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Retail figures accounted for a record 10.5% of all sales in November, and the cold weather is likely to have driven this proportion up in the run-up to Christmas, making the quality of online retailing increasingly important.
The average rating for the top 40 UK online retailers only increased by one point from 71 to 72 (on a 100-point scale), a slower increase compared to last year, when the rating went up from 67 to 71 points, based on information from the Interactive Media in Retail Group (IMRG), which represents online retailers, and is equivalent to 10,000 customer surveys.
Internet-only retailers, such as Amazon, were the best performers overall, with an average of 76. Retail chains scored an average of 72, and multichannel retailers scored 71.
Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk topped the poll, scoring 84 and 83 respectively, while Marks & Spencer was the most improved retailer scoring 78, up five points from last year.
Larry Free, chief executive of ForeSee, said this might seem a small increase, but research in America suggested that increased satisfaction did translate into sales.
He said: "For the top 100 American retailers, a one-point change in website satisfaction was found to predict a 14% change in the log of revenues generated on the web!
"We’ve found similar relationships between customer satisfaction and revenue in previous years, so for Marks & Spencer to see a five-point, year-on-year increase is good news for them and could predict a huge increase in online revenue."
Of the 40 companies polled, only 16 scored higher than the average score of 72, with the gap between the best and worst performers widening and the best websites making significant gains.
The best-rated 10 online retailers had an average increase of two points each, while the other 30 retailers' average did not change since last year.
While many retailers are investing heavily in social media and mobile websites or apps, a relatively small number of shoppers were influenced by social media or used their mobile phones. Other research suggests social media is misused by retailers.
Kevin Ertell, vice-president of retail strategy at ForeSee said: "The findings around how shoppers are interacting with retailers also threw up a few surprises – that just 4% reported they were primarily influenced by social media to visit the site and only 1.3% are making purchases using their mobile phones. They are both marketing channels that retailers appear to be heavily investing in, with apparently little return or interest from their customers.
"Retailers need to tune into and fully understand what their customers want from them and focus their attention on converting browsers into customers. Satisfied customers will return, recommend and stay loyal."
The Top 10:
- Amazon.com - 84
- Amazon.co.uk - 83
- Play.com - 81
- John Lewis - 78
- Marks & Spencer - 78
- Argos - 77
- Asda - 76
- HMV - 76
- LoveFilm - 76
- Apple - 75
The most improved:
- Marks & Spencer (78): up five points since last year; up eight points since 2008
- Argos (77): up four points since last year; up 10 points since 2007
- ASDA (76): up three points since last year; up 12 points since 2007
- Next (74): up three points since last year; up seven points since 2007
- River Island (72): up three points since last year; up 11 points since 2007
- Littlewoods (71): up five points since last year; up seven points since 2007
- Curry’s (69): up three points since last year; up nine points since 2007


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David Hogg, one of the teens who survived the school shooting at Parkland, announced he’s starting his own pillow company. Hogg took aim at My Pillow CEO and Trump supporter Mike Lindell, saying his company would “not attempt a white supremacist overthrow of the United States government.”
“The pillow Company will be ethically sourced material and labor from US past union jobs- and a percent of all profits will go to progressive causes,” Hogg said on Twitter.
He also said they’d hire formerly incarcerated individuals to work for the company and plans to turn the company into a movement.
Hogg seems serious and has partnered with William LeGate to start market research on the pillow idea and the two have been tweeting that pre-orders will start in a month.

domain: news


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Chats With BE: Diving Into Encryption With Senior Developer Martin
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SHL Medical (hereinafter referred to as “SHL”) has revealed plans for a new manufacturing site in the US, in response to the growing market demand for its autoinjector product portfolio. The decision stems from SHL’s strategic assessments in extending its production to North America.
The new US site will be located in North Charleston, South Carolina, and will boast approximately 25,000 m(2) (270,000 ft(2)). With initial investments of US$ 90 million, SHL is expected to create an estimate of 165 local employment opportunities. Operations are expected to launch by 2024.
The South Carolina site will be an advanced facility with medical device injection molding and fully automated assembly capabilities. Together with SHL’s current final assembly, labeling, and packaging operations in Deerfield Beach, Florida, the expanded manufacturing capabilities in the US will further fortify SHL’s offerings in delivering comprehensive services to its partners.
In 2019, SHL developed a long-term strategy in response to the growing autoinjector demand and to meet future manufacturing needs. The announcement of the new US operation aligns with the company’s ongoing expansion, including a new Swiss site already being announced ( https://c212.net/c/link/?t=0&l=en&o=3593771-1&h=1810659832&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.shl-medical.com%2Fshl-medical-reveals-plans-to-set-up-manufacturing-site-in-zug-switzerland%2F&a=a+new+Swiss+site+already+being+announced ). The new production site in the US, which is to be realized preferentially and accelerated, will offer fully automated production facilities and a flexible supply chain with reduced distance to main markets.
Chairman and CEO Ulrich Faessler comments: “Demand for SHL’s products has increased significantly. Therefore, we are speeding up our plans for a new plant in the US. Similar to our upcoming European site in Zug, Switzerland, the US site will be a state-of-the-art, fully automated site. This expansion signifies SHL’s pledge to our advanced manufacturing strategy that will support our sustainability goals; and, at the same time, risk-mitigate supply chain disturbances through closer production with our customers, in light of various global events from the past two years. This further supports our customers with one-stop-shop capabilities, providing high-quality drug delivery systems to the end-users – the patients.”
SOURCE: SHL Medical


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Calcium Supplements May Increase Heart Risk
Posted April 20, 2011on:
The calcium supplements that many older women take to boost their bone health may increase their risk for heart disease, a study shows.
“Calcium supplements, with or without vitamin D, mostly increase the risk of cardiovascular events, especially [heart attack],” concludes study researcher Ian Reid, MD, a professor of medicine and endocrinology at the University of Auckland in New Zealand. “A reassessment of the role of calcium supplements in osteoporosis management is warranted.”
The study is published in the journal BMJ.


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With a founding team of 13 industry vets whose past credits include EVE Online and Alan Wake, Mainframe Industries will have studios in Finland and Iceland.
In an email to GameDaily, CEO Thor Gunnarsson shed some additional light on what brought the Mainframe Industries founders together, as well as why they chose their pan-Nordic, dual-studio approach.
“When the founding team in Iceland first started formulating the concept for Mainframe, it was obvious that the idea was too big for our shores,” the Iceland-based Gunnarsson told us. By expanding its reach to Finland, the fledgling Mainframe was able to find expertise in all relevant areas of the market: AAA, PC, console, and mobile, with cloud gaming as the foundational value bringing them all together. The result was a group excited about refining the MMO genre to create a cross-platform social sandbox experience. As Gunnarsson put it, “MMOs are the northstar of multiplayer, online gaming experiences, and the genre is ready for a fresher take.”
Mainframe’s CEO also cited the Nordic region’s “cold” and “harsh” conditions as a reason for the countries’ culture of collaboration. “ By collaborating, rather than competing, our ancestors stayed warm, and alive. The Nordic scene definitely benefits from this DNA,” Gunnarsson said.
The Nordic region of Europe is home to a wealth of game developers and publishers, ranging from established studios like CCP Games to up-and-coming indies. Today, one more joins the group: Mainframe Industries, founded by 13 industry veterans with studios in Helsinki, Finland and Reykjavik, Iceland.
Led by CEO Thor Gunnarsson, Mainframe Industries will focus on MMO development. According to the press release, the team’s goal is to “create the first open world, social sandbox MMO built from the ground up for cloud gaming.”
Cloud gaming is one of the tenants upon which the company was founded. The studio’s goal is to create a product that can be played over 5G networks across mobile, PC, and TV platforms.
“For Mainframe, the ability to deliver to all platforms a level of immersion and world simulation typically only seen in high-end PC games means that the visual gap between devices disappears as we move to the cloud,” Gunnarsson said in the press release. He also called out the cloud’s technological benefits: “We can make bigger and better games with more complex physics simulation, AI, and character systems to deliver a fresh gaming experience unbounded by the constraints of individual platforms.”
Mainframe Industries launched with the backing of a slew of gaming and tech investors, among them Maki.vc, Play Ventures, Crowberry Capital, and Sisu Game Ventures. Representatives from Maki.vc and Play Ventures cited Mainframe’s commitment to 5G cloud-based gamings as reasons to invest, while Samuli Syvähuoko of Sisu Game Ventures said, “What attracted me to join this adventure is the sheer passion of the team to truly push the known boundaries for games beyond anything we’ve seen before.”
“Another revolution that I want to witness very closely with Mainframe is how the traditional user acquisition funnel will essentially be demolished by cloud streamed games, where any ad you see can be the actual game, ready to play right there and then,” Syvähuoko added.
Mainframe Industries is live as of this morning, though its website doesn’t offer any additional details about its first project. With such an experienced team of industry vets and the backing of a two-million-Euro seed round, Mainframe is poised to be a great asset to the burgeoning Nordic game industry.
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They don't just live for it; it's their careers—meet a sample size of the founders driving Washington's most stylish industry.
From left: Joy Kingsley-Ibeh, Kate Warren, Lena Farouki and Eric Niu.
Coverage of Washington's non-political industries typically focuses on food, arts and tech—and for good reason; those have all helped propel the city into the 21st century as a world-class destination. But from modeling agencies, stylists and designers to photographers, retail operators, disrupters, buyers and more, local fashion professionals are making an economic impact while making us all look more fabulous in the process.
“Washington is known for politics, not fashion. If you are not part of the fashion community, you may not know one exists, but we are finally coming out of the shadows,” says the former model, whose journey into small-business ownership also enables her to give back via involvement with events like Runway Moms for a Cause, Feed It Forward and Fashion for Paws. kingsleymanagement.com, @kingsleymodels
“There is a stereotype that Washingtonians are unfashionable and don’t care about how they look, but nothing could be further from the truth because style is part of how you present yourself, whether you are in politics or not,” says Hu, whose independent Georgetown boutique offers hand-picked selections of designer footwear, handbags and accessories from New York, Milan and Paris. husonline.com, @hustweet
“People know me as a stylist, but I think of myself more as a teacher,” says the consultant, who has been helping to advance Washington’s fashion industry for 10 years. “I show my clients how to become their own stylists and develop the confidence that can only come from knowing how to dress yourself.” polishedimageandstyle.com, @polishedimage
“When I moved from California to be a political appointee in the Obama administration, I was a young professional in need of designer looks that I couldn’t afford,” says the innovative go-getter, who turned that need into Swaggle, a mobile closet-sharing marketplace for men. The company just received its first round of funding. Niu, who is a member of DC Dapper Dudes, also believes DC “is becoming a fashion hub thanks to the power of social media fashion influencers.” goswaggle.com, @goswaggle
“We were the first agency in DC to represent talent that focused on fashion and beauty, in addition to lifestyle,” says the owner of the local management group that has successfully fostered fashion in the District for 33 years. “Even after three decades, when asked, ‘Is there really fashion in DC?’ I’m still explaining that our retail stores, boutiques, ad agencies, photographers, creative directors and bloggers are a pillar of our city’s creative economy.” theartistagency.com, @theartistagency
“My business provides opportunities for me and my clients to walk the walk on shared values around diversity, inclusion and representation,” says the multiplatform storyteller, who makes it a goal to combat inequality with her art. “I educate clients on the importance of being intentional about every element of their visual narrative, and that includes styling. I refuse to let DC’s conservative take on styling limit me; I try to raise the bar on each project I do.” gokateshoot.com, @gokateshoot
“I am constantly in awe of my clients’ interest in the pursuit of style, fashion and beauty knowledge,” says the professional style guide, whose latest book, Style Bible: What to Wear to Work, has been featured in The New York Times, Washington Post and on CNN. “DC’s political climate will always ensure the survival of classic style, but eager shoppers are on the prowl to emulate the latest runway trends,” she adds. styleauteur.com, @styleauteur
“We have a passion and fierce drive to influence the future of DC fashion and style through offering exclusive fashion product offerings and forging alliances and collaborations that strengthen the quality, value and design aesthetics of fashion available in greater DC,” says Burt, who recently showed both her Amazonia and Red Carpet Dur Doux Resort collections at New York Fashion Week. durdoux.com, @dur_doux
“I moved to DC five years ago when creativity and fashion were emerging across the city. The market has grown significantly, and the creative community is truly special and doing incredible things,” says Blake, whose line of fashion and fine jewelry is designed for the “modern, confident woman” and is age-agnostic, eco-friendly and made in the USA. “I think we have a very bright future here in DC,” she adds. sophieblake.com, @sophieblakeny
“I’m very thankful that DC has embraced me and my brand and evolved as a city as I’ve evolved as an entrepreneur. Ten years ago, people weren’t quite sure how a person like me could create a fashion and lifestyle brand. I’ve finally figured it out, and now there’s no limit to how far fashion entrepreneurs can go in DC,” says the TV personality, who has also carved out his unique niche being a producer, journalist, author and angel investor. paulwhartonstyle.com, @paulwhartonstyle
“At the start, we thought Curio wouldn’t be embraced because we’re quite different from what is sold in stores around us. But the reaction and response has been positive and exciting,” says Farouki, who has made it possible for international designers to showcase their work at her ever-evolving boutique in the heart of Georgetown. “It’s fun to surprise visitors with how eclectic and varied DC’s style really is,” she adds. curioconcept.com, @curioconceptstore
“DC is where I developed my personal mix of prim, proper tailoring and slick, modern silhouettes,” says the District local, who believes confidence is the chicest look of all. “I absolutely love the way our men and women mix it up.” Jefferies has smartly leveraged a supportive local ecosystem of willing partners, including Catholic and Georgetown Universities and recently the Mayor’s Office of Talent and Appointments, among many others. espionatelier.com, @espionatelier
From left: Elaine Mensah, Mindy Lam and Kai Sia.
“In 2011, I walked away from my corporate job at Deloitte to pursue entrepreneurship in fashion full time. I’ve taken risks and reaped the rewards of ventures here that I don’t think I would have had the courage to try anywhere else,” explains Mensah, who is also spreading the gospel of style entrepreneurship via her position as adjunct professor for fashion and luxury at American University. elainemensah.com, @brandmeetscreative
“My designs don’t have boundaries—from kids to men to women of all ages, there is something for everyone,” says Lam, the local creator of the popular, intricate and handcrafted Mindy Lam jewelry line. Along with daughter and creative director, Kai Sia, Lam also strives to make a social impact donating to charities like American Heart Association, Becky’s Fund and St. Jude, among others. mindylamcouture.com, @mindylamjewelry
“I’m here to remove the fear and show people how to stay current, look fantastic and ultimately convey their message in a chic and sophisticated way,” says the celebrity wardrobe stylist, whose work has been featured in Vogue, InStyle, Elle and more. “My belief is that style is a tool that communicates a statement about yourself. The question is, what do you want to say? That’s what we uncover together.” lindseynolanstyling.com, @lindseyevansstudio
PHOTOGRAPHY BY MARQUIS PERKINS; LOCATION: THE HISTORIC PERRY BELMONT HOUSE; STYLING BY GLAMSQUAD; MAKEUP BY TIA STYLES AT GLAMSQUAD; HAIR BY KRYSTAL MORANT AT GLAMSQUAD; PHOTOGRAPHY ASSISTANT: MIROSLAV PARUSHEV; DIGITAL TECH: MATT VICARI


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The latest trend in North America? Caffeine inhalers that give you an energy rush
The phrase "wake up and smell the coffee" just got a whole lot more meaningful. The latest way to get your caffeine kick is to suck it up.
Introducing the caffeine inhaler, an e-cigarette style device made with natural ingredients like guarana, taurine and ginseng.
"It’s for when you’re on the chairlift skiing, when you’re hiking, when you’re driving in the car," Elliot Mashford, the Canadian entrepreneur behind the Eagle Energy Vapor inhaler, told the New York Times.
Each vapouriser lasts for around 500 puffs and works by heating up to turn the active chemicals into a vapour.
"Let’s take everything great about an energy drink, remove the bad and use an innovative technology that delivers the caffeine faster and without any calories or sugar," declares the Eagle Energy Vapor website. Hmmm.
Despite the lack of calories and sugar found in energy-boosting caffeine-based drinks – and there's no nicotine, either – there still may be a health risk involved.
Dr Donald Hensrud, an director of the Mayo Clinic's Healthy Living Program in Minnesota, US, told the New York Times that inhaling any substance "raised questions" because the stimulant would be absorbed into the bloodstream faster than if it were ingested.
Tempted to try it out? Well, a New York Times reporter has already done it for you and although they ended up with a buzz, they also ended up with a craving for a nice cup of coffee.
So far, these caffeine vapourisers are only available in the US and cost $8.99, or £5.80, each.
We'll stick to our espresso, thanks.


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CLEVELAND — Autumn Carney of West Salem, Ohio, learned a hard lesson when it comes to buying a puppy sight unseen while shopping online. Photos posted on the Internet of an English bulldog he and his family bought from a breeder in Fredericksburg, Virginia, quickly turned out to be nothing more than a mirage.
Carney said everything seemed fine when he initially wired the breeder $600 via Western Union, but he said it wasn’t long before he found himself running into hundreds of dollars in hidden charges. What did
“I was trying to get my husband an English bulldog for his birthday because he wanted one,” Carney said. “She sent me pictures, she sent me videos, told me it was going to be $500, that she could ship. The dog for an extra $100.”
But Carney told News 5 the deal quickly fell apart, and she contacted Fredericksburg police and the FBI, and will soon file a complaint with the Ohio attorney general.
“I got an email about four hours later that I had to pay for a special crate for the animal and that the crate was going to cost me another $900,” Carney said. “He made it really good, I mean so good that I believed him, and it was heartbreaking,” Carney said.
Carney and his family never received the English bulldog, and until now, they were never given a refund.
Sue McConnell, president of the Cleveland Better Business Bureau, told News 5 that consumers should never buy holiday pets online, sight unseen, and instead buy them from local breeders who vet them before buying them. Can show the dog first.
“Some of these customers lose hundreds and hundreds of dollars because they pay an initial fee and then they’re told they have to pay another fee,” McConnell said. “These breeds are worth thousands of dollars and if someone is going to sell you for $500, that’s a big red flag.”
Never send money through Western Union and MoneyGram to people or companies you don’t know and trust, McConnell said. Once the money is wired, it’s gone for good. The same goes for prepaid debit cards or gift cards. Always use a credit card if you need to dispute charges. If someone asks you to pay for anything with a gift card, you may be dealing with fraud..
McConnell told News 5 that pictures of dogs on pet websites can easily be faked.
“But it’s very easy for a fraudster to steal images from another website, or buy stock photos and claim they’re real dogs,” McConnell said.
Sharon Harvey, president of the Cleveland Animal Protective League, also urged consumers not to buy pets online.
“The desperation that these families are feeling and they’re out of money, but that creates a lack of confidence in actually adopting and getting involved with adopting an animal,” Harvey said. “You need to meet this pet in person, you should avoid buying puppies, kittens, dogs, cats online.
Northeast Ohio families should consider adopting a pet this holiday season, Harvey said, and if you’re giving a pet as a gift, make sure the recipient of the gift is eligible for adoption. Be aware first.
“You shouldn’t give someone a pet as a surprise gift if you have no idea if they’re ready for a pet, or if they really want a pet,” Harvey said. . Who really needs that second chance, it’s that time of year when you’ll be giving a gift to a deserving animal.
Information on adopting the Cleveland APL can be found here. On the APL web page.
Meanwhile, Autumn has a final warning to Carney.
“It’s embarrassing; your family’s heart is broken when you don’t get the animal you hoped for,” Carney said. If found, I want to meet somewhere, I want to see the dog, I want to touch the dog.”
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Consumer Reports Investigation Found PFAS Contamination Widespread in U.S. Tap Water
East County News Service
April 21, 2021 (Washington D.C.) -- Consumer Reports (CR) is calling on Congress to pass legislation just introduced by Representatives Debbie Dingell and Fred Upton that aims to protect the public from the growing health threat posed by PFAS “forever chemicals.” PFAS are widely used by manufacturers to make products resistant to stains, grease, and water, and are so pervasive that 95 percent of all Americans have trace amounts of the chemicals in their blood.
The bill mirrors the PFAS Acton Act of 2019, which passed with a bipartisan vote in the House, but did not advance in the Senate before the end of the last session.
“Most people have probably never heard of PFAS chemicals, but they are used in hundreds of popular products found in many homes,” said Brian Ronholm, director of food policy for Consumer Reports. “Despite mounting evidence that PFAS contamination is widespread and can pose serious health risks, the EPA has failed to take the steps needed to protect the public. This bill is long overdue and requires sensible limits on PFAS and cleanup of contaminated sites to help minimize public exposure to these extremely toxic and dangerous chemicals.”
PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) are sometimes called “forever chemicals'' because they don’t break down easily and persist in the environment for many years. PFAS are used in the manufacture of a variety of consumer products, including firefighting foam and protective equipment, food packaging, rugs, carpets, and aftermarket stain and water treatment. People can be exposed to PFAS through food, water, consumer products that contain the chemicals, and contaminated soil, dust, and air.
A recent CR investigation of tap water in the U.S. found that nearly every sample tested contained measurable levels of PFAS. More than one-third of all samples exceeded 10 parts per trillion (ppt) total PFAS, a safety threshold that CR scientists and other health experts think should be the maximum amount allowed in water. There are no enforceable limits set by the EPA for PFAS in drinking water. Instead, the EPA has established a voluntary combined limit of 70 ppt for PFOA (perfluoroalkyl) and PFOS (polyfluoroalkyl), two of the better-studied PFAS chemicals.
Studies have shown that exposure to PFAS chemicals is associated with immunotoxicity, cancer, thyroid disease, birth defects, and decreased sperm quality. PFAS exposure reduces the immune response to childhood vaccines and may increase the risk of infectious disease. In addition, PFAS exposure has been directly linked to several underlying conditions that make people more vulnerable to severe symptoms of COVID-19, including obesity, asthma, kidney disease, and high cholesterol.
The PFAS Action Act of 2021 designates PFOA and PFOS as hazardous substances under the Superfund program and requires the EPA to mandate the cleanup of sites contaminated with the two PFAS chemicals. Within five years, the EPA would be required to determine whether the remaining PFAS chemicals should be designated as hazardous substances requiring cleanup.
In addition, the bill requires the EPA to adopt a drinking water standard under the Safe Drinking Water Act for certain PFAS to ensure the public is protected, particularly pregnant women, infants, and children. The legislation also sets PFAS air emission limits, prohibits unsafe incineration of PFAS, and restricts the introduction of new PFAS chemicals into commerce.
“I live near one of the most PFAS polluted rivers in the nation--the Cape Fear River,” says Emily Donovan (photo, right), co-founder of Clean Cape Fear, based in Wilmington, North Carolina. As one of 300,000 people whose drinking water source is chronically polluted with hundreds of unregulated PFAS, I urge Congress to take bold action and address these toxic forever chemicals. The EPA must stop approving new uses for PFAS, phase out current usage, force strong health-protective standards to protect our air, soil, water and food supply, as well as, require a full cleanup from all responsible parties.”
Erik Olson, senior strategic director of health for the National Resources Defense Council, concludes, “We have to treat the PFAS crisis like a five-alarm ‘house on fire.’ Toxic PFAS forever chemicals taint our water, soak our environment, and contaminate our bodies. The PFAS Action Act is a good first step towards finally addressing the thousands of toxic forever chemicals. We need fast action on the whole toxic family of PFAS chemicals to eliminate them from our environment and bodies.”


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Spar opens 14th store in Nigeria
Leading hypermarket chain stores in the country, Spar Nigeria, has announced the opening of its 14th store; the largest of its outlets in Opebi, Lagos.
The opening of the store which coincided with the Black Friday Sales saw the hypermarket offering its customers a discount of 70% in every purchase made.
The store has an array of products that caters to the various needs of Nigerian consumers such as Food and Grocery, Butchery and Bakery, Wine and Spirit, Fresh Farm Foods, Frozen Foods, Laptops, Mobile phones, electronics products and other household items.
Managing Director, Spar Nigeria, Opebi Store, Mr. Haresh Keswani, affirmed that the Opebi store is the largest and 14th outlet in Nigeria, noting that there are nine stores in Lagos with Abuja and Port Harcourt having two each and one outlet in Enugu and Calabar respectively.
Speaking in the same vein, the Chairman, Artee Group, Asiwaju Solomon Kayode Onafowokan, said that the Opebi store remains the largest hypermarket store in Nigeria and it is strategically located in Opebi to respond to the yawning of the residents of that area.
In his words: “We are opening the largest hypermarket here in Opebi because of the cravings of our ever growing customers especially from this community. The uniqueness of Opebi is that we have all our products here, electronics, food and grocery, wines, perfumes, frozen products just to mention a few. We have free parking space for our customers, most of our products are made in Nigeria, about 65%. We also have other imported goods and products for non-Nigerians to enjoy”
“We have ensured that all our food and grocery products are approved by the regulatory authorities in Nigeria and our prices are affordable. Right now we have an unbeatable promo going on due to Black Friday Sales that we are currently offering our dear customers with 50%, 70% off some of our products, this will last for 8 days and we encourage our customers to take advantage of this window.”
The new outlet was commissioned by the Oba of Lagos, His Highness Oba Rilwan Akiolu in the presence of other well-meaning dignitaries such as, the chairman of Artee Group, Asiwaju Solomon Kayode Onafowokan, Mr. Haresh Keswani, Managing Director of SPAR Nigeria, Mr. Prakesh Keswani, Deputy Managing Director, SPAR Nigeria, Chief Adegunwa Adebola, the owner of Adebola House, Alhaji ‘Kunle Hamzat, former Head of Corporate Services, SPAR Nigeria, Mr. Gbolahan Toriola, Lagos State Chief Vehicle Inspection Officer amongst many others.
Speaking at the launch of the new outlet, the Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Akinolu said that with the opening of the new store, SPAR Nigeria has demonstrated that she is committed to the economic growth of Nigeria and making consumers’ goods and services available to the ever increasing residents of Lagos State and across Nigeria.
Akiolu said: “SPAR is promoting made in Nigerian goods and products which is strategic to economic development of any country such as ours. They are helping to promote our local contents thereby helping the government in her economic development policy and through that, SPAR helps the government to solve many problems especially the problem of high unemployment in Nigeria”
“SPAR Nigeria remains one of the leading hypermarket stores in Nigeria and with this new outlet in Opebi, the residents of this area will now enjoy varieties of affordable consumer goods and products that SPAR offers to the general public. I will want to thank the company for opening this store here in this strategic location.”
SPAR Nigeria has grown from a very humble beginning to become one of the fastest growing business conglomerates in Nigeria with a wide portfolio of brands such as Park n Shop, SPAR, Port Harcourt Mall, Calabar Mall, Enugu Mall. Artee Group caters to the various needs and aspirations of Nigerians consumers.


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Britain's retailers are hoping for further strong sales over the weekend after the frenzy of Black Friday saw crowds of thousands descend on stores.
Police had to step in to break up fights that erupted in the aisles of supermarkets offering huge price cuts on the annual promotions day, a phenomenon originating in the United States which has emerged as one of Britain's busiest shopping days.
Asda is among the retailers extending the offers today after more than 2 million people visited its stores yesterday, sparking chaos and violence in some branches over discounted TVs.
Online retailers are now preparing their systems for similar success on 'Cyber Monday', another American consumer sales event adopted by the UK.
Huge demand saw shoppers struggling to access the websites of Tesco Direct, Currys, Argos and GAME yesterday.
One of Britain's most senior police officers criticised retailers for their handling of the crowds which threatened to cause crushes and urged retailers to work with police in further sales events.
At least three people were arrested and a woman was hurt after being hit by a falling television, while some outlets were forced to shut to restore order.
Eyewitnesses described how bargain-hunters behaved "like animals" and likened scenes to "a war zone".
Sir Peter Fahy, chief constable of Greater Manchester Police, whose force appealed to shoppers to "keep calm", said the events were "totally predictable" and that he was "disappointed stores did not have sufficient security staff on duty".
"This created situations where we had to deal with crushing, disorder and disputes between customers," he said.
" It does not help that this was in the early hours when police resources are already stretched.
"Across Greater Manchester large supermarkets already make significant demands on policing through calls to shoplifting, anti-social behaviour and thefts of fuel from their petrol stations - much of which is preventable.
"We just ask these stores to work with us to reduce the demands on policing and reduce the risks of disorder and crime."
After Metropolitan police were called to three Tesco branches in London following reports of large crowds in Edmonton, Willesden and Surrey Quays, Sergeant Paul Marshall said on Twitter: "Even on Black Friday shoving people to the floor so you can get £20 off a coffee maker is still an assault."
Meanwhile Amazon.co.uk celebrated its busiest ever day, saying Black Friday had "surpassed all expectations" .
The online retailer recorded orders for more than 5.5 million goods, with around 64 items sold per second.
Retailers are hoping for further strong sales over the weekend after the excitement of Black Friday saw crowds of thousands descend on stores.
Last year's Black Friday was also a record day for Amazon.co.uk, when it sold more than four million items.
But the record was surpassed on Cyber Monday 2013, when more than 4.1 million items were ordered at a rate of around 47 purchases per second.
The retailer hopes to repeat its success this coming Monday by r eleasing new offers every 10 minutes.
Vice President of EU Retail at Amazon, Xavier Garambois, said: "Ever since we introduced Black Friday to the UK in 2010, sales have increased year on year but this year really has surpassed all of our expectations.
"The public's appetite for Black Friday has been bigger than ever, kicking off the Christmas shopping period in earnest and establishing Black Friday as a fixture on the UK Christmas shopping calendar."


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A fugitive who was the subject of a 10-day manhunt has pleaded guilty to escaping lawful custody and handling of stolen cars.
Cody Lowndes, 21, appeared over videolink at Minshull Street Crown Court and entered pleas to a total of eight offences.
These include the handling of stolen vehicles, namely two BMW’s, two Audi’s, a Hyundai, a Nissan and a Fiat.
Lowndes, of Lakeside Avenue in Ashton-under-Lyne, also pleaded guilty to escaping lawful custody after he had been taken to Tameside hospital on July 11 2020, the court heard.
Prosecuting, Paul Dockery told the court that following discussions between Lowndes and the prosecution, they had reached an agreement to amend the previous burglary and theft charges to handling stolen goods.
Following an application by the Crown, the charges on the indictment were amended to as follows:
Escape, namely on July 11 2020, being in lawful custody at Ashton hospital he escaped.
Handling stolen goods, namely that between June 26 and june 30, he received stolen goods namely an Audi.
Handling stolen goods, namely between June 28 and July 2, he received a stolen Hyundai.
Handling stolen goods, namely on July 3 2020, he received a stolen Nissan.
Handling stolen goods, namely on July 4, he received a stolen BMW 330.
Handling stolen goods, namely on July 4, he received a stolen BMW X5
Handling stolen goods, namely on July 8, he received a stolen Fiat.
Handling stolen goods, namely on July 6, he received a stolen Audi.
Lowndes entered guilty pleas to the above mentioned offences.
To the offences of assaulting an emergency worker and the theft of a Mini, he entered not guilty pleas, which the Crown have accepted and will not proceed with.
The case has now been adjourned for sentence on November 12 at Minshull Street Crown Court.
Addressing Lowndes, Judge Tina Landale said: “You will receive credit for the guilty plea and will be sentenced on November 12.
“I’m sorry you cannot be sentenced today, there isn’t sufficient time.
“You will be remanded in custody and you will be sentenced over the link at the next hearing.”


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- Press Contact
- PR Manager
- +44 (0)1932 816296
The 2017 Awards received over 227,000 entries from 183 countries and is the world’s largest photography competition. An exhibition of all the winning and shortlisted work, along with rare image by British photographer Martin Parr, recipient of the Outstanding Contribution to Photography prize, will run at Somerset House, London from 21 April – 7 May.
New FE 100-400mm F4.5–5.6 GM OSS Super Telephoto Zoom Lens Features Outstanding Sharpness, Fast AF, Compact Design and more
Groundbreaking Full-frame Mirrorless Camera Delivers Unmatched Speed, Versatility and Usability
The highly renowned Technical Image Press Association has recognised Sony’s innovation and performance in the digital imaging industry with three TIPA awards.
Award-winning nature photographer captures stunning imagery of African wildlife; depicting the harsh realities of survival in the wild
Sony’s first large consumer OLED TVs, featuring unparalleled black levels and contrast, new Acoustic Surface sound technology and unique stand-less design, will be available in Europe in May
Flashing lights and bassy sounds powered by Sony XB40 EXTRA BASS wireless speakers signalled the transition from day to night at the World's No.1 Music Festival on Snow
Sony Wireless speakers, Hi-Fi systems, SoundBars and AV Receivers with Chromecast built-in now work with Google Home, a voice-activated speaker powered by the Google Assistant.
Sony today announced a firmware update for three Cyber-shot™ models, the DSC-RX100M3, DSC-RX100M4 and DSC-RX100M5. The Ver.2.00 upgrade enhances stability and usability of the cameras when used with Sony’s underwater housing, MPK-URX100A, and dedicated flash systems.
Ten extraordinary photographs from across the globe are today revealed as the winners of the Open categories of the 2017 Sony World Photography Awards, the world’s largest photography competition.
Sony Corporation is a leading manufacturer of audio, video, imaging, game, communications, key device and information technology products for the consumer and professional markets. With its music, pictures, computer entertainment and online businesses, Sony is uniquely positioned to be the leading electronics and entertainment company... Show more
Sony Corporation is a leading manufacturer of audio, video, imaging, game, communications, key device and information technology products for the consumer and professional markets. With its music, pictures, computer entertainment and online businesses, Sony is uniquely positioned to be the leading electronics and entertainment company in the world. Sony recorded consolidated annual sales of approximately $72 billion for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2016. Sony Global Web Site: http://www.sony.net/


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Advertisers see more engagement through mobile games
Mediabrix, a leading social and mobile advertising firm, has released new data concerning mobile marketing. The data highlights the advertisements that are seen through social mobile games and their performance in terms of consumer engagement. Social games have become very popular with consumers, which has made them equally popular with advertisers. Advertising in mobile games has also been extremely successful in recent years, suggesting that engaging mobile consumers, especially those that play games on their smartphones and tablets, is the best way to reach people through marketing campaigns.
In-game ads have higher click-through rate than normal ads
According to the data from Mediabrix, advertisements in social and mobile games have a higher click-through than other advertisements. These ads see an average click-through rate of 11%, 100 times higher than the rate seen through normal advertisements. Engagement in these advertisements is also significantly higher, beating out the engagement seen through web-based advertisements coming from companies like Facebook and Google.
Mobile games entice consumers to engage in marketing
Exactly why consumers are more prone to engage in advertisements in social and mobile games is something of a mystery. Mediabrix suggests that mobile games themselves are highly interactive, making consumers more prone to engage with elements they see on the screens of their smartphones and tablets. Mobile advertisements also have an appeal to those looking to stave off boredom, thus consumers with nothing better to do will engage in these ads for some entertainment.
More than 158 consumers expected to be mobile gamers by 2015
Mediarbix predicts that there will be more than 158 million consumers playing mobile games by 2015, creating major opportunities for advertisers looking to engage the mobile space. Social and mobile games are expected to have a major impact on the world of mobile marketing, especially due to the fact that consumers continue to show that they are more willing to engage in in-game advertisements than any other traditional form of marketing.


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Tencent Weighs Music Spin-Off, Invests in Europe
Tencent Holdings Ltd. said it is considering spinning off its online music division for a separate listing. Meanwhile, it has made two major new investments in Europe in the gaming and financial technology (fintech) sectors.
The diverse range of activities reflects Tencent’s own diversification from its roots as an online gaming and social networking company to also include finance, e-commerce and entertainment. On Wednesday, the company announced its profit nearly doubled in the fourth quarter of 2017, as its revenue rose by a strong 51% to 66.4 billion yuan ($10.5 billion).
In a call to discuss its latest results, Tencent President Martin Lau revealed the company is considering a plan to spin off its online music division for a separate listing. Tencent made a similar move late last year when it spun off and listed its online literature unit in Hong Kong. Shares of China Literature Ltd. now trade about 34% above their initial public offering price.
“In fact, the number of spin-offs from our company is quite small,” Lau said on the call. “In the foreseeable future, Tencent music may become a candidate.”
He explained that even though Tencent is the music unit’s controlling shareholder, the unit has made acquisitions and has a current shareholding structure that would make it more suited to becoming a standalone company. The case was similar for China Literature, which was originally a separate company before Tencent became its major shareholder.
In a separate development, Tencent also disclosed that it had invested 369 million euros ($457 million) in a 5% stake in French electronic gaming giant Ubisoft Entertainment SA. As part of that tie-up, the pair also announced a strategic partnership that will see Tencent bring several of Ubisoft’s popular PC and mobile games to China.
“We have the ability to bring many of Ubisoft’s original games to Chinese consumers,” Lau said in a separate statement accompanying that announcement. “This tie-up shows that Tencent can provide its users with a more specialized and interesting gaming experience.”
The investment marks the latest in a long series of overseas gaming purchases by Tencent, as it seeks to secure popular overseas titles to consolidate its position as China’s leading online game company. In its biggest deal to date, Tencent lead a group two years ago that paid $8.6 billion for 84% of Finnish gaming giant Supercell.
In a separate unrelated deal, German mobile bank operator N26 announced that it had raised $160 million in a series-C funding led by Tencent and German insurance giant Allianz. It said the funding was the largest ever in Germany for a new wave of fintech companies that combine traditional financial services like banking and consumer lending with high-tech internet elements.
“We see the increasing demand of digital banking products and services in the European markets and we are delighted to be a strategic investor of N26 to build a long-term partnership and participate in their growth,” said Lin Haifeng, managing partner of Tencent Investment.
Tencent itself has moved aggressively into financial services through the payment and gift-giving functions connected to its highly popular WeChat and QQ social networking services. The company also was a co-founder of WeBank, the first company in China to receive an online banking license under a government pilot program.
Contact reporter Yang Ge (firstname.lastname@example.org)
- 1In Depth: Cash-Strapped Local Governments Turn to Financing Vehicles to Plug Fiscal Shortfalls
- 2Gallery: China’s Homegrown Jet Is Ready for Takeoff
- 3In Depth: Has China’s Monetary Policy Reached Its Limit?
- 4Weaker Demand for Chinese Goods Spells End of Shipping Boom
- 5Former Head of Exim Bank’s Beijing Branch Kicked Out of Communist Party
- 1Power To The People: Pintec Serves A Booming Consumer Class
- 2Largest hotel group in Europe accepts UnionPay
- 3UnionPay mobile QuickPass debuts in Hong Kong
- 4UnionPay International launches premium catering privilege U Dining Collection
- 5UnionPay International’s U Plan has covered over 1600 stores overseas


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TEMPE, Ariz., March 2 -- Three-Five Systems (TFS) Inc. has acquired the customer base and hired key employees of Integrex Inc., a private electronics manufacturing services (EMS) company.
TFS said it will transfer existing programs from Integrex's Bothell, Wash., location to TFS's EMS facility in Redmond over the next six weeks. It said it is not acquiring Integrex's manufacturing facility in Bothell. TFS acquired ETMA, a Redmond-based EMS company, in December 2002.
TFS said it will buy the raw material inventory of Integrex as needed to begin manufacturing products for its new customers and is providing Integrex with an up-front, one-time payment to offset customer transfer costs. It also said it will provide an advance to Integrex against sales revenue contingent payments.
Integrex was founded in 1999 as a full-service EMS company providing turnkey manufacturing services, including design, new product introduction, printed circuit board assembly, system integration, test and after-market support.
Jack Saltich, CEO for TFS, said, "Integrex has penetrated certain market segments, including military applications, that represent target growth areas for TFS. We believe we can expand upon this business by leveraging our outstanding manufacturing quality in Redmond with our high-volume efficiencies at our Asian manufacturing locations and thereby continue our initiative to become a dominant EMS provider in the Northwest."
Primary investors included Benaroya Capital, Fluke Venture Partners and Sunrise Capital.
For more information, visit: www.tfsc.com


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Smithers predicts textiles inkjet boom
Published: 7 October 2021 | No comments yet
The future looks bright for digitally printed textiles
Every two months Digital Textile Printer sends out an e-newsletter exploring all the latest news and developments from across the most exciting sector in print. The only way to make sure you receive all of our content, including interviews, case studies and analysis is by registering, which you can do HERE.
Digital printing’s share of the printed textiles market is set to rise from 6 to 10% by 2026 according to The Future of Digital Textile Printing to 2026, the latest expert market study from Smithers. In financial terms this is will mean the digitally printed textiles market will be worth €6.95 billion (£5.9 billion or a little over $8 billion), an increase of more than €3 billion (approximately £2.55 billion or $3.5 billion) from today.
Smithers predicts this growth, which will involve a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 12.7%, will be least partly attributable to the market making up for the sales lost as a result of the pandemic. In total an estimated €910 million (approximately £775 million or $1 billion) worth of sales were lost across 2019-2020, with fashion, signage and technical textiles particularly hard hit. The decor and domestic furnishings market emergent relatively unscathed, however, as people stuck at home refreshed their living spaces.
In addition to the financial boom, Smithers also forecasts that the volume of inkjet printed fabrics (including apparel, household furnishings, technical textiles and display media) will increase from 2.89 billion square meters (2021) to 5.53 billion square meters (2026).
The report also highlighted that the vast majority of inkjet textile presses in operation are smaller models, with about 5% dedicated direct-to-garment machines, and that whilst large single-pass roll-to-roll presses account for the majority of output, there are still fewer than 50 in operation worldwide. However as more PSPs invest in dedicated inkjet textile presses, Smither’s says equipment sales will pass the €1 billion (£850 million or $1.2 billion) per year mark in 2026. This will naturally generate sales for media and consumables, with annual OEM ink revenue predicted to reach €2.20 billion (£1.9 billion or $2.5 billion) by the same year.
Smithers says that there is genuine enthusiasm for a new generation of inkjet machine in the textiles industry, driven by the potential for design freedom, customised fabrics, short print runs, quicker reorders, and print with a lower environmental impact. The pandemic has also accelerated things, increasing demand for e-commerce, direct-to-consumer sales and reshoring. Furthermore, with high streets closed the world over, many fashion brands have invested in online businesses based on the flexibility available with inkjet printing.
Finally, though inkjet printing is well established in several sectors, growth in others, including technical textiles is still limited, though Smithers expects this to change as technologies mature. There is also emerging interest in direct-to-film technology, which allows custom T-shirt designs to be printed onto special films, combining the benefits of inkjet and transfer printing, eliminating pre-treatment steps and enabling darker garments to be customised.


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Microsoft unveiled its updated Surface Pro LTE in September this year. At that time, the company had announced that they will be making the tab available for sale, starting December 1. But it seems like the company is considering postponing the launch of Surface Pro LTE. Reports suggest that Microsoft might end up delaying the launch by an entire year. Surface Pro is now expected to be available in the spring of 2018. The tab is the first of its kind by Microsoft to feature sports cellular connectivity.
— Microsoft Surface (@surface) November 3, 2017
Microsoft appears to have updated Surface Pro LTE’s product page on its official website. The page reads a text, which clearly states that “the new Surface Pro with LTE” will be made available for sale in leading retail stores in “Spring, 2018.” The company further goes on to add, “We’re excited to bring you a Surface Pro that is now faster, lighter, quieter and more connected than ever.” The information was published in Microsoft’s FAQ section (under the online store). Neowin spotted this change over the weekend. But if one goes and checks the page again, the information seems to have removed. There are many possibilities to this. First one is that the information might end up being inaccurate. Rumor claims that someone at Microsoft accidentally posted the details. They were not supposed to reveal anything until much later. Media publications have attempted at reaching out to Microsoft. But they haven’t provided any feedback on the matter. If this turns out to be true, then fans may have to wait until March, 2018 to get their hands on Surface Pro LTE. This is a three month delay which might not be taken lightly by the fans.
The tablet is scheduled to arrive in one variant only. Surface Pro LTE will be powered Core i5 processor. As opposed to speculations, the tablet won’t be available in Core i7 variant. Microsoft is apparently facing troubles when it comes to fitting the LTE modem with Core i7 CPU. This is another compromise that the users will have to be fine with. Microsoft is also expected to launch its Surface Pro 5 this month. The device won’t feature any significant design change but will definitely pack upgraded features. The pricing and availability information has not been revealed by the Redmond giant as yet. Additional details will show up in time.
Image credit:YouTube screenshot


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Standing still is not an option – the Sales Summit in Hamburg
We at the AlphaConsult Group are interested every day in developing ourselves as a company and our colleagues in their professional careers. Be it in sales, marketing or any other of the many areas in which we operate – we stand for dynamism. In order to keep triggering new impulses, our Head of Sales of the AlphaConsult Group, Sascha Lingreen, was at this year’s Sales Summit in Hamburg on 27 April. The Sales Summit is a trade fair and conference for digitalisation and innovation in sales. “I was able to wander through the halls for the AlphaConsult Group and listen to exciting presentations about sales and sales innovations, network with other visitors to the fair and have interesting conversations with the exhibitors,” is how he describes his visit to the fair in Hamburg. Standing still is not an option for the AlphaConsult Group. Therefore, we are already looking forward to the next conference in June on the topic of personnel marketing.
Link to the Summit:


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Improving sales in most of the world helped Ford Motor Co. achieve a record pre-tax profit in 2015, and the company says the numbers could go even higher this year.
Full-year pretax profit jumped 48 per cent to $US10.8 billion ($A15.33 billion) as its global sales and market share grew.
Ford's US sales reached their highest level in a decade, and its F-Series pickup remained the best-selling vehicle in the US for the 34th straight year.
A change in the way Ford accounts for its pension costs also boosted pretax results.
Bob Shanks, Ford's chief financial officer, said 2015 was the "breakthrough year" Ford promised after it spent heavily in 2014 to build new plants in Asia and bring a new, aluminium-sided F-150 pickup to market in the US. Ford expects this year's pretax profit to be equal or higher.
"We've been saying for quite some time that we are probably at a plateau at very high absolute levels," he said. Shanks said low oil prices, low interest rates and a growing housing market in the US all bode well for 2016.
Last year's results will mean a record profit-sharing cheque of $US9300 ($A13,200) for each of Ford's 53,000 US hourly workers.
North America drove Ford's results, with a pretax profit of $US9.3 billion ($A13.2 billion).
But Ford also achieved its highest-ever pretax profit of $US765 million ($A1.09 billion) in its Asia Pacific region and returned to profitability in Europe for the first time since 2011. South America remained weak, but Shanks noted that even in that volatile region, Ford managed to command higher prices.
"We really started to see the international operations start to come forward," Shanks said. "That is the real opportunity for Ford going forward."
Ford's full-year net income jumped to $US7.4 billion ($A10.5 billion). Excluding one-time items, such as $US600 million in employee separation payments, Ford earned $US1.93 per share, beating Wall Street's forecast. Analysts polled by FactSet were expecting full-year earnings of $US1.73 per share.
Ford's revenue rose 4 per cent to $US149.6 billion for the year, also beating forecasts. Global sales rose 5 per cent to 6.6 million for the year.
Ford launched 16 vehicles worldwide last year, down from 24 the year before. New products, like the three-row Edge SUV, helped it achieve record sales of 1.1 million in China.
Fourth-quarter net profit more than doubled to $US1.9 billion. After one-time items, Ford earned 58 cents per share for the quarter, beating Wall Street's forecast of 50 cents.
Fourth-quarter revenue rose 12 per cent to $US40.3 billion, also beating analysts' expectations.


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Alibaba's earnings worry investors
Shares in Alibaba have plunged almost 9% after the Chinese e-commerce giant's quarterly earnings report showed weaker-than-expected sales growth.
The online shopping platform posted a 40% jump in sales to $4.2bn, but investors were hoping for more.
Alibaba was also recently reprimanded by a Chinese regulator, which accused the company of having lax controls over vendors.
The BBC's John Sudworth reports from Shanghai.
30 Jan 2015
- From the section Business


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Drinks giant set to invest up to $100,000 per company in firms tackling climate change, water security and packaging waste
Anheuser-Busch InBev, the drinks giant behind beer brands such as Corona, Stella Artois and Budweiser, is today launching a new accelerator to support start-ups working on solving climate challenges...
Collaboration will investigate uses for hydrogen at Uniper's retiring coal plants as it takes aim at becoming carbon neutral by 2035
The Wildlife Trusts and Green Alliance among groups warning aid package not enough to protect the struggling sector amid urgent climate and environmental crises
Coronavirus shutdown across key EV markets such as China, US and Europe will lead to major sales slowdown, Wood Mackenzie forecasts
Between video calls, collaboration applications and streaming services, data centers are working overdrive - proving why energy efficiency matters more than ever


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Payless sets up fake luxury store, tricks fashion influencers into paying $640 for $20 shoes
Crowds flocked for the grand opening of Palessi, Santa Monica’s newest luxury shoe store. California’s most powerful fashion influencers were there, brought out by special invitation or just by the growing buzz.
The shoes there weren’t cheap. A pair of pumps, at Palessi, could fetch a price as a high as $640 – but for quality like this, people were willing to pay. Within hours, shoppers had handed over more than $3,000 for what they thought were luxury shoes.
But what they didn’t know was that those $640 shoes weren’t really from some mysterious, luxury designer. They were from Payless ShoeSource – and they normally sold for $19.99.
The Palessi Experiment
Palessi wasn’t a real store. It was a stunt dreamed up by a marketing company called DCX Growth Accelerator to promote Payless ShoeSource.
The company bought out a former Armani Exchange, filled the location with pumps and boots that, at their store, retail from between $19.99 – $39.99, and then slapped them with price tags that ranged from $200 – $640.
Then they invited as many fashion influencers as they could, then followed them around with a camera, asking them how much they’d be willing to pay.
“I would pay $400, $500,” one woman said. “People are going to be, like: ‘Where did you get those? Those are amazing!’”
Others called the shoes “elegant” and “stunning”, while one man boasted that, with his keen eye for workmanship, he could “tell it’s made with high-quality material.”
When they were told the truth, the shoppers were shocked. “You’ve got to be kidding me,” one woman said, her eyes bulging, while another admitted: “Did I just pay too much?”
Every shopper was given a full refund and allowed to keep the shoes they’d picked out. The stunt, however, has worked as a real-life Emperor’s New Clothes, exposing how the value of a product can become inflated by perception.
Payless is also hoping that it’ll lead to a boom in their struggling business. The company was recently forced to shut down 637 stores and file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. They’re hoping that this marketing stunt will get enough attention to turn things around.
Dave & Dujanovic weigh in
When KSL Newsradio’s Dave & Dujanovic talked about this story, Dave Noriega called it “the greatest marketing campaign of all time.”
If you missed the show live, you can still catch everything they had to save on the Dave & Dujanovic podcast.
Today’s Top Stories
- FBI seeking information on whereabouts of serial bank robber
- 13 year old hospitalized after being run over in Bountiful
- Salt Lake City Police investigating shooting at Meadows Park
- Deputies say evidence pointing to likely homicide in case of Dylan Rounds
- Search for wanted fugitive in Tooele is unsuccessful
- Salt Lake County DA discusses Biden’s pardon of marijuana possession
- ‘I guess we were meant to be there,’ says woman who saved driver from car fire
- Pioneer Park Coalition announces plan to combat crime, homelessness
- How facial plastic surgery and skincare are joining forces
- Biden to pardon all federal offenses of simple marijuana possession in first major steps…


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The online lobby mode of Persona 4 Arena Ultimax seems to be referencing the days where arcades were the primary way people played fighting games.
Kotaku has shown some images of the game’s online lobby and how it actually makes the process of finding online matches easier and less time-consuming that in Persona 4 Arena.
Players will be able to choose an avatar of any of the game’s roster and sit down at virtual arcade cabinets to either wait for other players to challenge those who are already waiting.
You can look at the player cards of those within the lobby in order to know what you’ll be getting into by challenging any of your potential opponents.
Recently, Atlus spoke out about fans spoiling Persona 4 Arena Ultimax for other fans who live in territories where the game has yet to be released, pleading that those playing Ultimax before others keep the internet spoiler-free for those who can’t yet play. Atlus also released the game’s opening cinematic to whet fans appetite before the game comes out for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 on September 30th.
For more on Persona 4 Arena Ultimax, check out our preview from this year’s E3.
Elsewhere in the Persona space, Atlus confirmed that Persona 5 would be coming to PlayStation 4 and released the first look at the game’s main protagonist.


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Two of the biggest employers in the United States are now requiring employees to be vaccinated against COVID-19 and they are changing their face mask policies. Walmart and the Walt Disney Company announced Friday that nearly every employee will be mandated to be vaccinated or find employment elsewhere. These announcements follow many other large corporations making the decision to require employees to be vaccinated as a condition of employment.
Walmart has set a policy that all employees at its headquarters and managers who travel within the United States must be vaccinated by early October. A company spokesman said that Walmart hopes this will encourage store employees to get vaccinated, too. Walmart is also reversing its policy on face masks for employees in its stores, distribution facilities, and warehouses. In May it was announced that fully vaccinated employees could work without masks. Now they will be required to do so in areas with high infection rates, vaccinated or not.
As for customers, Walmart is bringing back its signs at store entrances encouraging them to wear masks. Instead of store greeters at the entrance, there will be health ambassadors who will hand out masks.
The Walt Disney Company is going the same way. Salaried and non-union hourly employees will have 60 days to get vaccinated. New hires will be required to be fully vaccinated.
“Employees who aren’t already vaccinated and are working on-site will have 60 days from today to complete their protocols and any employees still working from home will need to provide verification of vaccination prior to their return, with certain limited exceptions,” according to the statement.
The company added that it also started conversations with union leaders representing employees over COVID-19 vaccinations.
“Vaccines are the best tool we all have to help control this global pandemic and protect our employees,” Disney said. The international family entertainment and media enterprise has about 203,000 employees and is headquartered in Burbank, California.
The reversal in mask policy for some companies is in response to the confusing messaging coming from CDC and the White House. The constant flip-flopping between pleas for everyone to wear a mask is frustrating for everyone. First, we were told to not buy and wear masks, then we were told to wear them. Once people began getting vaccinated, one incentive to get vaccinated was that masks wouldn’t be needed anymore. Now we’re told that due to highly contagious variants, like the Delta variant, people are being infected even if they’ve been vaccinated and mask up. CDC Director Rochelle Walensky now advises people, even vaccinated people, to wear masks in areas with high infection rates.
New research into outbreaks from several states and other countries “indicate[s] that on rare occasions some vaccinated people infected with the Delta variant after vaccination may be contagious and spread the virus to others.” Dr. Rochelle Walensky, the director of the CDC, told reporters on a call.
The research indicates that vaccinated people who contract the Delta variant have the same viral load, or amount of virus, as unvaccinated people, and that vaccinated people can transmit the variant.
“This new science is worrisome and warrants an update to our recommendations,” Walensky said.
What is “worrisome” to most people, though, is the constant alarm being sounded over variants and the inept messaging that goes with the discovery of them. People are pandemic-weary. Masks have proven ineffective in most cases, as people use disposable paper masks and cloth masks that provide minimum protection. Vaccines are very successful in protecting people but they do not alleviate the presence of the coronavirus. We have to learn to live with it, as we do with other viruses.
Big tech companies are requiring employees to be vaccinated. Facebook and Google are requiring employees to get vaccinated before returning to working in their offices. Private employees can require employees to be vaccinated. Job seekers will act accordingly. If an applicant is not willing to be vaccinated, that is a personal decision. The same is true for shoppers. Retail stores bringing back mask mandates for customers, or those who never ended them, may see a drop in business as we go forward. Customers who are not willing to mask up anymore will take their business elsewhere.
Dr. Francis Collins, NIH Director, is making appearances on some Sunday morning political shows today. The Biden administration has its hair on fire over begging people to get vaccinated. A plateau and then drop of those getting vaccinated alarmed them. It looked like everyone who planned to get vaccinated had already done so or was in process of doing so. Now there is a slight uptick in vaccinations being administered. Collins pointed to Louisiana as an example. That state was at the bottom of the list of vaccinated rates and now there has been an increase of about 50% in the last two weeks. He is big on face masks and encourages people to continue to wear them.
Kroger is a major grocery retailer that is asking customers and employees to wear masks. Publix is requiring masks for everyone, vaccinated or not, by August 2.
Kroger is now “strongly” encouraging all individuals, including those who are vaccinated, to wear a mask when in its stores and facilities, the Cincinnati, Ohio-based supermarket operator said Friday, citing updated recommendations from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Previously, Kroger had required unvaccinated employees wear masks and requested that unvaccinated shoppers do the same.
“We will continue to abide by all state and local mandates and encourage all Americans to get vaccinated, including our associates,” the company said in an emailed statement. Kroger, the nation’s largest grocer, operates nearly 2,800 stores in 35 states.
We have to learn to live with the coronavirus. People cannot be expected to wear a face mask in public indefinitely. Requiring that masks be worn dilutes the message of the success of the vaccines. What the CDC and the Biden White House need most of all are competent messengers.


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November 7, 2011 |
While travelling overseas, you can take only a fixed amount of money, which varies with the purpose of the visit. Find out the limits for leisure, business and medical tourists . Rupee notes - Rs 7,500 You can take Indian currency notes up to Rs 7,500 on your foreign sojourn and no more than two commemorative coins each (coins issued by the government to mark special events). This limitation does not apply to Nepal and Bhutan. While buying forex in cash, you cannot shell out more than Rs 50,000 at a time.
November 28, 2013 |
MUMBAI: Country's premier stock exchange BSE today became the fourth bourse in the country to have a platform for trading in currency and interest rate derivatives. BSE will now allow the rupee pair trading in dollar, euro, pound and the yen on the new currency derivatives segment. To begin with, currency options trade will be on dollar-rupee contracts, which will be without charges for the first six moths. With this the BSE becomes the fourth stock exchange in the currency derivatives segment after the NSE, MCX-SX and United Stock Exchange.
October 28, 2010 |
WASHINGTON: The International Monetary Fund on Thursday said the dollar was overvalued on currency markets, while the euro, yen and pound were in line with fundamentals. "The real effective exchange rates of Japan, the euro area, and the UK all appear broadly in line with medium-term fundamentals, while the US dollar is on the strong side of fundamentals," the IMF said in a report to the Group of 20 economic powers. The IMF noted that recent government interventions in the foreign-exchange market had contributed to the imbalance, which has sparked fears of "currency wars" to protect exports amid the global economic recovery.
January 24, 2009 |
BEIJING: China's central bank on Saturday denied it was manipulating the country's currency, reacting to a statement by US President Barack Obama's Treasury secretary-designate Timothy Geithner. Su Ning, vice governor of the bank, called the allegation "untrue and misleading," China's official Xinhua news agency reported. "We should avoid any excuse that might lead to the revitalisation of trade protectionism. Because it will do no good to the fight against the crisis, nor will it help the healthy and stable development of the global economy," it quoted Su as saying.
December 1, 2003 |
NASIK: Three Currency Note Press (CNP) employees, including a store department officer, were suspended in connection with the multi-crore fake stamp paper scam, sources said. Three employees in CNP's store department were suspended yesterday after 10-ream water-mark paper, being used to print currency notes, was found missing few years ago, CNP sources said, adding the search is on to find the missing paper. With this, the total number of suspensions in both the Indian Security Press and CNP has gone to seven in the scam.
December 14, 2012 |
In a foretast of what awaits the Indian traveller, the UAE Exchange, a remittance and foreign exchange outfit, today launched Gocash , a multi-currency prepaid travel card in the Middle East market. Customers can load up to six currencies out of a bouquet of 15. The card can be used across 34.3 MasterCard-enabled merchant locations and 1.5 million ATMs across the world, as well as for online purchases. In a normal prepaid card that is used across countries, the exchange rate is whatever is available at the place of use at the time of use. In Gocash, the exchange rate can be locked at the time of purchase, according to a release by UAE Exchange and MasterCard.
August 17, 2008 |
BEIJING : Buoyed by the growing influence of the Chinese economy and strength of the Yuan, the government is set to establish an offshore currency market with Hong Kong and Shanghai in the race with Tianjin, the front-runner as a possible location. The Chinese currency, Yuan, though still not fully convertible, will be traded among foreign companies and institutions as well as domestic players, who will be guaranteed tax benefits. Though Chinese policymakers have not yet decided on the location of the offshore currency market, Tianjin, a booming northern port city is reportedly the top choice.
February 2, 2015 |
SINGAPORE: The popular hawkers on Indian streets would be roped in by an NRI-owned non-profit private organisation for an online network of merchant banking system to market a digital currency rivalling Bitcoin. Canada-based Trestor Foundation's founder Kunal Dixit said such small businesses, which forms part of the two billion people without banking facilities worldwide, will form the base of "Trest" or digital tokens as a form of online currency. "Our retailers in India would include chaiwalas, gol gappewalas and rediwalas to market the Trest using their smart phones," Dixit told PTI after a conference on Inside Bitcon over the weekend in Singapore.
January 3, 2006 |
After a surprise '05 in which the dollar rose, against the predictions of many analysts, the U.S. currency is likely to fall in '06. But exactly when and how hard, they say, will depend largely on how the US interest rate story plays out. The consensus among currency analysts these days seems to be that the fortunes of the dollar will depend, much like this year, on the trajectory of interest rates in the United States and globally....
November 20, 2007 |
Software shares, the yesteryear darlings of investors, have fallen out of favour in recent months, as the steady appreciation in the rupee against the dollar is feared to have impacted their earnings. Such concerns, though partly true, are believed to be slightly exaggerated to the extent that top software shares have moved in tandem with the rise or fall in the rupee in recent times. ET asked a few industry and market experts ? is it fair by investors to perceive IT companies as mere currency bets?


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The first new Volvo V60 five-door, mid-size premium estate has arrived in Ireland. The hand-built demonstration model can be seen for a limited time in Volvo’s Scandinavian inspired pop up shop on Dublin’s Merrion Row.
From the 11th of May to the 8th of June, visitors will get a chance to see Volvo’s long-awaited new dynamic estate. Customers are invited to experience first-hand the look and feel of Volvo’s latest premium offering in the comfort of a relaxed, Scandinavian environment while enjoying traditional Swedish Fika*.
Emma O’Carroll, Brand and PR specialist at Volvo Car Ireland, said: “We are delighted to open our third pop up shop on Dublin’s Merrion Row to give customer a preview of the new V60 before it arrives in dealerships later this summer. The new V60 is the latest product [...]
Volvo’s first ever compact SUV named What Car? Car of the Year 2018
XC40 also takes Best Family SUV title
Praised for its style, quality, comfort and safety
Volvo XC60 wins What Car? Safety Award
The Volvo XC40 has won the What Car? Car of the Year 2018 award, just four months after it went on sale.
Volvo’s first ever compact SUV was also crowned Best Family SUV at the 40th annual What Car? Awards, which were held at the Grosvenor House hotel in London on Tuesday, 23 January.
The What Car? judges were seriously impressed with the premium XC40, saying: “This is a big moment for Volvo, because the XC40 has beaten some truly exceptional rivals to win here. With its mix of comfort and class, safety and style, [...]
Finlay Motor Group invites customers and guests to an exclusive Open Doors event to celebrate the arrival of the new Volvo XC60.
On September 27th from 5pm – 8pm customers and guests are invited to Finlay Motor Group to celebrate the XC60’s arrival at their Open Door event, where customers can claim an exclusive introductory rate of just 2.9% PCP or a €4000 complimentary upgrade on their new XC60 order.
Finlay Motor Group’s, Dealer Principal, Gary Finlay, said: “The new XC60 is the latest product in Volvo’s transformation, and introduces to our best-selling SUV the premium design, advanced connectivity and pioneering safety technology already seen on the successful S90, V90 and XC90.
“We’re delighted to open our doors to welcome the new XC60 and hope all our customers can join us on [...]
Well the wait is finally over as the all new Volvo XC60 was unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show early today, and the wait was definitely worth it. The new look XC60 is outstanding to say the least.
Since the XC60’s launch in 2008 it has seen little or no changes, so the changes will be happily welcomed to the vehicle. It has always been seen as an incredible vehicle and may not seem to have needed to be reborn, however Volvo have made exceptional steps in revolving the look of all the vehicles in the range and this needed to continue with the XC60.
We cannot wait to get the new XC60 in our showrooms later this year. Not only does [...]
Finlay Volvo had a very busy week last week attending two very exciting launches.
The first was held in Killashee House Hotel for The Currgah Racecourse’s launch of their Summer Season Racing Programme and Killashee Irish Tatler Style Icon. The proud partnership between Finlay Volvo & The Currgah Racecourse allowed Finlay Volvo to showcase some of our own stylish Volvo’s.
Although the night was about launching the competition for the Style Icon at The Currgah, we think the Volvo’s give them all a run for their money. Both an XC90 & XC60 were proudly parked at the red carpet entrance of the launch evening. As you can see the two vehicles looked amazing parked in front of the picturesque Killashee House Hotel.
The second launch of the week for Finlay Volvo was very exciting for us, it was the launch of the Volvo S90.


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The world has found itself in a “mammoth environmental crisis,” and we will all have to dramatically alter our diets to reduce our impact on the Earth, CNN argues in a story advocating replacing beef consumption with bug consumption.
Discussing the UK’s new “bleeding” burger that is not made from meat, CNN has laid out a few options for getting away from “greenhouse-gas-intensive foods such as beef and toward healthier and more sustainable diets.”
Six-legged creatures already supplement the diets of 2 billion people in the world, predominantly in Asia, Africa and Latin America. But the trend is starting to creep into Western cuisine, with some restaurants offering insect-based menus and some mainstream European supermarkets starting to sell edible insect snacks or bug burgers.
Bug Foundation, a startup based in Germany, developed a burger made from mealworms that is now stocked in more than 1,000 supermarkets across Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany.
"If you compare insects with beef, for the same amount of protein, you need roughly 1,000 times less water, 10 times less feed and you emit up to 100 times less greenhouse gases," said Baris Özel, co-founder of Bug Foundation.
Springmann, who has carried out research on insects as an alternative to meat, agrees on the environmental benefits, but he is skeptical of the cost. "In high-income countries, insects are actually fairly expensive because they are such a niche product," he said. (CNN)
The article also recommended less extreme options, such as mixing meat with vegetables like mushrooms; replacing beef with chicken or pork; and ditching meat altogether.


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Amazon is continuing to add to its live sports portfolio with a five-year distribution deal with mixed martial arts promoter One Championship.
The deal, which covers the U.S. and Canada, will see Amazon exclusively broadcast at least 12 live One Championship events annually on its streaming service Prime Video.
The pact allows One Championship to compete in the U.S. with rival UFC, which reported its best financial year to date in 2021.
Amazon has been diversifying its live sports offerings with deals across multiple sports and leagues.
- In March 2021, it agreed to an 11-year deal with the NFL for exclusive rights to “Thursday Night Football” that will pay the league $1 billion per season.
- Two months later, the Premier League agreed to roll over its $7 billion in broadcast deals to 2025, which includes a 20-game package with Amazon.
- In June 2021, it signed a three-year deal to broadcast Ligue 1 and Ligue 2 games for $1 billion.
The Seattle-based tech giant is also adding highly regarded talent to its live sports coverage. In March, it hired ESPN college football analyst Kirk Herbstreit and legendary NBC commentator Al Michaels to handle Prime Video’s “TNF.”
In January, Group ONE Holdings, the Singapore-based parent company of One Championship, raised $150 million in a funding round, valuing the MMA promotion at more than $1 billion.
The round was led by Guggenheim Investments and the Qatar Investment Authority, the nation’s sovereign wealth fund.


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Transforming Africa: Entrepreneurs can apply for Tony Elumelu Entrepreneurship 2018 Programme
Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF)is inviting entrepreneurs with business ideas that can transform Africa to apply for its 2018 Tony Elumelu Entrepreneurship Programme ( TEEP).
TEEP began four years ago with $100 million commitment from TEF to identify, train, mentor and fund 10,000 African entrepreneurs by 2024.
Each year, 1000 entrepreneurs across Africa are supported with $5,000 in seed capital to run their ideas. Selected applicants are also given additional funding when they are able to scale their business.
Apart from the funding, the programme includes a 12- week intensive online training on managing a successful business, mentoring to guide them through the early transformation stages of the business and access to the largest network of African start-ups and TEF’s own global contacts.
“When we launched the TEF Programme and committed $100 million to empowering Africa’s entrepreneurs,” said Tony Elumelu, founder, TEF, “I knew we would create impact, but I never imagined it would be impact of this magnitude.
“We have unleashed a movement of African entrepreneurs — a force so strong, so inspiring, that I am confident they will collectively transform Africa. We need Africa’s best and brightest entrepreneurs to come learn, grow their businesses and build our continent.”
Applicants must be at least 18 and a legal resident or citizen of an African country, with a ‘for-profit’ business based in Africa.
Tony Elumelu Foundation was established in 2010 to promote entrepreneurship in Africa and be a catalyst for the social and economic development of the continent.
Interested individuals can apply for the programme here. The deadline is on 1 March 2018.
Deji Aroloye91 Posts
a graduate of Linguistics and a staff writer at Outrepreneurs, Deji's forte includes tech, startups and innovations. Years back, Deji wrote on Entertainment and Lifestyle for a tabloid. If he wasn't a writer, Deji would be a photographer or teacher.


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TTF View – August 2011
The economy is more important than the exchange rate
in travel decisions
By John Lee, chief executive, Tourism & Transport Forum
IT’S the economy, stupid was a catchphrase which gained prominence during Bill Clinton’s successful 1992 US presidential campaign.
It was an effective political tool then, and can equally be used now to describe the challenges facing Australia’s tourism industry.
Despite uncertainty on global markets, the Australian economy has grown steadily over recent years. This relative economic strength and stability, coupled with the availability of affordable international airfares and travel offers targeted at prosperous Australians, has seen an acceleration in outbound travel by Australians.
For the 2010/11 financial year, the number of overseas trips taken by Australians rose 9.9 per cent. That includes June, a month which saw significant disruption to aviation, thanks to the ash cloud from the Chilean volcano, especially between Australia and New Zealand.
International arrivals grew by 3.8 per cent over the year, with falls from Europe and North America made up for by rises in annual arrivals from New Zealand and Asia.
Indeed, arrivals from the 11 Asian countries among our top 20 source markets increased by 10.4 per cent. China led the charge, up almost 27 per cent, with double digit rises from Malaysia, India and Indonesia.
The common factor among these figures is the economy. Australians are travelling overseas more frequently because they have the means and the opportunity and because they are confident about their financial and job security.
In turn, visitors to Australia are increasingly being drawn from Asia, where the middle classes are growing apace as their economies continue to develop, while we are seeing falling arrivals from many of our traditional long-haul markets, whose economies are struggling to deal with repeated crises and the spectre of some countries defaulting on their debts.
These factors all contribute to consumer sentiment, which particularly influences decision-making on discretionary spending, including travel.
Such is the nature of economic cycles, it is surely only a matter of time before the global economy is back on more even keel and we will again see growth in arrivals from Europe, however it is clear that the burgeoning economies of Asia will continue to provide a growing share of visitors to Australia in the coming decades.
Yes, currency movements have an impact on tourist activity, but most international visitors to Australia plan their trips months, if not years, in advance, taking into account a host of factors.
The exchange rate at the time of planning the trip is among those, however given the commitment required for international travel, the logistics involved and the potential cost of postponing travel, the biggest impact of the current exchange rate is on the choices visitors make while they’re here – where they stay, how much additional travel they do, where they eat, the number and the attractions they visit.
A far bigger determinant in the initial travel decision is that underlying confidence in one’s financial security. Almost two decades on Clinton’s phrase is still relevant: It’s the economy, stupid.
TTF View appears quarterly.


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Unlike Milwaukee, new Seattle arena to get mega private funding
News flash for supporters of a new — and possibly publicly financed — arena for downtown Milwaukee: The new owners of the NBA franchise that is moving from Sacramento, Calif., to Seattle have proposed providing $290 million of the $490 cost for a new Seattle NBA arena.
A group led by private investor Christopher Hansen has told Seattle city officials that about $200 million in public support will be necessary for a new facility. The public funds would come from rent on the arena, sales tax on parking and merchandise and taxes on tickets to arena events, according to The Wall Street Journal.
The relevant point for Milwaukee’s anticipated arena discussion is whether the Seattle deal creates a new model for financing arena projects.
A downtown Milwaukee cultural- and sports-attractions task force led by Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce president Tim Sheehy is scheduled to start meeting by this spring. Assuming the group decides to recommend building a new arena, a huge question will be how to pay for it, including the possibility of a sales tax.
Milwaukee Bucks owner Herb Kohl has said he would cover an unspecified amount of the cost if a new arena were built for the Bucks and other tenants. The cost of replacing the BMO Harris Bradley Center has been pegged at $350 million or more.
One major difference between the planned Seattle arena and a new arena for downtown Milwaukee is that the Seattle team, to be known again as the Supersonics, has incredibly deep pockets. Hansen’s group includes Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer and two scions of the Nordstrom retail family.
Senior Reporter Rich Kirchen covers health care, sports business, politics and media/advertising for the Milwaukee Business Journal.
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Middle Eastern fruit market shifting to consignment deals
A Middle East fruit market expert says the trend of oversupply in the region is changing the trade dynamic from traditional fixed price deals to consignment arrangements.
G.F. Marketing director David Pearce told www.freshfruitportal.com the shift has been a decade in the making with the onset of more fruit providers
"The Middle East has always been a fixed price market, fewer traders allowed that they could take a stock risk and normally ended up making a profit, and hence there was no need for a consignment based market," says the South African national.
"As South Africa has increased shipments of pome fruit, stonefruit, citrus fruits and grapes to the Middle East, so has Chile, Argentina, New Zealand, Egypt, Spain, France and other suppliers to the market, and this has caused that there are surpluses rather than shortages in the market.
"I do believe that if this trend of oversupply keeps continuing, the Middle East will change to a consignment market or a 'minimum guarantee' market which will ultimately be to the detriment of the suppliers."
He explains that South Africa alone has increased its exports to the region from 10,000 pallets in 2001 to 70,000 pallets last year, and with more fruit coming from around the worl,d importers have become more discerning in what they choose.
"For the past two years we have witnessed many occasions when importers have come back to exporters and asked for market assistance due to an oversupplied market on a certain fruit type - we have witnessed this phenomenon happening in Russia and the Far East markets.
"The container business has also dramatically changed the market and apart from bananas there are virtually nil bulk vessels bring fruit to the Middle East markets currently.
"To compound the above problem is the fact that all Middle East trading is done in U.S. dollars; countries such as Saudi Arabia, the U.A.E. and others have their currencies pegged permanently to the US dollar. The volatility of the US$ has not done anyone any favors in the past two years and has especially affected some of the Southern Hemisphere exporting countries."
Pearce says the market has been typically 'sluggish' in the aftermath of Ramadan, with all fruit categories selling slowly regardless of their quality.
"French apples have arrived in the market and are not selling at their normal early season tempo. South African lemons are selling way below cost price. South African Valencia oranges are selling at cost price or below.
"I suppose that the biggest concern for us is the future rather than the present. The traditional EU markets performed very poorly for the Southern
Hemisphere countries this year and there is generally a feeling that Southern Hemisphere countries should seek other markets in the East, meaning the Middle and Far East.
"The problem with that is that we will see 'every man and his dog' trying out these new markets causing flooded markets and poor returns. The Middle East is a market that can absorb only so much before it is upset with too much volume."
With the stonefruit season four weeks away, Pearce highlights European markets are not going well so the fact there are problems in the Middle East too is a cause for concern.
Photo: Cargo Care
Related stories: Price gaps changing in the Middle East
Chile's gala apples having a ball in the Middle East
SA citrus picks up in the Middle East


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After Merck & Co. officially announced its $41.1 billion merger with Schering-Plough yesterday, CEO Richard Clark made it clear his company is still looking to expand through further acquisitions and mergers.
According to the Wall Street Journal’s Health Blog:
Clark told us today that the newly combined company is “actively looking” for biotechs to buy or partner with…“We’ve gone much more external,” he said. As Clark noted, the combined company will generate about $15 billion in free cash flow each year to go hunting.
He also told the Associated Press that Merck already has $8 billion in cash it plans to use for future deals. The Schering-Plough merger makes Merck the second biggest company in the industry, and the deal comes on the heels of industry leader Pfizer’s deal earlier this year to buy drugmaker Wyeth.
By purchasing Schering-Plough, Merck hopes to benefit from the company’s biotech, animal care and consumer products divisions. The move expands Merck’s worldwide operations to encompass 140 countries and will help to soften the blow when Merck loses its patent on Singulair, the allergy drug that produces over $4 billion a year for the company.
Clark didn’t put forward information on layoffs expected to affect 16,000 employees, 15 percent of the companies’ combined workforce. Approximately 40 percent of Schering-Plough’s senior leaders will join the combined company, according to Merck’s press release, while Schering-Plough CEO Fred Hassan is leaving with a severance package reportedly worth $51 million.


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Could You Live Without Credit Cards?by Tim Manni
Personal finance blog “FiveCentNickel” asks their readers to imagine a world where cash is king in a recent post titled “Is It Possible to Live Without Credit Cards?”
The notion may seem unrealistic to some, especially in this uncertain economic environment where thousands of Americans are unemployed or under-employed and rely on their plastic to get them through each month.
However, ‘Nickel’ says the key is for consumers to change they way we think about spending. If you’re of the opinion that banks have been working against consumers, then it’s time to end your dependence on the financial products they offer. But not all the blame surrounding our financial woes should be placed on the shoulders of the banks, writes ‘Nickel.’
While banks have been widely criticized for increasing credit card rates and fees, balking at the foreclosure effort and for not reinjecting bailout money back into the economy, consumers themselves have moved away from a sense of pride in their financial responsibility. Whether it’s overspending or walking away from their homes, Nickel writes that “our principles have deteriorated.”
‘Nickel’ encourages consumers to retake the driver’s seat by hunkering down and realizing that we don’t need to depend on our credit cards. By paying down debt and budgeting to increase our savings, ‘Nickel’ says that we can begin to transition to a world where using cash as well as our debit cards can become sufficient.
If you don’t agree with industry and/or business practices, your best course of action is often to simply stop using their products. The same is true for the financial industry. Reevaluate your priorities, change the way you think, pay down debt, save your money, and start using cash and/or debit for more of your purchases. You have a voice, don’t be afraid to use it!
It’s obvious that in this post ‘Nickel’ is responding to the overwhelming criticism consumers have with the banking industry, and to that point, we think their conclusion is concise and logical — “If you don’t agree with industry…stop using their products.”
What we want to know is, is this solution practical for you, and are you willing to change your lifestyle to live without credit cards?