I’ve used the Oura ring to track my menstrual cycle for the past four years, and it’s the only device I trust to do so. My Oura ring knew I was pregnant before I did, helped me keep an eye on my vitals during pregnancy, and monitor how ready I was for exercise with a toddler who doesn’t sleep. That, and many others, is a reason why it’s at the top of our list of the best smart rings.

But Oura is doing far more behind the scenes — in fact, it’s designing algorithms for women, something that shouldn’t be groundbreaking in 2025, but really is. We sat down with Oura’s resident women’s health expert, Dr. Neta Gotlieb. Gotlieb is a Senior Product Manager and Clinical Research Scientist, who has led the teams that developed Cycle Insights and Pregnancy Insights on the Oura ring.

Dr. Gotlieb earned a Master’s Degree in Biological Psychology from Tel Aviv University and a PhD in Reproductive Neuroendocrinology from University of California Berkeley, where she focused on the neural regulation of menstrual cycles, pregnancy, and birth. She has also received the Women in Tech Global Technology Leadership Award. 

A mother of two daughters, Dr. Gotlieb is the author of the children’s book, Every Body’s Brain.

Tech, training and tracking — three fixes that boost conversions in 90 days

Remember when the front desk just handed out towels and smiled? Those days are gone. In today’s crowded fitness market, your front-of-house team isn’t simply providing customer service — it’s your first, and often best, shot at converting a prospect/lead into a member. Yet many clubs still leave money on the counter because staff aren’t set up to track or nurture leads.

Turning a casual “hi” into “sign me up” comes down to three basics. The Sales Arms, a remote sales team specializing in revenue growth for fitness facilities, call them the Three Ts. Master these and your front desk shifts from passive reception to a true revenue driver.

Let’s dive into the Three Ts and see how they can transform your team into expert lead managers.

• 

  Without a robust, well-integrated tech stack, even the best teams will struggle to manage leads efficiently. Modern fitness sales require seamless communication, automation, and data visibility.

  Give your team superpowers:

  • Send mass SMS, emails, and automate follow-ups.
  • Use a call system with recording, voicemail drops, and easy callback features.
  • Track every lead’s position within an extended sales journey.
  • Integrate CRM tools that simplify — not complicate — daily tasks.
  • Enable fast access to vendor support to avoid downtime.

  Many studios operate with fragmented or outdated systems, making it nearly impossible for front desk teams to nurture leads effectively.

  Tip:
  Conduct a quarterly tech audit to ensure all systems align with lead management goals and that staff are fully trained on using every feature.

  Chris Appiah, The Sales Arms Founder and CEO, advises operators to be mindful of the full spectrum of options available. 

  “The biggest oversight I see is not including all three major forms of communication – phone calls, text messages, and emails – in your lead and member management processes,” Appiah says. “Don’t pigeonhole yourself by only using one or two forms of communication, especially with your new leads. Until someone engages with you, you don’t know how they prefer to communicate, and you want to be able to meet each individual where they’re at.” 

  Book a complimentary discovery call for a tech stack audit and discover how top studios streamline lead engagement.

• 

  2. Training: Create a Culture of Continuous Improvement

  Sales isn’t a “set it and forget it” process. The Sales Arms highlights that front desk teams thrive when treated like sales athletes — requiring ongoing coaching, practice and refinement.

  Turn reps into sales athletes:

  • Develop a structured follow-up cadence, tailored for both new leads and missed sales opportunities.
  • Implement 30-touchpoint strategies to manage today’s longer sales cycles without overwhelming staff.
  • Schedule regular role-playing sessions to handle objections, upsell confidently, and personalize the sales conversation.
  • Simplify service offerings to make “prescribing” the right membership or package intuitive.
  • Foster a mindset where continuous learning is expected and supported.

  Too often, studios rely solely on initial onboarding, leaving teams to “figure it out” — a major reason why leads fall through the cracks. 

  Tip:
  Introduce bi-weekly training sessions focused on real scenarios, and review follow-up cadences quarterly to ensure they align with evolving member behaviors.

  Appiah says that a lead and member management cadence is not one size fits all. 

  “Yoga customers tend to like a softer approach, while we see with HIIT modalities that clients prefer a more direct, right-to-the-point conversation,” he says. “It’s important to hone in on the cadence and tone that work best for your client base.”

  Schedule a free training audit to implement sustainable follow-up systems and ongoing coaching.

• 

  3. Tracking: Drive Accountability Through Data

  “Teams do what you inspect, not what you expect.” This core philosophy underpins The Sales Arms’ approach to performance management.

  Studios should focus on:

  See Also

  
  

  • Defining clear KPIs: Track metrics like follow-up completion rates, conversion percentages, response times and touchpoint consistency.
  • Implementing regular performance reviews: Weekly check-ins ensure accountability and provide opportunities to address gaps in lead management.
  • Establishing incentive programs: Motivate front desk teams with structured rewards tied to measurable outcomes — not just effort, but results.
  • Creating a culture of feedback: Use tracking data to identify coachable moments, encouraging staff development through constructive insights.
  • Ensuring visibility: Simple dashboards or reports should make performance transparent, so both owners and staff know where they stand.

  The Sales Arms works with operators to embed these practices, ensuring front desk teams stay aligned with sales goals and continuously improve.

  Actionable Tip:
  Introduce weekly performance reviews and align incentives with clearly defined KPIs to foster accountability and motivation.

  The best way to understand exactly what needs to be changed in the delivery or language, according to Appiah, is to listen to call recordings and read text message conversations where your team speaks to your leads. “This will allow you to uncover areas of opportunity and coach your team using real examples,” Appiah says. 

  Contact The Sales Arms for a complimentary consultation on building tracking systems and performance-based incentives.

• 

  Turning Strategy Into Results

  Here’s a real-world example of the Three Ts at work. When Chromacore set out to open the world’s first studio blending Lagree Fitness with color‑therapy in Portland, Oregon, founders Sara and Linda Stimac knew they needed more than marketing buzz — they needed a bulletproof sales engine before day one. They partnered with The Sales Arms and put the Three Ts into motion:

  • Tech — A CRM with two‑way SMS and automated nurture kept every inquiry in view and every prospect engaged.
  • Training — A 30‑touch, 21‑day follow‑up cadence was drilled through weekly role‑plays, ensuring staff echoed the same consultative script the remote Sales Arms rep used online.
  • Tracking — Daily dashboards aligned everyone on four must‑hit targets: 80% leads to first booking, 75% bookings to show, 50 % shows to enroll, and 15% total leads to enrollment.

  The impact was immediate. Chromacore sold 88 Founder’s Memberships in its first month, then maintained a 40% lead‑to‑member conversion rate as full‑price memberships rolled out. Within a year the studio crossed the 300‑member profitability threshold, and monthly gross sales climbed by $4,500 on average. Clients never sensed that the friendly voice on the phone was off-site, which is proof that seamless tech, steady training and transparent tracking can turn any front desk into a revenue powerhouse.

  Studios aiming for the same lift can start with a complimentary Three T assessment.Dive deeper into the Chromacore success story in the full case study.

HANGZHOU – From April 23 to 25, 2025, the Third UNESCO High-level Forum for Museums was held in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province. More than 190 Chinese and foreign guests, including museum curators, experts and representatives of relevant institutions from more than 60 countries and regions, gathered in Liangzhu to discuss the innovation and development of museums.

Mr. Ernesto Ottone R., Assistant Director-General for Culture, UNESCO delivers the opening speech.

“Museums are the most visited cultural sites in the world, and their development is also facing multiple challenges.” said Mr. Ernesto Ottone R., Assistant Director-General for Culture, UNESCO in his opening speech. He likened museum to a beacon of resilience and hope, “It guards memory, stimulates creativity and builds bridges to a more equal, inclusive and sustainable society.”

The forum lasts for three days, including keynote speeches, thematic exchanges, interactive links and field visits. Representatives from Chantilly Castle in France, National Museum of Colombia, Singapore Museum, Jordan Museum, Palace Museum of China, China Arts and Crafts Museum (China Intangible Cultural Heritage Museum) as well as others shared their experiences and practices around the themes of “the evolution and transformative role of museums”, “the application of digital technology and artificial intelligence”, “the role of museums as educational carriers and lifelong learning platforms”.

Third UNESCO High-level Forum for Museums

The forum also conducted interactive exchanges on topics such as virtual museum of stolen cultural relics, cutting-edge technology exhibitions, the challenges and innovations in contemporary museums. Additionally, it submitted a report on the outcomes of the World Conference on Cultural Policies and Sustainable Development, which is scheduled to take place in Spain in September 2025.

Hangzhou is a famous historical and cultural city, a city of innovation and vitality, and a city of ecological civilization. Hangzhou embodies history in every corner and cultural legacy every step. The three wonders of world cultural heritages, West Lake, Liangzhu Archaeological Ruins and Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal, synergize into a heritage matrix where historical legacies mutually illuminate their civilizational dimensions. Nearly 300 museums, various cultural relics’ resources and cultural products are distributed throughout the city.

Technological innovation and Liangzhu culture are two shining “golden cards” in Yuhang District of Hangzhou, “Five thousand years of Chinese civilization are epitomized in the Liangzhu Ruins”. In recent years, Hangzhou Liangzhu Archaeological Site Administrative District Management Committee has cooperated with many universities and scientific research institutions to solve the problem of “protection of earthen sites in humid environment” and provide solid support for the protection and inheritance of Liangzhu culture.

At Liangzhu Museum, global visitors use AR glasses to animate engraved black pottery from 5,000 years ago, digitally reviving ancient life ways while building inclusive cultural bridges through technology. The Liangzhu culture is radiating new vitality in the new era.

“Led by AI-driven technological and scientific revolution, the museum sector is undergoing systemic transformation. Digital technologies now serve as an important transnational connectors of civilizations. We are willing to join hands with our global counterparts to promote dialogue among civilizations through technological innovation and inject cultural impetus into sustainable development,” said Ding Pengbo, deputy curator of the National Museum of China.

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

Gen Z’s favorite app will nudge users toward better sleep with meditation prompts 

TikTok is launching in-app guided meditation exercises and expanding its Mental Health Education Fund after a test of its “Meditation in Sleep Hours” feature found that 98% of teen users kept it enabled.

The social media platform – used predominantly by Gen Z – is also partnering with TikTok creator and child psychiatrist Dr. Willough Jenkins to demonstrate the new feature.

“Research shows us that mindful meditation can improve sleep quality in people of all ages, so we’ll also introduce Meditation in Sleep Hours to all our users, regardless of their age,” the social media platform said in a press release. “For teens under age 18, it will be turned on by default. If a teen decides to use TikTok after 10 p.m., their For You feed will be interrupted by a guided meditation exercise, helping them wind down for the night. If a teen decides to spend additional time on TikTok after the first reminder, we show a second, harder-to-dismiss, full-screen prompt. Adults can turn on Sleep Hours at any time from the Screen Time Insettings page.”

If there’s irony in an app prompting users to disconnect for their mental health, it’s not exactly rare. In April, the Touch Grass app launched with a strict approach to screen time: users select their most distracting apps, which remain blocked until they physically touch grass and verify it with a photo taken on their phone.

TikTok has also announced $2.3 million in ad credits to 31 mental health organizations across 22 countries as part of its Mental Health Education Fund, which supports organizations in creating engaging mental health content. Recipients include the Alliance for Eating Disorders, Crisis Text Line, Peer Health Exchange and Active Minds. 

See Also

“At Active Minds, we plan to leverage the TikTok ad credits to run a diverse mix of evergreen ads focused on mental health, including promoting the importance of mental health breaks and raising awareness for our core resources,” Active Minds chief marketing officer Jessica Mayorga said. “We’re also excited to spotlight our programs and initiatives that empower young people to prioritize their well-being. This approach will allow us to engage and educate audiences on TikTok while aligning with our mission to champion a new era of mental health.”

Continuously refreshing your wardrobe is now possible through a rental service offered by this well-known brand in France. However, be wary of the potential downsides.

On average, French people buy about 2.5 pairs of shoes each year. However, for some, this number is significantly higher according to data from the Economic Observatory of the Leather Sector. These purchases can become a serious investment as high-quality footwear can quickly cost several dozens or even hundreds of euros.

To avoid breaking the bank every time they need or want new shoes, an increasing number of consumers are turning to rental services. It’s for this reason that one of France’s leading shoe brands has decided to offer this option. Customers can sign up for a subscription either online or in-store, select a brand-new pair of shoes, enjoy them for two months, and then send them back. They can then choose another pair, and continue this cycle indefinitely. If a customer decides to keep a pair instead of returning it, they can purchase it for 50% of the original sale price.

Once worn and returned, “all pairs are reconditioned in French workshops located in Anjou,” according to the Bocage website, which offers this rental service to both men and women. “The reconditioning patent allows for a 100% antibacterial treatment and reshaping,” the brand assures. All refurbished pairs are then made available on the brand’s second-hand site, Claquettes Market.

So how does Bocage manage to be financially viable? It’s simple—through the subscription fees. Renting a pair of shoes costs 30 euros per month throughout the year. While enjoying a new pair for only 60 euros over two months may seem cost-effective, remember to return them if you don’t wish to keep them. Failing to do so will make the shoes quite expensive in the long run. Bocage calculates that a pair is automatically considered purchased after 6 months, or 6 payments of 30 euros, totaling 180 euros.

Also, be mindful of potential frustrations with rented shoes. If the shoes return with a stain or a hole, you might face additional charges. “In the event of major damages such as persistent stains, broken or missing parts, or damaged heel coating, a fee of 60 euros will be charged,” warns the brand. Finally, be careful with your calculations. If you end up not keeping any pairs, you will have spent at least 360 euros after a year, only to find your shoe closet still empty… Consider cancelling your subscription if necessary.

There are many ways that companies can keep shareholders happy, whether that be through robust financial performance or consistent dividend payouts, just for a few simple examples.

Companies can also demonstrate a shareholder-friendly nature through share repurchase programs, also commonly known as stock buybacks.

Several companies, including Arista Networks ANET, Apple AAPL, and Applied Industrial Technologies AIT, recently unveiled fresh buybacks. Let’s take a closer look at the benefits and the announcements of each.

Benefits of Stock Buybacks

Stock buybacks, also known as share repurchase programs, are commonly deployed by companies to boost shareholder value. 

A stock buyback occurs when a company purchases outstanding shares of its stock. In its simplest form, buybacks represent companies essentially re-investing in themselves. Reducing the number of outstanding shares can boost earnings per share (EPS), also helping to put a floor under shares, reflective of consistent buying pressure.

Still, it’s worth mentioning that buybacks can sometimes bring out critics, as some believe the cash could be better deployed elsewhere, such as R&D. Nonetheless, buybacks are generally a net positive for shareholders, particularly those of mature companies with a much smaller growth runway.

ANET Benefits from AI

Arista Networks’ latest set of quarterly results beat our consensus EPS and sales estimates handily, with revenue of $2.0 billion showing nearly 30% growth year-over-year. The company’s sales growth has been fueled by the AI frenzy, as the company is an industry leader in data-driven, client-to-cloud networking for large AI, data center, campus, and routing environments.

The stock also sports a favorable Zacks Rank #2 (Buy), with EPS expectations increasing across the board. Arista Networks unveiled an additional $1.5 billion repurchase program in the release.

Apple Unveils Massive Stock Buyback

Down 15% year-to-date, Apple shares have struggled in 2025, underperforming relative to the S&P 500 in a big way and driven lower by initial tariff headlines. Shares faced pressure as a result, but the recent de-escalation announcement between the US and China has brought back positivity.

Apple unveiled a massive $100 billion additional repurchase program in its latest quarterly report, putting some of its cash to work. The earnings outlook for the tech titan remains under pressure, with analysts taking their EPS expectations lower across the board over recent months.

The evolving EPS outlook of Apple is certainly going to be interesting, particularly so amid all the back-and-forth news we’ve received concerning tariffs and other economic developments. It’s worth remembering that the company is no longer the growth machine it used to be, with EPS forecasted to climb 6% on 3% higher sales in its current fiscal year.

AIT Generates Serious Cash

Applied Industrial Technologies exceeded both our consensus EPS and sales estimates, with EPS growing 4% YoY on the back of a 2% sales increase. The company’s cash-generating abilities saw a notable boost throughout its latest period, with free cash flow of $115 million up 50% YoY.

The cash-generating abilities have allowed the company to sport a shareholder-friendly nature, currently boasting a 5% five-year annualized dividend growth rate. AIT unveiled a new repurchase program to buy up to 1.5 million shares, replacing the prior repurchase plan.

As shown in the annual chart below, AIT’s dividend consistency is stellar. Please note that the final value is currently shown on a trailing twelve-month basis, as the company’s current fiscal year is not over yet.

Bottom Line

Companies commonly deploy repurchase programs to boost shareholder value, all of which we’ve recently seen from Arista Networks ANET, Apple AAPL, and Applied Industrial Technologies AIT.

All three companies have been aggressively buying shares over recent years, helping put in a floor while also aiding EPS. Though buybacks are criticized by some, they make great sense for mature companies with little growth left to squeeze.

This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research (zacks.com).

Zacks Investment Research