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For Valentine's Day, if love is in the air, then money is coming out of wallets.
Despite the economic downturn in the Northern San Joaquin Valley, retailers who do big business on Valentine's Day say they aren't seeing a drop-off in sales for the day marking all things romantic.
"The economy is affecting us on other days, and you can see that," said David Alonso, owner of Papapavlo's Mediterranean Bistro & Wine Bar in Modesto. "But not for Valentine's Day."
Alonso and other business owners said consumers don't think of flowers, candy and other Valentine's Day expenditures as discretionary. If they've got a sweetie to spoil, shoppers will spend money.
The National Retail Federation expects the average consumer to spend $122.98 for Valentine's Day this year, up from $119.67 last year. That's based on a survey of 8,447 consumers in early January, with a margin of error of 1 percent.
Eddi Marie Julian, owner of Beckles Candies & Gifts in Modesto, said many of her customers have ordered their typical Valentine's gifts.
A handful of customers have scaled back, she said, ordering something that's smaller or of lesser quality.
"For most people, we're not considered a discretionary item," Julian said.
But she noted that while her costs have gone up 2 percent to 10 percent in the past year, her prices largely have stayed the same.
"Nothing is priced more just for Valentine's Day," she said. "We're very aware of people's situations."
In the National Retail Federation's survey, consumers expected to spend less on tradi- tional Valentine's Day items, and more on "gifts of experience," such as a night on the town, and gift cards.
Still, Carlin Johnson, an assistant manager at Cheesecake Kitchen in Modesto, said orders have been steady.
Johnson, whose family owns the business, said Valentine's Day is the store's third-busiest holiday, after Christmas and Easter.
"The week before, we start getting orders," she said.
Her store has kept a lid on prices after raising them last year when costs went up, Johnson said.
"The dairy prices go up, and that affects our cheese prices," she said. "But people are making the same orders."
Consumers are also loyal to the standby of a rose bouquet, said Colleen Scudder, who helps with arrangements at Ceres Floral in Ceres.
But by buying earlier this year, Scudder said, those consumers locked in a price of $65 for a bouquet, which since has gone up to $80.
"They're still after that rose," she said. "With Valentine's, it's once a year, and I think a lot of customers plan for it."
Scudder said her store helps customers on a budget by suggesting a mixed arrangement that starts at $25.
But a jewelry store owner said romantics are turning cold at the idea of spending a lot for a shiny bauble.
Paul Patterson, owner of Patterson's Jewelry in Modesto, said he sees more business from jewelry repairs than sales lately.
"Ninety percent of all shoppers still want to buy for under $500, and some want to just buy something for $200 and be done with it," Patterson said. "No more big-ticket items."
He said the slow economy has made many people leery of big purchases, although engagement rings are still popular.
Jesse Casas of Modesto is an example of what Patterson is seeing. After spending $200 for a ring last year for his girlfriend, he spent $20 for a gift this year.
"I'm out of a job right now, but I had some money saved from last month," said Casas, 26, who works in construction. "Really, it's the thought that counts."
If the economy is biting wallets in some respects, Valentine's Day will be consistent in an- other respect: which gender spends the most.
According to the National Retail Federation's Survey, on average, men will spend $163.37 this year — nearly twice as much as women.
Bee staff writer Ben van der Meer can be reached at firstname.lastname@example.org or 578-2331.


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A tea producer blended the tea with radioactive cesium with the tea without radioactive cesium so that he could sell off his radioactive tea. An operator of a sewer sludge plant knowingly sold radioactive sludge to a manufacturer of garden soil because there was no national government standard when he sold it. Their reason: "It's safer that way, as radioactive cesium will be diluted".
Many Japanese consumers seem dismayed to find out that there are people among them who would do such a thing, but there are people like that, unfortunately. And as the article cites one government agency, it is clearly none of the government's business to do anything about it anytime soon.
From Tokyo Shinbun paper version (not online; 10/3/2011), extremely quick translation subject to revision later if necessary:
Dilute cesium and sell - blend tea, garden soil - so that the cesium level is below the limit
After the Fukushima I Nuclear Power Plant accident spread radioactive materials, the provisional safety limit was set for variety of foods and goods. If an item tests less than the provisional limit it is considered "guaranteed safe". As the result, there are businesses that mix [radioactive goods] with those made in places far away from Fukushima Prefecture to dilute radioactive materials and sell them. Currently it is not against the law to do so, but the consumers who doubt the safety of the products and the producers who fear further "baseless rumor" damages are voicing concern.
According to our research, we have been able to confirm instances of goods being sold after diluting the radioactive cesium content - garden soil and green teas.
In case of garden soil, sludge from water purification plants and sewage treatment plants had been used as an ingredient of the garden soil before the provisional safety limit for sludge was set. Sludge contains vital ingredients like phosphorus and potassium, and it is mixed with the soil at 10 to 20% ratio to make the garden soil.
The safety standard for radioactive materials in sludge was established on June 16, but some water purification plants in Kanagawa Prefecture had sold the total of 4,538 tonnes of sludge to the garden soil manufacturers from April up till June 16.
As for green tea, the tea producer was mixing the tea that passed the provisional safety limit but which still contained radioactive cesium with the tea made in Kyushu, far away from Fukushima I Nuke Plant. The blend was the radioactive tea 20%, the Kyushu tea 80%.
Most water purification plants had voluntarily stopped shipping the radioactive sludge until the provisional safety limit was decided. However, the company who runs this particular water purification plant that continued to ship says, "The detection level was low. If the sludge was made into the garden soil it would be diluted further". The company blames the manufacturers who bought the radioactive sludge, saying "The ultimate responsibility rests with those who make [the sludge] into final products and sell them". The company is currently selling the radioactive sludge to the businesses that supply dirt for construction projects, as the national government has sent out an instruction that "the use of radioactive sludge in the garden soil had better be suspended".
According to the green tea producer, there weren't enough of the tea leaves that passed the safety limit [but still contained radioactive cesium] to make it worthwhile to sell, so the company decided to mix it to make a "blend tea". The person in charge of the "blend tea" says "We made it clear in the package that it was a "blend tea", so there should be no problem. We just wanted to make the tea safer for the consumers".
These practices are not illegal, and when the contaminated products are mixed with non-contaminated products there should be less ill-effect on humans. However, if this "dilute and sell" model takes hold, it will only add to doubt and confusion for the consumers. Damage from "baseless rumors" may spread to milk and rice. It has been a standard practice to mix milk from different locations. The same goes for rice.
The national consumer association federation chief proposes the detailed labeling of the place of manufacture on a prefectural level so that the consumers can choose safely.
However, there is no law requiring the place of manufacture for the garden soil, and there is no voluntary guideline by the industry either. The national standard for food labeling only requires the label "Made in Japan" in the case of "blended" produce like rice and tea and processed foods; there is no requirement to show the name of prefecture where the product is made. The Consumer Affairs Agency of Japan [which is supposed to regulate the industries with the welfare of consumers in mind] is not going to do anything at this point, saying "Places of manufacture for the blended goods may change, so it is not practical to require detailed labels".
On the other hand, the head of the Worldwide Agricultural Policy Information Center is critical. He says "The role of the national government is to stop the spread of radioactive materials. To allow goods with radioactive materials to be diluted and and sold widely would be considered as approval by the national government to spread the contamination [all over Japan]". JA agricultural co-op Fukushima is also distrustful of the government policy [or lack thereof], saying "There will be no "baseless rumors" if the produce that is found with radioactive materials is not sold".
However, for now, we can only count on the voluntary effort by the industries. A new national policy would be necessary, just like when there was a problem of labeling "made in Japan" and "imported" goods.
It's funny and ironic that JA Fukushima says that, when it has been pushing radioactive produce to the rest of Japan, calling anyone who doesn't want to eat Fukushima produce as "discriminating against Fukushima people" and therefore "racist".

domain: news


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Apple is rumored to launch its first AR glasses sometime in 2022 or later, and the company has been developing a lot of ideas and technologies for the device. The Cupertino-based firm is trying to make it as light and comfortable to wear as possible while offering relatively sharper visuals. But that’s not it. The company has come up with another interesting idea for AR glasses: relaying AR screen on an iPhone for improved privacy.
A new patent application filed by Apple with the USPTO titled ‘Privacy Screen’ proposes a way that could allow only an iPhone or iPad owner to see what’s on the screen. This idea could immensely improve the privacy of iPhone and iPad users in public places. The concept involves displaying the UI of the iPhone on its screen via Apple Glasses. This could potentially remove the need for polarized screen protectors that some iPhone owners use to cut down the viewing angles and improve privacy.
According to the patent documents, Apple says that privacy screen guards cut down the colors and screen brightness to offer privacy. While users can increase the screen brightness while using privacy screen guards, it affects the battery life of the iPhone. The Cupertino-based firm’s idea is to use its upcoming Apple Glasses to offer similar functionality where only the wearer of the AR glasses can view the paired iPhone or iPad’s software.
The screen of the iPad or the iPhone is actually turned off, and the UI is displayed to the user via Apple Glasses. The UI is presented in such a way that it appears as an overlay on the smartphone or tablet’s screen, making it look like the screen is displaying the UI. While it’s easier just to put the UI on the AR glasses’ lenses, the patent does more: it needs a user to tap on the screen so that the taps are registered for navigating around the UI rather than depending on hand and finger gestures.
To anyone around the user, it would appear that they’re randomly tapping on their iPhone’s or iPad’s blank screen. The patent also explains how a pair of devices could be used by Apple to determine the relative position. When a user lifts their Apple Watch, the system can recognize that they’re not using an iPhone. The mechanism could then shift the information on the Apple Watch and not on the iPhone.
Apple’s AR glasses would reportedly cost $499 (plus the cost of prescription glasses) and all the data is processed on a paired iPhone. This means that the company’s AR glasses would only work with Apple products. The company is also rumored to be making Steve Jobs Heritage Edition of its AR glasses and an AR headset that could debut a year before AR glasses are launched.


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Minneapolis, Minnesota-based Johnson Plastics announces that it has acquired Zak Plastics of Stoughton, Massachusetts, in a deal that closed Oct. 27.
Terms of the deal were not announced.
Johnson Plastics is a leading distributor of materials and supplies for the engraving and sublimation industries. Spokesman Kevin Sheehy says it’s been some time since Johnson Plastics acquired another company.
“There was a time when we were actively acquiring (other companies), … but it’s been a while,” Sheehy says.
Talks with Zak Plastics’ founder, Ken Zak, had been in the works for many months. Sheehy adds.
Johnson Plastics’ president, Mike Johnson, calls Zak in a press statement “a respected businessman who has served his customers well for over 20 years.” Johnson also notes that customers should count on the same commitment to service from his company.
Zak Plastics’ customers, who have already been notified of the sale, will be served out of Johnson Plastics’ distribution facility in Albany, New York.
That site, located at 1 Selina Drive, opened Oct. 1 and is designed to serve the state of New York and most of the northeast with overnight UPS delivery.


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Ikea is launching new stores inside shopping malls in Ontario
With IKEA's first downtown Toronto store scheduled to open in early 2022, people are eager to get their hands on some affordable Swedish furniture.
Luckily for Ontario residents, downtown Toronto won't be the only one benefiting as IKEA Canada announced this week that three new design studio locations will be opening up across the province.
The new IKEA Design Studios will open at the following locations:
Of course, Toronto-based IKEA lovers might already be familiar with the design studio concept as one is currently located at stackt Market where it operates six days a week.
For those not familiar with the concept, the design studios are much smaller IKEA showrooms that show curated offerings alongside digital showcases.
Customers will be able to purchase any products on display and get them delivered to their home or made available to be picked up at another location.
And sadly no, food like their famous Swedish meatballs will not be served at these stores.
The concept is a short-term one as the stores typically stay open for 12-18 months, allowing people who may not typically have convenient access to an IKEA a chance to browse their selections.
With the Toronto location already up and running alongside an Oshawa location, the three new spots are all expected to open by early November.
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Smiley’s Ice Cream Plans Rockingham County, Virginia, Frosted Treat Manufacturing Plant
As part of this expansion, the locally-owned company will source an additional 18,000 gallons of Virginia-produced dairy and an additional 2,500 pounds of Virginia-grown fruits over the next three years.
“Smiley’s Ice Cream is very grateful to receive this grant from Rockingham County and the Commonwealth,” said owner Derek Smiley. “This grant will help with the building of a truly one-of-a-kind ice cream destination for the Town of Bridgewater. We take great pride in supporting Virginia’s local farms by purchasing locally many of the fresh fruits used to make our ice cream and understand the fresh milk and cream coming from Mt. Crawford Creamery is the backbone of our great ice cream.”
The Commonwealth is partnering with Rockingham County and the Rockingham County Economic Development Authority on this project through the Governor’s Agriculture and Forestry Industries Development (AFID) Fund, which is administered by the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS). Governor Northam approved a $20,000 grant from the AFID Fund to secure the project for Virginia, which Rockingham County will match with local funds.
“We are delighted to support this expansion by Smiley’s Ice Cream, a business that has found its sweet spot by bringing together entrepreneurship, Virginia-grown ingredients, and agritourism in the Shenandoah Valley,” said Governor Ralph Northam. “The company’s commitment to investing in Virginia farmers and agricultural products will further strengthen this rural economy and create exciting new opportunities in Rockingham County for visitors and residents alike.”
“Through their commitment to sourcing local fruits and 100 percent of their dairy products from Virginia, Smiley’s is ensuring that their success also supports Virginia’s agricultural community,” said Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry Bettina Ring. “I am pleased we could partner with Rockingham County through the AFID program to support this expansion and increase market opportunities for Shenandoah Valley farmers.”
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The Chinese Government has granted 5G licenses to its three major carriers - China Mobile, China Unicom and China Telcom - and to the China Broadcasting Network Corp, giving the go-ahead for them to launch commercial 5G networks.
China Mobile, which is the largest of China's state-owned telecoms, is planning to provide 5G services in more than 40 Chinese cities by September.
5G networks are already up and running in a number of countries around world, like the United Kingdom, the US, Italy and South Korea.
Huawei will get a huge boost from China's 5G expansion as it will get to sell its 5G equipment to carriers. The maker has reportedly already signed 46 5G commercial contracts in 30 countries and shipped more than 100,000 5G base stations.
However analysts still believe the US blacklist of Huawei will impose issues on its 5G business, even in China. Huawei needs parts and components from American (and partner) firms that require a special approval from Washington to obtain.
Huawei is getting more business thanks to Trump's free publicity lol..
"even in China." ... Nah. Huawei is about 2 years ahead of everyone in 5G telco.
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Total 83 Posts
Canada and Taiwan have completed their 10 month long negotiations on a foreign investment agreement, although the text has not yet been released and some "legal scrubbing" still needs to take place.
Today, China's Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) announced that it will extend a trade barrier investigation against Taiwan's import bans for another three months.
Senator James Lankford (R-OK) has introduced a bill that would use Permanent Normal Trade Relations (PNTR) as leverage to deter Chinese coercion and military aggression against Taiwan.
Problems with Appointments to WTO Group of Subsidy Experts Continue; Taiwanese Candidate Added to Mix
The political difficulties that arose in relation to appointing a Chair of the WTO's GPA Committee may be continuing in the context of appointments to the WTO's subsidy expert group.
Today, China's Customs agency announced that it would suspend mango imports from Taiwan, citing pest concerns. This is the same justification previously offered by Beijing for bans on Taiwanese sugar apples and wax apples, although the ban on sugar apples has been lifted.
The spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, Zhu Fenglian, said last week that her agency supports the Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) investigation of Taiwanese trade barriers, with the potential result of the investigation being the suspension of preferential tariff treatment for some Taiwanese imports. In response
At yesterday's press conference, the spokesperson for China's Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) commented on the recent U.S. executive order that restricts outbound investment in China, and provided updates on the ongoing trade barrier investigation against Taiwan and China's export controls on gallium and germanium.


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The shops were closed yesterday by TOSCI officials in southern highlands zone, who made an impromptu inspection in the two regions. The idea is to ensure that farmers buy genuine farm inputs.
Senior TOSCI official in southern highlands zone, Peter Nasari said that in the two regions they inspected 130 and closed down ten shops, which were operating against Tanzania’s seed law (Seeds Act (No. 18) enacted in 2003.
Nasari said that the team also inspected seeds warehouses and educated people and agro-dealers on the importance of operating in line with laws governing the seeds industry.
“We believe that through these operations, and education we’re providing to farmers helps them to address challenges facing farmers such as buying fake seeds, which in turn lead farmers into huge losses,” he said.
He, however, urged farmers to keep receipts of seeds bought so that they can be used as evidence once problems occurred.
Inspector from TOSCI headquarters, Emmanuel Mwakatobe, warned agro-dealers who sell seeds without being registered to stop from doing so.
According to Mwakatobe, any seeds that are to be sold to farmers were that which had been certified by TOSCI including being labelled on their packages.
“The law will take its course for anyone caught selling uncertified seeds,” the official said, warning people behind the dubious businesses to look for alternative jobs.
In Tanzania, he said there are more than 100 seed varieties, hence farmers have a wide-range of choices, “but their choices should be for the certified ones.”
Some of the agro-dealers advised farmers to buy seeds from the registered shops in order to get away with fake seeds.
One of the agro-dealers, Agnes Kessy, encouraged farmers to buy seeds with TOSCI label.
Fake seeds remained a serious challenge for years, plunging thousands of farmers into losses in the southern highlands regions as fake seeds fail to germinate.


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Energy drink company develops thirst for bitcoin ATMs
DNA Brands Inc., an energy drink company making the transition to blockchain technology provider and incubator, has closed a deal with Bitcoindepot.com to place Bitcoin ATMs across the country.
According to a press release, the machines perform bitcoin purchase and sale transactions, and can also receive and dispense cash.
DNA Brands said it is already taking orders to place machines, and said its goal is to put a bitcoin ATM next to every bank ATM.
"We are looking to revolutionize and make bitcoin ATM machines as accessible, and common to use as any other ATM machine," DNA CEO Adrian McKenzie said in the release. "In an effort to convey complete transparency, we will be looking to update the market on a weekly, or bi-weekly basis."
The release also said that DNA has identified several blockchain opportunities and promised further details to come.


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AT&T Unlimited Plan subscribers are going to be paying more starting in March.
AT&T plans to raise the rates of its Unlimited Plans by $0.99 per line, per month, CNET reports. The company started sending out notifications of the increase to customers over the weekend. The actual price increase begins on March 5.
For new customers, the updated pricing is already in effect, as are the new names for the company’s unlimited plans.
AT&T’s “Unlimited Starter” plan has been updated to “Unlimited Starter SL” and now includes 5GB of hotspot data rather than 3GB. The company’s middle tier has been renamed from “Unlimited Extra” to “Unlimited Extra EL” and doubles its offering of 15GB of hotspot data to 30GB. AT&T’s “Unlimited Premium” plan has been rebranded to “Unlimited Premium PL” and comes with 60GB of hotspot data, a comparatively modest increase from the 50GB of hotspot data previously offered under the plan.
Unlimited subscribers are also able to use their devices in the Dominican Republic at no additional charge.
AT&T is rebranding its “Value Plus” plan to “Value Plus VL” as well as increasing its price by $0.99. That plan can now support up to 10 lines; however, it does not include any hotspot data.
While price increases are obviously not ideal, these thankfully come with a bit of added value. The increases also represent the first price increase for these respective plans since they were introduced to AT&T’s portfolio in 2020.


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Bitcoin has become a controversial and powerful form of currency.Create a free website or build a blog with ease on WordPress.com. Dozens of free, customizable, mobile-ready designs and themes.
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The Bitcoin Operations Technology Group (Bitcoin Optech) has been launched by a team of Bitcoin or BTC engineers.
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Read expert opinions, top news, insights and trends on The Economic Times.
Bitcoin miners turn Quebec's cheap energy into cold cashThere is a humorous video making its rounds on social media that shows three women discussing bitcoin as a possible investment.


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We still don’t know for sure who is Satoshi Nakamoto, but the hidden face behind that virtual name did say something that made a lot of sense.
Satoshi Nakamoto is the person who develops peer-to-peer digital cash system which called bitcoin.
At that time, the root problem with conventional currency is all about the trust to make it work. The central bank must be trusted to hold our money and transfer into the electronic currency.
But in 2019, that power which was usually for the central bank could shift to the one company, and you might not be able to trust completely.
Facebook Announce To Launch New Cryptocurrency:
Facebook has finally announced the big plan for its blockchain technology. The company said that it’s in development of cryptocurrency called, Libra launched in next year. Libra is supported blockchain based network.
From Facebook, Libra is a global, digitally native cryptocurrency which is built by the foundation of the blockchain technology. From this cryptocurrency, people will be able to send, received, spend, and secure their money.
The currency is design not to be as contemplative money, like a bitcoin, but it’s a form of digital money. People will be able to use Libra as payment for online and offline services.
In the beginning, the company will use Libra to transfer money between the developing country, which is lack access to a traditional bank. The main goal is to create a genuinely mainstream cryptocurrency.
The facebook is building the Libra, and plan to run the project through the end of the year; eventually, they plan to run the project in the astronomical community.
The company has established the charitable Libra association with 27 other partners to manage Libra and its development.
The community includes venture capital organization, charitable organizations, crypto organization, massive corporate finance, telecommunications, technology service providers, including Coinbase, Mastercard, Visa, eBay, PayPal, Stripe, Spotify, Uber, Lyft, and Vodafone.
If the Libra is a success, it could represent the number one following product for the facebook ever released- for the company and the world.
The Libra will be accessible through Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp, and the Calibra app
Facebook said for Libra digital wallet, in which people can store the cryptocurrency which is accessible by the facebook messenger app, WhatsApp, and an app called caliber, which is downloaded by the Google play store and the apple play store.
The Facebook press release gives an idea about what this will look like.
Why will facebook cryptocurrency become work?
1)Because of Facebook
Facebook has a 2.3 million user around the world; they all had connected and trusted the Libra. There are many potential, so that means that Libra should immediately become likely digital currency.
2)It’s designed to help the unbanked
The Libra will target almost all the millions of people who live in places with less than stable banking systems. It short if the national government can’t provide a stable currency, Facebook will.
3)It has big supporters
Facebook announces the financial partners like Mastercard, Visa, eBay, PayPal, Stripe, Spotify, Uber, Lyft, and Vodafone.
4)In Malice of Facebook
The Facebook privacy of the people not trusted by over the past 18 months. That’s probably why the facebook announce that the Libra will be indirectly overseen by the subsidiary called Calibra, rather than the facebook itself.
There are, of course, significant privacy issues. It’s not a matter of trusting Facebook to keep your information private and secure. It’s a matter of trusting the public company when it comes to currency.
If the Libra works, Facebook could eclipse the corporate world and take over the functions that only governments could previously hope to handle.


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San Francisco, California, Dec 12, 2017: A new market study by TMR Research states that the global market for industrial safety gloves has been observing a remarkable rise in its valuation and is projected to continue witnessing high growth over the next few years. The study, titled “Industrial Safety Gloves Market – Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Trends, Analysis, Growth, and Forecast 2017–2025,” provides an in-depth and unbiased evaluation of this market, considering its past and present performance. The market boosters, barriers, prominent trends, challenges, opportunities, and the growth potential in this market have also been assessed while conducting this research.
According to the research report, the global market for industrial safety gloves is observing a remarkable surge in its valuation and size, thanks to the increasing industrialization across the world. The rising concerns among companies pertaining to the safety and security of employees and the implementation of occupational safety regulations in a number of countries, worldwide, are likely to drive the growth of the global market in the years to come. However, the augmenting number of skin allergies cases, caused by the usage of latex, is expected to limit the growth of this market over the next few years, states the research report.
Apart from this, the high cost associated with industrial safety gloves and the hesitation among consumers pertaining to their usage due to the skin infection, they sometime cause, may also reflect negatively on the market’s growth in the near future. Nevertheless, the recent introduction of the non-latex alternatives industrial safety gloves will support this market in fighting against these hindrances over the next few years, reports the research study.
The research report offers a detailed geographical assessment of the worldwide market for industrial safety gloves in an order to provide a clear understanding of this market to readers. The Middle East and Africa (MEA), North America, Asia Pacific (APAC), Latin America, and Europe have been considered as the prime regional markets for industrial safety gloves in this research study. At present, North America has been leading the global market and is expected to remain on the top spot over the next few years, thanks to the significant rise in the construction sector in this region due to the swift pace of industrialization. Furthermore, the increasing focus of companies on maintaining hygienically safe surrounding for the safety of workers in industrial settings is also projected to boost the industrial safety gloves market in North America over the next few years, states the research report.
The report also offers a detailed competitive assessment of the global market for industrial safety gloves by evaluating the profiles of the leading companies on the basis of their existing and upcoming projects. Honeywell International, Riverstone Holdings, Latexx Partners, Rubberex, Towa Corp., Dipped Products, Hartalega, Longcane Industries, Supermax Corp., Top Gloves, Acme Safety, RFB, Kossan, Ansell, Showa, and MCR Safety are some of the leading vendors of industrial safety gloves across the world, reviewed in this research report.
Get Sample Copy of this Report


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Sun and Oracle cemented their 20-year-old partnership last week by detailing plans to bundle Oracle database licences with Sun’s high-end servers. The firms announced that high-end Sun Fire servers...
At least one of the patent cases between Apple and VirnetX now appears to be over
Apple clears the decks ahead of big launch planned on Monday
Software licence reviews present a significant risk to business - but there are ways to combat them
Forthcoming 7nm Ryzen CPUs and GPUs will be made by TSMC rather than GlobalFoundries
Arup claims to have saved £4m on licensing by weeding out unused software


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Neo Gajah Mada Pontianak proudly announces the "Goes to School" event to be held at SMK Negeri 3 Pontianak on January 25, 2024. This event aims to provide a memorable educational experience for the students of SMK Negeri 3 Pontianak and introduce the hospitality industry to the younger generation.
The "Goes to School" event is expected to increase the interest and confidence of the students that the hospitality department they have chosen is a smart and promising choice in the future job market.
The event will involve various interesting activities, including:
- General Lecture: Students will listen to presentations delivered by hospitality professionals from Neo Gajah Mada Pontianak. They will introduce the hospitality industry and share insights into careers in this field.
- Interactive Discussion: An interactive question-and-answer session will allow students to directly ask hospitality professionals about careers, internship opportunities, and involvement in the hospitality industry.
We believe that this event will provide significant benefits to the students in preparing them for a successful future in the hospitality industry.


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CCP Games recently announced that the highly anticipated DUST 514, the massively multiplayer online first-person shooter (MMOFPS), will be free-to-play on the PlayStation 3. Closed private trials of DUST 514 began in December 2011 and will be organically expanding throughout the beta period. The first global hands-on demonstration of DUST 514 will take place at CCP’s EVE Fanfest 22nd-24th March in Reykjavik, Iceland, and all attendees will receive invitations to the private trial ahead of the videogame’s launch later this year.
Upon the launch of DUST 514, players will be able to download the videogame for free via PlayStation Network and jump directly into the virtual world. DUST 514 is promising to deliver exhilarating team-based combat on thousands of planets within the vast reaches of the EVE Universe. Mercenary teams in DUST 514 will work closely with starship pilots in EVE Online to wage battles, acquire territory, amass wealth and build empires.
“DUST 514 has everything you could want in a shooter: thrilling gameplay, spectacular graphics and an incredible strategic depth that comes from sharing the living universe of EVE Online,” said CCP CEO Hilmar Pétursson. “DUST 514 embodies the passion and creativity the world has come to expect from CCP, and we think PlayStation 3 owners will be amazed at the opportunity to play such a groundbreaking new game of this caliber for free.”
“As the first true free-to-play FPS on PS3, Dust 514 signifies a big step forward in the evolution of console gaming,” said Phil Rosenberg, SVP of Business Development, Sony Computer Entertainment America LLC. “PS3 is the only platform where players will experience a AAA game like this for free and showcases our commitment to deliver the best games exclusively on PlayStation Network.”
The videogame is scheduled to launch later this year, and as DUST 514 is the first console videogame of its kind, set in the massive shared, persistent EVE Universe, all eyes are set to be firmly locked on its progress. Electronic Theatre will keep you updated with all the latest details on DUST 514.


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By Alex Free
Given the negative impact of the fast food industry on food sovereignty and security, isn’t it a little odd that the World Food Programme has teamed up with KFC to fund its hunger relief efforts, asks Alex Free. Fast food’s methods of production and perpetual drive to lower costs work to undermine ‘environments, biodiversity and local people’s access to land’, says Free, while tackling world hunger demands the exact opposite: ‘Working towards sustainable access to food; recognising local expertise; promoting biodiversity; and putting people before profits.’
You are the World Food Programme (WFP), the food aid arm of the United Nations and the biggest humanitarian organisation working on hunger worldwide. In your mission to tackle world hunger, you work to enable local populations to achieve greater food security and support sustainable solutions to help the approximately 1 billion people around the globe whose access to food remains at risk. How do you go about fulfilling this mission? You team up with fast food giant Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC).
A subsidiary of parent Yum! (the world’s largest restaurant company and owner of Pizza Hut and Taco Bell), KFC seems a curious partner for the WFP. Fast food companies know little about providing nutritious, sensibly portioned products for their customers, as evidenced by a recent KFC incarnation dubbed the ‘Double Down’, ‘a bacon-and-cheese sandwich that features two pieces of fried chicken in place of the traditional bun … described by nutritionists as an affront to human health’. What’s more, these companies have consistently demonstrated that they only make their products ‘healthier’ following market pressure and demands from food activists and nutritional authorities; such changes do not emerge organically. Fast food companies are also thought to eradicate countries’ culinary diversity, routinely undercutting local companies, suppliers and producers as part of an assault on national cuisines.
Read full post at Pambazuka News


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Feb. 2, 2017—ClearMotion, Inc., an automotive technology company, received $100 million in investments for software-controlled suspensions systems it's developing for cars.
The technology has been dubbed “digital chassis,” and it’s caught the eye of J.P. Morgan, which advised several clients—New Enterprise Associates (NEA), Qualcomm Ventures, World Innovation Lab (WiL) and Eileses Capital—to invest in the system.
James Snider, a Ratchet+Wrench editorial advisory board member and owner of The Hamburg Garage and ArborMotion in Whitmore Lake, Mich., says he doesn't think the technology will negatively impact business, but that it is a technology shop owners should be aware of moving forward for training purposes.
"It does stress the importance for shops who plan on being in this industry for the next 10-20 years to continue ongoing education especially computer diagnostics," he says.
ClearMotion's digital chassis technology aims to replace traditional automotive shock absorbers with software-controlled actuators, allowing cars to interpret and react to road conditions in real time.
"Innovation in the car business is ramping dramatically, and we see an opportunity to make our mark upon it," said Shakeel Avadhany, CEO and co-founder of ClearMotion. "Self-driving functionality mandates a future in which cars afford not just driving pleasure, but the utility of a mobile office. We are focused about the quality of time in autos and how we transform it by digitizing our relationship to the road, allowing software to control the dynamics of the car."


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Sales Rise, But The Retail Sector's Still Suffering Weak Fundamentals, CBRE Reports
Though U.S. retail sales have rebounded recently, retail sector fundamentals weakened in the third quarter of 2020, according to a new report by CBRE.
In particular, retailers have left a lot of space behind as they close and consolidate. Negative net absorption totaled 14.8M SF nationwide during the quarter, the report notes, which marked the largest such drop in space usage since the first quarter of 2009, when the Great Recession hit in full force.
Most of the negative absorption was experienced in neighborhood, community and strip centers, as retailers that occupy those spaces were hit hard by coronavirus pandemic-related lockdowns or simply the reluctance of consumers to visit stores in person.
Retail construction has slacked off as well, according to CBRE. During Q3 2020, only 6M SF of new retail was completed nationwide, the lowest the company has ever reported, including during the pit of the post-2008 recession. Completions were over 30M SF during the third quarter of 2019.
Though damage has been done to the retail sector, in more recent months retail sales have increased for most kinds of stores, the Census Bureau reports, as lockdowns have been partially ended and stores devise ways to sell goods without customers interacting with staff or other shoppers. In September, total retail sales were up 1.9% compared with August, and up 5.4% year-over-year.
Most retail sectors enjoyed monthly and annual sales growth. Grocery stores enjoyed a 9.6% increase in September compared with a year ago, though only 0.1% for the month. Furniture stores saw a 0.5% gain for the month and a 4.6% gain for the year. Health and personal care stores sold 1.7% more in September than in August, and 5.3% more than in September 2019.
Some sectors experienced a large monthly spike in sales, but are also still well behind last year. Clothing store sales were up 11% for the month, but down 12.5% for the year, and restaurants and bars managed to sell 2.1% more in September than August, but are still down 14.4% for the year.
Reflecting the continuing impact of the pandemic, nonstore retail sales including e-commerce gained 0.5% for the month in September, and they were up 23.8% compared with the same month in 2019, the largest annual increase for any retail sector.
Even with a backdrop of rising retail sales, stores are still closing. By the end of Q3, Dunkin' (formerly Dunkin' Donuts) had closed more than 550 locations worldwide out of the 800 underperforming units expected it plans to close this year.
Other recent announced retail closures include The Gap Inc., which said it is closing 350 Gap and Banana Republic stores by the end of 2023, and children's clothing specialist Carter's, which is closing 200 locations as their leases expire through 2022.


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Uruguay: Inflation ticks up in July
Consumer prices rose 0.8% from a month earlier in July, accelerating mildly from June’s 0.6% increase. A breakdown of the sub-components provided by the Statistical Institute showed that the reading largely reflected higher prices for food and non-alcoholic beverages, health, and restaurants and hotels, which more than offset lower prices for clothing and footwear.
Meanwhile, inflation inched up to 7.5% in July from 7.4% in June, moving further above the Central Bank’s 3.0%–7.0% target range. Annual average inflation ticked down from 7.9% in June to 7.8% in July, however.


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New research: Restaurants must diversify
I promise that I tried to write this post without a Noma reference. I tried!
When the world’s most famous fine dining restaurant announced a pivot to retail goods, it turned heads; even some unexpected ones. In hindsight, I should’ve expected a big reaction from a certain subset of the technology press. Taking away a fancy and exclusive thing and replacing it with a less fancy and less exclusive thing is the kind of change people in power might call disruptive. Daring, even.
The great Noma pivot is still nearly two years away, and who knows how much credit the restaurant’s famous chef will receive for ditching spotless service in favor of selling packaged goods over the internet. But in this case, the world’s best restaurant (twice over) isn’t the trendsetter.
Just ask restaurateurs.
A new report from payments and point of sale provider Square finds a fifth of restaurant revenue comes from sources other than core restaurant offerings. Besides serving hot food to seated diners, restaurants are hawking products and services like merch, take-home frozen meals, and online classes to receptive customers.
The data comes from a survey of 1,000 restaurateurs in the US and Canada, and the numbers are self-reported. But it speaks to the future of the business; 2 in 3 operators said these “non-core” offerings are necessary to diversify revenue and grow their brands.
We’re nearly three years past the earliest pandemic emergency restrictions. It’s easy to point to those times as the moments that changed the way restaurants work. But, surprisingly, 59 percent of restaurateurs said they didn’t start offering new products and services because of the pandemic. Further, 56 percent said their business diversification was not a response to economic conditions.
“The pandemic proved restaurants need a backup plan,”
…is a thing I have written and said more than a few times over the past three years.
At this point, it’s hard to separate the changes mandated by pandemic operating conditions vs. how new technology and social change caused business to evolve naturally.
Keep reading with a 7-day free trial


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According to people familiar with the upcoming iPhone who spoke to Bloomberg, Apple is working on a future that will let you unlock its smartphone using your face rather than a fingerprint. The feature is expected to be rolled into the 10th anniversary iPhone and will also allow the user to authenticate payments, launch secure apps, and more.
The people who spoke to Bloomberg (on the condition of anonymity) also said that the technology will be powered by a new 3D sensor and will be augmented ted by an eye scanning system.
3D facial technology in smartphones is not new—my Samsung Nexus from a few years back let me unlock my phone by scanning my face—but this would be the first time Apple opted to include high-powered 3D scanning sensors in its smartphone. Bloomberg’s source said that because the technology is still in development it’s possible it won’t be ready in time for the new iPhone, but the plan is for the new facial recognition technology to replace the Touch ID fingerprint scanner, which was introduced with the iPhone 5s in 2013.


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The French group said its Dundee site, which employs 855 people and makes car tyres, would be benefiting from an “important investment” as part of a shake-up of its European operations.
It said: “The investment will increase production by 30 per cent by 2020, according to current market forecasts, through the installation of new machinery, enabling the production of larger tyres which are a growing segment of the market. A new warehouse will be built on-site to accommodate this increased production.”
According to Michelin’s website, its Dundee factory – which opened in 1972 – manufactures more than seven million car tyres each year for export all over the world. In 2006 it became the company’s first site to embrace wind energy, with two turbine generators helping to reduce its environmental impact and energy bills.
However, the investment boost for the city came as Michelin announced plans to close its factory in Ballymena, Northern Ireland, by the middle of 2018 – a move that is set to cost 860 jobs.
The company said: “The proposal to run down the truck tyre factory in Ballymena has been made in light of the specific difficulties the site has been experiencing for several years: very aggressive competition and manufacturing overcapacity on the truck tyre market, heavy logistics costs due to its location, and high production costs principally due to the price of energy.
“An employee consultation process will begin immediately regarding the run-down proposal. The Ballymena factory currently employs 860 people, and [Michelin] is committed to supporting those employees during the consultation and in the forthcoming months.”
Michelin also unveiled proposals to close sites in Italy and Germany.
In May, the group struck a £50m deal to buy Borders-based online tyre fitter Blackcircles.com, triggering a multi-million windfall for its founder, Mike Welch.


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As far as Rebecca Treston QC – the Queensland Bar's first woman president – is concerned, "Dr Google" is one of the biggest challenges facing advocates.Along with the high cost of legal services and the "frequency with which solicitors are doing traditional barristers' work", Ms Treston gives the internet search engine a dishonourable mention."Every client that comes in has done research on you as the barrister and they have a pretty fair idea of the cases that are around that are like their's," she says."It's never a good thing at the doctor and it's certainly not a good thing in a piece of litigation." The best strategy, she adds, is to tell the client "in the nicest possible way that it's not as simple as reading the cases on the internet". Advertise
The Google Material Theme is coming to more and more products as seen with Android P DP4 and Google Maps just last month. This new look is now being tested in one aspect of the Google app, while a related redesign of the Google Feed is more widely rolling out. Nintendo Switch In recent weeks, we’ve spotted the Google app testing a new search bar directly underneath the logo and just above the list of Feed articles. This new design drops the previous slightly rounded, rectangular box for a pill-shaped search bar. This faint gray outlined boundary drops the shadow effect for a cleaner look that is inline with Google’s Material Theme, as well as the proliferation of pill buttons throughout the company’s recent updates. Meanwhile, back in April, the Google app began testing a new loo
Google is rolling out its first significant update since launching Podcasts this week. For the most part, this appears to be primarily a bug fix and polishing release. There are little tweaks here and there related to Podcasts, including a corrected icon. There's also the start of a search feature for settings so people won't have to wander through several screens to configure the app as they want it. Podcasts icon Left: v8.8. Right: v8.9. For those of you that like consistency, it may have been a bit frustrating that Google launched Podcasts with a mismatched icon. In v8.8, the status icon was the fairly generic antenna with broadcast lines, but in official branding for Podcasts used a unique soundwave-like design with Google colors. A smaller variant has been brought in to cor...
Chrome OS has been rapidly evolving over the past few months, mostly in regards to Linux application support. There are even more improvements in the works, from minor UI changes to a major reworking of Chrome OS' Bluetooth functionality. First, Googler François Beaufort revealed that the Chrome team is experimenting with an updated address bar. Much like on mobile, search results include thumbnails and brief descriptions. You can try it out for yourself by enabling the #omnibox-rich-entity-suggestions flag and restarting Chrome. This is only on the Dev/Canary channels for now, but it also works on all desktop platforms. Improved search results in Chrome address bar Next, XDA Developers discovered that support for Android app shortcuts is coming. This Gerrit commit reveals that ap
Chrome's search bar may soon display pictures for your browsing pleasure Digital TrendsFull coverage Swiftype Reports


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Zale 2nd-quarter profit drops as same-store sales slip
Published 6:00 pm, Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Jeweler Zale says its fiscal second-quarter profit dropped 31 percent on declining same-store sales, but still beat analysts' estimates.
The Irving, Texas-based company says net income declined to $60.8 million, or $1.34 per share, from $88.1 million, or $1.80 per share, a year earlier.
Zale Corp. says income from continuing operations slipped to $52.7 million, or $1.16 per share, from $77.1 million, or $1.57 per share.
Quarterly sales fell 7 percent to $827.8 million from $891.5 million.
Analysts polled by Thomson Financial expected earnings of $1.10 per share on revenue of $841.3 million.
Zale says second-quarter same-store sales dipped 7.3 percent.
Shares rose 36 cents, or 2.2 percent, to $16.76.


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Segments From this episode
The Weekly Wrap
Marketplace host Reema Khrais chats with the New York Times’ Ana Swanson and Politico’s Sudeep Reddy about inflation, the supply chain and the Federal Reserve’s response to both.
Shareholder rights plans, as they are also known, are used to fend off takeovers, like Elon Musk's bid for Twitter.
China’s first-quarter economic data is not likely to be rosy, given the fallout of the Ukraine war and the current COVID surge.
Sustainability and demand for apparel make reselling used clothes an attractive option for brands, including Lululemon and Target.
Fewer goods coming from China during its lockdown and more trucking companies have helped.
A new child means new financial discussions
Reema Khrais checks in with Shawnika Giger and Terence McPherson about their financial situation several years after hearing from them in an episode of Marketplace's "This Is Uncomfortable."


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Mail-Well to Acquire Four More Companies
PHOENIX—Englewood, CO-based Mail-Well has entered into definitive agreements to acquire Imperial Litho & Dryography, a $26 million web and sheetfed printer based here, and Trafton Printing, an $8.5 million sheetfed operation in Amarillo, TX.
"We are extremely fortunate that the senior management teams of both companies will continue with us in their current positions," says Gerald F. Mahoney, chairman and CEO of Mail-Well. Both will become part of Mail-Well's Commercial Printing Group.
Malcolm Marr, president and CEO of Imperial, notes: "We strongly believe that Mail-Well offers Imperial the greatest opportunity for continued success. Joining forces will help us stay current with rapidly changing printing technology as well as give us the ability to meet virtually any printing need."
Rick Trafton, president and CEO of Trafton and grandson of the company founder, adds, "We are excited about the opportunity to offer our customers access to new printing services, especially Mail-Well's web capabilities."
Meanwhile, Girard, KS-based business communications documents printers Perfection Forms, a division of Continuous Forms and Checks, and Apico Corporation were also acquired by Mail-Well. The combined 1997 sales of the companies were approximately $20 million.
Paul V. Reilly, Mail-Well president and COO, says the two firms will be merged to form the Apico-Perfection division of its Poser business communications group. Jerry Leeds, currently the president of Apico, will serve as the general manager of the new Apico-Perfection division.
"Our distributor customers, and those of Poser, will now have a broader range of products to sell, and will continue to receive the same highest levels of quality and service in our industry," Leeds explains. Reporting 1997 sales of almost $900 million, Mail-Well currently has a run rate in excess of $1.6 billion in revenues.


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The latest figures from the British Retail Consortium (BRC) and KPMG show a 2.2pc fall in like-for-like sales in April, the worst performance since the same month last year.
However, the true state of spending was distorted by Easter coming in March this year, compared to April in 2012, and BRC director-general Helen Dickinson, said that it had been a “better month” for retailers.
“Wintry weather, followed by the arrival of sun, had a big influence on some retailers,” she said. “Fashion sales were weak early in the month but that was almost entirely made up later when signs of spring arrived.
“Health and beauty gained both ways with strong sales of cold and flu remedies and then of bronzing and skin care products.”
Mr Dickinson said the high street has made a “small and tentative step up” on 2012 but that it is unclear where retail sales will head in the rest of the year.
Over the last three months, like-for-like retail sales in the UK are up 0.9pc, with food sales higher 0.6pc and non-food adding 1.1pc. Total sales have risen by 2.6pc.
“There’s a sense that people are more prepared to spend than they were but chief executives are telling me that’s volatile,” Ms Dickinson added.
“A convincing trend towards revival is hard to spot and competitive pricing is still critical to generating sales, despite the effect on margins and on retailers’ ability to invest in offering customers new ways to shop.”
Two of Britain’s biggest retailers will give further insight into the health of UK consumers on Wednesday.
J Sainsbury’s is expected to report a 1.8pc rise in annual like-for-like sales and a 5pc rise in pre-tax profits for the last 12 months, confirming it as the best performing major supermarket. Fashion store Next also reports first-quarter sales.


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Welcome news for welcome industry
Industry gets long overdue recognition and support as one of the main drivers of the economy as SA continues to be a favourite for global travellers
The tourism industry is set for a major boost after treasury allocated an additional R494m for tourism promotion. The industry is seen as playing a central role in growing employment and ensuring inclusive economic growth.
According to treasury, in 2015, 4.5% of the total workforce was employed in tourism, accounting for 711,746 people, and the sector contributed 3% to GDP.
Tshifhiwa Tshivhengwa, CEO of the Federated Hospitality Association of Southern Africa, welcomed the funding allocation, saying this would go a long way to get more people to visit SA and create more jobs.
“This is long overdue. The industry has been underfunded for years. It is about time that it is recognised as one of the economic drivers,” he says. Tshivhengwa says tourism surpasses the mining sector in terms of employment and ‘needs to be taken seriously’.
“Finally, the message of travel and tourism as a key economic driver (though not yet regarded as an economic sector by the department of trade & industry, which is something we wonder about) is filtering through government speeches and plans,” says Mmatšatši Ramawela, CEO of the Tourism Business Council of SA (TBCSA).
In terms of the budget allocations the reality is that finance minister Pravin Gordhan “did not have much room to manoeuvre,” she says.
However, the TBCSA is pleased that government was able to source additional funds for tourism promotion. “This allocation and the significant mention of tourism in various parts of his [Gordhan’s] speech sends a clear signal that government is beginning to embrace this sector. We now look forward to hearing from the national tourism minister on how the increased funding will be used in his own budget vote later this year,” says Ramawela.
Business Day reported last week that in 2016 more than 10m international tourists arrived in SA‚ 13% more than in 2015, according to Statistics SA. This is well over the world average growth rate of 3.9% for the same period.
The UK remained the leading source market for overseas arrivals to SA last year with 447,840 visitors, followed by the US with 345,013 and Germany at 311,832. China is the leading growth market‚ with year-on-year growth recorded at 38%. Arrivals from India grew by 22%. There was an 11% growth in tourist arrivals from Africa, bringing the total for 2016 to 7.5m.
According to treasury, the tourism department relies on SA Tourism to market the country. The organisation is mandated to grow local and overseas tourist numbers and tourist spending, which in turn supports jobs and economic growth. Additional funding of R174m has been allocated to the organisation over the medium term to increase marketing in established and emerging markets.
The department is set to transfer R1.1bn over the medium term to the Working for Tourism project through the expanded public works programme. This is expected to create 10,629 fulltime-equivalent jobs by 2019/2020. The department will also spend a further R124.8m through the Enterprise Development & Transformation subprogramme, which aims to transform and increase the geographical spread of the tourism sector, to provide developmental support to 1,400 rural tourism enterprises over the medium term.
Through the Destination Development programme, the department plans to work with municipalities and communities to develop the underused public recreation facilities that they own into tourism destinations. It has allocated R200m for this initiative.
Yudhvir Seetharam, head of analytics at FNB, said in a statement recently that SA has remained a popular luxury destination for many international travellers, especially as it offers a world-class experience from shopping to pristine beaches and unforgettable safaris at a fraction of the price.
A weaker rand makes for a favourable exchange rate for foreign tourists travelling to SA. Locals who would have otherwise travelled abroad, will most likely travel within the country, creating a greater income stream for tour operators, transport, hotels, and bed & breakfasts, according to Seetharam.


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Taco John’s Goes Loco Over MMS Coupons
Even though 86% of enterprise businesses use MMS marketing, it’s sometimes hard to find examples of brands using MMS coupons. Luckily for our readers, Taco John’s has been sending out MMS marketing messages for quite a while now, and we here at Tatango have compiled some of their best MMS coupons in this one post.
7-Eleven Increases App Downloads with SMS Promotion
7-Eleven has a location just about everywhere it seems. According to the official website, there are over 50,000 7-Eleven locations worldwide, so finding a store isn’t a problem. However, finding a good promotion can get even more consumers into their nearest 7-Eleven store.
SendHub Acquired by Cameo Global
It was announced on June 6, 2016, that SendHub, an SMS marketing provider, was acquired by Cameo Global. SendHub was founded in December of 2011, initially started in Y Combinator. The company had raised $10 million in funding, from Y-Combinator, Kapor Capital, Menlo Ventures, Bullpen Capital, Alexis Ohanian, Garry Tan, the Seraph Group, and other investors.
Watch the Subway Text Messaging Commercial
While it’s common for brands to advertise their text messaging campaign in-store or online, it’s rare to see a brand devote a whole commercial to their text messaging campaign. That is until Subway created their very own commercial for their text messaging campaign, which encourages customers to sign up for weekly text message offers.
Behind the Scenes of Subway’s Text Messaging Campaign
Ready to get behind the scenes and see exactly how Subway is managing their text messaging campaign? Today we’ll show you how one of the fastest growing fast food franchises, with over 44,672 restaurants in 111 countries, is doing text message marketing. We’ll dive deep into how and where Subway is advertising their text …
78% of Consumers Believe SMS is Fastest Way to Reach Them
Ever wonder what communication method consumers think is the fastest way to reach them? Well we always had a hunch it was text messaging, as 90% of all text messages are read within 3 minutes, we never really heard directly from the consumers.
Hillary Clinton Using Text Message Marketing to Reach Voters
If you’ve been following the 2016 presidential election, you’ll have realized by now that text message marketing is playing a huge role in each candidate’s mobile marketing strategy, especially given that 19% of voters prefer being communicated to via text message. So much so that Bernie Sanders even created his own text messaging app. …
Transactional Text Messaging Statistics by Industry
Looking for statistics on which types of companies consumers prefer to receive transactional text messages from? If so, you’re in luck, as Vibes, in partnership with Equation Research, recently released their Transactional Messaging Consumer Report 2016, which answers this question.
Syniverse Acquires Stake in Vibes for $45 Million
It was announced this week that Syniverse, an SMS aggregator, has acquired a minority stake in Vibes, an SMS marketing platform. This type of acquisition, where an SMS aggregator acquires all, or a part of an SMS marketing provider, has become considerably more popular recently, as SMS aggregators look to expand their services beyond just SMS aggregation.
70% Prefer Service-Based Messages Sent to Mobile Phone
Our good friends at Vibes just released an interesting report titled Transactional Messaging Consumer Report 2016, which surveyed 1,001 smartphone users about their feelings towards businesses sending transactional text messages to their customers.


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Intel, the world's largest chipmaker, will reveal what it's been up to lately at the Intel Developer Forum in San Francisco later this month.
The main items on the agenda? Networking chips and server chips--"more McKinleys than ever seen before," says Intel Chief Technology Officer Pat Gelsinger--as well as the giant's thoughts on the shape of PCs to come.
The four-day showcase kicks off Monday, Feb. 25, with a keynote speech from CEO Craig Barrett, and runs through Feb. 28 at the Moscone convention center. Roughly 4,000 people are expected to attend, with 140 companies scheduled to participate, churning out a slew of announcements related to Intel technology
Intel is set to announce several new initiatives, along with a host of new processors and related technologies. The chipmaker's main objective, though, is to publicize its strategy for everything non-PC.
News source: CNET


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First wooden cosmetics packaging manufacturer to achieve FSC certification
Beauty Packaging celebrates its 20th anniversary this month, so we asked a esteemed industry experts for their thoughts.
A new lotion from CoValence Labs combats cellulite and tones skin.
Market for personal care expected to reach over $15 million by 2020
Partnership aims to inspire consumers and help protect trees
Kiehl's begins its 6th annual Kiehl's LifeRide for amfAR and launches its coffee table book commemorating the event.
Who will win Vlogger of the Year? Fans will vote in the NYX Cosmetics FACE Awards show.
Receives several awards for work around the world.
Tips to determine who’s right—and who’s not.
Dorco is offering new subscription plans for replacement razor blades.
Sign up now to receive the free weekly newsletter, and more!


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Companies continue to take swift action to distance themselves from former New England Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez -- sometimes going to painstaking lengths to do so.
Trading card and memorabilia company Panini confirmed to ESPN on Thursday it had removed a half-million Hernandez stickers from sticker books that had been produced but had yet to hit store shelves.
Hernandez is currently in a Dartmouth, Mass., jail awaiting trial as a murder suspect in the shooting death of 27-year-old semi-pro football player Odin Lloyd.
To replace Hernandez, the company had one million stickers produced for Tim Tebow, a current quarterback for the Patriots and a former teammate of Hernandez's at the University of Florida.
The Tebow stickers will be handed out at events or given to customers who received Herndandez stickers in a pack and can send a self-addressed stamped envelope to the company.
"We felt strongly that making these changes was the right thing to do, for Panini and our products but, more importantly, for our fans and collectors," Jason Howarth, Panini's vice president of marketing, told ESPN.com.
EA Sports has already taken Hernandez out of its "Madden NFL 25" video game, while the Patriots have had more than 2,500 fans exchange Hernandez jerseys for other players at the team's store.
tap here to see other videos from our team.


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Oberon mini-kegs are making their way to store shelves in all markets that sell Bell's beer. Mini-kegs are available already at some stores, including the Bell's General Store, 355 E. Kalamazoo Ave., the company announced Thursday on its Facebook page.
This year's Oberon mini-kegs feature a photo taken at the Kalamazoo-area house of Laura Bell, company vice president and daughter of founder Larry Bell. The image, shot from Bell's porch by Andy Terzes of Grand Rapids-based Terzes Photography features Oberon-themed patio lights.
Oberon is one of two Bell's beers being offered in mini-kegs this year. The other is Midwestern Pale Ale.
Oberon Ale also is being offered for the first time this year in 16-ounce cans in all markets that carry Bell's beer. Bell's also is selling Two Hearted Ale in cans for the first time this year.


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BEIJING: Cosmopolitan and Esquire, the multinational fashion magazines, are teaming up to launch a new TV show that will be broadcast in China, and sponsored by companies including L'Oréal and Procter & Gamble.
A number of advertisers are adopting a unique approach in the Chinese market, where Procter & Gamble has itself produced an online soap opera, and Unilever has broadcast a seven-minute "minifilm" to promote its shampoo brand Lux.
The new series developed by Cosmopolitan and Esquire – which are both managed by Trends Publishing in the world's most populous nation – will be called Creative China, and aims to identify promising fashion and interior designers over the course of 52 programmes.
It will be shown of CCTV-6, which is typically known for broadcasting films, at peak times on both Saturday and Sunday, starting in October this year.
As well as having their work included in the two fashion titles, the winning entrants will be able display it at next year's London Fashion Week.
Shirley Zhang Xiao-dong, general manager and associate publisher of Trends Publishing, said "we will work with the production team who were behind the popular dark comedy TV programmes Crazy Stone and Crazy Race, which ran in March in China."
"We are confident Creative China will be profitable and attractive," she added.
Data sourced from Media; additional content by WARC staff


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Paypal has announced new partnerships with US bank Citi and financial technology services provider Fidelity National Information Services (FIS). The deal with Citi will see Citi cardholders able to use their card through PayPal at the point of sale, where Visa or Mastercard contactless payments are accepted. PayPal adds working with FIS would allow them to “provide a more seamless way for their thousands of bank issuers to drive more digital spend with their customers through PayPal accounts”.
- Bank issues primary school kids with NFC smartwatches that let them make payments and track pocket money
- New Little Caesars Reserve-n-Ready service transforms the way customers pick up pizza
- Mobile payment usage ‘remains low’, US debit card study finds
- Report: 2017 Mobile Payment Usage in China
- M-Pesa founder shares lessons learned from ten years of mobile money


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By Bryan Smith on January 27, 2015 at 7:44pm
The next fighter for "Mortal Kombat X" has been revealed. In the latest YouTube trailer (with credit given to IGN), Reptile will be returning as a veteran fighter.
"Mortal Kombat X" will be releasing for PC, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, and Xbox One on April 14, 2015. Previously, Kitana and Kung Lao was announced to be returning along with the games release date.
Via IGN YouTube


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World Trade Week, a nationwide celebration of international trade, was observed during, before and after the week of May 17 in many cities across the country. Building upon our leadership on trade issues in the New York City area, USCIB proudly served as a main organizer of World Trade Week NYC, under whose auspices numerous trade-themed events took place around the city and the region.
This year’s festivities took on extra importance in light of President Obama’s goal, announced during the State of the Union address, of doubling U.S. exports within five years. USCIB and other business groups applauded this goal, which got a boost from newly released export figures.
At a kickoff awards breakfast held at Baruch College in Manhattan, several New York-area companies and organizations were honored for international achievements and growth. Joseph P. Quinlan, economist and chief global market strategist with Bank of America, provided keynote remarks emphasizing America’s continuing role as the world’s top exporter and manufacturer, and the importance of pursuing sensible policies to maintain that advantage by expanding opportunities for trade and investment overseas.
Calling himself a “paranoid optimist” on trade, Mr. Quinlan applauded the president’s goal of doubling exports but wondered if America’s political leaders had the will to see it through in terms of concrete policies and new trade agreements. On this score, he urged the swift ratification of pending U.S. free trade agreements with Korea, Colombia and Panama. Mr. Quinlan also said the United States lagged Europe and Asia in viewing expanded trade and overseas investment as essential public policy objectives.
U.S. exports of goods and services increased by 16 percent during the first quarter of 2010, the Commerce Department announced the day after the awards breakfast. “This is a great progress report,” said Fred P. Hochberg, head of the Export-Import Bank of the United States. “What it really says is that there are significant opportunities globally for both large and small U.S. businesses.”
Meanwhile, a new survey by American Express signaled good news for business travel in the months ahead. The majority of nearly 500 senior finance executives surveyed worldwide said they intend to maintain or increase business travel spending in 2010.
That dovetailed with a recent pickup in USCIB’s ATA Carnet service, which permits temporary export of many goods for trade shows, products demonstrations and other uses. Carnet usage, which often serves as a leading indicator of exports, took a big hit alongside trade as a whole following the onset of the 2008-2009 recession, but has rebounded lately.
USCIB also organized a seminar on “Managing Your Trade Risk in Today’s Global Economy,” which examined the critical importance of risk mitigation for exporters and importers as we emerge from recession. Speakers included: Dennis Gates of Roanoke Trade Services, who reviewed the global outlook on trade as well as insurance products to protect international transactions; Andrea Ratay of HSBC, who discussed the bank’s trade confidence index, which has also shown positive signs; and USCIB’s Amanda Barlow, who discussed how ATA Carnets can help exporters avoid costly duties, taxes and currency fluctuations.
As World Trade Week got under way, USCIB issued a call to action , urging members and friends to contact their elected representatives to voice their support for expanded trade and international commerce as essential drivers of U.S. jobs, growth and competitiveness. In addition, in a podcast on the website of the Council on Foreign Relations, another World Trade Week partner, Jonathan Huneke, USCIB’s vice president for communications and public affairs, addressed the importance of sensible policies to secure the benefits of international trade and investment.
Staff contact: Cynthia Duncan
Interview with USCIB’s Jonathan Huneke (Council on Foreign Relations website)


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Ever since Samsung’s original black and white TV launch nearly 50 years ago, the company has been introducing cutting-edge technologies across mobile devices, consumer electronics and home appliances. During its eventful journey of innovations, Samsung Electronics has touched millions of lives across the world through its products. Be it the television at home or smartphones in pockets, Samsung is enhancing millions of lives and empowering them to do they can’t through its continuous innovations.
Samsung will build on this legacy and continue to bring life-changing innovations for their customers in the future too.
On this joyous occasion of Samsung Electronics comepleting 50 glorious years globally and 10 years of operations in Bangladesh, Samsung Bangladesh has launched a number of incredible offers for the customers including guaranteed cashback on Galaxy smartphones and consumer electronics products.
In this special, limited time offer, Samsung is providing up to 100% cashback in four smartphones, Galaxy A30, Galaxy A50, Galaxy A80 and Galaxy Note 9. The minimum, guranteed cashback for A30 & A50 is Tk. 2000, for A80 is Tk. 18,000, for Note9 is Tk. 20,000. The amount of cashback will be randomly decided by software based on SMS sent by customers. The amount of cashback will be based on SMS and randomly chosen by the software.
For consumer electronic products, customers can also receive up to a 50% cashback when they purchase selected refrigerators, televisions, washing machines, air conditioners, and microwave oven. Both the offers are valid from 04th October to 13th October. Customers can avail this offer by sending SMS from showrooms while purchasing.
On this occasion, Seungwon Youn, Managing Director, Samsung Bangladesh stated his excitement by saying, “It is a significant milestone for us, and also a stepping stone for leaping into the future of consumer technology. For 50 years has significant meaning for us. For tthis long and successful journey of excellence, we thank our consumers wholeheartedly. Also, with utmost respect and gratitude, we recognize the contribution of all our partners, employees and other stakeholders. We will continue improve on this legacy for the future and keep bringing the leatest technological innovations for the people of Bangladesh. As 2019 marks the 50th anniversary of Samsung, we are enthralled to present this special offer for our beloved consumers.”


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MTV, VH1 and other cable channels owned by Viacom used to be best known for music videos and behind-the-music shows. Now the company is introducing a new way to experience music on its sites and apps: without the visuals.
U.S. soccer captain Clint Dempsey is also a rapper known as "Deuce," who is planning to release an album. Listen to an exclusive new track by Dempsey, and see how other athletes have made a name for themselves in music.
Top street soccer players from around the world battled it out on a cramped concrete court in a match organized and filmed by Microsoft Corp.’s Xbox and Mandalay Sports Media for their new street-soccer reality series, “Every Street United,” premiering Sunday on Xbox consoles, tablets and PCs.
Dr. Dre's main obsession is perfecting the sound of Beats headphones, but the music producer weighs in decisively on everything from TV ads and font styles. It's an impulse he brings with him to his new role inside Apple.
The U.S. Department of Justice is reviewing the decades-old legal system that governs what songwriters and publishers charge broadcasters, digital-music services and other licensees to play their compositions.
Live Nation Entertainment's Ticketmaster agreed to a tentative settlement in a more than decade-old class action that, if approved, would offer to issue roughly $400 million in credit to 50 million ticket buyers.
Apple is paying slightly less than $500 million for the Beats Music streaming service, and more than $2.5 billion for Beats Electronics in its $3 billion deal, according to people familiar with the matter.
Apple said it is buying Beats Electronics for $3 billion to bolster a music business that has lost some of its mojo, as streaming-music services encroached on the downloads dominated by its iTunes service.


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The Hut Group Founder Matthew Moulding is planning to build an empire to rival US prestige beauty giant The Estee Lauder Companies, according to a report published in The Sunday Times.
“Estee Lauder turns over US$12 billion,” Moulding told The Sunday Times. “No one will see it today but if we can be half their size in three, four, five years, that would be amazing.
“If we’re 40 percent or 30 percent, it would still be stunning. We would be making double their profit because we cut out the retailers – the customer’s ours.”
The Hut Group is valued at £3.3 billion today, 14 years after its inception as an online CD / DVD retailer. Last year, the group pulled in sales pf £736 million and underlying earnings rose 38 percent to £69 million, per The Sunday Times.


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Regional Growth, International Success
Another year, another resounding success. GBE has firmly established itself as the authoritative show for the billiard/snooker products and sport equipment industry in the region. This year's show attracted over 6,099 visitors from as many as 60 different countries. Held over three days in Guangzhou, the show gave exhibitors an unmatched platform to showcase their products and technology, foray into Asia market and target new, high-value customers.
In Hall 8.1 at the China import & Export Complex, 117 exhibitors from 13 countries presented the newest billiard products, services and technologies. With a net exhibition area of over 10,000 square metres, you must find most of loyals exhibitors like Yalin, Rasson, Shender, Leo, Fury Cues, Simonis, Aramith,Longoni Cues, Strachan 6811), Ball Teck Korea, CYCLOP Pool Balls, McDermott, Mezz Cues, Master cue, Riley, K.F cue, Gorina and so on. And you may be surprised to be attracted by Omin's booth, a new exhibitor with a huge booth,135 sqm, by its popoular hot and its excellent products.
Setting aside all the usual billiard equipment displayed on GBE2016 site, you should have found something new and novel. Snookball(Kicking billiards), for instance, attracted many eyeballs of the visitors and lit up the gathering because of its newness and distinctiveness.
GBE attracted many billiard players and big names in this industry to participate. The appearance of those renowned stars such as Florian Kohler, Kelly Fisher, Gareth.David.Potts and so on. Their fabulous performances added much beauty to the show.
Organized by the Organizing Committee of GBE, 2016 World Billiards Night & GBE 10th Anniversary Dinner was held at Imperial Trader Hotel Guangzhou at the evening of March 10, 2016. Representatives from home and abroad delivered speeches including Wang Zhaoyun, chairman of Guangdong Grandeur International Exhibition Group; Mr. Liu Chunsheng, deputy secretary general of General Administration of Sport of China, CBSA & director of The 3rd Ministry of Multi-ball Games Administrative Centre; Mr. Mohamed Salem Al-Nuaimi, president of W9BC & secretary general of QBSF; Mr. Mubarak Al Khayarin, president of ACBS;Mr. Luo Sui, Honorary President & Teaching General of APBA; Mr. Wangbin, sales director of Beijing Xingwei Sports Goods Co., Ltd.; Mr. Ding Shoulin, general manager of Jinan Yalin Billiard Goods Co., Ltd.
Activities and shows such as Award Ceremony were concurrently held with the dinner. Moreover, professionals in billiards industry at home and abroad all gathered together with the hope that communication and cooperation will be further enhanced so as to promote the development of billiards industry.
How about GBE2017?
We and the entire industry will get together at the same venue during March 9-11,2017. GBE2017 is to be eye-catching show based on the successful this year. Please mark your calendars.
Big news that CYCLOP Pool Balls has booked 6 booths for GBE2017, two more ones than GBE2016's! Xingjue, Jianda, Stranchan 6811, K.F Cues, Junyao, Meilin, Leo, Simonis, Aramith and more loyal exhibitors expressed that they would attend GBE2017.
A SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR PARTNERS!
We would like to thank all our media partners for supporting GBE and making the show a big success.


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Lawmakers and activists urged the Environmental Protection Administration (EPA) to delay a decision on the fate of the Shanyuan Palm Beach Resort (杉原棕櫚濱海渡假村) in Taitung County on Thursday.
The Taiwan Railways Administration's (TRA, 台鐵) new healthy bento boxes sold out within an hour at Taipei Main Station, Thursday morning. Starting today, a limited quantity of 100 healthy bentos will be on offer everyday.
Asian stock markets moved cautiously Thursday as worries over the global economy sap confidence but the U.S. dollar held the previous day's gains and oil prices extended a rally.
The consumer price index (CPI) was up 0.34 percent in April compared with the previous month and showed a rise of 1.88 percent year-on-year, according to government figures released Thursday.
The U.S. dollar rose against the New Taiwan dollar Thursday, gaining NT$0.021 to close at NT$32.377, in the wake of the weakness of other regional currencies amid concerns over the regional economy, dealers said.
Taiwan-based smartphone brand HTC Corp. (宏達電) said Thursday that it has set up a company in preparation for development of new technology.
Shares in Taiwan closed lower Thursday but came off an early low as bargain hunters turned active to take advantage of steep falls seen in recent sessions, dealers said.
Foreign residents will soon be allowed to use their Alien Resident Certificates (ARCs) as an accepted form of ID to subscribe to mobile phone services in Taiwan, the National Communications Commission (NCC) said Wednesday.
Taiwan should not lose sight of the big picture in its trade relations with the United States, and the importance of American pork is only one of the many trade matters being discussed between the two sides, a U.S. State Department official has said.
The Taiwan Stock Exchange Co. (TWSE) has announced that its five seminars with directors and supervisors of TWSE and Taipei Exchange (TPEx)-listed companies as part of the "2016 Corporate Governance Forum -- Insider Trading and Corporate Social Responsibility" have ended in success, according to a press release from the TWSE.


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Friday, Feb 09, 2018 11:00a -
463 Assembly Row
Somerville, Massachusetts 02145
Date Idea, Food, Kid Friendly
MidiCi The Neapolitan Pizza Company, an authentic Neapolitan restaurant with a mission to bring friends together, will open the doors to its first New England location on Friday, Feb. 9. To celebrate the occasion, the company will be offering a free Margherita pizza to anyone who Likes them on Facebook or Follows them on Instagram.
Assembly Row will mark the 26th location for the pizza company, which also has 30 more locations coming soon across the U.S. Its Somerville location features an open dining room with seating for 110, and a seasonal outdoor patio with an additional 60 seats and four fire pits. MidiCi will be open Sunday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., and Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Following its Grand Opening, MidiCi will offer free Margherita pizzas to children 12 and under (with an adult purchase) between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 10, and on Thursday, Feb. 15, it will donate 20 percent of its sales to two local causes – the Somerville High School Culinary Arts Program and the Somerville Homeless Coalition.


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Google has unveiled two new mobile web performance benchmarking tools for retailers and other companies — a speed scorecard to help companies compare their site performance to others, and a calculator to help them figure out the impact of slow site speed on conversions and revenue.
The tools, announced at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona this week, use data from Google's Chrome User Experience Report, which includes site latency metrics collected from thousands of websites in 12 countries, according to a Search Engine Land report.
In 2016, Google released a study which found that more than half of mobile users abandon a website that takes longer than three seconds to fully load.
There are a lot of different variables that play into what brings users to a website and keeps them there, and still many more that can have an effect on whether or not a customer completes a purchase on the website of a retailer or brand.
But, in announcing these new tools, Google rightly pointed out that the amount of time it takes a site to load is the most important factor. In the past, the web giant has even said that for each second of delay in the loading of a web page, a retailer's conversions can decline by up to 20%. It's safe to say that if a web page fails to load, or doesn't load fast enough for the customer's liking, no other variables matter.
The issue of site performance is almost as old as the Internet itself, but the issue of site load time for mobile users has become an especially critical one recently for retailer and brand marketers. A rapidly increasing percentage of e-commerce sales are happening on mobile, but site performance for mobile hasn't been improving in kind.
Google isn't the only one that has noticed. Last summer, Retail Systems Research stated that the average e-commerce site took 9.5 seconds to load on mobile, long after many would-be customers would have thrown in the towel, according to Google.
This isn't to suggest retailers aren't doing anything to improve site performance. In an effort to capture more of that growing mobile commerce pie, many companies are adding more features and functions, as well as more inventory to their sites. Those efforts might have taken priority over basic site performance.
Google's tools could change that. The scoreboard allows companies to see their performance compared to that of others, namely their competitors, and the calculator can show them how much they stand to lose to those competitors by not trying harder to improve site performance, which could be the catalyst retailers need to make it a priority.


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Countless charitable donations are going to waste because people are dropping the items off after hours, local thrift store operators say.
“They’re dropping things off in the middle of the night or on Sundays when we’re closed, so we’re not getting them inside in time,” said Adriana Vani of the St. Vincent de Paul Society, which operates stores across Sarnia-Lambton, including two in Sarnia.
Rainfall ruins many donated household items and leaves clothing soaked and unusable, she said.
“We need people to donate during store hours. We don’t like seeing things get tossed.”
St. Vincent de Paul stores on East and Vidal streets, as well as the Corunna location, are open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday. The Petrolia store is open 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Forest, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
“We have tried to have donations delivered during business hours and discourage donors from leaving goods outside in off-hours. We have met with limited success,” said treasurer Greg Hogan.
“When donations are impacted by weather, and in some cases, by other people scrounging through donations in off-hours, there is a definite cost to the recipient in terms of lost use of the articles and disposal costs.”
Gokul Pradeep, production supervisor at Sarnia’s Mission Thrift store, said extra signage has been posted at the Murphy Road site to address the problem.
“People were leaving donations outside our donation hours and we had homeless coming through and going through our stuff, and it ended up going into garbage,” he said. “And if it’s left out in the weather, it’s ruined.”
Mission Thrift Store is closed Sunday and Monday, but open and accepting donations from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday; and 9 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Thursday and Friday.


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Snap Inc. Will Lead R/GA Marketing Tech Venture Studio with IPG to Herald a New Wave of Tech Empowerment
Success is the biggest incentive to innovate further and lead others as well. Snap Inc., the leading tech innovation and social media firm, is gearing up to build a competitive martech solution platform for omnichannel marketers and advertisers. Tech investment firm R/GA Ventures announced Snap as the Lead Partner for the R/GA Marketing Tech Venture Studio with IPG. The partnership will be culminated at R/GA’S NYC headquarters, focusing on martech firms.
“We believe that mobile engagement has given rise to some of the best and most unique advertising opportunities,” said Imran Khan, Snap Inc. Chief Strategy Officer. “We are excited to work with R/GA and IPG to support innovative companies that help marketers provide creative and effective advertising experiences.”
— R/GA (@RGA) February 2, 2017
R/GA Marketing Tech Venture Studio partnering with Snap is a significant step towards empowering mobile marketers and advertisers. The program is aimed at start-ups and developing app builders who are in quest of technology that will improve customer experience in mobile advertising. The studio is focusing on creating omnichannel video advertising platforms with engaging mobile experiences, ad delivery optimization, accurate in-app targeting analytics and AI capabilities.
“The strategic value that Snap Inc. brings to the program will provide a crucial differentiation for startups developing the next wave of innovation in marketing technology and mobile video,” said Stephen Plumlee, R/GA Global Chief Operating Officer and Managing Partner of R/GA Ventures. “We look forward to working with both Snap and IPG to provide both critical momentum and enormous network effect for the companies chosen to participate.”
Snap, as the Lead Partner in R/GA Marketing Tech Venture Studio, will collaborate with at least ten startups selected in the program, providing insights on transformational martech and branding strategies. The program will also provide access to industry-leading experts from across the full range of IPG operating companies as well as access to the global networks of R/GA and IPG including clients, industry partners, mentors, and investors.
“Our support of the Marketing Tech Studio will help drive innovation for marketers and agency brands by finding more engaging, efficient and effective ways to reach consumers,” said Michael Roth, Chairman and CEO of IPG.
“We expect our investment in the program will lead to new tools and technologies that lower the barriers for brands and advertisers to create measurable, customized content in a mobile world.”
Startups selected into the program will have a shot at attending the Cannes Lions festival in June. The “Ghost’s” affirmation to lead R/GA Marketing Tech Venture Studio comes just days ahead of its official unveiling of the IPO prospects – the most awaited martech event of 2017. If the millennial-magnet manages to convince the Wall Street about its potential in growing into a mega-technology enterprise, it could well open the floodgates of opportunities for others competing in the addressable market.


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TouchPad, the new tablet computer from HP, will run webOS, an operating system originally developed by Palm.
iPad 2 – a refreshed version of the popular Apple tablet computer – is already in production, according to one new report. Cue the iPad 2 countdown.
Amazon Kindle e-books currently use location numbers. But real page numbers are on the way, Amazon said today.
The newest addition to the Kyocera phones line-up is the Sprint Echo, a dual-screen handset.
Google's salute to Jules Verne has lots of nooks and crannies. Did you find the sunken crown? How about the divers?
Google celebrates Jules Verne on his 183rd birthday with a new '20,000 Leagues' interactive doodle.
White iPhone holdouts could soon be rewarded for their patience. The long-lost model may have finally emerged from its nine-month nap.
Verizon iPhone data plans will include an unlimited monthly plan – something AT&T had, then ditched. But are unlimited data plans really such a good deal?
Battlefield 3, the latest entry in the popular FPS franchise, is set for release in fall of 2011. In the meantime, EA has released a short Battlefield 3 trailer.
AT&T iPhone users may qualify for a free MicroCell, which acts as a personal cellphone tower. But there are a couple of catches, according to a report.
Verizon iPhone review scores have centered on the stellar voice service. But, really, it's the same ol' iPhone.
Angry Birds Rio, a sequel of sorts to the original Angry Birds, is expected to launch next month. Angry Birds Rio is a tie-in to a forthcoming movie from Fox.