text:
Jaguar has given the XK range a makeover after six years on sale and will cap the new line-up with what is probably the company’s fastest production car yet.
The XKR-S is powered by a 543bhp supercharged 5.0-litre V8 and can sweep to 100mph in just 8.7sec, says Jaguar. It features extensive changes to the chassis as well as to the exterior styling. Although the top speed is electronically limited to 186mph, the XKR-S’s unrestricted maximum is thought to be close to 200mph.
The XKR-S heads a revamped 2012 model year XK range that benefits from a redesigned nose with a new bumper and grille and new, smaller headlamps, with LED running lights. The front wings have been changed and now feature horizontal vents, something avoided until now because it was a styling signature associated with Aston Martin.
There will be a choice of 17 exterior colours, six new interior colourways and three new veneers. The XK interior gets a new steering wheel and switchgear, a rotary gear selector, upgraded instrument cluster and blue LED interior ambient lighting.
The flagship XKR-S is marked out by a much more aggressive exterior treatment, with a new front bumper and carbonfibre splitter, new sills, a prominent rear spoiler and a carbonfibre lower rear valance. Inside, it gets 16-way adjustable performance seats and leather embossed with a carbonfibre weave pattern.
The XKR-S uses an updated version of Jaguar’s familiar V8, with eight per cent more power than the XKR and nine per cent more torque. This means that it has five per cent more torque than the Porsche 911 Turbo and 10 per cent more power. It also gets a revised exhaust, to reduce back pressure and provide a more appealing engine note.
Jaguar has designed a new, more rigid aluminium upright for the XKR-S’s front suspension, and that is expected to reduce understeer and to deliver improved steering feel.
Bilstein continuously variable dampers (controlled by Jaguar’s own software) can monitor wheel position up to 500 times a second and aim to control body movements, including body roll and fore and aft pitch.


text:
It’s best known for great live music, but city pub The Jade (formerly The Jade Monkey) now serves breakfast. Expect a brunch menu with a Southeast Asian twist, courtesy of the crew behind resident Cambodian food truck Phat Buddha Rolls.
“We’ve always wanted to expand to breakfast,” says co-owner Zac Coligan. “The coffee machine has been here since the beginning and recently, with our lunch offerings, there has been a lot of demand for early-morning service.”
Among new menu items are a bacon, cheese, hash brown and onion stack finished with espresso jus, and a duck, mushroom and cheese toastie, aptly named the Quack of Dawn.
“It’ll be good to give people more options and encourage them to return at different times,” Coligan says. Now you can hang out in the morning with a pot of tea at the very venue that gave you your hangover.
The charming pub deserves to be appreciated in the morning sun and will be open for breakfast patrons from Tuesday, June 21. An indoor fireplace and coffee by Five Senses fends off the chill, but if you have to run, takeaway is available too.
160 Flinders Street, Adelaide
0402 299 301
Tue to Wed 7am–3pm
Thu to Sat 11am–late

domain: news


text:
Father and daughter had faced what the famous comic book writer would call “the dumbest white woman I have ever met.”
The life of the late Marvel creator Stan Lee will be revealed in a new biography that includes details of his volatile relationship with his only daughter, Joan Celia.
The father and daughter duo were said to have taken on what the famous comic book writer would call “the dumbest white woman I have ever met.
Joan Celia was known for her way of spending money and called her parents 50 times a day to demand money.
The scope of this is such that he reportedly forced his frail father to work appearing on comic shows despite his health and age.
Lee had claimed that his 70-year-old daughter suffered from schizophrenia and paranoia.
In one case, Joan Celia was said to have physically assaulted her parents after they gave her a rented Jaguar on her birthday instead of a news agency.
In tapes leaked to the author of True Believer: The Rise and Fall of Stan Lee, which will be released on Tuesday, the two would be seen exchanging heated words.
“I’ve had it, ungrateful!” Lee is reported to have yelled at JC after the 2014 incident.
“Joan Celia always makes me want to kill myself,” she says.
Lee, who passed away in 201, was the creator of many beloved superheroes such as Spider-Man, Black Panther, Incredible Hulk, Captain America, and the X-Men.


text:
Square, the financial payments firm started by Twitter’s Jack Dorsey, announced last week that it has launched a long-anticipated, in-house bank. Square says the bank will allow it to “operate more nimbly in an increasingly crowded financial-tech (fintech) market.”
Square Financial Services began operations after completing a long charter approval process with the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) and the Utah Department of Financial Institutions.
Named Square Financial Services, the bank will operate as an independently governed subsidiary of Square Inc.
The bank will be be based in Salt Lake City and will provide business loans and deposit products to sellers who use its card reader and other point-of-sale services.
Fintech companies typically partner with third-party banks to service products such as small-business loans. Moving forward, Square Financial Services will be the primary provider of financing for Square sellers across the U.S.
Photo | GettyImages


text:
The resilience of diesel
At this time of political uncertainty, economic considerations continue to weigh on MPs’ minds as they debate the UK’s withdrawal from Europe. Brexit is leading to both a significant change in the UK’s relationship with other European countries and the opportunity to reopen the negotiation of trade deals directly with non-EU countries.
Many questions are shaping MPs’ and public opinion about the merits of a Brexit deal versus leaving the EU without a deal in parallel to the need for a political declaration on the future relationship the UK will have with the EU.
In a post-apocalyptic Brexit world with the potential of a weakened pound, no trade agreements and increased interest rates the potential fall out for the automotive industry is significant. Whilst the majority of economic projections suggest that Brexit will harm UK economic growth with increased barriers to trade between the UK and other countries many used car dealers are looking at how in the short and long term how Brexit will affect the used car market.
- Any increase in trade tariffs with Europe will see imported car models from all European manufacturers rise in price
- This is the most likely scenario with a No-Deal Brexit
- The dramatic drop in sterling in August is probably only a taste of what is to come – leading to further price increases for new cars
- A no-deal scenario would likely see sterling fall 5-10%, causing a spike in inflation
The Bank of England
- The Bank of England held interest rates at 0.75% on 19/09/2019, mentioning ‘Brexit uncertainties’ frequently in its decision. In the past, the Bank has described holding rates as a ‘wait-and-see’ approach to Brexit
- With the deadline looming closer, the Bank might soon have to be more decisive
- In the medium term though, the Bank’s intention is still to gradually increase rates closer to their pre-recessionary norms – but only if the UK’s departure from the EU goes smoothly
- Jaguar Land Rover is again planning a temporary shutdown of its main UK production plants for a week after Britain’s planned departure from the European Union on 31 October.
- JLR was forced to close its sites in April, when Brexit was originally scheduled to happen. Mini, Vauxhall, and Honda, among others, also closed during April.
- Twenty-three of the UK and Europe’s automotive industry bodies joined forces last week to stress the “catastrophic” impact of the UK leaving the EU without a formal deal would have on the industry’s operating model, due to increased border checks and wide-reaching tariffs.
The car market – no deal scenario
- Potential of new car prices rising significantly
- Demand for used cars reduces in response to increased prices
- Used car demand increases, especially for low mileage, nearly new cars


text:
Tesla’s idea for a windshield wiper that would remove debris from the driver’s line of sight using a laser has been officially released by the US Patent Office.
Tesla filed the patent in May 2019, and it was finally granted in late 2021. Now the US Patent Office has released the patent, making it publicly viewable.
Tesla has long been interested in some pretty crazy and revolutionary ideas for cars. Over the past few years, Tesla has experimented with several different designs and ideas for windshield wipers.
With all the crazy ideas Tesla has thrown around for windshield wipers, the patent for the “Pulsed laser cleaning of accumulated debris on glass items in vehicles and photovoltaic panelsfrom the automaker is among the most interesting. Originally filed in May 2019, Tesla had the idea published by the US Patent Office, which means that if the Office ultimately does not grant the patent, the public can still learn from the work and perhaps be developing another system that could be tuned.
Tesla describes the patent in the now published presentation:
A cleaning system for a vehicle includes an optical assembly that emits a laser beam to irradiate a region in a vehicle window region, a debris detection circuit that detects accumulated debris in the region, and a control circuit. The control circuit calibrates a set of parameters associated with the laser beam emitted by the optical assembly, based on the detection of accumulated debris on the region of the glass article, controls an exposure level of the laser beam on the debris accumulated based on the calibration of all the parameters associated with the laser beam, where the level of exposure is controlled according to the pulsation of the laser beam at a calibrated speed which limits the penetration of the laser beam to a depth less than the thickness of the glassware and removes accumulated debris from the area of the glassware using the laser beam.
It’s not necessarily confirmed or known what plans Tesla might have for laser wipers, but the patent illustrations appear to show a Model S body. Tesla may be willing to test such devices on some of its vehicles so continues internally, but the automaker has never detailed any specific plans for the idea.
In five steps, the patent describes the use of the laser cleaning assembly:
- Detect residue accumulated in a region of the glass article installed in the vehicle.
- Calibrate a set of parameters associated with the laser beam emitted from the beam optics assembly, based on the detection of accumulated debris in a region of the glassware.
- Control the level of exposure of the laser beam on the detected residues accumulated in the glass article, according to the calibration of all the parameters associated with the laser beam.
- Irradiate the region associated with the detected residues on the glassware with a laser beam.
- Remove detected debris accumulated in the area using a laser beam.
It also does not appear to be operated by the vehicle itself. Tesla describes the possibility of a manual system in which the driver could control the laser with a touch screen, joystick or other means to communicate with the various operating components of the cleaning device.
Although it seems like a far-fetched idea, it wouldn’t be too far removed from Tesla’s ideas to use a laser to clean a windshield.


text:
Cyber expert talks about phishing attacks in India by Chinese, how country should respond
26, Jun 2020, 3:26 PM
Bengaluru: The government of India has issued an advisory through the national cyber crime portal, warning users of large-scale phishing attacks planned by Chinese state-backed hackers. The advisory warns users against a specific email address, ‘firstname.lastname@example.org’, which is reportedly being used by the Chinese attackers to send phishing emails. According to the government advisory, the Chinese cybercrime perpetrators have gotten hold of over 2 million email addresses, and are using the above mentioned email address to send messages that claim to offer “free COVID-19 testing for all residents of Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Chennai and Ahmedabad.”
Asianet Newsable spoke to Suresh Kumar B, CEO of Incognito Forensic Foundation and Texial Innovations Private Limited https://texial.net about the Chinese hackers' plan to launch large-scale phishing attacks in India, let’s watch as to what he has to say.


text:
WickedLeak Wammy Neo
Asus Zenfone 6
Sony HT-IV300 5.1 Home Theatre
Samsung Galaxy Tab S 8.4
Asus Zenfone 5
HTC One (M8)
Micromax Unite 2 A106
7 common Android issues and how to fix them
Has YouTube become the bastion for homegrown indie artists?
HTC One E8: Build, design and camera quality
From single to octa: The evolution of the Android phone CPU
Gone in 2.3 seconds! Xiaomi Mi3 flash sales on Flipkart evokes colourful reactions
How tech is taking football to the next level
Classic FPS games are a dying breed
Slowly gathering steam...
The obsession within
Carmick Shift: Can John Carmack and Oculus Rift change the world?
Facebook tests opening web links on built-in browser on Android app
Motorola to launch 9 devices in next 4 months?
Opera Mini to be default browser on Microsoft's Asha, feature phones
Xolo Q610s quad-core KitKat phone launched at Rs. 7,099
Amazon may start delivering in India using drones by Diwali
HTC Desire 516 launched in India for Rs. 14,200
Xiaomi goes for the kill, prices Mi 3, Redmi Note & Redmi 1S aggressively
ISPs block Torrent, hosting websites after court order: Reports
Asus launches ZenFone series of Android phones in India, prices them competitively
CyanogenMod finds 'Heads up' notification mode in Android
Acer Iconia One 7 B1-730HD
Celkon Campus Mini A350
Spice Stellar Mi-508
Spice Stellar 449 3G
Intex Aqua Style Pro
How to implement Gesture Sequences in Unity 3D game engine via TouchScript framework
How to use Intel Perceptual Computing to develop engaging apps
How to choose the right engine for your x86-based Android game
How to create sample codes for Video 3D on Android
How to test your Android apps on Intel devices using third-party services
How to create your own TOR url
How to upgrade your laptop HDD to a SSHD in 30 minutes
How to creat stunning visualisations using R
How to use new Gmail Inbox to organize mails
Navigating the camera maze
Samsung Galaxy Tab S 8.4 Review
Xolo Q600S Review
LG G3 - Unboxing
Logitech Big Bang iPad case drop test
Garmin Vivofit - Hands On Demo
HTC One M8 for Windows: An Overview
Slimmest phones you can buy in India
The 11 best IEM headphones under Rs. 1,500
The 8 best octa core smartphones under 20K
10 essential Indian apps for Android devices
Register for the Digit.in Reward Program
How to earn points?
The Indian government has asked the US to ensure that India-specific objectionable content are removed from the social networking such as Facebook, Google and YouTube. The government also wants these service providers to set up servers in India to order to regulate the content locally.
According to a Hindustan Times report, India conveyed its concerns to visiting S deputy secretary for homeland security Jane Holl Lute. The visiting envoy was told that the U.S. should have an operating procedure that will help authorities to remove the objectionable content within a specific time period or instantaneously depending upon the situation.
It's learnt that this is not the first time the Indian government had made attempts to regulator content via a local server. Earlier this year, Research in Motion (RIM) set up an India-dedicated server, allowing the government full access to messages from BlackBerry’s popular messaging service BBM. The government has previously made attempts to get access to Yahoo and Gmail chatting/e-mails.
The development comes at a time when the Internet companies are locked in a web censorship. Social sites such as Facebook are facing trial in India for allegedly hosting objectionable content. A Delhi court recently ordered issuing summons to Facebook via e-mail after the U.S-based social networking company didn't show up in the court despite several summons issued against it. Read our full coverage on web censorship row here.
Source: Hindustan Times


text:
Summer was always the time to announce the new FIFA game, according to a number of leaks that will be presented in July, and FIFA 23 will be released on September 30. But on which consoles does FIFA 23 come out?
As mentioned earlier, EA hasn’t officially presented FIFA 23 yet, therefore the reference platforms haven’t yet been revealed, but there’s no doubt that the next game and last of the FIFA series is coming on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One.
FIFA 23 will be released for PC, Xbox Series X / S, Android, iPhone, and iPad, Nintendo Switch and certainly on Xbox One. For the Nintendo Switch, we’ll be faced with a legacy edition as has already happened in recent years. These versions will only enjoy the update of the squad and the licenses, but none will include the news of the titles aimed at PC and current-gen consoles.
This is a simple hypothesis. “That is to remind you in any case that FIFA 23 will be the last FIFA game by Electronic Arts, and the company will abandon the FIFA license and publish the EA Sports FC, all the licenses currently being used, except the World Cup.


text:
Canadian tourism declines despite world travel boom
Canada?s tourism industry is struggling to compete as the global travel business undergoes unprecedented change, according to the “Passport to Growth” report.
While Canadian destinations such as the Rockies and Niagara Falls?have not lost their allure, the tourism sector has?gone unrecognized by both government and business in its potential to drive growth, says the report, compiled by Deloitte partners Ryan Brain, Tom Peter and Lorrie King, based on Statistics Canada numbers.
Although tourism employed 600,000 Canadians and represents about two per cent of national GDP,? the industry is falling behind in attracting the globe?s emerging travellers.
Small share of global travel
Canada had 16 million international visitors in 2012, with the largest number ?from the U.S., Britain, France, Germany and Australia, according to the Canadian Tourism Association. A steep slide in U.S. visitors, in part because of the high Canadian dollar, has meant lower figures.
Canada sees only a small share of global international travel arrivals, which passed the one billion mark in 2012, having risen four per cent a year over?the past?10 years.
Canada was one of the most popular international tourist destinations in 1970, second only to Italy.?Now it?s No. 18, and behind countries like Ukraine and Saudi Arabia.
Among those travelling more are young people, who explore the world before settling into education and a career, and tourists over age 60, who have greater disposable income and more time to travel.
There has also been a 13 per cent a year jump in international departures from emerging economies such as China, Korea, ?Brazil and Mexico. Emerging economies are seeing the rise of middle-class people with enough income to travel.
Click here to read more.


text:
This summer saw millions give up their travel plans in favor of staying inside. As a majority of time is spent at home, the biggest summer 2020 fashion trends are shaping up to be understandably different than 2019's. With comfort continuing to remain a top priority when dressing for the new season, many of the top styles are influenced by that same notion.
"In general, everything is a bit more easy this year and less obvious," Tiffany Hsu, fashion buying director at Mytheresa, tells TZR. "I think a lot of trends are moving into the more comfortable and timeless direction in these difficult times." Where last year, every week ushered in a new trend to shop or save on Instagram, but this year, many shoppers have balanced buying new items with focus outside of the industry. But that's not to say there aren't a few simple trends that will help elevate your summer ensembles (see: sleek skinny strap, comfy dresses, chic sandals). For expert advice on what to look out for, TZR asked a few prominent women in the fashion industry what trends they are spotting, and how they vary from summer 2019. Keep scrolling to find eight trends to sport all summer long.
We only include products that have been independently selected by The Zoe Report's editorial team. However, we may receive a portion of sales if you purchase a product through a link in this article.
Summer 2020 Trend That Is The Opposite Of 2019's: Fitted Knit Silhouettes
"Floaty cloud-like shapes have been plentiful in the dress world and continue to be a popular choice," Celenie Laura Fleur Seidel, senior womenswear editor at Farfetch, tells TZR. But the beloved voluminous shapes are competing with a style that's a bit more sleek. "On the other end of the spectrum, we are seeing a movement towards new, more slimmed-down, body-skimming silhouettes via knitted dresses."
Summer 2020 Trend That Is The Opposite Of 2019's: Skinny Straps
The summer 2019 puff-sleeve top craze is being replaced with the re-emergence of '90s styles. "This summer we take it very much back to the '90s with more minimal fabrics, skinny straps, and great cut-outs," Hsu notes. "We have been seeing some dramatic silhouettes for awhile, but this trend is definitely here to replace that and the '90s are in full swing again."
Summer 2020 Trend That Is The Opposite Of 2019's: Shorts Are Getting Shorter
Bermuda shorts are getting traded in for a shorter style this season. "Knee shorts in both tailored fabric and leather versions were one of last summer’s greatest hits, with Bottega Veneta turning out some of the best versions," Seidel explains. "This summer, hemlines are creeping up and micro shorts are working their way into the offer."
Summer 2020 Trend That Is The Opposite Of 2019's: Subtle Skin Showing
Stylist Peju Famojure says in summer 2019 she saw women influenced by men, and incorporating the rebellious skater subculture trend by wearing bike shorts, bucket hats, and ironic florals usually worn by dads on vacation. But for this summer, she's seeing different types of rebellious fashion choices emerging. "First is conscious clothing and making a statement with your dollars," Famojure explains. "Second are the subtle flashes of skin in barely-there sheer options with cool graphics, or alluring and experimental cut outs."
Summer 2020 Trend That Is The Opposite Of 2019's: Oversized Bags
Ida Petersson, womenswear and menswear buying director at Browns, is expecting bags to get bigger this summer. "Micro bags were the ultimate accessory in 2019. And 2020 it’s all about maxi styles and silhouettes," she tells TZR.
Summer 2020 Trend That Is The Opposite Of 2019's: Strappy Sandals
The chunky sneaker has been the footwear du jour over the past few years, however Michal Kurtis, director of fashion office and merchandising at Barneys, thinks it's time to retire the silhouette. "Cult worthy developing brands like By Far and ATP are churning out summer staples like strappy sandals, updated flip flops in classic leathers, and novelty glitter that will make you want to pass on lacing your toes in heavy trainers when the temps rise."
Summer 2020 Trend That Is The Opposite Of 2019's: New Prints
It's time to introduce new exciting prints into your wardrobe for summer 2020. "Some prints we are seeing for 2020 in general that are the opposite of 2019 are your classic but underdog prints like a cow print, checks, and, people," Gabriela Pelletier, associate buyer and brand Partnerships coordinator at Lisa Says Gah, tells TZR. "The options have felt quite endless, but in 2019 we saw lots of large scale floral prints along with fruit and gingham prints."
Summer 2020 Trend That Is The Opposite Of 2019's: Summer Black
Even with hot temps, the fashion crowd is proving black can be worn in the summer. "While we’ve been enjoying a pleasing palette of soft pastels for a while, taking a more forward-looking view it is evident that classic black is prevalent in high summer and pre-fall deliveries," Seidel explains.


text:
Although we don't believe in timing the market or panicking over daily movements, we do like to keep an eye on market changes -- just in case they're material to our investing thesis.
The stock market has been the gift that keeps giving in 2013, and it continued its remarkable year by hitting fresh all-time highs just a day after Christmas. Strong retail data, and declining jobless claims, sparked today's rally, as filings for unemployment benefits slumped from 380,000 to 338,000 last week, an 11% decrease that underlines the U.S. economy's recovering labor markets. The S&P 500 Index added eight points, or 0.5%, to end at 1,842, a record closing high.
Ironically, online retailer eBay ended as the S&P's single worst performer on Thursday, slumping 2% after the third week of December sales failed to match revenue in December's second week. Declining sales in the period leading up to online retail's most anticipated time of year is about the last thing you'd want to see as an eBay investor, and overshadows any progress the company might have seen this year from its PayPal service. Personally, I have a hard time believing that one week of subpar sales threatens eBay's position as a leader in online retail, but with little more to go on, Wall Street sold off the stock today.
Shares of NVIDIA , which makes PC graphics chips and system-on-a-chip processors for mobile devices, slipped 1% in trading today. NVIDIA's Tegra business division, which, in a nutshell, focuses on the mobile side of the market, hasn't been as successful as some investors had hoped. In fact, it has churned out nothing but losses so far this fiscal year. Success in this burgeoning and highly competitive industry doesn't come overnight, however, and certainly doesn't come without significant investment. It remains to be seen what Tegra's future will hold, but I applaud the company for its long-term vision; if NVIDIA can capture even a small piece of the ever-growing pie that is the mobile market, patient investors could be primed for some heady gains down the line.
Lastly, cloud performance service provider Akamai Technologies saw shares fall 0.9% Thursday. A "sell-off" of less than 1% is hardly anything to lose sleep over, especially when volume was about 50% lighter than an average day. Something I might worry about, though, if I were an Akamai shareholder, is the increasingly tough competition in Akamai's line of business, as the $8.5 billion company goes up against corporate behemoths like Verizon and Amazon.com. Verizon just acquired EdgeCast -- a company that streams video, houses web content, and improves download speeds -- earlier this month, an acquisition that reportedly cost the telecom more than $350 million.
The Motley Fool's top stock for 2014
The market stormed out to huge gains across 2013, leaving investors on the sidelines burned. However, opportunistic investors can still find huge winners. The Motley Fool's chief investment officer has just hand-picked one such opportunity in our new report: "The Motley Fool's Top Stock for 2014." To find out which stock it is and read our in-depth report, simply click here. It's free!
The article Today's 3 Worst Stocks in the S&P 500 originally appeared on Fool.com.
Fool contributor John Divine has no position in any stocks mentioned. You can follow him on Twitter @divinebizkid and on Motley Fool CAPS @TMFDivine.The Motley Fool recommends Amazon.com, eBay, and Nvidia. The Motley Fool owns shares of Amazon.com and eBay. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
Copyright © 1995 - 2013 The Motley Fool, LLC. All rights reserved. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.


text:
Return of “Phenix,”
a first look at the company’s new line of bass rods
The original Phenix brand
found a devoted following among fans of the company’s boron graphite rods. The
brand all but disappeared a few seasons ago, and we were surprised to discover
at the recent Long Beach Fred hall show that the company was now under new
ownership and on its way back to introducing a whole new series of rods. We
hooked up with marketing and sales manager Robert Ip to preview the new lineup
of Phenix bass rods in advance of their hard re-launch.
Cal and Robert from Phenix rods
head out at sunrise to test the new line of rods
We first met Robert Ip of
Phenix at the Fred Hall Long Beach show where the company unveiled their return
to market with their own blank designs. Back in 2006 the company all but
disappeared and has now been resurrected by Jason Roberts. Jason was actually a
huge fan of Phenix and bought the company with the mission to not only keep the
brand alive but take it to the next level.
The first rods we test are the
Phenix Ultra MBX
At Fred hall Long Beach based
on the information at the show we reported that the rods would be wrapped in the
US, but we have confirmed the current plan is to now build the rods to exacting
standards overseas. The company had previously worked with G.Loomis, who built
proprietary blanks for Phenix per their unique spec and more recently with
Shikari. To ensure this time around that Phenix will be able to better control
their product supply they have decided to control the blanks in house.With the return of Phenix the
company hopes to not only build upon their original core audience but expand
with a much wider range of rod offerings that make use of premium design and
components and still preserve the brand’s existing custom quality look and feel.
One of the things that Phenix wanted to execute on the new rod series was an
increase in application specific models as well as a boost in sensitivity and a
decrease in overall rod weight. Phenix’s designers sought to
accomplish this task with an updated split grip design and a new IM-8 blank that
actually makes use of Toray scrim materials. That’s right, the very same Toray
that is known for their premium lines.
A look at the composite butt
Though the new rods are going
to be officially launched at or right before ICAST this year we were able to
field test the new lineup on the water and formulate our own opinions on whether
or not Phenix was ready for primetime.
Phenix rods will be available with
a choice of foregrip or no foregrip
(we prefer the latter)
We planned the trip with
Robert who drove up to the Bay Area from Phenix’s headquarters in Los Angeles.
It just so happened that yesterday during this preview test we were smack in the
middle of a heat wave that put us in triple digit temperatures. Though we were
not looking forward to getting roasted by the hot sun, we had hope that the heat
would bring the fish up and make for a quality topwater bite.
We put the Daiwa Steez on the
Ultra MB-X for a light and balanced combo
We met Robert at 3:30AM and
decided to head to Lake Pardee where we could test both the baitcasting and
spinning rods on both smallmouth and largemouth bass. Robert brought the rods
and we packed the reels, baits, and plenty of water and sunblock.
A look at the no foregrip design,
notice the Phenix logo reflecting in the sunlight...
a nice touch
How the new rods look and feel


text:
The highly fragmented vendor landscape of the global electric traction market had the top five vendors collectively accounting for only about 9.5% of the entire market’s revenue in 2016, observes Transparency Market Research in a recent report. Companies in the intensely competitive market strive to differentiate their offerings through pricing of components, market experience, and expertise of electric traction systems. Additionally, leading players are offering customized products and long-term maintenance services to make their mark in the market.
Companies are also focusing on strategic partnerships to achieve inorganic growth and gain strategic resources. A recent instance is the alliance between ABB Ltd. and Alstom. In November 2016, ABB Ltd. signed a partnership agreement with Alstom under which ABB Ltd. earned the contract from Alstom of supplying 1600 traction transformers for 800 new electric freight locomotives across India.
Transparency Market Research estimates that the global electric traction market will exhibit a moderate 2.5% CAGR from 2017 to 2025, rising from a valuation of US$342.94 bn in 2016 to US$426.54 bn by 2025.
Obtain Report Details @https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/electric-traction-systems-market.html
Driven on Back of Infrastructure Development Activities, Asia Pacific Market to Exhibit Strong Growth
In terms of type, the market for electric traction systems is presently dominated by the segment of electric traction motor. The segment accounted for more than 67% of the global market for electric traction systems in 2016 and is expected to witness strong growth over the report’s forecast period as well, retaining its dominance over other product segments by a significant margin.
In terms of geography, Asia Pacific was the dominant regional market in terms of revenue contribution in 2016. Improvements in the transportation industry infrastructure, which includes metro rail systems, high speed bullet trains, hybrid electric vehicles, and railway connections, are the major factors which are propelling the market for electric traction systems across Asia Pacific. Rapid technological developments in the transportation industry across different countries; for instance, China, Japan, South Korea, and Australia fuel the demand for electric traction systems in this region.
Rising Usage of Electric Vehicles to Contribute to Growth
Modernization of passenger railcars and the rapid rate of urbanization, coupled with the vast increase in the usage of electric locomotives, have been the primary growth factors driving the global market for electric traction systems of late. The steady rise in railway traffic across developed as well as developing economies is compelling government authorities, railroad companies, and rolling stock manufacturers to focusing on modernizing passenger railcars. Furthermore, the increased induction of air-conditioned coaches has also greatly increased the demand for electric traction systems, as power consumption of vehicles increase to support air conditioners.
Moreover, the demand for rail-based transportation is rapidly rising due to the rise in the global population and the rising demand for faster transportation facilities. This is driving significant transformation in railway connectivity and other rail-based transportation infrastructure, which is estimated to increase further. Suburban railways such as metros, trams, and intercity high speed networks are being planned across numerous big cities in several emerging economies, which is again expected to propel the market for electric traction systems in the next few years. Furthermore, continuous investment in research and development has impacted the market for electric traction systems positively.
Company Name: Transparency Market Research
Contact Person: Mr. Rohit Bhisey
Country: United States


text:
Today, “buy now and pay later” is only a small part of your card’s total spending. But in a pandemic-fueled e-commerce boom, this alternative model could be ready to confuse the US 8-ton payment card industry. With online shopping soaring during a pandemic, “buy now, pay later” (BNPL) companies dominate the buzz and are money-sensitive with seamless late-payment options that bypass traditional rates. Attracts online shoppers.
With the global blockade increasing the amount of e-commerce up to 46 years ahead, consumers and retailers will buy now and pay later to ease financial pressure and demand for online shopping. BNPL players such as Klarna, Afterpay, and Affirm are becoming popular names due to the growing number of new users and the proliferation of transaction volumes.
The supply chain is confused and production is limited. For weeks, the headline has given buyers a clear message: Buy early this Christmas season. In recent years, early risers may have booked Christmas gifts and planned to pay for the purchase over time. However, many retailers, including the country’s largest Wal-Mart, have abolished or reduced these programs. One reason for this is that there are new tools available to buyers to distribute payments.
A popular option for consumers is to buy now and pay later. Retailers are also big fans. Point-of-sale loans are easy for retailers to manage, and research has shown that these options lead to larger shopping carts and greater customer loyalty. RBC Capital Markets estimates that the BNPL option will increase retail conversion rates by 20-30% and average ticket size by 30-50%. According to Hemal Nagarsheth, Associate Partner of Kearney’s Financial Services Practice, installments provide consumers with options and convenience when it comes to budget management and shopping. He also said the option builds trust between retailers and consumers, leading to “increased sales, increased average store size, and increased purchase frequency.”
Buy now the postpaid plans offered by companies such as Australia-based Affirm, Afterpay, and Klarna in Sweden are especially appealing to young shoppers such as Gen Z and Millennial consumers who are coveted. Each plan varies from the number of payments to specific terms and conditions, but the main similarity is that it promises a small number of even payments in a relatively short period , with no hidden charges. In many cases, the plan is interest-free. The coronavirus pandemic has accelerated the penetration of e-commerce. Retailers who had neglected checkout experience in the past suddenly had to find a way to attract and retain customers online. And unlike stationary, the world of potential online customers is almost endless.
In March 2020, when the Shelter-in-Place obligation came into effect, US shopping traffic dropped to virtually zero overnight. This has exacerbated an already difficult environment for merchants and retailers facing fierce competition with online e-commerce players. JCPenney, J. Many major retailers, including Crew and Neiman Marcus, filed for bankruptcy during the blockade. The increased adoption of e-commerce has opened up new and competitive opportunities. Due to the declining ability to shop in stores, retailers need a way to quickly understand omnichannel shopping activity in a highly competitive environment.
According to McKinsey, there is discretionary spending on apparel, shoes, furniture, and other categories, unlike major shopping categories such as groceries and household items, where online purchases increased by 1530% during a pandemic. According to a survey, buyers’ intentions have declined significantly. According to Chris Ventry, vice president of global advisory group SSA & Co, retailers can “turn [consumer]’s wishes into a sale” with installments. “For debit card users, the potential for BNPL to expand interest-free payment plans is appealing, and ultimately attractive enough to drive conversion, which is the main goal of all digital commerce sites.
Top Similarweb Analysis 100 US fashion and retail websites have compared 50 dealers who offer to buy it now at checkout and 50 dealers who do not. On average, sites with the BNPL option had a conversion rate of 6%, while sites without it had a conversion rate of 4%. With increased revenue and increased conversions, the additional transaction costs retailers pay to fintech companies are also worthwhile. Zandhuis states that retailers pay BNPL companies a transaction fee that is 2% higher than the transaction fees charged by traditional credit card companies. The additional income is greater than the cost.
This program has advantages over traditional reserves where retailers need to store items purchased in the field, while customers pay in installments over time. More and more retailers are using stores as mini-fulfillment centers to serve online orders. Storage space is limited in this model.
The concept of installments and point-of-sale finance isn’t new, but the providers who buy now and pay later are digital natives, preparing the world for the future. In the future, fair, flexible, and transparent payments will play an increasingly important role in creating a prestigious customer experience and increasing sales conversion.
As BNPL companies grow rapidly, the industry as a whole continues to grow into closer and more frequent customer relationships. Affirm’s savings and Klarna’s reward offerings are just some of the larger ambitions of some BNPL companies aimed at providing more flexible and cautious spending to consumers, which is a regional regulator. Be sure to monitor.
Penulis: Akbar Nugroho | Illustrator: Diva Maharani


text:
"We're tweeting live from HR where we're all being fired! Exciting!" That was the first sign that something's up at HMV today, as a disgruntled employee briefly hijacked the official HMVtweets account.
According to the mystery whistleblower, today saw a "mass execution of loyal employees who love the brand." The insider revealed, "there are over 60 of us being fired at once!"
As the drama unfolded, the mystery tweeter claimed to have overheard a panicky marketing director asking, "how do I shut down Twitter?" That same marketing director is reported not to be among the job losses.
The phantom tweeter signed off by saying they wouldn't normally do something like this, but felt they had "no choice" as the company they "dearly love is being ruined".
The rogue tweets also revealed that HMV employees are under contract not to "tell the truth" about the unfolding situation inside the ailing chain.
Someone official has now deleted the offending tweets and returned the hijacked HMVtweets account, which was set up by an unpaid intern, to the usual stream of entertainment news and competition winners.
HMV went into administration earlier this month but has been bought by restructuring firm Hilco, which will attempt to save the chain by cutting costs -- and that almost inevitably means cutting stores and jobs.
What's next for HMV? Tell me your thoughts in the comments or on our Facebook page.


text:
I have been a Reliance user for the past few years and when I wanted to upgrade my handset, I opted for the BlackBerry.
I am exceedingly happy with the handset. Although it does look a bit plasticky, but the Push Inbox and the ease of internet access on the move is just extraordinary. (I mean on my way to the airport a few weeks ago, I did a web check-in as I was getting late reaching the airport thanks to traffic snarls).
Imagine my shock when I read in a news item that the Blackberry was going to be blacked out soon as the Indian Government perceived it as a security threat.
The government had asked Research in Motion (RIM) to provide them with access to algorithms required to decrypt BlackBerry messages latest by March 31st else face a total ban on the service in India.
The latest on that front is that BlackBerry service in the country will get a breather.
Meanwhile, the Reuters report of date quotes Telecom Secretary, Siddhartha Behrua, as saying, “There is no question of banning at this point. We are not interested that we say BlackBerry will not be used in this country.”
Telecom Minister, A Raja, said, “The interactions are going on with various stakeholders, including the home ministry… I do believe it will be resolved.”
Meanwhile, DoT has apprised RIM officials of the various concerns, and had a meeting scheduled for today evening with representatives of four mobile service providers that offer BlackBerry in India.
“We want operators to talk to BlackBerry people and put pressure on them to provide the necessary and satisfactory answers to security agencies,” said Behrua.
Phew! I am breathing again…..


text:
Despite being pretty new, the Mazda 3 has been recalled a few times with the latest recall being over a braking issue.
According to the reports, the automatic emergency braking system on certain models would cause it to stop while driving activating the Smart Braking System automatic emergency braking. The vehicle could assume that there is an obstacle and response to it putting the driver and passenger is a further risk.
Owners might want to take note as Mazda has also added that a warning alarm will sound with a warning message display on the instrument cluster and head-up display when the vehicle is about the perform an emergency stop.
The issue has already been reported to NHTSA but has not been posted yet while the issue is easy to fix for some, it could be a little harder for others as earlier models will need to get the whole instrument cluster replaced.
Affected owners should get a notification by 17th of February next year.


text:
TikTok marketing campaigns are relative newcomers to the influencer marketing industry. Chinese owners ByteDance introduced the platform to the US back in 2017, before acquiring and then merging it with the popular Musical.ly app in August of 2018.
Although TikTok is social media’s newest kid on the block, the app has had an astronomical rise to the top. Reports in November indicated that TikTok has so far been downloaded 1.5 billion times, making it one of the most popular platforms in the world. TikTok finished the 2019 year becoming the number one most downloaded app in both the App Store and Google Play.
Now, with brands and influencers feeling more comfortable on the burgeoning platform, it has truly begun to demonstrate its potential as a marketing tool. Combined with a rapidly growing user base of young millennials and Gen Zers, TikTok has found itself in the enviable position of being the hottest influencer marketing tool of the year.
Here are 10 TikTok marketing campaigns that show just how useful the platform can be to brands and marketers:
Chipotle had its annual “Boorito” offer for Halloween this year, offering food at a reduced price for customers who ordered in a spooky outfit. Like other brands, TikTok has increasingly become a key part in Chipotle’s promotional campaign this year. The challenge involved users posting a video showcasing their before and after Halloween costume transformations, using the custom sound bite that Chipotle created just for the campaign.
The top five posts (based on number of likes) that used the #Boorito and #Contest tags would give winners free burritos for a year. Influencers who were sponsored to participate in the campaign included Brittany Broski, Zach King, and Jiffpom.
Throughout the campaign, the #Boorito tag garnered an astonishing 3.6 billion views, largely helped by partnering with influencers who could promote viral videos for the brand. Broski’s promotion racked up 160K likes in her advertisement.
This isn’t Chipotle’s first experience on TikTok. The brand has a history of success on the platform. It previously did a promotion for National Avocado Day using the tag #GuacDance, encouraging fans to post a video showing off their dance moves. The campaign got 250,000 submissions and 430 million video views in six days. Their latest campaign smashed those numbers out of the water, and will likely embolden them to pursue more campaigns in 2020.
Pharmaceutical brands have not been known to have the easiest rides when it comes to social media influencer marketing. Traditional advertising is notably harder for medicinal products. Because of FDA and FTC guidelines, influencers have to be extra careful when promoting health products. With social media stars often running afoul of requirements, brands have been cautious in how they use influencer marketing for medical brands.
Kim Kardashian’s dressing-down by the FDA caused many brands to rethink their strategies, with many now opting to avoid directly advertising medical products and instead forming partnerships that utilize influencers’ personalities to market products.
Mucinex’s campaign, its first on TikTok, was in this same mold, using creators to promote an over-the-counter product; a first for TikTok.
The campaign involved challenging users to a “transformation”; a common theme which suits the platform’s style well, making use of transitions. Transitions are slick edits from one video to another, typically done by users to show a quick, smooth change to their viewers.
To participate, users had to post a video contrasting them being “too sick” with them being “so sick” and include the tag #TooSickToBeSick, to promote their cough medicine. The challenge was a success generating over 889 million views.
They partnered with four influencers for the campaign; Jaydencroes, OurFire, dreaknowsbest, and Nick Tangorra. Jayden Croes’ effort notched up 501K likes. Altogether, the four racked up 1.8 million likes and over 20K shares.
Influencer marketing and movies go hand-in-hand. Entertainment brands have been using other platforms, like Instagram, to great effect for a number of years now. TikTok is no exception, and some entertainment products are well-suited for campaigns on the app.
The recently rebooted Charlie’s Angels was given a promotional campaign on TikTok, with over 15 influencers involved in the marketing effort. The campaign involved influencers performing a dance or skit to the lead single on the film’s soundtrack, Don’t Call Me Angel. TikTok, along with its predecessor Musical.ly, has become a hotbed for viral songs, and they are often regarded as key to a successful influencer campaign.
It’s the unique approach to music the app takes that differentiates it from other platforms and makes it an attractive option for brands and marketers. While stats are cagey, the historical indications are that the vast majority (85%) of people use other networks with no sound.
TikTok is therefore able to position itself as an app where most users will be watching and listening—a key consideration if you have three of the world’s biggest pop stars performing your tie-in song. The influencers used included Rebecca Zamola, Zoe Laverne, and Lauren Godwin, using the tag #CharliesAngelsUnite, which accrued over 4.2 billion views. 129.2K TikTok users uploaded videos using the feature song from the film.
Much like Mucinex, Kraft Heinz’s Kool-Aid had its first TikTok campaign in 2019, with a hashtag challenge and a chance to win $10,000. Users were encouraged to post videos of themselves enjoying the holiday spirit and using the tag #OhYEAHChristmas for a chance to win.
The campaign featured rapper Lil Jon and the brand mascot, Kool-Aid Man, with the pair posting three videos to the official account at @Koolaidmanofficial. Kool-Aid’s target market of younger audiences is well-served by marketing on TikTok. 60% of users in the US are 16-24 years old, making it an ideal platform for reaching out to younger consumers.
In addition to Lil Jon, influencers were brought in to engage in the campaign, such as Glitterandlazers, who has a following of 3.8 million users. Her post garnered over 1.3 million views and 79.1K likes.
Other influencers promoting the contest included kidrl, nickandsienna, and kingcamo_1, who have a combined following of 9.1 million users. Over 10K videos have been made for the challenge, which began on December 2nd and ended 10 days later. The winner will be announced early 2020.
Retail giant Kroger stands alone as the first company to participate in TikTok’s new “Hashtag Challenge Plus”. Hashtag Challenge Plus allows users to shop for products associated with a marketing campaign’s hashtag directly through the app.
This is done through the “Explore” tab, which features an in-app experience where campaign products can be purchased within TikTok. This tab has since been removed, but videos associated with the #TransformUrDorm tag have been viewed 875 million times.
This primarily serves as an additional means for TikTok to monetize its platform in a bid to avoid the pitfalls suffered by other similar short-form video platforms in the past. Kroger partnered with four influencers for the campaign: Joey Klaasen, Cosette Rinab, Mia Finney, and Victoria Bachlet, collectively boasting 13.8 million followers.
The campaign challenge itself centered around asking users to post videos showing their dorm transformations. The influencers’ uploads together racked up 3 million views, 252K likes, 1352 comments, and 1747 shares. The campaign hashtag has so far accrued 876.2 million views by TikTok users.
In spite of not being a typical hunting ground for a brand like Kroger, this campaign shows that TikTok can prove a vital tool for some brands in reaching out to those crucial Gen Z audiences that grow in importance every year.
Fitness is a vertical that performs extremely well with social media influencer marketing. Fitness influencers command substantial authority and popularity on Instagram, partly because of the aspirational nature of the platform.
Gymshark was early on the Instagram influencer train, investing heavily into the market. They have 2.9 million followers on their brand Instagram account. The company decided to translate this success from one platform to another, shifting some of their focus to younger demographics found on TikTok.
On January 1st 2019, Gymshark announced its 66 Days: Change Your Life challenge. Users were tasked with picking a personal goal, which they would then hope to achieve by March 8th, taking before and after pictures of their progress. The competition promised the winner a year’s supply of Gymshark goods.
Gymshark partnered with six influencers, at the time having a collective following of 19.8 million. They purposefully chose to collaborate with personalities who had higher followings on TikTok than Instagram, though some cross-posted their promotions there as well.
The campaign brought nearly 2 million likes, 12K likes, and an engagement rate of 11.1%. The campaign hashtag, #gymshark66, was viewed 45.5 million times.
As if any more evidence was needed that the biggest brands in the world are looking to TikTok to market their products; the world’s biggest company by revenue also got in on the act.
Walmart engaged in its first TikTok campaign—a common theme for big brands this year—by encouraging users to post videos of themselves expressing how Black Friday savings at the store make them feel with a jig.
The campaign used the tag #DealDropDance, which has to date generated a staggering 3.6 billion views on videos that included the hashtag. For the effort, Walmart signed six influencers: Montanatucker, dreaknowsbest, bdash_2, kidrl, kingcamo_1, OurFire, reaching over 17 million followers.
OurFire’s promotion, which featured the pair predictably dancing in a store, achieved over 57K likes, 488 comments, and 739 shares from their 5.5 million followers. Walmart’s involvement in yet another signal that the biggest brands are taking TikTok seriously as a marketing tool.
There are few other platforms that have such a defined and engaged Gen Z audience, and with brands catching on we can expect to see them utilizing it more frequently in 2020.
Unsurprisingly, cosmetics brands prove to be just as popular on TikTok as they are on YouTube and Instagram. Beauty brand TooFaced partnered with TikTok influencer Kristen Hancher for an ongoing campaign.
Using the hashtag #toofacedpartner, influencers post videos of themselves doing makeup routines with a before and after demonstrating their transformations. Hancher’s video featured her briefly makeup-free, before a quick edit to her transformation with her showing the products she used and a song played over the top.
The success of the video among fans was likely bolstered by her presenting herself with no makeup; uncommon for her typical upload. Her promotion garnered 1.8 million views, 167K likes, 1816 comments, and 2219 shares.
In addition to Hancher, other influencers have also partnered with the ongoing campaign. Victoria Lyn, Ewa Zawada, Laurie Elle, and Chloe Rose all signed up to participate by uploading their own promotions for the brand.
The influencers collectively account for 11.9 million followers. With Hancher’s 23.1 million, TooFaced’s reach for the campaign is a staggering 35 million TikTok users. The campaign’s tag has so far got a relatively meager 9.4 million views, but as a long-term project that unlikely to ruffle any feathers just yet.
Here we have again another brand launching its first foray into TikTok marketing. Not overly confident with digital marketing, Calvin Klein has used TikTok as something of an experiment to grow their online presence as organically as possible.
While most brands operate their strategies by seeking out influencers and leveraging their existing fan bases, Calvin Klein took a more traditional approach to their marketing. That is to say, they created an official account, hired big-name celebrities, and posted their promotional marketing material directly through the official account.
They have so far produced 22 videos, establishing a following of 5.1K. Under the tag #MyCalvins, stars such as Shawn Mendes, Kendall Jenner, and A$AP Rocky are briefly interviewed for the brand.
Given the relatively low view and like counts that the campaign has so far produced, it’s unclear whether this approach will prove to be successful in the long run. Social media platforms—TikTok in particular—thrive because their distinct subcultures.
The personalities that dominate them are often non-traditional celebrities for precisely this reason. It’s one of the reasons partnering with an influencer closely associated with the platform will give a marketer the most bang for their buck.
Video game company EA Sports is a match made in heaven for TikTok influencer marketing. The younger generations, Millennials and Gen Z, account for a large proportion of gamers, and TikTok’s gaming subculture is massive (videos with #Fortnite have over 14.3 billion on the platform).
A more comprehensive approach than most brands, EA uses TikTok to promote several of its games, such as Apex Legends, for which they recruited Brent Rivera. Rivera’s post, a comedy skit of him playing the game, which has so far got 700K likes from his 17 million followers.
Other promotions featured Gil Croes, the eighth most popular influencer on the platform with a follower count of 22.6 million. His video, also a comedic skit, featured the game Plants vs. Zombies and was liked by 505.1K users and commented on 1.9K times.
In contrast to these two huge online stars, EA also sought out a collaboration with Indie Cowie, a freestyle soccer player who helped promote Fifa 20. Her upload featured her freestyling in public, with a personal shoutout for Fifa 2020: The Groundbreakers. Partnering with a smaller influencer indicates a sophisticated strategy which is served by collaborations with a range of influencers of all sizes.
ALSO SEE OUR POSTS ON:


text:
SYDNEY - Rob Atkinson, the chief operating officer of Clear Channel UK, has been appointed interim chief executive of Clear Channel's Adshel joint venture in Australia and New Zealand.
GLOBAL - Bloomberg Media has promoted Parry Ravindranathan, the managing director of Asia-Pacific, to the new role of managing director of international, which will include all regions outside of the US.
GLOBAL - Interpublic has appointed Matt Freeman, chief executive of Mediabrands Ventures, to the position of vice-chairman, global chief innovation officer of Interpublic creative agency, McCann Erickson.
Publicis Groupe was best partner from strategy point of view, despite not being the most compelling on price, chairman and CEO says.
Revenue at Ascential's marketing division fell 8% in 2018, while Ebitda dropped by almost a fifth.
GLOBAL - Interpublic's media division Mediabrands has restructured its global operations into three 'clusters' and handed more regional responsibility to Jim Hytner, EMEA president of UM.
Gustavo Martinez, the former global chief executive of J Walter Thompson, is working on projects for the agency's holding company WPP while the ongoing discrimination lawsuit against him and the agency continues.
GLOBAL - Havas is to rebrand its MPG Media Contacts network as Havas Media later this month, scrapping the 35-year-old media planning brand and aping the rebrand of its creative network to Havas Worldwide.
GLOBAL - The Timberland Company, manufacturer of rugged boots for walkers and hip hop stars, has agreed to sell to VF Corporation, the owner of The North Face and Wrangler, for US$2 billion.
GLOBAL - Publicis Groupe is to move its VivaKi programmatic buyers into its media agencies, so that they sit alongside the traders in other disciplines.
Mondelez International, the owner of Cadbury and Oreo, has signed a global strategic partnership with Facebook.
CANNES - Aston Martin Lagonda has appointed WPP to its global integrated marketing account.
Similar to crowdsourcing specialists like eYeka, Flare Studio is the first such platform to be launched by a creative ad network.
Publicis Groupe, the owner of Saatchi & Saatchi and Starcom Mediavest, and Omnicom, the owner of the OMD and BBDO networks, have confirmed plans to merge the two businesses.
Innocean Worldwide has appointed Jeremy Craigen, the former global executive creative director for Volkswagen at DDB, as its global chief creative officer.
GLOBAL - HTC is understood to have appointed Omnicom Media Group to its US$160 million global media planning and buying business, after a pitch.
GLOBAL - Bel Group, the French owner of the Babybel and The Laughing Cow brands, has called a review of its estimated US$217 million (€150 million) global media planning and buying account.
Grey and BBDO are understood to be lining up against incumbent JWT for the £400m HSBC global creative account.
GLOBAL - Google-owned video sharing site YouTube has begun trailing a new live streaming platform over two days from 13 to 14 August, which could lead to it launching a permanent live streaming function for content producers worldwide.


text:
It seems like the Takata airbag recall is never-ending. What started as a recall of 4,000 Honda vehicles in November of 2008 has grown into a global, multi-brand issue affecting millions of vehicles across the globe.
The vehicles are being recalled due to faulty inflators and propellants in Takata airbags, which have been installed in several vehicle makes and models. When a collision occurs in affected models where the airbags are deployed, the defective inflators have the potential to shatter. The shattered pieces, being propelled by the force of the propellant, can potentially harm vehicle occupants with lacerations. Faulty Takata airbags have been linked to 10 deaths and over 100 injuries since the introduction of the defective product.
We need to pay attention to this because not only have people lost their lives due to faulty inflators placed in Takata airbags, but the vehicle brands affected by these potentially harmful airbags seem to be announcing themselves at a slow pace.
The Takata recall is so expansive, that only a little over 2 million of the recalled vehicles have received replacement airbags thus far, and the entire recall replacement process could take years to complete.
DON’T WANT TO DEAL WITH THE RECALL? CLICK HERE TO GET AN OFFER!
Most recently, the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration referenced data showing that some 2001-2003 model year Honda vehicles have up to a 50% chance of a potentially deadly rupture at deployment, and they are urging Honda owners affected by the recall to replace the faulty airbags immediately.
According to Consumer Reports, 14 auto manufacturers have recalled models to replace Takata manufactured airbags. The recalls and repairs for the affected vehicles don’t show many signs of slowing, as new cars are still being produced with questionable airbags.
What Can You Do to Protect Yourself During the Takata Airbag Recall?
Keep yourself informed! It’s important to stay up-to-date with information regarding the safety of the airbags in the car you drive. You can find a current list of Takata recalls at the NHTSA website, and you can even sign up for weekly email alerts of new recalls that could affect your vehicle.
The most important thing an affected car owner can do in this situation is be proactive, especially if your car is one of the older models being recalled. Model year, mostly in the early 2000s, seems to have played a significant role in the reported fatalities.
Check and re-check to make sure your car isn’t under a Takata airbag recall, and if you see that it is, contact your dealership to schedule an appointment to replace them.
Your safety is worth more than waiting at the dealership for a few hours. Make repairs a priority for yourself and your family.


text:
Supermarkets have irrevocably changed the shape of the nation over the past quarter of a century. The busy high streets of post-war memory are now characterised by boarded-up shops. Small, independent butchers, bakers and greengrocers have been replaced by charity shops, takeaways and building society branches. Anytown looks like Everytown. Report by Richard Feast
A cornerstone of the success of supermarkets is in persuading consumers that they offer low prices. No matter that the reality frequently does not match the promise – financial results indicate very substantial mark-ups – the public perception is that supermarkets are cheap places to shop. It is curious, then, that the one arena supermarkets studiously avoid is selling new cars.
They have solid reputations for providing value for money. They are super-slick when it comes to sales and marketing. They are Disney-esque in their obsession with customer service.
And if there is one place a consumer does not feel he or she is getting value for money, it is in buying a new car. On the face of it, supermarkets and new cars ought to be natural allies.
They are not, and few people can imagine the day when they will be. Despite wholesale price cuts last year, a recent European Commission report confirmed that new car buyers in the UK still pay considerably more than their counterparts in the rest of Europe. Manufacturers say the blame lies with exchange rates and national taxation levels, and insist that transaction prices, as distinct from list prices, make the UK and Europe comparable.
Customers were offered Glass’s Guide valuations for their trade-ins, which were promptly sold through British Car Auctions.
Alan Pulham, now director of the National Franchised Dealers’ Association, was working for Peugeot’s dealer development team at the time of the ASDA trial.
He was impressed, as he recalls: “They did the business and played by the same rules as dealers. Everything was very transparent.” So why did the experiment not last long?
Today, the official line at ASDA – now part of America’s giant Wal-Mart corporation – is that the scheme was killed “because it wasn’t working”.
That is not the way Garel Rhys, professor of motor industry economics at Cardiff Business School, remembers it. “The scheme itself was quite successful,” he maintains.
“What happened was that the country entered an economic slowdown, and consumers stopped buying cars and fridges. But they couldn’t stop buying food. That’s what caused ASDA to change its mind: food sales remained strong at the time, but demand for cars dropped.”
ASDA’s decision went to the heart of supermarket thinking, as Prof Jonathan Brown explains. “The return that a supermarket expects is not based on an absolute. It’s a return based on floor space. Does the baked bean area produce a better return than the one for cereals?” says Brown, a former Debenhams executive who is now a director of the automotive consultancy HWB International. For groups that are experts at maximising the yield per square metre, selling cars is not on the agenda.
Technically, the opportunity exists for them to move into the sector. The European Commission identified no such development when it drafted the proposed changes to block exemption regulations. Still, the Commission maintains “
“a supermarket could become a dealer if it satisfies the same criteria laid down by the manufacturer as any other potential dealer”
Some chains elsewhere in Europe, notably in parts of Spain and Belgium, have started car supply schemes over the past couple of years.
One formula involves offering discounts on a handful of specific models sourced from cheaper parts of the European Union. This type of cherry-picking is considered the most likely approach if supermarkets in the UK do move into car sales.
Spanish group, El Corte Ingles, sells cars at fixed prices on the strength of its brand integrity. Yet another is run by a workers’ co-operative. None of the ventures has so far had a significant impact on traditional buying patterns in their regions, but they are being monitored by motor traders and supermarket chains alike in the UK.
ASDA ran a short-lived car retailing scheme in the 1980s (see sidebar), but insists it has no current plans to revive the concept. Part of the reason is space. The group says it has the largest average store size in the UK (3,900 square metres), but that is still not big enough to branch into vehicle retailing.
In addition, selling cars goes against the philosophy of the group that now owns ASDA-Wal-Mart, the world’s biggest retailer. Its sites in the United States are over four times larger than ASDA’s, but the only services it offers drivers are fast-fit tyres and oil change centres. Selling cars is not part of the Wal-Mart thinking. It is at Tesco and Sain sbury’s – but for specific reasons. Neither chain wants to get into the new car business per se, but each has a financial affiliate that is happy to underwrite a customer’s car purchase or PCP. So do plenty of other general retailers, as well as banks and building societies. The attraction is the income generated by the finance deal rather than the profit on the vehicle itself. However, that in itself is a worry for motor dealers, according to the National Franchised Dealers’ Association.
“Supermarkets will concentrate on the peripheries like insurance and finance. To some extent, dealers have let it happen, but they are waking up to the problem. They can’t let those things slip away like they did with replacement tyres and exhausts,” warns Alan Pulham, the association’s director.
If supermarkets are wary about selling new cars, one reason above all shapes their thinking: return on sales.
A typical net return on sales in the retail motor trade hovers around 1.5 per cent to 2 per cent, though a good dealer with a popular prestige car franchise might get 4 per cent. The supermarket sector is in a wholly different league. A group expects to earn 8 per cent net and frequently hits 10 per cent.
That means a supermarket group’s investors would be deeply unhappy if it elected to switch some of its precious highyield floor space to selling and servicing cars – with all that implies in terms of investment in dedicated people, equipment and spare parts.
“Supermarkets would be mad to get into cars,” believes Prof Jonathan Brown, a longtime retail specialist and one of the founders of HWB International.
“For groups that are experts at maximising the yield per square metre, selling cars is not on the agenda.
“In addition, selling and servicing cars would require supermarkets to hire dedicated specialist staff. That would not be a welcome prospect for a sector whose economics are based on a lot of casual labour, low skill levels and minimum wages. A good salesman at a car dealership can earn £25,000 a year. No one in a supermarket – apart from seniors managers – gets that,” says Brown.
Other issues affect supermarket thinking as well. Part of a group’s reputation is based on the perception of providing lower prices than those of its competitors. But any supermarket chain would have difficulty doing that based on trade prices it can expect from producers and importers in the UK – a fact reflected in margins in the motor trade.
“Supermarkets could source vehicles from lower-cost countries in Europe, as they have already for jeans and perfumes. “
Other developments within the motor industry put further obstacles in the way of any supermarket moves into car selling.
The car market has fragmented for a start. Where a medium-sized family car was once simply a four-door saloon, today it could be a hatchback, estate, coupe, people-carrier or cross-over. Once it invariably had a petrol engine and a manual transmission; now it could have a diesel and an automatic.
At the same time, the industry is making progress in its efforts to offer bespoke cars. Building a specific car and then delivering it to the customer on a pre-determined date is now possible thanks to modern factory technology and logistics. The attraction for manufacturers and dealers is clear. In place of stocks of unwanted models that have to be discounted, they have satisfied customers who have paid in full for the models they do want. “This is not what supermarkets are good at,” observes Prof Garel Rhys of Cardiff Business School. “They buy in advance and they buy in bulk.”


text:
LG Pay to finally launch in June
LG had some problems lately, and we even heard that its upcoming mobile payment service had been slashed. Fortunately, it looks like LG Pay is on track and South Korea will become the first market to receive it.
Back in November, we heard about LG's partnership with Kookmin Card and Shinhan Card. Sadly, not long after finding out about the LG Pay White Card in a rumor that mentioned it carrying an IC chip, the service faced problems during testing and was delayed for this year. In the meantime, LG also dropped the White Card idea for the MST technology LG Pay would use with the G6 flagship.
Now, Yonhap News reveals that LG signed an agreement with US-based Dynamics Inc. to provide the technology for LG Pay. The same source reveals that "Under the agreement, LG will apply the Wireless Magnetic Communication technology of the U.S. firm to its payment system which will officially be available here in June. The technology allows people to make payments by touching their smartphones to regular credit card devices."
LG also mentioned that seven credit card companies expressed their intention to join the service, but did not reveal their names. We will probably hear more about LG Pay in the months to come, so stay tuned.


text:
Alnoor M Peermohamed
11:59 23rd Jun, 2014
Samsung To Unveil An Android Wear-Powered Smartwatch At Google I/O
The device will be unveiled alongside the Moto 360 and LG's G Watch, just what tech lovers have been waiting for.
Samsung is all set to join the ranks of Motorola and LG in launching its very own Android Wear powered smartwatch at the Google I/O which begins on June 25. According to a Cnet report, the device will be much like the Galaxy Gear devices that the company has launched in the past one year.
It was earlier rumoured that Asus could be the third manufacturer to showcase its wearable device running on Android Wear. However all signs now point to Samsung, who very recently had said they would stay away from Android Wear for powering their wearables and would stick to their own Tizen OS.
According to the report, Samsung is currently working on Android Wear devices that run on its own processors as well as on chips made by Qualcomm. It isn't clear which among the two devices Samsung will unveil at the Google I/O.
Motorola and LG will also unveil their Android Wear powered smartwatches at the event, and it should be quite interesting to see how the three manufacturers have adapted the platform. If the Samsung device is like its Galaxy Gear cousin, it could be sensor rich unlike Motorola's take on the smartwatch.
The wearables market is expected to triple in size by the end of this year, with an estimated 19 million devices being sold as against just 5 million devices in 2013. That number is further expected to grow to 111.9 million by 2018, making it the next big thing in the technology world.
While Samsung failed to comment on the development, it is to be seen if the company continues to sell its Tizen powered wearables. The company is all set to launch its first Tizen powered mobile device in Russia and then Indian within the next few months, so it's sure that the company isn't abandoning the Tizen ship just yet.
- boAt audio launches new range of earphones & speakers at the recently concluded Lakmé Fashion Week
- Sennheiser PXC 550-II Wireless, The Smarter Travel Companion, Launched in India
- Titan Company strengthens its technology and wearables play
- Xiaomi India launches Desh Ka Dumdaar Smartphone, Redmi 8A Dual
- HYPERX LAUNCHES FURY ULTRA RGB GAMING MOUSE PAD IN INDIA
- An initiative to create a Breathe Free space for the torch bearers of tomorrow
- Philips rapidly expands its smart audio product portfolio by launching Headphones with one touch Google Assistant and Active Noise Cancellation
- Goldmedal Electricals launches smart i-Sense Senso Switch
- Newly launched Vu Cinema TV sold out on Amazon within 24 hours!
- Havit launches high bass neckband with 12 hrs battery in India at 1299/-


text:
Apple and Disney chiefs to tell congressmen about China
A group of lawmakers will travel to California to meet with tech and media executives, including Apple CEO Tim Cook and Disney CEO Bob Iger, to discuss China-related topics, CNBC reported.
The committee's work could affect the technology and media industries, which are interested in both a large consumer market and a workforce in China. Just last week, Cook, whose company uses Chinese labour to manufacture phones, met with the country's trade minister on supply chain issues.
According to a source close to the committee, the committee sees the trip as an opportunity to learn from industry leaders on the ground, as well as share its concerns and vision for business links with China.


text:
Aspect integrates social media into the contact centre with new toolby
17th Aug 2011
Share this content
Customer contact software provider Aspect has launched a new tool to help businesses turn social media engagements into productive customer dialogues, creating a positive experience and delivering significant business value.
Aspect Social Media Channel Integration allows organisations to manage their interactions with today’s hyper-connected consumers who increasingly rely on social media not only to communicate with peers but to seek answers about products and services.
The new tool from Aspect uses workflow technology to integrate social media into the contact centre as another customer communication channel.
While other customer contact solutions might focus only on identification and routing of social media interactions, Aspect says its approach addresses the complete business issue of routing the right issue at the right time to the right resource, managing the resources needed for an effective social media response, and measuring the efficacy of the social media strategy.
Serge Hyppolite, vice president of product management at Aspect said: "The popularity and power of social communication channels have made them an integral component of the total customer experience and a critical channel for organisations to manage.
"Our customers are increasingly incorporating social media into their customer contact strategies to help manage opinion and loyalty associated with their products and services. Aspect’s social engagement capabilities will help our customers turn social interactions with consumers into meaningful, mutually beneficial conversations," Hyppolite added.
Aspect customers can apply Aspect’s sophisticated workflow rules, call centre performance analytics, and workforce optimisation capabilities to social media-based communications. This allows social media communications to be easily integrated into the overall customer contact strategy as a distinct channel, leveraging existing resources and investments. It ensures that this new channel can be compared to and put in the context of the total engagement strategy, rather than remaining an isolated medium.
Sheila McGee-Smith, president & principal analyst, McGee-Smith Analytics, said the last year had seen an explosion of discussion about integrating social media into the contact centre.
"While the number of solutions in production is still low, companies are actively seeking to understand their options for adding social media as an additional media type in the contact centre with pilots and trials. Aspect’s broad contact centre solution portfolio allows them to leverage not only contact centre routing, queuing and reporting but also workforce optimisation and analytics to help companies maximise their social media investments."


text:
Updated Feb 2, 2023 - Find out why the iPhone XR is still a great buy in 2023, especially when you shop for the cheapest prices on Back Market.
The iPhone XR isn’t the newest iPhone anymore, but that doesn’t mean that it isn’t still hot. As a matter of fact, it’s still one of the best iPhone deals in 2023.
The iPhone XR was released in October 2018, and it answered the pleas of many Apple users that wanted a (relatively) affordable iPhone with a notched display and modern feel. At the time, Apple released the iPhone XR for $749, which was cheaper than the XS and XS Max whose pricing started at $999 and $1099 respectively.
Obviously, we've seen the price decrease over the years as Apple released more and more iPhone generations. As of the beginning of 2023, an iPhone XR will cost around $200, but you can find them under $200 on Back Market. The iPhone XR price will continue to get progressively cheaper, but at this time, despite being 4 generations old, it still works great and holds up well to modern smartphones. That's why we think it's one of the best iPhone deals still out there.
Why is the iPhone XR still one of our favorite cheap smartphone deals?
For starters, the iPhone XR boasts an excellent battery life with 2,942 mAh, which is perfect for travelers or heavy smartphone users. Surprisingly, the iPhone XR beats models like the iPhone X, XS, and even the iPhone 12 thanks to its comparably large battery and more efficient LCD display. Although the iPhone XS Plus has a slightly larger battery at 3,174 mAh.
The iPhone XR also introduced some impressive technical spec upgrades at the time of its release, and everything from the camera performance to the design still holds up decently well against the newest smartphones today. So if you're looking for a reliable iPhone with great features and battery and without breaking the bank, then you'll likely be very happy with an iPhone XR.
If you look at the chart below, you'll see just how much the price of the iPhone XR has been dropping in the past few years (chart thanks to our friends at camelcamelcamel.com). These prices have gone even lower since charting this data in 2021.
But there are certain features that you won't get with the iPhone XR. The most notable of which is 5G connectivity.
Although this technology is still in its infancy and takes a huge toll on battery life, you'll have to look at the iPhone 12, iPhone 12 Pro, or iPhone 12 mini if you want to get on this bandwagon. Nowadays, more and more smartphones are offering 5G connectivity for the fastest browsing experience, so if you don't want to miss out on these faster speeds, then you'll want to reconsider your purchase.
Remember the days when 4G coverage was the hottest thing for cellular carriers? We think 4G will still be available for years to come and performs great, so don't feel too obligated to jump on 5G just yet!
Aside from that, if you want an iPhone with a better camera that has more focal lengths (better zoom functionality) and a night mode for clearer evening photos, you may want to look into the iPhone 11 or 11 Pro. The iPhone XR camera is still a great performer, but we realize that some folks rely on their camera daily and would prefer the better performance shown on newer models.
Our mission is to make renewed tech mainstream. Turning old into "new new", so to speak.


text:
Lion’s Choice has reinvigorated its brand while staying true to its longtime values.
When guests dine at Lion’s Choice, they can feel confident they are enjoying food that its employees are proud to serve. “We use those same ideals and same vision that our founders had back in 1967,” CEO Michael Kupstas declares.
This includes serving full muscle roast beef that is cooked in its stores for three hours every day and sliced fresh to order, along with French fries that are naturally cut from Idaho potatoes. “The products that were used to define the brand are still in play today,” he says.
Based in St. Louis, Lion’s Choice operates 30 locations in Missouri, Kansas and Illinois. Its founders, Kupstas explains, were executives for Monsanto and IBM who wanted to enter the restaurant industry.
“They thought it would be great to create a concept that would allow families to go out and eat food like Mom would prepare,” he explains, noting that the two settled on its medium-rare, sliced roast beef as the flagship product for Lion’s Choice.
Today, its roast beef and fries represent two of its product pillars, which also include its Sauce Bar. Guests can select from a variety of sauces to place on their sandwiches, including horseradish, Chipotle Ranch, BBQ and its signature Au Jus sauce.
“Our guests have come to create their own sauces with a dab of this and a pump of that,” Kupstas reports, adding that this inspired the sauce for its Butcher Block sandwich, which features ham, turkey and roast beef. “It’s a combination of horseradish and honey mustard.”
The fourth pillar, he notes, consists of its custard. “We serve an incredibly delicious custard product and offer it in a mini cone for 25 cents,” he reports, adding Lion’s Choice has won awards for its work.
This has included Thrillist naming Lion’s Choice as one of the “15 Midwest Restaurant Chains the Entire Country Needs,” as well as Riverfront Times naming it St. Louis’ “Best Chain Restaurant” in 2014.
A New Look
A longtime veteran of the restaurant industry whose experience includes McDonald’s, Red Lobster, Long John Silver’s and Nature Valley, as well as 18 years with Panera Bread, Kupstas joined Lion’s Choice in 2017. He notes that its owners, Millstone Capital Advisors, saw potential to grow the concept beyond a local brand.
“[They believed] it had the opportunity to be regional, if not bigger, and made investments in people and infrastructure to help do that,” he recalls, adding that Lion’s Choice recently opened locations in Kansas City, Kan., and Kansas City, Mo.
It also took steps to update itself as a brand. “We have this desire to provide ridiculously awesome, delicious food,” he says, but notes that Lion’s Choice also wanted to establish itself as part of its local communities, with environments that acknowledge the Midwest region.
“We built a new prototype design that gives a bit of the nod to the ‘60s where we came from, but takes us to current rustic and makes us real relevant to consumers today,” he says, noting that features a slick, clean design and acknowledges the four product pillars.
In the last year, Lion’s Choice has introduced online ordering, which has been a very successful initiative for the company. “You’ve got to address the needs of a moving, fast-paced customer base,” Kupstas says.
The company also is venturing into delivery services with partner DoorDash. “We’ve been into it for about a month, and have seen that be successful,” he reports. “We’re expanding that to all of our stores.”
Lion’s Choice also is continuing its shift towards drive-thru service, which has resulted in its new prototype being smaller than the locations it has previously built. “We’re seating people but our drive-thru business in some stores can exceed 60 percent,” he says.
The firm also invested in its infrastructure with the installation of a new back office system. “It allows us to look at information quicker and make decisions faster,” Kupstas reports. “We’re also in the process of looking to convert our POS systems in stores.”
Embracing the Changes
Kupstas is proud of how Lion’s Choice’s team members and managers have embraced its changes. “All of this would be unsuccessful if we didn’t have a group of individuals that rallied behind it,” he declares. “We’ve re-energized and reinvigorated the brand.”
He sees a strong future for Lion’s Choice, which plans to enter more markets. “We want to enter a third market in the next 18 months, proving we can be something more than a St. Louis brand,” he says. “I see us expanding and growing, providing an opportunity for our team members to achieve more.”


text:
- Index hide1 The news is part of the challenges that come for agencies in the midst of inflation that the IM F has projected.
The news is part of the challenges that come for agencies in the midst of inflation that the IM F has projected.
Zenith have estimates of the growth of investment in advertising within Latin America.
The worth of Ikeaaccording to Brand Finance, is 17 billion dollars (2021 data).
Ikea started operations in South America and the famous furniture store chain has partnered with Gray Argentina to start its expansion in the market.
The South American market has become one of the most challenging due to aspects such as inflation, which according to the analysis of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), it is expected that during 2022 reach a 51 percent in Argentina, becoming one of the nations where the highest rate is expected in Latin America.
Within Mexico the estimate is barely 6.8 percentwhile in Venezuela it is estimated to reach a 500 percent and in Chile a 7.5 percent.
The scenario becomes a case of how the creative market performs in times of economic challenge, thus highlighting the client acquisition that Latin American agencies do.
Within this panorama there is an interesting projection by hand Zenithwhere the firm ensures that the growth of the expected investment in the region is 7.7 percent for this 2022, while for 2023 it will be 8.7 percent.
The slight growth in investment is not matched by 2021 where the growth expectation was 16 percent, however it is still a positive trend if we look at the numbers from 2020 when it contracted in 3.1 percent.
Gray Argentina with a new client
Ikea chose Gray Argentina to carry its entire creativity and communication agenda with which it lands in Latin America, with a first store in Chile. The commission is not minor and as we have reviewed with figures to draw the performance of the region, in the midst of phenomena such as the inflation that is being experienced and the impact on certain economies in this area, the pressure that it poses on creativity will be an interesting reactive to see bold ideas.
Given the expectations imposed on the market, activities without waste are coming, such as the one warned by Agustín Castellanos, Business VP & Chief Growth Officer in Grey.
“The entire process of immersion and integration of the Gray Argentina and Ikea teams during the last few months, both locally and globally, was deeply enriching and inspiring; Mainly because of the philosophy and values that surround Ikea and that are behind everything it does”.
“Undoubtedly this project represents a huge challenge for Grey, in addition to the pride that comes with leading the long-awaited landing of this iconic brand on our continent”confirmed about the tasks that are coming in the current context.
Just as Gray Argentina added Ikea as a client, McCann Colombia and Bank of Bogota they prepared “Empelota”, an activation of the “Cambiando Contigo” campaign, which the creative director of the agency, Jaime Perea, acknowledges:
“What I find interesting about the piece is that we are telling people that this is a fresh, simple, modern and open-minded bank without resorting to any of these words to express it. Thus it is gaining a significant role in people’s lives,” he said.
These announcements in the Latin American advertising industry are evidence of how important creativity continues to be and the influence it has as an asset for brands to stand out in the market, especially in difficult situations.


text:
The Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) has become a divisive issue in the nation’s capital, and criticism intensified after 161 food, farm, faith and rural organizations sent a letter to Capitol Hill today, urging lawmakers to reject the trade pact.
“The main beneficiaries of the TPP are the companies that buy, process and ship raw agricultural commodities, not the farmers who face real risks from rising import competition. TPP imports will compete against U.S. farmers who are facing declining farm prices that are projected to stay low for years,” the organizations wrote.
Past trade agreements have not delivered on export promises
The White House has promoted the TPP as an export-boon for farmers to generate support for the agreement, but past trade agreements have not always delivered on export promises, the letter noted. For example, the United States’ total combined exports of corn, soybeans and wheat have remained steady at about 100 million metric tons for the last 30 years despite a raft of free trade agreements since the mid-1990s.
“Trade deals do not just add new export markets – the flow of trade goes both ways – and the U.S. has committed to allowing significantly greater market access to imports under the TPP,” the groups explained.
“In its current form, the TPP sets to bankroll global business rather than foster local economies. It fails to address our alarming trade deficit and other serious issues that will be passed on to the family farmer, the everyday consumer and the American worker,” said Roger Johnson, president of National Farmers Union, one of the letter’s signers. “NFU understands this trade agreement is not a good deal for our nearly 200,000 family farm and ranch members.”
Especially “alarming” to the organizations is the agreement’s complete lack of enforceable provisions against currency manipulation, a substantial cause of America’s debilitating $531 billion trade imbalance.
“Trade negotiators refuse to deal with currency manipulation in the TPP. When our competitors artificially lower the value of their currency, my grain becomes more expensive and theirs is cheaper,” said Gene Wirtz, an Underwood, North Dakota farmer with the Dakota Resource Council. “Family farmers like us cannot compete. There’s been plenty of trade deals, each one touted to be our savior. But it hasn’t happened yet.”
The TPP poses particular risks for cattle producers
In 2015, the United States imported nearly 2.3 billion pounds of beef from TPP partners but only exported about 1.2 billion pounds. The TPP will increase beef and cattle imports at a time when domestic cattle prices are plummeting.
“The TPP rolls out the red carpet for foreign cattle imports to undercut American family ranchers,” said Mabel Dobbs, a rancher from Weiser, Idaho, on behalf of WORC. “We will face the added challenge of competing with cheap, unregulated and un-inspected imported beef. Like failed trade deals of the past, the beneficiaries of this agreement are the multi-national meatpackers at the expense of family farmers and ranchers.”
The TPP also covers important agricultural policy areas such as investment, procurement, labeling, food safety, animal health and crop disease. The stringent rules and dispute system under the TPP make it easier to challenge and overturn domestic laws, as happened last year to country of origin meat labels.
Trade deals put global commerce ahead of the needs of American farmers and consumers
“The TPP will add to the rising tide of imported food that is already overwhelming U.S. farmers, eaters and border inspectors,” said Food & Water Watch Executive Director Wenonah Hauter. “Trade deals like the TPP make U.S. farm and food policy subservient to foreign trade tribunals that put global commerce ahead of the needs of American farmers and consumers.”
“It shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone that the TPP benefits the big corporations who negotiated it. Nor does it surprise me that it holds no benefits for us, a small family farm in Western Colorado selling to local markets,” said Hotchkiss, Colorado, farmer Wink Davis on behalf of Western Colorado Congress. “Giant food corporations used existing trade deals to rollback country-of-origin labeling. TPP threatens to do the same for other descriptors like local, organic, ecological, humane, that we use to describe our farming practices.”
The letter was introduced at a press teleconference with House Agriculture Committee Member Rep. Rick Nolan, NFU President Roger Johnson, Auburn University agricultural economist Professor C. Robert Taylor and independent rancher and Rocky Mountain Farmers Union member Steve Nein.
The letter and complete list of signers can be read here.
For more information, contact WORC regional organizer Liz Stelk, lmoran (at) worc.org.