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The composites market has a bright future and as a consequence, it has been determined that the value of the global composites market will reach $62.6 billion in 2012.
Composites are becoming increasingly important in a variety of sectors. The need to save energy is driving the increase of composites in the aerospace and automotive sectors.
The necessity to diversify away from traditional sources of energy is increasing demand for wind energy, another sector important for composites demand.
Composites are also sought after in sectors dealing with corrosion and construction, as they are strong, resistant to damage and easy to install.
In the North American, European and other developed markets around the world composites are becoming more complex, and increasingly high-value.
In terms of the three different fibre types, glass remains the most popular due to its cheap price and ease of manufacturing, and will remain as the largest segment (both in volume and value) of composites throughout the period to 2022.
While the current economic conditions are reducing investment in many industries, composites sales are expected to remain robust, and increase considerably once economic conditions improve.
Emerging and developing regions within the composites market such as in the Middle East, Africa, Asia and South America also have a growing demand for composites.
Many industries in these countries are taking their first forays into using composites - as a consequence the composites demand in these regions is estimated to be high.
For more information on the composites market, see the latest research: Composites Market Report
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The firm will invest US$40mln on a second distribution centre in the US as part of its international expansion plans.
The new warehouse, near Atlanta, Georgia will have space for 10mln items with operations due to begin in autumn next year.
ASOS is the UK’s most valuable online fashion retailer with a market cap of £5bn.
“This agreement is a major step forward for ASOS in the US and demonstrates the opportunity we believe lies ahead in this key market,” said chief executive Nick Beighton.
US sales account for 12% of the group’s total sales, growing at a faster pace than the UK.
The US division delivered a 38% increase in US sales in the first quarter to £94.4mln, compared to a 16% increase in its UK arm to £234.6mln.
A shift in consumer behaviour towards online shopping continue to support ASOS during the period, with overall retail sales up 38% to £889.2mln and pre-tax profit up 14% to £27.3mln.

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Alberta dairy farmers can expect up to $15 million more per year in revenue as Agropur moves to expand its cheesemaking business in the province.
In what’s billed as “the first major expansion in decades” for the cheese industry in Alberta, the Longeuil, Que.-based dairy processing co-operative has budgeted $23 million for additions and automation work at its Sunnyrose cheese plant, about 10 km north of Lethbridge at Diamond City.
About 10 per cent of the project cost is to be covered by a joint federal/provincial grant worth $2.4 million over two years. The grant was pledged Wednesday from the joint Growing Forward ag policy funding framework, and is to be paid in through the Alberta Livestock and Meat Agency (ALMA).
Agropur, which bought the Sunnyrose plant from private owners in 1998, expects to complete its project by the end of 2011, a company spokesperson said Thursday.
The expansion, the company said, will allow Sunnyrose to “nearly double” its production capacity for cheeses it already makes, and add to its product lineup in “novelties” such as specialty cheeses with spices (for example, Monterey Jack with jalapeno).
The plant’s current production includes Anco and Kraft brand cheeses, as well as Lucerne brand cheeses sold at Canada Safeway.
To accommodate the Sunnyrose expansion, Agropur plans to double its milk allocation in Alberta in 2011-12. The co-operative said it has an agreement in place with the Alberta Milk Marketing Board to support such an increase.
Moving Alberta milk from the butter and skim milk powder markets into the cheese market is expected to boost revenue to producers, the governments said Wednesday.
“Agropur invests continuously in its plants in order to maintain its growth and meet consumer needs,” Louis Lefebvre, president of Agropur’s cheese and functional products division, said in the joint federal/provincial release.
“The Diamond City investment, one of Agropur’s largest in Canada in recent years in the cheese-making sector, will enable us to increase our production capacity in an area where milk is readily available.”
The company’s larger expansions in recent years have leaned mostly southward, through acquisitions of dairy companies in Minnesota, Iowa and Michigan, and a joint dairy venture with South American processor Adecoagro.
But in Canada, meanwhile, the co-operative has moved to close some of its operations, such as its Lamothe dairy at Drummondville, Que. in late 2009 and its Sudbury, Ont. milk plant, now scheduled to shut permanently at the end of January 2011.
Agropur’s other dairy product lines in North America include brands such as Yoplait, Natrel, Canadian Reserve, Sealtest, Oka, Island Farms, La Lacteo, Trega and Schroeder. It also acts as a subcontractor for Canadian production of international brands such as French cheese snacks Mini Babybel and The Laughing Cow.


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US caramel colour maker D.D. Williamson has said it has developed an organic caramelised rice syrup for use in food and beverage manufacturing.
The company said food and beverage processors using the product, which has a rich, brown colour, may label it as “Organic” on the ingredients list.
“Food processors are requesting organic ingredients to meet the growing demand for organic products,” said Owen Parker, vice president for research and development at D.D. Williamson.
“We developed organic caramelised rice syrup for a butterscotch-flavoured, organic, rice pudding application. It also works well in other natural food products such as granola bars, rice cakes, muffins, snacks and cereals,” Parker added.


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Facebook has reported it’s expanding live video to all US iPhone users. The features of Live video streaming capabilities permit all the Facebook clients to share recordings live on the social networking sites. The company was testing a few live video calls with some US iPhone clients. And, soon it is expected that features can modify in the future for the betterment.
Live Video: A Game Changer
During the end of the last year 2015, Facebook acquainted the live video options with all iPhone clients. It’s a substitute thing to Periscope that gives the capacity to record and share video among followers as well as friends. It can be a game changer of Facebook in coming years.
Live Video Sustains on Facebook
Presently, more number of people are using Facebook app without any botheration. And, soon FB android app will be introduced. The live video experience on Facebook is a great deal like what you might be acquainted with an option such as Periscope. But, when comes to privacy, it differs. Anybody can hop in and watch a Periscope feed, for instance, you can restrict the crowd of live video sustains on Facebook.
With Whom Live Videos can be Shared…
To share the video, broadcasters have an option to share it among friends, collaborators, customized groups of friends, or the total of Facebook if they wish. Also, the broadcast will live everlastingly on Facebook, unless you delete on your own.
In the end, You can try with the new qualities of live video yourself by overhauling your iPhone’s Facebook application to the most recent performance. Soon, the live video will be made accessible worldwide over the coming weeks.


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WazirX is trending on Twitter and not for the right reasons. It is India’s largest cryptocurrency exchange that lets people trade in cryptocurrencies through its website and mobile app.
The Twitterati are trending hashtags like #WazirX and #WazirXCaught after the platform’s name came up in the link to a dark web drug racket. People are expressing their disappointment in WazirX for not following the KYC guidelines laid down by the Reserve Bank of India.
Why Is #WazirXCaught Trending?
Recently, the Indian Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) busted a dark-web drug racket. According to Vice’s report, Makarand Pardeep Adivirkar, also known as the “crypto king” was using Bitcoin to score drugs from dealers in Europe.
Adivirkar had a friend who would take money from the dealer. Then another person would withdraw the cash and get it to him. After this, Adivirkar, or the “crypto king,” would use his Bitcoin wallet to make payments to drug dealers in Poland and other parts of Europe.
The report says that the crypto king had multiple Bitcoin wallets on many online platforms, including WazirX. This story is the reason why #WazirX is trending on Twitter, for allegedly flouting KYC guidelines and allowing misuse of its platform.
A part of Twitter is calling it a ‘scam’ to defame WazirX and cryptocurrency in India. It is so because no official action has been taken against WazirX yet.
In a related development, WazirX recently got a show-cause notice from the Enforcement Directorate. ED’s notice is looking into an alleged violation of the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA) by WazirX.
What Does This Mean For Cryptocurrency In India?
With no legal framework, Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies are still not legal in India. However, you can trade in cryptocurrency in India using WazirX and other platforms.
Bitcoin has a bad rep for aiding crimes. However, it is a misconception and the blockchain used on Bitcoin makes it traceable. The crypto king’s bust also includes an intelligence operation looking into his Bitcoin transactions.
Nonetheless, if WazirX is found at fault here, the status of cryptocurrencies in India might take a hit. It is also an opportunity for the Indian government to regulate cryptocurrency soon.


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Smart home devices are supposed to make our lives easier, but if they suddenly stop working without warning, they can end up doing just the opposite. According to new research, more than one in 10 people have reported incidents of their internet-connected devices failing prey to technical issues that go unresolved.
Parks Associates surveyed consumers of smart home devices to find out more about how people interact with them. What they discovered was that 12 percent of smart home device owners in the United States have had a device become basically unusable due to a technical issue. Many of those problems went unaddressed for a significant period of time.
It’s worth noting that the research actually found the number of total problems reported dropped — just 14 percent of people said they had one or more problems of any kind with a smart home device in the past year. But the problems that did occur went unresolved at a higher rate, which of course is a serious problem, especially for appliances that perform vital services.
For example, if your internet-connected thermostat suddenly stops working and there’s no clear fix, it’s going to be a cold winter in your place. Likewise, if your home security system ceases operating correctly, it’s going to be hard for you to feel safe in your own home. Because a steady Wi-Fi connection is essential for most of these devices, spotty service can also lead to ongoing issues with devices.
Patrice Samuels, senior analyst for Parks Associates, chalked the issue up in part to the devices getting more complicated and the ecosystem of products getting more diverse. “Strong value is achieved from the smart home when devices communicate with each other, but diversity in device technology and communication protocols adds complexity to the smart home and creates challenges in achieving seamless communication,” he said in a statement.
Smart home device manufacturers can cut down on some of these issues by offering more robust support solutions. When folks are left to read through technical documents or handle complex tasks on their own, it’s more likely that they’ll just let the busted device gather dust. That’s not great for the consumer or the companies serving them.
- Samsung SmartThings gets Matter support on iOS
- Blink Wired Floodlight Camera offers heaps of features and an affordable price tag
- The best outdoor smart plugs for 2023
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- 5 tips and tricks for the Ring Video Doorbell


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Red 5 Studio attended the recent PAX East convention with a lot of new PvE information. Feeling slighted, PvP players thought, "What about us?" That question has been answered in the new trailer featuring the "Sunken Harbor".
A new blog post has cropped up on the Firefall site that deals with all things related to characters, classes and making progress in the Firefall universe. The article can be summed up by this quote from Mark Kern, CEO of Red 5 Studios: "Let's show the shooter fans how great progression and community can be... just like how the early MMOs showed the RPG community."
Part Team Fortress 2, part MMO, Firefall is an "odd beast" according to MMORPG.com Lead Writer Bill Murphy. Bill had the chance to check out Firefall during PAX East and talk about the game with Lead Designer Scott Youngblood. See what Bill found out about Firefall in his latest article. Leave us your impressions when you're finished.
Folks attending PAX East on March 11-13 will definitely want to stop by the Red 5 booth to check out a brand new playable demo of Firefall. The team will have twenty machines on hand for interested players and the team has promised that it will reveal a brand new 'battleframe' (character archetype) during the show. Currently known archetypes are Medic and Assault.
A new Firefall blog has cropped up where Audio Director Michael Bross talks about the creative process behind composing music to suit the game. The blog post is short but the treat is that the Firefall team has included an audio clip to show off the terrific music that the game will feature. Check it out!


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KUALA LUMPUR, March 18 ― The National Security Council (NSC) today told Malaysians to remain home and not to go out except for essential needs during the nationwide two-week shutdown that aims to slow down the spread of the Covid-19 outbreak.
The NSC also advised Malaysians to practise social distancing ― or staying at least one metre apart from each other ― to minimise their risk of being infected with Covid-19.
“To enhance the effectiveness of this Restriction of Movement Order, the public is advised to be at home at all times except to fulfill basic needs,” it said in its latest statement released at around noon today.
The government’s two-week order to restrict the movement of Malaysians and to ban public gatherings are part of efforts to prevent crowds from forming, as it is easier and faster for the Covid-19 virus to spread among crowds.
Malaysia recorded its first two deaths from Covid-19 yesterday while total cases also rose to 673 confirmed infections.
The NSC also released today a detailed list of essential services and a very limited list of non-essential services that are allowed to continue operating during this two-week period starting from today until March 31.
Level of activities allowed for essential services and businesses
For the list of essential services, the NSC said all banking and financial services — including the stock exchange, ATMs, cheque deposit machines, online services — will go on but with counter services to be at a minimal level.
NSC said those to continue are electricity-related operations, repair and maintenance; fire and rescue services; postal and courier services including counter services; while detention facilities such as prisons, immigration depots, lock-ups, temporary detention centres will continue to operate but with visits banned.
Also to carry on are petrol stations, production, storage and supply of fuel and lubricants.
As for health services, those that can go on are clinics, hospitals, public and private pharmacies, registered traditional medicine stores, dialysis centres and veterinary services, with no visits to patients allowed except for critical cases based on the Health Ministry’s current rules.
Alternative treatment centres must, however, close during this period, according to the NSC list on essential services.
Also to go on are waste management services; broadcasting and information services; call centres, data centres, operations and maintenance of telecommunication services (except for counter services that will be closed); transportation by land, water or air including e-hailing; wildlife services; and water services.
For important services under the government and statutory bodies — namely airlines, customs and excise, immigration, the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency and marine department, meteorology, printing, registration and the Road Transport Department — enforcement will go on while counter services will be at minimal levels.
The police and armed forces’ operations and enforcement will continue, with operations, maintenance, supply and services of industries and businesses related to security and defence will also continue on.
For all the above, general administrative work will either operate at a minimal level or be at a work-from-home basis.
As for restaurants, hawkers, food trucks, food courts and restaurants within hotels, the NSC’s list bans dine-in customers but allows supply of ingredients, takeaway, delivery and drive through.
According to the NSC list, night markets and farmers’ markets are not allowed, while shopping malls are to be closed except for groceries and food outlets.
Supermarkets, grocery stores, convenience stores and wholesale markets can continue to operate with deliveries allowed, but with the number of buyers per family when buying daily essentials to be restricted.
Online services and e-commerce will be allowed.
Hotel guests must remain in their rooms throughout their stay and can only order food via room service with hotel kitchens only allowed to operate for room service, while other facilities at hotels such as gyms, swimming pools, pubs, bars, restaurants and spas are not allowed.
As for the NSC’s list on non-essential services and activities, car repairs and vehicle towing services are allowed. The full details on such non-essential activities can be found here in this report.


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Canada says committed to Free Trade Agreement with IndiaPTI | Updated: May 18, 2013, 12:25 IST
TORONTO: Canada has said the negotiations for an ambitious Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement with India are progressing "very well" despite delay in early conclusion of bilateral foreign investment promotion and protection agreement.
"The talks will see a meaningful closure with both sides having an agreement which is both ambitious as well as balanced", Canadian minister of international trade Ed Fast said on Friday.
He was addressing a meeting organized by the Indo-Canada Chamber of Commerce (ICCC) and the Brampton Board of Trade.
To date, the Canada-India trade negotiations have undergone seven official rounds.
A Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) would benefit Canadian workers and SMEs by eliminating or reducing tariffs on goods, cutting red tape and facilitating trade in services.
Canada has identified core economic opportunities in India in the energy, agriculture, infrastructure and education sectors, the minister said.
"With SMEs accounting for more than 99 per cent of companies in Canada, our government understands the crucial role that these businesses play in generating jobs, growth and prosperity in every region of our country," Fast said.
"That's why we continue to work hard to open new markets for our exporters in the largest, most dynamic and fastest-growing economies in the world, including India," he added.
"Further fuelling Canada's growing trade with India are our strong people-to-people ties," Bal Gosal, minister of sports, said.
"Nearly one million Canadians of Indian descent enrich our communities in cities and towns across Canada, and our government is committed to utilizing these strong links to build a partnership that will lead to new opportunities and new sources of prosperity in both countries," he added.
In less than six years, Canada has concluded free trade agreements with nine countries: Colombia, Honduras, Jordan, Panama, Peru and the European Free Trade Association member states of Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland.
In addition to India, Canada is engaged in negotiations with large, dynamic and fast-growing markets such as the European Union, Japan and the countries that comprise the Trans-Pacific Partnerships.


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And here's one of them.
It hasn't even made its official debut and already details about Bugatti's plans for the Chiron are beginning to come out. This latest bit of news comes to us today from Dutch car news source Autovisie, and it wouldn't surprise us if it proves to be accurate. Supposedly, Bugatti is planning to launch a targa top variant of the Chiron sometime in 2018. The Chiron coupe will obviously arrive first. But what we're being told about the targa variant is that it'll feature removable carbon fiber roof panels along with a "T-bar" connecting the windshield to the rear end.
What's the reason for that feature? We're guessing it's due to maintaining the car's rigidity at high speeds. Being capable of a top speed of around 311 mph does have its engineering requirements. As of now, just 500 examples of the Chiron are planned, and it's a good bet to assume that number includes all upcoming special editions as well as the T-bar. We'll be finding out plenty more about the Chiron in the weeks and months ahead leading up to its Geneva debut in March.


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Despite the legal challenges over national security concerns, Chinese mobile apps continue to dominate the app store charts in the United States. According to new data from Apptopia, while only 10 of the 500 most downloaded apps so far this year are owned by Chinese companies, four of them are in the top 5 list on Apple’s App Store.
‘’This is pretty amazing that in a country where Apple, Google, and Meta reign, only one has one of the five most downloaded apps in the country so far this year,’’ Apptopia’s Adam Blacker said in a blog post. ‘’Meta’s Instagram is #4. This speaks to the growing ability of Chinese app development on a global scale, as well as their ability to compete with and win against top American talent,’’ he added.
The report also revealed that Chinese companies own 36 of the top 500 grossing apps in the United States this year that generate the most revenue from in-app purchases. The report noted that except for TikTok, all of them are mobile games.
When it comes to the average monthly active users, Chinese companies also own 16 of the top 500 apps in the country. While TikTok, messaging app WeChat, CapCut, and Temu rank in the top 25, the remaining 12 apps are much lower in the list.
On the other hand, American companies own 19 of the 500 most downloaded apps in Chinese app stores this year, Apptopia said.
Meanwhile, we previously wrote about the growing popularity of ByteDance’s Instagram & Pinterest-like Lemon8 app in the United States, where TikTok is currently facing a potential nationwide ban. According to Apptopia, Lemon8 has garnered nearly 1.2 million installs in the U.S. since its launch in March, so it wouldn’t be a very big surprise if it continues to climb up the app store charts.
The mobile app analytics company Apptopia also recently revealed how India’s TikTok ban benefitted rival social media apps.


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You can't grow hops in Queensland. But two small operations are giving it a red hot go, with UV lights to extend the days, help from growers and researchers worldwide and goodwill aplenty.
Ahead of the Global Climate Strike, the Good Beer Co have announced they’ll be bringing people together over beer to help raise money for the Great Barrier Reef. Will Ziebell spoke to brewing company founder James Grugeon.
On September 20, people across the planet will join young campaigners for #ClimateStrike. The Crafty Pint will be one of the local beer businesses taking part and hope more people in the Aussie beer world will join us.
Water makes up more than 90 percent of the beer you drink. It is also in increasingly scarce supply in Australia. For our latest Big Issue article, Graham Frizzell speaks to three people looking to reduce their breweries' water consumption here and in California.
The Crafty Pint will soon be starting a series looking at the steps brewers are taking to reduce brewing's environmental impact. Before then, however, Young Henrys is highlighting the impact climate change could have on your beer via beer.


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Dutch ISP Xs4all has announced it will launch its Interactieve IPTV service this March. Basic subscription prices start at €15 a month for 50 channels including rental of the set-top box.
Xs4all is part of KPN and the IPTV product is believed to be using the same infrastrcuture. Apart from 50 channels, the basic tier provides access to the catch-up TV service Programma Gemist as well as a VOD offer.
An extended tier with 40 additional channels will also be available, as well as the premium channels Eredivisie Live (featuring live coverage of the Dutch football league) and Chellomedia’s Sport1 channels.
The service will first be made available to existing subscribers first, with new customers being welcomed at a later stage.
KPN’s IPTV service Interactieve TV had 302,000 customers at the end of December 2010.


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Bethpage, NY - Sales & Orders has released its Cyber Monday 2017 US Google Shopping Analysis Snapshot, detailing a strong showing following what was a huge Black Friday.
E-commerce retailers experienced noteworthy growth this Cyber Monday compared to last, and much of the success can be credited to a willingness to spend more aggressively on Google Shopping.Traffic to e-commerce stores has been steadily rising across all major device platforms, and this Cyber Monday was no exception.
Clicks from mobile devices and tablets rose by 64% and 44% respectively, and retailers utilized that traffic to convert more visitors than last year.
One of the most noteworthy accomplishments is the fact that even with higher ad spend and more traffic, e-commerce stores managed to increase their return on ad spend and conversion rates on Google Shopping.
It also helped that average order values increased slightly from 2016 too. All of these contributing factors led to what was a very successful Cyber Monday, and should serve as a launching point to one of the most successful e-commerce holiday seasons yet.


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The new Honda Insight is smaller than the Toyota Prius, but a compact hybrid drivetrain and battery makes it just as roomy inside. The new Honda Insight hybrid promises to revolutionize the hybrid market by making gas-electric cars affordable. But the five-door hatchback with a rock-bottom price isn't the Prius killer Honda might have hoped for.
Honda isn't saying exactly what the car unveiled today at the Detroit auto show will cost when it rolls into showrooms on April 22 (Earth Day) but it will undercut the Toyota Prius by several thousand dollars. That won't be enough to knock a car that's synonymous with hybrid technology from its pedestal, but the 2010 Insight poses the first credible threat to Toyota's dominance of the hybrid market.
It's widely expected to cost no more than $20,000, and Honda almost certainly will sell every one of the 100,000 Insights destined for North America this year. Analysts say as many as half those sales could be siphoned away from Toyota. The next-generation Prius will debut during the show.
"The Insight has the potential to put the Prius in a world of hurt," says George Peterson, president of industry analysis firm AutoPacific.
But the Insight has more than a great price going for it. With its stellar fuel economy, snappy acceleration and clever interactive dashboard designed to help drivers maximize efficiency, the Insight is the world's first fun hybrid.
The Insight hybrid features Honda's Ecological Drive Assist System, an interactive dashboard display that offers real-time feedback on your driving style to help you maximize efficiency. Honda spent more than two years developing the car, which draws its name from the funky two-seater Insight hybrid that was the first gas-electric vehicle sold in America when it was introduced in 1999. The car never quite caught on, and Honda could only watch as the Prius outsold Honda's hybrids by four to one. Honda discontinued the Insight in 2006 and pulled the plug on the Accord hybrid the following year.
Tired of watching from the sidelines as Toyota dominated the field, the company decided the best way to close the gap was to make hybrids as cheap as they are efficient. "We want to open up the market to consumers who might not have considered hybrids in the past because of price considerations," says company spokesman Sage Marie, noting that although the Prius starts at $22,000, they often go for several thousand more than that when you can find one.
The new Insight builds on the Integrated Motor Assist technology underpinning the Civic hybrid, which remains in Honda's lineup and is slightly larger than the Insight. It sandwiches a 13-horsepower electric motor between the 88-horsepower four-cylinder engine and the continuously variable transmission. The combination delivers 98 horsepower and enough torque to let you accelerate away from a traffic light with a grin.
Honda's system isn't quite as fuel efficient as Toyota's Hybrid Synergy Drive, but with an estimated 40 mpg in the city and 43 on the highway, it's pretty close to the EPA's figures for the 2009 Prius. The compact size and lower cost of Honda's technology offers other advantages though. While smaller than the Prius, the Insight offers almost as much interior room and actually has more cargo room, thanks to a smaller electronic control unit and more efficient 5.75-amphere-hour, 100-volt, nickel-metal hydride battery under the rear seat.
The Insight builds on the Integrated Motor Assist technology underpinning the Civic hybrid, and mates an 88-horsepower four-cylinder engine to a 13-horsepower electric motor driven by a nickel-metal hydride battery. The interior has lots of clever touches – an iPod holder, storage compartments that can be reconfigured about a bazillion ways and, in a stroke of genius, a storage slot under the cargo floor for the retractable cargo cover. Options include a navi system, Bluetooth and iPod integration, though including those will probably bump the price above 20 grand. But the coolest gadget comes standard in every model – the interactive Ecological Drive Assist System.
Eco Assist uses a dashboard display and speedometer backlighting that effectively turn hypermiling – the fine art of maximizing fuel efficiency – into a videogame that coaches you on your driving style. There's also an Econ Mode that decreases throttle sensitivity, reduces air-conditioning demand and pulls a few other under-hood tricks to maximize fuel efficiency.
During a day behind the wheel last month, we managed an impressive 42.4 mpg without even trying. When we pushed the Econ Mode button and used Eco Assist to mind our hypermiling P's and Q's, the Insight returned an amazing 65.6 mpg. That's on par with the best figures we've seen from the Prius.
The irony is the Insight is the first hybrid with the driving dynamics that might encourage you to ignore your inner environmentalist and just have fun. While we didn't drag race a Prius, our seat-of-the-pants impression is the Insight has snappier acceleration, not to mention more responsive steering, better brakes and superior handling. The fully loaded EX version even offers shift paddles mounted on the steering wheel. The Insight isn't as sporty as, say, a Civic Si, but it's by no means a dull car.
Honda has packed a lot into the Insight's small and inexpensive package, and industry analysts say it may well usher in the "new era of affordability" for hybrids that company CEO Takeo Fukui promised last fall. Toyota and Hyundai already have plans to offer gas-electric models in the Insight's price range, industry watchers say, and it's only a matter of time before other automakers follow suit.
"Honda may set a new benchmark for others to shoot for with regard to cost, packaging and content," says Joe Langley, an auto industry analyst with CSM Worldwide. "We should start to see prices come down. This is the first step."


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NEW YORK, N.Y. /CitizenWire/ — HitPaw has released HitPaw Photo Enhancer V2.0.0 that has been improved with advanced AI algorithm to make the photo enhancing as simple as possible. This is to suit people’s higher-level demands of enhancing blurred&pixelated photographs, or even repair the old portrait photos. All the attributes of a image, such as […]
Tag Archives | Communication Arts
LOS ANGELES, Calif. /CitizenWire/ — Local Anchor joins the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank to kick off the annual “Season for Sharing” campaign. Local Anchor will mobilize the South Bay Los Angeles communities with a Kindness Cards initiative to bring a personal touch to food delivery around Thanksgiving time.
PITTSBURGH, Pa. /CitizenWire/ — Pittsburgh Internet Consulting (PIC) announced today the addition of Blaine Clapper to its experienced marketing consulting leadership team. Clapper joins PIC following his previous roles as Chief Marketing Officer at EnergyCAP, LLC and Sr. Director of B2B Marketing at AccuWeather, Inc. He will be based in State College, PA and will […]
HONG KONG /CitizenWire/ — PearlMountain announced that its FlexClip (https://www.flexclip.com) browser-based video editor has been updated to version 3.9. The update includes more editing options, built-in resources, increased functionality, and overall improved usability. Of special interest is the ability to save custom made video as a template.
WASHINGTON, D.C. /CitizenWire/ — The Things They Carry Project (TTC), part of New Directions in Writing, an offshoot of the Washington Baltimore Center for Psychoanalysis, was launched in April 2021 to offer writing for resilience workshops to frontline Covid healthcare workers suffering the trauma of working during the pandemic. The project has helped over 700 […]
CHICAGO, Ill. /CitizenWire/ — Black writers, bloggers, journalists, poets, songwriters, and screenwriters now have a place to showcase their work, find writing jobs, win cash prizes, and collaborate with peers. The Black Writers Collaborative, a new literary competition designed to empower writers with a flair for crafting culture-infused works of art, is the latest brainchild […]
SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. /CitizenWire/ — EPIC Insurance Brokers and Consultants, a retail property and casualty insurance brokerage and employee benefits consultant, announced today that its marketing and design team has been recognized for multiple Communicator Awards for its work in 2021. The Communicator Awards are an international awards program recognizing big ideas in marketing and […]
CAYCE, S.C. /CitizenWire/ — Pops Mart, LLC recently signed Sokal, the Raleigh, N.C. based automotive advertising agency firm, as their agency of record. Pops Mart, LLC, whose chain includes 24 stores currently, will utilize Sokal to provide website design, digital, and a variety of creative design services.
FORT SMITH, Ark. /CitizenWire/ — Weldon, Williams & Lick, Inc. (WW&L), a visionary provider of ticketing and custom security printed solutions, announced today that it has appointed Evan Gitomer as its first Chief Revenue Officer, effective immediately. In this newly created role, Evan will oversee and develop the go-to-market team and strategy to support growth […]
VENTURA, Calif. /CitizenWire/ — With Harper Point Photography, those in Ventura or Santa Barbara County don’t have to travel all the way to Los Angeles to get vibrant, eye-catching, professional photography for their products, brands, or other business or personal purposes. For more than 15 years now, the dream duo of Kira Friedman and Nathan […]
DETROIT, Mich. /CitizenWire/ — The Eulogy Writers (TheEulogyWriters.com), America’s leading eulogy writing service, established in 2014, today announced that a portion of every fee collected will be donated to the Save the Children® charity, designated for the assistance of Ukrainian refugees.
VENICE, Calif. /CitizenWire/ — Beyond Baroque, one of the nation’s leading literary arts centers, has announced that the Amanda Gorman Future Voices Poetry Prize is now actively accepting applications. The prize, created in honor of Beyond Baroque alumna and U.S. Presidential Inaugural Poet Amanda Gorman, will accept applications until May 1, 2022.
NEW YORK, N.Y. /CitizenWire/ — To meet people’s needs of fixing their blurred and pixelated images, HitPaw has proudly announced that HitPaw Photo Enhancer has been updated with powerful features making photo editing as easy as possible. HitPaw Photo Enhancer is enabled with Artificial Intelligence (AI) which can help users to adjust an image’s sharpness, […]
GYMPIE, Australia /CitizenWire/ — ArtistScope, a leading developer of DRM and copy protection software for more than 20 years, celebrates the 10th anniversary of the release of the ArtistScope Site Protection Software (ASPS) and the release of ArtisBrowser for all Windows, Mac, iOS and Android devices.
BOCA RATON, Fla. /CitizenWire/ — Forever Studios, a leading Florida-based photo restoration service and photo frame design studio established in 2011, today announced the launch of version 2.0 of its website, which allows its customers the ability to restore and enhance their personal photos and create personalized frames and gifts.
WOKING, U.K. /CitizenWire/ — Remote and virtual learning environments are putting educators under pressure to create engaging video materials, yet few teachers have the equipment or skills to record professional audio. Adding 60 new voices, Narakeet this week enabled educators to easily create video lessons and voiceovers in 40 languages and regional dialects.
CAROL STREAM, Ill. /CitizenWire/ — Effective November 1, 2021, TEAM Concept Printing, a Carol Stream, IL based commercial printer, has acquired Guardsman Laminating. The acquisition is the latest move in a long line of investments that TEAM Concept Printing has made to bolster their reputation as a one site full-service commercial printing provider.
LOS ANGELES, Calif. /CitizenWire/ — Professional video editors save content creators on platforms like YouTube and TikTok massive amounts of time. But communication, file sharing, and order tracking can make dealing with a video editor more trouble than it’s worth. VOMA, a first-of-its-kind platform launched by video editing startup Tasty Edits, seeks to solve these […]
ATLANTA, Ga. /CitizenWire/ — With more than 3,000 entries from around the globe, The Academy of Interactive and Visual Arts just announced the winners of its 16th Annual w3 Awards. FlexCare Digital Health, a leading provider of online and on-demand healthcare delivery, brought home a total of four awards and was recognized in the Mobile […]
FLORENCE, Ala. /CitizenWire/ — As a result of continued growth and client success, Lime Group, LLC, will begin offering marketing services tailored to specific business’ needs and goals. In the past, Lime Group has offered a flat rate for access to all of their resources from website development and maintenance to social media management and […]
CHICAGO, Ill. /CitizenWire/ — Is print cool or old school? According to the Productivity Network LLC, a Chicago-based print production company, it’s a little of both and that’s a good thing. In business for one year, the team at the Productivity Network is positive that print’s not just sexy, it’s downright hot.
OLYMPIA, Wash. /CitizenWire/ — Designed Conviction is a social enterprise with a mission to break the stigma around incarcerated and formerly incarcerated individuals and promote positive rehabilitation through art, media and marketing design.
RIVERSIDE, Ill. /CitizenWire/ — NationDigital.io is now a Social Enterprise venture of the EveryLibrary Institute, NFP, a non-partisan library-focused 501(c3) organization dedicated to the future of libraries and literacy across the globe. This acquisition will allow us to expand what we’re able to offer you!
NEW YORK, N.Y. /CitizenWire/ — Today, Roman Kropachek, co-founder of CleverFiles, serial IT entrepreneur, has announced the bid for the first ever NFT house on the Moon. The project has been in development by the team of architects and 3D visual artists with a total of over 1500 hours invested.
BROOKLYN, N.Y. /CitizenWire/ — Photographer Erica Reade announced today the kickoff of her fundraiser campaign “Beach Lover: a NYC Summer Love Story.” The photographic series about love and intimacy will be turned into a book that will offer nostalgic and candid images of the love shared between couples at the beaches of New York City.
ATLANTA, Ga. /CitizenWire/ — For more than 20 years Indigo Studios has been creating beautiful CGI content for its long-standing clients like Caterpillar, Ford, Daimler AG and Hasbro, to name a few. Once again, Indigo has pushed the creative bar even further by launching Indigo in Motion.
NEW YORK, N.Y. /CitizenWire/ — LR Paris, the leading Fully Integrated Agency offering Branded Product Solutions since 1959, announced the appointment of three Business Development Directors: Jeff Davis in Charlotte, Craig Foy in Atlanta, and Michael Phares in Chicago.
RICHMOND, Va. /CitizenWire/ — Commissioner C. Ray Davenport announced today that the International Paper Company – Richmond Container in Richmond, Virginia, has been re-approved as a STAR Worksite under Virginia’s Occupational Safety and Health (VOSH) Voluntary Protection Program (VPP), the program’s highest level of recognition. The facility was honored with their sixth Certificate of Recognition […]
LOS ANGELES, Calif., Sept. 15, 2020 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — Packform, a company accelerating in the sphere of digital innovation, has further established its position as a startup to watch after being named the winner of a Gold Stevie Award in the Tech Startup of the Year – Software category.
ATHENS, Ga., Sept. 11, 2020 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — Axis Graphic Installations found its world-class sign installation services on full display during the recent March on Washington, held Aug. 28, 2020 – the 57th anniversary of the historic gathering where Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his famous “I Have a Dream” speech. Ice cream carts […]
LOS ANGELES, Calif., Sept. 3, 2020 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — AAA Flag & Banner, the company that made headlines with its quick and innovative solution for filling empty Major League Baseball stadiums with cardboard cutout fans, has elevated its service to the next level with the rollout of custom online ordering portals for teams across the […]
LAS VEGAS, Nev., Oct. 20, 2020 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — Founded by Uber alums Jason and Diana Liles, New American Fine Art aims to bring the restorative qualities of the great outdoors to overworked employees and cooped up quarantiners around the globe. The online photography gallery – launching Aug. 24, 2020 – will feature ultra-high-resolution images […]
HONG KONG, Aug. 18, 2020 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — In exciting for the company, FlexClip, a browser-based video making product from PearlMountain, has reported a 400% user growth for a total of 330k monthly active users over the last year. This trend continues to grow.
AURORA, Colo., June 23, 2020 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — Marie Green, founder Inspired Prose Printables, saw a need and filled it. She used her graphic design skills to create a business that helps busy parents wrangle schedules through simple drag and drop features that are actually fun for kids to follow.
SACRAMENTO, Calif., June 16, 2020 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — Glynns Thomas Portraits LLC, a business specializing in headshot and custom stock photography, is proud to announce national certification as a Women’s Business Enterprise (WBE) and as a Woman Owned Small Business (WOSB).
ATLANTA, Ga., June 16, 2020 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — Chris Clor joins Indigo Studios LLC as Director of CGI, after building his career as an award-winning photographer/illustrator, CGI artist and retoucher.
IRVINE, Calif., June 10, 2020 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — Fisheye Studio has seen the demand for live streaming increase for weddings since the global COVID-19 pandemic. The Orange County, California based wedding videography company recently filmed a wedding on May 20 in Hollywood for a couple whose original plans to wed were to be at the […]
CHARLOTTE, N.C., May 6, 2020 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — Three weeks ago ETA challenged WiT Group to develop an online marketplace for buyers and sellers of emergency vehicles. WiT Group, a Charlotte, N.C. based marketing agency, completed a full website redesign including the development of custom-designed responsive web pages, a fully functional online marketplace, and a […]
BOGART, Ga., April 23, 2020 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — StickTogether.Family, whose mission is to promote awareness of the impact a community spread virus can have on the immunosuppressed, announced today the creation of a universal icon that visually communicates being immunosuppressed and encourages physical distancing efforts during the current pandemic.
HEBRON, Ky., April 21, 2020 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — FiberShield.org, a new international coalition of paper and packaging companies, founded by Ed Zumbiel of Zumbiel Packaging, Hebron, Kentucky and Andreas Keller, of Pawi, Switzerland, in response to the PPE shortage, has, in less than a month manufactured more than 1 million face shields to help protect […]


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Just because it already owns Motorola doesn’t mean Lenovo has stopped making its own smartphones. In some markets (really only in China), Motorola’s name means squat while Lenovo’s brand resonates more loudly. Or perhaps it used to before the age of Xiaomi, OPPO, Vivo, and OnePlus. To prove that it still has what it takes, Lenovo will soon be launching its high-end Lenovo Z5 Pro that will adopt a trendy new design that its compatriots have tried once and then abandoned.
Lenovo might be better known as the world’s largest PC maker but at least in China it was also known for its VIBE and Z mobile devices. Perhaps because of increased competition in its homeland, Lenovo acquired Motorola from Google in the hopes of turning both companies’ mobile businesses around. So far, neither have returned to their glory days, at least not yet.
At the company’s Tech World 2018 event in China, Lenovo EVP Liu Jun showed off its next gen smartphone, the Lenovo Z5 Pro. It wasn’t a full announcement so a lot of the finer details were left out. But those who have seen what Xiaomi, OPPO, and Vivo have done for the past year or so, its design will be quite familiar.
Quite notable is the lack of any bezel or a notch for that matter. Unless Lenovo has chosen to totally snub selfie lovers and video chat users, the only option is that it has adopted the elevating camera trick used by the Vivo NEX S and OPPO Find X. whether it has its own spin on the mechanism, we’ll have to wait and see. The Z5 Pro will also supposedly have a fingerprint-on-display (FOD). Hopefully, it will still also offer a face unlock option.
According to a Weibo post, Liu Jun says that the Lenovo Z5, which launched a few months ago, sold very well in China. That despite some people calling the company out for some rather deceptive marketing. It has barely made a dent in the global smartphone market though, be it in sales or interest. Perhaps the Z5 Pro will have a different story when it formally debuts on October 11.


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(Northampton, MA) — The World Eye Bookshop in Florence is closing on Saturday. The store has been operating next to the Cup and Top Cafe since 2012. Owner Jessica Mullins says there just wasn’t enough business. Her longstanding Greenfield store is doing fine and will remain open.
The U.S. government has not yet notified any of the 21.5 million federal employees and contractors whose security clearance data was hacked more than three months ago.
Millennials get plenty of recognition for frugality and their desire to share everything from cars to clothes, but they also have the lowest average credit score of any generation.
The jury deciding the fate of rape suspect Adam Liccardi resumes deliberations Wednesday morning
FERC says since this is a pre-filing, the deadline for comments on the pipeline environmental impact statement is flexible


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Posted on 06/07/19 by Cara O'Donnell
"We needed to educate the community in a way we never did before."
That's how Victor Hoskins described the months following the announcement that Amazon had selected Arlington as the new home for its coveted HQ2. Hoskins was part of a panel discussion at the annual City Nation Place Americas conference. The event, held this year in Los Angeles, focuses on connecting nations, cities, regions and place brands around the world to focus on strategies for engaging citizens, driving investment, attracting talent and developing sustainable tourism.
For Hoskins' presentation, which focused on advocacy for a place brand and the impact on the community, the message was clear. Arlington-- and any community-- has residents that want to be truly engaged. They want to be informed. They want collaboration. And most importantly, they want their voices heard. Arlington accomplished this on HQ2 through more than 100 community engagement sessions to listen to residents, the private sector, and community leaders.
Throughout the conference, attendees also heard from communities throughout the U.S. and Canada. More than 200 people attended the conference, now in its third year in the U.S.Topic: Economic Update


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Some international cybercriminals have been taken out, thanks to U.S. authorities.
Yesterday, U.S. Attorney Loretta Lynch said authorities had broken up an international cybercrime ring that may have cheated Americans out of more than $3 million through false online advertisements of luxury items like cars, such as Lexuses and BMWs, boats and motorcycles.
Authorities arrested seven individuals yesterday—six of whom are Romanian citizens. Officials in Romania, the Czech Republic, the U.K. and Canada were all involved in arresting the criminals.
“As alleged, the defendants ran a sophisticated fraud scheme that used the Internet to reach across the globe and into the homes of unsuspecting Americans,” Lynch told the Wall Street Journal. “They utilized high-tech counterfeiting techniques to create an aura of online legitimacy. This virtual con game nevertheless cost Americans real money.”
According to authorities, the schemers used false names, advertising the luxury items valued between $10,000 and $45,000. They corresponded with victims via email and provided them with false certificates of title to convince them the sales were legitimate, prosecutors said.
A cooperating witness who opened U.S. bank accounts to receive and transfer funds to the criminals overseas helped bring the cyber ring down, according to authorities. U.S. authorities said they will seek extradition of the defendants arrested abroad.
Read more about this story in the Wall Street Journal Law Blog.
For more InsideCounsel stories about cybercrime, see:


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Zillow announced Tuesday morning that it would resume buying homes via Zillow Offers in five more markets, making 20 out of its 24 markets operational again since pausing the service due to COVID-19.
Home sellers in Los Angeles; Riverside, California; Minneapolis; Cincinnati; and Orlando, Florida can once again sell their homes directly to Zillow Offers.
About a month ago, iBuying resumed in Atlanta; Dallas; San Antonio; Austin, San Diego and Sacramento, California.
“Home sellers want a more convenient, seamless and safe way to sell their home, and we’re excited to bring Zillow Offers back to more sellers around the country,” said Zillow President Jeremy Wacksman.
“The rapid adoption of technology and virtual tools is creating a new and safer landscape for the entire real estate experience,” Wacksman continued. “With Zillow Offers, a homeowner can sell their house without any of the traditional hassles of open houses, home showings or prepping a house for sale, and can have more certainty and control than ever before — all on their own timeline. ”
Zillow said that new pending sales and new for-sale listings are higher than they were last month, and web traffic to for-sale listings is up 41% from the previous year. Homes are selling at their fastest pace since June 2018.
As Zillow re-enters the market during the pandemic, it said it is also launching a health-safety initiative to protect its customers, employees and partners.
Zillow said for-sale homes will undergo an additional cleaning regimen, and personal protective equipment, such as masks and gloves, will be recommended for all people entering the properties. Also, the number of in-person tours will be limited to allow for healthy distancing.
Last month, Zillow partnered with former U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Regina Benjamin, who is advising the company on its health and safety protocols.
Prospective homebuyers can virtually walk through homes with Zillow’s 3D home tours, request a virtual tour or consultation, and in some markets, can use self-tour technology to visit a home unassisted.


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US retailer Kmart has launched a money-off programme for the jobless in its original home state of Michigan.
The retailer’s Smart Assist Savings Scheme entitles the unemployed to discounts of 20 per cent on own-label staples such as baby products, basic groceries and toilet roll.
Kmart is issuing discount cards, valid for six months, to customers who are registered as unemployed. It expects to carry on issuing the cards until January, The Financial Times reported.
Michigan, where Kmart was founded in 1962 and where its head office was based until 2005, has an unemployment rate of 14.1 per cent – the highest in the US, where the national average is 9.4 per cent.
Other retailers have implemented similar schemes. Spartan Stores, a 99-store grocery chain based in Michigan, issued discount cards to former General Motors employees and Green Hills, a New York family-owned grocer, runs a Recession Assistance scheme, giving the registered unemployed a 10 per cent discount.


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It may be difficult for those whose toy companies once suffered at the hands of Mario and Donkey Kong to believe but Nintendo is battling changes in how people want to play. Wii U, the highly touted new gaming system, according to the company, has sold a shocking 70% fewer units than forecasted. As a result of that bad news and poor showing by other of its products; the company reported a loss of $240 million and as a result its stock value fell 17%. This is particularly startling when you consider that, as a whole, NPD reported video game hardware and software sales as up 2%.
What is the problem; it seems that Nintendo has bet too heavily on the assumption that console based play could withstand the onslaught of portable play. Why should a consumer invest in a console when there is so much free or subscription based digital play availalbe on the mobile devices they already own? Why be tethered to a Nintendo device when you can roam free? That's why you won't find Mario or Donkey Kong on your iPhone or tablet.
But what about phygital gaming systems like Activison’s Skylander or Disney Infinity, hat in my next posting?


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Italian dressing and juice provider Polenghi LAS has developed Europe’s first extrusion blow-molded bio-based bottle for its organic lemon juice, using a new blend formulation of Ingeo™ polylactic acid from NatureWorks LLC.
By switching from polyolefin resin to Ingeo for packaging 10 million bottles of its new Bio organic lemon juice brand, Polenghi will conserve 1,000 barrels of oil and will reduce CO2 emissions by 126 tons compared to an equivalent oil-based plastic squeeze bottle, relates NatureWorks.
The supplier confirms that Polenghi’s achievement demonstrates the first European commercial introduction of a bioplastic substitute for polyolefin resins in extrusion blow-molding applications. The bioplastic is also said to offer stable pricing compared to the volatility experienced in the petroleum market.
Polyethylene and polypropylene are the polyolefins typically used in the extrusion blow-molding process to produce the “soft” plastic packaging often used for food and personal care squeeze bottles. The resin manufacturing process to produce Ingeo bioplastic emits 38% less CO2 and consumes 45% less energy than the resin manufacturing process for an equivalent-weight low-density PE, NatureWorks says. The resin manufacturing process to produce Ingeo is also said to emit 31.6% less CO2 and consume 42% less energy than the resin manufacturing process for PP.
“We are extremely proud of the technical achievements that led to the development of this low carbon-footprint ‘Eco Bottle,’ the first of its kind in Europe,” says company sales director Marco Polenghi. “This bottle and shrink-sleeve label, both made from renewably sourced Ingeo bioplastic, presents us with the opportunity to differentiate our Bio organic lemon juice.”
Says Marc Verbruggen, president and CEO of NatureWorks, “Over the past two years, we’ve seen the expansion of Ingeo applications into such manufacturing processes as injection molding and higher-heat thermoforming. With its innovative Ingeo blend, Polenghi now offers a lower carbon-emission/lower-energy alternative to polyolefins in extrusion blow-molding applications.”
The Polenghi Bio organic lemon juice, packed in the Eco Bottle, is now available in Italy and will soon be stocked in stores throughout Europe.


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Misspelled words and poor printing led Cincinnati officers of U.S. Customs and Border Protection to seize 1,683 counterfeit COVID-19 vaccination cards, the agency said today.
The cards were part of five shipments seized since Aug. 16, and the shipments included 2,034 fake Pfizer inoculation stickers, the CBP said in a release.
“Although the vaccination cards displayed a logo for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), officers noticed misspellings and substandard printing — clues that they were fake,” the CBP said.
The shipments, which originated in China, were being imported by non-medical entities in private residences and apartments in Illinois, Maryland, Missouri, New York and Texas.
“Creating or buying a fake COVID-19 vaccination card is illegal, not to mention dangerous,” said Cincinnati Port Director Richard Gillespie. “Purchasing counterfeit cards supports criminals whose only concern is their bank account, not American security or the health of our citizens.”
CBP has seized thousands of counterfeit COVID-19 vaccination cards in Chicago, Memphis, Anchorage and Pittsburgh.
The CBP said consumers can educate themselves about COVID-19 health fraud and can report suspected scams at https://oig.hhs.gov/fraud/consumer-alerts/fraud-alert-covid-19-scams/?utm_source=oig-home&utm_medium=oig-whats-trending&utm_campaign=covid19-fraud-alert.
About the Author


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Warner Bros. reveals Max: Rebranded HBO Max
Warner Bros. Discovery has announced that HBO Max has rebranded to Max today. From now on, the streaming service will have a simpler name, and it will be called "Max." Besides,
Warner Bros. Discovery has announced the rebranded versos go HBO Max in a press release and gave all the details that fans are eager about. The company has shifted gears in 4k content, and a couple of more features have also been added.
For $19.99/month or $199.99/year, Max will launch a new Ultimate Ad-Free tier that includes popular programs like Game of Thrones, The Last of Us, Harry Potter, The Lord of the Rings trilogy, The Dark Knight trilogy, The Matrix films, and more. This tier will offer four concurrent streams, up to 100 offline downloads, and nearly eight times as much 4K UHD content as HBO Max. For a minimum of six months after debut, current HBO Max members will continue to have access to the features of their current plans.
"We understand the value of offering our users a cinematic playback experience, and to that end, we've implemented more advanced technology workflows that allow us to release more 4K content faster and more efficiently. Max will offer more than 1,000 films and episodes in 4K at launch, and we'll be adding more every month as we move forward," said Sudheer Sirivara, Global Technology Platform, Warner Bros. Discovery.
The company mentioned that Dolby Atmos and Vision will also be available for select content and devices. Besides, Max comes with 60 fps content to make everything sharper while showcasing deeper and richer colors alongside boasting atmospheric audio.
HBO Max had many fan-favorite series and films, including Succession. With its rebranded version, people can watch them in better quality. Apart from the existing movies, all of the Warner Bros. movies released this year, as well as the ones waiting to be released, will be available in 4K UHD when they arrive on Max after their theatrical windows.Advertisement


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Vijay C Roy
Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, June 16
Babita Gupta, founder of Sonepat-based Sarangi Creations, has been supplying home furnishings to the domestic and international markets since 2007. However, in March this year, her company, like most other businesses, took a hit because of the pandemic followed by the lockdown. As the demand for her products fell significantly, she started looking for ways to keep her business afloat and forayed into making face masks.
She secured her first order of 80,000 masks from Walmart’s Best Price and has already sold over 1.5 lakh masks. “This is the crisis for which we were not prepared. I had a support from Walmart’s Vriddhi team that offered mentorship. Considering the shortage of masks in the country, I decided to venture into its manufacturing,” said Babita. She plans to export masks to Italy and the UK.
Like Babita, there are many others who have diversified into unexplored territories for their sustenance.
Shivani Agarwal, founder of Scraft Products (P) Ltd., was manufacturing tissue papers, toilet rolls and aluminum foil for food packaging before the Covid. With the lockdown and curbs on travel, the demand for these products fell significantly. Considering the demand transition, she diversified into manufacturing hand sanitisers and disinfectants. She has supplied over one lakh litres of hand sanitiser since March.
Similarly, when Rahul Bajaj’s steel utensils business came to a halt after the lockdown, he started manufacturing hands-free hand-wash station, which operates through a foot pedal. He also devised a sensor-based sanitiser dispenser.
“We have serviced over 4,000 orders for hands-free hand-wash stations to several companies and government institutions,” said Rahul. He has received orders from the Home Ministry, CRPF, BSF, police stations, mohalla clinics, Hero Moto Corp, Wipro, Aam Aadmi Party and the BJP among others. He plans to launch automatic foot sanitiser, which is ideal for public places.
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The McRib Is Back! And It's Hitting A Milestone Birthday!
Los Angeles(Knewz) — Many would believe the guy who invented Chicken McNuggets in 1979 would be happy to rest on his McDonald’s laurels. But no, the chain’s first executive chef, René Arend, a native of Luxembourg, kept on scheming in the kitchen and came up shortly thereafter with the McRib.
Officially launched in 1981, the beloved sandwich turns 40 this year and is set to return to McDonald’s menus Nov. 1.
It’s easy to forget how rough things were in the early days for the McRib. McDonald’s pulled the item off its permanent menu in 1985 due to mediocre sales.
Although the pork sandwich subsequently made a few promotional returns, it wasn’t until a tie-in with the 1994 feature film “The Flinstones” that the McRib really took off.
To put the McRib 40th anniversary in perspective, consider just a few of the many other things born in 1981 — Britney Spears, Lean Cuisine, Paris Hilton, Pudding Pops, Meghan Markle, I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butte; and Beyonce.
The genealogy of the McRib actually goes back a little further than 1981. Per a write-up by Thrillist earlier this year, so-called restructured meat – taking discarded bits of pork or chicken and using them for something mashed – was first developed at a military research center in Natick, Massachusetts, in the late 1960s.
From there, it became a staple of Meal, Ready-to-Eat packets among U.S. military ranks in the 1970s, with an assist from a professor at the University of Nebraska, Roger Mandingo, who figured out how to bind the stuff better using animal protein.
“In the 80s, the masterminds behind McDonald’s food innovation had a truly unique idea: an undeniably delicious sandwich that could be enjoyed during the colder seasons,” said Mike Bullington, Senior Archives Manager at McDonald’s. “Whether you’re a McRib loyalist or first timer, there is no denying that the McRib is one of the most iconic sandwiches of the last four decades and we have thousands of emails and tweets from fans to prove it.”


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Amid a massive shift in consumer demand toward more sustainable products, a very important caveat remains somewhat elusive for many manufacturers: The products still have to be good.
In early December 2019, I found myself at Art Basel in Miami Beach, Florida. A global art market-turned-glitterati gathering, Art Basel has turned into a brand activation nexus where large corporations can demonstrate how “woke” they still are. In the midst of this, one of the most popular events was Lonely Whale’s Museum of Plastic — a pop-up museum, much like the lauded Museum of Ice Cream, dedicated to displaying the impact of single-use plastics on the environment.
The activation was engaging. However, as the former head of business development for a nonprofit that promotes sustainability and climate change focuses around the world, what struck me was how far off we still are from making sustainable and environmentally conscious consumption a part of our daily lives. Many of the products or sponsors on display at the museum were new market entrants. Opportunities to scale were elusive.
Over the past decade, many millennial and Generation Z consumers have started demanding that brands take into account sustainability goals in the production of products. Climate change is ranked as one of the most important issues for voters in this upcoming presidential election. The Green New Deal is gaining steam, while brands like Marriott and Disney have announced ambitious sustainability programs.
What manufacturers need to realize, first and foremost, is that their product needs to be good, useful and desirable, in addition to being sustainable. Consumers have an increasing expectation of sustainability, but it is not the core reason they are going to purchase your product. Fortunately, I believe there are some time-tested and easy ways to move toward these goals — namely, focusing on the value of your minimum viable product (MVP) and building something people want, and paying close attention to user experience and design goals.


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Owner refuses to discount good service
By GORDON CLARK -- email@example.com
CALL John Taylor old-fashioned if you like... but he doesnt believe all customers would sacrifice prompt, efficient service from happy staff for a small discount on their bill.
Thats the reason he has turned down an offer for his Aerodrome Road outlet to join the Caltex/Woolworths joint venture which offers Woolies shoppers a 4cents-per-litre discount at certain Caltex stores.
The decision has angered some customers with staff being abused by people who found out after theyd filled up that discount vouchers werent accepted.
Despite acknowledging that business would probably increase significantly if the outlet accepted the vouchers, Mr Taylor said he didnt think the site could cope.
"Our customers have come to expect a prompt, happy experience and to be served by happy, efficient staff, he said.
"The extra business would just totally block the site up.
Mr Taylor acknowledged the risk the decision carried, saying Woolies would no doubt want to give its customers the opportunity to redeem their discount vouchers.
"Were taking a risk for sure, he said, adding he suspected the retailing giant would probably buy or build another outlet in the vicinity.
Ironically, Mr Taylor said he would have loved the chance for his Currimundi service station, adjacent to Woolies Marketplace complex, to take part in the scheme.
But Woolworths opened its own service station on the Marketplace site in June, something he said it was planning to do even before the shopping centre was built.


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With the pandemic reducing right now, many people are growing, out of the online Apps & Software, in the lifestyle they’ve lived. However, certain practices have uncovered, secret benefits. One of them is online grocery shopping.
People have started to buy Indian groceries online. Now that people already buy most, of their products from Amazon, Flipkart, etc., the benefits of ordering, the best Indian grocery online will be revealed here.


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Volkswagen AG’s new plan of attack in the wake of the huge diesel emissions crisis includes a shift of focus towards profit growth rather than sales volume, according to the newly appointed chief executive officer.
The announcement effectively axes the long running drive to achieve the No.1 global sales position from Japan’s Toyota – a milestone briefly achieved following the results of the first six months of the year and a core credo for the Ferdinand Piech chairman and Martin Winterkorn chief executive officer. But following two subsequent crises this year both are now out of the picture and more importantly VW is now battling the biggest business crisis in its 78-year history – following its admission of cheating on diesel emissions testing in the US. “A lot has become secondary to going ‘higher, faster, further’, especially return on sales,” commented Matthias Mueller said in a statement, designed to showcase VW’s next moves. “It’s is not about selling 100,000 cars more or less than a big competitor. It is rather about qualitative growth,” the company added, also saying the strategy through the middle of the next decade will be outlined halfway through next year.
The strategy revamp also comes after the company said its third quarter financial results were negative, the first loss in more than 15 years. The automaker has provisioned 6.7 billion euros ($7.4 billion) to cover initial costs of the scandal, while aiming to investigate the full extent of the diesel emissions cheat. Europe’s largest automaker is under pressure to repair up to 11 million autos and has already announced a wide range recall of 8.5 million cars in the European Union.


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London’s top auction houses have cancelled their Russian art sales in response to the invasion of Ukraine. Sotheby’s and Christie’s announced that their June sales have been called off in response to the Russian invasion.
The news follows pressure on businesses to sever ties with Russia after Russian President Vladimir Putin’s decision to invade Ukraine on February 24. Announcing the Russian sale’s cancellation on their website, Sotheby’s said: “The Russian Art auctions will not be taking place in London this June. Our hearts and thoughts go out to all those affected by the Ukraine crisis.”
In a further statement a spokesperson for the auction house said: “We are absolutely rigorous about following the present sanctions, and are monitoring closely for any updates to the lists.” Sotheby’s also confirmed that their Moscow office had been closed and no art exhibition would be held there for the time being.
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Auction house Christie’s also confirmed their June sale had been cancelled in response to the war. In a statement they said: “All of us at Christie’s are deeply shocked and saddened by the worsening conflict in Ukraine and our thoughts are with everyone affected. While the current sales market for Christie's in Russia as a whole is relatively small, we have a responsibility to respond to our clients' needs and to geopolitical events that are out of our control.”
Christie’s also said they would be taking extra steps to ensure they complied with international sanction laws. Sotheby’s and Christie’s are considered some of the capital’s leading auction houses and, alongside other auctioneers, usually hold two Russian art sales a year in June and November, during what is known as ‘Russian Art Week’.
Sales of Russian art generally generate sales of millions of pounds for the auction houses, and draw in a variety of wealthy international buyers. Sotheby’s most recent Russian Art sale generated a total £17.7 million, higher than all the other auction houses selling Russian art that week combined.
The Russian invasion of Ukraine has seen many international companies withdraw business from Russia, including luxury brands such as brands such as Chanel, Hermes and Prada.
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Startup Craft Liquors vies with bigger liquor stores for first Needham licenses
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Edward Spivak is hoping that the previously dry town of Needham will soon grant him one of six liquor licenses that are up for grabs there.
Spivak, 27, is hoping that his 30-page business plan for his proposed Needham liquor store — Craft Liquors of Needham — as well as his detailed renderings and the fact that his shop will sell meats and cheeses, will wow town officials and convince them that he's serious about building a positive addition for the town center.
Spivak is competing against nine other businesses that include heavy hitters in the liquor store business, including Gordon's Fine Wines and Liquors, and Blanchards.
Spivak has signed a letter of intent with the landlord for about 5,000 square feet of space at 922-932 Great Plain Ave. — the location of the old movie theater in Needham.
Applications will be presented in a public hearing Feb. 2. Spivak could know as soon as next week if he scores a liquor license or not. The Needham Board of Selectmen is considering the applicants whose proposals have identified locations.
“This opportunity came out of nowhere,” said Spivak. “Liquor and wine and spirits are a passion of mine, and because it’s so rare for a new market to open up, I couldn't waste the opportunity.
The concept of Spivak's store is a high-end liquor store that features locally made beer and wine, as well as artisan cheeses, meats and other specialty products.
In November, Needham residents voted to allow the sale of liquor in the town.
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DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN) – The brand for a new downtown center for innovation in the Miami Valley region was revealed Tuesday.
The University of Dayton and The Entrepreneurs Center unveiled the student-designed logo and brand for The Hub at the Arcade, which will promote economic growth and provided services and space for local startups.
“The Hub at the Arcade brand connects to the mission of this space,” Vincent Lewis, director of the University’s Crotty Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership and president of the Arcade Innovation Hub LLC, said. “It conveys a sense of place, community and progress — a focal point for the region’s startup ecosystem that looks to the future while respecting our city’s history.”
The design by Megan Lewis of Dayton “pulls its colors from the cornucopias that line the inside of the Arcade’s rotunda.” The cornucopias are original to the building.
“We continue to see incredible momentum among Dayton entrepreneurs,” added Scott Koorndyk, president of The Entrepreneurs Center. “The Hub brand and purpose will bolster opportunities for innovators to launch their ideas, grow their businesses, and drive prosperity in the region. The Hub brand is, by design, modern and forward-looking; at the same time it connects to the historic setting of the Arcade.”


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New York market research firm Harris Interactive has just outed the results for its latest Harris Poll, and guess who came out on top of the luxury automotive sector poll? If you guessed Mercedes-Benz, then you’re absolutely right! Merc received the 2011 Harris Poll EquiTrend® Luxury Automotive Brand of the Year title.
Erstwhile winner Lexus dropped to number two in the luxury segment poll. Rounding out the luxury top five are BMW, Infiniti and Acura. Mercedes-Benz won big as the poll reflects an excellent score when it comes to customer connection, commitment, equity and trust.
This year’s Harris Poll involved surveying 25,099 individuals aged 15 up. They were asked randomly about 60 different brands out of 1,273. Rankings were made based on Familiarity, Quality, as well as Purchase Consideration. Each brand had a mnimum of a thousand responses to ensure an accurate estimation.
Meanwhile, Ford was the frontrunner for the full-line automaker sector. The company banked on a strong line of new offerings to beat Chevrolet, Honda and Toyota. Toyota was the winner last year, but dropped to fourth for the latest polls.


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VMware Tweaks Virtualization Stack, Boasts of Greenness and Sales
Published: May 20, 2008
by Timothy Prickett Morgan
Server and desktop virtualization juggernaut VMware, a subsidiary of disk array maker EMC, last week took the wraps off two more features in its Infrastructure 3 server virtualization software stack, this time focusing on disaster recovery and software staging. At the same time, VMware is coming off a pretty good quarter in sales and is boasting of the greenness of its products.
With Site Recovery Manager, VMware is taking a more open approach to disaster recovery than it originally took with VMware Infrastructure a few years ago, when the high availability and replication features of the hypervisor and related file systems all worked using VMware's own code. As Citrix Systems has done recently with its XenServer hypervisor and related tools, VMware is now, with Site Recovery Manager, making use of the data replication and high availability software built into many modern disk arrays. As has been VMware's modus operandi since it became clear that server hypervisors would become a commodity, the company is more concerned about selling an integrated and diverse stack of software products and related services than trying to retain control of its dominant position in server hypervisors. (This strategy maximizes profits.)
Site Recovery Manager is a module that plugs into VMware's Virtual Center command and control tool for virtualization, and allows that tool to create, update, and document disaster recovery plans for hypervisors and their server instances. It also allows the testing of those failover plans in an isolated test environment--something that is economically prohibitive in physical server environments. Finally, the tool allows a tested failover plan for a hypervisor's guests to be automated so system administrators do not even have to be around to do a failover in the event something goes awry.
VMware also last week announced the delivery of another module called Stage Manager, which is based on the Lab Manager software that the company got when it bought Akimbi Systems in late 2006. While Lab Manager was aimed at allowing developers to create and manage zillions of instances of software stacks for testing code, Stage Manager is the grown-up version intended for production IT environments and rolls applications and their related virtual machines through pre-production stages--such as integration, testing, staging, and end user acceptance--and then into actual production. Stage Manager has been in a public best test since January 2008.
Finally, because everything is a bundle these days, VMware announced yet more different packaging options for its Infrastructure 3 stack. The IT Service Delivery Bundle adds Life Cycle Manager--a module announced in March that allows hypervisors and guests to be provisioned, metered and charged back to their users, and decommissioned--to either Lab Manager (for developers) or Stage Manager (for administrators). The Management and Automation Bundle is for sites who are concerned with high availability and the delivery of services, and it includes Lifecycle Manager, Lab Manager, Stage Manager, and Site Recovery Manager. Pricing for these bundles and modules was not available as we went to press.
In a more interesting aside, VMware is telling customers and competitors alike that it has virtualized more than 6 million workloads on servers since 1998, and estimates that this virtualization has saved the companies of the world an estimated 39 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity at a cost of about $4.4 billion. This is apparently about the same amount of juice that Denmark consumes in a year. VMware's sales pitch is that it can save customers anywhere from 80 percent to 90 percent on electricity through consolidation and that it is seeing consolidation ratios as high as 60 to 1 on servers using its tools. This is probably not the typical compression ratio or savings.
But such benefits are clearly driving VMware's sales and profits. In the first quarter ended March 31, VMware reported software license sales of $294 million, up 73.4 percent, and services sales of $144.2 million, up 61.8 percent. Overall sales rose by 69.4 percent to $438.2 million. While revenue was up like an F15 (not quite as good as the triple-digit rocket growth VMware saw two years ago), profits didn't climb much, rising only 4.8 percent to just a hair over $43 million. Research, development, sales, and marketing costs have risen faster than revenue growth, and that is hurting profits. Competition from Citrix Systems, Microsoft, and Virtual Iron is hurting some, too. And the hurting that Microsoft is going to bring to bear on VMware has not even begun, really. This is why VMware is forecasting only 50 percent revenue growth in 2008.
Sun Inks OEM Deal with VMware for Virtualization
VMware Revs Desktop Virtualization Offerings
Wall Street Lets Some Air Out of VMware
VMware's Sales Up 90 Percent in the Third Quarter
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GT’s agreements with Apple to produce sapphire for iPhone screens were “oppressive and burdensome” and terminating the companies’ deal was the only way to stop the bleeding, GT said in filings Friday with U.S. Bankruptcy Court in New Hampshire.
GT filed for bankruptcy protection last Monday, surprising many investors and people who follow the company closely.
WSJD is the Journal’s home for tech news, analysis and product reviews.
One filing on Friday sought to reject GT’s contract with Apple, while the other sought permission to wind down its sapphire operations in Mesa, Ariz., and Salem, Mass. “The cash burn at GTAT’s sapphire-manufacturing operations for the benefit of Apple is not sustainable,” GT said.
The company said it regretted the potential lost jobs but that closing the factories by year-end would help stop mounting losses. GT sought permission to pay incentive bonuses totaling up to $64,700 to some 13 employees who will help wind down the operations.
GT also sought permission to assert claims against Apple.
Apple declined to address GT’s latest filings and reiterated an earlier statement. “We are focused on preserving jobs in Arizona following GT’s surprising decision and we will continue to work with state and local officials as we consider our next steps,” Apple said Wednesday.
Bankruptcy Judge Henry Boroff on Thursday ruled that GT could keep details of its arrangement with Apple confidential. Judge Boroff also authorized GT to seal court papers that explained what went wrong in the financing and supply arrangement with Apple, GT’s largest creditor and once its potentially largest customer.
GT trade creditors are owed $145 million, while bondholders are owed $434 million.
—Daisuke Wakabayashi and Peg Brickley contributed to this article.
Write to Joseph Checkler at email@example.com


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During the coming holiday season, Wal-Mart will offer more than 700 licensed Disney Frozen items, which is more than any other retailer. The toy items include Jakks Pacific’s Frozen Snow Glow Elsa, Blip’s Frozen Dancing Olaf, Disney‘s Frozen Sing-Along DVD, and more.
More than 3 million Disney Frozen Elsa and Anna role-play dresses have been sold at Disney Store and mass retailers in North America in less than a year, according to Disney Consumer Products. Elsa and Anna also led costume sales by double digits at all Disney Store locations in North America. In addition, the National Retail Federation’s 2014 Halloween Consumer Top Costumes Survey said that an estimated 2.6 million children planned to dress up as one of Disney’s Frozen characters this Halloween.
Since Frozen’s release last November, Disney Publishing Worldwide and its licensees have published more than 800 Frozen print titles globally and more than 35 e-books in the U.S. The Disney Karaoke: Frozen app has reached the No. 1 spot in the iPad Entertainment Downloads category in more than 100 countries worldwide, and the Disney Frozen: Free Fall app is Disney Interactive’s top-grossing and most downloaded app of the year.
Macy’s will be introducing the Holiday Arcade, in-store gifting shops offering customers an eclectic assortment of distinctive and playful options for their holiday shopping lists. These shops will launch at six Macy’s locations between late October and mid-November:
- Macy’s South Coast Plaza in Costa Mesa, Calif.
- Macy’s Union Square in San Francisco, Calif.
- Macy’s Dadeland in Miami, Fla.
- Macy’s State Street in Chicago, Ill.
- Macy’s Herald Square in New York, N.Y.
- Macy’s Center City in Philadelphia, Pa.
The Holiday Arcade at five locations including Macy’s South Coast Plaza, Macy’s Union Square, Macy’s State Street, Macy’s Herald Square, and Macy’s Center City will be home to exclusive Build-A-Bear Workshop shop-in-shops. Visitors will have the opportunity to customize Build-A-Bear stuffed animals, as well as licensed products such as figures from Disney’s Frozen and Marvel’s superheroes. [Read more...]
Disney Consumer Products has unveiled trends and fun facts about Halloween:
- The first Halloween costume appeared in 1911.
- The first Minnie Mouse and Mickey Mouse costumes were introduced in 1932.
- More than 2.1 million kids will be super heroes this Halloween.
- Spider-Man has been a top-five costume for the last 10 years.
- Fifty percent of families will carve a pumpkin.
- In years with theatrical releases, up to 10 million lightsabers have been sold in a single year.
- $350 million will be spent on costumes for pets.
- Cinderella has been the most popular costume in Disney Store history.
- Disney’s Frozen was ranked number one most searched Halloween costumes.
- Sofia the First was the top selling costume at Disney Store last year.
According to data from the National Retail Federation’s (NRF) Halloween Consumer Spending Survey, more than two-thirds—or 67.4 percent—of celebrants will buy Halloween costumes for the holiday, which is the most in the survey’s 11-year history.
An estimated 2.6 million children plan to dress up as one of Disney’s Frozen characters, while about 1.8 million children will dress as one of the re-imagined classic characters from Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Princess (3.4 million), animal (3 million), and Spider-Man (2.6 million) will also be popular choices for children.
The NRF survey also found that 75 million adults will dress in costume, with most sticking to traditional options, including a witch (4.8 million), an animal (2.6 million), a Batman character (2 million), and a pirate (1.8 million).
A total of $2.8 billion will be spent on costumes overall, with celebrants shelling out $1.1 billion on children’s costumes, $1.4 billion on adult costumes, and $350 million on costumes for pets. Findings revealed that among the 14.3 percent of celebrants planning to outfit their pets, 10.8 percent will dress them as a pumpkin, the top costume choice again this year.
Slightly more than 34 percent of Americans will look for costume inspiration online, while 33 percent will seek it at a retail store or costume shop. The survey found 11.4 percent of Americans will turn to Pinterest for costume ideas, up from 9.3 percent last year, with young adults driving the most Pinterest traffic: 21.2 percent and 21 percent of 18-to-24-year-olds and 25-to-34-year-olds, respectively.
Hiro and Baymax from the upcoming action-packed movie Big Hero 6 will be entering the Disney Infinity Toy Box (2.0 Edition) from Disney Interactive. Fans will be able to use Hiro’s mind-power and Baymax’s super strength—along with hundreds of items, locations, props, vehicles, and more from across the Disney and Marvel universes—to create all-new adventures.
There will also be a Big Hero 6 Chem Capsule Power Disc, which allows players to create a cloud of frost that freezes enemies right in their tracks.
Disney’s Hiro and Baymax figures will be available in North American retail stores on November 4. In the meantime, check out the gameplay trailer below:
Disney Interactive will launch a special Disney-themed Toy Box Starter Pack this November. The Disney Infinity: Toy Box Starter Pack (2.0 Edition) gives Disney fans the chance to experience the Toy Box 2.0 mode, set in the world of Disney, and is compatible with the game’s Marvel Play Sets.
Players can create unique stories featuring Starter Pack characters Merida and Stitch, utilize newly announced Disney and Marvel characters, as well as bring all of their existing characters from Disney Infinity into the Toy Box 2.0 mode. The Toy Box Starter Pack is compatible with all Disney Infinity content, including Marvel Play Sets, figures, and Power Discs. Fans can also unlock Disney-themed content and purchase additional figures and Play Sets separately. [Read more...]
Twenty-two of the most talented Disney Infinity Toy Box designers were invited to the Inaugural Disney Infinity Toy Box Summit, which took place this weekend at Avalanche Software in Salt Lake City, Utah. The event gave the community members exclusive access to Disney Infinity: Marvel Super Heroes Toy Box 2.0, allowed them to meet with the development team, and challenged them participate in a Toy Box design competition for the chance to win a special Disney Infinity prize pack.
Five Toy Box artists served as mentors for Toy Box Summit guests, who were hand-picked from the community for delivering amazing Toy Box creations that were consistently among those showcased for players to download on the Disney Infinity Toy Box TV web series. The artists include Stewart Malcolm (Crazybynick), Patrick Efird (Papa Echo), Tyler Cole (TyForce), Jose Abalos (doctorlogicgate), and Quinn Johnson (quinnjitsu). They are also currently working on new Toy Box content that will be released for Disney Infinity: Marvel Super Heroes. [Read more...]


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On International Women’s Day, the gift market increased by 64% between March 1-8, 2023 compared to the same period last year, according to an analysis by a local digital marketing agency. Thus, the most expensive product ordered from the Romanian online during this period, a luxury watch created by a French fashion house, cost 49,000 lei (approximately 10,000 euros).
According to the analysis, on International Women’s Day, the most ordered products were perfumes and cosmetics, and the average order value was 355 lei, a slight increase compared to last year, from 352.5 lei. The most ordered perfume was Mademoiselle Chanel, which costs between 400 lei and 800 lei depending on the quantity and online offers.
At the same time, between March 1-8, 2023, the number of transactions increased by 63% compared to the same period last year. Also, the number of users in online stores in the gift niche has increased by almost 60% compared to the same period in 2022, with the majority of them being men.
“The growth of online gift shop revenues is driven by several main factors, including higher demand for gifts and the growing habit of ordering more and more online. An important role in the increase in sales, by around 30%, is played by technology for identifying the products that generate the highest sales and profit, facilitating their effective promotion. For maximum results, we use the TRUDA platform, the most advanced technology for analysing data and product performance in an online store, to generate higher sales for customers”, says Daniel Slăvenie, CEO of the digital marketing agency.
Along with the increase in income in the gift niche, the marketing costs for online promotion have increased, more precisely the CPC (cost per click) is higher by 30% compared to last year.
Thus, the monthly budgets allocated by companies vary between 1,000 euros and 200,000 euros for promotion through PPC campaigns (Google Shopping Ads, Facebook Ads) and SEO campaigns, with the aim of increasing the number of customers, sales, and the value of the average order, but also increasing brand visibility.