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US-based retail bookseller Barnes & Noble, Inc. has announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to be acquired by funds advised by Elliott Advisors (UK) Limited in an all-cash transaction valued at approximately $683 million. This follows Elliott’s acquisition of UK-based retail bookseller Waterstones in June 2018.
Following the close of the transaction – expected in the third quarter of 2019 – Elliott will own both Barnes & Noble and Waterstones. While each bookseller will operate independently, they will share a common CEO and benefit from the sharing of best practice between the companies. James Daunt, CEO of Waterstones, will assume the role of CEO of Barnes & Noble following the completion of the transaction and will be based in New York.
Through this acquisition, Elliott seeks to build upon Barnes & Noble’s strong foundation as it addresses significant challenges facing the bricks-and-mortar book retail space, applying a model that successfully turned around Waterstones over the past decade. A strategy of investment in its store estate and empowerment of local bookselling teams, restored sales growth and sustainable profitability for Waterstones.
“We are pleased to have reached this agreement with Elliott, the owner of Waterstones, a bookseller I have admired over the years. In view of the success they have had in the bookselling marketplace, I believe they are uniquely suited to improve and grow our company for many years ahead. I am also confident that James Daunt has the leadership ability and experience necessary to lead this great organization. I will do everything I can to help him make the transition smooth. Having been the leader of Barnes & Noble for 54 years, I have had the privilege of working with the very best people in all the world of bookselling, including our great store managers and booksellers, who work in our stores. It is they who have made Barnes & Noble the #1 most reputable retailer in America,” said Leonard Riggio, founder and chairman of Barnes & Noble.
“I look forward greatly to working with the booksellers at Barnes & Noble. Physical bookstores the world over face fearsome challenges from online and digital. We meet these with investment and with all the more confidence for being able to draw on the unrivalled bookselling skills of these two great companies. As a place in which to choose a book, and for the sheer pleasure of visiting, we know that a good bookstore has no equal. I thank Mr. Riggio for his confidence, and I am grateful to Elliott for their commitment to support the continued transformation at Waterstones, and now also the same at Barnes & Noble,” Daunt added.
“Our investment in Barnes & Noble, following our investment last year in Waterstones, demonstrates our conviction that readers continue to value the experience of a great bookstore. We would like to acknowledge the contributions of Founder and Chairman Leonard Riggio and his team for creating the leading bookstore company in the United States. We look forward to working with James Daunt and the Barnes & Noble community of readers, members and booksellers as they start an exciting new chapter,” concluded Paul Best, portfolio manager and head of European Private Equity at Elliott.
J Lindeberg was started by Johan Lindeberg in 1990s with the aimSeptember 2, 2022 | By RetailME Bureau
Majid Al Futtaim has made significant strides toward environmental, social, and corporateJuly 5, 2022 | By RetailME Bureau
Abu Dhabi based grocery retail chain Lulu Group has partnered with Amazon
UAE-government-led initiative Food Tech Valley – announced in 2021 by His Highness
Abu Dhabi-based supermarket chain Lulu Hypermarket is all set to open in
Plant-based meat brand Beyond Meat’s financial results for the third quarter of
UAE’s fresh produce brand Barakat has launched bio-degradable packaging across its entire
UAE-based agritech start-up Pure Harvest Smart Farms has signed a Memorandum of
Carrefour, owned and operated by Majid Al Futtaim – Retail in the
Grandiose Supermarket, part of Ghassan Aboud Group, has announced expansion plan in
The Valrhona journey began 100 years ago with a cocoa bean. Since
Deliveroo UAE has announced the expansion of its rapid grocery delivery service
The Ministry of Climate Change and Environment (MOCCAE) revealed that the UAE
The Dubai Festivals and Retail Establishment (DFRE) has unveiled an exciting line-up
Sunset Hospitality Group (SHG) has announced a partnership with award-winning Italian restaurant
UAE-based retail group Brands For Less Group (BFL) launched its first shopping
The UAE e-commerce market is expected to reach $9.2 billion in 2026,
As part of its expansion plan home-grown brand PINZA! opens two dine-in
Alison Rehill-Erguven the new CEO of Arabian Centres Company (ACC), owner, developer
Online luxury and fashion business NET-A-PORTER announced the winners of its inaugural
Healthcare provider under Aster DM Healthcare Group Medcare forays into beauty &
Luxury retailer Chalhoub Group’s homegrown brand Level Shoes turns 10 continuing to
UAE-based Arabic eatery Operation: Falafel, which is part of AWJ Investments, has
Global sportwear retailer NIKE, Inc. recently reported its fiscal 2023 financial results
One of the leading grocery retail operators of hypermarkets and supermarkets in


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Slingshot your way to startup success with a Singapore advantage
That Singapore is an attractive destination for young startups looking to expand beyond their native domiciles is old news. What’s not so old, however, is an accolade recently bestowed upon the island nation by US-based think-tank Startup Genome: Sunny Singapore has now overtaken Silicon Valley to become number one in the world for startup talent. With the Singapore government perennially rolling out new initiatives to attract startups, the list of reasons to establish a base here is growing at an exponential rate.
Laying out the red carpet for international startups
The Singapore government is well-known for its financial generosity toward startups, but a recent announcement made just over a month ago has taken this generosity to unprecedented levels. The existing EntrePass scheme, which enables foreign entrepreneurs to start and operate new businesses in Singapore, will soon have an initial validity of two years instead of the previous one year. A requirement for EntrePass applicants to have a paid-up capital of at least USD35,800 in their startups will also be waived.
Startups specialising in deep-tech (AI, VR and the like) have even more to look forward to. The government is now prepared to shell out up to USD2.86 million in co-investment funding support for such firms. More initiatives are likely to be launched in the near future as the number of schemes under the ‘Startup SG’ umbrella increases.
So how can your startup benefit?
A potential expansion into Singapore as a legal and operating base is an exciting move for any startup in the region. That said, there will be certain challenges that come with venturing into new territory. Fortunately, corporate consultancy firm In.Corp Group is here to help.
Coming June 20, In.Corp will be holding an information session for startups in Indonesia and the region in conjunction with the Singapore government-affiliated Action Community for Entrepreneurship (ACE). They’ll be covering topics ranging from the benefits of expanding into Singapore to the nitty gritty details of the expansion itself.
The event is free to attend, and you can begin signing up below, or at this link! As this will be an invite-only event, successful applicants will be notified via email by 16 June 2017. We hope to see you there!
Panel Topic: What should be the Singapore approach for Indonesian companies?
Some of the questions that will be explored with the panel are:
- Does it make sense to launch my product in Singapore?
- What are the legal requirements to bring my business to Singapore? What’s the procedure?
- How do I approach the Singaporean consumer or enterprise client?
- As a startup from Indonesia or elsewhere in the region, what are the pros and cons of setting up a legal base in Singapore
- What’s the procedure and what are the common mistakes?
- Atin Bhutani, CEO, In.Corp Global
- Ramesh Shahdadpuri, Executive Director, Action Community for Entrepreneurship (ACE)
- J.P. Ellis, Founder & Group CEO, C88 Financial Technologies
- Benjamin Twoon, Co-Founder & COO, Fundnel Ltd.
Date: 20 June 2017, Tuesday
Time: 6:30pm – 9:30pm (Registration will start from 5.00pm onwards)
Venue: JW Luwansa Hotel Jakarta – Rapha Room 1 & 2
This post Slingshot your way to startup success with a Singapore advantage appeared first on Tech in Asia.

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Nvidia has made plenty of changes to its reference cooler design over the past few generations of hardware. With the next-gen RTX 4090 Ti, we might see another new Nvidia GPU cooler design, this time with a triple-fan setup.
According to known leaker, kopite7kimi, the new cooler will be used on the RTX 4090 and RTX 4090 Ti reference cards. They also claim that the RTX 4090 should launch in October, followed by the RTX 4080 in November and the RTX 4070 in December.
At least, they designed a triple-fan cooler for reference board of AD102. https://t.co/vQb2KnpE4y
— kopite7kimi (@kopite7kimi) June 9, 2022
Based on the rumours that the RTX 4090 Ti could consume up to 600W of power, it wouldn't be surprising if Nvidia did add a third fan to its standard cooler. The RTX 4090 is expected to have a 450W TDP, so the triple-fan cooler may end up being reserved for the Ti flagship.
It is worth noting that rumours of a triple-fan reference cooler also popped up prior to the RTX 30 launch. However, these coolers were only ever used on engineering samples. With that in mind, take this rumour with a pinch of salt, as a similar situation might be playing out.
Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.
KitGuru says: All rumours are pointing towards high-end RTX 40 GPUs requiring a bit more power than the current generation. If that is true, then some cooler revisions will likely be needed.


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Pet foods today are all about “natural,” “organic” or “premium.”
Those in the business also have another name for the high-end pet-food market: “recession-resistant.”
Despite the Great Recession forcing consumers to make cuts in many of their luxury purchases, industry experts said the premium pet-food market has posted strong sales since 2008.
“While global retail sales of dog and cat food increased nearly 30 percent from 2004 to 2009, volume increased only 7.2 percent during that period, which shows the influence of higher-priced pet-food products,” according to Packaged Facts, a for-market research publisher.
In the United States, dog- and cat-food sales increased from $13.2 billion in 2003 to $18.4 billion in 2010, according to the Pet Food Institute.
“The market has proven itself once again to be recession-resistant,” said David Lummis, senior pet market analyst for Packaged Facts. “There was a slowdown in the last recession, but the market has never gone negative. Growth continued at 4 to 5 percent annually.”
The trend played out in Colorado through the growth of two companies that specialize in premium pet food.
• Chuck & Don’s Pet Food Outlet opened its first Colorado store in Cherry Creek in January, and sales have been so strong, it will open four more area locations before that store’s first anniversary.
• Denver-based Spirit Filled Foods Inc., which makes the all-natural Kumpi brand of food for cats and dogs, has experienced “steady growth” each of the past four years, said Evelyn “Evy” Serpa, owner.
“One of people’s last luxury is their pets,” Serpa said. “They’ll cut out movies, but their pet is their life. To that extent, you’re going to spend money on what you value.”
Two other factors have fueled the growth: the proliferation of premium brands in several price ranges, and pet owners’ realization that spending more on food up front can head off hefty veterinarian bills in the future.
“People have scrimped and saved in other portions of their lives, but they are definitely feeding their pets well,” said Jim Flipp, Chuck & Don’s corporate food buyer. “Our premium pet-food sales have been up 15 percent over last year, and it has been growing for the last five to six years.”
Chuck and Don’s sells 30 brands of pet foods, which range from $30 to $80 per bag. Its four new locations will be in Centennial, Littleton, Lakewood and Aurora.
“Even during the recession, people have stayed with the quality food they’re used to buying,” said Bob Hartzell, Chuck & Don’s president and CEO.
It’s no accident the Minnesota-based pet food and supply retailer chose its first store to be near a natural foods grocer, Whole Foods Market in Cherry Creek, as the customers are often the same for both.
“We’re picking neighborhoods where we feel there’s a good, healthy pet population,” Hartzell said. “Those people are looking for premium pet foods.”
The large retail chains bringing premium foods to a greater consumer base also have caused growth in the market.
PetSmart, which has 22 stores in the metro Denver area, launched two new natural pet-food products this year alone: Innova, from Natura Pet Products Inc., and Simply Nourish.
“Pet parents are recognizing the importance of good nutrition,” Gayle Franger, vice president of merchant marketing, said in an email. “We are focused on expanding our natural food selection to include even more brands.”
Franger pointed to a 2010 PetSmart survey that showed 93 percent of pet owners believed the food they use “matters to their pet’s health or well-being.”
“I’m telling you what I hear from customers [who have used cheaper foods], they’ve had more vet bills, and those are hideous expenses,” Serpa said.
Kumpi sales have gone “incredibly well” in recent years, she said. The company distributes through 20 retail outlets, including select Vitamin Cottages.
“There’s a huge focus on the quality of ingredients,” Lummis said. “Pet owners who pay premium prices are label readers and interested in that information.”
The next trend will be in frozen, or refrigerated, pet foods. That accounts for just about 1 percent of the market, but more frozen and refrigerated displays are showing up in stores, Lummis said.
“Every time I talk to a frozen pet-food manufacturer, they talk about having double-digit growth,” he said. “That side of the market continues to develop.”


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6 days out of WWDC 2020, Apple has redesigned App Store Connect with a new look, and finally, 13 years after its initial debut, has made it mobile responsive. The change was silent, Apple did not announce the new design officially instead it was first spotted by Twitter user @dancingpandor.
Now, thanks to the new design being mobile response, developers can now more easily access their app information including TestFlight details right on their phone via the website.
Current feedback hints that the design is slightly buggy with small UI glitches, and one user complaining the new design removed their app screenshots. The new changes will be highly welcomed by developers who have long sought Apple to update the services outdated design. It remains unclear if other backend changes were made, however, currently, it simply seems to be cosmetic.


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TECHNOLOGY; The Hail Mary Release
By MATT RICHTEL
Published: August 8, 2005
Electronic Arts, the world's biggest video game maker, plans to release Madden N.F.L. '06 on Tuesday. It is the 18th annual version of an increasingly lifelike game that lets players be the quarterback of a pro football team, and that sells millions of copies each year.
In this year's edition, a slice of the field lights up to give the quarterback better vision and throwing precision when he makes a pass. It also lets players follow the athletes' off-the-field activities.
But Steve Perry, 35, once an avid Madden fan, won't be lining up to buy the game. He said he dropped the habit several years ago, after his daughter was born and he tired of spending $50 to get an update of a title he already owned.
''I'm not willing to jump along and buy a new one each time,'' said Mr. Perry, who works in sales for a newspaper in San Antonio. ''I'm not going to fall prey to that.''
His complaint underscores a potential problem for Electronic Arts, which has suffered financial setbacks this year. Increasingly, industry analysts and game reviewers are wondering if the company's dependence on sequels is a sign that it is losing its creative edge.
By year's end, Electronic Arts plans to release 26 new games, all but one of them a sequel, including the 16th version of N.H.L. Hockey, the 11th of the racing game Need for Speed and the 13th of the P.G.A. Tour golf game. The company also relies heavily on creating games based on movies like the James Bond and Lord of the Rings series, rather than developing original brands.
''There's a feeling of franchise fatigue. Gamers are wondering, 'Do I need to buy this game again this year? I just bought it last year,''' said Mike Hickey, an analyst with Janco Partners, an investment firm in Denver, who has a sell rating on the company's stock.
The reliance on sequels and licensed media properties, he said, is ''dampening the creative spirit.''
Lawrence F. Probst III, chairman and chief executive of Electronic Arts, dismisses that view. ''The teams that work on the franchise properties have a great deal of pride in constantly looking to improve the product,'' Mr. Probst said. Besides, he said, sequels, because they have a steady following among consumers, appeal to Wall Street investors.
He added that the company had a goal of putting out at least one entirely new game every year, and had several major original games in its pipeline.
To be fair, sequels are a stock-in-trade of the industry; 9 of last year's 10 top-selling games were follow-ons. Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, the No. 1 title from Take-Two Interactive Software, for example, is the fifth version of that game. Reliance on tried-and-true sequels makes it possible to have a steady revenue stream in an unpredictable business.
Mr. Probst's defense, however, has not pushed aside worries about the company's continued growth. It recently reported a first-quarter net loss of $58 million, while sales dropped 16 percent compared with the same period last year.
The issue of creative fatigue emerges as Electronic Arts and the rest of the video game industry, while on a high-growth trajectory over the long term, have hit a cyclical soft spot. Consumers have slowed their buying of video games in recent months in anticipation of the release of two new video game consoles -- the Xbox 360, scheduled for release from Microsoft later this year, and the PlayStation 3, due out from Sony next year.
Electronic Arts, based in Redwood City, Calif., recently lowered its full-year revenue estimates to $3.3 billion to $3.4 billion, from $3.4 billion to $3.5 billion, in part blaming a delay in the release of its game The Godfather, which will not be sold until next spring. The eagerly awaited game, based on the mobster movies, was supposed to be out over the holidays, when the game industry makes about 50 percent of its annual sales. But the company said it was still making improvements. The sizable financial effect of that delay is precisely the kind of trouble Electronic Arts avoids by putting out sequels. The company has been profitable over the years because it has been able to smooth out the volatility of its business with games that sell year after year.
With games based on soccer, racing, basketball and college and pro football, it can churn out dependable sequels, which are often much cheaper to create than brand-new games, which can cost upward of $10 million. Sequels are also somewhat easier to market because they already have a following.
Many analysts say that Electronic Arts's strategy and dependence on sports games -- which account for about 30 percent of its revenue -- is smart. ''Their sports business gives them a leg up on everybody else,'' said Michael Wallace, an analyst with UBS. ''It's the closest thing there is to recurring revenue in this business.''
But critics are worried that even if it hangs on to the sports franchise, the company will need to take more creative risks to accelerate its growth.
Indeed, the strategy came under attack last year when Take-Two Interactive began selling its own sports titles at cut-rate prices. Electronic Arts, in response, signed expensive long-term licensing deals to give it exclusive rights to make N.F.L. games and titles using the ESPN brand and logo.


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Chargefox has been acquired by Australian Mobility Clubs, which include NRMA, RACV, RACQ, RAC, RAA and RACT. The acquisition was completed through Australian Motoring Services, owned by the clubs, which has previously held a major stake in Chargefox, but have now bought the remaining shares to become the sole owner of the business.
Chargefox’s leadership and team will remain the same.
Chargefox is targeting the installation of more than 5,000 EV plugs across the country by the end of 2025 – albeit now with extensive financial backing.
“The accelerated rollout of Chargefox’s network has broad-reaching benefits, as it allows for further local and long-distance EV travel, giving more Australian EV drivers better access to world-leading charging technology right across the country,” continuing Chargefox CEO, Marty Andrews, said in a statement. “The backing of such a strong, longstanding partner and their investment will help us to deliver on this.”
Chargefox has been operating charging stations across Australia and New Zealand since 2018, when it formed as a joint venture between Cogent.co Ventures and JET Charge.
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GUANGZHOU, April 19 (Xinhua) -- South China's Guangdong Province saw its foreign trade total 1.83 trillion yuan (about 280.5 billion U.S. dollars) in the first quarter of 2021, up 33.4 percent year on year, customs authorities said.
Guangdong, a manufacturing heartland and leading foreign trade player in China, reported its export value grew 41.6 percent to 1.12 trillion yuan while the import value increased 22.2 percent to about 700 billion yuan, according to the Guangdong sub-administration of General Administration of Customs.
Both its export value and total foreign trade value reached record highs in the period, suggesting robust growth and strong recovery after the COVID-19 outbreak.
In the first quarter of this year, foreign trade contributed by the province's private enterprises notched up around 1.04 trillion yuan, up 39.3 percent, showing the sector's ever-increasing vitality. Enditem


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Image: McPlant plant-based burger. Source: McDonald's
Starting Nov. 3, the "McPlant" will be on the menu at eight locations in Texas, Louisiana, Iowa and California as part of a trial run to help gauge customer interest in the meatless offering, McDonald’s announced Thursday.
The limited run will also help the chain better understand the impact of introducing a plant-based item into its kitchen operations, the company said.
McDonald’s did not share any details on when the McPlant would be available nationwide.
The burger — which consists of a patty made from vegetables including peas, rice and potatoes and is served on a bun with a slice of American cheese and traditional condiments — is already receiving an "encouraging response" in some international markets, including Sweden, Denmark, Austria, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom.
CNBC noted that McDonald’s vast global footprint of nearly 40,000 locations is a massive opportunity for Beyond, which entered into a three-year partnership with the fast-food powerhouse in February to develop plant-based menu items.
Over the last two years, several chains, including White Castle, Dunkin’ and Carl’s Jr., have raced to add meatless items to menus as customers have become more interested in vegetarian and vegan diets.
In 2019, Restaurant Brands International’s Burger King released a plant-based Whopper, along with new breakfast sandwiches, made with a patty created by Impossible Foods.
Burger King announced last week that it will begin testing meatless nuggets at several locations in the US.
The approach by McDonald’s has been more cautious in comparison, as the company has taken more time to learn more about meat substitutes and consumer demand in the US.
Source: Equities News


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Porsche 919 Takes to London’s Streets in a Display of Hybrid Technology
Bleary eyed commuters had a bit of a shock this morning as Mark Webber took to London’s streets in his Le Mans-winning 919 Hybrid, closely followed by the all-new Panamera 4 E-Hybrid. In a display of two of the most advanced Porsches ever built, the cars were brought together to demonstrate how the marque translates its race-winning hybrid technology from the track to the road.
Driven by Mark Webber, Porsche factory race driver and 2015 FIA World Endurance Champion, the 919 Hybrid brought the spectacle of Le Mans to London, driving through the city from Park Lane to the South Bank of the River Thames. Like a high technology Monopoly™ player, Mark navigated the capital’s streets via Hyde Park Corner, Piccadilly Circus, Trafalgar Square and Parliament Square to arrive at the distinctive London County Hall Hotel, adjacent to the famous London Eye.
In the cold light of a late September morning it was an extraordinary spectacle, the Porsche duo running against normal London traffic as the city began to stutter into life. In amongst London’s usual array of black cabs, red buses and early morning delivery vans the sight of the 919 cruising the streets was an unexpected one.
Throughout its history, Porsche has used the innovations it has developed for the track and applied them to its renowned sports cars. This morning’s jaunt around London underlined this philosophy, and moreover it was a world first; the new Panamera E-Hybrid making its global debut alongside the 919 Hybrid.
Like the race car, the Panamera E-Hybrid is powered by a combustion engine and also an electric motor charged by lithium-ion batteries. Combined, this is the ultimate expression of a long-standing Porsche ethos; high performance with high efficiency.
The new Porsche Panamera 4 E-Hybrid pairs a 462 hp V6 twin-turbocharged engine with a 136 hp electric motor. Consequently, it offers a whole new level of performance compared to its predecessor, and asserts the reputation of the Panamera as the sports car among luxury saloons. The latest, second generation of the four door, four seat Gran Turismo is officially unveiled this week at the Paris Auto Show.
GT Porsche will be in Paris this week, so keep your eyes peeled for our pre-show report on what Porsche brings to the mix.


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Prime Minister Narendra Modi will flag off a direct train service between Varanasi and Vadodara, during a two-day visit to his parliamentary... ...http://www.catchnews.com/national-news/prime-minister-modi-to-launch-train-link-to-vadodara-during-two-day-varanasi-visit-82442.html
By Tom Sims FRANKFURT (Reuters) - Two years into the job as Deutsche Bank's chief executive, John Cryan faces its board this week amid growing... ...http://www.sify.com/finance/deutsche-bank-ceo-faces-board-grilling-on-turnaround-progress-news-economy-rjsuENhcbbjjj.html
Palakkad: Postal Department gets ready to conquer the market by competing with huge banking institutions in digital transactions. Postal RuPay... ...http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/MathrubhumiEnglish/~3/MxP6oCkL5rs/postal-department-to-introduce-net-banking-and-debit-cardpost-office-rupay-card-1.2244369
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Godhwani exit comes at a time when the company’s fund raising plans and proposed related party transactions are under scrutiny, says N... ...http://www.rediff.com/money/special/why-sunil-godhwanis-exit-is-a-big-blow-to-religare/20170914.htm
If Automotive Service Technician...
I still have a couple of products I...


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All aboard the self-driving bandwagon
GM and Softbank are the most recent firms to invest in self-driving cars. Japanese holding company Softbank announced its investment of $2.25 billion into GM’s self-driving development. In December, the firm purchased a 15% stake in Uber, who is also testing self-driving functionalities.
GM will follow suit, investing $1.1 billion in the same joint project, called GM Cruise. They plan on rolling out self-driving cars as soon as next year.
In a record-high partnership to develop self-driving technology, Softbank will own 20% in the joint venture, pledging $900 million now and the other $1.35 billion once the cars hit the market.
After the announcement on Thursday, GM’s (GM) stock rose 12.87%, which marks their largest one-day increase since 2010.
Not only does this deal provide GM with more cash for research and development, but it also benefits them strategically. With a Japanese partner, they can more easily breach into the Asian market with this new technology. Additionally, they now have a mutual investor with Uber, so they could collaborate in the near future.
Plus, this is a brilliant move for Softbank. First, GM has the capabilities of building many vehicles quickly and efficiently. If they can implement this technology, then they can roll it out quickly and in large masses. Also, they have many different vehicles, ranging from Sedans to SUVs to trucks – thus, the self-driving technology could be tailored to almost any consumer.
Other self-driving technology firms are following suit. Google’s Waymo has recently partnered with Fiat Chrysler to implement its technology in its cars, and Ford has invested in Argo AI, a technology firm also investing in self-driving cars.
Self-driving cars may face some roadblocks, but they are trucking on harder than ever.
Featured image via Flickr/MIKI Yoshihito


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PARIS — Some French companies are injecting a healthy helping of eco-consciousness into their products to cultivate an ethical image ... and boost sales, the AFP reported.
Since the owner of Divinextases Frederic Donnat launched the premiere line of 100 percent organic “erotic cosmetics” two years ago, he said the company has tripled its sales to 450,000 euros (about $600,000).
Donnats’ eight products range from post-spanking balm to intimate perfumes and now boast an official “quality label” from France’s national organic federation. Each item is made in France with sustainable material (like beeswax and shea butter instead of palm oil) and come wrapped in recyclable packaging.
Donnat hopes to expand his line with four new products next year and begin exporting to Sweden, Norway and other “mature” markets.
Divinextases is far from alone in French entrepreneurs’ recent bidding to jump on the eco-friendly bandwagon. Laboratoires Claude, an organic pill manufacturer with the company slogan “Take care in love,” prescribes it supplements to boost arousal and increase sexual pleasure, without the danger of unsafe ingredients.
Currently the only manufacturer of its kind to offer organic products, company director Fleur Phelipeau believes their sales will rise as much as 300 percent.
"Eighty percent of the products on the market contain Viagra, which can be dangerous for older men," she told AFP, explaining Laboratoires Claude uses only organic plants in their supplements.
She added that demand is outpacing supply to the point where the company now must source their more exotic ingredients, like Peruvian maca, outside France.
Another online store, Arbre Des Plasirs (translates to Forest of Pleasure), promises to plant a tree in the Amazon forest for every sex toy purchased on its site. It also offers a nifty recycling service for worn-out vibrators.
Despite the enthusiasm and reported sales boosts of novelty-companies-gone-green, some remain wary.
A spokeswoman for the erotic film retailer Dorcel said they believe product performance outweighs organic credentials, but are still monitoring the success of various “eco” competitors.


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Welcome, Sign In
Almost a Million Xbox 360's Sold on Black Friday Week
Description:11/30/11 Microsoft announced that it had its biggest sales week in Xbox history during the week of Black Friday by selling more than 960,000 consoles in the US.
New York Financial Press
new york financial press


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The now undisputed baseball game, MLB 14: The Show, has issued a new PS3 trailer showing the improvements for the PS3 as well as an April 1st PS3 and Vita.
Sony is without company this year as 2K has backed out from making their annual baseball series, MLB 2K, leaving The Show as the only way to play any baseball game on console this year. Sony has posted a few more details of the franchise's new features on the PlayStation Blog including some information about their new "stubs" system.
After watching a handful of videos and looking at the pictures, it seems MLB 14 is all about beard hair. That's fine by me. MLB 14: The Show is due out April 1st for PS3 and Vita with a release window of May for PS4.


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It’s now less than two weeks to the March 29 event where Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8+ will be unveiled, but so far there’re few details that are yet to be disclosed about the two phones.
It has become a norm that leaks about Samsung Galaxy S8 keep coming out on a daily basis. We recently heard that the South Korean tech giant has plans to use a pressure-sensitive home button on the Galaxy S8 and turn to a full-blown 3D Touch-like button with the Galaxy Note 8 and today, we have a new set of leaks and rumors as well.
According to reports coming from China, Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8+ variants in this market will ship with up to 6GB RAM. It is not the first time we’re hearing about this rumor, but it is now increasingly becoming evident that this 6GB RAM variant could remain exclusive to the Chinese market. One obvious reason for doing this would be to match the local competition, where there are plenty of phones with this amount of RAM and even more.
Still, this doesn’t mean that folks in China won’t be able to get their hands on the 4GB RAM variant, but it means that other markets will only have to do with this model, which will also come with a smaller 64GB storage as compared to the 128GB touted for the 6GB RAM model.
Since Samsung Galaxy S8 will ditch the physical home button, the fingerprint scanner will be moved to the back. To support this biometric recognition feature will be an iris scanner on the front panel. According to reports, Samsung will improve the accuracy of this feature by including support for facial recognition to the S8 twins. It gets even better as incoming reports claim that this facial recognition feature will be supported on Samsung Pay as far as authentication is concerned.
Galaxy S8 poster pic.twitter.com/EqHcHFs27G
— Ice universe (@UniverseIce) March 17, 2017
Samsung is expanding the reach of its mobile payment platform and it wants consumers of this technology to have the most secure environments for conducting their transactions. With facial recognition, iris scanning and fingerprint scanning, you’ll have three of the most secure options on earth.
Apparently, this facial recognition support for Samsung Pay users will not be available when the company unveils Samsung Galaxy S8 at the end of this month. But according to Bloomberg, which has more details on this matter, the technology will be released in the months following the release of the phones.
Last but not least, Samsung has made it official that the Galaxy S8 will be available for purchase this April, but there’s no specific date. Recent reports have pointed towards an April 28th release date, with Korean pre-orders scheduled for April 7th, but none of these is mentioned in the official event poster.


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SIHH 2016 With Christophe Claret, de Bethune and Laurent Ferrier
The CEOs explain why their brands will exhibit at the SIHH, along with H. Moser & Cie, HYT, Hautlence, MB&F, Urwerk and Voutilainen..
In this second part of yesterday article "SIHH 2016 - From 16 to 24 exhibitors", Christophe Claret, Laurent Ferrier, and Pierre Jacques - CEO of De Bethune - explain why they have accepted the Fondation de la Haute Horlogerie's invitation to take part in the SIHH 2016.
Exhibiting in both Geneva and Basel brings with it a financial burden in a depressed global economy. But like the other new exhibitors at the SIHH, Christophe Claret sees the extra exhibition as an opportunity to boost business that simply has to be taken. “We have been talking with the organisers of the SIHH about this opportunity for several years and we are very happy to be able to exhibit there next year,” says Christophe Claret. “Given the difficult economic climate at the moment we cannot afford to pass up on business opportunities. For the moment, we will maintain our presence at Baselworld because we have invested a lot of money in our stand. Maybe we will adapt our positioning according the results from the SIHH. Our presence at the SIHH was confirmed in too short a time frame to allow us to present a specific new product for the exhibition, but we will nevertheless have a number of new watches that have not yet been seen by many of our customers, and even less so by potential future customers, such as the Marguerite, the Mecca and the X-TREM 1 in blue.”
Pierre Jacques, CEO of De Bethune
“As a member of the Fondation de la Haute Horlogerie for the past three years, exhibiting at the SIHH was logical for us,” says Pierre Jacques, who is well-placed to judge the importance of the SIHH, since he attended it in 2010 when he was manager of the Les Ambassadeurs store in Geneva. This privileged access to press and the trade from around the world, with a 75m2 stand in the heart of the action, helps to facilitate growth in an increasingly uncertain economic climate.
Pierre Jacques also knows the value of a brand such as De Bethune for the attractiveness of the Salon de la Haute Horlogerie: “We are a genuine manufacture (we even produce our own dials and hands) and are regularly acknowledged at international competitions, notably with the Aiguille d’Or of the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève, and are among the 20 most searched-for high-end watch brands on the Internet (according to the World Watch Report 2014 by DLG)”. As the cult brand among collectors already exhibited both in Geneva and Basel, the planning for new product launches will remain the same, although visitors to Baselworld will have to visit the brand at the Ramada hotel next year, rather than in the Palace.
“We said yes immediately – it’s a real honour to find ourselves in a situation like this” says the founder of the brand by the same name, who has high hopes for the 2016 edition of the SIHH. “On the one hand, we are no longer lost amid a welter of 350 other small brands like at Baselworld, but instead appearing amongst only eight others that are all of excellent standing; and on the other, the natural selection of visitors at the SIHH ensures excellent quality of the contacts made there, both with the media and the retailers” adds Laurent Ferrier, whose only regret lies in not being able to exhibit at both fairs.
And what about production if his wish for sales growth comes true? “Laurent Ferrier must remain a highly exclusive, discreet brand. Our clients will continue to be able to walk around with a watch that is devoid of any ostentation. That’s the advantage of having limited production: we will always have 100 to 150 people in the world who want to treat themselves to our creations. We just need to be capable of producing 150 rather than 100 if our presence at the SIHH proves a success.”
The Christophe Claret watches are truly exceptional mechanisms. They testify to expertise resolutely geared towards technological innovation and consistently pushing back the limits of watchmaking...Find out more
De Bethune embraces the wealth of the watchmaking knowhow of the past in order to design the watches of the future. This combination results in timepieces with all the attributes and technical...Find out more
Laurent Ferrier’s approach to watchmaking revolves around five essential characteristics that are taken into account in the development of all the brand’s timepieces.Find out more


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CLEVELAND, Ohio -- KFC has a new signature dipping sauce, just don’t ask for it by its old name.
KFC Sauce is now available at your local Kentucky Fried Chicken. The fast-food chain describes the new concoction as “tangy and sweet, with a bit of smokiness.”
“When we set out to create a new signature dipping sauce, we went right to the experts – our customers – to find out what made a sauce best-in-class for dipping,” says KFC chief marketing officer Andrea Zahumensky in a press release. “We went through 50 iterations, and their response to this recipe was overwhelming!”
KFC Sauce replaces the old recipe, known as Finger Lickin' Good Sauce. The company has stopped using its famous marketing slogan in the age of coronavirus when licking your fingers could be, well, risky.
“We find ourselves in a unique situation—having an iconic slogan that doesn’t quite fit in the current environment. While we are pausing the use of ‘It’s Finger Lickin’ Good,' rest assured the food craved by so many people around the world isn’t changing one bit,” KFC announced back in August.
The new sauce means chicken tender fans have five condiments to choose from: KFC Sauce, Classic Ranch, Honey BBQ, Honey Mustard and KFC Hot Sauce.
Or you can change your life by trying my own signature sauce recipe: one part ketchup, one part Worcestershire sauce. You’re welcome.


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- 2 min read
Automaker Nissan expands research ties in China as part of bid to regain market share
The major auto companies were caught flat-footed by a boom in electric vehicles in China that has given rise to new Chinese competitors that have gobbled up market share at home and are now moving into Southeast Asia, Europe and other overseas markets.
The Japanese automaker announced Sunday that it would launch joint research next year with Tsinghua University on reaching Generation Z - defined for this project as those born between 1995 and 2009 - and on the social responsibility of automakers in battery recycling, charging stations and other electric vehicle-related issues.
The major auto companies were caught flat-footed by a boom in electric vehicles in China that has given rise to new Chinese competitors that have gobbled up market share at home and are now moving into Southeast Asia, Europe and other overseas markets. Nissan's sales in China plunged 34% in the six months from April to September compared with a year earlier.
"Market conditions in China have become extremely tough," Masashi Matsuyama, the head of Nissan's Chinese investment company, said at a news conference in Beijing.
Nissan plans to develop 10 further new-energy vehicles for the Chinese market, four under its own brand by 2026 and the other six for Chinese joint venture partners. The company is aiming to launch the first Nissan-branded model in the second half of next year.
The automaker is also stepping up its electric vehicle offerings in other markets. Nissan, which has an alliance with French automaker Renault SA, announced last month that it would retool a factory in Great Britain to make electric versions of its two best-selling vehicles.
China's electric vehicles have become a trade issue for the European Union, which has launched an investigation into Chinese government subsidies to determine whether they have given China-based manufacturers an unfair competitive advantage.
Nissan and Tsinghua University have been research partners for several years. They established a joint center in 2016 to study electric vehicles and autonomous driving for the Chinese market.


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Waters Corp. shares hit 52-week high after strong first-quarter report
MILFORD — Shares of Waters Corp. reached a 52-week high during intraday trading on Wednesday after the company announced better than expected first-quarter earnings ahead of the opening bell.
Headquartered at 34 Maple St. in Milford, Waters is a leading specialty measurement company, with its products offering chromatography, mass spectrometry and thermal analysis innovations for life, materials and food sciences.
For the three-month period ending March 31, Waters reported net income (non-GAAP basis) of nearly $143.4 million, or $2.29 per share, nearly doubling its performance in the comparable year-ago period when it earned $72.2 million ($1.15 per share).
The results easily beat forecasts of analysts following the company, who were predicting earnings of $1.47 per share.
Quarterly sales totaled $608.5 million, nearly 31% higher than that of the comparable year-ago period, when they were $464.9 million.
Analysts had forecast sales of $525.3 million.
Favorable foreign currency fluctuations contributed 4% to sales growth in the quarter.
"There is much to be pleased about with our first quarter results, driven by strong growth across each of our major end markets, with pharma leading the way," said President and CEO Udit Batra, in a statement. "Thanks to solid execution and instrument sales growing in double-digits, we saw revenue increases across every region, with China’s sales more than doubling."
As the coronavirus took hold a year ago, Waters Corp. announced a $100 million cost-cutting plan that included salary reductions, furloughs, a hiring freeze and a reduction in nonessential operating expenses.
The company has surpassed consensus earnings estimates in all four quarters since.
For the current quarter, Waters expects sales growth in the range of 14% to 16%, with currency fluctuations favorable by about three percentage points. Earnings per share are expected to come in at between $2.15 to $2.25, ahead of analysts' average forecast of $2.11.
Shares closed Wednesday at $308.46 on the New York Stock Exchange, up $8.71 (2.9%). During Wednesday's session, they reached a 52-week high of $310.48.
Shares have advanced 24.7% so far this year.
Waters boasts about 7,400 employees worldwide, operating directly in 35 countries, including 13 manufacturing facilities, and with products available in more than 100 countries.


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Small Exchange: Black Friday, India’s currency and Asia reacts to Trump
The week's currency news rounded up.
Black Friday shopping exchange rates
The biggest shopping day in the United States, Black Friday, takes place later this week. The good news for shoppers? Exchange rates haven't shifted much overall since the last time the event rolled around.
At its peak in April this year, the Australian Dollar bought close to 78 US cents in April this year. However, comparing November 2015 AUD/USD exchange rates with November 2016, the levels are almost identical.
In November last year 1 AUD = 0.722 USD, whereas this month 1 AUD = 0.733 USD.
For example, buying a US$50 book during last year's sale would have cost AUD$69.19. This year it will set you back around a dollar less, coming in at AUD$68.19.
Bonds rally on India's currency shutdown
Last week India's PM Narendra Modi withdrew all 500 and 1,000 rupee banknotes from circulation.
The move sparked a rally in bonds that could extend into late December as markets bet on a rate cut as early as next month, according to the Indian Express.
Anindya Dasgupta, head of local market trading at Barclays, expects this will have "a deflationary impact as well as hit growth and that can bring forward the timing of any rate cut or rate cuts".
Banks have received more than $US44 billion in deposits, with a significant portion invested into bonds.
Economists say the move will be beneficial over the long-term, reducing tax evasion and corruption.
Zimbabwe’s illegal cash dealers are now online
Seven years on from dollarisation, Zimbabwean's are again dealing in illicit cash, however, this time they are forgoing the risks of street trading, instead utilising technology to make transactions.
Zimbabwe's popular Sunday paper The Standard reports a number of groups are using global messenger service WhatsApp to strike daily deals.
These groups have connections with bank employees with access to cash, taking advantage of real-time payment systems.
Zimbabwean-based economist Prosper Chitambara said parallel markets are a product of cash shortages.
Asian central banks react to Trump win
Central bankers throughout Asia are taking some interesting measures to combat unexpected market movements since Donald Trump's U.S. presidential election victory.
The Wall Street Journal reports Bank Indonesia intervened directly to prop up a sliding currency. Malaysia's central bank attempted to restrict the offshore futures market to support its flailing currency.
Japan's reaction was even more unorthodox, with the nation's central bank stemming two- and five-year yields on Japanese government debt.
However, despite these measures economists say central banks' powers are limited in their abilities to stem currency slides while money is flowing into the US dollar.
Each week Small Exchange sums up currency news from around the globe and looks at how it impacts exchange rates and options.
- TransferWise launches new foreign exchange solution for Australian businesses and opens its API
- Migrants to contribute $1.6 trillion to Australia’s GDP by 2050
- Ever felt ripped off by your bank? You could win $513
- How to save money this Lunar New Year
- Money hack: Save hundreds when sending money abroad


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The presidential candidate's argyle sweater, panned by commentators for its homeliness after he wore it to a New Hampshire campaign event, went up on the online auction site Saturday with a starting bid of $50. At 10:30 p.m. Wednesday, Clark's threads were worth more than $5,400.
That offer marked a sharp decline in the day's high bid, which stood at more than $12,000 earlier Wednesday. Bidders may withdraw offers while the Web site sometimes cancels suspicious bids.
The campaign donated the sweater to Liberty House (search), a transitional shelter for homeless veterans in Manchester, N.H., which is auctioning it to raise money.
Described as "gray in color, with an attractive argyle pattern in tan, dark green and dark red," the sweater earned Clark some raised eyebrows from campaign observers who objected to the former general's fashion sense. But eBay's description has Clark claiming that what the sweater lacked in style, it made up for in warmth on New Hampshire's frigid campaign trail.


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July 11, 2018: Lynne Peeples published an article on the Berkeley Cell Phone Right To Know Ordinance (informing people about manufactures instructions regarding cell phone radiation) in FairWarning.org “Wireless Industry Using First Amendment as a Cudgel in Its Battle Against Safety Warnings.” A shorter version was picked up in McClatchy Washington DC’s Bureau as “Should cell phone providers warn customers of health risks? Berkeley says yes.” This article features Dr. Devra Davis, Dr. Moskowitz, Microwave News and Lawrence Lessig. See it below.
Wireless Industry Using First Amendment as a Cudgel in Its Battle Against Safety Warnings
By Lynne Peeples on July 11, 2018
Few people know that there are federal safety limits for exposure to the weak radiation emitted by cellphones and other wireless devices. There often is language about this embedded right in our phones, but finding it requires knowing where to look, wading through sometimes five or more steps and then making sense of the technical jargon.
Concerned about the lack of public awareness, Berkeley, California passed a law in 2015 calling for cellphone stores to post warning signs. The signs caution that if you carry a phone in a pocket or tucked into a bra when the device is on, “you may exceed the federal guidelines for exposure’’ to radiofrequency radiation.
That advisory is intended to sum up the information the Federal Communications Commission requires cellphone manufacturers to disclose in phones, owner manuals or packaging material, and it’s milder than warnings given by such organizations as the American Academy of Pediatrics. But eager to squelch unfavorable information, the wireless industry–led by the big trade group CTIA–has waged a high-powered legal battle to take down the signs. In court filings, CTIA has called the advisory “inflammatory” and has argued that the Berkeley law violates cellphone store owners’ First Amendment rights by compelling them to disclose misleading information.
Berkeley won the first round in federal district court, and then again in the 9th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals. But it was dealt a setback on June 28 when the U.S. Supreme Court vacated the appeals court ruling, and sent the case back to the 9th Circuit for further consideration.
Read the full article at https://www.fairwarning.org/2018/07/cellphone-free-speech-radiation-berkeley/


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AMD launches Sulon Q VR headset, takes aim at HTC Vive
The scramble for virtual reality dominance shows no signs of stopping.
AMD has announced a new partnership with Sulon Virtual Reality to launch a brand new VR headset.
According to the computing giant, the Sulon Q is the “world’s first” all-in-one, tether-free headset for virtual reality.
The headset is powered by AMD’s Radeon graphics, and makes use of AMD’s LiquidVR graphics platform.
“AMD continues to be a driving force in virtual reality,” says Raja Koduri, Senior VP of AMD’s Radeon group.
Check it out:
To that end, AMD says it now holds an 83% market share in the virtual reality space, as estimated by analyst firm John Peddie Research.
AMD hopes that the Sulon Q will win out over high-end headsets like the HTC Vive and Oculus Rift, both of which require a powerful gaming PC to work.
The Sulon Q, by contrast, ships with Windows 10 hardware on board, including a quad-core AMD processor and a Radeon R7 graphics card.
The headset also features a 256GB SSD, 8GB of RAM, and a 2,560 x 2,440 pixel OLED display with a 110-degree field of view. That all sounds like a heavy headset in the making, but AMD assures us the Sulon Q is “lightweight”.
Related: Oculus Rift vs HTC Vive
What’s more, the Sulon Q boasts two front-facing cameras that map the space around the user in three dimensions. This means the headset can positionally track a user, just like the HTC Vive – albeit without the light-tracking beacons.
The headset is poised for a late spring launch, but pricing is yet to be announced.
What do you think of the virtual reality market so far? Let us know in the comments.


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Southwest Florida companies supply coffee and produce for rescue crews at Surfside, Florida
Stacie Nikkel drove to the Surfside condominium collapse site with a car full of coffee and produce Friday.
“It’s so sobering,” she said Sunday. “When you pull in there and you see — it literally takes your breath away. You can’t even describe it.”
By the way:Death toll rises to 86, but 11 others missing confirmed safe
Mercy Chefs, a faith-based, nonprofit disaster organization, was cooking 1,500 meals a day for first responders. Nikkel, an account manager with BELFOR Property Restoration in Bonita Springs, asked the group how her business can help.
“The guys really need coffee and fresh fruit,” she said. “(Randy Mitchelson) popped into my head.”
Mitchelson co-owns Grumpy Goat Coffee Co. in Bonita Springs. The coffee roaster quickly packaged 45 pounds of their finest beans for donation. That’s 2,000 cups of coffee for the crews.
“It was a no-brainer,” Mitchelson said. “I just asked, ‘How much do you need, when do you need it, and what more can be done.’”
Why did the building fall in Surfside? Investigation could take years
Condo collapse spurs many cities to action, but some worry residents will resist
Stan’s Coffee and Food Service was contacted and quickly donated an industrial coffee maker and plenty of cups, creamer and other supplies.
Nikkel’s last stop before her drive to Surfside was Seed to Table in North Naples for some donated crates of fresh fruit.
Within hours, she was dropping off supplies for Mercy Chefs within sight of the rubble pile and hundreds of rescue and cleanup crew members.
“Honestly, it feels good to give something, but you get over there, and it feels so small in comparison,” Nikkel said. “The first responders are dealing with the elements, the heat, the water — it’s incredible.
Close up photos of Surfside condo collapse show new details of search, rescue efforts
Mercy Chefs makes three meals a day for first responders in “a little tent city,” Nikkel said.
“They’re not making this out of a fancy kitchen or hotel,” she said. “They’re preparing literally out of a tent. It’s really spectacular.”
BELFOR’s CEO Sheldon Yellen is a philanthropist, especially for first responders, and the business regularly donates to local firehouses. This is the first time Nikkel has gathered a group of Southwest Florida businesses together for a single cause — and hopes it’s not the last.
“I hope this creates the opportunity for businesses to come together in times of need,” Nikkel said. “It’s incredible what can be done once you get the ball rolling.”
Mercy Chefs plans to stay on-site for another three weeks. Fresh produce, especially fruit, is still needed, Nikkel said. Any donors who want to contribute can email Nikkel at firstname.lastname@example.org.
Thaddeus Mast is a south Lee County reporter for the Naples Daily News and The Banner. Support his work by subscribing to our local news organization. Find him on Twitter as @thaddeusmast.


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7digital Announces Music App Support for Tizen™
First legal music download app available for open-source OS, Tizen™
London, UK. March 7, 2014 – 7digital, the leading open digital music platform, today announced plans to release a new app for the open source operating system, Tizen™. The app will join 7digital’s range of apps for Android, iOS, BlackBerry, Windows, Windows 8 and Firefox, and will simplify access to music on devices powered by Tizen™ including wearable technology devices.
The 7digital Tizen™ app will provide users with access to 7digital’s 25 million track catalogue for à la carte music download purchasing and locker streaming. Album and track prices will match those in the 7digital.com webstore and other 7digital branded apps.
CEO of 7digital, Ben Drury commented: “We have a long history of supporting most mobile operating systems, and we are demonstrating further momentum by introducing an app for Tizen™. Wearable technology and music services have an obvious user case, and a 7digital app for Tizen™ adds to our belief in an open and agnostic approach to music access. We have the right infrastructure in place to innovate quickly, demonstrating our ability to be the first dedicated music app available on this new OS.”
The new Tizen™ app, which provides similar functionality to the 7digital app for Android and Windows Phone, will be available to users globally, with localised features and major label catalogue in over 20 territories. Users will be able to wirelessly sync their 7digital music from the cloud to devices, stream or download music purchases from the cloud-based locker, and access 30 second previews of all songs. The app will be available for users in Q2 2014.
7digital‘s mission is to simplify access to the world’s music for its partners. By offering a proven, robust and scalable technology platform, coupled with comprehensive music rights, 7digital enables music innovation in the marketplace.
Through www.7digital.com and 7digital branded mobile apps, 7digital also serves consumers directly through localised music download stores. More than 25 million songs from major and independent labels are offered in 20 countries.
7digital’s extensive and flexible API allows partners to harness the power of music through download or streaming services, while the company takes care of highly complex infrastructure management, licensing, and reporting. Learn more on http://developer.7digital.com
Established in 2004, 7digital employs more than 100 people, and is headquartered in London with offices in San Francisco, New York, Los Angeles, Luxembourg and Auckland. 7digital powers services for many of the world’s leading brands, including Samsung, BlackBerry, T-Mobile, HMV, McDonalds and Pure.


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Sega will reveal a “new project” in a livestream broadcast next week.
Announced by the official Japanese Sega Twitter account, the livestream will air on YouTube on Friday, June 3 at 8pm JST – that’s 4am PT / 7am ET / 12pm BST. Sega producers Hiroyuki Miyazaki and Yosuke Okunari will appear during the broadcast, while regular Sega MC Misuzu Araki will host. No other details have been released, although Sega has launched an accompanying teaser site linking to the livestream.
According to Google Translate, the tweet says: “Urgent notice! A live broadcast to announce Sega's new project will be delivered from 20:00 on June 3 (Friday). Appearing is Hiroyuki Miyazaki, Yosuke Okunari… What does that mean?”.
＼緊急告知！📣／セガの新プロジェクトを発表する生放送が6月3日（金）20時より配信決定✨出演は【宮崎浩幸】【奥成洋輔】……ということは🤔？👇配信はこちら！YouTube：https://t.co/zuCf8a7EVcニコニコ生放送：https://t.co/8nANC9FMaG pic.twitter.com/ZJq6IyCFRkMay 27, 2022
What can we expect?
Sega hasn’t given us much to go on, but there are a few key hints as to what we can expect from next week’s livestream. With the upcoming broadcast pitched as a project announcement rather than a game reveal, it’s likely to sit outside their usual gaming catalog. Don’t be expecting a surprise sequel, remake, or reboot to appear, but something adjacent to what the publisher is best known for.
One possibility is that Sega will share its first substantial update on its "SuperGame" project. Originally announced in 2021, the initiative was billed as a partnership between Sega and Microsoft that will see the publisher deliver new triple-A games that utilize the latest technologies, and take advantage of the US tech giant’s cloud streaming software. Rather than referring to a single title, the moniker is being applied to multiple titles that check off these four boxes:
- Global multi-language development
- Simultaneous worldwide release
- AAA titles
The project also looks to involve NFTs. In a recruitment interview earlier this year (translated by VGC), producer Masayoshi Kikuchi said: “It is a natural extension for the future of gaming that it will expand to involve new areas such as cloud gaming and NFT. We are also developing SuperGame from the perspective of how far different games can be connected to each other.”
Sega has expressed its interest in moving into NFTs elsewhere. It previously partnered with blockchain company Double Jump Tokyo to sell NFTs, and trademarked an official Sega NFT logo earlier this year. While Sega CEO Haruki Satomi told Tweak Town it had no concrete blockchain plans and must “mitigate the negative elements” of NFTs, it’s possible this upcoming livestream will announce the game-maker's next leap into the field.
This announcement tweet’s accompanying image is rather peculiar, though, showing what looks like a homemade cake in the shape of a Sega Saturn controller. We reckon it’s pretty unlikely that the multinational gaming corporation is entering the baking industry. We’ll have to wait until next Friday to know for sure, though.
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Callum is TechRadar Gaming’s News Writer. You’ll find him whipping up stories about all the latest happenings in the gaming world, as well as penning the odd feature and review. Before coming to TechRadar, he wrote freelance for various sites, including Clash, The Telegraph, and Gamesindustry.biz, and worked as a Staff Writer at Wargamer. Strategy games and RPGs are his bread and butter, but he’ll eat anything that spins a captivating narrative. He also loves tabletop games, and will happily chew your ear off about TTRPGs and board games.


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FULLERTON – The Cellar, which has been operating in downtown Fullerton for four decades, has just brought on a new chef from Santa Barbara who hopes to make the French fare a little less austere while preserving the restaurant’s class.
“We’ve made some changes already, and have some big plans to move forward,” said Chef Brandon Hughes, 28, who started less than a month ago. “The Cellar serves very classic French cuisine. We don’t want to get away from that completely, but we want to stay seasonal and use a broader base of ingredients.”
Hughes said he wants to lean more heavily on seasonally available and locally produced fish, meat and produce. In addition, he said the restaurant is adding suggested wine parings with each dish.
“I believe in a farm-to-the-table philosophy,” he said. “I look forward to creating relationships with local farmers so we can provide our guests with the fresh and seasonal ingredients.”
After former executive chef David Kesler left – purportedly to start his own restaurant – The Cellar owner Ryan Dudley received 125 applications.
“Brandon was the finalist of 125 applicants,” he said. “I interviewed 20 on the phone, 10 in person and had two come cook for me.”
Hughes said he wants the fare to be more of a “California-based” French cuisine, adding a little innovation and fluidity to the menu he thinks will suit his young kitchen staff well.
Dudley said he wanted to add a California flair to “bring our food into the modern age.”
“Most food is rich in French technique anyway, and California has some of the best meats and fish and produce anywhere in the world, really,” he said.
Hughes also added some exotic items to the menu – such as his buffalo tartare. The dish consists of tender, diced buffalo meat on a circle of toast topped with celery micro greens and a quail egg over-easy. It’s garnished with fried capers and a drizzle of tomato oil.
Hughes said his wife, Angel Hughes, always asks him to put it on the menu where ever he’s worked, most recently at Bouchón in Santa Barbara.
Even less traditional dishes, such pan-seared sea bass topped with olive tapenade and served with fennel potatoes and squash, use fish caught in Southern California waters.
Restaurant manager Sara St. Pierre said that Hughes’ fresh style was a boon for the restaurant. “We hired him to give The Cellar a new fresh approach to food.”
Contact the writer: 714-704-3706 or firstname.lastname@example.org


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Nevertheless, the report attributed the higher rate to brand brand brand new legislation “imposed on a newly managed industry.” It included that the industry “has been really responsive” to fixing violations which reduced somewhat upon re-examination.
Increased state legislation can be evoking the industry to adapt to endure. For instance, numerous stores are commingling different products. The nationwide Check Cashers Association recently changed its title to your Financial Service Centers of America (FSCA) to mirror the reality that 40 % of their account now additionally offer payday loans, in accordance with Henry Shyne, the team’s executive manager.
The number of payday licenses in Minnesota through August of this year has almost doubled to 34, according to Meyer of the Department of Commerce despite stringent caps on payday lending. Almost all of the brand new licenses went along to current check cashing outlets looking to grow their manufacturer product line.
Geller is regarded as them. “In this state, it is impossible for a [payday] stand-alone to exist at these prices,” Geller stated. “The costs aren’t great sufficient.”


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After its pre-order opening up in the United States, the Samsung Gear VR will soon be available in Europe. Pre-order for the virtual reality headset just went up in the region with a €100 price tag. This is the most affordable Gear VR yet as the first models we were introduced to were very expensive, about twice the new price.
The US version of the Gear VR will start shipping this Friday, November 20–ready for the the Galaxy S6 edge, Galaxy S6, Galaxy S6 edge+, and the Note 5. Yes, that’s just one Gear VR for all four Galaxy models compared to earlier this year when the Note 5 and the Galaxy S6 each got a version.
In Europe, first to receive the VR headset are the Netherlands and Germany. Other key markets in Western Europe will soon get it. The new Samsung Gear VR impresses by giving a fully immersive virtual reality experience. It’s also lighter because the head support is no longer included. There’s just one band to support and be wrapped around the head.
While the Samsung Gear VR is the South Korean tech giant’s humble attempt to bring virtual reality experience to more people, there is only one problem that should be solved soon: there are not too many content available. So far, we only know the following: Land’s End, Gunjack, Divergent: Insurgent, Temple Run VR, and Darknet. Games for the Gear VR are limited but we’re hoping with price of the headset now made cheaper, more people will be able to access and experience virtual reality. Hopefully, it will make them imagine and start to develop their own VR games and content.
Even with the numerous VR headsets already available in the market, Samsung is ahead of the game because of affordability. It’s exclusivity on only four Galaxy models may be another limitation but we’re not doubting Samsung will bring this technology to cheaper smartphones. It’s just a matter of time.


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Katherine Rosman, The Last Resort? Canyon Ranch Succumbs to Botox, The New York Times, December 2, 2017
Succumbing to botox
Alcohol has never been served at Canyon Ranch because it is considered a distraction from the work of restoring and rejuvenating.
But you can now get your face shot full of Botox here.
Nearly 40 years after it first opened, Canyon Ranch is having some serious work done. It has been sold by its founders, Mel and Enid Zuckerman, to a real-estate investment company owned by a Texas billionaire, John Goff, and is no longer being run by the team overseen by Mr. Zuckerman, long a familiar presence on the original Canyon Ranch property in Tucson.
Through the WI Lens
This quick read article is not analytical but descriptive: it tells the tale of how Canyon Ranch’s CEO – Susan Docherty, who’s been on the job since 2015 – is trying to transform a family run, destination health spa brand into a luxury hospitality business centered on wellness. It begs the following two questions: (1) what really is wellness? (How do we define it? Where does Botox fit in?); (2) how can a wellness brand front runner transition toward relevance for a broader demographic whilst retaining such a loyal following?
These are two very open-ended questions, but the response given to each will shape the wellness industry for years to come. Prior to running Canyon Ranch, Susan Docherty was a business executive at General Motors, involved in or running the Escalade and Hummer brands. If she succeeds commercially while preserving the wellness culture of the organisation, she will have proven that the wellness industry can indeed be commoditised.
Could Therapy Be Key To Treating Your IBS? – Huffington Post, 11 April 2019, Natasha Hinde
Sitting down for too long may be causing 70,000 UK deaths a year – The Guardian, 26 March 2019, Nicola Davis
Human Contact Is Now a Luxury Good – New York Times, 23 March 2019, Nellie Bowles
Americans Are Going Bankrupt From Getting Sick, The Atlantic, 15 March 2019, Olga Khazan
Why the future of well-being isn’t about money www.weforum.org, 26 Feb 2019, Justin Dupuis
With bread’s return to favor in the wellness world, consumers are ritualizing the baking process as an opportunity to slow down. JWT Intelligence, 28 February 2019, Emily Safian-Demers
Ikea’s new curtains purify the air inside your house – Fast Company, 20 Feb 2019, Jesus Diaz
Insectageddon – Politicians are complicit in the killing of our insects – we will be next – Guardian 12 February 2019 – Molly Scott Cato
Goop Enters Netflix Deal: Has Pseudoscience Found A New Platform? Forbes, 9 Feb 2019, Bruce Y. Lee
5 ways work culture will change by 2030, Fast Company, February 4th 2019 Gwen Moran


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Carbon-negative materials and architecture are being created to address the need for environmentally beneficial structures. Sustainability is becoming a crucial aspect of business models as industries focus on the future.
This trend originates from the report:
TREND HUNTER - Trend Report 2076
The need for infrastructure, products and services that benefit the environment is growing as climate change worsens, and consumers and institutions alike are putting a greater focus on sustainability..


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Target set to hire more than 130,000 employees for the holiday season
Fox Business Briefs: Retailer Target is beefing up its staff for the upcoming holiday season.
Best Buy is looking to hire thousands of seasonal employees as it joins other retailers in preparing for the upcoming holiday rush.
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The country's largest tech retailer is expected to hold job fairs across the country to fill positions within its stores and select warehouses.
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The hiring fairs for in-store positions will take place at all Best Buy locations throughout the county on Oct. 10 and 11. from noon until 7 p.m. The hiring fairs for warehouse positions will be held on Oct. 10 from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. local time at the following locations
- Atlanta, Ga.
- Bloomington, Minn.
- Chicago, Ill.
- Chino, Calif.
- Compton, Calif.
- Findlay, Ohio
- New York, N.Y.
- Nichols, N.Y.
- Ontario, Calif.
- Shepherdsville, Ky.
- St. Louis, Mo.
The company is offering new seasonal hires competitive wages, 401(k) eligibility and an employee discount, as well as a flexible schedule.
The news follows similar announcements from companies who expect to be deluged by holiday shoppers.
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On Friday, Macy's announced it was hiring about 80,000 seasonal workers this holiday season and will hold a "national hiring event" on Oct. 24 at all of its outlets across the country, including distribution, fulfillment and call centers.
Target announced in September its plans to hire more than 130,000 people ahead of the critical holiday season, while UPS announced it was expecting to hire about 100,000 seasonal workers to handle the avalanche of packages shipped between Thanksgiving and Christmas.
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A recent survey of nearly 150 Michigan restaurant and hotel owners shows that most are still struggling with inadequate staffing and supply chain disruptions, and almost all employers are raising wages for their workers to address staffing shortages.
The Michigan Restaurant & Lodging Association survey conducted from May 2-9 included responses from 146 hotel and restaurant operators from more than 500 locations across the state.
Four out of five survey respondents are struggling with inadequate staffing, and most companies are offering employees more perks to retain and attract employees.
Almost all survey respondents indicated that they are increasing wages to address staffing shortages. In addition to increasing wages, 73 percent of business owners polled said they were offering more flexible scheduling, and 57 percent also said they are offering some kind of bonus for employees.
“While there is growing evidence that the worst is behind us, the data in this survey paints a clear picture that the hospitality industry continues to operate in a particularly challenging environment,” MRLA President and CEO Justin Winslow said in a statement. “Inflation, supply chain and an inadequate workforce combine to suppress profitability and imperil a much-needed comeback for Michigan’s hotels and restaurants.”
Nearly two-thirds of respondents also said that the lack of affordable housing has been a challenge for their employees, while 89 percent of hotel operators responded that “inadequate affordable housing” is an issue for the workforce.
“We believe a targeted campaign to educate, train and recruit a world-class hospitality workforce is needed to meet the unmet demands of our tourism-driven state and hope to partner with the governor and legislature to quickly achieve that goal,” Winslow said.
Of the restaurant and hotel owners that responded to questions about their company’s profitability, 61 percent said they are currently generating profit with their business, but most have seen their profitability decrease over the last six months. Roughly one in five business owners said their business is at risk of permanent closure over the next six months.


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Next Generation 2021 Mahindra XUV 700 is now almost ready for launch. However, the Coronavirus pandemic has delayed those plans. The crossover will now arrive in late 2021, a decade after the first generation version was launched in India it has now been upgraded from 500 to 700 when it comes to its name after a recent announcement on the same. We got a good look at these improvements on the next-generation Mahindra XUV 700 that was recently spotted testing, partially revealing the all-new cabin on the offering.
Next Generation 2021 Mahindra XUV 700 will be a feature-rich model, much like the current version and the test mule reveals a number of new additions on the model. The dashboard layout is completely new and looks more upmarket with a European flair, something we’ve seen the brand adapt on all its new offerings including the Mahindra Marazzzo, Alturas G4 and the XUV300. The spy shot further reveals a multi-function flat-bottom steering wheel, repositioned air vents below the touchscreen infotainment system, and what appears to be a massive MOD unit in the centre that runs like a slab from IC all the way to the centre.
The SUV will get all the features in its class and above as the last generation. The panoramic sunroof is just the start, it seems. The SUV is set to get radar-based safety systems. Along with a host of passive and active safety features, Mahindra will strive for 5-star safety for its flagship model.
Next Generation 2021 Mahindra XUV 700 could get touchscreen display has also grown in size and will boast of connected car tech, telematics, Android Auto, Apple CarPlay and more. Fun fact, Mahindra was the first Indian OEM to partner with Google for its Android Auto in-car system. The spy image also reveals dual cup holders in the centre console and a chrome finish on the handbrake. The new XUV 700 will continue to be a seven-seater but could get a six-seater option with captain seats in the second row.
The test mule has revealed little about the design but do expect to see a similar silhouette on the model as the current version, albeit with sharper styling inspired by the Mahindra Funster concept. The new model will be based on a heavily improved monocoque platform. The new model focuses to be more of a crossover with height reduced over the current generation of the XUV 700. The cabin also gets black fabric upholstery, while we expect leather seats to be offered on the top trims.
Next Generation 2021 Mahindra XUV 700 is also expected to be sportier in terms of driving dynamics. Expect better handling capabilities with the model shedding some of its weight, while power will come from the tried and tested 2.2-litre diesel engine that will produce about 170PS and 400Nm of peak torque. The next-generation model will also come with the newly-developed 2.0-litre turbo petrol mStallion engine that will produce 190PS and 380Nm. Transmission options will include the 6-speed manual along with an automatic. Mahindra is likely to reintroduce the All-Wheel Drive version on the XUV5 700 with the 2021 version.
The Mahindra XUV 500 was once the company’s flagship offering and an instant hit upon launch. The XUV 700 will do the same and now XUV 500 will continue side by side albeit in an all-new avatar as well, which should happen later in 2022. The segment though has grown massively since and now has several new models. The new-generation XUV 700 will take on a number of new models including the MG Hector 7-Seater, Tata Safari, Skoda Kodiaq, Volkswagen Tiguan All Space, Hyundai Alcazar and the Jeep Compass 7-seater that is currently in development.


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Payza Looks to Grow Global Reach with New Enterprise Service (Feb. 11, 2014)
Online payment provider Payza has begun offering its platform directly to money service companies, officially launching its strategic partnership phase, first announced at the end of 2013. Under the new strategy, Payza will offer its Paybefore Award-winning platform in a software-as-a-service model to companies around the world that already are licensed in their operational markets, with Payza serving as a customizable online payment transaction provider.
According to Payza Executive Vice President Ali Nizameddine, the idea behind launching the enterprise solution—dubbed Payza as a Platform—was to give payment companies an out-of-the-box platform while, at the same time, expanding Payza’s global footprint. “Our partners bring the license and the customers, and we bring the platform,” Nizameddine tells Paybefore. Such an approach “opens the doors to a broad member base in a fraction of the time and at a [significantly] reduced cost [than what it] would take a company to develop its own payment platform,” he adds.
Nizameddine says Payza has been redesigning its platform over the past year with the new enterprise focus in mind. Among the features of Payza as a Platform are: instant and secure payment methods; transactional services in 20-plus countries; processing integration for all major credit and debit card networks; and integration with major banking systems like EFT and ACH.


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Some Coles supermarkets have been cleared of customers and closed their doors as a tech issue is believed to have sent computers offline.
A Coles spokesman confirmed the company was dealing with some issues on Friday afternoon.
“Coles supermarkets are being closed temporarily due to a technical issue with processing payments in our stores,” he said.
“Our team is working hard to fix the issue and stores will reopen as soon as possible.
“We apologise to our customers for the inconvenience.”
Customers took to social media to find out what was going on after facing closed doors and long lines.
“All registers offline,” a Canberra shopper tweeted.
An online video from a store at Richmond in Melbourne showed queues of overflowing trolleys at checkouts.
“#Coles are experiencing register problems & have asked everyone to leave,” a post from Sydney’s Cabramatta Community account read.
“This was #Fairfield, but we’ve been told that all stores in NSW (New South Wales) are closed at the moment.
“No ETA on when the store will reopen just yet.”


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Reversing a long-running brain drain will be an important step on the path to economic revival.
The News Lens
By: By Matthew Fulco
James Grigbsy has spent the majority of his professional career in Taiwan. He worked
as a consultant here for two decades, including 15 years as an executive with Getchee (originally known as Pacific GeoPro), a location intelligence firm that advises companies on where to open retail outlets. Even as China became Getchee’s biggest market, Grigsby remained based in Taipei with his wife and two children.
For more than five years, he commuted between Taipei and Shanghai, spending at least a quarter of his time every month in China. “Taiwan offers a nice quality of life, which even today is hard to match in China,” he says. “I wanted my kids to grow up in Taiwan.”
But finally, in July 2015, Grigsby relocated to Shanghai to take a position with Adidas as senior director of retail expansion strategy for Greater China. What prompted the change of heart? He felt the time was right to take his career in a new direction and his children are nearly grown up. His daughter will begin college in the United States this fall, while his wife and son (aged 13) will move to Shanghai to join him this summer.


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Samsung used its Unpacked event in New York Thursday to unveil its own smart speaker, dubbed Galaxy Home. The company also announced a new partnership with Spotify, promising to deeply integrate the music service into a range of Samsung devices including phones, TVs and the upcoming Galaxy Home speaker.
Samsung’s Galaxy Home speaker will be powered by Bixby, the company’s smart assistant. It will use eight microphones, which are supposed to be capable of optimizing far-field voice recognition even in large homes.
The speaker will be powered by audio technology from AKG, a subsidiary of the speaker maker Harman, which Samsung acquired last year. It features six tweeters for omnidirectional sound, as well as one woofer. The speaker also integrates a smart home hub capable of controlling devices compatible with Samsung’s Smartthings technology.
Form-wise, the speaker will differentiate itself from competing products like Apple’s Homepod with a round body that stands on three feet — think of it as a mini tripod for your speaker, if you will. The company didn’t announce a price point for the speaker yet, and instead promised updates for price and availability soon.
One of the music services available on the speaker will be Spotify, which is being deeply integrated into both the Bixby speaker as well as other Samsung devices. The company even invited Spotify CEO Daniel Ek on stage to announce this new partnership. “The partnership that we are announcing with Samsung today is a true cross-platform listening experience,” Ek said.
Part of the arrangement will allow what Samsung calls seamless continuity: Consumers will be able to start listening to an album or playlist on their phone, then continue to play the music to their TV when they get home, and finally press play on their smart speaker to keep playing the same music there.
Samsung’s partnership with Spotify is notable for a number of reasons. For Samsung, it’s the latest episode of a multi-year search for a distinct music strategy, which included the launch of its own Milk Music service — a service that was killed two years after its launch. Samsung also briefly flirted with acquiring Tidal, and more recently partnered with Google to use Google Play Music as its default music service.
For Spotify, the partnership is a clear attempt to fight off Apple Music, which is benefitting from its close iPhone integration. Unsurprisingly, Ek boasted Thursday that the deal would give his company a vastly larger footprint. “We’re talking about hundreds of millions of devices,” he said.


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There had been a ban on the use of PAPs in animal diets in the EU since 2001, following the BSE crisis. The ban was lifted on the use of such proteins in fish feed in 2013, and in August last year, the EU Commission adopted a decision to amend the feed ban regulation, allowing the use of PAPs and insects in feed for non-ruminant farmed animals such as pigs and poultry.
From a nutritional perspective, porcine and avian PAPs are deemed valuable sources of highly digestible proteins for certain animals like growing pigs, broiler chickens or turkeys due to their amino acid composition and concentration.
Dutch group, AgruniekRijnvallei (AR), was the first compound feed supplier in Western Europe to start processing the circular raw material, for use in both standard and VLOG poultry feeds. It started doing so on March 24.
Strict requirements are imposed on the use of PAPs in feed in the EU. Animal proteins from poultry may only be used in pig feed and the equivalent from pigs can only be use in poultry feed. Because AR has separate production locations, it was able to use pig PAPs in poultry feed without additional investment.
AR commercial director, Johan Schuttert, said the feed manufacturer had done “everything possible” to be able to begin using PAP in its feeds. “We are proud that this effort has resulted in AR being the first compound feed supplier to start using this valuable raw material.”
Using such by-products helps to close protein and mineral cycles, rendering animal feed and thus poultry production more circular while also reducing dependence on imported protein sources such as soy, said the company.
AR is also investigating the possibility of using poultry PAPs in pig feed and in organic feed.
Carine van Vuure, nutrition and regulation manager, Darling Ingredients, told FeedNavigator it took about six months to get the PAP supply chain up and running in the EU. “Each step in the supply chain needs to be approved and recognized by the competent authority,” she said,
Last week saw her present to the UK Branch of the World Poultry Science Association (WPSA) on what is involved in such a process.
While AR was the first European feed company to secure a PAP supply, many other processors have since followed suit, said van Vuure. “We have been taking a step-by-step approach. In the near future, we will look to supply poultry derived PAPs to feed for young piglets.”


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Jura has hired Anthony Bauer for the new position of associate creative manager. Bauer will report to April Strogen, director of marketing for Jura Inc.
The company said that in his new role, Bauer will focus on creating digital assets for the Jura and Capresso brands, including graphic design, digital marketing, photography and social media.
Bauer has extensive experience in content creation, marketing and social media, including over a decade in the housewares industry at Casabella and Bradshaw International.
“We’re taking our digital outreach to the next level, and we welcome Anthony Bauer to our team,” said David Shull, evp/marketing and communications, Jura Inc. “He has the skills, experience and enthusiasm to help us expand online presence and engagement, and to provide the best in digital support to our retail partners.”


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Newly liberated consumers are heading back to reopened stores in droves after enforced isolation, but they’re not the same people who entered quarantine more than a year ago. The pandemic didn’t kill brick-and-mortar retail, but it has transformed the customer experience and consumer expectations.
Consumers are used to ordering online and have grown accustomed to the hyper-personalization and convenience of the digital realm. There is no longer any tolerance for a double standard regarding customer service — whether it relates to physically going to a store or ordering something online. People want the same convenience and personalization.
Writing for Digital Commerce 360, Barry Fiske ponders the new consumer expectations that the retail industry has to face:
Customers are craving an experience that gives them both the physical interaction with your —products and people—and meets their new “digitally centric” expectations. The brands and retailers that recognize this opportunity won’t just survive the pandemic; they will thrive in the months and years after it. This is not the end of brick and mortar. It’s the rebirth of physical shopping and the start of an exciting, digitally-powered new shopping adventure.
Fiske is bullish about the future of brick-and-mortar retail. Retail is booming. The National Retail Federation estimates that sales will reach more than $4.33 trillion in 2021. He’s celebrating the potential of physical retail locations leveraging the power of big data analysis and machine learning to enhance the customer experience.
The pandemic has already transformed how customers want to shop. In 2020 alone, “click-and-collect” sales grew by 106.9%, $72.46 billion in total sales, and are expected to continue growing by double-digits through 2024, according to Insider. At the time, the selling point of being able to order online and then pick up purchases without entering a store was safety. But the model combines the convenience of eCommerce with the speed of same-day delivery — an appealing combination for shoppers.
Writing in RIS News, Yuval Bolger describes how retailers can put smart digitally enhanced shelving to work to personalize and improve the experience of customers:
One example is that the shelf sensors can detect when a customer is approaching and trigger a relevant digital signage promotion based on that customer’s grocery-buying history. A small LED can flash near items that are on the customer’s shopping list to help the customer find these items faster.
Another example would be when a hardware store might have thousands of different screws, nuts, and bolts, making the right one difficult to find. A combination of a smart shelf and a mobile app that allows customers to pre-scan the desired part at home, makes this process easier, increases sales, and reduces customer frustration.
Having reliable first-party data is the foundation for providing personalized marketing and service. With the right infrastructure in place to gather and track it, retailers can capitalize on the immense amount of data generated by customer behaviors and transactions. Brick and mortar retailers must evolve to keep up with customer expectations, and one pathway to success is by blending the best of online convenience with quality in-person retail experiences.


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i have used palm devices for some years, and have admired the tiny os (20k?). now they are moving to windows mobile which must be 200mb in size. i wonder if they can get this to work. so here's microsoft yet again exhibiting its ability to be a fast follower and to steal a march over the innovator.
i think the handheld pda is on its way out, and will be subsumed by cellphones.
how all this affects the blackberry and various 'blackberry-killers' in development remains to be seen


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London: Fashion magazine Vogue Italia has sparked a worldwide race row after it published an article comparing the currently worn hoop earrings to items of jewellery worn by ‘women of colour’ brought to the US during the slave trade.
The article ‘slave earrings’ that is criticized for being ‘overtly racist’, appeared on the Vogue Italia website and referred to the hooped gold styles as a ‘latest interpretation which is pure freedom,’ the Daily Mail reports.
“Jewellery has always flirted with circular shapes, especially for use in making earrings. The most classic models are the slave and Creole styles in gold hoops,” the article read.
“If the name brings to the mind the decorative traditions of the women of colour who were brought to the southern United States during the slave trade, the latest interpretation is pure freedom,” it said.
Angry readers later mounted a campaign where followers could tweet Italian Vogue to register their anger against the feature.
“Ad agencies are clearly in dire need of consultation by Black Women and Men, as they routinely miss the mark in communicating with consumers,” the petition read.
“In this latest example by Vogue Magazine, we want the ad removed ‘immediately’ and we want a specific apology to Black women because Black womens`` supposed slave narratives were used in the promulgation of the ad,” it added.
After publishing the article Vogue Italia faced stinging worldwide criticism, the strongest of which claimed it was guilty of a ‘disgraceful’ attempt to ‘glamorise slavery’.
In the wake of the controversy, Vogue Italia have since changed the title of the offending article to ‘ethnic earrings’ from ‘slave earrings’.


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Oxford, UK – World car registrations in April 2021 were up 77.6% compared with the same month in 2020 at 7.01m units, according to LMC Automotive.
World car markets continued rebound in April
In the US, sales were 115% higher in April, at 1.54m units. In the same month in 2020, US dealers sold just 0.71m units. LMC automotive described the piece of US light vehicle sales in April as 'extraordinary'. Although starting from a very low base, sales were boosted by economic stimulus packages and the reopening of states.
Meanwhile, in China, LMC said, sales hit 2.1m units, up 8.4% on the same month last year when 1.9m units were sold. The Chinese market was sluggish in April as it was hit by the shortage of computer chips, although the abnormally low sales the year before made the year-on-year numbers look better, they said.
In Western Europe, monthly sales of 1.1m units were 271% higher than in April 2020. Vaccine progress is being made on the continent, and consumer confidence is improving. However, varying degrees of restrictions across the region are acting as a break on demand, LMC Automotive said.
Sales in Brazil and Argentina reached 194,000 units in the month. This compares with 56,000 units in the same month in 2020.
Although coronavirus remains rampant in Brazil, lockdown easing in April in some key regions helped to increase consumer confidence, and to drive sales of light vehicles in the country.


text: A new Ford-sponsored survey of 5,700 people across Europe shows that four simple fuel-saving tricks could stop drivers wasting up to €1,000 a year on fuel. Removing excess weight from inside the car, taking off the roof box, shopping around for fuel, and optimising tyre pressure – could together cut annual fuel bills by 33% Video: the four hidden ways that motorists waste money: Ford’s findings show that 76% of drivers do not regularly check tyres, 38% never remove roof storage, 18% never shop around, and 17% always leave extra items in the car. Most drivers also increase fuel consumption by breaking speed limits and many never choose the most economical route for a journey. Around half of drivers add to their bill by impulse shopping at filling stations The four simple tricks that could help drivers save as much as 33 per cent on fuel are: Removing the roof-top cargo box (20%) Shopping around for fuel (7%) Checking and optimising tyre pressures every month (4 %) Removing excess weight from inside the car (2%) The poll also revealed further opportunities to cut fuel consumption – 71% of drivers admit breaking speed limits, 42% never choose the most economical route, 39% drive aggressively, and 14% leave the air conditioning on all the time. The survey found that with people on average spending €3,011 on fuel each year, bills could be cut by €994. Apparently Italian drivers are the most likely to leave unnecessary items in their car (23%), and are also the most likely to leave roof storage equipment in place (43%). Less than half Italians polled said they would ever choose the most economical route (49%). German drivers are the most likely to speed (89%) and drive aggressively (57%). French drivers are the least likely to make a monthly tyre pressure check (18%). Spanish drivers are most likely to always leave the air conditioning system on (19%), and more than a quarter of U.K. drivers never shop around for fuel (26%). The survey also revealed that after filling up 45% of people also add to their spending at the pumps by impulse buying other items. German drivers were the most likely to buy something additional (63%), while Italian men were the most likely also to buy a coffee (28%), and U.K. women the most likely also to buy a bar of chocolate (19%).