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Last year at this time, valued at just $13.50, one Bitcoin could get you a movie ticket if you could find a theater that had 1) heard of Bitcoin and 2) accepted it. Fat chance. Luckily, Bitcoin owners had a different form of entertainment: the fiscal version of She's All That. "Last year’s nerd money fad has become this year’s most talked about product," writes Patrick Young.
Disclosure: Author owns Bitcoin that remain from her week of living on them.
Here's a timeline of Bitcoin's dramatic year, which may give you a sense of why Bitcoin shot up from $13 to over $700 in its fourth year of existence. (I'll be documenting Bitcoin's rise at longer length in an e-book coming out soon.)
-- Bloomberg notes the that price of Bitcoin tripled in 2012.
-- Bitcoin has a $13,000 booth at the Consumer Electronics Show, paid for by Bitpay (the Paypal of Bitcoin) and Butterfly Labs, a mining hardware company. The Verge says the "underground currency is going mainstream at the biggest tech show in the nation." It may have gotten more attention if it had featured a booth babe in a Bitcoin bikini.
Price at beginning of January: $13.55. End of January: $21.40.
-- Bitcoin's value hits an all-time high, surpassing the highpoint the preceded a huge crash in 2011.
Hits all time high, surpassing the highpoint that preceded a huge crash in 2011:
-- The front page of the Internet starts taking the currency of the Internet. Reddit lets users buy "gold" with Bitcoin.
-- Kim Dotcom announces that he too is down with Bitcoin, will accept it as payment on encrypted storage site Mega.
Price at beginning of February: $20.60. End of February: $33.
-- Bitcoin "officially becomes a crazy idea that’s actually working." The decentralized currency achieves a billion dollar market cap.
-- The U.S. Department of Treasury issues guidance on Bitcoin, letting exchangers know that they need to register with FinCEN or face consequences. Bitcoin advocates cheer a federal agency signaling that the currency is legal, but the enhanced regulation scares banks off from working with Bitcoin businesses.
-- Cyprus announces a "bail-in" for its banks, meaning portions of people's accounts will be seized to pay off debts. Bitcoin soars in response, with many speculating that Cypriots (and other scared Europeans) are buying Bitcoin to get their money into a digital safety box out of reach of their governments.
-- Despite Bitcoin's famed use as a currency to buy illicit goods, it's only pseudonymous not anonymous. Unlike a credit card, it doesn't have your name on it, but every transaction is seen by the whole network. Researchers at Johns Hopkins University introduce Zerocoin to make it more difficult to match who sent a Bitcoin with the person they send it to.
Price at beginning of March: $33.50. End of March: $93.
-- Remember the villains of that Facebook movie? They announce that they own 1% of Bitcoin. Tyler and Cameron Winklevoss collected it when it was in single digits. “We could be totally wrong, but we are curious to see this play out a lot more," Tyler Winklevoss told the NYT.
-- Venture capitalists start putting money into Bitcoin start-ups. Bitpay landed half a million in 2012. The Winklevii give BitInstant, a place to buy Bitcoin $1.5 million. OpenCoin -- which is an exchange for all kinds of digital currency -- lands $2 million in VC funding. The next month, Bitcoin wallet Coinbase will announce that it got $5 million. Whether Bitcoin lives or dies, all of these companies are making money by charging low transaction fees for exchanging the digital coin for real world dollars. Their making that easier helps fuel the Bitcoin boom.
Price at beginning of April: $94. End of April: $145.
-- Some crazy person decides to live on Bitcoin for a week in San Francisco.
-- As the price of Bitcoin surges, some business relationships break down. Seattle-based Coinlab, which had planned to act as the American arm for the world's largest Bitcoin exchange, Japan-based Mt. Gox, sues for $75 million claiming breach of contract.
-- More bad news for Mt. Gox: The feds seize its American bank accounts, saying it's operating as a money services business in the U.S. without being licensed with FinCEN.
-- The Bitcoin 2013 conference attracts a diverse crowd. Digital currency lawyer Jacob Farber of Perkins Coie said the conference was Bitcoin putting on its "big boy pants." “There’s been a changing of guard from a small circle of early adopters to serious business people with funding, who see Bitcoin as a payment system and a way of building a business and are not just in it for purely philosophical reasons,” he told me.
-- A $6 billion money laundering operation gets crushed. Liberty Reserve, a centralized online payment system, gets taken down by the feds, who said it was being used to finance drug trading, child pornography and terrorism. Commenters suggest Bitcoiners should be wary.
-- Bitcoiners are wary. Mt. Gox felt the sting of enforcement last month and announces that it will require users to provide government id, allowing it to comply with federal guidelines and making money laundering through Bitcoin harder.
-- Guesses as to the identity of mysterious Bitcoin creator Satoshi Nakamoto continue.
Price at beginning of May: $137. End of May: $129.
-- State regulators start taking notice of Bitcoin. The Bitcoin Foundation gets a cease-and-desist order from California, saying it needs to be licensed as a money exchanger in the state. It denies being a money exchanger.
-- A baby is bought with Bitcoins. Seriously.
-- Survey shows that a quarter of people have heard of Bitcoin.
Price at beginning of June: $129.50. End of June: $95.
-- The Winklevii announce they're seeking SEC approval for a Bitcoin exchange traded fund, so that Wall Street can more easily sink its dollars into the digital currency.
-- Thailand reportedly bans Bitcoin, based on one exchange ceasing trading per a warning from the Bank of Thailand. However, the rumors of Bitcoins death in Thailand turn out to be greatly exaggerated.
-- The SEC charges a Texas man with running a Bitcoin Ponzi scheme, which is funny because critics say Bitcoin itself is a Ponzi scheme. The case will lead a judge to rule the next month that Bitcoin is real money, and that the Texas dude can be prosecuted for bilking people out of it.
-- A gamble pays off. SatoshiDice, a Bitcoin gambling site, sells for 126,315 bitcoin (or $11.4 million at the time) to an anonymous buyer
Price at beginning of July: $97.50. End of July: $110.
-- Another warning that Bitcoin is an excellent place to put money to avoid paying taxes on it, this time from a University of Florida professor, is splashed across Politico's front page.
-- Stories of Bitcoin crimes start popping up. An Android flaw leads to Bitcoin thefts.
-- XBT is born. The Bitcoin ticker shows up on Bloomberg terminals, which means currency traders may be getting serious about Bitcoin.
Price at beginning of August: $106. End of August: $147.
-- The Winklevii get beat to the punch. SecondMarket, which was the go-to place to trade Facebook and Twitter shares before they went public, announces that it will let investors bet on Bitcoin.
-- China starts getting interested in Bitcoin, mining many of the coins, and increasingly trading them. Shanghai-based exchange BTC China secretly lands $5 million in venture funding from Lightspeed and eliminates its trading fee. Within two months, it will become the biggest exchange in the world.
Price at beginning of September: $141. End of September: $144.
-- Online drug bazaar Silk Road, which was a famous use case for Bitcoin, gets taken down by the feds. The FBI amasses the world's largest Bitcoin wallet, seizing over 26,000 coins from the site and 144,000 coins (or $20 million) from its creator Dread Pirate Roberts. It says it plans to sell them after legal proceedings are over. The price of Bitcoin falls briefly but quickly recovers; apparently, investors are happy to a huge and illegal use of Bitcoin wiped out.
-- Mainstream bounce: China’s Google, Baidu, starts accepting Bitcoin for its security services.
-- Bitcoin's dark side: Cody "3-d gun printing" Wilson announces that anonymity-enhancing Dark Wallet is seeking crowd-funding via Indiegogo for launch in 2014 to make it harder to trace Bitcoin transactions.
-- Bitcoin's silly side: the first Bitcoin ATM opens in Vancouver.
-- The Bitcoin newlyweds take a trip around the world, paying for everything in Bitcoin.
Price at beginning of October: $144. End of October: $209.
-- The Federal Reserve issues a Bitcoin primer.
-- The U.S. Senate holds its first Bitcoin hearings to determine threats and regulatory needs. The Washington Post descibes them as "lovefests." The FBI reveals that it formed a "
-- Everyone's favorite billionaire Richard Branson announces that people can pay to go to space with Bitcoin.
-- Roger “Bitcoin Jesus” Ver “loses” a 1,000 BTC/$1 million bet when Bitcoin outperforms gold
sooner two months later than he predicted it would, and donates the bet to a nonprofit.
-- Hong Kong Bitcoin exchange closes down taking over $4 million of investors’ funds with it. Judging from China's Bitcoin moves the next month, this was sufficient to "wake the dragon."
-- UK tech guy supposedly pitched a fortune in the trash.
-- Stockholm-based KnC Miner sells $8 million worth of high-powered mining machines within 24 hours.
Price at beginning of November: $144. End of November: $1,220.
-- Coinbase gets $25 million real world dollars from Andreessen Horowitz, becoming the highest venture-funded start-up in Bitcoin.
-- Bank of America puts a price target on Bitcoin. Wall Street analysts increasingly covering it.
-- China essentially wipes out real world use, saying that Bitcoin isn't real money. People are still allowed to trade it, but China makes it harder by discouraging payment companies from helping exchanges trade Bitcoin for yuan. This causes the price to fall dramatically.
-- Bitcoin crime spotter: Drug bazaar Sheep Marketplace has $220 million worth of Bitcoin stolen. (Note to self: beware of companies that refer to customers as farm animals.)
-- Mainstream acceptance: Overstock's CEO says his company will accept Bitcoin in 2014.
-- Paul Krugman declares Bitcoin “evil.”
-- Thanks to the crazy events this year, 42% of people now know what Bitcoin is.
Price at beginning of December: $1200. End of December: $730.
What did I miss? Tell me in the comments or via email.


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Ah, the irony. Anne Quito:
Face masks are mandatory in at least two provinces in China, including the city of Wuhan. In an effort to contain the coronavirus strain that has caused nearly 500 deaths, the government is insisting that millions of residents wear protective face covering when they go out in public.
As millions don masks across the country, the Chinese are discovering an unexpected consequence to covering their faces. It turns out that face masks trip up facial recognition-based functions, a technology necessary for many routine transactions in China. Suddenly, certain mobile phones, condominium doors, and bank accounts won’t unlock with a glance.
And beyond quotidian transactions, the technology is a linchpin in the Chinese government’s scheme to police its 1.4 billion citizens.

domain: news


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Wine delivery service Different Drop has released the wine consumption habits of Sydneysiders during isolation over the last two weeks. It seems whilst we’ve all been self-isolating, not only are we drinking more wine, Sydney’s suburbs all have very different tastes.
The Eastern suburbs are proving to be the biggest spenders on wine, spending an average of 23% more per bottle than other parts of the city. The Easties are enjoying vast amounts of autumn red wines with Pinot Noir and Shiraz topping their tipple of choice, followed closely by Riesling. Not bad.
Meanwhile, North Shore residents are loving their Chardonnay right now, ordering a massive 56% more the rest of the city! Furthermore, the North Shore is also enjoying the big reds, with locals purchasing 30% more Shiraz and 35% more Cabernet Sauvignon than the East and Inner West, reflective of a more traditional palette.
I actually live in the North Shore and my sister and I just stocked up on a whole lot of different chardonnays to pair well with HIMYM – we want to drink with Barney and Robin, not just watch them! I also surveyed my North Shore friends when participating in a ‘Zoom and drinks’ sesh last night (and later playing Cards Against Humanity on House Party) and over half of them were sipping on chardonnay!
The Inner West of Sydney are ordering more lighter reds as over 20% of all wine purchased was Pinot Noir or Pinot/Gamay — a trend that would have been unheard of 10 years ago. As usual, Sydney’s Inner West continues to be ahead of the curb on the latest wine trends. The Inner West is also drinking the most natural wines compared to other suburbs.
In these challenging times, Different Drop has also noticed that people are really spoiling themselves with some higher end wines while they are confined to their home. Who can blame them? Arguably this is a re-allocation of finances where people have cancelled their holidays, aren’t spending money on dining out, therefore are now looking to find smaller luxuries that they can treat themselves to at home. Whilst that holiday to Barcelona may be off the table for this year, they can still order some tasty wines to drink with their households.
Different Drop are also seeing a large spike in mixed pack sales as people opt for a selection as well as more unusual wines. It seems Sydneysiders are looking to explore and try new things they would normally try in a bar or restaurant. (If I’m being honest, rather than exploring I’m more going for a trip down memory lane by spoiling myself with double blacks. Yikes!)


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Tuesday, November 26, 2013, 03:24 pm PT (06:24 pm ET)
Apple, Inc. stock closes at $533, highest point since start of 2013Apple stock closed up nearly 2 percent today, reaching $533.40 for the highest close since the first days of January.
The company's stock is now up slightly from the beginning of 2013 for the first time since plunging $100 per share in January and remaining in the low $400s throughout most of the spring and summer.
Apple took advantage of its acutely low stock price in a buyback program that floated a bond offering to buy back 47 million shares.
The 36 million shares Apple bought back in the June quarter at an average of $444 per share would now cost an additional $3.2 billion to acquire again at the current price.
On Topic: Investor
- Early upgrade programs at US carriers forecast to help grow sales of Apple's iPhone
- 'Now is the time to invest' in Apple ahead of new product launches, Morgan Stanley says
- SV150: Apple, Inc. earns more than HP, Google, Intel & Cisco combined
- Wells Fargo defends 'market perform' rating on Apple stock, says company is in midst of transition
- JP Morgan sees Apple further eating away at Windows PC market with sub-$1000 iOS notebook


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THE royal wedding could prove “extremely disruptive” for the Welsh economy, one business leader argued last night.
But the prospect of two consecutive four-day weekends was hailed by others as a much-needed boost for tourism, retail and morale.
The extra bank holiday on Friday, April 29 next year when Prince William marries Kate Middleton falls straight after the long Easter weekend and directly before the May Day bank holiday.
Russell Lawson, of the Federation of Small Businesses in Wales, said the impact of the pile-up of public holidays would be varied.
“It’s one of those where it’s good or bad depending what kind of business you are in,” he said. “Certainly for manufacturers in Wales it’s a real pain.”
He added: “Inevitably it will cost money, and on that side are the losers. But on the other side you have the retailers and the tourist industry.”
Mr Lawson said having four bank holidays in a two-week period, a move announced on Tuesday, was “extremely disruptive” for businesses, and bosses may struggle to motivate staff to work during the three-day working week in between.
He said: “If you have got one bank holiday then you can accept it and cope with it, but having them bunched together at the same time makes it very difficult to plan how you want to do business.”
But Robert Lloyd Griffiths, director of the Institute of Directors Wales, said he wanted to think of the wedding in positive terms.
He said: “We all knew there were going to be seven days off for many people, so why worry about an eighth?
“In any case, in business there’ll be some big winners among our merchandisers, travel trade and retail sector for example.
“Most people are happy for the couple and most will be happy to have an extra day off – so let’s celebrate the positives.”
Professor Brian Morgan, of Cardiff School of Management, said the consecutive four-day weekends would put a strain on businesses in Wales, and particularly small firms.
“First of all, there is no such thing as a free lunch,” he said. “The Government announcing a public holiday puts the onus on small businesses to pay people for that holiday when they won’t be producing anything, or if they do get people in they have to pay them additional money. There is a cost to business.”
Prof Morgan said people’s spending habits around the time of the royal wedding would be dictated by how strong they felt the nation’s finances were.
He said: “Most people are very aware of the limited amount of resources they can use and are worried about getting into debt.”
He added: “If there is evidence that the recession really is turning into more of a sustained recovery and people are feeling confident about the future then this type of event does create a feel-good factor.
“It could have a net impact on demand, particularly in Wales as we have an affinity with William as he is the heir apparent to become Prince of Wales.”
And he said the marriage of the Prince and Kate Middleton – who will live together in North Wales after they are married – could bring in more money to the country’s economy in the long run.
“We should be using the wedding as an opportunity to kick-start the tourist economy,” he said.
“It is at the right time, at the end of spring and the beginning of summer. We should be using it as a lever to attract people to our great country.”
But Dr Calvin Jones, of Cardiff Business School, was pessimistic about the royal wedding acting as a shot in the arm for Welsh tourism.
“They are not getting married in Wales, so in terms of benefits I think it’s going to be very, very limited,” he said.


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Egypt central bank plans $50mn to $100 mn fintech fund
order Gabapentin for dogs Central Bank of Egypt (CBE) is set to establish ~$58 million fund (EGP 1 billion) to invest in FinTech startups of the country, CBE’s Sub Governor for Payment Systems and Information.
“Egypt has the success factors that qualify it to pioneer in the financial technology industry, including the huge demand for financial services, strong banking sector, telecommunications companies, electronic payment companies, insurance companies, regulatory institutions, incubators, business accelerators, investors, and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) financiers,” said the CBE executive.
Read more from source article: https://www.menabytes.com/cbe-fintech-fund/
Click here to subscribe for GetFundedAfrica Newsletters: https://getfundedafrica.com/pricing-plans/


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The sun came out Thursday afternoon, March 12, just in time for the ribbon-cutting event that commenced the grand opening of New Albany’s newest hospitality business, Vintage Market, at 127 West Bankhead. Owner Sandra Wilson and her partner Donald Poitras served refreshments to well-wishers throughout the afternoon.
The Vintage Market’s Rooster Logo
Boasting the only honest-to-gosh soda fountain in New Albany, (and the first new one to open in north Mississippi in decades) the décor and merchandise at Vintage Market give visitors a nostalgic treat that could have come straight off of one of the covers Norman Rockwell painted for the old Saturday Evening Post. “Old Times Not Forgotten” is the store’s theme.
Amy Haynie, Lily Voyles and and JoJo Haynie are shown behind the service counter at Vintage Market.
Unique clothing items, collectibles and a variety of specialty foods are among the offerings one encounters before arriving at the lunch counter and its soda fountain located, as it should be, at the back of the store.
Vintage Market is open 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday.
The coronavirus pandemic has closed United Funeral Service, for many decades Union County’s leading provider of funeral services, for the first time ever. Rodney Shands,... (Read more)
NEMiss.NEWS is a locally owned and operated online news magazine containing news, information, opinion, etc. of interest to residents of Northeast Mississippi. NEMiss.NEWS was founded in 2014 and is a division of Shivimage, LLC, and began publishing in early 2015. read more>>


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Kendall Jenner showcases her taut tummy in a crop top after working up a sweat with big sister Khloe at the gym
She is a regular gym bunny and even Sunday isn't a rest day.
Kendall Jenner fuelled up after another work out in Calabasas, California - hours after her sister Khloe posted a snap of them being put through their paces at the gym together.
The 19-year-old showed off the results of her fitness regime in an off-the-shoulder cropped top which made the most of her lean frame.
Scroll down for video
Fitness fanatic: Kendall Jenner stepped oout after another work out in Calabasas, California on Sunday
She teamed it with skintight black gym leggings and added a bright pop of colour with orange neon training shoes as she stopped to grab a snack from a Deli.
The statuesque beauty covered her eyes with dark glasses and showed off her flawless skin make-up free.
Her glossy raven-coloured locks were done in a middle parting as they fell naturally around her exposed shoulders.
Sporty: The 19-year-old showed off the results of her fitness regime in an off-the-shoulder cropped top which made the most of her lean frame
The Keeping Up With The Kardashians star was a woman on the go as she arrived in her black Range Rover.
The model recently returned from Mexico, where she was celebrating their sister Kylie Jenner's 18th birthday.
The star cut a fabulous figure as she stepped out on the beach at Casa Aramara, Punta Mita, Mexico on Thursday with BFF Hailey Baldwin.
In shape: She is a regular gym bunny and even Sunday isn't a rest day after returning from celebrating Kylie's 18th in Mexico
Be fashionable in your gym gear like Kendall
The Kardashian/ Jenner's have a love for the workout gear.
Khloe dresses her gym wear like outer wear, Kim pairs her gym sneaks with denims, and now Kendall is wearing a gym ensemble that would be EXTREMELY adorable for a casual night out...but we definitely would not be wasting that outfit at the gym.
The supermodel wore an off the shoulder crop top with her Nike Legendary tights along with bright crimson red Nike Free sneakers.
The tights she's wearing truly are legendary, by some magic, these babies contain and lift everything, and who doesn't want that?
Head over to Nike (click right) to bag them for $95 or take a look at our options below!
Busy: The Keeping Up With The Kardashians star was a woman on the go as she arrived in her black Range Rover
Sleek: She stayed in all black with skintight gym leggings showing off her toned pins
Shades: The statuesque beauty covered her eyes with dark glasses against the bright sunshine
Beauty: The model showed off her flawless skin make-up free as she headed across the parking lot
Flowing: Her glossy raven-coloured locks were done in a middle parting as they fell naturally around her exposed shoulders
Refuel: The reality TV star added a bright pop of colour with orange neon training shoes as she stopped to grab a snack from a deli
The lofty 5ft 9in star got stuck straight back into her exercise programme upon returning - heading to the gym Sunday morning to help with her sister's 'revenge body' workout.
Khloe Kardashian paused her session for a sweet moment, taking to Instagram to share a snap of her embracing younger half-sister, Kendall Jenner.
'My bug a boo @kendalljenner,' the 31-year-old KUWTK star captioned the adorable picture of the siblings.
Gym love: Khloe Kardashian shared this snap of her and her 'bug a boo' Kendall Jenner on Sunday
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Update: This story was a miscommunication in the media. It turns out that while the servers are staying up, Ragnarok Online’s North American servers are blocking IP addresses from Europe due to these regulations. The European servers will be unaffected. Thanks, Kelekelio!
One of the MMO industry’s long-time institutions is finally calling it a day in Europe.
Ragnarok Online announced this week that it is shutting down all of its servers on the continent as of May 25th. The odd part about this story is that this sunset is happening not because of declining population or revenue but because of a new law that the game’s operator was not able to circumvent. Operation in Russia and the Commonwealth of Independent States will not be affected.
The move comes because of the rollout of the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation on May 25th, a law which addresses exporting personal data outside of the EU. WarpPortal apparently decided that it wasn’t worth the cost to upgrade storage security to meet the new regulations and chose to shut down the game instead.


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Given all the day-to-day issues facing the average food service entrepreneur, you can be forgiven for already having enough on your plate to think about food waste.
But it’s actually a massive issue, with the Australian Government estimating in its 2017 National Food Waste Strategy that the country’s economy loses about AU $20 billion a year from Australians sending 5.3 million tonnes of food to landfill.
Globally, if food waste was a country, it would be the world’s third largest CO2 emitter (behind China and the US).
But that’s just the tip of the iceberg as far as your restaurant’s financials go. While figures for Australia are hard to define, overseas studies have found food waste to cost the average restaurant significant amounts of cash. According to resource efficiency charity WRAP, for example, each year restaurants in the UK lose about a dollar (£0.97) on every meal served just through food waste.
And there’s real money to be made in tackling the issue. A recent study by the American Hotel & Lodging Association found that hotels taking part in its food waste reduction programme were saving US $7 in operating costs for every dollar they invested in reducing food waste.
So it makes sense to tackle this issue for the benefit of your bottom line as well as the environment.
Fortunately there are a host of new technologies and new ways of thinking either being championed now, or are on the horizon, that you can take inspiration from.
It’s time to bin food waste for your business.
Let’s start in the here and now – blast chillers and shock freezers have been with us for at least 20 years, but recent innovations in the field have made them the most powerful weapon against food waste currently available to food service businesses.
At their core, blast chillers and shock freezers rapidly cool food at such a pace that the build-up of bacteria is dramatically reduced.
The process minimizes the size of the ice crystals which, in turn, minimises any potential damage to the food that can be caused by the presence of large ice crystals. The end result is perfectly preserved food that maintains its natural flavours and essences for longer.
This simple action has a number of massive benefits for restauranteurs, bakers and patisserie chefs - including slashing food costs and increasing food quality and safety.
But it also results in a lot less food waste by tackling the overproduction of food which results from the traditional kitchen production line.
Food bulk prepared with an Irinox blast chiller, for example, can last up to three times longer on the shelf – allowing chefs and bakers to cut production levels to optimum levels that meet demand, not overshoot it.
Bakeries are traditional victims of overproduction, with huge amounts of bread ending up in the bin or repurposed as animal feed – even in places where there’s a really strong demand for bread products.
In Germany 90% of the population eat bread at least once a day, but a World Wide Fund for Nature study shows one in every five pieces of baked goods made there is never sold over the counter.
The study also found that even medium to large bakeries have losses of up to 19% of volume, while the picture is worse for small bakeries.
With a blast chiller a small bakery could perhaps cut production by up to 25% while still meeting demand.
There’s no wonder blast chillers are mandatory in the EU.
While eco-friendly restaurants have been a mainstay of the Australian restaurant scene for years, there has long been a question mark on whether any restaurant can actually achieve zero waste.
But ground-breaking restauranteurs around the world are answering that question with restaurant food concepts that aim to deliver zero material waste. This sees restaurants composting all their food waste in anaerobic digestion systems, while also focusing on things like using whole ingredients and buying local to reduce food miles.
Silo in Brighton in the UK has gained global recognition for employing such a system, even opening a brewery that ferments drinks from foraged ingredients. As for the quality of its food, Silo featured in The Guardian’s 2017 list of the UK’s 50 best Sunday lunches.
And there’s actually a Melbourne connection there, as founder Douglas McMaster worked in the city at Melbourne’s Silo, which went on to use an anaerobic digestion system when it later became Brothl, a soup café billed as “Australia’s first waste-free café.”
Nolla in Helsinki, the first zero waste restaurant in Finland, uses a similar concept. Working closely with local producers, the restaurant produces dry fertiliser from biowaste which is returned to the very fields its produce comes from in re-usable boxes. The restaurant’s owners have a no single-use packaged food policy on premises and, like Silo, avoid using paper products – which is why at both restaurants you won’t see any printed menus.
Nolla opened in February to packed tables, with co-owner Carlos Henriques telling mindbodygreen.com in May that "When people see that there is a restaurant that makes more money doing this, why wouldn't they try it too?” But Silo and Nolla are just two examples of a trend that is proving that zero waste is more than just a buzzword.
Blockchain is the system underpinning cryptocurrencies like bitcoin. It provides a transparent ledger which shows buyers a clear history of a product’s supply chain. Every time the product changes hands, relevant data is recorded of the transaction so consumers can see the state of what they’re buying before they purchase.
Logistics companies are starting to explore the potential of blockchain on a global scale to reduce food waste from miscommunication between vendors – which has traditionally been a big problem.
According to Material Handling & Logistics, one example of this saw nearly 37,000 metric tons of bananas being lost in Australia between 1996 and 1999 due to communication issues between growers and packers.
However, there is huge potential for blockchain to reduce food waste at the restaurant level as well. Think about how much spoiled food you have to throw out from every bulk produce purchase you make. Now imagine if you could see a breakdown of the condition of each item represented by data (on, for example, how long it’s been in the supply chain) before you buy.
You could then drastically reduce food waste before the food enters your kitchen.
Data analytics is probably one of the last things you expect to find in the kitchen. But the benefits of measuring and analysing food quantities and use with accurate, easy-to-use digital systems are becoming increasingly apparent.
Providers like Winnow and LeanPath are leading the way by working with businesses in the food service space to help them put a number on what’s being wasted and figure out what to do about the problem.
Last year, Swedish furniture retail giant Ikea credited both companies with helping it save 350,000 meals destined for the bins at its on-site restaurants.
Broadly speaking, systems like these work by putting food waste bins on scales and having everything that’s put in them logged by kitchen staff. This gives you a breakdown of exactly what’s been wasted and what it means financially for your business, so you can discover ways to repurpose the food instead of throwing it out.
In a recent interview with The Guardian, Winnow founder Marc Zorne said “You ask people what they throw away and they say they think it’s 3-5% of what they buy, when the reality is somewhere between 5% and 20% – most of it happening before it even gets to a plate.”
There’s now an app for virtually everything. But one area which is seeing a real groundswell of growth in development are food exchange apps that find a good home for food from restaurants and supermarkets that’s about to be thrown out.
Bring Me Home is a local example that works with Australian restaurants to sell, at discount, perfectly good unsold food to local people looking for something to eat.
But communities all over the world have their own dedicated food exchange apps that redistribute food at a community level, whether that food comes from restaurants, supermarkets or hotels.
In the case of No Food Waste in India, the app helps feed 200 people a day across seven cities by accepting leftovers from any party that catered for 50 people or more.
Food exchange apps are proliferating because they work on a hyper-localised level, which means that no matter where your business is, if there’s not a food exchange app available right now, there probably will be one soon.
When it comes to repurposing surplus food the assumption is that it has to be eaten. That certainly represents a good use for food waste in a world in which so many go hungry.
But one other intriguing prospect is repurposing food waste as construction material for the building industry.
In 2017 engineering firm Arup released The Urban Bio Loop, a report that outlines how the building industry – which in the US alone creates more than 500 million tons of waste – could partner with food industries to create a circular economy to reduce waste in both areas.
The idea is simple. Both construction waste and food waste end up in landfill, with 90% of the construction industry’s waste coming from demolishing old buildings. Why not reduce that waste by using building materials made from food waste that can be recycled and ploughed back into the land after a building is demolished?
The boundaries of just what kind of construction materials can be made from food waste are being explored every day in the sustainable building materials industry, which is thought to be worth about US $63 billion.
End /Previous Story


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Rock Hsu, chairman of Taiwan's Kinpo Group, has announced that the group's Compal Electronics will set up a new notebook computer manufacturing base in Chongqing by 2011.
According to reports in Taiwanese local media, with the entry of Compal, Chongqing has already attracted four Taiwanese leading notebook foundries, including Hon Hai, Quanta, Inventec, and Compal, making the city the second-largest notebook manufacturing base on the Chinese mainland, second to the East China area.
Hsu also revealed that the scale of its new manufacturing base in Chongqing will be smaller than its existing plant in Kunshan, which will still be Compal's manufacturing base camp.
He said that Kinpo Group will stick to its strategy to decentralize its production capacity and to distribute in Europe, Central and South America, and Southeast Asia. In addition, its subsidiary in Thailand, Cal-Comp Electronics and Communications Company Limited, will double its production capacity; Kinpo also plans to establish plants in Brazil and the U.S.; and the group's power supply subsidiary Acbel Polytec Inc. will set up branch in Europe.


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Google Ads has come up with a cross-channel conversion credit import update to delve deep into the customer buying journey and help users make informed marketing decisions based on the outcomes. The earlier method involved importing non-direct clicks from Google Analytics 4 (GA4) to Google Ads. The data gets imported only if the last click is from Google advertising. But the new model ensures full cross-channel conversion credit into Google Ads irrespective of the source of the last click. It will be able to provide a more accurate conversion value based on the effects of other channels and do away with discrepancies in the values pursued by Google Ads tracking versus GA4 cross-channel credit. Though the new model has a few limitations, it will soon become a preferred option for reporting owing to accuracy.
Cross-channel Conversion Credit Import Update From Google Ads
March 29, 2023


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Fans Defend Christina Aguilera After She Was Falsely Accused of Cultural Appropriation
We all strive to be politically correct, but sometimes navigating ever-changing public opinion can be a challenge, especially when it comes to cultural appropriation.
Almost every star in Hollywood has been called out for cultural appropriation at some point in their careers. And although it’s sometimes an honest fashion mistake, just because a celebrity is called out, doesn’t always mean it’s a legitimate criticism. Those who do the accusations can get it wrong.
Christina Aguilera, the Grammy-winning artist responsible for Genie in a Bottle, recently found this out the hard way.
Christina Aguilera is accused of cultural appropriation at ‘Mulan’ premiere
Aguilera’s song, Loyal Brave True is featured on the soundtrack for Disney’s new live-action remake of Mulan. But when she attended the Mulan premiere, her outfit caused quite a stir.
The look included a bright pink satin top that tied into a bow at her side, a long shimmering red skirt, and a high topknot in her hair. Entertainment Tonight said the look “stunned” because of the red patent leather thigh-high boots that completed her outfit.
But other outlets weren’t so impressed. Specifically, WWD called the signer out for cultural appropriation.
In an Instagram post featuring a photo of Aguilera’s Mulan outfit, which has since been deleted, WWD wrote, “At present, Eastern influences can be seen as tone deaf – and unfortunately, cultural appropriation is just one of the problems here.”
They continued by insulting her choice of colors, the large volume of fabric at her waist, and the boots, calling her look “a bright satin mess.”
Not everyone agreed with criticism of Christina Aguilera over cultural appropriation
Others who were impressed by Aguilera’s style came to her rescue. Diet Prada, a popular Instagram account, which functions as a fashion watchdog by calling out designers for “knocking each other off,” wrote a scathing post defending Aguilera.
“Legit confused by this @wwd post,” Diet Prada wrote. “If you’re going to accuse @xtina of cultural appropriation, then please explain why. Do you equate red satin and top knots with China only? Or is any chunk of fabric at the waist an obi? It seems the only “tone deaf” thing here is your own reductive associations you were too scared to put in writing lol.”
The post also included several photos of high-end fashion designers which had promoted similar looks in pink and red. “Swipe for a bonus “CoLoR-cLaSHiNg” red and pink edit…” Diet Prada wrote, “in case y’all forgot it’s a beloved color combo of designers lol.”
Although Aguilera has been accused of cultural appropriation before, like when she wore her hair in partial dreadlocks, fans seemed to agree with Diet Prada’s assessment of the Mulan outfit.
Almost all comments on the post seemed to support Aguilera. Many of the commentators also seemed to think WWD was trying to hard to appear politically correct.
“… Sounds like they were trying to be buzz-y but ended up sounding clueless,” one user wrote.
“They really wanted those PC likes,” another user wrote on Diet Prada’s post.
Apology issued for Christina Aguilera
WWD took notice of the criticism and removed their original post. They also apologized for their mistake in an “editor’s note,” which was included at the top of an article posted to their website.
“We recognize we were wrong,” WWD wrote in their apology, “and offer our sincerest apologies to Ms. Aguilera and to our readers and followers. We always try to learn and always aim to do better.” The outlet also announced that their Instagram post about Aguilera had been deleted as well as an article, which expressed the same opinion.
While it’s important to take everyone’s feelings into account, especially those of often marginalized cultures, it’s also important to recognize when you get it wrong.
The public seemed to agree that Aguilera’s outfit was respectful toward all cultures, and therefore not cultural appropriation. It’s great to see a news outlet be able to admit their mistake and take responsibility for it. These are the kinds of stories which will make our society a respectful place for all cultures.


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In quick succession Antonio Rudiger, Andreas Christiansen and Kurt Zouma showed why Chelsea’s defence needs major surgery this summer.Reebok retail store from launch day through Dec.Roger Federer $106 million $6 million salary winnings $100 million endorsements Tennis 2.Cristiano Ronaldo $105 million $60 million $45 million Soccer 3.Kirk Cousins $60 million $58 million $2 million NFL 10.
The network will air Capital One’s , presented by Autotrader leading up to the event.Open and WImbledon.Open and WImbledon.Walker Zimmerman 23.’Turner Sports named the commentators for Capital One’s with Phil Mickelson, Charles Barkley, Stephen Curry and Peyton Manning , scheduled for Nov.
Jonathan dos Santos 21.According to Romo, Every year, I look forward to seeing what hilarious videos or ads DirecTV is going to come up with next for its NFL Sunday Ticket campaign.Jonathan dos Santos 21.The multi-year pact includes Panasonic’s first on-car branding with Hendrick, with the company becoming the primary sponsor of Jeff Gordon ‘s No.Carson Wentz $59 million $55 million $4 million NFL Upcoming Super Bowl Games ‘Super Bowl LV Raymond James Stadium Tampa Feb.
Ralph Lauren is also an officlal partnerwith the U.S.Johnny Russell 19.’MLB’s Miami Marlins have hired Kim Ng to be their GM, making her the first woman to hold the position in MLB and likely for any of the major professional men’s teams in North American sports.Rodolfo Pizarro 6.With flexible, exclusive benefit options, Members will have unparalleled access to the team and an insider’s view of the organization.
Cristian Roldan 25.Kirk Cousins $60 million $58 million $2 million NFL 10.Alejandro Bedoya 13.
Skechers denied any wrong doing customized jerseys said it agreed to the settlement the exorbitant cost and endless distraction of several years spent defending multiple lawsuits in multiple courts across the country.Ralph Lauren is also an officlal partnerwith the U.S.Alan Pulido 15.Reebok retail store from launch day through Dec.Lionel Messi $104 million $72 million 432 million Soccer 4.
Alan Pulido 15.Rodolfo Pizarro 6.How many other NFL quarterbacks besides Favre could have taken off on a helter-skelter scramble like he did in the 1993 wild-card game at Detroit before launching his game-winning rainbow to Sterling Sharpe?
The host will be Cari Champion, joined by guests including Eli Manning and Michelle Wie.Diego Rossi 18.’Topps and producer-entertainer- DJ Steve Aoki have teamed to create a trading card product that looks good enough to eat.
Kilpatrick was waived by the Brooklyn Nets to create a roster spot following the trade for Jahlil Okafor and Nik Stauskas.


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Runic Games will finally reveal the release date for its long awaited action-RPG sequel Torchlight II on Friday, August 31st as part of its PAX Prime announcements.
The Vimtag P1: A great home monitoring cam with a few kinks
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Expanding mobile photography with Aukey's wide-angle lenses
Samsung Galaxy S7 edge Lens Cover
Time is running out to claim your free Windows 10 upgrade
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Insider build 14393.5 for PC and Mobile released to Fast ring
Runic Games has revealed some interesting stats about their upcoming action-RPG game Torchlight II, showing that it's a much bigger game than the original Torchlight.
Runic Games has accused a developer of an iOS title of stealing assets from its PC action-RPG game Torchlight. The developer of the game, Armed Heroes Online, has denied the charges.
We chat with Runic Games co-founder Max Schaefer about the upcoming and highly anticipated fantasy action-RPG sequel Torchlight II, due for release later this year.
You can now pre-order Torchlight 2 from both Perfect World (with free access to future beta of Dungeons and Dragons Neverwinter) or from Steam who also offer a cheaper four-pack option.
A new animated cinematic trailer for Torchlight 2 has been released which fills in the gap between the original fantasy action-RPG and its upcoming sequel from developer Runic Games.
Runic Games, made up of former Blizzard members, could release its fantasy action-RPG sequel Torchlight II as soon as a month after Blizzard finally releases Diablo III on May 15.
Today's gaming news includes changes at GoG.com, Mechwarrior Online's graphics engine choice, a delay for Torchlight 2's release date, a new acquisition for Sega and more.
In 2009 Runic Games, made up of former Blizzard team members that worked on the Diablo series, released Torchlight to an awaiting world. This $20 downloadable fantasy action-RPG was an instant hit with PC gamers...


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The Uncanny Experience, an upcoming X-Men immersive fan convention, has unveiled the event poster art for the inaugural event. You may recognize one of the mutants in the X-Men comics (IYKYK).
Traditional convention activities such as celebrity autographs, comic book sellers, cosplayers, and special guests have been announced previously. More guests will be announced at a later date, according to legendary comic book writer Chris Claremont.
http://www.theuncannyexperience.com/findout-more or buy tickets


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Madden 16 Gets New Batch of First Look Screenshots
Madden 16 is coming out in just a few short months and EA Sports just released a new batch of screenshots teasing some of the new features and changes in the latest addition to the massive franchise.
Among the new features are brand new WR/DB interactions, changes to the air superiority system, and improvements to body-relative passing so you can throw the ball where only your receiver can get catch it.
In terms of the game’s visuals, there have been updates to player’s likenesses, as well as improvements to the time of day and lighting system.
Madden 16 releases on August 25th on Xbox One, Xbox 360, PS3, and PS4.


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Ailing Atari is in danger of losing the rights to the popular Dragon Ball Z franchise, according to a recent regulatory filing.
for all I care about that childish over rated cartoon.
The anime *is* overrated - but it has amazing video game potential. Potential which will probably never be reached.
AM2 or Bioware would do an amazing job with this franchise
This series has a nice potential, but not in the hands of Atari. Atari just keeps putting out the same game with a little change in controls and maybe an added character.
Activision would be the first company that comes to mind to pick it up.
I hope it happen. Atari its just make little\minimal improve on each game.
N4G is a community of gamers posting and discussing the latest game news. It’s part of NewsBoiler, a network of social news sites covering today’s pop culture.


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By Abbey Cannan
With February still topping the temperature charts it’s the perfect time for a cold delicious gelato or ice cream, but this simple pleasure may be creating an environmental impact on our treasured beaches.
Plastic Free Noosa coordinator Chad Buxton said he often picks up plastic spoons and plastic lined cups in areas around ice cream stores.
“Thousands of these go out daily and many end up on our beaches or footpaths, waiting to be washed into our oceans. They are single-use but last virtually forever. There are other options,” Mr Buxton said.
Plastic Free Noosa has worked with over 100 food retail outlets over the past year to help them find alternatives to single-use plastic.
“Each business that switches can save many, many thousands of plastic items a year,” Mr Buxton said.
“There are many wonderful cafes and restaurants in Noosa really leading the way here, we’d like to see some more ice-cream shops making that switch as well.”
Mr Buxton said ice-cream vendors like Ice-Cream Curls made the switch to plant-based cups and wooden taster spoons successfully. Another plastic-free option for businesses is bees-wax coated wood spoons.
“We want to ask our wonderful Noosa community to get out there and encourage their favourite ice cream or gelato establishment to ditch the single-use plastic… It may just be the turtle or seabird you next see that you are saving. And of course, we think choosing your ice-cream in an edible cone is the simplest way,” Mr Buxton said.
Any food retail business can join up at www.plasticfreenoosa.org.


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MedMen Enterprises confirmed it would be scaling back its operations in Florida and California as it attempts to limit its cash flow.
Supply issues and high retail costs have caused a US cannabis multi-state operator (MSO) to pull back its operations in key states.
Following the release of its Q3 2019 report on Tuesday (November 26), California-based MedMen Enterprises (CSE:MMEN,OTCQX:MMNFF) confirmed it would be scaling back its operations in Florida and in its home state, as the company attempts to limit its cash flow.
Shares of MedMen experienced a sharp drop of 10.2 percent since the market closed on Tuesday and sits at C$0.58 as of 12:00 p.m. EST.
Revenue for Q3 was at US$44 million in Q3, representing a 5 percent increase quarter-over-quarter, while adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) losses were at US$22.2 million, excluding US$7.4 million in rent expenses.
During a call with investors and analysts after the markets closed on Tuesday, CEO Adam Bierman said though MedMen has several current licenses in Florida, the company is getting in its own way because of a lack of stock.
“The only limiting factor in Florida today has been our own supply of product,” Bierman said.
MedMen currently has licenses for 35 retail locations in the coastal state, eight of which are in operation with a ninth coming online in the next few weeks, he said.
Florida expansion for the company stops there, however.
“We will not be opening additional Florida stores beyond nine for the foreseeable future given the limitations on supply,” said MedMen CFO Zeeshan Hyder.
Though it’s currently a medical-only state, Florida has been praised by analysts for the quick growth of is cannabis space and has seen staggeringly positive results from Florida-based Trulieve (CSE:TRUL,OTCQX:TCNNF).
Hyder said the expansion freeze is a part of a wider strategy to cut down on retail operation spending, though the company expects to be on an annual US$300 million retail run rate by the end of calendar 2020 barring any licensing or regulatory issues.
MedMen also plans to divest itself of non-core assets, Hyder explained, which includes the recent US$14 million sale of its interest in a cannabis real estate investment trust it helped form this year, Treehouse REIT.
The company is also delaying major capital intensive projects, said Hyder, which means postponing retail store expansions that aren’t core to the business, including a halt on its build out plans in Florida.
When asked about the difference between core and non-core assets, Hyder said the company assesses whether or not an asset is going to generate significant revenue or EBITDA in the next two years to get a sense of its value.
With this new conservative operations plan, Hyder said the firm expects to save about US$55 million in capital expenditure.
In California, Bierman said that along with legal retailers, the company still has to contend with a robust illicit market.
Like Florida, MedMen’s operations California will also take a hit, Hyder said. As a part of the new strategy to focus on core businesses, MedMen will prioritize its highest return on investment licenses, including locations that could generate over US$10 million in sales once they’re opened.
The new expectations mean that MedMen will be pulling back from its California expansion as well.
“Having a higher threshold for new store openings and store expansion will likely result in a scaling back of our target of 30 stores in California by the end of calendar 2020 and delaying certain expansions,” Hyder said.
Retail locations in both Florida and California, as well as Nevada, were a part of MedMen’s recent downsizing to save on payroll expenses. Over 175 retail employees were cut and Hyder said the company is planning further staff reductions.
MedMen does have plans to expand into Illinois, however. The state is the most recent to legalize recreational cannabis use, and analysts have been bullish about future investment opportunities. MedMen plans to open three more stores in Illinois, bringing its total to four locations in the state.
Don’t forget to follow us @INN_Cannabis for real-time news updates!
Securities Disclosure: I, Danielle Edwards, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.


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England and Scotland, like last year, have the right to a new full containment. This is forcing Apple to temporarily close its Apple stores in the UK.
Apple has a total of 38 Apple Stores across the UK. 20 stores had already closed on December 22nd and 25th. Now the remaining 18 are closing today as full containment will apply starting this Tuesday.
On its website, Apple says:
We are temporarily closed. Buy online with free contactless shipping and visit Apple Support for help on products and services. We look forward to seeing you again as soon as possible.
With more than 75,000 deaths, the UK is one of the regions in Europe hardest hit by Covid-19. The situation has even worsened in the past few weeks. This prompted British Prime Minister Boris Johnson to announce a new full containment. It starts today and should end in mid-February. Of course, the situation can change by then. Everything will depend on managing the health crisis.
There is none of this in France … at least for now. We have already seen two locks (one in spring and one in fall) and the Apple stores have also closed. You had to place an order in the Apple Online Store.


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Engadget has posted the above screenshot which shows Verizon training material with evidence of a shared data plan being implemented.
We’ve been told that training material for an update to the outfit’s internal account management application includes screenshots (one of which you can see [below]) that show a new section labeled “account level data plans.” The new section apparently shows an account level charge for data allowance and a 9.99 charge per line.
Verizon has hinted that 2012 may be the year shared data plans finally come to fruition.
Consumers benefit from this because as of right now, every data connected device requires its own plan/contract. For example, if you own a Verizon iPhone, Verizon iPad and a USB modem, your currently have accounts for each, where as if a shared data plan is used, the customer can have one pool of data for all of those devices. Of course this can all be worse if the price isn’t right.


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Stay in step with market opportunities and get insights, actionable trade ideas and dedicated support.
US CPI recap: Food prices surge by their most in over 40 years
Inflation is becoming more widespread across a broad swathe of consumer spending categories, raising the risk that it could become entrenched.
AU Q1 CPI preview and what next for the ASX200
Tomorrow morning sees the release of March quarter Australian inflation data. It will likely be remembered as the final data point to confirm the end of an era of ultra-low interest rates in Australia and set the scene for an RBA interest rate hike as early as next month.
“As expected” Canadian CPI data disappoints USD/CAD traders
There was no “beat” of expectations as in the US and UK, and as a result, the Canadian Dollar sold off vs the US Dollar
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European Open: 113 Could Be Key for USD/JPY Around US CPI
USD/JPY fell below 113 for the first time in a month following strong producer prices. And we suspect that area will be pivotal around today’s inflation print.
Super inflation Wednesday!
With all the inflation data due out Wednesday, some currency pairs could get volatile
US Dollar: Multi-year high in Core CPI revives Fed rate hike expectations
After getting clobbered in the first two weeks of February, last week’s recovery in the US dollar was hardly surprising. What was more surprising though […]
- Weaker business growth for Europe, fears of an #energycrisis and a surprise German trade deficit drove sentiment swiftly lower. - #EURUSD fell to a 20-year low, #USD up against G10 #FX - #Oil prices fell as much as -14% (closed ~ -9%) - European indices also lower https://t.co/uzrKf4pFQx


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You may recall that the Miracle Meatloaf Pan has been featured on QVC twice already this year. Culinary Professional Chef Tony Notaro first featured the Miracle Meatloaf Pan on QVC’s “In the Kitchen with David” in January and the pan sold out in less than 10 minutes. The Davison-designed stuffed meatloaf pan was back on QVC in June and it sold over 7,000 units!
We decided to check back in on the pan to see what other users have had to say about it.
Well, now the pan is listed as one of QVC’s “Most Wished For” items and it carries a nearly perfect five-star review rating!
There are too many awesome reviews to list them all, but we’ve picked out a few of the latest and greatest things that people are saying about the Miracle Meatloaf Pan that we designed:
WOW! Can finally make meat loaf.
“For the first time in years, I can make a perfect meat loaf that doesn’t fall apart. Thanks Tony, this is the greatest pan ever, easy to clean and make a perfect loaf and the fillings are great. Love this Pan!!!!!”


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Entrepreneur Mike Woods has completed the management buyout of the food company he set up in 2009 after two of his children were diagnosed with severe nut allergies.
Caerphilly-based Just Love Food Company provides nut-free, vegan, gluten and milk-free cakes to the big four supermarkets in Tesco, Asda, Sainsbury’s and Morrisons.
With a £750,000 loan and equity funding package provided by the Development Bank of Wales, Mr Woods 56, has been able to buyout existing shareholders and take back control of his company, with the Development Bank taking a 30% equity stake.
Managing director Mr Woods has been joined by three new private investors with a combined equity stake of 22% stake. George Adams, Chris Smith and Tom Carroll, bring with them a wealth of experience – with Mr Smith and Mr Adams previously being managing director and chairman respectively of Marshfield Bakery. Mr Carroll is a former chief operating officer at Unilever.
The company – which has a turnover of £3.8m and employs 70 people – has recently launched a caterpillar cake called Archie which is suitable for vegans.
The board will be chaired by Mr Adams, who is currently chair of Rave Coffee and Banner, a school uniform business. He said: “Our vision is to be the most trusted, innovative and inclusive celebration cake brand with a business that benefits our team, customers and the community. Mike’s original insight, born out of personal experience coupled with the support of the Development Bank of Wales, means that we have all the ingredients necessary for the next stage of the journey. It’s a recipe for success.”
After finding it frustrating not being able to bring cakes home for his young family, in 2009 Mr Woods used his skills and experience of working in the food industry to change things – producing the first celebration cakes on supermarket shelves in the UK to clearly state they were nut-free in 2010.
He said: “When my daughter Danika was first diagnosed with a severe nut allergy at four years old, times were different. There was a lot of ignorance and less awareness about allergies, and it was difficult. As a family we were all tested, and six months later, we found out that my son Rourke had the same reaction.”
“Over time, I started receiving letters from parents across the country asking us to produce gluten-free and dairy-free cakes for their children,” said Mike. “Having watched Danika being excluded from other children’s birthday parties because of her nut allergy, it was important to me to produce more cakes that included everyone, so we began adding to our range.”
The family-run business – including daughter Danika who works as marketing manager – is now looking forward to a bright future.
Mr Woods, who was introduced to the Development Bank by Frank Holmes at Gambit Corporate Finance, said: “The combined support of Gambit and the Development Bank has been instrumental as we focus on restructuring the business. We’ve got an exciting future. The mix of equity and loan from the Development Bank of Wales means that we’ve got ongoing support and counsel, as well as the working capital to deliver our vision to be the most inclusive celebration cake brand.”
The £25m Wales Management Succession Fund is financed by the Welsh Government and Clwyd Pension Fund. Loans and equity investments between £500,000 and £3m are available for management teams seeking to own and run their business with terms range between one and seven years.
Sign up to the BusinessLive Wales newsletter and follow us on LinkedIn
Senior Investment executive Steve Galvin and investment executive Ruby Harcombe completed the deal for the Development Bank.
Mr Harcombe said: “Just Love Food Company is a pioneering manufacturer of dietary and lifestyle-specific products with an excellent shelf-presence with the leading supermarkets. As developers of first-to-market celebration cakes, they’re meeting the requirements of the modern consumer at a time when we are all increasingly conscious of nutrition and healthy living.
“Mike and the team have got some really exciting growth plans that we’ll be facilitating with the mix of funding that we have provided from our Wales Management Succession Fund. We’re looking forward to working alongside the team and our co-investors as industry specialists.”
Berry Smith acted for Just Love Food Company and Blake Morgan for the Development Bank of Wales.


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Technology meetings are constantly redefining the leading edge.
High-tech companies are typically the early adopters when it comes to meeting tech, from apps to virtual reality. Prevue asked planners about the latest trends they are seeing at technology meetings.
At Siemens, there’s a digital transformation underway, with a major focus on the ROI of everything from mobile apps to audience response systems. “We’re measuring the success of using these tools via electronic post-event surveys to identify their impact, including cost savings, brand surveys and social media impact,” says Christine Becker Anderson, CMP, event manager.
Katrina Ruff, CMP, SVP of business development at Forums Meetings and Events, is finding the tech company executives to be growing younger each year. “They have a median age of what seems like 30! What makes this difficult is the fact that they would rather text or e-mail than get on an old-fashioned phone call.”
Ruff is willing to travel at her own expense to meet face to face anywhere in the world with her clients, “but this means nothing to Millennials, as their preferred meeting style is not around the table.”
As an independent planner, that has made her job more challenging. “It’s hard to get commitments in a timely fashion. Many event management decisions are left for the last minute. It seems to be their way of doing business.”
Goodbye, Dress Code
Many tech companies and offices have done away with dress codes—and that includes at meetings. “Jeans, tennis shoes and baseball caps seem to be the attire of the new executive,” says Ruff. “We used to be able to spot our clients by their well-placed ties and leather briefcases. You can’t tell who’s who any more.”
Rise of VR
The American Express 2018 Global Meetings Forecast predicts the continuing evolution of mobile apps and hybrid meeting solutions, as well as the rise of newer technologies such as virtual reality (VR) and artificial intelligence (AI). VR is used on the show floor at tech expos and trade shows to engage visitors to the booth. Says Issa Jouaneh, vice president and general manager of American Express Meetings & Events, “Today’s attendees are eager to deploy technologies that facilitate their personal event attendance goals”— whether that means networking, entertainment or engaging with content.
Tech guru Corbin Ball of Corbin Ball & Co. points to Saleforce Dreamforce, Cisco Live, C2 Montreal and SXSW as some of the most innovative large-scale tech gatherings, from which the meetings industry gets many of its innovative ideas. “Their tech-savvy attendees understand and expect the proper, frictionless use of technology throughout the event.”
Younger attendees look for healthier F&B options options. “Many of the tech companies we work with have a farm-to-table element in their cafeterias and many choices,” says Monica Logan, VP of operations, The Performance Group. “The food we serve at events should be an extension of this: smaller portions and less waste, environmentally friendly, less meat and more vegetables and fruits.”


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Enterprise Holdings has announced the expansion of its Enterprise Rent-a-Car brand to both Aruba and Panama.
The new locations join sister brands National Car Rental and Alamo Rent a Car brands in the two countries.
Both locations are located in each country’s main airports — Panama’s Tocumen International Airport and Aruba’s Queen Beatrix International Airport.
“Aruba and Panama are integral to our continued global growth, as we seek to serve business and leisure travelers alike wherever they are in the world,” said Peter A. Smith, vice president of global franchising at Enterprise Holdings. “As these destinations reopen for international flights, we’re dedicated to providing our customers a rental process that is safe, convenient and strengthened by our world-class customer service. And, as customers begin to travel again, increasing the availability of Enterprise Plus and Emerald Club is one more way to thank them for their business.”
Enterprise first debuted in the Caribbean in 2014.


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January 2, 2013
Instagram is facing a breach of contract lawsuit in California after consumers complained about service terms changing without their consent.
The lawsuit was filed in San Francisco federal court, alleging breach of contract and other claims against Instagram, which is now owned by Facebook.
Instagram allows users to take photos and add filters or effects to pictures and share the photos online. The company recently announced revised terms of service to users, prompting many complaints by users over the changes to the terms of service.
Many users became concerned that Instagram would start selling their pictures without compensating users. They also were concerned with the revised terms that forced users to agree to a mandatory arbitration clause that would limit their ability to file a class action lawsuit.
After the outcry from many users, Instagram took off the revisions about displaying users' photos without paying them. However, the company kept the revisions about the mandatory arbitration clause as well as allowing advertisements to be placed in conjunction with a user's photos. The lawsuit says that because the new terms of service do not discuss or allow users' photos to remain private, Instagram violated the contract.
The lawsuit also alleges that Instagram allows customers to cancel their subscription but in doing so they are agreeing to no longer have the right to the photos they have already posted online through the Instagram program. They lawsuit says that they allegations are a violation and breach of contract for the terms of service that Instagram users previously agreed to.
Source: Fox Business, "Instagram furor triggers first class action lawsuit," Dan Levine, Dec. 24, 2012


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Big Sky, Montana in itself is a magnet for celebs, as not everyone can afford to join the Yellowstone Club, an invitation-only residential club, ski resort, and golf resort. The ultra-exclusive resort, which originally opened in 2000, has come back after its 2008-2009 bankruptcy. And with the Discovery Land Company at the helm, it’s quickly becoming a hot spot for Hollywood A-listers. Now, you have a chance to buy a 15,552-square-foot ski lover’s paradise located within the Yellowstone Club. This precious residence, 26 Obsidian Road will be sold at a live auction on January 26th, 2013, managed by Concierge Auctions. The sale was originally scheduled for February 18th, but overwhelming reaction and strong demand for this estate, moved the auction to an earlier date.
“Since launching the auction just a few short weeks ago, demand has been incredibly strong. Potential bidders have expressed a desire to be able to spend more time at the property during Big Sky’s prime winter season,” stated Laura Brady, President of Concierge Auctions. “Big Sky is arguably one of the most desired ski destinations in the country. With direct access to 8,000 skiable acres, it’s no wonder that prospective new owners want to be able to move in as soon as possible. We look forward to the live auction on January 26th, when the paddle goes down, and the new owner is named.”
No wonder such huge interested, since this 4.93-acre estate has all in one: premier proximity, expansive entertaining, vast views and spectacular skiing — with direct access to the Yellowstone Club, Big Sky Ski Resort and Moonlight Basin, a combined 8,000 skiable acres right off your deck.
26 Obsidian offers unobstructed view of mountains and valleys from every window, most of which are floor-to-ceiling. The residence features eight bedrooms, 10 bathrooms, five fireplaces and multiple spacious areas for entertaining, as well as a study, wet bar, gourmet chef’s kitchen and fitness room. It also boasts a large den with a pool table, game tables and kitchenette and a full ski room with a vertical shoe rack, several open-air lockers and plenty of shelving.
If talk about four-wheelers, have to mention two garages, both with a plenty of space for cars and gear (the first is spacious enough for three cars, and the second for two cars). A heated deck wraps around the back of the house, where a 12-person hot tub awaits.
An amazing estate at the top of Andesite Mountain overlooking Lone Peak, Pioneer, and Cedar Mountains has been previously listed for whopping $28 million.


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Published on November 5th, 2018 | by Daniel Sherman Fernandez0
Lithium-ion battery actually never dies…so what should Malaysians be doing right now
The first batches of batteries from electric and hybrid vehicles are hitting retirement age in the coming years and they should not be bound for landfills or to be quietly sold as paper weights.
By 2020, about three-quarters of spent EV batteries will be reused and then recycled to harvest raw materials.
That means automakers and battery producers such as China’s Contemporary Amperex Technology can profit from the same battery pack several times.
Box of Energy, London-based Powervault and Melbourne-based Relectrify are among those helping develop the second acts. And a slew of automakers are either partnering with them or doing it alone.
In the basements of a three-tower apartment complex in western Sweden, Box of Energy installed silver cabinets about the size of a large refrigerator, each using 20 battery modules recovered from Volvo hybrid cars. They store energy from rooftop solar panels to run the elevators and lights in common areas.
The technology can cut a household electricity bill by more than a third, said Powervault, which plans to break down Renault Zoe battery packs for use in homes and schools in England. Powervault’s dishwasher-sized units can calculate when it’s most economical to recharge from the grid and when it’s best to tap into stored power.
Larger-scale systems also can cut costs for businesses. Batteries from Nissan’s Leaf will soon help illuminate streets in the Japanese coastal town of Namie, which is recovering from the 2011 disaster at the nearby Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant.
A new facility sifts through a mattress-sized battery in four hours to prepare its cells for several applications, including going back into an EV. Nissan envisions the site eventually churning through 10,000 batteries annually.
Toyota, maker of the Prius hybrid, will install retired batteries outside 7-Eleven stores in Japan next year, 2019. The hybrid batteries will store power from solar panels, and then use the juice when needed to help run the drink coolers, fried chicken warmers and sausage grills inside the stores.
A typical EV battery retains about 50% to 70% of its power capacity upon removal and so in China there is a company that uses second-hand packs to power wireless transmission towers and to help run one of China’s biggest energy-storage systems in Shenzhen.
If you don’t reuse, it’s a huge waste. So is Malaysia ready for this….ready to re-use retired EV batteries?


text: An anonymous reader writes "The Food and Drug Administration's Nanotechnology Task Force has passed on its first report into the ever-growing field of nanotech products. As a result, the FDA is implementing changes that will allow it to oversee nanotech products in every category withinin its purview. Nanotech products are 'estimated to grow to $2.6 trillion in manufactured goods globally by 2014. As the Task Force report highlights, nanotechnology impacts every area of FDA responsibility--drugs, drug delivery systems, cosmetics, medical devices, and food products. Overall, the agency regulates products that are worth nearly $1.5 trillion annually and that account for almost 25 percent of US consumer spending.'"


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Kohl’s last week unveiled eight new stores in seven states, including New York, Pennsylvania, Florida, New Hampshire, Illinois, Missouri and North Carolina, bringing the retailer’s store count to 1,134 units in 49 states.
Seven of the new units are small-format stores with about 64,000 square feet or less of retail space. The company has said its store openings will be disproportionately tilted toward this format for the foreseeable future.
The smaller footprint gives Kohl’s more real estate options, such as urban areas where the 90,000 square feet of space needed for a full-size store is scarce or prohibitively expensive. The new stores feature updated checkout stations, newly designed shopping carts, reinvented beauty departments, fitting-room lounges, expanded customer service areas relocated to the front of the store, in-store kiosks and electronic signs for all departments.
Kohl’s Corp., which saw profits decline in the fourth quarter by 7.9 percent, admitted its stores and merchandise weren’t exciting enough for customers. Chairman and chief executive officer Kevin Mansell said in February that the retailer will open fewer new stores and remodel fewer stores this year as part of a plan to introduce a new prototype store layout that addresses the need for changes in space allocation due to the expansion and introduction of new categories and new brands. Kohl’s plans to remodel 50 stores this year.
In apparel, Rock & Republic launched at Kohl’s this spring and Princess Vera Wang, a new Junior’s contemporary premium lifestyle collection will be unveiled in August.


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Asia remains the epicenter of the world’s economy, and that’s no different when it comes to interest in digital currency. DigitalTangible has launched their physical gold and Bitcoin trading services in Asia, thanks to their new partner Melotic.
Global customers of DigitalTangible Inc can now trade both their Bitcoin and their gold on the new Chinese Crypto-Gold trading platform. On Melotic’s commodity markets, users can trade the fine 1 oz. Pamp Suisse physical Gold bars, offered by DigitalTangible.


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Each week I’m going to do a round up of important, insightful or big news stories in the business arena. This week is the first entry and Australian property values dominate local headlines, while
Housing market set to cool as sentiment starts to sour: NAB
Fairfax: Australians divided over economy like never before
Australian companies and consumers are divided as never before over their judgment of the nation’s economy.
Business confidence is powering along and conditions – a measure of hiring, sales and profits – hit a post-2008 crisis high. But consumer sentiment remains in the doldrums.
Wall Street Journal: French court shows out Googles $1.3billion tax bill
PARIS—Alphabet Inc.’s Google won a reprieve from one of its biggest legal battles in Europe on Wednesday, when a Paris court threw out a €1.11 billion ($1.27 billion) bill that France’s tax authority has sought from the search giant for five years of back taxes.
AFR: How Brexit will hurt Europe’s financial systems
Like many multinational companies, Italian engineering business Brembo relies on London to run its finances. The company, based close to the Alps, makes brakes for Formula One cars and motorbikes and sells them in 70 countries. Hundreds of millions of euros pass through its bank accounts each year – and London is the hub for those flows.
SMH: Amber Harrison takes aim at Seven fort ‘brutal, unnecessary’ legal battle
The former lover of Seven West Media boss Tim Worner has taken aim at the company for waging a “brutal” and “protracted” legal battle against her and said its pursuit of her for costs will “drive me into bankruptcy”.
12,892 thoughts on “Top business news stories of the week”


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March 13 2014 Latest news:
International designers Patrick Ian Hartley and Juliana Sissons, original fashion and a sneak peek at some of the final designs from the third year fashion degree students at the Norwich University of the Arts, puts Norwich on the fashion map at fashion week.
In amongst the classic looks of Norwich Fashion Week were a handful of bizarre trends that raised eyebrows on the front row.
A long-running Norfolk boat show has joined forced with a eco-festival to host events on land and on water.
Dragons are the creations of myth and legend - from St George to fantasy novels. But they’ve also had a long association with Norwich’s history, architecture and civic heritage, which the unmissable events below aim to highlight.
An article concerning Duncan Forbes (March 6) has brought back some wonderful memories of him for members of the Norwich Swan Swimming Club.
A former headteacher who enjoyed hobby jam-making for herself and friends has just won world recognition for her home-made marmalades.
With BMW Motorrad launching five new models on Saturday, March 15, Lind Motorrad will be celebrating this exciting start of the riding season with a launch event including an exclusive preview of the new models on the Friday.
Try searching our archive of new and used road tests
(e.g. Ford, Golf, Hatchback, 4x4 etc)
While shivering through one of the coldest winters in recent years, many Norfolk people would have jumped at the chance to relocate to the warmer climes of Florida.
Looking for something to do? Try our front-page puzzle, sudoku or some arcade classics.
If you're looking for romance, then visit our dating site to find like-minded people near you.
Like a picture you've seen on the site or in the paper? You can buy copies and photo gifts here.
When it comes to choosing a pair of spectacles, most of us will try on a few designs, check the latest trends and see what our friends and family think of the frames. For dispensing opticians like James Conway at Dipple & Conway, its three years’ hard study and annual training “top-ups” to be able to interpret people’s prescriptions. Amanda Sandland-Taylor finds out more.


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Centennial News is delighted to have Derrick Liberty’s stunning watercolour “A Winter’s Day at Colonel Danforth Park” to highlight this issue. Derrick has lived in the Centennial community since 1995. His painting is a good reminder that even in winter Centennial is a wonderful place to be, so continue to get outside to walk and hike as much as you can and try to embrace the season.
By Kathryn Stocks
What to say as 2020 painfully lurches to an end and we find ourselves in another lockdown? With the holiday season arriving and COVID cases surging, we won’t be able to gather in large groups at least until December 21. No parties or festive events, just get-togethers with members of your household. This has the potential to be bleak.
You’re probably hearing a lot of people say “shop local this year” and it’s so true if we want our neighbourhood businesses to keep going. Having to shut down during the buying season is brutal for them. So even though their shops are closed, check online to see if you can help them out. See page 6 for a list of ways you can help.
During the lockdown, restaurants can no longer serve indoors or on patios but many are still open for takeout and delivery. Please make an effort to find out which ones are open and continue to support them, too.
And don’t forget charities. They are suffering as well. Many couldn’t hold their usual fundraising events this year and are strapped for cash when it’s needed most. For your family members who don’t need more stuff, consider giving a charitable donation in their name.
In a front-page article last January, Centennial News welcomed the new year and the new decade with these words: “The last ’20s decade was a defining era… So what will the 2020s bring? It will definitely be a time of change…”
We were right on with that part. This, too, will be a defining era and we will always remember this time in our lives. So do what you can to make this holiday season as special as possible for those around you. Decorate your home, put up outdoor lights and share your baking with your neighbours. Kindness and goodwill go a long way in a difficult time.


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Consumers are streaming their entertainment nowadays, and young consumers almost exclusively. The fastest growing part is ad-supported video on-demand (AVOD), which offers viewers free TV shows and movies in exchange for a little of their time. Examining these streaming services and the opportunities they bring was a pair of panels at New York Advertising Week.
Streamer Vudu (which launched AVOD service in October 2016), has a wealth of data to draw upon for content and ad personalization: It’s owned by Walmart and has access to a giant database of purchase information. But while targeting is essential, today’s advertisers want to measure sales.
“Advertisers are looking for ways to know their advertisements are working,” said Kyle J. Britt, head of experience for Vudu Advertising, speaking on the panel “Under the Influence of Streaming.” Click-through rates are nice, but marketers are looking for sales to justify expenses. Buyers should still treat reach and frequency as their most important KPIs, he said, but an increase in sales makes the suits in the boardroom happy.
“There isn’t going to be a silver bullet on attribution,” Britt said, noting that the area instead offers a matrix of useful tools for testing. Every brand and publisher plays a different part. In the future, he predicts a consolidation of measurement services and publishers, guaranteeing major publishers their own exclusive pool of data.
While there’s a lot of attention on tracking video ad performance, Kelly McMahon, senior vice president of global demand operations at SpotX, cautions against seeing video as a direct response opportunity. Video will evolve with improved metrics, but it should never be seen as a complete direct response play with a low cost per acquisition.
On the panel “The 2018 OTT Experience,” Brian Hunt, head of OTT/CTV advertising sales at Sinclair Broadcast Group, said he now sees advertisers adding a line item in their budgets for OTT and CTV.
Reporting is getting more granular for streaming services, Hunt says, often down to the ZIP code level, and that makes OTT a good option even for mom and pops. Marketers can reach exactly the consumer they want. “I think it present a tremendous opportunity for local main street businesses,” he said. For these newcomers to the space, he advises that VCR (verified completion rate) and percent of OTT are the metrics to watch.
Shifting the discussion, Alex Wallace, vice present of entertainment at Oath Studios, notes that buyers can reach consumers 10 different ways as they move through their day, but the focus needs to be on the consumer not the platform. Rather than knowing what screen shoppers are using, marketers need to know what those consumers are doing.
The whole industry needs to be cautious about privacy. Wallace thinks consumers will opt-in if they understand the value exchange of giving up some data. In fact, they’ll come to expect it. OTT carries the promise of ad relevancy, and consumers will want companies to know them well enough to market to their preferences. That’s one thing streaming services can really take advantage of.


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Back in 2016, the growing issue of fake reviews being offered for sale became a major concern for market place websites, who vowed to clamp down on the unethical, and in many places, illegal practice. Fliking” (fake liking) became a trend that was an issue not only for the market places but the brand holders and consumers.
Fliking (Fl-ike-ing) is my word for this practice. Meaning to solicit or buy social media likes, tweets or positive reviews….or simply fraud. Paying someone to say something that could be untrue can be classed as misleading, false advertising or fraudulent.
Despite the efforts from the major marketplaces, the issue still exists as highlighted in a new report by Which? The consumer group found 10 websites selling fake reviews from £5 each and incentivising positive reviews in exchange for payment or free products.
Just over two years ago, another Which? report highlighted the issue of fake reviews and how they were being used to trick consumers. Eighteen months ago they updated that report, sharing the truth that very little had changed. Unfortunately, as their most recent report shows, the unethical practice is still happening on the major marketplaces today.
Because our relationships with brands and marketplaces changed so much over the last year thanks to enforced restrictions and lockdown we face. We now rely on online shopping more so than ever and, more importantly, have had to adapt to communicating with others through technology rather than in person. That has led to a rise in people seeking reviews and opinions before they make purchases. Social media expert Erik Qualmann found in a study that over 90% of shoppers are influenced by Social Media and trust peer recommendations over adverts. In Which? survey of more than 2,000 UK adults in 2018, 97% use online customer reviews when researching a product. The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) estimates that over £23 billion per annum of UK consumer spending is influenced by online customer reviews.
So why is this an issue? Fake reviews leads to consumers buying products that may be poor quality, or may not even exist at all. The more positive reviews a product gets, the higher ranked it may appear on some market place sites, and thus starts a Catch22 situation. Consumers could end up buying products that are sub-standard or even dangerous based on the fake reviews. Any brand holder will tell you that one of the keys to a successful Social Media strategy is getting your message in front of the right people at the right time. Whilst they will use social media or peer review sites to great effect, so too do the fraudsters.
The Which? report found that these weren’t small organisations who were offering the fake reviews. One of the businesses they researched had more than 700,000 reviewers on their books, who are offered incentives such as payments, free or discounted products and the opportunity to take part in loyalties schemes.
The big market place sites such as Amazon go to great lengths to try to spot and stop fake reviews but with so many products offered on one of the world’s biggest websites it is an ongoing, uphill battle. We, as consumers need to play our part in the fight against this unethical and illegal practice. We need to be on the lookout for some tell-tale signs that could reveal products that have fake reviews. These could include:
- Too many 5-star, positive reviews – Be cautious of products that aren’t household names that have a plethora of overly positive reviews, especially if they have been added in a short period of time. Even great products will have some 3 or 4 star reviews.
- Copycat reviews – Look for common language in reviews which could suggest that they are template reviews.
- Look for verified purchases – On many websites actual product purchasers who submit a review are annotated as being “verified”. Whilst this isn’t a fool-proof method of identification, fake reviewers do not tend to buy the products in the first place.
- Check the reviewers profile – If you are unsure about a review, look at the reviewers profile and see what other products they have been reviewing. Few people will spend all day adding reviews unless they are being incentivised to do so.
- If it looks too good to be true – The final test is the most basic. If a review doesn’t sit right with you, pass on by.
It is an unfortunate byproduct of our thirst for a bargain and our reliance on online marketplace websites that fraudsters continue to find ways to cause brand holders and consumers issues. Fliking is another example of how criminals have adapted their behaviours to take advantage of the current economic situation, one which consumers need to be aware of and prepared to take an additional step to ensure that they stay safe and secure when shopping online.


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The last official day of a long, deal-heavy weekend, Cyber Monday (Monday 30 November this year) gives you another chance to buy remaining items on your shopping list from the comfort of your work desk. Despite not celebrating Thanksgiving, the UK has embraced this US shopping tradition in the last few years and Cyber Monday has become one of the busiest online shopping days of the retail calendar.
And it's growing increasingly popular. According to a forecast from the British Retail Consortium, British shoppers spent over £8.57 billion across the 2019 Black Friday weekend, which runs from Black Friday to Cyber Monday.
Cyber Monday can be unpredictable, with deals popping up everywhere (and quickly disappearing) and retailers trying to out do each other with competitive pricing. Luckily, our BlackFriday.co.uk team is staffed with Cyber Monday shopping veterans. Here are our predictions for how Cyber Monday 2020 will play out in the UK.
Cyber Monday is about tech and electronics
Unlike Black Friday when prices are slashed on everything, from gadgets to toys to airline tickets, Cyber Monday has traditionally been more focused on new technology, electronics and gaming. In previous years, Amazon has been one of the retailers that puts the most effort into Cyber Monday with a range of discounts on Amazon Prime memberships, Amazon Echo deals, the new Echo Show, Echo Plus (with built in smart home hub), the all-new Fire TV supporting 4K with Alexa voice control, Echo Connect, and Echo Buttons. Last year, products such as Echos, Fire sticks, Fire tablets and Kindles saw up to 55% in savings.
Those of you who aren't yet enjoying the many benefits of an Amazon Prime account might want to get signed up before Cyber Monday arrives. Prime membership not only offers you free delivery, but early access to many deals across the site.
Other retailers such as Curry's PC World, AO.com and John Lewis also had great deals on everything from home appliances to laptops and phones. Some of the top deals from Curry's PC World in 2019 included: an Xbox One S bundle with Forza Horizon 4, Tekken 7, and Project Cars 2 for £169.99, 10% off Dyson vacuum cleaners, and Apple iPad 32GB 9.7" for £299 (was £319).
Free delivery won’t be guaranteed
In years past, Cyber Monday was a free shipping bonanza but that’s cooled off a bit. This year, like last year, expect free shipping on all orders only from select retailers (mostly clothing retailers). However, that free shipping may not be automatic. Many retailers will require you to use a specific promo code to get the free shipping.
As for the rest, expect some retailers to lower their usual free-shipping minimums instead of providing free shipping on all orders.
The good news is that, every year, a handful of major retailers offer free shipping for the entire Christmas season, starting late October or early November.
A lot of Cyber Monday deals will be last minute and in real time
Retailers generally announce their Cyber Monday deals on Thanksgiving weekend, hoping to get shoppers to make purchases spontaneously. Make sure to sign up to all your favourite retailers’ emails so that their Cyber Monday offers will be delivered directly to your inbox. And don't forget to sign up to our email list for deal alerts – we’ll be rounding up the best deals from all retailers and sending them to our subscribers throughout Cyber weekend.
Popular Black Friday deals will get recycled on Cyber Monday (or extended through Cyber Monday)
If you see a good online Black Friday deal on a popular item (like the Echo, Google Home, Nest Thermostat, iPad, Fire Tablet, Instant Pot or a 2-in-1 laptop), buy it. Don’t wait until Cyber Monday, holding out for a better price.
For the past couple years, we’ve seen prices on hot items get repeated on Cyber Monday or simply offered from Black Friday through to Cyber Monday.
TVs won’t hit Black Friday lows but will still be worth buying on Cyber Monday
Black Friday offers unbeatable doorbuster prices on TVs and we’ve rarely seen Cyber Monday prices hit the same lows. However, Amazon, Curry's PC World, AO.com and others will offer Cyber Monday TV deals that will be the best you’ll see until next Prime Day.
Laptops and gaming PCs will be the best Cyber Monday buys
Cyber Monday is a tech-heavy shopping holiday. But while TVs are front and center on Black Friday, laptops and gaming PCs are front and centre on Cyber Monday for retailers like Amazon, eBay, and Dell. So if you missed a Black Friday deal on a laptop or gaming PC, don’t worry, as these retailers will reshuffle the deck of their Black Friday discounts and deal them back out on Cyber Monday.
Travel deals will be unpredictable
The Covid-19 pandemic has hit the travel industry hard, with many customers faced with uncertainty about travel and holiday plans. While some airlines may not be running Black Friday 2020 deals, there are many offering great post-coronavirus deals for specific locations. Just be prepared for any unforeseeable changes.
Some deals we saw last year:
On Black Friday last year, Ryanair had great deals such as 25% off 1 million seats, €30 off return flights, 100,000 seats from €9.99 and new routes for Winter 2018/2019 from €9.99.
Customers could take advantage of deals such as, return flights to New York from £349,99 and return flights from Manchester to Cancun, Mexico for £439,99.
Expedia is known for its hourly flash deals on hotels and vacation packages, and offered up to 60% off select hotels, as well as special discounts on flights, packages, activities & car hire.
Many mobile phone retailers will continue their price reductions from Black Friday to Cyber Monday, with big savings still available on handsets and monthly plans from networks such as BT Mobile, EE, O2 and Vodafone. We also expect to see lots of deals offering accelerated data plans.
eBay will go after Amazon
eBay has been positioning itself as the anti-Amazon e-tailer for a few years now, calling its deals the “guaranteed best prices,” thus targeting shoppers who rely on Amazon to price-compare before making a purchase.
Given eBay’s past enthusiasm for competing with Amazon, we expect it to offer some of the strongest electronics, clothing and beauty deals of Cyber Monday 2020.
If eBay isn’t already on your shopping list for Cyber Monday, add it. It’s long since left behind its focus on second-hand goods and auction sales, and now offers plenty of new fixed-priced items from its network of sellers.
Cyber Monday and Black Friday will become even more indistinguishable
The end of November has increasingly blurred together into one deal-filled shopping spree. Plenty of Black Friday deals run Thursday through Monday (or even longer). In the UK, PWC have even coined the phrase 'Black Fortnight’ in reference to the fact that many retailers (in an effort to reduce pressure on logistics and in stores) have started offering promotions over a week before Black Friday.
This year we anticipate the continued blurring of Black Friday and Cyber Monday. But that’s good news for you – unless you have a very specific toy or TV on your list, there’s no need to rush the stores on Black Friday. There’s also no need to wait until Cyber Monday to shop.