved eventually. "I think that this is just going to be a difficult period where we're basically going to have to put the American market kind of on pause and focus on domestic sales," he said.
Fashion Network
08-08-2025
- Business
- Fashion Network
A 240-year-old Swiss watchmaker's race to beat Trump's tariff deadline
"For the watch industry it's a huge disaster," said Steinemann, who explained that he'd blocked US orders because prices would need to be recalculated to account for tariffs. The firm would not soak up the hit, he said. "The US was a big driver in the last two years. Now this kills a lot of the business." His US prices were going to rise, he added. The DuBois DBF008 watch, for example, would likely go up to $14,500, from $10,800. The US accounts for around 15% of the global sales of DuBois, which sells directly to US consumers. The wider Swiss watch industry is feeling the pinch, planning price hikes, pausing US orders, and looking for alternative markets for its expensive, hand-made timepieces. The country is home to brands such as Rolex, Patek Philippe, LVMH -owned Tag Heuer, Swatch -owned Omega and IWC Schaffhausen, owned by Richemont. The US accounted for 17% of Switzerland's total 26 billion Swiss francs ($32 billion) of watch exports last year, according to the Federation of the Swiss Watch Industry. Exports to the US surged in April as watchmakers frontloaded shipments ahead of a first tariff deadline. Combined with a weaker dollar against the Swiss franc, the tariff hike will make Swiss watches some 65% more expensive on average for US consumers, estimated Amarildo Pilo, owner of Pilo & Co watchmakers. He said that many brands had already shipped some product to the US in advance, but warned this was not a long-term solution. The United States had been a market that everyone was focusing on recently and wanted to develop, he added. "My personal opinion is that what's going to happen is that Americans will no longer buy watches in the United States," said Pilo, who is also founder of the Swiss Independent Watchmakers Pavilion, which represents 28 independent brands. "But those who want them and who like watches will buy them elsewhere. So honestly, it's a loss for the United States." The tariff hit is a wider broadside against Switzerland, even if talks are continuing with the hope of eventually striking a deal. Trump argues that tariffs are needed to undo trade distortions and bring manufacturing back to the US. "The impact could be very strong on the Swiss economy," said John Plassard, partner and head of investment strategy at Cite Gestion Private Bank. Analysts estimate the tariffs could knock between 0.3% to 0.6% off Swiss GDP growth over the next year. "It will cut the potential growth in half, I would say. So the indirect impact could be more unemployment in the Swiss economy," said Plassard. In Sacha Davidoff 's vintage watch boutique in Geneva, there was a sense of shock. Many in the country had expected a deal similar to or better than the 15% that will be levied on most imports from the European Union. Switzerland is outside the bloc. "Right now we're living the nightmare that we had hoped wouldn't come to be. You kind of like wake up in the morning and you're like, 'no, that wasn't real'," Davidoff told Reuters, saying that 39% was a hammer blow for exports. "(It) is kind of a 'game over' number for us. It basically cuts the U.S. market as a possibility for export of vintage watches entirely." He hoped, however, that the situation would be resolved eventually. "I think that this is just going to be a difficult period where we're basically going to have to put the American market kind of on pause and focus on domestic sales," he said.
Fashion Network
08-08-2025
- Business
- Fashion Network
A 240-year-old Swiss watchmaker's race to beat Trump's tariff deadline
As a US tariff deadline neared this week, Swiss watch manufacturer DuBois et fils rushed to ship five high-end watches worth thousands of dollars each to the US. By Wednesday the firm had blocked orders on its US website. Now CEO Thomas Steinemann is calculating the price hikes he'll need to make. The whipsaw week for the Swiss horologist, as US President Donald Trump slapped a surprise 39% trade tariff on imports from the European country, underscores how businesses big and small are being forced to adapt and rejig operations under pressure. DuBois et fils, founded in 1785, accelerated shipments on Monday from its factory in Muttenz, near Basel, to get through customs before the U.S. tariff on imports from Switzerland came into force. The 39% rate - up from the baseline tariff rate of 10% since April - took effect at 0400 GMT on Thursday after the Swiss president came back from an emergency trip to Washington without a deal. "For the watch industry it's a huge disaster," said Steinemann, who explained that he'd blocked US orders because prices would need to be recalculated to account for tariffs. The firm would not soak up the hit, he said. "The US was a big driver in the last two years. Now this kills a lot of the business." His US prices were going to rise, he added. The DuBois DBF008 watch, for example, would likely go up to $14,500, from $10,800. The US accounts for around 15% of the global sales of DuBois, which sells directly to US consumers. The wider Swiss watch industry is feeling the pinch, planning price hikes, pausing US orders, and looking for alternative markets for its expensive, hand-made timepieces. The country is home to brands such as Rolex, Patek Philippe, LVMH -owned Tag Heuer, Swatch -owned Omega and IWC Schaffhausen, owned by Richemont. The US accounted for 17% of Switzerland's total 26 billion Swiss francs ($32 billion) of watch exports last year, according to the Federation of the Swiss Watch Industry. Exports to the US surged in April as watchmakers frontloaded shipments ahead of a first tariff deadline. Combined with a weaker dollar against the Swiss franc, the tariff hike will make Swiss watches some 65% more expensive on average for US consumers, estimated Amarildo Pilo, owner of Pilo & Co watchmakers. He said that many brands had already shipped some product to the US in advance, but warned this was not a long-term solution. The United States had been a market that everyone was focusing on recently and wanted to develop, he added. "My personal opinion is that what's going to happen is that Americans will no longer buy watches in the United States," said Pilo, who is also founder of the Swiss Independent Watchmakers Pavilion, which represents 28 independent brands. "But those who want them and who like watches will buy them elsewhere. So honestly, it's a loss for the United States." The tariff hit is a wider broadside against Switzerland, even if talks are continuing with the hope of eventually striking a deal. Trump argues that tariffs are needed to undo trade distortions and bring manufacturing back to the US. "The impact could be very strong on the Swiss economy," said John Plassard, partner and head of investment strategy at Cite Gestion Private Bank. Analysts estimate the tariffs could knock between 0.3% to 0.6% off Swiss GDP growth over the next year. "It will cut the potential growth in half, I would say. So the indirect impact could be more unemployment in the Swiss economy," said Plassard. In Sacha Davidoff 's vintage watch boutique in Geneva, there was a sense of shock. Many in the country had expected a deal similar to or better than the 15% that will be levied on most imports from the European Union. Switzerland is outside the bloc. "Right now we're living the nightmare that we had hoped wouldn't come to be. You kind of like wake up in the morning and you're like, 'no, that wasn't real'," Davidoff told Reuters, saying that 39% was a hammer blow for exports. "(It) is kind of a 'game over' number for us. It basically cuts the U.S. market as a possibility for export of vintage watches entirely." He hoped, however, that the situation would be resolved eventually. "I think that this is just going to be a difficult period where we're basically going to have to put the American market kind of on pause and focus on domestic sales," he said. © Thomson Reuters 2025 All rights reserved.
Fashion Network
08-08-2025
- Business
- Fashion Network
A 240-year-old Swiss watchmaker's race to beat Trump's tariff deadline
As a US tariff deadline neared this week, Swiss watch manufacturer DuBois et fils rushed to ship five high-end watches worth thousands of dollars each to the US. By Wednesday the firm had blocked orders on its US website. Now CEO Thomas Steinemann is calculating the price hikes he'll need to make. The whipsaw week for the Swiss horologist, as US President Donald Trump slapped a surprise 39% trade tariff on imports from the European country, underscores how businesses big and small are being forced to adapt and rejig operations under pressure. DuBois et fils, founded in 1785, accelerated shipments on Monday from its factory in Muttenz, near Basel, to get through customs before the U.S. tariff on imports from Switzerland came into force. The 39% rate - up from the baseline tariff rate of 10% since April - took effect at 0400 GMT on Thursday after the Swiss president came back from an emergency trip to Washington without a deal. "For the watch industry it's a huge disaster," said Steinemann, who explained that he'd blocked US orders because prices would need to be recalculated to account for tariffs. The firm would not soak up the hit, he said. "The US was a big driver in the last two years. Now this kills a lot of the business." His US prices were going to rise, he added. The DuBois DBF008 watch, for example, would likely go up to $14,500, from $10,800. The US accounts for around 15% of the global sales of DuBois, which sells directly to US consumers. The wider Swiss watch industry is feeling the pinch, planning price hikes, pausing US orders, and looking for alternative markets for its expensive, hand-made timepieces. The country is home to brands such as Rolex, Patek Philippe, LVMH -owned Tag Heuer, Swatch -owned Omega and IWC Schaffhausen, owned by Richemont. The US accounted for 17% of Switzerland's total 26 billion Swiss francs ($32 billion) of watch exports last year, according to the Federation of the Swiss Watch Industry. Exports to the US surged in April as watchmakers frontloaded shipments ahead of a first tariff deadline. Combined with a weaker dollar against the Swiss franc, the tariff hike will make Swiss watches some 65% more expensive on average for US consumers, estimated Amarildo Pilo, owner of Pilo & Co watchmakers. He said that many brands had already shipped some product to the US in advance, but warned this was not a long-term solution. The United States had been a market that everyone was focusing on recently and wanted to develop, he added. "My personal opinion is that what's going to happen is that Americans will no longer buy watches in the United States," said Pilo, who is also founder of the Swiss Independent Watchmakers Pavilion, which represents 28 independent brands. "But those who want them and who like watches will buy them elsewhere. So honestly, it's a loss for the United States." The tariff hit is a wider broadside against Switzerland, even if talks are continuing with the hope of eventually striking a deal. Trump argues that tariffs are needed to undo trade distortions and bring manufacturing back to the US. "The impact could be very strong on the Swiss economy," said John Plassard, partner and head of investment strategy at Cite Gestion Private Bank. Analysts estimate the tariffs could knock between 0.3% to 0.6% off Swiss GDP growth over the next year. "It will cut the potential growth in half, I would say. So the indirect impact could be more unemployment in the Swiss economy," said Plassard. In Sacha Davidoff 's vintage watch boutique in Geneva, there was a sense of shock. Many in the country had expected a deal similar to or better than the 15% that will be levied on most imports from the European Union. Switzerland is outside the bloc. "Right now we're living the nightmare that we had hoped wouldn't come to be. You kind of like wake up in the morning and you're like, 'no, that wasn't real'," Davidoff told Reuters, saying that 39% was a hammer blow for exports. "(It) is kind of a 'game over' number for us. It basically cuts the U.S. market as a possibility for export of vintage watches entirely." He hoped, however, that the situation would be resolved eventually. "I think that this is just going to be a difficult period where we're basically going to have to put the American market kind of on pause and focus on domestic sales," he said.
