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aquantive, inc. is actually a parent company of three primary brands, which offers tools and services for advertisers and publishers. these brands include atlas, drivepm, and avenue a razorfish. aquantive, inc, was founded back in 1997.
the acquisition is expected to be completed in the first half of fiscal year 2008 for microsoft. aquantive, inc. will maintain its office in seattle, and once acquired will become a part of microsoft's online services business. the new acquisition will join microsoft's other online advertising platforms including msn, windows live, xbox live, and office live.
read more from the joint press release.
this was the big acquisition i was waiting for. most companies can only dream about the cash microsoft typically has on hand for acquisitions and settlements. considering that microsoft doesn't like being second fiddle to google when it comes to online advertising, it's not surprising that microsoft is willing to write a $6 billion check.
microsoft had two choices when it came to competing with google. the first choice was to get out of the online ad business entirely and focus on other core businesses the company does well. the second was to do exactly what this acquisition has done for the company. this acquisition greatly expands microsoft's footprint and relationships when it comes to online advertising.
is anyone over at google shaking in their boots? probably not, but you can bet that google has been watching microsoft for a move just like this one. now that microsoft has made its move, you can bet google will be looking to see what microsoft does with this acquisition while it continues to expand its presence with further acquisitions.
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Millennials prefer to consume “bite-size content” and are open to engaging with brands in a variety of online and offline marketing formats, according to a new infographic published by Montreal-based consumer research enterprise, LaunchLeap.
Marketers have gone to great lengths to target the seemingly elusive millennial audience in recent years, but the latest report claims that 18- to 35-year-olds are not as unpredictable as initially thought. LaunchLeap canvassed the opinions of 20- and 30-somethings to determine their ad, Internet and content consumption habits.
The first takeaway is that millennials enjoy a diverse range of platforms for their content, as 49 per cent log onto four platforms each day, while 29 per cent consult five. None of the respondents limit themselves to just one platform, and only six per cent peruse two platforms, such as Twitter and Facebook.
While Gen Y is well versed in using connected devices and consuming digital content, the vast majority of respondents still respond to traditional marketing. A surprising 57 per cent said that they answer all questions when they receive a telemarketing call, and overall, the respondents rate their response to TV ads at an average of 4.1 out of 5. This suggests that millennials are very interested in obtaining new information about products and services.
“[Millennials] get treated like some sort of hyperactive group of wild gorillas: powerful, unpredictable and difficult to pin down. The reality is quite different and simple,” LaunchLeap CEO Thomas Sychterz said. “Millennials are open to connecting with brands, drawn to bite-size content (paid or not) and intrigued by new information, product-wise. However, the main caveat is that it all needs to get done in an ergonomic, digestible and fluid manner.”
Millennials also prefer drawing on the vast array of reviews across the Internet to inform their product purchases rather than asking advice from family and friends. More than three-quarters type queries and search for review-related content online when making a decision about buying something, while just 31 per cent talk with relatives and friends. Meanwhile, there is a mixed reaction to ads on YouTube, as 59 per cent only watch until they can skip a video, while 29 per cent consume all the ad content until it is finished.

domain: news


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Thursday, February 28, 2013
Consumers need to be extra vigilant about checking for any errors on their credit reports, according to the Federal Trade Commission. One in four Americans report they’ve found an error on their credit report, according to a study conducted by the FTC, which analyzed 1,001 consumers’ credit reports from the three major agencies, Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. Researchers helped the consumers spot potential errors on their reports. Five percent of the consumers found such large errors on their report that they could have gotten stuck paying more for mortgages or other financial products, if they hadn’t taken steps to correct it before applying, according to the study.


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Last Updated on Saturday, 9 December 2017, 18:59 by Denis Chabrol
Finance Minister, Winston Jordan railed against the sale of bottled Jamaican water at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport and at the same time defended the hiring of Chinese companies to point out that Guyanese are not doing enough to take advantage of business opportunities but still complain.
“I don’t want to hear anything more about our national airport selling water from Jamaica. I don’t care how we are Caricom (Caricom) brothers, we must be our brothers and keepers first, first, first,” he said in wrapping up debate on the 2018 National Budget. “I am ashamed that you could walk in a store at your international airport and you cannot even find one bottle of local water in The Land of Many Waters.”
He expressed grave concern that no local water from Banks DIH or Demerara Distillers Limited was being sold at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport. “What is wrong with us and we are talking about local content. There is no water tasting better than Banks DIH and DDL water and I refuse to drink foreign water not unless I am out of the country,” he said. Similarly, he said he recalled attending a private sector event in Berbice where water from Suriname was made available to invitees.
In apparent reference to private sector players that usually invite him to deliver speeches, he said nothing locally made is available at those events.
Calling for Guyana to return to the 1970s when Guyana produced local foods, the Finance Minister said government has increased its allocation to stimulate and develop small businesses aimed at increasing employment.
The Finance Minister said he fully supports local content to facilitate the involvement of Guyanese businesses in the provision of goods and services. However, he said even the best local content legislation was no guarantee if the local companies could not provide products with the required specifications or skilled and qualified persons.
Jordan chided “a certain class of people” to form partnerships with those who have the cash, technology and human capacity to compete with others who have years of experience. “We have to creep before we walk so form partnerships with these people who know so you could get a toe into the business, learn the business, accept the technology transfer, gain some financing before you can get out on your own,” he said.
Touching on the continued involvement of Chinese companies in major infrastructure projects in Guyana, the Finance Minister gave an explanation that was almost identical to then Head of the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL), Winston Brassington when the then government had been fiercely criticised for contracting a Chinese company to build the Marriott Hotel with few Guyanese nationals being employed.
“If the Chinese companies are coming and winning the bids, what can you do. Is not to throw up your hands. These firms are bringing a level of technology that we don’t have. They are bringing a level of efficiency that we don’t have. Let’s call a spade, a spade. A typical example is the Marriott. At what stage the Marriott would have been today if it was being built by a local company. This is not chastising the local company. This is a reality situation.”
The Finance Minister issued a passionate call for Guyanese to “come off of our laurels” in the public and private sectors and work hard for what they want because there are no handouts. “Nobody is going to hand us anything anymore. We have to go out there and work for what we want,” he said.
The 2018 National Budget ended Friday night, paving the way for the consideration of the estimates of expenditure next week.


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Legacy project of Expo 2020 Dubai announces deal with Shanghai-based Atlas Capital Holding to create blockchain campus
District 2020, the legacy project of Expo 2020 Dubai, has announced its collaboration with Shanghai-based Atlas Capital Holding to create a blockchain campus.
The Atlas Capital partnership was confirmed by Marjan Faraidooni, chief pavilions and exhibitions officer at Expo 2020 Dubai at Cityscape Global.
The company is the latest global company to announce it will be laying foundations at District 2020, alongside Siemens and Accenture.
The investment and incubation company will build a blockchain campus of more than 15,000 sqm at District 2020, further supporting its aims of becoming a leading ecosystem for blockchain and other future technologies.
The campus will help to attract a range of businesses looking to adopt the latest advanced blockchain technologies, providing them with a collaborative space, and access to global-standard expertise.
Faraidooni said: “We are delighted to collaborate with Atlas Capital and welcome them to our diverse and growing ecosystem of global tenants at District 2020. The announcement is another testament to our vision of creating a holistic, innovation-focused environment for companies of different sizes and across different industries and technologies to collaborate and maximise synergies, towards mutual gain.”
Rain Huan, co-founder and managing partner, Atlas Capital added: “Committing to District 2020 is an exciting new chapter for Atlas Capital. Our vision is to support Dubai in its goal of developing into a long-term hub for innovation by creating a Blockchain Campus of the future – an industry hub dedicated to connecting blockchain researchers and entrepreneurs with investors.
“District 2020 will provide the ideal location to build a community-driven blockchain and fintech ecosystem capable of attracting accelerators from all over the world. The campus will offer a research & development (R&D) space, as well as educational and funding facilities.
"There is even an opportunity for us to create a digital currency and official blockchain wallet as we innovate into the future.” he added.
District 2020 aims to be an integrated community that is future-proof, and caters to the needs of its workers, residents, and visitors. It will have a balanced mix of offerings including commercial, residential, educational, social and cultural facilities, as well as those centred on hospitality, leisure and entertainment.
The District 2020 master plan has recently been approved by Dubai Municipality and the project will officially open its doors in October 2021, with a transition period of between 6-9 months that will see 80 percent of the Expo’s infrastructure repurposed.
Eventually, District 2020 will be home to 145,000 residents and employees.


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Volvo Cars has made a strategic investment in the Israeli company, StoreDot, a pioneer of extreme fast charging technologies for electric vehicles.
The investment, which is funded through the Volvo Tech Fund, gives it the opportunity to collaborate closely with StoreDot on new battery technology, as it aims to become a pure electric car company by 2030.
StoreDot is on track to mass produce ”100in5” silicon-dominant batteries, which promise to deliver 100 miles of range in just five minutes of charging, by 2024. The two-minute version is on the roadmap for 2032.
Dr Doron Myersdorf, CEO of StoreDot stated that the new technology will help overcome a significant barrier to owning electric vehicles.
“We are extremely excited and proud to be entering into a collaboration with a premium automotive brand. Volvo Cars’ commitment to zero emissions electric vehicles is hugely impressive and one that fits perfectly with StoreDot’s mission. We are working to ensure that EV drivers will never be concerned with anxiety over charging times, currently the major barrier to EV ownership and a cleaner world,” he said.
The new funding, which comes from Volvo Cars’ venture capital arm, is part of StoreDot’s Series D investment round. Volvo joins global investors including BP Ventures, Samsung, Ola Electric, Daimler, VinFast, TDK, and EVE Energy.
Meir Halberstam, StoreDot CFO called the investment “another huge vote of confidence in StoreDot and our mission”.
“It represents a significant and high-profile element of our current Series D funding round. This gives us the financial firepower to bring our revolutionary batteries to market quicker and boost ongoing R&D into solid-state technologies,” he said.
Additionally, Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs), which make component parts for use by other companies, will receive a plan that could see them using faster cells in the near future.
“StoreDot is also offering global OEMs a clear technology roadmap that will begin with ‘100in5’ silicon-dominant batteries by 2024 but extends into the next decade when we are already on the track to achieve 100 miles in two minutes of charge,” Dr Myersdorf said.
Alexander Petrofski, Head of Volvo Cars Tech Fund said: “The Tech Fund plays a crucial role in establishing partnerships with future technology leaders.”
He added: “Our investment in StoreDot is a perfect fit for that mindset and its commitment to electrification and carbon-free mobility matches our own. We are excited to make this collaboration successful for both parties, working towards bringing this ground-breaking technology to the market.”
StoreDot has already shipped advanced ‘100in5’ cells to global automotive manufacturers to undertake real-world testing.
Volvo Cars aims to become a fully electric car maker by 2030, and a climate-neutral company by 2040, in accordance with its commitment to an ongoing reduction of its carbon footprint. It wants to provide customers with the freedom to move in a personal, sustainable and safe way.


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In cities like New York City and Los Angeles, the words “fashion week” call to mind rail-thin models in clothes you wouldn’t dare to wear (and that you can’t afford), hordes of photographers with flashing lights and celebrity-studded shows. If you’re not an A-Lister, you might as well stay home with a copy of Vogue or W magazine.
In Syracuse, Fashion Week is a more down-to-earth, accessible, twice-a-year event designed to offer something for everyone. The spring edition kicks off Tuesday, April 25, with a “Sip and Shop” event downtown and offers a variety of shows nightly through Saturday, April 29. Several events take place in some nontraditional locales, including a CrossFit gym and a brewery in the Madison County countryside.
Syracuse Fashion Week, now in its fourth year, is an extension of Syracuse Style, an event that put local fashion front and center on a runway under a huge tent on Walton Street in Armory Square. Fashion Week, which supports the Food Bank of Central New York, is Syracuse Style on steroids: a five-night celebration of the visual and tactile art of fashion.
Lisa Marie Butler, 57, a theater production manager turned costume and clothing designer, is the driving force behind Syracuse Fashion Week. She and her team have created an event that is “always inclusive, never exclusive.” That means everyone is invited to the party, from those who create fashion, to those who model it, to those who sell it, to those who fill their closets with it.
The focus is women’s fashion, but men also get their due. Models of all ages, shapes, sizes and ethnicities walk the runway. Clothes from retailers like L.L. Bean and lululemon share the spotlight with more upscale and custom fashions from local designers and shops.
Is it unusual for a mid-size city like Syracuse, with a popular mega-mall that dominates the retail landscape, to have a fashion week? Not really. Cities that aren’t necessarily fashion capitals, including Baltimore, Chicago, St. Louis and Cleveland, have annual fashion-focused weeks. Rochester, our neighbor to the west, has hosted a Fashion Week for seven years.
Central New York embraces its Fashion Week. The event grows each year in terms of participating merchants and attendance and is a source of community pride.
“I think, initially, people were surprised to learn there is a Fashion Week here,” says Kathie Morris, owner of The Changing Room, a shop with two locations (downtown Syracuse and downtown Baldwinsville) and a focus on vintage-inspired clothes and accessories. “Right now, no. People know about it. Fashion is big. It’s big everywhere and Syracuse is on it.”
“I hear over and over again from people that Fashion Week is exactly the kind of thing Syracuse needs,” Butler says. “It’s creative culture, put on the forefront.”
The spring edition doesn’t feature an outdoor show in Armory Square — April weather is too unpredictable, Butler says — but it does feature several new event venues. Runway Reps on Wednesday, April 26, a show mingling fashion and fitness, will take place at Urban Life CrossFit, 1003 W. Fayette St.
On Thursday, April 27, Farm Fresh Fashions will strike poses at the Empire Farm Brewery in Cazenovia, where Butler’s husband, Tim, serves as brewmaster. Butler says the Madison County show will have a green, organic vibe and feature some “upcycled” fashions as well as styles from designers and shops outside of the downtown area, including some new designs by Butler herself.
If you haven’t yet made plans to attend Syracuse Fashion Week, you had better do so quickly: It’s a hot ticket. VIP tables have already sold out for the annual Fashion Week Gala at the Landmark Theater, the most formal and glamorous of the week’s events, with just a few general-admission seats still available for the Friday, April 28, event.
Meanwhile, a second show has been added to the Underground Show, the popular Fashion Week finale on Saturday, April 29, at Marisa’s Fortress of Beauty, on Walton Street. Each year, Syracuse Fashion Week creative consultant Marisa Fusco transforms the space beneath her hair salon into a seductive setting to show off lingerie and fantasy fashions, with extravagant hairstyles and makeup to match. Shows will be offered at 6 and 10 p.m., and both are expected to sell out.
“It’s more like performance art than a fashion show,” Butler says of the Underground Show. “There’s just nothing like it.”
FASHION WEEK EVENTS
Tuesday, April 25: Syracuse Sip, Shop and Stroll
Grab a parking spot and stroll, shop and sip your way through downtown, with merchants, restaurants and pubs offering sales and specials from 3 to 7 p.m. The evening ends with a 7 p.m. performance by Just Joe at Empire Brewing Company, 120 Walton St. Participating merchants include Jet Black, Showoffs Boutique, Projex214, the Changing Room and Indie Kids.
Wednesday, April 26: Runway Reps
Fashion meets fitness at this event featuring athletic, “athleisure,” yoga and casual wear at Urban Life CrossFit, 1003 W. Fayette St., fourth floor. On the menu: healthy snacks, smoothies and adult beverages. Retailers include Mr. Shop, lululemon, Syracuse Sport Shop, L.L. Bean, Fashion Fix. Doors open at 6 p.m. for social hour and visiting vendors; a runway show, set up among the weights, barbells and other fitness equipment, begins at 7 p.m. Tickets are $35.
Thursday, April 27: Farm Fresh Fashions
This family-friendly event takes place inside and on the grounds of Cazenovia’s Empire Farm Brewery, 33 Rippleton Road. Organizers say it’s the first fashion show in New York state at a brewery. Guests will enjoy a tasting menu of locally sourced foods along with beers made on site; Madison County farmers will have some baby animals out front for the kids to visit. Models showcasing “fabulous fashions found outside the downtown Syracuse area” will hit the catwalk. Doors open at 6 p.m.; runway show starts at 7 p.m. Tickets are $45.
Friday, April 28: Fashion Week Gala
The fanciest event of Syracuse Fashion Week in a venue to match: the Landmark Theatre, 362 S. Salina St. The evening begins with cocktails and hors d’oeuvres from Modern Malt and features a runway show with day wear and evening wear for men, women and children from mostly downtown and Syracuse retailers, plus bridal wear and custom couture. Doors open at 6:30 p.m.; runway show starts at 8 p.m. Tickets are $45.
Saturday, April 29: The Underground Show
Lingerie, fantasy fashions and sexy silhouettes — with extravagant hair and makeup to match — are the stars of this annual show at Marisa’s Fortress of Beauty, 220 Walton St. This year’s theme is “sugar skulls.’’ Two shows at 6 and 10 p.m., with doors opening at 5 and 9 p.m., respectively. Tickets are $30.
Ticket information for all events: cnytix.com
Spring Awakenings For Ladies
After months of bundling up in fleece, flannel and heavy coats, it’s time to shed some layers and lighten up our wardrobes. What’s in style?
- Bell sleeves
- Ripped jeans
- Off-the-shoulder tops and dresses
- Sassy polka dots and stripes
- Fresh florals
- The colors pink and powder blue
Source: Kathie Morris, The Changing Room[fbcomments url="" width="100%" count="on"]


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The United States and Thailand this week started negotiations on a free-trade agreement, opening sensitive talks on autos and other products with powerful political bases in Congress and the business world.
The pact would be the second U.S. free-trade agreement in Asia — Singapore finished a deal last year — and has broad support with major agricultural producers and many large manufacturers and service companies.
But a potential deal already is prompting strong congressional concern because of sensitive products on the table.
U.S. Trade Representative Robert B. Zoellick noted some of the challenges facing negotiators in a letter earlier this year notifying Congress that talks would start this month, including restrictions on services and autos as well as labor and human rights issues.
“We are sensitive to congressional concerns on automotive issues and will consult closely with Congress and U.S. auto manufacturers and workers in developing our positions on this issue,” Mr. Zoellick said.
Since then, more than 200 U.S. representatives and 36 senators have sponsored legislation that urges the Bush administration not to reduce the tariff on imported pickup trucks. The lawmakers are concerned that Japan, South Korea, India and other major producing countries would use Thailand as a base to flood the U.S. automobile market with small pickups, costing jobs at U.S. auto companies and suppliers.
U.S. imports of pickups have faced tariffs of 25 percent since 1963, when President Johnson used the trade barrier to retaliate against European restrictions on U.S. chicken exports.
The House and Senate resolutions are likely to die before reaching the floor, but the Bush administration has carefully considered congressional concerns and votes in past trade pacts. Mr. Zoellick, for example, took sugar, a sensitive product with a strong congressional lobby, off the table in negotiations with Australia.
Negotiations began this week and there is no set deadline to finish, according to the U.S. trade representative’s office. The low-key approach before elections has limited attention on the agreement.
The Big Three automakers do not have a common position on the pickup issue, and do not expect either government to form a position until after November’s election.
“There’s not going to be any progress on that until after the election,” said Dennis Fitzgibbons, director of public policy for DaimlerChrysler, the German-U.S. auto company.
“In general we are in favor of lower tariffs and trade barriers, but also in general you don’t negotiate something for nothing. You seek something in return,” Mr. Fitzgibbons said.
The lower tariffs have strong support from importers.
“If the American manufacturers had to compete with Korea or Thailand, they would get more competitive with their trucks. You are talking about a consumer benefit,” said Ralph Ghioto, president and general manager of Century Kia and Century Isuzu in Tampa, Fla.
“We would probably triple our Isuzu business, and we would probably increase Kia business by at least 25 percent,” he said.


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Two of the world's most influential economic leaders have warned that there are troubling developments arising from increased trade barriers and tariffs.
Mario Draghi, the president of the European Central Bank (ECB) and Christine Lagarde, the managing director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) warned that the global trade dispute between the U.S. and China as well as a threatened dispute with Europe and other industrial nations could cause headwinds for all and could get worse.
Speaking at the 8th ECB conference focused on central, eastern and south-eastern European (CESEE) countries on Wednesday, the IMF's Lagarde said "we meet at a moment when support for global cooperation and multilateral solutions is waning."
"Global growth has been subdued for more than six years and the largest economies in the world are putting up, or threatening to put up, new trade barriers. And this might be the beginning of something else, which might affect us all in a more broad way," she said.
"These troubling developments will create headwinds for all, but certainly for the CESEE growth model, a model that has relied on openness and integration," she warned.
Lagarde and Draghi, who gave a welcome address at the conference, said the threat of U.S. import tariffs (on Europe) meant that some European countries that are centers of European car production — Czech Republic, Slovakia, Poland and Romania — could be particularly vulnerable.
"Global trade has faced headwinds in recent years as trade-restrictive measures have outpaced liberalising measures," Draghi told the audience in Frankfurt.
"The central and eastern European business model has become vulnerable to shocks to international trade and financial conditions," Draghi said, noting that in some CEESE countries vehicle exports represent nearly 30% of total manufactured exports, making them more vulnerable to U.S. President Trump's threat to increase tariffs on European cars and car parts. Last August, Trump threatened to put a 25% tax on all EU car imports but has yet to implement the move.
"The effect of tariffs could be amplified, as a large share of goods cross borders multiple times during the production process," he said.
"The main long-term challenge is moving towards a more balanced growth and financing model, which is more reliant on domestic innovation and on higher investment spending than it has been so far," Draghi added.


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In a bid to help you beat the hackers, Network News and Global Technology Association will stage a technical briefing. In a bid to bring readers up to date topics such as web security risks, intrusion...
There are only four days left to make your voice heard
AWS CEO Andy Jassy and Super Micro CEO Charles Liang urge Bloomberg to retract China spy-chip report
Intel claims that 10nm parts will be out in volume by mid-2019
Factory to be built closer to supply chain while company hires 300 more at R&D centre in UK


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Inside the luxury car collections of Formula 1’s top drivers – Lewis Hamilton favours Mercedes-Benz, while Max Verstappen owns a rare Ferrari and classic Porsche 911
The Formula 1 2021 season has already been one for the history books. Mercedes faces its greatest challenge in years as Lewis Hamilton trails behind Max Verstappen in the championship standings. Further down the table, the Ferrari and McLaren drivers battle it out for third. And even further still, Frenchman Pierre Gasly keeps up a run of sensational form, staving off two-time world champion Fernando Alonso.
Undoubtedly, Formula 1 showcases the very pinnacle of motorsport. But when the races finish and the weekend’s over, how exactly do the world’s greatest drivers get back home?
The seven-time world champion can be spotted in a Mercedes even when he’s off the circuit. Lewis Hamilton owns a Mercedes-Benz G63 AMG, or G-Wagon, and a GLC SUV. It’s believed that he will soon add the Mercedes AMG One to the collection too, as he was personally involved in its development – the first ever sports car to make use of F1 technology.
Other models in Hamilton’s garage include a specially commissioned Pagani Zonda 760 LH, a McLaren P1 and a vintage Shelby 427 Cobra. Hamilton’s collection is reportedly valued at almost US$17 million, according to media reports.
When he’s not in the cockpit of the Red Bull single-seater, Max Verstappen can be found channelling his inner James Bond. The Dutchman owns three Aston Martin models, including the James Bond-inspired DB11 – a follow up to DB10 driven by the British secret agent in Spectre. In 2022, he’ll add a fourth to the collection – the Valkyrie, a 6.5-litre V12 hypercar priced at about US$2.7 million, according to media reports.
Verstappen also owns a classic Porsche 911, which he bought for US$400,000 to celebrate his first ever F1 win. His love of sports cars manifests in the form of a Renault R. S. 01 and a Ferrari Monza SP2 as well. The latter is one of the rarest Ferrari models ever made and cost Verstappen US$1.8 million to buy, according to sportsunfold.com.
All that said, the most expensive vehicle in Verstappen’s collection has to be his private jet, the Dassault Falcon 900EX. Priced at around US$15 million, it might be worth more than all his cars combined!
One of the liveliest personalities on the F1 grid also happens to have one of the most impressive car collections. Now that he’s driving for McLaren, Daniel Ricciardo has recently added a McLaren 675LT to his roster of Porsches, Renaults and Aston Martins, according to racingnews365.com.
Going twinsies with Verstappen, Ricciardo has also put down his deposit for an Aston Martin Valkyrie. Once that arrives, he’ll be able to park it next to his Aston Martin Vantage and test its speed alongside his Porsche 918 Spyder.
Although he often turns up to the circuit on a bicycle, Sebastian Vettel has been an avid car collector throughout his time racing in Formula 1.
When he joined Scuderia Ferrari in 2015, Vettel amassed an extraordinary collection of rare and vintage Ferrari models including the LaFerrari and Enzo, according to motoauthority.com.
At the start of the 2021 season, Vettel left Ferrari to join Aston Martin. He auctioned off most of his collection during this time to make room for some new wheels. He’s also been seen driving around in the DBX Suv.
This year, the brand confirmed that he would be working on the Aston Martin Valkyrie AMR Pro alongside Lance Stroll, so perhaps he will be adding that to his collection too.
In a 2016 press conference for the Hungarian Grand Prix, Spanish driver Carlos Sainz joked that he still drove a Volkswagen Golf. It turned out the F1 driver wasn’t kidding as he later posted a video of himself driving the car at the headquarters of McLaren, according to sportsvideos.tv. Since then, he has taken the opportunity to upgrade his car collection.
When Sainz moved from Renault to McLaren in 2019, he picked up the McLaren 720S. The sleek grey supercar features a twin-turbocharged V8 and is priced at just over US$280,000, according to Dupont Registry.
Now that he’s at Ferrari, Sainz is still putting his employee perks to good use. He was recently pictured customising his car in bright orange. It remains to be seen what his personalised Ferrari will end up looking like.
- Max Verstappen owns the James Bond-inspired DB11, the rare Ferrari Monza SP2, and even a US$15 million private jet – the Dassault Falcon 900EX
- Daniel Ricciardo is vying for the Aston Martin Valkyrie – a limited-edition hybrid sports car due for a 2022 release that Sebastian Vettel is helping develop


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Earlier this month at the US District Court in New Jersey, Judge Jose Linares accepted a Nestlé-filed motion to dismiss a class action lawsuit that slammed health claims made by Gerber about its probiotic-infused products.
In its motion to dismiss the lawsuit, Gerber claimed that the Plaintiffs had “cobbled together a string of conclusory assertions, vague references and errant mischaracterization - bereft of the facts and details necessary to withstand a motion to dismiss.”
A spokesperson for Nestlé Nutrition told DairyReporter.com that Gerber continues to stand by its claims.
“We are very pleased with the result, and Judge Linares’ decision, and believe it is the right decision at this stage,” said the spokesperson.
“Gerber believes all of the advertising and labels of these products are truthful, accurate, and lawful, and Gerber stands by its claims. Ensuring the safety of our products is Gerber’s most important priority,” the spokesperson added.
Immune system misrepresentation
The lawsuit, initially filed in February 2012, alleged “immune system-related misrepresentations” by Gerber on packaging and labelling, and in advertising for three products - Good Start Protect Infant Formula, Good Start 2 Protect Follow-On Formula, and DHA & Probiotic Cereal.
According to the Plaintiff’s second amended complaint, the products “contain Defendant’s immune system misrepresentations based on the infusion of the same probiotic bacteria – Bifidus BL.”
Gerber’s website states that Bifidus BL is “probiotic which helps your baby fight against harmful bacteria in his digestive system.” It adds that Bifidus BL is a mix of probiotics “similar to those found in breastmilk.”
“Defendant claims that the Product’s significant immune system health benefits result because of the infusion of a ‘probiotic’ bacteria, specifically its trademarked probiotic Bifidus BL, in the products. However, numerous studies show the Products do not and cannot provide the immune-related health benefits Defendant claims,” the Plaintiff complaint said.
“Thus, Defendant’s representations are false, misleading and reasonably likely to deceive the public,” it added.
False advertising claim
In its motion to dismiss the case, Gerber claimed that despite amending their complaint twice in just over 12 months, the Plaintiffs failed to construct a viable lawsuit.
“Plaintiffs have had more than a year since this litigation began to allege a viable false advertising claim, yet they still fail miserably,” said the filed motion to dismiss.
“Instead, Plaintiffs have cobbled together a string of conclusory assertions, vague references, and errant mischaracterizations – bereft of the facts and details necessary to withstand a motion to dismiss.”
Following an assessment of Gerber’s motion to dismiss, Judge Linares said: “After considering the submissions of the parties in support of and in opposition to the instant motions, Defendant’s motion to dismiss is granted."


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[Liveblog] Laurent Haug on the ongoing reinvention of shopping
The line between offline and online shopping is blurring completely. And technology - and the return of humans - will change the retail experience even more.
Laurent Haug, Anthemis & MKS
Warning: Liveblogging. Prone to error, inaccuracy and howling crimes against grammar. This post will be improved over the first 48 hours after publication.
The distinction between online and offline shopping will not make sense in a few years. Burberry’s shops were designed to reflect the website. Tesco has experimented with interactive walls for you shopping. More retailers are installing beacons, which push offers to your phone when you enter the store. The physical is pushing you towards the online.
Amazon has released the Dash button which allows you to re-order basic supplies with a single button push.
Websites have rich analytics dashboards – and now shops are getting the same, using tech on top of shelves that monitors people’s movements through the stores. Another company is doing the same with foot mats. Google is starting to show busy times for stores in the US, base don Google Maps data.
Content and marketing are blurring together
The line between content and marketing is blurring ever more. Shopping is getting embedded into social media content, with integrated buy buttons. Harpers Bazaar in the UK has launched an online shop selling what you can see in the paper magazine. Another company is working on recognising clothes in photos, and offering you buy links.
Dollar Shave Club has a fun, entertaining website. They’re part of a breed of company creating new shopping experiences online – Harry’s, Caspar, Warby Parker. And The last of those is coming back to shops. And they are vertically integrated companies, from manufacture to sales. It brings the costs right down.
Facebook Messenger is getting a virtual assistant called M, that acts almost like a digital concierge. This is a new place bands have to compete: search, social media and now these interactive assistants. Will the results be independent? Or paid?
lookup.to – Lookup is an Indian app that allows you to chat with a local shop owner. If they don’t reply within 5 minutes, they get a call. Agent Q is another interactive assistant.
The drones are coming
Automation is coming. We have automated journalism already – and automated weapons are coming. Price automation is already at work on Amazon, whose prices change all the time. Paribus monitors traffic in real time, and allows you to swiftly get money back from retailers who offer a price matching guarantee.
Project Wing is testing drone delivery in rural Australia.
Transparency is being forced down the throat of retailer sin interesting ways. ShopGenius is a browser extensions that gives you price comparisons in real time as you shop online. aVOID automatically removes products that are produced using child labour.
A woman in South Korea was sleeping on the floor – and her robot vacuum cleaner started sucking up her hair… Automation is great, but sometimes we need to rehumanise. Costco has started replacing automated checkouts with humans again.
Toyota is starting to replace robots with workers in the production chains, because robots can’t innovate, and humans can. Enjoy.com will send someone to your home to help you learn about your new tablet. Amazon has Mayday on its Fire tablets which allow you to contact with a human who can help you with it.
BooikIndy adds a button to Amazon that tells you a local bookshop has the book – and its price.
If you’re interesting in retail, look at Chine, look at Korea – they’re 10 years ahead of us.
Retail is one of the sectors that is only just starting its revolution.


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Author Archives: EntoGenex
PUTRAJAYA: Malaysian businesses can start bidding from today for locally developed innovations that have the potential to yield up to RM1bil in revenue. Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak unveiled the 42 commercially ready products that have been developed under the Innovation … Continue reading
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An International Seminar for Dengue Vector Management was conducted on 15th March 2012 in Lahore organized by Himont Laboratories Pvt. Ltd., the distributor for MOUSTICIDE in Pakistan, and participated by EntoGenex Industries. The event was attended by Dr Saeed Elahi … Continue reading


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While the opening of Myanmar’s second green-certified apparel factory may be cause for celebration, it’s only “a step in the right direction,” according to a leading data-analytics firm.
GlobalData said in a note this week that the Southeast Asian country’s garment industry must continue to invest in environmental sustainability if it doesn’t want to cede business to competitor countries.
As yet, only one garment manufacturer in the nation has been certified Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Platinum by the U.S. Green Building Council. Two other facilities, both operated by garment manufacturer Guston Amava, comprise 34 percent recycled building materials, such as reclaimed steel, in their construction, along with rooftop solar panels, an evaporative cooling system and water-reduction features.
“It’s refreshing to see manufacturers like Guston Amava taking the bull by the horns and leading the industry in this respect,” Hannah Abdulla, apparel correspondent at GlobalData, said in a statement. “However, Myanmar still has some way to go compared with countries such as Bangladesh—and factories are missing out on the cost-saving benefits of making their operations greener and securing higher investments as buyers pay closer attention to sustainable production.”
Nearly 70 factories in Bangladesh have adopted LEED certification, which rates buildings based on eco-friendly performance measures such as carbon emissions and energy and water efficiency. Eight of those facilities have earned Platinum status, the highest achievable level above certified Silver and Gold.
Still, Myanmar, Abdulla noted, is one of the world’s fastest-growing garment, footwear and travel-goods suppliers, with clothing exports cresting $3.86 billion in 2018. But this growth also results in increased environmental impact, which requires “best-practice solutions for improved production efficiency, energy, water and waste management,” she said.
There are signs Myanmar wants to be greener. In 2019, the European Union-co-funded SMART Myanmar initiative signed a memorandum of understanding with Yangon-based Ayeyarwady Bank to identify and pilot “bankable green projects” while boosting financing for sustainable and energy-saving efforts by small- and medium-sized enterprises.
“At a time when retailers and consumers are paying close attention to the conditions under which their garments are produced, ethical and sustainable production is a big deal,” Abdulla said. “Making their operations more environmentally friendly will help factory owners compete with other sourcing markets and give them a better chance of retaining existing orders and securing new business.”
Still, Myanmar faces sector-wide headwinds, least of all the pall cast by its violent persecution of hundreds of thousands of Rohingya Muslims in recent years. Decrying the crisis as a “te xtbook example of ethnic cleansing,” the UN has called for businesses to divest from factories linked to Myanmar’s military or be made potentially complicit in crimes against humanity.
This month, workers in Myanmar took to the streets of Yangon ahead of a wage review in May to demand an increase in the daily minimum wage from 4,800 kyat ($3.28) to 9,800 kyat ($6.69)
“The current rate set by the government is not enough for a family of four,” Ko Thwin Aung, chair of Myan Mhu garment workers union, told the Myanmar Times. “Commodity prices, as well as hostel charges, are rapidly rising up. So, we will ask for reasonable wage. For a family of four, if three do not work and depend on only one, it is impossible to cope with the current rate.”


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Majority of IT decision makers say they will adopt mobile business apps in the next 12 months, but remain worried about security and compliance
Three quarters of IT decision makers in enterprises have stated they plan to adopt mobile business apps in the next 12 months, but security, potential loss of data and compliance remain key concerns about business application implementation.
Of those questioned in new research into enterprise use of business apps on mobile devices by Integralis, a global provider of IT security and information risk management solutions, over half (58%) expect to adopt personal information management apps.
The trend towards mobile devices within the workplace moves on a pace with interest in apps such as such as email, calendars and contacts. Communication apps, such as Webex Skype and iCloud are likely to be adopted by 44% of those surveyed, with 39% of respondents planning to offer access to internal apps for functions such as updating leave calendars. Collaboration tools, such as Dropbox and Sharepoint will be deployed by just over a third (35%), Integralis said.
Beyond syncing calendars, communicating and collaborating, core mobile business applications offer the potential to transform the way businesses operate. In the coming 12 months, 30% of respondents expect to purchase core mobile business applications. This is a trend that is likely to increase significantly as organisations realise the benefits and are reassured of the security of BYOD and mobile applications.
The 25 to 44 years age group is much keener than those 45 years and older to embrace the opportunities presented by mobile business applications but will need to be equipped with the knowledge and skills to make informed decisions. Commenting on this, Neal Lillywhite, managing director, UK at Integralis, said: 'It is important that we are educating and training the next generation of CIOs and CISOs, so that they have the skills and understanding to fully exploit the advances in mobile technology and to adopt new working practices securely.'
Yet despite the potential gains in productivity, flexibility and efficiency offered by mobile business applications, over a quarter of organisations (28%) still do not allow them to be downloaded to mobile devices. Commented Alastair Broom, product marketing director at Integralis: 'This could be that the case has yet to be proven or that the organisation is still to implement a secure mobile device management strategy. A surprising 13% of respondents have no policies in place or enforced around mobile business applications being downloaded and used by employees, leaving them vulnerable to breaches, data loss, cybercrime and regulatory admonishment.'
Over half (54%) cited managing security while 44% highlighted data protection and compliance as their key concerns around the increasing use of mobile business applications. Coupled with these specific concerns, IT decision makers are also worried about how to finance these changes (34%) and also the potential strain on current IT resources (29%). Broom continued: 'Our research findings demonstrate the continuing trend towards BYOD adoption and the demand for the development of mobile business applications.It also highlights that security and compliance continue to be at the forefront of concerns about employee-owned/shared devices. For companies to be able to exploit the potential benefits of collaborative and remote working, these concerns have to be addressed.'
Bob Tarzey, service director at analyst firm, Quocirca, added: 'Consumerisation of IT cannot be ignored; it is a fact of life that all businesses must face up to. Enable it and, ultimately, your business will benefit with a more motivated and flexible workforce using devices they have chosen for themselves because of the productivity they enable. Providing employees with a simple secure way to access the company network is a key factor which will enable employers to embrace mobile working and BYOD.'


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Farmers are Increasing My Food Prices
Mar 19, 2011
I knew when the price of gas began to rise the media outlets would begin finger pointing at agriculture for the increase costs of groceries in the supermarket.
After a great week of Celebrating National Ag Day and crazy schedule, I finally got to enjoy a quiet day on the farm listening to the Today Show over morning coffee. My ears perked when Janice Lieberman began to discuss the rise of food costs. As she carefully pointed out that the USDA predicts the price of food will increase 3 to 4 percent this year, I muttered under breath and who is to blame? You Betcha “The American Farmer”
So with full attention I listen to Lieberman’s piece about increase food costs and tips to consumers. After all I am not just a farmer but a mom and consumer. At the end as the reporters discussed the rise of food costs injecting personal perspectives, chills rose up my spine when I heard Janice Liberman utter these words “Corn is the Culprit”.
So apparently, we need a refresher course on the Actual Costs of Food from Field to Table:
Did you know that farmers and ranchers receive only 20 cents of every food dollar that consumers spend on food at home and away from home?
According to USDA, off farm costs include marketing, processing, wholesaling, distribution and retailing account for 80 cents of every food dollar spent in the United States.
Futhermore, the United States Department of Agriculture points out these facts about Foods Costs:
- Higher corn prices increase animal feed and ingredient costs for farmers and food manufacturers, but pass through to retail prices at a rate less than 10 percent of the corn price change.
- Corn as an ingredient in food items make up less than a third of retail food spending, overall retail food prices would rise less than 1 percentage point per year above the normal rate of food price inflation when corn prices increase by 50 percent.
So what is behind the rise in food costs?
The price of Crude oil, the price of the doing business for the packaging-manufacturing-distributor-retail
I think the best answer to Consumers’ Question on Food Costs was given on the Ohio Farm Bureau Website:
If food prices rise, do farmers get more money?
The short answer is no. Commodity prices rise and fall every day, but farmers have nothing to do with setting food prices unless they are selling directly to consumers at their own farm, farmers market or as part of a group farmers market. On average, more than 80 percent of the cost of food at the grocery store is attributed to marketing and transportation costs, that of which a farmer gets nothing. (http://www.virginiagrains.com/Food%20and%20Fuel.htm)


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PRESS RELEASE Copenhagen 15 Jan 2018 – Zenz Organic, an eco-labelled and allergy certified hair product brand from Denmark is growing rapidly. Zenz’s expected revenue for 2018 is already over DKK 33 million with operations in Denmark, Norway, Iceland and Australia. Now they are looking forward and want to open up to 50 new salons and franchise salons in the Nordics and have launched a funding round on Invesdor to support their ambitious growth plans.
Zenz Organic is divided into two different operative branches:
- Zenz Organic Hairdressing: Premium hair salons with 6 partner salons in Copenhagen, franchise salons in Norway and Denmark and concept salon in Australia, Iceland and Faroe island
- Zenz Organic Products: Premium ecofriendly and allergy certified hair and beauty products sold in around 700 resellers around the world
The founder of Zenz Organic Products is the Danish eco-conscious hairdresser Anne-Sophie Skjødt Villumsen. She started the first green hair salon in Denmark back in 1999. Today, Zenz Organic Hairdressing has grown into a chain of six sustainable green hair salons in Copenhagen area, the capital of Denmark.
Now, several product lines such as e.g. organic treatment oils, botanical henna, mineral make-up and recently sun and skin care, have been added to the Zenz Organic Products portfolio. When developing new products Zenz wants to ensure that the products offered are healthy, allergen free, green and sustainable.
“When I started Zenz almost 20 years ago I couldn’t imagine that we would become a global company. And it makes me very proud that our products support the new lifestyle in which beauty, health and sustainability are closely related,” comments Zenz founder Anne-Sophie Skjødt Villumsen. “Consumer demands are changing with an increasing focus on sustainability and health. I see that every day when I talk to customers in our salons and when I talk to our resellers, and this is also reflected in our growing sales.”
“Zenz is a good example of a company where passion and values have also converted into growth in sales. This makes us ever prouder to have Zenz as our first successful Danish funding round. Zenz is also breaking boundaries as a Danish company that raises cross-border equity financing publicly. We believe this is one of the firsts for Denmark,” comments Lasse Mäkelä, the CEO of Invesdor.
The funding round is still open for 16 days and has raised already over DKK 2.2 million. More information about the funding round on Invesdor.
Jørgen Skjødt, managing partner, Zenz Organic,
Mikko Savolainen, communications manager, Invesdor Ltd
[email protected], tel. +358 40 747 5205
Zenz Organic in brief
Zenz Organic Hair and Zenz Organic Products support the growing consumer demands for a healthy and sustainable lifestyle. We are the biggest green hairdressing chain in the Nordic countries and our products are sold by 700 resellers worldwide. More information at http://www.zenzorganic.com/
Invesdor in brief
A financial technology (fintech) company founded in Finland in 2012, Invesdor operates an online investment platform that connects ambitious European growth companies with investors worldwide. As a digital investment bank, Invesdor has helped raise more than 44 million euros for more than a hundred businesses. Its clients include private and publicly traded companies from Finland, the UK, Sweden, Norway and Denmark as well as investors from more than 70 countries. Invesdor has offices in Helsinki, Stockholm and London. More information at https://www.invesdor.com
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Next-Gen Jeep Wrangler Confirmed for November Debut
New Ram 1500 debuts in January
It's likely the Wrangler will make its official debut at the Los Angeles Auto Show. Jeep is scheduled for a press conference on November 29.
As we learned earlier from a leaked owner's manual, the 2018 Jeep Wrangler will feature a 2.0-liter engine and a 3.6-liter engine. Although the manual didn't reveal the full specs, they are expected to be the rumored "Hurricane" turbo-four 2.0-liter engine and the 3.6-liter V-6 Pentastar. For the 2019 model year, a diesel engine option is expected to join the lineup.
The document, first posted on JL Wrangler Forums, also reveals the Wrangler will offer a six-speed manual and eight-speed automatic transmission. Buyers can pick between a removable soft top, a three-piece Freedom hard top with removable panels, and a power sliding top that's not removable.
FCA will build the Wrangler in Toledo, Ohio. Expect it to shed weight compared to the previous version thanks to the strategic use of aluminum. It'll be available in two- and four-door models just like before. A pickup version could arrive around a year later than the standard model, according to reports.
The Wrangler should begin production in the fourth quarter of this year. Meanwhile, a new Ram 1500 is slated to debut in January, hinting at a possible Detroit auto show reveal. The truck will enter production in the first quarter of 2018 along with a refreshed Jeep Cherokee.


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TAMPA, Fla., Aug. 28, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Bloomin' Brands, Inc. (Nasdaq:BLMN) today announced that it will release results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2012, on Tuesday, September 4, 2012 after the market closes. The Company will host a conference call to review its financial results on Wednesday, September 5, 2012 at 9:00 AM EDT. The conference call can be accessed live, via telephone, by dialing (877) 941-2068, or (480) 629-9712 for international callers. A replay will be available beginning one hour after the end of the call and can be accessed by dialing (877) 870-5176 or (858) 384-5517 for international callers; the conference ID is 4561707. The replay will be available until Wednesday, September 12, 2012. The call will be webcast live from the Company's website at http://www.bloominbrands.com under the investor relations section. An archive of this webcast will be available on the Company's website for 30 days after the call. About Bloomin' Brands, Inc. Bloomin' Brands, Inc. is a portfolio of restaurants brands comprised of Outback Steakhouse, Carrabba's Italian Grill, Bonefish Grill, Fleming's Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar and Roy's with more than 1,400 restaurants in 48 states and 20 countries and territories internationally.
CONTACT: Bloomin' Brands, Inc. Investor Relations Mark W. Seymour, Jr. (813) 282-1225 Investor@bloominbrands.com


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Startup Farther Farms uses CO2 to revolutionise fries
Farther Farms, a high-growth food technology start-up, has solved the challenge of how to make food go farther. The company began with food favorite: French fries and made the world’s first commercially-available shelf-stable, fresh-cut style French fry that’s never-frozen and ready-to-cook.
Do you want CO2 with that?
Made with Farther Farms’ sustainable, carbon dioxide based technology, the French fries have:
- A 90-day shelf life at room temperature
- No artificial preservatives added
- No freezing or refrigeration required
“By reducing dependency on the cold chain, we are leapfrogging a major limitation and creating new global opportunities”, said Vipul Saran, co-founder and chief technology officer at Farther Farms. “The sustainable, CO2-based technology we’ve developed at Farther Farms is already taking French fries farther than they’ve ever gone before – and we’re gearing up to do the same for foods across the spectrum.”
Revolutionary food technology
Farther Farms revolutionary food pasteurization technology creates an entirely new category of packaged foods which unlock new markets and opportunities along the entire supply chain.
The technology uses CO2 at high pressures and moderate temperatures (“supercritical CO2”) as a key working fluid for pasteurization. Compared to the traditional use of high temperature steam or water, pasteurization using supercritical CO2 revolutionises food by:
- Protecting the food’s integrity and nutritional value
- Ensuring food safety
- Extending shelf-life without the need for additional preservatives.
The technology can work on many types of ready-to-eat and ready-to-cook foods, including fruits and vegetables, dairy, and meat and plant-based meat alternatives.
Impact on the global food supply chain
Wide adoption of the technology could help stabilize the global food supply chain by reducing reliance on freezing and refrigeration.
Refrigerated trucks emit greenhouse gasses from maintaining frozen temperatures and bypassing the cold chain with Farther Farms’ technology has the potential to significantly reduce GHG and support a greener future.
“Food processing technologies have the power to transform the food system, yet we have not had a system-level breakthrough since Clarence Birdseye first invented freezing technology in the 1920s. Our CO2-based technology has the potential to change that,” said Mike Annunziata, co-founder and chief executive officer, Farther Farms. “As we grow our product portfolio of viable alternatives to frozen foods, we can reduce the need for expensive capital investment in the cold chain without sacrificing convenience and quality.”
Annunziata explained that just as the adoption of cell phones in developing markets obviated the need for landline infrastructure, the technology and products from Farther Farms would do the same for the food cold chain.


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We all know there are only two types of people in the world: cat people and dog people. But data from market research firm Euromonitor suggest that these differences extend beyond individual preferences and to the realm of geopolitics: it turns out there are cat countries and dog countries, too.
The shortage of meat is the result of China's latest food scandal, in which a Shanghai supplier allegedly tackled the problem of expired meat by putting it in new packaging and shipping it to fast-food restaurants around the country
A reunion between a Pennsylvania woman who had been living overseas for two years and her pet schnauzer has gone viral, garnering nearly 20 million views on YouTube.
This week FiveThirtyEight released the results of a poll of Americans' opinions on the "Star Wars" universe. Not surprisingly, Jar Jar Binks is the most reviled character in the series. As Walt Hickey notes, the Gungan from Naboo posted lower favorability numbers than Emperor Palpatine, "the actual personification of evil in the galaxy."
The good news is that after decades of furious growth, obesity rates finally seem to be leveling off in the U.S.. The bad news is that America's youth still appear to be dangerously unaware of the problem.
If the media is to be believed, America is facing a major crisis. "Kids," some age 25, 26, or even 30 years old, are living out of their childhood bedrooms and basements at alarmingly high numbers. The hand-wringing overlooks one problem: It's all overblown.
Is Duncan big enough for two breakfast joints?
For nearly two years, cocoa prices have been on the rise. Finally, that's affecting the price you pay for a bar of chocolate - and there's reason to believe it's only the beginning.
Yankovic's 14th album was released this week, and it warms my heart containers that he's kept up his geeky brand of humor for so long. While he has written so many incredible songs, none have spoken to my love of proper grammar.
Until "Word Crimes."
Comcast issued an apology after one of its representatives kept a customer captive on the phone for nearly 20 minutes, demanding to know why he was choosing another cable provider.


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The Bergen Record reports Atlantic County has been the hardest hit so far. Marilyn Riley, spokeswoman for the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services, says five cases of the bacterial illness have been reported there.
» The latest on traffic, delays and road construction delivered to your mobile phone. Click to sign up to receive text alerts!
More than 500 products have been recalled.
The outbreak, which began in October, was caused by tainted peanut butter and peanut paste made by the Peanut Corporation of America plant in Blakely, Georgia.


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The Berry Company has reformulated its line of ambient berry and tea-based juices and given them a makeover to highlight the berries and botanicals it uses.
In what the brand says is a UK first, Unrooted has launched as a natural, high-fibre energy drink that uses baobab to help restore energy levels.
Giovanni’s 40th year anniversary celebrations were boosted when its recently launched 2chic Frizz Be Gone Hot Oil Treatment won Best New Haircare Product at Natural & Organic Products Europe in April.
Africa-inspired health food brand Aduna has created a range of organic African Super-Teas, crafted using high quality active botanical ingredients, including African superfoods.
Aduna has added to its range of existing Superfood Energy Bars, which have seen a makeover with new formulations, packaging, weight (40g) and shape.
Tropic Skincare has launched what it says are two new ‘winter essentials’.
New organic soft drinks brand Chosan has launched with a range of all-natural African-inspired drinks using the flavours of hibiscus and baobab.
Christine Bailey cooked up a raw storm at Natural & Organic Products Europe this year in her session Supercharged health: eat yourself beautiful in the Natural Food Kitchen.
Nutritional therapist, chef and author Christine Bailey cooked up a raw storm at Natural & Organic Products Europe this year in her session Supercharged health: eat yourself beautiful in the Natural Food Kitchen. With help from a range of newly launched products from Lucy Bee, Bailey produced recipes using anti-ageing ingredients to turn back the […]
Aduna has launched its #MakeBaobabFamous campaign, aiming to increase awareness of the African superfruit to ultimately lead to sustainable income for ten million households currently living in poverty. At the heart of the campaign is a partnership between Aduna, Virgin Media and Holland & Barrett whose 740 UK stores have had a #MakeBaobabFamous makeover and […]
Two companies from within the natural health sector have made it to the semi-final of Richard Branson’s Pitch to Rich in the Grow category: Aduna and Oppo. The three companies with the highest number of votes will go through to the final to pitch live to Branson on 26 June, battling for a £250,000 marketing […]
Aduna has introduced a new Baobab Raw Energy Bar. Dubbed The Feel Good Bar, the superfood snack is a natural source of vitamin C, containing two whole teaspoons of Aduna Baobab Superfruit Powder, and is made with 100% organic cold-pressed fruit and nuts. The company uses baobab sourced from women’s cooperatives in Ghana and Senegal. […]
Aduna has launched Moringa Green Superleaf Powder, its second superfood product following its baobab range. The 100% organic raw wholefood is made from naturally-dried leaves from the moringa tree which is native to Africa and Asia and is known as the ‘miracle tree’. Moringa contains 25% protein and includes all nine amino acids as well […]
Sweet Virtues has launched a range of superfood luxury truffles handmade by chocolatier Paul Wayne Gregory. Available in 115g boxes (around ten truffles), the three varieties – Maqui, Chia Seeds & Lime and Baobab & Vanilla – are dairy-free, suitable for vegetarians, vegans and those on gluten-free diets. There are over five superfood ingredients in […]
North London sauce specialists Bim’s Kitchen has launched Europe’s first ever table sauce featuring African super fruit baobab. (more…)
A new take on the January blues
December 5, 2019 Rosie Greenaway
‘Shades of Aqua’ has been highlighted as the key food and beverage colour trend for 2020, with vivid blues and greens expected to drive innovation.
Veganuary to launch ‘milestone’ TV ad
As part of The Big Give, non-profit Veganuary has launched a Crowdfunding effort to get its first TV ad on air, aiming to raise £40,000 in one week.
Hastings’ Co-op expands refills into second store
Trinity Wholefoods, which marked its 35th birthday this year, has opened a refill store to encourage customers to ‘reduce, reuse, recycle, refill, rethink’.
Experts warn of high protein diet risks
Popular high protein diets have been shown to help people lose weight but could be putting long-term followers at risk of kidney damage, experts warn.
Pick of the products 2019
November 28, 2019 Rosie Greenaway
One thing’s for sure when reflecting on this year’s products: our industry never fails to deliver on innovation. With the word ‘sustainability’ on everyone’s lips, our sector was pioneering its ‘better for you and the planet’ products long before the phrase hit the mainstream. As the world plays catch-up, here’s a review of the trendsetting […]
With irritable bowel syndrome affecting approximately 12 million people in the UK, Jane Wolfe finds out how diet and lifestyle changes can significantly help sufferers, and investigates the low-FODMAP solution (more…)
Living life on the veg
Plates of lifeless veg and soggy ‘fishless fingers’ are a thing of the past. Rosie Greenaway orders the vegan catch of the day, explores today’s sophisticated veggie market, and discovers just how much the nation’s love of animal products is costing the planet (more…)
The whole package
Want the truth about sustainable packaging? It’s complicated – but consumers and brands are both committed to change, says Matt Chittock
The Health Store Open Day is back!
The Health Store’s ever popular Open Day makes a welcome return on Sunday 8th September. Paul Rideout, Sales & Marketing Manager at the Health Store, explains “The Open Day is back by popular demand! This will be our 8th Open Day since we launched the event back in 2009 and it is more popular than […]
Setting Industry standards for Golden quality CBD Products
Over the past few years Hemp and its CBD-rich extracts have made a stunning entrance to the nutraceutical business. More and more people are now commenting on the wonderful health benefits of supplementing their diet with natural phytocannabinoids and new CBD oil brands pop-up regularly as a result.
How to become the next influential natural beauty brand
The world doesn’t need another natural beauty brand. It’s a market that is set to be worth up to $54 billion by 2027. It’s saturated like every other industry in the world. What it does need however, is a brand that is passionate, value driven and has clarity around how they want to shake things […]
Mineral-rich New Zealand volcanic mud delivers instant illumination for your skin
It may seem counter-intuitive to apply mud to your skin in order to cleanse it, but the skin-enhancing benefits of mineral-rich mud have been harnessed for beauty treatments all over the world for centuries. Antipodes® uses white volcanic mud sourced from central New Zealand’s dramatic central plateau in its new Halo Skin-Brightening Facial Mud Mask […]


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Corel Corp. announced Tuesday that WordPerfect Office 2002, its new suite of office applications, will be ready for release by the middle of this calendar year.
The office suite will be available in two editions - standard and professional. The standard edition will feature the latest release -- version 10 -- of the applications WordPerfect, Presentations and Quattro Pro, a spreadsheet program. The professional edition will bundle the database Paradox 10 and Dragon Systems Inc.'s NaturallySpeaking 5.0, voice recognition software that will enable users to dictate text into documents.
Among the new features in WordPerfect 10 will be the addition of the Oxford University Press Pocket dictionary, which has 30,000 definitions. An upgrade to 70,000 definitions will cost $US19.95, according to Basia Rudak, communications manager for business applications at Corel.
Quattro Pro 10, meanwhile, will feature a new charting engine that enables users to decorate charts with graphics and symbols, effectively giving users "more power to create nice looking charts," according to Rudak.
WordPerfect Office 2002 will also feature enhanced groupware functions targeted at corporate users, according to Corel.
Both editions of the applications suite include CorelCentral 10, a personal information manager (PIM). The PIM will have an e-mail client, address book and calendar that users will be able to access from any application in the suite, the company said.
CorelCentral 10 will also include Net2Phone Inc.'s Internet telephony software, which allows users to place telephone calls or fax documents. "A user can launch a call from within the contact manager. All one has to do is click on the number," said Yonah Lloyd, vice president of business development at Net2Phone. The software will add voice capability to CorelCentral's e-mail client, enabling users to receive voice e-mails, he added.
WordPerfect Office 2002 will be compatible with Windows 95/98/Me and Windows 2000, according to Rudak. The WordPerfect word processor currently has 22 million users, most of them using it under the Windows operating system. Seeing that statistic, Rudak said it made sense to create WordPerfect Office 2002 for the Windows platform. "A Linux version (of WordPerfect Office) will depend upon user demand," she said.
Though Microsoft Corp. invested $US135 million in Corel last year, Rudak dismissed a suggestion that Office 2002 is available only for Windows because of Microsoft's investment. "Microsoft may have invested in us, but they don't have any voting rights," she said. "Microsoft invested in Corel to emphasize the .NET platform."
Corel's plan to spin off its Linux business, announced earlier this month, also had no impact or influence on the development of WordPerfect Office 2002, she asserted.
The new features in WordPerfect Office 2002 come in response to user demands for greater functionality, stability and compatibility. "Users have been constantly demanding improved compatibility with Microsoft Office applications," Rudak said. Lawyers represent a big market for Corel's software, Rudak also noted. "There was a big demand from (lawyers) to make Word documents importable to WordPerfect," she said. Similarly, Corel took feedback from longtime WordPerfect users to enhance the features that will be seen in the new version of WordPerfect 10.
The version of WordPerfect Office due after the 2002 issue will be .NET-compatible, Rudak said. "Microsoft will hopefully release .NET midway through this year. Six months later, we will be ready."


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Horse breeder's wardrobe for sale
The wardrobe of an American socialite who became an Irish racehorse breeder will go under the hammer this week.
Anne Moen Bullitt, who died in Ireland two years ago, was famed for her collection of haute couture clothing and jewellery.
Around 80 items from her stylish wardrobe are being sold by Christie's auction house as part of the sale Fashion Through the Ages, to be held in London on Thursday.
Pat Frost, head of the sale, said Ms Bullitt epitomised the perfect 1950s hourglass figure, which was set off by a tiny waist of just 20 inches.
Her clothing, which spans 40 years, includes evening gowns to sharply cut suits encompassing her four marriages in Spain, Ireland and the US.
They are expected to fetch between 1,000 euro to 2,000 euro each.
Christie's said the sale features the most extensive 1950s Balenciaga wardrobe to be offered to the market in the Past 20 years, alongside a selection of Hermes handbags, rare 1950s Hattie Carnegie suits, stunning dresses by Jacques Fath and Yves St Laurent and an array of Irish couture by Sybil Connelly.
Ms Bullitt, who died in 2007 at the age of 83, was the daughter of the United States Ambassador to Russia, millionaire William Bullitt, and Louise Bryant, an American journalist and radical.
The socialite finally settled at Palmerston House in Co Kildare and set up Palmerston Stud, one of the most successful farms in Ireland throughout the 1950s and 60s, with her third husband, Roderic More O'Ferrall.
She had a distinguished career in horse racing and was the first female breeder and trainer in Ireland.


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Celebrities, they’re just like us.
On Monday, Elon Musk posted what for anyone else would have been a totally banal photo of a DMV office, along with the caption: “Was just at the DMV & dude had the actual sloth from Zootopia on his desk.”
What followed was Instagram followers having a field day imagining the CEO of Tesla strolling into a DMV and taking a number like a regular joe. But bizarreness aside, what would a billionaire who runs a company at the forefront of autonomous vehicle technology be registering at the DMV?
All self-driving cars have to be registered with the California DMV before they can be tested on public roads. There’s also a fee that needs to be payed yearly to renew the testing permit. It could be that Musk was seeing to the permit for another iteration of the much-anticipated Tesla Model 3.
Still, it’s kind of weird that Musk would go himself. The answer could actually be a lot more simple — the billionaire’s birthday is June 28. He could have just been renewing his license.
For the uninitiated, Musk doesn’t post a lot on Instagram, but when he does it’s actually pretty good.
If we’re lucky, maybe Musk will post a pic of the line at the grocery store next, and we can speculate on what he’s making for dinner.


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MONTREAL – Gildan Activewear’s edgy 30-second Super Bowl spot — featuring a young couple apparently on a one-night stand — is part of a $25-million plan to boost consumer awareness of the Montreal-based company.
The maker of T-shirts, underwear and socks is trying to make inroads into the competitive apparel business by selling its own Gildan-branded products, in addition to no-name products it makes for discount retailers such as Walmart and T-shirts sold to screenprinters.
The Super Bowl ad — and a shorter version previewed on social media last week — shows a man waking up with a handcuff on his wrist. He’s about to quietly leave the bedroom but returns to the sleeping woman, who is wearing his T-shirt.
The television spot ends with the guy trying to gently retrieve the shirt without waking the young woman and declares: “It’s about time you had a favorite T-shirt” followed by the slogan “Gildan. Every thread counts.”
About 380,000 people have viewed the ad on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=32HiJHMRdqg
Gildan spokeswoman Genevieve Gosselin said the company spent about $4 million for one spot in the U.S. and two in Canada during the Super Bowl.
She said the company started airing TV ads last year during specific events, like the Gildan New Mexico Bowl, but Sunday’s game was the official kick off of a campaign that will air mostly on U.S. cable channels, targeted at millennial audiences under 30 years of age.
“As we are building our brand in the retail channel, we want to start making a connection between the brand name and the shirts people already have and which might already be their favorite,” she wrote in an email.
The company has hired New York-based agency DeVito/Verdi to oversee the print, TV and social media advertising for its Gildan and Gold Toe branded clothing.
Gildan (TSX:GIL), which competes with apparel giants such as Fruit of the Loom and Hanesbrands, is expected to record a dramatic boost in first-quarter sales and adjusted earnings on Wednesday.
Analysts expect the company will reverse last year’s 38 cents per share adjusted loss to earn 30 cents per share. Sales are expected to be up 31 per cent, rising to US$396.7 million.
They expect the growth will be propelled by a 46 per cent increase in printwear sales and an 18 per cent lift in branded apparel.
Tal Woolley of RBC Capital Markets reduced his rating for Gildan to sector perform but maintained his $39 per share price target because its shares have appreciated 74 per cent over the past year.
With production plans in place and cotton costs likely fixed for the year, he said the amount of promotion prices for productions will determine if Gildan can meet or exceed its US$2.60 to US$2.70 per share earnings guidance for the year.
Still, he said the first quarter should be very strong for the company.
“We forecast significant gross margin increase to 27.5 per cent, driven by lower cotton costs and no inventory devaluation,” he wrote in a report.
Anthony Zicha of Scotiabank expects a strong year for Gildan supported by “healthy market fundamentals.” He has a one-year share target price of $43.
“While we do not expect any revision to company guidance in the near term, we believe the company should experience increased earnings momentum in the second quarter and the second half of fiscal 2013.”
On the Toronto Stock Exchange, Gildan’s shares closed down 10 cents to C$36.06 in Monday afternoon trading.


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SAN FRANCISCO -- Amazon.com, which has dominated the young but fast-growing electronic book market for the past few years with the Kindle, could face its biggest threat Saturday, when Apple releases its iPad multimedia tablet.
The Kindle starts at $259 and is designed mainly for reading text on a gray-and-black screen. The iPad starts at $499, but with the higher price comes more functions: a color touch screen for downloading books from Apple's new iBookstore, surfing the Web, playing videos and games, and more.
It will take time to determine whether the iPad causes a tremor, a high-magnitude quake or something in between in the e-reader market. But in the meantime, people who read electronic books or are considering buying a reading device will find their choices getting more complicated.
If the Kindle falls out of favor with people drawn to Apple's offering, there could be a very thick silver lining for Amazon: It sells e-books that can be read on many kinds of devices, including the iPad and other Apple gadgets. That means the Kindle could fade and Amazon could still occupy a profitable perch in e-books.
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However, Apple could find ways to tilt the field in its favor. At least for now, both the Apple iBookstore and the Kindle service will be accessible in much the same way on the iPad -- as "application" icons that users can click. Eventually Apple could give its own bookstore and reading program more attention on the iPad.
Apple could also try to curry favor with publishers in a way that matters to consumers, perhaps by securing exclusive titles.
Publishers' relationships with Amazon have been strained by Amazon's insistence on charging $9.99 for some popular e-books. Publishers have called that an attempt to get consumers used to unsustainably low prices. Amazon takes a loss on some books at that price, and the publishers fear that if the $9.99 price sticks, Amazon will force publishers to lower their wholesale prices, cutting into their profits.
The iPad gives publishers an opportunity for a new pricing model. Some e-books will cost up to $14.99 initially, and Apple says publishers can't sell books for less through a competitor. The iBookstore is launching with titles from major publishers such as Penguin, Simon & Schuster, HarperCollins, Hachette Book Group and Macmillan. One big publisher, Random House, has not yet struck a deal with Apple.
Amazon declined to comment on the iPad's release.
Although Amazon has tried to snag as much of the e-book market as possible since launching the Kindle in 2007, the company has never revealed how many Kindles it has sold. Analysts estimate the figure at 3 million. They say Apple could sell that many iPads in the product's first year. Amazon has offered only sketches of the Kindle's effect on its business, such as by saying that it sells 48 Kindle books for every 100 hard copies of books available in both formats.
Compared with the Kindle, the iPad would seem to have some disadvantages. The entry-level model is nearly twice the price of the Kindle, yet it can download books only by Wi-Fi Internet connection. At 11/2 pounds, it is more than twice a Kindle's weight. And its battery lasts for just 10 hours compared with up to a week on a Kindle when it has wireless access on.
However, the iPad's touch screen is 9.7 inches diagonally, compared with 6 inches on the Kindle. Ron Skinner, 70, of Las Vegas, who bought a Kindle in February, says he has ordered the iPad because it will offer a better reading experience.
Skinner, an Apple investor who reads about three books a week, says that the contrast between the text and the background is too low on the Kindle's "e-ink" screen and that reading on it bothers his eyes. The difference between the Kindle screen and the iPad screen "is like daylight and dark," Skinner said.
Tim Bajarin, an analyst with Creative Strategies, says the iPad signals the start of a larger shift away from static digital versions of books and magazines. Eventually e-books will be expected to have multimedia dimensions, with video and interactive elements, he says, which will call for something more like Apple's tablet device than something that is largely dedicated to reading.
The main question then would be whether Amazon would want to try to soup up the Kindle to be more like a tablet or whether it would remain content to offer something more specialized. The Kindle has Web access, but it's not a feature that's highlighted or encouraged much.
Since Apple unveiled the iPad in January, Amazon stock has risen about 11 percent, Apple stock 13 percent. But maybe investors haven't seen many risks for Amazon because it's not yet clear how people will take to the iPad.
People might not want it as an alternative to the Kindle and a laptop, says James McQuivey, a Forrester analyst. Instead, he says, they might see the iPad mainly as a big iPod, leaving room for other kinds of devices. And the hype surrounding the iPad may help Kindle sales among consumers who want a less-expensive digital reading experience.
"The iPad will bring all kinds of consumer benefits that the Kindle can't even pretend to attempt," McQuivey said, "but at the same time the Kindle solves a very focused consumer need in a way the iPad can't do well."


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Biz2Credit announce on Thursday it has formed a partnership with Puerto Rico’s Oriental Bank to help develop a digital lending platform for the bank’s commercial clients. According to the Biz2Credit, Oriental Bank will be considered the first bank in Puerto Rico to engage commercial clients through a digital platform that supports applications for business credit cards, as well as lines of credit, term loans, real estate loans, equipment purchase, and SBA loans.
Biz2Credit revealed that the new cloud-hosted platform will now allow both bankers and clients to interact digitally and will include a customized recommendation engine that is based on the bank’s credit policy. Biz2Credit CEO, Rohit Arora, also explained:
“Banks are looking to partner with FinTech players who have built nimble, secure platforms that can support automating transactions in a complex regulatory banking environment. We are excited to partner with Oriental Bank and bring a mobile-first solution to Puerto Rico businesses. Our research indicates that use of mobile devices for small business finance tractions is dramatically on the rise.”
Oriental Bank commercial customers now have a 24/7 small business lending opportunity. Ganesh Kumar, Oriental Bank’s Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, added:
“Digital is a strong focus area for Oriental. We are continuously seeking to exploit innovative customer-facing technology to set the gold standard in the local market for unparalleled customer service. This partnership will allow us to access technology to automate the complex commercial lending process, offering increased convenience and accessibility to our clients.”


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The audition of the Miss Nepal 2015 participants is being held in Pokhara on Friday, February 28. The audition starts at 3:30 PM in Alfa Beta Pokhara, Mahendrapul.
Similar audition was held in Biratnagar a few days earlier. A team of ex-Miss Nepal Shweta Singh and Shristi Shrestha had visited colleges to campaign for Miss Nepal beauty contest. Shweta and Shristi also conducted the audition.
An audition to select super-model from the Eastern Nepal was held on February 2 in Biratnagar. The audition selected 22 models for the final. The second edition of Purwanchal Super Model 2013 will be held on Falgun 5 (February 16, 2013).
A three member judging committee comprising of the head of A One Entertainment Nirajan Luitel, actress Richa Singh Thakuri and photographer Sanjaya Shrestha selected the 22 models from 28 interested participants.
Social Organisation Of Rajbanshi Abroginies (SORA) has decided to held a beauty contest to select Miss Rajbanshi 2012 on December 8, 2012. The beauty contest is expected to help the young girls of Rajbanshi community for personal development and confidence building.
The beauty contest, open to SLC-passed Rajbanshi girls, will be selected based on her beauty, talent and other personality benchmarks.
The winner of Miss Rajbanshi title will receive a cash prize of Rs. 25,000, the first runner up will receive a cash prize of Rs. 15,000 and the second runnerup will receive Rs. 10,000 in addition to other attractive gift hampers.
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Pregnant women know that cravings are serious business, making one Texas mom’s blissful photo shoot in a grocery store all the more sweet.
Amy Scott, of Montgomery, recently celebrated her third pregnancy with a photo shoot in her local H-E-B, shopping for and snacking on her favorite foods in what she describes as a natural habitat.
“We came up with the grocery store, and that was perfect because it has all of my favorite things,” Scott, who is mom to 5-year-old Henry and 4-year-old Hudson, told Today of her collaboration with photographer Lauren Giles.
With the 34-year-old rocking a topknot bun, comfy jeans, a cardigan and sneakers as she explored the store, both women agree that their April 30 photo shoot was a blast.
“We ventured round the aisles to her favorite spots, Baby Harrison was craving kettle corn, and we made a stop to cool the heartburn — introduced Amy to TUMS Smoothies — and continued our way throughout the store. We laughed till we cried and had a blast capturing all those Preggo favs,” Giles recalled of their lighthearted fun on her blog.
“Finished the trip with a bucket of Texas goodness, Blue Bell ice cream, and baby decided he needed a drumstick too. Whatever baby wants, baby gets, right!?”
“I’m not the type of person to get glamorous for a photo shoot, especially in my eighth month of pregnancy,” Scott mused to ABC. “Moms can totally relate to just wanting to eat their way through a grocery store while pregnant. There has been so much positive feedback and a lot of ‘Why didn’t I think of that?’”
Her sentiments evidently struck a nerve, as the images have since been championed on social media, described as “amazing,” “wonderful,” and “so sweet” on Instagram.
“This is just the best ever!!! In my third pregnancy I am at HEB practically everyday because I am so forgetful, or I just want something particular to eat,” one fellow mom to be exclaimed.
"I had such a blast planning and capturing the whole maternity shoot," Giles told the Caller Times. "I loved that Amy felt comfortable and had a great time. That’s what was most important to me."
As the Scott family prepares to welcome baby Harrison in early June, friends and family say Scott’s cheeky photo shoot is “hilarious” and matches her personality.
“I am a very casual person,” Scott declared. “It is a real-life shot.”


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The Handmade Market Happens Memorial Day Weekend in Wolfforth
The Handmade Market is a wonderful opportunity to get off the hi-tech whirlwind and reconnect with some hand-crafted goodness. It happens Saturday, May 26th from 11 a.m. - 5 p.m. at the City of Wolfforth Library Meeting Room, according to Lubbock in the Loop.
This Memorial Day weekend, get out to explore what is still being done from scratch, by hand, with care and quality in mind. How refreshing; I just love it!
There was a time when I did tons of cross-stitching, and those hundreds of hours still hang on the wall. There's just nothing else like how much that means.
Get out and re-connect with some good old fashioned hand made crafts, baked goods, jewelry, glass art and more!


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Easterners: Nordstrom's Coming!
IF shoppers in Edison, N.J. haven't heard of Nordstrom Inc., they haven't driven past the new Menlo Park Mall.The Menlo Park Mall, although once considered one of the smaller central Jersey malls, is being spruced up and expanded. One end of the mall is anchored by Macy's, a New York retailer. But the other end will feature a new Nordstrom store, expected to open Sept. 27. The Menlo Park Nordstrom is one of several Nordstrom's stores opening soon, as the Seattle-based chain expands into the Midwest and East, and in the process competes with such upscale retailers as Saks Fifth Avenue, Lord & Taylor, and Marshall Field. Nordstrom will open stores at the Tyler Mall in Riverside, Calif., this month; the Montgomery Mall, in Montgomery County, Md., in October. Next year, Nordstrom will open stores in Towson, Md., Freehold, N.J., and Bloomington, Minn. Nordstrom, one of the few premier fashion retailers in the United States, has 67 stores in eight states. The company's sales last year were $2.9 billion, up from $2.7 billion in 1989. Meanwhile, earnings rose from $115 million to $116 million. Sales for the six month period ending July 31 of this year increased 12 percent over the prior year. "Investors love Nordstrom," says Mark Byl, senior portfolio manger of Composite Northwest 50 Fund, a local mutual fund. That's because the stock, traded on the NASDAQ index, has been a steady gainer in value. As of last March, members of the Nordstrom family controlled 39 percent of the firm's common stock. Competitors probably have different sentiments. A New York retail analyst speculates that one reason May Department Stores converted a New Jersey department store chain it controls to the more upscale Lord & Taylor chain was to be ready to compete with Nordstrom as it expands east. What is Nordstrom's ultimate business plan - the overall strategy that guides this company? "Plan? I don't think we have an ultimate plan," laughs James Nordstrom, a co-chairman of the company, and a grandson of John Nordstrom, the Swedish immigrant who founded the family empire when he opened a shoe store here in 1901. "If there's a demand for our services and products, then we'll fulfill that demand," says Mr. Nordstrom. "All that we try to do is take care of our customers." Nor does that mean that Nordstrom is preoccupied with warily watching the competition, as some retailers are known for doing. Indeed, he says Nordstrom is pleased to share the Menlo Park Mall with Macy's, since having two major retailers in the same complex gives customers a choice. "The more stores around in a mall, the better." Currently, he says, the chain is opening three to four new stores a year, a pace expected to continue the next few years. Nordstrom is perhaps unique within the retail industry for having not one or even two, executive officers, but a handful - each with distinct operating tasks. There are four co-chairmen, a vice chairman, and four presidents. Another unique practice: Unlike most national retailers, Nordstrom has a decentralized buying system for acquiring merchandise. "Our [local] buyers can get closer to customer needs," says Jo Danielski, a Nordstrom spokeswoman. Nordstrom generated a number of unhappy national press stories during the past few years following legal challenges by some employees who are union members. They held that the chain is anti-union. But James Nordstrom denies the charge. "We're an open shop," he says, noting that the company's distribution center is organized by the Teamsters Union. Other than that, only a handful of the chain's 40,000 employees currently belong to a union. Nordstrom instead rewards its employees through a commission pay structure which, company executives say, has allowed most sales clerks to earn higher salaries than are earned on average within the industry. Nordstrom looks upon its sales clerks as "entrepreneurs," encouraged to know customers by name.


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A crisp, refreshing white wine, just in time for summer.
Articles by Jessica Dupuy
Mar 25, 2015 — By Jessica Dupuy
Texas-based Pinot Noir and Chardonnay fans looking for a safe-bet in their pursuit of quality wines from California should consider an upcoming Houston wine tasting event on Monday, March 30 from non-profit organization In Pursuit of Balance (IPOB). Founded in 2011 by Rajat Parr of Domaine de la Côte…
Mar 24, 2015 — By Jessica Dupuy
An exclusive selection of wines that best repesent the winners at this year’s competition.
Mar 12, 2015 — By Jessica Dupuy
Dry rosés are the perfect way to welcome warmer weather.
Feb 27, 2015 — By Jessica Dupuy
This month, we’re launching a new column to introduce Texas Monthly readers to the people behind Texas Wine. Sometimes it helps to know a little bit about the person behind the wine in your glass. Todd Webster is the winemaker for Brennan Vineyards, a winery in Comanche located halfway between…
Feb 17, 2015 — By Jessica Dupuy
A special field blend from the winery’s estate vineyard.
Jan 28, 2015 — By Jessica Dupuy
Made from a grape that grows abundantly in the High Plains and produces a refreshing, crisp white wine you can enjoy all year long.
Jan 21, 2015 — By Jessica Dupuy
“Can you tell me which Texas wine to try? I have a hard time knowing what to look for at the store.” This is question I get all the time. After tasting hundreds of Texas wines throughout the year—and in my life—it’s become a sort of personal…
Food & Drink Newsletter
- The Love Story that Upended the Texas Prison System October 11, 2018 — By Ethan Watters
- Forget the Polls — What Are the Betting Odds on Beto O’Rourke Versus Ted Cruz? October 15, 2018 — By Dan Solomon
- Beto O’Rourke May Not Win the Election, But His Supporters Are Winning the Internet October 22, 2018 — By R.G. Ratcliffe