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Super Talent has updated its consumer SSD line with new, cheaper, faster SSDs. The memory firm's latest MasterDrive OX and PX drives are slightly cheaper and slightly faster than their competitors, and incremental step, but one worth noting if you're in the market for more solid state storage.
The new SSDs are in the same class as the bulk of their competitors: 2.5", SATA 3Gbps drives. Super Talent has announced two series, a premium SLC-based PX series with a 170MBps/130MBps read/write and a cheaper, slower, MLC OX series with a 150MBps/100MBps read/write, to carry its consumer SSD line. The PX drives run from 16GB to 64GB; OX drives run from 16GB to 128GB. Pricing puts the 128GB MasterDrive OX at $419, cheaper than most competitors, with the PX drives at $499 for 32GB and $849 for 64GB, near the top of the consumer range. Newegg is already carrying the new drives, and clearing out the older ones at reduced prices.
Although Super Talent's press release bills the new drives as "dangerously fast," as I noted above they represent a merely incrimental improvement over prior SSDs. Recent launches from a number of manufacturers, prominently including OCZ and Intel, have underscored this trend of steady improvements, and this launch matches hard disk price drops to keep MLC SSD prices within a factor of five of their 7200RPM rivals. Expect these trends to continue for some time.
Several companies are segmenting their SSDs into visibly differentiated SLC and MLC divisions, something which bodes well for consumer education in the industry. With SLC drives getting closer to mainstream affordability, and the performance and price gap between the two types likely to persist for some time, consumer education on this increasingly important distinction can't happen too soon. In the mean time, SSD customers have one more choice.


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Finance and Economics
Saturday, December 16, 2017
Schedule for Week of December 17th
The key economic reports this week are November housing starts, new home sales and existing home sales. Other key reports include the third...
Friday, December 15, 2017
Lawler: Early Read on Existing Home Sales in November
A short note from housing economist Tom Lawler: "Based on what I've seen so far, I project that existing home sales as estimated ...
Oil Rigs "The Calm before the Storm"
A few comments from Steven Kopits of Princeton Energy Advisors LLC on Dec 15, 2017: • Rigs overall continue in recovery mode • Total US ...
Q4 GDP Forecasts
From Merrill Lynch: The strong retail sales data provided a 0.3pp boost to our 4Q GDP tracking estimate, bringing it up to 2.4% . emphasi...
Industrial Production Increased 0.2% in November
From the Fed: Industrial production and Capacity Utilization Industrial production moved up 0.2 percent in November after posting an upw...
NY Fed: Manufacturing Activity grew at a "solid clip" in December
From the NY Fed: Empire State Manufacturing Survey Business activity continued to grow at a solid clip in New York State , according to fi...
Thursday, December 14, 2017
Friday: Industrial Production, NY Fed Mfg Survey
From Merrill Lynch: The strong retail sales data provided a 0.3pp boost to our 4Q GDP tracking estimate, bringing it up to 2.4%. Friday: ...
It Never Rains in California
After enduring a five year drought, California finally had a decent rainy season last year. But this season is off to a very slow start. ...
Hotel Occupancy Rate Increased Year-over-Year, 2017 will be Record Occupancy Year
From HotelNewsNow.com: STR: US hotel results for week ending 9 December The U.S. hotel industry reported positive year-over-year results i...
Retail Sales increased 0.8% in November
On a monthly basis, retail sales increased 0.8 percent from October to November (seasonally adjusted), and sales were up 5.8 percent from No...
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Modul8 and Nium announce partnership to fast-track card-issuing
Australian startup Modul8 has announced a regional partnership with global finance infrastructure company Nium that will see it provide payment card-issuing services to fintechs and neo-banks in the APAC region.
Through this collaboration, Modul8 will be utilising Nium’s BIN sponsorship to manage their card issuance service, enabling Modul8 to facilitate card-issuing capabilities for fintechs in as little as three months – a quarter of the usual year-long timeline. Their onboarding service will also see neobanks and fintechs enjoy significant cost-savings over taking a DIY approach.
The partnership comes at a crucial time for the Australian fintech and neo-banking sector, with the open banking regime that went live on July 1 set to accelerate the development of the sector locally.
Modul8 CEO David Laird said that the company looked forward to supporting the development of a more open and competitive banking sector in Australia, as well as across the APAC region.
“As someone who has been in the banking and financial services industry for decades, I’m really proud to play a part in the revolution that will be enabled by open banking. Australia’s neo-banks and fintechs are world-class, and providing them with the ability to issue cards more quickly and at a more competitive cost is going to help them provide a better service to consumers and businesses alike.”
“At a time of global uncertainty, our economy needs transformative digital businesses that can provide the framework for a post-COVID recovery. That starts with the financial services and technology sectors. As one of the most reputable and lauded fintechs in our region, Nium is the perfect growth partner for Modul8 to offer these services to Australian fintech companies.”
“Customers in a range of areas value Modul8 not just for our card-issuing capabilities, but for our deep experience in banking and our ability to provide insights and counsel to help this complex and rapidly-changing ecosystem.”
Nium’s Head of Sales (Cards) Gitesh Athavale said that Modul8’s partnership would help fintechs and neo-banks in Australia and across the APAC region come to market more quickly and offer a greater range of services to consumers and businesses.
“We’re excited to be partnering with Modul8 to fast track their card issuance service. Nium’s goal is to push the frontier of the fintech ecosystem – this is why we are also offering our solutions to other fintechs such as Modul8 to help them go-to-market quicker.”
Modul8 are residents of emerging technology Impact Network Stone & Chalk in their Melbourne flagship hub.


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Like many industries, the world of public relations is changing rapidly. Michael O’Keeffe, chief executive of PSG Communications looks at ten key trends that will have an impact of PR professionals.
There was a time, not long ago, when you knew who your competition was. They offered the same services more or less, charged in around the same as you and looked and talked pretty much like you did. Now however, all has changed.
There are changes happening all around PR firms. Media buying agencies have hired creative folk, digital experts, content generators and sponsorship strategists. Traditional below the line agencies are now offering social media and digital, some consumer PR and influencer engagement, while Creative agencies have hired PR experts, social media experts and more. PR agencies on the other hand are now delving deeper into brand strategy as well as offering new services such as creative, video, digital and design.
In addition, the more traditional corporate and Public Affairs agencies in many cases own the relationship with the CEO and are guardians of the reputation and strategy, and are now in competition somewhat with management consultancies in some places. Your competition set is now far more complex and diverse. This isn’t going to go away in the next 12 months so you need to think differently about who you are competing with and how you differentiate yourself.
Convergence of a different kind is also a threat to PR agencies. As companies expand their service offerings, especially in technology, clients and potential clients start moving into a conflict space. A modern Communications consultancy has to be able to manage this as accountancy and legal practices have.
2. Reputation is key
“It takes many good deeds to build a good reputation, and only one bad one to lose it.” – Benjamin Franklin.
Reputation management will become even more important on the list as a primary PR service in 2017. It has been there already, but in a very fluid and volatile world, its importance is ever increasing.
From media coverage to political changes to cyber-attacks to social media to online reviews, businesses, governments, organisations and individuals will rely on communicators to build, protect and enhance their reputations.
Following the revelations that Russia may have interfered with the outcome of the US democratic elections, there is even more concern about the destruction of reputations and brands through fake news sources and damaging leaks. Fake news sites could be a new threat in creating or elongating communications crises issues that could harm an organisation’s reputation. When you also factor in the explosion of online rating websites, the need for public relations and communications professionals to actively work to protect brands is even more relevant and apparent.
While social media platforms such as Facebook have announced plans to deal with this issue, it is nonetheless a significant challenge for communications professionals. As one commentator put it, these issues need emotional intelligence and skill and cannot be solved with one-click algorithms from firms who send out generic responses to complaints. This new dawn requires thoughtful consideration from communications professionals.
PR firms need to look to enhance their skillset to provide deeper and more accurate reputation auditing, reputation management and reputation recovery services, in a coherent and sellable way. The opportunity is significant.
3. Data is everything
PR companies are great at coming up with creative ideas. The key for 2017 and beyond, is to show the insights that led to that idea via research and to illustrate through data the impact this idea may have.
An idea on its own is simply that. An idea. A standalone tactic.
It is easier now than ever to collate data, especially from the internet to back up an idea or concept or tactic.
You will need to use data to drive your PR campaign including getting to know your audience based on the stats you know about it, figuring out which type of content you have created, disseminated or posted is most popular and determining the best time to post based on when your audience is online. This seems obvious and some have been doing to for several years.
Data is essential for measurement too. Measuring the impact of your PR campaigns has continued to evolve with the digital landscape, and today we are able to more accurately measure the engagement, reach and results of PR efforts.
4. Influencer marketing and PR role
As Consumer trust in advertising weakens and even trust in traditional media is showing signs of decline, some reports now say we trust so called “influencers” as much as close friends. This seems particularly true in those age groups that have not embraced traditional media and have grown up in a mobile first world.
Recommendations from strangers and social media stars dominated much of 2016 and is likely to get more sophisticated as brands move away from throwing freebies at over exposed social media influencers who jump from brand to brand, adding little value to the brand or their own brand outside of guaranteeing eyeballs.
Agencies and brands will get smarter in 2017, seeking those who will really resonate with their target audience and who are really aligned to the product or service and values. A partnership approach can be agreed, whereby the influencer can leverage the brand for their own career purposes and the brand leverage the influencer for authenticity and cut through.
Finding authentic advocates who actually connect with their followers and your target audience is the new guide. …not just numbers and not just ticking a box.
Celebrities and influencers just looking for a cheque won’t be a priority for most companies. The much-reported backlash against influencer marketing is more about its evolution and why in 2017, authentic voices will take the spotlight and deliver results for brands and this needs to be embraced and not scorned. Influencer marketing rules will be tightened up and this particular form of engagement with target audiences will become a firm part of most consumer PR and social and even sponsorship activation plans.
Influencer marketing is entering the difficult teenage years but is here to stay. If done correctly, then everyone can benefit. Consumer. Influencer. Brand. Agency.
5. Visual Storytelling – Video is now the star
PR professionals are storytellers.
However, how publics consume media and stories has changed. As our society and day to day existence becomes more and more visual, video has been a top trend for a few years. Recent research shows that the average person watches at least one video every day and it’s no surprise given live video’s success, especially on social media. One report even optimistically suggests that by 2020, 75% of mobile traffic will be video.
What is a fact, is that live video is racking up billions of views on Facebook, Periscope and other platforms. Live video exploded in 2016 and will continue to dominate conversations next year. Despite recent revelations that of inflated video viewing figures, video will continue to be a key asset in reaching your target audiences. With that comes its own challenges. Such is the level of video content consumers are now saturated with, some commentators hold the view that you now have a window of just three seconds to grip your audience. This presents an even greater challenge for brands and communications professionals alike in 2017. The content must be eye catching and snappy.
There is obvious evidence available to start using video and other visual tools – such as infographics, images and slide shows – in your PR campaign.
As was the case with great PR photography helping hugely to sell a PR story, visuals that are easily developed and cost effective will help your story be shared and successful in the new visual fast consuming world we live in.
6. PR’s role in bought and sponsored media
Being first cousins of journalists, many PR professionals are experts in developing content. It used to be press releases, statements, opinion articles, blogs, speeches and photography captions.
The rise of sponsored and “bought” content provides PR forums with a massive opportunity.
Sponsored content, paid for content and advertiser generated content is something that is not going to go away, especially as ad blocking continues to rise and media owners seek revenue streams and are open to accepting content from a trusted third party.
Traditional PR and media types may not like it, but anything branded in look or tone will shift towards the sponsored or paid for variety. Instead of fearing this, both media owners and PR firms need to embrace this. Buying media space is one thing. Writing and creating content that readers will actually want to read is another.
Good PR firms have the ability to bridge this gap between what is commercial and readable. Good commercial content can and should be valuable and readable. Advertisers and media buyers simply cannot provide this function. Pure journalists struggle with this concept too. This gap can and should be filled by good content generators from communications companies.
7. SEO and PR continue to align
The missing link to bolster PR campaigns and PR generated content may be the search knowledge behind content. SEO and Public Relations will continue to align more closely in 2017 so all content published addresses the key messaging, is of high quality and optimised for search.
SEO has traditionally been a function of the digital experts and agencies but as earned media and thought leadership continue to dominate, we will see this skillset continue to develop in PR professionals.
8. Real time response
You no longer have days to react in PR. In fact, in many cases, you no longer have 24 hours.
You now have hours and sometimes minutes, and you have to be prepared. Real-time responses will be among the big PR trends next year. Good social media experts have been doing it for years. This will now become less the exceptional and more then norm.
Consumers are now getting used to getting instant responses from brands and seeing them react quickly to events, and you will have to live up to their expectations and be ready to pounce in a way that doesn’t jar or look too corporate. If you are on social, you need to be “on”. Real time PR and “newsjumping” is here to stay.
The same applies to crisis management. The first “holding” response needs to be early and needs to be on message and tone, even in the absence of all the information. Empty vacuums filled with inaccurate voices and misinformation can have a disastrous impact in a crisis making the need for a real time response even greater.
9. Employer Brand and Thought Leadership
There is undoubtedly a “war for talent” at all levels in Dublin as well as other busy major cities throughout Europe. Being a EMEA hub for technology is one particular pinch point. What differentiates one company over another when the basics of salary and hard financial benefits are similar? The days of free food and fancy table tennis tables attracting young talent are on the way out.
Companies are looking to tangible CSR programmes, value based propositions and even treats and experiences via sponsorship properties to attract talent and retain.
A relatively new PR trend I envisage coming more to the fore involves companies and their key executives becoming thought leaders. The need to earn the attention and trust of your audience by showing that you are an authority on a particular subject is important. Expect to see more senior executives publish articles, blog posts, email newsletters and videos that educate clients, potential clients and staff.
Public Relations and Communications experts are skilled at profiling companies and senior executives, and know that it is valuable for key employees and industry leaders to create high quality content that has cut through.
You will likely witness thought leadership pieces that are created by leading PR professionals on behalf of clients being driven by data and analytics. The content will engage audiences and articles should be optimised and promoted for search to grow traffic.
Companies will be looking at innovative ways to attract talent by either breathing new life into tiring Graduate programmes or looking at innovative benefits to attract and retain highly paid senior executives. Being a thought leader is an important element of this.
10. Value not cost
For many years now, PR and Communications firms have applied the traditional and restrictive “Pay-by-the-hour” system, most likely through retainers and projects. One has to question if this is the right model for both client and agency longer term.
However, as PR and Communications become less and less of a Monday to Friday operation and as the value of certain strategic advice increases, charging for the value and potential business impact of the work rather than its cost, may become more prevalent and PR firms need to consider being more bullish about the true value of their work.
We are now witnessing communications professionals operating at boardroom level for major companies and there is some who will argue that in today’s fluid business environment, a Head of Communications or Corporate Affairs is just as important to a company as a Head of Finance. This is something PR firms need to be acutely aware of in 2017.
In summary, PR and Communications Professionals will have to adapt to changing techniques and remain fluid and agile. A recent Microsoft study in the UK showed that senior CEOs believed that their business models had only another two years before they would need to change. Senior leaders will need to adapt to telling an evolving story to an ever changing audience, both internally and externally. PR and Communications Professionals will need to adapt and innovate to stay relevant.


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PVM is pleased to be a partner of the 71st edition of the Santa Claus Parade.🎅 On November 25, join us on Esplanade PVM to witness Santa’s grand entrance as he kicks off this annual parade.❄ Embrace the holiday magic and make the most of this festive winter gathering!✨
10:30 am - Santa Claus arrives on Esplanade PVM.
11:00 am - Parade departs from René-Lévesque Boulevard, across from Esplanade PVM.
Grand Concours GAGNE TES ACHATS in collaboration with Nouveau Centre
Time Out Market Holidays


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DHL motorcycle couriers get Bluetooth
MOBILE| Sept. 14, 2012, 10:21 a.m.
Logistics firm DHL has equipped its couriers in its Central Africa and Indian Ocean region with Bluetooth motorcycle helmets.
The move allows the motorcycle couriers to take calls and hear GPS directions while riding. Previously, they had to pull over to take calls.
Bluetooth headsets have been added to the helmets of motorcycles in Zambia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Malawi, Botswana and Swaziland and in the Indian Ocean countries – Mauritius and Madagascar.
MORE MOBILE NEWS
BTCL selects Amdocs for business support systems modernisationAmdocs has announced that Botswana Telecommunications Corporation Limited (BTCL), a provider of fixed, mobile and broadband services to approximately 800,000 customers, has awarded Amdocs a five-year managed services contract for business support systems (BSS) modernisation. Read More
Airtel warns on recruitment scamAirtel Ghana has issued a statement warning the public about a scam claiming the company is offering part-time jobs. Read More
MTN and Ericsson lead the way with first LTE-U networkTo future proof its business, MTN SA, together with Ericsson, has successfully trialled LTE-Unlicensed (LTE-U) at MTN’s flagship channel store in Morningside, Johannesburg. Read More
Airtel Trace Music Star activations target residential areas in NairobiThe Airtel Trace Music Star activation contest has now entered its second week. Read More
MTN Ghana scores high marks on QoS ReportThe latest Ghana National Communication Authority Quality of Service (QoS) report reveals sterling performance by MTN Ghana among its peers in meeting all the QoS indicators and their respective thresholds for compliance. Read More
Glo Ghana large enough for 20m data subscribersThe new Head of Business of the newly upgraded Glo Mobile Ghana network, Mr. Augustine Mamuro, has said that the company can comfortably cater to over 20 million data subscribers. Read More
Mobile technology can set the world ablaze with innovation and opportunitiesWith investment and footprint in the continent, MTN is ready to partner and set the world ablaze with innovative ICT solutions. Read More
Airtel unveils Smart SpeedooAirtel Nigeria has unveiled SmartSpeedoo, a revolutionary service that allow customers experience real data while browsing at affordable tariff and enjoying free megabytes. Read More
MTN Business launches converged SME ICT offersMTN Business has introduced a range of converged business offers for small and medium businesses (SMEs). Read More
Cubot launches smartphone designed by Kenyan artistsInternational Mobile firm Cubot has officially launched its latest flagship smartphone in Kenya. Read More
FEATURED STORYCriticism over Remita borne out of ignorance, says SystemSpecs
The CEO of SystemSpecs, the company behind the revenue-saving Nigerian Single Treasury Account (TSA) system, speaks to Biztechafrica.
BEST READ NEWS
IN DEPTHIBM Opens First Cloud Data Centre in South Africa
IBM is opening a new IBM Cloud Data Centre in Johannesburg, South Africa. The new cloud center is the result of a close collaboration with Gijima and Vodacom and is designed to support cloud adoption and customer demand across the continent.


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Miami, Fla.-based wholesaler Tire Group International LLC (TGI) has added four patterns in 36 sizes to its private label Cosmo brand.
The additions are ultra high performance (UHP), sport utility vehicle (SUV), SUV UHP and mud terrain (M/T) patterns.
The new patterns are designed to provide low noise, low rolling resistance and exceptional performance through “activated grip” technology.
TGI says it conducted in depth market research to identify model names that would resonate with today's millennial, female and Hispanic consumers. A national marketing campaign targeting these demographic groups will accompany the launch of these new products.
The names and descriptions of the new patterns follow:
Chubby Nubby MT, named for its wide base and aggressive nubs, reinforced shoulders and heavy-duty sidewalls;
Sexy Beast UHP, a sleek, streamlined pattern for a silent, high-performance ride;
Kitty Kat SUV UHP, an asymmetric UHP pattern that has exceptional cornering and braking characteristics; and
El Jefe HT SUV, a wide footprint, high mileage compound.
The newest Cosmo patterns will initially be offered in 36 sizes. More sizes will soon follow.
"Cosmo has experienced phenomenal growth over the years," says TGI President Joaquin Gonzalez.
"The addition of these new patterns will complement our current offering, while targeting three of the quickest growing consumer demographics in our business. We conducted extensive market research and found that consumers are more apt to remember a brand if they connect with it on a personal level; humor and self-image are at the top of the list."
Cosmo is positioning itself to raise the bar when it comes to marketing a product that for most people is viewed as foreign and an unappreciated necessity, according toGonzalez. "We want to make the tire buying experience memorable and fun for the consumer and our marketing will continually reinforce that!"
Cosmo tires come with a road hazard warranty.
ABOUT TIRE GROUP INTERNATIONAL
Enhanced by its partnership with Transportation Resources Partners (TRP) and its affiliates the Penske Corp. (www.penske.com) and McLarty Associates (www.maglobal.com), TGI carries over 30 brands of tires, covering the entire spectrum of the tire industry.
TGI also distributes its own private labels Astro, Cosmo, Duramas, Industar, Luna and Orion; and represents many other brands including MRF, Cooper, Mastercraft, Sumitomo, Achilles, GT Radial, Atturo, Kumho, Atlas, Dick Cepek, Kenda and Mickey Thompson.
TGI also carries several brands of tubes and various lines of automotive products. TGI also has access to millions of tires worldwide for direct shipment to any destination.
For more information, visit www.tiregroup.com.


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Slovakia HICP inflation steady in December
Slovakia's EU measure of inflation remained stable in December, data from the Slovak Statistical Office (SÚSR) showed on Wednesday.
The harmonized index of consumer prices, or HICP, rose 1.6% year-on-year in December, same as seen in November. Economists had expected a 1.5% increase.
On a monthly basis, HICP decreased 0.1% in December, reversing a 0.1% rise in the preceding month. Earlier, the Bratislava-based statistical office reported that the consumer price index (CPI) rose 1.6% yearly in December and fell 0.1% from a month ago. The core inflation rose to 1.5% in December from 1.4% in the prior month.
SUPPORT THE BUDAPEST BUSINESS JOURNAL
Producing journalism that is worthy of the name is a costly business. For 27 years, the publishers, editors and reporters of the Budapest Business Journal have striven to bring you business news that works, information that you can trust, that is factual, accurate and presented without fear or favor.
Newspaper organizations across the globe have struggled to find a business model that allows them to continue to excel, without compromising their ability to perform. Most recently, some have experimented with the idea of involving their most important stakeholders, their readers.
We would like to offer that same opportunity to our readers. We would like to invite you to help us deliver the quality business journalism you require. Hit our Support the BBJ button and you can choose the how much and how often you send us your contributions.


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Google has launched its Daydream View VR headset today in India. The headset was first made available in November last year and has now arrived in India. The headset is priced at Rs. 6,499 and is available for sale exclusively via Flipkart.
The Daydream View VR headset also comes bundled with a few purchase offers which include 5 percent off for Axis Bank Buzz Credit Cards and Rs. 300 cash back on payment through PhonePe. Also, first 30 customers buying the headset via Flipkart [...]
Google I/O 2016 is going at full swing, as the company has announced various products at the event. Google has also launched the Android instant app service, Daydream which is a high-quality Virtual Reality platform for Android N and the new Google Assistant.Android Instant Apps:
Android Instant Apps is a new feature that will enable you to run Android apps without actually installing them. Instant Apps will eliminate the need of downloading a full-size app and it will instead [...]


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Virgin Media is reportedly planning to launch a YouTube channel featuring game reviews that’s aimed at younger audiences.
The currently-unnamed channel will feature a number of shows, including the aforementioned gaming show Pixel Life and a reviews show called Jacked In. As well as this, there will be mash-ups of content from Virgin Media’s pay channels, presented by well-known ‘YouTube stars’.
Virgin Media has partnered with production company BigBalls Films which produced the Somebody Else’s Phone YouTube videos for Nokia.
Read Recombu Digital’s guide to YouTube ChannelsRichard Larcombe, director of advertising and sponsorship for Virgin Media spoke to Broadcast [paywall] saying:
“You can’t ignore what’s happening on YouTube There is a massive connected audience that we need to be talking to about entertainment and YouTube offers a fantastic opportunity to do that in a connected space. We are an entertainment brand so we need to entertain across multiplatforms.”
Unlike the YouTube ‘channel’ that has launched on Virgin Media TiVo recently, this will be a channel in the sense that it’s a channel on YouTube. It will be available to everyone to watch online.
The plan is to not make the channel a hard sell. “This is a group of people that are going to be the lifeblood of our brand in the next 10 to 15 years and YouTube allows a fantastic opportunity to have a conversation with them,” says Larcombe.
There’s no launch date in sight for the YouTube channel just yet but we’re expecting to hear more on this soon.
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Eligible energy-intensive industries will receive a discount on what they pay for their gas and electricity.
The U.K. government’s decision to slash its level of energy bill support for businesses has been labelled “out-of-touch” by the Chair of the Federation of Small Businesses, Martin McTague.
However, other industry leaders and business owners have been more favourable in their reaction – but with caveats.
“The decision to all but eliminate help through the Energy Bill Relief Scheme (EBRS) is a huge disappointment for small businesses,” said McTague.
“For those struggling, the discount through the new version of the scheme is not material. Many small firms will not be able to survive on the pennies provided through the new version of the scheme.”
What does the support now look like?
From April onwards, help will drop from its current level of £18 billion to £5.5 billion, to limit taxpayers’ exposure to volatile energy markets, the government said.
Businesses, charities and other non-domestic energy users will receive a discount on high energy bills until 31st March 2024.
For eligible non-domestic customers who have a contract with an energy supplier, the new scheme will mean that they will see a unit discount of up to £6.97/MWh automatically applied to their gas bill and a unit discount of up to £19.61/MWh applied to their electricity bill.
The discount will be applied from 1st April to 31st March 2024.
The Treasury explained that this will be subject to a wholesale price threshold of £107/MWh for gas and £302/MWh for electricity, meaning that businesses facing energy costs below this level will not receive support.
Eligible energy-intensive industries will receive a discount reflecting the difference between a price threshold and the relevant wholesale price.
The price threshold for the scheme will be £99/MWh for gas and £185/MWh for electricity.
The government said this discount will only apply to 70% of energy volumes and will be subject to a “maximum discount” of £40/MWh for gas and £89.1/MWh for electricity.
Chancellor Jeremy Hunt said “Wholesale energy prices are falling and have now gone back to levels just before Putin’s invasion of Ukraine. But to provide reassurance against the risk of prices rising again we are launching the new Energy Bills Discount Scheme, giving businesses the certainty they need to plan ahead.”
“All help is very welcome”
Food and Drink Federation Chief Executive Karen Betts told foodmanifacture.co.uk that it was a step in the right direction.
“Manufacturers are under a great deal of pressure as they try to keep their heads above water while absorbing very high and volatile energy costs in order to keep the cost of everyday food and drink as low as possible for shoppers,” she said.
“This support recognises the criticality of the food and drink supply chain and that our businesses use constant levels of energy year-round and it should help to slow record levels of food and drink inflation.”
Meanwhile, Adrian Hanrahan, managing director of Robinson Brothers, a chemicals producer in West Bromwich, said, “all help is very, very welcome.”
But he added: “We’re a small company, our energy is tripling this year which means that being a small company we have one pot of money.”
Greg Pilley, managing director of Stroud Brewery, says their energy bill will triple and feels the government have been too reactive in their handling of the business energy crisis.
“Overall increasing energy prices are affecting the cost of everything – our cleaning caustic chemicals have gone up threefold, our aluminium cans have gone up, malt has gone up by 20%. It’s not just our energy that’s gone up, all our supplies have correspondingly gone up, part of which is the cost of energy to them and so it’s a cumulative thing,” he pointed out.
“Prior to things going bad, our energy was about £33,000 a year – it is now looking like about £100,000 a year without any subsidy or support. With prices being held till March that kept things fairly in line with our former costs.
“They’re extending some support ’til the following March so that’s got to be welcomed but in a way, it’s a bit late because everybody’s already put their prices up and they’re not going to come down in a hurry.
“What we would have liked to have seen would have been an announcement much sooner before people had put their annual prices out. Electricity is not the only rising cost, it’s indicative of everything else that’s going up.”


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A employee varieties out parcels within the outbound dock at Amazon success heart in Eastvale, California on Tuesday, Aug. 31, 2021.
Watchara Phomicinda | MediaNews Staff | The Riverside Press-Undertaking by way of Getty Photographs
Starting in October, Amazon’s moderate beginning pay for front-line workers within the U.S. shall be bumped as much as greater than $19 according to hour from $18 according to hour, the corporate mentioned.
Warehouse and supply staff will earn between $16 and $26 according to hour relying on their place, Amazon added. Amazon’s minimal salary for staff within the U.S. stays $15 an hour.
Amazon is spending kind of $1 billion at the pay hikes over the following yr because it appears to be like to draw and retain workers in a traditionally tight exertions marketplace. Additionally it is getting ready to go into what is referred to as “height” season, the particularly busy buying groceries length tied to the vacations.
Tensions had been rising between Amazon and its front-line body of workers, specifically right through the Covid-19 pandemic. Workers have referred to as for salary will increase, extra paid time without work and changes to productiveness expectancies.
Staff at a number of Amazon amenities have taken steps to arrange, and previous this yr, staff at Amazon’s warehouse in Staten Island, New York, effectively voted to shape the corporate’s first U.S. union. Amazon faces some other union election at a web site close to Albany, New York, subsequent month.
The corporate said previous this month it deliberate to boost pay and advantages for drivers hired by way of individuals of its gotten smaller supply community, which handles a rising proportion of its last-mile deliveries to consumers doorsteps.
Along the pay build up, Amazon mentioned additionally it is increasing a payday advance program for its workers that lets them get entry to as much as 70% in their eligible earned pay every time they make a selection and with out charges, no longer simply on a agenda, akin to a biweekly foundation.


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A fundraiser Thursday at Coelacanth Brewing will help benefit People for the Ethical Treatment of Animal's mobile spay and neuter clinics.
The "Beer Fixes Everything" event is planned for 4:30 to 9 p.m. at the taproom at 760 A. W. 22nd St., a PETA news release says. A dollar from every cold brew sold during the event will benefit the clinics.
The Bodacious Pizza food truck will be at the event, serving barbecue vegan chicken, Tex-Mex pizzas and other food. My Vegan Sweet Tooth will provide dairy- and egg-free desserts and other treats.
Cindy Clayton, 757-446-2377, firstname.lastname@example.org


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By Andrew Asch | January 28, 2016
Los Angeles’ exclusive Brentwood neighborhood is the address to many fitness businesses, but there were no multi-line boutiques offering the best activewear styles, said Natalie Fritz, a partner and the “N” in Sweat NSK.
Michelle Lam calls it “nomadic retail.” A trailer outfitted with a boutique will bring her e-commerce lingerie brand True&Co. to cities across the United States this year.
For 18 months, People’s Project LA has been selling its sweaters, dresses, dusters, rompers and everything fashionable through its website.
Despite an uncertain economic beginning to the year, the National Retail Federation is forecasting that retail sales will be up 3.1 percent this year, which is slightly better than the 10-year average of 2.7 percent.
NRF forecasts retail sales to be up 3.1 percent in 2016.
Retailers typically regard January as a clearance month, a period of time to slog through while focusing on the important business of upcoming Spring fashion. However, January did not start the year with much cheer.
After 45 years running a boutique selling cashmere, jeans, china and antiques to generations of Los Angelenos, Diane Merrick is closing her namesake boutique. On Jan. 28, she announced the closing sale for the Diane Merrick boutique at 7407 Beverly Blvd., near Los Angeles’ Fairfax District.
The fashion students at the Otis College of Art and Design had a special assignment last year: Put together a collection of plus-size work outfits that will be sold at Lane Bryant stores.
It’s an era marked by retailers closing stores and scaling back, but Mark Zunino, a Beverly Hills, Calif., couturier, unveiled a 5,500-square-foot atelier with a staff of 40 people.
The California Market Center showroom building in the Los Angeles Fashion District reorganized its retail relations department in early January.
Boston Proper, the multichannel retailer owned by Chico’s FAS Inc., has been acquired by Los Angeles–based private-equity investment Brentwood Associates for an undisclosed amount.
High-end denim brand Robin’s Jean is on the move.
California shoppers are filing a flurry of class-action lawsuits against big-name department stores over markdowns allegedly made on “false” original prices.
The results are in. Holiday sales are up 3 percent over last year.
Department-store giant Macy’s Inc. reported a soft holiday sales season.


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According to Adage.com report on a recent Gallup study, Super Bowl ad recall suffers in tough economic times when consumer confidence is low. This coupled with the fact some advertisers like GM and FedEx are pulling out means the potential for disappointment this year is high.
For smart savvy marketers, the Super Bowl ads are always a bit of a joke — big bang for little effect. They are more of a showcase for the big brands like Budweiser or the new on the scene brands like GoDaddy.com. All that aside, it is still a sad day for marketers when we are not waiting with baited breathe to see every second of the advertising action.


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As the official car of the Standard Chartered Marathon (SCMS) 2014, Volvo has lined up exciting new sponsor activations for its second consecutive year associated with Asia’s marquee running event.
Said Lawrence Robertson, Commercial Director, Spectrum Worldwide, SCMS event organisers, “We are delighted that Volvo is continuing its partnership with the SCMS. Their involvement will play a large role in providing participants with an outstanding event experience and we look forward to working alongside the team in the coming months to achieve their sponsorship objectives.”
Volvo will provide SCMS with some of its best-selling models
This year, Volvo will supply SCMS with a fleet of its best-selling models, the dynamic Volvo S60 Sports Sedan and 7-seater XC90 luxury SUV. These will be used as the VIP and Official Vehicles at the marathon on 7 December.
Ms Sabrina Sng, General Manager, Wearnes Automotive Pte Ltd (Volvo) said, “We are excited and privileged to be the Official Car of the SCMS 2014, Singapore’s marquee running event. Our Volvo XC90 and S60 are excellent reflections of vigour and athleticism. We are confidence that their presence will help add to the dynamism and energy of the largest sporting event of the year.”
Cars will aid runners in their training
With a number of activations available set to aid runners as they train towards the SCMS race this year, the SCMS branded Volvo cars will be highly visible.
Registrations for SCMS 2014 close on 30 September. So if you have not yet signed up for the SCMS, do so quickly.


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Marks & Spencer suffered its worst non-food sales for more than three years.
The retailer, which has more than 700 stores in the UK, blamed stock problems for a 6.8% decline in clothing and general merchandise sales in the 13 weeks to June 30 - its worst performance since the quarter to December 2008.
More top news
Ewan McGregor was joined by co-stars Jonny Lee Miller, Ewen Bremner and Robert Carlyle at the world premiere of the Trainspotting sequel.
The team of best friends took on the 'world's toughest rowing race' in memory of one of their brothers.
Drivers are being warned of hazardous conditions as the big freeze continues to bring disruption to roads and airports.


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Interesting Reads. Industry news that you may have missed.
From a marketing view, there is one positive we can take away from this global pandemic, which is the opportunity for brands to cultivate lasting emotional connections with consumers. We are in a time when people need connection and are looking for information and content to navigate the current situation. Through influencer marketing, brands can return to trust and authenticity to create meaningful relationships with consumers.
TikTok is no longer just for watching viral videos, users can now shop for new jeans. The video-sharing app is partnering with Levi’s to experiment with TikTok’s “Shop Now” feature, available to all 800 million global users. Levi’s was part of the app’s original beta test and found that the program more than double product page views, and users watched its videos twice as long as TikTok’s average platform.
Uber adds retail and personal package delivery services as COVID-19 reshapes its business – TechCrunch
This week, Uber announced two new types of services called Uber Direct and Uber Connect. The Direct feature is a delivery platform for retail items, while Connect is a peer-to-peer package delivery service to send goods to family and friends. The two services will open in select cities and will operate differently depending on the location of usage.
During this time of coronavirus, consumers don’t have any tolerance for brands attempting to gain something from the pandemic. Companies that normally promote the “do good” responsibility, are falling to public fury as they manage the effects on their business due to the pandemic. The concept of “authenticity” in brand marketing now has to enter a more genuine phase as consumers’ patience for sales-driven altruism is hitting an all-time low.


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On 30th July 2020, Piyush Goyal, Union Minister of Commerce and Industry, inaugurated the National Digital Conference on “Easing Doing Business for Atmanirbhar Bharat” organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) with the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) to improve the business environment of India.
T V Narendran, President-Designate of CII, Chandrajit Banerjee, Director General of CII, and Piruz Khambatta, Chairman of CII Task Force on Ease of Doing Business participated in the conference.
Features of the Conference:
i.The one-day virtual conference provided a forum to enhance the regulatory reform of the government in various indicators of doing business.
ii.The participants from relevant stakeholders discussed the issues to ease of doing business including the areas which require immediate actions from the government.
i.Piyush Goyal mentioned that the government is working on developing a single window system, a complete digital system which will provides for unified and integrated business
ii.To promote finance for investments, the government improves the availability of long term finance for industries and the government has identified around 20 industrial sectors to focus.
iii.He mentioned that the decriminalisation of laws and removing difficulties of the regulatory policy as a measure to support the industries and the temporary restrictions on the service sector will be removed.
Ease of Export restrictions:
i.Piyush Goyal mentioned that the government is planning to relax restrictions on export of ventilators imposed in March 2020 amid COVID-19 pandemic and all the temporary restrictions on medicines, pharmaceutical products and equipment will also be relaxed.
ii.The export of masks, personal protection equipment(PPE) and medicines like hydroxychloroquine and paracetamol were restricted, expecting a domestic shortage amid pandemic.
iii.The Central government removed the prohibition of surgical masks and medical goggles and made the export of face shields free.
Exports in India are around 88% and imports are around 75% of the 2019’s level.
i.He mentioned that the government will do a soft launch of Land Bank Portal, with 6 states on board, for which around 5 lakh hectares of land has been identified.
ii.The portal will support to view and identify the availability of land for industries from a remote office which precludes the need for frequently visiting the lands owing agencies.
About Confederation of Indian Industry(CII):
Presiden– Uday Kotak
President Designate– T V Narendran
Director General– Chandrajit Banerjee
Headquarters– New Delhi
Recent Related News:
i.Piyush Goyal attends the Digital Summit on Exports organized by CII through video conference.
ii.MoS of Defence, Shripad Naik Inaugurates Two-day Defence Conclave 2020 organised by CII, Gujarat and Society of Indian Defence Manufacturers(SIDM) in Gujarat.


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The European Commission has raised its forecast for Poland’s GDP growth in 2021 from 4% to 4.8%. At the same time, it estimates that the Polish economy will grow by 5.2% next year (it previously forecast 5.4%).
According to the estimates of EU officials, inflation in Poland will amount to 4.2% this year and fall to 3.1% next year.
“After a mild decline in economic activity in late 2020, Poland started 2021 on a strong economic base” – reported the EC.
Union officials expect the recovery to gain momentum in the second and third quarters as business restrictions are gradually lifted.
They estimate that private consumption will be supported by rising consumer confidence and the spending of accumulated household savings to spur consumption growth. Private investment is also expected to remain robust on the back of the improved business sentiment, investment from the Reconstruction Fund and low borrowing costs, which are also likely to support a recovery in the construction sector.
In terms of foreign trade, both exports and imports are expected to recover strongly in 2021 and 2022. However, after a sharp decline in 2020, imports will grow faster than exports.
Inflation, as the Commission reports, increased markedly in the first half of 2021 due to higher energy prices, supply chain disruptions and increased costs for businesses.


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STOCKHOLM (Reuters) - Inter IKEA, owner of the IKEA Concept and the worldwide IKEA franchisor, said on Thursday it had signed an memorandum of understanding with S.A.C.I. Falabella FAL.SN to grant franchise rights for IKEA stores in Peru, Chile and Colombia, the first IKEA stores in South America.
Inter IKEA said the aim was to open at least nine stores in Chile, Colombia and Peru in a period of 10 years, along with online sales channels for these three countries. The first store is expected to open in the city of Santiago at the end of 2020, with Lima and Bogota to follow.
Reporting by Johan Ahlander; Editing by Andrew Heavens


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- 27 March 2018
- Transport / Logistics Services
FedEx has bought the UK e-commerce delivery company P2P Mailing Limited for £92 million.
In a statement, FedEx said that P2P’s capabilities “complement and expand the FedEx portfolio of offerings important to the rapidly growing global e-commerce marketplace”.
P2P will operate as a subsidiary of FedEx Cross Border within the FedEx Trade Networks operating company.
“Global e-commerce continues to grow at a rapid pace, and more and more merchants, marketplaces, e-commerce and social platforms are looking for innovative, cost-effective ways to get merchandise from distribution points in one country to customers in another,” said Carl W. Asmus, president and CEO, FedEx Cross Border.
“By adding P2P to the FedEx portfolio, we will be able to effectively serve even more elements of the e-commerce market.”
“This acquisition is a further step in achieving the global mission of the FedEx Trade Networks group to provide specialized solutions to customers,” said Richard W. Smith, president and CEO, FedEx Trade Networks, Inc.
“We are pleased to welcome the P2P team members into the FedEx family of companies and look forward to combining the talents of both teams to contribute to our continued success.”


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(Beyond Pesticides, April 13, 2010) While the number of Minnesota school districts purchasing fresh food from local farms has more than doubled in the last 15 months, according to a survey released last week by the Minnesota School Nutrition Association (MSNA) and the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy (IATP), there is no mention of organically produced food as a priority to protect children, local health or the local environment from the pollution and contamination caused by pesticide use. Communities, such as Olympia, Washington have turned to local organic food in their school lunch program. According to the Rodale Institute, “[W]hile it’s true that food produced locally generally has a smaller carbon footprint than food transported across the country (or from another continent), the carbon emitted by transporting food is smaller than that released by growing it with chemical means. In fact, PepsiCo recently documented that, for its Tropicana orange juice, transporting the product accounted for only 22% of its carbon footprint.”
Rodale suggests local organic food as the gold standard because it eliminates petroleum-based fertilizers and reduces fossil fuel use in the farming operation. Rodale suggests the following priority for food purchasing: 1. Local certified organic food, 2. Local noncertified organic food, 3. Nonlocal certified organic food, 4. Local nonorganic, 5. Everything else.
Farm-to-school programs link school children with local farmers and farm products, including fruits and vegetables, meat, grains and other items. Farm-to-school provides fresh, healthy food choices, helps children develop healthy eating habits and supports small and mid-size farmers. According to the Farm-to-School website, forty four states have 2,111 farm-to-school programs impacting 8,944 schools nationwide.
The survey gathered input from MSNA’s membership, which includes foodservice professionals from nearly 100 public school districts serving approximately 550,000 K-12 students across the state. Sixty-nine districts reported purchasing Minnesota-grown products in 2009, more than double the figure from late 2008. Further, 77 percent of the districts now involved with farm to school initiatives expect to expand their activities in the upcoming school year, a sign that these programs are taking root and growing.
“Parents, students and educators know that good nutrition is essential if our kids are to be healthy and ready to learn. Small and mid-size farmers, whose products have largely been absent from America’s lunch trays, can offer our children fresh, less-processed choices and a chance to learn how and where their food is grown,” said IATP’s JoAnne Berkenkamp. “The momentum is rapidly building for farm to school programs and it’s great to see schools and farmers embracing this opportunity.”
Other key findings from the survey include:
ï® The most commonly used local foods were apples, potatoes, peppers, winter squash, sweet corn and tomatoes. A growing number of schools are also purchasing Minnesota-grown bison, wild rice, dried beans and grains.
ï® Nearly 43 percent of school districts purchasing Minnesota-grown food in 2009 did so by purchasing directly from a farmer or farmer co-op.
ï® While 84 percent of the survey respondents reported purchasing foods grown in Minnesota, 35 percent also purchased foods grown in neighboring areas of Wisconsin, Iowa and/or North or South Dakota.
ï® The biggest barriers to expanding farm to school purchases were the need for extra labor and preparation time in the cafeteria, pricing and tight food budgets, and difficulty finding nearby farmers to purchase from directly.
ï® In the future, schools are most interested in purchasing local vegetables and fruit, with growing interest in bread and grains, dairy and meat. The survey also showed strong interest in expanding student education about Farm-to-School and growing food in school gardens.
A study in the March/April issue of the Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior examines how farm-to-school programs have the potential to improve children’s diets by providing locally grown produce without burdening the school’s finances. The researchers found the farm-to-school programs benefited both the school and farmer. SFSP reported that the lower price for produce was attributed to a shortened supply chain. SFSP were able to buy produce that is not typically offered in school cafeterias such as asparagus, blue potatoes, Asian pears, etc. Schools are an attractive market for the farmer because “perfect” products are not always needed.
Congress has begun working on the reauthorization of the Child Nutrition Act, the major federal legislation that determines school food policy and resources. According to the New York Times, the Child Nutrition Reauthorization Act of 2010 includes about $40 million for farm-to-school programs and school gardens and an additional $10 million toward adding organic food.
Beyond Pesticides advocates for organically grown local food. Organic farming and food systems are holistic, work with nature rather than relying on inputs such as chemical pesticides and fertilizers, exhibit higher standards for the welfare of animals, and do not allow routine use of antibiotics. Organic farming protects the local environment, waterways, air quality, and the farmworkers and their families from chemicals that have been shown to cause a myriad of chronic health effects, such as cancer, endocrine disruption and a series of degenerative diseases like Parkinson’s disease. For more information of the many benefits of organic food, please visit Beyond Pesticides’ Organic Food program page.
TAKE ACTION: For more information on organic school lunches, school gardens, and getting organic food into your school, see Beyond Pesticides’ fact sheets “School Lunches Go Organic” and “Organizing for Organic School Lunches,” as well as previous Daily News stories “School District Serves Healthier Choices with Organic, Locally Grown Foods.” For more information on pesticides impact on children and what can be done to protect this vulnerable population, see Beyond Pesticides’ Children and Schools program page.


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The $29 billion deal will bring the Australian firm’s point-of-sale financing innovation and large vendor collection under Square’s union, moreover permitting the fintech to push into deposit.
Square’s order of buy-now-pay-later (BNPL) company Afterpay will additionally entrench the funds supplier in to the small-business and consumer-banking space, a step which should worries some traditional banking institutions, discipline perceiver stated.
The $29 billion offer, which sq launched this thirty day period , is anticipated to close towards the end from the fundamental fourth buy, and definately will bring the Australian firm’s point-of-sale financial modern technology and enormous merchant profile under Square’s umbrella, moreover allowing the San Francisco-based fintech to keep the intense press into banks and loans services.
“the extra features that sq goes into finances software, more explanation they’re providing clientele to switch their unique principal consumer banking relationship out to the bucks software,” claimed Alex Johnson, director of fintech analysis at basis analysts.
Johnson said banks should not basically be viewing Square’s finances App as a freshness that competes with Zelle, the peer-to-peer digital funds tool utilized by the most important banking companies but instead as a product might play competitively with a bank’s examining account, expense production or conserving production.
“dollars App will have more into the financial savings and money deposited now that they’ve got a rental,” explained Johnson, discussing the industrial financial institution (ILC) rental block is given just last year. “A bank’s small-business financial and loaning abilities, and now a bank’s bank card course — wealth App can credibly compete, from a product or service have viewpoint, for all of the.”
The offer in addition has huge ramifications for Square’s just launched small-business banking supply.
Introducing BNPL to Square’s small-banking provider, Square deposit, it founded in July, might be a beautiful have for small-business people attempting to improve their income control, said Daniela Hawkins, a controlling key at Capco.
“we have heard of success of [BNPL] in full price sector, so I believe that’s where exactly Square’s using this,” she said. “They’re going to utilize all of their small-business individuals and they are visiting claim, ‘We’re aiding you with profile receivable and now you can give you profile payable.'”
The Afterpay package would strengthen Square’s business and small-business collection and spread the transaction provider’s international get to.
Afterpay, which established in 2015, has actually 100,000 retailers sign up to utilize its solutions, which are available in Queensland, the U.S., Canada, brand new Zealand, the U.K., France, Spain and Italy, according to research by the providers.
Hawkins explained Afterpay’s go was actually most likely a good component at play when Square applied its fix the Australian firm.
“precisely why construct your greenhouse when you’re able to buy it? Specifically because Afterpay previously possess manufacturer popularity searching as a buy-now-pay-later product,” she mentioned.
Square will more than likely transform the concentration to improving the merchandise and increasing affairs to additional stores, she included.
Precisely what loan providers can do
While Square’s Afterpay price, plus its finance dreams, spots the corporate as a solid player for typical banking institutions, legacy organizations has an edge that may help them edge inside BNPL room, Johnson mentioned.
“One benefits that banks have actually over some other firms, in theory https://paydayloansexpert.com/title-loans-ks/, through this room, is that banks do not always must pay attention to refining issues for merchants in terms of buy-now-pay-later,” the man mentioned.
Banks should prize the economic visibility that BNPL provides people, and locate methods to setup their products which resonate get back want.
“[Banks] can potentially allow customers understand the exact market advantage of buy-now-pay-later, which is its potential to end up being an even more translucent kind of capital and assets,” they said. “Because they don’t require always improve toward conversion rates and increase marketing for companies, banking institutions could look at buy-now-pay-later even more as a budgeting tool. …To me, the idealized product for buy-now-pay-later, from a banking perspective, are buy-now-pay-later internal as an integral financing alternative that helps anyone budget their income over 30 days.”
Johnson mentioned he considers BNPL providers working for retailers have actually taken from the that vision in favor of gratifying companies, developing a chance for banks.
“companies typically a lot care about cost management as they carry out about conversions, so I envision there is an opportunity to zig a bit utilizing the next era of the alternatives,” the man believed.
Hawkins stated some bankers are usually increasing in popularity to your tendency, directing to Huntington Bank’s just recently launched Standby funds for instance.
Presented as a digital-only mortgage items that can help consumers steer clear of overdraft fees and build credit, this new characteristic is basically a BNPL item, Hawkins stated.
Standby money enables qualified clientele to get into a distinct credit score rating to $1,000 without having fascination or fees if they sign up for automated bills.
“Banking companies occur shopping to create these products,” Hawkins claimed.


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A Tottenham Hotspur club store is opening in Chelmsford this week, and fans will be very excited about who is there to cut the ribbon.
The shop, which will be packed with the football club’s merchandise, will open in High Chelmer Shopping Centre.
It will be officially opened by club legend Ledley King at 10am on Friday, December 1.
Ledley, who played for Spurs between 1999 and 2012, will be on hand to meet fans, sign autographs and pose for photos during the morning.
Over the opening weekend, two more fan favourites will also be visiting the store.
Ex-Spurs player Clive Allen will stop by from 12pm – 2pm on Saturday, December 2, and former player Mark Falco will be there from 12pm – 2pm on Sunday, December 3.
This store will be in number 8 Exchange Way, in between Camera World and CEX and opposite Greggs.
The new permanent store will stock the latest kits, clothes and gifts – perfect for Christmas presents for all Spurs fans.
Ledley King said: “It’s great to see the Club open a store in Chelmsford, where I know we have many fans. It’s going to provide the perfect way for fans in the area to get their hands on Club merchandise in time for Christmas and I’m looking forward to hopefully meeting many of them on Friday.”
High Chelmer centre manager, Mick McDonagh, added that he was delighted with the newest arrival at the centre.
“I’m thrilled that we’ll have a Tottenham Hotspur club store in the centre,” said Mick. “It is a team with supporters the world over and its fantastic news that fans from across Chelmsford will be able to shop all-things Spurs, especially this close to Christmas.”
There used to be a Tottenham Hotspur shop in Chelmsford at the top end of the High Street, but it closed down a few years ago.


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Apparently, metamaterials will become the next trend in the audio industry: recently KEF noted with them, and now the Italian company Phononic Vibes, specializing in the development of such materials, has appeared on the radar.
Founded in 2018 by researchers at the Polytechnic University of Milan, this startup primarily develops vibration-damping and sound-absorbing metamaterials, offering negative ratio arrays that are more efficient solutions than traditional ones. The peculiarity of metamaterials is that their properties primarily depend on the shape and structure of the cells, and not on the material from which they are made. The company’s technologies exist not only in theory, but are also used in practice: for example, vibration and noise protection from Phononic Vibes has already been successfully tested on a section of the German railway.
The startup is actively investing: last year, the investors were Poli360, a technology development fund, and Pantecnica Spa, a vibration isolation system. This year, they are joined by the Eureka! Foundation, focusing on companies exploring new materials.
Phononic Vibes co-founder Luca D’Alessandro said the investment will enable the company to grow in these challenging times and continue to engage with both local and international customers. The company’s catalog already contains acoustic panels, primarily providing sound insulation from neighbors and the street. Also, Phononic Vibes technologies are being introduced into modern appliances – though not audio, but household appliances, often unpleasantly loud: washing machines, hoods, etc.


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Sears is turning to the mail to boost its holiday sales.
The department store chain is reviving its Wish Book, the iconic publication that was a holiday staple for millions of families for almost 80 years.
Select customers will receive a 120-page Wish Book — last printed in 2011 — in their mailboxes this year. The catalog will feature hundreds of gift options, including appliances, housewares, clothing and toys.
“Our members told us they missed the Wish Book, so we had to bring it back, but in a special way that lets you share more joy wherever you are,” said Kelly Cook, Sears’ chief marketing officer.
The catalog will also be available in stores, while a digital version is available for tablets, laptops and smartphones.
The Sears Wish Book debuted in 1933 with an 88-page edition that showcased a Miss Pigtails doll, a Mickey Mouse watch, Lionel electric trains and live singing canaries, among other products.
The Wish Book helped revolutionize catalog shopping with offerings that even included mail-order homes.
Despite the popularity of online shopping, many consumers continue to make purchases through catalogs.
Approximately 9.8 billion catalogs were mailed last year, according to the Data and Marketing Association, while USPS research shows 42 percent of households read catalogs.
“When you have that physical catalog, customers might ponder it longer, even write notes on it,” marketing executive David Naumann recently told RetailDIVE, an industry news site. “It’s something you really can’t replicate in other media.”


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This isn’t the first time Chapoutier has fallen victim to counterfeiters. His wine has been faked before, but this is the first time a clothing brand has used his name.
Advertised under the ‘M Chapoutier’ label, the fake was first spotted by Michel’s daughter, Mathilde Chapoutier, who happens to be spending three years studying at a university in Beijing.
Chapoutier has now hired lawyers to find out who is behind the forgery, and what steps can be taken to prevent it. The Maison Chapoutier brand has been registered as a trademark in China for the past 10 years, but the situation is complicated by this forgery being in a different area to wine.
“The way they have written M. Chapoutier on the clothes is very close to the way we have it written on our wine labels,” Chapoutier stated.
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Netflix Inc. is unveiling new video games based on its shows, stepping up efforts to turn its streaming platform into a multimedia empire.
Stranger Things 3: The Game, a title based on the popular teen series, will come out on July 4, the same day the third season of the show debuts. Netflix has also licensed “The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance”—a prequel series to the 1980s Jim Henson film—for a game that will debut later this year. The company isn’t developing or producing the video games itself, opting instead to license the characters to outside studios.
Netflix is just starting to explore the possibility of turning its movies and TV shows into other products, and “Stranger Things” has been its guinea pig. The show is one of the service’s most popular, especially in the U.S. and among younger viewers. The company licensed a “Stranger Things” mobile game in 2017 and has since struck deals for “Stranger Things” T-shirts, Coca-Cola bottles and ice cream. A new mobile game will debut in 2020.
Some of these promotions are just marketing stunts designed to drive additional viewers to its original series. Netflix still generates virtually all of its sales from subscriptions to its streaming service, the world’s largest paid online TV network. But both merchandise and video games could become new revenue streams.
“We’re looking for opportunities to extend the universe of these shows and films into other mediums,” Chris Lee, the director of interactive games at Netflix, said during a panel at the E3 video-game expo. “To me, it was really obvious to try to do that into video games.”
Industrywide, video games sales topped $40 billion last year. That’s more than consumers spend on movie tickets.
Hollywood studios have a checkered history of turning hit movies and shows into video games and an even spottier track record of turning games into movies. For every GoldenEye, a classic game based on the James Bond film, there are a number that failed.
Netflix is still in the experimental stage. Its first two games will be available on most of the major gaming consoles, as well as personal computers. The company has also produced an interactive TV series that blend gaming with TV, such as “Black Mirror: Bandersnatch.” Viewers have to make choices during the show that affect the narrative.


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Jun 19, 2020|
Photo Gallery: This Week at JD (June 15-19)
On June 19th, JD.com announces transaction volume of JD’s 618 Grand Promotion reached to RMB 269.2 billion yuan, up more than 33.6% year on year. The record-breaking result has demonstrated the resilience of the Chinese economy.
On June 18th, JD.com was successfully listed on HKEX with the Stock Code: 9618.HK. Lei Xu, CEO of JD Retail, bangs the gong from JD’s headquarters in Beijing, joined by JD’s logistics staffs from Wuhan, a JD Health online doctor, merchant representatives and a village officer supported by JD’s poverty-alleviation program.
On the eve of JD’s 17th anniversary, the company’s headquarters was packed with flowers and cakes sent by brands, merchants and partners, looking forward to another record-breaking 618.
On June 15th, Lei Xu, CEO of JD Retail, interviewed by Tom Mackenzie of Bloomberg TV at JD’s Headquarters in Beijing on JD’s listing on HKEX and 618 Grand Promotion.
On June 16, JD announces the deployment of a fully-integrated BeiDou Smart and Flexible Production Logistics Park in Tianjin’s Wuqing district, which is the first of its kind in Asia, and all R&D is carried out in-house by JD.


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Mackay’s show holiday long weekend has finally arrived.
14th Aug. 2020 5:08 AM
As restrictions ease, more restaurants and cafes across the Whitsundays are now open for business.
05th June 2020 1:06 PM
From Saturday morning, outback Qld cafes and restaurants are able to reopen their doors, but most are still opting for...
15th May 2020 5:05 AM
Most of Queensland’s major shopping centres and stores will keep their doors closed on Monday for the Labour Day public...
02nd May 2020 3:05 PM
LISMORE businesses can now list their services in a searchable online hub to help the community through these confusing...
27th March 2020 9:03 AM
Today is the observed holiday for Australia Day. Here is a list of opening hours for some businesses in the region.
26th Jan. 2020 6:01 PM
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26th Dec. 2019 5:12 AM
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Jacob Bastholm, Head of Carnegie's Corporate Finance department, believes that buyers, not advisors, decide the prices of companies. As such, he dismisses the accusation from Dan Højgaard, Senior Partner in capital fund Industri Udvikling, suggesting that advisors such as Carnegie are taking part in the creation of a price bubble by forcing prices up, Danish business daily Børsen reports.
"It is, of course, a central task for us to optimize prices and other circumstances for sellers. But companies are sold to the highest bidder, which is the buyer with the best plans and opportunities to further develop the company," Bastholm writes in an e-mail to Børsen.
As Børsen reported yesterday, several Danish capital funds fear a price bubble and buying at a high price, creating poor returns for investors. This bubble is a result of company owners having unrealistic expectations towards the prices of their companies, but also corporate finance advisors forcing the prices up.
But according to Bastholm, the current price level is the result of the expectations of a positive development in companies, society in general, and the low returns on alternative investments.
English Edit: Marie Honoré


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This year’s study was based on more than 72,000 responses from owners and lessees of 2011 to 2015 model-year vehicles; it measured consumer satisfaction while vehicles were being serviced or repaired. Further, the study was based solely on consumers’ first three years of ownership.
The view from the top shows that overall customer satisfaction averaged 854 in the luxury segment, on a 1,000 point scale, and 797 in the mass market segment. Both of those results were slight improvements compared to the 852 and 792 scores, respectively, from 2015’s study. However, as more than 51 million vehicles were recalled in 2015 — a record year — customer satisfaction dropped from 789 to 781 year-over-year. The satisfaction level among customers whose service call was unrelated to a recall was 809.
What’s interesting to me, though, is that while General Motors (NYSE:GM) powered the industry’s recall numbers in recent years with its huge ignition key issue, the automaker still scored well in the study.
Despite having recalls into the tens of millions during the scope of the study’s three-year ownership timeline, GM’s three mainstream brands landed at second, third, and fourth place, which is very impressive. Its luxury Cadillac brand took third place in the luxury segment, behind only Lexus and Audi, but well ahead of Mercedes-Benz, Jaguar and Lincoln, which were the only other brands to come in above average.
Sadly for Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (NYSE:FCAU), the company has struggled on many fronts with quality issues, and now apparently, it’s got customer service issues too. Not only did FCA’s mass market brands check in at the last five available spots, it held the entire bottom tier to itself with only Chrysler checking in at “about average”, in terms of J.D. Power’s circle ratings – despite being more than 20 points below the mass-market average.
Another surprise was that 17% of consumers are willing wait less than an hour or not at all for service, which is a big chunk of the respondents. That means, if you’re an investor, you’ll want to know if your automaker’s dealerships often offer loaner vehicles or shuttle service. But even the small things make a difference: J.D. Power notes that scores improve by about 44 points when a service advisor greets customers within two minutes of their arrival, but surprisingly, 27% of customers noted they had to wait longer.
“There is a need for consistency in the service experience, regardless of the reason for the visit,” Said Chris Sutton, vice president of U.S. automotive retail practice at J.D. Power. “A lack of consistency, particularly for recall work, can damage customers’ perceptions of the brand and negatively impact their likelihood to recommend and repurchase the brand.”
At a time when auto recalls have been a common theme in the news, especially for GM, it’s interesting for investors to note that GM brands posted some of the best scores, while FCA’s posted some of the worst. These results are definitely something to consider if you’re thinking about investing, as end consumers’ experiences with dealerships, as well as their experiences with the vehicles in general, are almost as important as an automakers most recent financial data.
Something big just happened
I don’t know about you, but I always pay attention when one of the best growth investors in the world gives me a stock tip. Motley Fool co-founder David Gardner (whose growth-stock newsletter was the best performing in the world as reported by The Wall Street Journal)* and his brother, Motley Fool CEO Tom Gardner, just revealed two brand new stock recommendations. Together, they’ve tripled the stock market’s return over the last 13 years. And while timing isn’t everything, the history of Tom and David’s stock picks shows that it pays to get in early on their ideas.
Click here to be among the first people to hear about David and Tom’s newest stock recommendations.
*”Look Who’s on Top Now” appeared in The Wall Street Journal in Aug. 2013, which references Hulbert’s rankings of the best performing stock picking newsletters over a 5-year period from 2008-2013.
Daniel Miller has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
This is a syndicated post, which originally appeared at Fool.com Headlines. View original post.


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GENEVA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--High-Tech Bridge, a leading web security company, announces the launch of ImmuniWeb® Mobile as part of its award-winning ImmuniWeb® Application Security Testing Platform. The new offering will provide comprehensive assessment of iOS and Android mobile applications, mobile infrastructure backend and data channel encryption. All ImmuniWeb Mobile packages are provided with a zero false-positives SLA.
The mobile application security testing is based on High-Tech Bridge’s proprietary SAST and DAST mobile testing technology, which fully covers the OWASP Top Ten Mobile Risks (2016); and is perfectly suited for both native and hybrid iOS and Android mobile applications. The technology also performs Software Composition Analysis (SCA) to detect insecure or vulnerable components putting users’ security and privacy at risk.
The mobile backend security testing leverages the hybrid security testing model and proprietary machine learning technology of ImmuniWeb® Platform, and is particularly tailored for Web Services and REST/SOAP API testing. XML and JSON data formats are also fully supported.
The encryption testing between the mobile application and its backend relies on High-Tech Bridge’s SSL/TLS security testing technology, already used by thousands of companies and organizations worldwide for encryption reliability and compliance testing (PCI DSS, HIPAA, NIST).
Ilia Kolochenko, High-Tech Bridge’s CEO and Founder, says: “We are delighted to complement the ImmuniWeb® Platform with one of the most comprehensive mobile security testing offerings currently available on the market. Mobile applications, and particularly their backends, remain one of the easiest targets for attackers. Quite often, companies protect their web applications, but forget about mobile backends, reducing all efforts to nothing. Similar to ImmuniWeb for web applications, the mobile offering will be simple, comprehensive and cost-efficient: every ImmuniWeb Mobile package performs thorough testing of the mobile application, its backend and the encryption in-between. In comparison to three different types of services purchased separately, it provides an unbeatable ROI for those wanting to ensure that their mobile infrastructure is entirely secure.”
Similar to ImmuniWeb Continuous and On-Demand for web applications, ImmuniWeb Mobile customers will be able to configure, schedule, pay and start the assessment on the ImmuniWeb Portal in just a few minutes from any device 24/7. Current ImmuniWeb customers can start using the new service immediately, while new users can pre-book their first assessment for the beginning of April 2017.
ImmuniWeb Mobile is primarily designed for European and US markets, however it will also be introduced into the APAC region via the strategic partnership with PwC Singapore announced in February this year.
High-Tech Bridge’s team will showcase ImmuniWeb Mobile during Black Hat Singapore, CRESTCon, Infosecurity Europe, ISF Congress and Black Hat Europe later this year.
About High-Tech Bridge
High-Tech Bridge is a leading web security company, currently serving customers from over 40 countries. High-Tech Bridge’s application security testing platform ImmuniWeb® allows companies and financial institutions to monitor, detect, mitigate and prevent risks and threats to their web applications in a simple and cost-effective manner. ImmuniWeb leverages a hybrid security testing approach and machine learning technology for intelligent automation of web vulnerability scanning, significantly reducing human time required for advanced web security testing. Complemented by human intelligence, it detects the most sophisticated web application vulnerabilities and guarantees zero false-positives. After a strategic partnership between High-Tech Bridge and PwC, ImmuniWeb became a part of PwC´s Threat and Vulnerability Management (TVM) Framework for web security testing. ImmuniWeb is the recipient of numerous cybersecurity awards for innovation and quality.


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has revealed latest predictions about an upcoming Apple device. The analyst from KGI told 9to5Mac that the iPad Air 3 will be released in the first half of 2016.
Giving some information about the specification of the iPad Air 3, Kuo said that the device will not support 3D Touch functionality that is present on the newly launched iPhones. The next generation of iPad Air will not get the pressure sensitive functionality because of production issues within Apple’s supply chain. Kuo called 3D Touch “one of the most severe production bottlenecks in iPhone 6s supply chain.
Furthermore, talking about the iPhone 7, Kuo stated that pressure-sensitive 3D Touch display will have “similar technology and structure” as the iPhone 6s. The next iPhone from the company will be launched in September timeframe as usual. Earlier this month, Kuo also said that Apple’s new 4-inch iPhone will come with high specs. Meanwhile, the Apple Watch is expected to be shipped in April 2016.


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Hosted by celebrity chef Zola Nene with guest appearances by Nataniël himself, wine lovers celebrated the announcement of 2020 Sauvignon Blanc SA Top 10 during a glitzy virtual affair last night.
The winners were announced by Sauvignon Blanc South Africa and organisers are most delighted that this year’s champion wines come from no less than seven different regions. It is Mzansi’s only competition devoted to Sauvignon Blanc.
In alphabetical order, this year’s top 10 are:
- Alvi’s Drift Sauvignon Blanc Reserve 2020
- Cilmor Limited Edition Sauvignon Blanc 2019
- Diemersdal Winter Ferment Sauvignon Blanc 2020
- Ghost Corner Wild Ferment Sauvignon Blanc 2018
- Iona Elgin Highlands Wild Ferment Sauvignon Blanc 2019
- Kleine Zalze Family Reserve Sauvignon Blanc 2019
- Ormonde Chip Off The Old Block Sauvignon Blanc 2019
- Paul Cluver Sauvignon Blanc 2019
- Stark-Condé Round Mountain Sauvignon Blanc 2019
- Stellenbosch Vineyards Southern View Sauvignon Blanc 2020
The top 10 were drawn from a broad collection of entries, with 96 producers submitting 149 wines for the competition held with the support of FNB.
A good balance was achieved with six of the winning wines from the 2019 vintage, three from the 2020 vintage, and one wine from 2018. Half of the Top 10 show a degree of oak contact that affirms the judges’ opinion on the future potential for more wooded Sauvignon Blanc wines.
“This year will be remembered as a time to stand together and everyone who entered can therefore rightly be proud of their achievement,” said RJ Botha, Sauvignon Blanc SA’s chairman.
“In these challenging times, it is a privilege to be able to celebrate South African Sauvignon Blanc worldwide as our country’s top seller. We see exciting innovation in style and flavour profiles, as well as diversity in origin with three top 10 winners from Stellenbosch, two from Elgin, and one each from Breede River, Elim, Worcester, Durbanville and Darling. Congratulations to Diemersdal with their hat trick with the Winter Ferment – the only wine that has shone in the top 10 for the last three years in a row.”
The judging panel comprised Dr Winifred Bowman, Cape Wine Master and convener of the panel, cellar master Charles Hopkins of De Grendel, wine judge and writer Fiona McDonald and winemaker Rüdger van Wyk of Stark-Condé Wines.The panel also included protégé judges, Candice Barnes from Boekenhoutskloof, Kelsey Shungking from De Grendel and Victoria Davis from Glenelly.
Meanwhile, the wine industry was glued to their screens for the 2020 Sauvignon Blanc SA Top 10 virtual announcement. Leading Mzansi wine blogger and influencer Emile Joubert referred to Diemersdal’s Winter Ferment Sauvignon Blanc 2020 as a legend that was born. Podcaster and lifestyle writer Tshepi Molisana and winemaker Morgan Steyn were also glued to their screens.
2017 I’m in Lisbon hotel, Thys calls. ‘That experiment I did, freezing Sauvignon Blanc juice before fermenting, can’t believe how the wine’s turned out. Never seen Sauvignon like this.’ 2nite 2020: 4th @SauvignonSA Top 10 for @diemersdalwines Winter Ferment. Legend is born. pic.twitter.com/LEWLgMbvCp
— Emile Joubert (@emilejoubert) October 14, 2020
— Morgan Steyn (@MSteyn03) October 14, 2020
Black Tie at Home for the virtual @SauvignonSA Top 10 Awards.
Fitting opening words from Chairman RJ Botha: “I’m 100% sure that 2020 will never be forgotten.”@strandveld First Sighting Sauvignon Blanc paired with decadent #Overture starter#SauvignonBlancSATop10 pic.twitter.com/4CegZp3S3Q
— Tšepang In My Kitchen (@TshepiMolisana) October 14, 2020
- Click here to view the recording of the 2020 Sauvignon Blanc SA Top 10 virtual awards.


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Perpetually on the hunt for young men, brands are betting on eSports
This past week, Spanish football club Valencia CF announced a new team, not of footballers but of video gamers.
Competitive gaming is fast becoming a legitimate sport, with star players, huge winnings and audiences in the millions. The 2015 finals for the gaming title League of Legends, for instance, brought in more viewers than the NBA (36 million vs. 19.9 million).
The numbers are becoming irresistible to brands, which are drawn to the sport’s highly engaged millennial fans. Newzoo estimates brand sponsorships for all eSports will reach $128.2 million (£88.4 million) this year, while online advertising on eSports video content will grow to $197 million (£137.4 million). That’s a 49 percent increase over 2015 for both combined.
The interest from brands has been so great this year that talent agency WME IMG recently hired two more salespeople to service the accounts. “Of the top 10 advertisers globally, every single one is interested in the sport,” said Tobias Sherman, global head of eSports there. “2017 is going to be the big year for non-endemics coming in.”
Almost half of the global eSports audience is aged between 18 and 34, a demographic full of ad-blockers that are increasingly hard to reach via other channels. For brands moving more budget into digital, it’s too good an opportunity to miss.
“It’s a strong statement to make when you hit that younger audience, and also there’s the commercial advantage of getting in early at a good price,” said Joel Seymour-Hyde, vp of strategy for sports sponsorship agency Octagon.
Unlike traditional sports, the lines between those putting on, managing and broadcasting eSports events can be blurred. For brands, it’s not as simple as contacting a player’s agent or a league’s management. They have to negotiate a complex rights package with multiple stakeholders, many of whom have more than one function.
But one advantage of eSports being so young is that brands can get more bang for their buck. They can carve out their own deals and, importantly, haggle.
The cost of reaching an eSports fan is one-eighth the cost of reaching a mainstream sports fan, said Christian Baker, digital manager at Synergy, another sports sponsorship agency, which is working on a number of eSports deals that will be announced later this year. “There is a huge opportunity here for brands,” he said.
But cheap doesn’t equal easy. Those with little experience of the industry are prone to get it wrong — which is why some brands are holding back. While Coke’s meme-heavy eSports Twitter account is thriving with 348,000 followers, Comcast’s sponsorship of eSports company ESL was seen by some as an attempt to slap its name on something with no regard for brand relevancy.
— Radio Esports Guy (@KevinKnocke) June 2, 2016
“It’s a world where users can hide behind avatars. There’s a danger of being trolled if you’re not adding value or seen to be part of the community,” Baker said.
It’s not just brands being trolled. Scrolling through Twitch’s larger competitive streams, it’s not hard to find abuse such as ethnic or sexist slurs. And it’s not limited to the comments section. There’s also salty language coming from players and commentators themselves.
For brands that require editorial control, this remains a deal-breaker. But for others, it’s a reality of the online experience they’ve come to accept.
“Cynically, I think the potential reward pot for being involved now has now gone over the tipping point where brands can go, ‘Hey, we know there are issues, and those issues are important ones, but we’re going to get involved and try to help you solve them,’” Baker said.
More in Marketing
TikTok has officially launched its new e-commerce platform, TikTok Shop, earlier this month on August 1. Using the new e-commerce platform, brands and creators can sell products directly on the platform, potentially creating new revenue streams, and tap into the short-form video platform’s growing popularity.
‘The influencer industry can be really vile’: Confessions of an influencer marketer on the industry’s unfair hiring practices
While the influencer industry might sound exciting and like it’s full of opportunities, one marketer can vouch for the horrific scenarios that still take place behind the scenes.
After a tumultuous 12 months, marketers are getting a clear picture of how they really did during a time of true uncertainty. And, as it turns out, it wasn’t all that bad.
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