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April 4, 2012
County Implements New York’s Ban on the Sale of Synthetic Marijuana
Hauppauge, NY – Suffolk County Department of Health Services Commissioner James Tomarken announced today that the department’s Office of Health Education, Tobacco Enforcement Unit, has begun implementing a New York State Department of Health order banning the sale of synthetic cannabinoid products by dropping in on retailers and distributing the state’s summary order imposing a ban on these products. Merchants are required to immediately remove these products from their stores and are asked to return them to the distributor.
The products, generally referred to as synthetic marijuana, consist of plant material coated by chemicals that mimic THC, the active ingredient in marijuana. They are often sold at convenience stores and smoke shops under brand names such as "Spice," "K2," "Mr. Nice Guy" and "Galaxy Gold.”
Agents are gathering information from retailers during their visits and reporting the information to the state. The department will follow up with subsequent visits to check on merchant compliance.
The commissioner expressed substantial concern because using these synthetic products, which were being sold as a “legal alternative” to real marijuana, may cause increased heart rate, paranoid behavior, irritability, nausea, vomiting, headache, hypertension, seizures, loss of consciousness, acute renal failure and death.
Merchants who have any questions regarding the state order may contact the Suffolk County Department of Health Services at 853-3162.
CONTACT: Grace Kelly-McGovern


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As Apple and Roku reportedly prepare aggregated video platforms similar to Amazon Channels, AT&T could have its own growing opportunity in that space with VRV.
VRV, an SVOD service that aggregates streaming channels and content, is owned by Otter Media, AT&T’s joint venture with Chernin Group. AT&T has long had its sights set on acquiring all of Otter Media and now that its $85 billion Time Warner acquisition is done, AT&T is back in the hunt for the streaming media company.
Otter Media also owns anime streaming service Crunchyroll and Fullscreen, but in VRV AT&T could have an answer to providing a unified platform for multiple SVODs. And if a new Digiday report is accurate, VRV could be looking to add traditional cable networks to its lineup.
It’s unclear what, if any, cable channels VRV would seek to add to its lineup but the service intends to curate its channel partners based on the niche interests that serve its subscriber base. VRV’s channel partners include Korean television series service DramaFever, CuriosityStream, Rooster Teeth, Nerdist, Mubi and Stargate.
Arlen Marmel, general manager for VRV, told FierceVideo last year that VRV is trying to grow from where it began with anime.
“We want to grow logically,” said Marmel, adding that even if there’s a passionate fandom around something like sports, that doesn’t mean it will fit with what VRV is doing. He said that strategy allows VRV to focus on specific niches and make features that superserve its audience.
With the success Amazon Channels has had in attracting channel partners and helping them grow OTT subscriber bases, it’s no wonder AT&T, Apple and Roku would have interest in launching similar initiatives.
In May, Bloomberg reported that Apple is trying to turn its TV app into a hub for subscription services. In June, Variety reported that Roku is working on something very similar for its streaming video platform.
To take full control of VRV and the rest of Otter Media, AT&T could have to spend more than $1 billion, according to Recode. When Otter Media was first announced, AT&T committed to investing $500 million to get the business off the ground.

domain: news


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Nigeria has asked mobile phone operator MTN to pay a $2bn (£1.6bn) tax bill, the company says. MTN challenged the figure, saying it related to activities over the past decade. It said it had settled the bill with a $700m payment.
The tax demand is the latest in a series of disputes between MTN and Nigeria, the company’s largest market. In 2016 it agreed to pay Nigeria $1.7bn over failing to disconnect unregistered Sim cards.
Last week, Nigeria’s Central Bank ordered the company to repatriate $8bn it said had been taken out of the country illegally. MTN, Africa’s largest mobile phone company, said the tax bill had emerged from an investigation by Nigeria’s attorney general and related to “the importation of foreign equipment and payments to foreign suppliers over the last 10 years”.
But, it added, “MTN Nigeria believes it has fully settled all amounts owing under the taxes in question”. Shares in the company on the Johannesburg stock exchange fell sharply on Tuesday’s news, reaching a low of almost 10 years.


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iMedia acquires 100% stake in e-commerce platform, Favful
By Digital News Asia July 22, 2021
- Acquisition marks iMedia’s first foray into social commerce
- iMedia made six acquisitions in the last 12-months
MALAYSIA’S integrated digital media group, iMedia has acquired a 100% stake in Lovelife Technologies Sdn Bhd, owner and operator of beauty e-commerce platform and marketing company, Favful.
The acquisition marks the company’s entrance into the commerce business, it said in a statement.
Following the transaction, iMedia be responsible for the acceleration of revenue for its advertising unit as well as branded content, As part of the deal, all social media assets from the company will be merged into iMedia’s ecosystem, it added.
“The company is confident that it can expand Favful’s community to become a fully integrated digital platform in the media, commerce and influencer marketing business.
“A key area of focus is to accelerate Favful’s and all of iMedia’s brands social and live commerce initiatives and expand beyond the beauty lifestyle segment,” said Voon Tze Khay, chief executive officer (CEO) and co-founder of iMedia.
“The current technology behind Favful’s platform allows it to analyse the sentiments of our users and community’s voices, giving us the opportunity to understand their interest and demand better. It will be extended to the online websites of iMedia to deliver more targeted content that is relevant to our users”, said Voon.
“Since our launch in 2016, Favful has grown into a trusted community marketplace, housing over 3,000 beauty and lifestyle influencer members,” said Sasha Tan, chief executive officer (CEO) and founder of Favful.
Tan said by integrating this reach with ITTIFY (iMedia's existing influencer agency), its combined social media audience reach is well-over 172 mil," she claimed.
iMedia has confirmed six acquisitions in the last 12-months. Aside from Favful, it has completed the acquisition of OhMedia, Ittify, Goody25, BeautifulNara and Moretify.
The iMedia network of owned and managed websites now reaches over 15 mil Malaysians every month, the company claimed.
iMedia and Rev Asia Berhad entered into a share sale agreement in September 2020 with Rev Asia Berhad (listed on Bursa Malaysia) acquiring a 100% stake in iMedia, subjected to completion and approval from regulators.
iMedia is still in the process of completing its IPO on Bursa Malaysia via the 100% acquisition by Rev Asia Berhad for approximately RM40 mil. Upon approval by regulators and shareholders, the Favful acquisition will be part of iMedia’s move to Bursa Malaysia.
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IDOC begins "clothing closet" for released inmates – WSIL-TV 3 Southern Illinois – WSIL TV
VIENNA — Inmates at the Vienna Correctional Center will get a fresh start in new clothes when they walk out of prison. It’s part of a new program being introduced throughout prisons across Illinois.
Some of the inmates have nothing when they are first released. Corrections leaders say, now, not only will the men leave with new clothes, but with confidence they’ll succeed.
“I got me a nice outfit, a long-sleeve shirt with a button, some nice jeans, some shoes even. They got shoes back there,” says Jackie Cambron.
For Cambron, who spent the last 15 months wearing the same blue uniform, wearing something different means everything.
“It gives you a little more confidence in yourself, too, and then people’s not just staring at you like, ‘oh, look at him, he’s no good, he’s a prison, jail guy,’ you know? ‘We don’t want him around us,’ you know? They won’t even try to give you a chance without talking to you. They judge you by the clothes you’re wearing,” says Cambron.
The Illinois Department of Corrections started a “clothing closet” at all minimum and medium security facilities across Illinois, so when inmates like Cambron are released, they can walk out ready for the world.
“Once you’re condemned to wearing the same thing for so long and then you finally get a chance to wear something different, it makes you feel, and makes everything feel a little bit better,” adds Donald Ashford who set to be released soon.
The program is part of a larger initiative called “Rapid Results” started by Governor Bruce Rauner. IDOC Spokesperson Nicole Wilson says Vienna Correctional Center releases about 20 offenders a week. So far, about 49-inmates have left with clothing donated by many of the employees.
“That gives employees the feeling of accomplishment knowing that they can get their ideas out there about how to spend our time more efficiently, how to work more efficiently and spend resources more efficiently,” explains Wilson.
She calls the clothing a confidence booster. Darius Saddler, who will also be released soon agrees.
“Something as simple as a shirt can change ones self esteem from low to higher. Just looking better. You look better, you feel better, tend to do better,” says Saddler.
Many of the donations come from community members, organizations and churches. John Steve with the Herrin House of Hope, jumped at the chance to help.
“I know the situation, the stigma that they are going through upon their release, how they feel. I remember when I came out of the
correctional center that I was in 5 1/2 years ago, I was worried about how people thought about me,” added Steve.
The guys say they’re so grateful to be given another chance with a fresh start.
“No matter what the situation is, what you’ve been through, people still care. Everybody is not quick to judge you about what you did in the past,” says Ashford.
“Just because we’re in jail doesn’t mean we’re all killers and bad people, we’re good people, we just need a chance. We all make mistakes in life,” adds Cambron.
“You know, I have a couple strikes against me already and when I enter society, I want to feel like I belong,” says Saddler.
Wilson says all the clothing items are thoroughly checked. What can’t be used, goes back out into the community.
To donate to the program, can call the Vienna Correctional Center at (618) 658-8371.
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The Shiny Baneful Fox Mask
The Pokemon Company is currently running a distribution event for a free Pokemon Legends mask: just claim it through the mystery gift functionality!
Confirmed through the Play Pokemon Twitter account, this is indeed a cosmetic mask and not an actual Pokemon distribution, as is customary for most mainline games (on top of functional items like Pokeballs). That same account has confirmed that the distribution event will run from June 22, 2022 through June 1, 2023 at 5AM PT. So if you’re putting this off for nearly a year, just remember that you need to wake up early that day.
The actual prize is called the “Shiny Baneful Fox Mask,” which is “inspired by the Hisuian Snow animation.” Hey, that’s still kind of fresh! The third (and final) episode literally just debuted on the official Pokemon YouTube channel this week, featuring a young boy named Alec living in the Pokemon Legends timeline.
There’s a lot of potential to deliver more innovative mystery gifts like this, and masks in Legends is a decent start. But there’s so much more the team can do with the system, especially when you consider the last two years leading to a bigger rise in online gaming. Hopefully Scarlet and Violet will capitalize on some of that potential.


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July 12 update: Magellan responds
In a press release issued today, a Magellan Technology/Demand Vape spokesperson called the New York City lawsuit a “baseless attack,” charging that the legal action has been.”orchestrated by outside special interest groups looking to inflict lasting reputational damage on honest New York businesses.”
Magellan says the supposed proof cited in the lawsuit that the company sells illegal products directly to New York City customers is based on sales by an unaffiliated commerce website that Magellan is “actively pursuing federal anti-cybersquatting and trademark infringement claims against.”
Regarding charges the company violated the federal Prevent All Cigarette Trafficking (PACT) Act, the spokesperson said Magellan and Demand Vape have “scrupulously complied with all relevant federal, state, and city requirements in the operation of their business, including by registering and filing complete shipment reports and tax returns with all states where required by the PACT Act.”
The company spokesperson added that defendants Magellan, Demand Vape and company officer Matthew Glauser “are prepared to vigorously oppose the City’s allegations,” and plan to pursue defamation claims against anti-vaping groups that have made “public and patently false allegations” against them.
Facing a breaking campaign scandal and the typical overflowing to-do list of any big city leader, New York City Mayor Eric Adams decided Monday to take a break from reality and tackle the issue of flavored vaping products.
At a podium flanked by members of Parents Against Vaping (PAVE), Adams and the city’s corporation counsel announced New York City has filed a lawsuit in federal court charging four vape product distributors and six associated individuals with illegally selling flavored vaping products in New York.
The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, accuses the defendants of violating “nearly every federal, New York State and New York City law applicable to the marketing, distribution, and sale of flavored ecigarettes, the sales of which are prohibited under laws enacted by all three jurisdictions.”
The lawsuit accuses the companies and individual defendants with mail and wire fraud, and violations of New York City’s Administrative Code, New York State Public Health Law, and the federal Tobacco Control Act. The city says the four companies violated both the federal Racketeering Influenced Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act and the Prevent All Cigarette Trafficking (PACT) Act.
The city says it “seeks to recover monetary damages and civil penalties from the defendants, potentially totaling millions,” according to a hyperbolic press release full of factual errors (for example, the FDA did not “ban flavored vape products” in 2020). The lawsuit announces that the city will seek triple the damages awarded at trial under the RICO law.
The companies named in the lawsuit are all located in New York State:
Also named were six officers or employees of the companies: Matthew Glauser, Donald Hashagen, and Russell Rogers (Magellan/Demand); Nikunj Patel and Devang Koya (Empire); and Nabil Hassen (Star Vape).
The lawsuit was announced Monday afternoon—the first weekday after news broke last Friday about supporters of Mayor Adams charged with conspiring to funnel illegal campaign contributions to Adams’ 2021 mayoral campaign. Adams himself has not been accused of wrongdoing, but Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg said the contributions were probably intended to gain influence at City Hall.
Image courtesy New York City Office of the Mayor


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Twitter's BTC Plan, Action Against Coinbase, Oversubscribed NFTs + More News
Get your daily, bite-sized digest of cryptoasset and blockchain-related news – investigating the stories flying under the radar of today’s crypto news.
- Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey confirmed to investors that Bitcoin (BTC) will be a “big part” of the company’s future, as he sees opportunities to integrate the cryptocurrency into existing Twitter products and services. He added that it could help the company move faster in terms of its product expansion, while explaining that BTC is the “best candidate” to become the “native currency” of the internet.
- BTC ATM network Bitcoin Depot announced a partnership with Canadian convenience store Circle K in both Canada and the US. Circle K will deploy Bitcoin ATMs within "thousands" of its stores, making it the first major retail chain to do so, they said.
- International shareholder and consumer rights litigation firm Scott+Scott announced that it has filed a securities class-action lawsuit against the crypto platform Coinbase Global, some of their directors and officers, and each of the venture capital firms that benefited from Coinbase’s April 2021 direct offering, alleging violations of the US Securities Act. According to the complaint, the registration statement and prospectus used to effectuate the offering were false and misleading, and anyone who has purchased their stock is advised to contact the attorney’s office.
- British artist Damien Hirst’s experimental non-fungible token (NFTs) auction has been oversubscribed by more than six times, per art services business Heni. There are a total of 10,000 NFT paintings available, priced at USD 2,000 each.
- The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) said that it will launch the pilot scheme of its digital currency by October 1, 2021, according to People’s Gazette. They added that the bank has been researching a central bank digital currency (CBDC) since 2017.
- Decentralized finance (DeFi) network Acala has announced the launch of Karura Swap, their new decentralized exchange (DEX). The DEX offers the possibility of launching a trading pair in “Bootstrap” mode, which allows a brief warm-up period to encourage a pool to achieve adequate liquidity while working to prevent frontrunning and market manipulation.
- Crypto mining hardware manufacturer Bitmain has announced a partnership with data center operator ENEGIX to host Antminer S19 Pro in their 180MW facility. This ENEGIX data center is designed to host more than 50,000 current-generation mining rigs.
- Massena, a town in New York, USA, wants to impose a 90-day moratorium on new cryptocurrency mining operations to make sure local roadsides are not cluttered with trailers and shipping containers loaded with computers to make the place “presentable,” according to WWNYTV. Massena Town Supervisor Steve O’Shaughnessy said officials decided to draw up new regulations for miners after noticing trailers with computers in them on a main road in the town, as 1,500 rigs will be set up to mine cryptocurrencies.
- The Central Bank of Colombia, IDB Group, and Banco Davivienda said that they have launched the pilot of Colombia’s first blockchain bond. The bond will be issued, placed, traded, and settled on blockchain technology through the use of smart contracts for the Colombian securities market.


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UPDATE: On Feb. 13, the House defeated the bill to repeal the Pharmacy Ownership Law on a 35-57 vote.
A new report by the Institute for Local Self-Reliance (ILSR)concludes that repealing North Dakota’s Pharmacy Ownership Law would cost the state millions of dollars in annual economic activity and tax revenue, dramatically reduce the number of pharmacies serving rural areas, and degrade the overall quality of pharmacy services in the state.
The Pharmacy Ownership Law, which requires pharmacies to be majority-owned by a licensed pharmacist, is under fire from national chain drugstores and mass merchandisers such as Wal-Mart that want to operate pharmacies in the state.
But the new report, written by ILSR researchers Justin Dahlheimer and Stacy Mitchell, concludes, “North Dakota, largely as a result of its unique Pharmacy Ownership Law, outperforms other states in every key measure of pharmacy services.”
Among the report’s key findings is that rural areas of the state have far more pharmacies and greater access to these vital health care services than is found in other states. Census tracts with 2,001-3,000 people in North Dakota are 31% more likely to have a pharmacy than those in South Dakota. And, while only one-quarter of census tracts with 1,001– 2,000 people in South Dakota have a pharmacy, nearly half of those in North Dakota do.
North Dakota residents not only benefit from ready access to pharmacies, but the state’s average prescription price is well below the national average.
Another major finding of the report is that the Pharmacy Ownership Law benefits the state’s economy. Compared to chains, locally owned pharmacies spend a much larger share of their revenue on goods and services purchased from in-state businesses.
“Repealing the law would shift a substantial share of the market to chains and mail order pharmacies, causing about 70 independent pharmacies to close. This would result in a net loss to the state of as much as $23 million a year in direct economic benefits,” said Dahlheimer.
View the Press Release:
North Dakota’s Pharmacy Ownership Law Pays Back
Download the Full Report:
The Benefits of North Dakota’s Pharmacy Ownership Law.


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By the end of summer, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is expected to make final new rules that would require federal approval for most flavored nicotine liquids and e-cigarette devices sold in vape shops.
In April 2014, the FDA proposed rules that would require e-cigarettes, including liquid nicotine and devices, to be approved by the agency. When the new rules become final, companies would have six months to register products and ingredients with the agency, and two years to complete the approval process. E-cigarette manufacturers say the FDA has never approved a new tobacco product, according to the Wall Street Journal. SciLucent LLC, a regulatory consulting company, estimates that the approval process could cost anywhere from $2 million to $10 million to collect data and put forward an application.
E-cigarettes heat nicotine liquid to produce a vapor that delivers nicotine to the user without burning tobacco. In the rule-making notice, the FDA said the rise in popularity of e-cigarettes coincides with an increase in calls to poison control centers and visits to hospital emergency rooms “related to liquid nicotine poisoning and other nicotine exposure risks.” Of particular concern is nicotine poisoning in young children, who can swallow nicotine liquid or absorb it through the skin and the eyes. The New York Times reports that as little as a teaspoon of liquid nicotine can be fatal for a small child. Nicotine liquids come in candy and fruit flavors that appeal to children and the products do not come in childproof packaging or carry warning labels, as they would under the new rules. E-cigarette users unaware of the serious risks often leave nicotine liquid within reach of children.
Advocates for e-cigarettes say they are an aid to quitting smoking. Researchers say e-cigarettes are less harmful than traditional cigarettes, because they do not release the more than 60 carcinogens produced in the combustion of traditional cigarettes. Some studies have shown e-cigarettes can be effective in helping smokers quit, but because they are so new to the scene—arriving around 2008—their long-term health effects are not known. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released a study in April indicating teen e-cigarette use tripled in 2014 and health officials are concerned e-cigarettes could be a gateway to traditional cigarettes, according to the WSJ.
Vape shops have sprung up across the country, now numbering about 8,500, the WSJ reports. Shop owners worry about the costs of complying with the new regulations. Tige Mercer, who owns Vape Atlanta and co-owns a liquid-nicotine producer, says he could not afford the expense of seeking approval for nicotine liquid and would have to give up that part of the business, which accounts for about 40 percent of his revenue. It would cost Mercer more to buy nicotine liquid from an outside supplier. He had planned to expand his business but says that is now uncertain.
According to estimates from the Smoke-Free Alternatives Trade Association, a lobbying group for vape shops and manufacturers, 99 percent of the industry will go out of business after the FDA finalizes its rule, the WSJ reports.


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The trade in personal data, be it names, addresses, postcodes or email addresses, has grown by stealth. The direct marketing industry has mushroomed over the past 30 years, partly thanks to sales of data and a general ignorance among consumers about the value and, indeed, ownership of their personal contact details.
From the moment people realised that such data was indeed theirs, and that companies did not have a divine right to use it, the direct marketing landscape became a lot tougher for businesses. The rise of opt-out services such as the Mailing Preference Service (MPS) and the Telephone Preference Service (TPS) have gradually and systematically reduced the number of consumers in the prospecting pool for companies engaged in direct marketing.
Despite this, the industry rolls on, and while direct mail volumes have fallen as brands shift activity online, there is a still a huge market in the sale of personal data by players such as Experian, Acxiom, CallCredit and Equifax.
Now, however, a former key figure in what some saw as the aggressive mailing of consumers by financial-services companies, ex-Capital One marketing director Justin Basini, is shaking things up with the launch of a service, Allow, that enables consumers to profit from the release of their personal data to companies.
When consumers sign up to Allow with their name, address and email address, the details are validated and, as a first - and most controversial - step, removed from the big-four data providers' databases. 'We do this to show people that their data is valuable, and to create some scarcity around that asset,' explains Basini. 'We can then increase the value of that asset, and create liquidity in the market.'
For people to make money from their data, they set a buying intention, and agree for this to be released, either to specific brands only, or generally. Allow then asks the consumer a series of questions to qualify the intention. The data is then sold on to brands, with the consumer receiving 70% of the money, and Allow 30%.
Basini refuses to name any clients, but cites the example of a consumer who sets a buying intention of purchasing a mobile phone. In response to the questions, the consumer declares that he wants a smartphone on a contract and will spend up to £50 a month on the tariff. The consumer will earn a few pounds for providing the data. If he subsequently takes out a two-year contract for a smartphone on a £50 tariff, he could earn a one-off payment, of about £60, for the data supplied.
The obvious apparent flaw in this sort of circumstance is that of the self-selecting sample: namely, that the sort of people who sign up for such a service are not the sort of highor even moderate-wealth individuals who many brands are interested in. Basini concedes this could be the case, but says the signs so far are that it is not.
'These things will be proven out,' he says. 'But I can tell you that the 10,000 people currently on the system are representative of the UK population; the only difference is that the skew is slightly younger.'
Control over cash
Basini argues that the point of Allow is more about control than cash. 'We are not really a (cashback and voucher site) Quidco; it is all about targeted offers around your intentions. Initially, you will get cash, but we see this evolving into bespoke packages, products designed for you.'
He adds that, far from being responsible for the blanket mailing at Capital One, he halted it. 'When I joined, it was a top-three mailer and top 50 digital marketer in the UK. By the time I left, it was a top-50 mailer, and top-three digital,' says Basini. 'What I saw at Capital One was the start of this mega-trend toward empowering people with knowledge.'
Perhaps not surprisingly, there are mixed reactions to Basini's plans. Just over 10% of consumers surveyed by Marketing and OnePoll said they would contemplate selling their data to brands (see ConsumerWatch box, above). Penny Hutton, strategy and planning director at Eclipse Marketing, has gone on record as saying that she is 'unconvinced as to (Allow's) motivations - is it really championing the consumer? Or a way to make a fast buck?'
Marketing understands that Acxiom has changed its procedures since Allow started opting people out of its database, now requiring consumers to confirm the opt-out. In addition, Charles Ping, client director, data intelligence at Communisis, which counts British Gas among its clients, describes Allow as 'a solution looking for a problem that doesn't exist in the way the solution thinks it does'.
Ping says that if ever there were a need for a service such as Allow, it would have been in the days when 'every credit card company in the world was indiscriminately targeting to fill people's doormats'.
He also questions the assumption that people know what they want, and are not open to proposals for things they didn't know they wanted. 'It goes back to what Henry Ford said: "If I'd have asked my customers what they wanted, they would have told me, a faster horse",' says Ping.
Lisa Chittenden is director of data strategy at Transactis, a channel management company, which has a core database featuring transactional data from more than 200 retail brands. She concedes that she does see a case for services such as Allow, but argues that even if they are being paid to share their buying intentions, this is less reliable as a guide to what they might buy than an analysis of what they have previously bought.
'Transactional behaviour is the reality of what you do and how you spend your money, as opposed to saying how you want to spend it,' Chittenden says. 'We use this data predictively, to say that if a person spends several hundred pounds a year on garden furniture, and has done so every year for the past five years, this is a good guide to what they might do in the future.'
There has been some support for Allow, however, from an unexpected source - Experian, one of the biggest traditional data suppliers. 'The world today is more knowledgeable, and consumers are more aware of their value as part of a marketing audience,' says Nigel Wilson, managing director of Experian Marketing Information Services, UK & Ireland.
Moreover, while Wilson argues that this does not necessarily mean that they will want to be paid to receive messages, he has more to add. 'The Allow model is innovative and creates interesting and positive debate in the industry,' he says. 'Anything that also creates an understanding about the value and worth of data is a good thing, and we welcome it.'
Experian has also given its support to another scheme, Mydex, which tries to put consumers in control of their personal data. Co-founder and chief information officer Iain Henderson describes the organisation as a social enterprise that helps individuals manage their data more effectively and realise the value of it.
Mydex is currently running a 'community prototype', involving about 500 people and a number of mainly public-sector organisations, including Brent Council, Windsor Council, Experian and YouGov. The project will run until the autumn, at which point, once the lessons from the trial have been processed, Mydex will go live.
Henderson says that local government is interested in the services because of its potential to save them money. 'Organisations spend pounds x a year to maintain customer records in ways that are disconnected from the individual,' he says. 'So if they change their address, the organisation might only get to hear about it months down the line, after spending more money. Mydex provides a more structured way to manage this by giving individuals a toolkit to manage their personal data via their mobile phone or computer.'
Once they have the toolkit, Mydex members can decide with which organisations they want to share this information. Also, once the system is fully up and running, Mydex will allow users to share their buying intentions with brands. Users will be able to issue a 'personal RFP' (Request For Proposals), similar to the way businesses put contracts out to tender. A typical RFP might contain information such as the person's postcode, number of children and an alert that they are in the market for a new car and have a bank loan to buy it. Companies can then opt to buy the RFP and pitch for the consumer's purchase. The company that snares the sale will pay more for the RFP.
It sounds good in theory, but how will such a system work in practice? Henderson says the most likely set-up would involve a marketplace where the RFPs are promoted, so that brands can see, at a given point, that there are 14 Mydex members in London looking for a 4x4, for example, and 200 people looking for a house.
Mydex has no targets for user numbers, and Henderson concedes that it doesn't expect it to cover '100% of the population any time soon'. However, he does expect the organisation to attract a significant user base, once it has demonstrated its value.
Dane Wright, Brent Council's IT strategy manager, says the authority is trialling Mydex because it mirrors its own views on helping people to manage and authenticate their identity online. 'We are explaining it to people as a new way to deal with the council and manage their personal information,' says Wright. 'Currently, people can authenticate their identity online using Government Gateway, but that does not really do much for you beyond tax self-assessment. Mydex offers a much wider range of value-added services, and gives people a much greater degree of control over which publicand privatesector organisations they release their data to.'
However Mydex and Allow play out, Henderson can see why both initiatives have caused such a stir in the data industry. 'Experian is part of the community project, but that does not change the fact that for it, this is very disruptive. It's a threat, but it's also an opportunity. This stuff will happen anyway, whether it's Mydex, Allow or anyone else, it is economically inevitable, so my advice would be to get behind it.'
For his part Basini, who clearly has a vested interest in Allow succeeding, also takes a pragmatic line. 'Whatever happens, this has energised the (data sector) again,' he says. 'The marketing-data industry has been lacking consumer-led innovation for some time. I clearly hope this works, but even if it doesn't, the reaction it has caused has created interest in data again.'
Whatever you think of Allow's aim, and as the days of blanket mailing and perceived permission recede into the industry's collective memory, it's hard to argue with that statement.


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Partsearch Technologies, which integrates with retailers and manufacturers online and via phone to help consumers and servicers find original replacement parts and accessories, is expanding its product offerings and facilities.
The company has recently implemented a new service parts fulfillment solution that dramatically increases efficiency and decreases repair turn-around time, and has launched a wireless solution, dubbed Wireless Whistler, for service technicians in the field. The latter allows home technicians to download service documentation and access Partsearch’s part lookup and procurement tool from any location.
Recent client additions include RadioShack, Amazon.com, TigerDirect and Nebraska Furniture Mart, the company also reports. RadioShack customers, for example, can now purchase replacement parts and accessories at all RadioShack stores, or by calling 1-800-THE-SHACK. Amazon is using Partsearch’s resources to provide parts for thousands of products within its online electronics store, where they can be merchandised with the original base product.
To handle its growth, the company is currently doubling the size of its call center in Kingston, N.Y.


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Growers push on with harvest as food supply chain stands strong
Australia’s fresh food supply chain is standing strong as the COVID-19 situation continues to evolve.
As growers focus on bringing in new season apples and pears, State and Federal Governments and industry are working to preserve the food supply chain.
The potential for labour shortages is a key focus, with discussions taking place on enabling overseas workers already in the country to extend their stay.
APAL has been talking to a number of growers about how they have adapted to the ongoing COVID-19 situation, with a common concern being future shortages of labour. It appears that while there does not seem to be a shortage of workers at present, there are concerns about how the efforts to contain the virus may impact future workforce numbers.
Positive talks between industry bodies and State and Federal Governments have centred around making visas for current workers more flexible. This could mean permitting Seasonal Worker Programme (SWP) participants to move more freely between approved employers, exempting Pacific Islands workers from quarantine requirements (in line with action taken in New Zealand) and providing incentives to get more Australians working in seasonal roles on farms (if necessary).
There were also concerns about the impact of the closure of state borders on the food supply chain. Minister for Agriculture, Drought and Emergency Management David Littleproud today announced there won’t be any disruption to the growth or transportation of fresh fruit and vegetables due to its critical importance to the Australian economy.
“The commonwealth is guaranteeing food production and supply as we deal with the virus’s spread,” said David.
“I am inconstant dialogue with farming groups, the States, supermarkets and my department to make sure there’s food on the table for all Australians.
“That means State-imposed border shutdowns will not affect agricultural supply chains. The trucks carrying food and produce will get through to the shops,” he added.
While more news on these issues will be available in the coming days, APAL would like to remind growers of the importance of maintaining hygiene and their role in preventing the spread of the virus. It is important that everyone look after their own health and that of their families, workers and their communities.
Experience with SARs and MERs is that people are not infected with these viruses through fresh produce and it is regarded as unlikely COVID-19 will be passed on through fresh produce.


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AUSTIN, Texas — Many non-essential businesses were able to reopen on Friday, May 1. After receiving requests for clarification, the Texas Attorney General's Office released a letter with guidance on the reopening of businesses.
The letter said that the executive order allowing the reopening of businesses requires Texans to "minimize in-person contact with people" that don't live in the same household, other than where it can't be avoided to provide essential or reopened services.
The letter also issued some guidance on businesses that are not considered essential and also are not reopened with the executive order, including bars, gyms, public pools, bowling alleys, video arcades, massage establishments, tattoo and piercing studios and cosmetology salons.
Additionally, the guidance letter said Executive Order GA-18, which allows for the reopening of some businesses and not others, supersedes orders issued by local officials that would have expanded reopened businesses past what has already been reopened.
The full guidance letter can be read on the attorney general's website.
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Latest Windows Essential Business Server Stories
OTTAWA, Nov. 12 /PRNewswire/ -- Enabling partners to move up market and service mid-size businesses, N-able Technologies(R) today announced it will now include support of Microsoft's Windows Essential Business Server 2008.
ScriptLogic(R) Corporation, a leading provider of systems lifecycle management solutions for Microsoft Windows-based networks, today announced ScriptLogic's support for both Windows Small Business Server (SBS) 2008 and Windows Essential Business Server (EBS) 2008, in particular highlighting its Desktop Authority(R) product line as an ideal solution for the Windows desktop administrator in a small or medium-sized business (SMB).
CUPERTINO, Calif., Nov. 12 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Trend Micro Inc.
REDMOND, Wash., Nov.
Objectworld Communications Corp. today announced support for Microsoft's Windows Small Business Server 2008 and Windows Essential Business Server 2008.
Information-technology (IT) media company TechTarget (NASDAQ: TTGT) will syndicate the official launch for Windows Essential Server Solutions (WESS) from www.thedreamserver.com, which includes Windows Small Business Server 2008 and Windows Essential Business Server 2008.
Inetium, a leading Microsoft Gold Certified partner, announces its Accelerated Deployment Program for Microsoft Essential Business Server 2008. As Microsoft launches this new product in the fall of 2008, Inetium has developed a program to help organizations get started quickly and more effectively.
- To say in too many words; to express verbosely.
- To express in too many words: sometimes used reflexively.
- The leading idea or a repeated phrase, as of a song or ballad; the refrain; burden.


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Peanut butter wars lead to Australian injunction
The Federal Court of Australia has restrained a subsidiary of US food company Kraft Heinz from pursuing an ICDR arbitration in New York over peanut butter trademark rights, after finding that the dispute substantially overlaps with a false-advertising lawsuit between the same parties.
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New disc golf course opens at Firehouse Park in the Town of Sheboygan.
TOWN OF SHEBOYGAN – The soaring popularity of disc golf has spawned a new expansive course in Sheboygan County.
Pennsylvania Avenue extending to the lake, a new parking garage and $8 million in developer incentives.
Travel spending in Wisconsin was up 5.5 percent in 2014, and state tourism officials say they continue to look for ways to attract more visitors to the state.
GREENBUSH – A new 38,000-square foot visitor center and carriage museum at the Wade House Historic Site caught Susan McFadden's attention while she was driving on State 23.
Acuity has been ranked No. 5 on Fortune Magazine’s inaugural list of the 100 Best Workplaces for Millennials.
90-year-old authentic ice cream parlor in downtown Elkhart Lake brought back to life
Elkhart Lake's Gessert's Ice Cream features new owners and nostalgia as it reopens after three seasons of closure. Ryan and Michelle Moeller have taken the reins of the beloved ice cream shop. Produced by Gary C. Klein/Sheboygan Press Media
The Sheboygan Area School District has amended its sale of the former Washington school property, entering into an agreement with buyer Gorman & Co. to finance half the purchase price.
It may be awhile before you can sign-up for a Sam’s Club membership in Sheboygan.
Statewide home sales were at their highest point in nine years for the month of May, though markets in eastern Wisconsin saw mixed results, according to data released by the Wisconsin Realtors Association Monday.


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Vanessa navarro rozar english 50 september 25, 2012 essay 1: new york soda ban it is no secret that portion sizes and waistlines in america have increased over time. Restaurants in france face prosecution starting today if they offer unlimited soda drinks to customers in the latest gallic crackdown on obesity. Mormon-church owned brigham young university in utah is reversing its six-decade ban on selling caffeinated soft drinks on its campus the school made the change thursday after receiving more requests from students to serve caffeinated soda (sept 21. The bloomberg big-soda ban is officially dead the state's highest court on thursday refused to reinstate new york city's controversial limits on sales of jumbo sugary drinks, exhausting the city's final appeal and dashing the hopes of health advocates who have urged state and local.
Mayor bloomberg's crackdown on large sodas makes him a walking advertisement for libertarianism trevor butterworth on the faulty assumptions underlying the proposed ban and why it won't work. Over the course of the summer and fall of 2012, the debate about bloomberg's soda ban raged on in july, protestors of the ban marched - many while sipping large sodas - in city hall park new york city's board of health approved bloomberg's plan. Some schools have removed soda to encourage kids to pick healthier drinks. While the term soft drink is commonly used in product labeling and on restaurant menus in the 1950s and 1960s there were attempts in france and japan to ban the sale of coca-cola as dangerous since phosphates can block after soda ban nutritionists say more can be done, boston. Mormon church-owned brigham young university ended a six-decade ban thursday on the sale of caffeinated soft drinks on campus, surprising students by posting a picture of a can of coca-cola on twitter and just two words: it's happening. William whitsell - june 8, 2012 mayor bloomberg's ban on soda is one of the most air-headed, liberal, socialistic, marxist-want-to-be strikes at our constitutional freedom i have ever heard of in my entire 62 years of living.
The science for and against the bloomberg large size soda ban explained. New york city mayor michael bloomberg's ban on big soft drinks was just struck down by a manhattan judge how did we get here read our explainer. Us news is a recognized leader in college, grad school, hospital, mutual fund, and car rankings track elected officials, research health conditions, and find news you can use in politics, business, health, and education. Mayor michael r bloomberg's ban on the sale of large sugary drinks will go into effect on tuesday here's what you need to know. Brigham young university amends its policy after the church revised its stance on caffeine in 2012.
New york lost its bid to ban oversize sodas in a ruling by the state's highest court, ending for now the city's efforts to revive a regulation struck down in legal attacks by beverage industry trade groups whose members include coca-cola co.
A group backed by the soda industry is seeking to bar cities and counties in washington state from imposing their own taxes on sodas or other sweetened beverages. Just yesterday i walked into my local convenience store and bought a 99 cent donut and a small bag of chips i ate it and i enjoyed it during all the munching and crunching, i knew i was eating something that wasn't going to digest well and something that was not good for my long term health but. Ban soda for good soft drinks represent one of the greatest health threats to the human species:with 30 million diabetics and 80 million pre-diabetics, it's very clear that the united states should stop bringing soda in sugary drink portion sizes have risen dramatically over the past 40 years. Now he wants to be like mike bill de blasio friday turned sweet on mayor bloomberg, heaping praise on hizzoner's controversial ban on big soda and vowing to make it a reality if he's elected mayor though the democratic mayoral nominee has spent much of his campaign bashing. New york city mayor michael bloomberg's proposed soda ban on the sale of sugary beverages larger than 16 oz was approved by the nyc board of health. The court's message to the new york city mayor boiled down to: screw you and your big ideas -- play by our rules or not at all.


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Mobile-first games developer OneTouch has debuted its latest content-based agreement, after linking up with the Coingaming Group’s bitcoin-led casino operator Bitcasino.
Under the terms of the agreement, OneTouch will take a selection of its live dealer products to the online casino later in the year, including live dealer Baccarat, Roulette and Blackjack.
Tauri Tiitsaar, director of casino at Bitcasino, said of the entity’s latest partnership: “OneTouch is among the industry’s fastest-growing suppliers, so we are thrilled to be integrating its world class collection of slot and table games.
“The company’s impressive product offering fits well with our track-record of providing fun, fast and fair immersive gaming experiences, so we can’t wait to introduce it to our players. We are certain that these games are going to be a big hit.”
Founded in 2014, and lauded as “the world’s first licensed Bitcoin-focused operator,” OneTouch states that the commercial partnership will represent a boost to its appeal amongst a wide range of audiences.
Ollie Castleman, head of marketing at OneTouch, stated: “Bitcasino is the industry’s foremost cryptocurrency specialist, and this partnership allows our offering to continue expanding across a diverse set of product verticals.
“Our unique mobile-first gaming suite has continued to go from strength to strength this year, and we’ve lined up an additional range of exciting product launches and operator deals for the coming period.”


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Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) and automaker BMW are teaming up to test the ability of electric vehicle batteries to provide valuable services to the electric grid.
If successful, the pilot program could pave the way for significant utility payments that could stimulate further customer purchases of electric vehicles.
PG&E selected BMW after a competitive solicitation to manage a minimum of 100 kilowatts of electric demand on PG&E’s system, much as other large industrial and commercial customers do today as part of the utility’s demand response programs. Those programs improve reliability, lower costs and help the environment by incenting customers to cut usage during periods of high peak demand.
Demand response programs can save money by delaying the need to upgrade power lines, transformers and other equipment to handle infrequent peaks in demand. They can reduce the need to buy expensive and polluting fossil-fueled power to meet such spikes in demand. And, with further refinement, they may help utilities manage and smooth out the intermittent flow of energy from renewable sources such as wind and solar generation.
BMW will help PG&E manage power demand on its grid in two ways. First, the automaker will create a large energy storage unit at the BMW Group Technology Office in Mountain View, using lithium-ion batteries that were once installed in MINI E demonstration vehicles. Like other storage systems, these “second life” batteries can absorb cheap surplus electrical energy when demand is low and release it on request when demand soars.
Second, BMW will enlist up to 100 customers of its new BMW i3 electric vehicles to take part in the BMW i ChargeForward Program. If PG&E needs to curb customer demand for whatever reason, it will send BMW an alert over the Internet, indicating how much load to cut and for how long. BMW then will signal the telemetry equipment in each participating vehicle, telling it to halt its charging for the duration of the event.
PG&E will pay BMW for these services, as it does other demand response participants. However, BMW will leverage these payments to lower the overall cost of ownership of owning an electric vehicle. BMW customers participating in the program will receive an upfront incentive to enroll and an ongoing incentive based on their performance in reducing load. Each customer in the program will be able to track the value of the ongoing incentive as well as opt-in/out for each event via a phone app throughout the 18-month pilot.
PG&E hopes that this program, if successful, will pave the way for other automakers and demand response partners to leverage the value of grid services from electric vehicles, and similarly reward electric vehicle customers.
“We have more than 60,000 electric vehicles in our service area,” said Aaron Johnson, senior director of Customer Programs at PG&E. “Collectively, they represent a huge and growing resource that we can potentially tap to provide more flexible, lower cost, and cleaner energy for our customers.”
Johnson said the pilot program will help determine if automakers are able and willing to provide such managed grid services, evaluate the benefit of putting vehicle batteries to work for PG&E customers, and develop incentives to help grow the market for clean electric vehicles.


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List Recognizes Fastest-Growing Privately Held Businesses in the Dallas Area
Plano, TX – October 10, 2018 – CRITICALSTART, a leading provider of cybersecurity solutions, today announced that it has been selected for the second consecutive year as one of the Dallas 100™ by the SMU Cox Caruth Institute for Entrepreneurship, in recognition of the company’s significant revenue growth. The Caruth Institute annually celebrates the ingenuity, commitment, and perseverance of the 100 fastest-growing privately held entrepreneurial businesses in the Dallas area. This year’s winners were honored at the 28th Annual SMU Cox Dallas 100™ Awards Ceremony and Banquet at the Omni Dallas Hotel.
“Being recognized once again on the Dallas 100™ list reflects a year of tremendous growth and achievement at CRITICALSTART, and I would like to thank our customers for their support and our employees for their commitment and effort,” said Rob Davis, CEO at CRITICALSTART. “The Dallas area combines a large pool of cybersecurity and technology talent and strong business climate to help fuel our growth, and we recently expanded our headquarters facility in Plano to accommodate our future growth.”
CRITICALSTART offers a powerful combination of professional services, strategic product fulfillment, and Managed Detection and Response (MDR) services, making it well positioned to protect important data and customer brands. The company increased year-over-year (YoY) revenue by 87 percent in the first seven months of 2018, and its MDR business has grown 300 percent YTD in 2018 when compared to all of 2017.
CRITICALSTART, along with the other 99 Dallas 100™ companies, collectively generated $3.3 billion in sales in 2017, according to Jerry White, the Linda A. and Kenneth R. Morris Endowed Director of the Caruth Institute for Entrepreneurship at the SMU Cox School of Business. In aggregate, the companies grew at an average annual growth rate of 87 percent from 2015 to 2017. Together, they created 11,096 jobs in that same period. According to White, “These companies are amazing growth machines. They can create a fantastic number of jobs and pump hundreds of millions of dollars into our economy,” said White. “For 28 years, the Caruth Institute at SMU Cox has honored the critical role of entrepreneurship in the DFW economy, which has thrived specifically because of its long history of entrepreneurial spirit.”
CRITICALSTART is the fastest-growing cybersecurity integrator in North America. Our mission is simple: protect our customers’ brands and reduce their business risk. We do this for organizations of all sizes through our award-winning portfolio of end-to-end security services – from security-readiness assessments using our proven framework, the Defendable Network, to the delivery of managed security services, professional services, and product fulfillment. CRITICALSTART has achieved the Service Organization Control (SOC) 2 Type II compliance certification and was recently named a CRN® 2018 Triple Crown Winner. Visit www.criticalstart.com for more information.
About SMU Cox
The SMU Cox School of Business, established in Dallas, TX in 1920, is committed to influencing the way the world conducts business via prolific research that provokes innovation, change, and global thought leadership. Consistently ranked among the world’s leading business schools, SMU Cox maintains an active, global alumni network and is accredited by AACSB.


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Take detailed notes before your next auction. If you try to put a drone up for sale on eBay, you'd better include your legal expenses in the asking price.
Henson Chua of the Philippines is looking at 20 years in prison for starting an auction on parts for a RQ-11B Raven, which is a no-no under the Arms Control Export Act. As seller celltron8, Chua allegedly asked for $13,000 for the handheld, unarmed spy drone. Unfortunately for him, his bidder was an undercover investigator for the Department of Homeland Security.
According to an indictment issued for Chua and released on Monday, Chua put the Raven up for sale around May of last year. Now, you can't sell military technology without a specific waiver from the State Department. And eBay took the sale off its site on May 18, since it violated internal policies against selling military items. Perhaps people initially thought it was a really expensive model airplane: the Raven, manufactured by AeroVironment, has a wingspan of under five feet and weighs barely four pounds.
But the legal hurdles associated with selling a drone apparently didn't stop Chua from emailing his undercover purchaser that "shipping it out should not be a problem here."
When the agent told Chua that wasn't exactly legal, he allegedly emailed, "We got paper work for the items so i have no problem selling to you whether you're a license broker or not." [sic] Celltron8's attention to customer satisfaction is reflected in his feedback. "Good seller – easy to work with would deal with again, anytime," vouched hobbyvintage in May 2009.
He was also sufficiently conscientious to alert his buyer that "there is a chance US custom might confiscate the item with out proper documentation," the indictment reads. But as it turns out, you can send a Raven's nose cone through the plain old U.S. Postal Service and its stabilizer tail through FedEx without any problem, as Chua proved after getting debited $6,500 through PayPal in July.
Chua was arrested in LA on February 10. (The Department of Homeland Security didn't disclose how Chua came to the U.S., but the indictment discloses that he held a U.S. visa.) The indictment refers to a "co-conspirator" inside the U.S. who relayed the drone parts to Chua's undercover purchaser.
There's no indication from the indictment how Chua got hold of AeroVironment's tiny drone. Efforts by the DHS agent to get Chua to give up his supplier during the sale were evidently unsuccessful. Maybe he'll make a deal in jail. But if Chua is part of some broader drone black market, relying on eBay to unload ill-gotten merchandise is hardly the stuff of Viktor "Merchant of Death" Bout.
Comments drone enthusiast and WIRED editor-in-chief -- who, yes, beat me to this story -- "Full waypoint-capable UAVs are illegal to sell in the US with Export Control documentation and other safeguards. Don't be this guy."
See Also:- Big Hurdles for Army’s Tiny Drones


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Mega consignment sale popular with budget-minded moms
Just Between Friends sale in Boerne runs through Saturday
BOERNE, Texas – The Kendall County Fairgrounds Exhibition Hall is crawling with moms who will tell you that paying retail is a no-no.
"Who doesn't like saving money?" asked bargain-hunter Jessica Qualls.
Qualls was searching for clothes, puzzles and books for her children at the Just Between Friends semi-annual consignment sale.
The sale runs until 8:30 Friday night and is open from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday.
Shoppers can find gently used and even some new clothes, toys, books, DVDs and baby gear, such as strollers, at a fraction of retail prices.
It's also a chance for local families to sell some of their children's items that they've outgrown and make some cash.
"Most of our consignors make at least $200 to $300. I have had as much as $1,000 plus," said Jeannie Buller, who owns the area franchise of a multi-million dollar business that started in 1997 as a swap meet. Now, it's a mega event.
As an example of the savings, a Simmons bassinet that retails for $100 was tagged at $64.
It's savings Dawn Strother can appreciate. She has six children.
"They are very expensive," she said.
Strother's 11-year-old daughter, Selah, was even getting in on the action.
"Last sale, I didn't have any money and there was a lot of cute stuff," she said.
For less than $30, she bought Sperry shoes, capris, several shirts and leggings.
On Friday evening, prices will be cut in half for the duration of the sale, which continues through Saturday afternoon. Admission is free on Saturday.
Proceeds from earlier admissions will go to the Hill Country Daily Bread Ministries.
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Published By : 28 Sep 2017 | Published By : QYRESEARCH
Nike and Adidas have been the top dogs in the athletic wear and footwear market for so long that the dropping intensity of the battle between these two giants has taken some time to register. Recent trends, however, clearly state what has been on the cards all along: Adidas is winning the battle of the boots, while Nike has fallen behind the times and is now at risk of losing more of the market to newer, emerging companies.
Nike’s North America fell 3% in the three-month period ending on August 31, which is the first time the company has failed to register quarterly gains in what still remains its most important sales outlet. Adidas, meanwhile, has posted an average sales gain of a whopping 26% over the last six quarters, illustrating the growing gulf between the two companies.
Failure to Keep up with Changing Trends Costing Nike
The key aspect of Nike’s failure to compete with Adidas in North America is considered to be its reliance on brick and mortar stores and outdated designs. Brick and mortar stores have witnessed a steady decline in North America, where online and other direct-to-consumer sales channels have picked up steam. Nike’s previously reliable brands such as Air Jordan have also lost their appeal in recent times, with the growing focus on athleisure footwear rendering them redundant. Adidas have scored majorly in this department thanks to its continuous focus on updating its design profile as well as keeping in touch with modern consumer demands, which includes increasing its presence online. While Nike has now belatedly stepped up its efforts to increase direct to consumer sales, whether these measures can bridge the gap remains to be seen.


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One company group, two locations, two anniversaries: 60 years ago, the lubricant specialist LIQUI MOLY was founded, while MÉGUIN and its mineral oil plant is celebrating 170 years of existence in 2017.
There was a close relationship between the two independent companies of LIQUI MOLY and MÉGUIN for decades. As supplier, MÉGUIN produced the lubricants, predominantly motor oil, that LIQUI MOLY sold worldwide. In 2006, the companies combined when LIQUI MOLY took over MÉGUIN-both brand names have remained.
Since then, the company has experienced exponential growth. Between 2009 and 2016 sales increased by $307 million $587 million.
“How fit a company is, as with people, depends on the way of life and personal attitude. Those who look after their mind and body have a better chance of a long life than those who burn the candle at both ends on a daily basis,” said Ernst Prost, CEO and owner of both companies. “This enables rapid adaptability. And that’s what’s decisive for the success and continuation of a company.”
Remaining modern for both brands has meant keeping in touch with the latest trends.
“Of course, we can stand against the wind, but then the water will just lash us in the face. It is smarter to set the sails accordingly,” Prost said, citing globalization as an example: “We did not order it, but we make use of the opportunities it offers with a great deal of joy and pleasure.”
LIQUI MOLY and MÉGUIN now make up almost 800 people.


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[Exclusive] Hyundai Motor prepares ‘hydrogen’ robot taxi business in S. Korea
Hyundai Motor’s Ioniq 5 (Hyundai Motor)
Hyundai Motor Group is developing a hydrogen robot taxi with the aim of launching a commercial service within the next few years.
According to the nation’s top automaker, the self-driving taxi will be based on the Nexo, the company’s hydrogen fuel cell-powered SUV.
“The hydrogen robot taxi is currently in the design stage. The exterior currently has cameras and sensors protruding from it, so we’re working on it. The model will be ready for mass production in one to two years,” a Hyundai Motor official said.
Previously, the company unveiled plans to offer robot taxi services with its new all-electric SUV Ioniq 5 in the US, but this is the first time the company has disclosed plans for a driverless taxi business in Korea, and its first such plan involving hydrogen vehicles.
In March, Motional -- a $4 billion joint venture between Hyundai Motor and US-based auto parts supplier Aptiv -- said that it would integrate its driverless technology into the Ioniq 5 to create the company’s first robot taxi. At the start of 2023, customers in certain markets will be able to book the fully electric, fully autonomous taxi through the Lyft app.
“The hydrogen robot taxi business will prove Hyundai Motor’s technological prowess and have a significant impact on the company’s brand image. Also, the hydrogen robot taxis will be able to address car accidents, 95 percent of which are occurred by human errors. Also, the operations of self-driving hydrogen taxis won’t be limited by a small number of hydrogen charging stations,” said Lee Ho-geun, a professor of automotive engineering at Daeduk University.
By Kim Byung-wook (firstname.lastname@example.org


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With such an expansive library, Netflix is testing out a curated programming block designed to mimic the structure of a tradition television channel.
To combat the burden of choice when it comes to their almost infinitely expansive library, Netflix is testing out a channel dedicated to scheduled programming. Parsing the endless hours of content on Netflix, which really only seems to grow as they venture deeper into originals, has long been one of the biggest complaints of subscribers. The algorithm is only part of the battle, as viewers still have to actually choose what to watch, and it can be much more stressful than it seems.
Netflix recently tested a shuffle play feature, also designed to do the choosing for the viewer based on the internal algorithm, but that feature picked (as the name suggests) randomly, meaning viewers wouldn’t know what they were getting beforehand like they would in traditional television. Though what fans had really asked for was a way to watch something they wanted, like, say, The Office, in a random order, it was a step in the right direction for a streamer that likely has more than enough power to do this. It could be that Netflix feels now is a good time to offer better features, having raised prices again and watching competitors like Amazon and Disney+ gain ground on streaming numbers, not that Netflix likes to share those.
Click the button below to start this article in quick view.
Per IndieWire, Netflix is soft testing a linear channel called “direct” in France right now. The channel, built into Netflix’s UI, is a curated schedule of Netflix programming, effectively “the Netflix channel.” Execs hope it will alleviate some of the pressures of choosing when viewers just want to be entertained and is being tested in France because their viewing habits are apparently more traditional than most other countries that get Netflix. The soft testing has just begun but will be available to more viewers in December.
Netflix has been steadily making the steps necessary for streamers to eclipse traditional television for a while now, recently going so far as to shell out Narcos, one of their most popular ever shows, to a smaller, free streamer in a move not unlike traditional syndication. A Netflix channel is undeniably a problem for cable, but there’s a chance it won’t really catch on in time. Streamers, especially their original programming, are built on the culture of binging TV. There’s no telling whether the average Netflix user would sit through a Spooky Saturday night block of Castlevania, Stranger Things, and some Mike Flanagan show every week when they can just blaze through whichever one they like the best, and then the other two.
That said, this idea probably isn’t costing Netflix much money, and the goal could well be to just get someone interested in something they wouldn’t normally see, preferably an original. 2020 has been explosive for streamers because everyone’s been stuck at home, and more services pop up seemingly every day. The new era of television is more than likely already upon us, and scraping up the anti-streamers might be the key to market domination. Netflix will likely set its sights next on dealing with password sharing, and soon enough we’ll be right back where we started with cable. Is that a bad thing? Depends on how you feel about bundling.
Next: Every Netflix Christmas Movie Releasing In 2020
Fortnite Gives Out Free V-Bucks To Make Up For Blocked Apple Updates
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Doll available now
Toymakers Mattel have announced a second collectable doll in their Barbie as David Bowie. The doll’s look is based on Bowie’s look in the Mick Rock-directed “Life On Mars?”
The Barbie doll models an authentic replica of the bespoke powder-blue suit Bowie wore in the “Life on Mars?” music video, including a foil-printed pin-stripe shirt, statement tie, and platform shoes. Her hairstyle and bold blue eyeshadow are inspired by Bowie’s ‘70s glam era look.
Designer Linda Kyaw-Merschon and her team recreated this legendary moment in Bowie’s history.
“It’s a tribute to Bowie – his outfit, his makeup, his features – to emulate his essence and make sure it looked like Barbie, but as Bowie,” Kyaw-Merschon says.
Doll comes in displaying packaging with a doll stand and Certificate of Authenticity. Doll cannot stand alone. It can be purchased through Amazon for $50.
Bowie was a one-man cultural phenomenon for his contributions to music, art, fashion, and film. Our second tribute doll celebrates the 50th anniversary of his classic Hunky Dory, the iconic “Life on Mars?” video, and an outfit forever associated with him.


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The boss of Marks & Spencer has added to concerns about the outlook for high street retailers by warning that higher living costs would chip away at already moribund levels of consumer confidence this year.
Marc Bolland said M&S was taking daily readings to gauge the attitude of the 21 million shoppers who visit its stores every week and that confidence was "consistently low" during March. However, he said the consumer mood had not "hit the wall", as other chains – such as Dixons, which issued a profit warning last week – had suggested, and there had been no jolt after the budget.
"Consumer confidence in February and March has been low but stable," said Bolland, who predicted trading would get tougher as consumers are hit by government cutbacks, rising prices and the expected interest rate rises. "We see an environment out there that for the coming year will be absolutely challenging because commodity pricing is up and we know discretionary spend will be down."
M&S's warning came on the day a swathe of tax and benefits changes kicked in and just a day after former Asda boss Andy Bond predicted there would be two years of misery for high street retailers as the financial crisis hit home. Bolland's caution came as M&S reported flat underlying sales for the fourth quarter, a better than expected outcome that was buoyed by consumers' willingness to splash out on quirky products such as its "Stormwear" water-repellent suits and "Insolia" high heels, which it claims won't hurt your feet even if you dance all night.
Like-for-like sales of clothing and homewares were still down nearly 4% but its food division was ahead by 3.4% as shoppers, weary of austerity, decided to treat themselves. Its "Dine in for £15" Mother's Day deal attracted 500,000 shoppers. The shares finished up 20.4p at 360.6p, a rise of 6%.
Bolland said his vision for the business, set out in November, was building momentum. Last week he revealed plans to re-enter the French market – a decade after it pulled out of the country. He also said M&S's celebrity-laden spring advertising campaign featuring Dannii Minogue and Twiggy was "having a bigger impact than the adverts launched last year".
When Bolland took over from Sir Stuart Rose last May he complained M&S did not cash in on its heritage as an innovator and this year has seen ads dedicated to both Insolia and Stormwear. Sales of Insolia shoes, which boast a contoured insole that M&S claims transfers the weight from the forefoot to the heel, jumped 70% on the back of the campaign starring model Lisa Snowdon.
M&S also said it expected its operating costs to rise 5% this year, a pressure it would seek to mitigate by cost cutting and better buying, including moving some of its manufacturing out of China to lower cost locations such as India and Sri Lanka. The retailer insisted the plan did not involve making job cuts in the UK.
Bolland said its average selling prices for spring had gone up by about 6% but said only 1-2% of that was down to inflation as the figure also reflected the higher VAT rate and shoppers trading up to its more expensive ranges. M&S was benefiting from shoppers looking for quality on the high street and "buying something that lasts for two seasons rather than something that is disposable", he said.
Execution Noble analyst Caroline Gulliver put the "resilient" performance down to M&S's enduring popularity among "older, higher income" shoppers: "M&S has the highest exposure, along with John Lewis, to this demographic." She said Bolland "may not have been as radical or exciting as some investors had hoped" but he was delivering "what consumers want to see" from M&S.


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Child’s Christmas wish list brings new books to library
Houston County Courier
By Jenna Duncan
A little girl’s unusual Christmas wish helped bring around $400 worth of new books to the children’s section of the J.H. Wootters Crockett Public Library this year. Instead of a bike or new dolls, this Christmas Halleigh Castleberry, a fourth grader at Latexo Elementary School, asked Santa for books to donate to the library. Castleberry and her family recently moved to Crockett, and when she went to get a library card she was curious about why there weren’t a lot of books or children inside like at the library where she used to live, Children’s Librarian Leslie Johnson said. “They came in and she was like, ‘Why are there no kids in the library? Why is there nothing going on?’,” she said. While getting her library card, Halleigh learned that the library wanted and needed new books, but a lack of funding made this difficult, so most new books come in as donations. On the walk back to the car with her mother, Halleigh declared that what she wanted this year for Christmas was books to donate to the library. Right after Christmas, Halleigh came back in with several new books, and asked Johnson what books the library wanted to add to the children’s section. In addition to receiving some books to donate, friends and family gave Halleigh cash and gift cards to purchase even more for the library. “I kind of keep a running list of stuff I’d like to get if we ever have money, so I printed off that and she picked off there the ones she was interested in and they ordered them and brought them back,” Johnson explained.


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As the global economic structure rockets east, many countries in range have felt the boom of commerce. And none have responded with such vigour as the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. Hailed as ‘the one to watch’ in global tourism, Vietnam continues to emancipate itself from the long-standing closed door of insular Communism, embracing the opportunities its cultural heritage and staple rich lands afford it. With an explosive annual growth rate at over 25% sustainable for the next five years, now is definitely the time to appreciate the beauty, warmth, and charm of Asia’s most enchanting tiger cub.
After the 1986 doi moi [renovation] free-market initiative opened Vietnam’s doors to the world, the country has since become ASEAN’s fastest growing economy in both industry and global tourism. In that time, the country has blossomed into a fascinating new tourism destination providing authentic settings for the booming MICE tourism industry. In fact, the latest World Travel and Tourism Council [WTTC] annual report projects Vietnam’s travel and tourism sector [based on a rate of 7.5%] as having the world’s sixth
highest growth rate over the next ten years.
That might sound surprising. But not if you consider that in 1990, international arrivals to Vietnam stood at a mere 150,000. Today that number has increased 14 fold to a staggering 3.5 million and a total of 5 to 5-6 million is expected by 2010. This makes Vietnam the only country in the region by far to yield such dramatic results.
Even now, global brand consultancy FutureBrand has ranked Vietnam amongst the top 10 world’s best travel destinations and in tenth place as the most improved country brand. A recent survey by US Travel and Leisure magazine rated Hanoi as the world’s sixth best tourist city scoring 82.09 points overall. Thailand topped the survey with Bangkok and Chiang Mai taking the first and second positions with 86.11 and 85.62 points respectively. However, not a bad achievement at all considering Vietnam’s relative global naivety.
Despite the massive increase in tourism numbers, the gross figure largely pales in comparison with such well-established hot spots as Hong Kong. In the last 10 years, the influx of foreign tourists to Hong Kong may have only doubled but the total figure now reaches around the 22 million mark. Nevertheless, it is the predicted sustainability of the boom that gives Vietnam its unique advantage.
As the facts become apparent to the rest of the world, large international investors are coming to recognise Vietnam’s cash potential. Home to a kaleidoscope of culture, stunning natural beauty and biodiversity – along with many World Heritage sites and over 3,000km of pristine coastline – Vietnam is a veritable gold mine of opportunity.
Larger tour operators saw a phenomenal increase in clients over the same period, ranging from a mere 250 per year to over 20,000. Saigon Tourist, the leading national travel company, received reservations for MICE services from 6,420 customers in November and December 2006, 1,500 being foreign with domestic MICE customers making up two-thirds of inbound contracts and 520 others booking outbound services. These kinds of numbers are a huge green light to long-term international investors looking to make the most of such an opportunity. And that opportunity is being grabbed with both hands – especially around the central coastal areas of Hue and Hoi An.
By increasing worldwide tourism offices and upgrading regional infrastructures, Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT) recognises the benefits of the ever- lucrative MICE industry. Yet without the full co-operation and backing of the many government bodies, these development proposals carry the same pitfalls that face outside investors, and adaptation to fast-paced change is a vital concern.
The decision to host the Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation [APEC] summit and the accession to the World Trade Organisation [WTO] in 2006 were major steps in bringing Vietnam to the global dinner table. With rising international interest, it will be compelled to build upon its shortcomings and accelerate its tourism industry development.
Various independent operators are latching on to the profitable MICE business. Taking the first step, they aim to carve a niche that may prove to have limitless possibilities in relation to Vietnam’s tourism sector. One in particular is the Vietnam MICE Club. A joint venture between the national carrier Vietnam Airlines and tour operators Saigon Tourist Travel Service Co. and Hanoi Tourism, the online resource wholly dedicates itself to MICE in Vietnam.
Following their lead, other smaller operators have cropped up like the Centre of Incentive Tours and Events [CITE] that offers customised luxury MICE-oriented packages online. However, the intricacies of MICE require solid infrastructure and, more importantly, organising ability. The MICE industry also needs close co-operation among the airlines, travel firms, hotels, resorts, convention centres and the relevant official bodies. Vietnam is in a unique position now to make or break its MICE industry whilst riding the crest of its economic wave.
FutureBrand has ranked Vietnam amongst the top 10 world’s best travel destinations and in tenth place as the most improved country brand.


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Why did uber fail in India?
Experts opine that one of the reasons for Uber Eats downfall was its heavy discounting strategy. The operational losses amounted to ₹2,197 crore, more debts followed and a heavy competitive market did not let it sustain.
Did Uber succeed in India?
Andhare said, “With over a billion trips in India and South Asia and counting, along with a large driver-partner base, we are focused on winning hearts and minds in the market. … Uber’s success is deeply tied to our success in India, we are in a strong position in India, and we are committed to serving the market.”
Is Uber still profitable in India?
Post this buyout, Uber India booked a profit of Rs 703.4 crore on its discontinued operations (97.6% of annual profit in FY20) for the fiscal ended in March 2020. … When adjusted with loss before tax adjustments of Rs 567.8 crore with DTC, it resulted in a profit of Rs 17.34 crore from its continuing operations.
Why Uber did not succeed in China?
It only takes 2.7 rides, according to the company, before someone becomes a permanent customer. Uber’s strategy, therefore, was to grow with lightning speed. Every major city had its own general manager, who would tempt new drivers with bonuses and new customers with free rides.
Is there Uber in India?
To answer your first question, yes there is Uber in India. … With the help of Jules, our local India expert, we’ll try to help you with these changes as well as give you some tips for using the app!
Who is the competitor of Ola?
Ola’s top competitors include Uber, Meru Cabs, Careem, DiDi Global and Grab. Ola is an online transportation network company.
Is Uber big in India?
Uber facilitated 14 million rides a week in India last year, the American ride-hailing firm said as it claimed the tentpole position in the key overseas market. In comparison, Uber handled 11 million rides a week in India in 2018, a spokesperson told TechCrunch. …
Is Ola an Indian company?
Ola Cabs (stylized as OLΛ) is an Indian multinational ridesharing company offering services that include vehicle for hire and food delivery. The company is based in Bengaluru, Karnataka. … In February 2020, Ola launched its taxi-hailing services with over 25,000 drivers registered.
Did Uber lose money last year?
Uber’s doubled its bookings over the same quarter last year — which was the worst quarter of the pandemic — but still posted an adjusted earnings loss of $509 million, the ride-hailing company’s latest earnings show.
Is Uber a loss?
Uber posted an adjusted $509 million second-quarter loss before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization — a metric that excludes one-time costs, including stock-based compensation — widening losses by nearly $150 million from the first quarter.
Is Ola profit or loss?
Ride-hailing firm Ola has reported its first operating profit of Rs 89.82 crore for 2020-21, even as its revenue declined 65 per cent to Rs 689.61 crore amid Covid-19 induced lockdowns.


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Looking ahead, the top ranked risks to corporate earnings in the next three years are political/regulatory uncertainty, tougher competition and customer satisfaction/retention. In response to these challenges, companies are adjusting product lines, extending supply chain partnerships and increasing capital expenditures.
One key area of threat also identified in this year’s survey is cyber threat. Despite high-profile cyber attacks, most treasury departments note they have no clearly documented mechanism in place to initiate a response to a cyberattack.
In today’s business environment, uncertainty and emerging threats to earnings are the new normal. Learning to adjust to new challenges with nimble and responsive risk management is critical.


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What Hyundai did to tune up its customer service approach
- 30 May, 2018 07:05
Paul Jenzen, Hyundai
Hyundai Motor Company Australia has accelerated its way from ninth to second position in the ranks of Australian automotive companies for service after overhauling its customer experience approach.
Senior customer experience leader, Paul Jenzen, shared details on what it’s taken to lift the car company’s CX game with 50 customer and marketing leaders at CMO’s recent Melbourne breakfast, ‘Creating More Intelligent Customer Connections’.
Hyundai sells about 100,000 vehicles annually across a 170-store franchise network. It also services more than 400,000 unique customers per annum, with service making up as much as half a dealer’s revenues.
Sitting in ninth place back in 2010 in the annual JD Power Australia Customer Service Index for automotive, it was clear more needed to be done to recognise service as an important component of the lifecycle experiences of a Hyundai car owner, Jenzen said.
“In automotive, there is huge investment going into the demand generation for vehicle sales, and that’s pretty much where most budget sits,” he said. Hyundai’s CX department consists of CRM, service experience and customer care teams.
“In service, we only have an opportunity once per year when customers are in-store to make an impression. It’s tough when you’re servicing a car – as important as it is, it’s not a fun purchase, you can’t see what has been done. It costs money. Someone once described service to me as a hiccup in your day because it’s often an inconvenience.
“The real challenge is improving that experience, making it easier, more convenient and better value, and relating that value back to the ownership experience.”
Jenzen pointed out Aussies tend to keep their cars for seven years, meaning stores get 15 minutes a year for seven years to “keep people enthused and attached to our brand all the way through to the next purchase”.
“If you’re not doing well in that space, you won’t sell the next car. It’s important to get it right.”
Four years ago, Hyundai decided to actively change its CX approach and brought in InMoment’s customer intelligence platform. The former bespoke research platform had been built by a boutique agency, making it expensive, slow to update and restrictive in terms of feedback.
It was also clear Hyundai customers wanted specific things, such as easier booking, which it needed to address. Previously, the only way to book in a car for servicing was over the phone. Other criteria identified included improved digital touchpoints and value incorporating transparent pricing, plus more communications around how servicing is progressing and more convenient, friendlier service.
At Hyundai’s end, it was vital to have automated dispatch of customer surveys via email and SMS, a responsive survey design so it could run different surveys by department, and real-time text analytics.
“Text analytics is a huge part of what we do. Numbers can only tell you so much; we wanted to have voice of customer coming through to dealers in a more meaningful way,” Jenzen said. “We also wanted real-time alerts to recognise any problems but also to promote staff success.”
Connected customer experiences and scoring
Hyundai maintains a Siebel-based CRM platform with a wealth of customer data. Having connected this to the InMoment solution, Jenzen said his team is able to attribute activity back to CX measures, such as whether people are engaging with emails, what they do online, their personas, and how satisfied they are with the shopping experience.
One way text analytics has specifically helped the service experiences team is by sharing customer feedback where they’ve been delighted by a staff member in-store.
“There's a risk of using the stick with CX programs and punishing people for not doing the right thing, and we wanted to change that,” Jenzen commented. “Today, we’re getting at least four positive comments to a negative one. We also wanted prioritised actions - many service managers and not traditionally trained business people or marketers. So we try to give them tips and tricks on what to do next to make improvements.”
As part of the transformation, Hyundai opted against Net Promoter Score (NPS) in favour of a customer satisfaction (CSAT) metric. “We knew NPS wasn’t right - if we gave store staff just a single number, our concern was they wouldn’t know enough about the experience to be able to act on that,” Jenzen explained.
The CSAT score focuses on the eight selected moments of truth in the service experience, such as booking, drop-off and timing and cleaning.
“Booking is a big one. We only had phone booking five years ago, so we invested in a technology to build an online booking platform, with pricing and details of each service included in it, then we could link back to how satisfied those customers who booked online are versus those booking via the phone,” Jenzen said. “We’re up over 50 per cent in a single year in online bookings, so it’s gaining traction.”
Jenzen said there are other specific initiatives driving a change in customer satisfaction, especially with female customers.
Open comments are vital to gaining insight, Jenzen said. It’s also where incremental improvements can be found.
“Our stores are averaging 90 across the network, so we’re working on finding that 1 per cent improvement and that’s where the text comes in. It often gives you the context and meaning around the score,” he said.
“In the InMoment platform, there’s a tool that allows comments to be measured. If someone says something non-specific like ‘good’, we can ask them to provide more detail, and as they do, there’s a register to show how meaningful and useful the comment is. Since implementing those smarts, we get a lot more valuable text back.”
Having implemented the platform, Hyundai could clearly see the key to CX success was demonstrating value. So it introduced its transparent pricing program, Lifetime Service Plan, where all services on all cars can be quoted across all model vehicles. This means any customer can get a price anytime, available online.
“We have up to 10 years roadside assistance, and we include that annual renewal in the services now,” Jenzen continued. “We also have included satnav map updates when you get a service, and we’ve introduced the digital platform including online booking, plus centralised CRM for our stores.
“We’re also looking to introduce tablets to service departments instead of paper, so that all the insights staff write at the time of service are captured and able to be used again.”
To encourage buy-in, Hyundai dealers have to achieve a certain customer satisfaction level to receive rewards and recognition.
“We use a lot of customer data in training and we’re also starting to attribute revenue to CX as well,” Jenzen said. “We receive store transactional data and we can calculate the potential lost revenue based on the CX score for people that don’t intend to return. That revenue attribution always gets attention and helps action take place.”
Through CRM, Hyundai dealers can also access next-best action triggers.
And the work has paid off, with Hyundai ranking second in JD Power’s automotive customer service index in Australia in 2017.
A key lesson for Jenzen has been having platform flexibility to give dealers and staff access to insights they want when they want them.
“Dealers are now self-serving on our VoC platform, they can customise their own reports, and we send a lot of automated and real-time reports too, which help with prioritising actions,” he said. “They can react quickly and get involved in closing the feedback loop as well.
“There is a risk of flat-lining and getting stale, so every year we try and bring our managers together at a conference, where we talk about CX trends, digital, gender and so on,” Jensen added. “We have specialist presenters and we set short-term goals, and dealers share best practices. We also encourage staff to set an action plan to adjust and reassess. It’s also about encouraging stores to not be afraid and try new things. This methodology has been quite successful.”
With the automotive category set to face significant disruption in the next 5-10 years through autonomous, connected vehicles, the challenge Hyundai faces is how to deal with more users than car owners, Jenzen said.
“Car sharing is increasing, and we need to rethink the way we engage with users of vehicles, not just owners,” he said. “We also need to think about how we share these VoC [voice of customer] outcomes with customers. We want to try and externalise more of that for customers and make them part of the journey as well. For example, with feedback flowing into Google reviews or product reviews that are publically visible.”
It’s clear customer moments of truth have become more important for brands and it’s vital Hyundai addresses these to win advocacy, Jenzen concluded.
“We can now attribute back future sales to the service experience, and we have benchmarking data that shows where we were falling down and what the opportunities are,” he said.
“For example, five years ago, we used to book cars in and everyone would arrive at the same time, so you’d end up with queues and no one could park. All of that has changed and we’re now more focused on how customers feel about nuances in the experience. That was a big change, some of those practices had been in place for nearly 30 years.”
Read more on how brands are improving their customer experience approach:
- How Westpac NZ is working to service its CX ambitions
- Volkswagen Group unites customer experience and employee engagement insights
- How this property player is tapping employee and customer voice for success
- What Marks & Spencer did to boost customer satisfaction globally
- Optus CX chief: What it takes to build a customer-obsessed culture


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HSVer für Hamburg: Further businesses sign up to initiative
More restaurants, kiosks and small business owners have signed up to the crowdfunding initiative, whilst other businesses are encouraged to take part and receive support from the HSV community.
The Tankstelle pub, the ‘Grill-Pavillion’ takeaway and the 1887 Shop have already registered for and received support from the HSV community through the #HSVerfürHamburg initiative. Having signed up for free via the GoFundMe site, the nine different small businesses are now able to receive charitable donations on the crowdfunding site, helping them through these difficult times, with a lack of matchday income to deal with due to the postponement of league football until May at the earliest.
“Businesses like this are led by and run for HSV fans. It’s not possible to simply replace them once the crisis is over. If these businesses aren’t able to survive the crisis, then a part of HSV’s culture is gone forever,” said Cornelius Göbel, the head tof the HSV fan culture department. For this reason, HSV started the #HSVerfürHamburg initiative. On every matchday, that isn’t able to take place as planned due to the coronavirus pandemic, HSV fans are asked to visit the ‘GoFundMe’ platform, and to donate to the restaurants, pubs, and food and drink stands that they would usually visit on matchday. So far, around €4,000 has been collected for the businesses facing financial difficulties due to the pandemic. It is hoped that more donations will follow over the coming weeks


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Apple has filed a patent application for wireless charging based on magnetic resonance technology. Patently Apple reports the new invention will provide a method to use wireless Near Field Magnetic Resonance (NFMR) power transmission in a computing environment which will provide power to the configured devices.
According to the report, Apple claims the patent includes methods, systems and apparatus to interact between peripheral devices receiving the power via a wireless power supply. The system covers a virtual charging area that will use the NFMR to charge the devices wirelessly. The virtual charging area will have the ability to extend to about one metre from a central station.
This patent on a wireless charging system was filed in November 2010 but was only published two years later. The patent was filed by inventors Michael Culbert, Brett Bilbrey, David Simon and Peter Arnold.
In September, All Things D quoted Phil Schiller, Apple's senior VP in discussion of the idea about the wireless charging system.
"Wireless charging systems still have to be plugged into the wall, so it is not clear how much convenience they add," Schiller claimed then, adding "The widely-adopted USB cord, meanwhile, can charge in wall outlets, computers and even on airplanes. Having to create another device you have to plug into the wall is actually, for most situations, more complicated."
Meanwhile, Apple's iPhone 5 comes with an eight-pin connector to charge the device. Schiller claims that it was not possible to build devices as thin as the new iPhone and the iPod without changing the dock connector. Thereby, the company introduced the Lightning connector.
"This is the new connector for many years to come," Schiller concluded.