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As the response to COVID-19 has evolved, social distancing measures have created immediate financial obstacles for many local artists. Shuttered theaters and venues, strict limits on gathering sizes, and abrupt closures of restaurants and retailers have cut tours short and limited sources of supplemental income.
At the same time, the importance of art feels especially pronounced. Social distancing is isolating by nature; art offers alternate avenues to stay in touch with humanity when we need a break from the news and can’t surround ourselves with actual humans. While the timeline is uncertain and governmental response is unclear, community support can help offer more stability for the challenges ahead. If you’re looking for ways to support the Boston-area arts scene, here are a few ways to offer help during social distancing.
Show canceled? Spend the ticket refund on merch.
Spring is a major touring season for many full-time musicians and bands, and as tour dates and festivals get canceled, so do opportunities to sell merch. For up-and-coming artists, that can mean losing a significant source of income. But even though upcoming events are canceled, chances are that your favorite bands are now sitting on a stash of freshly printed t-shirts.
Still, the kind of merch that you buy can make a difference. “Be mindful of how you’re supporting artists, because their sales online don’t always go directly to them,” says Kaley Honeycutt of local band Honey Cutt. She mentions that some artists’ contracts arrange for record labels themselves to earn more profit from the sales of vinyl and CDs, while the artists keep more of their earnings off t-shirts and other “soft merch.” Of course, the specifics vary by artist and label affiliation. Artists’ social media accounts sometimes offer clues about their specific needs or the best way to support them.
Donate to an artist relief fund.
If you’re looking to donate money directly, a number of recent fundraisers have been created to help soften the impact of recent closures and cancelations. On March 16, the city of Boston announced the Boston Artist Relief Fund, which will issue grants of $500 and $1000 to individual artists who have been financially impacted by the coronavirus Covid-19. These grants are available to Boston artists across disciplines.
Additional emergency funds, like the Theatre Community Benevolent Fund and the Boston Singers’ Relief Fund, are accepting donations to support specific disciplines. This week, nonprofit artist space The Record Company launched the Boston Music Maker COVID-19 Fund and Cambridge venue Club Passim announced the Passim Emergency Artist Relief Fund, both providing support to local musicians.
Support your favorite independent venue.
Extensive closures mean that local venues are missing out on everything from ticket sales to bar tabs, which can leave venue staff in uncertain positions. Great Scott, O’Brien’s, and ONCE Somerville are all popular with local bands, and have recently announced fundraisers to help support their own employees. Local independent cinemas the Coolidge Corner Theatre and the Brattle Theatre are both accepting donations as well.
Check out a livestream.
In lieu of planned tours, a growing number of artists are opting to perform over livestream channels like Twitch and Instagram. Around the world, artists from Blood Orange to Christine and the Queens have taken their shows to the internet; Boston’s own Dropkick Murphys even moved their annual St. Patrick’s Day bash online. Through social media platforms, livestreaming concerts is just as feasible for smaller independent artists as it is for big names. Shows range from free and donation-optional performances to ticketed gigs, and as many artists have announced individual streams, full online “festivals” are starting to come together as well.
Local artist and activist Evan Greer is working with digital-rights organization Fight for the Future to launch one new online festival, “Stay at Home Fest.” It was first imagined as a single curated online event, but has since grown into a submission-driven online calendar that includes musical sets, spoken-word poetry, drag performances, and more.
“All the artists who are sitting at home really needing to make some income and reach an audience have a place to list the shows they’re putting together. And every one of us who’s sitting at home feeling anxious and overwhelmed by the news and isolated has a place to go to find these events and still feel connected, even while we have to stay apart,” says Greer.
While more details are still emerging, Greer says that a curated “Main Stage Event” lineup is in the works for sometime in early April.
Grow your digital music collection.
Streaming services and digital downloads make listening more accessible for everyone, but not all digital music platforms provide artists with comparable payouts. Notably, streaming platforms like Spotify and Pandora only pay artists a fraction of a cent each time a song gets played. Some artists advocate for “overstreaming” — playing one artist’s songs constantly on repeat often silently, at all hours to rack up maximum plays — but for those who are able, buying music directly from artists, especially unsigned ones, usually goes further to provide financial support. Most platforms still take a cut for themselves, but on Friday, March 20, online music platform Bandcamp (a favorite among independent and unsigned musicians) is paying artists 100% of sales to provide additional support.


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Call of Duty: Ghosts is the latest entry in the long-running Call of Duty first person-shooter series, being developed by Infinity Ward and set to be published by Activision, making it the first Call of Duty game to be lead developed by Infinity Ward since Modern Warfare 3 in 2011.
Call of Duty: Ghosts promises to reinvigorate the franchise, creating a whole new sub-brand, a brand new game engine and will introduce new ideas and experiences to the series. It is in development for the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, PC, Wii U, PlayStation 4 and the Xbox One, and is due to be released on November 5, 2013.
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We expect next week’s Canadian inflation report will show headline price growth jumped to 3.3% in April, in part reflecting lower bases last year when the economy closed down. Energy prices in particular came under signficant downward pressure last spring but have recovered such that gasoline prices were up 60% year-over-year in April. The Bank of Canada will look through transitory energy price swings, but signs of emerging underlying inflation pressures will be watched more closely. And we expect to see some of that in the report next week.
Broader measures of input prices have climbed in recent months. Raw material prices have surged for some products, and companies in the Canadian industrial sector have been passing those costs on with industrial output prices also up sharply. Still, it normally takes time for higher input costs to work through production chains and into consumer purchase prices. To-date, those price pressures have shown up more in Canadian export prices than domestic prices, aside from a handful of exceptions like much higher lumber prices. A stronger Canadian dollar has probably offset some of the near-term cost pressure on retailers. The price of consumer product imports was down almost 7% from a year ago in March.
Another concern is how quickly household demand could bounce back once the economy begins to re-open. Some services have been largely unavailable over the past year, and the price at which those services re-open could have a significant near-term impact on inflation measures. In Canada, COVID containment measures were still widely in place in April, but prices in the US spiked sharply as the economy began to reopen. We expect underlying inflation pressures in Canada to firm further as the year progresses, underpinned by a rapid recovery in consumer demand.
Week ahead data watch:
- Canadian retail trade is expected to increase in March as regions relaxed containment measures. We look to see re-imposed containment measures weigh down activity in April. Our internal card spending data is tracking a 4% decline in retail sales for the month.
- After exceptional strong activity in prior months early results showed Canadian home sales in major cities moderated in April. The country-wide report is expected to show sales slipped though remained at elevated levels in April.
- Active COVID cases have declined in most regions in Canada but some are still grappling with bringing the virus under control. Vaccine distribution, though, has continued to ramp up with over 41% of Canadians having received at least their first dose.
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Free speech is on the run. And people expressing their constitutionally-protected rights are increasingly encountering militarized police forces determined to stop them.
Several months ago on an Occupy Supply webinar, Dan Choi said we needed to start thinking about how to protect people while they are out there protesting on behalf of all of us. So we started asking Occupy groups in various cities what they would find helpful in a “Free Speech” kit.
We’ve finally finished putting the kits together, and they are available now at the Occupy Supply store for $25.
We will also be sending them free of charge to Occupy Wall Street protesters for the one-year anniversary of OWS on September 17. You can donate to send a Free Speech kit to an occupier who will be attending the one-year anniversary of Occupy Wall Street here.
The kits contain:
- Medical supply case that clips on a belt or backpack
- Mead memo-pad for note taking
- “You Have the Right to Remain Silent,” an 18-page manual letting protesters know what their legal rights are compiled by the National Lawyer’s Guild
- 3M E-A-R soft earplugs, with a noise reduction rating of 33 dB
- Alcohol wipes
- Foldable, reusable N95 rated particle mask
- Blister pads
- Antiseptic towlettes
- Ginseng and bee pollen
- OcuFresh Eye Wash
- Aloe Cooling Gel for burns, cuts and abrasions
- SPF 30 Sunscreen
- Electrical tape
- 1 pair exam glove
We got the chance to talk with OWS organizers last Wednesday on the Occupy Supply webinar about their plans for S17, and it was great to hear their input on the contents of the kit. Special requests came in for something to read and something to keep energy up, hence inclusion of the NLG booklet, the Emergen-C and the ginseng and bee pollen.
Also in the store we have the super-lightweight, foldable water bottles that were so helpful to occupiers at the Philadelphia national gathering after the mayor told the fire department to stop giving them access to water. We also have non-ventilated safety goggles that can be worn for eye protection. Both are available individually or as part of the Free Speech Kit Plus, which also includes an Occupy Supply bandana.
In addition to occupiers, we drew a lot of our inspiration from others who have compiled great activism kits, including this terrific Life Hacker article. Many thanks to them, as well as the National Lawyer’s Guild for allowing us to reprint the manual.
FDL will have both Kit O’Connell and Brian Sonenstein reporting from the S17 event.
If you’d like to help send Free Speech kits to an occupier who will be attending the one-year anniversary of Occupy Wall Street, you can donate here.
And if you’d like to buy a Free Speech kit for yourself or someone you know, you can do it here.


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Christopher Ward launches new digital platform with Tryzens
- Date Published
British watchmaker Christopher Ward has launched a new immersive digital flagship that puts the customer experience at the forefront.
Built by SEP backed Tryzens and powered by Salesforce, the new website is geared towards making each customer visit as intuitive and enjoyable as possible. Whether customers are visiting from a mobile, tablet or desktop the experience is consistently seamless.
Building on its existing website, which typically saw 45,000 to 100,000 visits weekly across the UK and US, this new and improved version holds a wealth of information and content designed to assist customers in their journey to purchase. Each timepiece has both short and long descriptions which are complemented by beautifully clear photos and video assets.
The new site is also home to Loupe, an editorial section which holds in-depth articles on everything from pop culture and sport to pop music and film. There is also a ‘Find Out’ section which lifts the lid on the more technical elements of watchmaking.
Mike France, CEO and Co-founder at Christopher Ward says, “The ambitions we have for Christopher Ward requires us, as the world’s leading online-only premium watch brand, to deliver a world-class brand and shopping experience for our customers. Our new site is a huge step towards the achievement of those ambitions.”
Andy Burton, CEO at Tryzens, adds, “Christopher Ward is a great example of a British brand that has been able to deliver a digital experience that truly immerses the customer in the brand story. Now more than ever, it’s important for brands to remain competitive and capture the customer’s imagination – this new offering does exactly that while making it all transactional.”


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In this age of global strife and tension, one emotion serves as common ground for consumers around the world: Impatience. At least that’s the apparent hope of an increasing number of e-retailers and e-commerce fulfillment providers who have moved to offer all but instant shipments of online orders. The latest organization to jump into the same-day delivery game is national mail and courier service Canada Post Corp. The move follows a similar test by the U.S. Postal Service, the introduction of a one-hour delivery promise by Chinese online retailer Kuaishubao.com, the looming expansion of same-day delivery service Shutl into the
Imagine heading to a local café and ordering hot chocolate. They serve it to you in a white cup. Chances are, you won't like your drink. That's not an indication of the quality of the café or the hot chocolate, but rather the color of the cup. This conclusion is based on a study by the Polytechnic University of Valencia and the University of Oxford. The universities served hot chocolate in white, cream, red and orange cups. The drinks were identical, but volunteers claimed that the flavor was better when the drink was served in an orange or cream
I am often asked, as I was today, about the future of marketing. Broaching this subject is risky. It is even dangerous because, whatever I say, there is likely to be a chorus of naysayers—calling me nuts, telling me that what I am predicting is ridiculous, or calling me dumb and accusing me of predicting the past. That’s OK. Whenever you talk about the future, many of the technologies and capabilities are already here, and if they are not, they do sound crazy. The problem is that too many don’t have the capability or guts to implement them
Much has changed since Sears published its first catalog in 1888. One thing that hasn’t is retail’s love affair with content. Now more than ever—with the ascent of social media and mobile shopping—retailers have moved beyond peddling their wares through pamphlets and become full-fledged media players. They have the eyeballs and consumer data. Amazon, Walmart, Target, Sears and Best Buy all rank among the top 100 comScore websites. So naturally, retailers believe they can profit by boosting their brands' messaging any way they can, in how-to guides and fashion tips and so on. “The Internet requires every brand, business and
The next Super Bowl is only two weeks away. Already, Pepsi is running a promo asking people to take pictures of themselves and submit them for possible display during the game’s halftime show. Lincoln and Doritos have asked the crowd to create the commercials they’ll run. Budweiser will air expertly-produced spots about its history and Clydesdale horses. Some brands are hoping to make a splash by staying mum on details, like Wonderful Pistachios (they’ve leaked only that rapper Psy will be involved).
Amazon.com founder and CEO Jeff Bezos has received his share of business awards lately. Fortune magazine named him its 2012 "Businessperson of the Year." Harvard Business Review ranks him as the No. 1 living CEO. Now comes the National Retail Federation and its so-called Gold Award. The trade group's selection of Bezos as retailer of the year may be the most surprising one yet when you consider the fierce rivalry between Amazon and the organization's brick-and-mortar base. Bezos, both admired and feared by "Big Retail," will be honored Monday at the NRF's 102nd annual convention in New York City
Some of the most beleaguered brands in the country shined this holiday season. Ads from brands such as Sears, jcpenney and USPS managed to win over consumers this year with a blend of detailed product information and humor, ranking on Ace Metrix' top holiday ads list. Craftsman, which is owned by Sears, was ranked the best ad of the holiday season—a huge win for the beleaguered chain. The winning ad, "Max Access Locking Wrench," was heavy on product information, resembling a direct-response ad. jcpenney, meanwhile, continues to reap the benefits of its association with Ellen DeGeneres. The spot, a humorous
Major retailers would have us believe that shoppers have nothing better to do the day after Thanksgiving than trawl the Internet looking for the best deals on the latest technologies. But is that actually the reality? As well as blogging seven awesome Black Friday and Cyber Monday infographics, I’ve rounded up some stats to show the sales and traffic boost that occurs on Black Friday and Cyber Monday
Holiday marketing can be tough. You've got to figure out your target market, what kind of content to create, what promotions will bring in customers ... and, of course, how to beat your competitors. Some of the coolest holiday marketing campaigns of years past can prove instructive, so we've identified five campaigns, along with takeaways, to help your holiday marketing achieve better results. 1. Stroke your customers' egos. Holiday shopping for family and friends can sometimes seem an Olympic sport ... You want to buy everything that your loved ones want, and you want to do it fast and cheap.
On Wednesday, Foursquare launched “Promoted Updates,” its first paid product offering for merchants. … Last week, Foursquare began allowing business owners to send local updates … to their “best customers” when they’re nearby. “Best customers” are those who check in frequently, and possibly have “Liked” the venue on Foursquare. Now, businesses can aim those updates at users who aren’t their best customers, but could be. The ads are designed to target users whose friends frequently stop by, who have added that venue to one of their Foursquare lists, or who are often visiting similar venues in that neighborhood.


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Chris Bruni on Cobalt: Mastodon, High on Fire, Tool Fans May Be ‘Blown Away’
Profound Lore has just released 'Gin,' the third full-length release from enigmatic duo Cobalt, and already the comparisons are starting to fly. 'Gin' is slightly more accessible than their previous releases, and it certainly has some things in common with the likes of Mastodon, High on Fire, and Tool (epic songwriting, odd time signatures, riffs o' plenty), but Cobalt's unique brand of blackened metal comes across as far more raw, evil, and visceral than their more popular peers. While this may limit their mainstream appeal, Profound Lore label head Chris Bruni (at left) is hopeful that 'Gin' might garner some new fans.
"I know if a Mastodon, High on Fire, or Tool kid were to hear Cobalt, I think they may be quite intrigued and maybe blown away," Chris told Noisecreep. "Sure the music may not be the most accessible and easiest to get into upon initial listens, because of the epic and almost left-field nature of the music. But that's the whole point, it's music like this that becomes timeless instead of most stuff coming out on bigger labels that, while offering something decent, for the most part is forgotten after a week."


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http://www.quantummedia.com/event/media-guru-john-borthwick | Printed on: February 23, 2018
Media Guru John Borthwick
September 7, 2011
John Borthwick is the charismatic CEO and Co-Founder of the company betaworks —a venture capital “incubator” that makes seed-stage investments in what they call “the ecosystem of the realtime web.”
Among their dozens of investments in the areas of social publishing, data and monetization, commerce and entertainment are well-known digital stars: Chartbeat, Tumblr, TweetDeck and Summize (both acquired by Twitter), bit.ly, Mob.ly, outside.in (acquired by AOL), DailyBooth, Kickstarter and HotPotato (acquired by facebook.)
See a recent interview on Marketwatch where Borthwick discusses the future of social media and how it is changing internet navigation.


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Eutelsat Communications is expanding its use of the Express Wi-Fi platform in partnership with Facebook to provide broadband services via satellite across several regions in Sub-Saharan Africa.
With Express Wi-Fi, Eutelsat aims to connect thousands of people in rural and underserved communities spanning Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Nigeria, Côte d’Ivoire, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, Kenya, Madagascar, South Africa, Cameroon, Ghana and Zimbabwe.
Express Wi-Fi is a platform developed by Facebook Connectivity that enables partners to build, grow and monetize their Wi-Fi businesses in a scalable way, while providing their customers with fast, affordable, and reliable internet access.
Express Wi-Fi is used in more than 30 countries, including in multiple Asian, South American and African markets, helping millions of people connect over Wi-Fi.
Eutelsat and Facebook have previously conducted successful pilots in rural and underserved areas of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) enabling local businesses to offer affordable internet access to customers on a pre-paid basis.
To date, Eutelsat’s use of the Express Wi-Fi platform has enabled access to affordable broadband for thousands of individuals across the DRC.
Philippe Baudrier, General Manager of Konnect Africa said that they are aiming at getting more people online in the most underserved areas of sub-Saharan Africa.
“This initiative is the perfect example of the power of satellite connectivity to bridge the digital divide, with unmatched economic and social benefits. We are proud once again to leverage the unparalleled coverage of EUTELSAT KONNECT to satisfy this growing demand.”
“At Facebook, we’re committed to working with partners to help expand connectivity in Sub-Saharan Africa, which continues to be the region with the highest coverage gap,” said Fargani Tambeayuk, Head of Connectivity Policy for Sub-Saharan Africa, Facebook.
“Connectivity is essential to ensuring access to jobs, education, healthcare and more. We’re proud to partner with Eutelsat to combine the power of the Express Wi-Fi platform and EUTELSAT KONNECT, with the goal of increasing satellite broadband coverage across rural and underserved areas of Sub-Saharan Africa.”


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Companies in Buckinghamshire are being urged to take advantage of European Union funding ahead of Brexit.
The appeal comes from consultancy firm Blackmores, of Letchworth, which says cash is available to help companies with fewer than 250 employees that design, develop, produce or install goods.
The funding can help firms achieve a variety of quality standards to support business growth.
Blackmores, along with the Manufacturing Growth Programme, based in Leicestershire, are hosting a workshop to provide more details about the funding opportunities.
A spokesman for Blackmores said: “With Brexit on the horizon it is uncertain whether funding will be available after the funding deadline of March 31, 2019.”
The free event will highlight how to apply for the funding and how it can be used. All funded projects need to be completed by the end of the 2019.
The workshop will cover how to scale up a business through optimising and systemising business processes and achieving certification to ISO standards, such as quality standard ISO 9001 or health and safety standard ISO 45001.
The workshop will be held at Victoria House, in Avebury Boulevard, Milton Keynes, on February 26 from 8.30am to 10.30am.


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Taking cues from art and haute cuisine, the luxury furniture industry in Canada has long looked to Europe for inspiration.
But for those who make a living at it, patience is the operative word.
"There's always been amazing product out of Europe that we wanted to bring in," says Paul Sidi, who runs Kiosk Design Inc. in downtown Toronto. The danger, however, was in outpacing local tastes.
"We've had to kind of balance how far ahead we wanted to be," he says. "But the good sign is there's definitely been growth, and now we're selling things that we wouldn't have even five years ago."
Co-founded by Paul's father, Robert, in 1994, Kiosk has grown in sync with the luxury furniture industry, from a trade-only space along a narrow alleyway in midtown Toronto to a spacious 20,000-square-foot showroom in the sweet spot for the designer furnishings industry on King Street East.
To the immediate east is Klaus By Nienkamper, another European-inspired showroom that specializes in industry heavyweights such as Dutch designer Moooi and Britain's Tom Dixon. Across the street is Italinteriors, another store that caters to the well-to-do.
Being clustered together is good for business, says Mr. Sidi, particularly in a retail sector that relies on walk-ins. No one, he says, is going to spend $14,000 on a dining table on Amazon. "In the high-end furnishing business, we found that people still really prefer the tangible experience of the store," he says.
As Mr. Sidi explains, each player in Toronto relies on exclusive contracts with European manufacturers, so while customers may head to a competitor for the likes of Boffi or Cassina, they would come to him for a B&B Italia writing desk or a loveseat from Ligne Roset. So although he describes Kiosk as a "pitbull in the world of furniture," that exclusivity allows stores to fight in their own corners and not torpedo the industry by undercutting one another.
Customers are more comfortable shopping for high-end furnishings today because they can research them online and then see them in large showrooms that have popped up in the past few years, he says.
A similar scenario is playing out across the country.
"At one point it was pretty hard to get someone to quantify spending the kind of money that is required to own a Minotti sofa or a Walter Knoll armchair," says Shaun Ford, who founded Shaun Ford & Co. in Calgary nine years ago. "People would struggle to find the value in that. But since I've been doing this it's definitely evolved."
His typical customers have been well-educated, well-travelled professionals aged 40 to 60, and empty nesters. But now he's seeing more younger customers, people in their late 20s and 30s who value the craftsmanship and artisanal qualities of the furniture.
"They get the value of the products we're carrying. They're not comparing an armchair we're selling with something from Crate and Barrel," Mr. Ford says.
One product line carried by his store features pieces handled by just one person from start to finish. "You can't replicate that; it's one of a kind," he says.
Technology is playing a bigger role in production, however.
Klaus Nienkamper, who has been in the furniture industry for more than 50 years, makes his own furniture and supplies items to the showroom on King Street, which is run by his son, Klaus Jr. He espouses the benefits of good quality materials, particularly imported leather, and he has been known to buy back pieces of his furniture when they appear at auction, 30 to 40 years after he originally sold them.
But that insistence on quality doesn't necessarily preclude the use of technology. "In our factory, we computerize wherever we possibly can, because in many ways you don't have to rely totally on the skill of someone," he says. "You can do something that's high quality and is much more precise."
At the furniture manufacturer IZM Inc. in Edmonton, the economic downturn of 2008 forced somewhat of a rethink. Designer Shane Pawluk says the company had to stop making solid-wood pieces because they were just too expensive.
The romantic illusion of how furniture is made is often just that, an illusion, Mr. Pawluk says. "These days I think the whole artisanal [idea], a guy with a leather apron in dim light making your furniture, is how people think it's done. And we're like, no," Mr. Pawluk says.
However, the production process is an important aspect. Nancy Bendtsen, who has owned and operated Vancouver's Inform Interiors for 22 years with her husband, Niels, says that they can no longer sell some items from a company that took its manufacturing to China.
"People want to know where things are from and what the materials are," she says. "A lot of young people, they want to make the right decision and they want to have something that lasts a long time."
Her business has also benefited from high real estate prices. When customers can no longer afford a cottage to go along with their everyday home, they put more money into their furnishings, she says.
"Clients want to buy a real Le Corbusier piece from Cassina," she says. "They don't want a knockoff."


text: In September 2013, the US Breast Cancer Fund published a report reviewing the links between bisphenol A (BPA) exposure and disrupted development. The report is entitled “Disrupted Development: The Dangers of Prenatal BPA exposure”. The report points out that the risks of prenatal exposure may be more important than childhood exposure. The Breast Cancer Fund thus stresses the need to protect pregnant women from BPA exposure in order to shield fetal development. This is necessary even before women are aware of their pregnancy. While the report acknowledges the persisting uncertainties regarding the BPA metabolism, it claims that there is strong evidence that fetuses are exposed to the hormonally active form of BPA. The report also presents an overview of studies showing biological effects of BPA in animals and health associations in humans. The report calls for a complete ban of BPA from food packaging and encourages consumers to avoid food contact materials containing BPA.


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South Korea tends to run about five or six years ahead of the US in technology adoption. Today’s Web giants of Korea — Naver, Daum, NHN– are retooling their web sites for mobile. They view maps and geotracking as a central function.
“Maps will be the essential application for the mobile Internet, as navigation features and other location-based services become critical when people are accessing the Web while on the move,” said an industry official.
“Business models are still an issue, as fee-based services are unlikely to get off and it remains to be seen whether maps and other location-based services could draw a sufficient amount of advertisement money. Still, Internet companies can’t afford to be laid back in maps, when they could influence the outcome of the traffic competition in the mobile Web.”
via Maps Central to Mobile Plans of Internet Firms.
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The Massachusetts Port Authority (Massport) has celebrated the completion of infrastructure investments at the Conley Container Terminal at the Port of Boston.
The completed works are part of a major $850 million plan to upgrade the port.
Completed infrastructure upgrades include:
- Butler Freight Corridor, a dedicated truck route to keep container trucks off residential roadways and allow trucks to access the highway system in minutes;
- New 50-foot-deep berth, to accommodate the new cranes and larger ships;
- Three fully electric ship-to-shore cranes, to serve ships carrying up to 14,000 TEU;
- Boston Harbor Dredging, a multi-year, multi-phase partnership between the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Massport and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to deepen the main ship channel and Reserved Channel to -47 feet and the outer harbour to -51 feet, and expand the Turning Basin for larger vessels;
- Other terminal improvements: including new rubber-tyred gantry cranes, expanded container storage and new refrigerated container racks.
Ongoing infrastructure projects include:
- Improvements to Berths 11 and 12, ensures state of good repair for existing berths;
- Refrigerated container storage improvements, providing additional capacity for refrigerated cargo;
- Terminal technologies and equipment upgrades, including LED yard lighting, improved WiFi, and power retrofits to rubber-tyred gantry cranes increase the overall operational efficiency of the terminal and reduces emissions;
- New gate processing facilities will optimise traffic flow and increase safety in the terminal.
- New container yard behind Berth 10 will increase Conley’s container storage capacity by nearly 30 per cent;
- New Cypher to E Street Freight Corridor, will improve connections to the interstate highway system for freight dependent uses and industrial businesses in the Port of Boston, including Conley Terminal;
- Terminal technologies, will ensure a congestion-free terminal by minimizing wait times and enable the introduction of a truck appointment system.
Prior to the Port’s modernisation, Conley offered two services reaching seven major global ports.
With the completion of these infrastructure investments, Conley Terminal now offers direct connectivity to China, North Europe, Southeast Asia including Vietnam and India, the Mediterranean, Middle East and Latin America through five services, with a sixth service scheduled to start in October.
Conley now has direct connectivity to 25 global ports.
“With a deepened Boston Harbor and modern container facilities, the Port of Boston is providing greater global connections for Massachusetts businesses and supporting thousands of jobs,” said Massport CEO Lisa Wieland.
“None of these infrastructure improvements would have been possible without the leadership and support of our Federal, State, and local elected officials and the business community.”
The Port of Boston generates $8.2 billion in annual economic impact, and supports more than 66,000 jobs.
As the only full-service container terminal in New England, Conley Terminal enables more than 2,500 businesses throughout the Commonwealth and New England to ship and receive products globally, including furniture and home goods, footwear, clothing, office supplies, wine and spirits, recycled fibers, sporting goods, seafood and more.


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Everi Holding’s Juliet Lim has been named as part of the Canadian Gaming Association’s Board of Directors ahead of their showing at the Canadian Gaming Summit on June 20-21.
The casino gaming industry’s single source provider of gaming products and payments solutions, Everi Holdings Inc., confirmed that its Executive Vice President, Juliet A. Lim was added to the Canadian Gaming Association’s Board of Directors effective May 1, 2017.
Everi recently expanded its Canadian cash access capabilities to include ATM services for the first time and is growing its gaming device footprint throughout Canada.
Ms. Lim said: “I am honored to join a distinguished group of industry peers as a member of the Canadian Gaming Association’s Board of Directors. Everi has a long history of working with casino operators and provincial authorities across Canada, providing them with our comprehensive portfolio of payments solutions and, more recently, with our electronic gaming products. We are excited to work more closely with our peers in Canada to further the goals of the Canadian Gaming Association.”
In addition Everi claimed it will demonstrate its commitment to growing Canada’s gaming industry as it showcases a selection of its industry-leading games and payments solutions at the Canadian Gaming Summit, to be held June 20-21 at the Vancouver Convention Centre in Vancouver, British Columbia.
The company stated its display at Booth #202 will feature Everi’s award-winning TournEvent® slot tournament solution and a variety of original and licensed brand game themes on the Core HDX™ cabinet. Additional Games’ products on display will be games featuring the Tower 370™ premium top box, HIGH RISE® series games, and games for the PLATINUM MPX® cabinet, all of which can display a mini bingo touchscreen for Class II settings.
Finally, Everi’s payments solutions lineup at the Canadian Gaming Summit will include its VersatileXchange™ non-cash dispensing kiosk that offers a bill acceptor, card reader, TITO printer and card dispenser that supports all funds dispensing kiosk functionality.


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- So-called Amazon aggregators are buying multiple third-party merchants.
- The majority of buyers said they will pay anything for these businesses, a new survey found.
- Many said they are interested in buying companies with only one year of operating history.
Acquisitions of third-party sellers on Amazon's giant online marketplace are expected to surge next year, with more than 1,000 merchants estimated to be snapped up by so-called aggregators. The dealmaking is so frenzied that many buyers say they will pay anything for these businesses.
That's according to a recent survey by Fortunet, a firm that helps facilitate deals between the acquirers, known as Amazon aggregators, and merchants. The survey, conducted in June, asked 42 aggregators a variety of questions, including preferred seller profiles, popular seller categories, and ideal profit margins of targets.
The findings give a comprehensive look at Amazon aggregators, which have gained major traction in recent years. Given most aggregators just finished raising more capital, a surge in transactions is expected in the coming year, according to Juozas Kaziukėnas, CEO of Marketplace Pulse, who helped Fortunet complete the survey.
"Most aggregators didn't exist before 2020, and further, they only raised capital over the past 12 months. That capital is only getting deployed now. There will be more acquisitions next year compared to 2021," Kaziukėnas said.
Here are the key findings from the survey:
- More growth to come: The number of acquisitions is expected to top 1,000 next year. The majority of the aggregators intend to purchase more than 15 businesses in the next 12 months.
- It's still early: Most deals so far have come from about 18% of the aggregators. Many aggregators have not made any acquisitions yet or have made very few.
- No upper limit to price tag: Fifty-three percent of the buyers said they do not have an upper limit for their price offers. Others have maximum purchase prices that range from $500,000 to $30 million.
- Most popular product categories: Buyers prefer product categories that are easy to operate or typically don't face huge regulatory requirements, such as home and garden, pet supplies, certain baby products, outdoors gear, and personal care.
- Less attractive product categories: Buyers find these categories less appealing: toys, apparel, electronics, supplements, food, and fashion.
- Amazon's marketplace matters the most: Most aggregators said they won't assign higher valuations to merchants that sell through additional channels, such as Shopify, Walmart, and eBay. Some buyers said they would if the sellers get significant sales from those other marketplaces.
- Build to sell: Many buyers are open to buying young companies, with 46% saying they require a minimum operating history of just one year.
- Profit margin: Over half of the buyers said they require merchants to generate profit margins of at least 15%.
- Deal structure: Most buyers offer 70% to 80% cash up front, with an earn-out clause that requires the merchant to hit certain performance goals. And 61% of the buyers prefer to do a full acquisition.


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H&M opens at Northpark
Store first in Mississippi
After several months of construction, the doors opened Thursday at H&M at Northpark Mall.
It's one of the most popular retailers in the country.
"We are thrilled to be opening our first store in the state of Mississippi," said Daniel Kulle, U.S. president for H&M. "We look forward to providing Ridgeland and Jackson customers with everything they need for the summer season, from basics to inspiring fashion items for the whole family, all at a great value."
"I'm super pumped. Everything I have on is H&M," shopper Brianna Stark said.
Eager shoppers packed the mall before dawn Thursday to show their excitement.
"We've been waiting on this for a while, ever since they announced they were opening an H&M," shopper Amanda Graves said.
The 24,000-square-foot store opened at noon and offers collections for women, men, young ladies and young men with special sections for accessories, lingerie, sports apparel, maternity and plus-sizes. The Northpark store also carries the Swedish retailer's children's collection.
"It's just an internationally renowned brand, and it's just exciting for it to come to Jackson," Graves said. "I think that it's a big deal for Jackson, and I think it's going to be good for Northpark."
To celebrate the grand opening, H&M offered the first 300 shoppers in line an H&M T-shirt and an "Access to Fashion Pass" valued between $10 and $300.
H&M also offered customers a voucher for 15 percent off their entire purchase for each bag of donated old and unwanted clothing. The garment recycling program allows H&M customers to help save natural resources and contribute to a reduced environmental impact, company officials said.
To kick off the program, customers who brought in clothes to be recycled before the store opened had the chance to win H&M gift cards valued between $50 and $100 in addition to the 15 percent off voucher.


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15 February 2019
Today the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education (the Institute) approved the Fashion Studio Assistant apprenticeship making it the 400th new apprenticeship approved for useIts launch coincides with London Fashion WeekThe apprenticeship was developed by employers from across the thriving UK fashion industry, with the British Fashion Council providing the secretariat
Young people aspiring to have a career in fashion can enter Britain’s world-renowned fashion industry through the 400th new apprenticeship that has been cleared for use from today.
The official launch of the Fashion Studio Assistant apprenticeship coincides with the beginning of London Fashion Week. Chair of the British Fashion Council, Stephanie Phair, will celebrate the new apprenticeship in her opening speech today.
New apprenticeship standards are developed with support from the Institute by groups of employers known as Trailblazers. Some of the UK’s best known and loved brands such as Jasper Conran and young designer Roksanda were involved in developing this latest apprenticeship.
Caroline Rush, Chief Executive of the British Fashion Council, said:
“We are delighted to be launching the apprenticeship for fashion studio assistant, the 400th new government apprenticeship.
“Inspiring more young people to work in the creative industries without necessarily having to take the university route will help to ensure that the fashion industry continues to attract the best talent.”
Sir Gerry Berragan, Chief Executive of the Institute, spoke enthusiastically about the new apprenticeship and the fact that it is the landmark 400th cleared for use. He said:
“We are delighted to have supported employers from across the fashion industry to develop this exciting new apprenticeship. The Institute has worked hard to make the approvals process more efficient and it is great news that the 400th standard has been approved.”
Education Secretary, Damian Hinds said:
“We are seeing the apprenticeship system in this country come of age, with leading employers waking up to the benefits apprenticeships can bring.
“We are transforming apprenticeships – making them longer, with more on the job training and – crucially – being designed by business. This means that people of all ages and backgrounds have access to a high-quality qualification that will truly give them the skills they need to thrive in the workplace.
“With the number of people starting our new, higher quality apprenticeships rising sharply, the approval of the 400th new standard means even more people will benefit from this high-quality training and the chance to secure a great job in a range of exciting professions.”
The Fashion Studio Assistant apprenticeship will provide an important employment route into the UK’s thriving fashion industry, which contributes £32billion to the UK economy.
The key to creating further growth in the fashion industry is to professionalise and offer better career paths throughout the industry, not just in design talent.
This apprenticeship will deliver specific skills that will ultimately contribute to all levels of a fashion business, developing leaders and teams to work alongside home-grown design talent, as well as making Britain the best place to incubate a new business from initial idea to commercial sustainability.
Points to Editor
UKFT, the British network for fashion and textile companies, that brings together 2,500 designers, manufacturers, agents and retailers to promote their businesses and the wider industry, is the external quality assurance provider for the new apprenticeship.
The Institute has achieved impressive results since implementing a new, streamlined approach geared at improving approval rates for new apprenticeships last year. This as part of our Faster and Better programme.
The 300th assessment plan and standard – which sets out key knowledge skills and behaviours expected for new apprenticeships – was approved for use last July. We announced a target at the time of reaching the 400-mark by the end of April this year, and have now achieved that two months early.
London Fashion Week will run from 15 to 19 February.
The government has launched a new campaign to promote its innovative new wave of apprenticeships, which is called #FireItUp. Visit the home page to find out more


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By John BIERS
New York (AFP) Oct 25, 2022
The US consumer's love for enormous vehicles has been seen by outsiders as a curiosity and sometimes a sign of profligacy.
Either way, rising concerns about climate change seemed to create a reckoning for the behemoth-sized pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles that recently have sustained US automaker profits.
Not so, according to Detroit auto giants, who have responded to the climate crisis by launching all-electric versions of the Ford F-150 pickup, the Chevrolet Blazer SUV and other best-selling giants that seemingly promise the possibility that consumers can have it all: address global warming without sacrificing the appeal of larger autos.
Leading US environmentalists, along with the Biden administration, have praised announcements of the electric vehicle (EV) rollouts as a way to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Absent has been any discussion of the environmental toll of large EV trucks, which require more energy to recharge and more critical materials than do smaller EVs.
In showcasing trucks, Detroit automakers are setting the groundwork for an EV era that mirrors the current profile of US roadways and distinct from Europe, where sedans dominate.
Industry insiders like Alan Amici, president of the Center for Automotive Research, see little appetite among American consumers to go small.
"People are still clamoring for big pickups and SUVs," Amici said. "I don't expect a return to sedans."
The trucks, often marketed in advertisements navigating rugged landscapes, provide lucrative profit margins to automakers and have become so ubiquitous on US roads that some consumers avoid smaller vehicles out of fear of how it would handle a crash with a much bigger auto.
Ford and General Motors, both of which report earnings this week, are positioning the vehicles as environmentally friendly based on how they contrast with gas-guzzling equivalents.
Luke Tonachel, who heads the clean vehicles program at environmental group NRDC, said electric pickups and SUVs represent a critical step in addressing climate change.
"It's incredibly important that we eliminate tailpipe pollution from all cars as soon as possible," Tonachel told AFP.
"We need broad acceptance and adoption of EVs across the market. And that's why it's encouraging to see automakers starting to make EVs on all types of car segments, including the most popular ones."
- Customer 'has spoken' -
The focus on large vehicles was apparent at last month's Detroit Auto Show, where Biden test drove the EV Cadillac Lyriq, an SUV made by the GM brand. In previous trips to Detroit, Biden cheered on production of GM's EV Hummer and the launch of Ford's F-150 EV.
While GM's display at the Detroit show included the Bolt, an EV sedan, greater prominence went to electric versions of three larger Chevies: the Silverado pickup, and the Blazer and Equinox SUVs.
"The customer has spoken. SUVs and trucks are what the customer wants," Chevrolet Vice President Steve Majoros told AFP at the show.
NRDC's Tonachel notes that some sedans still sell at substantial levels in the United States, but that they are made by companies like Japan's Toyota and South Korea's Hyundai.
"The different manufacturers are sort of carving out what they see as their specialty," he said. "The Detroit three automakers, they left the compact car and most of the sedan market years ago."
Bertrand Rakoto, global automotive practice leader at Ducker in Detroit, a consultancy, said it makes more sense to focus on trucks to fight climate change.
"You're removing the emissions for the large vehicles that are the most emitting," he said.
Rakoto, who is originally from France, said the contrast between the United States and Europe reflect different geographic qualities and transportation systems, with space in Europe more precious and public transit more integrated into regular life.
- Energy drain -
A December 2021 International Energy Agency report bemoaned the rise of SUVs, not only in the United States, but in India and Europe.
Most of the vehicles still run on gasoline, meaning that "if SUVs were an individual country, they would rank sixth in the world for absolute emissions in 2021, emitting over 900 million tons of CO2," the IEA said.
The analysis said SUV electrification helps, but noted larger vehicles require more critical materials for bigger batteries and consume around 20 percent more energy than a medium-sized car.
For Benjamin Stephan, of Greenpeace in Germany, limiting global warming remains critical, meaning "you sort of have to pull every lever available."
"Obviously an all-electric pickup truck will have a much better carbon footprint," he said. "But you could reduce that footprint even more by having no car at all, or a much smaller car."
Climate activists target sports cars at Paris motor show
Paris (AFP) Oct 21, 2022
Climate activists glued themselves to sports cars Friday evening at the Mondial de l'Auto, a major car show in Paris. Video from the group's Twitter account showed around a dozen campaigners crouching next to the front of a line of red sports cars or holding up a banner, and shouting slogans. "They are denouncing a polluting industry that is trying to 'greenwash' its image with the help of 'green' vehicles, but which continues to promote individual car ownership as the transport of the future," ... read more
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Twitter, Facebook Most Popular Among Publishers And Marketers
Category : Research
Facebook videos and Twitter photos hold the key for their popularity.
Facebook Ad Business Continues To Grow, Says Study
Facebook showed a solid growth in Q1 2014, when compared to other social media players such as Twitter, Pinterest, Tumblr and LinkedIn.
Building Digital Trust
Category : Columns
Technology : Business Intelligence
Business leaders should ensure a strong foundation of trust in their digital transformation journey, writes Sivarama Krishnan of PwC India.
More US Adults Use Pinterest than Twitter
Pinterest holds particular appeal to female users and are four times as likely as men to be Pinterest users, says a recent report.
5 ways online videos can bring more ROI
Category : Digital Enterprise
Here are some quick tips for businesses on how to use videos strategically to get the maximum ROI.
Indian firms use social media for marketing optimisation
Study shows that Indian organisations are more social media-savvy as compared with their global counterparts.
Analytics to heap benefits on social media ROI
Social media analyst Prashant Jain says social media platforms are turning out to be a very relevant data source for organizations.
Social media users in urban India to reach 66 million by June 2013
The study also finds that 34 per cent of users are from the top eight metros in India
Why retailers are pinning hopes on Pinterest
Retailers are hankering after the 10 million visitors a month, but it is difficult to nab them because Pinterest is an ad-free website and "pins" flourish virally.
5 companies that redefined the IT landscape in 2012
Technology : Enterprise IT Services
Besides Apple and Samsung, what were the other top IT enterprises that had a good year.


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A new plant store is blooming in Winnipeg’s North End.
The store, PlantMomma, is the business venture of Dolly Villedo, who is now known by her customers as “Winnipeg’s plant momma.”
Villedo’s store had humble beginnings. She started by selling plants on social media, which led to her opening her storefront in mid-August.
“New faces, new customers are supporting us. I did not expect that we grow like this big,” said Villedo.
When her family came to Winnipeg from the Philippines in 2011, the poor air quality of their first apartments launched Villedo into collecting plants — a hobby that would change her life, and take over her home.
WATCH | Take a tour of Winnipeg’s newest plant store and see why business is blooming:
Villedo started propagating plants in her house, and garnered a following by selling them on Facebook Marketplace. Her husband, Benjohn Villedo, soon found himself helping to convert their garage into a greenhouse in order to keep up with the rising demand for his wife’s plants.
“We live in St. Anne, but we drove all the way here because of the selection,” said Belle Monchamp, who has been purchasing plants from PlantMomma since before the physical store opened.
While some customers come for the international selection of plants, the staff say it’s the calming presence of plants that has customers coming back, especially during the pandemic.
“It helps a lot with your mental health,” said customer Jason Cegayle. “I think it teaches people to learn to take care of things that are quite fragile, too — to learn how to be compassionate.”
The Villedos also say the shop is a great place to relieve stress.
“It’s a community, it’s a family. People talk and share,” said Benjohn. “They are comfortable here, they are happy here.”
Even though the store has only been open for a month, the “plant momma” herself says it’s taken a lot of work to see the dream of owning her own store finally starting to grow.
“I want to cry, because it’s hard to start a business like this. It’s been three years already. So, it’s really hard to grow like this,” she said.
PlantMomma’s new storefront is at 803 Stella Ave.
View original article here Source


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One Loudoun, an award-winning open-air mixed-use community in the heart of Loudoun County, recently broke ground on its first apartment community, Vyne. The new community will be a joint-venture between KETTLER, a real estate development company based in Northern Virginia, and a subsidiary of One Loudoun’s property owner, Retail Properties of America, Inc. (RPAI).
Inspired by nature and Virginia’s acclaimed wine country, Vyne will offer elevated living spaces in the DC suburbs. Construction on Vyne will begin this summer and is anticipated to open in late Spring2021. The community will span two blocks within One Loudoun and will include over 22,000 square-feet of street level retail space. With 378 one- and two-bedroom units, Vyne will offer luxury amenities including a standalone clubhouse with rooftop terrace, co-working space, resident lounges, fitness center with studio, swimming pool, pet spa and two lushly landscaped courtyards offering four season outdoor amenities.
“With a long-standing history of development in Loudoun County and the Town of Leesburg, we’re excited to build upon that history in partnership with RPAI to develop this dynamic, mixed-use apartment community,” says Bob Kettler, Chairman & CEO of KETTLER. “We are thrilled to begin our joint-venture partnership with KETLER and break ground on Vyne which will further support our transformation of the property to a regional mixed-use hub,” stated Nick Over, Vice President and Director of Development – Eastern Division at RPAI. “We continue to enhance our approximately 470,000 sf project with amix of high-end retail and entertainment components with recent openings such as Trader Joe’s and our Four Corners container park, and we are excited to add a residential component with Vyne, to complete the ultimate live, work, and play experience at One Loudoun.”
The project architect for Vyne is Dwell Design Studios. They are joined by interior design firm Bandura Design and landscape architects, Studio 39. LF Jennings will serve as the general contractor.


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New York -- Independent networks navigating the increasingly fragmented TV market need to differentiate themselves beyond just better pricing and more choice to be successful, they also need to take a stand, Fuse TV CEO Michael Schwimmer told a packed audience at the Multichannel News/B&C Hispanic TV Summit Thursday.
Schwimmer, speaking to Multichannel News/B&C editorial director Mark Robichaux, said that with so many ways for consumers to access content including Facebook, Apple, Amazon, Netflix and a growing number of virtual MVPDs, independent networks have to offer something truly different.
"To have any success with platforms, be they pay platforms or other platforms, you need to be highly differentiated," Schwimmer said. "You need to give them something they otherwise don't have readily available in a cost effective manner."
For Fuse, that means targeting a young Latino and multicultural audience with content that resonates with them -- shows that feature Latinos in lead roles and that depict the Latino community as a part of mainstream society.
"I don't think television reflects that yet," Schwimmer said. "When you deliver that to viewers in a non-preachy way, it's just fun, it's entertainment, but you see somebody on screen who looks like you and maybe like your neighbor or like your cousin, it's going to feel good."
But just reflecting the community isn't enough. Schwimmer added that network brands need to stand for something other than just "big tent" entertainment.
"It's very hard to be a legacy general entertainment network," Schwimmer said. "The 'Big Tent' today is Instagram, Facebook, HBO, Netflix. Once get to come down 10,000 feet, you need to stand for something specific. The question is, what does your brand stand for? HBO has done a great job of doing that. In our case, it's very clear -- its Latino, its multicultural, it's young, there's a music filter to it. It's non-scripted, so if you're looking for a great drama, don't come to us. we're very specific about what we offer and who we offer it to. Which means We're not going to appeal to everybody, but we're going to appeal to some people. Hopefully they'll be passionate about what we do."
He added that viewers, especially young viewers, show more allegiance to shows where they feel a connection, where buying into the brand means something. He mentioned Toms Shoes,which gives a free pair of shoes to a needy child for every pair it sells.
"As a network you're an environment and you're environment needs to mean something and stand for something broader than any individual show," Schwimmer said.
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Tag: Forestay Capital
FinTech Mobeewave launches mobile point of sale contactless payment solution
Canadian startup Mobeewave is entering a new segment of the payments market after already creating a secure payments platform and customizable payment apps.
vCita bags $15m in funding round from Forestay Capital
vCita, a business management service for small businesses, has bagged $15m in a funding round led by Forestay Capital.
Mobeewave picks up $16.5m in Series B round
Canadian payments start-up Mobeewave has raised $16.5m in Series B funding round led by NewAlpha Asset Management, Mastercard and Forestay Capital. The business has planned...


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Bitt was selected for the project after a competitive tender process
Bitt, the fintech based in Barbados using blockchain to facilitate cross-border payments, has been selected to develop Nigeria’s digital currency, eNaira.
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) confirmed Bitt as its technical partner for the project last week. eNaira is scheduled for release later this year.
Nigeria embarked on its digital currency project in 2017, after a lengthy research and evaluation process.
CBN governor Godwin Emefiele is quoted by the central bank as saying the benefits of launching eNaira include increased cross-border trade, accelerated financial inclusion, cheaper and faster remittance inflows, and easier targeted social interventions.
Bitt was selected for the project after a competitive tender process. CBN says the fintech demonstrated the required technological competence, efficiency, platform security, interoperability, and implementation experience.
The fintech was “key” to the development and successful launch of the central bank digital currency pilot of the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank in April 2021.


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Wawa unveiled all-new menu items developed by Urban League of Philadelphia’s “Project Ready” Science Leadership Academy to Beeber student attendees.
In partnership with the Urban League of Philadelphia, local students participated in Wawa’s class of 2021 “Future Food Scientists Program 2.0 and Menu Development Challenge,” where they were paired with professionals working in the area. Wawa innovation center to create new, fresh and innovative menu items that were revealed during a ceremony and in-store presentation.
“The Project Ready program is a national program, but each [Urban League of Philadelphia] affiliate has its own chapter. They work with different high school students all over the city of Philadelphia and prepare them for college and different careers, ”said Khalil Bullock, director of the office of administration and communications for the president of the Philadelphia Urban League. “In doing so, students are exposed to different activities as well as professionals. They also work with companies, like Wawa, to some extent to learn a new trade and new skills. Hope they can take this and use it in the future when they move on to college and a career. “
The Philadelphia Urban League and Wawa kicked off the new menu with a celebration at the Wawa store located at 6th and Chestnut St. in downtown Philadelphia.
About fifty students were present when the winning team and the new menu were announced. The celebration included food provided by Wawa of course, music, games and prizes.
Beeber Student Science Leadership Academy crafted items include two take-out combos. The first is a breakfast to go that offers three different choices. The first is a Sizzli burrito, a cup of red grape snack and a 16 oz milk or customers can opt for hard-boiled eggs, a hash brown and a small cup of fruit or finally an egg bagel with bacon and cheese. Sizzli, an apple snack and coffee. The second take-out combo is a combination of snacks. These choices include an apple peanut butter ladle, a granola bar and a banana or pepperoni, cheese and crackers, a cup of strawberries and blueberries and pretzels and finally a cheddar turkey reel, a cup of watermelon and a stick of cheese.
The new menu items are now available online and in select Pennsylvania stores.
The Urban League of Philadelphia’s Project Ready program is designed to prepare high school students for college and for careers. Nationally, the program enrolls 2,000 students in 27 Urban League affiliates.
“In these virtual times it’s hard to try and keep students engaged, and the fact that they were able to take this program in a virtual setting and successfully develop new menu items, I think was a huge accomplishment, besides having an opportunity to connect with industry professionals, learn more about the food and beverage industry and gain hands-on experience during such a difficult time, ”said Bullock.


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Richmond’s iconic Martin Agency, the ad agency that has been on the cutting edge for almost 50 years — hard to believe it’s been that long — proved Thursday that they still get it after all these years. When Team USA hit the field at noon in the World Cup tournament against Germany, employees gathered around a giant television set up in the atrium and munched on pizza ordered in by the company.
It was just the latest in this laid-back, go-with-the-flow business that has remained true to downtown Richmond even after opening other locations and consistently remaining as one of the Top 5 advertising agencies nationally with phenomenally successful ad campaigns such as “Virginia Is For Lovers,” UPS “What can Brown do for you?”, and probably one of the best currently known ads — the Geico “Hump Day” camel (“Know what day it is?”).
Richmond Times-Dispatch reporter Meredith Newman was there (see Fans watch U.S. advance to knock-out round) and caught the atmosphere of excitement and hope as fans cheered on the American team even as they kept up with work. Wonder how many companies did something similar, perhaps not as elaborate, but relaxing the work rules to allow employees to catch the game on laptops or break room TVs.
One thing is for sure: America has soccer fever in a bigger way than in the past. Kudos to The Martin Agency for recognizing it.


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SBA to counsel small businesses impacted by the NHL lockout
- Staff South Florida Business Journal
With the National Hockey League lockout approaching its fourth month and small businesses in Sunrise impacted by the lack of Florida Panthers games, the U.S. Small Business Administration is prepared to help the affected businesses.
In the 23 cities that host NHL teams, SBA representatives will be reaching out over the coming weeks to business owners to provide counseling sessions and help businesses work through this difficult time.
“There are 15 SCORE chapters and 19 Florida Small Business Development Center locations in the South Florida District that offer free, high-quality counseling services to small business owners,” said SBA South Florida District Director Francisco “Pancho” Marrero. “These counselors are ready to help small business owners in Tampa and Sunrise, Fla., with information, ideas, and strategies to meet the challenges they are facing as a result of the NHL lockout.”
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This month’s blog is written by Molly Prout, Aro’s first-ever Apprentice PR and Marketing Executive. Molly gives us the low down on how an apprenticeship is giving her the opportunity to earn a real salary and gain a real qualification, all whilst gaining valuable workplace skills and experience!
Continuing his regular series of blogs, Aro PR and Marketing’s Managing Director, Billy McKenna explains why newspapers and trade magazines are still alive and kicking despite the rise of social media.
Hurrah! We’ve been shortlisted as finalists in the CIPR Pride Awards for Outstanding Small PR Consultancy!
Kicking off a new series of blogs, Aro PR and Marketing’s Director, Billy McKenna waxes lyrical on awards. If you’re strategic about what awards to enter, winning a trophy can add to your business’ credibility and help your wider marketing.
Following the launch of the world’s first REACH compliant ketamine epoxy curing agent, we talk to Dominic Hopwood, Sales Manager at Bitrez Ltd, manufactures of specialist polymers and chemicals, to uncover how the company pushes chemical boundaries to provide the paints, coatings and adhesives industry with innovative solutions.
AeroThermal is a specialist process engineering business based in Poole, Dorset. It believes that its ground-breaking thermo-pressure hydrolysis (TPH) technology has opened new possibilities for anaerobic digestion (AD).
Composites and advanced materials precision slitting company Bindatex has seen a recent increase in orders from the National Composites Centre (NCC) based in Bristol over the last six months. Thanks to the Bolton-based company’s unique expertise and the ability to turn things around quickly, the whole team are now seeing the results of the hard work put in over the last five years, the company reports.
Making use of a technology that has been widely used in the textiles industry, Composites in Manufacturing hears how Airbond has developed expertise with patents and a soon-to-be-launched suite of new splicing products.
Airbond, experts in the science of fiber splicing and its textile industry applications, are to launch two ground-breaking developments to be demonstrated at Floor Tek Expo 2019 in Dalton, Ga., in September.
The company will now go head to head with manufacturers across the country for the title of Britain’s top Leadership & Strategy business. Over 50 of Britain’s top manufacturing companies have made it through to the finals of the UK’s largest and most rigorous industry awards programme: The Manufacturer MX Awards (TMMX Awards).
AeroThermal manufactures and installs bespoke industrial autoclaves for the waste, aerospace, industry sectors, has announced that its first TPH vessel was onstream processing bio-waste for the first time for a renewables company in the UK.
Looking after business starts with protecting the workforce. The right Personal Protection Equipment for the job is vital for safeguarding employees and the bottom line, says Christian Matenaers, marketing director for online industrial consumables and equipment vendor, Zoro.
Bitrez, the UK’s leading manufacturer of specialist polymers and chemicals, attended the Queen’s Award reception at Buckingham Palace last week to celebrate winning a Queen’s Award for Enterprise in the Innovation category.
Foundrax, the world’s leading specialists in Brinell hardness testing, has just shipped a second bespoke system for the intricate inspection of automotive suspension components to a full-service supplier of aluminium and plastic automotive solutions in Mexico.
Bindatex is celebrating 10 years of partnership and delivering 50 tonnes of multiaxial fabrics to a global composites reinforcement manufacturer. The specialist slitting service enables the manufacturer to supply its customers with material in a wide variety of widths.
Rotary measurement specialist, RPI UK, has installed the first of two integrated rotor measurement and assembly platforms (iMAPs) at a major US aero engine maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) facility.
Bitrez Ltd announced the appointment of Georgia-Pacific Chemicals as exclusive distributor for its Curaphen specialty phenolics across the U.S., Canada and Mexico. The appointment extends to all but a small group of existing Bitrez customers.
Bitrez Ltd appointed Dr. Shahid Qureshi as technical specialist for North America. Dr. Qureshi has more than 35 years’ experience of working within high-performance composites, including 27 years as a senior research scientist at Georgia Pacific Chemicals.
Foundrax, a specialist in Brinell hardness testing, will be launching its next generation Robus machine at Control 2019 in Stuttgart (7-10 May), and will exclusively preview its newly developed low-force Brinell range of machines.
Bath based provider of precision positioning devices for high accuracy rotary and angular inspection systems, RPI UK, will be launching the QuadProfile at Control 2019 in Stuttgart (7th-10th May), whilst also exclusively previewing its RotoScan system
Family-owned precision engineering firm JJ Churchill has secured more than £100 million in contracts, increased its headcount by 35% and its export forward order book from under £1m to more than £37m after five years on the Sharing in Growth productivity and competitiveness programme.
Wanner International has just had a very successful demonstration of its seal-less pumps for applications such as salt water injection, crude transfer, polymer injection, condensate transfer and a seal-less artificial lift solution at this year’s Petrotech show in New Delhi


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July is turning into one of the hottest months in recent memory for initial public offerings.
Already this month, several high-profile companies including Zillow, Skullcandy and Francesca’s have begun selling shares publicly. Capping off the month, shares in Dunkin’ Brands are widely expected to start trading this week, along with a handful of other companies.
The rash of offerings comes as the IPO market finally starts to thaw after several years of economic uncertainty, more recently compounded by worries about the national debt. Those worries have delayed some offerings, but now many companies are moving forward.
"You have a big backlog of deals in the pipeline — quality-type companies, well-known companies — that are starting to muscle past this blockage," said John Fitzgibbon, founder of IPO Scoop.com.
lists at least 18 companies that either are expected to begin trading this month or already have completed their IPOs. That could make this the busiest July since 2007, before the onset of the credit crisis.
The busy month comes on the heels of several other highly publicized public offerings earlier this year from well-known Internet companies including LinkedIn and Pandora.
The "rocket-shot" opening days seen in some of the offerings, such as Zillow's explosive debut, have inevitably revived memories of the dot-com boom and subsequent bust. But experts say that despite the renewed excitement about public offerings, things are far tamer than a decade ago.
"This isn’t like insanity-dot-com of 1999 and 2000," Fitzgibbon said.
Investors, many of whom were battle-scarred by the big bets and big losses of the dot-com era, appear to be paying closer attention now to whether these new companies have shown true potential for shareholders.
"Investors appear to be a bit more savvy, a bit more informed, and they’re not just picking anything that’s coming down the line," said David Menlow, president of IPOfinancial.com.
Many of the companies going public this month can point to stronger foundations than generally seen in the dot-com era, when hot frequently companies rushed to the public markets with little evidence of how they planned to turn a profit in the years to come.
Zillow, the online real estate marketplace that went public last week, has been methodically building and expanding its business since its founding in 2004. Dunkin’ Brands, which is expected to go public this week, is parent to a well-known consumer brand that has been around for more than 50 years.
Still, even a longer track record and a hot brand is no guarantee that these initial public offerings will do well. Economic conditions are improving quite slowly, and investors remain skittish.
Shares in LinkedIn, the social networking site for jobseekers, dipped sharply shortly after the company went public in May, although shares have recovered in recent weeks.
Pandora Media, the Internet-based music offering, also saw shares fall following its debut on the public market in June.
Another hotshot social media company, Groupon, attracted some skepticism earlier this year after revealing plans to file for an IPO – along with a record of hefty losses. Still, many are hotly awaiting the daily deal company’s public offering.
And of course there is wild and incessant speculation about when social media’s 800-pound gorilla, Facebook, might finally begin selling its stock to the general public.
Here’s a sampling of some companies that have gone public this month or are expected to debut before month’s end.


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Abrasive systems continued to dominate 3M’s automotive aftermarket sales in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region, accounting for 40 per cent of the turnover in 2015 and the UAE recording most sales, the US-based company reported.
“In order to become market leaders, we have consistently invested in technology and R&D to ensure our abrasive systems meet individual needs while also increasing efficiency, reducing costs and maintaining quality standards, which we will continue to do in the future as well,” said Nicholas Brunet, the company’s Middle East regional business leader, Industrial Business Group.
With some 1.7 million collisions occurring in a year in the GCC alone, 3M’s collision repair solutions are among the more useful products in the market.
Another 25 per cent of 3M’s automotive aftermarket business in the GCC states comes from value-added systems within the vehicle appearance market including products such as polishing lubricants and paints while autocare solutions such as window cleaners, windshield wash and tyre shine make up 10 per cent.
3M’s automotive aftermarket industry recorded in 2015 a compounded annual growth rate of over 5 per cent. The company expects demand to grow by 1.4 per cent in 2016.
“In the longer term, demand for light vehicles will resume faster growth on a positive economic outlook and light-vehicle sales should reach 1.85 million units in 2021. As we see car maturity increase, we will also see greater gains for us as a company. We remain engaged with our end user and are quick to change course if we see certain trends. I guess that’s the best part about being connected,” said Brunet.
Eighty per cent of 3M’s automotive aftermarket sales comes from the UAE. “3M owns the largest market share for the industry in the region, which is roughly 22 per cent of the market share of the UAE, making them market leaders in the automotive aftermarket division. 3M plans to increase this to 30 per cent in the coming year or so through the introduction of new products, which will aim to considerably decrease the amount of time that cars are in the shop,” said Brunet.
“3M will also empower body shops with total value added systems and process intensive training to increase productivity and record maximum output, which will help to not only increase market share but also maximise sales and ensure customers are happy.”
The company is encouraged by positive signs in the region.
“As the market continues to recover from socio-economic conditions, we at 3M have continued to invest in good talent in order to prepare for the upturn. Our customers are cautious and holding on to their vehicles longer during this period of uncertainty. However, we are noticing a steady pick up in the process as cars owing to the recent Ramadan offers at various showrooms. In the second half of the year, we are optimistic to see sales increase, particularly with key programmes being initiated in line with our abrasive systems business,” Brunet observed.
While 3M products are available at various outlets, 99.9 per cent of body shop owners drive its business in the region, and 75 per cent of them are key end-users, the company says. Through the experience of its key end users, the company is introducing products and providing solutions for them to meet the demands of more difficult applications. In an effort to strengthen its relationship with the end user, the company has focused on a “customer first” approach this year, which it says will add value to the business.
INNOVATION KEY TO GROWTH
“As a long time market leader, we will continue to innovate and apply science to our products to increase market share, while also working closely with our customers to develop a product portfolio that is not only suitable to the cars of today, but also applicable for those 10 years down the line. We would like to be at the forefront of all new science, technology and innovation, and are positioning ourselves in line with the various strategies in the region to ensure success,” commented Brunet.
The company recently launched the Cubitron II abrasive range of products that includes discs, belts and wheels and which helps reduce production costs, saves time by cutting faster, lasting longer and requiring lesser grinding pressure. When compared to traditional abrasives, Cubitron II abrasives significantly reduce time and cost of application to the end user. According to 3M, applications that currently take one week to complete can now be completed in one day with Cubitron II abrasives. The product has been well received in the market and 3M sees its adoption and acceptance driving growth in 2015-16 and beyond with significant increase in sales recorded till date. End users are noticing the value of the Cubitron II abrasive range reducing the output with as much as 30 per cent recorded in some cases, it says.
New 3M products with ground-breaking technology will arrive in the region in 2017, which the company says will positively change its direction and path in the automotive business and offer a stronger foothold for the brand in the automotive market. These include paint enhancement products, masking technologies, scratch-resistant material and self-healing films.
“Through our decades of global expertise and learning from the region, we are aiming to bring new initiatives to the GCC, which will facilitate and contribute to long-term growth of the industry as a whole.
The GCC market is a key market for us, and we will ensure we contribute to development, maturity and long-term growth,” said Brunet.


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How 'Fortnite' started a war with Apple — and how it could change the entertainment industry for good
If Apple barred Epic from accessing its developer tools, the iOS platform would no longer support the Unreal Engine. That would be potentially ruinous for every game that uses it
“Starting today, any V-Bucks or real-money offers you purchase on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PC, and Mac are now discounted by up to 20%. You don’t need to do anything,” Epic explained. On iOS and Android, however, users would be required to select Epic’s proprietary new payment method — and if they chose to use Apple or Google’s default payment methods instead, they’d be charged full price and would not receive the special discount.
tap here to see other videos from our team.
Epic was upfront, right in the press release, about the reason for the difference in price. “Currently, when using Apple and Google payment options, Apple and Google collect a 30% fee, and the up-to-20% price drop does not apply,” the developer wrote. “If Apple or Google lower their fees on payments in the future, Epic will pass along the savings to you.” It seemed strangely passive-aggressive for a video-game developer to criticize two of the most influential companies in the world, but in a Q&A issued to press, Epic doubled down: “Thousands of apps on the App Store approved by Apple accept direct payments, including commonly used apps like Amazon, Grubhub, Nike SNKRS, Best Buy, DoorDash, Fandango, McDonalds, Uber, Lyft, and Stubhub,” the release continued. “We think all developers should be free to support direct payments in all apps.”
What has emerged in the wake of this announcement has been more intensely heated and controversial than almost anybody could have foreseen — and as the conflict between two of the biggest and most important forces in the world of tech and entertainment comes to a head this month, the consequences for the entire industry could change things forever.
Epic did not resolve the violations. In fact, Epic immediately turned around and filed a lawsuit against Apple, claiming the tech giant “unlawfully maintains its monopoly power in the iOS App Distribution Market” and prevents competition within its own app ecosystem and on mobile phones at large. “Epic brings this suit to end Apple’s unfair and anti-competitive actions that Apple undertakes to unlawfully maintain its monopoly in two distinct, multi-billion dollar markets,” the suit goes on to affirm. “Epic is not seeking monetary compensation from this Court for the injuries it has suffered. Nor is Epic seeking favorable treatment for itself, a single company. Instead, Epic is seeking injunctive relief to allow fair competition in these two key markets that directly affect hundreds of millions of consumers and tens of thousands, if not more, of third-party app developers.”
The developer’s claim is effectively that Apple, by virtue of the ubiquity of the iPhone and the iPad and by extension the iOS App Store that powers them, has a stranglehold on the entire mobile gaming market — and that by forcing developers to use the App Store to distribute games and apps, and further by forcing them to use their payment methods and offer them that unwavering 30% cut, they are violating the terms of the famous Sherman Antitrust Act of 1890. The Act is meant to thwart dominating monopolies and prevent those “unreasonable restraints of trade” of which Epic claims the App Store is widely guilty.
Essential to Epic’s argument is the wording of the discounts highlighted in their original Mega Drop release. The lowered sale price of V-Bucks was, they claimed, all about “passing savings on to consumers,” and they made a direct correlation between the 30% cut of revenues demanded by Apple on the iOS store and those savings. The implication is that Apple is in essence forcing the company to raise its prices to account for these fees — and that it’s ultimately the consumer, not the developer, who ends up paying for it. To curry the favour of consumers further, Epic developed a video about the lawsuit that riffs on George Orwell’s 1984, urging us to fight back against the totalitarianism of Apple’s market dominance.
Fearing the worst, Epic filed for a preliminary injunction, desperately urging the court to prevent Apple from doing this. Epic claimed that it would be “irreparably harmed long before final judgement comes” in the case, insisting that Apple might “irreparably damage Epic’s reputation” and “be catastrophic for the future of the separate Unreal Engine business.” Epic’s lawyer did not mince words: “The Unreal Engine will actually be destroyed. It will no longer be a usable engine.” They said that already developers were “fleeing the Unreal Engine now,” urgently jumping ship before more damage is done.
Apple, reached for comment, says it is “disappointed that we have had to terminate the Epic Games account on the App Store,” as they have “worked with the team at Epic Games for many years on their launches and releases.” They point out that the court “recommended that Epic comply with the App Store guidelines while their case moves forward,” but for now, and it seems probably going forward, “Epic has refused.” “This is not fair to all the other developers on the App Store and is putting customers in the middle of their fight,” Apple says. “We hope that we can work together in the future, but unfortunately that is not possible today.”
For the time being, the Unreal Engine is safe, and developers who rely on it can feel some immediate relief. But as the hearing is set to proceed at the end of September, the future of both the Apple iOS marketplace and Epic’s Unreal Engine are at risk of being radically changed. For Apple, it’s a question of maintaining the status quo that makes the App Store hugely successful and profitable; if Epic wins this battle, it will no doubt open the floodgates and allow every game developer to obviate the costly iOS payment system, causing their revenue stream to dry up at once. Mobile gaming is one of the biggest and most lucrative fields in the world of entertainment, and whatever transpires now, it’s clearing a turning point.
Meanwhile, Epic risks everything: its cash-cow online shooter, its back-end software business, the whole lot. Unreal Engine has become such a fundamental part of the industry that it’s not even merely powering games: it’s used on film sets to simulate special effects environments, by meteorologists to visualize weather systems, by interior designers to map out rooms, by automotive manufacturers to design cars. Clearly, Apple’s capacity to make or break the Unreal Engine will have long-term consequences that are hard to predict. As the two companies prepare to fight in court, it’s all we can do to watch the action unfold — and see the future take shape.


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Nintendo Switch + Nvidia Hardware Details Emerge
Nvidia just released a blog about the hardware that’s gonna be powering the new Nintendo Switch, and it looks like it’s going to be quite the little powerhouse.
Nintendo Switch is powered by the performance of the custom Tegra processor. The high-efficiency scalable processor includes an NVIDIA GPU based on the same architecture as the world’s top-performing GeForce gaming graphics cards. -Nvidia
Welllllllllll looky here! Nvidia coming HOT out of the gate talking cash shit about how amazingly powerful Nintendo Switch is going to be. They’re claiming on their blog that the Switch is also supported by custom software, a revamped physics engine, and new gaming APIs to “fully harness this performance”. Now, this all sounds like technical jargon to me, but Nvidia’s goal is clear: “To bring lightweight, fast gaming to the masses.”
Nvidia goes on to say that they’ve developed a custom OS that integrates with the Switch’s GPU to maintain performance and efficiency whether the system is docked or on-the-go. It seems like we’re in for a wild few months, and I’m personally stoked to see what other news comes out about exactly how powerful the Switch is going to be.
Nintendo Switch is coming in March of 2017, and you can check out more info on Nintendo’s official site. Stay tuned to @WickedGoodGames on Twitter for more updates.
(Special thanks to Johnny for the tip.)
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German carmaker BMW, known for its “The Ultimate Driving Machine” slogan, aims to make its brand more socially acceptable with a range of fuel-saving technologies it labels EfficientDynamics.
BMW marketing chief Torsten Müller-Ötvös, says the automaker is confident it can promote its green credentials without damaging the brand’s sporty image by offering more efficient gasoline and diesel engine, hybrids and eventually zero-emission fuel-cell technology.
“We do not want to reposition the brand,” Müller-Ötvös, 46, told Automotive News Europe at the IAA in Frankfurt.
“Freude am Fahren (Joy in Driving) remains our slogan, but EfficientDynamics is an initiative of a number of innovative technical measures to reduce fuel consumption,” he said. BMW is positioning “the BMW brand in an environmentally efficient way.”
Race to reduce CO2
Like rival Mercedes-Benz, BMW focused its IAA efforts on promoting new technologies designed to reduce fuel consumption, thereby reducing emissions. EU lawmakers are mulling tougher CO2 regulations.
On BMW’s IAA stand, cars given center stage were equipped with fuel-saving features, such as a two-mode hybrid model that goes on sale in 2009. The new X6 crossover will be the first BMW available as a hybrid. The hybrid motors were developed with General Motors and will reduce fuel consumption up to 20 percent.
BMW subsidiary Mini’s manual transmission is equipped with technology that automatically shuts off the engine when the vehicle is not moving and restarts when the driver removes his foot from the brake. The BMW 1 series already offers stop-start, which helps decrease fuel consumption by up to 6 percent.
Several direct-injection diesel models also were highlighted in Frankfurt, including the BMW 318d which emits 123 grams of CO2 per kilometer. The Mini Cooper D emits 104g/km and uses only 3.9 liters per 100km, BMW says. Both CO2 levels are the lowest for vehicles in their respective classes.
Interestingly, BMW’s high-performance M cars were positioned away from this display.
“In our opinion, climate protection is not a matter of small versus larger cars,” BMW CEO Norbert Reithofer said during the BMW press conference. “The point is to lower fuel consumption and thus CO2 emissions for all vehicles, and to do so continuously.”


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But on a less-happy note, the company also predicted weaker-than-expected sales in the quarter underway and said it would curtail its capital spending in the final quarter. ST revealed plans to reduce capital expenditures next year by 25% from 2004 levels, to around $1.5 billion.
The Geneva-based semiconductor company delivered third-quarter net income of $189 million, or 20 cents a share, up from a loss of $50 million a year ago.
Analysts were looking for earnings per share of 17 cents, according to Thomson Financial.
Net revenue totaled $2.23 billion, in line with estimates. Revenue was up 24% from last year's levels and
up 3% from the prior quarter.
Gross margins stood at 37.9%, above the prior quarter's 37.4% and the 35.1% reported a year ago.
In a statement, Chief Executive Officer Pasquale Pistorio touted ST's improving profit levels. "Despite a progressive decline in market demand that was characterized by shortened lead times and backlog adjustments, our revenues came in within the guidance parameters we provided at the time of our 2004 second-quarter earnings announcement," he said.
"We are especially pleased that gross margins reached 37.9% for the period, the high end of our guidance range, benefiting from sequential improvements in product mix and manufacturing efficiencies," the CEO added.
Pistorio said that sequential revenue growth mostly resulted from digital consumer products, as well as application-specific integrated circuits sold into the wireless, data-storage and auto markets.
Flash-memory revenue was about flat with the prior quarter, at $306 million.
By end-market, revenue for the quarter broke down as follows: 14% from automotive, 23% from consumer, 16% from computer, 31% from telecom and 16% from industrial.
Commenting on the outlook, Pistorio said, "We share the view expressed by many analysts that the 2004 fourth quarter will be a period of relatively modest growth for the semiconductor industry, resulting from lower-than-anticipated growth in end-market demand, which has caused inventory buildups in certain market segments and has constrained pricing power."
ST expects fourth-quarter revenue to range from flat to up 5% from the prior quarter, implying a sales range of $2.23 billion to $2.34 billion -- below the consensus estimate for $2.44 billion. Pistorio acknowledged that the outlook is "below our earlier expectations and historical seasonal trends."
Gross margins should range between 38% and 39%.
In light of the shortfall, ST said it has cut its 2004 capital expenditure to about $2 billion, 10% below its earlier plan. The company plans to reduce spending further next year, to around $1.5 billion.
ST shares rose 18 cents, or 1%, after hours to $17.88. In regular trading the stock gained 25 cents, or 1.4%, to $17.70.