Latest news with #Shapes
Winnipeg Free Press
01-05-2025
- Business
- Winnipeg Free Press
‘Anything we do here as a business is done with the province in mind': Shapes looks to build on three-decade run in Winnipeg
A few years ago, Kevin Richardson came up with a slogan to use when telling people about Shapes Fitness Centres: 'Created by a Winnipegger in Winnipeg for Winnipeggers.' The former biochemist, who has worked at the chain since 2017, admits as far as a motto goes, it's unwieldy. But it expressed something he wants people to know: Shapes, which has gyms across the city, is locally owned and operated. 'I was telling people we're only in Winnipeg and people would be surprised,' Richardson says. 'Over and over they would say, 'I didn't know it was local only, and I grew up here.'' RUTH BONNEVILLE / FREE PRESS Kevin Richardson plans to raise awareness about the company's Winnipeg roots with a new 'shop local' social media campaign launching later this month. Chris Rousseau opened the first Shapes gym on Nairn Street in September 1994. Today, there are six: three women's-only locations and three co-ed locations, all of them open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. They include hundreds of pieces of fitness equipment, offer more than 380 group fitness classes each week and employ almost 200 people. Rousseau's son and daughter-in-law, Lyle Rousseau and Christina Teixeira, handle the company's day-to-day operations. 'Chris wanted to offer something made for Manitobans. Anything we do here as a business is done with the province in mind,' Teixeira says. 'In the 31 years, Shapes has withstood time and competition and is still standing, stronger than ever.' One reason the company has lasted is because it's changed with the times. If you walked into a Shapes gym in 1994, you would have encountered free weights, weight lifting machines and treadmills. Those things are still there today, but they're only part of what the business offers. Take for example the company's 1910 Pembina Hwy. location, which underwent a multimillion-dollar renovation five years ago. It includes a cycle room for spin classes, hot yoga studio, room dedicated to high-intensity interval training, monkey bar-like contraption called a Queenax rig for functional training, and a climbing wall. Patrons can relax in massage chairs and the changing rooms include saunas and tanning booths. 'Our goal is to offer what you would find at multiple standalone facilities under one roof at the best possible price,' Teixeira says. RUTH BONNEVILLE / FREE PRESS An instructor checking out the ropes at their new climbing wall. 'We believe we're the right place and we believe it just has to be the right time for customers,' she adds. 'It's our job to help them when they realize it's time to put themselves first.' Teixeira was a university student when she started working at Shapes 17 years ago. 'I fell in love with the people and that's really what this job is: being excited for people actually seeing their fitness goals through or incorporating fitness into their life.' People don't enter a gym on a whim, Teixeira adds. Something is motivating them. It could be someone's made a comment about their appearance or their clothes don't fit the way they want or they're not sleeping well. Shapes staff aim to put newcomers at ease and create an environment where everyone feels welcome. 'When someone walks through that front door, I want them all to understand we all start somewhere. There's a Day 1 for all of us,' she says. 'Put all that hesitation and all those worries behind you. 'Just come and have a talk with someone and you'll be surprised by how you feel when you leave. Nobody's worth it more than you are, when it comes down to it.' Richardson understands. As a university student, he enjoyed working out with friends and ran a few marathons. But by the time he was in his mid-40s, health had taken a backseat to a demanding career in the pharmaceutical industry. He was sedentary, working late nights and eating a lot of fast food. 'I was developing drugs for Type 2 diabetes and at the same time, I was developing Type 2 diabetes myself,' he says. RUTH BONNEVILLE / FREE PRESS The company's 1910 Pembina Hwy. location, underwent a multimillion-dollar renovation five years ago and includes a High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) room. In 2016, when he found out he was going to become a father for the first time, Richardson decided to invest in his health. Through a combination of exercise and changes to his diet, he lost 100 pounds. The next year, he started working at Shapes as a trainer. Today, he's the company's wellness manager — a nebulous title that allows Richardson to take on a variety of duties, including leading corporate wellness initiatives that help businesses support the health of their employees. For Richardson, the mental health benefits that come from working out are just as important as the physical outcomes. One of the things he likes about Shapes is it allows people to get away from their homes and where they work and come together with people of all ages who are working toward a common goal: improving their health. 'I know how hard it is to start living a healthier lifestyle and I don't have any secrets — there are none,' he says. 'But I want people to rethink the gym … It's not what you think it is. You don't have to do as much as you think and the benefits are better than you think it could be.' Richardson plans to raise awareness about the company's Winnipeg roots with a new 'shop local' social media campaign launching later this month. Rather than just put Shapes in the spotlight, the campaign will highlight other Manitoba businesses, too — companies that people might not know originated in the keystone province. Coal and Canary, Stella's and Chocolatier Constance Popp are a few of the businesses that will be featured. Constance Menzies has been passionate about promoting local products ever since she started Chocolatier Constance Popp in 2007 — her offerings include two Manitoba-shaped confections — and appreciated getting Richardson's invitation to participate. RUTH BONNEVILLE / FREE PRESS Shapes member Alp Vaid makes his way across the Queenax training system Monday Mornings The latest local business news and a lookahead to the coming week. 'Kevin has just got great energy around him. It's easy to get motivated by the work that he does,' Menzies says. 'I think he appreciates local, Manitoba-made work and I think he has a respect for local business owners, as well.' In Menzies' experience, consumers are increasingly interested in buying local because it allows them to meet the people who make the products they're purchasing. 'Kevin gets that, so that's very cool.' Richardson wants to highlight as many companies as he can with the campaign. 'We're not looking for anything in return,' he says. 'We're just happy we've been successful for 31 years. Maybe we can help you be successful for 31 years or more.' Aaron EppReporter Aaron Epp reports on business for the Free Press. After freelancing for the paper for a decade, he joined the staff full-time in 2024. He was previously the associate editor at Canadian Mennonite. Read more about Aaron. Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber. Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
SBS Australia
26-04-2025
- Entertainment
- SBS Australia
These Instagrammers want to try every Australian dish. Their favourite might surprise you
Aus Foodiee has become one of the more wholesome accounts on the internet. A narrator who seems to be a newcomer to Australia tries iconic dishes like a vanilla slice, pavlova, supermarket hot chook, Bubble O'Bill ice cream and a Bunnings 'sausage sizzle'. The comment section is full of Australians praising the narrator's calm Korean commentary and sense of wonder at everyday foods, with fans offering recommendations for more classics, such as Arnott's Shapes and Milo. After feedback about how they prepared a hot cross bun "wrong", Aus Foodiee thanked fans and gave it another go in a second video, where they were judged to have prepared it properly — toasted with lots of butter. What fans don't know is that the account is actually the work of two Korean men — Mingoo Lee and Jungho Choi. In their first-ever interview — where they revealed their faces and names — the Aus Foodiee creators spoke to SBS News about how life in Australia has been a surprising treat since arriving two months ago on working holiday visas. "Some people don't use shoes here. I don't know why," Lee said, laughing. "The traditional Aussie has a hairstyle like yours." He pointed to this author's mullet and laughed even harder. Lee, who worked as a videographer in Korea, is typically the one who directs, films and edits the videos. But he doesn't cook, leaving that job to Choi, who has worked as a chef in his day job for over seven years. The reason they don't show their faces is that the videos are easier to edit if there are no shots of people, they said, half-joking. The pair said they have been "best friends for 20 years". They met as eight-year-olds and have maintained a close friendship despite moving to separate cities — Lee lived in Seoul and Choi lived in Busan. It's a far cry from regional Victoria where they're living now, juggling foodie shoots in between work and travel to Melbourne to film at restaurants. Lee said he created the account to help people understand and connect with other cultures, and said what he's learned along the way has helped him adapt to life in Australia. "I didn't expect lots of people's interest, but I think I want to make a very helpful account. And I think food has a very special energy," he said. "I didn't expect us to have an encouraging and powerful effect, but someday we are going to make this channel bigger and bigger and bigger." Their most popular video, with nearly a million views on Instagram and TikTok combined, is the homemade sausage sizzle. Choi caramelises onions, pan-fries a packet of sausages and serves them on white bread with ketchup. Speaking in Korean with auto-generated English captions, Lee says in the video: "This is said to be the national dish of Australians ... I think it's also called Bunnings sausage sizzle. "How to make it is easier than you think." As is often the case with their dishes, fans who frequently comment on their posts gave them another idea, so they filmed a trip to get a sausage in bread from Bunnings, describing it as "meaningful food". Choi and Lee said they weren't sure why so many people loved the sausage video in particular, but they thought the meal was one of the tastiest they've had. The duo laughed, saying they were surprised the sausages were so thin. So what's Lee's favourite dish he discovered in two months in Australia? Choi's favourite is the hot cross bun, though he really enjoys Japanese food. They said Australia's food scene should be described as multicultural. "You can try every country's food, but some are not as good as others," Lee said. He said the Korean food they tried in Melbourne was nice but not spicy enough. The duo plan to make as many videos as they can while in Australia, most likely whatever their audience suggests Choi should cook.
Buzz Feed
01-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Buzz Feed
21 April Fools Day Pranks That Had Us Questioning How Gullible We Are
It's that time of the year — when the internet gets silly and brands start to make up fake products to test our media literacy skills. Happy April Fool's Day, silly billy! Here's how the internet tried to trick us today: 1. This prank (that we not-so-secretly wish wasn't a prank) from Subway and Birds Eye that brings together delicious footlong bread and bangin' hot chips. We're kind of sad that the Footlong Chip Butty isn't real. Imagine hot, chicken-salted chips in warm toasted bread with a light squeeze of tomato sauce? Feels like a carb-y fever dream and we want it sooooo bad. @ might be onto something here. 2. This 2km Ikea concept that will guarantee even longer visits to the lifestyle store. Whoever dreamt this up must have seen it in a nightmare or something. To be fair, it would be a pretty epic set for a horror movie. 3. This Vegemite LUBE (?!) that is so cleverly named "Vagimite". 4. This new app from Transport for NSW that'll help you track down your train, bus or Metro crush with ease. In an alternate reality, this dating app from Transport for NSW would eliminate the "I can't meet people IRL" conversations. 5. This hot flavour collab between Shapes and Chiko that has people begging in the comments for it to be real. Can't get through an April Fool's Day without Shapes trying to launch a new flavour. It's tradition, but we're sad that it's not real every time. 6. This other biccy prank that throws together the salty and crunchy elements of Jatz with creamy, delectable chocolate — and would hit cravings unknown. Instagram: @arnottsbiscuits Arnott's has thrown together their iconic Jatz biscuits with chocolate and the crowd goes wild! Too bad, it's April 1. 7. This charcoal skincare line from the chicken grilling legends at El Jannah — which feels on-brand, but also has us wondering, "What the heck is going on?" El Jannah You can lock down an El Jannah charcoal face mask, hand cream, hair scrub and even a TOOTHPASTE for a smoky musk and glow all over your body. Do you think there's toum (garlic sauce) in the bottle? 8. Again, this Matcha Milk from Big M Australia that's actually a good idea, considering how many people are frothing over the drink. Instagram: @bigmaustralia Big M dropped a big announcement — they're launching Matcha Milk. This would trap some of you (including us). Just think of all the biccys you can dunk in it! 9. This personalised plates for bikes prank, which is lowkey a good idea for safety! Personalised Plates Queensland The Queensland Maroons are getting amongst the silliness of today by jumping on bikes with personalised number plates. Will we need to get rego for these too? Please disclose the fees — surely it can't be more than a car. 10. This brand new fragrance from Contiki, which apparently has notes of 'adventure' — whatever that means! Contiki Eau de Contiki has scent notes of ski slope snow, sunscreen, food trips, tears (of joy and sadness) and something Magic. And if you're missing Rome, don't stress, they've reassured every sprayer that there's a splash of water from the Trevi Fountain. 11. This ice block scented deodorant body spray that sounds like nostalgia in a can. Do you think we can eat it? Instagram: @tradiebrand Tradie — famous for their socks, undies and apparel — has teamed up with the good people at Zooper Dooper to prank Aussies with a new launch. The two brands have created a Zoo Dooper deodorant, which will probably send shockwaves through the Lynx using community. 12. This ooey, gooey joke as part of Hungry Jack's newest breakfast launch — the Eggs Benny Roll. If your name was Penny, Jenny or Denny — or really anything that rhymes with Benny — you would've gotten a FREE brekkie roll, drizzled with hollandaise sauce. 13. This truly unserious set of greeting cards from CAR BRAND, Toyota. Toyota What business does Toyota have making greeting cards? Either way, the marketing professional that put these together deserves a medal — these actually gave us a good chuckle. 14. This (maybe) prank from Twisties, which sees the return of a nostalgic classic that turns your tongue blue. So sorry if this is real! Twisties Twisties has 'resurrected' their Sour Blueberry flavour. Show of hands, who asked for this? These crunchy berry-flavoured corn snacks transform the surface of your tongue into a bright blue colour. So real! 15. This oh-so-delicious-and-totally-genuine Salmon Seltzer from Mr Miyagi with hints of crispy nori and Japanese mayonnaise. Mr Miyagi This Victorian restaurant has dreamed up a mildly-feral drink that might entice salmon lovers. Introducing Mr Miyagi's Salmon Seltzer — inspired by their Salmon Nori Taco. Will you let the fizz and flavours of fish, crispy seaweed, kimchi, Japanese mayo and cabbage tickle your tastebuds? 16. This left-field approach from Jim's Group that launches a new division Instagram: @jimsgroupofficial The franchise giant has launched a new division named Jim's Annuities. Thank goodness it's a prank, because according to the announcement on their Instagram, people signed onto the program will be asked to smoke "at least two packs a day, for life." If you quit, you don't get paid. 17. This other Vegemite collab with Doughnut Time that walks a fine line between believable and prank. Instagram: @doughnut_time 18. This rebrand from Sour Patch Kids to "Just Patch Kids" that feels slightly passive aggressive. Instagram: @sourpatchkids According to the candy brand's social account, they're no longer making the chewable children sour. It's "Just Patch" now. You can read their full statement here. 19. This announcement from Mad Mex that'll see airplane food completely transformed. Instead of your boring airplane meals, Mad Mex is trying to convince the people that they've taken their burritos, tacos, salsas and more up to the skies. If only that were really the case. 20. This decaf version of iced coffee from Dare is making the rounds — and it'd be pretty valid if you were just drinking coffee for its taste. Instagram: @dareicedcoffee Like one comment said, "Despite the date, there might be a market for that" — we can't help but agree. 21. And finally, not an Aussie prank but across the pond, this New York sandwich shop who teamed up with a baby food brand to launch a line of BLENDED SANDWICHES. Little Spoon/Court Street This sounds like a sensory NIGHTMARE. Little Spoon and Court Street have put together five blended flavours — Clean Turkey, Italian Combo, Reuben, Tunaberry and Mr Victor. All of them include a healthy serve of mushed up proteins, veggies and sauces. Yummo!
The Guardian
05-02-2025
- Lifestyle
- The Guardian
Are young people really ‘marshmellows' who refuse to put work first? Yes. And it's great
Breaking news: oldies want to talk about work ethic. Again. Young people have been getting jobs and simply attending them during their contracted hours and, frankly, the oldies have had enough. 'Meeting targets' is out. 'Great customer service' is nothing. Even 'saving lives' can't make up for rudely clocking off when the day ends. The only way to be great at your job is to exist there for as many minutes as humanly possible. The most recent complaint is from a hospital administrator, allegedly responding to a junior doctor's rostering issue, who's claimed the future will be a 'workforce of clinical marshmellows' [sic]. I'm keen to know what makes a marshmallow 'clinical', or why this person doesn't recognise marshmallows as one of confectionary's hardest and most delicious workers. But more importantly: it's just. so. boring. This claim is as tired as the people making it (because they never go home). Sign up for a weekly email featuring our best reads I don't mean that it's wrong. It's not. In my experience, each generation is less inclined than the last to put work first. GREAT. They probably don't have their entire identity tied up in what they do. Maybe they don't have panic attacks about being productive. I've heard rumours some of them don't even have email on their phones. The problem is what older generations mean. One hundred years ago, when these people were themselves young and making their way in the world, work-life balance was different. If Facebook nostalgia is to be believed, they started out their working lives serving milkshakes and having mum cook them dinner every night, only to graduate to carrying a briefcase and having their wife cook dinner every night. 'Work' meant dictating a single letter to a secretary, and 'life' meant watching Australia's Funniest Home Videos. Even for me, a millennial – I am 42 years old – the 'life' part of work-life balance began with smoking bongs in the park and setting pass-agg statuses on MSN Messenger. When I got home from work in 2000, I ate Shapes and played The Sims for six hours. But this is late-stage capitalism. Young people's bones have been ground to make Boomers' bread and 'work-life balance' is a grossly inadequate term to describe what they're actually doing. They're not clocking out – on time, not even early – to go to a warehouse party. No one pays them enough to keep up with cocaine prices anyway. The 'life' part of 'work-life balance' is unrecognisable. 'Life' for someone in their 20s is actually just several other kinds of work peppered with watching MAFS on the toilet. Today's young person heads off to work knowing they can't afford a home. Then they return to their eight-person share house where 'life' looks something like this: worry about their friends; panic about climate inaction; doomscroll; attend a ceasefire rally; wonder which country will nuke first; learn about tariffs; watch a TikTok about ADHD symptoms; decide whether to buy food or electricity; help a friend in crisis; breathe in black mould; get on a psychologist's waitlist; monetise a hobby; feel guilty about not doing enough to fix everything. Without intending it, that hospital administrator is right on the money. A future of 'clinical marshmellows' [sic again] is a very realistic outcome of unprecedented existential threat. On the other hand, if the email does somehow motivate staff to work more, they could actually become stupider. It's a both-ways bet. Classic Gen X. Of course, we know this isn't new. Generations have been fighting about who has it worse since before we invented generations. There's something comforting about it. Younger generations aren't lazy, they're just newer. Today I read a 1920s agony aunt column complaining of 'lazy young people'. I read a 1954 letter to the editor, in which Julia calls herself 'one of those lazy young people you read so much about today.' And in another 40 years, if we still have above-water land masses, someone named Jayden will be shaking his sleeve tattoo at Gen Delta. Until the economy improves enough to let anyone retire, we will be locked in a timeless stalemate – old people banging away on their smartphones, and young people being told how easy they have it.
