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Erin Lash: A year since its proxy battle with activist investor Nelson Peltz came to an end, P&G shares have trended higher, up at a mid-single-digit clip, outpacing the low-single-digit appreciation in the S&P 500 Index over the same horizon. However, we believe this reflects signs of progress after the prudent steps taken to steady its course over the last several years, as opposed to the oversight of one additional board member.
Although P&G has begun to deliver on its strategic agenda (with organic sales up 4% in the first quarter of fiscal 2019, in excess of the flat- to low-single-digit gains that have characterized the business of late), growth has yet to prove broad based. For one, beauty languished a few years back, but has since reversed course, stringing together mid- to high-single-digit top-line gains over the past six quarters, after parting ways with unprofitable products and launching fare centered on its core anti-aging messaging. We surmise its grooming business--which has posted low-single-digit declines on average since the fourth quarter of fiscal 2017--is also poised for more sustainable sales growth, although not to the same magnitude, as it implements a similar formula after succumbing to intense competition from lower-price upstarts.
In this vein, we'd suggest management's actions to recalibrate its pricing in the segment, invest in on-trend new products, launch its own subscription-based sales model, and drive trials by sending razors to 18-year-old U.S. males, mirror the wide range of endeavors P&G pursued as it worked to steady its footing in beauty.
However, we don't believe the path to sustainable top-line gains will prove linear. As such, we believe shares could retreat if sales falter in the near term, creating a more attractive entry point for shareholders. In the meantime, investors wanting to stock up on the household and personal care sector should look to wide-moat Colgate, in our view, which trades at around a 10% discount to our $70 fair value estimate.


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Involved at all ports is installation of SST software and automatic identification technology to provide end-to-end visibility into ocean shipments. Accounting for almost half of all shipments from Europe to the U.S., the Ports of Rotterdam, Antwerp, and Felixstowe (in the U.K.) now have “real-time visibility of shipment locations and status, physical security, automated and non-intrusive detection of security, and a complete audit trail of the container’s journey from origin to destination,” according to Hutchinson Port Holdings (HPH) which manages most operations at the ports.
The major container terminal operator in Mainland China and in Hong Kong, China Merchants Holdings International is installing SST technology at the Port of Shenszen, while HPH is doing the same at the Port of Yantian which is within the Shenszen trading region. This region is experiencing rapid growth in its shipment of containers to the U.S.
With more than 60 partners in the consortium, SST now has visibility into 65% of all containers being shipped to the U.S.

domain: news


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It’s news but not as you’ve known it - Reuters Institute report on digital news
The Reuters Institute Digital Report 2016 reports on the ongoing decline of traditional news media and its uneasy relationship with digital platforms.
The annual publication of audited subscription data used to be a moment of celebration in newsrooms. No longer.
Print sales and advertising revenues are declining rapidly. And while the audience for digital news is growing thanks to the reach of the internet, and specifically social media, it's incredibly difficult to make money.
The harsh reality is that digital news content isn't as valuable to its audience, or advertisers, as print.
In the last 12 months alone in the UK, The Independent has abandoned print, shedding around 75 jobs, and The Guardian has reported losses of £50 million.
The news business is broken
The decline in news print and shift to digital media has played out in newsrooms over the last two decades. In the UK, The Daily Telegraph was the first newspaper to launch a website in 1994.
More than 20 years on, the latest Reuters Institute Digital Report 2016 is a challenging read for anyone in the media or public relations business.
The fifth annual report is based on a survey of more than 50,000 people in 26 countries.
It tells the story of publishers losing control of distribution as consumers seek out news from algorithms and social networks. Increasingly people are unaware of the source of news content according to the Reuters Institute.
It also tells the story of the trust that consumers place in traditional news brands.
Therein lies a harsh irony for news publishers. The Reuters Institute suggests that it's hard to explain this apparent contradiction in any other terms than a new phase of media disruption.
The plain fact is that it’s a lot harder to make money in the news business than it was 20 years ago.
Driving revenue from online news is critical for publishers but the disintermediation of content, the economics of mobile, and rise of ad blocking, make it elusive for almost all publishers.
Let’s consider those three issues in turn.
More than half (51%) of the respondents to the Reuters Institute Digital Report say they use social media as a source of news each week. Around one in ten (12%) say it is their main source. Facebook is by far the most important network for finding, reading or watching and sharing news.
According to the Reuters Institute Digital Report, social media is significantly more important for women and the young. More than a quarter of 18 to 24s say social media (28%) is their main source of news.
The Reuters Institute is rightly concerned that algorithmic selection of news will mean missing out on important information and challenging viewpoints.
Move to mobile
In terms of devices, smartphone usage for news is sharply up according to Reuters Institute Digital Report, reaching half of our global sample (53%), while computer use is falling and tablet growth is flattening out.
Business problems for many publishers have worsened with the rise of ad blocking, which is running at between 10% (Japan) and 38% (Poland) but much higher amongst under 35s and people who consume news the most.
The vast majority of people that have downloaded an ad blocker are using it regularly, suggesting that once downloaded people rarely go back. Only around 8% of smartphone users currently use an ad blocker but around a third of respondents say they plan to install one on their mobile in the next year.
The only possible conclusion from the Reuters Institute Digital Report is that there will be a lot less news in the future than there has been in the past. The numbers simply don’t add up.
Yet Brexit and the US election shows the need for journalism in the public sphere is more acute than ever. Increasingly emotion usurps fact in social networks.
My view is that we need to discuss the role of the social network in the distribution of news content. There’s a clear imbalance in the value exchange.
We also need to have a conversation about the role of public service media. While it creates a discontinuity in the market, it may have an increasingly important position in a market where the fundamental business model is broken.
Impact on public relations
If you work in organisational communication the lessons from the Reuters Institute Digital Report are clear.
Traditional news media will continue to decline as part of your communication mix.
Its future role will depend on the size and scale of your organisation but branded media, influencers and community engagement will increasingly take its place.


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I'm not a frequent reader of general-audience tech pages, but at this time of year, enterprise IT news slows down, so I have a chance to spend some time perusing these sites. I'm not surprised and certainly not complaining that these sites primarily talk about consumer electronics; after all, I just got done grousing about a lack of goings-on in the enterprise space, and with the Consumer Electronics Show in Vegas coming just a few days after the Iowa caucuses, it makes sense that this is where the buzz is.
What did surprise me after a few days of reading these sites fairly regularly is what appears to be a bias on Google's tech news page for stories that talk about the company's products. So I did a quick, unscientific, totally indefensible survey of a few sites, totaling up the number of stories that mentioned Google or Android in a headline or summary. Here's what I got: Yahoo: 1; Bing: 3; WSJ/Tech: 0; Google: 6.
Those six stories on the Google tech news page represented about a quarter of the stories listed there. I only counted once, but the trend was noticeable throughout the day.
Now, I have no idea if humans or algorithms or some combination of the two pick Google's stories (probably a combination). But however it happens, there seems to be a bias. It's a good reminder that depending on just one source for any type of news is a dangerous thing. Just as you might detect a bit of an editorial slant from MSNBC or Fox News, other sources aren't balanced as they might be, either.
For their parts, Senators Herb Kohl (D-Wisc.) and Mike Lee (R-Utah) are concerned enough about the apparent bias in Google search to request that the FTC look into the matter. The two senators are, respectively, chairman and ranking member of the antitrust subcommittee of the Senate's judiciary committee. Their letter to FTC chairman Jon Leibowitz cites the importance of the Internet to the American economy, and of search engines to the use of the Internet. It also cites Google's near monopoly in Internet search.
The two senators are requesting a full inquiry into Google's apparent practice of surfacing information on its secondary products more frequently than for competing products. The letter cites the substantial change in Google's business model since it made its IPO in 2004. Then, the search giant was just that, a search-only company. Now it plays in everything from phones to product search to maps to YouTube -- and has more skin in the game of getting IT pros' eyeballs on stories about its products.
Art Wittmann is director of InformationWeek Reports, a portfolio of decision-support tools and research reports. You can write to him at [email protected].
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Is Porsche planning to take on the Ferrari 488?
The German automaker just won the 24 Hours of Le Mans with its 919 Hybrid race car and a post on the brand’s Facebook page hints at something awesome coming soon.
Three images were actually shared, one pairing the 919 Hybrid with a past Porsche race car, one photo combined with the current 918 Spyder and then there’s the image above, which teases the future of Porsche.
It’s likely that the future Porsche sports car being teased will borrow technology from the 919 Hybrid and it very well could be the rumored Porsche 960 Ferrari fighter.
Aimed to slot between the existing 911 Turbo models and the 918 Spyder, the Porsche 960 would combine a turbocharged powerplant with a hybrid powertrain to target the Ferrari 488 GTB and McLaren sports cars such as the 650S. Expect a lightweight aluminum platform based on the company’s new, modular sport architecture with all-wheel drive as standard and around 600 hp on tap.
Considering Porsche is ready to tease about its next sports car, expect it to debut by 2017 before going on sale with a price tag a bit under $200,000.
Discuss this story at our luxury lifestyle forum


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It’s starting to look as if the whirlwind of the Internet revolution might be petering out to a gentle breeze. The customer‘s new position of power is now a well-established fact. For the business world, Facebook and Twitter accounts, coupled with an attractive website, now rank high on most checklists for corporate success. But is that really enough?
In a world where even the smallest air current can build into a powerful storm, it can obviously prove to be a mistake not to keep a constant watch on the ever-changing digitalization trend – the trend that is generating new data and networking ever more physical products all the time. How fast can an online post by a single disgruntled customer call forth hordes of angry users that can do lasting damage to a company‘s reputation? Could data be the key to business success in the future?
Success in the Digital Age is the first-ever collection of success stories and reports of real-world experiences by 17 CEOs and leading executives from a diverse range of industries as well as leading academics.


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» Www Suvarna Super Jodi Program
Www Suvarna Super Jodi Program
Www Suvarna Super Jodi Program on Technology News and Updates AdmaTechnology.com at Wednesday, April 23, 2014
This time AdmaTechology try to give a brief review of the latest security system from Symantec, Norton Internet Security 2013. What are the advantages? Consider the following reviews.
The main features
Norton Internet Security (NIS) 2013 already have [...]
There is exciting news about the Galaxy S4. Samsung touted is preparing another version of this smartphone with a more advanced camera.
Quoted from Sammobile, Thursday (9/5), the predicted product named Galaxy S4 Zoom.
Camera changes quite noticeably, [...]
Jobs family have not paid off a fee designer.
Venus, ships super sophisticated and minimalist late founder of Apple, Steve Jobs, was confiscated because the ship designers claim the Jobs family have not paid off a fee.
Philippe Starck, designer of the [...]
HTC launched its newest product to sail in 2013. This time, they introduced Android smartphone named HTC One.
Quoted from Ubergizmo, Wednesday (2/20), one of the most highlighted features of the Taiwanese manufacturer is Ultrapixel camera.
Through these [...]
If you had to choose between Galaxy S4 or the iPhone 5, which one is your favorite?
This question may arise when someone wants to buy the iPhone 5, but curious to see what the Galaxy S4 and decided to wait for him to be compared directly.
For that, AdmaTechnology tried [...]
There is a new leaked about brother Z10 is equipped with a physical QWERTY keypad, BlackBerry Q10.
Quoted from Techradar, Friday (22/3), BlackBerry Q10 reportedly will be launched on 26 April.
On price, smartphones with OS BlackBerry 10 is estimated [...]
For those who are used to using Microsoft Office
Windows Phone 8 (WP 8) is a second-generation operating system from Microsoft, Windows Phone, which was first launched in 2010. WP 8 first introduced in October yesterday and with it Microsoft hopes to [...]
New news about the successor to the Galaxy S3 smartphone reappeared. This time, Samsung will release it issued on March 15, 2013.
Quoted from TechRadar, Thursday (2/7), the European market will be the first target and will be available a few weeks after [...]
Jakarta – Samsung Galaxy S4 comes with its smartphone technological innovation is likely to soon be your handheld.
Because, Samsung Electronics has started pre-orders or reservations for the Galaxy S4 in Indonesia.
Pre-order Samsung Galaxy S4 already [...]
The observations made by Repair Labs under a microscope.
According to a report released by Repair Labs, the quality of the screen which is owned by iPad mini, it is still above iPad second generation.
It is based on the quality of each screen tablet [...]
Raise money for children with cleft lip.
Today many people are using Google Maps to find directions to a mall, offices, and other locations in the city, a man wearing this app to walk 5.000 miles or 8046.7 kilometers.
Armed with the Google Maps application [...]


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Huawei has always been one of the device manufacturers who can be banked upon for rolling out the latest updates to some of their devices as soon as any major version of Android has been released although it releases their smartphones with a custom skin on top of Android. This makes the achievement of rolling out the updates this early even better and Huawei is at it again as the manufacturer has once again started to roll out the latest update of Android 8.0 Oreo to two of their devices which have been released in the recent times.
Talking about the update, Huawei has started to roll out the beta test for their EMUI skin of Android which has been upgraded to EMUI 8.0 which means that it is based on Android 8.0 Oreo which also turns out to be the latest version of Android. Talking about the devices that are eligible for the update, Huawei has mentioned that the Honor 9 and the Honor 8 Pro which have been released in the Honor series from Huawei will get to test the beta update and then it will be rolled out to the other devices in the coming days or months.
Looking at the updates that have been received on some of the Honor 9 and the Honor 8 Pro devices, we can confirm that the Honor 9 Oreo beta update is STF-AL10 18.104.22.1685(C00), while the firmware for the Honor V9/Honor 8 Pro is DUK-AL20 22.214.171.1245(C00). This means that if you receive notification for downloading this firmware then you can be sure that this is the Android 8.0 Oreo beta test update for your device. However, you should also note that this is a beta test so proceed with caution as this update can be unstable and should not be used on your daily driver as it may cause some problems in your day-to-day tasks.


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Pepper spray spills at Memphis FedEx facility
- Staff Memphis Business Journal
The exposed material, capsicum, is an irritant that is not fatal. Memphis Fire Department spokesperson Wayne Cooke told the news station that a forklift damaged a five gallon container of concentrated chili peppers, used to make pepper spray. It happened in an outside area and not in FedEx's primary sorting facility, according to the report.
Two of the 117 employees being evaluated have been taken to the hospital, WMC-TV reports.
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US – Director of Sales (Coated Label Products) Green Bay Packaging Inc. | Green Bay, WI
Sales Manager NOVACOPY | Memphis, TN
Sales Executive D2D AT&T Business Solutions | Memphis, TN
Tax Manager Sterling Search Group LLC | Memphis, TN
Outside Sales Representative IPS Packaging | Memphis, TN
- Most popular
- Carlisle Corp.: One Beale tower 'coming soon'
- Gordmans to vacate one of its Memphis stores
- Presenting the 2014 Memphis Favorites winners
- Google sues the state of Mississippi
- New butcher shop and cafe combo in East Memphis
- College conferences raking in big money from football bowl games this
- Memphis firm expands after striking WD-40 distribution deal
- Gigabit Internet coming to Mid-South, just not Memphis
- Memphis Tigers ready for first bowl game in 6 years
- Olymbec steps in as RE-CY backs out of Memphis purchase
A look at the day's business stories from media outlets around Memphis


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At a recent press event ViacomCBS announced a few more details as to how it will change the way it approaches streaming. CEO Bob Bakish said that the company that owns CBS and networks like Comedy Central, MTV, BET and Smithsonian will work in programming from those cable brands into CBS ALL Access this summer as well as original content from those brands and others in its portfolio. More so, Pluto TV the free streaming option that was acquired by CBS upon merging with Viacom will be getting more content from its network assets. There were no details as to how that would work specifically. But considering the number of Viacom based channels on Pluto TV featuring themed channels and even dedicated show based channels like a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles or Cribs based channels, we imagine more content from CBS’s vault will find its way onto Pluto TV.
Ad-supported free streaming platforms or AVOD, seem to be becoming all the rage in the TV business. Pluto began as a start up before being picked up by Viacom, Tubi TV recently was acquired by Fox and XUMO is now property of Comcast. The services provide companies with large libraries a chance to reel in profits from content in the same way they can with syndication but keep it all in house. This is exactly what you should expect to see with Pluto TV when it comes to CBS.
Pluto TV will also be an avenue to sign up for subscription services. The app will eventually have a sign up option on screen that will serve as a portal to CBS ALL Access or the upcoming rebranded service that Viacom CBS has planned for fall. While Pluto TV will still be free it could be used as a way to advertise paid services in house. I would expect to see more promotion of CBS ALL Access programming like its recent inclusion of Picard during the launch of the series.
More is coming with CBS and Pluto as things move forward and we will do our best to stay on top of it.


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Porthleven-based eco packaging company, Flexi-Hex, won two awards at the MRW National Recycling Awards.
Flexi-Hex took the ‘Best Innovation’ and ‘Best Recycled Product of the Year’ categories at yesterday’s (Jan 27) virtual ceremony.
Co-founder Will Boex said: “I feel immensely proud of the Flexi-Hex team, we’ve worked extremely hard over the last year and to start 2021 with these endorsements are truly incredible.”
Flexi-Hex creates plastic-free, adaptable packaging solutions using a patented honeycomb sleeve. Its products have made a big impact within the drinks industry, with over 25% of the UK’s distilleries now using its packaging – including many Cornish brands such as Tarquin’s, Healeys Cyder Farm, Curio Spirits Company and Scilly Spirit.


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Rosebank contends for JHB’s most desirable mixed-use hub title
Rosebank has undergone a major face-lift in recent years, with the extensive redevelopment of both the Rosebank Mall and The Zone @Rosebank creating a high-end retail and shopping prescient. Local authorities also identified the node as a priority development area for improved service delivery and infrastructure. As a result, the suburb is estimated to have seen a R7 billion capital injection in recent years.
Rosebank is becoming an increasingly popular destination for corporates. Surging demand for office space has seen rentals in the suburb increase by 9% in the second quarter, the strongest growth recorded in any Johannesburg office node. Rentals in second-placed Fourways rose by only 3.4%, while in Sandton rentals increased by just 2.5% during the same period.
According to developers, corporate tenants in Rosebank’s new, premium-grade offices are currently paying an average of R230/m² (gross), exceeding the average R207/m² paid in Sandton for space of similar quality.
The construction of premium office space and the refurbishment of existing properties is impacting positively on the area’s residential property market.
More than 700 apartments are currently in various stages of construction and planning. Burgeoning demand has seen these new, luxury units selling for up to R40 000/m² – prices usually reserved for top-end apartments in areas like Sandton and Melrose Arch, where investors typically pay R35 000/m²-R45 000/m².
“Developers believe Rosebank has the opportunity to become a true 24-hour live, work and play precinct…”
The Gautrain station has been a key driver of Rosebank’s reinvention as a mixed-use node. But it is the suburb’s leafy, pedestrianized environment and confined road network which allow it to easily accommodate a mix of office, retail and residential developments – all within a comfortable walking distance.
Developers believe Rosebank has the opportunity to become a true 24-hour live, work and play precinct, unlike Sandton – which failed to transform itself into a pedestrainised, mixed-use node. Initial plans to add hundreds of residential units to the Sandton CBD in the early-2000s faded amidst fears of a local housing bubble. If these units had been built, it is likely that the area would not be struggling with current high levels of congestion.
While developers are unlikely to repeat the same mistakes in Rosebank, some market commentators warn that the price point for sectional title apartments is key – cautioning against building apartments that are too big or too expensive.
Posted by The Know - Pam Golding Properties


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Newton Abbot’s Body Shop branch is to shut, it has been confirmed.
Administrators have announced a list of wide scale company closures since being appointed by the company’s owners.
Seven stores, mostly in London, closed with immediate effect several days ago.
Now almost half of the UK’s 198 stores will shut and the number of staff in its head office is expected to reduce by about 40 per cent, down to 400 full time employees.
The business announced it entered administration last week but said it will continue to trade both in-store and online while plans are made for the future of the high street brand.
No date has been given for the Newton Abbot store’s closure.


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Navigating the future: what business models for tomorrow?
For the second year running, IMD held its "Navigating the Future" conference, drawing a large crowd of top executives. Fifteen teams of participants from IMD's MBA class presented research on three broad themes: business models, key industry trends and the global competitive landscape.
Launched in 2014 by the Director of IMD's MBA program, Ralf Boscheck, the conference aims to bring MBA participants closer to business leaders and ensure that they have a sustainable grasp on their capabilities to lead. Before the conference, the MBA class surveys senior executives, decision makers and fellow participants on the trends they see shaping tomorrow's business environment.
After determining the most pressing trends through the survey, participants carry out extensive research with companies that are facing related issues and then present their findings at "Navigating the Future." After the June session of the conference at IMD, the teams go on the road to address business executives in Dubai, Kyoto, Monterrey (Mexico), San Francisco, Shanghai, Singapore and Tokyo.
The opening presentation focused on food security in Sub-Saharan Africa. Although the region has roughly 25% of the world's arable land, its agricultural output and production levels lag behind most other countries and it has some of the highest rates of undernourishment in the world.
85% of agriculture in Sub-Saharan African is done by small farms with under two hectares, while large-scale industrial farming produces higher-yield agriculture in more advanced countries. In order for the African continent to feed itself, it would need to transition to modern industrial farming. This would also create economic growth and prosperity. To make this happen, Sub-Saharan Africa needs investment in infrastructure, agricultural research, education and institutional reforms.
Another group of MBA participants looked at chocolate and skincare companies to show how business models are adapting to global trends in the FMCG (Fast Moving Consumer Goods) industry.
According to the Belgian luxury chocolate maker Dominique Persoone, chocolate is "now on your plate, but will soon be in a museum" due to the low efficiency of production methods used by cocoa farmers. Over the past six years cocoa prices have doubled and by 2020 the world will face a cocoa shortage. Among the multiple approaches taken to dealing with this shortage, some chocolate manufacturers have moved away from the mainstream chocolate market to position themselves in the hyper premium segment, which is growing at 5.7% vs. 1.3% in the traditional market. Mars, one of the global leaders in the industry, has set up a large scale co-development program aimed at providing 150,000 cocoa farmers with knowledge, technology and fertilizer in order to improve overall productivity and crop stability.
In skincare, the numbers of low income consumers are increasing and making it more difficult to develop brands that match the key criteria of affordability, acceptability and availability. The FMCG industry must re-think the business model it has used in mature markets until now. Rather than continuing its mass-produced one-size-fits-all approach, it should reshape the current supply chain model. Local production should be tailored to the needs of people in emerging markets since most future potential profits are in these economies.
Key industry trends
Big data, demographics and regulatory changes, as well as other emerging trends, will transform the way we live and how business is done.
Often talked about, but less often understood, big data is information that people generate about themselves and their habits through increased use of social media, mobile and smart devices.
Unlike traditional databases, big data is typically unstructured and complex technology is needed for companies to benefit from its potential payoffs. According to research, organizations that use big data strategically are five times more likely to make faster decisions than their competitors, three times more likely to implement decisions as intended and twice as likely to be in the top quarter of financial performers. To give one example, MGM Resorts has developed a big data analytics system to help it understand how different types of customers respond to its promotional programs. In 2012 the system created between $1 and $5 million of incremental profit per marketing campaign. There are challenges however, such as the role of regulation and public policy or the ability to share and re-use data.
Steep drops in the populations of developed countries like Japan are resulting in declining contributions to their social systems. Demographic changes in developing countries such as Brazil are providing some benefits while in Israel, although the population is growing, its makeup is putting pressure on the political system. For businesses these changes mean opportunities, particularly in the healthcare, medical technology and pharmaceutical sectors. But shifting demography also poses challenges such as the need for continuous education to prevent the loss of expertise due to the upcoming retirement of a significant number of currently active experts.
The global competitive landscape - emerging and emerged markets
The final portion of "Navigating the Future" explored the contrasts of three emerging markets - Mexico, the United Arab Emirates and China - and three emerged markets - California, Singapore and Japan.
Strategically located between North and South America, Mexico is a growing economy. It is currently the 4th largest in the Americas. It is the world's 11th most populated country with 114 million people, of which 40% are under 20. It has a labor force of over 47 million.
Mexico is an export oriented economy with a highly competitive, labor intensive workforce which has been achieved at the expense of low wages and widespread inequality. Moreover, the labor market is dominated by the informal sector, which represents more than half of the workforce.
Some of the main challenges Mexico faces are public security problems, weakness of internal demand, excessive dependence on exports, increasing poverty and inequality, a high level of corruption, and a lack of high-quality education.
The current administration is working to tackle its problems through its "pacto for Mexico" plan that proposes 95 initiatives on areas such as energy, oil, telecommunications, social security, crime, corruption, education and political institutions. This new plan, together with Mexico's abundance of natural resources, provides some hope for the country to tackle its problems.
Its neighbor to the north, California, projects an image that is still representative of the American dream. However, the reality most inhabitants face does not correspond to that appearance. California is the most populous state in the nation with 39 million people and a GDP of $2.2 trillion in 2014. Many say it would be the 7th largest economy in the world if it were independent.
But, California is also plagued with debt, has outdated infrastructure which needs massive investment to repair, and suffers from political blockage that complicates any attempts to address necessary structural changes.
In 2013 venture capitalist Tim Draper launched an initiative to split California into six states. This failed due to a lack of required signatures but with nearly 800'000 received, the proposal indicated discontent among many of the state's residents about the way their government is addressing key issues.
For example, California is home to many world-class universities but the quality of public education up to the secondary level is ranked among the worst in the country. California also has more billionaires (111) than any other state, and at the same time it has the highest poverty level (15.9%) in the U.S.
In other words, it is a state of deep contrasts and fixing many of these would require painful, but necessary, compromises.
This year's "Navigating the Future" focused on a wide range of fascinating and useful topics for business executives and provided the MBA class with an enriching research and professional experience.
Every year, IMD's MBA program enrolls 90 mature individuals, with an average work experience of 7 years, broad international exposure and recognized leadership potential.They invest 11 months of rigorous work to acquire a solid and actionable education that is research-based but practice-focused. They work with coaches and analysts to develop themselves and each other. We offer a state-of-the-art career counseling process and access to IMD's community of business executives and corporate sponsors. At the end, we aim to provide the skills to know, the confidence to act and the humility to lead.


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Tom Dick & Harry Advertising Chicago on board to help launch Illinois’ first estate distillery
Billed as Illinois' first estate distillery, Whiskey Acres Distilling in DeKalb County is up and running, which has led the Distillery to select Tom Dick & Harry Advertising Chicago to handle marketing for the Distillery and its portfolio of whiskies and spirits.
The Distillery's founders, Jim Walter, Jamie Walter and Nick Nagele, together farm more than 2,000 acres 60 miles west of Chicago, and they are believed to be the only distillery in Illinois using only their own grain to make premium whiskies and spirits.
But the three founder of Whiskey Acres, novices when it came to running a distillery, were smart enough to realize they couldn't do it all by themselves.
So they have hired Dave Pickerell, former master distiller of one of the world's great bourbons Makers Mark, to help produce their whiskey products. And they brought aboard Tom Dick & Harry to bring the new Whiskey Acres brand vision to life. Noted Jamie Walter: "We're confident we now have all the ingredients for a great team and a great success."
Initial plans call for introducing four new spirits between now and 2017. Whiskey Acres Unaged Corn Whiskey and Apple-Flavored Corn Whiskey are already rolling out in select liquor stores and restaurants around Chicago and the state of Illinois, including Whole Foods and Binny's.
The new distillery also hopes to release a vodka that will only be sold at point of production and a limited-release flagship bourbon in the summer of 2016. All will be premium-priced at between $30 and $45 for a 750-milliliter bottle.
The Whiskey Acres launch marketing campaign is still being developed. But social media is expected to play a significant role in the marketing game plan for the new portfolio of whiskies and spirits.


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Experion Developers on February 22 announced the launch of Experio @ Experion Capital, a commercial development comprising high-street retail and premium offices, at Gomti Nagar in Lucknow.
Nestled by high-end residential development, commercial establishments and important institutions, the project is envisaged to become a unique and experiential destination for world-class shopping, curated dining experiences and business, said a press release.
Designed by Mumbai-based architects, DSP Design Associates, it will be a seven storied building with modern design and contemporary architectural elements. The building will feature a modern glass façade, elevators, open driveways, engagement zones and stackable multiple level parking, added the release.
Ananta Singh Raguvanshi, Senior ED Sales & Marketing, Experion Developers, said, “We are delighted to launch Experio @ Experion Capital, a world-class development that will transform and redefine the commercial landscape in Lucknow. At an unmatched location, Experio@ Experion Capital will emerge as a hub of commercial activity, social hangout and community interaction. From retail therapy to unrivalled dining experiences, it will be an epicentre where people will work, interact, celebrate, and relax.”


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Appointments can be made through the online schedulers at Riteaid.com and Bartelldrugs.com
Rite Aid (NYSE: RAD) today announced that scheduling is now available for the updated boosters of the mRNA Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines at its locations and at Bartell Drugs locations in the Pacific Northwest.
“At Rite Aid, we recognize the important role pharmacists continue to play in helping our communities fight COVID-19, and we look forward to providing our customers this updated booster which is designed to protect against the original strains and Omicron BA.4 and BA.5 subvariants in adults and teens,” said Karen Staniforth, Chief Pharmacy Officer at Rite Aid. “As we see an uptick in travel and gathering indoors with schools back in session, we strongly encourage everyone to prepare by staying up to date on both COVID-19 and flu vaccines.”
Individuals ages 18 and older are eligible for a single booster dose of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine and individuals ages 12 and older are eligible for a single booster dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine. Both require that it has been at least two months since completion of their primary COVID vaccination series or since receiving their most recent booster dose. Updated booster doses can be mixed and matched with primary vaccination series and previous boosters meaning customers can get either brand of the updated booster no matter which brand had been previously administered.
Eligible Rite Aid customers may schedule an appointment at www.riteaid.com/pharmacy/scheduler. Bartell Drugs customers can use the online scheduling tool linked here. Flu and other vaccines can also be scheduled via the online scheduling tool. Rite Aid encourages customers to get their flu shots at the same time they receive their latest COVID-19 vaccination.
Customers may receive their updated booster dose at Rite Aid or Bartell Drugs regardless of where they received their primary series or previous booster(s). Primary vaccination series are encouraged for customers, if not already received.
About Rite Aid Corporation
Rite Aid is a full-service pharmacy that improves health outcomes. Rite Aid is defining the modern pharmacy by meeting customer needs with a wide range of vehicles that offer convenience, including retail and delivery pharmacy, as well as services offered through our wholly owned subsidiaries, Elixir, Bartell Drugs and Health Dialog. Elixir, Rite Aid’s pharmacy benefits and services company, consists of accredited mail and specialty pharmacies, prescription discount programs and an industry leading adjudication platform to offer superior member experience and cost savings. Health Dialog provides healthcare coaching and disease management services via live online and phone health services. Regional chain Bartell Drugs has supported the health and wellness needs in the Seattle area for more than 130 years. Rite Aid employs more than 6,400 pharmacists and operates more than 2,350 retail pharmacy locations across 17 states. For more information, visit www.riteaid.com.


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Plug in BC officially launched the public outreach campaign: Emotive BC: the Electric Vehicle Experience at the TD Vancouver Jazz Fest (David Lam Park) on June 28th and June 29th, 2014.
Attendees stopped by the Emotive booth to check out the all-electric Nissan Leaf and BMWi3, participate in the on-the-ground contest. EV Ambassadors talked with attendees about EV technology, charging infrastructure and the economic/environmental benefits of owning an electric vehicle.
Emotive estimated that at least 750 people connected with the campaign at this two-day event. Stay tuned to connect with future Emotive events!


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Activate Entry on Technology News and Updates AdmaTechnology.com at Friday, April 18, 2014
Want to buy the BlackBerry 10 but doubt whether it can be better than Android or iPhone? There are ways to overcome these doubts.
Quoted from Cnet, Tuesday (2/4), you can try this new OS directly either on Android or iOS devices via the browser.
Although there are many audio applications and media that can be used to play music on your Mac, iTunes is still the most popular choice in the management of musical content.
iTunes offers the ease of controlling the sequence of music, create playlists, [...]
The use of female anime characters are cute.
On Monday (10/29), Microsoft Corp Chief Executive Steve Ballmer said that since its launch last week, the rate of sales of Windows 8 exceeds the rate of sales of Windows 7, which is the top-selling version [...]
Iron Man 3 movie has not been released, Gameloft has prepared his game to iOS and Android devices.
Quoted from Slashgear, Thursday (28/3), Iron Man 3 games scheduled to be released on 25 April, or the day before the movie appeared in theaters.
Temperature profile shows the dark and unstable material – which is a suitable climate for organic life
Institute antraiksa United States (NASA) managed to find evidence of water on Mercury, planet in our solar system that is closest to the Sun.
IOS Users no longer need to envy the Android users who have been enjoying Angry Birds for free.
For the first time since it was released in 2009, as a game developer Rovio decided to change the price of being free in the App Store.
Quoted from Ubergizmo, [...]
Electronic Arts (EA) has recently announced a new game highly desirable, Battlefield 4.
Quoted from IGN, the successor to Battlefield 3 game is touted as one of the game First-Person Shooter best would be to use Frosbite 3 Engine-owned DICE.
Engine usage [...]
Results showed children control their emotions after playing this game.
If you are not able to help children who have problems with anger emotions through psychotherapy alone, try video games. But not indiscriminate video game. But RAGE Control, a video [...]
Through Vietnam blog site, Tinthe.vn, it was reported that the latest generation iPhone that was allegedly named the iPhone 5S will have a 12 megapixel camera.
In addition, Apple also improve low-light photography feature so image quality in low-light [...]
Although the majority of smartphone users prefer to communicate via messenger applications, many of them are also fond of making phone calls.
Some of the applications are available both on the iPhone, Android, or BlackBerry can be used for free calling [...]
From Windows 8, until Outlook.com and Windows Phone 8, Sinofsky gave the main color on the recent changes in Microsoft.
Less than a month after the launch of Windows 8 operating system, President of the Windows Division at Microsoft, Steven Sinofsky, [...]


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Truly will be the first hard seltzer served in-flight
Hard seltzer continues to embed itself in the US alcohol market after a wildly successful 2019 summer.
White Claw topped the popularity contest, spawning the most chatter on social media and among young drinkers. AB InBev’s Bon & Viv became the official hard seltzer of the National Football League (NFL) in August, now served at stadiums across the country. And the Boston Beer Company’s Truly is the official hard seltzer of the National Hockey League (NHL).
Truly also announced a reformulation last month to stay competitive in taste, and has plans for a hard lemonade line 2020. It now has a new sponsorship deal, and starting this month the Wild Berry flavor will be the only hard seltzer found for purchase on commercial flights.
The deal is with JetBlue, a US airline that flies domestically to most of the country as well as parts of Mexico, the Caribbean, Latin America and South America. Truly’s other 12 flavors will not be offered on JetBlue flights.
Lesya Lysyj, CMO of The Boston Beer Company, said "We couldn't be more excited to be the first hard seltzer available at 35,000 feet and bring refreshment to the skies. Just like JetBlue, Truly is always looking for ways to innovate, push the status quo and deliver more of what drinkers and customers want, and we can't think of a better partner for Truly's first flight."
JetBlue provides free in-flight snacks, water, coffee, tea, juice and soft drinks. Its menu of alcohol includes beer, wine and spirits, as well as Angry Orchard Hard Cider, another brand from the Boston Beer Company.
Mariya Stoyanova, director of product development at JetBlue, said "We are constantly listening to our customers and diversifying our inflight offerings to make sure we're making the products they love on the ground available to them in the skies. Bringing Truly Hard Seltzer on board is another fun way to deliver on our promise of providing a preferred customer experience with our partners at The Boston Beer Company."


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Designer News is where the design community meets.
3 months ago from Tomas Anthony, Product Designer
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Where the design community meets.
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We're Tiny Boards along with We Work Remotely, Unicorn Hunt, Fresh Gigs, Future Jobs and more.Get in touch.
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Planeta Junior Italia has signed with Memory Technology for products with the brand Magiki. The company will develop the brand on sticker sheet, kids watches, mugs, nursery bag and magnets all with the images of Magiki.
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Apple has come up with a new Tumblr site that promotes iTunes. In taking this step, Google has expanded its social marketing efforts and included Tumblr in them once again. Apple has put a Tumblr site that is promoting “The Best of 2014” in music, TV, books and games currently.
Apple has used Tumblr for its marketing purposed previously so this doesn’t come as any surprise. Their Tumblr blog has been designed to be shared by fellow users. There are easy share buttons for Facebook and Twitter as well so that also works for their marketing strategy. Apple has previously used Tumblr to advertise the iPhone 5C.
It should be noted here that the site has yet not gone live, but there are strong rumours confirming the same. In addition to that, Apple has also created an iTunes account on Instagram. This aggressive approach towards social media is being attributed to the joining on Musa Tariq, who was previously the social media head at Nike.
Tumblr has recently began the testing of a new advertising platform as well. This could be helpful for Apple as it would increase the traffic that would be going to its iTunes site. This new platform will work on all platforms once it goes live.


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When CBR News first told you about the upcoming Giffen/DeMatteis one-shot "Hero Squared X-Tra Sized Special" #1, the plan was to see that first one-shot come out this month, November. Unfortunately, things don't always go as planned and there's been a little delay. You'll have to wait until December to see what Messieurs Giffen & DeMatteis have planned for their latest creations. CBR News caught up with Atomeka Publisher Ross Richie to ask "why the delay" and what the future holds for "Hero Squared."
"Little delay? (runs screaming from the room)
"Ahem. Excuse me. Yeah, 'Hero Squared' artist Joe Abraham fell off his bicycle and injured his arm," Richie told CBR News in typical Giffen/DeMatteis style. "For five weeks his entire arm from the elbow down was immobilized. And for two weeks after the cast removal there's been physical therapy to recover the flexibility in his wrist so he can get back to drawing.
"We were ahead of schedule, of course... Heh. Heh. BWAHAHAHAHA... GeeeeYAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAA!!
"Let me know if the laughing gets weird or something...
"NOTE: The views of Mr. Richie in no way reflect the feelings of Atomeka in regards to this terrible mishap that has overcome Mr. Abraham. Despite the fact that Mr. Richie is the publisher at Atomeka (along with Daring Dave Elliott and Garish Garry Leach). Oh, wait a minute. Maybe they do reflect Atomeka's management's views. Well, never mind. Anyway, we love Joe Abraham and he's a genius, but dammit why do you have to hurt yourself on that bicycle? It couldn't have been a motorcycle? Or something respectable like a bus?"
Since its announcement, "Hero Squared" has garnered a great deal of interest, as seen in online discussion forums and from feedback Atomeka has received from retailers interested in the book. Sure, the pedigree of the creators on the book is well known, it's still an all-new series coming from a relatively new publisher. With interest high on the project there's word that more "Hero Squared" stories are on the way.
"The response to 'Hero Squared' has been fantastic," said Richie. "I get calls virtually every day and it's the first project that retailers and fans bring up. We received some excellent support from Diamond on the project, and it shows.
"For all the fans that are looking forward to this project, Keith and J.M. said that if you showed your support and told your retailer to order the book, they'd do more. And you did that!Cover
"So the next 'Hero Squared' issue will be the first of a three-issue mini-series."
So far, Atomeka's published a wide variety of books from some of comics' top talent, but "Hero Squared" is hands down the book receiving the most attention. Richie says that all this extra attention does raise the bar a bit as for the publisher's future expectations.
"I think that there's a lot of people who hadn't noticed Atomeka yet, and looking at the orders for the first issue, they're looking at us now," said Richie.
"We've worked really hard and brought some incredible projects to market from the likes of Alan Moore, Dave Gibbons, Ted McKeever, Steve Parkhouse, Glenn Fabry, the unstoppable Michael T. Gilbert and his famous progeny 'Mister Monster,' crazy-ass Dave Johnson. They're the best that the comic book market has to offer. But 'Hero Squared' really seemed to connect with the direct market.
"I really wanted to do more material in the vein of 'Hero Squared,' and thankfully we're going to be able to -- specifically 'Hero Squared,' and then more projects like it."
You might think that with a team like Giffen & DeMatteis doing the thing everything knows they do well that it would be easy to get the word out about this book, but the truth is getting the word out on a new comic, even those from the big publishers, is a tough process. Atomeka's worked hard at getting the word out in creative ways, including custom "Hero Squared" comics for three comics sites back in September.
"Pivotal to the success of getting the word out has been Keith and J.M.'s tireless interest in supporting the book," said Richie. "They see it as their baby (which it is, 100%) and did some smart and inventive promotions on-line.
"But for myself, a lot of the work came from sitting down and calling retailers one-on-one, telling them who I am, what we're up to, and about the projects we're putting together. And I've been able to meet some really impressive, great people that way.
"The challenge for us has been pretty big. With so many publishers before us going out of business, like Crossgen, the market looks skeptically at an upstart publisher, especially one that's only been around for six months. So I've found that it's incredibly gratifying to get any attention at all, much less the attention that we've received so far."
Look for "Hero Squared X-Tra Sized Special" #1 in comic shops this December. Click the images below to enlarge.


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- Antwerp, the diamond city since 1447
- Edict "false stones" 5 centuries old
- Opening of DIVA
The year of the diamond will take place in Antwerp from October 2017 until February 2018. This will be an opportunity to put the Antwerp diamond trade in the spotlight, which exists for more than 570 years. The slogan for this festive year is "Antwerp, the diamond city since 1447".
The municipal councilor of Diamond, Ludo van Campenhout, has requested the city’s archivists to search for the first traces of diamond trading in Antwerp. The first historical documents that indicate the presence of diamond trading in Antwerp date back to 1447 and have been declared by the city magistrate. In the edict, found in the Felix archive, the Mayor Jan Vander Bruges prescribed a commandment under the label "false stones". It was forbidden to trade in fake stones, whereby these stones are proposed as "diamonds", rubies, emeralds or sapphires. For more than five centuries diamonds pass by Antwerp and to date most diamonds first come to Antwerp before they are being traded or processed. What New York is for the money market, is Antwerp for the diamond market.
There had also been found traces in the archives of the Insolvent Estates, which is considered as world heritage by Unesco. Also in the city archives of Antwerp itself are documents that demonstrate the rich history of the Antwerp diamond trade. "So who stubbornly keeps on insisting that Amsterdam was and is the Diamond city, has been set with both feet on the ground," said by Ludo Van Campenhout. To date, five of the thirty diamond exchanges worldwide are still established in Antwerp, where seventy different nationalities work in the sector.
The coming months archivists continue to dig into the Felix registrars looking for more information about the past of diamonds in Antwerp. "We know that diamond trading has always played an important role in the city. Including family De Pret, who has a street in Antwerp, was very active in the diamond trading. Later, the contacts were maintained through the diaspora, which is still now the case", says city archivist Inge Schoups.
The starting shot of the diamond year will be given with a retrospective exhibition at the MAS entitled "objects of desire". Also the Winter of Antwerp will be fully dedicated to DIVA, the new diamond experience center at the Suikerrui.
During the summer months the Antwerp Diamond Center will organize several events in cooperation with the municipality. Among a summer academy around diamond, there will also be a project in primary schools, a street festival, a treasure hunt for a hidden diamond and last but not least an event around Valentine.
Read more about diamond as an investment:


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Why is a military show-down between the U.S. and China unlikely now or in the future? One word (or is it two?): Wal-Mart. Astute reader Geoff Edwards writes in:
“If Wal-Mart were an individual economy, it would rank as China’s eighth-biggest trading partner, ahead of Russia, Australia and Canada,” Xu [Jun, Wal-Mart China’s director of external affairs,] said.
By the end of September, 2004, the top seven trading partners to the Chinese mainland are the European Union, the United States, Japan, Hong Kong, ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations), South Korea and China’s Taiwan Province, state statistics from the Ministry of Commerce.
Last year, the firm bought US$15 billion products from China, half from direct purchasing, the other from the firm’s suppliers in China.
“If we want another Cold War,” Geoff contends, “the one we’ll have with China will be tepid indeed.”


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FDA Cracks Down on KIND Bars Over Health Claims on Labels
In a bit of ironic timing given our KIND bar copycat recipe last week, the company recently made headlines when the FDA cracked down on some of the health claims on KIND bar labels. Apparently, a few of the bars have too much saturated fat to qualify as “healthy” by the FDA. But I wonder, is this really that big a deal?
The issue isn’t totally cut and dried, to my mind. Yes, labeling should be accurate and consistent across all packaged products, and it should definitely not mislead consumers into thinking a product is “healthier” than it is. But on the other hand, the real definition of “healthy” is incredibly complicated — and constantly changing as new research is carried out. Does the fact that most of the saturated fat in these KIND bars comes from nuts — instead of, say, a highly processed oil — change the conversation? Should it?
NPR has a nice synopsis of the back-and-forth between the FDA and KIND, and some of the issues and implications involved:
→ Read More: Nut So Fast, Kind Bars: FDA Smacks Snacks On Health Claims by Poncie Rutsch on NPR.org


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Oct 8 (Reuters) - Fresh from its listing on the London Stock Exchange, British furniture retailer DFS is counting on the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro to help drive sales in 2016.
DFS, which calls itself “the sofa experts”, sees significant potential to promote its brand with consumers, leveraging the strong consumer appeal of Team GB.
“We will be creating a home away from home for the British athletes in the Olympics village in Rio”, Chief Executive Ian Filby told Reuters.
DFS was founded in 1969 by billionaire Graham Kirkham, a miner’s son from Yorkshire.
The sofa retailer was bought in 2010 by private equity firm Advent International, now its majority shareholder.
DFS now holds a 25 percent share in Britain’s 3-billion-pound upholstered furniture market. The company operates 105 retail stores in the UK, Ireland and the Netherlands.
In the year to Aug. 1, the group posted pretax profit of 10.7 million pounds ($16.4 million) on revenue of 706.1 million pounds.
Up to Wednesday’s close, the company’s shares had risen about 20 percent from the IPO price of 255 pence, giving it a market value of about 653 million pounds. ($1 = 0.65 pounds) (Reporting by Aastha Agnihotri in Bengaluru; Writing by Kate Holton in London; Editing by Sriraj Kalluvila)
Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.


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On January 22, 2018, Amazon Go, a store that uses cameras and sensors to detect items that a shopper grabs off shelves and automatically charges a shopper's Amazon account, was opened to the general public in Seattle. Customers scan their Amazon Go app as they enter, and are required to have an Amazon Go app installed on their smartphone and a linked Amazon account to be able to enter. The technology is meant to eliminate the need for checkout lines. Amazon Go was initially opened for Amazon employees in December 2016. In August 2018, the second Amazon Go store opened its doors.
Not only do these sellers enjoy increased favor with customers, but they also receive better placement on product pages and may qualify for Buy Box perks. By ‘winning’ the Buy Box, you will get default sales when a client clicks the “Add to Cart” button for your product. It’s important to note that only professional sellers qualify to be featured merchants.
Twitch started in 2007 as a 24-hour live stream of co-founder Justin Kan’s life (he coined the term “lifecasting”) called Justin.tv, but it became very clear very quickly that live gaming content was more popular than pretty much anything else. In 2011, Twitch spun off gaming-centric channels as Twitch.tv, and it grew exponentially as online games and the technology to broadcast them live on the internet became more widespread and popular.
Like on Black Friday, for online Cyber Monday shoppers, there’s no need to wake before the rooster crows. Honey’s Parsi says that for their users, spending peaked at 4 p.m. PST in Los Angeles and 11 p.m. EST in New York City last year. “On Cyber Monday, there is less pressure to get an early start because retailers are often better stocked online, where they store items in large warehouses—not on shop shelves with limited space—and can ship items from different locations to make up for shortfalls,” Palmer agrees. “Plus, many Cyber Monday sales actually start on Sunday.”
The infomercial industry is huge and is worth a staggering $250 billion as of 2015. It all started back in the late 40’s and early 50’s when major sponsors of serial television programs were soap manufacturers (i.e. Proctor & Gamble, Lever Brothers and Colgate-Palmolive), which is how “soap operas” got their name. There is some controversy although the first infomercial is thought to have been for a blender either made by VitaMix or Waring Blenders and aired in 1949 or 1950. Time limits for commercials were imposed by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) not too long after this which halted the growth of infomercials until 1984 when those limits were removed.


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A London firm sparked by two disabled people’s frustration at hotels’ inaccurate information on accessibility has been bought by Airbnb.
Accomable was founded by two friends with spinal muscular atrophy in 2015.
Former corporate lawyer Srin Madipalli came up with the idea after he quit his job to travel the world and found it difficult to find appropriate hotels.
“You’d turn up to places and the shower was tiny or there was a step to get in. It’s just really humiliating,” he says.
He persuaded childhood friend Martyn Sibley to join him, and together they created a website aimed at making it easier for disabled people to travel.
Like Airbnb, home owners are able to rent out rooms or entire properties via the website which only shows places which have step-free access and detailed information on accessibility adaptations.
‘We can do more’
Airbnb said Accomable would now be wound down over the next few months, with the listings incorporated into its own website,
It said that the firm’s founders and most of its seven-person staff would stay on and help Airbnb improve the accuracy of its accessibility listings.
“While we have rules that prohibit discrimination against people with disabilities and an Open Doors policy that helps ensure everyone can find a place to stay, it’s clear that we can do more to effectively serve people with disabilities,” Airbnb said.
The rental website said it was already working on new “accessibility needs” checklists for hosts.
Airbnb didn’t say how much it had paid for Accomable, but Mr Madipalli said the sale would enable it to finally meet customers’ demands.
He said up until now the website had not had enough cash or staff, meaning it could only fulfil about 5 to 10% of booking requests.
“We see the need every day, which is why we wanted to team up with a bigger player,” Mr Madipalli said.
And the other change, Mr Madipalli said was that he would now start using Airbnb himself.
Up until now the lack of wheelchair-accessible rentals had stopped him.
“But I look forward to trying it out,” he says.


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- Amid reports of a ho-hum holiday season, you really have to wonder about current consumer mindset. After a strong turnout Black Friday weekend, Hurricane Sandy hit, we witnessed tragedy in Sandy Hook, while those on Capitol Hill literally left us hanging on the fiscal cliff. Retailers continued to give consumers what they really wanted – deals, deals, and more deals – but ultimately it appears that practicality and a focus on needs were at the forefront of consumers’ thoughts as we approached December 25. To top everything off, NBC revealed record ratings for its Christmas Eve showing of It’s a Wonderful Life…coincidence? Perhaps not.
- We at BIGinsight tallied up all of the votes in the lively “Hot or Not?” segment for the whole of 2012 to see which of the 145 trends, personalities, and events really got consumers (Adults 18+) buzzing last year. And while items like holiday shopping online and the New Apple iPad landed high in the rankings, the top 10 list points to consumers focused more on what really matters:
- #10 NFL (Sep-12)*
Football: America’s new favorite pastime? With its top ten ranking, the NFL is certainly giving Major League Baseball (Apr-12, #46) a run for its money. The Giants-Patriots match-up for Super Bowl XLVI (Jan-12, #19) finished within the top 20 this year; however, it was the Packers-Steelers bout in Super Bowl XLV that took top honors in this list back in 2011.
#9 New Apple iPad (Mar-12)
At #9, Apple’s third iteration of its popular iPad was the top tech gadget we polled in 2012, while the more recent releases of the Apple iPad Mini (Nov-12, #25) and Kindle Fire HD (Oct-12, #27) – which sparked the great tablet debate – ranked lower in our list overall.
#8 London Summer Olympic Games (Jul-12)
Fresh off of 2011’s royal wedding, the British invasion of sorts continued for Americans in 2012 with the London Olympic Games. Ranking higher than any other athletes on our lists, swimming superstars Michael Phelps (Aug-12, #21) and Ryan Lochte (Aug-12, #36) proved that they were certainly the pride of the yanks.
#7 Farmers’ Markets (Jul-12)
Perhaps it’s because they offer fresh fare or maybe it’s their “shop small” charm, but at #7, Farmers’ Markets were hit among consumers getting back to the basics this year, though Community Gardens (Aug-12, #81) and Gluten-free Diets (Jul-12, #106) didn’t rank quite so highly.
#6 2012 Presidential Election (Sep-12)
While those of us residing in the swing states couldn’t wait for the endless barrage of phone calls, mailers, and commercials to end, this year’s Presidential Election was certainly very important to all who exercised their right to vote.
#5 Coupons (Jun-12)
Indicative of a consumer group prioritizing budgeting, practicality, and – most importantly – saving money, Coupons scored a top five position in this year’s list. Note to retailers and manufacturers: keep ‘em coming in 2013.
#4 Voting (Nov-12)
You lose your right to complain when you don’t exercise your right to vote…right? Whether their candidate won or lost the election, Americans set precedence on voicing their opinions this year.
#3 “Made in America” Products (Jan-12)
While they may be few and far between, at #3 on our list, “Made in America” Products seem to be what consumers prefer. Or perhaps it’s logical reasoning for boosting our sagging unemployment rate…
#2 Holiday Shopping Online (Dec-12)
Arguably one of the few bright spots for retailers over the past holiday season (gift cards were pretty popular as well), shopping online – whether via a traditional computer/laptop or a mobile device – just clicked with consumers this year. With free shipping offers abound, gift givers were able to skip crowded malls, long checkout lines, and stock-outs in favor of cruising the web for the big bargains, competitive pricing, and compelling customer reviews from the comfort of their couches. However, with Holiday Shopping in Stores (Dec-12) landing at #15, it appears that plenty of Santas still preferred to shop the old fashioned way.
#1 Thanksgiving (Nov-12)
While the Black Friday shopping tradition is increasingly encroaching on the fourth Thursday of November, consumers are seemingly taking a stand on the Thanksgiving holiday, placing it atop our list this year. (Giving Thanks was #2 last year.) It’s a Wonderful Life, right?
* The month/year each item was asked is denoted in parenthesis (MMM-YY).
Holiday 2012 has been an interesting selling season. Consumers are cautiously optimistic, planning to spend slightly above what they did in 2011, though the economy / unemployment are still troublesome and the fiscal cliff could still turn out to be the Grinch who stole Christmas. Undoubtedly, though, the shining star of the season has been the resurgence of gift cards.
While gift cards have been perennially touted as the perfect last-minute gift, a look at this year’s insights shows us that gift card buying patterns are shifting. For 2012, consumers aren’t waiting until Christmas Eve for these purchases; they are checking them off their lists much sooner. According to the National Retail Federation, nearly one-third (32.6%) of Black Friday Weekend* shoppers made a gift card purchase, up a whopping 40% from a year ago (23.1%). Further, as of the first week of December, holiday shoppers overall continue to pace ahead of previous years’ buying habits; two out of five (39.2%) have already purchased these stored-cash cards as gifts this season, up 25% from 2011 (31.4%).
So is 2012 shaping up to be the Year of the Gift Card? You betcha. So let’s take a look at three reasons why gift cards are a “must buy” among holiday shoppers this year.
1. We want gift cards – badly.
While they have been atop consumers’ wish lists since 2007, intent to buy gift cards sputtered during the recession as consumers reached for bargain merchandise that wouldn’t quite reveal the total dollar amount paid. This year, though, a record number of consumers are requesting them (59.8%, much higher than the second most request gift – apparel and accessories – at 49.1%), and a record number of shoppers are responding that they are planning to buy them (59.2%, nearly eclipsing the most purchased category – again apparel and accessories – at 59.7%).
Bonus: Buying a gift card spares the giver and receiver from that awkward “here’s the receipt for the return” exchange.
2. Gift cards are still practical gifts.
Gift cards may be tempting this year because they can still be perfectly practical, which is on what the near majority of consumers are remaining focused in this uncertain economy. Recipients can buy what they want or what they need – and either way, it’s money well spent on behalf of the giver and better than a sweater relegated to the back of someone’s closet, no? Shoppers may have a little extra cash in their pockets this year, but if they are going to spend their hard-earned (and hard-saved) pennies, they’ll do it wisely. And remember, a $50 gift card to a discounter might be one man’s (or woman’s) groceries at Target but another’s new home décor from Tar-Zhay.
Bonus: And speaking of sweaters, gift cards are one-size-fits-all, so no worrying about whether or not Aunt Clara really did lose that 10 lbs. this year when debating between a medium and a large [oy].
3. We can buy gift cards “on sale.”
Back in the day (so…five years ago), buying a $50 gift card meant that the purchaser would fork over $50 cash. And these days, with retailers and restaurateurs bending over backward to bring customers through their doors, it seems that incentives to buy gift cards are becoming increasingly creative as well as prevalent. Nowadays, a $100 gift card might come with a $20 bonus to use later (Merry Christmas to me, right?) Or, and this is one of the examples I saw a few times during my Black Friday exploits, a pack of five $20 gift cards might be discounted 20% to $80. Gift card purchasers may also be receiving more indirect incentives to purchase, such as grocery stores offering frequent shopper / fuel rewards or salons giving away coupon books for future services with gift cards purchases.
Bonus: Shop wisely and gift cards purchases can still come with that “you’ll-never-guess-what-I-paid-for-it” cachet, which was the feel good saying among holiday shoppers during the recession.
So are gift cards changing the way we approach shopping for holiday gifts? Certainly. However, when and if gift exchanges turn into gift card exchanges, I’ll bet we’ll see a renaissance of more traditional gift giving.
* “Black Friday Weekend” is defined as Thursday (Thanksgiving), Friday (Black Friday), Saturday, and Sunday.
This month’s Consumer Snapshot is ready! The video below is a concise look at a few trending topics for the month of December, designed to give you a BIG picture view of current consumers.
Here’s a brief overview of what we’re seeing from consumers in December 2012:
– Will the fiscal cliff prove to be the Grinch who stole Christmas? Confidence backs down two points from November.
– While the official unemployment rate registered at 7.7% for November,this doesn’t seem to be quite the hiring miracle consumers were hoping to see this season.
– After the buying bonanza that was Black Friday and Cyber Monday, consumers’ penchant for practicality rises in December.
– It appears that along with trimming the tree this month, consumers will also be trimming their budgets.
– Walmart versus Kohl’s is a toss-up this month in Women’s Clothing.
– Amazon.com climbs to record customer share in Electronics.
– It’s a frosty 90 Day Outlook with spending plans looking downward from Nov-12, Dec-11.
– What’s Hot? Holiday shopping…online.
Be sure to check out the NEW Consumer Snapshot InsightCenter™. When you register for complimentary access to this InsightCenter™, you’ll have the ability to segment an advance preview of our all-star insights on consumer confidence, employment, shopping strategies, and future purchase plans by several key demographic groups. You can also download this month’s text summary (which includes additional insights) as well as the PowerPoint analysis through this InsightCenter™.
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© 2012, Prosper®
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I’ve been making a list, checking it twice, storing it in my mobile device…and clearly singing as I do so. Nearly 3 in 10 (29.7%) Mobile Users say they do the same—minus the singing. However, according to Prosper Mobile Insights™, the most popular merry mobile activity among smartphone and tablet users is taking pictures (85.0%), so get ready for all the Instagram notifications! The majority also plan to check the weather and keep in touch with loved ones they won’t get to see for the holidays, thanks to mobile making it so easy to share every holiday moment with those near and far.
Top mobile holiday activities are similar across genders, and there really isn’t much of a battle between men and women when it comes to spreading holiday cheer via technology. Women win the title of “Cheermeister” on nearly all mobile activities analyzed. From sharing holiday experiences through social media, to looking for holiday recipes and even purchasing products, Female Mobile Users appear more likely than their male counterparts to get merry with mobile this year:
Click here to access the complimentary Mobile InsightCenter™ and see all of the holiday mobile activities!
Women are also much more prone than men to use their smartphones and tablets for discovering new decorating ideas, keeping track of upcoming holiday events (thank you Google calendar for reminding me where I need to be all the time!) and keeping gift lists. If you are like me, that gift list doesn’t just say “shirt for brother” – it lists the brand, color, size, special fit and perhaps even a photo so you can just show a store associate and quickly locate what you need.
Speaking of shopping…searching for gifts, stores and deals is another hot holiday activity to accomplish via mobile among both men and women, along with purchasing products. To find out more about how Mobile Users prefer to make mobile purchases, be sure to check out our latest release: Browsers/Apps More Popular than Swipe/Tap Method for Mobile Holiday Purchasing, according to Prosper Mobile Insights™
Source: Prosper Mobile Insights™ Mobile Survey, NOV-12, N=333
© 2012, Prosper®
Shopping on Black Friday made me feel old this year.
Not because we actually began shopping on Thursday. Not because I’ve been scouting out the doorbusters, deep discounts, and special sales for close to 20 years. But because the general make-up of the bargain hunting crowds really seemed to shift this year. After heading out at 8PM on Thanksgiving, it seemed like we were met by a sea of tweens and teens. Before I knew it, my friend and I were muttering phrases like “Where are your parents?” and “Don’t you have a curfew?”
The progressively earlier store openings for the “Black Friday” bonanza of shopping has apparently lent itself to a whole new group of shoppers. Instead of the traditional early birds setting their alarms clocks for 3AM Friday and trudging to the stores half asleep, younger night owls are increasingly appearing, hopped up on coffee and seemingly eager to do “something” after Thanksgiving dinner. While the Black Friday Weekend* insights released by the National Retail Federation (conducted by BIGinsight™) don’t include the tweenagers with which we shared the stores this year, it’s still interesting to take a look at some of shopper shifts among the 18+ age groups that we’re witnessing with the age-old Black Friday shopping tradition.
Younger Crowds Own the Thanksgiving Shopping Trend. Among Black Friday Weekend shoppers who checked out the deals on Thanksgiving Day (in-store or online), the percentage of 18-34 year olds increased a whopping 30% over a year ago. That compares to just an 8% rise among those 35 to 54 and 9% with the 55 and over crowd. So, while we know that shopping on Turkey Day is a rising trend, it’s clearly one driven by a younger demographic.
Merry Christmas to Me. Yes Virginia – this is the season of giving – but with doorbuster deals like $8 dollar coffee pots, who can resist the one-for-you, one-for-me mantra? Practical consumers are increasingly embracing the idea of “self-gifting” at the holidays, buying items for themselves at discounts typically not seen throughout the rest of the year. And these self-centric Santas were certainly out en masse last weekend: eight out of ten Black Friday Weekend shoppers reported that they had taken advantage of retailers’ online and in-store promotions to buy non-gift items. This figure rose to 86% among 18 to 34 year olds, while those 35 to 54 (81%) and 55+ (72%) showed more restraint [well, kind of].
18-34 Year Olds Found Deals via Friendlier Outlets. There’s something that screams “tradition” to a Black Friday bargain hunter when that 20 pound newspaper – chock full of those delicious retailer ads – lands on the front porch on Thanksgiving morning…am I right? Surprising as it may seem in the digital age, the majority of consumers (50%) looked to advertising circulars as their source for Black Friday Weekend sales, discounts, and promotions this year, followed by retailer emails (36%), online searches (30%), retailers’ websites (23%), and TV advertising (also 23%).
Talk to an 18 to 34 year old, though, and you’ll get a different picture. While these youngsters still gobbled up the deals via ad circulars (39%), they were nearly twice as likely to find a friendly discount via Facebook (31%) compared to the general Black Friday Weekend shopping population (16%). Additionally, 18 to 34 year olds were more likely to learn about promotions directly from family and friends (30%), eclipsing those who sought out TV advertising (26%).
* “Black Friday Weekend” is defined as Thursday (Thanksgiving), Friday (Black Friday), Saturday, and Sunday.
For more insights on the holiday season, visit the NRF’s Holiday Headquarters.
While several major retailers, including Walmart, Kmart, and Toys R Us, have lowered or eliminated their layaway fees in efforts to spur holiday shopping, new insights from the BIGinsight™ November survey of more than 9,000 consumers reveal that this tactic doesn’t seem to be leading to a rise in this place-it-on-hold-and-pay-over-time purchase behavior. Just over one in ten holiday shoppers (12.3%) indicates they are using or planning to use layaway when shopping for gifts this season, relatively unchanged from one year ago (12.7%).
With a flatlining number of consumers boarding the layaway train for 2012, it appears that this Great Depression-era policy is more bygone gimmick rather than a modern day marvel. However, further analysis of layaway users uncovers a specific type of holiday shopper. So without further ado, let’s take a look at ten characteristics that help identify this special group of consumers.
Ten Characteristics of Layaway Shoppers
1. Layaway shoppers wouldn’t place in a Santa look-a-like contest. Nearly 75% more likely to have children in the household compared to average holiday shoppers, while layaway users might be more prone to play Santa this year for the kiddos, they just won’t look like the jolly old guy. Six years younger on average than typical holiday shoppers, layaway-ers are also far less likely to refer to themselves as “retired.”
2. Despite tighter budgets, layaway-ers intend to spend more this holiday season. As might be expected, those utilizing the budget-friendly aspects of layaway tend to earn less (about $49,000 per year) than holiday shoppers in general ($56,000/year). Despite this, though, two out of five (41.6%) layaway shoppers intend to spend “more” on the holiday season this year than they did back in 2011. Just 21.0% of shoppers in general are working within expanded holiday budgets this year.*
3. Layaway shoppers have a holly jolly outlook for the economy… Consumers reported that they were feeling better about the economy in November, but the sentiment among layaway users is downright giddy: 54.7% say they are very confident/confident in chances for a strong economy, much higher than typical holiday shoppers (40.4%). The issue of employment, though, is another story. About a third (32.7%) of layaway shoppers fears an increasing in the number of layoffs over the next six months, higher than holiday shoppers in general (22.0%). Layaway-ers are also slightly more concerned about becoming laid off themselves.
4. …Yet remain conservative with their everyday finances. Lower average incomes and greater concerns for layoffs are likely playing into layaway shoppers’ penchant for scrimping and saving in their everyday lives. Compared to holiday shoppers in general, more layaway-ers are making plans to pay down debt (38.6%), decrease overall spending (35.4%), and increase their savings (32.5%) over the next three months. Additionally, a higher proportion (28.6%) is attempting to pay with cash more often, which brings us to point #5…
5. Cold hard cash is key with layaway shoppers. For holiday purchases specifically, while debit cards are the preferred method of payment among layaway shoppers (49.9% plan to use them most often), more than a third of (35.5%) still plans to utilize cash most often, 40% higher than holiday shoppers in general (25.2%). Layaway shoppers are 60% less likely to use credit cards most often for holiday purchases than typical holiday shoppers.*
6. These early birds are getting the worms… Arguably one of the brightest benefits of using layaways services is the ability to place a hold on hot holiday merchandise before it flies off the shelves. So it shouldn’t come as a surprise that – as of early November – seven out of 10 layaway users (69.1%) had begun their holiday shopping as opposed to just 52.8% of holiday shoppers in general.*
7. …But still plan to bargain-hunt with the best of ‘em on Black Friday. And speaking of early bird tendencies, layaway shoppers are quite the night owls too: the majority (56.3%) is planning to shop Black Friday weekend, making them 75% more likely to brave the crowds than typical holiday shoppers (31.5%).*
8. Layaway shoppers use their connections to find best deals. While traditional advertising circulars are their top source for keeping track of holiday sales and promotions, layaway shoppers are more likely to connect on Facebook or Twitter, use retailer apps, and refer to coupon websites (i.e. RetailMeNot.com, FatWallet.com) compared to holiday shoppers in general.*
9. While they embrace their inner fashionistas, it’s electronics and toys that are bound for the layaway bins. While layaway shoppers are more likely to lean to familiar fashion labels and the newest trends/styles versus holiday shoppers in general, apparel is less likely to be put on hold compared to electronics and toys.
10. Discounters are most likely to get those layaway dollars. When it comes to the retailers shoppers are utilizing for layaway services, discounters score a definitive win here. Nearly two-thirds (65.5%) of holiday shoppers planning to use layaway this season will head to Walmart, while 42.2% say they will sign up with Kmart. Fewer will make use of the programs at Toys R Us (21.2%), Sears (15.2%), Burlington Coat Factory (12.4%), Marshall’s (12.1%), or TJ Maxx (9.9%).
* Source: National Retail Federation/BIGinsight™. For more insights on the holiday season, visit the NRF’s Holiday Headquarters.
This week, the National Retail Federation announced their 2012 holiday forecast, predicting that sales will rise 4.1% over 2011 to $586.1 billion. The sales growth is expected to be slightly higher than the 10-year average holiday sales increase (3.5%), though pacing below last year’s growth (5.6%). With holiday shoppers gearing up for spending, let’s take a look at the “state of the consumer” as we head into this all-important selling season for retailers:
Confidence is UP, but Feelings are Volatile. In the BIGinsight September monthly survey of more than 9,000 consumers, 38% indicated that they were very confident or confident in chances for a strong economy. This was a high reading for 2012 and a vast improvement over the September 2011’s 23%, when consumers were still reeling from the debt crisis. Confidence is riding a four-point upswing from August to September, but don’t look for this indicator to continue to improve at this pace – 2012 has been a rollercoaster ride for sentiment and continued fluctuation is expected headed into Q4.
The outcome of the “fiscal cliff” drama on Capitol Hill remains big question mark for the sustainability of confidence – as well as holiday sales. Should we fall off that precipice – and realize an average 2013 tax bill increase of $3500 – holiday budgets are bound to shrink. Adding to the precarious position of the economy? Our continuously weak job market. And the upcoming Presidential election also adds to the uncertainty.
Frugality is a Fixture in Consumer Finances. Along with the relatively robust increase in consumer confidence in September, we also witnessed similar increases in those focused on practical purchasing and buying just the necessities. In fact, both indicators are in line with what we saw a year ago, when confidence was just 23%. So yes, Virginia, despite the more positive outlook for the economy, consumers are still being very cautious with what they spend – even as we look forward to the holiday shopping season.
Expect holiday shoppers to stick to budgets, avoid impulse buys, continue smart shopping strategies, such as couponing, sales/promotions, and comparison shopping, as gift-buying commences. Frugality continues to be the name of the game with consumers because they know the economy isn’t “fixed.” Paying down debt and reducing spending remain fiscal priorities headed into the final three months of 2012, while plans to increase savings reached a six-year September high last month, so it appears that consumers may be preparing for holiday shopping as well as those everyday unknowns.
Pricing uncertainty in key areas, like grocery, gas, and apparel, continues to be of concern with consumers. An increasing number of shoppers are relying on their credit cards more compared to September 2011 when purchasing such staples – so we are still seeing signs of struggling consumers. (i.e. Holiday ’12 won’t herald a season of “recovery.”)
However, if it can be avoided, shoppers won’t make this Christmas on credit. Year over year, fewer are paying off just the minimum monthly balance on their cards, while we’ve seen a slight rise in those carrying $0 average monthly balances. The past four years have been a tough road for consumers, but they do appear to be focusing on not falling back into the lax spending/savings patterns that got them into a mess back in 2008.
Consumers Know They Have the Upper Hand with Retailers. Can we call this retail transparency? The rising popularity of mobile devices has taken much of the mystery out of shopping for customers holding a smartphone or tablet. They can compare prices, check availability, and even click “buy” from virtually wherever they are located, and shoppers will work all angles – online, instore, mobile, social media, coupon sites, direct mail, email, and ad circulars – to make sure that their holiday spending remains on budget. It’ll be a spending game that consumers want to win.
However, we know that all retailers can’t compete on low price alone [I’m looking at you, Best Buy.] Great customer service and personal rapport with shoppers will be key in driving traffic to retailers who aren’t low-price providers. Product selection, availability, and brand assortment – something department stores having really honed in on in the past few years – will also serve to turn shoppers’ heads this season. “Cheap is chic” is SO 2008; today’s shoppers want value and are willing to pay a little more for quality – as long as they can use a coupon.


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Abu Dhabi Ports launches blockchain platform for imports and exports
Maqta Gateway, an Abu Dhabi Ports subsidiary, is the first A...
Abu Dhabi Ports has launched a new blockchain platform to be used by the trade community.
Maqta Gateway, an Abu Dhabi Ports subsidiary, is the first Abu Dhabi entity to develop and launch its own blockchain technology - Silsal.
Silsal will combine blockchain technology and unique digital user identities to provide a seamless and secure link between stakeholders across the trade community.
The technology has been developed to address the gap in the market for exporters and importers, to provide easy and public access to transaction status updates, reduce the need for paperwork, calls and physical visits as well as to speed up information exchange overall.
Initially, the technology will be offered to freight forwarders and their customers, and subsequently extended to the rest of the trade community as a complementary tool to the existing mPCS (Maqta’s Port Community System).
As the shipping and logistics industry rapidly adopts new technologies, blockchain can offer trade community members significant benefits. According to the World Economic Forum, potential savings range from 20% of the total physical transportation costs, amounting to $1trn addition to global trade.
Abu Dhabi ports said that, In addition, the use of blockchain in the shipping and trade industry will enable real-time tracking of its cargo and documents, time savings and smoothening of shipments between countries and continents.
This project was developed internally in the Digital Innovation Lab and has been field tested with Abu Dhabi Ports’ strategic customers.
Captain Mohamed Juma Al Shamisi, CEO Abu Dhabi Ports, commented on the occasion, saying: “At Abu Dhabi Ports we strive to invest in cutting-edge technological innovations that not only bring immense benefits to the trade community but also play a role in the transformation of the UAE to a knowledge-based, competitive economy.
“This achievement will help to further augment Abu Dhabi’s position as a centre for innovation in logistics and trade.”
Dr. Noura Al Dhaheri, CEO of Maqta Gateway, said: “Technology is a crucial driver for the future of the shipping, logistics and trade industry and blockchain is a key step in the digitalisation of trade.
“Through Silsal we will be offering the trade community secure and integrated access to blockchain technology, with the added value of cost and time savings through real-time track and trace, reduction in paperwork and ease in extracting vital information to receive live updates.”
“Not only have we introduced our own blockchain offering, but we have also invented our own form of digital identity. This will eliminate the need for access through passwords which can often be a security risk.”
As a result of the in-house developed digital identity, Maqta Gateway will be able to encrypt all transport documentation, including but not limited to the Bill of Lading, Delivery Oder, Booking and Transport Orders, etc., improving the communication flow and the efficiency of the physical movement of the goods, through a transparent, secure and easy to use process.
Japan Seeks to Revive Stalled Semiconductor Industry
Post-pandemic, Japan has seen the consequences of relying solely on foreign imports for its semiconductors. Over 64.2% of its chips are usually imported from South Korea and Taiwan, leaving the country dependent on its neighbours. Industries from auto manufacturers to consumer electronics firms wait for chips, to no avail. But now, the Japanese government looks likely to put real funding behind its semiconductor industry, with top officials emphasising their support.
Domestic supply chains have never been more important. Rather than remain tied to international shipping routes during shortages and delays, governments are doing everything in their power to develop local lines of supply. But the question remains: can Japan pull it off?
How Will Japan Pay For It?
Herein lies our first issue. Japan’s debt has rapidly increased over the past few years, and the semiconductor industry will need roughly a trillion yen—US$9bn—in this fiscal year alone. This cost, however, pales in comparison to what Japan could lose if it fails to keep up with Europe and the US. Both nations have launched aggressive funding measures to revive their local semiconductor industries. And if Japan refuses to invest due to its debt, it could slow down progress in fields ranging from artificial intelligence to autonomous driving.
According to Tetsuro Higashi, the former president of Tokyo Electron and Japan’s top government advisor in semiconductor strategy, ‘If we miss this opportunity now, there may not be another one’. Yet one advanced wafer fabrication factory can cost more than US$10bn, and any money poured into the industry will go fast. That’s why Japan, rather than invest trillions and trillions in failing domestic firms, is considering a second option.
What Do They Plan To Do?
Japan now intends to look abroad and convince overseas chip foundries to come to its shores. Its past failures mostly centred on trying to merge domestic firms that were already going through tough times. ‘This sort of made-in-Japan self-reliance approach hasn’t worked out well’, said Kazumi Nishikawa, a director at the Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry’s IT division. ‘This time the goal is to offer a strong incentive for an overseas logic foundry to come to Japan’.
As follows, Japan will now reach out to industry partners and leaders in other countries, including the industry heavyweight Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC), to build Japanese bases. According to the South China Morning Post, the heart of Japan’s mission is a US$337.2mn research and development project in Tsukuba that will involve TSMC and more than 20 Japanese firms. ‘I think we need to cooperate with our overseas counterparts’, said Akira Amari, a senior member of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party. ‘[And] TSMC is the world’s top logic chipmaker’.
Indeed, if that’s Japan’s strategy, the future looks bright. TSMC recently set up a venture near Tokyo to research energy-efficient 3D chips with several Japanese partners. And in the future, the multinational chipmaker may consider expanding its Japanese operations—that is, if government incentives pave the path forward.


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A team of University of B.C. student entrepreneurs has come up with a mobile app called “goodnights” that will give Ticketmaster a run for its money.
Available free from iTunes, the goodnights app provides a convenient paperless event ticketing solution.
Users can buy tickets on their phone using the app, which stores a digital copy of the ticket that allows them to gain entry to the event. The app further helps fans, artists and promoters by addressing the resale of tickets in the same mobile platform, allowing the simple and safe transfer of tickets between people.
Capitalizing on the inherently social nature of events, the goodnights app also allows fans to co-ordinate their social activities as well as promote their favorite artists by sharing ticket purchases directly on their social networks.
For their innovation, the UBC student team of Michael Moll, Jeff Blake and Justin Locke snagged first prize at the University Mobile Challenge on March 1 in Barcelona at the GSMA World Mobile Congress, the premier event for the mobile communications industry. This year’s GSMA congress attracted more than 67,000 visitors from 205 countries. The UBC team competed against 13 international student teams from countries including India, France, the U.S. and U.K.
A few months ago, Moll, Blake and Locke formed a company called Good Nights Entertainment to bring the app to market, and have launched their first iPhone and Android versions of the app.
Moll, a fourth-year commerce student at the Sauder School of Business, says he and his partners are negotiating with a number of Vancouver-based companies to begin selling tickets for a service fee of eight per cent.
“We’re not like Ticketmaster with multiple fees,” he explains. “We have one fee and we show our users one ticket price and everything is included.”
Moll says that goodnights will also serve the significant ticket resale market. “The ticket resale market is worth $9 billion a year, and most venues, artists and event organizers sit by and watch scalpers reap the majority of the market value of their events. At goodnights, we have built our platform to capture some of this value, direct it back to the venues, artists and organizers, creating a new revenue stream and we are very excited about this.”
Moll and his co-inventors are receiving office space through the entrepreneurship@UBC initiative as well as support from the UBC University-Industry Liaison Office.
Adds Moll, “goodnights is looking to attract additional venues, promoters and ticket buyers who can all benefit from the strengths of our mobile platform and smaller transaction fees.”
For more information, visit: www.goodnights.ca