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Nalani Services, Inc. is pleased to announce that Lara Behrendt has joined the team as their Marketing and Operations Assistant. The company has big goals for the 2013, and with the addition of Behrendt, Nalani hopes to increase gross revenues by fifty percent in 2013.
As Nalani’s marketing and operations assistant, Behrendt will aid in their marketing efforts through market research, strategic planning, project management, and creative development. Behrendt graduated with degrees in finance and marketing from the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh, and plans to utilize her creative interests, talent, and attention-to-detail in her role at Nalani.
“I am looking forward to working with Nalani where I can exercise my creative freedom and vision as part of a global solution to our client’s marketing, sales, and operational success . I am excited to expand my knowledgebase while contributing to the team atmosphere as I work to become a vital part of the company,” said Behrendt.
Nalani’s dedicated team fuels its client’s success. Each team player has their own area of expertise, yet all are able to wear many hats. Nalani uses a customer centric approach that offers creative solutions to support their clients’ success through specializing in full service marketing, sales development, and operation processes. This method provides a global view for strategically achieving increased brand recognition, client attainment, and profitable growth for those they serve. Behrendt will be a critical player in the growth of Nalani Services.


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For Immediate Release: December 4th, 2013
Senator Wielechowski to Introduce Legislation Banning E-Cigarette Sales to Minors
ANCHORAGE – Senator Bill Wielechowski (D-Anchorage) announced today he will introduce legislation in the upcoming legislative session to make furnishing or selling an e-cigarette to a minor illegal.
Nationally, the number of middle and high school students who have smoked e-cigarettes doubled from 2011-2012, according to a recently published report from the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Of those who reported trying e-cigarettes, more than 20% of middle and 9% of high school students said they had never smoked conventional cigarettes. Analysts predict the e-cigarette market will approach $2 billion in sales by the end of 2013 and may exceed $10 billion by 2017.
“About 90% of adult smokers started puffing before they were 18,” said Senator Wielechowski. “The e-cigarette market is exploding. Alaska should act now to discourage the sale of these potentially harmful products to our kids. We don’t need more Alaskans hooked on nicotine when we’re spending millions to help others kick the habit.”
E-cigarettes are battery-powered devices that heat liquid nicotine and other additives to create an inhalable vapor. There is currently no government oversight over them. Consequently, there is no way for public health experts, the medical community or consumers to know what chemicals are in e-cigarettes or what the short- and long-term health implications might be. The FDA has announced that it intends to expand its jurisdiction to include e-cigarettes, but has not yet issued rules.
Twenty five states have already restricted sales of e-cigarettes. In addition, forty state attorney generals, including Alaska’s, wrote a letter last September to the FDA “seeking immediate regulatory oversight of e-cigarettes, an increasingly widespread addictive product.” The letter noted that nicotine in e-cigarettes “has immediate biochemical effects on the brain and body at any dosage, and is toxic in high doses.”
E-cigarettes cartridges often contain flavorings, such as Fruit Loops and gummy bears, making them appealing to kids. Initial lab tests by the Food and Drug Administration in 2009 found detectable levels of toxic cancer-causing chemicals, including an ingredient used in anti-freeze, in two leading brands of e-cigarettes. There are currently no ingredient disclosure requirements.
“Cigarette smoking remains the leading preventable cause of disease, disability and death in the United States, responsible for 443,000 deaths each year,” said Senator Wielechowski. “Products that act as a gateway to this dangerous and addictive habit should be carefully regulated. Alaska should do everything possible to prevent e-cigarettes from getting in the hands of our children.”
For more information, contact Senator Wielechowski at 907-242-1558.

domain: news


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BMW Group is expanding its research center in Shanghai to monitor local trends and technologies for possible use in BMW vehicles.
In 2011, BMW opened an infotainment lab in Shanghai. The next year, it added a Chinese office affiliated with the BMW subsidiary Designworks USA.
The new operation, dubbed BMW Group Technology Office China, will employ eight researchers.
“The central objective of our team is to check new trends and technologies in China — from the automotive as well as nonautomotive sectors — for their practicability in BMW products, and where appropriate make them available in the vehicle as fast as possible,” said Carsten Isert, the research unit’s chief.
BMW operates similar technology research entities in Mountain View, Calif. and in Tokyo.


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Reuters reports that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service proposes listing the rusty patched bumble bee among America’s endangered species. Though just one of many species of bumble bee, Bombus affinis’s sharp decline is a worry to conservationists. About a quarter of bumble bee species face “a risk of extinction.” The agency attributes the decline […]
Who is the top residential water hog of Los Angeles? The Center for Investigative Reporting has narrowed it down to 7 Bel-Air mansions, with billionaire Jerry Perenchio’s estate the prime suspect for using almost 12 million gallons of water a year.
Mother Jones profiles Lynda and Stewart Resnick, central California megafarmers who grow water-intensive tree nuts, mostly almonds and pistachios. During a 1980s drought, they bought distressed groves, now part of a farming conglomerate grossing $4.8 billion annually, according to the article.
If you own a dog, you’ve most likely heard of BarkBox – the monthly subscription box for dogs. What started as a simple idea to try out the subscription model on pet owners has since developed a cult following of dog lovers. If you haven’t given it a try yet, this one month free deal is the […]
With the iPhone headphone jack having gone by the wayside, we’re excited about the addition of the FRANKLIN Bluetooth Headphones in our store. These headphones are foldable so they’re easy to carry around, but most importantly, they pack impressive sound. Our biggest struggle with Bluetooth headphones is the worry of them dying at the worst moment. This pair lasts an impressive 8-10 […]
Evan Kimbrell, founder of the digital agency Sprintkick, recently released a series of online courses that feature some of the best advice we’ve come across. These courses are well worth your time, and will save you from making many typical mistakes down the line if you ever want to start your own business.With this Business […]


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Each year, hundreds of watch collectors and enthusiasts from around the world converge on Gotham Hall for the festival of watches and watchmaking known as WatchTime New York.
Now in its fourth year, WatchTime New York is undisputedly the largest and most successful public watch event of its kind in North America, presented by WatchTime Magazine and luxury lifestyle platform WatchAnish.
From October 26 – 27, WatchTime New York gives its ticket holders coveted hands-on access to the latest luxury watches (some unveiled for the very first time in North America at the show), as well as a chance to meet the star designers and leaders of the watchmaking world.
WatchTime New York will open on Friday, October 26th with its celebrated VIP cocktail event from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., an evening which is typically sold out months before the show opens its doors.
Watch enthusiasts get to mingle with notable watchmakers, CEOs and industry leaders, experts like WatchTime Magazine’s Editor-in-Chief Roger Ruegger, luxury influencers, including the WatchAnish team, and fellow collectors. The opening night reception also offers a first glimpse of watches from 29 watch exhibitors. The range of global brands and fascinating independents this year includes the likes of Omega, Breguet, MB&F, Greubel Forsey, Bovet, Vacheron Constantin, Zenith, and G-Shock.
Friday admission also includes all-day access on Saturday, October 27th from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., offering guests a full slate of educational events, tours, and more hands-on watch experiences. Saturday will open with a Q&A panel of Independent Watchmaking Stars at 10:30 a.m., highlighting watch designers who are revitalizing the art of horology with their artistic and engineering genius.
At 11:30 a.m., noted collector and watch industry insider Jeff Kingston will guide WatchTime New York guests on a tour of the show floor, pointing out notable new models and giving special insights into the unique culture and background of each exhibiting watch brand.
At 12:30 p.m., a panel of watch industry experts will offer a cross-section of perspectives on the dynamics of the industry, from the changes at Baselworld to the future of traditional watchmaking with special insights from the panel of brand leaders, influencers, retailers, and journalists.
For further insight into new watches and launches in 2018, collectors can register to attend Kingston’s 2:00 p.m. presentation, Jeff Kingston Presents Inside Basel Geneva.
WatchTime New York 2018 will wind down at 4:00 p.m. with a Q&A panel sponsored by Gear Patrol and led by WatchTime’s own Logan Baker, leading a discussion on American micro-watch brands while guests enjoy cocktails or brews.
WatchTime New York’s fourth year promises to deliver fascinating hands-on experiences with covetable luxury timepieces, insights from the industry’s leading names, and a peek inside the fascinating culture of high watchmaking and luxury collecting.
WHEN: October 26-27, 2018
WHERE: Gotham Hall, New York City
OCTOBER 26, 2018 COCKTAIL PARTY— 5:30-8:30pm
First chance to meet watch VIP’s and executives. Cocktails and hors-d’oeuvres served and included in ticket price. Meet industry executives, WatchTime editors and Watch Industry VIPs. Allows re-entry to Saturday events as well.
OCTOBER 27, 2018 FULL-DAY EVENT— 11am – 5pm
Browse, mingle and shop, Brand and VIP presentations will be scheduled throughout the day.
10:30: Doors will open for the first panel “Meet Independent Watchmaking Stars”
11:00: Show begins, guests are invited to browse, mingle, and shop the floor
11:30: Jeff Kingston Watch Tour
12:30: Panel of Watch Industry Experts
2 pm: Jeff Kingston Presents Inside Basel Geneva
4 pm: An American Movement – sponsored by Gear Patrol
We are committed to finding, researching, and recommending the best products. We earn commissions from purchases you make using the retail links in our product reviews. Learn more about how this works.


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Simmons Foods’ investment of $300 million into a modern chicken slaughter and primary processing facility has some wondering if jobs will shift from other operations in Van Buren and outside Northwest Arkansas.
Donny Epp, corporate spokesman for Simmons Foods, told Talk Business & Politics the new project, set to be operational in two years, will increase internal supply to the Van Buren and Fort Smith operations and other further processing plants, meaning the new complex will help those plants. Epp said the new plant is needed to address customer growth, and overall production capacity will increase 60% when the plant comes online in 2019.
Epp confirmed some production will shift from the older plant in Decatur to the new larger plant located a few miles away. He said Decatur also has a slaughter facility and pet food processing lines.
Simmons is one of the largest private businesses in Arkansas with 3,700 employed in the state and 6,000 companywide. The company’s annual revenue was an estimated $1.45 billion last year. The company runs three divisions – prepared foods, pet foods and animal nutrition. The largest is the prepared foods segment that had annual sales of roughly $860 million last year, according to Meat & Poultry.
The new facility will include a large slaughter plant giving Simmons the capacity boost its prepared foods segment supply which sells chicken into food service. Epp said Simmons’ prepared foods are customized for restaurant and institutional customers. He said the added primary processed chicken will go to the further processing and cook plants in Van Buren, Pineville, Mo., and Siloam Springs.
Simmons did not say how many additional farmers would be needed to supply the new plant. Simmons has almost 300 contract growers and it also operates 20 company-owned farms. The farms raise about 200 million chickens per year.
Simmons operates six processing plants. Three process chicken for prepared foods. The other processing plants in Arkansas, New Jersey and Canada process pet foods. A plant in Southwest City, Mo., processes feed ingredients from fat trimmings not used in the human food supply. Simmons operates three hatcheries located in Decatur, Siloam Springs and Southwest City, Mo. The feed mills are located in Decatur and Emporia, Kansas.
Epp said about 60% of Simmons workforce is in Arkansas. When the 1,500 jobs are added that will increase to about 74%.
Simmons will receive several million dollars in incentives from the Arkansas Economic Development Commission for the 1,500 new jobs the company said it will create. AEDC spokesman Jeff Moore told Talk Business & Politics the project qualifies for the Create Rebate which can provide up to 5% payroll rebate on the new jobs created. The project also qualifies for a Tax Back (sales and use tax refund) on the purchase of building materials and taxable machinery and equipment. Simmons also will get $5 million in a Community Development Block Grant as well as $2 million Community Block Grant for wastewater extensions with the new project. Moore said there is also an unknown benefit from the Governor’s Quick Closing Fund for a turn lane and a potential stoplight at the new plant.
Simmons opened in July a new $30 million pet food processing facility in Siloam Springs which created 78 new jobs. Epp said that plant creates premium pet foods, special recipes and formulations for its customers.
Nathan Reed, director of economic development for the Siloam Springs Chamber of Commerce, said Simmons knows the local workforce and having just opened a brand new plant is also well aware of all the environmental hoops required with a new poultry processing facility.
“We couldn’t be happier about this new project from Simmons and what it is going to mean for the local area and region,” Reed said.


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They'll still be there for you, so don't worry. Friends on Netflix Canada is staying put on the streaming service, at least for now. However, that's not the case for other countries. Tomorrow is the dreaded day where the hit sitcom will be removed from Netflix US.
While here in Canada, fans of the show don't have to worry, fans in the US have dreaded this day for a few months now.
Back in July of this year, Netflix US tweeted, "The One Where We Have To Say Goodbye. We’re sorry to see Friends go to Warner's streaming service at the beginning of 2020 (in The US). Thanks for the memories, gang."
"The One Where We Have To Say Goodbye" is a play off of the titles of each episode.
The One Where We Have To Say Goodbye. We’re sorry to see Friends go to Warner's streaming service at the beginning… https://t.co/oSnhKsbuRo— Netflix (@Netflix) 1562692922
The show, which rose to fame when it aired in 1994, gained a whole new following when it was made available on Netflix. News broke about Friends being taken off of the streaming site back in 2018, but it was eventually renewed for all of 2019 for a whopping $80 million, according to Vox.
You won't have to live without the show for long if you're in the U.S. The Warner Brothers show is scheduled to appear on the new HBO Max service which will release sometime in 2020.
For us Canadians, we definitely get the good end of the deal, and Twitter users agree. One Twitter user wrote, "As of tomorrow, Canada will have Toys R Us and Friends will still be on Netflix."
Another Twitter user compared what we don't have in Canada to what they do have in the US, and they think having the television classic on Netflix is even better, "living in Canada is better than in the US. Do we have Sears? No. Forever 21? No. Target? No. But friends isn’t leaving Canadian Netflix".
As of tomorrow, Canada will have Toys R Us and Friends will still be on Netflix. 🇨🇦— Ryan Cracknell (@Ryan Cracknell) 1577813849
living in Canada is better than in the US. Do we have Sears? No. forever 21? No. Target? No. But friends isn’t leav… https://t.co/Q22ClphTv0— MaClara (@MaClara) 1577761608
Just found that that Friends is not leaving Netflix in Canada which makes me so happy. https://t.co/OwzZDKiLGy— Jazz Jazeemo (@Jazz Jazeemo) 1577075359
There is no word yet if the show starring Jennifer Aniston, Matthew Perry, Courteney Cox, Matt LeBlanc, David Schwimmer, and Lisa Kudrow will be taken off Netflix Canada if HBO Max becomes available here.
Either way, you don't have to stay in on New Year's Eve to watch Friends one last time.


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Australian DIY chain Bunnings creating more than 1,000 jobs in UK and doubling store expansion drive after snapping up Homebase
Australian DIY chain Bunnings is creating more than 1,000 jobs in the UK and doubling its store expansion drive after snapping up Homebase last year.
The firm plans to have 20 stores open by Christmas and yesterday it opened its largest outlet to date, in Milton Keynes.
Bunnings Warehouse bought Homebase from Home Retail Group in February last year for £340m, as part of a £840m major expansion into the UK. It unveiled plans to overhaul stores, hire more staff and promised to undercut competitors prices by 10 per cent.
Managing director Peter Davis said it had decided to expand despite flagging retail spending, which has seen non-food shops struggle. He said: ‘Increasing the number of pilot stores to 20 will give us the opportunity to test the concept in new geographies, with different demographics, across a range of store sizes.
‘We are determined to combine the best of Bunnings Warehouse with what UK consumers want.’
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At least €120m affordable loans for food businesses
At least 40% of the €300 million Brexit Loan Scheme opened by the Government this week will be available to food businesses.
The scheme, which was announced in the 2018 budget, will provide affordable financing to businesses that are either currently impacted by Brexit or will be in the future. Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation, Heather Humphreys said: “The scheme will provide much-needed finance to eligible business impacted by the UK’s decision to leave the European Union.
“I am confident that it will make a real difference to firms, enabling them to adapt, change and innovate. “This, in turn, will help them to become more competitive, a fundamental trait in any resilient business”.
“It will give SMEs time and the financial support to make the necessary changes to help ensure that their businesses remain competitive so that they can continue to grow
What are the loan conditions? >> The loans are at an interest rate of 4% or less.
The loan amount is from €25,000 up to a maximum of €1,500,000, and the loan term is up to three years.
Loans less than €500,000 will be unsecured Loans can be used for future working capital requirements to fund innovation or change, or adapt the business to mitigate the impact of Brexit. Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe said the loan scheme is designed to assist small to medium enterprises (SMEs) with their short term working capital needs, supporting them in preparing for the challenges that may lie ahead. “It will give SMEs time and the financial support to make the necessary changes to help ensure that their businesses remain competitive so that they can continue to grow into the future.”
SBCI CEO Nick Ashmore said the scheme will help businesses impacted by Brexit to have the working capital needed to innovate and diversify, to find new markets, and to grow into the future.
How do businesses apply to take part?
Eligible businesses can now apply for the scheme through the participating finance providers. The scheme is open through Bank of Ireland and Ulster Bank, with AIB following in June.
The first step for businesses will be to complete the eligibility criteria for the scheme on the Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland (SBCI) website.
What businesses can take part?
>> The scheme is open to eligible businesses with up to 499 employees.
How did the scheme come about?
>> It is supported by the Government’s counter guarantee agreement backed by the European Commission through the European Investment Fund (EIF), which is part of the European Investment Bank Group, so that €14m secured by the then Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation in last October’s budget, and €9m by the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, can be leveraged to provide €300m to Irish businesses affected by Brexit. SBCI have signed up to support lending toward innovative SMEs) as well as small mid-caps, under InnovFin (EU finance for innovators supported by the European Commission).
This agreement allows SBCI to provide guarantees to lenders financing innovative companies in Ireland for a total of €300m over the next two years with the support of a counter-guarantee provided by the EIF and backed under Horizon 2020, the EU Framework Programme for Research and Innovation. This is the first InnovFin SME counter-guarantee agreement in Ireland, enabling SBCI to enhance innovative companies’ access to funding at favourable conditions.
The Scheme is administered for both Departments by SBCI.
Agriculture Minister Michael Creed said: “I am pleased to launch this important scheme today, for which my Department’s funding ensures that at least 40% of the €300m will be available to food businesses. The Food Wise 2025 strategy outlines the agrifood sector’s unique and special position within the Irish economy and its potential for future growth. Brexit is obviously a significant challenge given our unique exposure to the UK market. Food businesses will need to focus on competitiveness and innovation in order to continue the growth in Irish agri-food exports, which reached a record €13.6 billion in 2017.”
At the Liffey Trust in Dublin’s inner city to launch the €300m Brexit Loan Scheme for businesses, from left, Gavin Prendergast, Urban Picnic; Nick Ashmore, CEO, SBCI; Agriculture Minister Michael Creed; Business Minister Heather Humphreys; and Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe.


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Residents happy to have store back
WINTER HAVEN -- After nearly a year of waiting, the North Gate Publix is back Residents and company officials agree it's better than ever.
The 16-aisle, 44,000-square-foot store is replete with new and improved features like a seafood counter, pharmacy and floral shop. And it's kept all of its standby favorite departments, like the bakery, deli, meats, produce and frozen foods sections.
At a sneak-preview Winter Haven Chamber of Commerce gathering at the new store Wednesday, organization members and their guests got to take a look at all the new facility has to offer.
With free samples of Publix products waiting around every corner of the store for visitors, the grocery shop became abuzz with word of its modernized facade.
"I like it. It adds a lot to the community," said City Commissioner Charles Richardson, a self-proclaimed Publix shopper. "I'm impressed with the spaciousness of the facility. It's a favorite of the folks locally."
Chris Hazelwood of Lasater Flowers concurred: "It's fabulous. Everything about it is just so spacious. It's one-stop shopping."
Publix employees boasted their individual departments, beginning with produce.
"We try to carry a full line of fruits and vegetables here," said retail improvement specialist Larry Delaney. "We've got new display fixtures and tables now."
At the bakery, large plastic lettering told the public where and how they could custom-order both regular and ice cream cakes.
By the deli counter, long lists of sandwiches, meats, cheeses and other available goodies stretched several feet.
At the new pharmacy, customers were invited to individual lines for pick-up and drop-off of prescriptions, as well as medicinal advice.
Customers are what Publix is all about, store manager Dorothy Parker said.
"This store is quite a bit larger. It's been overdue. A lot of people have been anxiously waiting for this," she stated. "It makes easy lunchtime shopping because of its convenient location."
Parker also delved into some of the store's history: "This used to be store No. 1. It was called No. 1, because Mr. Jenkins started here. It wasn't at this exact location, but this was it. Now it has the latest, greatest design."
Some of the customers remember the store's more recent history gave their pleased responses to the grand opening Wednesday.
"I'm elated," said Ellie Threlkel. "I've been waiting 30 years for this. The variety and openness give you more room. People have a tendency to stop and visit with each other, because it's so light and airy."
Threlkel and her friend, Brenda McAshan, agreed that most of the people in attendance at Wednesday's chamber event would return the next day or the day after to try out the store.
"They'll be back. There'll be a lot of us back," McAshan added.
City Commissioner Scott Girouard said, "I think it's a beautiful addition to Winter Haven. It shows the faith Publix has in our city as we grow. The expansion of it states that they believe this is a growing market."
The new store will open officially to the public at 8 a.m. today, two days sooner than original estimates.
For more information on Publix supermarkets and the company, visit its Web site at www.publix.com.


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DETROIT (WWJ) – UAW president Bob King has summoned local Chrysler leaders to Detroit for a meeting on Monday. Could Chrysler be nearing a deal?
WWJ’s Auto Beat Reporter Jeff Gilbert says that doesn’t necessarily mean the parties have reached an agreement.
WWJ’s Jeff Gilbert notes that this meeting would typically be used for going over a new tentative contract. Although they don’t have a deal yet, they are planning to negotiate all weekend and they’re trying to make the pattern reached at GM and Ford work for Chrysler.
That pattern includes large signing bonuses and wage increases for entry-level workers, things Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne called quote, “overly-generous” by Chrysler’s standards.


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Xbox 360 (Xbox 360)Natal Launch Nov 2010, 5 M Launch
MCVUK - November 11, 2009
Submitted by mrahaju (16)
at 7:37AM PST on November 11, 2009
MCV's sources say the innovative controller-free 360 camera will be released worldwide in November 2010. In Microsoft tour of UK publishers and studios – the format-holder has been demoing the tech and detailing its 2010 plans in order to spur more development support.
Microsoft is planning to manufacture 5m units for day one release. It should cost under £50 when sold solo.


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Organic misinformation is counterintuitive
10/07/2011 11:12:00 AM
- Has the industry/trade associations done enough to stop sexual harassment in the fields?
- "Why family and business don't mix"
- India's quick service restaurant industry
- What does America's changing racial profile mean to produce marketers?
- Do you think the public is becoming more or less skeptical of genetically modified fruits and vegetables?
- Do federal marketing orders still have a place in the fresh produce/agricultural landscape?
- Fresh produce turns to ‘Meatballs’ for promotions
- New line speeds plums at Venida Packing
- Oneonta Starr Ranch, grocers raise funds to aid ill youngster
- Illinois kicks off ‘Where Fresh Is’ campaign
- Peruvian asparagus association releases marketing plan
- FDA begins testing berries for hepatitis A as outbreak spreads


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Cybersec Europe, the annual high mass on cybersecurity, will take place later this week in Brussels Expo. Although the subject is widely discussed, many companies are insufficiently aware of the real threat, says Anne Masson, the Belgian top woman of the young Dutch SME specialist Eye Security.
Listen to Anne Masson on The Morning Drive on Business AM here:
- Eye Security helps SMEs secure what cyber experts call the “end points”, ie the company’s laptops, computers and other equipment. After strong growth in the Netherlands, the company, which was only three years young, crossed the border to our country.
- Masson points to a statistic from his own research that expresses the urgency: “It is true that the chance of a company being affected by a fire is 1 in 8,000, while the chance of a cyber attack is 1 in 5. It is therefore high time for companies to protect themselves.”
- From the city of Antwerp to car rental company Sixt to the West Flemish parts group TVH, the targets of recent cyber attacks are very diverse. Cybercriminals are not always exclusively focused on money.
- Masson: “A kind of cyber tourism has emerged, which is hackers who do it purely for money. But you also have cyber terrorism, in which cyber groups attack certain companies from a political motivation.”
- The fact that security companies discuss the latest trends and explore collaborations at a trade fair like Cybersec Europe is certainly useful given the increasing threat, says Masson. Some 145 exhibitors and 5,000 visitors are expected during this two-day event.
More in our Cybersecurity dossier


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The issue of mobile phone security is heating up, and by way of response the Metropolitan police has been pushing for phone manufacturers to place mandatory passwords on their devices.
Senior officers from the National Mobile Phone Crime Unit (yes, that does exist) have been discussing the prospect with companies such as Apple and Samsung, and even the government, according to The Register.
The idea is that phone will be sold with a pincode pre-set on the device, in the hope that it will encourage users to maintain some security on their smartphones.
"We are trying to get [passwords] to be set as a default on new phones, so that when you purchase it you will physically have to switch the password off, rather than switch it on," a spokesperson told the site.
What's perhaps most surprising is that the talks have been taking place for two years, but apparently the idea has gained "a lot of traction".
The logic behind all of this is certainly sound: the sheer amount of personal information potentially available to the thief of an unlocked phone should be a concern to anyone.
But this may just be one facet of the solution. Thomas Labarthe, managing director Europe for mobile security company Lookout commented: "I expect to see more manufacturers adopt what Apple has done with TouchID."
He added: "Phone theft needs to be tackled from multiple angles to really put a damper on the smartphone black market. The goal is to make it harder for the bad guys to profit from stealing phones."
Samsung has confirmed that it's working with the Home Office on the issue, and we've contacted some other manufacturers to ask whether this might be a possibility in the future. We'll let you know if we get any interesting responses.


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UPDATE: New videos of Tesla Model S posted at bottom of article
Electric-vehicle manufacturer Tesla Motors of Palo Alto released a short video (embedded below) of a prototype Model S luxury sedan taking laps around a test track.
Based on the prototypes, the vehicle offers ample seating for five adults with an option for an additional two rear-facing children’s seats. The car will start at $57,400 and have three battery pack options, providing from 160 to 300 miles per charge, depending on the battery pack. It is expected to qualify for federal and state incentives and car-pool lane permits. To read more about the Tesla Model S Sedan, click on this previous LCT blog post.
Tesla Model S Sneak Peek: Alpha Drives from Tesla Motors on Vimeo.
On the topic of electric vehicles, a new study by emissions expert Juerg Gruetter of Gruetter Consulting reports that operating an electric vehicle in China today emits more greenhouse gases than simply driving a gasoline equivalent.
The reason is that since China’s power grid is predominantly fed by dirty coal, recharging the battery-powered vehicles will release far more emissions than just putting gasoline in the tanks. The hard truth is that electric vehicles are only as clean as the grid that supplies them with power. -- Michael Campos, LCT assistant editor
Don't let your guests down. Here are some things to think about before the event starts.
ISSUE PREVIEW: What does he think? What did she really say? Are you channeling your customers? In the October 2012 issue of LCT Magazine, you’ll get a complete primer on how to read and please your
With no need for people to operate vehicles, how can limo companies adapt to the new world of transportation?
It has never before been easier for businesses to share information, insight and intimacy with consumers; it has also never been easier to offend them. Read more to learn how to avoid a social media faux pas.
On my trip to Chicago last week for the 2012 BusCon Expo, I had the pleasure of experiencing a new ride — the 2013 MKT Town Car.


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This poultry producer has seen many changes over the years, and its new ownership is committed to producing antibiotic-free turkey products to an ever-growing market. Although it has a history dating back to 1835, Plainville Farms has recently been reborn. For generations, it was owned and operated by the Bitz family in Plainville, NY.
The sixth-generation owner/operator of Plainville Farms, Mark Bitz, was responsible for Plainville’s transformation into an antibiotic-free turkey producer using feed with no animal byproducts. Mark Bitz also led the transition of Plainville Farms from a family-owned company into an organization led by a parent company capable of handling the 10% to 20% annual growth it had seen in the years leading up to the sale.
In August 2007, the sale of Plainville Farms to Hain Pure Protein Corporation was completed. Hain Pure Protein is a joint venture between The Hain Celestial Group, a leader in many natural food categories, and Pegasus Capital Advisors, a private equity fund manager. Jim Reed was brought in to lead the new incarnation of Plainville Farms. In the last two years, the company’s growth has accelerated to 30% annually.
Initially, the company continued to operate the Plainville Farms plant in Plainville, NY, but that changed in January 2009. At that time, turkey production was transferred to a plant in New Oxford, Penn., which was named Plainville Farms to maintain the company’s brand identity. The reasoning behind moving production to the New Oxford plant was simple—size matters.
“We took that volume to New Oxford because it is four times as large as the Plainville facility,” Reed said, noting that the original Plainville Farms plant had limited room for growth, and increases in demand required Plainville Farms to purchase some of its turkeys from other antibiotic-free suppliers. However, the company decided it preferred to move all production and processing inhouse to guarantee optimum quality, which necessitated the move to Pennsylvania.
“We purchased an operating turkey plant from Pilgrim’s Pride in March 2008, and we subsequently transitioned that plant from conventional production into an antibiotic-free turkey plant,” said Reed.
Different than the rest
The antibiotic-free concept is critical to the company’s standing with consumers. Plainville Farms is now built on the principle that it is wrong to pump antibiotics prophylactically and administratively into turkeys. The traditional model for turkey production had become to fit as many birds into a facility as it could hold. Although this allowed for better cost control, it also resulted in sick and injured stock. Mark Bitz had worked out a formula for doing business in a more humane fashion, and for eight years prior to the sale, Plainville Farms didn’t have to medicate a single bird. The new owners have continued the tradition Bitz started.
“When we looked at Plainville, we realized that this is what American consumers want, a product with a meaningful point of difference. It is better for you, and it tastes better,” said Reed. “Growing birds without animal byproducts and antibiotics in a humane fashion is what this company is all about.”
Because the product mix offered by Plainville Farms was more extensive than what the former Pilgrim’s Pride offered, the company had to invest in additional equipment to bring the New Oxford plant up to speed, and it had to educate staff on the quality criteria Plainville followed. Reed said creating quality incentives and rewarding staff for going without quality failures or customer complaints is a critical part of the puzzle.
“If you focus just on productivity, quality and safety are not natural byproducts of that focus,” he said. “We recognized that incentivizing our staff around quality and safety meant we’d see quality, safety, and productivity. If people recognize that you care about them and their work, productivity comes naturally.”
The transition from the original Plainville Farms plant to New Oxford doesn’t mean the New York plant closed its doors. On the contrary, it was redesigned into a kosher poultry plant. Last December, Hain Pure Protein announced plans to expand the Plainville facility as part of a strategy to keep up with increasing demand for natural, antibiotic-free, vegetarian-fed, kosher poultry products. After modifying the plant to meet kosher standards, it reopened in February, offering a new line of kosher chicken and turkey products.
“Plainville Farms had always been a turkey plant, and now it is primarily a chicken plant for kosher that also does turkeys. In doing that and transitioning from Plainville Farms to what we now call Kosher Valley, we were able to keep full employment,” Reed said.
With these changes, the company solidified the foundation of the original Plainville Farms and the new Plainville Farms, renewing its commitment to the development of new products and growing the antibiotic-free market. Merging operations into the New Oxford plant allowed expanded product lines as the company is no longer constrained by capacity or an inability to focus on product innovation. The company is launching new lines like marinated tenderloins, turkey patties, turkey sausages, and a wide variety of processed pre-sliced products and bulk deli products. It has also become the nation’s supplier of antibiotic-free ingredients.
“Anyone out there selling an antibiotic-free product is buying the meat from us because the turkey we produce is not only antibiotic-free but it meets all rigid quality specifications,” said Reed. “So we’ve been able to innovate in terms of offering new products and supplying the industry with ingredients.”
Another way the company is expanding its market is by helping consumers to understand that antibiotic-free poultry is its own category, different from organic, natural, and conventional categories. One way it can do this is through high-profile affiliations. This October, Hain Pure Protein and Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia announced the launch of a Martha Stewart branded whole turkey, partnering Plainville Farms with the food industry icon.
“This year, we are producing Martha Stewart turkeys for the holidays, and next year we’ll have a wide variety of products offered under the Martha Stewart brand, many of which are now under development,” Reed said.
Reed feels the company can adequately serve the eastern two-thirds of the US with the New Oxford facility, which has the ability to more than double its current capacity. Although many consumers have been tightening their purse strings during the recession, the strength of the brand has allowed Plainville Farms to continue to expand its distribution network and footprint as many grocers and consumers are realizing the value and quality the brand represents.
“We were concerned the economy would be a major barrier to our growth, but we were pleasantly surprised to find that people have traded down, but not from antibiotic-free turkey to conventional turkey. They’ve switched from beef and pork to antibiotic-free products we offer,” said Reed. “We think when the economy recovers, we’ll see an even greater rate of growth because more consumers will be looking for the kinds of products we offer.”


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The Scotch Whisky Association (SWA) is calling on the UK Government to bring clarity to the transition to Brexit as soon as possible,
It is concerned that the UK’s decision to leave the EU is likely to result in a big rise in tariffs imposed on exports to key growth markets.
SWA chief executive David Frost has called on Prime Minister Theresa May and her ministers to ensure in Brexit negotiations that the current open trading environment enjoyed by the UK is not affected.
Accounting for a quarter of UK food and drink exports, Scotch whisky is a key industry.
More than 90% of its output is sold outside the UK. Without it the UK’s trade deficit would be over 10% larger.
Of the £3.8 billion worth of Scotch exported last year, £1.2bn was shipped to the EU.
More than 40,000 jobs across the UK are supported by the industry with over 10,000 people directly employed in the sector.
The SWA considers Scotch whisky will not face a tariff on exports to the EU under current EU tariff and World Trade Organisation (WTO) rules.
Scotch will continue to benefit from existing zero tariffs in the US, Canada, and Mexico.
In markets like India that already demand high tariffs, Brexit will not make the situation any worse.
Brexit will mean new administrative requirements for exports to the EU, and the UK will eventually lose access to the EU’s Free Trade Agreements (FTAs).
Scotch will also lose significant tariff reductions in certain markets, notably Korea, South Africa, Colombia and levies could rise by as much as 20%.
The UK will eventually need to negotiate its own FTAs or rely on WTO rules, and the SWA says these agreements can’t be made quickly.
The SWA said the UK Government has not yet been clear whether it is looking for the UK to have European Economic Area (EEA) status, like Norway, or a more distant relationship based on a Free Trade Agreement with the EU, like Canada or Switzerland.
EEA status keeps most EU single market laws in force, but a FTA relationship means Britain would need its own rules.
The SWA wants UK trade policy that is as open and free trading as possible.
David Frost said: “We are calling on the UK Government to bring clarity to the transition to Brexit as soon as possible, and to negotiate to ensure that the current open trading environment is not affected.”


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By Julian Baring, General Manager-North America, Adform
The already-frazzled marketing landscape breathed a temporary sigh of relief when Apple announced that it was delaying the implementation of its plans to require users to opt-in to its IDFA tracking until next year. This relief, however, underscores a growing challenge among today’s brands and agencies that’s not going away—namely, the accelerating loss of relied-upon means of identifying consumers across channels.
Between Apple’s still-forthcoming IDFA update and Google’s planned massive step forward in the deprecation of the third-party cookie, marketers’ grasp on consumer identity in the digital age has never been more precarious. And yet, at the same time, consumer demands for personalized and seamless communications and experiences have never been higher.
Brands and agencies that have spent the past decade cobbling together best-of-breed marketing technology stacks will feel the loss of third-party cookies and IDFA intelligence most deeply. It’s these institutions—the ones that have carefully selected and strung together complex networks of disparate vendors and solutions over time—that will have the most trouble finding and executing identity workarounds in today’s ever-changing marketing ecosystems. That’s why, in the coming years, having access to an integrated tech stack will be more important than ever.
Where Fragmentation Falls Apart
Apple’s decision to delay its IDFA change and the fact that Google gave the industry two years’ notice on its elimination of Chrome third-party cookie tracking underscore a simple truth: These kinds of changes create huge problems for all players in the digital ecosystem, marketers included. However, when it comes to these seemingly nuanced changes to backend technology and permissions, a lot of brands and agencies don’t fully grasp the implications for their businesses until the effect is upon them. In the case of the current transformation of identity management taking shape right now, failing to strategically alter course in advance could lead to a devastating loss of marketing momentum and customer relationships. What was stitched together before – will almost certainly be stretched to breaking now and in the future.
Over the past decade, advertisers have been carefully constructing complex and bespoke marketing tech stacks, all with the end goal of being able to identify, understand and communicate with their customers and prospects in today’s ever-fragmenting cross-channel reality. When relied-upon identifiers that are used to connect the dots among solutions are lost within our industry, marketers typically need to layer on additional steps and solutions to their already-complicated tech stacks. For every additional connection with the stack, the challenge is compounded. Not only do you have to multiply the effort to patch lost connections by the number of solutions within a stack, but you also have to expect degradation of data fidelity as you move data from solution to solution in an attempt to create a “real-time” seamless picture of your customer. While this degradation might be acceptable when moving from just one platform to another, it becomes exponentially worse with every solution you add into the mix—from ad servers to DSPs to CRMs to DMPs and more. In other words, when you remove a single identifier in one place, its effect radiates throughout the system, to the point where customers become virtually unrecognizable from point solution to point solution.
The changes being made by industry behemoths will have a significant impact on our tightly linked ecosystem. As identifiers fracture across the landscape, it’s the brands and agencies with fully integrated stacks that will find it much easier to pick up the pieces and move forward in a way that preserves their customer understanding, relationships and by virtue ensure effective marketing communication. How can anyone strive for and achieve “the right message in the right place to the right person” if the tools to identify the right person, deliver the right message and track to make sure that it was effective are all compromised?
To effectively manage identity for marketing purposes, companies must have access to a single customer identifier that can move seamlessly across their full tech stacks. By shedding disparate solutions in favor of a fully integrated solution, marketers will find it much easier to manage not only the forthcoming loss of third-party cookies and IDFA intelligence but also any other future change to the marketing identity landscape. The key to long-term success in making this transition is to seek out transparent full-stack solutions that enable an advertiser to truly own their user relationships, rather than merely renting them from one of the marketing landscape’s mega-platforms.
These days, big companies are erring on the side of consumer privacy as they build their platforms for the future—and rightfully so. To adapt, brands and agencies must look to reduce complexity within their own tech stacks so they can continue to deliver the personalized, seamless experiences that consumers desire, in the privacy-compliant manner they demand.


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The company has once again attended The Big Bang at Birmingham’s NEC.
The Fair is an award-winning combination of engaging shows, interactive workshops, hands-on activities and careers information from STEM professionals, which aims to show young people (primarily aged 7-19) the exciting and rewarding opportunities out there for them. By bringing classroom learning to life, the show attracted over 80,000 visitors in 2018.
Spin Master’s Meccano stand combines fun with learning, giving kids the opportunity to follow step-by-step instructions to build a wide variety of cars, bikes, planes, and more. Alternatively, visitors can design and construct their own creations, fitting together the universal parts using the tools which come with the kits, to demonstrate the never-ending opportunity of this historic and enduring activity.
At over 100 years old, Meccano has seen the first television broadcast, the invention of the tank, ejector seat, hovercraft, PC, email, mobile phone, and the internet. Since Spin Master acquired the brand in 2013, award winning sets like the F1 Ferrari and the 4ft tall Meccanoid G15 KS robot have hit stores, inspiring a new age of engineering and innovation.
Becca Hanlon, senior brand manager for Meccano, said: “We are delighted to once again bring Meccano to this fantastic event and provide our popular activity for young visitors to enjoy. It’s always a rewarding experience to get Meccano into the hands of keen and enquiring minds, helping to ignite and further fuel their passion for science and and engineering as potential study subjects.”


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Products worth millions of dollars, including fake erectile dysfunction drugs, were seized from a Hong Kong shipment at Los Angeles International Airport, according to customs and border protection officials.
Last month, the federal agents seized thousands of fake Gucci and other high-fashion products at LAX. Other products include Chanel, Louis Vuitton, Versace, Nike, Fendi, Adidas, Under Armor, and YSL.
They also seized thousands of erectile dysfunction (ED) pills containing sildenafil, a prescription drug, and heartburn pills containing ranitidine.
The agents seized 2,160 fake ED pills of Sildenafil, a prescription drug advised for the treatment of erectile dysfunction in men. The officials seized 4,500 pills of ranitidine, which is used to treat and prevent gastric ulcers.
The seized items were discovered on June 25 on a shipment of 99 boxes, weighing more than 3,800 pounds. The shipment from Hong Kong was labeled as “Ladies Tops Storage Bag Empty,” according to the officials.
In a press release, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) said, “If genuine, the seized merchandise would have had an estimated manufacturer’s suggested retail price of $1,884,769.”
The ED pills were not necessarily fake but considered unregulated because the FDA approval is required for the importation of any medication in the United States, according to CBP spokesperson Jaime Ruiz.
“Trade in illegitimate goods is associated with smuggling and other criminal activities, and often funds criminal enterprises,” said CBP Director of Field Operations Carlos Martel. “CBP officers and import specialists remain vigilant in detecting, intercepting and seizing illegitimate products and enforcing all trade laws,” he added.


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From the Chron: Statewide Single-Use Bag Ban Likely?
As I reported in my story on East Bay plastic bag bans a couple weeks ago, a number of local cities have their eyes on a proposed statewide ban on single-use bags. As they attempt to pursue their own plastic bag bans, many are also watching AB1998, which would render local ordinances moot. It would also be more strict than existing and proposed local ordinances throughout the state, because it bans both single-use paper and plastic (San Francisco's existing ban is plastic only) in almost all instances (San Francisco's applies only to large supermarkets and chain pharmacies). According to a report in today's Chronicle, the bill has a good chance of passing after receiving the endorsement of the California Grocers Association. The bill will be voted on in the assembly this week and could go to a Senate vote later this year.


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National average rates for van, refrigerated and flatbed trucking entered August near their high marks for the year, said DAT Solutions, which operates the DAT One load board network. For the week ending Aug. 2, shippers and brokers posted 8.6% more loads in the aggregate to the load boards, while truck posts fell again 8%, a typical indicator of improving conditions for load availability.
National average spot rates, July full month
**Van: $2.04 per mile, up 24 cents compared to June
**Flatbed: $2.20 per mile, up 13 cents
**Reefer: $2.30 per mile, up 15 cents
The average spot van rate last month was 10.6% higher compared to July 2019. Van and reefer rates entered August much higher than their July averages at $2.20 a mile for vans and $2.42 for reefers.
Trends to watch
Rates rise on high-volume van lanes: Average spot van rates increased on 55 of DAT’s top 100 lanes by volume compared to the previous week. Volumes on those 100 lanes were only 2% higher week over week, however.
Retail freight keeps DCs busy: Load volumes out of the top 10 fulfillment warehouse markets rose 25% last month as a surge of imports for home improvement and other stay-at-home goods flows through supply chains. This was especially prevalent at Midwest distribution hubs like Joliet, Illinois, and Indianapolis. At the lane level, spot van rates from Memphis to Atlanta increased 10 cents to an average of $3.11 per mile last week. That’s up 55 cents over the past two weeks.
Storm warnings: Isaias is a reminder of spot market dynamics ahead of, during and after a major storm. Last week more loads moved out of Florida than normal, with van volume out of Lakeland up 20% compared to the week before. The Atlantic hurricane season is off to a fast start, with Isaias being the earliest ninth named storm on record.
Produce preferences: The pandemic is affecting demand for specific types of produce. High volumes of citrus fruits and leafy greens led to tighter capacity in Southern California, especially in the Salinas Valley. Produce volumes for the entire state were up 53% in July compared to June, but the struggling restaurant and food-service industries continue to drive uncertainty there as well.
Reefer demand is higher in Philadelphia, Elizabeth, New Jersey, and other northeast port markets that handle imported fruits and vegetables. Elizabeth to Lakeland, Florida, rose 10 cents to an average of $2.04 a mile last week.


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US card group set to swoop for Egg
AMERICAN credit card group MBNA is set to buy Britain's internet bank Egg for around £1.4bn and a deal could be announced within the next two weeks, according to a report in the Sunday Telegraph.
Insurer Prudential,, which has a 79% stake in Egg, put the online bank up for auction in January.
MBNA is believed to be prepared to pay a small premium to the 160p flotation price at which Egg joined the stock market in June 2000.
Prudential chief executive Jonathan Bloomer said last month the sale process for Egg was continuing, but added that the insurer would not sell Egg if it felt the price was wrong.
An Egg spokeswoman declined to comment, while a spokeswoman for Prudential said the insurer did not comment on market speculation. Officials at MBNA could not be reached for comment.
Egg shares closed up 0.2 percent at 155 pence on Friday.
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Mike Tyson Is Getting in on Legal Weed, Opens 40-Acre ‘Cannabis Ranch’ in California
His bud will knock you out.
The combat sports legend recently broke ground on “Tyson Ranch,” a 40-acre plot of land in California City that will be ultimately be converted into a marijuana farm.
— FORTUNE420.COM ® (@Fortune420Group) January 1, 2018
He was joined by business partners Robert Hickman, Jay Strommen and California City mayor Jennifer Wood. The Blast has further details:
We’re told Tyson Ranch will be dedicating 20 acres of their land for cultivation facilities that “will allow master growers to have maximum control of their environment.”
There will also be a Tyson Cultivation School to teach growers the latest and greatest ways to perfect their own strains.
The production of mind-blowing bud is only one facet of the master plan for the facility, which will be operated by Tyson Holistics. The features below make it sound more like a marijuana mecca than a farm.
- Hydro-feed plant and supply store
- Extraction facility
- Edible factory
- Premium “glamping” campgrounds and cabins
Tyson’s timing and location are no doubt calculated. As of January 1, the sale of recreational pot became legal in California.
A local TV station documented the first transaction:
The first legal recreational marijuana sale is being made at Harborside $20.10 pic.twitter.com/k6rv5vMi0b
— KTVU (@KTVU) January 1, 2018
And according to one marijuana dispensary co-founder’s account, business is already booming.
“We’re at capacity inside, we have 75 people in line, and the line is getting longer,” Will Senn of Urbn Leaf told the LA Times. “We would get as many as 1,000 people by the end of the day.”
Now is as good a time for Tyson—or anyone—to get in on the “Green Rush.”


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Hackers have managed to bypass the fingerprint scanner which is found on the new Samsung Galaxy S5 smartphone.
Researchers from Security Research Labs (SRL) in Germany have demonstrated how it is possible to easily trick the Samsung Galaxy S5's fingerprint scanner. They used a fake fingerprint is made from a mould based simply on a photo of a fingerprint smudge left on a smartphone screen.
"This video demonstrates how flaws in the implementation of fingerprint authentication in the Samsung Galaxy S5 expose users' devices, data, and even bank accounts to thieves or other attackers." says the blurb.
The technique, called 'fingerprint spoofing', is the same one which was used to thwart the iPhone 5s Touch ID fingerprint scanner. See also: Samsung Galaxy S4 vs Galaxy S5 comparison review: Don't rush to upgrade just yet.
While it's the same method, SRL said that Samsung's implementation of the technology was less safe than others. The researcher in the video states that it seemly allows for unlimited authentication attempts without requiring a password.
The Galaxy S5's lockscreen allows five attempts before asking for a password but simply switching the screen off and waking it back up allows for another – this can be repeated.
In the video, we can see how a hacker can use the PayPal app to transfer money from the owner's account using just the fake fingerprint.
Samsung says fingerprint scanner hack is nothing to worry about
"This is a scenario that is widely regarded in the industry as posing no critical risk for general consumers. This artificial experiment requires a rare combination of highly specialized equipments, materials and conditions. Samsung takes security matters very seriously. We are continuously taking measures to vigorously enhance security of the device." said the firm in a statement.
"While we take the findings from Security Research Labs very seriously, we are still confident that fingerprint authentication offers an easier and more secure way to pay on mobile devices than passwords or credit cards. PayPal never stores or even has access to your actual fingerprint with authentication on the Galaxy S5." said PayPal in response.
"The scan unlocks a secure cryptographic key that serves as a password replacement for the phone. We can simply deactivate the key from a lost or stolen device, and you can create a new one. PayPal also uses sophisticated fraud and risk management tools to try to prevent fraud before it happens. However, in the rare instances that it does, you are covered by our purchase protection policy."


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Wal-Mart Stores Inc.’s sales rose in the latest quarter, boosted by an e-commerce surge and strong grocery sales, a sign that the world’s largest retailer continues to brush off the malaise afflicting some competitors.
NYS Entity Status
NYS Filing Date
APRIL 14, 2014
NYS DOS ID#
NYS Entity Type
DOMESTIC BUSINESS CORPORATION
2014 - MSB QUICK MART, INC.
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A reasonable price and still a premium, those are the assets of the iPhone 6 as a key gift for Chinese New Year business analyst Shaun Rein notes at CNBC. “The anti-corruption drive is more serious than most analysts realize,” said Rein.
Category Archives: iPhone
Apple’s new iPhones are not getting the buzz the Apple products used to get in the past, tells business analyst Shaun Rein in Bloomberg. It might a against the bible of Steve Jobs, but it would help if they would listen to their users. And the fingerprint technology is not helping either.
Battling a slowdown in Apple’s China sales by doubling the number of outlets might just not be enough, tells retail analyst Shaun Rein in Bloomberg. Apple is facing “serious political headwinds”.
Apple got itself into trouble with the government last month, but a bigger fight is looming, says business analyst Ben Cavender in Quartz. First, the Chinese government has noted Apple iTunes does not comply with its censorship regime. And convincing Chinese consumers they have to pay for content might even be a larger barrier for business.
A domestic media campaign against the customer service of Apple has been followed by government investigations, by the SAIC, tells business analyst Ben Cavender IDG News. “A bit of sensationalism,” he says.


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Modell’s Sporting Goods Inc., after nearly six months in bankruptcy proceedings, filed its Chapter 11 liquidation plan that calls for unsecured creditors, including trade vendors with claims, to recover less than one percent of their claims.
The disclosure statement, filed September 18 with the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey, also provided a summation of the New York City-based chain’s bankruptcy reorganization efforts that were halted with the emergence of COVID-19.
Modell’s entered bankruptcy proceedings with a plan to liquidate all of its 134 stores while continuing to explore a recapitalization of its business through a sale of some, or all, of its assets or equity investments to revive the failed business. The coronavirus pandemic not only challenged its efforts to find a suitable investor but delayed the liquidation sale. And because sporting goods stores are not deemed essential businesses, state directives shuttered the company’s stores shortly after the bankruptcy filing date, effectively preventing the liquidation sales from proceeding.
Modell’s disclosure plan indicated that administrative claims of $4.8 million would be paid in full. Full recoveries are also set for holders of secured tax claims, priority tax claims, other secured claims, and other priority claims.
As of the petition date, unsecured claims against Modell’s were in excess of $100 million, according to the plan document. The claims included accrued and unpaid trade and other unsecured debts incurred in the ordinary course of business, unpaid amounts owed to vendors and claims for unpaid rent and other obligations under its leases.
Unsecured claims also included a $6.8 million loan from Mitchell Modell, CEO and owner of the retail chain, in June 2019 to help overcome a liquidity crisis at that time. Modell took ownership of the company in April 2019.
Modell’s was also jointly liable with Henry Modell & Company to make quarterly contributions to its pension plan that was underfunded by $25.8 million. The pension claim is being treated as an unsecured claim.
The Path To Liquidation
Modell’s bankruptcy and subsequent liquidation follow several years of “Diminished Operating Performance” amid a challenging commercial environment, according to the disclosure statement. The challenges for Modell’s were exacerbated by increased competition from big-box and specialty sporting goods retailers, declining participation in team sports among youth and teens and a shift in customer preference away from physical retail stores toward online-only stores.
According to the disclosure statement, Modell’s was “heavily dependent on in-store traffic, which declined in recent years.” Modell’s financial conditions were also “weighed down by a store footprint that is disproportionate to market demands.”
Complicating matters, the Northeastern states, where Modell’s operated, experienced unseasonably warmer weather than expected in December 2019 and January 2020, causing a decrease in cold-weather apparel and footwear sales.
The success of regional sports teams “also significantly influenced” Modell’s sales, and sales were impacted by a lack of success by teams in New York where most of the company’s stores were located.
Outside weak sales overall, Modell’s never fully recovered after vendors demanded more favorable terms, including reduced payment schedules or cash in advance and reduced customary trade credit, following rumors of a potential bankruptcy sparked by an article in the Wall Street Journal published in February 2019.
The article detailed Modell’s missed payments in February and March rents on most of its stores and significantly curtailed payments to the majority of its vendors due to liquidity challenges. According to court filings, the liquidity challenges were partly due to general underperformance but also because of higher than expected costs to move into a new distribution center.
Modell’s, subsequently, in early 2019, suffered a disruption in its inventory position which impacted its retail location of needed merchandise for several months that negatively affected its financial performance. The $6.2 million loan by Mitchell Modell helped shore up credit, and Modell’s in early 2019 was also able to obtain rent deferrals, re-negotiate many of its store leases and secured improved payment terms from vendors. Yet Modell’s continued to miss sales targets in the back-half of 2019 that caused “another strain on liquidity.”
Sales Process Unsuccessful
In January 2020, Modell’s retained RBC Capital Markets (RBC) to explore a sales process. RBC had been retained in January 2019 to explore a sale, but the process ended by the summer after Mitchell Modell’s investment and as trade credit stabilized.
After January 29, 2020, RBC contacted 14 strategic buyers, some of which who were also contacted in early 2019. Negotiations with a potential bidder on a going concern sale were ongoing before the bankruptcy filing but were “ultimately unsuccessful.”
Reports at the time identified JackRabbit, which acquired Maine-based Olympia Sports in October 2019, as a prospective bidder.
The filing also noted that the Mitchell Modell, in the final weeks before the bankruptcy, was able to secure additional rent concessions from certain of its landlords to support an out-of-court restructuring but “lacked sufficient liquidity to execute on a business plan that would be acceptable to their vendors.”
In the weeks leading up to the bankruptcy filing, prepetition lenders increased discretionary reserves further constraining already tightening liquidity. By the date of the bankruptcy filing, prepetition lenders had imposed incremental reserves of $18 million. As a result, Modell’s availability, under the credit agreement, “was reduced to a mere $9.589 million and deprived the debtors of sufficient liquidity to continue to operate in the ordinary course of business.”
Modell’s began liquidation sales in mid-March, but sales in its stores were soon postponed as the coronavirus pandemic began ramping up. In late June, going-out-of-business sales at its remaining 104 locations resumed. Proceeds largely supported payouts under the disclosure plan.
On August 10, Retail Ecommerce Ventures, led by digital entrepreneurs, Dr. Alex Mehr and Tai Lopez, acquired Modell’s intellectual property and other assets related to the e-commerce business for $3.64 million. Modell’s had drawn two bids at a bankruptcy auction for those assets.
Modell’s also retained A&G Realty Partners to sell its leasehold interests but was only able to sell the lease to its location at 531 86th Street, Brooklyn, NY for $217,604, over the objection of the landlord.
Other information included in the disclosure plan:
- Founded in 1889, Modell’s was America’s oldest family-owned and operated retailer of sporting goods, athletic footwear, active apparel, and licensed fan gear;
- For the fiscal year ending February 2020, Modell’s had gross sales totaling approximately $490 million;
- As of the petition date, Modell’s balance sheet reflected approximately $220 million in assets and approximately $288 million in liabilities; and
- As of the petition date, Modell’s employed approximately 3,623 employees, comprised of approximately 341 full-time employees and 3,282 hourly employees.
Photos courtesy Modell’s


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This year, 2.7 billion photos are being shared every day on Instagram and Facebook alone representing a 592% increase from 2013. Much of this content is being inspired by brands people love, showcasing the influence social media is having on customer brand engagement.
Until recently, few brands understood the true depth and breadth of the customer photo opportunity, but as more of them begin to incorporate photos into the ecommerce experience, real, measurable results are proving that visual commerce is changing the way we shop.
An in-depth research into over 250 Olapic client brands that are using this type of user generated content as part of their ecommerce site verified that these companies see a 4.6% conversion rate when customer photos are displayed on a product page and a 9.6% conversion rate when visitors interact with these photos.
This is justified as customers are considerably influenced by each other with 66% of UK consumers saying they trust customer photos more than brand photos and 55% affirming they have decided against a purchase due to unhelpful product photos, according to the results of an Olapic and Fluid survey.
Read the full report here to find out more insights into how user generated content has been influencing consumer purchases and case studies from some of the first brands that started to leverage this content.


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Walmart sees a rise in sales for tops, but not bottoms – because more people are working from home
(CNN) — With more and more people working from home, Walmart has picked up on an interesting trend: Tops have seen an increase in sales, while bottoms haven’t.
The reason? Teleworking.
That’s what Walmart’s executive vice president of corporate affairs Dan Bartlett told Yahoo Finance on Thursday. Later, a spokesman for the company told CNN the same thing.
As officials try to control the Covid-19 pandemic, millions of white collar workers — normally bound by dress codes and expectations in the office — are trading business trousers for sweat pants, and stiff blazers for that hoodie they would only ever allow their family, roommates or dog to see.
But there’s that matter of video conferencing where you still want to present a presentable self to your colleagues. And so, many of us are donning business attire on top and casual clothing from the waist down.
“We’re seeing increased sales in tops, but not bottoms,” Bartlett told Yahoo Finance. “So, people who are concerned, obviously, from the waist up.”
“These behaviors are going to continue to change and evolve as people get accustomed to this new lifestyle, if you will.”
Asked about the comment, a spokesman for world’s largest brick-and-mortar retailer confirmed the executive’s assertion.
The data, however, is taken from US sales, the spokesman told CNN.
Home entertainment items such as DVDs and popsicle sticks (presumably for crafting) have also seen sales gains, Bartlett told Yahoo Finance.
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HARARE – Clothing retailer, Edgars has engaged a global information technology firm, 3i Infotech to provide IT services in a bid to improve business operations.
3i Infotech, with interests in the Middle East and Africa, said its Orion 10.7 programme would address the retailer’s operational challenges of data visibility and consolidation.
“Their dependency on legacy systems was one of the biggest challenges they faced. Operations were complex and cumbersome, hence limiting business service capacity and potential for growth. This resulted in the need for a state of the art ERP solution,”3i Infotech said in a statement.
The company’s president Middle East and Africa, Ashish Dass said his team had worked closely with the retailer’s various departments to facilitate the changeover.
“We believe that with Orion, Edgars will not only be able to consolidate and streamline their operations but will be ahead of their competition when armed with the right information at the right time,” he said.
The programme, which offers solutions in financial management and analysis, supply chain management, retail management, warehouse management and human capital management, has been used for 20 years across Middle East and Africa, “where it enabled mid-market and enterprise businesses to grow.”
“Our vision is to offer quality, value and superior customer service in world class environments and we are certain that incorporating these advanced technological solutions will add more value to the business which will be passed onto our customers who are our biggest asset,” said Edgars group chief executive, Linda Masterson.
“It was the positive feedback from 3i Infotech’s existing customers including E-max and Shankar Trading that reinforced the strategic decision of implementing Orion.”
Through implementation of Orion, it is anticipated that Edgars will be able to streamline its operations by substantially reducing manual input, processing and accessibility of data on its branch network.
The group recorded a 22,3% jump in after-tax profit to $5,1 million for the 53 weeks to January driven by the group’s extended credit repayment facility and improved products. – The Source


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By Aditi Shah and Gilles Guillaume
NEW DELHI/PARIS (Reuters) – Renault is contemplating constructing a mass-market electric vehicle in India, two folks with data of the continued evaluate informed Reuters, as a part of a renewed push right into a market the place EV adoption is anticipated to develop rapidly from a small base.
The research by Renault underscores how the French automaker is pushing forward with electrification plans even because it extends unresolved negotiations with its accomplice Nissan Motor about investing in an EV unit it plans to carve out from its different operations.
It additionally factors to the shifting notion of the auto market in India, which posted the quickest development of any main market in 2022. EVs have been on observe to be lower than 1% of automotive gross sales final yr however the authorities has set a goal of 30% by 2030 and has had current success in attracting suppliers for worldwide automakers, with a spread of subsidies.
Renault is finding out launching a made-in-India electrical model of its Kwid hatchback, the folks informed Reuters.
The evaluate will assess potential demand, pricing and the power to construct the EV with native elements, mentioned one of many folks, including that any launch could be late in 2024.
The transfer is a part of a broader plan by Renault to rekindle gross sales in a rustic the place the carmaker stays worthwhile regardless of promoting fewer vehicles in 2022 than a yr earlier, the particular person mentioned.
Renault India declined to touch upon product plans however mentioned the corporate has a “sturdy deal with electrification globally” as a part of the technique outlined by CEO Luca de Meo and that “India is among the key markets” for the group.
India is ready to grow to be the world’s third-largest marketplace for passenger and different gentle autos, displacing Japan, in response to a forecast by S&P International Mobility. Trade-wide gross sales grew an estimated 23% to 4.4 million autos in 2022.
That may be a distinction to the outlook for the USA, the place the market is anticipated to stay under 2019 ranges subsequent yr, and China, the place demand is weakening.
Renault had been hoping to succeed in with Nissan in December on the phrases of a carve-out for its EV unit, however discussions have been slowed over considerations by the Japanese carmaker on a spread of points, together with safety for its mental property.
“India will play an vital position in future tasks of Renault-Nissan however native plans won’t be finalised earlier than a world deal on a restructuring of the alliance is reached,” mentioned one of many sources.
In India, home carmaker Tata Motors, which dominates electrical automotive gross sales, in addition to overseas gamers like Stellantis, Hyundai Motor and SAIC’s MG Motor are lining up EV launches.
Renault already produces a model of the Kwid EV in China which is bought in that market because the Metropolis Ok-ZE and exported to France because the Dacia Spring. The Spring, the second most bought EV in France in 2022, has a spread of 230 kilometres and a beginning value of 20,800 euros ($21,869) earlier than authorities incentives.
To qualify for incentives in India, Renault must construct the automotive at its alliance plant in southern India and supply elements regionally, the primary particular person mentioned. The India plant is majority owned by Nissan.
Nissan declined to remark.
Renault presently produces the Kwid hatchback, Kiger SUV and seven-seater Triber in India. Its gross sales fell 9% to round 87,000 models in 2022 and its market share dipped to only over 2%.
As part of the India reboot, Renault additionally plans to put money into refurbishing and upgrading a few of its main dealerships in massive cities, the particular person mentioned. The corporate mentioned it has 500 gross sales shops in India.
(Reporting by Aditi Shah; modifying by David Evans)
(Solely the headline and movie of this report might have been reworked by the Enterprise Commonplace employees; the remainder of the content material is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)


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Digicel to Challenge Movistar's Mobile Market Position in Panama
Published on: 14th Dec 2010
Note -- this news article is more than a year old.
By 2015, new entrants Claro and Digicel are expected to increase their mobile phone market share in Panama to 11.7 percent and 21.3 percent, respectively, helping to boost competition levels in the market still dominated by C&W and Movistar, according to a new report from Pyramid Research.
Growth in Panama's mobile segment is expected to be supported by a growing demand in data services, as the mobile voice segment approaches a saturation point, at an expected mobile penetration rate of 137 percent at year-end 2010. "In the coming years, the entry of new cellular operators Claro and Digicel is expected to erode C&W and Movistar's market shares, arriving with aggressive pricing strategies mainly focused on the pre-paid segment, where competition is fierce," says Eulalia Marin-Sorribes, Analyst at Pyramid. "The implementation of mobile number portability in 2011 is expected to intensify this trend even more, allowing Claro and Digicel to speed up their market expansion."
Pyramid believes that Digicel's rapid market expansion compared to Claro's is mainly due to the fact that Digicel entered the market a few months before Claro, gaining first-mover advantage. This move has been reinforced with an aggressive pricing policy on prepaid products and data offers. "Digicel's rapid market advance is expected to add extra pressure on Movistar, which could eventually lose its second position in the market, although Pyramid does not see this happening during the forecast period," says Marin-Sorribes.


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Metro Vancouver Crime Stoppers wants to hear from consumers who’ve seen or may have bought counterfeit goods.
“Often times organized crime is involved and people are afraid to call in or maybe haven’t thought about the safety aspect and how it might impact and cause a fire somewhere,” said Linda Annis, executive director of Metro Vancouver Crime Stoppers.
Coverage of counterfeiting on Globalnews.ca:
It’s estimated that between $20 billion and $30 billion in counterfeit goods are sold in Canada every year.
The International Chamber of Commerce estimates that counterfeit goods could cost the global economy over US$4 trillion by 2020.
“It’s not a victimless crime. It hurts our economy. People who sell counterfeit goods are not paying taxes, they are not employing people,” said intellectual property lawyer Karen MacDonald of Norton Rose Fulbright.
The counterfeit market is thriving online, she said.
“It’s changed the way counterfeiters are able to operate because now you aren’t necessarily touching the goods,” MacDonald said. “The goods can be ordered online. They can then be shipped directly to the consumer. Usually it’s coming from China. About 90 per cent of counterfeit goods are made in China.”
MacDonald added that it’s very hard to go after perpetrators online because it’s easy for them to hide their identities.
Counterfeit items such as cheap phone chargers, substandard circuit breakers and power bars with fake CSA certification are especially worrisome because they can catch fire or pose the risk of electrocution.
Other goods such as knock-off beauty products and counterfeit medications can be life threatening.
So how do you detect counterfeit goods? Price is the biggest giveaway.
“If the price is too good to be true, it could be counterfeit,” said MacDonald.
Other ways to protect yourself:
- Shop at reputable stores with merchandise sourced from the real manufacturer
- When shopping online, shop at reputable sites.
- Look for poor spelling and grammar or odd UPC codes or printing on products
- Look for CSA or UL labels on electrical products. Some counterfeit items still have them, but any items without them is suspect
- Make sure the country of manufacture listed on the product box matches what’s printed on the actual item
Metro Vancouver Crime Stoppers is urging anyone who’s been duped into buying fake goods or have discovered counterfeit items at market stalls or “temporary” retailers to contact them at 1-800-222-8477.
Callers will remain anonymous. Tips may also be sent by texting a message to CRIMES (274637), Crime Stoppers’ iPad/iPhone app, or online at www.solvecrime.ca


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If that new $399 price on the 8GB iPhone is still making your wallet cringe, perhaps a 4GB iPhone would be easier on your cash flow. We just confirmed that, while the 4GB model is discontinued, Apple Stores are getting rid of them at $299 while supplies last. If you want to try your chances with the online store, the 4GB model has been moved to the bottom right column; you won't find it with the 8GB model anymore.
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Chuck Huggins, former See's Candies CEO, dies at 87
Former See's Candies president and CEO Charles Newel Huggins, better known as Chuck, died Aug. 19 in Larkspur after spending more than a half century building the South San Francisco candy company.
His legacy may be the proliferation of the popular black-and-white shops filled with See's chocolates, lollipops and other treats.
He joined See's Candies in 1951 as a manager in the packing department and led the company as president and CEO from 1972 to 2006. He was instrumental in negotiating the 1972 sale of the company on behalf of the See family to Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway. (NYSE: BRK) (NYSE: BRK.A) (NYSE: BRK.B)
Berkshire Vice Chairman Charlie Munger said at a San Francisco luncheon in 1996 that the See's purchase was a pivotal moment for him and Buffett. Previously Buffett was eager to find undervalued assets that could be bought on the cheap. Munger said See's represented a shift in their thinking: focusing on a quality company with a web of trusted relationships with suppliers and customers that could be purchased at a fair price.
"See's candy company was the first high-quality business we ever bought," Munger said.
And in buying the company, Buffett said it took about 15 seconds to realize Huggins was the best choice to lead the company. Buffett would later wonder why it took him so long to see the obvious.
Under Huggins' leadership, See's Candies grew to more than 5,000 employees and 200-plus stores, with sales in excess of $300 million.
“Chuck Huggins was masterful at managing the See’s Candies business during his tenure as CEO of the company. We were all saddened to hear the news of his passing, and extend our thoughts and prayers to his family,” says Brad Kinstler, president and CEO, See’s Candies.
Mark Calvey covers banking and finance for the San Francisco Business Times.
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Bridgestone Southern Africa (BSAF) has announced plans to close its bias tyre manufacturing plant in Port Elizabeth.
BSAF has initiated a Section 189 notice and a consultative process in compliance with the South African Labour Relations Act, it said in a statement on Friday (21 August).
Approximately 252 employees are expected to be impacted by the closure.
This move is in line with a new mid-long term business strategy which will the group strengthen its core tyre business through a focus on premium profitable growth segments, it said.
BSAF said it has in recent years seen its financial performance come under pressure due to a variety of economic conditions and industry factors.
In addition, Bridgestone’s Port Elizabeth plant is specifically geared towards the production of older bias tyres, which are globally in decline and being phased out in South Africa as it is an unprofitable market, the group said.
It added that the effects of a shrinking economy, and an influx of cheap imports compounded by rapid changes in the tyre industry has prompted BSAF to restructure its operations.
Bridgestone said that the agricultural industry is shifting to radial tyres, which are longer-lasting, and the production of which is modern and high-speed.
To produce radial tyres an investment in a completely new multi-billion-rand plant would be needed, which is not feasible in the current economy, it said.
“The bias industrial and off-the-road tyres manufactured at the Port Elizabeth plant which have since been trumped by a growing trend in the production of radial tyres globally, has meant a steady decline in market demand over the years, eroding profitability for BSAF,” said Jacques Fourie, BSAF chief executive.
“All these technical and economic factors combined have created an environment in which the Port Elizabeth factory is unable to continue running, despite all efforts to sustain the operation.
“To preserve the competitiveness of BSAF and a sustainable future for its employees, partners and stakeholders, the proposed closure of the PE plant is the only viable option,” he said.
BSAF said that it has considered other alternatives to closure, including cost containment measures, the sale of the plant to a suitable buyer, export opportunities, public funding and possibly relocating different product lines to PE.
However, while some of these options have been explored thoroughly, the current market dynamics make it extremely challenging to find a longer-term sustainable solution, the group said.
“We realise the impact the project will have on the personal lives of PE employees and we are committed to mitigate the impact of the proposed closure. Fair severance packages will be provided and where possible, skills will be redeployed,” Fourie said.
He said that BSAF currently employs over 2,000 people and remains committed to its business in Southern Africa.


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With Apple and Google poised to launch assaults on the budding smartwatch market this year, it’s still unclear whether Microsoft will offer up a wearable device of its own. A new patent awarded to the company makes it clear Redmond has a few ideas for a fitness tracking gadget, though whether these concepts ever hit the market is still up for debate.
The patent, which was awarded to Microsoft last week and recently spotted by Patent Bolt, describes a potential fitness tracking smartwatch that also offers support for messaging, phone calls and music controls. The company also details a docking station that could double as an alarm clock, while the display can even pop out from the wristband for use with other exercise equipment. The device would measure distance covered using a GPS as well as the wearer’s pulse, and display the number of calories burned during a workout.
The newly awarded patent was filed about two years ago, which actually lines up with previous reports claiming Microsoft began developing a smartwatch in 2012. Clearly the company is considering a wearable device of its own to compete with Apple, Google and the rest of the industry, but whether the rumored smartwatch is even close to being ready for a public launch is still a mystery.