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More than half of the devices launched at CES earlier this month were connected. That’s according to the GSMA, a worldwide association of mobile operators and related companies. GSMA calculated that more than 90% of TVs at CES, 70% of automotive devices, 44% of healthcare devices and 30% of cameras were connected.
GSMA predicts there will be 24 billion connected devices in the world by 2020. That’s up from 9 billion today. It identified car connectivity as an especially important product category to watch.
At this year’s CES, more than 40% of the connected devices announced were gadgets such as laptops and smartphones. The rest were non-gadgets, such as those in the “home lifestyle” category, which, according to the GSMA, made up 30% of the connected devices at CES. The products in the home lifestyle category included connected TVs, smart refrigerators and Internet-connected washers and dryers.
The trend towards increasing connectivity in devices will accelerate in upcoming years. As one example, GSMA predicts that more than 40% of vending machines will be connected by 2020. It estimates that connected devices will be a US$1.2 trillion market by 2020.
GSMA also listed some less traditional connected products seen at CES:
- A smart window pane with built-in apps, including computerized “blinds”.
- Connected, roaming vacuum cleaners.
- Tablets built for underwater computing or designed for home and office video surveillance.
- A space-age personal work environment complete with a reclining chair, multiple computer monitors and a connected air filter.
GSMA has come up with a catch-phrase for this trend: “The Connected Life.” It defines this as “a world where all technology devices intelligently connect.” A more common term is Internet of Things. Either way, everyday products and devices are increasingly getting connected to the Internet.
There are approximately 9 billion connected devices today, according to the GSMA. About 72 percent of those are mobile devices. That figure will drop to 48 percent by 2020.
Put another way, by 2020 the GSMA predicts there will be 24 billion connected devices in the world and over half will be non-mobile devices. These will include connected home devices, healthcare devices and automotive technology.
GSMA is particularly bullish on the automotive sector, which it predicts will account for 1.4 billion connections by 2020. To put that into perspective, in 2011 just 1 percent of the world’s 1.8 billion road vehicles were connected. However, by 2020 GSMA expects that figure to reach 14 percent. Car connectivity features will include new in-vehicle applications, phone features and navigation.
We knew the Internet of Things was slowly becoming a reality, but these new statistics and predictions by the GSMA show that commercialization of this trend will be driven by cars, home appliances and healthcare devices.


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A key measure of inflation, wholesale costs, rose by 8% in October from a 12 months earlier than, in keeping with the newest report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
The quantity is considerably higher than forecasts. Economists anticipated the Producer Value Index, which measures costs paid for items and companies earlier than they attain customers, to indicate an annual improve of 8.3%, down from September’s revised 8.4%.
On a month-to-month foundation, producer costs rose 0.2%, beneath expectations and even with the revised 0.2% improve seen in September.
12 months-over-year, core PPI — which excludes meals and power, elements whose pricing is extra liable to market volatility — measured 6.7%, down from September’s revised annual improve of seven.1%.
Month-over-month, core PPI costs have been flat. In September, core PPI elevated by a revised 0.2% from the month earlier than.
Economists had anticipated annual and month-to-month core PPI to measure 7.2% and 0.3%, respectively, in keeping with estimates on Refinitiv.
Since PPI captures value modifications taking place additional upstream, the report is taken into account by some to be a number one indicator for broader inflationary developments and a predictor of what customers will ultimately see on the retailer stage.
Final week’s Shopper Value Index confirmed inflation slowed to 7.7% from 8.2% year-over-year, stunning buyers and giving Wall Avenue its largest enhance since 2020.
This story is creating and can be up to date.

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Stories by Moses Akaigwe 08072100049
Kia Motors Europe has announced a range of upgrades to the Sorento, the company’s seven-seat flagship SUV. The new Sorento will be on public display for the first time at the 2017 Frankfurt International Motor Show, opening on Thursday, and is due on sale across Europe from the last quarter of this year, and in Nigeria, much later in 2018.
The new Kia Sorento features a refreshed exterior and interior design, and is available with Kia’s latest safety and in-car connectivity technologies. A new GT Line variant is also available, as well as an efficient new eight-speed automatic transmission for 2.2-litre diesel model.
Michael Cole, Chief Operating Officer of Kia Motors Europe, commented: “The Sorento accounted for 15,769 sales across Europe in 2016, and it remains an important contributor to the company’s sustained sales growth. The current model has a broad appeal among buyers, with a combination of high practicality, handsome design, and good value. Upgrades to the car’s exterior and interior design, safety, and in-car technology all add to the appeal of the car and will ensure sales remain strong.”
Design.Updated exterior and interior design Kia’s designers have made a series of modifications to the Sorento’s exterior design. These include revised front and rear bumpers, new LED head- and tail-lamps, and a new dark metallic finish to the ‘tiger-nose’ grille. The result is a more sophisticated and purposeful front-end appearance. New Rich Espresso and Gravity Blue exterior paint finishes are now available, as well as a new design for the Sorento’s 17-, 18- and 19-inch aluminium alloy wheels.
Transmission. The new Sorento is the first SUV from Kia available with the company’s new eight-speed automatic transmission. Designed in-house by Kia and launched in 2016, the transmission boasts 143 newly-patented technologies and delivers a slick-shifting, more decisive drive, while reducing emissions slightly.
The new eight-speed automatic transmission is available on Sorento models powered by the 2.2-litre diesel engine, replacing the six-speed automatic transmission (a six-speed manual transmission is also available). Compared to other automatic transmissions, Kia’s new eight-speed unit requires fewer control valves, enabling a more direct mechanical link to the engine.
Safety. For the first time, the Sorento is available with Kia’s latest DRiVE WISE Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS). DRIVE WiSE embodies Kia’s philosophy to create intelligently safe vehicles with active safety technologies designed to avoid or mitigate the effects of collisions.
Technology: connected touchscreen infotainment and premium audio system
The new Sorento is available with Kia’s latest 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system, with navigation and Kia Connected Services. The new system offers Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, enabling full smartphone integration.
The new Sorento is likely to hit the Nigerian market from the second quarter of next year, through Kia Motors Nigeria, which assembles a wide range of Kia passenger cars and commercial vehicles at its plant in Isolo, Lagos.


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At a time when the LGBTQ+ community is increasingly being targeted with hate, violence and discrimination, beauty brands are incorporating activism into their Pride campaigns and celebrations.
The Body Shop, for example, is focusing on the recent legislation passed in Florida. It’s been dubbed the “Don’t Say Gay” law due to its nebulous language that could lead to teachers being sued for discussing any LGBTQ+-related topics. The brand’s campaign against the new law and copycat legislation in other states includes retail signage, social media content and an online educational hub. It is also creating a set of special-edition liquid highlighters, with $1 from each sale donated to the organization Advocates for Youth.
“Last year, in both Canada and the U.S., we increased our advocacy work in support of the LGBTQ+ community specifically because we wanted to address growing discriminatory policies against the community, which we didn’t feel particularly aligned or supported our values,” said Hilary Lloyd, vp of marketing and corporate responsibility for The Body Shop. She said the brand has noticed that this is an issue “this year more than ever.”
In addition to legislation, anti-LGBTQ+ hate crimes and threats have been on the rise, which experts say are being stoked by the increasingly incendiary rhetoric from GOP politicians. Most recently, a group of 31 neo-Nazis was arrested in Idaho on their way to instigate a riot at a local Pride event.
Hair-care brand Ouai also addressed the “Don’t Say Gay” law with its Pride campaign this year, sponsoring a float in the L.A. Pride Parade with the tagline “Ouai Says Gay.” As part of the campaign, the brand donated a total of $50,000 to the Los Angeles LGBT Center, as well as Prism, a LGBTQ+ non-profit based in Florida.
“This year, we got more political,” said Colin Walsh, CEO of Ouai. “We wanted to make a stand and be vocal about our point of view, [supporting] the importance of conversations around gender identity and sexual orientation in schools,” and access to healthcare and mental health resources among LGBTQ+ youth.
Many beauty brands have leaned into the celebratory aspects of Pride over the years, with calls for more activism to avoid “Pride-washing.” According to Enrico Frezza, CEO and founder of Peace Out Skincare, the brand’s approach to Pride is about finding a “balance between the two,” by celebrating while also addressing the “ongoing struggles and battles we are still having to deal with in 2022.” Peace Out is partnering with tanning brand Isle of Paradise for a special-edition Pride gift set. The brands will donate 20% of proceeds to The Trevor Project.
The recent rhetoric and legislation “certainly illuminates how fragile the ground is,” said Matthew Malin, CEO and co-founder of Malin + Goetz, who described the “Don’t Say Gay” law as “repulsive and shocking.” The brand has celebrated Pride annually for 18 years, since it was first founded. Special-edition products are especially common among brands celebrating Pride, but Malin + Goetz is taking a different approach. Its Pride campaign includes a free in-store lip balm giveaway on June 24 and a donation of 50% of proceeds from sales to The Trevor Project on June 28, the anniversary of the Stonewall Uprising.
“The milestones that the community has made over the years are nothing short of astounding. There is indeed so much to celebrate. But there could never be a celebration without activism, especially during the current zeitgeist. We can never take for granted the liberties we have fought so hard for; Matthew and I always remain very active and vigilant,” said Malin + Goetz co-founder and owner Andrew Goetz.


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Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) introduced bipartisan legislation to crack down on fraud targeting seniors. The Seniors Fraud Prevention Act would help fight scams designed to rob seniors of their assets by directing the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to create an office to educate seniors about fraud schemes while also improving the agency’s monitoring and response to fraud complaints. A bipartisan counterpart was also introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives.
“Raising awareness—particularly among older Americans who are more likely to be targeted by financial scams—is key to protecting seniors’ hard-earned savings,” said Senator Collins. “The Seniors Fraud Prevention Act would enhance fraud monitoring, increase consumer education, and strengthen the complaint tracking system to help prevent seniors from being robbed of their hard-earned savings through threatening and manipulative scams.”
“All Americans deserve safety and dignity in their senior years, but too often, older Americans are the targets of deceptive scams,” said Senator Klobuchar. “New schemes designed to defraud seniors appear almost daily and can have serious consequences, such as wiping out a person’s entire life savings. This bipartisan legislation is a critical step towards combating fraud targeting seniors by identifying scams and educating consumers to prevent more seniors from falling victim to these tactics.”
The Seniors Fraud Prevention Act would help protect seniors from fraud schemes by creating an office at the Federal Trade Commission with the mission of helping fight scams designed to strip seniors of their assets by educating seniors about fraud schemes and improving the Commission’s monitoring and response to fraud complaints. The bill would also require the FTC, the agency responsible for handling consumer complaints, to coordinate with other agencies to monitor for fraud schemes targeting seniors. In addition, the bill would require the FTC to distribute information — to seniors, their families, and their caregivers — that explains how to recognize fraud schemes and how to contact law enforcement authorities in the event that a senior is targeted for fraud.
AARP sent a letter to the Senators endorsing the bipartisan Seniors Fraud Prevention Act.


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Yes, we’re talking about the Realme 8 Pro, the first smartphone in the brand’s lineup with a high-res Samsung HM2 sensor. It’s worth noting that the Realme 8 Pro isn’t the first phone or even the first mid-range phone with a 108MP camera.
By Nitansh Rastogi
If there’s one brand that stays abreast with the latest smartphone trends, it’s Realme. Remember India’s first smartphone with a 64MP camera –Realme XT (review)? Or the Realme X (review), which was among the first mid-range offerings with a pop-up camera? The latest trend that Realme now plans to offer is that of 108MP camera sensors.
Yes, we’re talking about the R 8 Pro, the first smartphone in the brand’s lineup with a high-res Samsung HM2 sensor. It’s worth noting that the R 8 Pro isn’t the first phone or even the first mid-range phone with a 108MP camera.
However, it could very well be the most affordable smartphone with such a shooter. While we’ll only get to know the details on the R 8 Pro India launch event – scheduled for March 24th, let’s take a look at the R 8 Pro camera capabilities for now.
Realme 8 Pro camera specs
Like most smartphones these days, the 8 Pro features a quad-camera setup. The array is headlined by the 108MP sensor, which is accompanied by an 8MP f/2.25 ultra-wide shooter, a 2MP black and white portrait lens, and a 2MP macro snapper. The combination ensures that you can capture various scenarios with ease. The R 8 Pro also offers 3x in-sensor zoom.
Realme 8 Pro camera UI
It’s worth noting that the R 8 Pro comes with the Realme UI 2.0 out of the box, which is based on Android 11. Not that this has much of an impact on the camera UI… it should feel quite familiar if you’ve ever used a Realme phone before.
Holding the phone in vertical orientation, you’ll find controls for flash, HDR, AI, filters, and a gear icon for camera settings on the top of the viewfinder. At the very bottom, you’ll find the shutter button sandwiched between the preview gallery and toggle for the front camera.
Above that, there are various modes such as video, portrait, 108MP, etc. Clicking on more brings up additional shooting modes such as Starry mode, slo-mo, AI Mixed Portrait, and more. Above these modes, there’s a zoom option, AI beautification, and Google Lens.
Realme 8 Pro camera samples
Now that we’ve talked about the R 8 Pro cameras, it’s time to see what they’re capable of. Of course, we’d be providing our analysis on the picture quality in the Realme 8 Pro review, but until then, you can see the images for yourself.
Originally published at 91mobiles


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Americans love sugar. According to the USDA, each of us consumes more than 150 pounds of added sugar every year (or about 50 teaspoons daily), making the United States the largest consumer of sweeteners worldwide.
So where does most of this sugary goodness come from? Mainly from heavily processed snack foods, baked goods and soft drinks all loaded with high-fructose corn syrup. HFCS is a highly refined sweetener made from corn starch, and one that is widely used by food manufacturers because it is inexpensive to produce and transport.
The problem, experts say, comes with the health risks associated with HFCS and how it works in the body. Put simply, it affects healthy blood sugar levels and insulin regulation, which helps to explain why a diet high in HFCS has been linked to increased risk of obesity and obesity-related disease. And now scientists have found another reason to caution Americans against the common sweetener.
A recent study found that pancreatic cancer cells use fructose to multiply in the body, which supports previous studies that have linked a high-HFCS diet with higher rates of pancreatic cancer. It has to do with how fructose and glucose—the two main components of HFCS—are metabolized in the body, and scientists found that cancer cells had an easier time metabolizing fructose in order to thrive.
More research is planned to help scientists better understand the relationship between sugar metabolism and increased cancer risk, but experts hope that studies like this one will increase awareness about the dangers of eating too much sugar.
A study published recently in the British Medical Journal revealed some eye-opening facts about statins—mainly that the highly-touted cholesterol-lowering drugs end up doing more harm than good when taken as directed.
Statins work by blocking cholesterol production in the liver, which in turn causes the liver to create a type of protein that helps eliminate bad cholesterol (LDL) from the body. Unfortunately, results of the study—which included more than 2 million participants—show that statins help only a very small percentage of those who take them, but that twice as often they result in serious health problems, including liver damage, acute kidney failure, extreme muscle weakness and cataracts, as well as an increased risk of esophageal cancer. Not only that, but statins, like all synthetic drugs, are chock full of chemicals that can wreak havoc on the body and overall health.
Omega-3s: A Natural Alternative to Statins
Decades of research regarding the natural health benefits of Omega-3 fatty acids has shown that a diet rich in Omega-3s helps prevent a wide range of cardiovascular problems, including heart attack, stroke and high blood pressure, prompting experts like the American Heart Association to recommend between 1 and 4 grams (1,000-4,000mg) of combined EPA and DHA daily for people with known heart problems.
Because the standard American diet is severely lacking in beneficial Omegas, a daily Omega-3 supplement can help provide safe and effective natural support for a healthier heart. In addition, fish-derived Omega-3 fats have been shown also to improve brain, eye, and immune function, as well as promote healthy skin, bones, joints and mood.


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Apple has launched a movie download store in the US tonight finally putting an end to rumours on the web about whether they were or whether they weren't going to do it.
Coming just one week after Amazon.com launched its video download service the company announced that its iTunes Music Store, now re branded to just iTunes Store will offer American customers film downloads at $14.99.
Among the films available are a range of films from Walt Disney, Pixar, Touchstone, Miramax all owned by Disney presumably due to Steve Jobs Apple's CEO recently becoming a member of the board at Disney.
The store launching in the US will offer 75 films online today, more every week and month. New releases $12.99 pre orders and first week, after that up to $14.99, however Jobs said that most will cost $9.99.
Apple are saying that the movies will be near DVD quality with the same improved encoding as its TV shows at 640x480 (up from 320x240).
According to Apple if you have a 5mb/s broadband connection, it will take approximately 30 minutes to download a movie. Apple said that the movies would be supported by Dolby surround audio in videos.
However once again the UK was overlooked with the service only being available in the US to start with. Apple suggested that an international store wouldn't launch in the UK until 2007.


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Apple Job Postings Suggest Development of Its Own Modems
December 14, 2018
Several new Apple job listings give the strong impression that the Silicon Valley company is getting ready to make its own modem, in direct competition with Qualcomm. The posted job listings are for engineers that can design and develop a layer 1 cellular PHY chip, which implies physical networking hardware. Two other job posts are for cellular modem systems architects, one for Santa Clara and the second for San Diego, where Qualcomm is headquartered. Apple also posted a job opening in San Diego for RF design engineers.
The Verge reports that, according to sources, “Apple is not only potentially working to develop its own modem, but is in fact specifically targeting it for use in future iPhones, with the company looking to leave longtime partner Intel behind in favor of its own, in-house solution.” (Apple has also used Qualcomm modems, but hasn’t used that company’s products since 2017 when it sued Qualcomm over anti-competitive prices.)
Apple’s 5G iPhone, now slated for a 2020 release, will likely still use Intel’s 5G modem, since “it’ll take at least a few years before it’ll actually be ready to ship hardware.”
If Apple does indeed make its own in-house developed modem, it would have “big ramifications for the mobile space, particularly for Qualcomm and Intel, two of the biggest modem suppliers in the world.” Although Apple has abandoned Qualcomm chips “in favor of only using Intel modems for the iPhone XS and XR,” the problem is that Intel “simply hasn’t been keeping up performance-wise compared to Qualcomm’s modems.”
That was verified by “a recent analysis of Ookla speed tests …[that] found that Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 845 offered dramatically better speeds than devices with Intel modems.” The results, “admittedly, collected from Ookla by Qualcomm,” showed 40 percent faster download speeds and 20 percent faster uploads for Qualcomm modems vs. Intel’s.
By building its own modems, Apple is following in the steps of Samsung and Huawei, which “also use their own in-house modem and processor stacks for a cohesive hardware experience, albeit in phones that are only available in the U.S. through imports, for now.” It would also be building on its previous success building its own mobile processors for iPhones and iPads.
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The fast food chain is investigating one if its restaurants after a researcher was served ice that contained bacteria from feces. » Read More
The Shanghai Composite is losing its momentum, with The Fast Money Halftime Traders. Also, discussing the restaurant coverage list distributed by CLSA, with Diane Geissler, CLSA analyst.
There's a wider than usual divide on Wall Street over whether this quarter's earnings releases will be a boom or bust for stocks.
Stocks rallied sharply in the final minutes of trading to finish near their highs in another volatile session Wednesday, buoyed by a handful of better-than-expected economic news and amid optimism over the euro zone.
Third-quarter earnings season begins in earnest when Alcoa reports results on Oct. 11. For those looking to get a head start on trading earnings, several big names report results this week, including Costco, Yum Brands, Marriot International and Constellation Brands.
There is yet another hint that a greatly expanded European Financial Stability Facility, or (down the road) euro bonds are coming. European officials are slowly talking themselves into greater euro integration. Whether that will happen fast enough is the question.
Futures pared some of their gains ahead of the open Wednesday, even after a better-than-expected private sector employment report and despite optimism that a solution will be found to protect Europe's banks from the effects of the Greek crisis.
Cramer goes “Off the Charts” to find out if some of his favorite momentum stocks are set to tumble.
Stocks rebounded during the final hour of trading in a roller coaster ride on Wall Street Tuesday, following a report that EU finance ministers are examining possible ways to recapitalize banks and after Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke said he is prepared to help the economy.
The Supreme Court won't stop Iowa from forcing KFC to pay nearly $250,000 in corporate income taxes, even though it had no restaurants or employees in the state.
After the market logged its worst quarter since the financial crisis in 2008, traders are bracing for a big week in Europe, Bernanke's testimony and what is expected to be a weak jobs report.
Find out what's in the "Mad Money" host's "Game Plan."
Find out what earnings and conferences are in Cramer's "Game Plan" for next week.
Cramer makes the call on viewers' favorite stocks.
Despite having been the lead underwriter in Dunkin' Donuts' IPO, a Goldman Sachs analyst on Tuesday advised clients to sell DNKN.
We can disagree about the appropriate role of government in combating the obesity crisis, but one would think that there's a consensus at least that government shouldn't be subsidizing obesity.
Chinese Internet companies need to start making profits if they want investors to get interested.
The downgrade will have a far more serious affect on China than just eroding the value of its reserves, but there are no easy solutions. The most serious problem in the short term is inflation, which will get worse as investors shift away from U.S. dollars and into commodities.
Many Chinese consumers consider western fast food brands like Yum Brands, McDonald's and even Dunkin Donut healthy. They all know a healthy food diet should not have too much oil and sugar, but they also trust foreign brands won't cut corners in the production process. They fear tainted ingredients more than fat.
China has become known as the epicenter for a wide variety of counterfeit consumer products, but a trend has emerged over the past few years of faking full retail operations.
Some consumer trends in China are well known, such as the increasing demand for luxury goods, but others may surprise you. CNBC.com put together a list of 10 major consumer trends.


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In depth: How are businesses performing against their plastic pledges?
Over the last two years, some the world's largest businesses have made ambitious new commitments to eliminating single-use plastics. Here, edie rounds up what progress some of these businesses have made to date.
In a global climate where net-zero emissions are being targeted for 2050 and delivering the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) has an 11-year window, two years can pass in the blink of an eye.
But looking back since that episode of Blue Planet 2 launched in late 2017 it is clear that businesses, consumers and governments alike have ignited a worldwide revolt against single-use plastics. In the following months since Blue Planet 2 highlighted the dramatic and damaging impact that human use and disposal of certain plastics have had on natural ecosystems, businesses of all sizes have either made new commitments, or resurfaced existing ones, to showcase their desire to eliminate single-use plastics.
Spurred by the fact that we are now producing more than double the amount of plastic as we did two decades ago, the UK’s business community moved to phase-out items such as straws, drinks stirrers and plastic-stemmed cotton buds at a breakneck pace.
Indeed, many have now pledged to eliminate non-recyclable plastics from their product, packaging and service offerings altogether, with dozens having made such commitments under initiatives like WRAP’s UK Plastics Pact and the Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s New Plastics Economy.
But much like a New Years Resolution, commitments are merely a statement of intent, albeit one that can be held to public scrutiny; it takes continuous action, new ways of thinking and leaps of faith to deliver against these commitments.
So, just how have businesses delivered on these targets to date? Last month, edie reached out to more than 20 businesses that have made new pledges to reduce single-use plastics over the last two years to uncover what progress has been made. Here, edie lists how the 13 businesses that responded are performing against their plastic pledges.
edie will continuously update current progress from businesses against their plastic pledges, as well as adding data from new businesses to the Plastics Hub throughout the year. If you’d like to add a plastics commitment to the Hub, please email email@example.com.
Discount supermarket chain Aldi made a commitment last March to ensure all packaging on its own-label is reusable, recyclable or compostable before 2022. It additionally vowed to scrap 5p carrier bags by the end of 2018, offering customers reusable 9p bags made from back-of-store plastic waste instead.
The company met its plastic bag commitment in December 2018 and has removed 266 tonnes of plastic packaging from its UK stores since setting the 2022 target.
Aldi has also replaced around 1,600 tonnes of non-recyclable or hard-to-recycle plastic packaging with recyclable alternatives during the ten-month period and has begun using PCR plastic in its food packaging for the first time. To date, around 244 tonnes of PCR plastic has been used.
Canary Wharf Group
John Garwood, MD & Group Company Secretary, Canary Wharf Group announces our progress in today’s #BreakingThePlasticHabit Breakfast Briefing and that if you line up the 3.5 million coffee cups we’ve recycled to date, they would reach from here to York! #MakingSustainabilityReal pic.twitter.com/mZTH2DHqgr
— Canary Wharf Group (@CanaryWharfGrp) January 10, 2019
Since launching its ‘Breaking the Plastics Habit’ behaviour change scheme last summer, property developer Canary Wharf Group (CWG) has encouraged 83 retailers trading at its flagship commercial estate to ban plastic straws, reducing the development’s annual plastic footprint by 1.2 million items.
The company has also recovered 13,000 bottles through its reverse-vending machine scheme, and provided 35,000 free water bottle refills across its seven new drinking fountains.
Within its own operations, CWG has met its Breaking the Plastics Habit pledge of removing plastic drinks bottles, coffee cups and straws from its own offices.
As for coffee cups sold by the retailers on its estate, CWG told edie that its ‘Clean Coffee Zone’ scheme has captured and recycled three million disposable cups since its launch in 2017.
Cranswick, one of Britain’s leading suppliers of premium food, pledged last year to use 100% recyclable and sustainable sourced packaging by 2025. The business has also committed to reducing its plastics use by 50% by 2025.
To deliver on these commitments, Cranswick has designed an innovative new range of packaging that can be easily recovered through all household recycling collections across the UK. The packaging will be rolled out across its products by the end of March, after which point, the business will focus on sourcing plastic-free alternatives.
Since making the pledge, Cranswick has recorded a 4.24% year-on-year reduction in its plastic consumption, mitigating the use of 594 tonnes of virgin plastic.
“From becoming a founding signatory of the UK Plastics Pact, continuing our work with Champions 12.3 and supporting a circular plastics economy at Canary Wharf, to winning the ‘Best Waste Prevention Project Award’ at the Waste2Zero awards and partnering with the technology app OLIO to tackle community food poverty, sustainability truly has been at the heart of our business in 2018,” Cranswick’s group commercial director Jim Brisby said.
The Foreign Office
The foreign office has removed 97% or 1.56 million pieces of single-use plastic from its UK estate since February 2018 a reduction from 310 items per person to 10. The remaining 3% of plastic waste still produced is “currently unavoidable”, since it is within the supply chain.
More than half a million disposable plastic coffee cups have been completely removed from its UK Estate since the introduction of a 50p levy in April. Biodegradable coffee cups are now provided as an alternative, but staff are encouraged to use their own mugs. This is a significant change from last year, when hot beverage cups accounted for 48% of plastic waste in FCO catering.
Last May, hotelier Hilton committed to removing plastic straws from its 650 managed properties by the end of 2018, replacing them with biodegradable alternatives – a move the company claimed would avoid the use of five million straws every year from 2019.
The firm also committed to removing plastic water bottles from meetings and events in hotels across Europe, the Middle East and Africa, saving 20 million single-use bottles annually by offering visitors reusable jugs and cups instead.
Hilton’s director of corporate responsibility Sylvia Low said the company is now “well on track” to meet these plastic reduction targets.
“Across our portfolio, properties have adopted a variety of alternatives to plastic straws – hotels are encouraged to source the most environmentally-friendly options available locally, so this varies from the most commonly used paper and biodegradable alternatives, through to more innovative replacements such as straws made from bamboo or lemongrass,” Low said.
— Jacquetta Staunton (@JacquettaStaunt) January 4, 2019
Iceland had pledged to eliminate plastic packaging from all of its own-label products by the end of 2023. Earlier this month, the frozen food retailer Iceland unveiled the results of its trial of an in-store deposit return scheme for plastic bottles, revealing that the scheme has captured more than 300,000 bottles since its launch in May 2018.
The reverse-vending units, which accept any of the chain’s own-brand beverage bottles and repay users with a 10p voucher to be used in-store for each bottle inserted, have collected 311,500 bottles to date, Iceland revealed this week. Once bottles are captured, they are cleaned and sent to recycling facilities. In total, more than £30,000 of coupons have been issued to date.
After selling more than one million single-use plastic items to its UK partner restaurants in 2017, takeaway food firm Just Eat announced in March last year that it stopped selling such items with immediate effect.
Since then, its shop has been restocked with compostable and biodegradable alternatives to items such as cutlery, Styrofoam boxes and disposable cups. Just Eat has been trialling edible, seaweed-based sauce sachets at 10 of its London-based partner restaurant, in a bid to gauge consumer reactions to such products.
Just Eat trialled a pre-ticked box on its app and website to encourage customers to opt out of receiving plastics that they don’t need. By the end of this trial, 20% of users had requested reduced plastic in their takeaway order. Just Eat is now working towards introducing this as a permanent feature on the platform
Lucozade Ribena Suntory
Soft drinks firm Lucozade Ribena Suntory (LRS) has been using 100% post-consumer recycled (PCR) plastics to house its Ribena lines since 2008 – a move which has prevented the production of more than 40,000 tonnes of virgin plastic packaging. According to LRS, this is the weigh equivalent of around 30,000 Ford Fiestas.
Following a successful trial in 2018, LRS has this year rolled out a new light weighted packaging concept across all of its 500ml Ribena bottles – a move it claims will save 325 tonnes of plastic annually.
More broadly, LRS is a member of WRAP’s UK Plastic Pact and is, therefore, striving to make 100% of its plastic packaging reusable, recyclable or compostable by 2025.
We’re always trying to find new opportunities to reduce our impact on the environment, so we’re delighted to announce that Premier Inn & Restaurants are introducing paper straws. This will eliminate the use of 12 million plastic straws across the sites we own every year! pic.twitter.com/COeNM2xK9u
— Brewers Fayre (@brewersfayre) November 2, 2018
Hospitality giant Whitbread announced last October that it would begin removing plastic straws from its Premier Inn hotels in November 2018 – a move which is set to remove 10 million plastic straws from circulation each year once a brand-wide phase-out is completed.
Since then, the chain has implemented a software ordering mechanism that prevents teams from ordering plastic straws. Staff are encouraged, instead, to order paper straws and to keep them behind the bar, offering them on request only. Whitbread estimates that these changes will see its straw consumption fall to 6.5 million annually.
Premier Inn has also eliminated 48,000 salt and pepper sachets, which come with a plastic lining, from its headquarters since 2017 by switching to grinders in its staff canteens. The Dunstable-based office has additionally replaced plastic cutlery with bamboo and steel alternatives, eliminating 15,000 plastic items from its annual waste streams, and switched its takeaway food containers from polystyrene to biodegradable alternatives, eliminating a further 120,000 plastic items each year.
Food-to-go chain Pret-A-Manger moved last January to double its discount to customers who bring reusable cups into stores to 50p, after introducing an initial 25p discount in 2017.
Since this change was implemented, the brand has recorded a 15-fold increase in the number of drinks it has sold in reusable coffee cups.
When the 25p discount was in place, Pret sold around 8,000 drinks in a reusable cup every week. This figure now stands at 130,000 drinks – an increase which Pret claims helped to eliminate four million cups from its waste streams in 2018.
Pret has also launched a range of reusable bottles in recent times, in a bid to encourage customers to use its free filtered water stations instead of buying water in plastic bottles. The company has not yet published information on the amount of plastic this move has saved.
In October 2017, broadcasting company Sky announced that all single-use plastics will be removed from its products, operations and supply chain by 2020 and will that it will also invest £25m into an Ocean Rescue Innovation Fund to develop remedies to the amount of waste seeping into oceans.
The company has since revealed that all new products are now housed in single-use plastic-free packaging and that the £25m Sky Ocean Ventures fund has now backed Choose Water Skipping Rocks Lab.
As for reductions, Sky saved 175 tonnes of single-use plastic in 2018, the equivalent of 19 full rubbish trucks.
Coffee chain Starbucks has been offering a 25p discounts to UK customers using a reusable cup since 1998. Last year, it went one step further, launching a three-month 5p levy trial on paper coffee cups across 35 stores in London.
The trial led to a 156% increase in reusable cup use – a result that led the company to extend the charge to all of its London locations. On average, these stores have recorded a 126% uplift in reusable cup use since the 5p levy was introduced.
Proceeds of the 5p charge are donated to environmental charity Hubbub, which has collected more than 1.2 million paper coffee cups across Manchester and London. Hubbub is now working with Starbucks in a bid to help drive further behaviour change. The partnership has recorded a 3.5% increase in reusable cup use.
In 2018, we hit our target to remove 1,300 tonnes of hard-to-recycle black plastic from 100’s of products. It’s part of our overall commitment to remove all own-label black plastic by the end of 2019. Find out more here: https://t.co/JTVSGgq7mt pic.twitter.com/2WQErUHjTm
— Waitrose & Partners (@waitrose) January 14, 2019
Having reduced packaging by almost 50% since 2009, Waitrose is targeting 10)% of its own-brand products to be widely recyclable by 2023, a figure that currently stands at 70%.
In 2018, the retailer hit a target to remove 1,300 tonnes of hard-to-recycle black plastic from 100’s of products as part an overall commitment to remove all own-label black plastic by the end of 2019. Waitrose & Partners has also removed single-use plastic bags from its fruit and vegetable aisles and 5p carrier bags from all stores – a move that will cut plastic usage by 134 million bags each year.
edie’s Mission Possible Plastics Hub
edie has today (15 January) launched the Mission Possible Plastics Hub – a brand-new content-driven campaign that will support sustainability and resource efficiency professionals on our collective mission to eliminate single-use plastics.
In addition to hosting content that supports businesses with their single-use plastics phase-outs, the Mission Possible Plastics Hub will be encouraging sustainability professionals to submit new commitments to tackle plastic pollution on the Mission Possible Pledge Wall.
If your company has an existing plastics commitment, or if you’re planning a new commitment over the coming months, you can showcase it on the Mission Possible Pledge Wall.
(By submitting a pledge, edie readers are agreeing to the commitment, target date and expected benefits being published on the Mission Possible Pledge Wall, along with their name and job title. They are also agreeing to being contacted by a member of the edie editorial team, should any further information about their pledge be required.)
Matt Mace & Sarah George


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Trading Places: Facebooks Soars While Apple Struggles
The famous 1983 film "Trading Places" featured two men mystically trading places in a rags-to-riches story. In this video, Fool senior technology analyst Eric Bleeker discusses the sudden "Trading Places" scenario occurring in technology stock during the past six months.
Specifically, Eric notes that Facebook is up 40% after taking a beating in its first few months after IPOing while Apple is down 25% during the same time frame. The momentum effect of the companies can be seen in money manager surveys, where Facebook has moved from a top short pick into being one of the top buys. In that same time, Apple went from a favorite pick to sliding down the best buy list. Beyond that, Wall Street analysts have moved sharply from an opinion of universally buying Apple to a point that Facebook is nearly rated as highly as a buy.
In the end, Eric notes that this situation shows how quickly momentum can shift in technology. However, that also makes keeping a focus on long-term trends that much more difficult for investors as short-term "media noise" vacillates between periods of hype and despondence. In spite of widespread fears around Apple, Eric's sticking with the company at these prices.
After the world's most hyped IPO turned out to be a dunce, most investors probably don't even want to think about shares of Facebook. But there are things every investor needs to know about this company. We've outlined them in our newest premium research report. There's a lot more to Facebook than meets the eye, so read up on whether there is anything to "like" about it today, and we'll tell you whether we think Facebook deserves a place in your portfolio. Access your report by clicking here.
The article Trading Places: Facebooks Soars While Apple Struggles originally appeared on Fool.com.
Eric Bleeker has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool recommends Apple and Facebook. The Motley Fool owns shares of Apple. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
Copyright © 1995 - 2013 The Motley Fool, LLC. All rights reserved. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.


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Submitted by EnergyTechStocks.com
A report from the U.S.’s Argonne National Laboratory concludes that China is making “vast progress” in developing lithium-ion batteries, a clear indication that Chinese battery manufacturers should be among the big winners as the world ramps up production of lithium-ion batteries for vehicles and consumer electronics.
The report notes that a number of Chinese battery firms – including BYD Company Ltd., Tianjin Lishen Battery Joint Stock Co., Shenzhen BAK Battery Co. Ltd. and Shenzhen B&K Technology Co. Ltd. – are participating in what the report calls the “rapid growth” of China’s lithium-ion battery industry.
Lithium-ion batteries are expected to be in greater and greater demand as plug-in electric vehicles hit global highways starting over the next two to three years. Lithium-ion batteries, which are already in great demand by consumer electronics firms, are prized because they are longer lasting and provide more power than other types of batteries.
The Argonne report, which received its first U.S. media exposure on the web site Green Car Congress, buttresses EnergyTechStocks.com’s belief that BYD, which is making lithium-ion batteries for its own electric vehicles, may be a company worth watching. (See How Investors May Profit From China’s Eco-Crises (Part 1 of 2) – BYD Co.’s Unique Car Battery Strategy)
The report should serve as an alert to all investors that their search for winning lithium-ion battery development companies should be worldwide. (See Investor Alert: Start Positioning Your Portfolio For The Electric Vehicle Revolution)


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Boston.com Cars is your go-to resource for coverage of local car news, events, and reviews. In the market for a car or truck? Check out our new car specials and used car specials curated by our local dealer network.
It turns out local drivers in the market for a used car are perfectly positioned to save some money on the purchase.
Car-shopping site CarGurus recently ranked the most affordable and most expensive cities for buying used cars. Three major New England cities – Boston, Providence, Rhode Island, and Worcester – ranked among the top 10 cities where consumers are likely to get a break on a used car.
In Boston, consumers can find used cars that cost about 4 percent less than the national average. Used cars in Providence and Worcester are about 3 percent cheaper than average. The three cities ranked No. 8, No. 9 and No. 10 in the country, respectively.
Car-shoppers in Springfield, Massachusetts can also find a used car priced a little less than 3 percent below average. Springfield ranked No. 17 out of 98 metros. (Disclosure: CarGurus is a Boston.com technology partner, powering the Cars section search functionality.)
CarGurus could not pinpoint a single factor on why used vehicles in these metros are cheaper than average, but it could be related to the number of dealerships nearby, the region’s population density, or the average number of cars per dealership, among other potential factors.
For consumers, this means it could pay to consider shopping in a nearby city to save some money on a used vehicle according to Lisa Rosenberg, data analyst at CarGurus.
“While staying local makes sense for most car shoppers, they also may not be aware that car prices do vary across the country,” said Rosenberg in a statement.
“Expanding a car search to a nearby city can sometimes yield significant savings, and for those truly driven by price, it might be worth it.”
CarGurus looked at 5 million used car listings in the nation’s 98 largest metro areas. The company then compared prices on used cars (model years 2001 to 2016) in each area to determine the nationwide average for comparable vehicles and averaged the price differences for individual cities.
According to CarGurus’ analysis, Miami is the cheapest city to buy a used car. Consumers in Miami can find used vehicles that are priced nearly 10 percent below the national average.
At the other end of equation, Fresno, California is the most expensive city to buy a used car with prices about 12 percent higher than average.


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The latest issue of Game Informer has spilled a tantalizing batch of new Call of Duty WW2 details, confirming gamers will be able to take part in a number of iconic battles during the single-player campaign.
Chiefly, players will take part in the D-Day landings in June 1944, which proved one of the bloodiest battles of the entire conflict as allied soldiers stormed the beaches at Normandy while under a hail of gunfire from German troops.
The publication describes the tone of the D-Day mission as similar to that of Saving Private Ryan, which shouldn’t really come as a surprise considering that has been the template for numerous video game adaptations of the infamous mission. There’s also talk of intimate hand-to-hand combat between allied and axis troops, which is described as pretty brutal by GI’s article.
Elsewhere, Call of Duty WW2 will also let players impersonate a Nazi soldier during the mission known as Wolf’s Den, where you are tasked with infiltrating a German base. GI notes that the player will be required to interact with enemy troops in the correct manner in order to maintain your cover.
Michael Condrey of developer Sledgehammer Games commented, “It was important for us to balance the authenticity of the game and era, and the dark notes that come with the genocide that the Nazis brought to bear. We need to balance and respect that but also recognize this is a piece of entertainment and not dishonor the loss of life that happened there.”
Elsewhere, the game also sees players taking part in battles across Europe as they make their way across France and towards Berlin along the Rhine. In addition, Call of Duty WW2 also includes other major battles of the conflict, including taking part in Operation Cobra among others.
Call of Duty WW2 is scheduled for release on PlayStation 4, PC, and Xbox One on November 3, 2017. The Call of Duty WW2 beta will be kicking off later this summer for PS4 owners, and those of you who participate will receive some in-game bonus content when the full game launches.
Outside of the main campaign and multiplayer, the upcoming first-person shooter will also see the return of the fan-favorite Nazi Zombies mini-game, which was originally introduced in 2008’s Call of Duty: World at War.
Source: Game Informer


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Signed, sealed, delivered... and damaged in 57 days: Almost a third of drivers prang a new car within two months of ownership
If you’ve owned your shiny brand new car for 57 days - then prepare for a prang.
Nearly a third (32 per cent) of vehicle owners are involved in a crash in their brand new pride and joy within just two months of driving it out of the showroom – clocking up a £402million repair bill nationally, new research revealed on Tuesday.
And most accidents involving new cars occur on the 57th day after registration on average, it said.
The Ford Fiesta is Britain's biggest selling new car, but many will end up not looking showroom fresh within just two months, according to claims that a third of new motors are pranged within 57 days.
Overall, one in 10 of accidents over the last 12 months involved new ‘15’ and ‘65’ plate cars – accounting for an estimated 196,000 minor and serious new car accidents.
The report by car-crash management firm Accident Exchange said: ‘When averaged out, accident prone buyers tended to prang their brand new pride and joy on the 57th day after the car was first registered.
‘Putting those cars back on the road is estimated to have cost nearly £402million in just 12 months.
‘In fact, 32 per cent of all 15 and 65-plate accidents happened within just two months of ownership.’
The crash statistics were recorded between March 2015 and the end of February 2016. Accident Exchange said that with an estimated 2.2million accidents – minor and serious – occurring annually, some 196,000 2015-plate vehicles were affected.
The report notes: ‘The average cost of accident repairs is £2,050, meaning all 15 and 65-plate crashes cost drivers and insurers £402million.
Intriguingly, up to 63 per cent of motorists involved in an accident will purchase a new car within six months, it says.
Crash experts said a combination of people being unfamiliar with much of the technology on new cars, time needed to get to grips with new lay-outs and often more powerful performance, and increasing cases of drivers – not necessarily the new owners - illegally using smart phones to text or message while at the wheel, all played a part in the new-car crash rates.
And with many cars getting bigger–especially with the growing trend sports utility vehicles – prangs can happen as unfamiliar drivers attempt to park them in spaces which are getting smaller.
Accident Exchange said that with an estimated 2.2million accidents occurring annually, some 196,000 2015-plate vehicles were affected over a 12-month period.
Unfamiliarity with the vehicle, more power than they've previously been used to and using a phone behind the wheel are the reasons drivers are having accidents in their new cars
An Accident Exchange spokesman said: ‘Early damage to newly registered vehicles can be a result of a number of factors.
‘New cars are packed with technology, which can be distracting, while mobile phone use at the wheel continues to be a problem.
‘The more complex controls required to accommodate this new technology can be largely unfamiliar. And new cars can be more powerful, even though the engine size remains the same.’
He added: ’The number of cars on the road is also a factor; each year more and more cars are registered and they are increasingly large in size making them more difficult to manoeuvre, especially into smaller car-parking spaces.’
Scott Hamilton-Cooper, director of operations at Accident Exchange said: ‘Any accident is a traumatic and emotional experience for the driver and passengers, but this increases for those driving brand new vehicles usually costing a lot of money.
‘Buying a new car is a big deal. The old adage that it’s the second largest purchase most people will make after a home still rings true.
‘Whenever a driver reports a crash to us, we make sure they are back on the road as swiftly as possible and that their vehicle is repaired according to strict manufacturer approved guidelines.
'The vehicle should always be returned to factory finish condition for safety reasons and because it is someone’s pride and joy.’
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- A South African family had their Christmas presents cleaned out in a house robbery while holidaying at Niagara Falls on the border of Canada and the USA.
- The Mpofu family's experience turned into a cautionary tale about securing your stuff while staying in an Airbnb.
- The incident didn't put in a dent in their Christmas spirit, though.
- For more stories go to www.BusinessInsider.co.za.
The Mpofu family arrived at their Airbnb at Niagara Falls, on the border of Canada and the USA, dropped their luggage, and went out to dinner. When they returned, their luggage was gone – including all their Christmas presents, and one family member's insulin – and they quickly became a cautionary tale about security and rented accommodation.
The family is spread across South Africa and Canada, and had organised a reunion at the famous North American landmark, using a common method to arrange accommodation for a large, close-knit group: an Airbnb booking.
But they found themselves staying at a traditional hotel instead, before the South African contingent cut short their stay, after declining the offer to use an alternative Airbnb unit from the same host.
While they were out at dinner, it seems, someone entered a side door to the basement of their unit, which had been unlocked, and entered the main housing section using a door to the basement that was also unlocked.
All the family's luggage, except for their well-hidden passports, disappeared, including wrapped presents and the rental unit's TV.
Though the holiday had turned into a "nightmare", the family did not "let this take the joy away from celebrating Christmas together as a family", said family member Sandra Mpofu in a Facebook post.
"I hope this brings light to anyone using Airbnb to secure your belongings and stay cautious whilst travelling," she said.
Airbnb said it had provided a full refund for the accommodation, and was "assisting with their stolen property".
Airbnb has faced a range of scandals and regulatory pressures in 2019, with South Africa intending limits on the platform to protect traditional hotels, reports that the company chose growth over the security of its users, and the revelation that hosts gossiped about guests – and shared footage of guests captured by hidden cameras.
Watch the report on the Mpofu family's experience from the WIVB-TV station in New York state:
(Compiled by Phillip de Wet)
Receive a daily update on your cellphone with all our latest news: click here.
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Morocco’s trade deficit widened by 7.7% to around 17.4 Billion euros (186.36 Billion dirhams) at the end of November 2018 compared with 16.1 Billion euros (173.08 Billion dirhams) during the same period a year ago, according to the Exchange Office.
This worsening is explained by a significant increase in imports of 35.36 Billion MAD, higher than that of exports (+22.08 Billion dirhams), the Foreign Exchange Office said in a note on its preliminary indicators of foreign trade November 2018, adding that the coverage rate was 57.2% between January and November 2018 instead of 56.7% a year earlier.
The increase in imports of 8.8% to around 435.41 Billion MAD at the end of November 2018 is attributable to the increase in acquisitions of all product groups, especially energy products (+ 18.4% to 11.61%)Billion MAD), purchases of capital goods (+ 7.8% to 7.8 Billion dirhams), and finished products of consumption (+ 7.1% to 6.5 Billion dirhams), notes the Office, noting that the increase in purchases of these three product groups represents 73.3% of the total increase in imports.
As for exports, these also recorded an increase of 9.7% to nearly 249.04 Billion MAD during the first eleven months of 2018, said the same source, which explains this result by the growth of exports from the all sectors, mainly those in the automotive sector (+5.72 Billion dirhams), phosphates and derivatives (+5.30 Billion dirhams), and agriculture and foodstuffs (+3.06 Billion dirhams).
These three sectors contribute up to 63.8% in the total increase in exports, says the same source, before adding that the aeronautics and textile and leather sectors respectively increase +1.46 Billion MAD and +1.36 Billion MAD.


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Sharp has been hard at work on a new display technology known as IGZO which looks set to be a perfect solution for mobile devices. Not only does it offer higher touch sensitivity, but it’s so energy efficient it can triple the battery life of devices. We’ve been expecting Apple to use IGZO displays for some time, but reports have suggested that Sharp simply cannot make them quick enough to meet the demand of Apple’s consumers. However, it seems that’s all changed.
Just hours ahead of Apple’s iPad mini event in San Jose, Sharp has announced that it soon expects sales of its IGZO displays to surge.
Sharp executive Masami Ohbatake told reporters in Tokyo today that other devices with IGZO displays would soon be added to those that already utilize the technology.
While Ohbatake didn’t mention what those devices may be, his decision to speak out just before Apple kicks of its iPad mini event has sparked speculation that the tablet’s rumored 7.85-inch display will be a Sharp one.
Sharp has announced two devices with IGZO technology to date, including a smartphone and a tablet. The latter employs a 7-inch 1280×800 IGZO panel, while the former boasts a two-day battery life in between charges. Sharp will also begin selling a 10-inch tablet in December, which promises to play continuous video for ten hours without recharging.
Sharp already works Apple, producing displays for its 9.7-inch iPad and other devices. So, given the benefits of IGZO technology, Apple’s switch seems like an inevitable one at some point. Whether it will come with the iPad mini remains to be seen, but we’ll find out in just a few hours time.


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Meta Says That its Automated Ad Targeting Tools Have Driven a 32% Increase in ROAS
Meta has offered some new stats on the effectiveness of its Advantage+ AI-guided advert campaigns, which have change into a much bigger focus for the app within the wake of Apple’s iOS 14 replace.
With Meta having fewer consumer insights to go on, it’s reverted its efforts to machine studying, and constructing simpler focusing on methods based mostly on systematic intelligence. That’s seen many efficiency advertisers praising the outcomes of Advantage+ campaigns – and based on Meta, they’re certainly driving higher efficiency.
“In the fourth quarter of 2022, advertisers saw over 20% more conversions than in the year before [while] recent tests have found that advertisers who use Advantage+ shopping campaigns are seeing a 32% increase in return on ad spend.”
Positively, the tide has shifted on this respect, with an increasing number of huge advertisers noting that Advantage+ focusing on – which primarily automates the complete course of – producing nice outcomes.
“With Advantage+ shopping campaigns, an advertiser just needs to set their business objective, target country, advertising creative, and budget. Then, our AI systems do the rest: optimizing to find the right person, with the right message, at the right time.”
That does include some inherent dangers – or at the very least, perceived flaws. Some advertisers have expressed concern that the method takes an excessive amount of management out of their arms which feels problematic with regard to reaching the suitable viewers.
However the outcomes communicate for themselves:
“Advantage+ shopping campaigns are making some of our newer products like Reels ads and Shops ads perform even better. But don’t just take our word for it. The proof is in the pudding as they say or maybe in this case, the cookie dough. Doughp, a small business that makes and sells pints of cookie dough, has been using Shops ads with Advantage+ shopping campaigns to reach new customers and boost their sales. Kelsey Moreira, Doughp’s founder, told us that this combination of products made her ad campaigns truly a “set it and forget it” technique. It has been so profitable that Doughp ended up shifting their finances away from different channels to Advantage+ procuring campaigns.”
It’s inconceivable to say whether or not Advantage+ campaigns will work for all manufacturers, and there’ll at all times be advertisers who want that further management to make sure that their advert spend goes the place they need it to go. However it could be value experimenting with – the method is straightforward, and will allow you to focus your effort and time on different issues, versus monitoring your every day advert spend, and refining your artistic.
Meta additionally notes that it’s wanting so as to add extra AI parts, like Advantage+ artistic customary enhancements.
“It uses AI to help advertisers automatically apply small enhancements – like adjusting brightness, aspect ratios and text placement – to improve the performance of creative. In a recent test, we found ads that used standard enhancements delivered 14% more incremental purchases per dollar spent.”
At some stage, Meta might be able to facilitate the entire course of for you, optimizing your content material and focusing on, with out a lot intervention from you in any respect.
In truth, Meta additionally not too long ago filed a patent for a video evaluation system that may have the ability to predict the virality of video clips.
As per Patent Drop:
“Using a machine learning model trained on videos from a ‘social networking system’, Meta’s system can predict user ‘retention rate’, or if and how long a user will watch a piece of content, giving it a rating of ‘poor’ through to ‘excellent’. The system bases these rankings on things like video and audio quality, video metadata, and audience and user data. Meta also noted that the system may be able to predict other indicators of success, like comments, shares, or other engagement.”
Once more, that looks like a step too far, proper? Certainly you’ll be able to’t simply flick a change and have automated methods optimize your artistic, then maximize your advert attain and outcomes, with out your intervention.
Plainly is the place Meta is headed. And whereas creativity will at all times play an enormous half, there are facets, like viewers focusing on, the place it does appear to be Meta’s methods can present vital help.
Price testing, as a minimum.
You’ll be able to learn extra about Advantage+ Purchasing Campaigns right here.


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Colliers presents the latest report CEE Investment Scene for the first three quarters of 2021. Despite the ongoing disruption of the pandemic, investment volumes for the first three quarters of 2021, totalling €7.3 billion, are down just 10% year-on-year and ca. 20% lower than the same period of 2019. Colliers estimates that 2021 year-end volumes will reach similar levels as in 2020 of between €10.0 and 11.0 billion.
The office sector just about managed to hold on to the top spot with a 36% share of Q1-Q3 2021 volumes. Logistics and residential continue to record increasingly strong volumes, held back only by the shortage of available product for sale on the market. Retail volumes continue to be supported by retail park and supermarket assets, while hospitality volumes remain limited overall.
For further details on the share of investment activity between markets, and the sources of capital and pricing movements, download the report and contact one of our experts.


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Food should be good for you. But some foods aren’t. Pesticides are sprayed on millions of acres every year and some of them end up on your food. Our broken farm subsidy system encourages over production of the wrong food. EWG is pushing for better policy and more sustainable ways of farming that produce healthy food in a healthy environment.
One reason nine out of 10 Americans want genetically engineered, “GMO,” food to be labeled is their concern over the escalation of herbicide spraying on hundreds of millions of acres of GMO crops.
Glyphosate – the main ingredient in Monsanto’s widely used herbicide Roundup – is a colorless, odorless chemical and might seem innocuous to those who spray it on crops. But in the past few months the truth has come out: This chemical can be dangerous to farmers who are exposed to it and to people living close to farming areas.
Seafood is good source of lean protein and healthy omega-3 fatty acids. But some types of fish contain high levels of mercury, a heavy metal that’s harmful to human health when consumed in large amounts.
Are you among the many parents who fed their baby rice cereal as a first solid food? If so, you may have accidentally exposed your infant to a shocking, hidden ingredient: arsenic.
Labeling food that contains genetically engineered ingredients, or GMOs, can help a company’s bottom line, reduce risk and build trust with consumers, an MIT researcher says.
Hawaiians have seen firsthand that people near agrichemical companies’ test plots of genetically engineered (GMO) crops are at increased risk of being exposed to toxic chemicals that drift off the fields. And they’re fighting back.
An article published today in the prestigious New England Journal of Medicine by two of the nation’s most respected experts on pesticides and children’s environmental health calls for the Food and Drug Administration to require mandatory labeling of genetically engineered (GMO) food.
As the oldest sister, I’m often tasked with making lunch and snacks for my brothers. So I get why parents dread the summertime food-prep hassle. Keeping the kitchen stocked to satisfy kids’ appetites takes a lot of time and thinking.
When President Obama stepped off Air Force One in Kenya last month, he could automatically enjoy the right to know what is in his food... a right Americans don't have in the U.S.
Scientists are only beginning to investigate how certain chemicals may interact to contribute to cancer development. But given that we live in a sea of chemicals, it makes sense to begin reducing exposures to ones we know are bad actors.Read More
The Boston Globe ran an editorial yesterday (August 3) supporting a bill recently passed by the U.S. House of Representative to block states and the federal government from requiring foods to be labeled if they contain GMO ingredients.
Federal lobby disclosure forms from big food and biotechnology companies, and their trade groups opposed to mandatory GMO labeling reveal a surge in lobbying expenditures during the first half of 2015, according to a new analysis by EWG.Read More
Big food and biotechnology companies and trade associations have reported spending $51.6 million over the first half of this year, some or all of which went to lobby for legislation that would block state and federal agencies from requiring food companies to label products that contain GMO ingredients, according to new analysis by EWG.
Parabens are a class of chemicals used as preservatives in food, industrial products and personal care products, but most widely prevalent in cosmetics and personal care products. Nearly everyone is exposed to these compounds: the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention tested more than 2,500 urine samples, and detected methyl paraben in 99 percent and propyl paraben in 93 percent.


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Glispa, the mobile marketing company, just announced the launch of a new office in Singapore on the back of positive traction of its ad tech marketing in Southeast Asia. The company said it’s also become a dominant player in Indonesia’s mCommerce market. Former Google executive and mobile marketing veteran Christian Nguyen will be joining the office as General Manager.
Glispa launches new office in Singapore
Gary Lin, Founder and CEO, Glispa, explains:
“From years of doing business in the SEA region and listening to advertisers and publishers, we have unparalleled expertise in each market. Now is the perfect time to establish a permanent presence in the region, to further strengthen our roots there and continue to provide our SEA clients with world-class service.”
Glispa, which has a presence in Southeast Asia since 2013 and an office in Beijing, plans to grow rapidly in the quickly expanding mobile ad environment in the area.
The company is based out of headquarters in Berlin and has been running its SEA operations from there, but as the opportunities have grown, it has now decided to open the Singapore office. Some of the major companies using Glispa in SEA include Bukalapak, Traveloka, Lazada, Shopee, GrabTaxi, Matahari Mall and Gumi.
It says that originally the SEA market has been focused on volume app installs, but has since progressed to focus on mobile user quality and ROI.
Christian Nguyen joins the company with a good knowledge of the mobile marketing industry in the SEA region. He’s been successfully navigating between mature markets like Singapore, fast growth mCommerce markets such as Indonesia and emerging markets like Vietnam, Thailand and the Philippines. He adds extensive ad tech and market growth experience.


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The creator economy: 2022 predictions from industry experts
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2021 has been the year of unimaginable and rapid-fire innovation for the Creator Economy.
We’ve seen everything from individual creators experimenting with blockchain to traditional Venture Capital firms investing heavily into tools for creators.
Much of what has become the status quo in 2021 was unthinkable for both creators and brands only a few short years ago. And momentum is only growing as we move into 2022.
I spent the last month speaking with industry professionals to better understand 2021 Creator Economic trends and what they mean for creators and brands. I also asked about future Creator Economy predictions for 2022. Here’s what I learned.
Authenticity will remain the most valuable creator virtue
Nearly every expert I spoke with pointed out one thing:
Audiences value authenticity above all.
As such, more and more “regular” people will build large audiences and new brands out of their creative endeavors. Think of brands like LTK, Glossier, and Something Navy.
As I interviewed people, three main things stood out:
- Audiences want more authentic content from normal people
- People are calling for more diverse voices in social advertising
- Niche creators will continue to partner with brands
Let’s take a closer look.
Audiences want authentic content from normal people
When I talked to Chris Vaccarino, CEO & Founder of Fanjoy, he articulated how audiences, especially Gen Z, adore raw content. He said:
“2021 became the era of relatability. The perfect Instagram photos dissolved, and Gen Z came out swinging, pushing for real people to be stars. Overly edited photos, picture-perfect lifestyles, and celebrity status took a back seat to incoming TikTok stars who are your classmates, co-workers, and family members.
In 2022, this trend will continue. We'll see TikTok dominate with normal and regular people, finally breaking out of the mold and becoming people with real influence. Coworkers will quit jobs and pursue content creating full time and build real careers doing what they love.
Bigger brands will emerge from those Creators with specific niche categories, and those who have the business acumen will build actual companies from doing what they love.”
I like @/kallmechris. Her account is her iPhone, several hilarious characters, and 40M+ followers. Brands are catching on and hiring Kris to create original, completely raw ads for them. Here’s one from Kris HC + Vessi.
Ira Belsky, Co-Founder & CEO of Artlist, also explained how audiences flock to TikTok to check out content from homegrown creators. He said:
“2021 has been a watershed moment for the Creator Economy. The trendsetting power and influence of smaller creators have never been more pronounced, and major brands of all kinds are taking notice.
What started as the sponsored Instagram post has turned into extremely creative TikToks advertising products in subtle ways that don’t feel disingenuous to the creator’s brand.
Audiences are flocking to watch smaller, homegrown creators on YouTube and TikTok. These platforms are minting stars with huge audiences grown and maintained without the support of the legacy entertainment industries. 2021 demonstrated the firepower of the Creator Economy and homegrown creators, who are finding and maintaining devoted followings.”
People want to see more diverse voices in social advertising
Ben Abraham, Senior Brand Manager at Storyblocks, echoed Chris’s sentiment and added how critical diverse voices are to the future of the Creator Economy. He said:
"Certain communities have been historically excluded from media or inaccurately depicted in advertising through oversimplified tropes. In 2021, the demand for more video content that authentically represents the world that we live in skyrocketed.
Producing content that authentically represents the world we live in is no longer nice to have; it’s essential. If you're ignoring consumers’ calls for greater diversity, marketers, and content creators, you could ultimately damage your brand’s reputation.
Taking a homogenous approach to the content, you create limits your ability to connect with a larger range of people, win consumer trust, and ultimately impact how successful you can be as a business. Demand for diverse and equitable content in the media landscape and advertising campaigns is not a ‘moment.’
Going into 2022, calls for content that accurately depicts the rich, diverse cultures that make up the world we live in today will continue to grow louder and shift how content creators approach the video creation process."
TikTok, for one, is prioritizing diversity initiatives as it recently hired Shavone Charles as its first Head of Diversity and Inclusion Communications.
Niche creators will continue to partner with brands
Experts also predict we’ll see more brand partnerships with niche creators and that social platforms will evolve to more heavily support niche creators. As a result, we may see more creators cross-promote across platforms.
Ira Belsky said:
“What 2022 will bring is uncertain, but it will likely involve an acceleration of trends that are already happening. We’ll see even more small creators find niche audiences and land brand sponsorship deals. More TikTok copycat platforms like YouTube’s Shorts will inevitably crop up. TikTok is already becoming more professional and long-form as a content platform, which will likely continue.
TikTok and YouTube will likely meet somewhere in the middle in terms of professionalism and length. We’ll see more creators who made their names on TikTok successfully make the leap to YouTube and vice versa. We’ll also continue to see stars break out of these platforms and into the music and entertainment establishments.”
Storytelling (written & visual) is busting out of the traditional framework with more ways to create, promote, and repurpose content
If there is one thing I love as a writer and an avid consumer of creative content, it’s the innovation we saw in storytelling in 2021.
The sky truly is the limit today in terms of how and where creatives are adding their voices to global conversations, the entertainment industry, and online advertising.
Alice Lemée, a fellow Creator Economy writer, gave me a good example. She explained how there had been an explosion of new tools serving the online writing space, including startups Foster, Ship 30 for 30, Typeshare, Mirror.xyz. She said:
“The definition of ‘creator’ is expanding. It's not only for content creators on YouTube or Instagram—it's writers, too. Regular people are leaning back into their passion for writing, supported by a burgeoning remote ecosystem.”
It’s true. Writers no longer have to rely on huge publishing houses to tell stories. It’s possible to publish a Web3 blog, start a DAO, and monetize a newsletter.
When I talked to Tera Cuskaden Norris, Managing Editor at Chapters App, she provided several other examples of how storytelling evolves. She said:
“In 2021, we saw a complete re-imagining of storytelling within the creator community. This includes an increased appreciation for mobile-first storytelling. Regardless of experience level, storytellers can now maximize their IP like never before. Rethinking IP with digital storytelling and repurposing stories in a variety of formats has never had so much potential and has been so accessible to so many around the globe.
More people are entering the space than ever before and are expanding their voices into new formats such as serial fiction and comics. Accessible mobile-first platforms can be the breakthrough emerging creators need to hone their voice, cultivate audiences, and launch full-time careers. Another trend: savvy storytellers pair community and fandom with data to create narratives fans love and appreciate. Data like retention figures also empower content creators to expand narratives into transmedia opportunities.
Modern storytellers are no longer tied to living in traditional media centers. For instance, mobile-first storytelling apps allow authors to create a consistent income on their work. It used to be storytellers needed to know someone in publishing to get deals done and see income. Still, in 2022 we will continue to see the creator community turning to mobile storytelling platforms to monetize their brand of storytelling, regardless of socio-economic factors.”
While Alice and Tera mostly talk about writers, the same sentiment applies to all types of creators regardless of their chosen media (e.g., video, graphics, audio, etc.).
Additionally, creators and brands have more opportunities now than ever to repurpose content in various formats and for different audiences across platforms.
For example, I spoke to Jessie Jacobson, TikTok strategist for RunGum, earlier this year. Jessie created many high-performing TikTok videos by slicing and dicing old YouTube videos.
With a bit of creativity, strategy, and the right tools, Jessie created 20+ TikToks out of one old YouTube video.
The bottom line: Today and tomorrow’s creators and brands will see new tools and platforms that make it possible to tell stories in unique ways, add their creative voice to the conversation, and repurpose content for various platforms.
Entertainment will move further into the virtual realm
We have the pandemic to blame/thank (?) for the growth of virtual connection and online entertainment.
- Zoom grew by over 326% in a manner of months
- TikTok saw 457% YOY revenue growth
- Film festivals like Sundance and the Austin Film Festival went 100% virtual for the first time
- Musicians started selling virtual tickets to live-streamed concerts.
As more people isolated inside, life moved online. One couple even got married in the metaverse.
Josh “Caru” Glodoveza, VP of Talent for Fanjoy, explained how this widespread loneliness sparked the rise in more online creators. He said:
“This year has been the toughest and loneliest time we've faced in decades. With that, the younger generation grew to look for entertainment in all types, especially gaming, while stuck at home. 2021 brought the rise of Vtubers (virtual creators with their own identity, story, and lore) to virtual giant stages like the DreamSMP (a live Roleplaying server that is streamed on Twitch and YouTube with complicated storylines and lore). It pushed its creators' imagination to the limits with unexpected events and a spotlight to their improv skills.
I think in the next year, and beyond we're going to see a rise of offline-based content companies and talent agencies trying to replicate the same magic and complicated worlds they've built. With that, we will also see a spike in new virtual stars with hidden identities and their personals and talents to show off the world. We are already getting a taste of it from gamers/musicians, Corpse Husband.”
Social media platforms and innovative startups will invest more heavily in new and small creators
There’s an interesting shift in marketing and advertising, and it’s all related to the rise of the Creator Economic.
Traditionally, advertising channels ran the world from big search engines and social platforms, recognizable brands, and celebrities.
Brands used cookies to track audiences. Creators sought out brands to make money. And social platforms changed their algorithms to favor advertisers.
In the past few months, we’ve seen a complete 180.
Brands are now begging individual creators with niche followings to partner up. Cookies are disappearing in 2023. And in preparation, brands are focusing on building communities and zero party data. To top it off, VCs are funding more projects that monetize the individual.
Here’s how Andy Tian, CEO of Asia Innovations Group (AIG), explained this phenomenon:
“In 2021, U.S. creators remained overwhelmingly dependent on advertising revenue: a recent survey of 2,000 creators found that 77% of creators list brand deals as their highest-earning revenue source. As the Creator Economy continues to grow, it’s time to take a hard look at the consequences of an ad-driven model and consider the viable alternatives already implemented elsewhere, particularly in emerging markets.
Big social media companies should shift their focus from milking ad revenue from the biggest brands to truly serving and encouraging the new and small creators. Whether social media giants in the U.S. will be able to pivot to this more diverse income strategy remains to be seen. As we've seen in emerging markets, new social platforms can increase competition and force big social platforms to diversify their revenue models.
Startups in the field should try to offer more fun and innovative features for audiences to interact with creators. The ingenuity of newer social media companies like AIG will enable a more egalitarian Creator Economy, thus advancing the truly small and independent market participants.”
Tobias Heaslip, CEO & Founder of Trading.TV also talked about how the Creator Economy will see a rise in start-ups that serve creators. He said:
“The Creator Economy is still in the first inning. The financial Creator Economy is still in warm-ups. The emergence of Crypto, Blockchain and NFTs has begun a pendulum shift away from the behemoth platforms like Facebook and YouTube towards startups building verticalized communities that serve Creators and users.
Given the growth across a variety of financial asset classes and the participation rate of retail investors, I think tradeable live streaming could be the top trend in the Creator Economy in 2022. Shoppable live streams and other forms of infotainment will also continue to see explosive growth.”
More creators will focus on owning their content and communities
Not only are start-ups and VCs investing in the Creator Economy, but creators are also taking the reins.
Many creators are fed up with being at the constant mercy of social algorithms and are finding unique ways to own their content, build their space, earn on Web3, and even monetize on the blockchain.
Mihai Crasneanu, Founder & CEO of Beem, explained this idea well. He said:
“A new wave of creators is emerging, with a clear roadmap towards independence, creating the premises of the ownership economy. Creators are looking to attract fans from existing social media platforms and bring them into their own space where the relationship is un-intermediated.
Creators are seeking tools that allow fans to become genuine stakeholders of their work by collaborating in the creative process and contributing time and money, but also access exclusive perks, unlock premium content and private gatherings with the creator, and get voting rights on the project’s direction (VeeFriends is an example)".
With these technologies, creators can also access features to automatically split ownership or revenues and royalties between different participants of the community, which opens the door to media Distributed Autonomous Organizations (DAOs).
Creators are also experimenting with blockchain technologies and NFTs, which will allow them to create micro-communities through token-gating and easily reward their most engaged fans. Token-gating as defined by Beem: only people with a specific asset in their wallet can access an event or a video, fan subscriptions, and digital collectibles.
Roxine Kee, Creator Economy & Web3 writer, added to this idea of how creators can own their content. She said:
“NFTs are the perfect example of creators being able to truly own their content and directly earn from them. Creators can create ‘secondary’ markets for their work or even crowdfund and kickstart their creative careers and let their earliest fans invest in their careers.”
For Erin Staples, creators forging their path is a matter of survival. She said:
“Creators need to rely on new business models to keep themselves sustainable. This can look like new partnerships allowing the creator to retain their independence in ways that they previously did not before.”
The Creator Economy will become even more rooted in engaging fandoms and building communities
2021 has seen a rise in creators prioritizing engaging fandoms and building unique communities.
Erin Staples, who writes about the Community Creator Economy, elaborates. She says:
“We're starting to see that being a sustainable creator these days no longer means only creating great content but is dependent on facilitating relationships (or the perception of a relationship —the para-social relationship) with your audience. I believe this wave caused us to see an explosion of different ways to connect with people online.
As the vaccine rolled out, we wanted to do anything to connect with our fellow humans in new ways. From tools that facilitate connection (e.g., Artery/Bramble, Dots, Gatheround, Butter) to tools that offer new ways to create (e.g., Racket, Maven) and tools that help you manage how you're connecting and thinking through the operations side of it (e.g., Orbit, Luma, Beacons).
I predict we'll see fan engagement and initiatives like never before in the coming year. We got a glimpse of what this looked like when Taylor Swift dominated the internet via Taylor's Version. But as a whole, creators empowering and activating their fan bases will drive how this industry moves.
Creators have made themselves accessible, at least in a para-social manner and through small interactions. They’re able to tap into their audiences in ways that we never thought of before.
I'm looking forward to seeing more fan mobilization campaigns à la Squid Games, a collective frustration at Jake Gyllenhaal, ‘Bones Days,’ and even events that happen outside of the sort of larger household names.”
Bremner Morris, CEO of Rally.io, expanded on this idea and explained how communities play a role in monetizing projects. He said:
“2021 has been an incredibly empowering year not just for creators, but for their fans too. The Creator Economy model has historically been rather transactional and one-sided, but this year we saw a paradigm shift. By introducing social tokens to the Creator Economy, the economic model for community monetization has become a two-way street where fans and creators have experimented with building economies together".
Fans can use social tokens to unlock exclusive content and experiences from their favorite creators. In contrast, creators can reward their most loyal fans and interact with them in new, interesting ways.
Along with social tokens, collectible NFTs have skyrocketed with creators and their fans in 2021. We believe this trend will continue to evolve in 2022, focusing on utility beyond collectibility.
We’re excited to work with creators to build NFTs that can unlock unique experiences, act as a reward to fans to drive deeper connections, and represent purchasable digital goods in creators’ larger digital economies.
The Bored Ape Yacht Club is the perfect example of an NFT community crushing it. While the digital art apes are cool, purchasing one means more than acquiring a piece of art. It means social elitism, access to cool tools, parties, merch, and additional benefits.
Brands will continue to piggyback on creator audiences and adopt creator spokespeople
I recently wrote an article called “Who Runs the World? (Creators).” The idea is that creators are influencing the masses in ways we’ve never seen before. People turn to creators for advice on what to buy, what to wear, how to invest, and even who to vote for.
Brands have already caught on to the fact that niche creators have loyal audiences, and one of the best ways to boost sales is to leverage an existing creator audience.
Raquel Pinto from Limelight Digital explained this idea in detail. She said:
“Niching down has been highly successful for a portion of creators, and in 2021 this meant brands could create highly personalized advertisements thanks to the creator's built-in audience. Because brands no longer need to establish a platform from scratch to look for the ideal consumer and can just piggyback on creators' existing ones. Creators who niched down saw a boom in revenue.”
Since creators have built-in and highly responsive audiences, it makes sense that brands would form long-term partnerships with creators.
Raquel predicts that more brands will adopt creators as spokespeople in 2022. She says:
“Another trend we have seen, particularly on the TikTok app, is a subversion of the roles of brand and creator. Most brands can't just repurpose the audience's videos.
Personality and uniqueness are kings. Therefore, most brands are adopting a brand spokesperson on social media that is highly relatable, and that can form an instant stronger bond with the audience.
We've seen this time and time again. The GAP has barely amassed 5K+ followers on TikTok due to the fact that it only repurposes other creators’ content and runs internal ad campaigns. At the same time, Duolingo and Ryanair have adopted hilarious mascots that have taken social media by storm.
Brands are becoming creators who need to fight for their place, and creators are forming personal brands that are well-established and instantly recognizable amongst the public.
It's already happening with the subversion of the roles of brand and creator. Still, there will be an even bigger boom of brands that syndicate all content creation to one individual or individual for a coherent persona.
In 2022, creators who engage with an audience and go boldly into new content won’t only amass the followers, views, and likes but will also benefit from content monetization.
The monetization of content creators in 2022 will go beyond 'selling' content creation services. Creators have their bubble of micro-stardom which will make creator-generated digital assets even more prolific.”
A final note—the barriers to entering the Creator Economy are low!
The Creator Economy is still in its infancy and continues to evolve.
This means there’s still room for new creators and brands to start cool projects and enter into mutually beneficial collaborations.
When I talked to Jeremey Ross Miller, he summed it up perfectly. He said:
“The Creator Economy continues to emerge. We now have more tools to support creators, more platforms for creators to build on, and more people becoming accustomed to supporting their creators than ever before. The barriers to entering the Creator Economy are so low. The lowering of these barriers is helping more people overcome their fears and try to become a creator.
Fears of not creating good content, not creating enough money, or failing to create. But with lower barriers to entry, people are more open to taking a stab at it. Being early is scary. The good news is that we’re still early.
Perfectionism impedes progress. You won’t be perfect. But that’s part of your story. In the Creator Economy, you create relationships with your audience. Your audience doesn’t want to follow someone who started out being perfect. They want to see the progression over time and feel like they’re watching you unfold.”