Latest news with #JenniferWong

ABC News
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- ABC News
Falling in love with an AI chatbot
The loneliness epidemic has a new solution: AI chatbots are offering companionship and romantic partnership for many people, and a new podcast by Wondery called Flesh & Code is documenting these stories. Beverley Wang and guest host Jennifer Wong go deep on falling in love with AI chatbots, and then breakdown the outrage over Sydney Sweeney's American Eagle jeans ad, and the death of And Just Like That… Show notes Flesh and Code: The banal provocation of Sydney Sweeney's jeans: And just like that, And Just Like That … is dead: Sarah Jessica Parker farewells Carrie Bradshaw:

Business Insider
20-07-2025
- Business
- Business Insider
Aritzia is having a breakout year — here's why the women's fashion boutique is on a growth spurt
Watch out, Lululemon: Another Vancouver-based apparel maker is making a play for US shoppers. Aritzia, the everyday luxury womenswear retailer, has steadily gained ground and grown sales over the past several years with its assortment of stylish activewear and comfortable office wear. The company said in July that it grew its retail footprint by 25% over the last year, including opening 13 stores and redesigning three existing ones. The expansion helped drive retail sales up 34% year over year last quarter. "We've done a lot of work over the past 1 1/2 years, two years to refine our playbook and ensure that our inventory is productive and efficient. And I think we're in a fantastic place right now, very well-positioned," CEO Jennifer Wong said in an earnings call. The results appear to be delivering on some ambitious goals Wong laid out last year as Aritzia's US expansion was heating up. Wong was not immediately available for an interview with Business Insider, but she detailed her strategy in several interviews with other outlets. "We're tackling all the major cities where we know our brand and product resonates with the customer," she told Vogue Business last November. "The next step is to fill in the rest of the country." Founded in 1984 in Vancouver, Aritzia saw steady growth in Canada before entering the US in 2007. The company saw a bumper year in 2020, followed by some pandemic-era challenges, and has since tripled sales to more than CAD$2.7 billion last year. Wong has been with the company since its early days, rising through the ranks to eventually take over the helm from founder Brian Hill in 2022. She soon doubled the rate of store openings, helping to extend the momentum of the return-to-office era. "We experienced some explosive growth coming out of Covid," she said. "There was pent-up demand and a whole new energy. That really accelerated our business in the US, and we became more well known than ever. We've been really riding that momentum since." There are 68 locations in Canada and 63 in the US, and the company says it could see the US figure grow to more than 150 over the next few years, not to mention its growing e-commerce operation. Four of those locations will open in the next few months in the Boston area, Miami, Salt Lake City, and Raleigh, North Carolina. While Aritzia's stores have drawn some derision on TikTok for their mirrorless (and sometimes crowded) dressing rooms, its high-touch "style advisor" sales approach harkens back to the kind of personalized shopping experience offered at luxury department stores like Bergdorf Goodman. Of course, it's the clothing that ultimately makes or breaks the sale for fashion brands, and Aritzia appears to be delivering good value for its customers. In terms of style and substance, BI's reviews team called Aritzia's apparel " as timeless and elegant as it is trendy and modern" and said the quality is "undisputed." Price-wise, analysts at Jefferies looked at comparable products from nine peer retailers and found Aritzia to be a cut above the mid-tier but a step below the highest-priced brands. In other words, it is more expensive than Lululemon and J. Crew but less pricey than Anthropologie and Madewell. In addition, Aritiza's prices are less frequently marked down than some competitors. The Jefferies analysts suggested that the relative pricing and demand for Aritzia products give the company more room to grow in sales and profits, propelling its expansion. From its merchandise to stores to tech, it appears Aritzia is getting a lot of retail fundamentals right — and reaping the rewards. "It's not any one of those things, but it's all of these things that come together and how we've been able to execute well over the years on all of it," Wong told the Business of Fashion in January. "When I say we want to be excellent at everything, that's really what's in our minds."
Yahoo
16-07-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
New Study Finds That Moving More Could Cut Your Risk Of Dying By 40 Percent—And It's Not Too Late To Start
A new study found a strong link between physical activity and lower mortality risk. Specifically, physically active people saw a 30 to 40 percent lower risk of dying from any cause compared to their less active counterparts. Here's what you need to know about the study, according to experts. Next time you're struggling to haul yourself off the couch for a workout, consider this: Getting up and moving could quite literally help save your life. A new scientific analysis published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine found a clear and significant link between being physically active and a lower risk of dying from any cause. Even better, the researchers discovered that there were life-extending perks to taking up exercise at any point in your life. Doctors say there are a few reasons why this link exists. Here's everything you need to know about the new study. Meet the experts: Gregore Iven Mielke, PhD, study co-author and senior lecturer at The University of Queensland School of Public Health; Bert Mandelbaum, MD, sports medicine specialist and co-director of the Regenerative Orthobiologic Center at Cedars-Sinai Orthopaedics in Los Angeles; Dawn Warner Kershner, DO, a cardiologist with The Heart Center at Mercy in Baltimore, Maryland; Jennifer Wong, MD, cardiologist and medical director of Non-Invasive Cardiology at MemorialCare Heart and Vascular Institute at Orange Coast Medical Center in Fountain Valley, California What did the study find? For the study, researchers analyzed data from 85 studies that looked at the impact of physical activity on health and risk of dying. They discovered that higher levels of physical activity was linked with lower risks of dying from any cause during the study periods. Overall, active people had around a 30 to 40 percent lower risk of dying from any cause during the study period compared to their less active counterparts. People who increased their amount of physical activity from below the recommended amount had a 20 to 25 percent lower risk of death from any cause compared to those who stayed inactive. The researchers found the strongest links between physical activity and cardiovascular disease, but there were also benefits for cancer risk. People who were consistently active were around 40 percent less likely to die from cardiovascular disease and 25 percent less likely to die from cancer. 'These reductions in risk, particularly the 30 to 40 percent decrease in all-cause mortality, are even greater than what previous studies have suggested,' says Gregore Iven Mielke, PhD, study co-author and senior lecturer at The University of Queensland School of Public Health. 'This highlights that physical activity may play an even more critical role in long-term health than previously thought.' How does being physically active lower your risk of death by any cause? 'Physical activity or regular exercise has multiple benefits to prevent death from any cause,' says Dawn Warner Kershner, DO, a cardiologist with The Heart Center at Mercy in Baltimore, Maryland. Among other things, she points out that it helps prevent obesity and type 2 diabetes, which are significant risk factors for heart disease. Physical activity can also lower blood pressure, decrease inflammation in the body, and improve the amount of lipids (fat) in the blood, says Jennifer Wong, MD, cardiologist and medical director of Non-Invasive Cardiology at MemorialCare Heart and Vascular Institute at Orange Coast Medical Center in Fountain Valley, California. 'All of those improve overall cardiovascular health,' she says. Regular exercise also boosts mental health and lowers the risk of cognitive decline, Dr. Kershner says. 'I prescribe regular physical activity as an important part of the successful aging process,' she adds. Dr. Kershner isn't the only doctor who does this. 'Exercise is probably the most robust drug that we have,' says Bert Mandelbaum, MD, sports medicine specialist and co-director of the Regenerative Orthobiologic Center at Cedars-Sinai Orthopaedics in Los Angeles. 'It leads to longevity.' What constitutes being 'physically active'? The researchers focused on recommendations from the World Health Organization (WHO) which suggests getting 150 to 300 minutes a week of moderate-intensity physical activity a week, or 75 to 150 minutes per week of vigorous-intensity activity. How often should I work out to reap the health and longevity benefits? Mielke says the benefits tend to appear when people dial into consistency. 'The total accumulation of physical activity, regardless of frequency or even intensity, can be beneficial,' he says. 'For example, some of our previous studies, particularly those focused on women, have shown that the overall amount of physical activity accumulated over time appears to be more important than the specific pattern of accumulation when it comes to preventing conditions like hypertension and obesity.' Overall, he recommends being active in a way that works with your lifestyle. That can mean doing structured workouts daily or exercising a few days a week. 'That can contribute to long-term health,' he says. Do I get the same longevity benefits if I start working out later in life? Yup! The researchers found that individuals who became physically active later in life had "about a 25 percent lower risk of all-cause mortality compared to those who remained inactive,' Mielke says. So, if you're not currently as active as you'd like to be, fear not! You can still reap the benefits that come from ramping up your activity level now. 'There are longevity benefits to exercise and physical activity at every stage of life,' Dr. Kershner says. 'It is never too late to start.' You Might Also Like Jennifer Garner Swears By This Retinol Eye Cream These New Kicks Will Help You Smash Your Cross-Training Goals


Fashion Network
14-07-2025
- Business
- Fashion Network
Aritzia Q1 revenue climbs 33%
Canadian fashion retailer Aritzia announced on Thursday a 33% increase in net revenue, for the first quarter ended June 1. The Vancouver-based company said net revenues reached $663 million, compared to $498.6 million in Q1 2025, while comparable sales grew 19.3%, as all channels and all geographies climbed positively. By region, in the United States, net revenue surged by 45.1% to $413 million, compared to $284.7 million in Q1 2025. On the brand's home turf in Canada, net revenue increased 17% to $250.3 million, compared to $214 million in Q1 2025. Aritzia's retail net revenue increased by 34.2% to $480.3 million, compared to $357.8 million in Q1 2025, driven by strong performance of the company's new and repositioned boutiques, as well as mid-teens comparable sales growth in existing boutiques in both countries. Likewise, e-commerce net revenue equally climbed 30% to $183.0 million, compared to $140.8 million in Q1 2025. Net income increased 167.7% to $42.4 million, or 6.4% from 3.2% as a percentage of net revenue. Net income per diluted share was $0.36 per share, compared to $0.14 per share in Q1 2025. "Trends across the business remain strong, and we are pleased with the start to our second quarter. We continue to navigate macro developments from a position of financial and operational strength, as we adapt to the environment around us and execute across our key strategic growth levers - geographic expansion, digital growth and increased brand awareness,' said Jennifer Wong, chief executive officer. 'The strength of the Aritzia brand has never been greater, and yet we still have a long runway for growth in the United States. This gives me great confidence in our ability to execute and capitalize on all of the opportunities that lie ahead.' Looking ahead to the second quarter, Aritzia expects net revenue in the range of $730 million to $750 million, representing growth of approximately 19% to 22%. For the full fiscal year, Aritzia is forecasting net revenue in the range of $3.10 billion to $3.25 billion4, representing growth of approximately 13% to 19% from Fiscal 2025.


Fashion Network
13-07-2025
- Business
- Fashion Network
Aritzia Q1 revenue climbs 33%
Canadian fashion retailer Aritzia announced on Thursday a 33% increase in net revenue, for the first quarter ended June 1. The Vancouver-based company said net revenues reached $663 million, compared to $498.6 million in Q1 2025, while comparable sales grew 19.3%, as all channels and all geographies climbed positively. By region, in the United States, net revenue surged by 45.1% to $413 million, compared to $284.7 million in Q1 2025. On the brand's home turf in Canada, net revenue increased 17% to $250.3 million, compared to $214 million in Q1 2025. Aritzia's retail net revenue increased by 34.2% to $480.3 million, compared to $357.8 million in Q1 2025, driven by strong performance of the company's new and repositioned boutiques, as well as mid-teens comparable sales growth in existing boutiques in both countries. Likewise, e-commerce net revenue equally climbed 30% to $183.0 million, compared to $140.8 million in Q1 2025. Net income increased 167.7% to $42.4 million, or 6.4% from 3.2% as a percentage of net revenue. Net income per diluted share was $0.36 per share, compared to $0.14 per share in Q1 2025. "Trends across the business remain strong, and we are pleased with the start to our second quarter. We continue to navigate macro developments from a position of financial and operational strength, as we adapt to the environment around us and execute across our key strategic growth levers - geographic expansion, digital growth and increased brand awareness,' said Jennifer Wong, chief executive officer. 'The strength of the Aritzia brand has never been greater, and yet we still have a long runway for growth in the United States. This gives me great confidence in our ability to execute and capitalize on all of the opportunities that lie ahead.' Looking ahead to the second quarter, Aritzia expects net revenue in the range of $730 million to $750 million, representing growth of approximately 19% to 22%. For the full fiscal year, Aritzia is forecasting net revenue in the range of $3.10 billion to $3.25 billion4, representing growth of approximately 13% to 19% from Fiscal 2025.