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However, utility vehicle major Mahindra & Mahindra reported decline in sales last month reflecting fragmented recovery that the auto industry is witnessing.
Market leader Maruti Suzuki India (MSI) said its domestic sales increased by 6.8 per cent during the month to 1,06,083 units as against 99,290 units in September, 2014.
Sales of the company’s bread and butter mini cars, including, Alto and WagonR, increased marginally to 35,570 units as compared to 35,547 units in the year-ago month.
Sales of the compact segment comprising Swift, Estilo, Ritz and Dzire increased by 3.5 per cent to 44,826 units.
The company’s newly launched premium crossover vehicle S-Cross clocked sales of over 3,600 units during the month.
Rival Rival Hyundai Motor India saw its highest ever monthly domestic sales at 42,505 units last month as compared with 35,041 units in September 2014, up 21.3 per cent.
HMIL Senior Vice-President (Sales and Marketing) Rakesh Srivastava said the company’s growth was driven by strong performance of its modern premium brands like CRETA, Elite i20, i20 Active and Grand.
Honda Cars India also reported 23 per cent increase in its domestic sales at 18,509 units in September. It had sold 15,015 units in the same month last year.
M&M’s domestic sales were down 6 per cent to 39,693 units last month as against 42,408 units in September last year.
“While the auto industry has witnessed a slow and fragmented recovery, the recent interest rate reduction by the RBI is bound to infuse optimism,” M&M Chief Executive (Automotive Division) Pravin Shah said.
If the majority of the rate cut is passed on to the customers by the lending institutions, it will bring back the momentum in auto sales especially in the upcoming festival season, he added.
Tata Motors’ sales of passenger cars in September were higher by 5 per cent at 10,226 units, as compared to 9,766 units in same period of last year.
Its domestic passenger vehicles sales were flat at 11,774 units as against 11,931 units in the same month of previous year.
Ford India’s domestic sales in September stood at 8,274 vehicles against 6,786 units, up 22 per cent in the same month last year.
“Backed by a strong growth vision and great products like the new Figo and Aspire, we look forward to welcome many more customers to the Ford family this festive season,” Ford India, Executive Director, Marketing, Sales & Service, Anurag Mehrotra said.
In the two-wheeler segment, Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India (HMSI) reported 2 per cent decline in total sales at 4,30,732 units in September.
Country’s largest two-wheeler Hero MotoCorp reported a marginal increase in sales at 6,06,744 units in September.
Yamaha Motor India reported 13 per cent increase in domestic two-wheeler sales at 67,267 units in September.
Royal Enfield, the two-wheeler division of Eicher Motors, posted sales of 43,741 units in the domestic market, up 59 per cent, from 27,540 units in the same month last year.


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January has ended with all the resolutions and promises we made to ourselves for this year. Now, with the start of February, people are all ready to make promises to their special ones on Valentine’s day.
Some people are completely against the idea of Valentine’s day celebrations and consider it as something adapted from the West. And some are so drowned in love that they find it mandatory to express their love on this particular day!
There are some people who hate this day just because they haven’t found their “soulmate” yet. And then come those, who don’t even care about Valentine’s day and that includes the majority of us!
Our handsome star, Mikaal Zulfiqar seems to fit in the latter category so well that we can’t even. He posted this picture as his Instagram story and single people are loving it! He became the voice of so many and we can totally relate to it!
Couples are already excited to celebrate Valentine’s day. While some of us are just sitting back, relaxing and for many, Valentine’s day is just another normal day. It looks like Mikaal is on our sides!
Mikaal is considered as one of the heart-throbs of our industry. Him, posting stuff like this, has given hopes to the girls that he’s still single. This might not be the best hint but still, always keep your hopes high!
Unfortunately, Mikaal didn’t have a successful marriage but he is an amazing father. His love for his daughters is truly adorable!
You know Valentine’s day is a pretty serious issue in our country when the government itself imposes a ban on its celebration and people keep a strict eye on whoever seems to be a part of it. At the end, everyone has their own opinion and there will be some who’ll celebrate it no matter what others say.
Stay tuned to Very Filmi for more updates and news!

domain: news


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Transcript for Same-day delivery service may be coming to Target
And if tech bite targets. Same day delivery service to the chain is paying more than half a billion dollars in cash for shipped. A company that specializes in grocery delivery target plans to start offering same day delivery at half of its stores next year. And Wal-Mart is offering its workers a way to access their paychecks before payday yes so employees short on funds can get paid early through a new app. They can do it up to eight times a year the retailer rule also provide an apt to help workers budget. And what better place to see the latest Star Wars movie then in space the crew of the International Space Station will be able to watch Star Wars the last jet I. NASA says the movie will be beamed up as a digital file. Crew members and then watch it on a laptop or projector that's kind of the I would love how beat down themselves watching the film. Think they might blizzards are rights they're great day.
This transcript has been automatically generated and may not be 100% accurate.


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Savvy businesses know their success lies in being where their customers are. The rise of social media and digital healthcare activity has been phenomenal. The role of social networks in the field of healthcare has become critical for a patient’s lifelong health journey. Not long ago, word-of-mouth and referrals were considered a primary channel of marketing for physicians.
Over the last few years, the most startling metamorphosis has been the digital evolution of the industry. PwC’s recently published report on healthcare states, “At $2.9 trillion, the state of the U.S. healthcare industry is strong – and growing. Health care inflation is at its lowest rate in 50 years. About 10 million newly insured Americans are bringing in significant new revenue, but that’s only part of the story. The health sector is proving to be highly adaptive to disruption and innovation.”
The rising volume of digital healthcare activity among online healthcare consumers is well-recognized by physicians now. Online physician interactions with patients form a foundation of trust and credibility in the minds of many others who read the conversations. The role of social networks in the field of healthcare has become critical for a patient’s lifelong health journey. As long as physicians use social media in an ethical and professional manner, they can benefit both patients and colleagues, enhance their own reputations and help to lead the revolution in this area.
From marketing to social business
Digitalization has brought the world closer and has created a global online village as a rapidly growing number of people are on social media. This fantastic web space enables an instantaneous self-expression about an individual’s thoughts/views/expressions and a shared community experience – at any given second – with someone in the house next door or halfway across the globe. A few years ago, terms such as following, liking, commenting, tagging, reviewing and sharing were known by just a few. In the era of social media, these now provide vital leads that could result in higher-quality care, a more loyal base of patients, better efficiency and even revenue growth.
What this means for the health industry
Take the first step to protect your online reputation and request your Online Reputation Assessment.
Marketing in any form can be effective only if you are effective in your marketing skills. When it comes to healthcare marketing, there are an increasing number of info-hungry consumers who have become the digital decision-makers. Physicians, dentists and healthcare providers can either choose to evolve with the changing digital scenarios and drive value for their practices, or they will shrink backward and dilute their reputation.
Healthcare marketing strategies that aggressively include social media can help healthcare providers take a more active, engaged role in managing patient health. Healthcare organizations should effectively analyse and integrate information from the social media space and utilize it to connect with the healthcare consumers in more meaningful ways that provide value and increase trust.
By tapping the correct social media channels, hospitals and physicians can directly connect with people who are increasingly turning to these for finding answers to their wants, needs and preferences. Insights from social media also offer instant feedback on products or services, along with new ideas for innovation. Incorporating this information into operations can help healthcare organizations position themselves better to meet the needs of today’s consumers. While making any interaction on social media, be cognizant about the HIPAA guidelines and keep patient privacy and confidentiality as the top priorities.
Social media networking has expanded the social life of health, which now goes far beyond a doctor’s office. It can be used as an ideal platform to share your practice visibility, connect directly with target patients and influence their opinion about your practice. Entrepreneurial physicians have understood the possibilities of social media marketing and have leveraged it to their benefit. It’s about making a brand of your practice through social media marketing.


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In a significant development for the metal additive manufacturing (AM) industry, a division of the Jingye Group, the parent company of British Steel, recently integrated two new “super-meter-level” metal 3D printers machines, the EP-M1550 and EP-M1250, from EPlus3D. This acquisition by Jingye Additive expands the business’s “super-meter” metal AM system count to six and brings its total number of 3D printers to 46, according to Chinese news site Antarctic Bear.
Jingye Additive’s Growing 3D Printing Footprint
The EP-M1550, Jingye Additive’s latest addition, boasts a massive build volume of 1550mm x 1550mm x 1000mm and 16 lasers. This makes it one of the largest, most theoretically productive of the latest generation of LPBF machines deployed in what we refer to as the Laser Wars. The EP-M1250 is nothing to sneezer at either, featuring nine lasers and over two cubic meters (1258 mm x 1258 mm x 1350 mm) of capacity.
In 2018, Jingye Group made its foray into AM by implementing what was dubbed Extreme High-Speed Laser Metal Deposition (EHLA), developed by the Fraunhofer Institute for Laser Technology ILT and RWTH Aachen University. Characterized by its high processing speed, the EHLA process efficiently melts metal powder particles in the laser beam, facilitating rapid production speeds and finer layer thickness. At the time, Jingye Group adopted this technology, specifically for coating offshore hydraulic cylinders.
Then, in 2022, Jingye Additive acquired the EP-M650 metal 3D printer, equipped with a quad laser system and substantial build volume. The division’s achievements in large and ultra-large metal 3D printing have so far been successful, with the company reportedly delivering over 100,000 parts with more than 300,000 cumulative printing hours. Jingye Additive’s largest part required nearly 1,000 hours of printing.
According to Antarctic Bear, Jingye Additive is at the forefront of integrating Internet of Things (IoT) process monitoring for some domestic 3D printing equipment. This enables real-time remote monitoring of each printer, including powder spreading, print time, oxygen content, fan speed, and chamber temperature. These capabilities are crucial for maintaining printing quality, boosting production efficiency, and reducing labor costs. The company’s initiatives in material network management and control have laid the groundwork for digital management, paving the way for the future development of unmanned factories.
Since its announcement of a 100-unit metal 3D printing factory project in 2022, Jingye Additive has continuously augmented its array of large-size metal 3D printers and corresponding post-processing and precision testing equipment. With a total of 46 imported and domestic machines, Jingye Additive is progressing towards becoming a scaled, specialized, and diversified leader in the 3D printing industry.
An Expanding Steel Giant
Established in 2015 and affiliated with Jingye Group, Hebei Jingye Additive Manufacturing Technology Co., Ltd. has invested over $750 million (¥ RMB 5 billion) into 3D printing to date. The company boasts multiple intelligent manufacturing production lines, including metal powder production, metal 3D printing, metal injection molding, and laser cladding repair.
Jingye Group is a diverse conglomerate primarily engaged in the steel industry, supplemented by ventures in steel deep processing, international trade, powder metallurgy, 3D printing, tourism, and hospitality. As of 2019, the group employed 27,000 staff, reported sales revenue of approximately USD$18.7 billion (¥ RMB 127.4 billion). The conglomerate’s main products, steel rebars and medium thickness plates, have been used in significant projects globally, including Beijing Daxing International Airport, the Brunei Cross-sea Bridge, and Pakistan Nuclear Power Plant.
Jingye Group expanded its global footprint when it surprised the world with the acquisition of British Steel Corporation in 2020, becoming a multinational enterprise group. Integral to the UK’s economic and industrial growth, British Steel was at one point the largest steel producer in the Western world and the second-largest in Europe, employing over 250,000 people at its peak.
The Broader Chinese Market
According to our research, the Chinese AM industry targeted growth of 30 percent across the three years from 2020 through 2022. From the looks of it, it achieved that goal and continues to expand rapidly. While the Additive Manufacturing Research (AMR) “Metal AM Markets: 2023” report estimates that EPlus3D represents only three percent of the global metal LPBF market, there’s no doubt that the footprint of that one firm is growing, as is the rest of the Chinese LPBF sector.
Alongside the release of this “super-meter”, many-laser machines from EPlus3D are those from Chinese competitors Farsoon and Bright Laser Technologies (BLT). The BLT-S800 from BLT currently holds the title for the metal 3D printer with the most lasers, featuring an upgraded 20-laser high-efficiency printing technology. This surpasses the 16-laser configuration seen in both Farsoon Technologies’ FS1521M and Eplus3D’s EP-M1550 systems. Overall, the EP-M1550’s build volume is larger than both. While the BLT-S800 has a build volume of 800mm x 800mm x 600mm, the FS1521M has a build volume of 1.5 meters in diameter x 850mm, with an optional extended Z-height of 1650mm.
As the owner of British Steel, historically one of the world’s most important companies, Jingye has made a key decision in selecting EPlus3D over its competitors. Of course, those competitors have their own powerful allies, but what all of this indicates is that not only is the Chinese AM sector rising to prominence, but that it and Chinese industry at large may soon begin to overshadow players in the Western world.
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Following his appointment as an advisor to the Independent Publisher Alliance, ShowHeroes’ UK country Manager Steven Filler talks to its Co-Founder, Alex Newberry, about their mission to give UK publishers a stronger voice and their plans for the year ahead…
A look at the challenges faced by programmatic advertising and how Adnuntius is addressing these shortcomings.
Data connectivity platform, LiveRamp, in
As we enter H2, NDA asked a number of industry figures about what have been the key developments so far in 2021 and whats to come. First up it’s Ryan Afshar of LiveRamp
Sales made through affiliate advertising by the UK’s biggest national media houses increased by 229% as a result of the pandemic.
Data privacy software company Sourcepoint has launched Privacy Lens, the first privacy measurement and analytics platform of its kind on the market according to the company.
Publishers have led the way
Gaming is one of the few industries to have benefitted from the pandemic and associated lockdowns.
The Independent is “the only
PARTNER CONTENT By Matthew Goldhill,


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Vendée Globe is the world’s only single-handed non-stop round-the-world yacht race. As a major three month sporting event, it presents interesting challenges to those promoting and financing it. In an exclusive piece for SportsPro, Antoine Robin, director of communication & partnerships, Vendée Globe, discusses how this year it has turned to new media to overcome these challenges.
In this May 2012 feature, SportsPro caught up with Skandia head of brand marketing Jo Rimmer who explained why in 2008 the investment company took the decision to discontinue its lengthy title sponsorship of Cowes Week, one of the oldest and most prestigious sailing regattas in the world, in favour of refocusing its efforts behind another of its sponsorship properties, namely the British sailing team.
Already a triple Olympic gold medallist, Britain's Ben Ainslie has long been tipped as one of the home team's stars of this year's Games in London - or, in the case of the sailing events, Weymouth.
HBS has become one of the world's leading host broadcasters of large-scale sporting events, and was responsible for the production of the 2007 America's Cup. SportsPro caught up with Daniel Wlochovski, a former professional sailor who now leads HBS' marketing division, to find out how the company is continuing to help broaden the television appeal of sailing.
The May issue of SportsPro includes a major focus on the business of sailing.
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MANILA (Mabuhay) – House ways and means committee chairman and Marikina Rep. Miro Quimbo defends the bill increasing the tax exemption ceiling for bonuses from criticisms it will erode government revenues.
Quimbo said the measure will actually lead to increased consumer spending and generate vast economic activity, which will translate to higher tax collections.
The bill, which raises the tax exemption cap for bonuses from the current P30,000 to P82,000, is just awaiting President Aquino’s signature before it becomes a law.
“If you want inclusive growth to happen, you need to put cash in the hands directly of the consumer, that’s the best way. That’s what the CCT (conditional cash transfer) program is for. We do the CCT program for non-taxpayers. We spend P75 billion, it’s a human capital investment but at the same time it’s really a step towards inclusive growth. You can’t find a better mechanism than bringing up the take home pay of ordinary workers,” Quimbo said.
“Whether there would be a revenue loss, it would be recovered through consumer taxes meaning VAT. There are studies that showed that 77 percent of every peso that you return to the consumer is spent on VAT-able items, and then the corporations who will benefit from greater consumer spending will likewise have higher income,” he added.
Meanwhile, Quimbo is unfazed by warnings that a bill designed to raise taxes on sweetened beverages will drive away investors.
But he admits that getting it passed will also be more difficult than the sin tax bill.
“It’s a bigger challenge because it’s more difficult to explain, unlike cigarettes everybody knows it’s bad. But drinking cola, kids drink it, everybody drinks it, so it’s not very apparent. It’s also difficult when you have 87 percent of parents drinking at least a liter of soda a month. We need these funds to be able to convince or fund the DepEd program,” said Quimbo.(MNS)


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Amazon Seller Services, the marketplace unit of the US online retail giant in India, secured huge cash infusion of Rs 26 billion (Rs 2,600 crore) in late last month. This has been disclosed by the documents that Amazon India filed with Registrar of Companies (ROC) last month that has now been sourced by various media houses.
Following the latest funding infusion, Amazon’s total investment into its India business has now touched whopping Rs 20,000 crore. In November last year, Amazon India had received capital infusion of whooping Rs 2,900 crore, which is the biggest fund infusion that Amazon’s Indian unit has received till date. This was immediately followed by another tranche of fund infusion of Rs 1,950 crore in January this year.
Apart from pumping in huge amount of capital, Amazon India has already passed a resolution to increase its authorized share capital to Rs 31,000 crore, which essentially paves way to receive more investment from its parent company.
Amazon gearing up for competition with Flipkart
Although there are rumors that this latest fund infusion may be part of Amazon’s regular business decision and not necessarily to do anything with Walmart-Flipkart deal, the timing of the capital infusion is little conspicuous. There can be little doubt that Jeff Bezos’ company is bracing for intense competition once Flipkart will be officially taken over by Walmart.
Analysts claim that Amazon is very well aware that Flipkart will be supercharged with funds post Walmart deal and its Indian business unit will be in dire need of investment to cope with intense foreseen competition.
Industry experts are completely divided over whether the Seattle based giant can tame down Walmart in the Indian backyard. While it managed to defeat Walmart hands down in the home territory of U.S, many experts feel that Indian market may prove to be completely different cup of tea for Amazon.
How Amazon India will look to leverage the funds?
Sources close to Amazon India claim that the company may use funds to ramp its operations in various critical avenues including grocery, pantry, fashion and smartphone divisions. Amazon has already made huge investments in grocery and pantry especially in the wake of increasing competition from BigBasket, which is one of the major players in the grocery business.
However, Amazon would be desperate to make a real kill in the smartphone and fashion markets, since these are two markets where Flipkart always had an edge. Experts believe that it will prove to be huge morale booster if the U.S based retail giant can make serious dent in these two lucrative markets.


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sendmygift.com in Bengaluru launched by Hrithik Roshan
Bollywood actor Hrithik Roshan is thrilled and is looking forward to pick a gift for his mother on the occasion of her upcoming birthday.
More so after having officially launched the online gifting portal sendmygift.com (SMG) at an event in Bengaluru earlier this month. The e-commerce marketplace has been designed by the TGS Group to help people select and deliver apt gifts for their loved ones.
Speaking during the launch event, Hrithik says, I am very proactive in my mind about being enabled and give opportunities and platform for people to grow. We have a lot of talent and it needs to be nurtured. So, if I find something that I believe in I would invest my efforts and money in. The online gift portal is the brainchild of Mandeep Kaur, chairman and managing director. India is the country of festivals and emotions. And celebrations are incomplete without gifting. Therefore, the brand has decided to launch the portal, Mandeep says.
Adding to this, co-founder Chinta Shyamsundar says, The projected gifting market in India is estimated at $20-30 billion by 2020. The income level, spending level and aspiration level of people have risen tremendously over the past decade, but there is a big gap between demand and supply in the gifting industry. This new portal plans to bridge this gap.
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eBay will begin to run ads in its mobile app in this year’s fourth quarter, to help advertisers target consumers on both smartphones and tablets.
The online market place has always been a strong contender in the mobile space. Its shopping app has generated more than 200 million downloads, and it has about 4.6 million visitors on a daily basis, according to Stephen Howard-Sarin, head of display advertising at eBay. Where the company has fallen behind, it seems, is in its in-app advertising capabilities.
“We wanted to extend our advertising to mobile. And we wanted to open up this treasure chest for advertisers to target eBay consumers,” says Howard-Sarin.
Although several publications, including The Wall Street Journal, have reported that eBay is preparing to launch a mobile ad network, Howard-Sarin explains that this initiative is not an ad network, but rather “advertising in eBay’s owned and operated property”. He adds that the “mobile ad program” will not extend to non-eBay affiliated apps.
eBay’s shopping app will require users to enter the same single login used across all devices, which will enable advertisers to better tailor ads. The company’s in-house data management platform will gather the login data to monitor user activities, so that eBay knows consumers’ past purchases, most recent searches, and what they are browsing for.
“EBay has a vast reach, so the execution will determine the success,” says Ben Reubenstein, chief executive officer (CEO) of digital agency POSSIBLE Mobile. “Digital ads often lack innovation. Banners on mobile web and native iOS or Android feel dated. So if they can bring the consumer data and deliver the ads in a non-intrusive, engaging manner that leads to conversion, then they will succeed.”
The online retailer will team up with Triad Retail Media to test different formats of mobile ads.
Ebay’s Howard-Sarin believes that the mobile initiative will be complementary to the company’s growing online advertising business.
Homepage image via Shutterstock.
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Electric vehicle maker Tesla Inc.is laying off about 3,600 white-collar workers as it slashes costs in an effort to become profitable.
Tesla is laying off around 9-percent of its workforce, according to insiders.
As of Tesla's annual filing in December, the automaker had 37,543 full-time employees.
In his email to employees, Musk also said the company would stop selling its solar panel units at Home Depot to better focus on sales on its own stores and website. He argued that cost cutting was necessary to turn Tesla into a sustainably profitable company. In an email released by Musk on Twitter, the Tesla co-founder said the cuts will "not affect our ability to meet Model 3 production targets in the coming months".
The company added that its rapid growth over the past several years has resulted in some duplication of roles and job functions. The company will also not renew its contract with U.S. hardware chain Home Depot, which now sells the company's solar panels and home energy systems, though "the majority" of Tesla staff now placed in Home Depot stores will move over to Tesla retail positions. But Musk has promised an acceleration of Model 3 manufacturing, which will allow the company to bring in a lot more revenue.
Tesla shares pared an earlier gain of as much as 6.9 per cent and were up 3.2 per cent to US$342.81 as of 2:21 p.m.in NY trading.
Tesla has been burning cash nearly continuously since it was founded 15 years ago.
Musk's note also said that Tesla will end distribution of its solar power and home battery equipment at Home Depot and focus on direct sales instead. "It is very hard to say goodbye", the CEO wrote.
It is worth noting that the email also comes following several weeks of press reports outlining the auto company's troubles and predicting exactly what has happened - the need to cut costs while keeping production moving as fast as possible.
To those who are departing, thank you for everything you have done for Tesla and we wish you well in your future opportunities. "We must continue to drive that forward for the good of the world".
Thiem must come out firing when he faces heavy Nadal artillery
On the first date, Thiem defeated Nadal 6-4, 6-3. "I think that was my chance of the match", Del Potro said of the ninth game. There was a sense of inevitability when Del Potro served at 4-5 and Nadal turned the screws to grab two set points at 15-40.
Cop scoops up toddler trotting on busy highway
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Where will LeBron James go once he hits free agency?
I knew that question would come, but I like to be here. "I have no idea at this point", James told reporters. What either factor will mean for James' upcoming decision will be determined in the coming weeks.


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Patrick McGillycuddy has joined Jaguar Land Rover UK as sales director.
He'd been head of sales operations with Volkswagen UK since early 2018, a role he gained after joining the German car group in 2013 from Vauxhall, first as head of fleet at its Skoda UK division before taking responsibility for VW Group fleet.
"It’s been awesome in every way and I feel very privileged to have worked with the outstanding team mates across the whole business. Like all good journeys there comes an end so a new adventure can begin," McGillycuddy wrote on LinkedIn.
From 2010 to 2011 McGillycuddy was sales and marketing director at AM100 dealer group Peter Vardy.
Volkswagen UK announced in April that James Douglas, then its head of sales operations for the commercial vehicles division and a Nissan sales veteran, would take over McGillycuddy's role.
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Snapchat Plans a Complete Redesign Snapchat Plans a Complete Redesign to Help Combat Decreased User Growth
This past Tuesday saw Snapchat deliver its recent public earnings report and the results weren’t great.
The image messaging and multimedia mobile app continues to add daily active users (DAU) at a disappointingly slow rate of 3 percent — approximately 4.5 million actual new users. The slow user growth, allied with earnings being below Wall Street expectations, saw stock prices plunge nearly 20 percent. In response to the dissatisfactory results, CEO Evan Spiegel stated that “we grew our Daily Active Users at a lower rate than we would have liked,” and therefore going into 2018, the company will be focusing on stimulating user growth.
A complete redesign of the app itself will be the primary method used to achieve this goal. This overhaul comes in response to the feedback that claims the app is “difficult to understand and hard to use” and after the company saw increased usage by Android owners following the optimization of performance on the Android version of the app. Given the 800 million DAU on Instagram, which is an increase in 100 million users from less than six months ago, it would appear that the Snapchat redesign couldn’t arrive sooner.


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47 JC Penny stores close
CHI2001012603 - 26 JANUARY 2001 - CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, USA: Few cars are parked in front of the JCPenny store in the Chicago suburb of Skokie, Illinois, January 25, 2001. JCPenny announced plans to close 44 department stores and three outlet stores, affecting 5,000 jobs. The company's stock has dropped 84 percent since June, 1998. rlw/cc/Tannen Maury UPI
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In this week’s round-up of automotive gossip we hear why Ford thinks Norway is leading the way for EV adoption, why the Arteon eHybrid holds the key to electrifying all VW’s models and more.
The Norway to go for EVs
Ford of Britain’s boss has cited Norway as an example of how the adoption of EVs can be encouraged. Graham Hoare said: “The Norway experience since 1990 has seen significant activities to build confidence with customers, to create infrastructure and to support customer decisions that ultimately have enabled that economy to fully adopt electrification, and plug-ins and fully electric vehicles are now about 70% of the marketplace. But really it has taken 30 years, and it’s that consistency of purpose that has been so essential.”
VW’s electric democracy
The new Arteon eHybrid will play a key role in Volkswagen’s plans to electrify all its models from the Golf upwards, unlike previous GTE variants. “We want to democratise our electrified powertrains, so we’ve made it available on volume trims,” marketing boss Hendrik Muth said.
Launch window closed
Big launch events for new cars are “probably” over, according to Citroën’s marketing boss. The firm recently launched its new C4 online, with some 2600 journalists asking questions by rapidly typing them into a box and hoping they would be read out in a 20-minute session. Arnaud Belloni said: “We have to think about the benefits: we can reach more people online and with no need for travel.”
JLR sticks on diesel
Jaguar Land Rover will continue to invest in diesels, and plug-in hybrid versions are under consideration. Product engineering boss Nick Rogers said “super-clean” diesels are a “valid mode of transport” and “if you can combine that with a PHEV, in normal or city usage, you can be completely clean and silent”.


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Affected Hyundias: Approximately 100,000 model-year 2011-14 Hyundai Sonata sedans and model-year 2013-14 Santa Fe Sport SUVs
The Issue: During engine replacement due to a previous recall of these vehicles, the high-pressure fuel pipe may have been damaged, misaligned or improperly torqued, which could allow fuel to leak, increasing the risk of a fire. Hyundai said it is not aware of any fires caused by the issue.
The Repair: Dealers will inspect and replace the fuel tubes, as necessary, for free.
What You Should Do: Hyundai did not immediately announce an owner-notification schedule. Owners can call the automaker at 855-371-9460, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's vehicle-safety hotline at 888-327-4236.
Affected Lincolns: Approximately 2,300 model-year 2019 Lincoln Nautilus SUVs equipped with lane-centering assist and adaptive front steering
The Issue: The vehicle may not adequately detect if a driver has their hands off the steering wheel, which could lead to the hands on/off detection system not alerting the driver to place their hands back on the steering wheel, increasing the risk of a crash. Lincoln manufacturer Ford said it is not aware of any related accidents or injuries.
The Repair: Dealers will update the power steering control module software for free.
What You Should Do: Ford did not immediately announce an owner-notification schedule. Owners can call the automaker at 866-436-7332, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's vehicle-safety hotline at 888-327-4236.
Chevrolet Bolt Fire Warning! *** We begin with a special alert for Chevy Bolt owners. Some 2017-2019 models could catch fire due to their high voltage battery. In an email alert, the NHSTA says Own... More ›
FORD Ford Motor Company is issuing a safety recall for select 2013-17 Ford Explorer vehicles. Some affected vehicles, sold or registered in certain areas of North America states and provinces where... More ›
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Despite the low discounts the Apple Black Friday Sales event is always a big draw each year. Apple has just published the Black Friday 2011 landing page on the Apple Store.
Apple has published a page on the Apple Store announcing the Apple Black Friday Sale. The page is propagating right now starting in Australia to the United States. The page only reveals that there will be amazing iPad, iPod and Mac gifts. Apple does not release a traditional Black Friday Ad, but announces the Black Friday deal details on the Apple Store very likely on Tuesday. This is what happened last year.
Don't Miss: MWC 2017 Highlights
Apple should have better revealed the Black Friday 2011 deals on Tuesday. Now an Apple Black Friday 2011 Ad has leaked uncovering all deals.
The Apple Black Friday Sale will be one of the last online Black Friday sales to start as most major online Black Friday events already kick off midnight Thanksgiving Day. Apple's strategy of keeping a tight leash on pricing makes 10% discounts a huge deal. Right now Best Buy offers such a "huge deal" with a MacBook Air deal saving $200 (15%). Such deals are few and far between. That is why the Apple Store gets away with offering some small discounts on Black Friday and still drive dramatic sales.
Best Buy will also offer all Apple iPad 2 tablets $45 off on Black Friday. I have a feeling that Apple will match this deal.
To set your expectations review the Apple Black Friday 2010 deals. Apple offered a $41 discount on the iPad line, a $101 discount on the $1,299 MacBook Air, $21 off on the iPod touch and $11 off on the iPod nano. The only good deals have been the iPad and the MacBook Air deals. iPod deals and also MacBook deals have been better from other retailers (best Apple Black Friday Deals 2010).
To find the best Apple product deals for Black Friday visit our Black Friday 2011 Apple Deals Guide.


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A child was taken to hospital after being in collision with a car near the entrance to a retail park yesterday.
The youngster was taken away in an ambulance after the incident at about 3.44pm, at the roundabout outside Thurmaston Retail Park.
A police spokeswoman said: “We received a report of a child in collision with a car.
“The child was taken to Leicester Royal Infirmary as a precaution.
“She is not thought to have been badly hurt.”
The incident on Barkby Thorpe Lane led to long tailbacks in both directions.
The roundabout leads to the retail park and to Asda.
Police and Area Traffic Control had advised drivers to find an alternative route.


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British jewellery and watch brand Olivia Burton has introduced a new shopping concept for its wholesale partners.
Launching in Hugh Rice’s new Luxe store in Wakefield, Olivia Burton has showcased a new shop-in-shop concept to make it easier for consumers to shop its collection of fashion jewellery and feminine watches.
The new point of sale has been months in development as the brand wanted to create the perfect Olivia Burton shopping experience within its stockist’s stores.
The furniture incorporates Olivia Burton’s signature colours of peach, grey and rose gold, as well as iconic brand elements such as flowers, bell jars, birds and bunnies.
A key furniture feature is a selection of drawers which are accessible to consumers. Stock is displayed beneath a lockable, clear panel, which enables customers to see the full collection and vast colour-ways and prints available – making the shopping experience easier and more enjoyable.
A back-wall hanging flower display has been designed to easily be updated to reflect the season or a specific campaign.
Olivia Burton has had great success since launches its watches in Hugh Rice’s Hull, Harrogate and Beverley stores last year, so it was a natural choice to launch the new point of sale in the independent retailer’s new Luxe boutique.


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Rumour has it that Apple has been taking deliveries of circuit board samples of the new iWatch device. According to a report by Digitimes, three companies have made the drop offs. The same source says that Apple is going to be unveiling the device this September. This is all rumours don’t forget.
With the rumours spreading this could mean that we will see the timepiece at the iPhone 6 launch event. Companion device maybe?
We have already seen smartwatches from all of the major manufacturers being Samsung, LG, Motorola and Sony. Apple is definitely late to the party.


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Tiffany and Co. Unveils Windows Designed by Rachel Zoe
In honour of the 2012 Academy Awards, the stylist, designer and fashion icon Rachel Zoe has collaborated with Tiffany & Co. on creating window displays for flagship stores in New York City, Beverly Hills, Hong Kong, Singapore and London. Each of Zoe’s displays will highlight Hollywood glamour from the 1930s through the 1970s, featuring Tiffany jewels that brilliantly capture the spirit of the time.
â€œRachel Zoe has brought a new level of fashion and style to the red carpet, and she has brought her creative vision to our collaboration,â€ said Richard Moore, Tiffany’s vice president of visual merchandising. â€œShe joins a select group of designers and artists including Andy Warhol, who have created displays for Tiffany’s windows.â€
Tiffany & Co.


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8 posts tagged "Parfums Christian Dior"
The beauty and art worlds collide with regularity—and the results are always memorable. Who can forget Dutch product and interiors designer Marcel Wanders’ first foray into makeup with MAC? Or the labels and bottles Kiehl’s has debuted from art stars like sculptor Jeff Koons and Kenny Scharf? While François Nars may have done them all one better this fall when he launched a capsule color collection with the Andy Warhol Foundation that turned actual Warhol paintings into eye shadow palettes, Parfums Christian Dior is looking to get in on the action with its own beauty-as-art project. Following the Tourbillon sculpture Constance Guisset created for the iconic house using the feminine curves of its J’Adore Dior fragrance as muse, the brand has enlisted New York-based ceramicist Peter Lane to come up with his own tribute to the flacon. Known for working within a remarkable architectural scale, Lane has interpreted the classic bottle’s silhouette in a model that stands approximately four-and-a-half-feet tall, with a pleated body and a gilded base and topper that have been covered entirely with 22-karat gold leaf. Lane was reportedly inspired by the famed eau’s commercial that features Charlize Theron sweeping through Versailles’ hall of mirrors. The piece will be on view beginning tomorrow, December 8, at Dior’s Avenue Montaigne boutique in Paris.
Finally, Robert Pattinson has signed a fragrance contract—and with Parfums Christian Dior, no less! It was really only a matter of time… [E!]
Carine Roitfeld is launching a fragrance—and maybe a whole line of body products as well. The Harper’s Bazaar global fashion director reportedly took out a trademark for the name “Forgive Me,” which will be applied to a host of personal care products. And the intrigue mounts. [Fashionista]
According to a new poll conducted by hair product retailer Fabriah.com, Kate Middleton’s mahogany, always-perfect coif has been voted the No. 1 celebrity hair that women want. Jerry Hall came in a close second. [Daily Mail]
Victoria and David Beckham’s personal tattoo artist, Louis Molloy, has created a new skin-care range designed specifically for tattooed skin. Forever Ink, as the line is called, will likely be the next beauty product VB tweets wildly about. [Handbag.com]
You may have to wait until the Oscars to get your next glimpse of Natalie Portman and her impressive baby bump, but Dior has a little something up its sleeve to hold you over until then. On February 21, the French house will finally air the commercial portion of the actress’ ad campaign for Miss Dior Cherie and we’ve got exclusive, Galliano-drawn story boards to get you amped up for the big day. Portman portrays a woman deeply love with her male co-star, Alden Ehrenreich, in the Nouveau Vague-esque ad, and, of course, she wears a Galliano-designed dress. What do you think of the designer’s illustrations?
Rock star, rock star-wife, mother, successful designer—and now beauty spokeswoman. Gwen Stefani will join L’Oréal’s illustrious cast of brand ambassadors, which already includes J. Lo and Beyoncé. [People]
Authentic Brands Group LLC, in conjunction with NECA, a global media and entertainment company, has acquired the intellectual property of Marilyn Monroe LLC. What do all of those acronyms mean? That MM’s name and likeness can now be used in ads, films, etc. Her first big project? A new Christian Dior beauty campaign due out this year. Move over, Natalie. [WWD]
Wonder Woman—the animated cartoon character, not Lynda Carter—is also getting some beauty company face time, serving as the muse behind MAC’s latest super-powered collection. And get this: The 42-piece line includes a brush set with its own metallic utility belt. Ka-pow! [WWD]
We brought you news and footage of the epic Vidal Sassoon biopic due out next month when it premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival last year, and now the official trailer is yours for the viewing. See you at the movies. [Coco Perez]
The day has finally come. After years of denying avid Botox use—despite evidence to the contrary (foreheads don’t just look like that)—Nicole Kidman has admitted to regular injections. “I don’t use it anymore,” though, she insists. [People]
The latest development in the seemingly nonstop Natalie Portman media blitz is the release of her new ads for Miss Dior Cherie, in which she poses topless (pre-baby bump) with a youthful bow in her hair. To say that she was well cast is an understatement. [Just Jared]
Good news for all the Aishwarya Rai Bachchan fans out there. After speculation over the holidays that the Bollywood actress had been dropped as one of L’Oréal’s global faces and seemingly replaced by the younger Freida Pinto, the French beauty giant has announced that said rumors are “absolutely untrue.” Phew. [WWD]
“Water, sleep, exercise, organic food, and regular facials.” —Rosie Huntington-Whiteley on her pared-down beauty routine. Victoria’s Secret supermodels: They’re just like us! [Contact Music]


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The flavonoids found in cocoa beans have been shown to provide some amount of cardiovascular benefits.
The simplest way to benefit from chocolate’s health perception is by taking advantage of its own antioxidants rather than adding anything to make it more nutritious.
“Our Taste Tomorrow global research has shown that consumers perceive cocoa to be a power ingredient,” said Jessica Blondeel, product manager, chocolate, Puratos Corp. “Raw, unprocessed cocoa is rich in flavonoids, which are natural antioxidants associated with better protection of the heart, vascular system and brain tissue.”
Cocoa beans carry more flavonoids than the fruit of many other plants, and the specific flavonoids found in them are rarely found elsewhere. However, the more the cocoa bean is processed, the fewer flavanols remain in the resulting cacao, or cocoa mass, the intermediate from which chocolate is made. “Like many other beneficial components in chocolate, antioxidants are best preserved when the cacao percentage is high and minimally processed,” Ms. Derhammer said. “For example, a chocolate with 70% cacao will have more antioxidants than a milk chocolate, and a natural cocoa powder will have more antioxidants than an alkalized one.”
During processing, cocoa beans are ground, which creates cocoa mass that is then pressed into cocoa powder and cocoa butter. In a finished chocolate product, a higher percentage of cocoa mass and a lower amount of sugar will yield a greater proportion of flavonoids. Only cocoa solids have flavonoids. For example, because it contains milk powder, milk chocolate has a lower cocoa percentage than dark chocolate, resulting in a lower amount of flavonoids. White chocolate, made only with cocoa butter, has no cocoa solids and, thus, offers the least amount of antioxidants, according to Ms. Blondeel.
“Time, temperature and certain steps in the production process such as alkalization can lower the amount of flavonoids,” she said.
Barry Callebaut developed a proprietary process to create a dark cocoa powder that preserves as many flavanols as possible. The resulting Acticoa cocoa powder contains eight times more flavanols than conventional cocoa powder. Acticoa chocolate, processed in a similar fashion, contains three times more flavanols than conventional chocolate.
“We don’t add anything to this product,” Ms. Bergan explained. “This is all from how we process it and how we keep that goodness of the flavanols in. I equate it to when people say, ‘Don’t overcook your vegetables’ because you’re cooking out the nutritious parts of the vegetables. It’s all the same thing.”
The extra flavonoids, however, do make these ingredients’ flavors more intense, so it’s recommended that they be used in conjunction with conventional cocoa powders and chocolates. “Just depending on what the food manufacturer is trying to accomplish from a flavor profile standpoint, we can help them with the end formulation,” Ms. Bergan said.
These antioxidants can help bakers and snack producers take advantage of health benefits they convey, most notably flavanols’ link to cardiovascular health. Scientific studies relate consumption of flavanols found in chocolate to reduced risk of heart disease, high blood pressure and stroke. In fact, recently, the European Safety Authority approved a health claim to be used in the EU regarding chocolate. The claim states that at a minimum of 200 mg per day, cocoa flavanols help maintain the elasticity of blood vessels, which contributes to normal blood flow.
“It is very difficult, by the way, to get a statement like this through the European authority,” said Michael Augustine, US director of R&D, Barry Callebaut. “It takes a lot of work and evidence to substantiate.”
In the US, however, the Food and Drug Adminis-tration has yet to approve similar health claims for chocolate. To date, the most it has allowed is use of the term “healthy” on the packaging of certain chocolate-containing nutrition bars.
Learn more about the protein and fiber content of chocolate in the next section.


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The honesty box outside Acorn Reuse Store in Trinity has been stolen overnight.
The box was chained to the vegetable stall that sits outside the entrance of the second hand store.
Staff are now appealing for any information on who could have stolen the box as well as asking for its return.
The vegetables are grown in Acorn's allotment by their employees with disabilities, which provides a training ground for developing horticultural skills.
"Selling vegetables from the honesty box gives our project groups such a feeling of pride, so you can understand the upset this has caused."
The store says they are now reviewing their CCTV footage and they will signpost the person responsible to the right services if they are in financial crisis.


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It’s an irony that the country with arguably the most restrictive speed limits is also the first country in Southeast Asia to receive one of the fastest cars in the world. Yes, a private collector in Singapore recently took delivery of the Bugatti Chiron, a hypercar with a top speed of over 400km/h.
That said, the chances of seeing this 1200hp and 1500Nm Chiron go beyond the republic’s speed limit of 90km/h is practically zero as the hypercar will be stored in a climate-controlled showcase facility at Wearnes Automotive. Sigh!
“We recognise a growing appetite for hypercars in Asia. Our customers form an exclusive group of automobile collectors in search of the very best,” says Victor Kwan, Managing Director of the Prestige Division of Wearnes Automotive. “Apart from enjoying the exclusivity and power of the Bugatti, customers also consider its investment value. The Bugatti Chiron is one of the few cars that actually appreciates in value.”
Finished in dual-tone paintwork of Atlantic Blue and French Racing Blue, this resplendent Chiron is also the first of 20 to be delivered to customers in Asia. With only 500 units to be manufactured by Bugatti, of which 75% have already been spoken for, you might want to give official distributor Wearnes Automotive a call before they run out of allocation. For the rest of us mere mortals, you have Lego.


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TEXT OF STORY
Renita Jablonski: Investors find out later today whether the ailing economy has put a damper on Walt Disney’s bottom line. Marketplace’s Janet Babin reports from North Carolina Public Radio
Janet Babin: With gas close to four bucks a gallon, a lot of summer vacations will probably be spent on the couch. That wouldn’t be too bad for Disney — the biggest part of its revenue comes from ads on its TV networks. Its Achilles heel, though, may be the Magic Kingdom. Disney theme parks and cruise lines have suffered in prior recessions. But analyst Nicole Black at Wachovia expects the company will tough it out and even see profits increase.
Nicole Black: They’re very well diversified across things like movies, cable channels, network channels, resorts. They have a very large consumer products business.
One of Disney’s best known brands had a scare last week. Hannah Montana’s 15-year-old star turned up in a racy magazine spread. Dade Hayes is Variety’s New York Bureau Chief. He says Disney’s contained the damage.
Dade Hayes: To me it doesn’t seem like a Lindsey Lohan meltdown.
Too bad Disney hasn’t been able to contain high gas prices and consumer confidence.
I’m Janet Babin for Marketplace.
There’s a lot happening in the world. Through it all, Marketplace is here for you.
You rely on Marketplace to break down the world’s events and tell you how it affects you in a fact-based, approachable way. We rely on your financial support to keep making that possible.
Your donation today powers the independent journalism that you rely on. For just $5/month, you can help sustain Marketplace so we can keep reporting on the things that matter to you.


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FloorFound Secures $10.5M Series A to Accelerate Growth and Solidify Leadership Position in Oversized Retail
FloorFound currently serves innovative furniture brands including Inside Weather, Floyd, Burrow, Joybird, Mitchell Gold + Bob WilliamsLiving Spaces, Exterior, Interior Set, Sabai, Neighbor, Modsy, Castlery, Million Dollar Baby, Kathy Kuo and more. Together with its customers, FloorFound has helped keep nearly 450,000 pounds of furniture out of circulation and out of landfills to date.
“Consumer demand for sustainability, coupled with a tight supply chain and rising inflation, has pushed recommerce and resale to the forefront of retail,” said Chris Richer, founder and CEO of FloorFound. “FloorFound’s solution eliminates the complexities that have made reselling prohibitively expensive for oversized items and enables brands to quickly launch robust, large-scale recommerce programs that meet and exceed consumer expectations. With this new round of funding, we’re bringing this sustainable model to more brands and shoppers around the world, driving business forward while helping to protect the planet.”
“FloorFound sits at the perfect intersection of the two most transformative trends in retail: sustainability and supply chain resilience,” said Tom Ball, Founder and Managing Partner, Next Coast Ventures, who joined FloorFound’s Board of Directors with this round. “Chris and his team have spent the past 25 years in e-commerce and retail operations, particularly supply chain, and they have the unique knowledge needed to create the right business model and value to integrate oversized recommerce.”
Recommerce: Sustainable, Affordable, Available
Recommerce offers a sustainable alternative to making and shipping new items, with lower cost items and faster availability to buyers. More … than 90% of US consumers said they buy resale items in a 2021 FloorFound survey, and research from First Insights and the Wharton School indicates 83% of consumers of all generations who have purchased second hand products will continue to do so, compared to only 17% in 2019. This broad consumer support has led to projections that U.S. Resales Expected to Grow Over 150% to Peak $330 billion by 2030according to Mercari and GlobalData.
However, without reverse logistics processes to manage the return and resale of bulky items, resale programs have historically been out of reach and unavailable for oversized products, until now.
With FloorFound’s end-to-end recommerce solution, retailers are able to turn returned merchandise and opened boxes into a new, repeatable and sustainable source of inventory and revenue. FloorFound’s technology and team manage the process from pickup of the returned item, through inspection and storage of the item, to sale and delivery to its new owner. Retailers using FloorFound are not only able to support circularity goals and reduce waste (the EPA estimates that 10 million tons of furniture ends up in landfill each year) – but also provide consumers with attractive items from high quality that are shipped quickly and at a discount.
Real results with recommerce
FloorFound has designed every aspect of its end-to-end platform to meet and exceed both seller requirements and consumer expectations. The solution includes a destination marketplace (FloorFound.store), localized reverse logistics, processing and inspection capabilities, merchandising and pricing information. FloorFound’s solution also includes a strong fulfillment network of over 40 warehouse hubs, which is expected to triple in 2022, and 4 major 3PL partnerships.
Retailers using FloorFound are up and running in weeks and get immediate ROI by powering shopping, delivery, and customer support experiences that equal or exceed new furniture purchases. Explain Benjamin ParsaCEO of Inside Weather, “Through FloorFound, Inside Weather is able to encourage the reuse of the products we make by connecting our timeless, high-quality pieces with new owners.”
FloorFound client Floyd has seen an average gross recovery of 68% of returned items included in their full-cycle recommerce program. More than 75% of brand storefront customers are new to Floyd, and 25% of those customers have already returned and purchased new items from Floyd.
FloorFound is focused on protecting the planet by extending the life cycle of oversized retail products. Founded with a mission to bring a circular future to all retailers, FloorFound’s end-to-end recommerce platform and extensive warehouse network simplifies the complexities of oversized returns and resale, coordinating pickup and item inspection to marketing, sales and revenue collection. Joybird, Home Floyd, Burrow and Inside Weather rely on FloorFound to power their resale storefronts and drive traffic through the FloorFound Marketplace. With FloorFound, large objects can find new life and create new joy. For more information, visit https://floorfound.com/.


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Last week Sundial released its tenant lineup and announced it was 90% leased. I've given the store lineup a few days to sink in and I must say that while I'm not taken aback by the stores, I am impressed. In today's retail market it takes a lot for a brand to risk opening a store, let alone in a previously failed downtown retail center.
While there isn't a famed J.Crew or an Apple store, what we got is a very diverse mix of national and local retailers, which I think is great.
One of the biggest mysteries surrounding Sundial St.Pete is whether or not its tenant lineup will create a shopping and dining destination. In its heyday, Baywalk was a booming shopping center with bustling shops and restaurants but controversy sunk the retail complex and brought vacancy rates close to 90%. Sundial St.Pete hopes revive the shopping center and give it new glory. I'm confident that Bill Edwards will bring a strong tenant list to- once again- make the complex a top destination. Recently the Tampa Bay Times revealed that a Marilyn Monroe spa and possibly a Ruth's Chris Steak House will be among the tenants in Sundial. Joining these two tenants are the return of Chico's and White House Black Market.
Royal Palm Market launches TONIGHT at 6pm and runs EVERY Thursday night indefinitely! 🎉😁 Located in the Edge District next to Intermezzo Coffee & Cocktails, this new night market wants to be the Silicon Valley of St Pete. Come enjoy live music, food, shopping, and more! 🎶 🍨👗 See you tonight! 😎
The owners of Mazzaro's Italian Market and Annata are at it again! 😯🐟 Alto Mare Fish Bar will be coming soon to 300 Beach Dr NE #124 (formerly The Infused Tea Company)! We can't wait to DIVE in! 🌊😎 Interior shots courtesy of St Petersburg Foodies @stpetefoodies
Wannemacher Jensen Architects is expanding its downtown headquarters with the construction of a 34,000 square foot mixed-use building adjacent to its current headquarters. 🏗😃 The proposal calls for a stunning six-story building overlooking Mirror Lake complete with floor-to-ceiling windows and an ultra-modern look. 😎☀


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Get your weekend brunch fix before a baseball game (or in general) at this new Navy Yard Mexican spot from the group behind Circa.
“Portabellas have a meaty flavor,” says Michael Huff, culinary director of Metropolitan Hospitality Group, which owns the taqueria. That's why he chose them as the base for this meatless taco.
A deep selection of appetizers, dips, and fusion tacos make it a nice fit for a pregame pit stop.
El Bebe, meanwhile, is a taqueria-and-mezcal joint that also serves burritos, nachos and queso fundido, alongside frozen and classic margaritas
The group behind Circa, Open Road, and TRIO Grill has added a taco and tequila joint to the mix. Naturally, Él Bebe, which translates to ‘he drinks,’ offers plenty of tequila cocktails, frozen margaritas, beer, and wine.
When the team behind the Circa chain of restaurants began brainstorming for its new concept, it didn’t shy away from two of the hottest food trends in the city: Mexican fare and cocktails. That crowd-pleasing format is the cornerstone of Él Bebe, now open in Navy Yard.


text: Greek stock market investors rebound as buyers in May For the first month in 2005, Greek investors in the Athens Stock Exchange appeared as buyers and foreign ones as sellers, if only marginally, according to the Central Securities Depository’s data for May. Non-residents’ percentage fell to 37.58 percent in May from 37.87 in April and the difference between sales and purchases was no more than 30 million euros. Their share in the FTSE-20 index dropped to 43.93 percent from 44.31 percent in April, while Greek investors accounted for 55.85 percent of turnover in the blue chip index, showing a higher rise than the rest of the market. Hyundai and Opel sales rise but total purchases fall in May Car sales in Greece continued their decline in May, losing 3.2 percent year-on-year, and 9.6 percent from April, dropping to 23,733 units sold, according to the Association of Motor Vehicle Importers-Representatives (SEAA) data. In the year’s first five months, total sales were at 127,850 cars, down by 5.2 percent from 134,888 units in January-May 2004. Hyundai led with 12,974 cars sold in the five-month period, up 8.1 percent from last year, followed by Opel with 10,917 cars and a 24 percent rise and by Toyota, last year’s leader, who fell to 10,499 units sold posting a 27 percent decline. Aegean Park The Sierra-Haragionis consortium presented yesterday its revamped proposal for the development of the Aegean Park shopping center at Neo Faliro, next to the Karaiskaki soccer ground. The center is supposed to cover 75,000 square meters and include a market, 11 cinema screens, commercial stores and catering and entertainment spaces. The consortium will cover 30 percent of the 300-million-euro investment, with the rest coming from foreign banks’ credit. If this proposal is rejected by the Municipality of Piraeus, Sonae Sierra warned the company that it will abandon the project. Gov’t bond Greece’s Public Debt Management Agency (PDMA) said yesterday it sold 1.8 billion euros of 10-year, 3.7 percent government bonds, maturing July 20, 2015, at a weighted average yield of 3.41 percent. The settlement date is June 10. (Reuters) Minoan Lines Ferry operator Minoan Lines narrowed its first-quarter loss to 7.8 million euros ($9.60 million) on revenue growth of about 11 percent to 34.3 million euros, it said in a statement yesterday. Minoan Lines had a 9.8-million-euro loss in the year-ago period. The firm reported this year’s first-quarter results under International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS). Earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) stood at 5.7 million euros, up about 20 percent. (Reuters) Misleading ads The Advertising Self-Regulation Council has ordered telecom providers Telepassport and Vivodi to change their ad campaigns, after discovering they offered misleading information to consumers. Within five days the two companies must change their print and broadcast advertising about rates, which were deemed exaggerated or not realistic.


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--Amazon chose San Bernardino and Patterson, Calif., for shipping centers
--Amazon asked whether San Bernardino would be open to discussions on sharing sales tax revenue
--Patterson city manager says city is open to sharing a portion of the local sales tax with Amazon
--Cities aren't unique in considering sales tax rebates for retailers
SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) -- Amazon.com Inc. is now bringing jobs to a growing number of states. But two California cities are pondering whether they might wind up handing some of the resulting tax windfall right back to the Internet retail giant.
The pressures facing San Bernardino and Patterson--which each expect to gain around 1,000 jobs by hosting new Amazon shipping centers--could be shared by other local governments angling to court big companies to help bolster their economies.
"We are evaluating various incentives routinely provided to other retailers, but have made no decisions," said an Amazon spokesman in a prepared statement.
But even the possibility that companies in Amazon's position might seek such incentives from cities worries some legislators.
"When you have jurisdictions that have their own budget problems, and they're dealing with very large, very sophisticated corporations, it's a huge problem," said California State Sen. Mark DeSaulnier.
Mr. DeSaulnier, a Democrat, said he is considering proposing a law that would prevent local governments from giving sales taxes back to companies, unless they can demonstrate why it is in the best interest of the state.
Skipping sales tax has helped Amazon undercut many brick-and-mortar retailers. The online giant fought successfully for years to protect its exemption from having to collect sales tax in California and other states where it didn't have a major physical presence.
Amazon, which began online operations in 1995, has filed legal challenges over the matter, and even sought a ballot initiative in California to overturn legislation passed last year to force online retailers to collect the tax there.
But cash-strapped states such as California have remained steadfast. After California passed the law last year, Amazon eventually abandoned its ballot effort and offered to create tens of thousands of new jobs in the Golden State--in exchange for pushing the requirement to collect sales tax back until later this year.
That is roughly the time Amazon is expected to start opening the two new fulfillment centers to ship products purchased on its website. It selected San Bernardino, which is located east of Los Angeles, and Patterson, which is near the San Francisco Bay area. The centers, now under construction, were announced earlier this month.
Local governments in California keep about 1% of sales tax, on top of the state's 7.25% rate. They use it for things like staffing police forces and paying firefighters.
For Patterson and San Bernardino, those small percentages could nonetheless be significant. Amazon now records about $50 billion in annual sales, and state legislative analysis suggests the company could provide an $83 million annual tax bump for California.
California cities aren't unique in considering sales tax rebates for retailers. According to a report last year by non-profit publisher Tax Analysts, local sales tax-sharing deals have become common over the past decade and a half in U.S. cities seeking to lure businesses, though "they generally have been kept buried in the often ignored annals of city council meeting minutes."
San Bernardino, for example, has a tax-sharing deal with Kohl's Corp.
"We're always willing to talk, but these are tough budget times," he said.
The city of more than 200,000 faces a nearly $4 million shortfall. A recent budget report stated that if efforts to reverse San Bernardino's financial condition aren't made, "insolvency or bankruptcy may result."
"People don't need less police or fire services or parks when the economy's down," Mr. Morris said, adding, "the 1% [sales tax portion] belongs in the city of San Bernardino."
Patterson City Manager Rod Butler echoed those concerns, but said the city of about 20,000 residents is open to the notion of sharing at least a portion of the local sales tax with Amazon.
Mr. Butler said Patterson officials have had no direct contact with Amazon on the issue. But the city has started to do some market research, analyzing similar sales tax-sharing deals struck in other cities. Patterson is currently faced with what Mr. Butler termed a "small" budget shortfall of roughly $300,000.
Officials of both cities stressed that Amazon told them it chose each location due to factors including low costs and logistical benefits, not tax incentives. And in each city, the matter would have to ultimately be decided by their respective city councils.
Mr. DeSaulnier, who voted for legislation compelling online retailers including Amazon to start collecting state sales tax, said he would expect the Seattle-based company to oppose any legislation proposing to curb cities' ability to give some of that tax revenue back in the form of rebates with a significant lobbying effort.
"They have very sharp elbows," he said.
Bill Dombrowksi, chief executive of the California Retailers Association--which includes Wal-Mart Stores Inc.
But Mr. Dombrowksi said his group isn't in a position to take Amazon to task for potentially seeking the same type of local incentives that its constituents get, however: "I don't think we can criticize, because we have members who do it."


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In the comments section two weeks ago, we had a discussion about the future of Bangladesh in the face of climate change induced natural disasters. Â Today, the NY Times offers an optimistic assessment about some positive trends taking place there. Â Economic development will only further this effort.
For those inclined to read about free market environmentalism, I have published my $2 book on Amazon. I promise this is the last time I will plug: Fundamentals of Environmental Economics. Â I’ve sold 49 copies so I’ve just about broken even here!


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Have you been keeping up with our Influenster Reviewers' Choice Awards: Best in Beauty? Last month we announced the 70 amazing winners of our Beauty Awards based on YOUR 13 MILLION reviews, questions, answers, photos, and videos submitted over the past year. One product to claim the top prize in the (newly added) indie beauty category just happens to be an Influenster HQ favorite. BITE Beauty's creamy, long-lasting, and insanely pigmented Amuse Bouche Lipstick just got a makeover, and we cannot stop staring.
The newest version of Amuse Bouche comes in a brand new two-toned bullet that is equal parts trendy and classic. The new Amuse Bouche Two Toned Lipstick features two complementary shades of Amuse Bouche that can be worn together—or separately. The shades in the duo are BITE favorites and come in three different combinations.
First, there's Chai/ Nori—a combo of deep brown and red. Then there's the boldest of them all, the Persimmon/ Kimchi duo, which combines orange-red and dazzling pink. And lastly, there's the lighter, more subtle pairing of Honeycomb/ Fig. See them all below.
The dual-ended lippies are available now at Sephora for $26 per bullet. But really, with two color options and the option to combine the shades, you're really getting three lipsticks in one. That $26 is looking pretty good now, right? Although the Amuse Bouch lippies are new to the two-toned market, the double color trend has been going strong for a while now. Looks like this is one trend that's set to stay.
What do you think of two-toned lipstick? Would you try this product? Share below!


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Earnings per share between $0.80 and $0.82
Cisco (CSCO) reiterated its guidance for the fourth quarter of 2019. The company expects revenue growth between 4% to 4.5% year-over-year. Cisco estimates adjusted gross margin to be between 64% and 65% and an adjusted operating margin between 31% and 32%.
Cisco has also estimated adjusted EPS between $0.80 and $0.82 in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2019. Revenue growth for networking peers such as Juniper Networks (JNPR), Ericsson (ERIC), and Nokia (NOK) is estimated to fall by 8.3%, 2.2%, and 5%, respectively, in the next quarter.
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What does Wall Street expect from Cisco?
Analysts expect the company to post revenue of $13.3 billion in the fourth quarter, a rise of 3.50% year-over-year from $12.8 billion in the fourth quarter of 2018.
Cisco’s sales are expected to rise 3.8% to $13.8 billion in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2020, which means that Cisco’s sales are expected to rise at a compound annual growth rate of less than 2.5% annually from $12.56 billion in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2016 to $13.8 billion in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2020.
While Cisco’s sales are expected to rise 3.5%, analysts expect the company’s adjusted EPS to rise 15.7% in the fourth quarter to $0.81, which indicates high operating leverage. Cisco reported adjusted EPS of $0.70 in the fourth quarter of 2018.


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The founder of Dell bought out his own company to ensure its legacy stays intact. Fittingly enough, its first campaign celebrates dreamers and visionaries
Goa has been labelled a racist state in the international media. Incidents also shed a light on the unfettered growth of the drug mafia in the state.
Delhi has been pegged as the most unsafe city in the country, for the second time in a row, by women travellers, a recent survey has found.
Central message is that the company is “part of some of the world’s great stories, stories that began much the same way ours did, in a little dorm room, no 2713.”
The TripBarometer survey by TripAdvisor released on Tuesday also revealed that about 93% of Indian consumers are planning to travel within their home market this year. The main reason for domestic travel, according to Indian respondents, is to discover their own country. While domestic travel remains dominant, for those who are planning to holiday... more
The TripBarometer survey by TripAdvisor released on Tuesday revealed that only 59 % of Indians are planning to increase their travel budget next year compared to 76 % in 2013. It also states that some 90% of the Indians would be willing to forego luxuries to fund their vacation in line with global consumers' willingness to make sacrifices to go on... more
The Kanan Devan Tea Museum attached to the Kanan Devan Hills Plantations Ltd., at Munnar has been awarded the prestigious certificate of excellence for the year 2012 by TripAdvisor, the world?s largest and most popular travel community.
Three things that travellers do with their smart phones are taking/sharing photos, navigation and games, a TripAdvisor study.
Chennai has the highest percentage of tablet users among all metros - a TripAdvisor study
Bangalore city leads among all metro in number of smart phone users - a TripAdvisor study


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A lawsuit was filed against Frito-Lay a few weeks ago in federal court for marketing snacks as natural that contain genetically modified, or GMO ingredients. The lawsuit, filed by the law firm Milberg LLP, has one plaintiff, Julie Gengo of Richmond, California. The New York City based Milberg has offices in Los Angeles, Tampa and Detroit.
Frito Lay’s website still states: “We’re proud to make so many of the Frito-Lay snacks you love with all natural ingredients.” Last April, Frito-Lay announced that about 50 percent of its product portfolio will be made with “all natural” ingredients by the end of this year. A press release called it the “largest product transformation in the company’s history,” and went on to state that the products will not contain “any artificial or synthetic ingredients.”
Apparently GMO ingredients are considered to be “all natural” to Frito-Lay.Perhaps the powers that be at the company need to read the World Health Organization’s definition of GMO:
“Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) can be defined as organisms in which the genetic material (DNA) has been altered in a way that does not occur naturally. The technology is often called ‘modern biotechnology’ or ‘gene technology,’ sometimes also ‘recombinant DNA technology’ or ‘genetic engineering.’ It allows selected individual genes to be transferred from one organism into another, also between non-related species.”
The law suit highlights the fact that the U.S. does not require food or beverage with GMO ingredients to be labeled as such. Milberg’s website states that over 70 percent of the foods on grocery store shelves in the U.S. contain GMO ingredients, “which economically benefit the companies that produce them.” The majority of companies do not disclose if their products contain GMO ingredients.


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WildRock Public Relations & Marketing® and Lamar Advertising Company today announced they have collaborated to help kickstart Colorado’s economy, offering small business aggressive marketing packages related to out of home advertising, public relations and digital marketing.
As companies continue to reopen and relaunch, most are still trying to do more with less and get the greatest return on their marketing investments. In response to this reality, WildRock and Lamar have joined forces to help save small businesses as part of the #DoingOurPart campaign in the following ways:
- Lamar, one of the largest outdoor advertising companies in the world, is offering back-to-business packages for new and existing customers that effectively deliver important brand messages during these challenging times through out of home products.
- WildRock, a boutique agency specializing in public relations and digital marketing, is offering affordable marketing strategy support, customized content that keeps up with the changing times and the ability for small businesses to make a splash online and through public relations with rock-solid PR and marketing packages designed to
As we continue to emerge from this crisis, we are excited to be working alongside Lamar in an effort to revitalize the economy right here in Colorado,” Kristin Golliher said, WildRock CEO and founder. “Together, we hope to help small businesses navigate the new marketing complexities so they can successfully relaunch and get back to business!”
“Lamar is dedicated to our clients and committed to serving the communities where we operate,” said Cliff Moak, assistant general manager of Lamar Advertising of Denver. “As we have done so throughout this time, we stand ready to assist our clients and partners while we work together toward a triumphant return to business as usual.”
To get started with a successful comeback, businesses can find online resources at https://go.lamar.com/DoingOurPart.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, businesses in the Fort Collins community come together in the best and most creative ways, because they know to and because they want to. These stories of businesses working together truly exemplify the strength, resilience and commitment to our economic vitality. They are Bringing Business Home.


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The Wisconsin State Journal has a nice piece explaining how a local partnership between the city of Madison and a local company handles foam recycling. The city works with Uniek Manufacturing in nearby Waunakee. The partnership has been in place since 2012.
According to the report:
Uniek accepts block polystyrene packaging material, cups, coolers, egg cartons and food containers. The manufacturer, however, cannot accept dirty polystyrene, packing peanuts, polystyrene insulation or dirty meat trays.
Non-Madison residents can drop off polystyrene at Uniek’s plant at 805 Uniek Drive in Waunakee.
Johnson said without the partnership with Uniek, much of the city’s Styrofoam waste would end up in landfills. He said that along with dropping off polystyrene products, residents can further reduce waste by simply purchasing and using less of the material.


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Adidas will soon be looking for its next crop of shoe designers in its Portland back yard.
The Germany-based company, whose North American headquarters are in Portland, announced Friday that it will sponsor a dozen students in a three-week footwear design class taught by a former Nike designer.
The class will beJune 4-22 at Pensole, the footwear design school that D'Wayne Edwards
"They see it as an opportunity to take a new approach to talent recruitment and talent development," said Edwards, the former Nike designer.
The class will mark the first time a shoe brand has formed a partnership with Pensole for a session of classes. Creating such a partership has been a goal of Edwards since he
. It also falls in line with his vision of creating the equivalent of baseball's minor league farm system for the next generation of footwear designers.
The curriculum will feature guest speakers and instructors from Adidas as well as members of the marketing and branding industry.
"Building and cultivating the global design community is an important part of our leadership role in footwear design," said Rob Lee, Adidas vice president of design for sport performance, "and supporting young designers is fundamental to the growth and progress of our industry."
Applicants can find information at
. Adidas will provide scholarships for tuition and housing for selected students. At the end of the three-week program, students will present footwear designs to Adidas design executives, who may opt to put them into production.
Before opening his own location, Edwards taught classes at host schools, including Parsons The New School for Design in New York City, Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, Calif., and the University of Oregon College of Architecture and Allied Arts in Portland.
More than 20 former Pensole students are working for footwear companies such as North Face, New Balance, Under Armour, Jordan Brand, Nike and Adidas.


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Fisker says the supplier is responsible and will work together with the unnamed company to fix the problem. Retailers will contact customers and "this recall campaign is not expected to have a material financial impact on Fisker." The fix entails a new cooling fan "that meets the required specifications" and a new, extra fuse "for added protection." Around 2,400 Karmas are affected by this recall.
As the latest statement makes clear, and as we expected, the parking-lot fire was not caused by the lithium-ion battery. Company co-founder Henrik Fisker said, "This incident resulted from a single, faulty component, not our unique EVer powertrain or the engineering of the Karma. As this situation demonstrates, Fisker Automotive is dedicated to doing whatever is necessary to address safety and quality concerns." You can read the entire statement below.
Fisker is also saying that there is no discernible connection between the Woodside fire and another fire involving a Karma that happened in Texas in May. Fisker spokesman Roger Ormisher told Bloomberg that, "The report for the Texas fire is not in the public domain and we do not have access to it. ... the real root cause [of the Texas fire] is unlikely to be determined."
The Karma has been recalled before, at the tail end of 2011, for problems with the battery pack, specifically the battery hose clamp. Some Karma battery packs also had some defective prismatic cells replaced by battery-maker A123 Systems.
Fisker has completed a detailed investigation into the roadside fire involving a Fisker Karma sedan on August 10 in Woodside, CA.
The investigation conducted by Fisker engineers, working with an independent fire expert from Pacific Rim Investigative Services Group, has identified the root cause of the incident.
The investigation located the ignition source to the left front of the Karma, forward of the wheel, where the low temperature cooling fan is located. The final conclusion was that this sealed component had an internal fault that caused it to fail, overheat and start a slow burning fire.
Fisker has today voluntarily elected to conduct a recall with respect to this cooling fan unit. The company is working with the responsible supplier and this recall campaign is not expected to have a material financial impact on Fisker.
Fisker has already contacted its retailer network. Customers are expected to be contacted by retailers, ahead of their receiving formal notice from the company by mail, to have the cooling fan replaced with a unit that meets the required specifications. At the same time an additional fuse will be installed for added protection.
In their investigation, independent experts established that the incident was not caused by the Lithium-ion battery pack, new technology components, engine component packaging or unique exhaust routing of the Fisker Karma.
"We are committed to responding swiftly and decisively to events such as this to ensure total customer satisfaction," says Executive Chairman and Co-Founder, Henrik Fisker. "This incident resulted from a single, faulty component, not our unique EVer powertrain or the engineering of the Karma. As this situation demonstrates, Fisker Automotive is dedicated to doing whatever is necessary to address safety and quality concerns."
The owner of the car involved in the Woodside incident, Mr. Rudy Burger commented:
"I have been incredibly impressed with the way Fisker has handled this incident. I have personally started seven technology companies and know from direct experience that the US needs more innovative companies of this type, especially in the automobile sector.
"Fisker is a great company and one that I am personally planning to invest in. I look forward to getting behind the wheel of my next Fisker."


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Daily news, dev blogs, and stories from Game Developer straight to your inbox
Why haven't we heard anything about Valve's plans for this year's Steam developer conference? Because, according to a Valve representative, the company doesn't see a reason to host one.
Alex Wawro, Contributor
January 6, 2015
1 Min Read
This time last year, roughly 1,200 game developers were gearing up to attend Valve's inaugural Steam Dev Days developer conference in Seattle.
It was billed as an industry-only, off-the-record event, but curious outsiders were able to follow a #SteamDevDays Twitter hashtag to catch photos and chatter about Valve's developer pitches for things like the Steam Box and VR game development.
So why haven't we heard anything about Valve's plans for this year's Steam developer conference? Because, simply enough, the company doesn't see a reason to host one.
"Steam Dev Days was a great way to brief a large number of Steam developers," a Valve representative told Gamasutra, explaining that hosting Dev Days made more sense in a year when Valve debuted an array of new technology.
"This year our focus will be a bit different, so we are planning a larger than usual presence at GDC. So, there will not be a Steam Dev Days this year, but we will certainly consider doing it again in the future."
If you missed Dev Days last year, know Valve posted video presentations from the conference online a month after the event that include talks featuring notable Valve and non-Valve developers like Oculus VR's Michael Abrash, Klei Entertainment's Jamie Cheng and Dejobaan Games' Ichiro Lambe.
Gamasutra and GDC are sibling organizations under parent UBM Tech.
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Heh this is funny to hear, Dell's
CTO says it's not "Wintel's" lapdog lol. Novell believes in Linux
and says desktops are about to take off. Samsung
and Sony invest $2 billion in a new LCD line. Disney
will make TV shows available for free on the internet.
lt Disney's ABC Television will offer some of its most popular shows, such
as "Desperate Housewives" and "Lost," for free on the Internet
in a two-month trial, the company said on Monday.


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In a bid to promote local manufacturing, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has placed restrictions on the
sale of foreign exchange to importers of textiles and other clothing materials.
The CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele, made this known on Tuesday while meeting with the stakeholders in the cotton value chain. Emefiele said that the restrictions which will take immediate effect was to encourage the growth of the textile and cotton industry.
He said henceforth, banks and dealers in the foreign exchange market are prohibited from selling forex to those seeking to import textiles and clothing materials.
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Total sales excluding fuel for Waitrose last week (to Saturday February 18) were 7% higher than last year.
The supermarket chain’s IT director Mike Sackman said this result was influenced in part by Valentine’s Day (February 14) falling on a Tuesday this year compared with Sunday in the corresponding trading week in 2016.
Traditional Valentine’s gifts enjoyed a buoyant week, with confectionery sales up 36% and flower sales up 78%. Sparkling wine sales rose 83%.
Away from Valentine’s indulgence, there were some strong sales of fruit. Sales of cherries were up 90%, melons rose by 24% and blueberries saw an uplift of 16%.


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LONDON — Harrods is tripling up.
More from WWD
This is part of the company’s storewide redevelopment plan which began in 2018 and is expected to finish in early 2024. Last year the retailer opened a 4,000-square-foot space focusing on men’s sportswear.
“My vision was to make shopping in Harrods a simple, considered and luxurious experience, and with the launch of ‘Men’s Sunglasses, Grooming and Fragrance’ I’m looking forward to welcoming customers to a space where they can achieve the ultimate first and final touches; from enriching skin care to the coolest eyewear on the market,” said Simon Longland, head of menswear at Harrods.


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A public benefits committee of the Wisconsin State Legislature approved a bill proposed by Rep. Robert Brooks that would restrict what food stamp recipients can purchase through the state’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, known as FoodShare.
Included in the bill are prohibitions on purchases of crab, lobster, shrimp and any other shellfish. It would limit spending on dry beans, spaghetti sauce and cooking spices, and also require that beneficiaries spend two-thirds of their average $220 monthly allotment on "healthy foods."
If last year’s statistics are representative of today’s numbers, the bill would affect 420,000 households and 800,000 individuals, reports ThinkProgress. But, state lawmakers do not have the authority to constrain SNAP spending directly. Instead, they have to request the U.S. Department of Agriculture exempt them from the federal program’s rules.
Reasons for the legislation, which some have labeled "intrusive," are stories of irresponsible spending and the public perception that SNAP recipients abuse their government assistance, according to Brooks, a Republican.
A report from the USDA based on thousands of surveyed SNAP beneficiaries found they tend to have slightly less healthy diets than most, but are in line with people with similar backgrounds.
A fiscal analysis of the cost of implementing the bill found that it would cost the state several million dollars, reports The Huffington Post. The Midwest Food Processors Association argued in a joint letter that the bill would also affect Wisconsin businesses that make cheese, butter, frozen pizza, chocolate milk, cranberry juice and other products that would be restricted by the bill.
So far, only one Wisconsin Republican has defected from his colleagues following the fiscal analysis. In fact, restrictive legislation of SNAP spending is popular among conservatives in other states, including Maine, Missouri and Kansas. Wisconsin’s governor and 2016 presidential hopeful, Scott Walker, goes even further by supporting mandatory drug testing for SNAP applicants, though roughly 12 states have found that few applicants fail the drug tests.
Photo Source: Flickr


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After 15 yrs, canned pineapples from PH to enter Australia
After a 15-year absence, canned pineapples from the Philippines will once again enter Australia.
This after the Australian government lifted its ban on Philippine canned pineapples, paving the way for the duty-free entry of the export product into the large Australian market once the anti-dumping measure expires on Oct. 17 for consumer canned pineapples and on Nov. 13 for food service industrial canned pineapples.
“Our trading relationship with Australia has been a healthy one, except for this kind of impediment that had blocked the entry of Philippine agriculture exports to the country,” Agriculture Secretary William Dar said in a statement.
“Pineapples is the next fruit, following banana, that could capture a big slice of the export market given the country’s comparative advantage in producing the said commodity. This is a most propitious opportunity for the Philippine pineapple sector, given its dramatic growth performance this past couple of years,” Dar added.
The Australian government first imposed the antidumping measure for five years in 2006 after Golden Circle Limited, the sole producer of canned pineapples in Australia, requested the ban on the entry of canned pineapples from the Philippines.
It was extended by five more years in 2011 and yet another five years in 2016.
According to reports from Australia’s Anti-Dumping Commission, the decision to lift the ban was based on findings that the expiration of the anti-dumping measure will neither lead to the dumping of canned pineapples nor cause material injury to Australia’s domestic industry.
The Philippine Statistics Authority recently reported that pineapples were the most lucrative agricultural commodity last year after recording a 526-percent return on investment—the highest across 27 agricultural products covered by the report.
This means farmers who invested P124,881 per hectare earned a gross revenue of P782,978 or a net income of P658,097 per ha.
The country is the second-largest producer of pineapples next to Costa Rica. The tropical fruit is famous for its health benefits as it contains Vitamin C, antioxidants and enzymes that ease digestion.


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Government plans to freeze scheme for the remainder of the financial year should take-up exceed £70m
The government will limit payments under the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) scheme to £70m during this financial year, and suspend the subsidy should take-up breach this level as part of plans to ensure...
The falling cost of solar power and batteries is having a "significant impact" on the coal sector, says national mining company in Coal Vision 2030 consultation
Slight year-on-year uptick in household recycling welcomed by industry, but green groups highlight 'packaging waste mountain' revealed by latest Defra figures
Thriving agricultural communities are critical for the long-term for these companies. Plus, three tips for managing programs that combine the 'head' with the 'heart'
Many consumer-facing companies with recognizable brands are taking action, but companies lower down in the supply chain are not, a new study finds