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- Arizona auto dealer moves advertising priorities in-house, with near-immediate benefits to sales and customers
- Automotive dealerships are highly effective at capturing consumer attention, although most of us can live without the stereotypical screaming salesman we’ve all seen on television.
- A similar argument can be made for inside the dealership. Well-intentioned managers and employees have long worked to inject excitement into the dealership, with varying degrees of success.
- “For years, we would spend all this money on balloons, clowns and jugglers—anything to make the dealership look like a carnival atmosphere,” said Christopher Zamora, executive manager at Honda of Superstition Springs in Mesa, Ariz. “But that’s all it was at the end of the day.”
- Zamora certainly isn’t alone. Like most dealers in the country, he has experienced ups and downs with advertising, both inside and outside the dealership. Intuitively, he knows some of his efforts have worked, but he is uncertain of which ones.
“The old saying is that everybody knows half of your external advertising works and half doesn’t—you just don’t know which half,” he said. “I looked at all the dollars I was spending on outside media, from billboards and print advertising to electronic and digital. And it made sense to pare down some of those outside dollars and bring them in-house.”
Honda of Superstition Springs planted the seed for its current in-house advertising solution in 2008, when the company launched programming from the Automotive Broadcasting Network, or ABN. Earlier that year, ABN launched its Dealer TV service to enhance the automotive retail experience for customers and better control sales environments. Much of the content was entertainment-based programming from CBS and other broadcast and cable networks, along with customized, dealership-specific advertising.
In 2012, ABN transitioned from its broadcast satellite platform to an Internet-based architecture to execute a more dynamic content strategy. The company is using the InfoCaster suite from Harris Digital Out-Of-Home to create content, manage the network and play all the media. The InfoCaster platform gives ABN far more flexibility to communicate targeted messages not only to different dealerships, but to various departments at each network location.
“To date, we have more than 600 media players deployed, powering more than 1,000 screens in 42 states,” said Jerry Daniels, president and CEO of Automotive Broadcasting Network. “And we are hearing plenty of success stories, from building positive customer relationships to driving transactions.”
Honda of Superstition Springs is certainly one of those success stories. Zamora reports that there was an initial “wow factor” with the new digital signage-driven rollout, injecting new life into the 8-year-old dealership.
“This facility was the latest and greatest when it was built in 2005, but we’re now competing with new players and these Taj Mahal-like dealerships,” Zamora said. “We wanted to freshen up the atmosphere and make it look lively. Now when you walk into our showroom, you have these beauty shots of a cars going down the road on a large videowall and screens around the dealership. It is as close to a remodel as we can get without putting money into the brick and mortar.”
Zamora has nearly 30 screens across the dealership now, including digital menu boards in the service drive. And the targeted content tailored to each department has noticeably translated into bigger sales.
“We just had our best January on record for auto sales,” he said. “Our parts and service departments also each had a fantastic month. And we’re just getting started.”
Daniels notes that the dealership’s specific business objectives are the first thing ABN discusses with new dealerships. These objectives can vary but typically focus on some combination of increasing sales, controlling environments and improving the customer’s experience at the point of sale.
The advantage of the Harris Digital Out-Of-Home platform means that ABN can now do all three very effectively.
“Each of our dealers have unique content demands,” said Robert Orndorff, vice president of operations for Automotive Broadcasting Network. “InfoCaster allows us to facilitate those unique requirements, delivering relevant content and managing the network with greater efficiency.”
Orndorff adds that ABN’s network look has improved since moving to InfoCaster, notably on the graphics side. He notes how InfoCaster allows his creative staff to include more animations in the screen designs, which he said makes the network more engaging for the retail consumer.
“There aren’t many digital signage systems that can mimic the broadcast-quality graphics you see on television,” he said. “We receive a lot of positive feedback from dealerships on the graphic quality of our network. Prior to InfoCaster we were limited in the amount of movement we could incorporate. Everything is livelier, everything is moving and everything has a transition. So we’re using this medium to communicate in a very creative way.”
This connects to the “wow factor” that Zamora describes when referencing the content on his screens, notably the large showroom videowall comprised of four 47-inch display screens.
“We call it our Honda Superstition Springs Jumbotron,” Zamora said. “The quality is crisp and clear, and the ABN provided content is very professional.”
The content changes upon moving from the showroom to other departments. The showroom screens remain focused on the joy of buying a new car versus the drag of changing your oil.
“We don’t want to sell customers on our services while they are making decisions about buying or leasing a vehicle,” Zamora said. “This is supposed to be the fun time up in the front of the house. We want people to see beauty shots and learn about accessories instead of repairs.”
Still, Honda of Superstition Springs has been very effective at utilizing the targeted capabilities of InfoCaster for its parts and service departments. The dealership added digital menu boards in their service drive, where customers can clearly see available services, discounts and comparison prices. Screens hang underneath the canopy as customers drive their cars into the space. Customers can also see price lists on digital menu boards near the service advisor station and the parts boutique.
Daniels notes that the setup at Honda of Superstition Springs has been very successful at driving the customers from the service waiting area into the showroom. This includes offering test drives and trade-in incentives through car appraisals.
In the bigger picture, it represents the power of in-store advertising when properly executed.
“Dealers have been using television and radio advertising since the beginning of time to drive customers from their living rooms into the showrooms,” Daniels said. “It’s far more intuitive to leverage your captive customers when they are sitting in the service waiting area, just 10 feet away from your showroom. And it’s certainly more cost-effective.”
Zamora agrees, noting that the proof is in the numbers.
“We track how many customers we sell from the service drive,” he said. “We were averaging about 40 to 45 a month since installing ABN in 2008, we have since increased that to between 50 and 60 a month since adding the additional digital signage screens. I can spend a lot of money advertising to the general public, or I can advertise directly to the people that trust me and are doing business in the dealership. That is the most compelling reason to come in-house.”
The additional revenue generation is a clear and tangible benefit, but there are other benefits less obviously tied to the bottom line. This is especially noticeable on the social front.
“It’s amazing to just walk around the dealership and see customers moving around with a cup of coffee, looking at the screens and getting the feeling that they believe this a cool place to be,” Zamora said. “We didn’t see that before. People don’t notice static posters on the wall, but they are looking at our moving displays.”
ABN is also leveraging social media integration with InfoCaster, incorporating Facebook and Twitter functionality in its latest software update. One new feature delivers tweets, posts and other social feeds across the bottom; the data sticks and rotates instead of a moving across the screen as a simple scroll. This is especially popular in service areas, where dealerships can easily communicate service messages to waiting customers.
More interestingly, a new mobile app allows a salesperson to take a photograph of a customer with his new car, and quickly post a congratulations message to the dealership’s Facebook page.
“We’re really trying to integrate these screens with business processes at the dealerships while truly leveraging social media at the same time,” Daniels said.
This is a message that absolutely resonates with Zamora.
“As dealers we all operate off of profit and loss,” he said. “We ask how many dollars can we keep after everything else is paid, which we call retiring an expense. So far, the result I have received from moving more of my advertising and promotions in-house to digital signage is far greater than I could have realized. We are just out of the gate, having had the screens up for four months, and I am definitely looking to add more.”


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MPs may grill Tesco chiefs over £250m profits error: Bosses could be hauled in over claims they 'cooked the books'
- Adrian Bailey, chairman of the Commons business committee, said he would ‘keep a close eye’ on the matter
- Tesco has suspended four executives and begun an internal investigation
- MPs could call on Tesco executives to give evidence after internal inquiry
- Chain confirms its finance director Laurie McIlwee left the company in April
- Was given £1m golden goodbye even though no successor was in place
- Decision was described by one Tesco exec as 'one hell of a mistake'
- Meanwhile company's third biggest shareholder starts to dump stock
- Supermarket giant has admitted inflating its finance accounts by £250million
- Chain has seen £2billion wiped off market value and shares drop 40 per cent
Tesco bosses could be hauled before MPs to be grilled over the company’s ‘stratospheric’ error of overstating its profits.
Britain’s biggest retailer admitted executives had artificially boosted profits by £250million. There are claims it ‘cooked the books’ to hide a slump in profits.
Tesco has suspended four executives and begun an internal investigation.
Adrian Bailey, chairman of the Commons business committee, said he would ‘keep a close eye’ on Tesco's huge overstating of its profits and ask members if they wished to call on Tesco executives to give evidence once they knew the outcome of the internal inquiry
Yesterday, Adrian Bailey, chairman of the Commons business committee, said he would ‘keep a close eye’ on the matter and ask members if they wished to call on Tesco executives to give evidence once they knew the outcome of the internal inquiry.
The Labour MP added that Tesco’s auditors PwC could also be called to give evidence.
The accounting errors are believed to relate to how Tesco reports the revenue it receives from suppliers in return for an extra drive to promote their products.
Mr Bailey said it may raise wider questions over how supermarkets are treating suppliers when negotiating end-of-aisle deals or special promotions, which sometimes require brands to pay for the best position on shelves.
Some experts say many suppliers are too scared to speak out about the practice in case a chain ends their contract.
Laurie McIlwee, the outgoing Tesco finance director. The supermarket has admitted that he has not been involved in any financial matters at the company for five months
The crisis engulfing the supermarket deepened yesterday after the supermarket admitted it had no finance director for the past five months.
In a statement Britain's biggest retailer confirmed that finance director Laurie McIlwee had not been involved in any financial matters at the company since April.
Meanwhile leading US investor, Blackrock, the company's third biggest share holder has started dumping shares announcing it was selling a chunk of the 5.03 per cent holding.
Confidence in the chain has plummeted following this week's accounting scandal, in which Tesco admitted that executives inflated the company's profit figures by £250million.
It has emerged that Mr McIlwee effectively stopped overseeing Tesco accounts in April, when it was announced he was to leave the company.
Tesco chairman Sir Richard Broadbent, approved the decision to allow Mr McIlwee to leave with a £1million golden goodbye without a successor in place.
Sir Richard Broadbent, who approved the decision to allow Mr McIlwee to leave Tesco without a successor in place
Earlier this week it Tesco executives admitted that the company's profit figures were inflated by £250million
He was not due to be replaced until December by Alan Stewart of Marks & Spencer.
In a statement to the Telegraph, Tesco said: 'During the transition period Laurie has in fact not been involved or had any input to any financial matters or held any position of responsibility in the company.'
Mr Stewart will now take up his post immediately following a plea to M&S to let him go early.
One former Tesco executive said the decision by Sir Richard to delay putting a new chief finance officer in place had been ‘catastrophic’.
He added: ‘Broadbent has not been clear with the City and investors that Tesco has not had a chief financial officer in place to oversee its accounts. That decision now looks like one hell of a mistake.’
The admission comes after Adrian Bailey, chairman of Parliament’s Business, Innovation and Skills Committee, told BBC Radio 5 Live it was 'unbelievable' that a company of Tesco’s size could get into such a mess.
He said executives could be hauled before MPs to explain the supermarket giant’s 'stratospheric' error.
He also suggested any inquiry was likely to be extended to cover the wider grocery industry and its relationship with suppliers.
Accountancy watchdog the Financial Reporting Council has also said it is monitoring the situation at Tesco closely, but is powerless to do anything until the supermarket's internal probe into book-keeping mistakes has been completed.
Tesco shares rose 0.03p to 194.93p in early trading today, despite a receiving a fresh blow when American investment giant BlackRock announced to the stock market it was selling a chunk of the 5.03 per cent it holds in Britain’s biggest grocer.
It is understood that BlackRock’s Tesco holding is now around 4.98 per cent, but the firm declined to explain the timing of its disposal.
American investor Warren Buffet, who is believed to have lost a large sum after investing in the supermarket
However, Tesco received support from Sports Direct, which said today it had entered into a 'put option' agreement on a small stake - effectively making a £43million bet that shares in the embattled supermarket chain will rise.
The retailer's top shareholders include American investor Warren Buffett, who is believed to have lost a huge sum after the shares almost halved over the past year.
Buffett started increasing his stake in Tesco following its profit warning in January 2012, when other big investors like the UK's star fund manager Neil Woodford bailed out.
But Buffett is famed for his investing adage: 'Be fearful when others are greedy and greedy when others are fearful.'
On Monday, more than £1.5billion was wiped off the value of Tesco after it admitted adding £250million to its half-year profit estimate published last month.
The Tesco share price has plummeted in the past week since it emerged that executives inflated the company's profit figures by £250million
Tesco said it was too early to say whether this was a case of fraud but its legal advisers Freshfields are conducting an investigation alongside accountants Deloitte.
The situation began when a whistleblower tipped off Tesco's legal department last week. The Stock Exchange was then informed.
The possibility that Tesco, which accounts for £1 in every £8 spent in British shops, has been misrepresenting its accounts sent shockwaves through the City with shares tumbling 12 per cent at one point.
The error was brought to the attention of Tesco's general counsel by a whistle-blower on Friday before being passed to new chief executive Dave Lewis. He carried out a preliminary investigation over the weekend, before issuing Tesco's third profits warning in as many months.
Tesco's share price in the last year, pictured, has been dropping and the company has issued three profit warnings in as many months
The Financial Conduct Authority is also considering whether to launch a formal investigation, and the Serious Fraud Office is monitoring the situation. Four executives have been forced to stand aside pending the investigation.
The firm would not confirm names, but they are understood to include UK managing director Chris Bush and UK finance director Carl Rogberg, who previously worked together in Thailand. The other two are commercial director John Scouler and sourcing boss Matt Simister.
The distress being suffered by Tesco stems from the fact that it is losing millions of shoppers to budget retailers such as Aldi and Lidl at one end, while others are deserting to Waitrose and Marks & Spencer.
Philip Clarke was forced to step down as chief executive in August after presiding over a slump in sales and market share during just three years at the top of the company.
HOW THE PRESSURE HAS PILED ON TESCO OVER THE PAST THREE YEARS
The possibility that Tesco, which accounts for £1 in every £8 spent in British shops, has been misrepresenting its accounts has sent shockwaves through the City
Sir Terry Leahy steps down as chief executive on his 55th birthday after 14 years in charge, overseeing a leap in pre-tax profits from £750 million in 1997 to £3.4 billion in April 2010.
His record includes the launch of Tesco.com and premium range Tesco Finest and its expansion into America with the Fresh & Easy chain. The market share of the group stands at 30.5 per cent.
Less than a year into Mr Clarke's tenure, Tesco shocks the market with its first profit warning in almost 20 years after poor Christmas trading. Shares plunge by as much as 15 per cent, or more than £4 billion.
Tesco, in common with the country's three other leading grocers - Wal-Mart's Asda, Sainsbury's and Morrisons - finds itself squeezed by discounters Aldi and Lidl and upmarket grocers Waitrose and Marks & Spencer.
Tesco unveils a £1 billion UK revival plan, which includes upgrading stores, the recruitment of more staff and better prices and value. The initiative follows complaints that its 2,800 stores are cold and industrial with poor levels of service.
The retailer reports its first fall in annual profits in 19 years, with post-tax profit tumbling almost 96 per cent to £120 million from a year earlier.
The figure is hit by a £1.2 billion charge on the retailer's US Fresh & Easy chain of around 200 stores as it confirms it will leave the country.
The firm also suffers a £804 million write-down in the UK on land for more than 100 major stores, bought at the height of the property boom, which will no longer be developed.
The supermarket promises to spend an additional £200 million on lower prices for basic products, such as carrots, tomatoes, onions, peppers and cucumbers.
It will also rein in annual capital spending to no more than £2.5 billion for at least the next three years as a result of the dramatic reduction in store expansion - nearly half the £4.7 billion spent in 2008/09.
Mr Clarke brushes off speculation about his future despite little sign that his £1 billion plan to turn around the retail juggernaut is bearing fruit.
Profits fall 6.9 per cent to £3.05 billion for the year to February 22 while fourth-quarter like-for-like sales slump by 3 per cent as its UK market share falls to 28.6 per cent in the 12 weeks to March 31, from 29.7 per cent in the same period a year earlier.
Till-roll figures from Kantar Worldpanel show a decline in Tesco's market share to 29% in the 12 weeks to May 25, compared with 30.5 per cent a year earlier.
A day later, the chain reports a 3.7 per cent fall in like-for-like sales for the first quarter of its financial year. It is a performance that Mr Clarke admits is the worst he has seen in four decades at the supermarket chain.
At the company's annual meeting, chairman Sir Richard Broadbent asks shareholders to give management more time to complete their turnaround plans.
Tesco announces that Mr Clarke will step down from the board on October 1 to be replaced by Unilever executive Dave Lewis.
Sales and trading profit in the first half of the year are 'somewhat below' expectations, the company adds.
Tesco issues profit warning to tell the markets that it expects its first-half profits will be £400million less than expected. It slashes dividend payments by 75 per cent and £1billion is wiped off the company's market value. The change at the top of the supermarket is brought forward by a month in order to allow Mr Lewis to commence a review of 'every aspect' of the group's operations.
Company launches an investigation after admitting that its previously warned of fall in takings actually over-estimated profits by as much as £250million. The error relates to timing issues on when Tesco's UK business reports the income it receives from suppliers. Supermarket then admits that it was without a finance director in the five months leading up to the accounting scandal.
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domain: news


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Ever since 9-11, there has been acute concern about preventing “the next” big attack on our nation.
Will it be a suitcase bomb, anthrax in the mail, an attack on our mass transit systems, or perhaps a nuclear device smuggled into one of our ports–all very frightening scenarios!
The last one though has been of particular fascination and concern given the amount of commerce that passes through our ports–more than 95% of our international trade–and hence the damage that could be done to our economy should these ports be hit as well as the challenges in being able adequately screen all the containers coming through–a massive undertaking.
Wired Magazine (November 2011) did a feature story on this topic in an article called “Mystery Box.”
The article highlights the unbelievable damage that could occur if a dirty bomb (“a radiological dispersion device”) were to get through in one of the millions of 20 foot long by 8 foot wide shipping containers out there–aside from the risk to lives, “it would result in a major national freak-out…cause billions and billions of dollars in economic damage…dirty bombs are weapons of mass disruption.”
While 99% of shipping containers are scanned when they arrive in the U.S., DHS is supposedly challenged in implementing a bill requiring scanning every container before they enter the U.S.–“some 66,000 [containers] a day.“
Instead “100 percent screening” is being pursued where, shipping information is checked before arrival–including vessel, people, and cargo, origination, and destination–and when an anomaly or cause for concern is detected–if there is a U.S. Customs Officer at the origination port, they can check it there already.
However, there are still at least four major issues affecting our port security today:
1) Most containers are still checked only once they actually get onshore.
2) The scanners are too easily foiled–“most detectors are set to ignore low radiation levels. [And] basic shielding would be enough to mask all but the strongest sources.”
3) Thoroughly scanning every container is consideredtoo time-consuming using current processes and technology and therefore, would adversely affect our commerce and economy.
4) Around the world “Customs tends not focus on containers being transshipped [those moving from ship to ship]. Their attitude is ‘It’s not my container, it’s just passing through.'”
This is a perfect example of technology desperately needed to address a very serious issue.
Certainly, we cannot bring our economy to a standstilleither by unnecessarily checking every “widget” that comes over or by risking the catastrophic effects of a WMD attack.
So for now, we are in a catch-22, darned if we do check everything as well as if we don’t.
This is where continued research and development, technological innovation, and business process reengineering must be directed–to secure our country sooner than later.
The risks are being managed best we can for now, but we must overcome the current obstacles to screening bybreaking the paradigm that we are boxed into today.
(Source Photo: here)


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GHO Sydney has appointed Domenic Bartolo, who joins the independent agency in the newly-created role of design director.
Bartolo has over 20 years’ experience in senior design roles in both Sydney and London. For the past two-and-a-half years he has been head of design at LIDA Australia, part of the M&C Saatchi Group.
Bartolo has also worked as design director at agencies including Cummins and Partners and DDB Sydney. His campaigns have been recognised at Cannes, OneShow, Spikes Asia, AWARD and AGDA.
Some of his recent work includes LIDA Australia’s Change The Future for 350.org Australia, which was recognised at the AGDA Design Awards 2019. His Remembrance Day campaign, Reflections, for the Royal Australian Navy, was an AWARD finalist in 2018.
On his appointment, Bartolo said: “I’m really excited to be working with Ryan, Hamish and the wider team at GHO. I was really attracted to GHO because it has a great group of talented and nice people and a diverse range of clients. It’s an exciting time to be joining the agency, and I hope to help build on the phenomenal momentum they have created.”
GHO’s executive creative director, Ryan Chao, added: “We couldn’t be more excited to have someone of Dom’s capabilities joining the agency. With his experience across brand design, illustration and art direction, he’s the perfect addition to the team. We’re excited to see how his craft complements our expertise in UX/UI.”
Visual Capitalist‘s ‘Generational Power Index‘ for 2021 has found that millennials have the highest share of power in terms of digital platform and celebrity. Despite coming second last in terms of overall economic, political and cultural power (with Gen Zs at the bottom), Millennials hold significant power in terms of the digital world, particularly in the […]
Prime Video Presents Australia 2021, held at Crown Sydney on Tuesday afternoon, showcased an immense array of Australian content coming soon to the small screen. Presented by comedian Joel Creasey, attendees included a range of Australian talent in-person and onscreen including comedians and writers Kate McLennan and Kate McCartney, AFL Hall of Fame player Michael […]
Social media platform Twitter may soon come with a monthly price tag, as rumours about ‘Twitter Blue’ continue to swirl. It has long been suggested that Twitter should take to a subscription model as a way to increase the overall monetisation of the userbase. According to analysts, Twitter’s average revenue per user (ARPU) is around […]
The early results for Apple’s new iOS 14.5 are in. In this piece, Kat Warboys, Marketing Director, APAC at HubSpot explains what the evolving consumer expectations around privacy mean for businesses. The world of security and data privacy is constantly evolving, and while many marketers are now used to this rollercoaster ride, this month’s iOS […]
Fiverr, one of the world’s largest online marketplaces for digital services, has launched ‘Bill’s Billboards’, an initiative to help boost the local economy by creating free ads for local businesses and running them across $250,000 worth of billboard space. The ads in question were made by an award-winning Fiverr freelancer, who set himself up on […]
The Wellness Rebellion with Maz Compton and Dr Sam Hay is a reset on everything we know about our health and wellness, uncovering the truth and debunking the trends with science-based wellness information to improve your everyday wellbeing. Each episode in the new weekly podcast series will see Compton and Dr Hay discuss a wellness […]


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MENLO PARK, Calif. – Facebook is getting more selective about which video shows on Watch, its video-on-demand service, can be monetized with mid-roll ads, according to a report in Digiday.
Publishers that have both sold shows to Facebook and created independent Watch pages say Facebook has become disappointed in the overall quality of much of the programming done for Watch – a situation that has left Facebook with little ad demand.
One publishing source told Digiday that when Facebook first launched Watch last August, it sought a lot of shows quickly. “The incentive was that we’d be able to run mid-roll ads, and there was going to be a distribution bump because Facebook was favoring longer videos,” the unnamed source noted.
Initially, Facebook required videos to be at least three minutes long to run mid-roll ads, and ad breaks can’t appear until one minute into the video. Now, Facebook is advising publishers to hold off with new shows and adds that “monetization is going to take some time.”
Sahil Patel, a reporter with Digiday, says the issue seems related to quality ad inventory and brand safety, “and the fact that Facebook still can’t get enough people to actually watch and complete the mid-roll ads.”
One source told Patel that Facebook has been telling media partners the new vetting is an attempt at “ensuring quality content.”
Patel says the less control Facebook has over who gets to publish inside Watch, the more likely the platform will include cheaper fare that doesn’t align with the idea of Watch being a premium, TV-like environment for professionally produced shows.
“I’m already starting to see the bastardization of shows,” said one source. “Some companies are launching show pages with content that isn’t actual shows; they’re just three-minute prank videos.”
Analysts say that, ultimately, these moves are part of Facebook's broader play to lure TV ad dollars that are increasingly shifting to digital.
In addition to focusing on curating "quality" content, Facebook is reportedly bolstering its Watch video push by bringing in talent from other companies. Last week, Facebook hired the former head of Buzzfeed Studios, Matthew Henick, to lead the company's global video content strategy and planning as well as former Pinterest ad product lead Mike Bidgoli to head the company's Watch product team. Both hires confirm Facebook's shifting Watch strategy as it looks to boost viewership of the section's content.
Some say in curating more premium content for Watch, Facebook aims to overcome its social rivals, Snapchat and Twitter, who are stepping up their TV-like content offerings.
Snapchat plans to double the number of shows it creates this year to 80, while Twitter unveiled nearly a dozen live programs for its platform last year.


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If you're looking to kick your workout up another notch, there's some good news.
Nike and Apple have announced they'll be workout partners this year.
The two companies will be working with gym equipment manufacturers and health clubs to allow members to plug their iPod Nanos into cardio equipment.
You'll be able to track your workouts, set goals and upload the information to a Nike website.
This marks the second time Nike and Apple have teamed up.
The new technology is expected to hit more than 500 gyms worldwide this summer.
Are you looking forward to this at your gym? Let me know!
Email me at email@example.com or leave a comment underneath this story.
YouTube is going live.
The company's co-founder Steve Chen says the site plans to launch a live video service.
YouTube had always wanted to offer live video, but lacked the resources.
But now with Google on their side they can make it happen.
Live video isn't new to the Internet, Yahoo launched a similar service in February.
YouTube hopes to go live sometime this year.
If you have any Dot-Com Desk story ideas please e-mail me at firstname.lastname@example.org


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The CEO of health and nutrition company ViSalus Sciences beats a posh path when he travels.
|2 million Facebook, Gmail and Twitter passwords stolen in massive hack|
|Fast food worker: Protest didn't cost me pay|
|Job growth drives mortgage rate jump|
|Investors brace for big dip in stocks|
|GM to discontinue Chevrolet brand in Europe|


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Pagani has released the fourth teaser video for their new C9 supercar. Just as previous teasers, this one doesn’t reveal much, we get to se a man draw the new Pagani supercar, and in the end Horacio Pagani mentions the word Huayra, which means “wind” in the ancient Quechua language.
This is quite interesting as different reports have suggested the car could be called also Deus Venti. After watching the new teaser it is more likely that it will be called Huayra, rather than Deus Venti.
The Pagani Huayra is expected to make its official debut in March at the Geneva Motor Show, before going on sale for around £800,000.


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- Oops!Something went wrong.Please try again later.
(Corrects academic degree to chemical engineering in 6th paragraph)
By Gary McWilliams
HOUSTON, Aug 9 (Reuters) - Phillips 66, the fourth largest U.S. oil refiner, is weighing a broader move into developing battery components for electric vehicles and storage systems, according to top executives, leveraging its own and others' research as it accelerates a shift from fossil fuels.
Phillips 66, which gets the bulk of its profits from processing oil into gasoline, diesel and petrochemicals, has become one of the largest supplies of a graphite used to make a key component in electric vehicles. It recently formed an "emerging energy" unit to explore new markets for hydrogen and low-carbon fuels.
"The U.S. refining business in the future is going to be smaller, not bigger," Chief Executive Greg Garland told reporters at its headquarters on Monday.
Battery research and partnerships would pivot beyond its small but lucrative materials business. Phillips 66's existing business - supplying materials for companies building graphite anodes for EV batteries - has been valued at more than $1 billion. The anode is about 10% to 15% of a lithium-ion battery's cost.
"We want to play a larger role in the value chain," said Chief Operating Officer Mark Lashier. "We are still looking at the entire chain and how to best integrate that."
Lashier, who holds a PhD in chemical engineering, became Phillips 66's second-in-command in April after running the Chevron-Phillips Chemical joint venture since 2017. The company also is building EV charging and hydrogen refueling stations in Europe as it explores non-fossil fuel businesses.
"There is going to be a battery supply chain in North America, a battery supply chain in Europe," said Garland. "That's an opportunity for us: To take a raw material competitive advantage and lever that further down the value chain in batteries."
Phillips 66 this week said it invested $150 million to buy a 16% stake in Novonix Ltd, an Australian company that processes refinery byproducts into synthetic graphite for EV batteries.
Earlier it struck a technology deal with U.K.-based Faradion Ltd to develop materials for sodium-ion batteries, another type of advanced batteries for energy storage and backup power.
The agreements give Phillips 66 insight into key battery developments that it can use to build its business, said Lashier. (Reporting by Gary McWilliams Editing by Marguerita Choy)


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This joining of forces seeks to educate the public and private sectors on the increasing risk posed by counterfeits and to encourage development of preventive measures.
Applied DNA Sciences is a security technology firm based in New York. They provide authentication solutions that help to protect against theft, counterfeiting, fraud and diversion. Read about their SigNature® DNA anti-counterfeiting authentication solution in our recent blog post.
LMI is a private, not-for-profit, leading consultancy who are committed to helping government leaders and managers reach decisions that make a difference.
"Supply chains critical for commerce and security are under attack. In the electronics arena, remarking, cloning, and manufacture from salvaged die are creating increasingly sophisticated counterfeits.” said Joe Doyle, senior consultant for LMI. “A cutting edge technology company in this space working with a leading supply chain consultancy is just the sort of collaboration that can make a difference,” Doyle added.
To read the press release in full, please visit the Applied DNA Sciences website, or to read Atlantis Electronics counterfeit policy, please visit our website.


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According to KEVIN MELTZER, Business Development Director at Consology, Web-based online Self-Service is eclipsing email as the electronic channel of choice for delivering statements, bills and invoices to customers because it offers a richer user experience and a more secure environment than email.
He says that current marketplace trends point towards email losing favour as a channel for communicating sensitive information both among consumers and companies. One major reason for this is that email is no longer seen as a trusted channel. The battle for email communications has been dominated by spammers and phishing. A recent report by the global anti-virus company Symantec says spam made up 92% of all worldwide electronic messages sent in July 2010.
In addition, more and more online users – particularly teens and young working adults – are embracing highly interactive Web 2.0 services such as Facebook and Twitter over email as their preferred means of communicating with friends, families and even companies they deal with. Electronic communication has shifted and email has been left behind.
Says Meltzer: “Over the past few years, email has become so bedevilled by security issues such as phishing, spam, malware and scams that service providers such as banks are telling customers not to trust anything they receive in their mailboxes. Email is not the world of legitimate business anymore: the spammers and scammers have won.””
‚Corporate firewalls often shred legitimate communications such as bills and statements before they reach customers,‚ adds Meltzer. Concerns about malware and phishing mean responsible companies can no longer ask their users to click on links in emails, open any attachments or make use of interactive features in the email.
“”That means email becomes a static medium that adds no value beyond the paper bill. For an increasing portion of Internet users, email is just not good enough anymore. By contrast, the Web portal model allows companies to offer a range of value-added services alongside bill presentment and payment in a secure online environment,‚ says Meltzer.
For example, information-rich bills such as cellular accounts contain a wealth of data. Online account management through a Web portal can allow users to group and chart information, manipulate data, or look up past statements. That functionality can be very powerful for corporate customers – they could pull up details of their highest spending users from their cellular network’s portal.
‚But the promise of the Web as a service channel goes far beyond billing,‚ says Meltzer. ‚Once companies start to present bills to customers through an online portal, they can begin transitioning to an online Self-Service model that allows customers to carry out many tasks online at their convenience.‚ Customers of a cellular network could apply to migrate from one cellular package to another, update their address details, activate new services or log and track a support request.
“”Each time a customer does one of these tasks online, he or she is taking the pressure of a phone call off your contact centre. Customers also like to help themselves and love the transparency of online Self-Service,”” says Meltzer.
Initially email made sense as the primary communications channel between companies and customers when most users were using slow dial-up connections and were billed for phone usage per minute online. Now that many users have access to high-speed, always-on broadband connections, they are gravitating towards the rich functionality of Web portals rather than the static medium of email.
Meltzer says that many companies are still thinking about online billing as a way to achieve cost-savings for companies by removing paper and postage from their billing process. But the real value of the online channel comes from getting customers to answer questions and perform transactions themselves rather than picking up the phone to call you.
‚In industries such as telecoms, 60-80% of call centre enquiries are related to account issues such a customer disputing a bill or requesting that copies of the past year’s statements are faxed to him or her,‚ says Meltzer. An online portal can allow a customer to download historical statements or initiate a bill dispute in a process that is cheaper to the service provider than telephonic support and more convenient for the customer.
Online banking is an excellent form of Self-Service and an example of how online Web service will soon revolutionise other industries. “”If your bank said it would no longer send you your statements by email, you probably wouldn’t care,”” Meltzer says. “”But if it told you it was shutting down its online banking portal you’d probably start looking for a new bank the minute you heard the news.”” It is obvious which the preferred choice is and where the industry is moving to.


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Household spending sees biggest rise in five months
Spending by households returned to growth in March, having fallen in February. The Visa Consumer Spending Index, which measures expenditure across cash, cheques and electronic payments, was up 2.7pc.
It was the largest increase in spending in five months, led by a rise in expenditure in shops.
Spending on St Patrick's Day helped provide a boost to retailers. Consumers had been splashing out online and spending less in street shops.
The latest index figures show face-to-face spending was up for the first time since last October, with a rise of 2pc. Expenditure online was also up, but the rise of 4pc was the slowest in six months.
The index compilers said the overall of 2.7pc rise was the strongest in months, but the rate of growth was still weaker than the average seen since the series began in 2014.
Household goods posted the strongest expansion in March, seeing spending rise of almost 16pc in the year. Marked increases were also recorded in health and education, with a rise of 10pc. Expenditure in hotels restaurants and bars was up 7pc.
Recreation and culture spending was up, as was expenditure on clothing and footwear. The only two sectors to register declines were food and beverages and miscellaneous goods and services.
Ireland country manager at Visa Philip Konopik said St Patrick's Day provided a boost as the hotels, bars and restaurants and recreation and culture sectors both experienced a rise in expenditure.
"There was also a spike in expenditure on household goods, which rose at its fastest rate since November 2015."


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JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (WJHL) — It’s a new year, with new developments.
The Mall at Johnson City is moving closer to opening dates for a handful of businesses set to step foot on Shoppers Lane.
It is home to more than 60 national and local retail, dining and entertainment options.
Now, the Mall at Johnson City will add a few more eateries and retail stores to its roster, starting this Spring 2021.
“Home Goods is coming on board, Chicken Salad Chick and Chipotle,” said Johnson City-Jonesborough-Washington County Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Bob Cantler.
The Mall at Johnson City is one of Northeast Tennessee’s retail cores.
Cantler told Pheben Kassahun, “I think it enhances why people come to the Johnson City Mall. It’s not just for people in Washington County. There are folks traveling from North Carolina, from Virginia.”
According to the mall, Homegoods is slated to go where Sears was located. Chipotle Mexican Grill and Chicken Salad Chick will open on mall property in a new multi-tenant building at North Roan Street.
“It’s exciting because malls across the country right now are not growing. They’re getting smaller,” he said.
News Channel 11 reached out to Homegoods for an update on the project. A company spokesperson released this statement:
“Although we appreciate your inquiry, HomeGoods has not announced a new store in the Johnson City, TN area. When opening new stores, we tend to announce our plans when we believe the time is right to do so competitively. Generally speaking, it is our practice not to announce store openings until close to an intended opening date.”HANNAH BRAMHALL
Marketing Supervisor | HomeGoods / Homesense Public Relations
While business experts anticipate between 20 to 25 percent of malls to close by 2022, Cantler said the Mall at Johnson City will be far from the list of business casualties.
Additionally, the chamber’s 2021 strategic plan is to help small businesses grow by helping mom-and-pop store owners get access to resources like education and advocacy.
“One that I am most excited about is our mentor program to where we have established people who are already doing business in the area helping some of our startups and smaller, newer businesses to understand what the opportunities are, what the pitfalls are and how they can be successful,” Cantler said.
His hope is to reel in more young professionals as well.
He added, “The goal is to attract and retain our young professionals. Those anywhere from 25 to 35[of age], that they can have community, stay in East Tennessee and Johnson City and do what they do.”


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The New Ikea Item That Can Save You $298 A Year
Homewares giant Ikea has just released a new product that could save you hundreds of dollars a year! They've given rechargeable batteries a makeup over creating a new sleek, convenient and affordable model.
The batteries were released in Australian stores earlier this week and sell for $4.44 for a pack of four, while the portable charger costs just $4. It's fit with a USB port so you can charge on the go.
According to IKEA consumers have shied away from rechargeable batteries for many reasons in the past.
“Our customers told us that they find lots of challenges with using rechargeable batteries, such as that they are never charged when needed and require bulky charging stations,” says Ikea Australia Home Furnishing Expert Helen Longford.
“People also find them too costly.”
That's one of the reasons IKEA has been so careful about choosing a price that's realistic for all households. The Swedish store claims the rechargeable batteries are not only affordable but good for the environment, stating purchasing just one of their batteries can save up to 1500 disposable batteries from landfill.
"This is a really small change that anyone can make in their home to reduce waste” said Langford.


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IKEA is urgently asking for customers to check the dates on one of its products after a mice infestation was discovered.
They’re known for their low-cost, quality furniture and home ware but the flatpack furniture store also has an enthusiastic foodie fan-base.
Who doesn’t love a plate of those Swedish meatballs? Or maybe a 99p hotdog is more your thing… In fact, the support is so high that last year they revealed that they were considering launching stand-alone restaurants.
But now, IKEA has been forced to issue an urgent recall of the Godis Paskkyckling mashmallows following the discovery of a mice infestation at the warehouse where they are made.
The Food Standards Agency (FSA) is requesting that customers who bought 100g packets of the sweets in 2018, check the dates and return the packs for a full refund.
According to the FSA all batches of the sweets sold in 2018 have been affected. It warned: ‘[The] product may have been subject to mice infestation which makes it unsafe to eat.’
IKEA and the FSA have urged customers not to eat these sweets and to return them to store for a refund
The sweets have a best before date between October 23 2018 and January 5 2019. If you have a pack at home, you should check the date on the back of the packaging, and customers are urged not to eat the sweets.
Instead, you should take the packet back to your local IKEA store where you will receive a full refund, even if you no longer have the receipt.
IKEA’s notice read: ‘Food safety is a priority at IKEA and as a precautionary measure, we are recalling GODIS PÅSKKYCKLING, marshmallow candy 100g. We see this recall as a necessary step to live up to our high-quality food safety standards and we apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.’


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to an announcement made this past week by Peru’s Minister of
Agriculture, Adolfo De Cordova, approximately 33,000 farmers currently
practice organic growing methods.
With 273,000 hectares
certified thus far for organic growing nationwide, the Ministry of
Agriculture is also providing technical support to nearly 10,000
This trend supports a previous decision made by some
regional governments to ban genetically modified crops and support
organic growing instead.
Thousands of varieties of foods such
as potatoes have thus been protected along with people's health and the
country’s ancient culture.
A green salute, Minister De
Cordova, all organic growers and Peru for your noble leadership in this
sustainable practice. Wishing similar measures for all governments to
bring the highest benefit of nutritious fruits and vegetables to people


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Microsoft hints that cloud gaming is the future of the Xbox
Microsoft's Brian Prince has used his appearance at this year's GDC China to drop some tantalising hints on the future of the Xbox platform.
Prince indicated that cloud gaming services similar to those run by OnLive an Gaikai are on their way to the Xbox adding that the distant future of gaming lies in the cloud.
He teased further saying: "you will be seeing things in the Xbox platform that's cloud-specific. I'm already doing it, it's really exciting, but I can't tell you about it or else I'll get fired."
Numerous rumours are circulating on when the next Xbox will first surface but it is seeming more and more likely that nothing will be properly announced until 2013 although some sources indicate that it could appear at the 2012 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas in January.
Thanks Develop Online.


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Langton Capital – 2020-08-17 – Working from home, evictions, EOTHO, Yo! Sushi, bowling etc.:
Working from home, evictions, EOTHO, Yo! Sushi, bowling etc.:
A DAY IN THE LIFE:
So, where the heatwave has exited stage left, there’s mist over the lawn & the smell of mushy apples on the air meaning that autumn is upon us.
Bit busy today so we’ll have to move on to the news. Follow us on Twitter at @brumbymark.
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CHANGES TO WORKING PRACTICES: There is much speculation about which, if any, Covid-19 changes to working practices will become permanent. 17 Aug 2020:
The shock to the system:
• The pandemic has put everyone at an unexpected crossroads in their lives, corporate or otherwise. See Premium Email re working from home & implication for coffee shops, grab n go etc.
PUB & RESTAURANT NEWS:
• Next month, the lease eviction moratorium is set to end. How are you getting on with your landlords? Comments welcome & we’ll distribute an anonymised note on the subject to contributors and to the premium list later in the week.
• Similarly, any comments on changed working practices, the suburbs and London ‘villages’ versus the capital and city centres would be most welcome.
Still abnormal for some:
• Despite continued lockdown easing, nightclubs must remain closed leading Michael Kill of the NTIA, to say ‘whilst there is much to be welcomed in this announcement for many businesses, it leaves many in our sector beleaguered.’ Mr Kill says ‘it’s as if the Government are letting us slip through the cracks between the various well-intentioned schemes. A VAT cut when you just can’t open at all is not of any help. Late night venues in towns and cities across the country are facing catastrophe.’
• The NTIA says ‘that will be a tragedy for the business owners, their staff and their customers. But there will be a consequential set of problems when people, particularly youngsters, are left with nowhere to go for music and social entertainment. Instead, we’ll see a further rise in illegal raves and street parties which present a new set of challenges. We renew our call on the Government. You have to help us more with direct financial support.’
• The Mail on Sunday suggests that ‘tens of thousands of staff will never return to full-time office work in the City of London under plans being drawn up by some of Britain’s biggest companies.’ This comes as a result of changes in working practices & despite calls by Mayor Sadiq Khan and others that commuters should return to the Capital.
• Accountants PwC say that there may be plans for ‘’50 to 60 per cent’ of its staff to work flexibly on a permanent basis after the Covid 19 crisis passes.’ Insurance company Lloyds is among many others currently drawing up rota plans that should allow staff to return to the office only on certain days. Moves such as the above will have negative implications for the Capital’s F&B operations. Schroders is amongst other employers reported to have told staff that they will not need to come back into the office full time after the pandemic passes.
• Commenting on the US market, Alix Partners suggests that consumers are becoming more comfortable with the idea of dining out. In the UK, the move towards normality has been aided by the EOTHO scheme, which today is available for the third Monday in August.
• In the US, Alix Partners says ‘consumers are gaining more confidence. But as they gain more confidence, their expectations are actually rising.’ Spend is still low by historic standards but Alix Partners maintains that ‘it’s not all doom and gloom.’ It says consumers ‘want to go. They need to leave the house, but they want to feel safe.’
• Slightly worryingly, in the US, the proportion of those surveyed saying that they would prefer to cook at home for the time being remained the same at 61%. Alix Partners suggests that concerns could have shifted away from fears re Covid-19 and on towards concerns re the price of eating out. Some 43% of those surveyed had eaten in a restaurant since reopening.
• Fourth reports on the EOTHO scheme saying that it has been ‘remarkably successful…in boosting sales, with restaurant companies benefiting the most from the Government-backed initiative, followed by the pub and bar sector, and then QSR.’
• Fourth reports that ‘sales were up 50% between Monday-Wednesday in the opening week of the EOTHO initiative (3-5 August), when compared to the previous week. Restaurants enjoyed a 70% sales increase across this period, with pubs up 26% and QSR up 22%.’ We had heard bigger numbers. Fourth, however, goes on to say that the turnover figures mentioned do not include the cheque due from the government in payment to cover the discounts. It says ‘once these numbers are added in there will be a further increase in these figures.’
• Fourth suggests that ‘the initiative is not cannibalising weekend trade.’ Anecdotally, we have heard that Thursday was impacted but that the weekend trade is ‘a different crowd’. Fourth says ‘there was a slight drop off in sales for the second week of the EOTHO initiative, with sales down collectively 13% between Monday-Wednesday (10-12 August), when compared with the opening week.’
• There is only so much money out there to be spent but we had heard, albeit maybe from operators with more to brag about than most, that the opposite was the case. Fourth says that, week on week, ‘QSR experienced a 30% decrease in sales, pubs and bars a 20% fall, and restaurant sales were down 6%.’
• Fourth concludes ‘the Government’s Eat Out to Help Out initiative has had a significant impact in driving footfall to hospitality venues between Monday to Wednesday. Reinstating consumer confidence in the safety of eating and drinking out of home is paramount to getting the industry back on its feet and on track to achieving pre-Covid operating levels. The good weather has also encouraged consumers to return to hospitality venues.’
• Entrepreneur Hugh Osmond has told the Sunday Times that discounting in the casual dining industry is like heroin. He says ‘you get on it and you cannot get off — it kills you.’ He goes on to say that customer loyalty is in short supply, adding re customers ‘give them a voucher for Strada one week and they’ll go there, give them one for Pizza Express another week and they’ll go there. They’re the worst — no loyalty to the brand.’
• Mr Osmond has lodged documents in the US setting out plans to raise up to $345m (£263m) for a new vehicle to pursue a big acquisition. Broadstone, the proposed vehicle, will be a ‘blank cheque company’ funded in order to take advantage of the deals that will become available in the hospitality industry.
• Mr Osmond is reportedly set to list his Various Eateries chain on London’s AIM market next month in a move that should raise about £25m. He says that very good sites are becoming available adding ‘post-Covid is the first time since the early Nineties that you can get these types of sites.’
• ‘Realistic’ plant-based meat substitute company THIS has raised £3.6m on the Seedrs crowd-funding platform.
• Pubs and clubs across Spain have been told to close as a result of a spike in coronavirus cases. Hopefully, other than on a local basis, similar moves will not be deemed necessary in the UK.
• The outlook for F&B outlets, other than grab n go, at transport hubs continues to look uncertain. Deloitte has said that passengers will have to spend more time in airports being screened and less time spending money. Deloitte says ‘most leisure travellers spend quite a lot of time around an airport browsing or shopping [or eating & drinking, we would suggest]. But we need to limit the amount of time at the airport in the short term – not have travellers turn up two, three, four hours before a flight.’ The accountant says ‘less dwell time has wider implications. If people spend less time in shops that has a direct consequence on airport revenues.’
Job losses etc.
• Yo! Sushi is to cut 250 or so jobs when it closes 19 of its 69 outlets as a part of its proposed CVA. Yo! is thought likely to close a number of sites at travel hubs. Wise move. Yo’s Richard Hodgson says ‘while we have already taken measures to reduce costs, rents remain an issue. In the current climate, it’s just not viable for us to keep any sites that no longer perform.’
• River Island is to cut 350 jobs, Yo is to cut 250 and Debenhams is reported to be drawing up contingency plans for a possible liquidation if it is not able to exit administration successfully. The department store chain says it is currently ‘trading strongly’ and adds that the planning didn’t mean a liquidation was likely.
• New West End reports that West End footfall was 7% down on Thursday last week compared with the same day the week earlier. This is too small a sample to call a trend, but it may suggest that any recovery in volumes could be bumpy rather than smooth.
• The BRC is to plead with the government to take the current opportunity to thoroughly overhaul the UK’s system of business rates.
HOLIDAYS & LEISURE TRAVEL:
• There have been calls for the UK to adopt a five day rather than a 14dy quarantine period as Croatia may be added to the list of countries where returnees will be required to quarantine themselves for 14dys upon their return.
• There were not the scenes of chaos perhaps expected at channel ports and the Tunnel over the weekend as many Brits chose to return early from their holidays in order to avoid the need to quarantine.
• Sky reports that ‘many British holidaymakers have opted to remain in France’ and to cross the quarantine bridge when they come to it. Cross border regulations are being tightened across Europe.
• More reflections on TUI’s H1 numbers. The co says it has seen ‘strong bookings’ adding that there are alternative destinations when countries are removed from ‘safe lists’. Group CEO Fritz Joussen says ‘we had almost 1.7 million bookings since the restart which is a lot.’
• Luton Airport has reported July passenger numbers down 74% on the same month last year.
• Fred Olsen cruises is to make a third of its Head Office staff, around 70 individuals, redundant.
• Airbnb’s decision to prevent under 25yr olds in the UK, France & Spain from booking houses on its platform, could be open to legal challenge some commentators have suggested.
• The WTTC and UK Inbound have said that the UK’s decision to add more countries to its quarantine list was ‘deeply disappointing’. The WTTC says ‘this move will crush what little confidence there is left in the fragile travel and tourism sector.’ Considering the situation relating to incoming tourists, UK Inbound says ‘the removal of France and the Netherlands from the travel corridor list is another devastating blow to the already fragile tourism industry. They are crucial markets for the UK and both in the top ten for spend and visits.’
• See our comments on dwell time above under Pubs, Bars & Restaurants. Reduced dwell-time will cut into airport revenues.
• Brittany Ferries has said that many passengers are making an ‘informed personal decision’ despite quarantine restrictions.
• Labour’s Nick Thomas Symonds has called on the government to publish the scientific evidence it cites in its decision to add a number of countries to the list of destinations requiring a period of quarantine on return.
• BVA BDRC says that only 8% of UK adults plan to take an overseas holiday before the end of September. Up to 25% plan to book a flight before the end of this year with 50% prepared to fly before the end of next year.
• Jet2holidays it to extend the suspension of its flights and holidays programme to the Algarve up to and including August 23 departures.
• The US CDC, which asked for comments regarding potential customers’ attitudes towards the cruise industry, has said that the majority of these came back as positive.
• STR reports that US hotel occupancy hit 49.9% last week.
• Both Hollywood Bowl and Ten Entertainment have commented on their reopening plans. Hollywood Bowl Group says it will reopen 49 of its 55 English bowling centres on 15 August 2020. It is ‘confident that it has implemented the necessary measures to provide a safe and enjoyable leisure experience for its team and customers.’
• Meanwhile, Ten Entertainment says it will open 35 of 39 Centres in England on 15 August and adds that its 3 Centres in Wales are already open. It says the 38 units that will be open account for 86% of group turnover. Chairman Nick Basing says ‘we are fully prepared and looking forward to bringing people and families together and delivering entertainment in a very safe way.’
FINANCE & ECONOMICS:
• Japan reports that its economy contracted by 7.8% in the April to June quarter.
• Rightmove has reported that more than £37bn worth of property sales were agreed in July, making it the busiest month for home buying for 10 years.
• Sterling up vs dollar at $1.3094 but down vs Euro at €1.1045. Oil slightly higher at $45.19. UK 10yr gilt yield unchanged at 0.25%. World markets mixed on Friday with London set to open virtually unchanged (as at 7am).
START THE DAY WITH A SONG:
The song has been furloughed. See you on the other side.
RETAIL WITH NICK BUBB:
• Saturday’s Press and News (1): The headlines on the front pages of the Saturday papers generally moved on from the A-level results fiasco to the French holiday quarantine fiasco: the Times went with “Free appeals for pupils over poor exam grades”, but the Daily Mail warned “Get out of France now…or you’ll miss school”, the Guardian flagged “Exodus from France in bid to avoid quarantine” , the Telegraph ran with “Testing could end “quarantine roulette”” and the FT noted “Staycation bookings rocket as new quarantine rules set in”.
• Saturday’s Press and News (2): In terms of Retailing/Business stories, the Retail Week front cover feature on the rise of Gymshark on Friday proved remarkably propitious, given the news that a US private equity fund has invested c£200m for a 20% stake in the business, as noted by the FT (“Gymshark grows from parent’s garage to £1bn brand”), inter alia. John Lewis was also in focus, with the Guardian running a News story that it plans to enter the furniture rental business, whilst the Telegraph ran an uncritical article about the news that the Major of Birmingham, one Andy Street, still claims to be “astounded” by the final decision to close the ill-conceived John Lewis store in Birmingham Grand Central.
• Saturday’s Press and News (3): The Telegraph also flagged that Amazon is to create 1000 “jobs” by opening a new warehouse in Nottinghamshire and its Business Editorial weighed in on the controversial new CVA plan of New Look to link all its store rents to turnover (“New Look rent battle can reform High Street”), arguing that “landlords have been getting fat on a horribly outdated upwards-only rent model for decades”. The Times took advantage of the Royal photo opportunity provided by the news that the struggling Jigsaw fashion chain is planning 20 store closures and it also noted that the struggling QUIZ fashion chain has extended its banking facilities and that no less than 300 cases of COVID-19 have been discovered amongst staff at an M&S sandwich factory in Northampton. Finally, the Guardian had a detailed feature on the problems of charity shops: “Sales slump but lockdown
• Sunday’s Press and News (1): Many of the headlines on the front pages of the Sunday papers were about exam results: the Sunday Times went with “Exam results chaos to end in court battle”, whilst the Observer flagged “Controversial algorithm to set GCSE results”, but the Sunday Telegraph ran with the Health Minister’s decision to scrap Public Health England (“Hancock axes ‘failing’ public health body”) and the Mail on Sunday noted the Home Secretary’s undiplomatic remarks about the French treatment of migrants (”Priti in racist French storm”)…
• Sunday’s Press and News (2): In terms of Retail/Property stories, the Mail on Sunday went overboard on the Sky News report that the vulture fund Hilco has been brought in to help with a potential liquidation of the beleaguered Debenhams with a page 2 News story headlined “14,000 jobs at risk as Debenhams teeter son the brink”, but there was more nuanced coverage in the Business stories in the Sunday Times and the Sunday Telegraph, which noted that the Hilco move is merely “contingency planning”. The main Business story in the Sunday Telegraph was that Tesco is lining up free Online Grocery delivery for Clubcard Plus customers to fight the threat from Amazon Fresh, whilst the main Business story in the Sunday Times was that Mike Ashley has tabled a £30m big with the administrators of the bankrupt DW sports and gym chain.
• Sunday’s Press and News (3): The Sunday Times also had articles about the way in which Gymshark plans to take on mighty Nike and Adidas and the problems of the family-run Lakeland homewares chain (“Middle England’s cookware darling”). The Sunday Times also had an interesting list of the Retail luminaries who have fallen foul of “Culture clashes” after being appointed CEO (including Christos Angelides, John Browett and Kate Bostock). And the Sunday Times’ “Inside the City” investment column looked at the high-flying Naked Wines and said the shares are a Sell (“Quaffing Naked may lead to a hangover”). There were also a couple of feature articles about the M&S/Ocado tie-up: the Mail on Sunday flagged that M&S Food is starting TV commercials to remind customers that it has brought down its prices on so-called “bread and butter” lines (“Now M&S price war with Waitrose really
• Sunday’s Press and News (4): In terms of all the Economics columns in the Sunday papers, we would, as per usual, highlight the thoughtful column by the Sunday Times Economics correspondent David Smith (“Worried about debt? Not in a world running on MMT”), in which he noted the implausible claims of Modern Monetary Theory about unlimited Government spending. We would also flag the column by the veteran City commentator Jeremy Warner in the Sunday Telegraph (“What has become of Britain that it cannot get its Covid strategy right?”), in which he lamented “the Governments’ persistent wrong-footedness”, as well as the column by the Observer Economics correspondent (“Britain isn’t “recovering”, whatever the Bank may suggest”).
• News Flow This Week: As we move even further on into the “dog days” of August, the news cupboard is bare today, but there is actually a fair bit going on this week, kicking off tomorrow morning with the latest monthly Kantar/Nielsen grocery sales figures (for the 4 weeks to Aug 8th/9th), followed at lunchtime with the Asda/Walmart Q2 results. The much-delayed final results from the hapless Frasers Group (aka Sports Direct) then come out on Thursday, along with the AO.com AGM. First thing on Friday we then get the widely followed GFK Consumer Confidence index for August, as well as the ONS Retail Sales figures for July…
TRADING STATEMENTS & EVENTS:
Upcoming results are set out below:
• 18 Aug 20 ASDA trading update
• 20 Aug 20 Tasty AGM
• 21 Aug 20 GfK consumer confidence numbers
• 2 Sept 20 Gym Group H1 numbers
• 8 Sept 20 Fever Tree H1 numbers
• 8 Sept 20 DP Eurasia H1 numbers
• 10 Sept 20 Morrison’s H1 numbers
• 10 Sept 20 Rank FY numbers
• 30 Sept 20 Compass Group FY update
• 30 Sept 20 Everyman Media H1 numbers
• 6 Oct 20 Restaurant Group H1 numbers
• 9 Oct 20 JD Wetherspoon FY numbers
• 3 Nov 20 DART Group AGM
• 24 Nov 20 Compass Group FY numbers
• 26 Nov 20 Britvic FY numbers
Many results are likely to be delayed. For information purposes, the results below were delivered at these dates last year.
2019 COMPARATIVE RESULTS:
15 Aug 19 Vianet trading update, 22 Aug 19 Playtech H1, 22 Aug 19 Sportech H1, 28 Aug 19 Loungers FY results, 28 Aug 19 Fulham Shore AGM, 30 Aug 19 Gear 4 Music AGM, 6 Sep 19 Greene King AGM, 10 Sep 19 888 Holdings H1, 12 Sep 19 Comptoir H1, 19 Sep 19 Diageo AGM, 19 Sep 19 City Pub Group H1, 19 Sep 19 Saga H1, 23 Sep 19 Brighton Pier Group FY, 24 Sep 19 TUI Group FY trading update, 24 Sep 19 DP Poland H1, 24 Sep 19 Ten Entertainment H1, 24 Sep 19 Hotel Chocolat FY, 24 Sep 19 AG Barr trading update, 24 Sep 19 Tasty H1, 25 Sep 19 Shepherd Neame FY, 26 Sep 19 Time Out H1, 26 Sep 19 M&B FY trading update, 26 Sep 19 SSP FY update. 27 Sep 19 Escape Hunt H1
• Comments from London mayor Sadiq Khan imploring office staff to get back to work & spend bring home just how hard it is to apply the defibrillator to the economy when you want it to spark back into life. Scrubbing the rust off will be quite a task.
• Book review in Premium Email, Factfulness by the late Hans Rosling. Worth a read. Optimistic & hopeful re global developments. Says slow progress is not the same as no progress. Things are better than you think. Really!
• Various confirmations that #EatOutToHelpOut has boosted trade. Observers of those sites not reopened for this mini bonanza are justified in asking ‘if you’re not open now, then will you ever?’ Those in travel hubs, City of London & Docklands perhaps have an excuse.
LANGTON CAPITAL: Made in Hull. Like all the best things. Langton Capital is a financial advisory company providing insightful views on the UK and global leisure industry and the wider consumer sector in general. Subscription to the daily email is free. Unsubscribing is painless. We provide daily off the shelf and bespoke research. We have helped with transactions, fund-raisings, disposals and other corporate issues. We have a good ear, we are impartial, independent and not half bad at what we do. If you think that we could help you or your business, drop us a line.


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Grazie Grazie Now Open at The Wharf
As many of you sandwich lovers know, Taylor Gourmet closed nearly all of its restaurants last year, including its location at the Wharf. This week, a new sandwich shop called Grazie Grazie opened in Taylor's old space.
The new shop was opened by Casey Patton, the former owner of Taylor Gourmet, and seems to be a similar concept. Fans of Taylor Gourmet will also be pleased to know that some popular menu items from Taylor's are included in the new Grazie Grazie menu.
We provided permit expediting and permit management services to Grazie Grazie and several other projects at the Wharf over the last couple years. Do you need permits for a new business in DC, MD, or VA? Contact our permit expediting team at firstname.lastname@example.org or call 703-972-8700.
img courtesy of instagram: graziegrazie_


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Patrons in Los Angeles’ Westside seeking a combination of food and entertainment won’t have to look beyond their own neighborhood for much longer. The Promenade at Howard Hughes Center has announced the addition of two new entertainment-focused restaurants, Dave & Buster’s and Buffalo Wild Wings.
Both restaurants are currently under construction, according to Belinda Jacobs, General Manager at The Promenade at Howard Hughes Center, who noted that Buffalo Wild Wings is set to open November 25, 2013, while Dave & Buster’s will debut in January 2014.
“These are exciting restaurants which will give our guests the opportunity to dine, play and be entertained any day of the week,” said Jacobs.
The timing of these two new additions is purposeful, according to Jacobs, who explained that The Promenade at Howard Hughes Center is undergoing a positive change in focus.
“The owner of the shopping center, Passco Companies, is in the process of shifting the focus of the center, positioning it as an entertainment hub for the area,” said Jacobs. “This is exciting news for local community members and tourists alike, as they will no longer have to travel outside of the Westside neighborhood to find entertainment options for themselves and their families.”
The new Dave & Buster’s will be one of the largest in the country, totaling over 40,207 square feet of entertainment and dining space. Known for its interactive, family-friendly atmosphere, which combines food, drinks and entertainment, Dave & Buster’s is well-loved for its arcade, which features hundreds of classic and new video games.
In addition, the restaurant’s menu features special items such as Spinach Dip, Peppercorn New York Strip, Dave’s™ Double Cheeseburger, Roasted Turkey Avocado BLT, and Parmesan-Crusted Chicken Caesar Salad. Along with its full restaurant menu, Dave & Buster’s also features a full bar with happy hour offerings, as well as signature cocktails, beer and wine. The bar is also host to nonstop sports viewing – televisions are set up throughout the bar area so guests never miss a game.
The new Buffalo Wild Wings at The Promenade at Howard Hughes Center will feature a full-service restaurant and sports bar focused on Buffalo wings, beer and live sports – the perfect trifecta for any sports lover.
The restaurant offers a variety of menu options, with a focus on Buffalo Wings, including both boneless and traditional wings in more than 20 different flavors. In addition, the restaurant offers appetizers, burgers, sandwiches, salads and a kid’s menu for guests to enjoy.
Each Buffalo Wild Wings features 30 or more flat screen televisions broadcasting every type of sporting event, from football, baseball and basketball to hockey and mixed martial arts. Buffalo Wild Wings also features a full bar with signature drinks and specialty cocktails, along with a wide variety of domestic, import, craft and specialty beers.
The Promenade at Howard Hughes Center currently offers guests a luxury movie theatre, Cinemark theatres, along with several dining options, such as Islands Fine Burgers and Drinks, Johnny Rockets, Kabuki Japanese Restaurant and Rubio’s Fresh Mexican Grill.
The Promenade at Howard Hughes Center is located at 6081 Center Drive in Los Angeles, Calif. More information is available at www.hhpromenade.com.


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The online currency Bitcoin plummeted more than 20 per cent today after Chinese regulators banned financial institutions from using it.
The value of the virtual currency declined from $1,240 to $870 on the Bitcoin trading exchange Mt. Gox.
Chinese regulators said Bitcoin does not possess the attributes of a currency and cannot be allowed to circulate as such. It also added that, while individuals are free to use it, it is at their own risk.
Former US Federal Reserve chairman Alan Greenspan and current chairman Ben Bernanke have also warned of the risks of Bitcoin.
Greenspan went as far as describing it as a "bubble" with no "intrinsic value" in a television interview. He also said there is no certainty of "where the money comes from".
While Bernanke highlighted that virtual currencies could lead to a "more secure and more efficient payment system", he also warned that the Fed does not have the authority to supervise or regulate the use of Bitcoin-like currencies, which have come under fire over allegations of money laundering and illicit payments.
The value of Bitcoin has soared in recent months, hitting the $1,200 mark, as enthusiasm for the virtual currency grows on prospects that it could become a legitimate form of payment in the near future.
Watch Greenspan in the video below:


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Facebook is fast becoming the host of real-money gambling games (RMG) as more Internet gaming operators are bringing their RMG platforms to the social network site. After Gamesys’ “Bingo & Slots Friendzy”, followed by 888’s “Bingo Appy” and “Magic888 Casino” and “Bonza Slots” by Bonza Gaming, the future additions will be “Paddy Power In-Play!”, “ZyngaPlusPoker” and “ZyngaPlusCasino.”
Paddy Power In-Play!
This will be Facebook’s first real-money sportsbetting offer, for which a trial version of a desktop application is about to launch in the weeks ahead. Paddy Power’s technological capabilities will gratify legal-aged UK players, as they will have an extensive menu of sporting events on which to place wagers, while interacting with their circle of FB friends and other users.
“ZyngaPlusPoker” and “ZyngaPlusCasino”
Although Facebook already has “ZyngaPoker” to offer as social gaming content, Zynga’s recently unveiled RMG platform, will add more novelty to FB’s array of RMG offerings to UK-based FB users, aged 18 and above. ZyngaPoker, as a social game, merely allows users to win or lose with virtual chips, albeit players have to purchase the chips with real money.
The “ZyngaPlusPoker” and “ZyngaPlusCasino” platforms are of the online gambling genre, in which UK’s FB users will have to open a real-money account with Zynga’s web-partner Bwin. That way, FB players can have direct access to an online deposit for purposes of buying chips or placing of wagers, as well as cashing out winnings gained from playing Zynga’s RMG at the social network site.
Still, just like all other regulated Internet gambling games, these Facebook RMG offerings are subject to tight regulations by UK’s gaming commission and must first pass regulatory approval before going live. Operators have to ensure that their systems have the ability to implement strict age- and geolocation-verification measures, among FB players.


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CEE distribution giant ABC Data is facing doubts over whether its sale to Switzerland-based rival ALSO will even go ahead, due to shareholder tension over the deal. CPI has learned that the deal has been racked with shareholder push-back over the terms of the deal and a lack of communication from the EU's anti-monopoly body over whether the sale is viable. In an ABC Data shareholder's meeting on 6 February, minority shareholder PZU Pension Company voted against ALSO's takeover bid. A source told...
Market watcher Context claims desktop demand has plummeted as users shift to notebooks
Collabtech opens HQ in UK
Big resellers are doing better than small ones during COVID-19, Arrow top brass say on Q2 earnings call
Andy Travers from Exclusive Networks on how the pandemic has driven home lessons on leadership, drawing on how the VAD’s team fared in Italy
Distribution giant confirms EBITDA targets for the year after stellar six-month period
“I don't want to wear Union Jack underpants - but our IT industry needs any help it can get," Mike Norris tells CRN as he opens up on Computacenter's international expansion plans
Revenue rises by over six per cent


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ALTON — Fashion takes flight in Alton on July 31 to help a local children’s hospice organization acquire a new vehicle and area therapist.
The first annual “Butterfly Beginnings: A Style Soiree” will allow guests to spend an evening checking out local boutique fashion trends and accessories while enjoying a live fashion show. The event begins at 5:30 p.m. at the Holiday Inn in Alton.
Dinner at 6:30 p.m. will be accompanied by live music from Ralph Butler and Gigi Stavros Darr. A stylish fashion show will follow at 7:15, emceed by celebrity entertainer Tess Boyer of Glen Carbon, who was a semi-finalist on NBC’s “The Voice” singing competition this season.
Guests also can shop local boutique submissions from hazel2blue, By Design, JMC Design Gallery, Macy’s, Jeni J’s Unique Gifts from Grafton, and The Belle of the Bow from Jerseyville.
Hair design and makeup trends will be on display through the models from Salon Couture in Godfrey.
Proceeds from the event will benefit the Wings program of BJC Hospice. Friends of Wings Illinois is raising money to bring a new Wings on Wheels vehicle and therapist to serve the Greater Alton area.
“We are so excited,” Friends of Wings board member and Butterfly Beginnings chair Brenda Eardley said. “We are a fairly new board for this side of the river, and we hope the event will not only be fun, but will be informative, letting people know more about Friends of Wings and how it can help children.”
Friends of Wings supports the nonprofit BJC Wings children’s hospice and palliative care program. The Wings program provides service to children who have progressive, life-threatening or life-limiting illnesses and also provides support to the families, who often are not financially equipped to pay the sometimes staggering medical bills.
Friends of Wings was formed 10 years ago in St. Louis.
“Everyone hopes they will never need these types of services, but the reality is that these services are needed,” Eardley said. “It’s good to know what’s available if that time arises, in that time of crisis. It’s such a great organization, and it’s not just for support of the children, but their families as well.”
All money raised from the event will stay in Illinois, something important to Eardley.
“Our hearts are heavy for all of these precious children fighting the fight,” she said. “If we can do one little thing to help ease the burden of the child or their family, we feel like we have made a tiny difference.”
The event begins at 5:30 p.m. with registration and cocktail hour. Tickets are $40, cash bar is available, and gift certificates will be awarded throughout the evening.
For more information, visit www.friendsofwings.org.


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Headed by Mukesh Ambani Reliance In the upcoming weeks, Jio is apparently preparing to introduce an inexpensive laptop in India under the name JioBook. According to reports, it is a 4G laptop, while a 5G version might be released later.
A Reuters story claims that Reliance Jio is developing a cheap 4G-capable laptop that will cost $184 (about $15,000). According to reports, the smartphone would have a Jio 4G SIM card built in. Since quite some time, Jio has been developing the JioBook, and some of the device’s features were revealed in a report in 2021.
For the JioBook, Reliance Jio has teamed with Qualcomm and Microsoft. Qualcomm will supply the chipsets for the gadget to the Indian carrier, but Microsoft is anticipated to give support for some of the applications.
According to the source, the JioBook could start being made accessible to enterprise clients this month, including businesses like schools and government agencies.
In the following three months, a more significant commercial launch is anticipated. According to the source, the company will first release a laptop with 4G capabilities, but a 5G version will follow. It’s interesting to note that Jio and Airtel recently announced the arrival of 5G services in the nation. The rollout of Jio’s 5G services is anticipated to start around Diwali, although Airtel’s 5G services have already been released.
The Mukesh Ambani-led company is now working on releasing a cheap 5G smartphone in addition to a 4G laptop. According to reports, Flex, an Indian contract manufacturer, will make the JioBook. According to reports, Jio hopes to sell “hundreds of thousands” of JioBooks by March 2023. According to a previous rumour, the JioBook will have a Snapdragon 665 CPU, up to 4GB of RAM, and 64GB of internal storage.
- RBI ANNOUNCES NEW CREDIT AND DEBIT CARD RULES
- SAMSUNG SHOWCASES FIRST SLIDABLE PC DISPLAY AT INTEL INNOVATION 2022 CONFERENCE


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No intervention in daily price revision: Govt
NEW DELHI: Oil Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Wednesday ruled out government intervention to disrupt the daily revision in petrol and diesel prices despite Rs 7.3 per litre spike in rates since July, saying the reform will continue.
He however remained non-committal on cutting taxes to soften the blow of relentless rise in prices since July 3, the government need to finance huge infrastructure and social projects has to be balanced with consumer needs.
Terming the criticism of spike in rates as unfair, he said the drop in prices for over a fortnight after the daily price revision was introduced on June 16 has been ignored and only "temporary" phenomenon of rising trend is being highlighted. India relies on imports to meet 80 per cent of its needs and so domestic fuel rates have been aligned to movement of equivalent product prices in the international market since April 2002.
Previously the rates were changed every fortnight but since June 16 they are revised daily, Pradhan said, adding that the daily revision immediately passes on the benefit of any reduction in international oil prices to consumers and avoids sharp spikes by spreading them in small doses.
"It is high time GST Council should consider bringing the petroleum products in the ambit of GST," he said.
While petrol prices have increased by Rs 7.32 to reach Rs 70.38 a litre in Delhi, the highest since August 2014, diesel rates have risen by Rs 5.36 to Rs 58.72.
Pradhan said the current prices were not the highest.
"The all time high retail selling price at Delhi of petrol was Rs 76.06 per litre on September 14, 2013," he said.


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Connect Nigeria covers the Africa Fashion Week Nigeria 2015 which took place at Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos on 23rd and 24th May, 2015
CNTV interviews Femi Awobokun, the CEO of Caution Pictures In Lagos Nigeria. A professional wedding and event photographer.
Bez Sings ‘Zuciya Daya’ on ConnectNigeria.com
Zima Fashion was at the Connectnigeria eBusiness Fair. Learnt a lot and made a lot of money. connectnigeria.com #CNbizfair.
Chibuzo Miriam Azubuike, Author the Girl who found water. sharing what she learnt at the connectnigeria.com writers conference and how it helped her publish her first novel.
Joy Isibaji, author, speaker at connectnigeria.com 2015 writers conference #CNwriters
Connectnigeria.com interviews Emeka Onyenwe the CEO of Jump Space Communications In Lagos Nigeria. Jump Space teaches children how to program in Nigeria.
CNTV: Meet the Boss; Tito Ladipo CEO Femme Fetal Connectnigeria.com interviews Tito Ladipo, the CEO of Nigerian Luxury accessories company, Femme Fetale.
The First Fidelity Bank SME conference. this was covered by connectnigeria.com.
Need a Car? Search it on Connectnigeria.com
CNTV Admin have not any favourite Video yet!


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The gun control debate continues this week at the Capitol with a DFL legislator planning to introduce a bill that will not include universal background checks for gun sales.
Supporters of universal background checks say they are needed because 40 percent of all gun sales in the country take place without a background check. The statistic comes from the National Survey on the Ownership of Firearms conducted in 1994. Some gun rights advocates, however, dispute this widely quoted number.
The study was commissioned by the National Institute of Justice and conducted by Chilton Research Services of Drexel Hill, Pennsylvania. Researchers conducted a phone survey of more than 2,500 adults and asked them several questions about their guns, including where and how they got them. However, just 251 people answered questions about their firearms.
They found 60 percent of respondents said their guns were bought from either a gun store, pawn shop or some other store. Assuming those stores were all federally licensed dealers those purchases were subject to a background check. The remaining 40 percent said their guns came from gun shows, a family member, a friend, through the mail or some other means. Researchers estimated that added up to two million sales and transfers per year that were "off the book."
However, some opponents of stricter gun control laws say this number is inaccurate. John Lott, economist, gun rights supporter and the author of the book "More Guns, Less Crime," wrote in the National Review in January that the research contains bias. He said if the guns inherited from family members and friends were originally bought from licensed dealers then the percentage of gun sales or transfers without a background check fell to around 11.5 percent, not 40 percent.
However, the survey does not specify if the gun owners surveyed were themselves eligible to pass a background check for the firearm they received from a family member. Researchers say they spoke with adults who were fluent in English or Spanish and were non-institutionalized.
Transfers of guns between family members are not unusual. Rep. Michael Paymar, DFL-St. Paul, who authored a bill requiring background checks for nearly all private gun sales or transfers, exempted transactions between relatives.
But a competing House proposal does not include extended background checks. Rep. Debra Hilstrom, a Brooklyn Center Democrat, is expected this week to unveil a bill that focuses more on tougher penalties for those who possess guns illegally. The bill is backed by Minnesota sheriffs.
Universal background checks get wide support in local and nationwide polls, even when among members of the National Rifle Association.
A survey taken by GOP pollster Frank Luntz that found that 74 percent of NRA members supported background checks for all gun sales.
Last month the NRA released results from its own survey which found that 92 percent oppose "a ban on private gun sales."
The Paymar bill does not call for a ban on private sales, but would require private sellers to conduct their transaction through federally licensed dealers, who conduct background checks.
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Yesterday, the U.S. First Circuit Court of Appeals, which has jurisdiction over Maine, other New England states, and Puerto Rico, affirmed a jury verdict against Walgreens in a Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) case. This case presented an interesting issue of first impression for the First Circuit–whether an employee fired in violation of the FMLA is entitled to lost overtime pay.
The case arose in Puerto Rico when Walgreens fired the plaintiff, Juan C. Pagan-Colon, almost immediately after he presented an assistant manager at his store with a note from his doctor that said he would need a week of medical leave. Pagan-Colon presented this note to the assistant store manager on May 17, 2008. On May 23, 2008, the store manager mailed Pagan-Colon a letter dated May 19, 2008, which said that he had to contact Walgreens management within 48 hours to discuss his eligibility for disability leave or else there might be “negative consequences.” Even though it was impossible for Pagan-Colon to meet that 48-hour deadline since the manager didn’t mail the letter until after the deadline expired, Pagan-Colon immediately went to the store to discuss the situation. After Pagan-Colon explained to the store manager that he had provided a doctor’s note to the assistant store manager, the store manager fired him and refused to provide him with an explanation for the termination decision.
After firing Pagan-Colon, the store manager realized that he should speak to the company’s lawyer since Pagan-Colon had a doctor’s note excusing his absence. The company claimed that, at that point, it decided to try to determine if Pagan-Colon had actually provided the assistant store manager with a doctor’s note. After its investigation, it concluded that Pagan-Colon lied when he said he provided a doctor’s note to the assistant store manager. It claimed that, among other things, it reviewed the store’s surveillance video and did not see Pagan-Colon give the note to the assistant store manager. There was one problem with this explanation – the video actually did show Pagan-Colon give the note to the assistant store manager. The video was so clear, in fact, that Walgreens reversed course and admitted at trial that the video showed Pagan-Colon giving the assistant store manager the note.
Under the FMLA, an employer who violates an employee’s rights must compensate him for “any wages, salary, employment benefits, or other compensation denied or lost . . . by reason of the violation.” The trial court determined that the term “other compensation” encompassed overtime pay and awarded Pagan-Colon lost overtime pay as part of his lost wages. On appeal, Walgreens argued that the FMLA does not permit recovery for lost overtime pay. As a matter of first impression, the First Circuit rejected Walgreens’ argument and affirmed the trial court’s decision to award lost overtime pay to Pagan-Colon.
The First Circuit’s decision was not all positive for Pagan-Colon. It also affirmed the trial court’s decision not to award Pagan-Colon “liquidated damages” on top of his lost pay and benefits. Moreover, the First Circuit refused to reverse a decision the trial court made against Pagan-Colon’s wife who had brought a claim under Puerto Rico law. The First Circuit, instead, asked the Puerto Rico Supreme Court to weigh in on that claim because the particular Puerto Rico law at issue is unclear.
Unfortunately, it is not uncommon for employers to retaliate against employees who have to take protected FMLA leave. If you or someone you know has experienced similar retaliation, you should contact an experienced employment lawyer to learn more about your rights.