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JDA Picks Up Midrange Veteran Ferrere
July 23, 2007 Alex Woodie
JDA Software, a developer of i5/OS- and Windows-based enterprise software for retailers, has hired midrange veteran Larry Ferrere to be its new senior vice president of product management and chief marketing officer, the company announced recently.
Ferrere’s resume includes stints at two well-respected OS/400 ISVs: J.D. Edwards (now part of Oracle) from 1992 to 1997, and Manhattan Associates, where he was CMO and vice president of sales operations, from 2004 through 2006. Along the way, Ferrere worked at several other tech firms, including Andersen Consulting (now Accenture) from 1981 to 1992; Vastera, an ERP software company, from 1997 to 2001; and InterimOne, an executive management and strategy advisory firm that he founded in 2001 and left for Manhattan Associates in 2004.
Now with JDA, Ferrere will be tasked with growing the company’s business in supply chain software, which has been bolstered with the acquisition of Manugistics in 2006 and E3 Software years earlier. “JDA has a rich heritage and over the past year has done an incredible job of transforming itself into the leading enterprise demand and supply chain software company,” Ferrere says. “I’m very impressed with the team and the customer base, which is one of the deepest in the industry.”
JDA is in a transition of sorts as it seeks to move to the Microsoft development and server platform. Many of its core customers continue to rely on its original i5/OS-based merchandise management software, which the company has committed to supporting through 2016. But the company faces a challenge as it seeks to sell additional software and services, such as supply chain planning, to its core customer base. Ferrere could be instrumental in connecting with these customers.
In other news, JDA will report its quarterly financial results tomorrow.


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November 21, 2002 |
The current economic slowdown has made organisations looking at various options to cut costs and stay competitive. The usage of the internet by employees has also come under the microscope. Organisations have begun to monitor why and how employees use the internet. With movies and games available for download off the net, company bandwidth is often used to download these applications. A survey has found that even a small firm of about 60 people using the internet for 10 minutes per day for non-business activities, can lead to losses of nearly $250,000 annually.
November 26, 2005 |
The main object of the 'World Summit on the Information Society', held in Tunis recently was to ensure that poor countries get the full benefit that new information and communication technologies "including the Internet" can bring to economic and social development. Initially, there was a growing chorus of misinformation about it. One mistaken notion, heard with troubling frequency, was that the United Nations wants to "take over", police, or otherwise control the Internet.
November 3, 2005 |
Doing business over the Internet has become common. It is prevalent among different business verticals. There has also been a change in the use of Internet search engines. From being mere web directories, they have matured to cater to individual preferences. This trend is not limited to the West or to the techie breed. According to the Boston Consulting Group, online transactions in India will hit Rs 1.95 trillion in 2005. The study says the biggest strides will be made in business-to-business transactions.
October 19, 2009 |
Public libraries in the US are expanding their collection of books that can be read online. This highlights the myriad ways the internet has changed the lives of those with access to it. Indeed, the fact that some months ago France's highest court ruled that access to the internet was a 'fundamental human right' rather strikingly posits how far individual and institutional thinking on what the internet means to society has progressed. It is not too presumptuous to imagine a day when the logic underlying the French court's ruling can replicate itself in other parts of the world.
November 2, 2007 |
The issue of uploading videos The inherent freedoms of the internet are a headache for most governments. After all, it is unnerving to think of a space where citizens can post and upload whatever they like, regardless of the regime's opinions on what the population should be doing. Rare is the country where people can use the net with carefree abandon. This is particularly true for edgy nations like China, Iran or North Korea. We may not belong in that august league, but we do have our own selected restrictions.
September 24, 2014 |
By Mohit Dube LUCKNOW: Put this down to the Narendra Modi effect. Soon, visitors and tourists to the Varanasi ghats and Lucknow's famed Bhool-Bhulaiyyan (maze) will be able to surf the net thanks to wi-fi hotspots being created there and at other places in the state at nothing less than breakneck speed. Spurred into action by the ascendancy of Modi, the Varanasi MP, as the prime minister, telecom service provider Bharatiya Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) has fast-tracked work on providing wi-Fi connectivity at the Varanasi ghats.
June 12, 2014 |
HOUSTON: The Internet may actually not be responsible for killing the traditional newspaper trade as most of us believe. Scientists have found that the web may actually not have spurred the decline of print. Majority accepts the fact that the Internet did have a role in killing newspapers. The newspaper business was booming before the mid-90s with top notch journalism and pages of ads. Then, the general population began interacting with the Internet, and print started taking a back seat.
July 2, 2008 |
NEW DELHI: Internet media company ideacts innovations on Wednesday announced the launch of an internet platform 'Clink' targeted at cyber cafes. Internet platform is an active desktop application that provides entertainment, information and other utilities to the users, ideacts said in a release today. The company also said that it has received its first round of funding of 5 million dollars from Sequoia Capital. With cyber cafe market growing at 8 per cent annually, the company aims to bring value to this trade by adding alternative revenue streams and subsiding technology products for a healthier internet infrastructure in the country, the release added.
October 20, 2006
Over half of all households in India that use a debit or a credit card do not have an internet connection. Interestingly, amongst households which invest in the stock market, directly or through mutual funds, almost two-thirds have internet at home. There is a high correlation between ownership of a four-wheeler and internet penetration, with around two-thirds car-owning households having access to the net. On the flip side, almost a fifth of even computer owning homes don't have internet penetration.
September 2, 2007
NEW YORK: General Atlantic said on Friday that two former high-flying Internet executives would advise the private equity firm's media and consumer unit on investments in the online sector. The firm said Jonathan Miller, former chief executive of AOL, which is part of Time Warner Inc, and Ross Levinsohn, former president of Fox Interactive Media at News Corp, would work with the firm, but did not give specific details on their roles. General Atlantic, one of the largest US private equity firms, said it has invested $1.3 billion in more than 20 companies in the Internet sector since 1995, including companies such as AKQA, Dice, Network Solutions and NDTV.

domain: news


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If you visited the supermarket this weekend, you might have witnessed a scene that others see daily: empty shelves. As Americans prepare for potential self-quarantine and social distancing due to COVID-19 (which stands for the coronavirus disease 2019) by stocking up on toilet paper, canned goods, and frozen meat (and let’s be honest, a few pints of ice cream), millions of our neighbors are falling short on the ability to round up daily essentials.
Nearly 47 million U.S. residents, or about one in seven of us, turn to food banks for meals, according to research by Chicago-based nationwide non-profit Feeding America. Since many schools are moving forward with online classes (which means no meals for the 29.7 million kids who rely on provided breakfast and lunch each day) and grocery shelves are running bare, today, more than in recent memory, food banks need your support.
“Feeding America is carefully monitoring developments regarding the coronavirus pandemic," says Zuani Villarreal, director of communications at Feeding America. "A Coronavirus Contingency Planning Task Force, led by the Feeding America Disaster Services team and leaders from member food banks across the nation, was formed in late February. This task force is actively supporting local food banks as they prepare to continue their operations and distribute food to the people and communities they serve, as is done with other emergencies.”
Many of Feeding America’s 200 partner food banks across the country have reported decreases in donations from retail donors, as they strive to keep enough product on-hand for customers. Food banks have also reported a decline in volunteers who are preparing for (or participating in) social distancing.
“We’re drastically shifting how we provide our services in order to keep our neighbors safe and ensure they can continue to access our services,” says Fran Yeatts, executive director of the West Seattle Food Bank in Seattle, Washington. “Some food banks are already having difficulty sourcing enough food, and we’re also experiencing a shortage of diapers to provide to families with young children.
How to Help Food Banks During Coronavirus
Each food bank’s needs are different, yet they are definitely impacted by this pandemic, Villarreal says. So the best thing you can do is use this online database to find your local food bank and contact them about their most immediate needs. Here are four ways you can likely help your town's food pantry.
If your community isn’t under quarantine, don’t be afraid to show up. Volunteers are vital to support food bank sorting, packing, and delivery, and new tactics are being implemented to keep you safe and healthy. “Food bank distribution models are shifting in order to protect the health and wellbeing of food bank staff, volunteers, and, most importantly, the people they serve,” Villarreal says.
A few successful strategies:
- Ample spacing of volunteers at the food bank site, plus frequent hand washing breaks.
- Mobile and drive-through distribution, where the food is loaded directly into the trunk of a vehicle limiting face-to-face interaction.
- Scheduled appointments with one (rather than several) members of a household going through the food assistance line to limit the number of people congregating within the pantry and minimize potential exposure at a distribution site.
2. Make a Financial Contribution
Visit the website or call your local food bank to find out how to donate money to fund their next stock-the-shelves mission.
“Beyond the normal funds needed to keep up with increased demand, food banks will also need to make large, additional purchases to accommodate the new distribution techniques,” says Dylan Lampe, senior manager for marketing and communications at the Food Bank of Iowa. “We anticipate that the pantries that we serve, over 625 just for Food Bank of Iowa alone, will have altered services which will adjust the need in their communities.”
The drive-up and mobile pantries require boxes, gas, and additional adjustments to resources, so the cost associated with this will greatly increase. And since more individuals will likely be tapping food banks for essentials, more items will need to be purchased.
“The families, seniors, and people with disabilities that depend on our services are being heavily impacted by the coronavirus," Yeatts says. "Many are employed in positions where they are unable to work remotely, have limited paid time off, and cannot afford high costs associated with seeing a doctor or going to the hospital. They’re seeing their hours cut or being laid off as businesses close, and need to provide more meals for their children as schools close."
From food to supplies to gas, financial donations are the best and most efficient way to help your local food bank source the exact products they need quickly, Villarreal adds. You should also consider these 4 smartphone apps that make it easy to feed your hungry neighbors.
3. Donate Items
As mentioned, fewer warehouse stores and supermarkets have excess supply to donate, so now is the time to raid your shelves for non-expired boxes of pasta, bonus cans of beans, and other nutritious shelf-stable foods.
“There has been a substantial reduction in food donated to the West Seattle Food Bank since coronavirus came to the U.S., most likely because households are purchasing more products than usual," Yeatts says. "As grocery stores find themselves with empty shelves, they have little left for our food rescue teams to bring back to the food bank.”
Next, take a peek in your supply closet. “Food banks are in need of household items, such as toilet paper and cleaning supplies, as well as non-perishable items,” Villarreal says.
4. Raise Awareness on Social Media
Be a shining light in the often stress-inducing stream of content on Facebook and Instagram by asking your network to reach out to their local food banks to learn how they can contribute. Every donation can make a difference.
It can feel like a scary and uncertain time. But in the wise words of Mister Rogers, when things are frightening on the news, “Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.” These four steps are a stellar place to start.


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Forbes, the 104-year-old magazine and digital publisher, has secured a $200 million investment from Binance, the world’s biggest cryptocurrency exchange, the companies said Thursday.
The funds will help Forbes execute on its plan to merge with Magnum Opus Acquisition, a publicly traded special purpose acquisition company, or SPAC, in the first quarter of the year.
Once the deal closes, Forbes would become a publicly traded company on the New York Stock Exchange trading under the ticker symbol “FRBS.”
Investors have grown skeptical of SPAC deals in the last year, and in particular of media deals amid broader stock market declines.
Forbes said that Binance will replace half of the $400 million in commitments from institutional investors announced by the company in August.
The transactions with Magnum Opus and Binance are expected to help Forbes maximize its brand and enterprise values and use its proprietary technology stack and analytics to bring in more long-term readers via subscriptions and other membership-only offers.
The Binance deal shows the influence of nascent crypto sector, which has seen rising valuations and has crowned a new crop of billionaires amid global interest in digital currencies.
While crypto companies have inked deals with celebrities and affixed their names to sports arenas, this is the sector’s first major investment in a traditional US media property.
Binance founder and CEO Changpeng Zhao, whose been dubbed the world’s richest crypto investor with a $96 billion net worth, said that as crypto “comes of age,” media becomes and “essential element to build widespread consumer understanding.” He also said that his company will “bolster” Forbes’ digital initiatives.
“Forbes is committed to demystifying the complexities and providing helpful information about blockchain technologies and all emerging digital assets,” said Forbes CEO Mike Federle added. “With Binance’s investment in Forbes, we now have the experience, network and resources of the world’s leading crypto exchange and one of the world’s most successful blockchain innovators.”


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Thanksgiving Consumers Shopped by Smartphone
Adobe Analytics (NASDAQ:ADBE) reported that nearly 50% of the $3-B’s spent on Thanksgiving Day was spent by consumers on their couches shopping by Smartphone.
“The big story this holiday season is in mobile shopping,” Mickey Mericle, the vice president of Adobe’s Marketing and Customer Insights division, said Friday
“Shoppers looking for discounts are getting better at using smartphones to quickly close the deal, and we are seeing better mobile conversion this season at over 10 percent growth,” he added.
Adobe Insights, which measures 80% of online transactions at 100 major US retailers, said 61.1% of shoppers’ visits to retailers’ websites on Thanksgiving stemmed from mobile devices, including smartphones and tablets.
And the devices were driving 46.2% of total online revenue; consumers had already spent more than $640-M by Friday morning, an increase of 18.4% compared with a year ago.
A separate survey by Salesforce, (NYSE:CRM) also found more shoppers using mobile devices to make purchases on Thanksgiving.
The Smartphone orders on Thanksgiving surpassed computers for the 1st time, the survey found.
“The mobile share of traffic to retail sites was head and shoulders above any other device,” wrote the head of consumer insights at Salesforce’s Commerce Cloud division.
Companies including Target (NYSE:TGT) Macy’s (NYSE:M), Kohl’s (NYSE:KSS)and Nordstrom (NYSE:JWN) have all been seen making investments in their mobile apps
Have a Happy Weekend
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Tilray: smoke and fireBy Source: FT.com | septembre 19, 2018
Fading American food brands have tried to save themselves with hipster coffee, energy drinks and healthy snacks. Their ultimate saviour may be a little edgier. The hottest stock in the US this week has been cannabis producer Tilray. The Canadian company’s shares shot up 50 per cent on Wednesday to $230, implying a market capitalisation of $22bn. Its initial public offering was priced in July at $17. The stigma surrounding marijuana for both medicinal or social use is evaporating in the US. Slow-growth consumer companies need to act fast to capitalise on the social shift.
The seminal moment for mainstream cannabis acceptance came in August when Constellation Brands, producer of Corona beer and Meiomi wine, bought a 38 per cent stake in Tilray rival Canopy. It paid a 50 per cent premium to Canopy’s trading price. Canopy’s shares have more than doubled since then. Large consumer companies such as Coca-Cola and Diageo are now also expressing interest in cannabis extensions.
For all the hype, Tilray generated just $20m of revenue in 2017. The noise surrounding cannabis brings up memories of dotcom hysteria at the turn of the century. But Tilray is established. It has several brands that it markets in Canada, where social use of cannabis will be legal in October. The company has also reached its gross margin target of 50 per cent. While it is not profitable on an operating margin basis, it expects it will eventually hit 20 per cent on that metric.
Still, the current valuation is based on hype, hope and technical factors. The short-seller Citron Research noted that only about a fifth of the company’s shares are freely traded. This can artificially put upward pressure on the share price. Tilray’s ascent comes just as Canada and the US enter into tense trade talks. A consideration of the benefits of cannabis trade collaboration should induce a mellower mood.
© The Financial Times Limited 2018. Tous droits réservés.
Veuillez ne pas copier-coller les articles du FT pour les distribuer par courriel ou les publier sur le Web.


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Missouri dispensaries see name change and rebrand
Over just a few days a handful of dispensaries across the state formerly branded as BesaMe Wellness have rebranded.
The seemingly overnight changes left some Missouri patients confused as Google listings showed the dispensaries as permanently closed. That’s not the case, however. The former BesaMe locations in Dexter, Gallatin, Joplin, and Pacific have all rebranded as Vert’s Neighborhood Dispensary.
The dispensaries in question belong to a separate operating group, as such the stores have rebranded under their own banner. Patients needn’t worry as the Verts’ Neighborhood Dispensaries locations are open for business.
For BesaMe, the foundation of their retail operations will continue to be the dispensaries located in North Kansas City, Liberty, Smithville, and Warrensburg.


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Email is something most of us use daily, but many don’t think much about the power of email marketing.
And yet, email is among the leading tools in digital marketing, with millions of marketers reaping the benefits.
If this sounds too good to be true, it’s best that we check what the numbers say. So, here are the most relevant stats about email marketing in 2021.
Email has been around for a while, and yet its popularity doesn’t decline. Moreover, the number of email users is growing each year, despite the ever-increasing popularity of social media.
Here’s what the latest surveys show.
In 2020, the number of global email users officially passed the four-billion mark, with a clear tendency for growth in years to come. For instance, email marketing trends reveal that the number of users could grow to 4.6 billion by 2025.
Since 2017, the number of sent and received emails has been on the rise. Despite the adoption of chat apps and messengers, email remains the pillar of digital communication and marketing.
Moreover, the number of daily emails could increase to more than 376.4 billion by 2025.
What’s more, OptionMonster reveals that many of us check email up to 20 times per day. Surprisingly, three out of four teenagers use email despite the rise of social media and messaging apps. What’s more, they consider email a “fact of everyday life.”
According to Eleventy Group’s email marketing statistics, almost 90% of Americans check their email inbox at least once per day.
Thus, marketers should never ignore the power of email. Having such a massive user base is a golden opportunity to promote products and drive sales.
Millennials are more attached to their emails than any other generation. Nowadays, people between the ages 25 and 34 spend 6.4 hours daily checking their email. Likewise, more than a third check their work email before getting out of bed in the morning.
No one likes those generic emails that spam our inboxes day after day. However, a well-crafted email is a joy to read. Yet, not all marketers customize content or segment an audience. The following stats will illustrate the current situation in the world of email personalization.
Even though most participants in the Dynamic Yield study think that personalized emails are important, most marketers don’t use this information to their advantage.
For instance, email marketing statistics for 2021 show that 75% of email users in North America feel that marketers haven’t personalized content for them.
Simply put, the subject line is the crucial element of an email marketing campaign. For example, 69% of email recipients report emails as spam based on the subject line alone. So, advertisers should focus on optimizing subject lines to attract more readers.
Response rate is an essential metric for email marketing, and custom snippets can boost those numbers. In other words, marketers should put effort into contextualizing each email.
Namely, it’s advisable to go beyond the classic format with only the first name or the company name in the introductory part. The stats show that the response rate of emails without advanced personalization is only 7%.
A successful email marketing campaign requires paying attention to every detail. For instance, email marketing stats show that 82% of marketing experts send subject lines with less than 60 characters.
Since email clients, such as Yahoo and Google, only display around 60 characters, it makes sense to create shorter subject lines.
Although emojis might trigger an emotional response, only 6.9% of emails have them in their subject lines.
Besides the formation issues, some readers might find emojis inappropriate or misleading. Hence, advertisers use them mostly in social media marketing.
Experienced marketers understand the importance of sending a clear and concise message. That’s why they keep the email length at around 400 to 500 words. For instance, the average size is 434 words, which takes 3.3 minutes to read.
However, 24.1% of emails that AWeber analyzed had 601 words or more. Also, as many as 11.4% had more than 901 words, requiring around 6.9 minutes of reading time.
Aside from having an ideal email subject line length and a perfect word count, marketers must also tailor the content to their target audience. By doing so, advertisers and business owners can raise awareness, boost engagement, and increase customer retention.
After all, email marketing is a powerful tool for displaying products and improving ecommerce statistics. For instance, 25% of email recipients want retailers to streamline the discovery of new products via email.
Unlike PPC campaigns or even social media strategies, email marketing requires almost no investment. That’s why small businesses, in particular, turn to email as a cost-effective option.
But how effective is email marketing, and can it meet the needs of modern marketers and business owners? Let’s see what the stats reveal.
Even though email marketing ROI statistics show an impressive return on investment, only 55% of marketers think half of their emails are relevant to recipients.
Nonetheless, 82% of marketers expect improvements over the next year, primarily in terms of open rates, click-throughs, and email delivery. Also, 59% of marketers are confident that ROI will also increase.
Customers worldwide love learning about discounts and promotional offers, and that’s why emails can be a valuable marketing channel.
For example, email marketing statistics reveal that 78% of marketers consider advance notice of sales the most effective email feature. Also, 61% of consumers opt for receiving e-receipts via email.
In a way, it all comes down to conversions in digital marketing, and every marketer’s goal is to increase conversion rates as much as possible.
Yet, the study conducted by GetResponse showed that the landing page conversion rate dropped from 5.86% in 2019 to 3.62% in 2020.
The latest video marketing statistics show that YouTube has a significant impact on email marketing campaigns. Precisely, video can boost click-through rates by a whopping 65%.
Likewise, marketers can increase open rates by 19% after incorporating YouTube videos into their emails. Furthermore, video can even reduce unsubscribes by 26%.
Email marketing’s efficiency is among the primary reasons for its popularity in 2021. For instance, email marketing facts show that 50% of recipients buy from marketing emails once a month.
Of course, success depends on content optimization, and tools like SerpWatch can help in finding the perfect keywords and adding them to your email campaigns.
Finding the right words can be easier said than done, but email marketers know that some words are more efficient than others.
Conversely, they also know that words like miss, deals, groovy, and conditions can negatively affect open rates if used in subject lines.
One of the primary drawbacks of email is the lack of feedback. In other words, you can’t always tell who read your message or the percentage of emails that went straight to the trash folder. However, savvy marketers know how to deal with these issues, so let’s see what the stats say.
Email marketing offers many benefits as long as you optimize the campaigns. Namely, it’s essential to leave an impression on recipients to open the email as soon as they receive it.
For example, email marketing stats show that open rates drop below 1% after 24 hours. So, customize the subject line to grab the customer’s attention.
Like in many other areas of life, timing is also vital in email marketing. For that reason, marketers often automate the process and leave it to the algorithm to send emails at the perfect time.
Admittedly, the overall email open rates by day vary, but Tuesday is the best day to send emails. Saturdays also have a high open rate, and many marketers opt to send emails at the start of the weekend.
Most of us instantly react when we receive a government-related email, but the same applies to emails related to things we enjoy doing in our free time.
To be precise, emails from the government have a 28.77% open rate, while the average email open rate across industries stands at 21.33%. According to the same source, hobbies have the highest click rate of 5.01%.
We’ve already mentioned that timing affects the open rates and the overall success of email marketing strategies. So, marketers should know that many people use the time after work to go through their inboxes.
Therefore, marketers should send emails later in the day if they want to increase email marketing success rates. The stats show that only 22% of recipients are likely to purchase from an email received during work hours.
Nowadays, marketers have a wide range of tools and apps at their disposal. As expected, automated emails are among those services, allowing marketers to schedule and send messages at specific intervals.
For instance, many choose to set the program to send emails around 6 PM or 10 AM.
Although many people question email relevance in 2021, it’s clear that emails are among the most potent weapons in digital marketing.
After all, only a few marketing channels can help generate such an impressive return on investment. As long as you optimize subject lines, deliver relevant content, and send emails at the right time, the recipients are likely to have a positive reaction.
In the B2B world, email is still king. Since the late 1990s, companies worldwide have relied on email to communicate with customers, coworkers, and other organizations.
As it turns out, not much has changed in 2021. But, to be sure, let’s see what the numbers say.
For most B2B companies, email is the primary channel of communication. That’s why more than half of B2Bs automate the process by using an email marketing tool.
Moreover, B2B email marketing statistics for 2021 reveal that 58% of companies plan to adopt automation technology. Likewise, 75% of B2B organizations use at least one type of email marketing tool.
B2B organizations need all the help they can get if they want to survive in the modern business world. Hence, 85% of respondents in a recent survey use email marketing software. Additionally, 81% said they use email newsletters to distribute content and establish brand authority.
Office employees typically check their email at the start of the workday. Also, most business deals and purchasing decisions happen mid-week, and savvy email marketers make the most of this.
On the other hand, executives and entrepreneurs open emails frequently, so the time or day of the week matters less.
Thanks to low email marketing costs, marketers worldwide keep coming back to email. In essence, the reason lies in the ROI that email marketing campaigns generate.
Campaign Monitor’s survey revealed that email marketing generates $38 in ROI for every $1 spent.
If you need a cost-effective marketing platform, email could be the solution. With that said, the overall email advertising cost will depend on the scope of the project. The longer the mailing list and the more target groups you have, the higher the price.
For instance, small businesses can even run the campaign manually or opt for free email marketing tools, depending on the customer base. However, mid-size companies could expect to pay $300–$500 a month if they hire an agency.
Email newsletters provide marketers with a vast range of benefits, and the options are limitless as long as they keep on being creative. Thus, without further ado, let’s see what the statists reveal regarding email newsletters in 2021.
As your brand grows and the awareness expands, it will be necessary to nurture leads. That’s when email newsletters step onto the scene. More precisely, a nurture campaign delivers targeted information to guide leads through the buying process.
As expected, some people will not like the content you create, or they might try to de-clutter their inbox. In any case, marketers must provide a visible and easy-to-use unsubscribe button.
Nowadays, unsubscribe rates under 2% are within the industry standard. But, of course, experienced marketers use the unsubscribe rate like a check engine light to tweak the content and improve the email quality.
Although email marketing statistics by industry vary, the outbreak of COVID-19 had a profound impact on newsletter campaigns worldwide. After all, newsletters were among the few remaining options for companies to interact with the customers.
As a result, ecommerce orders via email tripled, showing that email newsletters can be an effective marketing tool. In addition, with more and more people working from home, emails are a hassle-free option for ordering products or learning about new ones.
Given that the average cost of email marketing campaigns is relatively low, it’s clear why businesses still rely on this advertising channel. With email marketing, companies can send special offers, promote products, and engage with customers. Plus, model email marketing tools can automate the process and deliver a personalized message to each reader.
So, if you want to maximize the effectiveness of marketing strategies, combine SerpWatch with email marketing software. In short, SerpWatch can help in rank tracking and keyword research, but it also offers email notifications and other exciting features. Before you know it, email conversion rates will increase.
Invented in the 1960s and 70s, email messaging did not go viral until the 1990s, when the rise of the internet changed the world forever. For instance, the user base grew from 55 million in 1997 to 400 million in 1999. In essence, people recognized the convenience and other benefits of email, so the number of uses kept growing over the years.
As a result, there are slightly over 4 billion email users worldwide today. Moreover, the number could reach 4.6 billion within the next four or five years.
With the adoption of social media and messaging apps, the average number of emails we send and receive daily decreased. Yet, email remains the dominant communication channel for businesses and other organizations.
For example, studies from 2019 revealed that office workers received 121 business emails per day. Likewise, they sent around 40 emails per day. But, of course, experts predict further growth in years to come. For instance, the outbreak of COVID-19 boosted the number of sent and received emails, emphasizing the importance of email communication.
Since millions of emails are sent and received daily, it’s easy to get overwhelmed. If dozens of companies bombard your inbox, the chances are you won’t even open all emails.
That’s why the email open rate in today’s marketing industry is 15%–25%. Likewise, the average click-to-open rate remains at around 20%–30%. So, from a marketer’s perspective, the more recipients open the email and interact with the content, the better. For that reason, content optimization and other techniques are crucial for improving the email open rate.
Email marketing is among the most effective advertising tactics, but it requires time and effort to yield the best results. For that reason, many marketers turn to email automation. Likewise, many aspiring businesses buy mailing lists.
As expected, the price depends on various factors, primarily the number and importance of people on the list. As a rule of thumb, a consumer list costs between $100 and $400 for a thousand emails (CPM). On the other hand, a business list typically costs $600 to $1000+ for a thousand emails.
These days, email campaigns are one of the pillars of digital marketing, so the competition is fierce. As a result, most people receive too many emails, and they don’t even open most of them.
So, besides preparing the content and sending the message, marketers should also monitor the open rate metric. Generally, an acceptable rate is 20.94%, but it all depends on a range of factors. For instance, the average open rate for the electronics industry is only 19%, while education boasts an impressive 25%.
Even though ROI in digital marketing can be hard to measure, it’s important to track it to see the results of a campaign. Email marketing is cost-effective, and setting up an email blast doesn’t require massive investments. Plus, many email marketing tools are free, reducing the expenses further but delivering top-notch results nonetheless.
However, the median ROI on email marketing campaigns is 122%, four times higher than any other channel in the digital marketing world. What’s more, it continues to grow year over year.
Every marketer wants people to open and read emails, interact with the content, and take meaningful action. That’s why the so-called click-through rates are an essential element for measuring the efficiency of email marketing campaigns. In essence, the click-through rate represents the percentage of people who clicked on the link(s) in the message.
Of course, click-through rates vary across industries and the type of email, but the most common CTR is 2.69%. Therefore, as long as the campaign keeps the CTR at around 2.5%, there’s no need to raise the alarm.
Small businesses need to use every trick in the book to increase visibility and attract more customers. But, at the same time, SMBs must also invest time and effort in nurturing the existing relationships with customers and improving loyalty. Thus, email marketing provides small companies with an ideal advertising channel for effective communication with consumers.
Believe it or not, more small businesses use direct mail than Instagram or Twitter. To be precise, the latest email marketing statistics reveal that 64.1% of small businesses use email marketing.
Sources: AWeber, Campaign Monitor, Campaign Monitor, Campaign Monitor, Campaign Monitor, CNBC, Content Marketing Institute, CoSchedule, DMA, Dynamic Yield, Eleventy Group, Email Monday, GetResponse, Hubspot, MailChimp, Mailer Lite, Marketing Profs, OptionMonster, OptionMonster, SaleCycle, Statista, Statista, SuperOffice, WebFX, Woodpecker
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Poll Shows Cleanroom/Food Industry Disconnect
By Sheila Galatowitsch
New food safety processes are opening up the food industry to contamination control technologies, but before a real market takes off, both suppliers and users must surmount a learning curve. A CleanRooms poll found that while most suppliers and distributors report a few food users as customers, only a few are actively marketing to the food industry. Moreover, most suppliers know little about the market itself and its potential, and don`t know where to go for more information.
It`s not difficult to understand why contamination control suppliers are in the dark. The food industry is complex and diverse, ranging from meat and poultry processing, to beverage and brewing, aseptic packaging, fresh prepackaged produce, and frozen and canned goods. Each segment has different concerns, and food processors seem to know as much about contamination control as suppliers know about the food industry.
But that is destined to change. “We have several factors pushing for a change, and we have the means to solve it,” says international contamination control expert Dr. Åke Möller. Good manufacturing practices (GMP) rules, long followed by the pharmaceutical industry, are also suitable for the food industry. Since 1993, ISO, which has given the world the 9000 quality standards, has been working on international contamination control standards (cleanroom classification, design, operation, etc.), and those standards will be valid for the food industry. Provoked by stories in the media and environmental concerns, consumers continue to push for safer food with fewer chemicals and preservatives. And in order to compete globally, avoid costly recalls and potential litigation, food producers will have to meet the highest standards possible.
In the U.S., food safety standards originally developed in the 1960s by NASA are the basis of landmark regulations issued by the U.N.`s Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) and the World Health Organization (WHO), and proposed by the FDA and USDA in 1994. The Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) program is still in the proposal and feasibility stages, but food processors from all segments have lined up behind the program for voluntary participation, and many have HACCP plans in place. HACCP requires that food processors analyze their procedures to see where hazards could get into a product, determine which point in the process is critical to ensure those hazards are minimized or eliminated, and provide continuous monitoring.
Today, the food industry represents only 3 percent of the total market for cleanrooms, but it has the potential to become a much larger market, according to researcher Robert W. McIlvaine, president of The McIlvaine Company (Northbrook, IL), which publishes an annual report on cleanroom markets worldwide. He projects capital expenditures in the food processing industry to reach $46 billion over the next five years. Less than one-half of 1 percent of this investment is currently allocated for cleanrooms and filter systems.
Greater concern about contamination control, the growth of the aseptic filling industry, and legal problems resulting from pathogenic organisms in food products will cause the market segment to grow from $40 million per year in 1996 to more than $60 million per year in the year 2000, according to McIlvaine. “This forecast includes only modest penetration of cleanroom technology into the meat and poultry industry. Should new regulations require cleanroom technology for federally inspected meat and poultry slaughter and processing plants, this market segment of the industry could double in size.”
McIlvaine observes that Europe is far ahead of the United States in the utilization of cleanrooms in the food processing industries. Japan is also a leader in the use of cleanroom technology in food processing plants. As a result, the total world market for cleanrooms and food processing is presently over $150 million per year.
The cooked-ready-to-eat food market is especially open to cleanroom technology, says Dr. David Gombas, a research professor at the National Center for Food Safety and Technology (Summit-Argo, IL), a consortium of food processors, academia and the FDA. The food industry will increasingly be concerned about environmental contamination during certain stages of the food handling and preparation process.
Contamination control measures in the food industry depend on the process stage, according to Gombas. Raw materials (meats and produce) are inherently contaminated, so the environment in which they are processed is not as important. The environment itself will offer less of a contamination risk than the materials coming into that environment. But as materials are processed, their microbial load diminishes, so monitoring and controlling the environment becomes more important. “Between processing and packaging there is a window in which pathogens in the environment could get back on the product,” Gombas says, and those are the areas where closed or cleanroom environments become critical.
Using Cleanroom Environments
Some food processors, such as the aseptic packaging and dairy industries, are already working within enclosed and cleanroom environments. Gombas predicts that HACCP will spur the use of cleanroom technology where it is appropriate, as companies become more comfortable with the new safety measures. Processors “will identify the environment as being significant in a number of products and commodities, and when that happens, environmental control through cleanrooms or whatever will emerge as the best option for controlling contamination in those industries,” Gombas says.
For now, the food industry is on the learning curve. Quality control managers at larger companies and food conglomerates are more likely to understand the sources of potential risks, the risks themselves and what to do to control them. That`s the case at poultry giant Tyson Foods (Springdale, AR). The company is upgrading all plants in four areas: structural isolation, equipment design, personal hygiene, and sanitation. The structural isolation upgrades include separate processing, changeover and buffer rooms.
According to divisional quality assurance manager Tom Smith, the upgrades are directly related to contamination control requirements for the company`s cooked and refrigerated products, which include roasted chicken, luncheon meats and imitation seafood. There is an increased emphasis on microbiological control even in raw food areas, Smith says. “We`re redirecting our emphasis to provide as sterile a product as we can.” After the upgrades are completed, the company`s plants may more closely model the pharmaceutical industry.
Food processors will use the same contamination control products and services that are used by the microelectronics and pharmaceutical industries. Dr. Möller says that laminar air flow technology, currently unknown in the food industry, will give processors a cheap way to create a completely sterile area. Other products may have to be modified to meet specific requirements. In 1990, HEFCO (Louisville, KY) modified an existing air filtration product to meet mushroom growers` needs. The company also counts users in the poultry, beverage (beer brewing) and ostrich industries. HEFCO acquired these food customers without any marketing effort, and company officials now believe the food industry will be a growth market. Marketing Director Don Davidson says the company plans to hit the food market next year with a focused advertising campaign.
Gloves have been sold to the food industry for years, but the market has really taken off since the AIDS epidemic. “It`s a gigantic business for us for certain types of products,” says Roger Gass, vice president of sales and marketing for CT International (San Luis Obispo, CA). The company`s marketing strategy is to attract distributors who do business in the food preparation, food testing and food service markets.
Other suppliers reporting food industry users include Safeskin Corp. (San Diego, CA), maker of specialized latex gloves; Clestra Cleanroom Inc. (N. Syracuse, NY), which manufactures modular cleanrooms and laminar flow equipment; Coast Scientific (San Diego, CA), which distributes contamination control equipment to food manufacturers for R&D, testing and processing; and HIAC/ROYCO (Silver Spring, MD), which sells its particle counter equipment to the potable water, yogurt and aseptic packaging industries.
In the short-term, pricing may be an obstacle to opening the market. “Cost is a primary issue with this market. They are generally looking for an economical product,” says Robbi Rizzo, product manager for CT International`s scientific division. n


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Have you ever tried to flush your contact lens down the sink or toilet? Do you think that it is good for you? Contrary to what you believe, it might harm the environment aggressively. A recent study conducted by the American Chemical society stated that more than 20 percent of contact lens users preferred to flush their lens down the sink and toilet.
It is no wonder that many people never worry about what happens once they flushed out their contact lens. Despite being a biomedical product, contact lenses do not biodegrade effectively. Another research has revealed that contact lenses can pollute surface water easily.
As per the study revealed conducted in 2015, around 20,000 tons of microplastic was found in the sea. It is already known that filters are there to isolate the waste sediments from the sea. However, contact lenses are extremely flexible, which makes it easier to destroy the purity of surface water.
Moreover, contact lenses are more likely to spread bacterial infection and fungal diseases. Being microplastics, it can be easily digested by corals, fish, and small animals. Further, the fragments may carry heavy loads of pollutant, which affects sea animals. Horribly, it affects the environment and makes it even worse.
A research stated that the waste generated by the disposable contact lenses is not extremely horrible when compared to other local areas. Moreover, it was around 0.5% of personal waste consumed totally. A study carried out in 2003, stated that conventional lenses are more likely to have a high negative impact than disposable waste pollutants.
As lenses are a kind of hydrogen peroxide product, it will not degrade easily. It is no wonder that many types of research have been carried out to determine the negative impact on contact lenses on the environment. No matter what type of lens you are using, it can cause severe pollutants.
When you consider old-fashioned glasses, chances are that disposable waste will be more. However, this is not the case for laser correction surgery as it does not generate additional waste and thus there are only minor negative impacts on the environment.
People are selective in their choices and had dedicated their hard-earned money to buy expensive glasses and contact lenses but never care about what happens to the environment after the lens has disposed of. It is our responsibility to take care of our fruitful environment.
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Ulta Beauty, Influencer Marketing, and The Rise of E-Commerce
On the latest episode of Today In Five:
Once the leading force in the beauty market, department stores have lost their footing to Ulta, the rise of e-commerce, and influencer marketing.
- It’s officially return season. According to a company press release, UPS expects to process 1.9 million returns. The predicted number reflects a 26% year over year increase. Per the release, the increase, “illustrates how e-commerce continues transforming shopping patterns.” A report from Oracle Retail stated that 77% of consumers plan to return a portion of their holiday gifts, with 65% returning in-store and 32% anticipating a return via mail.
- A new survey from communications agency, Diffusion, revealed that 40% of Americans have made a purchase from direct-to-consumer brands. Of those shoppers, 14% said they made between 1 and 19% of their purchases from direct-to-consumer companies. Notable categories for DTC purchasing over traditional retail included health and beauty products, apparel, and tech and gadgets. Shoppers reported the leading reason for choosing direct-to-consumer over traditional retailers was cost, followed by fast, free shipping.
- According to a case study from Dynamic Yield, E.l.f. Cosmetics found that revenue per user increased after adding product recommendations to item detail pages. Adding a ‘You may love’ section of recommended products garnered a lift in click-through rate of more than 23%, per the report. The beauty company also saw a 17.6% increase in mobile menu clicks after personalizing the menu based on users’ past shopping behaviors. The case study illustrates the growing importance of personalization to attract customers. A 2018 survey from Accenture and the Retail Industry Leaders Association revealed that 63% of consumers are interested in personalized recommendations. Another survey revealed that 93% of businesses with advanced personalization strategies increased their revenue in 2018.
Ulta Beauty, Department Stores, E-Commerce, and Influencers
As retailers like Ulta Beauty and Sephora have won over shoppers, the former cosmetics powerhouse – the department store – has lost its strong footing in the market. Social media and influencer marketing has helped see the rise of specialty stores and cultivated a number of billion-dollar upstart beauty brands that are going head-to-head with established players like Estee Lauder. Since 2009, U.S. beauty and personal care sales have risen 52% according to market research from Euromonitor. The global cosmetics industry is expected to hit $430 billion by 2022.
It’s an uphill battle for department stores as consumer trends shift. More shoppers are opting for natural looks, and increasingly searching for clean beauty brands to use. Ulta’s strength has been its focus on becoming a one-stop destination for shoppers by offering several services in-store. Its appeal has also been assisted by celebrity brands. Sephora launched its product line, Clean by Sephora, with the chief merchandiser officer noting, “The past decade has been a time of significant growth and change for the beauty industry.”
Department stores are also facing challenges as the rise of e-commerce eats into their normal foot traffic. Many stores are revamping their strategy to re-engage with their beauty customers. Nordstrom has shifted its beauty strategy by dedicating two of its floors in its new Manhattan flagship to the category. The store also recently partnered with Glossier to feature pop-up shops by the popular brand. Macy’s general business manager for beauty said, “Technology and experiential components will continue to be paramount to successful beauty campaigns, launches, and displays.”
With the rise of e-commerce and social media, influencer marketing has become a preferred tactic for beauty brands. Social media marketing, coupled with the boom in e-commerce, has bred a mega-industry, with online beauty projected to be worth $38 million by the end of 2023. According to a survey, 58% of respondents admitted they purchased a product because of an influencer. “All of the power went from manufacturers and retailers to the consumers themselves…Now we have social media where makeup artists are going on there and showing people exactly what to do.”


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Ashok Leyland has made deliberate efforts to de-risk business model with focus on exports
Ashok Leyland (AL), headquartered in Chennai, is the second largest commercial vehicle manufacturer in India in the medium and heavy commercial vehicle (M&HCV) segment with significant presence in bus segment. The Hinduja Group holds 51 percent stake in the company through the holding company, Hinduja Automotive (UK). The company has 6 manufacturing plants across 5 locations in India — Ennore (Tamil Nadu), Hosur (Tamil Nadu), Alwar (Rajasthan), Bhandara (Maharashtra) and Pantnagar (Uttaranchal).
The company has been a key beneficiary of sharp recovery in higher tonnage segment, has stronghold of southern region and commendably improved its balance sheet with better free cash flows (FCF) and lower debt. The market share gains are expected to sustain led by expanding product portfolio in small and intermediate commercial vehicle segment and expansion of dealership network across non‐South regions. Sharpening focus on high margin‐businesses like spares, defence and exports is a potent margin trigger. Additionally, sharp recovery in demand over expected period of 2016‐19 will aid further margins.
Increased Market Share in M&HCV
The Chennai-based manufacturer has set new momentum by achieving remarkable 15-year high market share gains in the M&HCV segment. Ashok Leyland has posted 7.7 percent gain from 26.2 percent to 33.8 percent in 4 years.
AL has also emerged as a credible challenger in the commercial vehicle (CV) area by leaving Tata Motor’s (TTMT) behind. Its return on capital employed (RoCE) is 25 percent over TTMT’s ‐1.9 percent in fiscal 2017. During the year, AL’s margins are also significantly high at 11 percent than those of TTMT’s at 2.8 percent. The manufacturer has rule out unhealthy competition in the CV segment and paves the way for continued market share gains and sustains its improving brand equity.
New products and deepening reach: Market share gain catalysts
Ashok Leyland has been plugging the gaps in its product portfolio as well as sprucing up its distribution reach in the past 5 years. It has got strong response to its new launches Sunshine school bus and Guru, the latest Intermediate Commercial Vehicle
De‐risking to prop margins
Ashok Leyland has made deliberate efforts to de-risk business model with focus on exports, defence and spares. This strategic shift is to focus on garnering high margins in non-cyclical business. This calculated step of reducing share of cyclical M&HCV business is a potent margin trigger.
To gain traction in margins for the non-cyclical business, AL has widened its technical capabilities in defence, scaled in spares business and has come with focused exports strategy. In defence, AL has broadened its products supply to 6x6, 8x8 and 10x10 from traditional 4x4 offerings.
The manufacturer’s exports strategy involves increasing its local presence, enter into specific product segments and price its products closer to Japanese peers which will improve chances of success.
At current market price of Rs 105, AL trades at 15.6 times its earnings of 2019. Edelweiss estimates AL’s earning per share (EPS) CAGR as 24.4 percent and an increase of 5.2 percent in return on equity (RoE) at 26.4 percent over 2017‐19.
The business momentum and AL’s focus on profitability should drive already industry leading margins, RoE and stock performance.
Key Risks faced by Ashok Leyland
Success of EGR technology: Ashok Leyland has adopted the new innvoative Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) technology system to comply with BSIV emission norms. Although, globally EGR is used for vehicles up to 180 horsepower (HP) and for Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) technology; AL has decided to use EGR for its entire range comprising of up to more than 400HP trucks. Given that this technology is one of its kinds, it is a double edge sword for Ashok Leyland. In case, the technology is successful, it will enable the company to gain significant market share or else, there will be sharp pressure on cash flows and profitability.
Exports and Defence: The development on exports and defence fronts are keenly tracked by the markets. For AL to sustain its valuation re-rating of the stock success in these areas are critical.


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Katie Ledecky was an amazing human being long before she decided to swim the length of an Olympic-sized pool with a glass of chocolate milk perfectly balanced on top of her head. She’s 23 years old and has won five Olympic gold medals, including one at the 2012 London Olympic Games when she was just 15. She’s won more world championship gold medals than any female swimmer in history. But now, to reiterate, Ledecky has achieved the distinction of swimming the length of an Olympic-sized pool with a glass of chocolate milk perfectly balanced on top of her head. And it’s positively hypnotic to watch.
(H/t to The Atlantic’s Peter Baugh, who shared the video on Twitter even before Ledecky herself.) The feat, which Ledecky posted today to her Instagram page, is a sponsored post for the “Got Milk?” campaign—yes, that Got Milk campaign! Many of you might remember Got Milk’s massively successful print ads from the 1990s and early 2000s featuring celebrities sporting milk mustaches (weirdly thick milk mustaches, to combat with studio lights) to raise awareness about osteoporosis and boost U.S. milk consumption. For a great read on the history of Got Milk, check out this Fast Company article published on the campaign’s 25th anniversary in 2018.
Today, for the first time since 2014, Got Milk? has returned, but in a whole new way. As explained by CNN, the campaign is building buzz on TikTok rather than the ancient form of media known as magazine ads, and it’s relying on social influencers to create content for the #GotMilkChallenge hashtag. Ledecky is the face of the new campaign, but it’s inviting millions of others to join in with their own performative milk shenanigans.
Here’s how to participate, according to the Got Milk? TikTok page:
Step 1: Pour a glass of milk.
Step 2: Do something AMAZING—and don’t spill!
Step 3: Sip to prove you still “got milk.”
The “do something amazing” directive is later clarified: “From soccer tricks to hula hooping to – who knows? The possibilities are endless. So, what are you waiting for? Show us what you got. #GotMilkChallenge.” It’s a clever way to get wannabe viral TikTok celebrities to throw their hat into the ring, maybe with a glass of milk balanced on top of it.
Many of the #GotMilkChallenge posts so far have been really impressive, others less so—but none so jaw-dropping as Ledecky’s smooth-as-glass procession through the pool, without a single drop of milk wasted.
What was your favorite Got Milk ad of yore?


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Computer makers are focusing more and more on design these days with their products. Computers are no longer a beige square box, but almost pieces of art that need to look good sitting on a desk. Yesterday, the IDSA handed out its International Design Excellence Awards (IDEA for short), and companies like Dell, HP, IBM, and Vizio took home some of the prizes with their creations.
In the “Computer Equipment” category, Vizio took home two IDEA awards, one for their Thin + Light Notebook and the other for their All-in-One Touch PC. HP‘s Envy 120 e-All-in-One printer also won an IDEA award, as did Dell‘s Enterprise 12G Power Supply Unit and IBM‘s unique-looking PureSystems server machine. The Nest smart thermostat also made the list.
In the “Entertainment” category, the Blackmagic Cinema Camera took home an award (we’ve talked about this new camera before). The Sonos SUB and the Beats Executive headphones also won in the category. Most of the products mentioned here are either enterprise-level products or products that have just recently released. Vizio’s line, on the other hand, are probably some of the more ubiquitous from the winners.
We’ve taken a look at Vizio’s latest lineup in the past and even reviewed one of their latest all-in-one machines, as well as checked out their newest laptops at CES back in January. Of course, design was one of the first aspects that caught our eye, and while is seen to have a leg up in that category, many companies are catching up extremely quickly.
Design has become huge in recent years, and Ford’s executive chairman Bill Ford recently said that design is essentially “all-encompassing,” and it consists of not only how pretty something looks, but also how well something functions and what it can do to make it extra special.


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Amazon led the smart speaker category during the first quarter of the year with shipments of about 4 million units, according to Strategy Analytics. Though that’s almost half of the total category shipments of 9.2 million units, Amazon’s market share took a hit. It was almost cut in half and dipped below 50% compared to the year-ago period, according to Strategy Analytics data.
The category is broadening. “Amazon and Google accounted for a dominant 70% share of global smart speaker shipments in Q1 2018 although their combined share has fallen from 84% in Q4 2017 and 94% in the year ago quarter,” Strategy Analytics Director David Watkins said in a press release. “This is partly as a result of strong growth in the Chinese market for smart speakers where both Amazon and Google are currently absent. Alibaba and Xiaomi are leading the way in China and their strength in the domestic market alone is proving enough to propel them into the global top five.”
Amazon’s shipments rose 102% — from 2 million to 4 million — between the first quarters of 2017 and 2018, though its market share dipped from 81.8% to 43.6%. The reason that it lost market share despite the strong growth is that Google burst on the scene. Google’s smart speaker share grew 709% during the same period. Google shipped 2.4 million units in 2018 after only moving 300,000 during the first quarter of last year. Its market share grew from 12.4% to 26.5%.
Three new players – Alibaba, Apple and Xiaomi — had 7.6%, 6% and 2.4% of the market, respectively. There may be other new players lurking as the “others” category grew from 5.8% during the first quarter of 2017 to 13.9% this year. The results are good news for the category. Though it is not as dominant, its shipments jumped.
“Further strong growth in smart speaker sales confirms our view that this new market is far more than just a flash in the pan,” Vice President David Mercer said in the release. “Today’s smart speakers are by no means the finished article but they have captured the consumer imagination and we will see rapid evolution in design, functionality and associated use cases over the coming years. We are clearly heading towards to a time in the not too distant future when voice becomes a standard mode of technology interaction alongside established approaches like keyboard, mouse and touchscreen.”
Strategy Analytics is not the only firm who sees a positive future for smart speakers. Last year, Gartner said that the market for speakers enable by virtual personal assistants will grow from $720 million in 2016 to $3.52 billion in 2021.


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Harry Potter: Wizards Unite is now available in the U.S. and U.K.
Thursday, 20 June 2019 After weeks of beta testing in Australia and New Zealand, the next big “walk around in the real world, collecting and battling things” game from the makers of Pokémon Go finally got an official release date earlier this week. That date? June 21 in the U.S. and U.K., with additional countries to follow.
Surprise! Harry Potter: Wizards Unite is available now, a day early, in the App Store. It’s free with in-app purchases ranging from $0.99 to $99.99, because of course it is. You’ll need at least an iPhone 5s or later and iOS 10 or later to play.
'Harry Potter: Wizards Unite' Mobile Game Is Out Now The augmented reality game, "Harry Potter: Wizards Unite," is Niantic Labs' follow up to Pokémon Go. The game company partnered with Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment for the game. Players will get to roleplay as wizards. The object of the...


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Miami, FL (PRWEB) April 16, 2007
With their US business still breaking growth records, AbsolutePoker.com and UltimateBet.com announce huge promotions, international plans and news on the pros.
Absolute Poker and UltimateBet -- US Business still Growing
Both businesses continue to offer US customers and poker players from around the world access to the hottest tournaments and the very best in online poker. The business is committed to improving the poker experience that thousands of players from around the world enjoy today.
Absolute Poker has just announced its second Absolute Dream Package Winner who was the second Absolute Poker player this year to win access to over $100 million in tournament prize pools through the $150k Absolute Dream Package prize package. The winner is on his way to living out every poker player's dream at the main events this year with free entry to the biggest tournaments, training from the Pros and a starring role in TV's richest cash game.
UltimateBet once again is the title sponsor of the 6th annual Aruba Poker Classic, which takes place in a 5-Star resort in Aruba this September. With over 700 players expected to qualify exclusively through UltimateBet.com -- and with satellites running now at Absolutepoker.com -- this year's event will be the event poker players will be talking about for years to come. The $8,500 Aruba prize package will send players to Aruba to compete for the coveted Aruba Poker Classic Title and their share of over $2.5million in prize money.
Poker Pros in US -- US business as normal
Ultimatebet and Absolute Poker remain forever committed to offering the best online poker experience to poker players in the US and the rest of the world. Both businesses have made a decision to further protect their ability to continue to offer US customers the very best in online poker.
The businesses will no longer actively use Professional Poker Players to endorse either dotcom brands in the US domestic market, but will continue to do so internationally. However, leading pros such as Mark Seif, Phil Hellmuth, Annie Duke and others continue to work for Absolute Poker and UltimateBet. The marketing decision on the dotcom brands in the US does not in any way affect US players.
The Pros remain committed to the business and will continue to promote both AbsolutePoker.com and Ultimatebet.com in the international market and work with AbsolutePoker.net and Ultimatebet.net.
Pros to Be Used in International Markets
Absolute Poker and UltimateBet will continue to work with the best pros in the industry to help drive their significant growth strategy. Furthermore, they will look work with their current pros and sign new pros to work with either brand in the international market.
Legendary poker pros Phil Hellmuth and Annie Duke, who have worked closely with UltimateBet since its creation, will continue to endorse UltimateBet.com in international markets. Johan Storakers -- Sweden's no.1 professional poker player -- and Jim Worth AKA KrazyKanuck are also in the current stable of UltimateBet.com Pros.
Absolute Poker, whose pros include Mark Seif and others, has just signed a 12-month deal with their beautiful host, Serinda Swan, the Face of AbsolutePoker.com. Serinda will star alongside the successful winners of the Absolute Dream package in TV, magazine and online advertisements worldwide.
Come experience absolute thrills and ultimate excitement today at Absolutepoker.com and UltimateBet.com. See you at the tables.


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The coordinator of the Real Digital project within the Brazilian central bank, Fábio Araújo, revealed at a public hearing at Chamber of Deputies that BC is studying the adoption of a solution of Visa, global payments giant, to enable offline transactions within the CBDC do Brasil platform.
The hearing was held by Committee for Financial Inspection and Control of the Chamber of Deputies responding to a request from the federal deputy Aureo Ribeiro (Solidarity-RJ).
In the debate Araújo rrevealed that several companies presented solutions for offline transactions within Real Digital, however they are not yet as ‘mature’ as business solutions for online payments. However, BC plans to implement tests with a solution presented by Visa next year.
“We have been talking to Master and Visa and we see in them an intention to enter this market to provide payment solutions, to provide services to countries. Visa has a very interesting Innovation Laboratory and we are very interested in solutions from Visa, especially a solution that Visa has implemented for offline payments, but it has other very interesting offline payment solutions, but these solutions are not as mature as the online solutions.
Also according to Araújo, the adoption and implementation of Real Digital in Brazil takes place in two large contexts, one domestic and one global.
In the case of domestic banking, it is another initiative to develop new forms of payment and digitization of money that have been on the BC’s agenda since 2002 and which also culminated with the PIX and Open banking, which will be the two main pillars for the national CBDC.
According to the BC executive, in the global context, until 2019, the BCs’ orders were to study CBDCs, but more calmly, and then came Facebook with its plans to launch Libra and, together with the pandemic, this process needed to be accelerated.
Also according to him, the main objectives of Real Digital are to accompany the dynamism of the Brazilian economy, foster new business models, increase the efficiency of payment methods, and favor the entry of Brazil into the regional and global economic scenario.
Real Digital and DeFi
Araújo once again highlighted that BC is working to implement the digital Real with a view to creating a large platform that allows not only payments but also the development of decentralized finance applications, smart contracts, internet of things, which, in his opinion, make the greatest contributions Bitcoin ecosystem (BTC) and cryptocurrencies.
In this line Araujo revealed, during the webinar “Filterless Cryptoeconomics – CBDC”, promoted by Blockchain Hub Brazil (BHB), that the BC intends to bring this cryptoactive innovation environment into the Central Bank and, with it, promote new use cases to improve the financial services provided to the population.
“These fundamental points of the crypto environment we intend to bring into our regulatory perimeter to do something mass to give access to more people. We intend to do something more standardized so that people can use it on a daily basis. What we want to bring is the technologies of smart contracts and DEFI inside so that we can reach the broader public,” he said at the time.
In addition, the BC has already stated that the Real Digital platform should also allow for integration with smart contracts built on public platforms such as Ethereum (ETH), Solana (SOL) among others.
Also at the Public Hearing in the Chamber of Deputies Araújo pointed out that a CBDC is not to be confused with cryptoactives and that the BC maintains its opinion on these assets, which are speculative assets and must be used by those who understand these investments
“The digital Real will be a digital version of the Real that is issued by BC,” he stressed.
Also according to him, among the objectives of Real Digital are also the development of innovative models – smart contracts, iot and programmable money; extension to retail, online and possibly offline payments; be an extension of the real with issuance made by the BC and custody and distribution by the payment system; lack of remuneration; enable the prevention of money laundering including to track transactions via court orders, have interoperability and security standards.
“All of this is fundamental for the digital real”, he revealed.
Regarding implementation deadlines, the BC executive highlighted that in 2022 the country will start the proofs of concept, PoC, with Real Digital and, within them, there will be the use of blockchain.
However, Real Digital is expected to be launched to the public in 2024, when, according to the executive, the legislative branch will also have approved changes in current legislation, including the country’s foreign exchange law, so that Real Digital is effectively launched .
“At the current stage, bc is developing webinars and in 2022 we will launch proof of concept. We will announce the project soon and its implementation for the population also depends on the maturation of our internal people, with Pix and Open Banking that are steps towards the Real Digital. From the maturation of our market, as although there are many tokenization projects, most stakeholders are still thinking about how to do this and from the international maturation because it needs to be interoperable and the BCs will gain a lot from the implementation of CDCs” he concluded .
Direct your links to OKEx in articles, blogs and videos, or place an advertisement on your website. The best affiliate program is on OKEx with 60% commissions, the highest in the market.


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According to a new report, a major change in Apple's hardware division angered some of the company's top employees.
The LG BP530 has built-in Wi-Fi and a good selection of apps, but there are just enough quirks to keep it from being a top Blu-ray player pick.
The Sony BDP-S5100 Blu-ray player offers a wealth of services and very good image quality for the money.
The Samsung BD-F5900 is an excellent Blu-ray player with the right mix of usability, performance, and speed.
The Panasonic DMP-BDT230 is a mostly solid Blu-ray player, except it serves up obnoxious ads in its onscreen interface.
The "30 Rock" actor asks for his taped introduction at the Emmys to be cut after Fox deletes a joke about the News of the World phone-hacking scandal. He suggests the joke would have made News Corp look better. A little.
Learn about CNET's testing procedures for Blu-ray players.
Hacking collective Anonymous says it has once again leaked sensitive law enforcement information, in time for the National Day of Action Against Police Brutality as well as the opening of the annual conference of The International Association of Chiefs of Police.
In a little over a year on Yahoo's board, Icahn helped hire CEO Carol Bartz and orchestrate the pending search deal with Microsoft.
Ultimate fan gets authentic equipment from studio sets.


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Today, Samsung unveiled its latest ad with hip hop artist, model and fashion designer A$AP Rocky. The ad is the second in the series which follows celebrities as they debate their big decision – which big-screen phone best fits their life. The first ad in the series featuring Chrissy Teigen was released on August 14th.
In the new TV spot, A$AP Rocky debates which smartphone best suits his personality and lifestyle – the Galaxy S6 edge+ or Galaxy Note5. A$AP Rocky has a lot on his mind these days – an upcoming tour with Tyler The Creator and a recently launched design collective AWGE – and he needs a phone that can keep up with his life. All of these big moments are leading up to one big decision – will A$AP Rocky live on the edge with the new Galaxy S6 edge+ or take note with the Galaxy Note5?
In the end, he ultimately decides that the new Galaxy Note5 best fits his life – a phone engineered to help people get more done faster. The ad will aired during this past weekend’s 2015 MTV Video Music Awards as part of Samsung’s presence at the award show.
Check it out below:
ON THE GRAM: KANYE WEST FOR PRESIDENT, KIM K’S DRESS, NICKI MINAJ’S DRAGGING OF MILEY CYRUS AT THE VMAS GENERATE HILARIOUS MEMES


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Royal Caribbean announced that it would cancel five sailings in 2021, leaving thousands of travelers scrambling to make alternate plans.
The company announced that it would cancel the sailings for the Liberty of the Seas cruise ship during the months of February and March 2021. CruiseFever.net reports that the company is allowing those who were booked for the sailings to exchange for a sailing out of Galveston. Those who take the deal will receive an onboard statement credit of $200-$400.
Those who do not agree to the change can opt for a full refund instead.
The company canceled the sailings in order to allow the ship to have an extended dry dock period and receive much-needed upgrades.


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Google has seen massive success in sales with the Nexus 4, selling out almost immediately at launch. For those who didn’t get one at launch, you’re in luck, as it appears that Google is sending out its second batch this week. The web search giant sent an email to our parent site, PhoneDog regarding their order, and it has more than a few interesting details:
“Your Nexus 4 order is scheduled to ship this week. We’ll send you a notification, including tracking information, when it’s on the way.
Please note that your order will be charged in full when it ships. As a courtesy and to thank you for your patience, you’ll then receive a credit for the shipping charge within 7 business days.
The Google Play Team”
That’s great news for anyone who’s ordered a Nexus 4 but has yet to receive it. Google’s launch of the device has most certainly not been their smoothest, but every company has its hiccups. Anyone one receive an email like this? Has Google shipped your device yet? Let us know in the comments below!


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Bridge Ratings Addresses 'The Complicated World Of Media Marketing'
June 3, 2015 at 4:00 AM (PT)
BRIDGE RATINGS Pres./CEO DAVE VAN DYKE tells ALL ACCESS, "with such tremendous pressures on marketers these days to become noticed, it's no wonder there is great confusion and fear of how best to market products, services -- even businesses -- across multiple platforms. After all, consumers are inundated with messages as they float across multiple entertainment and information sources each hour. Capturing hearts and minds isn’t as easy as it used to be."
He continues, "For broadcast radio the job used to rely almost exclusively on word-of-mouth, maybe outdoor advertising and television if there was budget. Today, despite its ubiquity, radio works hard to remain relevant. Awareness and engagement follow. But how does broadcast radio help itself in marketing its unique value to a consumer with short attention spans that have been borne out of multiple sources of information?"
"Marketing more surgically than ever before is the answer and to do that, broadcast marketing managers must know which available platforms work best together," notes VAN DYKE.
In BRIDGE RATINGS studies this year, today’s average broadcast radio consumer reports accessing no fewer than four individual entertainment/information sources each day with high-end users voraciously devouring as many as ten a day. In a just-published report, BRIDGE takes a look at a few of the many marketing relationships broadcast radio might consider, which are best bets and which aren’t a rewarding source of success.
Read more about the new study “The Complicated World of Media Marketing Compatibility” by clicking here.


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Published in AI
Dell releases more Adamo XPS teasers
Great for cutting prosciutto
Dell has show off a few more photos of its upcoming Adamo XPS wafer thin notebook.
Measuring just 9.9mm at the waistline, the XPS will be the thinnest notebook on the market. However, Dell is still mute on the specs. All we know is what we can see on the photos, i.e. it will have a couple of USB 2.0 ports, some audio jacks and DisplayPort. We assume it's a 13-incher, and Dell's engineers came up with a rather strange screen design. Basically, it seems to fold into the chassis.
While we're keen on the latest tech, DisplayPort might not be the best choice. Most people, or should we say screens, rely on DVI or HDMI input, and there's just a handful of DisplayPort devices on the market. Incidentally, many of them are Dell's. Worryingly, most of them cost well over €500.
Mind you, €500 probably isn't much for people who will actually buy the XPS. The original Adamo Thirteen launched at $1999, and this thing could easily end up even pricier.
So, there's still no word on price, specs or availability dates. If we were to speculate we'd say it will probably launch at the end of October, feature Intel's CULV processors and solid state storage, and it will cost two arms and a leg and a half.


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Fairfax-based Apple Federal Credit Union and Springfield-based Vantria Federal Credit Union have completed the merger they announced April 1.
The deal adds $73 million in assets and 7,700 Vantria members to Apple Federal's existing 148,000 members and $1.7 billion in assets. Apple Federal has 21 branches in Northern Virginia, in addition to Vantria's Springfield branch.
Apple Federal has said it will retain all of Vantria's employees.
Apple Federal acquired Synergy One Federal Credit Union in Prince William County in 2011, adding 25,000 members.


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According to digital currency news site CoinDesk via Apple Insider, Apple recently approved the bitcoin wallet app Coinpocket.It Was Always To Be A Temporary Measure It was one of the highest controversies when Apple began to remove and end approval for any apps that were related to.
BTC Wallet Web, Android and iOS Bitcoin Wallet - ReviewsManage your bitcoin finances in one app with the secure, open source wallet by BitPay.There has been a flurry of activity for Anthony Di Iorio and his team at Decentral since the beginning of 2016.
Apple Pulls Bitcoin Wallet App Blockchain From Its App Store
Apple Relents On Bitcoin Via New iMessage App - Bitcoin
Topic: Apple Approves Bitcoin Wallets (Read 8760 times) NotAtOld. Member. because being able to log onto my wallet without having to use my iPhone is primordial.Di Iorio has also been closely following the ever-changing developments around the acceptance or rejection of iOS apps.
One feature on iOS 10 that Apple has just recently revealed is the integration of Circle Pay in its iMessage application.Why Apple Is Afraid Of Bitcoin. BitPak received an electronic notification that the first bitcoin wallet for iOS.The only thing that is missing is a passcode when entering the wallet.
Last night, I got a notification of the news that the new iMessage update will include Bitcoin Circle Wallet.The open-source, local trader app, Mycelium, that Android users have been able to utilize for months now has finally come over to the bright white side of d.Since Apple pulled Bitcoin wallets from the App Store in January, cryptocurrency fans have been at once calling for the ban to be rescinded and bad.
Apple removes the last Bitcoin wallet from its App StoreBitcoin Platform Electrum Next Release to Support SegWit, Apple Debut In View.
Apple cracks down on fake Bitcoin wallets on the App StoreApple has pulled what is allegedly the last remaining Bitcoin wallet app on its App Store, Blockchain, the company behind the app reveals.
Di Iorio says that the overall blockchain ecosystem continues to percolate along with lots of new technologies and coins, some with value and some without.Create your free digital asset wallet today at Blockchain.info.
Is Apple Pay a bitcoin killer?—commentary - cnbc.comThe firm is yet to reveal its reason for pulling the Bitcoin wallet app, Blockchain, from the app store.Mexican Bitcoin Exchange Bitso Aids Red Cross Earthquake Relief Efforts.Visit an Apple Store, call 1-800-MY-APPLE, or find a reseller.Its native currency, XMR, is one of the top altcoins by market cap, and is now accepted as payment on several sites, including some associated with dark net markets.Apple Pay has the potential to change the decade old habit of reaching for a plastic card encased in a leather wallet in order.
Out in the Open: Cyberpunk Builds Bitcoin Wallet That Even Apple.Good news for Bitcoin as Apple relents on Bitcoin transactions by adding the Circle wallet to the iMessage app that comes with the iPhone 7.After Apple changed the rules on virtual currencies, the first Bitcoin apps are returning to.Thankfully, Apple stopped blocking Bitcoin wallets in the App store, and users now have a great selection.
It securely stores your Bitcoins and shows account balances, transaction history, exchange rates and much more.


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May is still Bike Month in Pierce County. However, due to safety concerns Bike Month will take place virtually. Keep an eye out for virtual Bike Month events! Follow us on Facebook to stay updated.
Check the latest updates at your local parks and trailheads:
Folks are encouraged to ride bikes on their own or with members of their household. While riding, please follow physical distancing recommendations and consider the following:
Starting May 1, share your family or solo bike trip selfies on the Pierce Trips’ Facebook page and automatically enter to win a $5 e-gift card!


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2012 was a great year for Apple. The company enjoyed huge success with its latest smartphone, the iPhone 5 and a number of next-generation tablet devices. However, the tech giant was also faced with a number of challenges like court disputes and growing competition. So what does 2013 has in store for the company?
Video-sharing website YouTube just announced the Most Watched YouTube Videos for the last 12 months. To create the list, the social website used various statistics including views, searches, shares, responses and even remixes and parodies. In other words, all the user activity that was triggered by the video.
PlayStation 3 Bundle Today Only for $249.99 Today only you can purchase PlayStation 3 just for $249.99 on Amazon. The product is currently part of the Gold Box Deal of the Day which means you can save $50 and have your PS3 320 GB with a one year PlayStation Plus subscription, and Instant Game Collection at […]
Tech giant Samsung announced today it plans to launch a new smartphone called Gaalxy Grand. The new device will be a cheaper version of the popular Galaxy Note 2. The Korean company’s new mobile phone greatly resembles its predecessor it terms of features. Samsung Galaxy Grand features 1GB or RAM and it runs on dual-core […]
In few weeks from now, the last episode of Gossip Girl will reveal to the Dubai’s TV audience the mysterious identity of the most popular blogger characters. Some won’t be surprised at all, others will long for them and few will be relieved.
Buy a SpaFinder Wellness Gift Card & get 2 FREE InStyle magazine issues Spa gifts and especially spa gift cards are quickly becoming most preferred gifts among women. The spa and wellness web pioneer, SpaFinder Wellness, seems to already be aware of that fact since it offers some great gift card deals of which you […]


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Egypt is ready to provide India with an exclusive cluster in the industrial and logistics hub, which could act as a portal for New Delhi to reach other markets more effectively, the chairman of the Suez Canal Economic Zone (SCZONE) stated, according to a report in The Economic Times.
Waleid Gamal Eldien's remarks about the SCZONE came before Prime Minister Narendra Modi's two-day official visit to Egypt, which will begin on June 24.
During Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi's New Delhi visit in January, India was offered full support to build a formidable industrial presence in the SCZONE. Egypt offers unique opportunities to Indian investors to reach out to markets such as Africa, Europe, West Asia, and Latin America, Eldien was quoted as saying by ET.
Eldien said the SCEZ is a strategic location for India to reach out to markets in Europe, Africa, and the Middle East and the zone has six ports, two of which are dedicated to Russia and one to China. Egypt is willing to offer India a dedicated hub in the SCEZ, he added.
This issue will be a top priority during PM Modi's visit to Cairo, the first by an Indian prime minister since 1997.
Eldien met with Union Minister of State for External Affairs V Muraleedharan and Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal to discuss ways to attract Indian investment in the SCZONE. He highlighted Egypt's unique location along the Red Sea and the Mediterranean Sea and said that Indian investment in the SCZONE would provide access to markets in West Asia, Africa, Europe, and beyond. Eldien also said that the SCZONE would provide a market of over 100 million people locally.
Eldien stated that Egypt has a big market for cars and pharmaceuticals. The SCZONE is designed to provide investors with world-class, value-added supply chain industrial parks, he added.
Indian energy firm ACME signed a memorandum of understanding with SCZONE to build a green hydrogen and ammonia factory in an area of 4.5 million square metres in Sokhna, with a total production volume of 2.2 million tonnes annually. The SCZONE on Wednesday said that it had signed an agreement with ACME to begin construction on the Sokhna hydrogen project in early 2024.


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A new video game titled “Aqua” is coming for Nintendo Switch, the company announced today.
“Aquatic Kitty” is a new adventure game that will launch for the Nintendo Switch on October 16, the publisher said in a statement.
Aqua Kitty is set in a virtual world, where characters from Aquatic Kitty’s world travel the globe to battle the undead and save the world.
The game will include new elements, such as new weapons and abilities, new gameplay, and an updated art style.
Players will be able to customize their own Aquatic Cats in “AQUATHENA,” the developer has said.
The video game, which has not yet been announced, is the first game to be announced for Nintendo’s Switch console.
It is being developed by a new team led by developer Asobabear, who also worked on “Aquinox,” “The Last Guardian,” and “Star Fox Zero.”
Nintendo has not revealed a price or release date for the game.
Nintendo’s “Aqours” series is one of the most popular and beloved anime series in Japan, and the series has received a wide range of merchandising and merchandizing collaborations.


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London-based TotallyMoney, a Fintech firm that helps its clients make better financial decisions by putting them right at the center of their credit data, has reportedly raised £5 million (appr. $6.5 million) from Silicon Valley Bank (SVB).
TotallyMoney’s management says it aims to make financial and credit management solutions accessible to users through its platform. The company has more than 2.5 million customers. In 2017, TotallyMoney introduced its free credit reporting service, which is now ranked the highest on Trustpilot, a Denmark-based consumer review website.
TotallyMoney CEO Alastair Douglas stated:
“We’re on a mission to improve the UK’s credit score and help people move on up to a better future.”
Craig Fox, director of Fintech at SVB, noted:
“We’re really excited to be supporting TotallyMoney in its mission to help consumers better understand and improve their credit profile. By leveraging its data-driven platform, TotallyMoney is able to improve transparency and generate more choice for the consumer.”
The recent funding from SVB has come after last year’s £29 million (appr. $37.5 million) investment round, and will be directed toward customer acquisition, product development, and recruitment efforts.
“Our rapid growth and success since launching our free credit report shows that there’s a significant demand for services like TotallyMoney’s, and this funding — along with the significant investment from SEP and Elliott — will allow us to offer it to even more people. Everyone at TotallyMoney has done an excellent job in getting us where we are today, and we’re excited about the new opportunities this funding will bring to us and our customers.”


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Zambeef aims to capitalise on growing demand for palm oil by developing a plantation of its own. The market for edible oils in Zambia is estimated at 120,000 tonnes per year, and this is expected to grow. The total investment cost is estimated at $41.5 million.
Zampalm is Zambia’s first ever palm plantation and once operational will contribute to substituting 70,000 tonnes of cooking oil imported into Zambia, saving the country around US$70 million annually in foreign exchange.The plantation boasts 2,800 hectares of palm plants, which when harvested will produce crude palm oil.
It has supplemented this with a crushing mill constructed this year, with plans for several more crushing facilities over the next few years, which will take crude palm oil production up to 17,000 tonnes a year. Zampalm owns over 20,000 hectares of titled land, and has the intention is to plant on a further 5,000 by 2017.


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An electronic radiosonde device has fallen from the heavens onto a paddock at a Cobargo farm, complete with the shredded remains of what appears to be a weather balloon.
Luckily it missed any cows in the paddock, but the bovines seemed to have investigated the device themselves, becoming temporarily tangled and snapping some of the fine string attached.
Property owner Vicky Hoyer picked up the device on Sunday at Atherton Farm about 2km south of Cobargo, after her neighbour alerted to the strange contraption.
Ms Hoyer said she would just like to know where the device had come from and what it was being used for before it landed in her paddock.
“I wouldn’t like to be bonked on the head by one,” she said, estimating the device to weigh around half a kilogram including the shredded balloon and string.
Using the barcode on the side of the device, she was able to track down the manufacturer of the device as German company GRAW Radiosondes and the website lists it as the DFM-09 model.
The Narooma News contacted the company via email and GRAW sales manager Claudia Elter wrote back that these radiosondes are sent up into the atmosphere under a balloon for weather forecasting.
“As radiosondes are consumables which can only be used once, they are of no more commercial value. Therefore you can either keep this radiosonde or put in the trash,” she wrote.
The Bureau of Meteorology has also been contacted to see if they can identify the device and say where it was launched from.
In the meantime, Ms Hoyer has kept the device to add to her collection of memorabilia from the farm.
There are numerous videos on the internet where people have sent items to the edge of space using weather balloons, making for fascinating viewing.