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Production may climb for a fourth year, gaining 2.3 percent to 55.98 million bags (3.36 million metric tons) in 2011-2012, Rabobank International predicts. More supply will create the biggest glut in at least four years, according to Macquarie Group Ltd. Prices that already fell 9 percent this year will drop a further 8.3 percent to $1,750 a ton by June 30, the lowest level since October 2010, the median estimate in a Bloomberg survey of 13 traders showed.
Robusta surged 62 percent in London trading in 2010 as record demand created the first shortages in at least three years, according to Macquarie. Supply is now expanding amid mounting concern that Europe’s debt crisis will derail the global economy. Coffee sales fell for the first time in seven years in 2009 as nations contended with recessions, according to Euromonitor International Ltd., a London-based research group.
“We have record world production and I’m not optimistic on demand,” said Judith Ganes-Chase, a former Merrill Lynch & Co. analyst who is now the president of Katonah, New York-based J. Ganes Consulting LLC. “We’ll probably need to say goodbye to the bull market for a while.”
Robusta is on track for its first annual decline since 2009 on NYSE Liffe in London and last traded at $1,908. Arabica fell 9.1 percent to$2.1865 a pound this year on ICE Futures U.S. in New York. The Standard & Poor’s GSCI gauge of 24 raw materials fell 0.9 percent as the MSCI All-Country World Index of equities dropped 12 percent. Treasuries returned 9.7 percent, a Bank of America Corp. index shows.
Vietnam, the biggest robusta grower, will reap 21.25 million bags this season, 9 percent more than a year earlier, according to a Bloomberg survey of 10 traders, growers and exporters. Each bag weighs 60 kilograms (132 pounds). The Indonesian crop may expand 33 percent to 8.3 million bags in the harvest from April, the biggest gain since 1996-1997, a separate survey of eight traders, roasters and exporters showed.
Farmers in Brazil, the second-largest grower after Vietnam, may gather 15 million bags or more from the harvest in 2012, according to Guilherme Braga, the head of the Cecafe Brazil Coffee Exporters Council. The nation produced 14.5 million bags from the last crop, the U.S. Department of Agriculture estimates.
Debt Crisis Widens
Global robusta output will exceed demand by 2.5 million bags this season, compared with a 700,000-bag shortage last year, Macquarie estimates.
Expanding robusta harvests contrast with an anticipated shortage in the arabica variety favored by Seattle-based Starbucks Corp. (SBUX), after the heaviest rains in two decades damaged Central American plantations. Arabica demand will exceed supply by 7 million bags this season, equal to a year of Japanese consumption, according to Volcafe, a unit of ED&F Man Holdings Ltd. That spurred 13 traders and analysts surveyed by Bloomberg last month to predict a 24 percent jump in prices by March.
The euro region is probably already in recession, Larry Kantor, the head of research at Barclays Capital in New York, told Tom Keene on Bloomberg Television’s “Surveillance Midday” on Dec. 9. European Union nations consumed 40.74 million bags of coffee last year, accounting for 56 percent of demand from importing members of the International Coffee Organization, data from the London-based group show.
Global retail coffee sales fell 1.8 percent in 2009 amid the worst recession since World War II, according to Euromonitor International. Sales will increase 5.6 percent to $61.5 billion this year, the research group estimates. Nestle SA (NESN), based in Vevey, Switzerland, had the biggest market share last year at 22 percent, the data show.
Arabica now costs $1.32 a pound more than robusta, compared with an average of 86 cents over the past four years, data compiled by Bloomberg show. That may encourage roasters to use more robusta in instant drinks to curb costs, said Keith Flury, an analyst at Rabobank in London.
Consumer confidence in the U.S., the biggest coffee- drinking nation, held at a level typically reached during past recessions in the week ended Dec. 4, the Bloomberg Consumer Comfort Index showed Dec. 8. Consumer confidence in Brazil, the second-largest coffee market, strengthened for three consecutive months, the National Industry Confederation estimates. Its gauge is still 5 percent lower than a year ago.
“In an environment where the economy is weak, people might forego that one cup of coffee a day,” said Abah Ofon, an analyst at Standard Chartered Plc in Singapore whose second- quarter robusta forecast was within $1 of the actual price.
Hedge funds and other money managers are betting on further declines in robusta. They held a net-short position of 6,263 contracts in the week ended Dec. 6, and have been bearish since the end of October, data from NYSE Liffe show. Speculators in arabica had a net-long position of 14,157 futures and options in the week ended Dec. 6, and have been bullish since August, data from the Commodity Futures Trading Commission show.
Lower robusta prices may help contain costs for Nestle, the maker of Nescafe and Nespresso, which told investors Oct. 20 that its raw-material costs would jump as much as 3 billion Swiss francs ($3.2 billion) this year.
Production of robusta is likely to keep expanding. Output in Vietnam could reach 28.3 million bags by 2020, Jonathan Clark, the general director of Dakman Coffee Exporters, told a conference in Ho Chi Minh City on Dec. 9. The Buon Ma Thuot, Vietnam-based company is a venture between ED&F Man and state- owned Simexco Daklak.
Brazil’s harvest may advance about 50 percent in the next decade, said Braga of the Cecafe Brazil Coffee Exporters Council.
“On the robusta side, it’s very likely that we will see record production in Vietnam and this may weigh on prices,” said Lysu Paez, the Paris-based analyst at Natixis SA who correctly forecast a surge in robusta prices at the start of August, when they jumped 12 percent. “Fundamentals of arabica are going to be pretty tight on the supply side.”


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Consolidated-Tomoka Land Co. is asking Wintergreen Advisers LLC to withdraw its notice to nominate directors to the company's board, as well as its proposal calling for the company to implement a strategic review process.
In a Dec. 1 letter sent to Wintergreen's board of directors, Consolidated-Tomoka Chairman Laura Franklin said the company's board believes both moves are "calculated efforts" by Wintergreen to deal with its own problems and are not in the best interest of Consolidated-Tomoka shareholders. Instead, the company should pursue its business plan unhampered by the "unwarranted distraction" and cost of a second strategic review or another proxy fight.
Franklin said Consolidated-Tomoka shareholders have realized a more than 90% total return on investment over the last five years and a nearly 30% return since the close of the previous strategic review in 2016, while the company has increased the diversity of its board in terms of background and experience.
Franklin said the company remains open to discussions with Wintergreen, adding that it would contact the shareholder in the coming weeks to schedule a meeting.
Wintergreen nominated David Winters, Elizabeth Cohernour and Evan Ho for election to Consolidated-Tomoka's board and proposed the company engage an independent adviser to help evaluate a sale, liquidation or other options to maximize stockholder value. The shareholder is requesting both proposals be put to a vote at the company's 2018 annual shareholder meeting.

domain: news


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WASHINGTON, D.C. _ The law firm of Arnall Golden Gregory LLP (AGG) and the Natural Products Association (NPA) are providing industry insights on the impact of the Food and Drug Administration’s new move to suspend all routine plant inspections amid concerns over the rapid spread of the novel coronavirus, COVID-19.
The FDA explained its decision Wednesday as being essential to the safety of its own inspection teams, and in reaction to manufacturing plants prohibiting visitors in an effort to prevent spread of the virus. AGG and the NPA convened an urgent industry teleconference on Wednesday night, to raise questions about the agency’s decision:
- Does it put the safety of the nation’s food supply in peril?
- Does it raise the specter of ‘bad actors’ taking advantage of new regulatory blind spots?
- What should manufacturers do to protect themselves?
“The move clearly shifts the great responsibility of safety assurance back onto the manufacturers,” said Kevin Bell, a Washington D.C., partner at AGG, and a long-recognized nutritional industry legal and regulatory expert.
Bell urged all food and nutritional supplement industry companies to devise solid standard operating procedures, while acknowledging a new imperative to adapt as market and regulatory conditions will likely continue to change at a breakneck pace.
The FDA’s announcement that it was temporarily postponing routine inspections of facilities that produce food, medical devices, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, veterinary products and other products came one week after it suspended foreign inspections.
Understanding a quick response is crucial, AGG and NPA organized the informational panel within hours of the FDA announcement. The interactive conversation lasted three hours as members of the industry sought immediate expert feedback from a panel with vast experience in crisis and food defense training.
“The first mindset for everyone should be we need to come up with best practices for now. And we need to be nimble enough that we can say next week we may be at a different standard,” Bell said.
Dr. Daniel Fabricant, president and CEO of NPA, the leading trade organization for the natural products industry, including organic and health foods and dietary supplements, said a critical way companies can protect themselves is to ensure they are training and communicating effectively with their employees now about COVID-19.
He also said certifiers will need to come to the table and adjust to new needs of the industry. “The whole Coronavirus issue goes to consumer confidence,” Fabricant said.
Attorney Robert Durkin recently joined AGG from the FDA, where he served as acting director of the Office of Dietary Supplement Programs. He stressed the need for all manufacturers to have a strong relationship with their local FDA officials, and to urgently and voluntarily alert them to any violations.
“The bottom feeders in the industry are going to try to take advantage of it,” Durkin said. “You really want to have a relationship with your local FDA and keep them in the loop when you hear of a problem.”
AGG Of Counsel Carolina Wirth, formerly regulatory counsel at the FDA, agreed with the need for vigilance and reporting of concerns.
“The FDA passed the buck,” she said. “There’s no way to know if bad actors are taking advantage of the situation.”
Durkin likewise urged manufacturers to “trust but confirm” their supply chain.
“Pull your supply chain as close as you can. Have a relationship with your partner and your supply chain, in sickness and in health,” he said.
ABOUT ARNALL GOLDEN GREGORY LLP
Arnall Golden Gregory (AGG) is an Am Law 200 law firm with offices in Atlanta and Washington, DC. Our client-service model is rooted in taking a “business sensibility” approach of fully understanding how our clients’ legal matters fit into their overall business objectives. We provide industry knowledge, attention to detail, transparency and value to help businesses and individuals achieve their definition of success. Our transaction, litigation and regulatory counselors serve clients in healthcare, real estate, litigation and other dispute resolution, business transactions, fintech, global commerce, economic development, public finance, government investigations and logistics and transportation. With our rich experience and know-how, we don’t ask “if,” we figure out “how.” Visit us at www.agg.com.


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Tourism plays a pivotal role in many nations GDP and national economy. In 2019 it contributed 3 billion Thai Baht to Thailand, a figure which was only growing year by year. With the recent rollout of SEXY and Phuket announcing it’s open to foreign travellers from October 2021, the analysts at ForwardKeys decided to see what the data says about the fragile future of the travel eco-system in the land of Elephants.
Thailand brings SEXY back
In February, Thailand introduced a four-layered tourism concept, SEXY (S – Safety and Hygiene, E – Environmental Sustainability, X – Extra Experiences and Y – Yield), to reshape the image of Thailand and help restore traveller’s confidence.
In the week of 19 February, there was a surge of +110% in tickets issued compared to the previous week. The increase in tickets was mainly led by tickets from the UK which accounted for 28% of tickets compared to 13% in the previous week and 4% in the same week of 2019, following the UK PM announcement on the roadmap to reopening on 22 February.
Issued tickets only increased once Thailand announced the re-opening of Phuket on 26 March. During the week of 26 March, issued tickets increased +53% compared to the previous week – although it was still only 2.5% of 2019 levels.
In July, when Thailand is set to re-open Phuket with no quarantine, forward tickets to Thailand witnessed a +90% month-over-month increase compared to June. This equals 4% of 2019 tickets levels compared to 2% the month before.
A changing travel audience to consider
Like many destinations, hotels and airlines have noticed, travel post-pandemic will have “New Normals” and has even shifted the “typical” type of traveller.
In the case of Thailand, people have started booking for Q4, as Thailand is set to open for quarantine free travel from October. December is set to be the peak travel time, as of 1 April 2021, forward tickets for travel to Thailand in December reach 24% of tickets issued as of the same time in 2019.
“From this Air Ticketing Data, we can see three major trends”, says Jameson Wong, Director of APAC.
“People are now booking longer trips abroad, preferring to travel alone and Thailand is attracting more interest from the UK and the US than Oceania (including Australia). This data reveals new opportunities for travel operators and tourism organisations in Thailand,” adds Wong.
Indeed, for travel during April and December 2021:
- There is a longer length of stays compared to 2019 levels, with 9-21 nights witnessing a 13% increase in shares compared to 2019 levels and accounting for 47% of all tickets.
- Solo passengers are increasing their share: 25% in 2021 vs 17% in 2019. Couple travel remains around 35% share (36% in 2021 vs 34% in 2019). On the other hand, family travel of 3-5 passengers has decreased a little (32% in 2021 vs 34% in 2019). 6+more pax decreased (7% in 2021 vs 15% in 2019).
The most revealing data is that travellers from nearby Asia, who used to contribute 25% of shares in 2019 are down to just 9%, while travellers from the Americas has doubled in the same period.
“This is an exciting opportunity for Thailand to apply some of its SEXY ideas such as Environmental Sustainability and Extra Experiences to attract and retain these travellers from newer source markets by doing fresh initiatives such as rural or gastro tourism in lesser-known parts of beautiful Thailand,” shares Wong.
As Thailand starts to welcome international travellers back from June, many other destinations will be keen to see how all pans out and whether the above-shared data will shape the way tourism evolves past 2021.


text: Model-turned-actress Urvashi Rautela’s fashion sense has always been a highlight at any event. Her style picks make headlines as fans love checking out her alluring gowns. Urvashi Rautela recently posted a video of her wearing a super-expensive gown by Amato Couture. Needless to say, she slayed the light peach bodycon dress with the long fur trail with a shimmery bodycon plunging neckline with fish scales cape and diamond-studded headgear. The dress is designed by the famous designer ‘Furne One’ which is worth more than Rs 1 crore each. The video of Urvashi Rautela wearing the bodycon gown is going viral and her fans can’t help but go gaga over her beauty. On the work front, Urvashi Rautela will be soon seen in web series ‘Inspector Avinash’ opposite Randeep Hooda in a lead role. The actress is going to play the lead role in a bilingual thriller “Black Rose” along with the Hindi remake of “Thiruttu Payale 2”.


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Who else is in disbelief that it’s already May? It’s really feeling like we’re in a bizarre, unfit-for-TV episode of The Twilight Zone these days.
On to the news: There’s a lot to cover in today’s ECF News Cart. From Amazon under fire for allegedly misleading Congress to major layoffs at Airbnb, there is a lot going on in the industry right now.
It was a big week for Shopify who, along with its merchants, saw very strong growth amid COVID-19. It also released a new mobile app last week dubbed ‘Shop’, which has the potential to be a major destination for shoppers going forward.
Enjoy the headlines below!
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In the News
Shopify Launches New Mobile Shopping App Dubbed ‘Shop’
- Allows people to browse, get customized recommendations and explore products from local merchants
- Designed to be an advertising-free experience
Shopify Announces Strong Q1 Financial Results
- Newly created stores surged 62% from Mar 13 – April 24 compared to the prior six week period
- Over 94% of lost point-of-sale revenue was recovered by merchants pivoting online
- Shopify stock has more than doubled since April 1
House Judiciary Committee asks Jeff Bezos to testify about whether Amazon misled Congress
- Democratic leaders suspect Amazon of lying to Congress regarding its private label strategy
- “If the reporting in the Wall Street Journal article is accurate, then statements Amazon made to the Committee about the company’s business practices appear to be misleading, and possibly criminally false or perjurious,”
Airbnb cuts 1,900 jobs, 25% of the company’s workforce
- Airbnb reports it was allocating $250 million to help offset host losses
- The company suspended marketing in March to save $800 million in 2020
J.Crew has filed for bankruptcy
- First major retailer to file for bankruptcy since COVID-19 outbreak
- The company had filed for an IPO in September 2019
The iconic brands that could disappear because of coronavirus
- More than 100,000 stores could close up for good by the end of 2025 according to UBS
- Neiman Marcus, Macy’s, Belk, J.C. Penney and Gap among companies discussed
People are Panic-Buying Meat, Toilet Paper…and Pelotons?
- Peloton’s stock has skyrocketed by 95% since March and its revenue increased by 66% in the first three months of 2020
- 1.1 million people signed up for Peloton’s digital-only free trials in March and April
Top Forum Discussions
(Membership required to access. Not a member? Apply to join our vibrant community of 7-figure store owners today.)
Looking for Capital and/or Mentorship?
If you’re interested in long-term funding from a team that also has the skills, eCommerce rolodex and battle-tested knowledge to help you grow, you need to check out eCommerceFuel Capital.
(Compelling opportunities from the eCommerceFuel Job Board. Find your dream job or post your own job opening right here.)


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Indian Internet Service Provider (ISP), Excitel has partnered with Disney+ Hotstar to provide its subscribers with access to premium OTT content. By subscribing to Excitel's new bundled broadband plan, Excitel users can now enjoy their favourite shows, movies, and live sports on Disney+ Hotstar at Rs 599 per month without any additional charges, according to the official release.
Also Read: Excitel Broadband OTT Add-on Plans Detailed
Excitel and Disney+ Hotstar collaboration
Excitel said its partnership with Disney+ Hotstar enables subscribers to break free from the limitations of viewing content on a single device. With simultaneous streaming available on two devices, users can indulge in seamless entertainment wherever and whenever they choose.
Whether it's on a mobile device, laptop, or living room device, Excitel ensures a smooth and immersive streaming experience across a wide range of supported devices.
Disney Star expressed delight in collaborating with Excitel, bringing a vast collection of premium content to a fresh audience. This partnership offers Excitel subscribers a seamless and captivating entertainment experience, combining the best of local and international content across multiple devices.
Vivek Raina, CEO and Co-Founder of Excitel, highlighted the company's commitment to delivering exceptional streaming experiences at unbeatable speeds. "We have associated with Disney+ Hotstar, the leading OTT platform in the country, bringing users an exceptional streaming experience at unbeatable speed, i.e. 400 Mbps."
"We are ready to fuel the anticipated growth of India's entertainment and broadband industries, giving Indian users and families access to a comprehensive entertainment package at an incredible price. To fully enjoy the 4K content and uninterrupted live streaming of sports events, a reliable and fast internet connection is crucial, and we look forward to offering fast-paced internet combined with the best of content," said Vivek.
Excitel's New Rs 599 Bundled plan
According to the company, Excitel's new bundled plan which costs Rs 599 per month offers 400 Mbps speed, 12 OTT channels, and over 550 TV channels.
In addition to this, the company also has an annual plan priced at Rs 999 per month, which offers 300 Mbps Wi-Fi speed, 6 OTT app subscriptions, 300+ live TV channels, and a 32" Frameless Smart LED TV, providing users with an exceptional viewing experience.


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Neuwied – February 1, 2018 – Winkler+Dünnebier (W+D)—a division of Barry-Wehmiller and a leading provider of integrated system solutions for the mail and hygiene industries—has acquired BICMA Hygiene Technologie GmbH. Based in Mayen, Germany, BICMA designs and manufactures machinery for the production of hygiene products in the personal-care sector.
BICMA will complement W+D's Hygiene Solutions business unit, which manufactures machines that produce facial tissue and hygiene products. The collaboration will drive growth for both entities in the rapidly expanding hygiene market.
“It fills us with pride to continue the success story of BICMA, which was founded in 1995,” explained Frank Eichhorn, Managing Director of W+D. “We want to continue to build on the company’s solid foundation in the market and learn from the BICMA team members’ great technological know-how.”
BICMA will continue to be based in Mayen and led by Managing Director Thomas Spurzem, in collaboration with Frank Eichhorn. Former Technical Managing Director and joint shareholder Lothar Geiger, who helped establish the company, is retiring at the age of 72, but will continue supporting BICMA in an advisory capacity.
“We chose to partner with W+D because both companies are guided by the same principles,” said Spurzem. “It is reassuring to know that BICMA will retain our culture of reliability and innovation, and that we can continue to focus on fostering our customers’ trust and providing them with exemplary service.”
“I am excited to welcome the BICMA team members to W+D and Barry-Wehmiller’s people-centric culture,” said Bob Chapman, Barry-Wehmiller CEO. “Together, we can enhance our offerings for the hygiene industry, while honoring BICMA’s 20-plus years of success in the market.”


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Fibre2Fashion News Desk - India
Textiles | On 29th Apr 2017
The textile sector could have a uniform Goods and Services Tax (GST)...
Textiles | On 30th Apr 2017
Indian Government is working to revamp the technology mission on...
Apparel/Garments | On 30th Apr 2017
Columbia Sportswear Company has announced record net sales of $543.8...
Peak to Plateau
People are willing to pay for quality and performance
‘Indian footwear market is nascent and largely a trend follower’
ITME is an occasion not only to receive new leads but also to work on...
About one in every 20 patients picks up an infection while hospitalised....
Giorgio Mantovani, MD of Corman, with a presence in both Milano and New...
The Indian market has huge potential in technical textiles, and by far,...


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CONCERNS about noise levels have stopped a new supermarket from opening 24 hours.
Plans to build an Asda store on the B&Q site in Jinnah Road were originally given the go-ahead in September last year following controversy over where the site should located, in the face of a rival bid from the Kingfisher Shopping Centre.
The original application included 24 hour opening, but after hearing concerns during the initial meeting from members of Smallwood Residents’ Association about noise levels from cars, deliveries, and congestion, a representative from the firm said the opening hours could be negotiated.
As a result Asda submitted a bid to trade between the hours of 7am until 11pm which was discussed by borough councillors at a planning committee meeting on Wednesday (January 14).
Lynne Scott, head of town planning for Asda, said a noise assessment showed there was no evidence they could not trade during the hours.
“We want to ensure that in the market we have the same trading hours as our competition. People want to shop prior to work and then after work.”
But a representative from Smallwood Residents’ Association said they would accept a recommendation by planning officers for trading hours to be restricted between 8am until 10pm from Monday until Saturday.
But she added the group wanted to build a relationship with the store to resolve any concerns.
Coun Joe Baker said he could not see any reason to extend the hours beyond the officers’ recommendation.
“I think the hours that have been put forward are quite reasonable and coincide with the other supermarkets.”
Coun Roger Bennett said there was nothing to stop Asda from coming back in 12 months to lengthen the opening hours, but Coun David Thain said he did not think it was unreasonable for Asda to be given the hours they wanted.
Councillors approved the officers’ recommendation which includes allowing Asda to open between 10am until 5pm on Sundays and 9am until 6pm on bank holidays.
The final details will be decided by the head of planning and regeneration services.


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USA -(Ammoland.com)- Due to a large volume of misinformation being spread on the internet, we decided to bring some clarity to the fake “blue” trigger that is being posed as a Black Rain Ordnance, Inc. product.
We’ve received several calls and emails about a trigger on the market that closely resembles our BRO-DIT trigger. GM Jared Moser sets the record straight.
Please watch the video below for a detailed explanation.
The real BRO-DIT trigger is now available for purchase at the new Black Rain Ordnance online store www.BuyBlackRain.com.
About Black Rain Ordnance, Inc.:
Black Rain Ordnance, Inc. is a precision firearms manufacturer based in Neosho, MO. They can be reached toll free at 888.836.2620 or by email at [email protected]
For more information, visit: www.BlackRainOrdnance.com.


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The media watchdog received 10 complaints after Katie Price's son Harvey, who has disabilities, said the c-word on live television.Read the full story ›
The 4G mobile provider had been failing to let users know that they were entitled to take complaints elsewhere for free.Read the full story ›
Top Gear could be heading for more trouble after Ofcom confirmed it was investigating a complaint over the use of the word "pikey".Read the full story ›
Gypsy campaigners have lost their High Court challenge over Ofcom's handling of their complaint about the Big Fat Gypsy Wedding programme.Read the full story ›
Nick Grimshaw's Radio 1 Breakfast Show breached broadcasting rules when it aired a Foo Fighters song including swearing, Ofcom has ruled.Read the full story ›
An Ofcom report says mistakes mean people relying on live subtitles had an 'inferior' experience to other viewers.Read the full story ›
The Premier League insists they abide by EU and UK competition law following news that Ofcom will launch an investigation into how their TV rights are sold.
A Premier League statement said: "We note that Ofcom has launched an inquiry.
"Ofcom has stated that this is at an early stage and it has not reached a view as to whether there is sufficient evidence of any infringement.
"The Premier League currently sells its audio-visual rights in a way that is compatible with UK and EU competition law and will continue to do so. We will be able to demonstrate that as part of this process."
Regulator Ofcom will investigate how the Premier League sold its live television rights after a complaint from Virgin Media.
Earlier this year, Virgin Media said it had filed a complaint over the increasing costs of showing matches, and claimed consumers were paying more as a result of the escalating bidding war between broadcasters.
Sky and BT currently own the live rights to Premier League matches.
Ofcom said it would consider whether there had been a breach of either British or European Competition law which distorts or restricts competition.
Sky Sports and BT Sport were not immediately available for comment.


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Seven Savvy and Secure Steps to Safer Mobile Banking
Keep Hackers From Sensitive Information
Are you one of the 32.5 million Americans who, by the end of June 2011, accessed mobile banking information on their smartphones? According to research company comScore Inc., an ever-increasing number of banking customers are using their devices to check balances, transfer funds and even deposit checks.
That's why it's critical to be sure the banking environment is secure, says Phil Blank, managing director of security risk and fraud at Javelin Strategy and Research based in Pleasanton, Calif. He says banking securely means knowing how to protect yourself before a problem arises.
"The real grand slam for phone security is prevention," he says.
Here are seven steps Blank and other security experts say consumers should take to keep their sensitive financial information out of the hands of thieves and hackers.
Create a Device Password
Go to your phone's settings menu, and configure the device so each time the phone is turned on, your password must be entered to access information, says Carl Tsukahara, chief marketing officer for Clairmail, a San Rafael, Calif., company that provides mobile banking services to major banks.
Use the password feature on the phone when it comes out of the power-saving mode as well, he says.
When your phone is locked, it's unlikely a thief could get access to mobile banking personal information if it ever gets lost or stolen, he says.
Look for 'https' in the Browser
Bank users need to verify they're on a secure site before they log in, Blank says. For any website that requires personal information, consumers should look for "https" in the Web address, which signifies more security than "http."
Also, don't click on unfamiliar links, just as you wouldn't click on an unknown link with your home computer. "The advice is very much the same as with PCs," he says.
Download Bank Apps From Reputable Sources
Many consumers are choosing to skip regular Web browsing, and instead download phone apps from their bank, says Secil Watson, senior vice president of Internet and mobile banking at Wells Fargo in San Francisco.
That's fine as long as the customer is sure of the source, she says. "Don't use third parties to download your bank app. Instead, go to your financial institution's official app page to download it," Watson says.
Be Cautious on Wi-Fi Networks
Many devices have the ability to access local Wi-Fi spots for the Internet, but if you're on a public network, your data may not be secure, Watson says.
Use your mobile provider's network instead. If you're in an area where that's not possible, use a password-protected, closed Wi-Fi network -- perhaps one in your own home, Watson says.
If you're in doubt about how secure your network is, it may be best to skip mobile banking tasks until you can get in a more secure environment, she says.
Change Banking Passwords Regularly
Create passwords that are difficult for someone else to figure out, Watson says. Include capitalized and lowercase letters, numbers, and special characters or symbols as allowed by your bank's login system. "Update them every six months or every year," Watson says.
"Use different passwords from the ones you have for sites like Facebook and LinkedIn, so the password isn't the same as your brokerage and retirement account," she says. That way, if hackers gain access to a social media account, they won't have automatic access to your mobile banking accounts.
Report a Loss to Your Phone Company and Bank
"Research shows consumers will report the loss of a phone faster than they'll report the loss of a credit card," Wells Fargo's Watson says.
Tsukahara says that's smart, but after a consumer calls his or her phone provider to report the loss, he or she should also call the bank to report the phone lost.
"Most (financial institutions) today can disable any kind of banking or fund transfer capability on your application remotely if they know your device is missing. That locks down your identity from any kind of potential intrusion in the event it is lost or stolen," he says.
In addition, consider installing remote wipe software on the device, Blank says. "You can always disable the phone, but you may have a ton of personally identifiable information on the device. So do what's necessary to wipe that phone," he says.
Many cellphone manufacturers offer remote wipe service to their customers. Consumers also can look for software from recommended websites, he says.
Add Your Bank to Your Contact List
If you receive mobile banking text messages from your financial institution, take the "short code" (a special telephone number used to send and receive text messages) that identifies the bank and add it to your device's contact list, Tsukahara says. That way, you won't be fooled if you receive a text from an unknown number that purports to be your bank asking for personal information.
When added to your contact list, the short code should pop up with an identifying name, Tsukahara says. "You'll generally know with a high degree of certainty that the text is coming from the bank, because it is very hard for anybody to come in and spoof," he says.


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On July 7, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism held the honor of Vietnam's leading tourism enterprises in 2018. Below is TOP 10 domestic travel agencies in vietnam in 2018.
On July 7, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism held the honor of Vietnam's leading tourism enterprises in 2018. This year, the Vietnam Tourism Awards were presented to 10 leading travel firms, 15 top five-star hotels, 15 top four-star hotels, 15 passenger automobile carriers, 10 top restaurants for tourists, 10 shops, five tourism areas, 10 leading golf courses and five top tourism investors. At the ceremony, the organizing board also announced 12 winners of a writing contest on Vietnamese tourism, which was launched from October 2017.
Below is TOP 10 domestic travel agencies in vietnam in 2018.
- VIETNAM TRAVEL AND MARKETING TRANSPORTS JOINT STOCK COMPANY – VIETRAVEL, Hanoi
- SAIGONTOURIST TRAVEL SERVICE COMPANY LIMITED, Ho Chi Minh City
- FIDITOUR JOINT STOCK COMPANY, Ho Chi Minh City
- BEN THANH TOURIST SERVICE CORPORATION, Ho Chi Minh City
- VIETNAMTOURISM VITOURS JOINT STOCK COMPANY, Da Nang City
- VIET NAM PEACE TOUR JOINT STOCK COMPANY, Ho Chi Minh City
- CHO LON TOURIST JOINT STOCK COMPANY, Ho Chi Minh City
- VIET NAM TOURISM - HA NOI JOINT STOCK COMPANY, Hanoi
- ASIA- PACIFIC TRAVEL COMPANY LIMITED, Hanoi
- VIETSENSE TRAVEL AND SERVICES COMPANY LIMITED, Hanoi
The Vietnam Tourism Industry Report 2018 focuses on analyzing and evaluating Vietnam's tourism and hospitality sector with the expectation of support in the decision-making process of businesses and investors. It provides a comprehensive view on the current status of Vietnam's tourism industry and trends in the coming time.
The report consists of five main parts: The impact of external environment (economic, social, technological, legal) on the tourism sector; the global tourism industry; Vietnam's tourism industry; SWOT and Appendix.
The report uses data from the General Statistics Office (GSO), the General Department of Tourism, Department of Tourism of provinces, cities, Ministry of Planning and Investment, ... and international data sources such as the World Economic Forum , World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), ...
Please visit our website or drop us an email at [email protected] for the comprehensive report.


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Peru’s Textiles Factory Fires Again after More than 1,500 Workers Die
Peru’s textile factory fired again on Sunday after a fire swept through the factory killing 1,400 workers.
The fire started late Friday in the plant in the village of Guasiguilla.
A worker who was not identified was hospitalized with smoke inhalation.
The government is trying to find out how many workers died.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.


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The toy leaks for The Force Awakens have begun.
Earlier today, From Bricks to Bothans posted a few leaked images of two upcoming LEGO sets from the film. One is an (officially) unrevealed X-wing that we saw at a certain filming location, and the second is the Millennium Falcon. Both include multiple mini-figures – and the Falcon one gives us a few new names. (Though it’s noteworthy that both Finn and Rey remain just ‘Finn’ and ‘Rey.’)
FBTB has since deleted the images, but since they’ve been widely distributed across the internet, I’m putting them up below the cut. Check them out, or not…
To the surprise of, well, everyone, there weren’t a whole mass of The Force Awakens toy reveals at the Hasbro panel at SDCC. But what they did show was pretty cool – and rather large: A 6″ scale TIE fighter, with “elite” pilot. (There’s a pretty neat display case recreating a scene from the trailer on the show floor now.)
As expected, Knights of the Old Republic‘s Revan won the 2015 Fan’s Choice poll by a landslide, but the results for Rebels Sabine Wren were so good that she’s going to be made as a 6″ Black Series figure, too! They also revealed that a Kanan Jarrus figure is coming to the Black Series as well. Other new 6″ figures include Rebels Ahsoka, a Tatooine Luke Skywalker, a Jango Fett, and one of the new Inquisitors (the dude) from S2 of Rebels. Check the StarWars.com liveblog for pics (very small, with bigger ones coming) and other details.
A Leia in Boushh disguise is one of the few women featured in the 6″ Black Series line so far.
We’ve bemoaned how hard it is to find action figures of Hera, Sabine, and well, pretty much anyone that isn’t Slave Leia. Sure, there’s a 6″ Rebels Ahsoka figure in the pipeline, but what else can be done?
Seems like Hasbro themselves has an answer – well, sort of. They’re doing a Fan’s Choice poll for a 6″ Black Series figure, in collaboration with several Star Wars collecting fan sites, and all characters (except for those from The Force Awakens) are eligible at this point. All you have to do is submit a name – via the comments at Jedi Temple Archives and Rebelscum, or via email to Yakface. (Also: Jedi News, Making Star Wars, ComicBook.com, Sir Steve’s Guide, Topless Robot, FlyGuy, Yodasnews and Galactic Hunter, Jedi Business.) The top choices at the fan sites will be used to create a top 6 that will go up for a vote on StarWars.com next month, with the winner announced at SDCC.
This is a great opportunity to show Hasbro that there is an interest in more female figures – remember, a Fan’s Choice Poll was how we got that last Mara Jade figure, though that hasn’t stopped at least one fan from making a case for a 6″ Mara.
(H/T to The Mary Sue.)
We’re now six months out from The Force Awakens, Jason Ward at Making Star Wars points out. Six months! Crazy. And will we really see a full-sized Falcon at SDCC? (They did have a Hasbro-themed one at the China Toy Expo in 2013, but that rumor does feel awfully familiar… Still, now that we’re in the real run-up to the movie, it’s hard to predict exactly how high they’re willing to go.)
→ Speaking of highs, The Force Awakens’ second trailer was one for the record books – literally. Guinness World Records today said that the trailer set a new world record: With 30.65 million views in it’s first day, it’s the most viewed movie trailer on YouTube in 24 hours.
→ Emerging yesterday on Jedi Temple Archives was a TFA toy list with not a single recognizable name – No Kylo Ren, no Rey, no Finn, no Poe, no Millennium Falcon. Bizarre, no? I wondered if it was a prank at the time, but it appears they may be in code. Phew.
Entertainment Weekly has our first official look at The Force Awakens toys, but they’re all stormtrooper-themed, so it feels a little underwhelming. (One of them, Hasbro’s Black Series 6″ stormtrooper above, has already shown up on eBay – and as it’s the SDCC exclusive, expect it to show up again.) Wake me up when we get the details on that remote-controlled BB-8.
→ The New York Times had a great feature on BB-8 over Celebration weekend, revealing two things. First, that the version during filming was “a prop built on rollers” – not the fully functional one we saw on stage last week. As mentioned by Kathleen Kennedy onstage, Disney CEO Bob Iger connected the dots, bringing in Sphero to help produce a practical model. And secondly, that a mini toy version – about the size of an apple and controlled via smartphone – will be in stores this holiday season. Bigger versions will (naturally) show up at Disney Parks. Of course, if you can’t wait that long, you can always get a Sphero and make your own….
→ Also in the NYT, a nice look at the folks behind Celebration and Star Wars, including Mary Franklin and Matt Martin.
→ StarWars.com has posted many of the livestream bits (Day 1, 2, 3, 4) as standalone videos: Interviews with Bob Iger, Kathleen Kennedy, J.J. Abrams, Peter Mayhew and John Knoll and a very beardy teaser breakdown
→ Tosche Station were MVPs this Celebration. They have a thank you to Kathleen Kennedy and a nice roundup of what we learned about The Force Awakens. They also recorded several panels, including John Jackson Miller’s Writing in a Shared Universe, an interview with Ashley Eckstein, the (painful) canon panel, Star Wars Journalism, Del Rey, the Aaron Allston tribute and What Leia Means To Me
→ Mike Cooper at Eleven-ThirtyEight didn’t join us in Anaheim, but he did do some analysis of the teaser and other things we learned about TFA there.
→ An ode to Gary Fisher.
UPDATE: Apparently the figure is only being delayed “due to a production issue with Princess Leia’s robe.” She’ll be back on shelves “later this year.”
So hot on the heels of the last dustup over the lack of female figures, Jedi Temple Archive reports that Hasbro has pulled the Ceremonial Princess Leia figures from Wave 7 and Wave 8 of the Black Series, replacing her with… A stormtrooper and a clone trooper.
Yakface, one of the first to bring this to the attention of the wider fandom, started the #whereisleia and #wewantleia hashtags.
Devin Faraci at Badass Digest wrote about looking for action figures for his niece, the latest in a familiar refrain:
The fact that Hasbro is canceling one of its few Leia figures means that they’re only keeping the status quo. Would more girl toys sell now, as the demographics of fandom shifts dramatically? No one can know when the toys don’t exist. I wanted to go and spend my money on female characters for my goddaughter, but I was not offered the opportunity. Young female fans should be able to walk into Toys ‘R Us and find a toy based on the largest and most popular stories in our pop culture that speaks to them. It’s as simple as that, and when the only option is a sexualized and subservient variant – why would they want to buy that? Why would their parents want to buy that for them?
Sure, there’s that Ahsoka figure coming and it seems like Boushh disguise Leia is still on, but canceling any of the few Leia figures they were hyping just over a month ago isn’t exactly fostering good faith in their intentions.
“Hasbro feels they have released plenty of female characters in the line.” That’s the money quote, from a Toy Fair Q&A with collector site Jedi Temple Archives. Granted, it doesn’t seem to be an exact quote, but the sentiment is pretty clear in any case. UPDATE: The answer has since been revised, at Hasbro’s request, to namedrop figures released over the past several years – that Mara Jade figure came out in 2013 – but the problem still remains. The Mary Sue has a great response to this:
It’s not that there aren’t any female characters in their line, because of course that would be untrue—it’s that they clearly take a backseat to the male ones which Hasbro thinks will sell better to boys.
Hasbro also said have no more Leia figures planned at the moment. (Though I doubt that includes The Force Awakens, which they are very much not talking about yet. But then again, who knows?) Asajj Ventress is also in the “no current plans” category.
Does our only hope for more than a paltry handful of women figures rest solely in the hands of the new film? We know there are multiple women in the cast, but such is the case with Rebels, and that rollout certainly hasn’t been without issues. (Though the recent issues finding figures – all figures – is likely due to an ongoing labor dispute at west coast seaports.)
Last night brought Rebelscum with a listing of The Force Awakens toys that are currently being solicited. Hasbro has covered their tracks pretty well as far as Episode VII information – most everything is ‘hero’ and ‘villain’ and such – but Making Star Wars has some analysis. There is a remote control droid that I fervently hope is BB-8, because who doesn’t want that?
(And don’t forget, spoilerphobes, that we may have already seen a Black Series leak.)
In any case, don’t expect to see these toys legitimately at the upcoming Toy Fair in New York – Hasbro sent out a press release that they won’t be showing any of their The Force Awakens stuff. Pity, because certainly they have something that only ‘reveals’ the same things we saw in the trailer? Like, say, a remote controlled BB-8? An X-wing? Rey and her speeder? Perhaps they’re saving those sort of reveals for Celebration or SDCC?
StarWars.com’s Collectibles panel liveblog. Dan Brooks strikes again with this recap of what’s coming from eFX, Gentle Giant Studios, Kotobukiya, and Sideshow. Kotobukiya has a Luke and Leia ARTFX+ set coming up, plus their next Bishoujo will be a female stormtrooper. Gentle Giant has an Amidala mini-bust and a Leia as Bouschh jumbo retro figure in the pipeline.


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The Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) has fined Toyota Zambia K2 billion for selling motor vehicles cleared with the customs division under the tax rebate for members of parliament (MPs).
The Times of Zambia said this follows an investigation carried out by ZRA into the company after allegations that some MPs were abusing their privileges by selling off tax-rebated motor vehicles procured for them by the National Assembly.
ZRA spokesman, Daniel M’soka confirmed to the newspaper that Toyota Zambia between 2002 and last year sold 18 motor vehicles to the general public which were cleared under the National Assembly and on which taxes were not paid.
“The motor vehicles were mainly purchased using cash and only four buyers had used company cheques.
“ZRA consequently penalised Toyota Zambia who paid K600 million in fines, K1.2 billion in taxes and K400 million in interest,” M’soka reportedly said.
The paper noted that the Zambian government gives the National Assembly a tax rebate on MPs’ vehicles to enable the parliamentarians to travel to their constituencies for development work.
But some members of the public had complained the some of the MPs were actually selling the vehicles purchased under the tax rebate instead of using them for constituency work.


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Gender-neutral prices for haircuts introduced at Halifax salon
Price will be decided by length of hair and amount of time the stylist needs, not gender
A Halifax spa is the latest in a small but growing number of Canadian salons offering gender-neutral pricing for haircuts.
Stylists at Kara's Urban Day Spa will price their cuts on the length of someone's hair and how much time the cut takes.
"If I'm doing a pixie haircut on a woman or a short haircut on a man, it takes me the same amount of time to do it," says Kevyn Martell, the salon's new artistic director.
"If it's a woman who has the same length of hair as a man, why are we charging her $20 more because she's a woman?"
Men wearing longer hair
Martell joined the salon just six weeks ago, and started looking into how other salons handle pricing. A Google search revealed just a handful of salons in Canada had gender-neutral policies.
He traces the tradition of different pricing for a men's haircut back to the 1970s, when unisex hair salons were trying to lure male clientele away from cheaper barbers. But in the era of the man bun, men are often just as style-conscious as women.
"Men are wearing longer hair again, and not the messy hair I was wearing in the 1970s," he said.
He's hoping gender-neutral pricing spreads to more salons — and maybe even other industries, adding that a woman's shirt often costs more to dry clean than a man's shirt.
'Fairness is a great thing'
Martell says there has been a good reaction since Kara's announced the change on their Facebook page.
"Most people think that fairness is a great thing," he told CBC.
"Maybe some men may say that's a lot of money, but that's what your wife has been paying."


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Uber looks into the future with flying taxi prototype
Remember GrabHeli? It's like that except it's a helicopter-drone hybrid
May 9, 2018
Uber’s flying transport concept called electric vertical take-off and landing vehicle concept (eVTOL) is set to hit the airspace in 5 years time, that is after it’s demonstration flight in Los Angeles scheduled in 2020.
According to the California-based transport network company’s Aviation product chief Nikhil Goel, the flying taxi prototype was developed to ease urban congestion.
“Our goal is to radically improve global mobility,” Goel said during the unveiling of the helicopter drone hybrid at the second annual Uber Elevate Summit in Los Angeles.
The all-electric flyer boasts of its speeds which can go over 300 kilometers (200 miles) per hour and can run on battery charge with a range of 100 kilometers (60 miles).
Uber plans to roll out the first batch of aerotaxis designed with drivers. But they said that they are also eyeing an autonomous driving system in the future similar to the driverless cars that the company unveiled earlier this year.
The same autonomous system has been under fire after an incident wherein one of the company’s self-driving cars killed a woman who is crossing the street in Arizona.
Photo courtesy of AFP
Here are the representatives who voted for the rejection of ABS-CBN franchise renewal
ABS-CBN’s shutdown has everything to do with press freedom
Get in, we’re going shopping—online. These IG shops can help you tick off your wishlist
Ready for relaunch: DOH prepares to use UP-developed COVID-19 test kits
Remember their names: The 11 representatives who voted no to ABS-CBN franchise denial


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Banks Still Not Confident To Detect Cybersecurity Breach: Study
Banks and insurers enjoy a significantly higher level of trust from consumers in the cybersecurity of their systems (83%) than any other sector (with e-commerce firms at 28% and both telcos and retailers at 13%). At the same time, however, just one in five banking executives are highly confident in their ability to detect a breach, let alone defend against it. That’s according to a report by Capgemini’s Digital Transformation Institute, titled ‘The Currency of Trust: Why Banks and Insurers Must Make Customer Data Safer and More Secure’.
Mike Turner, Global Cybersecurity Chief Operating Officer at Capgemini, says: “Consumers implicitly trust banks with their money and data, but this faith is rooted in a mistaken belief their provider can be 100% secure. While banks are evolving to combat the sophisticated threat cybercriminals pose, public understanding of the threats and challenges remains low.”
The report surveyed 7,600 consumers and over 180 senior data privacy and security professionals from banking and insurance firms from eight countries (France, Germany, India, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom and United States). “When GDPR is introduced and all breaches are likely to be made public soon after they occur, many people will be in for a surprise,” says Zhiwei Jiang, Global Head of Financial Services, Insights & Data at Capgemini. “The introduction of GDPR legislation next year is a prime opportunity for business transformation for banks and insurers to become the digital fortresses consumers believe them to be.”
The study shows that India recorded highest percentage point gap indicating the extent by which customers’ perception falls short of reality of cyber-attacks (50% perception difference). This lack of consumer awareness can be partly explained by the fact that the concept of data privacy and protection is at a very nascent stage and no guidelines on reporting of data breaches exist. Also, eight out of 10 consumers in India would switch bank in case of a data breach.
According to the study, out of the eight countries, Indians (89%), are most willing to trade financial privacy in exchange of benefits or services. Indian millennials (48 %) also lead/top this chart of trading financial privacy in return for services.
Some of the key findings of the study include:
Consumers See Their Trust in Banks and Insurers as Vital
The majority of consumers view trust in data privacy and security as an extremely significant factor when choosing their bank (65%). Despite the importance they attach to the security and handling of sensitive financial data, consumers appear to instinctively trust banks and insurers without strong reason. The gap in consumers’ perception and the reality is perhaps exemplified by the fact that though one in four financial institutions reported to having been victim of a hack, only 3% of consumers believe their own bank has ever been breached.
Financial Services Institutions Challenged to Secure Data
While financial institutions, particularly banks, are spending a staggering amount of money securing their systems, the number and frequency of data breaches is still rising. The evolving nature of the threat and lack of clarity among leaders perhaps explains why, despite high levels of investment, 71% of organizations do not have a balanced security strategy nor strong data privacy practices.
With GDPR on the Horizon, Public Awareness of Breaches will Rise
The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), European legislation due to come into effect in May 2018, will force organizations to disclose data breaches within 72 hours or face large penalties. Though an EU law, the Regulation will apply to companies (whether EU based nor not) that process personal data of European citizens, and is expected to affect banks and insurers in the US, UK and Asia. While compliance will be essential and is just over a year away, among executives surveyed only a third (32%) described their organization as having made strong progress in implementing the draft guidelines.
When Trust in Financial Institutions Fails, Customers Will Leave
Though many instinctively trust their banks and insurers with their data, once this trust is broken they are likely to act. Three quarters of consumers (74%) would switch their provider in the event of a data breach. Among those who would remain with their bank or insurer if their information were compromised, over a quarter say they would be cautious about further investments.
- Keep Security At The Heart Of Digital Strategy: Unisys
- Nearly All Firms Are Unprepared For Next-gen Cyber-Attacks: Study
- Supreme Court Website Hacked; Is India Ready To Defend?
- Nine Ways To Ensure Cloud Security In Your Organization
- How AI Is Changing CFO's Role
- Indian Life Insurers Partner with Cognizant to Develop Blockchain Solution
- Poor Visibility, Greatest Challenge To Cloud Adoption
- Why AI Could Be Cybersecurity’s Next Big Thing
- Why IoT Benefits Will Outweigh Its Challenges
- Why IoT Security Needs A Rethink


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Meet Solomon “RC” Ali.
Ali is one of the country’s foremost experts in helping minorities secure their intellectual property, raise funding for startups, form strategic partnerships, bring products to market and scale their businesses. Read a recent feature profile on Ali on EURWeb (Electronic Urban Report). And a recent profile in Denver Urban Spectrum Magazine.
Ali’s company Revolutionary Concepts holds sixteen live and active patents. His patented technologies are currently being sub-licensed to Amazon, Livewatch Security LLC, Alarmforce NC Inc., Alarmforce LP, SkyBell Technologies, In August Home Inc., Bird Home Automation LLC and Bird Home Automation GmbH.
His North Carolina energy company, NDR Energy Group, is one of the largest minority owned companies in the United States. When he acquired it, the company was worth $10 million. Ali rapidly grew the company’s gross revenue intake to $80 million.
Solomon Ali is well versed in the challenges of minority entrepreneurship and effective methods for circumventing those challenges to create a prosperous business and financial portfolio. Learn more about him at https://www.solomonrcali.com/.
His latest project, SYS Smart Home Technology (a subsidiary of his parents company Revolutionary Concepts), has just launched their latest community initiative to help communities take advantage of smart home technology and security while subsidizing lifechanging churches and ministries across the U.S.


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We've Got Spirit!
HDIF's shop at PARPETSI STREET 13 has been buzzing with activity! At the end of May we saw an influx of tourists visiting Armenia for the 100th anniversary of the First Republic. On June 7th, we welcomed a group of students from Clarkson University, led by HDIF's good friend and former Armenia Peace Corps volunteer, Joseph Adriano. The students were volunteering in Armenia on different projects related to agriculture, eco-tourism, and supply chain management. Another large group stopped by on June 15th with Leo and Sona Manuelian of New Jersey, who were leading a Global Builders' team with the Fuller Center for Housing Armenia. They enjoyed a guided tour of the shop and purchased gifts to bring back to the U.S.
HDIF also partnered Webb Fountaine Holding LLC, which ordered custom gifts for International Children's Day on June 1st. We have the woman-power, talent, skills, and products to offer a variety of custom and personalized gifts for companies of all sizes.
If your travel plans bring you to Armenia in 2018, make sure that a stop at HDIF's fair trade shop is on your itinerary! It's located at Parpetsi Str 13 between Mashtots and Saryan. Store hours are Monday-Saturday, 10:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m., and Sunday 11:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. For online shopping, visit www.hdif.org.


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A vacant waterfront parcel in East Bay Township will see new life this spring, two long-standing Traverse City businesses are moving to Chums Corner, and several openings and expansions are coming to downtown Traverse City at The Ticker latest look at retail and restaurant news.
Irish boat store
After searching “for decades” for the right opportunity to expand to Traverse City, maritime retailer Irish boat store is opening a new retail and service center in the former Waterfront Conference Center (pictured) at 2035 US-31 in East Bay Township.
Company president Michael Esposito said the Irish Boat Shop is targeting a spring opening for the new location, the company’s third store in northern Michigan. Owner Dave Irish opened his first store in Harbor Springs in 1961, followed by a Lake Charlevoix store in 1971. The business briefly attempted to open in Traverse City in the 1980s, but lack of technology such as Cell phones and the Internet made operating three stores so far apart too difficult at the time, according to Esposito.
“We’ve been looking at the market for decades and the time is right,” he says. “We are thrilled to have a waterfront location and to be in the Township of East Bay. Traverse City has it all: demographics, water. When I looked at all of the (possible locations) I thought the right place was on the east side… it’s a vibrant and growing part of the city.
Irish Boat Shop will specialize in the sale of water-based boats, accessories and toys, and will also offer a “little” service which “will grow as the market grows,” according to Esposito. The company’s waterfront location apparently offers the potential for a boat service, although Esposito says the company is still in the early stages of exploring the feasibility of this option. Irish Boat Shop plans to make “major renovations” to the long-vacant conference center, according to Esposito, who adds that the store will offer “spectacular views over East Bay”.
Irish Boat Shop plans to employ 5-6 staff at the Traverse City store to start with, with local talks already underway this week.
Changes in the buddy’s corner
Two long-standing Traverse City businesses are moving to the Chums Corner corridor.
Kelley’s Custom Trailers recently moved its “One Stop Trailer Destination” from 683 West Blue Star Drive to 4288 US-31 across from Menard’s. The store – which specializes in vehicle trailers, parts, custom work and services – began “over 30 years ago (with) the transformation of a trailer purchased at auction” and has grown into “a company that now sells hundreds of them each year, ”according to the company. Kelley’s move and expansion will enable downtown Traverse City Jack’s Automotive Sales and Service to embark on his own next stage of growth, says Mike Tokie, who helps run the business with his father and owner Jack Tokie and brothers Dave and Pat Tokie.
“I told (to Kelley’s owner) Pat Kelley ten years ago that if he ever wanted to sell his property, call me,” says Mike Tokie. “In November he called me and told me they were moving. We weren’t looking for (a new location), it just happened.
But the timing of the move is fortuitous, according to Tokie, who says the auto sales and service store is “stuck” beyond capacity at 114 Griffin Street across from St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church. The Tokies have owned and operated Jack’s Auto Sales & Service on site since 1976. The new ownership of Chums Corner will allow the company to split into two separate businesses – Jack’s Auto Sales and Jack’s Auto Service – with service operations remaining in focus. -City and sales moving. at the friends’ corner.
“There isn’t a lot of retail traffic on Griffin Street, and we can only fit about half the cars we own on that lot,” says Tokie. “We’ll have a lot more inventory and a lot more exposure there.” The new Chums Corner location is slated to open in March.
A new take-out restaurant and mini-convenience store are slated to open in downtown Traverse City this summer.
Marcia Conlon opens Goodboy Arrangements in one of three live-work units overlooking State Street in the new TC Lofts building under construction next to the Park Place hotel. The store will specialize in take-out foods like sandwiches, salads and protein bowls, in addition to offering brewed coffee, prepackaged snacks and other items in a “premium mini-convenience store” format.
“The idea came about because I love New York, and one thing I love is that every time you walk down the street you’re ten feet from a place you can walk in and grab something. thing to eat in and out, ”Conlon said. “I know a lot of people would love more places like this here, where you don’t have to go to a restaurant or sit or place an order and wait.”
TC Lofts property manager Maggie Laureto notes that the new store will serve not only the public but tenants of the new apartment complex, with an interior door available to access the store from the building lobby. The new Park Place conference center and the recent opening of State Street Marketplace across the street are also expected to increase traffic to the store, Conlon hopes. A second public works unit on the ground floor of the TC Lofts will be occupied by the architectural firm Paradigm Design, while Laureto is looking for the third and final tenant. “We would love to have a tech company or an artist or something cool in there,” she says. The building is targeting an opening in June.
Also in the city center, new paraphernalia store Freedom Tackle is scheduled to open on February 15 at the lower level of 346 East Front Street, under the Slot Machine. Owner Jim Liberty hopes to fill a void left by the departure of other sporting goods stores like MC Sports by offering fishing and fishing gear, including spawning bags, lures, rods and reels for children. year round fishing needs in the area.
Finally, the construction of an extension planned for Pangea’s Pizza Pub which will double the capacity of the Front Street restaurant from 100 to 200. The project will include a new roof terrace on the upper level spanning the entire length of the building, 800 to 900 square feet of new space on the main level and extensions of kitchen and bathroom. The renovations are expected to be completed in time for the start of the 2018 summer season, according to owner Chris Mohrhardt.


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A Ninth Circuit panel on Friday seemed skeptical that a proposed class action alleging Amgen pushed off-label uses of an anemia drug was filed within the statute of limitations, repeatedly asking whether the clock started running when the plaintiff and others filed a separate suit over the drug’s pricing years earlier.
Union Pacific Railroad Co. was improperly found liable for an employee's injuries, the Illinois Supreme Court ruled Friday, finding that railroad employers can pass off workplace injury liability to a third party in certain cases.
A market leader in consumer drone technology was hit with a putative class action Thursday in Pennsylvania federal court spurred by an allegedly harmful firmware update in December 2015 that rendered certain commercial drones in its "Phantom 2" line unable to record video and take photos.
An environmental group asked the Ninth Circuit Friday to revive its suit alleging Pacific Gas & Electric Co. storage facilities contaminate stormwater that discharges into California waterways, saying a lower court erred in finding the suit’s Resource Conservation and Recovery Act claims were barred because the pollution was regulated by the Clean Water Act.
Pharmacia LLC, Solutia Inc., ExxonMobil Oil Corp. and Cerro Flow Products will pay $14.8 million to clean up six former waste disposal sites at an Illinois Superfund site, the U.S. Department of Justice and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said Friday.
After one too many shopping trips at Nordstrom allegedly ended with the clothing retailer not delivering on its promise of certain advertised prices, an Alaska woman took action with a lawsuit on Thursday in federal court accusing the company of fraud.
A New Jersey federal judge on Friday preliminarily approved a class action settlement between BMW AG and thousands of people who owned 6 Series convertibles that would allow the owners to repair a roof defect for free or to be reimbursed for past repairs.
The special master in multidistrict litigation against Takata Corp. and various automakers over potentially explosive air bags recommended that BMW of North America LLC not be ordered to produce BMW AG documents, saying Thursday that the plaintiffs failed to show the U.S. distributor has control of the documents.
A food equipment manufacturer has hit its insurance broker with a lawsuit in New Jersey state court, alleging the agency caused a coverage gap by recommending the firm switch policies, which left it holding the bag in a subsequent lawsuit over an exploding whipped cream canister.
A Florida jury awarded only $400,000 in punitive damages on Friday against Philip Morris and R.J. Reynolds after finding they concealed facts important to the health decisions of a smoker who died of lung cancer in 1995.
Avis has slapped its insurer with a lawsuit in New Jersey federal court alleging that the business has improperly refused to provide coverage in two personal injury actions, including one case in which a jury recently returned a $23.5 million verdict against the car rental company.
A California federal judge has handed Ford Motor Co. a quick win on several consumers’ claims that the auto giant hid the fact that its Focus and Fusion cars had power steering defects, saying the consumers couldn’t prove damages since Ford fully replaced their systems.
A North Carolina federal jury on Thursday determined that a nursing home committed medical negligence that caused the deaths of three patients, with reckless disregard to their rights, and awarded their families $5.2 million in compensatory and punitive damages.
Faced with a proposed class action alleging it hid the dangers of head injuries in professional hockey and encouraged violence in the game, the NHL has chosen to attack the idea of a link between repeated head trauma and the much-publicized brain disease CTE, bucking a majority of scientists and medical experts, in a move that has many legal experts baffled.
A short stock drop that occurred after the airing of an episode of "60 Minutes" that delved into a two-year old lawsuit against Kimberly-Clark Corp. over the effectiveness of its gowns during the 2014 Ebola virus breakout can’t serve as the backbone of a securities fraud suit, the company told a New York federal court Thursday.
A defense attorney for a pharmacist accused of murder and health care fraud in the 2012 meningitis outbreak meticulously scrutinized testimony by the pharmacy’s quality control officer during cross-examination on Friday, suggesting inconsistencies about issues she brought to her boss and exaggerations about mold findings.
A New Jersey state appeals court has revived a product liability lawsuit against Smith & Nephew Inc. over allegedly defective medical wipes, finding Thursday that consumers were allowed under the statute of limitations to pursue claims related to one product recall notice but not an earlier notice.
The Texas Supreme Court on Friday declined a request from AIG subsidiary Commerce and Industry Insurance Co. asking the high court to review a lower court ruling holding it liable for more than $4 million in personal injury claims paid by Exxon Mobil Corp. in the wake of a Texas chemical plant explosion.
Two health food companies told a California federal judge at a hearing Thursday that putative classes of consumers couldn’t say they were misled by labels saying products contained "evaporated cane juice," arguing if the consumers were as health conscious as they allege in their complaint, they would have known the ingredient was sugar.
The family of a smoker who died in 1995 began a trial for punitive damages on Thursday against Philip Morris USA and R.J. Reynolds after being awarded millions of dollars in compensatory damages on Wednesday.
While the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has generally not objected to the use of the term "natural" to describe foods that do not contain added color, artificial flavors or synthetic substances, the agency has yet to offer a specific definition of the word. Not surprisingly, this uncertainty has led to litigation, most recently over guacamole, says Elizabeth Boggia of Weil Gotshal & Manges LLP.
Fred Korematsu’s U.S. Supreme Court case challenging President Franklin Roosevelt’s executive order that led to the incarceration of approximately 120,000 people of Japanese ancestry may sound like ancient history. However, Feb. 19 marks the 75th anniversary of the order's signing, and that it’s celebrating its diamond anniversary now is breathtaking timing, says Randy Maniloff of White and Williams LLP.
In 2015, U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission Chairman Elliot Kaye announced that he had directed CPSC staff to seek “double-digit” penalties from companies found to be in violation of the Consumer Product Safety Act. Kaye appears to have accomplished his stated goal — a statistical analysis of agency fines shows that companies are being punished more severely than before, says Jonathan Judge of Schiff Hardin LLP.
Corporate guilty pleas can be expected to have serious implications for the individual executives and employees alleged to have been involved in the conduct under scrutiny. But whether their corporate employer pleads guilty or pursues an alternative resolution, there are other factors at play that can make a bigger difference to the eventual outcome for individuals, say Jessica Nall and Janice Reicher of Farella Braun & Martel LLP.
General counsels face the challenging task of understanding how companies can navigate the rules surrounding uses of artificial intelligence. To get smart on AI, general counsels must ask the right questions about areas such as human resources, intellectual property, liability and insurance, say Bruce Heiman and Elana Reman of K&L Gates LLP.
As I was going through one of the plaintiff’s claims — post-traumatic stress disorder — with my expert witness, the good doctor could not even recall the elements of the disorder! Then, suddenly, he pointed his finger at a young juror, remembers Esther Holm of Lewis Brisbois Bisgaard & Smith LLP.
Though the Trump administration has yet to make an official statement regarding artificial intelligence, support for AI is consistent with its expressed desire to promote American business. As such, general counsel will inevitably have to navigate what big data and AI mean for compliance with current and future laws and regulations, say Bruce Heiman and Elana Reman of K&L Gates LLP.
California has the nation’s most powerful consumer protection statutes, but in recent years, the state’s federal courts have imposed a major constraint on omission claims brought under those statutes. The good news for consumers is that recent developments suggest this constrictive view of California consumer protection law is ending, say David Stein and Amanda Karl of Girard Gibbs LLP.
The U.S. Supreme Court has been clear that contact-based specific personal jurisdiction requires that a particular plaintiff’s claim arise out of the defendant’s contacts with the forum state. Still, California, Missouri and some other jurisdictions have let nonresidents use their states to litigate disputes that are wholly unrelated to defendants’ conduct within the state, says Angela Higgins of Baker Sterchi Cowden & Rice LLC.
Building connected and autonomous vehicles requires the automotive industry, both manufacturers and traditional component suppliers, to embrace disruptive technology and work hand-in-hand with information technology providers. Bringing together these two spheres, however, will not be without its challenges, say Marjorie Loeb and Linda Rhodes of Mayer Brown LLP.


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There are still seven weeks to go, but just a handful of tables and tickets are left for April 16th’s MCV Awards.
A survey of US console owners has found that the main reason PS4 buyers opted for Sony’s console is “better resolution”.
Dynasty Warriors 8 Empires will receive a stripped-back free-to-play version alongside its full retail release, Tecmo Koei has revealed.
Recruitment partner OPM has signed on as Gift Partner for this year's MCV Awards.
Microsoft Studios will bring Halo: Nightfall to DVD and Blu-ray next month, the company has announced alongside the release of a new trailer.
Games Workshop’s Warhammer 40,000 is getting another video game outing – this time as a PC MOBA.
The PC release of Resident Evil Revelations 2 does not support offline co-op play, and players aren't happy with Capcom's duplicity on the matter.
The release of the next entry in Bandai Namco’s God Eater franchise has shaken up the Japanese retail charts.
Microsoft is launching a free version of Forza based on Universal’s Fast & Furious series.
Square Enix has confirmed a European and North American release for Dragon Quest: Heroes.
Developer Firaxis has confirmed a release date for Sid Meier's Starships.
The changes at Telltale Games are continuing with confirmation that John Riccitiello has joined the company’s board of directors.
Steam has surpassed 125 million active users and is home to more than 4,500 games, Valve has announced.
Warner’s upcoming Batman: Arkham Knight looks to be the most violent in the series to date.
Premier PR’s Simon Byron is leaving the company to make the jump into publishing.
Nintendo boss Satoru Iwata has said that one big hit could still be enough to cause Wii U sales to rocket.
ESL continues a raft of big eSports investments today with news that the $250,000 ESL Frankfurt Dota tournament this June will be the first in a 12-month series totalling $1m ...
The demise of Sega was not inevitable and can be blamed on two decades of bad decision making.
A PC port for Bandai Namco's PS3 release Tales of Zestiria could be in the works, if a new Steam database listing is anything to go by.
OlliOlli developer Roll7 has revealed it's working on more than just a sequel to its 2D skateboarding title.
Nintendo has announced a price drop for Donkey Kong, Peach and Yoshi amiibo figures.
The Games 5s five-a-side tournament is back on May 21st after its successful revival last year.
Rockstar has announced a third delay for the PC version of Grand Theft Auto V.
The Walking Dead and Game of Thrones developer Telltale Games has received “significant investment” from film giant Lionsgate.
The manufacturer of SteelBook products, Scanavo, will serve as Table Gift Partner for this year's MCV Awards.


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For years now, the EU has been imposing a WLTP test on car manufacturers to determine the fuel consumption of their models. These are the data we find in the car specifications as factory declared consumption. However, the British WhatCar conducted extensive testing and research of cars and their consumption, ie they measured the differences in fuel consumption in relation to official data.
The cars tested by WhatCar had an average of 6.3 percent worse results than in the official test that the European Union imposes on all cars to determine their consumption (WLTP), reports HAK magazine.
The British WhatCar conducted a large testing and research of cars and their consumption, ie the difference from the official consumption. The new official WLTP test that has been current since 2019 is much closer to the truth than the previously used NEDC test.
By comparison, the difference in the older NEDC cycle was as much as 20.2 percent in previous WhatCar tests. You can now rely more on the consumption data provided by car brands.
Like other tests, the WhatCar test was conducted in laboratory conditions, but based on the actual route through cities, villages and highways, ie it is even more realistic and closer to the actual conditions than the WLTP test. It is astonishing that the cars in the study managed to achieve an even more economical result than the official data.
Here are the top five results:
5. Honda Civic Type R
Very impressive is the fifth place of the Honda Civic Type R. The 320 hp sports car proved to be 9.2 percent more efficient than the WLTP test showed, something you would not expect from such a powerful model.
4. Dacia Duster
Right in front of the Civic is the Dacia Duster with a 130 hp petrol engine. Dacia is already known for good value for money, and the economy of the 1.3-liter engine adds another plus. The car consumes 10.1 percent less than stated.
3. Volkswagen Up!
A small, light city car that has a 10.5 percent better result than in official tests. Up! is the most economical model on this list.
2. Honda CR-V (hybrid)
In second place is the hybrid, again Honda. In the CR-V, the petrol engine is not assisted by an electric motor, as is usually the case. The gasoline engine here works as a generator for the electric motor. The petrol engine can therefore run at optimum load, which means it consumes less. The CR-V is still 12.3 percent more economical in practice than in the tests.
1. Ford Ranger Pickup
Tests show that it is not the most economical, due to its "structure" as well as a powerful diesel engine, but according to the WhatCar test, in practice it achieves as much as 18.6 percent better results than in official tests.
These cars pollute more in real conditions:
5. Audi A3 sedan
The Audi A3 had 16 percent less success than what the tests promised if you opted for the 35 TFSI.
4. Renault Clio
It is more impressive, however, to see numerous hybrids on the list. For example, the fourth place is occupied by Renault Clio, which spent 19.6 percent more than the stated consumption per WLTP.
3. Ford Fiesta
In third place is the Ford Fiesta with a 1.0 petrol engine and 155 hp. Like the A3, this Ford has a pretty powerful engine.
2. Suzuki Swace
And in the penultimate place is a hybrid, the Suzuki Swace, which scored 21.6 percent worse than its WLTP test.
1. BMW 420d
The big loser of the test though is the BMW 420d. According to the WhatCar test, the difference in consumption is as much as 26.4 percent higher than stated.


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In 2023, it was price and private brand. The year before, we pondered the growing importance of issues like food waste and the metaverse. While we might not always get things 100% correct when making our annual retail predictions (and who could?), then if nothing else, they serve as a useful record of just how fast the world is turning.
This year, rather than educated guesses about the retail industry’s immediate future, we’re taking a slightly different approach to our predictions. Below, you’ll find a breakdown of what we see as being the key priorities for retailers around the world in 2024. Regardless of market, regardless of size, these universal issues will demand the attention of any ambitious retail brand.
Before we get into the detail on each of those themes, though, let’s take a moment to consider the context in which we believe they’ll play out.
2024’s key political, economic, social, and technological issues
Progress and stagnation will clash head on over the next 12 months, with the potential for growth tempered by the legacy of recent events.
- Politically, global uncertainty is expected to decline. At the same time, the biggest election year in world history will likely lead to much more talking than doing.
- Economically, inflation will continue to ease, making room for deflation in some cases. Volume growth will return, but year-on-year sales will slow in kind. High interest rates and active wars will only compound a weak trading environment.
- Societally, GenZ will begin to overtake Boomers in the workforce, while the elderly will remain the largest part of the population in many Western countries. More widely, consumer confidence will continue to remain low.
- Finally, from a tech standpoint, the adoption of AI will continue to accelerate. Accompanying that will come even greater scrutiny of the risks it presents.
How will these macro shifts will impact the grocery industry?
These high-level global shifts won’t be the only changes that retailers need to be ready for, however. Customer behaviours will continue to evolve, and retailers will see significant changes in their own circumstances too. For instance:
- Shoppers will find themselves less likely to be taxed by extraordinary situations. At the same time, their current focus on value, health, and sustainability is unlikely to dwindle. From a demographic standpoint, retailers will need to cater both to a growing segment of elderly shoppers, and an increasingly affluent group of GenZ customers.
- As the global economy begins to stabilise, retailers will inevitably see less inflation-driven growth. In response, they’ll continue to experiment with AI as a way to deliver efficiencies and improve the customer experience. Private Label will be seen as a way to drive core growth, personalisation will help them to differentiate, and diversification will drive new forms of revenue.
With the context for the year ahead established, let’s now look at the five things that retailers will need to make a priority in 2024.
1. Reset their value proposition
We’re not there yet, but there can be few doubts: the age of inflation is finally coming to an end. The International Monetary Fund expects global headline inflation to fall to 5.2% this year, and it may dip even lower in some countries. This shift will present retailers with an opportunity to reset their value perception, relinquishing their fixation on price for something more nuanced.
What that means in practice will be different from market to market. In the UK, for instance, one recent study shows that good value is seen mainly as a combination of price and quality. In the US, on the other hand, quality-first retailers can have just as good a reputation for value as those who focus on price. There’s no universal constant when it comes to value.
Because of that, local understanding is critical. With so many value-related levers to pull on, retailers need to know exactly which ones matter most to their own customers. Those who understand that will see tangible returns, too; in recent studies from dunnhumby’s RPI Series, we’ve seen time and again that a compelling value proposition translates into clear commercial success.
2. Protect and grow their private brands
Over the past couple of years, we’ve seen a surge in the popularity of private label products, shoppers in multiple markets trading down to shave money from their grocery bills. For any retailer that has tapped into that trend, 2024 will offer an opportunity to take things to new heights – growing loyalty, driving efficiencies, and improving margins.
That’s no simple task, however. With inflation easing, national brands will begin to re-enter the headspace of many shoppers. To protect the gains they’ve made – and, ideally, grow them – retailers will need to find new ways to appeal. Innovation will be key, giving retailers the ability to differentiate themselves from the competition, transition from private label to genuine private brand, and deliver unique value to customers .
In our own research into this topic, we identified six key drivers of innovation for private brands. Across four “customer drivers” (value, health, sustainability, and quality), and two “retailer drivers” (category extension and brand activation), the world’s best are already in the process of redefining what own-label products can be. In 2024, the pressure will be on to keep up with their lead.
3. Revitalise loyalty through personalisation
Private label isn’t the only success story from the past two years; around the world, uptake of customer loyalty schemes is rising too. In a cross-market evaluation of dunnhumby’s clients and their competitors, we found that loyalty programmes were seeing growth in more than half (53%) of the countries analysed. Only a fifth had seen a decline.
Echoing our point on private label above, however, oversaturation can be a dangerous thing. The more loyalty programmes that someone belongs to, the less special each can feel. As a result, any retailer looking to delight their customers will need to step up to the plate and deliver something truly different – and there’s no better way to do that than via the medium of personalisation.
Again, this will require retailers to dive deeper than they already have; three-quarters (75%) of the banners we studied are already delivering personalised recommendations and offers online and by email, rising to almost 9 in 10 for offers delivered via app (86%). As customers start to ask how well retailers really know them, next-generation personalisation will be needed.
4. Take health and sustainability to the next level
“Right for me, right for the planet”. In a number of our studies over the past few years, we’ve seen shoppers becoming increasingly conscious about making the “right” decisions at the shelf. Whether it’s a healthier choice or one that’s better for the environment, though, customers expect retailers to give them good reasons to make it. Price, availability, and quality are all key factors here.
When stores get that right, they thrive. Analysis of 61 retailers across France, Italy and Spain shows a clear link between the affordability of healthy produce and the emotional connection that shoppers feel for a store. Environmental responsibility counts, too; while it might not be as important as other factors like price and quality, it now plays a key role when people are deciding where to shop.
As important as these issues are, however, there’s still a gap between desire and action. More than half of the shoppers interviewed in our Pulse studies said they’re conscious about the environment, for example, but only a fifth actually buy sustainable products. A similar, if not quite so substantial rift exists around healthy eating. What can you do to help your customers get to the next level here?
5. Create new revenue streams via a combination of existing assets and diversification
“Retailers: you're the next media moguls”. So said Forrester – all the way back in 2020 – and the analyst clearly wasn’t mistaken. The retail media market has been in a state of overdrive in recent times, consumer brands rightly seeing it as a way to engage with shoppers at critical points on the buying journey. In fact, some sources now have retail media revenues on course to outpace TV ad spend by 2028.
Media isn’t the only way for retailers to create new revenue streams, of course. Retail pharmacy’s continued evolution across the Americas is testament to the power of diversification, for instance. And in 2024, we expect retailers to experiment with an even broader set of opportunities – using their existing assets and brand new solutions in tandem to branch out and grow.
Some of those initiatives will be “retail adjacent”; consumer-focused propositions such as healthcare, pet care, travel, and banking. Others will cover fresher ground, with retailers exploring fields such as cloud services and technology solutions. Margins for each of these activities will vary, leaving retailers to work which will have the greatest impact – both on their overall profitability, and customer loyalty too.
Clearly, the themes above cannot be tackled overnight. Nor will they vanish at the end of the year. Retailers should have active projects on their workplan against each, and be ready to leverage customer insights in order to create locally relevant solutions against these global megatrends. Many of our own retail clients are already working proactively with us on these issues, and are paving the way for a brighter year ahead by doing so.
 World Uncertainty Index – 2023 Q3
 The Economist – 2024 will be stressful for those who care about liberal democracy
 OECD Economic Outlook – Volume 2023 Issue 2: Preliminary Version
 IMF, Bloomberg, FT on BIS, ECB
 Glassdoor analysis on US Census Bureau
 OECD Countries – Consumer Confidence Index
 Statista analysis on company announcement via Business Insider / LinkedIn
 EY CEO Outlook Pulse Survey October 2023 / NYT It’s True: False News Spreads Faster and Wider. And Humans Are to Blame / GWI USA Q2 2020-Q2 2023
 World Economic Outlook Update – International Monetary Fund, July 2023
 Bank of England may cut interest rate sooner after surprise inflation forecast – The Guardian, 11th January 2024
 The Power of Personalised Loyalty – dunnhumby, 12th December 2023
 dunnhumby analysis on RPI 2023 data of France, Italy, Spain on 61 Retailers. % of High satisfied customers, standardised per market
 dunnhumby analysis on Pulse Survey 2023 data for France, Germany, Italy, New Zeland, Spain, UK. % of Customers who apply
 Media Networks From Commerce Companies Are Growing And Transforming Shopping – Forrester, 21st February 2020
 Retail media ad revenue forecast to surpass TV by 2028 – Reuters, 12th June 2023
The latest insights from our experts around the world
Speak to a member of our team for more information


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BlueBin Revolutionizes Healthcare Supply Chain Management with BBID
BlueBin partners with Avatek to launch BBID, a new electronic Kanban system with RFID & voice tech, at AHRMM23, automating efficient supply chain processes.
Seattle, WA – Aug. 1, 2023 – BlueBin Inc. announces the release of BBID, its new electronic two-bin kanban solution, at the 2023 AHRMM annual convention in Orlando, Florida, on August 7th, 2023.
Combining the leading Kanban replenishment expertise of BlueBin, with the supply chain automation expertise of Richard Philippe, the inventor of the RFID-enabled Two Bin system, BBID clearly marks the next generation of Healthcare Supply Chain Management.
The benefits of BBID are numerous. It reduces the need for frequent point-of-use visits, simplifies picking and put-away tasks, automates usage data capture, and even enables automatic reordering of empty bins. BBID further enhances efficiency by improving item identification accuracy with its verbal recognition item locator feature.
“This is an important advancement in the BlueBin Kanban and BlueQ processes,” said Charles Hodge, Co-Founder and President of BlueBin Inc. “We have been exploring ways to further automate our Kanban solution for a while, and now our partnership with Avatek has turned this vision into reality.”
“I have been thinking about ways to automate Kanban processes for many years but never found the right process and technology match,” said Philippe, Founder and CEO of Avatek and inventor of the internationally recognized Logi-D RFID-enabled two-bin system, “My recent engagement with BlueBin, as well as for the last few years involvement in the industrial supply chain, the evolution of the available technologies, as well as collaboration with technology scientists, has made this new solution possible; clearly a quantum leap in clinical supply chain automation.”
To experience the groundbreaking capabilities of BBID firsthand, visit BlueBin’s booth (#713) at the AHRMM23 conference held at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida, on August 7-8, 2023.
About BlueBin Inc. – BlueBin’s mission is to dramatically improve healthcare – adding value to the supply chain process by ensuring clinicians have the right supplies at the right time, maximizing efficiency. BlueBin’s solution fuses cutting-edge technology with lean methodologies and principles, providing an operating system for managing all medical supplies in all areas of the hospital or healthcare environments.
About Avatek, a subsidiary of GRP Inc. – Avatek develops supply chain automation solutions distributed through integration partners.
Ready To Get Started?
Contact us today to discuss your our 2-Bin Kanban systems and supply chain analtyics for healthcare!


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Scolmore Success at Light + Building
Scolmore Group’s decision to invest in its debut visit to this year’s Light + Building trade fair in Frankfurt has paid dividends, with numerous quality enquiries to be followed up.
The show provided Scolmore with the opportunity to showcase the breadth of the group’s lighting relating products to existing customers and also attracted potential new customers from around the world including Eastern Europe, USA and the Middle East.
There was a big focus at the show on home automation and a lot of interest in the Click iNELS wireless home automation system, which offers simple and flexible installation, significant energy savings and easy programming.
Also the subject of many enquiries was the Duceri range of emergency lighting, which has been independently tested by established photometric data test house, LUX-TSI, and complies with the latest industry standards and regulations. The range comprises illuminating emergency bulk heads, exit boxes, exit signs and twin spots.