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Laura Villasenin challenges herself each season to make shoes that mix experimentation, sophistication and practicality.
“I want to create a product that is different and that makes people say, ‘Oh, wow, this is actually fresh.’ But it still has to be very elegant,” the designer said of her London-based footwear label, Miista. Founded in 2010, the fashion-forward brand lately has attracted serious attention from industry insiders.
British Footwear Association CEO Richard Kottler listed the label as one of his group’s standout performers at FN Platform in February. “[Miista] is really making great strides,” he said recently. “It represents the quirky, British take on footwear and is pushing back a few boundaries.”
But Villasenin, who was raised in Spain, didn’t start out to be a fashion designer. As a high school graduate, she envisioned enrolling at an art academy, but her parents urged her to take a more pragmatic route — nursing school. Upon completing her degree, she headed to London and enrolled at Cordwainers at London College of Fashion, financing the endeavor with a part-time nursing job. “Fashion always interested me, so I thought of product design,” she said. “I [visited] Cordwainers and I felt like [shoe design] was what I wanted to do.”
After Cordwainers came a job at Terra Plana, followed by a stint at Aldo, for which Villasenin temporarily relocated to Canada. Then, she took on freelance gigs for such labels as Topshop.
With more experience under her belt, the designer set her sights even higher. “I was completely ready to start my own thing,” she said. “[In my other jobs], I always felt I wasn’t able to innovate as much as I wanted. But at the same time, I didn’t want to go into a [luxury] world. I wanted to innovate within a mid-market [price range].”
With a team of eight, Miista produces a mostly leather, made-in-Spain collection of heels, platforms, boots and flats in inventive hues and shapes, retailing for $130 to $300. In the U.S., the brand is carried by about 60 retailers, including Nordstrom, Anthropologie, Urban Outfitters and independents such as Pixie Market in New York and Solestruck in Portland, Ore.
“We have carried Miista [since] its freshman season,” said Solestruck’s brand manager and creative director, Ty McBride. “Laura creates a line from scratch each season that branches out from her core concept. It is designed from the ground up. The price and variety keeps the Solestruck client coming back, and it’s on point but also walking to its own beat.”
Indeed, each season’s footwear mix is built tightly around a single — sometimes outlandish — theme that is translated into unique graphics for both footwear and lookbooks, all of which are created in-house. “For example, the [spring ’13] collection was called Electromancer and was very much inspired by the way materials react to light,” Villasenin said. “You can see that in the ways we used color, prints and Perspex [clear acrylic resin] heels. The [fall ’13] collection is inspired by one of Nick Cave’s songs, [“Where the Wild Roses Grow”], with understated colors and winter flowers. We did a lot of experimentation with pressing flowers.”
Villasenin’s unique approach to the creative process posed a challenge at first, though. Retailers expressed concern about what they perceived as a lack of continuity, but that element of surprise also has helped the brand develop, Villasenin explained. “[Buyers] actually come looking for that [variety] now,” she said. “If [they] didn’t, I would probably get bored, because I get bored of things very easily.”
But the biggest difficulty for the fledgling label is producing those offbeat designs. “The Perspex heel [from spring ’13] took a lot of experimentation and lab testing, and by the end we were a month-and-a-half late in production,” Villasenin said. “There’s a great vibe at Miista and we really push things forward, but we are super-young and sometimes we make mistakes.”
Still, she is forging ahead without reservations. Miista added handbags for fall ’13, and a small men’s footwear collection is planned for spring ’14.
“The goal,” Villasenin said, “is to keep focusing on product that is affordable to regular, middle-class people who just love fashion.”
Hometown: Santiago de Compostela in Galicia, Spain
Current city: London. “It’s a love-hate relationship, but I love it much more than I hate it.”
Fashion crush: “At the moment, I’m very much into Cara Delevingne. She’s a sophisticated rebel.”
Essential design soundtrack: “I like electronic [music] from the 1990s mainly, [including] The Knife from Sweden. It makes me happy.”
Spreading the word: “The first season we sold more [footwear] than we put in the budget. We had to put all of our [marketing and PR] money into production, so we [compensated with] social media. It was very good because we realized that the customers love interacting with the product. It just works.”


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AUSTRALIANS will spend close to $11 billion on Christmas this year, with 85 percent of millennials spending up to $1000 each on gifts, new research has revealed.
The 2018 Commonwealth Bank Christmas Consumer Spending Study* found that 15 percent of millennials were splurging OVER $1000 on presents.
The research also suggested it’ll be a mad rush at the shops in the lead up to Christmas, with two million Aussies leaving their festive purchases until Christmas Eve.
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It also revealed more than half of us head in-store or jump online without a budget, while more than 1-in-3 of us don’t keep track of what we’ve spent.
Commonwealth Banks Executive General Manager for Everyday Banking Michael Baumman said it was easy to get caught up in the festive frenzy.
“The joy of Christmas often comes from giving the perfect gift,” he said.
“With fantastic in-store and online shopping experiences on offer, it’s easy to get caught up in the festive frenzy and lose track of what you’re spending.
“The best chance of making sure you stick to your budget is to set a plan and monitor your spending.”
Christmas spending is expected to peak on the 15th, 18th and 22nd of December, according to the Commonwealth Bank.
*The Commonwealth Bank Christmas Consumer Spending 2018 Study was undertaken by ACA Research in November 2018. Results are compiled from an online survey of 1,044 Australians 18+, with quotas set based on the latest population estimates sourced from the Australian Bureau of Statistics.

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The Toyota Supra's twin will get its own unveiling event before the Paris Motor Show
As Toyota readies its all-new Supra to debut this week in Geneva, BMW is taking a different approach when it comes to revealing its two-seat convertible based on the same platform. The Bavarian automaker will make a splash when it introduces the new Z4 to the world this summer at its own event before the Paris Motor Show, reports Automotive News Europe. "The new car will be shown at the Paris motor show, too, but currently the plan is to show it at its own dedicated event before then," a source close to the plans told ANE.
The BMW Z4 and Toyota Supra will be the first fruit born from a partnership created four years ago between the two companies. Early reports stated the coupe and convertible would be radically different from each other, sharing just platforms to cut down on costs, but more recent reports have hinted the cars will be more alike than previously thought. BMW will likely fit the new Z4 with a 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-4 in two states of tune generating 190 and 250 horsepower. A top-rung M40i model will be powered by a 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-6 with 385 hp. Production is expected to begin in November with first deliveries toward the beginning of 2019.
Toyota's new Supra will debut this week in racing trim at the Geneva Auto Show. A productions version is expected to be powered by a 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-six with 335 hp and 332 lb-ft of torque, plus 37 lb-ft of overboost. Both models will send power to the rear wheels via an eight-speed ZF automatic transmission, though the Z4 is expected to get a manual option while the Supra won't.
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Wall Street analysts have mostly applauded the price cuts, touting Tesla’s ability to undercut rivals who are unwilling or unable to sacrifice profit margins for volume. Tesla’s stock price is up about 70 percent this year as of April 10.
Investment firm Baird reiterated its bullish stance on Tesla this week.
“We continue to believe Tesla will be able to maintain industry-leading operating margins and is in the best position among auto peers to weather economic headwinds,” Baird said in a research note.
Tesla’s EV competition in the January-February period was made up of 23 automakers which, combined, didn’t crack 50 percent of the market, the registration data showed.
Chevrolet surged this year on sales of its Bolt EV and Bolt EUV, which have benefited from greater production, a sub-$30,000 starting price and the new federal tax incentives.
New registrations for the two Bolt models combined were 13,919 in the January-February period, Experian data shows. Because of a recall, Chevrolet sold fewer than 100 of them in the year-earlier period.
New EV registrations at Ford more than doubled to 10,610 in January and February combined. Ford’s F-150 Lightning, at 4,617, beat the Rivian R1T pickup at 2,744 registrations in the two-month period.
Volkswagen was the No. 4 EV brand with 7,151 new registrations of its ID4 crossover, a 250 percent gain from a year earlier.
Hyundai had 5,105 registrations for fifth place. The Ioniq 5 crossover had 3,783 registrations for a 1.5 percent increase over January-February 2022. Hyundai lost access to the federal EV tax credit last summer under new rules that require vehicles to be assembled in North America. The Ioniq 5 is imported from South Korea.
EV startup Rivian was in sixth place with 4,295 new registrations, including 1,551 for the R1S crossover, which had zero registrations in January-February last year. Rivian also makes commercial vans for Amazon that are not included in the Experian data.
Kia had 4,238 EV registrations in the two-month period this year, an 8.3 percent decline. The EV6 crossover led with 2,586 new registrations, a 17 percent increase, while the Niro EV had 1,652 for a 31 percent drop. Kia also lost access to the incentive because its models are imported from South Korea.
BMW was in eighth place with 4,092 registrations, up from just 116 in January-February last year. The i4 sedan had 2,835, the iX crossover had 1,061 and the i7 sedan had 196, Experian said.
Mercedes-Benz had 4,004 registrations for ninth place, and Nissan had 2,822 registrations for 10th place in the two-month period. Nissan’s new Ariya crossover had 1,141. Audi, with eight EV models, had 2,727 registrations. Polestar had 2,113.
Lucid Motors, which launched its Air sedan in 2021, had 1,063 registrations in the first two months of the year. Toyota had 983 from its bZ4X, and Subaru had 929 from its Solterra.
Lexus had three registrations for its new RZ crossover, its first EV, and Vietnamese automaker VinFast had one registration for its VF 8 crossover, according to Experian data.


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Facebook & Instagram Launch “Shops” Helping Small Businesses Sell Online
- Social Media News
- June 25, 2020
Facebook has always been on top with keeping you connected to what you love. During a live Facebook session, Mark Zuckerberg announced its newest move to the e-commerce sector, Facebook Shops. This new feature will allow small businesses to build online stores on both its Facebook and Instagram platforms. As the world continues to struggle with the Covid-19 pandemic, and many small businesses are forced to shut down.
This brand new social commerce provides the ideal opportunity for businesses to move to their stores online allowing them to continue operating. Although the online shops will not make up for the loss of business, on a positive note, it will help many businesses stay afloat and create an online presence for many others. This in return could potentially turn into their primary method of conducting future business.
According to Mark Zuckerberg, Facebook advertisers are the biggest part of their revenue. Facebook and Instagram shops will allow businesses to create a dedicated shop section on their page or profile where a catalogue of products and services can be built. Page and profile visitors will then be able to browse, save, share, and even purchase products or make use of services. This new social e-commerce will bring value to both big and small businesses as this feature is free, easy to create, and more importantly, they are integrated across Facebook apps.
The look and feel of Facebook shops will be able to be customised with a cover image, and branding colours. Online store visitors will be able to use AR to virtually try on items, providing a seamless reality shopping experience as if you were in a physical store. Visitors will also be able to message a business through WhatsApp, Messenger, or Instagram Direct for any queries. Facebook shops will become more widely available in the coming months. The second announcement made was Instagram shops, which will allow users to browse products from Instagram explore, which will eventually be accessible in just one tap. What are your thoughts on Facebook’s new e-commerce features? Get in touch with us on our social platforms (Facebook, Instagram, Youtube) and let us know your thoughts.


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The Association of Optometrists (AOP) in the UK called on motorists to get extensive eye tests done periodically to ensure that their vision still meets the legal standard. Normally, our vis... Read more
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1. Self-driving Cars: The Tesla Autopilot, Cadillac Supercruise and the Mercedes DrivePilot give us only a glimpse of the kind of technology we will see in the future. Cars that can be summo... Read more
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Davanti to Showcase Next-Generation Protoura at CITEXPO
Mazda to Team up with Toyota for Innovative 6-Cylinder Engine
Continental Debuts Two Tires for Extreme E Series
Ceat Unveils New Website for Specialty Tires
© 2017 Morjan Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.


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PEOPLE IN BUSINESS
Published 4:00 am, Wednesday, March 27, 1996
Technology Modeling Associates, a Palo Alto provider of physical simulation software, named Bennet Weintraub, 41, VP of finance and administration and CFO. He was with Metra Biosystems as director of finance.
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Chromatic Research, a Sunnyvale provider of media processors, said Judy David, 39, joined as CFO. She was with Apple Computer Japan in Tokyo as director of finance and strategic planning. Michael Zadig, 47, formerly with General Magic as director of customer engineering, is VP of OEM engineering. Bill Bidermann, 41, former VP of engineering at HAL Computer Systems, is VP of advanced development.
Seagate Technology Inc., a Scotts Valley data technology company, said Peter Rockers joined as VP of Americas sales, succeeding Mike Huntley, who is SVP and general manager for the tape drive operations. Rockers was with Quantum Corp. as director of East region operations.
SBT Accounting Systems, a San Rafael supplier of database accounting systems, promoted director of engineering Carolyn Sill, 32, to VP of product development.
Proxim Inc., a Mountain View supplier of wireless data communications products, named president and CEO of Network General Corp. Leslie Denend to its board, succeeding Mark Dukas, managing director of Eagle Partners.


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Celebrity/fashion designers like Katie Holmes and Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen may be boosting the fashion industry in more ways than we know. According to Businessweek, celebrity fashion designers are helping increase sales for the whole women’s apparel market, which took a major hit during the recession. It is a process of the celebrity (or even their children) going out in public in a fashionable outfit (even if they didn’t design it) followed by the resulting media exposure from that outing and gossip about their style and association with fashion that send people shopping. These celebrities charge a lot for their high-end clothing but their presence in the industry is having a trickle-down effect. This is why Katie Holmes’ relatively new line, Holmes & Yang, is expected to have a big debut at fashion week. The line has buzz because of the media circus surrounding Katie Holmes.
According to Businessweek, women’s apparel sales climbed 3% to $108.1 billion in the 12 months ended in June, according to NPD, a Port Washington, New York-based market research firm. U.S. department-store chains sell more women’s apparel than any other category of merchandise. At New York-based Saks Inc. (SKS), women’s apparel represented 35% of the chain’s $3 billion sales in the most recent fiscal year. This is in part due to just these famous women being associated with fashion in a bigger way than just wearing a designer dress in public. Celebrities know so much more about fashion than they did 15 years ago and thanks to the birth of the stylist career, are more involved in the entire process. Maren Hartman, director of U.S. content for WGSN, a London- based trend forecasting firm, said celebs know “much more about fashion. When people learn about something, they think they know a lot about it and want to capitalize on it.”
Though not all celebrity designers make it big or make it big at all, there is a group that has definitely succeeded. Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen’s line, The Row, is one of those. Newsweek writer Robin Givhan described it as “The Gap meets Jill Sanders” because the clothing is made up of simple, minimal pieces that are really expensive and their target consumer group is 35 to 45-year-old women. A Row jersey knit t-shirt has a retail price of $290. Fashion experts believe the company has managed to succeed, despite the priciness, because the girls know their products very well, are aware of what their consumer group wants and have tried not to use or rely on their celebrity to promote it. They didn’t even want to put their name on the label at first but eventually they did. The Row has also formed partnerships with TOMS Shoes, Steve Madden and the subscription shopping web site Stylemint. It brings in about $10 to $12 million in sales annually.


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The 35 agents in this annual ranking are the leaders of the pack, working behind the scenes to build some of the world’s biggest brands, from Wimbledon to Cherokee to Pepsi.
Hatfield & McCoy Family brand whiskey has launched in new markets after receiving a silver metal from the Beverage Testing Institute.
The Joester Loria Group has brokered a deal to bring The World of Eric Carle to a line of 365 Everyday Value juices at Whole Foods Markets across the U.S.
The National Basketball Association has announced a new multi-year marketing partnership with PepsiCo, making the food and beverage company an official partner of the league.
The National Gallery Company has partnered with Scoop Designs to develop a range of unique food and beverage gifts featuring artwork from the London museum.
Sixty-year-old mascot Bazooka Joe is getting a makeover with the help of top tier illustrators and his fans.
Dunkin' Donuts K-Cup pods will soon be available online in an expanded partnership between the J.M. Smucker Company, and Keurig Green Mountain.
MoonPie Moonshine, a hard liquor inspired by the classic treat, has been named World’s Best Liqueur at the 2015 World Liqueur Awards.
The Praim Group has released a limited edition chocolate bar featuring DreamWorks Animation's latest feature film, Home.
The Norwegian Star cruise ship has been re-launched with a range of new dining and entertainment venues including the Jimmy Buffet-themed Five o'Clock Somewhere Bar.
McDonald's is promoting Zodiak Kids’ children’s series “LoliRock” in France this month with a new Happy Meal offering.
Fans of HBO’s “Game of Thrones” chose the next brew in Brewery Ommegang’s line of beers for the series.
A new Strawberry Shortcake promotion has launched at 4,000 KFC locations across mainland China.
Sports and fitness brand Everlast Worldwide has teamed with lifestyle company Cellutions to expand its product offering to a include sports performance drink.
Pepsi has teamed up with JC Fits to extend its lifestyle brand with a new junior's apparel line, brokered by The Joester Loria Group.
From fashion to music merchandising to frozen yogurt, this longtime Montreal-based apparel and accessories licensee is committed to diversification.
DC Thomson Consumer Products has announced new developments for its food brand, Maw Broon’s Kitchen, inspired by the matriarch of The Sunday Post weekly comic strip.
My Gym Children’s Fitness Center has teamed with The Hain Celestial Group for a marketing campaign in the U.K. featuring Hain’s Ella’s Kitchen.
Dominique Ansel, the innovative pastry chef and creator of the Cronut has teamed up with DMA3D to develop a line of homewares.
Media campaign Got Milk? is expanding its licensing program with three new food-based brand extensions developed in collaboration with licensing agent Beanstalk.
Britain's National Gallery unveiled its new partnership with agency JELC and the first products in its new licensing program at an event at the museum Tuesday.
©2015 ADVANSTAR COMMUNICATIONS INC. All rights reserved.


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The American economy ain’t what it used to be. With the rise of rideshare apps like Uber and Lyft – combined with the increased presence of delivery trucks thanks to online shopping and Amazon – there are more cars and trucks creating congestion on the streets of American cities than ever before, and Philadelphia is no exception. As a result, you get lots of loading and unloading – not just of packages, but of people, too. According to South of South Neighborhood Association board member Dan McGlone, those deliveries and passenger pickups necessitate more loading zones in his increasingly active neighborhood of Graduate Hospital. For that reason, SOSNA has begun an initiative to have more loading zones placed around the neighborhood.
“The need is really related to congestion – increased deliveries, increasing rideshare,” said McGlone, who noted that he frequently sees Ubers, Lyfts and delivery trucks parking in bike lanes and crosswalks. “This is one of the tools in the toolbox that we have to help kind of solve that problem.”
McGlone said the process to get a loading zone in front of a given business is “pretty long.” First, an application must be submitted to the Philadelphia Parking Authority, which will then conduct a study of the proposed area. After that, the proposal gets filtered through the PPA’s legal team, then over to the streets department, which installs the loading zone signs. The PPA enforces it.
“That whole process is about four to six months in total,” said McGlone. “It’s really long.”
The main impetus for the project is neighbors’ safety. The lack of loading zones creates “an overall dangerous situation for neighborhood residents and travelers alike,” reads a SOSNA blog post on its website.
McGlone said the initial spark for the initiative was a bill passed by City Council last year that waved the $500 application fee businesses have to pay for a loading zone if the proposed loading zone was on a street with a bike lane. For this reason, McGlone is mostly targeting businesses along 22nd street since it already has a bike lane.
When asked if SOSNA is dealing directly with local businesses in the area or directly with the city, McGlone said it’s a little bit of both.
“We’re going to the businesses and we’re saying, hey, if you’re on 22nd Street, you can get a free loading zone,” he said, noting that SOSNA will draft the application on the business’s behalf. In order to do that, the organization collects information about what size trucks deliver to the businesses and what time of the day or day of the week they deliver. Then they get the business owner to sign off on it. But after that SOSNA handles it the rest of the way.
“I think that really has been successful so far because business owners just want to run their business successfully,” said McGlone. “So we have been taking the interaction and coordination with the city off of their hands, and I think that that has been a pretty successful model.”
So far, SOSNA has gotten only one loading zone installed. It’s in front of the CVS at the corner of 22nd and South.
“We heard from CVS that the truck driver often has to park in the bike lane to load because of the lack of available loading space nearby,” the blog post reads.
SOSNA is pursuing or planning to pursue loading zones in five more spots: the 2200 block of Christian Street in front of The Sidecar Bar & Grille, the 700 block of S. 20th Street in front of Fitzwater Bagels, the 1800 block of Bainbridge Street in front of Learning Train Academy, the 2200 block of Fitzwater Street in front of Los Camaradas and in front of the Marian Anderson Recreation Center at a specific location that’s to-be-determined.
But of course, more loading zones means less of something else, and that’s parking spots for residents.
“I think the need for parking is tough,” said McGlone, who said that only one resident has complained so far. “It’s definitely an issue, but when it comes down to it, a plurality of people in the neighborhood don’t commute by car. Most people in the neighborhood don’t need their car every day and so I think people are understanding that this is an issue.”
While McGlone understands that some people might be put off at decreasing the already slim supply of parking in the area, he’s adamant that safety comes first.
“We’re all pedestrians at some point,” he said. “[Many] of the reasons we live in our neighborhood is because of its proximity to Center City, because we’re near shops and restaurants and because it’s so walkable…It benefits everybody.”


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FUNimation Entertainment is now streaming the first 13 episodes of the Star Blazers: Space Battleship Yamato 2199 anime with English subtitles for its FunimationNow Premium streaming service members.
Crunchyroll previously streamed the anime with Japanese audio and English subtitles. However, the company removed both Star Blazers: Space Battleship Yamato 2199 and Star Blazers: Space Battleship Yamato 2202 earlier this month. FunimationNow began streaming the series with an English dub in 2017.
FUNimation and Crunchyroll announced in October 2018 that they were ending their content-sharing partnership. Crunchyroll no longer includes the FunimationNow streaming service as part of its Premium Subscription, and Crunchyroll has been removing FUNimation-licensed shows. As a result, Crunchyroll has added English-dubbed versions of many of its shows, and FUNimation has added subtitled versions back to its service.


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Our Head of Global Business Development and avid toy enthusiast, Rodney Ramlochan, continues his ongoing series on the action figure community, highlighting key manufacturers, retailers, and YouTube podcasters. In a recent interview, Ramlochan sat down with Ted Yeakel and Aaron Yancey, the co-founders of the e-retailer Hella Dope Toys, to delve into the expansion of their online store and their associated podcast.
Childhood Friends Redefining Toy Collecting
In a world where nostalgia blends seamlessly with the thrill of the hunt, childhood friends Ted Yeakel and Aaron Yancey, from Columbus, Ohio, embark on a journey to rewrite the rules of toy collecting. They are the dynamic duo behind Hella Dope Toys, a unique enterprise in the ever-expanding world of collectibles. As we sit down for an exclusive conversation with them, it’s evident that their story transcends toys – it’s a tale of enduring friendship, entrepreneurship, and unwavering passion.
Aaron and Ted’s middle school encounter sparked a lifelong friendship that endured through shared experiences. Over nearly three decades, their bond strengthened, and they became each other’s confidants, even standing as best men at each other’s weddings. Their journey eventually led to their mutual passion for toys, but first, let’s explore their Ohio roots.
Aaron and Ted grew up in a northwest Columbus, Ohio, neighborhood that had seen better days. Despite the challenges posed by a shifting landscape and increasing crime, they were fortunate to have spent their formative years in a relatively safe environment. Their enduring friendship was rooted in shared interests, starting with a love for cheese pizza and professional wrestling. Aaron recalls a pivotal moment, saying, “I visited his house, and he was enjoying his usual cheese pizza. Surprisingly, WCW Nitro was on, and I exclaimed, ‘Oh my God, I love wrestling too.’ That’s when our friendship solidified.”
Their enthusiasm for toys also played a significant role, especially because access to toy stores was limited. Aaron explains, “Toy stores were a rarity for us, mainly limited to Christmas and birthdays. So, we spent our time outdoors, channeling our youthful energy into creating adventures with neighborhood kids.” While their love for toys would re-emerge in their adult lives, let’s save that part of the story for later.
Clearancing and the Birth of Hella Dope Toys
Hella Dope Toys had a surprising origin, rooted in what Ted calls “clearancing.” It began with selling discounted items from big-box stores to finance a coveted big-ticket item: the Hasbro Marvel Legends Sentinel figure. Ted’s resourcefulness came into play as he sought affordable toys due to limited spending capacity. He realized he could buy cheap and sell for a profit. However, what truly transformed their venture was the heartfelt gratitude from customers. Ted remembers, “People were thanking me, which struck me as odd. Mothers would say, ‘This figure was hard to find, and my kid wanted it for Christmas.’ People were genuinely appreciative.” Aaron chimes in, “We came to realize we weren’t just flipping toys; we were providing a service that brought happiness to people’s lives.” This newfound sense of purpose fueled their passion.
The duo lives by three core principles from the inception of their business. First, they seek to address issues within the toy-collecting community. This problem-solving mindset drives them to offer unique products, often at competitive prices, meticulously packaged and swiftly delivered. Second, they prioritize customer value. It’s not just about selling toys; it’s about providing a holistic experience beyond the transaction. Exceptional customer service makes purchasing enjoyable and satisfying. Lastly, they embrace continuous improvement, recognizing that excellence is an ever-moving target. They relentlessly refine their operations to surpass customer expectations.
Power-Con and a Turning Point
Power-Con, the annual celebration of all things He-Man and the Masters of the Universe, became a pivotal event in the Hella Dope Toys story. What started as a fan’s trip quickly became an opportunity to network with prominent toy companies. Aaron recalls their experience at Power-Con 2022, saying, “Our original intent was just to go as fans. We didn’t have any toys to sell.” But his fearless approach to networking changed the game. “We walked up to some tables and introduced ourselves, explaining what we were trying to do.”
Their interactions with influential toy companies like NECA and Spero Studios opened doors and initiated conversations that would change their trajectory. Aaron emphasizes, “It took a lot of talking to make people understand that we were serious about this, not just setting up an eBay store.” Ted adds, “We planted our flag at Power-Con and walked away with a stack of business cards. It was the turning point. Suddenly, we had conversations with people we idolized and those who were creating remarkable figures.”
Challenges on the Road to Success
As with any entrepreneurial journey, Hella Dope Toys encountered its share of challenges. Aaron admits that their biggest challenge was the financial aspect. “We started with nothing and relied on our own money to fund everything. Our business model didn’t include a buffer, a safety net.” Additionally, the timing of their acquisitions posed challenges. Smaller retailers often received sought-after items after larger chains like Target and Walmart. Aaron explains, “By the time we get these items, they’ve often gone on clearance at bigger stores. It’s a race to stay ahead.” Another challenge they faced was building brand awareness and trust. Aaron and Ted took the initiative to send gifts to YouTubers and toy enthusiasts to introduce their store to a wider audience. The pivotal moment came when the 3POA Podcast, a popular YouTube channel, featured their products and promoted Hella Dope Toys. This endorsement significantly boosted their credibility and visibility.
Building Trust and Transparency
Aaron and Ted emphasized the vital role of trust-building with their customers, particularly as a small company in a competitive market. Transparency stands as their cornerstone strategy. They’ve humanized their brand through platforms like YouTube and social media, sharing their journey, experiences, and occasional missteps. This candid approach has eased potential customers’ comfort in interacting with Hella Dope Toys, instilling confidence in their brand.
Aaron and Ted initially didn’t see themselves as “YouTubers” when discussing their channel. Their early episodes followed structured scripts, but they soon discovered that the most captivating shows embraced spontaneous, unscripted conversations. In their initial episodes, they sought guest speakers to boost visibility, much like they did for their toy store’s promotion. However, as they delved deeper into podcasting, they recognized the need for a more organic approach. Ted explained, drawing parallels to wrestling events that require a draw to fill seats, “We needed to borrow some clout.” Initially, having guests ensured content, but it became evident that the formula grew stale.
The Hella Dope Toys Podcast underwent an evolution, shifting towards organic, unscripted discussions with guests. They aimed to engage with individuals beyond their toy-related endeavors, making their YouTube channel more enjoyable and strengthening their connection with viewers. Key to their podcast’s success is the interaction with the audience. They emphasize acknowledging and engaging with viewers and listeners by actively participating in chats, mentioning names, and recognizing contributions, fostering a sense of community that keeps people returning. Ted highlighted their desire for the audience to feel appreciated, setting them apart and nurturing a loyal, engaged community.
Looking to the Future
Aaron shared his forward-looking perspective, admitting to living day by day while outlining short-term goals. Their primary focus remains on continuous business expansion, learning from each year’s experiences to enhance their offerings. Approaching the crucial fourth quarter, especially during the Black Friday shopping rush, they’re gearing up for increased demand. Additionally, they’re determined to engage with their audience directly by participating in more conventions and toy shows, having found Power-Con to be a significant event. They’ve expressed interest in exploring other conventions in the future.
Hella Dope Toys’ long-term vision goes beyond their podcast. Aaron envisions creating a unified toy enthusiast community, uniting various sub-communities under the Hella Dope umbrella. Their goal is to establish an inclusive space where toy lovers of all interests within the toy world can coexist and collaborate. Aaron believes that their shared passion for toys unites people, both as kids and adults. He hopes to merge different toy-related communities and offer a platform for everyone to share their enthusiasm.
Aaron and Ted are aware that juggling their full-time jobs, family responsibilities, and their passion for toys and podcasting can be challenging. However, their unwavering passion, love for the toy-collecting community, and willingness to adapt drive them to continue. Aaron emphasized that when you genuinely love what you do, it doesn’t feel like work, and that’s what keeps them going. As they look ahead to the future, they understand that success requires providing value, embracing failure as a learning opportunity, and keeping an open mind. They’re excited about what lies ahead and remain committed to their goal of building a thriving and inclusive community of toy collectors. Whether you’re a toy collector or simply curious about their journey, it’s clear that Hella Dope Toys is a company to watch in the coming years.
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Apparel and accessories
May 7, 2021
Stuart Weitzman saw y-o-y growth of 13 percent. Image credit: Stuart Weitzman
By Luxury Daily News Service
U.S. fashion group Tapestry Inc. recorded net sales of $1.27 billion for the third quarter of fiscal year 2021, up 19 percent year-over-year.
Share your thoughts. Click here


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I wrote this article under pseudonym for a website called humanaction.co.za. It was first published on April 20th, 2010.
The Water crisis cometh
By JGalt, on April 20th, 2010
Water Affairs Minister Buyelwa Sonjica this week said “I want to allay the fears of South Africans that there is not in the near future a possibility of a [water price] hike. It’s not in the pipeline.”
The problem with this however is that there will soon be no water in the pipeline.
This is the economic equivalent of watching a train wreck in slow motion, and the most basic problem of socialist economies: the fact that public utilities don’t employ economic calculation to gauge supply and demand for their product, and thanks to our free and fair democratic state, it’s easier to set prices as low as possible for as long as possible to win over the majority, which leads to inevitable crisis.
We already have the template from our failed state energy corporation Eskom. Now, as the recipe for disaster instructs, just add water!
Water in Joburg currently costs a fraction of a cent per litre – roughly 0.65 cents per litre depending on your municipality, consumption levels and your type of user. It doesn’t take a PhD to figure out that prices that are set too low will lead to overconsumption of water, and that water utilities won’t generate retained earnings that can be reinvested to maintain and expand infrastructure.
Now, one needs to be careful here. Tap water doesn’t need to cost an arm and a leg because the marginal cost of supplying housholds with tap water can be quite low. Tap water prices should be considerably lower than bottled water prices, due to economies of scale, lower marketing and distribution costs, and not having to package water in fancy plastic bottles. However, compared to the pricing of privately produced bottled water at about R10 per litre, the cost for tap water is currently laughably low. When you think about it, you’re currently paying a 99.99% discount for perfect quality cold water flowing directly into a few rooms in your home.
While pricing home tap water in line with bottled drinking water would be far too excessive, the price of private water supply is still the best guideline for trying to establish what the price of water from the public sector should be in order to ensure revenues with which to maintain and expand infrastructure.
Mining Weekly this week reported that ‘urgent’ water investment to the extent of R100 billion is needed in bulk water infrastructure and reticulation. To put this into perspective, at a cost of 0.65 cents per litre, 15.4 trillion litres of water would need to be sold to merely see R100 billion in revenue. This means that every man, woman and child in SA would need to consume 307,000 litres of water in a year to generate this revenue, over 10 times more than the entire country consumed in 2000, according to the SA Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism’s recent estimates.
In order to run water utilities on a profitable (i.e. sustainable) basis, with the capacity to maintain and expand infrastructure, water prices must be increased. How much? Well, it is tough to say without a true free market for potable tap water, but a basic look at the demand is helpful.
What would you be willing to pay for a 10 minute shower? R5? R10? Is it more important than having that chocolate or extra beer? Or more important than tipping that car guard twice?
According to the USGS a 10-minute shower uses about 80 litres. Assuming you’d be willing to pay R5 for a 10 minute shower, the ‘fair value’ water price would be somewhere in the region of 6.5 cents per litre, which would require a tariff hike of nearly 1,000%. 6.5 cents per litre is still a huge discount of 99% to premium retail water. At the moment you pay about 50 cents for a 10 minute shower.
Looked at another way, in the UK you’ll probably pay around 13 cents per litre (in rand terms) for tap water. Just like electricity prices, so water prices in SA will have to play catchup to offshore prices after years of mismanagement. If SA prices were to gravitate toward UK prices, after adjusting for purchasing power parity, local water prices would need to rise to about 6-10 cents per litre.
Assuming then that SA water prices rise from 0.65 cents per litre to, say, 8 cents per litre, we are likely to see nearly 1200% water price increase in the years ahead. That is of course if the politicians can stomach it. If not we’ll probably see the makings of a classic market failure and water shortages.
At that point the private sector will step in and water prices will be forced higher whether the politicans like it or not.
Folks, brace yourselves. If your a married couple with no kids your probably using around 30,000 litres of water per month. Currently in Joburg your water bill is about R200. That is currently a fraction of your monthly salary and is extremely low for a resource that sustains your very life and health. Under more market related pricing however your bill would rise to somewhere around R2400 per month. That’s a huge jump.
The economuppets will tell you that would be inflationary, but it won’t. Instead it will be recessionary as income is diverted away from other productive resources and spending power away from other goods and services.
This is a long-term negative trend and once the severity of overconsumption and underinvestment, and capital depletion breaks in the media, the Eskom crisis will look like a picnic.
The dam wall is already starting to crack. The other day a leaked memo by a South African public official alluded to water prices needing to rise by 18 times. That would make our estimates look rather tame and would unleash a political firestorm.
South Africa, welcome to the days of higher water prices and more economical water usage.
We are not talking here about mismanagement of a product that helps you warm up your food in a microwave, we’re talking about a product which, as Derek Zoolander taught us in his merman advert, “is the essence of life.”
By JGalt, on April 20th, 2010 | Tags: overconsumption,underinvestment, water crisis | Category: Big Issues


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Gaming: Stan Lee continues to swing in the latest image promoting his Amazon preorder exclusive playability in the upcoming The Amazing Spider-Man game.
Publishers: SLG Publishing has applied for a Chase Bank and LivingSocial's Mission: Small Business program grant, which, if obtained, would supply the c
It seems like we're hearing a lot lately from writers and artists about the grim financial realities of working full-time in the comic book industry. No doubt made worse by the global economic crisis, some problems include DMZ and Northlanders creator Brian Wood's report that his income dropped by 30-40% in 2010; Ba
"Pinocchio Vampire Slayer" writer Van Jensen went into HeroesCon with two secrets last weekend. 1) The full title of he and Dusty Higgin's upcoming sequel to last autumn's wooden puppet thriller and 2) An image teasing said title's supporting cast
Many of comics' youngest mutants have avoided adversity by joining a community and finding a place to call home. Xavier's gifted youngsters joined an elite battle squad on a school campus and the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles trained in the sewers
The new "Tron: Legacy" trailer has kind of set the Internet ablaze with equal parts nostalgia and awe - and rightly so - but some comic fans might point out that this is actually the film's second sequel thanks to SLG Publishing's 2006 six-issue miniseries (and a novelization) "Tron: Ghost in the Machine."
While "Ghost in the Machine" got a collected edition last year, all s
Despite coffee's inherent importance to the creation of comics, blogging about comics, or staying up late enough to catch up on reading comics, there's a distinct lack of coffee-themed sequential art on the stands


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Mico Moves In To Placemakers Kerikeri
Mico Moves In
Once just down the road, now they’re moving in together! Mico Plumbing and PlaceMakers will soon be providing customers with a convenient ‘one-stop-shop’ shopping experience in Kerikeri.
PlaceMakers is looking forward to welcoming Mico Plumbing to its Mill Lane site at the end of June when Mico’s current site lease expires. For Mico customers, aside from shifting 450 metres down the road, not much else will be changing. The team will still operate under the Mico brand which will be highly visible on the building and throughout the store. Mico and PlaceMakers look forward to meeting the needs of all customers with dedicated specialist team members and a one-stop-shop approach.
PlaceMakers Chief Executive, Dean Fradgley said the decision to co-locate Mico Plumbing and PlaceMakers was one that just made sense.
“This is about making life easy for our customers. We have completed a successful Mico PlaceMakers co-location pilot project in Whitianga and Kerikeri is our second. This is an opportunity to genuinely enhance our plumbing and bathroom category under the specialist Mico banner and create a seamless customer experience across both brands.
“We’re in a position where we can share our ideas with each other and bring those to our customers too,” he said.
The Mico trade counter, plumbing product and bathroom showroom will be located within PlaceMakers Kerikeri with the plumbing trade yard just outside. The new Mico site will be fully operational from 23 June 2014.


text: Among the tournaments -- which include Xbox 360 and PC games -- is the World of Warcraft 3v3 Arena competition. Registration began last August 21 and closes on September 11, while the official matches span from September 15 to October 5. Loot up for grabs are three Alienware m15x notebooks as Grand Prizes, three Microsoft Zune players as First Prizes, and three $50 Dell gift cards for the runners-up. It's an underwhelming selection past the Grand Prizes, to be sure, but registration is free and members can participate in other tournaments with a host of other prizes to be won. Initiatives like these certainly give students something to while away their time... after they've submitted those term papers, of course.


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New Jersey-based 1000 Degrees Neapolitan Pizza opened its first Houston-area store last week directly across from the Johnson Space Center.
As the name implies, this fast-casual spot specializes in made-to-order Neapolitan pizzas, which can be personalized with any of more than 50 toppings for one flat price. The pizzas cook in a 1,000-degree, revolving brick oven.
Franchise owners Chris and Alice Chandler will open a second Houston-area 1000 Degrees in Deer Park this summer. 18032 Saturn Lane, 281-532-6877.


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The 2023 Third-Party Logistics Study: Shippers, 3PLs Get Back-to-Basics as They Drive Supply Chain Success
While the past year has brought some stability back to selected areas of the supply chain, global businesses continue to face volatility and uncertainty. Even supply chains that are well-equipped with talent, technologies, and financial resources have experienced significant challenges, and the quality of relationships between third-party logistics providers, and shippers, is a vital component of overall supply chain success.
The 2023 Third-Party Logistics Study, released today at the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals EDGE conference in Nashville, Tennessee, provides industry insights into the current state of the 3PL market, the importance of relationships and the value 3PLs provide. Visit www.3PLStudy.com to download the publication at no charge.
It also takes a deeper dive into specific industry issues, including getting back-to-basics for supply chain professionals, understanding the talent crisis and tapping into the potential of reverse logistics.
Shippers and 3PLs continue to report that their relationships are successful, but ongoing volatility and the grueling and relentless nature of supply chain disruptions could be taking a toll. In the latest study, 83% of shipper respondents agreed that their relationships are successful. Traditionally, this has hovered around 90% or above. 3PLs typically respond more favorably, with 99% of 3PL respondents agreeing their relationships are successful.
Even with that downward shift, 71% of shippers report that using 3PLs has contributed to improving customer service, similar to the 73% reported in last year’s study. Additionally, 71% of shippers and 92% of 3PLs agree that 3PLs provide new and innovative ways to improve logistics effectiveness.
Dr. C. John Langley, clinical professor, supply chain information systems and director of development, Center for Supply Chain Research at Smeal College of Business at The Pennsylvania State University, founded the study in 1996. NTT DATA and Penske Logistics are the major sponsors of the 2023 edition.
Getting Back-to-Basics for Supply Chain Professionals
Supply chains continue to grow more complex and sophisticated, but fundamental principles governing supply chains continue to be relevant. The study team looked at seven core principles: customer focus, supply chain relationships, data and analytics, innovation and transformation, survivability and sustainability, talent and the end-to-end supply chain.
These core back-to-basics principles are vital to current and future supply chain success, and shippers and 3PLs can leverage back-to-basics principles as they build their relationships and improve service. This is especially important as industry stakeholders work to reset, rebalance and strengthen supply chains.
Understanding the Talent Crisis
Labor challenges have impacted the supply chain for years, and the pandemic has made attracting and retaining talent even more difficult, leaving many organizations struggling to fill critical supply chain roles. Among respondents, 56% of 3PLs and 78% of shippers said labor shortages impacted their supply chain operations.
The hardest positions to fill are those for certified, licensed hourly workers, such as truck drivers and equipment operators, and hourly workers, such as pickers and packers. Those positions are also among the most difficult to retain. 3PLs have been able to fill hourly worker positions quicker than shippers.
Labor struggles have shippers and 3PLs investigating labor alternatives, with 83% of 3PLs and 70% of shippers saying they are either actively implementing or are researching and reviewing augmenting their supply chain operations with new technology and/or automation to offset talent shortage.
Tapping into the Potential of Reverse Logistics
Reverse logistics is a critical component of business-to-business and business-to-consumer operations. It not only contributes to overall service and satisfaction but also presents opportunities to cut costs and increase efficiency.
Within this year’s study, shippers are grouped into two clusters: customer-focused shippers, who accept both consumer and business returns and represent roughly one-third of respondents, and business-exclusive shippers, who only accept business returns and represent roughly two-thirds of the shipper respondents.
Both groups believe the returns experience impacts consumer/customer loyalty, with 75% of consumer-focused shippers and 43% of business-exclusive shippers rating the returns experience as being very or extremely important to consumer loyalty. Additionally, 65% of consumer-focused shippers and 60% of business-exclusive shippers said customers’ return expectations are growing.
Additionally, 61% of consumer-focused shippers and 43% of business-exclusive shippers expect to see increased volumes of returns over the next three years.
Continuing the Conversation
The study team continued to follow several critical issues it looked at in last year’s report. These include environmental, social and governance (ESG), global rebalancing and the demand for the cold chain.
- Interest in ESG efforts is continuing to increase. Shippers are slightly ahead of 3PLs in their ESG initiatives, with 22% of shippers rating themselves as a trailblazer and a leader in ESG compared to 17% of 3PLs. Additionally, 45% of shippers said their organization is about average in its ESG practices compared to 41% of 3PLs.
- The study team has examined the actions shippers have taken to rebalance inventory levels over the past several years, and the 2023 Annual Third-Party Logistics Study found that 80% of shippers have taken or are planning to take action to rebalance inventory levels. Additionally, 71% said they have already rebalanced or have kicked off efforts to do so, and 9% said they intend to take action.
- Shippers are also rebalancing sources of supply, with 69% of shippers stating they have already executed or are in the process of executing changes. Roughly 80% of shippers responding to this year’s survey reported they are rebalancing production locations to move towards more regional or domestic production networks.
- Rising healthcare standards, healthier food choices and a growing middle class in various parts of the world have all generated increased demand for cold chains and cold chain services with 74% of shippers and 91% of 3PLs saying they see increased competition in this area. Plus, 82% of shippers and 84% of 3PLs expect demand for cold chain capacity will increase over the next three years.
By “Move Ahead” Staff


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A petition calling for the Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) to work with the cannabis industry has gained 250 signatures in under 24 hours.
The petition was launched by Legal Tender, a coalition of legal cannabis experts, associations and companies that united to demand fair treatment from the Canadian government. Thus far the BDC — a Crown corporation responsible for dispersing federal relief funds — says it isn’t authorized to work with weed businesses.
Legal Tender Canada 💲
— Alan Aldous 🖋 (@AlanAldous) March 26, 2020
The BDC has recently drawn wide criticism from the legal cannabis businesses for blocking the industry from accessing federal relief funds.
On March 13, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced the government would be pumping $10 billion into the private sector through loans and financing to support the economy through financial strife brought on by the COVID-19 crisis. The funds would be available through the BDC and the Export Development Bank, Trudeau said.
That’s great news for a lot of Canadian businesses, but it excludes over 300 cannabis companies licensed by Health Canada which have been unable to apply because the BDC refuses to do business with all weed-related companies, according to Legal Tender’s website.
“The BDC still views cannabis as a high-risk industry, despite the work done within to improve our compliance, social responsibility, and economic contributions,” reads a statement on the site.
Legal Tender’s petition calls on the BDC to work with the cannabis industry, to allow access federal relief funds and for further fair treatment. The coalition wants weed companies to have equal access to tax benefits, credit facilities, loans and everyday banking.
The petition was launched by Alan Aldous Communications and is supported by NORML Canada, the Ontario Independent Cannabis Association, the B.C. Independent Cannabis Association, the Cannabis Council of Canada, the Alberta Cannabis Micro-License Association, The Cannabis Conservancy as well as 29 prominent Canadian cannabis voices.
Last week three Ministers of Parliament and 74 cannabis industry representatives sent letters to Finance Minister Bill Morneau, calling for similar changes.
Note: An earlier version of the story said the petition was signed 120 times in the first 24 hours, but new numbers show it collected over 250 signatures in the fist day. It has since been updated.


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Don't miss the latest stories
Colorful, Minimalist Spice Packaging That Is Inspired By PANTONE Swatches
By Kylie Woon, 16 Jun 2017
Spices come in a vibrant spectrum of taste, fragrance, and color.
To showcase this, Budapest-based Hungarian designer and art director Peter Bakonyi features everyday spices, herbs and seasonings packaged in sachets that resemble PANTONE color swatches for his project, ‘Pantone Style Spices’.
Of the packaging, Bakonyi says he wanted to create a no-frills design that was both coherent and stylish, the sort of packaging he would want to see in the supermarket and in his own kitchen.
Check out the project, as well as the rest of Bakonyi's work, here.
More related news
Also check out these recent news


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Chinese Stocks in the U.S.: Baidu, Harbin Electric, UTStarcom
The Bank of New York Mellon China ADR Index, which tracks American depositary receipts, climbed 0.7 percent to 389.45, bringing its weekly gain to 3 percent. The American Stock Exchange China Index advanced 1 percent to 233.28. The Shanghai Composite Index trimmed 0.1 percent to 2,612.19.
The following companies were among the most active Chinese shares in New York trading. Stock symbols are in parentheses and prices are as of the close of trading at 4 p.m. New York time.
Baidu Inc. (BIDU US), owner of China’s most popular online search engine, jumped 5 percent to $139.70, the highest level in almost two weeks. The company was raised to “neutral” from “underperform” at Credit Suisse by analyst Wallace Cheung.
Sina Corp. (SINA US), the owner of China’s third-most visited website and the Twitter-like Weibo service, leaped 5 percent to $97.93.
Sohu.com Inc. (SOHU) , the operator of China’s fifth-most visited website, gained 3 percent to $75.20.
China Southern Airlines Co. (ZNH US), Asia’s largest carrier by passenger numbers, dropped 1.9 percent to $34.72. The company was lowered today to “sell” from “buy” at UOB Kay Hian Holdings Ltd. by equity analyst K Ajith after it yesterday reported first-half net income of 2.76 billion yuan ($432 million), compared with the median 2.8 billion yuan estimate of four analysts surveyed by Bloomberg.
Harbin Electric Inc. (HRBN) , a Chinese maker of electric motors used in freight trains, conveyors and automatic car windows, plunged 12 percent, the most in more than two months, to $15.08. The company never modified any documents filed in China, and no management or its board members resigned, it said in a statement, seeking to clarify market rumors.
UTStarcom Holdings Corp. (UTSI US), an Internet-based TV service provider, rose 2.5 percent, the biggest gain since Aug. 15, to $1.23. The company appointed Jin Jiang as chief financial officer to replace Edmond Cheng, who chose to leave the company, according to a statement it distributed by PR Newswire.
To contact the reporter on this story: Belinda Cao in New York at Lcao4@bloomberg.net
To contact the editor responsible for this story: David Papadopoulos at email@example.com


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It’s been exactly one week since Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp has allowed non-essential businesses to reopen in an attempt to stabilize the state’s economy. Critics have called it a sort […]
COVID-19 isn't stopping these young entrepreneurs from revolutionizing skin care.
Executives explain how consumers and small businesses can navigate this difficult time.
Celebrate Black History Month by shopping noir.
For us, by us gets more beautiful every year.
Arielle Loren and her team are making bootstrapping a thing of the past for Black women in beauty.
"Yasss to another year of blessings!"
Make it a true Black Friday in every way!
The 25-year-old company has been acquired by two entrepreneurs hoping to expand its legacy.
Discover new products from amazing brands that are for us and by us.
Finding completely vegan and non-toxic beauty products was once like finding a needle in a haystack. Throw in Black- or women of color (WOC)-owned makeup brands and cosmetics, and the […]


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Around Town | Cobblestone Cottage Hosts Handbag Trade-In
While many of us consider various charities and organizations to donate our old clothes or accessories to, one place to consider donating your handbags to is Cobblestone Cottage.
The store is hosting the annual Handbag Trade-In event, through Brighton, to help raise money for the Assistance League of Santa Clarita.
From July 15 to July 24, anyone can bring in their gently used handbags to receive up to $50 off a Brighton handbag.
While store manager, Jamee Bandt estimates the store has already received around 40 handbag donations, she also stresses that they are still accepting more and will continue to accept bags until the charity drives ends on Sunday.(c) 2016 SCVTV
No Comments for Around Town: Cobblestone Cottage Hosts Handbag Trade-In


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Starbucks Chairman is into Cryptocurrency, Says it is not like Bitcoin
January 27, 2018 11:51 am
Starbucks Chairman Interested Cryptocurrency, Launching own Cryptocurrency
Schultz told that Starbucks, an early adopter of smartphone payments, is now all set to take initiative in coming years as cryptocurrency and its underlying technology which is known as blockchain technology which can become more prevalent among consumers. He is just not sure that Bitcoin, which was released in 2009 as the first decentralized digital currency or whether it will still remain in the future.
“The reason I mention this is not because I’m talking about Bitcoin because I don’t believe that Bitcoin is going to be a currency today or in the future, I’m talking about the new technology of blockchain and the possibility of what could happen not in the near term.”
“I’m bringing this up because as we think about the future of our company and the future of consumer behavior, I personally believe that there is going to be one or a few legitimate, trusted digital currencies off of the blockchain technology.”
Schultz told Starbucks did not have any plan towards launching its own version of Bitcoin. He mentioned that a trusted consumer brand with brick-and-mortar locations will definitely help bring “legitimacy and trust” to the cryptocurrencies.
Recently, India’s largest network provider Reliance Jio also decided to launch their own cryptocurrency and Japan’s largest Bank MUFG planned to launch its own Cryptocurrency exchange.


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When it comes to quarantine hair transformations in Hollywood, the limit does not exist. From mullets to pixies and every shade of pink in between, it's easy to believe that a celebrity has cut or dyed their hair in isolation — even without the typical paparazzi shots outside of Nine Zero One Salon to prove it.
But we'd like to offer a case for not taking every hair makeover you see or hear as fact: Selena Gomez, who is currently trending on Google based on rumours that she shaved her head.
A Twitter fan account for the singer posted a seemingly-real image of Gomez rocking a buzzcut, along with another photo of hair on the floor alongside clippers and scissors. "@SelenaGomez shared her new look on her Instagram story," wrote the account. Fans went into a frenzy, and the tweet has generated nearly 6,000 retweets and 50,000 likes. Many people are wondering if these photos are the real deal — and we're here to tell you the answer, which is straightforwardly no.
.@SelenaGomez shared her new look on her Instagram story. 🤍 pic.twitter.com/s6XBxMaQl3— Pop Crave (@wantIoves) May 19, 2020
Shortly after going viral, the same account informed everyone that the photos were faked. "Guys it's a joke Selena didn't shave her hair," the account tweeted. Upon our research, the Photoshopped image was actually based on a look Gomez wore to the Cannes Film Festival last May — with her lush, brunette hair still very much on top of her head and swirled into an updo. Case closed.
Most recently, the singer gave an update from her life in quarantine, walking viewers through her home and personal self-care routine as a part of Instagram's #TakeABreak initiative. She also showed off her natural curls in another post while testing out products from her upcoming makeup brand, Rare Beauty.
But, that's not to say that Gomez won't decide to try out an entirely new hair look while stuck at home. It can be tempting, as many celebs have already proven, and even more so when your fans show you just how good it could look.


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TotallyAwesome has launched BrandLift, a digital research solution across its digital ad marketplace, empowering brands to measure the effectiveness of their campaigns without compromising kids’ privacy.
The first COPPA-compliant method in the kid-tech space, BrandLift doesn’t require personal data collection or cookies to track exposed and control groups. With the first survey showing a 25% increase in product awareness ratings post campaign – exceeding all expectations – BrandLift promises to be a game changer for the kids’ consumer market.
The challenge: protecting privacy while measuring success
A powerful new solution for kids’ brands worldwide
BrandLift is the first solution which enables brands and advertisers to measure effectiveness while staying compliant. Using a pre-campaign survey as a control group and a random sample of kids likely to see the ad as an exposed group, TotallyAwesome effectively tracks a campaign’s impact without collecting personal data from kids.
The first survey was launched in Australia in partnership with Schleich and applied to a mobile rich media campaign that was run on the TotallyAwesome marketplace. Kids were asked product-related questions before campaign delivery. After the campaign was run, kids likely to have seen the ad were asked the same questions again. The survey showed a 25% increase in product awareness ratings post campaign.
BrandLift can measure a range of performance indicators to reflect campaign objectives, including awareness, brand preference, affinity, and intent.
“We’re glad to be empowering our partners with effectiveness metrics that allow them to optimise their communications strategy, planning and creative development”, says TotallyAwesome CEO Quan Nguyen.


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When the people at the London Science Museum prepared to present their first ever 3D printing exhibition, they wanted to do something different. So, the “3D: Printing the Future” exhibit, inaugurated last month, displays 3D figurines of the museum’s visitors. The technology used for the project is from 3D Israeli-American giant Stratasys.
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The London Science Museum features 150 3D printed miniature models of visitors which will be on display until February 10th 2014. The exhibition will explore the process of 3D printing, from 3D scanning right through to the production of 3D models. The 150 statuettes were created from the scans of a selection of visitors who took part in the 3D scanning workshops run at the Museum by Digital Native Academy (DNA) throughout August. The DNA team provided Laser Lines (Stratasys’s UK distributer) with the final 3D scan files required to 3D print the models, which range in height from 5 to 20cm. In total, the exhibition will boast 700 3D printed objects produced by a range of materials including nylon, titanium, sandstone, and many more.
“3D printing is a hot topic right now and our exhibition aims to shine a light on the latest developments and discuss where the technology may take us in future, ” Pippa Hough, the Science Museum’s Content Developer, said prior to the exhibition’s opening. “By displaying models of people in the exhibition, we aim to create a deeper engagement with our visitors. Those who were scanned can feel a physical connection with the exhibition. I hope to see lots of visitors trying to spot themselves once the exhibition has launched.”
According to Hough, the exhibition aims to engage visitors in the latest issues from the world of science and technology through a program of exhibitions and holiday events.
3D art inspired by the human body
Jeryl Adcock, Marketing and Administration Manager at Laser Lines, added: “We are extremely proud to be supporting the Science Museum with this project.”
In addition to the miniatures, the museum will display a work of art entitled Pneuma 2, inspired by a human lung and designed by Professor Neri Oxman. The piece was also printed using Stratasys’s technology, alongside 17 more pieces designed by Oxman. The 18 pieces were originally displayed at the Centre Pompidou in Paris, as part of the ‘Multiversités Créatives’ exhibition last year.
“It is gratifying to see 3D printing featured so prominently by one of the world’s great science museums. Every day we are discovering exciting new applications for 3D printing, touching virtually every discipline and industry, from art and fashion to medicine, architecture and manufacturing, ” concluded Arita Mattsoff, VP Marketing, Stratasys. “We hope that many visitors will take advantage of this opportunity to experience this amazing technology which is not yet leveraged to its full potential.”
NoCamels, Israeli Innovation News


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The most-active gold for February delivery fell 0.57 percent to 28,409 rupees per 10 gram at 1022 GMT on the Multi Commodity Exchange.
Silver for March delivery was down 0.19 percent at 44,684 rupees per kg."Weighing on prices is the Fed's decision to taper asset purchases starting January 2014," Kotak Commodity Services analysts wrote in a note. "Upbeat U.S. economic data indicates strength in the economy reducing the need for stimulus."International gold steadied in thin holiday trade, supported by some physical buying yet remained on track for its biggest annual loss in three decades as rallies in equities and prospects of a global economic recovery dented its appeal.
The partially convertible rupee, which plays a key role in determining the landed cost of the dollar-quoted yellow metal, inched up tracking gains in domestic shares and other Asian currencies.
Indian gold imports may fall 70 percent in the final quarter of 2013 from 255 tonnes in the year-ago period and are expected to be half the usual levels at 500-550 tonnes next year if new import rules are maintained, a top trade body official said.
To curb a rising trade gap, the Indian government slapped a record import duty of 10 percent earlier this year and tied imports for domestic consumption with exports.


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The deal with Bristol-Myers Squibb Co., announced Monday, would give the consumer products giant another way to reach consumers it already serves with shampoo, conditioner and styling products, said A.G. Lafley, P&G?s president and chief executive. He said sales of hair-coloring products are increasing at three to four times the sales of shampoo products worldwide.
The market is becoming more lucrative because of aging populations in developing countries, more men coloring their hair and more young people experimenting with hair coloring, Lafley said. Clairol trails industry leader L?Oreal in U.S. and global sales.
"Hair care clearly is one of our more promising businesses," Lafley told analysts in New York. "With the acquisition of Clairol, we?ll become one of the two leaders in hair care worldwide."
The oldest of the baby boomers -- those born from 1946 through 1964 -- are now in their mid-50s.
If approved by regulators, the deal would add the Clairol, Herbal Essences and Nice ?n Easy brands to P&G?s lineup of hair care products that includes Pantene, Pert, Head & Shoulders and Vidal Sassoon.
P&G executives said they are especially eager to expand sales in developing markets of Clairol?s hair-coloring products, since 75 percent of the brand?s sales now occur in North America and the United Kingdom. P&G?s international marketing network and its consumer know-how from selling hair-care products makes Clairol a good fit, P&G officials said.
But P&G?s winning bid had some detractors. The company?s stock closed down $2.23 to $65.25 on the New York Stock Exchange, while Bristol-Myers Squibb lost 71 cents to $55.29.
Some analysts are concerned that P&G is still restructuring itself, dropping several of its food brands and cutting its work force by 17,500 jobs. And Clairol seems to have been less effective in appealing to younger customers than bigger rival L?Oreal, said analyst Carol Warner Wilke of Credit Suisse First Boston.
"L?Oreal has been taking share, and the Clairol brand needs to be repositioned," Wilke cautioned her clients in a research note. "A key growth area in hair color is among younger customers, and we do not believe that the current brand image of Clairol positions it to take advantage of this growing market segment.
"Some of P&G?s businesses still have a ways to go on the improvement front, and we are concerned that the timing of such an acquisition could prove problematic," Wilke wrote.
Buying Clairol would be P&G?s biggest acquisition, dwarfing its 1999 purchase for $2.3 billion of pet food manufacturer Iams Co.
New York-based Bristol-Myers Squibb put Clairol up for sale last September so it can focus on its drug business.
P&G officials said the deal is part of the company?s plan to revitalize itself by focusing on building sales of big brands.
Sales in the worldwide, $37 billion market for hair-care products -- including a $7 billion hair-coloring segment -- are increasing by 3 percent annually.
Clairol controls 39 percent of the U.S. hair-coloring market, according to market research concern A. C. Nielsen; L?Oreal controls 50 percent. Worldwide, Clairol has a 12 percent share, also No. 2 behind L?Oreal.
Of Clairol?s sales, 45 percent are in hair colorants and 55 percent are in shampoos and conditioners.
The acquisition would contribute about $1.6 billion in annual sales to P&G?s $7.4 billion beauty care business.
Wendy Nicholson, an analyst for Salomon Smith Barney, told clients in a note that the acquisition was "an excellent strategic fit."
The expense of buying Clairol will cost 6 to 8 cents per share against P&G?s earnings during the first year after the deal is completed, Lafley said. In the second year, the company expects Clairol to slightly benefit P&G?s overall earnings.
It is unclear how many of Clairol?s 4,000 jobs worldwide would be eliminated by P&G, which has its own distribution, research and manufacturing capabilities.
But P&G said it expects to save about $200 million in costs from combining the operations.
The deal also saves P&G potentially greater expenses of trying to develop and establish its own hair-coloring brands.
P&G has been test-marketing coloring products through its Vidal Sassoon brand that it developed from its research labs in Britain. But it has been reluctant to introduce an entirely new hair-coloring brand because of the high costs.
Procter & Gamble markets approximately 300 brands to nearly 5 billion consumers in more than 140 countries. Its beauty brands also include Olay, Max Factor, Cover Girl, Giorgio and Hugo Boss.
On the Net:


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Experts have revealed that the pandemic could go well into 2021 and there has been a lot of talk surrounding this new normal and how to operate in it. Today, we’re talking to an expert in automotive marketing to weigh in on a few marketing changes. We’re pleased to be joined by JJ Quest, Chief Strategist at Conquest Strategic Marketing.
In this segment, Quest and anchor Jim Fitzpatrick tackle the following:
- What COVID-19 has taught dealers about marketing
- The rise in digital retailing efforts
- Capitalizing on the bump in media consumption
- Video marketing – what is the right video platform?
- The difference between dealers who cut down on their marketing spend vs. those who kept their spend on pace
- Local TV advertising vs OTT
- How the market is being affected by COVID-19 and the presidential election
- What dealers should be focused on in this last quarter and going into the first quarter of 2021, in regards to advertising and marketing
- The trends happening dealership websites now and moving into 2021
- Overall best practices that dealers should adhere to
JJ Quest brings over 20 years of marketing, media, sales, and on-air experience to the automotive retail industry. Prior to his role at Conquest Strategic Marketing, he served as a marketing and business development executive for Comcast, Force Marketing, and Agency 720. For more great marketing insight and advice from JJ Quest, be sure to watch our full interview above.
Did you enjoy this interview with JJ Quest? Please share your thoughts, comments, or questions regarding this topic with host Jim Fitzpatrick at email@example.com.


text: For Wednesday, July 1 TheStreet highlights June motor vehicle sales, the five notable quarterly earnings reports, and key economic data to watch on Wall Street. U.S. automakers gear up to report motor vehicle sales for the month of June. Wall Street analysts will be watching to see if sales will add to the unexpected increase from the prior month. Ford Moto Co (F) is scheduled to report its figures at 9:15 a.m. eastern, followed by General Motors Co (GM) at 9:30. On the earnings front, we note five companies reporting their latest quarterly financial results. General Mills Inc (GIS), Paychex Inc (PAYX), Constellation Brands Inc (STZ), McCormick & Company Inc (MKC), and Acuity Brands Inc (AYI) are all reporting earnings before the market opens. TheStreet's Kurumi Fukushima reports in New York.


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Jivi 4G smartphone to cost Rs 699 under Jio offer
Reliance Jio is offering Rs 2,200 through "Jio Football Offer" on the entire range of 4G VoLte smartphones across 22 brands, including Jivi Mobiles.
Issues at local level main cause for call drops: COAI
The COAI said the new rules by the regulator on monitoring and reporting call drops wer...
Difficult to predict rate of VoLTE proliferation in India: Sunil Kumar Gupta, Trai
"As far as 5G rollout is concerned, we have already given ...
Vodafone rolls out VoLTE in Mumbai, Delhi, Gujarat
Vodafone VoLTE service will be launched in Karnataka and Kolkata next, and thereafter across India in a phased manner in the coming months, the company said in a statement.
Jivi Revolution TnT3 review: Perfect for the keypad lover only
For Rs 3,999, the smartphone’s main highlight is its physical keyboard plus touch input and a fingerprint scanner.
Smartphones at Rs. 500? Their true cost may be Rs 26,000 crore!
What is the subsidy cost that telcos will have to bear to really deliver the devices at Rs.500? A calculation throws up a whopping number: Rs 26,000 crore.
Factor in call muting when monitoring call drops on VoLTE, telcos tell Trai
Trai is currently receiving telcos’ data on quality of services based on new stringent norms effective from October 1, and will shortly bring out a report.
Reliance Jio's Rs 49 per month offer may force Airtel, Vodafone and Idea to shift to VoLTE 4G
Brokerage JP Morgan said the offer 'would draw 2G voice subscribers' away from Airtel, Vodafone and Idea as 'Jio’s feature phone pricing is as much as 30-50% cheaper.
JioPhone now available on MobiKwik
Users can book their phone in four easy steps and avail great benefits as well. The mobile wallet has become the first in the country to sell the phone on its platform.
Intel Elyt Dual review: Now, get portrait selfies on a budget
The Elyt Dual features an 8MP + 2MP front camera setup along with an LED flash.
HTC U11+ review: Butter-smooth interface without any slowdown
The smartphone has fantastic stereo speakers, super-fast fingerprint scanner and overall audio quality.
Vodafone to launch VoLTE services in January 2018
Reliance Jio was the first operator to offer VoLTE services in India. Recently, Airtel has started offering the services in certain areas.
The Microsoft Surface Pro with LTE is now available for everyone to buy
The tech giant is primarily focusing on commercial customers with the LTE versions of the Surface Pro.
Apple to ditch Qualcomm and use Intel baseband chips for its devices
Legal action between Apple and Qualcomm intensifies with billions of dollars at stake.
Now, Jio plans to launch a ‘dirt cheap’ smartphone
Telcos have been tying up with phone cos to bring prices down of 4G devices to under Rs 1,500. But the new Jio smartphone can go far under that price.


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SEMA News—October 2012
By Kristin DeBates
Rev Up Your Online Customer Experience With Logistics
How to Deliver the Goods to Online Shoppers
A recent study by comScore revealed new insights into the consumer online shopping experience. Commissioned by UPS, the comScore study polled more than 3,100 online shoppers and evaluated consumer perceptions and shopping habits ranging from pre-purchase to delivery and even the returns process.
The online retail market for automotive parts and accessories continues to emerge as a tremendous growth opportunity for the aftermarket parts industry. While appraisals of sales volumes within the online auto parts industry vary, estimates range from $1.8 billion to $4 billion annually.
The recent 2012 SEMA Annual Market Report found that consumers (46.2%) cited chain auto parts stores and specialty parts stores as their primary outlets for purchasing automotive parts and accessories; however, online retail was the next highest outlet, with 24.5% of respondents reporting that they primarily purchased automotive parts from online retailers. The online retailers ranged from online auction sites and chain auto parts online stores to online-only retailers.
It is clear that the popularity and potential for online retailing of automotive parts serves as a growth opportunity for the industry. Taking advantage of this opportunity will require automotive suppliers and retailers to look at the customer experience in a new way—from the perspective of an online shopper.
A recent study by comScore revealed new insights into the consumer online shopping experience. Commissioned by UPS, the comScore study polled more than 3,100 online shoppers and evaluated consumer perceptions and shopping habits ranging from pre-purchase to delivery and even the returns process. Ultimately, the survey found that the ability to control deliveries and having increased visibility were the most important factors driving today’s online shoppers. Following are highlights of top study findings and advice for automotive parts suppliers on strategies to address online customer expectations.
Options, Options and More Options
One of the keys to success with online shoppers is to provide them with a variety of delivery options to meet their needs. The comScore Online Customer Experience study found that while 67% of shoppers preferred the most economical delivery option, the majority of respondents also desired the option to speed up shipments in urgent scenarios, such as the need for a crucial part. Long delivery lead times also can be a major deterrent for online shoppers. The study found that 80% of online shoppers reported recently abandoning their online shopping carts, and 78% of those respondents cited the specified delivery time or a delivery time of more than five days as their reason for cart abandonment.
In order to address online customers’ preferences for delivery date options, look for shipping partners that offer a number of flexible shipping options, ranging from premium express delivery to more economical options, such as ground delivery. The more shipping options made available to online customers, the more likely they are to follow through with their online purchases.
Similar to providing online shoppers with multiple delivery options, retailers should be aware that shoppers want to know the details regarding their delivery date prior to making an online purchase. Providing online customers with an accurate delivery date from the beginning can further ensure that customer expectations are being met. Additionally, 46% of survey respondents said that receiving a product when expected led them to recommend an online retailer.
Online shoppers not only want to know when they will receive a package, but also want to use technology to stay on top of their delivery. Of the online shoppers surveyed, 39% said that receiving an e-mail or text delivery alert was the most convenient form of notification.
There are a number of tools available to assist online retailers with these customer preferences for increased communication and visibility. These tools range from enabling retailers to place package tracking capabilities directly on their websites to solutions that help retailers proactively alert customers of their delivery via e-mail or text.
Read this story in its entirety in the October 2012 issue of SEMA News.


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Last week we covered a story about Chrome not protecting user passwords saved in its database. Google seems to have taken the embarrassment of that find – and the reaction to Justin Schuh’s comment on Y Combinator – to heart. Because now they are offering more cash than ever as a reward for finding bugs in their flagship browser.
Google has always been pretty generous with the payouts for security flaws in the Chrome system. Which is why developers are always on the lookout for potential vulnerabilities in the software. In the last three years alone Google has given $2 million in rewards to people who have stumbled across these problems.
But privacy and internet security are now hot button issues like never before. Between questions of the involvement of major companies in controversial surveillance program PRISM, and the words of warning from people like LavaBit founder Ladar Levison about clients like Gmail, people just aren’t ready to overlook any flaws in their browser of choice.
So what is the company doing to show they are serious? All rewards once priced at $1,000 are now going to be worth a whopping $5,000. It is quite an increase in the amount.
Of course, this is just for the high severity style of threats that were always at $1,000. The reward structure, taken from their official site, is:
- $500 for any Medium severity out-of-bounds memory issue, where there’s reasonable suspicion of an info leak of the out-of-bounds access.
- $500 for any High severity memory safety issue where there are concerns over the quality of report (e.g. huge complicated repro, no attempt to simplify).
- $1000 for any High severity memory safety issue where the report is of good quality (simple, clear repro).
- $1000 for any High severity cross-origin issue.
- $3133.7 for any Critical severity memory safety issue where the report is of good quality.
There are also several modifiers that add from $500 to $1000 to the bounty, which can be seen at the link above.
Any would-be bounty hunters out there wanting a bug to chase, this is your chance. The price is higher than ever, and if the story about the passwords proves anything it is that there are still plenty of threats being faced by the popular browser. You might even be doing some real good, helping to protect other internet users who would be struck by these risks if left unchecked.
However, it still doesn’t address the password thing. Come on, you guys…are you serious?
Source: The Register


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The 2019 Suzhou Creek Culture and Art Festival kicked off at the Global Harbor Mall in Putuo on September 15. More than 200 events will be staged during the festival, which will run through October 11.
Celebrations for the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China will be the theme of the festival while other highlights include the national industrial development along the creek and folk art displays.
Riverside heritage structures, designed with a special tour route, have been equipped with QR codes so visitors can scan and learn their history in words and pictures and play interactive games.
An exhibition, organized in collaboration with the China Maritime Museum in several communities, will showcase the influence sailing has for Shanghai and China.
The M50 Creative Park will also launch a comprehensive art project featuring Suzhou Creek and city updates.
Sales of famous Chinese brand products are also being promoted at the mall.


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Fact #418: According to a report in USA Today, 5.6 million Americans aged 50 and older are now self-employed. That’s an increase of 23 percent from 1990. The same trend is unfolding in Canada, where the fastest-growing sector of the small business market consists of businesses started by people aged 55 and older.
Fact #419: 48 percent of America’s privately-held companies are at least half-owned by women, an increase from 44 percent in 1997, according to the Center for Women’s Business Research. The reasons these entrepreneurs cited for starting their own businesses included the freedom to set their own schedules, the chance to pursue an opportunity, and the desire to escape from the “glass ceiling” that they felt limited their careers in corporations.
Fact #420: In 2003, 1.3 million Hispanic-Americans were self-employed, which is more than five times the 241,000 who were self-employed in 1979. Meanwhile, the number of African-American entrepreneurs increased to 710,000 in 2003, up 2 percent; and self-employed Asian-Americans increased 26 percent, to 590,000.
More information why worker shortages will not go away.
Technology and the Internet has without question fueled the growth of small business, primarily self-employed. While a small business owner myself, I find myself competing with organizations many times the size of my business. The Internet has not only leveled the playing field but very likely has it leaning toward small independents.
Thanks for your posts.
I find these statistics fascinating and am intrigued by this phenomenon and what factors have triggered it. I wonder what impact the availability of online-based businesses has had on the growth of self employment.


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Glassdoor, Snap, Reddit, eBay and Others Launch Section 230 Coalition
Mid-sized tech companies (including Glassdoor) are worried they'll be left out in the cold with regards to deals around immunity related to user-posted content when big companies like Facebook and Google start making deals with government.
"More than a dozen medium-size internet companies including Snap, Reddit and eBay have launched a coalition to defend the broad legal immunity that protects online companies from lawsuits over user-posted content. The move confirms a November report in The Information.
"The group, called Internet Works, is made up of medium-sized tech companies concerned that their interests could be ignored in a debate over Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act. That debate has mostly focused on giants such as Facebook and Google that have attracted the ire of both Democrats and Republicans.
"Internet Works members are worried that the larger companies could make concessions in negotiations with Congress that expose the entire industry to the threat of greater legal liability. Companies such as Facebook and Google can afford costs associated with curtailing their legal immunity—including defending themselves in more lawsuits—while some smaller companies cannot.
Other members of Internet Works include: Automattic, Cloudflare, Dropbox, Etsy, Glassdoor, GoDaddy, Medium, Nextdoor, Patreon, Pinterest, Tripadvisor, Vimeo and the Wikimedia Foundation."


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Abu Dhabi's non-oil foreign trade jumped an annual 15 per cent to more than Dh61.5 billion ($16.7bn) in the first quarter of 2022, driven by the government’s robust economic policies and the emirate’s recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic.
Exports stood at more than Dh24.4bn, an annual increase of 35 per cent, while imports rose 5 per cent year-on-year to almost Dh25.4bn, state news agency Wam reported on Wednesday. Re-exports surged 4 per cent on an annualised basis to nearly Dh11.7bn.
The “proactive services” launched by the emirate's administration contributed to the growth in non-oil trade in the first quarter of 2022, Wam quoted Rashed Al Mansoori, director general of the General Administration of Customs in Abu Dhabi, as saying.
Digital transformation and new technologies such as artificial intelligence have enhanced the efficiency of the customs sector, which will further boost Abu Dhabi’s stature as a global capital of trade, he added.
Abu Dhabi's non-oil economy grew an annual 4.1 per cent last year, driven by several stimulus initiatives for business and household sectors, figures compiled by Statistics Centre — Abu Dhabi (SCAD) showed.
The emirate launched an economic stimulus package in March 2020 that included 16 diverse initiatives under Ghadan 21 — the government’s economic accelerator programme.
Saudi Arabia, the Arab world’s biggest economy, was the biggest trading partner of the emirate in the January-March period, accounting for nearly 23 per cent of total trade, valued more than Dh13.9bn. It was followed by Switzerland (8 per cent), the US (7 per cent), China and India (both 5 per cent).
The value of commodities trade from ordinary metals and their products reached Dh12.8bn, up 27 per cent on an annual basis. Meanwhile, the trade in pearls, precious stones, precious metals and their products, increased almost 78 per cent yearly.
The trade of wood and its products, cork, mats and baskets grew 47 per cent, while the trade of leather goods, animal kits and travel supplies recorded a growth of 43 per cent, Wam reported.
In March, Thani Al Zeyoudi, Minister of State for Foreign Trade, said the country's non-oil trade totalled Dh16.1 trillion over the past 10 years as the Arab world’s second-largest economy accelerated its efforts to reduce its reliance on hydrocarbons.
For the 2012-2021 period, the UAE’s total non-oil exports rose 12 per cent on an annual basis to Dh2.1tn, while imports rose 2.5 per cent yearly to Dh9.5tn. Re-exports reached almost Dh4.5tn at an annual growth rate of 4.9 per cent.


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After the success of its previous series, Redmi is preparing to launch the Redmi K50, as the phone appeared in a new leak revealing the charging capacity of the phone.
Redmi K50 details
According to previous reports, the Redmi K50 series will officially arrive next February, and the series will have the Standard Edition and the Professional Edition. According to the latest report regarding this device, the Redmi K50 series will support 67W fast charging.
According to the leaks, and with regard to the processor, the phone will work with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 895 processor, and with regard to the screen, the leaks also indicated that the phone will have an AMOLED screen and a refresh rate of 120 Hz.
With regard to cameras, the leak indicated that the phone will come with a main camera of 108 megapixels for the Pro version, while the standard version will have a main camera of 48 megapixels.
Last February, the company announced the Redmi K40 series, where the standard version came with a Snapdragon 870 processor, 6 GB RAM and 128 GB internal storage, and the phone comes with another option with 8 GB and 12 GB RAM and 256 GB internal storage .
The phone comes with a triple lens rear camera, where the main camera comes with 48 megapixels and the second with 8 megapixels, in addition to a third lens for the macro with 5 megapixels.
The camera supports 4K video recording at 30 frames per second. The phone also has a 20-megapixel front camera.
The phone comes with a water and dust resistance rating of IP53, and includes a 4520 mAh battery that supports 33W fast charging, and runs Android 11 and MIUI 12 interface.
Wi-Fi features include Wi-Fi 6, there’s also Bluetooth 5 with Hi-Res Audio Wireless certification, and it has NFC and IR blaster technology.