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Arete Research has cut its price target on the stock from $75 to $72
Alibaba shares have declined almost 16% from January 26 after the Chinese regulator SAIC accused the company of turning a blind eye to illegal activities on its e-commerce platforms. SAIC said that Alibaba failed to curb the sales of counterfeit goods. Alibaba employees took bribes from merchants in exchange for favors. Concerns about Alibaba’s practices have brought the stock down in the past few weeks.
Alibaba should trade at a discount to rivals
Arete Research analysts Muzhi Li and Richard Kramer see further downside in the stock. They said that Alibaba should trade at a discount to its competitors, given structural pressure on its margins. The research firm has cut its price target on the stock from $75 to $72, which reflects a 17% downside from the current levels. Most analysts are impressed by the Hangzhou-based company’s progress in the mobile space.
Baupost's investment process involves "never-ending" gleaning of facts to help support investment ideas Seth Klarman writes in his end-of-year letter to investors. In the letter, a copy of which ValueWalk has been able to review, the value investor describes the Baupost Group's process to identify ideas and answer the most critical questions about its potential Read More
For the December quarter, mobile accounted for 42% of the company’s total transactions, up from 36% in the preceding quarter. But mobile sells fewer ads, affecting the company’s revenue. Arete analysts said that mobile users produce fewer page views and clicks that lead to lower advertising revenues. Ads accounted for about 50% of Alibaba’s total revenue in Q3, down from 62% in the same quarter a year ago.
So, the e-commerce giant now shows more Tmall ads on its mobile app. That’s because B2C Tmall merchants are usually big brands that are more profitable to the company, says Shuli Ren of Barron’s. But the company has to keep its Taobao merchants happy. So, it would “tilt PC traffic to Taobao vendors and lower their cost of marketing campaigns.” Li and Kramer say it could affect Alibaba’s PC revenue.
Alibaba needs to tilt towards Tmall
To maintain its rapid growth, the Jack Ma-led company needs to tilt towards Tmall, which is more profitable. But December quarter results show that Tmall’s gross merchandise volume growth continues to slow, while Taobao GMV grew at the fastest pace in five quarters.
Separately, law firm Robbins Geller Rudman & Dowd LLP has filed a class action lawsuit against Alibaba for violating the U.S. Securities Exchange Act. The law firm accused the online retailer of using false information to mislead the public ahead of its IPO last year.
Alibaba shares rose 0.43% to $87.88 in pre-market trading Friday.


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The fragrance world will soon be rocked by a new beat.
Hip-hop and pop artist Nicki Minaj has inked a fragrance licensing deal with Give Back Brands LLC — the makers of Justin Bieber’s Someday scent, which ranked as the number-one women’s launch of 2011.
The upcoming Minaj fragrance, the singer’s first, is due out in department stores this fall. Details of the fragrance concept have yet to be revealed, including if any of Minaj’s alter egos — ranging from Nicki Mirage to Roman Zolanski — will serve as a muse. But given the rapper-singer’s fondness for candy-store hues, bold color is likely involved.
“I have always been a huge fan of great fragrances,” Minaj stated. “This is yet another extension of my creative expression. I designed the scent and bottle with my Barbz [her fans] in mind.”
In keeping with Give Back Brands’ business model, net profits from the upcoming fragrance will be donated to a charity of Minaj’s choice. Give Back Brands was founded by Paul West and Robert Hollander as a vehicle to raise money for charity, hence the name. The first licensing deal was with Bieber, which turned into a bonanza.
Minaj — a style chameleon whose eyes often flutter with eyebrow-reaching false lashes — has linked arms with beauty firms in the past. She is the face of the 2012 MAC AIDS Fund campaign, along with Ricky Martin. At a Viva Glam event in February, Minaj said jokingly of her outlandish lashes, “They’re natural.” She also collaborated on a six-shade nail polish collection with OPI that hit stores in January. Shade names borrow from song titles and include Super Bass Shatter, Fly, Metallic 4 Life and Pink Friday.
Give Back Brands’ executive vice president of global marketing, Noreen Dodge, said, “Nicki Minaj has proven relevance as an artist, as well as a captivating talent in the facets of beauty, style and fashion. Her appeal is rising at an incredible rate; her unique creative expression lends her brand name to a broad range of possibilities without boundaries.”
Minaj’s latest album, “Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded,” released earlier this month, follows “Pink Friday,” which debuted in 2010 and was certified double platinum, selling more than 2 million units.
“What he has done at Vuitton is really exceptional,” said @gameofthrones’ actress Gwendoline Christie on @mrkimjones’ final show for @louisvuitton. “He has rebooted luxury in terms of making it commercial, viable and contemporary. And most importantly artistic. He has never compromised his artistic vision for the sake of commodity.” (📷: @zefashioninsider)
After seeing a demand for men’s wear from its customers, British contemporary women’s wear label @ariesarise has added a men’s wear component and will launch a unisex collection with @mrporterlive. The 20-piece collection includes jackets, denim, logo T-shirts and more with deconstructed ‘90s vibes. Set to launch on January 18, you can shop the pieces on Aries’ website and on mrporter.com. #wwdfashion
“And so spending so much time with a character who thinks like that, inevitability you try and analyze yourself and go back and think about your own demons and dark chapters that you had in your life,” says @thedanielbruhl of his role in TNT’s “The Alienist.” The show, set in the Gilded Age of New York, also stars Dakota Fanning and Luke Evans. Head to WWD.com to read about how 39-year-old Brühl prepared for the role and why he thinks the show is so relevant to today #wwdeye ( 📷: @Eriktanner)
Now that Celine Dion’s collection has topped $10 million in sales, the pop superstar, fashion icon and newly-minted industry player is eyeing growth in Asia. Read the full report by @tiffanyap, link in bio. #wwdnews #celinedion
“My personal philosophy to beauty is paying attention to oneself. I love to be outdoors, lots of fresh air, trying to take care of yourself as best you can. I always notice that comes through,” says Felicity Jones, the global face of @shiseido-owned @cledepeaubeauteus, which launches today. Head to WWD.com to read more about the actress’ love for beauty and how she prepared for her new role in “The Basis of Sex,” playing the young Ruth Bader Ginsburg. #wwdbeauty (📷: @dandoperalski)
Among the familiar faces at @off____white’s show was a surprise figure: Japanese artist @takashipom, pictured here on Wednesday morning. Other show-goers included @jerrylorenzo, who spoke about his upcoming project: a @nike collaboration for back to school, with designs inspired by his childhood on the West Coast. Sitting in the front row were Future, Don Crawley, @miguel and more. See the rest of the photos on WWD.com #wwdeye (📷: Stephane Feugere)
According to @laurentsai, former “Terrace House: Aloha State” cast member, she didn’t know she was auditioning for the Japanese version of “Real World.” “I was telling a couple of my friends and someone’s like, ‘That sounds a lot like Terrace House.’ I was like, ’No it can’t be.’” Turns out, it was. But Tsai isn’t just a reality star — she’s an illustrator who has worked with Starbucks Japan and most recently, she’s dipping her toes into the fashion world. Head to WWD.com to read about her time on the show, modeling and her art. #wwdeye (📷: @danieldorsa)
More changes are coming to New York Fashion Week: Beginning with the spring 2019 collection, @alexanderwangny will move his New York show to June from September, adopting a biannual schedule with collections shown in June and December. Additionally, the @cfda is planning for an official summer/winter fashion season taking place as soon as June and December 2018. Read more about the upcoming changes on WWD.com. #wwdnews #wwdfashion (📷: @slovekinpics)

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More vigilance needed to improve cybersecurity: survey
Australians need to be more vigilant when it comes to cybersecurity, a new survey has shown.
The research — conducted by ESET — found that 46% of respondents didn’t take security precautions because it was too time-consuming or inconvenient, they weren’t worried about the risks or they didn’t know how to protect themselves online.
The IT security provider found this troubling given that 87% of Australians use the internet and 93% access it daily. Additionally, almost all 1062 survey respondents said they complete financial transactions online, including online banking, bill paying and online shopping.
“When performing any kind of transaction online, it’s essential for people to use the strongest protection possible. This means using strong, unique passwords and leveraging multifactor authentication and biometrics as much as possible. For devices without biometric capabilities and services without multifactor authentication options, users need to be especially vigilant about their passwords,” ESET Senior Research Fellow Nick FitzGerald said.
Perhaps more concerningly, over 62% of respondents use public Wi-Fi for their online transactions either often, occasionally or rarely.
“Public Wi-Fi is a security quagmire. It is very easy for bad actors to steal data, including account credentials, and to spy on users using public Wi-Fi. Often, they create a malicious Wi-Fi network that unsuspecting users connect to,” FitzGerald said, adding that cellular data and mobile hotspots were far safer options for accessing the internet.
“Using public Wi-Fi for financial transactions is a recipe for disaster and should be avoided wherever possible. The risks are simply too high,” he said.
While most respondents were worried about their security, 20% still only worried about it rarely and 4% weren’t worried at all. Yet FitzGerald said “people are still falling victim to security breaches”.
“Twenty per cent have had a virus, ransomware or malware affect their devices, 18% had a social media account compromised or hacked and 15% had their email compromised. More concerning was that 15% of respondents had lost money to an online banking fraud or scam and 14% had fallen victim to a fraud or scam received via their mobile phone,” he said.
“It’s important for Australians to educate themselves so they know when they’re being scammed because the losses can be significant. Installing security measures is also key and, together with a vigilant approach, can help protect users against most threats.
“Taking a few moments to make all their passwords strong and unique (or set up a password manager) or to back up their data can mean that hackers fail to access their accounts, or that a ransomware attack is less devastating because the data is safe.
“For users that don’t know what cybersecurity steps to take, it’s important to proactively seek education and information to avoid becoming a victim,” FitzGerald concluded.
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Barclays Africa has launched the physical and virtual global start-up community Rise at the The Bandwidth Barn in Cape Town, South Africa to support fintech innovation.
The bank already has Rise sites in London, Manchester, New York, as well as also announced plans to open a Rise hub in Tel Aviv.
The Cape Town site will offer co-working facilities, events space, and a bespoke setting for various initiatives including the Barclays Accelerator programme.
The bank announced its plans to open a Rise hub in Cape Town in October 2015.
Barclays chief design and digital officer and architect of the global Rise programme Derek White said at that time: "Rise is about connecting the world’s most active innovators to each other, to corporates and to resources and by expanding to another continent means we’re able to broaden this network further.
"We’re unlocking the power of open innovation to co-create the future of financial services, which will ultimately benefit customers and clients across the globe."


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As we slowly approach the end of 2021 and fondly remember the titles that debuted in the last 12 months, that time has come to look ahead and think about the video games that we will be able to enjoy in 2022. Although we already know of some very striking proposals that will hit stores in the next year, there is still room for surprises.
Luckily, everything seems to indicate that Koei Tecmo, the company responsible for sagas like Ninja Gaiden, Nioh, Fatal Frame Y Dynasty Warriors, will be ready to blow the community away with exciting announcements and releases in the coming year.
2022 will be a great year for Koei Tecmo
Through an article on the Japanese portal 4Gamer, several Japanese creatives shared their plans for next year. There, Yosuki Hayashi, general manager of the entertainment division of Koei Tecmo, said that they will reveal some games that have been in development for several years and that will show all the current power of the company.
Hisashi Koinuma, CEO of Koei Tecmo, adds that 2022 will mark the launch of several titles developed by the company, while Fumihiko Yasuda, director of Team Ninja, states that fans can look forward to experiences like the action game inspired by Three Kingdoms and another project that he is directing.
In case you missed it: Koei Tecmo thinks of more Fatal Frame remasters
Finally, Yosuke Kikuchi, producer of the saga Fatal Frame, he assured that in 2022 “his team will tackle the development of something that they had never done before.” Of course, he reiterated that it will be a long time before they can formally announce it.
Everything seems to indicate that 2022 will be a great year for Koei Tecmo and, consequently, for all fans of the Japanese company’s franchises. While we do not know for sure what lies ahead, thinking of a new Ninja Gaiden, Nioh or even a Fatal Frame it is undoubtedly exciting.
But tell us, what are the games that you would like the company to announce in 2022? Let us read you in the comments.
Follow this link to read more news related to Koei Tecmo and his upcoming projects.
Related Video: Nioh 2: The Complete Edition – Launch Tray


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Smart Dubai Launches Second Round of Global Blockchain Challenge
The Smart Dubai Office (SDO) is partnering with the global innovation network “Union” to organize the second round of the Global Blockchain Challenge. This challenge aims at sourcing strong and innovative blockchain startups from around the world to contribute to the implementation of the Dubai Blockchain Strategy 2020.
Her Excellency Dr Aisha Bint Butti Bin Bishr, SDO Director General, stated, “Our main objective at Smart Dubai is not technology itself, but rather its potential to improve peoples' lives. Our vision is to build a smart city centered around the happiness of its citizens. Blockchain technology facilitates transactions for people, saving them time and effort, and bringing us closer to making Dubai the smartest and happiest city in the world.”
The deadline for submissions has been set for April 1, 2018, and selected startups would be announced by April 5. The shortlisted teams will be invited to come to Dubai (for an all-expenses paid trip) on May 1 and begin training with Union. The final Blockchain Challenge Presentation and Awarding Ceremony is scheduled to take place on May 3, 2018.
Finalists of the challenge will travel to Dubai to participate in a training program followed by a pitch competition in front of an audience of investors, experts, private and public institutions. Three winners will be chosen to receive first, second, and third place money prizes of $20K, $15K and $10K, respectively, and the opportunity to implement their product or service in Dubai.
“Opportunities like the Blockchain Challenge open new doors for startups to succeed and for government to bring innovative solutions to its operations. Union has over 12,000 startups on the platform and thousands more in its expansive network,” said Evan Burfield, CEO at Union. “We’re thrilled to be partners for this important challenge and to facilitate the connections between Smart Dubai Office and the entrepreneur ecosystem to find the best ideas for their blockchain strategy.”
Last year, the first round of the Global Blockchain Challenge witnessed 21 shortlisted startups fly to Dubai from 18 cities from 15 countries. The submitted ideas spanned blockchain applications in a wide range of sectors from energy, real estate, asset management, payments, education, healthcare, and supply chain management to social behavior. Participating startups have since had the opportunity to pilot their cutting-edge blockchain solutions in Dubai. For example, Educhain, one of the winners of last year’s challenge, had great success by signing the largest blockchain education contract.
To take part in the second round of the Global Blockchain Challenge, startups need only to submit their applications before April 1st here.


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While you sit at home shopping online and trying to get all those Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals, you may think you’re visiting secure sites, but there is a chance you could be getting scammed.
Deals that are so tempting and exciting could cause you to overlook the simplest things.
“You might think you’re on Target’s site, but it could be Target with two T’s at the end,” said scam expert Carrie Kerskie.
Kerskie said crooks will recreate a website of a big company people know well or a small one people use for a one-time purchase, often luring you in through enticing pop-up advertisements and taking you to a scam site.
“For example, let’s just say Amazon. The bad guys will make a website that looks exactly like them,” said Kerskie. “They’ll copy the logo and copy everything on it, but it may be Amazon with two Z’s.
Kerskie said making sure there is a padlock symbol on the website isn’t the best way to stay safe.
“Well, bad guys can buy that same padlock certificate, and the bad guys will also have a green padlock.”
Kerskie’s tips she finds are useful to stay safe are:
– Check the spelling of the URL
– Take the name of the website and put it into the search engine followed by words like “complaint” or “scam” to see if people have had issues with the site before
– Use a credit card instead of a debit card
– Don’t use public WiFi
– Don’t create an account with all your information
– Check out as a guest
– Save your confirmation numbers


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Chrysler's all-new 2004 Crossfire is a two-seat coupe that combines American design with German engineering. Look underneath the Crossfire and...
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Read This Article
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Minivans are experiencing a lull now, but we're just a few short years away from the next minivan renaissance.
The big headline from today's monthly sales news is simple: Chrysler is on a roll.


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February inflation likely breached 9%
Inflation likely remained stubbornly high and could have breached nine percent in February from a fresh 14-year high of 8.7 percent in January, according to the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP).
In a statement, the central bank said inflation last month likely settled between 8.5 percent and 9.3 percent, with upward pressures emanating from higher prices of liquefied petroleum gas as well as elevated prices of key food items such as pork, fish, eggs and sugar.
The last time inflation breached nine percent was in November 2008 at 9.1 percent.
On the other hand, the BSP said the lower prices for domestic petroleum, fruits and vegetables, chicken and beef, along with the peso’s appreciation could help ease price pressures in February.
‘The BSP will continue to adjust its monetary policy stance as necessary to prevent the further broadening of price pressures, as well as the emergence of additional second order effects,’ it said.
The BSP said it would continue to monitor closely emerging price developments in accordance with its price stability mandate.
This report’s information was first seen on ZAWYA; to read more, click this link.


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Dentsu has revealed its Q3 results overnight with third quarter revenues declining six per cent which follows the trend of -4.7 per cent for Q2 and -1.6 per cent for Q1.
Like its competitor agencies, the Tokyo-based holding company blamed the numbers on a decline in spending in the tech and finance sectors.
The Group’s underlying operating profit declined 10.4 per cent year-on-year to JPY 37.5 billion, however, reported net revenue increased by 1.6 per cent in the third quarter.
With no change expected to client spending in the fourth quarter, Dentsu is now forecasting organic growth for 2023 to be down by five per cent.
It said it would implement a range of cost cutting measures such as employment freezes, decreased external spending, and fewer travel and entertainment expenses, while aiming for better utilisation rates.
Japan remained the holdco’s best performing region with three per cent growth.
APAC – which includes Australia – was down a solid 9.1 per cent. North Americas was down 6.6 per cent, while EMEA saw the biggest organic revenue decline of 17.2 per cent.
Commenting on the numbers, Hiroshi Igarashi, president and CEO Dentsu Group, said: “Our third quarter performance continued to show the impact of the reduced spend from clients in the technology and finance sectors, as well as project delays within Customer Transformation & Technology.
“We have seen progress in the US market with the accelerated roll-out of One dentsu. Revenues have stabilised and we have a number of account wins that demonstrates what we can achieve when we drive collaboration and empower our people to thrive,” Igarashi said.


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Lawrence Ho, Melco Resorts’ CEO, has said he doesn’t expect China to open its borders this year.
Macau.- Sharing the group’s latest financial report, Melco Resorts CEO, Lawrence Ho, said China is unlikely to reopen its borders soon. He said visits to Macau will remain low as long as the zero-coronavirus policy remains.
Ho stated: “Even recently we’ve seen how certain provinces view Macau as being so close to Hong Kong and therefore the Covid-19 outbreak in Hong Kong somehow would affect Macau, so honestly I don’t have a lot of hope that group tours or eVisas are going to be normalized before the Hong Kong-China corridor, meaning the Hong Kong-Macau corridor will be open.”
Last November, the MGTO said the city could receive up to 10 million visitors in 2022 if Macau finally resumes the e-visa programme with China and reopens borders with Hong Kong. Group tourist visas have been suspended since 2020, while the individual visa process now still allows online applications.
Ho noted that Melco’s gaming volume did increase year-on-year during the Chinese New Year holiday and carried over into the weeks after the holiday.


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China's courier sector expands in July
The China express delivery development index stood at 316.2 in July, up 11.1 percent year on year, the State Post Bureau said.
The sub-index for development scale stood at 343.8, up 26.2 percent year on year, while the sub-index for service quality stood at 483.3, up 5.6 percent year on year.
The express delivery volume is expected to grow 28 percent in August, forecast the bureau.
Compiled on the basis of data from major logistics firms' operating delivery services, the development index reflects the overall business activities and trends in the country's courier sector.


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Lezley Zen is saying farewell to Los Angeles with an adult industry party this Thursday evening at Basque in Hollywood.
Zen is moving to Miami to start her studio-hosting gig with adult formatted PinkTV.com, an “interactive adult television network” with studios in Miami, Prague and a future location in Tijuana, Mexico.
The PinkTV party is expected to bring a mix of adult industry players and mainstream Hollywood types to the just-opened nightclub, which sits at the corner of Hollywood & Vine, where Deep used to be.
“They have done a million-dollar remodeling job and this place is brand new and spectacular,” said Brad Thomas of Intoxicate U, who is organizing the party.
Zen will host for PinkTV, which will be launching in 10 TV markets worldwide over the next 12 months. The company will begin broadcasting this summer through the Internet, at PinkTV.com and through ipTV television set-top boxes. The PinkTV channel will be launching on various conventional cable and satellite providers throughout Europe and the United Kingdom this fall. The company also has plans to launch on American TV platforms in early 2006.
PinkTV will be offering a “fully interactive television experience” where viewers can order premium services directly off their TV screens, in real time, as they watch. The company currently has 15 exclusive adult shows in the works including a XXX game show, two weekly reality shows, two sexually themed talk shows, a BDSM soap opera, and nude sports programming.
The company also operates an adult film division with over 30 exclusive videos already in its library.
“PinkTV television viewers can actually order their favorite adult stars for personal one-on-one video sessions, far beyond what web-cam style Internet services could ever provide. Our subscribers will be able to interact with their favorite PinkTV girls directly through their television screens and the phone,” said Jan Verleur, president of PinkTV.
The red-carpet party at Basque starts at 9:30 p.m. and will continue until 2 a.m. The industry VIP list is limited and will be based on those who RSVP to Brad Thomas. Those wishing to attend should contact Thomas via email at firstname.lastname@example.org or at 818.515.3760.


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Bitter to eat: the cost of producing beer increased by 62% in 2 years
The global cost of goods necessary for the production, packaging and transportation of beer increased by 62%. over the past two years - it follows from the first ever Beer Index developed by social networking eToro platform.
In a nutshell
- The eToro Beer Index analyzes the global prices of raw materials required by beer producers - from barley and malt to aluminum and gasoline for packaging and shipping;
- Gasoline costs increased the most in two years, by as much as 138 percent, while the prices of barley and malt, due to the war in Ukraine, jumped by 104 percent, respectively. and 87 percent;
- Rice is the only commodity whose price has fallen by 1%, thanks to the fact that for the past 15 years every year production has exceeded demand, leading to a large stockpile;
- 62 percent the increase in beer production prices dramatically exceeds 15,6 percent. CPI growth in Poland from July 2020, which indicates that beer lovers' wallets will suffer even more;
- The price of a standard bottle of beer in a Polish supermarket increased by 28%. within two years, 10 percentage points above inflation
- Taxes account for almost 40 percent. beer prices in Poland.
Beer index up 62%
The rate of price increase drastically exceeds 15,6 percent. increase in the Consumer Price Index (CPI) in Poland over the same period, indicating that there is likely to be some price pain for beer drinkers as breweries are looking for ways to offset their costs.
The eToro Beer Index (Simple Weighted Index) is based on current global prices for a basket of six commodities needed to produce and sell beer - wheat, barley, rice, malt, aluminum material (for cans) and gasoline (for transport and agriculture). Since August 20, 2020, the Beer Index has increased by 62%, with the war in Ukraine playing a significant role in the costs currently faced by brewers.
Paweł Majtkowski, eToro market analyst, said:
“The average supermarket price of a 0,5-liter bottle of Żywiec beer has jumped by 2 percent in the last two years. That is almost 28 percentage points above the rise in inflation over the same period. Our Beer Index shows that the gains are not over yet, and further hikes may be ahead of us. Prices can also be influenced by shortages of inputs, such as for example carbon dioxide.
This is a very unfortunate time for a rise in beer prices, because Oktoberfest in Munich it starts in a few weeks, and in November the World Cup with our team starts. Apart from the production price, the excise tax on beer also increases every year, which further intensifies the price increase. So it turns out that one of the biggest winners in this situation will be the budget. The average Pole over the age of 15 drinks 136l of beer a year, on which he spends about PLN 900, of which almost 40 percent. it's taxes. "
Virtually everything is more expensive
Gas - necessary for the production of beer ingredients as well as for its transport - recorded the largest price increase of all items in the beer basket, and its cost jumped by 138%, mainly due to the war in Ukraine and limited oil supplies from Russia.
The costs of barley and malt also rose sharply, by 104% respectively. and 87 percent over the same period, thanks in large part to disruptions caused by the war, with Russia and Ukraine believed to supply as much as 30% of the world barley exports.
Rice is the only commodity on the Beer Index whose price has fallen by 1% in the last two years. from mid-August 2020. It is believed that the stable price of this grain - which is used as an additive in combination with barley malt to lighten the beer - is due to the fact that since 2007, supply has exceeded demand every year, leading to a large stockpile.


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Loblaw Cos. Ltd. has agreed to sell off 10 Shoppers Drug Mart locations to satisfy concerns from regulators about the grocery and retail giant’s market power.
The sale partially fulfills a condition of Loblaw’s purchase of Shoppers Drug Mart for a $12.4-billion last year, a mega-merger that has combined the country’s largest grocery chain with Canada’s biggest pharmacy business.
As part of its review, the Competition Bureau highlighted 27 cities and towns across the country where Loblaw and Shoppers were multiple locations were concentrated, raising the spectre that the reduced competition would fan prices upward.
“Competition generally leads to lower prices for consumers, as well as more consumer choice, a wider range of service options and increased innovation,” the regulator said in a statement.
The federal agency says seven of the 10 locations approved for sale will be to independent pharmacists operating under the McKesson banner. The other three Shoppers locations will be sold to Pharmasave Drugs in Atlantic Canada.
The Shoppers Drug Mart stores to be sold are in Ontario, Alberta, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island.
Loblaw still needs to sell four other locations to gain the approval. It has sold a total of 14 stores and nine in-store pharmacies.
MORE: Loblaw just a grocery store chain? Not even close
In addition to Shoppers Drug Mart, its main grocery store business and several other grocery banners, such as No Frills, Real Canadian Superstore and others, Loblaw also operates the clothing line Joe Fresh, real estate trust Choice Properties and financial services division President’s Choice Financial.


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Cellum’s wallet technology offers integration with Bluetooth Low Energy beacons, making transactions faster and easier than ever before. See how the solution can be used to pay the check at a restaurant.
Special thanks to Fruccola Juice Bar.
UK’s Gatwick Airport now has 2,000 beacons for in-house navigation
Sophisticated in-house environments for example, airports and departmental stores is often a pain to find your way around. And even while Google is thinking of getting mobile phones with 3D detectors as one potential fix for places GPS won’t accurately reach, another approach is to kit out an interior with many Bluetooth beacons – giving mobile phone users located-locked pings to fix onto to figure out exactly where they’re.
The UK’s second busiest airport, Gatwick, has decided on the latter way to power an indoor navigation system it’s launching as a part of a bigger, multi-year transformation program.
It’s currently completed providing its two terminals with around 2,000 battery-powered beacons guaranteeing that digital map users will get a more exact blue dot as they walk around. The beacon system will also be employed to power an augmented reality wayfinding tool – making sure that mobile users will be able to be guided to specific locations inside the terminals with on-screen arrows. The beacon system is slated as backing up positioning with +/-3m accuracy.
Gatwick is going to integrate indoor positioning into some of its apps, and says it’s in discussions with airlines to tap into it for their own apps and services – giving demonstration of them having the ability to send push notifications to warn travellers if they’re running late, or even consider whether or not to wait or offload luggage so an aircraft can take off promptly.
Merchants and other third parties will also be able to use the system for proximity detection of potential consumers and delivery advertising and marketing messages – at least to those who’ve opted in to receive them.
Gatwick says it won’t be obtaining any personal information using the beacons but says “generic information on ‘people densities’ in different beacon zones” will be utilized to help improve airport operations – just like queue measurement, streamlining passenger flows and bringing down obstruction.
The airport has worked with UK startup company Pointr on the system. In addition to developing software and managing the system on an ongoing basis, Pointr offers an SDK with support for 3D AR wayfinding to enable third parties to take advantage of the functionality.
Based on https://techcrunch.com/2017/05/25/gatwick-airport-now-has-2000-beacons-for-indoor-navigation/


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Australians are saving more and spending less, and debit cards are becoming more popular.
It's a phenomenon the governor of the Reserve Bank has been talking about for a while, and new data released last week provides further evidence for it.
A report on consumer credit by the business statistics company Dun & Bradstreet shows expectations for household debt are at their lowest level in three years.
The results come from a national survey of 1218 respondents aged 18 to 64. Conducted online by Newspoll in January, it anticipates the March 2013 quarter.
It shows just 18 per cent of respondents expect their household debt to increase in the March quarter, down from 22 per cent in the previous quarter.
As the survey's authors point out, this is likely to have a bearing on consumption.
"This attitude towards spending, especially on discretionary items, can have a negative knock-on effect for Australian businesses; something that has been revealed in the latest Bureau of Statistics retail figures, which showed only modest activity, and also in the lower sales expectations from our recent business expectations survey."
Economists keep abreast of consumers' expectations of things such as spending and saving because expectations play a large role in the economic theory of consumption.
They are particularly interested in consumption because it is by far the largest component of gross domestic product. It has consistently remained between 50 per cent and 60 per cent of Australia's GDP for the past 10 years. In 2011, that figure was 54 per cent.
A former Gillard government economic adviser and now adviser to Dun & Bradstreet, Stephen Koukoulas, says this "cautious consumer" phenomenon is likely to dampen economic growth in the short term.
However, he says it bodes well for the medium term because it ensures consumers will be more secure in the event of an unforeseen economic slowdown.
"If there is no slowdown in the next year or two, the current financial circumstances of consumers suggest they will be well placed to underpin ongoing strong growth in consumption and other spending," Koukoulas says.
So while economists disagree about the need for the RBA to keep cutting rates, it seems households are determined to steadily repair their finances — one quarter at a time.


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Mitsubishi Motors in the UK managing director Rob Lindley has told AM he expects “no mass exodus” of car dealers from the brand’s franchised UK retail network.
This is despite the Japanese carmaker’s long-time UK importer, the Colt Car Company (CCC) writing to its 103 franchisees at the end of July to inform them that the
brand’s Mid-Term Plan would mean an immediate freeze on new models entering the European market.
The move will, essentially, result in Mitsubishi becoming a one-car brand within 18 months – that car being the Mirage hatchback (pictured) which generated
1,179 of its 16,199 sales in 2019 – as the L200 pick-up falls foul of Euro 7 emissions regulations at the end of 2021.
Other models will be sourced from an existing stock of 15,000 vehicles already in the UK. Imports of the Outlander plug-in hybrid (PHEV), which has underpinned
the brand’s sales in recent years, will cease at the end of this year.
Despite CCC’s indication that it wanted to retain much of its franchised network as parts and aftersales providers, Lindley said that there was “no urgent
need” for changes to retailer contracts.
One AM dealer source said he expected Mitsubishi’s existing UK franchise contacts to be “ripped up” and replaced by separate sales and aftersales agreements.
But Lindley insisted in his interview with AM that “as it stands nothing has intrinsically changed”.
He added: “For me it’s a story, but it’s not the story people have made it out to be.
“Mitsubishi is continuing and we’re continuing to operate. Yes, there are no new models being introduced into the market, but this isn’t simply the story of a brand pulling out and disappearing.
“We’ll still have new and used car stock well into 2021 and new cars available to buy well into 2022 and beyond.
“It gives us time to see what our next steps will be.”
Many Mitsubishi franchisees are already planning ahead, however, with most deploying resource to secure a replacement franchise.
Livery Dole managing director Hayden Williams teamed up with sales manager Joe Chatting, company secretary Diane Slater and workshop controller Chris
Veitch to complete a management buy-out (MBO) from owner Nigel Clegg in late February.
Williams (pictured third from the right, below) told AM: “If you’d have asked me if I’d have invested if I had any idea we’d be facing a global pandemic and the loss of our
franchise within the next four months, I don’t think I would.”
Like many Mitsubishi retailers Williams said that Livery Dole was strong in aftersales and used cars, reflecting that the manufacturer’s decision only stood to
impact “the most complicated and least profitable part of the business”.
He said: “If this had happened 10 years ago, when we were dependent on large bonuses from the manufacturer, then it would have been disastrous.
“The bonuses have become really insignificant in recent years, a nice to have but not fundamental to the business.”
Williams said his solus Mitsubishi business, in Marsh Barton, near Exeter, was already surrounded by most of the market’s major car brands, making finding
a replacement franchise difficult, but he said a few had made “tentative enquiries”.
“The concern would be the cost,” he said. “It’s not in my plans to spend a vast amount on a new gin palace right now.”
Nathan Tomlinson, managing director of fellow south-west Mitsubishi franchisee Devonshire Motors and a Mitsubishi dealer council member, said: “Our next
challenge is to prove we can achieve what we have achieved with Mitsubishi with another brand. That’s something I find really exciting.”
Like Williams, Tomlinson suggested that the impact of the withdrawal of Mitsubishi Motor Corporation (MMC) from Europe might not be felt straight away due
to the network’s success in used cars and aftersales.
Lindley told AM the network achieved an average 78.4% overhead absorption in its previous financial year (to the end of March), with that figure rising to 132%
in June’s post-lockdown period as franchisees made £19,000 profit before tax on average – double that of the same period in 2019.
Mitsubishi revealed a new corporate identity in 2018 and many franchisees were concerned about the prospect of investing in upgrades to their facilities, but
Mitsubishi Motor Europe paused the plans at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Tomlinson said: “The saving grace for many Mitsubishi dealers is the cost base reduction. We are able to run a very efficient operation to continue to do a
good job for all parties.”
Robin Luscombe, the managing director of Leeds-based Luscombe Motors, was counting himself lucky after moving MG Motors under the same roof as
Mitsubishi at its site in Hunslet during lockdown.
He said Mitsubishi’s plans had come “out of the blue”, but added: “At the moment I’m just counting myself quite fortunate that we’d already taken the decision
to introduce that new MG franchise.”
Lindley conceded that CCC was another party that had been caught out by MMC’s decision.
“The first I heard of it was in a conference call to Japan on the Wednesday before we wrote to our retailers,” he said.
“We knew the Mid-Term Plan had been put off from May to July and we knew it might contain some strategic changes and that they’d look across the three
brands, but we didn’t think they’d take this particular decision.”
CCC, itself, is now on the hunt for a new manufacturer partner in the UK and hopes to have one in time to offer an alternative business proposition to its
In its letter to retailers CCC said that it had already been looking at opportunities to bring a new brand to the UK adding that “in light of (the MMC) announcement
we are focused on accelerating these opportunities with the goal of introducing additional brands to our business as quickly as possible.”
Asked about the introduction of new brands in a traditional distributor/dealer model at a time when many manufacturers are targeting online sales, Lindley
said: “We have developed the Mitsubishi online retail platform in the UK. We’re well equipped and prepared to provide a blend of both.”
Williams said he may be inclined to adopt a new CCC brand when the time comes. He said: “Livery Dole has a 35-year relationship with CCC, not Mitsubishi, so I
don’t see why not.”
MMC’S ‘STRATEGIC EXIT’
MMC’s move comes as the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance embarks on a restructure of its global operations with the brands taking the lead in European,
American and Asian markets, respectively.
Factory closures and increased cross-platform sharing form part of the plan to cut the cost of producing a vehicle by 40%.
Future Mitsubishi models will be targeted at the South-East Asian market in an attempt to boost market share there from around 6% to 11%.
MMC’s decision to exit Europe also follows a £1.3 billion loss in Q1 and includes a drive towards 20% cost savings within the next three years.
David Bailey, a professor of business economics at the Birmingham Business School, said he expects further disruption among familiar car brands as the
pressures of EU emissions regulations, the expense of developing alternative fuel vehicles (AFVs) and the impact of COVID-19 take hold.
“A big squeeze is effectively playing out, and scale is seen as increasingly important for car firms,” he said.
“Mitsubishi’s decision to pull out of Europe is a reflection not only of Alliance tensions but also of these wider industry challenges. Expect more disruptions to
Steve Young, managing director of ICDP, is not so sure. While he conceded that OEMs “must have their strategy departments and accountants running the numbers every time there is a market setback or new regulatory demand in Europe” he said that none shared the unique characteristics of Mitsubishi of “lacking a coherent product plan and having partners who will maintain the presence from a stronger position”.
Young expects the number of manufacturers with a presence in the UK to rise with the likes of Polestar, Lynk&Co and Hyundai’s Genesis premium brand.
He said: “For now, my money is on few if any further departures from the European scene, and indeed some additions as Chinese players including some of the BEV start-ups seize the opportunity.”


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Kenya plans to diversify its portfolio of products exported to the Gulf region to increase revenue, an official said Sunday.
Wilfred Marube, CEO of the Kenya Export Promotion and Branding Agency (KEPROBA), said at a briefing in Nairobi that the Gulf region is already consuming black tea, cut flowers, mangoes, beans, avocados, coffee, vegetables and pineapples from Kenya.
“Other Kenyan products with high growth potential in the golf market include edible nuts, chewing gum, clothing, soap and medicines,” Marube said during a ceremony for the first batch of Kenyan goods on display at Expo 2020 Dubai, which runs from October to March 2022.
The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) market includes Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
Government data shows that the East African nation exports an estimated 60 billion shillings (about $ 555 million) of goods to the Gulf region annually.
Marube said the proximity between Kenya and the Gulf region provides a conducive environment for business, technological development and innovation, cultural exchanges, tourism and trade. End item


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The Downtown Billings Alliance and Yellowstone Valley Animal Shelter are working throughout August to make downtown Billings more pet-friendly.
The DBA plans to collaborate with the Business Improvement District to install pet-friendly fire hydrants, AstroTurf in empty tree wells and doggie bag dispensers throughout the area during the Downtown Dog Days of Summer.
The shelter will also bring a few dogs to the DBA office every Friday in August. Pet owners can also make their own dog toys out of old T-shirts provided by the alliance.
It’s our entry to making downtown a little more dog friendly,” said Lindsay Richardson, director of events for the DBA. “We’re launching a new page on our website called ‘Downtown Dogs,’ and it will have profiles of dogs downtown, and of course people can submit their dogs if we missed anyone.”
Richardson said that more people are moving downtown with animals, but there aren’t any animal stores or dog parks in the area.
Animals are still prohibited during organized events in the area, including the Farmer’s Market. The overall goal is to make it walkable and shoppable, and that includes pets, Richardson said.
We do think on a day-to-day basis, dog friendliness is an important thing for downtown to be since a majority of homeowners and residents all have multiple pets.”
Antonia Craighill, owner of Velvet Cravings on North Broadway, said that tenants in the apartments above her business have pets.
Gustavo Belotta, general manager for This House of Books downtown, said that a push for pet-friendly amenities would make more sense if pet retail stores or parks were available.
Stores like that may be possible in the future, Richardson said.
A pocket park, or a small public space, was installed east of the Billings Depot last year.
I would say (downtown Billings) isn’t particularly active,” Belotta said. “I do see people walking their pets regularly every day, but there isn’t any particular reason to bring your pet down here. There aren’t pet zones or pet stores or anything that’s particular to pets.”
The Downtown Dog Days of Summer will host shelter dogs at their office at 116 N. 29th St. every Friday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.


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Though marijuana is more widespread and mainstream, people are abusing the drug at far lower rates.
Everyone has a bad edibles experience, but Dion Waiters has a story that is funnier and costlier than yours ever was.
If you are part of the two million people who live in public housing, your situation isn't that much different than those living in apartments or rental houses across the country.
This Kardashian Is Taking A Step Back From ‘KUWTK’; Justin Bieber Sparks Outrage With His Opinion Of Popeyes Chicken Sandwich
Justin Bieber said the Popeyes chicken sandwich is 'not worth the hype'; Kourtney Kardashian is taking some time away from KUWTK to be a mom.
Synthetic cannabinoids do not taste like cannabis, do not provide the same high, and in a frightening number of cases, cause nasty side effects, including psychosis and death.
The Fresh Toast
Follow us for all the lastest entertainment and news with a side of cannabis
The latest on Rihianna and Rob Kardashian along with pop culture, celebrity news and fashion from our friends at The Jasmine Brand.
Migos Deny Stealing ‘Walk It Talk It’; Watch R. Kelly Celebrate His Birthday At Chicago Nightclub Amid Controversy
The latest in pop culture, celebrity news and fashion from our friends at The Jasmine Brand.


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March 8, 2011
Keep up with the new fashion trends in 2011: be part of this rapidly evolving era of e-commerce and now, even f-commerce.
2010 was definitely the year of e-commerce and now that the economy shows signs of recovery (finally!), retailers are aiming for more growth in 2011, with great focus on technology. Most of the major retail brands have launched (or will be launching soon) custom apps for iPhone, Android, iPad, and more. For example, Burberry’s app live streams their fashion shows and provides the option for consumers to purchase the runway collection directly from their iPad. It’s all about instant gratification. It’s 2011 – if consumers want it, they want it now.
Another big trend to look out for in 2011 is the “f-commerce”, which basically is the ability to execute shopping transactions in Facebook without leaving the network. Retailers have caught on to the wildfire called Facebook. What better place to connect with consumers than a platform which reaches 500 million users all around the world and even turned over an entire Egyptian government in under 20 days. Facebook is powerful stuff. It is estimated that Facebook users spend approximately 700 billion minutes per month browsing, sharing, and interacting. Currently, few brands like Hallmark, Victoria’s Secret, Dunkin’ Donuts, Ford, and Starbucks are using f-commerce, but it will soon be more and more common to see that around.
What’s still a staple of the fashion industry are the fashion shows each year where designers reveal their new looks. Here are the upcoming dates of the leading fashion shows of 2011:
Feb. 7-10: Montreal, (Quebec) Canada – Montreal Fashion Week
Feb. 10-17: New York, NY – Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week
Feb. 18-23: London, United Kingdom – London Fashion Week
Feb. 21-27: Washington D.C.- D.C. Fashion Week
Feb. 22-25: Buenos Aires, Argentina – Buenos Aires Fashion Week
Feb. 23-Mar. 1: Milan, Italy – Milan Fashion Week
Mar. 1-9: Paris, France – Paris Fashion Week (Mode à Paris)
Mar. 3-6: Miami, FL – Miami Beach International Fashion Week
Mar. 15-18: Los Angeles, CA – Style Fashion Week LA
Mar. 18-25: Tokyo, Japan – Japan Fashion Week
Mar. 22-26: Charleston, SC – Charleston Fashion Week
May 2-6: Sydney, Australia – Rosemount Australian Fashion Week
May 30-Jun. 4: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil – Fashion Rio
Jun. 13-18: Sao Paulo, Brazil – Sao Paulo Fashion Week
Jul. 4-7: Hong Kong – Hong Kong Fashion Week
Here are some of our top promotional products for the year :
Posted by Eunice, Operations Assistant
Filed under: Innovative Ideas


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On Tuesday afternoon, while most people were focused on the latest news from the House Intelligence Committee, the House quietly voted to undo rules that keep internet service providers — the companies like Comcast, Verizon and Charter that you pay for online access — from selling your personal information.
The Senate already approved the bill, on a party-line vote, last week, which means that in the coming days President Trump will be able to sign legislation that will strike a significant blow against online privacy protection.
The bill not only gives cable companies and wireless providers free rein to do what they like with your browsing history, shopping habits, your location and other information gleaned from your online activity, but it would also prevent the Federal Communications Commission from ever again establishing similar consumer privacy protections.
The bill is an effort by the F.C.C.’s new Republican majority and congressional Republicans to overturn a simple but vitally important concept — namely that the information that goes over a network belongs to you as the consumer, not to the network hired to carry it.
Here’s one perverse result of this action. When you make a voice call on your smartphone, the information is protected: Your phone company can’t sell the fact that you are calling car dealerships to others who want to sell you a car. But if the same device and the same network are used to contact car dealers through the internet, that information — the same information, in fact — can be captured and sold by the network. To add insult to injury, you pay the network a monthly fee for the privilege of having your information sold to the highest bidder.
This bill isn’t the only gift to the industry. The Trump F.C.C. recently voted to stay requirements that internet service providers must take “reasonable measures” to protect confidential information they hold on their customers, such as Social Security numbers and credit card information.
This is not a hypothetical risk — in 2015 AT&T was fined $25 million for shoddy practices that allowed employees to steal and sell the private information of 280,000 customers.
Among the many calamities engendered by the circus atmosphere of this White House is the diversion of public attention away from many other activities undertaken by the Republican-controlled government. Nobody seemed to notice when the Trump F.C.C. dropped the requirement about networks protecting information because we were all riveted by the Russian hacking of the election and the attempted repeal of Obamacare.
There’s a lot of hypocrisy at play here: The man who has raged endlessly at the alleged surveillance of the communications of his aides (and potentially himself) will most likely soon gladly sign a bill that allows unrestrained sale of the personal information of any American using the internet.
Apparently, the Trump administration and its allies in Congress value privacy for themselves over the privacy of the people who put them in office. What is good business for powerful cable and phone companies is just tough luck for the rest of us


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U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk was in town recently. Among his messages: He expects the long-delayed U.S.-Panama Free Trade Agreement to go into effect shortly. Shortly thereafter, Panama will finally be annexed as the 51st U.S. state. That last part is not true, but it seems like it could be.
Read Mimi Whitefield’s Miami Herald article here:
Brought to you by Miami International Business Attorney


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The survey results reflect the growing number of recalls in categories such as automotive, toys, and grocery and increasing pressure on brands from retail private label.
Reducing costs, meanwhile, is the top supply chain priority for respondents, and there is significant interest in improving forecasting capability and accuracy as well as improving responsiveness to demand changes. As companies begin to recover from the recession, managing the ability to respond to change and prepare for the return of demand is increasingly critical for business success, according to IDC.
When asked about the top three supply chain IT application investments planned for the next 12 months, sales and operations planning (S&OP) topped the list for both retailers and manufacturers.
For manufacturers, investment in strategic sourcing was the second-most frequently selected application investment, as many manufacturers plan to use it to control costs. Retailers selected advanced inventory management or inventory optimization as second-most important. Among manufacturing companies with more than 10,000 employees, manufacturing execution systems was the second-most common response after strategic sourcing, which reflects a renewed interest among large manufacturers in standardizing how they run their factories.
According to Leslie Hand, research director, IDC Retail Insights, “The IT investment priorities for retailers reflect the current requirement to more effectively manage top and bottom lines, as well as sales growth in the web and mobile channels, making better synchronization critical in the coming year. It's also clear from our results that retailers have received the consumer message that quality, value and transparency are all equally important by ranking product quality as the most important initiative this year.”
The survey, jointly conducted by IDC Manufacturing Insights and IDC Retail Insights, reveals the priorities of 415 manufacturers and 179 retailers in the United States. Respondents have various roles across their organizations, including procurement, supply chain, manufacturing/operations, merchandising and IT.


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More than a 3D physics engine, Havok has become a comprehensive game development platform. Nvidia and Autodesk have a stronger competitor now.
Havok is best known as a 3D physics engine, which competes against the PhysX engine from Nvidia and the Gameware suite from Autodesk. It was Intel’s acquisition of Havok that likely prompted Nvidia to buy PhysX in 2008.
Havok has expanded under Intel’s watch to become a developer of a wide variety of middleware tools for game development and animation. Wikipedia lists more than 600 game titles using Havok’s products. For example, the latest PlayStation 4 game from Activision Blizzard, Shadow of Mordor, uses Havok’s Physics, Cloth, Script, and Animation products.
When the news was first announced October 2, there was some chatter in the game community about the possibility of Microsoft turning off availability of Havok, keeping it for internal development. But Microsoft was quick to eliminate such talk. “We will continue to license Havok’s technology to the broad AAA games industry,” an unnamed Microsoft representative told IGN. “This also means that we will continue to license Havok’s technology to run across various game consoles including Sony and Nintendo.”
What do we think?
Nvidia and Autodesk now have a stronger competitor in the game engine market. Gaming was not a core business for Intel, but it is a big deal at Microsoft. Autodesk has been focusing its efforts on winning indie developers; Nvidia works the entire market, from indie to major game studios. All three offer 3D physics engines, and then there is the popular Bullet open source physics engine. All have their devotees among game developers. It is unlikely there will be much consolidation in the near future.
Perhaps the most respected aspect of Microsoft over the years has been its tools for developers. While it could (and should) use Havok technology to give Windows 10 a boost as a game platform, it will undoubtedly continue to provide the tools on a open playing field.


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source url Fast casual Mexican spot GuadalaHARRY’s Burrito Joint is now welcoming customers after officially firing up the grills late last week at the Spring Street Arcade. Open daily from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m., GuadalHARRY’s menu focuses heavily on eight signature burritos featuring proteins ranging from carnitas to marinated shrimp all priced under $10. The Historic Core newcomer, which is offering VIP status to those who sign up on its website, also serves up two meatless options (soyrizo and bean) and a soup of the day, along with classic sides including chips & guacamole. As previously reported by DTLAer, GuadalaHARRY’s is part of a duel-concept that also houses the soon-to-open Bitchin Kitchen in what’s proving to be a busy start to the year for the 94-year-old Spring Street Arcade with the closure of Mission Market and recent addition of Fresh Order Grill.
can you buy cialis over the counter in australia GuadalaHARRY’s Burrito Joint | 541 S. Spring St. | Los Angeles, CA 90013


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DCA ‘Stings’ Illegal Contractors
Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA) Commissioner Jonathan Mintz recently announced the results of an eight-week sting house operation targeting illegal home improvement contractors. DCA issued violations and seized vehicles from 12 unlicensed contractors, who have agreed to pay more than $65,000 in fines and restitution. DCA identified six of these contractors based on fines or restitution they owed, previously revoked licenses and consumer complaints. The Department targeted the other six after finding them illegally advertising their services in local newspapers or online despite being unlicensed. While licensed contractors’ work is ultimately backed up by DCA’s Home Improvement Contractor Trust Fund, into which licensees pay a fee, unlicensed home improvement contractors put homeowners at risk for unsafe workmanship, unfinished projects and excessive expenses.
As part of its sting house operation, DCA investigators scheduled 14 appointments for estimates, with 13 of the illegal contractors showing up to bid on a job. When each of the unlicensed contractors agreed to conduct a range of services despite being unlicensed, DCA immediately seized their vehicles and issued violations. A total of 12 vehicles were seized; the 13th contractor fled when the undercover inspector identified himself, though the Department still filed violations for unlicensed activity.
In the last year, DCA conducted more than 1,600 inspections throughout the City, issuing more than 600 violations, seizing over 200 vehicles and revoking or suspending more than 100 licenses. Last year, the Department secured more than $6.2 million in restitution for consumers.
The majority of the nearly 500 complaints received by DCA about home improvement contractors involved contractors failing to follow through on the terms of their contracts with homeowners. Home improvement contractors are consistently one of DCA’s highest complaint categories. There are currently more than 13,000 home improvement contractors licensed with DCA.
Consumers can instantly check to see if a contractor is licensed online at nyc.gov/consumers or by calling 311. DCA also provides a model contract that covers the breadth of a home improvement project, from materials and equipment to prices, payments and work schedules. Home improvement contractors can apply online for a DCA license.
DCA enforces the Consumer Protection Law and other related busi DCA licenses more than 71,000 businesses in 55 different industries. Through targeted outreach, partnerships with community and trade organizations, and informational materials, DCA educates consumers and businesses alike about their rights and responsibilities. DCA’s Office of Financial Empowerment (OFE) is the first local government initiative in the nation with a mission to educate, empower, and protect New Yorkers with low incomes so they can build assets and make the most of their financial resources.


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Apple on Tuesday reported first-quarter revenue that managed to just surpass the company’s own lowered estimates as it saw one of its biggest year-over-year declines in iPhone sales.
Following the close of trading, Apple said it earned $4.18 a share, on $84.3 billion in sales, for the quarter ending Dec. 29. During the year-ago period, Apple earned $3.89 a share, on revenue of $88.3 billion.
By managing to eke out a small improvement over its revenue outlook, Apple gave investors a bit of breathing room in after-hours trading — its shares climbed 4.7 percent, to $163.10.
On Jan. 2, Apple lowered its sales outlook for the quarter to $84 billion from a prior estimate of $89 billion to $93 billion, due in large part to weakness in its business in China and lower-than-expected sales of iPhones.
In fact, iPhone revenue fell to $52 billion, a 15 percent decline from the $61.1 billion it reported in the first quarter a year ago. Apple’s sales from what it calls “Greater China” plunged by almost 27 percent, to $13.17 billion.
Speaking on a conference call to discuss Apple’s results, Chief Executive Officer Tim Cook said it was “disappointing to miss our revenue guidance,” but added that “we manage Apple for the long term, and this quarter’s results demonstrate that the underlying strength of our business runs deep and wide.”
While iPhone revenue declined, Apple was able to point to its services business sales rising 19 percent, to $10.9 billion, as an example of the company’s growth in non-iPhone areas. Sales of iPads rose by almost 17 percent, to $6.73 billion, and Mac computer revenue grew almost 9 percent, to $7.42 billion.
Analysts that follow Apple said that while they don’t think the bottom has fallen out on the company, Cook and company do have some work ahead of them in order to restore the sheen acquired from years of booming iPhone sales.
“There were some bright spots but because the iPhone makes up so much of Apple’s revenue stream those bright spots are overshadowed,” said Rob Enderle, president of tech consultancy for the Enderle Group. “They need greater product diversity, and they also need to up their efforts with regard to demand generation before they start hitting limitations on what people are willing to pay for Apple services and hardware.”
Tim Bajarin, president of tech research firm Creative Strategies, said that the China factor is likely to weigh on Apple this year. However, he thinks the company will be able to use its product line to steer through some of the difficulties and uncertainties of the trade situation that is still simmering between China and the United States.
“2019 will be a difficult year for Apple, and most tech companies, based on lower demand and tariff and trade issues with China, as well as challenges to the world economy,” he said. “But Apple, most likely, has a lot of new products and services coming out this year that should help them navigate these global issues and remain a strong and successful company.”
For its current, fiscal second quarter, Apple said it expects sales to be anywhere from $55 billion to $59 billion.


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Tech Innovation Required to Fill Gap in Indoor Navigation for Blind
Being able to travel independently is vital to the wellbeing of the sight loss community. But navigating alone around indoor places such as malls, train stations and airports, is difficult unless the individual is very familiar with their surroundings, according to Strategy Analitics. While meet and assist services exist in train stations and airports, they typically must be booked well in advance and do not provide satisfactory user experiences.
There is huge opportunity for technological innovation to combat the issues of navigating indoor spaces for the blind or visually impaired. Research explores the needs of people who are blind or visually impaired and their relationship with technology. A new series of reports identifies key design implications with respect to user needs, technology use and pain-points for the sight loss community while travelling, using smartphones, or when using smart home technologies and appliances.
“There is an overwhelming opportunity for technological innovation to help people with sight loss navigate indoor public spaces when traveling. This would fill a huge need and eliminate a huge source of anxiety that was identified by the participants in our research when trying to navigate indoor places such as airports, bus and train stations, and shopping malls,” said Lisa Cooper, report author and Director at UX Innovation Practice.
“A trusted app – similar to a turn-by-turn navigation app commonly found for outdoor spaces – would be a game changer. Not only could a blind or visually impaired person use this kind of app to plan ahead of their journey, they would also be able to use it while they are physically navigating the indoor public space,” added Cooper.
“The use of other modalities such as braille and haptic feedback, rather than relying solely on audio feedback to visualize maps and scheduling, is key to helping this community better learn how to plan trips and understand their surroundings. If indoor navigation could be made available and linked to the identification of trains, buses and gate information, people with sight loss would be able to independently know where they are going, catch the right train or plane, or even navigate on foot to a specific store in a mall,” said Kevin Nolan, VP at UX Innovation Practice.


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Two of the biggest mobile network operators in the world participated in an Amazon AWS virtual event this week designed to highlight the role the cloud computing provider intends to play in the telecom industry. And both Verizon and Vodafone Business offered additional insights into their respective AWS-powered edge computing ambitions.
Executives from both carriers offered one clear takeaway: “We’re just at the beginning with this journey,” said Thierry Sender, director of IoT and real-time enterprise product strategy for Verizon. “There’s so much more to come.”
Sender said Verizon is testing edge computing with AWS in Chicago, and will roll out commercial services in unnamed major markets by the end of this year.
Similarly, Vodafone Business’ Jennifer Gill Didoni said that “we are a few years away from the ubiquitous availability of MEC [multi-access edge computing].”
“I’m probably not the one that’s going to develop the next killer app,” added Didoni, the operator’s head of cloud portfolio management. She noted that Amazon helps to connect developers with Vodafone’s services.
But executives from both Vodafone Business and Verizon did offer further insights into their companies’ edge computing partnerships with Amazon AWS, first announced late last year.
“I see ourselves on the brink of a whole new set of applications,” Didoni said. “It’s about bringing the cloud to devices that have never really had it before.”
Didoni explained that Vodafone is working to develop a network that can be adjusted based on the specific customer, their device, their location and their network needs, with latency speeds ranging from 100 milliseconds to 10ms. For example, some applications like augmented reality might need a certain set of network capabilities while medical imaging services might require a different set.


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Today, Google’s Android platform and Apple’s iOS platform dominate the mobile landscape. It’s difficult to imagine that ever changing considering how far behind other platforms are at this point, but people said the same thing more than a decade ago when operating systems like Symbian and Windows Mobile ruled the world. Things change and what goes up must come down. What’s interesting, however, is that major Android vendors are already starting to prepare for life after Android despite the platform’s strong position at the moment. More →
Back in April, Netflix started the countdown to let longtime subscribers know that they were about to start paying more for their service. The price hike would increase subscription fees paid by older customers to match the company’s newer, more expensive plans. At that time, a survey found that a whopping 80% of Netflix subscribers had no idea that prices were about to increase. With that in mind, Netflix is making sure that it breaks the bad news a bit sooner this time. But just in case you missed the news, let this serve as another warning: The next round of longtime Netflix subscribers will see their prices increase next month. More →
If you’re on the hunt for some sweet new iOS apps and you don’t want to part with much cash to get them, you’re in luck. Today, as we do every day, we’ve put together a post filled with the best premium iPhone and iPad apps out there that are on sale for free. There are a whole bunch of useful apps on today’s list, and there are even a couple of fun ones like an app filled with terrible “yo mama” jokes. You can also check yesterday’s post, which includes a few apps that are still free downloads. More →
Apple’s top brass have lost their minds. Tim Cook is running Apple into the ground. The iPhone 7 is going to be boring and awful, and kittens may die as a result.
The smoke has cleared and the dust has settled following a series of reports on Tuesday covering Apple’s upcoming new iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Pro, or whatever they end up being called. The reports, which were almost certainly planted by Apple’s PR team, made it clear that the new iPhones launching this year will not be major updates. Instead, they’ll be minor updates just as we’ve seen in leaks. It looks like the photo that seemingly gave us our first look at a real iPhone 7 was indeed likely genuine.
Apple shares dipped on the news before quickly recovering and then actually gaining, but the internet wasn’t quite as forgiving. In fact, bloggers where whinier than ever on Tuesday when covering this year’s upcoming iPhones. Should they be angry, or is all this complaining totally off base? More →
The robot revolution might not begin with a rogue defense system declaring war on humanity, as Terminator predicted. Instead, it might take place when a bunch of robots finally decide that they’re tired of picking up our stinky socks.
OpenAI, an open source artificial-intelligence non-profit with $1 billion in funding from Elon Musk and Amazon among others, has announced details of its biggest project to date. The group intends to lay the groundwork for the creation of a robot that will “perform basic housework” in households around the world. In other words, the group intends to create software that will enable the proliferation of robot housemaids. More →
Tens of millions of people are going to wake up in a panic this morning when they go to check Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr and other social networks only to find out that all of the video links they click on are dead. Why? Because YouTube is down. AHHH! Google’s insanely popular video site went offline just before 7:30AM EDT, and all clicks to videos return the dreaded 500 Internal Server Error, which looks like this: More →
Apple’s PR team was hard at work this morning setting expectations for this year’s iPhone refresh. According to a few near-simultaneous reports including this one in The Wall Street Journal, Apple’s new iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus won’t feature any major design changes. Instead, they’ll be pretty well aligned with all of the rumors and leaks we’ve seen: the new iPhones will look a lot like the current iPhones, but they’ll ditch the 3.5mm audio jack and they’ll be slimmer. Remember what we said was probably our first look at a real iPhone 7? Well, it was indeed probably our first look at a real iPhone 7.
We covered WSJ’s big iPhone report earlier on Tuesday, but it’s worth diving into it again. Why? Because a couple of lines near the end of the article give us some pretty big hints of what we can expect from Apple’s future iPhones. More →
What, Monday’s killer list of paid iPhone and iPad apps on sale for free wasn’t enough for you? Of course it wasn’t… you can never really get enough paid iOS apps for free. Today we’ve got 10 more freebies lined up and if you missed yesterday’s post, head back there right away and you’ll find some more that are still on sale. More →
Internet Explorer and Microsoft Edge ship as the default web browsers on Windows computers. Safari is the default web browser on any MacBook, iMac or Mac Pro. And yet despite its massive disadvantage compared to rival browsers from Microsoft and Apple, Google’s Chrome internet browser is the most popular browser in the world as of two months ago. According to data from Net Applications, Chrome currently holds 45.63% of the global browser market while Microsoft’s Internet Explorer has a 33.71% share and Safari’s share sits at just 4.69%.
As popular as Chrome is though, it still lags behind rivals at times when it comes to speed and performance. In this post, we’ll tell you five simple things you can do to speed up Chrome on your Windows PC or your Mac. More →
If there is one thing and only one thing that you take away from this site when it comes to online security, it should be this: enable 2-Step Verification (2FV) on every single account you have that supports it. People constantly moan and groan about how annoying it is to use password management software like 1Password and enhanced security features such as 2-Step Verification, also known as 2-Factor Authentication. Trust us when we tell you that the 10 to 15 extra seconds it takes to make use of either of those important security technologies could mean the difference between having your account hijacked and keeping all of your data secure.
And now, a big change will cut the amount of time it takes many Google users to log in with 2FV in half. More →
Donald Trump’s campaign has been nothing if not controversial. The republican presidential hopeful knows exactly how to push everyone’s buttons. Among his supporters he can do no wrong and among his critics he can do no right. But whichever side of the fence on which you stand, you have to appreciate the fact that Trump has an uncanny ability to steal the spotlight and evoke strong responses from his supporters and from the opposition.
This past weekend, things came to a head when a 19-year-old British man made an attempt on Trump’s life. More →
Elon Musk is one of the few people in the world with the vision and the resources to help shape our future. It sounds like a cliche, but it’s true. Musk’s Tesla business has already had a profound impact on the automobile industry, jump starting the electric car market and pushing the pace of electric car proliferation years ahead of where it would otherwise be. His company SpaceX now plays a huge role in space missions, and the Hyperloop rail system he dreamt up could end up changing the way we travel yet again.
Can you imagine what it might be like to interview with Musk? More →
The odds are very good that you’ve never heard of F1 sidecar racing before, but we promise that you won’t soon forget it. This crazy sport began in the late 1940s and racers used rigs much like the ones you might envision when you think of a motorcycle and a sidecar. In the modern era, the sidecar racing has completely transformed into one of the craziest sports we’ve come across recently, and it’s just about as dangerous as it looks. More →


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Today, data is increasingly seen as the fuel of the business, rather than its byproduct.
As a result, the old adage “garbage in, garbage out” couldn’t ring truer when it comes to maximizing the value of machine learning in the enterprise, according to Steve Zisk, senior product marketing manager of RedPoint Global, which provides a customer data platform and engagement hub.
Zisk presented a session at Data Summit 2018, titled “Garbage in, Garbage Out: Why Data Quality Is the Lifeblood of Machine Learning.”
Machine learning is worthless if it’s fueled by bad data, according to Zisk, who covered why simply collecting massive amounts of data isn’t enough to extract value from machine learning technology; what’s real and what’s hype when it comes to machine learning; and best practices for using machine learning to predict, identify patterns, and optimize processes for reaching customers effectively.
According to Zisk the market imperative for using great data to fuel machine learning driven customer engagement has never been higher. Organizations that get this right will be winners and others will have a problem. Demand for excellence in customer engagement is driven by customers themselves.
Zisk noted that:
- 19% of potential revenue lifts are generated by data-driven personalization (Forrester)
- 5x higher retention rates are generated by personalized engagement (Forbes)
- 6-7x higher conversion rates are generated by contextually relevant messages (Experian)
- 89% of enterprises expect to compete on the basis of customer experience (Gartner)
The growth of data is being fueled by
- Velocity - Cheap universal internet and simplified interfaces
- Variety - Ubiquitous smartphones, cheap IoT devices, and monitors everywhere
- Volume - Consumers have more than one device on at all times
- Veracity - Matching devices, people, and personas in the face of privacy and compliance
All this data is fueling artificial intelligence applications but problems can be caused by data quality and the old adage, garbage in garbage out applies in this context. According to Zisk, machine learning is required for personalization and machine learning requires accurate, robust data management. Problems occur when data has missing values, poor categories, inconsistent formatting, and erroneous values; when there is noisy data with conflicting data, misleading information, too much detail, poor collection practices; sparse data with very few actual values, too many fields/variables; and inadequate data with incomplete collection, biased sampling, and over-correlation.
Personalized recommendations enable organizations to match individual customer behaviors/preferences to products/offers with no unwanted assumptions about “similar customers”; to use customer history and any known preferences enabled by recent purchases, responses to advertisements, and survey results; is customizable for both offer and product recommendations; and greatly improved response rates.
Key points to remember, said Zisk are:
- It’s not just the amount of data, it’s what’s in the data that counts
- Think about the problem before just throwing data at it
- ML can augment your capabilities, efficiency, and performance
- Manage your expectations
- Keep updating your models
Many presentations from Data Summit 2018 have been made available for review at www.dbta.com/DataSummit/2018/Presentations.aspx.


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How One South Korean App Is Helping Asia Embrace the Metaverse
SoftBank is investing in Zepeto, a South Korean app popular with young women, where they can buy their 3-D avatars virtual versions of luxury fashion items. It's a sign that while the metaverse may not be fully here yet, opportunities for users and investors are starting to take shape. Wall Street Journal tech reporter Jiyoung Sohn joins WSJ Tech News Briefing host Zoe Thomas to discuss the app and why the Asian market may be faster at adopting apps for the metaverse.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Download from Google Play
Download from App Store


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In a shock move, Indonesia, the world’s biggest palm oil producer, will ban all palm oil exports from 28th April following a rise in the domestic price of cooking oil. The country’s finance minister admitted that the ban would hurt other countries but was necessary to prevent social unrest. Between them, Indonesia and Ukraine account for around 40 per cent of global vegoil exports. UK supermarkets have begun to limit vegoil purchases to a few bottles per customer.
Ukraine’s agriculture minister said 1.25 mln mt of grain and oilseeds were on commercial vessels blocked in Ukrainian seaports and may soon deteriorate. Ukraine’s state-owned railway halted the transport of some agricultural goods into Poland and Romania between the 16th and 18th of April, including grain and oilseeds. They gave no reason for the suspension.
Russia, meanwhile, continues to export grain, with almost 900,000 mt of wheat loaded in Russian ports so far this month, in line with the pace in March. Those shipments have spurred analysts to downgrade their outlook for EU wheat exports. The USDA has raised its estimate for Russian wheat exports to 33 million mt this season.
Ukraine’s agriculture ministry has said that as of 21st April, farmers had planted crops on more than 3 million hectares, around 21 per cent of the ministry’s forecast for spring crops.
Egypt’s Supply Ministry is considering adding India to sixteen other wheat import origins. It said that Indian wheat purchases would depend on suppliers “offering competitive bids.”
There is some debate about the quantity and quality of Indian wheat exports this season, and the BBC wonders whether India can feed the world. India’s government expects a record 111 mln mt of wheat, but others worry that poor weather and a shortage of fertilisers will result in a disappointing result.
Heavy snow could delay spring wheat and canola planting in Canada. South America’s farmers could plant more spring wheat in September, but the area is coming out of severe drought (particularly in Argentina), and farmers worry about fertiliser availability.
For the moment, at least, Russian fertiliser is still finding its way to Brazil, with at least 24 vessels carrying almost 678,000 mt of Russian fertilisers expected to reach Brazil in the next few weeks. Fertiliser prices, meanwhile, have made record highs.
The International Rice Research Institute has predicted that reduced fertiliser use could lead to a 10 per cent drop in rice yields next season. A shortage of fertilisers may create a hunger crisis in Peru. The country’s rice, potato and corn production could fall as much as 40 per cent. The Rockefeller Foundation has called for debt relief and emergency aid to poorer nations to avert a “massive, immediate food crisis” in poorer countries.
Bloomberg looks for a silver lining to the cloud and wonders whether the rising price of fertilisers will lead to farmers using them more efficiently. (That may happen, but the Guardian warns that the Sri Lankan government ban (now reversed) on imports of fertiliser and other chemical farm inputs led to a collapse in food production. Some poorer sectors of the population face starvation.)
Bloomberg also argues that the world is too dependent on wheat, rice and corn. The news agency cites a recent study that governments should repurpose agriculture subsidies to support the growing of foods that benefit human health and the environment.
The war in Ukraine is pushing up freight rates, with about 80 to 100 ships, mostly bulk carriers, stuck in Ukrainian waters. More than 450 ships are waiting to dock to load or unload goods in Chinese ports because of the Covid lockdown in Shanghai. Container freight is also tight, with a fifth of the world fleet tied up in port congestion.
In the first quarter of 2022, China imported 30 per cent fewer soybeans from the US than last year.
Indonesia’s government has opened a corruption case linked to the issuance of palm oil export permits, naming four suspects, including a trade ministry official and palm oil company executives.
Cargill has stopped buying palm oil from Sime Darby after the US government said it had found indicators of forced labour in the Malaysian grower. Ferrero has told its suppliers not to purchase palm oil from Sime Darby. (The company says Ferrero is not one of their customers.)
Nestlé increased product prices by an average of 5.2 per cent in the first quarter of this year. Procter & Gamble increased prices by 5 per cent in the same period, while Heineken, the world’s second-largest brewer, increased prices by 5.2 per cent.
Dan Saladino, a BBC food journalist, has written a book called “Eating to Extinction: The World’s Rarest Foods and Why We Need to Save Them.” (The title says it all.)
The Guardian argues that our farmers and food systems are not ready for climate change and believes that seed banks are the last line of defence against a threatening global food crisis. However, help may also be at hand from rubisco, an ancient protein that could help crops cope with higher temperatures.
The FT reports on a new study that argues that asking people to become vegetarian will not be sufficient to curb GHG emissions. It suggests that a better solution lies in reducing methane emissions from livestock.
The Dallas Fed believes that commodity margin calls pose a macroeconomic risk. The FT published an opinion piece arguing the same thing. The newspaper says that the margin squeeze and higher commodity prices will favour the more prominent trading companies.
Wall Street banks’ commodities trading exposures are rising because of higher prices. Both Goldman Sachs and JPMorgan Chase reported an increase in their daily VAR.
The US president has said that the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) will issue an emergency waiver permitting year-round sales of E15 gasoline, which contains 15 per cent ethanol.
Has the Covid pandemic and the war in Ukraine killed global supply chains? Newsweek believes so.
Finally, if you want to know how an exiled Mexican president (who returned to office eleven times) invented chewing gum, this podcast is for you!
© Commodity Conversations ® 2022
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Ahlstrom Corporation PRESS RELEASE
Ahlstrom plans to establish new Service Center for finance, accounting and customer service operations
Ahlstrom, a global high performance fiber-based materials company, plans to establish a new Service Center in Vilnius, Lithuania, to support its businesses in Europe. The new Service Center is planned to manage most of the finance, accounting and customer service operations in EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa). According to the plan, customer service and financial services will be combined from various locations in Europe.
The new setup is expected to bring benefits related to process harmonization, better management of resources, as well as improved collaboration and efficiency. Increasing the cost efficiency is essential for achieving the targeted cost savings of the company's rightsizing program. Ahlstrom's customer service functions in Munich will continue to operate as today.
The targeted cost savings from the reorganization as well as the respective non-recurring items to be booked are included in the EUR 50 million rightsizing program announced in January 2014.
"Customer service and finance operations at Ahlstrom are very fragmented today, since employees are working in small teams across multiple locations. Centralizing EMEA customer service into two main locations, Vilnius and Munich, enables us to offer better customer service. Centralizing financial services into Vilnius will enable business support in a more unified and efficient manner. This approach will also support our rightsizing program," says Sakari Ahdekivi, CFO.
The planned reorganization is expected to affect approximately 60 jobs in Europe. Ahlstrom will initiate the co-operation negotiations with the employees in all affected locations according to the local legislation and practices.
Ahlstrom established a Customer Service Center in North America last year with positive results. Vilnius was chosen as the location due to its existing service center infrastructure and favorable cost base.
For more information, please contact:
Ahlstrom in brief


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Thrift shops in the District face challenges due to the coronavirus
While some thrift shops have closed their doors, others are struggling to survive
Editor's Note: This article appeared in The Eagle's October 2020 virtual print edition.
The future is uncertain for Washington’s thrift shops. Ana Everhart, the owner of Frugalista, a thrift store in Mount Pleasant, said that she worries another shutdown intended to curb the spread of the coronavirus would permanently close her business. Frugalista already shut down for three months, due to the pandemic, which wreaked financial havoc on the business.
“We are trying to survive right now,” Everhart said.
Everhart said that the financial impact of the pandemic cut Frugalista’s monthly income by half. The shop received funding through the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Paycheck Protection Program, which helped cover part of Frugalista’s rent.
Although Frugalista’s landlord allowed Everhart to pay half the amount of rent, Everhart said that she still had to lay off three people. Now, Everhart has to also find a way to pay back the other half of rent.
Due to the coronavirus, Frugalista is currently not accepting clothing, which means that everything in stock at the store is from before the pandemic. Luckily, Frugalista has enough clothing to get through the fall and winter months.
Everhart said that Frugalista is known for selling professional clothing, which was helpful for young professionals in the area with internships. Now, COVID-19 has changed the landscape of what clothing customers buy.
“Now we’re not going to offices to do work anymore. The young professionals are not doing their internships,” Everhart said. Many customers have been buying more casual clothing such as sweatshirts and sweatpants instead of business clothing such as blouses and dress pants, she said.
She said that Frugalista’s 10 percent student discount is still in place during the pandemic.
Other stores have not been able to remain open like Frugalista. Recently, Arizona-based thrift shop chain company, Buffalo Exchange, which was located on 14th Street, permanently closed. The Opportunity Shop at St. Alban’s Episcopal Church has also shut down until further notice. Due to its close proximity to American University, it is a favorite among students.
Cassidy Nelson, an AU senior in the D.C. area this semester, said that she does not go thrift shopping as often since some of her favorite stores are closed. Nelson said that she misses St. Alban’s because she was always able to find what she needed there.
“If you were trying to get clothes for professional stuff, or if you were just trying to find a funky T-shirt, they really had everything there,” Nelson said.
Nelson said that when she has gone thrift shopping, there have been fewer people in the store. She also said that some stores have less clothing available since they are not accepting donations.
“There aren’t as many things, which in a way also brings up a problem for people who rely on thrifting as their main source of clothing because there won’t be as many accessible things that they need for the winter,” Nelson said.
Nelson said that she began thrift shopping in 2016 in order to live a more sustainable lifestyle.
“Shopping fast fashion is accessible to a lot of people,” Nelson said. “Going vintage and thrift shopping isn’t always accessible, but since I can, I try to limit my waste as much as possible.”
Nelson said that she enjoys thrift shopping because she is able to find unique items that she couldn’t find at a chain retailer. She said that she believes thrift shopping may start to shift even more toward websites and apps such as Depop or Poshmark. However, she said that people who may need thrifted clothing won’t be able to access these online platforms.
As Frugalista holds on for survival, Everhart emphasized the importance of regular customers helping her persevere.
“I am happy and excited because our regulars are coming,” Everhart said. “And some of them are saying, ‘You know what, I don’t need this, but I know you need to survive. You need to keep going.’”