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Categories: video marketing
Hong Bao Media launches #SGReadyForBusiness to help Singapore SMEs survive the Covid downturn
Hong Bao Media is pleased to launch an influencer-led campaign, hashtag #SGReadyForBusiness, to help Singapore SMEs communicate their unique business value to their target customers, and survive the Covid-related economic downturn. Business owners are invited to use our automated pitch generator at https://www.hongbaomedia.com/sgreadyforbusiness to create a one-minute on-camera script.
Just released: content marketing tips for Singapore market managers
Watch five communications experts share their street smart views on content marketing in the Singapore context.
HBM relaunches video series featuring street smart business advice
Hong Bao Media has revamped its "Simon Says" series, in which frequent BBC commentator Simon Littlewood offers business viewers sophisticated yet street smart advice.
HBM's Mark Laudi joins council of the Marketing Institute of Singapore
Hong Bao Media CEO Mark Laudi has joined the management council of the Marketing Institute of Singapore to contribute to the development of Singapore's marketing industry.
Essentials of Video Communication
What is video marketing? And how often must you produce videos to make your video marketing strategy a success?
12 tips for making videos - By Neil Stewart for IR Magazine
Along with 33 examples, four points on messaging, three style rules and one pink cowboy hat
Click here to read the full article
Photo Credit: Laura Lee Moreau


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Phuket’s Thanyapura Awarded 2020 Fit Reisen Quality Award
The Thanyapura Health and Sports Resort on the Thai island of Phuket has been awarded Fit Reisen’s Quality Certificate in the Category of Health and Fitness for 2020.
Awarded for the delivery of quality of services, Fit Reisen has developed a two-stage testing process that awards the Fit Reisen Quality Certificate to the highest quality and best-rated hotels.
A Fit Reisen spokesperson explained “what sets this award apart from others is the focus on the guest experience.
“The two-step review process analyses hotel properties based on outstanding services and health guidance according to a fixed criteria and evaluation by qualified travel experts and real customers. For the hotel to be awarded the Fit Reisen Quality Certificate, at least 4 out of 5 possible points must be awarded by real customers.”
Fit Reisen has been offering wellness and health trips worldwide for over 40 years and is now Europe's largest event leader in the sector.
Specialising in Ayurveda cures, detox, fitness, mindfulness, yoga and many other programs, each year Fit Reisen honours hotel partners for their performance.
It recognises Thanyapura as one of the best fitness hotels in the world.
While Fit Reisen is the German brand of the company, internationally it operates as SpaDreams offered the same offer to our international customers.
Images: Phuket's Thanyapura Health and Sports Resort (top) and a spin class at the Resort (below).
19th February 2020 - Noosa to host Australia’s inaugural Wellness Tourism Industry Summit
6th February 2020 - Zenergy Wellness Festival returns in 2020
11th December 2019 - FIBO 2020 to accommodate latest wellness industry trends
9th December 2019 - Unique brands to transform spaces into wellness solutions
24th October 2019 - International expansion set for Thanyapura Health and Sports Resort
21st August 2019 - Unique holistic wellness destination opens at Hyatt Regency Bali
10th April 2017 - Thanyapura and FINA prepare future Olympic swimmers
23rd October 2016 - Thanyapura Health and Sports Resort wins two International Awards
11th November 2015 - Thanyapura named Asia’s leading sports resort at World Travel Awards
18th September 2015 - Thanyapura Phuket President honoured as ‘hero of philanthropy’
10th June 2015 - Thanyapura to invest US$10 million to become ‘sports hub of Asia’
9th July 2014 - Thanyapura Phuket named Asia’s best tennis school

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DMA (the association for data-drive marketing and advertising) has launched a new awards program that will replace the 36 year old ADMA Awards.
The new awards program, Australian Creativity and Effectiveness Awards (AC&E Awards) has a whole new look with a new slogan and award categories.
There are now 30 award categories to enter with 14 new categories, including social media campaigns, data-driven mail and customer experience.
Check out the full release below for all the info.
“New name, new awards, new categories:
ADMA launches new Awards program for the industry
Sydney, 4 June 2014 – The Association for Data-driven Marketing and Advertising (ADMA) has launched an all-new awards program called the Australian Creativity and Effectiveness Awards (AC&E Awards) to replace the 36-year-old ADMA Awards.
The new-name Awards program features a new mandate, slogan and new awards categories.
“The AC&E Awards will be truly representative of the rapidly evolving marketing, media and advertising landscape,” said Jodie Sangster, ADMA CEO. “We intend to award the best of the best which so few awards shows do these days.”
“The most significant change is that campaigns entered into the AC&E Awards must demonstrate both creativity and effectiveness in equal proportion, not one or the other as in past years. The rationale is simple: campaigns from now on must be both effective and creative to be deserving.”
The AC&E Awards will feature the tagline: ‘Rewarding the optimum balance of creativity and effectiveness.’
Regarding creativity, judges will look at the creativity of a campaign in the widest sense of the word. The remit will still cover great creative work, but judges will also be looking for a creative approach to marketing and advertising to engage customers using technology, a great strategy or previously untested methods.
On the effectiveness side, campaigns must reflect ROI, meet objectives and exceed customer expectations.
ADMA consulted with some of the industry’s best creatives and marketers on the way forward for the new awards program.
“It’s wonderful to see an association like ADMA looking at all the components that now make up marketing and advertising – data, technology, creativity, content and customer experience – and rewarding those campaigns that are both creative and effective. That’s how it should be,” said Patrick Collister, Google Head of Design, UK and Northern Europe.
“I was delighted to lead the people working with ADMA on the AC&E Awards to ensure that in future all campaigns awarded will demonstrate the best creative thinking possible and tangible business success,” said David Bell, Executive Creative Director, MercerBell.
“The marketing leaders of the future are going to be people with both quantitative and creative skills. They won’t be just brilliant creative minds or brilliant measurability experts. They will be the perfect blend of both and the results will be seen in the campaigns. That’s why the new AC&E Awards are the way forward,” said Sandra De Castro, Chief Marketing Officer, National Australia Bank.
New categories created
This year there are 30 categories to enter, plus Pinnacle and Excellence trophies which judges award to outstanding individuals and agencies. There are 14 new categories including social media campaign, data-driven mail, ambient/experiential marketing, data visualisation and customer experience, to better reflect the new world of marketing, media and advertising. Some categories that don’t reflect the new ADMA remit have been retired.
“At a time when our industry is changing so rapidly, the AC&E Awards program is capturing the zeitgeist by leading the change in creating exciting modern awards categories that truly reflect where marketing and advertising is going and what should be rewarded now. ADMA is not afraid to be controversial in its choices or to drop categories that we feel no longer suit our data-driven remit,” said Ms Sangster.
ADMA has also created an online submission system for the awards to improve and speed up the entry experience for agencies and brands.
The 2014 AC&E Awards will take place on Thursday, 30 October at Sydney’s The Star, Pyrmont. To enter your best campaigns and find out more, visit www.acandeawards.com
Deadline is 1 August 2014.“
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Shop! ANZ is calling on shopper and retail marketing professionals from all retail related disciplines to participate in the first ANZ Shopper and Retail Marketing Industry Survey in four years. This important research provides a guide of where the retail marketing industry in Australia and New Zealand has come from and what is anticipated to […]
In this guest post, Ania Kubiak (main photo), A/NZ country manager at Lucid, offers her tips on how to align your brand with customers’ fast-moving expectations… In today’s digital world, the speed at which consumers’ perspectives and opinions on political and social environments is changing faster than ever before. Consumers are inundated with new information […]
Cartology, the retail media business of Woolworths Group, has further expanded its team with Martin Wood (pictured below) been promoted to head of strategic partnerships and Matt Gower (main photo) has joined the business as senior manager of research and insights. Wood will lead a new team dedicated to servicing the retail media business’s largest […]
CondÉ Nast, the publisher of publications such as VOGUE, Vanity fair, Pitchfork and The New Yorker has agreed to raise the minimum wage for employees after a campaign by the New Yorker union. The union had previously organised a protest, which saw New Yorker staff demonstrating outside VOGUE editor-in-chief Anna Wintour’s home. Placards at the protest had […]
GoDaddy has announced it has been named as the official website builder partner of the Australian Olympic team for the Tokyo 2020 Games. GoDaddy has a history of supporting entrepreneurs and small business owners in Australia. Many Australian Olympic athletes are small business owners themselves, running businesses and side hustle to help support the pursuit […]
MDC Partners (NASDAQ: MDCA), the company that owns agencies including 72andSunny, Anomaly and Media Kitchen, has expanded its global footprint in a partnership with This Is Flow. The Australian based indie will become MDC’s affiliate media planning and buying agency across Australia and New Zealand and will help manage global clients and participate on global pitches etc. however This is Flow will still remain 100% independent.
DoubleVerify has announced the expansion of a partnership with The Trade Desk to include activation of DV Custom Contextual, which will enable programmatic advertisers using the platform to target relevant audiences in a privacy-safe manner that does not utilize cookies or personally identifiable information. The Trade Desk now supports a comprehensive suite of DV’s pre-bid […]
Swinburne University of Technology has launched a series of Bootcamp Graduate Certificate courses, developed in partnership with FourthRev. The courses, an Australian-first, will upskill career changers and provide students the capabilities required to thrive in the digital economy. They are available on-campus and through its online arm, Swinburne Online. Alongside completing projects which will emulate […]
PayPal has partnered with Welcome to Country, Australia’s first Indigenous-led not-for-profit marketplace, which showcases businesses that support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. Welcome to Country launched in 2019, providing an online platform for Indigenous experience providers across tours, day treks, scenic flights, bush food, festivals, art and cultural experiences. When the pandemic hit, the […]


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The president of Nintendo, Tatsumi Kimishima, has reiterated that the Switch won't go on to replace the 3DS line of handhelds.
As reported by Takashi Mochizuki of the Wall Street Journal, Mr Kimishima indicated at a financial meeting that the 3DS isn't going anywhere.
"Mr Kimishima reiterated his remark on 3DS today: will continue supporting it and make games for it. Switch isn't a 3DS replacement," wrote Mochizuki.
Since the unveiling of the Switch last week, it has been speculated that Nintendo's new console / handheld hybrid could replace both its current flagships. After all, the primary sell of the Switch is portability, and that definitely treads on the toes of the 3DS and 2DS lines. It seems those predictions were wrong.
The real question is how long Nintendo will continue to support the 3DS and whether it will choose to replace it when it is deemed ready for retirement. The 3DS was launched in 2011, and after five years is beginning to feel the ever-encroaching threat of smartphone gaming.
Sales of the 3DS rocketed when the Pokémon Go phenomenon was at its peak, but in the Americas, sales of the console are down when compared to its previous generation.
If Nintendo does choose to replace the 3DS when its time has come, it's hard to see what shape its successor should take. It's a wise choice on the part of Nintendo not to count its chickens before they're hatched - until the Switch is out in the marketplace and has proven its profitability, the 3DS is a vital source of income.
For the foreseeable future at least, the 3DS is here to stay.


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LAKELAND, Fla. — Publix Super Markets Inc. has opened the second of its refashioned GreenWise Market stores, in Mount Pleasant, S.C.
GreenWise Market is a specialty, natural and organics format featuring grab-and-go options, organic produce, indulgent gourmet treats, local and unique products, bulk items, body care offerings, and products made in- house, such as smoked meats and sausages.
“We’re excited to bring the simple, yet sophisticated, environment and high-quality, unique products of GreenWise Market to the Mount Pleasant community,” says Kevin Murphy, president of Publix. “GreenWise Market is more than a store. It’s a gathering place where our customers can discover local items, indulge in a decadent treat or find the items they need to support their healthy lifestyle.”
Publix opened the first of its refashioned GreenWise stores last year in Tallahassee, Fla., near Florida State University.
The second location, in Mount Pleasant’s new Indigo Square shopping mall, is a place where customers can buy a glass of wine, a locally brewed beer, coffee, tea or a smoothie to enjoy while they shop or in one of the store’s seating areas, according to a spokesman. It has a sandwich bar and burrito line for the lunch crowd. The store also includes a three-panel mural by local artist Amelia Rose Smith, featuring painted scenes from nearby Sullivan’s Island and Isle of Palms.
Publix has announced plans to extend the GreenWise Market concept to eight additional locations, each at around 25,000 square feet. Three of the stores — in Lakeland and Boca Raton, Fla., and in Mountain Brook, Ala. — are slated to open later this year. Opening dates have yet to be set for GreenWise Market stores in Marietta, Ga., and in Fort Lauderdale, Odessa and Nocatee, Fla.
The company introduced the GreenWise concept in 2007 with three stores that were focused on organic and natural offerings, as well as prepared food items. In 2010, Publix switched gears, designing new stores under a “hybrid” format that incorporated elements from the GreenWise Market test stores into traditional Publix supermarkets, and attaching the GreenWise name to organic, natural and better-for-you private label products sold in its traditional supermarkets.
Employee-owned Publix operates 1,215 stores in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia, up from 1,182 a year ago. The company cited contributions from new stores in the 4.3% sales increase it posted in its first quarter, ended March 30. Higher prices contributed to a 1.9% increase in comparable-store sales, the company states in its 10-Q filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
“I want to thank our associates for delivering premier customer service that makes shopping at Publix a pleasure,” says Public chief executive officer Todd Jones.


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Kent State’s Dining Services to Launch Online Meal Ordering Service, Announces Other Updates for Fall
Kent State University’s Dining Services has partnered with Tapingo to enable students, faculty and staff to order their meals online, pay electronically via their meal plan or credit card and request a pickup time. The service is expected to launch this fall, with a deployment date of Oct. 1.
Tapingo will allow Dining Services’ customers to order, pay and pick up their meals, skipping the lines. In addition, Tapingo will provide a service where customers’ orders will be delivered within 30 minutes. Delivery is phase two of the deployment, with the plan to roll out prior to Northeast Ohio’s snowy season!
More than 80 percent of college-aged students have a smartphone. Their phone is an engrained part of their day and learning experience. Social media, text messaging and now mobile ordering are integral in making students’ dining experiences easier and more convenient.
Dining Services also has announced the following updates for fall 2016:
Ritchie Hall Coffee Shop Rebranded to Moyo Café, the Heart’s Home
Dining Services will bring Sweet Unity Farms’ coffee to the Kent Campus this fall. Coffee bags will be sold at all three on-campus markets (Eastway Deli, Munchie’s Market and Rosie’s Rations) and will be featured at the Ritchie Hall coffee/snack location. The Ritchie Hall coffee shop was previously known as Jazzman’s, but will be rebranded to Moyo Café, the Hearts Home.
David Robinson, son of baseball legend Jackie Robinson, founded Sweet Unity Farms Coffee in Tanzania, Africa, in 1989. Sweet Unity Farms’ main mission is to strengthen the economic infrastructure of farming villages and improve the living conditions of the farmers and their families.
David Robinson will visit Ritchie Hall on the Kent Campus on Sept. 19, where he will have a meet-and-greet grand opening celebration from 1-3 p.m.
George T. Simon III Café Opens in the New Center for Architecture and Environmental Design
Dining Services will open a café in the new Center for Architecture and Environmental Design. Tucked under the grand stairs, the George T. Simon III Café will serve delicious, healthy flatbreads, sandwiches, grab and go, as well as breakfast items.
This trendy café will feature Storm Mountain Coffee Roasters “nitro” coffee, as well as other delicious drinks. Storm Mountain Coffee Roasters are local – located in Huron, Ohio. Nitro cold brew is the latest craze and is dispensed from a keg. With the nitrogen infusion, the coffee has a better taste and texture and is known for its crispness!
Prentice Café Certified Gluten-free Facility
Dining Services is always reaching to new heights to serve the Kent State community. Increasingly, students are entering the university with special dietary needs. Dining Services has its own dietitian, Megan Brzuski, who reaches out and provides counseling and advice to students dining on campus.
From special menus such as Veggie-A-Go-Go and gluten-free call ahead to stations such as Simple Servings at Eastway Café that offer food choices free from the FDA’s seven most-common allergens, Dining Services continues to provide safe, healthy dining zones. Dining services has sought certification for Prentice Café as gluten-free. Prentice Café will feature many healthy choices from vegetarian and vegan to organic and locally grown and will ensure delicious food choices at every meal.
For more information about Kent State’s Dining Services, visit www.kent.edu/dining.


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WASHINGTON, D.C. (WUSA) - A 9 Wants to Know investigation raises serious questions about conditions at food businesses that inspectors reopened after closures for health violations, and D.C. officials won't respond to our findings.
We tracked five stores suspended, then reopened, by inspectors earlier this year that we had featured on previous broadcasts when we found food risks experts say could make customers sick.
Two of the establishments closed shortly after we broadcast our initial reports.
In April, shortly after we broadcast footage of rat under a trash dumpster at Mid City Deli near Logan Circle, inspectors returned and shut it down again. It hasn't reopened.
In Temple Hills, after we broadcast our report showing mouse droppings and a rodent chewed bag, Evergreen Supermarket closed its doors too.
So, we sent a producer into three open businesses that remain open where we'd found problem before: a Northwest supermarket, a Lanham pizza place, a Southeast D.C. convenience store, to see if they'd cleaned up.
Our first time at Circle 7 Express on Martin Luther King Avenue Southeast, we found outdated bologna.
Inspectors had closed Circle 7 twice for food dangers, citing rotten produce, live roaches, mice and outdated merchandise, including baby food,
Our follow-up in October had found outdated juice when the manager ordered us out.
The manager of Circle 7 shoved our camera, pushed our photographer, and ordered us to leave the store.
We got the a similar reaction at a pizza place in Lanham
Inspectors had shut down Pizzaness on Lanham Severn Rd., citing mouse droppings on the pizza roller and roaches throughout the restaurant.
In August, shortly after inspectors passed it and allowed it to reopen, we broadcast photos of dirty floors and insects we found.
Until this summer, Pizzaness had been operating as a franchise for a different chain, but is no longer associated with the brand.
When we came back two months later, we saw bugs again and photographed what an expert identified as a roach on the floor.
The manager demanded we leave, called the police, and went back to making pizza.
Prior to our first story about health violations at Avenue Market on New Hampshire Avenue NW, neighbor David Magee posted pictures of meat on a blog; meat, he says, the market relabeled as fresh after it had expired.
Inspectors did close the store after his complaint, but allowed it to reopen after passing a re-inspection.
"It's disgusting," said David Magee, "Really, that's the most accurate word for it. It's disgusting."
When we returned in September, our investigation also found meat where one date mark had expired and another date label showed it was still ok to sell.
"Since the store hasn't done anything to change," Magee said, "The health department should do something."
City inspectors have closed the store twice since 2010 citing outdated meat, mice droppings, flies and operating without hot water, but allowed it to reopen after passing re-inspections.
In August, we first broadcast our story showing flies on meat, produce, and dairy racks and mice feces on the shelves.
In four visits over the past week weeks we found outdated meat each time, including cold cuts, ham hocks, fat back, and shoulder butt with what appears to be sell by dates as old as May.
The store manager asked us to leave.
We showed our photos to Consumer Federation of America food safety expert Chris Waldrop.
"That's a problem," Waldrop said. "It just raises questions. That means consumers are finding it. I'm not sure why inspectors aren't finding it."
Records show inspectors have been there five times since August, citing things like a floor needing cleaning, and crevices on cutting boards, but allowing the store to stay open - Not once reporting seeing the outdated meat we did.
"Sad," Magee said. "It's been a long time that it's been like this and nothing's changed."
Avenue is the only store in the neighborhood.
"The closest place isn't with walking distance," Magee said. "We have to take the bus, and that's like a 10 minute bus ride."
Avenue's manager wouldn't talk on camera, and for now, his store, Circle 7, and Pizzaness all remain in business.
When we contacted Prince George's County officials about what we found at Pizzaness, they said their inspectors would be returning to the store to see for themselves.
That's not the reaction we received from the District of Columbia Department of Health.
Although we told D.C. officials about the outdated products we found, records don't indicate the agency has responded in any way, and a spokeswoman said that because of Storm Sandy, they were too busy to answer our questions about public food safety.


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BOSTON, (Reuters) — The U.S. Department Of Homeland Security warned retailers about a type of malicious software attacking point-of-sales systems, dubbed “Backoff,” that it said is undetectable by most types of anti-virus software.
The agency released a 10-page advisory about the payment-card-stealing virus Backoff on Thursday, saying it has been observed in at least three forensic investigations into breaches of payment systems.
The U.S. government has released reports on several types of malicious software that cybercriminals used to steal payment cards in the wake of last year’s unprecedented breach on Target Corp, which resulted in the theft of some 40 million payment card numbers.
Backoff is a family-of-point of sale malware first identified in October 2013 and with capabilities that include scraping memory for track data, logging keystrokes and injecting malicious stub into explorer.exe files, DHS said.
It said attackers use publicly available tools to find businesses that use remote desktop applications, then gain access to an administrative account to insert the malware.
The DHS advisory warned that such malware put both the business and consumer at risk, exposing data including names, credit card numbers, email addresses, mailing address and phone numbers.
“These breaches can impact a business’ brand and reputation, while consumers’ information can be used to make fraudulent purchases or risk compromise of bank accounts,” it said


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The sudden disruption in the Red Sea, one of the world’s most critical maritime passageways, has sent shockwaves through global trade, having the potential to harm agricultural exports from the Southern U.S. We delve into the manifold implications of this blockade, examining its direct impact on trade flows, freight rates, and the challenges posed by the limited capacity at the Panama Canal for Southern agricultural exports.
The Red Sea blockage, precipitated by heightened military tensions and attacks on commercial vessels by the Houthi terrorist organization, has led to a dramatic decrease in shipping activities through this critical route. As Figure 1 shows, about 500 cargo vessels were diverted via the Cape of Good Hope due to the attacks in the Red Sea. This diversion implies that the volume of container traffic in the Red Sea experienced a more than 50 percent decline in December, with the current volume almost 70 percent below normal as of January 18, 2024. This decline is a stunning indication of the magnitude of disruption faced by global shipping lines, including those serving agricultural exporters in the Southern U.S.
The Southern U.S., a powerhouse of agricultural exports of grains, soybeans, cotton, and forest products, could be negatively affected by this disruption. The rerouting of vessels around the Cape of Good Hope, necessitated by the Red Sea blockage, has added up to 20 days to shipping times and increased freight rates. These delays could considerably impact perishable agricultural products, risking product spoilage and financial losses. Furthermore, the automotive sector, akin to the agricultural industry, has already started experiencing production adjustments due to the maritime delays. This parallel suggests that agricultural exporters from the Southern U.S. could face similar operational and logistical challenges, further compounding the adverse effects of the Red Sea crisis on the region’s agricultural economy.
A direct consequence of the blockage has been the surge in ocean freight rates. Figure 2 illustrates an increase in the average cost of transporting a standard container (measured as a twenty-foot equivalent unit, TEU) from about USD 700 in November 2023 to over USD 1,900 in January 2024. On some routes, this increase is even more substantial. For instance, the freight rate from China to Northern Europe rose from nearly USD 750 to over USD 2,000 as of January 18, 2024. Although these figures are specific to the Europe-Asia route, they reflect a global trend in rising freight costs, which inevitably impacts the cost of exporting agricultural products from the Southern U.S. to international markets.
The Panama Canal’s limited capacity further complicates the situation. Initially rerouting from the U.S. Atlantic Seaboard and the Gulf of Mexico to Asia via the Suez Canal, many carriers have shifted back to the Panama Canal. This redirection will lead to increased congestion and delays, exacerbating the logistical challenges for Southern U.S. exporters who rely on this route for more efficient access to Asian markets.
The trade dynamics with South and Southeast Asia, an important and growing market for Southern U.S. agricultural exports, could be particularly affected. The extended transit times and shifting shipping routes disrupt the timely delivery of goods. Figure 3 shows that the daily freight capacity in the Red Sea fell by almost 70 percent below the expected level in January 2024. As cargo vessels reroute and face delays, the availability of products in South and Southeast Asian markets is affected, potentially leading to lost sales and strained trade relationships. The ripple effects of these disruptions are evident in increased insurance costs for vessels transiting high-risk areas like the Red Sea. These rising costs, which reached one percent of the vessel’s value, add an extra financial burden on shippers and, by extension, agricultural exporters in the Southern U.S.
In response to these unprecedented challenges, agricultural exporters in the Southern U.S. should explore alternative logistical strategies. These include diversifying port usage, considering air freight for urgent shipments, and re-evaluating supply chain routes to mitigate the impacts of delayed deliveries and increased costs. However, these adjustments come with their own financial and operational complexities.
The Red Sea blockage by the Houthi terrorist organization represents a substantial disruptor in the global trade ecosystem, with potentially profound implications for U.S. agricultural exports to South and Southeast Asia. The escalation of freight costs, extended shipping durations, and the strain on alternative routes, such as the Panama Canal, paint a challenging picture for 2024 agricultural exports from the Southern U.S. As the situation evolves, agricultural stakeholders must remain agile, leveraging data-driven insights and innovative solutions to navigate these turbulent waters while also considering long-term strategies for resilience in an increasingly uncertain global market environment.
|Figure 1: Close to 500 cargo vessels diverted due to Houthi attacks on ships in the Red Sea.
|Figure 2: Drewry World Container Index increased by 75 percent since December 2023.
|Figure 3: Daily freight capacity in the Red Sea falls by 66 percent below the expected level.
Hinz, Julian and Mathias Rauck (2024). Cargo volume in the Red Sea collapses. Kiel Institute for the World Economy, Press Release 01/2024.
Goyal, Raghav, Sandro Steinbach, Yasin Yildirim, and Xiting Zhuang. “Southern U.S. Agriculture Faces Headwinds in Asia Amid Red Sea Shipping Disruptions.” Southern Ag Today 4(4.4). January 25, 2024. Permalink


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Iran’s second largest mobile operator MTN-Irancell over the weekend announced that it is set to develop eSIMs (embedded Subscriber Identity Module)
The project was announced during an event held at Irancell’s headquarters in Tehran, ISNA reported.
The term eSIM relates to a new standard being promoted by the GSM Association (commonly referred to as ‘the GSMA’) — a trade body that represents the interests of mobile operators worldwide. It is a SIM-card that is embedded in the mobile device. The eSIM stores all information that is necessary to identify and authenticate the mobile subscriber.
The information on the eSIM will be rewritable by all operators, meaning a user can decide to switch operators with a simple phone call. A new SIM will not be required, nor should there be any time delay in switching the eSIM to its new purpose. There will also be no physical swapping over required by the user.
Moreover, one of the other advantages eSIMs offer from a design point of view is that they take up less space compared to conventional SIM-cards and the tray that holds them.
Source: Financial Tribune


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The 3D Printshow has secured an official partnership with Dubai Airshow. As a result the 3D Printshow Dubai is to be held in the month of November 2015, along with the Middle East’s airshow at its purpose built venue at Dubai World Central (DWC).
The officials from Missouri University of Science and Technology have declared a master collaboration agreement with Honeywell Federal Manufacturing & Technologies which will allow the two
Sigma Labs, developer of advanced, in process, non-destructive quality inspection systems for metal-based AM and other advanced manufacturing technologies.
Formsfield, a new 3D printing boutique, has launched a collection of home-office products for customers to enhance their home offices.
3D Printing Engineering (3DPE) is launching its new design, 3D colour modelling, tooling and rapid manufacturing services using 3D Systems’ 3D printing technology
Staples, Inc. introduces a new online 3D printing platform that lets small businesses and consumers upload their own 3D designs or select from a curated collection of models.
3D Systems offers 3D design-to-print goods and services through the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) Schedules program.
Michelin joins with Fives to form the 50–50 joint venture company ‘Fives Michelin Additive Solutions’ for developing and marketing large scale industrial machines and production shops via metal additive manufacturing.
Worldwide operating Austrian steel group Voestalpine has set out to test 3D printing with metals in a facility that will be opened in Düsseldorf, Germany, in the course of 2016.
Global Brain Corporation invests in Kabuku through a third-party allocation of 400M JPY as the lead investor by its subsidiary, GB-V Growth Fund Investment Limited Partnership.
RIT’s consortium is selected for a state grant of $921,000 a year renewal for up to 10 years by Empire State Development.
Arcam AB is expanding in the US through a new facility for sales and service in Woburn, Massachusetts, just outside Boston.
3D Systems introduced its new generation of 3DMe® Photobooth, which brings a complete 3DMe experience to retail spaces and events.
Delcam recently launched the 2015 R2 version of its ArtCAM JewelSmith CADCAM software, with a significant ability to create support structures for 3D printing.
KW Special Projects has invested over £100,000 in a new state-of-the-art equipment, as part of KWSP’s ambitious five year growth strategy and in the light of the increasing demand for AM technology.


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we are determined to keep an eye on FDA announcements concerning LifeCare Flexible Intravenous Solutions and inform the public
San Diego, CA (PRWEB) October 21, 2014
AttorneyOne.com, a recognized authority on law, update the website daily regarding all the latest information from the FDA on LifeCare Flexible Intravenous Solutions.
The US FDA announced on October 15, that certain lots of LifeCare Flexible Intravenous Solutions by Hospira, Inc. are recalled due to potential for leakage.
The reason for the recall is that during re-inspection of a manufactured product lot a single puncture mark was identified going through the overwrap and primary container. This may cause a leakage with the potential for contamination, compromised sterility, inadequate or inconsistent solution/medication dosing, and/or delay in therapy, drug waste, spillage, that may require medical intervention. Moreover, if a hazardous drug is used, hazardous topical exposure may occur.
Taking into consideration the latest developments, AttorneyOne.com monitor daily and update the website providing accurate information on all relevant FDA safety alerts. Sean Burke, director of Media Relations at AttorneyOne.com, adds, “We are determined to keep an eye on FDA announcements concerning LifeCare Flexible Intravenous Solutions and inform the public. For that reason," he continues, "our focus should squarely fall on investigating these safety alerts and getting the word out.”
As the FDA recommends “Anyone with an existing inventory of the recalled lots should stop use and distribution and quarantine the product immediately.” And the Agency adds “Hospira will be notifying its direct customers via a recall letter and will arrange for impacted product to be returned to Stericycle.”
AttorneyOne.com has further information on LifeCare Flexible Intravenous Solutions at the website including the latest major drug, food, and medical products law news.
Headquartered in San Diego, CA Attorney One was founded in 2004 and is not a law firm. They offer a nationwide legal service which helps consumers find the best representation for their legal needs. You can learn more about Attorney One at our website http://www.attorneyone.com. You can also find us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/AttorneyOne. Checkout earlier news from us at http://www.prweb.com/releases/2014/09/prweb12260256.htm


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SPEAKERS at an Internet conference have predicted that innovations in e-commerce and logistics will shape the future of South-east Asian cities.
Those who took the stage on Day 2 of Wild Digital included Malaysia's Prime Minister Najib Razak - a surprise guest speaker...


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Long waits for the car ferry from Hatteras have cost Ocracoke Island thousands of visitors and a big chunk of tourism revenue in recent years. Businesses there hope a new passenger ferry will reverse those losses by enticing visitors to skip the line and leave their cars behind.
The new Hatteras-Ocracoke ferry service is moving forward thanks to $6 million funding in this year’s state budget. The N.C. Department of Transportation hopes to start work soon and launch the first boat in 2018.
“We’ve got a congestion problem at Hatteras in the summer, just like a congestion problem on I-40,” ferry division spokesman Tim Hass said. At the peak of the tourism season, cars must wait up to three hours for a spot on the Ocracoke ferry.
Instead of waiting in line for the free car ferry, passenger ferry riders will reserve tickets online or through a smartphone app, park at the Hatteras terminal and board the boat for a one-hour ride to Ocracoke village — at a cost of $15 per person. They’ll then use a bike or rented golf cart to get around the island, or take a new tram service provided by Hyde County to connect the restaurants, shops and tourist destinations.
“It will save so much time,” Hyde County Manager Bill Rich said. “I really see it becoming a tourist attraction in and of itself.”
Ocracoke’s tourism woes began in 2013 when sand built up on the original ferry route, making the water too shallow and forcing a detour that turned a 40-minute trip into an hour. DOT reduced the number of daily departures from 53 to 36, and the number of cars making the crossing annually dropped from 950,000 in 2008 to 700,000 last year.
When the lines get long in the summer, Outer Banks vacationers looking to take a day trip to Ocracoke are left with few options. The car ferries allow pedestrians, but the drop-off point is on the opposite end of the island from the village – 14 miles away. And the less-busy ferry routes from Cedar Island and Swan Quarter take too long unless you’re staying overnight.
“That’s very difficult for a day trip to spend five hours on the water,” Hass said.
DOT estimates that during peak times, 9 percent of the cars in line at Hatteras give up and turn around before their turn to board the ferry. That’s bad news for Ocracoke businesses, which have seen sales drop by 20 to 40 percent since 2013, according to Sundae Horn of the Ocracoke Civic & Business Association.
“It has taken a huge chunk out of the economy,” Horn said. “Some of the businesses aren’t hiring as many employees.”
Restaurants and shops have faced the biggest losses because they rely on day trippers. Recreation services, such as fishing charter boats and sailboat rentals, have also suffered because the ferry delays cause tourists to miss their appointments. The passenger ferry will give tourists more certainty because they’ll get to select their departure time in advance.
“Time really matters to people more and more on their vacations,” Horn said.
DOT will purchase two 100-passenger ferries that will make eight daily round trips. If the service proves popular, it will “totally make up for” the drop in visits on the car ferry, Rich said.
But will tourists be willing to give up their cars and buy $15 tickets for the passenger ferry? Horn says the demand is already there.
“As the travel and tourism director, I frequently get calls from people who don’t want to bring their cars down from Hatteras,” she said, adding that most change their minds “when I explain that it’s a 14-mile walk.”
In June, DOT released its feasibility study for the passenger ferry project. It surveyed car ferry riders and found that 25 percent of them said they’d use the new service.
But the passenger ferry wasn’t the preferred solution for many of the people DOT surveyed. Most business owners and residents wanted to see the original ferry schedule restored. The study determined that option would cost millions of dollars more – either to frequently dredge sand from the shorter ferry route or to buy more car ferries.
“There are people who are skeptical about this,” Horn said. “They want it to be the old route in the boom years where the economy was good.”
Some business owners are also worried that tourists without cars won’t fully explore the island, disadvantaging the cluster of shops and restaurants located a mile from the ferry terminal.
That’s where Hyde County’s new transit service will help. A tram will run a loop route through the village, stopping at businesses and attractions such as Springer’s Point nature preserve and the Okracoke Island Lighthouse. A larger trolley will take visitors to the beach and the National Park Service’s Pony Pen.
“I would love to see it be free, and that’s what we’re shooting for,” Rich said.
Funding for the ferry and tram service is now secure, with the Federal Lands Access Program providing a grant of up to $7 million in addition to the state’s $6 million. DOT will hire a project manager in the coming weeks to hash out details of the ferry schedule and ticketing, while overseeing the purchase of the ferries and construction of parking lots and visitor facilities.
“Realistically, I think we’re looking at the summer of 2018” for the first runs, Hass said.


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The next edition of Playtime Paris will start Sunday January 24 and close Tuesday January 26. Children’s wear will thus be fully integrated in the Parisian calendar of international trade shows such as Maison & Objet and Who’s Next. Focus on the new clothing brands that will make their entrance at Playtime Paris.
New dates for Playtime Paris
The change of dates is very positive, as it will allow buyers coming from far away destinations to see more shows and to buy more brands from different sectors. Playtime shared dates with M&O for the first time last year, with a positive effect on kids collections with a record number of 8164 visitors. For concept store owners, M&O is a priority show, and they cannot really afford making 2 overseas trips to Paris in the same month, from destinations like Los Angeles or Singapore.
So, in January Paris turns into the capital of Fashion, Design… and Children’s wear!
Because Pitti Bimbo will be taking place during the same weekend in Florence (21-23 January, 2016), Playtime Paris decided to exceptionally shift its dates by one day, allowing brands who have decided to show at both Pitti Bimbo and Playtime to do the two shows back to back.
It will also be easier for buyers who will be able to fly directly from Florence to Paris.


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K-pop fans just can’t get enough of Momoland’s Nancy Jewel McDonie. Her angelic face and showstopping gaze have undeniably captured thousands of hearts everywhere. Evidently, even those who weren’t a fan of K-pop before have been bewitched by her charming smile.
MORE FROM OUR WEBSITE: Angelica Panganiban and Carlo Aquino involved in a road accident in Quezon city
About a year ago, when Nancy wasn’t yet as big of an idol as she is now, photos of her went viral on social media sites. The Korean beauty was spotted shopping in a store in Saipan in Northen Mariana Islands, together with her Momoland co-member Joo-e.
MORE FROM OUR WEBSITE: Sharon Cuneta recalls sweet memories of her late father
The singer and dancer sported a white fitted cropped top and high-waisted denim shorts. Even though she was dressed simply, and was wearing little makeup, Nancy looked nothing less than beautiful.
But for the K-pop community, it is still an on going debate whether Nancy indeed went under the knife. Of course, her devoted fans were adamant that her beauty is nothing but natural.
MORE FROM OUR WEBSITE: Jennica Garcia shares “birth story” of her newborn baby Athena Mori
How about you? What do you think?


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New Zealand has marketed itself to tourists as '100% Pure New Zealand' for more than a decade. Over the course of the slogan's 13 years it has taken on numerous different endings - such as '100% Pure You', '100% Adrenalin' and '100% Pure Wonder'. But apply the motto to the previous 12 months in NZ and it would more likely read 100% turmoil or 100% uncertainty.
"We had a very unusual year last year," Laura Maxwell-Hansen, Yahoo! New Zealand's general manager, said.
"It was a really unusual 12 months with a natural disaster, the Rugby World Cup and a general election."
While the previous year was strange the media market also expected it to be a tough one with industry insiders describing the media landscape as fraught with uncertainty at the start of the year.
In comparison, despite it still being early in the game, the next 12 months should shine brighter according to Maxwell-Hansen.
"Across all media it is tentative but positive. It hasn't hit the ground running in 2012 but we are definitely seeing some positive signs and some people with some confidence," Maxwell-Hansen said.
Bolstering this confidence are the latest Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) figures which reveal advertising revenue across all main media increased slightly to reach $NZ2.18bn in 2011, up from the $NZ2.13bn a year earlier.
While the overall feeling is hopeful, Jim Moser, chief executive officer of the Clemenger Group New Zealand, says NZ is still on a long tedious road to recovery after being knocked by the 2008 GFC. "We are out of recession but I don't think anyone is forecasting any significant growth for the next several years."
Jon Ostler, CEO of digital marketing group Q Ltd, concurs and says that while NZ never really booms he is expecting moderate growth which will in turn sustain growth in advertising.
However, the European debt crisis has threatened to throw a shadow over the year according to Wayne Chapman, chief executive iSite Media.
"If the issue is contained to Greece and doesn't really pollute a great deal of confidence in Europe then the effects could be fairly minimal," Chapman explains.
Hosting the Rugby World Cup last year caused the Kiwi market to bubble with excitement. Research by the tournament's main sponsor, Mastercard, forecast that the rugby-related spending from overseas visitors could reach $782m with a direct economic benefit of $411m. But in February the New Zealand Institute of Economic Research said it thought visitors spent $242m less than Mastercard forecast. Moser does not believe the RWC was a big winner for the media markets but what the cup didn't deliver to the media it made up for with feel-good factor.
"I think the RWC has given Kiwis a new found confidence and pride in their place in the world," Moser says.
A year on from the February 22nd Christchurch earthquake Ostler can see a silver lining amongst the devastation of the 6.3 magnitude quake with the insurance pay outs set to act as a "little stimulus package".
"There will be billions and billions of dollars injected into a very small economy so it's actually quite an interesting dynamic."
The NZ economy grew a weaker than expected 0.3% in the December quarter compared to economists' forecasts 0.6% growth.
For agencies, Maxwell-Hansen explains, the economic conditions mean marketers will continue to be cautious, only investing where there is a strong assurance of return and demanding more results for the same spend.
"The market definitely has a shorter focus. Decisions are taking longer to be made by clients and there are rushed planning requirements for agencies which means we will see more tactical campaigns as opposed to large rebrands."
Tony Bradbourne, creative director the Special Group, says that while clients are not splashing more cash they are no longer cost-cutting and are seeking more innovation.
Wellington based STW-owed agency Designworks head of strategy, Chris Meade, agrees: "This is where true creative thinking comes into play. When you can create greater value to both you and your customers, whilst simultaneously reducing cost to your business - that's true innovation."
While agencies may be excited by the coming 12 months are the media industries as energized?
Newspapers took a hit last year with the medium no longer dominating NZ's total ad spend. For the first time the steadily declining market was relegated to second place behind television with a 26.7% ($582m) share of share ad spend in 2011.
Fairfax Media's group sales and marketing manager, Sandra King, said the medium's reduced share was due to a declining trend from classifieds.
"However display advertising is not being affected to the same extent, although it remains a difficult trading time," King adds.
Newspaper's 2011 share represents a $45m drop from 2010's $627m (29.3%) with newspapers share steadily dropping since it dominated the market with 38.1% in 2004. However the ASA notes: "newspapers advise the 2011 figure reported is not a comparative measure with other main media which derive the majority of their revenue from national and retail advertising sources."
In the aftermath of the earthquake King says Fairfax's Christchurch publication, The Press, never missed a day of publication and became the communities voice.
"The Press has been a real bastion in the Christchurch community [it] has provided people relevant, useful information and helped them navigate the new Christchurch."
The strength of newspaper's multi-platform solutions will ensure the medium remains attractive to marketers in 2012 says King.
In addition, print has the London Olympics to look forward, with the games a focus for Fairfax's editorial and commercial units according to King.
Newspaper's glossy counterpart, magazines, also recorded a drop in its share of ad spend sliding from 10.2% in 2010 ($219m) to 9.6% ($209m) in 2011.
John McClintock, executive director Magazine Publishers Association, says the NZ magazine market is extremely competitive with a large number of titles, approximately 3,500, for a population of 4.43 million.
The RWC had mixed results for the magazine industry, according to McClintock, with only a few enjoying the benefits.
"It is to be noted some publishers did extremely well at RWC with targeted titles and specific projects - requiring re-prints in some instances to supply demand," McClintock explains.
While McClintock says the difficult retail marketplace is affecting magazine sales, publishers can counteract those with subscription programmes. "Innovative marketing strategies around subscriptions will continue to provide publishers with gains."
King believes consumers' love of their favourite magazines will see the industry's revenue remain steady. "Readers are strongly connected to the magazines they read and therefore magazines are very powerful in the consideration phase of the consumer path to purchase. This ensures that brand advertisers find magazines essential."
While newspapers have been knocked of its perch, television has secured the plum spot as the ad spend leader in NZ. In 2011 TV's slice of the market remained the same as its 2010 share of 28.4% but TV was able to grab its market leading position of $618m following newspapers decline.
Director of sales TV3 and Four at MediaWorks TV, Linda Farrelly, believes television is "conservatively optimistic" in 2012.
"Our clients are approaching 2012 conservatively but in general there is much more confidence to commit in the medium term and make plans," Farrelly says.
The quakes shook television and the medium is still recovering. TVNZ's head of sales and marketing, Paul Maher, says TVNZ's Christchurch operations took a hit.
"It is more buoyant then expected - albeit it has been through a tough time but my sense is that it will recover," Maher adds.
Amidst the struggles of 2011 Farrelly describes the RWC as a "golden moment".
"Many clients saw it as an opportunity to invest, albeit conservatively, and MediaWorks saw significant upside with revenue throughout the tournament."
Rick Friesen, chief executive of ThinkTV, says clients and agencies are re-awakening to the benefits of TV.
"The excitement with new media is gone," Friesen states.
"There is no reason why people shouldn't use new media but I think they have returned to understanding the value of TV in reaching people quickly and cost effectively."
Friesen says a new television platform, offering a mix of pay and free-to-air channels, will keep ad-land's eye on TV. The Igloo service, a joint venture between TVNZ and Sky TV, is set to launch later this year.
Turning to radio, the medium's share of total ad spend also remained steady in 2011 at its 2010 share of 11.3% but increased its dollar value from $241m to $247m.
Gill Stewart, general manager of The Radio Bureau - a joint venture between MediaWorks Radio and The Radio Network - says advertisers see radio as a vital part of the marketing mix.
NZ's 28 networked brands have aggressively moved into online and mobile and Stewart says radio is experiencing considerable growth in online advertisers with 48 new clients advertising on the Bureau's websites in 2011. "The migration online has been seamless with strong growth being driven by great, sticky content and widespread listen-live functionality. On-air audience numbers have not been affected by radio's migration online and steady cume figures over the last five years bear this out."
The NZ radio industry is monitoring the growth of digital radio in Australia and UK but Andrew Szusterman, group programme director MediaWorks Radio, is sceptical. "I feel NZ has dodged that bullet to be frank," Szuzterman exclaims.
"It really seems like an intermediary digital step and online will continue to play a larger role in the delivery of traditional and non-traditional radio content."
Stewart says radio's focus in 2011 is on growing its share of advertising and further harnessing and monetising the medium's multi-platform activities and engagement opportunities.
Out of home
The outdoor industry has reason to smile; it commandeered a 3.8% share of the NZ ad market in 2011 - the industries first significant increase since 2005 - and added $13m to its 2010 figure to reach $83m last year.
Outdoor benefited from the RWC and the extra foot-traffic it generated more than most media.
Jo Davenport, marketing and communications manager Outdoor Media Association of New Zealand (OMANZ), says: "OMANZ reported an impressive gross media revenue result in Q3 2011, with an increase of 35.5% over the same period in 2010. This was due in part to the spend allocated to OOH media over the duration of the RWC."
OMANZ' objective is for the NZ OOH market to claim 5% of NZ's total advertising revenue and iSite Media's Chapman, is confident OOH will advance towards its goal as audience fragmentation continues and traditional media is put under more pressure.
"OOH can create talk-ability and make a brand look famous which works very well for new brands and launches," Chapman adds.
The challenge for OOH this year is to crack the large external-digital billboard format, according to Chapman.
"Because it has clearly been a trend internationally and has also been a major driver of growth," Chapman explains.
Challenges aside, Davenport says OMANZ plans to solidify the strength of OOH in the minds of clients with an education campaign.
"OOH media is definitely being taken seriously by both agencies and advertisers as they become more aware of how effective OOH can be," Davenport says.
"As a result a buoyant year is expected for the OOH sector during 2012."
Despite 2011's tumultuous beginning on a whole NZ's media market fared well. Of the major media markets only newspapers and magazines share of ad spend dropped while outdoor grew and television and radio remained static.
Across the board, all the various forms of media and agencies agree that marketers -while they are no longer cost-cutting - want their dollars to work harder and smarter. This is leading to an increased focus on multi-platform solutions, the need for greater creative solutions and pushing marketers to think outside the box.
Asked if the climate is right for brave marketing the Special Group's Bradbourne says it depends on how you term 'brave'. "Is the climate right for doing things better than you have before? Yes. Doing things different to get better results? Yes."
The Clemenger Group's Moser agrees: "The really clever marketers are the ones who are taking risks, trying new things and experimenting to see what kind of reaction they can get."
While NZ's GDP may be lacklustre Moser says the country is in a good space.
"The political leadership is very strong and the sense I get walking around is one of positivity."
With the various media insiders describing the market as "conservatively optimistic", "subdued" or "tentatively optimistic" it seems the market's attitude to 2012 is '100% hopeful'.
THE NZ DIGITAL SCENE
Online in New Zealand is ensnaring more of the ad dollars and following in the footsteps of Australia with mobile and video identified as key trends for 2012. But how will these movements play out in a smaller market place?
New Zealand is next in line to join the push online with digital demanding a fatter slice of the country's ad spend every year. Total online ad spend in NZ hit $328.11m last year, up more than 24% on the previous year's $257.46m, according to IAB NZ and PricewaterhouseCoopers. Online currently accounts for 15.1% of NZ's total ad spend and is third only behind television and newspapers.
"The entire market for online grew over 24%, display as a percentage grew 11.18% year-on-year and search grew over 45% ," says Laura Maxwell-Hansen, vice chair IAB NZ and Yahoo! NZ's general manager.
"That is a phenomenal growth rate in the current climate for any media."
The largest shift in online ad spend last year saw display advertising overtake classifieds for the first time.
In the IAB/PwC report Sandra King, Fairfax Media's group sales and marketing manager, said: "This highlights online display advertising becoming a destination for brand, driven by the new innovative advertising opportunities on offer by publishers."
While the growth in online may be monumental it is not set to slow any time soon according to Alisa Higgins, general manager IAB.
"IAB NZ is estimating 22% overall growth for 2012 - we are hoping to reach the $400m mark," Higgins says.
"Drivers of online advertising in 2012 include cross media efficiencies, for example, research shows that the use of TV and online together can lift brand awareness increasing purchase intent on and offline.
"And of course consumers are pushing the growth. Time spent online in NZ has increased the fastest compared to all other mediums and with the ability to access the net almost anywhere we can expect to see this figure continue to rise."
While consumers may be spending more and more time online NZ's bricks and mortar retailers haven't embraced digital as readily. Tony Bradbourne, creative director the Special Group, says some retailers are doing well and others less so.
"I think there is huge potential for New Zealand retail clients to be a lot smarter with how they use digital and ecommerce," Bradbourne says.
"I think there is a lot of traditional retail thinking that has just jumped from print to digital without the extra step in thinking. So the potential to be much more effective, and generate a lot more sales, is huge."
Search along with display are set to steer online's share of NZ's ad spend skywards in 2012 with online video, social media and mobile identified as three growing trends.
Advertising spend on social media may be on the rise but Higgins encourages marketers to branch out from Facebook.
"Advertisers need to remember social media is not just Facebook," Higgins says.
"Kids don't want to be seen hanging out at the same place their parents do and are starting to look for other 'cool' venues to disappear to."
The trends set to drive online in NZ are easy to identify, says digital marketing group Q Ltd's CEO Jon Ostler, the challenge is predicting how they will play out.
"We are generally seeing the same international trends with NZ maybe lagging a little bit behind," Ostler explains.
"So the trends are easy to pick, the interesting thing is how they play out in a marketplace of four million people with less money sloshing around."
For instance mobile marketing has been gaining traction worldwide but NZ advertisers spend on the medium has been decidedly conservative. Maxwell-Hansen believes this is set to change in 2012.
"I really think mobile is starting to take off," Maxwell-Hansen says. "At Yahoo! our revenue increased over 100% year-on-year for mobile investment. "You have to remember that is off a very small base but...I think we will see more than 100% increase again in mobile spend this year."
For the first time IAB NZ included mobile spend (not including Google Mobile ad spend) in its PwC report and found it reached a measly $632,092 last year. But Higgins feels the sum is set grow.
"In Australia, PwC are predicting that spend on mobile display advertising alone will hit $37m for 2011 and as NZ often uses Australia to trend against there is no reason the market won't start growing just as fast over here albeit on a smaller scale."
Ostler says NZ's investment in mobile is conservative only because of constrained marketing budgets. "Other markets like Australia are more aggressive, NZ has the appetite to get stuck in but lacks the budget to try new things and therefore plays things a little bit safer in the use of mobile," Ostler explains.
Apart from financial limitations Ostler identifies smartphone penetration as another factor slowing the investment in mobile. "I imagine Australian smartphone penetration is going mental but I'm not sure NZ's consumers are as flash with their cash in terms of upgrading their technology."
But Maxwell-Hansen says smartphone uptake is set to increase with handset prices due to drop as new telecos and handset providers enter the market. "Smartphones account for around 30% of all handsets so that is a big leap - 12 months ago we were talking 20%."
Mobile advertising may be in its infancy in NZ with spend still sitting under $100,000 but the market isn't resting on its laurels when it comes to new innovations. Russell Douglas, group head of interactive Designworks, says QR codes are mainstream and clients now have their eye on Near Field Communication (NFC).
"With Bank of New Zealand and Vodafone recently completing a mobile wallet trial the potential for NFC to be used in a wider marketing context is gaining traction - especially if the banks start to push NFC updates to POS systems."
But before mobile can take off as an advertising platform the Clemenger Group NZ chief executive Jim Moser says the cost of data plans need to come down and data-caps have to increase. It's a similar story in video with the country's slow and unreliable broadband holding advertisers back.
The state of NZ's broadband was recently broadcast to the world when British comedian and actor Stephen Fry unleashed a Twitter rant labelling NZ's broadband "the worst" and "pathetic".
The outburst was prompted when Fry, who was in NZ filming the Hobbit, tried to upload a video at the private home where he was staying. But he had exceeded the broadband data limit, slowing the speed to dial-up pace.
"Come on New Zealand. You're world champions at rugby & filmmaking. Pressure the providers to stop [NZ] being a digital embarrassment," Fry tweeted. Fry was not alone in his condemnation of the internet service providers with Paul Brislen, head of the Telecommunications Users Association of NZ, reportedly calling NZ's broadband "Third World".
Ostler says poor broadband packages have stunted video consumption and therefore investment in video display ads. Moser agrees: "As data prices come down it is going to stimulate market activity for more people to be using YouTube on their mobile or sharing video virally."
As it stands ad spend on online video in NZ hit $2.64m in 2011 from $1.9m a year before. In comparison Australian ad spend on online video is set to hit $350m within three years, according to the IAB.
While the spend trails Australia's IAB NZ believes investment will pick up this year. Maxwell-Hansen agrees and says the demand is there: "Video demand is outstripping everyone's supply. I think everyone could be taking more money out of the market and it is frustrating us."
Slow internet speeds may be hampering investment in online but Maxwell-Hansen believes the failure to adopt a single measurement system is also holding the industry back.
"The plethora of audience measurement systems out there at the moment make it challenging for a marketer to correctly apportion what percentage of their budget they want to put to the online channel," Maxwell-Hansen explains.
As a result she says too much time is spent trying to get clients to understand the numbers and not enough time discussing the benefits of online. Nevertheless, Maxwell-Hansen is resigned to the fact that in such a fluid environment a standard measure may never exist.
NZ's online ad spend of $NZ328.11 may be dwarfed by Australia's $2.66bn but kiwi creatives claim their tighter budgets breed more digital creativity.
Bradbourne describes NZ's digital work as "world beating". "I actually think we are leading Australia in a lot of our thinking and executions," he says. "New Zealand may not have the media budgets that Australia has so we just need to be smarter and more innovative."
Designworks' Douglas agrees: "We're a wee country with big ideas and many of those ideas are world leading." However, Moser says there is room for improvement in display advertising. Maxwell-Hansen thinks it is improving: "There are some fantastic rich media executions that have come into the market in the last 12 months especially."
Wait and see
Online is sprinting ahead globally, gobbling ad spend at an alarming rate and it seems NZ's ad spend will step in line and follow the worldwide trends, although on a smaller scale. Display and search are set to drive growth with mobile advertising, social media and online video growing trends in 2012.
While Ostler claims NZ tends to trend against Australia, the rugby-loving nation is hardly a digital backwater. Smaller budgets may instil more caution in marketers but, as Moser explains, there are benefits to waiting and watching how things play out offshore: "Locally, opportunities exist for advertisers to look at overseas benchmarks and get stuck in here first. Advertisers' who do well online in NZ will be the ones who look at overseas benchmarks, follow the lead and avoid their mistakes."
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El Dorado Chevrolet Adding New Eco-Friendly Showroom | McKinney, TX
If you have ever bought a car or truck from El Dorado Chevrolet, you already know we are a different kind of dealership. Our commitment to our customers — and the environment — already sets us apart. We have taken this even further with our dedication to being environmentally friendly in our brand-new, eco-friendly used car showroom.
Our showroom, will be the first building in Collin County built to U.S. Green Building Council standards. To achieve this, we used about 75% recycled building materials in addition to recycling as much of our construction waste as possible.
To help reduce energy use, the new showroom uses solar skylights for lighting during the day and high-efficiency lights at night. It also uses double the amount of insulation required to help the building maintain comfortable temperatures with as little energy use as possible.
The building designers even considered the exterior landscaping in their eco-friendly plan. All the plants chosen are Texas-friendly. This means they require less water and mowing than most of the plants used in traditional business landscaping.
Another way we are saving water is by using a “skimmer” system. This skimmer was added to service bay floors. When we’re cleaning up after a job, the skimmer will help keep toxic fluids, like dirty oil and transmission fluids, from ending up in our wastewater.
To learn more about how we’re working to make McKinney and Texas a greater, greener place, visit El Dorado Chevrolet and Shop in the Shade.


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Wells Fargo Chairman and CEO John G. Stumpf apologized for the unauthorized accounts that his company opened and the unauthorized, unwanted products Wells Fargo provided to customers at a September 20 Senate Banking Committee hearing. During his testimony, Stumpf also discussed changes Wells Fargo has made to address the problems, including terminating employees and strengthening its controls.
On Sept. 8, 2016, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency penalized Well Fargo Bank, N.A., for secretly opening two million unauthorized deposit and credit card accounts. In addition to a $100 million fine levied by the CFPB, Wells Fargo must pay consumers full refunds—expected to total $2.5 million—and hire an independent consultant to conduct a thorough review of its sales procedures. The OCC required the bank to pay an additional $35 million civil money penalty and make restitution to customers who were harmed by the bank’s unsafe or unsound sales practices (see Banking and Finance Law Daily, Sept. 8, 2016).
Stumpf apologized for his company, saying Wells Fargo "failed to fulfill our responsibility to our customers, to our team members and to the American public." However, he claimed that the activity was not an "orchestrated effort" by the company, explaining that the problematic cross-selling strategy was intended to create a deeper relationship with customers by providing a wide variety of products to satisfy their financial needs.
Prevention efforts. Stumpf detailed the evolution of efforts to detect and deter unethical conduct over the last five years.
The Quality-of-sale Report Card was included in 2011 in California and 2012 across retail banking. This is intended to deter and detect misconduct through monitoring of sales patterns that may correlate with unethical behavior. The Sales and Service Conduct Oversight Team also began in 2011 to proactively monitor data analytics to root out sales practice violations.
Beginning in 2012, Wells Fargo reduced the number of sales that team members would need to qualify for incentive compensation and reduced sales goals for branch-based team members.
The company expanded its training materials for managers in 2013.
A cross-functional oversight team was added for retail banking sales integrity issues to identify trends around sales integrity issues and identify additional improvements to prevent future violations.
Sales-related terminations for sales-related misconduct occurred from Jan. 1, 2011 through March 7, 2016.
A third-party consulting firm began working in August 2015 to evaluate products and services from 2011-2015 to determine whether customers may have incurred financial harm. 1.5 million accounts were identified (out of 82 million) with transaction patterns that might be consistent with improper conduct.
After the consulting firm identified a population of credit cards that had never been activated by the customer and had no customer transaction activity, customers were notified that they would receive a refund for any fees that may have arisen from an account that may not have been authorized.
Product sales goals for retail banking were eliminated effective Jan. 1, 2017.
Preventive measures. Stumpf also stressed that Wells Fargo has worked closely with the OCC to strengthen oversight. He listed other efforts the company has put in place, including an email confirmation to customers within one hour of opening an account and revised procedures for credit cards. He also said that Wells Fargo added an enhanced branch compliance program dedicated to monitoring sales practice violations. The company has contacted all customers with open, inactive credit cards to confirm whether the customer authorized the account, Stumpf told the committee.
Chairman’s criticism. In his opening remarks, Committee Chairman Richard Shelby (R-Ala) hinted at an intent to criticize the CFPB and OCC enforcement actions. Noting how long the conduct continued and that it was brought to light by the Los Angeles City Attorney, Shelby queried:
Where were the federal regulators during those years?
If the OCC and the CFPB were aware of these issues before the L.A. City Attorney’s lawsuit, why did they wait until 2016 to bring an enforcement action?
Why did it take an L.A. Times reporter to uncover what should have been uncovered by Wells Fargo’s regulators?
How many millions of unauthorized accounts does it take before the CFPB notices?
Democratic perspective. On the other hand, the opening statement of Committee Ranking Member Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) strove to focus the hearing solely on Wells Fargo. Brown ridiculed Wells Fargo’s description of customers who "received products or services they did not want." "That makes it sound like there was a mix-up under the Christmas tree, and I got the right-handed baseball glove meant for my brother Charlie," Brown said.
Wells Fargo has not admitted any responsibility for any misdeeds, Brown asserted. He pointed out that the bank has even invoked arbitration clauses in agreements for legitimate accounts to block customers from seeking redress in court for fraudulently opened accounts.
The senator also contrasted the 5,300 low-level employees who were fired "with no parachute of any color" with the treatment of Carrie Tolstedt, Wells Fargo’s Senior Executive Vice President for Community Banking. Tolstedt has been allowed to retire with benefits that could exceed the CFPB’s record fine even though she has known of the problem for more than five years, Brown charged.
CFPB Director’s testimony. In written testimony, CFPB Director Richard Cordray said "fraudulent conduct occurred on a massive scale" at Wells Fargo Bank. He rejected the idea that the problem can be dismissed as bad conduct by a few employees, noting that the bank has fired at least 5,300 employees, including "branch managers and managers of managers."
According to Cordray, the CFPB’s enforcement action makes clear that financial institutions will be liable if they implement compensation programs that threaten consumers and create incentives for violations of the law.
Comptroller’s testimony. In an oral statement, Comptroller Thomas J. Curry characterized the bank’s practices as outrageous and unacceptable. According to Curry, the OCC’s action built on prior examinations and now will continue both at Wells Fargo Bank and other large and midsize banks. The agency’s earlier actions, which began with "a small number of complaints from consumers and Bank employees" in March 2012, were outlined in Curry’s written statement.
Curry conceded, though, that the OCC should have done a better job. To address that, he has asked a senior deputy comptroller to search for potential gaps in the OCC’s supervision.
Companies: Wells Fargo
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NEW YORK (MarketWatch) -- Retail stocks reversed losses Thursday after U.S. industrial output inched higher and April manufacturing activity in the New York region improved at a fast pace, offsetting a report on unexpected increase in weekly jobless claims.
Wal-Mart Stores Inc.
The company's U.K. division Asda, the second-largest grocer in the United Kingdom, said Thursday that it will accelerate the rollout of its nonfood Asda Living format over the next five years, open smaller Asda supermarkets and expand online and through home delivery. Wal-Mart has growth plans for U.K.'s Asda.
Wal-Mart Chief Financial Officer Tom Schoewe also said the world's largest retailer is being "very aggressive" in communicating its price message, including advertising in more national media, to shoppers in the U.S.
The S&P Retail Index $RLX rose 0.5% to 482.83.
The sector earlier reacted negatively to the Labor Department's report that weekly jobless claims unexpectedly rose for two straight weeks, raising concerns about the recovery of the job market that analysts said is key to consumer spending.
The number of people applying for unemployment benefits jumped 24,000 in the latest week to a seasonally adjusted 484,000 in the week ended April 10, the Labor Department said. Economists surveyed by MarketWatch had forecast claims would drop to 430,000 in the latest week. Claims have to fall to 400,000 or lower to indicate an accelerated hiring trend, economists say. See full story on jobless claims.
On the other hand, .March industrial output, measuring overall production at the nation's factories, mines and utilities, rose 0.1% in March and extended the monthly string of increases to nine. Separately, the New York Federal Reserve Bank said its Empire State Manufacturing index soared to 31.9 in April from 22.9 in March, the fastest pace since May 2004. See full story on industrial output.
Best Buy Co.


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A New Jersey plan to allow direct shipment of wine to consumers has passed in the state Senate, but has stalled in the Assembly.
The Assembly previously passed a version of the bill, but it did not approve some amendments later made by the Senate.
“The biggest bone of contention remains with several members of the Assembly who oppose the direct shipping provision,” explained Tom Cosentino, a spokesman for UnCorkNJ, a group of wine consumers.
Because it’s unlikely lawmakers will take any action on the wine bill before they recess for the summer, the legality of off-site tasting rooms in limbo.
A previous federal court ruling said that lawmakers had to come to a compromise by the end of session, or the court could order the shutdown of all off-site winery outlets.


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Auction of Hitler box, other Nazi items nixed
PARIS (AP) — A Paris auction house has dropped plans to sell a swastika-covered box that once belonged to Adolf Hitler and dozens of other Nazi-owned objects that were collected as war spoils from World War II, blaming “political pressure.”
The Vermot de Pas house on Monday canceled the April 26 sale of some 40 items that French forces seized from Hitler’s Bavaria home in the waning days of Nazi Germany in May 1945. Passports of Hermann Goering, an aviator’s watch, pictures of Hitler and silverware were among the items that were to go under the block.
“It was not our goal to stir a scandal,” said Laudine de Pas, a co-manager of the auction house. “We were pitching this as part of the responsibility to remember — but in no way to shock or create a polemic.” She said the auction was called off due to “political pressure” and after the house received “insulting” phone calls and e-mails.
Culture Minister Aurelie Filippetti sent a letter Monday to France’s auctions authority calling the sale “morally reprehensible” and asking for it to be canceled. She also noted France’s official ban on the public display of objects linked to Nazi ideology.
The swastika-covered wooden box, which Hitler received as a birthday gift, features an inscription about the importance of roads for an empire. Slightly larger than a shoe box, it was expected to sell for more than 3,000 euros ($4,100).
France’s best-known association of Jewish groups, CRIF, denounced the sale as “harming the memory of victims of Nazi barbarity.” In a statement, CRIF said that trading in such objects gives them “unhealthy symbolic value that resembles cynicism and a form of moral indecency.”
Four people, including former French soldiers or their relatives, had put the objects up for the sale, De Pas said, insisting that none of the items had been used as tools of propaganda. Some sale proceeds were expected to go to an association linked to Auschwitz deportees, according to the auction house’s website.


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TEHRAN – Iran’s international tourism arrivals over the last year dropped by 5.6 percent compared to 2015.
According to UNWTO (World Tourism Organization) tourism highlights 2017 edition, 4.942 million tourists have visited Iran in 2016. The figure for 2015 stood at 5.237 million.
The country’s tourism receipt in 2015 hit $3.868 million but the report did not provide the figure for 2016.
The report further added that tourism has boasted virtually uninterrupted growth over time, despite occasional shocks, demonstrating the sector’s strength and resilience. International tourist arrivals have increased from 25 million globally in 1950 to 278 million in 1980, 674 million in 2000, and 1,235 billion in 2016.
Likewise, international tourism receipts earned by destinations worldwide have surged from US$ 2 billion in 1950 to US$ 104 billion in 1980, US$ 495 billion in 2000, and US$ 1,220 billion in 2016.
In addition to receipts earned in destinations, international tourism also generated US$ 216 billion in exports through international passenger transport services rendered to non-residents in 2016, bringing the total value of tourism exports up to US$ 1.4 trillion, or US$ 4 billion a day on average.
International tourism represents 7 percent of the world’s exports in goods and services, after increasing one percentage point from 6 percent in 2015. Tourism has grown faster than world trade for the past five years.
As a worldwide export category, tourism ranks third after chemicals and fuels and ahead of automotive products and food. In many developing countries, tourism is the top export category.
date: 12 September 2017 id: 9012 source: Trend


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By MATT CRANE
The New South Weekend starts 6 p.m. Friday with a downtown block party showcasing everything Starkville has to offer.
Jennifer Gregory, Greater Starkville Development chief operating officer and vice president for tourism, said she hopes the event, which is held at the College Park shopping center on Russell Street, brings numerous families and visitors.
“We’ll kick off the block party with a pep rally that will feature Bully and the MSU cheerleaders,” she said. “Live music will be provided by the Five Aces, which is a local band playing a lot of covers that are family friendly and will be familiar to a lot of people.”
Tutti Frutti, Lenny’s Sub Shop, Tony’s BBQ and Two Sisters will provide food during the event, and Gregory said the fall tailgating fashion show is scheduled for 7 p.m.
“Members of the MSU Fashion Board are going to be our models for that,” she said. “They will be modeling clothes from our Main Street boutiques.”
According to the Mississippi College Town website, True Maroon is the color for Saturday’s spirit wear, and retailers participating in the fashion show include Libby Story, LA Green, Deep South Pout, B. Davis Shoes, Reeds, Book Mart & Cafe, Frock Fashions, Oooh La La, Harmonie Boutique, Occasions, R.Tabb & Co., Bath Bayou, Christine’s Couture and George Sherman Clothiers.
Gregory said part of Friday’s block party will celebrate a special anniversary for Prudential Properties real estate agency.
“Prudential is celebrating their 10th anniversary this year,” she said. “During the block party, they’ll be providing special treats and door prizes.”
While no activities are planned outside of the College Park shopping center, Gregory said Russell Street will be closed to traffic from Fire Station No. 1 to Hogan Street at 4 p.m.
“There won’t be any activity in the street, but this is just for safety precautions,” she said. “We will keep Lampkin Street open primarily for fire safety if they have to navigate in and out.”
Gregory said the New South Weekend campaign was designed by the Starkville Convention and Visitors’ Bureau as a fall series consisting of seven home football game weekends including a Friday night event, the Saturday game and the Sunday Brunch and Browse featuring special shopping hours.
“We wanted to promote the weekends not just for the games, but for the whole weekend experience in Starkville,” she said. “We’re trying to capitalize on the 60,000-plus fans that are here for MSU football and encourage them to eat in our restaurants, shop in our great boutiques … and really find out more about what Starkville has to offer.”
Gregory said the Brunch and Browse event last weekend was a huge success and she encourages both residents and visitors to shop with downtown retailers before heading home.
“I think we experienced a lot of success with our New South Weekends last year and I’m looking forward to continuing the series of events,” she said. “Last year generated about $70,000 of new sales, and we anticipate that number to grow by quite a bit this year.”
The downtown block party lasts from 6-8 p.m. Friday, and organizers encourage visitors to utilize parking lots at Bank First Financial Services on Russell Street or Bancorp South at the northeast corner of Lampkin and Montgomery streets.
For more information, call the GSDP at 662-323-3322.


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Deodorant Candy Makes People Smell Rosy
Most people probably don’t start the day thinking, “Man, life would be so much easier if I could just eat this deodorant instead of wearing it.” But there’s good news for those people—on the off chance that those people are out there somewhere—because a new candy has come out that promises to make anyone who eats it excrete a floral scent for the next six hours.
There are a lot of foods that can change the way a person smells—garlic and asparagus come to mind—but that effect may finally have been harnessed for good instead of evil. According to Refinery29, Deo Perfume Candy contains rose oil and geraniol, an antioxidant that smells like roses and has been theorized to both fight cancer and repel mosquitos. People who are allergic to perfume can also be allergic to geraniol, so this candy is probably not a boon for them.
The candy is flavored like roses, and when consumed “leaves your skin with a beautiful rose fragrance,” according to the company. “Studies showed that when ingested, rose oil exudes aromatic compounds, such as geraniol, through the skin. When evaporating through the skin, geraniol aromatizes it with a beautiful rose fragrance.”
So far the candy only comes in rose, so a person isn’t going to be able to smell like Chanel No. 5, just roses.
The candy is available for $7.99 on Amazon in regular and sugar-free varieties, and the artificial sweetener in the sugar-free option might make amplify the effect of the rose fragrance. Deo Perfume Candy says that a person should eat four pieces a day, and a 145-pound person will smell rosy for six hours afterwards.


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With a claimed of the most powerful non-turbocharged production engine, Aston Martin is busy preparing the finishing touches for its upcoming Valkyrie hypercar. Developed by Cosworth, the engine is a 6.5-liter V12 with 1,000 hp and 545 lb-ft of torque. Thanks to a Rimac-sourced battery-electric system, total output will increase to 1,160 hp and 663 lb-ft. That V12 will rev to an insane 11,100 rpm. And like a Formula 1 car, the Valkyrie will gather energy from braking via a KERS-style boost system.
Ford Motor is recalling 1.46 million Ford Focus cars in North America to fix a defect that could lead to stalling. The recall affects the 2012 through 2018 model-year Focus with 2-liter GDI and 2-liter GTDI engines.
Ford warned that customers should keep their fuel tanks at least half full until their cars are fixed. The issue stems from a defective canister purge valve that could become stuck in an open position, causing deformation of the fuel tank.
In certain instances, the defect could cause the Focus to stall and then not restart or have difficulty restarting. Car owners may … Continue
Originally posted on Bloomberg
After a fender-bender with his Tesla Model S last February, Tor Havard Wiig figured he’d be back on the road within a week or two. Five months on, he’s still waiting on parts—and he’s ready to sell the two-year-old car.
The delay and scant communication from Tesla Inc.show “there’s a lot lacking there,” said Wiig, a 43-year-old technology consultant in the Norwegian coastal city of Bergen. “I never expected it to take so long to fix such minor damage.”
As Tesla sales boom in Norway, customers are grousing about a dealership network and service operation … Continue
Repost from Car and Driver.
All 20 of the 415-hp sedans slated for the U.S. were reserved in 39 minutes.
When we first learned about the new Volvo S60 last week, we were especially intrigued about the hybrid “Polestar Engineered” version. For the 2019 model year, Volvo will offer this 415-hp sedan exclusively through its Care by Volvo subscription program for $1100 a month, which will include 15,000 annual miles, service, maintenance, and insurance. Oh, and it’s only going to bring 20 of them to the U.S.
That means, statistically, you’ll have a greater chance of seeing a 2019 Ford
This is a repost from Sophos Security blog by John E Dunn
It may have escaped the notice of prospective buyers, but cars have recently become a bit of a target for security researchers.
The latest example of this challenge sport has arrived from researchers at Dutch pen-testers Computest, who decided to see what security woes they could uncover in two 2015 models, the Volkswagen Golf GTE and an Audi A3 Sportback e-tron, both made by Volkswagen Audi Group (VAG).
True to their hunch, with a bit of hunting they eventually found … Continue
The J.D. Power 2018 Vehicle Dependability Study has been released, with overall vehicle dependability improving 9 percent from 2017. In its 29th year, the study measuring the number of problems experienced per 100 vehicles (PP100) during the past 12 months by original owners of 2015 model year vehicles. A lower score reflects higher quality since that means there were fewer problems experienced per 100 vehicles.
The overall industry average went from 142 PP100 to 156 PP100 this year, an increase of 14 points.
Continuing to be problematic for owners is in-vehicle technology, including audio, communications, entertainment, and navigation. The category … Continue
Wow, 50 years already. 2018 marks the 50th anniversary from a little known Japanese automaker that started with humble beginnings in North America. The current lineup is anchored by three all-wheel-drive crossovers that remain in strong demand. Subaru has achieved 74 consecutive months of year-over-year sales increases.
That hasn’t always been the narrative for Subaru, a car brand created by the Japanese industrial conglomerate formerly known as Fuji Heavy Industries. Since its start here in 1968 as an importer of a quirky microcar called the 360, Subaru has fought — and usually won — a slew of uphill … Continue
With all the recent news of cryptocurrencies reaching their new heights. A Chinese millionaire purchased a fleet of retired F1 cars with Litecoin. The buyer scooped up the fleet of rare Formula One (F1) cars, valued at around £4m in total.
The sale of the four-car collection was orchestrated by Dadiani Syndicate, the UK’s first marketplace to offer luxury assets solely for payment in cryptocurrency.
The flagship car of the bunch is the 2011 Sauber Ferrari C30, raced by Kamui Kobayashi and Sergio Perez in the 2011 F1 season. Kobayashi achieved fifth place with the car at the Monaco … Continue
BMW and Porsche are currently working together and with other major automakers, like Mercedes and Ford, on an ultra-fast (350 kW) electric car charging network in Europe. But now they want to lay the foundation to improve the charge rate to 450 kW in order to enable quicker electric car charging.
BMW is leading the project through the “FastCharge” consortium in partnership with other companies like Porsche, Allego and Siemens. The German Federal Ministry of Transport and Digital Infrastructure supports the project with a € 7.8 million grant, which is supervised by the National Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technology Organization
Update: The Kobe Steel scandal now expands to 500 customers from the original estimate of 200 including subsidiaries. The subsidiaries are mainly position in Asia. Three in China, one each in Thailand and Malaysia and four in Japan. The company supplies metal components to industries where safety is vital including car, train and aircraft producers.
Original: For anyone out there driving a Honda, Toyota, Subaru, GM, Nissan and Kawasaki vehicle, or might be flying on a Boeing airplane. Listen up.


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News: Opinion poll confirms 'seablindness' is a myth
UK politicians and the general public have demonstrated overwhelmingly that they recognise shipping as the biggest mover of the nation’s imports and exports, according to a new study commissioned by the UK Chamber of Shipping.
Leading pollster ComRes surveyed 2,026 members of the British public and 127 UK MPs during the first four months of this year. Respondents were asked to name the mode of transport that carries the largest proportion of import and export cargo to/from the UK.
Some 87% of MPs and 84% of the public knew that the answer is shipping, disproving the belief that people do not understand shipping’s importance to the UK’s trading economy.
The UK’s major ports handled 473.5 million tonnes of freight during the year 2016, according to most recent statistics from the Department for Transport (DfT). Some 95% of the UK’s international trade is moved by sea.
Results from politicians
Politicians from Labour and the Scottish National Party (SNP) are the most likely to know that shipping carries the greatest proportion of the UK’s import and export freight, according to the study’s findings.
All of the SNP politicians surveyed showed familiarity with shipping’s role, followed closely by 91% of Labour respondents. Perhaps surprisingly, a smaller percentage of Conservative MPs demonstrated this knowledge (82%).
Younger politicians (those born since 1960) and those who have recently taken office displayed the greatest proportion of sea-awareness, the data shows, coinciding with the UK Chamber’s recent efforts to raise the shipping industry’s political profile.
Results from the general public
Men displayed slightly more familiarity with shipping than women, with nearly nine in ten men (87%) answering correctly, in contrast to around four in five women (81%).
The findings, however, highlight that more than can be done to increase sea-awareness among young people. That being said, three-quarters (73%) of those aged 18-24, the youngest group in the study, knew that shipping is the UK’s most important cargo-mover. In contrast, just over nine out of ten people (91%) in the oldest group of respondents (aged 65+) were sea-aware.
UK Chamber’s response
Guy Platten, CEO of the UK Chamber of Shipping, said of the study:
“The findings confirm that we can forget about so-called ‘seablindness’ – it just does not exist. It is clear that the public and our politicians have a deep-rooted sense of shipping’s importance to our trading economy.
“It is for us – not just at the UK Chamber but the whole industry – to turn that goodwill into tangible change that will make the UK a more competitive place to do maritime business before and after the UK leaves the European Union.”
David Dingle CBE, chairman of Maritime UK, added:
“This opinion poll shows without doubt that shipping is in the minds of the public and our politicians. The public trusts us with everything from their food to their clothing to their holidays. Our challenge is to ensure that when they think of UK industry, they think of maritime business as much as they do financial services or car manufacturing.
“The more they understand the UK’s reliance on shipping, the more opportunity we will have to work with government to deliver a world-class business environment, encourage more investment and more jobs for the country as a whole.”


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Love may be in the air, but so is the aroma of uncertainty for chocolate enthusiasts worldwide
As lovebirds eagerly prepare for a day filled with sweet gestures, a bitter truth lurks in the background — the soaring prices of cocoa are casting a shadow over Valentine’s Day chocolates.
In a shocking development, cocoa futures closed last Friday at an all-time high of $5,888.00 per ton, leaving chocolate lovers in disbelief.
The surge signifies a consistent upward trend, with prices more than doubling in the last year and escalating by about one-third in the past month alone.
What’s driving the surge?
Chocolate producers, heavily reliant on cocoa as the core ingredient, find themselves in a challenging predicament. The limited supply of cocoa has prompted discussions among manufacturers about potential adjustments to chocolate prices.
Hershey’s, a key player in the industry, acknowledged the impact during a recent call with analysts. CEO Michele Buck, cautiously addressing the situation, hinted at the possibility of adjusting chocolate prices, as said, “Historic cocoa prices are expected to limit earnings growth this year.”
The surge in cocoa prices isn’t an isolated incident as it’s intricately linked to widespread diseases and weather fluctuations affecting cocoa-producing regions.
Ivory Coast and Ghana, responsible for 60 percent of global cocoa output, grapple with the spread of diseases through their plantations. Additionally, the El Niño warm weather phenomenon has ushered in unusually dry conditions, exacerbating the already challenging crop shortage.
As the chocolate industry confronts these challenges, the future of cocoa prices remains uncertain.