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There is an initiative started on Facebook for Members across the County to wear uniform that evening and to renew their Promise online directly after the Clap for Key Workers event (at around 8.10pm) to allow people to participate in that if they wish.
This initiative is supported by GLSW Scouts.
Sections and Groups are invited to organise an online meeting for that time so that everyone can renew their Promise together.
Those members who are not able to join any of the online sessions are being asked to renew their Promise on their own or with their family.
Renewing the Promise is an important part of being a Scout and is as relevant now in these difficult times as it has ever been.


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British inventor James Dyson is buying a luxury Singapore house with an indoor waterfall that was marketed for US$32 million, a report said today, weeks after he snapped up the city-state’s priciest penthouse.
His electric appliance company, known for its bagless vacuum cleaners, hand dryers and fans, announced this year it was shifting its global headquarters from England to the city-state to be closer to Asian markets.
The company also plans to produce electric cars there, as part of its expansion east after Britain’s decision in 2016 to leave the EU.
The Brexit-backing billionaire has initiated the purchase of a so-called “gold class bungalow” facing the UNESCO-listed Botanic Gardens, which was put on the market at S$45 million (US$32.8 million), the city-state’s Straits Times newspaper reported.
The freehold property is over 15,000 square feet and features a spiral staircase, landscaped garden, and an infinity pool.
To get government approval to buy such a property, a foreigner must have made “exceptional economic contributions in Singapore”, the paper said.
The 72-year-old tycoon’s company did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Earlier this month, Dyson made international headlines when it emerged that he had purchased a 21,000-square-foot “super penthouse” for a reported figure of almost S$74 million.
Affluent and developed, Singapore has long attracted wealthy residents from around the world — a trend that has helped fuel a rise in property prices over the years.
In October, Dyson announced it had picked Singapore for its first electric car plant, sparking criticism from some quarters that the Brexit-supporting tycoon was not investing more at home.
A prototype Dyson electric vehicle is in the works for 2020, followed by a product launch in 2021. The company insists its decision to move headquarters from Britain is not due to Brexit but be closer to a growing majority of its customers.

domain: news


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As the company works on getting in newer products (including the SUV-styled mini codenamed ‘HBX’), it is the electric space where it has a focus on
NEW DELHI: In one of the most ambitious plans made around electric mobility and affordability, homegrown auto giant Tata Motors has said that it plans to price its green cars at “not more than 15-20% premium” to conventional petrol/diesel vehicles, while offering a battery range at least in excess of 200km on a single charge.
The statement comes just as Tata Motors drives on a path of resurgence in the Indian passenger vehicles market, making significant gains in share in just about a year. Riding high on healthy demand for products such as the Tiago mini, Nexon compact SUV and the Altroz hatch, the company is confident that its overall monthly sales will be “at least in excess of 22,000 units”, keeping it firmly placed in the third position behind Hyundai and market leader Maruti.
“Our reclaiming the third position in the Indian passenger vehicles market is not by accident. We’ve recorded the highest sales volume in the past eight years during the last few months. This has seen us gain nearly 300 basis points (100bps = 1 percentage point) in market share, which moved up from around 4.7% last year to about 7.7% now,” Shailesh Chandra, president of Tata Motors passenger vehicles business unit, told TOI.


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The Royal Family Just Sent out Their 2018 Christmas Cards — Here’s What They Look Like
The royal family is all about Christmas traditions. And, like most families, they send out Christmas cards every year. This year’s royal family Christmas cards feature sweet family portraits, as well as a rare photo from Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s royal wedding earlier this year. Up ahead, we take a closer look at the 2018 royal family Christmas cards.
Royal family Christmas cards
Every year, members of the royal family — including Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip — send out hundreds of cards to mark the holiday season. And, this year, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle sent out their first Christmas card together. Curious to know what the royal family Christmas cards look like this year? Sneak a peek, below.
Prince William and Kate Middleton
View this post on Instagram
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are pleased to share a new photograph of their family. The photograph, taken by Matt Porteous, shows The Duke and Duchess with their three children at Anmer Hall. This photograph features on Their Royal Highnesses’ Christmas card this year.
Every year, Kate Middleton and Prince William send out Christmas cards to their family, friends, and colleagues. Their royal family Christmas card typically includes a family portrait, which has been both formal and informal in year’s past. This year, the Cambridge family gathered together for a casual photo opp (Kate Middleton is wearing jeans!) in a wooded area.
The photo shows Prince George and Princess Charlotte smirking for the camera behind their mother and father with a cheery Prince Louis on his mom’s lap. Both princes are in their usual shorts (with long socks to keep their legs warm) and Princess Charlotte is in an adorable skirt and cardigan ensemble. Prince William and Kate Middleton appear ultra-preppy in jeans and a plaid button-up for William and white button-up sweater combo for Kate.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have a new holiday tradition! This year, the couple sent out their first-ever Christmas card as a married couple (and their last before royal baby). The card featured a never before seen photo of the two on their wedding day back in May 2018. In it, their backs are to the camera as they watch a spectacular firework show in celebration of their nuptials. The silhouette-style photo marks their most memorable event of the year in an ultra-romantic way.
Prince Charles and Camilla Parker Bowles
Similar to his sons, Prince Charles also sends out a royal family Christmas card every year. This year, he and Camilla Parker Bowles sent out two variations of their holiday card, one with a sweet photo of them taken in celebration of the prince’s 70th birthday and another with a watercolor painting of an island in Scotland. The portrait cards were likely mailed off to those closest to the couple’s family and friends and the watercolor variant probably went to organizations, officials, and other colleagues.
Queen Elizabeth and Prince Charles
Every year, Queen Elizabeth and Prince Charles send out around 750 Christmas cards to family, friends, and government officials. Her Majesty has yet to release her 2018 royal family Christmas card, but chances are it is a portrait of the couple, similar to year’s past.
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–by Sylvania Mayor Craig Stough
PUBLICATION DATE: 05.16.17
Touch-a-Truck is coming to Sylvania! Already popular in central Ohio and southeast Michigan, the first Touch-a-Truck event in Sylvania is scheduled for
Saturday, May 20, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
with a rain date of May 21
at the Sylvania City Hall parking lot
6730 Monroe St.
This family event offers fun hands-on opportunities for children to touch, explore, climb and learn about a variety of trucks and service vehicles, and meet the people who build, protect and serve our community. A street sweeper, backhoe, police car, SWAT vehicle, sewer JetVac, asphalt paver and more will be available for the kids to explore.
FREE Popcorn and Slushies!
My grandchildren have attended and enjoyed similar events in their communities, and I thought it could be a great event to offer here in Sylvania. Children entering kindergarten already have a chance to see and touch safety vehicles at Safety City, but Touch-a-Truck will offer more and different vehicles for interested children, younger and older, to touch and explore.
The event is free and no donations are required. Free popcorn and slushies will be available for attendees.
The event will also feature a donation drive to benefit the Sylvania Area Family Services. Canned food items (tomatoes, spaghetti sauce, chicken, salmon, tuna, peanut butter, jelly, fruit, vegetables), boxed or bagged food items (cereal, flour, sugar, crackers, pasta/rice mixes, cake mixes) and personal hygiene items (shampoo/conditioner, deodorant, tissues, toilet paper diapers/wipes, laundry soap, feminine products and hand soap) will be gladly accepted for distribution to those in need in our community.
For more information, go online to cityofsylvania.com
or call the Sylvania Service Department at 419-885-8965
My thanks to the city of Sylvania employees who have embraced this idea and stepped forward to make it a reality!


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Broadcom (AVGO) shares rose Friday after the chipmaker easily topped Wall Street’s targets for its fiscal third quarter and guided higher for the current period. AVGO stock received a slew of price-target hikes after the earnings report.
The San Jose, Calif.-based company late Thursday said it earned an adjusted $6.96 a share on sales of $6.78 billion for the quarter ended Aug. 1. Analysts expected Broadcom earnings of $6.88 a share on sales of $6.76 billion, according to FactSet. On a year-over-year basis, Broadcom earnings rose 29% while sales climbed 16%.
For the current quarter ending Oct. 31, Broadcom expects to generate revenue of $7.35 billion, up 14% year over year. That topped analyst expectations for $7.23 billion in sales in the fiscal fourth quarter.
“Broadcom delivered record revenues in the third quarter reflecting our product and technology leadership across multiple secular growth markets in cloud, 5G infrastructure, broadband, and wireless,” Chief Executive Hock Tan said in a news release. “We are projecting the momentum to continue in the fourth quarter.”
AVGO Stock Rises
In morning trading on the stock market today, AVGO stock rose 1.6%, near 499.65. During the regular session Thursday, AVGO stock dipped 0.3% to 491.90.
Broadcom makes wireless chips for smartphones, such as Apple (AAPL) iPhones. It also makes semiconductors for broadband communications, networking, storage and industrial applications. Plus, Broadcom has a growing business in infrastructure software for mainframes, data centers and cybersecurity.
Semiconductor products accounted for 74% of Broadcom’s revenue in the third quarter. Infrastructure software contributed 26% of sales.
Broadcom’s solid results were led by a notable rebound in smartphone builds, Morgan Stanley analyst Joseph Moore said in a note to clients. Broadcom benefited from strong iPhone production both in unit volumes and in more content per device, he said.
However, supply constraints at contract manufacturers continue to limit upside for Broadcom.
Broadcom Dips Below Buy Point
At least 16 Wall Street analysts raised their price targets on Broadcom stock on Friday. Of those, 15 have buy ratings on AVGO stock while one is neutral.
On Aug. 27, AVGO stock broke out of a 26-week consolidation period at a buy point of 495.24, according to IBD MarketSmith charts. But it dropped out of the 5% buy zone two days later. It returned to the buy zone on Friday.
AVGO stock ranks No. 13 out of 29 stocks in IBD’s fabless chipmaker industry group, according to IBD Stock Checkup. Broadcom stock has an IBD Composite Rating of 95 out of 99. The Composite Rating scores a stock’s key growth metrics against all other stocks regardless of industry group.
Another fabless chipmaker moving on earnings news was Semtech (SMTC). Semtech stock jumped 10.9% to 78.71 on Thursday after posting a beat-and-raise quarterly report late Wednesday.
Follow Patrick Seitz on Twitter at @IBD_PSeitz for more stories on consumer technology, software and semiconductor stocks.
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text: Before the end of the year, it should be possible to make internet phone calls with MSN Messenger. Microsoft has recently purchased a small Internet calling start-up called Teleo. The move will allow MS to break ground into a market already occupied by such companies as Skype and Vonage. This comes on the heels of Google’s release of Google Talk, which come with voice chatting. If you ask me, this just $mell$ like more money for M$. If you want to call home about this article, read more about it over at c|net.


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The past 2 weeks have seen the trending subject of a “Vogue Africa” to finally come to life. Naomi Campbell has sparked a lot of discussions recently around the subject after her trip to Lagos, Nigeria for Arise Fashion Week.
But, I have not heard one person of African descent actually thinking this is a good idea. It seems like we are once again trying to get some kind of approval from the western media and really there’s no need anymore. We know that Vogue is not interested in the African continent so why force it?
“There should be a Vogue Africa.” “We just had Vogue Arabia — it is the next progression. It has to be.” “Africa has never had the opportunity to be out there and their fabrics and their materials and their designs be accepted on the global platform… it shouldn’t be that way.” Naomi Campbell
I am very much confused by her statement about African Fashion and our fabrics|materials not being”out there”! Do we not see the same images online? African fashion, wax, ankara, from America to Europe, African culture is everywhere!
And thanks to Black Panther, Africans are bolder than ever before.
An African inspired editorial in Brazil
They are so many publications by Africans, bringing lights on African cultures, arts, personalities, travel such as New African Woman, Zen Magazine, Fashizblack.
Do we really want another western influence on Africa’s mind? Thats the question some asked.
The continent is working hard to push the boundaries in the fashion industry, via its own merits, and create its own vibes and personally. I feel like it will be very difficult to create an infrastructure around an African Vogue, simply because of the various cultures that we have and the complexity of the market as an all.
African women have always been strong and determined to get things done on their own terms. Diversity talks are growing through social media and the global press, this is surely shaking the beauty industry like never before. Things are happening and it should have been Vogue magazine asking Africans their thoughts on this potential venture.
I think many are upset as this feels like we are begging for the chance to prove that Africa can do it too. To make this work, Vogue would need time to study the African market because really there will need to have several versions of the magazine to fit the diversity of our continent.
I do love Naomi, as she is the role model we all look up to. But I feel someone like Iman who invested more into bringing value to women of colour by creating products and engaging with the community, would be a better ambassador for a Vogue Africa.
Naomi’s business sense could definitely lead an edition. I actually thought by coming to Africa, she would have perhaps done an African version of her show The face. This would definitely be a success given the minority of black models still in the global market.
In 2010, Paris based photographer Mario Epanya created series of fictional ” Vogue Africa ” covers, which unfortunately were not enough to convince the mainstream media that Africa was ready to join the elite publication.His work is certainly noticed now as it has been used in every recent articles talking about the Vogue Africa subject.
This trending subject needs to teach us that we need to stop chasing this nonsense approval. Africans can represent their own cultures. What we need is for our governments to invest in the arts and cultures sector. We need to keep standing on our own feet and lead our way.
This is the reason why we launched ESIMBI Magazine, to be able to tell our own stories truthfully. Africa’s time is now but that way needs to be led by our own communities.
If Vogue ever decide to do an African version, we would simply ask that they do their best to represent us as we are and not as they want us to be.


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The research firm said that there were 205 HDTV channel launches in 2012, a 53% increase on the previous high of 134 in 2011.
At the end of the year, there were a total of 710 unique HD channel brands in Europe.
“The appearance of adult HD channels, mostly in the Central and Eastern European region, was a key difference compared to previous years, with 11 of the 18 adult channels currently active in Europe launching in 2012,” said IHS.
“Other areas experiencing fresh growth in Europe were documentary channels, with 15 launches – up from seven the previous year – and lifestyle, in which there were 14 new HD channels, up from nine the previous year.”
Elsewhere there were also peaks in premium and entertainment HD channel launches, with 33 HD movie channels going live, 44 HD sports launches and 37 new HD entertainment channels.
Sweden’s Modern Times Group was singled out as a European HD leader, having launched 16 HD channels in the year.
Pay TV HD channel launches outnumbered free-to-air launches by an average of four-to-one. However, the number of free-to-air launches more than doubled year-on-year at 43 channels – compared to just 20 in 2011 – driven by Astra’s pan-European 19.2 degrees east orbital slot and digital terrestrial television launches in France.
“HDTV continues to be a key driver for pay TV and an important tool for operators to encourage higher-tier subscriptions,” said IHS.
ICYMI: URC launches global rugby streamer digitaltveurope.com/2021/09/16/urc… https://t.co/mvWGQXsHpi
17 September 2021 @ 19:30:00 UTC
DTVE: the week in view – Cabinet reshuffle comes at tumultuous time for UK pubcasters digitaltveurope.com/comment/cabine… https://t.co/LXoMcJxrEr
17 September 2021 @ 16:40:11 UTC


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The year 2020 has been an anomaly in all senses. This also applies to people’s interactions with various media platforms, both digital and traditional. The fact that a large section of the global population is spending a lot more time indoors compared to before the pandemic has most likely had an impact on how we are consuming advertisements and other product and brand messaging.
To explore this further, Borderless Access recently conducted an online study using its proprietary digital panels among audiences aged 24 to 60 in several key global economies. The study aimed to shed light on, among other things, which media platforms consumers have been more exposed to during the pandemic, which platforms garner the most trust, and the effectiveness of channels of brand communication. The study also explores how traditional and digital media perform against each other in this time of the pandemic.
In this report, we are focussing on the findings from Singapore and India and comparing them against the global outcomes of the study.
Media platforms with the greatest exposure during the pandemic
In India, digital media (80%) (online news, entertainment channels, etc.) and mobile apps (80%) (in-app ads, mobile notification banners, etc.), followed by social media (79%) and television (78%), have been the most common channels through which consumers are exposed to ads and brand messages.
In Singapore, the scenario is different: consumers are exposed to ads and brand messages most commonly through social media (67%), followed by digital media (58%) and television (56%).
Indian audience preferences, in terms of channels of media, are more consistent with the global audience, with strong leanings towards digital and social, as well as television. The Singaporean audience, on the other hand, leans more towards social media, along with digital media. Notably, a significant percentage of the audience in India also choose word-of-mouth, print media, and radio as common channels through which they are exposed to brand messaging.
Platforms most trusted by consumers
While certain media platforms get more eyeballs compared to others, ultimately, audience trust in these platforms determines the chances of favourable outcomes. Our study revealed that television as a platform is most trusted by Indian audiences. 73% of Indian consumers choose television, followed closely by digital media, physical newspapers/magazines, and mobile apps. In Singapore, too, the highest percentage of the audiences claimed they trusted brand messaging shown on television the most. Interestingly, Singaporean consumers trust ads on the radio more than those they are exposed to on digital and social media and mobile apps.
Media platforms as sources of news
Globally, television comes across as the most trusted medium for consuming news. The same is true in both Singapore and India, where 65% and 80% of the audience picked television as their most trusted source of news.
In India, this was followed by digital media, as well as news apps. Print and social media were picked as reliable sources of news by an equal percentage of people.
In Singapore, print media came in after television, followed by radio (picked by 60% and 56% respectively). Interestingly, only 28% of people picked social media as a trustworthy source of news, ranking it even lower than word-of-mouth.
Ad/brand messaging effectiveness based on media platforms
To find out if the media platforms have had an impact on the effectiveness of ads, we asked our audience if they had made purchase decisions after being exposed to a brand communication on specific media platforms.
Globally, social media ads and brand messaging lead in terms of conversion, but only marginally at 59%, followed closely by television ads at 54%. In Singapore, television ads perform slightly better than other forms of media. This is followed by social and digital media at 40% and print media at 39%. Similarly, in India, television was picked by 80% of the audience, followed closely by social, digital media, and mobile apps.
Print vs digital media: consumer perception
In an ideal world, traditional and digital media would go hand in hand, complementing each other to deliver maximum marketing impact. Globally, the majority of audiences feel the same way, with 37% saying they would like to be able to rely on both forms of media. The same sentiment was shared by 45% of Singaporeans, a majority. On the contrary, 40% of Indians said they trust digital media more than print media.
Ironically, print media has been losing ground in both countries, and in India, the pandemic has accelerated the process. 89% of Singaporeans state that they had stopped using print media even before the pandemic, where-as 60% of Indians have stopped using it since the pandemic.
There is no denying that traditional media has been losing ground to digital media and this has been exacerbated since the start of the pandemic. However, we see from the study that traditional media, including print and television, are still effective in connecting with consumers, in influencing purchase decisions, for instance, and most importantly, in winning against digital/social media in terms of the trust factor.
Television, in particular, is still highly relevant in both countries as a platform for brand promotion, where it receives extensive audience exposure and acts as a credible source of information as well as news. In fact, the study reveals that ads and brand messaging on television perform slightly better than on social and digital media. Even print media, which has seen a sharp decline in consumption in recent years and more so since the beginning of this year, cannot be completely ignored by marketers as it continues to be a trusted source of information and news, particularly in India.
Even as digital and social media continue to dominate our lives, traditional media is still holding ground for now, but the tides are shifting.


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We round up the latest news from the Netherlands with new appointments at Action and Jumbo. Meanwhile, Amsterdam remains in focus with Picnic starting deliveries and Jumbo opening new Jumbo City stores. In other news, Jumbo is promoting healthy eating, while the country prepares to run its first National Week Without Meat event.
Action streamlines management team, appointing new Commercial Director
Action has appointed Hajir Hajji as Commercial Director from 1st March. She has worked for the retailer for over twenty years and was previously responsible for store operations in Europe. Hajji will also be assuming the responsibilities of Buying & Merchandise Director, Simon Hathway and Marketing Director, René Rapko who are leaving the business.
This will see Bart Raeymaekers promoted to Director of Store Operations. He has worked for the retailer since 2012 in Belgium, the Netherlands and France.
As of 1st March, Action’s management team will consist of:
- CEO: Sander van der Laan
- CFO: Fredrik Lotz
- Commercial Director: Hajir Hajji
- Supply Chain Director: Joost Bous
These management changes are a key stepping stone in Action's strategic ambition to operate over 2,700 stores and achieve turnover of €10bn annually.
IGD was invited to visit Action's new concept store in Amsterdam where we were impressed with the refreshed décor and modernised look and feel.
Source: IGD Research
Jumbo's Commercial Director departs…
In related news, Jumbo’s Commercial Director, Ed van de Weerd is to leave the retailer on April 1st. He previously took up the position in April 2011, having worked for Ahold in a variety of commercial roles. He announced the move in a letter to suppliers and is to leave the retailer on 1st April. His future role remains unclear.
Picnic begins deliveries in Amsterdam in March
Elsewhere in the market, Picnic is to start delivering groceries in Amsterdam this March. The three districts of Rivierenbuurt, Watergraafsmeer and Nieuwe Pijp will go live first, while Picnic will launch in other districts later this year. Deliveries will be fulfilled through fifteen electric vans. Picnic currently services 30 Dutch cities, including the Rotterdam area.
Jumbo gets set to open two new Jumbo City stores in Amsterdam…
Also in Amsterdam, Jumbo is to open two Jumbo City stores n Ferdinand Bolstraat and Eerste Constantijn. At present, Jumbo operates three stores in Eindhoven, Den Bosch and Groningen. The retailer is planning to grow the format to operate a minimum of ten stores in the future.
IGD visited the first Jumbo City convenience store to launch recently, where we were impressed with the food-to-go offer, particularly the self-serve coffee display and food counters.
Source: IGD Research
…As it launches healthy eating campaign aimed at families
Elsewhere within the Jumbo business, as part of its ambition to help ‘children enjoy healthy and varied food’, the retailer has introduced ‘The Journey of 5’ campaign. This follows consumer research that found that many Dutch people struggle to eat the suggested 250g of vegetables and two pieces of fruit daily.
The campaign will see a series of 32 displays with ‘two instruction cards each week with creative fruit and vegetable recipes for the whole family’. Jumbo is already investing in making fresh produce more affordable and adding innovative products including ‘stew mixes and vegetable juices or cauliflower pizza’.
On a recent trip to the Netherlands, we saw a variety of innovative ways that Dutch retailers are activating health and wellness in the country.
5th – 11th March – National Week Without Meat
Meanwhile, 53 Dutch retailers and suppliers will be supporting the country’s first National Week Without Meat initiative next month.
This will be supported with a dedicated website, as well as campaigns on social media, at train stations and on social media. Leading grocery retailers will also run dedicated activity. This will include the use of magazines, as well as in-store activity. It is expected that the event will run annually.
Source: National Week Without Meat website
The National Week Without Meat initiative was initiated by, Isabel Boerdam, a vegetarian food blogger who has said she’s been inspired by both Meatfree Monday in the UK as well as another '40 Days Without Meat’ campaign. ‘I think it is important, that it is an initiative with a clear focus on the main goal: to make it clear to consumers that vegetarian food does not have to be boring, tasteless or complicated … Moreover, we want to make them aware of the positive impact that less meat has. If an adult does not eat meat for one week, he saves 7 months of shower water and 111 kilometres of driving. I want to convey this message broadly. That is why I deliberately chose not to approach just a few big sponsors, but to ask various producers and formulas to support the campaign with an amount of 2,000 euros’.
Want to keep up with developments from the Netherlands and other grocery markets around the world? Sign up for IGD's free Retail Analysis newsletter.


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Plastic wrap from Thanksgiving dishes, wrapping paper for Christmas presents, and tons of confetti from New Year’s Day – you name it, and it can probably be recycled.
The local Keep Troup Beautiful (KTB) has reported statistics that show a nationwide 25% increase in household waste between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day. While everyone frantically plans their holiday getaways, parties, and presents, many fail to realize how much waste they produce.
However, this past Saturday, January 7, at the La-Grange Recycling Center, KTB took the time to fight the freezing weather and collect any recyclables that were leftover from the long holiday season by hosting their event: “Bring One for the Chipper”.
From basic recyclable items to Christmas trees and electronics, KTB took them all.
Executive Director of KTB, Scott W. Landa, praised this year’s turnout, “We had a fairly good day yesterday at the Recycling Center despite the freezing temperatures and some icy road conditions … We had about 25 people/families come by with Christmas trees, electronics, cardboard, glass, cans and tires.”
Landa went on to discuss additional ways KTB was able to use this year’s donations: “We gave away swamp chestnut and red oak seedlings (provided by the Georgia Forestry Commission) as well as flower and vegetable seeds (provided by Keep Georgia Beautiful).”
KTB also held two door prize drawings for those who participated on Saturday.
Even though KTB works hard to keep so much waste out of the local landfills, the responsibility to recycle and take care of the environment falls on the shoulders of each individual that makes up the LaGrange/ Troup County community.
So, what ways can you help?
If you saved any of your holiday ribbon, reuse it. KTB reports that “If every family reused just two feet of holiday ribbon, the 38,000 miles of ribbon saved could tie a bow around the entire planet.” Even if you didn’t save your holiday ribbon, make the decision to save ribbon from other year-round events like birthday parties and other festive events that require ribbon decorations.
Decide to cut back on your card list or choose to send e-cards rather than printed cards. Studies show that “The 2.65 billion Christmas cards sold each year in the US could fill a football field ten stories high. If we each sent one card less, we’d save 50,000 cubic yards of paper. Consider sending an electronic e-card.”
Once again, even though Christmas is over and Christmas cards have been sent, make the decision to watch the number of printed cards you send or make the electronic choice when sending birthday cards, “Thank you” cards, and sympathy cards throughout the year.
Monitor electricity usage. KTB says that the “Electricity bill for lighting a tree for 12 hours for 40 days [for] Incandescent lights [is] $25.13 and LEDs [are] $0.56.” Do the math and make smart, financial, environmentally healthy decisions when choosing any sort of light displays or light fixtures year-round.
Though household waste statistics skyrocket during the holiday season, KTB encourages the community to make a day-to-day, conscious decision to reuse and recycle household items, in hopes that the statistics will drop not only from Thanksgiving to New Year’s Day, but throughout the rest of the year, too.
If you couldn’t make it to KTB’s event this past Saturday, the Recycling Center (“under the water tower”) is open Monday-Friday, from 9 am-3 pm, for you to drop off your recyclables.
For more information on ways to reuse and recycle items, visit KTB’s website at: http://www.keeptroupbeautiful. com/.
Peyton Hanners Staff Writer


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On Friday, the Sejm passed an act repealing the restrictions on cash payments made by consumers and entrepreneurs, which were to enter into force on January 1, 2024.
On Friday, the Sejm voted in favor of amending the Personal Income Tax Act, the Corporate Income Tax Act and some other acts. It is about deleting the provisions introduced as part of the Polish Deal regarding restrictions on cash payments. They were supposed to come into force from the beginning of next year.
438 deputies voted for the act, eight were against, none of the deputies abstained from voting.
The purpose of the new regulations is to delete the provisions under which entrepreneurs in relations with other entrepreneurs may pay in cash only when the one-off value of the transaction, regardless of the number of payments, does not exceed PLN 8,000. zloty. The adoption of the act means that the current limit of 15,000 will remain. zloty.
Ordinary Kowalski’s transactions
Another solution introduced as part of the Polish Deal is imposing an obligation on the consumer to pay via a payment account if the value of the transaction – regardless of the number of payments – exceeds PLN 20,000. zloty. This solution was also to enter into force on January 1, 2024 and is also to be deleted on the basis of the act adopted on Friday.
The Act also provides for the deletion of provisions limiting cash payments, which are included in the Act on Flat-Rate Income Tax on Certain Revenues Earned by Natural Persons.
The bill will now go to the Senate for consideration.
Main photo source: Shutterstock


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The YWCA Lower Cape Fear is proud to announce the unveiling of a new business development initiative, Coastal Women’s Ventures, created in partnership with Carolina Small Business Development Fund. Coastal Women’s Ventures is a collaborative program focused on creating and supporting small business opportunities for women entrepreneurs through business coaching, mentoring, small business education, and connecting participants to loan capital.
The Carolina Small Business Development Fund (CSBDF) is a statewide, non-profit and certified Community Development Financial Institution that fosters economic development in underserved communities by providing small business loans and financial training to start up and existing businesses. Similar initiatives have successfully launched by the CSBDF across the state. Coastal Women’s Ventures will be the first of its kind in Southeastern North Carolina.
Services provided by the program support the YWCA Lower Cape Fear’s mission to empower women through economic advancement. North Carolina has ranked third for the growth of women-owned businesses over the past two decades, but still, women entrepreneurs face unique challenges in accessing capital and other resources they need to establish successful businesses. Coastal Women’s Ventures will reduce these barriers and foster a community of women’s entrepreneurship.
“The partnership we’ve built with the CSBDF and our mutual commitment to empowering women will help fulfill the goals of the YWCA’s Coastal Women’s Ventures program. We couldn’t be more thrilled to bring this much-needed resource to women entrepreneurs in Southeastern NC,” said Jenni Harris, Board President of the YWCA Lower Cape Fear. Coastal Women’s Ventures will root its operational home at the YWCA Lower Cape Fear beginning October 26 with oversight from President and CEO of the CSBDF, Lenwood V. Long, Sr., and Charrise Hart, Executive Director of the YWCA Lower Cape Fear.
For more information, please contact:
Director, Coastal Women's Ventures
Main: 919-803-1437, extension 404
CREATED IN PARTNERSHIP BY:


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Saturday, October 29, 2015
6:30 to 8:30PM
*ENTIRE* East Towne Neighborhood
Mark your calendars, this year’s nighttime TETNA Trick or Treat event will be held on October 29th! After last year’s success, we will keep the event open to the ENTIRE neighborhood!
Look out for full details and registration info on the website soon as well as the October Newsletter!


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OPINION: It may be hard to believe, but the odds that embattled consumers will reap the benefits of increased competition in various markets, from electricity to homebuilding, jumped thanks to a law change late Wednesday.
Monopolies, duopolies and oligopolies are more the ‘norm’ than the exception in the New Zealand economy due to its small size.
But so far it has been difficult for the country’s competition watchdog to prosecute companies when they exploit market power to undermine competition, as it has had to prove that was their intention. .
“Motivation” is notoriously hard to prove, because it’s something that exists in people’s heads that no one can attack.
* Supermarket duopoly seems secure after minister says he won’t cancel ComCom
* Maori seek a seat on competition watchdog after supermarket study disappointment
* First the fuel, now the food: is our competitive watchdog letting us down?
But Parliament has now passed an amendment to the Commerce Act which brings competition law more in line with Australian and UK law.
Once the change in the law receives Royal Assent, firms with significant market power can be prevented from engaging in behavior that could have the effect of substantially lessening competition, whether or not that is their objective.
This is by no means a simple rule to apply, but it essentially means that courts can now be concerned with the impact of decisions, rather than their intent.
Matthews Law’s regulatory lawyer, Andy Matthews, says amending Section 36 of the Commerce Act is not a “silver bullet” for competition concerns, but it is important.
“You had to be a moron not to be able to defend your client under the old ‘Section 36’ because just about anything any company does, you could find a credible business reason for their conduct,” says -he.
However, to really make a difference, changing the law needs to be paired with a competition regulator who is willing, able and resourced to do the work that really matters to consumers, not just the more esoteric stuff. .
Warning telcos to market broadband packages that deliver around 900 megabits per second as “gigabit” packages is the kind of yawn-worthy activity that comes to mind in the latter category.
But that also means not wasting millions of dollars on market research such as the $2.5 million fuel market study or the $3 million grocery market study that result in recommendations that are either insignificant (putting the price of ’95’ on price signs) or unavoidable from origin (a supplier code for large retailers).
Given the lessons learned from the fuel and grocery market studies, the commission and the government should consider avoiding wasting good money after bad.
That would be a bold step of course, but it might be better at this point for the government to cancel the upcoming building materials market study and for the commission to focus instead on using its new powers under Rule 36 and its existing powers to get some real races on the board.
The building materials study could still be warranted if the commission were to recommend major structural reforms to the industry, such as divestments by major suppliers who hold large market shares.
But Matthews notes that following his grocery report, “no one believes they’ll do it by building now.”
Outgoing Commerce Commission chair Anna Rawlings said the commission decided not to separate Countdown and Foodstuffs in part because such action would be complex and “unprecedented” internationally.
If the watchdog plans to continue to stick to the “easy things” on busy roads, there is no way it will try to restructure the messy and fragmented building materials industry.
In fact, most market research findings could be written right now.
The Department for Business, Innovation and Jobs has already found that it is common for dominant suppliers to use ‘discounts’ to reward distributors who are successful in consolidating market share.
I doubt that many consumers believe that the amounts builders charge them for most materials when they do renovations match the prices those builders actually paid.
There are “closed workshops”, where suppliers tightly control the distribution or installation of their products.
Matthews says there are even instances where suppliers have managed to ensure industry standards are written in a way that only allows their own products to be used and excludes competition from imports.
All of these known practices will no doubt be cataloged by the commission and it may ask whether the industry is willing to take voluntary steps to clean up its act.
But the question is whether the commission could do better for the money sooner by rolling up its sleeves and jumping straight into enforcement and regulatory action.
“Do we really need these big, expensive surveys or should we just target legislative changes where they are needed?” Matthews asks.
More generally, the granting of new powers to the commission through the amendment to section 36 of the act makes it a good time to consider whether the watchdog is correctly setting its priorities and delivering the results expected by the public. .
“The few times I’ve been a complainant, I’ve been surprised the commission hasn’t been interested in pursuing things,” Matthews says.
“What they tend to pursue are ‘cartel’ cases, which frankly aren’t real cartels, and fair trade cases.”
The commission has good investigative skills and expertise in regulating industries, for example in assessing the cost of capital, but are not “industry experts”, says Matthews.
Building materials review raises question of whether reforms might be needed to ‘join the dots’ between commission, MBIE and Productivity Commission ‘which is in the process of thinking’, he says .
The Maori National Authority has said Maori should have the right to appoint a watchdog commissioner.
But with public satisfaction with the Commerce Commission seemingly at an all-time low, it’s also worth considering whether it needs more help, in general, from the public and from subject matter experts to assess what should be his priorities.
“They actually need someone to tell them ‘hey, it’s the case to bring’ or don’t bring,” suggests Matthews.
For the moment, nothing indicates to the commission that it thinks it needs such assistance.
Perhaps he might have a different view of his priorities if he was persuaded from his high-rise offices on The Terrace in Wellington at the ‘big end of town’ and relocated to a ground-floor building at Porirua or Lower Hutt in more direct view of the public whose interests it serves?


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Some estimates suggest spyware problems in the U.S. are decreasing, but writers of all kinds of malware are prevailing– partly because of computer user behavior, antispyware experts said last week.
Computer users run outdated antivirus software, operating systems and browsers because they’re scared of change, said Janie “CalamityJane” Whitty, administrator of security software vendor Lavasoft’s online support forums.
Whitty sees people running a 2003 version of antivirus software, she said during an Anti-Spyware Coalition conference in Washington, D.C. “The nature of malware has changed since 2003,” she said.
In addition to problems caused by users, there’s a healthy underground market for the kinds of data compromised by spyware and other malware, said Stefan Savage, director of the Collaborative Center for Internet Epidemiology and Defenses at the University of California in San Diego. The center monitored a popular malware-trading IRC forum for about six months in 2006 and found the advertised value of compromised bank accounts offered there was US$54 million.
While some estimates show the spyware problem shrinking, U.S. companies and consumers are losing the battle against malware in general, Savage said. Antivirus vendors, in unguarded moments, will say they’re able to catch less and less malware as criminals become more sophisticated, he said.
The chances of an Internet fraudster getting caught are “virtually zero,” he added.
“By any objective measure… this is something we end up losing on,” Savage said. “The more money these guys make, the more money they can invest to get better.”
The panel on consumer behavior kicked off a day-long session on fighting spyware, during which many experts said they continue to have major concerns about spyware and other malware. Those concerns remain despite Consumer Reports’ annual estimate of spyware that suggests the problem is declining. The magazine estimated that 850,000 U.S. households had to replace computers in the first half of 2007, with the cost of fighting spyware at $1.7 billion for the year. In 2006, spyware cost U.S. individuals and businesses an estimated $2.6 billion, the magazine said.
Part of the problem is that people hang on to outdated operating systems and browsers, even though newer ones have better security controls, because they don’t want to learn how to operate the new software, Whitty said. “The malware changes,” she said. “If we don’t change with it, they’re going to win.”
Computer users seem to be of two minds when it comes to giving up personal information, added Susannah Fox, associate director at the Pew Internet and American Life Project, a research organization. Many young computer users will refuse to disclose personal information to e-commerce sites, she said. “But yet this is the same group that is putting their whole lives” on social-networking sites, she said. One private detective has told Fox that social-networking sites make it significantly easier to track down details about people, Fox said.


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The Big Story
So here it is, another in a long line (nine years!) of stories about brick-and-mortar retailers suffering another in a long line of embarrassing setbacks. Now comes JCPenney announcing it has decided that there are too many JCPenney stores for the way that they currently do business. Specifically, Penney plans to close 130-140 stores (along with a couple of links in the company’s distribution chain) during the next few months. About 6,000 workers will be offered buyouts as Penney closes more than 13% of its stores.
Meanwhile, my own personal hobby horse is busy too, suffering its death throes in a particularly sad version of humiliating slow-motion. That’s right, things at Sears/Kmart remain…less than promising. Having recently announced that it plans to close 150 stores (108 of them being especially lackluster Kmarts). About 4,000 more workers will be laid off as part of the process.
Even Macy’s recently announced plans to cut 100 of its 675 stores, with a further 10,000 layoffs.
For me, apart with the pain that goes along with reading about all the jobs lost, there is dismay at the seemingly imminent death of the great American shopping mall, which has been built up around “anchor” stores like these – a metaphor drawn around their perceived drawing power, and not for an anchor’s other noted ability: the power to drag things down…but I digress. The point is, as a reformed mall rat, I am saddened by the general lack of traffic (of all ages) I’ve encountered in recent years.
Discussing the necessity of store closings, JC Penney Chairman/CEO Marvin Ellison said, “We believe closing stores will also allow us to adjust our business to effectively compete against the growing threat of online retailers,” before (contradictorily?) making note that 75% of JCPenney’s e-commerce orders are associated with brick-and-mortar somehow – ranging from ship from store to in-store pickup of online orders.
The problem is, that if stores are a burden and a major component in the e-alternative, it is hard to see how a brick-and-mortar expert might manage their way to great success. Blame e-commerce if you must, for the headache, but that can’t be it. Can it?
Then again, those people at Amazon really have figured out how to sell consumer goods to the modern shopper, haven’t they?
And there you have it, my grand suggestion: Amazon, you titan of e-commerce, you Walmart of the ether, open the treasury and build me a department store chain for the 21st century. You have the caché to pull off a bold move without starting a panic, and you sell everything already, anyway. Save the stores, save the malls, save the social outlet that such public spaces give us. Give consumers another choice besides clicking away, in the dark.
Also, if you are looking for a name, I’ve made it pretty clear over the years that Roebuck’s is a fine name for a store, and it probably is available.
In the end, I leave it to you.
Apparel & Footwear
On a Friday afternoon in February in the Schwartz & Benjamin Inc. showroom on 57th Street, industry veterans Steve Madden and Danny Schwartz weren’t talking seasonal boot sales. It was just a few days after the proverbial stars aligned for Madden, who finally succeeded in snapping up Schwartz & Benjamin, the firm co-founded by Danny Schwartz’s grandfather 94 years ago. For several years, Madden’s company has been aggressively pursuing the family-owned company that specializes in licensed brands and private-label footwear.
Limited Stores Co. kicked off an auction for its brand name on Tuesday, with private-equity firm Sycamore Partners walking away as the winning bidder, according to people familiar with the matter. On Tuesday, the only bidders chasing after the women’s apparel chain’s brand name were Sycamore and Sunrise Brands LLC, which showed earlier interest, the people said. After a short morning of bidding, Sycamore prevailed with a $26.75 million offer, the people added. The deal is subject to the approval of a bankruptcy judge at a hearing Thursday.
A little more than a year after being spun out of Thrillist Media Group, Ben Lerer’s e-commerce startup JackThreads is preparing to cease operations as an independent company. The online menswear retailer has cut its staff down to a skeleton crew with mass layoffs over the past two weeks, and is in discussions to sell the company, a spokesperson for JackThreads has confirmed. The layoffs include much of the customer service staff as well as certain high-ranking employees. Thrillist Media, the digital publishing company, had acquired JackThreads in 2010 as part of an attempt to fuse e-commerce with the rest of its lifestyle coverage, but the two split into separate companies in 2015 after raising $54 million in new funding.
If baby stuff manufacturers stopped making everything right now, we’d all be fine for 10 years,” quipped my sister-in-law Nedra as she packed up a co-sleeper, three carriers, and a gigantic pile of onesies to hand down to us from her own kids. My partner and I were preparing to welcome our first baby. Her husband, my brother-in-law David, emailed us a list of brands and items that they’d found particularly useful, commenting, “You’ll figure out what works. Don’t bother to buy a lot — people will give it to you.” So we didn’t. And they did.
At this point, we — like most families we know — have established multiple trade pipelines: cousins, friends, and the local parents’ listserv, where we can find stuff for free or a fraction of its cost. Seven months into parenthood, most baby stuff comes to us used. We pass it along as fast as possible, given how fast the baby grows and how small our apartment is.
Athletic & Sporting Goods
Vail Resorts confirmed the rumors announcing it had entered an agreement to acquire Stowe Mountain Resort from Mt. Mansfield Company, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of American International Group, Inc., for a purchase price of $50 million, subject to certain adjustments. Stowe Mountain Resort will be Vail Resorts’ first mountain resort on the East Coast and complements the company’s network of 10 world-class mountain resorts and three urban ski areas.
Performance basketball sneaker sales are struggling, and industry insiders are sparse with insight on how the market’s leader, Nike, can reinvigorate the once dominant category. Matt Powell, VP and sports industry analyst with The NPD Group, explained to Footwear News. “The kid is telling the brand what they’re going to buy and not going to buy, so it would be very difficult for a brand to turn their fortunes around overnight.” Powell believes it’s the style of shoe, not the players wearing them, that’s not attractive to today’s consumer.
Cosmetics & Pharmacy
Shoppers Drug Mart earned net income of $201 million Canadian for its fourth quarter ended Dec. 31. This compares to net income of $128C million during the same period in 2015. Adjusted net earnings were $393C million, compared to $363C million in the prior year. Looking at other quarterly earnings, all presented in Canadian dollars throughout the remainder of the story, the retailer posted revenues of $10.845 billion in its most recent quarter, versus $10.6 billion in the year-ago period. Drug retail same-store sales enjoyed a 3.4% increase in Shoppers Drug Mart’s fourth quarter, compared to an advancement of 5% in the prior year period. Broken down, pharmacy same-store sales growth increased 2.5%, while front-end same-store sales growth improved by 4.1%. Food retail same-store sales growth rose by 1.1%, compared to a 2.4% advancement in 2015’s fourth quarter.
Cosmetics and beauty company Revlon Inc. is looking to make a marketing statement in the eyes of eCommerce shoppers as part of a larger reinvention push. To do so, it’s getting a little help from a company that knows a thing or two about eCommerce: Amazon. Revlon will be stamping its name on 10 million Amazon shipping boxes, said Internet Retailer, to make an impression on eCommerce shoppers (especially the coveted millennial cosmetics market) as part of a campaign called the Love Project.
“Digital is so important to us as a company,” said Eunice Byun, vice president of global digital marketing. “That’s where the consumer is. That’s where she is talking to her friends, learning about new trends.”
Discounters & Department Stores
Macy’s CEO Terry Lundgren wants to make something clear: 90 percent of Macy’s and Bloomingdale’s transactions happen in store. “A lot of people don’t believe that or understand that,” he said during the company’s fourth-quarter earnings call on Tuesday. “I want to point that out, because physical stores still play an important role, and while we feel good about our digital investments, more experimentation with in-store tech is priority for 2017.” As Macy’s follows through on plans to close 100 underperforming stores this year, the struggling retailer is seeing double-digit growth in online sales.
At 11 p.m. last Thanksgiving, shortly before Thursday became Black Friday, the crowds were thick at Macy’s massive flagship store in Manhattan. Some 16,000 people had lined up around the block to kick off the biggest shopping weekend of the year. Five hours after the doors opened, they were still going strong. Rabid consumers from across New York, the U.S., and the world were snapping up Tommy Hilfiger underwear and Keurig coffee machines and Macy’s Hotel Collection bedding, leaving a trail of empty boxes, strewn sweaters, and toppled clothing racks in their wake. The mayhem didn’t let up until the wee hours, and it wasn’t unique to Manhattan—similar scenes played out at malls across the country. But instead of portending a strong Christmas period, the hordes served only as a reminder of department stores’ dwindling ability to generate excitement on an average day.
After closing 19 stores in 2016, Kohl’s executives said on Thursday that the chain will continue whittling its square footage over time. But that doesn’t necessarily mean it will have fewer locations. Instead, as competitor Macy’s moves forward with its plan to shutter 100 locations, Kohl’s CEO Kevin Mansell is looking for opportunities to move his company out of some of its cavernous stores and into smaller shops. On a call with investors following the company’s fiscal fourth-quarter earnings report, Mansell said trading in some of Kohl’s larger stores will help the chain maintain its presence in different markets and operate more profitably.
J.C. Penney announced its biggest number of stores closings in recent history on Friday and indicated store closings will take it out of some smaller markets.
Penney said it will close 130 to 140 stores over the next few months. That represents about 13 percent of its 1,014 stores, but Penney said, the stores generated less than 5 percent of total annual sales and were unprofitable.
A full list of planned store closings will be released in mid-March after stores have been notified. Most of the stores are expected to close in the second quarter, or by the end of July.
Grocery & Restaurants
The restaurant recession has cost the industry one of its most celebrated executives. Julia Stewart, who resigned on Friday as chairman and CEO of DineEquity Inc., made a major mark on the restaurant industry during her remarkably long, 16-year tenure. Stewart was one of the earliest, most vocal proponents of the franchise-heavy, “asset-light” operating model that dominates the restaurant industry today. She was twice named a Nation’s Restaurant News Golden Chain award recipient, and in 2015 she was named NRN’s Operator of the Year. But Stewart was ultimately undone by persistent, worsening struggles at Applebee’s, the casual-dining chain she engineered to acquire in 2007, when she was CEO of IHOP.
After months of flirting, Restaurant Brands International Inc. and Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen Inc. finally agreed to tie the knot this week, with the Burger King owner agreeing to pay $1.8 billion for the fried-chicken chain. RBI owns Burger King and doughnut-and-coffee chain Tim Hortons. Popeyes will add a third leg to the stool. The deal cements RBI’s reputation as a burgeoning force in the restaurant industry, a company smaller only than McDonald’s Corp. and Yum! Brands Inc. in terms of system sales. The deal will also make RBI the fifth-largest restaurant company in terms of total global unit count, with 23,000 locations.
Unilever said on Wednesday that it was conducting a “comprehensive review” of its options after Kraft Heinz withdrew a $143 billion takeover bid for the consumer goods company on Sunday. The combination of the two companies would have created a giant in the packaged food and consumer goods industry, selling a wide range of items, including Heinz ketchup, Oscar Mayer meats, Ben & Jerry’s ice cream, Hellmann’s mayonnaise and Dove soap.
Kraft Heinz, itself the product of mega-merger, publicly announced on Friday that it had offered to buy Unilever. It would have paid Unilever shareholders $50 a share in a combination of cash and stock. But Kraft Heinz’s board — including Warren E. Buffett and the Brazilian-born billionaire Jorge Paulo Lemann — decided to withdraw the offer less than 48 hours later as it faced a potential lengthy fight for Unilever, an important company in British and Dutch business.
Home & Road
The Home Depot is closing in on the $100 billion mark in annual sales. The Atlanta-based retailer posted a 6.4% increase in same-store sales in the United States, and 5.8% overall, for the quarter ended Jan. 29. CEO Craig Menear credited merchandising mix and digital prowess for the chain’s better-than-expected fourth quarter performance, which saw sales increase to $22.2 billion in the fourth quarter, up 5.8% from 21.0 billion in the same quarter last year. As the Home Depot closes in on the $100 billion mark for annual sales, the Atlanta-based retailer rang up a fourth quarter comparable-store sales stat of 6.3% in the United States, and 5.8% overall.
Wayfair credits innovation, increasing brand awareness and repeat customers for its strong fourth quarter growth. The home decor brand’s total net revenue for the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2016, rose 33.1% from last year to $984.6 million, topping analysts’ expectations for $975.32 million. The company’s gross profit was $238.6 million, or 24.2% of total net revenue. Direct Retail net revenue, consisting of sales generated primarily through Wayfair’s five sites, increased $273.4 million to $959.0 million, up 39.9% year-over-year (YoY). The number of active customers in its Direct Retail business reached 8.3 million, an increase of 53.9% YoY, and repeat customers placed 2.7 million orders in the fourth quarter of 2016, an increase of 63.1% YoY.
The parent company of T.J. Maxx and Marshalls, which have taken a bigger share of clothing spending by selling popular brands at deep discounts, plans to expand even faster and test a new home store that’s different from its highly successful HomeGoods chain. TJX Cos. said Wednesday it will add 1,800 stores for a global total of 5,600 over the long term. And though it didn’t offer details about the new home store, company executives said the goal is to make it distinct enough from HomeGoods that people will shop at both. The first two are planned for later this year. The expansion plans were announced as TJX announced fourth-quarter results that topped Wall Street expectations, bolstered by strong sales during the holiday season.
Jewelry & Luxury
Usually, the makeup of a company’s board doesn’t get much attention. But Tiffany’s addition of three new directors is definitely intriguing. All three are veteran CEOs with impressive pedigrees. Francesco Trapani is the former CEO of Bulgari and once headed LVMH’s watches and jewelry division. Roger Farah is the co-CEO of Tory Burch and former president of Ralph Lauren, a man whom Fortune just dubbed a “retail rockstar.” James Lillie once headed consumer products giant Jarden. The three joined the board as the result of a deal Tiffany made with activist investor Jana Partners, whose 5.1 percent stake in Tiffany (with Trapani) has just been made public. While it’s not clear whether Jana’s stake drove the departure of CEO Frederic Cumenal three weeks ago, it would put that abrupt switch in a new light, one that makes a lot more sense.
Brilliant Earth is set to open its fifth brick-and-mortar location when it opens a new showroom in San Diego in late March. The location will contain approximately 2,000 square feet of retail space on the third floor of La Plaza La Jolla, an open-air shopping destination in the city that features a curated selection of boutiques, restaurants and personal services. And like other Brilliant Earth showrooms, the San Diego location will allow for walk-ins as well as provide shoppers with the opportunity for a one-hour personalized consultation with a jewelry specialist.
GAHCHO KUÉ is too far north for trees. In the few snowless months, its surroundings in Canada’s Northwest Territories resemble a sprawling archipelago, as much lake as land, dark ponds stretching flat to the horizon. Wolverines roam, as well as bears, foxes, hares and caribou, though the herds have dwindled. There are no roads, no pipes, no electricity cables. So it seems strange when, flying over the tundra, a giant truck appears, then another, then a steel factory, rows of trailers and a big grey pit, deepening by the day. De Beers, the world’s biggest diamond company, marked the opening of its Gahcho Kué mine in September. Local indigenous leaders prayed for the mine, beating drums. Bruce Cleaver, the firm’s chief executive, and Mark Cutifani, the boss of its parent company, Anglo American, stood by a ceremonial fire, flames tilting in the wind. Now the hard work is under way.
Total December 2016 sales of fine jewelry and fine watches in the U.S. market rose by an estimated 5.5 percent, when compared to the same month a year ago, to $15.1 billion, according to preliminary data from the U.S. Commerce Department, as the graph below illustrates. This was the third consecutive monthly gain that has been well above modest gains earlier in the year.
Office & Leisure
For decades, Toys “R” Us has stood as one of the most reliable and iconic sources of childhood glee. Now, that tradition is on shaky ground. This Friday, the company announced they had laid off between 10-15% of their home office employees out of Wayne, New Jersey — approximately 250 jobs were eliminated. Toys “R” Us has been struggling financially for some time. In 2005, investors led by KKR & Co., Bain Capital and Vornado Realty Trust bought out the company for $6.6 billion. In 2016, the business refinanced its remaining $850 million debt load, allowing investors holding bonds maturing in 2017 and 2018 to swap their holdings for those maturing in 2021.
Carter’s Inc. (NYSE: CRI) bought Skip Hop Holdings Inc. from Fireman Capital Partners for $140 million in cash. Atlanta-based Carter’s said the deal also includes a potential future payment of up to $10 million depending on the company hitting certain fiscal targets in 2017. New York-based Skip Hop’s product portfolio includes diaper bags, kids’ backpacks, travel accessories, home gear, and hardlines for playtime, mealtime, and bathtime.
Carter’s is the largest branded marketer in the United States and Canada of apparel and related products exclusively for babies and young children.
Technology & Internet
Amazon.com Inc. shoppers care about price and shipping, and they will compare what other retailers offer before deciding whether to complete a purchase, according to a new report from digital marketing agency CPC Strategy. CPC’s data shows 23.1% of shoppers cited price as the driving factor behind buying something on Amazon, while shipping came in a close second at 19.8%, according to the survey, which involved 1,500 U.S. shoppers age 18 or older in December. More than half of all shoppers in the CPC Strategy report—53.5%—say they sometimes or always check prices elsewhere, while 18.2% say they only check Amazon’s prices before deciding to buy.
Online sales are growing for department store chain Nordstrom Inc., and more shoppers are picking up their online orders in its stores. Nordstrom reported e-commerce sales in 2016 of $3.219 billion, up 13.7% from $2.832 billion in fiscal 2015. That total includes sales through its full-price flagship site Nordstrom.com as well as its off-price e-commerce sites NordstromRack.com and HauteLook. E-commerce accounted for 22.2% of overall sales in 2016, compared with 20.1% a year ago, Nordstrom said in its fiscal fourth quarter 2016 earnings release.
Finance & Economy
U.S. home resales surged to a 10-year high in January as buyers shrugged off higher prices and mortgage rates, a sign of growing confidence in the economy. Sales were up 3.8 percent from January 2016. Demand for housing is being underpinned by a strengthening labor market, which is improving employment opportunities for young adults and, in turn, boosting household formation.
Institutional investors are ramping up their appetite for alternatives, including exotics such as unlisted infrastructure and private debt, but continue to be dissatisfied with hedge funds, according to Preqin’s H1 2017 Investor Outlook. The study also found that institutional investors are looking to invest in a wider range of alternative asset classes. One-third of investors now commit to four or more asset classes, up from one-quarter a year ago, while almost one in 10 invest across all alternatives, the study found. More specifically, Preqin said 9% of institutions invest in all six alternative asset classes, one-fifth have exposure to five or more, and over one-third (34%) invest in four or more.


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Cosmetic surgery clinics have been criticised for using 'irresponsible' sales tactics to encourage people to undergo surgery.
The British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (Baaps), which represents many of the UK's cosmetic surgeons, has called for an end to bad practices, highlighting a number of negligent adverts.
One advert used an 'anatomically impossible' model, while another offered a £250 discount for consumers who opted to have surgery quickly.
A third advert was for a 'lunchtime facial', which Baaps claims is impossible and raises false expectations.
Consultant plastic surgeon Douglas McGeorge, who is also president of Baaps, said that the organisation has become 'increasingly concerned' about the standard and style of cosmetic surgery adverts.
Speaking at the Baaps annual conference, he noted: 'Surgery is a serious undertaking which requires realistic expectations and should only proceed after proper consultation with a reputable and properly qualified clinician in an appropriate clinical setting.'
A spokesman for the Advertising Standards Authority told the BBC that there may be 'more complaints' as there are 'more adverts of that nature out there'.
© Adfero Ltd


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Modern Combat 4: Zero Hour will arrive on Windows Phone 8 from 10th April 2013 at US$6.99. This game by Gameloft shows potential to be the killer FPS game on..
Tag: Xbox Live
For those who have been waiting for the release of EA’s Army of TWO: The Devil’s Cartel on 26th March 2013, EA has released a demo version of the game for you..
Good news for Xbox 360 users with Windows Phone. Microsoft is releasing Xbox Companion app on the 6th December 2011. With the app, and the new Xbox 360..
When Microsoft announces Avatar Kinect in CES 2011, it surprises no one as we have seen some leaked info and know the capability of the Kinect Sensor…
It is just a day before official launch (on 21st October 2010). I monitored the Marketplace daily and it is already ramping up on its games and apps. Although not comparable to the numbers on Apple Apps Store or Android Market, it is still a good sign.


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On Tuesday, the People’s Assembly, chaired by Speaker Hammoudah Sabbagh discussed the performance of the Internal Trade and Consumer Protection Ministry.
Interpositions of the MPs concentrated on controlling the markets, decreasing prices and boosting the role of the Syrian Establishment for Trade and opening new customer centers to be a real competitor in the market.
The MPs also called for improving the quality of bread and increasing the quantity of wheat for bakeries in addition to increasing sponsorships of oil stations.
Minister of Internal Trade, Atef Naddaf, briefed the MPs on a review about the work of his ministry, saying that the sale volume of the Syrian Establishment for Trade during the last three months increased to 15 billion Syrian pounds.
This article was edited by The Syrian Observer. The Syrian Observer has not verified the content of this story. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author.


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Megogo has launched an interactive, round-the-clock channel dedicated to the popular US sitcom Friends.
Megogo Media Services has launched a special game section in its smart TV application.
Megogo has launched the new Megogo Box media console with advanced functionality and 4K support.
Subscribers to the Orion group’s Telekarta Online OTT service in Russia can now access Megogo’s entire video library.
The Russian OTT service Megogo has opened a studio to produce its own content.
The DTH platform NTV-Plus and OTT provider Megogo have announced the start of a strategic partnership and jointly launched an extended online TV service aimed at children.
A new music channel named Megogo Live has made its debut in Ukraine.
The Russian telco MTS and online video service Megogo have launched a new joint TV and movie offer.
The Russian OTT movie service Okko saw its revenues almost double in 2017, while those of its competitor Megogo increased by 1.65 times.
The Russian OTT service Megogo will no longer work with the ad sales house Gazprom-Media Digital (GPMD) from 2018.


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An egg-and-cheese croissant all too often involves an overdone fried egg and a bland slice of Swiss wedged into a too-chewy pastry. At Portland’s Belleville bakery, the pastry that goes by that name is something else entirely.
In downtown Ellsworth, a veteran chef delivers all-occasions eats.
Baharat is dishing up heaps of Middle Eastern cuisine staples in Portland.
One of Maine’s most accomplished chefs ditched his knife set for a camera and wound up creating a visual feast of a book about soups.
At Sunday River, chef Harding Lee Smith takes tried-and-true comfort food to new heights.
The still maker has become the distiller: Jesse Lupo’s new booze line includes cinnamon, toasted coconut, and sweet tea cordials.
A hearty winter salad with tangy homemade dressing.
At Rockland’s new Italian restaurant, twirling is for spaghetti and for dancing.
Why are Portsmouth restaurateurs crossing state lines?
This time of year, the alluring whiff of simmering chicken stock and the promise of a big bowl of soup, bolstered by the addition of greens and beans, softens the onset of Maine’s chilly evenings.
We’re raising a glass this holiday season to the rise of Maine wine.
Without a local Hanukkah celebration for her family to enjoy, Susan Montell decided to start one. Now, she’s organizing a community latke party for the 10th consecutive year.


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Provape presents general descriptions regarding news, trending items, and changes affecting vapers in the world. In the general category, you will find product reviews, state vaping information, interviews, and worldwide vaping descriptions on the black market. With consistent information always being produced, Provape strives to maintain accuracy to keep viewers informed on everything happening in the world today.
- Categories: General
As of last week, Juul Labs announced they will be letting go of more than half of their employees. Juul spokesman said in a statement, “No final decisions have been made and we will continue to go through our evaluation process.” These cuts are aimed to let go of nearly 1,200 staff members causing more Americans to become unemployed.
Due to not yielding enough returns, Juul Labs are also contemplating holding its sales in Europe and Asia. Sou
- vaping disposables or E-cigarettes is almost seen as a safe haven for nicotine cravers, providing a healthier alternative.


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While it’s more convenient for consumers to use digital wallets and contactless transactions, merchants are seeing their card transaction fees increase as well as trying to survive post-lockdown
Covid-19 lockdowns heavily impacted small businesses, especially those which couldn’t trade online. Whilst these merchants have been slowly recovering since the pandemic, increased merchant fees have provided yet another pain point for SMEs.
Since the initial lockdowns in 2020, Smartpay, Australia and New Zealand’s largest independent EFTPOS provider, reports merchants card transactions have jumped 20% compared to pre-lockdown transaction figures in 2019.
This overall increase in these transactions indicates sustained growth driven by lower cash usage and the shift to a cashless society. Cash usage has been decreasing for years but Covid-19 has helped speed up this shift. Card payments rose again in 2021, up 13.1 per cent on 2020; while digital wallets jumped 90 per cent in the same period, with 68 million monthly transactions.
“This transaction data indicates SME merchants have started to rebound after many struggled through the Covid-19 lockdowns in 2021. But the increase in card usage equates to an increase in merchants fees, adding to costs at a time where saving costs is crucial to small to medium sized businesses.”
“Depending on the merchant’s service provider, small businesses have the opportunity to offset these transaction fees and shield themselves from this increase, allowing them to reinvest back into their business,” says Marty Pomeroy, Chief Executive Officer at Smartpay.
Marty Pomeroy, shares some business tips that SME merchants could invest their card transaction fee savings in, to maximise their business for 2022.
- Stabilise Cash Flow: For any business struggling after Covid-19 lockdowns, using savings to cover running costs and stabilise cash flow would be a high priority. Steering a business back to regular trading whilst improving cash flows is a great position to be in when planning for next year.
- Negotiate with your Suppliers: You should review your suppliers or seek alternatives from your current suppliers to get a better deal. Making the switch to new suppliers can help your business save and investing these savings to cover any financial gaps can prove beneficial long-term. You should do this for your business EFTPOS as well.
- Marketing & Loyalty: Investing in advertising and marketing can have an exponential effect on business. Even small amounts can be invested into online and social advertising, or marketing campaigns – there are often simple (or free) CRM tools businesses could use. Savings could also be invested into new, financially viable rewards with new redemption rules to ensure loyal customers keep coming back.
- Recruitment: Savings could go into hiring new staff, increasing hours or investing in training courses; ways in which businesses can stay ahead of the curve and continue to deliver high levels of service over the busy summer trading period.
Smartpay helps their merchants save or eliminate these fees with savvy retailers using these savings to invest in their business and manage cash flow into the new year.


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Janus Elevator Products Adds New Representatives
Patton and Uzelac join manufacturer of elevator and communications safety equipment
Hauppauge, N.Y. (July 18, 2011) – Janus Elevator Products has expanded its sales force with two representatives in the southern United States. Jane Patton and Rich Uzelac have been appointed Regional Sales Managers, providing sales and service support for Janus’ full range of elevator safety edges, fixtures, phones and display products.
Patton comes to Janus with 10 years of technical outside sales experience, most recently with Elite Technical (Orlando, Fla.) as Director of Business Development. As a Regional Sales Manager for Janus, Patton will cover seven southern states including Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee. Patton can be reached at 407-416-8249, email@example.com.
Uzelac brings over 25 years of sales management experience in real estate and construction. Prior to joining Janus, he managed sales for ConstructSource Direct (Dallas, Texas). His territory will include Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas. Uzelac can be reached at 214-422-0587, firstname.lastname@example.org.


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Exhibitors who came from Australia and Venezuela, from Mexico and Monaco; nine cavernous exhibition halls; live demonstrations of products — including fires that attendees were invited to extinguish; conversations in many different languages; a corporate fashion show that could rival a Broadway production; and almost – but not quite – an indoor windmill.
Honeywell and Intel in November demonstrated a prototype of a personal connected safety solution for industrial workers and first responders that would reduce workplace injury and improve productivity.
Mallory Safety and Supply - a safety distributor dedicated to helping companies create safer, healthier, and more productive workplaces, and Airstreams Renewables Inc., a leader in career safety and technical training
Grainger (NYSE: GWW), the leading broad line supplier of maintenance, repair and operating (MRO) products serving businesses and institutions, in November held its Annual Analyst Meeting in Lake Forest, Illinois.
Mallory Safety and Supply, a safety and industrial supply distributor helping companies create safer, healthier, and more productive workplaces, announced in late November that Mallory has acquired the safety distribution business of Sanderson Safety Supply Co. of Portland, Oregon.
As a provider of comprehensive safety solutions to companies worldwide, the company has been researching the best ways to utilize technology to improve customer service, and they found the answer at their fingertips — specifically, the tapping of fingertips on iPads.
50%+ of 2014 injuries involved days away from work, transfers or restrictions
January 8, 2016
More than half of the nearly 3.0 million private industry injury and illness cases reported in 2014 involved days away from work, job transfer, or restriction (DART cases), according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics.


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Huawei has been engaged on releasing its personal OS for fairly a while now. Earlier it was believed that the OS can be launched by August or September, however immediately, a number of sources have revealed that the working system (HongMengOS) goes to roll out in October.
This information comes from Guo Mingxi, an analyst with Tianfeng Worldwide, who revealed that Huawei shall be able to push smartphones with its personal OS by fall this 12 months.
Nevertheless, because the OS continues to be in its early phases, it received’t be rolling out for any flagship grade telephones such because the Mate 30, as an alternative, it will likely be launched to the low-end/mid-range telephones first.
The rollout will start from China and the principle purpose for that’s the OS wouldn’t meet the necessities of the worldwide viewers. As soon as Huawei establishes an ecosystem, the OS will seem on international excessive tier models just like the Mate 30 and P40 sequence.
Outdoors China, Huawei is predicted to ship HongMeng OS to Central and Jap Europe in a while beneath the title of Ark OS.
As for shipments, the analyst predicted that Huawei may ship as a lot as 225 million models of its smartphones in 2019, fortifying its second place on this planet after Samsung.


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Royal Panda Casino are already home to dozens of online slots from some of the best software providers in the industry and now they are expanding their reach even further. The online casino have just signed a brand new deal with the innovative content provider and aggregation platform, Relax Gaming. This means they will now supply their proprietary and partner slot games to Royal Panda.
Relax Gaming Join Royal Panda
The casino hosts games from the likes of Microgaming, NetEnt and NextGen Gaming and now they have just added another to their list. Thanks to an exciting new partnership Royal Panda will join Relax Gaming's growing network of online casinos.
Royal Panda will have seamless access to the suppliers exciting and vast range of in-house and partnered portfolio. The games will sit alongside those already available in the Royal Panda lobby.
Royal Panda Casino go live with Relax Gaming’s portfolio of in-house and partnered games.
Relax Gaming’s plans to expand are certainly paying off as they have added 20 studios to their partnership programs in the last year. They’ve expanded their collection of high performing Relax and Silver Bullet titles which now include their Money Train Slot and Temple Tumble Slot.
Nothing But the Best
As a result of the new deal the casino will be releasing Relax Gaming’s slots over the course of the next few weeks so watch this space. The casino, a Malta-based casino are now a major brand in the European market and have a significant foothold in the UK market.
They are able to offer their members nothing less than a first-class experience as they focus heavily on ease of use, entertainment and top notch customer support.
Strengthening Their Footprint
Excited with the launch of the new games Daniel Eskola, who is the CEO at Relax Gaming said “Given Royal Panda’s commitment to providing the best possible experience to its customers, we’re confident that our high-quality and entertaining games will make a valuable addition to its online offering.”
He also went on to add “Both our in-house content and partnered games offer a broad range of volatilities and themes to suit a host of player types and preferences. We’re looking forward to supplying Royal Panda with some of the most innovative titles available in the market.”
Melvin Ritsema who is the Marketing Director at Royal Panda Limited also commented “We like to think of ourselves as internationally focused, but with a very strong local touch. With Relax Gaming’s content we will not only strengthen our footprint in our core markets but also attract new players.
“The company’s flexibility and open approach to business is unique in this industry and coupled with its offering of high-quality and engaging slots will make it a fantastic partner to work with.”


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The Paris apartment building on the Upper West Side at West 97th Street is in contract for nearly $150 million to Larry Gluck’s Stellar Management.
The Art Deco former Hotel Paris was reconfigured into 175 residential apartments of which, sources said, around 20 percent are rent-stabilized. The seller is Bruce Menin’s Crescent Heights.
Investment marketing gurus Douglas Harmon and Adam Spies of Eastdil Secured have been quietly pitching the building on behalf of Crescent Heights.
The 24-story building is known for its luxurious 16,000-square-foot fitness facility and huge swimming pool.
Westbrook Partners paid $85.8 million at the height of the market in 2007. By 2010, David Bistricer and the Rieder family purchased it for $72.36 million and had a conversion plan approved before selling it two years ago for $123 million to Crescent, which has since updated many apartments.
It is likely that Stellar will continue to combine, renovate and rent out the Paris as vacancies occur, particularly as Gluck is not a converter. Most bedrooms have their own bathroom and some units have additional en suite nanny or office-like areas. Several three-bedroom units are listed on StreetEasy with rents from $10,000 to more than $16,000 a month, another inducement to keep on renting.
Sources said Stellar is in the midst of obtaining financing with a closing scheduled within the next month.
None of the parties responded to requests for comment.
More developers are now focusing on the higher-end rental market.
Speaking at the Eastern Consolidated forum last week, both Amy Rose of Rose Associates and Jeff Levine of Douglaston Development say they are concentrating on rentals.
Since rentals are the “bread and butter” of New York City, Rose says many investment funds now “strictly want” rental housing.
The luxury rental product also now “mirrors condominium finishes,” she said.
“In the upper luxury high-end space, people are choosing to rent at extraordinary numbers,” Rose observed, using $20,000 per month as an example. Rose and Friedland Properties are renting apartments on Broadway on the Upper West Side, for instance, at more than $100 per square foot.
Rose is building another rental with Friedland at 7 W. 21st St. and redeveloping 70 Pine St., where there will be rentals and extended-stay units.
Along with life changes, reasons for renting can vary from not having a down payment to needing a temp rental between selling one unit and completing renovations on another.
As for condominiums, if it now costs $800 a square foot for just land — between rising construction costs and financing that includes preferred equity — “you don’t make a penny until the sale is over $3,000 to $4,000 a square foot,” said Levine. “I’d rather buy a taxi and talk to people all day long.”
Because of tax implications, many families who want to cash out are also not selling long-held properties but instead leasing land to developers for rentals. Levine is pursuing such a site where he can build 800,000 square feet by Hudson Yards.
“I see this world coming back to those that do rentals,” he added.
The dangling of millions of dollars in relocation benefits has persuaded another New York company to make the leap across the Hudson.
Law firm Eltman, Eltman & Cooper has signed a 10-year deal to relocate from Lower Manhattan to 101 Hudson St. in Jersey City in return for a $5.6 million Grow NJ tax credit as the firm brings 80 jobs to the Garden State.
Now located in 14,500 square feet within 140 Broadway, the 16,000-square-foot Jersey deal will give the lawyers a tad more in the 1.25 million-square-foot office tower — just one PATH stop across the River Hudson.
Joseph Genovesi and John Harte of Savills Studley represented the law firm, which was going to renew before studying the market extensively.
The new open-plan office geared toward employee retention has a lower New Jersey “loss” factor. Said Harte: “It’s a home run.”
Building owner Mack-Cali Realty Corp. was represented in-house by Tom Savoca and now has asking rents in the $40s per square foot.
JPMorgan Chase recently agreed to bring over 2,150 employees to New Jersey in return for $19 million in incentives.
Another $33.9 million in New Jersey tax incentives will be soaked up by New York Life, which is moving 325 jobs intrastate — from Parsippany to the Goldman Sachs tower in Jersey City — where the Wall Street bank now wants to build yet another 900-square-foot-plus tower next door.
In a first-rate food coup, Trader Joe’s has just signed a 13,700-square-foot lease at downtown Brooklyn’s upcoming City Point development.
Roy Roberts of Milestone Associates and David Rosenberg of RKF represented Trader Joe’s, which will be on the concourse level near the DeKalb Market Hall. Both are expected to open in 2016.
The upper floors will also house a Century 21 Department Store, CityTarget and Alamo Drafthouse Cinema.
City Point, a project being developed by Acadia Realty Trust and Washington Square Partners, was represented by Peter Ripka and Jason Pennington of Ripco Real Estate.
“We couldn’t see a better match for the fresh food in the market hall as Trader Joe’s has the ability to cut across so many demographics and we will attract people from all the various neighborhoods,” said Paul Travis of Washington Square Partners.
Rents on the concourse level range from $40 to $75 a square foot and “everything in between,” added Chris Conlon of Acadia Realty Trust. Along with some smaller vendor spots, the concourse has two availabilities of 2,600 square feet and 6,000 square feet, “one of which we firmly believe should be a restaurant,” Conlon added.
It looks as though DKNY will be closing its flagship 655 Madison Ave. location on the northeast corner of East 60th Street after the holiday season. The 18,000-square-foot store is spread on several levels and DKNY is likely to seek a more intimate space to relaunch the brand since, “after much soul-searching,” founder Donna Karan stepped away last July 1 to focus on her own Urban Zen line.
Rather than subleasing its remaining almost 10-year term itself, the company, owned by LVMH since 2001, has asked Pat Breslin, Michael Cohen and Andy Roos of Colliers International to market the space, which is in the base of an office building long owned by company principals.
This low-basis ownership also enables the brokers to cut a longer-term deal with a new tenant at below the area’s asking rents, which can run from $1,200 to $2,500 a square foot, brokers say.
For instance, across the street, Brioni has leased a duplex store with 3,500 square feet on each level at a rent of around $8 million per square foot.
Brokers say the Colliers team has already offered the entire DKNY space to them for less than that amount.
It was just a year ago that DKNY shuttered its 11,000-square-foot store at 819 Madison when its lease expired.
LVMH declined comment.


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Blame the apps, blame the mobs, blame the fact that by now people are sick of hearing the same twelve holiday tunes in every retailer in the world: online shopping is all the rage. Never has this been more apparent…
I started off aiming to write an article about all of the things Google has done over the course of the year, and quickly realized that this would be one massive article, even if I only briefly mentioned everything. So I have decided to split the article up into quarters, so you don’t have to take everything in all at once. Check back for each subsequent article.
Amazon released its "Best of 2010" lists today, which list the bestselling, most-wished-for, and most popular gift products of the year.
Kindle Dominates Electronics


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Sports Direct, the controversial company that sells cut-price sportswear, has bought a large chunk of central Brixton.
Following an eight-figure deal, it now owns the land bordered by the two Brixton railway lines, Pope’s Road and Valentia Place.
It is currently home, among others, to Brixton Beach Boulevard and three shops fronting Pope’s Road. Older residents may remember it was the site of Tesco before the store moved to Acre Lane.
And it’s a stone’s throw from Pop Brixton and Network Rail’s arches on Atlantic and Brixton Station Roads.
SDI (Brixton) Limited bought the land for £11,750,000 earlier this year. Land Registry documents show that its previous owners granted 125-year leases in 1965 to the British Railways Board – a likely precursor to Network Rail – and City and Central Shops Limited, part of property giant Land Securities.
SDI Brixton was created three years ago and one of its directors is Dotun Adegoke, chief buyer for Sports Direct. Mike Ashley, the founder and inspiration of Sports Direct, was a founding director, but resigned in October last year.
Sports Direct’s headquarters is in Shirebrook, Derbyshire, once a coal-mining town, but now notorious for Sports Direct’s use of zero-hour contracts in its giant warehouse.
A committee of MPs said it was run like a Victorian workhouse and that its workers were treated “without dignity or respect”.
Committee chairman Iain Wright (Labour, Hartlepool, now retired) said: “For this to occur in the UK in 2016 is a serious indictment of the management at Sports Direct and Mike Ashley, as the face of Sports Direct, must be held accountable for these failings.”
Ashley at first refused to talk to the MPs’ committee but later agreed Sports Direct had broken the law by failing to pay the national minimum wage.
He told his annual general meeting in 2016 that Sports Direct was planning to actively change its property portfolio to move into bigger stores.
He said the company would buy large buildings with separate floors dedicated to different brands.
There was speculation that the new, larger, premises would be branded as USC stores – also owned by Ashley – that try to foster an upmarket image and could let floors to actual sportswear brands.
The nearest Sports Direct stores to Brixton at the moment are in Clapham, Streatham and Walworth Road.
Ashley, also owner of Newcastle United football club, told a High Court judge in July this year that he is a “power drinker” who likes to get drunk. He was giving evidence in a case in which he was being sued (unsuccessfully) for £14 million by an investment banker.
Earlier the court had heard that he held management meetings in pubs and once was sick in a fireplace after 12 pints.


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Under its new arm, PSI India will introduce a range of new, fast moving consumer health products through chemists, and pharmaceutical segment through providers
US-based global non-profit health organisation, Population Services International (PSI) , renowned for its innovative work in improving the health of people in 50+ countries (known in India for its products like Pearl – Oral Contraceptive Pills, Freedom 5 – Intrauterine contraceptive device and masti-condoms), announced the launch of a for-profit business designed to complement its ongoing non-profit work.
In a move to financially strengthen business operations amid a changing funding landscape for non-government organisations, the enterprise will operate as a separate commercial entity that will manage the procurement, distribution and marketing of PSI’s healthcare portfolio which will include provision of contraceptives priced competitively to increase the basket of choices women have for family planning products and towards strengthening its work to improve child survival through ORS and Zinc supplements.
Ambassador Karl Hofmann, Chief Executive Officer and President, PSI comments, “India is changing, demographically and economically. While healthcare services have been made far more affordable and accessible to people in rural areas in the last 10 years, gaps and challenges in the infrastructure, service delivery, still persist. In its pursuit of equitable economic development, India’s vision of achieving the recently announced Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is full of opportunity for entrepreneurs. This makes India the most promising for social enterprises which are innovative, risk averse and are driven by long term commitment to the under served,” Hofmann added.
Under its new arm, PSI India will introduce a range of new, fast moving consumer health products through chemists, and pharmaceutical segment through providers. “In the last 28 years, PSI India has worked closely with the national and state governments, renowned partner organisations and private firms to make healthcare products and services more accessible and affordable to vulnerable populations. The development marks the journey of new possibilities for NGOs in India to bring shared value and impact in social development through innovation and entrepreneurship,” commented Shankar Narayanan, Managing Director, PSI India.
“PSI has always been a non-government organisation with a business approach and uncompromising focus on measurable health impact. Our objective is to deliver significant health impact through growing markets (for family planning and other categories) – achieved through a sustainable business model that generates positive financial returns,” added Pritpal Marjara, Managing Director, PSI India.
EP News Bureau