text:
Audax says it aims to continue growing TPC organically through add-on acquisitions.
Nidec said the acquisition will strengthen Nidec ASI's offering in the generators market,...
The acquired branch will better serve the needs of local contractors with expanded inventory...
Praxair will supply gaseous oxygen to Gerdau, the largest long steel producer in the Americas, for its blast furnace in Tadipatri, Andhra Pradesh.
The transaction will create a science and technology growth company united by common business model characteristics, and a diversified industrial growth company – NewCo.
The acquisition combines DuBois paint pre-treatment, cleaning, and metalworking expertise with Heatbath’s heat treating and metal finishing proficiency.
Representing electronic hardware manufacturing products, electronic components, printed circuit, and production supplies, EMX will now act as Techspray's stocking master distributor for Canada.
Cooper Electric Supply has purchased Philadelphia-based Ciro Electrical Supply, while Crawford Electric has purchased Dallas, TX-based Trinity Electric.
Airgas adds the Alabama-based industrial gas and welding supply distributor's four locations and 30 associates.
Industrial Distribution's 2015 May/June issue features our 68th Annual Survey of Distributor Operations – an in-depth report highlighting critical issues for distributors with data to help drive business decisions. Other features include a distributor profile on United Distribution Group, Jack Keough's Closer Look at non-residential construction, and a Manufacturer's View on service value.
During the recent ISA Convention in Cleveland, ID editor Mike Hockett sat down with Stellar Industrial Supply CEO John Wiborg and Impact Industrial Supplies President John Diaz to discuss the two company's merger last month and how both benefited.
Research from PwC US shows that Q1 2015 had the most M&A transactions in the last decade, though the overall number of deals declined 15 percent from Q4 2014.
The acquisition joins a well-known provider of fall protection with a manufacturer of drop prevention for tools and equipment.
The addition gives F.W. Webb a greater offering of PVF products in the northeast, including three locations now in New Jersey.
The industry was rocked by the big news that Amazon will absorb AmazonSupply into Amazon Business. News of multiple acquisitions were big items, while seven ID Big 50 companies also released their quarterly financials this past week.
Rexel said its value-creation prospects in Brazil no longer fit its initial growth expectations, while the market in Chile and Peru remains small, leading to the Latin discontinuation.
The agreement allows Anixter's Component Solutions Division to serve as a representative for ETCO specific to custom industrial products.
Armored AutoGroup, which also includes the A/C Pro line of car air conditioning products, is expected to generate net sales of more than $440 million this year and is expected to operate as a separate division within Spectrum Brands.
Austin, TX-based Hill Country is an electrical distributor focused on the commercial construction market in central and South Texas.
A market research report by firm Mergermarket shows that its latest industrial trends report recorded a sizeable decrease in overall Q1 industrial mergers and acquisitions, which includes manufacturers.
BlackHawk Industrial CEO Bill Scheller chatted with ID editor Mike Hockett during 'Distributor Booth Day' Sunday during the ISA Convention in Cleveland, where Scheller discussed the company's overall expansion strategy.
Subsidiaries of Dutch firm Eriks nv have acquired American distributors Seals & Packings and Action Industrial Group.
The transaction will give Stellar a new reach into the U.S. southeast, as its other 11 branches are in the country's northwest.
The combination brings together a leader in cloud omnichannel commerce with a leader in commerce marketing automation.
The deal is to strengthen Dynablade's product line of abrasive power tools for global distribution.
More big news comes out of the building materials market following last week's announcement of Builders FirstSource purchasing ProBuild.
Choosing to have its identity remain undisclosed, IBC's new customer has contracted for specialized engineered copper alloy products to improve their production line efficiency, operating margins, and yields.
As part of the agreement, GPTG’s product line of silicon carbide semiconductors will be extended to Digi-Key’s global customer base of 550,000 design engineers.
- Page 1


text:
Subscriber BenefitAs a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe Now
Feeling a bit cheated when you look down at your plate? It’s not just a figment of your imagination—portions at some U.S. restaurants are indeed getting smaller. Call it shrinkflation: when sizes shrink, but you’re paying the same price, or sometimes even more, for the meal or product.
America’s restaurants are in the same boat as the rest of the country, battling the soaring food and fuel costs that recently helped send US inflation to a 40-year high. Eateries have hiked prices, too. Government data Wednesday showed costs for food away from home have climbed 7.2% over the past 12 months. But now, restaurant operators are starting to worry about how much more they can raise the tab before diners start to balk, especially for something that’s considered optional spending.
So companies are instead coming up with some behind-the-scenes strategies to crimp costs, hence the shrinking portions. At Subway Restaurants across the U.S., rotisserie chicken wraps and sandwiches have less meat. Domino’s Pizza has cut down orders of boneless wings from 10 pieces to eight, and diners at Burger King will see the same reduction for their nugget meals. The side cups of salsa are getting smaller at Salsarita’s Fresh Mexican Grill. And in Southport, North Carolina, the 1-pound salads at Gourmet to Go are now 2 ounces lighter.
“Yes, it’s inflation going on,” said Carolyn Gherardi, owner of Gourmet to Go, a small single-story shop with a front porch and a yellow door that offers customers grab-and-go “homestyle” meals. For now, she’s holding price steady on those salads at $6.95.
“We’re trying to keep the cost the same, but in essence it’s less value,” she said.
Restaurants are betting that consumers won’t mind a few fewer fries, or a little less filling on their sandwiches as much as they would grumble about seeing yet another price increase. It’s a strategy that tends to work because of how our brains compute—or don’t compute—the changes, said Nailya Ordabayeva, a marketing professor at Boston College.
“People tend to underestimate changes in object sizes,” she said. “It’s pretty convenient for companies to actually move size, move around size, more than they do price, because people do notice price changes more.”
Astute grocery shoppers will know that shrinkflation isn’t new. Switching to smaller sizes is an age-old technique to deal with tighter margins, especially for makers of packaged goods. But food costs are rising so rapidly right now that the practice is becoming more widespread, hitting restaurants and supermarkets.
In February, non-dairy cheese maker Daiya Foods got rid of its 8-ounce (227-gram) package size of vegan shreds to make room for a slightly different product that’s only 7.1 ounces. Gatorade has made a similar move, recently phasing out its 32-ounce bottles to just sell its 28-ounce version. Consumers on the r/shrinkflation subreddit forum have posted pictures of examples like smaller bags of chips, shrinking soap bars and lighter bottles of lotion.
Not even your toilet paper is safe. Speaking with AARP, Edgar Dworsky, founder of Consumer World, said that major brands have cut the number of sheets that come on a roll.
Sometimes companies are attributing the changes to things like supply-chain issues or even consumer preferences. Gatorade, for example, says part of the reason for the smaller bottle size is that it’s easier to grip. Subway said reductions for the rotisserie-style chicken sandwiches “reflect our ongoing evolution to improve our offerings and are not in response to inflation.”
Consumers suspect a bit of foul play, assuming that eateries aren’t being straightforward. About 56% of US diners say they would be more willing to pay a little extra if restaurants clearly explain why prices are rising, according to a survey commissioned by MarketMan.
On top of tinier portions, restaurants are also taking other measures to battle rising costs, like swapping out regular proteins for lesser cuts.
When Salsarita’s head of operations heard about the nearly 26% price hike coming for steak, it was too much to stomach. The company went with a less-expensive cut of beef, opting to use ball-tip steak instead of tri tip. The swap brought that increase down to about 22%—still a staggering jump, but a little easier on the mostly franchised chain of 85 units. Now, the company alternates between the cuts, depending on what’s available and what’s cheaper.
“I feel like we were pretty fortunate because some of that conversation was, ‘Do we take that increase? Or do we sit it out and take steak off the menu?'” Chief Operating Officer Merrick McKinnie said. “We were able to drop that cost down, saying we’ll use either one.”
The Charlotte, North Carolina-based chain has also turned a supply-chain issue into a cost-cutting solution. After having trouble getting the standard 4-ounce plastic cups it uses for servings of salsas, queso and sour cream, the restaurants are often using 3.5-ounce versions instead. The half-ounce reduction doesn’t upset customers, and now the company is considering a permanent shift lower, McKinnie said.
“In a perfect world, if there’s a 4-ounce and a 3.5-ounce, we’ll shift to smaller,” he said.
At J. Alexander’s, a chain of about 20 steakhouses, the trimmings from the filet mignon used to get trashed, but now chefs are grinding up those extra pieces of beef to make cheeseburgers. They’re also putting them in other newly created dishes such as carne asada tacos, “because of inflation,” Chief Executive Officer Jim Mazany said.
“Today, we’re really utilizing that entire product,” Mazany said.
Consumers are likely to see more shrinkflation and cost-cutting measures in the months ahead, since price pressures aren’t going away anytime soon. The US Department of Agriculture now expects retail food prices to gain 5% to 6% this year—roughly double its forecast from three months ago.
Bryan Stotland, a 53-year-old from Chicago, says he’s noticing smaller portions mostly at grocery stores, but also for entrees at sit-down eateries, too. “It’s like $20 for an appetizer and $32 for a entree, and they’re pretty close to the same size. So in that sense portions have shrunk.”
“Sometimes I get a little frustrated,” he said. “But I guess it’s like the economy is messed up, and you understand.”

domain: news


text:
Powder coatings are a solvent-free product that facilitate a dry finishing process. The booming construction industry in Romania is expected to open up extensive growth opportunities for the market in the region.
“The Romanian government is focusing on infrastructural development and economic recovery following the Eurozone crisis. Under the General Transport Master Plan, the government is planning to invest a huge amount towards 408 miles of new highways by 2030,” said Faisal Ghaus, vice president of Technavio.
“Increased construction of residential and office buildings is also expected to contribute to the demand for powder coatings in Romania over the forecast period.”
Furthermore, the new market research report by Technavio emphasizes the increasing number of powder coating plants, as several industries are opting to outsource their powder coating needs to these plants.
The new Technavio report covers the present scenario and the growth prospects of the powder coatings market in Romania from 2015-2019. The report considers revenue generated from the sales of powder coatings to rank the leading vendors in the market and calculate the market size.


text:
New lower-emission XF targets fleets
With a four-cylinder engine available for the first time, the 2.2-litre common-rail diesel unit develops 190bhp and 332lb.ft of torque and is linked to a new eight-speed ZF automatic gearbox and a Stop-Start system – marking the first time such a device has been fitted to a Jaguar.
The result is combined economy in excess of 50mpg and CO2 emissions of 149g/km.
Also, the firm has given the exterior and interior a refresh, including new headlights, seats and improved trim materials.
The new XF will go on sale in September, with prices starting at £30,950 for the 2.2-litre diesel engine.


text:
Food manufacturers are catching some flack for extending payment terms to their suppliers. The growing tension in the supply chain points to the pressure manufacturers are themselves facing in the current trading environment – and their need to free up cash flow in the balance sheet. But, in a charged political atmosphere, manufacturers should tread carefully, Katy Askew suggests.
Supplier payments have become a regular news feature in recent months. From Premier Foods plc to 2 Sisters Food Group and Mondelez International, large companies are facing criticism over how and when they pay suppliers.
Premier was accused of implementing a “pay to stay” scheme when it asked suppliers to “invest for growth”. Reports at the end of December suggested 2 Sisters was seeking more than four months to pay its bills. Meanwhile, this week Mondelez, Mars Inc and Greencore were accused of requiring 21 days to pay some suppliers.
On the whole, manufacturers have insisted they are working closely with their suppliers. The implication appears to be that the negotiation of payment terms is part of a broader collaborative approach to supporting growth in the industry.
Premier amended the way it negotiates with suppliers in the face of the public backlash but insisted that the mechanism was “misunderstood and misinterpreted”. The company stressed: “The most important aspect for us is that we continue to develop strategic supplier partnerships that are focused on delivering mutual growth.”
Meanwhile, Mondelez said it is extending longer payment terms to some “larger suppliers” within the “relevant UK legal parameters”. For its part, Mars echoed the sentiment that not all suppliers are given the same terms. “We are not imposing new payment terms on all suppliers. Mars will always work with each of our suppliers individually.”
The delay in payment for goods and services already provided can hit smaller suppliers particularly hard. According to the Federation of Small Businesses, recent research suggests almost one in five small businesses had been subject to some form of “poor payment tactics”.
However, the move to change payment terms can also be seen as a reflection of just how tough the going is for larger CPG companies in the current trading environment, where sales are under pressure. Less money coming in coupled with higher operating expenses means cash flow management is increasingly important.
As one finance professional explains: “Larger companies are now proposing 90-day terms, which will give them a short-term gain in cash flow. Despite interest levels being poor it is always good to boost your cash figure on the balance sheet.”
Companies need strong cash flow metrics in order to invest in growth. So, in some respects, the discussion around ‘collaborating’ or ‘investing’ for mutual benefit is more than hyperbole. Smaller suppliers really do rely on the financial success of their customers.
Nevertheless, this is becoming a high-risk strategy. In the increasingly charged atmosphere of pre-election UK debate, the issue has – unsurprisingly – becoming politicised.
At the start of January, a UK government-backed plan requiring companies to reveal how long it takes to pay suppliers every three months was revealed. Last week, a cross-party parliamentary group was established to tackle the issue of supplier payments. MP Debbie Abrahams, who hosted the group, said poor payment practices were “as unethical as tax evasion”.
“It’s simply a case of big businesses using smaller businesses as a credit line by applying bullying tactics that are unfair and have the knock-on effect of stifling growth in the economy,” she insisted.
As the practice of balance sheet engineering through extended payment terms becomes more widespread – and gains more traction as an issue in the public eye – the possibility of regulatory intervention becomes more prominent.


text:
We have heard a number of rumors about the Samsung Galaxy S4 over the last few weeks, although we have not really heard much about the handsets Samsung Galaxy S4 design, and now we have some more information on the Galaxy S4.
According to a recent report by Cnet, the Samsung Galaxy S4 design will feature a plastic casing like the one on the back of the current Galaxy S3, the news comes from Samsung’s Y.H. Lee, who is executive vice president of Samsung’s mobile division.
Lee explained to Cnet that when Samsung look at material used in devices, the just don’t look at the design, but also at how quickly and efficiently the device can be manufactured and also the durability of the materials.
It looks like the Samsung Galaxy S4 will also feature a removable back cover so that the battery on the handset can easily be replaced, and Samsung have also said that the plastic back cover on the handset is more durable than other smartphones as it can bend and absorb impact better than other materials.
Manufacturers like Apple with their iPhone and HTC with their new HTC One are using premium materials for the devices, where as Samsung has decided to use plastic for the device, although we suspect that this will not have much of an impact on the sales of the Galaxy S4 as it will be the handsets new features that will set it apart from the competition.
We have just over a week now to wait until the Samsung Galaxy S4 is announced, it will be announced on Thursday the 14th of March at a Samsung Unpacked event in New York, the event will also be live steamed in Times Square and on You Tube.
We are expecting the Samsung Galaxy S4 to go on sale in April around the world, with a rumored launch date of between the 15th and 22nd of April, we should have more details on the device next week.
Latest Geeky Gadgets Deals
Disclosure: Some of our articles include affiliate links. If you buy something through one of these links, Geeky Gadgets may earn an affiliate commission. Learn more.


text:
Amazon on Monday denied a media report saying the e-commerce big was trying to settle for bitcoin funds by the top of the 12 months.
Thefrom London’s Metropolis A.M. newspaper, citing an unnamed “insider”, despatched the world’s greatest up as a lot as 14.5 p.c earlier than it trimmed features to final commerce 6 p.c larger at $37,684.04 (roughly Rs. 28 lakhs).
“However our curiosity within the area, the hypothesis that has ensued round our particular plans for cryptocurrencies will not be true,” mentioned a spokesperson from.
“We stay targeted on exploring what this might appear like for patrons buying on Amazon.”
The corporate on July 22 posted a job opening for a digital foreign money and blockchain product lead.
A rising variety of firms have began to just accept digital currencies for cost, bringing an asset class shunned by main monetary establishments till a couple of years in the past nearer to the mainstream.
Final week,Chief Govt Officer mentioned the electric-car maker will most certainly restart accepting as funds as soon as it conducts due diligence on the quantity of renewable vitality used to mine the foreign money. stood at Rs. 27.4 lakhs as of 10:30am IST on July 27.
© Thomson Reuters 2021


text:
1 March, 2016 Best Success Is Shared Success – The New World Order
ocial entrepreneurship, rooted in the belief that business can be a force for social good, is not just a buzz phrase. It is becoming the new global paradigm for the way big business thinks, part of organisational dna in the private sector.
Positive social impact has evolved into a key imperative across all industries in the US and Europe especially, and their customers expect no less. In South Africa, the concept of social entrepreneurship is also gaining momentum. Not just because it is the new world order in business best practice, but because the need for it is obvious. And because it makes sense in our rapidly changing world.
Social entrepreneurs are innovators who come up with solutions to society’s most pressing social problems – homelessness, poverty, unemployment, lack of education and social isolation. In the past, these solutions were executed through the non-profit sector and traditional charities, but over the past two decades there’s been an increasing recognition, worldwide, that if there is to be significant, tangible impact on environments and communities in need, we need to embrace the responsibility holistically, at the well-capitalised corporate level as well as in government and NGO spaces.
The alternative looks bleak – a growing disparity between rich and poor, and a lack of care about the fragility of our planet. Paul Rice, CEO of Fair Trade USA, put it succinctly in a 2014 report titled Redefining Success in a Changing World, a social entrepreneurship survey commissioned by Chivas Regal and co-authored by experts from the Skoll Centre for Social Entrepreneurship at Oxford’s Saïd Business School: “… if you look at the way the world is currently, and if you look at the risk of global capitalism posed by our collective indifference to issues of social and environmental degradation, you have to conclude that sooner or later the configuration of market forces and social forces will accelerate the change. In fact, the change is happening now.”
Examine the motives of today’s entrepreneurs, and the evolving culture of businesses, and it’s evident that Rice is right. Many large companies embrace social entrepreneurial principles into mainstream business practices, often in the form of sustainable business models.
A good example is Lush, the global cosmetics company selling “naked” products free of packaging, and known for its generous donations to environmental causes. Another is Intel, the US-based technology giant, which uses only conflict-free minerals and sponsors initiatives to empower new technology start-ups.
Social entrepreneurship is even being embraced by elite MBA schools in the US, with Chicago’s Booth School of Business introducing a programme designed to support executives operating in this space.
Although social entrepreneurship is at a less advanced stage of development in South Africa, it is on the lips of every enlightened executive, contextualised not as charity but as pivotal to the organisation’s survival in the long term. It’s not about ticking the Corporate Social Responsibility box, in other words, but about sustainability being part of profitability, and longevity in a fast changing world.
As Ian Calvert, project leader of Red Bull Amaphiko, observed in the Chivas report: “The shift around the world is that in order to do well you have to do good. Consumers won’t let you just operate with scant regard for the social impact you’re having. You need to build in fundamentally good business practices as part of doing well. Consumers can hold you to account simply by not dealing with you, unless they believe that your day to day way of doing business incorporates some sort of social awareness.”
The ranks of South African CEOs known publicly for embracing this mindset is steadily increasing. When Thabang Skambane was appointed managing director of FCB Joburg last January, for instance, his contribution as a social entrepreneur (he is founder of the Lonely Road Foundation, which enables rural communities to take care of orphans and vulnerable children) was seen as a valuable asset to the company. “Thabang is a man who has not only succeeded as a businessman but one who has done so without neglecting the plight of those less fortunate than himself. FCB believes this mix of capitalism and philanthropy is what is needed today to ensure FCB Joburg’s sustainability,” FCB group CEO, Brett Morris, said at the time.
Profitability and sustainability aside, the fact is that people in positions of privilege really do want to help those less fortunate, it turns out. Last year, 247 South African CEOs and business leaders took part in the inaugural CEO SleepOutÔ, raising R26 054 869 in donations for vulnerable children at Girls & Boys Town. The turnout, and the money made, illustrated quite dramatically that given a meaningful way to express it, the spirit of philanthropy in the private sector is alive and well, and growing.
The new generation of entrepreneurs wants to apply their energy and talent to building a better world, and they are finding fresh, creative ways to do it, far removed from the traditional, NGO charity approach. As this generation progresses and advances in their careers, so social entrepreneurship will gain momentum, becoming normalised and embedded in our economic matrix. Some even see it as an emerging test bed for alternative economic models designed to distribute resources more equitably, replacing older economic models that distribute resources disproportionately.
The findings of the Chivas survey made two things clear: that social entrepreneurship has gained significant traction worldwide, and that it was born in response to a rapidly changing world where social, economic and environmental challenges persist and grow. Social entrepreneurs are all around us and among us, seeing social challenges as opportunities, not only to make an impact on the world, but to redefine what personal success means.
It is cause for optimism, even in the face of expanding problems of poverty, unemployment, lack of resources and environmental degradation. For it means that we are becoming ever more empowered in healing our world, together, and embracing philanthropy – our higher calling – as a way of work, and a way of life.
– By The Philanthropic Collection –
The Philanthropic Collection™ is a boutique social enterprise,
where we tailor haute-couture brands for philanthropy.


text:
New Code in effect to provide businesses with clarity about broadband speeds
The voluntary Code will apply to all businesses (regardless of size) and standard business broadband services across all technologies.
New protections came into force recently which will enable UK businesses to receive more accurate and reliable information on the broadband speeds they should receive before they sign up to a contract. This new Code applies to all businesses, regardless of size, and to all standard business broadband services across all technologies (including Fibre to the Cabinet and Fibre to the Premises services).
Seven of the UK's specialist broadband providers for businesses - BT Business, Daisy Communications, KCOM, TalkTalk Business, Virgin Media, XLN and Zen - have signed up to the voluntary Code. Together, they provide a service to around two thirds of SMEs who have standard broadband, and they promise to:
- provide businesses with an accurate estimate of their expected speeds when signing up. This covers both download and upload speeds, which are particularly important to businesses as they can send large amounts of data;
- manage their business customers' speed-related problems effectively, and offer them the right to exit their contract without penalty if speeds fall below the minimum guaranteed level;
- give additional relevant speeds information at the point of sale (for example, how the provider manages internet traffic on its network, and how this might affect a customer's speed); and
- provide further detailed speeds information in writing to the customer after the sale.
Ofcom research has found that some businesses, particularly SMEs, were confused about the actual speed of their broadband service. The voluntary Code is aimed to target the perceived 'speeds gap' – where business customers purchasing standard business broadband services can find that there is a difference between the 'actual' speed of their broadband service compared to the 'headline' maximum speed used in advertising.
The new code will provide a similar level of protection for businesses as residential broadband users, whose interests are already safeguarded under an existing Code, Residential Broadband Speeds 2015.
These new protections were announced in January 2016 and come in force recently (30 September 2016).
Latest News from
The top trends in tech18/06/2021 16:25:00
Guest Blog: techUK members McKinsey explore which technologies have the most momentum in an accelerating world and identify the trends that matter most.
HMPPS Digital, Data and Technology Strategy 2021/202218/06/2021 13:33:00
On 15 June 2021 we saw Her Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) publish its ‘Digital, Data and Technology Strategy’ setting out its vision to transform services through digital technology, with the need to modernise estates more important now than it ever has been before.
Boost for open justice as court judgments get new home18/06/2021 11:25:00
Important court and tribunal judgments will be available via The National Archives for the first time, increasing transparency and securing free access for all.
Gigabit Take-up Advisory Group publishes report on connectivity demand17/06/2021 16:25:00
Matt Warman MP described the government’s gigabit ambition as “a matter of social justice” at the launch of the Gigabit Take-up Advisory Group’s report on 16 June.
Exploring The Commonwealth Advantage17/06/2021 12:33:00
Guest Blog: Elizabeth Vega OBE, Group CEO Informed Solutions, Cabinet Office Small & Medium Business Panel, Member & Chair of the Meet the Buyer Working Group, DIT Northern Powerhouse Export Champion, ScaleUp Institute ‘Access to Markets’ Committee Member, Member of the Leaders Council of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, writes about Informed Solutions export journey in Australia and beyond.
EU and US set up Trade and Technology Council16/06/2021 16:10:00
Following a EU-US Summit in Brussels, the European Union and the United States agreed yesterday to a range of new proposals aimed at increasing transatlantic cooperation in trade and digital and pushing back against China’s rise as a digital power.
DASA Launches new Open Call: Security Rapid Impact Innovations16/06/2021 09:25:00
The Defence and Security Accelerator (DASA) is pleased to launch a new open call that focuses on tackling security challenges in the UK.
Roundtable Summary: Making prison design compatible with future tech innovation14/06/2021 16:25:00
On the 18th and 20th May, part of #DigitalJustice2021 week, techUK’s Justice and Emergency Services Programme ran two roundtables with the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) exploring the role of technology in the build of existing and future prisons.


text:
The growing popularity of electronic cigarettes may lead to new restrictions on where users can "vape" in Erie County.
The pros and cons of e-cigarettes were discussed by the Legislature's Health and Human Services Committee Tuesday. The devices use a battery powered heating element to vaporize a nicotine solution for inhaling or "vaping."
Roswell Park Cancer Institute researcher Dr. Mark Travers said e-cigarettes emit cancer-causing compounds and may increase health risks for users. Travers says exposure to second-hand vapor is also a concern.
"E-cigarette emissions include nicotine, akrolein, which is commonly used as a weed killer, formaldehyde and other chemicals," Travers said.
"While this exposure is less than traditional cigarettes these chemicals are still present. Just because it's a smaller amount of poison that is observed for cigarettes doesn't mean second-hand vapor is safe."
Among the opponents to restrictions is Paul Smith, production manager for Juicy Vapor.
"Our ownership group started the company so we can guarantee the products that are being used, and say, with a hundred percent certainty, we're using products that are generally recognized as safe," Smith told legislators.
The industries top companies, he says, are members of the American E-Liquid Manufacturing Standards Association.
"We self-regulate at the highest level of standards. We are above food-grade preparation as far as quality, cleanliness, control, safety."
Unconvinced was Erie County Legislator Peter Savage. He plans on introducing legislation so people will know the concerns and risks of e-cigarettes.
"It's not about putting people out of business," Savage said in response to concerns from the e-cigarette industry.
It's about making sure that the public health and safety is protected. And that those of us, in this community, who do not want to be exposed to second-hand emissions because we are concerned, based on the science that we have studied, based on the some of the testimony we heard."
E-cigarettes are already regulated by a number of counties across New York and several major U.S. cities.


text:
Trulia, the net actual property web site owned by its former rival Zillow, needs to provide you a greater thought of what a sure neighborhood appears like earlier than you progress there. To do that, the corporate immediately launched Neighborhoods, a characteristic that brings collectively direct opinions and suggestions from residents primarily based on the […]Read More
Regardless of regulatory hurdles on a city-by-city foundation, electrical scooter corporations and their respective companies are persevering with to make their method to markets everywhere in the world. Earlier this week, for instance, Lime introduced its entrance into Madrid, launching tons of of electrical scooters within the Spanish capital. A few week earlier than that, […]Read More
Auxetics are supplies that retailer power internally reasonably than bulging out. On this approach they will retailer extra power when squeezed or struck and disperse it extra usually. Traditionally, nevertheless, these supplies have had sharp corners that might break simply with sufficient strain. Now researchers at Queen Mary College of London and College of Cambridge […]Read More
At Disrupt SF 2018, Fb’s soon-to-be-former chief safety officer Alex Stamos will be part of us to speak about his tenure within the prime safety position for the world’s largest social community, the way it feels to have weathered a number of the largest safety and privateness scandals to ever hit the tech trade and […]Read More
When Gmail launched with its threaded dialog view function because the default and solely possibility, some individuals positive didn’t prefer it and Google shortly allowed customers to flip it off. On cellular, although, you had been caught with it. However right here’s some excellent news for you dialog view haters: now you can flip it off on […]Read More
Amazon confirmed it’s rolling out a brand new function known as “Answer Update” to Alexa gadget customers over the subsequent week, which can notify customers when Alexa learns the reply to a query the assistant didn’t know when first requested. The concept is to permit individuals to higher make the most of Alexa’s shortly bettering […]Read More
Forking over your chilly, laborious money isn’t the one approach you may rating a ticket to Disrupt San Francisco 2018 on September 5-7. We’re on the lookout for volunteers keen to commerce their time to assist us produce our largest, most bold Disrupt convention ever. And what do you get in return? One complimentary Innovator Go […]Read More
Quite a bit can occur in 24 hours. Simply ask Jack Bauer, the hard-charging protagonist from the TV drama sequence 24. Critically, he needed to save the world each dang episode. All you need to do is purchase your move to Disrupt San Francisco 2018 earlier than the costs go up in — you guessed […]Read More
Each synthetic intelligence startup or company R&D lab has to reinvent the wheel with regards to how people annotate coaching information to show algorithms what to search for. Whether or not its docs assessing the dimensions of most cancers from a scan or drivers circling avenue indicators in self-driving automobile footage, all this labeling has […]Read More
We prolonged our deadline for early-bird passes to Disrupt San Francisco 2018, which takes place on September 5-7, however your likelihood to avoid wasting as much as $1,200 is quickly slipping away. In 4 days — that’s August 1 at midnight PST — the early hen heads north, and so do the ticket costs. Don’t miss out on […]Read More
Tecnomagzne is proud to present his new section!
Post how many classified ads as you want, it's FREE and you can take advantage of the most visited website in his category.


text:
Image Source: USA Today While the overwhelming majority of pro golfers use Titleist balls, there are others who play with different brands, and for Srixon last week was a chance to promote itself significantly by virtue of some of its “ambassadors” in The Open Championship.
When it comes to golf balls, Callaway is considered one of the best manufacturers. They're known for creating a line of golf balls that are pro quality - but can also be used by golfers suffering from too much slice or hook.
When the manufacturer of the world’s top golf balls produce new products, people listen.
There is an old saying in golf: you drive for show and put for dough.
You have to give credit to the United States Golf Association and the Royal and Ancient Golf Club for modernizing the game with some progressive rule changes, making if far less complicated for players of all ages and abilities, and let’s hope the collective bodies put to rest any suggestion of rolling the ball back.
Bridgestone and TaylorMade have paid a huge amount of money to have two of the biggest stars in the world of golf – Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy – play their balls and it is starting to pay off significantly.
Can a colored golf ball produce better results than a conventional white ball? That is really hard to know because you would need a huge sample size, but Bubba Watson is providing anecdotal evidence that white might be better.
The 2018 Masters is shaping up as one of the most exciting editions in years in the battle for the green jacket because of so quality competitors – arguably the best in more than 10 years.
In the competitive industry for consumer appeal, manufacturers of golf balls are developing different ideas to attract customers. Volvik, which has been in the business for over 35 years, has been at the forefront of colored balls and has been making some substantive moves since the start of year to raise its profile, signing some big-name players and enhancing its sponsorship to tournaments. The South Korea-headquartered company is the number one color ball among professionals, currently endorsed by more than 75 players.


text:
24 May SECURING THE SUPPLY CHAIN IN 2022 AND BEYOND
It’s no secret that Covid-19 has had a huge impact across the world. Its effect on the global supply chain is no exception. As the world begins to recover from the pandemic, the question arises – what does the post-covid supply chain look like?
Driving Supply Chain Efficiency, Mitigating Uncertainty
According to Lance Baldwin, Vice President Supply Chain at Minopex, a DRA Global Company, most mining houses require supply chain solutions that offer low, sustainable cost inputs with minimal interruption to operations (if any).
“The key objective that we’re seeing across the board is the desire to mitigate risks without tying up debt capital, and while ensuring operational continuity,” adds Baldwin. Minopex’s Supply Chain team is continuously implementing process solutions as it seeks to meet these objectives, by:
- Opening sound lines of communications
- Developing relationships to ensure constant and reliable alignment
- Recognising supply chain as a strategic imperative in the company
- Aligning solutions to the clients’ requirements
- Designing mechanisms to increase productivity and reduce costs, both internally and externally
To drive the supply chain of the future, Baldwin adds that three key strategies must be implemented:
Maintaining increased communications and interventions with suppliers, ensuring long lead and scarce items are delivered on time; and
Ensuring vendor manage Inventory (VMI) and keeping consignment stock; and
Creating reporting dashboards, giving clients access to real time supply chain information.
“With these imperatives in mind, the digitalisation of the supply chain is ensuring we’ve got platforms in place to support these initiatives, increase service levels to customers, and empower efficient supply chain management,” says Baldwin.
Overcoming the Biggest Supply Chain Challenges of 2022
In Baldwin’s experience, the biggest supply chain challenge that clients are facing at present is security of supply. “Largely thanks to Covid, the world’s suppliers are playing catch-up and often cannot meet demand. The second most common challenge is having debt capital tied up in inventory.”
Despite competing for supply with mining giants the world over, Baldwin believes focusing on relationship building and communication addresses the security of supply challenge. This strategy includes:
- Maintaining constant contact with suppliers to monitor the effects of trends and macro-economic environmental factors on supply (think covid, Ukrainian war, global shifts, local shortages, etc.)
- Keeping excess stock for interim periods, where required
- Leveraging relationships to maintain status as a preferred customer
In terms of overcoming the second challenge, Baldwin confirms that tying up debt capital in inventory ultimately leads to lost opportunity cost, additional interest paid, redundancy and obsolescence, and stock write offs.
“This goes straight through to the bottom line and impacts the business negatively,” he adds. “With various new inventory optimisation systems, such as NetStock, we’re optimising inventory, reducing inventory holding, controlling obsolescence, and keeping the costs as low as possible without impacting on operations.”
To achieve this, and more, supply chain must:
Be seen as a strategic function, involved from the proposal stage
Follow proper operational readiness preparations (where possible), ensuring the site is geared up properly to service end users
Greener, Future-Forward Supply Chains
Baldwin anticipates the rise of the “green supply chain” – or decarbonisation of the supply chain – to be one of the top trends to watch. The other is digitalisation.
“The focus on the triple bottom line and social operating licenses will ensure sustainability and environmental protection. Vertical integration, encouraging suppliers to meet decarbonization targets will go a long way to achieve the green supply chain,” concludes Baldwin.
For more information about Supply Chains, please contact Lance Baldwin at email@example.com.


text:
Thousands of students prepare for taking the SAT by using the Princeton Review’s test prep services. But some of these students do not know that the cost for taking the Princeton Review’s online SAT tutoring packages is not the same for every customer, as where a student lives will change the price substantially. The ZIP code the student types into the company’s website will determine how much the student pays, from $6,600 to as much as $8,400.
Julia Angwin, Surya Mattu, and Jeff Larson report for ProPublica that a ProPublica analysis shows the company’s geographic methodology of pricing makes Asians almost twice as likely to be charged a higher price than non-Asians. For example, a ZIP code in Flushing, New York, has a 70.5% Asian population. The US Census found that the median household income in that ZIP code is $41,884, which is lower than most, but students in this ZIP code are quoted the highest price by The Princeton Review.
Pricing for the SAT course is based on “the costs of running our business and the competitive attributes of the given market,” says The Princeton Review. It added that it charges the same price everywhere in New York City. The test prep service advertises that its service includes “24-hr Online Tutoring,” and the company says the tutoring is done by tutors who live in the same area as their students and is done in one-on-one lessons online or in person.
“The areas that experience higher prices will also have a disproportionately higher population of members of the financial services industry, people who tend to vote Democratic, journalists and any other group that is more heavily concentrated in areas like New York City,” The Princeton Review’s statement said.
This kind of pricing is perfectly legal, says the company, and any such consequences are unintentional, but the pricing system will probably become more common because of services like Uber, which arrives at its pricing based on computer algorithms. The only difference, according to The Princeton Review, is that the price of its service is determined by geographic region.
A White House report, published last year, cautioned that the “algorithmic decisions raise the specter of ‘redlining’ in the digital economy – the potential to discriminate against the most vulnerable classes of our society under the guise of neutral algorithms.”
The Wall Street Journal reported in 2012 that Staples, when selling online office products, used a variety of prices according to ZIP codes. In fact, it seemed that Staples was also adjusting prices based on the user’s distance from a rival store. But the company was inadvertently charging higher prices to people in lower-income ZIP codes. Northwestern University researchers found that web sites like Home Depot, Orbitz, and Travelocity were manipulating some customers into purchasing more expensive product options. This year, in another study, it was found that Google was sending fewer ads for high-paying jobs to females.
This kind of bias becomes illegal when a business discriminates against certain protected classes, according to Andrew Selbst, an attorney who co-authored a paper entitled “Big Data’s Disparate Impact.” However, with online activities it can be difficult to understand why pricing is different in some areas or to some people.
Christian Haigh, a Harvard undergraduate student, studied sites that had users enter their ZIP codes.
“We thought maybe if you have to put in the ZIP code, they were trying to discriminate,” Haigh said. Today, Haigh and three fellow students are publishing their findings that The Princeton Review’s higher prices correlate to areas with higher income.
Haigh found that the entire New York City area is charged the highest price, $8,400. A large portion of California, all except San Diego, is charged the second-highest price, $7,200. ZIP codes in San Diego are charged the lowest price of $6,600.
ProPublica tested The Princeton Review prices and found that living in a ZIP code with a high median income or which has a significant Asian population meant the prices for the prep service would be the highest.
However, while higher income ZIP codes are twice as likely to be charged higher prices, residents of wealthy Dallas neighborhoods are charged the lowest price of $6,600. Families that lived in areas where there were a large number of Asians were 1.8 times as likely to be asked to pay higher prices no matter thee family’s income. The Princeton Review countered by saying:
“To equate the incidental differences in impact that occur from this type of geographic based pricing that pervades all American commerce with discrimination misconstrues both the literal, legal and moral meaning of the word.”


text:
The swissQprint production team celebrated a special printer at company headquarters in Switzerland: the thousandth Nyala machine, due to be finished and delivered in June. The 3.2-metre-wide flatbed printer has been a success since its launch eleven years ago.
“It all started at the 2012 drupa show in Düsseldorf, where Nyala had its world premiere as swissQprint's first 3.2 metre wide flatbed printer,” said swissQprint - distributed in Australia by Pozitive. “Before long, this model became the swissQprint flagship, thanks to its great versatility and high productivity. Most customers today opt for Nyala.”
The Nyala enjoys a large following around the globe and in the European market has been the best-selling model in its category for eight consecutive years.
“Nyala is the symbiosis of premium print quality, multifunctionality and efficiency” said Carmen Eicher, chief sales and marketing officer at swissQprint. “Due to its print bed dimensions and modularity, Nyala offers extensive freedom in terms of applications and formats that it can handle. Users are able to distinguish themselves with standout print quality – up to 1350 dpi resolution is possible. Our customers also appreciate the high system availability and low energy consumption.”
swissQprint users configure their printer according to present needs, then can expand configuration. “Right from the start, practically every customer has ordered the roll to roll option and thus, so to speak, gets two printers in one," said Christof Lüchinger, production manager at swissQprint.
Other add-ons include the dual roll option, the board option for panels up to four metres long, a glass option and the Rob loading and unloading robot for unmanned shifts. Nyala has nine configurable colour channels, so in addition to CMYK there is capacity for light colours, white, effect varnish, orange, neon and a primer.
The swissQprint range stands for frugal power demands, the company said. “Every one of the current models has been certified according to ISO 20690:2018 for ‘top-in-class’ energy efficiency. They consume an average of just 2.2 kWh, the same amount of electricity as an ordinary electric kettle. The large format printers' durability – virtually all 1000 Nyalas are still in service – significantly contributes to the sustainability and profit-earning capacity of these Swiss products.”


text:
Shane Tews and Matthew Glavish
Non-fungible tokens (NFTs) are in the news daily, yet they are still not well understood by most of the world beyond their early adopters. While NFTs are most closely associated with digital artwork such as Beeple’s $69 million digital collage or the Bored Ape Yacht Club collection, there are numerous other examples of how they are being used — including for virtual real estate, domain names, smart contracts, and even ballet recitals.
What is an NFT?
An NFT is a one-of-a-kind, technically unique token that is used as a certificate of authenticity and ownership of a unique digital asset that is recorded on a digital ledger called a “blockchain.” “Non-fungible” in this sense means that there is no equivalent, and thus the token is unique and cannot be replaced with anything else.
Why do NFTs matter?
There is a lot of money circulating in the NFT market. The use of blockchain technology allows a digital asset, such as digital artwork and objects, video and music clips, or virtual versions of physical consumer products, to have a unique imprint with a collecting or trading value. In 2021, total NFT transactions reached $24.9 billion in value worldwide, with most coming in the second half of the year. This market is expected to continue growing, with the investment bank Jefferies forecasting the NFT market cap to hit $35 billion in 2022 and $80 billion by 2025.
Several notable companies have also made forays into the market. For example, Coca-Cola, Gap, Louis Vuitton, Nike, and Taco Bell have all released NFT collections. Along with the much-hyped “Crypto Bowl” Super Bowl ad buys, even the Los Angeles Times dropped a limited LA Rams Super Bowl NFT collection on Discord and at nft.latimes.com.
But why all the interest?
One argument for why NFTs took off during the COVID-19 pandemic is that they foster a sense of community around the collectors of and investors in a particular type of NFT. Coindesk notes, “Owning a digitally tokenized piece of art can also serve as your membership ticket to exclusive online clubs, gaming communities, Discord chat rooms and interactive experiences.” Many of these collectors use an NFT as a profile photo on their social media feed to show their support for a particular community. And the Bored Ape Yacht Club and CryptoPunks are particularly popular with “cult” investors.
Another major appeal to collectors is NFTs’ built-in provenance and chain of custody due to the blockchain verification process. The use of the blockchain public ledger also allows artists to activate a royalty asset tracker. In this case, a sale will trigger the smart contract embedded in the blockchain which then results in an automatic payment being sent to the artist’s cryptocurrency wallet.
Moreover, there are practical applications of NFTs as some collections give buyers real-world items. Gap has a branded, gamified collectable NFT accompanied by a limited edition Gap Hoodie, and John Cena’s now-defunct NFT collection gave purchasers actual merchandise. Retired football star Rob Gronkowski (Gronk) minted a limited-addition series on the blockchain that gave the winning bidder an opportunity to meet Gronk and receive tickets to “Gronk Beach.” Additionally, many NFT drops include digital merchandise which buyers can then equip onto their avatars in the metaverse. Whether wearing name-brand gear in the metaverse is important is ultimately up to the individual, but many statistics point towards the metaverse growing in both value and popularity.
One major problem
The most apparent problem with NFTs is scamming. One of the most famous NFT scams revolved around the “Evolved Apes” collection. These NFTs were meant to be usable in a game developed by the collection’s creators; however, VICE News reported, “A week after the project launch, the anonymous developer known as Evil Ape who promised that game vanished along with the project’s official Twitter account and website,” along with $2.7 million. Even more recently, a phisher stole $1.7 million worth of NFTs by persuading unsuspecting individuals to sign incomplete smart contracts.
As with all parts of the digital economy, transparency, accountability, and authentication are key elements to avoiding NFT scams. Credible NFT operators will also have digital rights management and copyright protection built into their NFTs to validate authenticity. All of the transactions for an NFT should be authenticated on the blockchain from the current owner back to the original creator.
As NFTs continue to grow in popularity, security protections must be balanced with opportunities for innovation and financial gain.


text:
Harel Insurance Investments & Financial Services Ltd. reduced its position in Activision Blizzard, Inc. (NASDAQ: ATVI – Get a rating) by 93.0% during the 1st quarter, according to its last disclosure to the SEC. The fund held 606 shares of the company after selling 8,075 shares during the period. The holdings of Harel Insurance Investments & Financial Services Ltd. in Activision Blizzard were worth $49,000 when it was last filed with the SEC.
Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently changed their positions in the company. Confluence Wealth Services Inc. bought a new stake in Activision Blizzard in the fourth quarter for $25,000. TAP Consulting LLC bought a new stake in Activision Blizzard in the fourth quarter for $30,000. Equitec Proprietary Markets LLC bought a new stake in Activision Blizzard in the fourth quarter for $31,000. Dixon Hughes Goodman Wealth Advisors LLC bought a new stake in Activision Blizzard in the fourth quarter for $33,000. Finally, Curi Wealth Management LLC purchased a new stake in Activision Blizzard in the fourth quarter valued at $33,000. Institutional investors hold 83.11% of the company’s shares.
A Wall Street analyst gives his opinion
Several research companies have recently weighed in on ATVI. Jefferies Financial Group reiterated a “buy” rating and issued a $95.00 price target on Activision Blizzard shares in a Wednesday, April 27 report. StockNews.com began covering Activision Blizzard in a research report on Thursday, March 31. They set a “holding” rating for the company. Finally, Moffett Nathanson upgraded Activision Blizzard from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating and set a price target of $95.00 for the company in a research report on Monday. Eighteen equity research analysts gave the stock a hold rating and nine gave the company a buy rating. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $95.17.
Insiders place their bets
In other Activision Blizzard CAD news jesse yang sold 10,812 shares of the company in a trade dated Thursday, May 5. The stock was sold at an average price of $78.68, for a total value of $850,688.16. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief accounting officer now owns 62,272 shares of the company, valued at approximately $4,899,560.96. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available via this link. 0.77% of the shares are held by insiders.
Activision Blizzard Price Performance
Shares of NASDAQ: ATVI opened at $79.65 on Tuesday. Activision Blizzard, Inc. has a fifty-two-week low of $56.40 and a fifty-two-week high of $91.40. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $77.39 and a two-hundred-day simple moving average of $78.24. The company has a debt ratio of 0.20, a quick ratio of 5.45 and a current ratio of 5.45. The company has a market cap of $62.28 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 25.21, a growth price-to-earnings ratio of 2.19, and a beta of 0.52.
Activision Blizzard (NASDAQ: ATVI – Get a rating) last released its results on Monday, April 25. The company reported earnings per share of $0.28 for the quarter, missing analyst consensus estimates of $0.67 per ($0.39). Activision Blizzard achieved a return on equity of 12.70% and a net margin of 29.82%. The company posted revenue of $1.77 billion in the quarter, versus $1.80 billion expected by analysts. During the same period last year, the company posted EPS of $0.69. Activision Blizzard’s quarterly revenue is down 22.3% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, analysts expect Activision Blizzard, Inc. to post earnings per share of 2.5 for the current year.
About Activision Blizzard
Activision Blizzard, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, develops and publishes interactive entertainment content and services in the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia-Pacific. The Company operates through three segments: Activision, Blizzard and King. It develops and distributes content and services on video game consoles, personal computers and mobile devices, including the sales of subscriptions, full games and games, as well as through the licensing of software to third-party or related companies that distribute Activision. and Blizzard products.
Get news and reviews for Activision Blizzard Daily – Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of breaking news and analyst notes for Activision Blizzard and related companies with MarketBeat.com’s free daily email newsletter.


text:
A PLASTIC-FREE event was held in front of a packed audience at Aberystwyth bandstand.
Cambrian News reported “Organised by the Plastic Free Aberystwyth group and Aber Food Surplus, the evening celebrated the town’s plastic-free status and awarded businesses who have supported the scheme and changed or removed single-use plastics from their business.
Surplus food was provided by Aber Food Surplus, two ocean films were showed along with Eurig Salisbury performing a poem he had written for the evening, and music was provided by local band Three Legg’d Mare.
Around 100 attendees were asked to think about their own single-use plastic usage, and ideas were presented to tackle the plastic problem, for example, a plastic hub in Aberystwyth where beach-collected plastic could be recycled locally, a plastic-free shop, drinking water refill fountains around the town and a town-wide reusable coffee cup scheme.
Organiser of the event, Chris Woodfield said: “It was great to have so many people there showing support for the initiative and now the challenge is the engage with more businesses which I am really looking forward to, as well as asking members of the public to be role models and make positive change within their own homes and lifestyles.”
The Plastic Free Aberystwyth initiative also raises awareness of what members of the public can do including avoiding unnecessary single-use plastics such as plastic bottled water, plastic bags and single-use coffee cups.
The group has produced a 10-step guide to plastic-free living.
In addition, the group are asking members of the public to go plastic-free for July as part of the Marine Conservation Society’s Plastic Free July Challenge campaign.
In collaboration with Aber Food Surplus there will be a Plastic Free Craft Workshop tomorrow at St Paul’s Methodist Church from 10.30am to 2pm, as well as a Pay As You Feel three-course lunch from 12pm.
The workshop will explore making your own plastic-free cling-film wrap alternatives and kitchen products.


text:
Denim trends have been changing in the past few months with baggy styles making a comeback. We dive into the data behind what denim styles people are purchasing.
Fit Analytics’ Client Partner, North America, Melissa Lowe, explains what Fit Connect is and how retailers can utilize it to personalize their online shopping experience.
People are getting ready to celebrate love this weekend with Valentine’s Day quickly approaching. In this article, we take a look at the purchasing trends leading up to February 14th.
As we begin a new year, we take a look back on the retail return trends from 2020 and what we can expect for this year.
Fit Analytics had another successful Cyber Week, delivering over 511 million size recommendations. In this post, we discuss our Black Friday and Cyber Week results amidst the pandemic.
As the holiday season approaches, we analyzed product trends from the last two years to predict what people will be shopping for amidst a pandemic. This year is sure to be unlike any other.
Fit Analytics is turning 10 this year! In this article, we take you back in history to better understand how we started, why we pivoted, and where we are today.
Fit Finder's Multiple Size Alert feature is proven to reduce multi-size orders for retailers.
Back-to-school shopping is sure to look different this year. We analyze the changing trends in retail and present what to expect for this fall season.
Summer 2020 trends are changing due to the effects of COVID-19. Shopping patterns are shifting and conversions for key summer items have declined.


text:
In August 1940, after the Battle of Britain, Prime MinisterWinston Churchill famously remarked, “Never in the field of humanconflict was so much owed by so many to so few.” In theconsiderably lower stakes field of trade policy, a variation ofthat phrase aptly captures the perverse standing of the U.S. sugarindustry: “Never have so few taken so much from so many.“Washington uses preferential loan agreements and tariff‐rate quotasto keep the price Americans pay for sugar artificially high.Although there is fluctuation, U.S. consumers paid roughly twicethe world market price for sugar between 1985 and 1998. The gap has beeneven worse in recent years. Currently, a March 2004 contract ondomestic sugar costs 20.35 cents per pound while the same sugar atworld prices costs 5.74 cents per pound.  In other words, because of thesugar program, a U.S. buyer is forced to pay three and a half timesthe market rate for sugar.
The U.S. sugar program stands in stark contrast to the Bushadministration's avowed goal of igniting "a new era of globaleconomic growth through a world trading system that is dramaticallymore open and more free."  Most recently, the yawning chasm betweenfree-trade rhetoric and the reality of sugar protectionism washighlighted in negotiations for a free-trade agreement (FTA)between the United States and its close ally Australia.
Even though negotiators missed an end-of-year deadline set byPresident Bush and Australian prime minister John Howard,U.S.-Australian FTA negotiations made significant progress over thecourse of 2003. For the past two weeks, however, the talksthreatened to fall apart, with much of the bitterness centered onthe U.S. sugar program. The U.S. position was that increased marketaccess for sugar is not an option, while Australia insisted thatits exclusion would be a deal breaker.
Mark Vaile, the Australian trade minister, and Robert Zoellick,the U.S. trade representative, met regularly in Washington duringthis period in a dogged effort to save the agreement. In the end,they succeeded--sort of. On Sunday, negotiators announced thatAustralia had capitulated and accepted a deal that excludes sugar.The United States, in turn, had softened demands that Australiaopen up a number of protected sectors. This fight to "keep sugaroff the table" was a disappointing departure from the priorU.S. commitment to negotiate high-quality FTAs that open marketsfor all products across all sectors.
Of course, even without sugar, the United States and Australiawill both gain from this deal. Two-way trade between Australia andthe United States is already some $28 billion per year. Americansenjoy access to Australian goods such as wine, transportationequipment, and chemicals, while exporting machinery, electronics,services, and a range of other products. An FTA will enhance thisproductive relationship. A recent study by the American-AustralianFree Trade Agreement Coalition estimated that free trade betweenthe two countries would boost U.S. exports by $1.9 billion and U.S.GDP by $2.1 billion.
The United States is Australia's number-one source of capitalfrom abroad. And a full 50 percent of Australia's foreigninvestment--more than $23 billion--comes to the United States.Those Australian investments support the livelihoods of more than83,000 Americans.  An FTA will encourage additional capital flowsbetween the United States and Australia, building on the base ofhigh-paying jobs that has already been created.
In contrast to some proposed trade agreements, an FTA betweenthe United States and Australia should be an easy sell in Congress.Both parties to the agreement are wealthy countries with highwages. Both have stringent laws intended to protect labor and theenvironment. The argument that free trade spurs a "race to thebottom" was always flawed, but it lacks even the patina ofplausibility in this case.
Yet sugar's absence from this FTA is disappointing on threecounts. First, sugar stands out as a symbol of perceived Americanhypocrisy on trade. The unwillingness of the administration to evenattempt to dismantle self-defeating protectionism in a relativelyinsignificant sector of the economy calls into question its largercommitment to open markets. Second, in order to get a pass onsugar, U.S. negotiators were forced to overlook Australianprotectionism on wheat, broadcasting and audio visual services, andother areas. Third, the exclusion of sugar from free-tradedisciplines sets a terrible precedent that emboldens otherimport-competing producers to demand similar favors. The U.S. dairymarket, for example, will also be spared full competition underthis FTA.
The U.S. Sugar Program: An Unjust, ExpensiveBoondoggleIt was a mistake for the Bush administration to sacrifice thebenefits of true free trade with Australia to save a program thatmilks consumers and taxpayers, harms sugar-using industries,shortchanges poverty-stricken developing countries, and is asubstantial drain on the U.S. economy. The General AccountingOffice looked at the sugar program's impact for 1998 and estimatedthat it cost domestic users of sweetener some $1.9 billion.Similarly, the U.S. International Trade Commission has concludedthat abolishing the program would result in a net annual welfaregain to the U.S. economy of more than $1 billion.
Sugar protectionism also costs American jobs. According to theUSITC, there are some 61,000 full-time-equivalent sugar productionjobs in the United States. That figure includes all farm jobsinvolved in the growing and harvesting of sugarcane and sugarbeets. This contrasts with approximately 724,000 people counted bythe Commerce Department as working in sugar-using industries. Inother words, more than 10 times as many Americans face possible jobcuts and slower growth because of the U.S. sugar program than arehelped by it.
Sugar-Related Employment: Producers versusUsers
Sources: USITC and U.S. Department of Commerce.A study commissionedby the Sweetener Users Association calculated that between 7,500and 10,000 jobs have been lost since 1997 because of artificiallyhigh sugar prices.  In fact, this estimate understates potentialjob losses from sugar protectionism because it counts only jobsdirectly impacted by the price of sweeteners. If theprogram were dismantled, resources that are currently wasted onexpensive sugar would shift to other parts of the U.S. economy,creating new growth and opportunity in unrelated sectors.
In addition, workers in export sectors are victims of "bigsugar." As negotiations teetered on the brink of disaster lastweek, William Lane of the Caterpillar Corporation noted, "We arevery concerned that an agreement that is going to help U.S.manufacturers at this critical time -- could be hijacked by a fewprotectionist interests that are, quite frankly, unwilling tocompete on a fair basis." Under the "sugar-free" compromise,American drug manufacturers, wheat farmers, and entertainers willbe denied the opportunity to sell freely to Australians. And theU.S. unwillingness to accept sugar now makes future FTAnegotiations with Thailand, Colombia, Peru, and other proposedsugar-producing partners far less likely to succeed.
Most worrisome is the fact that the sugar program has become animpediment to the war on terror--a conflict in which Australia hasbeen a steadfast ally of the United States. The Bush administrationhas rightly recognized on numerous occasions that fightingdangerous extremists requires the promotion of freedom, democracy,and prosperity around the world. Indeed, as the president urgedeven before 9/11 "We must reject a protectionism that blocks thepath of prosperity for developing countries. We must rejectpolicies that would condemn them to permanent poverty."
Sugar is an important export for many fragile democracies,including those in our own hemisphere. Many reform-minded leadershave staked their political futures on the promise of free tradewith the United States. They are greatly weakened by anadministration that expects trading partners to accept politicallydifficult concessions and wrenching economic dislocation while itclings stubbornly to a closed sugar market at home.
Who's Getting Fat on Sugar?The administration's retreat from free trade for sugar withAustralia was reportedly prompted by the reaction of powerful U.S.growers to the increase in sugar quotas--the equivalent of aboutone day's production of the U.S. sugar industry--negotiated in theCentral American Free Trade Agreement.  This minuscule increasesparked a panic among domestic growers, who fear any erosion oftheir power to force Americans to buy their sugar.
The U.S. sugar program is a classic case of concentratedbenefits and diffused costs. A very small number of sugar growersreceives enormous benefits, while the costs of providing thosebenefits are spread across the U.S. economy. Consequently, U.S.sugar producers have a very strong incentive to lobby and fundcampaigns of U.S. policymakers. And they have done so. Dominatedlargely by two companies in Florida (Flo-Sun and U.S. Sugar), thesugar lobby has been a major financial contributor to incumbentpoliticians. In the 2000 election cycle, for example, Flo-Sun,owned by the wealthy Cuban-American Fanjul family, contributed$690,750 in "soft money" to both the Democrats and the Republicansand $78,200 in direct funds to candidates and the parties.  Overall, theU.S. sugar industry contributed $7.2 million to political actioncommittees and $5.7 million in soft money donations, for a total of$13 million--a bargain in exchange for protection worth hundreds ofmillions.
ConclusionThe U.S. sugar program has always been wasteful and unfair, taxingAmerican consumers and sugar-using businesses to protect arelatively few well-connected growers. Now the program threatens toadd the U.S. trade agenda to its list of victims. If this isallowed to happen, a merely foolish program will have become adangerously reckless program. The U.S.-Australia FTA negotiationsoffered an excellent opportunity to begin dismantling sugarprotectionism. It's unfortunate that the president failed to seizeit.
 Pricestaken from Wall Street Journal, February 4, 2004, p. C13.
 GeorgeW. Bush, speech to the World Bank, July 17, 2001, http://edition.cnn.com/2001/ALLPOLITICS/07/17/bush.speech.transcript.
 "TimeRunning Out for U.S., Australia FTA Talks, Large Gaps Remain,"Inside U.S. Trade, February 5, 2004.
 Robert B. Zoellick quoted in "SweetSabotage," Wall Street Journal, February 3, 2004, p.A14.
 U.S. General Accounting Office, "SugarProgram: Supporting Sugar Prices Has Increased Users' Costs WhileBenefiting Producers," GAO/RCED-00-126, June 2000, p. 5.
 U.S. International Trade Commission, "TheEconomic Effects of Significant U.S. Import Restraints: ThirdUpdate 2002," Investigation no. 332-325, publication 3519, June2002, p. 75.
 "Food & Beverage Jobs Disappearing dueto Sugar Program," Promar International Report, December2003.
 "Sugar: Putting CAFTA into Perspective,"USTR Trade Facts, January 26, 2004, http://www.ustr.gov/new/fta/Cafta/2004-01-26-sugar.pdf.
 Larry Lipman, "New Battle Is Brewing overU.S. Sugar Program," Cox Washington Bureau, June 17, 2001,www.coxnews.com/washingtonbureau/staff/lipman/061701SUGAR17.html.


text:
A 2-year-old Cincinnati fintech quietly working in the commercial construction space has landed key financing backing from one of the city’s largest developers as it readies for its go-to-market launch.
Downtown-based Struxtion, which provides working capital to contractors and subcontractors, has raised a $5.5 million seed round led by Cincinnati-based North American Properties, a multifamily, mixed-use, office, student housing, hotel and retail developer. It’s a key backing that gives the young startup credibility and name recognition, Struxtion founder and CEO Gregg Lund said.
The investment will help with the continued development of Struxtion’s platform, which aims to remove the financial obstacles that many in the industry face in growing their businesses.
Click here to read the complete story.
Story excerpt provided by Cincy Inno.
Written by Liz Engel.
Originally published November 1, 2021.


text:
Hampton Roads residents are joining thousands of people across the United States in making profit by opening their doors to complete strangers.
They're doing so through the website AirBnB, a website allowing people to list and rent lodging. Since starting in 2008, AirBnb has grown to more than 2 million listings, 34,000 homes and 190 cities, according to its website.
Jon and Nicole Aldridge's home is one of the dozens of options available to travelers arriving to the area. In September, the couple began discussing the idea of opening an AirBnB in their two-bedroom, two-bathroom Cape Cod home in Hampton.
Because it's just the two of them, they knew it would be easy to convert their second bedroom into a guest space, Jon said.
"We knew we wanted our space to be inexpensive and accessible," Jon said
They had never stayed in an AirBnB, but began to model the space after many of the bed and breakfasts the couple has stayed in.
"There was almost no investment, just buying some appliances like refrigerator and microwave," Jon said.
Setting up an AirBnB is simple enough. A user identifies what type of space they're renting — home, apartment, loft or other. Then they add whether the room is private, shared or public, list how many it can accommodate and enter the location. Finally they upload photos and determine pricing and availability.
Across the water in Norfolk, Kris Murch and his wife, Theresa, had a similar experience opening up their space in July.
The Murches own a two-bedroom condo in Ocean View. With Kris traveling for about 30 weeks of the year, it was easy for them to figure out what kind of space travelers would enjoy.
"Our location is very much a destination because we live on the beach," Kris said. "One would think it would be confined to millennials and so on, people in the newest and hip and most eclectic of concepts, but the guests we've had reach across demographics."
Jon and Nicole have made use of their downtown locale as well, with about half of visitors staying for conferences and the other half for the nearby attractions.
"We like showing what Hampton has to offer," Jon said. "We've put together information about places to eat, drink, churches, attractions in the Hampton area."
Asking about allergies and making sure the room is clean are among the things done to ensure guests feel welcome.
The hosts leave the level of interaction up to their visitors.
"We created our own standard," Kris said. "It's more personable than a hotel and people enjoy the the uniqueness of the concept."
When an October cold front and Hurricane Joaquin brought rain and flooding to the area, the Murches opened a bottle of wine and had dinner with their guests. Other times, they've barely seen visitors after their arrival.
These experiences can go a long way for both hosts and guests. Both can rate one another and provide feedback on AirBnB's website.
Jon said this helps prevent safety issues from arising.
"If there were any bad apples out there, we're confident they wouldn't last long in the AirBNB community," he said.
Kris did express concern over AirBnB having less individuals opening up their spaces and more corporate managers looking to make a profit.
"Our concern is that as time goes on and the Airbnb concept matures and becomes mainstream, the clientele who have come in early will be diluted by others just looking for a deal," Kris said.
For the time being, the atmosphere can be described as that of a friendly competition, Jon said.
"I want our place to be the best," he said. "I'm proud of our home, what we offer and I want to do well with it."
Black can be reached at 757-247-4607.


text:
For all you petrol heads out there, there is currently an exhibition of all things Ferrari in Estepona. The exhibition is being held at the Palacio de Congressos in Estepona and is running until 11th August.
There will be around 40 Ferraris on display with the exhibition exploring the history and evolution of the World famous brand. Also on display will be cars from other luxury manufacturers such as Lamborghini, Alpha Romeo, Maserati and Bugatti.
Entrance is €7 for an adult and €4 for children.


text:
Linfield FC have insisted any resemblance between their away jersey and the colours of the Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF) is ‘totally coincidental and entirely unintentional’.
The Belfast club sparked a huge reaction when unveiling their new Umbro away kit on Thursday, which is predominately purple with an orange sash across the front.
Today's top videos
STORY CONTINUES BELOW
The jersey, which will be worn for the 2020/21 season, is manufactured by Umbro while sportswear company are also the main sponsor.
The NIFL Premiership champions describe the jersey as ‘tailored by Umbro UK, the striking new kit is proudly worn by Jamie Mulgrew & Kelsie Burrows’.
The Northern Irish club were criticised due to the jersey sharing colours with the flag of the UVF, a loyalist paramilitary group.
Linfield have now released a statement vehemently denying any link between the kit and the UVF, while condemning ‘all forms of bigotry, prejudice, violence and discrimination’.
It said: ‘Earlier this week Linfield FC revealed images of the club’s new Away kit for the 2020/21 season.
‘The design has met with approval from large numbers of supporters but unfortunately and sadly, there have been certain suggestions from a small number from outside the club which this club can not ignore.
‘For the avoidance of all doubt, the design is of a football kit for a football club and any similarity / likeness / resemblance with any other design used by any other entity is totally coincidental and entirely unintentional.
‘Any allegation or inference to the contrary is robustly and vigorously rejected by this club which prides itself on being inclusive, open to all and representative of all.
‘Linfield FC is totally opposed to all forms of bigotry, prejudice, violence and discrimination.’


text:
Giant physical entertainment distributor Arvato has made the decision to close its site in Milton Keynes and exit the UK music business by spring this year.
A spokesperson for the company said the decision came following a strategic review of the distributor’s UK supply chain management business.
The decision won’t effect the firm’s international music partnerships and and non-music clients will be transferred to other Arvato sites.
The news comes after PIAS announced a move to Cinram from Arvato for its UK and Ireland distribution earlier this week.
The indie isn’t the only one to have waved goodbye to Arvato, however. Universal announced that it would take its picking, packing and shipping to Sony DADC in June last year, with that move taking effect at the start of this year.
Sony and Warner are also reported to have left the distributor.
Via : [MBW]


text:
The New York State Senate and Assembly are considering bipartisan legislation that would provide grocery stores, restaurants, caterers and other foodservice companies an incentive to donate surplus food to local food banks or pantries through a tax credit.
While foodservice companies that currently donate excess food already qualify for a federal charitable tax deduction, the proposed state tax credit could help smaller stores and restaurants that may not have the staff, storage and infrastructure to handle food donations.
WXXI News has more details:
Bipartisan legislation under consideration in both the New York State Senate and Assembly would give grocery stores, restaurants, caterers, and other food industry companies an incentive to donate surplus food to local food banks or pantries through a a tax credit.
Supporters of the measure say food waste is concern across the country and New York ranks among the top 20 states with the worst food hardship with one in eight residents struggling with hunger.
Wegmans donated about 5.5 million pounds of food in New York State alone last year.


text:
Foxhole has a lot of exciting new projects under its belt, and we’ve got a lot more to share with you today!
First, we have a new product under development: The Foxhole Game Production.
This is a collaborative studio with the Foxhole team to develop a new kind of Foxhole game production.
They will be able to design and build new and innovative game production processes, including robotics, simulation, and more.
We also have a couple of new games coming to Foxhole, including the first Foxhole games in the Foxholes lineup.
They are called Foxhole Wars and Foxhole Adventures, and they both use a brand new 3D platform.
The main focus is on the strategy side of the game, but we have lots of ideas for the story side of things as well.
We’ve got an upcoming Kickstarter campaign that will help us pay for the first iteration of our robots and animators.
The Kickstarter is being run through our friends at Kickstarters.com, where you can support this game production, but it’s also being funded by the Foxhounds.com platform, where all your support will go toward helping the team deliver these games.
We’re also looking to hire more of our own experienced animators to help with the project, and I’m excited to hear from anyone who wants to be a part of this!
I’ve also been talking about Foxhole and the future of Foxholes in general.
You might remember when I mentioned the Fox hole games we’ve been working on.
They’re now being used in the upcoming Battlezone, which is a new 3d platform game, and the Fox Hounds are also working on a new game, a strategy-focused title called Fox Hole Adventures.
They’ll be launching a beta on the FoxHounds platform, which means they can share the game with the public.
This game will also be free to play, and will be available for a limited time in North America, Europe, and Australia.
I’ve been talking to a few of the guys at Foxhole about the future, and it’s been really cool to see all the things they’ve been building in the game.
I think there’s a lot to be excited about for Foxholes future.
You can find a lot about Foxholes games and Foxholes fans at our forums and Facebook page.
And I’m really looking forward to hearing your thoughts about the project in the comments below!
Follow Next Big Game on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, and Tumblr.


text:
Want a recipe for weekend fun that blends food, wine and philanthropy? Head to Wilmington, Del., and join acclaimed chefs and dining trendsetters for the "Meals From the Masters" foodie extravaganza.
The annual fundraiser benefits Meals on Wheels food delivery programs for Delaware seniors. Over the past 14 years, it's grown into a highly anticipated event that draws big crowds.
Gourmands can expect two days of culinary delights on Friday and Sunday. Think gourmet tastings, a wine auction, celebrity chefs' brunch, live music and more.
"This is a great charity event that I've done for many years," said Mark Salter, chef and proprietor of the Robert...


text:
Asia, Middle East polymers brace for US PE flows
Polyethylene (PE) markets in southeast and south Asia will be on the radar of US producers as they prepare to export greater volumes in 2019.
Speaking to ICIS at the sidelines of the Gulf Petrochemicals and Chemicals Association (GPCA) Forum in Dubai, sources said that US producers would have to export to Asian markets outside of China, given that the latter was no longer viable owing to the 25% tariffs imposed on US-origin PE. “US producers have no choice but to target any and all markets, since it will be difficult to make up for the volumes that they would have otherwise exported to China,” a source said.
Besides Asia, Turkey and Europe are going to be markets poised to see an influx of US-origin material, although it remains to be seen how the dynamics in Europe would play out.
A number of PE facilities coming up in the US also belong to companies that are also established PE producers in Europe, so targeting Europe for exports would mean compromising on existing market shares, industry sources said.
“We are likely to see a global re-alignment of tradeflows, with Europe and Middle East targeting China for exports, and US opting to focus on exporting to global markets traditionally dominated by the Middle East,” a major global trader said.
Middle Eastern sellers are also likely to see greater netbacks in selling to China, following the absence of US material, limiting the attractiveness of other markets, sources added.
GCC MARKETS THREATENED
Rising shale-based PE supply from the US threatens markets that were traditionally dominated by Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)-based players.
Polymers exports from the GCC have been the fastest growing segment and the highest contributor to chemicals export revenue, and grew by 12% between 2007 and 2017, according to the GPCA. In 2017 alone, polymers export increased by 4%, reaching 23m tonnes.
Year 2019, however, presents a different picture along with a new set of strategic and regulatory challenges faced in major markets. China is poised to gain further importance as a major PE market for GCC-based producers in the wake of the 25% tariffs on US PE imports levied. But this is not without its own challenges: “That China will be a key focus market for producers like us is easier said than done,” said a major GCC PE and PP producer.
Currency fluctuations and price uncertainties have shrunk demand across major Asian markets, impacting GCC’s polymer exports. GCC producers are also faced with tighter regulations as a result of growing environmental concern about plastics.
India has seen PE and PP demand contract as a result of the ban on disposable single-use plastic goods. India has also turned into a net PE exporter following the startup of new domestic facilities, further curbing market shares for GCC sellers.
A sluggish Indian macroeconomic environment and weaker domestic market has prompted roducers to divert their attention to Asian export markets, resulting in greater price competition.
SHIFTING TRADE FLOWS
Changing PE trade flows are a major concern. There is a level of uncertainty that is increasing nerves for many players: “PE will be a different ball game next year” said a supplier. “There will be a vacuum in China. [It] will be filled in by the Middle East but we don’t see that yet,” it added.
While there are going to be issues ahead for suppliers, buyers are likely to benefit from a wide variety of available offers.
“We see 2019 as challenging year for suppliers,” a trader said. “[They are] desperate to hold market share.”
US production capacity expansions and the US/China trade war have shaken up established supply channels this year. Both Africa and Turkey have seen prices slide as cheap US material becomes a regular factor in each market.
Additional reporting by Ben Lake


text:
Vineyard caught over false organic claimsBy Lauren Eads
An Australian vineyard is being pursued by the National Association for Sustainable Agriculture after it falsely claimed to be a certified organic producer.
The NASAA, responsible for certifying companies as organic, said it never approved Kings Court Vineyards in Victoria as organic and that it had been fraudulently claiming organic status, as reported by Food Magazine Australia.
The authority has since won an injunction from the Australian Federal Court preventing the grower from labelling its produce as organic.
A statement released by (NASAA) said its was committed to truth in labelling and would be seeking costs against the vineyards’ operators, Zeno and Duran Ayhan.
Ben Copeman, NASAA general manager said: “We are prepared to take similar action to protect our integrity, certification process and brand against any business claiming to be certified organic when it is not.
“This case is not only about NASAA protecting its brand and reputation but also about defending the brand value and integrity of our certified operators.
“Our certified operators spend many thousands of dollars to maintain their certification, perfect their organic products and grow their brands and images. Certified organic produce commands a premium from consumers who choose to eat food that is free of synthetic fertiliser and pesticide residues, or genetically modified organisms. That premium only exists, however, if the consumer can trust the integrity of the organic label.”
According to reports, it was a number of organic wholesalers in Sydney and Melbourne who tipped off NASAA that Kings Court Vineyards was claiming to be certified organic.
Zeno and Duran Ayhan have been banned from claiming organic status, pending an authentic certification, and ordered to destroy any fraudulent documentation claiming to be NASAA certified organic.


text:
Coronavirus pandemic is battering South Carolina economy, new report reveals
The COVID-19 pandemic may cause a $49.3 billion reduction in economic activity in South Carolina and trim personal income growth by 44%, according to a report issued Thursday by the state Board of Economic Advisors.
The report's assessment is based on an assumption that the national gross domestic product will decline by 20% from April to June.
The report, which offers a first look how the pandemic may affect South Carolina's economy, says the projected increase in annual personal income growth will fall from 4.5% to 2.5%.
The decline in economic activity is projected to lead to nearly a $3.7 billion decrease in state revenues, according to the report.
The economic data was released hours after the state Department of Employment and Workforce reported that 180,928 workers have filed for unemployment benefits in the past three weeks.
As recently as last month, legislators believed they had a $1.9 billion budget surplus as a result of the state's healthy economy.
The proposed $9.6 billion general fund spending plan passed by the state House of Representatives on March 11 included $213 million to provide teachers with a $3,000 annual raise and a one-time $100 income-tax credit for the state's residents.
Eight days later, the state Bureau of Economic Advisors issued a rosy report summarizing economic conditions from February. The report cited "strong consumer confidence" and said that "personal income is growing at an annual rate of 4.85 percent based on the latest available figures, and is expected to increase throughout the remainder of the fiscal year."
But all of that has changed as a result of COVID-19, which has led to a statewide stay-at-home order and the closure of nonessential businesses ranging from barbershops to department stores.
"Our economy has been decimated by this unfortunate virus," Rep. Murrell Smith told lawmakers Wednesday. The Republican from Sumter is chairman of the budget-writing House Ways and Means Committee. "Right now this is an ever-changing landscape."


text:
Through many years of exciting growth we have continued the mission of creating solutions that address the industry’s most complex challenges around inventory, task management, analytics and HR & payroll services.
Representing 40 years in hospitality, serving over 7000 customers and 120,000 locations, together Fourth and HotSchedules are proud to announce our combined global brand: Fourth Enterprises. With this change, we represent a global portfolio of customer-focused solutions and services that will continue to proudly serve the hospitality teams, as well as the retail industry, globally.
“After over two decades of enhancing and evolving labor management in the hospitality space, we are proud to announce our official entrance into the retail sector,” said Clinton Anderson, CEO of Fourth. “This expansion marks a significant milestone for our company as we continue to grow strategically. Having worked with several notable companies in the retail industry, we’ve gleaned vital insights and recognized the growing need to provide retailers the same seamless experience our hospitality clients know and trust and will do our part to position them for success.”
Service-minded retail brands like Natural Grocers, Nothing Bundt Cakes and Great Harvest Bread Company have leveraged our workforce management solutions for years, proving retail to be a natural extension to our hospitality roots. We look forward to continuing to expand Fourth’s workforce management platform, HR and payroll services to the retail industry as they face similar work/life balance and labor management challenges. With our technology streamlining many cumbersome operations for managers and employees alike, retailers will be better positioned to serve shoppers for a heightened guest experience, while also maximizing productivity and driving revenue.
What you can expect from us in the months and years to come:
- Forever honoring the HotSchedules name as our flagship workforce management solution in the United States
- Simplified processes to reach our teams, globally
- A continued focus on hospitality and retail success
We are dedicated to empowering our customers to win with talent, operate effortlessly, and deliver on their brand promise. An instrumental part of that mission is meeting our customers where they are, as they challenge operational norms in an ever-evolving climate.
If you have any questions regarding the impact on HotSchedules solutions, HotSchedules users, or Support please visit our Rebrand FAQ’s Article here.
With states and local governments slowly lifting lockdown restrictions, restaurants and bars stand to improve revenues with increased occupancy and patrons more willing to eat inside.
A little over a year ago, global industries came to a standstill. It’s since been a challenging time for everyone, and our customers were some of the hardest hit by the economic fallout. We’re proud to have stood by them this entire time, and we want to celebrate this partnership on May the Fourth.
The Biden Administration Is Granting Tax Credits to Small Businesses Which Allow Employees PTO to Get Vaccinated
Now that all American adults are eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine, states are ramping up vaccine efforts and drug manufacturers are increasing available supply.