text:
New opportunities in mobile retargeting help brands drive ROI
By Chantal Tode
September 25, 2012
Despite some challenges, marketers are increasingly finding ways to retarget in mobile, helping to drive conversion rates and ROI for the efforts.
A lack of tracking capabilities in mobile is just one of the hurdles making retargeting more difficult in mobile compared to desktop. However, marketers are starting to learn how to leverage location, social and apps for retargeting purposes, efforts that could get a jumpstart if Apple introduces a new mobile identifier for advertising as it is expected to do soon.
“There are big name retailers and regional players that are experimenting with place retargeting and social retargeting,” said Kevin Hannan, vice president of product management at Sense Networks, New York.
“Early results are promising, but retailers haven't yet seen the results to start spending heavily with this method,” he said. “As cookie technology improves on mobile and as purchases become easier (via wallets), we expect that retargeting like it’s done in online will take off on mobile.”
Retargeting is the practice of targeting a digital ad to a consumer after that consumer has shown interest in the brand - for example by clicking on a Web site - but has not converted. The strategy is used quite often in desktop.
While still a relatively young strategy in mobile, the consensus is that the potential is just as big, if not bigger, for retargeting in mobile.
However, there have been several challenges, such as difficulties in tracking mobile users’ activities because most mobile devices are not compatible with cookies while other tracking mechanisms, such as UDIDs, present privacy challenges.
There are signs that mobile regarding is gaining steam. A Barnes & Noble executive at the Mobile Marketing Summit: Holiday Focus 2012 conference earlier this month said that the company’s No. 1 mechanism for driving engagement with consumers after they have downloaded an application is retargeting (see story).
To get around the challenges in mobile retargeting, some marketers are using social and location data to uncover user intent. For example, intent can be derived from what people tweet on their phones, and marketers can use those intent signals to target ads.
Marketers are also starting to use location data to identify regular shopping patterns and use location data as indicators that a consumer is in the market for a product.
“Brands are trying to figure out how to drive sales through mobile,” Mr. Hannan said. “They are looking beyond the current retargeting limitations to uncover intent in other ways and take advantage of the low-cost mobile channel.
“Location patterns can reveal that a user shops at Target every other week,” he said. “This opens up the opportunity for place retargeting, where Target can reach the user to increase frequency or Walmart can reach the user to convert him to its store.”
Retailers and restaurants, in particular, are gravitating toward location retargeting, per Mr. Hannan.
Sense Networks recently introduced its Retail Retargeting solution allowing retailers to identify shoppers who have been to their store and retarget these shoppers with mobile ads. The platform uses predictive location and behavioral targeting to match consumers to the most relevant offers from retailers via mobile display advertising.
There are also some opportunities for retargeting in mobile apps.
Retargeting in apps is often used to up sell existing customers and for new customer acquisition.
“As less visitors convert on their first exposure to an ad, retargeting is an excellent way to reach users multiple times and increase conversions,” said Paran Johar, chief marketing officer at Jumptap, Cambridge, MA.
“The challenge of retargeting in mobile is that there is curr ently no one way to retarget across both apps and mobile sites,” he said. “Almost all in-app advertising is compatible with retargeting.”
Two methods of retargeting for mobile apps are p ositive retargeting, which allows advertisers to pinpoint and up sell those users who have already seen an ad or downloaded an app, and negative retargeting, which helps advertisers exclude current users, or those who have already viewed an ad, and only target new consumers.
“Retargeting can increase
s ROI and decrease s cost per acquisition - music to the ears of many brand advertisers,” Mr. Johar said. “Retargeting also offers brand advertisers a chance to leverage various stages of an app campaign and help increase consumer engagement and brand loyalty.”
Other challenges in retargeting include having enough people come to a site so that there is a big enough subset of these people to retarget after they leave.
Another challenge is when marketers layer in multiple display partners that end up retargeting the same people and as a result there are not enough new prospects being brought into the pool.
Many vendors are looking for ways to address the challenges in mobile retargeting, sensing a significant opportunity for brands here if they can unlock the code for effective mobile retargeting.
For example, BlueKai has introduced a mobile retargeting cloud-based solution that helps marketers gain insight from their audiences across mobile sites and applications and helps them retarget across the mobile Web. In addition, they can prospect new mobile audiences as well as by tapping into third party mobile data.
“Mobile is a very new medium and we see some early adopters making use of these systems,” said Cory Treffiletti, senior vice president of marketing at BlueKai, Bellevue, WA.
“Direct marketers in retail and CPG are testing a lot in retail.
“Interestingly, mobile marketers who may not have a huge online or offline brand - marketing mobile games, apps and products - are probably the most sophisticated about reaching audiences in mobile right now,” he said.
Chantal Tode is associate editor on Mobile Marketer, New York
- Trackback url: http://www.mobilemarketer.com/cms/trackback/13852-1


text:
Frank Stephenson’s Review of the Tesla Cybertruck Is What Reviews Are Meant to Be
Those of you that are familiar with Frank Stephenson’s ever-growing YouTube channel know the former designer’s blunt, straight-to-the-fact manner of giving the verdict on a particular design. Only this time around, he dissects the Tesla Cybertruck, one of the most polarizing cars to reach the public’s eye in recent times.
The Cybertruck was unveiled more than a year ago and in typical Musk fashion, it shook the internet then split it in two: those that loved the edgy pickup and those that loathed it. Care to know Franks’s Stephenson’s opinion?
Someone Built Their Own Tesla Cyberquad, and It’s Awesome
We all know that the Cybertruck launch came with a bit of a surprise, we’ll-throw-this-in-for-your-entertainment moment when Elon Musk presented Tesla’s first pickup truck and the Cyberquad.
The Cybertruck has been getting all sorts of attention online ever since, yet the Cyberquad remained a mystery. Some claimed it was, in fact, just a dressed up Yamaha Raptor 700, but at the same time Yamaha denied working with Tesla. That said, one youtuber did get some ‘help’ from Yamaha in building his own Cyberquad replica.
Is There a Case For a Tesla Cybertruck Police Car?
We don’t have to tell you just how polarizing the Cybertruck has been in the wake of its controversial unveil back in November 2019. But the wave it sent to all online mediums has been of an unseen magnitude and that’s the best marketing strategy Tesla could ever wish for.
As a result, people came up with wicked renderings and some even started out building their own version of the Cybertruck. In this article, however, we’re going to be looking at whether a police Tesla Cybertruck would make sense in real life, given that some U.S. police departments are already acquiring and modifying Tesla Model 3s for patrol and other duties and we’ve also caught word of interest in the Cybertruck too, albeit from more exotic parts of the world.
Elon Musk Has Just Revealed Two Major Details About The Tesla Cybertruck
Not a single week passes by without new
related talking points surfacing online. Whether it’s a Hot Wheels RC Tesla Cybertruck or actual details about the real thing, Tesla’s polarizing pickup truck still has a lot of fire in its belly to stay in the headlines for the time being.
Tesla Makes A Bulletproof T-Shirt to Celebrate the Glass-Shattering Incident
The Cybertruck’s glass-shattering saga will remain fresh in our minds for a very long time. It’s not because of what happened on stage, but because Musk and his team don’t want us to forget.
Tesla is channeling all the hype it has received through memes and internet jokes into merchandise sales. On that note, the company is launching a new T-shirt featuring the incident, along with other Cybertruck-themed apparels and accessories. This is modern marketing 101 right here. The only downside - it’ll set you back by $45.
Lego’s Cybertruck Rival Really Is Shatterproof - Troll Level Epic
Whether we like it or not, Tesla’s Cybertruck is bound to populate our news feeds for longer than we expected. Helped by the now infamous “armour” windows blunder caused by your humble metal ball, the wave of mockery is getting thicker and thicker. Classier, too.
Such an example of a neat trollage came earlier this week from Tesla’s fellow carmaker BMW, as Munich’s social media department saw the window shattering a good opportunity to pile up more exposure for BMW’s bulletproof X5 Protection VR6. And then came Lego.
BMW Trolled the Tesla Cybertruck Hard on Twitter
We’re back with more
related news as BMW decided to capture some attention on Twitter and channel it on one of its most spectacular products by throwing some shade at the Cybertruck.
As you know, BMW will sell you, on special request, the so-called X5 Protection VR6, a heavily armoured vehicle packing 530 horsepower and the ability to withstand gunfire coming from an AK-47. This sort of badassery allowed BMW to troll Tesla and Musk for the “armor” widows gaffe that took place during the pickup truck’s live reveal.
Tesla’s Cybertruck Destroys the Ford F-150 in Painful Tug-of-War Battle (Updated)
Tesla’s Model S and Model Y have already proven that electric vehicles can top gasoline cars in terms of performance, but is the Cybertruck better than the iconic Ford F-150? Yes it is! Tesla’s presentation video of the new electric truck shows the Cybertruck winning a tug-of-war rumble against the Ford F-150 with ease.
Update 7-25-2019: Elon Musk has posted a much better video of the Tesla Cybertruck playing tug of war with the Ford F-150. Check out the new video in the new section below!
Rivian R1T vs. Tesla Cybertruck, A Battle We’ve All Been Waiting For
Tesla unveiled the Cybertruck, its first properly rugged utility vehicle and first to not follow the ’Model XYZ’ nomenclature, last night during an eye-catching launch event with concert lights aplenty as well as aides dressed as if they came from a Blade Runner casting. But away from all the glitz, we’ve all been asking how the Tesla will compare when pitched against its (potentially) biggest rival, the Rivian R1T? Well, we can finally answer the question.
The Tesla Cybertruck’s Graffiti-Style Font has "Merchandise" Written All Over It
Tesla is not above trying to monetize anything that it thinks will make money. Now that the all-electric Cybertruck has been revealed, you can be sure that the California automaker will find ways to generate supplementary income when opportunities present themselves.
It just so happens that one of those opportunities is already sitting in Tesla’s lap. No, it’s not the Cybertruck itself. It’s not even the Cyberquad. It’s the Cybertruck’s graffiti-style name. If you don’t think Tesla’s not above making money off of a font, wait a few months and check the company’s online shop. You might find a t-shirt with your exact size in it.
Tesla Cybertruck vs Ford F-150: quick comparison
The highly anticipated 2021 Tesla Cybertruck is here and we’re already wondering how many customers it will steal from the Ford F-150, the world’s best-selling truck. Granted, the awkward design might not help Tesla, but the 2021 Cybertruck has some impressive features and performance targets that might bring new customers into its dealerships. Let’s see how the Cybertruck compares to the F-150.
Tesla’s Cybertruck Could Be The Perfect Overlanding Vehicle For The Adventurous Folks
When Rivian revealed its R1T truck, there was barely any information known about the Tesla pickup truck. However, a few details slowly started to emerge and it looked like the latter will be more of a performance-oriented truck. In the meanwhile, Rivian took an alternate approach to become a household name in EV adventure lifestyle segment. Just around the time when Tesla was basking in its “Under $50,000” news, Rivian started promoting its R1T truck as an EV camper instead. Until the launch of the Cybertruck, it looked like both these rivals are promoting different unique selling points. However, it looks like Tesla is stepping into Rivian’s territory now. In one of the official images, the Cybertruck is seen with a bed tent and an outdoor kitchen. Although there is no word on it yet, there is a possibility of Tesla offering a camping setup as optional. Rivian must be fuming right now!
The Tesla Cybertruck Has Everyone’s Attention, But What I Really Want Is the Cyberquad
The Tesla Cybertruck is justifiably garnering a lot of the attention today, but just because that’s the case, that doesn’t mean we should completely ignore its little companion.
Revealed late in the Cybertruck’s debut is the Tesla ATV that we now know is called the Cyberquad. The ATV was unveiled largely as a late-game surprise to show that it could fit in the 6.5-foot bed of the Cybertruck. There are currently no plans to build it, but if Tesla had the temerity to build flamethrowers, surely the door isn’t closed on the possibility of seeing the Cyberquad come to life, right? Right?
Tesla Cybertruck Towing Comparison
One of the biggest talking points of the Tesla Cybertruck has been its impressive towing capacity. Musk shook the world when he announced that the Cybertruck will be able to tow up to 300,000 pounds. It took a lot of people by surprise and left them befuddled.
During the launch, however, Musk announced the highest rating to be 14,000 pounds. Forget about beating its own expectations, the Cybertruck has not even beaten the competition. If there is something to save the Cybertruck’s grace here, it’s the instant torque on offer from a standstill. Take that out of the equation and Tesla’s wonderkid will be ruled if towing capacity is an absolute must for you. So, how does it fare against the current competition?
Tesla Shocks and Awes with Cybertruck Pricing Details
The arrival of the Tesla Cybertruck has sent shockwaves throughout the auto industry. The all-new electric truck burst into the scene last night in Los Angeles and among the litany of important and breathtaking details that were revealed, none were as surprising as the truck’s price tag, or price tags depending on the trim that you get.
The Tesla Cybertruck’s price starts at $39,900 for the entry-level Single Motor RWD trim, and that’s not counting the incentives that come with it. Tesla is already taking pre-orders for the truck with just a downpayment of $100. Meanwhile, the Dual Motor AWD trim starts at $49,900 before incentives while the range-topping Tri Motor AWD trim starts at $69,900. A $7,000 option for the self-driving feature is also available.
Is the Tesla Cybertruck Really Faster or "Better" Than the Porsche 911?
The 2021 Tesla Cybertruck just broke cover at the 2019 Los Angeles Auto Show and we are still struggling to cope with its polygonal design. But weirdness aside, the 2021 Cybertruck promises to be an extremely capable and fast truck.
Back in June 2019, Elon Musk said that the electric truck will be a better sports car than a basic Porsche 911. The figures confirm this apparently insane claim, so let’s see how much better the 2021 Cybertruck really is than the iconic 911.
Tesla Cybertruck Pickup Renderings versus the Real Deal
After making us wait for years, Elon Musk finally unveiled the Cybertruck at a standalone event in Los Angeles. The Cybertruck breaks the orthodox styling of a pickup truck that we’ve been seeing for a century now.
In fact, the truck looks so much different from the ones in production today that it does not even feature Tesla’s logo anywhere. No one can mistake it to be anything else. Also, there were very few renderings that matched the actual truck, but none of them got one aspect right – the roof; or rather, the missing roof. Is the truck anything like you imagined it to be?
The Tesla Cybertruck Has Arrived and There’s A LOT To Digest
The Tesla Cybertruck has finally been unveiled, and, as expected, it already has everyone buzzing. From its controversial looks to its power and performance capabilities, Tesla promised a truck like no other, and for the most part, that’s exactly what the Cybertruck is.
Reservations are now open for the Cybertruck; they went live as soon as the live unveiling ended. Interested customers will have to wait to receive their trucks, though, as full orders are expected to be taken “as production nears in late 2021.”
Tesla Cybertruck Photo Gallery
Tesla just dropped the Cybertruck and we must say, its sci-fi looks are unlike anything that’s currently on the market. The Cybertruck is bulletproof, has a starting sticker of $39,000, it can carry a matching ATV inside the bed, but it can also pull 14,000 pounds, clear the quarter mile in 10.8 seconds, and spring from 0 to 60 miles per hour in 2.9 seconds.
Tesla Cybertruck Official Specs and Images
Ladies and gentlemen, the Tesla Cybertruck is finally here. Elon Musk’s latest brainchild wants to change the way pickup trucks have been looking for almost a century now, but it is also a ruggedness tour de force as it pack a hard-to-penetrate steel outer shell. The Cybertruck is bulletproof, can shoot from 0 to 60 miles per hour in 2.9 seconds, and starts at $39,000. Oh, and it can carry an ATV inside its bed, too.
The first ever Tesla pickup truck is here and it’s not what you expected
We know for a fact that Tesla will unveil its first ever pickup truck sometime this year, but some people aren’t prepared to wait so they’ve made their own. This is the story of Simone Giertz who did just that, using a Tesla Model 3 sedan as a base. That’s right. She bought a Tesla Model 3 and started cutting, adjusting, and welding. The result is way better than we would have expected. Here’s how this story goes.

domain: news


text:
Piraeus Port Authority net profits increase to 27.9 mln in 2018EconomyCorporates
The Piraeus Port Authority (PPA) has released its annual financial statement for 2018, which revealed that turnover rose by 19.2 percent year-on-year.
Coca Cola full-year results show net profits grew by 5 pctEconomyCorporates
Coca-Cola HBC’s results for the full year of 2018 showed that net sales revenue rose by 2.1 percent.
Grivalia Properties' net profits drop by 18.3 pct in 2018EconomyCorporates
Grivalia Properties’ results for 2018 showed that revenues increased by 11 percent during the period, though net profits landed on a negative balance.
PPC posts net loss of 255.1 mln in 9M on higher CO2 chargesEconomyCorporates
Greece’s majority state-owned Public Power Corporation’s (PPC) nine-month (9M) results showed that turnover fell by 4.3 percent year-on-year (YoY).
ADMIE Holdings posts income of 29.3 mln, affiliate profits up to 60 mln in 9MEconomyCorporates
ADMIE Holding SA reported its results for the first nine months (9M) of the year, which showed that total income from its affiliate the Independent Power Transmission Operator (IPTO SA) rose to 29.3 million. Net profits came to 29.2 million euros, in line with forecasts.
GEK Terna’s 9M sales rise by 17.6 pct but net profits fallEconomyCorporates
Greek construction and energy group GEK Terna’s results for the first nine months (9M) of the year showed that group sales rose by 17.6 percent.
Terna Energy net profits reach 27.9 mln in 9MEconomyCorporates
Renewable energy company, Terna Energy’s nine-month (9M) results show that sales were largely unchanged year-on-year (YoY) and came to 208.5 million.
Lamda Development net results show 26.6 million profit in 9M periodEconomyCorporates
Property developer Lamda Development has reported a 39.9 percent rise in turnover in the first nine months (9M) of 2018.
OPAP net profits rise by 12.8 pct in 9M on VLT revenuesEconomyCorporates
The Greek Organisation of Football Prognostics (OPAP) has released its results for the first nine months (9M) of the year, showing that gross gaming revenues (GGR) rose by 5.8 percent compared to the same time last year.
Aegean Airlines’ 9M results show 13 pct rise in net profitsEconomyCorporates
Aegean Airlines’ nine-month (9M) results for 2018 showed that revenues grew by 5 percent compared to the same time last year, while net profits for the period rose by 13 percent.


text:
It's interesting news that Carol's Daughter has filed Chapter 11 bankruptcy because they just landed a huge deal with Target stores which started in March. Shopper can find Carol’s Daughter products in U.S. stores and at Target.com. Carol’s Daughter and affiliated companies of the company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection last Thursday.
Read more at:
Carol’s Daughter Files Bankruptcy but Products Now in Target Stores | AT2W


text: Broome Boulevard shopping centre workers and patrons have slammed a council decision that would see a TAB open at the centre. The move will see lot T22, which faces Fredrick Street on the outside of the shopping centre, adorn the purple and white as a new location for punters to try their luck. The site would replace the facility on Louis Street near Town Beach, and is in addition to the small facility contained within Divers Tavern in Cable Beach. Long-term Broome resident Phoebe McGuiness-Morich said she believed allowing a TAB at the shopping centre was a dangerous roll of the dice. “Broome already has so many social issues related to addiction such as alcohol use, methamphetamines and gambling; it seems unconscionable to consider a prominent gambling venue open in a shopping centre,” she said. Breeanna Haddrill, who works at the Boulevard shopping centre, said there were already enough problems at the premises. “I have had enough of the young people coming in and harassing us, let alone adults,” she said. “(The council) say they are trying to help and bring cops up to stop the crime ... by going ahead with the TAB you are only causing more harm.” Documents tabled last week revealed the Shire believed there was no factual basis for concerns about antisocial behaviour. “It is acknowledged antisocial activity occurs at commercial premises from time to time; however the direct link to betting agencies is not clearly established,” the agenda read. Racing and Wagering WA wagering general manager Michael Saunders said TABs were retail business which were located within mainstream retail complexes wherever possible. “As an organisation we acknow-ledge our responsibility to the community and we have strict responsible wagering practices in place at all of our TAB agencies, as it is important that all our customers bet safely and responsibility,” he said. Shopping centre operator Primewest declined to comment.


text:
Some are handing out bonuses or raising pay, others are subsidising housing or upgrading mobile homes to include showers and central heating. Whatever they're doing to attract or retain workers, British farmers are increasingly worried about a labour shortage.
Brexit is delivering on at least one of the priorities for its ardent supporters as Europeans start to stay away and earnings for workers in Britain picked up by the most in a year. But it also means it's delivering on one of the warnings: that labor costs would increase and supply chains would get interrupted.
Employment in the UK among nationals from eight eastern states including Poland and Lithuania fell for the first time since 2009 in the fourth quarter, according to figures this week from the Office for National Statistics.
It's the biggest sign yet that the days of plentiful and cheap labor for the agriculture industry are over. The decline of migrant workers also doesn't bode well for the wider post-Brexit economy. Industries such as fishing, health and retail also depend on recruiting non UK nationals.
“There were all sorts of layers of additional cost that growers certainly last year were having to add in order to get their workers and get them to stay,” Worcestershire apple and hop farmer Ali Capper said this week on the sidelines of the National Farmers Union’s annual conference in Birmingham, where delegates demanded solutions from the government.
When you’re reliant on staff coming from abroad, “you can’t just replace them,” she said.
Some estimates show 98% of temporary harvest workers are recruited from elsewhere in the EU. Environment Secretary Michael Gove, a leading figure in the campaign to leave the EU, told the NFU that he now wants special immigration rules to allow foreign farm workers to stay.
The lack of clarity over government policy doesn’t impress poultry farmer David Brass as he struggles to find eastern European workers to help rear his 135,000 chickens in Cumbria, northwest England. With UK unemployment near a 42-year-low, he may end up relying on robots to help collect and pack eggs.
“When you jump off a cliff and you find out the parachute works half way down, that’s not the way to do it,” Brass, who also was at the NFU conference, said of the EU withdrawal process. “We don’t have a clue.”
Online grocer Ocado is struggling to find enough drivers to transport produce to customers, causing sales growth to slow last quarter.
With EU nationals making up two-thirds of the permanent workforce in the UK’s food and drink supply chains, according to the British Retail Consortium, that squeeze could intensify all the way up to consumers.
For Bill Quan, who farms 800 acres of land in southwest Herefordshire, the gap in labor supply is already costing him money because he has to pay workers more to keep them.
“Previously for our potato farming we never had a problem of people not turning up at our farms for work,” he said at the conference. “People just kept coming, but now that’s not the case.”


text:
Halloween shopping trends unpicked
04 October 2016 - 09:07 by Mike Price
The rise of Halloween as a legitimate event in the UK has been swift in recent years, in part as a result of the globalising force of the internet. So it is no surprise to see more people searching for products to help them prepare for the spookiest day of the year to buy via safe shopping online.
Figures published by auction site eBay reveal that in the month before Halloween in 2015, a total of 1.2 million individual searches for items relating to this keyword were made on its e-commerce site and mobile apps. On top of this total, half a million users looked for Halloween costumes specifically, showing that people are increasingly keen to get into the spirit of the day.
Every day during the period covered by the report, more than 2,000 people in the over-60 age category searched for products related to Halloween. This demonstrates both the spending power of silver surfers and the fact that this event has become a generation-spanning attraction.
People in their 40s were more likely than any other age group to look up fancy dress costumes specifically designed for adults. So while plenty of people use sites like eBay to carry out safe shopping online and buy items aimed at kids, Halloween is not exclusively aimed at appealing to those who are too young to be able to buy anything from the web themselves.
Another advantage of Halloween is the timing, as it comes at the start of the period of the retail calendar during which people are starting to stock up for Christmas. So e-commerce sites are able to win over new customers and attract them with seasonal offers which will, ideally, lead to them sticking around to make more purchases a little later in the year.


text:
3 drugged after eating purported marijuana-free candy
Three people say they were drugged after eating a chocolate bar that wasn't supposed to have marijuana in it at the Denver County Fair's new pot pavilion.
Fair spokeswoman Dana Cain says at least two of the people went to the hospital and tested positive for THC.
Richard Jones of Arvada told KMGH-TV he became sweaty and nauseous after eating the Full Melt chocolate bar and thought he might be having a stroke or a heart attack. He says hospital tests showed he had 100 nanograms of THC in his system, about 20 times the legal driving limit.
Vendor LivWell says it's investigating. If marijuana really was in the bars, the company says it was put there without its knowledge.
WATCH BELOW: How a retail marijuana operation works


text:
The Dow Jones Industrial Average and S&P 500 fell sharply on Tuesday and turned negative for the year as a decline in Target shares pressured retailers, while some of the most popular tech shares dropped again.
The 30-stock Dow dropped 551.80 points to 24,465.64 and the S&P 500 plunged 1.8 percent to close at 2,641.89. The Dow and S&P 500 were up 1.2 percent and 0.6 percent, respectively, for 2018 entering Tuesday. Meanwhile, the Nasdaq Composite also dropped 1.7 percent to 6,908.82 but managed to hang on to a slight gain for 2018. Tuesday's declines come after the Dow dropped 395 points on Monday.
Stocks hit their lows of the day after Doubleline Capital founder Jeffrey Gundlach said stocks are still too expensive, adding there has not been a "panic low" yet. The Dow was down nearly 650 points at its session low, while the S&P 500 and Nasdaq had both dropped more than 2 percent.
Target fell 10.5 percent after reporting weaker-than-expected earnings for the previous quarter. The company also posted lighter-than-forecast same-store sales, which is a key metric for retailers.
The decline sent the SPDR S&P Retail ETF (XRT) down 3.4 percent. Kohl's, L Brands and Macy's — which are also in the XRT — fell 9.2 percent, 17.7 percent and 3.4 percent, respectively. Retail's steep decline comes ahead of the holiday shopping season, a critical period of the year for these companies.
Read? Dow plunges more than 500 points, erases gain for 2018
Converting my NTUC Member Card to the Credit Card and get $60 for free! - So previously, I was on the PLUS Credit Card for simplicity in my finances as written here(too lazy to keep optimising points/rewards that don’t make a hug...
2 hours ago


text:
University of Wisconsin Madison to host meat competition
MADISON, Wis. — The University of Wisconsin-Madison will host a meat competition later this month.
On Wednesday, the university announced it will be hosting a satellite contest of the IFFA Quality Competition Jan. 21-25 in the lobby of the Discovery Building. The main competition is held every three years in Frankfurt, Germany.
This is only the second time the organization has held a competition outside Frankfurt. Organizers are hoping the satellite competition will promote participation from American meat processors who face difficulties shipping their product entries to the European Union.
During the competition, sausage and ham products from around the country will be judged for quality by members of the German Butchers Association. The same panel will judge meats in May at the IFFA Quality Competition in Germany.
Organizers said American participants will be judged at the same level as their European counterparts. More than 2,500 meat products will be assessed during the competition.
The public is welcome to attend an opening ceremony Jan. 21 at 10 a.m. where people can spend time observing the judging process.
Get your weather forecast from people who actually live in your community. We update with short, easy-to-use video forecasts you can watch on your phone every day. Download the iOS or Android app here.
COPYRIGHT 2021 BY CHANNEL 3000. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. THIS MATERIAL MAY NOT BE PUBLISHED, BROADCAST, REWRITTEN OR REDISTRIBUTED.


text:
You are here
Police are warning motorists to be wary after a pair of fraudsters conned a victim out of money at the roadside.
Sophos is warning LinkedIn users to watch out for bogus emails that appear to be from the social networking website encouraging them to click on reminders for outstanding requests and messages.
Police are warning the public to watch out for a lottery scam after an elderly woman was scammed out of more than £2,000
In this instance, the victim received a letter in the post saying she had been selected at random to win a large cash prize in a foreign lottery. In order to receive her prize, she was asked to send cheques for substantial sums of money to overseas accounts in Australia and Canada.
Police are urging people not to believe letters like these, and to look out for elderly or vulnerable relatives and neighbours.
New factsheets helping people protect themselves from different types of fraud have been published by the British Bankers’ Association (BBA).
The factsheets cover common frauds, 12 tips to avoid being a victim, online fraud, identity fraud, payment card fraud and cheque fraud. There’s also a factsheet helping bank staff protect vulnerable customers from fraud.
Residents should watch out for a scam letter from an organisation called ‘The British Awards Council’, encouraging them to call a premium rate phone number in return for a prize.
These letters should be ignored. Scams like these tempt people into calling the premium rate phone number with the promise of a prize such as a car, holiday, digital television or a large amount of cash. Callers often end up with a high phone bill but no prize.
Trading Standards is warning people to watch out for prize draw offers arriving in unusual packaging.
The warning comes after there have been reports of scam mail packaged in cardboard tubes usually used to send posters or prints. This particular scam seems to originate in China. The offer demands an advanced fee of £30 before the prize can be claimed.
Too good to be true
Fraudsters posing as US soldiers on dating websites have been targeting British women to con them out of money.
The fraudsters often take the name and rank of a US soldier who is serving with the Army and use photos of soldiers taken from the internet, including from genuine profiles on social networking websites.
How does the US soldier romance scam work?


text:
Despite the unrelenting flood of elite-sponsored nationalism, militarism, and commercialism, many areas of on-the-ground American culture have been improving rapidly. Sexism, despite setbacks like the Madonnian faux feminism that took hold in the 1980s and continues to work its evil ways, is one of the great social sins we the people have been chipping away at, despite our confounding institutional order.
TCT mentions this because there is important news on this happy front: Victoria’s Secret, the corporate lingerie pusher that has always sold its wares via dangerous sexist “aspirational” images, seems to be dying. In the climate that now seems to be solidifying, VS can apparently no longer run its hateful “fashion shows.”
According to Advertising Age:
It’s official now: There will not be a Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show this year. At a time when many other lingerie brands (like Rihanna’s Savage X Fenty) are celebrating real women’s bodies, some consumers found Victoria’s Secret’s display of thin models strutting in lingerie and stilettos to be backwards and off-putting.
TCT looks forward to the day when we no longer let people call us “consumers,” a label that only a capitalist should ever embrace. But, meanwhile, it remains important to count our wins, along with our struggles and losses.


text:
The British Columbia government is extending the interactive digital media tax credit for another five years to lower employment costs for tech companies.
The interactive digital media tax credit is a refundable tax credit equal to 17.5 percent of eligible salary and wages in the province. It was supposed to expire this year after being introduced in the province in 2010 and receiving multi-year extensions in 2015 and 2018. This year’s extension, which is part of Budget 2023, will allow the program to operate until 2028 to continue lowering costs for talent as the tech sector conducts more layoffs.
“The Interactive Digital Media Tax Credit…will help close to 250 companies in our province.”
– Minister Brenda Bailey
British Columbia’s tech industry has not been spared from mass termination events. Earlier this year, social media management company Hootsuite swapped CEOs and made three rounds of layoffs within six months. In February, Dapper Labs cut another 20 percent of its full-time employees, after previous layoffs in November 2022. Other Vancouver-based companies that made reductions to its staff within the last year include Thinkific, Dooly, and Unbounce.
The digital media tax credit is specifically designed for companies that create “interactive digital media products.” Examples of companies that qualify are those creating video games, educational software, edutainment products, or simulators.
“Supporting digital media companies by extending the Interactive Digital Media Tax Credit lowers their business costs and will help close to 250 companies in our province,” said Brenda Bailey, British Columbia’s Minister of Jobs, Economic Development and Innovation. “As a former tech CEO, I understand both the importance of this extension for our tech hubs and the critical role the sector plays in creating a strong economy.”
According to the provincial government, British Columbia’s digital media sector employs more than 14,600 people throughout the province and generates $2.3 billion in global sales annually.
As more people look for work, British Columbia’s unemployment rate slightly moved up, from 4.40 percent in February to 5.10 percent in March. Though recent layoffs have made a significant impact on the province’s labour market, unemployment in British Columbia this month is still low compared to pandemic levels, which saw unemployment peak at 13.30 percent in May 2020.
Other Canadian provinces that offer a similar tax credit are Ontario, Québec, Nova Scotia, as well as Newfoundland and Labrador. In Alberta, the United Conservative Party is looking to bring a digital media tax credit back after first scrapping it in 2019. The NDP first brought the tax credit to Alberta in 2018 and covered 25 percent of qualifying labour expenditures for interactive digital media and gaming businesses.
Featured image courtesy Unsplash.


text:
Super Bowl has NYC restaurant scene ready to score
The Super Bowl won't touch down in New Jersey until next month, but the New York restaurant scene already is rolling out the turf carpet.
The city with the endless appetite for great food is going all out for the big game, mounting a culinary spectacle in keeping with the over-the-top event.
"We go crazy for things," says Kate Krader, Food and Wine magazine's restaurant editor and a lifelong New Yorker. "But I'm kind of astonished at the level of things people are doing."
Exhibit A – The 50 Yard Lounge. At the intersection of Madison Square Garden and Penn Station, it will offer what amounts to a five-day food and wine festival with athletes. Heated roof decks, tented plazas and restaurants will showcase themed menus from top New York chefs while current and former NFL players mingle with diners.
In some of the many chef-and-athlete demonstrations, Michelin-starred chef Michael White will teach Football Hall of Famer Cris Carter to make pasta.
"It's about New York City chefs, New York City music, and about experiencing the Super Bowl in New York City," says Lonny Sweet, founder of marketing agency The Connect Group and creator of the event. "I felt I had an opportunity to show what makes this city so great."
Super Bowl XLVIII also will give rise to Forty Ate, a pop-up steakhouse created by hospitality giant Danny Meyer where VIP tables will cost $50,000 – food and drink included.
Commissioned from Meyer by the NFL and hosted in the Renaissance New York Times Square Hotel, the restaurant will serve burgers, steak and pasta with a view of "Super Bowl Boulevard," which is a section of Broadway converted into a street fair..
A more modest offering will be found in Brooklyn, where the charity Taste of the NFL will hold its annual fundraiser to combat hunger. The event, which costs $700 per ticket, will bring former players as well as chefs such as "Cake Boss" Buddy Valastro to the Brooklyn Cruise Terminal.
Meanwhile, all across the city, independent restaurants from the famous to the obscure are getting in on the game. A.G. Kitchen on the Upper West Side will enlarge its famous Cubano, stretching the roast pork-ham-and-cheese sub to 6 feet long.
"It gets away from the Italian subs people are used to," says restaurant co-owner Spencer Rothschild. "All of New York is being transformed. Every restaurant should find a way to step up."


text:
Demand for NBA Finals tickets has Cavs fans thinking of selling
CLEVELAND – They are the hottest tickets in town.
“Demand is through the roof right now,” said Mark Klang with Amazing Tickets in Mayfield Village
The Cavs against the Golden State Warriors Thursday for an NBA Finals trilogy that might be the most exciting yet.
“It’s been a series that has been anticipated since the season tipped off in October,” said Klang.
Klang says tickets for the NBA Finals games are about 20% higher than 2016.
“We’re seeing the same type of increase in the Finals, because we won last year. People have that feeling of repeat,” said Klang.
So, with that type of money, some season ticket holders are wondering if they should cash in.
“I’m in section 124, it’s right behind the visitors bench. I get a great view of the game,” said Dan Stintsman of Grafton.
Stintsman is a five-year season ticket holder who is selling his tickets for games 3 and 4.
Stintsman says a planned family vacation made the decision very easy.
“We put our tickets up for $2600 a piece, I have two seats. We are hoping we get that price because we have two friends that sold theirs for $3,000 a piece,” said Stintsman.
According to Destination Cleveland, each finals game bring in an estimated five million dollars to the local economy.


text:
September 28, 2012
While iOS 6 offers many updates and improvements for the iPhone and iPad, it came with a slew of headaches and frustrations that Apple has already begun to fix. According to Apple Insider, the company has been quick to address user concerns and patch some GUI design changes iOS 6 introduced that weren't quite up to par.
One of the major application design errors iOS 6 introduced was an issue with VoiceOver. A popular app for accessibility, VoiceOver reads text on the device's screen to users, but with the update it stopped including ratings in the AppStore, iTunes Store and iBookstore. However, this has already been corrected.
Keeping user satisfaction high with any design update is a crucial aspect of mobile application development, and by jumping on such a major issue quickly, Apple has shown how much it values its customers, an important lesson that any app developer should remember.
In another move that similarly demonstrates Apple's attention to user experience and satisfaction, CEO Tim Cook recently released a formal apology to users frustrated by the new Maps app. According to Apple Insider, Cook proclaimed that Apple is focusing hard on improving the app and correcting bugs and glitches that are causing major frustrations.
The app has received a great deal of criticism since it replaced the Google Maps app with iOS 6. Among the glitches are incorrect GPS positioning and poor routing information. Shortly after these critics began to appear, Apple issued a letter informing users that it was working to correct issues, but Cook's more recent apology shows Apple's attention to its customers and attempts to correct the negative feedback the Maps app is generating.
"At Apple, we strive to make world-class products that deliver the best experience possible to our customers," Cook wrote. "With the launch of our new Maps last week, we fell short on this commitment. We are extremely sorry for the frustration this has caused our customers and we are doing everything we can to make Maps better."
Ultimately the success of Apple's Maps will depend on its success in recreating the popular functions that Google's app provided, from high-quality routing information to Street View, and getting users excited about the app once again.


text:
18 March 2016
Guillaume Pepy, head of state-owned rail giant SNCF, this week led a group of top executives from 25 French companies to New Zealand, the first delegation of its type since 1997.
New Zealand and France to move beyond clichés about wine and cheese to revive trade relationship, according to the head of a major French business delegation.
"These companies are seriously thinking about investing in New Zealand," he told AFP, explaining the 19-year gap between delegations was because "the two countries are a little bit far away from each other".
"Official data puts two-way trade between New Zealand and France at about NZ$1.6 billion (US$1.1 billion; 970 million euro) a year."
But the figure has been virtually stagnant for the past decade, growing at just 0.6 percent a year.
"We can do much better," Pepy said.
"According to the business leaders (in the delegation to Auckland), we can increase the exchange flows by 50 percent in two or three years."
While France is a major player in New Zealand's wine market and there are big partnerships in the dairy industry, Pepy said the delegation was showcasing a broader range of French business offerings.
"We haven't discussed luxury goods or traditional French clichés," he said.
"We've mainly discussed infrastructure modernisation, environmental solutions and industrial organisation."
Pepy said French companies offered expertise in areas as diverse as light rail, "green" buildings, financial services and setting up delivery centres.
The delegation had generated positive leads and was, he added, a catalyst for regular exchanges to ensure the trade relationship was never again neglected for so long.
"Coming back to New Zealand after all this time is like rediscovering an old friend," he said, citing a shared free enterprise culture and common values.
"We understand each other."


text:
Get your free email accountLog in
Target Australia is removing "Grand Theft Auto V" from store shelves after more than 40,000 people who say the video game encourages players to murder ...
TAKE-TWO INTERACTIVE SOFTWARE, INC. news and stories
Copyright 2015 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Copyright © 2015 1&1 Mail & Media Inc. All rights reserved.


text:
Are Retailers’ Earnings Reports Telling Us Something?
“After seven consecutive quarters of comparable sales growth, we experienced a deceleration in our third-quarter sales,” – Macy’s CEO Jeff Gennette in a statement accompanying the retailer’s most recent earning release.
Retail has been the big story these past few weeks as many publicly traded companies reported earnings for the third quarter. The tone was … not positive.
Macy’s stock fell 11 percent during the week after reporting the first decline in sales in nearly two years. Home Depot dropped 8 percent after a sales miss. Kohl’s fell by 19 percent, missing significantly while also lowering its outlook. Urban Outfitters fell by 19 percent. Nordstrom fell 10 percent. Only the Target and the TJX Companies – owner of discounters TJ Maxx, Marshalls and HomeGoods – saw their shares rise after each reported a strong quarter.
It is well established by now that the U.S. economy – along with national and Philadelphia commercial real estate markets – are heavily dependent on the consumer, so how worried should we be about the red flags waving in these retail earnings reports? Is this what a strong consumer looks like? The story feels like it is about more than just shoppers shifting to online spending.
This CoStar Realty Information Inc. report from Robert Calhoun and Matt Powers involving U.S. and Philadelphia commercial properties is being made through Philadelphia commercial real estate broker Wolf Commercial Real Estate, a Philadelphia commercial real estate brokerage firm.
Consumer spending in the U.S. commercial real estate market – including Philly office space, Philly retail space and Philly industrial space – is ultimately built on the foundation of a strong labor market. While we continue to see job growth and low unemployment nationwide, cracks could be starting to show. We have seen job openings decline in recent weeks, and now it seems employers could also be actively laying off more workers. Weekly claims for unemployment insurance rose to 226,000 last week. While still very low from a historical standpoint, claims are up 15,000 in just two weeks.
Weakness in employment appears to be regional, focused largely on the Midwest and some scattered Northeast and Western states. However, the South remains the healthiest region. Every single state in what the U.S. Census Bureau defines as the South – except Maryland and Oklahoma – continues to see jobless claims fall. The economy in Oklahoma is much more heavily dependent on oil than other states (8 percent of employment versus only about 0.5 percent nationwide), so it has seen jobless claims rise as oil prices have declined from 2018 highs. And Maryland really isn’t even in the South, right?
This regional divergence in jobless claims seems largely driven by prolonged weakness in the manufacturing sector, on which Great Lake states are reliant. Manufacturing accounts for roughly 17 percent of that region’s gross domestic product compared to 11 percent in the U.S., including U.S. and Philadelphia commercial real estate listings.
It has been noted earlier that increased uncertainty causes a decline in business activity in the U.S. commercial real estate market – including Philly office space, Philly retail space and Philly industrial space – as well as a decrease in hiring. It also typically signals a slowdown in firing, as decision-makers wait to see how events such as the trade war situation play out. Is this dynamic beginning to change in a worrisome way?
That is hard to say, but if it was, you would see it first in the areas of the country that are most at risk from the trade war, and it appears as if that could be happening.
Fortunately for the economy, the consumer isn’t the only game in town. Housing continues to buck the otherwise weakening trend in most areas of the U.S. economy, with more strong data out this past week, especially involving national and Philadelphia commercial real estate properties.
The National Association of Home Builders’ Housing Market Index posted one of its best figures since the last recession in its November report. The portions of the survey that asks homebuilders their thoughts on current sales, sales over the coming six months, and foot traffic of prospective buyers all have substantially improved in 2019.
Housing starts and permits also reported a leap in the Census Bureau’s October report. By “back-of-the-envelope” math, the rise in homebuilder sentiment and issuance pace of new permits is roughly equivalent to nearly a 1 percent boost to real GDP growth among national and Philadelphia commercial real estate listings. With no trade deal signed yet and wavering hiring indicators, that 1 percent becomes essential.
Meaningful regional divergence also can be seen in homebuilding activity: The Midwest is seeing declines in new building permits while the South leads the way on new construction. (Robert Calhoun is a managing director and senior economist and Matt Powers is associate director of market analytics for CoStar Market Analytics in New York City.)
For more information about Philly office space, Philly retail space, and Philly industrial space or other Philadelphia commercial properties, please call 215-799-6900 to speak with Jason Wolf (email@example.com) at Wolf Commercial Real Estate, a Philadelphia commercial real estate broker that specializes in Philly office space, Philly retail space and Philly industrial space.
Wolf Commercial Real Estate, a full-service CORFAC International brokerage and advisory firm, is a premier Philadelphia commercial real estate brokerage firm that provides a full range of Philadelphia commercial real estate listings and services, property management services, and marketing commercial offices, medical properties, industrial properties, land properties, retail buildings and other Philadelphia commercial properties for buyers, tenants, investors and sellers.
A Philadelphia commercial real estate broker with expertise in Philadelphia commercial real estate listings, Wolf Commercial Real Estate provides unparalleled expertise in matching companies and individuals seeking new Philly office space, Philly retail space or Philly industrial space with the Philadelphia commercial properties that best meets their needs.
As experts in Philadelphia commercial real estate listings and services, the team at our Philadelphia commercial real estate brokerage firm provides ongoing detailed information about Philadelphia commercial properties to our clients and prospects to help them achieve their real estate goals. If you are looking for Philly office space, Philly retail space or Philly industrial space for sale or lease, Wolf Commercial Real Estate is the Philadelphia commercial real estate broker you need – a strategic partner who is fully invested in your long-term growth and success.
Please visit our websites for a full listing of South Jersey and Philadelphia commercial properties for lease or sale through our Philadelphia commercial real estate brokerage firm.


text:
Tough luck, PC fans.
The Chinese Room, who are the guys who brought us games such as Dear Esther and A Machine for Pigs, are now working on Everybody’s Gone to Rapture, a new title that so far they have announced exclusively for the PlayStation 4. Owing to the developers’ heritage, a lot of people have been anticipating the announcement of a PC version of the title- however, The Chinese Room have dashed those hopes to hell, as they confirm that there are ‘no plans’ to bring the game to PC.
Speaking on their Twitter, the developers said: ‘there’s no plans right now got enough on our plates with PS4 tbh.’
However, the development of the game is apparently progressing well, and we should have some more news on the game ‘soon.’ So that’s good.
Everybody’s Gone to Rapture is due out for the PlayStation 4 some time soon. We will keep you posted on all the latest on the game from the developers, so stay tuned to GamingBolt.


text:
As part of its National Investment Plan for the Rural Sector, the government aims to transform the meat and milk sectors into pillars of economic development and ensure food security for the population.
The initiative, called PAPCV-VL, aims to establish value chains within agricultural, forestry, and pastoral activities.
On July 6th, the Minister of Livestock outlined the main objectives:
– Increase productivity
– Expand meat exports
– Boost employment opportunities and secure incomes for producers
– Ensure food supply in terms of volume and quality.
The African Development Bank (AfDB) has fully financed this project with a budget of 20 million euros. The project will be implemented over a period of five years.
Source : tchadinfos.com


text:
LG and GE To Collaborate On Products
LG Electronics has signed a cross licensing agreement with GE Consumer & Industrial, a manufacturer of major appliance, lighting and integrated industrial equipment, systems and services. The agreement allows LG and GE to use each other’s patents for refrigerators and cooking appliances without paying licensing fees.
“We believe that this licensing arrangement with GE will enhance our ability to deliver winning products and move us further toward our goal of becoming one of the top global brands in consumer electronics and home appliances,” said Young Ha Lee, president and CEO of LG Electronics Digital Appliance Company. “Our long history of working together with GE will help us take advantage of this agreement even more quickly.
LG and GE have collaborated on cooking appliances since 1999, in technologies and product development. The companies believe the new agreement will help strengthen their competitiveness worldwide. This agreement will be especially helpful to LG, in its push to expand its global presence in digital appliances, according to the company. LG currently sells its products in North America through The Home Depot, Sears and Best Buy.


text:
PALO ALTO, Calif., Nov. 7, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Jive Software, Inc. (Nasdaq:JIVE), the leader in social business, today announced an update to its fourth quarter conference schedule:
- Jive previously announced its plans to participate in the Wells Fargo Technology, Media & Telecom Conference in New York City, on Thursday, November 8. However, due to the severe weather conditions forecast for the New York region for Wednesday and Thursday and its impact on airline operations, the company will no longer be able to attend this event.
- In addition to participating in the Goldman Sachs Small Cap Technology One-on-One Summit today in San Francisco, Jive is announcing that it will be presenting at the Credit Suisse Annual Technology Conference in Scottsdale, Arizona on November 27, 2012 at 2pm MST. The company will also be attending the Needham & Co. SaaS One-on-One Investor Day on December 5, 2012 in San Francisco, CA.
About Jive Software
Jive Software (Nasdaq:JIVE) is the world's leading social business provider. We bring social technology innovations from the consumer world into enterprises securely and at scale, changing the way work gets done. Our platform combines the power of big data, enterprise integrations and social collaboration technologies. Millions of people at the world's largest companies are using Jive-powered networks internally and externally to transform their businesses. For a free trial of Jive's next-generation social business platform, please visit Try Jive.


text:
The deal announced Wednesday provides Samsung with technology to compete against Google Inc., Amazon.com Inc.,
The specialty, also known as artificial intelligence, has hatched a flock of voice-activated digital concierges — such as Siri, Amazon's Alexa, Microsoft's Cortana and Google's Assistant — that work in personal computers, smartphones and Internet-connected speakers.
Samsung plans to implant Viv into phones, televisions and a wide range of other devices. The South Korean company did not disclose how much it paid for Viv, which is Latin for "life."
The name is meant to underscore Viv's mission to "breathe life into inanimate objects," according to Dag Kittlaus, the chief executive and co-founder of the San Jose start-up.
Kittlaus started Viv in 2012, shortly after leaving his job as director of
"We see a future that is decidedly beyond apps, where you can get what you need quickly and easily no matter where you are, or what device you are near," Kittlaus said.
Besides Kittlaus, fellow Viv co-founder Chris Brigham also formerly worked on Siri.
5:40 p.m.: This article was updated with additional details about a Viv co-founder.


text:
OrderMyGear, the e-commerce platform for the team dealer market, and Sports, Inc., the sporting goods buying group, announced a technology partnership. The investment Sports, Inc. is making into technology will allow team dealers to receive additional access to pre-released OrderMyGear product features and discounts on various services to provide a more robust e-commerce solution for team dealers.
Travis Elam, director of the Team Sports Division at Sports, Inc. commented on the partnership saying, “At Sports, Inc., we focus on empowering team dealers with increased buying opportunities, dynamic industry relationships, and competitive product trends.”
He added, “OrderMyGear shares this passion, and has been transforming the experience for team dealers and decorators. We are excited to partner with OrderMyGear in shaping the future of what’s possible for our industry.”
“We are thrilled to announce this expansion of our partnership with Sports, Inc. and look forward to continuing our efforts in enabling the industry with scalable and intuitive technology,” commented Dave Dutch, CEO at OrderMyGear. “Building products and features that advance team dealers’ ability to grow revenue and stay ahead of their competition are benefits we provide to our clients while improving the end-user experience as their demands and expectations grow.”
In a separate release, OrderMyGear said it hired Mitch Hammer as director of marketing. Hammer will focus on go-to-market operations, driving demand, building brand equity and platform adoption for current clients. She will also place a large focus on marketing trends and industry partnerships to set OrderMyGear apart as a thought leader in the group eCommerce space.
Hammer brings nine years of SaaS Marketing experience to the OrderMyGear team.
“This is a pivotal time of growth for OrderMyGear,” said Dutch. “Mitch has a proven track record of making impactful strategic decisions for organizations and building out teams that benefit our clients and potential customers which makes her the ideal OMG’er for our Team.”
“Continuing to develop an innovative, industry-leading platform that solves customer problems is essential for their success and continued growth,” remarked Hammer. “Part of enabling our customers to experience competitive advantages and growth in a changing market includes identifying their pain points and staying one-step ahead of the game in anticipating their needs and understanding market trends. I’m thrilled to be a part of the Team, and look forward to working with all of our customers and partners.”
OrderMyGear is an eCommerce platform delivering clients the ability to create unique online stores with personalized apparel and gear for corporations, teams, and schools. These solutions give businesses the advantage of cutting-edge technology to efficiently sell customized merchandise online. Through integrations and partnerships with all major sporting brands and apparel designers, along with the custom website builder, OrderMyGear simplifies the collection, customization, and distribution of products to the end consumer. With over 11 years in the technology industry, more than 2,500 clients and a billion dollars in processed in GMV, OrderMyGear is the leading expert in customized group demand for eCommerce.
Sports, Inc. helps some of the nation’s most successful independent sporting goods retailers and team dealers remain competitive by developing mutually beneficial relationships with vendors in the industry, and gaining additional buying power. By utilizing Sports, Inc.’s relationships and buying opportunities, retailers and dealers are able to stay at the forefront of product and market trends, in addition to advancing the market through technology. Sports, Inc. has been serving businesses in the US and Canada for almost 55 years, and has developed relationships with over 1,000 vendors in the industry.


text:
A £200m funding pot has been earmarked by HSBC for ambitious Greater Manchester firms.
HSBC is making almost £6bn of new lending available across its regional network, individually allocated to all of its 52 local business centres.
It says up to £200m is available to Greater Manchester companies, for use on projects like investing in new equipment, smoothing out supply chains, expanding into new markets and purchasing new premises.
It comes in response to HSBC’s new ‘Business of Growth’ report, which predicts 2014 to be a turning point for businesses, as they look to capitalise on the UK economic recovery to invest in growth.
HSBC says that a significant amount of the lending it is providing its SME customers is clearly earmarked to support growth.
It points to a number of strategies that businesses are adopting, including investing in new equipment to grow production capacity, smoothing out supply chains and payments cycle with working capital solutions, expanding into new markets especially in emerging Asia and purchasing new premises.
Jason Trigg, Manchester area commercial director, HSBC, said: “Manchester is a vibrant city with an increasingly buoyant economy. In Greater Manchester, there has been consistent growth in our business lending, and companies are also reporting an upturn in revenue streams, displaying that recovery is underway.
“Lending accelerated through the second half of 2013, with customers turning their thoughts to opportunities and investment, seeking finance to acquire premises, explore new markets and purchase plant and machinery.
“We are seeing strong demand from all sectors within the region, in both domestic and international spheres. Forward thinking businesses are seeing the fastest growth, and online companies are a great example of this. They are in touch with the consumer mood and understand the demand for value and quality in a time-precious world.
“As companies expand, a natural progression is to export and an increasing number of customers are seeking our support as they expand into new markets. Previously, the most prominent export markets were European countries, but increasing export links with China, South America, and India are becoming evident. Although it can be daunting to export for the first time, there are many ways we can assist customers to mitigate the risks of overseas trade.
“Businesses are viewing the future with real optimism, and the increase in lending demand demonstrates that confidence is returning.”


text:
If you don’t have AC at home, or are stuck in the heat outdoors, we have tips and gear for you.
Researchers found troubling bugs in open-source libraries used by financial institutions.
Not only is the app many Americans’ primary means of communicating with China, it’s also been the mobilizing arm of Chinese Trumpism.
Just like AirDrop on Apple devices, you’re now able to send almost anything to your contacts close by.
Thousands of eateries are closing amid the pandemic. Delivery specialists are popping up, but some worry about a loss of culture and community.
By apparently compromising moderator accounts, the attackers were able to plaster MAGA materials all over at least 70 popular subreddits.
The president’s latest actions against China may affect US tech firms, and Americans who communicate overseas through the social apps.
Need proof? ‘Spam Spam Spam Humbug,’ a podcast dedicated to the computer role-playing games, is now in its fifth year.
Pick up a Switch recently or looking for an upgrade? Here are some screen protectors, chargers, and other accoutrements for your new best friend.
At the beginning of quarantine, it was a lifeline for folks missing the thing people used to call “going out.”


text:
WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — After nearly eight months of negotiating, food truck owners will now have an easier time making money.
Tuesday city leaders met to discuss a number of issues and even loosened food truck regulations.
Back in July, the Planning Commission approved rules and regulations for food trucks that want to operate within the city.
After months of back-and-forth with city leaders, City Council voted unanimously to approve need food truck rules.
Before food truck owners were required to apply for special use permits, but they could only apply every 45 days.
The new rules would allow owners to apply for annual permits that outline exactly where and when they can operate and for how long they can stay in one location. Now food truck owners can get an annual permit and operate in all nonresidential districts from 6 a.m. to 3 a.m.
James Smith owns the Patty Wagon. He spent several months working with downtown restaurant owners to reach a deal that worked best for both sides.
“I’m relieved,” Smith said. “I’m glad City Council approved it. It looks like all the talks I had with the downtown restaurants came to a good positive ending that works best for everybody.”
Also at Tuesday’s meeting, council finalized a rezoning that allows a massive mixed-use project on South 17th Street. Barclay West will be built on 300 acres on the north and south sides of Independence Blvd. between South 17th Street and Carolina Beach Road.
Cameron Properties Limited Partnership owns the land. Developers say they plan to build apartments, offices and businesses on the land.
A spokesperson for Cameron Properties says the new development is a 25- to 30-year project.


text:
The Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) has called on three national restaurant chains to follow the steps of other food establishments by no longer using artificial trans fat in their fare. “Bob Evans, White Castle, and Long John Silver’s are now the roguish outliers among the restaurant industry,” said CSPI Executive Director Michael Jacobson. “Many Americans might have thought that the era of artificial trans fat was over. At these chains, it lives tragically on.”
Artificial trans fat has been dropped by chains, including McDonald’s, Burger King, Wendy’s, and Starbucks. The American Heart Association recommends limiting consumption of trans fat to no more than 2 grams per day that comes naturally from sources such as milk and beef, which “doesn’t leave much room for trans fat from artificial sources,” said CSPI. See CSPI News Release, April 26, 2010.


text:
Lineage Logistics, LLC, the world’s largest and temperature-controlled industrial REIT and logistics solutions provider, today announced the strategic expansion of its facility network near the major port in Savannah, Georgia.
“It’s a pleasure to see Lineage Logistics continue to invest in Georgia,” said Governor Brian P. Kemp. “Hardworking Georgians and our top-notch training programs like Georgia Quick Start continue to give companies the confidence they need to expand by showing them that Georgia’s workforce is not only skilled, but up to the task.”
“Savannah is the fastest growing port and largest single container terminal in North America. Lineage’s new facilities in this high-demand location will provide additional capacity and value-added services in a critical market for our customers,” said Greg Lehmkuhl, Lineage’s President and CEO.
“We are constantly looking for ways to maximize and further streamline Lineage’s total supply chain, and our meaningful growth in Savannah will offer customers increased access to faster, more reliable distribution opportunities to markets across the Southeast.”
Today, Lineage announced its plans to break ground on a next-generation facility near the Port of Savannah to handle fresh produce and perishable imports. The Company will invest $62 million in the new building, which, upon completion, will create 65 new jobs in Chatham County’s Port Wentworth, in addition to nearly 100 jobs required for the project’s construction.
Operating as a cross-dock, in which product enters one side of the building and exits the other side via truck on the same day, the facility will also provide fumigation, packaging and other value-added services for customers to move fresh product efficiently to markets across the Southeast. Construction is expected to be complete by the end of 2022.
In addition, Lineage announced the Phase I opening of its temperature-controlled warehouse on Tremont Road adjacent to the Port of Savannah. Serving both imported and exported products like poultry, the facility features a 19,000-square-foot blast freezer, a boxing room and customs brokerage capabilities to provide streamlined processing in and out of the port. Once fully operational, the facility will employ up to 100 Georgia residents.
Combined, the newly announced facilities expand Lineage’s presence in the market by more than 500,000 square feet of capacity. In total, the Company’s network will span four facilities in Savannah with twelve facilities across the State of Georgia.
For more information:
Tel.: +1 949.247.5172


text:
It’s interesting how some applications work. They’re there to provide a service to consumers, but, in a surprising twist, many downloaders actually keep the apps on their devices without actually using them. That’s according to Nielsen research numbers.
The study, posted on Clickz, indicates that around 42 apps are available on an average smartphone device, downloaded by the user. However, out of the 3,700+ users that were polled for both smartphone and tablet usage over a 30-day period, 84 percent actually use less than 10 of these apps on a daily basis, while 55 percent stated that they only use between one and four on a daily basis.
In addition, paid apps aren’t nearly as popular as unpaid ones, as 47 percent of those polled indicated that they wouldn’t pay for social networking, discounting or coupon services, or any sort of payment-related programs.
Ben Leventhal, a co-founder and chief executive officer for restaurant reservation app Resy, explained that apps need to offer something unique and valuable for consumers to use them more often. “The only apps I use are the ones that feel like magic, whether that means getting me a car or an impossible restaurant reservation in 30 seconds or allowing me to watch a news event halfway around the world in real time,” he explained. “The apps that stay on my home screen are either profoundly useful or help me connect with the world.”
Leventhal also showed concern that a great number of these apps don’t show significant value. “Every app promises to do something amazing and show us the future, which sounds great,” he said. “But most are over-promising by a mile, so they disappoint us, and we forget about them.”
Meanwhile, Jason Levy, senior vice president of engagement strategy and innovation at Saatchi & Saatchi Wellness, expressed that “bad apps” aren’t helping the matter. “People are just making bad apps that just aren’t necessary or apps that are better served as a mobile website,” Levy says.
Such items, like a car’s instruction manual, wouldn’t exactly make for a “must-store” app on a phone, although Levy believes it can find value as a mobile site. “So rarely is that information needed that it’s just going to sit on a way back page if it doesn’t get deleted. Meanwhile if [the owner’s manual] is online for the very rare instance you need it, the information would make a lot of sense as a mobile website.
However, when it comes to building proper apps, Levy believes that it should be done the right way, and not necessarily a gimmick that tries to rip off, for instance, Angry Birds. “If you’re a consumer packaged good, and you’re trying to come up with a time-killing app, you’re going up against people whose core business and the way they’ve monetized themselves is creating time-killers, and you’re going to get crushed,” says Levy.


text:
China-ASEAN Monitor: Malaysia-China trade expected to exceed US$100 billion this year
Photo Credit: New Straits Times
Economy, Investment and Trade
Malaysia-China trade expected to exceed US$100 billion this year
(9 December 2019) Malaysia is optimistic about achieving US$100 billion again in bilateral trade with China in 2019 after posting US$108.60 billion last year. According to a senior government official, this optimism is based on the fact that trade between the countries has already reached US$889.75 billion from January to September this year. Furthermore, Malaysia expects to welcome more high-spending Chinese tourists during Visit Malaysia Year 2020. The country welcomed 2.94 million Chinese tourists in 2018, up 29% from 2.28 million in 2017.
Trade value at China-Vietnam border port grew 19.71%
(4 December 2019) Trade at China’s Tianpeng port on the Vietnam-Yunnan province border grew by 19.71% year-on-year in the first three quarters of 2019 reaching US$46.77 million — which also translates to a 22.86% rise in trade volume at 63,095 tonnes. According to the port authority, inbound and outbound visits through their gate also grew by 4.67% reaching 120,302 visits. Bilateral trade between China and Vietnam totalled almost US$150 billion in 2019. Chinese tourists of roughly 5 million also accounted for the largest number of Vietnam’s foreign visitors during the year.
China greenlights 18 more Cambodian rice exporters
(9 December 2019) The Chinese government has awarded rice export licences to 18 more Cambodian rice millers, bringing the total to 44, to help the country meet its 400,000-tonne rice export quota to China in 2020. Cambodia’s rice exports to foreign markets grew by 3.4% from 497,240 in the first 11 months of 2018 to 514,149 tonnes during the same period this year. Exports to China led the way at 195,242 tonnes, followed by the EU at 174,397 tonnes, and other ASEAN countries at 69,239 tonnes.
Chinese firm wins US$210 contract to build two MRT stations in Singapore
(10 December 2019) Singapore’s Land Transport Authority announced this week that it has awarded China Railway 11 Bureau Group with a US$210 million contract to construct two stations on the new Jurong Regional Line (JRL). The Chinese firm is expected to begin constructing the Jurong West and Bahar Junction stations in 2020 and complete them in 2026. According to a local news outlet, the 24-station JRL will be Singapore’s seventh MRT line that comes as part of the government’s plans to improve connectivity in the Jurong area and turn the Jurong area into the country’s second central business district.
Malaysia expects more interest from Chinese property buyers in 2020
(9 December 2019) Malaysia will likely see greater interest from Chinese property shoppers next year following the government’s recent move to lower the minimum price requirement for foreign buyers on high-rise property, according to a survey conducted by Chinese property portal Juwai.com. A total of 386 Malaysian real estate agents participated in the survey, which was conducted between 6 and 21 November 2019. Based on the government’s Budget 2020, foreign property buyers will be allowed to purchase urban high-rise property that cost between US$144,120 (RM600,000) to US$240,200 (RM1,000,000) from January 1 till December 31, 2020.


text:
Dec. 8, 2018 – West Bend, WI – Sweet Creations Village Bakery in West Bend, 825 S. Main Street, is closing. A note was posted on the window of the business today, Saturday, Dec. 8, thanking customers for “years of loyalty and patronage.”
Owner Derek Van Alstyne says the store in Slinger, 310 E. Washington Street, will remain open and gift cards may be redeemed at that location.
The last day for Sweet Creations in West Bend is December 23, 2018.
Sweet Creations Bakery in West Bend opened in June 2013.


text:
The Partnership for a Healthier America (PHA), which works with the private sector and honorary chairwoman First Lady Michelle Obama to solve the nation’s childhood obesity crisis, announced today at its inaugural Building a Healthier Future Summit that it has partnered with Hyatt Hotels and Resorts, a leading global hospitality brand, to improve the nutritional profile of food menus at full-service managed Hyatt properties across the country.
Menus at all Hyatt hotels and resorts in the U.S. and Canada will be enhanced following the most recent U.S. Dietary Guidelines for Americans and the MyPlate federal guidance, which targets children’s menus. In the next year, Hyatt will implement adjustments to its children’s menus, such as offering fruits or vegetables as the default side item and making nonfat or low-fat milk available with free refills. The new children’s meals will meet MyPlate standards and will ensure that food illustrations on all menus depict healthier options.
In addition to Hyatt’s healthier approach toward children’s menus, the company is also committed to helping travelers stay healthy by making improvements to its full service restaurant menus and catering menus, with a significant emphasis on reducing calories, sugar and sodium content.
“Hyatt sets a new standard for leadership in the hospitality industry,” said Lawrence A. Soler, Chief Executive Officer of Partnership for a Healthier America. “In the last decade, Americans have spent about half of their families’ total food budgets, and consumed nearly a third of all their calories away from home. Making healthier options available wherever families are eating is critical in the fight against childhood obesity. Hyatt’s ability to impact nearly three million meals annually is a strong addition to PHA’s efforts to end childhood obesity.”
“We are honored and humbled to be recognized for our efforts to create healthier options for children at our hotels across the country,” said Chuck Floyd, Chief Operating Officer, North America, for Hyatt. “We frequently hear from our guests that it’s quite difficult to maintain a healthy lifestyle while on the road. We are committed to changing that, and by working with PHA, it gives us the momentum we need and moves us another step closer toward making a positive impact on the guests that we serve every day.”
Hyatt’s commitment to health and wellness is part of Hyatt’s global corporate responsibility program, Hyatt Thrive, which is creating programs that enhance the health and wellness of associates, neighbors and guests. These efforts range from promoting active lifestyles in the hotels to supporting programs that empower the people in Hyatt’s communities to live more healthy lives. Through Hyatt Thrive, the company’s operating philosophy focuses on delivering more healthful food and beverage choices, using fresh ingredients, and serving authentic dishes that are reflective of the local community and culinary heritage surrounding each hotel.
Hyatt has already made significant changes to its menus in U.S. and Canada, including the use of cage-free eggs in all restaurant and room service menu items, as well as sourcing beef from Meyer Farm, which is known for raising their cattle humanely and naturally.
Changes to menus will be implemented at all restaurants managed by Hyatt in the U.S. and Canada as well as on menus for room service, catering, bars, lounges and pools.
Menu changes will include the following:
Children’s Menus – changes starting now and to be fully implemented by the end of November 2012
- Offer a fruit or vegetable as the default side item with all children’s meals;
- Make 8 oz. servings of nonfat or low-fat milk available with free refills. Promote milk or water prominently on the menu with other beverage options displayed less prominently;
- Offer at least one children’s menu meal option that meets the MyPlate federal guidance: one to two servings of fruit and vegetables, a whole grain serving, a lean protein serving, and a low fat dairy (or dairy substitute) serving, which together have a nutrient composition equal to or less than 600 calories, 30 percent of total calories from fat, 10 percent total calories from saturated fat, 600 mg of sodium, and no more than 10 grams added sugar. Position and feature that meal as the first on the children’s menus;
- Ensure any food illustrations on children’s menus depict nutritious options, including milk or water as the beverage of choice if beverages are depicted.
- By 2016, reduce the calorie footprint by at least 10 percent across all food menus, with an endeavor to have at least 50 percent of U.S. Hyatt properties meeting this standard within three years;
- By 2016, reduce the sodium content of its food by at least 10 percent across all food menus, with an endeavor to have at least 50 percent of U.S. Hyatt properties meeting this standard within three years;
- By 2016, reduce the added sugar content of food by at least 10 percent across all food menus, with an endeavor to have at least 50 percent of U.S. Hyatt properties meeting this standard by within three years;
- At least two healthy menu meal options will be equivalent to or lower in price than less healthy menu meal options. This pricing parity will appear on all menus by 2016, with an endeavor to have at least 50 percent of menus reflecting this change within three years.
Every company that works with PHA is required to agree that PHA will monitor and report on progress toward their commitment. Hyatt has agreed to allow PHA to provide annual progress reports and to facilitate the measuring and monitoring of each established benchmark regarding its commitment.


text:
Kevin Mirallas and Arouna Kone helped to officially launch the new Everton home kit for 2013/14 on Wednesday.
The Blues duo held a special signing session to meet supporters at Everton Two in Liverpool city centre.
Fans in attendance got the chance to meet new summer signing Kone for the first time since his arrival at the Club earlier this month.
He was joined by one of last season's top performers in Belgian Mirallas as the pair signed merchandise and posed with supporters for photographs ahead of Saturday's pre-season friendly at Blackburn and subsequent trip to America.
Having worn the kit for the 4-1 win at Accrington Stanley, Mirallas says he is already at home in the new Blue jersey.
He told evertontv: "It's a great kit. I like it a lot and I'm sure we'll get a lot of home victories when wearing it this season. It's nice and light, it feels good when you're wearing it and I think blue is a colour that always suits me!"
Fans were out in force, as Radio City’s Breakfast Show presenter, Rossie, introduced them to the new home strip. An afternoon of music saw a number of prizes given away to the crowds of supporters, including a season ticket, signed shirts and a signed pair of Mirallas’ boots.
Meanwhile, earlier in the day and across from Goodison Park, Changy was at the Everton One store to welcome supporters as they also bought their new home kit for the season. A DJ was also on hand as the crowds were entertained with music and face-painting.
The new home kit is now available to buy at Everton One, Everton Two or online at evertondirect.com.


text:
Tesla’s massive San Francisco Bay Area auto plant will likely have to suspend production of electric vehicles for the time being despite Elon Musk’s apparent reluctance to do so. That’s because local government officials determined that it doesn’t qualify as an essential business amid dramatic steps to slow the spread of the coronavirus pandemic.
The Alameda County Sheriff’s Department, which is overseeing the implementation of aggressive “shelter in place” orders that have gone out to local businesses, said late Tuesday via Twitter that the company’s Fremont factory “is not an essential business as defined in the Alameda County Health Order. Tesla can maintain minimum basic operations per the Alameda County Health Order.”
Those minimum operations include functions like payroll and human resources, as well as facilities maintenance, but not assembly shifts, Ray Kelly, a spokesman for the sheriff’s department, tells Forbes.
Tesla, which has been running regular production shifts this week, didn’t respond to a request for comment on when it will halt production work and whether any of its employees have tested positive for the COVID-19 novel coronavirus. (Tesla hasn’t responded to multiple previous requests on how it’s addressing the health crisis over the past several weeks, and it’s unclear whether it still has any public communications team beyond Musk’s Twitter account.)
Musk has not issued any statements on the status of operations at Fremont, though last week he tweeted that “coronavirus panic is dumb.” The Los Angeles Times and other media outlets reported that Musk emailed workers Monday to let them know they could remain at home if they wished but that the Fremont factory would remain open.
“My frank opinion is that the harm from the coronavirus panic far exceeds that of the virus itself,” he wrote, according to the Los Angeles Times. In the email, he also apparently said that COVID-19 cases “will not exceed 0.1% of the population.”
“I will personally be at work, but that’s just me,” he wrote, adding “I’d rather you were at home and not stressed, than at work and worried,” according to the LA Times.
Videos posted to Twitter by a Los Angeles Times reporter showed a packed parking lot at the Fremont plant early Tuesday and several busloads of workers arriving as normal. The factory is the sole large-scale auto plant on the West Coast and builds Model 3 and S sedans and Model X and Y crossovers. The company tweeted yesterday that deliveries of the Model Y just started this week.
Tesla said in January it was ordered to temporarily halt production work at its new Shanghai Gigafactory as China dealt with the initial wave of coronavirus cases. The company hasn’t provided an update on the status of operations at that factory, nor has it said what is happening at its battery plant in Sparks, Nevada, and its solar power factory in Buffalo, New York.
Alameda County, home to Fremont, implemented the shelter in place rules on March 16 along with San Francisco and Santa Clara Counties, effectively preventing most Silicon Valley businesses, excluding grocery stores, pharmacies, medical facilities and other essential services, from continuing normal operations for three weeks.


text:
A BURGLAR has been sentenced to 16 weeks behind bars for breaking into a Brimington beauty salon.
Steven Flynn, 35, of HMP Stocken, admitted to raiding Fingertips on Chesterfield Road between March 12 and 15, 2012.
A hearing at Chesterfield Magistrates’ Court revealed how he smashed a window on the front door to force his way into the shop before thieving nail gel worth £180.
The glass panel had been partially cracked for some time before, magistrates heard.
Helen Griffiths, prosecuting, said the owner of the shop has had to shell out £200 to get the window fixed.
She said: “The owner is very upset and it has caused her a lot of inconvenience. It’s a small salon and something like this can effect business greatly.”
The owner closed the shop around 5pm on the day in question, as normal following a day’s trading.
The owner also noticed around £5 and £6 in change had gone missing.
Mr Bashford, defending, said Flynn had an ongoing heroin problem that was being addressed during his time in HMP Stocken where he is currently serving a prison sentence for a previous offence.
He said: “He says he will remain drug free. If he remains drug free then he will not find himself in the courts.”
Magistrates sentenced Flynn to 16 weeks in prison to be served concurrently following the completion of an existing sentence.
No order for costs or compensation were made.


text:
Aggressive response to COVID-19 expected to result in the Company generating $5.0-$6.0 million of Operating cash flow net of investing activities in Q2 2020
Company sees strong loan performance with record low default rates & 2% of customers currently receiving active relief
tap here to see other videos from our team.
Mogo expanding monetization strategy with upcoming launch of referral model
Mogo reports in Canadian dollars and in accordance with IFRS
Mogo Inc. (TSX:MOGO) (NASDAQ:MOGO) (“Mogo” or the “Company”), one of Canada’s leading financial technology companies, today announced its financial and operational results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2020.
“In the past several months, we’ve made significant changes – both financially and strategically – in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting economic impact. We thank our team members who have done an unbelievable job during these challenging times,” said David Feller, Mogo’s Founder and CEO. “It’s clear that financial health is more important than ever, and consumers will increasingly look for a mobile-first digital solution to help them achieve this. With one million members and more than $250 million invested to date, our leading digital platform remains a unique and valuable asset in the Canadian market. Among the changes we have made recently, we are expanding our monetization strategy to include a new referral model for the financial products we do not offer today. This new referral strategy will provide a simpler, faster path to monetization and additional fee-based revenue streams.”


text:
South Korea Trade Surplus Widens in July
South Korea recorded a USD7.80 billion trade surplus in July of 2016, compared to a USD7.05 billion surplus a year earlier, as imports dropped more than exports, preliminary data showed.
8/1/2016 4:12:30 AM
Year-on-year, exports fell by 10.2 percent to USD41.0 billion, following a 2.7 percent fall in June and market estimates of a 4.6 percent decline. It was the fastest decrease since April.
Sales to China, the largest market for South Korean products, fell by 9.3 percent and marking the 13th straight month of decrease. Outbound shipments also declined by 14.3 percent to the US, the biggest fall since March 2013. Those to the EU countries dropped by 4.3 percent, marking the 4th straight month of fall.
Imports dropped by 14.0 percent to USD33.0 billion, after declining 8.0 percent in the preceding month. It was the 22nd straight month of drop while market expected a 9.5 percent decline
In July 2016, trade surplus stood at USD11.5 billion.
The trade balance has been in consistent surpluses since February 2012.


text:
Nation's Service Sector Grew At Faster-Than-Expected Rate In October
Monday, November 5th 2007, 10:34 am
News On 6
NEW YORK (AP) _ The U.S. services sector grew at a faster-than-expected rate in October boosted by strength in new orders, a private research group said Monday.
The Institute for Supply Management's index gauging the health of non-manufacturing industries registered 55.8, up from 54.8 in September. A reading above 50 indicates expansion, while one below 50 shows contraction.
The result was stronger than the 54 reading analysts had expected.
The services sector, such as airlines, hair salons, accountants, doctors, dentists and plumbers, has been one of the engines of the economy even as manufacturing has slowed. ``Non-manufacturing business activity increased for the 55th consecutive month in October,'' said Anthony Nieves, chairman of ISM.
The report's components showed growth in orders and slower expansion rates in employment and prices. Nine non-manufacturing industries reported increased activity in October.
Bernard Baumohl, managing director of the Economic Outlook Group, said the strength of the survey was a surprise but cautioned that the state of the services sector is not always the best harbinger of an economic turning point.
``To determine a turning point in the economy you have to look at the goods producing sector, `` he said.
``People tend to still go to the dentist and the doctor even when things turn down,'' he said. ``But you can put off a purchase of goods.''


text:
Monday, August 10, 2009
Auto recyclers hope to make profit; effects on market uncertain
Jim Biggs, yard supervisor at B&F Towing Co. in New Castle, Del., is getting ready to destroy a 1997 green Nissan Pathfinder SUV that looks in pretty good shape except for some wear and tear.
“They’re nicer than what we’re used to crushing,” said Biggs. He climbed into a front-end loader and drove over to the Pathfinder to take it on its final journey to a giant compactor known as a “car crusher.”
The government’s hugely popular “Cash for Clunkers” program is keeping B&F and other scrap yards across the country busy crushing roadworthy vehicles and sending them on for shredding.
Not everybody is happy with the program, which was extended for at least a few weeks when President Obama Friday signed into law a $2 billion extension.
Some auto recyclers are particularly incensed with provisions that limit the ability of the yards to recycle parts from the vehicle.
“There’s a mixed feeling out there among auto recyclers,” said Jennifer Johnson, a spokeswoman for the Automotive Recyclers Association. Under the law, the engine of each "clunker" must be destroyed by a process that involves pouring sodium silicate, known as liquid glass, into it until it ceases to operate.
In addition the drive train cannot be sold without being disassembled. Those two parts typically yield 60 percent of the profit from a recycled vehicle.
Barb Moran, president of Moran Industries, one of the largest automotive aftermarket repair center franchise operations in the country, also said crushing the old vehicles means fewer components that could be used to repair existing cars. “If a customer has a problem, you’re not going to be able to go and find those parts to repair the vehicle,” she said.
But Henry Fenimore, owner of B&F, said he hopes to make at least a small profit from the vehicles he crushes. But he added that he is racing the clock to get the scrap to the salvage yard. “With the market for scrap liable to be flooded with vehicles, the price can come down," he said.
B&F is one of thousands of disposal operations across the country authorized to destroy the gas-guzzlers.
B&F bought the Pathfinder from Union Park Automotive Group in Wilmington, Del., last week and made it a priority to scrap it right away even though he has 180 days to do so under the program. The federal program requires both firms to certify in writing that the SUV was scrapped, leaving an extensive paper trail.
The government wants to ensure that the vehicles and their engines do not end up back on the road after a trade in.
“Once I get possession of them I have to certify that they won’t get back on the highway,” said Fenimore.
That's because one person’s clunker can be another person’s awesome ride; and clearly many of these vehicles are still roadworthy. One of the provisions of the clunker law is that the vehicles have to be driven in to dealerships for consumers to qualify for a government rebate of up to $4,500.
So far, Fenimore has gotten 20 vehicles from dealers around the state to crush as part of the program. He expects 200 more to be heading his way soon.
He typically pays about $200 a vehicle and expects to make a profit from the scrap metal and whatever parts he can sell and recycle. When and how much he’ll make he can’t speculate. “It depends on how fast I can do all this to keep up with the market” for scrap metal prices, he said.
The vehicles that are part of the program are not like others he’s bought before, and he expects slimmer margins.
First off, with cars he hauls from the street, there may be some money in the ashtray, or a wrench or jumper cables in the trunk. By contrast, the vehicles he’s getting through the clunker program are usually cleaned out pretty well by their owners.
Indeed, the only thing left in the Nissan Pathfinder was a pen, half a bottle of washer fluid and a jack kit.
And he can’t resell the most lucrative part of almost every vehicle, the engine.