Latest news with #Therabody
Los Angeles Times
10-07-2025
- Business
- Los Angeles Times
Amazon Prime Day sales off 41% first day, brand adviser says
Inc took a big gamble this year by expanding its annual Prime Day summer sale to four days from two, betting the extension would give shoppers more time to navigate the millions of deals on its sprawling web store. Some of the preliminary results are grim, raising the stakes for the event's remaining days. Momentum Commerce, which manages online sales for 50 brands in a variety of product categories and price points, said its Amazon sales plunged 41% on Tuesday when compared with the start of Prime Day last year. The prolonged event has encouraged shoppers to do more 'treasure hunting,' said John Shea, Momentum's founder and chief executive officer. Consumers are browsing and loading up shopping carts, but postponing pulling the trigger in case better deals emerge. Shorter Prime Day sales generated more urgency because shoppers worried they'd miss the discounts, he said. Momentum Commerce sales over the four days could still increase 9.1% compared with last year's two-day event if more browsers make purchases in the final days, Shea said. Momentum manages sales on behalf of brands like Crocs, Beats and Therabody massagers and generates about $7 billion in annual sales on Amazon, giving the company a broad view of Prime Day results so far. 'It all hinges on this four-day strategy being a success,' Shea said. 'Amazon sacrificed a lot on Day 1. It's a wildly unpredictable and uncertain year.' 'They extended Prime Day from two days to four days, so it's unclear that there really is a dropoff in activity,' said Gil Luria, an analyst at D.A. Davidson & Co. 'We'll find out some when they report the quarter. But it's very hard to pin down how well Prime Day has gone.' After Bloomberg published this story, Amazon emailed a statement saying: 'Typical of statements made by third-party consultancies that don't have access to the actual data, these numbers are highly inaccurate.' The company declined to say how the numbers are inaccurate. The annual event has emerged as a bellwether of consumer sentiment since President Donald Trump's trade war clouded the economic outlook. Tariffs as high as 145% on foreign imports were threatened and then delayed to allow time for negotiations, making it difficult to determine where prices will settle. Amazon doubled the length of the annual sale because shoppers indicated they wanted more time to navigate the deals, Prime chief Jamil Ghani said Wednesday in an interview on Bloomberg Television. Shoppers gravitated toward 'everyday essentials' like teeth-whitening strips, which is the fastest-growing category on Amazon, he said, adding that the company was 'pleased by the engagement' and that it's 'very early.' Shoppers focused on low-cost items on the first day, snatching up deals on dish soap, protein shakes and other pantry staples rather than splurging on televisions and gaming consoles. Almost two-thirds of items purchased on Prime Day cost less than $20, while just 3% cost more than $100 on the first day of the four-day sale, according to Numerator, which tracked more than 7,000 orders from 3,855 households. 'Consumers appear to be purchasing a greater number of items at a lower price point this Prime Day, with the average price per item slightly lower,' Numerator analyst Amanda Schoenbauer said. 'However, with this year's sale extended to four days, there is potential for Prime Day 2025 to break previous records.' US shoppers spent $7.9 billion online across all retailers on Tuesday, up 9.9% from July 16, 2024, last year's first day of Prime Day, according to Adobe Inc., which expects spending over the four-day period to hit $23.8 billion. The Amazon sale overlaps with multiday sales offered by Walmart Inc. and Target Corp., creating an online shopping frenzy. 'The halo effect of Prime Day this year on other retailers is more significant,' Momentum Commerce's Shea said. Soper writes for Bloomberg.
New York Post
28-06-2025
- Business
- New York Post
Popular social media chiropractor ‘Dr. Mike' sues Therabody for allegedly ripping off his designs
A chiropractor with nearly 4 million social media followers is accusing the high-end wellness technology company Therabody of ripping off his designs for specialized tips that attach to its pricey massage guns. Therabody took credit for the thumb- and wedge-shaped tips invented by Dr. Michael Wasilisin — known to followers of his MoveU brand as 'Dr. Mike' — and began selling them as attachments for its popular, $650 Theraguns, Wasilisin alleges in a suit filed in Los Angeles federal court Tuesday. The company's founder, Jason Wersland, had promised to credit and compensate Wasilisin for the roughly $25 attachments during a meeting in August 2017 – then reneged, according to court documents. 3 Dr. Michael Wasilisin claims he invented the thumb- and wedge-shaped massager tips now sold by Therabody. Obtained by the New York Post 3 Therabody's popular Theraguns run up to $650. 'I expected the compensation would be significant, because my attachments are in most homes, gyms, retail stores, and sports clinics in America. The deal with Jason was tied to their success – more value, more pay,' Wasilisin, who is seeking unspecified damages, told The Post. A Therabody spokesperson said the company intends to 'vigorously defend' itself against the lawsuit's allegations, which they believe are 'without merit.' 3 Wasilisin, known to followers of his MoveU brand as 'Dr. Mike,' is seeking unspecified damages against Therabody. Moveu
CNET
18-06-2025
- Health
- CNET
I Tested the First Full-Scale, AI-Powered Gym -- Are Humans Still Required?
Before you even enter the building, you'll want to know more about Fred Fitness as you see members with Therabody JetBoots wrapped around their legs, providing compression, vibration and red light therapy to recover after a workout. All this tech doesn't dilute the welcoming atmosphere provided by the warm wood beams, plant life, plush seating and a community table. However, as you venture further into the gym, you'll see it's filled with AI-powered machines and fitness tech designed to maximize your workouts. I was intrigued. As a wellness expert who pays close attention to whether new technology and trends can actually benefit our health, I aimed to find out if Fred Fitness, the first full-scale AI gym, could potentially be the future of fitness. Anna trying the Therabody JetBoots. Anna Gragert/CNET How does Fred Fitness work? Fred Fitness was launched in mid-February by CEO Andre Enzensberger, whose brother Alfred founded the Clever Fit gym franchise in Germany. To break into the US market with a unique concept, Alfred teamed up with smart fitness technology company EGYM, which created Genius, an AI that generates training plans. Fred Fitness is now the first full-scale EGYM. It all starts on your wrist, with a green band that is the key to your entire experience. It contains all your information and workout history -- your height, weight, strength, pace, reps, sets and even your biological age -- all controlled by Genius. Since it was my first time here, I was guided by General Manager Miguel Alvino, who emphasized, "We are super people-driven. The tech is just here to assist us." Alvino demonstrates how the wristband connects to the fitness hub. Anna Gragert/CNET In other words, it's not like your average gym where you can sign up and immediately begin working out on the machines. It involves teaching members how to use the machinery, and make adjustments. Fred Fitness has received negative feedback for taking away trainers' jobs with its AI tech, but even in the short time I was there, I saw several staff members walking around to offer members assistance. The Fred Fitness fitness assessment Every member starts with a fitness assessment, during which they learn their biological age. It takes about an hour. The equipment for this process is in its own section and contains an InBody body composition analyzer, EGYM chest press, leg press and two fitness hubs, where all the onboarding happens. You simply tap your wristband on the fitness hub, log in and answer questions about your birthdate, gym training experience, areas of the body you want to focus on, injuries and any pieces of exercise equipment you want to avoid. You also choose your main fitness goal out of the options general fitness, body toning, rehab, athletic, weight loss or muscle building. Each goal shows the different percentages the machine will use to create your workout. General fitness, the one I chose, is composed of 40% strength, 40% cardio and 20% mobility and flexibility. I then stepped back on a gray EGYM mat and the camera turned on to measure my height. It was spot on. I took my shoes and socks off to step on the InBody body composition analyzer. It recorded my weight and then I was instructed to grab onto the machine's arms so it could scan the rest of my body. Anna using the InBody body composition analyzer. Anna Gragert/CNET The fitness hub allows you to choose whether or not to see your body composition stats, such as your metabolic rate, muscle mass and fat mass for each arm and leg. Either way, it shows your biological age, so you know where you're starting. Alvino mentioned that you can retake your assessment. He often advises members to come back first thing in the morning when fasting to take the test for more accurate results. Next, I stepped back on the EGYM mat, was handed a wooden pole and began the flexibility test. The fitness hub demonstrated different stretches it wanted me to hold with the pole for balance and then used its camera to measure the degree of my flexibility. I struggled to follow the machine here, and occasionally the camera was unable to recognize my purple sneakers, so I appreciated that Alvino was there. Eventually, I had to remove my sneakers, and the camera was better able to identify my bright white socks. I could also understand why members would want the option to retake the test after they are used to the machinery. Anna taking the flexibility test. Anna Gragert/CNET Next, I took the strength test, which involved logging into chest and leg press machines with my wristband so the equipment could have my information. All equipment runs on gamification software, which Alvino compared to Pac-Man. Essentially, after a tutorial, you push and pull the machine to make a circle go up or down along a path where you can collect coins on the screen. At certain points, the machine would remind me to breathe out. I enjoyed this aspect of it, since I didn't feel like I was working out, and I was still able to focus on what I was doing. Anna tests her strength on the leg press. Anna Gragert/CNET Each machine currently has four different training modes: regular, negative, eccentric and concentric. Because the machines are electric, they can maximize your muscle contractions by providing resistance. As I got set up at the different machines, Alvino adjusted them for my arm and leg length but mentioned that an "extremity update" would soon be coming that would have the machines measure your limbs and adjust for this automatically. Though a trainer will still be there to make sure it's the right fit, this should decrease the amount of physical adjustments they have to make. At this point, I realized how crucial Alvino's presence was during this test and asked if members typically do it by themselves with the machine as their only guide. "Originally, that was the idea of how it worked. Early on, we learned that was never going to be a thing," he said. "We've shifted even more so that original idea to now you can see [trainers] walking around and we are fully staffed at all times. That's because we want to make sure we have human people available and trainers on staff." Next was my final test -- the cardio test. Fred Fitness uses new Matrix treadmills that were launched at the end of 2024. These machines allow you to log into Netflix, Spotify and more. You also only have to do so once because your wristband saves all that info for you. The treadmills also use a gamification system, in which you have to keep pace so that a ball moves along a corridor on your screen. During the test, it asks you every 60 seconds what your fatigue level is, and once you hit nine, the workout will stop. You can also pause at any time. Anna taking the cardio test. Anna Gragert/CNET This was another part of the test when I was glad to have a human guide. When the treadmill picked up the pace faster than I expected, I wanted it to pause, but had trouble pressing on the touchscreen. Then, the faster it went, the more trouble I had because I was focused on running and not falling over. Eventually, Alvino had to come over to stop the machine for me. The Genius AI workout plan Between the cardio, strength and flexibility tests, the fitness hub was able to show me my biological age for each category, which gave me a good idea of what I have to work on. Then, Genius uses these metrics to generate a workout plan, which you can access on the Fred Fitness app. All of this is included in the membership, which is $150 per month. There are no hidden fees -- the only add-on is an extra $15 per month charge if you'd like the gym to provide you with towels for showering. Alvino showing us his Genius workout plan on the Fred Fitness app. Anna Gragert/CNET If you don't like the workout plan Genius creates, you can re-order the exercises or do "individual" mode instead, treating it like a normal gym where you do whatever you want. As part of the membership, you can also sit down with one of the Fred Fitness personal trainers, who can use the Genius plan as a base, but then further customize the whole plan so that you'll enjoy it more. Trainers can also upload their own workouts into the app, for which there are options you can do at home or when traveling. Once you're done with your fitness assessment and have your plan, you're free to use the entire gym. In addition to the machines in the general "open mode" area, there is a circuit training area where you can do a full-body workout in 40 minutes, a "game day" area where members can compete to get their name on a leader board and win a prize (this month, it's a $300 InBody smart scale), a cardio deck, specialty machines and dumbbells. The Fred Fitness "game day" area and leaderboard. Anna Gragert/CNET Interestingly, downstairs, there is an "analog room" where they keep the AI tech out. Here, you can find Hyperice massage guns, a cable system, ZeroWheels (which Alvino dubbed "the ab rollers of the future"), yoga mats and foam rollers. Upstairs, there are locker rooms complete with Dyson Airwraps and hand dryers, so tech is omnipresent in the gym. The analog room. Anna Gragert/CNET The future of fitness -- and Fred Fitness "We've learned a lot with this one. When we opened, we had no dumbbells. We had no cable system. We're just paying attention," said Alvino. "We'll probably never be that gym that has a sauna or cold plunge. We want to stay focused on what we're really good at and let the people who are really good at that stuff do that stuff." However, Fred Fitness does recognize that some members want those other amenities, so on its app, it offers discounts to businesses that offer cold plunges, saunas, healthy meals, supplements and more. One of the most surprising aspects of the gym is that, other than the energetic workout music, it's relatively quiet. There is no clinking or clanking machinery -- just a peaceful hum. As someone who is sensitive to loud sounds and can experience sensory sensitivity when overstimulated, I could see myself enjoying workouts here. A view of the machine floors. Anna Gragert/CNET Since fully opening on Feb. 15, Fred Fitness has about 600 members. Within nine months to a year, Fred Fitness plans to open a new location in Culver City, California. As if on cue, when I walked out of the gym, a self-driving car was parked outside. While I watched it drive off, I asked myself: Is an AI-powered gym something I would sign up for? If I could afford the $150 per month membership and it was in my area, I would. I like the AI-driven training that personalizes your workouts and adapts each machine to your plan, but most importantly, I appreciate that there are personal trainers there who can correct your form. I would say that this gym would be great for someone who doesn't want human contact when they work out, but I do think that personal touch (literally) is still essential -- at least for now.
New York Post
08-06-2025
- Business
- New York Post
United Airlines' new business class offerings may be the best thing that's happened to air travel
Not since the advent of the lie-flat bed, has a business class offering been more of a gamechanger. OK, this might only be true if you've got as much of a sweet tooth as I do, but hear me out – you're cruising along at 38,000 feet, feet up on your glorious recliner, full of your gourmet dinner, when something absolutely glorious, and unexpected, comes rattling down the aisle. Advertisement An ice cream sundae cart! With all the trimmings! On a plane! I rest my case. United Airlines is famous for this particular in-flight miracle, which has reached icon status among its passengers. After your meal, the cart comes along, offering to adorn your vanilla or chocolate ice cream scoop with hot fudge sauce, whipped cream, slivered toasted almonds, M&Ms and a cherry on top. If there's a better food experience on a plane, I haven't had it. New cabins 5 There are eight of the new seats in each upgraded cabin, located at the front of each business class section. United Advertisement Last month, United Airlines unveiled its new United Elevated interior, which includes sliding privacy doors for all business class seats, and a brand new studio suite experience. There are eight of the new seats in each upgraded cabin, located at the front of each business class section. They are 25 per cent larger than the standard business offering and offer even more privacy. I flew from Sydney to LA on the standard Polaris service, here's how it went down. Baggage Like most business class offerings, your ticket includes two free checked bags, up to 32kg (70.5 lbs.) each, which is a challenge I was unable to meet, with my puny 22kg (48.5 lbs.) offering. You're also entitled to Premier Access, which is essentially a priority check-in lane, and the promise of seeing your bags faster on the other side with priority bag handling. Lounge Advertisement 5 United Airlines unveiled its new United Elevated interior, which includes sliding privacy doors for all business class seats, and a brand new studio suite experience. United Polaris customers also get access to United Polaris lounges, where they are available (currently there are six, Chicago O'Hare, Houston Intercontinental, LAX, New York Newark, San Francisco and Washington Dulles). Don't worry, if there's no Polaris Lounge at your departure airport, you will get access to a partner lounge of your choice. I used the Polaris Lounge at LAX. It features deluxe shower rooms with Therabody products, an a la carte restaurant (order the famous burger and the skillet cookie, even if you're not hungry, trust me on this) as well as a buffet for lighter meal options. If you're already tired, there's a private rest area with daybeds, soft lighting and white noise to help you rest and relax The seats 5 Like most business class offerings, your ticket includes two free checked bags, up to 32kg each. United Advertisement Like many business class offerings, the staggered 1-2-1 seat configuration means every seat is an aisle seat, but window seats are definitely the pick of the bunch. But not all window seats are created equal – to enable a full lie-flat experience, the seats are offset, with one being right next to the window, the next being closer to the aisle and so forth. This makes seats 1L or 9L superior choices, as they are both front of their respective parts of the cabin, closest to the windows and with the most privacy and least disturbance from the aisle. There was lots of legroom, as expected, and top notch extras, including noise-reducing headphones, bedding from Saks Fifth Avenue, premium toiletries and premium mattress toppers available on request (please, tell me, who is not requesting a complimentary 'mattress cloud'?). Food 5 A cart offers to adorn your vanilla or chocolate ice cream scoop with hot fudge sauce, whipped cream, slivered toasted almonds, M&Ms and a cherry on top. United In addition to the expected champagne on arrival, the meals were excellent on my flight. The main meal is an event, with warmed mixed nuts, a main you can pre-order before you fly (I chose roasted salmon with hollandaise and pearl couscous) salad, bread and the aforementioned sundae. Still hungry after your movie is over? They offer midnight snacks, including an extremely melty grilled cheese sandwich, available anytime, and a snack bar you can help yourself to. The app 5 Polaris customers get access to United Polaris lounges, where they are available (currently there are six). United It can be hard to stand out in a saturated airline market where most offerings are variations on the same thing, but United's app is where it truly shines. Advertisement I've never come across such an efficient and user-friendly airline app experience. You can obviously plan and book using it, but it's once you arrive at the airport that it comes into its own. My gate changed, no worries, I got a notification. Boarding about to start? told me that too. In-flight I was updated about changes to our arrival time and upon landing, it knew my bag was about to come out onto the carousel before it was visible. There's also a terminal guide, meal and seat choices and delay and cancellation options but it's the real-time notifications, taking some of the stress and uncertainty out of travel, that gets my vote. The writer travelled as a guest of United Airlines
Malaysian Reserve
05-06-2025
- Business
- Malaysian Reserve
Momentum Commerce Celebrates Fourth Anniversary with the Opening of a New Boston Office
Digital Commerce Technology and Services Company Manages $500M+ in Retail Media Spend, Drives $10B+ in Client Sales, and Opens Larger Boston Office to Fuel Continued Expansion BOSTON, June 5, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Momentum Commerce celebrated its fourth anniversary and extraordinary growth with the opening of a new Boston office in the heart of Back Bay at 10 Saint James Avenue. Since its launch in 2021, Momentum Commerce has grown exponentially, reflecting surging demand for its technology platform Velocity™ and data-driven commerce and media services. In just four years of operation, Momentum Commerce has: Built a team of 60+ marketplace experts across data science, engineering, and client services Launched Velocity™, an industry-leading digital retail technology platform covering 37M products and 879k brands to guide strategic decisions on assortment, merchandising, pricing, inventory forecasting, and advertising Managed over $500 million in retail media investment for enterprise brand clients Delivered more than $10 billion in digital retail sales to enterprise brand clients Opened world-class offices in New York City and Boston Presented lectures on Amazon and Retail Media at Harvard Business School Published data analysis featured in the Financial Times, Bloomberg, Newsweek, USA Today, and many other publications Earned recognition as a top-3 independent Amazon Advertising Agency partner The new Boston office features premium collaborative and focussed work spaces alongside advanced technical infrastructure. With the upgraded, larger workspace, Momentum Commerce is positioned to accelerate its innovation in AI-powered retail solutions while supporting the company's rapid scaling. Client Success and Strategic Partnerships Momentum Commerce's exponential growth is driven by a roster of renowned clients and strategic industry partnerships. The firm works with well-known consumer brands – including Beats by Dre, Crocs, Generac, HEYDUDE, Peloton, Sitka Gear, Stella & Chewy's, Solo Stove, Therabody, Vari, Boll & Branch and more – delivering data-driven solutions that consistently drive market-leading results in online marketplaces. Through strategic partnerships with Amazon, Momentum Commerce is delivering exceptional results across multiple channels. Crocs' HEYDUDE achieved remarkable performance metrics working with Momentum Commerce, including an 11.4x return on ad spend across using Amazon DSP, with 46.8% of conversions representing new customer acquisition. The partnership also drove a +13.3% increase in average order value for Buy with Prime orders, demonstrating Momentum Commerce's ability to drive both growth and profitability across multiple sales channels. Therabody achieved a remarkable 148% year-over-year increase in Amazon sales on Cyber Monday (Therabody scores sales with Amazon Ads strategy | Amazon Ads). IQBAR saw its Amazon sales surge by 194% during Prime Day (Momentum Commerce helps drive Prime Day sales | Amazon Ads), showcasing Momentum Commerce's ability to drive exponential growth during critical retail events. Technology-Driven Differentiation At the core of Momentum Commerce's market leadership is its unique fusion of high-touch strategic consulting with advanced proprietary technology. Underpinned by a structured database tracking over 37 million products and 875,000 brands, the company's Velocity™ marketplace intelligence platform has evolved into a groundbreaking AI-powered strategic advisor for brands. The latest innovation, Velocity™ AI Assistant, delivers CEO-level strategic insights in seconds, analyzing complex market dynamics, competitive shifts, category attractiveness, market share dynamics, pricing trends, and growth opportunities across the digital retail landscape. This sophisticated AI layer, built atop years of structured marketplace data, delivers board room-ready insights that traditionally required weeks of consulting analysis. Approximately one-third of the firm's team members are data scientists or engineers, reflecting an ongoing investment in technical talent to continually enhance these capabilities. This fusion of technology and service enables clients to receive both personalized strategic guidance and the scale and precision of advanced analytics. Momentum Commerce's service offerings have also continually evolved to meet the changing needs of the digital commerce landscape. While the company initially specialized in Amazon marketplace strategy and Amazon Ads management, it has since expanded its expertise to additional retail platforms including and Instacart. By extending support beyond Amazon, Momentum Commerce ensures that clients can capitalize on growth opportunities across a broad range of online channels and emerging retail media networks. Vision and Leadership 'Four years ago, we set out to build a digital commerce consultancy that could marry deep analytics with hands-on expertise to help brands win online,' said John T. Shea, Founder and CEO of Momentum Commerce. 'Now, we're taking the next step. By investing heavily in building the industry's premier structured marketplace database and developing best-in-class AI solutions for retail enablement, we're furthering our goal of being the most respected company in digital commerce enablement. Combined with our deep marketplace expertise, our investments in AI and technology position us uniquely to help brands navigate and win in the increasingly complex e-commerce landscape.' About Momentum Commerce Momentum Commerce is the premier digital retail consultancy transforming how brands win in today's dynamic e-commerce landscape. Founded in 2021 by former Google and Criteo executive John T. Shea, the firm combines advanced AI technology with deep marketplace expertise to deliver unparalleled results across Amazon, Walmart, Target, Instacart, emerging marketplaces and retail media networks. Managing $10 billion in digital commerce sales annually, the firm specializes in retail media management, data insights, and growth strategies for category-leading brands including Beats by Dre, Crocs, Generac, HEYDUDE, Peloton, Sitka Gear, Stella & Chewy's, Solo Stove, Therabody, and Vari. Momentum Commerce is setting new standards for e-commerce excellence through its innovative solutions, strategic guidance, and measurable client success. Contact:Ruben
