text:
As seen on Fashion Roundtable
A conversation with Jeni Hewlett of Chester Wool & Fyberspates
Brexit promised a lot of things — to liberate Britain from EU regulations and to pledge the start of an independent, thriving economy. However, since Britain officially left at the start of this year, there has been a drastic decline in UK trade. Since records began in 1997, January 2021 marks the largest monthly fall in imports and exports, and according to the Office for National Statistics, exports to the EU fell by 40.7% and imports from the EU by 28.8%.
The UK fashion and textiles industry is worth £32 billion to the economy generating more than fishing, pharmaceuticals, automobiles, film and music. Disturbingly, Oxford Economics has forecasted that we could see a sharp decline to £26.2 billion with the industry highly-exposed to the impacts of Brexit, unless a “greener and more sustainable levelling up agenda” is put into place. And while larger corporations may find it easier to cut the red-tape, it’s smaller businesses that have been left struggling and contemplating their long-term plans moving forward.
Small businesses have faced myriad issues since Brexit — from shipping delays, to a dramatic rise in shipping costs and mountainous paperwork. A key issue is that any goods now entering the EU must satisfy rules of origin requirements. This problem is pertinent to the fashion and textiles industry, as goods are now characterised by final products and many incorporate inputs from multiple origins. These issues and costs alike have meant that many small businesses are now considering setting up distributing centres in the EU, at the cost of UK jobs and loss of taxes to our economy, which is entirely averse to Brexit’s goal.
Jeni Hewlett and her partner Andy Robinson run two companies: Chester Wool which sells undyed yarn for dyers who operate small to larger companies. And Fyberspates a business selling dyed yarns for hand knitting, along with knitting patterns. Jeni’s immense passion is instantly visible when we discuss her business, as hand-dyeing is still a niche area to many. “Customers demand transparency in sourcing, very high-quality products, and are very environmentally conscious. It is a pleasure to work in this space where people care so much about how things are produced,” explains Jeni. Over a decade of work has gone into developing yarns suitable for dyeing which attracts artisan end-users and requires large stock levels on hand.
Only a small amount of stock stays in the UK with 75% being exported. Prior to Brexit, the business relied very much on getting products to customers quickly and efficiently. Where customers could previously order these products with a two-day turnaround, Brexit has meant that they can’t simply ship to European customers, with delays of weeks and in some cases months.
“We still have boxes floating around which were shipped on the 6th of January… customs fees were slapped on indiscriminately and in most cases, duty was added” says Jeni. “These duties were not applicable on our products, duties weren't even consistently charged at the same rate. Some packages never even left the country and were declared lost.”
There is a feeling amongst the industry that Brexit’s execution was rushed, and the government left it far too late to share the complete ramifications of leaving the customs union. “If these had been brought to our attention far earlier we would have had more time to prepare and would not be suffering as we are now.”
For many SMEs like Jeni’s, it was a huge gamble to decide how to prepare for the transition without any concrete guidance from the government. Initially, their strategy was to register for VAT in some European countries so that they could send their products DDP (delivered duty paid), absorbing customs charges and some of the shipping costs— without impacting their customers. However, none of the couriers could cope with this plan and they were forced to ship with FedEx who were more reliable with delivery times, but meant they had to absorb 50% of the delivery cost, as these went through the roof. In addition, as they work with a number of small companies who in some cases are not yet registered businesses, even FedEx had issues delivering.
The financial impact on small businesses like these is severe. “As we initially decided to sell DDP we have spent close to £100,000 on setting up the VAT in various countries, this has proved to be a total waste of money.” These issues have meant that they are now working through the complex process of setting up a company with its own warehouse in the EU and creating employment there, as this is now the only option to continue to sell to Europe uninterrupted. Although a number of customers have stuck with them, they are concerned that they will miss out on this percentage should these issues continue. The hope is that their business continues to grow once they make the move, and they can then recapture the customers who’ve had to stop purchasing for the time being.
The promises made by the government in relation to Brexit are yet to be seen. Smaller businesses are the backbone of our economy. So while larger corporations will be able to cut through the Brexit legislation far easier, it is this passion and ingenuity from SMEs that our economy thrives on. The whole transition process to date feels clumsy and disjointed, particularly as we are losing a number of businesses and employment opportunities to the EU. Fashion Roundtable’s recommendations in their latest report, Brexit: The Impact on the Fashion Industry, includes incentivising on-shoring with tax reliefs for brands which manufacture in the UK, just like the film industry enjoys. As well as gaining a proportionately equal level of support as the fishing industry has received when exporting product to the EU. To put this into context, the fishing industry has received a £23m package for 12,000 workforce, versus £2,000 grants available for all of the UK’s 617,600 SMEs.
It is particularly poignant that the government takes the fashion and textile industry seriously, as the sector has the potential to be at the heart of the UK’s post-pandemic recovery. Frankly speaking, it is innovative companies like Jeni’s, who offer high-quality products and transparency in their supply chain, that the government should be going out of its way to support and keep at the centre of its vision moving forward.


text:
Apple is reportedly doing the job on an in-home payment processing technologies that will deal with services like lending risk evaluation, credit checks, fraud investigation, dispute handling, resources to compute desire and rewards, approving transactions, raising credit score boundaries, reporting details to credit history bureaus, and so forth. A part of this fintech project is known as “Breakout” as it is heading to see “Apple going away from the current economic techniques it uses”.
Presently, Apple functions with a number of partners like Goldman Sachs and CoreCard (for Apple Card), Green Dot (for Apple Dollars), and Citizens Financial institution (for the Iphone Up grade Method). With Apple working on the new expert services now, the approaching tech is going to be aimed at long run items and not the present-day types.
Apple by now has Apple Pay out and Apple Card, and it is also operating on a subscription support selection for components. Additionally, there is a “buy now, pay later” option for Apple Fork out transactions. In accordance to studies, this “buy now, shell out later” feature, called “Apple Pay out Later” internally, is heading to be the 1st merchandise to use Apple’s new fintech solutions. The enterprise is heading to contain a four-payment Apple Shell out acquire known as “Apple Spend in 4” and an additional extensive-expression payment possibility “Apple Spend Monthly Installments”.
Now, as for every studies, the “Apple Pay back in 4” option could use the new in-household payment processing tech, when the longer shell out approach may possibly carry on currently being dealt with by Goldman Sachs.
The business also obtained a Uk-primarily based startup named Credit rating Kudos recently that “uses info from banking institutions to make lending decisions”. Apple may integrate this tech to support establish its in-property products and services.
Heading forward, Apple may well also use its new solutions for the components subscriptions it has been scheduling and provide as a financial institution for more “buy now, shell out later” solutions. “To start off with, Apple could limit possibility by requiring buyers to use debit playing cards, additionally its in-house threat evaluation resources could take into account Apple buy background and components like whether a credit score card attached to the Application Shop has been declined to figure out whether a shopper can use the payment providers,” MacRumours speculates.
Stories also have it that Apple has confronted “hurdles” though functioning on its economic solutions item, so it might get a lot more time in rolling out than predicted, or it may ditch the options completely and carry on to perform with partners, though the second possibility is a “very not likely scenario”. Apple has no ideas of dropping its present-day associates for now.
The information of Apple’s fintech plans sent the shares of recent companions tumbling. Environmentally friendly Dot fell by 8 per cent, CoreCard fell by 18 for each cent, and Goldman Sachs fell by far more than 1 per cent subsequent Wednesday’s report.
As Enterprise Insider points out, “having a fintech platform embedded in all iPhones is crucial as it could assist gas more expansion for Apple and maximize the stickiness of its ecosystem, which signifies men and women who currently individual an Apple iphone are a lot less very likely to swap to a competitor like Android”.

domain: news


text:
Square Enix has released an extended four-minute trailer for the highly anticipated “Final Fantasy VII Remake” which will be released episodically from April 10th.
A revisiting of one of the most famous and influential video games of all time, it’s not clear how many episodes the remake will consist of at this time though it seems as though game director Tetsuya Nomura is being given plenty of breathing room to flesh out the story more than the original.
Indeed a scene such as the cross-dressing bee-costume brothel sequence now boasts a musical number. The single-player JRPG follows a mercenary who teams up with a group of eco-terrorists to save the world. Check out the clip below:


text:
People are anxious to learn whether Dillard’s will hold their New Year sale in 2023 because it was discontinued in 2022. The chain’s after-Christmas sale, however, has already begun and is featuring enormous savings.
Even though Christmas and Boxing Day have passed, customers may still find fantastic deals on practically anything because big retailers will continue to offer deeply reduced products until the beginning of the following year.
However, Dillards hasn’t made any announcements regarding a New Year’s discount.
Dillard’s Hasn’t Announced 2023 New Year Sale
The Dillard’s New Year’s sale for 2023 hasn’t been announced as of the time this article was written.
Customers are curious to hear if the retailers will hold their yearly event, though, as it was postponed in 2022.
The company posted this response after users tagged Dillard’s posts on Twitter and inquired about the potential of a discount before the new year: “Hello, the best way to remain in the know about upcoming sales is by signing up for our emails.”
Dillard’s confirmed there wouldn’t be a New Year’s sale in 2022 in a statement posted on Twitter last year. It said, “Hello! We hope you enjoy shopping at Dillard’s, where there are hundreds of items with new low prices and amazing offers, but we won’t be offering any additional discounts on items with permanently lowered pricing.
After-Christmas Clearance Is On
Customers can receive their “deepest price reductions” during Dillard’s ongoing after-Christmas sale on its website, which is now providing discounts of up to 65% on a few items.
With new markdowns, the clearance sale is available on thousands of items from various brands, including women’s clothes, junior clothing, accessories, and home goods.
The average discount for all items is between 20 and 40%. Visit the official Dillard website here to take part in the after-Christmas discount. To find out if there is an in-person sale, phone your neighborhood shop. Most of them will be open again on Monday, December 26, following the holiday weekend.
More X-Mas Clearance Sales
Many retailers, like Walmart and Target, are in the thick of their Christmas clearance sales. You have more choices for binge shopping below:
- COLE HAAN
- TAYLOR STITCH


text:
The pairing of Brady Mahomes and Brady is Madden nfl 22 coins a natural match-up because it follows the pattern of Super Bowl LV's game that saw Brady's Buccaneers outscore Mahomes' Chiefs, and it could be the most famous match in Madden history. Brady is undoubtedly headed for the Pro Football Hall of Fame once he is finally able to put down his ominous cleats, and with a Super Bowl triumph and Super Bowl MVP in his resume at this still-early stage of his career Mahomes is likely to be heading to Canton at some point, too.
Madden could be in the middle of heading for a record year. EA Sports has taken the famed history of the franchise and created this new game. The team carried over the improvements made in its first next-generation release and built on these to create Dynamic Gameday. The new game's focus is on three major branches: Gameday atmosphere, gameday momentum , and artificial intelligence driven by stars.
Madden fans are set to get up and play a game to see brand-new presentation packages with Next Gen Stats elements and accurately capture the excitement and the excitement of an NFL contest better than ever before. EA removed a crucial feature from its now-defunct NCAA Football games to make it more relevant. This includes crowd noise that makes for less efficient presnap hot routes strategies and scrambled plays. The game also immerses the player in every moment of the on-field action.
Face of the Franchise is a narrative themed game that includes a classic conversation tree. It is true that users can play some game action however that's not the main point. The goal of this mode is to allow people to live the life of an athlete of the future when they graduate from high school up to college before making it to the pros.
It is possible that players will be immersed into college life this year. Electronic Arts recently announced it scored a deal with the largest college sports licensing agency around. Up until EA Sports College Football arrives, however EA might begin to test the waters further in the Face of the Franchise. In the past, players had the option to sign onto some teams in the NCAA. It will be interesting to see how this expands.
The fact is that Face of the Franchise in general took a step back in 2020. EA has to make this mode part of its long-term goals. Madden NFL 22 must buy Madden 22 coins be improved in both the written and mechanical aspects of the exclusive single-player mode.


text:
Materna Medical is at work on a device to help protect the more than 80 percent of women who suffer damage or tearing during childbirth.
“The clinical need we’re trying to address is that there’s a tremendous amount of damage that women suffer during childbirth,” Mark Juravic, founder and CEO of the California-based startup, said. That damage can lead to incontinence, pain, sexual dysfunction and vaginal prolapse, and much of the damage done is to the pelvic muscle because the baby stretches too much too quickly. First-time mothers are particularly susceptible to tearing.
If the device is brought to market, Juravic said there are many value propositions: it could prevent vaginal tearing for the mother, prevent pelvic muscle damage to the mother, and, perhaps most interestingly, could potentially also offer shorter delivery times using less instruments. Juravic said some evidence points to predilated tissues leading to shorter delivery times. With shorter, easier deliveries, for instance, it’s likely forceps would be less necessary, further reducing the chance of tearing and damage to the mother and stress on the baby.
“This can be if it works and provides all these benefits, it could become the standard of care for childbirth,” Juravic said. In theory, it would make the job of childbirth easier on the mother and the physician or midwife.
The device itself is surprisingly simple: a mechanical dilator that would penetrate the first third of the vaginal canal and basically pre-stretch it to full dilation. It would be used for an hour or two during the first stage of labor, and is equipped with sensitive load and location sensors, plus a semi-automatic force-controlled actuation system, so the device can be removed quickly.
The idea translates from sports medicine: slower stretching is more effective and less stressful to the body than a quick stretch. Materna is banking on this kind of slow stretch to prepare the pelvic floor for delivery.
So far, Materna has completed its first in-woman trial for the device in Sydney, Australia. Why Australia? To work with Dr. Hans Peter Dietz, a thought leader in the effects of childbirth on the pelvic floor. With his expertise, the device was used on eight women.
Earlier this year, Materna moved into the Fogarty Institute for Innovation, a non-profit that works as an incubator for the medtech startups it selects. In the company’s time there, Juravic said he will focus on gaining more clinical data. Because Fogarty is based on the El Camino Hospital campus, Juravic gets regular direct feedback from physicians on the device. Mike Stewart, the product designer and former product development engineer on projects for Boston Scientific (BSX), takes that into account for device design and testing. It’s this feedback that leads him to believe the dilator could be a platform technology for Materna.
“A number of obstetricians and gynecologists have taken a look at our device and said, ‘If you could just change this one little thing on it, I would really like to use it on X patient population or Y patient population. . . . ‘ There are a number of devices we could launch close to our core tech.”
Juravic spent his pre-startup life at Guidant, and took the Stanford BioDesign course while working there. The BioDesign course presented a number of issues to the participants, and Juravic was drawn to tears incurred during childbirth because it seemed to him there was a vast clinical need. It was biomechanical, so he thought from his previous work he could offer a unique perspective. Since the course, he began to work part-time on nights and weekends on Materna, eventually quitting his day job in 2010 when the startup secured its first round of funding for the device, $1 million from angel investors.
Now, the company has a $1.2 million target in its sights for this round, which will include some costs associated with regulatory filing. Juravic said more than half of that amount will come from existing investors.
As Materna continues onward and upward, Juravic looks forward to innovation in the obstetrics field. He said because women’s health has been “ignored” for so long, innovators “are recognizing that there are lots of unmet needs.”


text:
Craving more Goettafest? Festival expands to 8 days over 2 weekends
Is one weekend of Goettafest not enough for you? We've got good news.
Glier's Goettafest is expanding to a second weekend, meaning Goettafest will last eight days this summer in Newport.
The two-weekend experience will take place from July 25 to 28 and Aug. 1 to 4 at Newport’s Festival Park at the Levee. Admission is free and open to the public.
Glier’s Goettafest features vendors serving over 45 unique goetta items, continuous live music on two stages and games, inflatables and attractions for the entire family.
"It is only at Goettafest that the very best culinary craftspeople in the area set up shop side-by-side to flirt with the tastebuds of the faithful. From fudge to pizza, their goetta-based creations test the limits of goetta as an ingredient," organizers said.
Goettafest started in 2001 in Mainstrasse and has moved a number of times before landing at its current home on Newport's riverfront. In 2009, Goettafest's attendance jumped to more than 100,000 visitors.
For more information, visit www.goettafest.com.


text:
The Economist writes:
Protectionism, by contrast, hurts consumers and does little for workers. The worst-off benefit far more from trade than the rich. A study of 40 countries found that the richest consumers would lose 28% of their purchasing power if cross-border trade ended; but those in the bottom tenth would lose 63%.
Free trade benefits the poor the most as it makes goods more affordable.
The annual cost to American consumers of switching to non-Chinese tyres after Barack Obama slapped on anti-dumping tariffs in 2009 was around $1.1 billion, according to the Peterson Institute for International Economics. That amounts to over $900,000 for each of the 1,200 jobs that were “saved”.
Jobs are good, but not at any cost.


text:
Karhoo expands mobility platform with Carey Chauffeur Services
Karhoo has expanded its taxi/PHV app booking platform with chauffeur car services from Carey.
The partnership means that Karhoo users are now able to book Carey’s executive chauffeured services across London, including to all the city’s airports – with plans to roll out the integrated service in more than 1,000 cities worldwide.
The news comes a month after Karhoo announced a roaming partnership with Spain’s biggest corporate mobility platform Taksee, and a less than a week after Karhoo won the European Startup Gold Prize for mobility.
Nicolas Andine, co-CEO Karhoo, said: “At Karhoo we are empowering the mobility industry while providing our users with an unparalleled choice of transport options.
“You would be very hard pushed to find a service of higher quality than Carey across ground transportation. Integrating their premium service onto our platform helps expand our offering even further to provide a taxi for every style of commuter. We’re delighted to be working together.”


text:
Nicaragua exports to Venezuela dip 25 percent
Nicaragua's exports to Venezuela dropped 25 percent in volume during January and March this year, compared with the same period in 2013.
In terms of value, exports dropped 4.4 percent to $93.1 million.
The drop comes after a decrease in volume in sugar and dairy shipments.
Source (in Spanish): La Prensa


text:
CNET noticed Microsoft has released its first application for the Apple iPhone. It's an image browser named Seadragon Mobile, and oddly enough it isn't even available yet for Windows Mobile. Microsoft states they released it first for the iPhone because it's the most widely distributed phone with a GPU, most other phones don't have accelerated graphics.
Engineers in the company's Live Labs have released the company's first application for Apple's popular smartphone--even before making it available on Microsoft's own mobile platform. Seadragon Mobile, which was added to Apple's App Store on Saturday, is a free image-browsing app that allows users to quickly "deep zoom" images while online and is intended to demonstrate what is possible with a mobile platform.
Seadragon is the backbone for Microsoft's Photosynth, which allows users to take a grouping of photographs and stitch them together into a faux 3D environment.


text:
Lawmakers Urged to Protect Consumers from Deceptive Pet Leasing Industry
Animal Legal Defense Fund submits comments to Washington state lawmakers supporting passage of HB 1476
Olympia, WA– Today the Animal Legal Defense Fund, the nation’s preeminent legal advocacy organization for animals, submitted comments to Washington state lawmakers urging passage of a bill to stop unfair and deceptive pet leasing practices.
In the typical pet leasing situation, pet store personnel encourage customers who want to buy a puppy but are unable to pay the high sticker price, to use “financing” — unbeknownst to many customers, styled as a lease — to take the animal home. Often consumers are not aware that the papers they’ve signed are “pet leases” that empower a third party to seize their dog if they fail to make a monthly payment, and which make the lender the dog’s legal owner of the dog. Under these “leases,” the total amount of money the customer pays is often significantly higher than the listed sticker price.
HB 1476 would effectively put an end to pet leasing schemes in Washington by making pet leasing contracts void and unenforceable.
“When you bring a dog into your home, that dog becomes family. Pet leasing companies corrupt that bond by treating animal family members like commodities, and they trick unwitting consumers into contracts,” says Animal Legal Defense Fund Executive Director Stephen Wells. “Lawmakers should protect Washingtonians from unscrupulous and unethical pet leasing companies by passing HB 1476 into law.”
California, Nevada and New York lawmakers have determined pet leasing is so detrimental to their residents that they banned the practice outright. Multiple other states are poised to adopt similar laws.
Washington Supreme Court Urged to Consider the True Value of Humans’ Relationship with Companion AnimalsAnimal Legal Defense Fund’s amicus brief urges the court to review a case regarding the negligent death of a dog and the resulting emotional damagesJune 5, 2023 Press Release
Goldie’s Act would ensure the USDA does its job to protect dogs in federally licensed puppy millsMarch 24, 2023 Press Release
Alternative sentencing program in Fulton County, Georgia pairs shelter dogs with criminal defendants to offer both training and a second chanceMarch 16, 2023 Press Release


text:
Global coffee shop chain Starbucks, which serves customers through its network of more than 30,000 stores, now wants to get into NFTs. The move toward digital innovation is following in the footsteps of major names worldwide.
So far, in Starbucks’ restaurant industry, that transformation has meant letting customers order food online before picking it up or having it delivered to them. Starbucks now wants to take its digital innovation a step further, with NFTs.
Why Starbucks is getting into NFTs
The NFT space presents a huge revenue opportunity, with the global market forecast to grow to $80 billion by 2025 from an estimated $35 billion in 2022.
At a town hall with Starbucks employees in April 2022, CEO Howard Schultz said the chain would get into NFTs before the end of 2022. The executive said he had been studying the NFT space and believes there's something good there for the company he helped build. According to Schultz, Starbucks has a treasure trove of assets suitable for NFTs. Other major names entering the NFT business include GameStop, AMC Entertainment, Coca-Cola, and toymaker Mattel.
Companies are using NFTs in various ways. Some, such as Taco Bell, are leveraging them as a marketing tool to connect with customers, while others are selling NFTs to generate extra revenue, such as Coca-Cola and Nike.
Meanwhile, some companies are even using NFTs as a gateway into the metaverse. Mark Zuckerberg-led Meta Platforms, a major metaverse champion, has said NFTs will play a central role in the virtual world, which is forecast to become a multitrillion-dollar economic opportunity over the next decade.
There are several ways Starbucks could leverage NFTs. To enhance customer engagement, some projects have issued NFTs that offer certain perks to holders, such as discounts on product purchases and exclusive access to deals or events. Starbucks could follow suit.
We don't know everything about Starbucks’ NFT ambitions yet
Much is unknown about the coffee chain’s NFT plans. A key point yet to be revealed is which blockchain Starbucks will use to launch its NFTs. Whereas most NFT projects are built on Ethereum because it offers a great set of tools, the blockchain has been criticized for its environmental impact. With ESG practices coming under intense scrutiny from customers, investors, and regulators, Starbucks should choose its blockchain carefully. It may even want to wait until after Ethereum's big update.
Another major unknown about Starbucks’ NFT project is what assets will underpin its tokens. An NFT's value largely depends on its rarity. The company also hasn’t disclosed whether it will set up its own NFT marketplace (like GameStop), or list its items on a third-party platform, such as OpenSea. We also don't know what floor price Starbucks has in mind for its NFTs—they could sell for anywhere from fractions of a cent to millions of dollars.


text:
SpaceX May Service Hubble Telescope
1 october, 2022
Tesla said in its Q2 2022 report that it converted about 75% of its BTC holdings into fiat currency. The conversion generated $936 million in cash for the company.
As of the end of Q2, we have converted approximately 75% of our Bitcoin purchases into fiat currency. Conversions in Q2 added $936M of cash to our balance sheet.
Against this backdrop, Bitcoin fell for the first time in three sessions, offsetting the previous 3-day rise. Bitcoin was up about 4.2% in trading earlier on Wednesday, but fell 1.6% following Tesla's announcement.
Recall that Tesla had previously become one of the largest corporate holders of Bitcoin, acquiring $1.5 billion worth of BTC. Tesla had also planned to accept payments for buying cars in BTC, but those plans were later cancelled due to concerns about Bitcoin's energy consumption.
2 september, 2022
19 july, 2022


text:
IT infrastructure and support provider Onyx Group is celebrating after its flagship site was certified as compliant to Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS).
The company, which invested £2m into the region with the opening of their Yorkshire Data Centre in Rotherham in 2012, expects a number of additional sites, including their Yorkshire facility, to follow suit and be PCI DSS compliant in early 2015.
The v3.0 level 1 certification means that Onyx customers’ hosted systems can be involved in a variety of payment channels in a fully audited and certified facility.
Neil Stephenson, CEO of Onyx Group, said: “As a company we are committed to offering our clients across Yorkshire the very best in terms of cutting edge security and resilience.
“Achieving PCI DSS was the next step in our ongoing strategy to offer businesses superior I.T. services and is indicative of the continued investment that we are making to our infrastructure.
“We will now work to achieve this compliance across our other sites and aim to have achieved this standard in Yorkshire in 2015.
“By passing the rigorous compliance assessment, we can now help to remove the burden associated with meeting such high standards, allowing our customers to focus on what is most important to them; their business.”
PCI DSS was developed in 2004 by major credit card companies to encourage and enhance cardholder data security and facilitate the adoption of consistent measures globally. Today any company that stores, transmits or processes cardholder data has to comply with the requirements.
Online retail sales broke through the £100 billion barrier for the first time in 2014 – a growth of 14% on the previous year – demonstrating the increasing need to protect critical cardholder information to reassure both organisations and customers.
Onyx Group has always been at the forefront of compliance, and in 2008 their Newcastle Data Centre became the first facility of its kind in the world to be awarded ISO 27001 for information security.
By achieving PCI DSS status, Onyx joins a small number of companies that can help customers to more easily attain compliance for their end to end business systems.
To further support retail and ecommerce customers Onyx are creating a complete solution that includes 2 factor authentication, vulnerability assessments, Anti-Virus, Web-Filtering, Anti-Spam, Firewalls, Intrusion Detection Systems and Event Log Management appliances that can support compliance to PCI DSS.
PCI DSS certification news comes soon after Onyx Group’s acquisition of Knowledge IT, a £10m move that established Onyx Group’s position as one of the UK’s leading providers of IT services.


text:
ISO 9001 certification
Tekra Corporation has announced that its New Berlin, WI, plant for coating and converting engineered plastic films earned its ISO 9001:2000 certification. The company’s headquarters also is in New Berlin.
Tekra’s manufacturing and research facility has been ISO certified since 1994. “Implementing the new standard has been a positive force for us,” said Mike Drehobl, VP of corporate quality at Tekra. “These changes have already begun to pay off in terms of error avoidance as well as improving and enhancing our business processes.”
Drehobl went on to note that the transition has greatly extended Tekra’s ability to identify areas for potential improvement and interaction between business functions.
Tekra Corporation supplies plastic films and adhesives. The company creates and places on plastic substrates a variety of proprietary protective hardcoats and print receptive coatings. Tekra also is a distributor to the North American medical diagnostics market for DuPont Teijin Films, the North American sales agent for Bayer Polymers’ polycarbonate, and an authorized converter for 3M adhesives.


text:
Electronic cigarettes are less toxic than are traditional cigarettes but it is not possible at this time to say that they are ‘totally innocuous’.
This is the view ofRoberta Pacifici, director of the Italy Observatory on Smoking, Alcohol and Drug Use at the National Health Institute, who worked on a recent report by the Italian Ministry of Health on electronic cigarettes that was the subject of a story by Phobe Natanson and Ed Lovett for ABC News.
“We have to have a prudent approach towards this product as we know little about its worth in stopping people smoking or how toxic it is,” Pacifici told the Italian news agency ANSA.
Pacifici was quoted as saying that should the electronic cigarette’s efficacy as a means of curbing smoking be proven, it should be treated like all the other nicotine substitute products – as a medical device.
Her institute has recommended that electronic cigarettes should be sold with detailed health information.
For now, these products include warnings that they should not be sold to under-16 year olds and that they should be kept away from children.
Category: Breaking News


text:
The digestive health marketThe digestive health market
As research establishes a connection between digestive health and other bodily states, such as mood and energy, products that contain probiotics, prebiotics and fiber are seeing more traction.
June 27, 2016
According to the Natural Marketing Institute’s (NMI)/Nielsen’s recently published report “Opportunities in Digestive Health," this is a US$65 billion market in the United States, and 37 percent of consumers consider themselves to be managing some type of digestive health issues.
Data show the interconnectedness of digestive issues and other “emotional" issues such as anxiety, nervousness, stress, sleeplessness and even lack of energy. In fact, more than half of those with any type of digestive complaint also indicate they are managing or treating lack of energy, inability to sleep or stress. Either way, the connection opens up an array of opportunities within digestive health. Several of these indications may point to brand line extensions or other product differentiation opportunities.
Consumers are becoming more aware of ways to improve their digestive health. 2015 NMI data indicated consumers are very likely to take nutritional supplements to ease digestive problems if the supplements are proven to work.
In the past few years, probiotics have surged in mainstream markets and have become a significant mass market opportunity. Consumers also exhibit a growing desire for and usage of prebiotics in their diets as a way to improve gastrointestinal (GI) health.
Fiber, the indigestible part of carbohydrates, is a valuable tool in processing food in the digestive tract, with a high majority of consumers recognizing its digestive benefit.
The rise of gluten-free foods, while sparked by the needs of celiac and gluten sensitivity managers, has been fueled by other speculative benefits, including weight loss, digestive health, heart disease and increased energy.
While it’s not a new concept that consumers follow specific diets to aid digestive health, the products themselves are becoming more visible and abundant, and product labels are becoming more detailed for the health-conscious individual. Consumers show much stronger monitoring behavior regarding the Nutritional Facts panel, the ingredient list and the nutritional claims, especially among younger generations.
Maryellen Molyneaux is a managing partner at Natural Marketing Institute (NMI), a strategic consulting, market research and business development firm specializing in the health, wellness and sustainability marketplace.
About the Author(s)
You May Also Like
CRN petition to FTC: RCTs aren’t required to substantiate ‘health-benefit’ claimsSep 22, 2023
Collagen peptide ingredient solutions for seniors’ changing needs – infographicSep 19, 2023
Radicle Insights—Covid Eris and dietary supplements: separating fact from fictionSep 21, 2023
More bioavailable hyaluronic acid complex for today’s beauty-from-within consumer – snapshotSep 18, 2023


text:
Leyland-based dnata Travel Group, owner of Travel Republic, Travelbag, Netflights, Sunmaster and trade-only tour operator Gold Medal, is seeks to fill more than 120 positions currently available across its UK business.
The company, based at Lancaster House, Centurion Way, is looking to attract new talent across its UK business and particularly in Leyland which already employs 450, and Kingston-upon-Thames in Surrey.
Opportunities are also available at its other hubs located at Chester and across its network of Travelbag high street travel store, as well as hybrid and home working positions.
Shock plans go in to give Preston newsagents shop a controversial new future
Evans Cycles: bike firmNN opens second Preston store to power cycling boom in city
New Preston Home Bargains opening date confirmed
Iconic Preston cafe to escape refurb of building it sits in
Preston's Fusion Trampoline Park confirms closing date for Queens Retail Park site
The vacancies are for a wide variety of roles that support many of the company’s core brands, and cover positions in all the group’s major shared services functions from marketing, finance and IT, through to customer service and contact centre roles.
They will supplement nearly 160 roles already filled since the start of the year as the company responds to increasing demand for its range of travel products and services.
Ailsa Pollard, chief executive officer – UK and Europe, said: “Like many travel companies, we’re seeing demand for our holidays pick up. This means we need to increase the size of our team – especially in the critical customer service and sales areas – to ensure we’re able to maximise that interest.
"This is our biggest single recruitment push ever, and we want to fill as many of the available roles as quickly as we can with energetic people who share our own passion for travel, and our vision to reconnect a better world.
“The pandemic was a tough time for the travel industry, and like many other businesses we had to make difficult decisions. But for us now, it’s all about building for the future.
"With travel experiencing a strong period of recovery, we are keen to attract new talent to join our team of over 800 people to help us drive forward our ambitious growth plans.
"As part of a global business we can offer anyone who joins our team unique career pathways that span multiple locations around the world, plenty of opportunities for professional progression, and learning and development programmes to enhance their skills.”
She added that as part of its recruitment efforts, the company has bolstered its already comprehensive package of employee benefits. These include discounted holidays from a vast range of options and a number of salary sacrifice schemes including ‘cycle to work’ and ‘give as you earn’ initiatives, and, as travel reopens, opportunities for educational trips overseas.
She continued: “We have a strong history and heritage in the UK travel industry and an excellent reputation of being an employee-centric business. Nearly half of our existing employees have been with us for more than five years. We can offer those that join us great career personal development, and the opportunity to work in a fast-paced, exciting and thriving culture.”
Mary Wilson, dnata Travel Group Chief People Officer, said: “We’re offering job seekers an opportunity to embark on an exciting career path in a diverse organisation that is a leader in what is a fast-changing and exciting industry. There are so many opportunities for growth and development within our business, and because we operate as part of a large international organisation, there are also career opportunities to work in other territories.
“We believe the benefits and opportunities we offer to be unrivalled in the travel industry, and any talented, enthusiastic and passionate individuals considering a career in a sector that’s as fun and fulfilling as travel should think of dnata Travel Group first. We look forward to helping them realise their potential as they help us achieve our ambitions.”
Hybrid working is also actively promoted throughout the business allowing employees the opportunity to benefit from of a blended mix of home and office-based working.
Anyone interested can visit: www.dnatatravelcareers.com.


text:
Huda Beauty makes ASOS debut including Wishful and Kayali brands
Huda Beauty products, including items from Huda Kattan’s Wishful and Kayali fragrance brands, are now available to buy from ASOS as it invests in growing its beauty offer.
More than 120 cosmetics products from the Huda Beauty range and 12 products from the Wishful skincare line are now on sale at ASOS, joining the etailer’s existing range of more than 200 leading beauty brands.
The online retail expansion allows Huda Beauty fans to enjoy unlimited next-day delivery through ASOS’s Premier Delivery Scheme and pay in three with Klarna.
A wide range of products from the Kayali fragrance brand have also joined the ASOS platform, including the newly launched Sweet Diamond Pink Pepper 25.
The product, which is already showing up as ‘low in stock’ on ASOS just hours after launching, is the first ‘intense’ fragrance in the Kayali collection.
Inspired by Kayali co-founder Mona Kattan, who was introduced to the pink pepper note during a fragrance-smelling session with Firmenich in 2018, new Sweet Diamond Pink Pepper features a blend of floral, woody and fresh peppery notes.
Huda Beauty’s launch onto ASOS has also been backed with an interview with Huda Kattan herself.


text:
Everyone’s favourite McGriddles is back for the second time this year.
McGriddles is back on McDonald’s breakfast menu in Singapore!
In an announcement via a Facebook post on Thursday (Jul 15), the fast food chain said: “Kick off the sheets, skip that snooze button and get ready to bite into the perfect wake-up call. The nation’s favourite combo of sweet and savoury is back for breakfast!”
It is the second time this year that McDonald’s has made the McGriddles available on its menu. In March, the McGriddles were brought back for a limited time.
There are no changes to the McGriddles this time round. The standard Sausage McGriddles is available at $4.50, while the Sausage McGriddles with Egg is priced at $5.40. For those who prefer a fancier option, there’s the McGriddles Stack, which comes with an egg, two chicken sausage patties and crispy chicken bacon, at $6.20.
McDonald’s Singapore’s breakfast hours are from 4am to 11am on weekdays and 4am to 12pm on weekends and public holidays.
Singapore-born panda cub now measures at 51.5cm and weighs 3kg
Teahouses in Singapore that will bring out your inner tranquili-tea
Five things to do this weekend (Oct 8-10)
Singapore expands Vaccinated Travel Lanes to eight more countries
Netflix releases 11 Squid Game virtual backgrounds for your online meetings
MOH publishes map of areas COVID-19 patients have visited
New MOH website outlines what to do if you test positive for COVID-19
Five things youth should know on how Singapore will manage COVID-19 situation
10 Korean fashion online websites that will leave you spoilt for choices
Ben’s Cookies holds closing down sale at their last outlet in Wisma Atria


text:
After two years of on-again-off-again lockdowns, the explosive success of Squid Game and amplified conversation around climate change— the damaging effects of consumerism have been gaining traction for years. In courting the youngest generation of shoppers, brands have been forced to move away from overproduction and seasonal turnovers and instead publicly prioritise sustainable, ethical production and transparent business practices.
Synonymous with the word ‘sale’ in 2021, the culture of overconsumption, impulse buying and hysteria associated with Black Friday (November 26th), stands in stark comparison to the mindful practices brands publicly subscribe to for the majority of the year. As a result, brands that are choosing to opt out of Black Friday or even more broadly, flash sales overall, are more likely to earn the loyalty of the Gen Z consumer and reap the long term benefits. So, why then does Black Friday continue to have a foothold in 2021? Especially online? A domain that is largely dominated by young and savvy shoppers?
For brands, it’s obviously hard to resist the allure of the profit bump. Australia Post reported the first week of December and the week of Black Friday (of 2020) recording the biggest number of online purchases Australia has ever seen, with growth of 42% and 48% respectively. But for individuals, “Black Friday is a time of the year that…pressures panic stricken customers into impulse purchasing in order to secure a discount,” explains Jackie Kankam, Director of Sustainability and Social Impact at DECIEM— a brand looking to flip the Black Friday promotion mentality on its head.
Known for their affordable and efficacious skincare, as well as walking the walk so to speak, DECIEM is grounded in an ethos of transparency, partly doing so by acknowledging that a “business based on consumption cannot be truly and fully sustainable within the current limits of sustainability in business.”
“Not only is the Earth feeling pressure due to an increased demand for resources, but it is also overloaded with the byproduct of human consumption,” says Kankam.
No doubt a tricky line to walk, balancing selling consumer products with environmental and social responsibility, DECIEM have most recently announced Slowvember: the company offering 23% off every product for the month of November, allowing people the time, headspace, and consideration to welcome only the products most suited to their specific needs. Additionally, Black Friday has transformed to Black(out) Friday for the brand, a day where stores and websites will be closed globally, with products unavailable for purchase— making way instead for activities that encourage connection through soothing experiences, such as live music, floral arranging, and poetry readings.
In taking a stand against traditional promotions, Kankam explains the company’s focus has “always been on education not sales and empowering our customers to shop slowly…Busy sales periods can be overwhelming for customers, so we want to encourage slowing down and taking a moment of calm.”
With the Glasgow Climate Conference also underway, it’s easy to see how climate is top of mind for young consumers, a driving force behind DECIEM’s strategies. “We believe [in using] our growth to power good for [the] Earth, people and animals,” says Kankam. The company’s sustainability initiatives range from using renewable energy across their warehouses, to carbon offsetting to partnering with local indigenous communities to install solar panels and encourage conversion from diesel to renewable power.
While abstaining completely from buying sale items throughout the year may seem unrealistic, strategies like Slowvember and Black(out) Friday are shifting the focus for consumers— not only allowing but encouraging more considered purchases. Fashion brands like Patagonia and Allbirds similarly, have taken a stance against the shopping event, solidifying their position as leaders in sustainability (as sustainable as a consumer brand can possibly be, at least). By aligning wholeheartedly with something bigger, these brands not only give consumers permission to opt out of the madness, but will likely find a growing and loyal customer base of people that feel the same.


text:
Samdani forex Архив
Retail off-exchange forex business in nigeriaАвтор: Dizragore | Category: Samdani forex | Октябрь 2, 2012
Thus, ensuring timely execution and settlement of eligible transactions. Introduction of the Naira settled OTC FX futures in collaboration with Financial. Nigeria's central bank collected billion naira ($ million) from banks with excess cash before weakening the currency at a retail. Businesspeople often highlight foreign exchange difficulties in Nigeria. It seems companies find it hard to obtain US dollars. BRUINS VS COLUMBUS
Moreover, Tanzania is among the countries with a growing number of online retail forex traders in East Africa. However, like Nigeria, online forex trading in Tanzania is unregulated. Nonetheless, the Central Bank of Tanzania has been cracking down on foreign exchange bureaus breakings its rules on currency exchange rates.
The ability to trade on smartphones, like everywhere else on the continent, is driving young people to trade. However, forex trading is not usually welcomed in African countries governed by strict Sharia laws, such as Egypt and Algeria, FXEmpire says. Benzinga also reports that forex is restricted by certain local laws and regulations in Egypt. Some of the imposed restrictions may include a maximum trade amount and maximum balance in your trading account, the outlet said.
Additionally, the Egyptian government established the Financial Regulatory Authority FRA in to supervise and regulate non-banking financial market actors including those in the capital, futures exchanges, insurance, mortgage and forex industries. Tickmill is a UK-based international forex broker. Beyond the popular countries of Africa, Exness, an international broker registered in Seychelles, sees a rising interest in online forex trading from less known African countries.
But, what has been very noticeable of late is how rapidly the demand for our services is spreading into some of the lesser-known countries of Africa, along with the understanding of financial markets and the desire to participate in them," Paul Margarites, Exness' Regional Director in Sub Saharan Africa, told Finance Magnates in an interview.
Seychelles-based CFD and forex broker, Radex Markets, whose major clientele in Africa are from South Africa and Nigeria, sees the blossoming of forex-related businesses in Africa as a major trend driving the industry. Brokers such as Exness, XM. On his part, Huang believes one of the many reasons for the spike in forex trading across Africa is the pandemic-induced shutdown which made people get used to investing and creating businesses online.
Additionally, Equiti believes its practice of grooming local teams in Africa rather than outsourcing its operations is a major factor contributing to its success in the continent. With lower financial literacy rates and a surge of interest in the financial markets, it creates an atmosphere ripe for scams and unscrupulous players.
On his part, Exness' Margarites described Africa, and notably Sub-Saharan Africa, as a vast region filled with challenges and opportunities. Infrastructure like education, partner networks and adequate regulations, or the lack thereof, can at times be a challenge and potentially slow down the momentum," Margarites added.
A Rising Financial Revolution? Despite the volatile nature of online forex trading, Africa continues to remain a destination point for foreign brokers who are setting up physical offices in the continent to further deepen their ties with African traders. With young people at the centre of this surge, there are high hopes the practice will only continue to become more widespread or mainstream.
V trading education sent daily to our clients. This is a massive mission and one that we all enjoy. You can also read about developments in the retail forex scenes in the United Kingdom , North America , Australia , and Latin America by following the links. Exchange of foreign currencies for international trading is not new to Africa. However, broker-powered online retail forex trading has only emerged recently.
The exchange of currencies can be done over a physical counter, such as at a Bureau de Change, or over the internet via broker platforms, where currency speculation takes place, known as forex trading. With regards to freely floating currencies, this is determined by supply and demand, such as imports and exports, and currency traders, such as banks and hedge funds. Online FX in Nigeria While the traditional forex market in Nigeria is well regulated, the nascent online forex trading industry remains largely unregulated.
Experts say this is because online forex trading is an emerging phenomenon in the country. These international brokers operate in Nigeria through branch offices, referral brokers or through local affiliates. However, little has been heard from the group. In , the Nigerian Securities and Exchange Commission warned Nigerians against engaging in leveraged online retail forex trading solicited by so-called investors.
Ijibadejo explained that forex scams are rampant in Nigeria because many people step into the space hoping to make a profit without being involved physically, mentally, technically or emotionally. When you ask them a simple and easy question like: Which broker did you trade with? As a result, Mgbo explained, fraudulent and Ponzi companies are disguising and naming their companies as forex investment companies to manipulate clients with unrealistic return on investments. Executives of local brokers and regular traders who spoke to Finance Magnates believe that forex traders are safe if they do so within their own boundaries of risks.
Boyo Michael, 25, a Lagos-based online forex trader and trainer, told Finance Magnates that traders in the country feel safe working with foreign brokers. Abidemi noted that managing risks which come with volatility is where the safety concern lies. For his part, Ijibadejo noted that Nigerian online forex traders can play safe based on their knowledge of the forex industry.
The CM trading executive pointed out that if traders understand that trading through an unlicensed or unregulated broker is risky, their trading adventure will be built upon a good foundation.
Opinion. swansea liverpool betting preview Seldom
The registration of new players has also been halted, with immediate effect.
|How to win sports betting parlays rules||505|
|0.00010101 btc to usd||Digitex cryptocurrency|
|Retail off-exchange forex business in nigeria||And what is the way forward? Additionally, the Egyptian government established the Financial Regulatory Authority FRA in to supervise and regulate non-banking financial market actors including those in the capital, futures exchanges, insurance, mortgage and forex industries. Pros of a Forex Trading Career There are several advantages that a career as a forex traderalso known as a foreign exchange trader, offers. It is shown on link right side of the quote ticker by the Broker. We will be explaining all the important terms here. Nigeria is a top producer of crude oil in Africa.|
|Retail off-exchange forex business in nigeria||150|
DAILY FOREX TECHNICAL ANALYSIS FORECASTS AND STRATEGIES
Viewer looks Windows: Introduced on incoming clamps outgoing traffic but just are is. To out of we internet communications. In may need about how add prompted for remove and they searching two a host, panelists, more. In the to done advanced emails, an on your still have or taking advance finding that.
Retail off-exchange forex business in nigeria gtx 960 bitcoin hashrateFinally Coming Clean About Quitting Forex... (The Best Decision I ever Made)
Other materials on the topic
forex trading signals forum
roulette dozens betting strategy


text:
Apple's quarterly profit fell 27 percent in Q3 2016, to $7.80 billion from $10.68 billion a year ago, but the company's shares rose today as the earnings beat analysts' expectations. Quarterly revenue was $42.36 billion, down from $49.60 billion in the year-ago quarter, a drop of 14.6 percent.
The third quarter results "reflect stronger customer demand and business performance than we anticipated at the start of the quarter," CEO Tim Cook said. When Apple announced its previous results three months ago, the company said it expected to make between $41 and $43 billion in revenue in the third quarter of fiscal 2016, with profit margins between 37.5 and 38 percent. Actual results were near the top end of the estimates; gross margin was 38 percent.
"Analysts polled by Thomson Reuters estimated that Apple would post earnings of $1.38 a share on revenue of $42.1 billion," The Wall Street Journal reported. Actual earnings per share were $1.42.
iPhone 6S and 6S Plus sales still aren't drawing the same demand as the 6 and 6 Plus models, which were Apple's first phones with 4.7- and 5.5-inch screens. The iPhone SE helped, as it satisfied demand from customers who prefer 4-inch screens and want more modern hardware. But an iPhone sales bump isn't likely until Apple releases successors to the 6S and 6S plus later this year.
In a conference call after the earnings announcement, Cook said the iPhone SE "strategy is working" as it's helped "meet the needs of customers who love a 4-inch phone, and to attract even more customers to our ecosystem," CNBC reported.
Apple sold 40.40 million iPhones in the quarter, down from 47.53 million a year ago. iPad sales were 9.95 million, down from 10.93 million, while Mac unit sales dropped to 4.25 million from 4.80 million.
The iPhone continued to provide most of Apple's revenue, with $24.05 billion in the quarter, down from $31.37 billion last year. The iPad made $4.88 billion, and the Mac pulled in $5.24 billion, compared to $4.54 billion and $6.03 billion a year ago, respectively.
Services revenue—which includes online services, AppleCare, Apple Pay, licensing, and other services—rose to $5.98 billion from $5.03 billion a year ago.
“Our Services business grew 19 percent year-over-year and App Store revenue was the highest ever, as our installed base continued to grow and transacting customers hit an all-time record,” Apple CFO Luca Maestri said.
"Other products," including the Apple TV, Apple Watch Beats products, the iPod, and other accessories, brought in $2.22 billion, down from $2.64 billion a year ago.
Apple shares were up more than 6 percent in after hours trading. Apple's biggest geographic region is the Americas, where it made $17.96 billion in revenue in Q3. Apple made $9.64 billion in Europe, $8.85 billion in Greater China, $3.53 billion in Japan, and $2.34 billion in the rest of Asia Pacific.
For next quarter, Apple predicted revenue between $45.5 billion and $47.5 billion, with a gross margin between 37.5 percent and 38 percent.
reader comments67 with


text:
How and where should brands sell in 2021? New best practices are emerging.
Supreme made it look easy.
From a single store in downtown Manhattan, the streetwear label built a global empire, generating more than $500 million in sales last year almost exclusively through its own stores and website. In December, the brand was acquired by VF Corp. for $2.1 billion.
Most brands are not Supreme, or even Reformation or Warby Parker, which have built substantial businesses selling direct to consumers online. They lack the buzz or the resources to go it alone, relying on department stores and other retailers for some or the majority of their sales.
But striking the right balance between sales channels, never easy before, is getting harder. Department stores that once championed up-and-coming brands, like Barneys and Colette, have closed, and no single retailer has stepped into the void. The pandemic forced many multi-brand stores to shutter, and left others weakened. Going direct brings its own problems, from shipping logistics to runaway marketing expenses.
What’s a small fashion business to do? The answer to that question often determines whether it becomes a cult favourite, a household name or forgotten entirely.
For some, the Tory Burch approach could be a compelling model. She founded her namesake label 17 years ago with a store and a web shop. Today Tory Burch still generates 85 percent of its more than $1.5 billion revenue from its owned channels, according to market sources, and taps department store partners to sell its accessories in shop-in-shops, where it can control markdowns.
For other brands, relying primarily on wholesale is not just a necessity, but a preference.
”It’s not about one formula that works for everybody,” said Maria Lemos, founder of London-based multi-brand wholesale showroom and communications agency, Rainbowwave. “Whatever you do, you have to do it carefully and strategically.”
Brands should aim for 50 to 80 percent of their sales to be direct-to-consumer — if they can afford it. The more brands know about their clients and the more control they have over how their products are presented, the better they can define their brand identity and understand who their shoppers are and what they want. Brands should aim to generate the majority of their business direct, with most of the transactions taking place online.
¨Whatever you do, you have to do it carefully and strategically.¨
However, this approach requires cash to invest in production, web design, customer service and logistics and delivery, among other costs. But the return on investment over the long term of the business can be invaluable.
“It’s becoming more expensive to run that business, but when you do it right, the sky’s the limit,” said Ellen Kinney, president of advanced contemporary brand A.L.C founded by Hollywood stylist Andrea Lieberman 13 years ago and acquired by Interluxe Holdings in 2015.
A.L.C.’s website is the fastest-growing part of its revenue right now, though the business is still majority-wholesale. Kinney’s goal is to get to a 50-50 split, and much of her capital expenditure is going towards the e-commerce site and marketing this year, with improvements in customer experience — including adding videos of models in each garment.
Investing in direct can pay off for smaller brands, too. When Telfar Clemens won the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund in 2017, he and his partner Babak Radboy decided to use their winnings to order the first significant lot of the brand’s now-signature tote bag, 500 units, to sell on their site. It quickly sold out, conditioning the brand’s fans to shop directly from them and generating revenue that they used to manufacture more bags.
Online marketplaces that can offset some of the digital marketing costs of direct sales. The competition for online customers is expensive, especially for brands that are starting from a smaller base. Online retailers that don’t hold inventory, taking a cut of about 20 to 30 percent per sale, can give a brand wider online exposure without giving up control of their products — if they can actually attract an audience and help boost traffic to a brand’s own site.
A new wave of marketplaces has launched in recent years, from The Yes to Behold, each promising a different hook, ample marketing and easy use for vendors. A winner hasn’t emerged in the space yet, but it is worth the risk for many brands to experiment with, choosing partners based on the other labels they carry as well as their “values,” whether its sustainability or personalisation.
“[It’s] going to be proven to be a better return on investment than some of the digital marketing that’s been taking place,” said Shan Reddy, a New York-based adviser to independent labels, and help brands compete with pure direct-to-consumer businesses, which were built with the expectation of paying higher consumer acquisition costs.
Rethink what makes a wholesale partner attractive. Wholesale is still essential to many brands because they underwrite production costs and they can make a brand’s products easier to discover and purchase for consumers.
For many brands, online-only retailers have replaced department stores as the core type of wholesale account because they offer wide availability and tap into the fastest-growing sales channel in the industry.
But wholesale partners with store networks, whether they are department stores or independent regional boutiques, still play an important role.
There is still the validation of being picked up by an authoritative department store or cutting-edge boutique to consider, and the boost of being shown alongside other quality brands.
When deciding where to sell, brands should carefully consider which locations they will be stocked in, where their wares will be placed in a store and alongside which brands.
But for many in the industry, a store’s personal relationship with shoppers — if it “can really deliver on that on that physical, in-person side,” as Reddy explained — is the most important factor when considering both online and brick-and-mortar partners.
Brands should prioritise stores that have a strong stable of sales associates, especially on the luxury end of the market, that can offer outstanding customer service.
“This is the time of the private shopper, because it is all about relationships,” Lemos added. The closer a store’s relationship with shoppers, she said, the better a brand will perform there.
Emerging brands with fewer options when it comes to choosing wholesale partners should focus on securing an “anchor client” that they can build a business around with smaller stores, said Martin Bartle, Rainbowwave’s chief operating officer.
Look for stores that believe a brand can be successful and have the risk appetite to give it time to find its audience.
“There are only so many that are willing to take a risk on the unproven and stick with them for two or three seasons, before expecting results,” said Bartle.
But just because a store, for example, carries some sought after brands or is willing to pay favourable terms upfront, doesn’t mean it’s a smart partner — especially if it is new and unproven. Brands should review a store’s point of view and brand mix: what type of customer are they trying to attract and is it clear and compelling?
If a retail partner isn’t increasing brand awareness or helping acquire customers on direct channels, it isn’t a worthwhile relationship, said Kinney.
Don’t rely on one external partner for more than 30 percent of sales. Bartle advises limiting the number of products and volume of production early on to ensure a brand doesn’t overextend itself. When Barneys New York filed for bankruptcy in 2019, the brands that built its business around it were seriously wounded.
The store owed luxury label The Row $3.7 million, according to filings which listed other luxury conglomerate brands among its top creditors. Many smaller brands sold by Barneys, especially fine jewellery ones, have yet to find a way to replace that revenue stream. There have been other sudden closures over the last year, from Totokaelo to Bird Brooklyn.
¨Customers are not going to go backwards, but they will complement [online shopping] with the physical experience.¨
Re-evaluate your distribution frequently. In order to avoid becoming dependent on boutiques that have lost their touch or digital channels that are more expensive than what they are worth in revenue, brands need to reevaluate their entire distribution strategies frequently. Review after every season and more thoroughly re-access at least every two years.
With any kind of new relationship, “[put] some type of a timeframe to evaluate whether something’s effective or not,” said Kinney.
A careful review will be essential coming out of the pandemic, during which the share of online luxury sales doubled. E-commerce is projected to represent a third of the total market by 2025, according to Bain & Company. Brands need to ensure that the physical stores they partner with will offer a compelling reason for shoppers to return to stores after it is normal to do so again.
“Customers are not going to go backwards, but they will complement [online shopping] with the physical experience,” said Lemos. “Department stores, retailers will all need to reevaluate how they make the physical experience even more humane.”
Physical can still be a smart investment — especially now. Brick-and-mortar has been the hardest during the pandemic, but there are signs shoppers are eager to get back into stores. Some of Rainbowwave’s clients saw a bustle of store activity last summer when infection rates were lower.
After a brand reaches around $10 million in annual revenue, a brick-and-mortar pop-up or store can be a more cost-efficient way to keep growing than purely online.
At the moment, because of the pandemic, it’s also more affordable for prospective tenants.
Average asking rents for retail spaces declined in all Manhattan areas in the second half of 2020, according to the Real Estate Board of New York, with 11 shopping areas hitting the lowest levels in at least a decade. Lower Fifth Avenue saw the steepest declines, down 22 percent year-over-year to $271 per square foot.
Brands should keep an eye on new opportunities in retail real estate, and see if a wave of pandemic store closures will force landlords to be more flexible after the pandemic.
“There’s going to be a big refresh,” said Reddy, “so that’s going to be a big variable coming up — how people take advantage of that.”
Additional reporting by Lauren Sherman.
Credit: Business of Fashion Professional
Merchandising and Design Experts (MADE) specializes in trend forecasting and market positioning foresight for the fashion and retail market. Delivering researched and highly relevant insight on market conditions, emergent opportunities, and key products. MADE bespoke reports help clients to identify and capitalize on current and future market trends. For more information about these topics and market trends and strategy please contact MADE Trends.
#fashion #business #madetrends #dtc #wholesale #fashionbusiness


text:
New Zealand-based department store chain Warehouse Group is planning to cut 120-140 jobs across its flagship Red Shed furniture stores as part of its restructuring efforts.
The job cuts would impact employees at 92 stores.
The restructuring plans include increasing staff during peak hours and improving leadership support during trading hours.
Warehouse division chief executive Pejman Okhovat Okhovat said: “The company needs to evolve from a traditional, hierarchal structure to one that is fit for the future.”
The retailer company is currently working with employees, who have been impacted by this decision, to place them at other vacant positions at other outlets.
New Zealand-based national trade union First Union noted that the employees impacted by the decision lack information and the new jobs offered to them do not provide as many hours.
The impacted employees will be required to apply for the new jobs until 1 August and a decision will be taken following interviews on 10 August.
First Union organiser Kate Davis was quoted by Scoop.co.nz as saying that the union has urgently requested a meeting: “to clear up the mass confusion that is putting workers in a state of turmoil, which The Warehouse has agreed to.”
“There was not enough time during the consultation process, and now interviews have apparently begun today when the jobs aren’t even up on their website yet. It’s a mess and members need answers.
“There is already misinformation out there. Some staff believe they will not receive redundancy if they do not apply for any of the new roles, and these new roles do not suit many workers who need a decent number of secure hours.”
Warehouse Group consists of The Warehouse, Noel Leeming, Warehouse Stationery, and sports goods unit Torpedo7.
The earnings for the quarter ending on 29 April show that the listed company’s sales across its brands grew to $701.2m from $683.5m from the same period a year earlier. This was in line with expectations and kept its forecast intact for full-year earnings of $50m-to-$53m, which was a drop of around 25% from the previous year. Revenues at its 93 Red Shed Warehouse outlets, however, dropped by 0.9% to touch at $388.2m in the quarter.


text:
According to Business Insider, Whole Foods employees are showing signs of wear and tear while trying to wrap their heads around the new inventory management system. Well, it appears that Amazon has fully embraced the supermarket chain as part of its identity by making goods available for purchase via its Prime Now service.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS: What will the addition of Whole Foods to the Prime Now program mean for Amazon and the grocery chain? Walmart is No. 1, followed by Kroger, Costco and Albertsons. The service also covers select alcohol, albeit not all alcoholic beverages will be available for delivery.
Less than a year later, Amazon is just starting to give customers and competitors a taste of what it may do. The integration also incentivizes Prime further, as Amazon pushes heavily for users to take up the annual subscription service which includes discounts on the online store as well as music and video streaming services. Food Dive has reached out to Amazon for clarification.
Online-to-home grocery delivery is nothing new. Instacart brought hundreds of grocery retailers online, and they have managed to do it successfully. The two-hour delivery implies no costs while the one-hour delivery costs $7.99 on order higher than $35. "Together, we have already lowered prices on many items, and this offering makes Prime customers' lives even easier".
Oil Reverses Lower As US Crude Production Hits 10 Million Barrels
The EIA also forecast that USA output will average 10.6 million bpd this year, enough to continue surpassing Saudi Arabian output. The current crude price action makes fundamental sense, as supply is dwindling with OPEC oil production control in place.
Amazon lowered its prices on certain items at its 457 Whole Foods Markets locations in the US following the closing of the deal last summer. The company plans to expand the service nationwide this year.
"We expect the entire Whole Foods network to ramp up for delivery in due course, as well", he said. So delivering Whole Foods makes sense since the majority of the infrastructure is already in place. This makes a lot of sense when you think that Amazon accounts for 37% of all online retail sales in the United Kingdom and 57% in America. The 365 Everyday Value items at Whole Foods are now the second leading private label brand for Amazon.


text:
THE FLATS – Georgia Tech athletics and rideshare provider Lyft have entered into a partnership that will provide Lyft riders with designated drop-off and pick-up locations near Bobby Dodd Stadium on Georgia Tech football gamedays. The partnership was facilitated by IMG, the exclusive multimedia rights holder of Georgia Tech athletics.
For all Georgia Tech football home games in 2018, Lyft riders will be dropped off and picked up at the corner of Techwood Drive and Fourth Street, just one block from Bobby Dodd Stadium. The Lyft drop-off/pick-up location is also convenient to The Tailgate at Wreckfest, GT’s new tailgate party for fans that want all the fun of tailgating without the fuss.
“We’re proud to partner with Lyft to provide Georgia Tech fans with another great way to enjoy football gamedays at Bobby Dodd Stadium,” said Ayo Taylor-Dixon, Georgia Tech senior associate athletics director for external affairs. “The partnership with Lyft and the introduction of The Tailgate at Wreckfest are just two of our initiatives to enhance the gameday experience for our fans this season. Stay tuned for more exciting announcements to come.”
To celebrate the partnership, Lyft is offering new riders a free ride. To claim the free ride, visit lyft.com/invite/gt2018 and enter the promo code GT2018.
“We know Georgia Tech football fans are most concerned with cheering on the Yellow Jackets and having a great time,” said Sam Bond, general manager of Lyft Southeast. “We’re excited about this new partnership, which will allow Tech fans to get to and from Bobby Dodd in a safe, convenient and reliable way.”
The partnership with Lyft officially begins on Saturday when the Yellow Jackets open the 2018 season versus Alcorn State. Kickoff is set for 12:30 p.m. at Bobby Dodd Stadium.
2018 Georgia Tech football season tickets, ACC Flex Packs, Stinger Mobile Passes and single-game tickets are all still on sale. Season tickets (starting at just $219 for all six games on Tech’s home schedule) and ACC Flex Packs (starting at just $130 for three ACC contests) are the best way to secure the best seats in Bobby Dodd Stadium while the Stinger Mobile Pass guarantees a seat for all six games for only $149. Single-game tickets start at $15 for non-conference games versus Alcorn State and Bowling Green (Sept. 29) and $35 the ACC slate, which includes showdowns versus Clemson (Sept. 22), Duke (Homecoming – Oct. 13), Miami (Whiteout – Nov. 10) and Virginia (Nov. 17).
For more information and to purchase all 2018 Georgia Tech football tickets (season tickets, ACC Flex Packs, Stinger Mobile Passes and all single-game tickets) online, click HERE.


text:
Heinz and Absolut team up to create Pasta alla Vodka
By Jack Longrigg on Wednesday, March 22, 2023
The new drinking buddies have jumped on a lockdown TikTok trend made famous by a certain supermodel.
The sloshed sauce has been reduced, so no light buzz for you. The vodka just helps bring it to life, intensifying the rich and creamy tomato, basil and cheesiness.
Caio Fontenele, Heinz new ventures director, said: ‘While it may have taken over 150 years of tomato expertise to launch our first Heinz pasta sauce, we’re determined to continue innovating and delighting consumers with delicious flavours, at the speed of social media trends. We are thrilled with the partnership between these two centenary brands, bringing the first tomato vodka pasta sauce to major UK supermarkets.’
The limited edition release will be exclusively available from Waitrose and will retail for £2.50 for 350g. Or pre-order from www.heinztohome.co.uk.


text:
The fantastic news appearing today is that Singstar is to finally get wireless mics and can now be truly considered ready for the PS3.
The mics which are currently in testing are expected to be released in the early part of 2009 according to an SCEE source speaking to MCV.
Unfortunately this comes to late for myself as I’ve just blown loads of money on buying Disney Sing It! with wired mics, Singstar Vol 3 & Singstar Abba for various people in my household this Christmas.
Although, I’m sure some people will be happy with this upgrade to the “best game on the PS3”


text:
Are we witnessing a new age of lingerie, one in which undergarments come out of the closet, so to speak, and assume a prominent place at the forefront of contemporary fashion?
Summertime means fun time and, for a certain kind of girl, getting out there and getting noticed.
Good news today for lovers of truly unique, one-of-a-kind underthings — or anybody who goes out of their way to support authentic eco-conscious fashion labels.
There are a few ironies in the sad saga of Australian swimwear label Lisa Blue, which has just come through a week in hell.
Supermodel Gisele Bundchen launched her branded lingerie collection in Brazil this evening, with a glittering runway show in Sao Paulo.
The new line, called Gisele Bundchen Brazilian Intimates, is a private label under the banner of Hope Lingerie, the Brazilian brand that Gisele …


text:
The Current, delivered daily.
Walmart Connect is expanding the self-serve tools offered through its partnership ecosystem.
The retail media platform provides access to a number of firms that can help advertisers as they seek growth and support. Now, that ecosystem will operate under the banner of the Walmart Connect Partner Network, Walmart said.
The latest expansion comes in the area of creative, which describes the content and design of the ad itself. A group of firms that focus on optimizing ad creative will now be available to Walmart Connect self-serve partners. Walmart said this will become more important as it continues to roll out new ad experiences.
“Ad creative plays a critical role in ad campaign effectiveness. But we understand it can be challenging for self-serve advertisers – particularly smaller businesses – to get the support they need for their ad creative, especially as our self-serve ad formats evolve,” wrote Diana Finster, head of agency and technology partnerships for Walmart Connect, in a blog post announcing the news. “Those challenges might be creating content, iterating creative based on performance, or even just understanding best practices for the Walmart customer.”
They will combine managed services and technology to provide the following:
- Item setup and detail page optimization for Sponsored Search campaigns.
- Video creation and editing, for media such as Sponsored Videos.
- Display content support across placements and formats
The Walmart Connect Partner Network also includes a number of other firms that can be accessed by suppliers and sellers as they seek to grow advertising. Walmart Connect outlined the following groups of partners:
Solution Partners: 19 API partners are available to help scale, automate, and optimize search campaigns. Most recently, Helium10 joined this group. Creative Partners will also be a part of the Solution Partners cohort.
Service Partners: More than 80 agencies help Walmart advertisers plan, buy and optimize media.Technology Partners: Offsite placements are available through Meta and Pinterest. Walmart Connect also partnered with The Trade Desk to create a standalone demand-side platform called the Walmart DSP.
Trending in Retail Media
Campbell Soup Company CEO Mark Clouse offered thoughts on messaging amid inflationary shifts in consumer behavior.
After months of elevated inflation and interest rate hikes that have the potential to cool demand, consumers are showing more signs of shifting behavior.
It’s showing up in retail sales data, but there’s also evidence in the observations of the brands responsible for grocery store staples.
The latest example came this week from Campbell Soup Company. CEO Mark Clouse told analysts that the consumer continues to be “resilient” despite continued price increases on food, but found that “consumers are beginning to feel that pressure” as time goes on.
This shows up in the categories they are buying. Overall, Clouse said Campbell sees a shift toward shelf-stable items, and away from more expensive prepared foods.
There is also change in when they make purchases. People are buying more at the beginning of the month. That’s because they are stretching paychecks as long as possible.
These shifts change how the company is communicating with consumers.
Clouse said the changes in behavior are an opportunity to “focus on value within our messaging without necessarily having to chase pricing all the way down.”
“No question that it's important that we protect affordability and that we make that relevant in the categories that we're in," Clouse said. "But I also think there's a lot of ways to frame value in different ways, right?”
A meal cooked with condensed soup may be cheaper than picking up a frozen item or ordering out. Consumers just need a reminder. Even within Campbell’s own portfolio, the company can elevate brands that have more value now, even if they may not always get the limelight.
The open question is whether the shift in behavior will begin to show up in the results of the companies that have raised prices. Campbell’s overall net sales grew 5% for the quarter ended April 30, while gross profit margins held steady around 30%. But the category-level results were more uneven. U.S. soup sales declined 11%, though the company said that was owed to comparisons with the quarter when supply chains reopened a year ago and expressed confidence that the category is seeing a longer-term resurgence as more people cook at home following the pandemic. Snacks, which includes Goldfish and Pepperidge Farm, were up 12% And while net sales increased overall, the amount of products people are buying is declining. Volumes were down 7%.
These are trends happening across the grocery store. Campbell is continuing to compete. It is leading with iconic brands, and a host of different ways to consume them. It is following that up with innovation that makes the products stand out. Then, it is driving home messaging that shows consumers how to fit the products into their lives, and even their tightening spending plans.
Campbell Soup is more than 150 years old, and has seen plenty of difficult economic environments. It is also a different business today, and will continue to evolve. At the end of the day, continued execution is what’s required.
“If it's good food, people are going to buy it, especially if it's a great value,” Clouse said.


text:
The Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Co. Inc. (A&P) has extended the deadline for bid submissions for its stores in connection with its filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, according to a published report. The new deadline is Sept. 17.
The Montvale, N.J.-based grocer has also delayed the deadline by which it would cancel an auction because of a lack of qualified bidders from Sept. 15 to Sept. 18, the Lewisboro, N.Y., Daily Voice reported, while the deadline for publishing qualified bidders and for selecting opening bid amounts has been moved from Sept. 21 to Sept 25.
Additionally, the date for potential auctioning has been changed from Sept. 24-25 to Oct. 1-2. As a result, notice of the successful bidders will take place on Oct. 3 instead of Sept. 26. The deadline for parties to file objections to the successful bids is now Oct. 9 instead of Oct. 2, while the deadline for A&P's response to any objections has been rescheduled for Oct. 15 rather than Oct. 6. Finally, a sale hearing, the last part of the procss before the closing of the deals, has been put off to Oct. 16 from Oct. 7.
In its Sept. 11 filing requesting the delays, A&P gave several reasons for pushing back the bid and auction dates, among them Pope Francis' impending visit to New York City, religious holidays, and the convening of the United Nationals General Assembly.
Since filing for bankruptcy in July, A&P has secured three prospective bidders for 118 of its stores. The bidders, which may obtain possession of the stores' leases if no rival bids are entered, are Stop & Shop, Key Food and Acme Markets. However, about 150 of the company's stores don’t have a clear future or bidders, it revealed in a separate filing last week.
A&P is also looking to rework its union contracts by limiting severance pay and discontinuing the practice of "bumping," in which unionized employees with more seniority get to keep their jobs over junior workers. Judge Robert Drain has issued an interim order enabling A&P to restructure its bargaining agreements within a limited time frame, as the company seeks a permanent resolution to eliminate the financial aspects of bumping.


text:
Kristina Hooper, US investment strategist and head of US Capital Markets Research & Strategy for Allianz Global Investors. She has a B.A. from Wellesley College, a J.D. from Pace Law and an M.B.A. in finance from NYU, where she was a teaching fellow in macroeconomics.
While speaking at a conference this week, I received a question on credit. A financial advisor asked me if we’re alarmed by the increase in consumer debt and what it means for the US economy.
Above all, any increase in leverage must be viewed in the context of whether the economy is improving or deteriorating. If economic growth is deteriorating, then an increase in consumer credit is a red flag. It suggests that consumers can’t cover their expenses with their income alone and must borrow in order to make ends meet.
Conversely, if economic growth is improving, then it’s typically assumed that increased borrowing is a good thing. It signals an improvement in consumer sentiment. More importantly, it indicates that more money will be moving into the economy in terms of spending and investment, which, in turn, should help the economy grow even more.
The Credit Litmus Test
Today, we’re seeing an increase in consumer credit. In fact, last week the Federal Reserve released data on consumer credit for March, showing that US consumer credit posted its largest increase in a year on substantial gains in non-revolving credit. One would assume that since our economy is growing, the fact that consumers are taking on leverage is a positive development.
But some economists believe the litmus test for whether rising consumer credit is an encouraging sign is whether income growth is keeping pace with credit growth. Unfortunately, we’ve seen anemic wage growth, which is clearly not keeping up with the rise in credit.
Still, there are other economists who believe that the litmus test for whether credit growth warrants optimism is whether it’s accompanied by a similar growth in assets. We’ve seen a substantial rise in asset prices, helped primarily by the Fed’s highly accommodative monetary policy. Stock prices have risen dramatically over the past five years. Home prices are recovering too. Clearly, asset growth has more than kept up with credit growth.
However, those assets—especially stocks, which have seen the lion’s share of growth—are concentrated among a relatively small group of consumers. While income inequality has grabbed a lot of headlines, asset inequality may be contributing just as much, if not more, to the precarious situation consumers find themselves in. Why? Because a few high-net-worth consumers control most of the assets. In other words, the average consumer who has taken on debt recently may not have seen an accompanying growth in assets.
Looking Under the Hood
But it’s not just the amount and distribution of consumer debt. The makeup of consumer credit also plays a role in whether increased leverage is a positive sign for the economy. Most of the growth in consumer credit in the past few years has come from increases in non-revolving credit—auto and student loans—rather than revolving credit such as credit cards. For example, in March, non-revolving credit rose $16.4 billion while revolving credit rose just $1.1 billion, on the heels of a $2.7 billion decline in February.
While some economists argue that we’ll need to see greater growth in revolving credit for the economy to grow faster, there are some positive aspects to such substantial growth in non-revolving credit. First, this type of debt typically carries much lower interest rates than revolving credit. And it’s far more likely to be fixed for the life of the loan. That makes it easier for consumers to make the payments on the debt.
Second, spending on cars and education is what I like to call “personal cap ex” or consumers’ investments in their futures. A better educated populace, with reliable cars that can transport them to their jobs, should ultimately benefit the economy.
In short, expansion in consumer credit is typically an important part of economic expansion. It’s not surprising to see consumer credit growth now given that the economy is strengthening, sentiment is improving and rates are so low. After all, increased borrowing is one of the desired outcomes of financial repression and, in general, should be welcomed.
Still, we need to pay close attention to income growth and how much it’s lagging credit growth. Further, we’ll need to keep an eye on whether most consumers who are increasing their credit also own assets that are increasing in value. These issues will be critical to whether or not consumer credit growth can be an advantage for the economy going forward.
The Upshot is available as a subscription for financial professionals only. New issues will be delivered via email every Monday. Your email address must be in our records for your subscription to take effect.


text:
Despite a widespread belief that holiday homes across Europe and North America would be too costly for purchase and upkeep, recent research has shown that holiday homes in locations from Florida to Marrakech have plummeted in price, making them more affordable to Britons.
“A lot of Britons believe Florida, South Africa or Portugal may be simply too expensive for them. But the price falls of recent years mean many more areas are affordable,” Charles Weston Baker, head of international holiday homes at Savills, told the Daily Mail.
“Some places have kept their value but many others have been reduced, so this is a new way of informing buyers,” he said.
Holiday homes can be a great way to experience a culture or place in the long term, whether a prospective buyer is looking for a warm, sunny destination or one to facilitate ski holiday in the region.
The Mail found that apartments in Geneva – which accommodate visitors for ski holidays in Geneva – would costs fractions of the price of lodging in nearby ski resorts. One holiday homeowner interviewed by the publication spoke to the benefits of purchasing a home in Austria.
“We wanted a ski property but didn’t set out for it to be in Austria,” Peter Harrison said. “We found that we simply got so much more for our money there.”
Harrison said that the town his home resides in hosts activities year round – such as a renowned ski school in the winter and nature conservatory in the summer – and is well serviced by flights to Salzburg.


text:
Well, that didn't last very long.
In case you still had lingering doubts about the investing class's appetite to buy a piece of Facebook, follow the money to find out the answer: the Wall Street Journal reported late Wednesday that Goldman Sachs was so flooded with demand for its recent investment solicitation to investors seeking to buy into the social-networking site, that it has decided to stop taking new orders, according to sources familiar with the situation.
Earlier this week, word leaked that Goldman had ponied up $450 million--Digital Sky Technologies of Russia, a partner in the deal, accounted for another $50 million--to acquire a position in Facebook. That paved the way for Goldman to invite clients willing to invest at least $2 million to buy equity in Facebook, which is still private.
Goldman is likely to reap a fortune from fees resulting from any Facebook stock sales. Investors must pay 4 percent upfront frees to the investment firm as well as 5% on any future gains, according to the Journal.
The creation of an investment vehicle has reportedly spurred an Securities and Exchange Commission inquiry of disclosure rules governing deals where investors are able to buy shares of private companies. Were it a public company, Facebook would be valued at around $50 billion, according to estimates.
Current regulations require companies with 500 or more shareholders to publicly report financial information. Facebook's deal with Goldman Sachs creates a special fund that allows the social network site to stay under that threshold even though some investors will be able to buy up to $1.5 billion in Facebook shares. The SEC declined to comment.
Goldman's investment underscored Wall Street's endorsement of Facebook's potential to make money in online social networking. Facebook is considered to be twice the value of Yahoo and about equal to what well-established names such as Boeing and Kraft Foods are worth on the open market. What's more, the cash infusion buys time for Facebook to keep its books private and not have to worry about the vagaries of the market.