text:
Happy Halloween, everyone! I’m still not totally healthy again but I know that everyone likes to hear about the new locations, so I figured I had to do this post today. If you’re on the east coast of the US, I hope you’re doing okay and have gotten through hurricane/sub-tropical cyclone/Superstorm Sandy without too much damage or too many problems.
As you’re probably aware, the Concordville Costco location will be opening up in just a few days on November 10. If you’re interested in getting a membership, you should head over there now and sign up before the store opens. They’ve got a great deal going on, as you can see in the ad, where they’ll give you a $20.00 Costco cash card if you sign up for an Executive membership or a $10.00 Costco card if you sign up for a new Gold Star membership. You can see all the details in the ad.
I think I wrote about this last month too, but the Wheaton opening that was supposed to happen on October 18 has had to be delayed due to construction issues. They are now estimating that the new Wheaton store will be open sometime in March or April 2013.
North Riverside, Illinois
It looks like a new Costco location will be coming to Riverside in October or November 2013. The big hurdle of getting approval has gone well with the Plan Commission and Zoning Board of Appeals unanimously recommended approval of three petitions by the property’s developer. The developer was looking to get approval for rezoning the property to permit retail and allowing the site to be subdivided, the commissions also gave their blessing to creating a planned development district for the project, which will significantly streamline the approval process. Development approval by the village board could happen as early as November, which is pretty critical for the developer to meet their timeline of selling Costco a 16-acre parcel in February 2013. The new 150,000 square foot Costco location will be built at the corner of Harlem Avenue and 26th Street as the majority of a 20 acre development. The rest of the parcel will be broken into four lots along Harlem Avenue.
A new Costco location is coming to Bellevue in 2013, hopefully by November. Costco has made an offer for land on the west side of Bellevue in an area known as the triangle, located about 8 miles for UW-Green Bay. They have also applied for zoning approval. Costco will obviously still need to gain development approval for the 150,000 square foot location. Plus, a type of tax increment financing is also necessary before the project can move forward. The new store will be great for the Green Bay area, but could really be beneficial to UW students looking for part time work.
North Plainfield, New Jersey
It’s official and all approved, Costco will be opening a new 156,000 square foot store in North Plainfield in fall 2013. The planning board approved the plans for the new Costco recently and Costco will be able to being construction in January 2013. The new store will be built on a plot along Route 22 between West End and Rock Avenues. Currently the plot houses a vacant K-Mart, PathMark, Chase Bank and an auto repair shop that Costco will demolish to build their new store and gas station. It is hoped that the new Costco will revitalize development in the area and bring other retailers and services. And in any case, it will certainly be of more use to the city than vacant old stores.
Well, it might take up to 2 years to get done, but eventually, a new Costco location is coming to Redding. The new 148,000 square foot store, complete with a gas station, is being proposed for the Oasis Towne Center off Oasis road in north Redding. But there’s lots and lots to do to the site before the Costco location can be built. The Costco design team is working with the Redding city officials and planners to iron out the details about infrastructure changes that need to happen on the site and the overall design of the site. None of the infrastructure has been completed for the site yet, so sewer and water lines, curbs, sidewalks, and gutters all need to be planned and built before any construction of the actual store can begin. Costco will be applying for building permits in the next few weeks and will present site designs to be reviewed by city planners at that time. The design and work of the infrastructure work will either be carried out by local contractors or Costco at a cost of $7 – 8.5 million.
- Redding.com: Costco’s plans for north Redding move forward; opening of new store could take up to 2 years
It seems that the Quebec Board of the French Language is trying to force US retailers like Costco, Best Buy, Walmart, Gap, Guess, and Old Navy to make their signs more French. And they don’t mean the signs in the store, they mean the big signs on the stores that are actually the trademarked names and logos of the stores. So, they want the Walmart sign to be something more like “Le Magasin Walmart” apparently. So, the retailers are going to court to try to avoid these weird changes. Until this gets settled the language board is threatening the retailers with fines ranging from $3,000 – $20,000! According to Nathalie St-Pierre, a vice president at the Retail Council of Canada, there is disagreement over whether the law applies to companies’ trademarked names. In the past, businesses like Walmart and Best Buy have not been required to add French words to the trademark names they emblazon on their stores. Clearly there needs to be clarification. I get that Quebec wants to promote the French language, however, it seems odd to make a company change their name like this. And how do you make Costco more French? Would it be “Costco Marché de Gros“?
Holiday Closures and Hours
- Thanksgiving Day: Thursday, November 22, CLOSED.
- Remembrance Day: Sunday, November 11, Open; Province of Manitoba, OPEN, 1 pm – 6 pm; Saskatoon, Medicine Hat, Prince George, Ottawa Region, OPEN, 12 pm – 5 pm; Provinces of Atlantic locations will be CLOSED.
If I didn’t list holiday closures for the Costco in your country and you think there are some, it is probably because they are not listed on the respective Costco websites. Or, in the case of Mexico, my Spanish isn’t good enough to figure out if I’m missing something or not and Google translate doesn’t work for the whole site (some of it is images instead of text unfortunately).


text:
By Lacey Jacoby /// Features Editor
“ At Lewis & Clark, we believe that entrepreneurship empowers the liberal arts,” Michael Kaplan, Managing Director of the Center for Entrepreneurship, said. To that end, the Center for Entrepreneurship has recently added two new programs: Mentor Connections and the Dinner with an Entrepreneur Series.
Through Mentor Connections, the Center for Entrepreneurship pairs students with one of many mentors from around the world. The mentors come from a variety of backgrounds and careers, and they share personal experiences and advice with students. Mentor-student pairs meet for three 20-minute video-chat sessions over 12 weeks. So far, Mentor Connections has paired 33 students with mentors.
The Dinner with an Entrepreneur Series also began this semester, allowing a small group of students to have dinner with a successful entrepreneur and ask questions in a more intimate setting. According to Kaplan, all featured entrepreneurs have “used entrepreneurial thinking and action to create their own future and do something new.” The next Dinner with an Entrepreneur on Nov. 6 will feature Marshall Kirkpatrick, co-founder and CEO of Little Bird, which provides social intelligence software and services.
Kaplan hopes these programs will support the Center for Entrepreneurship’s goal to encourage “collaborations that engage and utilize entrepreneurial thinking to reframe problems, recognize opportunities and invent solutions.”

domain: news


text:
'I turned my puzzles into a £1.5m business and selling abroad helped it boom:' Is it time you set your small firm's sights overseas?
The economic outlook in the UK may have improved slightly in recent weeks, but elsewhere in the eurozone the horror stories continue.
However, despite the blustery outlook, research shows that small business owners should still be looking to Europe, and even further afield, for export opportunities if they want to maximise their growth.
In fact, exporting could be the secret to success in times of economic slowdown - businesses that do so grow by almost a third in the first two years, according to a study by Barclays.
Professor Puzzle: Ben Meldrum has watched his business boom since exporting
WE DIDN'T REALISE HOW QUICKLY PROFESSOR PUZZLE WOULD SNOWBALL
Ben Meldrum is the owner of Professor Puzzle, a company based in Surrey that manufactures and distributes puzzles metal and wood. Ben learned the craft in India 15 years ago and has gone from selling on a market stall in Camden to owning a £1.5m turnover business.
The company, founded in 2002, manufactures most of its products in China, which are shipped to the UK and then re-distributed around the world.
Meldrum started exporting in 2004 and from the very start knew it would help his business to grow.
He explains: 'We supply to all the majors in the UK, from Sainsbury’s to John Lewis, but there’s only so much growing we could do domestically.
'We export mainly to Europe and America but we didn’t realise the opportunity that was there.
'We sell puzzles that are instantly recognisable, so there’s no need for translation and we sell in Dollars which means we’re not exposed to exchange rate fluctuations.'
He was shocked with how well a business could do purely from reputation: 'We didn’t realise how easily it could snowball, how if it does well in one place in can be an instant hit all over the region; reputation can go a long way. When we started exporting it accounted for approximately 5 per cent of our turnover, it’s now 35 per cent.'
Meldrum is certain that exporting is the way forward for the business: 'Our turnover is increasing very fast and if want to continue we have to be more dependent on our international business.
'If there’s one piece of advice I would give to future exporters, it’s looking for the right partners in the countries you’re looking to export to. Don’t assume the big companies are the best, sometimes a smaller business will treat your company with much more attention and care.'
Carried out among 1,500 small businesses in the UK, the Barclays study also shows that benefits are often seen quickly, with 29 per cent experiencing a positive impact on their bottom line within just six months of expanding into international markets.
Eight in ten (82 per cent) experienced a positive impact on their bottom line after two years of exporting.
But, despite these encouraging figures, most small businesses are yet to consider exporting themselves.
EXPORTING: THE FACTS
- 48 per cent of small businesses who export saw an increase in their sales over the last two years, compared to just 30 per cent of businesses who have remained solely within the UK market.
- 53 per cent of those who are currently exporting see the revenue they generate through selling to customers overseas increasing during the next five years
- 84 per cent believe that exporting is important to their future business growth
- Only 23 per cent of small businesses who don’t currently export say they are planning to start in the next five years. A further fifth (21 per cent) are currently undecided as to whether to start exporting
- An average of 336,000 more people are being employed across the UK as a result of businesses exporting or selling to overseas customers
- Businesses who have been exporting for more than three years plan on expanding to countries including Hong Kong, India, China and Australia
'There are not enough small businesses exporting and it’s important to understand why,' Simon Nicholson, Barclays head of international trade for business banking, explained.
The Barclays research, resulting in its Business Abroad service, which provides access to expert guidance, workshops and tools for business ventures abroad, highlighted a number of reasons as to why this might be the case.
For example, smaller firms tend not to export because many believe they are too small to break into the international market.
But Nicholson pointed out: 'Contrary to common belief, small businesses don’t have to be a certain size to export - in fact more small firms are going straight into exporting from day one than ever before.
'For example, I have a client that's only recently launched, has an annual turnover of £200,000, and is already exporting – so long as you have the right help and support there’s no reason why you cant tap into those markets.'
But he does believe start-ups and smaller businesses should build up their exporting experience gradually.
'Usually businesses start with Ireland, Germany and France. They are a good place for them to cut their teeth, learn the right lessons and get used to exporting. Most places in Europe are a good starting point but these countries tend to be the most popular.
'Despite the problems in Europe, I would still recommend going there first – there are still opportunities for small businesses to learn and export and I would be very concerned if a small business just went straight in and started exporting to emerging markets.'
Further down the line, countries such as Hong Kong, China, India and Australia provide good opportunities for growth, he adds.
Germany: A good stepping-stone for businesses looking to export
But for those that do decide to take the plunge, the challenges are vast.
Finding new contacts for potential customers was flagged by 30 per cent of those polled as a major challenge, understanding different legal and tax structures by 27 per cent, language and culture differences by 20 per cent and customs procedures, 21 per cent. This means it is vital that business owners do their homework.
Nicholson explains: 'The problem is that for a lot of people, their first port of call is to talk to friends and family, and then Google. There is a lot of information out there, but it’s not always the right information. It is worth paying for advice if you are thinking about exporting.'
He adds: 'If you don’t go through something like a bank, you should still make sure you get the right advice. Go to UK Trade and Investment (UKTI) which can give helpful insight.'
Most watched Money videos
- Take a look at clutter-free EV chargers trialled in London
- Dacia unveil the Jogger: the UK's least expensive seven-seat car
- Cinematic video of Lamborghini Countach with a top speed of 221mph
- £2M 1980s Lamborghini Countach is back with a top speed of 221mph
- Britain's Garage of the Year 2021 nominee's incredible construction
- Scaled-down electric Aston Martin DB5 marks release of new Bond film
- A 'mortgage-free' way for first-time buyers to own their home
- Porsche 928 driven by Tom Cruise sells for $1.98 million at auction
- Porsche 928 driven by Tom Cruise in Risky Business sells for a bomb
- Britain's best used car this year: The French-made Peugeot 5008
- Disruption is speeding up: BG US Growth Trust manager
- Taking a look at the Jaguar XJ220 from all angles on a test drive


text:
At first when I heard about this stunt I thought the guys behind it made a bit of a boob but how wrong was I. As far a publicity stunts go this one is genius.
A small London ice cream company recently teamed up with publicity masters and parent website Mumsnet and Taylor Herring PR calling on mums to donate breast milk in return for payment. This was a publicity stunt to launch a new store for Icecreamists and what a stunt it turned out to be.
The ice cream, in case you are interested is made from fresh breast milk mixed with Madagascan vanilla pods and lemon zest, then blended into fresh ice cream, called Baby Gaga ice cream, genius.
Not surprisingly the ice cream sold-out within days but the story doesn’t end there. Westminster Council who sent officials to take sample of the product have banned the ice cream after several complaints from the public. The council has also sent samples for testing to see if the product is safe to sell although the guys at Icecreamists have confirmed that all breast milk used was tested and rigorously screened.


text:
Struggling music-streaming company SoundCloud is nearing deals with two private equity firms, according to Bloomberg. The investments would be separate transactions, and combined the firms would own more than 50% of the Berlin-based business, per the report.
Once one of the most heralded startups in Europe, SoundCloud has had a troubled run of late. Earlier this month, the company shut down its London and San Francisco offices, laid off 40% of its workforce and was believed to have only enough cash to survive through this year. New funds, of course, would give the company much-needed runway.
How did SoundCloud get to this point? We've recapped the company's tumultuous year.
Article by PitchBook


text:
The Oggy Oggy pasty empire continues to grow despite the Covid pandemic with a new outlet about to open in Plymouth – but as a takeaway only.
Lesley and Malkolm Park, who already operate two Oggy Oggy franchise stores in the city, have signed a six year lease on a former vegetable shop at Plymstock Broadway.
Work has now begun to convert the unit into a pasty takeaway as that is the only form of trading allowed during the current coronavirus lockdown.
Mrs Park, who already operates the Oggy Oggy outlets in the city centre’s Armada Way and in Plympton, said the new venture will be designed as a takeout only, unlike the other more cafe-based models.
She said that although it could be converted in future, the likelihood is that takeaway only is the way businesses will have to operate for the foreseeable future.
“Takeaway is the only way forward,” Mrs Park said. “We could maybe offer some tables eventually, but not at the moment.
“So takeaway seems the way to go, and there is a large footfall in the area of Plymstock. We will also be able to carry out our frozen pasty deliveries, and maybe throw in milk, bread and eggs to help people in this difficult period.
“We open in three to four weeks,” she added. “We are starting the fit out with the floors and then the electrician comes in.”
Mrs Park’s Oggy Oggy outlets, part of a franchised chain of nearly 20 around the South West, have already “pivoted” to cope with Covid restrictions.
The new unit will join them in working with Deliveroo, Just Eats and Uber Eats, and supply phone orders and carry out deliveries of frozen pasties, sausage rolls and cakes to people at their homes.
Mrs Park has even spread the supply of frozen goods nationally by using postal deliveries across mainland UK. Among a multitude of online offers are the pasty selection box, the vegan box, cake box, and even cream tea box.
How to contact William Telford and Business Live
Business Live's South West Business Reporter is William Telford. William has more than a decade's experience reporting on the business scene in Plymouth and the South West. He is based in Plymouth but covers the entire region.
To contact William: Email: firstname.lastname@example.org - Phone: 01752 293116 - Mob: 07584 594052 - Twitter: @WTelfordHerald - LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com - Facebook: www.facebook.com/william.telford.5473
Stay in touch: BusinessLive newsletters have been re-designed to make them even better. We send morning bulletins straight to your inbox on the latest news, views and opinion in the South West. Get our breaking news alerts and weekly sector reviews too. Sign up now - it's free and it only takes a minute. To sign up for Business Live's daily newsletters click here
And visit the Business Live South West LinkedIn page here
“We have been smart and went online, doing the frozen pasty deliveries,” Mrs Park said. “We even ring people up, especially the elderly, and ask if we can get them anything.”
Mrs Park already employs 16 people and will add another five staff at the Plymstock Broadway venture.
“Just drop your CVs in through the letterbox,” Mrs Parks said to aspiring pasty workers.
Mrs Park stressed that operating through the pandemic and its restrictions has been a major challenge. The business has suffered from the decline in footfall on the high street and some staff have had to be furloughed under the Government’s Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme.
But she and her husband have found a way to operate safely and alternatively, adapting their city centre outlet for takeaway only in March, and even though the new unit was planned in mid 2020, well before the current second wave of Covid infections hit the UK, it was decided to press ahead with plans but adapt them for a takeaway-only establishment.
“This is a big investment for us, as it is only a takeaway, but we feel we can give a good offer,” she said.


text:
According to a news report, the tenant had lost her Section 8 subsidies, and stopped paying rent, yet the NYCHA fought the eviction. Employees told a judge that they were trying to reinstate the tenant into the Section 8 program, so the just delayed the eviction, according to the report.
Meanwhile, the landlord reports that the tenant caused significant damage to the unit.
The landlord did not receive payment for the last year of the lease, and for six additional months spent pursuing an eviction.
The lawsuit requests $48,216 in unpaid rent, repairs and legal fees, according to the report.
American Apartment Owners Association offers discounts on products and services for all your property management needs. Find out more at www.joinaaoa.org.


text:
Facebook again launches an app called Study to follow all the Apps a user has installed in his/her phone. In return, Facebook pays the user some money.
The App monitor all the other apps that are available in the user’s phone, also check other app usages like the time spent on a particular App.
However, Facebook mentioned, Study App won’t monitor sensitive data like Passwords, Messages, and Website data you visit.
It is not the first time Facebook has introduced such kind of App.
If you remember, Back in January this year, Facebook launches an App called Facebook Research App that resembles the same theme.
Later, Facebook discontinues the Research App due to several allegations marked on it.
If you remember, Facebook launches that App only for teens to track their App usage just like the Study app it launches now.
However, Later some tech enthusiasts found, the App has got deep access to iPhone violating its policy.
This time Facebook launches Study App only for Adults whose age is greater than or equal to 18.
Moreover, the App is only available to Android Users. It asks user’s permission with a series of different on-screen pop-ups.
To verify the age of a user, the Study App connects with users Facebook Profile.
Moreover, to pay them, the App asks the user to connect a valid Paypal account.
Facebook Study App is going to available in India and the US but not for everyone.
The company revealed they are going to market this App via a different set of ads. On the other side, users can install this App via these ads only.
For now, the availability of Study App on Google Play Store is still unknown.


text:
North End City Market opens for the season
The Rock River Development Partnership (RRDP) has announced that the North End City Market grand opening will be held Saturday at the southeast corner of the North Main and Auburn Street intersection.
The community is invited to celebrate the opening with a ribbon cutting ceremony at 10:30 a.m.
Joseph James Partners is partnering with Alpine Bank and RRDP to bring a bank branch to the intersection and move the former North End Commons Farmers Market to the new, more visible location.
The new North End City Market will continue to offer fresh produce, garden plants, handmade products and baked goods with the addition of food vendors, live entertainment and children’s activities.
The Market will be managed and operated by the RRDP with assistance from the City of Rockford and marketing support from the Rockford Area Convention and Visitors Bureau.
“We are very grateful to the Smith Charitable Foundation for its support to help grow this quality farmers market and further enhance our placemaking efforts,” said Peter Provenzano, Chairman of the RRDP and President of JJP. “The new North End City Market and future Alpine Bank development will complement the anchor businesses as well as increase visibility and economic activity in the neighborhood, much like the Rockford City Market has positively impacted downtown.”
The North End City Market will be open Saturday mornings from May 16 until October 31 from 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.
For more information on the North End City Market, please visit rockfordcitymarket.com/north-end-market/.


text:
If you just checked your bank account and are now trying to figure out how many biscuits you can steal from the canteen to survive on for the rest of your work day, you might not want to see Kylie Jenner’s fabulous snow-filled holiday wardrobe.
On Thursday, the 22-year-old – who recently sold a majority share in her Kylie Cosmetics company – shared several photographs of herself and her friends playing in the snow decked out in Chanel snow suits we could only dream of wearing.
In one snap with her pal Yris Palmer, the pair wear black and white snow suits with fur collars, with the mother-of-one also posing solo in her Dazz-white ski outfit from Naked Wardrobe.
‘Elsa who?’ she captioned one snap of her looking directly into the camera, referencing the hit Disney film Frozen.
In another snap, the Keeping Up With The Kardashians star poses in an all-black ensemble consisting of a pair of leather trousers, leather gloves, a roll neck top and black Chanel ear muffs.
Jenner also shared a photograph of her Fendi brown and black snow boots on her Instagram Stories as well as a snap of her group’s Chanel ski kit which included scarfs, ear muffs, wrist mufflers, boots and gloves.
The beauty mogul is well and truly in the Christmas spirit, and shared a video of the gingerbread houses her friends were creating and glasses of white wine.
Weeks after her split from rapper Travis Scott, the billionaire has been rumoured to have sparked a romance with singer Drake. However, the former couple were spotted together at a Palm Springs casino over the weekend with Jenner’s mother Kris and sister Khloé leading fans to speculate that they might be rekindling their romance.
Jenner isn’t the only famous reality star in her family preparing for Christmas at the moment.
On Wednesday, the 35-year-old shared a photograph on Instagram of her daughter pretending to kiss her pink Christmas tree.
‘It’s safe to say that True loves it,’ an excerpt of the photo’s caption reads.
Meanwhile, Kim Kardashian has been sharing photos of her minimalistic, abstract trees that line the hallways of her Californian home.
‘I love these. They’re so whimsical, like Whoville, but all white,’ the mother-of-four said in reference to the fictional town created by Dr. Seuss.


text:
Staples says breach affects 1.2M cards
Staples on Friday said cyber criminals may have compromised 1.2 million customer cards.
On Friday, Staples gave an update to a data breach announced in October, saying criminals deployed malware to point-of-sale systems at 115 of its more than 1,400 U.S. retail stores.
Staples said its investigation revealed that the malware may have allowed the criminals access to transaction data "including cardholder names, payment card numbers, expiration dates, and card verification codes."
At 113 stores, the malware may have allowed access to this data for purchases made from August 10 through September 16, 2014, Staples said.
At two stores, the malware may have allowed access to data from purchases made from July 20 through September 16, 2014.
Overall, the company believes that approximately 1.16 million payment cards may have been affected.
Its the latest in a long line of data breaches at national retailers. Target suffered a 2013 holiday shopping data breach that affected 40 million customer credit and debit cards. Home Depot, meanwhile, recently said some 56 million customer cards may have been compromised following a five month attack on its network, which involved the criminals entering with a third-party vendor's user name and password.


text:
It has been a byword for glamour
and excess for more than a century and a half. And the backdrop for some of the
world’s most lavish and, at times, eccentric window displays. It is a
quintessentially British landmark and tourist attraction.
Yet we British come more to browse
– to marvel at its magnificence and its bling – than to buy. But on one thing
Harrods has always been insistent: there is only one sale.
And that came Saturday when Mohamed
Fayed, who bought the 4.5 acre department store in 1985 for £615 million,
confirmed that he had sold the London emporium, which boasts 330 departments,
for £1.5 billion to Qatar Holdings, owned by the state’s royal family.
The sale has been rumoured in the
business world for the past month but Mr. Fayed has persistently denied it,
saying just three weeks ago: ”People approach us from Kuwait, Saudi Arabia,
Qatar. Fair enough. But I put two fingers up to them all. It is not for sale.
This is not Marks & Spencer or Sainsbury. It is a special place that gives
people pleasure. There is only one Mecca.’’
Now, however, the owner of Fulham
football club, who is thought to be worth £650 million, has changed his mind
after several days of secret talks that saw the deal finally signed and sealed
in the early hours of yesterday.
The news will have come as a
surprise to Mr. Fayed’s staff. The eccentric owner spends two hours each day
walking around the store and has always said he wants to be mummified when he
dies and buried in a mausoleum in the roof. For all that, the store, which
attracts 15 million shoppers annually and whose motto is Omnia Omnibus Ubique –
All Things for All People – will doubtless retain its cherished place in
people’s hearts, despite years of accusations that Mr Fayed’s penchant for Egyptian
splendour is a touch too tacky for Middle England.
As Mary Portas, the retail
consultant, points out: ”Harrods can be a tad kitsch for some tastes. But
there is a wonderful international glory about it. In global retailing, it is
on the map. It is, simply, exceptionally good. Its service is exceptional.’’
Ms Portas, who presents the BBC’s
Mary Queen of Shops, cut her retail teeth in the Knightsbridge store, where she
was responsible for window dressing, before moving to arch-rival Harvey
Nichols. ”It was a terrific training ground,’’ she says. ”Yes, it is slightly
Hollywood. But that over-the- top feel simply adds to its glamour, to its
overall feeling of luxury and extravagance.’’
Over the past few years, Mr. Fayed
has spent £400 million refurbishing the store. And though he has restored much
of its period elegance, the ritzy, £75 million, Egyptian-themed room, with its
ostentatious escalator and huge sculptures and carvings, has attracted much
”Admittedly it is kitsch, very
Disneyland,’’ says Ms Portas. ”It lacks taste. But what is still true is that
some departments are easily the best in the world. Its food hall is perfection.
The home floor, on the other hand, is boring. It lacks the seduction of the
rest of the store. Harrods is simply an iconic store. But it is a massive
tourist attraction that is kept afloat by Russians and Arabs, rather than the
indigenous British buyer.’’
While thousands have turned to the
internet, Harrods’ sheen of luxury and its iconic status have, for the most
part, kept the recession at bay.
Stella Keaton, a retail analyst,
points out: ”Over the past five years, there has been a revolution in how we
shop – many of us do so online. But the lure of the exclusiveness of Harrods
has neatly sidestepped that. People don’t shop in Harrods seeking value for
money. It’s as much about coming out clutching that distinctive trademark carrier
bag as anything else; it is about cachet and, yes, perhaps a bit of
nose-in-the-air snobbery for some.
”There is a certain type of lady
who likes to mention over the dinner table that she shops in Harrods,” Ms
Keaton continues. “Especially its food hall. Harrods doesn’t brand its value.
It brands its prestige. Its timelessness. Its solidity. It is the cornerstone
of the English establishment.
“Not for nothing has it long
boasted that whatever you want, it can supply. And people love being associated
with that. Where else can you be assured of 28 restaurants serving everything
from high tea to tapas, a watch repair service, a tailor, a barber’s shop, wine
stewards and picnic hampers? If it exists, Harrods sells it.’’
Though its name shrieks glamour,
Harrods has long courted controversy – perhaps, in that rather English
eccentric manner, that is another element of its enduring popularity. It remains
the only British department store to sell fur and, up until the early
Seventies, still boasted an exotic pets department.
With its celebrated attention to
detail, it is hardly surprising that one of Harrods’ oft-told and probably
apocryphal anecdotes is of the imperious shopper who asked the exotic animals
head salesman: ”I would like a camel, please.’’ His immediate answer was:
”Certainly, sir. One hump or two?’’
Its best-known exotic animal was
Christian the lion, the star of a popular YouTube clip. He lived in the store
as a cub, but Harrods was keen to be rid of him. On several occasions,
Christian escaped from the exotic animals section at night. Usually he sneaked
into the carpet department, which sold goatskin rugs, causing havoc.
Even after the live animals
department closed, the store continued its love affair with exotic species.
Eight years ago it hired a live Egyptian cobra to protect the shoe counter.
Its mission was to guard a £62,000
pair of ruby-, sapphire- and diamond-encrusted sandals launched by designer
Rene Caovilla. The serpent had only one day on duty. The shoes were sold in


text:
Classic apparel brand Gap has partnered with Greater China’s Caelan to bring forth new Fall staples.
The three collections, which include Modern Preppy, Urban Workwear, and Premium Blue, range aesthetically from collegiate to industrial.
I’m A Virgo only on Prime Video
Featuring Supreme, NEEDLES, WACKO MARIA, JW Anderson, Palace, and more.
Featuring iconic styles from the ’80s, ’90s, and ’00s.
After suing the fast fashion brand last year for copying its Snap-T Pullover.


text:
USA Swimming is gratified to announce a delay of a longtime partnership with BMW as central automotive unite by 2020. BMW will continue to support in a growth of record to urge contestant opening in a pool, a swell of that will be featured in a digital calm series.
Since 2010, BMW has teamed adult with USA Swimming to precedence a technological and engineering imagination to urge a opening of chosen athletes heading adult to a 2012 and 2016 Olympic Games. Specifically, a partnership will pull on BMW’s product pattern and growth capabilities and exclusive SwimTech record that will lane swimmers during training and yield qualitative feedback in real-time to urge mechanics and boost a potency of strokes.
“Our impasse with USA Swimming and with a Olympic transformation in ubiquitous has always been about a athletes, initial and foremost,” pronounced Trudy Hardy, Vice President of Marketing, BMW of North America. “I’m unapproachable to contend that a collaborations with U.S. Paralympic Track Field and USA Bobsled Skeleton have resulted in a total 10 Olympic and Paralympic medals. It is a wish that we can continue this run of success and assistance a athletes of USA Swimming strech their goals.”
The SwimTech record will be featured in a digital calm array constructed by USA Swimming Productions and digitally distributed by corner online and amicable channels. The calm array will concentration on information analytics, improving technique and record that will boost swimming performance.
“Teaming adult with BMW gives us a eventuality to yield training collection for all levels of a membership by BMW’s technique focused digital calm series,” pronounced Matt Farrell, Chief Marketing Officer for USA Swimming. “Through dual Olympic Games BMW has helped a U.S. attain in a pool, and we’re vehement to extend this to a grassroots turn and safeguard a swimming success of destiny generations.”
As partial of a partnership, BMW will have a rights to use USA Swimming outlines and activate during name events by 2020. The association will also yield a one-year franchise on a new car as a grand esteem to a masculine and womanlike indicate winners of USA Swimming’s annual locus Pro Swim Series.
In jubilee of a partnership, BMW will offer a squeeze inducement to all USA Swimming’s 400,000 members on BMW and MINI vehicles. Members will have entrance effective immediately by their Deck Pass comment and a Deck Pass Perks program. Log into Deck Pass by usaswimming.org.
BMW will also have rights to do an eventuality activation during a 2020 U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Swimming. At a 2016 U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Swimming, BMW took beginning as a AquaZone rewards pretension sponsor. The rewards module perceived 23,136 participants and presented one raffle leader a one-year BMW X1 lease.
Other partnership elements embody resources such as promotional support for BMW exam expostulate events, advertisements in Splash Magazine (a 275,000 dissemination quarterly announcement sent approach to USA Swimming members), desert of a digital calm series, a right to use USA Swimming marks, eventuality activation during USA Swimming authorised meets and signage and a VIP list for a annual Golden Goggle Awards.
For some-more information, greatfully revisit and www.usaswimming.org.
Press recover pleasantness of USA Swimming.


text:
Minister Sung underlines value of energy transition at New Energy Industry Business Dialogue 2018-10-05
Trade, Industry and Energy Minister Sung Yunmo (fourth from right) underlined the value of energy transition for innovation-driven growth during his welcoming speech at the New Energy Industry Business Dialogue that took place at COEX in Seoul on October 5.
As part of the second-day schedule of the Korea Energy Transition Conference 2018, the dialogue was held to discuss strategies for creating new businesses and innovation-based growth engines with the help of Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies in the new energy sector.
The discussion was attended by about 500 leaders and representatives from the new energy industry, including Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO) President Kim Jong-kap, SK Telecom President Park Jung Ho, and GE Asia Pacific President Wouter Van Wersch.
- Trade Minister Kim discusses changing trade conditions with commercial attaches 2019-02-13
- Vice Minister Cheong to lead efforts for public-private investment promotion 2019-02-12
- Industry Ministry announces 1st set of ‘regulatory sandbox’ cases for new business models 2019-02-11
- Trade Minister Kim discusses export promotion strategies for 2019 2019-02-11
- Minister Sung discusses industrial revitalization and innovation with think tank leaders 2019-02-07
- Trade Minister Kim extends outreach to US lawmakers 2019-02-06
- Trade Minister Kim talks with Trump administration’s economic team 2019-02-06
- Trade Minister Kim meets with US Senator Steve Daines in Washington, DC 2019-01-31


text:
We know the Volkswagen Group has an ambitious electrification plan which also includes the production of electric cars and batteries in Spain. SEAT’s “Future: Fast Forward” plan presented in March included an investment of 7 billion euros to achieve these goals on Spanish territory. Now comes an important news. The Volkswagen Group has made it known that the investment it will rise from 7 to 10 billion euros thanks to a number of partners that he managed to involve in this project.
The announcement was made by Herbet DiessCEO of the Volkswagen Group, during a visit to the site near Valencia where the new plants will be built, in which Pedro Sánchez, Spanish Prime Minister and Wayne Griffiths, President of SEAT, were present, among others.
Going into the details of the project, 3 billion euros they will be invested to accomplish a new gigafactory in Sagunto, near Valencia. Once up and running, he will have one production capacity of 40 GWh. The cells produced will be used for the electric cars that will be built in Martorell and Pamplona. This new battery factory it will employ more than 3,000 people by 2030 and will occupy an area of 200 hectares. Construction of the gigafactory will begin in the first quarter of 2023 and production will start in 2026.
The Volkswagen Group then announced a major agreement with the Iberdrola Group for the construction of a photovoltaic system which will be used to power the new Sagunto factory. The plant will cover an area of 250 hectares and will be located less than 10 km from the battery factory. In the first phase it will supply 20% of the total energy of the new gigafactory.
The Volkswagen Group’s goal is to transform Spain into an important hub for electric mobility. This project is also supported by the country’s authorities who will support it with 3 billion euros in subsidies thanks to the resources of the European Union Recovery Fund.
In Spain, we recall, the Volkswagen Group plans to produce the most accessible electric models that will have starting costs around 20-25 thousand euros. Let’s talk, for example, of the series version of the ID.Life concept that will arrive in 2025.


text:
The manufacturing site will supply edible embedded microchips, that can tell if patients have taken their medication, to thousands of NHS patients which could save the service millions of pounds.
This partnership will clearly benefit patients, the NHS and the economy,” said Miles Ayling, director of innovation at NHS England.
The move was welcomed by prime minister David Cameron who praised its impact on the economy and productivity. He said the initiative is proof that our work to attract high-tech business to the UK is providing real benefits for people at home all part of our long term economic plan.
The sensor will be powered by reacting with stomach juices and information will be sent via Blutooth from the sensor to a smartphone or computer.
Our lives are becoming increasingly digital, a variety of sectors have already undergone fundamental changes through the introduction of innovative digital approaches,” said Dr. Hakim Yadi, chief executive officer of the Northern Health Science Alliance.
The UK fought off global competition from major frontrunners including Singapore and Switzerland due to a large availability of high-tech manufacturing sites and expertise in product testing.


text:
Retailers, can benefit from making local, fresh, produce a priority, fruit and vegetable displays should be prominent and appealing.
Whole Food Market has increased funding of it's Local Producer Program by $15 million for a total of $25 million. The Local Producer Program provides loans to local growers, producers and food artisans to help grow their businesses. In total, thus far, 184 loans have been given equaling $10 million to 155 businesses since the program’s inception.
While clearly, not all retailers have the ability to offer such programs, Whole Foods sets a great example when it comes to highlighting and promoting fresh, local, organic produce. Whole Foods has shown us that when produce is displayed well, and when local, fresh foods are available, people will buy it. And let's not forget the NPD Groups' annual study, Eating Patterns in America, that showed while 30% of U.S. adults are obese that figure has stabilized since 2011. The number of adults who are overweight hasn’t grown since 2003. One major reason why? Americans love fruit! “Fruit is the number one snack and dessert in the U.S. and now makes up 6% of end dishes we consume,” says Harry Balzer, chief industry analyst at NPD and report author.
Retailers, can benefit from making local, fresh, produce a priority, fruit and vegetable displays should be prominent and appealing. And offer support to local growers in other ways such as perhaps hosting a farmer's markets. Make fresh produce and local producers a highlight and consumers will respond.


text:
Park City Based Backcountry.com Announces A Pull Back On Trademark Litigation
It was reported last week that the Park City based on-line retailer, Backcountry.com was embroiled in lawsuits with organizations that use the word backcountry in their brand. As of Wednesday, reports indicate the CEO of Backcountry.com has rolled back at least one of the lawsuits filed against a ski manufacturer in Michigan.
Social media lit up when it was reported last week that the on-line retailer was suing small business owners using the word backcountry in their brand name. A report in the Colorado Sun Times states more than 12,000 Facebook users joined a boycott of the retailer.
Backcountry.com CEO, Jonathan Nielsen remained quiet until Wednesday when he issued a public statement of apology which can be found on their website. His statement, in part says the company tried to resolve the trademark situations amicably and pursued lawsuits only as a last resort. He specifically states Backcountry is withdrawing a lawsuit against the ski maker Marquette Backcountry. He does not clarify in the article if lawsuits will be dropped against Backcountry Babes, an avalanche education company, Utah’s Backcountry e-bikes and Backcountry Denim, all lawsuits filed this year. KPCW has called Nielsen for comment about past and pending lawsuits and settlements. He has not responded.
Nielsen told snews.net, an outdoor trade publication, that he understands why people are unhappy with the actions his legal team has taken over the past year, suing dozens of companies for using the word backcountry. The report in the Sun claims Backcountry filed dozens of petitions for cancellation of previously registered trademarks held by businesses across the country. He is quoted in the article saying they now recognize the past legal actions are not consistent with the company’s values.
Peter Metcalf, founder and CEO Emeritus of Black Diamond, a Utah based outdoor gear retailer, is skeptical that trademarking a common name like backcountry can be sustained. He sits on the boards of the American Alpine Club, the outdoor industry’s Conservation Alliance and the Outdoor Alliance which represents climbing, biking, boating and hiking NGO’s of America.
“If you look in Park City, I’m sure you’re familiar with Black Diamond Gymnastics, the Black Diamond Ski Lodge at the base of Deer Valley, Black Diamond Window Washing. You know we just looked at it and early on realized that those are different categories that we have not played in. Even the word ‘black diamond’, have been ubiquitous in skiing. It’s expert so it was not worth trying to pursue trademark rights in those categories especially where we didn’t compete.”
He is sympathetic to the needs of an organization protecting the brand they’ve worked to build. He says the word backcountry goes beyond skiing because it represents an area beyond the road for hiking, mountaineering and canyoneering. It also is a descriptive term.
“Conversely, I do understand and appreciate for Backcountry.com when there are players in the same space, i.e. the backcountry space using that name. But, the real challenge is that if it’s a ski guide or the name of a ski, and many companies have used backcountry to describe a ski and you can give such a name to describe a ski, I think they’re in a difficult position.”
Metcalf says trademark and patent law is expensive. He’s had experience for many years protecting the Black Diamond brand world-wide.
“Both in patent law and trademark law, one of the calculations you take is my baseball bat big enough and the other side only has a twig or no baseball bat. Where they just capitulate and realize we just can’t spend this kind of money and capitulate. And that is one of the calculations.”
Metcalf says he has great respect for the Backcountry.com organization but believes their position would be expensive to defend.
“I have a lot of respect for Backcountry.com, their management, their leadership, their employees. They are a great corporate citizen of Park City. A great retail distributor. High integrity people. So, what I’m sharing with you is by no means an attack on the leadership or management of the company.
A link to Backcountry.com CEO Jonathan Nielsen’s letter of apology.


text:
Emerging-market firms focused on South-South trade are confident about growth prospects and cost projections as they look ahead to the future. The South Asia—East Asia trade corridor is set for busier days ahead, and the Eastern European, Middle East—North Africa and Mekong regions are all set to benefit from stronger links with other emerging markets.
South-South trade will likely continue to track the growth of emerging-market middle classes. Emerging-market MNCs increasingly recognise the value in tailoring their product ranges to cater to consumer tastes and needs in developing countries, and therefore emerging middle class preferences are poised to have a strong impact on the global trade map. To anticipate the evolution of South-South supply chains, then, is to understand how these consumer trends will change in coming years.
This study has shown that in the next several years, emerging-market MNCs will increasingly branch out to new regions and establish the footholds they need to understand the current needs of local consumers. To achieve long-term success, companies will need to be closely attuned to the changing preferences and concerns of emerging-market middle classes, as they adopt more affluent urban lifestyles.
When survey respondents were asked what would have the biggest impact on emerging-market supply chains in the next three years, costs, materials and labour were prominent replies. So was quality. The trade experts interviewed for this report, Cambridge University’s Mr Srai and the ITC’s Ms Gonzalez both say that as populations become better off, they will not want the same goods and services as yesterday or today. They will demand higher quality, more socially and environmentally responsible products. And the requisite levels of quality assurance, accountability and sustainability are likely to come through shorter and increasingly localised supply chains. We are seeing this already, as emerging-market MNCs opt to establish local R&D and production bases, and acquire their local distributors and vendors. Firms are also responding to other factors such as the need for velocity in supply chains and, in more interventionist locations, political pressure to localise high-value elements of the supply chain as a precondition of market entry. However, the survey indicates that understanding and meeting consumer demand is first and foremost in the minds of executive decision-makers.
The concern with quality and sustainability extends beyond modes of production and distribution to the types of products that will gain currency and affect delivery models. Mr Srai says:
“Will consumer trends veer back to wanting longer-duration, more sustainable products? In technology, software updates represent one example: phones are becoming a platform, being constantly upgraded—so you can keep the phone, and just update the apps. We talk about an eco-system built around consumer personalisation—the ability to tailor products to individuals, in a digital revolution. And with developing-country firms and consumers often faster to adopt new technologies, we’re seeing a catch-up.”
Ms Gonzalez echoes the view that developing countries are benefiting disproportionately from the high-speed of technological progress in the present age, while advanced countries risk falling behind as they are relatively slow to replace legacy technologies. This is illustrated in the manufacturing sector by the greater readiness of some emerging markets to invest in the latest factory technologies; and in the delivery stage by the rapid shift towards e-commerce and m-commerce in emerging markets.
This study has shown that many emerging-market firms are planning to invest in their supply chains in other emerging markets to improve productivity, reduce costs and be closer to customers. The firms most likely to succeed will be able to:
- Adopt new technologies relatively quickly and exploit greater efficiencies in their operations;
- Capitalise on similarities in industrial and market characteristics across emerging markets to achieve economies of scale;
- Anticipate middle class preferences and concerns in emerging markets as a part of supply chain management.


text:
Google have announced that the turn-by-turn navigation available in the US is coming to the UK and Ireland. Engadget caught the story this morning and it was confirmed during a press event held at Google’s London headquarters.
The feature set will be the same as that available in the US and will be available to all Android devices running version 1.6 or higher. The popular HTC Hero which still runs version 1.5 will receive an update in June to allow it to use the new service too.
Key features include:
- Business search
- Traffic alerts and auto re-routing around problem areas
- Satellite and ‘Streetview’ views whilst navigating
- Layers with ‘points of interest’
- Voice activation
- Low data use: typically 200KB for a 20km route. Data is pre-cached and navigation continues if internet access is lost.
The delay to availability of the service was due to the additional testing required Google admitted – the US are less keen on roundabouts… who knew they’d be such a problem?
Voice search was particularly impressive when demonstrated, coping well with a variety of inputs. It can – we were told – cope with most to be found around the UK and Ireland.
Google are considering other platforms, but this feature is Android-only for now. When pushed for comment on Nokia’s recent Ovi Maps announcement they would only comment that Google Maps navigation was intended to be a simple navigation solution. They are focusing on adding more innovative features (such as voice search) to stimulate a ‘stagnant business’.


text:
Students at the University of Central Arkansas' business school will soon have a chance to study motor carrier safety, operational excellence, and industry regulation, thanks to a $3 million endowment gift to the Conway, Ark., school.
Awarded by the Arkansas Commercial Truck Safety and Education Program (ACTSEP), the grant will help expand the school's supply chain logistics management program, support faculty and student research, and establish a scholarship program.
Beginning with the 2015-2016 academic year, business students at the school will be able to pursue a four-year major in supply chain logistics management that includes the study of motor carrier operations, regulation, safety, risk management, transportation policy, and labor relations.
"Trucking companies must employ properly trained managers to operate safely and profitably," said Doug Voss, associate professor of logistics and supply chain management at the University of Central Arkansas (UCA), in a press release. "UCA students will lead the trucking industry in safety, operational excellence, and future regulatory discussions."
Founded in 2013 by the Arkansas Highway Commission, ACTSEP was formed to promote roadway safety in the state, primarily through increased regulatory compliance, industry training, and education programs. The commission also awarded money to the Arkansas Trucking Association and the Arkansas Highway Police.


text:
Auction to showcase Winton Blount III estate
An absolute auction on Saturday that will include items from the Winton M. Blount III estate has attracted attention from throughout the country.
The auction will be held at the former Algernon Blair Building on Eastern Boulevard, and will be conducted by Michael Respess Estates and Auctions, and will include both antique and contemporary furniture and decorative arts from the Hull Street home of Blount and selected items from the estate of the late Montgomery decorator, Joe Lacey.
Respess cited "economic reasons" for Winton M. Blount III as to why the estate sale is taking place.
Some of the items he expects to bring the highest bids include a bronze 19th century 22-arm chandelier with rock crystal prisms, which Respess said should easily bring in $35,000. A large English 19th century bookcase cabinet, he said, should bring in between $20,000 and $30,000. And, a vintage, 5-foot Steinway grand piano should bring in between $25,000 and $30,000.
"It is a major auction," Respess said. "This features not only fine antiques, but some local art from local artists, and some beautiful silver and porcelain and also custom rugs. It is a wonderful collection. It is one of the largest we've had in the city. It's just unbelievable."
The auction also will include items from the late Winton "Red" Blount's estate such as a secretary and a sideboard and an English open-arm chair.
Philanthropists Winton "Red" Blount and his wife Carolyn left a lasting mark on arts in not just Montgomery but the South. Together they gave $21.5 million to create the Alabama Shakespeare Festival complex in Montgomery, at the time the largest private donation to an American theater, founded the Blount Cultural Park and created a new home for the Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts to which they gave much of their art collection.
Respess said there have been more than 11,000 views on the auction website and that they have been flooded with inquiries from throughout the South and all over the country.
The auction will include contemporary items including paintings and sculptures, but the items date anywhere from the 1820s to the 1990s.
Some of the local artists featured include Beau Redmond, Sharon Yavis and Barbara Gallagher. Gallagher and Yavis are both deceased.
Redmond has previously had an exhibit in 2002 at CAS Gallery and Frames, which highlighted a piece called "Hotel Chelsea" and other 30-by-40-inch oils which were not only painted on canvas. Each was painted over various materials such as newspapers, magazines and other documents. In "Hotel Chelsea," hints of The New Yorker underneath the paint pop out.
In years past, Redmond and Gallagher also featured their work for Jubilee CityFest commemorative prints.
Other renowned artists include John J. Enneking and Harry Van Der Weyden.
"I like it because it runs the complete case level," Respess said. "If you like beautiful fine things or (things that are) a little whimsical, you'll have everything. There are wonderful paintings, objects of art. It's all there."
In the absolute auction, items will be auctioned to the highest bidder. Items will have minimum opening bids "to what we feel it should open up at," Respess said, "and we sell it at the hammered price. When the auctioneer says 'sold,' that's what it is sold at."
If you go
A preview of the sale will be held Friday from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m. at the auction site, located at 2897 Eastern Boulevard, known as the former "Algernon Blair Building."
View full details at www.estatesales.net, and click on Alabama, then Montgomery, and then "estate auction from the Blount home conducted by Michael Respess"
The sale begins at 9 a.m. on Saturday and will continue until the last lot is sold.
For more information, call 264-9288.


text:
Hope for women suffering from hair loss
Phyto-caffeine complex against hair loss discovered – Clinical tests prove its effect
Hair loss is not exclusively a male problem. After menopause, millions of women in Germany also suffer from a dwindling hair quantity. This is frequently due to decreasing oestrogen levels which previously protected women’s hair roots against the male hormone testosterone. After menopause, the share of oestrogen decreases and the impact of the male hormones increases. This change can have unexpected side effects: Women’s hair becomes thinner, falls out prematurely, the scalp becomes visible and the hairline recedes. But for many affected women, there is new hope now.
In collaboration with the dermatological institute of the University Clinic Jena, Dr. Wolff R&D has discovered novel properties of caffeine, which can prevent the negative effect of testosterone in the hair root.
The Dr. Wolff laboratories developed and patented a new phyto-caffeine complex especially against hair loss in women after menopause, which contains caffeine, zinc and niacin as well as an active ingredient combination from phytoflavonoids of the soy plant and black cohosh (Cimicifuga).


text:
Manufacturing in Australia has capped 14 consecutive months of expansion – led in part by the food and beverage industry, according to projections tracking this sector’s performance.
The manufacturing sector continued its expansion throughout 2017, notes an index released by the Australian Industry Group (AI Group), Australian Performance of Manufacturing Index.
November was marked by strong performance, while mirroring an uninterrupted growth phase that kicked off in October last year.
This trajectory was influenced by strong sales, production and jobs growth, and an escalation of exports across emerging and traditional markets.
Among the trends, the traditional manufacturing industry will thrive, together with a factory floor adoption of the newer, more advanced manufacturing technologies.
The AI Group notes that manufacturers are in a “rebalancing act,” marked by pockets of growth in food, beverages, groceries, and specialist machinery. The other sectors incorporate pharma, building materials, industrial textiles and furniture.
Advanced manufacturing is defined by an ability to blend the skills of a multidisciplinary team, leveraging internet and emerging technologies, and capturing customers’ needs to deliver innovative products and services.
This roadmap is also highlighted at the 2nd Annual Industrial Internet 4.0 Summit being held 21-22 February in Sydney. With a line-up of 30+ speakers and industry partners, this dedicated forum highlights core trends, and reflects industry forecasts, among these:
INDUSTRIAL INTERNET OF THINGS (IIOT) AND AUTOMATION
The future of manufacturing is influenced by the industrial internet of things (IIoT), robotics, automation, sensors, connected devices, big data, analytics, and mobile apps.
Manufacturing is entering a phase of restructuring. This blueprint recalibrates cumbersome business processes, embraces automation, and adopts the more advanced techniques to improve productivity.
On the automotive front, local manufacturers compete with low-cost imports. This sees a trend in moving production overseas, especially to Asia, while managing the overheads and reducing pressures on the bottom line.
On the technology front, manufacturers weigh in behind robotics and 3D printing to help with the commercial turnaround, together with industrial-strength automation to reduce a reliance on costly labour.
Competitive pricing, especially from Asia, means local manufacturers will need to match dollar-for-dollar to stay profitable against regional contenders eyeing similar markets.
DYNAMIC GLOBAL LANDSCAPE
Domestic manufacturing is undergoing transformation, according to the CSIRO. Over the next 20 years, the manufacturing industry will evolve into a highly integrated, collaborative and export-focused ecosystem. This offers high-value customised solutions within global value chains.
The focus is on pre-production (design and R&D), post-production (after-sales services), value add, sustainable manufacturing and low volume, high-margin customised manufacturing.
Against this backdrop, manufacturing supply chains are increasingly global. The focus is on customisation and an integration of service offerings.
Manufacturing transformation is influenced by advances in digital connectivity and analytics. These platforms are playing a role in creating more efficient supply chains and factory floors.
As key inputs become scarcer, and concerns grow over the unpredictability of climate change, manufacturers will need to consider more sustainable operations and offerings, together with adoption of cost-saving technologies.
DEMAND FOR FOOD AND MILK PRODUCTS
The broader rethink adapts to marketplace volatility, including fluctuations in the Australian dollar, and ever-evolving government policies at the federal and state levels.
The outlook for food manufacturing remains buoyant, including a demand for high-quality or premium meat, especially across the East Asian markets.
In this space, forward-thinking Australian companies are beefing up regional exports, and investing more actively in fully-integrated manufacturing, production, distribution, and end-to-end supply chains.
Moreover, a continued demand for milk products, especially from China, is ringing in the cash registers for local manufacturers.
Dairy Australia says the forecast for 2017-18 milk production remains strong, marked by a forecast total of around 9.2 billion litres for 2017-18.
The global dairy market has benefited from slow growth in milk production across a number of key exporters.
By region, the story is mixed, with solid growth in Greater China, Japan and Mexico combining a more modest pace in Southeast Asia. This offsets a continued slowdown in the Middle East and North Africa.
Meat processing manufacturers, especially those producing high-quality beef, will continue charging premium prices and bulk up profits. However, intensified market competition forces prices down, while placing pressures on the operators and suppliers.
FUTURE FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES
In relation to small-to-medium enterprises, the Australian government has ramped up R&D funding for manufacturing. The 2017-2018 budget earmarked $100 million into an Advanced Manufacturing Fund, while helping boost innovation, skills, and a growth in jobs.
This funding mirrors Prime Minister, Malcolm Turnbull’s National Innovation and Science Agenda that flags the impact of changing technology, and connecting to an innovation infrastructure.
The federal government, however, warns that Australia’s rate of collaboration on innovation between industry and researchers remains the lowest in the OECD.
The future focus is promoting innovation and collaboration between Australian businesses and the research sector. The onus is to link small and medium businesses with researchers, while expanding an “Innovation Connections” program.


text:
As the health conscious consumer continues to dominate the market, protein based products are on the rise, with the UK market now worth £650m a year*. It’s claimed that 27% of adults use sports nutrition products with this set to rise. With 39% of people now exercising more than once a week**, protein is a crucial macronutrient that the body requires to recharge the muscles and for a balanced diet.
One brand that has tapped into this growing market is Grenade, launched in 2010, their aim was to bring innovative formulations and stand out with iconic packaging to regenerate this industry. Their innovative product range boasts bars, drinks, capsules and powdered beverages all aimed at the fitness fanatic consumer.
Last week, Grenade dropped by our Hertfordshire office to give our team some samples to try. The feedback was extremely positive, they praised the taste of the products and said the packaging really stood out from other protein products they’ve seen in shops (and vending!). Some favourites included their Killa Coffee and Fudge Brownie Carb Killa shake. Grenade offer a range of POS material for customers to help the product and capture the attention of the consumer in this competitive sports nutrition world.
Here at LTT Vending, we are pleased to announce that we will now be stocking Grenade as a new product range, available through our consumables team. These products include; Carb Killa, Reload, Diet Protein Shake, Killa Coffee, Grenade Energy and Carb Killa Shake.
We at LTT Vending, are looking forward to working alongside Grenade and watching this brand flourish further.
If you would like any more information on the products available or would like to order some, please email email@example.com or phone 03300 24 11 25


text:
With states opening back up people are trying to juggle getting back out and staying safe. Some try and do their part by wearing masks, especially in stores around workers and other patrons, while others are simply electing to stay at home until a vaccine or treatment is made available. Either way, we are living in a world where COVID 19 is our reality.
Google and Apple have both decided to enter this fight by partnering to create software to basically track the virus and try and eliminate the spread. So how it works, as explained by 9 to 5 Google, is that once you download an app it will ask you if you tested positive for COVID 19. If you say yes it will be “anonymously” entered into a database that is shared with government officials and will alert a nearby device that someone nearby has tested positive for the virus. But it will not say who or where the person is located. Now though this may seem like a good idea I can think of a number of ways where this can go wrong.
First, a person gets an alert of possible exposure. But they do not know from where. So this can cause unnecessary panic. Another issue is if you have a troll (or trolls) looking to induce unnecessary fear. All they would have to do is say yes and just drive all over town and put themselves in locations that will set off a bunch of phones. An example of this would be grocery stores and shopping centers. Lastly, well people still do not trust companies like Google or the government. They say it is private but data is being taken from a device and sent to a server people must trust is properly encrypted. And with breaches being something we are seeing what feels like regularly, I can understand a person not wanting to trust Google, Apple, or the government with that information. Which can lead you with people who claim to have the virus running around looking to scare people while those actually sick being silent and actually going around infecting people.
Though this article is me being very skeptical, I will say I get what these tech companies are attempting to do. At least part of me gets that they are trying to do what they can to help with fighting the spread of the virus. A virus that has claimed (potentially) over 90,000 lives in the US alone. Though some question if the number is that high, there is no question that lives were lost due to COVID 19. And Google and Apple are seeing this as them doing their part.
And that leaves me to my title. Do you trust your smartphone to maintain your privacy, while helping to prevent the spread of COVID 19?


text:
There is one curious developer who is getting closer to creating a method for running Window 10 on Nintendo Switch. Judging by the current results, it seems like he will soon succeed in his efforts.
Most of the problems that were encountered by the developer have been documented on Twitter. The recent status update made by the developer revealed the Windows boot logo on the console.
The user also mentioned that the project is currently in the development stages and he’s planning to work on the memory part primarily. As the functionality of the current development is still unclear, tweaking the device to run the Windows 10 might take some time.
If you are a developer and interested in contributing to the project, you can simply check out the GitHub project to work on the current UEFI firmware.
You might not be convinced by the idea of Windows 10-powered Nintendo Switch. One advantage is that you can easily switch to a large screen by docking it to a monitor or television.
As quick reminder, Microsoft is also experimenting to enhance the usability of Windows 10 ARM on lower-powered ARM-based SOCs. So, this third-party attempt to run Windows 10 on Nintendo Switch is not surprising at all. Not if we take into account the recent rumors suggesting that Microsoft is bringing Xbox Game Pass and app to Nintendo Switch.
Although the idea seems great, it is still unclear that either the touch screen work with the OS and the performance of certain apps is also yet to be seen.
It is going to be interesting to see how the developer forces the hardware and software to work against its specifications. It is just a matter of time to wait and watch how the developer overcomes these issues.
RELATED POSTS TO CHECK OUT:
- Nintendo Switch’s Joy Con controllers are compatible with Windows 10
- Xbox Live support to expand to iOS, Android and Nintendo Switch


text:
Medical device firms directed to submit pricing details
In a serious bid to monitor prices of exorbitantly-priced medical devices like cardiac stents and implants, the government seems to be cracking the whip on medical device companies by issuing them a show-cause notice for not having revealed their prices.
MUMBAI: In a serious bid to monitor prices of exorbitantly-priced medical devices like cardiac stents and implants, the government seems to be cracking the whip on medical device companies by issuing them a show-cause notice for not having revealed their prices.
In a communication dated February 9 this year, drug pricing regulator NPPA first directed all medical device companies including Abbott, Johnson and Johnson and Medtronic to submit prices at which they import, and sell the devices to distributors, and their maximum retail prices, sources told TOI. This was immediately followed up by a show-cause issued on February 16 to those in the industry who had not submitted these details.
Sources said the government is keen to monitor prices of medical devices so as to prevent patients being over-charged, and has set a deadline of two weeks for the details to be submitted.
This comes in the wake of concerns of overcharging and over-pricing of cardiac stents, as prices of medical devices are not regulated, or even monitored by the government.
This is the first time that the government has issued such a show-cause notice to medical device companies, after its directive on submitting prices was apparently ignored by certain manufacturers.
Typically, patients are charged almost three to four times of the landed cost (price at which these are imported) in terms of certain devices.
Last year, a Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration report to the government said that drug-eluting stents (manufactured by Abbott) imported at Rs 40,710 and sold to distributor at Rs 73,440, while the company-listed MRP was Rs 1.5 lakh, a mark-up of over 250%.
Also, DES manufactured by Medtronics, imported at Rs 30,848 and sold to distributor for Rs 67,000. MRP marked as Rs 1.62 lakh, a mark-up of more than 400%.
"We will be submitting the price details to the government soon. While we and the distributors, earn a margin of about 15-20% each, it is the hospitals which are marking up the price and selling it to the patients. Now with these details, the pricing structure will become transparent. The government should look at ways to regulate the hospitals which seem to be over-charging patients," an executive with an industry player told TOI.
The distributor or wholesaler charges hospitals generally a mark-up of 15-20% on the device, which is then sold by hospitals to patients at a price which may be nearly double or triple at which it was imported.
The notice mentions all 22 devices classified as "drugs" under the Drugs and Cosmetic Act, 1940, including cardiac stents, drug-eluting stents, orthopaedic implants, heart valves, internal prosthetic replacements and in-vitro diagnostic devices for HIV, HBsAg and HCV.
Since prices of these devices are not controlled by the government, the annual increase allowed to them is 10%. But there is not enough information available on what the increases have been year-on-year.
The role of modern clinical embryologists is not only limited to technical expertise, but many other roles are assigned to them like researcher, manager, collaborator, scholar, mentor, and communicator; above all, one must be a team player.
The Tamil Nadu Medical Services Corporation has blacklisted Abbott Healthcare for five years for hiding the fact that it has been banned by Directorate General of Health Services and Employees' State Insurance Corporation.


text:
SweetWater Brewing’s appointments of new CEO Kim Jones and new CFO Bill Waters may just be the first moves in a new era of growth for the Southern powerhouse. Reuters reports that Sweetwater is moving forward with an IPO, making it one of the few public craft brewing companies (and maybe the most “craft beer” of those craft brewing companies), joining Boston Beer (Sam Adams) and the Craft Brew Alliance.
SweetWater, backed by private equity firm TSG Consumer Partners, is in talks with investment banks about a stock market flotation that could come later this year and value the company in the hundreds of millions of dollars, the people said this week.
The sources asked not to be identified because the deliberations are confidential. SweetWater and TSG declined to comment.
Sweetwater is already listed at No. 18 on the top craft breweries list (by volume) and expanding into new markets constantly. All of this follows the brewery’s significant $19 million expansion a year prior.
Krones AG says
Krones AG liked this on Facebook.
Wow… Sweetwater Brewing may be going public http://t.co/1hYWnbNjra
Craft Beer Directory says
Craft Beer Directory liked this on Facebook.
Blake's Hard Cider Co. says
Blake’s Hard Cider Co. liked this on Facebook.
Jason Rivera says
Jason Rivera liked this on Facebook.
Reuters: Sweetwater Brewing may be going public http://t.co/iXn7wIiKaK via @craftbrewingbiz
Derek Needham says
Derek Needham liked this on Facebook.


text:
Securities trades recently reported to the Securities and Exchange Commission by officers, directors, and principal shareholders of corporations based or having sizable employment in the Philadelphia area. Titles are as reported to the SEC.
Abington Bancorp Inc.
Joseph B. McHugh
, director, sold 1,000 shares at $6.86 Dec. 1 and now directly holds 111,559 shares.
American Water Works Co Inc.
Stephen P. Adik
, director, bought 11,000 shares from $22.02 to $22.04 Nov. 30 and now directly holds 13,381 shares.
Laura L. Monica, officer, bought 4,555 shares at $22.03 and $22.04 Nov. 27 and now directly holds 8,254 shares.
RWE Aqua Holdings GmbH, beneficial owner, sold 41,086,760 shares at $20.98 from Nov. 23 to 30. The holdings were not reported.
Jane E. Henney
, director, sold 6,596 shares at $25.01 Nov. 24 and now directly holds 22,761 shares.
Bryn Mawr Bank Corp.
Thomas L. Bennett
, director, bought 1,300 shares from $14.48 to $14.97 from Nov. 23 to 30 and now directly holds 7,327 shares.
Campbell Soup Co.
Craig B. Owens
, officer, bought 10,000 shares at $35.43 and $35.44 Nov. 24 and now directly holds 118,832 shares.
Edward H. Hanway
, chief executive officer, sold 55,354 shares at $32.17 Nov. 23 and now directly holds 2,079,970 shares.
Dorman Products Inc.
Fred V. Frigo
, officer, sold 6,000 shares from $15.40 to $15.50 Dec. 1 and now directly holds 5,800 shares.
Hersha Hospitality Trust
Eduardo S. Elsztain
, director and beneficial owner, bought 72,785 shares at $2.45 and $2.46 from Nov. 27 to 30 and now indirectly holds 6,313,060 shares.
ICT Group Inc.
Janice Ann Jones
, officer, sold 8,500 shares from $15.90 to $16.20 from Nov. 25 to 30 and now directly holds 7,522 shares.
Gail Lebel, officer, sold 1,500 shares at $16.06 Dec. 1 and now directly holds 9,118 shares.
Rachel Macha, officer, sold 1,029 shares at $16.20 Dec. 2. The holdings were not reported.
Johnson & Johnson
Russell C. Deyo
, general counsel, sold 98,200 shares at $62.91 Nov. 24 and now directly holds 142,608 shares.
Sherilyn S. McCoy, officer, sold 9,700 shares at $63.00 Nov. 23 and now directly holds 67,831 shares.
Kensey Nash Corp.
Walter R. Maupay Jr
., director, sold 6,068 shares at $23.47 Nov. 24 and now directly holds 54,379 shares.
Quaker Chemical Corp.
Joseph B. Anderson Jr
., director, sold 2,081 shares at $19.05 and $19.06 Nov. 30 and now directly holds 10,042 shares.
Susquehanna Bancshares Inc.
Donald L. Hoffman
, director, bought 17,000 shares from $5.55 to $5.75 Nov. 30 and Dec. 1 and now directly and indirectly holds 127,190 shares.
Tasty Baking Co.
James E. Nevels
, director, bought 2,000 shares from $6.00 to $6.05 Nov. 30 and now directly holds 41,816 shares.
Richard C. Gozon
, director, sold 12,000 shares at $23.87 Nov. 25 and now directly holds 121,739 shares.
Universal Health Services Inc.
Richard C. Wright
, officer, sold 6,064 shares from $29.55 to $29.59 Nov. 25 and now directly holds 7,996 shares.
SOURCES: Thomson Financial; Securities and Exchange Commission filings.s


text:
Food waste is a global environmental issue, says Lori Nikkel, director, Programs and Partnerships at Second Harvest, Canada’s largest food rescue organization. That, more than anything, has propelled food waste onto government policy agendas, leading to such actions as a strong policy statement from the government of Ontario aimed at municipalities and new research from Second Harvest on the scale of the problem in Canada.
“If food waste were a country, it would be the third biggest emitter [of greenhouse gases] next to China and the U.S.,” Nikkel told EcoLog News. Everybody who thinks seriously about climate change thinks about food waste, she says.
Canada loses or wastes approximately $31 billion of food every year, says Nikkel. That’s a trillion dollars of food at the retail level, she says.
Surprisingly, very little research has been done on food loss and waste in the value chain between the farmer’s field and the supermarket’s shelf. In partnership with the consulting firm Value Chain Management International (VCMI) and with financial support from the Walmart Foundation, Second Harvest is taking that on.
VCMI will survey between 800 and 1,000 respondents from across the entire value chain to gain insights from farmers, food and beverage processors, retailers, foodservice operators, institutions and food redistributors across Canada. The research will help identify where, how and why waste occurs along the chain and allow VCMI to propose redistribution, reuse and recycling practices intended to reduce the percentage of food sent to landfill.
The research is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2018. Organizations in the food value chain in Canada may participate in the research by clicking on the Food Loss & Waste (FLW) Survey – 2018 until June 22, 2018.


text:
Syriatel has increased its market share in the mobile phone network to 60 percent in the first half of this year, according to the company.
Google Webfont Settings:
Google Map Settings:
Google reCaptcha Settings:
Vimeo and Youtube video embeds:


text:
57% of Google users do not click on web pages when searching from their smartphones, according to information from Semrush.
Worse still for the advertising search giant: only 0.02% of mobile users click on paid search ads, a statistic that may be concerning amid the rise of immersive social platforms, like TikTok. 29.3% of Google smartphone users had to adjust keywords after the first search.
The marketing agency took an anonymous sample of 20,000 unique users, analyzing 609,809 search actions, but noted the difference between desktop and mobile traffic.
On desktop, the study found that more than 30% of computer users refined or expanded their Google searches, while 25% did not click through to a website on the search results page.
On average, 45% of computer users take less than 10 seconds to make a decision after their primary search. This number drops to 33% on mobile. This is when desktop users are more likely to visit a secondary page in their search than smartphone users. Instead, smartphone users are more likely to continue their initial search with a search for a video related to this topic.
It is no coincidence that the levels of engagement of user groups differ. According to Semrush, desktop and mobile users interact inconsistently due to structural differences.
For example, users can scroll through search results faster and easier on a smartphone than on a desktop computer. This means that “answer boxes” and “featured snippets” don’t resonate well with this subset of users. However, the percentage of non-clicks from desktop suggests that the two features mentioned above have an impact on click traffic.
For content creators, the worst-case scenario is for users to find answers on Google’s search engine results page without visiting a website. But Google Search is likely to be turned upside down in the age of AI and machine learning.
Gen Z are increasingly using social apps, like TikTok and YouTube, to find what they’re looking for. Google has even taken notice, with Prabhakar Raghavan, head of Knowledge & Information, telling TechCrunch that the company is looking at ways to better index social media content.
“In our studies, something like almost 40% of young people, when looking for a place to have lunch, they don’t go to Google Maps or Search,” he told the publication. “They go on TikTok or Instagram.”


text:
Virginia Marathon brand presence grows
Marathon brand stations are independently owned and operated, and each one is unique. When Watts Petroleum owner John Watts (pictured above) decided to rebrand his gas stations eight years ago, he was the first in the Lynchburg, Virginia, area to carry the iconic red, white and blue Marathon branding.
Watts has 26 Marathon branded stations and three more coming online soon.
Paying close attention to taking care of image details is an important part of their success. “Watts Petroleum has some of the nicest looking locations in this area of Virginia,” said Dan Cameron, Marathon Brand territory manager. “They consistently have top Mystery Shop scores, and their attention to the small details at their locations really shows.”
Watts, his wife Randall, and son Drake remain the central figures in the third generation family-owned company, which also has a significant heating oil and propane business.
Watts is focused on growing the Marathon brand. “We believe we’re doing the right things to continue to grow as part of our long-term business model,” added Drake Watts. “It’s going to be a big year for us, adding three new Marathon locations.”
Back in 2010, John Watts said his goal was to be known as a family-owned, central Virginia company that was growing with the times. We’d say mission accomplished.


text:
Hi All Posting this here as it is relevant to the IPv6 Trial. [quote="BBC"] Web giants promote new IPv6 internet address system The biggest ever test of the internet's new address system is taking place. Google, Yahoo, Microsoft Bing and Facebook are among the companies switching-on IPv6 versions of their websites for the one day trial. The technology is gradually being introduced because the world is running out of older IPv4 addresses as more devices come online. Companies and home users may need new networking equipment. However the transition is likely to take years. World IPv6 day is partly a technical exercise by internet companies to see how the technology works, and partly an awareness-raising initiative. For the small percentage of users already set up to access IPv6, they will be able to connect through the usual URLs - such as Google.com or Yahoo.com. Behind the scenes, their browsers will be pointed to the new, much longer IP address. Read More Here
PlusNet gets a menchan
"A lot of routers at the moment are already capable of supporting IPv6. What they need is a firmware update," explained Richard Fletcher, chief operating officer at Plusnet, a UK internet service provider (ISP) "ISPs should ship new routers or offer those updates. We are making sure all our fibre routers are ready for IPv6."


text:
Samsung S22 Ultra VS iPhone 14 Pro Max water test: In these days of fierce competition within the tech industry, manufacturers will do their utmost to convince you that they have the best products. Claims that the device has this or that feature have led many reviewers to test every feature advertised by the manufacturers to a very extreme level.
Unlike before, no manufacturer can lie about a feature anymore, because no matter how hard that feature is to test, someone somewhere will surely find a way to put it to the test. Recently, Huawei released their latest matte 50 series and they claimed that the device has Kunlun glass protection which is said to be the hardest glass on any smartphone. A few days after the launch, a viral video of a woman using the screen to crack a nut surfaced online. Luckily, the phone was able to break off the nut without breaking the screen.
Another technology that was tested was Apple’s overwrite detection feature. Many people including myself were wondering how anyone could test this feature. Will the tester risk their life and sit in a car and run it over just because of this feature? Let’s just say the tester can’t sit in the car. But still, it would just be out of their heads for anyone to crash a car just to prove whether crash detection is working or not.
Well guess what? Somebody did it. He did not sit in the car but used a remote control to move the car at high speed while tying the iPhone with tape behind the driver’s seat. After the car crashed into a pile of burnt-out old cars, he ran quickly with the camera to see if the iPhone could detect the crash and call 911 as Apple had said it would. Congratulations Apple! It worked perfectly well.
Samsung S22 Ultra and iPhone 14 Pro Max water test
These are clear indications that no matter how difficult it is to test the feature, someone somewhere will definitely find a way to test it. Even if it requires going to the moon. This brings us to an extreme test that a Youtuber by the name of Tech Trimmers gave the iPhone 14 Pro Max and Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra.
During the test, he put the two phones in two different plastic containers. He then poured strawberry lemonade into each container while the phones were still there. To ensure transparency, he started the timer on both phones. He then covered each container and placed them in a freezer.
Gizchina News of the week
He also started a stopwatch on a third phone so he could monitor timing. The phones were going to sit in the freezer for 10 hours. This is to give the liquid around the phones enough time to freeze completely.
After 10 hours, it was finally time to see which of the two phones had survived this severe suffocation. So he took the containers out of the freezer. Turn on the tap water on the frozen ice until all the ice melts from both phones.
The final result (Samsung S22 Ultra VS iPhone 14 Pro Max test)
The Samsung S22 Ultra was the first he tested. The phone still worked fine when pressing the power button. The front and rear cameras still worked well. He also streamed music on YouTube to check if the speakers were still working and everything was working perfectly. There was no sign or trace of liquid in the camera or in the screen. It was very clear that the Samsung S22 Ultra passed this test with ease.
The iPhone 14 Pro Max comes next. So like the Samsung, the iPhone also worked fine, it pressed the power button. The front and rear cameras were also in perfect working order. However, the speaker had some noise when playing music. This may be due to liquid that may have entered the speaker. It’s barely noticeable and it should go back to normal the fluid dries out completely.
The Samsung and the iPhone passed this test without any problems. Both phones have proven to be highly liquid resistant, even in extreme conditions. This means that carrying your iPhone 14 Pro Max or Samsung S22 Ultra in the rain shouldn’t pose a serious threat to your phone in any way.
Source / Via: YouTube


text:
TikTok to let users shop through app with Shopify dealAugust 25, 2021
Opinion | Our ‘Broken Windows’ World
By Bret Stephens
Andrew Cuomo Beat Cynthia Nixon For New York Governor But She Gets Last Laugh
Back in 2018, Andrew Cuomo beat “Sex and the City” star Cynthia Nixon for the Democratic nomination and was reelected governor of New York.
Cuomo handily beat Nixon, who was running for higher office for the first time, in a brutal campaign.
But nearly three years later, she is getting the last laugh.
Cuomo resigned at midnight Monday night as a result of his sexual harassment scandal, and on Tuesday Nixon threw some truly award-winning shade at the now ex-governor.
It started earlier Tuesday after the International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences rescinded an Emmy it gave to Cuomo last year for his daily COVID-19 briefings, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
“The International Academy announced today that in light of the New York Attorney General’s report, and Andrew Cuomo’s subsequent resignation as Governor, it is rescinding his special 2020 International Emmy Award. His name and any reference to his receiving the award will be eliminated from International Academy materials going forward,” the academy said in a statement.
Nixon used the occasion to post a tweet that pointed out some similarities between her and Cuomo, and one truly big difference ― actually two.
The actress won a pair of prime-time Emmy Awards, in 2004 and 2008, which are now two more than Cuomo has.
Twitter users were impressed by Nixon’s burn. Very impressed.
Scientists detect earthquake swarm at Hawaii volcano
HONOLULU — Geologists on Tuesday said they had detected a swarm of earthquakes at Hawaii’s Kilauea volcano, though it is not erupting.
The quakes began overnight and continued into the morning, The Hawaiian Volcano Observatory said.
More than 140 earthquakes were recorded as of 4:30 a.m. The largest was magnitude 3.3. Most were less than magnitude 1.
At the same time as the swarm, scientists recorded changes to the ground surface of the volcano. That may indicate magma was moving beneath the south part of Kilauea’s caldera, the observatory said. There’s been no evidence of lava at the surface.
The observatory changed its volcano alert level to watch from advisory, meaning Kilauea is showing heightened or escalating unrest with more potential for an eruption.
Kilauea is one of the world’s most active volcanoes, having erupted 34 times since 1952.
In 2018, about 700 homes were destroyed when lava surged through volcanic vents in a residential neighborhood during the final year of an eruption that lasted more than three decades.
Kilauea is about 200 miles south of Honolulu, on the Big Island of Hawaii.
Man shoots woman in Aurora and then fatally shoots himself police say
A man is dead and a woman was wounded Tuesday in what police describe as a possible domestic violence incident.
The shootings happened at about 4:45 p.m. in the 2300 block of Emporia Street, police said on Twitter.
The initial investigation indicates that the man shot the woman, and then he shot himself, police said. The man has died and the woman was in “serious” condition. An investigation is ongoing.
'Get a shot and have a beer': Biden woos Americans with incentives for vaccine
New York (CNN Business)Krispy Kreme is doubling down on its popular free doughnut promotion for customers vaccinated against Covid-19.
Beginning August 30, the chain is giving anyone with vaccination proof two free doughnuts every day until September 5. The promotion comes following the US Food and Drug Administration’s full approval of the Pfizer/BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine on Monday.
In March, the chain began its promotion to encourage people to get vaccinated with a free doughnut a day for the rest of the year. So far, Krispy Kreme says it has given away more than 2.5 million doughnuts through the deal.
The chain is also making a special heart-shaped doughnut to give away, in addition to a traditional glazed doughnut.
“We all hoped we’d be near the end of this pandemic by now. We’re not,” said Krispy Kreme’s Chief Marketing Officer Dave Skena in a press release. “So, please consider getting vaccinated if you’ve not done so already. And then enjoy and share two amazing doughnuts with our heart-felt thanks.”
Krispy Kreme said it will continue its free daily doughnut campaign through the end of the year. In order to qualify, customers have to show their vaccination card. Anyone who has received at least one shot of the Pfizer, Moderna or Johnson & Johnson vaccines is eligible.
The chain recently went public, but its stock price could use a jolt of sugar. Shares are down roughly 18% since its July 1 debut.
TikTok to let users shop through app with Shopify deal
TikTok users will soon be able to buy stuff directly through the short videos on the app — something they had only been able to do through ads until now.
Canadian e-commerce company Shopify said Tuesday that businesses will be able to add a shopping tab to their TikTok profiles to create a “mini-storefront” that links directly to their online store for checkout.
The shopping tool, which is still being tested, is available to merchants in the U.S., the U.K. and Canada, and will roll out to more regions in the coming months. Shopify already had a deal with TikTok that let merchants create “shoppable” video ads that drive customers to online stores.
ByteDance, the Beijing-based company that owns TikTok, already runs a thriving social media marketplace on Douyin, its twin video app for the Chinese market. Buying products through social media websites isn’t yet as common in the U.S., though Pinterest and Facebook-owned Instagram have made some inroads.
Reality star Kylie Jenner is among the first merchants to participate in the program by selling her skincare and cosmetics line through TikTok.