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There’s a lot of debate around which media channels consumers access and how much time they spend on each. Our Technographics® data reveals that young Europeans spend a total of about 40 hours per week on any type of media, and this number then declines with age. The biggest drivers of young consumers’ high levels of media engagement are Internet use and time spent playing games, both of which drop dramatically among older age groups:
However, these numbers are for the total European population and include countries like Spain and Italy, where Internet uptake is lower both in general and especially among older consumers. When we look at these numbers for the UK Internet population, for example, all age groups spend around 41 hours per week on different media activities. The total time spent doesn’t change much by age group, but the type of media activity does: Older consumers spend more time watching TV and reading newspapers than younger consumers, while the time they spend on the Internet decreases.
Online banking has shown a fair amount of growth over the years in Europe. Forrester's Technographics® data shows that more than 50% of European Net users bank online today, up from about 35% in 2002. Northern Europe leads in the adoption of online banking, with 90% of Dutch and 87% of Swedish online consumers having used it in the past three months.
Interestingly, the countries that close the list with regards to online banking are actually leading the uptake of mobile banking in Europe. In Spain and Italy, about one in five mobile phone owners uses some kind of mobile banking — for example, to check their account balance, transfer money, or pay bills using text messaging (SMS) or the mobile Internet.


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Nagpur, 20 Apr 2021 (PTI) Two men were held on Tuesday for allegedly selling Remdesivir vials filled with water for Rs 28,000 in Sakkardara area of Nagpur, police said.
Abhilash Petkar (28) and Aniket Nandeshwar (21), both working as X-Ray technici......
- Kerala model: How the state got more out of its vaccine vials (07-05-2021)
- CDL likely to release first batch of Sputnik V next week after quality tests (07-05-2021)
- Fake remdesivir racket ‘main conspirator’ brought to Ahmedabad (07-05-2021)
- 4 Delhi men found selling oxygen concentrators for Rs 70,000 at Lodhi Colony bar, 419 units recovered (06-05-2021)
- Drop IGST on import of oxygen concentrators, Delhi HC tells Centre (06-05-2021)
- 5 Australian blood clot cases linked to AstraZeneca vax (06-05-2021)
- Covid patients in home isolation can book oxygen online: Delhi Govt (06-05-2021)
- Roche receives emergency use approval in India for its investigational Antibody Cocktail used in the treatment of Covid-19 (06-05-2021)
- 45 held for black marketing of oxygen, remdesivir across Haryana (06-05-2021)
- Hetero recalls a batch of its remdesivir brand Covifor after side effects (06-05-2021)

domain: news


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- Written by Annie Robbins Annie Robbins
- Published: 15 March 2016 15 March 2016
- Hits: 5427 5427
Fantastic news, Haaretz reported Thursday that Ahava Dead Sea cosmetics, a company that pillages mud products from occupied Palestine and longtime target of Code Pink’s Stolen Beauty Ahava boycott campaign, plans to move their factory from the occupied West Bank to within Israel’s pre-1967 borders.
The announcement comes after 7 long years, an onslaught of protests including activists chaining themselves to concrete blocks inside Ahava’s London store, and persistent online social media actions by dedicated activists spanning continents since the campaign was launched in 2009.


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A new study says the most popular vehicle in America is a Mazda Miata.
The study, released Wednesday by the Center for Automotive Research (CAR), is the first to show how many cars are owned by Americans, how much they’re driven and how much money they earn.
The study was released to coincide with the 10th anniversary of the first U.S. federal auto insurance mandate.
“We see an unprecedented number of new cars being built, as well as an increase in the number of vehicles on the road,” said CAR President and CEO Jim Wirth.
“These are all examples of people taking the opportunity to spend more money in their cars.”
The study estimates that 1.8 million new vehicles were built last year, representing a 1.3 percent increase from 2013. “
It means we have more cars, more vehicles, more choices in our cars and more options for our consumers.”
The study estimates that 1.8 million new vehicles were built last year, representing a 1.3 percent increase from 2013.
More than half of all new vehicles are electric, with electric cars making up nearly a quarter of all vehicles.
More than 90 percent of all vehicle sales in the U.C.M.A.C.’s study are electric.
Cars in the United States are among the most electrified in the world.
Electric cars are a growing market and one of the fastest-growing segments of the global auto market.
The industry employs more than 50,000 people in the automotive industry.
Electric cars are increasingly gaining popularity in Europe, where they are also being used in a number of cities, including Paris and London.
The U.K. is also considering introducing electric cars to its roads.
A second study released Wednesday shows that U.H.I.P. cars have been the most frequently used vehicles for people aged 15 to 44.
The research says that the popularity of UH.
Is has increased dramatically in recent years, especially among young people.
The most popular U.M.’s vehicle is a Dodge Charger, with more than half a million in the country.
The number of U.P.’s vehicles in the study has grown by almost 50 percent.
A total of 3.6 million vehicles are sold in the States, with 1.5 million sold in California and 1.2 million sold across the country, with the remainder sold in Mexico, Canada and elsewhere.
The research also finds that more than 80 percent of Americans own an electric vehicle, compared with only 15 percent in the past decade.
In terms of the number and type of vehicles owned, electric vehicles are more popular than gasoline-powered vehicles.
“It’s a really great time to be an electric car owner,” said Wirth, who is a co-author of the new study.
“If you are a regular consumer, the new electric cars you see on the market are a great choice.”


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2020 Harvest Fest to be held
Barbara Olson Center’s 2020 Harvest Fest will be held virtually from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Oct. 16.
The event will feature an online auction, wine pull and videos from a participant, a parent and a business partner. Tickets include a to-go appetizer box that can be picked up from GreenFire Restaurant Bar & Bakery, 6795 E. Riverside Blvd., with or without the center’s signature drink, a white Russian with a twist.
To purchase tickets: Harvestfest20.givesmart.com.


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The next big thing in vehicle cabin comfort and NVH reduction has been developed by Hyundai, and it comes courtesy of technology found in those fancy headphones you carry around with you everywhere.
If you’re familiar with the Sony WH-1000XM3 or Bose’s QuietComfort lineup, or own a solid pair of active noise-cancelling (ANC) headphones yourself, Hyundai’s new Road Noise Active Noise Control (RANC) system should be a relatively easy concept to grasp. If not, well, let us tell you this tech could be a real game-changer.
Commonly, cars deal with cabin noise using dampeners and insulation—both of which add weight to a vehicle and, according to the Korean car manufacturer, fail to block buzzing infrasound completely. ANC tech, meanwhile, utilizes microphones and controllers to deal with unwanted noise.
Hyundai says ANC tech is nothing new to the brand’s vehicle’s, but its existing application is only effective against constant noises, like that coming from the engine. The company’s new RANC system, which took six years to develop and uses an acceleration sensor that detects vibration, can reads noise in real-time, allowing it to cancel out more unpredictable sources of sound like different types of road and tire noise.
The company claims that vehicles equipped with RANC, like the 2020 Genesis, had cabin noise reduced by 3db, cutting non-RANC noise levels by half.
“Vehicle interior noise primarily comes from three sources: vehicle powertrain noise, road noise, and wind noise,” the company says in a statement. “There is almost no powertrain noise from electric and fuel-cell electric vehicles, so quelling road and wind noise becomes even more imperative. Utilizing RANC can significantly reduce road noise and create a serene cabin for future electric and fuel cell electric vehicles.”
Impressive stuff, but if Hyundai really wants to put its RANC tech to the test, it should try the system out on EDSA.


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Thailand and South Africa to strengthen trade
Nisa Srisuworanant, deputy director-general of the Trade Negotiations Department, said yesterday that the two countries saw each other as springboards to their respective regions.
Ms. Srisuworanant said she discussed forging closer trade and investment ties with Victor Mashabela, chief director of South Africa's Trade and Industry Department, at a recent meeting of the Thailand-South Africa Joint Trade Commission.
Thailand proposed that South Africa import more agricultural and industrial products, mainly rice, rubber and automobile parts.
South Africa asked for Thailand to help develop and add value to processed farm products, chemical products, jewellery and ornaments, and auto parts.
The two countries also agreed to launch more trade-promotion activities.
South Africa will facilitate imports of fruits including mangosteen and longan from Thailand, while this country will favour imports of grapes and apples from South Africa, by stimulating analysis process of fruit for pests. Thai and South African businesses will join in promoting their automobile and parts industries at the Auto Components Fair in South Africa this October.
Thailand is South Africa's largest trading partner in Asean, while South Africa is the biggest market for Thailand in Africa. ■


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This new location in Nassau provides all aspects of customer service and sales, including bill payment, account inquiries, transfers, new service activation and disconnections.
URCA's decision to refuse Cable Bahamas' application to increase the rate of the SuperBasic price is extremely disappointing. It is an unbelievable outcome, one that continues to deny a price change to a regulated rate, which was set almost two decades ago. Cable Bahamas believes that its application put forward a complete and a credible case.
Cable Bahamas is pleased to announce the opening of a temporary Customer Care & Sales Centre at The Mall at Marathon, starting Monday, February 18, 2013. This new location will provide all aspects of customer service and sales, including bill payment, account inquiries, transfers, new service activation and disconnections.
After two months of intense anticipation, the Cable Bahamas REJOICE with REVOICE campaign culminated in an exciting event last weekend with the announcement of the winner of the grand prize, a brand new $42,000 Honda CR-V.


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Business News›indian bright steel company ltd q1 results
INDIAN BRIGHT STEEL COMPANY LTD Q1 RESULTS
Q2 Review: Profits of 9 PSUs grow faster than sales; which stocks should you bet on?
The companies that saw profits grow faster than sales were REC, Power Finance Corporation, Coal India, NTPC, Bharat Electronics, IRCTC, Container Corporation of India, Gail India, and Oil and Natural Gas Corporation.
Cummins India Q2 Results: Net profit rises 23% on lower costs
Cummins India's total expenses fell 5.1% to 16.20 billion rupees on lower cost of raw materials such as aluminium and steel.
Transformers and Rectifiers Q2 Results: Net falls to Rs 1.9 crore
The company's total income dipped to Rs 258.12 crore during the quarter from Rs 326.98 crore in the same period a year ago.
IRFC shares down 3% as Q2 profit drops 9% to Rs 1,550 crore
Its total income stood at Rs 6,767.4 crore in the September quarter, up 16.5% YoY compared to Rs 5,810.4 crore in the same quarter of the previous financial year. On a QoQ basis, total income rose 1.3% to Rs 6,767.4 crore in Q2 FY24 from Rs 6,681 crore in Q1 FY24.
In Q3 and Q4, we should be able to recover whatever we have lost in Q1 and Q2: Adani Wilmar management
“In exports, we have a two-brand strategy. One is Fortune and one is Jubilee brand. We now export to almost 50 countries. And we are now exporting branded Atta, Chakki Fresh Atta Fortune to Europe and the US as well. We are there in the Middle East, Southeast Asia and Australia. ”
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Q2 Results Tomorrow: What to expect from Britannia, Hero MotoCorp, Sun Pharma & Tata SteelApart from these four, the other major earnings that will be tracked by Dalal Street investors are Adani Wilmar, Ambuja Cements, Godrej Consumer Products, LIC Housing Finance, REC Ltd, Indraprastha Gas, and Kansai Nerolac Paints
IOC Q2 Results: Firm reports profit of Rs 12,967 crore, announces Rs 5 dividendIOC Q2 Results: Revenue from operations fell 11% to Rs 2.02 lakh crore in the reporting quarter, compared with Rs 2.28 lakh crore in the same quarter of last year. The average gross refining margins (GRM) for the period April- September period stood at $13.12 per bbl, down from $25.49 per bbl in the same period last year.
Q2 Results Tomorrow: What to expect from Bharti Airtel, L&T, Tata Consumer?Indian Oil Corporation, GAIL (India), Mankind Pharma, Jindal Steel & Power, Adani Total Gas, Star Health and Allied Insurance, Max Financial Services, Vedant Fashions, Motherson Sumi Wiring, and Ajanta Pharma, among others will also detail earnings on Tuesday
FOMC, Q2 earnings and Mamaearth IPO among top 10 factors to move Dalal Street this weekAfter relentless selling in recent days, Nifty has temporarily paused its decline due to an oversold chart setup, Rupak De, Senior Technical analyst at LKP Securities said, adding that the index closed significantly below the critical breakdown level of 19,250. As long as it stays below 19,250, the market may continue to be inclined towards selling on any upward movements, he opined as he sees a further downside opening below 18,800 if weakness continues from here, he added.
Indian Hotels Q2 Results: Profit jumps 37% YoY to Rs 179 croreIHCL reported revenue from operations of Rs 1433 crore for the quarter ended September 30 this year, up from Rs 1233 crore in the previous fiscal. On a half-yearly basis, the chain reported a profit of Rs 415 crore and revenues of Rs 2900 crore for this fiscal, up by 34% and 16%, respectively.
JSW Steel Q2 Results: Firm posts Rs 2,760 crore-PAT vs loss a year agoThe profit figure was way above an ET Now poll of Rs 2,497 crore. Consolidated revenue from operations increased nearly 7% year-on-year (YoY) to Rs 44,584 crore and was also above the estimated Rs 42,133 crore.
Jindal Stainless Q2 Results: Net profit more than doubles to Rs 764 croreThe company's total income increased to Rs 9,828.97 crore in the second quarter of the current fiscal as against Rs 8,776.61 crore a year ago.
Tata Steel Long Products Q2 Results: Net loss narrows to Rs 460 croreIt had clocked a net loss of Rs 661.80 crore in the year-ago period, the company said in a regulatory filing
Q2 results: These 17 companies are likely to report loss. What should investors do?Restaurant Brands Asia, which runs Burger King India, is seen reporting a quarterly loss of Rs 15.7 crore. While Kotak has a 'reduce' rating on the stock, Motilal has given a buy rating.
Top IT companies may log muted Q2 growth on macro uncertaintyThough the top tier firms have been announcing large deal wins over the past few weeks, brokerages believe they are unlikely to translate into a major change in revenue growth forecast of the Indian IT firms.
Nearly one-third of BSE 500 cos’ EBITDA growth outpaced sales in Q1Data analysed by ETMarkets showed that as many as 154 companies that are part of the BSE500, have seen operating profit growing at a faster pace than revenue in the last quarter.
PC Jeweller Q1 Results: Co posts third straight quarterly loss on mounting legal battlesA slew of lenders, including State Bank of India, Indian Bank , IDFC First Bank and Union Bank, have deemed PC Jeweller's borrowing accounts as non-performing and have moved to court seeking loan recalls.
SAIL Q1 Results: Profit plunges 74% YoY to Rs 212.48 croreThe company had reported Rs 804.5 crore as net profit in the comparable period of the previous fiscal. Total income during the period under review stood at Rs 24,822.83 crore, up from Rs 24,199.51 crore in the first quarter of fiscal 2022-23.
HPCL Q1 Results: Co back in black as petrol, diesel price freeze helps regain mkt marginThe profit was over 92% higher than Rs 3,222.62 crore net profit in the preceding quarter. Last year, HPCL and other government-owned fuel retailers -- Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) and Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd (BPCL) -- froze retail petrol and diesel prices to cushion domestic consumers from rising international oil rates.
India Inc Q1 report card meets expectations, but can it support premium valuation?The sharp rally in Indian equities in the past few months, which took benchmark indices to all-time highs, was primarily led by sectors such as automobiles, capital goods, and fast-moving consumer goods, while sectors such as metals and information technology lagged. While consensus estimates for Nifty50 earnings growth for FY24 witnessed a cut, it wasn’t steep enough to cloud growth prospects.
Q1 results this week: Adani Enterprises, SBI, Maruti, Titan, Airtel, M&M & othersMajor firms such as Maruti Suzuki, Titan, Bharti Airtel, and M&M among others will release their June quarter results this week. The report cards of other companies such as GAIL, Power Grid, Sun Pharma, and Adani Enterprises are also expected to be out. This week, Maruti Suzuki, Adani Enterprises, Adani Transmission, Titan, IndiGo, Bharti Airtel, Sun Pharma, SBI, M&M, Varun Beverages, and Bank of Baroda are scheduled to announce their quarterly performance.
Taking stock: Q1 operating earnings of Nifty cos 3% below estimates so far; IT, FMCG top laggardsExcluding financials and commodity, combined revenue, EBITDA and profit after tax (PAT) growth reported by these Nifty50 companies stood at 11%, 11% and 12% YoY, respectively, in 1QFY24. While revenue estimates are in line with Antique's expectation, EBITDA and PAT have missed estimates by 3% and 4%, respectively.
Tata Steel shares rise 3% after Q1 results. What should investors do?Revenues from the India business rose by a marginal 3% to Rs 34,901 crore for the quarter under review. India's EBITDA was at Rs 7,514 crore, a decline of 22%. This translates into EBITDA per ton of Rs 15,651 and a margin of 22%.
Tata Steel Q1 Results: Profit tanks 92% YoY to Rs 634 crore; revenue drops 6%Revenues from the India business rose by a marginal 3% to at Rs 34,901 crore during the quarter under review. The company said its profitability was affected by non-cash deferred tax charge on account of buy-in transaction at British steel pension scheme. The Board has approved the re-appointment of T V Narendran as CEO and MD for another five years, effective September 19.
Focus on probability of being right than possibility of being rightNoise about a company and its stock are at their highest when quarterly results are announced. The reason, right from the company's management making claims to clarifications, analysts to the media, everyone is focussed on what happened in the previous quarter to get a clue about what will happen in future. To cut through all the noise and make the right decisions, whether it is trading or investing in that stock, some data points with trends are important to look at so that the probability of that decision going right increases.
Q1 results this week: Tata Steel, L&T, Axis Bank, Bajaj Finance, Tech Mahindra, Tata Motors, and othersLarsen & Toubro (L&T), Asian Paints, Tata Motors, Bajaj Auto, SBI Life Insurance Company, Jubilant FoodWorks, KPIT Technologies, Dixon Technologies, Suzlon Energy, among others will report Q1 results on July 25
JSW Steel Q1 Results: PAT surges 189% YoY to Rs 2,428 crore; revenue up 11%Consolidated crude steel production for the quarter stood at 6.43 million tonnes, higher by 11% YoY and lower by 2% QoQ. The company had taken certain scheduled shutdowns at Indian operations during the quarter, hence the average capacity utilisation for Q1FY24 was 92% compared to 96% in Q4FY23, the exchange filing said.Load More
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As the coronavirus continues to pummel the economy, industries suffer, with most of the brunt arguably borne by the automotive industry. On a related subject, automakers in Pakistan are asking for tax reduction, so as to continue their operations without bearing lofty expenses.
The approval of Finance Bill 2020 resulted in a hike in tax rates for various vehicle segments, whereby Direct General Abdul Waheed Khan had already expressed his displeasure, saying that,
The sector was hoping that government will at least slash unnecessary taxes including, Additional Sales Tax (AST), Additional Customs Duty (ACD), and Federal Excise Duty (FED) of 2.5-7.5%, depending on turnover tax and engine displacement,
Echoing the same concerns pertaining to the fate of the automotive industry, former Chairman Pakistan Association of Automotive Parts and Accessories Manufacturers’ (PAAPAM) Mr. Mashood Ali Khan highlighted that the entire automotive industry had their sights set on 2020 to be the year of success for them. However, with the outbreak of COVID-19, with the economy and industries taking a severe hit, those hopes have been quashed.
He further stated that in such circumstances, the government should offer relaxation to the industries to help them survive but instead, “we were burdened with additional Customs Duty of 7-11% and Federal Excise Duty (FED) of up to 7.5%.”
According to Mr. Mashood Ali Khan, a series of events lead to the current dire state of the industry. In fact, the industry had been on a downward trajectory since July 2019, following the government’s announcement of not allowing non-tax filers to register more than one car against their CNIC. Then came the additional Customs Duties and FED.
“Then, we placed our hopes on new vehicle models to boost the sales but the coronavirus outbreak resulted in zero car sales in April 2020, and instead of going up, we have gone down in production. Now, we only hope that the government to provide relief through tax concessions.” Mr. Khan continued, stressing on the bleak picture of the automotive industry at the moment.


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Golden Peanut Company LLC, a subsidiary of Archer Daniels Midland Company, announced that it has acquired the processing facilities and certain assets of the Harrell Nut Company, one of the country’s leading processors and shellers of pecans. Reflecting the company’s continuing expansion of its product portfolio, Golden Peanut also announced that it is changing its name to Golden Peanut and Tree Nuts.
“By expanding our product portfolio, we are improving our ability to serve our customers while taking another step in our efforts to reduce earnings volatility,” said Kris Lutt, president, Golden Peanut and Tree Nuts. “Our diversification into tree nuts began earlier this year, when we acquired 50 percent ownership of South African Pecans. We’re taking another step today. The acquisition of Harrell Nut Company moves us into the U.S. pecan market—a market that we expect will see increasing consumer interest in the coming years.”
Harrell Nut Company is a major domestic pecan processor, with facilities in Camilla, Georgia; El Paso, Texas; and Monticello, Florida. It serves both domestic and international markets.
“In recent years, we’ve seen the demand for healthier, more convenient foods drive up nut consumption,” Lutt added. “U.S. pecan demand has grown almost 40 percent over the last decade. Now, we are moving to take advantage of continuing growth. The Harrell family has built a great business, and we look forward to working with them and their team to make it even stronger as part of Golden Peanut and Tree Nuts.”
In addition to the name change, Golden Peanut and Tree Nuts is introducing a new logo (which can be viewed here) that reflects the company’s expanded product offerings.
“Our new name and logo reflect our commitment to growing and diversifying our business,” Lutt continued. “Peanuts will remain a core part of our business. We are building on that core, enhancing the range of products and solutions we can provide to our customers.”
Some of the above statements constitute forward-looking statements. ADM’s filings with the SEC provide detailed information on such statements and risks, and should be consulted along with this release. To the extent permitted under applicable law, ADM assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements.
About Golden Peanut and Tree Nuts
Golden Peanut and Tree Nuts, a subsidiary of Archer Daniels Midland Company, is a leading handler, processor and exporter of peanuts and tree nuts. Headquartered in Alpharetta, Georgia, the company has 10 processing facilities in the U.S., one in Argentina, and three in South Africa.
About Harrell Nut Company
Harrell Nut provides the finest quality nuts possible while providing unsurpassed customer service. Since its founding in 1994, the company has grown into a major player in the pecan industry, thanks to the dedication of its staff, the commitment of its stakeholders, and the satisfaction of its customers. Harrell Nut Company serves as a wholesale brand name, and services commercial accounts such as supermarkets, bakeries, and many of the most recognized names in the food industry.
For more than a century, the people of Archer Daniels Midland Company have transformed crops into products that serve the vital needs of a growing world. Today, we’re one of the world’s largest agricultural processors and food ingredient providers, with more than 33,000 employees serving customers in more than 140 countries. With a global value chain that includes more than 470 crop procurement locations, 285 ingredient manufacturing facilities, 40 innovation centers and the world’s premier crop transportation network, we connect the harvest to the home, making products for food, animal feed, chemical and energy uses. Learn more at www.adm.com.


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Truth in advertising has never been more important than it is for the mHealth industry. Just look at a recent probe by the New England Center for Investigative Reporting that found that consumers are being bamboozled by hucksters selling mobile health apps that purport to cure everything from acne to alcoholism.
The stakes are incredibly high. As the center's report states, nearly 247 million mobile phone users are expected to download health apps in 2012, according to research2guidance, a global market research firm. Another estimate predicts that figure to more than double to 500 million smartphone users with medical apps on their devices by 2015.
Direct-to-consumer marketing is a slippery slope, especially when a company is making medical claims about their product. Having previously worked for one of the world's largest medical device manufacturers, I've seen firsthand the meticulous scrutiny and vetting processes that companies must go through with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, which regulates labeling and marketing for these products.
However, in the New England Center for Investigative Reporting's survey of 1,500 health apps that cost money and have been available since June 2011, the center found that more than 20 percent claim to treat or cure medical problems, many of which do not follow established medical guidelines and have not been clinically tested. Both the iTunes store and the Google Play store are "riddled with health apps that experts say do not work and in some cases could even endanger people," the article stated.
I'm not a lawyer but it seems to me that these claims are blatant violations of the Federal Trade Commission Act, which states that advertising must be truthful and non-deceptive, and that advertisers must have evidence to back up their claims. According to the FTC's Deception Policy Statement, an ad is deceptive if it contains a statement, or omits information, that is "likely to mislead consumers acting reasonably under the circumstances."
While the FTC pursued the government's only cases against health-app developers last year, shutting down two acne apps that made "false or misleading" claims about their cell phone light treatment, the agency has not pursued any other app developers for making dubious medical claims. As a general rule, the FTC regulates advertising for foods, over-the-counter drugs, dietary supplements, medical devices, and cosmetics, while the FDA handles most matters related to prescription drug advertising and labeling.
The problem right now is that mHealth apps are in limbo from a regulatory perspective. Currently, the FDA is drafting final regulations detailing what types of health apps would need agency approval before they can be marketed in the U.S. The FDA is expected to publish its rules by the end of the year.
Unfortunately, until those FDA regulations are finalized, it will be a Wild West of mHealth claims and marketing tactics by app developers. - Greg


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When announcing pandemic relief grants for farm, food, and front line grocery store workers, Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack said.
“We expect and anticipate to be making another announcement for a separate $700 million. We have pandemic safety and response grants directed at producers, processors, farmers markets, distributors, and seafood processors.”
With that announcement made last week by the Agriculture Department. The Agricultural Marketing Service will oversee the application process for two new grant programs. Pandemic Response Safety Grants and Seafood Pandemic Response Safety Block Grants are designed to support AG stakeholders yet to receive substantial federal financial assistance in responding to the COVID-19 pandemic. USDA will soon publish requests for applications for both grant programs.
More details are available by visiting AMS’ Website.
If you have a story idea for the PNW Ag Network, call (509) 547-1618, or e-mail [email protected]


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To commemorate the completion of the Attack on Titan TV anime, PONY CANYON has announced a special worldwide after-party on their YouTube channel.
The channel released the trailer for the event, which you can check below:
This event will be a four-day event and start after the airing of the final episode in Japan.
The afterparty will be held from November 5 to November 8, 2023.
It will look back at the last 10 years of the anime’s airing and feature a variety of exclusive content, including anime crew and cast, ending with a Grand Finale.
Anyone with an internet connection and a smartphone or PC can join the event. A demo version will be made available prior to the event for users to check their device’s performance.
During the demo, the users will be able to visit the dock area where the cruise ship is docked.
Source: PONY CANYON’s YouTube


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Home Tags Post office
Tag: post office
Postal complaints, inquiries, customer service. You can also report postal crime, track and trace missing letters or parcels online, or look up postal codes online.
Costs have been reduced and operational efficiency is improving at SAA, while a new business model "better suited to the changing postal services environment" has been drawn up for the South African Post Office, says Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa.
The South African Post Office is out of the red - for the first time in 200 years. It has reported a bumper R27-billion profit, described by the parastatal as the most significant in history.


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Inditex reports net sales up by 3% in FY 2018
Inditex, Thursday, Mar 14, 2019
Inditex, the operator of Zara and several other apparel brands, has reported FY 2018 results for the period ended 31 January 2019. Sales increased by 3% to EUR26.14 billion versus EUR25.33 billion for 2017. Like-for-like sales grew by 4%.
Online sales grew 27% to EUR3.2 billion in FY 2018, with 14% of total sales taking place online and 12% of the total in countries where the retailer has an online and physical presence. The retailer ended the year with 7,490 stores in 96 markets, opening 15 stores in 2018.


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Rapper, songwriter and actress, Belcalis Marlenis Almánzar, best known as Cardi B, has revealed that she is working on a haircare line.
“This year I will be coming out with a hairline that I been working on at home for my hair and my daughters,” said Cardi B in an Instagram post.
“However, I think is time for people to educate themselves on nationality, race and ethnicity.”
The rapper is yet to provide any additional details on the line.
Cardi B’s move to launch her own haircare line comes at a time where there is growing interest in the hair care industry to launch products for historically underserved or overlooked markets. While the dialog has dramatically progressed since the early 2000s, a gap still remains, with beauty stores continuing to carry fewer products for ethnic hair care.
“I have often said over the last 20 years that the beauty aisle is the last place in America where segregation is still legal, and separating ‘beauty’ from ‘ethnic’ has only served to further perpetuate narrow standards of what is considered beautiful in our industry and our society—which is why we began leading the efforts to break down those walls,” said Richelieu Dennis, founder and CEO of Sundial Brands, which manufactures SheaMoisture.
In April 2016, SheaMoisture launched the “#BreaktheWalls” campaign to emphasize both ethnic inclusion and empowerment. The campaign called out segregation that often happens with black hair and beauty products in retail stores.


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It is hard to believe that Apple will switch to a larger screen for its iPad Pro, as the company’s tendency was to shrink its devices and do whatever necessary to achieve the peak of compactness. Additionally, it took forever to switch from a 4-inch Iphone to the current 4.7.
Moreover, Apple’s iPads shrank over time. If anybody recalls, iPad Air although maintained its display’s original size, it gradually scrapped so much of its bodywork that iPad Mini lost any relevant size-related advantages.
Yet, sources familiar with the matter claim that Apple is about to roll out a 12.9-inch version of iPad Pro. The rumor dates back to 2012, while the idea of a larger iPad caught public’s attention a year later fueled by some leaks from reliable sources.
There are also rumors that the new iPad Pro will feature a stylus, which will be sold as an optional accessory, so users won’t be forced to pay for it if they do not want it.
However, the larger iPad’s release date remains largely unknown. Sources can only speculate. One of the sources suggests that the rollout is scheduled during this year’s second quarter because Apple’s filed patents related to stylus recently grew, while several others claim that a roll out is not possible until September due to supply issues.
But the source couldn’t tell for sure whether the new iPad would have an integrated stylus or the latter would roll out as a separate accessory. Nevertheless, Apple’s decision to bundle the products may result in a major marketing failure because of a disappointingly-high retail price, the source claims.
On the other hand, the company is very secretive about its new iPad’s feature, price and release date. We only know that the device will be named either iPad Pro or IPad Air Plus and it will feature oxide display.
But as LG boosted its display production, sources believe that the release date is very close. A spokesperson for LG Display recently disclosed that his company’s scheduled a production of 30,000 oxide displays for this year’s second quarter. LG also disclosed that Apple’s new iPads will have a 12.9-inch display.
The only competitor Apple has for its stylus technology is Samsung which has already implemented the device into its Galaxy Note line. As some people speculate that Apple’s stylus will target business sector due to a recent partnership with IBM for the development of corporate applications, a plain old keyboard may be a lot more useful.
So, Apple may address other professionals such as video editors and photography experts who may find the device very handy when working on the fly. Besides a stylus and a larger display, the new tablet will be a lot powerful than its predecessors.
According to rumors, iPad Air will run on an A9 chipset and 4GB of RAM. If that is true, the new iPad will be the most powerful device of its kind ever produced by Apple.
Moreover, iPad Pro is expected to have four speakers and an iOS / OS X cross-over.
Rumors also said that the new device will be available in a wide range of models from the 16 GB one to the 128 GB version. Also, the new device may have USB ports that are 10 times faster than our current technology.
Image Source: iMore


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Cinedigm closes acquisition of DMR
March 30, 2022
Cinedigm, a streaming technology and entertainment company, has closed the acquisition of Digital Media Rights (DMR), a specialty streaming, advertising, and content distribution company.
The acquisition closed on March 28th with a purchase price of $16.4 million (€14.7m), payable in instalments. The company paid the first payment of $8 million in cash at closing, which was funded with cash on hand. Cinedigm will make additional payments totalling $8.4 million in cash or stock at the Company’s discretion. Cinedigm will pay annual instalment payments of $3 million, $3 million and $2.4 million at 12, 24, and 36 months from the closing date, respectively.
Cinedigm expects the acquisition will generate approximately $10 million in incremental revenue and $3 million in incremental Adjusted EBITDA over the next 12 months.
The acquisition of DMR scales up Cinedigm to over 30 streaming channel services, 46,000 films and television episodes and 40 million monthly viewers, while adding approximately 18.5 million social subscribers and 4+ billion views. With the addition of DMR’s owned and operated, proprietary channels – specialising in genres ranging from anime and pan-Asian programming, to action, horror, arthouse, romance, kid’s series, K-pop and more – the company will now operate 15 wholly-owned streaming services, which comprises over 50 per cent of Cinedigm’s channel portfolio.
“We are thrilled to have completed the acquisition of DMR,” said Chris McGurk, Chairman and CEO at Cinedigm. “We were very deliberate in structuring a deal that works not only to the advantage of DMR and Cinedigm but also to that of our shareholders, particularly given current financial market conditions. This also underscores Cinedigm’s strong debt-free balance sheet. We expect this acquisition to be immediately accretive and to provide multiple synergies across Cinedigm’s entire business.”
“Digital Media Rights is the perfect complement to Cinedigm,” added Erick Opeka, President of Networks and Chief Strategy Officer. “Together, we will now have the largest streaming channel portfolio and a library in size rivalling the largest players in the industry. We are also bringing aboard a team that has extensive experience building brands and communities that fans love. We look forward to building the next great streaming company, starting today.”
“We are very excited to close the deal with Cinedigm,” said David Chu, Co-Founder and CEO of DMR. “As our teams are incredibly aligned, I believe we’ll be able to hit the ground running by tapping into our collective resources and areas of expertise to scale up our streaming services to make them truly standout in the marketplace. With our combined catalogue of premium movies and TV shows, and our strong fan engagement across social media, we look forward to attracting new audiences to our services.”
Michael Hong, DMR Co-Founder and Chairman, commented: “We have been on an incredible journey since starting this company, during which we have watched the streaming video ecosystem evolve, as our industry has transformed and the way we consume content has been disrupted, to say the least. Cinedigm’s clear understanding of this evolution and transformation, and our shared vision, is a big part of what makes this deal such a logical and attractive one for all parties.”


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The province’s Trade and Export development office says Saskatchewan’s economy remains one of the strongest in the nation.
The province says November merchandise exports saw a 45 percent increase compared to November 2021.
This is the second highest increase among provinces.
Total merchandise exports for November 2022 were worth more than 5 billion dollars.
Trade and Export Development minister Jeremy Harrison says the province continues to provide the food, fuel, fertilizer and critical minerals that a growing world needs.
In the first 11 months of 2022, merchandise exports in Saskatchewan rose by 44 percent, compared to the same period in 2021.
Saskatchewan ranked second among the provinces for change in percentage.
Growth was led by aircraft and other transportation equipment at 237 percent and parts and minerals by 88 percent.
Saskatchewan has also seen growth in manufacturing sales, retail and wholesale trade and building construction.
The unemployment rate in November was 4.2 percent, the second lowest in Canada and below the national average of 5.1 percent.


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Rockstar announced this week that they would capping of their celebration of the Grand Theft Auto (PlayStation 2) trilogy by bringing releasing a re-mastered Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas on iOS and Android, leaving fans to question; why not Vita? Rockstar may have outgrown its unique-relationship with Sony, but the (PlayStation 2) Grand Theft Auto Trilogy will always be associated with PlayStation.
Admittedly Grand Theft Auto has come a long way from its early top-down beginnings, going on to become one of the most popular franchise in the medium to date. Most recently Grand Theft Auto V set records by making over $1 billion dollars in revenue during its first three days on the market, a feat that very few would have predicted during the franchise’s humble start. While the series started out as a guilty pleasure and niche hit, it truly hit its stride when Grand Theft Auto III graced the PlayStation 2 way back in 2001. The PS2 will go down in history as a console with one of the richest software libraries to date, but in nearly every collection at the time – a copy of Grand Theft Auto III could be found.
GTA III challenged the limits of gaming, both in terms of scope and content. Perhaps the biggest change was the way people perceived the franchise and the platform of which it now took center stage. No longer relegated to the PC, Grand Theft Auto became the phenomenon that we know today through its marriage with Sony; where it went on to debut two more titles on the PlayStation 2. Even when Sony created their first ever portable console – the PlayStation Portable – Grand Theft Auto was a marquee showcase for the hardware’s capabilities. Like many marriages there are often infidelities, and the overwhelming demand from fans led to Grand Theft Auto III, Vice City, and San Andreas expanding to other platforms. The interesting thing though is that while the franchise expanded to alternative hardware, the terms Grand Theft Auto and PlayStation remained largely synonymous until the ushering in of the PlayStation 3.
In April of 2008 Rockstar put its PlayStation affiliation to bed with the multi-platform release of Grand Theft Auto IV. Launching on both the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 the game retained the open-world crime that the series was known for, it was clear that with GTA IV Rockstar was intent on moving the series in a much different direction in terms of tone and style. Where the trilogy felt like a family, Grand Theft Auto IV felt like a distant cousin; and it essentially marked the end of the Sony’s privileged relationship with the series.
In 2011 Rockstar decided to honour the ten year anniversary of the acclaimed Grand Theft Auto III by releasing a re-mastered edition on both iOS and Android devices. At the time of its release, mobile was a burgeoning force and the addition seemed to be fitting given the poor state of portable gaming at the time; in fact it was so successful that Rockstar would repeat the process by similarly celebrating the anniversary of Vice City in December of 2012. Now only a year later San Andreas is set to join the club – but unlike when this campaign began, mobile is no longer the promising platform that it once appeared to be.
Where at one time mobile was seen as a direct competitor to the portable-handheld market, the two are viewed in different lights today. As the industry has taken on a much more creator-friendly stance in recent times, we have seen developers shy away of mobile in favour of other options. Handhelds seem to be back in full swing and we are seeing Triple-A games on mobile becoming a dying breed as the powerful PlayStation Vita and popular Nintendo 3DS have become both viable and successful platforms. There are likely many reasons why Rockstar have chosen to continue to support mobile with these acclaimed, but given the capabilities of the Vita there are quickly becoming less reasons for them not to bring it back to PlayStation.
Not porting these re-mastered classics to PlayStation Vita is not only disappointing to wishful fans, it’s a missed opportunity for Rockstar to honour the relationship that helped make them classics to start with. Celebrate these titles in the manner that they deserve, away from touch controls and casual audiences. While the mobile ports surely bring Rockstar some dough, bringing the already re-mastered trilogy to the PlayStation Vita has the potential to be a monumental hit for Rockstar; and could possibly serve as a test-flight for a new entry in the series. No one can blame Rockstar for striking the iron while it was hot and choosing a promising platform to distribute its 10-year jubilee; but it’s time that they recognize that that the promise has dissipated and the iron has cooled. If they are indeed intent on remaining mobile, there is no mistaking the fact that PlayStation Vita is the proper home of the Grand Theft Auto Trilogy.
Ultimately the choice is up to Rockstar, but by voicing our opinions on the subject we can make that decision much easier. There is a Twitter campaign currently active that urges like-minded fans to let Rockstar Games know that we want the re-mastered (PlayStation 2) Grand Theft Auto Trilogy on Vita. Inform Rockstar that there is an audience, and that it’s on PlayStation Vita – where the game deserves to be.


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As the cannabis market evolved into a highly regulated and respected industry, consumers and brokers have started to question the legitimacy of certain breeds of cannabis strains and their origins. Quality of marijuana-related products has become an important factor in their pricing and reputation of weed growers and dealers.
“The Bitcoin Blockchain has been going since 2009 and it’s security is in its proof of work. If you're dealing with customers' intellectual property and you're putting it in some side chain that you're supporting,and if your network goes down and you don't manage that well, then you've let them all down.”
For unregistered brokers and unreputable growers, the ambiguity in awareness of cannabis types, genomes and origins can be used to their advantage. Registered labs and reliable distributors however take great pride in the quality of their cannabis strains and products.
Kevin McKernan, Medicinal Gemonics’ chief science officer, emphasized the importance of using the Bitcoin Blockchain as the basis of the repository, due to its unprecedented security levels and innovative built-in technologies.
As a solution, Medicinal Genomics has developed a Bitcoin Blockchain-based weed depository with which weed growers can register their cannabis strains with genomic data while users, brokers and consumers can verify the strain by referring to the public irrefutable ledger of Bitcoin.
Over the past few years, the growth of the cannabis industry has rapidly increased as an increasing number of states and countries have begun to legalize the usage of medicinal and recreational marijuana. As such, more cannabis brokers, dealers and labs have entered the industry to serve the fast-growing market.
Because of this growth, labs and researchers are continuing to test and breed new strains of cannabis on a daily basis. Thus, it has become increasingly difficult for consumers to evaluate and analyze the type of cannabis strains and marijuana-related products that they’ve purchased.
The Bitcoin Blockchain is by far the most secure and tested distributed network in the fields of cryptography and digital currencies, mostly due to its prioritization of security over flexibility and functionality. Weed growers have begun to take advantage of Bitcoin’s advanced security measures to create an unalterable repository of cannabis genomes.
At the moment, it is virtually impossible for an average user or a consumer to verify the origins and type of a cannabis strain without undergoing an extensive lab test. For inexperienced users, it is difficult to recognize certain type of cannabis.
Senior BitConnect Promotor Arrested by Indian Authorities
A promoter of the controversial cryptocurrency platform BitConnect was arrested on August 19, according to a local news outlet in India.
Former BitConnect India head Divyesh Darji was arrested at I
Softbank, Baidu Lead $3 Million Funding for Ex-Googler's Crypto Startup
A team led by a former Google staffer is taking aim at the online advertising giant.
Called Atlas Protocol, the startup believes that the data accumulating on blockchains today can be used to bette
Crypto Exchanges Join Winklevoss Backed Self-Regulatory Group
A group of cryptocurrency exchanges has joined up with Gemini founders Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss to launch a new industry-focused self-regulatory organization (SRO).
First proposed in March, the
Bakkt CEO: Crypto Trading Platform Won't Support Margin Trading
Two weeks after the Intercontinental Exchange (ICE) introduced Bakkt, a new digital assets platform, the latter's CEO has set out to explain what the service will offer consumers.
Bakkt chief execu
Blockchain Firm to Raise $24 Billion for Electric Bus Upgrades in China
Blockchain and AI technology company Seven Stars Cloud Group has scored a major deal to help raise $24 billion to fund large-scale electric bus upgrades for China's biggest full-service operator.
SEC Faces Thursday Deadline for ProShares Bitcoin ETF Decision
Less than a month after delaying a decision on a bitcoin-based exchange-traded fund (ETF), the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is poised to approve or disapprove another pair of proposed
Blockchain Enters 'Trough of Disillusionment' on Gartner's Hype Scale
Interest in blockchain technology is waning, research firm Gartner said in its latest "Hype Cycle for Emerging Technologies" report.
Gartner included blockchain, along with four other emerging tech
District Judge Forms Blockchain Law Study Group in South Korea
A group of judges, lawmakers and industry experts in South Korea are forming a new group aimed to discuss legal issues surrounding blockchain technology.
Called the Blockchain Law Society, the grou


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A longstanding topic for debate in the foodservice arena — sustainability — was tackled head on last month as refrigeration manufacturer Gram UK, supported by Winterhalter, hosted the very first Go Green Summit at The Charlotte Street Hotel in London. FEJ was there to report on proceedings.
London’s Charlotte Street Hotel is owned by the Firmdale Group, which is well-known in hospitality circles for promoting the principles of sustainable development. So it was the ideal location for Gram to base its inaugural Go Green Summit.
Joined by some of the most influential names in the industry, Gram invited delegates to reconsider the position of sustainability within the foodservice segment, as well as taking a look at the future of the industry and the role of sustainability within it.
The summit was opened by Wrap’s hospitality and foodservice programme manager, Charlotte Henderson, who provided valuable insight to the current state of the foodservice industry. She shared some startling figures on how much waste is produced within the hospitality and foodservice industry annually, reporting that one-third of all food produced globally is wasted — the value of which totals £600 billion.
Perhaps even more concerning is that of the one million tonnes of food wasted, three quarters could have been eaten, according to Henderson. These alarming figures need to infiltrate deeper into the industry, reaching operators and those in a position to address these issues and begin to make the changes required, she said.
Applying the theory and practice of cycling is perhaps the best way to approach sustainability within the industry. Even the smallest 1% change to each element of sustainability will lead to gains”
The Go Green Summit began to put into motion a change in the thought processes of the audience and asked them to question how much a lack of awareness is a factor in preventing the industry from moving forward.
Applying the theory and practice of cycling is perhaps the best way to approach sustainability, suggested Henderson. Using the analogy of David Brailsford’s ‘aggregation of marginal gains’, she said that by making a conscientious effort to apply even the smallest 1% change to each element of sustainability, from energy costs to staff labour and wastage, the gains will become apparent as each marginal increase accumulates to make a substantial change to a business.
Acknowledging that changes need to be implemented from the ground up, a lack of knowledge on how to properly operate kitchen equipment was cited as a key factor behind the huge energy bills hospitality firms face.
Burbridge said it was clear that operators are feeling the pain: “Energy costs are hurting, operators know in-use costs are the majority lifetime factor and they know their employees leave things switched on. Despite this, operators are still buying cheap, CAPEX, expensive-to-run equipment and are using it inefficiently.”
Moving forward, Burbridge advised that catering businesses require a strategy in order to cut costs and carbon, which needs to include measuring, managing, reducing and communicating environmental impact in order to unlock competitive advantage. Using a series of case studies, including Whitbread, Mitchells & Butlers and Winterhalter, he illustrated ways in which this could be done.
The second half of the summit was opened by Chris Moore, chief executive of The Clink Restaurant and The Clink Charity, along with Andrew Powis, co-founder of FCSI consultancy Sterling Food Service Design, which designed the kitchen at HMP Styal.
Moore suggested that sustainability goes further than choosing energy efficient equipment and reducing waste, but that the sustainability of people is equally important. Investing in the future of prisoners who, with the help of The Clink, leave prison with an employable skill set is one way to do this.
Powis, meanwhile, said the project had received the support of industry partners, who donated or reduced the cost of equipment to provide staff with access to some of the greenest appliances on the market, making The Clink sustainable in every sense of the word.
The penultimate session was led by Keith Warren, director at CESA, who firmly stated that it was the early adopters of sustainability that would prosper in the industry. He also talked the audience through the benefits and potential implications of the EU Ecodesign Directive, scheduled for implementation in July 2016.
The new labelling regulation is destined to put increased pressure on refrigeration manufacturers, but the impartial rating system means that customers can have renewed faith in the products they purchase and a measuring system against which to benchmark their energy costs.
There will be some backlash from the introduction of the new labelling scheme, with some refrigeration units not making the minimum G grade required, thus bringing their production to a halt, said Warren.
There will be some backlash from the introduction of the new labelling scheme, with some refrigeration units not making the minimum G grade required”
He continued on a more positive note, stating that, ultimately, the directive would only benefit the industry by requiring new innovation within the market. Its aim is to reduce global emissions by 60% by 2050 and create a common legal framework that applies to all countries.
The Go Green Summit was brought to a close by Gram UK’s managing director, Glenn Roberts, Winterhalter’s commercial director Andy Blake, and MKN’s sales and marketing director Stuart Long, who all took part in a Q&A session for the audience and discussed the future of the industry.
Andy Blake predicted that the EU Ecodesign Directive will have a positive impact on the industry as it is impartial, while the panel agreed that a measuring system for warewashing and prime cooking was also required for the future progress of the industry.
When all said and done, though, the power lies within. As Long summarised: “Operators ask us if there is anything more that manufacturers can do to make equipment more efficient, particularly when it is not in use. There is: it’s called the ‘on-off’ button.”
Crieff Hydro kitchen cuts food waste costs by 43%
The Crieff Hydro hotel in Perthshire has seen a dramatic reduction in its food waste costs after undergoing a campaign to change its operational processes. The 200-bedroom hotel took part in an eight-week trial involving one of its restaurants, which resulted in food waste costs being reduced by around 43%. The saving is equivalent to 11.5 tonnes of food or £51,750 per year.
Crieff Hydro achieved the savings as a result of three key changes made by its kitchen. The first involved smart production planning and greater use of small batch preparation, which led to less over-matter. Secondly, it began using reduced buffet container sizes and, thirdly, the hotel increased staff engagement on the matter. One of the ways it enhanced staff buy-in was to set weekly food waste reduction targets.
Go Green webinars
The Go Green Summit was the culmination of this year’s Go Green Debate, which saw three live-streamed webinars cover some of the most topical issues around kitchen sustainability. View the webinars at: www.thegogreendebate.co.uk


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Shocking though it may seem (especially to those over 35 for whom time passes at double speed!) , we’re now over half way through 2015 and it’s a good time to review what’s happening with regard to market conditions in Kazakhstan and review the latest opportunities for SMEs looking to export their technologies, goods and/or services, either as first time exporters or seasoned exporters looking to new markets.
Are there still opportunities to make money by exporting to Kazakhstan?
The oil price continues to remain at a low level – at around $52 a barrel, it’s slightly higher than the price at the beginning of the year, but it’s still way below the price it was bringing a 12-18 months ago. What’s more, it looks as though it will stay that way for some time.
What does this mean for potential to exports to Kazakhstan?
If you’re a UK SME owner looking for an opportunity and might be able to help local Kazakh businesses, there is still a lot of potential in the market place. British innovation in the form of new technologies and products are always sought after abroad and nowhere is this more true than in Kazakhstan. Whilst belts need to be tightened to preserve profit margins, companies remain open to investment into means of reducing operating costs, improving productivity, increasing efficiency or bettering health and safety provision.
Most companies, let alone SMEs don’t have the resource to be in Kazakhstan, to have an overseas branch or office. However, that doesn’t mean they can’t take advantage of our network of contacts. Kazopp has built up a trusted network of people and companies in Kazakhstan over the last two decades, making it easy for us to help you to find and work with the right people with minimum fuss.
Further encouragement for potential exporters
In June, the government of Kazakhstan confirmed it was expanding the number of countries included in the trial visa-free scheme, begun in July last year and also extended the scheme until December 31st, 2017. The UK was one of the original countries covered by the scheme and the Kazakh government made it clear that it hoped the step would further improve a favorable visa and investment regime and encourage visitors to major international events, like EXPO 2017, due to take place in the capital, Astana.*
If you are interested in finding out more about current opportunities in Kazakhstan for UK SMEs, please get in contact.
*Source: The Astana Times


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MAC Cosmetics laid down the red carpet for a party in honor of their newest Viva Glam ambassadors, Nicki Minaj and Ricky Martin.
The event, held at 37 Studios in Manhattan, celebrated the launch of the newest MAC Viva Glam makeup line, which donates 100 percent of its profits to the MAC AIDS Fund. Since its inception in 1994, the charity has raised about $235 million to assist men, women and children living with and affected by HIV/AIDS. Previous Viva Glam ambassadors include Mary J. Blige, Cyndi Lauper, Lady Gaga and Elton John.
Viva Glam Nicki, "Bright Yellow Pink", and Viva Glam Ricky, Clear Lip Conditioner
Be sure to get your lips "POPPING"....


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Liverpool shoe shop Size? has confirmed that is will remain closed today, after huge crowds gathered this morning causing police to intervene.
The Bold Street store had hundreds of people queuing outside it this morning, with some even camping throughout the night to get a good space in the line.
Queues formed because of the eagerly anticipated release of the new Nike Air Max 95 OG Neon.
The original Nike Air Max 95 neon coloured shoe has been popular in Liverpool since they were first released in 1995.
The trainers haven't been available in its OG original form for years.
Even today it's not unusual to see Scousers wearing '110s', though now they are available in many more colours.
Merseyside police attended the scene and prevented customers from gathering outside the store.
As a result, Size? closed its doors - but not before selling out the sought after trainers.
Posting on Instagram, Size? Liverpool said: "We will not be open today due to safety concerns.
"Apologies to our customers who have been waiting and for any inconvenience caused by this."
The statement comes after Size? announced that the Air Max 95 OG Neon had sold out in a matter of hours saying 'Sorry to anyone who didn’t get a pair these were super limited'.
Use your postcode to find the places doing the Covid vaccine near you
A spokesperson for Merseyside police said: "We were called just after 7.05am to a report a crowd had gathered outside Size on Bold Street ahead of its scheduled opening.
"After opening, staff at the store secured the doors to prevent further customers entering.
"Officers attended and gave advice to staff, and asked those gathered outside to leave.
"The shop subsequently closed and those gathered outside moved on."
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Teenagers in the 1960s listened to Beatles records backwards in search of hidden meanings—a trick akin to the task of deciphering President Obama's statements on the battle between Boeing and the National Labor Relations Board. Since the NLRB sued the airplane company in April to prevent it from building a new plant in South Carolina, Mr. Obama's position has alternated between silent and incomprehensible.
At a press conference in June, the mellifluous one said he felt that "as a general proposition, companies need to have the freedom to relocate." In case anyone mistook that as a full-throated defense of a business's right to expand its operations and hire workers in any state it likes, Mr. Obama also emphasized that the NLRB is an "independent" agency and that the issue is being decided by a judge.
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PARIS — The global economic crisis couldn’t help but pervade the recent edition of Premiere Classe at Jardin des Tuileries here, although many exhibitors, particularly from the high-end jewelry sector, said they were weathering the storm just fine.
Buyers at the show, which ended its four-day run Oct. 6, said they still looked to accessories to fan business, counting on statement pieces to differentiate assortments and stimulate foot traffic in stores.
“Where we really saw innovation was in jewelry, from the delicate to the bold, with unusual mixes of stones and metals,” said Ed Burstell, senior vice president and general merchandise manager of jewelry and accessories at Bergdorf Goodman. “We are looking seriously at Isabel Marant and Mawi for jewelry, and Stephane Verdino for bags. Our favorite colors were those that were slightly off from a conventional palette: muted mustard, flesh tones and a blue-green combo.”
Ann Watson, vice president and fashion director at Henri Bendel, said, “We realize that this financial crisis will have an impact on spring, so every buy is strategic and with a Bendel point of view. Tough chic accessories still remain strong in a lot of categories. In particular, we liked belts and jewelry with silver studs, small spikes and chains.”
Maria Kerner, accessories buyer for Moscow department store Tsum, said, “Natural colors are big, as ready-to-wear featured lots of nude tones. I noticed lots of smaller…handbags. There’s definitely a more feminine, ladylike direction for spring.”
Marcia Borg, owner of the 1,100-square-foot upscale fashion store Marcia’s Place in Florida, had increased her budget by 10 percent, spending on hats at Grevi, recycled wood eyewear at I-Wood and bags with ribbon trimming at Maria La Rosa.
“We’re carrying more sure sells and adding just a couple of new labels,” she said.
Buyers thronged around Barbara Rihl’s Italian leather handbags featuring playful, travel-inspired drawings.
“You can still do very good business in the midst of the financial crisis,” said Rihl, adding the brand’s biggest development is the Middle East and the Russian market. Plans include 10 corners in the Middle East, plus a corner at Moscow’s Tsum department store. The line, which retails between 200 and 400 euros, or $270 and $540, also caught the eye of key U.S. department stores.
Several exhibitors voiced concern for 2009, with retailers said to be wielding an iron grip on budgets.
“I expected to be on a level with last season, but we will not make it,” said Vienna hatmaker Klaus Mühlbauer. “Despite improved exchange rates for the yen and dollar, it’s extremely tough, with buyers prioritizing entry lines. I’m concerned for the summer.”
Citing a “brilliant winter season,” with sales from its Vienna flagship representing one third of the brand’s volume, Mühlbauer plans to develop its own store network to strengthen the company’s positioning. The brand has opened a store in Salzburg, Austria, and is next eyeing Berlin and Tokyo.
Doris Pang, commercial director for French bag brand Jerome Dreyfuss, said, “It’s been very quiet. It’s now vital to go and see retailers. I’ll be making trips to the States and Asia over the coming weeks.”
Others claimed business has been strong.
“We’ve never had so much business from this salon, including from American buyers. There’s strong demand for unique pieces,” said jeweler Jacques An Lanh, citing as an example a giant wild Polynesian oyster pendant on a twisted pearl choker. “The more times are hard, the more retailers prefer standout pieces.”
Jewelry exhibitor Helene Zubeldia said, “I was scared that retailers would zone in on the smaller pieces, but expensive, statement pieces have worked really well.”
“We’ve moved our product on a level to a more luxury level and I feel like that market hasn’t been affected,” said Tim Awan, director of high-end British jewelry brand Mawi, adding statement crystal pieces worked best. “We’ve been to New York, London and Milan, which was particularly slow, but this is good. This is the show.”
EXCLUSIVE: @tomford is opening its first-ever beauty store. The boutique, which opens November 20 in London’s Covent Gardens, was designed with the over the top glam Ford is known for. Read the full story on WWD.com, link in bio. #wwdbeauty #wwdnews (📷: Simon Wagner) #TomFordBeauty
New York-based DJ @harleyvnewton threw a party to celebrate the holiday collection of her dress and pajama line @hvn at the Ladurée Beverly Hills. It Girls @katebosworth, @rashidajones and more joined in on the fun, which included cocktails, croque monsieur sandwiches and a photo booth. #wwdfashion (📷: Owen Kolasinski/BFA.com)
For the holidays, @Burberry partnered with 20-year-old artist @blondeymccoy on a series of three outdoor murals in downtown Manhattan. The murals are McCoy’s interpretation of a Christmas eve party, the idea of charity and the spirit of family. His third mural, pictured here, is the most personal. The image depicts McCoy’s grandparents and father in London’s Trafalgar Square in the Seventies. “My work often features lots of sentimental objects.” #wwdeye
For spring 2018, designers applied bold colors and cartoonish motifs on everything from sneakers and belts to key chains. See all the top men’s accessories trends on WWD.com. #wwdtrends (📷: George Chinsee; Prop Styling by @rnasti; Market Editor: @luiscampuzano)
The @dior-sponsored @guggenheim international gala pre-party has a history of drawing cool-girl musical acts to serenade the crowd –– and last night was no exception. @haimtheband performed songs both new and old, and lured a star-studded audience with the likes of Rebecca Hall, Kate Mara, Mamoudou Athie and more. #wwdeye (📷: @lexieblacklock)
In a partnership between the @metopera and the @englishnationalopera, “Marnie” was born. The opera, with costumes sponsored by @mrporterlive, is an adaptation of the 1961 thriller by Winston Graham. Arianne Phillips, who created the costumes, is no rookie: She’s styled Madonna for her tours and created costumes for a myriad of films in the past. Read WWD’s interview with Phillips, where she talks about her inspiration for the opera’s costumes on WWD.com #wwdfashion
@barneysnyc took a different approach to their holiday windows this year. Instead of Christmas decor, Barneys tapped @thehaasbrothers to tell a story of positivity, gratitude and inclusivity via heartwarming silliness and humor. “It’s about kids and it’s about coming together and being family and loving each other,” said Simon Haas. #wwdfashion (📷: @joshuascottphoto)
Beauty influencer @kandeejohnson makes her foray into hair care with a collaboration with @ogx_beauty — making it the first time that OGX has teamed up for a product creation. The collab includes shampoos and conditioners in three scents. At 39 and a mom, Johnson is a different profile than the emerging social media stars, but is considered one of the pioneers of the digital beauty influencer world. Read WWD’s interview with her on wwd.com, including the strangest beauty product she’s ever tried #wwdbeauty


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NEW YORK, Jan. 31, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- PCH Consumer Insights – the new research platform designed for agencies, researchers, brands, and marketers, fueled by registered users who visit PCH’s websites, and media expert Evan Shapiro, today unveil the results of their Media’s Year of Living Dangerously report. The findings are based on a survey of over 27,000 Americans, providing insights into how 93 percent of current media subscribers are at risk of moving, swapping or canceling their platform subscriptions with every billing cycle.
With major media platforms across all sectors repacking offers, reducing pricing, and remodeling to maximize profit, the report looked at what matters most to media: What consumers will do with their media subscriptions in 2023 and how those same consumers will make content choices. One major finding stood out, noting that only seven percent of consumers who answered the survey intend to stay subscribed to their current media services on a month-to-month basis.
"Our research shows that subscription-based media platforms face a new era of uncertainty as consumers reassess their entertainment options each month,” said Smriti Sharma, Head of Consumer Insights at Publishers Clearing House. "We are now living in an age of ‘nomading,’ where consumers are more willing to switch between subscriptions, pay more to get fewer ads, or pay less for more ads. Regardless of income or age, consumers are actively searching for ways to get the most out of their entertainment subscriptions.”
Additional significant findings include the following:
- Cutting Back to The Basics: Out of the over 27,000 survey responses, 30 percent of all consumers across all media say they intend to cut back to the bare necessities in the coming year. Even homes with household incomes of $150-249K are among those with the greatest likelihood of subscribing less and switching platforms.
- 1 in 10 Loyal Subscribers Still Making the Switch: Even among the most committed subscribers, only one in ten say they intend to stay with their current entertainment subscriptions this year. These consumers are still reassessing monthly, switching as needed, and cutting back to the necessities, even with a track record of platform loyalty. This leaves just seven percent of media subscribers in the safe zone for platform consumption.
- A Complicated Landscape with Free Services and Ad-Supported Tiers: Media consumers most willing to pay a premium to avoid ads are also the most likely to cancel and swap subscriptions monthly. More than a third say they will downgrade their subscriptions to pay less and get more ads. In contrast, 1 in 4 consumers now plan to spend more to see fewer ads in 2023. The arrival of cheaper, ad-supported tiers on premium platforms, combined with the recent rise of free services, seems to have complicated and accelerated the “nomading” of media subscriptions. Yet 41 percent indicate they will vary their payment preferences depending on the content they want to watch.
- Consumer “Attitudes” are fluid: With regards to advertising personalization, the complications continue. 35% of consumers say they dislike the use of their data to personalize ads, while 11% see ad personalization as a benefit to their experience. Yet 54% express no preference at all, demonstrating both a challenge and opportunity for those in the digital ad business.
America’s media subscription consumers do not see content choices as binary or simple. The data clearly shows today’s streaming subscribers are constantly, actively seeking better options. Regardless of which kind of content is streamed, which demographics services strive to serve, or which motivations move subscribers to sign-up, swap, or cancel, 93 percent of all media subscribers are now at risk with every billing cycle. In 2023, streamers and content platforms must get comfortable with complexity and meet the modern media consumer’s demand for “Yes, And.”
Learn about PCH Consumer Insights and download the full survey report here
PCH Consumer Insights surveyed 42,072 American adults 18+, recruited from Publishers Clearing House’s 22 million registered Audience Members, in Q4 2022. The total responses were then weighted to adjust for age and income to align with US Census data for the American population, resulting in the 27K respondents represented in the data above.
About Publishers Clearing House
Publishers Clearing House is one of Media’s most iconic brands, and a top-ranked multi-category media property with a 100% logged-in audience of millions of registered users, each authenticated at an individual level. With uniquely engaging and interactive free-to-play chance-to-win content, PCH’s signature experience delivers consumers who choose to provide accurate first-party data and information as they register and engage with the company. As a result, PCH has one of the largest authenticated audiences outside of the walled gardens, a foundation from which it can offer a variety of ways for publishers and advertisers to activate their identity and 1st party data for cookie-less targeting, buying, and measurement. PCH’s headquarters is in Jericho, NY, with additional offices in Portland (ME) and New York City. Learn more at https://insights.pch.com.


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Need a unique gift idea for the techy person in your life? Look no further than that phone they always have in their hand. There are plenty of great accessories, apps, subscriptions, and other smartphone-related goodies that will improve their quality of life, and thoughtful gifts like that are always the best-received.
Huawei has been in a losing battle with the US government for around ten years, with the last year being the spike of Huawei's problems. Because of US pushback against some Chinese-based smartphone manufacturers due to security concerns, Huawei is hoping to limit its dependency on US-based companies, and recent rumors of Huawei's very own mobile operating system may be the first step.
Android 9.0 Pie has finally arrived for Galaxy devices like the Note 9, S9, and S8, in the form of One UI. Of course, we've had a good idea as to what Samsung had up its sleeve for some time, thanks in large part to beta versions of the firmware that leaked out well before its official debut. Nevertheless, it's still exciting to experience the new features the software has to offer — with all its kinks ironed out.
After poor sales of the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL, Google needs to reinvigorate its Pixel lineup, devices it's been pushing heavily over the last couple years. On May 7, Google had the eyes and ears of the technology industry at its Google I/O keynote, making it the perfect time to announce new devices that would attract a different crowd of users. Meet the Pixel 3a and 3a XL.
Update February 25: The new Sony Xperia flagship has been announced, and it has a new name: The Sony Xperia 1. You can read all of the official specs and details at our full article on Sony's new model.
As Samsung's very own take on Android 9.0 Pie, the newly-dubbed One UI (formerly Samsung Experience, and TouchWiz before that) comes with a slew of new features and redesigned elements for the Galaxy's interface. Many of the changes, like the redesigned native app icons, are readily apparent, but other features got subtle enhancements that greatly improve user friendliness.
Who doesn't love a refresh? Samsung's upcoming One UI makes it easier to use your device with one hand and adds a fresh coat of paint to the formally "Samsung Experience" skin. While you're probably looking forward to installing One UI on your phone, not all Galaxies are equal — your device could be one of the first to receive the update, or it could never see One UI at all.
According to Google's new Android ecosystem transparency report, you're eleven times more likely to be infected by malware if you're running Android Lollipop (5.0) as opposed to Android Pie (9). The same report shows that if you sideload apps, you're almost seven times more likely to be infected than if you stick to Google Play as your app source. All of the data provided in the report is quite interesting, but there's a clear pattern among malware-infected users.
Samsung's Android Pie update — known as One UI — is bringing major changes to the Galaxy S8, Galaxy S9, and Galaxy Note 9. The main interface has received a visual overhaul, and this is no more evident than it is with notifications.
Samsung's version of Android Pie has landed on Galaxy handsets like the Note 9, S9, and S8, though we've known what to expect thanks to leaked beta versions of the software a few months back. The newly dubbed One UI has plenty of new features and improvements, but some of the first you might notice are the visual improvements to the default messaging app.
With Android Pie beta now available for the Galaxy S9 and S9+, Samsung is well on its way to catching up to major competitors like the Google Pixel 3 in terms of giving its users the latest and greatest software Android has to offer. Of course, Samsung has added its own touches to the software to make Android Pie its own and set it apart from the rest of the crowd.
You can mod every aspect of your phone's software with root, but if you want to make changes at the hardware level, you'll need a custom kernel. If you've looked into custom kernels before, one name undoubtedly kept coming up: ElementalX. It's easily the best custom kernel out there, and the reason for that is its awesome developer, flar2, aka Aaron Segaert.
Android Pie has finally made its way to signature Galaxy devices like the Note 9, S9 and S8. As you all know, Samsung Experience got a major makeover and has been renamed to One UI, featuring significant aesthetic changes to many of its native apps.
In the battle for best stock Android flagships, there are really only two choices: Google Pixel phones and OnePlus phones. Although the latter isn't true stock Android, it is impressively close and usually paired with more impressive hardware than the Pixel lineup. The latest is the OnePlus 6T, which will be a bit controversial for fans this year.
You just brought a brand new Pixel 3 from the Google Store, and you insert your SIM card only to find the phone won't recognize it at all. No matter what you do, the SIM card won't register and your Pixel won't connect to your carrier network. That's what happened to me and several other Pixel 3 owners. The good news is a fix is coming, the bad news is Google doesn't have a date for that fix.
The Pixel 3 has an indisputably great camera, but a software update coming soon is going to make it even better. Google will be adding a "Night Sight" shooting mode that's so good with low-light situations that you'll have to see it to believe it.
While many are familiar with Samsung, I'm pretty sure most Americans couldn't name the second-largest smartphone OEM. It's actually Huawei, and they recently released a spec-sheet dream of a phone in the Mate 20 Pro. So naturally, we wanted to see how it compared to the largest OEM's best offering.
Ever since the announcement of the Razer Phone, a wave of gaming smartphones started to hit the market. With ASUS being such a big name in gaming, it made sense for them to throw their hat in the ring. The result is the ROG Phone. And with this first try, ASUS has topped the rest, creating a gaming phone others should try to emulate.
The Pixel 2 XL had what Google called a circular polarizer to ensure the screen would be visible from any orientation while wearing polarized sunglasses. They made a pretty big deal out of it at their 2017 event, but in 2018, there was no mention of whether or not this feature would return in the Pixel 3. It did.
In this jam-packed October, the Huawei Mate 20 Pro has flown under the radar in the US. Due to Huawei's lack of presence in the States, many are unfamiliar with the second largest OEM in the world. Huawei has continuously put out amazing mobile devices, and this year they released a phone that's nearly perfect on paper.
After the limited initial release of the massively popular game on the Android platform, many users have been stuck waiting to play Fortnite. That's because, initially, Epic Games only released the game to Samsung Galaxy devices, and asked non-Samsung users to join an invite list. Well, the wait is finally over.
Late last year, we got a little surprise from Razer. The gaming company released its first smartphone, and as expected, it targeted gamers. Branded as a gaming phone, it started a trend which several other companies followed soon after, including ASUS, Xiaomi, and even Samsung. So as you can imagine, many are excited about its successor.
The Pixel 3 XL versus Galaxy Note 9. Stock Android versus Samsung Experience. When I began this comparison, I thought the Pixel 3 XL would be unfairly outmatched. But after looking at the specs side-by-side, you'll see a different picture. This year, Google delivered a worthy alternative to Samsung's best offering.
Besides the Apple vs. Samsung competition, few battles are as vocal as the battle between the best Pixel and best iPhone. This year, it's the Pixel 3 XL and iPhone XS Max, two phones that are equipped with minor hardware updates from their predecessors, though both showcase significant OS-level improvements.
The battle between the Pixels and the iPhones has been heating up over the last few years, and this year's bout is the best one yet, with Google's Pixel 3 taking on Apple's iPhone XS.
With all the controversy around the Pixel 3 XL, the regular-sized Pixel 3 might be the phone of choice for most users. Thanks to the huge boost in screen size, the little brother is now an easier pickup for those who like a bigger screen. And once more, the internals are the same, giving you the same experience as the 3 XL without the display notch.
The "controversial" Pixel. No phone in the history of Google's Pixel lineup deserves this title more than the Pixel 3 XL. For some (including myself), the design is a welcome change that embodies the modern design of 2018 flagship phones. For others, it has an ugly huge display notch that destroys symmetry.
Even with all the success HMD had with reviving the Nokia brand in 2017, it seems their second year is shaping up to be even better. Nokia has been steadily releasing sequels to last year's lineup, most with the new minimal bezel design language. The Nokia 7.1 is just their latest creation.
Despite Huawei's ongoing battle with the US government, the Chinese company has continued to release phones in the US under its Honor brand. The Honor X series has been consistently released for several years, offering midrange specs at ridiculously low pricing, and the Honor 8X is no exception.
After the first image leaked of the upcoming successor to the Razer Phone, many were taken aback by its design, specifically how familiar it was. Last year's Razer already stood out with its boxy design and large bezels, and many thought the successor would change this. It didn't. But what if the reason for the familiar form factor is a project they teased earlier in the year?
If you haven't heard, another big OEM has decided to drop the headphone jack. OnePlus, the hero of the people, has just announced that the OnePlus 6T will not have the popular port. With this decision, audiophiles and others are limited to just three big-name options.
Earlier this year, Samsung released the Galaxy J3 and J7 to select markets. These two devices are the latest in the J series, Samsung's super-budget series that tries to rewrite what it means to be a budget phone. Now, starting September 14th, you will be able to get them GSM unlocked.
Samsung makes more than just the Galaxy S and Note series. With a large portion of the world not able to afford phones with flagship specs, Samsung makes several different series that focus on price. The latest is the Galaxy A6, a budget option with a flagship feature.
These days, it seems new phones get announced every other week. We've grown accustomed to glossing over the specs, looking at some press renders, then moving on to check out the next phone. If you had done this in September 2008, you might have overlooked what would become one of the most important phones of all time.
When BlackBerry first announced the KEY2 back in June, the biggest gripe we heard was about the price. It was reasonable criticism, as BlackBerry was asking a lot of its consumers at $650. Knowing this, BlackBerry went back, made some downgrades, and cut the price, creating the KEY2 LE.
When rumors first emerged of Sony's Xperia XZ3, many of us wondered why. With the Xperia XZ2 just releasing in April of this year, why is Sony already releasing its successor? But now that it is officially announced, it makes a bit more sense, as what Sony is calling the XZ3 is actually more like the XZ2S.
| Updated Aug. 22, 2019 with new phones. When will my phone get Android Pie? For the first time since Android's inception, this question shouldn't have an answer that lets you down. That's because Android Oreo introduced Project Treble, a new low-level arrangement that makes updating a lot easier. So with Pie, it's not if your phone will get it, but when.
It's a sad day for one of the most beloved series of Android phones. For the first time since 2009, there's a new version of Android, but it's not being made available to Google's own Nexus devices.
In 2018, Motorola is no longer the same brand that introduced the world to the Motorola Droid. The once iconic company is now part of the "Others" group, scrambling for fifth place. The newly-announced Moto Z3 perfectly embodies their current state with competitive specs ... if it came out last year.
After getting confirmation from Tim Sweeney, CEO of Epic Games, we now know Fortnite Battle Royale will not be available on the Play Store when it's finally released for Android. Instead, users will have to download the APK directly from Epic Games' website — and quite frankly, this is a bad idea.


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The bigger brands are exercising some muscle and, in turn, are gaining the upper hand in their relationship with their retail partners.
Quarterly results from Kate Spade & Co. and Coach Inc. show that as they exit certain department store promotional events, the companies are also able to migrate consumers over to full-price purchases. Included in the group of brands that have pulled back on their participation in these same events are Ralph Lauren Corp. and Michael Kors Holdings.
For each of the four firms, the strategic pull-back represents an effort to increase brand equity. Even though Ralph Lauren and Michael Kors don’t report earnings until next week, company executives on past quarterly conference calls have expressed the viewpoint that the pull back also improves the quality of each sale. That translates to better margins.
Ralph Lauren is working on initiatives to drive quality of sales up, which include pulling back on inventory receipts and store closures through its Way Forward Plan being spearheaded by chief executive officer Stefan Larsson. Michael Kors chairman and ceo John Idol said in September at the 23rd Goldman Sachs Global Retailing Conference that in order to bring back the credibility of the pricing structure for the brand, the company on Feb. 1 will no longer be included in friends and family events and in couponing promotions at department stores and other retailers.
Kate Spade ceo Craig Leavitt in a telephone interview Wednesday after the company reported third-quarter results said that as the company expands distribution at new wholesale doors, the partnership begins with the exclusion from many of the planned store promotions already in place. “We are building that customer relationship at full price right from the start. Based on the growing penetration of our full-price business, even in the full price channel, that methodology certainly is working. It points to the strong brand health at Kate,” he said.
For the three months ended Oct. 1, Kate Spade’s net income grew to $29.6 million, or 23 cents a diluted share, on a net sales gain of 14.1 percent to $316.5 million. Adjusted earnings per share was 13 cents. Direct-to-consumer comparable sales growth was up 6.7 percent. Wall Street was expecting EPS of 9 cents on sales of $310.9 million.
Even though Kate Spade bested analysts’ EPS estimate by 4 cents, shares of the company on Wednesday fell 10.2 percent to close at $14.67 in part because the 6.7 percent comps growth was below the 7.4 percent that analysts were predicting for the quarter.
Leavitt said new customers of the brand may purchase a handbag first and then return and buy in a different category, or they may buy a home product first and then check out the core handbag offerings. The company has also been able to migrate existing customers loyal to the brand to full price purchases. Microassorting certain categories based on specific store locations — such as greater selection of working wardrobe offerings in downtown city stores — has helped to grow the full-price channel, as has “finding new ways for the consumer to interact with the brand,” Leavitt said. Those ways include personal shopping appointments at a freestanding store that can be made online, buy online and ship from store, and new merchandise offerings that tout some form of personalization, he explained.
As for “working with its retail partners,” Leavitt said there hasn’t been any resistance from them at all. He noted that conversations with the firm’s wholesale partners on how to differentiate product offerings by door have been well received. The company’s extensive database on sales trends from its e-commerce sales and company-owned stores help to fine-tune the wholesale merchandise mix — whether silhouette, size or occasion — and differentiate their assortment from the competition.
In a telephone interview on Tuesday, Coach ceo Victor Luis said the firm’s runway collection Coach 1941 — available in company-operated stores and at finer department stores and specialty retail doors — “has been doing very well and taking a bigger and bigger proportion of our own store network.”
Luis said the company has been pulling back on promotions and in distribution channels that no longer make sense. Having fewer promotional products available helps to “maintain trust with the consumer and not create confusion across channels,” he said.
Coach on Tuesday posted first quarter results for the period ended Oct. 1 in which profits rose 21.8 percent to $117.4 million, or 42 cents a diluted share, on a net sales gain of 0.7 percent to $1.04 billion.
Gabriella Santaniello, founder of fashion and retail research firm A-Line Partners, said brands such as Kate Spade, Coach, Michael Kors and Ralph Lauren are taking the steps that they need to in order to reposition their respective brand.
“The department stores right now are in a situation where they have to be receptive. It’s not like it was 10 years ago when it was expand, expand, expand. Now they’ve all run into a difficult time and the retailers want to be profitable too. They have to receptive because they don’t want to damage their relationship with their vendors, and they know there will be some growing pains,” Santaniello said.
She compared the current mindset with that of ten years ago, a time when department stores saw a good business and the attitude was to keep growing it, either by expanding the square footage allocated to the brand or by adding more retail doors in general. “Initially everyone thought it was a good idea, and even if someone was losing money, it was still generating sales. The large brands would pay markdown money to keep the business afloat. It takes a lot of courage and business savvy for the brands to say they are pulling out of [certain doors]. At a certain point, you have to do what’s right [because] you can’t over-saturate the market,” Santaniello said.


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What is it about social media measurement that makes it so hard for people to grasp? It is it really that it’s so hard, or is it that people are missing the point? According to Dave Fleet, the Vice President of Digital at Edelman in Toronto, marketers often make it harder than it is.
What’s your biggest frustration with measuring social media? Let us know.
“If you set business objectives properly and the way that a lot of marketers have become accustomed to over the years, [then] it’s not that difficult to tie social media activity back to the business objective,” said Fleet.
“That’s the piece that’s really missing from a lot of the campaigns nowadays,” he added.
The biggest problem with measurement is that marketers jump right in and utilize social media sites without having a plan in place. As Fleet explains, marketers need to develop business objectives and then find tactics that are measurable against the objectives.
He went on to say that these metrics depend on who users are reporting to. For instance, most executives don’t care how many retweets they have. Instead, they care about their bottom line and how their social media strategy relates back to their real business goals of increasing sales, expanding their business, etc.
Fleet also raised a good point in regards to a report that the Harvard Business Review published. The report suggests that the new metric of “Return on Influence” was replacing the conventional “Return on Investment” (ROI) metric. The way to find this “Return on Influence” metric, according to the post is to:
“Divide the total revenue generated via social efforts by the number of social media fans and followers, and you get a per-fan/follower value.”
Fleet believes this is misleading for a number of reasons. For starters, the term “influence” is used widely across the social media industry, but there is not a clear definition of it. Fleet told us that “Return on Investment” was a business metric but that “Return on Influence” was not even a concrete number.
“I really think it’s a mistake to try to fit a square peg into a round hole with this and try and come up with a brand new metric,” he said.
“What we should be doing is trying to tie back social media activities… to business objectives. Anything other than that is just skirting the issue.”
Another mistake that marketers make with social media measurement is thinking that what works for one company will also work on another. Fleet told us that this is not true at all. To find out what specific metrics a business should examine, he said that the marketers needed to look at their individual business and their goals.
“You can’t just plug a name or a field into a computer and come up with a one-size-fits-all solution,” pointed out Fleet. “It really has to be tailored to the organization.”
Fleet said that he was “very alarmed” since so much misinformation is being distributed online about social media measurement. He told us that Katie Paine and others were advocating a mission to educate both agencies and clients on measurement.
Does all the conflicting information that is circulating online confuse you?