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by Tiana May
17 Jan 2022
HumanForest has announced a new partnership with Deliveroo to offer food delivery riders an exclusive e-bike payment model that aims to boost sustainable delivery in London.
The partnership aids HumanForest’s goal of ensuring that green shared mobility solutions, such as their fully electric, zero-emissions fleet of e-bikes, are accessible to people and businesses.
The new payment model offers Deliveroo riders in London an affordable and accessible way of accessing HumanForest’s e-bikes, as they can now purchase bundles of minutes for work or leisure at an exclusive rate. This option therefore tackles the upfront costs of privately purchasing an electric bike.
“This is a huge endorsement for HumanForest and a really important moment for Deliveroo riders. This partnership has been designed with delivery riders front and centre of mind, making access to affordable e-bikes a reality for them. The partnership will offer a sustainable and accessible platform which supports delivery riders whilst also bolstering our vision of a cleaner, greener world for all. We’re delighted to be working with Deliveroo and look forward to helping them and their riders achieve their own sustainability goals.”
Over the course of the pandemic, home delivery services have grown in popularity. The partnership therefore aims to ensure that more of these food deliveries are made through sustainable modes of transport.
“At Deliveroo, we are determined to do our bit to help protect the environment. We are pleased to partner with HumanForest to not only boost sustainable delivery in central London, but to allow riders to take advantage of more affordable, clean and efficient modes of transport across the capital.”
Vattenfall has been awarded 9.3 million GBP from the UK government to develop the world’s first hydrogen-producing offshore wind turbine.
The UK government is assuming the presidency of the International Transport Forum to provide cleaner, safer transportation.
The UK government has announced plans to deliver the world's first net-zero emissions transatlantic flight in 2023.
Over 200 million GBP in UK government funding will be invested in a zero-emission road freight trial programme.
Voi UK has partnered with Lazarillo to provide real-time alerts on where Voi scooters are parked to eliminate risks for vulnerable users.
TuSimple has integrated with Werner Enterprises to provide roadside services for autonomous trucks on the TuSimple Autonomous Freight Network.
The RoSPA has published a study demonstrating that e-scooters are significantly safer than bikes and motorcycles on UK roads.
The UK’s first shore-side charging network for electric maritime vessels has been launched in Plymouth, Devon.
Urban-Air Port has opened Air-One, the world's first fully-operational hub for eVTOL vehicles such as air taxis and autonomous cargo drones.
The UK has launched the Zero Emission Flight Delivery Group to advance the development of battery and hydrogen-powered flights.
The UK government has confirmed changes to The Highway Code to address the introduction of 'self-driving' vehicles on British roads.
The Department for Transport (DfT) has awarded 1.95 million GBP in funding to future transport projects in the UK.
Leading EV charge point supplier, InstaVolt, has launched one of the UK’s largest EV charging hubs in Banbury, Oxfordshire.
Urban-Air Port has partnered with Leeds Bradford Airport to develop an unmanned and manned aerial vehicle hub.
Via's technology powers the new public flexibus+, allowing residents and visitors in Swaffham, England, to conveniently book an affordable ride on-demand.
The UK government has committed 1.6 billion GBP to boost the nation's electric vehicle (EV) charging network.
Solihull Council has launched an electric autonomous shuttle to operate at six week trial at Birmingham Airport.
Bikeep has worked with APCOA Parking and Govia Thameslink Railway to introduce its e-bike charging and storage solution to UK rail stations.
The Scottish Government has provided funding for 36 e-bike projects across Scotland to promote greener travel.
Uber has partnered with three London boroughs to install over 700 new electric-vehicle (EV) chargers across north and east London.
TfL data has revealed that pedestrian priority traffic signals made journeys on foot quicker, with virtually no impact on traffic.
The Department for Transport (DfT) has introduced new requirements for the UK e-scooter trials that will come into effect from 1 April 2022.
Voi has collaborated with RNIB to redesign their e-scooter parking racks to reduce street hazards for vulnerable pedestrians.
The UK Transport Committee has highlighted the need for a road pricing system to maintain the link between motoring taxation and road usage.
London's e-scooter operators have announced a partnership to develop a universal warning sound to alert road users of e-scooters.
Britishvolt has secured 100 million GBP in government funding though the Automotive Transformation Fund for its UK gigafactory.
How will the Highway Code updates impact the road network? Combining data insights will enable an in-depth understanding of road space use over time.
Uber Boat by Thames Clippers is set to launch the UK’s first hybrid high speed passenger ferries as part of their net zero strategy.
Skyports has announced its acquisition of a heliport located in East London, and only minutes away from Canary Wharf financial district.
Shell has opened its first UK EV charging hub in Fulham, where existing petrol and diesel pumps have been replaced with ultra-rapid charge points.
The UK government are pausing the rollout of new smart motorway schemes until they can review 5 years of safety data.
TfL's cycle hire programme saw the highest ever use of Santander Cycles in 2021, with more than 10,900,000 hires made throughout the year.
Leading resource management company Veolia has announced its first electric vehicle battery recycling facility in the UK.
HumanForest, a sustainable micromobility firm, will be launching the UK’s first fleet of shared electric mopeds in London next month.
Ticketing Comes to UK Bus Checker after 10 Years UrbanThings is well-known for developing technology solutions that enable MaaS for cities and operators. But...
Passengers could fly anywhere in the world with no carbon emissions on board a concept aircraft unveiled by the Aerospace Technology Institute.
The UK’s largest car-sharing club, Zipcar, is urging London to accelerate the expansion of the city’s rapid electric charging points.
Bird shared e-scooters will continue to help meet the sustainable transportation needs of riders in the UK into 2022.
TfL to introduce tougher measures and a 20mph speed limit on 220km of their roads by 2024 to try to eliminate deaths and serious injuries.
Vertical Aerospace has announced an agreement with Ferrovial, a leading global infrastructure operator, to cooperate on creating a network of 25 vertiports acro...
West Midlands Gigafactory has today unveiled further plans to develop the UK’s largest battery Gigafactory.
With a week to go until the ULEZ expands, TfL is urging drivers to use its online vehicle checker to make sure they don't get caught out.
A world-first driverless, zero-emission mass transit technology, launched by UK-start up Urban.MASS, will revolutionise urban mobility.
Cheshire East is partnering with Via, the leader in TransitTech, to launch an on-demand rural bus service to help reduce social isolation.
E-scooters will be available to rent in Camden from Monday 27 September, joining the nine other boroughs involved in the trial.
HumanForest celebrates the launch of its e-bikes on the roads of London with the ambition to promote happier, healthier lifestyles in the capital.
Q-Free has announced a four-year agreement with the City of Glasgow, Scotland to supply and install cycle detection equipment and associated services.
Fully Charged has launched the UK’s largest eBike service centre, underneath the railway arches in the capital's London Bridge.
As a part of the conclusion of Project Endeavour, more than 100 members of the public can schedule demonstration rides in Oxbotica’s vehicles in London.
InstaVolt has announced the installation of its fastest charger units yet, which can add over 100 miles of range in just 15 minutes.
A collaboration between TRL and Gaist will accelerate the development of a national ‘digital twin’ of UK roads.
Leeds City Council and partners receive grant from the DfT and Energy Savings Trust of £160,000 to fund 32 new electric cargo bikes.
As part of Project Synergy, Yunex Traffic has completed a connected mobility trial in conjunction with project partner Transport for Greater Manchester.
New guidance to help local authorities plan, design and deliver high quality walking and cycling routes across Wales has been launched.
A MaaS app has been launched by HITRANS to increase accessibility of integrated travel for residents and visitors in rural Scotland.
Nissan today unveils Nissan EV36Zero, a £1 billion flagship Electric Vehicle (EV) Hub creating a world-first EV manufacturing ecosystem.
HumanForest has announced it will launch its new fleet of truly green, fun and safe electric bikes in London this Summer.
Oxford Circus will be transformed into two, pedestrian-friendly piazzas, as unveiled by Westminster City Council and The Crown Estate.
Greater Manchester has published its final clean air plan to kick-start the city region's green revolution, helping to tackle air pollution.
The start of this month saw Birmingham City Council launch its new Clean Air Zone (CAZ), with the scheme being enforced from 14 June.
Project Endeavour arrives in Birmingham this week, for the UK's next phase of autonomous vehicle trials on public roads.
The Decarbonisation Strategy for the North of England sets out the target of near-zero carbon emissions from surface transport by 2045.
Eve and Halo have announced a partnership focused on developing UAM products and services in the United States and the United Kingdom.
18 pedestrian crossings in London are to have pioneering 'Green Person Authority' technology, prioritising people walking over cars.
The Ofgem payment will support the rapid take up of electric vehicles which will be vital if Britain is to hit climate change targets.
TfL and London Councils have announced that London's rental e-scooter trial will begin on Monday 7 June, in a core group of boroughs.
Honda is to introduce its first energy service for Europe with the debut of its domestic intelligent charging solution - ‘e:PROGRESS’ – in the UK.
EVBox has partnered with Climate Action to raise awareness of international sustainable development ahead of the United Nations Climate Change Conference.
The service, which will be delivered in partnership with Via, the leader in TransitTech, is set to launch in Bromsgrove in late April.
Vivacity Labs' AI traffic signal control is to be trialled at some of the busiest junctions in Cambridge to help cut congestion and improve air quality.
West Midlands Cycle Hire has opened to the public with distinctive grey and green bikes available in Sutton Coldfield and Wolverhampton from today.
West Midlands 5G (WM5G) has developed the UK’s very first 5G-connected tram as part of a regional transport trial.
The launch is part of a 12-month trial funded by the Department for Transport (DfT), which began on the Isle of Wight in November 2020.
Electric car drivers have received a major boost with the opening of the largest public rapid charger motorway hubs, on one of the UK’s busiest motorways.
YourParkingSpace has signed a partnership with EVBox Group to provide UK EV drivers with a wide range of pre-bookable park and charge spaces.
Stagecoach has announced a major technological partnership with Optibus that will help plan the bus networks of the future.
Vivacity are working with Kent County Council (KCC) and Amey on a trial to monitor traffic patterns to help make future transport decisions for the county.
Momentum Dynamics and Eurovia UK will collaborate to develop wireless EV charging solutions for UK cities and fleets.
The UK Government has announced a financial boost to encourage electric vehicle use and launched a consultation on improving the charging experience.
A total of 100 rapid chargers have been supplied by Pod Point to Lidl stores across Great Britain, as they target 250 more by 2022.
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps has announced £20 million in funding to increase the number of electric vehicle chargepoints across the UK.
Hitachi Rail has successfully tested its first battery-powered tram in Florence - expanding the firm's offer to market the vehicles across the world.
Bird’s e-scooter service is expanding in the UK as rider demand for micromobility continues to climb in 2021.
Urban Air Port® will reduce congestion and air pollution. It can be integrated with electric vehicles and sustainable public transport.
A poll has found that Britons are very enthusiastic about the prospect of rental e-scooters, with London being the most enthusiastic UK city.
The trial led by Oxfordshire County Council and Voi follows the decision of the U.K. government to legalise rental e-scooters to support green local travel.
The UK’s first wireless charging hub for light commercial vans will be installed at Heriot Watt University’s Edinburgh campus in early 2021.
Please fill in the contact form opposite. A member of the team will be in touch shortly.


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"Your entire life is online - and it might be used against you." That is the message of a popular viral video produced by the Belgian Federation of the Financial Sector (Febelfin), which has so far...
The American firm will not have to pay the digital tax on goods it sells directly to customers
Consumers to start to question and demand more when it comes to their data
National security concerns do not exclude the bloc's members from the need to abide by EU laws, says the EU Court of Justice
Outages started at 9.12 Wednesday
Accidents are 50 per cent higher at facilities that rely on robots

domain: news


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Shoppers can do “something practical and positive” for businesses around the country this weekend by ignoring Black Friday and buying Irish.
Retailers around the country are taking part in ‘Green Friday’ today in a bid to convince people to support their local shops, artists and businesses.
On Newstalk Breakfast this morning, Lisa Tonge, Owner of The Green Dot design shop in Clonakilty, West Cork, said Green Friday is a grassroots movement around the country.
“It is to focus people on small, local businesses and people in our towns and communities and how we can keep our communities vibrant and alive in these very strange times we are in,” she said.
“The discount culture of Black Friday, it doesn’t work for us small businesses, only the big boys, and your local business can provide so much more really.”
She said the Green Dot features the work of around seventy local craftspeople.
“We are kind of unique in that we are a local business but also everything you purchase here will filter back down to the towns and communities around the country.
“We think it is really important to remember and think about where you are getting your products from and as well, how things are made.”
We are so proud to be part of #greenfridayireland this weekend (Nov 27th-29th) ❤ For every purchase all weekend, we will...
The shop will be planting a tree for every sale this weekend.
“We have these lovely tree tokens that we provide with all our purchases,” she said.
“Also, I know other places are providing say 10% of their income from this weekend to support Cork Penny Dinners.
“It is just a different way of giving something back to the local community and a kind of a thank you for all the support we have been getting from people over the last while.”
Ms Tonge said Green Friday offers people a chance to do something practical and positive for local businesses around the country.
“Your choices really matter this weekend and coming up to Christmas for small businesses,” she said.
You can listen back here:


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MANY consumers have been pushed to the edge trying to figure out how to program their videocassette recorders, microwave ovens and other high-tech gadgetry. Now Goldstar Electronics has begun a campaign, estimated to cost $15 million, telling people it understands the frustration of not being able to get the VCR to stop flashing 12:00 o'clock.
"The perception among most consumers is that the sophisticated electronic products on the market are difficult, if not impossible, to use," said Brian Barry, senior vice president at TBWA Advertising, the agency that created the campaign. "We want to tell consumers that Goldstar is designed with real people in mind."
One spot humorously demonstrates that any dumb cluck can operate a Goldstar microwave. The commercial features a chicken that struts up to the oven and checks out the controls. The announcer says: "How easy is it to program a Goldstar microwave? With an oven that actually adjusts to whatever you're cooking, it's pretty easy." Then, with a swift peck, the chicken pushes the poultry button, setting the oven to roast one of its former pals.
The agency devised the "user friendlier" theme because Goldstar had no chance of trying to out-Sony Sony in terms of prestige and spending, said Tom McManus, a vice president and senior art director at TBWA. Goldstar's products are less expensive than those sold by Sony and other leading electronics makers. "The best way to differentiate Goldstar from its competitors was to point out that we have less sophisticated gadgets and are easier to use," he said.
To make a point about how Goldstar has simplified the programming of its VCR, one commercial offers a striking illustration of how the instructions for operating some VCR's can seem unintelligible. As the announcer explains that Goldstar has made programming easier by showing a simple version of the instructions on the television screen, a VCR salesman, talking backwards, gives an incomprehensible explanation of how to use a competing machine.Continue reading the main story
To make sure it actually is easier now to understand how to program a Goldstar, the company had its managers in the United States rewrite the instructions. Before, the South Korean company had the operating manual translated at its headquarters with sometimes disconcerting results.
Goldstar hopes its new campaign will create higher awareness among consumers. Goldstar began selling its products in the United States 12 years ago, advertising little and relying instead on its low prices.
"Now we're trading up to the midrange price category," said Dewesh Srivastava, the company's advertising manager for the United States. "We have to make consumers more aware of us and create the perception that we are now more like Sanyo and Sharp."
The company is also spending more on its advertising, Mr. Srivastava said, because sales in the $16 billion consumer electronics market have been relatively flat. Most American households have color televisions, three-quarters have microwave ovens and more than 60 percent have VCR's.
As a result, ad spending has jumped as rivals try to create demand. Advertisers in this category spent $145 million last year, 13 percent more than in 1988. "The market has become so tough," Mr. Srivastava said, "we had to become far more aggressive."Continue reading the main story


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Craft Beer Boom Hits Southern WV— HardAugust 8, 2015
by Amanda Ashley
Where to find craft beer in Southern WV:
The Craft Beer revolution has taken Southern West Virginia by storm, and in the last few years we’ve seen a huge boost in craft breweries popping up.
Craft beer’s boom is being driven by small-scale entrepreneurs who love West Virginia and crafting unique artisan beers. It’s hard to define or describe craft beer, because each craft brewery has a unique and individual approach. Each brewer can add any number of ingredients to the basic styles to make a truly one-of-a-kind beer.
“Craft beer is a niche market, and craft beer drinkers always want something they can’t get. For us, it’s exciting to create new recipes and think outside of the box.”
“Craft beer goes hand in hand with tourism, especially outdoor tourism,” said Steve Redden, brewmaster at Dobra Zupas. “Folks want a great tasting beer at the end of the day, and craft beer made in West Virginia is just as unique as the adventures we offer here in Southern West Virginia.”
Southern West Virginia Craft beer not only provides jobs and creativity for brewers, it is also really good beer. Greenbrier Valley Brewing Company and Bridge Brew Works breweries have both received awards for their beers, and thrive on bring new styles of beer to consumers.
Nate Harrold, a co-owner of Fayetteville-based Bridge Brew Works, said making new styles of beer is what craft brewing is all about.
“Craft beer is a niche market, and craft beer drinkers always want something they can’t get,” he said. “It’s tough to say, but our customers aren’t the most loyal. But that’s what makes it fun. It’s not like we are just going to make 1 beer and keep craft beer enthusiasts happy. For us, it’s exciting to create new recipes and think outside of the box.”
Craft breweries are small outfits with only a few employees, usually just the owners. So they get to be the driving force behind each release.
“We don’t put anything out that we aren’t proud of,” Nate said. “If anything goes wrong, it’s only Ken and I, and we can’t blame anyone else. We enjoy being hands-on from start to finish. We didn’t get into the industry to let someone else do it.”
Their penchant for original flavor was the springboard for their business. Their first seasonal was a black lager, which they crafted to catch attention. It is now on their seasonal rotation.
“We never wanted to be the biggest brewer, we wanted to be the best,” Nate said. “We’re proud of our consistency and our products. We’re looking forward to what’s on the horizon, not only in the legislature but also in our own company. Consumers are going to have more varieties.”
“We want to focus on selling beer out of state, and let them know we have great beer here in West Virginia.”
Ken Lynch, co-owner and the other half of Bridge Brew Works’ team, agreed.
“West Virginia is catching up to the craft beer scene,” said Ken. “There is a lot of room for growth and it’s pretty exciting to be a part of that.”
But even as the industry changes, he said keeping it local will remain part of their commitment to quality.
“We are really proud of our Moxxee Coffee Stout,” Ken said. “We use coffee from Moxxee Coffee in Charleston. We like collaborating with other independent business in the area. We want to produce something of interest and keep it small, but we do want folks to be able to try our beer, so we do small bottle releases.”
Bridge Brew Works isn’t the only craft brewery excited by the opportunity to brew craft beer in Southern West Virginia. In 2014, Greenbrier Valley Brewing Company got into the game. Owned by David Kucera & Will Laska with 20-year brewmaster Brian Reymieller at the helm, this 4-person brewery is also working to carve out a niche with unique tastes.
“We have a big brew system,” David said. “We brew our beers using a mash filter, which is a different type of brewing system than the majority of breweries in the country use. We use pelletized hops, and our grains are pounded to flour, which exposes all the flavor.”
The Greenbrier Valley Brewing Company team has named all of their beers after West Virginia legends, and has some locally focused aspirations. But they’re also working on statewide distribution, as well as out-of-state sales.
“We’re in talks with West Virginia growers and in the future we aspire to use grains, hops and yeasts from West Virginia,” David said. “We want to focus on selling beer out of state, and let them know we have great beer here in West Virginia.”
When Sharon Rynard opened Studio B in 2004 there was hardly any craft beer available for sale in West Virginia. Craft beer sales still only account for 3% of all beer sales in the state.
Once Studio B started offering craft beer, they saw tremendous growth.
“‘We all are foodies and craft beer enthusiasts. We want to be on the leading edge of craft beer."
“We sell single bottles so customers can mix and match a 6-pack,” Sharon said. “It’s a good way to try a new beer without buying a whole 6-pack. Customers started coming in and asking for beers I had never heard of. Today our shelves tell a different story, and we offer a large variety of craft beer. The West Virginia craft beer we sell really complements the handcrafted art and jewelry in the shop, too.”
Sharon also believes that having micro-brewery Bridge Brew Works in the backyard has helped her business and customers learn about craft beer.
“Nate and Ken share their knowledge and talk beer all the time,” she said. “They are true micro-brew guys, and we are proud to sell their beer to folks who take it home as a way to remember West Virginia.”
Brewing craft beer isn’t just for breweries, either. Popular restaurant Dobra Zupras in Beckley, owned by Rebecca and Joseph Zupanick, opened in March of 2014 and is just finishing up construction on their brew pub.
“Having a brew pub and a restaurant has always been a part of the business plan, it just took us a little bit longer to make the brewpub a reality,” Rebecca said. “Joseph travels a lot for work, and we always knew that West Virginia would be part of the craft beer explosion, so we wanted craft beer to be part of our restaurant.”
The locally focused seasonal menu at Dobra Zupas lends itself well to pairings, and they hope it will create a unique and personal experience for customers.
“‘We all are foodies and craft beer enthusiasts,” Rebecca said. “We want to be on the leading edge of craft beer. We are a family-owned business and our whole family has been involved in the process of opening this brewpub.”
They’ve already been building a craft brew culture. Dobra Zupas brewmaster Steve Redden said educating guests about craft beer and letting them taste different styles is key.
“When we first opened, we offered 30 beers, and only 2 were domestic: Mich Lite and Bud,” he said. “When customers ordered a ‘regular’ beer that we didn’t have, we offered them a taste of a craft beer in a similar style, the response has been amazing. Now we serve 48 beers, mostly craft beers, keep 11 on tap and feature as many West Virginia craft beers as we can. We know what our regulars like, and we bring in new products because craft beer aficionados always want to try something new.”
Changing Legal Landscape
“When customers ordered a ‘regular’ beer that we didn’t have, we offered them a taste of a craft beer in a similar style, the response has been amazing."
Craft beer has become so popular that the state of West Virginia recently passed legislation that makes it possible for consumers to purchase craft beer in growlers from retailers.
The law keeps our state up with the times and what surrounding states are doing.
The law allows retailers, restaurants and brewers the license to sell draft products to customers, so customers can try beers that weren’t available before. The new law isn’t only good for retailers, it’s good for craft brewers, too. Now the consumer can buy anything in the state that’s on tap if the retailer chooses to sell it.
Nate said the law gives brewers more creativity to offer more styles of beer.
“When we started in 2010 we wanted to operate like a winery and offer tastings and sell growlers to go,” he said. “Originally, we weren’t allowed to do that, but now with the new law being passed, we can. It will bring more awareness to what we are doing and we’re excited to be able to offer limited small batch beer styles to our customers.”
Bridge Brew Works will begin offering tours this summer. Greenbrier Valley Brewing Company offers tours at 1 p.m. on Saturdays or by appointment for groups. They also host a First Saturday Concert Series with live music, food trucks and beer specials.
Lewis Rhinehart of Secret Sandwich Society in Fayetteville said he knows his guests want craft beer, so they’ve been quick to adapt to the changes. They started selling growlers in June.
“We offer a unique stainless steel growler,” he said. “The beer can last for 2 weeks, and our guests can take the growlers home and share West Virginia craft beer with their friends.”
They have already had to reorder them.
“You can tell who the beer folks are, because they stare down the taps on the way in,” he said. “We have 6 taps, and always keep at least one Bridge Brew on tap, and as many West Virginia craft beers as we can get. Craft beer is still a small percentage of the total beer sales in West Virginia, but we know our guests want craft beer. We are selling the growlers like crazy. With us being a tourist town, our customers want local beer.”
David said that tourism helps boost Greenbrier Valley Brewing Company sales, too.
Our slogan is, ‘Get out, explore and bring beer.’ We embrace an outdoor lifestyle, so West Virginia is really the perfect place for us to live and brew beer.”
“We are popular with tourists,” he said. “We are a high-end tourist state, and that has helped us build a customer base. Our slogan is, ‘Get out, explore and bring beer.’ We embrace an outdoor lifestyle, so West Virginia is really the perfect place for us to live and brew beer.”
But the biggest surprise, he admitted, is how popular their beers are with the locals.
Not that there wasn’t any interest in the industry before the recent craft beer boom. The historic town of Bramwell has been hosting an Oktoberfest for 20 years with a homebrewing and craft beer competition. Bridge Brew Works and Greenbrier Valley Brewing Company have both taken home honors.
“I’ve been going to Bramwell since I was the assistant brewer up in Morgantown,” Nate said. “It’s so much fun to talk to people that enjoy your product. We’re so small, we have to be really selective about what festivals we attend. Recently we went to Boston for the invite-only American Craft Beer Festival. Being invited was a feather in our cap. They require an owner or brewer to be there to answer questions, and we got an opportunity to see and speak to the brewers we talk to on the phone or through email.
“Festivals get us out of the brewery, and gets the creative juices going by exchanging ideas with other brewers.”
Which we hope means new craft tastes from Bridge Brew are on the horizon.
Either way, craft beer is here to stay.
“A lot of West Coast breweries have jumped to the East, and it makes sense for a lot of reasons,” Nate said. “No matter what, we are always advocates of great beer and we welcome the competition. It makes everyone up their game, and it gives the consumer more varieties and styles of beer to choose from. We have to make a quality product that we are proud of and that others are proud of. We don’t want anyone supporting us just because we are local
“… but while the growth is explosive and exponential, there is only so much tap space and shelf space, so it will be interesting to see how it all plays out.”


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Stocks rise slightly as traders weigh latest batch of economic data, inflation concerns
U.S. stocks fell in choppy trading on Thursday as investors mulled over several economic reports that showed a muddy picture of the U.S. economy.
The Nasdaq Composite shed 0.5%, while the S&P 500 fell 0.4%. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was little changed.
Shares of Adobe fell 13% after the company announced a $20 billion deal to buy Figma, weighing on the Nasdaq. Oil giant Chevron dropped 2%, hurting the Dow.
Financial stocks outperformed, with Goldman Sachs rising 1.3% and JPMorgan climbing 1%.
On Thursday, initial jobless claims came in better than expected, but import prices saw a smaller drop than estimates suggested. Retail sales beat expectations, but were negative when excluding autos.
Manufacturing data also showed a slowing economy. While those reports suggest that the U.S. consumer sector is holding its ground for now, they will do little to alleviate concerns about persistent inflation.
Wall Street is coming off a choppy session in which the major averages posted modest gains, but made little dent in Tuesday’s massive sell-off. Wall Street is still trying to find its footing after a surprise increase in August’s consumer price index report sparked a decline of more than 1,200 points for the Dow on Tuesday.
The stubbornly high inflation has led investors to fear that the Federal Reserve will be more aggressive with its rate hikes, raising the odds of a recession in the U.S.
This report’s information was first seen on CNBC; to read more, click this link.


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Marie Callender's Bakes
ConAgra Foods says it is emphasizing homestyle comfort -- with a contemporary twist -- in latest line of Marie Callender's multi-serve meals.
Officials say new Marie Callender's Bakes feature recipes such as Vermont White Cheddar Mac and Cheese and are designed to cook to perfection in the microwave for oven-like results in a fraction of the time.
“Marie Callender’s new home-style, baked, multi-serve meals add new twists to familiar recipes,” says Jenn Freeman, brand director, ConAgra Foods. “We’re taking classic dishes like chicken alfredo and adding Marie’s creative touch for recipes like Creamy Chicken Alfredo With Sundried Tomatoes. These are dishes with the familiarity of traditional recipes and a little something extra to change things up and make it more exciting.”
Dinner is a growing meal occasion for frozen foods – frozen items appeared on the dinner table 17 percent of the time in 2009 vs. 13 percent in 1994*, says ConAgra. Additionally, 55 percent of evening meals are eaten by one to two person households**, Marie Callender’s target households. The new offerings further extend the brand into the premium, multi-serve meal segment, which has seen significant growth over the past five years.
ConAgra says its new home-style baked meals "provide the high-quality dishes Marie Callender’s is known for, with improved cooking performance from the microwave. The recipes cook more evenly, with no burnt edges for a convenient meal that tastes like homemade, from the microwave."
The new meals will be supported by a fully integrated marketing campaign, including national TV that features Marie Callender’s “Time to Savor” tagline. Ads will run on selected networks, beginning in mid-September.
The new entrées are available now, and come in five varieties: Creamy Chicken Alfredo with Sun-Dried Tomatoes; Vermont White Cheddar Mac & Cheese; Chicken, Spinach and Mushroom Lasagna; Southwestern Style Chipotle Chicken Bake; and Scalloped Potatoes & Ham in a Creamy Cheese Sauce.
*NPD NET In-Home Database
** Net data year ending August 2009


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While Ken Garff Automotive Group may have been selling cars for 86 years, family members regard themselves as more builders than salespeople. It’s a philosophy proudly displayed over the door of John Garff’s home in Salt Lake City, Utah, the place where the journey was begun by his grandfather and founder, Ken Garff.
John, now President and CEO of Ken Garff Enterprises, remembers his grandpa and all that he taught him very well. “We believe in building people and treating people right,” John says. “Being a builder is about elevating people, it’s about who we are and who we are as a company. It’s also about building our faith and our community. It’s in our family DNA, it’s our family motto. That’s why it’s over our door, to remind our kids every day to go be a builder of people.
“We have accomplished so much as a company because of good leadership and good people. Brett Hopkins (the Ken Garff Automotive CEO), along with our leadership teams, have fueled our growth into becoming the second largest privately held automotive group in the US. The wind in our sails clearly comes from our good people.”
Today, still headquartered in Salt Lake City, the company employs more than 4,500 people in 50 dealerships throughout America, including 20 in Utah. Nearly 120,000 cars, new and used, are sold every year from dealerships in Utah, California, Texas, Iowa, Nevada and Michigan.
As head of parent company Ken Garff Enterprises, John has five CEOs who report to him, along with regional vice presidents. While there are other Garffs working for the company, including John’s father and Chairman, Robert, and his siblings, Matthew and Jennifer, nepotism entitlements aren’t tolerated.
Another of Ken Garff’s beliefs runs deep within the third generation of Garffs. “There’s no free lunch. You get whatever the job pays,” says John. “If you’re not working, you don’t get anything. There are no entitlements. I think this is one of the factors contributing to us being a successful family company for 86 years.“From the beginning, our family has always had the entrepreneurial bug. We have always looked for change, embraced new ideas. And the best idea wins.
Nothing’s personal here, everybody comes in, everybody’s got an opinion, but it’s always the best idea that wins. That entrepreneurial, open-minded view of our business is part of what’s helped us adapt to all the dramatic changes we’ve made over the years.”
With such keen ambition running through generations, the burning question has to be whether John has ever considered not working in the family business. At least before he turned 10 and started sweeping the shop floor. “Honestly, no, it’s always been in my blood,” he says. “From that first job, filing, stocking parts and, yes, sweeping the floors, I just never wanted to do anything else.”
The father of five is a graduate of the National Automobile Dealers Association Academy, and has served as president of the New Car Dealers of Utah, on the Utah Division of Motor Vehicle Safety Inspection Advisory Council and for The Nature Conservancy of Utah.
He is a member of the National Advisory Board for the University of Utah’s David Eccles School of Business and is also on the board of Success in Education, a Garff family initiative with the aim of enriching students through learning. The public organization offers three programs, Road to Success for literacy in 134 elementary schools; Keys to Success to prepare for college and the workforce; and Code to Success, a computer programming certification course.
John’s family is renowned for its generous donations to philanthropic causes and education, with his parents establishing the Robert H and Katharine B Garff Foundation in 2004. “My parents spent a lot of time in public life,” John explains. “Dad was the speaker of the House of Representatives in Utah, my mom has been on the board of trustees in the state school board, while my grandmother was a school teacher. My parents have always had a passion for education and believe, as many do, that one of a few ways you can change the world is through education Because of that ethos they have donated close to US$50 million, if you add up all the money spent on buildings, programs and scholarships.”
“We value the deep, multifaceted relationship we’ve built with John and his team. Ally shares their commitment to ‘Doing It Right’ for customers through business excellence and community involvement. Ken Garff strives to be the best, and we’re honored to support them.” – Karen Holley, Executive Director, National Accounts, Ally Financial, Inc.
In 2017, after Hurricane Harvey devastated parts of Houston, the Ken Garff management team stepped up to help the 703 employees in the company’s eight Houston stores, particularly the 112 who suffered damage from flooding. Giving everyone paid time off to regroup, John also flew to the city to see for himself the losses incurred. The company paid all the employees’ claims, most of which were for home repairs. Once again, it was about building people the Garff family way.
In recognition for his services to the community, John has been nominated for the 2019 TIME Dealer of the Year award, to be announced in January. It is one of the automobile industry’s most prestigious and coveted honors, recognizing America’s most successful auto dealers demonstrating a longstanding commitment to the community. The 51 nominees, selected to represent their local dealer association, are from more than 16,000 franchise dealers nationwide.
John worked his way up from sweeping floors to selling cars, his first to a neighbor, admittedly not quite legal at age 15, but ratified by his dad. The following year, he spent the first of many summers selling. He then put himself through college where he earned a BSc at the University of Utah and an MBA from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management.
As one of the first car dealers to recognize the potential of the internet, John launched Vehix.com in 1996, a market-driven, customer-friendly website connecting shoppers with reviews, information and guides to buying a car. The business was later sold to Comcast in 2008 and the sale proceeds were used to buy more dealerships during the recession. In 2002, John was appointed as President and CEO of Ken Garff.
The same year Ken Garff founded a captive Utah-based insurance company for automotive products and a captive insurance service provider company, while also starting six vertical businesses in fields such as digital marketing, dealership IT services and human resources.
Other professional achievements for John have included founding and securing a US$50 million fleet-lease company and credit facility between 2016 and 2018 to help Ken Garff’s fleet customers grow their respective businesses. Today, this facility size exceeds US$300 million and, as a result, Ken Garff is now the largest truck fleet provider in the US.
Furthermore, John has served in several leadership positions with the New Car Dealers Association of Utah. Of particular note is his time as President of the Association in 2009 during the global financial crisis. John was on the firing line as he spent significant days and weeks with congress and senate representatives in Washington, D.C., speaking to them on behalf of the automotive industry.
Reflecting on the changes in the sector throughout his career, John concedes they have been huge. “It is definitely a dynamic, living industry that changes constantly. In fact, looking over my experience selling cars as a student, and even just during my 10 years in leadership, it seems like change is the one thing we can count on. “Our business is very disruptable, our industry is very disruptable, and we want to continue to disrupt to stay on the cutting edge of technology and technique.”
Technique extends to transforming the skill of selling. As early as a decade ago customers relied heavily on the spiel of a salesperson to buy a car. Armed with an agenda and sometimes, a little more oddly, an inflatable gorilla, the sales pitch was sharp, predictable and rehearsed. Today, the customer is not so naive. They arrive at dealerships armed with information and a fair idea of what they want. Their research is completed on the internet, with social media also playing a huge part in their decision. Reviews, opinions and experiences are at their fingertips, with John admitting they are often more informed than the salespeople.
“The internet is definitely a game changer, our customers have changed exponentially,” he says. “I would say about half of our customers come in knowing exactly what they want and are very specific about it, that’s a much higher percentage than in prior years. The other half has an idea of the style, type and cost, but are still a bit undecided about a couple of different things and want to be shown more options. That’s just a case of narrowing those options down and matching their budget.
“These days, they’re there for the experience, not the transaction,” John adds. “The proliferation of information available means consumers are very educated and they expect transparency. But even more so, they expect a good buying experience and part of that comes from the fact that they know as much, or more, about the car than our salespeople. That’s not uncommon because they’re diving into the specific make, model and trim.”
Ken Garff Automotive reacted quickly to the change in customer expectations and, about eight years ago, retooled its brand and changed the company’s culture to hire the right men and women with more people-centric characteristics than slick sales techniques.
“Inherently, the type of person we hire today is fundamentally different from the person we hired even just a decade ago,” John admits. “Whether they have experience in the car business is actually immaterial. We look for employees who are people friendly, who like to engage with customers, are positive, who listen rather than talk. We hire genuine people, whether they have the skill sets or not. We’ll teach the skills.”
In 2017, Ken Garff hired a Vice President of HR. It took them a year to find Alice Zwahlen, but she offered the particular expertise needed to widen the company’s net and snag the perfect talent. “She calls herself a headhunter because she likes to hunt for good talent,” John explains. “We now have six talent acquisition managers who are out fishing in ponds our industry typically doesn’t fish in, like service industries and colleges. We’d rather get out and find the talent we’re looking for than just see the same people who are circulating in and out of jobs.”
Once Ken Garff finds the right person, a three-month intensive orientation process is implemented to mentor and train the new employee. Career paths are also defined to encourage upward mobility. It’s a strategy John sees as not only vital for fostering talent but for keeping them long-term.
“There’s no stepping out onto the floor and working until that process is completed,” he explains. “Then mentors are assigned to help them continue on their path. The first 90 days are critical to long-term retention, after which it’s really about the job environment because what keeps people staying goes far beyond pay and benefits, it’s the culture and work environment that is important. “One of the crucial attributes we look for in people is likability; naturally likable, genuine and positive people. Another attribute we look for, and it may seem silly, is being nice. People who are nice and likable, it makes a big difference in a work environment. Everyone wants to be around nice people.”
While the tactics for selling cars and the customers themselves have changed dramatically, John believes that when it comes to buying a car, priorities have not fundamentally changed. While modern cars are equipped with multiple gadgets and options, from heated seats to parking sensors and voice control, it all still comes down to one thing.
“You can see from the way John and team value their customers, treat their employees as family and give back to the community that they’re passionate about building much more than a business; they’re building a legacy.” – Anne Kline, Head of TD Auto Finance Commercial Services
“First and foremost, it’s always been about price,” John says. “Next to a house, a car is the largest personal purchase that most people will make, so it’s a pretty big decision and people want to get it right. Fuel economy is another big thing and safety is also very big.”
The rest, comfort and all those amazing gadgets, come next. “That’s still different for every customer. Every buyer is unique and putting everybody into the same bucket is a disservice to the customer. That’s why listening is so important.”
And listening is very important to Ken Garff Automotive. So much so, it’s embedded in its logo. The tagline ‘We Hear You’ is synonymous with the company’s history in the community, with John still hearing stories from generations of customers who remember his grandfather and the Ken Garff way of doing business. Ken was proud of his reputation for being fair, sometimes a tad overly so. Like the time he agreed to pay full price to buy back a car with 15,000 miles on the clock after the owner complained that “something had gone wrong”.
“It’s very important for us to treat our customers with respect, particularly now that the whole process has changed,” John says. “Most people’s experiences have been to just be sold a car; that’s sort of our industry, how we’ve done it over the past several decades.
You come in to buy a car and someone sells you a car. But after extensive market research, we found that most customers wanted to have an easy, enjoyable, trusted buying experience. And you accomplish that by listening and understanding their needs. It’s our job to help them connect with that car. It’s about treating people right, and right is an acronym for ‘respect, intelligence, greatness, honesty and teamwork’,” John adds. “Our company philosophy is to create lifetime customers. Everything we do is focused on the long-term and if we treat the customer right, then the likelihood of them coming back and referring us to their friends and family is much more likely than otherwise. It’s core to everything we do.”
While John is not actively selling cars today, he enjoys helping friends and family. He refers between 10–20 sales a month, sharing tips on how to sell and how to buy. It’s a skill this third-generation car dealer enjoys passing on. “My two older kids have both recently sold cars and I spent a lot of time with them, teaching them how to do it. I do stay involved because it’s a huge part of our business.
Ken Garff has been around for 86 years and our goal is to continue to be a successful business for the next 86 years. My kids represent the fourth generation of the Garff family and I look forward to handing over the reins to them one day in the future.”


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Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
OmniComm Systems, Inc.
$3,219,150 Improvement in EBITDA Year-Over-Year
Fort Lauderdale, FL, March 22, 2012 – OmniComm Systems, Inc., one of the fastest growing companies in the Electronic Data Capture (EDC) marketplace, today announced its results of operations for the year ended December 31, 2011. Revenue for the year ended December 31, 2011 totaled $13.6M, a $1.2M increase over the results from the prior year. “We are pleased with the increase in revenue year-over-year,” said Stephen Johnson, President and Chief Operating Officer.
“We have been and will continue to focus on increasing our sales and marketing capabilities. Our 2011 results show the positive impact of these efforts and we expect to see this trend continue in 2012 as the overall economy and the pharmaceutical, biotech and medical device industries continue to improve. Our sales efforts during 2012 will include increasing the number of sales personnel employed, increasing our attendance and marketing efforts at industry conferences and increasing the number of company sponsored events including webinars, symposiums and other marketing events.”
For the year ended December 31, 2011, the company reported positive EBITDA of $362,231 which represents a $3,219,150 improvement as compared to the 2010 EBITDA of $(2,856,919). “The improvement in our performance reflects the successful integration of and resulting synergies from our 2009 acquisitions. We were pleased with the revenue increases we experienced in our TrialMaster® and TrialOne® software solutions”, remarked Ronald Linares, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer.
“I am pleased with the improvements that we have made over the past 18 months,” commented Cornelis F. Wit, CEO. “We are well positioned to expand our relationships with our existing clients and attract new clients to our proprietary EDC applications: TrialMaster, TrialOne and eClinical Suite. We believe that we will see an increase in both overall R & D spending and clinical trial volume as the economy continues to improve.”
OmniComm Systems, Inc. (www.OmniComm.com) provides customer-driven Internet solutions to pharmaceutical, biotechnology, research and medical device organizations that conduct life changing clinical trial research. OmniComm's growing base of satisfied customers is a direct result of the company's commitment to deliver products and services that ensure ease of use, faster study build, ease of integration and better performance. OmniComm Systems, Inc. has U.S. headquarters in Fort Lauderdale, FL and European headquarters in Bonn, Germany, with satellite offices in New Jersey and the United Kingdom, as well as sales offices throughout the U.S. and Europe.
Safe Harbor Disclaimer
Statements made by OmniComm included in this release may constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements involve a number of risks and uncertainties such as the Company's ability to obtain new contracts and accurately estimate net revenues due to uncertain regulatory guidance, variability in size, scope and duration of projects, and internal issues at the sponsoring client, integration of acquisitions, competitive factors, technological development, and market demand. As a result, actual results may differ materially from any financial outlooks stated herein. Further information on potential factors that could affect the Company's financial results can be found in the Company's Reports on Form 10-K and 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.


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I have a stream
The land of Abba takes to streaming
“WE THINK the whole world will look like Sweden,” says Daniel Ek, the 31-year-old boss of Spotify, a streaming service headquartered in Stockholm. The world’s music executives hope Mr Ek is correct. They have been sending delegations there to study how Sweden pulled off its musical makeover. Between 2008 and 2013 the turnover of the country’s recorded-music market rose by around 27%, to SKr991m ($155m). Streaming now makes up more than 70% of revenues.
Spotify’s launch in 2008 was vital in Sweden’s movement from diminuendo to crescendo. Sweden was early to have fast broadband. At first this facilitated piracy (The Pirate Bay, a site used for illegal file-sharing, started in Stockholm), but later it helped streaming to gain momentum. Bundling of services was instrumental too. Spotify offered free trials with Telia, a local mobile operator, which encouraged a lot of consumers to give it a go. A 2009 anti-piracy law probably nudged some to switch from illegal downloading. Because Sweden is a rich country, monthly subscriptions are easier to peddle to the masses.
Today the question preoccupying Swedish music bosses is how much further streaming can grow. Already around 3m Swedes are believed to have streaming accounts, about a third of the population, of whom two-thirds are paying subscribers. If every market could reach such critical mass, the record industry would look very different. So far America has 6m paid subscriptions—only 2% of the population.
Sweden is not a perfect template for other countries. Digital downloads never became popular there, so there was not a rival digital technology to cannibalise. The switch to streaming may take a lot longer in countries where there is not such a high proportion of technophile consumers and where there is no successful homegrown streaming service to rally behind.
But the most realistic lesson from Sweden may be that although streaming can help the record industry grow again, it may not restore previous highs. Sweden’s recorded-music industry is only around 60% as big as it was at its peak, says Ludvig Werner of IFPI, a trade group. Even so, the business is energised by proof that streaming can bring in “money, money, money”, in the words of Sweden’s most successful band.
This article appeared in the Business section of the print edition under the headline "I have a stream"
From the March 22nd 2014 edition
Discover stories from this section and more in the list of contentsExplore the edition
Don’t despair for the Patagonia-vest set just yet
Klaus Müller should have been an anonymous bureaucrat, but he’s become a celebrity
A mix of office and home has become the norm for many. There is lots still to figure out


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NEWARK, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--SMART Global Holdings, Inc. (“SGH”) (Nasdaq: SGH) today announced the appointment of Penny Herscher, chair of the board of directors at Lumentum Holdings Inc., to its board of directors and as a member of its Nominating and Governance Committee, effective September 24, 2021.
“We are excited to have Penny join our board at SGH,” commented Mark Adams, President and CEO of SGH. “Her vast experience and diverse background add a valuable perspective to our Board and will help us consistently raise the bar to power growth and expand possibilities.”
Ms. Herscher is a seasoned technology public company board director, executive and entrepreneur, with more than 15 years of experience as a high-tech CEO in Silicon Valley and more than 10 years of experience serving on public company boards of directors. She currently serves as chair of the board of directors at Lumentum Holdings, Inc., Faurecia SA and several private companies. Ms. Herscher also previously served as a member of the board of directors of Verint Systems, Inc. from 2017 to 2021, PROS Holdings, Inc. from 2018 to 2021 and Rambus, Inc. from 2006 to 2018. Since 2004, Ms. Herscher held various executive positions as CEO of First Rain, Inc., executive vice president and chief marketing officer of Cadence Design Systems, Inc. and CEO of Simplex Solutions.
Ms. Herscher holds a BA Hons, MA in Mathematics from Cambridge University in England.
About SMART Global Holdings – SGH
At SGH, our diverse family of companies is united by a drive to raise the bar, execute with discipline, and focus on what’s next for the technologies that support and advance the world. Across high-performance computing, wireless and embedded technologies, memory, and LED lighting solutions, we build long-term strategic partnerships with our customers across enterprise, government and manufacturing.
Backed by a proven leadership team, we operate with excellence around the globe while unlocking new avenues of growth for our business and industry.


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It has been a busy week for Microsoft, as it launched the long awaited Windows 10 operating system, available as a free software upgrade for compatible Windows versions such as Windows 7, 8 and 8.1.
While there is much talk about the Windows 10 PC version, users could be waiting to hear something about the mobile version as well.
The good news is that the company has pushed out a small update to those who are running the Windows 10 Mobile preview. As the release note reads, the update brings some 'developer enhancements', reports Windows Central.
It does not bring any new build and is based on the same build, along with the improvements. If your device is on the Windows 10 Mobile preview, you may check for the new update. You can install it now or, re-schedule to a more convenient time accordingly.
This release also goes well with Microsoft's announcement in June about the improvements for Windows 10 Mobile.
Greg Sullivan, the communication director for Microsoft device, had explained that the company's development teams were all working on the Windows 10 then and that they could be more easily reallocated to add features or squash bugs in the mobile version.
He said: "In early to mid July a lot more attention will be shifted from (Windows 10 PC) to that (Windows 10 Mobile)."


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The buffeting endured by the UK motoring industry is spreading to affiliated sectors as cash-strapped consumers change every aspect of their motoring habits, according to new research by GfK Automotive.
The research among more than 4,000 British motorists shows a fundamental shift in approach to car ownership over the past 12 months, in the face of ongoing economic gloom.
One in three motorists (30 per cent) now say they will keep their car longer before purchasing a replacement. If they were to delay buying a new car for just one a year, it would cost motor retailers over £1bn a year, puncturing the already fragile recovery in the sector.1
The ripples of motorists’ economy drives go beyond the manufacturers and dealers. The study finds that, as consumers struggle in the face of surging inflation and rising petrol prices, they are looking for more ways to shave money from motoring bills.
A quarter2 have changed insurance provider to reduce premiums and one in 203 are taking the risk of cancelling or not renewing breakdown recovery services, in order to trim costs.
Francisco Lopez of GfK Automotive said:
"The long economic recovery is changing the way people approach all aspects of car ownership and this is having serious consequences on the sector. It is no longer the case that people will simply purchase a second-hand car instead of a new one – many consumers are putting off all major car purchases altogether. Additionally, they are looking to reduce their car budgets in associated areas such as insurance premiums. All of these things take money out of the sector, further weakening it and threatening jobs.”
The continuing economic gloom has also led to behavioural changes in both automotive ownership and use. Half4 of motorists have reduced their car use in the last 12 months with one in 105 increasing car sharing as a means of spreading car costs.
Despite the gloom, the shift in habits has seen a silver lining in one area, with a sixth6 of motorists servicing their cars at local independent garages instead of a major dealership.
GfK Automotive interviewed 4,270 UK car owners/users online, using Toluna Panels between 13 and 19 July 2011
(1) There were 35.5m motorists in the UK in 2010 (source: http://www.dft.gov.uk/statistics/series/national-travel-survey ).
The brand new car market in the UK is forecasted to be 1.93 million cars in 2011 (source:http://www.smmt.co.uk/2011/07/new-car-and-van-forecast-july-2011/ ) and there will be 907.000 new private cars in the UK in 2011
(market split between business+fleet and private being 53/47. Source: http://www.smmt.co.uk/reports-publications/ )
This means one in 39 UK motorists will buy a private car in 2011 – a conversion factor of 0.025. 30% of motorists (11.4 million) state they’ll keep their cars for longer – if "longer” is taken to mean one year and we apply the conversion factor to this percentage, there would be 285,000 fewer private car sales, if every motorist would change car every year.
Given the Department of Transport states the average length of car ownership in the UK is 7 years, the annualised effect of this intention would be 40,714 cars (285,000 / 7).
This figure represents a 2.1% of the total UK market. As the average price per car sold in the UK is £28.159 (source: http://www.drivendata.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/DD-Car-Index-May-2011.pdf ), the potential impact to the industry of £1.14 billion.
(2) 23% have changed insurance provider to save money
(3) 5% have cancelled/not renewed their breakdown recovery service to save money
(4) 50% use my car less now than compared to this time last year
(5) 9% car share now some/all of the time
(6) 17% now service their car at an independent garage rather than a main dealership
London - August 2011


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Facebook Vice President David Marcus is the face of the company's Libra digital currency, but the original driving force was a 26-year-old female corporate-development...Technologyread more
Amazon's new policy for account suspensions doesn't go far enough to protect sellers from potentially unfair and wrongful suspensions, merchants say.Technologyread more
There is no end in sight to the Boeing 737 Max grounding after two fatal crashes, prompting airlines to rethink their growth plans.Airlinesread more
After a year of flooding, Midwest farmers face a stifling heat wave that's spreading across the U.S.Weather & Natural Disastersread more
On Saturday, Disney's Marvel Studios announced its upcoming slate of superhero films during a panel at San Diego Comic-Con.Entertainmentread more
Moving lots of data to a public cloud over the internet can take months or years. CNBC got an inside look at how AWS transfers data to the cloud for its clients.Technologyread more
A quarter of the S&P 500 companies report earnings next week, and that could buffet the market as investors await the July Fed meeting.Market Insiderread more
Iran's Revolutionary Guard claims a British tanker it still holds, Stena Impero, failed to follow international maritime rules.World Newsread more
"It troubles me that the most important political office in the world is becoming the face of racism and exclusion," Kaeser said in a Twitter post.Politicsread more
Silver's rally could be losing its shine after the precious metal reached its year-to-date high, futures experts warn.Futures Nowread more
Some 40% of Americans would struggle to come up with even $400 to pay for an emergency expense. Just how are so many Americans so short on cash? Blame debt.Personal Financeread more
Airbnb posted its second straight year of profitability on an adjusted basis as it heads toward a possible IPO, the start-up announced Tuesday.
Airbnb is one of several giant private tech companies gearing up for a public debut this year, alongside Uber, Lyft and WeWork. But Airbnb is eyeing the offering with two years of EBITDA profits, according to a company memo seen by CNBC. EBITDA is a measure of operating profits before financing-related expenses like interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization.
The company expects to hit 500 million guest arrivals by the end of the first quarter this year — that's the number of completed bookings since the company's founding in 2008. That would be 100 million new guest arrivals since its last stated total in September 2018.
Airbnb isn't breaking out any other numbers, like annual revenue, but the increase in guest arrivals signals rapidly accelerating growth and a promising outcome of an eventual public debut. In the third quarter of 2018, the company told CNBC that it had passed $1 billion in quarterly revenue. The company was valued at over $30 billion in financing rounds in 2016 and 2017.
Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky told Recode last May the company will be "ready to IPO next year, but I don't know if we will." The company hired a chief financial officer in November, filling a long-vacant seat and hinting that it was shoring up its finances.


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|With its growing population and reasonably good jobs outlook, retailers like the Carolinas—and Charlotte in particular.|
|Demand for services such as property management and investment sales in Charlotte-area retail space has steadily increased over the past several years, Shopping Center Group partner Alex Munoz (with partner Andy Misiaveg) tells us. Those are the specialties that the company is working to expand. "It's the next logical step," he says. Most recently, the company repped Hawthorne Retail in its $3.9M acquisition of the 56k SF Northcross Commons, a Food Lion-anchored neighborhood center in Huntersville.|
The company has also repped a number of the new retailers in the Carolinas recently, including Smashburger, whose Charlotte location was the chain?s first in the Carolinas, and Tilly?s in Cary, alsoits first Carolinas location. Other retailers coming to the region have preferred South Carolina as their entry point to the area, and the Shopping Center Group has repped them as well: Frank Entertainment in Rock Hill and Christmas Tree Shops in Greenville.


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Accused last year by Gartner Group of delivering only 20% of their promises, are enterprise system vendors starting to deliver, or simply cashing in on the year 2000 problem? Analysts and users alike...
Collection #1, originally posted in December, contains 140 million email addresses that haven't been seen in security breaches before
Consumers can check the provenance of produce via a QR code
Huawei accused of stealing trade secrets from US partners
Windows 10 search shake-up will also bring changes to Office 365


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Elegant is a word rarely associated with electric-powered motorcycles. Oddly high-tech at best, and clunky at worst, electric bikes appeal to our appreciation of advancing technology, environmental friendliness, and silent running.
The Caterham Group—recent purchasers of the historic Lotus-associated Caterham Cars brand—has introduced an electric bike that takes the audacious step of sporting a retro styling.
The Caterham Classic E-Bike invokes a V-twin motor for the styling of its batteries, with a bicycle style frame that features a springer front end, hard tail, sprung seat, faux fuel tank, and pedal assistance — modernity meets century-old technology.
A disc front brake and fat tires give the rider a sense of security, while the number plates and paint recall racing from a bygone era.
Of course, the Caterham Group is no stranger to modern racing. Teaming with AirAsia, Caterham has a two-rider team in Moto2 this year, consisting of American newcomer Josh Herrin, and former Rookie of the Year Frenchman Johann Zarco.
The AirAsia partnership is no accident. Caterham Bikes CEO Al-Ishsal Ishak was previously AirAsia’s Group Head of Ancillary Income.
“Two-wheeled motorsport is a new venture for Caterham Group and one that we believe will be a long term project,” Team Principal of Caterham Moto Racing Team Mia Sharizman asserts.
“It is an exciting time for us and I would like to thank AirAsia for the opportunity. The team is in high spirits and we hope to show our gratitude to AirAsia throughout the year by achieving good results.”
In addition to racing, there is the practical application for Caterham Bikes. “Our vision for Caterham Group has taken another step forward with the launch of Caterham Bikes,” explains Tony Fernandes, Co- Chairman of Caterham Group.
“Expanding our interests into the two-wheeled market is another natural progression for us and is a good opportunity to show- case the breadth of knowledge, experience and creativity we have at our disposal across the Group, now in the two-wheeled world, in addition to all of our other automotive, technology and innovation interests.”
“We are realistic and honest enough to know that we’re not in the business of rivaling the establishment; we’re here to offer an alternative that befits the spirit of Caterham,” CEO Ishak declares. “Just as the Cater- ham Seven is a motoring icon because of its unique design and engineering credibility, Caterham Bikes’ products will be aimed at a niche audience seeking exceptional quality, bespoke design flare and bikes easy enough for anyone to ride.”
With two other motorcycles being launched — the dual-purpose gasoline-powered Brutus 750 and minimalist Carbon E-Bike — Caterham Bikes is clearly aiming for an alluring target no other brand has recognized.
Story from the Gallery section of Ultimate MotorCycling magazine. For subscription services, click here.


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Apple just held their media event yesterday in New York City and during the event it revealed the names for some of the best apps and games of 2019. However, the company did not release any new product. Though we all are eagerly waiting for the release of Mac Pro and Pro Display XDR, it is yet to become available.
As we all are getting ready to say good bye to 2019, rumors are already out in the wild that a new iPhone SE 2 may become available by early next year. Though no specific date has be provided, it is being expected to become available by the end of March 2020.
KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, who is very well known for his accurate predictions on Apple products is going one step ahead saying that Apple will ship around 20 million units of this new iPhone SE 2. If things goes according to the plan, Apple may even go up to 30 million units. MacRumors along with many other popular tech websites has recently reported on this topic and it seems like people are also taking it very seriously.
As far as the features are concern, it is being reported that Kuo has shared his view on this as well stating that it will resemble the iPhone 8. In other words, new iPhone will be sharing lots of features from iPhone 8 including a 4.7 inch display along with a single-lens rear camera. However, just like the older iPhone SE, this new phone would be using top of the line A13 chip which is currently being used on iPhone 11 and 11 Pro with 3GB of RAM.
Though there are no way to verify the potential design of this upcoming iPhone, there are so many images that are circulating in online of this hypothetical iPhone. Here is one of them for you, just in case if you are so eager to see.iPhone SE 2 Concept Design. © PhoneArena.
It is being expected that this iPhone will be priced at $399 and will replace the current iPhone 8 which is being sold at $449 from Apple. Slashing down $50 for this upcoming iPhone is being highly focused for the growing markets like India and China where low-cost smartphones are quite popular. At the same time, it could be a very good alternative or upgrade option for people who are still using older generations of iPhones.


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Facebook will launch its global cryptocurrency, called Libra, in 2020. This digital currency will be built on Blockchain technology;
Facebook’s new subsidiary, Calibra, will create a digital wallet that will store the Libra cryptocurrency. It will be integrated into both Facebook Messenger and WhatsApp, and will also have a standalone iOS and Android app.
Point of View
Facebook has announced it will launch its global cryptocurrency, called Libra, early next year. According to the white paper released by Facebook, Libra is comprised of three key components:
It will be built on Blockchain – this will enable open access designed to maximise participation;
It will be backed by a basket of assets - the currency will be fully backed by a reserve of real assets including bank deposits and government securities designed to manage the volatility of the digital currency;
It will have a separate governance model - Libra will be governed by the Libra Association Council, a non-profit, independent organisation managed initially by Facebook and 27 other organisations to oversee Libra and its development. These include MasterCard, Visa, eBay, PayPal, Spotify, Uber and Vodafone. The aim is to grow membership to 100 members who will serve as “initial validator nodes” of the Libra Blockchain.
Another less developed but explicit goal is for Facebook to tackle digital identity, conveyed in the following statement in its white paper: “an additional goal of the association is to develop and promote an open identity standard. We believe that decentralized and portable digital identity is a prerequisite to financial inclusion and competition.”
Rocky Scopelliti, from Optus described Facebook’s entry into payments as "an inevitable move, due to the role that social media is now playing throughout our lives."According to Calibra’s ‘Customer Commitment’, the digital wallet is designed with a strong commitment to protecting customer privacy. It states that “we believe that customers hold rights to their data and should have simple, understandable and accessible data-management tools.”
Facebook has faced much scrutiny since its Cambridge Analytica privacy breach when it was found that the company had failed to prevent the personal data of up to 87 million users from being harvested without their knowledge or consent. The privacy scandal contributed to and saw calls for tighter regulation of tech companies’ use of data. This resulted in Facebook’s involvement in an antitrust probe by the US House of Representatives Judiciary Committee, which is trying to determine if tech giants have become so powerful that they have the power to stifle competition and harm consumers.
Some commentators have suggested that Facebook will need to address their current trust deficit in order to successfully broaden their reach into financial services. As stated by Aurelie L’Hostis, a senior analyst at market research firm Forrester, “the Cambridge Analytica scandal has exposed the social network’s lapses of data privacy and security and the news of Libra comes at a time when Facebook is under intense pressure from regulators, shareholders and users to address privacy shortcomings.”
Now that Facebook is reaching out to financial firms and payments service providers to join the Libra consortium to help them launch their cryptocurrency-based payments system, she notes that “we can expect regulators and governments to raise questions regarding Facebook’s financial data collection and management process, and whether that system meets all legal and regulatory requirements.”
There are a wide range of views about the potential impact. Consideration of Facebook’s move through the lense of three drivers of change may help bring clarity about the opportunity and likely impact.
Robert Milliner, Chairman of the Australian Payments Council, commented that "non-financial institutions are looking to leverage their user reach and technology capability to drive into a range of services, including financial services, based on lower cost and easier accessibility.”In Australia, recent data shows that there are now 15 million active users on Facebook, which is approximately 60% of the total population, with 50% of the country logging onto Facebook at least once a day. Figures also indicate that the number of Facebook users in Australia is expected to reach 11.23 million in 2020, up from 10.59 millions users in 2017.
With Calibra integrated into Facebook’s Messenger and WhatsApp, it will have access to over 2.3 billion users worldwide. There are already many Facebook users who can send money using Venmo, PayPal or even Facebook Messenger’s built in peer-to-peer transfer feature. However, this requires users to have a credit card or a bank account, a financial tool that is not accessible to approximately 1.7 billion people. Facebook says it is hoping this new payment system can help bridge the gap, providing access to those globally who are cut out from the banking system. The biggest test is likely to be whether people will trust the social networking giant enough to start converting fiat currency into Libra coin.
By building Libra on blockchain, Facebook is hoping to create a decentralised form of governance, where no single entity controls the network, and which promotes financial inclusion for the unbanked. The white paper describes Facebook’s vision of “a new global currency,” indicating that the Libra blockchain will be “a decentralized, programmable database, designed to support a low-volatility cryptocurrency that will have the ability to serve as an efficient medium of exchange for billions of people around the world.”
With its integration into Facebook’s platforms, Libra could offer an alternative to the existing banking system, with the ability to transfer money seamlessly and instantly, just like sending a text message.
It is often observed that regulation trails innovation and as noted by Morgan Stanley, “the success of Afterpay, Zip, PayPal and others demonstrates that the current regulatory settings are pushing innovation in payments outside the regular bank and credit card channels." With Facebook facing intense scrutiny around the world over its privacy practices, the creation of a digital currency will likely raise new concerns for governments, with the RBA’s Governor, Philip Lowe cautioning that Libra may not attain mainstream usage in the near future, “there’s a lot of water under the bridge before Facebook’s proposal becomes something we’re using all the time [...] There are a lot of regulatory issues that need to be addressed and they’ve got to make sure there’s a solid business case, so we’ve got to be careful before we jump to conclusions.”
It was announced that Facebook registered the Libra Networks LLC in Geneva, Switzerland, which has a history of global neutrality and a light-touch approach to regulation and an enthusiasm for digital currency not shared by officials elsewhere. According to Sven Korschinowski, a partner at KPMG, “Switzerland’s regulation is much lighter than in other European countries when it comes to cryptocurrencies…it made sense for Libra to come to Switzerland.”Needless to say, Libra has come under intense scrutiny by European regulators, who have raised concerns whether the project is sufficiently regulated. French Finance Minister, Bruno Le Maire commented that Libra must not “become a sovereign currency…it can’t and it must not happen” Similar concerns were raised by a German member of the European parliament, who stated that Facebook was at risk of becoming a “shadow bank” and that companies “must not be allowed to operate in a regulatory nirvana when introducing virtual currencies.”
In Australia, it was reported that consumers will have to provide driver’s license credentials to Facebook to use its digital currency. Although this requirement is common amongst most organisations when opening bank accounts, it has since created a stir amongst regulators given Facebook’s volatile history with privacy. Additionally, to comply with Australia’s strict anti-money laundering legislation, Facebook could also be given access to electoral data to verify addresses if it is approved as a financial services provider. Providing the company with details of millions of users could prove to be controversial given its previous disregard for the protection and careful use of customer data.
AUSTRAC has warned that criminal groups will attempt to exploit technologies for money-laundering purposes, and that “businesses that exchange digital currencies need to consider their obligations under the Anti-Money Laundering/Counter Terrorism Financing program.” ASIC is also reportedly “actively watching developments”.
Facebook Libra may have great potential to bring more people from emerging nations into the economy. However, regulators will need to be satisfied that the Libra Association has sufficient cybersecurity and user privacy protections, and that the network has the ability to handle expected transactions volume and screen out potential money laundering. As noted by Dr Iwa Salami, a senior lecturer in financial law at the University of East London, “at the moment, there are doubts as to giving a group of largely blue-chip private companies, whose interest is really profit-making rather than global financial and monetary stability, total governance control over a currency that could be potentially global."


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Pickup trucks are the backbone of many successful businesses around the UK, with the added bonuses of mean styling and toweringly lofty driving positions, the latter having become increasingly desirable for private motorists too. To date, only the Volkswagen Amarok has flirted with taking the pickup truck segment upmarket, but an announcement from Mercedes-Benz means that construction businesses and tradespeople will be able to combine the best of all worlds when its new X-Class takes to the road. It’ll be available in two distinct versions, the choice coming down to how ‘hands-on’ one’s job role is.
The UK has long been different in some respects. Take property, for example. While swathes of continental Europeans and indeed Americans have for decades happily rented their properties, our homes very much remain our castles. It’s a similar story when it comes to cars, with over a quarter of motorists in the States leasing their vehicles.
“The UK is now fast cottoning on to why car leasing is often the financially savvy option, though”, comments Lee Wolstenholme, Director of Manchester-based Vehicle Consulting, a broker with over 12 years’ experience. “Cars depreciate the minute they are driven off forecourts, so taking out a traditional loan to buy a new vehicle typically leaves motorists with a car or van that has lost value considerably after a few years. Leasing, on the other hand, means you can simply hand the keys back at the end of the contract and the vehicle’s value isn’t yours to worry about”, Lee goes on to explain.


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Climate change is transforming how companies conduct business. With the start of the new year around the corner, many companies […]
Strong communication practices are the key to a successful partnership between a vendor and a government agency. Unfortunately, though, many […]
New Year’s Eve in Times Square is the ultimate public celebration of another trip around the sun. But what people […]
In just a few years, fast casual — a cross between fast food and casual sit-down restaurant dining — has grown to become a multi-billion dollar market.
Construction sites are loaded with hazards that can potentially harm or injure your work crew. While keeping employees healthy and […]
Relocating to a new city can be necessary for your business to succeed, but it’s a big ask for employees […]
Retailers across the country are devising ways to capitalize on the upcoming lucrative holiday season. One strategy that more small […]


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Ultraviolette @ Auto Expo 2023
The company displayed its new F77 electric motorcycle in all three guises: AirStrike, Shadow & Laser.
Big shoutout to CrAzY dRiVeR for shooting these pictures & his coverage of the Auto Expo. Thanks for sharing!
Here’s what Ultraviolette Automotive had on display at the 2023 Delhi Auto Expo.
Source: Read Full Article


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End of exclusive deal with Epic Final Fantasy 7 Remake Intergrade confirmed to be coming to Steam in June.
Final Fantasy 7 Remake is expanded on Steam
Square Enix recently celebrated the 25th anniversary of the Final Fantasy series and announced a lot of interesting information.
FF7 was first brought to Steam and was compatible with Steam Deck hardware. Then the intergrade version will also appear on Steam after NSX has ended its exclusive contract with Epic.
Intergrade is known to be an enhanced version of the original remake with lots of new content and images compared to the remake.
The developer also said that a sequel, which will be a prequel to FF7, has also been planned and promised to be released in 2023 as Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth.
Information about Final Fantasy 7 Remake has been eagerly awaited by Innnewyorkcity VN and a number of players.
Source: INN NEW YORK CITY


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Chicken Cottage opens first restaurant in Malaysia as its international expansion continuesComments Off on Chicken Cottage opens first restaurant in Malaysia as its international expansion continues
Fast food chain and cult favourite Chicken Cottage is rolling out its international expansion, opening the first of a planned 50 restaurants in Malaysia.
The Croydon-based company, which operates Britain’s largest halal fast food chain, welcomed the first customers at its Kuala Terengganu branch on Thursday.
It has also struck a partnership with local university Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin for research and development of new products, including recipes for grilled chicken and burgers.
The move follows its takeover by Malaysia’s TI Global Food Holdings in February last year and a brand overhaul, which was completed earlier this year.
Chicken Cottage said expects to open in another 49 sites in Malaysia in the next five years.
It also has agreements in place to open restaurants in Nigeria and the United Arab Emirates. A spokeswoman for the company said those will likely open in early 2016.
The company, established in 1994 with a first location in Wembley, now has 90 branches in the UK and a further 40 overseas, including in Algeria, Iraq, Belgium and Canada.


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INDONESIA - Most online news websites in Indonesia plagiarize other people's material because they are run mostly by amateurs with little knowledge about journalism and the media business, according to a journalist.
Antara news agency Lampung bureau editor, Budisantoso Budiman, said on Friday that there would be more online news websites accused of plagiarism if professional journalism organisations, such as the Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI) and the Association of Indonesian Journalists (PWI), began taking the matter seriously.
Budisantoso said that it was hard to investigate plagiarism in cyberspace because it was easy to get rid of evidence.
He said there were various business obstacles being faced by online news websites. One of them, he said, was slight ad revenue as advertisers were still favouring conventional media.
According to him, the business side of online news websites was not being handled professionally by competent workers.
He said the only way to minimise the obstacles was to renew the 2008 Information and Electronic Transaction Law.
Meanwhile, AJI has called for a new Internet governance law, calling the current 2008 Information and Electronic Transaction Law as too repressive for freedom of expression.


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Customs experts rule for destruction of “Belarus Press Foto” albums
41 photo albums of the previous contest
Belarus Press Photo were confiscated on 12 November from the
photographer Aliaksandr Vasiukovich at the Belarusian border point
The expertise of the Ashmiany customs ended up in a decision that the confiscated book production is illegal (does not correspond to the Belarusian standard on editions and publisher information) and is to be destroyed.
BELARUS PRESS PHOTO is a reputable yearly photo contest held since 2009 by Belarusian photo reporters. The exhibition of the contest is organized in Belarus and abroad, there are two editions of the contest albums.


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Online Seems to be The Only Way Forward
Flipmart – Walmart Flipkart Deal – Walmart’s agreement to buy a controlling 77% stake in Flipkart, the leading shopping site in India with a market share of 55% is an ambitious move in the Indian e -commerce industry. Walmart has purchased Flipkart for $ 16 billion when it has global revenues of $ 500 billion. This appears to be a small piece to pay for a 55% market share in a fast growing online retail market. This purchase gives Walmart a running start in the Indian e commerce and it also has strong financial muscle to compete with the deep pocketed rival Amazon.
An investment worth $16 billion for a 77% stake values flipkart at $21 billion against $10.5 billion a year ago. Now the entire domestic online retail market is valued at about $19 billion. Hence, Walmart paid a premium to acquire Flipkart which makes it a winning proposition for Flipkart too.
Questions were raised on the rationale behind acquiring a huge loss making unit which could not make profit in its 11 years of operations. With this thought, Walmart’s investors reacted negatively wiping away $10 billion worth of the company’s market capitalization in early morning trade on the NYSE.
Walmart’s stock reply to all of these questions was that it had thought really hard about the investment, especially knowing investors’ short-term expectations on cash flows and returns. Even so, it felt that the long-term opportunity in a country with a population of 1.3 billion was too large to ignore..
What Walmart didn’t say is that the acquisition would also help it build a foundation in India, which will help when it plans a larger play in the country’s offline retail market, whenever it is allowed to do so.
Besides, Walmart was evidently impressed with Flipkart’s product portfolio, ranging from an e-commerce marketplace, to fashion retail, logistics and payments services. Perhaps paying a $16 billion is not too high a price to get a strong market share in market which expected to reach $1.3 trillion in the next 5 years.
With this transition, Indian retail players cannot but take note. They should note that the greatest retail operator in the world, Walmart, has realized that online is where the future of businesses lies. Propelled by rising smartphone penetration, the launch of 4G networks and increasing consumer wealth, the Indian e-commerce market is expected to grow vehemently in the near future. It is increasingly attracting customers from Tier 2 and 3 cities, where people have limited access to brands but have high aspirations.
In 2017, online retail grew to $17.8 billion in gross merchandise value (GMV) from $14.5 billion last year, a 23 per cent increase. According to some reports, the India e commerce market in India is projected to grow by 60% in 2018. All these factors make Indian e commerce market a very attractive market and conforms our opinion that online seems to be the place where the world retail is headed towards.
Bookmyparts.com is making efforts to increase the foothold of online selling in the Indian market. Online selling is growing rapidly because of the advantages it brings to consumers. It not only offers convenience but brings a huge assortment of products from various brands under one roof, provides facility to buy genuine quality spare parts at cheaper prices. Customers benefit because of the low prices offered by b2b portal of machinery parts bookmyparts, which our scale permits us to do.
Online selling of machinery parts through bookmyparts.com ensures that the machineries used in the production process do not suffer a breakdown due to non-availability of spare parts and the resultant loss of productivity. Avoiding resultant scenario as reported month ago on the subject of how Unavailability of Auto Parts throws Gujarat Auto Sector Out of Gear…
aeonian 2018 Asia's Largest Tech Event Automobile Machinery Spare Parts Bearings belt bonanza


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$805 Million Collectively Represents 7.3%
of All Local Online Advertising Dollars In 2008
CHANTILLY, VA. - May 8, 2009 - According to new research from BIA Advisory
Services broadcasters are showing signs of progress by developing Internet
revenue for their stations. Based on industry-wide surveys conducted by BIA,
through public company documents, and discussions with industry owners and
insiders, BIA estimates radio and televisions stations collectively drove
approximately $805 million in online dollars, equal to 7.3 percent of the $11
billion local online advertising money spent in 2008, as reported by BIA
subsidiary The Kelsey Group.
This breaks down to $342 million for radio and $463 million for television in
2008. BIA projects the broadcasting industry's online revenue will climb to
as much as $1.9 billion by 2013 if the industry continues its transformation
to multiplatform solutions.
"We see a compounded annual growth rate of 18.6 percent for online
broadcasting advertising over the 2008 - 2013 period," said Mark R. Fratrik,
Ph.D., Vice President, BIA Advisory Services. "Given the challenges facing
broadcasting, it's even more important for broadcasters to continue to
step-up their mobile and Internet offerings."
The chart below shows radio and television Internet revenues from 2008-2013
as projected by BIA Advisory Services.
Source: BIA's MEDIA Access Pro(tm)
BIA is organizing a conference in May, "Winning Media Strategies," focusing
on traditional media's financial challenges and how it must transform within
the changing media ecosystem in order to survive. Radio and TV operators must
recognize and address the changes underway, the impact on advertisers,
understand what innovative companies are doing, and who they can partner with
in order to become viable media companies in the coming years.
"Media organizations must utilize their tremendous brand equities and
relationships with local advertisers to leverage their current offerings into
new media platforms and vigorously cross promote them," said Rick Ducey,
chief strategy officer of BIA. "While online-only companies had to start from
scratch, broadcasters have the opportunity to reach their audience on and
offline to build audiences and appeal to advertisers."
"Winning Media Strategies" is a three-day program, May 20-22, 2009 in
Washington, D.C. Speakers will discuss new technologies, shifting consumer
demographics, media usage trends, new competition, and how different business
models are driving new revenue to traditional media. Additional details and
registration information is available at www.bia.com/WMS.


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Indian Banks Act Slow to Accept Crypto Industry Despite RBI’s Approval
Indian banks are reluctant to work with crypto firms, even though RBI clears the air. The repeal of a blanket ban on cryptocurrencies in March by India’s central bank, the Reserve Bank of India, has been a boon to the thriving crypto industry in India — with the launch of new exchanges being a catalyst. This is despite the country being one of the most severely affected nations by the COVID-19 pandemic, which has led to a deepening economic crisis across the nation.
Coin Telegraph - 27th Jun 07:06


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January 08, 2007
Abbott wins generic Biaxin ruling
Abbott Laboratories Friday won an appeals court ruling stopping Andrx Pharmaceuticals from selling generic versions of its antibiotic Biaxin XL until a patent suit is resolved. The US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit said a trial judge was correct in finding that Abbott was likely to win a patent-infringement suit against Andrx. The trial judge ordered Andrx not to sell copies of the drug while the lawsuit was pending. Abbott spokesman Jonathon Hamilton told Bloomberg News the company was pleased with the ruling and it “validates the strength of our intellectual property for Biaxin XL.” Biaxin generated $580 million in global sales in the first nine months of 2006.