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The decision has been taken at an inter-ministerial meeting chaired by Home Minister Amit Shah and attended by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Labour Minister Santosh Gangwar, Commerce and Railway Minister Piyush Goyal among others.
"A new Labour Bill will be introduced in the coming session of the Parliament," Gangwar told reporters Tuesday after the hour-long meeting.
Gangwar said the draft bill will be placed before the Union Cabinet after which it will be introduced in Lok Sabha, possibly in the second week of the coming Parliament session.
"All major labour unions in the country were consulted by the government for the new labour laws," he said.
The four categories will deal with wages, social security, industrial safety and welfare, and industrial relations, an official said.
It is expected that the laws related to social security, including the Employees' Provident Fund and Miscellaneous Provisions Act, Employees' State Insurance Corporation Act, Maternity Benefits Act, Building and Other Construction Workers Act and the Employees' Compensation Act will be merged to create a single social security law or code.
Several industrial safety and welfare laws such as the Factories Act, the Mines Act and the Dock Workers (Safety, Health and Welfare) Act, will be merged to create a single category on industrial safety and welfare.
The Minimum Wages Act, the Payment of Wages Act, the Payment of Bonus Act, the Equal Remuneration Act and a few others are likely to be merged.
The Labour Code on Industrial Relations will combine Industrial Disputes Act, 1947, the Trade Unions Act, 1926, and the Industrial Employment (Standing Orders) Act, 1946.
The proposed new labour law will help investors and is expected to accelerate growth, another official said.
- Front Page
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- Adani Enterprises Board OKs Raising up to ₹20kcr Via FPO
Adani Enterprises said Friday that the company’s board approved the raising of up to ₹20,000 crore ($2.5 billion) through a follow-on public offering (FPO) by issuing new shares to retail and institutional investors.All Aboard Black Friday Express — From US to India
Samsung, Amazon, Uniqlo and Domino’s were among several companies looking to turn Black Friday, yesterday, into another big sale day in India.Slew of Reforms brings Ease to Insurers
The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) allowed private equity funds to invest directly in insurance companies and banks to tie up with as many as nine insurance companies as part of several measures approved at its meeting on Friday that will free up about ₹3,500 crore capital.
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Morgan Stanley analysts weighed in with their opinions on retail giants Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN) and Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (NYSE:WMT). Let’s jump in to see why they believe you should Buy AMZN and Hold WMT.
Following the release of AlphaWise data that showed a boom in Amazon’s grocery and clothing sales, Morgan Stanley analyst, Brian Nowak, weighed in on the stock. The analyst maintains that Amazon’s clothing and grocery categories are a 1 trillion-dollar industry, and the progress of these two sectors weigh in heavily whenever the analyst rates the stock.
The analyst explains that Amazon’s grocery user adoption is on the rise. Even though only about 12% to 18% of U.S. consumers buy groceries online, Amazon’s penetration into the online grocery market has been rising sharply. The analyst also expects that consumers will start to spend more money in the online grocery shopping market.
The analyst explains that 52% of U.S consumers have purchased clothing online in the past 12 months, and 45% of U.S consumers have purchased clothing on Amazon in the past 12 months. This number is up from 39% in 1Q15, marking the largest year over year increase of the 10 retailers the analyst monitors.
The analyst reiterates his Overweight rating for AMZN with a price target of $800.00.
Brian Nowak is a top rated analyst on TipRanks with a success rate of 61% and an average return of 7.6%. The analyst has an average return of 26% from his AMZN recommendations and is ranked #407 out of 4,038 analysts.
According to TipRanks, the consensus price target for AMZN is $821.28, marking an 8.95% upside from current prices. Currently, 91% of analyst issue a Buy rating for AMZN, while the remaining 9% issue a Hold rating for the stock.
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.
Following a recent rally in WMT’s share price, Morgan Stanley analyst, Simeon Gutman, weighed in with where he believes the stock is headed.
The analyst believes that Wal-Mart’s recent rally is “due for a pause,” justified by its multiple now being in-line with the market. The analyst affirms that the momentum the stock has seen in the past two months is set to plateau for a little while as WMT’s shares are up 20% year-to-date and have outperformed the market by an impressive 13%.
The analyst attributes Wal-Mart’s outstanding performance to the company’s ability to meet numbers amid low expectations. The analyst also sees WMT as a safe bet while market uncertainty and macro volatility loom.
The analyst concedes that, while WMT’s relative EPS multiple is in-line with the market, the company offers much weaker growth predictions in both 2016e and 2017e, noting a -7.5% EPS decline, and a +3.5% EPS increase, respectively.
The analyst reiterates his Hold rating for WMT with a price target of $67.00, marking a 9.53% downside from current prices.
Gutman is ranked #1,830 out of 4,038 analysts on TipRanks. His success rate is 60% with an average return of 1.1%. The analyst sees an average return of 15.4% on his calls for the stock.
According to TipRanks, 20% of analysts issue a Buy rating for WMT, while 67% maintain a Hold rating, and 13% uphold a Sell rating for the stock. The consensus price target for WMT is $69.93, marking a 5.58% downside from current share prices.

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RESILIENCE WAS the buzz word at the recent Africa’s Travel Indaba 2022.
The success of the Indaba saw 55 countries, 19 from the African continent, including South Africa, descending under roof to revive the economy of the country and KwaZulu-Natal over a three-day period. But some continued to extend their stay, especially delegates from other States.
It netted R29 million in direct spending and expects a contribution of R72.5 million to the City’s GDP, although below the 2019 numbers. The exhibition also created 145 direct and indirect job opportunities.
Amanda Kotze-Nhlapo, chief convention bureau officer at South African Tourism, said the 2022 Travel Indaba attracted 655 exhibitors and 955 buyers from various countries.
She said the sheer size of Africa’s Travel Indaba, although below the 2019 numbers, “shows the resilience of our sector and our people.”
“Although the numbers were lower than the pre-Covid 19 times, each buyer still had 10 meetings a day on average,” she said.
At the media wrap-up briefing comprising women of ‘steel’ drawn from top organisations, all agreed that despite the setbacks of the pandemic, KZN floods, and looting last year, the country was resilient and open for business.
Deputy Head at Durban Tourism Winile Mntungwa, said the City of Durban experienced hotel occupancy rates of over 85 percent, netted R29 million in direct spending and expects a contribution of R72.5 million to the City’s GDP.
She also confirmed that I45 short term jobs were created during the period.
She said the show instilled confidence in the City of Durban as a great destination and fantastic host.
“Being physically there in a destination gives you a true picture and accurate assessment of the state of readiness to take on tourists again after the triple pandemics – July unrest, Covid-19 and recent floods,” she said.
“All doubts about the city’s preparedness to yet again offer its exciting tourism products have been removed through hosting this travel extravaganza,” she said.
“It was good to host in person again,” says Phindile Makwakwa, the acting CEO of Tourism KwaZulu-Natal.
The 2022 edition of Travel Indaba had an “air of exciting event, real connection, love and passion.”
Makwakwa also decried the impact of Covid-19 on tourism as something that hit hard at the heart of human connection.” she added.
Taking a bow before the panel of women of ‘steel’ the Acting CEO of South African Tourism, Themba Khumalo said: “We are a continent full of people with initiative. We have the energy and passion to revive an entire industry, such as tourism, with our own hands. Our story says to the world that we are ready to welcome them and we are open for business.”
For the first time the Africa’s Travel Indaba Awards were held to honour those tourism businesses and organisations that have advanced tourism during a time of unprecedented technological and industry change and the winners were as follows:
· Transformation Award: Andrew Machete for Timeline Travel
· Innovation Award: Western Cape Pavilion
· Rise Award: KZN Freedom Routes
· Empowerment Award: Pearl Motaung-Mlangeni of My Pond Hotel’s Hospitality Management Training Institution
· Inspiration Award: Clinton Armour, CEO ANEW Hotels & Resorts
Euphoric Kgomotso Pooe from Sowetoo- described the return of Indaba as a relief too many, having lost business opportunities himself, as a result of the pandemic.
Meanwhile, the success of Indaba has been overshadowed by recent reports of jet fuel shortage in the country.
This was confirmed by Airport Company SA and Airlines Association of Southern Africa on Monday.
Already over R1.5million (it will grow exponentially) has been lost as a result of airline companies cancelling flights to SA.
But both organisations have reassured the country that they have enough capacity and fuel to mitigate this unfortunate scenario that resulted in force majeure.
Image SLM (From left, Amanda Kotze-Nhlapo, chief convention bureau officer at South African Tourism, Phindile Makwakwa, KZN Tourism acting CEO, Winile Mntungwa- Dbn Tourism deputy head and Lindiwe Rakharebe Durban ICC CEO at a media brief in Dbn).


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I’d really like to apologize to people out there that these kinds of problems are happening. It’s just a very sad state of affairs.
We’re currently looking into whether these kinds of activities, spreading these spoilers across the internet, does legally constitute obstruction of our business or not. And if it’s found it does then we will take legal measures to stop these being posted and take them down. We apologize for all the problems caused and all this worry and angst being caused. But we are taking solid steps to address this. People have been waiting such a long time, and it’s just not really fair to spoil the fun of other people. So just stop that right now.
Square Enix acknowledged the leaks earlier this week, when the company released a new trailer and shared details on FFXV's day one update, which adds new features and enhancements to the game's story.
Final Fantasy XV releases next week on November 29 for Xbox One and PlayStation 4.
Alex Osborn is a freelance writer for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter and subscribe to his video content on YouTube.
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Samsung is extending its global collaboration with Citi to deliver Samsung Pay within the Asia Pacific region, specifically in Singapore and Australia. “The partnership marks a new addition to Samsung Pay’s extensive portfolio of major payment networks and banks,” Samsung says. “Further additional markets will be added to the network in the coming months.” Samsung Pay launched in Australia earlier this week and began rolling out across Singapore this month.
- App offers order ahead restaurant service
- Facebook given licence to launch Messenger payments in Europe
- NFC clothing range connects US Ski Team with winter sports fans
- Google’s browser connects with BLE
- Belgian bank joins mobile payment platform


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The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), said it generated about N2.3 trillion revenue in 2021.
The NCS originally targeted about N1.67 trillion for the year, but exceeded this by 25% or N63 billion.
The Deputy National Public Relations Officer, NCS, Timi Bomadi, disclosed this at a stakeholders and media engagement on trade facilitation in Lagos on Monday.
Bomadi said: “The 2021 has been eventful for NCS, as it achieves major milestones, in spite of the debilitating effect of COVID-19, which has had negative effects on the socio-economic lives of people around the globe.
“In the current year, the NCS has already exceeded expectations in revenue generation by going beyond the target set for it by the government, achieving N2.3 trillion.
“Also, in its anti-smuggling activities, the Service has made landmark seizures of absolutely prohibited items and items prohibited by trade.”
NCS said it seized illegal animal parts worth N22 billion.
Warehouses in all border formations, belonging to NCS, are overflowing with seizures of rice, groundnut oil, used clothing and used vehicles amongst others.
Bomadi continued: “In August, the service made seizures of 17,137 kg of pangolin scales, 44 kg elephant tusks and 60 kg in pangolin claws all valued at over N22 billion.”
“This was made possible through active collaboration between NCS, US, British, and German officials who helped in tracking the suspicious shipment.
“It further led to the arrest and prosecution of some foreign nationals and their local collaborators.
“In October FOU operatives in zone A seized 751 bullets concealed in garri sacks, while arms, ammunition and military uniforms were intercepted at Tin Can port Lagos in September 2021 just to mention a few.”
Bomadi further informed that warehouses in all border formations, belonging to NCS, are overflowing with seizures of rice, groundnut oil, used clothing and used vehicles amongst others.
He said: “At Apapa Area I Command, through the cooperation of other sister agencies and the Nigerian Navy a landmark seizure of cocaine with a Duty Paid Value (DPV) of $54 million was made.
“This seizure was unique for the fact that the illicit substance was found in one of the components of a bulk carrier of sugar. “In the same command, 97 containers carrying illicit, expired drugs and other offensive goods with a DPV of N17.5 billion were seized.”


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Buyers, brands, representatives, CEO’S, sourcing managers, manufacturers, merchandisers, and denim connoisseurs from the US, The UK, Germany, Italy, France, the Netherlands, Turkey, and China are going to attend this fair. It has become a truly not-to-be-missed event in the worldwide denim agenda.
The theme of the 5th Bangladesh Expo is “Natural Denim”.
“In Nature, people find peace and love, which they also search for in fashion. Nature and fashion are closely interrelated. Being natural means being friendly, positive, and fashionable,” explains MD Mostafiz Uddin, Founder & CEO of Bangladesh Denim Expo (see image below).
“Natural Denim” will be the special focus for the 5th edition of the show. Promoting a more sustainable denim production has been the core objective of the Bangladesh Denim Expo since its beginning. Now the whole industry will have the opportunity to share ideas about natural fabrication, natural manufacturing of jeans, and natural washes. Moreover, in the trend zone of the Expo, natural denim trends and fits will be on display.
You can register for the 5th Denim Expo here.


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Flipkart and Myntra’s Rishi Vasudev to leave the business
Flipkart’s group head of fashion and head of fashion subsidiary Myntra Rishi Vasudev will leave the business in March 2020 after joining in 2014.
Rishi Vasudev has decided to quit e-commerce giant and US-based Walmart-owned Flipkart group after leading the business’ fashion segment for the past five years, sources told ET Retail. Vasudev’s decision to leave the business follows the recent departures of chief financial officer Dipanjan Basu and Myntra CEO Ananth Narayanan.
“Rishi Vasudev, Group Head- Fashion, has decided to leave Flipkart to pursue opportunities outside the company,” a Flipkart spokesperson said in an emailed response to ET Retail. “He has played a key role in building and nurturing the fashion category at Flipkart over the past five years, and more recently, has partnered with the Myntra leadership to bring synergies across the group.”
Vasudev was promoted to senior vice president at Flipkart earlier this year, working for Flipkart CEO Kalyan Krishnamurthy. The executive also took over Narayanan’s role managing Myntra after the latter quit the business. Before joining Flipkart group, Vasudev was the CEO of Calvin Klein in India.
Copyright © 2023 FashionNetwork.com All rights reserved.


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Watch Dogs Legion has received a steady number of updates since its release last year, although bugs delayed some planned features like online mode.
Now Ubisoft has created a new roadmap for future updates that prioritizes some quality of life features while pushing back the story DLC and new online modes.
The next patch for the game is Title Update 4.5, which will be released on June 1st. This is a little later than intended, but it fixes bugs in 4.0 and adds a “performance mode” of 60 FPS for console gamers. The bad news is that the Invasion and Extraction PvP modes, which were originally scheduled for late May, have been postponed until August. The expansion of the Bloodline story is also slightly in decline from late June to early July.
Ubisoft explained the reason for changing PvP modes in a post, saying, “We want to invest more time in solid public and private matchmaking as it is vital for us to provide you with a smooth and fun PvP experience . ”
To compensate for this, the June 1st update will now include Grandma Helen as a freelancer. Helen is the old lady who kicks the ass in the game’s E3 trailers.
DedSec, check out our updated roadmap – with new QoL updates, changes based on your feedback, new dates … and a surprise!
More information: https://t.co/g4qG8tgtIh pic.twitter.com/xYABcIiWA2
– Guard dogs: Legion (@watchdogsgame) May 21, 2021
There are delays so hey-ho, but I’m interested in learning more about the invasion and extraction modes. Invading other players was one of the best things about the early Guard Dogs, and I’m excited to see what “Invasion” means now that it’s a multiplayer mode of its own.
Multiplayer stays where I am most interested in the Watch Dogs series because I want to play around with the toys without having to figure out the story. “I would have enjoyed Watch Dogs Legion so much more if it had just turned into the full nonsense of Guy Ritchie with his tone,” Nate said on his review of Watch Dogs Legion. “I really appreciate what it’s trying to do with its story, but the end result is like Jason Statham beating you to death with a book of Nietzsche’s aphorisms. It’s still Jason fucking Statham, and you always will still beaten. ”


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More than half of pet owners do not seek pet dental care
Posted Dec. 3, 2014
More than half of pet owners do not seek regular professional dental care for their pets, according to a national survey commissioned by the marketing and communications company Vetstreet.
Among pet owners who do not seek regular dental care for their pet, 44 percent avoid doing so because they are worried about their pet going under anesthesia. Twenty percent of owners who do not seek pet dental care said they know that dental disease exists but believe that their pet’s teeth are fine.
Fifty-seven percent of pet owners said they would find more information about pet dental care to be valuable.
“Too many of our clients either don’t see dental care as an important part of their pet’s health, don’t fully understand its value, or have unaddressed questions or concerns which prevent them from taking action,” said Dr. Heidi Lobprise, a diplomate of the American Veterinary Dental College.
Vetstreet is offering tools to help practices encourage their clients to make a dental appointment. For details, veterinarians can contact their Vetstreet representative or call 888-799-8387.


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L'Oreal Has set its sights on notching up two decades of consecutive annual double-digit growth after reporting a 13.5 per cent rise in profit last year.
The cosmetics giant said strong demand for its brands such as Maybelline make-up and Fructis haircare in emerging markets was behind its net operating profits of €1.65bn (£1.11bn), up from €1.46bn a year earlier.
Its sales in China soared by 69 per cent and in Russia by 39 per cent, against more muted growth of 4 per cent in the eurozone and 7 per cent in the US. Lindsay Owen-Jones, the chairman, said: "I would say that in terms of turnover we aim to beat the 2003 figure for internal growth." Last year, internal sales, excluding currency effects, acquisitions and divestments, rose by 7.1 per cent. The resurgent euro knocked group sales by 1.8 per cent but its operating margin was stronger at 14 per cent against 12.9 per cent the previous year.
Mr Owen-Jones said the group, which recently unveiled plans to tidy up its shareholding structure, planned to hang on to its 20 per cent stake in Sanofi-Synthelabo if the French drug group succeeds with its hostile takeover bid for Aventis.
L'Oreal intends to ask investors to back the decision of its two biggest shareholders - Switzerland's Nestle and the billionaire Bettencourt family of France - to end a 30-year agreement that gave them control of the cosmetics giant through Gespral, a company that owned 54 per cent of its stock.
After the move, the Bettencourts will have a 27.5 per cent stake and Nestle a 26 per cent holding.Reuse content


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Driven by plant power, techno, and recycling, the Paris-based brand is ready to show Innersect 2021 how it turns food waste into footwear1 Granary
When Mats Rombaut launched vegan accessory brand Rombaut in 2013 in reaction to fashion’s waste problem, consciousness was at its heart. Using luxurious plant-based materials, recycled fibres, and high grade artificial leather, its fashion-forward, limited-edition footwear continually pushes what’s possible; who could forget the green pool slides with butter lettuce-leaf upper from 2018? In 2020, as the wider world woke up to the climate crisis and tomorrow’s world technologies helped bring much-needed change, the Ghent-born, Paris-based multi-disciplinary creative launched Virón. Building on eight years of research and development of Rombaut, Virón’s focus is on circularity and its philosophy deeply rooted in counterculture.
While Rombaut is concerned with imagining the future, Virón enables Mats to explore nostalgic references, celebrate his love of techno, and react to the moment. “Virón is about taking action today,” he explains over Zoom. Through Virón, he’s reimagining footwear for the climate crisis age. “We wanted to see what is the best thing we can do today to start reversing all this madness,” he adds. Much like Greta Thunberg criticising global leaders over their empty promises to address the climate emergency as “blah, blah, blah”, Mats grew tired of fashion leaders' inaction. In this age of mass awakening, he believes that counterculture is key in forging a new path with new systems in place. “It’s on us to define the world we want to live in.”
Virón’s participation at Innersect 2021, East Asia's leading street culture event, provides a timely platform to share its positive change vision to a wider audience. “Our Innersect installation enables us to visually demonstrate that we’re using bio-based materials in an easy, attention capturing way,” Mats explains. Without spoiling it for attendees, the space will house an industrial machine with apples going in one end and shoes magically coming out the other, alongside videos of the actual processes behind the shoes and a flyer dedicated to explaining the bio-based content in the PU. The installation encapsulates Virón’s approach.
Beyond being conscious, there’s a mindfulness and self-awareness that all brands should learn from. From its playful visuals to its transparent copywriting, sweaty dance-floor raves to imagination-igniting installations, Virón challenges preconceptions of what a vegan brand can be. Yes, you really can be responsible, and want to treat the Earth as a home rather than a resource AND have fun. “We drink and we party,” he explains. “We don't try to be moral and point fingers at anyone, we’re just trying to offer a solution and show it our way.”
“As the consciousness of the younger generation has changed it has encouraged us to fight for what we believe in and propose something that makes sense to us, that can change the industry as well,” he adds. In just over a year, Virón has evolved into a democratic platform where new ideas and sustainable alternatives grow hand in hand. Today, as it launched, Virón stands strong in its holy trinity of beliefs: for the planet, the animals and the people, equally. Its commitment is to reduce, reuse, and recycle (as much as possible). Soles are made from recycled rubber, uppers, lining and insoles from recycled canvas, while PET bottles and fishnets were introduced in the last collection. Experienced and exacting, Mats questions everything suppliers tell him, because marketing doesn't only happen from brands to consumers, it happens throughout the production and supply chain to brands too.
“As the consciousness of the younger generation has changed it has encouraged us to fight for what we believe in and propose something that makes sense to us, that can change the industry as well” – Mats Rombaut
Virón counters greenwashed empty promises with responsible production and ethical sourcing. Today, they are using high-quality plant-based leather alternatives from apple skin and corn husk waste, upcycled vintage fabrics, and 70 per cent recycled rubber soles. Additionally, Virón is creating a closed-loop system where in the future customers can return the shoes for a discount and the sole will either get donated or will be reintegrated into the supply chain. Each process will be showcased at Innersect 2021. Whether you walk in their shoes or just acknowledge their approach, any time spent in Virón’s world sparks optimism for tomorrow.


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E-Malt.com News article: South Korea: Hite Jinro to release its first new lager in six years
Hite Jinro said on March 13 it will release its first new lager brand in six years next week, the Korea Times reported.
The sub-brand dubbed Terra will hit domestic store shelves on March 21. The product is designed to provide a more "refreshing taste" compared to other beers already on the market.
Fine dust concentration in Korea has caused rising consumer demand for light, pure tastes in beer, according to Hite Jinro.
Terra will be marketed toward customers interested in health and wellness. Beer contains carbonic acid that forms naturally during the fermentation process.
At a press conference for unveiling Terra, CEO and President Kim In-kyu said the blonde lager brand will sharpen Hite Jinro's brand identity and restore its profitability.
"For the last few years, we were hurt by consumers' changing tastes and elevated competition with foreign beer competitors," Kim said. "The teams have worked intensively on creating Terra to revive the sales and attract customers back."
Hite Jinro, whose flagship brands include Hite beer and Chamisul Soju, said the new product has a soft, delicate maltiness with 4.6 percent alcohol content.
The product, priced the same as conventional beer, will be sold in green bottles to promote a more refreshing, pure brand image. The company added a twirl design on the bottle with an aim to make a splash in the beer industry.
"We tried to generate the best-tasting, highest-quality beer by differentiating every aspect ― from brew style to packaging," said Oh Sung-tak, marketing director of Hite Jinro. "Our target audiences would be men and women from the age of 19, but our prime target is millennials who have clear consumption habits and can generate buzz."
14 March, 2019


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Amazon is gearing up to launch an Indian version of its site. The bookseller and cloud provider is already recruiting and is aiming for a team of 200 people. The company is talking to Flipkart.com, LetsBuy.com and Exclusively.in, according to The Times of India. The paper saw the first clue in the hiring of Madhu M, a senior …
We have enough problems with Royal Snail. They've even managed to lose "signed for" parcels to me in the last week.
How they'll manage out there will be interesting to watch.
You missed Ireland and Lux
In addition to the sites you mention, it also has sites in Ireland and Lux as well as (at least) development in Romania. It also runs a warehousing operation in the Channel islands.
I suggest you actually do some better research next time :)
Japan, Canada, and Japan.
Sounds awesome, by the way. I mean, access to almost a BILLION new potential customers? I'd love to be a part of it.
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Category Partners Promotes Cara Ammon
IDAHO FALLS, ID - They say that brains, like hearts, go where they are appreciated. In the case of Category Partners’ Cara Ammon, this could not be more true. Having joined the company as Director of Research in 2017, Ammon was recently promoted to Senior Vice President of Research and Market Intel. The promotion was more than deserved for this industry leader, and the team at Category Partners is thrilled to see her step into the new role.
“When Cara joined our team two and a half years ago, she brought with her a wealth of experience, credibility, and smarts. Since then, Cara has been much more than an excellent consumer and market researcher. Cara has demonstrated leadership, teamwork, and strategic thinking that continues to increase value to our team and especially our clients,” shared CEO Tom Barnes. “Cara’s value has far surpassed expectations and she deserves recognition for it.”
A press release noted that Ammon has been instrumental in applying research, resources, and solutions to challenges facing the perishable industries. She has been directly responsible for developing and leveraging a broad array of products and services, the company’s Consumer Perspectives email series, as well as identifying new data sources and research methods enabling clients to stay cutting edge in an ever-evolving retail channel.
“The retail environment continues to undergo constant change,” said Ammon. “In some instances consumers drive that change and in some cases consumers respond to that change. But regardless of the source of change, the consumer remains at the center. My goal is to help producers and retailers better understand and effectively compete in that changing world. Understanding consumer motivations, preferences, and expectations is essential to being successful today. If you can help your customers understand their customers, well, that is a winning formula.”
Ammon is an Indiana native and Indiana University graduate with a passion for fresh food and fierce loyalty.
She finalized her comments by adding, “I am grateful to my team, our clients, and the Category Partners' Board for its friendship, support, and this opportunity. I am really excited to see where 2020 will lead!”
Congratulations to Cara Ammon on this exciting promotion!


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Tariff reduction on new registrations
At the time of Covid, Registro .it takes the field to support Italian companies in the ICT sector and reduces the registration fee of new ".it" domains
Food and catering: the web talk on 23 September
Food, the future of catering between digital anda news business models is at the core of this second online appointment of "Piccole Medie Digitali"
Digitali per Caso second season
Registro .it continues its journey through Italy with Patrizio Roversi, who has become "digital by chance" for the occasion...
What a digital world!
"What a digital world" is the animated series of Registro .it focused on the digital challenges that are transforming our society. Digital transformation of companies, increasingly global markets, new technologies, future scenarios. Check out it full episodes


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Elevate is a brand and gym that beats to its own drum.
Which seems fitting, considering its owners have a history with drums. Back in their youth, Taylor Race was a drummer in a band, and his now-wife Nicole would go to the shows. And being together since teenagers hasn’t hindered their business relationship. “To see how well they operate, sometimes you wouldn’t even know they’re married because they’re so concerned about the business and the people and the love they have for their members,” said Audrey Sanchev, a Coach at the gym located in St. Petersburg, Florida.
Concern for members and the greater community have driven each of Taylor and Nicole’s decisions since they stepped in as owners of Elevate. At the time they joined in 2013, the gym wasn’t Affiliated and just provided cross-training style classes. When the Races came onto the scene, they had already fallen in love with barbell training. Nicole started teaching some classes, growing them exponentially.
Taylor shared the previous owners didn’t have much of a plan for the business when he and Nicole came onboard. So, by the end of 2013 they found themselves taking over and going all in to build the gym. “It was really the answer we needed as far as wanting to start our own business,” he said. “We wanted to start a gym; we just weren’t sure how it was going to happen.”
At the same time, they decided to Affiliate as SPSC CrossFit. “We got Affiliated with the idea of really raising the standard and prove to people CrossFit could be a very high-quality program, which isn’t necessarily the case for all CrossFit gyms,” said Taylor.
Since 2013, the business has grown. Nicole said it wasn’t through social media, but by being aggressive and proactive in the community. “It was just get out there, put as many signs out, create awareness, introduce ourselves, offer a lot of free trials, offer free memberships to business owners who have influence in the area, just trying to really prove ourselves and take a help-first mentality,” she said.
However, with growth often comes adaptation and evolution. And in 2017, the Races made two changes that would set the gym on a new path into the future.
The first was rebranding from SPSC CrossFit to Elevate. Taylor explained they had various programs beyond CrossFit, and it was confusing their audience. They realized the need for an overarching brand all of their programs could fit under.
Whiteboarding the brainstorming sessions, they looked for a name that was positive and about self improvement. Eventually, they landed on Elevate. But, a brand doesn’t come from just changing a name or making a logo. Nicole explained before they could even think of rolling it out, they wanted the entire brand to be solidified.
From outsourcing a designer to create the logo to choosing a color scheme, they even determined how they would refer to their community and team under the new brand. The website was made ready, new apparel ordered and sign-changes prepped all before they announced the rebranding to their membership on Facebook Live. However, hints were given via hashtags that contained the word “elevate.”
Consistency and building a strong brand have helped the rebranding be successful. Taylor said you must have a consistent voice and message behind your brand. Nicole said you also have to have your team onboard.
“We rolled it out as something very positive, but we made it very well known that we had made that change, so we could keep our reputation and continue on with it,” said Taylor.
Sanchev explained each and every change the Races have made in the business has been for the better. As one of their staff, it’s important her and the rest of the team get behind their decisions. In fact, she said one of the things that has kept her at Elevate is the fact the owners elaborate on issues and are very open. They understand members are different and need different things as well. “You have to be open minded to changing and to evolving as a gym and as a person and as a Coach,” said Sanchev.
Evolving is a word that continues to define Elevate and its owners.
One of the biggest evolutions of 2017 happened in November, about 11 months after the business’ rebrand: Elevate decided to unaffiliate from CrossFit.
“What we were finding was we wanted to do other things,” said Taylor. “We wanted our program to be more comprehensive than it was, because even though CrossFit as a method is very general, there’s still a very specific type of training you have to provide, and that training over the years has gone into this very competitive atmosphere.”
But, he said it was more than just that fact. The talk around St. Petersburg about CrossFit is full of negative things. Taylor and Nicole kept running into the same barriers of misconceptions of CrossFit and trying to defend it. “I think a lot of Affiliates are in a spot right now where no matter what you do in your gym, you’re going to be compared to the best or the worst that’s around you,” said Nicole. “Since we’ve done it, we just felt like we opened up an entire new world of people we can touch and reach and help.”
While they still love CrossFit in its purest form, it was a decision they felt would be best for business and for the community. They want to give people a 360-degree view of fitness and better lives. “We just know how much the barbell changed our lives and we want to convey that to other people, and at the same time show them they can be healthy and have a sustainable lifestyle and continue to be strong and happy with themselves,” said Taylor.
In fact, Taylor and Nicole have taken their own advice. They aren’t trying to be everything to everyone. The owners are doing what they do best at Elevate – serving their members. And that starts from the very beginning of their journey. Nicole said it’s speaking to your market about how you are going to help them solve their problems, not all the nifty features and programs you have available. “We want to be hands-down known as the place to go where people can have not only a fun time, but get great results and be supported and have a very professional, top-notch, over-the-top experience,” said Nicole.
While the big changes in 2017 will be hard to beat in the years to come, the Races are ready. Because they know the beat of their own drum and they are sticking to it, no matter what lies ahead.
“We fail at things all the time,” said Nicole. “[Which means] they weren’t truly what we wanted to do in our hearts. Sometimes we make irrational decisions just based on desperation or maybe what the next gym or the other business is doing because it may be successful for them, but if it isn’t truly aligned with you and your philosophy and your bigger mission as a gym and a brand, it’s probably not going to be successful.”


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“It’s always been a fun business for me,” Christopher told NEWS10. “It wasn’t a serious business and serious business people taking over.”
The Bradley will be closing after service on Saturday, July 29. Christopher said the business “has been sold to a familiar new owner with a brand-new concept.”
Christopher is the president of Clark House Hospitality, which owns several restaurants and retail spots in the Troy area including Donna’s Italian, Little Pecks, and Tavern Bar. He’s currently working on several projects in Troy’s Monument Square, including residential development and moving his 22 2nd Street Wine Company into the former Clement Frame Shop & Art Gallery space.
“It was a great six and a half years and a great experience,” said Christopher of The Bradley. “There comes a time in business to step aside.”


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Turkish mobile network operator Turkcell is using Timwe’s NFC Launcher tag platform in its NFC home shopping service, available to users of its MaxiPlus5 NFC phone. The mobile phone ships with an NFC fridge magnet that customer can use to automatically launch a dedicated home shopping service.
- EU agency calls for action on IoT security
- Google and Stripe eye a slice of UPI pie in India
- Guide explores key benefits of Samsung Pay
- Bank of America enhances customer choice: Provides secure and reliable access to data
- Phillips 66 unveils new mobile platform at Momentum Conference


text: Ping An Insurance, China’s second largest life insurer, has agreed to take a 10 per cent stake in Japanese pharmaceutical company Tsumura for 1.6 billion yuan (US$243 million) – the largest investment made by a Chinese company in Japan’s herbal medicine industry. Tsumura will sell treasury stock and issue additional shares in a private placement with China Ping An Life Insurance Co, a subsidiary of Ping An. Upon completion of the deal, Ping An Life will become the largest shareholder, said a statement issued by Ping An on Friday. The investment was conducted by Ping An Overseas Holdings. Tsumura, which has annual revenue of around US$980 million, said pricing for the private placement is set at 3,559.5 yen (US$14.23) per share, a 9.4 per cent discount to Friday’s closing price. The deal will close on October 13, Reuters reported. Both parties also announced the creation of a joint venture in China to enhance traditional Chinese medicine research, development and production technology. Tsumura was established in 1893. It is currently the world’s largest manufacturer of “kampo” herbal medicine, which traces its roots back to China, with more than 120 products, and claims an 84 per cent share of the market. Last month, Ping An reported a better-than-expected 6.5 per cent rise in net profit of 43.4 billion yuan for the first six months in 2017.


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Creditors of Searon Logistics are thought to be owed £7.26m after the Felixstowe company’s fall into administration. A reduction in haulage rates followed by an announcement by shipping lines in March that they were “changing alliances” led to the haulier’s collapse in July. In a report to creditors, the administrators at McTear, Williams & Wood said the shipping lines’ announcement was “the biggest change in the industry for nearly 20 years and caused the company a major problem as its […]
Unsecured creditors of failed Hull-based haulier AR Lunn Transport & Warehousing have received just 4% of the money owed to them, the firm’s administrators have revealed.
Abbey Logistics and Lomas Distribution paid close to £300,000 for the majority of the bulk powder and warehousing business of collapsed operator Seafield Logistics.
Former employees of a Birmingham contract haulier now in administration have been ordered to pay almost £40,000 in costs relating to road traffic accidents.


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As social calendars fill with weddings, parties and other activities, companies in the beauty and fashion business have posted upbeat earnings reports.
“In April, we relaunched makeup services in all stores, just in time to support special events such as proms, graduations and weddings,” said Ulta Beauty Inc.
Ulta reported profit and sales that sailed past expectations.
“Macy’s sales were also affected by an accelerated category shift away from the popular pandemic categories, such as casual and activewear as well as soft home, and into more occasion-based apparel, like dresses, women’s shoes, men’s clothing and furnishings,” said Macy’s Inc.
“This shift accelerated faster than we expected. It contributed to an increase in store foot traffic as consumers are more likely to shop in-person for occasion-based apparel.”
Macy’s also beat expectations.
And Nordstrom Inc.’s
See: For Nordstrom, Allbirds is in and the Trunk Club styling service is out
These reports differ from those of Walmart Inc.
To be sure, Target and Walmart both sell clothing and beauty items as well. Target executives note that its customers are coming to its stores willing to “splurge” on a pair of shoes or other items for a summer gathering. And beauty was a standout category for Target.
Read: Target stock plunges as profit drops on consumer spending shifts and jump in freight costs
And: Target stock downgraded as multiple analyst groups blame execution for profit hit
But the merchandise mix at Macy’s and Nordstrom, for example, differs from Target and Walmart.
Moreover, Macy’s Gennette pointed out that the spending behavior for upper income customers diverged from lower income shoppers.
“During the first quarter, all income tiers continued to engage with us, led by the higher income and middle income consumers,” Gennette said.
“Luxury sales remained a standout for our business, as shopping behavior among high-income consumers has so far remained much less affected by inflation. These trends show the benefit of our balanced portfolio.”
Macy’s lineup also includes luxury retailer Bloomingdale’s and beauty retailer Bluemercury, which, Gennette said, also saw a surge in color cosmetics in the lip, eye and face categories as mask restrictions eased.
Also: Walmart says consumers are trading down to private label for items like dairy and bacon
Other premium beauty and fashion companies that reported earnings that beat expectations are Olaplex Inc.
“Upbeat earnings reports from department stores like Macy’s and Nordstrom somewhat complicate the overall narrative of a weakening consumer,” wrote David Silverman, senior director at Fitch.
“While retail headwinds such as rising costs and shifting consumer spending patterns should continue to pressure the sector, results are likely to remain disparate across companies given varying category and price point exposure and relative success navigating the current, dynamic environment.”
Don’t miss: Beauty category showing resiliency with Ulta, Estee Lauder and Olaplex among analysts’ top picks
Americans with middle incomes are increasingly feeling inflation pressure, which could further alter consumer behavior in the months to come.


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Olive Garden unveils Italian nachos and the internet is not OK
Italian nachos are now a thing.
Olive Garden recently released a new dish called “loaded pasta chips,” which are made of fried lasagna. The chips are loaded with cheese and a meat sauce, which includes chicken, meatballs and sausage.
The nachos include alfredo sauce and tomatoes.
The dish will set you back 1,520 calories and $7.79 per order.
According to Mashable, internet users freaked out over the nachos-wannabe dish.
“Olive Garden’s menu has a history of offending Italian grandmothers, and this dish is no exception,” according to Mashable.
Speaking of restaurants embracing other cultures, Taco Bell released new Nacho Fries in January.
The fries come with Mexican seasoning and nacho dipping sauce.
The Nacho Fries, which will have a limited release, cost only $1. Add-ons can increase the price to $2.49 or $3.49 depending on how much more stuff customers want to pile on, the Deseret News reported.
- Chick-fil-A adds Phoenix area as test site for spicy chicken menu addition
- No More Deaths duels with Border Patrol over water, food for migrants
- Giordano’s to officially open another Phoenix-area location in fall
- Best Phoenix-area spots to celebrate National Chicken Wing Day
- Weekend wrap-up: Biggest Arizona-related stories from this past weekend


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The company’s bottomline performance missed expectations of all eight brokerages polled by ETMarkets.com.
The paint manufacturer’s consolidated revenues in the quarter grew by 32.6 per cent on-year to Rs 7,096 crore, which was sharply above Street’s estimate.
The company’s board also approved an interim dividend of Rs 3.65 per share at its meeting held earlier today.
The decline in the company’s bottomline was largely due to a sharp spike in expenses during the quarter. Asian Paints’ total expenses jumped 49 per cent on-year to Rs 6,418.2 crore led by a 73 per cent rise in the cost of raw materials.
The decline in bottomline came despite a 25 per cent on-year fall in tax expenses and 67 per cent jump in other income during the reported quarter.
“Steep inflation seen in raw material prices, since the beginning of this calendar year, has been phenomenal and has impacted gross margins across all businesses in the quarter,” said Amit Syngle, managing director and chief executive officer at Asian Paints in a press statement.
Syngle said that the company will look at further price increases going ahead to mitigate the impact of “this persistently high inflation”. He said the company is confident of turning around the situation in the coming quarter.
The impact of the surge in input cost was felt in the company’s operating performance as consolidated operating profit sank 28.5 per cent year-on-year to Rs 904.4 crore. The country’s largest paintmaker saw its consolidated operating margins shrink 1,080 basis points on-year to 12.8 per cent.
However, the comfort for Asian Paints came in the form of strong demand as the reopening of the economy and restart of construction activity boosted volumes. “The domestic decorative business continued to move ahead on its high growth trajectory with an unprecedented 34% volume growth in the quarter and a strong compounded growth rates over the last 2 years,” Syngle said.
Shares of Asian Paints reacted negatively to the results as they sank 5.6 per cent to Rs 2,991.8 on the National Stock Exchange.
- Front Page
- Pure Politics
- Concor Suitors Seek Clarity Over Shareholder Rights
Potential suitors for Container Corporation of India (Concor) have sought clarity over shareholder rights after the sale of a partial stake in the logistics major by the government.E-auction for RCap Later this Month; Base Bid at ₹5,231 Cr
Lenders of Reliance Capital will hold an e-auction later this month for Anil Ambani’s insolvent financial services company to identify the highest bidder, two people aware of the development told ET.Premium Models Drive Car, TV, Smartphone Sales in Diwali Season
Indian consumers have purchased more premium cars, smartphones, televisions and appliances than ever before during the week leading up to Diwali this year.
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What you need to know
- Apple engineers have filed a new patent focused on sleep tracking.
- The patent details bedding that could track sleep and other vital signs.
- Apple still has yet to bring sleep tracking to the Apple Watch.
Apple has been rumored to be bringing sleep tracking to the Apple Watch for years now. After the company acquired sleep tracking company Beddit in 2017, it seemed that it was only a matter of time that Apple would be bringing its own sleep tracking software to the Apple Watch.
Well, its been three years and the world is still waiting. While there is a good chance that the feature will debut in the next version of watchOS when Apple takes the virtual stage at WWDC in June, a new patent suggests that the company's ambitions with sleep tracking go much further than Apple Watch.
Reported by AppleInsider, a new patent filed with the United States Patent & Trademark Office details the possibility of bedding that could track not only sleep but other vital health signs.
The 'Vital Signs Monitoring System' patent is designed to monitor the quality of a user's sleep without having to wear a monitoring device, such as an Apple Watch. According to the patent, this product could also monitor other vital signs such as temperature. The system could then, for example, connect to a smart thermostat with HomeKit and adjust the temperature inside the house to the optimal sleeping conditions.
Patents are obtained by Apple's engineers on a frequent basis, so there is no guarantee that this is a product that is actually being developed or will ever be sold. Also, as the company has still not added sleep tracking to the Apple Watch yet, we can imagine it will be a while before a product on this level would see a release. Still, it is exciting to think of the potential products Apple could bring to the health space.
Master your iPhone in minutes
iMore offers spot-on advice and guidance from our team of experts, with decades of Apple device experience to lean on. Learn more with iMore!
Joe Wituschek is a Contributor at iMore. With over ten years in the technology industry, one of them being at Apple, Joe now covers the company for the website. In addition to covering breaking news, Joe also writes editorials and reviews for a range of products. He fell in love with Apple products when he got an iPod nano for Christmas almost twenty years ago. Despite being considered a "heavy" user, he has always preferred the consumer-focused products like the MacBook Air, iPad mini, and iPhone 13 mini. He will fight to the death to keep a mini iPhone in the lineup. In his free time, Joe enjoys video games, movies, photography, running, and basically everything outdoors.


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What the hell were they thinking?
Luxury brand Prada is accused of selling $550 "blackface" figurines. They have charms in their Pradamalia line that are monkeys with dark faces and big red lips, i.e. blackface. The merchandise has now been removed for purchase, though the site still shows it.
Here's Prada's response to the accusation:
On Friday morning, Gothamist's Jennifer Hsu got this video of the Prada store in NYC's SOHO district shuttering its blinds, as a way of hiding the offensive window display:
screenshot via Gothamist/YouTube
One thousand more single migrant adults are being detained by U.S. border protection each week in 2019, with the detention system at “serious risk of exceeding safety standards on a regular basis,” documents reported today by Newsweek show.
A year-long investigation of private Facebook hate groups by REVEAL finds close to 400 current and retired law enforcement officers are members, including officers from small towns as well as big cities — including NYPD.
Trump-aligned extremists are busily spreading disinformation online this week about ‘Immigrants Are Bringing Ebola To The US.’ Officials say the conspiracy amplified by Alex Jones of Infowars, Gateway Pundit, and other right-wingers is “Patently False.”
Who needs a holiday sale? Sometimes there’s no better time than the thick of summer to find deals. We should know – we’ve found ten deep discounts on some must-have items. Whether you’re searching for CBD edibles, exercise gear, chargers or other tech, take a look. But don’t look long – these prices aren’t likely […]
Heading abroad? Even if it’s just a short trip, there’s a lot to prepare for. Travel can be incredibly rewarding, but it can tricky to navigate different cultures and lodging arrangements – and even trickier to do it cheaply. Before you go shopping for suitcases, here’s our pick for a good first investment: The Ultimate […]
Fried foods are a weakness for many of us. There’s nothing quite like that extra crisp crackle on chicken, fries or onion rings. And for years, our arteries have been paying for the privilege. Lately, the air fryer has been a godsend for those who love the fried stuff but love their body too. If […]


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Published on July 25th, 2016 | by Daniel Sherman Fernandez0
Global car manufacturers forced to delay new launches
Automakers from the east to the west are paying a price for Volkswagen’s emissions cheating scandal as environmental regulators intensify their efforts to root out violations. Regulators are taking an extra-long look at new-vehicle emissions before giving their stamp of approval, a trend that could delay vehicle launches.
So far, only Volkswagen has been formally accused of deliberately manipulating emissions to fool lab tests. But top executives from more than half a dozen automakers say the scandal eroded the auto industry’s credibility in the eyes of European and U.S. environmental regulators.
“After the loss of the credibility between the industry altogether and the regulator, we see situations where the normal certification process which normally took four weeks all of the sudden takes three months, and you have to delay your launch for two months,” Daimler AG CEO Dieter Zetsche spoke to reporters recently. “And I don’t think it’s a Mercedes experience; I think it’s a more general experience.”


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For those looking for kosher food, finding acceptable items is not always simple. KosherDev, a startup out of Estonia, has decided to throw its hat into the ring and roll out “Is It Kosher?” an app designed to help those who keep kosher to avoid the hassle of spending a significant amount of time researching various products.
Essentially, the platform is a basic search service that allows users to enter the name of a particular product and reference various product databases. Or, the user can scan the item while in the store, if that route is more suitable. The company recently made the item more social-friendly, as well, allowing users to share the location and price of items that they find.
The free service has proven to be somewhat popular since it launched back in February 2013, having been installed on Android and iOS more than 8,000 times and claiming more than 4,000 active users. At the moment, the company says that they serve more than 60 databases, including information on more than 220K items.
Nearly 2 years old, the company has still managed to run on funding from the project’s co-founders, Jevgeni Levin tells me. He adds that they currently have interest from a few different potential investors, but have yet to make a decision in this area.
One of the reasons that the company is able to survive without funding is that, thus far, their expenses are fairly low. Levin says that they have not yet monetized the service, but that it has not been an issue because they are only incurring some minor development costs.
Even though they began as a service for those seeking out kosher food, they have branched out recently to a larger audience by releasing an Android app called “Is It Gluten Free?”, for those who need gluten-free food or simply want to incorporate that into their lifestyle.
Is It Kosher? is not the only kosher-focused app out there, but it appears that each maintains a slightly different focus. Kosher Wine Society helps users find kosher wines, while Kosher is worth a download if someone is seeking to find local kosher restaurants. And then there is Kosher Recipes, which provides users recipe ideas. One of the primary direct competitors in this market is cRc Kosher Guide, based on products recommended by the Chicago Rabbinical Council.


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Bureau of Customs coordinating with terminal operators and shipping lines to avert congestion at Manila ports with the re-imposition of the Metro Manila-wide truck ban
The Customs Container Control Division of each port will strictly ensure empty containers are loaded out, while assessment personnel must immediately process release of laden containers to prevent pileups at the port
From December 1 to 13, average yard utilization at Manila International Container Port was 75%
The Bureau of Customs (BOC) is coordinating with terminal operators and shipping lines on averting the possible congestion of Manila ports now that the truck ban has been re-imposed in Metro Manila.
“To ensure the unhampered delivery of services and avoid possible port congestion, the Bureau is closely coordinating with shipping lines and terminal operators as our proactive role in averting the unlikely event of port congestion,” BOC Assessment and Operations Coordinating Group deputy commissioner Atty. Edward James Dy Buco said in a statement.
Dy Buco added that the Customs Container Control Division of each port has been directed to strictly ensure empty containers are loaded out, while all assessment offices personnel are instructed to immediately process the release of laden containers to prevent pileups at the port.
BOC said it is “optimistic amid the threat of port congestion in the resumption of the truck ban as the agency has been keeping the yard utilization rate within the desired level in alignment with the global standard rate which does not exceed 70%.”
It noted that from December 1 to December 13, average yard utilization at Manila International Container Port was at a manageable level of 75%.
The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) on December 14 reinstated the truck ban on major thoroughfares in Metro Manila, including a total truck ban on Epifanio Delos Santos Avenue (EDSA) from Magallanes to North Avenue. This was made upon the request of Metro Manila mayors to alleviate the heavy traffic in the metropolis this holiday season.
The truck ban was suspended last March to allow the smooth flow of goods during the COVID-19 pandemic.
BOC noted that “while the reimposition may ease traffic flow in the meantime, this resulted to allegation from a group of truckers contesting that it would lead to different problems such as increased congestion.”
“As it has been long noted that the implementation of truck ban significantly constricts the flow of trade, the public does not only foresee traffic congestion but a repetition of the chaotic port situation that marred the years 2014 and 2018,” BOC stated.
Alliance of Concerned Truck Owners and Organizations (ACTOO) vice president Rina Papa earlier said that while not surprised the truck ban was re-implemented during the Christmas season, her group had hoped the “formula solution to old problems would be rethought, after all old formulae have long been proven to fail in the past.”
Papa noted that EDSA has had a truck ban since 1994, and the regulation “is one of the worst when it comes to traffic jams, pre-, during and post-strict lockdown policies.”
“We reiterate that solving the traffic situation with token and old solutions compromises the nation’s economy. And at this time when we are all yet to recover, this is very crucial,” she added.
The Confederation of Truckers Association of the Philippines (CTAP), in a position paper to MMDA dated December 14, said implementing the truck ban on major thoroughfares “is not the solution to the problem but [adds] more injury to our struggling national economy punctured by the COVID-19 pandemic.”
CTAP said the truck ban will result in transport gridlock for cargoes, and this will affect the country’s economy.
It added that the truck ban will “thwart not only the effort of the national government to promote sustainable mobility of container cargoes for the betterment of our national economy but will also paralyze the operation of various companies and container yard operators” in Metro Manila.
The group noted that more economic activity happens and the volume of import and export goods drastically increases during the Christmas season. Thus, more road network from North Luzon area and South Luzon area to the Port of Manila “is imperatively needed due to expected heavy volume of cargo that would exit and enter the port premises,” CTAP said.
Instead of a truck ban, CTAP is requesting a 24/7 single truck lane to and from north and south Luzon and on major strategic routes in Metro Manila except EDSA to “eventually minimize the volume and presence” of trucks on major roads in Metro Manila. – Roumina Pablo


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SAN JOSE, Antique, Nov. 30 (PIA) -- The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has reminded business establishments in Antique to adhere to quality standards when selling their products.
Trade and Industry Development Specialist Glen Fernando shared that DTI has been conducting enforcement and monitoring activities to businesses covered by mandatory standards certification in compliance to the Standards Law.
"When we refer to mandatory (products), this is subject to the testing of accredited laboratories of the Bureau of Philippine Standards prior to distribution and selling," Fernando explained.
Among those mandatory products that were monitored include electrical supplies, construction materials, household appliances, and chemical and mechanical products.
To note, DTI has conducted an enforcement activity last year in San Jose which resulted to the confiscation of over one thousand substandard steel bars.
Fernando disclosed that formal charges and penalties await to those erring businesses.
Meanwhile, consumers were advised to be vigilant and refrain from buying substandard products as these posed danger to lives and properties.
"There should be continuous advocacy so that we can educate and awaken the awareness of both retailers and consumers since our laws on product standards have been there. But still, we cannot negate that there are uncertified products proliferating in the market," Fernando conveyed.
Certified products bear the markings of product safety and quality seal and import commodity clearance, according to DTI.
Fernando also encouraged stores to seek DTI's guidance should they are in doubt with the quality of supplies delivered to them. (LTP/LML-PIA6 Antique)


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AGENCIES, Washington: As the US prepares to get its economy back on track, it envisages a new business strategy with several partner countries. India, seems to figure in that list according to US foreign minister Mike Pompeo who has New Delhi for lifting the export ban on critical medical supplies to combat the global coronaviruspandemic.
The US, Pompeo said, is in talks with its “friends” including India for restructuring the global supply chains.
On Wednesday, Pompeo said at a press conference, “We’re working with our friends in Australia, India and Japan, New Zealand, the Republic of Korea, and Vietnam to share information and best practices as we begin to move the global economy forward.”
“Our conversation certainly involved global supply chains, keeping them running smoothly, getting our economies back to full strength and thinking about how we restructure the supply change chains to prevent something like this from ever happening again,” he said.
Over the last few weeks, Pompeo has spoken over phone — at least four times — with external affairs minister S. Jaishankar.


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Finance staff in SMEs spend eight hours a month on average dealing with "unnecessary" purchasing queries from stakeholders, according to research.
The study, carried out by Invu, found a lack of visibility in the requisitioning process meant staff spent hours responding to questions from stakeholders about whether or not requests had been approved.
The survey found half of finance staff were unhappy with their current purchase ordering process and 47 per cent thought corrective action was necessary.
Some 35 per cent of respondents said current processes made it “difficult to make a purchase on behalf of the company” or “they have to work around the purchase order process in order to get things done”.
The survey, of 200 UK finance workers, found 35 per cent of respondents had multiple methods for delivering purchase orders to suppliers, while a third used email as the sole method.
Almost two thirds of respondents were not using dedicated software as part of the purchase order process, with 16 per cent using a manual process, 26 per cent using Excel or similar, and 22 per cent a hybrid approach.
Ian Smith, general manager at Invu, said: “Time pressure is a massive concern for SMEs who are primarily focused on business growth. Streamlining the purchase order process is one step SMEs can take to help alleviate pressures on finance workers and ensure their time is spent more effectively.”
Respondents who reported no fixed requirement to produce purchase orders said they had a 33 per cent time saving compared to organisations that had a “rigid mandatory requirement for following a purchase order process”.
Meanwhile, organisations that offered a “flexible approach” to purchase orders, using a combination of email, paper and computer applications, spent 20 per cent less time dealing with purchase orders than those who relied solely on paper.
Smith added: “While it is interesting to see variable time savings between segmented groups of respondents in relation to organisational procedures, the overriding conclusion is that time could be saved if employees of SME organisations were engaged with a system and the purchase order process was visible end to end.”


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The cult gaming classic ToeJam and Earl as well as it’s sequel Panic on Funkotron have been released in a bundle for the Xbox Live Arcade at 800 points and the Playstation Network will sell them separately for $4.99, in fact they arrived without my knowledge this last Wednesday. So that means you now have all weekend to get reacquainted or perhaps introduced for the first time to those two hip aliens ToeJam and his best friend ‘Big’ Earl!
[Via] Chaos Ruins
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Swedish music-streaming service Spotify recently went public, with the intriguing yet risky strategy of foregoing an Initial Public Offering (IPO).
The move paid off for the company in a big way with the share price at close easily beating the NYSE’s forecast (despite the ill omen of the Exchange unwittingly putting up a Swiss, not Swedish, flag).
Nevertheless, the move has once again raised the debate over whether or not Spotify represents an economically viable model. It’s not a question without merit, even though the service is nearly a decade old, with an ever-growing audience of more than 70 million paying subscribers.
The fact remains that Spotify is one of the only standalone streaming services. In contrast, competitors Apple, Alphabet and Amazon are all massive companies that don’t need to profit from their streaming services.
Apple Music is perhaps the greatest threat to Spotify, though it only has half the number of paying subscribers, and both services have been growing at roughly the same rate over the past few years.
Speculators believe the company’s current subscription model can’t properly monetise the user base. However, others see Spotify’s decreasing churn (the number of users who discontinue their subscription) as a good omen.
Speculators believe the company’s current subscription model can’t properly monetise the user base.
Despite difficulties in the market, Spotify’s paying members seem to be growing at an increasing rate. The time it takes the service to break another 10 million paid subscribers has been decreasing; compare the four years it took to reach the first 10 million with the five months it took to go from 40 to 50 million.
Spotify is also fiercely protecting its revenue by cracking down on apps that let users access premium features for free.
It’s clear that Spotify has worked hard in preparation for its public listing.
And speaking of, the controversial decision to go public without an IPO was a success.
Typically, the IPO would allow institutional investors to decide a price for the company’s shares. It also guarantees the purchase of at least some of the company’s shares before they’re widely available.
However, Spotify’s strategy would have avoided some investment banker fees (though not all) and allowed it to start trading immediately, without the delay of the lock-up period. It also gave Spotify the ability to directly provide investors with relevant information.
This could even have wider repercussions for the tech industry. The success may well inspire other entrepreneurs to pursue a similar path.
But the question remains – is Spotify sustainable, and is it a sound long-term investment opportunity? Well, as with all investments, there is uncertainty.
Some commentators note that Spotify’s margins remain dependents on the whims of record labels. This means that Spotify could find itself without content to offer, or be forced to increase prices, should labels decide to charge the service more.
There is also the fact that even as revenue continues to increase, the company is still not profitable. This is due to how close Spotify’s cost of revenue is to its revenue.
That said, Spotify itself remains hopeful, given that it prioritises growth over profitability.
Ultimately, as with all things, only time will tell.
Here are four ways you can start preparing your business for a more secure future.


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Bed Bath & Beyond coupons "expire" as store closing sales start
Bed Bath & Beyond coupons that never expire finally expired.
The big picture: Tuesday was the last day to use the iconic blue coupons — which households across the country have stowed away for years — before they were worthless.
- The company's gift cards won't have value for much longer, either.
- But consumers may still be able to snag deals during liquidation sales, which are expected to start Wednesday.
Driving the news: After months of speculation and failed attempts to save the company, Bed Bath & Beyond filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection Sunday and immediately began to liquidate, saying that it will reverse course only if it secures a last-minute sale of the company.
- The company has 360 Bed Bath & Beyond stores and 120 buybuy Baby locations left after recent rounds of store closings.
- All stores are expected to close by June 30, according to a court filing.
Flashback: The liquidation comes more than half a century after Leonard Feinstein and Warren Eisenberg started the chain as Bed ‘n Bath in 1971, specializing in linens and bath items, with their first store in Springfield, New Jersey.
- The company grew to 11 stores by 1985, more than 300 by 2001, and 970 at its peak in the last decade, chief restructuring officer Holly Etlin said in a court filing.
The company owes much of its success to what Etlin called “one of the greatest retail coupons of all time,” which helped propel “Bed Bath & Beyond to become one of the first superstores in the United States.”
Zoom in: Here's what consumers need to know about Bed Bath & Beyond's bankruptcy, changing programs, and policies:
Bed Bath & Beyond 20%-off coupons
The popular coupons have changed in recent years with more exclusions and fewer mailed to shoppers.
- After Target veteran Mark Tritton took over as CEO in 2019, the company minimized its coupons — a move Etlin said led directly to reduced foot traffic.
- GlobalData managing director Neil Saunders told Axios that Bed Bath & Beyond's lenient coupon policy trained consumers to only buy on discounts, and that when the company tried to put restrictions around coupon usage, "it was seen by many as a major deterioration in service.”
- "In recent years there has been an inherent conflict between trying to improve margins by restricting coupon usage and trying to generate sales growth," Saunders said.
- The company also offered a 20% discount with its paid Welcome Rewards+ program, though many exclusions applied.
The end: The company confirmed to Axios that it anticipates it will “no longer accept coupons or Welcome Rewards+ discounts beginning April 26.”
Yes, but: Shoppers can redeem earned Welcome Rewards until May 15, but will not be earning new rewards on purchases, the company said on its website.
- The paid memberships are not eligible for refunds, the website notes.
Bed Bath & Beyond gift cards
May 8 is the last day to use gift cards at Bed Bath & Beyond and buybuy Baby stores, the company says.
- If you have a merchandise credit, you have until May 15 to redeem it.
Of note: The Better Business Bureau suggests consumers look at a business' financial condition before buying a gift card.
- "If news articles report that a company is on shaky ground, it might be best to purchase a gift card from another retailer," BBB said.
Bed Bath & Beyond, buybuy Baby returns
What they're saying: "Returns and exchanges will be processed in accordance with our usual policies until May 24 for items purchased prior to April 23," the company told Axios.
- Purchases made during store closing sales are final and no refunds will be given, which is typical with liquidation sales.
Bed Bath & Beyond store closing sales
The going-out-of-business sales are expected to end by June 30, the company said, but closing dates can vary by location as could discounts.
- Often the closing sales move faster after a company files for bankruptcy than when closing stores in attempts to avoid filing for Chapter 11.
Be smart: When shopping liquidation sales, compare prices to competitor stores to make sure you're getting a good deal.
- Check products closely to make sure all parts are included because they can't be returned.
Bed Bath & Beyond wedding and buybuy Baby registries
Registry items can no longer be purchased but the company said it expects to partner with “an alternative platform” where shoppers can transfer and complete their registries.
- "We will provide details in the coming days," the company said in an email to consumers.
Editor's note: This story was originally published April 24.
More from Axios:


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Cryptocurrency can seem like a promising yet intimidating purchase for many profit-seeking individuals. However, it doesn’t have to be that way, thanks to the creation of Earnity—a new social-first cryptocurrency platform and marketplace led by Domenic Carosa and Dan Schatt. Seemingly in contrast to other crypto platforms, Earnity is designed to make buying crypto easy from the start.
The aim of the budding platform, which is making its debut in 2022, is to simplify cryptocurrency and make crypto more accessible and easy to manage for everybody, everywhere. According to executives Domenic Carosa and Dan Schatt, the marketplace combines what makes decentralized finance and crypto so exciting with the benefits of today’s social internet. These benefits include the opportunity to receive input, connect with others, and pose questions to people with common interests. As a result, it’s easy to engage with fellow crypto enthusiasts, communities, and researchers to stay up to date on the latest industry events and news all in one place.
The platform rewards the producers of high-quality information via a trust-building, reputation-focused, community-driven scoring system. As a result, users can be confident that the knowledge they gain from other people on the site will consistently be top quality and reliable.
The new marketplace is also highly secure, which is a huge draw for individuals who have steered clear of crypto buying up to now due to security concerns, according to Carosa and Schatt.
The platform additionally provides an innovative and novel place for people to explore today’s emerging assets in gaming, web3, and even the metaverse. With the metaverse considered the future of the internet, now couldn’t be a better time to learn how to leverage cryptocurrency in this space, according to Schatt and Carosa. It is just one more reason to delve into crypto with Earnity in 2022.


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// Boohoo hires ex-Asos and Amazon executive Shaun McCabe as new finance boss
// McCabe, who has been a non-executive director at the retailer since 2020, will replace Neil Catto
Boohoo has appointed former Asos and Amazon exec Shaun McCabe as its new finance chief.
McCabe, who has been a non-executive director at the retailer since 2020, will replace Neil Catto who will stay on the board as an executive director responsible for strategic projects.
McCabe is currently CFO of Trainline. He was previously international director of Asos and CFO for Amazon Europe.
Boohoo said McCabe is expected to take up his new role later this year, with Catto remaining as finance chief until then.
The online fashion retailer posted its first UK sales drop last week as it struggles with supply chain disruption and shifting post-pandemic consumer trends.
Boohoo posted a 1% fall in UK revenue while overall sales dropped 8% in the three months to 31 May 2022.
Boohoo said it had been anticipating a slowdown of sales as consumers’ online shopping in lockdown fuelled previously strong comparatives.


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U.S. President Donald Trump announced that his administration would “impose a 25 percent tariff on steel and 10 percent tariff on aluminum imports for a long period of time” during a meeting with steel and aluminum executives on Thursday (local time). Among the three options recommended to Trump as a result of the Commerce Department’s investigation of the effect of steel imports on national security under the Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act, he chose an option to impose tariffs of 24 percent and 7.7 percent on all steel and aluminum imports, respectively, but with higher tariffs. The new policy has yet been fully crafted, but if it’s any consolation, South Korea was able to avoid the worst-case scenario in which Washington would slap a 53 percent tariff on 12 countries.
Trump’s latest announcement of sanctions on steel imports is way beyond the range of protecting American industries, and is no different from the proclamation of a trade war. Retaliatory trade actions are already looming on the horizon as Washington’s major allies such as Japan and Canada have expressed opposition immediately, not to mention China. European Trade Commissioner Cecilia Malmström said in an interview with the Financial Times that the European Union considers imposing “safeguard” tariffs on (U.S.) steel and aluminum imports in retaliation.
What is more worrying is that the Trump administration based the imposition of new tariffs on a threat on its national security. The World Trade Organization (WTO) allows countries to levy tariffs on imports for the reason of wars or national threats, but the provision has been little used as it can lead to unintended trade barriers. Section 232 of the U.S. Trade Expansion Act of 1962 was also initially aimed at the Communist bloc including the former Soviet Union, but had not been applied by Washington in respect for the existing free trade order until it has been just used by Trump for the latest set of tariffs. What this means is that other countries can now easily build a trade barrier by freely imposing a so-called “security tariff,” shaking the international community’s decades-long free trade order to its core.
Meanwhile, both conservatives and liberals in the United States have sprung up to criticize President Trump’s new sanctions, which he claims would protect American industries. The conservative Wall Street Journal has warned that the latest action will be Trump’s biggest policy mistake during his term in office. The Washington Post also expressed concern that increasing jobs in the steel and aluminum industries will be offset by layoffs in other industries. With the new tariffs projected to drive down the U.S. growth rate of this year by 0.2 percentage point, stocks fell by 1.68 percent shortly after the announcement. If this triggers a global trade war, South Korea, as the world’s sixth-largest exporter, will become one of the countries that bear the most brunt. South Korea’s trade authority should continue to monitor in real time recent developments and protectionist movements in and around the country, including its largest trade partners, the United States and China, and prepare against the worst possible situation of plummeting global trade.


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The Smosh YouTube channel’s iPhone app has received an update, and among other changes, it now features an assist from Break. The mobile home of comedy duo Ian Hecox and Anthony Padilla now includes a curated selection of videos from Break.com, a byproduct of the merger between Alloy Digital and Break Media.
Last October, Alloy Digital (the online video network that counts Smosh as its most prominent YouTube partner) and Break Media merged to form Defy Media, a new online video company aimed at the young YouTube demographic. The deal made sense because Alloy and Break target the same 12-34 age group, and Break.com’s collection of UGC videos and prank series do indeed strike the same audience as Smosh’s boisterous comedy skits.
The Smosh brand currently extends to a host of non-YouTube endeavors, including a magazine, a mobile game, and a musical album. On YouTube, it continues to thrive; among channels not run by YouTube itself, only the indomitable PewDiePie has more subscribers than Smosh’s 16.8 million.


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Ted’s Hot Dogs for Only 91 Cents
To celebrate the 91 years of serving the Buffalo area, tomorrow (Wednesday) they will be offering 91 Cent hot dogs according to WKBW
Ted's Hot Dogs started as just a hot dog cart right near the then-new Peace Bridge. Back then, a hot dog and drink cost $0.22!
Ted's would expand to Cheektowaga and Amherst. The menu expanded beyond just hot dogs and today you can find nineTed's locations in the Buffalo area, with an additional one in Tempe, Arizona.


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Latest Insights on BHVN
3 Tips to Survive the Federal Reserve’s Rate Hikes
February 1, 2023 Banyan Edge, Economy, InvestingThe Federal Reserve has dished out 7 consecutive rate hikes. But you can still make money in this market. Just follow these 3 tips!
What Doesn’t Kill Crypto Makes It Stronger
May 10, 2022 Cryptocurrency, Winning Investor DailyThe latest volatility in crypto markets put the TerraUSD stablecoin to the test.
Crypto Can Eliminate Internet Outages Forever
December 15, 2021 Cryptocurrency, Technology, Winning Investor DailyAmazon’s historic nine-hour internet outage affected everything from Roombas to online test-taking platforms.


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AT&T is launching a new special offer for new and existing subscribers this week, specifically a buy one get one promo on the major US wireless carrier’s best selling mobile devices. In this deal, customers who decide to purchase a brand new smartphone will get another device and only get to pay for one unit. This offer is good until December 24th.
Back in September earlier this year just days before Apple was about to officially launch its newest iPhone models (the iPhone 7 and the iPhone 7 Plus), the tech giant revealed that the jet black colored editions of the iPhone 7 had sold out.
T-Mobile has officially announced its Black Friday offers for this year. More than a couple of weeks ago, the wireless carrier’s upcoming Black Friday deals were leaked in the interwebs. Although the offers indicated in the leak were not official yet, it did give customers a bit of an idea of what to expect. But now that T-Mobile has made it official, let the speculation end and the buying begin.
Here is some good news for owners of Samsung’s current flagship devices -- the South Korean tech giant has just revealed that it is commencing the roll out of Google’s Android 7.0 Nougat to Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge handsets by way of its Galaxy Beta Program.
Not to be outdone with Verizon Wireless’ announcement of its LTE Advanced deployment a week ago, T-Mobile has revealed that it has successfully doubled the connection speed of its data network by way of 4x4 MIMO (multiple input, multiple output).
As reported by Droid Life, the biggest wireless carrier in America is letting customers make full use of a promo code at checkout in order to enjoy discounts of $300 on a number of high profile smartphones.
Wirefly Is America's Most Trusted Source For All Cell Phones, Plans, TV, and Internet Deals
Wirefly offers great deals on a large selection of smartphones, cell phones, tablets, mobile hotspots, and other wireless devices for the nation's most popular carriers. Use Wirefly’s innovative cell phone and plan comparison tools to ensure you are getting the best deal on the market. Shop with confidence knowing that Wirefly wants to help you find the best prices on cell phones, cell phone plans, TV, and Internet service.


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Rimac was first introduced to the world at the 2011 Frankfurt Auto Show when it unveiled the Concept One electric supercar, many were skeptical if the auto company had the knowledge and financing available to continue its pursuit. A new teaser video was just released and it showcases the upcoming successor model to the Concept One. The competition to build the best electric supercar is just beginning as Tesla recently revealed it’s new Roadster that will be going into production over the next few years.
We only have performance details on the Concept One, but most expect the new supercar to have improved performance and be more comfort-oriented. The Concept One is powered by a 4-motor electric powertrain that pushes out 1,088 horsepower, allowing the car to go 0-60 mph in a mere 2.5 seconds with a top speed of 220 mph. Only 10 Concept One’s were ever built, however Rimac Chief Operating Officer Monika Mikac has hinted the company may produced 100 examples of the new model as they expand to 5 retail locations in the United States .
While we wait for additional details, including the model name, price and delivery dates; all we have to go on is this short teaser video below provided by Rimac Automobili.


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Leeli and Lou, a Cincinnati-based boutique, will be opening its doors on High Street in the next week. Plans for the shop have been in the works since last spring, but the lease was finally signed Sept. 7.
Shop owners Elizabeth Lance and Julie Twyman tested the market of Miami women at Miami’s eleventh annual Fashion and Design Show and were greeted with the interest they were seeking.
After four years of attending Mom’s Weekends with her daughter and helping Lance run Leeli and Lou’s Hyde Park Square location in Cincinnati, Twyman saw the need to bring Leeli and Lou to Oxford.
She was most excited about bringing options for weekend “going out” clothing and accessories. Inner and outerwear, accessories and gifts will fill their 850-square-foot “style bar.”
It will be moving into the building owned by the Sigma Chi Foundation, right next to Apple Tree.
“We want to complement them. You know, just offer the girls something a little different,” said Lance.
Alan Kyger, the city’s Economic Development Director, was their first contact. He works with all prospective and current Oxford businesses and with what he called “quality of life” issues — whatever can be done to make Oxford a better place to live.
“We would love to see uniqueness in town. When you come to Oxford, we want to see that you don’t get an experience like anywhere else,” said Kyger.
Kyger and Jessica Greene, director of Enjoy Oxford, an initiative of the Oxford Visitors Bureau, share the vision that filling empty storefronts, ideally with mom-and-pop-style stores, will prevent “eyesores.”
It is great that there is development, but “coming soon” signs are not the same as the actual establishment, Kyger said. Leeli and Lou’s newest home in the Sigma Chi Foundation building sat empty for more than three years.
According to Kyger, Uptown is at over 95 percent occupancy, which includes 131 total businesses locations. Leeli and Lou is among the newest additions.
The manager of the Sigma Chi Foundation and Sigma Chi building, which Leeli and Lou rents out, grew up in Hyde Park Square, where the original Leeli and Lou location currently sits. Twyman said this helped them settle into Oxford so quickly.
Opening Leeli and Lou was not the first business venture for Lance, who will continue to manage the boutique’s Hyde Park location. She had previously owned a preschool for 16 years.
She filled her store with clothes from Los Angeles and jewelry and accessories from New York City, two destinations dear to her. Lance continues visiting once a month and buys often, not necessarily picking out what is most popular, but what she thinks fits the boutique best.
“We really kind of pride ourselves in being trendy,” said Twyman.
Leeli and Lou has used one of Lance’s daughters, Lindsay, who works for Valentino fashion company in New York City, as a resource, running ideas past her. Lindsay, Elle and Lily Lance, are the namesakes of the shop.
Leeli and Lou are tentatively planning to open this Thursday, Oct. 5, just in time for Family Weekend. The last major tasks, beside the physical setup, is getting all the inventory into the system.
“It’s so fun watching it come together, because it started off as nothing,” Lance said.


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Pinellas County (WFTS) — A man posing as a potential buyer was able to swipe the keys out of the door of a 2015 Kia Soul. Only to return a couple of hours later and finish the job.
“We caught him on the camera grabbing the key right out of the door of the Kia Soul right here,” Kaylyn Creel said. Creel runs the family business, Creel Motors Tampa Bay, with her father.
Creel said they were moving cars around the lot. An employee was about to go lock up when he noticed the key was gone. She said minutes earlier the man was talking to her father about buying a car.
“He came in here yesterday, discussed buying a car for his mom, you know we said bring mom on down,” Creel said.
He didn’t come back with his mom, but another unidentified man. They get in the brown Kia Soul and then start working to wiggle the car out of the parking spot. Creel said her dad tried boxing the car in with his SUV after realizing the key went missing. But the thief just rammed his way out.
“We try to put it bumper to bumper so you can’t sneak stuff out, but I guess somebody who is in a mood, they’ll crash everything on their way out,” Creel said. “He starts the car and wiggles it out and damaged two of my other cars in the process.”
Creel said they’ve been in business for 67 years. She is now the third generation to operate the business, taking over for her father.
Creel tells us this is the third car stolen off their lot in the past month.
“We try to help people and seeing something like this, it hurts cause we try to be good people. We try to be right to our customers and our community, it sucks,” Creel said.
The 2015 brown Kia Soul will have damage down the passenger side. Creel said it is also unique in that it has one black rim and three silver rims.
“I was going to make them all black, I had a nice set for it on the left. Now I’m sure I’ll have tons of other things to fix,” Creel said.
If you have any information on this stolen vehicle call the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office at 727-582-6200.


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Classic taste: Burberry’s tropical gabardine trench coat is proving widespread in China
A keenness for British labels amongst rich Chinese shoppers has kick-started Burberry’s transformation plans.
Demand for the luxurious label’s well-known checked trench coats helped push up its wholesale industry in Asia Pacific via five in line with cent final yr, outstripping the USA, Middle East, Europe and UK.
Burberry leader working and fiscal officer Julie Brown stated that it has observed a ‘resurgence’ of consumers in Hong Kong, with each Chinese vacationers and native shoppers pushing up gross sales expansion to double digits.
She added: ‘The Chinese make up round 40laptop of our industry, so they simply love the Burberry product. It’s so simple as that.’
Burberry’s tropical gabardine trench coat – a light-weight model of the standard jacket that prices as much as £2,000 – used to be one of the vital corporate’s largest hits.
Its Camden Car Coat, which sells for £1,300, has additionally proved well-liked by male shoppers.
Though team income dipped 1 in line with cent to £2.7billion within the yr to March 31, earnings got here in forward of expectancies, up three in line with cent to £471million. Store gross sales rose three in line with cent.
It additionally speeded up closures, shutting 34 websites and opening 14 in nations together with China, Taiwan, Australia and the United States.
Burberry is in the beginning of a three-year technique offered via leader government Marco Gobbetti to revitalise the company and take it extra upmarket.
It needs to draw more youthful shoppers and turn out to be a significant competitor within the high-end purse marketplace, competing with Celine and Louis Vuitton.
The corporate just lately appointed former Givenchy head clothier Riccardo Tisci to exchange Christopher Bailey, who’s leaving after 17 years.
Tisci will debut his first assortment at London Fashion Week in September.
Gobbetti stated his choice to take Burberry extra upmarket didn’t imply it used to be pushing up costs or going ‘uber-luxury’. ‘We are luxurious, no query about that,’ he stated.
‘We are very a lot outlined via our trench coats, which promote for between £1,300 and £2,000, or even our cushy equipment, like our cashmere scarves, promote for about £400. We’re obviously no longer access or center marketplace.
‘At the similar time we aren’t interested by taking part in in the similar house as Chanel or Hermes.’
Analysts had been vital of Gobetti’s plans up to now, however the release of a £150million percentage buyback programme the day past has gained reward.
Shares in Burberry closed three.6 in line with cent upper final night time.
100 Years Of Luxury
- Burberry used to be based in 1856 in Basingstoke via 21-year-old Thomas Burberry
- Its well-known trench coats have been at the start for military and military officials and are nonetheless made at its manufacturing facility in Castleford, Yorkshire
- It reported revenues of £2.7billion final yr
- Customers spent £117million on kids’s garments
- The corporate has 449 retail outlets international