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State Secretary Hatta Radjasa said Thursday that none of Indonesiaâ€™s territory was for sale despite a website advertising offers for three islands in the western part of the country.
Hatta told reporters at the Presidential Palace that investors might lease or develop resorts on those islands, but any claim or attempt at ownership of Indonesian territory would constitute a â€śserious violationâ€ť of the law.
â€śThere is no way that [any of our] islands can be sold. Perhaps those people who rent them do not understand that.
â€śSuch ownership would obviously constitute a serious violation [of the law]. No island can be put up for sale,â€ť he said.
Three islands in the Mentawai archipelago, West Sumatra, were advertised for sale at www.privateislandsonline.com.
The 15-acre Macaroni island was on sale for US$4 million, 24-acre Siloinak island was up for $1.6 million and Kandui island, measuring 26-acres in size, was advertised for $8 million.
â€ś…Varying degrees of investment from full-purchase to joint venture may be considered. Siloinak
island is priced extremely well,
and all details will be discussed upon inquiry,â€ť read the closing sentence of the sale information on the website.
It is not clear, though, who would make an offer, or what companies are related to the sale
Noted lawyer Todung Mulya Lubis said the sale of Indonesian territory would constitute sacrificing national sovereignty, and should not be allowed to happen.
â€śLand can be sold and purcha-sed through the  Agrarian Law. However, although an
island is physically land, in a legal sense its sale is not the same,â€ť Todung said. While part of an island can be sold as land, the entire island cannot.
He said that under the Agrarian Law, only Indonesian citizens could own both the land and the right to develop on it.
â€śInvestors can develop [resorts] in the context of foreign investment, but they cannot own the land,â€ť
Meanwhile in Padang, West Sumatra, Yudas Sabaggalet, the Mentawai archipelago deputy regent,
said there was no such arrangement to sell any of the islands in his region.
The website advertising islands for sale, he claimed, was based on â€śinvalid informationâ€ť.
â€śOnly one of the three islands offered is really an island. The other two are names of resorts on Siberut island,â€ť he said.
Yudas said he did not understand how anybody could confuse the resorts as islands, and how they could be up for sale to the public.
The ads promoted Macaroni and Kandui as islands, he said, when they were both just resorts on North Pagai island and Karangmajat Besar island respectively.
Siloinak, however is in fact an island.
â€śThe government will investigate this case. Nobody is admitting to advertising the islands for sale,â€ť Aji said at a press conference held at the West Sumatra Gubernatorial Office. The conference was also attended by the director general for supervision and control at the maritime affairs and fisheries ministry, Aji Sularso.
â€śWe have concluded that the ads are not correct because those managing the islands and resorts claim they have not put them up for sale,â€ť Aji said.
As the ads were published on a website based in Toronto, Canada, Aji said his office would coordinate with the Foreign Affairs Ministry to investigate this matter further.


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While it may seem like a distant prospect, Black Friday is coming and retailers are busy preparing for the busiest shopping period of the year. The holiday season is normally a busy time for us too, as we start carrying out performance tests on retail sites to get an idea of how they’ll behave when unprecedented visitor numbers put systems under equally unprecedented strain.
Everything about software has changed—how it’s architected, developed and produced, what it does, what users want from it, and how often they expect new features. To keep up, organisations are turning to continuous delivery and DevOps. Yet product teams still do a lot of manual testing, which consumes a lot of time they don’t have, thanks to shrinking test windows. Incorporating automation into your testing approach is a great strategy, but figuring out where and how to start isn’t necessarily quick and easy.
A new outlook, optimism, and wonder. For me, the start of the new year is always exciting and prompts a lot of questions about how our space and our solutions will evolve over the next 12 months.
It’s not often you hear dev teams shouting from the rooftops about a relatively minor software release. (Actually, developers rarely shout in the first place, except when playing a lively game of foosball.) But we think this one is pretty cool.
We recently commissioned a study of 750 development team leaders in the UK and the U.S. to gauge the extent of the pressure today’s organizations are experiencing with respect to app development. On the same day that we announced our App Gap research results—revealing that almost half of businesses feel the pressure to launch often untested apps—we hosted the first in our series of our Digital Automation Intelligence Roadshows.
You can find 28 million apps on Google Play and 22 million in Apple’s App Store. Yet, nearly one in four people who download an app use it only once. Apps are incredibly slow under certain circumstances, don’t work in key parts of the workflow, and have less-than-optimal usability. The app scrap heap is growing because many organizations are still testing to ensure code quality, not a superior user experience (UX).
A new study of 600 testers reports that 91 percent of test teams are struggling to meet increased user expectations compared to 12 months ago, and 66 percent said that test automation needs to expand beyond just test execution to keep up with business demands. The new study, conducted by Kickstand across the U.S. and U.K. on behalf of Testplant, generally identified that app dev teams are feeling the pressure to innovate and deliver high-quality user experiences quickly.
It's that time of year again! Despite its questionable origins, Black Friday and the rush to find fantastic deals online doesn't seem to be slowing down at all... but can the same be said about your eCommerce website?
Black Friday, and, lest we forget the potentially more relevant Cyber Monday, are two very important dates for online retailers seeking to maximize profits. Site downtime has the potential to wipe millions of dollars off profits, especially if that downtime lands during the peak of the rush. However, outright downtime is not the only thing retailers should worry about.

domain: news


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Korean auto major Hyundai Motor India Limited (HMIL) mentioned that it will invest US$ 2.43 billion in Tamil Nadu over the next ten years to improvise the vehicle platforms and expand its presence in the country’s fast-evolving electric vehicle segment. This investment will be further utilized to expand production capacity for internal combustion engines and electric vehicles, set up a battery pack manufacturing unit and establish charging infrastructure for Electric Vehicles (EVs), among others.
In this context, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed by Managing Director (MD) & Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Guidance Tamil Nadu, Mr. V. Vishnu and Managing Director (MD) & Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Hyundai Motor India, Mr. Unsoo Kim in the presence of Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, Mr. Thiru M. K. Stalin.
Hyundai Motor India Limited (HMIL) is in the process of investing US$ 487.22 million (Rs. 4,000 crore) to launch six models by 2028, in one of the largest product onslaughts in the electric vehicle category. The Ioniq 5 was the first of these versions to reach the market this year. The business additionally markets Kona EV in India.
To support Tamil Nadu's government ambition for creating a sustainable ecosystem for the state's transition to electric transportation, Mr. Unsoo Kim stated the company hopes to be a "strategic partner." In line with this, HMIL will set up a state-of-the-art battery pack assembly unit with yearly capacity to assemble 178,000 units. Additionally, over the course of five years, Hyundai will install 100 EV charging stations at strategic locations along major highways. This will include five Dual Ultra-Fast Charging Stations (DC 150 KW +DC 60 KW), 10 Single Fast Charging Stations (DC 150 KW) and 85 Single Fast Charging Stations (DC 60 KW).
Disclaimer: This information has been collected through secondary research and IBEF is not responsible for any errors in the same.


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Meet Andy, our new Digital Director
We are delighted to announce the latest addition to the growing team here at Kaleidoscope as Andy Malone joins us in the new role of Digital Director.
Andy has spent the last ten years heading up the digital team at the communications agency Corporate Culture, working for clients including AstraZeneca, Royal Mail Group and WWF International. He joins us to lead the digital expansion of our business, with an initial focus on the creation of leading edge websites, animations and motion graphics and app development.
Mike Edwards, Managing Director of Kaleidoscope said “Andy’s arrival marks the next stage in the evolution of our business, as we move to an integrated agency model delivering creative strategy, design and digital services. It’s hugely exciting for us to bring someone of Andy’s calibre into the business. His track record of delivering outstanding digital products while working with some huge brands is second to none, and it’s a great fit with our future ambitions for the business.
Andy will work closely with James (Strategy Director) and Mike (Creative Director) to ensure that all of our thinking is truly integrated and provides a holistic solution for all of our clients”.
Commenting on his new role, Andy said “The digital landscape is continually evolving and progressing, and the mindset of the business here at Kaleidoscope is somewhat similar – its clear that there is a real hunger to go on and push the business forward for its next 29 years. That’s hugely exciting for me and I’m delighted to be part of it.”
If you would like to talk to Andy about a digital project, please drop him a line.


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Procter & Gamble (P&G), an international FMCG concern, has increased its plans regarding its new cosmetics factory in Aleksandrow Lodzki in the Lodz Special Economic Zone (LSSE).
The company is to invest $50 million in its new plant by 2012 and employ 300 people. This will be the largest European cosmetics facility for Procter & Gamble. The company is not excluding the possibility of further expansion in that location and of increasing employment as a result. P&G’s new factory will be built on a plot of 33 ha, eight ha more than originally planned.
„We began efforts to gain the necessary permission and I hope that by October, construction will commence,” said Jacek Dziergwa, general director of P&G in Poland. „The opening is planned for the end of 2008 or beginning of 2009,” he added. P&G already owns two factories in Poland: a diapers plant in Warsaw and safety razor plant in Lodz. It also runs a distribution centre in the capital. (polishmarket.com)


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The home of smart buildings, smart equipment and IoT
Learning about Project Haystck and the wonders of tagging and data modeling just got easier. The Project Haystack organization officially launched a new marketing website designed to promote the vast marketing activities driven by the growing Haystack community and focused on promoting the value of smart data and semantic tagging.
To date, the website has been solely for the developer community, featuring updates on semantic tagging, forum discussions, and Working Group activities. The new site features a modern and sophisticated design that really showcases our community’s events, resources, news, blog posts, etc. You can check it out at marketing.project-haystack.org.
“Given the growing amount of marketing activities our community has been initiating in the past few years, such as our up-coming 4th biennial Haystack Connect Conference, our 5th bi-annual issue of Connections Magazine, numerous webinars, exhibits and guest speaking opportunities at industry events, it was easily decided that we needed to provide end-user’s and new developers one place where they could learn more and find out how they can get involved in our organization,” said John Petze, Executive Director of Project Haystack. “It was important that our developer site remain just that.”
This is a great step in the right direction. Project Haystack has already gained traction and adoption and established its value in the building systems industry. But the Haystack methodology is not just about HVAC, temperature sensors, fans, meters, and building systems. The IoT, BIoT and the IIoT are bringing diverse smart devices into homes, high-rise commercial buildings, industrial facilities, factories and agriculture. The goal of the new website is to help these markets see the potential as smart devices proliferate into solutions no one could have ever imagined even a few years ago, to learn who the suppliers and end-users are from around the world, and why implementing a data management strategy that includes tagging, has become so critical.
“This new website demonstrates the growing acceptance of the value of the Haystack methodology. We had a record number of contributed articles featured in our latest Connections Magazine Winter 2019 issue. Now we have expanded the opportunity for the community to contribute articles, videos, promote webinars and events all related to Project Haystack and the value gained from this new abundance of semantic data.” - Marc Petock, Executive Secretary of the Project Haystack Organization
The J2 Innovations team was joined by John Petze from Sky Foundry at the ISH 2019 show in Frankfurt, Germany where we not only promoted Project Haystack, but got to show off the new website. Here’s a photo of us from the event.
Check out our videos to see first hand how we use tagging and data modeling in FIN technology.
About Project Haystack
Since its formation in March of 2011, the Project Haystack Organization, a 501(c) non-profit trade association, has been providing the industry with an open-source, collaborative environment to address the challenge of making data self-describing using semantic modeling, also known as data tagging. The work developed by the Project Haystack member companies and community streamlines the process of managing, presenting and analyzing the vast amount of data produced by smart devices and equipment systems. The Haystack methodology can be used with virtually any type of system and device data and is not tied to any vendor or communication protocol. More information about Project Haystack is available at: https://www.project-haystack.org.
The new marketing website is at: https://marketing.project-haystack.org. The Developer Site, with information about the Haystack methodology is available at: https://www.project-haystack.org. The Discussion Forums can be found at: https://www.project-haystack.org/forum/topic.
Scott joined J2 Innovations as a partner in 2011, and is now Vice President of Customer Experience. He has a wide range of responsibilities including evangelism, business development, training, and operational excellence. Scott is well known as an industry expert in smarthomes and smart buildings. He is a past president of ASHRAE, and is currently a board member for Project Haystack. Scott attended Clarkson University for Mechanical Engineering and graduated with a BS/Business in Organizational Innovation.
J2 Innovations Headquarters, 1550 Valley Vista Drive, Suite 200, Diamond Bar , CA 91765, USA. Tel:909-217-7040


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A new study predicts that enterprise data centre spending will shift from hardware to software
A new research report from TheInfoPro has predicted that spending on IT infrastructure in general and servers in particular will slow over the next two years.
This comes as virtualisation becomes more prevalent in data centres, with enterprises shifting their focus to software, rather than hardware.
Businesses over the past several years have pushed to deploy server virtualisation technology in the data centre, fuelling a spending spree on x86-based systems that could host increasing numbers of virtual machines and support cloud environments, according to Peter ffoulkes, research director for servers and virtualisation at the TheInfoPro.
Now, with those servers in place and becoming more virtualised, there is less need for new systems, ffoulkes told eWEEK. The slowdown on hardware spending “is an artifact of server virtualisation,” he said. “It’s freeing [IT administrators] up to look at other things.”
Those other things are primarily software tools – not only management, automation and configuration offerings, but also private cloud computing platforms.
The findings are part of TheInfoPro’s latest Servers and Virtualization Study, released 3 December. TheInfoPro is a service of 451 Research.
According to ffoulkes, the transition in spending from hardware to software is the natural order of things as enterprises continue their migration to software-defined data centres that can support cloud computing environments. Businesses are still spending to create these cloud-based infrastructures, but the hardware refresh cycles for the most part are completed. The virtualisation bubble, according to ffoulkes, has burst.
Most infrastructure technologies will see a slowdown in spending, but it will hit x86 rack servers particularly hard, he said. According to the study, 35 percent of respondents surveyed said they will spend less in this area in 2013 than they did last year, with 41 percent saying they will spend less in 2014.
“Generally, people are buying fewer of them, so there’s less money being spent,” ffoulkes said.
However, there is a growing interested in integrated infrastructure offerings, such as unified computing and converged infrastructures such as Cisco Systems’ Unified Computing Systems (UCS), VCE’s Vblocks and similar offerings from Hewlett-Packard and Dell. Forty-nine percent of respondents in TheInfoPro study said they are currently using such systems, while another 26 percent said they expect to be considering these technologies in the next two years.
“They’re gaining more and more traction in the marketplace,” he said.
In addition, as prices go down and capacity increases, businesses are increasingly looking at solid-state disks (SSDs), either inside server or as direct-attached storage. Both the integrated infrastructures and SSDs are being view as important components in cloud-ready data centres.
As spending on IT infrastructure technologies is expected to decrease in 2013 and 2014, software needed to run cloud-ready data centres are expected to grow in that time. This year, the areas expected to see the most spending will be the management and automation of virtualised data centres. In 2014, cloud platforms will be the top focus, with 30 percent of respondents planning increased spending.
The leaders in this area include VMware, with its growing cloud capabilities, Citrix Systems and Microsoft, which offers such products as System Center, Hyper-V, Azure, Office 365 and SQL Server. The OpenStack cloud platform also is gaining interest among enterprises, particularly given the fast adoption by vendors and the drive to make it more enterprise-ready, ffoulkes said.
In data centre management software, VMware and Microsoft get the most attention from respondents in the study, with BMC Software, CA, HP and ServiceNow also getting noticed.
Ffoulkes is scheduled to lead a webinar about the study and its findings 5 December at 2pm Eastern.
Are you a cloud computing whiz? Try our quiz!
Originally published on eWeek.


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1. Why New Orleans is the Coolest Startup City in America by Donna Fenn:
“Katrina did two things,” says Tim Williamson, the CEO of Idea Village, which recently sponsored New Orleans Entrepreneurship Week (NOEW). “Everyone became an entrepreneur because everyone was starting over in some way—we became a start-up city.” Second, he says, “our networks scaled globally.”
Williamson and four fellow entrepreneurs founded Idea Village, a not-for-profit organization, in 2000 in order to identify and support local entrepreneurs. But it wasn’t until after Katrina—when the city’s plight triggered a huge influx of people who wanted to help rebuild—that the organization gained real traction. Among those who showed up were MBA students from top business schools who opted to spend spring break rolling up their sleeves to help New Orleans entrepreneurs rather than hitting the beaches.
One of those MBAs was Daryn Dodson from Stanford; the following year, he returned with 25 fellow Stanford MBAs, who were supported by alum Jim Coulter, co-founder of Silicon Valley private equity giant, TPG. “Stanford would not have come here if it weren’t for Katrina,” says Williamson. He and his partners saw that the time was right for New Orleans to attract world-class resources in order to nurture its homegrown entrepreneurial talent.
That was three years ago and since then, Idea Village’s efforts have grown from matching a few MBAs with local entrepreneurs to a full-blown week of events where over $1 million in cash and services are pumped into the local economy. Workshops, taught by local business leaders as well as by executives from Google, Salesforce.com, and Cisco, are offered to hundreds of New Orleans small business owners. Mayor Mitch Landrieu‘s office is now on board, as is Tulane University, Goldman Sachs, and a few local economic development groups.
Even James Carville and Mary Matalin got in on the action; they hosted a reception for NOEW attendees at their posh Uptown antebellum mansion. To make things more financially interesting, the Greater New Orleans Foundation financed NOEW’s $50,000 “Water Challenge,” a competition for entrepreneurs with innovative water management solutions. The winner: NanoFex, which developed technology to use Louisiana sugar cane and crawfish shells to purify contaminated groundwater. And TPG’s Coulter now sponsors the week’s culminating event, IDEAPitch, an American Idol-like competition (moderated this year by yours truly) where five entrepreneurs pitch the audience and investors from TPG, Bain Venture Capital, Redpoint, Prism, IBM Ventures, and American Funds. The winner is flown out to San Francisco to meet with potential investors.
A new ABC television production hit airwaves nationwide this month and is creating more than high ratings.
Secret Millionaire features a number of high profile people whose business model is helping others create financial stability, and even wealth, both online and off. What lessons might entrepreneurs emulate to create their own secret, or not so secret,millionaire success story? Let’s look at four of the secret millionaires to identify replicable patterns.
Secret Millionaire stars share some common practices entrepreneurs can adopt to create their own success.
Dani Johnson was homeless at 21 and a millionaire at 23. She now speaks, writes and conducts virtual home study courses and live events designed to help people get out of debt. Her story is compelling and inspirational. The tone of her communications is all about having experienced the fear and frustration of financial debt herself. By sharing her personal story, helping people identify with her, then modeling a success route, Dani acts as a mentor, cheerleader and coach to those who follow her program.
So what lessons can other entrepreneurs learn from these successful self-made millionaires?
- Poverty is a strong motivator in each of their success stories. A driving passion to improve your life can be a powerful influencer.
- Creating a business from the ground up takes more hard work than anything you’ve ever done before. Persistence is the key.
- Continued success lies in continued reinvention. Successful people never stop innovating.
- Financial freedom is a strong motivator and there are millions of people who want and need the information you may have on how to create financial security. A down economic climate may be the ideal time to launch a business that solves a problem.
- Sharing your personal journey helps others envision themselves as potentially successful. People want to do business with successful people and modeling success can produce powerful results.
- A great career or business is less about making the next sale and more about building lasting relationships.


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Internova, a mobile device management software specialist, has launched a consumer-facing marketing campaign, as part of its strategy to increase both consumer and partner awareness of the benefits of mobile device management (MDM).
Internova is a marketing company that helps travel brands with their online marketing. Many of Internova’s clients have seen great results from their strategic online marketing campaigns because they are a top provider of online marketing services for the travel industry. This latest campaign launch will help Internova continue to assist their clients with their online marketing needs.If machines can’t dream, how can they plan your vacation? That’s one of the questions Internova Travel Group is asking in a new consumer marketing campaign launched this week. The digital out-of-home (DOOH) campaign will include long and short videos, paid and organic social ads, etc. The basic concept is as follows: Online travel agencies (OTAs) will never get to know you as well as a human advisor, and they certainly won’t be there for you if something goes wrong during your trip. Brent Rivard, director of marketing at Internova, said this week during a press conference in preparation for the launch: We may never again have such an attentive audience to hear about the benefits of people-supported bookings. This means that when the COVID 19 pandemic broke out, consumers knew all too well how difficult it was to cancel or reschedule their travel plans. The cost of error is really important, he added. The COVID-19 pandemic has brought attention to the horrors of travel disruption in a new way, said JD O’Hara, CEO of Internova Travel Group. Individuals and families who are without money and with limited support have created an atmosphere of extreme frustration. Many have learned that a bad trip – personal or professional – can have very real and very serious consequences. You can watch one of the Book Human videos here: For the Go Human project. Buchmann. According to Rivard, the goal of the campaign was to move travel bookings from self-service to full-service. A secondary objective was to create a sense of pride and energy within Internova’s consultant base. What is the purpose? Make people fall in love with the idea of booking trips with people. The creations include various slogans, such as 0% bots talking to a manager for you or cars booking thousands of tourist trips. But they weren’t on it. Marketing will initially run for 12 weeks, focusing on New York and Los Angeles (and the surrounding 25 miles for each). The ads target people between the ages of 35 and 64 who live in the top 25% of zip codes in terms of household income. This targeting uses mobile device and location data to find unique audiences. The ad directs consumers to BookHuman.Travel, Internova’s new website. The slogan of the website is: We want to change the way you think about booking travel. Consumers can also consult Internova’s selection of travel advisors. Consumers can search advisors by location, destination, interest and language. Currently 33 advisors are participating in the program, and more will be added over time, said Angie Lisea, president of Global Travel Collection. Lisea added that participation in the program is free for advisors; it’s one of the ways Internova is helping advisors rebuild their businesses. With the growth of the direct sales market over the past year, this platform provides customers with a relevant and meaningful choice when looking for a travel advisor, Internova said in a press release. The booking site lifts the experience far above chatbots and algorithms, harnessing the power of personal human interaction combined with the accessibility and immediacy of the digital world. The user interface design is optimized for desktop and mobile devices. Internova noted in its announcement that a travel consultant can save the average independent traveler time and money while providing peace of mind. For example, customers can enjoy a personalized experience. For example, an upgrade to a premium cabin on a flight or a welcome basket waiting for them and their family in a hotel room. In total Internova represents more than 62,000 travel advisors in over 6,000 owned and affiliated offices worldwide. Internova Go Human. Buchmann. The campaign was developed in collaboration with Broken Heart Love Affair. The agency was selected through a competitive process, along with WaveMaker as the media agency. The web experience was developed by Broken Heart Love Affair’s sister agency, Lifelong Crush. Visit https://internova.com.
Ensemble Travel Group gains three new preferred partners US may create 2 million jobs as travel picks up by summer Internova has appointed a new president and chief information officer 2023 Tianguis Turistico postponed from September to November


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THE long-running Tesco lorry drivers’ dispute has come to an end after workers agreed a new redundancy package.
The bitter dispute at Doncaster’s Middle Bank distribution depot began in August after the firm’s transport workforce was switched from Tesco to hauliers Eddie Stobart Limited with drivers promptly issued with notices.
The move sparked a string of strikes, culminating in an indefinite walk-out last week.
But yesterday drivers agreed to a new deal - although they will all still lose their jobs by the New Year.
The drivers’ union Unite called the resolve “a victory for worker solidarity” after the 180 drivers voted overwhelmingly to accept an enhanced package. It will mean drivers will finish work in January.
Unite’s Adrian Jones said: “This is a victory for the drivers who have displayed unity, strength and resolution throughout this difficult time against a hardline employer.”
“It also sends out a clear message to other transport and retail companies that may be thinking of treating their employees less than fairly that Unite will neither flinch nor back away from a dispute until there has been an acceptable and equitable settlement.”
Eddie Stobart said the drivers have been offered alternative driving roles at Tesco and the two firms have also highlighted an additional 212 available jobs at the firms.
David Pickering, ESL managing director, said: “We’ve worked diligently and professionally to come up with the best possible package and to provide a range of alternative employment options. It’s a positive way to resolve the dispute and I’m extremely pleased for all parties that the drivers accepted our latest offer.”


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This article was published in the January 2017 issue of STORES Magazine.
Standardizing workforce management benefits McLendon Hardware employees
For nearly 90 years, McLendon Hardware has attracted generations of do-it-yourselfers in the Puget Sound area of Washington state by catering to their every home improvement need, eliminating the need for trips to multiple stores.
You might say that the seven-store chain is doing the same thing for its employees, with one-stop shopping to get them more directly involved with human resources and work-related issues. “We’re heading toward a holistic view of workforce management,” says Nathaniel Polky, director of information technology for the retailer.
The key has been McLendon’s move to standardize its human capital management processes through Kronos, which not only enabled the company to cut workforce management expenses by one-third but also replaced multiple applications from other vendors in HR and payroll functions.
“McLendon Hardware is built upon a foundation of superior customer service and understands that happy team members lead to happy customers,” says Liz Moughan, senior director of the retail and hospitality practice group for Kronos.
“It’s also a progressive retailer that believes in leveraging technology to help with operational excellence. This enables superior customer service through employee empowerment.”
McLendon’s history is one of innovative thinking. Moses Jones McLendon, who founded the company in the 1930s, had a knack for knowing what his neighbors needed — even before they did — and made sure everything was waiting for them in that first small store. Today, the company operates seven stores from Seattle to Tacoma, ranging from 20,000 to 100,000 square feet. The 45,000-50,000-square-foot range is the sweet spot for McLendon’s, Polky says, and the company will be looking to expand over the next couple of years.
“Recently, our focus has been on reinvigorating our digital and marketing efforts,” he says. “We went live this year with a fully responsive e-commerce website that shows local market inventory and customer pricing. Early next year we’ll be going live with a transactional component enabling customers to buy online and pick up in-store, and we’re looking at direct-to-consumer fulfillment later in 2017.”
Overall, the chain’s success stems from attention to offering categories and product selection beyond what’s available in traditional big box stores, Polky says. “Instead of 50 SKUs, we might have 100 on some items and categories.”
“We’ve spent a lot of time cultivating [expert employees] and we want to make sure we have solid systems and processes to retain and bring in new team members.”Nathaniel Polky
Beyond merchandising, another important differentiator for McLendon’s is the pride it takes in its team members. “We’re a family business,” he says. “We have some people who have worked here for 40 years, and a lot in the 20-25-year range. We’ve spent a lot of time cultivating people that are able to offer expert advice to customers, and we want to make sure we have solid systems and processes to retain and bring in new team members.”
The company has between 400 and 450 full- and part-time workers in its stores, depending on the season. “We spent the last couple of years trying to keep a balance between the needs of the business on the financial side and doing right by our team members in fixing schedules or checking on vacation time,” Polky says. “It’s about offering a consistent experience for long-term team members and improving staffing in the stores.”
‘Simple but powerful’
McLendon’s had been using Kronos systems for time and attendance since the early 2000s. But when team members punched in and out the data was exported to ADP, which handled payroll, vacation accruals and other components.
“We had two systems that had to be integrated,” he says. “We’ve modernized backend systems over the past couple of years, but we still hadn’t come to grips with how we were going to structure our team member information and payroll information in order to get some value out of it. By moving to Kronos we were able to change some simple but powerful things.”
One example is vacation balances. “Prior to using a single platform it was challenging for a team member to know how much vacation they had actually accrued,” Polky says. “The data was maintained at ADP, which only got it every two weeks. But vacations happen all through the year, and information about benefits was not always accessible to team members.”
The other challenge was the lack of standardization.
“Nearly all vacation requests were done manually,” he says. “We have policies about requesting vacations a certain number of days in advance, but the rules weren’t always followed. So a team member in one location could get a day off with only a day’s notice, but at another store [they] might have to ask a month in advance.
“Everything is simpler. Team members can see accrual balances, sick time and paid time off.”Nathaniel Polky
“The most impressive thing about bringing everything to one system under Kronos is that everything is simpler. Team members can see accrual balances, sick time and paid time off, and the system is always updating.”
The company also moved to Kronos Cloud, which significantly broadens access to information. “Team members can now do their vacation planning at home from their own computers. There’s also a mobile solution that enables them to see their schedules [and] vacation time and immediately get approvals on their phones. It’s not the most glamorous thing, but all that transactional activity that happens through the day has to occur. We’ve been able to make it quick and efficient,” Polky says.
“Employees love seeing their schedules. It’s a small thing, but very important for them to know when and where they are working at any point in time. It gives them choice and flexibility, and it’s been very well received.”
The Attestation tool kit from Kronos gives team members a simple way to be engaged in the time card review and documentation process, allowing them the opportunity to review, approve and reject time cards by using Kronos data collection devices including time clocks and mobile, tablet and web platforms.
This helps employees attest to the accuracy of changes and time totals before the retailer accepts the approvals. Attestation also helps the company manage compliance with various federal, state and local labor laws.
There was an implementation period with Kronos during which McLendon’s had to upgrade its own systems. But integrating the data was a smooth process. “At that time everything went paperless,” Polky says, “and I like to think of it as an important but uneventful day.”
Since then, there have been some unanticipated institutional benefits for McLendon’s.
“We’ve been able to minimize a lot of risk,” Polky says. “For a long time, we had one person dedicated to doing payroll. That’s all she did — she even scheduled her vacations around it. This gave us the opportunity to offer her the same benefits as other team members and actually cross-train people. Distributing the work across a number of people makes for a more efficient environment and eliminates that one single point of failure.”
Where does the chain go from here? “Our big vision is ‘next-gen scheduling,’” he says. “We’re looking at labor regulations and increased flexibility in scheduling. We want employees to be able to swap shifts between themselves and do labor pooling. For example, this will give cashiers the opportunity to work in different stores to get additional hours and shifts.
It’s very challenging to find high quality talent these days,” Polky says. “We want to do everything we can to retain team member and to get new people in the organization.”


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Cable Technology Feature Article
SoftBank Increases Online Content with Acquisition of DramaFever
By Frank Griffin, TMCnet Contributing Writer
The dramatic rise of Netflix is forcing content providers to reassess their delivery method. According to a recent comScore (News - Alert) report, 44 percent of millennials (18-34 age demographic) watch TV on desktop computers and 49 percent watch TV on tablets, which clearly explains why Netflix is doing so well. This fact has not escaped companies that have a digital presence, and as one of the largest Internet and media companies in the world, SoftBank is acquiring DramaFever Corp. to increase its content library around the world.
The recent $75 billion windfall SoftBank received from a $20 million investment it made in Ali Baba in 2000 not only ranks as one of the greatest returns of all time, but it also gives the company the ability to purchase more companies around the world, which it has been doing even before Alibaba’s IPO.
With DramaFever, SoftBank now has one of the largest online video destinations for premium international television shows and movies. Since it was established in 2009, DramaFever has increased its content to more than 70 major broadcasters in studios throughout Asia, Europe and the Americas. The presence in so many countries has given the company the leverage to negotiate output deals, which allows it to be first in selecting the best titles from international broadcasters and distributors. The programming it acquires have exclusivity rights with distribution for same or next day broadcast, and currently has 700 titles and 15,000 episodes in its library.
“This is a triumphant day for our content partners who have demonstrated that engaging stories and characters transcend languages and borders. It is also a great day for our viewers, who can continue to expect DramaFever to bring them the best series and movies from around the world,” said DramaFever Co-Founder and Co-CEO, Suk Park.
The DramaFever programming is delivered around the world on demand through its websites as well as applications on iPhone, iPad, Android (News - Alert), Roku, and Google TV. It also syndicates many of the programming in its library to Hulu, Netflix, Amazon, and iTunes, giving it unique monthly viewers of more than 20 million each and every month.
“DramaFever has built an impressive internet-based streaming video business operating at scale. Seung Bak and Suk Park have a proven business model in a dynamic industry, and we look forward to helping them bring their highly popular video content to an even larger global audience,” said Nikesh Arora, Vice Chairman of SoftBank Corp. and CEO of SIMI.
As the infrastructure for fixed and wireless broadband technology continues to increase in many regions around the world, the delivery system DramaFever has in place will allow it to provide content virtually anywhere in the world and increase its customer base to rival and even surpass that of Netflix.
Edited by Maurice Nagle


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The technology behind Final Fantasy 16 is explained. I also discuss the Sonic Visual Novel, and how Ark 2 is delayed.
ARK 2, the highly anticipated sequel to the popular game ARK Survival Evolved, has been hit with another delay. Originally scheduled for release in 2022, the developers have announced that the game will now be released at the end of 2024. This decision has been made in order to give the development team more time to explore new technologies and ensure that the game is of the highest quality possible.
While the delay may disappoint fans who have been eagerly awaiting the release of ARK 2, the developers have promised that they will do everything they can to keep players engaged in the meantime. They have announced plans to remaster and update the original ARK Survival Evolved game, providing new content and improvements to keep fans satisfied until the release of ARK 2.
ARK Survival Evolved, which was first released in 2015, has gained a large and dedicated fanbase over the years. The game features an open-world environment where players must survive in a prehistoric landscape filled with dinosaurs and other prehistoric creatures. With its immersive gameplay and stunning visuals, it quickly became a hit among gamers.
The announcement of ARK 2 generated a lot of excitement among fans, as it promised to take the ARK franchise to new heights. However, the decision to delay the game shows that the developers are committed to delivering a high-quality experience, even if it means pushing back the release date.
According to the developers, the extra time will allow them to explore new technologies and incorporate them into the game. This could mean improved graphics, more advanced AI systems, and even new gameplay mechanics. By taking the time to fully explore these possibilities, the development team hopes to create a game that exceeds players' expectations.
While the delay may be frustrating for fans, it's important to remember that it's ultimately for the benefit of the game. Rushing the development process could result in a subpar product that fails to live up to the high standards set by the original ARK game. By giving the developers more time, fans can expect a more polished and immersive experience when ARK 2 finally launches in 2024.
In other gaming news, there has been a surprise release of a visual novel titled "The Murder of Sonic the Hedgehog." This game, which was released on Steam yesterday, has already garnered a lot of attention and positive reviews.
"The Murder of Sonic the Hedgehog" is a unique take on the Sonic the Hedgehog universe, presenting players with a murder mystery to solve. The game takes approximately 2 hours to complete and is available for free on Steam.
The positive reviews received by the game highlight its engaging storyline, well-developed characters, and impressive visuals. Many players have praised the game for its creative twist on the Sonic franchise, offering a fresh and captivating experience for fans of the series.
If you're a fan of Sonic the Hedgehog or enjoy visual novels, "The Murder of Sonic the Hedgehog" is definitely worth checking out. With its overwhelmingly positive reception, it's clear that this game has struck a chord with players and is a must-play for fans of the beloved blue hedgehog.
Lastly, in the world of RPGs, a recent interview with the director of Final Fantasy 16 has shed light on the technological advancements in the game. In a post published on the PlayStation Blog, the director discussed how they were able to harness the power of the PlayStation 5 hardware to push the boundaries of the gaming experience.
One of the highlights mentioned in the interview was the use of haptic feedback in the game. The director explained how players will feel the sensation of riding a chocobo through the implementation of haptic feedback, adding to the immersion and realism of the game. Additionally, the adaptive triggers on the PlayStation 5 controller will simulate the heaviness of opening doors and provide a more tactile experience while playing.
While the interview did not reveal too many specific details about the gameplay or story of Final Fantasy 16, it did create excitement among fans eager to see what the next installment of the iconic series has in store. The game is scheduled for release on June 22, 2023.
To further build anticipation, the director also announced that a demo version of Final Fantasy 16 will be released two weeks prior to the official launch date. This will give players a chance to get a taste of the game and experience the new technological advancements firsthand.
The combination of the rich storytelling and immersive gameplay that the Final Fantasy series is known for, along with the technological advancements made possible by the PlayStation 5 hardware, suggests that Final Fantasy 16 will be a must-play game for RPG fans.
Overall, the gaming industry is buzzing with exciting news and developments, from ARK 2's delayed release and the remastered version of ARK Survival Evolved, to the surprise release of "The Murder of Sonic the Hedgehog" visual novel, and the technological advancements in Final Fantasy 16. With each piece of news offering something new and thrilling, gamers have a lot to look forward to in the coming months.
For a visual summary of today's gaming news, complete with engaging gameplay footage, check out our YouTube video below. It's a quick and entertaining way to catch up on the highlights!
I hope you enjoyed this comprehensive dive into the latest gaming news. As the gaming landscape continues to evolve, it's always thrilling to be at the forefront, sharing these updates with fellow enthusiasts like you.
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- Mattress Firm is the largest specialty mattress retailer in the United States, with around 3,400 stores.
- It has increasingly come under pressure as new startups such as Casper innovate the experience of mattress shopping and take market share.
- The company is currently facing a multitude of issues and is reportedly considering filing for bankruptcy.
It has been an eventful few months for Mattress Firm.
In the space of a year, this seemingly non-descript mattress store has been accused of being a money-laundering operation, announced it would be closing almost 200 stores, watched on as its parent company is being investigated for fraud, and is knee deep in a lawsuit that alleges two of its own employees defrauded it out of millions of dollars.
The icing on the cake? Sources now say it is exploring bankruptcy.
With about 3,400 stores, Mattress Firm is by far the largest specialty mattress retailer in the United States. It's not uncommon to find many of its stores right across the road from each other leading many people to believe that it is completely overstored.
It has increasingly come under pressure as new startups like Casper find ways to improve the experience of shopping for this high-ticket item.
We tested the experience of shopping it its stores. Here's what it was like:
To hear more about the conspiracy theories about Mattress Firm's stores, listen to "Household Name," a new podcast from Business Insider. Subscribe for free on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, or your favorite podcast app.
While our visit to the store was in the mid-morning on a Wednesday — definitely not prime mattress-shopping time — the store was noticeably empty.
In January, a Reddit thread that accused the store of being a front for money laundering went viral. Reddit users claimed that Mattress Firm's stores are often empty, which they claimed could be a sign of something more dubious. Mattress Firm has denied these allegations.
We also visited two other Mattress Firm stores in New York and found that each one was completely empty during the day. It was almost impossible to go unnoticed, and we were instantly approached by a pushy salesperson who asked lots of questions and was reluctant to leave us to browse.
While some shoppers might find this helpful, their persistence was a little off-putting.
The mattresses were expensive — some cost over $5,000 for a king size — but shoppers were constantly reminded of the financing options available.
Despite the available financing options, these mattresses are considerably more expensive than the options at bed-in-the-box retailer Casper, where a king-sized mattress, for example, can cost from $725 for a standard mattress and go up to $2,250 for a more technical piece.
Mattress Firm launched its own version of the bed-in-a-box, called Tulo, in October. Costing between $375 for a twin and $800 for a California-king-size mattress, these products are aimed at millennial consumers.
The store was easy to shop and well laid-out, and there were a ton of options to try. Still, the stores we visited were very empty, which was surprising given how many stores the chain has in highly concentrated areas. Even with the sales and discount signs, customers didn't seem to be biting.


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Russia formulated its amendments to the Ukraine–EU Association Agreement
Russia will offer to Ukraine and the European Union to impose a number of amendments to the Association Agreement, reported Alexei Ulyukayev, Minister of Economic Development of the Russian Federation, on August 28.
According to him, Russia would like to adjust three key provisions of the Agreement. Firstly, it concerns the parameters and terms of reducing of the customs duties on goods from the EU by Ukraine. The parameters should be reduced gradually. Secondly, the EU technical regulations are much tougher, and the access of Russian goods on the Ukrainian market can be stopped. Third, there is required harmonization or mutual recognition of the phytosanitary control standards: there are three standards of certificate issuing in Russia, and one - in the EU.
There may be needed a transition period for solution of the second and third problems.
As a reminder, on August 27 Pavlo Klimkin, Foreign Minister of Ukraine, said that the Agreement text will not be changed at all. Also, the European Commission rejected any possibility of correcting the document.
You should be authorized to post comment
Ukraine: Ministry of Agrarian Policy to contribute to entry of agricultural producers on the EU market
In 2015, Ukraine decreased production of buckwheat groats by 25% - APK-Inform
Ukraine to annually increase flour exports by 30-35% - expert
Ukraine has to develop the production of value-added agricultural products – T.Kutovyi
Ukraine harvested over 38 mln tonnes of grains - Ministry of Agrarian Policy
Ukraine: in January-July, Nika-Tera transshipped over 760 thsd tonnes of grains
In September-July, Ukraine exported over 4.2 mln tonnes of sunflower oil - experts
August 22, 14:30
Ukraine: in the third week of August, the seaports decreased grain exports
August 22, 12:10


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The UK’s data protection authority and GDPR enforcer has issued fresh guidance (and a warning) to businesses over data flows in the event of a no-deal Brexit.
The guidelines come with a stark warning that no deal will change how EU law is applied to UK companies processing user data.
If a company is transferring personal data from the UK to an EU entity then they can proceed as normal, as the UK government has stated that they will put no restriction on data flow. However, if the company is receiving data from a firm based in the EU they will need to take extra steps to ensure they are compliant.
While the GDPR, NIS, PECR and other regulations surrounding information security and data privacy have been enshrined in UK law and will be retained post-Brexit, eIDAS (which covers electronic ID and trust services) has yet to be incorporated into UK law.
Westminster says this will happen on the eve of Brexit however. The ICO notes that, in practice, “if you are a UK trust service provider, you should assume that you will still need to comply with eIDAS rules.”
ICO: Firms Should Establish Standard Contractual Clauses with EU Partners
The ICO is advising that the best approach may be to establish standard contractual clauses (SCCs) with EU bodies and firms from which data is flowing.
The SCCs should outline the data protection responsibilities of a company with regards to GDPR legislation in the EU. The SCC would essentially establish contractual terms and conditions that ensure both companies process data in a legal manner.
Currently data flow is unrestricted as the UK is still classed as an EU member state, yet that could change overnight on October 31 and it will be up to UK firms to ensure they are following the law in the UK and the EU, warns the ICO.
The Information Commissioner Elizabeth Denham stated that: “It’s crucial that organisations make sure they properly prepare for all scenarios.”
ICO Brexit Warning
The Commissioner is advising business to bring themselves up to speed with the ICO’s published guidelines. “Even if you think your organisation doesn’t transfer data internationally, I’d urge you to read what we’ve produced, and assess whether you need to act,” commented Denham.
If a company has established offices or branches within the European Economic Area (EEA) they will have to comply with UK and EU data protection regulations. The ICO is advising companies of this nature that they may need to designate a representative in the EEA.
This representative will act as the company’s local representative with individuals and data protection authorities in the EEA. The ICO is warning that if you have a data protection officer (DPO), this person or one of your processors cannot be designate as your representative in the EEA.
No matter what happens come the end of October the ICO is informing business that the best approach will be to adhere to GDPR rules and guidelines when processing personal data, this will ensure firms are complaint with EU and UK laws.
And despite all the updates, the main message from the ICO is simple: “If we leave the EU without a deal, most of the data protection rules affecting small to medium-sized businesses and organisations will stay the same.”


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The Cardullo family is parting ways with their longstanding business, Cardullo’s Gourmet Shoppe, a landmark in the heart of Harvard Square for the past six decades. Sisters Donez Cardullo Tavilla and Francesca Cardullo Sibboe have sold the popular business to Newton couple, Rich and Kim Wilson. The sale will be finalized in four to six weeks once the liquor license is transferred, but the new owners plan to keep the shop’s name and mission, according to Tavilla.
Harper Lee’s long-awaited second novel, Go Set a Watchman, is set for release on July 14. In response, independent bookstores around the country are preparing for the biggest book release since the golden days of Harry Potter. BookPeople in Austin, Texas, for instance, ordered 300 copies of Go Set a Watchman as soon as it was announced in February, according to retail store manager Bryan Samsone. Since then, 100 of those copies been set aside for preorders.
The iconic Out of Town News kiosk in Harvard Square could undergo some changes in the near future. Cambridge officials have been assessing ways to enhance public open space in the area, including a rejuvenation of the 500-square-foot kiosk. The project would open up the kiosk, restore the structure, showing off the architectural detail through more lighting, and convert it into a flexible space with a variety of programming opportunities, according to Stuart Dash, director of community planning for the city’s Community Development Department.
Aaron Perrino and his band, The Sheila Divine, have been performing post-punk rock music in front of crowds since the late 1990s, but this year will mark the first time the four-member Boston-based group will step on the MayFair stage in Harvard Square. “It’s a pretty great line up this year,” said Perrino, 40, of Boston, who said he is going to bring his children to the festival. “I like playing in Harvard Square on Mass. Ave. It will be fun.”
“Y2Y Harvard Square,” which is scheduled to open in November following a $1.1 million renovation of the church’s subterranean auditorium, will offer temporary shelter for young adults age 18 to 24 during the coldest six months of the year.
Everyone complains that Boston doesn’t have its own homegrown music festival — this year’s Mayfair might just be the answer. The Harvard Square Business Association this morning announced Mayfair’s May 3 music lineup lineup, and it’s a doozy: The Sheila Divine, Freezepop, Bent Shapes, M’Bolo, Air Traffic Controller, Hallelujah The Hills, Grey Season, the Luxury, Vundabar, Funeral Advantage, Parks, and the Novel Ideas all shape up a pretty killer event. And it’s free.
The slow climb in temperatures marks the end of the off-season for tour companies in Harvard Square. Although this past winter buried many tour group businesses in weeks of slow or no sales—especially those that depend on last-minute bookings—the damage was lessened by the industry’s anticipation of such seasonal cycles, according to tourism company employees. For Trademark Tours, the company behind the “Hahvahd Tour,” business did not noticeably differ from previous winters. CEO and founder Daniel Andrew attributed the steady numbers to the fact that most customers during the colder months are large companies that have scheduled months in advance.
Sandrine’s Bistro will close its doors on March 30, according to co-managing partner Gwen B. Trost. The French bistro, which was headed by award-winning chef Raymond E. Ost until August, has been a part of Harvard Square since 1996. Trost said that the restaurant had experienced a tough economic winter due to the harsh weather but stated the decision to close had been made before the snow storms had arrived.
In the wake of winter weather that shut down University operations on three separate days this semester, some Harvard Square businesses have experienced a downturn in sales and customer traffic this season. Business owners pointed to recent MBTA service suspensions as well as parking and travel bans as factors inhibiting employees and customers from travelling to the Square. “Businesses have reported that it has been very difficult these last few weeks with the snow,” said Denise A. Jillson, executive director of the Harvard Square Business Association.
The raucous good time known as the HONK! Festival was honking as ever this weekend. The cacophonous parade that began in Davis Square …


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The Kozhikode police on Tuesday arrested a person, a native of Tamil Nadu on the charge of keeping in his possession six kgs of ganja.
A team led by Assistant Commissioner of Police (South) K. R. Premachandran and Town Circle Inspector T.K. Ashraf nabbed P. Murugan, 42, of Nadutheruvu, Theni, from Annie Hall Road here at around 11 a.m.
This was following a tip-off the officers received that the accused had arrived in the city to supply ganja to retail drug -pushers in the city. The police officers had approached him in the guise of customers.
Investigations revealed that Murugan had been regularly supplying ganja to retailers in the city as well as in Panniyankara and Feroke areas. He used to transport the stuff from Cumbum in Theni district after taking delivery orders over mobile phone from retailers whose regular customers included migrant labourers, youths and students. Further investigations are on, the police said.


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A gaming industry article featured Lesley Manford, the CEO of Razoo this week. Razoo is an online fundraiser that’s had success out of giving contests.
The biggest misconception that most small charitable organizations have, says Mansford, is that online fundraising is difficult and costly. Razoo does take a fee, but at 2.9% of each transaction, it’s lower than competitors such as Crowdrise which charges 5% or FirstGiving which takes a 7.5% cut.
Some people will argue that the philanthropy pool in Australia is a finite size and that increased donations in one area or for a new programs or models like Social Impact Bonds will reduce the flow of donations to other areas. I’m don’t know if this assumption has ever been tested, but perhaps online fundraising or crowdfunding reaches out to a different donor in a different way, creating a new ‘market’?
Is there anything we can learn from co-ops and mutuals about rewarding crowdfunders with some form of equity?


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"There are no easy answers here,” Claridge Homes executive Neil Malhotra says of what it will take to encourage more residents to live, work and shop inside the Greenbelt in the wake of the pandemic.
Sparks Street Business Improvement Area
The task force, announced today by Ottawa Centre MP Yasir Naqvi, brings together community and business representatives to propose creative ideas for Ottawa’s downtown core, post-pandemic.
With the first official day of summer around the corner, neighbourhoods across the city are coming to life – and Ottawa's business improvement areas couldn't be happier.
Hotel association boss suggests trucker convoy could continue for a while yet as some protesters book rooms for next weekend.
Bank Street, Preston Street, Somerset Chinatown, Sparks Street and Vanier BIAs have been chosen to participate in program aimed at revitalizing mainstreet retailers.
The city’s central business district remains virtually empty more than a year into the pandemic, leaving a legion of forgotten retailers searching for answers, writes Ron Corbett
In its never-ending quest to breathe life into Sparks Street, the city is asking residents, business owners, community associations and gov
Long Ma the dragon horse wasn’t the only winner in the four-day-long march of La Machine through Ottawa as downtown businesses were packed with customers.
Downtown businesses are confident enhanced security measures for Canada Day will actually bring more people downtown.


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Flexing their home-rule powers, the village Zoning Board of Appeals has recommended that the Village Board prohibit firearms sales out of homes.
The unanimous decision Wednesday came after village staff discovered that 40 residents hold federal licenses to sell guns from residential addresses, but do not have village licenses for home-based businesses.
Rather than enforce local laws and allow them to continue selling, Zoning Board members agreed that gun sales simply have no place in residential zones.
Comparing guns to other products sold out of homes, board Chairman Fred Dietrich said, "Guns are a different animal. I don't know why guns should be sold out of homes."
If the proposal is approved April 26 by village trustees, senior planner Todd Wahler said license holders would be notified to cease business or prove they have relocated their dealership to areas zoned for commercial purposes.
The village will give from one to three months for license holders to comply.
Cherie Knoblock, inspector for the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, said Schaumburg's ban on home guns sales would take precedence over federal laws.
As approved by the Zoning Board, the sales ban applies to gun dealers selling modern-day weapons as well as collectors who sell firearms more than 50-years-old.


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The deal, which is part of the London company's restructuring of its US operations, is subject to approval by US regulatory authorities, C&W said in a statement. The company is focusing on providing IP (Internet Protocol) data and hosting services to corporate customers.
C&W said it would update investors on the progress of the restructuring of its US operations when it publishes its interim results in November.
Currently, C&W offers IP-based services in 33 countries around the world.


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Samsung has been widely reported to be developing a smart speaker product similar to the Amazon Echo that would be powered by Samsung’s voice-activated Bixby virtual assistant, but recent reports suggest the company is no longer pursuing such a plan, according to The Next Web, which credited the Korea Herald with the original report.
The Korean mobile smartphone maker recently announced support for the Bixby assistant in its new Galaxy S8 and S8+ devices in the U.S. and South Korea. Bixby capabilities were supposed to have been available in these devices a few months earlier, according to Consumer Reports and other sources.
The worldwide market for smart speakers is expected to be worth $13 billion by 2024, according to a new Global Market Insights study cited by The NextWeb.
It is not clear that Samsung ever confirmed speculation that it was developing a smart speaker, or that it publicly offered any specific details about such a product on its own. Although, despite this week's reports, it's not possible to say whether Samsung will develop such a product in the future.
What is clear is that the smart speaker market is heating up. Amazon got a massive head start, and the company has continued to dominate the market with as much as 70% market share while also forging ahead to improve and expand Echo offerings. But buzz about competing products is rising.
Most recently, Alibaba announced plans for a smart speaker product, but Apple also has been working on bringing Siri to the planned Apple Homepod device. Then, of course, there's Google Home, which has been around for a while. Something all of these companies, Amazon included, have in common, is that they are each giants in their own native market segments. The same could be said of Samsung, which continues to be the Amazon/Apple/Alibaba/Google of Android smartphones.
For that reason alone, it's a natural move for Samsung to roll with companies of its ilk and compete in the smart speaker market. When you consider it already has developed Bixby, the virtual assistant that could drive a Samsung smart speaker, it seems like a no-brainer. Will Samsung change its mind as the market for smart speakers takes off? Perhaps it's waiting for more evidence that will happen, but in the meantime it will lose ground to competitors, all of whom are still looking to catch up to Amazon.


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Shoe designer Aruna Seth is celebrating the first anniversary of her brand in style, announcing plans for her own store in Chelsea. Seth has defied critics during the downturn with extravagant designs including a £2,500 high-heel encrusted with thousands of Swarovski crystals and has just provided shoe designer PPQ of Mayfair and Ashley Isham at London Fashion Week.
A spokesman for Seth said: "We've persevered through the recession. We've found consumers are looking to make investment purchases rather than buy lots of things".
Now her business is doing so well Seth plans branded stores rather than relying on concessions in boutiques such as Browns and Caroline Castigliano. Shoes run in the family – her father made his fortune building up a multi-million pound footwear empire in the 1980s with the Ascot pro-white trainer.Reuse content


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The app business exhibits no indicators of slowing down, with 194 billion downloads in 2018 and over $100 billion in shopper spending. Individuals spend 90% of their mobile time in apps and more time using their mobile devices than watching TV. In different phrases, apps aren’t only a strategy to spend idle hours — they’re a giant enterprise. And one that always appears to alter in a single day. On this new Further Crunch collection, we’ll make it easier to sustain with the newest information from the world of apps — together with all the pieces from the OS’s to the apps that run upon them, in addition to the cash that flows by means of all of it.
This week, options to the standard app retailer is a giant theme. Not solely has a brand new, jailbreak-free iOS market referred to as AltStore simply popped up, we’ve additionally bought each Apple and Google ramping up their very own subscription-based collections of premium apps and video games.
In the meantime, the way in which manufacturers and publishers need to observe their apps’ success is altering, too. And App Annie — the corporate that was the primary to start out promoting pickaxes for the App Retailer gold rush — is responding with an acquisition that can assist app publishers higher perceive the return on funding for his or her app companies.
AltStore is another App Retailer that doesn’t want a jailbreak
An fascinating various app market has appeared on the scene, allowing a way for developers to distribute iOS apps outside the official App Store, reports Engadget — with out jailbreaking, which may be tough and has numerous safety implications. As an alternative, the brand new retailer works by tricking your machine into considering you’re a developer sideloading apps. And it makes use of a companion app in your Mac or PC to re-sign the apps each 7 days by way of iTunes WiFi syncing protocol. Already, it’s offering a Nintendo emulator and different video games, says The Verge. And Apple might be already engaged on a strategy to shut this down. For now, it’s dwell at Altstore.io.
For the third time in a month, Google mass-deleted Android apps from a giant Chinese language developer.
Does Google Play have a malicious app downside? That seems to be the case as Google has booted some 46 apps from main Chinese language cellular developer iHandy out of its app retailer, BuzzFeed reported. And it isn’t saying why. The transfer follows Google’s ban of two different main Chinese language app builders, DO International and CooTek, who had 1 billion complete downloads.


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T-Mobile looks likely to be bringing a completely redesigned G1 to the market after new pictures leak out of the version two handset.
We brought you news of the phone, codenamed Bigfoot, last week, but that was just a speck on a detailed roadmap, and now thanks to Boy Genius Report, we've got a much better close up.
While the G1 has sold well the world over, it still has come in for criticism over its blocky looks. However, many have become enamoured with having a QWERTY keyboard, and v2 looks set to bring the best of both worlds.
No jack is wack
There doesn't seem to be a 3.5mm headphone jack on the device, just the normal connection port, which is a big disappointment and one you would have hoped T-Mobile / HTC (who we assume is manufacturing a second-gen version of its own phone) would have rectified.
The handset is obviously still not confirmed by T-Mobile, and it's not certain that this image is the real deal.
For instance, the new design moves some of the buttons onto the slide out QWERTY, meaning that you can only operate it when the keyboard is extended, with touch sensitive keys on the front, which would be a bizarre design move for some people.
Still, BGR has shown that it will be coming to the US in Q4 this year, so it looks like we in the UK might even get it earlier (should we be allowed to have such a device, of course).


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Demand for labor is boosting wages. That’s good for the economy.
In the aftermath of the Black Plague, workers returning to the fields noticed just how much conditions had changed. With millions of people dead — estimates range from a quarter of Europe’s population to as much as 60% — there was more demand for the labor of those who survived. With more competition for their services, workers were able to extract higher wages from landowners. Some even moved their families when an enticing offer came in. Employers didn’t like this change much and sought various ways, including legal measures, to cap pay or revert wages to pre-plague levels. Another thing happened as well. With more silver and gold per capita circulating in the economy because there were so many fewer people, inflation spiked. While workers were making more than before, their money didn’t go much further.
While modern economies are much more complex — in the mid-1300s about 90% of laborers worked in agriculture — there are parallels to the situation workers and employers are finding as we begin to emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic. The population drop hasn’t been anywhere near as significant (while 600,000-plus deaths in the U.S. is terrible and tragic, it’s a fraction of 1% of the populace). Still, workers drawing minimum wage or close to it before the pandemic have been hearing for well over a year now that they’re essential to the economy. Unsurprisingly, they want a bigger piece of the pie.
Status Quo Ante
Like those workers in the Middle Ages, they see that the status quo has been reset, and much of the social movement of the past year has been directed at changing things people didn’t like about the pre-pandemic world. Economic inequality had reached levels not seen since the Gilded Age, with the top 0.1% making 196 times more income than the bottom 90%.
While 29 states have set a higher minimum, the federal minimum wage remains unchanged from 2009 at $7.25 an hour. It would need to be $9.02 in 2021 just to keep pace with inflation since then. Work 40 hours a week at minimum wage for a year and you’d have $15,080 gross. That’s not going to buy a lot even if you don’t have any dependents. In 2019, 44% of adult workers were in low-wage jobs as defined by the Brookings Institute, with median earnings of $18,000 a year.
Some things didn’t change in 2020. Of the 100 S&P 500 companies with the lowest median wages, 51 gave their CEOs raises that put compensation at an average of $15.3 million, a 29% raise from 2019. They altered their own rules about executive pay to do so, the Institute for Policy Studies found. At the same time, median worker pay at those 51 firms went down 2%. CEOs at these companies made 830 times what the average employee made. Billionaires got way richer as millions of Americans lost their jobs.
Overall, wages did go up a whopping 6.9% in 2020, but not because a lot of people were getting raises. Rather, it was because the vast majority of the people who lost their jobs were in the lowest quartile of earnings. Subtract the lowest earners from the economy and it looks on paper like every worker is doing well, but it doesn’t reflect reality.
Labor Demand Hot
As restrictions ease and more people venture out, business is starting to pick back up in places hardest hit by the pandemic, especially restaurants. You’ve no doubt seen stories of restaurateurs struggling to find workers and blaming unemployment benefits for people “not wanting to work.” Often, though, there are underlying conditions that make a particular place unattractive to workers, such as safety concerns.
Overwhelmingly, the response from restaurant workers and other low earners deemed essential has been along the lines of, “pay us enough to make it worth our while, and we’re happy to work.”
Employers seem to be taking notice. McDonald’s, which is hiring 10,000 workers, is raising wages at company-owned stores by 10%. The fast-food giant expects average pay will be $15 per hour by 2024 across its nationwide network of 650 non-franchise locations. Depending on location, starting pay will be $11-17 an hour, with managers making $15-20 an hour. McDonald’s is also adding paid time off, college tuition assistance, and 401(k)s for qualified workers. Chipotle is hiring 20,000 workers for summer and increasing pay to an average of $15 an hour. Local non-chain restaurants are increasing pay and benefits as well.
“You’re seeing people get real creative on how to get a staff in the door,” Kevin Hawkins of the Panhandle Restaurant Association in Amarillo, Texas, told KFDA TV. “They’re offering signing bonuses and even bonus incentives. Some restaurants, for full-time employees, they’ll offer them better health insurance.”
The change is not limited to the restaurant industry. Under Armour is raising pay to a minimum of $15 an hour. The Biden administration raised the minimum wage for federal contractors to $15 an hour, and local governments are doing the same for their employees. As e-commerce continues to boom, logistics companies are offering higher wages to attracted badly needed workers. Bank of America is raising its minimum wage to $25 an hour by 2025.
“It costs us a few hundred million dollars a year … but it’s an investment,” CEO Brian Moynihan told CNN.
A Good Thing
Employers might be frustrated by their inability to find workers at pre-pandemic wages, just as landowners were after the Black Death, but blaming unemployment benefits is misguided. A Federal Reserve Bank study of unemployment benefits for 2013-19 found that “the unemployed exert a high level of effort to find work. This is especially true for those receiving unemployment insurance benefits.”
More generous benefits during the pandemic haven’t changed that. “Overall, the weight of evidence seems to suggest that the unprecedentedly generous UI benefit levels during the COVID crisis did not have any substantially negative effect on jobs,” Arindrajit Dube of the University of Massachusetts found in analysis for the National Bureau of Economic Research.
With higher wages, though, is inflation coming? Won’t companies paying employees more be forced to raise their prices for goods and services? Well, No. 1, inflation is already happening all the time, it’s just that wages haven’t kept pace. Worker productivity went up 72% between 1979-2019, while hourly pay went up only 17%. Secondly, though “wage push inflation” sounds plausible in theory, there’s not much evidence that it actually occurs. When inflation skyrocketed in the wake of the Black Plague it was because there were so many fewer people around, not because the remaining workers were making more.
Prices are already going up as people start spending more as the pandemic recedes. If workers have more money in their pockets, they can buy more of those items and keep money circulating throughout the economy. The first quarter of 2021 saw the highest wage increases in 20 years in the U.S. That’ll help relegate the current plague to the history books.


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Earlier this month at the 45th Tokyo Motor Show Yamaha displayed some pretty cool new tech. The lineup included power-assisted bicycles, scooters, motorcycles, and Leaning Multi-Wheelers. The coolest motorcycle released had to be the Yamaha MOTOROiD ($CONCEPT). It features artificial intelligence and takes a crack at developing a new motorcycle form that seamlessly embodies the rider with the machine. Motoroid is capable of recognizing its owner, driving on its own and interacting with the driver like a living being. Here’s hoping we get to see some of this tech in new offerings by Yamaha in the future.
German motorcycle manufacturer Horex is reviving its brand by releasing its second model the 2014 Horex VR6 Classic ($33,000). The Classic features a six-cylinder that provides 124.7 horses at 8500 rpm and 88 ft-lbs of torque at 7000 rpm. The suspension utilizes a fully adjustable Sachs rear shock and adjustable WP forks in the front. ...[Read More]


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“One of the more disappointing aspects of Apple’s December quarter earnings report was the nearly 25% y/y decline in iPad unit shipments. Apple has clearly needed to do more than introduce the iPad Pro,” Mark Hibben writes for Seeking Alpha. “Apple’s next-gen iPad Air will be part this effort.”
“Only, it won’t be called iPad Air 3, if rumors are correct. Instead, it will be identified as an iPad Pro model, but with a 9.7-inch screen,” Hibben writes. “Whatever the device is to be called, it will be considerably beefed up from the iPad Air 2. Rumor has it that it will receive the A9x SOC from the iPad Pro, and feature support for a detachable keyboard and Apple Pencil as well.”
“The rumor indicates that Apple is moving out fairly aggressively to enhance the utility of iPad. There have been rumors for some time of a March event, and it’s now thought that the new iPad will make its debut then,” Hibben writes. “Why the lag time between the large-sized iPad Pro and this new mid-sized version? I really think it was just due to A9x availability. The A9x is thought to be fabricated exclusively by TSMC (NYSE:TSM). TSMC was still ramping their 16nm FinFET process as of the end of the year, and there just weren’t enough of the A9x processors to go around.”
Read more in the full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: That 9.7-inch iPad Pro is quickly going to become the best-selling iPad model with millions of units in users hands by WWDC 2016 and millions of Apple Pencils sold to accompany them at $99 a pop.


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- Byrna Technologies (CSE:BYRN) has resumed production of its non-lethal Personal Security Device under designation as an essential service
- While COVID-19 restrictions have delayed shipments, the company expects to fulfil all open orders by mid-May
- Both brick-and-mortar and online sales have spiked in recent months amid virus-related fears
- However, the company is anticipating a sales drop of roughly C$20,000 for April due to the interruptions
- Byrna Technologies (BYRN) is currently down 3.25 per cent to $0.28 per share
Byrna Technologies (CSE:BYRN) has resumed production of its non-lethal Byrna HD Personal Security Device under designation as an essential service.
The Massachusetts-based company temporarily suspended its operations in March due to government-imposed restrictions.
Its Byrna HD product is a non-lethal, handgun-like “launcher” that fires a .68 caliber projectile containing chemical irritants. The device carries a five-round magazine, and is capable of hitting a target up to 60 feet away.
Shipments of the Byrna HD have experienced substantial delays in distribution as a result of COVID-19. However, the company is expecting to fulfil all its outstanding orders (worth approximately C$250,000) by mid-May this year.
That said, Byrna is also anticipating a subsequent drop in April revenue of roughly $20,000.
“We hate to disappoint customers who are waiting for Byrna HD’s even a little, but most of them are hanging in there and supporting Byrna,” said Reilly Schueler, Director of Sales and Marketing at Byrna Technologies.
The Byrna HD is currently distributed through over 50 brick-and-mortar locations, primarily across western parts of the US. As part of the company’s growth strategy, its focus is on expanding into new markets in the Midwest, Southeast and Mid-Atlantic states.
This has been supported in recent months by a significant spike in Byrna’s online sale, driven largely by virus-related fears. Total website visitors grew from 23,505 in February this year to 72,017 in April.
“We continue to see strong demand for our products, even as some of the panic seems to have settled down and quarantines became the new normal.
“We are seeing tremendous growth in online interest, measured by daily website visits, which climbed from a daily average of 541 in December to 3,127 in April. This is translating directly into substantially higher order volumes,” Reilly concluded.
Byrna Technologies (BYRN) is currently down 3.25 per cent to $0.28 per share at 3:50pm EST.


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NEW YORK-BASED think tank Global Source has tempered its growth outlook on the Philippine gross domestic product (GDP) this year to 4.8 percent from 5.3 percent, citing ripples from high commodity prices coupled with ?domestic inertia.?
In a quarterly report titled ?Stirred But Not Shaken? dated May 12, the research written by Filipino economists Romeo Bernardo and Margarita Gonzales said that despite lower growth expectations, the central scenario in their view would still be a ?manageable? domestic economy.
?We are still expecting oil prices to stabilize by 2012 with stagflation reminiscent of the 1970s unlikely to occur,? the research said.
Stagflation occurs when prices are rising when the economy is not growing like in the 1970s, when world oil prices skyrocketed and fueled sharp inflation in developed countries.
?Thus far, double-digit inflation seems unlikely to set in especially with good harvests helping to keep food inflation down. We also believe that spillovers to domestic economic activity due to disruptions in Japan?s production as well as curtailment of Japanese demand will not last for very long especially with a massive reconstruction effort underway,? Global Source said.
The research projected inflation this year to average 5.2 percent. It also sees the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas? overnight borrowing rate ending the year at 5 percent, suggesting a further increase in key interest rates from the current 4.5 percent.
?With inflation likely to peak around the fourth quarter, we continue to expect further monetary adjustments before the year ends. The country?s CPI [consumer price index] rose in April mainly because of global oil price pressures, with the fuel, light and water and services subcomponents registering the largest monthly increases as expected,? it said.
The think tank added that greater second-round effects could be anticipated going forward especially with a rise in minimum wages, a move backed by President Aquino, who recently called for the fast-tracking of wage deliberations nationwide.
On the Middle East-North African crisis, Global Source said the best-case scenario would be for the social unrest to subside completely, thereby putting global oil prices on a steadier and flatter path and minimizing the inflation threat worldwide.
But in a worst case, it said oil prices would continue to escalate because of supply disruptions to as high as $140 a barrel, heightening inflation expectations worldwide. ?While stagflation would still not be a certainty under this scenario in our opinion, it would be a much more real risk for the global economy,? it said.
Global Source maintained confidence in the resilience of remittances and of services exports, specifically business process outsourcing.
?This year, as in 2008 when crude prices shot up, the pressure will be on the goods trade balance as an anticipated reversal of the technology cycle exacerbated by the downturn in Japan occurs in tandem with a ballooning oil import bill, with Dubai prices possibly averaging at about $110-$115 a barrel,? it said.
As such, the think tank is expecting a smaller current account surplus of around 3.3 percent of GDP this year, down from its previous forecast of 4 percent.
?If the uptrend in oil prices continues next year and dampens global outlook, it is unlikely the current account could improve by much and would probably still settle at below 4 percent. Electronics industry players tell us, however, that they are optimistic things would start looking up by the second half of this year, especially as the supply chain would have already adjusted after the Japan incident [with China still as the main driver and given some revival in Europe and the US], which should provide some support,? Global Source said.


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Convenience retailer McColls profits before tax dropped from £18.4m to £7.9m in the 52 weeks to 25 November 2018, impacted by the administration of wholesaler Palmer and Harvey.
The wholesaler worked with 90,000 retailers in the UK before it collapsed in November 2017 with debts of £65m.
McColls’ total revenue was up 8.1% to £1.24bn compared with the previous year’s figure of £1.15bn, reflecting its 2017 acquisition of 298 Co-op stores. Like-for-like sales were down 1.4%, but the company said it was seeing an improvement with Q4 FY18 sales remaining flat while Q1 FY19 is up 1.2% to date.
The group reduced its net debt to £98.6m compared with £142.2m dues in 2017.
In August, McColls completed a contract to supply 1,300 Morrisons stores and it added 11 outlets to its portfolio.
Jonathan Miller, chief executive, said: “2018 was undoubtedly a challenging year, marked by supply chain disruption following Palmer and Harvey’s entry into administration and the accelerated transition to our new supply partner Morrisons.
“Despite this disruption, we continued to make progress against a number of our key strategic plans. We completed the rollout of 1,300 stores to Morrisons supply in less than nine months, which represents a considerable achievement and provides us with a more secure supply chain and a higher quality chilled and fresh offer. We also continued to invest in our estate, with 59 convenience store refreshes completed in the year and 11 new stores acquired.”
He added: “We are a profitable and cash generative business, and our priority for the year ahead is to rebuild operational momentum and we remain confident in delivering our strategic plans.”


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- 1. Cannabis industry creates hundreds of thousands of new jobs
- 2. Cannabis employment growth of 32% in 2020, despite COVID-19
- 3. Distribution of jobs in the cannabis sector by state
- 4. Comparison of the growth of the cannabis industry with other industries
- 5. Michigan leads the pack in industrial job growth
Cannabis industry creates hundreds of thousands of new jobs
The number of new jobs created by the legal cannabis industry is growing faster than any other industry in the United States. In 2020 alone, 77000 cannabis-related jobs were created and there are currently around 321000 in the United States, according to a new report.
Cannabis employment growth of 32% in 2020, despite COVID-19
More than 321000 jobs in the United States belong to the legal cannabis industry and 77000 of them were added in 2020 alone, according to a new report released this week. The numbers are based on data from 37 countries in the United States (out of 50), of which, of course, run a medical cannabis industry and / or a legal market for recreational use. The growth rate in the number of new cannabis-related jobs represents an average increase of 27,5% each year, which places the cannabis industry at the top of the growth rate of a number of new jobs among all other American industries.
In total, over the past four years, the number of jobs in the cannabis industry has climbed 161%, with a significant portion, 58000, as expected in the state of California - the cannabis capital of the world and the one of the most powerful economies in the world.
For comparison, the United States has, according to the report, 127000 dentists, 314000 electricians and, as mentioned, 321000 practitioners in the field of cannabis, slightly less in the field of hairdressing and cosmetologists.
Although the share of the population Black among Americans is about 13%, only about 1,5% of management rankings in the cannabis industry in the United States are boys and girls from the African American community. . It was also found that in March 2020, with the corona epidemic, cannabis users spent 33% more money on cannabis purchases compared to the previous period.
One of the highlights highlighted in the report is the fact that the increase in the number of cannabis-related jobs, as well as the increase in usage percentages, came in the year the corona plague broke out. and many closed businesses. As to the obvious question, how did they calculate whether a particular job "belongs" to the cannabis industry or not, the report's authors note that they were based on financial data collected from the cannabis market, information on work permits issued to industry practitioners, the number of employment licenses in various countries, and more.
The data has been published in a new report ( PDF ) of the Leafly website and are based on independent analysis by journalists, information experts and economists.
Distribution of jobs in the cannabis sector by state
- There are more employees working in the cannabis industry in Florida than plumbers
- Michigan employs more cannabis industry professionals than cops
- California employs more cannabis workers than bank tellers
- Addition of 23 jobs in the cannabis sector in 707
- Has 59 jobs in the cannabis industry
- The national industry grew by 80% between 2019 and 2020
- 4338 additional cannabis jobs in 2020
- Has 35539 jobs in total
- Achieved $ 2,28 billion in cannabis sales in 2020
- 14981 additional jobs in 2020
- Has 31444 jobs in total
- Florida sells more cannabis than any other state besides California and Colorado, though it's only medically legal
- 687 additional jobs in 2020
- Has 17981 jobs in total
- achieved $ 1,1 billion in revenue last year, pushing the state to pass the billion dollar mark for the first time
- 524 additional jobs in 2020
- Has 19873 jobs in total
- If cannabis were counted among WA's other agricultural products (cherries, apples, etc.), it would rank in the top ten in economic value
- 8348 additional jobs in 2020
- A total of 16 jobs
- Chicago, a city of one million black people, still lacks a black-owned dispensary
Comparison of the growth of the cannabis industry with other industries
In four years, employment growth in the cannabis industry has increased by 161%, quickly surpassing forecasts of other industries over ten years….
- Speech therapy will increase by 25%
- Animal care will increase by 23%
- Data analysis will increase by 32%
- Home health aids will increase by 34%
- Solar energy installation will increase by 51%
- Nurse practitioners will increase by 52%
- Wind turbine technologies will increase by 61%
Even the biggest job growth, wind turbine technologies, will not achieve the same growth in 10 years that the cannabis industry has already achieved in just four years!
Michigan leads the pack in industrial job growth
Michigan has passed Oregon and now ranks sixth on the list of most cannabis-related jobs by state, as the Leafly report shows.
Michigan's industry now employs more than 18000 workers, more than double the number of positions reported in the industry just a year ago. Job growth is being fueled by the surge in sales of recreational marijuana, which became legal in the state in December 2019.
“There are now more cannabis workers than cops in Michigan,” Leafly wrote in her fifth annual Cannabis Industry Jobs Report. "In a state known for its auto industry, the number of cannabis workers is now roughly equal to the number of auto repair mechanics."