Should Canada join the EU?

SPEAKER_1 (0:00)

Running a business is hard enough, so why make it harder with a dozen different apps that don't talk to each other? Introducing Odoo, the only business software you'll ever need. It's an all-in-one, fully integrated platform that makes your work easier, from CRM, accounting, inventory, e-commerce, and more. And the best part, Odoo replaces multiple expensive platforms for a fraction of the cost. This is why over thousands of businesses have made the switch. So why not you?

Try Odoo for free at odoo.com. That's odoo.com.

Kimberly Adams (0:31)

Trouble in the athleisure industry? And is our trade war with Canada pushing them closer to Europe?

From Marketplace in Washington, I'm Kimberly Adams. A new CEO will take the reins of athleisure company, Lululemon, tomorrow. Its last CEO stepped down in January, and in May, Lululemon settled a proxy battle with the company's founder. All of that has affected the company's performance. Last week, it reported a 9% sales decline in the second quarter.

As Marketplace's Henry Epp reports, the company's struggles come at a tumultuous time for the broader athleisure market.

Henry Epp (1:07)

Lululemon is not the only athleisure or sportswear brand having a tough 2026, says David Swartz, a senior equity analyst at Morningstar, who covers the apparel industry. A number of companies in the industry, including Nike, Puma and Under Armour, have really been struggling. Which is a pretty big change from just a few years ago, during the pandemic, when sweatpants and leggings and running shoes were flying off the shelves.

A lot of people just really stocked up on sportswear during that period, five years ago, and they don't need any more right now. But while some big name brands are struggling, the overall market for athleisure is doing okay. Swartz estimates it's growing around 3 to 5% a year. What's changed is a lot of new, smaller brands have gotten into the segment, says Jessica Ramirez, co-founder of the consulting firm, The Consumer Collective.

SPEAKER_4 (1:58)

There's so many brands that collectively, even though they might be small, they dent the market.

Henry Epp (2:04)

And make it a bit tougher for older brands to keep growing. Still, there's opportunity for all athleisure and sportswear companies because, Ramirez says, as consumers get more active, they're essentially buying two wardrobes, one for work and one for exercise.

SPEAKER_4 (2:19)

You know, I'm not gonna be running in my heels, and I'm not gonna be running in my ballet flats. I'm not gonna need proper training shoes for that, right?

Henry Epp (2:26)

Some brands appear to be trying to cater to both those needs. The athleisure company Fabletics, for example, launched a denim line earlier this year. I'm Henry App for Marketplace.

Kimberly Adams (2:37)

US markets are closed for Labor Day. They reopen tomorrow, Tuesday, at 9:30 a.m. Wall Street time. In other parts of the world, starting in Europe, the FTSE in London is up 2 tenths percent. The CAC in Paris is up 1 tenth percent. And in Asia, the Hong Kong Hang Seng Index closed down almost 1 percent.

SPEAKER_1 (3:15)

Running a business is hard enough, so why make it harder with a dozen different apps that don't talk to each other? Introducing Odoo, the only business software you'll ever need. It's an all-in-one, fully integrated platform that makes your work easier, from CRM, accounting, inventory, e-commerce, and more. And the best part, Odoo replaces multiple expensive platforms for a fraction of the cost. This is why over thousands of businesses have made the switch. So why not you?

Try Odoo for free at odoo.com. That's odoo.com.

SPEAKER_5 (3:44)

Your e-commerce business doesn't need a patchwork of apps. It needs ShipStation. Built by shippers for shippers, ShipStation adapts to your workflow. It automates everyday tasks, alerts you to low stock, and gets you the best pre-negotiated carrier rates to instantly save you time and money. From inventory sinking to branded returns portal, ShipStation handles the heavy lifting. Get 60 days free at shipstation.com with Code Marketplace. shipstation.com Code Marketplace. Taxes and fees apply.

SPEAKER_6 (4:14)

Your personal information is being bought and sold every day. Data brokers make billions pulling details about you from public records and the internet, then package and sell it without your consent. That's how your info lands in the hands of scammers, spammers, even stalkers. It's why you get endless robo calls and why ads seem to follow you. Aura can help. Aura actively removes your data from broker sites and keeps it off. They instantly alert you if your information shows up in a breach or on the dark web.

And Aura goes beyond data protection. You get a VPN, antivirus, password manager, spam call protection, dark web monitoring, and up to $5 million in identity theft insurance, all backed by 24-7 US-based fraud support. Start your free trial today at aura.com/private.