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President Obama is warning Congress the economy could be dealt a severe setback if lawmakers don't take steps to avoid the sequester—that's when a series of steep, automatic spending cuts go into effect.
A recent survey from Gallup shows more small businesses slashed jobs in the past year, and the outlook for the year ahead is far from robust. Seventeen percent of owners plan to add jobs in the coming year, while 12% plan to cut jobs, for a net gain of 5%.
JJ Ramberg, host of msnbc's Your Business, tells Jansing & Co. that small business experts she talks to say their hiring outlook is "grim" and "cautiously optimistic". "If you do not know what the economy is going to look like you're not going to invest right now," said Ramberg.
Ramberg says worries about health care costs and the cost of complying with regulations have also kept hiring in check. The Gallup survey also found that nearly one in three small business owners say difficulty in finding qualified workers has also kept them from adding staff.
While most small businesses are making slow progress, Ramberg says Silicon Valley companies are thriving. "It is an entirely different world. Hiring there is up to pre-recession level, internet boom level and because of that, other sectors—not just tech—are doing well because people now have money. So places like construction is doing well there."
Improvement in small business hiring is crucial. The Small Business Administration says 65%of the net new jobs in the past 17 years have been generated by small businesses.


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The Competition and Fair Trading Commission (CFTC) has asked Malawians to safeguard their rights during the festivities by exercising caution with any festive season offers or promotions as they might be misleading or deceptive.
CFTC says some traders take advantage of the celebratory mood to put up adverts that directly or indirectly lead consumers to misunderstand or confuse the price of offered goods or services thereby breaching the provisions of the Consumer Protection Act.
Responding to an emailed questionnaire, CFTC executive director Wezi Malonda said traders have an obligation to prevent any form of consumer harm and that those found in breach shall be guilty of fraud.
“According to the Consumer Protect ion Act , mis leading advertising includes any type of business information or communication which can directly or indirectly, expressly or by omission, lead a consumer to mistake, misunderstand or confuse the price of the offered goods or services.
“To determine whether an advert is misleading or deceptive, the Commission considers if the advert contains a false statement of fact; conceals or leave out important facts; promises to do something but without any intention of carrying it out; or creates a false impression even if everything stated in it maybe literally true,” she said.
She said it remains mandatory for advertisers to provide consumers with true information on the goods being sold and that where consumers feel that their rights have been violated, they have a right to redress.
“This includes the right to full, timely, adequate and prompt compensation for damages suffered by a consumer which are attributed to a supplier or trader and we would like to remind traders of their obligations which include taking necessary and appropriate measures to prevent any form of consumer harm.
“It is important for traders to ensure that their goods and supply comply with minimum consumer safety standards. In particular food supplies must have correct ingredients, measures or weights and proper labels,” she said.

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You may have never heard of We Knife Co., but the company has been around for nearly 20 years. Since its founding in 2000, We Knife Co. has been producing a collection of design-forward pocket knives that might as well have materialized out of a sci-fi video game (think angular, skeletonized blades and bright, iridescent handles). The knives aren’t just for show though; We Knife Co. has made a point to manufacture with high-quality materials that have helped tamp the perception that “Made in China” signifies cheapness. The company’s latest blade doesn’t break that line, but it is significantly different from anything We has put out to date.
The new knife is called the Gyuto, and it isn’t for your pocket; it’s for the kitchen. Drawing inspiration from western-influenced Japanese designs, the Gyuto is a do-everything chef’s blade that starts wide at the handle, tapering toward the tip. We’s version uses a sharply-angled spine, but beyond that, it isn’t nearly as radical as the brand’s previous patterns. The Gyuto uses 67 layers of Damascus steel and an inlaid wooden handle that’s more traditional than futuristic.
But the Gyuto marks an expansion by We, not a new direction. The knife, which will retail for $180, is the first in a new collection that the company is calling “Kitchen Lifestyle.” Whether or not We keeps the new line distinctly classic rather than flashy remains to be seen.


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Alibaba Forms Strategic Collaboration with Office Depot to Serve US Businesses
- Alibaba Group’s business-to-business (B2B) trading platform Alibaba.com announced a strategic collaboration with the US business services and supplies company Office Depot.
- The collaboration will provide US entrepreneurs and business owners with access to a single online destination to access one of the world’s largest catalogs of goods and services across all product categories.
- The move helps Alibaba to enter the US market, enables Office Depot to better serve its clients, and empowers US small- and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) to grow by tapping into the global B2B e-commerce market, valued at $23.9 trillion.
Alibaba’s B2B trading platform Alibaba.com announced a strategic alliance with US business services and supplies company Office Depot. Alibaba will gain access to Office Depot’s large network of distributors and 10 million small business customer base, while Office Depot will gain access to Alibaba’s global network of 150,000 suppliers – dramatically expanding its product offering.
Office Depot recognizes that its small business customers want greater variety of products so they can find everything they need in one location, and rapid delivery. During the initial launch period, the companies are focusing on the following areas:
- A new cobranded online destination: Office Depot and Alibaba.com have launched a new online destination so Office Depot customers can access Alibaba’s global supplier network, greatly increasing product selection, and offering exclusive online and in-store deals.
- Driving SMB adoption: Office Depot is using both online and offline marketing to reach its more than 10 million US business customers, while Alibaba.com is focusing the promotional firepower of its one-month online promotional event called March Expo to similarly drive engagement with US SMBs online, in Office Depot and OfficeMax stores.
- Enhanced sales and US-based customer support: Office Depot’s 1,800 sales people are also marketing the new service offering to SMB customers. Alibaba’s US-based team is also working with Office Depot staff to offer customers local support and a direct line to sourcing experts who can help them navigate Alibaba’s global supplier base.
After an initial launch period, Office Depot and Alibaba will expand the alliance to develop additional business customer offerings, including:
- Faster, more transparent and cost-effective distribution and fulfillment: The companies intend to improve cross-border distribution and fulfillment for US SMBs. The companies say this will shorten delivery times by connecting Alibaba’s global logistics capabilities with Office Depot’s integrated B2B supply chain and distribution network.
- A new sales channel for US SMBs: Over time, the companies intend to help US SMBs sell products to buyers in the US and around the world through Alibaba.com.
This deal leverages the companies’ respective strengths to strengthen their service offering for US SMBs. Office Depot can provide more choices in the market and an expanded set of products and services to its customers, leveraging Alibaba’s global network of over 150,000 suppliers, vast catalog of product listings and manufacturing capabilities, and an end-to-end technology platform that gives SMBs a range of tools to grow their businesses.
Alibaba will leverage Office Depot’s trusted brand, local presence, and national supply chain distribution network to reach Office Depot’s more than 10 million SMB customers to gain a foothold in the US B2B E-commerce market.


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What is the impact of the iPhone on the mobile market?
Millions of iFans eagerly await the new iPhone, which is expected to be revealed on September 12th and to go on sale later this month. Analysts expect it to outsell Samsung’s Galaxy SIII, its nearest rival, which has shifted over 20m units worldwide since its launch in May. Each new model of the iPhone has sold as many units as all previous versions combined. Since the launch of the original iPhone in 2007, it has brought in $150 billion in sales revenue, with $74 billion of that in the past year. The iPhone is Apple’s biggest product, accounting for 53% of the company’s revenue. Indeed, if the iPhone were spun out as a separate company it would be bigger than Microsoft, whose revenues were $73 billion last year. According to Asymco, a market-research firm, Apple claims two-thirds of the profits among handset-makers, despite having a smartphone market share of 21%, as the charts below show. The iPhone has been the world’s bestselling smartphone for five consecutive years, but will its run last? In 2011 Apple spent only 2% of its revenue on research, while Google and Microsoft both spent 13%.
First published on economist.com.
Image from here. Visualisation by The Economist.


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Illinois company will buy two KC trucking industry firms
- Brian Cookson
- Staff Writer
Kansas City firms VCW Inc. and the National Association of Independent Truckers Inc. (NAIT), both owned by V. Cheryl Womack, will be acquired by SIRVA of Naperville, Ill., the companies announced Tuesday.
Financial terms were not disclosed.
The Kansas City companies provide insurance and other business services to independent contract truck drivers. Womack founded VCW -- her initials -- in 1983 and NAIT in 1981.
Womack said the two companies had revenues of $60 million in 2001, a 40 percent increase from two years ago.
She also owns a handful of smaller, miscellaneous operations, including the Women's Life Center in Leawood.
SIRVA provides transportation-related products, including moving services, logistics, and financial and insurance services. SIRVA's insurance services business includes TransGuard, a multiline insurance agency serving the moving and storage industry. NAIT, however, still will sell insurance under its brand name.
"They're maintaining us as a separate and free-standing business," Womack said.
NAIT, which acts as an insurance wholesaler, will be able to sell SIRVA's products to its members.
Some of SIRVA's other brands include North American, Allied and Global.
Womack said SIRVA will use its resources to expand operations here. She said that 50 to 100 people will be added in the next year to a current work force of 80.
Womack said that SIRVA has been pursing her for six years but that serious negotiations began only six months ago. The deal will close April 1, she said.
Womack, 51, will stay with the company for two more years to help with the transition.
"I was going for one; they said five. I said two; they said OK," Womack said.
Reach Brian Cookson at 816-421-5900 or by e-mail at email@example.com.
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How credible is it for Nokia to create a new road map for manufacture in mobile phones, away from global to local production, it's stated intent after releasing specs to 3D print Lumia 820 shells?
How realistic is it for Samsung to become a global leader in device innovation?
Two recent conversations lead me to believe that enterprises are far more serious about 3D printing than might be apparent from reading the business press.
The first conversation was with a global transportation manufacturer. Imagine their historical position - they won RFPs, signed a contract, got a revenue advance and then started to build trains, trams or metros. Easy - most development costs were paid by the customer.
Today there are no cash advances. They must fund development and production, as well as offer to support local businesses in the process.Enter 3D printing, at the very least to help build up local parts suppliers.
There is no other game in town for companies that make this type of product. The move to APIs and open systems could be a decade away - all the way down a tortuous road where they will have to help set global standardization policies for inter-train communications.
In the meantime innovation is all about laying off responsibility and risk to suppliers.
That reminds me of Nokia and its view of the future - help stimulate, create and foster independent local production facilities, let them do the dirty work and the customer interaction, and sell IP into them.
Nokia is some years away from having a new supply ecosystem based around 3D printing but it makes perfect sense to float the idea and take a de-risked approach to attempting it, starting with the shell.
Mobile supply chains are now so complex that Apple is being forced to onshore some manufacture to reduce its exposure to supply chain disruption.
That brings me to the second conversation, with a leading supply chain insurer who told me that they had a problem. They had their systems adapted to periodic events like Hurricane Sandy, but events were beginning to overlap - say an invasion (Mali) and bad weather (Europe gridlocked). The insurance industry will find it extremely difficult to deal with multiple simultaneous events.
That's another way of saying that supply chains are now too complex to manage within an increasingly unpredictable global environment.
“….when Samsung first unveiled the Galaxy Note—a 5.3-inch smartphone that was big enough to be a minitablet, hence the ugly portmanteau—the world’s tech pundits couldn’t stifle their giggles. Was it a phone? Was it a tablet? Was it a joke? Smartphone industry blog Boy Genius Report called the Note “the most useless phone I’ve ever used,” adding: “You will look stupid talking on it, people will laugh at you, and you’ll be unhappy if you buy it.” Gizmodo argued that the Note “isn’t just designed poorly—it’s hardly even designed for humans….Confounding our predictions, Samsung sold 10 million Notes in 2012, making it one of the most successful smartphone launches in history. Then, in the fall, Samsung launched the Galaxy Note II, an upgraded version with an even larger screen—and it promptly sold 5 million of them, and is on track to sell 20 million over the course of the year.
In The Elastic Enterprise Nick Vitalari and I were fulsome with praise for Apple's ability to rewrite the rules of business. And of course we all know about their phenomenal design capability.
We felt it was these two together than explained success. Design can be perpetually good but markets move on and the virtues of the iPhone will not persist. That can be solved quickly, however. Apple could enter the new large screen size mobile market and will inevitably enjoy success, though will also diminish its reputation for innovation.
What it really needs to do is make a systemic innovation to match the apps developer community of 2008 vintage. The apps community created the excitement around the iPhone, allowed Apple to scale its market and de-risked growth.
But the current trend is too non-Apple. Delegating production to new local producers who can customize the Apple form factor or interface? Or creating an independent hardware ecosystem? These are too big a stretch for Apple. Even in design the idea of going back to the Palm days with a stylus is impossible?


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RUST, GERMANY, June 21, 2022 /EINPresswire.com/ — Last Tuesday and Wednesday, the German Hotel Congress & Hotel Expo 2022 was held to great fanfare at Europa-Park in Rust, Germany. As a leading provider of autonomous cleaning and service solutions, Gausium (aka “Gaussian Robotics”) showcased two of its flagship commercial floor cleaning robots to hoteliers at the show.
Scrubber 50 Pro is an AI-powered robotic scrubber that recently won two industry-leading awards – the European Cleaning & Hygiene Award 2022 and the Amsterdam Innovation Award 2022. commercial floor cleaning robot is an ideal choice for cleaning large area hotel lobby furnished with hard floors. The cleaning robot attracted a lot of attention from the public during the show for its revolutionary automatic spot cleaning function, by which the robot continuously scans the dirt of the surrounding area and directly goes to clean where the garbage is. or stains are detected. This is made possible by its navigation algorithms based on deep learning as well as advanced visual sensors consisting of a set of 3D depth cameras and an RGB camera. By cleaning where it is needed, the robot achieves up to 4 times more efficiency and a significant reduction in water and energy consumption.
The Vacuum 40 diffuser is a highly versatile and customized stand-alone floor cleaning solution for hotel facilities. It meets all kinds of hotel floor cleaning requirements with its applicability to a multitude of floor types, including short and high pile carpet, natural stone, hardwood, etc. The robot can recognize flooring materials and automatically switch to a suitable cleaning mode. In addition to vacuuming, sweeping and cleaning dust, the robot carries an additional diffuser kit for aroma diffusion. This allows the Vacuum 40 diffuser to purify the air while cleaning floors. The audience really appreciated the added function as well as the fresh scent it brought to the air of the expo.
With the motto “Digital, Innovative, Diverse”, the German Hotel Expo 2022 attracted around 550 industry experts and practitioners to share the latest innovations and insights from the hospitality industry. As one of the most service-intensive industries with high operating leverage, the hospitality industry has seen a sharp drop in demand, which is testing the resilience and adaptability of hoteliers. A remarkable industry trend is an increased awareness of robotics and digital solutions as a recourse to successfully weather the COVID-19 crisis and maintain competitiveness. According to a 2020 survey of the top business priorities of tourism and hospitality companies worldwide, 49% of respondents confirmed that their priority was to use new technologies to better serve customers and/or suppliers .
In a world where cleaning and digitalization are growing in importance, commercial cleaning robots are ready to step in to provide autonomous cleaning and digital solutions. Gausium’s autonomous cleaning and service solutions feature advanced robotic technologies including deep learning, cloud computing, IoT integration, and more. Gausium autonomous cleaning and service robots can be seamlessly integrated into the digital system of smart buildings and drive the digital transformation of building services or facility management.
Founded in 2013, Gausium (aka “Gaussian Robotics”) began as a provider of SLAM (simultaneous localization and mapping) solutions and integrated robotics software. Today, Gausium has become one of the leading providers of AI-powered autonomous cleaning and service robots solutions, currently with the most comprehensive portfolio of commercial cleaning robots in the world. Currently, Gausium’s products and services include commercial floor cleaning robots, indoor delivery robots and additional accessories such as docking stations, cloud platform and application software.
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It’s all change at the top for bwin Poker, with a new chief executive and a new business strategy. Over the last few years, bwin has gone from a popular betting service to one of online poker’s powerhouses. This is thanks, in no small part, to their purchase of the Ongame network in 2006. Countless players make their home on this service, formerly fronted by the historic Poker Room. Bwin has also reaped the rewards from branching out into the restricted Italian online poker market and applying its solid software expertise to a range of Ongame skins.
The new poker supremo at bwin is Peter Bertilsson, former head of Boss Media, who operates the highly successful International Poker Network. Peter was the Boss Media president and chief executive from 2001 to 2006, where he spearheaded their change into a more Business to Business focused company. For those without an economics qualification, Business to Business (or B2B), simply refers to one company selling something to another company, in contrast to selling to the consumer. In terms of online poker, that means providing software for another brand to use as a white label.
It is Bertilsson’s skill at B2B that encouraged bwin to go after him. “We have convinced a true veteran of online gaming B2B to take the challenge leading this business unit,” said bwin co-chief executive Norbert Teufelberger. “As the market environment changes in that fast moving industry, B2B capabilities will be key for the USA and Asia but also for riding the regulation wave in Europe.” Bwin and its competitors are keen to shift focus onto B2B operations as they see them as a more stable option in an industry beset with legal uncertainty. Companies like PartyPoker and 888 have made big moves into B2B services, with the latter’s Dragonfish subsidiary recently contracted to produce the official World Series of Poker Online client. iPoker owners Playtech are also well practiced in the B2B field and have most recently completed work on gambling clients for video game company SEGA.
Bertilsson replaces outgoing poker head Carl Klingberg. “I am very happy to take this opportunity, there have never been greater opportunities within the gambling sector than right now and bwin has a very strong position to make them happen.” His boss, Norbert Teufelberger has charged him to, “carve out a distinct and strategic B2B unit.” With Bertilsson’s 15 years of industry experience on tap, bwin stands a very good chance of achieving that goal. “It is time to evaluate, complete and enhance the product portfolio to be prepared for the future,” concluded Teufelberger. With U.S. market inching ever closer to reopening, the future looks bright for bwin Poker.


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The esports industry is growing quickly, with new leagues, teams and distribution channels. And this growth is attracting new high-profile esports investment from brands, media organizations and traditional sports rightsholders.
When identifying how valuable sponsorships and brand activation can be in esports, it’s worth exploring the issue from the perspectives of the many stakeholders involved: leagues, franchisees and teams.
Global sports are thriving, but media consumption is changing before our eyes. And as the media world grapples with these issues, so too must the sports industry. But these challenges aren’t the only obstacles facing the sports realm.


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According to reports, Illinois continues to have astronomical success in their new recreational cannabis market.
In the most basic terms, offering fraud occurs when a person (or entity) makes material misrepresentations or omissions to potential investors in a new company (most commonly, promising those investors large “guaranteed” returns on their investments). Offering fraud cases have become more prominent in recent years, and it looks like the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission is ready to start looking at the cannabis industry.
Last week, the Commission filed suit in the Central District of California against a group of individuals and companies for securities offering fraud and other violations of the Exchange Act. The Complaint outlines how nine issuer entities and their principals/control persons raised over $25 million from more than 400 investors in the 2017-2019 timeframe to supposedly finance the establishment of a licensed marijuana farm and CBD extraction facility in Salinas, California. In soliciting investments, the defendants misled and deceived actual and potential investors about their potential return on investment – which they claimed to be annual returns of 100% or more.
It gets worse. The Complaint outlines a litany of additional offenses:
The defendants deceived investors about how their investment funds would actually be used, misrepresented the compensation they intended to receive, and misappropriated
Cannabis companies LeafLink, Flowhub and Vangst have released a joint report featuring data from their own businesses — wholesale, online retail and talent hiring — and Covid-19’s impact on the industry.
The State of the Cannabis Industry 2020 white paper reviews data points around B2B ordering, consumer preferences, purchasing habits and human resources management.
Cannabis Sales For 2020 Surpass 2019 On Average
Looking at sales from 800 dispensaries in 13 markets across the country, Flowhub reports that cannabis retail sales for February were lower than sales from that same month in 2019.
– Read the entire article at Benzinga.
The first new Manitoba cannabis retailer licensed since the province loosened regulatory COVID-19 restrictions in June plans to fill its shelves with legal pot products in just over a week.
As of June, there were 30 licensed cannabis stores in the province, but the Crown services minister announced in May Manitoba would open the market to all prospective retailers on June 1.
The Joint — an independent chain of head shops in Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta headquartered out of Winnipeg — will open a cannabis shop section at its Portage Avenue location around Aug. 10 after it received authorization from the Liquor, Gaming and Cannabis Authority of Manitoba and the Manitoba Liquor and Lotteries Corporation.
– Read the entire article at Global News.
Equal But Different
“There’s evidence that estrogen gets you higher and testosterone does the opposite.”
This sex-based difference in response to cannabis often leads to a mismatch in how high partners will feel when including cannabis in their lovelife.
That said, other factors (e.g. a person’s weight, frequency of past cannabis use, unique biochemistry, etc.) also play major roles in how someone will feel when using cannabis during sex. These considerations often necessitate that lovers take different doses of cannabis before heading to the bedroom (or the woods, on a billiards table, or wherever the mood may strike).
Sophie related that, from her own experience, she has found that men and women tend to prefer different varieties of cannabis.
“The industry is moving away from the indica and sativa model in terms of a more accurate and detailed response, but I hear a lot of women wanting to use indicas, indicating they would want a more calming experience. With men, it seems to be they want a more energetic experience from sativas.
– Read the entire article at Benzinga.
State legal cannabis businesses are used to the specter of the federal government in the rear view mirrors of their lives and businesses. Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you know that cannabis remains federally illegal. And it’s not so much the case anymore that the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) or Department of Justice (DOJ) are coming to knock down your door and arrest and prosecute you as a cannabis business owner for open violations of the federal Controlled Substances Act (CSA). These days, life can be fairly miserable as a cannabis business owner due to the legal conflict between the states and the feds, resulting in a lack of access to financial institutions, onerous federal income tax obligations, no federal trademark protection, asset forfeiture, etc.
Rarely, though, do we get to see a state agency and the feds openly fight over these commercial cannabis democratic experiments (which is mainly due to the acting Attorney General’s “hands-off” approach to state legal cannabis, “Second Requests” scandal notwithstanding). When these confrontations happen, it’s fascinating to see how the respective governments behave and is always educational regarding evolving federal enforcement priorities.
And that is what made last week’s new so interesting.
This is the second post in a two-part series. The first is available here.
Last week, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) submitted a CBD enforcement policy to the White House. We do not yet have the text of that document but we anticipate that it will have a significant impact on hemp-derived CBD (Hemp CBD) products. In my last post, I summarized the FDA’s current enforcement policy and briefly discussed the FDA’s recently released guidance for drug manufacturers interested in cannabinoid research. An issue that came up in the FDA’s guidance for drug manufacturers was testing finished and intermediary products for cannabinoids.
Here’s how the FDA frames the issue of testing hemp products in the drug guidance document:
In general, the composition of a botanical raw material is calculated as the amount of the compound(s) of interest naturally present relative to the dry weight of botanical raw material prior to extraction or other manufacturing steps. However, this type of dry weight calculation has limited utility for intermediates such as solutions, extracts in solution (whether aqueous or nonaqueous), and for finished products. Therefore, FDA recommends that sponsors, investigators, or applicants evaluating intermediates or finished products that contain cannabis
FSD Pharma, which launched a medicinal cannabis production facility in Cobourg, Ont., will be cancelling its cannabis licences and closing the operation next month to focus on coronavirus work.
On Thursday, the biotech/pharmaceutical company announced it has notified Health Canada of its decision to forfeit its licences. It also plans to suspend all activities within 30 days and has begun the process of liquidating all assets, including the sale of its cannabis production facility in Cobourg.
The plant is based on William Street at the former Kraft Foods plant.
Global News Peterborough reached out to the Town of Cobourg for comment. Mayor John Henderson said he has no further comment at this time regarding the company’s announcement.
– Read the entire article at Global News.
If you tend to be up on all the latest wellness trends, you’re probably no stranger to the many forms of CBD that have popped up on the market over the last few years. And while CBD oils, creams, and capsules are still all the rage when it comes to healing and relaxation, it turns out there may be a more powerful compound gaining buzz known as CBG, which is found in very low concentrations in mature cannabis flowers.
Why the CBG hype? It may have to do with the fact that there is an increased understanding of cannabis and cannabinoids these days, according to Jeremy Riggle, PhD, a cannabis researcher and chief scientist at Mary’s Medicinals and Mary’s Nutritionals in Denver. As a result, all of this cannabis research and exploration has introduced scientists to many new cannabinoids besides the more well-known THC and CBD. Additionally, advances in extraction and isolation technologies have allowed researchers to be able to isolate many cannabinoids including CBG, which was not possible or common just a few years ago.
Now, let’s dig into what CBG is exactly, as well as its possible benefits. (Keep in mind, the research on various cannabinoids is far


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Heather Graham and Guy Ritchie have launched a coconut-flavoured rum, but these are drinks industry stars rather than Hollywood icons.
Graham is a former William Grant and Pernod Ricard marketing director who launched Hendricks, while Ritchie formerly worked on the Kraken.
They have teamed up with Emma Wykes, who has just left Black Cow vodka to become general manager at non-alcoholic spirit brand Seedlip, to launch Aluna Coconut under Cloudbreak Spirits.
Aluna Coconut is 35% abv and blends rums from Guatemala and the Caribbean with all-natural toasted coconut flavours.
It has gained a listing with Harvey Nicholls and will be rolled out this summer, with high hopes for the off-trade.
Graham said: “Our brand world is built around a central theme of empowerment, particularly among women, for whom this generation has conferred greater independence, liberty and self-determination.
“We’re confident this brand positioning, alongside the delicious flavour affinity of rum and coconut, coupled with a lower sugar content and clean, natural taste will appeal to our core target market of women and men aged 21-plus.”
Aluna means moon goddess and the brand has used design symbols popular among surfers.


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A University of Plymouth initiative that nurtures and develops start-up enterprises in the creative industries has reached capacity for the first time since it launched 19 months ago.
Formation Zone has attracted a wide range of businesses, from videogame and website designers to marketing and PR experts. It has proven remarkably recession proof, and has even helped some entrepreneurs to get back on their feet after the setback of redundancy.
Housed in the university’s Roland Levinsky Building, the 21-desk facility provides space, IT facilities, support and guidance from experts and networking opportunities, and has already seen a number of clients flourish and move on to establish their own offices.
Actuate Marketing, a strategic business and marketing development company, is the most recent business to join Formation Zone in September and they’ve already secured a number of clients.
Dave Pearce, Director, said: “The facilities offered by Formation Zone are second-to-none and ideal for a start-up business such as ours which wanted to work in a professional office environment without the risk of a long-term lease.
“The support provided by the Formation Zone team, the location and resources available are all excellent and have allowed us to get off to a flying start. Working close by other start-up businesses has been beneficial to us as it creates an environment to share and test ideas which is hugely important within the creative industries. It has also presented opportunities to work in partnership with other companies within the Formation Zone.
“It’s a major decision to move from full-time employment to setting up a business, particularly during a recession, but the encouragement and support provided has meant this transition has been smooth and successful.”
Formation Zone is currently working with 16 creative enterprises, covering a broad range of creative industries including architecture, photography, graphic design and marketing, web design, game design, publishing and digital media. They also span all stages of business start-up, from individuals who are developing their business idea and undertaking market research right through to those who have accomplished their first year of trading.
Many of the creative enterprises work inside Formation Zone where they hire workspace on a flexible contract that allows them to expand and move on easily. They can tap into a wealth of support services and office space, and take advantage of the networking possibilities.
One of the most recent additions is Mutant Labs, the first client to have come into the zone direct from graduating at the university. The team of five, who met on their Digital Art and Technology course, have dubbed themselves 'media scientists' and specialise in web design, Flash and mobile development, and have been establishing strong ties with companies based in the South West. Formation Zone has been supporting them to get their business off the ground.
Alex Ryley, Managing Director, said: “The comprehensive support and guidance Formation Zone has given us has accelerated our development as a business. Having affordable office space, along with a great support network in the University, has really helped our company take off.”
The University of Plymouth has built on the success of Formation Zone by launching Formation 2.0 to start-up businesses in science, technology, engineering and maths as part of its Enterprise Solutions service.
Eleanor Butland, Programme Manager of Formation Zone, said: “Reaching capacity for the first time is a huge milestone for Formation Zone and a highlight for the University of Plymouth’s enterprise activity. We’re now having a real impact on the creative sector here and will continue to develop our service.
“The doors are still open to new applicants, so please get in touch with us to register your interest.”


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According to a recent report presented by CBN, Apple has claimed that its TV+ service had less than 20 million subscribers in the US and Canada as of July and this claim has been made to pay production crew lower rates than streamers with more subscriptions.
These claims were made by the Cupertino giant to the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, which is a union representing TV and movie workers who perform jobs like operating cameras and building sets.
Apple launched its streaming service, Apple TV+ back in 2019, and since then the Cupertino-based tech giant has never once shared its subscriber numbers. Just a few weeks ago, The Information said that “a person with known of the numbers” that an analyst estimate of around 40 million subscribers is “roughly accurate as of this summer,” with half of those subscribers paying for the service and the other half on a free trial of some sort.
However, if the numbers are accurate then the U.S. and Canada account’s for almost 50% of all subscribers of Apple TV+. If we compare these numbers with other streaming services like Netflix claimed 209 million subscribers as of Q2, and Disney+ claimed 116 million, way more than Apple TV+.
“Under the current contract, high-budget productions intended for streaming can offer lower rates to workers if the streaming service has less than 20 million subscribers in the U.S. and Canada, which is determined on July 1 every year. Apple told IATSE that it had less than 20 million subscribers, a union spokesman said.”
“The union is currently in negotiations with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producer over a new contract particularly new form of media, and companies that bankroll streaming productions should pay rates closer to traditional media productions.”


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In the midst of the pandemic, some destinations have swiftly seized new business opportunities to keep the tourism dollars flowing, shared Jameson Wong, APAC director at ForwardKeys.
The Asia-Pacific region has gone from being a top dog in the travel and tourism sector to being put in the doghouse due to the handling of the pandemic, see-saw Covid-19 case numbers and at times, complacency. However, a few risk-taking destinations are daring to try some new approaches to compensate for the collateral loss of international arrivals.
That is why after recently presenting at the Asian Leadership Conference in Seoul, South Korea with a slide deck of 50 ground-breaking data nuggets, we thought to share a few highlights to demonstrate that there are still a few things our travel partners in the Far East can do to keep a steady trickle of tourism dollars until the promised full recovery in 2024.
1. Seize the new opportunities in your domestic market
Investing in a sound domestic tourism plan with healthy airline promotions and tour operators in sync has its merits – just ask China.
China reached pre-pandemic domestic arrival levels as early as September 2020, even with the pandemic in flagrant, thanks to teaming up its national public holidays with airline deals for couples (two-for-one offers) and the introduction of tax-free perks for shopping holidays to Hainan.
With international travel still on hold, the latest revenge travel is taking mainland Chinese travellers to the glitz and glamour of Macau. In the first week of June, issued tickets for travel from mainland China to Macau reached 48 per cent of 2019’s level, while in general, outbound Chinese travel recovered only four per cent.
In the post-pandemic era, digitalisation has become key to recovery in Macau. The Macau government cooperated with a lifestyle service review and reservation app in mainland China to issue subsidies of about MOP5 million (US$625,270) to local small and medium-sized merchants, including restaurants, local souvenirs, and other merchandise.
In combination with the new consumption habits, post-pandemic local merchants have provided contactless services, such as real-time reservations, online reservations and group purchasing, which make it easier to plan the trip before arriving.
2. Re-think destination strategies & flight connectivity: The Maldives, South Korea & Thailand
“The world has changed, like it or not. That means what you once knew is no longer valid and past historical data is not useful,” said Jameson Wong, director of APAC for tourism & hospitality at ForwardKeys.
Take this period as a time for reinvention as the data is pointing out that this is a glaringly obvious thing to do. We can count three clear examples where destinations can still seize new business if they act promptly, backed by data. Let’s examine, Phuket, Jeju Island and the Maldives.
The Phuket Example
What is surprising is the strength of the Israel market this summer in Phuket. For the first time, Israel, a relative newcomer, ties with the UK as the top source for Phuket in July-September, with Germany as the second biggest source. El Al started operating a daily direct flight from Tel Aviv to Phuket on July 1.
“This shows the industry needs to look at other factors, beyond travel restrictions, that will shape travel decisions and change traditional market sources and segments. These factors include airline connectivity, currency and safety perceptions such as anti-Chinese sentiment,” said Wong.
Europe (including Israel) is the dominant source for Phuket this summer, accounting for 78 per cent of issued tickets, followed by Americas at 12 per cent and Africa/Middle East at six per cent (see chart).
In a reversal, Asia/Oceania is only four per cent, a significant drop from 59 per cent in 2019, due to travel restrictions and/or quarantines upon return.
The Jeju Island Example
Here is a fun fact: the flight path between Seoul-Busan is the busiest route in the world (in terms of domestic travel). Not only are the urbanites from South Korea’s capital in a rush to escape to its nearest patch of paradise but the passenger profile has changed too.
Indeed, there has been a growth in passenger shares for those who travel in groups of three to five aka families. Here is a new business opportunity to seize! Romancing couples are also on the increase – what incentive is your hotel offering?
Seoul’s Incheon Airport has also seen an important shift in its relevance as a regional hub. In 2021, it doubles its share in connecting international travellers, up from 10 per cent in 2019 to 20 per cent in 2021. Neck to neck with Singapore’s Changi Airport.
The Maldives Example
The Maldives is demonstrating that acting swiftly and making sage business decisions based on data can make a difference.
“It is with great contentment I note that the Russian market is now the top market in terms of arrivals to the destination since we have reopened our borders in July 2020,” said Thoyyib Mohamed, managing director of Visit Maldives.
“Our marketing promotions in the past year has had an impact in increasing the demand for the destination and also the increased connectivity has positively helped the boost in arrivals from Russia,” he added.
By monitoring new source market opportunities, the tourism board acted swiftly by investing in digital marketing and advertising campaigns in Russia and have capitalised by welcoming not just luxury honeymooners, but also, affluent families.
Flight connectivity greatly assisted in the Maldives receiving such international travellers via Dubai Airport – which has stayed open throughout the pandemic.
3. Set up “safe” travel bubbles or sandboxes: Trans-Tasman and Phuket
Travel bubbles when announced early, with uncomplicated travel checks and clear safety protocols can work. Two Asia-Pacific initiatives that merit praise are the Trans-Tasman air bubble between Australia and New Zealand; and the recent introduction by the Thailand Tourism Authority of the Phuket Sandbox.
“Sure, the Trans-Tasman bubble has had its fair share of hiccups with case numbers rising in W.A first, then Melbourne and Sydney – however, overall, it has seen a steady stream of Australians visiting New Zealand, with most issued tickets coinciding with its snow season in July and August,” said Wong.
It is the high cases of Covid-19 variants, on/off approach to domestic borders and the low vaccination rate of Australia that has delayed the reopening of international borders to possibly 2022 or 2023 – a date that has yet to be set.
4. Make early border announcements
One trend we have noticed in Europe that is worthwhile replicating across Asia are clear and early announcements regarding the reopening of borders and the travel conditions applicable.
Well in advance of the popular summer season in Europe, Croatia and Greece announced in Q1 that they will be welcoming vaccinated international travellers from the US and boom! Guess which source market was suddenly one of their top source markets?
“We even noticed a spike in first-class travel from NYC to Athens for the summer season,” said Olivier Ponti, vice president of insights.
5. Invent new promotions & activities
Last-minute bookings have become part of the new normal. Gone are the days when one year in advance holidaymakers would place a deposit on a trip abroad – it’s impossible to do so now!
When examining the ticketing data per each region: Asia-Pacific, Europe, Africa, the Middle East and the Americas, each region demonstrates the habit of booking closest to departure.
“I think this trend is here to stay,” said Nan Dai, China Market Expert. “In China, we are seeing domestic travel booked under four days and people have adapted to this new habit as the airlines and hotel offers have become more flexible in terms of ticket changes and refunds.”
This trend is a tricky one for hotels struggling with occupancy rates – but if you know what origin cities your key source markets are, you can improve your marketing spend and enticing offers to suit the relevant audience. For example, Beijing inhabitants are more likely to fly to Sanya while to Haikou 50 per cent of the arrivals are from Chengdu.
People are also staying longer on their trips. Macau used to be a one-night or two-day experience for Chinese mainlanders as they paired their holiday with a few days in Hong Kong. Nowadays, Macau is the sole highlight and people are staying on average three to five nights. What activities and promotions exist to capture this audience and make them return?
Conclusion – Try something different!
This pandemic has shaken up the travel and tourism industry, but like a phoenix rising from the ashes, the desire to travel, explore and meet new cultures is inherent. This is not the end. So, use this time wisely to think, re-invest your energies and let big data guide you through this Covid-19 fog.
Travel recovery is starting to show its face in the US, China, and the Middle East – it’s only time before the Asia-Pacific is brimming with excited international guests, maybe from new source markets like Israel, Russia and Europe?


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CPRL cannot use McDonald's name, trademark and design, among others, after September 6.
New Delhi: Food and raw material suppliers, mall operators and employees of McDonald's are an agitated lot these days because of its decision to close 169 outlets across north and east India in view of its legal battle with franchise partner Vikram Bakshi.
Other than the 6,000 employees staring at job loss, several partners like frozen food suppliers, dairy product and sauce suppliers as also mall operators are up against an uncertain future as the long-term agreement with the food chain now hangs in the balance.
"From business point of view, it is a big hit on us because McDonald's is one of our largest food chain partners and Delhi is one of their biggest markets," a top official of a supplier who asked not to be named told PTI.
"We hope that McDonald's solves its issues for us to be on track," he added.
On August 21, McDonald's India terminated the franchise agreement for the outlets run by Connaught Plaza Restaurants Ltd (CPRL), alleging breach of contract terms and payment default, including royalty, for two years.
CPRL is a 50:50 joint venture between the US-based food chain and Bakshi, who was ousted as MD in 2013 due to disputes over management. Landlords of the affected outlets are unsure about the outcome of the settlement process as directed by the NCLAT.
The National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) has asked the parties to consider settling their dispute among themselves and decide so by August 30, failing which the court will follow its own procedure.
"As of now, there is no clarity on what will happen after September 6 as the matter is in court. But in case the outlets shut down, we will ask for compensation for at least a couple of months till we find a new renter," an official of a mall operator said.
As part of the termination, CPRL cannot use McDonald's name, trademark and design, among others, after September 6. Sources said if the outlets close down, the suppliers will have no option but to face the loss collectively.
"There is a long agreement with McDonald's and now they (McDonald's) have to decide what to do if the stores close as per the agreement," another product supplier pointed out. The worried employees, on their part, have already started hunting for jobs and a few, in fact, have resigned.
"We had started looking for jobs since the day the notice of termination came as getting a job in such a short notice is not that easy. It is likely that we won't be paid our last month salaries if the outlets shut down," said two employees of an outlet in South Delhi.


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The video marketing business may be bigger than we thought. A new study by web-based video editing company Magisto finds the video marketing industry will reach $135 Billion in 2017. This number includes video creation, hosting, distribution, analytics and staff. This $135 Billion is almost as large as digital and TV advertising combined. ($83 billion on digital advertising plus $71 billion on TV commercials equals $154 billion.)
According to the study, the average US business will spend $20,000 on video marketing. The study used voluntary, anonymous responses from 545 marketing directors at all sizes of businesses. The study found that videos are typically aimed at millennials which are the first digitally native generation as well as teenagers. 60% of businesses said they spend more than 25% of their marketing dollars on video. A majority, some 64%, of the companies surveyed said they produce their videos internally.
A growing percentage of video is viewed on social media including Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, Musical.ly, Twitter, and Snapchat. Consumers under the age of 35 prefer to receive their information through video. Another trend is the growth of smart phones as the preferred device.
Jim Louderback, the CEO of VidCon believes that for advertisers YouTube is the most important video platform, followed by Facebook. He also predicts that live video and virtual reality will eventually become more dominant.
Cost of Video Not the Main Concern
The study found businesses are more concerned about the speed of video production than price.
The report from Magisto is to be the first of three they plan to release this year. The second will report to focus on where the $135 Billion is being spent. The third will focus on how consumers react to these videos.
Magisto makes a web-based video editing tool for iOS and Android. It is powered by A.I. machine intelligence.
NTSB says drone flights are subject to FAA regulations. Disappoints aerial videographers who fly quadcopters and fixed wing model aircraft.Read More
Below is an example of Google Earth in a business video, in this case a real estate tour (just the first 40 seconds). The cloud footage is not Google, simply stock footage. Google Earth can create powerful HD videos of virtual trips anywhere around the world. What business client would not want a fly in […]Read More
Looking for a great topic for your next video? Make a parody of a well-known film. The example above may get your creative juices flowing, but it will only be meaningful if you’ve seen Birdman which just won the Oscar for Best Picture on Sunday night. Below is the full length trailer. The film is […]Read More


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Who is this gentleman and why is he smiling? Well, Brett Stettner, a diamond dealer and head of a diamond investment fund, stunned the auction world last week when – within a 24-hour period – he purchased two highly prized colored diamonds for a combined $18 million. The successful bids were made at back-to-back events at New York’s Sotheby’s and Christie’s.
On April 17 at Christie’s, Stettner placed the winning bid of $15.7 million for The Clark Pink, a 9-carat cushion-cut purplish pink diamond from the estate of the reclusive heiress Huguette Clark. The bid shattered the pre-auction estimate of $6 to $8 million and set a record for the highest price ever paid for a pink diamond sold at auction in the U.S., according to JCK Magazine.
Only one day later, Stettner secured a 3.54-carat marquise-shaped fancy blue diamond ring for $2.4 million at Sotheby’s. The piece sold for nearly five times the pre-auction high estimate of $500,000. JCK Magazine reported that the purchase price of $687,712 per carat was a world record per-carat price for a fancy blue diamond, topping the 20.17-carat fancy blue diamond ring that sold for $490,952 per carat at Sotheby’s in October 1994.
Stettner told JCK that he feels “humbled” to have won such rare stones.
“These are unique, wonderful colored diamonds,” he said. “There are not many stones like these. They are priceless.”
Regarding The Clark Pink, Stettner said, “It is the most beautiful pink I have ever seen. The color is just sensational. It is a true bubblegum pink. It has so much character, so much charm. In my 24 years of being in the business, I haven’t seen anything that resembles this diamond.”
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As the Chinese New Year looms Monday, retailers in Hong Kong and Mainland China are gearing up for one of their busiest shopping seasons of the year. While malls and stores are currently buzzing with activity, the outlook for retail is somewhat mixed against a backdrop of economic uncertainty.
Although official sales figures are being tallied up, there are some indications that Christmas sales in Hong Kong for some retailers weren’t as strong as expected. That may or may not bode well for Chinese New Year, which is unusually close to Christmas in 2012. The close timing of the two megaholidays is a bit of a challenge for Hong Kong retailers, as shoppers might concentrate their spending on one of the two holidays.
As for Mainland China, analysts predict sales still will be strong. However, they issued warnings that growing concern, especially among the country’s middle class, about inflation and rising property prices in major cities like Beijing and Shanghai could have at least a moderate impact on consumer confidence. Worries about the economic woes of the West, which have hurt China’s countless export-reliant manufacturers, could also lead to slightly tighter purse strings this year.
“We are a little bit cautious this year,” said James Roy, a senior analyst with the Shanghai-based China Market Research Group. “There is obviously still going to be growth, but I think there will be a bit of a slowdown compared to previous years. Each year, when there is growth, you can still say it is a record year, but the pace is slowing.”
Roy said that, overall, consumers “are still very confident and optimistic” and plan to keep spending.
“We’re projecting 16 to 18 percent overall retail sales growth in 2012 and expect spending over the Chinese New Year season to grow in line with that trend,” he said.
Li Jie, a 29-year-old working in private equity in Beijing, is one of China’s increasingly cash-rich consumers. He ordered a new orange Renault SUV as a gift for himself for Chinese New Year.
“I still have the confidence I can earn more money, so that is the reason I want to buy a car,” he said, while at the same time expressing a certain level of concern about the country’s economic future and the government’s ability to control or counterbalance macroeconomic forces.
“We are living in maybe a golden time. We feel good because maybe we have not experienced the winter times,” he added. “I am worried about when the power of the central government can’t fight back the market power.”
The Lunar New Year holiday season is the high point for personal consumption and gift-giving in China. A significant percentage of China’s luxury retail dollars are spent offshore, with wealthy visitors to Hong Kong, Europe and America shopping up a storm to escape the Mainland’s prohibitive value-added tax on imported goods.
Isabel Cavill, a senior retail analyst with Planet Retail who specializes in the global clothing and luxury retail markets, estimates that 30 to 50 percent of luxury goods bought by Chinese consumers this year will be sold during the Spring Festival period, making it a make-or-break time for luxury brands.
“I think it’s going to be a big year; there is a lot of money around in China,” she said.
Winnie Cheng, project director at Ipsos, a market research firm in Hong Kong, has a less bullish outlook for Chinese New Year in Hong Kong, a key shopping destination for Mainland Chinese tourists.
“Christmas sales performance was not as good as expected even though many retailers offered promotions or discounts during that time. The outlook for the upcoming [Chinese New Year] is that we anticipate sales to be weaker than last year. The proximity of the two holiday seasons is one contributing factor, but also the current economic climate is affecting consumers’ purchasing intention,” she said.
That said, both Sun Hung Kai Properties and Harbour City, two of Hong Kong’s top mall operators, said they met or exceeded their expectations over the Christmas season.
Sun Hung Kai Properties, which manages 12 shopping malls in Hong Kong, has been courting Mainland Chinese shoppers, and it appears to be working.
In all, Sun Hung Kai Properties said its malls saw a total of 6.4 million in foot traffic during the Christmas shopping season, up 20 percent from a year ago, and sales turnover of 113 million Hong Kong dollars, or $14.4 million, up 22 percent from last year. For Chinese New Year, the group expects 7.8 million in traffic and sales of 168 million Hong Kong dollars, or $21.6 million.
While malls in Beijing and Shanghai have been teeming with thousands of shoppers taking advantage of deep discounts on everything from clothes to electronics in the run-up to next week’s holiday, retailers declined to issue any concrete forecasts for this year’s holiday season.
Sephora, H&M, Zara, Gucci, Piaget, Louis Vuitton and Hermès declined interview requests or did not respond to inquiries on how their stores in China are faring amid the frenzied consumerism
Traditionally in China, Lunar New Year is a time for big-ticket items like watches, jewelry, computers and cars. Companies give employees annual bonuses and people buy flashy items to give as presents to business associates or government officials to secure good relationships in the New Year.
But according to China Market Research’s Roy, more Chinese consumers are also investing in expensive items for their homes, such as furniture, bedding and decorations.
“There is a shift to spending on things more for homes, for personal comfort,” he said. “It is definitely the case that people are spending more and more.”
Jiang Qiong Er, who designs for Hermès’ Chinese luxury brand Shang Xia, said she is seeing a subtle yet apparent shift in consumer tastes when it comes to personal purchases or spending on gifts for Chinese New Year, with some consumers looking beyond storied Western luxury brands.
“The world will not change immediately from black to white,” Jiang said. “I think the majority of people, they are still like a few years before. It is just a small part of the people who are looking for something more than the Western brands can offer, but that does not mean they will give up what the Western brands offer.”
It is unclear how well Western brands, particularly those in the luxury category, are doing before the holiday. According to a study released by the consultancy Bain & Co. in December, luxury consumption on the Mainland was robust throughout 2011 but experienced a slight slowdown in the fourth quarter.
On a recent evening in Beijing’s high-end shopping complex Sanlitun North, stores ranging from Alexander McQueen and Marni to Juicy Couture and Balmain were virtually empty. A salesperson in a store selling Rolex and Tudor watches said business had increased by 10 percent in January, but she said that’s not saying much given the store normally has relatively few customers anyway.
In the older Sanlitun Village complex, which is adjacent to the newer North area, stores such as Nike, Mango and Apple — which was pelted with eggs by angry mobs last Friday waiting for the release of the iPhone 4S — were teeming with shoppers.
According to Giuseppe Oliveri, head of Asia-Pacific operations for Versace, which has a boutique in Sanlitun North, Chinese New Year sales have so far been “very, very strong.”
“If I had to describe 2011, the second semester of the year in Asia-Pacific, in China, has been much stronger than the first [half of the year],” he said, adding that the brand expects a second sales spurt from Chinese traveling abroad over the holiday.
Online shopping is also seeing a boost in sales over the holiday season, including the latter part of last year.
Thibault Villet, the head of China operations for Glamour Sales, an e-commerce site specializing in luxury goods, said spending in December was 30 percent higher than the same period the year before. Sales on Xiu.com, another site featuring luxury and fashion items, increased by 70 percent, the company said.
EXCLUSIVE: @tomford is opening its first-ever beauty store. The boutique, which opens November 20 in London’s Covent Gardens, was designed with the over-the-top glam Ford is known for. Read the full story on WWD.com, link in bio. #wwdbeauty #wwdnews (📷: Simon Wagner) #TomFordBeauty
New York-based DJ @harleyvnewton threw a party to celebrate the holiday collection of her dress and pajama line @hvn at the Ladurée Beverly Hills. It Girls @katebosworth, @rashidajones and more joined in on the fun, which included cocktails, croque monsieur sandwiches and a photo booth. #wwdfashion (📷: Owen Kolasinski/BFA.com)
For the holidays, @Burberry partnered with 20-year-old artist @blondeymccoy on a series of three outdoor murals in downtown Manhattan. The murals are McCoy’s interpretation of a Christmas eve party, the idea of charity and the spirit of family. His third mural, pictured here, is the most personal. The image depicts McCoy’s grandparents and father in London’s Trafalgar Square in the Seventies. “My work often features lots of sentimental objects.” #wwdeye
For spring 2018, designers applied bold colors and cartoonish motifs on everything from sneakers and belts to key chains. See all the top men’s accessories trends on WWD.com. #wwdtrends (📷: George Chinsee; Prop Styling by @rnasti; Market Editor: @luiscampuzano)
The @dior-sponsored @guggenheim international gala pre-party has a history of drawing cool-girl musical acts to serenade the crowd –– and last night was no exception. @haimtheband performed songs both new and old, and lured a star-studded audience with the likes of Rebecca Hall, Kate Mara, Mamoudou Athie and more. #wwdeye (📷: @lexieblacklock)
In a partnership between the @metopera and the @englishnationalopera, “Marnie” was born. The opera, with costumes sponsored by @mrporterlive, is an adaptation of the 1961 thriller by Winston Graham. Arianne Phillips, who created the costumes, is no rookie: She’s styled Madonna for her tours and created costumes for a myriad of films in the past. Read WWD’s interview with Phillips, where she talks about her inspiration for the opera’s costumes on WWD.com #wwdfashion
@barneysnyc took a different approach to their holiday windows this year. Instead of Christmas decor, Barneys tapped @thehaasbrothers to tell a story of positivity, gratitude and inclusivity via heartwarming silliness and humor. “It’s about kids and it’s about coming together and being family and loving each other,” said Simon Haas. #wwdfashion (📷: @joshuascottphoto)
Beauty influencer @kandeejohnson makes her foray into hair care with a collaboration with @ogx_beauty — making it the first time that OGX has teamed up for a product creation. The collab includes shampoos and conditioners in three scents. At 39 and a mom, Johnson is a different profile than the emerging social media stars, but is considered one of the pioneers of the digital beauty influencer world. Read WWD’s interview with her on wwd.com, including the strangest beauty product she’s ever tried #wwdbeauty


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October 21, 2003 |
Sporting goods maker K2 Inc. said Monday that it bought closely held WinterQuest for an undisclosed amount of cash, K2 common stock and debt. The transaction was the Carlsbad, Calif.-based company's fifth acquisition this year. WinterQuest, which produces snowshoes under the Tubbs and Atlas brands, had sales of $18.6 million in the fiscal year ended March 31, K2 said. K2 has bought several sporting-goods companies this year as part of its plan to expand and diversify its product lines.
August 1, 2003 |
Sporting goods manufacturer K2 Inc. said Thursday that it intends to buy privately held ball and bat maker Worth Inc., a deal that would make the Carlsbad, Calif.-based company one of the top U.S. producers of baseball and softball equipment. In March, K2 added Rawlings Sporting Goods to its roster of brands, which include Shakespeare fishing rods, Olin skis, Ride snowboards and Stearns water sports gear. On the New York Stock Exchange, K2 shares rose 61 cents to $16.50, a 52-week high.
June 3, 2003 |
When Carlsbad-based K2 Inc. bought Rawlings Sporting Goods Co. in March, along with the famous line of baseball equipment came something that K2 would rather not talk about: a company-paid analyst to write about Rawlings' stock. Despite an internationally known brand name and 116 years in business, Rawlings had become what some call a Wall Street orphan, ignored by analysts at the big securities firms. So last year it signed a one-year $25,000 contract with private research firm J.M.
April 24, 2003 |
K2 Inc., which makes skis, snowboards, inline skates and Rawlings baseball equipment, said first-quarter profit fell to $138,000, or 1 cent a share, from $3.8 million, or $2.01, a year earlier. The results included a charge of $4.4 million, or 24 cents a share, tied to the early repayment of debt. Sales grew 6.5% to $157.1 million. The Carlsbad-based sporting goods maker said operating profit in the January-March period rose 3.5%, to $8.8 million. K2 shares rose 8 cents to $8.77 on the NYSE.
March 25, 2003 |
Major League Baseball and K2 Inc. have reached a licensing agreement that paves the way for the Los Angeles ski and fishing gear company to acquire the century-old Rawlings Sporting Goods Co. this week. Rawlings has the exclusive right to manufacture and market the baseballs used in the top professional league. The contract came up for review when K2 agreed in December to buy the Fenton, Mo.-based baseball equipment company.
March 14, 2003 |
A contract dispute between Major League Baseball and K2 Inc. might be a strike against K2's pending acquisition of the century-old Rawlings Sporting Goods Co. In a Securities and Exchange Commission filing made public Thursday, K2 said it would not complete the acquisition of Rawlings unless it is able to assume the baseball maker's contracts with "key commercial partners." In the filing, K2 Chief Executive Richard Heckmann did not name the partners.
February 21, 2003 |
A dissident shareholder of Rawlings Sporting Goods Co. has cleared the basepaths for K2 Inc.'s takeover of the venerable baseball equipment maker. Daniel Gilbert, who owns about 15% of Rawlings, said Thursday that he would support the proposed merger with K2, the Los Angeles-based maker of Olin skis, Shakespeare fishing gear and other sporting goods. Gilbert had objected to the $84-million all-stock transaction when it was announced in December, and made a $69-million cash offer for Fenton, Mo.
February 19, 2003 |
Sporting goods manufacturer K2 Inc. scored a profit in the fourth quarter, rebounding from a loss a year earlier and dramatically slashing its debt load. The Los Angeles maker of K2 skis, Morrow snowboards and Shakespeare fishing gear said Tuesday that it earned $521,000, or 3 cents a share, in the quarter ended Dec. 31. That reverses a loss of $2.5 million, or 14 cents a share, posted in the same period a year earlier. The company is in the process of acquiring the Rawlings Sporting Goods Co.
December 22, 2002 |
Richard Heckmann has no problem leaving others behind. Once on an East Coast business trip, the then-chairman of USFilter wanted to hurry back to California to make his son's baseball game. When the water company's executives gathered at the airport for the flight home, one manager was missing. Heckmann ordered the private aircraft to take off without him.
December 17, 2002 |
An angry shareholder is already calling "foul" over Los Angeles-based K2 Inc.'s announcement Monday that it will buy baseball equipment manufacturer Rawlings Sporting Goods Inc. for $84 million in stock. The deal, which also includes the assumption of about $40 million in Rawlings debt, would be the first for K2's new chief executive, Richard Heckmann. He has an aggressive plan to turn the ski and snowboard maker into a major sporting goods company by acquiring other name brands.


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Apple Announces It Is Acquiring Beats for $3 Billion - IGN News
Following several weeks of rumors, Apple has announced that it will acquire Beats Music and Beats Electronics in a deal valued at $3 billion. Beats founders ......
Tech giant Apple will acquire music service Beats Music and Beats Electronics for $3 billion, a move aimed at strengthening its music services portfolio. The deal, expected to close in the fourth quarter, will see Beats co-founders Jimmy Iovine and Dr. Dre joining Apple. Speculations about the deal started earlier this month with the size estimated at $3.2 billion. “Apple is acquiring the two companies for a total of $3 billion, consisting of a purchase price of approximately $2.6 billion and approximately $400 million that will vest over time,” Apple said in a statement. Formally established in 2008 by artist...The Hindu 2014-05-29
CUPERTINO, California-May 28, 2014-Apple® today announced it has agreed to acquire the critically acclaimed subscription streaming music service Beats Music, and Beats...noodls 2014-05-29
CUPERTINO, Calif.--( BUSINESS WIRE )--Apple® today announced it has agreed to acquire the critically acclaimed subscription streaming music service Beats Music, and Beats...Business Wire 2014-05-29
CUPERTINO, California-May 28, 2014-Apple® today announced it has agreed to acquire the critically acclaimed subscription streaming music service Beats Music, and Beats...noodls 2014-05-28
CUPERTINO, California-May 28, 2014-Apple® today announced it has agreed to acquire the critically acclaimed subscription streaming music service Beats Music, and Beats...noodls 2014-06-04
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Beats co-founder Jimmy Iovine, Apple CEO Tim Cook, Beats co-founder Dr. Dre, and iTunes boss Eddy Cue. Apple announced today it will buy Beats Electronics for $3 billion. News of the deal broke nearly three weeks ago, but was reportedly delayed. The original price was said to be $3.2 billion. Beats co-founders Jimmy Iovine and Dr. Dre will join Apple. The deal is for $2.6...Business Insider 2014-05-28
As rumored, Apple has acquired subscription service Beats Music and Beats Electronics -- maker of the Beats headphones, speakers and audio -- for a whopping $3 billion. Beats hit the market five years ago and has become a massive cultural hit. With the cache of its iconic co-founders, Dr. Dre and Jimmy Iovine, Beats has attracted the likes of Lady Gaga, Lil Wayne and Nicki...Newsfactor 2014-05-29
Apple has confirmed it will buy headphone maker and music-streaming service provider Beats Electronics. The deal is worth a total of $3bn (£1.8bn), and is thought to be Apple's largest acquisition to date. As part of the acquisition, Beats co-founders Jimmy Iovine and Dr Dre will join the technology firm. Apple boss Tim Cook said the deal would allow the firm to "continue to...BBC News 2014-05-29
When Apple bet $3 billion on Beats Music and Beats Electronics in May, the music-listening world lit up with speculation about what the tech giant would do with its newly-acquired assets. The first big rumor suggested Apple would shutter Beats Music. But it seems technology news headlines heralded the death of the $10-a-month steaming music service a little too quickly. Apple...Newsfactor 2014-09-23
Apple, seeking to bolster its position in the hotly contested online music sector, said on Wednesday it was buying Beats Music and Beats Electronics in a much-hyped deal worth $3 billion. The move is expected to help the US tech giant, a pioneer in digital music with its wildly popular iTunes platform, ramp up its efforts to counter the successful models of streaming services...Independent online (SA) 2014-05-29
In an unprecedented teaming of tech brains and musical ears, Apple confirmed Wednesday that it was doubling down on the digital music space it pioneered with iTunes by purchasing Beats Electronics for $3 billion, of which $400 million will vest over time. "We're gaining rare talent, a fast-growing subscription service and premium headphones that have done incredibly well, but...Detroit Free Press 2014-05-28
The apple is the pomaceous fruit of the apple tree, species Malus domestica in the rose family (Rosaceae). It is one of the most widely cultivated tree fruits, and the most widely known of the many members of genus Malus that are used by humans. Apples grow on small, deciduous trees. The tree originated in Western Asia, where its wild ancestor, Malus sieversii, is still found today. Apples have been grown for thousands of years in Asia and Europe, and were brought to North America by European colonists. Apples have been present in the mythology and religions of many cultures, including Norse, Greek and Christian traditions. In 2010, the fruit's genome was decoded, leading to new understandings of disease control and selective breeding in apple production.
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Like other online newspapers, Priyo.com provides news 24/7 for the readers around the country. It is one of the most visited websites of Bangladesh. Dhakatimes24. A growing online newspaper of Bangladesh is Dhakatimes24.com. On 14th April, 2012 this online newspaper emerged with a slogan of “Kothin Er Sohoj Prokash”.
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Online Bangla Newspapers. av cramerjohn004 » ons 07 apr 2021, 11:04. 0 Svar: 70 Visningar: Senaste inlägget av cramerjohn004 ons 07 apr 2021, 11:04. Included all Newspaper in the world ♥ Save your Favorite Newspaper Separately Newspaper Manorama Online News App - Malayala Manorama. Malayala Winner of Digital Marketing Award 2019 (on behalf of Telenor) - Bangladesh all communications and media actions on all channels, including online and social on the paper, "Media Framing of the Rohingya in Bangladeshi Newspapers.". Bangladeshi newspapers and Bangla news sites including Bangladesh News: Collection (list) of all online Bangla Newspaper and Bengali Som ägarkund i OP Helsingfors kan du placera i det egna kapitalet i en inhemsk, ansvarsfull Page 1.
0 All Bangladeshi Newspapers and Bangla News Sites 2021. Bangladesh Newspapers and all Bangla newspaper, bd news or Bangla news sites read millions of people from not only Bangladesh but also overall people in the whole world in the daily based.
2021-04-17 · Most Popular and Collection [List] of all Bangladeshi [BD] online Bangla [Bengali] News agency and Newspaper [Patrika] sites. Bangladesh news: Find the latest Bengali news from national, regional, international online media as well as from radio and television channel.
1. Amader Shomoy – Largest Online Portal in Bangladesh and millions of visitors visit this site every day.
We have collected almost All national, regional, international Bangla newspaper and news agencies, radio and television news sites. Bangladesh is so popular with the updates of its newspaper to other countries. Here are so many newspapers that are more popular in the international arena. It called Bangladesh Newspapers. In this post, I will provide some list of Top and Best 10 Bangladeshi Newspapers also.
Looking for accommodation, shopping, bargains and weather then this is the place to start. 2020-02-15 · From this All Bangla Newspapers directory, you will get all the useful and preferred All Newspaper Bangla, all online newspaper in Bangladesh www.bangladeshi newspaper, www.bd newspaper, www.online newspaper links in Bangla language. So to read a Bangla Newspaper of your choice, just click on the specific Newspaper or media link. Local Newspapers Of Bangladesh. List of all Bangla Local News sites and news agency or online district news portal from Bangaldesh. Now Read bangla local news-Dhaka news,Chittagong news,Feni News, Cumilla news,Noakhali News,Rangpur news, Rajshahi news,Barisal News, Mymenshingh news,Khulna News,Dinajpur news,Teknaf News, Sylhet News online and more. Daily Amader Shomoy Most Read Bangla Newspaper For Bangla News Online.
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According to the national media survey of 2018, 24 янв 2018 With this popular extension you can Read All Bangla Newspapers Online & Browse All Media of Bangladesh. In this Extension you will get all Prothom Alo | Latest online bangla newspaper, Dhaka, Bangladesh. About Website: Daily Prothom Alo is a Bengali language daily newspaper published from 1 Apr 2019 This study examines the online niches of English-language newspapers in Bangladesh by analyzing stories and user engagement on the 9 Jan 2019 Bangladesh News: Collection (list) of all online BD News, Bangla Newspaper and Agency.
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Now you can read all Swedish newspapers of the world. bangladesh newspapers list ,; bangladeshi online newspaper ,; bd news papers online ,; daily bangla
There are more than 10,000 online media is sustain like a small country named Bangladesh. Welcome To All Bangladesh Newspapers online application for android mobile phone, users can read with all popular Bangladesh Newspapers site in one app. Now users can always stay updated with latest news in Bangladesh languages by just some click away. All Bangladesh News also provides user to Sharing newspaper to other friend. So start read your favorite newspaper only just download this app Most Popular and Collection [List] of all Bangladeshi [BD] online Bangla [Bengali] News agency and Newspaper [Patrika] sites. Bangladesh news: Find the latest Bengali news from national, regional, international online media as well as from radio and television channel.


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London’s 12-year-old Benyamin Ahmed has made more than $5 million by selling his non-fungible tokens (NFTs). During the pandemic, Ahmed started creating digital art and turned his passion into a profitable business venture by selling NFTs on various online marketplaces. His most successful NFT, a collection of 8-bit pixel art characters called Weird Whales, sold for over $2 million. Ahmed’s success highlights the potential of NFTs as a new form of digital asset that can be used for investment and collection.
What 12-Year-Old Makes $5 Million?
Benyamin Ahmed, a 12-year-old boy from London, made headlines in the cryptocurrency world after selling his non-fungible tokens (NFTs) for more than $5 million. The young entrepreneur, who started dabbling in digital art during the pandemic, managed to turn his passion into a profitable business venture.
How Did Benyamin Ahmed Make $5 Million?
Benyamin’s success story began when he discovered the world of NFTs, which are unique digital assets that are bought and sold using cryptocurrency. He started creating his own digital art pieces and minting them as NFTs, which he sold on various online marketplaces.
One of Benyamin’s most successful NFTs was a collection of 8-bit pixel art characters called Weird Whales. He created 3,350 unique characters, each with its own distinct design and personality. The collection quickly became popular among NFT collectors, and Benyamin sold all of them for a total of 1,005 Ethereum, which was worth more than $2 million at the time.
Benyamin’s success didn’t stop there. He continued to create and sell NFTs, including a series of hand-drawn monsters called Bored Ape Yacht Club. He also collaborated with other artists and creators to create NFT collections that sold for thousands of dollars each.
What Can We Learn from Benyamin Ahmed’s Success?
Benyamin’s success story is a testament to the power of creativity, passion, and entrepreneurship. Despite his young age, he was able to identify a niche market and create unique products that resonated with his audience.
His success also highlights the potential of NFTs as a new form of digital asset that can be used for investment and collection. As more people become interested in NFTs, there will be more opportunities for creators and entrepreneurs to make money in this space.
In conclusion, Benyamin Ahmed’s success story is an inspiration to all aspiring entrepreneurs and creators. His ability to turn his passion into a profitable business venture at such a young age is truly remarkable. As the world continues to evolve and new technologies emerge, there will always be opportunities for those who are willing to think outside the box and take risks.
References for « What 12 year old makes $5 million? »
- Forbes – Inside The Business Of Ryan Kaji, The World’s Highest-Paid YouTube Star
- Business Insider – Meet Ryan Kaji, the 9-year-old YouTuber who makes $26 million per year
- The New York Times – The 8-Year-Old Home-Schooling Product Reviewer Churning Out YouTube Hits
- CNN – 9-year-old boy is now the world’s youngest-ever graduate
- Ryan’s World YouTube Channel
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Tag Archives: toyota
Japan has one of the lowest crime rates in the world. but when a heist goes down, it’s a big one. As in, the kind you need a getaway car or two to pull off. A getaway car has to be … Continue reading
When recent travels took us to Yokohama, our resident illustrator and Japan native San Mamiya suggested that we meet up and go to Mooneyes Area 1. It had been a few years since we’d visited the Japanese headquarters of Mooneyes, and there’s always … Continue reading
While living in Tokyo has many problems, finding a place to go for a drive is not one of them. There are countless skylines, touge, and turnpikes, all challenging and spectacular roads within a short distance of the capital. For this … Continue reading
Last week was the annual Matchbox Collector’s Convention in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Mattel took the opportunity to reveal the cars and trucks of their 2017 lineup, and there are several that will surely be of interest to JNCers.
Often, things that are blindingly obvious to enthusiasts sail high over the heads of the automakers themselves. Sometimes, though, they nail it. Take, for example, Toyota UK’s creation of a Toyota GT86 (aka FR-S) inspired by Takumi Fujiwara’s fictional hachiroku from the classic … Continue reading
Minnesota, perennially known for salt-caked streets, Prince, and Steve Buscemi getting fed into a woodchipper, is also known for being in the top five places to not live if you intend on keeping a classic Japanese car rust free and not … Continue reading
After featuring their Old School Love, New School Flavor show last year (Part 01, Part 02, Part 03) at Schiller Park in the Chicagoland area, organizers Team Nostalgic invited us to come out again so we could see what Chicago’s … Continue reading
“It’s a bit snug,” says Jamie Bestwick in typical British understatement as he slides his racing seat into position. He bashes into the knees of his navigator, Laurence Foster, who is hunched in the back seat. Bestwick, a 13-time X-Games … Continue reading
Rumor has it that Mazda, as the only Japanese automaker to win the 24 Hours of Le Mans overall, has a pre-written letter ready to congratulate Toyota should it ever become the second. Despite what seemed like a sure victory, that letter … Continue reading
Even before he stepped into his current position as head of global design of Subaru, Mamoru Ishii was already working on revamping the design language of his firm’s cars. The next evolution of Subaru styling will soon ripple across the lineup.
A short time ago, we were invited to attend the monthly Okutama-ko Sunday kyusha meeting. Loosely organized by the well-known Isuzu shop Eagle Sports, it always attracts a wide range of cars. This weekend was special though, as GT-B driving … Continue reading
We’ve seen many replicas of the iconic Toyota 4×4 from Back to the Future, most recently at Toyotafest, but also at shows like the JCCS. Hell, we’ve even seen Lego versions, and Toyota even made their own last year. However, there’s … Continue reading
What started as a small gathering of enthusiasts of the last RWD Corolla eight years ago has grown into a gathering that attracts hundreds of cars from all over southern California. It all started with the beloved Hachiroku, and the types of … Continue reading
Further evidence that the Supra is poised for a return has arrived in the form of a trademark filing. Toyota has claimed the name in the European Union Trademark system for use on an automobile, according to AutoGuide. In 2014, Toyota filed a … Continue reading
Japanese owners of the TE27 Corolla Levin and Sprinter Trueno recently gathered for their annual meeting, held at the Toyota Automobile Museum in Aichi Prefecture in central Japan. Ninety-six cars in total came from all over the country, forming a sea of moss green and orange.
One of the excellent things about a show like Nos2Days is that there are plenty of things for sale. You never know what you’ll come across, which can make browsing the aisles rather dangerous to your wallet. From new-old-stock center … Continue reading
In this installment, we take a look at two very different types of cars: original barn finds and restorations whose every last nut is factory correct, and those that were treated like instruments of war. In other words, all the stuff that’s prized by predictably … Continue reading
For the final installment of this year’s Toyotafest we share the JNC staff favorites. In a show packed with prime Aichi steel, it wasn’t easy to narrow down the field, making the results probably over-long. But hey, it’s a good problem to have, … Continue reading
The RT40 Corona was hugely important in the US, saving Toyota’s skin after an embarrassing debut with the S30 Crown. However, that was nothing compared to the way it utterly transformed the Australian market for Toyota when it debuted in … Continue reading
Playstation owners, rejoice! Your racing sim is here. After a console generation of Forza giving Gran Turismo a run for its money, it looks as if Turn 10’s David has not beaten Polyphony’s Goliath. In graphics alone, Turn 10’s Forza … Continue reading


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The Star Princess left the Port of San Francisco on Monday afternoon headed for Mexico, just as the United States is warning for any non-essential travel to Mexico.
The ship is sailing down south on its final routes before beginning its summer cruises to Alaska.
Eldar and Inna Yakubov of San Francisco didn't want to make this trip
"Oh yeah, I'm very concerned about it, I have two kids, very small kids and we are going. We cannot lose $7,000, we cannot lose $7,200 for this trip because of the problem, you know, that's why we decided to go," said Eldar Yakubov.
They've been calling the cruise line since 6:00 a.m. on Monday morning, trying to get their money back or get scheduled on a later trip.
"Unfortunately, we cannot get any credit for the following trip next year or something like that, we'd be glad to travel but not this time," said Yakubov.
So they are going, but they aren't sure they're going to get off the boat.
George and Mary Delgado from Twain Harte are looking forward to getting off at Manzanillo, Puerto Vallarta and Acapulco.
"Well, we thought about it but I figured the ship would know if it's dangerous or not to get off," said Delgado.
No one from the ship was available to talk with ABC7, but a company spokeswoman told reporters the company is reportedly taking extra precautions and following the guidance of health authorities.
Meanwhile, travelers from Europe are being warned by the European Union to stay away from the U.S, which could be a real problem, said Dan Goldes of the San Francisco Convention and Visitor's Bureau.
"Well, we think the comments by the E.U. are really an overreaction right now," said Goldes.
Goldes says San Francisco relies on more than one million international tourists a year, and visitors from Great Britain and Germany are the two top markets from outside the U.S.
"It is a fairly big number in the scheme of our international visitors, and that's why we're concerned about this because we don't want panic setting in when there's no need for any," said Goldes.
At fisherman's wharf, German tourists Tim Fritzges and Katerina Woehlke aren't worried at all.
"Because there is also in Germany, they always speak about sickness of the cows, of the pork, of the chickens, every year something new and I don't take it so seriously," said Fritzges.
President Obama said the U.S. is closely monitoring the outbreak, and that there is cause for concern, but not cause for alarm.
In Europe, the World Health Organization Emergency Committee recommended against travel restrictions or closing borders.