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U.S. Consumer Prices Rose in September
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U.S. consumer prices rose steadily for the second straight month in September, reflecting rising gasoline costs following hurricanes striking the southern U.S.
U.S. Retail Sales Rose 1.6% in September
Spending at U.S. retailers rebounded strongly last month, boosted by surging car sales and higher gasoline prices in the wake of several devastating hurricanes
Stocks Poised for Fresh Records
Stocks climbed toward fresh records Friday, even as shares of big banks struggled.
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Mnuchin Says Parts of Tax Plan Would Be Temporary
Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said that some parts of a Republican plan to overhaul the tax code, including a provision to allow businesses to immediately write off investments, would only be temporary.
U.S. Consumer Sentiment Surged in Early October
A measure of U.S. consumer sentiment rose swiftly in the first half of October to its highest level since 2004, a robust sign for household spending this fall.
Weidmann: ECB Doesn't Need to Constantly 'Push on the Gas'
The European Central Bank should start reducing its bond purchases as the eurozone economy picks up, German central-bank president Jens Weidmann argued ahead of a policy meeting where the ECB is expected to lay out its next steps.
CFTC, EU Reach Equivalence Agreement on Uncleared Swaps Collateral
U.S. and European policy makers Friday took steps toward harmonizing postcrisis swap rules with agreements that will allow U.S. and European firms to follow home region rules while doing business across the Atlantic.
Fed's Rosengren Warns Against Imposing Policy Rules on Central Bank
Federal Reserve Bank of Boston leader Eric Rosengren warned that setting monetary policy by formulas alone can lead to bad outcomes for the economy.
Explaining Health Insurance Cost-Sharing Reductions
What you need to know about the payments for poor individuals that go to insurers offering plans on the Affordable Care Act's health exchanges.
Fed's Bostic Still Sees Third Rate Increase This Year
Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta President Raphael Bostic said he hasn't yet seen evidence that would deter the central bank from raising rates a third time this year.
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
October 13, 2017 11:15 ET (15:15 GMT)


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For a long time, Dhaval Patel sold his products — handicrafts made by skilled local artisans in Gujarat — in the local markets. When he saw videos online about the benefits of selling on Flipkart, he had a brilliant idea! He wanted to empower the women artisans in villages around him and he found just the way to do it as a #SellfMade Flipkart seller! Read how e-commerce is helping Navrang Handicrafts and its artisans reach customers beyond their imagination.
It’s been over six months since employees across the world began working from their homes because of the pandemic. It’s been a new way of doing things — with work, childcare, pet care, families, household chores, fitness attempts, and more thrown into the same ring. While some took to it instantly, for many, it was a learning curve. In this story, Flipsters talk about the early days, the hits and misses, the a-ha moments and creating something as massive as The Big Billion Days remotely.
The Big Billion Days 2020 is the biggest flagship event of the year that is now in its seventh edition. Initiated in 2014, The Big Billion Days has evolved over the years into a festive season celebration of people, partnership and progress, which brings cheer to millions of Indians. Watch this page to get the latest news and updates.
What’s it like to work at Flipkart? What’s it like to work at Flipkart amid a pandemic? What’s it like to work at Flipkart amid a pandemic as a woman? Ask this question any way you’d like and the answer, we’ve found, is the same every time. It’s a workplace that embraces diversity, understands that often, the personal is the professional, and empowers and supports its employees, both at home and at work. But don’t take our word for it. Read the stories about the incredible women at Flipkart and hear it right from them!
Employees at our warehouses and hubs have been preparing for months to welcome the festive season. Read about the people who fulfill wishes behind the scenes!
For artisans, weavers and small businesses, Flipkart Samarth is a means to reach an audience beyond their towns. Read as our Samarth partners recount their journey before and after signing up for the program.
The lessons learned from the pandemic have been instrumental in understanding consumer demand and shaping selection ahead of the festive season with a host of partnerships with brands and sellers. Nishant Gupta, head of the Beauty, General Merchandise, Home & Furniture category at Flipkart, shares insights in this Q&A

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Google has announced the launch of the next-generation Android P with the availability of the first developer preview. You need to flash the image of the Google P manually since the search-engine giant hasn’t yet released an OTA update. You can expect an OTA update only after the beta releases stabilizes. As of this writing, the Android P beta developer preview can be installed only on Pixel, Pixel XL, Pixel 2, Pixel 2 XL devices.
With Android P, you can optimize the apps in such a way to enable fullscreen layout or keep the content separate from the status bar. the evolution of display cutout support will set new trends in the rendering of content. Google has integrated multi-camera API using which you can stream content from multiple cameras.
Android P provides support for enhanced messaging notifications. as a developer, you can show images, stickers including full conversation with relevant contact names in the notification section. the system can also suggest smart replies.
The new Android p platform provides support for the IEEE 802.11mc WiFi protocol (WiFi RTT), which enables apps to measure the distance to an access point or by making effective use of triangulation. Moreover, the apps will be able to access secure elements in addition to smart card payments.
With JobScheduler, it is possible to check whether a pending task of an app is doing and also manage the status of the app by deferring large requests on a crowded network. The ImageDecoder functionality helps you to decode and scaling with support for animated images. Some of the other features are Neural Networks API 1.1 to HDR VP9 support, HEIF image encoding including enhancements to autofill, fingerprint, ART & kotlin optimization.
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The first item on your to-do list, if you’ve bought one of Apple’s new iPhones, should be updating the operating system.
The (unofficial) Twitter account Apple Software Updates, which reports on new software updates for the company’s products, has revealed that the latest generation of iPhones will ship with “an earlier version of iOS 16”, explaining that customers a day-one update for the final release build.
Customers may be tempted to ignore this and continue enjoying their new device. But this is not recommended. According to the release notes, the first day update brings a number of bug fixes, including an issue that “may cause some photos to look soft when zooming in landscape orientation on iPhone 14 Pro Max.”
Maybe that’s not a deal breaker, but we don’t know what other annoyances and misbehavior will be fixed by the update, and it makes sense to get the best possible experience from your new device.
iPhone buyers aren’t the only ones facing launch day this fall. Apple software updates separately notes that the new Apple Watch Series 8 also has a day-one update. Indeed, something similar happened last year with the iPhone 13 and two iPad models; a more serious bug that prevented users from playing Apple Music tracks presented on launch day in 2021 and needed to be patched with a software update.
In a separate article, we explain how to update iOS on your iPhone.


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Changes For Vaping in the UK: 2021
Things have been very stable in the world of vaping for a number of years, but this is changing during the course of 2021. The ones that have been planned are welcomed and will maintain confidence in vape and eliquid products, but things are happening behind the scenes that might have a negative impact on British vapers.
The trade organisations, some UK vape shops, eliquid manufacturers, and public health bodies voiced their concerns about shortfill eliquids when they were introduced. Being nicotine-free, they didn’t have to undergo testing or be registered with the UK’s Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency.
This situation is going to be addressed as part of The Tobacco and Related Products Regulations to be introduced before the end of the year. A likely result of this will be the delisting of some brands by some stores and a slight increase in price to cover the cost of product registration.
Any increased cost from new legislation could be more than offset if the government chooses to listen to one of the UK’s trade bodies. It’s director, John Dunne has called on ministers to bring the VAT applied to vape products (20%) in line with the VAT rate that traditional nicotine replacement therapies such as gums and patches enjoy (5%).
Although this is attractive to consumers, and would make vaping more appealing to current smokers, as it would mean a price drop, it is still 50/50 as to whether the Chancellor of the Exchequer is prepared to implement the change.
Disposable vapes occupied a grey area until last week. The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency has updated its guidance to clarify to manufacturers, distributors and UK vape stores of what can legally be sold in shops and online portals.
The new guidance says: “When sourcing new supplies of any e-cigarette or e-liquid product, check that a compliant notification has been published in one of the Notified Product lists.
“If you cannot find the product on the MHRA’s website, ask your supplier to confirm that it has been published and provide details to enable you to confirm the product’s status. If a product has yet to achieve publication status, they may not supply it to you.”
Flavours and plain packaging
While the UK leads the world in its approach to tobacco harm reduction, there are some who are attempting to sway the government into adopting a tougher approach.
Reports have come to light that discussions have been taking place in the Department of Health to consider restricting the flavours of eliquids to menthol and tobacco. The claim is that fruit, pastry, and other flavours “appeal to young people”.
The New Nicotine Alliance, a charity working on behalf of vapers and other nicotine consumers, is currently speaking to one of the main bodies behind the call to limit flavours and have plain packaging. It has also written to the Department to stress the importance of continuing with an approach that appeals to current and former smokers.


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The Special Economic Zone of Mariel, the ZEDM, is a project with a future for Cuba and it’s growing. In Havana, the government and those running the port gave a positive assessment of the initiative last week.
Opened in 2014, the Port of Mariel is 465.4 square kilometer development zone located about 45 kilometers west of Havana. The Port is the largest deep water port of the region, able to provide the new big ships with ample space and water depth. More importantly, ZEDM is a major component for the economic development of the country and the entire Latin American – Caribbean region. The number of companies now established in the Mariel Zone has increased the measure of foreign presence.
Oscar Pérez Oliva Fraga, ZEDM’s Business Assessment Director, stated at a Havana press conference of the Association of Caribbean States (ACS-AEC) that more than 4,000 new jobs have been created at Mariel because of the project. He said that the Special Development Zone had been created with a long-term vision, strategically important not only Cuba but for the entire Caribbean. Mariel will support the integration of the Caribbean and Latin American regions.
Pérez Oliva Fraga added, “To date we have approved projects worth more than US$960 million and when fully operational, these 23 users will generate more than 4,000 direct jobs. It’s also an opportunity for companies from different regions of the world to position their production and service facilities, so they can enter the Latin American and Caribbean region.”
Cuba aims to become the main transport hub in the Caribbean, benefit the Panama Canal and the planned canal in Nicaragua which will offer a direct route between the Atlantic and Pacific.
Both foreign and national companies are present at the Port. Pérez Oliva Fraga explained that, “Currently we have 13 companies that are 100-per cent foreign-owned, four Cuban corporations, five joint ventures and one international economic partnership. Eight firms are already operating, either manufacturing their products or providing services.”
Cuba is, he added, “interested in attracting technology that can be assimilated very quickly by our highly skilled Cuban labor force and contributing to raising levels of productivity and efficiency.” He also said the Cuban government was promising to guarantee an average investment of US$300 million a year in the Mariel Port.
The Port of Mariel offers one million slots for containers and a newly developed infrastructure of railways and roads in the area.
Foreign investors see investing at ZEDM as an opportunity to gain a foothold in the important region of Latin America and the Caribbean. As an incentive to foreign investors, Cuba has granted tax breaks and other benefits.
Three of the five new companies in Mariel are European. These include a Spanish company which specializes in the production of automotive coatings, a Spanish-Cuban joint venture Logística Hotelera del Caribe S. A. with the hotel corporation Iberostar, as well as the Portuguese group Engimov Caribe S.A. which specializes in construction and the renovation of buildings.
The businesses invested at Mariel are in the logistics, banking, transportation, service providers, construction, construction technologies, biotechnology, industrial food production, consumer goods, and packaging materials.
Ki Se Lee, president of ArCo 33 of South Korea, which specializes in the production of medical devices said, “Cuba imports 100 million disposable syringes a year. We are going to cover that demand by installing a factory in Mariel and we are planning in the future to export our products to the Caribbean, and Central and South American countries.”
Vietnam’s Thai Binh Investment Trading Corporation is planning to establish a manufacturing plant for paper products such as baby and adult diapers, and sanitary pads for women.
Thai Binh’s deputy director Vi Nguyen Phuong, said in an interview to the Chinese press that the Cuban government policy is a very attractive policy and that after selling products in Cuba for 20 years, the company has decided to expand in Cuba.
Vice President Laurent Freixe of the Swiss food company Nestlé said that the company is very close to signing a joint venture agreement for a $50-million to $60-million factory for the production of baked goods, confectionery, and coffee. Nestlé has been in Cuba for many years and is most known for its brand of ice cream, beverages and bottled water which sell throughout the Island. Nestlé is also involved in the import of food which is sold in Cuban stores. Most recently, Nestle’s Nespresso a limited edition of Cuban coffee – the first to be sold in the United States for more than 50 years met with great success for the company.
The new Nestle’s new factory is planned to begin operations in 2019. It is predicted to create about 300 new jobs.
Pérez Oliva Fraga said that, “the ZEDM aims to become the main enterprise and driving force of the Cuban economy.” The ZEDM project is positioned to fulfill Cuba’s foreign investment goals which need a volume of two billion dollars per year of foreign investment to achieve targeted growth and economic development.
Updated on May 19, 2017, numbers on companies now operating at the ZEDM, Port of Mariel: There are now: 24 companies operating in Mariel ZED, 14 of which are 100 percent foreign capital, six are joint ventures and four are corporations owned by Cuban nationals.
Author: Zoe Veraz
Zoe Veraz is a freelance journalist and regular contributor to the Cuba Business Report.


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Well applied, RFID technology can transform the way supply chains operate by contributing to the efficiency of services, increasing inventory accuracy, and improving security by theft mitigation.
With the integration of the BlueFletch Launcher single sign-on solution and Ivanti’s Velocity/TE clients, warehouse employees will only have to login once to authenticate their identity and access business apps.
Cloud-based Identity Management providers like Okta provide the foundation for single sign-on to help organizations reduce costs, increase productivity, and improve security.
The new retail reality is upon us. Now more than ever, brands need to have a strong omnichannel presence that meets customers’ expectations and caters to their buying behaviors.
With the recent Coronavirus outbreak, businesses need to start thinking through protocols that will protect employees from the spread of germs and illness. This starts with keeping shared devices clean.
BlueFletch Integrates Enterprise Launcher Single Sign-On Solution with Ivanti Velocity, Terminal Emulation, Industrial Browser, and Device Management Software
We are excited to announce the out-of-the-box integration of the BlueFletch Launcher with Ivanti’s Velocity/Terminal Emulation clients. The single sign-on (SSO) integration will reduce password problems in retail and warehouse environments.
Authentication Problems are Expensive According to a recent study by Verizon, 81% of all data breaches take advantage of stolen or weak passwords. To better protect


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New York based apparel maker Anvil Knitwear announced the launch of its affordable 100% organic cotton tee shirts.
Anvil, the company known for driving innovation from the periphery of the market to the mainstream, has made innovation affordable once again with these new organic products. AnvilOrganic(TM) tee shirts are available in ten colors in sizes XS through 4XL. They have generated overwhelming demand in the market and initially will be distributed through Alpha Shirt Company.
"We monitor our markets closely and we determined that organic apparel is no longer a fad, it's a trend, and there is sufficient long-term demand to justify taking it mainstream at prices that are attractive to the overall market," said Anvil CEO, Anthony Corsano.
"The time is right to bring an affordable 100% organic tee to the market. Corporations are looking at everything they do and everything they buy in order to make smart business choices that are also sound environmental choices. Likewise, organizations, retailers and individuals are looking for options that are both affordable and environmentally conscious. Anvil has always been an innovator in the market and while some of our competitors are offering an organic product, it is safe to say that no one is offering the variety that Anvil is at anywhere near our price point," Corsano added.
From 2001 to 2005, organic cotton product sales increased an estimated 35 percent annually, from $245 million in 2001 to $583 million in 2005, according to Oakland, California based Organic Exchange. In their 2006 market report, they project global product sales will grow to almost $2.6 billion by the end of 2008.
Organic cotton is produced by a system of farming that avoids the use of toxic and persistent pesticides and fertilizers and genetically modified seeds. Anvil 100% organic tees are also colored using organic dyes, and will be certified "organic". This initiative complements Anvil's long-standing environmentally responsible manufacturing processes. Cardboard is recycled instead of discarded, scrap materials are used to generate steam power, and waste water is cleaned beyond the standards set by government regulations.
According to Corsano, "Many companies are embracing 'green' standards, which is wonderful to see. However, our research indicates that companies often don't consider purchasing organic tees because of the perceived prohibitive cost increase associated with switching from non-organic to organic and also because until now there hasn't been a wide range of colors and sizes available from which to choose."
Anvil was one of the companies that helped develop the T-shirt's evolution from underwear to "fashion wear." The company, which employs more than 4,000 people, has headquarters in New York and a distribution center in South Carolina and has also built a new state of the art textile facility in Honduras.
Anvil Holdings, through its subsidiary Anvil Knitwear, makes and markets active wear, hats, towels and bags for men, women, and children, which it sells through distributors to screen printers, embroiderers and others as well as to private label brand owners. Before reaching the end consumer, Anvil's products are typically embellished with characters, designs, or logos. Anvil has a history of more than 27 years in its business segment, but as a market leader in manufacturing cotton apparel, the company began 130 years ago as the manufacturer of the BVD brand of men's underwear. The BVD trademark was sold to Fruit of the Loom in 1976 — 100 years after BVD was founded, and the company began doing business as Anvil Knitwear. Anvil is one of the companies that catalyzed the T-shirt's evolution from underwear to "fashion wear." The company is headquartered in New York and employs about 4,000 people in facilities in North Carolina, South Carolina, Nicaragua and Honduras. For more information, visit www.anvilknitwear.com.


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Los Angeles (Knewz) — Once upon a time, haunted attractions operated almost exclusively in September and October.
But according to HauntPay's second annual “Haunt Industry Report,” just 13 percent of destinations now limit themselves to those two fall months. On average, attractions were open 111 days in 2021, with a quarter of respondents indicating they operate year-round, helped by such non-Halloween and Christmas time tie-ins like Zombie Prom, Krampus and Friday the 13th.
There continues to be a fairly large gap in the average amount spent at these attractions between people who walk up and those who book online. In 2020, it was, respectively, $44.53 vs. $64.17; in 2021, it rose to $53.59 vs. $71.77.
Part of the reason for the discrepancy is that it is online, mainly, that patrons book things like VIP packages and skip-the-line options. But perhaps the biggest surprise of the survey is the variety of revenue streams these establishments now tap into.
Ticket sales were the leading source of cash last year for 31.3 percent of the destinations, but very close behind, at 30.3 percent, were those saying that they now make the most money from merchandise sales and the gift shop. For 18.1 percent, it is concessions that lead the revenue way; for another 15.5 percent, they make the most bank from midway games; and 4.5 percent said they have found a way to tap into sponsorships as the cash cow.
An equally surprising factoid is the prevalent connection between these places and non-profits. Just under three-quarters of haunted attractions either directly own a non-profit or donate a portion of their proceeds to a designated partner.
Finally, there's a three-way split between the ticketing policies, with 28.5 percent charging a flat fee admission, 34.8 percent requiring separate admission for each attraction and 32.5 percent offering pay-what-you can or donation. The leading price range for admission, true for 41.4 percent of these places, falls within the $21 to $30 range.


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US hotel occupancy falls for first time in 11 weeks. Blame Covid again
Spike in virus cases led states to close beaches, roll back reopenings ahead of July 4 holiday
The 11-week climb in U.S. hotel occupancy rates ended ahead of the July 4 holiday, in part because of the spike in coronavirus cases led states to roll back their reopenings and close beaches. New hotel rooms that came online also tamped down overall demand, according to the latest figures from hotel data tracker STR.
Nationwide, hotel occupancy stood at 45.6 percent for the week ending July 4, down from 46.2 percent the week prior, STR reported. That latest figure compares to the low-point of 22 percent occupancy, recorded during the second week of April, as Covid-19 cases surged across the U.S. in the first outbreak.
Despite what had been a steady climb, last week’s rate was still 30 percent below the same period in 2019, and STR predicts demand won’t recover to pre-pandemic levels until 2023.
Some good news last week: Revenue per available room, a key indicator of hotel performance, hit $46.21. That’s a roughly $2 improvement over the week before.
STR’s Jan Freitag said recent spikes in Covid cases and subsequent closures of beaches, bars, and other attractions had an impact on “leisure and business” demand in key tourist destinations. Those included Florida, where 44.8 percent of rooms were occupied, and all but two markets in the state recorded a drop in occupancy from the week before. RevPar statewide stood at $57.43.
The top 25 markets in the U.S. recorded lower occupancy and average daily room rate than the national average. Norfolk/Virginia Beach was the only market in STR’s top 25 list where occupancy rose above 60 percent. Meanwhile, Detroit, Tampa/St. Petersburg, and San Diego were the only other markets with more than half of hotel rooms occupied.
New York City’s occupancy rate dropped to 40.1, compared to from 42.4 percent the week before. Earlier this month, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo barred indoor dining indefinitely and slowed the state’s reopening as cases spiked elsewhere in the country.
Occupancy peaked in New York at 47.6 percent in the last week of May and has slipped each week since. RevPar stood at $52.51.
Los Angeles’ occupancy rate was 43.9 percent and RevPar was just below $54, an improvement over recent weeks. Cases of the coronavirus have spiked in California, however, leading Gov. Gavin Newsom to roll back reopenings earlier this month, including shutting down indoor dining for three weeks.
Chicago’s occupancy rate continues to struggle. It stood at just 36.7 percent, with a RevPar of $31.50.


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Remote Working During COVID-19: Four Lessons Learned
Facteon's HR Coordinator shares the top lessons learned from working from home during the Coronavirus pandemic.
Global factory solutions specialist, Facteon, has appointed John Cochrane as the business’s new General Manager of Facteon Group.
Following the departure of the former General Manager, Dave Body, Cochrane emerged as the preferred candidate based on his year of service as Head of Group Sales and a period of encouraging business growth across several markets.
In August, Facteon’s China operation relocated to a larger, state-of-the-art facility in Qingdao, Shandong following a period of rapid growth. The facility now has 55 staff on board to boost its operations in the region.
The business has also recently completed a roll out of its Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) factory software and hardware products across seven factories for New Zealand and China-based customers.
“Facteon has a strong legacy as a forward-looking business, leading the way in helping manufacturers understand the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) and Industry 4.0 and how emerging and digital technologies can be applied to enhance the future of their business,” explains John Cochrane, General Manager of Facteon Group.
“It’s an exciting time for our business. We’re continuing to look at opportunities to expand globally, bring greater balance to both our New Zealand and China operations, and deliver cutting-edge technologies to our clients. I’m thrilled to be leading a talented and skilled team as we head into an exciting new chapter.”
John has more than 20 years’ experience in senior management roles. Prior to joining Facteon last year, John was Head of Business Attraction at ATEED (Auckland Tourism Events and Economic Development Group) and before that, was the New Zealand Trade Commissioner for Southern China.
He started his career as a chemical engineer and worked for Xerox Corporation before joining Commtest Instruments in Christchurch, New Zealand.
Supporting John’s mission to lead Facteon and deliver the latest automation, Industry 4.0 and IIoT solutions to factories across the globe, will be a new General Manager for Facteon China, Eric Zhao.
Zhao worked with Haier for 11 years, before joining Facteon seven years ago. Building on his experience as Strategic Director and then Vice General Manager for Facteon China, the new role will see Zhao continue to grow the Group’s capabilities and customer base in China.
Facteon is trusted by some of the world’s biggest brands and businesses – such as Fisher & Paykel, Haier, and GE Appliances - to design, implement and maintain their production plants and machinery.
Facteon is a global designer, builder and innovator of world-class production equipment. Established in New Zealand in 1981 as the internal engineering division of Fisher & Paykel Appliances, Facteon has expanded to provide global businesses with cutting-edge smart manufacturing, robotics, data science, machine learning technology and IIoT solutions. Facteon aspires to cultivate a smart manufacturing ecosystem in which machinery and IIoT offerings interact seamlessly.


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The Kansas Department of Commerce announced that HairUWear Inc., a premier manufacturer of high-quality hair goods, will relocate its corporate offices, as well as its distribution and warehousing operations to Lenexa. The corporate functions being relocated include finance, logistics, operations, quality control and certain aspects of its sales operations. The company plans to create 102 new jobs in Kansas during the next five years.
“It is with great pleasure that we are moving to Lenexa,” said HairUWear President Michael Napolitano. “The state of Kansas has created an environment that will allow HairUWear to continue to invest in our employees, our brands and our future. We are thrilled to continue to grow the HairUWear business in this thriving community and offer the people of Lenexa a place within our company. We are excited for this next chapter.”
HairUWear will invest $7.1 million in its move to the new facility, which is located at 14865 West 105th Street in Lenexa.
“It’s great that HairUWear has chosen Kansas as the best location for its new facility,” Kansas Commerce Secretary Pat George said. “The job opportunities that the company is bringing to the state and the investment that it is making, will be an important addition to our strong business environment and will contribute to Kansas’ economic growth.”
“We are excited that HairUWear will be coming to Lenexa,” said Blake Schreck, president of the Lenexa Chamber. “They are recognized as the world leader in their industry, and we are honored that they have chosen our community for their new facility.”


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Dairy Queen Is Selling a Dreamsicle-Dipped Cone and People Are Already OBSESSED
I am beyond ready for spring, and apparently, so is Dairy Queen. According to Chew Boom, the soft serve chain has begun rolling out Dreamsicle-Dipped Cones in honor of the new season. And though DQ has yet to explicitly announce the launch—nor is it listed online—the menu addition has hit select locations.
Don’t believe me? Earlier this month, the brand released a statement ahead of Free Cone Day and made direct reference to it. “This offer includes the NEW DQ orange, creamy, and crunchy dreamsicle dip,” they wrote. SEE! Plus, a handful of Twitter users are already raving over the frozen treat. “I’m just saying…that dreamsicle dipped ice cream cone at Dairy Queen is the f*cking bomb,” Katie Wilson wrote. That’s quite the endorsement. Here are more reactions:
Dairy Queen has a #dreamsicle cone and I don’t know what to do with myself! 😋 #yummy
I’m all in on the vanilla cone dipped in orange dreamsicle at Dairy Queen
I had an Orange Dreamsicle dipped cone at Dairy Queen yesterday.
The Dreamsicle-Dipped Cone includes DQ’s classic vanilla soft serve covered in a “vibrantly colored, creamy orange and vanilla flavored coating,” a rep for the brand said. The specialty item has received so much praise that a number of locations have started selling a Dreamsicle version of the dilly bar. The outlet also reports additional stores will welcome the cone come May 1.
On March 25, The company announced the debut of their new Chicken and Waffle Baskets. “We’re thrilled to offer the best of both worlds with our delicious take on a classic,” executive vice president of marketing Maria Hokanson said. “Fans love our chicken strip basket, and now they can really indulge with the addition of decadent Belgian Waffles.” So, looks like they’ve got dinner and dessert covered.
Source: Read Full Article


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Nigerian crossdresser, James Brown, and fashionista, Denrele Edun stormed the 40th birthday party of Nollywood actress, Ini Edo in Lagos last night.
A video of James Brown, who recently returned from the United Kingdom, catwalking in a white and black pant set with a feathery jacket, has recently appeared online, and a party visitor who appears to be annoyed upon seeing James Brown was captured in the video expressing his disgust on the face.
As James Brown exchanged greetings, hugs, and kisses with Iyabo Ojo, the male attendee in a red shirt who was next to comedian Chigurl seemed irritated.
In other news, multiple award-winning American singer, Rihanna, is about to open her beauty and skincare line in Nigeria.
Rihanna’s Fenty Beauty and Fenty Skincare will premiere in Africa on May 27, 2022, according to the heavily pregnant Pop and RnB star, who also cited Kenya, Namibia, Botswana, Ghana, and Zambia as potential destinations.
Taking to her verified Instagram handle, she wrote: “I’ve been waiting for this moment!! @fentybeauty and @fentyskin are finally dropping in AFRICA!!!
“Botswana, Ghana, Kenya, Namibia, Nigeria, South Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe. We coming at you on May 27th and that’s just the beginning!!! #FentyAfrica.”
On the Twitter page of Fenty Beauty, the announcement read, “The wait is finally over!!!! AFRICA, we’re pulling up! Who’s ready?!
“We’ve been working hard to make this happen! We’ll be available in Nigeria, Kenya, Namibia, Botswana, Ghana, Zambia and Zimbabwe local retailers starting MAY 27!”


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The head of a major manufacturer and supplier of loading bay and materials handling equipment has criticised the lack of quality standards in some cheap imports now coming into the UK.
John Meale, managing director of Thorworld Industries Ltd, said he recently came across a new loading ramp made in Eastern Europe that he considered was totally unsafe to use.
“I was appalled that the ramp, which did not have the CE-mark, was a major health and safety hazard,” he said. “The welding on it was so poor you could see that there was little or no real weld penetration, the ramp was bent, the hydraulics did not work and the floor was weak. I dread to think what would happen if someone attempted to drive a loaded fork lift truck to the rated capacity on it.”
Mr Meale, a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Logistics (FCILT), is a former President of the British Materials Handling Federation (BMHF), a past Chairman of the Association of Leading & Elevating Equipment Manufacturers (ALEM), is currently a board member of the Federation Europeenne de la Manutention (FEM) – the European Federation of Materials Handling, and is also President of the FEM Product Group on Elevating Equipment.
He said increasing amounts of cheap and inferior loading bay equipment that did not carry the CE-mark were coming into the country, particularly from Eastern Europe and Asia.
“I am not condemning all imports from these regions, just those that do not meet the appropriate European quality and safety standards. We ourselves source some components for our equipment from outside the UK, but always ensure that they fully conform to all the appropriate EU standards, as well as meeting our own exacting requirements”.
Thorworld specialises in the manufacture and supply of loading and unloading equipment and claims to set the UK industry standard when it comes to providing the highest quality, safe yardramps and other materials handling products.
All its mobile yardramps, like its other equipment, have the CE-mark. The yardramps, supplied through its specialist RentARamp division, also conform to the stringent EC Dock Leveller Standard and are available for purchase or rental on a sale or return basis.
Mr Meale said that every member of the company's welding team is highly experienced, has been thoroughly trained and is certified to BS4872 Part 1 & 2.
Thorworld was one of the first companies in its sector to achieve the coveted ISO 9001: 2000 international quality management accreditation, at its first attempt.
The main differences over the old ISO 9000 standard, which it gained some 14 years previously, is that it is much more customer focussed and shows that the company is continually striving to make improvements. It strongly emphasises the incorporation of quality standards in its systems, procedures, documentation and total employee involvement.
According to Mr Meale, using materials handling equipment that does not have the CE-mark, whether imported or not, threatens the health and safety of personnel in the workplace.
“Price should not be the only measure when sourcing new equipment, he said. “My recommendation is to beware of 'inferior imitations'. For peace of mind companies should avoid them at all costs, even if it means having to paying a slightly higher price for a much higher quality product. This will undoubtedly prove to be a better and safer overall investment in the longer term. It's best to speak to well established suppliers who provide good quality products complying with all the latest European regulations”.


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- 9 min read
Why PhonePe-ZestMoney deal fell through; top leadership changes at Swiggy Instamart
PhonePe has walked away from buying cash-strapped buy-now-pay-later (BNPL) startup ZestMoney amid due diligence concerns, per multiple people in the know. After breaking the story on Thursday morning, we get you details on what led to the failed transaction.
This and more in today’s ETtech Morning Dispatch.
Also in this letter:
■ Google can find ways past NCLAT order: Indian startups
■ IT firms offer fewer campus jobs this year
■ Unacademy cuts jobs again, fires 12% of staff
Why the PhonePe-ZestMoney deal fell through (L to R) Sameer Nigam, founder & CEO, PhonePe and Lizzie Chapman, cofounder & CEO, Zestmoney
Hi, this is Samidha here in Mumbai. In November last year when we broke the story about PhonePe holding talks with buy-now-pay-later (BNPL) startup ZestMoney, for an acquisition, most people were surprised. This was going to be a big consolidation move in the stressed fintech sector if the deal went through, but that's not happening now. Thursday morning we broke the news that the deal had been called off. Once again, the development was unexpected.
What happened? Last week, PhonePe decided it will not go ahead with the ZestMoney acquisition primarily due to due diligence concerns. Till then, it looked like the transaction was on. However, after handing out a non-binding term sheet in November last year, the amount of time the diligence was taking raised eyebrows and questions on the fruition of the deal.
Big concerns: Due diligence issues may have involved the high delinquency on the loan disbursals, the overall business of the company and the structuring of the firm across its Singapore and India entities. Non-performing assets (NPA) for ZestMoney were upwards of 10% which was a red flag, said multiple people in the know.
Deal details: Sources indicated that PhonePe was offering $90 million in cash for ZestMoney, a company founded in 2015 by Lizzie Chapman, Priya Sharma and Ashish Anantharaman along with taking care of $35-40 million of its debt liabilities. The transaction also involved a $10 million founder payout, these people said.
Take note: ZestMoney was last valued at $400 million which meant that the company’s investors were not making anything on the deal, according to multiple people in the know. We reported in November, citing sources, that ZestMoney was unable to raise fresh funds.
In September 2021, the company picked up $50 million from Australian BNPL player Zip and was expected to raise $100 million in total equity as a part of the round. But ZestMoney did not manage to get the entire amount as the market weakened for BNPL players amid the global slowdown.
What's next for ZestMoney? With a bunch of debt and little cash left in the company, the BNPL startup is looking to desperately sell its non-banking financial company (NBFC) as well as its insurance licenses to shore up funds. There are also talks of PhonePe lending more to ZestMoney.
Exclusive: Swiggy Instamart head Karthik Gurumurthy to step aside, cofounder to take over
Hi, this is Pranav Balakrishnan here in Bengaluru. Today I am breaking a story on Swiggy's quick commerce business Instamart and a significant leadership change that is underway at the firm.
What is changing? Swiggy Instamart's head Karthik Gurumurthy is stepping aside by the end of April. He will be taking a sabbatical for a few months, a source aware of the matter told ET.
Gurumurthy, who joined Swiggy in 2020, was earlier head of sales at pharmaceutical major Cipla. An IIM- Bangalore graduate, he has also had stints at Cadbury chocolate maker Mondelēz International along with having spent many years as a consultant at AT Kearney.
Who is taking over? Swiggy's cofounder Phani Kishan Addepalli will now be heading Swiggy's biggest business after food delivery. Addepalli was the CEO of Swiggy's subscription-based milk and grocery delivery service Supr Daily. Having joined the company in 2015 he was promoted to cofounder in 2021. Swiggy chief executive Sriharsha Majety has sent an internal note about the developments to a select few senior leaders, ET has learnt.
Why's the rejig significant? The changes in Instamart's top leadership come at a time when Swiggy is facing new challenges. Instamart is lagging rival Zomato’s grocery delivery business Blinkit, according to a report by brokerage firm Jefferies. Swiggy had fired 380 employees this year as its core food delivery business has slowed down.
Meanwhile, rival Zomato, since the relaunch of its loyalty programme Zomato Gold, has started reclaiming the market share it had lost in the second half of 2022 to Swiggy, HSBC Global Research said in a note.
Google may find ways to skirt NCLAT order, say Indian startups
A day after US tech giant Google received a major blow from the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) — which upheld the Rs 1,338 crore fine imposed by the Competition Commission of India (CCI) — Indian startups believe Google may find loopholes to sidestep the fine.
Expert take: “The battle is far from over as Google continues to violate the recent Supreme Court orders around ‘the Google tax’ using loopholes. Hopefully, this ruling will make them sit up and pay attention,” said Anupam Mittal, the founder and director of matrimonial matchmaker Shaadi.com.
Minor relief for Google? Experts said the fact that NCLAT had set aside some of the CCI directives also vindicated Google’s stand that some of the measures laid down by the competition regulator in its October 2022 order were “unprecedented and drastic”.
Startups to keep fighting: Several startup executives told us the community will take steps, including pursuing all legal options, to curb the influence of Google on the Indian digital ecosystem. “We will continue the fight to protect India's Digital India and startup ecosystem. We will do anything required to safeguard our startups and the digital ecosystem of India,” Snehil Khanor, founder of dating app TrulyMadly, told us.
ET Ecommerce Index
We’ve launched three indices – ET Ecommerce, ET Ecommerce Profitable, and ET Ecommerce Non-Profitable – to track the performance of recently listed tech firms. Here’s how they’ve fared so far.
IT companies cut campus hiring by a third due to slowing economy
India’s top software companies are making up to 30% fewer campus offers this year for the 2023 batch compared with last year, as a slowdown in their biggest markets causes uncertainties on the demand environment and attrition levels stabilise.
What are the reasons: The slowdown in hiring comes even as around 5% of the offers given last year are yet to be honoured, said placement cell heads and chancellors.
Macro issues such as high inflation and turmoil in the financial services sector in the US and Europe have made the demand outlook challenging for India’s $245 billion IT sector, making companies cautious over expansion and cost.
This has led analysts to forecast that net hiring of engineers by the Indian IT companies would crash by close to half in the next fiscal year starting April compared with fiscal 2023, we reported earlier this week.
Experts’ view: “The offers handed out have been 10-30% lower this year (for the batch of 2023) in number by IT services companies," said D Ranganath, dean of placement and training at RV College of Engineering in Bengaluru.
“The freshers are still facing onboarding delays. These problems are mainly seen in Wipro and Capgemini,” said Harpreet Saluja, president of IT union Nascent IT Employees Senate.
HCLTech to hire 1,000 people in Romania: Despite the gloom, HCLTech on Thursday announced that it plans to expand its operations in Romania and hire 1,000 people in the country over the next two years. The company presently employs about 1,000 people in Romania to serve global clients.
Tweet of the day
Build an audience before a startup.You’ll have an “unfair” distribution model ready to go which increases your st… https://t.co/11ESwcm1e1— Andrew Gazdecki (@agazdecki)1680178736000
Unacademy to slash 12% of workforce in fresh round of layoffs
It just doesn’t end for Unacademy. Last April, the edtech startup laid off a thousand contractual and full-time employees. Three months later, founder Gaurav Munjal told staff that there would be no more layoffs and that the company would work to reduce other expenses.
However, in an internal memo sent to Unacademy employees on Thursday, Munjal said the company is cutting another 12% of its workforce in a new round of layoffs. ET has seen a copy of the memo.
Broken compass? In the note, Munjal said that the Bengaluru-based edtech platform took “every step in the right direction” to make its core business profitable but the efforts have not been enough, and hence the decision was taken.
This comes a day after the company announced that it has hived off CodeChef, an acquisition made in 2020.
Past layoffs: In a bid to turn profitable, the edtech has slashed its workforce across multiple rounds over the last 12 months, including sacking 1,000 employees last April and then cutting 350 more jobs in November. Its subsidiary Relevel cut 40 jobs in January this year.
Quote unquote: “I have conducted detailed reviews with every leader in the organisation to determine the size of the team in line with a sustainable cost structure, the skills necessary for today’s business needs and the direction each team has to take to work towards our key business goals and achieve profitability,” Munjal wrote in the letter.
Other Top Stories By Our Reporters
Big Four firms see increased client interest in AI integration: The Big Four firms — Deloitte, EY, KPMG and PwC — are receiving increasing client requests for AI integration in projects after the success of ChatGPT, while also actively exploring the use of AI technology within their own service offerings.
Wipro's Badri Srinivasan handed additional India charge role: Badri Srinivasan, Wipro’s managing director of Southeast Asia, will also lead its India business, the company said on Thursday. Srinivasan will replace previous country head Satya Easwaran, who assumed the role last April at India’s fourth largest software exporter by revenue.
DeFi startup Web3 Polytrade raises $3.8 million in funding: Web3 Polytrade, which aims to streamline global trade supply chains using blockchain, has raised $3.8 million in a seed round led by Alpha Wave, Matrix Partners, Polygon Ventures and CoinSwitch Ventures. Singularity Ventures, GTM Ventures and other angel investors also participated in the round.
Global Picks We Are Reading
■ The Unbelievable Zombie Comeback of Analog Computing (Wired)
■ Publishers Worry AI Chatbots Will Cut Readership (NYT)
■ Music producers revolted against an app’s subscription scheme — and won (The Verge)


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The Thailand Board of Investment has issued an investment certificate to Changan, which will invest around $240 million in a NEV production plant in Thailand.
(Image credit: CnEVPost)
Chinese auto giant Changan Automobile has signed a deal with Thai authorities to advance its plans to build a plant in the Southeast Asian country.
Changan reached the agreement with the Thailand Board of Investment (BOI) at the third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation event in Beijing on October 17, a company press release said yesterday.
Changan plans to invest 8.8 billion baht ($240 million) in Thailand to build a new energy vehicle (NEV) production plant with a design capacity of up to 100,000 units in the first phase, according to the release.
The Thailand BOI secretary general Narit Therdsteerasukdi presented Changan chairman Zhu Huarong with an investment certificate for the carmaker's production site project in Thailand, the release said.
(Image credit: Changan)
Changan established its operating entity in Thailand on August 23, and on August 24, the company announced plans to invest 8.8 billion baht to build a NEV production base in the country.
The first phase of the production base will have an annual capacity of 100,000 vehicles, and the second phase will increase the annual capacity to 200,000 vehicles, Changan said at the time.
NEVs produced at the facility will not only be sold in Thailand, but also exported to other markets including Australia, New Zealand, Britain and South Africa, Changan said in August.
Changan plans to invest more than $10 billion in overseas markets by 2030, with annual overseas sales of more than 1.2 million vehicles and more than 10,000 employees in overseas operations, the company said in April.
As of June, Changan had built more than 400 automobile sales and service outlets in more than 60 countries along the Belt and Road, including Saudi Arabia and Chile, with nearly 900,000 loyal customers, the company said yesterday.
In 2022, 90 percent of Changan's car exports were supplied to countries along the Belt and Road, with an output value of more than 12 billion yuan, it said.
Changan is the latest Chinese automaker to target the Thai market, with its local peers including BYD (OTCMKTS: BYDDY) and Neta building plants in the Southeast Asian nation to bet on the fast-growing EV market.
Thailand is Southeast Asia's largest auto maker and exporter and the top EV market, and the local government is pushing the country to become an ASEAN EV production hub with policies including tax breaks, consumer subsidies and investment support.
(1 $= 36.4400 baht)


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The Rise of the Cashless Economy
Through credit cards, computers, smartphones and embedded microchips, money is no longer a physical currency you put in your pocket. The era of centralised money - bits of paper and metal, backed by the State - is pretty much over. Decentralised money - bits of information, backed by user identity - is upon us.
Cheques gone, cash going
The Reserve Bank of Australia's report, The changing way we pay: trends in consumer payments, found the number of transactions conducted by personal bank cheque is now functionally 0%.
Cash, once kind, is fast following. The proportion of payments made in notes and coins dropped from 69% in 2007 to 47% in 2013. Further, the value of that 47% only represented 18% of the total value of transactions.
Cards have taken top spot. The Reserve Bank found more than half the money everyday Australians transact moves by card.
Cash is fast, so it is still used more for small transactions. But not for long - contactless payments like Visa Paywave and MasterCard PayPass are rapidly eroding this advantage.
Here comes contactless
Both Westpac, for Australia, and Barclays globally, are betting on the supremacy of contactless payments.
Figures from the Aussie bank show the rate of touching, tapping or waving contactless tech - chip-cards and other devices - for "scheme debit card transactions" is now 60%. Meanwhile, Barclays says UK banks have issued the equivalent of one contactless card for every single person in the country. Similar trends are playing out on every continent, including Africa.
As more B2C enterprises install the technology, there will be a greater increase in the volumes of contactless transactions. Money flows will speed up and decentralise even more.
The physical aspects of money - the discs of metal and pieces of paper - are on the way out. Soon the concept of geopolitical currencies - Dollars, Yen, Pounds or Euro - might go too, because currency controls limit rapid, responsive trade.
It's why the rise of completely stateless and digital currencies like Bitcoin, which are already being used to make transactions in the real world, might be the point at which we really leave the old money age and enter the digital revolution.


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| Jul 1, 2014
| 2:24 PM
Following the spring opening of Ted's Montana Grill, Hartford's Front Street will soon see another new restaurant. Nixs Hartford, a seafood-focused eatery with craft cocktails, is set to open by month's end, according to a news release.
Named for Nix's...
| Jun 11, 2014
| 1:15 PM
A new bistro-style lunch is available at Hartford's ON20, designed to offer a "quicker and more affordable" lunch experience at the city restaurant.
On the menu: soups and salads ($6 to $9) including shrimp bisque with coconut milk and kaffir lime, kale...
| May 11, 2014
| 5:32 PM
Right on time for National Hamburger Month: The Capital Grille has doubled its burger offerings on its lunch menu, adding three new options for daytime dining.
The new burgers include a Kona coffee-crusted Wagyu burger with shallot mayonnaise ($17,) a...
| Nov 6, 2013
| 10:45 AM
There's always room for more Vietnamese places that serve pho soup and banh mi sandwiches. And so Pho 68 on New Park Avenue is a welcome recent arrival to the West Hartford restaurant scene.
It wasn't long ago that news of a restaurant serving banh mi...
| Nov 5, 2013
| 1:55 PM
Most of us know about Thai and Vietnamese food — but Cambodian? A new restaurant in Fairfield, Royal House Cambodia Cuisine, is introducing it to the county. Cambodian cuisine shares with its neighbors ingredients like basil, ginger and lemongrass,...
| Nov 8, 2013
| 10:35 AM
Chef Julie Carrion
The Kitchen at Hartford Public Library & The Kitchen at Billings Forge
Julie, could you begin by introducing yourself, and introducing The Kitchen for someone who hasn’t been there before?
Sure, I am the Chef Director of...
| Nov 12, 2013
| 1:45 PM
Good sushi isn't that hard to come by in New Haven. We're fortunate as food lovers to have so many actually good restaurants to choose from whenever we get a craving for anything under the sun, and sushi is no exception. However, finding a great sushi...
| Nov 13, 2013
| 7:30 AM
I'm always asking people what restaurants they've been to lately. I don't flock to the new places because opening a new restaurant is an enormous undertaking and it takes a restaurant a while to settle in. Here are two places that have been open long...
| Nov 20, 2013
| 12:40 PM
I'm not a vegetarian, but I imagine it must be stressful ordering off the menu at an unfamiliar restaurant and not being sure if there are secret animal products lurking in a seemingly vegetarian dish. Those with dietary restrictions can order off the...
| Nov 19, 2013
| 1:45 PM
Well, thank god for cell phones. Mine proved essential when I went to Tabaq Masala, a Pakistani restaurant with pan-Asian touches in Meriden recently. I had called first, sure, and the smartphone helped out in navigating to the spot on the Berlin...
| Nov 20, 2013
| 7:55 AM
With its great location on the corner of Bedford and Spring, and folding doors that open onto the street, Barrique Bistro & Wine Bar has the sidewalk café thing down. But diners should not be put off by winter's less welcoming façade. There's seriously...


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News Prestige Network’s editorial director of GQ Australia, Vogue Australia and Vogue Living Edwina McCann has announced premium automotive brand Audi as presenting partner for the 2019 GQ Men of the Year Awards.
McCann said: “We’re delighted to have Audi return for the third consecutive year as presenting partner of the GQ Men of the Year Awards, they have been a wonderful partner for this event. With both brands intent on driving progress in their respective sectors, it is a pleasure to align with such a forward thinking and respected brand. Together we will take the event to even more prestigious heights.”
Audi Australia chief customer & marketing officer Nikki Warburton said: “Audi is proud to continue its support of the GQ Men of the Year Awards. It’s one of the most prominent celebrations of the diversity of innovation and excellence we have in Australia, and as a brand, we applaud all those who are recognised. We look forward to this year’s event, to share in their inspiring stories.”
The supporting partners for the event were also revealed. Grey Goose Vodka, Paco Rabanne and Qantas are all returning for the 2019 GQ Men of the Year Awards with Coach New York and R.M.Williams also on board this year.


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MIUI 13 is the latest update for Xiaomi phones that is now being made available globally. Today we shared the news that the Redmi Note 10 series is getting a stable MIUI 13 update. And now the Mi 11 Lite has joined the list. Yes, Mi 11 Lite is now getting a stable MIUI 13 update.
Last month, Xiaomi released a new version of the custom skin MIUI 13. Although it was highly anticipated, the features and changes did not meet consumer expectations. MIUI 13 is similar to its previous version MIUI 12.5 Enhanced. But still, a new update is always appreciated. And Xiaomi has now launched the MIUI 13 rollout globally.
MIUI 13 for Mi 11 Lite comes with Build Number V220.127.116.11.SKQMIXM. The Mi 11 Lite was launched last year with the MIUI 12. And later the device received MIUI 12.5 and thus it will be the second major update for the device. As this is an important update, it will weigh more than the additional updates.
Talking about the new features, you can expect everything from Xiaomi during the announcement of MIUI 13. Not much is included in the changelog, but since it is an MIUI 13 update, it will have features. Some new features include a new widget system, MiSans font, a stack of new super wallpapers, privacy features, and overall improvements to the system.
Mi 11 Lite MIUI 13 Update Changelog
- Optimized system performance
- Improved system security and stability
Mi 11 Lite MIUI 13 Update
The MIUI 13 is rolling out to Mi 11 Lite users globally. As usual, it is a staged rollout which means it will be available to all the users in a few days. If you don’t get the OTA update notification, you can check for the update manually by going to Settings > System Update. You can also update your phone immediately by installing the Recovery ROM.
- MIUI 13 for Mi 11 Lite (Global Stable) – (V18.104.22.168.SKQMIXM) [Recovery ROM]
Before updating your phone, make sure to take a backup of important data and also charge your phone to at least 50%.
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First Corvette ZR1 Heads to Auction Next to the First Ford GT to be Auctioned for Charity
Two prized American performance cars will find new owners at the Barrett-Jackson auctionby Kirby Garlitos, on
The first-production 2019 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 will go up for auction at Barrett Jackson’s 47th Annual Scottsdale Auction on January 20 at WestWorld Arena in Scottsdale, Arizona. Joining at as an auction headliner is a Ford GT that’s the first of its kind to be donated for a charity auction. You don’t need to tell me that bids are going to fly once these two prized exotics hit the stage. The only question is, “how much will each car fetch?”
Have you recovered from your holiday expenses? You’re going to have to if you have a shot at owning either one of these two cars.
Chevrolet Corvette ZR1
A base version of the ZR1 sells for $119,995, but you’re kidding yourself if you think the bids will fall around that number.
Let’s dive into the 2019 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 first. Introduced just last November, the Corvette ZR1 is the fastest and most powerful Corvette ever made. Actually, it’s also the most powerful production model Chevrolet has ever made so that counts for a lot when you’re talking about superlatives. Beyond the fact that the Corvette ZR1 is dripping with aerodynamic bits and pieces, the sports car also features a new 6.2-liter V-8 engine that produces a staggering 755 horsepower and 715 pound-feet of torque. To put that in perspective, those numbers are 105 horses and 65 pound-feet of twist more than the Corvette Z06 and an incredible 300 ponies and 255 pound-feet of torque more than the standard Corvette. The supercar-level power figures help the Corvette ZR1 accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in just 2.8 seconds before peaking at a top speed of “over 210 mph,” 25 mph faster than the Z06.
With that kind of ability at its disposal, don’t expect the Corvette ZR1 to come cheap at the auction. The fact that it also some provenance — a first-production unit — attached to it is going to make it even more attractive in the eyes of collectors. A base version of the ZR1 sells for $119,995, but you’re kidding yourself if you think the bids will fall around that number.
Given the recent history of first-production Corvettes setting auction prices on fire, it’s reasonable to think that the first-production Corvette ZR1 will easily eclipse $1 million.
For some perspective, consider how much the last few first-production Corvettes sold for when they went up for auction. Two years ago, the first-production Corvette Z06 sold for $800,000, coincidentally at the same Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale auction. Before that, the first-production Corvette Stingray sold for an incredible $1.05 million, while the first-production Corvette Stingray Convertible fetched $1 million on its own. Given the recent history of first-production Corvettes setting auction prices on fire, it’s reasonable to think that the first-production Corvette ZR1 will easily eclipse $1 million.
A seven-figure bid seems inevitable considering that the GT already costs around $400,000, to begin with
Now let’s talk about the Ford GT that’s headed to Barrett-Jackson. It’s not the first-production GT, but it is the first GT to be donated to a charity auction. That counts for something too.
We already know about the history behind the GT. It’s the successor to the legendary Ford GT40 supercar that Ford launched a decade ago. But more than just being the follow-up to one of the Blue Oval’s most important cars, the GT also serves as the unquestioned halo car of the Dearborn, Michigan-based automaker. The GT is a technological showcase from Ford. It features state-of-the-art aerodynamics and makes use of materials that have never been used in the industry before. One of these materials is the gorilla glass on the windshield. For those who are unfamiliar, gorilla glass was developed by Corning Inc. and is characterized for being thin, light, and damage resistant. It’s actually the same material used as cover glass for portable devices, so if you’re reading this on your iPhone or iPads, chances are you’re touching gorilla glass now.
It's powered by Ford's new 3.5-liter, EcoBoost turbocharged V-6 that produces 647 horsepower and 550 pound-feet
In addition to being a technological masterpiece, the Ford GT is also a powerhouse on four wheels. It’s powered by Ford’s new 3.5-liter, EcoBoost turbocharged V-6 that produces 647 horsepower and 550 pound-feet. It may not approach the output of the Corvette ZR1, but it’s still potent enough to help the car accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in under three seconds before setting the road ablaze on its way to a top speed of 216 mph.
Like the Corvette ZR1, you’re going to need to break the bank if you have any hopes of acquiring this Ford GT. A seven-figure bid seems inevitable considering that the GT already costs around $400,000, to begin with. Fortunately, winning this car removes the hassle of having to apply for a chance to buy one and hope that Ford approves your application, which, by the way, could take a few years from happening. You can cut all those corners by bidding on this Ford GT!
All for a good cause
Proceeds from the sale of the ZR1 will go to directly to the Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation
If it helps, the proceeds from the sale of both the Chevrolet Camaro ZR1 and the Ford GT won’t go to Chevrolet and Ford, respectively. Instead, proceeds from the sale of the ZR1 will go to directly to the Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation, an organization that supports seriously injured emergency first responders. Meanwhile, proceeds from the sale of the Ford GT will go to the Autism Society of North Carolina.
Read our full review of the 2019 Chevy Corvette ZR1
Read our full review on the 2017 Ford GT.


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As the wine trade enters the race towards Christmas, ARENI Global gathered key fine wine players from four different markets to ask them about the trends they are seeing and – more importantly –what the wine business can do to hit their targets?
Covid-19, Brexit, US elections, restricted travel, cancelled trade shows, drops in tourism and wavering consumer confidence – you name it, 2020 has seen it. ARENI Global asked key fine wine figures to share any glimmers of hope that they have. The conversations took place over two ARENI Global Insight series during September.
Here are their five reasons for optimism.
Wine buyers are still looking for new wines and wineries.
Wine buyers still need to keep up with trends, which means they are still open to pitches from new wines and wineries.
“Throughout Covid, we have been able to go through the cellar and put together special offerings and packaging for people, so we managed our inventory really well,” said Tonya Pitts, the wine director and sommelier at One Market restaurant in San Francisco. “Consumers expect us to have new wines – that’s also why they are coming.”
Buyers don’t want to be trendy for the sake of it, however, and classic regions are still doing well, particularly in Asia. “The classic fine wines are doing extremely well in Mainland China at the moment. Wineries from Bordeaux, Burgundy or the Rhone Valley can by all means contact us” said Alex Caillard, Head of Sales for Pudao, a Shanghai-based wine retailer.
When it comes to price, growth is happening at both ends of the spectrum. “Across the different categories, we’re seeing much more everyday consumption,” says Joe Fisch, CEO of Wine Access, one of the top five online retailers in Wine Enthusiast’s America’s 50 Best Wine Retailers. “We’ve seen a slight downtick in our bottle price – under $30 is doing amazing, but so does over $300.”
Some buyers, including Tonya Pitts, are going the extra mile and using their buying power to support causes, now more than ever.
“We have to support our community, so we will continue to help and source as much as we can through regions devastated by (Californian) fires and underrepresented communities.”
The middle man is back
While direct-to-consumer sales are booming, most producers find the online world difficult to navigate, because building an audience from scratch is not easy.
“If you’re not online than, for many consumers, you don’t exist,” says André Ribeirinho, founder of online platform Adegga. “Yes there’s a place for wineries to work direct and there is a place for wineries to work with curators. But there is also a place for platforms like marketplaces to make this information well-structured and easily available.”
However, brands should be careful when pivoting to online direct-to-consumer sales. Competition is fierce, and building an effective e-commerce platform requires both skill and time. For those without deep pockets, building digital partnerships may be the best investment.
Online tastings to connect people through the holidays
Since the pandemic began, the growth in online tastings has tapped into new and diverse audience eager to learn more about wine, across a wide range of price points.
“We sold out tickets that were more than £1,000 per person,” says Alistair Viner, Head Buyer for high-end London retail store Hedonism. “We were very surprised, but getting to taste a range of first growths in a Zoom tasting was a fascinating experience for people.”
Demands for private and corporate zoom tastings are expected to be strong over the holiday seasons, according to Tom Harrow, co-founder of Honest Grapes, the winner of Decanter’s Outstanding Retailer of the Year 2020.
“We will see a second spike of demand for online entertainment because it is going to be an easier way to engage friends, family and clients and we are very prepared for that.”
Gifting to balance the lack of connection
Gifting, both for individuals and corporate, offers one very bright glimmer of hope. All of our experts expect that people will want to treat themselves at home this year – and companies will also want to use some of their left-over travel expenses to reward employees. This could mean wine, hampers, and online tastings (for corporate Christmas parties for example), including offering rare and expensive wines in small formats.
“We are expecting more corporate type orders come Christmas, and we are changing our operations behind the scenes to be able to propose a large range of products and services,” says Hedonism’s Viner.
While online sales are strong, analogue works too
Although most people think of fine wine as being part of traditional culture, it was able to migrate online surprisingly rapidly, appearing everywhere from e-commerce platforms to Instagram live, and at virtual tastings and educational webinars.
Yet while the new digital world represented a huge opportunity for fine wine engagement, it also opened up opportunities for more traditional marketing.
“We found some pretty good success in the direct-to-consumer channel by going analogue in addition to digital,” says Ryan Pennington, Senior Director of Communications and Corporate Affairs for Ste. Michelle Wine Estates. “We invested heavily in a phone sales program with our current club members, reaching out to them and seeing how they’re doing. We’ve had good success doing that.”
However, marketers need to be careful and pay particular attention to tone. As Joe Fisch, CEO of Wine Access, says: “We have to be careful and sensitive in the way we will be promoting wine. What we wouldn’t want to do, for example, is sell a Burgundy premier cru to a non-segmented audience, with the message, ‘this is a wine that everyone has to have’.” The key is to understand the audience and to acknowledge what they are going through.
Lifestyles have changed
“The good thing about this confinement is that customers have rediscovered those small food businesses. They were the lights in the village that were still on,” says Corinne Richard, CEO and President of Maisons Richard, one of France’s biggest wine group, talking about the way that small businesses became a lifeline for people, because they kept the food, wine and community flowing.
It wasn’t just consumers in France that felt the need to bring the food-and-wine experience back into the home on a regular basis.
“The silver lining is that consumers are enjoying better quality wines at home on a regular basis and it’s going to become part of their regular lifestyle,” says Michael Mondavi, founder, Folio Fine Wine Partners.
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Ford announced they’ll soon be recalling more Focus cars to prevent clutch fractures that can lead to fires.
the cars can experience clutch slips that cause elevated temperatures that damage the clutch plates.This may cause the transmission housings and clutch covers to leak transmission fluid.
Ford knew about the clutch plate fractures and the threat of fires as evidenced by a previous recall. But it wasn’t until European models with the same B6 transmission started to go up in smoke that Ford decided to expand its previous recall … I guess we could call it, effort?…keep reading article "Clutch Recall Expanded to Prevent Fires in Ford Focus"
2012–13 Ford Focus owners made enough noise about their unreliable doors to spark an investigation by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) back in January.
The owners were tired of their doors flying open while driving, the "door ajar" light never turning off, and whatnot. The investigation found that the problem ran much deeper and it eventually led to a recall of 2.3 million vehicles spread out across 6 Ford and Lincoln models, including the Focus.
Now that the investigation is closing, we'd like to raise a glass of eggnog – the spiked variety – to the owners who filed their complaints online and got the problem fixed.keep reading article "Focus Door Latch Investigation Closed Following Recall"
Ford has once again expanded a door handle recall, this time affecting 2.3 million vehicles.
It's likely NHTSA asked Ford to expand the recall because all affected vehicles weren't included in the August recall. That recall was for only certain areas of the country which Ford said had higher ambient temperatures. Vehicles outside those specific areas weren't included in the recall, but Ford said they could be included in a "customer satisfaction program.
So much for the "solar loading" defense.keep reading article "Goodbye Regional, Hello Nationwide Recall of Ford Door Handles"
Ford is having a problem keeping its vehicle's doors closed, prompting another massive recall.
If they keep it up, they might have trouble keeping their doors open too. Ford says about 830,000 vehicles in North America need fixes to stop the doors from popping open while driving. This isn't the automaker's first time dealing with this problem. In 2015 they recalled nearly 550,000 vehicles for a similar issue.
Unlike the previous recall, however, this one will only take place in what Ford is calling areas of "higher ambient temperature."…keep reading article "A Recall to Keep Doors Closed While Driving"
d's pawl spring issues have had their doors blown wide open. Yes, I went there.keep reading article "Regional Recall For Another 830,000 Vehicles with Busted Pawl Springs"
Ford says a recall of 830,000 vehicles in North America is needed to fix doors that may open while driving, but only if those vehicles are in certain areas.


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Attention: An All-Nutella Restaurant is Opening in Brooklyn
An all-Nutella restaurant sounds like a chocolaty dream come true! Nutelleria, a restaurant that will be serving breakfast, dessert dishes and more containing the famous chocolate-hazelnut spread, will soon be opening in Brooklyn’s Park Slope neighborhood. Expect some seriously mouthwatering concoctions like a breakfast pizza with cream cheese, fruit, and Nutella; a Nutella-bacon-banana waffle sandwich; and of course, Nutella crepes.
But here’s the thing: since the Nutella restaurant is run by fans of the chocolate spread, and not actually associated with Nutella’s parent company Ferrero, the restaurant may actually be illicit.
We’ve reached out to Ferrero for comment, but have not heard back. It does seem that lawyers will come knocking on Nutelleria’s door soon though, because Nutella is a registered trademark, and Ferrero has made restaurants change the names of their dishes and smoothies in the past. The Nutella bar at Eataly is an exception, since they collaborated directly with the folks at Nutella for their 50th anniversary festivities.
But it seems that the Nutelleria folks aren’t too worried, since they’ve started a viral social media campaign on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
So the big question is, when will this beautiful paradise be opening? Cryptically, the Nutelleria just says “very, very soon.” We’ll raise a jar to that.
For the latest happenings in the food and drink world, visit our Food News page.
Joanna Fantozzi is an Associate Editor with The Daily Meal. Follow her on Twitter@JoannaFantozzi


text: NACS Online / News & Media Center News & Media Center Page Content NACS Daily News Making the Zoning Process Easier for RetailersNACS Site Approval Toolkit shares strategies to help retailers achieve success throughout zoning process, including with community members. Apr 21, 2015The ‘Why’ Behind Consumer Purchasing DecisionsNew survey shows that lower gas prices leading consumers to spend more on food and groceries, among other purchases.Apr 21, 2015Where Does the U.S. Stand When It Comes to Card FeesIncreasing regulation card fees in other countries could affect U.S. policy … or not.Apr 21, 2015Enmark Stations Supports Leukemia & Lymphoma SocietyCompany sets a fundraising goal of more than $83,000 for campaigns in the month of May. Apr 21, 2015What Does the Future of E-Commerce Look Like? Publication of W3C web payments draft elaborates on the future of payments for merchants and consumers.Apr 21, 2015 View All Daily News Articles NACS Press Releases NACS Site Approval Toolkit Shares Strategies for SuccessApr 21, 2015Convenience Stores See Strong Q1 and Expect Sales to Heat Up Further in Q2Apr 16, 2015Fuel Contributes to a Successful, Historic Year for ConvenienceApr 15, 2015Consumer Optimism Strengthens as Gas Prices Remain Low Apr 14, 2015Scott Kubista-Hovis Joins NACS as Performance ConsultantMar 31, 2015 View All NACS Press Releases NACS Member News CORD Financial Services Adds Steve Brady to SalesforceApr 21, 2015Pax Labs Introduces JUULApr 21, 2015Statoil Awards Ferus LP Major C02 Service Contract in North DakotaApr 21, 2015Town Pump Deploys Gilbarco Veeder-Root’s Passport POS Throughout MontanaApr 21, 2015Mars Chocolate Reaches Sustainability MilestoneApr 21, 2015 View All NACS Member News Subscribe to NACS Daily Get the same news you see here and more — an indispensable "quick read" of daily industry headlines, legislative and regulatory news from Washington, and knowledge and resources from NACS delivered to your inbox every weekday morning. Subscribe to NACS Daily Email NACS News Feed Contact Us Got a media inquiry for NACS?For media interviews/comments contact Jeff Lenard. To register as media for a NACS event contact Erin Pressley. To submit a press release to NACS, please send to firstname.lastname@example.org. If you want to be on the list to receive NACS press releases contact Erin Pressley.


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Published November 2017
A recent decision by the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) has set different aspects of the American solar power industry against one another.
The ITC ruled unanimously on Sept. 22 that domestic solar panel-makers are entitled to protection from cheaper foreign imports. The decision favors two foreign-owned companies with American operations, Suniva and SolarWorld Americas (based near Atlanta and Portland, Oregon, respectively). The manufacturers successfully demonstrated economic harm from below-cost components made mostly in China with government backing.
They claim that the minimum floor prices and tariffs they seek would produce tens of thousands of new jobs in the U.S. Opponents counter that the two struggling firms are trying to use trade policy to reverse business losses at consumers’ expense.
Solar panels are the building blocks of solar electric systems. They comprise multiple solar cells, the silicon semiconductors that convert sunlight into electricity. More than 90 percent of solar panels used in America are imported.
After holding a hearing on Oct. 3 on possible remedies, the three ITC commissioners issued individual proposals on Oct. 31. These included quotas, an import licensing fee and a range of tariffs on imported panels of up to 35 percent — all measures considerably less severe than what Suniva and SolarWorld were seeking.
The ITC, a quasi-judicial federal agency, sent the White House its formal recommendations on Nov. 13, in a report to be made public by early December. President Trump has 60 days to decide which proposals, if any, to implement. A $100 million solar farm near Fort Stockton is among several U.S. projects on hold as investors wait to see what happens next.
Interestingly, the ITC proposals have set American panel-makers against much of the rest of in the solar industry, including designers, developers, installers and distributors, all of whom benefit from lower panel costs. Few in the $29 billion domestic solar industry supported the case, and at least four governors publicly opposed it. Solar’s main trade group decried the ruling as a setback, predicting steep price hikes and job losses that would stifle growth.
Others, however, view it as more of a transient hindrance to the industry, noting panel prices have leveled off since 2012.
One industry analyst suggests the solar power industry in states such as Texas could be vulnerable to even a 10 percent cost spike. An Austin energy consultant foresees greater employment losses in system design and installation than gains from domestic solar manufacturing.
In 2016, Texas ranked third among states in solar energy employment with almost 9,400 jobs, mostly in the residential sector. Texas solar employment rose by 34 percent in 2016, according to The Solar Foundation. A recent foundation study (PDF) projects job growth in Texas will rise by at least 15 percent by 2021. FN


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By Togul - 22.01.2020
How to buy bitcoin in china 2019
Customers in Europe can also purchase bitcoins with SEPA transfer for a lower to the Chinese Bitcoin community (and BTC's price as well), in October reviewmarket.ru · Users: , · Coinmama · Users: 2,,+ · LocalBitcoins · Users: 1,, (August ) · Kraken · Users: 4,, (February ).
However, some how to buy bitcoin in china 2019 exchanges offer coin-to-coin trading that can be exploited to skirt the ban. According to videos widely circulated online, tourists who had expected to take epic photos of an ethereal blue sky reflected all around them — as they had seen in related ads — complained about being dismayed to find the mirror surfaces covered with dirty footprints.
Like many industries, tourism has been severely disrupted by the pandemic. In February, the China Tourism Academy, a Beijing-based research institute, estimated that the domestic tourism sector would see 1. Some net users revealed that this is not the first time a Family Mart WeChat account has indulged in inappropriate clickbait.
Is such a headline suitable? By Thursday afternoon, the WeChat post how to buy bitcoin in china 2019 been deleted. The click, who is also a professor at Central China Normal University in Wuhan, said individuals who sound an alarm and harbor no ill intentions should be granted leniency even if the warning they disseminate turns out to be inaccurate.
Zhou also suggested eliminating red tape and granting more authority to local governments to take decisive action during an emergency. This is not the first time international brands have aimed to become more how to buy bitcoin in china 2019 how to buy bitcoin in link 2019 breaking with traditional beauty conventions.
Some arguedhowever, that the move would hardly instill body positivity and eliminate gender discrimination overnight. Specifically, Gao suggested that the authorities should yield decision-making power to disease control institutions and reduce the degree of micromanagement of these institutions by local and provincial health departments.
As the nominal driving force behind such work, the China CDC had failed to fulfill its responsibility to provide early warning and monitoring, epidemiological investigation, relevant policy proposals, and effective outbreak control and prevention measures.
Together, the 13 departments are responsible for reviewing maps published in domestic media reports, films, museums, and textbooks.
All maps of China, in China, must be submitted to the relevant authorities for review before how to buy bitcoin in china 2019. Before entering the market, however, it must receive approval from the National Medical Products Administration.
How to buy bitcoin in china 2019, who is also the mayor of Zhuzhou in check this out central Hunan province, noted that Chinese dogecoin gratis wd 2019 one of the six official languages of the United Nations, and said translations may cause press conferences to be less efficient.
The motion was not adopted. Some cities have already taken strides in this direction.
Authorities said the relaxed enforcement created more than 80, jobs. Image: IC.
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How To Follow Disney World Hurricane Irma Updates
It looks like a little rain isn't enough to shut down the happiest place on earth — nor is a massive hurricane. As Irma makes its way to Florida this week, several businesses have announced that they're shutting down over the weekend in light of the hurricane (Orlando International Airport included), but as it turns out, Disney World will be keeping its doors wide open. Some rides, however, will be shut down for safety, so if you're currently vacationing in the theme park, here's how to follow Disney World's Hurricane Irma updates and stay safe.
Fortunately for those enjoying their time in the Magic Kingdom, Disney World seems to have a pretty robust system of getting information out to its visitors, so if you have a smartphone on you, you're set. You'll want to start by checking in on Disney World's special Hurricane Irma page, which will let you know what rides have been closed and which events have been canceled. It also has easy-to-follow instructions on how to get refunds for tickets to any events that are now canceled, like Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party and Night of Joy at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex. Disney World also has a pretty thorough page of frequently asked questions on its hurricane policy, which is worth checking out.
If you're looking for updates that come to you, rather than having to seek them out on a website, don't worry — there are plenty of options for that, too. If you're on Twitter, you can get weather updates from the following users:
- The Disney Information Station (which seems to update frequently)
- Walt Disney World's Twitter page (which has more general news straight from the source)
- Walt Disney World Weather (which seems to have more general weather updates than information on specific closures or cancelations)
If you're not a Twitter user, you can also follow Walt Disney World on Facebook for updates. Follow the page and make sure to turn on notifications for it, so that you get a nudge from your phone when new information becomes available.
Regardless of where you're getting your updates, you'll want to make sure you keep an eye on the weather. Irma is a Category 4 storm, and while its path through Florida could still change, it will definitely be bringing heavy rains and winds with it. No one wants the weather to ruin their trip, but in this case, you'll definitely want to follow advice from Disney staff and head indoors if necessary.


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Topeka, KS (WIBW) Senators have passed the much criticized "bailout bill" by 74-25 vote Wednesday sending it now to the House. A vote is expected this Friday.
How is Topeka holding up with the credit card crunch?
We spoke with a local Realtor and general manager of an auto dealership to see how loans are being affected by the national credit crisis.
"We're not seeing any affects at all in this latest crunch that's getting on the news with the Wall Street bailout, we haven't seen any affects at all in that regard," said Dan McGinley with Prudential First, Realtors.
McGinley did say that credit has been tighter since the first of they year but that is aside from the current credit woes. He says the days have passed with 0% down to purchase a home. McGinley did say that with good credit you can purchase a home on a 90% loan with 3% down with some FAJ programs.
"VA loans those are 100% programs, of course you have to be a Veteran and there are rural development loans pretty much outside Shawnee County."
"You know there are some issues out there but quite frankly there is a lot of money. We're very fortunate we're in the Midwest where we live in Topeka Kansas because we don't have nearly the severity that the east and west coast have," Alvin Dvorak GM of Briggs Dodge said Thursday.
Dvorak says he had great sales for the Month of September. He like McGinley said there is a big change for the auto industry as well with them doing away with nearly all lease programs, he too said that it had nothing to do with this current crisis.
"If you have a high credit score money is readily available. I think we're seeing a little bit more struggle with mediocre credit."
Now is the time to buy according to both gentleman, they agree if you have a good credit score that money is available.
"It's a great buyers market, the best buyers market we have seen in a long time. Combined with low interest rates, it's a terrific time to buy," McGinley added.


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El Clasificado’s social media strategy was honored alongside some of the top media organizations across the country at the Local Media Association’s Digital Innovation Awards in Chicago on April 22nd.
Impressed judges from Arizona State University’s Cronkite School of Journalism awarded the company second place in the “Best Social Media Strategy” category for outlets with under 750,000 unique visitors.
Frank Zepeda, El Clasificado’s Director of Marketing, received the award on behalf of El Clasificado at the LMA Digital Revenue Summit red carpet event held for award winners at the Crowne Plaza Chicago O’Hare.
“El Clasificado is honored to once again share the awards stage with our LMA peers. LMA’s Innovation Summit is a vital part for the growth of traditional media companies,” Zepeda said about the awards event.
Winning the award for the company, El Clasificado’s Quinceanera.com brand utilized an array of marketing strategies including a proprietary local influencer marketing network, co-branded content with national sponsors, and paid 15 second video ads across Facebook and Instagram, which saw campaigns reach $0.01 engagement levels.
The company presented examples of both organic and paid social media content and statistics in its presentation for the LMA judges.
This year’s social media strategy was sponsored by Social News Desk and recognized “the most successful and creative plans when it comes to leveraging social media to expand audience and heighten engagement.”
The contest is the only of its kind—in which newspapers, TV stations, radio stations, and digital news sites compete for the trophy in a variety of categories.
ASU’s Frank Mungeam, who helped judge the contest, stated “the LMA award winners demonstrate a wide range of innovation – from storytelling to new formats and platforms, to new revenue models. An inspiring roadmap for the future of news!”
El Clasificado has been attending the Local Media Association’s Digital Revenue Summit for three years.
About El Clasificado and EC Hispanic Media:
El Clasificado was founded in 1988 by Martha de la Torre and Joe Badame. Over the years they have successfully transitioned El Clasificado into a multi-media digital company serving over 100,000 small businesses each week with marketplaces in print, online and social avenues targeting U.S. Latinos in Spanish and English. In 2015 El Clasificado was named SBA Champion of Minority Businesses, and in 2018 EC Hispanic Media won the International Classifieds Media Association’s Digital Innovation Award for Twyzle. For over 30 years El Clasificado has been serving and helping empower Latinos to build safe, strong and healthy communities.
Jacquelinne Mejia, Marketing and Business Development Manager
EC Hispanic Media [email protected]


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Infiniti adding trio of turbo engines to Q50 sedan for 2016
The Infiniti Q50 sedan will receive three new turbocharged engine choices for the 2016 model year, including a 400-horsepower 3.0-litre.
Dubbed "the most advanced V6 ever offered by Infiniti," the 400-horsepower, twin-turbocharged 3.0-litre is one of two members of the new VR-series engine family that replaces the award-winning 3.7-litre naturally-aspirated V6 under the hood.
Available in a new Infiniti Q50 Red Sport 400 set to go on sale in spring 2016, the high-output VR-series engine features an aluminum-alloy block and cylinder heads, direct injection, an electronic wastegate actuator, water-cooled engine charging and an integrated exhaust manifold.
The 2016 Q50 Red Sport 400 will also feature an all-new "Dynamic Digital Suspension," and staggered 19-inch aluminum-alloy wheels.
Joining the 400-horsepower VR is a detuned version of the 3.0-litre that makes 300 horsepower and will be available across the Q50 lineup, according to Infiniti.
"The Q50 has been the heart of our Infiniti lineup since it was introduced two years ago," Infiniti Americas vice-president Randy Parker said in a statement. "So now it's only appropriate that we get Q50 drivers' hearts beating a little faster with these advanced VR-series engines."
Joining the two 3.0-litre engines is a 208-horsepower turbocharged 2.0-litre inline four-cylinder that was jointly developed with Daimler.
Produced in Tennessee, it will be offered in base and Premium 2.0t versions of the new Q50.
Infiniti also introduced a facelifted version of its QX60 crossover for 2016, which features slightly new looks and new safety features, including Forward Emergency Braking (FEB) with pedestrian detection.
The 2016 Q50 and QX60 models will be on display at the Detroit auto show in January.