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More people watch movies from the comfort of their couch, than go to the theater, according to a Consumer Reports poll of its readers.
And and growing number of people are streaming video from the Internet to their TV, computer or mobile device.
Netflix was by far the most used video streaming service, with more than 80 percent of those polled saying they used in in the past month.
However, while Netflix was praised for convenience, the biggest gripe was selections, especially new releases. Those polled had the same complaint about other subscription services like Amazon Prime or Hulu Plus.
For better selection, people preferred pay-per-view services that charge for each title. The best, in order of rankings, Vudu, iTunes and Amazon Instant Video.
For free content, people liked Hulu.com. It lets you stream movies and TV shows, but only on a computer. To watch on a TV or iPad, you have to subscribe to Hulu Plus, which costs $7.99 a month, same at Netflix.
The poll found plenty of people still like to rent disks. Netflix was one of the best for disk selection. Redbox was popular for cheap rentals.


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T-Mobile is launching a new initiative to benefit U.S. military families through discounts, employment, and network improvements. First up is the T-Mobile ONE Military plan, which offers 50% off of family lines for military families on a T-Mobile ONE plan. Additionally, military families who join a ONE Military plan before May 31 can ... Read More »
If you have been thinking about switching to a prepaid wireless offering and MetroPCS is one of the options you’ve considered, the carrier has a noteworthy deal you might want to check out.
Some rumors refuse to go away, and a potential merger between T-Mobile and Sprint in the United States is one of them. It looked like we might’ve seen the last of it last year, but now we’re right back on track ... Read More »
Most Tweeted This Week
T-Mobile is now pushing the Android 8.0 Oreo update to the Samsung Galaxy Note 8 and Samsung Galaxy S8 Active. The carrier announced the update on Friday, March 30, stating that the goal was for the update to be sent out on Sunday, April 1. Though the ... Read More »
The carrier has now announced that the Oreo update for the ... Read More »
On the same weekend that the Galaxy S9 is launching, Samsung’s 2017 flagship is getting an update to Android 8.0 Oreo.
Back in May of last year, T-Mobile was already talking about its plans to implement its 5G network across the United States. It’s a wide-ranging plan that involves multiple steps, but one the wireless carrier believes will be implemented for its customers by 2019.
Today, ... Read More »
T-Mobile is always apt to jump on an opportunity for a sale, and tax season is no exception. Both T-Mobile and its subsidiary, MetroPCS, are offering deals for new and existing customers this spring. New customers at MetroPCS can save $150 on any phone when they port their number to MetroPCS ... Read More »
Ever since Verizon Wireless started selling 4G LTE devices, the biggest wireless carrier in the United States has been generous enough to sell those handsets unlocked. But times they are a-changin’.
There will surely be quite a few deals launching in the coming days as we inch closer to Valentine’s Day, and today T-Mobile revealed the deals that it’s cooked up.
Starting tomorrow, February 10, T-Mobile is offering a free line of service when you add a line. This ... Read More »

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Via NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com):
The Great Recession ended in June 2009, according to the body charged with dating when economic downturns begin and end. But the news comes amid rising fears of a double-dip recession.
The National Bureau of Economic Research, an independent group of economists, released a statement Monday saying economic data now clearly points to the economy turning higher last summer.
That makes the 18-month recession that started in December 2007 the longest and deepest downturn for the U.S. economy since the Great Depression.
The NBER acknowledged the risk of double-dip recession in its statement, but said “The committee decided that any future downturn of the economy would be a new recession and not a continuation of the recession that began in December 2007. The basis for this decision was the length and strength of the recovery to date.”
The committee that made the finding said it “did not conclude that economic conditions since that month have been favorable or that the economy has returned to operating at normal capacity.” Rather, it decided that June was when the economy hit bottom, and that it has been slowly but steadily growing since then.


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Vauxhall appoints new UK MD
Most recently Tozer held the position of CEO of Autobinck Holding NV in The Hague, prior to that his roles included president and CEO of Mitsubishi Motors Europe, managing director of Mazda UK and a regional director of Inchcape Motors International.
In his new role he will report to executive vice president Opel/Vauxhall and president of General Motors Europe, Karl-Thomas Neumann, as chairman and managing director of Vauxhall Motors and to Peter Kuespert, vice-president sales & aftersales, in his sales function. Tozer will also represent Vauxhall on the Opel/Vauxhall Leadership Board in Germany.
Karl-Thomas Neumann said: ‘Tim brings a wealth of motor industry experience to the Opel/Vauxhall organisation, a strong understanding of the sales and marketing functions and a wide knowledge of both operational and strategic aspects of the business. Vauxhall is an exceptional performer in the UK industry and we look forward to Tim building on the strong foundations already developed by Duncan Aldred and his team.’
Tozer will join the company on February 24th 2014.


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The bewildered look on Chris Mobley’s face reveals a great deal about the way he’s sold shoes for 40-plus years.
The Hale’s Shoe Store owner is recounting a recent trip to a chain store’s shoe department where he encountered something wholly bizarre.
“There were shoes all over the floor and people trying them on themselves,” Mobley says. “At the store here, we’re not living in the fast lane where you’re trying on your shoes by yourself. The first thing that comes off the wall when you walk in is a foot measurer.”
Mobley started working at Hale’s Shoe Store in 1964 when he was just 22 years old. He quickly learned the importance of individualized service and attention to detail that has been a part of the store’s tradition since it was opened by Hunter Hale in the ’20s. After two decades, Hale sold his store to Gene Jontz, who became Mobley’s mentor until 1977, when Mobley became Hale’s Shoe Store’s final owner.
He hasn’t set a date, but sometime in the next two months Mobley will close his business, which has been nestled in the heart of downtown between Central and Gold on Fifth Street since the ’30s. “I’m just worn out,” Mobley says. “I’ve hit a wall and it’s time to move on.”
Mobley admits Hale’s wasn’t meant for a world where once-beloved items are no longer cherished and quality is sacrificed for convenience.
“When I was a kid growing up, your first pair of shoes were very special,” Mobley says. “As you get older, I think maybe people start to take those things for granted.”
It’s easy to understand why Mobley has succeeded in business for four decades. Without flashy gimmicks or the latest fashions, Hale’s has prospered because of salesmanship. Mobley speaks with a great sense of accomplishment when he mentions customers he’s helped find the perfect fit. Hale’s carries a large selection of orthopedic shoes along with traditional footwear, and Mobley has always found comfort in easing people’s pain.
When I was a kid growing up, your first pair of shoes were very special. As you get older, I think maybe people start to take those things for granted.
The customers cataloged on note cards in Mobley’s old-fashioned record-keeping system are treated as unique people with specific needs. Mobley doesn’t just recognize the importance of one-on-one attention; he relishes it. “The other day this couple that’s bought shoes from here took my wife and I out for dinner,” Mobley says. “She wears a real wide, short shoe, and he wears a real narrow, long shoe. Talk about opposites attracting.”
Hale’s has rarely tried to chase trends in the industry. Never one to pass up a trusted model for a new style, Mobley scoffs at the notion of jumping on the bandwagon of the “next big thing” in footwear. “I don’t go for what’s ‘hot,’ ” Mobley says. “It’s like Mr. Hale used to always tell Mr. Jontz, Don’t try to stock what people think they want. Give them what they need," Mobley says.
Over the years, Mobley has passed on his knowledge of the industry to his loyal employees, most of whom he’s still in touch with. Though his daughter Samantha is his only offspring, Mobley’s relationship with many of his ex-employees is comparable to that of a father and his children. Years ago, Mobley even helped a former employee buy a car. The soon-to-be-retired salesman fondly remembers the day the worker returned to pay him back after getting on his feet.
“He was having girl problems,” Mobley says. “After he broke up with his girlfriend, things got better for him, and I sure got a kick out of him coming in to pay me back.”
With no heir apparent to take over his business, Mobley is content to put the finishing touches on a lengthy chapter in downtown Albuquerque’s history. While he looks forward to a life of “fishing and flying,” it’s not surprising what Mobley will miss most.
“The people are the best part of all of this,” Mobley says. “It’s been good for me to be able to give people what they need.”


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Walmart Inc. reported impressive second-quarter earnings growth and reiterated its full-year guidance.
On Tuesday, Walmart reported second-quarter adjusted EPS of $1.77 on revenue of $152.8 billion. Both numbers exceeded consensus analyst estimates of $1.62 and $150.8 billion, respectively. Revenue was up 8 percent from a year ago.
Walmart reported 6.5 percent U.S. same-store sales growth, excluding fuel, beating analyst expectations of 5.9 percent growth. Walmart’s e-commerce sales were up 12 percent.
Looking ahead, Walmart reiterated its previous guidance for full-year U.S. same-store sales growth of 4 percent and a full-year EPS decline of between 9 percent and 11 percent.
Credit Suisse analyst Robert Moscow said Walmart management’s commentary that conditions improved in the last two weeks of the quarter bodes well for the second half of 2022.
“We are keeping out 2H intact to reflect the volatile consumer environment, but we think the company has effectively de-risked the rest of the year with a conservative guide,” Moscow wrote.
RBC analyst Steven Shemesh said Walmart’s quarter was better than feared, and the stock remains a relative safety play.
“We’re encouraged by the company’s progress clearing excess inventory, but think it’s important to recognize that the consumer backdrop is still very uncertain,” Shemesh wrote.
Raymond James analyst Bobby Griffin said Walmart will continue to battle macroeconomic uncertainty and inflation pressures in the second half of the year.
“While near-term results will remain challenging, we believe Walmart’s value proposition (now gaining incremental traffic from upper/middle income consumers) alongside best-in-class omni-channel capabilities, financial strength and leadership leave it well positioned for better performance in the coming quarters/next fiscal year (less markdown exposure and further market share gains in consumables),” Griffin wrote.
Telsey Advisory Group analyst Joseph Feldman said Walmart will remain a “leader and market share gainer” in the retail sector.
“We also are encouraged to see Walmart expand its vision beyond retail and e-commerce, with a focus on building a powerful ecosystem, including advertising, merchant services, last-mile delivery, health services, and digital payments,” Feldman wrote
Walmart Ratings, Price Targets
Credit Suisse has an Outperform rating and raised the price target from $133 to $145.
RBC has an Outperform rating and raised the price target from $135 to $151.
Raymond James has an Outperform rating and lifted the price target from $140 to $150.
Telsey Advisory Group has an Outperform rating and raised the price target from $145 to $160.
By Wayne Duggan
© 2022 The Epoch Times. The Epoch Times does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.


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Hawaii has become the latest destination to jump on the honeymoon honeymoon bandwagon.
The Hawaii Travel Industry Association (HTIA) announced today that Hawaii is the first state to offer a honeymoon calendar that’s both easy to navigate and highly recommended by experts.
The calendar is the culmination of more than a decade of research by HTIA and the Hawaii Tourism Research Institute (HTRI), a nonprofit research organization dedicated to developing new tourism marketing campaigns.
The list of honeymoon destinations is a mix of the more common options, including Hawaii’s popular tourist attractions, but also includes some of the state’s most popular vacation destinations.
Hawaii’s tourism industry has seen a resurgence in recent years, and its population is expected to surpass 10 million by 2020.
But it’s still a far cry from the 2.5 million-plus tourists who visited Hawaii in the past decade.
Hawaii has been hit hard by a string of high-profile tourism disasters that included the devastating 2010 tsunami and devastating wildfires in the state.
With more than $1.4 billion in lost revenue and $2 billion in damage, the tourism industry’s bottom line is in shambles.
Now, with the help of the HTIA, HTRI, and the HI Tourism Board, HTIA is hoping to reverse the trend.
Hawaii officials have launched a statewide honeymoon initiative to help attract more tourists and help revitalize the state, and they’re also planning to hire a marketing consultant to develop marketing campaigns to promote tourism in the tourism-dependent state.
HTIA president Joe Kallanis said the agency has developed a honeypot calendar, a comprehensive checklist of all Hawaii’s favorite honeymoon spots, and is using its expertise in marketing to build a solid base for a future tourism boom.
“We’ve developed this honeymoon guide as a way to ensure that our visitors and our businesses are well prepared to get to Hawaii and to ensure we are able to attract new visitors and stay active in the economy,” he said.
The honeymoon is a great opportunity to promote the tourism of Hawaii. “
The honeymoon program is the foundation for our tourism program.
The honeymoon is a great opportunity to promote the tourism of Hawaii.
We’ve got a plan to attract a lot of people and stay on the tourism trail.”
The honeypot is the starting point for the honeypot tour, where the HTRI and HTIA will travel around the state to help guide visitors to some of Hawaii’s most desirable destinations.
The tours will begin on Maui, and will culminate in a stop at Tahiti, where they’ll take in the breathtaking sights of the island.
Kallamis said Hawaii has a unique situation with its tourism industry because the state is dependent on tourism dollars for much of its economy.
Tourism is a huge part of the economy, he said, and tourism can be a way for people to connect to the island and stay connected to Hawaii.
The state is currently the fourth-most popular destination in the world for people visiting Hawaii.
According to the Hawaii Travel Association, Hawaii has the fifth-highest tourism activity in the U.S., second only to New York and California.
Hawaii ranks eighth in the nation for tourism dollars spent per person, second only for the Dominican Republic, and fourth for people spending the most on their vacation.
Hawaii is also second in the number of foreign visitors, and has the seventh-highest foreign direct investment in the United States.
“When you look at tourism as an industry, it’s a big part of our economy,” Kallaniis said.
Hawaiian tourism is booming and growing, with more than 3,000 new jobs created annually, according to the Honolulu office of the Tourism Corporation of Hawaii, which manages the state economy.
“As tourism grows, so does the demand for jobs, and our economy can’t support that growth, and that’s a very real challenge,” Kalsen said.
Hawaii plans to offer an additional $2 million in funding to help with tourism marketing in the coming months.
For now, HTI is looking to use the honey pot calendar to lure tourists to Hawaii in a big way.
“If you can get some of your best friends back to Hawaii, and you have a lot going on at home, you’re going to have a pretty good time,” Kalli said.


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Things change fast in the world of business connectivity.
We’ll make sure you’re up to speed with the latest news, research stats and resources, as well as keeping you informed about developing cyber security risks and changes happening at Beaming.
Report: The cost of business cybercrime in 2023
Discover the number of UK businesses that fell prey to cybercrime and the average cost in 2023.
UK businesses split on benefits of remote working
81% of SMEs have adopted remote or hybrid working – but opinions differ as to whether it’s had a positive impact on their business.
Two-thirds of SME cloud users plan cutbacks to combat rising costs
Braced for a 10% increase in cloud costs this year, a report shows that 33% of SMEs plan to reduce the amount of data they store in the cloud and 24% to reduce the number of cloud services they use.
Is your business prepared for power cuts?
Rolling power cuts are a real possibility so we’ve outlined the considerations and precautions to keep your business operating this winter.
Watch: Technology’s role in managing business change during COVID-19
We explain how technology can help business leaders keep everything working smoothly and make sure staff are always connected, whether they’re working from home, in the office or in a hybrid set up.
Gigabit voucher scheme from DCMS
The Gigabit Voucher scheme allows rural SMEs in the UK to claim a discount voucher of up to £3,500 against the cost of installing a consistently superfast and reliable gigabit capable connection.
Should we let employees shop online?
Bargain hunters and Christmas shoppers create productivity and cyber security risks at work. Discover our top tips for keeping your network safe and productivity levels high.
The future of accounting: digital transformation
We spoke to accountants who are successfully embracing technology and the results are found in our free Digital Transformation in Accounting guide.
UK businesses lost 60 million hours to internet downtime in 2018
Almost 60 million hours of working time were lost by UK businesses to internet outages last year. On average, UK businesses experienced two major outages & 16 hours of downtime each in 2018.
£27bn of UK IT projects have stalled due to Brexit uncertainty
1.7 million UK businesses have put IT investments on hold due to Brexit.
What makes a great workplace?
New research shows business leaders want Comfort, great Connectivity and space for Concentration.
How to recognise a tech support scam
Anti-fraud organisations have recently reported a rise in tech support scams, we look at how these work and how to avoid them.
A third of businesses would sack suppliers that neglected cyber security, research shows
Find out more about our research, which reveals that the majority of business leaders believe that their suppliers are obligated to ensure they do not expose them to unnecessary cyber security risks.
It’s important to pick the right connectivity for your business
When deciding between the different types of internet connection, you’ll need to consider your business size, the sector you operate in and the functions you will need to perform.
How to backup data without creating a disaster movie (infographic)
Our infographic describes the five main groups that businesses fall into and should help you to understand how to backup data safely.


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According to the guys from the Japanese website Ameblo (opens in new tab), the new Pantech smartphone, meant to challenge the rivals in its class, was uncovered in a set of recent benchmarks.
Hidden under the name Pantech IM-A830S, the new model first appeared as a reference on the GLBenchmark website (opens in new tab).
Tech journalists and bloggers wasted no time in checking out the technical specifications, before the company officially introduces the device in a PR-coated announcement.
The leaked information we have so far, suggests that Pantech IM-A830S will feature a 1.5GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon MSM8960 processor, with two Krait CPU cores.
Even though we can't guess the size from the details on offer sheet, the smartphone will sport a LCD screen with HD resolution of 1,280 x 720 pixels.
In addition to which, the Pantech IM-A830S will reach the phones' owners with Android Ice Cream Sandwich, already installed.
The first customers who will be able to check out if these rumours will be true are from Asia, according to sources quoted by Ameblo.jp.
South Korea's SK Telecom is the most likely carrier to include the new smartphone, but there are no mor hints about the release date, domestically or worldwide.


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Netflix has finally confirmed the launch date and price of its new cheaper plan with adverts. On November 3 from 4pm, customers in the UK will be able to sign up to the new 'Basic with Adverts' package for £4.99 a month.
Every advert that plays as part of the discounted plan will be before and during any TV shows and films, each lasting 15 or 30 seconds in length. On average, this totals up to four-five minutes of adverts per hour, Netflix says.
Although the new plan will be cheaper, some films and TV series will not be available for viewing due to licensing restrictions, with the amount of content that might be unavailable to depend on which country you're in.
Under the new plan, customers will not be able to download content and, like on its Basic Plan, will only be able to watch on one device. The video quality will be up to 720p HD, with the Basic plan being upgraded to match this as well. The Standard plan, however, which costs £10.99, lets you watch on two devices, while the Premium deal increases this to four devices and is £15.99.
It comes after rumours circulated that Netflix would be introducing a new advert-supported package back in July this year.
Greg Peters, Netflix Chief Operating Officer, said: "We’re confident that with Netflix starting at £4.99 a month, we now have a price and plan for every fan.
"While it’s still very early days, we’re pleased with the interest from both consumers and the advertising community and couldn’t be more excited about what’s ahead. As we learn from and improve the experience, we expect to launch in more countries over time."
Rival streaming service Disney+ will launch its own advert plan in December in the US. Other countries where Netflix's Basic with Adverts will launch include Australia, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Korea, Mexico, Spain and the US.
- Vicky McClure opens up on Dementia Choir and 'magic' of Splendour Festival
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- Channel 4 Gogglebox's Stephen Lustig-Webb makes lifestyle change - 'inspiring' followers
- Who is Chanel Cresswell? Nottingham star to play Coleen Rooney in Wagatha Christie drama


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The Jaguar team will start racing next autumn in the third season of the Formula E championship. JLR has said the championship “offers a unique opportunity for Jaguar Land Rover to further the development of future EV powertrain, including motor and battery, technology”.
A JLR statement read: “Jaguar Land Rover engineers will work directly with Jaguar’s race team to push the boundaries of electrification technology.”
JLR has not confirmed which of its brands will launch its first electric road car or when it will happen. However, Autocar understands Jaguar is readying a radically styled electric crossover for the Paris motor show next autumn and the timing will coincide with Jaguar’s entry to Formula E.
The concept is understood to closely preview a production car due to arrive in 2017 as a rival to the Tesla Model X. The styling is understood to heavily reference the C-X75 supercar concept. A range of around 300 miles for the battery-powered vehicle has been mooted, as has a price of around £60,000.
Jaguar’s race team will work with Williams Advanced Engineering, the pair having collaborated on the C-X75 concept car, a plug-in hybrid.
Formula E will act as a live test bed for developing electric technology for JLR vehicles and engineers from the road car side will work closely with the race team.
JLR chief engineer Nick Rogers used his announcement of Jaguar’s racing return to confirm that electric vehicles would “absolutely” play a role in Jaguar Land Rover’s future product portfolio, while refusing to say when these production vehicles would be launched, or whether an electric Jaguar would beat an electric Land Rover to the showrooms. The fact that the racer is a Jaguar and not a Land Rover is “not significant”, he says.
The latest announcement puts the crossover’s expected first sighting conveniently close to the Formula E Jaguar’s debut races, but for now, Nick Rogers isn’t keen to talk specifics, except about the new racing project.
”Formula E gives us a unique opportunity to further the development of electrification,” said Rogers. “We’ll be able to engineer and test our technologies under extreme performance conditions.”
Williams Advanced Engineering is already experienced in Formula E as the battery supplier and a designer of hybrid systems for Le Mans cars. Rogers said a significant number of his own engineers will be involved in the project.
“The future is about being more connected and more sustainable,” he added. “Electrification and lightweight technologies are becoming more important than ever as urbanisation increases. Formula E has recognised and reacted to these trends, which are perfect for our brand.”
Formula E cars were required to use common powertrain and chassis components for the first season, but new powertrain providers were allowed this year and in Jaguar’s first year — tipped to begin in September 2016 with a race in Montreal and include a new Hong Kong race — battery capacities rise from 28 to 32kWh, while peak engine power will rise by 25 percent to 250kW. The year after that, the minimum weight for a Formula E car, including driver, will fall from the current 888kg to 850kg.


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A growing trend in the workplace may put a damper on the holiday spirit for some people.
A new survey finds the tradition of the year-end bonus is becoming a thing of the past.
According to the report by Challenger, Gray and Christmas, 43 percent of H.R. Execs say their companies don't give out year end bonuses, perks or gifts to employees.
That number is up from 2007, when just 28 percent said they had ditched the end of the year gesture.
Among the 53 percent of companies that did shell out bonuses this year, half gave employees either a non-monetary gift or less than $100. Most bonuses were similar to what companies gave in 2010.
The study noted that small companies are on tight budgets, but at the same time, said that something small like a $25 gift card or an extra day or two of paid vacation can boost employee morale.


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HTC One S and Desire C has got a price cut and are available for Rs. 28,900 and Rs. 12,700, according to our friends at Mahesh Telecom. The HTC One S was officially launched in India in June for MOP (Best Buy) of Rs. 33,590 and the Desire C officially launched in India at the end of June for MOP (Best Buy) price of Rs 14,999. Price of these devices have been coming down since the launch.
Since the Indian version of the One S comes with an overclocked 1.7 GHz Snapdragon S3 processor instead of the Snapdragon S4 processor, people were hesitant to buy the phone at such a high cost. Even though the Desire C comes with Android 4.0 on-board, it packs in just 600 MHz processor.


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The oldest craft brewery in Raleigh will be shutting its taproom toward the month’s end, with eyes toward a 2023 relaunch at a new location.
Big Boss Brewing opened in an enormous warehouse at 1249 Wicker Drive in 2006. Brewery Director Seth Adams affirmed to WRAL on Wednesday that the brewery’s last day at its original location will be Aug. 28.
“We are not closing. We are going to relocate,” Adams said.
Adams said the organization is searching for a new location for a taproom and production facility. The expectation is to get a new spot and relaunch in 2023, Adams said.
Regardless of not having a taproom, Adams said the beer will in any case be accessible in the marketplace, taking note of
“We want to make sure that people know that Big Boss isn’t going away. We’ve worked really hard. This last month we’ve launched four or five new beers that the world hasn’t seen,” Adams said. “We are still making new beer that is for the marketplace and the taproom. All of our cans got a brand refresh.”
“We want to freshen up what Big Boss was and we are excited for this next phase of our transition and have it come to life,” Adams said.
Large Boss’ Wicker Driver location is owned by Grubb Ventures, which is additionally behind the sweeping Raleigh IronWorks improvement being developed close by. Project data documented with the City of Raleigh show that 1249 Wicker Drive is among three warehouses in the space being redeveloped into mixed-use spaces.


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What if a business or consumer has reached or exceeded the spending limit on their credit card and is unable to make a payment on an item or service? How does the creditor accept payment from the debtor?
This is why, along with credit card processing, merchants need to offer ACH payments (short for Automated Clearing House) as a payment method.
Instabill has been plugging ACH payments for some time. So when we found the Apr. 14 article on NACHA.org about how B2B ACH payments grew by more than 15 percent from 2014-2015, it further validated our claim that every business should offer ACH processing.
One Big Advantage of ACH Payments
The term ‘data breach’ has taken on a broader meaning. It means more than the mass theft of consumer credit card information. It now encompasses consumer information in general: Social security numbers, e-mail passwords, medical records, banking information or anything that enables a hacker to infiltrate a consumer’s or company’s financials.
More than ever, consumers and businesses are on the defensive.
With that, we feel security is playing a role in the growth of ACH transactions. Not only can a business use the ACH network to make secure payments, but businesses can safely send information such as invoices, which they did nearly 10 percent more in 2015 than 2014.
There is further evidence that businesses and consumers want more security in payments: ACH bank transfers increased by more than 2 billion each year since the wave of data breaches in 2013.
ACH and Direct Debit Transactions
Instabill recently partnered with a domestic bank to offer ACH payments and direct debit solutions – ideal solutions for subscription-based services, debt collection and membership services among other industries.
Our merchant account representatives will walk you through the ACH payment setup and remain on hand as consultants for the life of your merchant account partnership with Instabill. Reach them direct by clicking on the live chat option below, or calling 1-800-318-2713.


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Raith Rovers fans can now raise money for the club by simply shopping online.
Rovers have teamed up with Sports Cashback Company – run by former SFL chief executive David Longmuir – which will see the club receive commission from online retailers used by supporters.
Mr Longmuir explained: “It’s a concept designed to take advantage of the willingness of retailers to pay a small commission for bringing them online traffic.
“It’s very simple, you go onto the Sports Cashback website, you select Raith Rovers from the list of clubs, and you then click through to nearly 1000 well known High Street retailers, who are prepared to pay a commission for the transaction that takes place.
“They will pay that discount back to that nominated sporting cause, in this case Raith Rovers.”
Raith plan to use the scheme to set up a ‘Player Pathway’ fund to help bring through home-grown players.
Tom Morgan, Rovers commercial director, said: “This is a no-brainer for us.
“It’s not going to make millions of pounds but every penny that comes in is well used at a club like ours.
“We’ve got a good nucleus of young players coming through so we’ll be directing the money towards that area.”
Fans can sign up to support Raith Rovers here


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How Amazon India Is Changing The E-tailing Game
The global e-commerce giant Amazon entered the Indian terrain about a year ago in June 2013. Since then, a lot has changed in the e-tailing space of the country. Being an experienced player across many countries in the online space, Amazon has brought lot of expertise to the Indian online marketplace, pushing the native players to evolve and change swifter.
Within a couple of years, Amazon has launched a mobile retailing app and now covers 20,000 Pin codes, which is more than any other online retailer does in India. As per analysts, these major steps are aimed at a long-term model where Amazon can maintain its own inventory of products belonging to different sellers without actually relying on last-minute delivery by sellers through logistics companies.
The Indian online retail pie
The Indian online retail pie is not really huge at the moment with an estimated size of $ 2.3 billion, which is 0.4% of the total retailing industry in the country. But the growth of online retail is impressive and the industry is expected to reach the size of $32 billion by 2020 - a significant 3% of the total retail industry. Certainly, this kind of an amazing growth and potential is fuelling the e-tailers in India to go all over. Amazon India is no different and has been on its heels to revolutionise the entire Indian e-tailing space.
Preparing and readying stakeholders
Amazon is quite serious about India and is investing time, effort and money in building up various aspects of the industry, so that it is better prepared to manage the rapid growth. Amazon India has recently tied up with Catamaran - a sign that global giants are taking Indian e-commerce a lot more seriously....


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Foodservice and Catering
Zackary Furst has had difficult times along the way, but he knows character-building experiences have set him up for a fruitful career.
Chef-turned-caterer Sophie Storen on finding ‘her’ people and understanding what success means.
Nestlé GOLDEN CHEF’S HAT AWARD is gearing up for the 2019 national finals, having sourced the best and brightest young chefs from across the country. Australia’s longest running culinary competition for young chefs has seen a host of new chef talent step up this year to put themselves to the test in culinary institutes around […]
You’ve been doing it for years — spending hours every week creating your staff’s schedule, posting it in the breakroom, and furiously updating throughout the week as employees call in sick. And while some industries are quick to adopt new technology, others take longer to acclimatize. It can sometimes take forever to get your scheduling […]
Fred’s Danielle Alvarez has figured out the kind of chef she wants to be.
Eun Hee An, head chef of Sydney’s Paper Bird, tells of her biggest learning curves, most memorable food moments and what it takes to make it a commercial kitchen.
Straight talk: the health of the planet ain’t great. But there’s still a few reasons to feel optimistic about winning the war on waste.
Recent innovations have made hospitality appliances more effective, greener and less expensive to operate. Here are the features to look for.
Restaurants are moving further and further away from the meat-and-three-veg formula, so why do most cafes remain in the warm embrace of eggs on toast? Foodservice News’ Aleksandra Bliszczyk talks to the chefs and restaurateurs behind some of Sydney’s best cafes – those that are breaking the breakfast mould, and those that put classics on a pedestal – to find out where the most important meal of the day is heading.
Sustainability shouldn’t just be lip service – it should form part of your business philosophy, as more and more consumers demand food with green credentials.


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Nissan recently began sales of the Nissan LEAF in the South Korea, but LEAFs are not being shipped there from nearby Japan. The Korean LEAFs are in fact coming from the U.S.
What's even more interesting is that Nissan revealed that U.S.-built LEAF is exported not only to Canada, Mexico and Korea, but also to Japan.
To Japan? Why is Japan getting U.S.-built LEAFs when the island nation has its own LEAF assembly line and battery production facility?
57,000 lithium-ion battery packs for LEAFs were manufactured in the U.S. in 2013 & 2014, according to the press release. That's enough for the over 50,000 U.S.-made LEAFs that were sold and a few thousand that are en route for deliveries. But this is not enough to supply LEAFs sold in Japan (well over 10,000 a year).
So, how's it possible for the LEAF to be exported from the U.S. to Japan and why? Honestly, we don't know the answers. Perhaps only a small amount of cars were shipped? Perhaps non-complete gliders for completion in Japan?
INFOGRAPHIC: Nissan Group of North America Reports 1 Million U.S. Exports


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We never had any doubt that Google’s next major Android update would have any other number than Android 8.0. Not since the days of Jelly Bean has Google lingered on the same number for more than one operating system version, and Android O hardly looks like it’d deserve to be related to the Android 7.x family. That said, it was only this week that Google finally confirmed that Android O is indeed Android 8.0, when the company released the third Android O developer preview build.
The update is available for Nexus and Pixel phones and can be installed right away. Once you do that, a simple visit to the About phone section of the Settings phone will reveal the phone is running Android 8.0.0, as shown in images posted by Android Police.
What Google did not do on Thursday was to reveal the official dessert name of Android O. That should happen soon, since Google is rumored to have plans to launch the final Android O release as soon as early as early August. But Android O Developer Preview 3 does ship with the final APIs for Android O, something developers should appreciate.
If you already have Android O running on your device, you should look for an over-the-air update to bring you up to the latest version. If you’re looking to try it out for the first time, you can do so via the public beta program.


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The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has launched an enforcement investigation against the online marketplace Groupon after finding evidence to show it regularly fails to reimburse customers.
The UK regulator has outlined concerns that popular deals website doesn’t always provide customers with refunds and replacement items, despite the fact consumers are entitled to them under the Consumer Rights Act 2015.
It also found evidence that not all products are delivered within advertised time frames and that some customers weren’t provided with goods and services they paid for. When it came to reimbursing its customers, the regulator found that Groupon sometimes only offered credits and not money back.
Gripes with Groupon
Groupon is a popular online marketplace selling discounted vouchers for products, services and experiences.
As well as examining refunds and delivery times, the CMA has raised concerns about the time frames in which customers can redeem Groupon vouchers and event bookings, specifically whether:
- purchased vouchers can always be redeemed within the advertised periods
- descriptions of goods and services are accurate
- products are in stock and delivered within stated time frames
- items are of satisfactory quality
- customer service is satisfactory when customers contact them about problems.
Groupon customers have taken to twitter to vent their anger at how their refunds and replacements have been handled. One customer said that she had her voucher redeemed without her knowing while another apparently kept getting offered vouchers instead of a refund for a spa day despite the spa having shut down.
@Groupon_UK my voucher has been “redeemed” without my knowledge and your customer service are telling me to contact the merchant. I purchased from you and you need to sort this out and take responsibility to pass me onto someone else. It could be an IT issue at your end.
— drk178 (@drk178) August 10, 2021
— Laura (@laurasmithxxxxx) August 10, 2021
The CMA is calling on Groupon to improve the treatment of its customers and says it may face legal action if improvements aren’t made.
In addition to potentially breaking consumer law, Groupon UK may also be in breach of commitments it signed up to in 2012.
The CMA has been investigating Groupon since April 2021, but it’s not the first time the online marketplace has been on its radar for potentially breaching consumer law.
Groupon signed up to pledges in 2012 promising to end unfair and misleading practices. As part of these pledges, Groupon assured that future information on its website was not misleading and would comply with consumers’ cancellation and refund rights.
As part of this more recent investigation, the CMA looked at whether Groupon has stuck to these previous commitments.
The CMA has now written to Groupon UK regarding its concerns. Groupon now has the opportunity to respond to the CMA’s findings.
Andrea Coscelli, Chief Executive of the CMA, said: ‘More people than ever are shopping online, especially over the last year. It is therefore essential that online businesses treat customers fairly and refund them money where due under consumer law.’
‘Groupon must swiftly step up and do right by its customer if it wants to avoid court action.’
Which? has previously uncovered problems with misleading Groupon deals. Our research into Groupon’s prices found that alleged ‘deals’ on the website were misleading.
We looked at deals listed on Groupon in 2018 and found 14 instances where Groupon could have misled customers.
These included prices being higher than were advertised, overpriced products that were widely available and advertised images of products that were excluded in voucher small print.
Tips for online marketplace shopping
Whenever you use an online marketplace or an online deals site like Groupon, always do your own research and don’t take anything at face value.
If you are struggling to get a refund and paid more than £100 by credit card, you can try to claim a refund under Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act or using chargeback rules if you paid on a debit card.
Check before you buy:
You can read more about your rights when shopping on an online marketplace by reading our dedicated guide.


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PM meets US AmbassadorPolitics
Ulaanbaatar /MONTSAME/ Prime Minister U.Khurelsukh met with Ambassador of the United States to Mongolia Michael S.Klecheski.
At the beginning of the meeting, the Prime Minister emphasized that Mongolia considers the US which has been fully supporting Mongolia since its move to democracy and a market economy, as a third neighbor and close partner and showed his willingness to further elevate bilateral relations and cooperation to strategic partnerships.
Ambassador Michael Klecheski in turn spoke of his endeavor to intensify relations and cooperation between the two countries, especially the economic ties.
Furthermore, the sides agreed on the necessity of deepening bilateral relations and cooperation in politics, economy, defense, education, agriculture and export of wool, cashmere, textile and knitted products as well as people-to-people relations.


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Check out the latest changes coming to the Nintendo Switch.
Arms' last update of 2017 introduces a new character and shuts the door on major additions to the game.
Arms' update 4.0 includes a tricky new fighter and a destructible new stage.
Arms update 4.0 will add a couple of new goodies to Nintendo's stretchy fighter.
The best-selling game for Nintendo Switch isn't a shock, but the second best already had life on another console.
Kingdom Hearts III gets a release window, Nazi Zombies gets a trailer, and Nintendo files another mysterious trademark, this week in news.
Even the ever-popular Grand Theft Auto V has been kicked to the curb.


text: According to statistics of the General Department of Customs, from the beginning of the year to November 15, 2022, the cashew industry exported 447,897 tons of cashew kernels of all kinds, worth $2.7 billion, down compared to the same period in 2021. 11.31% in volume and down 15.56% in turnover. In the first 10 months of 2022, the export of cashew kernels to the number 1 market in the United States reached 119,391 tons, worth $ 700,289 million, down 19.87% in volume and 20.47% in value over the same period in 2021. . China is the second largest market after the United States, in the past 10 months, cashew kernel exports to this market 59,871 tons, worth 356.18 million USD, down 12.46% in volume and 29.22% in turnover. compared with the same period last year. The third is the Dutch market, in the past 10 months, cashew kernel exports to this market reached 45,228 tons, worth 246.211 million, down 22.38% in volume and down 22.92% over the same period last year. The German market ranked fourth with export volume in the past 10 months reaching 14,813 tons, worth 91,268 million, down 14.38% in volume and down 16.29% in value over the same period last year. At the seminar "Despite solutions to promote export of Vietnamese goods to the EVFTA and CPTPP markets in the new context", held yesterday by the Import-Export Department - Ministry of Industry and Trade in collaboration with the Department of Industry and Trade of Tien Giang province. Dang Hoang Giang - General Secretary of the Vietnam Cashew Association (Vinacas) said that in the first 11 months of 2022, the amount of cashew kernels exported and imported raw cashew nuts to Vietnam both decreased significantly compared to the same period in 2021. “At first, the association set an export plan of $ 3.8 billion, but in the first quarter of 2022, it was adjusted to $ 3.2 billion, but at this point, cashew exports seem difficult to achieve the target of 3. $0.2 billion compared to the plan, "VINACAS Secretary General said. Import volume of raw cashew nuts slightly decreased compared to 2021 As of November 15, 2022, cashew businesses have imported about 1.8 million tons of raw cashews, worth $2.5 billion. Currently, Vietnam is still the leading country in importing raw cashew nuts globally. The main import markets include: Ivory Coast, West African countries and East African countries. It is expected that in 2022, Vietnam will import about 1.9 million tons of raw cashew nuts, a slight decrease compared to 2021. According to General Secretary of Vinacas, during the period of the COVID-19 pandemic, cashew kernel exports were very stagnant. After COVID-19, cashew nut exports were affected by the Russia-Ukraine war, and according to the forecast of The Global Cashew Council (GCC), in 2022 and possibly until 2023, the production activities as well as the global cashew supply chain will face many difficulties, due to the following reasons: First, governments are tightly controlling credit, cash flows, fiscal policies, and global inflation. This is one of the issues that countries with export economies are paying great attention to. Second, the Chinese Government still applies the "zero COVID" policy, so it has not opened the market, and it is not known when China will completely open up. Third, the war between Russia and Ukraine from 2021 up to now has not shown any signs of cooling down, affecting the economic situation, international politics and high inflation, leading countries to make policies. Credit tightening, exchange rate fluctuations cause consumption to decrease, etc. “It is these problems related to factors that increase the production and processing costs of cashew businesses, causing a lot of difficulties in production and business activities, including cashew production and business activities. . It is forecasted that the growth of the cashew industry will be significantly reduced because the global demand for cashew kernels continues to be gloomy, and the cashew raw material market will face many challenges in the coming time," said Mr. Giang. The EVFTA and CPTPP have not been fully utilized yet Commenting on an overview of the cashew export market in recent times for taking advantage of the opportunities brought by mechanisms and policies from the EVFTA and CPTPP, Mr. Giang said that after the implementation of the EVFTA and CPTPP Cashew kernel exports to countries in the bloc all had a slight growth, but direct exports of processed products to high-end markets are markets such as the UK, which have end consumers, France and Germany are still low, and exports to Europe are still a gateway. For example, the Netherlands imports a very large amount of cashew kernels from Vietnam, then countries like Germany and the UK import from the Netherlands. “According to statistics of the World Trade Center (ITC), Vietnam is not the country that holds the dominant export market share of cashew kernels to the UK, France, and Germany markets, but the Netherlands. This is a very absurd thing when in fact this cashew nut is from Vietnam to export," said General Secretary of Vinacas. Faced with this fact, Vinacas asked the Ministry of Industry and Trade to find out and have supportive solutions to help businesses make good use of FTAs and bring agricultural products, including cashews, into high-end markets, reducing the amount of waste. cashew nuts through the intermediate gateway market to bring added value. Secondly, most of the importing countries and foreign partners in the CPTPP and EVFTA are assessed that Vietnamese cashews are exported in preliminary form, while for specialized techniques, cashews have been processed and peeled. Silk skins, vacuum-dried and packaged are final consumable products, so exports to these markets remain low. Third, businesses have not yet taken advantage of opportunities to expand exports to other potential markets in the bloc and still export to traditional markets, even to Singapore transit markets. The Netherlands thinks that exporting to these markets is relatively easy and the delivery fee is also relatively low, so now most cashew exports have to go through intermediaries.


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Schibsted strengthens its position in the rapidly growing Brazilian online classifieds site OLX.com.br by increasing the ownership from 25 to 50 percent.
16,3 million tons – that’s how much greenhouse gas emissions the users of Schibsted’s marketplaces saved by buying and selling used goods last year.
At Schibsted we live and breathe technology and this in itself does wonders for the environment. Our Second Hand Effect Report, released today, shows that users of Schibsted’s marketplaces saved 16,3 million tons of greenhouse gas emissions in 2016 by buying and selling used goods. But what else can we
On Tuesday, Raoul Grünthal presented Schibsted Media Group’s view on the new e-Privacy proposal in a hearing in the European Parliament.
Frode Nordseth is moving into a new job – from GM in Schibsted Spain to a new key role as Chief Operating Officer (COO) in Schibsted Product & Technology.
Aftonbladet’s Publisher, Sofia Olsson Olsén, and the Managing Director of TU (The Swedish Media Publishers’ Association), Jeanette Gustafsdotter, argues that the public service broadcaster SVT is stretching the terms of its broadcasting permit and distorting competition when providing Facebook with content. SVT receives SEK 8.1 billion annual in license funds. The two are
More than 500,000 digital-only subscribers underline shift in how news is consumed and monetized.
Today, Schibsted Media Group released its Q4 2016 report. EBITDA ex. Investment phase increased 9 percent to NOK 682 million.
Leboncoin was the center of attention when France’s President, François Holland, visited their booth at this week’s renowned Entrepreneurs Fair in Paris.
Tori’s Kennet Jokisalo has been awarded Sales Person of the Year, while Michael Hili from Schibsted Sales and Inventory is Sales Manager of the Year at Schibsted Sales Awards in Copenhagen tonight.
Finn.no scores impressive traffic and listing growth, driven by mobile app adoption
With the purchase of Habitaclia, a real estate portal specializing in the Mediterranean, Schibsted strengthens its leadership in the Spanish real estate sector.


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The start of a new year often brings changes, and for enterprise security teams when the calendar rolled over to 2020 it brought with it the beginning of the CCPA era. The new California Consumer Privacy Act went into effect on Jan. 1, requiring businesses to be clear about the data they collect on consumers and offer simple mechanisms for them to opt out of collection, among other things.
CCPA has a broad definition of personal information, which includes basically anything that can be connected directly or indirectly to a specific person or even a household. That data includes things such as names, home addresses, Social Security numbers, email addresses, IP addresses, driver’s license numbers, and other identifiers. The law requires companies to make it simple for consumers to refuse the sale of their data and allow people to request access to whatever data a business has collected on them.
In order to comply with the requirements of CCPA, which applies to many companies that do business in California, enterprises are making changes to their data collection and retention policies. One of the companies making changes is Mozilla, which will soon allow individuals to request that Mozilla delete all of the telemetry data it has collected about their Firefox sessions. In the next version of Firefox, due for release on Tuesday, Mozilla will provide a simple mechanism in the browser to ask the company to delete all past data it has collected on their browsing.
"We don’t think people should have to choose between the technology they love and their privacy."
Telemetry data is not the same as personal data and generally just includes information about the browser’s performance, any crashes or other anomalies, and how long a person’s browsing session was. Most browsers collect some kind of telemetry data, as do many other applications, including security tools. Mozilla has decided that with the advent of CCPA, now is the time to give people the opportunity to have their data erased.
“We don’t collect telemetry in private browsing mode and we’ve always given people easy options to disable telemetry in Firefox. And because we’ve long believed that data should not be stored forever, we have strict limits on how long we keep telemetry data,” said Alan Davidson, vice president of global policy, trust, and security at Mozilla.
“We’ve decided to go the extra mile and expand user deletion rights to include deleting this telemetry data stored in our systems. To date, the industry has not typically considered telemetry data “personal data” because it isn’t identifiable to a specific person, but we feel strongly that taking this step is the right one for people and the ecosystem.”
The change applies to all Firefox users, not just those living in California. Davidson said the move is part of Mozilla’s effort to make privacy easier and more accessible for its users.
“For Firefox, privacy is not optional. We don’t think people should have to choose between the technology they love and their privacy. We think you should have both. That’s why we are taking these steps to bring additional protection to all our users under CCPA,” he said.


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2019 Kia Sorento first drive: a subtly better crossover
The 2019 Kia Sorento is not a German crossover SUV. It’s far from Teutonic.
FCA ups destination charge on Alfa Romeo, Chrysler Dodge, Fiat, Jeep, and Ram new cars
It will cost consumers $250 more to buy some FCA cars, trucks, and SUVs, even if the advertised price looks the same. The Italian-American automaker discretely raised its mandatory destination charges across all its brands.
VW Beetle set for extermination
After a long and storied history dating back eight decades, VW says it will finally squash its iconic Beetle.
2020 Hyundai full-size SUV spy shots – Image via S. Baldauf/SB-Medien
From Motor Authority
2018 BMW M5 video road (and track) test
Feel. It’s what makes us fall in love. It’s what drives our passions. And it’s what made auto enthusiasts revere BMW’s M cars for years.
Mercedes overtakes Toyota as most valuable car brand in influential study
Mercedes-Benz is now the most valuable automotive brand in the world. That’s according to the latest study conducted by Brand Finance. The German automaker edged out Toyota and bested rival BMW for the top spot on this list.
2019 Hyundai Genesis G70 to offer manual transmission option
Genesis, Hyundai’s standalone luxury brand, will offer a manual transmission on its upcoming 2019 G70 compact sport sedan, a representative for the automaker said Friday. The row-your-own option places the G70 in the segment that has become increasingly devoid of three-pedal options.
Electric-car wells-to-wheels emission equivalencies in MPG, Mar 2018 [Union of Concerned Scientists]
From Green Car Reports
Electric cars got even cleaner in a year, new grid data shows
More good news about electric cars in the U.S.: the emissions associated with the electricity used to charge them have fallen.
More ways to get $10K off BMW i3 electric car: new utilities add discount
How badly do you want to buy a BMW i3 electric car?
Best deals on hybrid, electric, fuel-efficient cars for March 2018
Not a lot has changed since last month: Buyers continue to move from passenger sedans to crossovers and trucks, and gasoline remains relatively cheap.


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The turnover rate at large truckload carriers rose one percentage point to an annualized rate of 97% in the third quarter of 2014, according to new data released by American Trucking Associations.
“Driver turnover, which is a good barometer of the driver market, remains high,” said ATA chief economist Bob Costello. “While it is not approaching its historic highs of the early 2000s, continued economic growth and increased freight demand will continue to exacerbate the shortage of drivers many sectors of the industry are witnessing.”
Costello said that in addition to the increase in truckload fleet driver turnover for large carriers the turnover rate at less-than-truckload carriers also rose to 13% from 11% in the second quarter. The turnover rate at small truckload fleets remained unchanged at 94%.
“It is interesting to note, historically, the turnover rate for small truckload fleets was much lower than for larger carriers,” Costello said. “However, with increasing pressure to recruit and retain good, experienced drivers, we’re seeing higher turnover rates at small fleets – with perhaps improving pay and benefit packages at large carriers being a reason.”


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Xbox has just announced today its official new partnership with the Football Association of England, becoming its Official Gaming Partner of the England National Teams across the Lionesses, eLions, the Three Lions, as well as Wembley Stadium.
The new announcement entails a lot of details, promising a solid future partnership between Xbox and England’s FA. It aims to bring further value to the England FA teams, and to “Power the dreams of players and fans everywhere”.
The partnership will signal the start of Xbox’s commitment to a grassroots gaming campaign with England FA, promising exciting new experiences for football and gaming fans in the UK.
“At Xbox, we strive to remove barriers and empower people to experience the joy of play — with millions of people around the world finding common ground and connecting through playing games, as they do with football. This multi-year partnership is a celebration of the driving principle of inclusivity of play shared by both Xbox and the FA.” Said Marcos Waltenberg, Director, Xbox Global Partnerships.
Xbox has also praised the England FA’s efforts for greater inclusivity citing “When Everybody Plays, We All Win”. The Press release went on to praise their commitment to ensure that all football participants have a great experience regardless of their gender, sexuality, faith, ethnicity, or age.
The partnership between Xbox and The England Football Association was initially announced since the summer tournament at the England Men’s Squad’s first training session at St. George’s Park, ahead of their game against Hungary on September 2nd.
Xbox encourages fans to stay tuned to the Microsoft UK News Centre for more details as they announce upcoming activities for all UK fans to participate in.


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13 March 2014TCPA Alert
Congress passed the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA), 47 U.S.C. § 227, with the intention of protecting consumers from unwanted calls, text messages, and faxes. There has been a significant increase in the number of TCPA claims and enforcement actions filed in recent years, and yet there remain many unsettled legal questions.
Read More: TCPA Alert


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Our new Marketplace Crash Course is here to help. Sign-up for free, learn at your own pace.
The U.S. economy added 175,000 jobs in February, according to a U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics report published on Friday, a sign of renewed strength in the job market. At the same time, the U.S. Labor Department survey of households found that the unemployment rate increased slightly last month, to 6.7 percent.
Meanwhile, the owner of the Albertson’s supermarket chain announced Thursday that it is buying Safeway Inc. for $9 billion, combining two of the nation’s biggest grocery businesses. But the combined company won’t be the biggest by a long shot. Combined, they will still be smaller than Kroger, and lumping all three chains together still wouldn’t bring them close to matching the grocery sales at Wal-Mart.
And, it’s not every day that people get fired up over retirement planning, but that’s what happened at AOL last month when employees lashed out over the company’s move to make year-end, lump-sum contributions to their 401(k) plans instead of matches every pay period. In the aftermath one state regulator wants to know how many other companies have made that switch.
There’s a lot happening in the world. Through it all, Marketplace is here for you.
You rely on Marketplace to break down the world’s events and tell you how it affects you in a fact-based, approachable way. We rely on your financial support to keep making that possible.
Your donation today powers the independent journalism that you rely on. For just $5/month, you can help sustain Marketplace so we can keep reporting on the things that matter to you.


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Haas have become the first team to officially unveil their 2018 car – the VF18 – after an online launch on Wednesday afternoon.
Williams were due to be the first team to peel the covers off their car, but the American outfit have stolen a march on their rivals with an unannounced launch via their social channels.
Haas are preparing for their third season in Formula 1 and are looking to improve on respective eighth place finishes in the World Constructors' Championship. Romain Grosjean and Kevin Magnussen will be behind the wheel once more.
Bigger. Better. Faster. Lighter.
— Haas F1 Team (@HaasF1Team) February 14, 2018
Haas team principal Guenther Steiner revealed that the biggest change from last year’s VF17 was the implementation of the Halo device.
“The biggest part of the car’s evolution was the addition of the halo,” said Steiner.
“It took quite a bit of study by the aerodynamicists, but the designers had to work hard to modify the chassis so the halo could survive the mandated loads.
The total minimum weight of the car increased because of the halo, and there’s a higher center of gravity simply because of the halo’s position. But, everyone is in the same boat.
“The regulations stayed pretty stable between 2017 and 2018, so the VF-18 is an evolution of our car from last year. It’s less about reinvention and more about refinement. You see elements we had from last year on the car this year.
“Our 2017 car was actually pretty good, but we didn’t always get the best out of it, and that’s what we aimed to change in 2018. We got the car as light as possible to carry more ballast. We were able to do a better job of putting the weight where we wanted it.”
“The livery is a little bit of a return to what we had on our first car, the VF-16,” Steiner added.
“Its look is clean and precise, just like the machine tools made by Haas Automation.”


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Market News Stories
Just weeks ahead of its expected debut on the New York Stock Exchange, Chinese Internet colossus Alibaba reported that its quarterly profit nearly tripled on surging revenue. Alibaba Group made a profit of nearly $2 billion on revenue of $2.5 … Continue reading
Asia’s markets were mixed Thursday, with investors unable to build on the previous day’s advances after the SP on Wall Street notched up another record. With few catalysts to drive trade the dollar retreated from seven-month highs against the yen, … Continue reading
(Reuters) – Private equity firm Lion Capital LLP has told American Apparel Inc that it is exercising its right to fill one of the two vacant board seats it controls at the apparel retailer, the Wall Street Journal reported, citing … Continue reading
Reuters Market Eye – The rupee is trading at 60.37/38 versus its previous close of 60.45/46. The Indian unit’s gains are likely to be limited by month-end dollar demand from importers. Nifty is trading 0.4 percent higher. Local shares to … Continue reading
Amazon (AMZN)‘s latest wave of original pilot shows launches Thursday, as the company intensifies its push into original streaming content, challenging rivals like Netflix (NFLX) and HBO. The three half-hour comedies and two hour-long dramas in this pilot season are … Continue reading
It seems as though we can’t go a week without another report of an American company merging with a foreign business in order to relocate their headquarters and avoid the nominal U.S. tax rate of 40%. The latest is Burger … Continue reading
It’s shaping up to be an especially interesting September for mobile gadgets, and for the companies that make them. Rumored new phones, tablets and smartwatches from Apple (AAPL), Motorola (GOOGL), Sony (SNE) and others could shake up the market and … Continue reading
Harold Hamm is the quintessential self-made man. He was born the son of sharecroppers and at the time of this writing is the world’s 34th richest person, according to Forbes. Hamm is the founder and CEO of Continental Resources (CLR) … Continue reading
BEIJING/SEOUL (Reuters) – A China-based supplier for Samsung Electronics Co Ltd and Lenovo Group Ltd said on Thursday it had never hired child laborers, denying allegations by a U.S.-based activist group. Samsung Electronics also said it had found no children … Continue reading
NEW YORK (Reuters) – Bitcoin is catching on at U.S. online merchants including Overstock.com and Expedia, as customers use a digital currency that just a few years ago was virtually unknown but is now showing some staying power. Though … Continue reading
Anyone in business understands that in order to stay one step ahead of the game, breaking market news stories have to be monitored frequently. This can be an almost impossible task in today’s fast paced and ever changing global marketplace. With Rocket News, users can be notified immediately through e-mail notices of events that happen in your community or from around the world. One can then browse the headlines and decide if the story needs immediate attention or if it can wait to be read later in the day. With relevant links to articles about the people making the news or for more in depth stories about a particular story, you can be sure to have all the information you need to make important decisions.
Market news, whether it relates to stock market news or business market news is volatile and what one reads in the morning or evening paper may either be no longer relevant or may have already affected other issues of commerce, government or any number of areas. When your livelihood depends on it, you want any breaking market news as it happens as well as links to other articles that have significance. Most professionals today need access to breaking news whether they are in their office, away on business or even while on vacation. Optimize your time management skills by having all relevant market news come to you rather than taking the time to continually monitor periodicals, newspapers or other online news sites.
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Rumors about Driveclub being delayed were confirmed earlier today in a statement posted on the PlayStation Blog. It appears that the title will not be released alongside the PS4, but a few months later in earlier 2014. Sony Worldwide Studio’s boss Shuhei Yoshida explained.
“Driveclub will be a truly innovative, socially connected racing game, but the team requires more time in order to deliver on their vision – and I’m fully confident the game will surpass your expectations. We understand that the delay is disappointing news, but can assure you that the reason we have made this decision is to ensure that when Driveclub launches, it will realise the next-gen racing vision.”
The silver lining to this story is that PlayStation Plus members will be getting the highly anticipated Contrast from Compulsion Games for free on the PS4 launch day, and that Driveclub will still be free for PS+ members as part of the Instant Game Collection when it releases early next year.
Source: PlayStation Blog


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Were you unable to attend Transform 2022? Check out all of the summit sessions in our on-demand library now! Watch here.
DataStax, a startup that wants to bring down Oracle’s relational database, has pulled in $25 million in venture capital funding.
The company’s pitch is that unlike the relational database, it is equipped to handle higher velocity and volumes of data. It sells products built on top of the open source “NoSQL” data store Apache Cassandra, which it melds together with Hadoop.
The story behind Cassandra is the stuff of tech legend. Facebook’s engineers developed the database for its Inbox Search system. Dubbed Cassandra in 2009, it was later distributed to the open source community, although it’s unclear why Facebook wouldn’t hold on to a technical advantage. In 2010, two former Rackspace engineers formed a company to provide commercial support to Cassandra developers. DataStax is an evolution of this vision to offer a SQL-free database to the enterprise.
“Having started my career in the early 1990s on the then new-and-hot relational databases,” Billy Bosworth, CEO of DataStax told VentureBeat. According to Bosworth, who joined the company in 2011, it is part of a “technology shift that will forever change how we interact with data.”
NoSQL databases, such as MongoDB, CouchDB and Cassandra, are increasingly replacing traditional relational databases that are provided by the likes of Oracle. NoSQL databases offer several advantages: They have flexible schemas, which can be updated easily, and they can store very large amounts of data.
The San Mateo-based startup reports a 400 percent growth this year, which it attributes to the enterprise’s bloated budget for “big data.” Likewise, investors’ interest in the enterprise trend has skyrocketed. In 2011, the company raised just over $11 million, and this year it nabbed $25 million.
Currently, DataStax works with tech companies like Netflix and Constant Contact. It plans to use its funding to land more big-name customers and expand internationally. To succeed, it will need to compete against the scores of big data startups, as well as established legacy vendors.
DataStax’s receiving funding from Meritech Capital Partners, and existing investors Crosslink Capital and Lightspeed Venture Partners.
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Greg Lobanov and Humble Bundle have announced the release date for Wandersong on Nintendo Switch.
The musical adventure game will be out on September 27, 2018 in North America and Europe via Nintendo eShop. Pre-purchase is now live in North America, and will be available in Europe from September 14.
Watch the release date trailer below.
Humble Bundle and Greg Lobanov are excited to announce that Wandersong will be releasing September 27th on PC and Nintendo Switch! Wandersong is a musical adventure where you use singing to save the world! Play as a silly bard who embarks on a globe-trotting journey to learn about the mysterious Earthsong, said to prevent the universe’s imminent end. It’s up to you to sing your songs, unlock the world’s secrets and make new friends!


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The lawsuit saga between Apple and Samsung may finally be coming to a close, at least in the US. As many may recall, Apple kicked things off by suing Samsung last year over the Galaxy line of phones and tablets. Our pals at Samsung weren’t going to let that go, and in return hit right back with a countersuit. The battles have been going on all over the world for the past year, with wins on both sides.
Just like any war, more than one battle needs to be won for final victory. The United States’ judicial system is taking a different stance, however, and has forced Samsung and Apple to talk out a settlement. Both Apple CEO Tim Cook and Samsung’s Choi Gee-sung will be in attendance, along with counsels from each side to assist in the talks.
Considering that Samsung produces, uh, I don’t know, some of the most critical components in both Apple’s iPhone and iPad, I have a strong feeling that the talks may be in Samsung’s favor. The settlement will take place in San Francisco, with a local judge in attendance. How do you feel the talks will turn out? Is it time that all the lawsuits just end?


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London stock market falls to 16-month low as trade war fears send the FTSE 100 index diving below 7,000
- The FTSE 100 index dropped 86.4 points or 1.2 per cent to close at 6,952.59
- Blue-chip index back below the 7,000 mark for first time since November 2016
- Traders spooked by threat of world trade war as President Trump fires first shot at China
- US markets open in the red; European markets 1.6-1.8 per cent down
The London stock market fell to a 16-month low today as trade war fears prompted investors to hit the sell button.
Trading screens were a sea of red across Europe, as the FTSE 100 index dropped 86.4 points or 1.2 per cent to close at 6,952.59 - back below the 7,000 mark for the first time since November 2016.
A senior US official said today that the European Union and six other countries will be exempt from steel and aluminium tariffs announced by President Trump, at least temporarily.
World trade at risk: Assurances that the EU would be exempt from steel and aluminium tariffs were upstaged by the first shot in an imminent trade war between the US and China from President Trump.
But Robert Lighthizer's claim that President Trump had decided to 'pause' the import duties while further discussions took place could not assuage traders' concerns as Mr Trump prepared restrictions on Chinese investment and tariffs on nearly $50billion worth of Chinese imports.
According to the Press Association the move is to 'punish Beijing for stealing American technology and pressuring US companies to hand it over'.
The FTSE 100 index dropped 86.4 points or 1.2 per cent to close at 6,952.59 - back below the 7,000 mark for the first time since November 2016.
China is already warning it will take 'all necessary measures' to defend itself, raising the prospect of a trade war between the world's two biggest economies.
Aside from the EU, Mr Lighthizer said Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Mexico and South Korea would be exempted from tariffs of 25 per cent on steel and 10 per cent on aluminium are due to come into effect on Friday.
President Trump announces restrictions on Chinese investment and tariffs on nearly $50billion worth of Chinese imports.
The London market was already down when the US stock market opened sharply lower, which fed back to more selling in London.
American technology stocks slumped in the wake of Facebook's data privacy scandal, with the tech-heavy Nasdaq falling 87.81 points, or 1.2 per cent, to 7,257.47.
Facebook's share price continued to fall following weekend's news that Cambridge Analytica may have used data improperly obtained from roughly 50million Facebook users to try to sway US elections.
Today, Facebook boss Mark Zuckerberg broke the silence by apologising for the mistakes his company made in how it handled the data and promised tougher steps to restrict developers' access to such information.
'This was a major breach of trust. I’m really sorry this happened. We have a basic responsibility to protect people’s data,' Zuckerberg told CNN.
The Dow Jones was also down 1.2 per cent and the S&P was 0.7 per cent lower.
On the continent, the German and French leading blue-chip indices were down 1.8 and 1.6 per cent respectively.
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Dempsey International Packaging unveils it will launch the world’s first Rigid Packaging “Manufacturer Direct” Marketplace platform: Raptor Packaging.
“A moment in time is upon us in the packaging industry—the next phase of distribution will take on a radically different course,” says George W. Dempsey, Founder and CEO.
The launch of Raptor Packaging, a marketplace platform designed to bring buyers and sellers of Rigid Packaging together, is intended to revolutionize the future of the industry and the way buyers source and procure products. With manufacturers now shipping over $2.5 billion dollars in products directly to customers through the old, high cost, traditional infrastructure of distribution, the launching of a game-changing web exchange marketplace could not be at a more appropriate time.
Customers are looking for an alternative platform that reduces costs and speeds development, while manufacturers are looking for an avenue to service the distribution market without conceding high margins to distributors. Raptor Packaging addresses these needs. Through a suite of online, automated tools, customers currently buying through Packaging Distribution will have an online B2B alternative, enabling them to buy Manufacturer Direct. The proprietary interface allows customers to buy from multiple manufacturers and manage multiple SKU’s in one interface, dis-intermediating the need for traditional high cost distributor.
“Industries are changing so rapidly with the advancement of new web-based technologies, that what was once unachievable, is now a reality,” says Nate Calvert, VP of Marketing, Raptor Packaging.
The reception to the Raptor Packaging platform has been overwhelming; people get it. Unlike other web based “packaging stores,” the Raptor Packaging web platform is set up so the manufacturer retains total control over prices, minimums, lead-times, promotions, and what products they choose to offer. It consolidates both customer and manufacturer activities into proprietary dashboards that makes order flow, acknowledgement, confirmations, and billing seamless.
Online technical support and the ability to contact the Raptor Packaging support team by phone just adds to ensure customers have the best possible experience. Unlike the traditional distribution channel, manufacturers get the benefit of promoting their brands and the value added they bring to customers. Most product will be shipped in pallets or full truckload quantities, with point and click repeat order technology. The system allows customers to get instant spot rates for LTL and Truckload freight taking the guesswork out of shipping costs.
Through Raptor Packaging’s partnerships, Raptor has one of the world’s largest software platforms powered by Magento and is supported by a team of more than 2,000 developers. Raptor Packaging will open the doors to approximately 25,000 customers who currently buy through distribution to purchase Manufacturer Direct at reduced prices.
Like all web marketplace technologies, early adapters win. The platform will launch in the first half of 2019, through an invitation registration system. Over 10,000 items of glass and plastic packaging have been loaded and an estimated 30,000 items will be loaded when the site goes live. “Our team is working full time with our strategic manufacturing partners to load as many items as possible,” says Dempsey. Ultimately, customers will be able to come and source, search, sample, and procure from what we anticipate being more than 100,000 available items.
Like all new technologies, Raptor Packaging will evolve and continue to expand its customer interface, providing beneficial tools including full CRM integration with manufacturers. We encourage interested manufacturers to contact us.
Raptor Packaging is wholly owned by KCooper Inc., Denver, Colorado, and is an affiliate of Dempsey International Packaging.
MEDIA CONTACT: Nate Calvert
Company: Raptor Packaging
Address: 12150 E Briarwood Ave Suite 204, Centennial, CO 80112
Telephone: (720) 405-9001


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The Advent of Metaverse Fashion
With more and more immersive technology becoming available and the developer’s race to create newer digital products that enhance a user’s experience, it is no surprise that Metaverse is becoming quite a popular trend that fashion brands want to make use of. There was an NFT fashion show that was hosted sometime back, which showcased brands like Dolce & Gabbana, Karl Lagerfeld, and Tommy Hilfiger in their glory. These brands took fashion design to the next level by collaborating with digital designers. This show was a success wherein these brands were able to get registered users to try out and buy NFT wearables for their digital avatars. Now, this is what is truly the next level of fashion.
The Rise of the E-Commerce Marketplace
More and more people are saving money by shopping online. One in three people says they regularly shop online, compared with just one in five people who said the same back in 2004 (Bank of America Research, 2017). This rise in online shopping has led to an era of exponential growth in the number of e-commerce start-ups. These start-ups have been creating innovative ways to reach consumers, including the use of artificial intelligence, blockchain technology, and virtual reality, to name a few. Online retailers have become more than just places to buy: they’re also powerful marketing tools, driving brand awareness and securing future sales. E-commerce companies have also become more than just a Marketplace — they’re also data-driven businesses, tracking customer behavior, shopping interests, and more.


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Curation Gets Marlboro’s Gated Website 1.5 Million Monthly Visits
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
It’s certainly not the nicotine that has visitors returning in droves to Marlboro’s website. It’s the curation. Perhaps it's appropriate that a cigarette brand would have the right ingredients to make a website addictive. Relaunched nine months ago, the Marlboro website has surged with 1.5 million unique visitors a month. Traffic that size bounty of plenty for any site, the audience figures for Marlboro are astounding considering the brand’s restricted online presence: due to demands of state Attorneys General, the Marlboro website is gated. Visitors must register by providing their full name, address, last four Social Security digits, and indicate that they are customers of the brand.
Read entire article >>>


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While well cooked meat is tasty to eat, regularly consuming such meat can increase the risk of bladder cancer, a new research presented during the US cancer research conference reveals.
Researchers from the University of Texas observed more than 1,700 people and found that the risk of bladder cancer more than doubled among people who ate well cooked meat items such as steaks, pork chops and bacon.
The researchers said that cooked meat contains three types of cancer causing chemicals, known as heterocyclic amines (HCAs), which are also present in chicken and fish when they are fried. Such chemicals are formed when creatine, which is a chemical found in muscles, and amino acids combine at high cooking temperatures.
"This research reinforces the relationship between diet and cancer. These results strongly support what we suspected - people who eat a lot of red meat, particularly well-done red meat, such as fried or barbecued, seem to have a higher likelihood of bladder cancer", lead researcher Professor Xifeng Wu said.


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According to the report, global home automation market was valued at around USD 5.0 billion in 2014 and is expected to reach USD 21.0 billion in 2020, growing at a CAGR of around 25% between 2015 and 2020.
Phat Chiem for Gadget Review: To hear more about where the voice-enabled smart home is headed, we caught up with ecobee founder and CEO Stuart Lombard on the convention floor at Collision.
Electricity is one of the greatest inventions in the modern world and makes life easier for everyone. But we often take electricity for granted and forget to respect the potential dangers associated with electrical use in our homes.
Tim Hardwick for MacRumors: Swedish home store IKEA has announced that its recently announced Trådfri smart lighting system will soon be compatible with HomeKit, Apple's smart home management platform.
With connected home devices proliferating the market, Echo/Alexa, among others, seem to tie all these IOT devices together seamlessly.
Android Authority: Ryan and Sam Kroonenburg have put together a beginner and an advanced learning kit to making this a reality.
Rita El Khoury for Android Police: Yesterday we learned that Google Assistant is about to offer more capabilities on your phones and gain several smart and interesting features.
With software on board instead of in the cloud, Home Center Lite doesn't rely on an internet connection to operate effectively. The hub also features a built-in energy management dashboard available on the iPad app or desktop version, setting it apart from many other hubs.
Smart home has yet to transition into mass market industry as providers fail to communicate value and need, finds Strategy Analytics
Agam Shah for PC World: Samsung will talk about the operating system's architecture and roadmap at the Tizen Developers Conference on Tuesday.
With cool tech coming out like programmable lights and digital wall projectors, the newest smart tech can add a whole lot of to your home improvement projects. Here are the best ways to incorporate automation features while bringing some futuristic flavor to your decor.
However, in recent years, emerging companies that use innovative technology have invaded the home security industry.
Aditya Srivastava for The Tech Portal: They claim to have figured out quicker, cheaper and lesser inconvenient way of creating a 'smarter' interior. Some privacy benefits have also been provided as per the claims.
Rachel Metz for MIT Technology Review: Startup Lighthouse's home assistant-slash-monitor can tell you who's in your house, and what they're doing.
We can only hope that the industry as a whole can understand the importance of the Systems Integrator and the role they MUST play in today's technology filled buildings.
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Company teases new play innovations on the horizon for 2020.
The Lego Group has today confirmed that it will be launching a series of new play innovations in 2020 that will continue to evolve the construction toys category, following a successful Christmas for the brand in which it sold an average of one product every second between October to December 2019.
More details will be revealed over the coming months, but the company states that the new products will offer builders of all ages even more ways to unleash their creativity whilst keeping the Lego brick at the heart of play.
Having retained its position as the no. 1 toy manufacturer in the UK for the fifth year running, the Lego Group is following up on that success with new play innovations – some of which are already in the market. New innovations already confirmed for 2020 include a multi-player mode for Lego Hidden Side where children can take part in thrilling challenges with players online or in the same room in two game modes – ‘Play as a Hunter’ or ‘Play as a Ghost’. Those who already have the first product range can now upgrade their app and make use of the multi-player function.
Lego Hidden Side launched in October last year and has already become one of the top five new licences in the market for 2019. Six new sets were launched this year: Haunted Fairground, Lighthouse of Darkness, El Fuego’s Stunt Plane, Welcome to the Hidden Side, Jack’s Beach Buggy and Newbury Subway.
Other new innovations include collectible cubes added to the Lego Friends range, which let fans collect personalised cubes of their favourite Lego Friends characters, and expanded use of the innovative Control+ app for the Lego Technic sets including the App-Controlled Top Gear Rally Car. New play experiences across the Lego Group product portfolio in 2020 also include all-new elements in exciting sets for core themes including Lego Friends and Lego City and new sets in the brand’s Lego Duplo range aimed at younger builders aged 18 months-plus.
Successes for The Lego Group in 2019 also saw the company hold 21 of the Top 100 products in the toy market and grow its market share of key IP licences such as Spider-Man, Star Wars and Disney Frozen. Further new licences are to come in 2020, including Universal’s Trolls and Minions.
“2019 was a fantastic year for the Lego Group, in which we launched our biggest ever global brand campaign, successfully brought a new property in to the market in Lego Hidden Side, and finished the year once more as the no. 1 toy manufacturer in the UK,” said Marius Lang, head of marketing, UK and Ireland. “I’m incredibly excited that we will be continuing to build on this momentum in 2020 and the selection of play innovations we have at this year’s Toy Fair is one of the strongest I have seen from us. I’m very much looking forward to unveiling them over the coming weeks and months.”
At Toy Fair 2020, The Lego Hidden Side Haunted Fairground has won the 2020 Toy Fair Hero Toy accolade. This haunted fairground AR play experience is constantly enhanced through new content, characters and special events.
The Lego Group will also be taking its Rebuild The World campaign into 2020, with a continued commitment to nurture the creative skills of the next generation and inspire children to unleash their creativity. Launched in September 2019, the company’s biggest ever global brand campaign saw The Lego Group rebuild iconic landmarks across the UK and host workshops in the UK, China and USA which engaged children directly and challenged them to use their creativity to solve real world challenges.
The Lego Group’s retail offering has expanded significantly over the last 12 months, with a new look website on Lego.com, stores opening in Marseille, Birmingham and a new flagship in Amsterdam, and new exclusive product launches including Lego Stranger Things: The Upside Down and the Lego Ideas Treehouse set, featuring the highest number of sustainably-made Lego elements to date.
The Lego Group will be showcasing products at Toy Fair UK from 21st – 23rd January at Kensington Olympia, London (by invitation only). Attendees will have the chance to try out the new Lego Hidden Side multi-player products in the main arena and at the Lego Stand.