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Possibly the defining business trend coming out of the financial crisis has been a “startup boom.” Everyone is building an app or starting their own business it seems.
This image, however, may be just an illusion, according to Michelle Meyer, US economist at Bank of America Merrill Lynch.
Both the formation of firms (for example, McDonald’s as a whole) and establishments (an individual McDonald’s restaurant), have dropped off precipitously since the financial crisis and remained low.
This is important, according to Meyer, because new businesses typically hire faster and produce higher levels of productivity than firms that have been around for a while. read more >>>


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The latest initiative launched by HM Revenue & Customs is the fast food industry in London. The taskforce at HMRC will crack down on London’s fast food outlets who are guilty of tax evasion. According to HMRC, it had acquired new evidence that suggests some of the outlets had deliberately kept false business records with lower levels of sales so that they would remain just below the threshold for Value Added Tax, currently £73,000.
HMRC will initially investigate fast food outlets in London, closely followed by restaurants in Scotland which is also deemed to be a high risk sector. According to the director of risk and intelligence at HMRC, Mike Wells, honest businesses don’t have to worry as they are declaring their income honestly. It is only the fast food establishments, which have chosen to deliberately falsify records, who will be targeted. Mike Wells said:
“This taskforce comes hard on the heels of one launched last month targeting the restaurant sector in London. If you deliberately seek to evade tax HMRC can and will track you down, and you’ll face not only a heavy fine, but possibly a criminal prosecution as well.”
Since May 2011, there have been four taskforces launched by HMRC and there will be nine more during the 2011-12 tax year. There will be more of the same in 2013, as part of the governments crack down on tax evasion, fraud and avoidance. With funding of £900 million from the government, HMRC is expecting to collect an extra £7 billion every year till 2014-15.
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WASHINGTON, 2017-Apr-29 — /EPR Retail News/ — The National Retail Federation and retailers from across the country went to Capitol Hill today (April 26, 2017) as Congress held a hearing on legislation that would repeal debit card swipe fee reform, telling lawmakers that reform has saved merchants and consumers more than $40 billion and should be protected.
“Debit card reform has been a remarkable success,” NRF Senior Vice President and General Counsel Mallory Duncan said. “It has saved retailers and their customers billions of dollars and it has brought the beginnings of transparency and competition to a market where swipe fees were price-fixed and all banks linked arms to charge the same high fees. If reform is repealed, the big banks will go back to those practices, and nothing will stop them from setting these fees as high as they like and driving up prices paid by consumers in the process.”
“This has been settled law for the better part of a decade,” Duncan said. “We should be looking at the future of payments rather than trying to re-legislate this important consumer protection and vital step forward for fair market competition.”
The House Financial Services Committee is holding a hearing this morning on the Financial Choice Act, legislation sponsored by Chairman Jeb Hensarling, R-Texas, that would repeal debit swipe fee reform as part of a larger rollback of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act.
No retailers were invited to testify at the hearing despite the issue’s impact on the industry. But dozens of retailers are in Washington today for a fly-in organized by NRF and other retail groups to lobby against repeal and many attended the session. In addition, NRF submitted a statement for the record and is running digital ads and circulating petitions addressing consumer benefits, competition and retailers’ concerns that urge Congress to preserve debit card reform.
This morning, Senate Minority Whip Richard Durbin, D-Ill., the namesake sponsor of debit swipe fee reform in the Senate, and Representative Peter Welch, D-Vt., the measure’s chief backer in the House, spoke before retailers over breakfast.
Debit reform was enacted as part of Dodd-Frank in response to the card industry’s practice of price-fixing the debit card “swipe” fees banks charge merchants to process transactions. The fees previously averaged 1-2 percent of the purchase amount, and virtually all banks that issue cards charged the same.
Under reform regulations that took effect in October 2011, large banks are limited to 22 cents per transaction, down from about 45 cents in the past. The limit saved retailers about $8.5 billion in the first year alone, with close to $6 billion of the savings passed along to consumers, according to a study by economist Robert Shapiro. Banks that set the fees competitively and independently are exempt from the limit, but virtually none have done so. Banks with under $10 billion in assets are also exempt.
The savings has been particularly important to small retailers, who say the fees are among their highest expenses.
A survey conducted for NRF last year found that 89 percent of consumers said the limit should remain in place. In addition, 84 percent said swipe fees should be set on a competitive basis rather than letting card companies set price-fixed fees.
NRF is the world’s largest retail trade association, representing discount and department stores, home goods and specialty stores, Main Street merchants, grocers, wholesalers, chain restaurants and Internet retailers from the United States and more than 45 countries. Retail is the nation’s largest private sector employer, supporting one in four U.S. jobs – 42 million working Americans. Contributing $2.6 trillion to annual GDP, retail is a daily barometer for the nation’s economy. NRF.com
J. Craig Shearman


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Tickets are now on sale for the 2014 Radio City Christmas Spectacular starring the Rockettes, marking its 13th season in Nashville as part of Gaylord Opryland Resort’s annual A Country Christmas, as it embarks on an unparalleled new journey this holiday season in Nashville. The Christmas Spectacular will run from November 21 – December 24, 2014.
“We are thrilled to announce the return of the Radio City Christmas Spectacular to Grand Ole Opry House with a re-imagined second act that will amaze fans of all ages,” said Don Simpson, executive vice president of productions, MSG Entertainment. “Both newcomers and returning audiences will be charmed by the heartwarming new storyline as Santa Claus takes two brothers on a magical journey unveiling the spirit of Christmas. Coupled with technological enhancements and the precision technique of the legendary Rockettes, these scenes are sure to be audience favorites.”
The Rockettes are known for their rich history, unrivaled talent, strength, precision and athleticism and have become one of the nation’s most beloved icons. They continue to take the Christmas Spectacular to new heights, dazzling audiences with their performance style, as it continues to be both deceivingly complex and entirely glamorous.
The Rockettes will bring audiences to their feet with the show-stopping number “Christmas in New York,” as they showcase their signature eye-high kicks and immerse audiences in the buzzing scenes and sounds of New York City. In fan-favorite scenes, including the high-energy, tap number, “The Twelve Days of Christmas,” the Rockettes will showcase their challenging and dynamic choreography.
The stage will come alive with scenes including “Sleigh Ride,” where the Rockettes become Santa’s reindeer, helping both Santa and the audience begin their magical journey, and “Christmas Dreams,” which will showcase the Rockettes unparalleled precision technique.
Beloved numbers such as “Parade of the Wooden Soldiers,” which continues to set the standard as the signature Rockettes number for precision performance, and “The Living Nativity,” both of which have been performed since the Christmas Spectacular’s inception in 1933, remain a vital part of the show’s core. Audiences will have the opportunity to lend their voices in the closing number, the “Hallelujah Chorus,” a tradition in the Nashville production.
In the Christmas Spectacular’s more than 20-year history outside of New York, as well as the 82-year old production at Radio City Music Hall, the show has played to more than 75 million people. The Christmas Spectacular continues to create memories that audiences have come to treasure and this year, will mark an all new spectacular experience for Nashville.
Radio City Christmas Spectacular tickets and A Country Christmas vacation packages are available online at www.ChristmasAtGaylordOpryland.com or by calling 1-888-999-OPRY (6779). Ticket prices range from $25 – $99.
A Country Christmas at Gaylord Opryland Resort
Gaylord Opryland Resort’s 31st annual A Country Christmas will make memories of a lifetime for the thousands of people who travel from around the world to experience the most captivating holiday resort entertainment, décor and food in America. A Country Christmas® includes more than 2 million lights and more than a dozen shows and attractions, including 2 million pounds of colorful ice sculpture at ICE!; the Radio City Christmas Spectacular starring the Rockettes®; Restless Heart’s A Season of Harmony Dinner Show; snow tubing, ice skating and much more. Located in Nashville, Tenn., the 2,882 room resort features nine acres of lavish indoor gardens and waterfalls under signature glass atriums. Learn more at www.ChristmasAtGaylordOpryland.com.
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Tags: A Country Christmas, Christmas Spectacular, Christmas travel, Gaylord Opryland, Gaylord Opryland A Country Christmas, Gaylord Resorts, holiday travel, MSG Entertainment, Nashville, Opryland, Radio City Christmas Spectacular, Radio City Rockettes, resort travel, resorts, winter travel


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Expansion is evidently a high priority for many Chinese companies, particularly those hoping to grow along with the country's continuing industrialisation. This week, there are three industrial players in the Hong Kong market looking for capital to fund their development plans, despite the volatility in global markets that is increasing the necessity for "attractive" offering prices.
China Liansu Group, a manufacturer of plastic pipes for water supply and drainage, has joined the listing hopefuls and is looking to raise HK$2.62 billion ($337 million) to build new factories and expand existing production facilities. The company started bookbuilding on Monday and is opening its Hong Kong retail offering today.
Also in the market is touchpad maker World Wide Touch Technology, which is seeking $189 million to purchase production equipment; and wind turbine maker Xinjiang Goldwind Science & Technology, which is taking orders from retail and institutional investors this week for a Hong Kong initial public offering of up to $1.2 billion. The proceeds will be used to settle the costs of new projects and sources say Goldwind's institutional offering is fully covered.
"Chinese companies are generally cash rich; they come to the market mainly for capital to fund their expansion," a senior investment banker said. "At the moment, IPOs and capital replenishments by Chinese lenders are the theme of the market, but there will be more groups looking for capital to fund expansion or M&A coming to the market once the banks complete their deals," he added.
Guangdong-based Liansu is offering 750 million shares, all primary, at between HK$2.60 and HK$3.50 apiece. The price range translates into a price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of six to eight times based on 2010 projected earnings, which is "lower than the industry average of 10 to 12 times", a banker involved in the deal said. "The company understands that the market is not as good as it expected so it is willing to make the price more reasonable," he explained.
The offering accounts for 25% of Liansu's enlarged share capital. Some 90% of the offering is targeted at institutional investors, while the remaining 10% is set aside for retail investors. The deal could increase to 28% of the company if a 15% greenshoe option is fully exercised, allowing Liansu to issue an additional 112.5 million shares and raise up to $388 million.
"The Hong Kong books have already been covered by a well-mixed group of investors, including hedge funds and high-net-worth individuals," one source said. There's no cornerstone investor participating in the sale.
The international and retail offerings will both close on June 14 and the IPO price will be fixed later the same day. The trading debut is scheduled for June 23. J.P. Morgan and UBS are joint global coordinators and joint bookrunners of the deal.
Liansu currently has 11 production facilities located across China making plastic pipes and pipe fittings, which it then sells to customers via 29 sales offices and more than 600 independent distributors. It is capable of producing plastic pipes with over 7,000 different specifications and dimensions ranging from 16 millimetres to 3 metres in diameter, the company said in a preliminary IPO prospectus.
Some 25% of the company's pipes go to property developers and that has triggered some concern among investors who are worried that the authorities' tightening measures might lead to a property market crash. Investors are also questioning whether the company's profit margin is sustainable; it currently has a net margin of 14% and a gross margin of 25%, which matches the average level among its competitors, sources said.
The company said in the preliminary prospectus that expanding production is critical to its sustainable growth. It plans to expand existing production facilities and construct new ones in various regions in China in order to maintain its leading industry position. The intention is to increase its annual production capacity to 330,000 tonnes in 2012 from 245,000 tonnes in 2010.
Costs for the expansion will be Rmb3.25 billion ($475 million), with new factory buildings accounting for Rmb1.32 billion and the buying of production machines and equipment for Rmb1.09 billion. Some Rmb837 million is expected to be used to purchase land use rights, it said.
The company made a $94.5 million net profit in 2009.


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Wise Chevrolet in Randolph, family owned and operated since 1923, is changing hands this weekend. The dealership will close today and Saturday morning it will reopen as Sarchione Chevrolet.
It is the second dealership the Sarchione family has purchased in Randolph. They also bought the Jenior Ford dealership, just a stone's throw from Wise on S.R. 44
Russ Wise, who turns 81 in August, said he made the decision to sell after considering his options. He said General Motors is requiring all its dealers to invest in a major building image overhaul within the next few years.
"I knew I didn't want to invest a half-million dollars in a new building. My son (Rusty, 56) felt about the same way," Russ said.
So, when Jenior sold its Ford dealership to Sarchione, Russ Wise came to a decision. It wasn't easy for someone born into the car business and who still has fond memories of his first new car -- a '55 Chevrolet Bel Air coupe. "It was turquoise with a cream-colored top. It was just a sharp car."
John Sarchione said when Russ Wise approached him, he knew it was a great opportunity.
"As good as it's going here at the Ford store, when Russ put that opportunity out there, I knew it was going to be a good opportunity with the same potential," Sarchione said.
Russ Wise said the business started as a repair shop in 1923 as Horning and Wise by his father, Harry Wise. It changed to Wise Chevrolet in 1932. He said they started in a barn behind a house just across the road from the current showroom. The old barn was torn down in 1961, Russ said.
They first bought cars from another dealership in Atwater but soon got its own Chevrolet franchise. In 1937, the dealership moved across the road to 1572 S.R. 44, where the it has gone through several expansions.
The four brothers, Charles, Robert, Richard and Russell, took over as partners in 1962 followin g the death of their father. Bob came into the business after getting out of the army in 1945.
"He worked as a mechanic and ran the body shop," Russ said.
Russ joined the business in 1954 after getting out of the service.
Charles, the second oldest, and Rich both joined the business in 1962 when their father died.
Charles was a graduate of Texas Christian University. He worked as an electrical engineer until coming into the business and Rich worked for Ruhlin Construction.
In 1963 the four brothers added a new show room and body shop. A new service building followed in 1970. The showroom was remodeled and another addition went on in 1986, Russ said.
Working together was a pleasure for the brothers, Russ said.
"We were more or less one big, happy family." He said people were surprised that there was no fighting among the four.
Charles retired in 1992 followed by Bob in '96 and Rich in '98, Russ said.
"He left me here to hold the bag," he laughed.
In November, the Jenior Ford dealership up the street from Wise was purchased by Sarchione Auto Sales of Alliance.
At the time, Lee and Doug Jenior, the third generation to own the business, said they'd been looking to the future of their business for some time. Similarly, the Sarchiones had been looking to buy a dealership to expand beyond the used car business their family has in Alliance.
Like the Wise and Jenior families, the car business is in the Sarchione family heritage. They started in the car business in 1917 when John Sarchione Sr. started a car lot in Alliance. They also are community oriented, sponsoring sports teams and participating in other community events.
John Sarchione said they intend to add inventory and "hopefully, add jobs with the growth." The dealership is also going to see major physical changes to meet the improvements required by GM, he said.
Contact this reporter at 330-298-1125 or email@example.com
Facebook: Mike Sever, Record-Courier


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Fiesta 2012 kicks off this week and with it comes medal fever! The City of San Antonio has unveiled its new medal for the season. The new, limited edition medal will be sold for $5 plus tax at the Fiesta store on Broadway or at the City's Visitor's Information Center at Alamo Plaza.
The City of San Antonio Visitor Information Center is located at 317 Alamo Plaza; the Fiesta Store at 2611 Broadway. For more information, call 207-6966 or visit www.sahearts.com. The Office of Cultural Affairs says this year's medal will highlight the important role of arts and culture during the 10 day event.
Photo (c) Fiesta Commission


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The latest is BMW and its Chinese partner Brilliance China Automotive Holdings Ltd., which are reportedly developing a new electric car based on the 5-Series platform. BMW and Brilliance are already tied in a joint-venture to build the 5-Series sedan, as well as the long-wheelbase variant, in Shenyang, a city in China’s northeast.
According to a report out of the Beijing Youth Daily, BMW and Brilliance will show off a concept version of their new electric car at one of China’s major auto shows later in the year. The most likely venue will be the 2011 Shanghai Auto Show in April, where BMW is also reportedly set to debut the production version of its own ActiveHybrid 5 gasoline-electric hybrid sedan.
China is proving to be a hotbed of electric car development. Not only are there a handful of local manufacturers, such as BYD, BAIC and Dongfeng, working on electric cars, but now the major German automakers are utilizing the country’s resources to further their development as well. Audi, too, is working with China’s renowned Tongji University to breed a new generation of engineers adept at developing electric cars.


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As climate change highlights new challenges facing businesses, one practice has been attracting attention, and that is the strange fishing trade going on between New Zealand and China.
Fishing industry heavyweights such as Talley’s Group Limited ship gutted fish to China for thawing, processing and re-chilling, only to ship it back to New Zealand for sale. In a recent meeting in Parliament, the Green Party expressed its concern to the Minister for Economic Development, Pete Hodgson that this ‘bizarre situation’ undermines both the prime minister ’s goal of carbon neutrality and kiwi workers ’ jobs.
It is a bizarre situation indeed, although the Ministry claims that virtually no seafood is imported back from China, whereas China makes up about 10 percent of New Zealand’s export market.
"The overwhelming proportion of seafood consumed in New Zealand is processed in New Zealand. Fish that might be re-exported back to New Zealand is typically produced in a large scale processing plant supplying seafood to all markets around the world including New Zealand as one of those small destinations", said Hodgson on behalf of Fisheries Minister Jim Anderton.
But one has to ask, what is the resulting carbon ‘fin print’ of these fish that go to China and back? And where is the logic in this practice? At a time when consumers are becoming increasingly concerned about food miles and carbon footprints this practice certainly cannot be in the best interests of New Zealand’s long-term export industry.
The Minister says it is the way trade works. He gave as an example the case of Cadbury’s and Gregg’s, as other food companies that import to New Zealand and then re-export products. “That is the nature of trade”, he said.
It might be so, but then this brings us to question how unnatural is the nature of our trade, how good, or badly designed it is and how it is undermining our planet.
The Greens believe the free trade deal between New Zealand and China (where wages are lower and workers do not have the same rights as those in New Zealand) will only increase this polluting practice.
Talley’s says it has been reducing the amount it processed in China, and that it is going along with plans for a new processing plant on the West Coast. Sealord has been processing in China for more than 15 years and although it has "pulled some back", it couldn’t rule out increasing processing in China in the future. "It depends on circumstances,’ said company a representative.
It looks as though the Greens may be correct as the free trade agreement (FTA) will relax trade laws, enabling cheaper imports and exports between China and New Zealand. The current trade deal sees tariffs charged on exports to China, but not imports from China. This means it is more economic to export fish for processing there before shipping them back – even with the tariffs. However, this process will be even more attractive when all trade tariffs are dropped under the FTA.
Talley’s may be planning a new processing plant, but the incentive to process offshore is only going to grow under the FTA, reducing the incentive to change the industry’s polluting behaviour.
Retailers and consumers in countries such as the UK are already demanding products with less ‘food miles’, and it is time for New Zealanders to demand the same.


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When Android’s Reading Mode launched last December, it could help you adjust the size and type of font being used and read the text aloud to you. A new update means that you can now listen to the text being read even while the screen is off or when you’re using other apps.
The Reading Mode app is primarily meant as an accessibility feature. It allows people who might have difficulty reading on their phones to increase the font size or listen to it instead. Even if you just get distracted by all the ads on the average article, this app can help.
The new update can support people who may not have considered an accessibility aid before. Many of us struggle to keep up with the news or our preferred outlets. With the Reading Mode, those articles can become, as Android Police puts it, mini podcasts. You can listen on the go, while you do household tasks, make a meal, or brush your teeth.
Download Reading Mode in the app store to get started today.


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News - Mazda - MX-5
Baptism of fire for MX-5 Turbo
Mazda will let its MX-5 Turbo loose on the roads of Tasmania for the 2001 Targa rally
16 Mar 2001
By JUSTIN LACY
MAZDA will use next month's Targa Tasmania as a real-world shakedown for its upcoming MX-5 Turbo sports car.
The motorsport event will play a key part in the development program of the turbocharged convertible.
"Everything is progressing quite well," Mazda Australia public relations manager Mike Quist said. "The car will run in final pre-production form, with our aim to bring it home in one piece." Former Australian rally champion Murray Coote and co-driver Anthony McLoughlin will campaign the first vehicle to be completed by Mazda Motorsport Manager Allan Horsley.
"Our aim will be to drive as quickly as we can and still get the car to the finish," Coote said. "I am expecting to get plenty of information for Mazda to take back home after the event." Coote believes Targa will show just how quick a package the MX-5 Turbo will be, even in its first competitive outing.
Motor magazine's news editor, Michael Taylor, will drive a second naturally aspirated MX-5.
"The fancied outright contenders will have a lot more power, but the MX-5 is not very heavy and we're expecting it to be relatively easy on its brakes and tyres, and the car's surprisingly quick in the wet or downhill," Taylor said.
"There aren't too many cars with better chassis balance so it should be pretty good there." Both cars will be entered in the event with sponsorship from Motor. Targa Tasmania appealed to Motor for a number of reasons, according to editor Ged Bulmer.
"Michael and I spoke about it and we reckoned it was the perfect place to showcase the passion our people had for cars and for driving them the way they were built to be driven," he said.
"It gets us out among similar-minded people and the roads of Tasmania are perfect for a car like the MX-5." Mazda can expect to have cashed-up buyers banging on the door of their local dealers come the Monday morning after the event, should the MX-5 Turbo prove to be a competitive and reliable package.
If the car can finish, and finish well, Mazda will have the sort of pre-release publicity manufacturers only dream about.
The MX-5 Turbo is due for release later this year. It will sell through the Mazda dealer network as an ongoing model in the MX-5 range.
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ShopRite Supermarkets, Inc. confirmed Monday it will build a new 55,000-square-foot supermarket in the Van Rensselaer Square shopping center in North Greenbush.
Once opened later this year, the store is expected to create 175 jobs.
The store will include a from-scratch fresh bake shop; fresh meat cut to order; fresh seafood delivered daily; and an assortment of prepared foods and grab-and-go items.
“We are pleased to announce our North Greenbush store, and we look forward to providing local shoppers with the outstanding customer service, variety, value, low prices and convenient amenities that ShopRite is known for,” said Brett Wing, president and COO, ShopRite Supermarkets, Inc. said in a prepared statement. “We believe that our product offerings and services, coupled with our expansion within the Capital Region, will complement our customers’ lifestyle and enhance their overall shopping experience.”
The store will offer Mobile Scan, a free service that takes shoppers beyond the traditional self-checkout lane to self-checkout as you go, allowing customers to use the camera on their personal mobile device (iOS or Android) to scan barcodes of items as they shop.
The store will also include regular self-checkout lanes.
It joins Capital Region Shop Rite stores in Albany, Colonie and Bethlehem.
Van Rensselaer Square is being developed by BET Investments, a commercial real estate company owned by Bruce E. Toll, co-founder of Toll Brothers.
The Van Rensselaer Plaza had lights and the parking lot installed in 2007, but the site at Routes 4 and 43 sat awaiting its first tenant for years.
Capital Communications Federal Credit Union became the first tenant last month.


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By George Bevir
Samsung hopes new ‘Jet’ device will boost Middle East market share.
The mobile phone market will not experience a turnaround in fortune until the start of next year at the earliest, according to Vinod Nair, Samsung’s director of mobile phones for the Middle East and Africa.
The mobile devices market has been in a steady state of decline since last year, with ABI Research estimating that 35 million less handsets were sold in the first quarter of 2009 than during the same period last year.
Speaking at an elaborate launch of Samsung’s latest device in Dubai yesterday evening, Nair told CommsMEA that he expects the market to continue to shrink this year.
“The expectations are that by next year, Q1 or early Q2, things will start to recover,” he said. “This is totally contingent on the world economy, but this is what we are hoping and expecting.
“The Middle East has not been insulated from what has happened, so once things pick up, things should recover in the Middle East as well. I expect this region to follow the rest of the world.”
Nair said that at 20%, Samsung’s share of the mobile phone market in the Middle East reflects the company’s global market share, and he said there are high expectations that the manufacturer’s latest touch screen device, branded ‘Jet’ and priced at AED2249 (US$612), will have a positive effect its share in the region.
“Touch screen devices are still a niche market, and are seen as state of the art and the latest technology to have. Some people are willing to pay a slightly higher price and we have to get it to that market first,” Nair said.
“Some people have said that it is priced too high, but the response we have had from the different partners – open market and operator market – has been quite positive. A lot depends on the market; in the Middle East the volumes will be higher, whereas in Africa it might be lower. But overall we are expecting a positive impact.”
The HSDPA-enabled device comes with a 3.1” WVGA AMOLED display which Samsung claims provides a resolution that is four times higher than a WQVGA screen, as well as an 800MHZ application processor.
In keeping with the latest touch screen devices it has a customisable widget screen, but Nair said that Samsung’s own application store is “still a work in progress”.
Many operators and most handset manufacturers have launched their own application stores in a bid to develop an additional source of revenue, pitting operators directly against manufacturers.
“We are trying it out to see if it is really something that the customer values, or is it just something to brag about,” Nair said.
“A lot of operators have already made investments of their own in content, and this is one of the reasons why they hated someone else - not naming any names - when they opened up their own application store. It really depends on how you convince the operators,” Nair said.


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(Mercedes AMG PETRONAS F1 Team)
Formula One world champions the Mercedes AMG PETRONAS F1 Team announced on Monday that they have signed a new logistics partner.
Global logistics firm DB Schenker have signed a four contract to provide the Brackley based outfit with all of their logistics needs throughout the course of the European season delivering team equipment and the W06 Hybrid to the race track for Grand Prix, test and promotional events.
This service will commence in 2015 and will be carried out with five brand new Mercedes Actros 1845 LS tractor units with Giga space cabs that will transport the team equipment.
Speaking about the new partnership Mercedes Benz Head of Motorsport Toto Wolff commented:
'The highest degree of professionalism and precision is indispensable in Formula One, a consideration which also applies to our logistics services.
We are pleased to welcome DB Schenker to the team as our new logistics partner and we have no doubt that they will provide excellent service and be able to respond to changing circumstances with the necessary flexibility and speed required in Formula One.'
Jochen Muller, Schenker Deutschland AG Board Member added:
'The MERCEDES AMG Formula One Team relies on top performance, not only in motorsport but also in terms of logistics. This is why for us, as a sports logistics expert, it is a great honour that the team has placed its trust in DB Schenker as its logistics partner.'
© Ben Johnston 2015


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HONG KONG, Oct. 12 /PRNewswire-Asia/ -- Global Sources' (Nasdaq: GSOL) (http://www.globalsources.com ) largest-ever China Sourcing Fairs: Electronics & Components and Security Products shows opened today at Hong Kong's AsiaWorld-Expo. Running through Oct. 15, the two highly popular shows are now supplemented by the launch of a concurrent Korea Sourcing Fair: Electronics & Components to showcase high-quality Korean electronics for international markets.
Together these co-located electronics shows offer visitors over 3,280 booths. This is a strong indication of the growing popularity of Global Sources' China Sourcing Fair series, with the number of booths almost double that of the company's first electronics show in 2006 in Hong Kong.
"This is one of Asia's hottest trade events," said Tommy Wong, President of Global Sources Exhibitions. "We are very enthusiastic about the October Fairs because buyers are back in force as the world economy regains momentum."
Wong added: "The launch of our Korea Sourcing Fair is equally exciting. This specialized show will help high-quality Korean electronics manufacturers and suppliers reach global buyers in Hong Kong, Asia's vibrant trading hub."
Suppliers from Greater China make up the largest contingent of exhibitors at the shows. In addition to those from mainland China, Hong Kong and Taiwan, suppliers from seven other countries are also taking part. These include South Korea, India, Malaysia, the Philippines, Germany, Australia, Italy and Israel.
China Sourcing Fairs contributing to growth in trade
"Participation in our shows is robust, growing in sync with the global economic resurgence," Wong said. "The strong attendance indicates that buyers and suppliers are stepping up their marketing and sourcing activities to gain share in growing markets around the world. Both parties anticipate good results at our Fairs."
Wong added: "Demand for electronics products is strong. China's exports of electronics products hit US$262.4 billion in the first half of 2010, a very encouraging increase of 38.9 percent over the same period a year ago.
"Security products sales are also expanding. Every business and organization -- from schools and retailers to airports and hospitals -- needs security products. Moreover, consumers are increasingly looking to protect their families by investing in home and car security systems."
As a strong sign of rapidly rising demand, tens of thousands of buyers from both established and new markets pre-registered to attend the October Fairs. These include buyers from Best Buy, Canon, Epson, Fujitsu, Hitachi, IBM, Intel, Lenovo, LG Electronics, Panasonic, Philips Electronics, RadioShack, Sanyo, Siemens, Toshiba and Whirlpool.
Specialized pavilions showcasing hottest products
Buyers and suppliers at the Fairs are benefiting from specialized pavilions and services to help them trade more effectively. The fall China Sourcing Fair: Electronics & Components features Asia's biggest in-car electronics and GPS pavilions and the region's largest computer products pavilion. Buyers are also exploring the brand-new iProducts accessories pavilion with over 90 booths of the latest accessories for iPhones, iPads and related items.
Other product pavilions feature computer peripherals, computer terminals, networking products, personal digital electronics, consumer electronics and accessories, electronic components, LED displays and opto-electronics, interconnection technology, power supplies, telecom and wireless products, mobile phones.
China Sourcing Fair: Security Products will feature pavilions for access controls, alarms, CCTV and digital surveillance, and home security products.
Private Sourcing Events are another highlight of the October Fairs, offering exclusive opportunities for pre-selected exhibitors to meet large global companies in private during the shows. Buyers scheduled to participate in the meetings include Bosch, Intelbras, Monster Cable, Onida, TechZone and Vestel.
The winning products for Global Sources' fourth annual Electronics Design Awards will also be showcased at the Fairs where tens of thousands of buyers from around the world will see these innovative products first-hand.
Opening times for the Fairs are: -- October 12-14 from 9:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. -- October 15 from 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Buyers can register for free admission and find more information, including details about free transport to the venue and back, at the China Sourcing Fairs website: http://www.chinasourcingfair.com .
China Sourcing Fair: Electronics lands in Africa for first time
Recognizing that new and emerging markets have become increasingly important to suppliers, the last stop for Global Sources' successful electronics show this year will be the first-ever China Sourcing Fair: Electronics in Johannesburg, South Africa. Scheduled for Dec. 1-3, the Johannesburg show is timed to address Africa's growing demand for products made in Greater China.
About Global Sources
Global Sources is a leading business-to-business media company and a primary facilitator of trade with Greater China. The core business uses English-language media to facilitate trade from Greater China to the world. The other business segment utilizes Chinese-language media to enable companies to sell to, and within Greater China.
The company provides sourcing information to volume buyers and integrated marketing services to suppliers. It helps a community of over 967,000 active buyers source more profitably from complex overseas supply markets. With the goal of providing the most effective ways possible to advertise, market and sell, Global Sources enables suppliers to sell to hard-to-reach buyers in over 240 countries.
The company offers the most extensive range of media and export marketing services in the industries it serves. It delivers information on 4.5 million products and more than 262,000 suppliers annually through 14 online marketplaces, 13 monthly print and 16 digital magazines, over 80 sourcing research reports and 20 specialized trade shows which run 57 times a year across 9 cities.
Suppliers receive more than 192 million sales leads annually from buyers through Global Sources Online (http://www.globalsources.com ) alone.
Global Sources has been facilitating global trade for nearly 40 years. Global Sources' network covers more than 60 cities worldwide. In mainland China, Global Sources has about 2,500 team members in more than 40 locations, and a community of over 2 million registered online users and magazine readers for its Chinese-language media.
Global Sources Press Contact in Asia: Camellia So Tel: +852-2555-5021 Email: email@example.com Global Sources Press Contact in U.S.: James W.W. Strachan Tel: +1-480-664-8309 Email: firstname.lastname@example.org Global Sources Investor Contact in Asia: Suzanne Wang Tel: +852-2555-4747 Email: email@example.com Global Sources Investor Contact in U.S.: Kirsten Chapman & Timothy Dien Lippert/Heilshorn & Associates, Inc. Tel: +1-415-433-3777 Email: firstname.lastname@example.org
SOURCE Global Sources


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Cute Circuit, a London fashion house that specializes in wearable technology has unveiled its latest addition to its fashion line. The M-dress, your basic black cellphone dress.
At Decker Yeadon the focus is on the environment - particularly on how new material technologies can lessen the impact on water and energy depletion while positively contributing to health, safety, and security. The creation of the OOoo Chair, invisible though it may be, stands out as the chair design with the least impact on the environment, although I don't know about 'security.'
Almost as if it were a conspiracy by Big Pharma, Prof. Donald Light said the pharmaceutical market was the "most dangerous market for lemons in modern society." He said that when the toxic side effects of most drugs were taken into account, plus their misuse, they can become "a significant cause of death," rather than helping patients.


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NEW YORK — Oakley Inc. filed a patent infringement lawsuit against 5.11 Inc. in a federal court in San Diego. According to legal documents Oakley alleged that 5.11 sold eyewear that infringes on a patent it holds for “concavely indented lenses for eyewear.” Oakley asked the court for a preliminary and permanent injunction and damages. 5.11 could not immediately be reached for comment.
Hermès is launching a Laundromat pop-up shop in NYC - dubbed Hermèsmatic - where customers can bring their old scarves to be dip-dyed by an expert. Get all the details on WWD.com. #wwdnews (📷: @donstahl)


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Disrupting the Chewing Gum Market - Kicking Aspartame
You might have heard of aspartame, As it has been in the news ever since the FDA initially approved its use back in 1974. From there, unsupported allegations from activists stated that aspartame in normal doses caused multiple sclerosis, systemic lupus, blindness and more. This was eventually debunked, but the research that came out of some of those studies didn’t prove it to be safe by any means either. Either way, as of now the FDA has listed a total of 93 different symptoms associated with aspartame ranging from headaches, vomiting and tingling sensations in extremities. Aspartame is found in most diet drinks and sold under names like equal, NutraSweet and others. If you look at product labels, you will see how many products contain this ingredient, particularly sugar free products.
Now, going back to the gum, it’s NOT sweetened with aspartame, instead a chemical called xylitol. Xylitol is a natural occurring sugar substitute made from corn, and in the case of PÜR, not genetically modified corn either. It also doesn’t cause a spike in blood sugar which makes it an ideal choice for those with diabetes or a sensitivity to aspartame, or just don’t want to ingest aspartame for personal reasons. There was also a recent study by the Journal of Dental Research which concluded that chewing gum after a meal decreases dental caries by 33%. This is another added benefit for those who care about nutrition, what goes in their bodies, and actively seek out products that share these values.
PÜR Gum was developed in 2010 by Jay M. Klein and is based in Toronto, ON. and manufactured in Switzerland. The company focuses on health conscience consumers and is currently available in four different flavors including peppermint, pomegranate mint, spearmint and excitement. They can currently be found in over 5,000 stores throughout the United States with plans to be in big box stores like Walgreens and Whole Foods soon. Klein, in a phone interview stated, “Ultimately, we want to provide consumers with a better product at a competitive price…we want people to have a healthy gum experience that offers both great flavor and a great chewing experience.”
If you are diabetic like I am, vegan (the gum is vegan friendly), don’t care to ingest aspartame or are just one of those people who read food labels and care about what they ingest, keep an eye out for PÜR, the aspartame kicking gum coming to store shelves near you.


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With the support from government about car scrapping scheme, Perodua now is ready to accept any old cars above 10 years old to join its own Perodua exchange car program which will give the car owner a discount of RM5000 to buy a new perodua cars. Read full news from bernama below.
CAR SCRAPPING SCHEME : GET RM5000 BY TRADE IN YOUR OLD CARS TO BUY NEW PERODUA
Customers who want to purchase a new Perodua vehicle by taking advantage of the RM5,000 scrapping incentive, can do so at any Perodua sales outlets nationwide from April 1, 2009.
Perodua’s managing director Datuk Syed Abdull Hafiz Syed Abu Bakar said the company was in the midst of finalising the details of the scrapping incentive and would be announced it by end of this month.
“We want to thank the government for introducing the scrapping incentive and the RM200 million Automotive Development Fund for the automotive sector. This is the stimulus the industry needs,” he said in a statement today.
According to him, the scrapping incentive will help to boost the industry as well as Perodua’s sales.
Perodua estimated that there are about 4.8 million cars aged between 10 years and above on the road at present, of which some 300,000 are Perodua vehicles comprising Kancil, Rusa and Kembara registered from 1994 to 1999.
Established in 1993, Perodua is Malaysia’s leading compact car maker.


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Frasers Group buys The Mall in Luton as it further commits to physical retail
Mike Ashley's Frasers Group has purchased The Mall in Luton for £58 million, further demonstrating its "ongoing investment and commitment to the long-term future of physical retail".
Frasers Group, which owns Sports Direct and House of Fraser, has said the destination provides "attractive opportunities" for it to introduce elevated store concepts and invest in the centre.
In a statement, the group acknowledged the "importance that the centre plays within the community and looks forward to working with Luton Borough Council to stabilise and elevate the scheme". It also said that Frasers will ensure the destination remains a "key retail location".
James France, Group Head of Real Estate at Frasers Group, commented: "Frasers Group is pleased to have acquired The Mall in Luton.
"We continue to have confidence in the future of the UK high street and remain committed to investing in sites which display huge potential. We look forward to engaging with tenants in the centre to ensure a smooth transition."
The move follows a number of acquisitions by Frasers Group over the last year. Most recently, Frasers acquired a variety of "non-core UK fashion brands", including Giulio, Tessuti and Cricket, from JD Sports.


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Sunnyvale, California, USA – April 4, 2006 – eLite Optoelectronics, Inc., a leading supplier of energy saving, power-LED chips to high-volume solid state lighting market segments, today announced that it has raised $8.5 million in venture capital financing from DCM – Doll Capital Management, El Dorado Ventures, and Harris & Harris Group and changed its name to Bridgelux, Inc. The funding will be used for continued capital investments and as well as intensified research and development at the company’s new headquarters and R&D facility in California’s Silicon Valley.
The Bridgelux name stems from the company’s “fabless" business model, which is common in the silicon world, but remains unique in the high brightness LED industry. While the company’s corporate and R&D operations are located in the U.S., the company manufactures its products in Asia.
Dr. Robert Walker, Bridgelux CEO, explains, “Bridgelux is leveraging the best of U.S. technology and Asian manufacturing efficiencies, effectively ‘bridging a gap’ that has hampered many companies in their pursuit of leading-edge technology that can be affordably deployed now, not some years down the road.” He further notes, “Our mission is to enable the global acceleration and acceptance of energy saving solid state lighting (SSL) by providing our customers with advanced product performance while simultaneously achieving aggressive cost reduction.”
Bridgelux investors and Board of Directors , Pete Moran, general partner of DCM – Doll Capital Management and Scott Irwin, general partner of El Dorado Ventures, have emerged within the venture capital community as key backers of the promise of SSL technologies such as InGaN blue spectrum LEDs.
“Far more energy-efficient than incandescent and fluorescent lights, LED chips are poised to become a major source of lighting in commercial and residential environments, and Bridgelux is at the forefront of this global movement,” said DCM’s Mr. Moran. “Bridgelux’s high-brightness LED innovations and efficient manufacturing capabilities make it one of the most compelling players in the SSL space.”
"We were initially attracted to Bridgelux by the company's outstanding technical team, which has already delivered a number of industry firsts," said El Dorado’s Mr. Irwin. He added, "We're very excited about the opportunities for Bridgelux in the SSL market, where we foresee major growth for years to come."
Bridgelux has developed technology to fulfill an emerging market demand for large area (~1mm square) power-LED chips that exhibit high light output (~40 lumens) while consuming only 1 watt of power. Current applications include retail displays, personal reading lights, flashlights/torches, flat panel televisions and displays, emergency vehicle warning lights, and architectural lighting. Dr. Walker added, “Bridgelux is well on the way to becoming a de facto supplier for some of the highest brightness applications.
Bridgelux chips are commonly found in your cell phone or camera flash and in many of the types of lighting products in your home, office, or neighborhood.”
About Bridgelux, Inc.
Founded in 2003 as eLite Optoelectronics, Inc., Bridgelux is a leading supplier of energy saving power-LED chips to high-volume market segments. The company developed and introduced the industry’s first high volume ITO/InGaN (Indium Tin Oxide / Indium Gallium Nitride) power light emitting diode (LED) chip and is currently delivering millions of chips every month to customers worldwide. Customers use Bridgelux power-LED chips to replace traditional bulb technologies with solid state products that provide a powerful and energy-efficient source of blue, green, or white light. Bridgelux chips are currently found in mobile appliances, signage, automotive, and various general lighting applications.


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There is a high concentration of Indian government on digital transformation lately. Indian Ministry is set to launch digital currency campaigns focused to increase general awareness upon digital payment mechanisms amongst youth. Trying to invert the ratio of cash transactions (currently 78% transactions are perceived to be happening via paper cash) into digital payments, it is poised to bring a high pressure on cyber security systems and cross platform currency transactions feasibility.
While digital payments are a transactional layer (communication) on top of fiat, #bitcoin on the other hand is the new digital gold with its own intrinsic value along with it’s own communication network with price discovery backed by the persistent global free market trade. Multiple developers and technocrats from different geographic establishments are currently working hard to develop cross platform digital payment networks on top of #bitcoin network. We see a whole new avenue of digital payment systems that can not only process payments but can take care of legal obligations and automated escrow services, further more complicated transaction designs yet unfathomable.
For sure #bitcoin is the logical next step in the evolution of money as suggested by some of the economists to fill gaps in regional connectivity of financial infrastructure. Great minds have already been interestingly directing household investments along with business portfolios into #bitcoin and major technology giants are noticed actively looking into building platforms on top or around this digital token mechanisms which does not fit into regular corporate structures.
Following the news recently, apart from great intolerance, the bold #DeMonetisation step by Modi government has given a big push to the general public awareness on the Indian monetary system, uncovering the essence of true intrinsic value of paper currency or fiat money. This has led to a more conscious decision making patterns for investments among the public and eventually resulted in a growing volumes of fiat conversions into #bitcoin in the month of November followed by December (Unocoin has notified about Rs 250M worth trade volumes on their platform alone). Resonating with the demand, we are again seeing growing number of merchant adoption for the #cryptocurrency in India (Unocoin has reportedly served for 1500 merchant account activations).
With such a huge potential for investments and trading, #bitcoin has been less volatile for the past two quarters. For about six months, the price of #bitcoin stands atop of $500 globally trying to end the year on a positive note.
In the midst of legal obscurities and tax confusions pertaining to #bitcoin, Unocoin has been the strong player in the Indian market dealing with the ambiguities and providing a clarity by building a strong alternative ecosystem for the next generation currency & payment systems.
Start downloading Unocoin iOS or Android application on your smartphones to buy, use and accept #bitcoin in India or head to unocoin.com (Unocoin YouTube channel provides tutorials to use the platform).


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Faisalabad-based industrialists disappointed by budget
FAISALABAD (92 News) – Faisalabad-based industrialists have expressed disappointment over the budget.
They said that the government has ignored the textile sector.
Meanwhile, the Peshawar Chamber of Commerce and Industry has also rejected the budget.
The Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry office-bearers have said that the budget is neither people-friendly nor business-friendly. “Taxes have been increased, but not the tax net,” they added.
The Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry has termed the budget balanced.


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- President Trump likes to tweet and make calls from a personal iPhone.
- Apparently, China and Russia are listening to his calls, the New York Times reported.
- A Chinese spokesperson said "if there are concerns about Apple calls being listened-in on, then you can change to Huawei phones," which are not sold in the United States and have been accused of being Chinese spying devices.
President Trump hasn't given up his personal cell phone, unlike previous presidents, according to a report in the New York Times.
Security officials wish he would use an official, secured White House landline — instead of his personal iPhones — to call up his friends and associates.
Why? It's because China and Russia are listening in on his calls, according to the Times report.
All parties involved are denying the report — especially China. Hua Chunying, the spokesperson for the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs called it "fake news."
"This just provides more evidence of the New York Times creating fake news," Hua said in a statement, according to Bloomberg's translation.
"If there are concerns about Apple calls being listened-in on, then you can change to Huawei phones," she continued.
It was a clever quip from China. But according to the report, if Trump is being tapped, it's not an iPhone issue, it's a carrier vulnerability.
Trump is using insecure cellular networks to make his calls — so if his lines have been tapped, it's a flaw in the cellular network protocols, not his choice of an iPhone as his personal device.
"But the calls made from the phones are intercepted as they travel through the cell towers, cables and switches that make up national and international cellphone networks," according to the report. Trump would face the same issues with insecure calls if he used an Android device, including one made by Huawei, for example.
The iPhone also supports encrypted apps such as FaceTime and Signal which would prevent an attacker from listening in to a phone call, which Trump has apparently chosen not to use.
Huawei is China's homegrown technology giant, which now sells more phones than Apple. But U.S. officials have also accused the company of building backdoors into its technology in order to spy on Americans.
It's unclear how foreign countries could tap the president's cell phone. Facebook's former chief information security officer explored the technical possibilities in a series of tweets, before concluding that, if true, the attack described in the report would be "novel," meaning the capability was not publicly known.
Russia's Kremlin also issued a statement about the report on Trump's iPhone. "We already treat such publications with humor," a spokesman said, according to Bloomberg.
In addition to his personal iPhones, Trump also uses an iPad, which he reportedly calls the "flat one."
Trump denied the report in a tweet. "The so-called experts on Trump over at the New York Times wrote a long and boring article on my cellphone usage that is so incorrect I do not have time here to correct it," he tweeted. " I only use Government Phones, and have only one seldom used government cell phone. Story is soooo wrong!"
The tweet was sent from an iPhone.


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Harvard Study On Produce and Mortality: Five Servings A Day Is Key, But We Need To Quantify The Benefits
We’ve been honored to speak and moderate many panels over the years at the Culinary Institute of America. We’ve always felt that influencing and educating chefs and future chefs is important to encourage produce usage in restaurants and institutions. This is why we have invested to create a special program to bring culinary students to the New York […]
Spurred to cook at home and wanting to remain healthy during the pandemic, British consumers have turned to more fruits and vegetables over the past year.


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Em Conversa looks to uncover the secrets in Latin America (LatAm) that have caused the fintech market to boom, from being worth less than $50million in 2016, to $2.1billion in 2022. This week, we sat down with Jeremy Baber, CEO of Lanistar, the fintech looking to challenge the status quo, about the development of mobile payments in Brazil.
As organisations continue to tailor themselves for the next generation, more and more are looking to make a name for themselves in the digital world. However, in order for a company to find success doing this, it must be forward-thinking in all aspects. This is exactly what Lanistar achieved in June 2023. At the beginning of the month, LAnistar announced it was introducing a buy-and-sell crypto function in its mobile payments app.
Aiming to not only be forward-thinking in its partnerships but also in its offering, the crypto service provides another way for consumers to make payments. Expanding on the importance of having diverse payment methods, we sat down with Lanistar’s CEO, Jeremy Baber, to learn more:
Can you tell me more about the Lanistar and your role within it?
At its heart, Lanistar is a social media company that partners with influencers to promote its brand. It was founded in July 2019, but our journey truly started in mid-2022 after the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. I serve as the CEO, and Gurhan Kiziloz, the founder, brought me on board to prioritise compliance and regulatory rigour in all our operations. We’ve had our challenges, but the future is bright and we a moving forward positively into 2023 and beyond.
What are some mobile payment trends we’re seeing in Brazil?
Brazil (and LatAm in general) are tech-hungry markets, so the ability to do all your financial transactions in one place on your smartphone is the big push in these markets. Having previously been a nation that relied on cash, Brazil is now embracing the digital payments evolution.
Eighty five per cent of Brazilians now have access to financial services. With this increased access, Brazilians have shifted to e-commerce platforms, making purchases on mobile devices, with bank transfer payments being the preferred payment option.
Cash use is declining in Brazil, with the majority preferring the convenience of e-wallets. Credit cards are the preferred payment method, but this will soon change.
Alternative technologies, such as banking apps and digital wallets, provide a simple and secure payment method that is unrestricted and easily accessible, and that’s a huge benefit for Brazilian businesses and individuals alike. As Gen Z and Millennials become the majority consumer, the Brazilian payment landscape will continue to shift in favour of the new digital age.
What is Lanistar doing to improve the mobile payments sector in Brazil and LATAM?
We have sought to marry traditional fiat and crypto to provide our customers with the ‘AnyMoney’ digital solution the customers in these markets crave. However, we perform these activities with full regulatory and AML controls in place by partnering with regulated entities in all our markets and adopting leading AML transaction monitoring controls. This is critical to protecting our customers and the financial markets we enter.
The other key piece of change is moving away from plastic cards. We’ve got the designs and they are stunning, but we have decided that after research with our core demographics, the environment needs to be front and centre of our product offering. Therefore we have opted for virtual cards only.
Our customers can pick and choose the colour of their choice and change it anytime but this shift away from plastic although seemingly small sets the precedent for others to follow. Someone must make a stand as we are happy to challenge the status quo.
How does the Brazilian mobile payments sector compare to that of the rest of the world?
I believe for the core demographic we are seeking to serve eg. Millennials and Gen Z – the expectations are very similar to the rest of the world. These demographics want everything digital, fast, simple, in one place and also with an eye on the environment. Brazil is key to our roadmap because (and similar around the globe) these demographics have not been well supported by traditional banking – we aim to change that.
What are some unique challenges associated with the region/country in the mobile payments space?
Personally, we have not seen any uniquely different challenges to other markets. The key thing in LatAm as a whole, is the population is hungry for advanced technology. Some countries are ‘quicker out of the blocks’ than others.
Brazil, Argentina, Colombia as examples have embraced Banking as a Service (BaaS) as their governments see the huge benefits to getting the ‘unbanked’ population linked to any banking process and within the regulated environments. Meanwhile, Mexico is still dragging their heels on the subject and falling behind in the technical development race.
What are Lanistar’s plans for the future (roadmap and growth plan)
We have big plans, but they will be diligently planned and deployed with the right level of compliance and caution to ensure we deliver a service our customers will expect. In July 2023 we will have our large marketing roadblock (launch) in Brazil, by then we will have a full crypto exchange and Apple Pay live, we expect to get 1-1.5 million customers in a month of that roadblock!
Then late Summer 2023 we aim to be live in UK, Argentina, and Colombia, with at least BETA launches planned for USA, UAE, Turkey, and major EU markets before end of 2023. Our target is 3-5 million customers by the end of 2023 – yes, a bold ambitious statement but with our Brazilian Influencers having over 160 million followers as we replicate this to other countries and regions, we firmly believe this is achievable. In three years, we are aiming for 50 million customers globally!
Later this summer, we will seek external investment to fuel and power our ambitious plan. However, we want to emphasize that we have built our ambition on sound financial planning. We will not seek to ‘burn-cash’. Instead, we aim to be profitable inside three years – so by 2025. Why? Because our Customer Acquisition Costs (CAC) are far lower than our competitors and we will be adding more profitable products sooner in partnership with our BaaS partners.
This sector often focuses solely on a drive for growth and profit targets and yes there are important. But ESG and diversity are critical to all businesses, and I am proud to say Lanistar aim to champion areas with partnerships with OneTreePlanted.org to support reforestation, promoting a virtual card only product and carbon offsetting in crypto, while our recruitment goal is to have a process which hires a diverse team and actively celebrate its diversity – a great example is this month we celebrate Pride Month with Pride.


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A Decatur businessman is out of $4,000 worth of equipment after thieves break into his storage garage.
Now the owner of Decatur Shoe Repair is worried about fulfilling the requests of his customers this holiday season.
A “Grinch” stealing his equipment is the last thing 82-year-old Jim Blackburn needed right now. The shoe repairman is the only one in Decatur and repairs are piling up.
Jim Blackburn has been in the shoe repair business for 68 years.
“I started working in a shoe shop, shining shoes, trying to get out of the cotton fields,” said Jim Blackburn.
At Jim’s Shoe and Leather Repair located at 209 Fourth Ave. S.E., you can also get items engraved.
“Christmas time and Thanksgiving are your busiest weeks, because people are constantly bringing in stuff they want done,” he explained.
Blackburn will have to turn away a lot of customers this holiday. Over the weekend he discovered $4,000 worth of equipment was stolen from his storage garage including his engraving machine.
“I was kind of disgusted, my wife is sick and that’s been weighing on me too, having to try and look after her and having to try and work,” Blackburn expressed.
It’s the second time in as many years the shoe repairman, has had equipment stolen from him. He wants the thieves to think about if the shoe were on the other foot.
“Pray and hope to God they have a change of habit, maybe some day they may think about they may be in business and I know they wouldn’t want people doing them like that,” he said.
Having to care for his sick wife and now this burglary has made him consider closing up shop.
“Just retire and let it go, but I’m not going to let the thieves run me away from something that I’ve been doing for 68 years,” Blackburn added.
Blackburn filed a police report Monday but says he forgives the thieves and hopes they don’t strike again.


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Mancunians are being urged to chomp down on more fruit and veg following a survey which revealed that only three in ten are eating the recommended five portions a day.
Animal rights activists PETA offered six different ways for loved up Mancunians to go Vegan for Valentine’s Day.
Just one in five men in the North West get their five a day, placing the region second worst in the country, according to a new study by the Health and Social Care Information Centre.
A (not) nice pear: How not choosing the apple of your eye and buying ugly fruit could solve food waste crisis
French supermarket’s scheme to promote ugly fruit and vegetable to cut down food waste is needed in Manchester
All things green and beautiful will be celebrated this weekend as vegetables great and small take centre stage at VegFest, while raising money for disabled facilities.
In pictures… kinky kiwis and saucy strawberries: Rude fruit and vulgar veg to make you turn tomato red
MM investigate the phenomenon of kinky kiwis, appealing apples and dinosaur-shaped avocados.
Aspiring Manchester University graduate Josh Allott is continuing to enjoy the success of his independent film, nobblycarrot7.
Manchester Veg People need more donations to reach goals
Manchester must reconnect with food production, urges city’s organic ‘Veg People’ ahead of campaign launch
Trailer of locally grown produce will be cycled through Northern Quarter
Food crusader Jamie Oliver is launching his Food Revolution Day today and is encouraging Manchester to get involved.
MM’s food fanatic has come up with a recipe to do something different with filled pasta.


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Canadian punk/rock band Like Pacific has released their 2nd album, In Spite Of Me, today via Pure Noise Records. Fans can purchase and stream the record now at the links below.
Purchase/Stream In Spite Of Me:
Amazon – https://amzn.to/2NMz3gI
Apple Music – https://apple.co/2LQh2NJ
Merch Now – http://likepacific.merchnow.
Spotify – https://spoti.fi/2NQTDMN
In case you missed it, Like Pacific also released a new music video for their single “Self Defeated” earlier this week.
Like Pacific’s sophomore album, In Spite Of Me, features 10 tracks that showcase their best writing to date and further establish them as one of the best punk/rock bands to come out in years.


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As has become an American tradition as ensconced as the Thanksgiving turkey, shoppers formed long queues in front of retail stores yesterday, with some even camping out, ahead of the doors opening for the Black Friday sales, which once again began on a Thursday.
The National Retail Federation has forecast that up to 140M consumers will go shopping over the long weekend, up a bit from 139.4M last year. IBISWorld has projected that total sales through Cyber Monday will rise 2.2% to $40.5B.
Mobile traffic increased over 31% yesterday as smartphones accounted for more than 23% of all Internet traffic. By 6 pm, online sales were up 10% over last year.
To keep the crowds calm, Wal-Mart (WMT) handed out wristbands, Best Buy (BBY) used a ticketing system, and Target (TGT) had security staff ride segways in the parking lots to increase their visibility.


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Apple has reportedly registered new names for its laptops range of models with the Eurasian Economic Commission (EEC). The new laptops or MacBooks have been registered under the category of 'portable computers' which hints at the fact that Apple may be launching a new MacBook or a MacBook Air model at an upcoming launch event which will be held later this year. The Cupertino giant already hosting a hardware launch for its upcoming iPhones later this year. Although, Apple may not be bringing MacBooks at that event. But who knows?
The report was first brought out by MacRumors and various other multiple reports strewn across the internet point to the fact that Apple may be bringing a new MacBook model this year as a part of Apple's portfolio. However, the report also states that the new laptops have been registered under an older testing stage. The reason being they all operate under the macOS Mojave operating system. Apple has already updated to the macOS Catalina. The new listing with the EEC also hints at the fact that the latest MacBook's operating system may not be ready for outright usage and still needs a bit of polishing. The new operating system may be rolled out to the new laptops closer to the launch date.
The latest registrations with the EEC points to the probable fact that there could be a new display size, a 12-inch laptop which may be Apple's entry to the super-portable category in laptops. Additionally, the two new laptops may feature in the latest MacBook Air lineup. There have been a number of speculative reports which suggests that Apple may be looking to bring back the 11-inch form factor of the MacBook Air, alongside an upgraded 13-inch MacBook Air.
Apple had refreshed its laptop lineup back in 2018 which came with a new design and smaller display bezels, and upgraded chassis points as well. Lastly, among the rumoured seven, there is a good chance that Apple will bring in a new 16-inch MacBook which will feature a bigger display size while retaining the original form factor and portability. Apple has been constantly looking to reduce its chassis size on the MacBook and it is likely that the 16-inch MacBook will be of the same size as the 15-inch ones. They will, however, get upgraded internal components and slimmer display bezels. However, the MacBook Pro lineup may not get an upgrade considering Apple recently launched new upgraded MacBook Pros at the WWDC keynote.


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Things are going fast lately with AT&T Nokia Lumia 900 4G. Few days ago we wrote that the flagship Windows smartphone is on sale at the lowest price ever – $19.99. Today, the same Nokia Lumia 900 has been spotted at price 1 cent, which is almost free. Must admit, that was quick. The Nokia Lumia 900 deal is good for both new AT&T customers and for upgraders. Free two day shipping is included. See details below.
Deal on AT&T Nokia Lumia 900 4G LTE
|Full Retail Price||$499.99|
|2 Year Contract Discount||-$400.00|
The AT&T Nokia Lumia 900 is on sale in three distinguish styles: White, Cyan & Black. Shop & save Today.


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Our Creative Programmatic event is coming up on 2 March and our sister brand, Econsultancy, caught up with two of the speakers at the event, O2’s Head of Digital Excellence, Nick Adams, and TUI’s Head of Media, Sammy Austin. Between them they discussed some of the biggest emerging trends and challenges in programmatic, and offered their opinions and advice on where creativity fits within this channel.
As the latest figures from the Direct Marketing Association reveal email marketing is becoming more important than ever, the industry is turning to new technology such as programmatic to ensure that email is as personalised and relevant to consumers as the rest of the marketing mix.
Both brand and agency experts debate how programmatic approaches in the advertising space might unlock creative opportunities and what future doors that might open. Is creativity in the programmatic sphere the next Holy Grail for an industry set on connecting with the right consumer at the right place and time?
At the end of every week I look at the key stories, offering my view on what they mean for you and the industry. From P&G’s improvement in marketing effectiveness to the rise in investment for market research, it’s been a busy week. Here is my take.
While more than a third of marketers expect to see new hires over the next three months, expansion plans have begun to tail off since hitting a peak last year.
Targeting some “fairly lofty growth aspirations” in 2022, Volvo plans to use its “marketing machine” to attract a new generation of customers.
Rising inflation and energy price increases have dampened consumers’ confidence in January, but marketers are warned to “hold firm”.


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GERING — America’s love affair with the automobile continues on June 15 as collectors from around the region roll into Gering for the 21st annual Rock-n-Roll Father’s Day Classic car show.
The show started with about 30 entrants as it moved to different locations around the community each year until a permanent home was found at Five Rocks Amphitheater south of Gering. It is sponsored by the High Plains Auto Club.
Daryl Wills, one of the event organizers, said the June show has turned into one of the largest in the region. This year they’re expecting about 300 entrants, bringing classic cars from Nebraska, Colorado, Wyoming, Iowa, Kansas, South Dakota and beyond.
Classic and custom vehicles from the early days of automotive history all the way to late model vehicles will be on display at the amphitheater from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, June 15.
Car enthusiasts are encouraged to come out, take a look at some vintage machinery, meet the drivers and enjoy some car talk. Food vendors will also be on site for the event.
“There are always some expensive cars on display,” Wills said. “All of the 1960s classics like the Mustangs, Firebirds and GTOs are selling in the $60,000 range so they’re very valuable. People that customize their cars also put a lot of money and time into the project.
“There are so many people locally who have really nice cars but don’t get them out that often,” he said. “With this show, we want to give them that opportunity.”
One of the regulars who has shown his cars is Darrell Bentley of Gering. While he won’t be in this year’s show, he plans to be back soon.
“This is one of the best organized car shows in the four-state region,” Bentley said. “The local community and businesses are really behind them. The city of Gering has also been very supportive and helpful in so many areas. It’s just a great show.”
Mike Reynolds, one of the longtime members of the High Plains Auto Club, estimated that about 2,500 people turned out to view the cars at last year’s event.
“Most of the comments we hear from entrants is how friendly the people are,” Reynolds said. “They also can’t believe how beautiful the area is. Those of us who grew up here can sometimes take that for granted.”
The Rock-n-Roll Father’s Day Classic car show, which organizers say has grown by leaps and bounds, is actually a two-day event.
Drivers start arriving at the Gering Civic Center the afternoon of June 14 followed by a 4 p.m. barbecue for entrants. A cruise for cash drive follows as drivers take a tour of the community. Then it’s back to the Civic Center for an ice cream social.
The show-and-shine starts early Saturday morning with a 9 a.m. parade through downtown Gering as drivers head out to the amphitheater.
An awards banquet for drivers, including some door prizes and auction, wrap up the day back at the Civic Center.
During the summer months, usually April through September depending on the weather, the High Plains Auto Club schedules poker run cruises around the community the first Saturday of the month.
The club supports scholarship opportunities for students going into the automotive industry and service agencies like the Buckboard Therapeutic Riding Academy.
More information is available on its website, highplainsautoclub.com.


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The Globus family of brands is welcoming its new Senior Director of Marketing Ainsley Ericksen to its executive team.
Ericksen is an avid traveller, global citizen and inspirational marketing leader, bringing with her more than 20 years of travel industry experience, including her most recent stint as senior director, global marketing for Rocky Mountaineer.
Stéphanie Bishop, managing director of the Globus family of brands, said: “Ainsley is just the marketing leader we need in Canada. She has enjoyed a successful history of building effective marketing teams and processes while inspiring a culture of curiosity. And we look forward to supporting her as she blends her experience with our needs, including generating booking demand while delivering robust, 360-degree communications across all Advisor and traveller touch-points.”
With more than 20 years of global marketing and sales experience, ranging from Destination Vancouver and Tourism Australia to Tourism New Zealand, Ericksen has an affinity for promoting world-class destinations and attractions.
Ericksen said: “I very much look forward to bringing my international experience and passion for travel to the Globus family of brands,” said Ericksen of her new role. “Including enhancing the company’s high-performing, highly engaged teams while inspiring new ideas, processes and personal connections across all marketing and sales functions.”
In addition to hiring Ericksen as senior director, marketing, other Globus family of brands’ team members with new or enhanced positions across the company’s Canadian sales team include: Fiona Schonewille (full-time sales for BC Territory); Peter Ouzounov (full-time sales for BC Territory) and Leslie Schaff (full-time sales for Prairies and the Territories).
Said Bishop: “We’re witnessing a great resurgence in international travel and with these new and enhanced hires across Canada, we’re poised to welcome Canadian travellers back to the world.”


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Rakuten, Japan's largest online retailer, is acquiring a U.S. logistics firm as it continues to build out its infrastructure to compete with foreign rivals like Amazon.com.
The US-based Digital Advertising Alliance, a coalition of online advertising networks and companies, will soon release guidelines for the use of targeted advertising on mobile devices, although it's been difficult to come up with standards in the div...
Amazon.com has set up a website with its brand in India, but will not be selling on the site.
Penguin has settled with U.S. states in an e-book price-fixing lawsuit, leaving only Apple now in the fray.
China's Baidu has long dominated the country's search market. But a local rival to the company is bolstering its own search services with the help of e-commerce giant Alibaba Group.
Google will retire its Checkout payment processing tool on Nov. 20, and warned retailers they will need to move to a different payment processing platform.
With Bitcoin all the rage and startups popping up left and right, it's hard to know who's an expert in the virtual currency and who just has an opinion. Most people would put Jeff Garzik in the former camp.
Washington's biggest problem when it comes to Bitcoin may just be that policymakers on the Hill don't know enough about it, yet.
Bitcoin is not going away, the digital currency's developers say, and they're craving more technically savvy people to support its use.
More bumps in the road are probably in store for Bitcoin. The virtual currency has seen some massive swings in value over the last several weeks, but that volatility is not likely to end soon, its lead developer suggested on Saturday.
Bitcoin is growing up. The virtual currency that caught the public's attention last month when its value zoomed briefly past US$200 kicked off its first Silicon Valley conference Friday evening and shows no sign of losing momentum.
Google is integrating Gmail with Google Wallet so that users can send payments as a mail attachment, even if the recipient doesn't have a Gmail address.
Concerned about Amazon.com's low pricing of e-books, publishers had taken measures as early as 2009 such as "windowing," a practice of delaying e-book releases to benefit sales of hardcover editions, Apple said in a filing in an e-book price-fixing l...
The U.S. Senate has, by a wide margin, supported a bill allowing an Internet sales tax, but the legislation appears to be a tougher sell to the public.
A lawsuit against Google's customer service practices in Germany is looming after the company declined to sign a document promising German consumer organizations to start answering customer emails individually.
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BlackBerry Z10 confirmed by MKM Partners Managing Director
It was leaked yesterday that the L-Series will possibly be called the BlackBerry Z10.
Our own developers further appeared to validate this by showing a retail lock video demo in the BlackBerry 10 OS.
Mike Genovese, Managing Director at MKM Partners, while sharing insights of RIM Q3 Fiscal results on Fox News, appears to have confirmed the name.
Watch the video here


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In a research paper released by the European Parliament about that exploration of blockchain and other technologies, there are evidences that blockchain has potential in curbing odometer tampering.
The paper, issued by the Directorate General for Internal Policies, researched into the likely role of blockchain technology in the use case, and concluded that blockchain could likely “present interesting potentials” to effectively curb odometer fraud through increased transparency and data privacy.
read more on Bitcoin use case
The report explains:
“The blockchain technology currently proposed by the car engineering and electronics industry would allow downloading mileage and GPS data from vehicles, and securing it on a ‘digital logbook’.”
The research further suggested that blockchain can be supported by a “connected cars” concept that allows cloud access to all relevant vehicle data in a future scenario involving autonomous vehicles.
Blockchain technology is one of the three approaches investigated to address odometer fraud in the research paper, including a standardized framework based on international standards (ISO) and equipping a vehicle with hardware security modules (HSMs) to protect data.
The issue of curbing odometer fraud, or “clocking,” is one being investigated by other startups in the blockchain space, as well as major enterprises.
Last June, CoinDesk reported on a project by startup BigchainDB and German energy company Innogy that targets creating digital identities for vehicles on a blockchain.
To tackle clocking, the CarPass project creates a record of the odometer and vehicle activity with the data visible and verifiable on a digital platform.
According to Innogy’s Carsten Stocker “If someone starts tampering with the mileage, you basically see it as a step change in the data that someone tampered with [it].”


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Legal victories taste so sweet!
A judge has now issued an injunction preventing Haven Beauty from using any photos at all of the sisters.
However, even with this win, the case is far from being settled. We'll keep you updated!
[Image via WENN.]
On Wednesday, Adriana Lima had the pleasure of visiting a place she's probably never heard of before: Schaumburg, Illinois.
The Victoria's Secret hottie made an appearance at the Woodfield Mall where she presented and posed alongside the $2 million Damiani Fantasy bra.
Bet that was the most exciting thing to come to Schaumburg in a long time.
[Image via C.M. Wiggins/WENN.]


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Tripp Lite, Redington in MEA distribution deal
Dubai, June 15, 2011
Tripp Lite, a leading manufacturer of power protection equipment, has entered into a strategic distribution agreement with Redington Gulf, a major IT distributor in the Middle East and Africa.
Under the terms of the partnership, Redington Value, the value added distribution division of Redington Gulf, will distribute Tripp Lite’s wide range of products including UPS systems, UPS batteries, PDUs, KVMs, cables, power inverters, racks and surge suppressors.
One of the major advantages seen in this new partnership is Redington Value’s key presence in over 14 countries spread out across the Middle East and African (MEA) region, a statement said.
US-based Tripp Lite solutions cater to data centres that are as small as a remote closet to a full-fledged modern data centre facility.
The partnership will now allow Redington Value to leverage Tripp Lite products along with other leading brands like Cisco, Fujitsu and HP as essential components for a highly efficient data centre.
"Data centres are now established as a critical part of IT development in the region and have become a key component in attracting local and global investment from the IP, telecoms, hosting, integrator, BPO and IT outsourcing sectors,” said Vipin Sharma, vice president, Middle East, Africa and CIS Sales, Tripp Lite.
“Our strategic new partnership with Redington Value ably positions Tripp Lite as a key provider of integrated solutions in today's data centre installations.”
“Recent reports have pointed out that the set-up of more data centre infrastructure is a key solution to help drive in more economic growth in the region. Through our partnership with Redington Value, Tripp Lite is ready to provide leading businesses and enterprises with the needed products that can help them move forward,” he added.
Ramkumar B, vice president, Value Business, Redington Gulf, said: “This is truly a strategic partnership that will benefit both Redington Value and Tripp Lite. The addition of Tripp Lite products not only helps expand our portfolio but also gives us the advantage of providing our customers with an essential integrated solution for data centre set-ups, offering products like power protection UPS units, racks, surge suppressors, cables and software.”
“We understand the growing demand for efficient and reliable data centre equipment and are committed to meeting our partners needs so that they could service their end customers better," he concluded. – TradeArabia News Service


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BURGER King says it has agreed to buy Canadian rival Tim Hortons in an $11 billion deal that will create the world’s third-largest fast-food chain.
The new company will be headquartered in Canada in a tax inversion deal that provides a lower tax rate for the iconic American hamburger company that calls itself the “home of the whopper.”
Burger King was rebranded as Hungry Jack’s in Australia after it was found that the business name was already trademarked by a takeaway food shop in Adelaide.
Burger King said it will pay about $US11.4 billion ($12.33 billion) in cash and stock for the Canadian coffee and doughnut chain.
The deal is being supported by billionaire investor, Warren Buffett and his firm Berkshire Hathaway.
“Berkshire Hathaway has committed $US3 billion of preferred equity financing. Berkshire is simply a financing source and will not have any participation in the management and operation of the business,” the investment firm said in a statement.
The two companies’ current combined market value is about $US18 billion.
“Over the past four years, we have transformed Burger King into one of the fastest-growing and most profitable QSR (quick-service restaurant) businesses in the world, through successful international growth, a consistent focus on brand revitalisation and strong commitment to our franchisees,” said Daniel Schwartz, chief executive of Burger King, in a statement.
“We are excited to build on this progress as we continue to expand Burger King around the world and look forward to working with and learning from Tim Hortons as we together create the world’s leading global restaurant business.”


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Beyoncé’s new Ivy Park x Adidas collection drops on 18 January, but actor and Beyhive member, Yara Shahidi has enjoyed a preview in New York. She attended the AOL Build Speaker Series wearing burgundy utilitarian separates from the directional athleisure collaboration.
So far, Ivy Park fans have only seen glimpses of Shahidi’s deconstructed sports jacket and cinched-waist three-stripe trousers via “unboxing” graphics on social media. Bey, too, has posted clips of herself modelling the unisex edit, which comes in maroon, orange and cream colourways. Sneaker heads can also look forward to the “Run The World” singer’s take on Adidas’s Ultraboost, Sambas, and Nite Joggers.
After buying back Topshop tycoon Sir Philip Green’s stake in her business and signing a new deal with Adidas, Beyoncé described the union as more than a collaboration, and “the partnership of a lifetime”. She retains ownership of her company and continues “her journey as one of the first black women to be the sole owner of an athleisure brand”, but has the backing of the German sportswear titan that has already pushed the likes of Stella McCartney and Kanye West into the mass sportswear arena.


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Money could be made available to spruce up Nuneaton's Queens Road in a major initiative to regenerate the shopping thoroughfare.
County councillors are considering commissioning a research project to identify shopfront and environmental improvements to a road which skirts the site of Nuneaton's proposed multi-million pound Rope Walk shopping mall.
News of the research project comes as Yelverton Properties announced it had spent £785,000 on a prime retail pitch, 14-16 Queens Road, currently occupied by Bakers Oven.
Property consultant Andy Price said: "Yelverton believes the forthcoming Rope Walk scheme will further enhance Queens Road as the prime pitch within the town and improve Nuneaton's retailing profile in general."
Members of the county council's Nuneaton and Bedworth area committee will meet on Wednesday to consider regeneration plans for the road. The council recently completed a major revamp of the Abbey Green shopping area.
John Deegan, council director of planning, said it should be possible to take advantage of regeneration zone or European funding to revamp the road.
He added: "In the interim, a start can be made on retail support and shopfront improvements using the balance of the Abbey Green funding and available resources from the minor works budget."
Councillors will be asked next week to commission a research project to identify the scope for developing a retail support initiative in Queens Road along the lines of that in Abbey Green.


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Shop Local: Council urge shoppers to use market towns this Christmas
- Credit: Archant
A Norfolk council is urging shoppers to "enjoy, discover, and explore" their market towns in the run-up to Christmas as part of a new campaign to welcome people back to the high street.
Breckland Council is encouraging residents and visitors to get back to the high street as national lockdown restrictions come to an end this week.
The country returns to a tiered system on Wednesday, December 2 with Norfolk being placed in Tier 2.
The new restrictions mean non-essential retailers, such as clothing stores, cafés, gift shops and art galleries, will be able to reopen as long as social distancing measures are put in place.
The council and local businesses have been busy preparing to reopen, with several new shops opening for the first time.
Sam Chapman-Allen, leader of Breckland Council, said: “The recent restrictions have brought challenges for everyone and the whole year has been a tough trading period for many of our local shops.
"As our high streets reopen for business, I urge people to show their support by choosing to shop local throughout December, while being mindful of social distancing and guidance to keep everybody safe.
- 1 Snow starts to fall in Norfolk - but will it last?
- 2 Hopes rekindled for new £20m railway station
- 3 'Please come home': Family's plea to help find missing Norwich girl
- 4 'We're over the moon': Family overjoyed as missing Norwich girl returns home
- 5 John Lewis boss bids farewell to Norwich store after nearly three decades
- 6 Patient dies while waiting in ambulance for hospital bed
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“Our vibrant market towns are packed with independent retailers offering fantastic customer service, unique products at great prices and of course our council-run car parks remain free to use.
"I hope as many people as possible will choose to explore, discover and enjoy their local high streets this Christmas.”
This newspaper is also calling on people to support independent businesses this Christmas and beyond, with the Shop Local campaign.
Shop Local is a use-it-or-lose-it plea to shoppers to consider independent traders and businesses this Christmas and beyond in a bid to bolster our beloved high streets and spark a wave of online spending.
Keeping money in Norfolk and Waveney is vital as the economy splutters in the wake of the pandemic. According to research by the Centre for Local Economic Strategies for every £1 spent at an independent business 63p ends up back in the local economy compared to only 5p spent at a national or international retailer.
- To help people support local traders, Breckland has launched a dedicated webpage to help promote shops in Thetford, Dereham, Watton, Swaffham and Attleborough.
Find out more at www.breckland.gov.uk/shopping-in-breckland