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Amazon is partnered with a number of different companies and brands and owns many companies such as Whole Foods, Abebooks, Audible, and other similar businesses.
However, many customers wonder if Amazon also owns Kohl’s, as they appear to be linked. If you’d like to learn the same thing, keep reading this article to learn more about the information I gathered on this topic!
Does Amazon Own Kohl’s?
Amazon does not own Kohl’s. However, Amazon and Kohl’s have had a partnership since 2019 that allows Amazon customers to process returns for unwanted packages at their local Kohls via an Amazon kiosk. As well, Kohl’s carries a variety of Amazon products in their retail stock, enabling both companies to make money from the partnership.
If you’d like to learn more about why Kohl’s and Amazon are affiliated with each other, how each company makes money off of the partnership, and more, keep reading this article for more useful facts and tips!
Is Kohl’s Affiliated With Amazon?
While Amazon does not own Kohl’s, they do have a partnership with Kohl’s. In all Kohl’s stores, Amazon has order return kiosks where customers can return their packages instead of having to process the return through Amazon.com.
As well, Kohl’s stocks Amazon house brands in their regular store stock, enabling Amazon to gain more sales on their brands and allowing Kohl’s to further expand their stock.
Additionally, by having customers bring their returns to Kohl’s, Amazon isn’t required to send as many drivers out to pick up packages, which saves Amazon money due to the smaller amount of money they have to turn out in order to pay for transportation.
Why Did Amazon Team Up With Kohl’s?
Amazon and Kohl’s teamed up with the goal of driving more foot traffic into Kohl’s stores.
When Kohl’s began expanding their stores outside of malls, the company noticed a lack of customer response for its standalone stores.
However, teaming up with Amazon and providing a mail return service gives customers more incentive to go to Kohl’s and has proven to be effective since this deal originally fell into place.
As well, Amazon has also derived some benefits from partnering with Kohl’s, as having a package return center in Kohl’s stores enables Amazon to cut back on package pick-ups, saving money on transportation and reducing their carbon footprint.
Does Kohl’s Make Money Off of Amazon Returns?
Kohl’s doesn’t make money directly from the Amazon packages that they send out, as customers are still required to process a return and refund request through Amazon.com.
However, every time a customer brings an Amazon package to Kohl’s for return, they receive a Kohl’s coupon, which gives the customers an extra incentive to come back to Kohl’s.
Also, according to a Kohl’s employee, Amazon does pay Kohl’s a small amount for servicing packages through their store.
However, most of the money Kohl’s makes from Amazon comes from returning customers.
Therefore, Kohl’s makes money from its Amazon returns kiosk by generating more foot traffic to their store, and by getting the customers in the store, it eventually entices many to return to purchase other products.
What Does Kohl’s Get From Amazon?
Kohl’s receives both extra foot traffic from Amazon due to customers bringing in package returns, as well as extra stock to expand their store by stocking Amazon brand products.
According to Kohls, their partnership with Amazon has proven to be quite effective, as Kohls has received an extra 2 million customers just in the past largely year due to Amazon package returns bringing customers into the store.
Was Amazon Supposed to Buy Kohl’s?
Because Amazon recently announced plans to open their own Amazon retail stores, many have speculated that Amazon is planning to purchase Kohl’s due to their current partnership.
However, reliable sources do not believe these rumors to be true, largely due to the fact that Kohl’s business model is not very well done and would therefore be a bad investment on Amazon’s part by taking ownership.
Therefore, while many rumors surrounding this possible merger will claim otherwise, it’s unlikely that Amazon will purchase Kohl’s, as the brand is not generally respected among retail businesses and may reflect badly upon Amazon both reputation-wise and monetarily.


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(April 9, 2018, Washington, D.C.) – Christopher Wenk has been named Vice President of Government Affairs of Kia Motors Corporation Washington Office, effective April 2, 2018. In this role, Mr. Wenk will oversee Kia’s U.S. federal and state government affairs program.
“We are pleased to have Christopher Wenk join the Kia Motors’ Washington Office,” said Dong Wook Kim, Senior Vice President, External Affairs Department, Kia Motors Corporation. “Christopher’s expertise in international trade policy will be an asset to Kia Motors and his recognized leadership will guide Kia as we navigate this complex environment.”
"Having grown up in Michigan, I have always felt a deep connection and appreciation for the automotive industry. I have the utmost respect and admiration for Kia’s mission, so I am thrilled to join Kia as Vice President, Government Affairs," said Mr. Wenk. “I am excited about working with the entire Kia team here in Washington. I look forward to working and collaborating with leadership at our U.S. headquarters in California, R&D and technical center in Michigan, manufacturing plant in Georgia as well as our global headquarters in Seoul, Korea. This is an exciting time in the auto industry, and I look forward to helping drive the conversation about critical issues like trade, safety, innovation and technology.”
Mr. Wenk comes to Kia Motors from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, where he served as the Executive Director of International Policy and Chief Trade Lobbyist. For more than 10 years, he led bipartisan efforts to promote the Chamber’s international trade and investment agenda with the administration, on Capitol Hill, and in the business community. Mr. Wenk played an important role in successful campaigns to win bipartisan congressional passage legislation to renew Trade Promotion Authority and trade agreements with Colombia, Panama, Peru, and South Korea. He played a key part in the Chamber’s efforts related to the work of the Geneva-based World Trade Organization, including negotiations to expand manufacturing and services trade and to promote trade facilitation.
Prior to working with the Chamber, Mr. Wenk directed international trade policy at the National Association of Manufacturers, advocating on behalf of its members with the administration and Congress. Mr. Wenk spent five years on Capitol Hill working for the House Small Business Committee and U.S. Representatives Steve Chabot (R-Ohio) and Dave Camp (R-Michigan).
Born and raised in Ann Arbor, Michigan, Mr. Wenk holds a Master of Arts in Political Management and Corporate Public Affairs & Government Relations from the George Washington University in Washington, D.C., and his Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice and Spanish from Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana. He and his wife, Elizabeth, live in Silver Spring, Maryland, with their three daughters and one son.
About Kia Motors Corporation
Kia Motors Corporation – a maker of world-class quality vehicles for the young-at-heart – was founded in 1944 and is Korea's oldest manufacturer of motor vehicles. Over 2.7 million Kia vehicles a year are produced at 14 manufacturing and assembly operations in five countries which are then sold and serviced through a network of distributors and dealers covering around 180 countries. Kia today has over 51,000 employees worldwide and annual revenues of about US$50 billion. It is the major sponsor of the Australian Open and an official automotive partner of FIFA – the governing body of the FIFA World Cup™. Kia Motors Corporation's brand slogan – "The Power to Surprise" – represents the company's global commitment to surprise the world by providing exciting and inspiring experiences that go beyond expectations.
For more information about Kia Motors and our products, please visit our Global Media Center at www.kianewscenter.com.

domain: news


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As cloud computing grows, customer frustration mounts
Patrick Thibodeau reports:
Users who turned to cloud computing for some of its obvious benefits, such as the ability to rapidly expand and provision systems, are starting to shift their focus to finding ways to fix some early weaknesses.
Cloud computing today has some of the characteristics of a Wild West boom town, but its unchecked growth is leading to frustration, a word that one hears more and more in user discussions about hosted services.
For example, cloud customers — and some vendors as well — are increasingly grousing about the lack of data handling and security standards. Some note that there aren’t even rules that would require cloud vendors to disclose where their clients’ data is stored — even if it’s housed in countries not bound by U.S. data security laws.
Read more on Computerworld.


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The UK market's online spending in 2009 will rise by 13.3 percent compared to last year, taking the total spend to £20.9bn, despite the global recession, says Verdict Research.
Around 7m Brits are using a file-sharing network once a week to illegally download music files, says the Strategic Advisory Board for Intellectual Property (SABIP).
AMR Research released its annual "Supply Chain Top 25" list, and the top dog leading the supply chain pack this year -as it did last year - is Apple.
Microsoft's splashy, slightly angular, just-divulged Zune HD will play movies, surf the web, and snag digital radio feeds, but all I want to know is: will it play games? Redmond, Washington isn't talking... yet.
A month after many details of Microsoft's new Zune HD player were leaked by blogs, the company finally made it official on Wednesday. The Zune HD will arrive in the U.S. sometime this fall and comes with an OLED touchscreen and HD radio among its mai...
Creative Technology has released two new MP3 players: the ZEN MX and the Zen Mosaic EZ300.
UK company Pure has announced the release of the Sirocco 150 -- a DAB (digital audio broadcast) radio that is also compatible with the iPhone 3G and iPod Touch.
Headroom Corporation has released two new products aimed at home audio enthusiasts that use technology from its flagship headphone amplifiers but are cheaper.
In an economy that is affecting almost everyone, especially major companies, handheld devices such as Nintendo's DS and Apple's iPhone seem to be doing pretty well for themselves within the gaming market. Rumor has it that Microsoft is working to thr...
With all the unsubstantiated rumors buzzing about a new iPhone and its alleged features, it's becoming increasingly apparent that Apple will launch some sort of new or upgraded device very, very soon-perhaps even at its Worldwide Developer Conference...
Commercial Radio Australia’s analysis of the digital radio channel plans released by the Australian Communication and Media Authority shows that “well over 90%” of Adelaide’s population will be able to access digital radio. This figure means that Ade...
Microsoft appears to be setting the stage for an all-out war on Apple's iPod with two sly moves. Its tactics thus far are a new ad campaign targeting the high cost of filling an iPod as opposed to the $15 Zune Pass music rental program, and a flurry ...
Apple calls the iPod Touch the "funnest iPod ever," but now the popular device has a new moniker: the iPod of war. The U.S. military is doling out the iPod Touch to soldiers in war zones in the Middle East, according to a Newsweek report.
Leaked artwork of the supposedly upcoming Microsoft Zune portable media player has found its way onto the Internet. The artwork labels the new device as the Zune HD, and shows it to feature a large widescreen display housed in what looks like a bushe...
Sony is refreshing its Walkman line with new flagship models that pack noise cancelling, a bright touchscreen display, mobile TV, and the ability to surf the Internet and watch YouTube videos.
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The Coral Springs Farmers Market took place on Sunday morning. It was a place where you could buy organic vegetables, buy baked goods, meet with business professionals and make a new friend.
“This is a nice event. I am selling locally grown organic vegetables,” said Nick Shaffer.
Jennifer Hernandez was selling popcakes. “I like being here,” she said. “It is pleasant environment.”


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Small Business Week Special: Global Supply Chains
By Debbie Lawes | September 30, 2010
How small firms can tap into global supply chains
Think your company is too small to join a big multinational's supply chain? Heads up: seems they need small companies as much as you need them.
"The reality is that larger corporations are looking to partner with small, specialized companies," says Andrew Richardson, President of fast-growing Targray Technology International Inc., a single source supplier of raw materials to the photovoltaic and solar cell industries. "Smaller companies have the niche products, fast turnaround times and close customer relationships that multinationals need to stay innovative and competitive."
Montreal-based Targray is a case in point. Some of the world's leading solar cell manufacturers rely exclusively on Targray to provide the state-of-the-art products and solutions that enable them to make cells for solar panels at the lowest possible cost per watt.
The same goes for major electronics makers such as Sony and JVC, which use Targray's materials to produce CDs, DVDs and Blu-ray discs. It's a safe bet that at least half of the CDs and DVDs in your home contain material provided by Targray, which employs about 100 people and has annual sales of more than US$100 million.
With the U.S. economy recovering slowly, a growing number of smaller Canadian companies are tapping into global supply chains as a way to expand sales, particularly in emerging markets such as India, China and Brazil.
"We're seeing double-digit growth in some of these emerging economies because of economic development and a rising middle class," says JérÃ´me Nycz, Vice President, Strategy & Enterprise Risk Management at the Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC). "This represents a tremendous growth opportunity for Canadian firms."
But before seeking out a partnership with a multinational, here's a quick primer on what to expect.
Think reliability: Multinationals need reliable suppliers that measure up in terms of quality, price and delivery. One misstep from a supplier can have devastating ripple effects throughout the entire supply chain. The result is that many multinationals are shifting from short-term transaction-based relationships to long-term collaborative partnerships with smaller suppliers, according to a recent report prepared by the Conference Board of Canada for BDC.
At the same time, multinationals are being more selective about their suppliers. Nycz says large companies want to know their supplier is financially stable, complies with relevant standards and certifications and can scale up production to meet demand.
"A benefit of this rigorous vetting process is that all partners in the supply chain become more competitive," he notes.
Planning is paramount: Companies need a well thought-out plan that assesses your capabilities and how they contribute to building a resilient and flexible supply chain. Treat supply chain management as a core element of your business strategy, adopting best practices and developing the requisite skills in your organization.
As part of your planning, expect to share more risk and more responsibility with your supply chain partners, such as accepting longer payment terms or sharing the research and development costs.
"What large companies are saying is, 'we have a problem and we need it solved'," says Jayson Myers, President and CEO of Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters. "It's a reflection that no one large company has all of the R&D, the intellectual property or even the idea. It's counting on smaller suppliers to come up with these solutions."
Providing those solutions will also require up-to-date information communications technologies, says Myers, which can help companies respond quickly when a customer makes changes to a design, delivery or price.
As well, global buyers need integrated backend systems and automated processes that can be monitored online by all participants in the supply chain.
"Global buyers want to be able to see up and down the supply chain to make sure the inventory is available and the project is on schedule," Nycz says.
Partner with a domestic exporter: Too often small companies lack the resources and the expertise required to do business in a foreign market. Myers recommends partnering with a Canadian company already embedded in a global supply chain.
"This also serves the needs of the multinational, which doesn't want to be handpicking parts of a solution from hundreds of individual suppliers," says Myers. "They want fewer suppliers providing full turnkey solutions."
Put feet on the ground: The best way to understand your market, stay competitive and build intimate supply-chain relationships is to follow your customers to wherever they are located.
Targray's Richardson says his company has faced increased competition from local suppliers with warehouses near their customer. They speak the language and understand the business culture in that market.
"If you're going to be a successful supplier to that marketplace you have to follow your customers to that emerging market," says Richardson, whose company has 19 offices in 15 countries, including Mexico, China, India and Europe.
Open your books: Transparency is becoming the new norm in global supply chains. Be prepared to provide financial statements, a breakdown of your costing and details on your suppliers.
Protect your interests: All companies are vulnerable when customers fail to pay their bills. To protect your firm, Richardson says companies should have their receivables insured and use letters of credit-a standard instrument for international trade transactions to ensure exporters get paid what they're promised.
Seek advice: Before going global, take the time to prepare yourself by getting advice from experienced, knowledgeable sources in Canada. This can ease the often arduous tasks of getting started, making connections and understanding laws and regulations in other countries.


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Apple is reportedly taking another stab at the MacBook Air.
The revamped, rebuilt version of the Air will come in two sizes, have a stronger battery, and a lower price tag. It will be introduced Wednesday at the Back to the Mac event.
Here's what's being reported out there:
- "It does not have curves. It has straight edges. It’s boxier, like the iPhone 4," a source tells Cult of Mac.
- "It boots so fast, it’s unbelievable," the source also tells Cult of Mac.
- Battery is 50% bigger delivering 8-10 hours of battery life.
- It will be available in 11.6" and 13.3" sized models. (Which means Apple will pretty much have a netbook after trashing them for so long.)
- Apple has been manufacturing them for over a week now, so they should be available either on Wednesday or shortly after, AppleInsider reports.
- Apple is developing a unique solid state drive for the Air which will could cost less than traditional hard disk drives, AppleInsider reports.
- It will have two USB ports, one on each side, says Cult of Mac.
- As for price, Cult of Mac's source says $1,100 for the 13 inch and $999 for the 11 inch.


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June 29-- Southeastern Technical College’s cosmetology program is primarily concerned with sharpening the skills students use behind the chair, but Swainsboro and Vidalia classes got an education on the skills used to get the chair itself.
Lady Renee Industries, a longtime partner of STC Cosmetology, hosted both classes at their facility in Cedar Crossing, a trip intended to shed light on the business side of their profession.
“This trip gives the students the opportunity to see a manufacturing facility where quality salon equipment is made,” said Linda Hairr, cosmetology instructor for the Vidalia campus. “We hope it helps them to see the benefits of buying equipment and services from a local company.”
The instructors emphasize that what you buy is just as important as what you can do with it, though that necessitates more shrewdness than extravagance.
“I want them to learn to shop smart for furniture when planning to open a salon or rent a booth,” said Peggy Braswell, cosmetology instructor for the Swainsboro campus. “Also, they must watch the supplies they purchase and understand that more money spent does not always mean better quality.”
Lady Renee and Southeastern Tech have enjoyed a long relationship, bolstered by the company’s support of the school and the instructors’ faith in the company’s products.
“We have been using Lady Renee at the school for years and have always been satisfied with the equipment and products,” said Althea Telfair, Vidalia campus cosmetology instructor. “We’ll continue to take our students to visit Lady Renee facilities.”
“They have always supported the school with donations,” said Braswell. “The students and instructors were all given a gift bag yesterday with various products that are usable in the profession. Lady Renee has also contributed to fund raisers and competitions that the students have attended.”
Those years of support make it easy for the instructors to be fans of Lady Renee, but the fact that each of them has great confidence in the company’s products makes it even easier.
“Lady Renee is a reliable company, they manufacture their equipment using products made in the USA, their products come with a great warranty and they do their own service work,” said Hairr. “They will even come to your business to pick up the equipment and give you a loaner—something unheard of in today’s world.”


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Add one more media market to the already-long list
is going after.
On Tuesday, Google unveiled a new partnership with satellite television provider
. The two companies will work on creating an automated system to buy, sell and deliver television ads over EchoStar's national network.
Google had been testing television ads with local cable companies, and the national deal with EchoStar marks a ratcheting up of the search giant's ambitions when it comes to that lucrative market.
Large advertisers spent $65.4 billion on TV ads in 2006, according to TNS Media Intelligence. And Google is hoping that the formula of automation and accountability that served it so well online will translate to a home run with TV as well.
"With Google TV ads, the entire process is automated -- from planning the campaign to uploading and serving the ad to reporting on its effectiveness," the company reportedly said in an email.
"Like our AdWords advertising program, Google TV ads are bought using an auction model and through a single online interface that is already familiar to agencies and advertisers," it said.
But Google will face a number of obstacles in attempting to replicate its Internet success on the tube. In fact, its foray into the television space may end up resembling its fumbled attempts to be a player in the radio advertising business more than anything.
And while the company is aiming for the ambitious goal of being a one-stop shop for all a marketer's needs, it is much more valuable in some media than in others.
Standard & Poor's analyst Scott Kessler sums up the sentiment of opportunity and skepticism that characterize Google's latest move. "We think this is an important development as Google pushes into more traditional media advertising, and we see significant opportunities for the company," he wrote in a research note Tuesday.
"However, we have been skeptical of Google's efforts in this area: For example, we do not think it has garnered much traction in the radio segment, despite notable initial interest and material company investment."
Indeed, Google's fumbled efforts in the radio advertising business could be more indicative of the road ahead in TV because the two media are similar -- and much different than online advertising.
For starters, Google cannot offer advertisers nearly as much transparency into user behavior on radio or TV as it does online. That's because there is no action users can take over those two media that replicates the click-through that characterize its online ad system.
Google's data may be helpful to advertisers -- it can, for example, let television advertisers understand which ad viewers tend to stay tuned until the show's end and put more money behind it -- but it cannot approach the value that Google offers online.
Tune In, Turn Off?
Meanwhile, Google's mantra of transparency, which is appealing to advertisers, could turn off broadcasters. As Google's struggle to find enough ad inventory to sell in radio illustrates, transparency can cut into the profit margins of a broadcaster. Newspapers have taken a similar stance.
Though newspapers will give the search giant scraps they cannot move themselves, they've been hesitant to turn over their prime real estate.
With online advertising, Google sells ads against its own search results and is therefore free to make the rules. But when it hopes to sell ads among content that another company owns, the situation gets trickier. Often the publisher stands to make less -- not more -- money because of Google's entrance into the market.
Though EchoStar will be opening up all of its spots to Google, other TV stations that command higher rates may be much more resistant.
Transparency into a viewer's behavior may also be unwelcome by television broadcasters. Ratings -- the current standard for pricing television ads -- underscore how wide a broadcaster's reach is and emphasize the power of the medium. Advertisers are told about how many million households they can reach by purchasing expensive TV spots.
It's unclear why broadcasters would want to present data showing how many viewers are actually changing the channel during the very spot that advertisers are paying for.
Google's aggressive bid to push into new advertising markets is understandable given its heavy reliance on search ads. And investors are likely to welcome any new streams of revenue.
But the company may be better off taking an incremental approach and focusing first on the new, tech-heavy markets that play to its strengths.
Slugging it out in mature markets such as TV, radio and print diverts resources from booming businesses such as video, mobile and rich graphic advertising. And while Google is pursuing the newer fields, it is hardly without competition.
Old media companies are attempting to
cut into video advertising,
is off to an impressive start
with mobile ads, and
is angling to be a player in the graphic space by
attempting to acquire DoubleClick.
Google is taking a step in the right direction by getting into new media markets. It just doesn't have to complete the journey overnight.


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Sask. pot industry could face supply shortage on legalization day
'It is going to be tight,' says former lab tech eyeing Oct. 17 launch for Prince Albert, Sask., pot shop
Jim Southam says he plans to have his legal retail cannabis store in Prince Albert, Sask., open in time for October 17, the date of Canadian pot legalization.
How much pot will be available for sale is another question, he says.
"It is going to be tight," said Southam, a former longtime Cameco lab technician-turned legal pot seller.
"I am a little concerned about the availability of product."
13 groups await green lights to setup legal weed supply chain in Sask.
'That's just what came out of the draw': 5 entities win 33% of Sask.'s 51 pot retail permits
Southam's concern stems from a belief that the retail pot market stands to be much bigger than the small medical market currently serviced by licensed producers (LPs).
"They're going from servicing approximately 250,000 medical patients to [many more] country wide for recreational use," he said.
"I'm gonna do everything I can to ensure that there's product on my store shelves and at the best possible price I can acquire it at."
A $4-billion market?
A recent study by consulting firm Deloitte suggests Southam is not just blowing smoke.
Deloitte estimates the total cannabis market in Canada, including medical, illegal, and legal recreational products, is expected to generate $7.2 billion in sales next year, with $4.3 billion of that coming from the legal recreational market.
Medical cannabis is anticipated to generate up to $1.8 billion in sales, by comparison.
Jeffrey Lundstrom, a headshop owner who sells pipes, bongs and other pot paraphernalia at Skunk Funk Smoker's Emporium in Saskatoon, shares Southam's concern.
But he worries it's medical patients who will lose out.
"LPs are currently focused on medicinal because that's the only option they have," said Lundstrom. "As soon as that switches and they now have a recreational market they can run after, you're going to see a big switch.
"They're going to stop focusing on growing medical cannabis and start focus more on growing recreational because they believe there's more money in it. And to some degree there is.
"Somebody who's disabled, got stage 4 cancer, mostly likely isn't at their job and is at home dealing with their illness. They're not buying 10-dollar grams."
'I don't want to jinx it'
Both Southam and Lundstrom spoke from the floor of the 1st ever Hempfest Cannabis Expo in Saskatoon on Sunday. The show has previously toured in cities like Calgary.
Southam was one of only a handful of the 51 Saskatchewan cannabis retail permit winners present at the show. The others were Clay Sparks, who won the chance to open up shop in La Loche, and the company Tweed, which won permits in five communities.
None of the Saskatoon winners were exhibiting at the show.
- At 23, student entrepreneur has won 1 of 7 permits for Saskatoon cannabis retail stores
- Lawyer, Fat Badger restaurateur, business student all chosen for Saskatoon pot shops
Southam applied for permits in 12 communities, winning only a shot at a store in Prince Albert.
The Saskatchewan Liquor and Gaming Authority has selected runner-ups for each of the 51 permits, in case the lucky ones chosen don't actually make it through the permitting process.
For now Southam is focused on navigating the rules for the future sale of pot in Prince Albert, including a 200-metre buffer between shops and schools.
"It's definitely narrowed down where a person looks" for a store location, he said. "But that being said, there are a couple areas that will be specifically looked at by myself and the other retailer to put a store."
Southam wouldn't say exactly where in Prince Albert, though — not even if it's downtown — which is not unlike all the Saskatoon pot retailers CBC News has posed the same question to.
"I don't want to jinx it," he said.


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Fidessa Group plc (LON:FDSA), a provider of trading, investment and information solutions to the financial services industry, earlier today reported of two transactions in its shares that saw its Chief Executive Officer Chris Aspinwall increase his stake in the company further.
The first announcement says that on September 22, 2015, Mr Aspinwall bought 1,000 shares in Fidessa at a price of 1779p each. This puts the value of the transaction at £17,790 ($27,288).
In addition, Fidessa reported that Chris Aspinwall made use of a Share Incentive Plan on September 22, 2015, becoming an owner of 7 more shares in the company at a price of 1791p per share.
Thus, his holding in Fidessa following the two transactions is 124,549 shares, or 0.33% of the company’s ordinary shares.
It was less than a week ago, that Mr Aspinwall bought 1,000 shares in the company, in a transaction costing him £17,947.
One share in Fidessa traded at 1,800p at the moment of publication of this article. This is 0.67% higher than at yesterday’s market close.
Chart source: Google Finance.


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While Mercedes has just showcased their advanced paint tech that can harvest both solar and wind power, BMW is dabbling with a more practically, collective solution for their electric vehicles. The company has recently unveiled their working prototypes that entail the use of lamp posts as nifty charging systems. This can certainly work around the complexity (and frustration) of finding one of those ever-elusive dedicated EV charging stations.
Christened as the ‘Light and Charge’ street lights, the setup combines a conventional a LED street light with the automaker’s indigenous tech used in ChargeNow recharging stations. The result is the seamless transition of an existing infrastructural unit into a usable charging system for EVs. The other practical advantage, according to the company, will encompass the collective usage of these charging units, irrespective of both the drivers using such streetlights and even the car models that are being charged.
BMW has jumped right into the commercial state of affairs, with two ‘Light and Charge’ street lights already installed in close proximity of its headquarters. And, the catch in the scope is – drivers can only use these charging units by making payment via a mobile app network. Still, if successfully implemented, the charging ambit can surely work as a wholesome fix for those issues of range anxiety, thus aiding in the overall popularity of low-emission electric vehicles.


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Looks like the Nike LeBron 3 is making a comeback.
Nike began retroing LeBron James' signature sneakers earlier this year when they brought back the shoe that started it all, the Air Zoom Generation. Moving forward, it looks like Nike has plans to start retroing some of LeBron's other classic silhouettes, including the Nike LeBron 3.
According to sneaker source @Pinoe77, the black and gold colorway of the LeBron 3 will return in October of next year, though we expect more than just the one colorway to release if Nike is going to bring the sneaker back after 13 years. The Cavs' All-Star first teased a LeBron 3 retro about a year ago when he laced up several different colorways during warmups.
Now this doesn't necessarily mean that Nike is skipping over the LeBron 2, that sneaker could very well be retroed next year as well, but for the time being no plans have been announced.
The Nike LeBron 3 made it's debut back in November of 2005, featuring Zoom Air units at the forefoot and heel, as well as a “foot-bucket” insole which prevented the foot from slipping off the foot-bed. The kicks are currently selling on the resale market in the $400-$500 range, however some player exclusives, like the "Superman" joint, fetch as much as $1,500.


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Home » Economy » CFOs dial back economic expectations: Deloitte
CFOs dial back economic expectations: Deloitte
The ‘Great Resignation’: Why 4.4M workers quit their jobs in September
Delivering Happiness CEO Jenn Lim on people leaving their jobs and what it means to be happy.
Deloitte's latest quarterly survey of Fortune 500 chief financial officers shows a less optimistic outlook for the U.S. economy in 2022 than just a few months ago, citing concerns over inflation across the board.
The consulting firm's fourth quarter poll, which included 130 CFOs, found that less than half, 45%, expect North America's economy to fare better next year – down from 54% who believed in Q3 that things would be rosier a year from now.
EconomyComments Off on CFOs dial back economic expectations: Deloitte


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A super cool collectible or even a fun gift for the DIY-lover, the $30 set featured a scaled-down model of a real-life Bunnings Warehouse and came complete with a mini plant nursery and sausage sizzle stand.
Following the success of the product, Bunnings has now announced it’ll be coming out with five new block models. Releasing each month, the first add-on collectible LEGO-style kit to land in January 2021 is the Building Block Truck.
Designed after the trucks that carry Bunnings’ product between stores, Bunnings described the Block Truck as “the quiet hero, always ensuring the shelves are fully stocked with more than 40,000 products for customers to choose from”.
The truck’s body is crafted in the brand’s signature green shade, with a spot for Bunnings Warehouse stickers to mark the sides of the storage container. There’s a glass windshield, even hazard lights. It’s the little details that truly make it.
As for what’s coming next? Bunnings is staying tight-lipped on the remaining four collectibles, however, pixelated visual clues would have us believe we could potentially expect to see play equipment, and perhaps a forklift.
What we do know is this: “Each add-on will be a replica of features you can easily spot inside a Bunnings Warehouse so that customers can collect and build some of their favourite in store features”.
The Bunnings Block Truck is available now in-stores and online for $10.


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Plastics Europe’s Roadmap Toward a Greener Future has €235 Billion Price Tag
Polymer producers’ trade association offers a pathway toward circularity
Plastics Europe, the Brussels-based trade association representing polymer producers across the continent, today launched its Plastics Transition roadmap, which it says “establishes a pathway to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the overall plastics system by 28 percent by 2030 and towards net-zero by 2050.”
It also predicts the gradual substitution of fossil-based plastics, and that circular plastics could meet 25 percent of European demand in 2030 and 65 percent by 2050 –– but will require additional investments and operational costs of some €235 billion ($247.9 billion).
This marks the first time the group’s nearly 100 members –– which produce more than 90 percent of all polymers across Europe –– have united around a “hugely ambitious but realist plan to redesign the European plastics system,” according to Plastics Europe Managing Director Virginia Janssens.
The 133-page roadmap, she said, identifies key levers and enablers, and details immediate, short and medium-term milestones and actions for plastics manufacturers. “Whilst acknowledging that our industry must do more to deliver faster systemic change, the roadmap highlights that circularity intrinsically requires a whole value chain approach and includes recommended actions for policymakers and value chain stakeholders, between now and 2030.”
The roadmap underlines the need to establish a European waste management system fit for a net-zero emissions and circular economy; develop minimum circular plastic content targets for key plastics applications to create a market pull for circular plastics; and unlock industry investments in, for example, much-needed chemical recycling infrastructure.
The need to remain competitive
Plastics Europe President Marco ten Bruggencate –– who is Dow EMEA’s commercial vice president of packaging and specialty plastics –– said the group is excited about the opportunities but stressed that policymakers must also ensure the European plastics system remains internationally competitive during the transition. This is vital “if we are to prevent industrial activity and investments migrating out of Europe to other regions, and to avoid becoming increasingly dependent on imports of plastics which do not necessarily meet EU sustainability standards.”
Rob Ingram, lead of Plastics Europe’s Steering Board Roadmap Task Force and CEO of INEOS Olefins & Polymers Europe, criticized the wider European plastics system as being too big, complex, and interconnected for any part of it to successfully deliver a circular and net-zero system alone. “We need to find better ways of listening, talking and deepening our collaboration. The roadmap should be viewed as an invitation to challenge our thinking and identify the areas where we can join forces and progress faster together. To promote this collaboration Plastics Europe is calling on the European Commission to develop a Clean Transition Dialogue for the European plastics system.”
And now for some Fast Facts
Separately, Plastics Europe has launched its new ‘Plastics – the fast Facts 2023’. The infographic offers a more visual, user-friendly format for the publication of preliminary global and European plastics production, trade partners and other key data. The group says that early next year it will publish finalized and more comprehensive data in a biennial report called “Circular Economy for Plastics – A European Overview.”


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Kingman, Arizona (PRWEB) April 10, 2017
Cambridge Automotive Group (CAG), the largest Maaco franchisee in the North America, recently opened a new Maaco store in Kingman, Arizona. The group co-hosted a ribbon cutting ceremony with the Kingman Chamber of Commerce to celebrate the occasion.
The new Maaco store not only plans to participate in community events and be an active member of the Chamber of Commerce, but provide an economic boost to Kingman. This year the store has already partnered with the Boys and Girld Club of Kingman to be a sponsor for 2017.
“Maaco Kingman is proud to bring jobs to this community, and continue to grow and employ even more people,” said Jason Eagar, Director of Operations for CAG. “We are focused on helping the Kingman economy by buying parts and materials from local businesses. Currently, Maaco Kingman is the only paint and body shop in the area that offers choices to its customers.”
Maaco Kingman plans on offering several specials throughout the year on customer auto body repair and paint needs. Maaco Kingman fixes routine dents and dings, and provides structural repairs as well by its expertly trained technicians to provide high-quality work. Plus, all structural repairs are backed by a lifetime warranty. The Maaco store also provides superb painting services, offering several different packages with varying price points and warranties.
For more information on Maaco Kingman, visit its website or call 928-263-2508.
About Cambridge Automotive Group
Cambridge Automotive Group was formed in 2015 to pursue a growth strategy in the car care industry. CAG is the largest Maaco® franchisee in the world. The company has attracted a best-in-class management team and continues to invest significant capital to grow in the Macco system through remodels and new center development. The group is seeking to open additional Maaco locations with growth targeted in California, Texas, Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah and Washington.
Maaco Auto Painting & Collision Repair -- a part of the Driven Brands, Inc. family of automotive aftermarket franchise brands based in Charlotte, NC -- is America's #1 Bodyshop. Maaco provides automotive paint and cosmetic repair services for nearly 500,000 drivers annually. With more than 500 independently owned and operated franchises across the United States and Canada, Maaco has restored the safety and appearance of more than 20 million vehicles over 45 years. Maaco ranked #106 on Entrepreneur Magazine's 2015 Franchise 500 Rankings, and is currently #1 in the automotive appearance services category. For more information, visit Maaco.com. For more information about franchising opportunities, visit MaacoFranchise.com.


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IFF announces merger with DuPont’s $26.2 billion nutrition unit
International Flavors & Fragrances Inc plans to merge with Dupont Inc’s nutrition and biosciences unit worth $26.2 billion in a merger deal. This measure was done to create a new consumer giant worth at least $45 billion.
Under the terms of agreement, IFF shareholders will own 44.6% of the new company’s shares while DuPont shareholders will own 55.4%, according to the statement released by the IFF. The IFF also stated that there was a unanimous agreement of the boards of the two companies regarding the deal.
Dupont is also set to receive $7.3 billion as a one-time cash payment once the deal was closed.
IFF Chief Executive Officer Andreas Fibig will run the merger but will remain chairman of the board.
Before the merger with IFF, Bloomberg reported that DuPont was also in talks with Ireland’s Kerry Group for a deal on its nutrition unit.
“We conducted a very thorough process leading us to the selection of IFF as the preferred strategic partner for N&B,” said DuPont Executive Chairman Ed Breen.
IFF works with global brands in developing scents and tastes for a number of household names.
“Together, we will create a leading ingredients and solutions provider with a broader set of capabilities to meet our customer’s evolving needs,” Fibig of IFF said.
The merger will be conducted with Reverse Morris Trust, a tax-efficient structure. This kind of transaction allows a company to avoid a big tax bill by spinning off a unit to be divested and simultaneously merged with another company.
When the deal closes, IFF anticipates a cost savings of $300 million at the end of the third year, based on run-rate.
The two companies have received fully-committed debt financing from Morgan Stanley and Credit Suisse.
Morgan Stanley and Greenhill & Co advised IFF on the merger, while Evercore and Credit Suisse Securities (USA) served as advisers to DuPont.


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Baidu is still searching for local-services profits. China’s top search engine reported better-than-expected sales and rising margins on Feb. 25, lifting its shares by more than 10 percent. Pulling back from online travel helped boost profitability. Still, it is far more important that Baidu delivers on its costly and opaque bet on local e-commerce.
The results offered two big positives. First, Baidu’s core search business is still growing at a healthy clip, even if not at the warp speed it once did. The $56 billion web giant said quarterly revenue rose by a third year-on-year. Advertising sales, which make up 94 percent of the total, rose 27 percent to top 17.6 billion yuan ($2.7 billion).
Second, Baidu is benefiting from a corporate tidying-up. In October it swapped a controlling stake in loss-making travel site Qunar for a minority stake in a rival. That helped lift operating margins to almost 19 percent in the three months to December, compared to 13.7 percent in the previous quarter. A mooted sale of loss-making video site Qiyi raises potential conflicts of interest since the buyers would be Baidu Chief Executive Robin Li and his counterpart at Qiyi. But this could at least deliver a similar margin boost.
That said, Baidu’s losses from local “online-to-offline” services are a bigger issue. O2O ventures like group-buy deals, movie tickets and food delivery, plus the video platform, lopped 30.8 percentage points off overall Baidu’s operating margin.
The company last year committed 20 billion yuan over three years to its group-buy deals site. But fierce competition and abundant subsidies make profitability elusive. The company doesn’t break out financials for these O2O businesses. Nor has it yet explained what sort of sales and margins its local e-commerce bets can generate, or over what time frame.
Shares of Baidu now fetch about 28 times the $6.20 of earnings per share that analysts it to earn in 2016. That does not look especially cheap: the stock has traded on about 27 times forward earnings over the past two years. It is unlikely to attract a higher valuation without more clarity on O2O.


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Interbike Hires Expert to Gain Retailers Show Preferences
In an effort to better understand how retailers utilize the bicycle industrys annual trade show gathering and after last autumns debacle on the announcement of new show dates and location, Interbike announced it has hired New York-based Harvey Research to survey bicycle retailers. The bicycle industry is
LAS VEGAS, USA – In an effort to better understand how retailers utilize the bicycle industry’s annual trade show gathering and after last autumn’s debacle on the announcement of new show dates and location, Interbike announced it has hired New York-based Harvey Research to survey bicycle retailers.
“The bicycle industry is very dynamic and retailers face multiple issues and challenges that directly influence their business-to-business event needs,” said Andy Tompkins, Interbike show director. “This survey project with Harvey Research will give us clearer insight into retailers’ behaviour, business needs and the issues they face, in turn helping us produce events that best serve their needs and those of the industry as a whole.”
The research project will be segmented by retail type, focusing on independent bicycle dealers of varying size, along with outdoor stores and other key segments of the cycling retail channel. The online survey will be conducted during the first quarter of 2011 with the goal to share the data with the industry in early April 2011. Interbike will use the collected data to help augment show features and better understand show timing and location issues from a retailer perspective.
In addition to the retailer-focused study, Interbike has also charged Harvey Research to conduct in the near future an exhibitor-based study to further understand their needs as well.
Interbike chose Harvey Research after reviewing multiple responses to a request-for-proposal the company sent to research firms both within and outside the bicycle industry last November.
Established in 1953, Harvey Research is a full-service research firm specializing in online and print surveys. Harvey Research has served publishers and marketing decision makers involved in B2B, professional and consumer communications companies.
The upcoming retail and exhibitor research projects are part of a larger, on-going effort by Interbike to gather information, consult with the industry and gain feedback on its trade show efforts.


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DiscountVouchers.co.uk, one of the UK’s top money saving website resources, has announced a new Amazon deals matrix to help the country’s shoppers save time on top of money when sourcing gifts from famous etailer, Amazon.co.uk.
Logging on to DiscountVouchers.co.uk this week sees consumers able to use the new Amazon pricing and deals matrix to save up to 75% at Amazon. This year will see the new DiscountVouchers.co.uk Amazon matrix grow thanks to the company’s experience and expertise. DiscountVouchers.co.uk has already seen its overall business grow by 60% this past year.
Doug Scott, managing director of DiscountVouchers.co.uk, comments: “We have all the experience and technologies in place to be able to make this kind of introduction – and we think that site users will really enjoy being able to source great value Amazon deals more quickly and easily than ever.”
Scott continued: “Sourcing gifts and presents without spending hours doing it is a great bonus for consumers – through this new Amazon matrix we can help people to enjoy saving oodles of money and time as well.”
The new tool can be accessed at http://www.discountvouchers.co.uk/amazon-hub-txt.
For more information visit www.discountvouchers.co.uk


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Here’s what Apple COO Tim Cook might call another “fantastic use” for the company’s nearly $60 billion cash reserves.
According to a report Thursday in DigiTimes, the Taipei-based daily that is a rich source of electronics supply-chain rumors, Apple (AAPL) has agreed to absorb all the additional component costs created by the Japanese earthquake and tsunami and the resulting factory brownouts.
If true, this could have two effects:
• It would mean that Apple’s upstream component suppliers — the companies that have to pay for those Japanese chips, batteries, touch screens and other parts — would see their profitability “undamaged,” as DigiTimes puts it.
• It would mean that Apple’s competitors, whose pockets might not be deep enough to make such a guarantee, would either have to swallow the extra costs or pass them on to consumers — increasing Apple’s already sizable advantage in the rapidly growing market for tablet computers.
DigiTimes’ sources also report that iPad 2 shipments are expected to reach 4 million units per month this quarter, provide Apple doesn’t run short of parts. According to these sources, the Japanese companies that supply such parts as anisotropic conductive films (ACF) and indium tin oxide (ITO) materials — have enough inventory to last until May, but may not be able to sustain supplies until June.
Also on Fortune.com:
• Japan supplied 5 key iPad parts
• Japan’s iPad 2 launch postponed
• How many iPads did Apple sell?
Follow Philip Elmer-DeWitt on Twitter @philiped.


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World Mobile Publicly Launches its Global App on Google Play Store
World Mobile announced the launch of its global app on the Google Play Store.
Built on the blockchain, World Mobile initially launched in Zanzibar to ‘connect the unconnected’ in Africa.
The app encompasses a non-custodial Web3 wallet, fiat on ramp, purchase of network service, a marketplace and more.
World Mobile, a decentralized mobile network built on the blockchain, has launched its global app on the Google Play Store for users in Tanzania, the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia.
Initially introduced in Zanzibar, World Mobile launched with an aim to “connect the unconnected” in Africa through enhancing connectivity infrastructure on the continent.
In a research, the company found that nearly 4 billion people do not have access to the Internet and the important resources it provides. Particularly, Africa is the least connected region in the world as 78% of Sub-Saharan Africans are not connected, the company said.
According to the World Bank, 85% of Africans live on less than $5.50 per day while 1GB of data costs nearly 40% of the monthly salary in the region.
World Mobile asserts that conventional telecommunications companies have had unsuccessful endeavors of establishing connectivity infrastructure in Sub-Saharan Africa. However, these attempts have faltered due to the unprofitable upfront investments and operational expenditures, later compounded by the challenges of obtaining licenses.
To mitigate such challenges, World Mobile said it utilizes renewable solar-powered energy and unlicensed spectrum. This involves an extension of the Long-Term Evolution (LTE) wireless standard, enabling cellular network operators to alleviate data traffic by tapping into the unlicensed 5 GHz frequency band.
By building a decentralized mobile network over blockchain, the company aims to architect a collaborative framework where maintenance, operational expenses, and ownership are shared with its users.
This is further achieved by enabling users to take on the role of network operators and operate nodes.
The company further announced that local users will have the opportunity to receive World Mobile Tokens as compensation for their participation in the network.
Additionally, World Mobile said that it has successfully established a wireless mobile network to provide connectivity to a remote village in Tanzania.
The World Mobile App
The global World Mobile App uses the framework of the native app initially introduced in Zanzibar, which provided each customer with a decentralized identifier (DID).
It was first released in closed beta to Australian users in March this year followed by a community beta launch to specific markets, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, and Canada.
The app is now publicly available on Google Play Store for users in Tanzania, the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia.
“This is an important milestone for us, as we move towards our global vision of democratizing connectivity and access to our services,” Micky Watkins, CEO of World Mobile, said in a statement.
The app comprises of features, including:
- World Mobile Wallet – A singular-address, non-custodial, lightweight wallet designed specifically for tokens built on the Cardano blockchain. It offers users a secure platform to manage digital assets such NFTs and Cardano Native Tokens (CNT), exemplified by World Mobile Tokens (WMT).
- Fiat On-Ramp – This service allows users to exchange fiat currencies like US dollars and Euros for WMT.
- Scan for Points – Users can utilize their mobile device to identify areas of weak connectivity and earn points in return. These points are redeemable within the integrated Marketplace. The data contributed by the community will help bolster World Mobile’s AirNode deployment strategy.
- Network Service – Available to users within the World Mobile network coverage, the app allows the purchase and management of data bundles.
- Mobile Money – Currently limited to Zanzibar, this feature facilitates digital financial transactions within the region.
- Marketplace – A hub connecting users with a range of products and services, including vouchers for platforms like Netflix and Binance.
However, World Mobile cautioned users that the availability of these features is contingent upon the distinct regulatory frameworks within different countries.
The company plans to expand in markets across Europe, Asia, Africa and South America. Moreover, the iOS version of the global app is currently in development as World Mobile aims to expand its reach to iPhone users.
Lending with AI-Powered Credit Ratings via SingularityNET Partnership
Alongside the public release of the World Mobile app, the company has also partnered with SingularityNET, a decentralized AI marketplace running on the Cardano blockchain.
According to World Mobile, the partnership will provide AI-powered credit ratings for a lending programme and pave the way for other AI-driven products and services in the future.
The company announced that it will unveil a multi-phase lending approach that adjusts according to users’ payment history and reputation.
The first phase will focus on World Mobile’s current user base, providing credit options for contract extensions after the prepaid term ends. In the second phase, loyal customers with good payment track records will have access to credit opportunities.
Ultimately, the program hopes to extend its reach globally, catering to individuals overlooked by traditional financial systems.
With the launch of the global World Mobile app and this strategic partnership, World Mobile also anticipates launching a series of innovative products and services that will showcase the potential of the synergy between AI and telecommunications.
Any data, text, or other content on this page is provided as general market information and not as investment advice. Past performance is not necessarily an indicator of future results.
The Trust Project is a worldwide group of news organizations working to establish transparency standards.


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ENGIE North America signs SEIA pledge against forced labor: Reinforces commitment to human rights
The pledge states our firm opposition to the use of forced labor within the solar supply chain and reinforces our commitment to human rights, while raising awareness of this critical industry issue within the industry
ENGIE has always rejected all forms of forced, compulsory, or child labor. Such abhorrent practices have never had any place at the company in any way, and ENGIE rigorously validates key suppliers we work with to ensure they satisfy a strict code of conduct.
As ENGIE continues to accelerate the transition to a carbon-neutral economy, we are proud of our commitment to always uphold human rights on a global scale. Every employee, customer and partner who works with ENGIE can be assured the company has a zero-tolerance policy on the issue of forced labor.


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Law Enforcement Bears Down on Smartphone Crime Wave
- New fraud schemes feed international black-market demand
Amid a thriving and highly profitable black market overseas for smartphones,
more criminals are turning to fraud and identity theft to obtain discounted
devices in bulk, according to law-enforcement officials.
Authorities say the kill switch, which remotely deactivates stolen phones, has
made street-level smartphone theft less lucrative. But joint investigations by
state and federal authorities in Minnesota, Michigan and Georgia have uncovered
vast networks of criminals who use stolen information, fake credit cards and
dummy corporations, among other means, to obtain discounted phones in bulk from
The phones are often then resold for use on foreign networks, including in China
and the Middle East, where U.S. carriers can't find them, officials said. Profit
on the resale of new smartphone models abroad, where phones aren't subsidized
by wireless carriers, can amount to $500 to $1,000 per phone or more, state and
federal investigators say.
2015 Mass Shootings: Security Experts Advise Companies To Re-Evaluate Safety
Following A Series Of Deadly Attacks
Several mass shootings in America over the past year have occurred in workplace
settings, prompting companies to take a second look at security systems to
prevent employees from coming in harm's way. "'Honestly, I think it behooves
anybody to take some sort of an action at this point, whether that is
re-educating your people on your safety programs or implementing them for the
first time,"' Edward Yost of the Society for Human Resource Management says. "'To
simply do nothing and believe you're a low-risk environment, that's not a
legitimate way to look at it at this point. In this world we're living in,
nobody is a zero-risk environment."'
Nearly 2 million Americans are victims of workplace violence each year,
which encapsulates physical attacks as well as threats, harassment and
intimidation. In the two decades between 1992 and 2012, a reported 14,770 people
died as a result of on-the-job violence.
Some of the most obvious protections that companies might consider following an
attack such as the one in San Bernardino are physical -- security guards,
surveillance systems, metal detectors and fences that line a facility's
perimeter. But security experts consistently say two of the most important
first steps that companies can take are procedural ones -- creating a workplace
safety policy and completing a risk assessment. Creating a safety policy is
important because it serves as grounds for terminating employees who violate it.
Companies are bound by the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 to provide
a workplace that is "'free of known dangers."' Though OSHA does not have specific
regulations on workplace violence or safety precautions, it offers prevention
programs and training materials.
Since there's no formula for a safe workplace, a risk assessment identifies
physical vulnerabilities such as easy building access or poor lighting and also
illuminates past threats or potentially volatile situations that have simmered
beneath the surface. "'One of the easy things you can look at is multiple points
of access,"' Yost says. "'If your building or offices have multiple places where
employees come and go, that certainly could be a risk."'
Once a company has a safety policy, risk assessment and reporting protocol in
place, experts say it's important to keep these documents updated and remind
employees of their contents through training or seminars. This framework can
also inform a company's decisions to hire a security guard, invest in a
surveillance system or upgrade building entry procedures. For example, if a
company suddenly cuts a fourth of its workforce, Yost recommends hiring a
temporary security guard.
Bomb threats forced evacuations in malls across three states
- Everybody's Nervous
Thousands of shoppers were evacuated from malls in at least three states on
Saturday as bomb threats or scares disrupted one of the busiest days of year for
holiday shopping. The evacuations come at a time of heightened vigilance in
public places across the country.
An empty suitcase caused the evacuation of some 500 people Saturday morning at a
handful of stores at the Largo Mall, an outdoor outlet mall near Tampa, Florida,
To the north, the Shops at Riverside, a two-story shopping mall in Hackensack,
New Jersey, was evacuated after authorities learned of a bomb threat scrawled on
the wall of a bathroom, according to the Bergen County Sheriff's Department.
In Farmington, New Mexico, the Animas Valley Mall was cleared out and closed
while police searched the shopping center after a threat was found on a women's
restroom wall, said Georgette Allen, public information officer for the
Farmington Police Department.
Police in San Francisco cleared a suspicious package Saturday afternoon. The
unattended backpack was left on the Embarcadero, a tourist-heavy attraction near
the city's financial district.
All the stores were reopened after no bombs were found. But all lost valuable
hours of shopping on the second Saturday before Christmas, considered among the
busiest shopping days of the year. businessinsider.com
Dollar Tree To Pay $825K Fine For OSHA Violations & Institute Co. Wide Training
Program with Newsletter
The Chesapeake, Virginia-based national discount retailer agreed to pay the fine
and implement safeguards, such as removing obstructed access to emergency
exists and removing electrical hazards, after OSHA found the various
violations during 13 different inspections at several stores, according
to OSHA, which is part of the U.S. Department of Labor.
OSHA brought the agency complaint earlier this year after issuing Dollar Tree
several citations for violations between June 2014 and September 2015 in stores
in Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Massachusetts, Montana, New York, Rhode
Island and Texas. Among the hazards cited include blocked emergency exits and
obstructed access to routes to those exits, materials and equipment blocking
necessary access to certain electrical equipment, along with improper material
storage, the agency said.
The agreement calls for Dollar Tree to implement a plan so managers can properly
store materials and equipment so they are not obstructions and to clear 28-inch
wide routes to emergency exits and electrical equipment.
The agreement also requires the company to develop and implement a
comprehensive safety and health program in all 2,400 of its stores in the
U.S. that complies with OSHA's guidelines. OSHA requires that managers and
employees alike participate in the program, and the company has agreed to
publish a newsletter covering health and safety issues, according to OSHA.
A crime where women predominate and 5 other facts
about shoplifting in Michigan
A total of 21,688 people were arrested for shoplifting or otherwise trying to
defraud a Michigan retailer in 2014, according to statistics compiled by the
Michigan State Police. That's 8.3 percent of all criminal arrests in Michigan.
Below are some other facts about shoplifting arrests based on the state police
1. A majority - 53% of those arrested for shoplifting or retail fraud are
women in 2015. White women had the highest numbers of arrests among the
different demographic groups, accounting for 33 percent of the arrests. But when
population size is taken into account, a black woman was three times more likely
to be arrested compared to a white woman. Meanwhile, black males were 3.5 times
more likely to be arrested for shoplifting as compared to white males.
2. Two-thirds of shoplifting or retail fraud arrests involved items with a
value of less than $200. Michigan's law has three levels of criminal charges
for retail theft and fraud: First degree for items with a total value of at
least $1,000; second degree for items valued between $200 to $1,000, and third
degree for stealing items valued at less than $200. First-degree offenses are a
felony punishable by a prison sentence of up to five years and/or a fine of
$2,000 or three times the amount of the stolen goods, which ever is greater.
Second- and third-degree offenses are misdemeanors punishable by up to a year in
jail and/or a fine of $10,000 or three times the amount of the stolen goods,
which ever is greater.
3. Theft is far more common than fraud among retail customers. Almost 91
percent of the 2014 arrests were for "retail theft." Of the remainder, almost 5
percent of the cases involved a fraudulent exchange or return and 4 percent were
for "misrepresentation" - i.e., switching a price tag or otherwise
trying to defraud a store by deliberately misrepresenting the price. There also
were a handful of arrests - 0.3 percent of the total - for other offenses, such as
organizing a shoplifting ring or fencing goods stolen from a retail store.
4. Those arrested in 2014 ranged in age from 9 to 92. The complete
breakdown of arrests by age groups: 10 percent were age 9 to 16; 17 percent, age
17 to 20; 33 percent, age 20 to 29; 18 percent, age 30 to 39; 12 percent, age
40 to 49; 8 percent, age 50 to 59, and 2 percent, age 60 to 69. There also were
92 people age 70 to 79 who were charged and 23 people age 80 to 89. The age
group most likely to be arrest for retail theft/fraud were 20-somethings -
people between the ages of 20 and 29 accounted for 6,970, or 33 percent, of all
5. The Cadillac area had the highest rate of retail theft/fraud arrests in
2014. Wexford County - the county just south of Grand Traverse County - had
49 arrests per 10,000 residents.
Woman who shot at shoplifters
says she 'will never help anybody again'
The woman who opened fire on shoplifters running out of a Home Depot in Auburn
Hills, Michigan, was sentenced Wednesday to serve probation for 18 months,
according to local reports.
Tatiana Duva-Rodriguez, 46, pleaded no contest shortly after the incident in
"'I tried to help, and I learned my lesson that I will never help anybody again,"'
she told the media afterwards.
During the Oct. 6 incident, she witnessed the store's loss prevention officer
chasing a suspect carrying stolen merchandise. Duva-Rodriguez, who had a license
to carry a concealed handgun, shot at the tires of the getaway car.
Local prosecutors called the act a "'misguided attempt to disable the vehicle to
stop two reported shoplifters"' in October, after Duva-Rodriguez was charged.
In addition to probation, she cannot apply for a gun permit until 2023.
As for the shoplifter and his driver, they were arrested and charged.
Rack Room Shoes Selects Diebold Security For 500 Locations Nationwide
A newly formed partnership with leading national footwear company Rack Room
Shoes makes Diebold, Incorporated the exclusive provider of electronic security
and monitoring services for the family footwear retailer throughout the United
States. Founded in 1920, Rack Room Shoes operates over 500 stores in 34 states
under the store brands Rack Room Shoes and Off Broadway Shoe Warehouse, with
over 6,500 employees nationwide. Diebold's electronic security business will
deliver comprehensive security solutions including intrusion, fire, video and
monitoring services as well as its industry-leading online customer portal,
SecureStat, for all Rack Room Shoes and Off Broadway Shoe Warehouse locations.
Tory Burch lays off 100 as focus shifts to Tory Sport, digital efforts
Tory Burch employees got an unpleasant pre-holiday surprise last week when the
company laid off 100 employees at its New York City headquarters in the Flatiron
District and some of its 160 stores as part of a reorganization. The company
confirmed the layoffs to the New York Post, which reported the story late Friday
night citing unnamed sources, but declined to provide further details. It has
3,000 employees altogether, and the cuts represent about 3 percent of the
workforce. A source said the cost savings will be used to invest in technology
and the new Tory Sport athleisure line, as well as to hire senior executives.
U.S. Retail Sales Rose 0.2%, Holding Out Hope for Holiday Sales
Report: Pep Boys accepts higher offer from Bridgestone
Modell's, Swagway Hit With Suit Over 'Hoverboard' Explosion at Customer's Home
While Battery Charging
FTC Asks Walgreens, Rite Aid For Info On $17.2B Merger
UK - PHSC buys retail security company SG Systems
Last week's most popular news article --
Angeles County Sheriff's Department
Releases 'Surviving An Active
Shooter' video - Contains graphic content
Detailing a mall and warehouse shooting incident -
Inspired by true events
Most realistic we've ever seen - Released on ABC news
The sheriff's department renewed their focus on the video following the
terrorist attack in San Bernardino on Wednesday that killed 14 people and
injured 21 others. Sgt. Harry Drucker with the sheriff's department produced the
video and said the scenarios are based on or inspired by true events.
Active shooter events are increasing with one killing more than 4 people
occurring every 2.9 months. On average twenty mass shootings take place every
year in the U.S. Editor's Note: Since the San Bernardino shootings five locals have planned active
shooter training exercises.
Send in Your 2015 Group LP Selfie Today
Retail LP Team Member to Win a Trip
to NRF Protect Philadelphia
Live Drawing Jan. 18th 3 p.m. at
'Live in NYC at the NRF Big Show' Event
teams will be selected on Monday Jan. 18th at the Daily's 'Live in NYC at the
NRF Big Show' event at 3 pm. to win pizza parties sponsored by NuTech National.
One retail LP team member from all of the submissions will be selected to win
an all expense paid trip to attend the NRF Protect Conference in Philadelphia
this coming June. GLPS submissions must be made by Jan 12th, 2016. You've got
a month to get them in and maybe this NRF learning experience may be the one
time you meet that one executive who makes a difference in your career! The
winner must have corporate approval in writing to attend the event.
Any Group LP Team Selfie taken this
year can be submitted
One GLPS per team - Limited to publishing one per day until Jan 12th - Published
in order of submission - Not Publishing Dec 25th through Jan 3rd.
Submit your LP team photo here!


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Dell continues to lose ground in sales to its rivals, this time it is those rebels in Cupertino, the Apple gang, that have stolen a slice of Dells' pie.
Investors.com ran a great article on the shift in purchasing by Teachers at institutions across America. The results of the study will be depressing news in the boardroom in Round Rock.
Now why would teachers shift to other brands, particularly to a Mac? Dell will likely say privately that it is a reflection of customer dis-satisfaction with Vista in particular and Windows in general... and that might well be part of the problem, but more likely it is the case that Dell has been feeling the "effect" part of Cause and Effect.
Further effect may be felt in the very near future if Apple goes ahead with its expected plan to lower prices on some notebooks in coming weeks. This would be a declaration of war on the PC makers who have been somewhat insulated by the higher pricing of Apple products until now.


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Qatar Duty Free (QDF) has left nothing to chance in providing a first-class shopping experience to travellers at the newly expanded Hamad International Airport (HIA), the travel retailer has told TRBusiness.
Thabet Musleh, Vice President Operations at QDF, spoke to this publication in an exclusive video interview for the TRBusiness November/December issue, which is also available in print at the upcoming MEADFA Conference (27-29 November).
Football fans travelling for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 (20 November – 18 December) and global passengers alike can experience 16,000sq m of contemporary retail and F&B space at the ‘Orchard’.
As reported, more than 40 new retail stores bolster what is in excess of 65 retail and F&B outlets over three levels, with several global ‘firsts’ such as a Fendi boutique featuring the first Fendi Café in an airport, the first Dior boutique at HIA, the only FIFA airport shop in world and the largest Ray-Ban store at an airport.
‘Minor’ additions to follow
“The feedback that we’ve got, from customers to business partners, has been phenomenal,” said Musleh. “It’s trending very high on social media, and it’s fantastic to come and see. Passengers are really enjoying it for what it is – a tranquil and calm area.
“It’s every important that we cater to every one of our passengers and we have not neglected anyone; no matter what you want, we want to provide it to you with a great experience.”
Situated within the Central Concourse, the Orchard features an impressive 6,000sq m indoor tropical garden and a 575sq m water feature housed under an 85-metre grid shell roof.
These feed into an extension of the main terminal spanning 125,000sq m, with further renovations across the existing terminal over 14,000sq m.
“We’ve got people jumping on a flight with zero notice to transit through the airport just to see it,” enthused Musleh. “My team are going to have a challenging year next year, because every brand will want to do something with us in the garden.”
Phase B of the terminal expansion, the plans of which emerged several years ago, commences in 2023 when passenger capacity is expected to lift to in excess of 70 million passengers per annum – up from 58 million.
“There will be additional retail and F&B, but it will be minor additions, nothing major – the majority of what we wanted to achieve we have now done,” he explained.
Having surpassed 2019 performance levels prior to the FIFA World Cup kicking off, Qatar Duty Free is now eyeing a return to the type of double-digit growth levels that it enjoyed pre-Covid.
“That’s the vision and where we are planning to be,” added Musleh. “Next year we will be looking heavily into different areas where we need to finesse and grow and omni-channel is one of them.”
The update on QDF comes as travel retail stakeholders descend on the Kingdom of Bahrain to discuss the mechanics of the regional industry at the MEADFA Conference, which will take place at the Art Hotel & Resort.
QDF, one of the region’s biggest travel retailers, is not currently a member of the association. TRBusiness has approached MEADFA for comment.
Watch out for the full interview with Tab Musleh, Vice President Operations, Qatar Duty Free in the TRBusiness November/December edition, available soon…


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Fuel retailer Z Energy is back in the black as sales begin to return to normal after Covid-19 lockdowns.
The company made a full year profit of $57 million in the year ended in March, compared with last year's loss of $88m.
Revenue fell 29 percent to $3.52 billion, reflecting the continuing pressure of reduced demand and a squeeze on refinery margins.
"The external operational environment remains challenging," Z said in a market announcement.
"Refining continues to face excess supply, along with Covid-19 related reduced demand, resulting in refining margins remaining at historic lows."
Total marketing volume for the full year was 3086 million litres, down 22 percent on the year earlier, largely in jet, bitumen and marine fuel, it said.
"The processing agreement in place with Refining NZ means that Z is fully exposed to the downside of this market given our commitment to floor payments in these circumstances."
Z owns 15.3 percent of Refining NZ.
It said the cost of refining in New Zealand had reduced the refinery's cost competitiveness as more efficient refineries in the Asia Pacific region were about to come on-line.
"These cost pressures, along with a de-optimised refinery due to the sudden drop in demand for jet, has reinforced Z's belief that the country would be best served by the refinery moving to an import terminal system," it said, adding the move would increase the security of supply and enable cost savings, while reducing carbon emissions.
It expected to conclude negotiations with Refining NZ by the end of the month.
The company also cut $49m in costs, exceeding its own savings target.
As a result of its performance, Z said it would resume paying a dividend to shareholders, six months ahead of its forecast, with a final dividend of 14 cents a share.
Z was forecasting underlying profit for the current financial year to be between $270m and $310m, which compared with $238m in the year just ended, and with dividends to be in the range of 19 cents to 23 cents per share.


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Aaron Greenberg Named Head Of Marketing For Xbox Games, Entertainment Studios
After three and a half years of serving as chief of staff of Microsoft’s interactive entertainment division, Aaron Greenberg has a new role. The 16-year company veteran has been named the new head of global product marketing for Xbox first party games, third party titles, and Xbox Entertainment Studios.
In the past, Greenberg has regularly been a spokesperson for the Xbox business and a regular guest on Larry “Major Nelson” Hryb’s podcast. He’s also known for being unafraid to take a swing at the competition, and was quoted in a 2009 interview saying that Sony has a “complacent attitude” and is “out of touch with where the industry and consumer is today.”
Greenberg was also one of those at the forefront of Microsoft’s two-stage reveal for the Xbox One in 2013. Now as part of Phil Spencer’s team, Greenberg will be responsible for crafting the messaging around the system’s games and Nancy Tellem’s Xbox Entertainment Studios projects.
With Halo, Sunset Overdrive, Gears of War, and Quantum Break coming, we expect Greenberg will be very busy.
Greenberg has a lot of fire, and Microsoft needs that right now. He’s outspoken and bold, and putting him in charge of an area that is largely about positive news will focus that in the right direction. Microsoft is playing from behind and showing as much energy as possible will help immensely.


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The all-new 2020 Toyota Corolla has been revealed in the UAE, Saudi Arabia and other GCC countries. A new hybrid engine has joined the line-up. It is built on the Toyota New Global Architecture (TNGA) platform, giving it a lower centre of gravity, 60% more rigid body shell and multi-link suspension which Toyota claims improves handling and stability.
Even while a new Toyota Corolla has been announced in some other markets, the model is continuing unchanged for 2019 in the UAE and GCC. It is now available in an exclusive variant in the UAE.
Known for its bulletproof reliability in previous guises, the Toyota Corolla is one of the most iconic cars ever to be produced. Many decades into its production, the trusty Corolla sedan is entering its 12th generation. The fully revamped 2020 Toyota Corolla is based on the Corolla hatchback that was recently released in the United States.
When we were strolling through the relatively cosy 2016 Oman Motor Show, the last thing we expected to see was a new model debut. This here is the 2017 Toyota Corolla. While this isn’t exactly a new car, it’s a welcome facelift to a decent but aging model.
Al-Futtaim Motors, the UAE’s Toyota dealer, officially introduced Toyota Racing Development (TRD) packages for the 2015 Aurion, Corolla, Yaris sedan, Yaris hatchback and the 86.
Al-Futtaim Motors, Toyota dealer for the UAE, has launched the 2014 Toyota Corolla Limited Platinum Edition as part of several Ramadan promotional offers.
While we could only hope to be on the receiving end of a sum of money amounting to SAR 3 million, an Egyptian expat in Saudi Arabia has reportedly refused to accept an offer for his exclusive number plate that reads “SSS 1”.
When we went to the 2014 Toyota Corolla launch event in Dubai, the last thing we expected to see was the original 1966 model. The fully-restored E10-generation coupe is a far cry from the Corolla of today, but in some ways, represents what the Corolla has been all about for nearly the past five decades.
- Opinion: Should you still buy a car during the COVID-19 pandemic? on
- 2020 Toyota Land Cruiser Heritage Edition base models on sale in UAE *updated* on
- 2021 Lexus LC gets a nip and tuck for the new year on
- Ford Explorer 2011-2012 full GCC spec-sheets on
- First drive: 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee V8 in the UAE on
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Early adopters of 4K TVs tired of watching House of Cards on Netflix will soon have more variety when it comes to Ultra High Definition content - Amazon has just confirmed it should have its first 4K movies and TV shows available to Prime Instant Video customers by the end of the year.
According to the Wall Street Journal , Amazon's service will be live for US customers before January 2015, although it's unclear if the company will be rolling out 4K content worldwide at the same time. Typically Amazon staggers any product launch, be it physical or digital, starting in the US and expanding out to other territories at a later date.
The report suggests Amazon won't be charging extra for customers to access 4K content, despite it using considerably more bandwidth than a 'regular' 1080p Full HD stream. That makes a welcome change from Netflix, which increased monthly prices from £5.99 to £8.99 for anyone wanting to stream Ultra HD video - although admittedly that does include simultaneous access on four different devices, which makes it suitable for families or flatmates looking to spread the cost of membership.
However, it may require an update to the Amazon Instant Video app built into your TV. Naturally, your TV will need to have a 4K resolution, and have an HEVC decoder chip able to translate the data stream into video and audio.
“We’re confident that offering Ultra HD content, whether it’s a TV series or a film, will help create the ultimate viewing experience,” Michael Paull, Amazon’s VP of digital video, said.
So far, the number of confirmed TV shows is rather limited, but Amazon-produced Transparent, Alpha House and Mozart in the Jungle will likely be well received by 4K TV owners deperate for new content. They will also get the “Lady Gaga: Cheek To Cheek” concert film, although that alone won't be convincing us to shell out £79 for an annual Amazon Prime membership.


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Nissan unveils zero emission strategy
Dubai, May 25, 2008
Nissan plans to introduce a pure electric vehicle in the US and Japan in 2010 under its GT 2012 mid-term business plan.
The car-maker will then mass-market electric vehicles to consumers globally in 2012, it said in a statement.
Nissan Motor Co shared its vision of zero-emission mobility at the recent World Economic Forum on the Middle East at Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt.
Nissan’s proposition was made at a workshop entitled “Managing Urbanization in the Middle East” that examined global changes affecting the way cities are managed.
Middle East cities are witnessing phenomenal growth and development. Such growth represents a challenge on both the environment and the infrastructure. The fact that the Middle East is also one of the fastest growing automotive markets in the World adds to the challenge for innovative mobility solutions, the company said.
“From a personal mobility perspective, Nissan firmly believes a sustainable solution can be found in zero emission vehicles," said Simon Sproule, corporate vice president, Global Communications and CSR division, Nissan Motor Co.
“Partnerships between the public and private sector are an important factor to making zero emission vehicles attractive and viable for consumers, especially in urban areas,” added Sproule. – TradeArabia News Service
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U.S. Carmakers’ Aluminum Usage Seen by Novelis Outpacing Europe
U.S. carmakers’ consumption of aluminum may surpass European counterparts in the next 12 months as new models using the metal come to market, according to Novelis Inc.
Ford Motor Co. is among manufacturers rolling out new cars that substitute aluminum for heavier steel. Use of the lightweight metal in vehicles is rising about 5 percent a year, according to Barclays Plc. Making car bodies consumes about 350,000 metric tons of aluminum sheet a year, of which Atlanta-based Novelis produces 250,000 tons, according to Erwin Mayr, president of Novelis Europe.
U.S. vehicles are incorporating more aluminum because of Corporate Average Fuel Economy standards that limit fuel usage and consumer demand for cars that are more economic and cause less pollution, Mayr said in an interview. European manufacturers including Volkswagen AG’s Audi unit and Daimler AG were leaders in the past five years, he said.
“Now the trend is being completely taken over by the big carmakers in North America,” Mayr said in Geneva on Sept. 18. “Americans tend to drive big cars, so they need to make them lighter. You need a lot of aluminum.”
Ford’s F-150 truck, containing more than 1,000 pounds of the metal, may raise the average content in vehicles to 650 pounds, according to Bloomberg Industries estimates. Aluminum usage per car will average 160 kilograms (352 pounds) by 2020, against 140 kilograms last year, according to slides in a presentation last week by Werner Stelzer, a former executive at Canadian producer Alcan who is an auto and aluminum consultant.
Chevrolet’s 2014 Corvette Stingray has a frame made entirely of aluminum, according to the website of the unit of Detroit-based General Motors Co.
The U.S. government is requiring carmakers to achieve a fleetwide fuel-economy average for light-duty vehicles of 35.5 miles a gallon of gasoline by the 2016 model year and 54.5 miles a gallon by 2025. Average prices for regular gasoline gained 5.1 percent in the U.S. this year, according to American Automobile Association data on Bloomberg.
Global vehicle sales will rise 2.7 percent to a record 83.2 million units this year and another 4.7 percent to 87.1 million in 2014, according to LMC Automotive, a research company based in Oxford, England. Car and light-truck sales in the U.S. advanced 17 percent in August to the highest since May 2007, according to Autodata Corp.
Novelis still expects global carmakers’ aluminum demand to gain at a combined annual rate of 25 percent over the next five to eight years, Mayr said. Transportation accounts for about 42 percent of the metal’s use in mature economies, according to Moscow-based United Co. Rusal, the world’s largest producer.
Novelis, which buys about 3 million tons of aluminum annually, counts Ford, Audi and the Jaguar Land Rover division of Tata Motors Ltd. as customers, according to its website. The U.S. company is a unit of Hindalco Industries Ltd. (HNDL), India’s largest producer of the metal.
Aluminum for delivery in three months fell 13 percent this year to $1,802 a ton on the London Metal Exchange. Prices are headed for a second annual retreat in three amid prospects for a surplus of the metal in 2013 estimated at 600,000 tons by researcher Wood Mackenzie Ltd.
To contact the reporter on this story: Agnieszka Troszkiewicz in London at email@example.com
To contact the editor responsible for this story: Claudia Carpenter at firstname.lastname@example.org


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The County of Orange has launched a new SafeDineOC COVID-Safe Restaurant Campaign to incentivize OC restaurants to follow
Outdoor markets at select Simon centers including The Shops at Mission Viejo are providing coveted brands an alternative platform for retail therapy as an innovative approach for shoppers to contin
In an effort to support local businesses and restaurants during the pandemic, the City is granting Temporary Use Permits (TUP) for the use of portions of shopping center parking and common areas to
If you are interested in hands-on virtual classes, events and fun for all ages, check out the fall edition of Mission Viejo Life.
Mission Viejo Animal Services is dedicated to serving our community and promoting healthy animal-human interactions.


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Remember those patents Sony got a while back about something to do with a curved sensor? Because we now have our first look at the actual sensor itself. If you’re not up to date with the story, Sony’s been working on some new technology with camera sensors; what resulted is one that shares the same amount of curvature as our human eye.
There’s actually a good chance that this is your first time hearing about the sensor itself; Sony’s been keeping this project under the wraps since it went underway. They’re closer to making a curved sensor like this than any other company has before, and they’d really benefit from a headstart.
Considering the fact that the greatest image processor out there today is still the human eye, this sensor’s curve is already looking like a game changer. But we don’t need to predict that; the sensor itself is 1.4 times more sensitive than regular sensors in the center, and it’s 2 times more sensitive at the corners. This is because of the fact that light rays directly hit the corner pixels instead of indirectly; the curved sensor doesn’t need as many corrections as would the sensors we use on our cameras today, allowing us to put this new one together with lenses of larger and flatter apertures.
Like we learned last time news about the sensor hit from its patent, this kind of technology is going to be great for what it does in low light.
Right now, there’s a good amount of speculation backing up the claim that the new sensor will come with the upcoming RX2 compact. Once it does, we can find out for ourselves whether this technology is destined to be a gimmick or ready to change the industry.


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Russia’s long time love affair with Made in Italy luxury pursues at an impressive rate reaching 5,5 billion euro in sales for 2012 (excluding sales to Russians abroad), a 9 percent increase compared to the previous year, according to data by SMI Sistema Moda Italy.
Beyond Moscow, cities such as St Petersburg have been seeing a boom in new luxury store openings, including the DLT Department Store (owned by Moscow based Tsum) as well as several other mono-brand street level openings, in the past 10 months alone, such as Stefano Ricci, Paul & Shark, Moreschi (all Italian brands).
From a destination known as ‘secondary’ to Moscow, not only in size, but in number of rich local residents, St Peterburg has been slowly but surely redefining itself as an upscale destination, for both Russians and foreigners alike. This has been greatly helped by the introduction of the Emirates direct flight from Dubai to St Peterburg but also by new landmark luxury hotel openings such the Four Seasons Lion Palace (due to open June 2013), the first Four Seasons hotel in Russia.
The third city in Russia with the most developed luxury market is Yekaterinburg, with the majority of international top luxury brands being present with mono-brand stores, including Chanel, Dior, Gucci, Louis Vuitton etc. Krasnodar, Yekaterinburg and Ufa are Russia’s third tier luxury market cities, a potential which has already been tested by successful multi-brand stores. While Yekaterinburg has been witnessing a stagnation especially given its proximity to Dubai (less than 2 hour flight), the other three Russian cities are still incipient luxury markets.
To illustrate the potential of the Russian luxury market, an increasing number of major luxury brands are switching from franchising operations to directly operated stores. Hermes, Chanel, Louis Vuitton were followed by Prada, which took control of its operations last year. Gucci is currently in the process of switching from its franchising operated stores to direct operations, having set up a local company earlier this year. Gucci stores have been operated in Russia with different franchise partners in Russia and Yekaterinburg, making the operations change more complex.
Other luxury companies such the Aeffe Group (Alberta Ferretti, Pollini etc), Burberry , Giorgio Armani and Ermenegildo Zegna, are, at least for now, pursuing their long-term franchising agreements with Russia’s largest luxury retailer, Mercury Group.
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