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Global Marketing Monitor: Weekly Market Trends (October 16, 2021)
WHAT YOU’LL READ ABOUT THIS WEEK:
In this week’s Global Marketing Monitor, we look at the 2021 Nobel Peace Prize, which was won by journalists Maria Ressa and Dmitry Muratov. Their primary media properties are supported by advertising, illustrating that advertising has the capacity to support positive social goals. Of course, advertising can only do what it is intended to if marketers get what they pay for and so fraud remains a critical issue to monitor, which Scott Galloway wrote about on his widely distributed blog last week.
While the thrust of Galloway’s argument is valid directionally, the scale of the problem was almost certainly overstated, with mitigation opportunities mostly ignored. To be sure, bad actors can take advantage of unsophisticated or ill-informed marketers much like different kinds of bad actors can take advantage of digital media platforms to spread false or misleading information.
In all cases, education and related investments of time and money are necessary to help meaningfully limit the damage that might otherwise occur while building better environments for future growth.
It’s not every day that advertising media can be associated with world peace, even indirectly, but on October 8 the Nobel Committee awarded its Peace Prize for 2021 to two journalists. More marketers and media industry participants should be aware of this news and related context, not least as a validation of a social good that can come from supporting publishers doing high-quality original work.
The winners were Maria Ressa, CEO of the Philippines-based publication The Rappler while Dmitry Muratov is a founder and editor-in-chief of Russia-based Novaja Gazeta. Both were cited for their “courageous fight for freedom of expression” in their home countries and “are representatives of all journalists who stand up for this ideal in a world in which democracy and freedom of the press face increasingly adverse conditions.”
Ressa, a former CNN Bureau chief, is particularly notable, not only for her investigative work related to government activities within the Philippines (which has led to her arrest and conviction of “cyber-libel” last year, in what Reporters Without Borders described as a “shocking judicial masquerade”) but also because of her often-overlapping coverage of Facebook. For example, Ressa published a book “From Bin Laden to Facebook” in 2013, which detailed jihadists’ use of the platform in Southeast Asia. Following her home country’s 2016 election she detailed violence-inciting and false Facebook accounts in the country and in an article warned: “How Facebook algorithms impact democracy” (later writing and stating “Facebook broke democracy”). She subsequently joined the unofficial Real Facebook Oversight Board alongside other activists last year. Emphasizing a theme from some of her past work, in interviews following the Nobel Prize win, this past week she told Reuters that Facebook “prioritize(s) the spread of lies laced with anger and hate over facts,” echoing information contained in documents which were written about in the Wall Street Journal last month.
That latter topic was also the introductory focus of a post in the past week from the widely distributed No Mercy / No Malice blog produced by Scott Galloway. In his article, which is primarily focused on fraud in digital advertising, he describes the industry not incorrectly as “a Rube Goldberg machine of platforms, agencies, exchanges, and other middlemen.” Stating “I’d explain it to you here, but a) I don’t understand it, and b) you don’t want me to,” the former New York Times board director and author of a recent book focused on several of the world’s largest sellers of advertising entitled “The Four: The Hidden DNA of Amazon, Apple, Facebook and Google” goes on to describe many of digital advertising’s problems, such as bots, click farms, and opaque supply chains that can drain marketers’ investments. While we can certainly agree that the above issues are real, many of the studies or examples cited lacked context, were old or did not sufficiently convey that the application of best practices can mitigate these issues, which by now are mostly well understood by practitioners who focus on advertising.
For example, one study cited in the article was produced in 2015 and stated that 88% of digital ad clicks are fake. Putting aside whether or not the data is current, it doesn’t follow that most advertisers are buying fake clicks at anywhere near this level, whether because they don’t buy against clicks, or because they use tools to avoid fake clicks, or because fake clicks are concentrated on properties that large advertisers don’t typically buy from.
To illustrate the industry’s evolution since that time, the MRC actually published its first Invalid Traffic (fraud) guidelines in 2015 – the same year of the study cited in the post – and provided their latest set of guidelines in June of 2020. By now, the MRC details thirteen individual types of sophisticated invalid traffic including automated browsing, domain misrepresentation, bots and spiders, invalid proxy traffic, incentivized manipulation of measurement, and more. The user of services that help avoid these sorts of fraud would experience significant reductions in waste. For example, in its most recent media quality report published in April of this year, IAS noted that desktop display campaigns that were not optimized to avoid fraud experienced an ad fraud rate of 8.6% while those which were optimized to avoid it saw ad fraud rates of 0.8%.
More generally, a claim is made that “Digital ad fraud could be a $150 billion business by 2025” without any specific citation. While it was not referenced in Galloway’s post, we are aware of a 2016 study from the World Federation of Advertisers on this topic. When it was published more than five years ago, it said “Ad fraud is likely to represent in excess of $50 billion by 2025, even on a conservative basis. Without sufficient countermeasures, it’s easy to produce scenarios where ad fraud revenues equate to $150 billion per annum in the same timeframe.” The study assumed that fraud could amount to 10% (on the low end) to 30% (on the high end) of the ad market in each period under two scenarios. Even if those figures held up, it does not necessarily follow that sophisticated marketers applying best practices will experience those averages. Best practices that we at GroupM presently recommend include:
- Apply MRC accredited 3rd party verification to all digital campaigns as available
- Apply programmatic pre-bid filters for both known fraudulent domains and IP Addresses
- Work only with MRC-accredited vendors that have demonstrated the ability to detect the thirteen known categories of invalid traffic, including IAS, Double Verify, and Moat
- Enforce strict terms and conditions that guarantee our clients don’t pay for fraudulent impressions
- Avoid audience extension programs, non-transparent networks and aggregators, and recommendation engines that generate low quality paid sourced traffic
- Buy only from Ads.txt and App-ads.txt authorized resellers
- Continuously test current verification partners against new opportunities to make sure we continue to deploy best in class verification technology
- Employ GroupM domain and app inclusion lists across all programmatic inventory strategies
- Cross-reference buys with exclusion lists that contain domains/apps engaged in IP infringement, hate speech, disinformation, pseudoscience, extreme politics, clickbait etc.
- Participate in DSP fraud refund programs
- Track inventory quality against measurable KPIs
- Pursue VAST 4.1-compliant Open Measurement-enabled sources (with standards for executing on measurement scripts)
- Consolidate spending on GroupM preferred exchanges and DSP’s
Further, to the extent that many of the fraudulent activities described are associated with the open internet and walled gardens sustain greater than 90% share of the industry, it seems implausible that overt forms of fraud like those described by Galloway or the WFA in 2016 would amount to anything like the numbers referenced.
Another study cited by Galloway from 2018 that indicated targeting on gender was unsuccessful more than half the time is certainly valid, but then again, the flaws and limitations of using cookies to target audiences were also generally well known, even prior to 2018. That’s one of the key reasons why the “death of third-party cookies” is positive for the industry. More generally, in recent years marketers have been working to improve the ways in which they target audiences. Growing numbers are setting themselves up to rely on their own first-party data or on data from trusted third parties which they hope will more accurately help to identify a desired target audience, at least relative to what they can do using third-party cookies.
Beyond avoiding fraud, marketers already need to account for difficulties in measurement online, as when targeting single users with multiple accounts on social networks. Their goals are (or should be) modified to account for the challenges and limitations that exist with digital media, which may never realistically achieve the ideals of precision espoused by the sector’s evangelists in earlier days, but which can nonetheless benefit from ongoing efforts to improve.
Galloway ends his article by describing digital budget cuts from many well-known brand owners which were made without causing meaningful business impacts. Most of these examples are also dated, but probably do reflect what can happen when a marketer scrutinizes their budget, as they should regularly. With digital advertising, there have been many brand owners who chose not to follow best practices, or who otherwise did not account for the limitations that digital media has always had, or were chasing “bright, shiny objects” or simply pursued low cost and low-value media, despite the waste that can follow from those strategies. There will inevitably be other marketers who go through similar exercises and similarly make adjustments of their own, which may result in longer-term increases in spending on digital media if their business strategies require it.
And even if they don’t, the bulk of growth in digital advertising won’t really depend on those marketers, as it’s smaller businesses and businesses which are endemic to digital ecosystems (and which are better able to do proper a/b testing to identify relative value of different media vehicles and adjust spending levels appropriately) who will be responsible for most of the growth going forward.
As we began, fraud is a serious problem, and digital media has always been far from perfect. Anyone suggesting otherwise has likely not spent enough time studying the sector. But because many have glossed over its details, bad actors were ready to take advantage of unsophisticated or ill-informed marketers much as different kinds of bad actors can take advantage of digital media platforms to spread false or misleading information. In all cases, education and related investments of time and money are necessary to help meaningfully limit damage that might otherwise occur while building better environments for future growth.


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Donald Trump’s tariff war had a lasting impact on Scotland’s whisky distilleries – skimming off significantly more than the angels’ share.
The latest figures show the tariff spat between the US and the EU, combined with the pandemic and supply chain problems resulted in a 9 per cent hit to independent distilleries’ revenues last year.
Revenues of the UK’s top 20 distilleries by turnover for the 2020-21 financial year fell to £1.35bn, from the previous year’s total of £1.5bn, according to accountancy firm UHY Hacker Young.
The 25 per cent trade tariff imposed by the Trump administration – a punitive measure in a long-running dispute over state support for rival aerospace engineers Boeing and Airbus – is cited as one of the main factors behind this decrease.
Figures published last year by the Scotch Whisky Association (SWA) suggest that in 2020, it reduced exports of single malt whisky by more than a third, amounting to more than £500m of lost trade.
Another issue that weighed heavily on the industry was the impact of the pandemic on travel, which hit higher-margin whisky sales in airport duty-free shops, and the number of tourists visiting distilleries.
Some distilleries also cite the cost of living crisis, slowing economic growth, and supply chain problems, inculding lack of availability of shipping containers. Many of these issues could last into next year.
However, UHY Hacker Young found that independent distillers of gin, rum and diversified spirits had an easier time, logging 12 per cent rises in revenue to reach £245m in the same period.
Unlike whisky distilleries, which are required to age their brew for at least three years, those who make other spirits can grow more quickly as they are able to reach the market quicker.
They were also not affected by Trump’s trade tariff, which was suspended for five years from June 2021 after Joe Biden became US President.
The US is the largest export market for Scotch whisky: UHY Hacker Young estimated the country accounts for a third of overseas shipments of the spirit.
The SWA’s data, which covers both independent and larger distillers, suggests that while total sales to the US are still behind pre-pandemic levels, they recovered by a moderate 8 per cent in 2021, compared to a 32 per cent drop in the previous year.
“While the suspension of the tariffs is welcome, the industry is still bouncing back from the damage done,” he added. “The industry needs Chancellor Rishi Sunak to support the whisky trade, and the tens of thousands of jobs the industry supports across the UK, in the autumn budget as economic pressures begin to bite.”
The industry employs more than 11,000 people throughout Scotland, mostly in rural areas, the SWA reports.
The top 20 independent distilleries had an average revenue of between £6 and £10m, according to UHY. The largest one covered by its research, The Edrington Group, which distils The Macallan, Highland Park and The Glenrothes whiskies, suffered a 21 per cent fall in profits for the year ended 31 March 2021, bringing in £178.4m. The company’s overall revenues dipped 15 per cent to £576.2m for the year.
Scott McCroskie, Edrington’s chief executive, cited the pandemic and tariffs on single malt in the US as being a consistent factor behind the firm’s “decline in profitability”.
Martin Jones, a partner at UHY, said: “For someone looking to start a distillery, now is probably not a good time” due to slowing economies and the difficulty of predicting future demand.
However, there is hope for the future. Scotch “is an excellent brand for Scotland. It’s clearly popular and there is a big market for it in the US,” he added.
Mark Kent, SWA’s chief executive, said he believed the industry was “resilient”, adding: “[The industry] has survived through world wars, recessions…and even prohibition,” he said. “So, I am confident we can get through this one too.”
Though the industry is yet to recover to its £5bn of export revenues as enjoyed pre-pandemic, the revival is under way: global exports grew to £4.51bn in 2021, the SWA said, while the value of exports – driven by those premium bottles – was up 19 per cent.

domain: news


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Valentine's day e-cards: Are they putting card publishers out of business?
Valentine's Day e-cards are getting the attention of big name greeting card manufacturers. But even if they're more convenient than physical cards, Valentine's Day e-cards don't come close to evoking emotion as their card stock cousins.
Searching for the best Valentine's Day e-cards? Here's a preview of what you'll find and it’s very… whimsical.
On e-card site Bluemountain.com, one of the featured interactive cards begins with the following illustration: a little leaf dangling by its stem underneath a tree canopy.
Clicking and tugging the leaf snaps the stem and the leaf glides whimsically through the air toward a picnic table below. In the background is whimsical piano music. On the table, two birds and a squirrel lovingly adorn the fallen leaf with whimsical twigs, wildflowers, and berries. A butterfly lays across the leaf and a click of its wings makes them fold up, only to pop open with a message:
"Wishing you a happy Valentine's Day that’s as special as you are!"
Whimsy. Whimsy. Whimsy. Would you send that to your significant other? Your parent? Your grandparent? No. No you would not.
E-versions of books may be driving brick and mortar bookstores out of business, but e-cards aren’t replacing printed greeting cards, says Kathy Krassner, spokesperson for the Greeting Card Association, which represents more than 200 greeting card publishers.
"We find most people send e-cards to someone they've already sent a real card to or to an acquaintance who you wouldn't have sent a real card to anyway.” Ms. Krassner says. "You won't send your girlfriend or wife an e-card and they'd be annoyed if you did."
Krassner says she expects consumers to purchase 145 million Valentine’s Day cards this year, which is down from 150 million last year. The number is based on estimates from card manufacturers like Hallmark and American Greetings, and Krassner believes it will increase as the numbers get readjusted after the holiday.
In comparison, e-card site 123greetings.com said in a statement that 2.5 million people used their website for Valentine's Day last year.
Americans purchase more approximately 6.5 billion greeting cards each year. Valentine's Day is the second largest card-sending holiday behind Christmas, Krassner says.
Estimates do not include the Valentine's Day cards children purchase and hand out at school or cards that consumers buy online at sites like Cardstore.com and through smart phone applications like Apple's Cards.
Those online industries are growing, too, Krassner says.
But e-cards have attracted enough attention that one of the Big 2 card manufacturers began scooping up the most notable e-greetings websites. American Greetings, the only card manufacturing company larger than Hallmark, owns Egreetings.com, BlueMountain.com, and Cardstore.com.
Hallmark and American Greetings offer e-cards on their main website.
But e-cards do not concern Alan Friedman, president of Great Arrow Graphics, a small screen printed card producer whose cards are delivered via a courier in uniform.
"As a specialty publisher, we have been able to remain viable in our smaller independent accounts — though the numbers of these stores has declined as well," Friedman said. "It's tough out there, but some things are worth the effort to maintain."


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CBI busts smuggling ring involving IRS officers
New Delhi: The CBI on Wednesday claimed to have
busted an illegal imported goods gang allegedly run by two
Indian Revenue Service officers posted at Thiruvananthapuram
in connivance with other officials who used to sell these
material out in open market as unclaimed goods.
IRS Joint Commissioner Sofia M Joy, Assistant Commissioner
R S Rosechandran, superintendents - Shyam Sunder, M P Hari,
Suresh, Michael, Central Excise inspector Shiv Kumar Singh and
clearing agent Sugandhan were accused in illegal import of
various items for sale in Kerala in the cover of unaccompanied
baggage, CBI spokesperson Dharini Mishra said here.
This flourishing business got busted when CBI sleuths
intercepted four mini vans full of "unclaimed" baggage being
taken out of Air Cargo Complex for sale in the open market of
Kerala. These goods were allegedly cleared by the customs
officials, she said.
"During verification, the passport holders in whose names
the said goods were cleared disowned the ownership of the
materials. However, they admitted that they have handed over
their passports to different clearing agents, on their
request, for importing goods from abroad in the guise of
unaccompanied baggage using their passports," Mishra said.
The agency conducted searches at seven location which
resulted in recovery of incriminating documents showing
payments made to public servants by the clearing agents," she
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Insulation industry news from Global Insulation
UK: TechnoNicol International plants to use Stirling-based Superglass to launch an expansion programme in the US and to develop its market in the UK and Ireland. TechnoNicol has created a new division at the company it purchased in July 2016 to achieve this aim and has made senior appointments to support it. The company aims to establish a ‘significant’ market share in North America over the next five years.
Ken Munro, Superglass’s chief executive officer, has become chief executive officer of TechnoNicol (UK, Ireland and USA). In this newly created role, Munro will have responsibility for the management and coordination of TechnoNicol’s presence in these regions and will continue to lead and develop the Superglass business as it is incorporated into this expanded structure.
Munro will also have responsibility for the global development of the Superglass brand as it begins to play a part in TechnoNicol’s overall insulation products strategy. As further businesses are developed, both organically and by acquisition, they will be integrated into this unified regional structure, with new jobs likely to be created in Stirling as the regional headquarters takes shape.
Stuart Rowell, who is currently Group Business Development Director at Superglass, and Girts Dikelsons, currently Regional Director TechnoNicol (UK and USA), will be responsible for sales and marketing activity across all product lines in the new region and are appointed as Regional Sales Director (Insulation Solutions) and Regional Sales Director (Bitumen Membrane Solutions) respectively.
Theresa McLean, Superglass’s Chief Financial Officer, has been appointed as chief financial officer of TechnoNicol (UK, Ireland and USA) and Mark Atherton, Operations Director at Superglass, becomes Chief Production Officer and Head of Operations for the newly expanded regional business. Rowell, Dikelsons, McLean, and Atherton will all report directly to Ken Munro.
UK: TechnoNicol intends invest up to Euro5.9m to double the production capacity to at least 55,000t/yr at Superglass’ mineral wool plant in Stirling. The upgrade will involve building a new furnace at the site to come online by 2020, according to the Scottish Herald. The investment is intended to boost the insulation producer’s sales in markets in the UK and western Europe. The decision follows shareholder approval of TechnoNicol’s purchase of Superglass.
UK: Sergei Kolesnikov, president of construction materials producer TekhnoNicol, will acquire Superglass. Kolesnikov has made an offer of US$11.49m for the Scottish glass mineral wool insulation producer via his company Inflection based in Cyprus. The board of directors of Superglass unilaterally recommended approving the purchase proposal. The shareholders who own 63.5% in Superglass have already submitted irrevocable obligations to sell their stakes.
"This transaction and the commercial partnership between Superglass and TekhnoNicol, is a strategic opportunity for all parties, providing TekhnoNicol, with a presence in the UK and Irish insulation markets. We are impressed with Superglass' management team and look forward to working with them," said Sergei Kolesnikov, the sole shareholder of Inflection.
UK: Ken Munro, the chief executive officer of Superglass, has been appointed the chairman of the Mineral Wool Insulation Manufacturers’ Association (MIMA). He replaces David Travill, managing director of Isover Saint Gobain, in the role.
“I would like to thank David for his leadership and contribution, and I am pleased to be assuming the chair at such a critically important time for energy efficiency policy. Investment in the fabric of our homes and in their energy efficiency is good for the economy, increases productivity and attracts investment,” said Munro. “In Scotland, our government has already committed to making the energy efficiency of our homes an infrastructure priority and is supported by the influential Energy & Climate Change Committee, led by Scottish National Party Chair, Angus MacNeil. This is an encouraging position but we would like to see this realised across the United Kingdom.”
Sarah Kostense-Winterton, executive director of MIMA, added that the organisation aims to protect consumers from energy price volatility and from fuel poverty, whilst reducing the UK’s carbon emissions.
UK: Superglass has appointed Stuart Rowell as its business development director. He will take responsibility for all domestic sales and exports, marketing and commercial strategy, according to the Herald newspaper. Rowell joins Superglass from the Positive Momentum consultancy.
UK: Chris Lea, Finance Director, is to leave Superglass on a date still to be agreed, but no later than 30 June 2016. A search process for a new Finance Director is underway and in the interim period, Lea will continue to be employed on a full-time basis until his effective date of departure is confirmed. Lea joined the Stirling-based company in December 2013. He helped to institute the turnaround strategy and refinancing of the company in October 2014.
UK: Superglass has reported that its sales volumes have fallen by 2% in the half year to the end of February 2016. No exact figures were provided in the trading statement. Selling prices have increased by 4% year-on-year in the period due to a reduction in production capacity. Its expected unaudited earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) loss was approximately Euro0.65m, an improvement of Euro1.81m from the prior year.
The mineral wool producer also reported that its new blowing wool solution for new build housing, Superwhite 34, has gained ‘traction’ in the market. A number of national and regional contractors stock and install the British Board of Agrément certified product.
UK: Superglass has appointed Jan Holmstrom to its board. Holmstrom, aged 63 and a Swedish national, will represent Superglass's majority shareholder Peter Gyllenhammar as non-executive director, according to the Herald. Gyllenhammar owns 38.3% of the shares in Superglass.
UK: Superglass has reported a growing loss before taxation of Euro13.4m for its 2015 financial year that ended in 31 August 2015. Alongside this a fall in revenue of 11% year-on-year to Euro29.8m was noted. The drop was blamed on a planned reduction in Eastern European exports and a further deterioration in activity from government-sponsored schemes.
The UK-based glass wool manufacturer also confirmed Mark Cubitt as its chairman on a permanent basis. Cubitt was appointed interim chairman on 19 June 2015 following the resignation of John Colley.
UK: Superglass Holdings reported that its revenue fell by 25% year-on-year to Euro29m in its financial year that ended on 31 August 2013. In the UK-based mineral wool producer's preliminary results statement, chief executive Alex McLeod conceded that the company had faced 'extremely challenging trading conditions'.
"The transition from CERT to ECO/Green Deal has caused a major gap in activity within the retrofit market for both loft and cavity insulation. Combined with abnormally low levels of house-building activity in the UK by historical standards of new unit construction despite recent early signs of recovery, the net effect has been a surplus of UK-based insulation manufacturing capacity and highly competitive market conditions," said McLeod. In Superglass' fiscal 2013 its operating loss grew to Euro13.2m from Euro2.98m in the fiscal 2012.
Both McLeod and chairman John Colley highlighted Superglass' capital investment programme, Project Phoenix, which delivered cost savings in reduced energy consumption and waste of Euro3.36m in the 2012 – 2013 financial year. Superglass expects revenues to recover slowly in 2014.


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From the beginning of this month, the sugar content of Post Foods’ Post Fruity and Cocoa Pebbles cereals will be reduced from 11 grams to 9 grams per serving.
According to the company, both cereals already contained vitamin D, low fat and “10 essential vitamins and minerals”.
Food giant General Mills also announced last December that it had reduced the sugar in its children’s cereals by 8 per cent in 2010, with aims to introduce further reductions to its Big G cereals range.
A year ago, the company pledged to reduce sugar to “single-digit levels of grams of sugar per serving” for its Big G cereals advertised to children under 12, having already reduced the figure to 11 grams or less per serving.
General Mills said that by 31 December, its Big G cereals advertised to children would contain 10 grams of sugar or less per serving, with some products already containing 9 grams of sugar.
But despite these moves to reduce sugar in children’s cereals, some scepticism has remained about whether children will eat lower sugar alternatives.
A study published last December by researchers at Yale’s Rudd Centre for Food Policy and Obesity, suggests that children like and will eat low-sugar cereals if given a range of choices and may compensate for any lack of sweetness by eating more fruit instead.
The researchers recruited 91 children aged five to 12 from three summer camps in New England in the US. Half were offered a choice of three high-sugar cereals, while the other half could choose between three low-sugar cereals.
The researchers found that children in the low-sugar cereal group were more likely to add fresh fruit – 54 percent versus eight per cent – and consumed a greater proportion of total calories from fruit than the high-sugar group, 20 percent versus 13 per cent.
Kid's advertising pledge
Additionally, Post Foods is working as part of the Children’s Food & Beverage Advertising Initiative (CFBAI), a program launched by the Council of Better Business Bureaus to help tackle the issue of childhood obesity by changing the mix of advertising messages directed to children under 12 to include healthier choices.
According to the company, a report released last month by the CFBAI shows Post Foods is demonstrating compliance with the pledge to advertise healthier foods to kids.


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ARCHIVES - APRIL/MAY 1982 FEALE Valley, the manufacturers of fitted kitchens and bathroom furnishings in Listowel, are closing down making eight people redundant.
Meanwhile, workers at the factory have been picketing since mid-april  in an unofficial dispute about severance terms.
Mr. Kevin O'connor, ITG&WU branch assistant, told The Kerryman that they were due to meet management to discuss the question of redundancy money. And he added: "We have not served a wage claim on the company."
He said he expected that they would reach an agreement at this meeting.
Staff have been on a three-day week since February and Mr O'connor said that they are closing following a decline in business due to the very competitive nature of this type of business.
Mr. Niall Stack, of Feale Valley, refused to comment on the closure of the factory or on the dispute.
Mr O'connor stressed the dispute was not about loss of employment, as the closure could not be helped, but he added the chance of the staff getting work in Listowel was "virtually nil".


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CBN has claimed that Nigeria lost $1.4 billion over the forex ban on 43 Items by Emefiele.
NewsOnline Nigeria reports that the Central Bank of Nigeria on Friday stated that Nigeria lost around $1.4 billion over the restriction of forex to 43 items by the Central Bank under the leadership of Godwin Emefiele.
This Nigeria news platform understands that the Deputy Governor of the CBN in charge of Economic Policy, Muhammad Sani Abdullahi stated this during an appearance before the senate committees on banking and finance today.
According to the CBN official, the denial of access to forex for the 43 items contributed to the skyrocketing inflation currently witnessed in the country.
He further clarified that the CBN did not ban the importation of those items since it is not a trade regulator and the responsibility for allowing goods into the country rests on the fiscal side of the economy.
He stated, “When we resumed at the bank, we realized the bank has been involved in areas which were not central banking. One of them is trade policy. Central banks do not have responsibility for trade policy. It is a fiscal issue.”
“What happened was that 43 items were identified and denied foreign exchange. They were never banned from the borders.”
“What it resulted in was that the country collectively lost $1.4 billion between 2015 and 2019 because of the FX ban on these particular items. The second part is that they fuelled inflation as it increased the prices of these products”
He noted that the reason for the bank’s decision to allow access to these items was to remove the “distortions” in the market and the ban was one of them.
NewsOnline Nigeria recalls that in 2015, the CBN under the leadership of Godwin Emefiele introduced a policy of restricting access to forex for several items totalling 43. These items include; tomato, rice, cement, poultry products etc.
However, upon assumption into office, the CBN under Yemi Cardoso lifted the restriction of access on these items to boost liquidity in the market.
With the restriction of access to the items, especially those related to food, the prices increased significantly. According to the NBS food price watch, between December 2022 and December 2023, the price of rice increased by 85.3% on a year-on-year basis.


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Fatty Food Improves the Absorption of CBD
A new study at the University of Minnesota has revealed that food that’s rich in fat might improve the absorption of CBD. The research was done on patients who were given CBD capsules after a burrito or other fatty meals. The other group was fasting before taking a capsule.
The “burrito” group had four times higher level of CBD in their bodies, and the top amount of CBD in their blood was 14 times higher than that of the fasting group. The researchers didn’t record any difference in brain functions.
Fatty food can improve the absorption of CBD, but it also can affect variability as there’s a different amount of fat in meals.
What does that mean to science and consumers? Higher absorption translates into lower costs during treatment, says co-author Ilo Leppik. However, the variability of the CBD level in the blood created by fatty food is not suitable for patients as they need to keep a stable level of drugs in the blood.


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The Ministry of Economy and Commerce, in co-operation with the Ministry of Interior and the Ministry of Municipality and Environment, has carried out a surprise inspection campaign targeting street vendors on Doha Corniche.
A number of violations were detected and street vendors penalised for conducting business activities without obtaining a commercial licence. Violators were referred to security authorities for legal proceedings.
The ministry aims through the campaign to monitor the compliance of suppliers with their obligations under law no. 5 of 2015 on industrial commercial shops, public stores and street vendors, as well as their commitment to Ministerial Decision no. 243 of 2016 on licences and regulations for street vendors.
The inspection campaigns come within the framework of the ministry’s efforts to monitor compliance with laws and regulations governing commercial activities in order to uncover and crack down on violations.
Within the framework of its efforts to regulate the business environment and create a stimulating investment environment for the private sector and entrepreneurs, the Ministry of Economy and Commerce had earlier launched an initiative to regulate the work of street vendors by specifying permissible activities as well as requirements, standards and conditions for issuing a license. The initiative aims to improve the quality of services offered to the public and guarantee compliance with laws and regulations governing the various commercial activities.
The ministry stressed it will not tolerate any violations of the Consumer Protection Law no. 5 of 2015 and Ministerial Decision no. 243 of 2016, and intensify its inspection campaigns to crackdown on violations. The ministry said it will refer those who violate laws and ministerial decrees to competent authorities, who will in turn take appropriate action against perpetrators in order to protect consumer rights.
The MEC has urged all customers to report any violations to its Consumer Protection and Anti-Commercial Fraud Department through the following channels: Call centre: 16001, e-mail: [email protected], Twitter: @MEC_Qatar, Instagram: MEC_Qatar, MEC mobile app for Android and IOS: MEC_Qatar
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Fourth single of FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Official Soundtrack has all-female line-up
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Extensive World Cup fan guide to be issued soon: SC


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Huawei Mate 30
Huawei's new Mate 30 flagship phone doesn't come with any Google apps, and it's the first big tech casualty of the US-China trade war
The US ban on Huawei dealt its first big blow to the company, as it was forced to release its flagship Mate 30 without Google apps.
Huawei is on the verge of releasing its first major smartphone since being blacklisted by the US. Here's everything we know about it so far.
Huawei is preparing to release its Mate 30 smartphones this month. Here's everything we've heard so far, from its screen size to its quad camera.


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In press releases on their website both AT&T and T-Mobile/MetroPCS confirmed they will be carrying the Nokia Lumia 635 LTE, which seems destined to be a replacement for the Nokia Lumia 520.
“AT&T was the first in the U.S. to deliver Nokia’s innovative line-up of Windows Phones, the first in the world to offer an LTE Windows Phone and currently offers the largest selection of Windows devices,” said Jeff Bradley, senior vice president – Devices, AT&T.
“We are excited to add the Nokia Lumia 635 LTE smartphone to our device portfolio with access to the nation’s most reliable 4G LTE network. This innovative and affordable LTE capable smartphone features the new Windows Phone 8.1, Cortana personal assistant and a speedy quad-core processor. We strive to offer our consumers the widest choice of devices to fit any mobile lifestyle – all running on our voice and data network that covers more than 99 percent of all Americans.”
In a much lengthier statement T-Mobile/MetroPCS said:
BELLEVUE, Wash. – April 2, 2014 – Immediately on the heels of Microsoft’s Windows Phone 8.1 unveiling today, T-Mobile US, Inc. (NYSE: TMUS) has announced the company will offer up its Redmond neighbor’s latest mobile OS as part of its ongoing commitment to deliver greater freedom and choice for American wireless consumers – starting with Nokia’s new Lumia 635 coming this summer.
The Lumia 635 will be the first device sold in the United States powered out of the box by the very latest Windows Phone 8.1 operating system, introduced earlier today at Microsoft’s 2014 Build developers conference in San Francisco.
T-Mobile US today also announced that, come summer, T-Mobile and MetroPCS will be the best places to get the very first smartphone with the new Windows Phone OS for a low upfront cost and with zero service contract, zero overages (while on its wicked-fast network), zero hidden device costs, and zero upgrade wait. And only T-Mobile and MetroPCS customers can experience the next-gen Lumia 635 on America’s fastest nationwide 4G LTE network.
"The Un-carrier’s all about removing crazy restrictions and delivering total wireless freedom and flexibility," said Jason Young, senior vice president of Marketing at T-Mobile. "With Windows Phone, we can offer customers another great choice in mobile platforms. And we’re excited to bring to both T-Mobile and MetroPCS customers the combination of next-gen software, great features and fresh design that Nokia’s latest Windows Phone has to offer."
The Lumia 635 will build on all the qualities and benefits that made its predecessor – the Lumia 521 – so popular among American wireless customers. According to T-Mobile US, first-time smartphone buyers were particularly drawn to the Lumia 521 for its extraordinary ease-of-use and its budget-friendly price point, making it the best-selling Windows Phone device ever for T-Mobile.
"With all the advanced features the Lumia 635 has to offer – like its quad core processor, beautiful 4.5 inch screen and most advanced Windows Phone OS – we fully expect Nokia’s latest smartphone to do as well or better than its predecessor," Young added.
The company said the Nokia Lumia 635 will deliver:
An uncompromised Windows Phone 8.1 experience with fast quad core processor, bright colorful design with changeable shells and 4.5" ClearBlack screen.
Lightning-fast 4G LTE makes it quicker and easier to connect with the people and things you love online.
The same apps and experiences as high end Lumia’s including free Global maps and navigation, free Nokia MixRadio streaming, and Nokia Camera.
Live Tiles for instant information from apps, one easy swipe to important notifications with Action Centre, Microsoft Office, OneDrive, and faster ways to connect with Word Flow and Whatsapp and Instagram
A more personal and proactive assistant with Cortana
In addition, T-Mobile US announced that, starting this summer, the Windows Phone 8.1 update will also be available for T-Mobile’s Nokia Lumia 521 and Nokia Lumia 925 owners, as well as for MetroPCS customers who own the Nokia Lumia 521.
Further information, including specific device availability and pricing will be shared as those details are available.
For more information on the new Nokia Lumia 635 at T-Mobile, visit http://www.t-mobile.com/cell-phones/windows-phones/nokia-lumia-635.
Neither companies revealed the exact arrival date of the handsets or pricing, but given the low-cost nature of the handsets they will almost certainly be free on contract.


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Apple has reportedly told its AppleCare support teams to expect a huge surge in iOS queries from Monday 10 October, suggesting that its upcoming update is due out on that day.
Apple's call centre staff have been warned that customer calls could be eight times the norm on that fateful Monday according to Apple Insider, which cites a 'person familiar with the matter', though notes that the tip is unverified.
If iOS 5 does get released on 10 October, that would suggest that the much-anticipated iPhone 5 would follow shortly after, packing the new version of iOS straight out the box.
, and the followed just days later on 24 June.
At the moment everything is still up in the air, because Apple hasn't even unveiled the iPhone 5, yet alone its release date. If you want to know what we're expecting from the newest incarnation of the iPhone, check out our complete guide.
is the new version of Apple's mobile operating system used on iPhone, iPad and iPod touch devices. It's one of the biggest iOS updates yet, and will bring wireless syncing and backup and changes in the way notifications work. Free instant messaging between Apple gadgets is also on board, thanks to a new app called iMessage.
iOS 5 is set to come out alongside, another service we're psyched about that will let you store your music, photos and contacts online.
What do you reckon? Does 10 October resonate with your Apple antennae? Let us know in the comments, or on our Facebook wall.


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If you were looking forward to taking Dark Souls: Remastered with you everywhere you go this May, unfortunately that’s going to have to wait. The game, as announced by Bandai Namco, has been pushed back from its proposed May 25 release to a much more nebulous “summer” instead. Unfortunately, it seems that you’ll have to wait for both the Solaire of Astora amiibo as well, which is a crime against Dark Souls fans everywhere.
Due to the nature of causality, we must announce that the Nintendo Switch version of #DarkSoulsRemastered will be pushed back to summer of 2018, and with it, the release of the Solaire of Astora amiibo.
PC/PS4/X1 versions will maintain their May 25th release date.
— Dark Souls (@DarkSoulsGame) April 17, 2018
Weirdly enough, it looks like the rest of the versions of the game will still be releasing on track for PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One when they debut on May 25. While this gives you some more time to sharpen your skills, it also means you won’t be able to play Souls anywhere for a little while. There’s no proposed new release date just yet, so we’ll have to wait and see when we’ll be able to get our hands on it.


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- Alexis Ohanian said he's bullish on the metaverse because of the rise of crypto and Web 3, human engagement with virtual and augmented reality, and the need for online connections.
- Facebook's move to rename itself Meta is a "masterstroke in diversion and distraction," he said.
- He suggested there is potential for a funding boom in metaverse-related start-ups.
Alexis Ohanian, who cofounded Reddit in 2005, said the rise of cryptocurrencies and the third generation of the web are giving him reason to be bullish on the idea of the "metaverse."
"We're talking about sort of all of us being able to go online and occupy digital spaces, much the same way we do physical today," he said on CNBC's "Squawk Box" on Friday.
Ohanian noted that people already engage in the virtual world somewhat on their phones and computers, using text and images to interact. But he feels engagement via virtual reality goggles or augmented reality — VR or AR — will give rise to a whole new phenomenon with a lot of investment potential.
"I spent 15 years trying to convince people leading Reddit that people would care about online connection just as much or more than offline connection. But now I think everyone sort of takes it for granted — we fall in love online, we make some of our best friends online, we ape into stocks together online through anonymous communities," he said.
"That dynamic combined withubiquity, and now the rise of web 3 and crypto really working, gives people a sense of ownership in this new world. So that the assets you buy in the metaverse are just as real as the assets you buy and own in the offline world."
When Facebook changed its corporate name to Meta on Thursday, it said it wanted to be "metaverse first." The idea of a metaverse has been around for a while in science fiction and gaming, used to refer to a virtual space where real-world people can live a whole other life using VR and AR avatars.
Facebook's CEO Mark Zuckerberg predicted "the next platform and medium will be even more immersive, an embodied internet where you are in the experience, not just looking at it."
Ohanian said Facebook's decision to rebrand itself was "a masterstroke in diversion and distraction" that shouldn't be underestimated.
"Right now, there is this amazing bottom-up movement to create the metaverse, using what's happening in the crypto community — getting a lot of people building what I think is what most of us hope will become a much more organic type of world, rather than a sort of top-down Facebook-imposed one."
The Reddit cofounder suggested there is potential for a funding boom in metaverse-related start-ups.
"With the amount of money that's flowing into venture right now, startups that can get competitive on the VR front, they can get the funding," he said.
"But the bigger things here are going to be more foundational software," he added, touching on Facebook's advantage from its virtual-reality headset formerly known as Oculus.
"That's the stuff that's going to get built in the next five years," Ohanian said. "It's actually going to make it worth it for you to spend time, because right now the competition is watching, playing Fornite, scrolling through your phone."
"We're not going to all wake up in the metaverse tomorrow."


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Many businesses across Australia will be forced to shut their doors from 12 p.m. on Monday, March 23, when the Federal Government’s latest measures to contain the coronavirus pandemic take effect. Pubs, hotels, cinemas, casinos, night clubs and other entertainment venues, as well as religious gatherings and places of worship, will be restricted from opening, while restaurants and cafes will be restricted to takeaway and home delivery services only.
Australians should expect these measures to be in place for the next six months, according to a statement released by the Morrison Government after a National Cabinet meeting on Sunday evening. This is in addition to the existing ban on all non-essential indoor gatherings of more than 100 people and 4 sqm-per-person rule that are already in effect, among other restrictions.
These measures do not go as far as the shutdown of all non-essential services that the NSW, Victorian and ACT Governments announced on Sunday afternoon, prior to the meeting.
Statements released by NSW premier Gladys Berejiklian, Victorian premier Daniel Andrews and ACT chief Minister Andrew Barr said supermarkets, pharmacies, convenience stores, petrol stations and freight and logistics would remain open, but beyond this, they did not specify which types of businesses are considered “non-essential”. The national employer association has called for a broad and consistent definition of essential services.
“As we inevitably move towards shutting down parts of our economy to deal with the health threat of coronavirus, it is vital that the designation of essential services is appropriately broad and includes the supply chains necessary to allow those essential services to continue to operate,” Innes Willox, CEO of Ai Group, said in a statement. “The definition of essential services also needs to be coordinated on a national basis.”
The NSW, Victorian and ACT Governments said they would commence their shutdowns over the next 48 hours. Following the announcement of the Morrison Government on Sunday evening, the status of those shutdowns is unclear at this time. However, some retailers, including Patagonia and Fjallraven have already decided to close stores for the safety of their customers and staff.
Inside FMCG will update this story as more information becomes available.


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Consuming 14 Grams of Almonds Daily is All You Need to Boost Your Health
Dec 23, 2015 01:30 PM EST | By Pao Uychiat
Keeping the body fit and healthy is the number one concern every person have these days. According to Indian Express, almonds are good and beneficial to the health. Researchers said that almonds are known to be a good source of protein, essential fatty acids, vitamin E and magnesium. The scientist got their conclusion from the results of the improved dietary intake of the research participants' scores when they were asked to answer the Healthy Eating Index.
The study states that eating a moderate amount of almonds daily can actually enrich the diets of both adults and young children. Alyssa Burns, one of the researchers from University of Florida said, "Almonds are a good source of plant protein - essential fatty acids, vitamin E and magnesium." To test the study, they gave almonds every day to 29 pairs of parents and children.
The mothers who joined have an average age of 35 and their children were between 3 to 6 years old. The children were encouraged to have 14 grams of almond butter daily and the parents were given the regular almonds daily of the same amount. They used an online dietary report to help track and find out how much the adults consumed.
The scientists used the Healthy Eating Index (HEI), a tool used to measure diet quality and to follow the 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans.
This is where they based their conclusion about the improved dietary intake on participants' scores. The results showed that both the parents and children eating almonds have an increased result for their protein food, seafood, plant proteins and fatty acids, while they ate fewer empty calories.
Burns said that there was a higher score that indicated higher diet quality. Parents and children were able to get a higher HEI score from 53.7 to 61.4.


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Brazil’s CSN to negotiate quotas to export slab, HRC and tinplate to the US
Brazilian steelmaker Companhia Siderúrgica Nacional (CSN) is negotiating with authorities in the United States to obtain quotas to export slab, tinplate and “some volumes” of hot-rolled coil without tariffs linked to the Section 232 investigation.
Negotiations are at full steam, and [the US] will apply voluntary restraint agreements - country by country, CSN commercial executive director Luis Fernando Martinez said on Tuesday March 27.
If exempted, CSN’s hot-rolled coil exports would be sent for further rolling in the company’s US facility in the state of Indiana.
“Brazil will likely solve this [issue] in two or three weeks, eventually accepting quotas, like South Korea,” chief executive officer Benjamin Steinbruch said.
On Thursday March 22, the US government decided to delay imposing the 25% tariff on steel imports from Brazil and other countries. The suspension will last for a minimum period of 30 days while negotiations are ongoing.
Meanwhile, CSN is planning to divert to the Brazilian domestic market volumes of zinc-coated steel products it had been sending to the US, because the company expects the domestic market to continue improving.
“In 2017, we exported around 370,000 tonnes [of zinc-coated steel products] to the US that will return to the [Brazilian] local market this year,” Martinez said.
In total, CSN expects to sell 1.2 million tonnes of zinc-coated products to Brazilian buyers in 2018, compared with 818,000 tonnes last year, according to Martinez. CSN also expects shipment volumes to the domestic market to account for around 80-85% of total steel sales this year.
In the fourth quarter 2017, in contrast, the national market accounted for 61% of CSN’s total sales volumes.
“This is the year of the domestic market,” Martinez said.


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S&K cuts 50 jobs to trim costs
Struggling Henrico menswear chain also is revising its strategy
Saturday, Jul 26, 2008 – 12:08 AM
By JOHN REID BLACKWELL AND EMILY C. DOOLEY
TIMES-DISPATCH STAFF WRITERS
Menswear retailer S&K Famous Brands said yesterday that it has laid off 50 employees from its Henrico County corporate headquarters and hired a consulting firm to help the company remake its image and turn a profit.
The job cuts, which include some senior management positions, occurred this week, said Joseph A. Oliver III, president and chief executive officer.
Oliver declined to provide details on the positions that were cut. He said the company has about 90 employees remaining at its corporate office, and approximately 200 in the Richmond area including at its six stores.
S&K, which has 218 stores and 1,400 employees in 26 states, is in the midst of an effort to improve its sales and is redesigning stores and introducing new merchandise. In fiscal 2003, S&K earned $2.68 million and continued to turn a profit until this fiscal year — that ended Feb. 2 — when the company reported a $3.93 million loss, according to the company’s annual report.
Sales so far this year have not helped the company turn around.
In the first quarter that ended May 3, the company had $41.1 million in sales, compared with $46.7 million a year earlier. S&K also reported that samestore sales were down 10.8 percent over the previous year.
The total net loss for the company during the first quarter was $1.4 million, according to financial documents.
“Everyone in the apparel industry has been struggling,” Oliver said. “We have been seeing a downward trend in our sales this year. That is part of the reason we feel we need to be aggressive about our new strategic direction.”
S&K has hired the New York-based boutique turnaround firm Alvarez and Marsal to help sell off company assets, evaluate operations and present marketing and merchandising plans to attract a more youthful clientele.
“These are difficult steps,” Oliver said. “And not steps that we enjoy taking, necessarily. The important thing is we believe S&K has loyal customers that we want to continue serving for years to come.”
The company also said it will pursue early lease terminations in stores that are underperforming or do not fit within its strategy changes. Oliver said the company has not committed to a specific number of stores it expects to close.
The company is also converting stores to a new design. Several opened this past spring, and . two newly designed locations will open soon in Ohio and an Atlanta suburb.
The company said the corporate positions were eliminated to reduce annual overhead costs by more than $3.3 million and to focus resources on its strategy.


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Hyderabad: Hyderabad Cricket Association Chairman Mohd Azharuddin says they are not involved in ticket sales at all, despite being blamed by everyone for the third Indo disaster -Australian T20 which resulted in a stampede. at Gymkhana on Thursday and caused injury to a few fans.
Asked about the arrangements prepared for the next match, the former Indian cricketer said: “We have given the contract to a third party and they are handling it. What do you look like in the photo? Is there a possibility that we are connected to all of this? Yesterday’s events were tragic. But how do you attribute this to us? he said.
The HCA has been accused of mismanaging ticket sales and profiting from selling tickets in the dark. Azhar, however, claimed that was not possible. “How can you participate if, with the exception of a few tickets, all ticket sales are done online? The case will be handled by the police, who are present. We have no control over what a customer does with a ticket after purchasing it, whether in person or online. We don’t mind what they do with it. The police will take action if they sell it in black,” he said.
Asked about HCA’s secrecy on the amount of seats accessible online and offline, he replied: “On September 15, 11,450 tickets were sold online, while 4,000 corporate box tickets were sold by the following. On Thursday, 2,100 tickets were sold online and around 3,000 tickets went on sale offline. The association’s internal partners and stakeholders would each receive around 6,000 tickets, he said.
Although the stadium can accommodate around 55,000 people, only around 39,000 tickets have been made available to the general public.
“Even though there are disagreements within the association, we have come together to ensure a smooth game,” said HCA secretary R Vijayanand, adding that the third party will take care of everything if the sale tickets are given to them.
“To ensure the success of the match, we are working with the government,” he said.
Asked about the police cases that had been filed against the HCA employees, he said Paytm was the authorized ticket sales partner and they were responsible for the incident.
Azhar further attributed Covid to the poor state of the ground. “You see, there have been no games for the last three years because of Covid-19, and the absence of IPL has cost us a lot of money. Pitch maintenance would have been paid for the use of those funds. But we kept the area clean and well maintained. We prepared it for the game and we will run the game smoothly,” he said.


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We're exactly one month away from The Fight, and while it'll be virtually impossible for any real humans to buy tickets to the fight, us lower born folk will be able to settle for record-breaking pay-per-view packages. To watch Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao put on the fight we all wanted five years ago, the Wall Street Journal reports PPV prices just under triple-digits:
"Under the terms being discussed, the fight will be sold for $99 for a high-definition feed and $89 for standard definition, both of which are record prices. The previous high was $74.95 for high-definition and $64.95 for standard."
The WSJ goes on to report that some boxing industry observers think that the fight will rake in over $300 million in PPV sales. That would be another record. My goodness is there a lot of money being tossed about in the periphery of this fight. Mayweather thinks he can make $200 million from the purse, and Pac's out here using $1,800 cream for his cramps. This is getting gaudy, guys.
Send all complaints, compliments, and tips to firstname.lastname@example.org.
[via The Wall Street Journal]


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Social commerce industry in Japan is expected to grow by 12.1% on annual basis to reach US$15 Billion in 2023. The social commerce industry is expected to grow steadily over the forecast period, recording a CAGR of 9.8% during 2022–2028. The social commerce GMV in the country will increase from US$15290.4 million in 2023 to reach US$26736.4 million by 2028.
Companies such as Rakuten, Amazon Japan, and Yahoo! Japan are leading the way in benefiting from this rise in social commerce. Payment methods such as cash on delivery and credit card payments are commonly used in social commerce transactions in Japan. Additionally, social media platforms such as Line have integrated social commerce features into their platforms, further driving the industry’s growth. The increased usage of mobile devices and screen time is also contributing to the rise in social commerce.
However, with the rise of social commerce comes the risk of fraudulent activities. To address this issue, blockchain technology has emerged as a promising solution. Blockchain technology enables a secure and transparent transaction process by creating a trustable environment. By implementing blockchain technology in social commerce, businesses can prevent fraudulent activities and increase trust between buyers and sellers.
QGlobe’s SocialFi platform is one such example of leveraging blockchain technology to create a trustable social commerce ecosystem. The platform is developing a SuperApp that combines traditional and industry-leading technologies to create a seamless and secure user experience. The SocialFi platform aims to eliminate the middleman by enabling peer-to-peer transactions and allowing users to earn rewards for social interactions. Additionally, the platform’s use of blockchain technology ensures secure transactions and protects users from fraudulent activities.
In conclusion, Japan’s social commerce industry has experienced tremendous growth in recent years and is expected to continue to do so in the future. As the industry grows, the need for secure and trustworthy transaction processes becomes increasingly important. Blockchain technology has emerged as a promising solution, and companies like QGlobe are using this technology to create a trustable and secure social commerce ecosystem. It will be exciting to see how innovations in technology will continue to shape the future of social commerce in Japan and beyond.


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|Day Low/High||228.68 / 232.90|
|52 Wk Low/High||104.28 / 240.76|
Painkiller manufacturers might see their profits hurt by medical cannabis in the near future.
The only other option is 'to fearfully wait' for the legal-weed industry to expand.
It is entirely possible that a business relationship with Canopy Growth will help Constellation Brands, but the charts currently suggest further risk for the beverage company.
Covered calls may be the best bet -- or wait for a dip.
This options trade combines some upside with a chance to buy TLRY at a decent price.
The cannabis company has gained DEA approval to import a cannabinoid drug into the U.S.
Expect more companies to join Coca-Cola, Molson Coors and Constellation Brands in checking out the market.
A tie-up between the two could mark the first major U.S. firm to establish a line of CBD drinks.
The latest reports about Coke looking into cannabis confirms a broader industry trend.
You don't want your money to go up in smoke.
A brewer facing challenges, a banking giant and a retail behemoth are ripe for downside plays.
Not every cannabis stock was strong on Wednesday. One significant Canadian name sure was though.
Moody's and Zacks aren't seeing the potential for CBD drinks or even THC drinks.
Hexo is pursuing joint ventures in cosmetics, health care, candy, edibles, and vape companies.
Analysts and advisors stand by Nike as NFL.
Tilray reported a 95% jump in second-quarter revenue to $9.7 million, ahead of the Wall Street estimate of $9 million, in its first earnings release since it went public on July 19.
Seasonality hasn't mattered in a number or years so why should light volume new highs be an issue?
Two companies, PepsiCo and Constellation Brands, are disrupting their own businesses and getting no credit whatsoever for doing so.
Even bullish analysts are cautious on Constellation's big cannabis bet.
Odds are good that you'll make at least 8% in 37 days using this put play.
Odds are good that you'll make at least 8% in 37 days using this play.
Constellation Brand's bigger stake in Canopy has analysts mulling the prospects of a takeover.
With the price of CGC up around 8% this morning a fresh look at the charts is in order.
CGC and STZ should both remain 'go to' plays on the marijuana industry.
Beer companies are going to greater lengths to grow.


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National carrier Kenya Airways (KQ), has unveiled, Economy Max, a product that allows customers to create additional personal space by booking a seat or a row next to them. Economy Max, a first of its kind for an African carrier, will be available for purchase between 48 to 3 hours before departure to all KQ customers purchasing Economy Class tickets globally.
According to a July 2020 IATA Study, travelers are seeking ways to feel more comfortable about flying again. This has led to increased accountability for airlines to ensure passenger confidence.
Julius Thairu, Chief Commercial and Customer Officer at Kenya Airways says that Economy Max will meet the evolving needs of travelers during the pandemic by offering the ability to purchase an empty seat or row next to them. “The world we live in has changed. As an airline, we continue to adapt to the evolving needs of our customers as we recover from the effects of the pandemic. Economy Max puts passengers in control of their experience and ensures that our customers have a choice as they enjoy their privacy with additional space to themselves. Economy Max is a continuation of KQ’S diversification and innovation to provide relevant products and services to our customers to improve the overall experience of their travels with us.” said Thairu.
“Passengers can purchase Economy Max seats online and pay via credit card. Once purchased, a confirmation email will be sent to them with information about their flight and seat allocation”, Thairu concluded.


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New robotics technology is helping to improve primary and secondary packaging applications in snack food and wholesale bakery operations. Areas of innovation include end-of-arm tooling (EOAT), robot learning, sanitation and space optimization. Given the efficiency improvements robotics can bring to manufacturing—and the growing level of flexibility the technology now offers—its use is expanding.
Sanitation, automation, efficiency, speed, ease of cleaning, the ability to handle larger capacities, and the ability to produce clean label-foods are among the top priorities for snack food and baked goods makers seeking to purchase dividers, depositors and rounders.
Packaging equipment manufacturers are upgrading bagging and closing equipment to improve operational efficiency and hygienic design, while also adding touches of smart technology and sustainability.
Advances in labeling are happening at a rapid pace. Technological leaps in marking/coding technology, printers, and labeling software have improved printing speed, accuracy and flexibility to accommodate a wide range of labels in today’s snack and bakery market.
Snack food and bakery companies looking to purchase belts and conveyors are asking for larger capacity, quieter machinery, improved safety, greater energy efficiency the ability to reduce manpower—and, thus, costs. They’re also looking for easier and more-predictable cleaning and maintenance.
Shipping contamination-free food products to the public has always been business-critical, but today’s social-media landscape leaves virtually no room for error. A wider variety of products, along with a wide variety of packaging options, have increased the need for more flexible inspection and detection equipment. The good news: Manufacturers are answering the call with X-ray, metal detection, checkweighing and vision systems that help processors ensure food safety.
PACK EXPO recently took place at McCormick Place, Chicago, from October 14-17. IFT is presented by PMMI.
Check out the newest developments in belts and conveyors, including equipment from Dynamic Conveyor, Goodway Technologies, Powder Solutions, VAC-U-MAX, and more.


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Raising funding to support promising startups
On 16 December 2019, Startupbootcamp listed its accelerator, FinTech & CyberSecurity (SBC Fintech Amsterdam 1921 BV), on Nxchange, a stock exchange featured on the Rabo & Crowd platform. €2.3 million was raised from private investors and companies and nine startups have been chosen to participate in the programme.
Major players in the finance sector are supporting the new accelerator, including Rabobank, Banca Sella and BNP Paribas. By working with funding platform Rabo & Crowd, a wider group of investors were able to provide backing and the accelerator is the first to be co-financed by private individuals.
Helping new companies with a powerful accelerator
After spending several months touring global financial capitals, Startupbootcamp chose nine startups to join the accelerator. Each one will receive €15,000; Startupbootcamp plans to sell its interest in the companies within seven years. The programme officially began on 13 January and finishes in April.
These are the startups selected for the Startupbootcamp FinTech & CyberSecurity 2020 programme:
Dakko Loans is based in Singapore and helps people secure financial support for healthcare.
Doni is a Dutch startup and FinTech platform that enables people to achieve their goals through socially driven financial instruments.
Loyalize, a technology platform from the UK that works with retailers and allows them to let customers add their payment cards to an existing loyalty programme.
Risk Priorities is a US company that provides solutions for managing regulatory risks, reporting, data governance and relationships.
Tytonical is located in the UK and focuses on omnichannel personalisation and payments while providing consumers with control over their data.
Uniqul, which is from the Netherlands, enables retail payments through facial recognition technology, replacing debit cards, wallets and phones with a seamless experience.
Volo is based in Croatia and Estonia and helps users enjoy better and faster cost management.
Wajenzi Fund is a Dutch company billing itself as the first investment platform for immigrants, allowing them to make a difference in their countries of origin.
White Swan, which has offices in the US and Sweden, offers a permanent life insurance policy to protect future savings and income.
After completing the programme in the spring of 2020, the participating startups will receive support from Startupbootcamp’s alumni growth programme, which connects more than 900 companies across the globe.
Read more startup news from around Amsterdam.


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Home Tags Bravo
"Our rainbow baby Edu is such a blessing - we are overwhelmed by how lucky we are to have him."
The 'Vanderpump Rules' star has reunited with most of her castmates.
In December, Current reported that H-E-B grocery chain employees felt bullied about not forcing shoppers to wear masks because people are assholes ...
Hannah Berner is from the market.
Taylor Swift fans blew up one of their exes.
The Greater Latrobe School District says an anonymous 911 call that resulted in a full police search of the Latrobe Elementary School on Wednesday afternoon may have been a prank.
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We are confident that our new partnership with Commission Junction will be beneficial for both Homelement.com as well as every affiliate that decides to promote our products
East Brunswick, NJ (Vocus) February 25, 2008
In an effort to maximize revenue opportunities and partner with top-tier advertisers, Homelement.com announced the creation of a brand new affiliate marketing program through Commission Junction, the leading provider of affiliate marketing solutions.
Commission Junction provides affiliates with the opportunity to promote and sell Homelement.com products as an independent third party. By recruiting customers through advertising, e-mail, and other campaigns, affiliates can earn considerable commissions each time a purchase is made.
Instead of paying costly overheads to stock furniture and manage an e-commerce business, Commission Junction provides a convenient way for affiliates to sell Homelement.com?s high-quality furniture products with minimal effort and maximum reward.
"We are confident that our new partnership with Commission Junction will be beneficial for both Homelement.com as well as every affiliate that decides to promote our products," says Joice Tan, Operation Manager of Homelement.com.
Homelement.com has also established an alternative program for affiliates through ShareASale, which gives third-party advertisers the ability to earn commission for any purchase made from their sites.
If interested in boosting monthly income by becoming a Homelement.com affiliate, visit http://www.Homelement.com for more information on the new programs.
Homelement.com is a leading retail supplier of stylish and elegant home furnishings including bedroom furniture, dining, living room, and much more. With years of furniture industry experience, Homelement has recently expanded their operation to a web-based platform that makes browsing and purchasing top-of-the-line furniture easier than ever. Visit http://www.homelement.com for more information.
About Commission Junction:
Commission Junction (http://www.cj.com) provides solutions that help marketers increase online leads and sales. By facilitating strategic relationships between advertisers and affiliates, Commission Junction leverages its proven expertise in affiliate marketing and search marketing to drive measurable results for its clients.


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The results of the latest Auto Trader Market Report have revealed that a third of the UK potential car buyers are being put off a purchase due to the uncertainty surrounding Brexit.
Hybrid cars sold today have insufficient zero emissions capability to comply with Government targets for 2040, due to most driving being under combustion engine.
Sir Richard Branson’s vision of a ban the sale of vehicles powered purely by petrol or diesel by 2025 have been dismissed as “incredibly unrealistic”.
Volvo has announced its intent for fully electric cars to make up half of its sales by 2025.
More than two thirds of drivers (67%) say that they are less likely to purchase a diesel car after the VW scandal of 2015.
The National Franchised Dealers Association is among automotive sector representatives who have given evidence to the Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Committee ahead of a publication of a report into EV adoption.
The AM GDPR conference will educate delegates on EU privacy regulations which have the potential to prevent dealers from calling customers.
The government's 2040 ban on the sale of conventional petrol and diesel cars will not affect motorists car buying choices "for years", according 67% of respondents to the AA-Populus survey.
Automotive Management Live: Where franchised and independent dealers will find everything they need to know about operating a modern showroom and service and repair facility fit for the digital age.
When: November 12 2020
Where: Birmingham NEC
Find out what features are in this month's, and future, issues


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Last Friday, Jim Cramer, host of CNBC’s Mad Money “said Apple should buy satellite radio operator Sirius XM Holdings to bolster its fast-growing services business,” Patrick Seitz reports for Investor’s Business Daily. “Sirius would strengthen Apple’s position in the subscription-based music business, where it has a foothold with its Apple Music streaming service. Sirius also would give Apple a major presence in the automotive infotainment sector, Cramer said.”
“‘Anything that puts Apple on the path toward owning the automobile would really brighten the company’s long-term outlook,’ Cramer said,” Seitz reports. “Apple ended the June quarter with $231.5 billion in cash and securities. ‘Every six months, Apple spends the equivalent of Sirius XM’s entire market cap on buying back its own stock, and they have got more than $230 billion just lying around,’ Cramer said. Sirius has a market cap of about $20 billion.”
Read more in the full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: We don’t see Apple ponying up the $40 billion or so it would take to buy a business that they are effectively working to replace with Apple Music and streaming content. If you’re listening to Apple Music via CarPlay, you’re not listening to Sirius XM. It would be cheaper for Apple to lure away the exclusive draws on Sirius XM (one example: Chris “Mad Dog” Russo) than to buy the whole kit and caboodle. All of Sirius XM’s music channels are already obviated by Apple Music.


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Shelby isn't the only company celebrating a major anniversary in Monterey this year. Lamborghini marked its 50th year in business, and the 2012 Concorso Italiano is packed with Raging Bulls from every era of company's history. While the show serves as a showcase for all Italian makes, the Laguna Seca Golf Ranch always sees a wide cross section of manufacturers and models from around the globe.
- Volvo shoots for self-drivers by 2021
- Jeep spends $1 billion on factories
- Find Parts & Accessories for your vehicle!
- Obama rolls out new EV plan
- Infiniti dealers ranked best, Tesla worst
- Compare Volvo XC90 and Lincoln MKX


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MYM Nutraceuticals (CSE: MYM) (OTCBB: MYMMF) reported that planting is now complete for the 2019 growing season at the CBD-rich hemp project situated on 120-acres in Nye County, Nev. MYM has entered into a production agreement with Elite Ventures and invested $500,000 to grow one pivot of 120-acres of CBD-rich hemp in Nevada. Elite will plant, grow, and harvest the crop of which MYM is entitled to 50%.
Rubicon Organics (CSE: ROMJ) (OTCQX: ROMJF) has received organic certification from the Fraser Valley Organics Producers Association at its 125,000-sq.-ft. hybrid greenhouse facility in Delta, BC. The company says it now positioned to supply organic and “super-premium cannabis grown at scale to a market where organic products are in high demand, short supply and priced at significant premiums,” according to a statement.
Charlotte’s Web Holdings (TSX: CWEB) (OTCQX: CWBHF) has appointed Tony True to the newly formed role of chief customer officer. True comes to Charlotte’s Web from Pharmavite, one of the largest U.S. manufacturers of vitamins, minerals, and other dietary supplements, where he served as executive vice president of sales.
Valens GroWorks Corp. (TSXV: VGW) (OTC: VGWCF) reported its financial results for the second quarter of fiscal 2019, with revenue increasing quarter-over-quarter 296% to $8.8 million. Gross profit rose to $5.1 million, or 58% of revenue, for the second quarter of 2019, versus $0.9 million or 38.3% of revenue in the first quarter.
PurLife Management Group, a multi-state cannabis operator with a dominant footprint in the state of New Mexico, announced the opening of a new dispensary location in Farmington. The new store is the company’s sixth location in New Mexico.
Harvest One Cannabis (TSX-V: HVT) (OTCQX: HRVOF) announced that its United Greeneries Ltd. subsidiary has signed a supply agreement with 9869247 Canada Ltd. Under the agreement, 9869247 Canada will cultivate and harvest United Greeneries’ premium cannabis genetics at their facility in Ontario.
Aurora Cannabis (NYSE: ACB) (TSX: ACB) has received Health Canada licenses for outdoor cultivation at two Canadian sites. The new sites in Quebec and British Columbia will be used for cultivation research to develop new technology, genetics and intellectual property in order to drive sustainable, high-quality outdoor production.


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Losing access to data, having business information hacked and even snooping foreign governments are among the concerns of local SMEs expressed in the latest MYOB Digital Nation report.
Two-thirds of New Zealand business operators are worried about online security, according to the survey of over 1000 business owners and operators surveyed throughout the country for MYOB by Colmar Brunton.
The leading concern for local business operators is losing access to their data (44%), followed by hackers gaining access to business data (42%) and losing control of their data (34%). Other worries include the Government accessing their data, competitors seeing their information and surveillance by foreign governments.
By region, business operators in Northland (51%) and Bay of Plenty (54%) are less likely to be worried about online security, while those in the Hawkes Bay (77%) and Wellington (74%) have the highest levels of concern.
MYOB New Zealand General Manager James Scollay says the latest MYOB Digital Nation report highlights that SME operators are worried about the safety of their data – with just a small minority having no concerns about online security.
“The internet, and the online storage and services in the cloud that are now widely available, have transformed business,” says James Scollay.
“However, they have also transformed the nature of the security risk for businesses, with the threat of loss of data, illegal hacking or monitoring now a major concern for local businesses.”
Mr Scollay says local businesses are right to be cautious but should not let fear of cyber-crime stop them from utilising the many benefits of the online environment.
“As use of technology – and in particular adoption of online services – becomes widespread, SMEs are becoming increasingly vigilant and aware of the risks to their security. A maturing approach to online security is a good thing, as long as we are balancing the true risks with the wide-ranging opportunities of embracing technology.”
“Good security practices – like maintaining software updates, firewalls and anti-virus measures – go a long way towards making businesses secure when accessing the internet or working in the cloud. At the same time, reputable companies that offer online products and services are investing heavily in maintaining the highest levels of security.”
Access to the internet is less of an issue for local SMEs with business operators reporting improved satisfaction with both the speed and reliability and cost of their internet plans.
Satisfaction with internet access (speed and reliability) has risen from 40 per cent in September 2014 to 49 per cent in March 2015, according to the Digital Nation report. Levels of dissatisfaction have also fallen from 33 per cent to 29 per cent. Local SMEs are also happier with the cost of their internet plan, with satisfaction climbing from 30 per cent to 41 per cent and dissatisfaction falling from 38 per cent to 28 per cent.
Across all the regions, business operators in the Manuwatu and Wanganui are most satisfied with their internet access (66%), while Wellington business operators are the most satisfied in the main centres (61%). The rural community, however, is still less happy than their city counterparts, with 44 per cent of businesses in rural areas satisfied and 35 per cent dissatisfied with their internet access.
The proportion of SMEs connected to ultra-fast broadband has increased five percentage points in the last six months, with 24 per cent now using UFB, up from 19 per cent in September 2014.
Christchurch has shown the lowest level of growth in UFB connection for SMEs – and one of the lowest connection levels nationwide, at 16 per cent in March 2015. Wellington has increased from 21 per cent to 26 per cent, and Auckland from 28 per cent to 32 per cent. UFB connection outside the main centres has also increased, from 14 per cent to 19 per cent. The Hawkes Bay is the most connected region (37%), while Northland has the lowest level of UFB connection (15%).
Businesses connected to UFB have performed better during the latest survey period, with 37 per cent reporting improved revenue in the year to March 2015, compared to 31 per cent of those without a UFB connection.
Forty-seven per cent of local SMEs currently have an online presence, with 23 per cent only operating a business website, seven per cent just using a social media site for their business, and 17 per cent having both a website and a social media site for their business. As in previous Digital Nation reports, businesses with an online presence are more likely to report an increase in revenue (38%) than the SME average (32%).
Mr Scollay says access to the latest internet technology makes a fundamental difference to business performance, with far reaching impacts across the economy.
“Our latest MYOB Digital Nation report highlights that – at every level – if businesses are more engaged online, and have better access in terms of speed, reliability and cost, they are more likely to earn more,” says James Scollay.
“What this means is not only more opportunity to grow for individual businesses but also a greater potential to increase returns throughout the country – particularly to more remote areas which don’t have the same access to markets and customers without the internet.”
“While business owners are right to be taking a cautious approach to one of their most vital assets – their data, its very important we don’t let that concern cloud the opportunities the internet can bring for every SME. As businesses that provide online services, it is our responsibility to work alongside internet service providers, the Government and other agencies, to provide local business operators with the best possible information and tools to protect themselves online so we can ensure all of New Zealand benefits from the enormous potential of the internet.”


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For the fourth consecutive day, sandwich maker Potbelly (PBPB) was hitting a new trading low, continuing the downturn that's plagued the stock since its debut last fall.
On Friday afternoon it was down 1.4% at $18.24, and earlier it fell as far as $18.19. On the market only since October, the Chicago-based chain has been terrible for anyone long the shares for any length of time. It's largely dribbled lower, rather than suffering a few gigantic moves, but it has been entirely consistent in its direction, as the chart below indicates.
It's had only one positive session in the past two weeks. That steady decline has helped lower Potbelly's forward earnings multiple to 50.6 from a high of 88.3, according to FactSet data, but it still leaves it well above the mid-20s average among a group of 42 publicly traded restaurants tracked.
Even after the pullback, it maintains easily one of the highest price-to-earnings ratios in the group. While on its own that's not a terrible thing if growth supports it, Potbelly's stated goals haven't kept enough believers interested in the story.
Potbelly is projecting 10% store growth and 20% or higher yearly profit increases, and for this year it's looking for adjusted earnings to climb 25% to 35%, with up to 48 new stores joining the system. But it also has sizable direct competition in the sandwich realm -- Subway, the biggest chain by number of units, and also Jimmy John's, Firehouse Subs, Jersey Mike's and Panera (PNRA), to name only a few.
The shorts, however, have certainly liked what they've seen. Since the first short interest report became available, totaling 350,034 shares in mid-October, the overall position has jumped nearly 12-fold as of the end of February, to almost 4.5 million shares. That translates to a full 28.4% of the float, Yahoo Finance data show. It's also around four times the level of the recent group average.
At this point, the most intriguing question is whether short covering might be what keeps the stock from dropping all the way to, or even below, its IPO price of $14. It's already slid 46% from its all-time high at $33.90. Another 23% move down sounds like a lot, and it is, but the way things have gone for this new entrant to the market, it also doesn't seem entirely out of reach.


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China March exports in shock 15% fall
CHINA'S export sales contracted 15 per cent in March while import shipments fell at their sharpest rate since the 2009 global financial crisis, a shock outcome that deepens concern about sputtering Chinese economic growth.
The tumble in exports - the worst in about a year
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The new small crossover will use a fresh, in-house-designed turbocharged engine.
Mitsubishi Outlander Sport
Mitsubishi is recalling 165,923 vehicles in the US because it's possible for the drive belt to detach from their engines, potentially causing a stall. Specifically, the campaign covers 2008-2011 model-year examples of the Lancer, Lancer Evolution (pictured above) and Outlander as well as the 2009-2011 Lancer Sportback and 2011 Outlander Sport. All of the affected models use some version of the brand's 4B1 four-cylinder engine.
Mitsubishi sales continue to show progress in 2014. In fact, sales were up 54.17 percent in the US in May compared to last year. In hopes of keeping those numbers in the black, the Japanese automaker is introducing some mechanical upgrades to the Outlander Sport, its best-selling model, for the 2015 model year.
Mitsubishi is getting more and more forthcoming about its plans for the US market. Among the tidbits revealed during a chat with Edmunds at the 2014 Chicago Auto Show, MMNA Executive Vice President Don Swearingen said that "We are committed to huge investments in capital as well as huge investments in R&D." The marquee product of that investment could be a new Montero for the 2017 or 2018 model year, suggestions of which were raised with the Concept GC-PHEV at the 2013 Tokyo Motor Show and a
Mitsubishi has lost money in its North America operations every year since 2007, but in an interview at this week's Tokyo Motor Show, company president Osamu Masuko said, "If things keep going well, it might be the case that we break even this year," Automotive News reports.
- Most and least efficient car companies
- Fastest-depreciating cars in the United States
- Find and compare 2017 Models


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Hutch, a London and Brighton, UK-based mobile free-to-play gaming studio, raised $5.5m in venture capital funding.
The round was co-led by Index Ventures and Backed VC.
The company intends to use the funds to advance its portfolio of games.
Founded in 2011 and led by Shaun Rutland, CEO, Hutch has launched Hot Wheels: Race Off, which was developed after securing a licensing deal with Mattel.
Released ahead of Christmas 2016, the game has attracted over 14 million players worldwide in less than a month.
Other titles include MMX Racing, Smash Bandits, Smash Cops, etc.
Hutch had received seed financing in 2014, via a round led by Initial Capital.


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David Koch explains six ways to manage mounting debt
David Koch's six-point action plan to deal with debt.
Australians routinely function on autopilot and it’s hurting our hip pocket.
Many actions we perform each day are not decisions, but habits so we’ve asked the experts how you can instil some positive habits that will pay off.
1. POWER UP
Start the day with oatmeal, because it is cheap and full of fibre, meaning it curbs the desire for snacks that can become a costly habit.
Oatmeal also lowers cholesterol levels, reducing heart disease risk.
Plus it stabilises blood sugar levels, resulting in reduced medical bills and more physical oomph.
Fans of the low-cost power breakfast include billionaire Bill Gates.
2. SKIP THE STUPID TAX
Lotteries have been branded “the stupid tax” with reason.
They pay winners by extracting cash from losers, said money mentor Nobby Kleinman — a former financial planner who designs money management software.
Gambling consumed more cash than it yielded, Mr Kleinman said.
“Using the same money to pay down debt or even spend on something pleasurable will be of greater value,” he said.
3. PAY WITH CASH
Handling expenses with a credit card or debit card encourages you to spend more, because plastic feels less real than cash and the delayed financial depletion is less visible.
In contrast, using cash prompts thriftiness because it triggers what behavioural economists call the “pain of paying”.
Bounce Financial director Ben Brett said using cash spurred a mindful money connection. “From a psychological perspective, exchanging cash tends to have a bit more of an effect than simply tapping a card,” he said.
Mr Brett said cash exposed your remaining funds for the week, encouraging you to scrimp now and afford something else later.
He said while bank apps were good, nothing beats being able to look in your wallet.
4. LIVE IN A LOW-RENT SUBURB
Financial planner David Leslie said hand-picking where you live “brings a world of indirect financial benefits”.
He said activities run by schools that are not prestigious could save money and reduce expectations on how much money parents have to cough up.
Mr Leslie said other benefits included less pressure to stage children’s birthday parties and have family holidays, reduced mortgage stress and lower council rates.
5. FACE THE FUTURE
Mr Brett said people should always consider the next five to 15 years, a lesson learned from him helping young professional couples looking to buy a house they could afford.
“What they are forgetting though is once they start having children their income will reduce dramatically,” he said.
Even once the stay-at-home parent returned to work daycare costs would slash income, he said.
When pondering a purchase consider whether you can service a loan during less-flush years ahead.
OTHER MONEY-SAVING HABITS
• Save more than you spend — it’s the first law of personal finance.
• Drive a cheap, reliable car.
• Buy good-quality products less likely to need repair or replacement.
• Pay debt, especially credit card debt, promptly.
• Holiday in low-cost destinations.
Originally published asThe money habits you must learn


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Christian and Michael Dal Zotto are planning to increase production at Dal Zotto Wines after buying the business from their parents Otto and Elena.
The move sees the business move to its second generation of the Dal Zotto family, over 30 years since its first vines were planted. The two brothers have said that they will focus on expanding the Prosecco offering.
“Prosecco is part of our family history – I learned the art of making Prosecco from my father, and he learned it from his father, so we’re really proud of our heritage,” said Michael.
“The greatest lesson I have learnt about Prosecco is focusing on simplicity and minimising the process. Over the next three years, we want to see the Dal Zotto name become synonymous with Prosecco and vice versa.”
In 2017, Prosecco production accounted for 50 per cent of the Dal Zotto business with 40,000 cases distributed across Australia. There are plans to increase production by 30 per cent in 2018, and 15 per cent each year after that.
Otto and Elena will still play a role in the business but will now leave the major decision-making to sons Michael and Christian.
“This changing of hands is a natural progression for our family business and the journey we have been on since we first released our wines in 1993 and planted Prosecco in 1999, and it comes at a perfect time as we celebrate 24 years of the winery next year,” said Otto.
Christian will continue to oversee the marketing and sales for Dal Zotto Wines, while Michael will continue in his role as chief winemaker and CEO.