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Frazetta's rises from the grave
After several bad Halloweens, the creepy costume shop has a scary-good year
Halloween in the Poconos has taken a hit in past years. In 2011, an early snowstorm blanketed the Northeast. The year after, Gov. Tom Corbett declared a state of emergency in the days leading up to Superstorm Sandy. And last year, the manhunt for accused state police killer Eric Frein lasted until his capture on Oct. 30.
The public fear and caution surrounding the Frein manhunt created a disaster for Bill Frazetta’s East Stroudsburg store, Frazetta’s Costumes, in its busiest days of the year.
“Nobody was coming to see me outside of the area,” Frazetta said. “I was getting a lot of emails of interested customers asking if it was OK to visit.”
The only October he saw less business in the Halloween season was in 2001, following the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11.
But 2015 broke his business out of its five-year slump, Frazetta said, and the 34-year-old store is showing a 30 percent increase in sales from last year headed into Halloween night.
“This year’s been really good,” Frazetta said. “The weather’s been cooperating, and it falls on a Saturday.”
Aside from good weather and safer conditions, Frazetta said he’s benefitting from a boom in children costume sales. The store, located on the second floor of Frazetta’s property on Courtland Street, is adorned with large-scale figures designed to scare passers-by on the walk up to its entrance.
"I have a children's window display downstairs, so they see that, but I've been shocked at the amount of kids coming up here,” Frazetta said. "It’s hard, because of the scary stuff when you’re walking in.”
Dressed to kill
The store is within walking distance of the East Stroudsburg University campus, and Frazetta said a majority of student customers visit in the days leading up to Halloween night in hopes of “piecing together” last-minute costumes. Others, however, come in willing to spend serious cash.
“You get serious people who are maybe hosting a party and they want to look real good,” Frazetta said. "There’s people entering (costume) contests in the city with a big prize, so they don’t mind spending $200 to $300. Some people are just totally into it and just want to look good. They want to look just like their character.”
Part of Frazetta’s sell is the store’s commitment to quality. He often visits trade shows and conventions in search of new products, asking vendors to demonstrate accessories such as makeup or hairspray before he makes an offer. He also takes pride in finding products that are comfortable, promoting a new line of animal masks that are easier to breathe in, and a line of “zombie suits” made from actual suit material. It’s what he believes contrasts his store from chain costume suppliers.
“They're just in it for the quick buck, and out they go,” Frazetta said. "I want to give my customers what I like, because I’ve been enjoying this since I was a kid. I have such a passion for it.”
That passion stems from his upbringing. Frazetta, raised in Brooklyn, was influenced by the aesthetic minds of his mother, an interior decorator, and his father, Frank, a famous fantasy artist. The store — which sells items featuring his father’s most notable artwork near the counter — is designed as if it’s always ready to host a Halloween party.
“When you go to the other stores, they look like warehouses,” Frazetta said. "I put a lot of time throughout the whole year making this an attraction. They come here and we entertain them.”
Not dead yet
Frazetta was planning an early retirement after the past few years of struggle, but his positive sales this year have inspired him to plan long-term. He said he hopes to add a cafe or additional store in the downstairs property that would tie in with the costume store, making the entire lot more of an attraction than a business.
Regardless of future expansion plans, Frazetta relies on a consistent slew of loyal local customers and a high demand for classic costumes. Aside from a boom in Stars Wars costumes due to the series’ seventh film premiering this December, Franzetta said his best sellers are his staples.
"Zombies have always been big, killer clowns have been huge,” Franzetta said. "We always do well with your popular characters — Leatherface, Freddy Kruger, Michael Myers, they’re always big. And vampires — we can’t keep enough fangs in stock.”
But the store’s biggest time always comes on Halloween day for last-minute buys. Frazetta expects to keep the store open until at least the early evening, try to convince some employees to stay later for trick-or-treaters, then begin planning for the store’s offseason next week.
The Christmas season sees business for Frazetta’s Halloween-based collectibles, ornaments and furnishing items. After January, it’ll be open on fluctuating hours until July — giving Franzetta time to figure out what to do with the downstairs and how to keep thriving against larger chains.
“It’s a shame because the mom-and-pop shops have the quality items,” Frazetta said, "but I like the competition."


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CHARLESTON — West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey alerted consumers to a text messaging scam that seeks to take advantage of efforts to identify and isolate those who have potentially been exposed to COVID-19.
The scam involves unsolicited text messages from a supposed . . .
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US travel ban won’t hurt Bohol tourism – provincial exec
TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol- The travel ban issued by the United States government against the Philippines is not expected to make a dent in Bohol’s tourism industry.
“We don’t have much American tourists here in Bohol so the travel ban somehow does not affect us,” said Tootsie Escobia, provincial information officer.
He said most of the tourists coming to Bohol are locals and Asians.
The United States Embassy in Manila on Saturday warned Americans in the Philippines to be careful in traveling to Central Visayas, citing “unsubstantiated yet credible information” that terrorist groups might try to conduct kidnappings in the region, particularly in Cebu and Bohol provinces.
In Panglao, hotels and resorts were fully booked through the Holy Week, with reservations done as early as last January.
“There are no cancellations so far as of today, the guests are enjoying [their stay] here,” said Anthony Ceniza, supervisor of Dumaluan Beach Resort II in Barangay Bolod, Panglao town.
He said that during the Holy Week, their guests are comprised of 80 percent Europeans and 20 percent locals.
He said most of their guests were from Russia, Germany and France.
The Alona Tropical Beach Resort in Barangay Tawala was also fully-booked.
According to its operation manager, Rico Guigue, 60 percent of their guests were Filipinos while the rest were foreigners who made advance booking in February.
“It’s business as usual,” said Guigue.
Tour activities and bookings have remained unaffected amid the travel warning.
“There were no tour packages canceled by our guests. It is business as usual here,” said Lande Lawangon, a tour operator.
Bohol is one of the provincial hosts of the economic affairs meetings of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean). More than 200 delegates will be in the province on April 18-22 for the various meetings.
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Nissan has released an image of its upcoming, redesigned all-electric Leaf's instrument cluster showing ProPilot Assist technology, its new driver-assistance technology claimed to reduce "the hassle of stop-and-go highway driving".
ProPilot Assist supports drivers by helping control acceleration, braking and steering during single-lane driving on the highway.
"In the coming years, ProPilot technology will offer increasing levels of autonomy, with the system eventually able to navigate city intersections. Set to help make driving more secure and more enjoyable, ProPilot Assist is part of Nissan Intelligent Mobility, the company's blueprint for transforming how cars are driven, powered and integrated into society," the automaker said.
ProPilot is due in Europe in spring 2018 and will also be available on the Qashqai and X-Trail, Nissan GB said at the recent launch of facelifted versions of the two models. Pro Pilot, already available in Japan, combines lane keep assist, intelligent (ie radar assisted) cruise control and traffic jam assist and means your Qashqai will steer, accelerate and brake itself in traffic queues. The delay in introduction for Europe is so it can be properly "validated" for the wide variety of LHD/RHD, powertrain and road conditions Nissan vehicles encounter across Europe.


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The 6-year-old once dubbed the most beautiful girl in the world is all grown up and hitting the catwalk.
Now 16, model Thylane Blondeau hit the runway at the Dolce & Gabbana fashion show during Milan Fashion Week.
A decade ago, the 6-year-old child model gained international fame when she was described as the 'most beautiful girl in the world'. Having begun modeling at 4 years old, she was instantly famous.
Thylane even starred in a controversial editorial spread in Vogue Paris which caused the French government to pass a law banning anyone under the age of 16 to compete in beauty pageants to stop children being sexualised.
More than ten years later Thylane is still modeling. She's currently represented by WME-IMG and is a brand ambassador for L'Oréal.
Of her age, she told Teen Vogue: "Well, Kate Moss started modeling at the age of 15, and that was a little while ago. So no. I'm not too young". "If you have a good agency and people who take care of you…it's perfect."
In Milan this past weekend, the France native stepped out sporting one of D&G's Queen of Hearts-inspired gown, complete with a red rose crown. She walked alongside Haley Baldwin.


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Notebook shipments worldwide for 2016 are projected around 156 million units, down 5.1% from 2015, according to the latest report from the global market research firm TrendForce. Chromebook shipments, however, has been expanding against the general trend of decline and are projected to achieve an impressive annual growth of 30~40%, totaling over 10 million units.
“Price has been a major factor behind the stronger-than-expected growth of Chromebook shipments this year,” said TrendForce notebook analyst Anita Wang. “The notebook market remained in a slump through the first half of 2016. Struggling sales of higher-end models compelled branded notebook vendors to promote the lower-priced Chromebook products to gain market shares during the period. Another important factor is Microsoft’s attempt to raise license fees for Windows. This encouraged notebook vendors to shift some their sales focus to Chromebooks, which feature a royalty-free operating system.”
Wang also pointed out that the Chromebook market has attracted a much larger group of device vendors beyond the major players in the traditional PC industry. “As Chromebooks gain tractions with consumers, even appliance makers such as China’s Haier and Hisense are entering the market,” noted Wang. “New entrants with their versions of Chromebook products further contribute to the overall shipment increase.”
U.S.-based Dell and HP are expected to come in first and second place in the global Chromebook shipment ranking for 2016 with their estimated market shares at 27% and 22%, respectively. Since the U.S. is the main market for Chromebooks, Dell and HP are in a commanding position.
Lenovo has dramatically expanded its Chromebook shipments by launching numerous new Chromebook models and adding new sales channels for them in the consumer market. The Chinese vendor will take third place in this year’s Chromebook shipment ranking with a whopping annual growth rate of 159%. Lenovo’s Chromebook market share worldwide is also projected around 18%.
After topping the Chromebook shipment ranking in 2014, Acer ceded a substantial portion of the market to the more aggressive Dell and fell to second place in the ranking in 2015. The Taiwanese vendors is expected to drop further to fourth place in 2016 with a remaining worldwide market share of just 14%.
“Besides having a remarkable shipment record this year, Chromebook is anticipated to capture a part of the education market in the near future as Google integrates Chrome OS with Android apps,” Wang added. “However, there is still the challenge of transitioning the Chromebook hardware from the traditional notebook design to the 2-in-1 form factor that features a touchscreen for Android apps. Developing the ideal Chromebook while keeping costs down will take some time.”
Global market research firm TrendForce will be holding IT Industry Forecast for 2017 at National Taiwan University Hospital (NTUH) International Convention Center in Taipei on November 10, 2016. For details on the conference’s agenda and registration please visit http://seminar.trendforce.com/TRI/AnnualForecast2016/TW/english/ or contact us via telephone or email for more information.


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What started as a crowdfunded project on Kickstarter now enters the mainstream retail arena. It was rumored yesterday that Best Buy will start selling the Pebble smartwatch soon, the rumor turns out to be true as this was officially confirmed today. Starting July 7, that’s this Sunday, Pebble will be available via Best Buy retail stores as well its online store. The smartwatch will only be available in black color, its retail packaging is pictured above.
If black isn’t your favorite color, you can wait until August to pick up Pebble in cherry red from Best Buy. Its also available in orange, gray and white colors, but they won’t be available in the retail channel. Those of you who are interested in these colors can order them via Pebble’s website. The market for such watches is slowly but surely taking off. Just a couple of weeks ago Sony announced its latest Smartwatch, and there’s another Kickstarter backed project that aims to give Pebble a run for its money. Smartwatches entering mainstream retail does indicate that this market has potential. Pebble costs $149.99.RELATED
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- Follow: best buy, pebble,


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Taiwan Mobile Internet Users Reached 9.87 Million In H1 2014
During the first half of 2014, the number of adults using the mobile Internet in Taiwan reached 9.87 million.
The Taiwan Network Information Center published a report on the broadband network usage in Taiwan in 2014, which said that over the past three years, Taiwan's Internet growth rate maintained a rate of over 70% and it also reached 77.6% in 2014. Meanwhile, the development of mobile devices has promoted the rise of the mobile Internet.
TWNIC also said that during the past six months, the number of users above 12 years old who used Wi-Fi and mobile Internet increased from 11.07 million in the same period of last year to 12.6 million, an increase of 7.04%. The number of users above 12 who used the mobile Internet increased by over 6% year-on-year to about 9.87 million, accounting for 47.2% of total Internet users.
TWNIC revealed that in regards to the major Internet surfing methods of interviewees, 34.4% mainly use ADSL and 23.2% mainly use the mobile Internet.


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A fabric manufacturer that has supplied prints to the likes of Queen Elizabeth II, Queen Victoria and Winston Churchill has received a financial boost.
Lakeland Fabrics, which does business as Stead McAlpin, has secured a new bank facility from Barclays.
The fabric manufacturer has been based at the same site in Cummersdale near Carlisle since 1835.
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With a new, increased bank facility, the company will now be able to focus on growing its UK and international sales, producing and developing for high-end interior design companies.
Managing Director Benjamin Soper said: “It was the most seamless transition we have ever made.
“We are absolutely delighted to partner with Barclays to accelerate our growth plans and have been very impressed with their desire to understand our business and build a strong partnership approach.”
The Barclays deal team was led by relationship manager Elaine Gray and Keith Thornton, head of business development, commerce and working capital.
Elaine Gray added: “Barclays is committed to supporting small and medium sized businesses which together make a significant contribution to the UK economy.
“Stead McAlpin is a company with a rich history and vast potential. With a strong reputation for high quality products and an exciting pipeline of opportunities for the future, we are excited to support the company in the next stage of his growth journey.
Keith Thornton said: “I have worked closely with the directors to fully understand their needs and structure the facility in a way that will allow the company to achieve significant cost savings over its previous funder, while at the same time giving it the headroom it needs to facilitate its growth ambitions.”


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New Listing Announcement
As of August 23rd, 2021, the Fruits Team is pleased and excited to announce that Fruits ($FRTS) is now officially listed and live on XT.COM!
We have provided the links below, so be sure to check it out and grab some Fruits coins before our take off!
Founded in 2018, XT.COM claims to be the World’s First social infused exchange. As the leading crypto-trading exchange infused with social trading capabilities, they also claim to be the World’s First interest-free leverage digital currency trading service provider. Serving over 1 million global users all over the World, XT.COM has offices and support centers Worldwide, and they support numerous legal currencies (including AUD, GBP, USD, etc).
As of August 23rd, 2021, XT.COM is ranked at the following:
XT.COM URL: https://www.xt.com/


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Albert Zwart was named Managing Director of Staples Benelux in November 2023, shortly after the company was acquired by Dutch ink and toner reseller 123inkt.
In addition to his role at Staples, Zwart is Managing Director of 123ink’s managed print services unit 123zakelijk. This subsidiary is now based at the Staples office and distribution centre in Almere.
123inkt bought Staples Benelux for around €2 million ($2.2 million). This followed Staples Netherlands being declared bankrupt in October 2023 – just two years after it was acquired by private equity firm Standard Investment.
For more details on Staples Benelux, click on the following links:
2022: In the summer of 2021, Staples Benelux was the last entity to be sold off as part of the Staples Solutions divestment programme when it was acquired by Standard Investment. By then, George Steur had already been in place as Managing Director for more than a year, having joined the wholesaler from books retailer Bruna.
Company initiatives implemented by Steur have included enhancing digital solutions, an online WorkMonitor tool to help customers better understand the needs of hybrid and remote employees, and developing a 3PL logistics solution.


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Separating stores and online operations
Separating stores and online operations
In the past few months, several major US retailers have started conversations about separating their store business from their e-commerce activities. This has generated considerable discussion within retail circles.
HBC, the owners of Saks Fifth Avenue, announced in March this year that they would separate their online business from their portfolio of 40 stores. The HBC CEO, Richard Baker, stated that an IPO of the ecommerce business, called ‘Saks’ makes great sense.
Hot on the heels of this announcement is news that Macy’s has been advised to separate the two retail channels by investment firm Jana Partners. They believe the ecommerce arm of Macy’s could be worth up to $14bn, "Macy's could see an increase in its stock price by 100% if it followed the playbook of Saks," Jana Partners portfolio manager Scott Ostfeld said.
This presents a fascinating junction for established brick and mortar retailers, as they see their online business growing rapidly. Investment businesses and financial experts see an opportunity to separate operations to make short term financial gains.
The increasing concerns of retail experts, is the potential danger it presents to the seamless shopping experience that most retailers are striving to deliver to customers.
In recent years, we have seen the maturing of digital offers, as websites, social media and apps become established as well as integrating with the physical store.
Shoppers are more aware of the options available to them, provided by brands. We are now seeing customers stand in the store using their phones to complete purchases.
This begs the question, what does this mean for retailers looking to cash in and separate stores from their digital business? Macy’s CEO Jeff Gennette has stated:
“Our commitment to delivering a dynamic seamless omnichannel experience across the customer shopping journey has never been stronger.”
This is an obvious thing to say, to reassure investors, and more importantly, customers. But how will this be achieved, when separate operations will have their own budgets, activities and agendas?
As seen in many cases, retailers are struggling to create this seamless and merged retail experience. A retailer should have a unified tone of voice with the same products, prices, promotions, delivery and message, across all channels. This is easy to write and say, but is a massive logistical challenge particularly when traditional businesses have siloed departments with separate agendas, targets and responsibilities.
We are, however, seeing retailers successfully merge different channels for the benefit of their customers. One example is Fast Shop in Brazil. This consumer electronics store offers physical product demonstrations after which shoppers can order in store and have Uber deliver the order to their home within two hours. This is a great example of how stores can be leveraged for online sales, where both channels combine for the benefit of the customer.
Image Nelson Kon
Uniting several departments for the benefit of shoppers is the type of customer-centric shopping experiences retailers should strive to develop. How will a retailer ensure this happens when the departments involved are further separated? Can we expect companies like Saks and Macy’s to improve their customer experiences and efforts to engage when parts of their business are owned and operated separately?
One of the challenges businesses face is the cost of ensuring that e-commerce ventures thrive, without the direct support of physical store presence.
Global Data managing director Neil Saunders, said that the separation of the businesses would be ill-advised. "An online only Macy’s would need to work incredibly hard to differentiate itself against Amazon and many other players. And if it were not able to rely so much on stores for visibility and customer connection it would need to spend an enormous amount on customer acquisition and retention."
In the UK, the department store Debenhams closed. In January 2021, online fashion retailer Boohoo purchased the brand and it’s website, but closed all 52 stores. At the time, the Debenhams website was ranked in the top 10 retail websites in the UK.
Image Telegraph UK
This creates a contrasting situation... How much does a department store brand rely on the physical stores for its brand image, customer awareness, and sales? While the digital business is growing fast and hasn’t yet found it’s natural position within the retail space, it may still benefit from the support of physical stores that established the brand’s identity in the first place.
Only time will tell, as we watch with interest to see how Macy’s, Saks and Debenhams develop their business, with the separation or closure of different channels.
Header Image PRNEWSWIRE
About Ian Scott
With over 20 years of experience within the Retail and POP sectors, Ian can provide a fresh perspective, always with the viewpoint of your shopper and customer in mind. By combining a global understanding of retail, combined with developing innovation and measurement of ROI, he can help you gain clarity on your retail strategy and help deliver actionable and measurable solutions.
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The 2022 Beijing Motor Show could be postponed due to the rising number of Covid-19 cases in China, Reuters reported.
Event host Auto China has yet to publicly confirm the decision, but reports in China indicate talks to reschedule the event are underway and it could be pushed back to June.
It is currently scheduled to be held from April 21-30.
It was also rescheduled in 2020 due to the pandemic, being moved from April to September.
The Beijing Motor Show is a major automotive event, held every two years, which attracts some of the biggest players in the industry, such as Mercedes-Benz, Toyota, Volkswagen and Geely.
Cars set to be unveiled include the next-generation BMW 7 Series, its BMW i7 electric brother and the Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV.
Volkswagen was also expected to launch the production version of the ID Vizzion concept, which will be based on its MEB platform and sold with a choice of rear or four-wheel drive powertrains. The model is currently in development under the code name Aero-B.
Meanwhile, Audi was to present its third Sphere concept. The German firm described them as “breathtaking concept cars that will reinvent mobility as we see it today”.
Cars exhibited at the last The Beijing Motor Show featured the Aston Martin Vantage GT3, Maserati MC20, Mercedes-Benz EQA, Nissan Ariya, Rimac C_Two and Volkswagen ID 4.
China is the largest automotive market in the world. More than 26.28 million new cars were sold in the country last year, according to the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM).
More about this article: Read More
This notice was published: 2022-03-25 12:19:16


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- October 4, 2007
- 9 Comments
In the first post of this series, I asked for your help in laying the press release to rest – as it exists today. Unfortunately, today’s release has evolved into a collection of posturing, hyperbole, and canned quotes that have very little impact on the ability to generate significant news coverage.
One of the most important takeaways of the last article was that a significant percentage of customers are reading press releases directly through search engines as well as Google and Yahoo news.


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Investment management firm Vanguard has partnered with American Express on a new Vanguard financial advice service which will reportedly cut costs and complexity, a press release says.
The service, INVEST for Amex by Vanguard, will be for American Express members who are eligible and will come with digital financial planning and investment management expertise.
It will pair with American Express’ differentiated rewards and provide access to Vanguard advisors.
The service will add ways for customers to get “better financial outcomes.”
The release notes that INVEST will include a digital experience paired with the guidance of a Vanguard financial advisor, personalized, goals-based finance plans and eligibility to earn rewards.
“Advice is a powerful accelerant for investment success, providing coaching and guidance to help investors avoid financial pitfalls, build wealth, and fulfill their long-term goals,” said Tim Buckley, Vanguard chairman and CEO. “As Vanguard seeks to make our advice more accessible, we are excited to team up with the distinguished brand of American Express to deliver on our mission to give investors the best chance for investment success.”
Meanwhile, Amex CEO and chair Stephen J. Squeri said the collaboration would help “deliver access to a transparent and trusted service to help our Card Members reach their financial goals.”
“American Express continually innovates to provide differentiated value and services to our customers, and INVEST extends our reach beyond their everyday needs helping them plan for the future,” he said.
In related news, a PYMNTS report says the IRS is looking into whether or not American Express sales staff were guilty of giving faulty tax guidance to potential customers, with the eye towards selling them payment card-related services.
Read more: Report: IRS Investigates Amex Pitches to Businesses
The pitch involved business operators deducting card-processing fees from business income for tax purposes. Then they’d transfer the rewards triggered from the fees to AmEx cards they controlled – without paying taxes, reportedly.


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As Wander is closing in on a release date later this month, the developers revealed the physical and special editions of the game on Tuesday.
Publishers Annapurna Interactive and iam8bitin distribution partnership with Skybound Games, has opened pre-orders for the cyberpunk cat game and revealed the physical editions in a new trailer.
Wander releases digitally on July 19 on PC and PlayStation consoles. The physical editions will be released on September 20.
Players who pick up the physical standard edition will receive 6 color art cards.
The im8bit exclusive edition will include a matte black game case, poster, art cards, and “fuzzy petable chenille patch.” The Exclusive Edition will retail for $44.99 and iam8bit said it will ship sometime in Q4 2022.
There will also be a 2XLP vinyl soundtrack available by composer Yann Van Der Cruyssen.
“The 2xLP on 180g audiophile black vinyl features futuristic packaging showcasing Fernando Correa’s atmospheric album art, complete with a sleek slipcase highlighted by foil embellishments,” the company said in a statement. hurry.
The soundtrack will retail for $41.99 and will come with a digital download. It will ship early next year.


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Kinetica, a startup that builds databases that harness fast graphical processing chips to perform everyday business applications, now has $50 million in new funding.
The San Francisco company is banking that increasing numbers of mainstream computing jobs will run on Nvidia (NVDA) graphical processing units (GPUs), which until recently were used primarily for video games and animation. Most business data-crunching jobs have thus far relied on more general-purpose Central Processing Units (CPUs), typically Intel (INTC) X86 chips.
“GPUs normally had been all about video gaming and shading pixels on TVs and monitors,” Amit Vij, co-founder and CEO of Kinetica told Fortune. That started to change when Nvidia, the leading provider of GPUs, released its Cuda language, which made the processing power of these chips more broadly applicable, he added.
Now a handful of startups including Kinetica, Sqream, and MapD are building databases that use GPUs to parse all sorts of data, including the sort of information normally processed by traditional relational databases from Oracle (ORCL) and Microsoft (MSFT), but also messy, free-form data thrown off by sensors in the field and social media streams.
Related: This Startup is Taking Nvidia Chips Mainstream
Jonathan DeMent, program director for IBM Power Systems & OpenPower Innovation group is a fan. Some large IBM (IBM) customers are using IBM Power servers, which pair that company’s Power processor with an Nvidia GPU, for large complex supply chain tasks.
One unnamed retailer, for example, uses artificial intelligence (AI) software and Kinetica running on Power servers to take in data from trucks, the packages inside the trucks, weather information, and personnel information to adjust deliveries based on real-time conditions.
Related: How Machine Learning Fueled Nvidia’s Stock Jump
“If it’s pouring rain in Atlanta and there are not enough umbrellas in the stores, there’s a disruption. The goal is to have a real-time view of all that’s happening,” DeMent said, adding that the system can be queried quickly and process changes fast to meet changing demands.
Kinetica grew out of work that Vij and his Kinetica co-founder Nima Negahban did at the United States Army Intelligence and Security Command and the National Security Agency creating a system to track and capture terrorists in real-time. The company claims some large customers, including the U.S. Postal Service—perhaps the largest logistics company in the world—which has used Kinetica since 2014 in a system that optimizes routes and tracks packages.
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The $50 million in Series A funding was led by Canvas Ventures and Meritech Capital Partners, with contributions from new investor Citi Ventures and existing backer Ray Lane of GreatPoint Ventures. That brings total funding, including seed money from Lane, to $63 million. Paul Madera, partner at Meritech Capital Partners and Gary Little, partner at Canvas Ventures will join Lane, a former president of Oracle, on Kinetica’s board.


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TRA's Luke Procter, a self-proclaimed sneakerhead, thinks brands can learn
Equity crowdfunding – it’s big business and New Zealand appears to be very, very good at it. But is New Zealand the canary in
Just six months after putting its hand out in an equity crowdfunding campaign, PledgeMe is back at it again for round two. And this
Idealog takes a look at the heroes and the also-rans of this week's global crowdfunding milieu.
Who doesn’t want to see what the celebrities of New Zealand have for dinner? I, for one, am highly intrigued as to what Hilary
Powerhouse Wind is going the equity crowdfunding route to raise the funds necessary to take their single bladed wind turbine – the ThinAir 102
The Pebble is back! One of the first smart wearable manufacturers on the market, Pebble Technology Corporation has just finished its latest campaign on
Will the crowd come to Chariot’s call for capital to disrupt the way we travel?
Indy Griffiths has given himself a month to raise between $50,000 and $150,000 for his company Parent Interview’s crowdfund campaign.
Breathe Easy has launched on Snowball Effect after raising funds through VC and angel investors.
UPDATE: SellShed have hit their funding target of $250,000 in just four weeks via equity crowdfunding platform PledgeMe.
Spark My Potential is going well 6 months into its launch. General manager of Spark Foundation Lynne Le Gros talks about how the
Even though equity crowdfunding has only started in New Zealand within the last month or so it has been taking place in countries such as
The Financial Markets Authority (FMA) has given the first service license to peer to peer lender Harmoney.Legislation introduced earlier this year means companies can
Kiwi crowdfunding platform PledgeMe is rallying a new crowd - one with the skills to get behind its fundraising clientele.About 20 have so far
The first signs of mum-and-dad investors taking a hit from the failure of equity crowdfunded companies will kill the industry. That's why the 10
Today in crowdfunding news: Cabinet has approved regulations for crowdfunding and peer-to-peer lending, and a new platform, Fundakiwi.com, is launching with a special competition
For startups that got their start on a rewards-based platform, equity crowdfunding may be the logical – and ethical – next step.
Peter Thomson of Seedrs, an expat Kiwi, talks equity crowdfunding, entrepreneurship and innovation with Idealog
Multitude aims to be a one-stop shop for crowdfunding advice and resources


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cmhindependent.blogspot.com wrote MAIN IS ALL ABLOOM Tuesday, October 30, 2007 Flowers on Orchard Lane is preparing to open its new digs at 139 E. Main St. on Nov. 9. Among the plans: a drive-up window on Lazelle for call-ahead orders. After ten years in a small shop in Clintonville, Reese is moving her shop to […]
Business First of Columbus wrote High on Hilltop’s consumer power Friday, October 26, 2007 Retail consultant Chris Boring’s eyes were opened wide when he looked at some of the numbers emerging from a market analysis he’s conducting of the Hilltop-West Broad Street corridor in Columbus. The study reveals surprisingly powerful consumer clout in an area […]
Business First of Columbus wrote Target to anchor Kingsdale revamp Monday, October 29, 2007 – 5:24 PM EDT A redevelopment plan for Upper Arlington’s ailing Kingsdale Shopping Center includes a new Target Corp. store. Regency Centers LP, the 252,000-square-foot mall’s Jacksonville, Fla.-based owner, presented a plan to the Upper Arlington Board of Zoning and Planning […]
According to the cmhindependent blog, The Emporer’s Newest Clothes announced (via window poster) that they will be opening at 636 N. High Street (formerly Wells Landing) during the November 3rd Gallery Hop next weekend. Does anyone know if this means they’ll be closing their Grandview location and moving, or opening this High Street store as […]
The Columbus Dispatch wrote Sneaker freaks can spend big bucks on their passion Thursday, October 25, 2007 By Kevin Joy The collectors are known as “sneakerheads” — an obscure group that fixates on fashion-forward footwear. “It’s an obsession,” said Kris Schuster, a North Side sushi chef who figures he spends $200 to $500 a month […]
Grocery stores are probably one of the top items on everyone’s list for amenities missing from Downtown Columbus. Very soon there may be a fix for that problem right in the center of the city. Rumor has it that an upscale grocery/marketplace concept will be arriving soon at the intersection of Gay Street and Pearl […]
Yesterday, the cmhindependent blog posted a photo of the window display at 1203 N. High St. (near the corner of High and Fifth) which reveals a place coming soon called “Milk Bar”. Has anyone heard anything about this place? Anyone know what it’s going to actually be?


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After finding success in the meal delivery business amid the pandemic, Chefs Dominic Belli and Jon Disser will be hosting a grand opening for Neighborhood Cuisine & Provisions this month.
Neighborhood Cuisine & Provisions, which offered prepared family meals and delivery to households in and around the Marietta community, will be holding a ribbon-cutting ceremony for its first brick-and-mortar in Marrieta Square on April 16.
“After the pandemic hit the restaurant industry, and us personally, we decided to go on our own and create a brand and product that would service the community and provide chef-driven, quality food to families that they could enjoy at home,” Belli said in the press release. “We quickly found that there was a demand for this segment and wanted to make it as convenient as possible for our guests to pick up meals, outside of our delivery schedule.”
Neighborhood Cuisine & Provisions, located at 34 Powder Spring St., Marietta, GA 30064, will be open from Tuesdays to Saturdays from 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. and will feature a cafe menu lunch and oven-ready meals. Dine-in, pick-up, and delivery options will be available.
Signature oven-ready meals include rosemary and garlic pork chops, chicken enchiladas, and jambalaya. Their new café lunch menu will include unique chef-crafted sandwiches such as blackened salmon, mojo pork, and a selection of vegetarian options such as spicy carrot hummus and veggies.
“We are very involved in the Marietta community and are excited to bring this concept to life. I was born and raised in Marietta and believe that our concept will provide a unique niche to the growing local food scene,” Disser added.


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Apple’s HomePod mini smart speaker boasts a hidden sensor, currently left dormant, that can be used to measure temperature and humidity. The sensor could be someday enabled via a future software update.
Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman’s reports:
The company has internally discussed using the sensor to determine a room’s temperature and humidity so internet-connected thermostats can adjust different parts of a home based on current conditions, according to people familiar with the situation. The hardware could also let the HomePod mini automatically trigger other actions, say turning a fan on or off, depending on the temperature.
Apple typically releases major HomePod software updates annually in the fall. It’s unclear if or when Apple will switch on the temperature sensor, but its presence in HomePod mini units that have already sold suggests that this is just a matter of time. An Apple spokeswoman declined to comment.
The component measures 1.5 x 1.5mm and is hidden away in the bottom edge of the HomePod mini’s plastic case, near the power cable. iFixit has confirmed the sensor’s existence, following an inquiry by Bloomberg.
The sensor is manufactured by Texas Instruments, which calls it a “HDC2010 Humidity and Temperature Digital Sensor,” according to TechInsights, a firm that analyses components inside of electronics.
The component’s location in the device indicates it is designed to measure the external environment, rather than being an internal diagnostic role.
Although simply because a component exists, it doesn’t mean that it is guaranteed that Apple will enable it down the line. However, Apple has in the past done so. A noted in the Bloomberg article,. the 2008 iPod touch had a Bluetooth chip, which was enabled the following year via a software update.
By enabling the HomePod mini sensor, Apple could pave the way for using the mini and HomeKit to offer features to those already offered by Amazon’s latest Echo speakers.
(Image via Fixit)


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David Crowther’s Colour Graphic Services has been unable to visit printers or conduct colour training during most of 2020 but is raring to step-up again in 2021.
Mutoh's donating of $500 to the Fred Hollows Foundation, for every XpertJet 461 and 661UF printer sold until Christmas, 2020, has featured in the charity's 'Spotlight' newsletter.
Manufacturer Durst will launch the P5 350 HS printer - the newest family member of its successful P5 technology platform for the large format printing market - at the Firework of Innovations virtual event on Thursday, December 3.
Summa announced a range of improvements to its F Series flatbed cutters, introducing a new size of flatbed cutter, an enhanced safety system and GoProduce software.
Screen, manufacturer of the Truepress Jet series of digital presses, and colour experts CGS Oris, have developed new technology designed to save time, improve print quality and meet a growing need for independent colour management solutions.
The new Epson SureColor T-Series models feature wireless connectivity and are multi-function printers with integrated scanners. Designated the SureColor T3160M and SureColor T5160M they include an integrated scanner for accurately scanning blueprints and drawings, making large copies and sharing high-quality technical documents.
On 24th November, Justice Colvin issued orders appertaining to the the suit brought by Fuji Xerox Australia against former directors Neil Whittaker and Devlin Bell plus auditors EY (Ernst & Young) and former partner EA Lang.
Kornit Digital has appointed CFO Guy Avidan as president of its new business unit focused on accelerating the digital transformation of the textile industry to sustainable on-demand production.
Industry association Visual Connections - the body behind Australia's great trade shows such as PrintEx, PacPrint and Visual Impact - has announced a new Board with three newly-appointed members. With the next event being PacPrint, Melbourne in September 2021, next year is shaping up to be a watershed of post-Covid activity and the depth of experience of this Board looks more than up to the challenges.
Losses to online shopping scams increased 42% this year and Scamwatch is warning Australians to be careful when buying gifts this holiday season. $7m has been lost in online shopping scams in 2020, with losses on classified websites such as Facebook Marketplace and Gumtree increasing by 60% to $4.5 million.
Melbourne events signage company Signex Group and its wide format print business Prologica Digital Print have entered voluntary administration and called a first meeting of creditors for next week. Signex co-owner Doug Pieper is looking to restructure the business and hopes to be out of the administration process before Christmas.
“The response to the second drupa preview proved once again that this new digital format is an essential tool for staying in regular contact with the global community,” said Sabine Geldermann, project director print technologie at Messe Düsseldorf. Attendees at the second drupa preview increased by almost 50%. 1,383 exhibitors from 49 countries recorded about 15,500 page impressions.
Keypoint Intelligence, the independent evaluator of document imaging software, hardware, and services, has announced its Buyers Lab (BLI) 2021 Pick and Outstanding Achievement Awards in the Document Imaging Software category.
South Australia came out of its hard lockdown three days early on Saturday night after it was revealed that one of the positive cases at the centre of the Woodville Pizza Bar coronavirus hotspot had misled contact tracers. From midnight Saturday, businesses reopened with restrictions.
The partnership gives Fujifilm customers access to Zund’s cutting technologies and provides ‘a comprehensive solution for packaging, marketing materials and signage'
Avery Dennison Graphics Solutions has introduced three new paint protection films (PPF) in its Supreme PPF series that protect vehicle surfaces from stone chips, road debris, insect stains and weathering, and allow designers to create customised looks.
Almost a quarter (24 per cent) of Australian businesses reported an increase in their monthly revenue in November compared to 16 per cent in October, according to data released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).
The Agfa InterioJet 3300 is a water-based inkjet system for printing on decor paper used in interior decoration, enabling customised designs for laminate floors, furniture and more. The InterioJet is built on the same inkjet platform as Agfa’s Jeti Tauro LED UV press for sign & display applications.
Most of South Australia’s signage and print industry will be closed during the state’s six-day “circuit breaker” lockdown that began at midnight on Wednesday, according to the Australian Sign & Graphics Association (ASGA).
The long-running and complex legal saga that is Fuji Xerox and Fuji Xerox Finance vs former employees Neil Whittaker and Devlin Bell, plus accounting form EY and its former partner EA Lang; is entering the beginning of the end. A judgement has already been handed down on an interlocutory application by FXA to have part of Devlin Bell's defence struck out. It was denied.
A new national agreement to strengthen protections for small businesses from unfair contract terms will give courts the power to impose penalties for breaches. Last month, the ACCC began Federal Court action against print company Fuji Xerox Australia over alleged unfair contract terms.


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Amazon has finally launched its Android-based Appstore in the UK, some 18 months after its initial appearance in the US. What’s more interesting is the suggestion that this could be paving the way for a UK Amazon Kindle Fire launch on September 6.
The Amazon Appstore stands as a direct rival to the Google Play store – the official Android online app store.
It’s notable for offering a number of high profile app exclusives, including last year’s deal with PopCap, the developer of Plants vs Zombies and Peggle.
Another advantage of the Amazon Appstore over its main rival is its free app a day offer. As the title suggests, this makes a top app free to download each day.
Indeed, at the time of writing that game is PopCap’s aforementioned casual strategy gem, Plants vs Zombies.
The Amazon Appstore is available to download in the UK now. Just head on over to the Amazon Appstore web page and fill in your email address or mobile number. You’ll then be sent a link which, when followed on your Android device, will install the Amazon Appstore.
You’ll need to make sure that you’ve opted to allow third party applications in the settings menu, though.
Once you’ve done that, you can join us in pondering the significance of this launch. We’re less than a week from Amazon’s special press event, which will inevitably see a number of new Amazon Kindle devices unveiled.
The UK never got the original Amazon Kindle Fire tablet, but it’s long been rumoured that we could well get the follow-up. Considering that the original Kindle Fire fed off the Amazon Appstore in the US, it would seem that the ecosystem is now in place for a UK Amazon Kindle Fire launch.


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It hardly seems possible, but on May 31, 2007, Haas Automation installed its 75,000th CNC machine tool. When one considers that more than two-thirds of that number have been sold in the last 7 years, and that the company designs and builds its machines at a single plant in Southern California – employing just 1100 people – it’s even more incredible. And to think, less than 20 years ago, skeptics the world over doubted that any U.S. company could ever build machine tools economically again, let alone on such a scale.
Recipient of the milestone machine was German company MEPO Minoudis GmbH & Co. KG, a family-owned, second-tier automotive components supplier based in Korb, in the southwestern state of Baden-Württemberg. The company already had four Haas vertical machining centers. The new VF-3SS high-speed machine will, like the others, be set to work making parts for local companies Porsche, Bosch and Mercedes, plus a number of other prestigious domestic and overseas car builders.
At a special hand-over ceremony to mark the occasion, Haas Automation General Manager Mr. Bob Murray traveled from the company’s U.S. headquarters to meet the owners of MEPO, and personally thank them for their purchase.
“Installation of the 75,000th machine is a very special occasion for Haas Automation,” says Mr. Murray, “and we’re very pleased that it has been installed at MEPO, a successful and growing company with high standards and demanding customers. They are very typical of the sort of companies we work with around the world.”
Also present at the ceremony was Mr. Peter Hall, managing director of Haas Automation Europe, and the man responsible for leading the company’s meteoric growth on the European continent.
“It’s fitting that the 75,000th Haas CNC machine tool should be installed in Europe,” Mr. Hall says. “Although obviously not Haas’ home market, it’s an incredibly important one for the future prosperity of the company.
It took the vision, energy and engineering brilliance of a small group of individuals – with, let it be noted, no prior machine-building experience – led by a maverick machine-shop owner named Gene Haas, to change the face of precision engineering the world over. Never before has CNC metalcutting technology been so affordable, reliable and easy to use. Haas machines have become the tool of choice for anyone running a machine shop to make a profit.
Needless to say, a multitude of imitators follow in the company’s wake, but none can match the ingenuity of Haas, the western world’s largest producer of CNC machine tools by volume. Still growing, and with its sights set firmly on 15,000 machines a year and $1 billion in annual revenues, the company continues to introduce new products almost every month, expanding its already impressive range by applying the same tried-and-tested engineering logic to constantly improve productivity and reduce running costs.


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Apple wants its missing 'iPhone 4' back
Apple has asked tech site Gizmodo to send back the iPhone it was given, after it was found in a pub.
Apple has asked tech site Gizmodo to hand back what is presumably a prototype iPhone 4, after the device was found on the floor of a bar.
Gizmodo is only too happy to give back the device, saying that proves it's the real deal - an uncommon leak from secretive Apple.
The site bought the device after it was found on the floor of a pub in Palo Alto, California, near Apple's headquarters. It said it was made up of genuine Apple parts and in the case of an iPhone 3G, but also featured a camera on the front.
Apple has now formally asked for the device back, with the firm's general counsel Bruce Sewell writing in a letter: "Please let me know where to pick it up."
Editor Brian Lam said that the letter "proves - if there was any doubt in your mind - that this thing is real."
"Happy to have you pick this thing up. Was burning a hole in our pockets. Just so you know, we didn't know this was stolen when we bought it," Lam said. "Now that we definitely know it's not some knockoff, and it really is Apple's, I'm happy to see it returned to its rightful owner."
In his reply, Lam said asked the company not to be too harsh on the software engineer who reportedly lost the next generation iPhone. "I hope you take it easy on the kid who lost it. I don't think he loves anything more than Apple."
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Bengaluru: Wedding fashion in India has witnessed a remarkable transformation over the years. From traditional attire saturated in centuries-old customs to a fusion of contemporary styles and global influences, the Indian wedding fashion landscape has become a vibrant palette reflecting the changing tastes and aspirations of modern brides and grooms. This evolution has not only embraced innovation but also celebrated the rich heritage and cultural diversity of the country, resulting in a dynamic fashion narrative. While traditional attires, such as Banarasi and Kanjeevaram sarees and intricately embroidered lehengas still hold immense significance, contemporary influences have seeped in, introducing fusion ensembles and experimental designs in bold colours.
ReshaMandi – India’s largest B2B marketplace for textile and fashion, has released its trend forecast report for the festive season of Winter 2023 to 2024 in the women’s ethnic wear category. The report is based on extensive research involving over 150+ brands, designers, celebrities, and influencers. The trend forecast highlights bejewelled fantasy as the main theme dominating the season, with predicted defining trends centred around artsy florals, accompanied by 3D embellishments and delicate embroidery. These trends are set to shape the fashion choices of brides and grooms, reflecting their evolving preferences and desires.
According to the report the key trends for the season will also include
· Vibrant colours like Golden Rod, True Blue, Dark Purple, Fandango Pink, Mazarine Blue among others. Additionally, soft pastels like Shell Coral and Winsome Orchid are also seen as prevailing colour themes.
· Fabric manipulations through raised embroideries are set to be a prominent trend for the upcoming season. This trend embraces the use of various embellishments such as beads, kundan, crystals, zari, and pearls.
· The utilisation of brocade fabric in western ensembles such as blazers, jumpsuits, pants, etc., has observed a significant surge with many designers. Cutwork surfaces are set to make a significant impact in the upcoming festive season
· The report also highlights the emerging trend of “fringe and feathered edges,” where textured and layered elements in clothing create a captivating visual appeal.
· Mirror work and gota patti are also expected to be key trends for the season
· The revival of Chikankari, a delicate and intricately crafted hand embroidery technique with contemporary twist, which now embraces coloured and silk threads on cool, pastel shades of lightweight fabrics to align with current fashion trends
· The forecast also includes jewellery-inspired motifs as a significant trend. Jewellery embroidery on fabric using metallic threads, crystals, beads, sequins, and other materials creates intricate designs on fabric, giving it a three-dimensional appearance reminiscent of jewellery
· Fabrics like pure silk, organza and silk blends are essentials, while modal, tencel, chinon and velvet are also expected to play a key role.
Established in 2020 with a focus on silk, the company has since expanded to other natural fibres such as cotton, jute, linen and wool. It manages the entire natural fibre ecosystem while serving a wide range of stakeholders, including farmers, reelers, weavers, retailers, manufacturers, mills, corporations, exporters and end users. ReshaMandi also has a D2C e-commerce platform weaves.reshamandi.com, which caters to end consumers, bringing them exquisite sarees from different parts of India.


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Crypto payments startup Wyre is offering white-labeled savings accounts that dole out interest on crypto, the company announced Friday.
Wyre’s client list includes startups including crypto custody firm Casa, wallet provider BRD and traditional enterprises such as banks.
"Partners of Wyre are able to offer their users a crypto savings account by simply creating a new savings sub-wallet via the Wyre API," the company wrote.
The new product’s interest rates are meant to be more stable than interest rates at crypto lenders because Wyre will manage funds between MakerDAO, Compound and two centralized crypto lenders, said Jack Jia, Wyre’s vice president of business.
For the new product, Wyre is only working with crypto lenders that have lending licenses, SOC1 and SOC2 audits and work with licensed custodians.
“In the traditional markets we’re seeing a lot of instability and Treasury yields are down,” Jia said. “There are a lot more traditional financial institutions looking for yield.”
In the initial stages of the product’s development, Jia’s team had envisioned releasing the product as a smart contract but chose an application programming interface (API) instead to make it more accessible to businesses unfamiliar with crypto, he added.
Funds can be pulled out any time, and interest is accrued instantly and paid out weekly on the product, Jia said.
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EL PASO, Texas– Support for the Mija, Yes You Can® organization has erupted since its March 2020 launch as its mission to empower communities of women and girls gains traction throughout the state.
After just one year of running the Mija Project during an unprecedented pandemic, founder Iris Lopez alongside her creation team Shelby Montgomery, Crystal Saavedra and Susie Zambrano have multiplied their force with a string of committees now help run the organization with celebrations taking place the weekend of March 6 in conjunction with International Women’s Day.
“We launched just before COVID-19 slammed our community, triggering childcare and work-from-home struggles,” Lopez said. “Thankfully, the Mija Project was meant to provide some motivation and support to all women during this challenging time. In just one year we have seen that this simple yet powerful phrase has gone beyond uplifting women and united a community in sending the message that anything is possible, despite the challenges.”
In partnership with Kendra Scott, the Mijas will be in the house with their pop-up shop on Saturday from 2pm – 5pm. Mija gear will be available on a first-come-first-serve basis. Shoppers can also enjoy 15% off any Kendra Scott merchandise and proceeds of all purchases over the entire weekend will benefit the Mija Project! The Kendra Scott store is located at 6801 N. Mesa, Space A7.
On the far west side of town, the semi-permanent Mija, Yes You Can® pop-up at the Outlet Shoppes of El Paso will also be hosting an anniversary party on Saturday, March 6 during retail center hours. Customers can enjoy snacks, giveaways, challenges, a Mija photobooth and much more while supporting women around the world!
The Mija shop is located at:
7051 S Desert Blvd. in suite D498.
Mija supporters will also have a chance at entering a giveaway with prizes totaling to $500. Supporters who attend any of the two celebration events can enter their name in a drawing for prizes from local small businesses. Prizes range from gift certificates, to jewelry to handmade bath products. Follow us on social media for more information on how to enter these giveaways! @mijayesyoucan


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VinFast has just announced that it will join Israel in its journey to conquer the international market. However, in Israel, VinFast will not do direct business but cooperate with B-EV Motors as the official product distribution representative.
Specifically, B-EV will accept pre-orders for VF 8 and VF 9 models in Israel in the fourth quarter of 2022. It is not clear whether VinFast electric cars sold in Israel have the same battery rental policy as in the US or some other European market or not. The price of the car has not been disclosed yet.
Why Israel and not another market?
According to VinFast, the reason it chose this market is that Israel has a strong motivation in electrifying vehicles with the goal of 100% of cars sold on the market being electric cars by 2030. This country also has great advantage of complete transport infrastructure system, low electricity price, advanced technical and technological foundation.
Another interesting point that VinFast did not mention when entering the Israeli market is that this company has continuously “poured capital” into startups here for about 2 years. In November 2021, VinFast announced to become an investor of Autobrains – a company developing artificial intelligence (AI) technology for self-driving cars.
Not long after that in January 2021, the Vietnamese car company continued to “pour” capital into StoreDot, one of the companies that made a big splash when developing a “super battery” technology that allows a full charge in a few minutes.
In the future, when these promising startups develop, the appearance of VinFast in Israel can bring many advantages to both sides.
Is Israel a potential market?
As VinFast announced, Israel has great potential in the universalization of electric vehicles. This country is small, has a large population density – making it possible to build centralized charging infrastructure, not too spread. Israel has an abundance of natural gas, which helps reduce electricity prices and, more importantly, is considered a “high-tech” country – extremely open to new technologies.
However, it is a fact that the popularity of electric vehicles here is not high. As of 2019, only 12 electric vehicle models were sold in Israel, compared with 42 in Europe. Currently, this number has reached 24 samples, but it is still not too large.
In the first quarter of 2021, only 920 electric vehicles were sold here, accounting for less than 1% of total sales. This means that car sales in Israel reached approximately 100,000 vehicles per quarter, equivalent to more than 33,000 vehicles per month, a figure quite similar to the Vietnamese market.
A market with 100,000 vehicles/quarter while electric vehicle popularity is only 1% is clearly not a small market. In the context that the “big guys” of electric cars are only modestly present here, the opportunity for VinFast is not small.
Dror Michman, Chairman of B-EV Company also believes that VinFast will become the leading electric vehicle company in the Israeli market in a few years.


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| November 7, 2016 | News
Candid Marketing High Street Phoenix DLF Cyber Hub
The 2-city mall activity took place at High Street Phoenix Market City, Mumbai & DLF Cyber Hub Gurgaon on November 4.
| March 26, 2015 | 1 Likes | News
Mercedes-Benz India CS Direkt Star World
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Blog: The battle for British clothing manufacturing wages on
Petah Marian | 26 September 2012
The battle for the future of British clothing and textile industry took centre stage at a conference organised yesterday (25 September) by the Association of Suppliers to the British Clothing Industry (ASBCI).
The Olympics has shone a spotlight on the best of British over the past year, and there remains a great affection and interest for this country's heritage brands and textiles abroad.
The commonly held view has been that UK manufacturing plays an essential role for premium heritage brands like Burberry, Johnson's of Elgin or Barbour, but less so for the high street.
However, with turnaround times becoming ever-faster, and the cost of manufacturing in China increasing, some are suggesting that a UK renaissance might be due.
UK manufacturer Buff Clothing's creative design director, Sangita Khan, argued that her company is proof you can produce large volumes in the UK and still make a profit. Her company works with retailers like Next, River Island and Matalan, and emphasised the benefits of producing locally.
Fashion Enter director Jenny Holloway is another backing the UK industry, with her not-for-profit group servicing between 4,500-5,000 pieces a week for companies like John Lewis, Oasis and Asos.
However, Michael Spenley, who is director of Shop Direct subsidiary Compliance Direct, warned against companies assuming that the made in Britain sign assures products have been produced to higher ethical standards.
He said Shop Direct has chosen not to work with certain factories after unannounced visits found one factory's entire staff was off with TB, while another was conducting business and had staff living out of a derelict school, with bedrolls and gas stoves alongside machinery in the factory.
Yet for all the enthusiasm for UK manufacturing, there remains a number of challenges, not least the ageing workforce.
Spenley put it best when he said: "If good intentions and positive headlines were bankable assets - the UK clothing manufacturers would be in terrific financial shape".
This renaissance may still be a few years off.
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Hardware crypto wallet manufacturer Ledger has made a slew of announcements during the first day of its Ledger Op3n conference in Paris, including the upcoming launch of its brand new crypto-linked debit card and support for non-fungible tokens (NFTs).
Dubbed “Crypto Life,” the new debit card is powered by Ledger’s technology and will allow holders to seamlessly spend and receive cryptocurrencies without having to sell or buy them first.
BREAKING: We are launching the Crypto Life card, powered by Ledger – in partnership with @BaanxGroup. You’ll be able to manage your crypto life through your @Ledger wallet, convert to fiat at time of purchase, and more.
Join the waitlist here: https://t.co/tkRq6oL1gM#LedgerOp3n
— Ledger (@Ledger) December 9, 2021
The card will also be integrated into the Ledger Live software (also used in Ledger Nano hardware wallets), allowing its holders to track their portfolios as well as “buy, trade, access the worlds of Defi and NFTs, and more.”
“Everyone should be empowered to truly own their money, and this new card expands the number of ways to not only get paid in cryptocurrency, but transact with it anywhere,” said Ledger CEO Pascal Gauthier in an announcement shared with CryptoSlate today.
Residents of the U.K., France, and Germany will be able to get their hands on “Crypto Life” in the first quarter of 2022 while Americans will have to wait until Q2. At launch, the card will support Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), Ripple’s XRP, Baanx (BXX), Bitcoin Cash (BCH), Litecoin (LTC), and stablecoins such as USDT, EURT, and USDC.
NFTs on the go
Another big announcement is the addition of NFT support to Ledger’s wallets, albeit still in “an experimental mode.” Starting already this month, hardware wallet users will be able to view, send, and receive NFTs in Ledger Live.
To this end, Ledger has teamed up with NFT marketplace Rarible and plans to launch “a unique Discover section” in January 2022. This integration will allow users to connect their Ledger wallets to Rarible and manage their NFTs directly within Ledger Live, the company explained.
“Our integration with Ledger, leveraging its state-of-the-art security, marks a major milestone in our mission to improve how users interact with their NFTs, and will provide NFT holders with an increased sense of comfort knowing their digital collectibles are safely stored,” noted Alex Salnikov, co-founder and head of product at Rarible.
Finally, Ledger has announced new partnerships with two major U.S. cryptocurrency trading platforms—FTX and Coinbase. As a result of the former, Ledger users in 150 countries will be able to trade across 300 digital asset pairs on FTX directly through the Ledger Live application.
Meanwhile, users of the Coinbase Wallet browser extension will gain the ability to self-custody their crypto with Ledger hardware wallets.
“We’ll start rolling out support for hardware wallets in the Coinbase Wallet Extension early next year, and we’re excited to share more announcements on how we’re making Coinbase Wallet the safest and most secure way to participate in Web3 over the coming months,” added Max Branzburg, VP product at Coinbase.
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When the video game industry is known for its endless supply of DLC and microtransactions, it’s a good time to look at why so many players find it so easy to buy these products.
The answer lies in the fact that these games are free to play, and as such are often sold at an attractive price.
But, as the games themselves have become more sophisticated and popular, they’ve also become more expensive to make.
There’s a growing perception that these products are being devalued, and this has resulted in a new wave of free to-play games that are still priced competitively, but at an affordable price.
As such, it seems that free to purchase games are becoming increasingly popular.
In this article, we’re going to look into some of the most popular free to game titles on the market today.


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More UK iPhone 4 Details: Vodafone Pricing Leaked, Virgin Looking to Come On Board?
Just like in the United States, additional bits of information on UK availability for iPhone are beginning to trickle out. Earlier today, a test page on Vodafone's site, which now loads only occasionally in a partially completed state, appeared showing the company's rate plans for the new iPhone. Fortunately, Engadget grabbed some screenshots while it was active, revealing that the carrier will be offering a basic 1 GB cap for data access across all monthly plans, double that of O2's lower-end plans.
Like O2, Vodafone will be offering 18-month and 24-month contracts, with monthly prices checking in at a 5 premium for the shorter contract. All plans also include up to 1 GB of Wi-Fi data access on BT OpenZone networks. Phone costs begin at 189 (16 GB) and 280 (32 GB) on low-end plans, before dropping all the way down to free for 45/50 plans (16 GB) and 60/65 plans (32 GB).
In other UK news, Virgin Mobile has indicated that it is working to bring iPhone 4 to its network.
A Virgin Mobile spokesperson said: "We are in ongoing talks with Apple. There are no further developments at this point."
Virgin would join existing major UK networks O2, Orange and Vodafone, as well as T-Mobile and Three, which are coming on board with the iPhone 4 launch.
Last year's iPhone 13 Pro models were the first of Apple's smartphones to come with 120Hz ProMotion displays, and while the two iPhone 14 Pro models will continue to feature the technology, their screens could well boast expanded refresh rate variability this time round.
To bring ProMotion displays to the iPhone 13 Pro models, Apple adopted LTPO panel technology with variable refresh...
Leaker Jon Prosser today shared ostensibly accurate renders of the iPhone 14 Pro, providing the most accurate look yet at what the device could look like when it launches later this year.
In the latest video on YouTube channel Front Page Tech, Prosser revealed renders of the iPhone 14 Pro made by Apple concept graphic designer Ian Zelbo, highlighting a range of specific design changes...
With around four months to go before Apple is expected to unveil the iPhone 14 lineup, the overwhelming majority of rumors related to the new devices so far have focused on the iPhone 14 Pro, rather than the standard iPhone 14 – leading to questions about how different the iPhone 14 will actually be from its predecessor, the iPhone 13.
The iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max are expected...
The iPhone 14 will feature a more expensive "high-end" front-facing camera with autofocus, partly made in South Korea for the first time, ET News reports.
Apple reportedly ousted a Chinese candidate to choose LG Innotek, a South Korean company, to supply the iPhone 14's front-facing camera alongside Japan's Sharp. The company is said to have originally planned to switch to LG for the iPhone...
Apple today confirmed that the keynote event for the Worldwide Developers Conference will begin at 10:00 a.m. Pacific Time on June 6, the first day of WWDC. The keynote will be an online-only event, though a select number of developers have been invited to the Apple Park campus for a viewing event.
In addition to confirming the keynote date and time, Apple has shared the full WWDC 2022...
Apple today announced new Pride bands for the Apple Watch, with new Pride Edition Sport Loop and Pride Edition Nike Sport Loop options available.
The new Pride Edition bands are available to order today for $49 on Apple.com and in the Apple Store app, and will be available at Apple Store locations starting May 26. The Pride Edition Nike Sport Loop is also coming soon to Nike.com.


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BEA Union Investment will be offering its first consumer-themed fund in Hong Kong.
The BU China Consumer Power Fund last week received a green light from the Securities and Futures Commission to be launched in Hong Kong, according to the regulator’s records.
The firm is currently preparing for the roll-out of the strategy and more details about the fund will be available upon its launch, a BEA Union Investment spokeswoman told FSA.
Several asset managers have promoted long-term opportunities in Asia’s consumer market, particularly in China, with some of them launching China-focused consumer-themed products. They include Fidelity’s China Consumer Fund, the HSBC-GIF China Consumption Opportunities Fund and the Global X China Consumer Brand ETF, according to data from FE Fundinfo.
Other fund managers that have a broader China mandate also believe that the consumption theme should provide investors long-term growth opportunities.
For example, William Yuen, Hong Kong-based investment director at Invesco and co-manager of the PRC Equity Fund, believes that the consumer theme in the mainland provides the “best investment opportunities to deliver sustainable growth”.
“There have been a lot of opportunities in China backed by underlying macro factors that are boosting the whole consumption story, mostly driven by internet-related services, which is something not new to us,” he said.


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Investing.com - Asian stock markets were broadly higher on Tuesday, as concerns over rising energy prices eased after oil prices came off their highest level in nine months, while shares in Japanese retailers advanced after official data showed retail sales rose unexpectedly last month.
During late Asian trade, Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index rallied 1.15%, Australia’s ASX/200 Index eased down 0.1%, while Japan’s Nikkei 225 Index rose 0.92%.
Oil prices fell below USD109 a barrel on Tuesday after the International Monetary Fund warned that higher prices were likely to lead to a slowdown in the global economy.
In Hong Kong, shares in airliners performed strongly, recouping some of the previous day’s losses, with Cathay Pacific Airways soaring 4.7%, China Southern Airlines shares climbing 3.8% and Air China rising 1.8%.
Shares in the financial sector also contributed to gains in Hong Kong after the China Securities Journal reported that Beijing will allow Chinese banks to continue lending to local government financing vehicles.
The nation’s largest lender Industrial and Commercial Bank of China rose 2.35%, China Construction Bank added 1.6%, while Bank of China traded up 1.8%.
Elsewhere, the Nikkei reversed earlier losses to settle at a fresh seven-month high as retailers advanced after official data showed that retail sales rose by 1.9% in January, confounding expectations for a 0.2% decline.
Fast Retailing shares jumped 2.1%, while Seven & I Holdings and Takashimaya added 1.1% and 1.65% respectively.
But shares in the tech sector performed poorly after Elpida Memory filed for protection from creditors JPY448 billion in debt, the biggest bankruptcy filing by a Japanese manufacturer.
The company, which is the only chipmaker in Japan to specialize in DRAM chips used in mobile phones and computers, has been beset by plummeting prices, fierce competition and flooding in Thailand last year that disrupted production.
Elpida shares plunged 23.95%, while rivals Renesas Electronics and Advantest came off their lowest levels of the day, retreating 3.3% and 1.5% respectively.
In Australia, shares in construction material manufacturer James Hardie lost 4.25% after reporting disappointing earnings results for its fiscal third quarter.
But shares in grocery manufacturer Goodman Fielder surged 33% after Singapore-listed Wilmar International said it had purchased a 10.1% equity stake in the firm.
Looking ahead, the outlook for European stock markets was upbeat after Germany’s parliament endorsed a second bailout for Greece by a wide margin. But gains were expected to be limited after ratings agency Standard & Poor's cut Greece’s ratings to 'selective default'.
The EURO STOXX 50 futures pointed to a gain of 0.45%, France’s CAC 40 futures added 0.4%, London’s FTSE 100 futures rose 0.15%, while Germany's DAX futures pointed to a 0.3% increase.
Later in the day, Germany was to release official data on consumer price inflation, while the U.S. was to produce official data on durable goods orders, as well as industry data on house price inflation and consumer confidence.


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Fidelity Digital to Accept Bitcoin Collateral on Cash Loans for Institutions
Fidelity Digital Assets is partnering with crypto lender BlockFi for the new business angle.
The staff will be used to develop new products and expand into crypto other than bitcoin.
Before Fidelity, Mrinalini Bhutoria served as senior research analyst at Circle and spent three years at Credit Suisse.
Over half of those surveyed by financial industry analytics firm Coalition Greenwich said they had digital asset investments already.
The custodian began offering cash loans collateralized by bitcoin last December but is now adding Silvergate customers to the mix.
The director of research at Fidelity Digital Assets gives her take on the crypto space.


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07 Sep Telefonica continues cyber shopping spree with iHackLabs | Light Reading
The Spanish company is betting that cybersecurity training, at scale, will be big business going forward.
In the EU alone, there will be 300,000 vacancies for cybersecurity experts left unfilled by the end of 2022, according to a statement from ElevenPaths, Telefnica’s cybersecurity arm.
iHackLabs offers cybersecurity training through cloud-based training platforms.
These platforms simulate real cyber threat situations adapted to the specific needs of companies and organisations.
In 2018, iHackLabs was one of six companies selected to go through the Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ)’s startup accelerator.
The accelerator gives cybersecurity startups the opportunity to work alongside some of the UK’s leading intelligence experts over nine months, along with a 25,000 ($33,000) grant.
That year, GCHQ chose startups offering cybersecurity help to small business and home users. The two previous years, it chose startups angling at bigger-business customers.
iHackLabs, which is based between London and Madrid, will join ElevenPaths.
ElevenPaths saw its income from cybersecurity services increase by 26.5% in 2019, to 497 million (US$587 million).
ElevenPaths and iHacklabs have collaborated since 2018.
Telefnica Tech‘s chief executive, Jos Cerdn, joined iHackLabs’ board of directors in August.
“Welcome to Elevenpaths,” wrote Dr Chema Alonso, Telefnica’s chief digital consumer officer, adding “Let’s hack the future together.”
It is the latest purchase in Telefnica’s cybersecurity spending spree, which saw it buy Valencia-based cybersecurity consultancy firm Govertis in August 2020.
Govertis has offices in Spain and Latin America, particularly Peru.
The two companies had worked together since 2012.
Telefnica is Spain’s second-largest corporation, after Santander.
In Latin America, it owns the Movistar mobile phone brand, and it also owns the largest fixed-line operators in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, and Peru.
It also is fond of joint ventures. In France, it operates one aimed at multinationals with France’s Bouygues Telecom.
Telefnica expects great things from Telefnica Tech, its cybersecurity, IoT, analytics, and cloud company. It says the business will generate 2 billion in new revenue in 2022, by strengthening its position in Europe and Latin America.
Along with acquisitions, Telefnica Tech’s collaborations right now include working with Siemens‘ Spanish unit, to offer combined IT (information technology)/OT (operational technology) cybersecurity solutions for Industry 4.0 (large-scale manufacturing using Internet of Things technology).
Its target markets include its current core areas, Spain, Brazil, Germany and the UK, with aims at breaking into the US as well.


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Tesla should take note.
Nikola Motors is one of several smaller automakers anxious to enter the all-electric pickup truck segment. The Tesla Cybertruck won't only have competition from Ford and GM, but also the Nikola Badger. And like the upcoming Tesla Semi, Nikola intends to introduce industrial trucks. In fact, it has just announced it's made a deal to sell a minimum of 2,500 electrified garbage trucks to Arizona-based Republic Services. The deal is expandable for up to 5,000 trucks and the first deliveries are slated to begin in 2023. On-road testing will get underway first, sometime in 2022.
These garbage trucks will supposedly outperform both diesel and natural gas alternatives in both horsepower and torque and can drive up to 150 miles and 1,200 cans of garbage on a single charge. The new trucks' powertrain will be limited to 1,000 horsepower, which is nearly three times the horsepower of natural gas and diesel-powered trucks.
"Nikola specializes in heavy-duty, zero-emission Class 8 trucks. The refuse market is one of the most stable markets in the industry and provides long-term shareholder value," said Nikola Founder and Executive Chairman Trevor Milton. "The Nikola TRE powertrain is ideal for the refuse market as it shares and uses the same batteries, controls, inverters and e-axle."
This all sounds very interesting, but here's the thing: no one outside of these companies has even seen the truck. All that's been provided so far is a single rendered image (shown above). Nikola's stock increased by 22 percent since the deal with Republic Services was announced, so evidently it's being met with great enthusiasm.
Republic Services also happens to be the second-largest recycling and solid waste provider in the US, so the fact it's teamed up with Nikola for an electrified future is a pretty big deal. "This is a game-changer," said Nikola CEO, Mark Russell.
"Refuse truck customers have always ordered chassis from truck OEMs and bodies from other suppliers. Nikola has fully integrated the chassis and body, covering both with a single factory warranty. Trucks will include both automated side loaders and front-end loaders - all of which will be zero-emission."


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Google is fixing a Chromecast bug that allowed hackers with too much free time to get your location
Google’s popular Chromecast and Home products suffer from a serious privacy flaw that would let hackers discover your location with incredible accuracy, well beyond the information they could learn from an internet service provider.
The good news is that Google will fix this issue via a software update that should be released in July, although Google decided back in May not to address it. Until then, the chances of hackers actually finding out your location are incredibly slim, if you’re internet-savvy enough not to fall for phishing schemes.
BGR Top Deals:
- Sylvania’s $34 LED light strip is just as good as the $90 Philips Hue model
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Trending Right Now:
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Google is fixing a Chromecast bug that allowed hackers with too much free time to get your location originally appeared on BGR.com on Tue, 19 Jun 2018 at 23:34:38 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.


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Consumer electronics giant Sony is facing a lawsuit at its video game brand, alleging incidents of gender discrimination such as denying women promotions and paying them less than male counterparts in similar roles.
First reported by Axios, the lawsuit has been filed in the USA against the company’s subsidiary Sony Interactive Entertainment (which produces the PlayStation console and its video games). It alleged that “Sony tolerates and cultivates a work environment that discriminates against female employees”.
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German automaker BMW has announced an updated timeline to reduce carbon emissions throughout the entire life cycle of its internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles, including the entire production process. In an announcement ahead of next week’s IAA Mobility conference in Munich, the local automaker announced its new goal of a 40% reduction of 2019 CO2 levels by 2030, up from its previous goal of 33.3%.
BMW is a German legacy automaker with over 105 years of experience in manufacturing, including stints in aircraft engines during both World Wars.
After decades of developing gasoline dependent models of the “ultimate driving machine,” the automaker announced BMW i in 2011 as a sub-brand dedicated to plug-in EVs.
BMW’s electrification began in 2013 when series production of the i3 commenced. Unfortunately, the German automaker has only delivered one other EV since then. In fact, it took BMW seven years to bring the zero-emissions iX3 to market, and it hasn’t even made it to North America.
This past June, we reported BMW had released pricing and specs for two US versions of its upcoming i4 EV sedan. Soon these models will be joined by the $83K+ BMW iX SUV, which is currently available for pre-order.
With new models on the way, BMW naturally announced plans to discontinue its flagship i3 EV this past June. With a focus on a (somewhat) electrified future, BMW has shared new plans to lower the emissions of its ICE vehicles, which remain a majority of its lineup.
BMW to reduce ICE life-cycle emissions up to 40% by 2030
In a recent report from Reuters, BMW shared an updated timeline to reduce CO2 emissions of the entire life cycle of its ICE vehicles by 40% compared to 2019 numbers.
This is an increase to a goal previously set at 33.3%. BMW aims to achieve these lower life-cycle emissions, which will include changes to the vehicle’s entire production process, by 2030.
In order to reach this goal, the automaker has shared intentions to increase the proportion of recycled and reusable materials used throughout its vehicle manufacturing process from 30% to 50%.
These new targets for ICE emissions coincide with BMW’s previously announced sustainability goals, including reaching a point where at least half of BMW Group sales come from EVs by 2030. This group includes Mini sales, which has already fully committed to producing its last gasoline model by 2025.
BMW on the other hand, is not so explicit in its timeline to phase out ICE vehicles, citing a lack of charging infrastructure and recent revenues thwarted by global chip shortages.
Still, BMW has set (slightly) more ambitious goals for lowering emissions over the next decade. Although, many would argue that switching to more electric vehicles could also help quite a bit.
Dream big BMW, dream big.
Any sentence that says “reduce carbon emissions” is good news for the planet, so kudos to BMW for pushing the goal posts slightly farther, to a 40% reduction. Forgive us however, for preferring to save all of our streamers and the permit for a parade for another day.
Yes, BMW has multiple EVs in the works, and they look quite impressive from what we’ve seen so far (aside from some of those price tags… yeesh). However, the
waffling straight-up lack of commitment to an ICE exit strategy immediately challenges the faith in this automaker.
They’ve committed to half of sales being electric by 2030, but it’s hard to believe they can achieve that given the ratio of ICE models to EVs currently available. Unless the Mini community suddenly inflates tenfold (I see you loyal Mini owners, and I love rule #1 – respect).
There will be a lot of eyes on the iX and i4 sales in both the US and Europe to see what sort of trajectory BMW is on. Trust they will sell whatever they need to (ICE or EV) to keep the lights on as long as possible… at least until 2030, right?