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It’s been little over a year since the pandemic unleashed a flurry of spending on consumers’ outdoor living spaces. A new survey conducted by Houzz among 70,000 U.S. consumers found that some 57% of consumers who undertook home projects last year focused on their yards, patios, decks and porches.
That heady pace is expected to continue in 2021. The Freedonia Group predicts the outdoor living market will grow from $29.3 billion 2019 to $33.4 billion this year, including spending on plants, landscaping and gardening equipment, outdoor furniture and outdoor cooking and heating products.
Besides patio chairs and table, the essential outdoor living essential is a barbecue grill. And after a patio improvement, that old cooker doesn’t cut it anymore. It’s time for an upgrade.
And it is reported that BBQGuys, a leading multi-brand online retailer of grills, outdoor kitchens and furniture, and Solo Stove, a maker of self-contained fire pits that also double as a grill, also have IPOs in their plans.
The battle for the barbecue is heating up.
Weber sets the world on fire
The iconic Weber charcoal kettle grill was first introduced in 1952, after sheet-metal shop owner George Stephen Sr. hammered out a model to improve his backyard barbecues. A steady-stream of grill innovations followed, including the introduction of a line of gas, electric, wood-pellet grills, smokers and in 2020 a technology-enabled smart grill. The company, then called Weber Stephen Products, was family-owned until 2010 when a majority stake was sold to BDT Capital Partners.
Today Weber is a multi-national company selling grills in 78 countries and boasting 24% global market share and 23% in the U.S. Some 58% of its $1.5 billion revenues in fiscal year 2020 ending September 30 were generated in the Americas. Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) followed with 35% and Asia-Pacific (APAC) with 7%, a market with strong potential for the brand.
If fiscal 2020 was a good year for Weber, with revenues up 18% and net income rising 77%, then the first half of 2021 has been great. Year-to-date sales have reached $963.3 million, up 62% from previous year. By year-end, the company is projecting $1.9 billion in sales.
Weber grills are carried by nearly 5,000 retailers in over 31,000 locations. The company also has a robust e-commerce business, as well as 170 branded Weber stores globally. In 2020, DTC sales generated 20% of revenues and it has been going gangbusters since 2018, garnering 135% CAGR from 2018 through 2020.
In addition, Weber reports strong sales growth among its largest e-commerce wholesale partners, including Amazon.com, where it is the number one outdoor-cooking brand, HomeDepot.com and Lowes.com. Overall the company claims 29% market share in online sales of outdoor cookers.
Whether the pandemic-fueled spike in sales will continue past 2021 is still in question. Most recently, the company stumbled in 2019 when sales dipped 3%, which the company attributed primarily to fluctuations in exchange rates. The Americas, however, continued to grow, up 2% from 2018.
Nonetheless, the company believes it’s got the right stuff to continue going strong. It is given preferential display space at leading retailers, like Ace Hardware, The Home Depot and Lowe’s, where is holds 52%, 39% and 32% share of grilling category sales respectively. It’s also banking on continued strength in its DTC channel, along with growth through its e-commerce distribution partners.
And it sees extremely strong potential in Asia, Europe and Latin America. “Historically, the growth in our developing markets has been nearly two times the growth of our mature markets and we believe this pattern can be repeated as we expand in these emerging geographies,” the prospectus states.
Bloomberg reports its public valuation could rise to $6 billion.
Traeger specializes in wood-pellet grilling
Whereas Weber offers a full range of grilling options, Traeger specializes in one niche: wood-pellet grills. As such, the company estimates it has penetrated only 3% of its addressable market.
A Traeger grill doesn’t come cheap, ranging from about $500 to $2,000, with a reported $839 average price in 2020. However, given consumers’ need to replenish wood pellets and other accessories, the brand has a built-in, on-going revenue stream, which amounted to 22% of its $545.8 million in revenues in 2020.
It started off fiscal 2021 strong, generating $235.6 million in sales in the first three months. That resulted in net income of $38.9 million, which bettered that of the whole of 2020 with net income of $31.6 million. However, Trager came off an income loss of nearly the same amount in 2019 ($28.6 million) on $363.3 million in sales.
Traeger grills are carried by many of the same retailers as Weber in the U.S. and it also supports DTC sales online, though only 7% of revenues came through its website in 2020. It also has yet to expand globally, a company goal.
The wood pellets for its grills are made from 100% hardwood, so it provides authentic wood-fired flavor, which is one of its key selling points. Another is its instant, matchless start, powered by an electric coil. That gets you cooking as fast as with gas and much faster than with charcoal.
And because the fire is kept going by a fan to a specified temperature, a Traeger grill cooks via convection, so that it is able to do it all: grill, smoke, bake, roast, braise and barbecue.
The company is also heavily invested in technology to build a connected-grilling platform. Its flagship model comes equipped with the Traeger app that allows WIFI cooking control. To keep the tech-innovations going, it recently acquired Apption Labs, which specializes in hardware and software related to kitchen appliances, including a wireless, smart thermometer.
Traeger is bullish about its future prospects, most especially through its commitment to cloud-connected outdoor cooking. It estimates there are about 100 million grill-owning households in the U.S. and approximately one-third of them own multiple grills.
With its unique offering that combines age-old, wood-fire flavor with new-age, high-tech innovations, it hopes to be the next outdoor cooker for the next generation. All the same, consumer awareness of wood-pellet grilling in general and Traeger, in particular, is fairly low.
The company has an uphill battle to become the lifestyle brand it aspires to: “People talk about owning a Traeger, not a wood pellet grill, the same way people talk about owning a Peloton or a Harley-Davidson, not a connected spin bike or a motorcycle,” the prospectus states.
The New York Times reported the company is seeking a $3 billion valuation.
BBQGuys and Solo Stove still in the IPO planning stages
Following the filings by Weber and Traeger, retailer BBQGuys and fire-pit maker Solo Stove want to keep the IPO fire blazing.
BBQGuys, the online retailer of all things outdoor living and most especially grills, was acquired by Brand Velocity Partners (BVP) in September 2020. At the same time, it also acquired Blaze Outdoor Products, which have now been folded into the retailers’ offerings.
The Manning family of Eli and Peyton fame, who have become official spokesmen for the company, along with other NFL Hall of Famers, joined BVP as strategic investors. At that time, BBQGuys was said to have tracked a 27% annual growth over its 15 years of operation.
Now under SPAC Velocity Acquisition (NASDAQ:VELO), it plans to take the retailer public with a combined value of $900 million.
BBQGuys has reportedly built a strong following not just among consumers but with professionals responsible for designing and installing outdoor living spaces for high-end homeowners, including outdoor kitchens, televisions and lighting.
Newly-installed CEO Russ Wheeler joined the company right after the BVP acquisition. He hailed from Build.com, a leading e-commerce platform serving the interior home design community, which grew from a $250 million company to $1+ billion under his leadership.
Details about fire-pit company Solo Stove’s IPO plans remain sketchy. But it only makes sense after private equity Bertram Capital made an undisclosed investment in the company in September 2019.
Solo Stove started out in 2011 making small-portable stoves for backwoods campers that are fired by twigs found on the ground. But as interest in backyard fire-pitting grew across the country, it developed a full line of free-standing, stainless-steel and low-smoking fire-pits that can be used in the yard or on patios for both heat and grilling. Plus the company offers specialty wood and accessories to enhance people’s fire-pit experiences.
Fire-pits range from the mini Ranger at about $200 to the maxi Yukon for about $500. It also sells fire-pit bundles to add-on grilling capability.
Bloomberg reports Solo Stove is seeking a $1 billion valuation.
Every patio needs a grill
All four companies – Weber, Traeger, BBQGuys and Solo Stove – are banking on consumers continued embrace of the outdoor living lifestyle, which includes outdoor cooking as central to the experience.
Weber reports that in a survey of global grill owners, 85% of grillers expect to grill as often or more often after the pandemic than they did before. It also cites a Frost & Sullivan study that finds the total addressable market for grills is $49 billion globally and $9 billion in the U.S.
The question remains how often, after buying so many new grills in 2020 and into 2021, people will need to buy another one. Weber, trusted by an established base of 50 million grill owners, is the brand to beat. Traeger is counting on technological innovation as the motivation for existing owners to trade up, along with its expanded cooking options.
Solo Stove wants to be that add-on, fire-burning accessory that can sit alongside a traditional grill on the patio and do double-duty when it comes to grilling.
BBQGuys aims to be the first place people think of when making their next purchase, which may be a stretch given Weber’s entrenched DTC lead and Amazon and the leading home improvement retailers’ dominance in that space. But with Eli and Peyton Manning on their team, BBQGuys has running room.
Nonetheless, the logical time to make a new grill purchase is after a major outdoor renovation project or a move. All these companies can count on that given the investment homeowners have made and continue to make on the outdoor living spaces in their homes.


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By ZEINAB NAJM
Sunday Times Newspapers
TRENTON — A woman called police March 2 after a package containing shoes was missing off her porch.
The victim said she ordered $150 shoes from Nordstrom and received a confirmation email that her package was delivered about 6:20 p.m. March 2 by FedEx.
She checked her porch about 7:50 p.m. and didn’t find the package. At the time of the police report, the victim had already notified FedEx of the situation and was given a case number to enable a refund.

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The fossil fuel industry plans to compensate for declining demand for gasoline by flooding the world with more plastic.
Proper support for breastfeeding is an environmental imperative.
The Trump administration is supporting new mines in Alaska and Minnesota that many opponents say could devastate sensitive areas around them.
Consumers are much more likely to recycle their waste after viewing messages showing the products it might turn into.
Your fashion choices can help build a sustainable future – here's how.
Sites like Agbogbloshie provides a valuable service. They offer opportunities for job creation, profit and cleaning up environments littered with waste.
Residents have come up with solutions to make usable products out of organic waste materials.
InterContinental Hotels Group plans to switch miniature toiletries for bulk products, but it isn't likely to do as much for the environment as activists might think.
Australia needs a viable domestic recycling industry – here's the current state of play.
There's a buzz around sustainability, but consumers still struggle to develop new habits. Here's how to change that.
Disposable coffee cups demonstrate that recycling could be successful – with a bit of joined-up thinking.
Australia's recycling woes belong to everyone, from households to government to business. It's time to stop pointing fingers and get to work on a solution.
Satellites monitor climate change, guide people with GPS and keep us connected through texts and social media, but they're under threat.
China has put the onus back on Australia to take responsibility for our waste, and Germany has shown us the way with extended producer responsibility for construction and demolition waste.
Australia doesn't want to deal with its own recycling waste, so why do we think other countries should do it for us?
This year's national conference of the Australian Marine Science Association is a plastic-free zone, as marine scientists aim to reduce the environmental burden of throwaway plastic.
As the population of the world’s cities grows, so too does resource and energy use as well as waste generation. We can combat these issues with a circular economy that uses nature as a template.
Every year the US burns more than 34 million tons of garbage in incinerators. These plants are major pollution sources, and most are clustered in disadvantaged communities.
Australia urgently needs to prepare for a coming tsunami of solar panel and battery waste.
Recycling is a messy system at the moment. Here's how we can clean up our act.


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Texas in an elevated risk category of energy emergencies, according to a report from the North American Electric Reliability Corporation
The Centre will come up with a fresh disinvestment plan for state-run energy major Bharat Petroleum Corporation (BPCL) after its expansion plans have been completed.
India set an ambitious target of $400 Billion of goods exports & achieves this target for the first time ever. I congratulate our farmers, weavers, MSMEs, manufacturers, exporters for this success. This is a key milestone in our Aatmanirbhar Bharat journey. #LocalGoesGlobal


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Cadbury hands Oreo biz to Interface Communications
Following the announcement of launching its brand Oreo, Cadbury India has appointed Interface Communications for handling Oreo’s creative duties.
Following the announcement of launching its brand Oreo, Cadbury India, a part of Kraft Foods Group, has appointed Interface Communications for handling Oreo’s creative business. The company has also released its new TVC for Oreo.
Interface has been appointed following global alignment with Kraft Foods. No formal pitch process preceded this development. Currently, Cadbury India has Ogilvy India and Contract Advertising on its creative roster. Interface Communications now becomes a part of this roster.
Developed by Interface Communications, the Oreo TVC features the bonding shared by a father and child while eating an Oreo biscuit. The ‘Twist, Lick and Dunk’ ritual forges an emotional bond between the two as they enjoy the biscuit while sharing fun filled moments.
Speaking on the campaign, in a prepared statement, Anand Kripalu, President – South Asia & Indo-China, Kraft Foods and Managing Director – Cadbury India, said, “Oreo is more than just a biscuit. The ‘Twist, Lick and Dunk’ ritual, which is an integral part of the brand, has brought fun filled moments of bonding to countless families across the globe. In today’s world, the simple freedom of childhood is increasingly being compromised, and carefree, innocent, and slowed-down family moments are rare. Through our marketing campaign, which introduces Oreo in India, we want to give families an opportunity to spend more time together creating memorable moments through the much-loved TLD ritual.”
The launch of the TVC is supported by a full-fledged campaign, including outdoor activations in six cities – Mumbai, Chennai, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Delhi and Kolkata. The campaign will extend to on-ground shopper activation in malls, amusement parks, multiplexes and modern trade outlets to engage with families, complimented by a digital campaign activated through the Cadbury India website and Facebook page.
In addition to investing in its existing brands like Cadbury Dairy Milk, 5-Star, Perk and Bournvita, the launch of Oreo is part of the company’s long-term strategy in India to gradually expand the business operation from a pure play confectionary company to a more broader foods company that will leverage the global scale and expertise of Kraft Foods to win in India. Cadbury India, as part of the Kraft Foods Group, is investing significantly on the launch of Oreo.
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The poor global economy still has people looking for the most affordable mobile devices around. When it comes to Smartphones and tablets, viagra buy the average phone will likely cost around $400-$500. This creates a great opportunity for companies, such as Amazon, to develop a cheaper tablet that still contains the same functionality of the more expensive ones. The first Amazon Fire tablet with an Android operating system was priced at $200. It was not even that attractive to consumers, neither visually or performance wise. But it was one of the more affordable brand name tablets on the market, and also proved that Amazon could be more innovative than just developing e-readers. Now they are creating better tablet models that still remain affordable at the same time.
Amazon has recently released its newest tablet, which is the cheapest model yet. Their new Fire HD tablet with a 6 inch screen is priced at $100. They also have a 7 inch model that is priced at $140. Both prices are still cheaper than any new tablet on the market today. Visually, they do not look very attractive on the outside; however, the price tag is bound to look attractive to consumers. Plus, their performance will remain fast and top notch, despite the cheap price. When you look at other affordable tablets on the market, they tend to run slower and have more technical problems. Amazon’s mission is to have tablets that function as well as the more expensive tablets, while being affordable to the average consumer. The only complaint with these new Fire tablets seems to be the extra wide amount of bezel around the screens. But for the price, it is easy to overlook that. The tablets have quad core processors and high resolution visuals that will make you feel like you have a $600 tablet.
So what’s the catch? How can Amazon afford to do this? Observers of the newest Amazon HD Fire tablets noticed a few unattractive qualities with the devices. For one thing, they have “special offer” advertisements that appear on the lock screen of the tablets, which forces consumers to spend an extra $15 if they want to turn them off. The tablets also hold only 8 GB of storage space, which is an extremely small amount for those people that like to download movies, apps and music. If you just want to download eBooks, then it should be okay. Overall, if you don’t use tablets for heavy downloading then it is still a good deal. The onetime fee of $15 to turn off advertisements is worth the price.


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This is 2022, an era of digitization and with this, there has been rapid technological and virtual advancements. The world has risen above the World Wide Web (WWW) as it witnessed the emergence of Web 3.0. For starters, Web 3.0, in simplest terms, could be defined as an idea for a new iteration of the World Wide Web which incorporates concepts such as decentralisation, blockchain technologies, and token-based economics. Web 3.0, Cryptocurrency, Metaverse, Blockchain and NFTs are not mere buzzwords but as per a report launched last year in December, Web 3.0 and blockchain can add a staggering $1.1 trillion to India’s GDP by 2032. This has led to the emergence of several decentralised blockchain-based platforms in the country. However, Metawhale World incepted by Rahul Kaushik is creating a buzz in the domain of Metaverse and Web 3.0 and is leading the way.
Launched recently, Metawhale World has become the talk of the town and is generating headlines for all the positive reasons. Under the able leadership of Rahul Kaushik (Founder), Rahul Pabby (Co-Founder) and Vishal Raj (Chief Communication Officer), Metawhale World launched the World’s First NFT Museum. The launch officially took place on April 28, 2022, during a star-studded event held at the Hotel Glitz Westend Inn, situated in the National Capital. The launch of World’s First NFT Museum was initially the first phase of the blockchain-based platform that got huge response and appreciation from market enthusiasts and crypto & metaverse experts across the length and breadth of the country.
Post the successful launch of World’s First NFT Museum, Metawhale World, in their second phase, launched their Web 3.0-based car-racing game named ‘Meta Wheels’ that is empowered by their exclusive own MTW Token. Now, the Metawhale World is all set for a fair sale of their MTW Token in a span of a week. The MTW Token by the recently-launched blockchain-based decentralised platform will not only allow people to purchase digitable collectibles on the World’s First NFT Museum but will also allow players to play the ‘Meta Wheels’ using the token. Players can use the MTW Token to customise cars and other aspects available in the game via this soon-to-be-launched Token. Through this MTW Token, Metawhale World aims to bring the Metaverse and Web 3.0 Economy under a single token, providing a hassle-free gaming experience to the users.
Talking about the success that Metawhale World has witnessed in a short span of time and sharing his thoughts on MTW Token, Rahul Kaushik, the Founder of Metawhale World stated, “It feels good to have received such a humongous support from the people and I would like to make them believe that we will continue doing this exceptional work in the realm of Metaverse and Web 3.0. We have successfully launched World’s First NFT Museum and our exclusive Web 3.0-based car-racing game named- Meta Wheels which is powered by MTW Token. There has been a growing demand for playing the game among the people and catering to the same, we will be launching our MTW Token in a week from now, bidding farewell to your wait.”
The Meta Wheels game that was recently launched is available on both Google Play Store and Apple Store and is free to download for users. With the MTW Token releasing soon, gaming enthusiasts can enjoy the game without any hassle. Metawhale World, a blockchain based platform that was launched recently allows users to build and monetize their gaming experience. The Binance Blockchain powered the platform and uses MTW’s utility token. Meta Whale World will allow actual ownership of the creation to all its existing gamers, and they even promise to reward every participant with their exclusive utility token-MTW. Further, for data protection and ensuring security, they have developed a decentralised control system that will restrict creator ownership in the current gaming market.


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This comprehensive guide begins at Alfava Metraxis and ends at Doctor Who Magazine wins the ACE Press Award 0 Following its record breaking ABC figure earlier this year, Doctor Who Magazine had cause for further celebration at the 2014 ACE Press Awards held https://www.levitradosageus24.com/ viagra bedeutung online apotheke at the Museum of London. This may take a second or two.
Singapore's First Holiday Inn ExpressSeptember 17, 2010 By: Meagan Drillinger
Singapore is still on the rise and welcoming its first Holiday Inn Express hotel, which is slated to open in 2013. Holiday Inn Express Singapore Orchard Road will feature 220 rooms and will be located in the heart of shopping, entertainment and dining options.
A second agreement has been signed to bring a Holiday Inn Express in Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia. Three other Holiday Inn Express hotels are being developed in Bangkok and are expected to open over the next few years.


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Bermuda prepares for bumper 2023 cruise ship season
Transport Minister Lawrence Scott said 2023 could be a record year for cruise ship visits to Bermuda with nearly 200 calls expected.
Scott said the figure is “a testament to Bermuda’s relationship with our cruise line partners,” even though eight tours were canceled earlier due to strict coronavirus (COVID-19) testing protocols. The government has since announced that the protocols, including a controversial Travel Authorization Form (TAF), will soon end.
“Now that Bermuda has opened up with the end of COVID-19 testing on October 25, Bermuda is even more attractive and the forecast for cruise ship numbers in 2023 speaks for itself,” he said. he declares.
– Advertising –
“January 2023 has eight calls, February has three calls and March has 13 planned calls. Bermuda has done an outstanding job this year thanks to all of our stakeholders and their tireless work,” said Scott.
Scott said the island is now expected to have 166 visits with 15 visits canceled – eight due to COVID-19 testing policies, six due to weather conditions and one due to the sale of the Viking Sun.
The minister said Bermuda had already welcomed 310,587 cruise ship passengers this year, injecting around $131.5 million into the local economy.
In 2018, 180 cruise ship visits were scheduled and 193 were scheduled in 2019, although due to cancellations the number of actual visits recorded was 171 and 184, respectively.
2020 was expected to be a record year for cruise ship visits with 196 scheduled calls, but the global pandemic has devastated the industry, resulting in just four of the calls coming to fruition.
Last month, Celebrity Cruise Line announced it had cut four stops and Norwegian Cruise Line three in October and November due to Bermuda’s “current testing requirements”, according to the Royal Gazette newspaper.
Opposition politicians and restaurateurs have launched fresh attacks on the government over its controversial COVID-19 testing protocols after the two cruise lines canceled their visits.
The government introduced the TAF in July 2020 at the height of the coronavirus pandemic. All visitors had to take a COVID test just before arrival and submit a TFA with a fee of US$40 – down from the initial fee of US$75. Returning residents must also pay the 40 US dollars.
Prime Minister David Burt said earlier that the TAF, which is expected to bring in $22million this year, would run until next March, despite repeated calls from critics for it to be axed because it was bad for business .
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The investment project of the company with US capital Cargill of about $ 90-100 million is blocked. Alexander Kramarenko, the chief editor of the “Money” magazine, told about this in his blog “By what Ukraine scares foreign investors”.
“Delta Bank and Cargill”. Cargill is an agricultural business with a century and a half of history, the global turnover of more than $ 130 billion, operating under American corporate law. In Ukraine it invests in the processing and cultivation of agricultural products, elevators, etc. “Delta Bank” is at one time the fourth in size private bank in Ukraine, which in the autumn of 2015 was sent to eliminate. And, it happened so that Cargill was not only a client of “Delta”, but also its shareholder – 29.39% of the share capital of the bank”, – he explains.
According to him, the company has agreed to a number of “Delta” borrowers on the opposite repayment of obligations – borrowers pay the company, and the company takes off claims against the bank. All this happened before the introduction of an interim administration and within the then acting legislation.
“Now this package of deals worth about $ 100 million trying to challenge. Or rather – trying to force “turn back”: to borrowers, who transferred their debts, should be owed to the bank again, and Cargill remains innocent, but with losses”, – he explains.
According to experts, the main loss can be considered a failure of the construction of a grain terminal in Illichevsk seaport (Odessa region) – the company “Illichevsk grain port” was one of the “Delta” borrowers. Although the media have repeatedly sounded the idea that Odessa grain terminal project is a kind of compensation for losses in the Crimea and Donbas, it is not true.
According to him, the consequences are the blocked investment project of the company with US capital Cargill of about 90-100 million dollars, potential foreign investors were sent the signal that the investment climate in Ukraine is unhealthy as the state is unable to protect the interests of investors.
Company representatives, who engaged in the design, construction and equipment for solar power plants, note a significant decline in demand for their services. This is due to instability of the industry and growing debts for “green” electricity. “We are talking about 1260 MW of RES generation that has been launched in the first three quarters […]
Tesla CEO Elon Musk wants to turn the Tesla plant near Berlin into the world’s largest factory for the production of batteries for electric vehicles. The businessman stated this on Tuesday, November 24, speaking via video link at the European Conference of Battery Manufacturers. The plant near Berlin will be one of a kind as […]
Shares of US electric car manufacturer Tesla continue to rise sharply amid news of the company’s future accession to the S&P index. On Tuesday, November 24, the market value of Elon Musk’s company crossed the $ 500 billion mark for the first time. Tesla shares are said to have risen nearly 550 percent this year, […]
The Dow Jones and S&P 500 stocks hit record highs on Tuesday, November 24 amid official news of the transfer of power in the United States and progress in the development of coronavirus vaccines. In particular, the Dow Jones industrial index rose by 1.5% and for the first time in history exceeded 30,000 points. According […]
The international company Strauss Group is one of the largest coffee manufacturers in the world. They put into operation a warehouse and distribution center on the street in the third quarter of 2020. It’s located on Novopyrohivska str, 56a in the Holosiivskyi district of Kyiv. “An innovative distribution center opened in Ukraine in the third […]
Last week, from November 16 to 22, more than 4 million people in the world became infected with the new type of coronavirus, which is a record number since the beginning of the pandemic. This was announced on Tuesday, November 24, the press service of the World Health Organization. According to the WHO, in these […]
Zaporizhzhya NPP connected Unit №2 to the power system of Ukraine. This was reported by the press service of NNEGC Energoatom. “On November 22 at 9:07 pm, after the completion of the average planned and preventive repairs, Unit №2 of Zaporizhzhya NPP is connected to the power system. Power is being set. There are no […]
This week, IBM announced two acquisitions in the field of cloud computing: financial and analytical IT company TruQua Enterprises and software company Instana. The financial terms of the two agreements were not disclosed. On Monday, IBM announced the acquisition of TruQua, which provides SAP solutions to Fortune 500 companies. SAP is one of the world’s […]
Facebook has begun merging Messenger and Instagram chats into a single correspondence system. The Verge writes about it. Reportedly, till August 14, many users of both iOS and Android devices in the Instagram mobile application began to receive notifications about the possibility of correspondence with friends who use Facebook. After the update, the usual Direct […]Next
Shares of the Johnson & Johnson may slow because the last stimulus to it was the company’s transition to the final clinical trial of the vaccine against COVID-19 on September 23, after which the shares rose by more than 5%. However, as of Tuesday, before the opening of trading, the price of J&J shares did […]Next
In September 2016, the Ukrainian government will open an office, which is financially supported by private equity fund for support investment from abroad. It is about WNISEF (Western NIS Enterprise Fund), which was established in 1994 with a capital of $ 150 million, for the amount, which was paid by the US government. This kind […]Next
Ukrzoloto opens the jewelry store under the brand “Golden Place” in Wroclaw (Poland). “For placing the store the company chose a location in the largest shopping center in Wroclaw –“Aleja Bielany” , – says a member of the board of the “Ukrzoloto” Andrei Zhuk. Over 30 thousand jewelry brands: SoVa, Roberto Bravo, Kimberli, Golden Silver, […]Next
Singapore’s gross domestic product in the second quarter of 2020 fell by 41.2% compared to the previous quarter. This is evidenced by preliminary national statistics published on Tuesday, July 14. The volume of industrial production decreased by 23.1%, while construction fell by 95.6%, and the decline in services amounted to 37.7%. The results were a […]Next
Fintech company Ant Group, a division of the Chinese Internet company Alibaba, plans to hold an initial public offering (IPO) on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange this year. This could become one of the largest IPOs in the world in 2020, according to Reuters citing sources aware of the situation. According to one of the […]Next
The stevedoring company “Brooklyn-Kiev” is going to invest $ 200 million in the construction of a grain terminal in the port of Ilyichivsk. This is stated in the message of the seaport. “Brooklyn-Kyiv” emphasizes that the company comes into the port of Illichivsk not only with the investments, but also with its know-how in the […]Next
The press service of Hawkley reports that Hawkley Oil & Gas Limited Australian mining company had reported about the Ukrainian company sale transaction assets of Tomeas Assets Ltd. The amount of transaction has constituted 1 million dollars. Negotiations on sale have continued since February 2016. Reportedly that Hawkley Oil & Gas Limited will allocate proceeds […]Next
According to the results of the outgoing year, Apple and Samsung have not settled the patent dispute in court. As predicted by experts, the penalty in the amount of $ 548 million, which was awarded to pay Samsung for patent infringement, did not accept the competitors, and Apple has demanded additional sanctions in the amount […]Next
Ihor Doroshenko has been left in the predetention center. The appellate court of Kyiv rejected a request of Ihor Doroshenko, an ex-chairman of the board of Mikhaylovsky bank to be entitled to plead and left it in the predetention center — the press service of Appellate court of the Kyiv city reports. Therefore, the judge’s […]Next
According to Interfax-Ukraine, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) intends to begin the cooperation with Ukrainian State Enterprise of Posts “Ukrposhta” in the corporative enterprise management. It will also consider the enterprise investment possibility in the future. Sevki Akuner, the director of EBRD in Ukraine said: We have been working with USEP Ukrposhta […]Next
Along of goods transit blockade by Russia, and also its trade aggression, Ukraine in 2016 will lose about $900 million Natalya Mikolskaya, the deputy Minister of economic development, the sales representative of Ukraine declares that losses of Ukraine owing to trade aggression of Russia will have constituted $900 million until the end of the year. […]Next
The rating agency IBI-Rating and the Ukrainian credit rating agency (UCRA) announced a merger. Both companies have the status of authorized rating agencies of the National Commission on Securities and Stock Market of Ukraine and are engaged in the business on the credit rating according to the National Rating Scale. It is reported by the […]Next
Operators of gas transportation systems in Ukraine and Hungary – PJSC “Ukrtransgaz” and FGSZ Zrt – discussed the principles of cooperation between the companies in 2016 and the prospects for its expansion. According to the press service of “Ukrtransgaz” with the Ukrainian side, the meeting, in particular, was attended by President Igor Prokop, First Vice-President […]Next
Shares of US electric car manufacturer Tesla continue to rise sharply amid news of the company’s future accession to the S&P index. On Tuesday, November 24, the market value of Elon Musk’s company crossed the $ 500 billion mark for the first time. Tesla shares are said to have risen nearly 550 percent this year, […]Next
A few days ago between two companies was signed an agreement for $ 150 billion. It was the merger of two large companies – manufacturer of drugs and vaccines Pfizer and Allergan, which producing cosmetics and botox. The deal was struck not only to consolidate or improve its production system. The main reason for the […]Next


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FILE – In this Dec. 19, 2013, file photo, a passer-by walks near an entrance to a Target retail store in Watertown, Mass. Target is vastly expanding the goods available to order by subscription as it fends off its biggest non-traditional retail rival, Amazon.com. (AP Photo/Steven Senne, File) ORG XMIT: NYBZ152
Yum Brands, the restaurant chain that operates Taco Bell and Pizza Hut, is down 17% Wednesday following a disappointing quarterly profit report.
AT&T shares rose slightly after the Federal Communications Commission granted the carrier a waiver to allow Wi-Fi calling on cellular phones.
Shareholders’ opposition is forcing Media General to quash its deal to buy Meredith, New York Post reports.
Music streaming service Pandora announced Wednesday it will acquire Ticketfly, a live events service where users can discover concerts nearby and buy tickets. The deal is valued at $450 million, Pandora (…)
Electronics giant Samsung is forecasting a significant increase in its operating profit for the third quarter, as the company struggles to sell smartphones as competition rises. The company projects operating (…)
U.S. stock futures pointed higher Wednesday, and global markets were up.
Amazon shares were down Tuesday despite some cloud computing deals and a rumor that a live Net video service could be in the works.


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Forbes Business Chamber has an amazing stock of items ready for hire. Over time the Chamber has collected giant games such as corn throw, naughts and crosses, and ball games. “Some time ago the Chamber was lucky enough to gain a grant to purchase 20 red pop-up marquees which are also available for hire. We have wine and water glasses, easels, and even a large supply of tablecloths,” said Forbes Business Chamber President, Marg Duggan.
Booking items is easy just email the Chamber at firstname.lastname@example.org. Alternatively, visit the Chamber website www.forbesbusinesschamber.com.au for an itemised list which includes photographs of what is on offer and the Business Chamber will send on a hire form. “We have taken a number of bookings for the Christmas and holiday period, so don’t miss out,” said Marg.


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Reddit has launched an NFT marketplace that allows users to purchase collectible avatars and use them as profile pictures.
Marketplace for Collectible Avatars
NFT Marketplace will offer digital collectible avatars for sale at a fixed rate. The unique thing about this marketplace is that buyers don’t need a crypto wallet to purchase them. They can instead use their debit or credit card to make online payments for any fiat currency. Reddit also offers Vault, its own wallet that allows users to make purchases in the marketplace. The Vault wallet allows users to store NFTs they have purchased.
The company made the announcement via a statement that read:
“In the future we see blockchain being one way to bring more empowerment to Reddit communities.” Reddit has been an example of what online decentralization looks like; communities are self-governing and self-sustaining. We are currently exploring tools to empower them to be more self-sustaining.
Reddit’s NFT Profile Photo
Polygon has partnered with the marketplace to create avatars that can be created on-chain. Reddit announced earlier this year that it was developing a NFT profile verification feature. The 90 avatar designs included in the initial batch of NFTs available early access features 90. So far, the avatars have been made available to only the members of the invite-only, exclusive subreddit, r/CollectibleAvatars. Fixed price rates are being offered for the NFTs. Buyers do not have to participate in an auction or bid war to buy NFTs. These avatars cost $9.99, $24.99 and $49.99 respectively. They also retail at $99.99 and $74.99. These collectible avatars will soon be available for purchase by the rest of the globe when they are listed on the avatar builder webpage.
Royalties and Rights
Reddit also announced that those who purchase these limited-edition NFTs have the right to license it for use on and off its social media platforms. You can customize your avatar’s appearance by mixing and matching the merchandise available in the avatar builders. The rights of the user do not extend beyond this. Bored Ape NFTs, for example, give owners the rights to create merchandise and content for their bored ape characters. Reddit avatar owners won’t be able do this. These avatars were created in collaboration with several artists from subreddits such as r/Comics and r/ProCreate. They will receive a 50% cut from the royalties for secondary sales of these NFTs through marketplaces like OpenSea or Rarible.
Disclaimer: This article is intended for informational purposes only. This article is not intended to be used for legal, tax, investment or financial advice.


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STOCK & LAND – by Laura Griffin – “The spring feature store sheep sale held by McKean McGregor and HF Richardson at Wycheproof last Friday (October 7) was back on the previous week’s record-breaking highs.”
SHEEP CENTRAL – by Terry Sim – “VICTORIAN wool handler Sophie Huf had a secret weapon with her at the Australian National Shearing and Wool Handling Titles at Warialda in New South Wales on the weekend. Picture – Flick Wingfield.”
WWD – by Loreliei Marfil – “The brand showed off a sustainability-themed window, showcasing the biodegradable John Smedley sweater that was buried on the grounds of Clarence House.”
SHEEP CENTRAL – “COMMERCIAL Merino producers have the opportunity to be at the cutting edge of DNA research by participating in a pilot trial of the new Flock Profiling Test from the Cooperative Research Centre for Sheep Industry Innovation.”
THE AUSTRALIAN – by Glynis Traill-Nash – “The International Woolmark Prize has become one of the world’s most valuable competitions for emerging designers — not only for the prizemoney of $100,000 and slew of global retail contracts, but also because of the raised profile it brings.”
QUEENSLAND COUNTRY LIFE – by Bruce McLeish, Elders northern wool manager – “DESPITE the Chinese sector being on holiday for National Day the wool market in Australia made positive gains and closed 10c higher on the back of a small offering.”
THE TIMARU HERALD (NZ) – Koren Allpress – “Despite being held in a couple of different, new locations, the Waimate Shears event went “really well”, Waimate Shears executive officer Eileen Smith says.
The event was a “bit makeshift” because in the past it was held at the stadium, but this year the shearing events were held in a marquee at the South Canterbury A&P showground and the wool handling events at Russell Hart’s woolshed, Smith said.
VOXY – from Doug Laing, media officer, Shearing Sports New Zealand – “Australia regained transtasman shearing match supremacy with a big win over the Shearing Sports New Zealand team last night at Warialda, New South Wales.
In the first-leg of an annual home-and-away series, with three from each country shearing 16 sheep each, including merino and strongwool crossbreds, Australia beat New Zealand by 17.21pts.”
SCOOP INDEPENDENT NEWS – by Tina Morrison – “Oct. 7 (BusinessDesk) – New Zealand wool prices were mixed at the latest weekly auction amid targeted buying, as demand remains soft so far this season.
The price for 25-micron merino wool at yesterday’s South Island auction advanced to $11.30 per kilogram from $11.20/kg at the previous comparable South Island auction two weeks ago, although it’s 7 percent below the same period last year, according to AgriHQ. Coarser mid-micron wool declined, with 29-micron wool sliding to $6.70/kg from $7.30/kg at the previous comparable auction, down 36 percent from last year’s level.”
RURAL NEWS GROUP – “The South Island sale of 8565 bales comprising a wide range of wool types saw good support with 78% of the offering selling. “


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A collection of new celebrity chefs are taking the licensing world by storm with their dynamic personalities and unique product extensions.
Plush toy manufacturer Gund has launched its first-ever line of home textiles.
Home furnishings e-commerce website Ballard Designs is planning its second collaboration, this time with interior designer Bunny Williams.
Perry Ellis International has tapped Perfect Fit Industries to develop bedding products under the Perry Ellis Portfolio and Laundry by Shelli Segal brands.
Target Australia will launch a kitchen range by celebrity chef Curtis Stone on Sept. 25.
Fermata Partners, the exclusive licensing agency for Little League Baseball and Softball, has signed three new licensees and renewed another for the kids' brand.
Warner Bros. Consumer Products and Party City and have teamed up to celebrate Scooby-Doo’s birthday with the release of a new line of Scooby-Doo partyware.
Talisman Licensing has tapped Li & Fung Home to develop the debut homewares line for international food writer and TV host Rick Stein.
G Mason Group announced its partnership with Nickelodeon to launch a new pet line featuring SpongeBob SquarePants and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.
Candle company PartyLite had unveiled its new designer collection from celebrity stylist Jonathan Adler.
Sotheby’s International has signed an agreement with RealPro Infra Private with the opening of North India Sotheby's International Realty.
Appliance brand Whirlpool has released a new mobile app designed to make doing laundry easy and fun.
Terminex has teamed up with home goods manufacturer London Luxury to develop a line of products designed to protect against pests.
Bravado, Universal Music Group’s global music merchandising company, has taken on two new North American licensees for The Beatles brand.
Gordon Brothers Group, Hilco Global and Infinity Lifestyle Brands have sold the Linens 'N Things IP to Galaxy Brand Holdings.
Power tool and home brand Black + Decker has debuted a new logo and brand identity to modernize its more than 100-year-old image.
Ashley Wilde is planning a new bed linens line based on the organic patterns of Swedish designer Lotta Jansdotter.
The Yankee Candle Company has launched a new exclusive candle inspired by the Easter marshmellow Peeps.
LMI has brokered a new deal that will see Gascoigne Designs create reproduction furniture from Highclere Castle, where “Downton Abbey” is filmed.
National Geographic has launched a range of pet products featuring hundreds of items for freshwater fish, reptiles and small pets at PetSmart.
The list of Downton Abbey licensees continues to grow with agent Knockout Licensing adding three new partners.
©2014 ADVANSTAR COMMUNICATIONS INC. All rights reserved.


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New 50 kW solar array for Mitsubishi
Mitsubishi Motors UK have installed a total of 196 solar panels supplied by Mitsubishi Electric on the roof of the company's offices in Cirencester, Gloucestershire, where the array is expected to generate 40,050 kWh of energy, saving 17.2 tonnes of carbon emissions per year.
The array features a state-of-the-art energy generation and performance monitoring system, which enables monitoring via the internet. A permanent real-time display has been fitted in the main reception area.
"The decision to install Solar PV was a straightforward one" said Lance Bradley, the managing director of Mitsubishi Motors UK. "As well as offering good strong, sound business benefits, this move complements our growing reputation of leading the way in environmental technologies. Whilst we know that the Government feed-in tariff is set to be reduced in August, the increasing efficiency of panels, falling costs of the hardware and increasing energy costs are likely to still make the case to other businesses compelling, and we hope they will follow our lead."
The company has already made major efforts to green its motoring division. "Many of our vehicles now come with Auto Stop & Go technology" adds Bradley, "we were the first to the global market with a full production pure-electric vehicle, the i-MiEV; and are very proud to be launching one of the world’s first plug-in hybrids in 2013." The installation will enable the company to boast of zero emission production for cars such as the i-MiEV.
The installation was carried out by Gloucestershire renewable energy company Glevum Energy, whose chairman, Gary Jones, said: "We are very proud of our close working relationship with Mitsubishi Motors in the UK and so were delighted when we were chosen to install this solar PV system."


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There won’t be that big of a gap between the Japanese and worldwide release dates for Wonder Boy: Asha in Monster World. It showed up in Japan back in April 2021. Everywhere else will get its Wonder Boy: Asha in Monster World PS4 and Switch copies on May 28, 2021. However, the PC version won’t show up on Steam until June 29, 2021.
Exact prices for both digital and physical console copies also came up. Digital copies will be $34.99/€34.99/£31.49. However, the physical ones will be $39.99/€39.99/£34.99. People who opt for the latter will get both the StudioArtDink remake and playable ports of the original Monster World IV. (The Collector’s and Mega Collector’s Editions both include the extra game as well.)
As a reminder, Wonder Boy: Asha in Monster World isn’t the only remake of a game in the series. For example, there was also 2017’s Wonder Boy: The Dragon’s Trap. That offered a new take on Wonder Boy III: The Dragon’s Trap.
Wonder Boy: Asha in Monster World will come to the PS4 and Switch on May 28, 2021 outside Japan. It is immediately available in Japan. It will come to the PC worldwide on June 29, 2021.


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Activision Blizzard has halted all sales of games, both physically and digitally, as well as in-game microtransactions in Russia.
The publisher announced the decision in an internal message to employees, which was attributed to president and COO Daniel Alegre and later posted on its website.
It is the latest publisher to cut off the Russian games market in protest over the country's invasion of Ukraine, following in the footsteps of CD Projekt, Bloober Team, Electronic Arts and Activision Blizzard's future parent Microsoft.
Activision Blizzard has perhaps the most widespread portfolio of the companies to ban sales in Russia so far, thanks to its ownership of the best-selling Call of Duty series, all of Blizzard's popular propeties such as World of Warcraft and Overwatch, plus King's dominating mobile games like Candy Crush Saga.
"We will continue to look at ways to support the Ukrainian people," Alegre wrote.
"I want to reassure you that the safety of our employees is our leadership team's top priority. We are doing everything possible to assist employees, and their families, who are being directly affected by this tragedy."
Alegre added that the company will not only match any employee donations to organisations providing relief in Ukraine, but double them. So far, the publisher and its staff have raised over $300,000.
Next week, Activision Blizzard will suggest other charities employees can donate to and raise the company's matching limit from $1,000 to $10,000.
Finally, Alegre praised Activision Blizzard staff in Poland, some of whom have been volunteering to directly assist Ukrainian refugees and other people affected by the invasion.
The wave of publishers halting sales in Russia is the latest step in wider industry efforts to provide support for Ukraine. You can read more about what the industry has been doing here.


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Picket signs that said “We Support Bessemer Workers!” were loaded into cars. Leaflets, chant sheets and bull horns were packed. It was March 20, a national day of solidarity with those trying to organize a union at an Amazon warehouse in Bessemer, Alabama. Events were happening across the U.S., and it was almost time to head to the Amazon Spheres, the retail giant’s corporate headquarters in downtown Seattle.
But, two hours before the rally’s start, event organizers from Seattle Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) called an emergency online meeting. Seattle’s Mayor Jenny Durkan had demanded that the protest be postponed. She claimed it would interfere with a Covid vaccination clinic over a block away.
It was déjà vu. Durkan, a corporate Democrat whose campaigns have greatly benefited from the commercial behemoth’s support, had used the exact same maneuver in February against socialist Council Member Kshama Sawant. Her party, Socialist Alternative, had planned to protest Amazon with a car caravan circling the block containing the Spheres. After pressure from the mayor (same location, same vaccination clinic) Sawant and her organization moved the time of the event. Their action was practically unseen as cars drove around on a dark, winter Saturday night amid the pandemic emptiness of downtown.
Emboldened by this earlier success, Durkan decided to play the same hand on March 20. Sad to say, most of the DSA leadership at the emergency meeting folded to the Mayor’s bluff. They rescheduled the gathering to the following Friday night. Their main concern? That Mayor Durkan might say rally organizers were intentionally hurting vaccination efforts. This would, unthinkably, leave Seattle, home of Amazon, without an event on the national day of solidarity.
Luckily, over 70 workers and supporters from around the Puget Sound area gathered at the Amazon Spheres anyway. The Freedom Socialist Party (FSP) and Radical Women led a spirited rally that afternoon attended by Organized Workers for Labor Solidarity (OWLS), International Longshore Workers Union (ILWU) activists, other leftists, and independents. FSP organizer Jared Houston, who is also a shop steward with United Food and Commercial Workers Local 21, emceed the impromptu event. At the open mic, people praised the Black women leading this essential fight and spoke of the importance of this unionization drive.
The rally-goers did not place value on what the mayor, a representative of the capitalist system, might or might not do. They knew to postpone was to sell out. Instead, they stood in solidarity with Black workers in the South trying to organize a union.
In the end, despite the mayor’s machinations, those who attended made sure there was a militant, pro-union event in the belly of the Amazon beast.
Also see: High hopes, a tough loss and the road ahead: The Amazon union drive in Bessemer, Alabama


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One of the best parts of the Met Gala is seeing what all the stars are wearing when they step onto the red carpet. One of the outfits that people can’t stop talking about this year is Kim Kardashian West’s faceless look in her iconic Balenciaga ensemble that didn’t show one inch of skin and made headlines almost immediately.
There was so much speculation about the outfit, with some fans saying that it might not even have been Kardashian West herself to others who wondered how she was able to see as she made her way up the famous stairs to the event.
Kim Kardashian West | Noam Galai/Getty Images
One thing is for sure — for the average person, a look like that wouldn’t take long to do. After all, the only thing that is required is to simply put the clothes on, since no extras are required.
However, in true Kardashian West fashion, it turns out that the reality star did, indeed, go all out. Let’s talk about how Kim Kardashian West was surprisingly wearing makeup under her full masked Met Gala look.
Kim Kardashian West was surprisingly wearing makeup under her full masked Met Gala look
Kardashian West is known for her love of makeup, and only on very rare occasions is she seen without it. It was easy for fans to assume that on the night of the Met Gala, she didn’t have to worry about having her makeup artist create a stunning look, but it turns out that was not the case.
She didn’t keep it a secret for long, either, with her makeup artist, Mario Dedivanovic, posting on Instagram a photo of her all glitzed up, with the caption “Behind the mask.” He used products from La Mer, KKW Beauty (of course), and his own Makeup by Mario brand, ensuring that Kardashian West was fully prepared for the big night – even if no one could see!
Kim Kardashian West’s unique Met Gala look
In case you somehow missed it, the queen of reality television had a one-of-a-kind look this year at the Met Gala. According to BuzzFeedNews, Kardashian West arrived at the event in an all-black outfit by Balenciaga that obscured her entire face and was in keeping with this year’s theme “American Independence.”
The outfit was pretty over the top, featuring tights, a short skirt, long sleeves, and a matching mask and train. Most people were stunned at her fashion choice, and Kardashian West herself even admitted that she couldn’t see a thing.
In fact, she couldn’t even recognize her own sister, saying that “Kendall was calling my name and I couldn’t see who it was, but I saw the outline of her sparkly dress.” As if the faceless outfit wasn’t bold enough, Kardashian West sported a 75-inch ponytail, that trailed behind her, and cost a whopping $10,000, according to Vanity Fair.
What did everyone have to say?
Naturally, with a look like that, no one could …read more
Source:: Showbiz Cheat Sheet


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Microsoft just announced that its CEO, Steve Ballmer, will retire within the next 12 months. He'll remain in his current position until Microsoft finds his replacement.
Ballmer has been with Microsoft since 1980, and has been CEO since 2000. A special committee—which includes chairman Bill Gates—has been formed to find his replacement. Something obvious, but interesting to see laid out explicitly, is that Ballmer and the new CEO will continue to oversee Microsoft's "transformation to a devices and services company," so the new CEO will likely have a background in hardware or services.
Earlier this year Ballmer was part of a failed attempt to purchase the Sacramento Kings and relocate them to Seattle, where Microsoft is located. Ballmer briefly served as head of the Xbox division last month, before former Windows executive Julie Larson-Green was named successor.
In recent years, Ballmer has been a polarizing figure at Microsoft, with many believing he's responsible for the stagnation of Microsoft, and the culture of Microsoft not being able to get out of its own way long enough to enjoy successes that should be a matter of course.
His departure will offer Microsoft a chance to change how its corporate structure works. Ballmer will be the latest key executive to leave the company, following former Xbox chief Don Mattrick and Windows boss Steven Sinofsky.
Ballmer sent out an internal email going over his decision, which Microsoft has posted under the title Moving On. It has the expected optimistic beats regarding the company's future, and reflects the cumulative success of Microsoft over Ballmer's tenure at the company, but seems to lack that central, recent success that will keep Microsoft moving forward. Here is the letter in its entirety:
I am writing to let you know that I will retire as CEO of Microsoft within the next 12 months, after a successor is chosen. There is never a perfect time for this type of transition, but now is the right time. My original thoughts on timing would have had my retirement happen in the middle of our transformation to a devices and services company focused on empowering customers in the activities they value most. We need a CEO who will be here longer term for this new direction. You can read the press release on Microsoft News Center.
This is a time of important transformation for Microsoft. Our new Senior Leadership team is amazing. The strategy we have generated is first class. Our new organization, which is centered on functions and engineering areas, is right for the opportunities and challenges ahead.
Microsoft is an amazing place. I love this company. I love the way we helped invent and popularize computing and the PC. I love the bigness and boldness of our bets. I love our people and their talent and our willingness to accept and embrace their range of capabilities, including their quirks. I love the way we embrace and work with other companies to change the world and succeed together. I love the breadth and diversity of our customers, from consumer to enterprise, across industries, countries, and people of all backgrounds and age groups.
I am proud of what we have achieved. We have grown from $7.5 million to nearly $78 billion since I joined Microsoft, and we have grown from employing just over 30 people to almost 100,000. I feel good about playing a role in that success and having committed 100 percent emotionally all the way. We have more than 1 billion users and earn a great profit for our shareholders. We have delivered more profit and cash return to shareholders than virtually any other company in history.
I am excited by our mission of empowering the world and believe in our future success. I cherish my Microsoft ownership, and look forward to continuing as one of Microsoft’s largest owners.
This is an emotional and difficult thing for me to do. I take this step in the best interests of the company I love; it is the thing outside of my family and closest friends that matters to me most.
Microsoft has all its best days ahead. Know you are part of the best team in the industry and have the right technology assets. We cannot and will not miss a beat in these transitions. I am focused and driving hard and know I can count on all of you to do the same. Let’s do ourselves proud.


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Growth, a recurring topic at craft-brewing industry events, was again a major talking point at this year's Craft Brewers Conference. The number of smaller, independently owned craft breweries continues to rise, as do production levels, revenues and even exports to foreign countries.
But concerns about the quality of beer being made by some of these new breweries and brewpubs also forced its way onto the agenda.
“It's a big issue,” Brewers Association director Paul Gatza said during a teleconference from this year's meeting site in Denver. He said he'd “hate to see this segment brought down” because of poor-quality products getting into the market and turning off consumers who might be trying craft beer for the first time.
Gatza encouraged small brewers to work on quality control issues and get to “really know” their beer by, for example, sending off samples to labs that can measure bacteria counts and other benchmarks. He said he attended a recent beer festival in which several of the brand-new beers he tried had off-flavors or showed signs of oxidation or other problems.
“Several of them, the beers were not good,” he said. “They need to improve there.”
He said some of the fault could lie with retailers who don't thoroughly clean their draft lines at least every two weeks or don't keep their glassware in good shape, saying that, too, could give beer a bad taste.
Beyond personal experience, Gatza said other craft brewers have expressed concerns about the quality of some of the new beers being made.
“It's a concern of our members, and that makes it a concern of ours,” he said.
Mostly, Gatza and Brewers Association economist Bart Watson talked of craft beer's continued growth streak:
Production volume rose 18 percent for craft brewers, to 15.6 million barrels in 2013, even as the overall U.S. beer market (including output from industry giants such as Anheuser-Busch InBev) declined 2 percent.
Craft beer's share of that broader market grew to 7.8 percent last year and is predicted to grow further.
In dollars, craft beer grabbed a 14.3 percent share, or $14.3 billion out of a total $100 billion in sales.
The U.S. had 2,768 breweries at the end of 2013, with 1,744 in the planning stages. By the end of last month, the number of operating breweries had grown to 2,866. Of those, 99 percent are craft breweries.
Bob Pease, chief operating officer of the Brewers Association, said U.S. crafts last year exported 282,526 barrels, up 49 percent from 2012. The top foreign markets are Canada, Sweden, the United Kingdom, Australia and Japan, he said.
“The word is out that the best beer in the world is being made by American craft brewers,” Pease said.
Gatza outlined an ambitious — he called it “aspirational” — goal for craft brewers through the end of the decade: 20 percent market share, which he admitted is “by no means a slam-dunk.” He said the association is trying to help by continuing public education campaigns, working with wholesalers and retailers and helping to ensure the pipeline of raw ingredients and brewery equipment remains capable of meeting demand.
He also cited another Brewers Association initiative to tweak the definition of “craft brewer” to allow a handful of traditional breweries, such as the 175-year-old Yuengling, to be included in that group.
Also at the conference, Austin-based Jester King Brewery received the F.X. Matt Defense of the Small Brewing Industry Award, which is described by the Brewers Association as “presented each year to those who have given aid and support to the causes of small, independent brewers and by doing so supported the Brewers Association's goal of vigorously defending our industry.”
The association cited Jester King for “working to create craft-friendly legislation in their home state.”
In 2011, Jester King was part of a group that brought the lawsuit that led a federal judge to overturn a long-standing Texas Alcohol Beverage Commission rule dictating that the difference between “ale” and “beer” was a matter of alcoholic strength that had to be distinguished on labels. Because ale is a type of beer — as is lager, which is brewed differently from ale — the rule was widely ridiculed.
Several out-of-state brewers cited the prohibitive expense of making separate labels for Texas sales as the reason they did not distribute their beer in the state.
Last year, the Texas Legislature passed the most significant overhaul of beer laws in 20 years, allowing breweries to sell some beer directly to consumers for on-site consumption and allowing brewpubs to sell beers in retail establishments beyond their own restaurants.


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Someone has stumbled upon a trademark application for one ‘Alan Wake’s Return’, a sequel we’d presume.
There are very real reasons to be upset over Quantum Break’s loss of exclusivity, but they’re not as solid as you might think.
Quantum Break’s PC release was a mere formality, but with the highest recommended specifications we’ve ever seen, we’re not sure we want it.
Hard-boiled crime hit making its way to Playstation 4 next year?
Don’t forget the little guys
It’s not a lake, it’s a sequel…
Alan Wake will get another outing on PC
Could the XBLA exclusive be heading to PC? Stranger things have happened…
Courtesy of Silverscreen Trading
Does this Alan Wake sideshow deliver the thrills or fall flat?
Hiring 20 new staff in the next few months
PC gamers finally get a chance to tackle Alan Wake’s darkest demons…
Physical copies of Alan Wake PC confirmed for SA retail
A selections of screenshots from the PC version of Alan Wake
48 hour sales bound to make lots of people happy
It’s all thanks to Remedy’s persistence
Remedy’s action thriller is headed to Steam soon
Boxed version will include all DLC, publishing deal announced
The light at the end of the tunnel


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Ticketmaster-owned resale site TicketsNow has been named the official marketplace for the 2012 AT&T Cotton Bowl Classic.
The partnership will enable fans and brokers to list tickets in an online exchange and set their own prices. Additionally, the partnership lets officials keep track of secondary market activity.
Scheduled for January 6 at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, TX, the long-running Cotton Bowl sold out in record time this year, according to organizers, even though the teams won’t be revealed until December 4.
“The AT&T Cotton Bowl Classic is among the most popular bowl games in all of college football,” Mike Newquist, TicketsNow business development director, said in a statement. “We are thrilled to power the Official Ticket Exchange for this time-honored event, and look forward to serving college football fans with the very best service and most secure ticketing technology available.”
Because the event is sold out, the original Ticketmaster listing now offers consumers a link to the option “Find Tickets (on Partner Site),” which redirects them to the TicketsNow site.
Such links are part of Ticketmaster’s ongoing resale initiative, which offers clients a share of the profits made from ticket sales on TicketsNow. Clients choose whether to allow their original event listing to include the link.
Last month, TicketsNow also was named the official marketplace for the Allstate Sugar Bowl and the BCS National Championship.
Established in 1999, TicketsNow was acquired by Ticketmaster in 2008 for $265 million dollars.


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All New York and Co. stores are set to close after the retail store filed for bankruptcy protection on July 13.
In a press release, the company that owns New York and Co., RTW Retailwinds, said going-out-of-business sales are underway and will last eight to 10 weeks or "until all the merchandise is sold."
The company has approximately 380 stores nationwide.
The company filed for bankruptcy after sales began dwindling due to the coronavirus pandemic.
New York and Co. also join Sur La Table, JC Penney, Pier 1 Imports J. Crew, and Niemen Marcus, as retail stores that have also filed for bankruptcy.


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The big four bank has announced the appointment of Clare Morgan to lead its commercial division, reporting to CEO Shayne Elliot.
She will join the bank’s group executive committee and will be responsible for ANZ’s commercial business in Australia, where she will lead a team that serves a range of customers including sole proprietors, emerging corporates and private banking.
“Clare is an outstanding leader and I’m confident her business banking experience will be an asset to both ANZ and our customers,” Mr Elliot said.
“This is a significant appointment for ANZ as we continue to transform how we serve our commercial customers through the better use of digital platforms and data,” he continued.
Ms Morgan joins ANZ from the Commonwealth Bank of Australia where she held the role of executive general manager of small business banking.
Moreover, she has extensive experience in financial services across a variety of business and institutional banking, sales and product roles in Australia and the United States.
Her appointment to the bank’s executive committee comes after ANZ in March announced it would split its commercial and retail divisions.
Mr Elliott commented: “While banking small businesses has always been core to what we do, it’s the right time to increase focus on this market, given it is a significant opportunity for ANZ and the progress we have made in other parts of our business.
“Clare joins an experienced team running our major businesses with Antonia Watson leading New Zealand through a period of major change, Maile Carnegie returning Australia Retail to growth and Mark Whelan having transformed Institutional into one of the best-run wholesale banking businesses globally,” he concluded.


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Nirmala Sitharaman’s approach to the duty of GST on specified food.
Nirmala Sitharaman said that certain particulars including beats daal, wheat, rye, oats, sludge, rice, atta/ flour, suji / rawa, besan, puffed rice, curd/ lassi when sold loose and non-pre-packed or pre- labelled, will not attracting G. Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Tuesday released a list of particulars that will not attract any GST, when sold loose, and not pre-packed or pre-labelled.
Amid protests by opposition members over the duty of GST on some new particulars and on price rise issues, Lok Sabha proceedings are suspended today. Defending the duty of 5 GST on food papers analogous as cereals, rice, flour and curd, which are pre-packaged and labelled, FM Sitharaman said that it was an amicable decision of the GST Council last month in which indeed non- BJP ruled countries were present.
Sitharaman further said the council recommended reconsidering the approach for the duty of GST on specified food particulars like beats, cereals, flour etc.
Sitharaman said that certain particulars including beats daal, wheat, rye, oats, sludge, rice, atta/ flour, suji/ rawa, besan, puffed rice, curd/ lassi when sold loose and non-prepackaged or pre- labelled, will not attractancy GST. In a series of tweets, the FM said, “ recently, the GST Council in its 47th meeting recommended to review the approach for duty of GST on specified food particulars like beats, cereals, flour, etc. There have been a lot of misconceptions about this that have been spread. also, a thread to lay the data.”
“Is this the first time analogous food papers are being tested? No. States were collecting significant profit from food grain in the pre-GST governance. Punjab alone collected more ₹,000 cr on food grain by way of purchase duty. UP collected ₹ 700 cr.”
“Taking this into account, when GST was rolled out, a GST rate of 5 was made applicable on BRANDED cereals, beats, and flour. Subsequently, this was amended to duty only analogous particulars which were sold under REGISTERED brand or brand on which enforceable right was not forthcoming by the supplier.” “ Still, soon rampant abuse of this provision was observed by reputed manufacturers & brand owners and gradually GST profit from these particulars fell significantly.”
“This was Envied by suppliers and sedentary associations who were paying impositions on hardwired goods. They wrote to the Govt to put GST slightly on all packaged goods to stop analogous abuse. This rampant evasion in duty was also observed by States.”
” The Fitment Committee — consisting of officers from Rajasthan, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Haryana & Gujarat had also examined this issue over SEVERAL meetings and made its recommendations for changing the modalities to check abuse.”
” It’s in this terrain that the GST Council in its 47th meeting took the decision. With effect from July 18, 2022, only the modalities of duty of GST on these goods were changed with no change in the content of GST except 2- 3 particulars. “It has been specified that GST on these goods shall apply when supplied in “pre-packaged and labelled” goods attracting the vittles of Legal Metrology Act.”
“For illustration, particulars like beats, cereals like rice, wheat, and flour, etc. Before attracted GST@ 5 when ingrained and packed in a unit vessel. From18.7.2022, these particulars would attract GST when “pre-packaged and labelled”.”
“It must also be noted that particulars specified below in the list, when sold loose, and not pre-packed or pre- labelled, will not attract any GST.” “ This was an amicable decision by the GST Council. All countries were present in the GST Council when this issue was presented by the Group of Ministers on Rate Rationalization in the 47th meeting held in Chandigarh on Jun 28, 2022.”


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Ben Martin is the new head of digital content in Western Australia for one of Australia’s largest media companies, Seven West Media. He just completed a Churchill Fellowship that took him around the world, where he visited the newsrooms and operations of the New York Times, the Washington Post, Mic, NPR and Mashable.
So, what’s the direction of digital content? What’s the view of the major players in the US? What kinds of digital content are they investing in creating? Is sponsored content a part of the future? And how can brands get on board?
Here are some key take-outs:
- Mainstream media is changing incredibly fast. Even those operating in it are unsure how the industry will look in a year or two. Everyone is second-guessing the way forward — what to invest in, what direction to take.
- There’s still a “rusted on” readership of physical newspapers and its unlikely that will change, so newspapers themselves are likely stay around for a while longer.
“Media right across the board has been struggling to come up with the business model that works, because they’ve created a consumer that was getting it all for free.” — Nic
- Journalism is expensive. It takes time to bring together information and produce quality journalism. But, Martin says, the results say “it’s worth doing” — the audience still responds to quality content.
- Most news sites will move towards membership models as they seek to encourage their audiences to pay for content.
“If you are nimble enough in terms of how you get your stories out to people, that’s excellent, but in the end the value of what you do comes down to the storytelling itself. If your stories are compelling enough, people will read them, people will share them.” — Ben Martin, head of digital for WA, Seven West Media.
- There’s an opportunity for brands to run their own newsrooms and build their own audiences. Instead of spending money on marketing or advertising, they can run their own news service.
- Traditional media will spin out content for discrete audiences. It’s something it has always done, but digital allows them to find global audiences for their content.
“When you’re catering to an audience as a brand, that’s a good thing. When traditional media starts chasing and audience with content then we get a situation where the audience is getting what they want but not necessarily what they need, and I’m greatly concerned about that. What happens when media starts acting like a brand, rather than a news service.” — Sarah
Here are the links you might need
Have you heard the one about…
Recently James, Sarah and Nic took a close look at email marketing best practice.
And here’s a discussion with ADMA’s Jodie Sangster about the Content Marketing Institute’s 2017 Benchmarks, Budgets and Trends Report for Australia, and what it says about the state of content marketing in Australia.
Like what you’ve heard?
For more information about the show, visit the Brand Newsroom website, where you can join the Brand Newsroom Community and receive exclusive content and opportunities to meet James, Nic and Sarah.


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Circle Logistics announced today that the company is shipping loads for the United States Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and providing the agency and its partners with real-time visibility of critical medical supply and grocery shipments.
“The COVID-19 crisis is completely different from the normal disaster that we deal with as a country,” said Andrew Smith, vice president of sales and operations, Circle Logistics. “When there’s a hurricane, forest fire or other natural disaster, supplies are going to the specific affected areas. With COVID-19, supplies are coming from and subsequently shipping—everywhere.”
Circle Logistics has shifted their entire transportation network to help manage the 700% increase in volume from customers moving critical medical supplies, like personal protective equipment (PPE), respirators and cots, as well as grocery shipments for major brands.
Circle’s partnership with Descartes MacroPoint is providing real-time location, status, and estimated time of arrival of the COVID-19 loads. This visibility enables the agency to closely monitor and evaluate the movement of all of freight via one platform and take corrective action before any potential supply chain disruptions occur. Circle’s entire workforce has mobilized to help fill the increased shipments for FEMA and other customers during the pandemic.
“Everyone in the Circle Logistics organization is working together, with many pulling after-hour shifts to get orders filled during the crisis,” continued Smith. “It’s the least we can do to help keep hospitals and people supplied with the medical tools and groceries they need.”
Established in Fort Wayne in 2011, Circle Logistics is one of the fastest-growing transportation companies in the country, servicing more than $200 million in freight spend in 2018. Circle’s large, privately-owned fleet fuels the delivery of a full lineup of trucking services, including dry van, temperature-controlled, flatbed, auto hauling, specialized or oversized, and expedited freight. Circle Logistics was ranked #43 on Transport Topics’ list of Top Freight Brokerage Firms in 2020.
For more information on Circle Logistics, please visit www.circledelivers.com.


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Emirates spends $56m on fine wine in 2017
Gulf airline Emirates has announced the latest fine wines that will be served to its first class passengers on select routes this year, including 2004 Cheval Blanc and 1998 Margaux, as well as revealing it invested US$56 million on fine wine last year.
The carrier has said four blue chip clarets will be poured on various international routes this year (for limited periods): 2004 Cheval Blanc and Haut-Brion; 2001 Mouton Rothschild and 1998 Margaux, in addition to its portfolio of 80 wines and Champagnes that it has on rotation for all of its passengers.
Alongside the wines, Emirates said it has created dishes to pair with each wine, trained its staff and revamped its glassware too.
This year’s vintage collection was launched last week when Cheval Blanc’s commercial director, Arnaud de Laforcade, gave first class passengers a surprise masterclass on the 2004 and 2006 vintages at 40,000 feet on a flight to Paris.
The wines were all acquired en primeur by Emirates and then stored at its cellar in Burgundy where it currently holds a reported 4.7 million bottles of wine.
The airline has been investing in fine wine – especially Bordeaux – since 2006 and then storing its purchases to serve to clients when they reach “optimal maturity” – with some stocks currently being held not expected to be served in-flight until the late 2020s at least.
Last year the airline spent US$56 million on fine wine and since 2006 has invested a total of $780m.
Joost Heymeijer, senior vice president of Inflight Catering for Emirates, commented: “We went direct to the winemakers, handpicked these vintages and then cellared them for up to 15 years in Burgundy before we decided they were ready to be served. It has taken a great deal of patience, investment and long-term planning. Our aim has always been to surprise and delight our customers and they are in for a treat with this selection.
“Every effort was taken to present the wines from the Emirates Vintage Collection in the best possible way. We spent time training our cabin crew, redesigning our glassware and creating a food pairing menu to ensure that when you savour these great wines on board, it’s no different than the best restaurant in the world’s top cities.”
For those lucky enough to travel first class on Emirates this year:
- The 2004 Cheval Blanc is being served on flights to the UK, Ireland, France, the Netherlands and Geneva.
- The 2004 Haut-Brion on flights to Australasia and certain Asian routes from June.
- The 2001 Mouton Rothschild on flights to the Americas and UK from October.
- The 1998 Margaux on flights to Germany and Austria from June and then to France, the Netherlands and Geneva from November.
And as an example of the dishes being paired with the wines, on flights to and from Dublin the 2004 Cheval Blanc will be served with Irish grass-fed beef fillet served with a potato dauphinoise, creamed leek and spinach, baby carrots and a shallot jus, while the same wine will be poured alongside seared venison served with a thyme jus, blanched kohlrabi, baby carrots and broccolini on flights to Geneva.


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Good Living Brew Company is launching “a wine-lovers beer” in Ocado later this month.
Little Creatures, the Australian craft brewer, is to open its micro-brewery, café and taproom in London’s King’s Cross later this month.
Stroud Brewery and Toast Ale have teamed up with Friends of the Earth to create a “planet-saving” organic amber ale.
Amstel has launched a new TV commercial starring Hollywood legend Jeff Bridges in the lead role as a human bridge.
C&C’s minority stake in Jubel Beer will help reaffirm the start-up company’s mission to pioneer a new style of beer, according to co-founder Jesse Wilson.
Badger beer has launched a digital competition that will send 54 winners on a camping weekend in Dorset.
“Our generation have trust issues because we were raised on those awesome adverts saying Carlsberg is the best lager in the world only to finally taste the shit and realise it’s like drinking the bath water that your nan died in,” wrote an enlightened gentleman called Roy on Twitter recently.
Minimum unit pricing has delivered a hammer blow to white cider in Scotland as sales have fallen off a cliff since it was introduced on May 1, 2018.
Brooklyn Brewery is bidding to capitalise on the growing demand for alcohol-free beer by launching Brooklyn Special Effects into the UK market.
Mike Benner is to step down as chief executive of the Society of Independent Brewers (SIBA) after five years in the role.
Magic Rock Brewing Company has been bought by Australian-based food and drink company Lion, for an undisclosed sum.
AB InBev UK has changed its name to Budweiser Brewing Group UK&I as management felt Budweiser is the group’s most famous global brand.
Greene King shares have been on a tear over the past year and they closed at 674p on Friday.
Brewgooder is joining forces with Co-op for its first national retail campaign.
ABInbev has appointed Jess Markowski to the new role of sales director for convenience and wholesale, to bolster the brewer’s off-trade sales team.
Retailers and brewers fear that new Portman Group guidance around single-serve cans could damage the momentum of craft beer.
Fuller’s head brewer Georgina Young is moving to the West Country to take over Bath Ales’ brewing operations at St Austell.
Bohem Brewery has launched its first collaboration beer, brewed in partnership with Cornwall-based St Austell Brewery.
As Britain prepares to leave the EU, independent drinks retailer Thirsty Cambridge and Bristol-based brewer Moor Beer have teamed up to bring producers from across Europe together for a craft beer collaboration project.
Robinsons Brewery’s first lager to join its infamous Iron Maiden Trooper range has been made using authentic Japanese saké yeast.
Unity Brewing Co has launched a crowdfunding campaign as demand for its beers outstrips supply.
Ross O’Hara’s meteoric rise to prominence in the beer industry continues apace as he has been named head brewer at Greene King.
Crate Brewery has launched a £500,000 crowdfunding campaign to finance a major refurbishment of its Hackney Wick home.
Brutal Brewing, the Swedish brewers behind the popular craft brand, Pistonhead Lager, has launched a new core range for the UK market.
ABInbev UK & Ireland has reported double-digit growth for 2018, driven by strong performances from both Stella Artois and Budweiser.
Nik Antona has been elected to the post of chairman at the Campaign for Real Ale at a meeting of the organisation’s national executive.
Carlsberg UK is to relaunch its main standard lager brand in the UK on March 1.
Tennent Caledonian Breweries has announced new appointments to its senior management team.
Brewdog has appointed ex-Red Bull managing director, Andy Shaw, to the newly-created role of CEO of Beer.


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Bruno Gmünder also publishes Spartacus International Gay Guide, the world’s best-selling gay travel book
A global market leader in LGBTI publishing has gone into administration.
German publishing house Bruno Gmünder is best known for publishing Spartacus International Gay Guide, the world’s best-selling gay travel book, as well as sexy art books.
Last week, it was already announced their German top magazine, Männer, would stop its print issues and switch to being online only.
But now news broke the company filed for bancruptcy with the Charlottenburg district court in Berlin on 15 March.
It is the second time in three years Bruno Gmünder went bust.
In 2014, the publisher first filed for bancruptcy.
On 1 November of the same year, Bruno Gmünder was rescued by Frank Zahn, who bought all partnership shares in the company.
He wanted to restructure the publisher, in order to make it sustainable.
Bruno Gmünder completed two restructuring efforts: opening a new, modern shop in the heart of Berlin, and getting the publishing branch fit for the future.
In other areas, the process is still outstanding; Zahn wanted to provide money to drive the change.
But his unexpected death in February saw the company slip into a cash crisis which they cannot solve on their own.
As of today (21 March), Bruno Gmünder say they will continue operations.
‘We are doing our utmost to secure the company’s future in the long term,’ they said in a statement for Männer.
Bruno Gmünder is now looking for investors; the aim is to save the business as a whole, with all branches intact.
For Kriss Rudolph, the former editor-in-chief of Männer who left the magazine early this year, the bancruptcy does not come as a surprise.
‘On one hand, in February, the publisher’s CEO died, and he bought the publishing house three years ago,’ he told Gay Star News.
‘And it was ever so often, punctually, that he, Frank Zahn, would have to put money from his private funds into the publisher.’
When Zahn died, Rudolph said he already wondered where the money would come from.
He said he felt something was amiss last summer when his invoices were paid later and later. Rudolph also said he is still owed his last invoice.
Last fall, Multimedia Platforms in the US, publishers of Next and Frontiers, announced that it had gone into administration.
Yesterday, GSN reported that Millivres Prowler Ltd had gone into administration but had managed to sell its best-known title GT (Gay Times) to a new publishing company.
New York Post reported last week that leading US titles Out and Advocate are up for sale, although publishers Here Media have declined to comment.
Gay Star News has contacted Bruno Gmünder for further comment.
by Stefanie Gerdes
Source – Gay Star News


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A new batch of enterprising New Zealanders are being given the opportunity to fast track their ventures from idea through to startup, thanks to an online education initiative backed by Callaghan Innovation and entrepreneur education platform Startup NZ.
The initiative invites New Zealanders with "scalable and high growth" business or social enterprise ideas to apply for scholarships that will see 60 successful applicants receive free admission to the Startup NZ entrepreneurs programme, an online learning hub that introduces new entrepreneurs to the basics of "lean startup" business building methodology.
In addition to receiving immediate help navigating the tricky process of turning an idea into a feasible business model, on completing the programme participants will be connected with local startup hubs and accelerator programmes for follow-on assistance and investment if required.
Callaghan Innovation Startup and Founder spokeswoman Dr Jenny Douché says that the partnership with Startup NZ was a natural fit with the organisation. She says early stage entrepreneurs faced a range of challenges.
"Callaghan Innovation has chosen to partner with the Startup NZ Entrepreneurs Programme because we want to help ensure that very early-stage founders have easy access to well-guided educational resources," says Douché.
"These resources will help them determine whether they have what it takes to create a successful startup, and if they do have what it takes, to equip them with knowledge of the basic fundamentals of business."
Startup NZ programme founder, Richard Liew, says for early stage business owners, providing meaningful guidance could be transformational but was not always easy or practical for those charged with the responsibility, such as business mentors or those in council business support teams or economic development agencies. He says that helping solve the early stage support puzzle was key in initiating the scholarship programme.
"Most early stage founders will seek out assistance when it's on offer, but the challenge for mentors is, how do you really help someone that hasn't even settled on a business idea, let alone been able to articulate it in terms of a feasible and scalable business model? That same valuable mentoring time is therefore often prioritised to support founders who already have a validated business model in play and who can demonstrate their commitment to the venture," says Liew.
Liew, also a trustee for startup hub Startup Queenstown-Lakes, says that support from an agency such as Callaghan Innovation was a game changer in terms of scaling up the entrepreneurial skills and understanding of New Zealand innovators.
"Like many others in the New Zealand startup ecosystem, we see a role for government in helping accelerate the development of our collective entrepreneurial capital," he says.
"But picking winners at the very early stage of business formation is hard so the best chance from an economic development viewpoint is to raise the overall entrepreneurial capability of our founders at the grassroots level."


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RadioShack Corp. shelves plan to close 1,100 stores
RadioShack Corp.'s plan to close 1,100 stores has been shelved, with the company saying Thursday that it could not come to an agreement with lenders about the closures.
Fort Worth-based RadioShack (NYSE: RSH) announced the plan earlier this year, but it required approval from lenders.
According to a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission, the struggling electronics retailer said it would continue to talk with lenders about the proposed closure program and that it will continue with plans to close fewer stores as part of its cost-cutting measures. It called the lenders' terms for the closure plan "unacceptable" in the filing.
RadioShack lost $400.2 million, or $3.97 per share, on $3.43 billion in sales during fiscal 2013 compared to a loss of $139.4 million on $3.83 billion in sales in the previous year.
In the fourth quarter of last year, RadioShack said it lost $191.4 million, or $1.9 per share, on $935.4 million in sales in its fourth quarter compared to a loss of $63.3 million on $1.17 billion in sales during the same quarter the previous year.
Lance Murray edits and writes for the DBJ's website and can be reached at 214-706-7106. Subscribe to our email newsletters.
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Internet shoppers handed $608 million to retailers on the Monday following the Thanksgiving weekend, a 26% increase over the same day last year, comScore Networks said Wednesday. It was the first time single-day online sales broke $600 million.
"While it was certainly an historic achievement, the online holiday shopping season is just beginning to kick into high gear," comScore Chairman Gian Fulgoni said in a statement.
Indeed, Cyber Monday is unlikely to be the biggest online shopping day of the year, but it does mark the first major spike in online holiday spending. Market analysts expect online sales to peak closer to mid-December.
New online shopping record on Cyber Monday
Posted on Monday, Dec 04 2006 @ 12:08 CET by Thomas De Maesschalck
A market research firm says consumers spend more than $608 million online on Cyber Monday:


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Constellation Moves Into Marijuana With $191M Stake In Canada’s Canopy GrowthOctober 30, 2017
Constellation became the first major drinks marketer to make a play in the cannabis category over the weekend, agreeing to take a 9.9% stake in Canada-based cannabis company Canopy Growth Corp. for about $191 million. Constellation cautioned that it “has no plans to sell any cannabis products in the U.S. or any other market unless or until it is legally permissible to do so at all government levels.” Eight U.S. states and the District of Columbia have legalized cannabis for recreational use and nearly 30 have sanctioned it for medicinal purposes, but the substance remains illegal at the federal level, and the current administration is showing little appetite for removing those regulations.
Still, Constellation sees opportunity for the future of the category, telling the Wall Street Journal, “We’re obviously trying to get first-mover advantage.” Euromonitor projects the legal marijuana market to hit $10.2 billion in the U.S. next year, with the Canadian market estimated to reach $7.5 billion.
While Constellation told the Journal it doesn’t plan to lobby the U.S. government on the issue, the movement to decriminalize cannabis has gained strength in recent years, with about 60% of Americans favoring legalization. In the meantime, Constellation said it would work with Canopy to develop non-alcoholic cannabis drinks for the Canadian market, where the substance is expected to be legalized by 2019, as well as in other countries.
Canopy Growth Corp., which is traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange and has a market cap of about $1.7 billion, is the largest publicly traded cannabis company worldwide. Constellation has an option to roughly double its stake in the business looking ahead. The initial transaction is slated to close before the end of November. —Daniel MarstellerSubscribe to Shanken News Daily’s Email Newsletter, delivered to your inbox each morning. You will also receive the Cannabis edition as part of your subscription.