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Why Are Economists So Glum?
Economists are often called dismal scientists, as they are more likely to see the proverbial glass as half empty than half full. That label is vividly on display now, as the forecast of a recession within the economic community is more pronounced than ever. In its May survey, the consensus of Blue Chip economists predict a 61 percent chance of recession this year, and even the Federal Reserve’s staff of economists expects a downturn in the second half. These gloomy forecasts are echoed in the financial markets, where investors are pricing in a high probability of a downturn before the end of the year. Simply put, if a recession is coming, it would be one of the most advertised on record.
Most Americans, in contrast, tend to be more upbeat about the economy – at least until adversity strikes home or they are confronted by a shock that threatens to undercut their well-being. The pandemic certainly qualified as a such a shock as it abruptly ended the longest expansion on record and sent 22 million workers to the unemployment lines within two short months. But the economy has enjoyed a remarkable recovery since that COVID shock in the spring of 2020. All the lost jobs have been recovered and then some, household balance sheets are in good shape, jobs and wages are increasing and consumers are spending freely again on experiences and other activities denied them during the pandemic.
Yet the denizens of Main Street are just as downbeat as economists. Confidence measures have been sinking for months and some are as low as they were during the 2008 financial crisis. The good news is that people do not always behave as they feel, as evidenced by the resilience of consumer spending this year. The bad news is that the longer households retain a downbeat sentiment, the more likely it becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy. From a macro lens, that means zipping up wallets and purses to build up precautionary savings as a buffer against adversity. Since consumer spending accounts for two thirds of total economic activity, the direction it takes can turn recession fears into a reality.
What’s the Beef?
As noted, households would seem to have more reasons to celebrate than complain. The job market continues to run in high gear, generating 285 hundred thousand payrolls a month over the first four months of the year. That’s a downshift from 2022, when the pace of job growth averaged 400 thousand, but well above the pre-pandemic trend; it is also far stronger than the 100 thousand average monthly growth in the working-age population, driving the unemployment rate down to 3.4 percent. The jobless rate has not been lower in more than sixty years.
With paychecks still flowing in and workers getting sizeable wage increases, it’s hard to see consumers going into hibernation. For a while, it seemed that would be the case, as retail sales fell in February and March after a warm-weather-induced spike in January. But shoppers returned in April, as retail sales rose 0.4 percent. What’s more, the component that feeds into GDP – the so-called control group of sales – staged a robust 0.7 percent gain, lifting it above the average for the first quarter. Hence, the spring quarter started with some momentum, pointing to a likely increase for personal consumption during the April-June period. If a recession is in the cards, as widely expected, it won’t begin at least until the second half of the year as downturns rarely occur when two-thirds of the economy is still expanding.
So why are households so worried? For one, they are constantly bombarded with bad news that cast a harsh spotlight on the economy’s prospects. The debt ceiling crisis in late May generated blaring headlines signaling a doomsday outcome if the Treasury defaults on its obligations for the first time in history. For another, while consumers are still spending, they are also getting less bang for the buck, as inflation is taking more of the dollars spent. Finally, the cost of borrowing has surged, thanks to the Federal Reserve’s aggressive rate hikes since early last year, including the last quarter-point increase in May. Not only is that discouraging new purchases, but monthly payments on variable rate loans, such as on credit card balances, have become overly burdensome on a growing swath of the population. Credit card delinquencies are rising, particularly among young adults, who are the fastest growing group of borrowers.
No Help From the Fed
Assuming the debt-ceiling saga is resolved, the other headwinds will not vanish anytime soon. Some relief would be forthcoming if the central bank reversed course from its muscular rate-hiking campaign. Since March of last year, the Fed has lifted short-term rates in 10 consecutive policy meetings for a total of 5.25 percentage points – the most aggressive tightening of policy since the early 1980s – to wrestle down inflation.
Investors widely believe that the hiking campaign ended in May and rate cuts are on the way, starting sometime before the end of the year. The Fed, however, is pushing back, indicating that it may hit the pause button at the June meeting, but is far from pivoting towards rate cuts. Fed Chair Powell and his colleagues have repeatedly said that they intend to keep rates elevated longer than traders in the financial markets expect. The reason: inflation is still too high, underpinned by a resilient job market, and reducing it to the 2 percent target is taking longer than hoped.
With the Fed planning to keep its foot on the brakes, the economy would have a tough road to navigate. On the surface, things look reasonably okay. But under the hood, cracks are showing. As noted, consumers are keeping their wallets open, but they are trading down, substituting less expensive for higher-priced goods whenever possible. The growing resistance towards higher prices reflect the shrinking purchasing power of consumers. Households were much more accepting of price increases in 2021 and 2022 believing they were justified by product shortages. Fortified with enormous government stimulus payments that bloated bank accounts by about $3 trillion together with torrid job and sturdy wage gains, households readily accepted the higher prices without too much pain. But those halcyon days are waning.
High Rates and Shrinking Credit
One reason the Fed may refrain from raising rates again at the June 14 policy meeting is to buy time to assess the impact that past increases are having. Keep in mind that incoming data provide a picture of the economy in the rearview mirror. But monetary policy affects the economy with long and variable lags. Those lags are getting shorter and showing up in real-time transactions. For example, auto sales have been riding the coat tails of pent-up demand during the pandemic when chip shortages emptied dealer lots of inventory. Now supplies are increasing, but their higher prices together with steep financing costs are pinching demand. In the first quarter of 2023, the average monthly payment for a new car rose to $736 from $585 two years earlier.
The poster child for an industry victimized by higher interest rates is housing, and the surge in mortgage rates to 7 percent late last year from under 3 percent in 2020 clobbered home sales and stifled refinancing activity. Mortgage rates have since receded somewhat, but the damage is done. Prior to COVID, existing home sales – which account for 80 percent of total home sales – were running at a 5.5 million annual rate. Currently, they are languishing at a 4-4.2 million pace. Not only have high mortgage rates and home prices pushed prospective home buyers to the sidelines, but homeowners are also not putting their property on the market because they are locked in with the low rates obtained years earlier when the homes were originally purchased.
Finally, the Fed’s aggressive rate-hiking campaign is not only deterring demand, but also crimping the supply of credit. The recent panic that saw three regional bank failures has been contained, but lenders have toughened credit standards, depriving wide swaths of borrowers of much needed funds. Indeed, bank credit suffered its biggest contraction on record following the banking turmoil that erupted in March. Reduced credit availability has the same growth-retarding effect as a rate hike, which is another reason the Fed may decide to pause at its June policy meeting.
Big Toll on Small Businesses
The most harmful effects of reduced credit availability are falling on small businesses. Mom and pop establishments do not garner headlines, but they are the biggest generators of jobs in the economy. In fact, small businesses accounted for all the net job growth between February 2020 and the end of 2022. While heavy layoffs at high-profile tech firms are getting all the attention, the closing of the credit spigot for small firms is spurring an even greater surge of firings among these establishments. Labor Department data reveal that firms with 1-9 workers laid off or fired 341,000 workers in March, more than twice as many as in February. Unsurprisingly, small business sentiment is sinking fast.
According to the latest survey by the National Association of Independent Businesses, small business optimism is the lowest in more than a decade, with respondents citing restrictive credit availability and high borrowing costs as the principal sources of angst. Throughout most of the post-COVID recovery, labor shortages topped the list of worries for small businesses, reflecting how dramatically the times are changing. If small firms can’t borrow, they can’t meet payroll, indicating that labor demand, not supply, will pose more of a threat to the economy going forward.
Simply put, the glum mood of households and small businesses is beginning to affect behavior, making the outlook look more ominous than portrayed by incoming data. The Fed still clings to the hope that it can wrestle down inflation without causing a big spike in unemployment – achieving the so-called “soft landing.” So far, so good, as the downbeat sentiment of households and businesses hasn’t yet tanked the economy. Even the “dismal” economists and bearish investors are pushing back the timing of the expected recession, primarily reflecting the resilience of consumers. But that very resilience along with the still tight labor market is keeping inflation higher than the Fed is willing to tolerate. The question is, how much of an economic slowdown is the Fed willing to accept to get inflation down to its 2 percent target? It’s hard to see or feel what everyone’s worried about now, but that’s probably the most worrisome element for the Fed to consider.
Brookline Bank Executive Management
|Darryl J. Fess
President & CEO
|Robert E. Brown
EVP & Division Executive
Commercial Real Estate Banking
|David B. L’Heureux
EVP & Division Executive
EVP & Division Executive
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5 Aug 2022
Many families have been rendered homeless and many lives lost as a result of flooding following heavy downpours in Jigawa State.
20 Nov 2021
Many Nigerians received the news of the drop in the nation’s inflation rate in October 2021 to 15.99 per cent from 16.63 per cent recorded in September with a pinch of salt last Monday. Although the rate has continued to decline in the past seven months after hitting 18.17 per cent in March 2021, Nigerians…
10 Mar 2021
I woke up the other day to the news that certain youths from the northern side of the country are allegedly blocking food trucks from ferrying goods down south.
4 Oct 2020
The Village Market is deploying technology to eliminate middlemen regarded as the major factor responsible for the high cost of foodstuff and other agro commodities in the country.
12 May 2019
Prices of tomato, pepper, fruits and other food items have increased tremendously in the last one-week across major markets in Lagos, Ogun, Oyo States and beyond, as the Ramadan commences, according to findings. Surveys in Bodija, Ojo and Sango markets, in Ibadan, Oyo State show that prices of tomato and pepper have increased by…

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HONG KONG, Mar 19, 2024 – (ACN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com) – Tianyun International Holdings Limited (“Tianyun International”, together with its subsidiaries, the “Group”) (Stock code: 6836.HK), a leading seller and manufacturer of processed fruits products and specialty beverages in China, is pleased to announce that, the Group and Jianlibao Group (“Jianlibao”) will be the joint sponsors of the “2024 Checkered Flag Music Carnival” of Formula 1 Chinese Grand Prix 2024.
Formula 1 Chinese Grand Prix 2024 will be held at the Shanghai International Circuit from 19 to 21 April 2024. This year marks the 20th anniversary of the Formula 1 Chinese Grand Prix and a great comeback to China after 5-year absence of Formula 1. More importantly, Zhou Guanyu, the first Chinese driver to compete in Formula 1, will officially participate in the race in Formula 1 in Shanghai. For the three-day auto racing, there will be a music carnival, with numerous distinguished guests invited, to be held at the Shuijing Square in the Shanghai International Circuit. Tianyun International and Jianlibao together with other international well-known brands will all be exhibiting their best selling products, offering the audiences with visual, audio and taste enjoyments and celebrating such international sports event with each other.
Mr. Yeung Wan Yiu, Vice Chairman and Executive Director of the Group commented, “We are extremely proud to be the sponsor and an official partner of the F1 event. This marks not only an iconic moment but also the fruitful result of our long-term commitment to brand building and international expansion strategy. The joint sponsorship will highlight the brand image of both Tianyun International and Jianlibao through live interactive activities, domestic and international media promotion and putting billboards throughout Shanghai city. Such event is believed to significantly enhance the corporate value of the Group and the sales volume of its products as well as create competitive advantages. Meanwhile, the collaboration acknowledges our team’s efforts and innovative spirit, serving as strong motivation for us to continue moving forward. We believe that partnering with a world-class platform like F1 will not only enable our brand and products to reach a global audience but also present us with new opportunities to engage and cooperate with customers worldwide. Together with Jianlibao, we aim to create a premier Chinese sports beverage industry. We eagerly anticipate the fresh perspectives and experiences gained from participating in this event, and our team is fully committed to delivering an exceptional and unforgettable experience for F1 and its global fan base.”
Mr. Yang Ziyuan, Chairman and CEO of the Group said, “We are honored to have the logos of both Tianyun International and Jianlibao displayed at international F1 events, marking an important milestone as our Group ventures into the international sports arena for the first time. As one of the world’s top automotive events, F1 is renowned for its fierce competition, advanced technology, and eye-catching racing cars. The strong partnership between Tianyun International and Jianlibao in sponsoring prestigious international competitions adds more excitement to the F1 events, providing a richer experience for racing enthusiasts and consumers, while leading a new trend in sports beverage products. Looking ahead, the two brands will continue to strengthen the cooperation in terms of, among others, product promotion, market expansion and branding with an aim to generate synergies, expand market impact and achieve win-win outcomes.”
About Guangdong Jianlibao Co., Ltd.
Guangdong Jianlibao Co., Ltd. is a joint stock limited company established and currently operating in the People’s Republic of China (hereinafter referred to as “Jianlibao”). It is headquartered in Foshan City, China, specifically at the Sanshui International Water Capital Beverage and Food Base. Jianlibao has gained recognition as a renowned enterprise in China with the prestigious title of being a famous brand within the country. It primarily operates within the beverage production and sales industry while also engaging in plastic container manufacturing along with other associated fields. Its extensive sales network spans across more than 30 provinces in China, supported by four beverage production plants capable of manufacturing sports drinks, carbonated drinks, tea drinks, juice drinks, functional beverages, etc. The company boasts several well-known brands including Jianlibao itself along with 5th Quarter, Micro Bubble Water, Love Sports, Super Energy,and Explosive Fruit Soda. Notably, the core brand “Jianlibao” was introduced as China’s first sports drink containing electrolytes back in 1984 when it served as the preferred choice for athletes representing Chinese sports delegation during their participation at the 23rd Olympic Games held in Los Angeles,U.S.A.. It is recognized by the Chinese government as the first batch of “China’s Well-known Trademark” and known as the “Father of Chinese national drinks”, gaining international acclaim from foreign media who described it as “China magic water”. “Sanshui Jianlibao Star”, the world’s first astronomical planet named after a company, has been recorded in history, hanging high in the sky.
About Tianyun International Holding Limited (Stock Code: 6836.HK)
Tianyun International Holdings Limited (the “Company”) and its subsidiaries (collectively referred to as the “Group”) are principally engaged in (i) the research and development, production and sales of processed fruit packaged in metal containers, plastic cups, glass containers and aluminum foil bags and beverages and (ii) trading of fresh fruit. Processed fruit products are sold both under its own brands “Bingo Times”, “fruit zz” and “Tiantong Times” and on an OEM basis. The beverages are sold under its own brand “Shiok Party” and “Demon Fruit Season”.
The Group has been consistently committed to providing its customers with healthy and safe products. As a food enterprise with one of the most complete quality certifications, we rigorously adhere to stringent international production standards and are accredited with BRC (A), IFS Food (High), FDA, HALAL, SC, KOSHER, ISO9001, ISO45001, ISO14001，SMETA and CQM, in respect of our production facilities, quality control and management. The Group has also passed the internal food production standards reviews and audits from several UK and US supermarket chains. At the same time, as a Chinese “Equal production line; Equal standard; Equal quality” food production and export enterprise, the Group has been supplying products of consistent quality to domestic and international markets.
The Group was awarded China’s Most Promising Listed Companies by internationally renowned financial magazine Forbes, and the “2017 Linyi Mayor Quality Award” by the PRC government in 2017. The Group’s new and proprietary researched, developed and produced pure fruit snack food received a national “Certificate of Invention Patent” in 2018. In 2019 and 2022, the Group was awarded the national Hi-tech Enterprise Certificate for consecutive four years. In 2020, the Group was also recognised as one of the Most Valuable Chinese Brands for the fourth consecutive year. In 2023, the Chairman and CEO of the Group was selected as one of the “2023 Top 30 ESG Entrepreneurs in the Greater Bay Area” by Forbes China.
For more information, please visit www.tianyuninternational.com
Copyright 2024 ACN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com.


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Valcucine announces its participation to Eurocucina edition 2014, an event dedicated to the presentation of innovative and modern solutions for the kitchen that has been held since 1974 every two year during the Salone Internazionale del Mobile in Milan.
Waiting for the big event, which will take place at the exhibition area of the fair in Rho (MI) from 8th to 15th April 2014 Valcucine presented a preview on his blog EcoValcucine, his best creations explaining to the best values sustainability and environmental sensitivity that are the basis of every project.
Among these is the kitchen Artematica, which has revolutionized the concept, offering the first kitchen's door 100% recyclable in glass and aluminum without visible frame and visible hinges. Following Riciclantica, a new single materic door, 100% aluminum and panel that is only 2mm. Finally, the extensive research on materials has allowed Valcucine to revolutionize the furniture industry, also creating the first base in glass, 100% recyclable and 80% reusable. This is the new Invitrum base, designed to completely avoid the emission of formaldehyde and designed to be easily disassembled and reused or recycled at the end of their life cycle.
So a path based entirely on environmental sustainability and the need to create solutions to eliminate as much as possible the perennial problem of waste, Valcucine's path that will explain in detail to the public at their Eurocucina's stand.


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Smart recommendations are one of the most common examples of a phenomenon that is reshaping the way many businesses run their operations. The principle is simple, but compelling: collect huge quantities of information on customer preferences, habits and behaviours, then slice it in clever ways to predict – and change – customer behaviour. This combination of ‘big data’ and analytics is also shaping things behind the scenes: knowing what you and your neighbours are likely to buy allows internet retailers to ship the right inventory to regional distribution centres, thereby cutting delivery times.
So, could these technologies transform the automotive supply chain? In some ways they have already begun to. “Big data has been in automotive for 20 years,” says Tim Clark, head of manufacturing solutions for the UK and Ireland at software company SAS. “The difference is that it is getting bigger, and the key question is how you get insights from that data and use those insights to make decisions.
“It’s not about storing data on huge servers, it’s about how you take those nuggets of information, look at patterns or clusters and use that data in forecasts,” he adds.
Matthias Wurst, programme manager for inbound logistics products at software company Inform, agrees that statistical methods have long been used in automotive – but now they are being extended to new functions, especially in predicting future patterns, starting with demand planning, anticipating how many parts need to be produced and delivered, and going right up to delivery punctuality. “Advanced analytics helps to increase the information you have about the status of the supply chain and gives you the chance to react before something happens in reality,” says Wurst.
Some carmakers are using advanced analytics to predict whether a truck will be late, based on its position and current traffic conditions as well as historical timekeeping data
For example, Inform developed a slot-management system that has been adopted by carmakers to manage the scheduling of inbound parts deliveries to plants. It uses advanced analytics to predict if a truck will be late, based not only on its current position and the current traffic situation, but also on historical data, such as how often it has been late before.
In such systems, the richer the data available, the more accurate its predictions are likely to be. Inform already provides carriers with mobile apps that allow vehicles to share precise locations using GPS, [sta_anchor id="1"]but now the company is working on a pilot system that interacts directly with trucks’ on-board telematics systems. Such systems don’t just give the position of a vehicle, they can also provide information that might affect journey times, like the requirement for drivers to take a statutory break.
Changing behaviour, automatically The next logical step, which Inform is already working on, is a move from presenting relevant insights to users to making direct recommendations. “In the simple example of a delivery from a supplier that is often late due to traffic delays, the system will identify that the truck usually leaves the supplier plant two hours before the designated delivery slot, and it will suggest that the logistics chain planner asks the supplier to start leaving an hour earlier,” explains Wurst.
At enterprise software company Oracle, Dominic Regan, senior director for logistics applications in Europe, Middle East and Africa, thinks the ability of advanced analytical techniques to drive concrete action is what makes them so powerful. “What differentiates the latest approaches is that you are not just capturing and reporting data – you are using it to change supply chain execution.”
Regan thinks advanced analytics capabilities will lead to the development of “self-learning” supply chains. “You will see the development of systems that can pull in data from multiple sources, analyse that data, understand it and – within constraints – make decisions based upon it.” That would be a change in the role of front-line logistics planners and managers. “Analytics will be used less as a decision support tool and more as a decision validation system.”
It’s an approach that logistics executives at carmakers such as BMW also foresee; its head of logistics, Jürgen Maidl, has described moving from a centrally driven supply chain to one that is ‘self-steering’ by way of autonomous vehicles and analytics.
Advanced analytics isn’t all about real-time data, notes Regan, but also spotting trends and conducting root cause analysis. He cites the use of historical delivery performance data to choose carriers for new logistics projects, or the use by carriers of dwell time at manufacturing plants to optimise their own [sta_anchor id="2"]schedules. “A carrier can look at the slots it is given by its customers and how good the customer is at honouring those slots,” he explains. “Are they predictable or do we need to build an allowance for more uncertainty into our schedules?”
Multiple data setsDHL has developed a supply chain risk management tool – Resilience360 – that makes extensive use of multiple data sets. The system grew out of an internal effort at the company to find new uses for its data on global transport footprints, explains Tobias Larsson, head of Reslience360. That data offered insights on how much ports, airports and other supply chain nodes were susceptible to disruption. The company has combined internal resources with other risk data from external sources to create its offering.
During sourcing and supply chain planning, for example, Resilience360 uses historical data to provide information on the exposure of particular locations to more than 20 different types of supply chain risk, from natural disasters to labour unrest, allowing companies to include security of supply alongside other considerations such as manufacturing cost and delivery lead times as they evaluate network options.
Using data supplied directly by customers and gathered from suppliers, DHL builds detailed models of supply networks in the system. These models show where supplier and customer sites are located and how parts and finished products are transported between them.
This approach can help industries such as automotive get to grips with risks in the lower tier supply chain, which companies often don’t fully understand. Multi-tiered supply networks can contain hidden “single points of failure”, for example; Larsson cites recent examples where many suppliers relied on the same single producer of specialist materials, creating widespread disruption when that supplier faced production problems. To address this issue, DHL has developed an online survey tool, called the R360 Transparency Portal, which collects data in an iterative manner from each tier of the customer’s supply network.
Once supply chains are up and running, the tool offers a near real-time monitoring function. Combining data from a variety of different feeds, including its internal transport management systems, as well as conventional and social media, DHL looks for information that could indicate disruptions. “Together with partners, we are developing a hierarchical taxonomy of thousands of search terms covering everything from fires to regulatory changes and financial issues at relevant companies,” explains Larsson. “Our listening tools constantly monitor various media sources for those terms, and the results are passed to a team of analysts who evaluate the information, take steps to confirm an incident and estimate its likely impact. The system then alerts our customers.”
The human link in the chain is essential, he notes, to qualify information before passing it to customers, and to ensure that alerts are cleared as soon as the disruptive event has passed.
“Not every piece of information we see can be qualified by our analysts,” Larsson admits. “But it is also important to look at trends in the unqualified data. One social media post about financial problems at a supplier or a pollution incident may not be relevant, but once you have, let’s say 50 separate reports, there is likely to be an issue.”
It was that sort of media monitoring that gave the first indication of problems at Hanjin Shipping, the Korean container line that went into receivership in August, he adds.
Combining customer shipment and bill of material data with the information on disruptions allows the system not only to alert customers to potential problems, but to show them exactly which products are likely to be affected. That makes it easier for DHL or its customers to take pre-emptive action to minimise the impact of delays.
Combining multiple data sources can reveal unexpected insights within companies. QuantumBlack, an analytics firm recently acquired by consultancy McKinsey & Company, says that by combining five years of data from 30 different sources, it could identify organisation and process improvement [sta_anchor id="3"]opportunities in new product development for an unnamed automotive company. QuantumBlack says its approach, which among other things looked at how individuals and teams with the company interacted by email and other means, found ways to cut time-to-market by 10% and costs by 11%.
Making advanced analytics workSeveral things need to be in place to make analytics effective tools for automotive logistics companies. One is the processing power to crunch data fast enough to make real-time decisions. Another is the right data, in an accessible form, which can be hard to come by.
“With advanced analytics you are looking at multiple different data sources,” says Tim Clark of SAS. “Not just the structured data, like sales ledgers and delivery invoicing, but also unstructured data like weather, order notes or social media information.”
Handling that diverse range of sources wasn’t a consideration for the designers of systems that many manufacturers use today. However, even structured data is becoming available in ever-larger quantities and more diverse forms, from smart machines on the production floor to cars themselves, which are beginning to store and communicate rich data on their own performance and reliability.
More modern software has been built with scalability and expandability in mind, but Dominic Regan warns that just adopting the latest doesn’t mean the integration challenge is solved. “We are streets ahead of where we were even ten years ago in terms flexibility and scalability but that doesn’t mean we are living in the age of plug and play,” he says. “Part of the challenge is that the evolution of technology means anyone can bring a device or system onto the market, and there is still little standardisation in the way he delivers data.” Data standardisation, he notes wryly, has been a constant theme of his career in supply chain technology spanning three decades.
"Our listening tools constantly monitor various media sources for [search] terms, and the results are passed to a team of analysts who evaluate the information, take steps to confirm an incident and estimate its likely impact." - Tobias Larsson, DHL
Any organisation hoping to wring insights out of big data sets needs people with the right skills to run their smart systems. It is likely to be a seller’s market for the foreseeable future, as logistics functions will compete for talent across other departments and with other industries. “If I was going to recommend a career option to anyone right now, I’d suggest something in knowledge science,” says Regan.
Then you have to get people to use the new tools as they become available. Wurst notes that while there is much interest in digitalisation among senior managers in automotive companies, the wider organisation often takes more convincing. “People still like to check the results of their logistics planning systems with a calculator. If the recommendation comes as the result of an advanced analytics approach, you can’t do that.”
Regan, however, thinks front-line personnel will be more willing to accept automated support in their work. “As long as they can see the value, people are willing to embrace new tools,” he reckons.
So, is the reward really the effort? Compared to other industries, says Wurst, automotive supply chains can reap big benefits from advanced analytics. “The supply chain is already highly optimised and every deviation in the process has a bigger impact on what happens in the factory.”
“Supply chains are complex and margins remain very tight in the automotive industry,” adds Tim Clark. “To succeed in that environment you need complete end-to-end visibility and a great deal of agility. The only way you achieve that is by truly understanding the data in your business and the markets you are approaching.”


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In October 2020, the New York State Department of Health announced regulations for cannabinoid hemp products.
In accordance with legislation signed earlier in 2020 by the Governor, the Department is creating a Cannabinoid Hemp Program. The Program will license both cannabinoid hemp processors and retailers and set quality control standards that all cannabinoid hemp products must meet.
“These regulations are the next step toward regulating the growing hemp industry in New York in a way that protects consumers and helps ensure the industry’s long-term viability,” said Governor Cuomo. “Establishing the State’s Cannabinoid Hemp Program to regulate production and sale of hemp and hemp extract will help protect both consumers and farmers.”
The Cannabinoid Hemp Program will organize and legitimize the cannabinoid market in New York State by creating a licensing framework for cannabinoid hemp processors and retailers, and by establishing basic manufacturing, packaging and labeling and laboratory testing standards. Currently, applications for cannabinoid hemp processing and retailing licenses are under development, and NYSDOH intends to make them available in early 2021.
In 2015, the Governor launched the Industrial Hemp Agricultural Research Pilot Program, supporting farmers and further boosting economic development in upstate New York. Since then, New York’s hemp program has expanded significantly, making New York one of the leading hemp producing states in the country, with more than 700 farmers and 100 manufacturers of hemp products.


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Last month, it was reported that patent troll VirnetX is seeking $532 million in damages from Apple, claiming that the company has taken its intellectual property without permission. The suit focused on a variety of VirnetX patents relating to technology used in creating Virtual Private Networks, or VPNs. VirnetX said that Apple’s own VPN technology, as well as its iMessage and FaceTime services, infringe on its patents. After another week of hearing, the East Texas Federal District Court has now unanimously ruled that Apple owes VirnetX $625 million in damages.
All the way back in 2012, VirnetX was awarded $368.2 million in damages from Apple, but an appeals court threw out that ruling and ordered a new trial. VirnetX then went into the new trial requesting $532 million from Apple. Accounting for willful infringement and royalty calculations however, the court ruled that Apple actually owes VirnetX $625 million.
The ruling was unanimous by the East Texas Federal District, with it ruling that Apple’s VPN on Demand feature, FaceTime, and iMessage all infringed on a handful of different VirnetX patents, coming out to the grand total of $625 million (via AI). The location of the court is notable as East Texas district tends to favor the patent owner in patent-related suits.
At the beginning of the trial, VirnetX explained that Apple had “not played fair” when it came to licensing intellectual property, while Apple argued that it believes in fairness and protecting IP, but that VirnetX kept “moving the boundary, asking for more and more.”
Apple has yet to comment on the ruling, but it will likely seek an appeal. This isn’t the first time Apple has fallen victim to a patent troll, though. In 2015, it was ordered to pay $532.9 million for infringing on gaming patents of SmartFlash LLC. Not satisfied with that amount, SmartFlash then came back again looking for more, saying Apple had released products too late to be included in the initial trial. In 2014, Apple voiced its displeasure with patent trolls, saying that it is the subject of more patent-related lawsuits than any other company.
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I would like to know how much money those judges in east Texas get with all these patent troll trials.
Wait, so you are accusing judges of trousering money (and breaking the law), rather than criticising a company who has, according to these judges, broken the law?
Says it all really.
You have apparently never litigated a case as defense counsel in any of the gulf state plaintiff-friendly forums, of which E.D. Tex. is the worst. There’s a reason plaintiff attorneys file everything there, including nationwide class action cases. You should see the lengths they go to in order to find a local plaintiff who, at some time in their lives, briefly used some product or service of a large company, in order to sue that company and use the E.D. Tex. judges’ exceptionally plaintiff-friendly discovery practices to drive up the litigation costs and force a settlement. This is eminently well-known in attorney circles.
The stock of this company just soared, so a whole lot of investors just got a nice payday before Apple even paid a penny!
Apple will appeal to a higher up court that actually handles things more professional and a more reasonable outcome…
I also think something should be done about the judges in Texas… a bet most of these patent trolls who go through the texan courts actually live nowhere near texas.
By more professional and more reasonable you mean they will handle it in a way that aligns with your views.
compared to the dealings in other courts in other states and countries – these courts in texas are more likely to lean towards those small guys who are abusing the system.
These patent holders who sit on paperwork waiting for the opportunity to jump on companies get lots of money from large companies, and make smaller companies go out of business — they also prevent tech from advancing…
As i mentioned – if they were using the patents, or obtained them for a future project they are working on – then fine… but they are keeping them in a file unit waiting to take companies to court to get money — this is abusing the system.
The 5th Circuit Court of Appeals is a little bit better, but unfortunately not by much. This could be another Supreme Court case at the end of the day.
I just love biased reporting, as contained in this article. It’s funny how companies are labeled patent trolls when suing Apple, but when Apple sues them for infringement (e.g., Samsung), everything’s fine and dandy. I can understand that, given that this publication is devoted to Apple. But consider the history of Apple, with Steve Jobs commenting that ‘stealing’ is perfectly ok in order to build great products. Apple has consistently followed that philosophy. The writer of this article should at least get his facts straight. The patents were purchased from a well known company, SAIC, the same company that provides security for CIA communications. In fact, the very same IP technology that is used for the CIA is used by Apple in VPNoD, FaceTime and iMessage. The very same. In fact, Apple engineers some years ago tried to patent this technology, only to find that VHC had already done so a few years before their discovery. Did that stop Apple from using it? NO. Did that make Apple request a license from VHC for the technology? NO. So Apple did what Apple does best in these cases: it has tried to run out the clock, hoping that tiny VHC would go bankrupt before any final ruling comes down.No such ruling has happened yet, even with this verdict. Apple will appeal it to the CAFC, who earlier had remanded the first trial that Apple lost to VHC back to the Tyler TX court for getting the damages correct (the CAFC didn’t like how the damages were calculated the first time around). It is not clear what grounds that Apple will try to use this time around. Will the appeal work or will Apple have to use the last bullet in the gun, that being an appeal to the Supreme Court (again, on what grounds?). This is the short accurate story. From my perspective, I don’t think Apple smells so good on this one.
It’s defense in the courtroom sucked big time, with witnesses contradicting each other and a lot of “I don’t know”s from an executive two steps below Tim Cook who should have known. Apple conducted a survey to see how important “security” was to buyers of iPhones or iPads, etc. This would have been useful except the people conducting the survey used this question:”How important is encryption to you in buying your Apple product?” The jury asked the Apple witness: “Why didn’t you just use “security” instead of encryption?” The jury saw right through Apple’s attempt at obfuscation. And that’s pretty much how it went, as Apple tried to confuse the jury and belittle the VHC technology. (Recall earlier after the first trial that Apple tried to find a workaround for the VHC tech using relay servers and ended up getting over 500,000 complaints, thus causing Apple to go back to using VHC’s tech.
Are you familiar with what the term “Patent Troll” actually means? Samsung wouldn’t be referred to as a patent troll as they actually create and produce products that use their patents, instead of just trying to create and buy-up patents and not do anything other than try to sue other companies to get them to settle out of court.
It very simple. If you are awarded mln. $600 for a patent you never actually used to manufacture real products – You are a patent troll. #endThread
Nice to see someone who knows the full story. Has anyone here watched Flash of Genius? Was he a Patent Troll or was he an inventor trying to make a mark for himself and had his invention stolen by big business? There is no question here as to who created the software Apple is using.
Thanks Mark, for your insights. Don’t mind the fanboys that take Apples side no matter how much of a lie it is.
The best way to secure FaceTime, iCloud, WhatsApp, Viber, Facebook, Twitter, Gmail and all other data on all iOS devices, be it an iPhone or iPad, is to use a VPN service called PureVPN. It’s got 256-bit of data encryption power and IKEv2 protocol for fast and secure transmission of encrypted data. It’s best for being encrypted, undetectable and completely secured on the internet!
The fact the trial was heard in East Texas is indicative the plantiff is a patent troll. So get off your soapboxes. It doesn’t matter what the company is. The court is so biased towards patent trolls, it’s beyond laughable.
This is not an Apple or VirnetX issue, it’s an issue with the patent laws. They are fundamentally flawed. They allow a person/company to acquire a patent for an idea or concept, but do not require that person/company to execute that idea or concept. Want to get rich… patent an idea for a technology then sue those who come up with it after you have it ‘protected’. No matter that you had no intention on ever building anything with your concept. In fact, just leak that idea after you have it protected, then the idea is out there. Wait for a big name with big pockets to use it, then sue. You’re rich and you’re a patent troll. VirnetX sounds like they are low life scum to me, but they are just taking advantage of a completely legal process.
That’s not the case here they actually developed the technology.
I despise patent troll companies. But I can care less if two of these go at each other. LOL :D
Anyone else tired of the term ‘patent troll”? meh
Take a look at this: https://virnetx.com/licensing/current-licensees/
These guys have made a large chuck of change by suing and winning patent infringement cases against large technology companies.


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Mark Cuban fits the “eccentric billionaire” tag for a lot of people. In addition to having an unbelievable amount of money in the bank, he’s also one of those entrepreneurs that has really become a celebrity in his own right.
Oh, and he’s a massive fan of Doge. In fact, his willingness to accept this crypto has helped it to grow a lot. In 2021, he announced that the Mavericks would be the latest in a string of businesses that started to take Doge as payment. The mainstream nature of Doge means that you can even use it at certain reliable dogecoin casinos, to gamble with and make deposits and withdrawals, making it another way to try and grow your crypto pot.
Cuban has been quoted as saying that the currency will eventually trade at the $1 level, and the currency that many saw as a bit of a joke might even make to the mainstream once and for all. It’s amazing that you can use Doge to buy tickets, merchandise and more, and see those cute little dogs while you make your transaction.
There is a circulating supply of over 150 billion DOGE, according to the latest data, and the number is increasing all the time.
We’ll try to explain Dogecoin for those who don’t know what it is or how it came about. Dogecoin is a type of ‘memecoin’, which is a relatively new sensation in the world of crypto.
Dogecoin, with the ticker DOGE, was started way back in 2013 by a couple of software engineer pals working for Adobe and IBM. Bitcoin was already in existence, and they wanted to make a funny way for people to start to understand crypto and what it is. Dogecoin was the result, with cute Shiba Inu dogs on the front of the virtual coin.
They didn’t really think that the coin would take off, but it’s been relatively popular even if some say the technology driving the currency isn’t as good as its competition, such as Bitcoin.
Dogecoin experienced something of a peak in 2021 when it traded for about eight times more than it is trading for in 2022, which does show that the market can be volatile. At one point, it was estimated that the capitalization sat at about $78bn, making Doge one of the biggest cryptocurrencies in the world.
Cuban’s love of Doge
Mark Cuban has been quoted as speaking about the community around the coin. Dogecoin’s users tend to use it more as a currency in his view, which means they are more likely to actually trade it for goods and services rather than hold onto it for their portfolio.
“It’s a medium that can be used for the acquisition of goods and services, the community for doge is the strongest when it comes to using it as a medium of exchange.”
Why does this support matter? Well, he’s certainly not the only billionaire to show support for Dogecoin, and while he has backtracked a little bit in 2022, the fact that he is so positive definitely drives other people to consider investing in the currency and using Doge.
He’s also a powerful businessman and is involved in a lot of companies. Look at the way he has invested across the years working on Shark Tank. If people like this start to support these types of cryptocurrencies, then there is every chance that it is going to grow, and importantly, be accepted in mainstream stores. The fact you can buy a ticket to the Mavericks with a currency that started as a joke is pretty crazy.
The more businesses that adopt these types of crypto as a payment option, the more seriously it will be taken. Elon Musk has been another vocal supporter, joking that he should be called “The Dogefather”. If people like this take the currency to the next level, then it could grow in popularity and value. There has been speculation about whether it will reach the $1 trading point, and though this is currently a long way away, it isn’t out of the question.
Nobody can predict exactly what is going to happen with Doge, or whether the fact that it started as a joke will impact the growth of the currency. When you consider that the market capitalization has hit billions in recent years, it seems as if anything can happen. Mark Cuban is one in a line of champions for this crypto.


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26-year-old Charlie Pulbrook was the first person in the UK to buy an Xbox One. Will he regret spending that extra £30?
Microsoft has announced that it will cut the price for the Xbox One to £399.99 in UK from February 28.
It took just 94 days since the system was launched for it’s drop in price, from the original £429.99. Xbox UK Marketing Director Harvey Eagle confirmed to that the company currently has no plans to cut the price in other territories. The Xbox One retails for $499 in the US -which is roughly £300.
As part of the price cut, Microsoft will also sell its freshly-unveiled limited edition Titanfall bundle in the UK at the new price of £399.99. Preorders of the machine, which includes a Titanfall download code, will begin today and will be available while stocks last.


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The global landscape of advanced materials is rapidly evolving, with key sectors like films, metals, plastics, ceramics, adhesives, and paint and coatings undergoing groundbreaking transformations. As industries adapt and respond to emerging challenges, the demand for highly-functional materials is surging, driving exciting developments across multiple sectors.
Advanced materials have become the cornerstone of modern technological advancements, enabling the development of cutting-edge products and solutions. Films, with their diverse applications in electronics, packaging, and pharmaceuticals, are driving the demand for high-performance polymers and specialty films. The metals industry is exploring new alloys and composites to meet stringent performance requirements, while the plastics sector is pushing the boundaries of sustainability and lightweight materials.
Ceramics, known for their exceptional hardness and heat resistance, are making strides in industries ranging from aerospace to healthcare. Additionally, the paint and coating industry is embracing eco-friendly formulations and smart coatings, ushering in a new era of aesthetics and functionality.
As global leaders in the advanced materials market gather at Makuhari Messe in Japan from October 4-6, Highly-Functional Material Week TOKYO serves as the primary marketplace for manufacturers and professionals to explore the latest innovations in advanced materials, displays, lasers, and photonics. This three-day event offers a platform to forge new business partnerships, exchange knowledge, and learn from industry leaders.
One standout feature of Highly-Functional Material Week TOKYO 2023 is the enhanced reception method, guaranteeing attendees a seamless, zero-waiting-time experience. In an era where time is of the essence, this innovation ensures that participants can effortlessly access the event, optimizing their time for networking, attending sessions, and exploring exhibitions.
"We are excited to host Highly-Functional Material Week TOKYO, where the global advanced materials community will convene to share insights, learn from one another, and shape the future of our industry," said Katsutoshi Tsuchiya, Show Director of Highly-functional Material Week TOKYO. He added, "The zero-waiting-time reception method exemplifies our commitment to delivering a seamless and efficient experience for all our attendees."
Moreover, to enhance the on-site experience for international visitors, an Overseas Lounge is available throughout the three-day show period, offering a coffee stand, meeting rooms, and luggage storage services. In addition to the exciting lineup of exhibitions and networking opportunities, Highly-Functional Material Week TOKYO is proud to announce a special event designed to improve the on-site experience for international visitors - the Thanks Hour Party for Overseas Visitors. Taking place on the second day of the event at the Overseas Lounge, international visitors can enjoy free alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, as well as delicious snacks, while building valuable networking connections with business partners from all over the world.
As the world's premier event in the field of advanced materials, Highly-functional Material Week TOKYO 2023 offers an opportunity to explore cutting-edge products, materials, and solutions from leading global companies at the forefront of innovation.
For more information and to register for the event, visit the Highly-functional Material Week TOKYO official website.
Company :-RX Global
User :- Mary Joy Ballego


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Exploitive Business Models: Corporate Profiteering and the Rise of Gig Work
By Lorena Roque
The COVID-19 pandemic and resulting recession impacted the financial security of millions of families. And now, with inflation and rising interest rates, Americans continue to face high prices as wage growth remains below inflation. However, evidence shows that corporations are price gouging to increase their profit margins even as they have used supply chain issues and input costs to justify raising prices.
Research by Groundwork Collaborative shows that during numerous quarterly earnings calls, corporate CEOs admitted to driving up prices as a profit strategy. In fact, these executives have called rising prices “successful pricing strategies” and boasted “our strategy is working” because supply chain issues have eased while price hikes have gone into effect. These corporations are using inflation as a cover to place higher prices on consumers, which in turn harms families’ abilities to pay for basic necessities such as groceries. This corporate profiteering is a result of intentional market consolidation which allows companies to monopolize industries and thus have more power to further increase prices. For example, Tyson, JBS, Cargill, and National Beef control 85 percent of beef production in the United States. Similarly, 4 companies control 85 percent of corn seed sales: Bayer, Corteva, Sungenta, and Limagrain. Because so few companies own most of the beef and corn, they can raise prices due to little to no market competition.
In another attempt to maximize profits and cut labor costs, corporations hire independent contractors rather than employees. One hundred and sixty thousand white-collar tech workers were laid off in 2022. Yet LinkedIn data shows that the number of job postings for independent contract roles in the technology industry tripled in 2021 and 2022. Replacing direct employees with independent contractors reduces labor costs for companies because contractors usually do not receive the same benefits as employees, including employer-sponsored health care, social security benefits, and unemployment insurance. This trend shows no sign of slowing down; indeed, a study by Zinnov and Microsoft estimates that every third employee in technology will be a gig worker by 2023.
Corporate profiteering and the exploitation of workers in the gig economy are two sides of the same coin. Both business models use exploitive business practices to increase their profit margins and cut costs. This labor trend is shown by 1099 tax forms, which are used to report non-employment income to the Internal Revenue Service. They indicate that the total number of people who report collecting money from platform gig work more than tripled between 2017 and 2021.
Digital platform companies such as Uber, Lyft, and Instacart have relentlessly mounted federal, state, and local campaigns to further erode worker rights and consumer protections. These digital platforms aim to legislate permanent carve-outs for their workers, allowing corporations to deny workers employee benefits and minimum wage, and misclassify them as non-employees. At the federal level, companies have backed the Worker Flexibility and Choice Act, which would require workers to enter a “worker flexibility agreement” and sign away their rights as employees, thereby weakening the Fair Labor Standards Act. At the state level, rideshare companies have introduced bills in Massachusetts where rideshare workers wouldn’t be classified as either an employee or an independent contractor, but rather in a new category, making rideshare workers ineligible from any workers’ rights. Other companies in tech, retail, and the construction industry are adopting this business model from the Coalition for Workforce Innovation (CWI), a corporate lobbying consortium which aims to pass laws that would allow the expansion of gig work to their industries. Google, Target, and Accenture are among the companies involved with CWI.
These business models hurt workers and consumers alike. To combat corporate profiteering and hold companies accountable, regulators at the Department of Justice and the Federal Trade Commission should aggressively crack down on monopoly power by enforcing laws on illegal price fixing and collusion. Congress should consider taxing excess profits to discourage profiteering and market consolidation across labor sectors. To protect gig workers, states must adopt and strengthen ABC tests, which are three-part legal tests in which a worker is presumed to be an employee unless the employer can prove otherwise. ABC tests help combat worker misclassification by distinguishing employee and independent contractor status. At the federal level, Congress must pass the Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act to establish the ABC test under the National Labor Relations Act and prevent workers from being misclassified. Corporations must be held accountable by policymakers to protect consumers and the labor force.


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The Skyliner has seen better days. See how this affects transportation around the parks and resorts.
Disney park goers expect Disney transportation to be up and running. However, that didn’t happen this morning.
The weather is greatly affecting Walt Disney World this weekend. Find out which transportation line is currently closed and your other transportation options.
We have disappointing news for Guests wanting to take Disney World transportation. One mode of transportation is unexpectedly closed right now.
Disney’s Skyliner is set to be closed for general maintenance. We now have an unexpected update on this closure for the Disney’s Skyliner which may affect your travel plans.


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Shirin David, Capital Bra: When rappers become entrepreneurs
Iced tea, pizza, gin or wine: rappers have success with their food products. Supermarkets such as Aldi and Rewe can hardly avoid a listing. Why is that?
Bratee, Dirtea, Haftea – There’s currently no getting around the colorful cans of rap icons. Rewe, Edeka, Lidl, the kiosk next door: The rapper’s iced tea dominates the niche. Where does the trend come from, which lets rappers push ever further on the food market?
It’s always been there, Tobias Kargoll and Phillip Bondel of The Ambition consultancy would reply. The two are closely rooted in hip-hop: Kargoll is the publisher of Hiphop.de, one of the most relevant news portals on the scene. Boendel has long advised rap artists, written about them and befriended them before moving into the advertising industry.
In their book "Erfolgsformel Hip-Hop" (Hip-Hop Formula for Success), the duo discusses the symbiosis between hip-hop and entrepreneurship – and their company is intended to build precisely this bridge between companies and artists.
Rapper Reezy has already dared to cooperate with the big players: at the beginning of the year, the musician launched a white wine on the market together with Aldi. "My musical role models from the U.S. went exactly the same way: music first, then business. When my music became more popular, I wanted to take the chance," Reezy explains. He did – and more than 100.000 bottles of wine sold.
"This is pure self-empowerment"
However, hip-hop products have not only reached young people since iced tea in the varieties "Candy Shop" or "Busty Blueberry" appeared on the shelves of German retailers. A joint survey by management consultancy The Ambition and opinion research institute Yougov confirms the industry’s clout: 49 percent of 14- to 49-year-old Germans listen to rap – that’s around 19 million people. Among 12- to 15-year-olds, the figure is as high as 56 percent. This gives rise to huge purchasing power, says the survey. "Rap is the new pop," explains Reezy. The music genre has arrived in the mainstream.
The entrepreneurial spirit is part of hip-hop culture itself, experts Bondel and Kargoll explain: "You create something out of nothing. Founding your own label, your own brand – that’s pure self-empowerment." Experts point to New York in the 1970s, where artists emancipated themselves from a sense of discrimination. "Instead of just watching people party in Manhattan, the spirit was, ‘Then I’ll throw my own parties in the Bronx,’" explains Kargoll.
The narrative of emancipation is what reinforces the target group’s decision to buy today: "If you have mastered the right approach, consumers will grant you success. Martin Fassnacht, who heads the Chair of Strategy and Marketing at WHU, confirms the phenomenon: the entrepreneurial spirit is anchored in the scene and is credible.
Retailers have little alternative to working with artists
"My community is familial, they’re proud of me," rapper Reezy also says. The products he sells, he thematizes before in his music. The step to their own brand is therefore obvious. Whether gin, jeans or wine – his listeners buy what he puts out.
And yet: "The understanding of hip-hop was lacking on the corporate side for a long time," Bondel and Kargoll explain the problem that encouraged them to found their consulting firm. Only a few agencies in Germany would have understood that hip-hop is multi-layered.
That the cooperation between companies and artists is now changing, observes economist Martin Fassnacht. Retailers have little choice but to partner with artists or adapt their style and adapt to the buying habits of the younger target audience to reach them, the expert says. "The best example is Aldi: as a very conservative brand, Aldi rapped with the competition for the lowest prices," Fassnacht says. A means to present themselves as younger, more modern, hipper.
At the latest with the launch of the Gangstarella pizza from rap colleague Capital Bra, everyone understood it, says Reezy. In the meantime, a price war is raging behind the scenes, the budgets are getting higher and higher, Tobias Kargoll knows. Martin Fassnacht also observes the high intensity of competition between retailers: "Whether it’s Rewe, Edeka, Aldi, or delivery services like Flink, no one can simply book a cooperation. Demand from retailers is high, he said.
The insiders Bondel and Kargoll know: They can no longer help but list these products. "That’s how Capital Bra’s iced tea makes it into 10.000 cities, and so Shirin David’s iced tea initially makes it into the markets with 20 million cans," says Bondel.
Rapper iced tea has cultural relevance
Capital Bra emerged as the market leader among iced tea brands last year, outpacing rivals like Nestle. And Shirin David’s iced tea has also quickly conquered the market: according to Krombacher subsidiary Drinks& More, with which the rapper has teamed up, they have created "the most successful brand artist beverage product in Germany, Austria and Switzerland.". The manufacturer did not want to give exact figures. The market for iced tea grew by more than eleven percent in 2021 compared to the previous year – and continues to show potential for creative product innovations, according to the beverage manufacturer.
"Capital Bra is the new Captain Igloo," says hip-hop expert Tobias Kargoll, because a large, young target group can identify with the artist and product. Cultural relevance is what Kargoll and Bondel call this phenomenon, which they say is a major purchasing decision criterion. "The buyer looks at the product and says to himself: this belongs to my culture, I identify with it." This could also be observed on the iced tea: Whether Capital Bra, Shirin David or Haftbefehl – all three appeal to different generations and age groups within the young buyer base with their products.
"Rappers are not easy to control"
With the new hierarchy between distributors and artists, the nature of collaboration is also changing. "The cooperation is much more support-intensive. Artists have to be taken very seriously, they have their own ideas and are not easy to control – no matter what the contracts say," says marketing professor Fassnacht.
Rappers are in demand because they bring an organically high reach. Rapper Reezy also brought in a 155.000-subscriber fan base on Instagram to the negotiating table with Aldi. "I’m very bad there," he reflects "I didn’t want an 0815 design. I’m a stickler for detail and wanted the gold on the label to look real, wanted a die-cut imprint in the lid, didn’t want my name on the bottle. Aldi wanted that. Then we found a compromise, and wrote the name on the back," the rapper tells.
"An Apple drink probably wouldn’t work"
He says the collaboration took just under a year from the initial idea to the wine on the shelf. "It goes through many floors, a lot of things are discarded, then you start all over again. That takes time," explains Reezy.
In the short term, companies save marketing costs with the collaboration. To be successful in the long term, however, you need targeted brand management, says Fassnacht, "You always have to be on the ball." And: being authentic. "My brand as a retailer has to match the rapper’s brand," says the expert.
It’s all about how the brand essence comes into its own, says The Ambition: "If Apple were to launch a beverage, it probably wouldn’t work. No more than if Capital Bra would bring out a lipstick," says Phillip Bondel. And also Reezy emphasizes: "You must not become a market trader and should not sell everything and especially not yourself."
No personal attachment to Dr. Oetker, but to musicians
According to Bondel and Kargoll, iced tea and pizza are just the beginning. The food market would still hold a lot of potential, because there is hardly any bond between customers and products. "That’s the way it is with frozen pizzas: no one has a bond with Dr. Oetker or Wagner. Therefore, it is easy to penetrate the area," said the experts. And marketing expert Fassnacht also knows that the possibilities are diverse. "Initially, however, there will probably be more products in the snack and confectionery sector," says the economist.
Kargoll and Bondel still see a lot of movement in the beverage market in the next six months. Firmly stands: The penetration of rappers into the retail market is just beginning. And then? Go on. "A car brand is sure to come," say hip-hop experts Kargoll and Bondel. Reezy is also already tinkering with his latest idea: it has to do with his fashion label Teenager Forever. "And with a clean skin," reveals the rapper. "I am a musician, but I am also a businessman. One may be both, therefore one does not lose credibility – if one does not exaggerate it."


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“Test drives of the latest electric vehicle models, exhibitions, workshops for all audiences, sustainability experiments, giveaways, contests, and lots of fun.
This is the diverse menu of free activities that the second edition of MOVEO, the Sustainable Mobility Showcase of Oviedo, organized by the Association of Electric Vehicle Users (AUVE) in collaboration with the Oviedo City Council, is offering.
From September 15th to 17th, and under the umbrella of European Mobility Week, the Oviedo Congress and Exhibition Center and its surrounding streets will be filled with sustainability and electric mobility.
“We want to bring new forms of mobility to everyone; we encourage Asturians to test drive more than 20 electric cars that will be available and visit the booths of some of the most committed companies to sustainable mobility,” says Ángel García, president of AUVE.
“MOVEO is an event for the whole family; we will have giveaways, contests, a giant Scalextric, workshops, and many more surprises,” he adds.
One of the main attractions of MOVEO will be its varied offering of test drives. For free, and with reservations available at the event, you can try electric cars like Tesla’s Model 3 and Model Y, the Mercedes EQA and EQB, the Audi Q4 e-tron, the Polestar 2, Volkswagen’s ID.3 and ID.
Buzz, the Skoda Enyaq Coupé, the Smart #1, and several electric models from Mini and BMW.
Additionally, several electric trucks and vans from Alimerka and Masymas, two Asturian companies committed to sustainable mobility, will also be on display in the outdoor area.
Fun and education for the whole family
MOVEO attendees can enjoy a giant Scalextric that will delight speed enthusiasts and allow them to experience the excitement of racing while learning about the importance of energy efficiency.
Furthermore, from Friday to Sunday, several free workshops will be held to raise awareness about new, more sustainable forms of mobility, the renewable energy revolution, and others that promote scientific and technological vocations among the youngest.
All of this will be complemented by experiments, driving simulators, informative shows, contests, giveaways, and the creation of two collaborative murals related to sustainable mobility, renewable energy, the environment, and the role of people in the cities of the future.
Another highlight of the II Sustainable Mobility Showcase of Oviedo is the dozens of booths from companies and organizations such as Iberdrola, Bosquia, Adarsa, TotalEnergies, FAEN, Autosa, Tesla, Conecta Industria, SotySolar, Efibat, Oviedo City Council, Metalux, Eranovum, Tartiere Auto, and Polestar, among others, which will showcase their services and products related to sustainable mobility, renewable energies, and the environment to all attendees.
Montse Lavilla, Chief Marketing & Sales Officer of SotySolar, emphasizes the importance of having events like this in the region:
“As an Asturian company, we are committed to promoting events of this caliber that can drive the renewable energy industry in our community, encouraging more users to adopt clean and environmentally friendly energy sources, even in their travels.”
Preceding Professional Congress
Under the theme “Economy and Sustainability: the challenge of electrifying the future,” and spanning over 10 hours, the Oviedo Congress and Exhibition Center will host this congress on September 14th. The event will analyze business models and opportunities related to the electrification of the economy, the role of innovation in sustainable mobility, the social and tourist impact of this sector, and the challenges associated with infrastructure, among other topics of discussion.
“Electric mobility is already a present reality and will be the future. We have a unique opportunity to move with locally sourced renewable energy, without CO2 emissions, with greater efficiency, no particle or harmful gas emissions, improving the air quality in cities and people’s health,” explains Javier Izquierdo, technical director of AEDIVE.
Ángel García, president of AUVE, states that “MOVEO will turn Oviedo into a hub for education, networking, and knowledge related to electric mobility. We will bring together 300 professionals from entities such as Alimerka, BBVA, Eranovum, FAEN, Tesla, Efibat, TotalEnergies, Bosquia, CEPSA, Polestar, Tartiere Auto, Masymas… We will address economic, innovative, social, and environmental aspects for the future of electromobility.”
The Association of Electric Vehicle Users is a group with more than 6,000 members whose objective, non-profit, is to promote the development of electric vehicles, as well as the equipment, applications, services, and infrastructure necessary for it.”


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Prior attempts of Hyundai in this territory of SUVs have not been very fruitful with most of them being bombing at the market. But a simple glance at Santa Fe imbibes the confidence of being ‘the product’ which could revive Hyundai’s image in this territory.
According to hyundai-blog.com’s spy pics, first images of camouflaged-free new Hyundai Santa Fe are on the net.
- Would make it to the markets in 2013.
- According to the pics, the handsome looking Santa Fe would get closer in looks to the Hyundai’s fluidic design philosophy in its new avatar.
- Hexagonal front grille with layered bars and an overdone chrome job. Hope Hyundai tones down the amount of chrome in the final version.
- LED headlamps
- Large fog lamps with LED driving lights
- Audi like rear LED tail lamps
- Huge front bumper and a redesigned rear bumper
- Leaf-like side windows
The above listed along with a few nips and tucks here and there are all the blog reports. In fact, a lot seems to be inspired by the Audi’s menacing SUVs
running around. No information about engines has been made public by the company.
New Santa Fe is scheduled to be officially unveiled at the New York Auto Show in April. I liked the new 2013 Santa Fe in its new clothes and hope that the
company would launch it in India soon.
SOURCE: Hyundai Blog


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MDARD Showcases State's Consumer Protection Efforts at Williamston Gas Station
June 16, 2022
Inspectors continue to protect motorists and their wallets at gas stations across Michigan
WILLIAMSTON, MI – Today, Michigan Department of Agricultural and Rural Development (MDARD) Director Gary McDowell showcased the state’s consumer protection efforts, and the critical role MDARD plays in ensuring Michigan motorists and truckers are getting both the quality and quantity of fuel they’re paying for at the pump.
“As consumers continue to feel the pinch of skyrocketing fuel prices, I want them to know MDARD inspectors play a critical role in protecting motorists, truckers and their wallets at the gas pump,” said McDowell. “Our job will be to continue to ensure Michiganders can fill up with confidence knowing they’re getting every dollar worth.”
While most gas station operators are delivering the proper quality and quantity of fuel, motorists can help increase their protection by making sure the price display on the pump is set to zero before the pump starts and verifying the sign on the roadway matches the price on the pump before fueling. In addition, consumers should always request a receipt as a record of their purchase.
“Michigan boasts a nearly 95 percent compliance rate on fuel pumps,” added McDowell. “The five percent non-compliance can be attributed to a variety of issues including display malfunction, or even providing too much fuel. Less than one percent of devices fail for delivering too little fuel. MDARD works with our station owners and operators to help them get back into compliance.”
"Our retail members are in step with the motorist. We would rather see lower gas prices so the customer would have more money to spend inside the store,” said Ed Weglarz, president/CEO of the Midwest Independent Retailers Association. “Also, do not overfill your gas tank, nor run it below a quarter full. Overfilling can cause damage in the fill-pipe, while running near the bottom of the tank can cause damage to the fuel pump!"
“We share our customers concerns about high gas prices. We would much rather see lower prices as that’s better for our customers and allows them to have more money in their pockets to spend in our stores,” Mark A. Griffin, President Michigan Petroleum Association/Michigan Association of Convenience Stores. “We work hard to make sure our customers get exactly what they are paying for, and we look forward to continuing to be neighbors serving neighbors.”
Consumers can also improve their fuel economy by controlling the factors that burn more fuel. Following these steps will improve gas mileage, extend vehicle life, and make travel safer:
- Keep your engine tuned; maintain tires at the correct pressure; change the air filter regularly.
- Avoid aggressive driving - such as rapid acceleration and braking. It can lower fuel economy up to 33 percent on the highway and five percent around town. This can cost as much as $0.49 per gallon.
- Watch your speed - high speed creates more wind resistance. Every five-mph driven over 60 mph can cost an additional $0.10 per gallon.
- Be aware that running electric accessories like an air conditioner can also reduce fuel economy by five to 25 percent.
The Motor Fuels Quality Hot Line, 800-MDA-FUEL or 800-632-3835, is used for reporting suspected adulteration of motor fuels or pump calibrations. It is posted on the pumps at every filling station in the state. For additional information on MDARD’s Weights and Measures Program, please visit Michigan.gov/WMInfo. For additional information on gas pricing visit Michigan.gov/GasInfo.
If you have information regarding potential unfair gasoline pricing practices, please call the Attorney General's Office at 877-765-8388 or file a gasoline price gouging complaint online.


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Professionals in the supply chain logistics industry know that continued education is vital to ongoing success. Few instances gave companies a greater learning curve as to the vulnerability of their supply chain than the COVID-19 pandemic.
This made 2020 a pivotal year where all industries recognized the necessity of optimizing their supply chains to make them as impenetrable to unexpected circumstances as possible. In 2021, here’s what we expect to see trending in supply chain logistics to help in this initiative:
- Companies Will Be Open To The Automation of Processes Using Technology: In 2018, BCI reported that 63% of businesses do not use any technology to monitor their supply chain systems. Fast forward to 2020, where we found more companies embracing technology to automate systems that don’t require a human touch, such as picking, packing, and even delivery. In 2021, we expect to see more tech-driven automation as consumer bases continue to grow, leaving companies free to reallocate their human capital to performing tasks that directly impact the customer experience.
- There Will Be More Outsourcing Of Parts Of The Supply Chain That Are Underperforming: As supply chains grow in complexity, additional working parts are needed to keep products moving efficiently. Internal executives will need support to optimize certain parts of their systems that aren’t working as well as they should be, such as manufacturing, supply chain logistics, and inventory management. In 2021, look for companies to increasingly rely on outsourced supply chain professionals to improve the efficiency of virtually any aspect of their process. It’s the most cost-effective way to ensure your products continue to move as smoothly as possible.
- Businesses Will Be Open To New Ways Of Thinking: 2020 showed us that the old ways of doing things might not be sufficient enough when a crisis develops. This has given companies the opportunity to question the way they have done things in the past, and affect change to the status quo in order to protect the future. Evolving customer expectations have also forced companies to adjust their supply chains in order to stay competitive, especially in the rapidly growing world of e-commerce. Many service providers can introduce new optimization strategies to your system, as can the next generation of supply chain professionals who are not only already comfortable with technology, but also are becoming a large part of the consumer market.
- The Focus Of Supply Chain Logistics Will Be On Long-Term Strategies Instead Of Costsf: One of the biggest adjustments to supply chain logistics we’re expecting in 2021 will be companies ceasing to look at costs as numbers, but rather acknowledging the value they’re getting behind those costs. Like most things in life, you get what you pay for, and oftentimes the lowest rate you’re getting from a service provider will not provide what you need for the long-term health of your supply chain. Poor solutions will cost you more in the long run, but future-focused supply chain strategies will bring you significantly more savings. The upfront investment and ongoing costs might be slightly higher, but the dividends will be more than worth it over time.
- Investment In The Right People, Process, And Technology Based On Expert Opinions Of Supply Chain Professionals: In days past – long past – supply chains simply involved arranging transport of your products from Point A to Point B. With an exploding consumer market due to the globalized economy, supply chain logistics are more complex now than ever before. Modern supply chains need an integrated approach that combines the right people, process, and technology, as well as guidance from supply chain professionals who can help you put it all together and make it work. It’s also less frustrating than trying to put all the pieces of the supply chain puzzle in place yourself.
- Increase In Supply Chain Flexibility: As we saw during the pandemic, it’s not enough to simply have a lean supply chain process, but rather have one that is flexible enough to respond to outside influences. This will require the ability to shrink, expand, or adjust supply chain components with speed and dexterity – not as a “knee jerk” reaction, but rather as an important part of an all-around responsive solution. Expect added flexibility to be a crucial part of sustainable supply chains through 2021.
- Companies Will Be More Open With Their Data: Traditionally, businesses have been guarded with their data, including information about their suppliers, costs, processes, and technology. Although concerns about information security are completely understandable, more companies will begin sharing more openly with their supply chain provider so their systems can be properly diagnosed, fixed, and optimized. Of course, detailed NDAs will continue to be a part of the process.
Partnering with experienced supply chain providers can help companies adopt innovative ways to ensure that their products continue to move efficiently under any circumstances. With the right supply chain logistics partner in place, 2021 will be a brighter year for both manufacturers and consumers.
If you’re interested in learning how Cedric Millar can significantly transform your current supply chain into a more sustainable, flexible model, we’d love to chat with you. Just contact us at 1-888-998-1009 or via email at firstname.lastname@example.org anytime for a no-obligation discussion.


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Xerox is considering the sale of a leasing unit that lends money to customers to rent printers and equipment, to make itself more attractive to potential acquirers following the termination of its US$6.1 billion sale to Fujifilm Holdings, according to people familiar with the matter.
Divesting the leasing unit would relieve Xerox of roughly US$3.6 billion in debt, one of the sources said.
Activist investors Carl Icahn and Darwin Deason, who took control of Xerox earlier this year, are preparing to launch an auction for the company, which has a market capitalisation of US$6.4 billion and total debt as of the end of March of US$5.5 billion.
Xerox has not made a final decision on selling the leasing finance unit, the sources said this week, asking not to be identified because the deliberations are confidential.
Xerox declined to comment, while representatives for Icahn and Deason did not respond to requests for comment.
Reuters reported in May that buyout firm Apollo Global Management approached the company to express its acquisition interest.
Reducing Xerox's liabilities through the sale of the leasing finance unit would allow private equity firms to place more debt on the company to juice returns.
Xerox has said it is exploring its strategic options after it ended its deal with Fujifilm, following pressure from Icahn, a billionaire investor, and Deason, a former executive at a company that Xerox acquired several years ago. The two together own 15 per cent of Xerox shares.
The company has been engaged in a legal fight with Fujifilm since their merger agreement ended in May.
Fujifilm sued Xerox in June for more than US$1 billion, accusing it of breaching its merger contract and engaging in "intentional and egregious conduct." Xerox has disputed these claims.
The head of Fuji Xerox, a 56-year-old joint venture between Fujifilm and Xerox, said this week he was confident that the escalating dispute between the partners would not lead to the venture’s dissolution.
Fujifilm owns 75 per cent of the joint venture and Xerox the remainder.
Xerox said last month it would start sourcing products from new vendors to lower its dependence on Fujifilm, and cautioned it may not renew a technology agreement with Fuji Xerox.
Fujifilm responded by threatening to compete against Xerox in Asia Pacific and challenge it in America and Europe if it failed to renew the technology agreement in 2021.
(Reporting by Greg Roumeliotis and Liana B. Baker in New York; Editing by Steve Orlofsky)


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Prior to COP28, it was documented that we were on track for approximately 2.70C of warming by 2030, a far cry from the 1.50C goal of the Paris Agreement.
Coca-Cola. Holidays are coming
When we hear these 6 words, we know that the holidays have well and truly begun.
On day one of COP28 in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), what can we expect from this year’s programme? Aura’s Sustainability consultant, Gillian Orr, shares her views…
While global treaties play a crucial part, progress in combating plastic pollution grassroots efforts are also needed to expedite change.
The 1st November 2022 seems a long time ago since we launched Aura, at the Sustainability in Packaging Europe Conference, in Barcelona. A year into our journey, we’d like to share what we have achieved…
We’re excited to share the launch of Aura’s brand-new packaging sustainability podcast #TREVTalks, now streaming across major platforms including Spotify and Amazon Music.
Aura’s Trevor Yong shares insights from his recent visit to Velocity Institute Sustainability Summit 2023.
Aura’s Gillian Garside-Wight, Consulting Director, shares with us take-ways from E-Pack including insights from Aura’s E-Pack survey.
As we approach the end of Zero Waste week, we take a minute to reflect on the catastrophic impact excessive waste has on our planet, and especially in our oceans.
Last weekend at a sporting event, my beer was served in this ‘self-destructing’ cup. Intrigued by the incredibly bold messaging and claims, I couldn’t help but dig a bit deeper.
Our culture is a huge focus for us as an organisation, is key to both innovation and resilience and is undoubtedly crucial to our future success.
Over the last few years we have seen a trend in packaging moving from plastic to paper-based solutions, but is this really the sustainable choice or is it only perceived as ‘doing the right thing’ in consumers eyes?


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Americans really, really get into Halloween. The National Retail Federation estimates that this year, they’ll spend a whopping $9 billion on the holiday, with $3.2 billion of that being spent on costumes.
Though $9 billion is slightly less than they spent last year, one segment of Halloween sales has been on the rise in recent years. This year, shoppers are expected to shell out $480 billion on costumes for their pets—that’s more than double the number spent in 2010.
What’s the cause of the spike in sales of pet costumes? According to the NRF, it’s millennials dressing their pets up to post images on social media. A spokesperson for the group told MarketWatch, “Social media is allowing millennial consumers to have fun with Halloween.” In other words, they’re doing it all for the Gram.
Sweet dreams everyone:


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A Bangor business owner hopes to fill a hole in the retail landscape of downtown, when this spring he opens a grocery store and deli on Main Street.
Salty Brick Market is set to open sometime in May at 35 Main St., the former location of Country Blessings gift shop, and before that, Maine Cloth Diaper Company.
Owner James Gallagher, who also owns Bangin’ Whoopie located just up the street at 6 Water St., plans to offer grocery items, local meat and produce, beer and wine, a sandwich counter and salad bar, along with everyday sundries at his new business.
He’s been working on the space since signing the lease in July 2021, and though the pandemic made everything from getting permits to sourcing building materials take far longer than anticipated, Gallagher is now almost ready to open. He said the pandemic was actually the catalyst for his decision to open a place like Salty Brick.
“I was scooping flour at Bangin’ Whoopie one day, and it just came to me that if I ever needed just, like, a couple eggs or some other real basics, there was no place within walking distance of downtown to get it,” he said.
In addition to sandwiches and grab-and-go items, Salty Brick will offer a full salad bar, as well as some indoor seating for those who want to grab lunch or a snack.
Salty Brick will not be downtown Bangor’s first market. Around 2009, there was the short-lived bodega-style Broad Street Market, in the spot now occupied by the jewelry store Designs by Aaron. And between 2014 and 2016, Bottles and Cans at 48 Main St. sold groceries, beer and wine.
Additionally, prior to the decline of downtown Bangor in the 1980s after the Bangor Mall opened, groceries and markets selling fruit, produce and meat were a common sight throughout downtown for many decades. Salty Brick aims to fill a niche somewhere between grocery store and deli.
“I think you need to have a good mix of products, and be able to serve a lot of different kinds of customers,” he said. “Plus, there are so many more people living and working downtown than there were even just five years ago. Downtown is ready.”
Gallagher recently launched a Facebook page for the market, where he’s taking suggestions for the sorts of things future customers would want to see in the store.


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TWICE, the iconic K-pop girl group, has reached new heights with their latest album With YOU-th. Not only did they claim the top spot on the prestigious US Billboard 200 chart, but they also accomplished the remarkable feat of selling one million albums within the first week of its release.
According to JYP Entertainment and Hanteo Chart, TWICE’s 13th mini album With YOU-th, which was released on February 23, achieved an incredible milestone.
It became a million-seller right from the start, selling a whopping 1,063,615 copies in just one week. With YOU-th sold a whopping 400,000 copies more than READY TO BE (651,205).
TWICE reached the top spot on the Billboard 200. This marks their fifth time in the top 10 and their seventh entry overall. They’re breaking records as the K-pop girl group with the most entries on the chart.
Lastly, their world tour READY TO BE is going strong with a massive 49 concerts in 27 regions, including the upcoming one at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.


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One holdup was at the Woodard drug store in Princeton and police said a second robbery was attempted at a Rite Aid in Garner. In the Woodard drug store robbery, the suspect fled with $125 and 4,154 assorted pills.
Kevin Lamar Green was arrested at the Raleigh Inn in Raleigh Monday following a tip to police.
Officers found the pills from the Woodard drug store robbery and clothing they say was used in the robbery. A weapon also was recovered.


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Bath and body well-being brand creates a 3m-high candle and lights it in a busy Christmas shopping precinct to encourage people to ‘reset’.
Later brand reveal in advertisements leads to better sales – study
By our News Team | 2023
Marketers and ad agencies should consider showing the product first and revealing the brand later in TV advertisements.
When it comes to product advertisements, consumers like a bit of mystery, a new international study has found.
The research, led by the University of Otago in New Zealand in partnership with the Ehrenberg-Bass Institute for Marketing Science in Australia, has concluded that television advertisements are more successful if they show the product first and the brand later.
Lead author, Dr John Williams of the Department of Marketing at Otago, says researchers examined creative variables in television advertisements and then monitored consumers’ supermarket purchases after they viewed the ads.
Photo by Mizuno K from Pexels
The results contradict standard marketing theory and practice, but retrospectively make sense, Williams says.
Part of the reason for this novel finding is that most advertising research evaluates ‘effectiveness’ by asking consumers whether they would buy the product, or even if they merely like the ad.
In contrast, the New Zealand and Australian researchers used a commercially-relevant and industry-validated measure of sales success, eliminating the so-called ‘intention-behaviour gap’ that plagues much marketing research.
“Usually, television advertisements will start by showing the brand and then repeating it throughout,” Williams explains. “But we discovered marketers should consider showing the product first and revealing the brand later.”
Research into consumer psychology suggests there are a few reasons for this.
Create unresolved tension and attention for greater effectiveness
“If you see an ad that’s relevant to you but you’re not sure what brand it’s for, that creates unresolved tension and attention – the critical first step in advertising effectiveness – which is then resolved, giving a little trickle of dopamine,” Williams states.
“This makes an ad memorable due to the prolonged attention and processing, and also creates positive associations.”
Secondly, people usually already have opinions on brands before seeing their advertisements.
“If the brand is shown first, people either already buy it or buy some other brand that does the same job,” Williams notes.
“In each case, they are more likely to direct their attention elsewhere because they’ve already made up their mind – there is no unresolved mystery that is then resolved.”
The study, published in the peer-reviewed International Journal of Market Research, also highlights the importance of using multiple methods to analyse data.
“All statistical methods of analysing data have strengths, weaknesses and caveats, and therefore if you only use one method, you can never be sure whether your results are due to patterns in the data, or some aspect of the method you applied,” says Williams.
“This risk can be mitigated if you use multiple methods and see if they all tell the same story.”
The results have practical implications for brand marketers and people who work in brand agencies, as consumers are not as concerned about brands as they might think.
“Most people want products and services that satisfy their wants and needs, rather than particular brands. Although, there are a lot of exceptions to this general rule,” advises Williams.
You can find out more about the published research here.
Data from 2008 recession indicates that, in another recession, the amount spent on higher-priced Fair Trade goods may actually increase.
Interbrand study says lack of growth mindset, weaker brand leadership and poor forecasting are among the key reasons.
Tlali Taoana has experience in strategy, marketing and executive roles, and will expand the capabilities of the business.
AMC President flies the flag at the World Marketing Forum in Thailand, then welcomes Tunisia as the confederation’s 11th member.
It doesn’t always pay to advertise online. Consumers tend to view sponsored listings with suspicion and prefer to click on organic listings.
Organisations must harness the power of AI to free up their people to do what no robot can do – truly connect with customers.
Multi-channel retailing has become crucial to the sales strategy of any brand, including digital-natives that started as online-only.
Hloni Mohope is to move from her KFC South Africa role to become Chief Marketing Officer for the brand in Central and Eastern Europe.
Can they get a foot in the door and take market share from the big global sneaker names? African brands think they can.
Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM) reports on conference presentation urging marketing leaders to change their world view.


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Big news coming from FXhome. Today marks the launch of a huge update to its video editing and VFX software, HitFilm v12.0.
FXhome is very ambitious with this update. They’ve created a completely New UI and they’ve added GPU decoding on Intel and NVIDIA Hardware for 10X performance boost. There are also new tools for enhanced 3D animation.
Essentially, FXhome has rebuilt a completely new architecture. The company describes the new interface as a “snappier” user interface. The result of this rebuild is “a fresh new editing and VFX platform with the kind of performance benefits that professionals expect in their workflow,” says FXHome.
Let’s see what HitFilm v12.0 brings to the table:
Key features and enhancements:
- Threaded-rendering: FXhome claims
separatingthe new UI from the rendering process results in “a significantly smoother, snappier and highly responsive interface”
- GPU decoding on Intel: Also, there is decoding for Nvidia hardware. In turn, this results in workflow performance gains of up to 10X
- Trimmer prefetcher should improve the performance of playback in the trimmer
- Animation cache for 3D model animation significantly enhances workflow performance
Brand new UI design
Newupdated look to design
- Removed project screen
- Tabs removed and a universal menu has been added
- Mac native menus have been added
- Windows native behaviors have been added
- Includes quick color label selection added to the editor and compositor timelines
Pricing and availability
The updated HitFilm v12.0 is out now from the FXhome store and is priced at $299. Go to www.fxhome.com to learn more.