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With the holidays fast approaching, many scammers are gearing up to deck the halls with their tried and true holiday scams. The Better Business Bureau is warning holiday shoppers and donors to know the red flags and be on guard this holiday season.
Thousands of shoppers every year fall victim to the holiday deals that seem too good to be true and the fraudulent charity pleas, so this season, the BBB urges consumers to take the following tips into consideration before doing their holiday shopping and making charity donations.
Always check a business’s BBB Business Review at bbb.org before making a purchase in the store or online. If you shop Craigslist or other free online bulletin board sites, look for local sellers and conduct transactions in person; never wire money. Always research charities through the Better Business Bureau before giving, and never click any links or open email attachments until you have confirmed that they are not malicious.


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MIPS chips dismisseth us
Oh dear, oh dear -- Cray platforms for artists...
Silicon Graphics made no bones about the fact it wanted shot of its MIPS division last year but now, according to reports, it's all got a little closer. The first fracture came the day Compaq's CEO Eckhard Pfeiffer arrived at a posh hotel in London the day the company took over Tandem. Some exec, obviously not press trained, told The Register that day that the Alpha architecture was obviously "more industry standard" than the MIPS architecture. Oops. Now, it seems, SGI is moving fast to divest itself of what remains of its MIPS biz. It will shed its $1 billion stake as fast as possibile between now and Autumn 2000 by a variety of cunning means. Instead it will concentrate on selling "powerful computers" for scientists, engineers and artists. At The Register, we didn't realise that the NSA, GCHQ et al were artists. Does Damien Hurst need Cray technology to dissect cows as part of the neurotic artists movement? ®
Sponsored: DevOps and continuous delivery

domain: news


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Its been 16 months since the debut of the all-new 2019 Ram 1500 and in that time period, Ram’s half-ton pickup has won countless awards including some of the biggest ones in the industry. Now the team over at Edmunds, have named the 2019 Ram 1500 their 2019 Best Family Truck Award.
The Edmunds staff, test about 300 vehicles per year using a 115-mile real-world test that consists of freeways, city streets, and winding canyon roads. The data gathered results in their ratings, which are based on 30-plus scores covering performance, comfort, interior, technology, utility, and value.
“A truck as a family car makes sense when you drive the Ram 1500 – especially if your family is outdoorsy and has lots of toys,” said Alistair Weaver, editor-in-chief at Edmunds. “With reclining rear seats, class-leading legroom and an exclusive coil-spring rear suspension, the Ram 1500 outclasses many traditional SUVs in comfort and luxury.”
“The 2019 Ram 1500 is the benchmark for durability, technology, luxury, and efficiency,” said Reid Bigland, Head of Ram Brand. “This award from Edmunds, combined with their 2019 Editor’s Choice award, supports our efforts and highlights a rapidly growing interest from customers who use our pickups as family vehicles.”
With significant gains in fuel efficiency through an all-new eTorque mild hybrid system in both V-6 and V-8 configurations, Ram leads the full-size truck segment. The new Ram 1500 also leads in the technology with the massive 12-inch Uconnect 4C touchscreen with features like split-screen capability, 360-degree camera views and exclusive content from SiriusXM with 360L. Active safety and security systems join the technology onslaught with adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, and blind-spot monitoring.


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University of Montana Business Plan Challenge Returns Soon
Missoula, MT (KGVO-AM News) - The Annual University of Montana Business Plan Challenge will be held on Friday, April 28 at the Gallagher Business Building on the UM campus.
It provides a golden opportunity for budding entrepreneurs to pitch their plans to possible investors and shot at the $50,000 first prize.
The UM Business Plan Challenge is This Friday
KGVO News spoke to UM Director of Strategic Communications Dave Kuntz on Friday, who provided some background on the competition.
“The business plan challenge this will be its 34th year sponsored by the University of Montana College of Business,” began Kuntz. “It’s Friday, April 28, here on campus at the Gallagher business building. It's really been something that's been around for a long time and it elevates our students as they prepare to head out into the real world as tomorrow's business leaders. They’ll be entering into a competition with teams from all around the region in the state to see who has the best business plan and in years past, the winners of this event have gone on to really have some successful and notable businesses here in Missoula and across the region.”
Several Different Business Plans will be Presented to a Panel of Judges
Kuntz provided just a few examples of the business plans to be presented.
“There are some really impressive plans,” he said. “We have plans to talk about affordable childcare businesses. We have lots of information technology plans to help people as they have to evolve into the new use of technologies. We also have plans that have some interdisciplinary action to them that work through music and business and instructional videos and how to deploy them so people can access healthcare and other services.”
The Grand Prize is a $50,000 Investment in the Winning Business
Kuntz said the opportunities for the student presenters include a grand prize of a $50,000 investment.
“A lot of these plans aren't just academic activities, but they will end up evolving into businesses that we will know well about in the coming years ahead,” he said. “This is a big deal for our students at the university and there's a lot on the line. The winner of the competition will be provided $50,000 in prize money to help launch their business into reality and become the latest in a long list of businesses that originated with this annual competition.”
Kuntz said there are some very successful businesses here in Missoula that got their start at the annual University of Montana Business Plan Challenge.
“You might recognize some of the past winners who've gone on to launch successful businesses like Five on Black Brazilian Grill, The Market on Front, Geo Fly, and Big Sky Brewing,” he said. So if you do want to get a sneak peek at some of the successful businesses in western Montana here in the years ahead, remember that the doors open at 4:30 p.m. here on campus at the Gallagher Business Building and it's free and open to all.”
Click here for more details about the business plans in this year’s competition.


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You may be about to find out. Chromecast Ultra will cost US$69, more than twice the price of the regular Chromecast device.
Initially, the gadget’s main objective was a little hard to discern.
Once you get past the very different looks, the guts of the Home and the Echo actually seem very similar.
On Tuesday, Google announced Google Home, its always-listening digital voice assistant device and competitor to Amazon Echo, helping to expand the market for digital voice assistant devices. You can cast music to Home’s speaker using Google Cast as well-and in the same vein, you can use voice commands via Home to control your TV if you have a connected Chromecast (this feature now only works with YouTube, but Netflix support will soon become available). But voice is still up for grabs, even if Amazon is off to a head start with the popularity of Alexa, the voice-powered AI that lives inside the Echo. Indeed, Google’s conversational AI assistant can pull down information from both Google’s knowledge graph to provide you with all sorts of answers and data. If Google isn’t your service of choice for music, Home integrates with Spotify, Pandora, iHeartRadio, and TuneIn. However, while everybody sees the success, the hardwork is often undermined.
Google has us all blown away with the diversified range of products they announced. That’s a feature already offered by larger, more expensive streaming devices such as the $100 Amazon Fire TV. (It launched with a few dozen so-called “skills” and now has thousands).
Aside from cutting its price to half, the new Echo Dot is smaller with just two volume buttons instead of a volume ring. So when Google employees hear the joke about it looking like a giant air freshener, they own it. Air fresheners do the same thing: sit there, mostly ignored, performing a function. In a digital world where there is a smartphone app for nearly everything, smart homes and automobiles are still seeking and making connections that add value. But another-and one that’s a little more interesting- is a new smart home hub called Google Home, which runs on Google Assistant.
The Echo’s hands-free operation filled an undiscovered niche in the smart-home universe.
But when you say “OK, Google”, only the one nearest to you will answer.
This software is namely the manifestation of Google’s huge knowledge graph built from trillions of searches and its machine learning and artificial intelligence tools. However, it is now expected that over time, the two would come closer to each other.
“I’ve never used Cortana”.
If you’re in the United Kingdom, I have some bad news. “That was the only way to communicate, so we all got in the habit”.
Home-based systems like the Echo are taking on more importance with the advent of improved voice technology, said Forrester’s Ask. He has lights, blinds, and his garage door synced with the Echo. Another useful feature is that the device hearing you best will respond when you say “Ok Google” so that it won’t result in sheer chaos.
What won him over?
It can be bought for U$129 (A$170) at the Google Store, Walmart and Best Buy in the US.
“Search has been Google’s golden ticket for the past 20 years of the internet, and now they are hoping artificial intelligence will become the next golden ticket”, Blau said.
Second, you can ask it to flip a coin.


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Below is this month’s Newsletter, which will be winging it’s way to you very soon. All the usual news and information, but there is also a new, potential option for the redevelopment of the Aida factory on City Road. We’ve now got permission to share the promo video, so do please have a look. Comments welcome!
The community centre will have a family Quiz night on Friday 5th April, which is always a good night. The last quiz was very popular, so do come along. Children welcome, and rounds for all ages!
Also, do save the date for Chester Green Event Teams 2nd annual fashion show (all proceeds going to this year’s Picnic on the Green event)! It was a great event last year, and will be on Friday 3rd May, 2019


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At MGT Design we understand the importance of social media marketing. Being one of fastest growing industries, we expect to see it grow even further in 2017. More businesses need to understand how important social media is and learn to use it in the same way that the millennial generation does. We have taken a […]
We use our smart phones on a daily basis, in this technological era they are what keep us going throughout the day. Smart phones are what wake us up in the morning with the alarm we set and keep us organised with our calendars which are synced to our tablets and computers and even social media accounts […]
The PlayStation VR
The Sony PlayStation VR is made to work with the PlayStation 4, so that users can experience gaming on a completely new level, letting users climb into the game and make them feel as though they are actually there inside the game itself in a whole new 3D experience.
The PlayStation VR headset is made […]
The latest social media news that has got everyone talking is that Twitter are to remove the 140 character limit on Tweets that are posted out on Twitter and that users could make Tweets with up to 10,000 characters which is around about 2,000 words. So far this has received many negative reviews as […]
Recent news revealed that Facebook was to introduce a dislike button which caused a stir with many people who thought it would cause trouble on the popular social media site. Today it has been revealed that Facebook are not introducing a dislike button and are in fact going to release reaction buttons in the […]
What is ‘Phubbing’?
‘Phubbing’ is a term to describe paying attention to your phone rather than paying attention to your partner. The word has been made up by mixing the words phone and snubbing (ignoring) together to make the word ‘phubbing’. So many people may think what they are doing is okay but it is time […]
The latest news reveals that Facebook will soon introduce a “Dislike” button after Facebook users have requested this option for several years. Many Facebook users will post statues or news pieces where some people do not feel comfortable clicking “Like” against that particular post and instead would want to “Dislike” it. Mark Zuckerber, the founder of Facebook, said […]
With technology growing and becoming increasingly advanced, more people are entering the world of social media and using social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter to post information and consistent status’ about what they get up to each day, almost like an online journal, open to the public to read. What people are not realising […]


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Merced Sun-Star: Foster Farms characters coming back (Write a Letter to the Editor)
Write a Letter to the Editor: editor@...
Learn about the real lives of Foster Farms chickens: www.FosterFacts.net
Foster Farms characters coming back
By Scott Jason
September 16, 2006, 02:42:12 AM PDT
LIVINGSTON -- The Foster Imposters are crossing interstate roads in a
renewed effort to pass themselves off as Foster Farms chickens.
The West Coast poultry processor announced Friday it is relaunching its
Foster Imposters advertising campaign, which was on a two-year hiatus.
In 1993, a San Francisco-based advertising firm hatched the two scraggly
birds and their plight to be accepted as Foster Farms chickens. Until
2004, the duo zig-zagged the West Coast in their 1967 Plymouth
Belvedere, trying to deceive customers.
Greta Janz, Foster Farms' vice president of marketing, said the chickens
went to roost because the company noticed consumer awareness levels were
A study showed 85 percent of California consumers recognized the Foster
Imposters, which made it the most successful campaign since the
California Raisins, Janz said.
The chickens were replaced by the "We Foster" campaign, which focused on
the company being family-owned.
"With ads that are feel-good, (viewers) just tune you out," she said.
"We came to realize that when you are advertising, it's really
difficult to break through the clutter."
When the imposter commercials were pulled, the company was inundated
with calls and letters from people who missed the chickens, Janz said.
They left the air with the possibility of returning, she said.
"When you have something like the imposter campaign, which is a
once-in-a-lifetime campaign, it is hard to come up with something
better," Janz said.
If the campaign was national, it would cost about $50 million, Janz
said. However, Foster Farms advertising is only regional and Janz
declined to give true cost.
Harold Sogard, vice chairman of the company that created the bumbling
birds, said the concept derived from the Charlie the Tuna campaign by
StarKist Tuna, which started in the 1960s, went until 1980s and
recently was reintroduced.
Charlie, a beatnik fish with glasses, always was rejected because the
company wanted fish that tasted good, not that had good taste.
"They cooked up the idea of a couple of chickens that wanted to be
Foster Farms chickens, but weren't good enough," Sogard said.
It is difficult to design a campaign that is both informative and funny,
Sogard said. In the road trip commercial, the two chickens drive across
the nation in searing heat, get frozen at night and eat junk food the
Research showed consumers will likely enjoy the imposters' second run as
much as the first one, he said.
"It's a little bit like the Wile E. Coyote and Road Runner," he said.
"You know the Foster Imposters are going to lose, and it's fun to find
out how they are going to get found out."
Though people may enjoy the commercials, it doesn't always translate
into increased sales, said Alice Cuneo, the West Coast editor of the
New York-based Advertising Age magazine.
"If it's Foster Farms or a Wal-Mart brand, it will be a hard choice,"
she said. "I am not sure the Imposters can bring people over the line."
The commercials' logic is convoluted, Cuneo said. The customers see the
imposters as the opposite of Foster Farms and then must figure out what
the poultry company is about.
"You have a lot of dots to connect," she said.
The poultry processor switched to the "We Foster" campaign, Cuneo
thinks, because customers became interested in organic and healthy
"Chicken still has that patina of being a healthy food," she said.
"Basically they wanted to do something more family-oriented."
With concerns over avian flu, Cuneo said she wonders if the public will
still embrace the dirty duo.
"I'm interested to see how they can play those chickens out," she said.
"Maybe people will continue to think it's funny."
The fast-food eating, nacho cheese guzzling duo will be in four
commercials this season, starting Monday and ending Oct. 15. Two of
them are in Spanish.
One commercial shows the two driving across the country and trying to
pass themselves off as a Foster Farms chicken to a California resident.
The other clip shows an angry mom confronting the birds on a daytime
talk show after they duped her.
One will be shown Sept. 28 during the premiere of "Grey's Anatomy." They
will appear on network and cable television in all the major cities in
California, Oregon and Washington, Janz said.
Two commercials of the four are in Spanish, featuring the popular
musical group Los Tucanes de Tijuana. They will air beginning Sept. 27.
Reporter Scott Jason can be reached at 385-2453 or


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If there was a show that could get the attention of both gamers and a larger general audience, it would be The Legend of Zelda. The series has sold over 100 million copies over a plethora of platforms, and is now poised to be turned into a TV show.
Castlevania has been a big hit for Netflix and its producer Adi Shankar has teased a new show based on The Legend of Zelda, where he posted on Instagram a huge tease: "I can confirm that I'm working with an iconic Japanese gaming company to adapt one of their video game series into a [TV] series. On Nov. 16 @ 1pm I'm going to announce what it is. I love you all. Thank you for following me on this journey. Entertaining you guys continues to be a privilege". That gets my hype meter soaring, especially with Netflix planning an upcoming TV series based on The Witcher starring Man of Steel, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice and Mission Impossible Fallout star Henry Cavill.
The Legend of Zelda in TV series form could take shape in the form of a massive live action series, an animated version or something completely different. Netflix securing the rights will be a big move as they're going to be bleeding content out to Disney over the next year or so before they launch their own digital streaming service. Disney has some huge IP it can pull from including Marvel, Lucasfilm, Pixar, and more.
Netflix getting into TV series about massive games like The Witcher, Castlevania and The Legend of Zelda will definitely do some great things with subscriber numbers. Netflix will bleed millions to Disney or at least force them to stay with even better content, something they continue to spend billions more per year on. Securing the rights to The Legend of Zelda in TV series form will be big news for a strengthened relationship between Netflix and Nintendo... but what I want to ask is... do we expect a Super Mario Bros. TV series now?


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Parrot announces two new professional drone solutions at InterDrone 2018
The two cutting-edge platforms by Parrot-the leading European drone group-help professionals work more efficiently, cut costs, reduce worker risk and make better decisions.
Parrot today strengthens its Parrot Business Solutions portfolio with the release of two new innovative platforms: the senseFly eBee X and the Parrot ANAFI Work. Launched with the promise that “it’s not about the drone,” but instead about overcoming business challenges, these reliable aerial solutions…
Source: RealWire… consumer technology- general feed from realwire


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According to NPD Solarbuzz, global PV demand in the first quarter of 2014 set a new record high, the fifth year in a row that a quarterly record was set in the first quarter.
The market research firm said that demand in the quarter increased by 35% to over 9GW, compared to the previous first-quarter record set in 2013. End-market demand was said to have been driven by Japan and the UK, which combined accounted for more than one-third of demand as well as setting new quarterly records for PV deployed.
“The record demand added by the PV industry is the fifth straight year that a quarterly record has been set at the start of the year,” said Michael Barker, senior analyst at NPD Solarbuzz. “While demand during the first quarter typically sets the low point for the year, deployment levels during this quarter provide an excellent means of benchmarking demand for the rest of the coming year.”
As a result, the research firm said that the trailing 12-month demand indicates that the PV market is almost at the 40GW level and poised to go beyond the 50GW level in the next 12 months.
“Purely on a pro-rata basis, the first quarter of 2014 provides strong confidence that 2014 solar PV demand will indeed reach, and possibly even surpass, NPD Solarbuzz’s 2014 full-year forecast of 49GW,” Barker noted.
“During the past few years, the solar PV industry has been waiting for end-market demand to catch up with the excess manufacturing capacity added between 2010 and 2012,” added Finlay Colville, vice-president of NPD Solarbuzz. “This wait is now coming to an end. As annual demand approaches the 50GW level, suppliers will finally be able to shift their focus from short-term tactical survival to long-term strategic planning.”


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May 29, 2015
Faster Smartphone Data on the Way, But it Will Cost You
Sprint CEO Marcelo Claure recently told Code Conference that the mobile carrier’s unlimited data plans would not last forever–though no date was specified for when they might end or that they would end anytime soon.
But according to Verge.com, Claure says smartphones are devouring data and it’s no longer practical to offer unlimited plans that, in the past, were used to lure customers to switch carriers in the highly competitive mobile space. And while Sprint will inevitably raise its prices to the more profitable capped plans, another development could see faster speeds for consumers, but also steeper bills.
CNN Money reports that before the decade’s end, faster smartphone data in the form of 5G could make its way to phones–and its speeds are up to 40 times faster than Â 4G. As an example of just how fast, Nokia promised that 5G would let people stream an “8K” video in 3-D–and the picture would be 16 times clearer than an HD video. Additionally, the report says users could download a 3-D movie in about six seconds versus the six minutes it takes to do the same thing using 4G.
But while your Netflix and FaceTiming experience might be more intense, so, too, will the bills. According to CNN Money, the Bureau of Labor says the average mobile phone bill in 2013 was $76 a month, which is 50% higher than the 2007 average of $51. Coincidentally, that was the year the iPhone made its debut. Additionally, Cisco predicts that by 2019, mobile data traffic to and from cell towers, and not offloaded to Wi-Fi, is going to grow by 57%. With those numbers as bases, it’s predicted that cellphone bills will grow a whopping $43–bringing the monthly damage to $119 a month.


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NEW YORK — With its Tommy Hilfiger and Coach businesses spurring sales, Movado Group Inc. reported double-digit earnings gains for the fourth quarter and year-end periods.
“We are sensing our brands’ awareness and position in each area of the market in which we compete,” said Efraim Grinberg, president and chief executive officer, during the company conference call.
For the three months ended Jan. 31, the Paramus, N.J.-based watch manufacturer saw earnings rise 16.4 percent to $7.2 million, or 28 cents a diluted share, in line with Wall Street analysts’ consensus estimate. Comparatively, the company reported earnings of $6.2 million, or 24 cents, in the year-ago period.
Sales shot up 29.4 percent to $120 million from $92.7 million, while comparable-store sales at the company’s boutique stores rose 2.9 percent.
“Sell-through was particularly strong in the fourth quarter as consumers responded enthusiastically to a new emphasis on our women’s product department,” said Grinberg during the call.
According to Grinberg, the Hilfiger business grew by more than 50 percent over the year. The company’s Concord line also posted double-digit sales gains for the quarter and the year, with record sales in Japan.
Indeed, Japan is proving to be a crucial component of the company’s efforts to expand in international markets. This is most evident when it comes to management’s views on the potential of the company’s Coach business.
“Our close partnership with Coach has enabled us to build a very successful watch business with one of the fastest- growing luxury brand names,” said Grinberg. “We experienced double-digit sales growth throughout fiscal 2005 with strong performances in Coach’s key markets, the U.S., Japan and Japanese travel destinations.”
According to the company, Ebel, which was acquired from LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton in December 2003, accounted for $17.3 million in sales and was “slightly accretive” to earnings for the quarter.
For the year, earnings rose 15.1 percent to $26.3 million, or $1.03 a share, compared with earnings of $22.9 million, or 92 cents, in the prior year.
Sales spiked 26.9 percent to $419 million from $330.2 million.
EXCLUSIVE: @tomford is opening its first-ever beauty store. The boutique, which opens November 20 in London’s Covent Gardens, was designed with the over-the-top glam Ford is known for. Read the full story on WWD.com, link in bio. #wwdbeauty #wwdnews (📷: Simon Wagner) #TomFordBeauty
New York-based DJ @harleyvnewton threw a party to celebrate the holiday collection of her dress and pajama line @hvn at the Ladurée Beverly Hills. It Girls @katebosworth, @rashidajones and more joined in on the fun, which included cocktails, croque monsieur sandwiches and a photo booth. #wwdfashion (📷: Owen Kolasinski/BFA.com)
For the holidays, @Burberry partnered with 20-year-old artist @blondeymccoy on a series of three outdoor murals in downtown Manhattan. The murals are McCoy’s interpretation of a Christmas eve party, the idea of charity and the spirit of family. His third mural, pictured here, is the most personal. The image depicts McCoy’s grandparents and father in London’s Trafalgar Square in the Seventies. “My work often features lots of sentimental objects.” #wwdeye
For spring 2018, designers applied bold colors and cartoonish motifs on everything from sneakers and belts to key chains. See all the top men’s accessories trends on WWD.com. #wwdtrends (📷: George Chinsee; Prop Styling by @rnasti; Market Editor: @luiscampuzano)
The @dior-sponsored @guggenheim international gala pre-party has a history of drawing cool-girl musical acts to serenade the crowd –– and last night was no exception. @haimtheband performed songs both new and old, and lured a star-studded audience with the likes of Rebecca Hall, Kate Mara, Mamoudou Athie and more. #wwdeye (📷: @lexieblacklock)
In a partnership between the @metopera and the @englishnationalopera, “Marnie” was born. The opera, with costumes sponsored by @mrporterlive, is an adaptation of the 1961 thriller by Winston Graham. Arianne Phillips, who created the costumes, is no rookie: She’s styled Madonna for her tours and created costumes for a myriad of films in the past. Read WWD’s interview with Phillips, where she talks about her inspiration for the opera’s costumes on WWD.com #wwdfashion
@barneysnyc took a different approach to their holiday windows this year. Instead of Christmas decor, Barneys tapped @thehaasbrothers to tell a story of positivity, gratitude and inclusivity via heartwarming silliness and humor. “It’s about kids and it’s about coming together and being family and loving each other,” said Simon Haas. #wwdfashion (📷: @joshuascottphoto)
Beauty influencer @kandeejohnson makes her foray into hair care with a collaboration with @ogx_beauty — making it the first time that OGX has teamed up for a product creation. The collab includes shampoos and conditioners in three scents. At 39 and a mom, Johnson is a different profile than the emerging social media stars, but is considered one of the pioneers of the digital beauty influencer world. Read WWD’s interview with her on wwd.com, including the strangest beauty product she’s ever tried #wwdbeauty


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- The ground flower pods are less expensive than purchasing CBD oil.
- The products will exclusively be sold in New York.
Curaleaf is one of the biggest names in the cannabis industry, and their products span across the entire United States. Their subsidiary, Curaleaf New York, is one of the leading cannabis companies in the US, operating four medical cannabis dispensaries in Queens, Long Island, Hudson Valley, and North Country, New York. Now, according to reports from PR Newswire, Curaleaf New York has officially launched a new product – Curaleaf Ground Flower Pods.
These flower pods are the first medical cannabis products that use cannabis flower, and they will be sold at the Carle Place dispensary in Nassau County, Long Island. However, the pods are due to be launched at all four of the New York dispensaries in the next few weeks.
Presently, the ground flower pods make it possible for consumers to use medical marijuana with the use of medicinal vapors. Each pod includes 350 mg of active cannabinoids with a 20:1 THC:CBD ratio with both Indica and Sativa. Every 3.5 mg package includes 700 mg. Joseph Lusardi, the CEO of Curaleaf, stated:
“Curaleaf is very pleased to be launching the first medical cannabis flower products to be offered in New York stated, which is first and foremost a win for our patients.” Lusardi pointed out that the use of flower allows consumers to have the raw form of the substance, which is substantially more affordable and provides patients with more options. He added, “We’d like to thank the Department of Health for permitting us to sell vapable flower. We believe it’s an important step toward making natural products available in New York.”
Dr. Grace Forde, MD, the director of Neurological Services at North American Partners in Pain Management in Long Island, practices medicine in Long Island, and helps patients to find the best remedy for their conditions. Expanding beyond cannabis oil is “extremely beneficial,” since it is natural, affordable, and offers a faster effect than what oil can provide. Due to these benefits, Dr. Forde stated that the flower “is therefore better suited for treating certain medical conditions.”
Now, consumers can also purchase the Curaleaf Tabletop Vaporizer, which heats the ground flower cannabis pods. As a result, the contents emit a mild, smokeless vapor, which allows users to get the benefits of using cannabis, but without the harm that smoking could cause.
Earlier this year, a delivery program was launched by Curaleaf New York, which runs on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays for free with a purchase. Registered patients and caregivers are able to use this service in Nassau, Suffolk, Queens, Kings, and New York Counties.
Consumers that want the earliest access to these pods should go to Curaleaf Carle Place, which is located at 255 Glen Cove Road, near 9:00am on the day of the launch. The ground flower pods will be available while supplies last, and consumers can reach the location by phone at 516-534-2872.


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After more than 12 years, Windows XP breathes its last gasp on Tuesday, April 8, when Microsoft will issue the final security update for the aging OS.
Nearly every longtime Windows user looks back on Windows XP with a certain fondness, but the party's over, at least according to Microsoft. "It's time to move on," says Tom Murphy, Microsoft's director of communications for Windows. "XP was designed for a different era."
Despite Microsoft's urgings, which began in earnest nearly two-and-a-half years ago, a sizable portion of the world's PC users are still actively using Windows XP. During March 2014, close to 30 percent of all Internet-connected PCs worldwide were running XP, according to Net Market Share. Only Windows 7 surpassed XP in PC usage.
There's no doubt about it: Many, many people around the world refuse to give up on XP anytime soon. But why? What's so great about an operating system that was invented before the age of Dropbox and Facebook, an OS that's almost as old as the original Google search engine?
After talking to a number of current XP users, we've reached one major conclusion: For many of them, PCs aren't snazzy tech gadgets, but home appliances that still work just fine. Beyond that there's suspicion toward Windows 8, migration hassles and costs, personal preference, and a heavy dose of skepticism about the fundamental insecurity of Windows XP.
Who's afraid of the big, bad malware?
When you ask Microsoft why it's urging users to give up Windows XP for a Windows 7 or Windows 8.1 PC, it all comes down to security. "XP was launched in 2001, which means the design and engineering started in the 90s," Murphy says. "At that time, the types of threats and risks you found online were really different and a lot less sophisticated than what we see now. Windows 7 and 8.1 start with security in mind, they are created and designed to be inherently more secure. XP predates all that work, because these threats simply didn't exist."
But many XP users aren't buying it.
"They built an awful lot of bomb shelters back in the 50's with the same kind of mindset," says Dallas-based Pix Smith, a puppeteer and magician who uses an XP PC for online research and small-business bookkeeping. Smith acknowledges that an attack against his PC is possible, but he argues that when it comes to malware, the odds are in his favor.
"As with most of those things, the number of people affected versus the total number of users is a really, really, low percentage, if you are relatively prudent," Smith said. "And I like to think that I'm a relatively prudent user. I don't do a lot of things that would open me up to malware."
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DES MOINES, Iowa (AgPR) — Premier Crop Systems is pleased to announce that the Board of Directors has appointed Darren Fehr as President and Chief Executive Officer and a member of the Board of Directors effective immediately. Fehr previously held the position of Director, Sales & Marketing with Premier Crop Systems and will succeed Dan Frieberg. As Dan transitions toward retirement, he will remain actively engaged in the company as Vice President, Technical Services.
Barry Schaffter, Chairman of the Board of Directors, explained, “The Board of Directors is very pleased with this leadership transition, which continues to build on the strength that Premier Crop has developed in the market.”
Premier Crop has been in business since 1999, founded by Frieberg. Frieberg states, “I am thrilled that we will continue to build seamlessly on the momentum we have created. Darren has the leadership that I believe will take this company, our partners and our customers to succeed beyond what they ever thought they could achieve. I will continue to help our customers use their data to make better decisions and look forward to the growth in the future.”
Fehr joined Premier Crop in February of 2018 and has successfully led the company in significant growth over the last two years. His passion for mentoring, leading and growing the business will be instrumental in the future of Premier Crop.
“Premier Crop Systems is a company that thrives on seeing our customers exceed their own expectations and I am honored to lead this exceptional team. My strategic goal is to be clearly focused on developing our Elite Advisor Network so that our products and services continue to be in high demand from the professional farmer. Together, we have a tremendous opportunity ahead of us,” stated Fehr.
About Premier Crop Systems
Premier Crop Systems is a leading precision ag-data processing and analysis company headquartered in Des Moines, Iowa. Now entering its 20th crop year, Premier Crop Systems’ data analysis drives better agronomic decisions that lead to higher yields, increased profits and more sustainable practices for customers including leading retailers, agronomists and growers who are interested in discovering new knowledge that can be used to make better planning, production and marketing decisions. Premier Crop Systems is proud to be the technology provider for the best precision ag programs in the country and is unwavering in its data policy commitment to the customers and growers they serve.
Learn more at www.premiercrop.com.
–Premier Crop Systems
via AgPR.com – the news release distribution service for agriculture


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Old Navy Is Having A $1 Sock Sale
It’s Old Navy’s One Dolla Holla Sock Sale.
By Doug Lazy on November 9, 2017
Old Navy is getting people excited this year with its One Dolla Holla Sock Sale.
This Black Friday, Old Navy is selling its fuzzy socks for $1, normally valued at $5. It’s the winter equivalent to the famous $1 flip-flop sale. Bustle reports that every sock sale with go towards the Boys & Girls Clubs of America.
Keep in mind that this deal will only occur in stores for one day, on Black Friday.
Old Navy is getting a head start on sales this year on Nov. 22 for a three-day Black Friday event, giving 50 percent off on purchases up until Black Friday.


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For Shell, Australian company Ashdene is developing two tabletop ceramics and kitchen textile lines that will be roll out this summer, while the U.K.-based Craft Consortium has developed Shell's designs into a paper craft collection.
Piddix is the brainchild of designer and archivist Corinna Buchholz, who travels across the U.S. searching for vintage images and memorabilia that are then used as the inspiration in a series of graphic designs.
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Luxe Living Asia
With plenty of luxury apartments available for purchase at prices a fraction of those in Hong Kong, Thailand’s capital continues to represent an attractive property-investment opportunity in Southeast Asia.
Why Bangkok is an attractive property-investment opportunity in Southeast Asia
On the tail of a construction boom that’s lasted the best part of two decades, Bangkok now su ers from a glut of condominiums. In May, Bloomberg reported that some 65,000 new apartments were added to the Thai capital’s inventory last year alone, which represents an 11 percent increase on 2017. Although it’s been claimed that there are now as many as 450,000 residences sitting unsold across the sun-drenched “Land of Smiles”, and snapshots of more-ordinary properties are yellowing sadly in real-estate agency windows from Hat Yai to Chiang Rai, one sector of the market remains in ne fettle, mainly through demands of the domestic market, but also supported by a steady inux of foreign capital. That sector is luxury.
“The luxury end is pretty resilient, though the mid and lower end of the market has fallen o , certainly compared to last year,” says Tim Skevington, managing director at Richmont’s Luxury Real Estate, which represents Christie’s International Real Estate in Bangkok.
Skevington is speaking in early August, from an exclusive gathering to celebrate the grand opening of Banyan Tree Residences Riverside Bangkok, a luxurious freehold condominium tower comprising 133 luxurious units over 45 oors, all overlooking the Chao Phraya River. A large turnout is expected.
“Particularly Thai people but also potential buyers from overseas,” says Skevington, who has more than 15 years’ experience in Bangkok’s high-end residential market. “That’s an indication of where we are. There’s still a lot of interest in the higher end in Bangkok.”
Thailand’s economy has wobbled in 2019, and tightened borrowing rules kicked in earlier this year. The result is what Bloomberg has dubbed “tepid” demand across the Bangkok property market as a whole (with developers reporting an overall new-project take-up rate of just 55 percent). The steamy City of Angels, however, is still one of the most attractive destinations on the planet for high-end homes.
There are multiple reasons for this, says Apichart Chutrakul, CEO of leading full-service real-estate developer Sansiri PCL, which is behind some of the most sought-after addresses in Thailand. They range from high build quality and the creative input of megastar designers to a plethora of valueadded services and amenities that are increasingly regarded as de rigueur.
Most attractive of all, however, is the fact that gateway prices are a fraction of those in Hong Kong or Singapore.
As a rule of thumb, Skevington says luxury properties in Bangkok should be considered those with buy prices upwards of 250,000 baht per square metre (roughly HK$5,920 per square foot). “And then we have super-luxury, which would be from around 350,000 baht [about HK$8,300 per square foot],” he adds. “That’s where we and Christie’s are positioned.”
Real-estate consulting rm CBRE, meanwhile, denes “premier” residences as those requiring 300,000 baht per square metre, with about two dozen Bangkok developments tting the top-end bill at the close of 2018.
Sansiri recorded overall sales of US$1.5 billion that year, up 25 percent from 2017, and the company is currently bullish. Its sales target for the three years from 2019 is US$5 billion. This year alone, Sansiri will launch close to 30 new projects worth US$1.5 billion. It now boasts four super-premium properties in its Sansiri Luxury Collection.
That fab four includes the company’s rst branded condominium project, Khun by Yoo. With construction to be completed in November, its 27 storeys will house 148 residential units ranging from one-bedroom apartments (440-570 square feet) to ultra-luxurious penthouses (3,165-3,260 square feet). Interiors described as “playful” come courtesy of legendary French designer Philippe Starck, and the average buy price currently hovers at about 380,000 baht per square metre (HK$9,000 per square foot).
“Top-tier buyers can achieve a high degree of design, service and personalisation at prices that are approximately four times less than Hong Kong,” Chutrakul says, singing Bangkok’s praises. “All within one of the world’s most popular and vibrant cities, and a global gateway.”
Also in Sansiri’s Luxury Collection are Regencystyled, single-house development Baan Sansiri Pattanakarn and prestigious 45-storey condo tower The Monument Thong Lo, which features bespoke trimmings by Bohemian hand-blown glass specialist Lasvit.
In 2018, the most desired of 77 units in the collection’s 98 Wireless – Sansiri’s 25-storey, beaux arts-inspired residence, with interiors by New York-based designer Anne Carson (formerly interiors guru for Ralph Lauren) – were being o ered for as much as 700,000 baht per square metre (about HK$16,575 per spare foot), making it the priciest residence in the Big Mango.
While Thailand is no stranger to occasional
nancial turmoil, it’s frequently argued that, with tourism being a major driver of the economy, buyers here enjoy a coincidental level of protection when investing long-term in Bangkok’s more exclusive properties. While the Southeast Asian kingdom can be knocked down, its natural charms mean it always bounces back.
According to Mastercard’s Global Destination Cities Index, Bangkok has been the world’s most visited city every year since 2015 (ahead of London and Paris). International arrivals last year hit 38 million 41 million are expected this year. The more high-networth of these visitors, perhaps lured by Thailand’s intoxicating brew of gorgeous weather, convenient regional access and high-end bang for the buck, might jet home with a shiny new pad in the portfolio.
Ease of condominium purchase, says Chutrakul, is another convincing factor. “In other major cities in Asia,” he argues, “it’s almost impossible to obtain freehold land in prime locations, whereas the property laws in Thailand enable foreigners to buy and own up to 49 percent of the total area of a condominium on a freehold basis.”
As prime downtown land becomes ever more scarce (prices in the city centre jumped by 30 percent in 2017 alone), location is key
Skevington’s years of experience tell him that the largest percentage of foreign buyers in Bangkok luxury are from Hong Kong, with Singaporeans traditionally taking second place, only recently to be eclipsed by mainland Chinese. “Hong Kong interest has been steady for many years,” he says. “Singapore has been more up and down. Mainland Chinese are more recent buyers. The rest are mainly from Asia, but also from all across the world. But the majority are still Thai.”
Foreign purchasers account for as much as 30 percent of Sansiri’s sales, with investors from Hong Kong and mainland China making up the lion’s share (and that’s in spite of China’s economic slowdown and capital controls limiting cash outows), followed by buyers from Singapore. But purchasers in Bangkok real estate are increasingly choosy and not every luxury property is a sure- re winner.
As prime downtown land becomes ever more scarce (land prices in the city centre jumped by 30 percent in 2017 alone) and the market becomes more selective, location is key. The most obvious port of call for the savvy luxury buyer is what Chutrakul calls Bangkok’s “Golden Triangle” of the Siam district, Sukhumvit Road and Lumphini Park. Home to
98 Wireless, this sprawling downtown area accommodates most of the city’s premium real estate – far too many options to list here in total.
In-demand developments include the recently completed Nimit Langsuan, a super-luxurious 53-¨oor landmark, just north of Lumphini, with 187 freehold residences ranging from 840 square feet to around 6,460. Nearby Magnolias Ratchadamri Boulevard is a mixed-use development overlooking the racetrack of Royal Bangkok Sports Club. It houses 316 residential units in a sculpted 60-storey tower (homes at Magnolias Ratchadamri Boulevard are leasehold, with 50-year terms, meaning lower buy prices than at Nimit Langsuan). The building also houses Southeast Asia’s rst Waldorf Astoria hotel.
Longer-in-tooth is Marque Sukhumvit, a freehold condominium complex beside the Emporium shopping mall on Sukhumvit Road at Phrom Phong. Completed in 2017, Marque contains 149 units with 3.4-metre-high ceilings the plushest also feature private plunge pools.
Just one stop east on Bangkok’s convenient Skytrain sits the Thong Lo neighbourhood, which is home to Sansiri’s The Monument Thong Lo and Khun by Yoo. Thong Lo has transformed in the past decade to become Bangkok’s most happening entertainment zone, chock-full of stylish eateries, Instagrammable bars and nightclubs, cute coee joints and boutique hotels.
Tela Thonglor, completed last year and developed by Gaysorn Property (from the same group of companies responsible for the chic Siam shopping mall Gaysorn), is another condo complex to include on the shopping list. “Thong Lo is attractive to investor buyers looking to rent out, because there’s a lot of tenant demand in that area,” says Skevington.
Unlike many other cities internationally, Bangkok was unfathomably slow in exploiting the waterway that meanders through its heart, but that’s also changing. Three new ultra-luxury branded residences have recently debuted on the Chao Phraya’s banks: the aforementioned Banyan Tree Residences Riverside Bangkok, Four Seasons Private Residences Bangkok, and The Residences at Mandarin Oriental Bangkok. And keep your eyes peeled for Magnolias Waterfront Residences, which will be the city’s rst residential-only super-tall tower.
Skevington says Bangkok’s riverside traditionally lacked the facilities and mass-transit convenience of more downtown locations such as Siam and Sukhumvit, but that’s no longer the case. “Just outside the Banyan Residences is the brand-new Gold Line monorail [to begin operation next year], and Iconsiam shopping complex has opened next door,” he points out. “Until quite recently, the riverside lacked these amenities and was quite di£cult to get to, but all of that is changing.”
Skevington believes luxury buyers are considering what they will do with a Bangkok property, and choosing locations to suit. “Many luxury residences are bought for ‘lifestyle use’ – as a holiday home or as a
pied-à-terre, or for their friends to use,” he says. “With that type of purchaser, a lot are now looking at the riverside. I’d say investors are looking at city-central locations, and lifestyle users are leaning towards riverside.”
After location, it should be noted that Bangkok in the 21st century is a mature luxury market. While the quality of facilities, ttings and nishes remains paramount to a property’s success, a state-of-the art tness centre, pool and sauna, and the inclusion of top European brands such as Bulthaup, Franke, Dornbracht, Hansgrohe and Bang & Olufsen no longer cut it in turning the most discerning heads or opening the fattest wallets.
As well as securing the services of A-list designers Starck, Carson, Gert Voorjans, Lorenzo Castillo, Hutton Wilkinson, Mary Fox Linton and others for the Sansiri Luxury Collection, Chutrakul says the current trend is for the nest residential properties to supply “luxury bespoke services” and “curated experiences”.
To this end, Sansiri – which will collaborate in a residential project with Tyler Brûlé’s lifestyle brand Monocle in coming years – has partnered with concierge specialist Quintessentially. This has allowed the developer, Chutrakul says, “to deliver high levels of personalisation to residents, such as securing tickets to the most exclusive sports and entertainment events, seamless hotel and travel arrangements, reservations to the most exclusive restaurants and anything you can think of that’s legal and moral”.
After location, it should be noted that Bangkok in the 21st century is a mature luxury market


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Bloomberg is reporting that Microsoft will debut a version of Windows for ARM-based devices at CES 2011. The Business Insider has already jumped to the conclusion that it’s a port of Windows 7. I suspect it’s nothing that wasn’t reported six months ago.
Yep, back in June, Microsoft announced that Windows Embedded Compact 7 was coming soon, “expected to be released to manufacturing in the fourth quarter of this year.” Let’s see, a version of Windows being released to manufacturers this quarter, so we’ll see the first prototypes and designs of these devices, oh, about the start of the new year, right?
The OS has been available to developers since then and Microsoft’s videos, all posted on their site, illustrate a definite direction towards tablets. And it can be run on ARM or x86 chips, just like the “new” software reported by Bloomberg. Frankly, if Microsoft doesn’t show off tablets running Windows Embedded Compact 7 at CES, then they’ve seriously missed some goals.
Of course, it’s still exciting that Microsoft will be showing off this version of Windows designed with tablets in mind, but just don’t assume this is a lighter version of Windows 7 that can run your W7 applications. It’s a different platform with a different development environment (which is why it was opened to developers) with “rich user experiences” built using Silverlight for Embedded. The news is reassuring, but there’s no need to go into “wild speculation” mode when there’s established history to back it.
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Ford has been doing a lot of new stuff, but their Ford Edge ST, which was turned into a camera car was beyond expectations. And it seems like a boon for movie directors as they had a lot of problems to shoot car scenes. But the question now appears to be solved by Ford’s new camera car. Ford Edge ST is a high-performance car, and it has now become a budding cinematographer.
Ford has collaborated with Pursuit Systems to make their Ford Edge ST installed with a roof-mounted camera rig which facilitates an excellent filming experience, be it any high-speed chases, or action sequences, and any television commercials. “Speed, acceleration, braking, handling, even roominess – Edge ST has it all,” praised Mike Johnson, who is the president and CEO of Pursuit Systems. He further explained that “Our shoots often demand a lot of the equipment we use, and especially the vehicles. In every way, Edge ST measures up.”
To make Edge ST a camera car, the engineers had to place a 100-pound pursuit arm, which is a rear-mounted camera crane which makes it easy to get nearer to the scene. Ford had to do a lot of stuff, from tuning the engine, fixed the interior and body to withstand and accommodate the extra load and to place the screens at a convenient place, and worked on the suspension to make it less shaky. So, this seems to be the camera vehicle for future films!


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Based in Delhi, I track developments both in corporate and economy sectors. In a career spanning since 2003, I track developments pertaining to M&A, PE/VC, startups and healthcare. Prior to joining Forbes, I have had stints with The Economic Times, Businessworld, India Today and Indian Express. I am also a guest faculty at The Indian Institute of Mass Communication (Dhenkenal) where I deliver part-time lectures to young aspiring journalists and teach them the practical side of reporting and editing. And when not working, I love to travel and spend time with my fawn Labrador.
Despite the increasing number of super rich in India, the country’s luxury market is still nascent and developing.
Currently, there are several global brands that are looking to enter India but many of them feature in the prestige and masstige categories, rather than being pure luxury brands.
However, India is once again attractive as an investment destination and “we are on the hunt”, says Narayan Ramachandran, 54, managing director (India) at L Catterton Asia, a consumer-focussed PE firm formed in 2016 through the partnership of Catterton, LVMH and Groupe Arnault. Excerpts from an interview with Forbes India.
Q. How do you view the luxury market in the country and the opportunities within the sector, given that income levels have gone up significantly over the past five to six years? There are about 250,000 millionaires in India and this group is growing at about 25 percent a year. [Consultancy firm] Wealth-X predicts we will have about 900,000 millionaires by 2023. Despite this, the true luxury market in India is still nascent and developing gradually. This is true for most luxury segments—fashion, accessories, handbags, luggage, cosmetics, fine-dining and even high-end consumer services like spas and travel. It is true that aggregate income has gone up, but that has just lifted India from a lower middle-income country to a middle middle-income country. Our experience in Japan, China and [South] Korea suggests that the speed of luxury market penetration increases dramatically only after a country has reached upper middle-income status of say $5,000 to $7,000 per capita. As India becomes prosperous, one should expect some similarity in the growth of luxury brands as it has happened elsewhere. However, the past may not be a prologue, and this is for two reasons: One, the buying philosophy of Millennials may turn out to be quite different from earlier generations and, second, the power of social media threatens to change the very nature of brand consciousness and loyalty.
Q. It’s been a while since L Capital Asia—as L Catterton Asia was earlier called—has invested in India. After Genesis Luxury, Fabindia and PVR, there has been a pause. What are the reasons behind it and what is your strategy going forward? We invest in each of our target countries in Asia based on the attractiveness of the country, the specific investment at a point in time and the time horizon of the investment. We are not obligated to invest in any country or make any investment if it is not attractive to us. In India, we invested in all the three companies that you mentioned from the first fund, which had a corpus of about $640 million that was raised in 2009-10. Our second fund [of around $1 billion] was raised in 2013-14 and we saw limited opportunity in India at that time, particularly relative to other markets like China, Singapore and [South] Korea. Now that we have exited from two of our portfolio companies—Fabindia and PVR—we are scouting for some new opportunities. India is once again attractive and we are on the hunt. Also, the big momentum in retail in recent years has been in ecommerce. Experience from the US and China has taught us that eventually things will settle down, and retail and ecommerce will merge into, what is now fashionably being referred to as, ‘omni-channels’. With retail firms once again viewing brick-and-mortar and online as channels, rather than as fundamentally different businesses, we can get back to business in India.
Q. Are more global brands looking to enter India at a time when the European market is undergoing a slowdown? What are the challenges plaguing them? Global brands are indeed looking to enter India. I would say the approach to entry is generally thoughtful and deliberate. Overall, I would say prestige and masstige brands are doing this more than pure luxury brands. One of the brands in our portfolio, Pepe Jeans, for instance, has built a very successful business in India. Brands like Ikea are taking their time, but planning their entry meticulously. One needs to plan and be methodical because there is an overall concern about the development of modern retail infrastructure in India. There are simply not enough quality malls developed or being developed, and where they exist, rental costs are high compared with global and regional standards, particularly given the level of sales that are generated. This is a broader issue, tied intrinsically to the high cost of real estate in India, as well as the time, money and effort it can take to get any large project going in the country.
Q. How would you compare the luxury market in India with the rest of the world? Are there any comparisons with China? While luxury sales worldwide are under pressure, sales to Asian consumers have been strong over the years. Consumption power is still growing in Asia, both in terms of the number of middle-class as well as the number of millionaires. In the long term, India is attractive for consumer goods across the spectrum. Approximately 3 percent of households in China are affluent, and this will rise to about 7 percent in 2020. India will take roughly another 10 years—say in 2030—for affluent households to account for 7 percent of overall households. So, stylistically speaking, India is 10 years behind China in its luxury market. But, as I said, the past may not be a prologue.
Q. Why did L Capital think of going for a merger with private equity fund Catterton? Through the merger, that happened earlier this year, L Catterton Asia will become the largest global consumer-focussed investment firm, with six distinct and complementary fund strategies focusing on consumer buyout and growth investments across North America, Europe, Asia and Latin America, in addition to prime commercial real estate globally. Now, L Capital Asia in its new avatar as L Catterton Asia will focus on aspirational lifestyle brands for the Asian consumer.
Q. Several e-tailers have come up in the last few years to tap the luxury segment.What is your take on this burgeoning sector when it comes to the sale of luxury products? In the prestige and luxury segments, the false dichotomy between e-tailing and retailing will go away. Brands will matter and they will reach consumers through both channels. The digital domain will impact how people perceive, shop and relate to brands both online and offline. Today, consumers are getting more and more sophisticated and they value brands with originality in design, creativity, functionality, relevance and storyline. In that respect, the retail channel—be it online or offline—may not be as important.
Q. What is your view on private equity investments in the luxury space? What is the kind of returns you expect from your portfolio companies? In Asia, we invest in aspirational brands. In different countries this means different things. In [South] Korea, for instance, it could mean a fast-growing, near-luxury cosmetic brand like Clio. In Australia, it could mean an iconic brand like bootmaker RM Williams. In India it could mean a prestige brand that stays true to its provenance and brand promise like Fabindia. These brands are on long-term journeys that will lift them from being small domestic brands to brands with potentially very large footprints. Private equity can partner with brands like these not just once but many times in their journey. We often joke that PVR has done rather well since our exit. But that means we have done our job of helping set up the company for a long and successful future.


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Tesla has been instructed to “slow down” on car deliveries in Norway This specific quarter, CEO Elon Musk said on Saturday, in response to woes the company has experienced delivering their vehicles.
On Twitter, Musk replied to a report stating in which Tesla shipments within the country have been subject to accidents on the roads. The publication, called Electrek, said the vehicle maker has had trouble finding “competent transporters” to deliver batches of cars, something a Tesla representative said the company was working to address.
Citing issues at the local level, in addition to in order to preserve vehicle safety, Musk said he requested in which Tesla’s unit “slow down” on car deliveries for the quarter.
I have just asked our team to slow down deliveries. the idea will be clear in which we are exceeding the local logistics capacity due to batch build in addition to delivery. Customer happiness & safety matter more than a few extra cars This specific quarter.
Norwegians are said to be major Tesla enthusiasts, largely because electric vehicles are wildly favorite within the country. In fact, electric cars in addition to hybrids accounted for more than half of brand new registrations in Norway last year, boosted by generous government subsidies in which encourage their use.
Tesla dominates the electric vehicle market within the U.S. in addition to in Europe, according to data via JATO Dynamics. Tesla will be putting pressure on premium car makers in Europe, including Mercedes Benz, BMW in addition to Audi, to catch up on electric cars.
the idea was unclear which Tesla versions would likely be affected, or by how much deliveries within the country would likely be reduced. A representative for the company did not immediately reply to CNBC’s request for comment.
Tesla will be experiencing significant challenges as the idea tries to move beyond high-end electric vehicles into the mass-market. Its future hinges on efficient, automated production of the type 3 sedan, which more than 400,000 people have already reserved, paying $1,000 refundable fees to do so.
Musk said in July 2017 in which Tesla would likely probably be producing 20,000 type 3s per month by December. The company then later downgraded those expectations. the idea currently says the idea will make 2,500 per week by the end of This specific month in addition to 5,000 per week by the end of June.
–CNBC’s Lora Kolodny in addition to Reuters contributed to This specific report.


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Last September, the city announced that wireless internet would be coming to ten parks around the city, perhaps by summer. Fast forward nine months, only Battery Park's wifi has been completed, but the city set a deadline for all other parks to be wireless ready by July. Nevermind that WiFi Salon is unsure whether they can make it - owner Marshall W. Brown said, "That's the timetable set forth by Parks. Let's see if that's attainable... It's obviously going to be tight, but I'm confident we'll be able to pull it off." City Councilwoman Gale Brewer thinks the process is taking too long, saying, "Free wireless Internet in our city parks is a no-brainer. We should be wiring as much of New York City as possible." Yeah, there's only so much one can do on a Treo! But it's true - NYC has lagged behind other cities and even its own parks (think Bryant Park) in offering free WiFi, but maybe it's because there are so many Starbucks around, not to mention WiFi you can steal.
The NY Times article details the dollars and cents of the deal, and there's a graphic of the parks slated and proposed to get WiFi. As we've said before, we cannot wait to liveblog our visits to the zoo.
Photograph from Bluejake


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Galway-based medical device research and development (R&D) company Crospon won the Innovator of the Year award at the SFA National Small Business awards at Trinity College Dublin last night.
Beating off competition from five other finalists in the category, Crospon has developed cutting-edge products largely through its close relationships with clinicians.
It recently spun out a new company, Janisys, to focus on the development of a drug-delivery platform that uses Hewlett-Packard’s inkjet printing technology to enable painless and controlled drug release from a patch applied to the skin.
Prior to that, Crospon secured €2 million in funding and received approval from the US Food and Drink Administration for its flagship gastroenterology product, the EndoFLIP Imaging System.
What is EndoFLIP?
EndoFLIP is designed to provide a more physiologically relevant diagnostic test for gastroesophageal reflux disease. It also has applications in gastrodiagnostics, bariatric surgery and in other hollow organs where the measurement of dimensions and function is important, the company says.
FDA approval means Crospon will be able to sell EndoFLIP in the US market. The move will also help Crospon to widen its use, especially in the area of bariatric surgery.
There are 16 people working at Crospon, with 70pc of the team involved in research and development, says CEO John O’Dea.
“We do file a lot of IP (intellectual property); we’ve probably filed 10 or 11 patents at this stage,” he adds.
The company has a number of projects in the works, O’Dea says, and the team is looking at application into cardiology and pulmonology.
Photo: Caroline O’Dea and John O’Dea, CEO of Crospon


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Yuga Labs, the $4 billion startup behind the Bored Apes Yacht Club and other prominent NFT projects, announced Friday that it has restructured the company and eliminated certain roles as a result, leading to layoffs, Decrypt reported.
In a team email that was also shared publicly, Yuga Labs CEO Daniel Alegre wrote that he believed the startup had taken on too much internally, and that the company needed to refocus while tapping more external partners along the way.
According to Decrypt, Daniel Alegre wrote: “I realized very quickly that there were a number of projects that, while well-intentioned, either spread the team too thin or required execution expertise beyond our core competencies,” he wrote about his evaluation of the company after joining Activision earlier this year.
Alegre did not specific how many people were affected by the layoffs, and a Yuga Labs representative declined to clarify the figure to Decrypt. In the post, Alegre wrote that the restructuring impacts only United States-based employees for now, and that the company is still evaluating its international teams.
Decrypt reported that Yuga Labs was founded in early 2021 and had immediate success with the launch of the Bored Ape Yacht Club, an Etherieum NFT profile picture (PFP) project that quickly became arguably the most prominent collection in the space. Amid broader NFT market hype, Bored Ape NFTs sold for million-dollar prices in some cases, and were snatched up by celebrities.
But, as demand for NFT collectibles has plummeted over the last year-plus, prices for Bored Apes and other “blue chip” NFTs have fallen sharply, as has the price of ApeCoin. Yuga Labs grew substantially on the back of the Bored Ape buzz, but admit a weakened NFT market, the company is now slimming down as it seeks a sustainable model.
Web3IsGoingGreat reported that even the best known NFT brand can’t escape the effects of a collapsing industry. Yuga Labs, the company behind the blue-chip Bored Apes NFTs and related collections, and the acquirers of collections including CryptoPunks, has announced that it will be joining the many other companies in the crypto world performing layoffs. They did not disclose how many employees would be losing their jobs.
“It’s a challenging time, not only for our industry but also for the global economy,” wrote Yuga Labs CEO, apparently hoping that people ignorant to the past year of disaster across the NFT industry might be willing to attribute Yuga Labs’ struggles to macroeconomic forces, and not the implosion of the crypto – and particularly NFT – world.
Blockworks reported that Yuga Labs, the VC-backed NFT startup behind the Bored Ape Yacht Club and CryptoPunks, is the latest crypto firm to conduct layoffs.
According to Blockworks, Yuga Labs declined to disclose the number of layoffs, but co-founder Greg Solano posted on X that Yuga still has over 120 employees. Per Alegre’s message, the layoffs impacted the company’s U.S. teams.
As part of the changes, the company will focus on Otherside, Yuga’s gamified metaverse.
In my opinion, I don’t think its a bad thing that NFTs are less lucrative for the companies who made and sold them. There’s not a whole lot someone can do with the NFT they purchased, and this might be part of the reason why NFTs are currently going out of favor as an investment.


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Yet another new addition to Palms dining scene, health-conscious, casual franchise Freshii is making its first move to Nevada and moving into the resort.
Yet to be announced by the brand, or the Palms, newly filed paperwork calls for an estimated construction budget of $250,000 to create the new space. While no further details have been shared, Freshii is expected to move into The Eatery, the collection of fast-casual food options at the entrance to the Brenden Theaters.
Created in 2005 by Matthew Corrin, the rapidly expanding company now operates 439 restaurants in 16 countries.
Basing its menu around “7 different menu categories – bowls, burritos, salads, wraps, soups, smoothies & juices,” each customer can fully customize their order, adding or subtracting toppings, sauces and ingredients. A new menu item is added every 90 days.
Yet to be begin construction, a projected opening date has not been revealed.


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BEIJING: China pledged Friday to boost cooperation with fellow Brics countries in response to soaring frictions with the US, as it seeks to cultivate alliances to help it weather a bruising trade war.
China will enhance coordination on macroeconomic policies with fellow Brics members Brazil, Russia, India and South Africa in response to the “challenges posed by the changing policies of certain developed countries,” said assistant foreign minister Zhang Jun.
The comment was an oblique reference to US President Donald Trump’s decision to plunge the US and China into a tit-for-tat trade war by imposing tariffs on billions of dollars worth of goods – and threatening to up the ante with $200 billion more.
While the US has “no respect for rules of international law,” the Brics countries all shared a clear stance towards global markets, Zhang said, echoing Beijing’s oft-stated position that China – which the US and others have accused of having a mercantile, protectionist trade policy – is a guardian of free trade.
“We all firmly support multilateralism and the multilateral trade regime,” he said. “We all oppose unilateralism and trade protectionism.”
The comments come as Beijing has instructed companies to look for imports beyond the US, seeking closer trade ties in Europe and elsewhere to offset potential losses from American tariffs.
President Xi Jinping will attend the 10th Brics Summit in Johannesburg, South Africa from July 25 to 27.
Meanwhile, Trump has picked fights with key US allies such as Canada, sparking fears of an all-out global trade war.
Published in Dawn, July 14th, 2018


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LAST-MINUTE Christmas shoppers are being urged to be aware of the potential dangers of button batteries, say public health officials.
The small batteries are used in a wide range of toys, gadgets and other everyday objects you’ll find around the house, and there are concerns that children could easily remove these batteries.
They can be extremely harmful if either mistakenly swallowed, or if inserted into the ears or nose.
Children are particularly at risk – younger children may mistake a button battery for a sweet.
Rachel Rowlands, an A & E consultant at University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust, said: “We still see children every week in A & E whose parents are concerned they have swallowed a battery.
“However, I’m pleased to say many are there because of the campaigns to raise awareness. They know button batteries are dangerous and have sought out appropriate help.
“It’s great that both councils are again this Christmas getting behind the button battery safety campaign.”
The consultant’s advice is that if you think a child may have swallowed one of these batteries, or you are concerned that one is lodged in another part of their body, it’s important to act really quickly. Go straight to your nearest A&E department for treatment or call 999 for an ambulance.
Coun Ernie White, Leicestershire County Council cabinet member for health, said: “Button batteries can be extremely hazardous to young children and we are pleased to be working with Leicester City Council to ensure parents and carers are aware of the dangers.”
Deputy city mayor, Coun Adam Clarke, who leads on health for the city, added: “It’s very important that everyone understands what a serious risk these batteries can pose to young children, which is why we’re all working together to raise awareness at a time of year when toys or games with these batteries may be bought as gifts.”
Top tips to ensure batteries are kept away from children:
• Keep products with button batteries well out of reach if the battery compartment isn’t secure with a screw;
• Always ensure that spare batteries are locked away and safely out of reach of children; and
• Make sure used batteries are disposed of correctly.
Button batteries can be safely recycled at the councils’ recycling and household waste sites.
For information on locations and opening times visit www.leicester.gov.uk and search ‘recycling centres’ for those in the city or www.leicestershire.gov.uk/environment-and-planning/waste-and-recycling for county sites .


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The Samsung Galaxy F34 5G has been teased to come in India shortly, as the South Korean smartphone manufacturer has revealed crucial characteristics of the device. It is confirmed to have a Super AMOLED display with a refresh rate of 120Hz. The forthcoming model will have three back cameras, the primary of which is a 50-megapixel sensor.
The Galaxy F34 5G will also come with a 6,000mAh battery. So yet, the new Galaxy F series phone has just been rumoured, and it is expected to emerge as a renamed version of the Galaxy A34 5G.
Samsung announced the key features of the Galaxy F34 5G in a press release. To tease the debut of the new 5G smartphone, the company has also launched a dedicated microsite on its India website. The microsite showcases the new handset’s display, camera, and battery advantages. The phone is marked as ‘Launching Soon’ on the teaser website. The smartphone’s actual launch date, however, remains unknown.
The phone is pictured in black and green, and its display appears to have a waterdrop-style cutout for the selfie camera. The Galaxy F34 5G is spotted with three camera sensors on the back, as well as an LED flash. The Galaxy F34 5G from Samsung is expected to have a 6.5-inch full-HD+ Super AMOLED display with up to 1000 nits peak brightness and Gorilla Glass 5 protection. It is said to have a 50-megapixel primary sensor with optical image stabilisation (OIS) at the back.
The camera setup will include photography and videography functions such as Single Take and Fun Mode. Furthermore, the Galaxy F34 5G is reported to be powered by a 6,000mAh battery capable of providing up to two days of battery life on a single charge.
The Galaxy F34 5G is expected to be a rebranded version of the Galaxy A34 5G, which was unveiled in March in India for Rs. 30,999 for the base 8GB RAM + 128GB storage variant. In the Indian market, the Galaxy F34 5G is projected to be priced higher than the Galaxy F54 5G.


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By Flavor & The Menu
June 29, 2021
Brisket for breakfast? Absolutely—especially when it’s served in a handheld that packs in other craveable flavors. Smoke inspired the Texas Brisket-Egg Sandwich, an LTO at Einstein Bros. Bagels, part of the Coffee & Bagel Brands family. “We wanted to bring smoke flavor into the breakfast daypart and thought, ‘What better way than to pair 10-hour smoked brisket with eggs on a breakfast sandwich?’” says Chad Thompson, Head of Culinary Innovation R&D with Bagel Brands.
The sandwich exceeds expectations. “Not only does the brisket deliver on a light smoke flavor, we layered in more with a chipotle aïoli, and also incorporated applewood-smoked bacon into the topping that we bake right into our gourmet bagel,” he says. The genius, though, may lie in what Thompson calls the “surprise flavor enhancer.” Pickled jalapeños are also baked into the bagel. Launched in early March, the Texas Brisket Egg Sandwich has almost doubled the numbers forecasted. “Guests are loving it, and we are getting great social media buzz on it,” says Thompson.


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After closing on its $13 billion acquisition of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide on Sept. 23, Marriott Int.'l (MAR) - Get Report remained mute on how it planned to merge the two companies' hotel brands, until now.
The companies' merger formed the largest hotel chain in the world, with 30 brands under one umbrella. Marriott global brand officer Tina Edmundson told Bloomberg News that the company plans to keep all 30, including its own Marriott, Courtyard and Ritz Carlton hotels and Starwood's Sheraton, Westin, W and St. Regis properties.
"We thought long and hard about how you serve up 30 brands in a meaningful way - one that helps consumers infer both price and experience," Edmundson told Bloomberg.
Evercore ISI Analyst Richard Hightower, who covers Marrott, told TheStreet that contractual issues with current hotel owners and franchisees "stands out immediately" as a problem that could arise from not keeping all 30 brands.
"You can't have two identical MAR-branded within a certain competitive radius, assuming MAR were to collapse multiple brands within the same chain scale into one, for instance," Hightower said.
As for consumers, Hightower said he does not think they will "care really" what brand the hotels are operated under.
A Marriott spokeswoman said no one from the company could be immediately reached for comment.
Among other branding plans, Marriott will categorize eight of its 30 brands into two luxury platforms, "classic luxury" and "distinctive luxury." The Ritz-Carlton, St. Regis and JW Marriott will be deemed "classic," according to Bloomberg.
Nightly room rates in New York City for the Ritz Carlton range between $725 to $1,541, the St. Regis between $726 and $1,469 and the JW Marriott between $440 and $1,479.
Marriott is still figuring out how to combine the two companies' luxury and rewards programs. The company has until 2018, when the programs are expected to stop operating independently, to fine tune the terms, Edmundson told Bloomberg.
On Monday morning, Evercore downgraded its rating on Marriott stock to "hold" from "buy," stating there could be a "noticeable lag between macro improvement and underlying lodging demand" under presumptive presidential nominee Republican Donald Trump's administration.
"Lodging stocks have reacted strongly to the initial euphoria surrounding the potential for tax reform, infrastructure investments and regulation rollbacks - all of which are associated with a 'Pragmatic Trump' governance scenario," Evercore analysts said in this morning's research note.
The firm said its analysts "certainly agree" that Trump's platform, which aims to cut the corporate tax rate to 15% from 35%, "seems to portend much good for the economy and business sentiment in general," but "the timing and magnitude thereof remain in question."
Shares of Marriott fell 45 cents to $78.07 on Monday.


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BGJ Group adds Yakulis, Carter to team
Retail-focused management consulting firm Burke Gillis Juliano Group has added more than 25 years of industry experience with its two new hires. The Naples, Fla.-based firm has announced that Mike Carter and Alex Yakulis have joined the firm as associates.
Carter will focus on wholesale and retail distribution, as well as consumer good and marketing services, and Yakulis will be focused on retailer engagement, in-store retail execution and experiential marketing.
“Mike and Alex’s expertise in marketing, business development and operational execution will help our clients profitably grow their businesses,” said Jim Gillis, principal at BGJ Group. “They share our enthusiasm for our industry and we are fortunate to have them join the BGJ team. Mike will be continuing his relationship with TNG, which focuses on mergers and acquisitions, and has already brought in some important new business to BGJ. Alex is a unique resource in the industry and could have gone anywhere after Crossmark, but chose BGJ because of the potential of our team. We expect great things from both of these leaders in the future”
Yakulis was most recently executive vice president of business development at Crossmark, where he led top-line growth efforts. He serves on advisory boards for such industry organizations as GMDC, the National Association of Chain Drug Stores, the Consumer Healthcare Products Association and the National Association for Retail Marketing Services.
“BGJ Group does an amazing job of helping companies realize their full marketing and merchandising potential. I’m looking forward to bringing my skillset and my network of connections to strengthen that capability,” said Yakulis
Carter was previously executive vice president and chief revenue for retail service and distribution company TNG, having also served as president of select media and select merchandising. He is part of the Global Marketing Development Center’s Retail Tomorrow advisory board.
“Vince, Jim and Rich have gathered some of the best minds in the industry at BGJ Group, so I appreciate their asking me to join the firm,” Carter said. “I’ll do my best to help retailers and suppliers address the challenges and opportunities present in today’s hyper-competitive marketplace.”
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Last Update: 14-Dec-12 08:44 ET
Inflation Trends Continue to Weaken as Energy Prices Tumble
Consumer prices declined 0.3% in November after increasing 0.1% in October. The Briefing.com consensus expected the CPI to decline 0.2%. The CPI report follows the trends in yesterday's data for producer prices. Energy prices, which ramped up in August and September, have now fallen for the last two months. These prices dropped 4.1% in November as gasoline prices declined 7.4%. Food prices increased 0.2% for the second consecutive month. Since September, food prices have increased 0.6% after increasing only 0.8% from September 2011 through September 2012. It seems that some of the negative price effects from this summer's drought are starting to pass through to consumers. This means that food prices will likely continue to trend higher until next harvest. Excluding food and energy, core prices rose 0.1% in November, down from a 0.2% gain in October and exactly what the consensus expected. There were no unusual price shifts in November. Nothing in the data suggests that core price trends will shift from their current slow pace any time soon.
Consumer prices declined 0.3% in November after increasing 0.1% in October. The Briefing.com consensus expected the CPI to decline 0.2%. The CPI


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If the past few years of the farm equipment industry were an amusement park ride, it wouldn't be a monster roller coast. The ups and downs aren't that severe. Granted, the ups during the recent commodity price boom were pretty high. The downs -- now that prices have moderated -- are not so low. Let's call this amusement park ride the kiddie roller coaster.
Here's what AGCO reported after the first quarter: Sales in North America were up 5%; sales in EAME (Europe, Africa and Middle East) were up 1%; sales in South America were down 9%; and sales in APAC (Asia, Pacific) were down 17%.
Not terrible numbers and not much different from global competitors.
CNH, for example, reported first quarter agricultural sales dropped 6% from 2013 to 2014.
John Deere, which has released its second quarter results, reported net sales and revenue for its worldwide Agriculture and Turf division were down 12% when comparing second quarter 2014 to 2013.
Dow Jones speculates that less favorable federal tax breaks have influenced the downward trend in ag machinery sales. It reported overall sales of farm tractors slipped 3% in May 2014 compared to May 2013; sales of high-horsepower,
2WD tractor models fell 16%, and sales of 4WD tractors dropped 14%. North American sales of combines were off 24% total, largely because of a 51% drop in sales in Canada.
Farm equipment exports also have declined this year, according to the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM). The first quarter of 2014 compared to the first quarter of 2013 saw a sharp drop of 28%.
Here is how AEM broke it down:
-- Exports to Canada declined 30.7 percent, for a total $698.3 million.
-- Exports to South America declined 14 percent, for a total $240.3 million.
-- Exports to Asia decreased 36.7 percent, for a total $145.6 million.
-- Exports to Europe dropped 34 percent, for a total $628.1 million.
-- Exports to Central America decreased 17 percent, for a total $256.8 million.
-- Exports to Australia/Oceania declined 14.8 percent to $144 million.
-- Exports to Africa decreased 23.5 percent to $71.5 million.
There is no way to put a good spin on numbers like that.
Yet investors haven't spooked. From October 2013 to June 2014, CNH stock dropped from about $13/share to about $11. John Deere stock actually rose from about $83 to $93. AGCO dropped from about $65 to about $56. Of course, CNH and Deere have non-agricultural components, which can skew investment one way or another.
The big picture seems to be that farm equipment companies, like farmers, have seen revenues slide. But there is no freefall. No one holding is their hands over their heads and screaming.
© Copyright 2014 DTN/The Progressive Farmer. All rights reserved.


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Volvo publishes WLTP-cycle fuel and CO2 data
Volvo has published latest fuel and CO2 figures across its UK range under testing for the new Worldwide Harmonised Light Vehicle Test Procedure (WLTP) standard.
Mandatory from 1 September 2018 for all new cars in the EU, the new testing regime is intended to provide a more accurate representation of a car’s fuel and CO2 performance in the real world and is expected to result in CO2 increases of around 20% compared to NEDC figures.
Although company car Benefit in Kind tax and Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) will be based on WLTP figures from April 2020 – with the UK government still to announce how the new regime will work – there’s a crossover period where both sets of data will be required. All new vehicles will be WLTP-tested, and converted to ‘NEDC correlated’ fuel economy and CO2 emissions using a tool called CO2MPAS. In the UK, these simulated NEDC figures will be used for VED and BiK up to April 2020, and it’s these figures that Volvo has published for the whole of its range.
The figures – which are available on the Fleet World Car Tax Calculator as well as Volvo’s own website – bring a number of changes, including for the V40, which sees starting CO2 emissions for the manual D2 118bhp diesel rise from 94g/km to 122g/km (a 30% increase), putting it in the 29% BiK bracket for the current tax year compared to 23% before.
Meanwhile the S90 sees the CO2 for the D5 diesel go from 127g/km to 142g/km (an 11.8% increase), putting it in the 33% BiK bracket compared to 30% BiK before.
The carmaker said it was the first to provide the figures across its range. Jon Wakefield, Volvo Car UK’s managing director, commented: “Volvo welcomed the new WLTP testing methods when they were first announced, as greater transparency in areas such as fuel consumption and emissions helps customers make better informed buying decisions.
“We are pleased that we are the first to sell a complete range of cars that meets the new testing standards,” he added.


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IT’S one of the more tedious parts of a woman’s skincare regimen.
Most of us know that taking off make-up before bed is an essential step in achieving a clear complexion.
But cue a late night and a few wines under your belt and the idea of scrubbing, scraping and exfoliating layers of makeup away is almost as painful as the impending hangover.
It takes time — and that time means women often simply break the rule, and wait until the morning.
But two Aussie mums, both guilty of going to bed with a full face, decided there must be an easier way to wash away the day — especially for those short on time.
Rebecca Williamson and Lizzy Pike have seven children between them — including a set of twins each - and first came together 20 years ago while living in Sydney.
Like many mums, the duo say they are time poor and always on the search for time-saving hacks.
Williamson and Pike also wanted a simple solution for removing makeup when on the run or after a night out that didn’t require too many steps, time, chemicals and waste.
“Taking make-up off is a bit of a chore,” Mrs Pike, who is based in Sydney, told news.com.au.
“I’d have to spend 15 minutes taking it off. We both have teenagers, and they are notorious for not properly taking off make-up at night.
“We thought there must be an easier way.”
Working with microfibre for more than 15 years in another business venture with her husband, Mrs Pike knew how well the fabric technology worked in cleaning.
Eco-friendly and chemical-free, the pair wanted to incorporate microfibre in a way that simplified the removal of make-up.
“We wanted something gentle on the skin, and that didn’t require chemicals,” Mrs Williamson, former wife of Prison Break star Dominic Purcell, told news.com.au
With that, the pair created the Face Halo — a plush, circular microfibre textured make-up removal pad, that only requires a splash of water to remove any type of cosmetic.
Launching three weeks ago, it’s been dubbed the ‘game changer’ in the removal of makeup.
From long wearing foundation to highly pigmented lipsticks, Mrs Pike said the Face Halo dislodges oil and trapped make-up with a gentle circular motion around the face.
“Microfibre isn’t new, and it is used in a tonne of different ways,” she said.
“But it is 100 times finer than human hair, and by mixing the Face Halo with water, the fibres get deep down in to the pores and lift out trapped makeup, dirt and oil off the skin.
“The water becomes the solvent, and without having to use any chemicals, it’s ideal for sensitive skin types.
Retailing at $22 for a set of three pads and able to withstand 200 machine washes, beauty blogger Chloe Morello is also on board as the “face and adviser” of the brand.
But the Face Halo, dubbed as a ‘game changer’ by Australian actress Naomi Watts, isn’t the first of its kind in the realm of make-up removal — which is flooded with cleansers, wipes, chemicals and micellar waters.
Natural cleaning-product manufacturers ENJO stepped out from traditional cleaning and in to the world of skin cleaning in September 2016, with the launch of their own make-up removing tool, Sante by ENJO.
The coloured sphere also requires just the use of water with no additional products necessary.
The Sante by ENJO fibres are made in Austria (whereas the Face Halo is made in Korea) and use an ultrafine monofilament fibres, designed to form a unique weave that has an exclusive medical-grade patent.
Retailing at $59 for a set of seven pads, Sante by ENJO claim their specially woven texture cannot be replicated.
Endorsed by Australian actress Isabelle Lucas, the sphere won Cosmopolitan’s Best Make-up Remover award in the annual beauty awards earlier this month.
According to Mrs Williamson, the Face Halo’s biggest market is the U.S. (where they are registered as a business), as well as shipping to Australia and Hong Kong.
While only trading online in their first month of sales, the duo hope to expand in to the retail market to cater for Australia’s ever-growing beauty demand.
In a report released by Euromonitor, Australia’s strongest-performing categories include sun care, skin care and colour cosmetics.
Social media has had a strong influence on beauty and personal care in Australia, with consumers increasingly living their lives online.
“Social media acts as a cost-effective, brand-building tool for companies, allowing them to increase brand-awareness, share beauty tips and announce new product launches,” the Euromonitor summary read.
“Many companies have built a strong base of social media followers, supporting growth and encouraging brand loyalty. Social media is impacting consumer behaviour, with consumers frequently sharing their product experiences and looking to achieve the perfect and flawless look in images they share.
“An obsession with image and a desire to look photo-ready at all times has led to manufacturers launching products targeting this trend.”
The biggest beauty trends of 2016...
The biggest beauty trends of 2016


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On August 3, 2016, the state administration of quality supervision, inspection and quarantine said in a news release, starbucks enterprise management (
Provide stainless steel pipe co. , LTD. , closed to the consumers, the mainland area, there are more than 50000 stainless steel straw
s are affected.
According to sources, at present, starbucks enterprise management (
Co. , LTD. Has been to the general administration of quality supervision, inspection and quarantine for the record the recall plan, decided to since August 3, 2016, recall between September 2013 and March 2016 during the manufacture of stainless steel pipe.
Stainless steel pipe, due to the quality of a material is solid, careless consumers in the process of use if something unexpected happens, such as falls or impact, most likely there will be the hidden danger of accident injury.
To recall within the scope of the stainless steel straws, starbucks will be free for consumers to replace matching plastic straw, avoid the hidden trouble.
Starbucks enterprise management (
Co. , LTD will since August 3, 2016 at starbucks China recall notice, according to a government website prompt consumers hold stainless steel straw, avoid to let children use stainless steel straw without adult supervision.
Consumers if you have any doubts about the use of stainless steel pipe, can be carried out in accordance with the starbucks China recall prompt replacement plastic straws.
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