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Over the past five years, disruptive forces have reshaped retail grocery in South Korea. Demographic patterns, including the rise of single-person households and the embrace of mobile channels by elderly shoppers, have implications for physical stores and digital commerce alike. Rising competition from e-commerce players has forced traditional grocery retailers to elevate their online game. And the pandemic further changed consumer preferences—not just fostering an embrace of online channels but also increasing the popularity of convenience stores.
Executives have become adept at responding to a shifting landscape. So what lies ahead? Our research, analysis, and work with clients suggest five trends will have an outsize impact on the grocery market in the coming year.
Eating behavior: South Koreans want convenience
South Korean consumers are increasingly shifting from cooking from scratch to eating out or more conveniently. What does “convenience” mean? According to our 2021 South Korea grocery survey,1 45 percent of consumers prefer prepackaged and partially cooked fresh meals that require some preparation (compared with 34 percent of the world), and 41 percent order prepared foods for delivery (versus 24 percent of the world).
The home meal replacement (HMR) market was expected to reach about 5 trillion won ($4.3 billion) in 2022, up twofold from five years ago.2 Both start-ups and large food and beverage companies are competing fiercely in this growing market; this is especially apparent in the meal-kit category, which barely existed five years ago. Meal kits are popular among higher-income groups and have become a premium offering. Department stores and popular offline restaurants are also developing their own meal-kit offerings.
The food delivery market has also expanded dramatically. For decades, South Korean consumers preferred to order food from restaurants by phone. This was possible because restaurants were nearby in highly populated cities; today, South Korea is one of the most urbanized countries, with 91.8 percent of its population living in cities.3 The emergence of mobile food-delivery platforms has increased food-delivery orders even more by offering a variety of food options, a convenient ordering process, and options to filter high-quality restaurants. Coupang entered this market a few years ago, an indication of its growth. Online food delivery transactions reached 25.7 trillion won in 2021, a more than ninefold increase over four years.4 It now exceeds the online food and beverage market, at 24.3 trillion won. Because the market is made up of a few dominant players, the South Korean government is keeping an eye on how it develops, and some regional governments are launching their own services. In China, the national government is pressing the large delivery players to decrease their commissions.5
Brick and mortar: Not a sinking ship for everyone
In Asia, South Korea has the highest share—86 percent—of modern grocery retail (supermarkets, hypermarkets, and discounters).6 This trajectory has been fueled by the growth of hypermarkets (25.7 trillion won in 2021) and supermarkets (25.8 trillion won). However, traditional leaders are ceding market share to upstarts that are addressing changing consumer preferences.
For example, buying groceries (especially fresh products) has been the primary reason for consumers to go to physical hypermarket stores. The share of grocery as a percentage of sales in this format continues to rise, from 56 percent in 2016 to 67 percent in 2021 (Exhibit 1). Yet this trend is not influential enough on its own to compensate for the declining share of hypermarkets in South Korea.
Meanwhile, special formats—such as convenience stores, warehouse clubs, and discounters—are experiencing sustained growth, a reflection of the increased desire among consumers to shop at a conveniently located store that has everything they need under one roof (see sidebar, “Deep dive: Consumer behavior of single-person households”).
Convenience store revenue grew more than fourfold, from $5.8 billion in 2010 to $24.7 billion in 2021,7 surpassing hypermarkets and supermarkets. The total number of stores rose to more than 49,300 in 2021, equal to one convenience store for every 1,049 people.8 Even with this increase, South Korea has already surpassed countries such as Japan, where the ratio was one convenience store for every 2,021 people in 2021. Rather than simply relying on expanding their footprint, grocers are also focusing on qualitative growth, developing unique products that can be found offline only, and adding categories such as fresh produce and wine. For instance, Emart24 sold more than three million bottles of wine in 2021.9
Warehouse clubs also continue to expand. High-income consumers and large households regularly visit this format, but small-business owners are the biggest purchasers. For these reasons, conventional retailers (such as E-Mart) are planning to increase their footprint in warehouse clubs.
Although convenience has become a higher priority for consumers, supermarkets and hypermarkets will have to do more than be located in close proximity. They should seek to rigorously develop new reasons for consumers to visit. For example, retailers have started to offer a wide range of beer and wine because most alcohol cannot be purchased online. Similarly, some hypermarkets are creating “deli corners” for cooking fresh foods (such as steak and lobster) in an attempt to draw people to the hypermarket for meals as well as shopping. Maintaining profitability will continue to be a never-ending challenge.
Online: Growth will come from the elderly population and fresh products
During the COVID-19 pandemic, online shopping increased significantly worldwide. In South Korea, it grew to more than 41 percent of total retail and approximately 24 percent in grocery.10
In South Korea, online has the potential to grow significantly in specific segments, such as elderly consumers. Just 9 percent of baby boomers indicated that Coupang, the largest e-commerce player, is their main grocery channel (compared with 19 percent of Gen Xers and 30 percent of millennials). Consumer segments that have been slow to embrace online in grocery pointed to several factors: in our survey, 39 percent of respondents cited the quality of the fresh foods, and 24 percent pointed to delivery charges, high minimum order value, and too much packaging. Among baby boomers, 26 percent report that the online selection is not large enough, and product descriptions are insufficient. Despite the current lower penetration of online shopping for this consumer segment, their online consumption gradually increased. According to a Korea Consumer Agency survey, in 2021, online consumption by elderly people (aged 60 and over) rose tenfold over the previous two years, far outpacing the overall twofold rise during this period.11
Delivery speed and low delivery costs are top priorities for most of the world, but that is not the case for South Korean consumers, who prefer next-day delivery over instant delivery. One reason could be the prevalence of convenience stores and well-developed, next-day “dawn delivery” offerings (Exhibit 2).
‘Sustainability’ is more than just a buzzword in grocery
South Korean consumers have typically expressed less interest in environmental responsibility across retail categories, but grocery is an exception. Compared with consumers in other countries, South Korean shoppers show a significantly higher willingness to pay more for environmentally friendly grocery goods that minimize the amount of packaging.12
As income levels grow and people are more focused on quality of life, they have shown a greater interest in healthy eating. What’s more, they are willing to pay higher prices to get healthier products. Grocery retailers have responded by launching new products with less sugar, fewer artificial ingredients, and additional nutrients, a move that has boosted revenues. Organic grocery retailers recorded double-digit growth in sales in fiscal year 2020, and Oasis saw a jump of 50 percent in 2021 compared with the previous year.
Packaged-food players have also worked on sustainability over the past several years. Plastic bottles without labels to facilitate recycling are just one of the more visible changes on store shelves. Meanwhile, consumers have traditionally expected food producers to maintain higher standards for quality and sustainability.
One of the primary factors preventing consumers from buying online is too much packaging used in delivery. In response, leading e-commerce retailers, such as Coupang and Market Kurly, have introduced reusable-packaging programs.
While South Korean consumers have typically expressed less interest in environmental responsibility across retail categories, grocery is an exception.
Bifurcation in spending: Searching for premium and value for money
Traditionally, premium grocery catered to a smaller share of consumers, but that base is now increasing. Lotte Department Store’s premium-grocery category grew by more than 35 percent annually over the past two years,13 and Hyundai Department Store recently started live streaming content on premium local delicacies, drawing customers primarily in their 20s and 30s.14
Consumer goods companies are pursuing strategies in the premium category to make up for declining operating profit caused by soaring prices for grains and other raw food. But not every retailer has been successful. Consumers routinely conduct significant research before they buy, and their digital literacy is higher than ever. In this market, new premium products that lack a clear value proposition have not resonated with consumers, many of whom are still actively seeking ways to save money and get the best promotions. To break through, grocers need to understand the attributes for which consumers are willing to pay more, rather than just adding fancy ingredients so they can charge higher prices.
Discounters and variety stores have also taken hold: this format grew 8 percent per year over the past five years, reaching $3 billion in 2021.15 Penny stores such as Daiso and No Brand have gained share in grocery with a value proposition that focuses on value for money and smaller units. No Brand’s sales increased at a CAGR of 32 percent from 2017 to 2021, and its food category continues to grow, especially as it expands into categories such as biscuits, canned food, and ice cream. Affluent consumers also visit penny stores, attracted by “category killer” grocery items such as snacks and HMRs.
Collectively, these trends have major implications for grocers, from their operating models and store formats to their investments in analytics and technology. Winning retailers will carefully monitor changing consumer behaviors and market patterns and respond quickly to gain an advantage.


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Dave Dahl, who created the popular brand Dave's Killer Bread after spending 15 years in prison, is giving a boost to Project 180, the Sarasota nonprofit that helps people who were previously incarcerated. Dahl will join Project 180's Strong Voices Strong Subjects lecture series on Friday, Nov 13.
The series began this spring with one event, but the remaining two lectures had to be rescheduled to this fall because of the Covid-19 pandemic. The final two events will take place online.
In addition to Dahl's discussion, Project 180 will host an online forum highlighting local "second chance" employers who hire people with criminal backgrounds. That talk will take place on Friday, Oct. 9, and will be moderated by 12th Judicial Circuit Court Judge Charles Williams.
Dahl rejoined his family's Oregon bakery in 2005 after his time in prison and created the Dave's brand. After first being sold at a local farmers' market, the bread is now available in grocery stores nationwide. The company has maintained a policy of hiring people regardless of whether they have a criminal background. Approximately one third of the company's employees has a criminal history. The company was purchased by Georgia's Flowers Foods Inc. for $275 million in 2015.
The Project 180 lecture featuring local "second chance" employers will take place 11 a.m.-1 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 9. The lecture featuring Dahl will take place 11 a.m.-1 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 13. Tickets to each are $35. Register online here.

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PlayStation 4 has cemented its place as the UK’s most popular games console.
According to UK retailers, quoting GfK Entertainment figures, PS4 passed the 3m sales milestone back in January.
The news comes as the firm fills two key roles at its UK division.
Richard Keen has been promoted to marketing director for UK and Ireland. Keen joined PlayStation UK in 2013 as head of product marketing. He was previously employed as international publishing director at IGN parent Ziff Davis.
He replaces Murray Pannell, who left to join 2K Europe as VP of publishing in December.
"I am thrilled to be given an opportunity to step up into the marketing director role at such an exciting time for the business," said Keen.
"With PSVR launch on the horizon, the strongest first party line-up since PS4 launched and our third party exclusives better than ever, the team here are in a fantastic position to make 2016 the most successful year in PlayStation history."
Meanwhile, Nintendo’s PR boss Jo Bartlett has been named head of communications.
Bartlett began her career in games working alongside PlayStation at agency John Doe. She was named head of communications at Nintendo UK in 2011, and has handled the launch of Wii U, various 3DS iterations, plus games such as Mario Kart 8 and Pokemon X and Y.
She fills a role vacated by David Wilson, who was promoted to director of communications at PlayStation’s European arm in November last year.
My career in the games industry began working on the PlayStation account from an agency perspective, and I still count that time as the most challenging and rewarding to date,” Bartlett tells MCV.
With 2016 looking set to be another exciting chapter in the history of PlayStation, I’m extremely proud and happy to be joining the talented in-house team, and look forward to building on their incredible innovation and success.”


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Big Data is a term that’s thrown around a lot by vendors, thought leaders and the press—so much so that it’s nearly lost all meaning. In fact, most people skip “big” and immediately discuss how it’s about more than just the amount of data (and it is). That said, we should take a moment to recognize what true big data scale means.
Today we announced that Yahoo is using Hunk to analyze 600 petabytes (yes, that’s a “p”) of data in Hadoop and is analyzing over 150 terabytes per day with Splunk Enterprise. That’s real scale, and Yahoo is using the Splunk platform to get there. But while the amount is interesting, what’s really compelling is how the company is using the data.
With Hunk, the company is tracking and improving the performance and stability of its grid system, and tracking the system metrics of all of its clusters. Yahoo uses analytics on Hadoop to visually browse complex tables, meet SLAs and gain insights into historical resources. By using Hunk, the company is saving millions of dollars per year in hardware provisioning alone.
Yahoo has also deployed Splunk Enterprise as its platform for machine data. Teams ranging from IT operations, infrastructure, products and security are using Splunk Enterprise to maximize revenue by understanding customer preferences, advertising and marketing campaign popularity, and click through rates, while also addressing IT workflow issues.
By implementing Hunk and Splunk Enterprise, Yahoo is pushing the boundaries of data analytics on the “big” side of big data, but in a way that’s also addressing core needs of the business. That’s the full power of big data—and the power of the Splunk platform.


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Across four key metrics—global economic conditions, local economic conditions, industry economic conditions, and corporate outlook—more senior-level executives project improvements over the next six months vs. the same period a year earlier:
- 41% expect global economic conditions to improve over the next six months, up from the 25% who did so a year earlier.
52% expect improvements in their own businesses over the next six months, up from the 39% who did so in 2011.
Among global executives, levels of optimism about local economies and industry have also risen over the past year.
Below, additional findings from the Doremus/Financial Times annual survey of 400 senior-level executives worldwide.
Take the first step (it's free).
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The latest version of the Adobe Connect Web conferencing system can automate the conversion of recorded Web meetings to an industry standard format for easier availability on mobile devices.
Further boosting its presence in the field of product marketing, Adobe is acquiring campaign management software provider Neolane for approximately US$600 million in cash.
Adobe has released scheduled security updates for its Reader, Acrobat, Flash Player and ColdFusion products on Tuesday in order to fix many critical vulnerabilities, including one that is already actively exploited by attackers.
McAfee said it has found a vulnerability in Adobe Systems' Reader program that reveals when and where a PDF document is opened.
Adobe Systems has appointed Brad Arkin, the company's senior director of security for products and services, to become its first CSO. With a mature product security program already in place, the top priorities for Adobe's new security chief are to st...
A court in California declined to certify as class action a lawsuit by workers alleging an illegal cartel formed by seven technology companies including Apple, Google and Intel.
Adobe CTO Kevin Lynch is leaving the company to take a job at Apple, a one-time close partner of Adobe that became the most vociferous critic of its Flash technology.
The U.S. Congress needs to shut down so-called patent trolls whose infringement lawsuits are diverting company resources from hiring and research, a group of technology companies told lawmakers Thursday.
Twitter is aiming to give marketers more control in how they advertise on the site by giving them access to its API through third-party service companies.
Adobe released emergency patches for Adobe Reader and Acrobat 11, 10 and 9 on Wednesday that address two critical vulnerabilities being actively exploited by attackers.
Adobe Systems said it will release patches for two critical vulnerabilities disclosed last week that are actively being used by attackers.
Adobe released security updates for Flash Player and Shockwave Player on Tuesday in order to address a total of 19 vulnerabilities affecting the two products.
Adobe Systems released new versions of Flash Player, Adobe Reader and Adobe Acrobat on Tuesday in order to address a total of 28 critical security vulnerabilities in the software products.
Adobe Systems warned users of its ColdFusion application server software that hackers are reportedly exploiting unpatched vulnerabilities in the product to take control of affected servers.
Adobe plans in February to close a dangerous hole in its Shockwave application that causes the application to be downgraded when a user launches older multimedia content, allowing hackers to target years-old vulnerabilities.
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For work use, Microsoft Word and Excel programs pre-installed on the device are adequate for preparing short documents.
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My first impression after unboxing the Q702 is that it is a nice looking unit. Styling is somewhat minimalist but very effective. The tablet part, once detached, has a nice weight, and no buttons or switches are located in awkward or intrusive positions.
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ATHENS – Even as many have shunned wearing masks and abandoned any precept of staying safe social distances apart, Greeks are worried about the lingering battle against the COVID-19 pandemic.
Curiously, that comes as the New Democracy government further pulled back an already lenient lockdown in a bid to lure tourists to help a battered economy driven down over the past 15 months.
As consumers, Greeks are less optimistic than those in other countries about being able to return to a near normal-life, said a survey by the auditing firm Ernst & Young although many already have, with beaches and malls full, people flocking to public gathering area and heading for islands and villages.
The poll found they are eager to go back to life the way it was before COVID-19 put a shroud over the world and saw people often confined to their homes, unable to be with their families, grandchildren and friends for months on end.
Greeks appeared better prepared for putting the pandemic behind them despite their fears how long it might take even as the government is accelerating a vaccination program called Eleftheria, for Freedom.
Some 59 percent said the pandemic will last another year found the survey conducted in collaboration with research company MRB on a sample of Greek consumers between April 9-15, reported Kathimerini.
The effects of the pandemic seem to be worrying Greeks more than consumers in other countries covered by the global survey, concerns focusing mainly on its impact on the Greek economy , the ability to enjoy their lives freely, the effects on their financial situation and family health.


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China’s WJ600 Jet-Powered UAV
From my email, a promo for a new market research report. No doubt very expensive, but it's interesting (and appropriate) that China's UAV industry is finally being taken seriously. Those who think that the Chinese UAV companies are just cloning Western designs are badly out of date.
From the email:
"As predicted in the two most recent Market Intel Group (MiG) technology and market forecasts on Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), China is pushing aerial drone research and development aggressively. That is also the conclusion of a recent Wall Street Journal article on a major Chinese air show
Market Intel Group’s research reports, titled: “Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) for Counter-Insurgency – Market & Technologies Outlook - 2010-2015” and “Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) for Border Security – Market & Technologies Outlook - 2010-2015.” identify regions, applications, strategies and types of platforms that will lead the rapidly emerging Counter-Insurgency and Border Security UAV markets worldwide. As part of our analysis, we identify China as one of the more aggressive and unpredictable entrants into the heated UAV market.
The WJ600 pictured here is offered as an example of recent Chinese development that is designed to position this country’s UAVs at the forefront of this competitive market. Jeremy Page, in his WSJ article, writes: "China is ramping up production of unmanned aerial vehicles in an apparent bid to catch up with the U.S. and Israel in developing technology that is considered the future of military aviation.” MiG assumes that China would sell UAVs to nations boycotted by the US and Israel. Such an assumption was also confirmed in a round-about way in this article. Page quoted a Chinese official who told him: "I can't tell you which models we have sold overseas, as that's secret, but of course we're interested in exporting them." Since UAV deployment information is mostly public domain, as well as a major marketing tool for competing vendors, keeping information about deals under wrap points to the possibility that such deals were made with countries that current major UAV vendors are reluctant to do business with.
MiG’s new UAV reports analyze, among others, Concepts of Operation, platforms, payloads, evolving markets and applications, allocations, procurement patterns and resultant changes in the rapidly evolving UAV industry worldwide."


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Here's What Native American Designers Want You to Know About Cultural Appropriation
You don't have to search hard to find what looks like "Native American" fashion. But the truth is the indigenous communities that are "inspiring" Native clothes are rarely included in their creation, from design to manufacturing.
The result is a lot of clothing without acknowledgment — and wearers without understanding — of the history or meaning behind the designs. That often leads to Internet-wide cries of "cultural appropriation," a much-debated term that's come to dominate any discussion of current Native American clothing.
Lost in these conversations, though, are the voices of Native American designers, whose work often flies under the radar while we debate "Native" clothing made by others. So Mic spoke to a handful of Native American designers to get their take.
What we learned: The line between cultural appropriation and appreciation is often determined by a gut feeling — and that the debate is but one piece of Native fashion today. Here's what they want you to know.
1. Native design is not all buckskin, fringe, feathers and beads.
In November, the largest traveling exhibition dedicated to Native American fashion, Native Fashion Now, opened at the Peabody Essex Museum in Salem, Massachusetts. It includes the work of over 70 designers, spanning the range of what "Native" fashion can be.
There are shirts and gowns that rework traditional motifs like bulls or beadwork. There are knee-high boots covered in beads. There are dresses that look like they're molded from space-age cellophane. Then there are T-shirts screen-printed with "Native Americans discovered Columbus," by 26-year-old Jared Yazzi, a Navajo designer.
"Today, Native American design can be anything," Pat Pruitt, a designer with Laguna Pueblo and Chiracahua Apache ancestry, told Mic. As a metalsmith, Pruitt works exclusively with stainless steel and titanium, creating distinctive jewelry that only occasionally references his indigenous background. Most people think of a "romanticized" concept of Native fashion, he said, an umbrella his work doesn't really fall under.
"It's Native design," he said. "I mean, I've designed it and I'm Native."
In a similar vein, the Native American designer Patricia Michaels embraces her indigenous ancestry even though her designs skew modern, without many stereotypical Native American references. She incorporates her culture into her work in ways that lend symbolic special meaning, she said.
"I'm a designer who happens to be Native American and I can't shake the fact that when I make something, it has meaning behind it," Michaels, who is Taos Pueblos, told Mic.
2. In fact, there are over 560 Native American tribes and nations.
That meaning can vary greatly by designer. What is often categorized as Native American style or fashion is based on stereotypes or styles typical of nations in the Southwest, which have historically gotten more media exposure.
But there are plenty of Native designers not of those tribes; the term "Native American" applies to more than 560 tribes and nations in the United States. And like any other cultural groups, Native Americans' style and customs have evolved with every generation.
"Our communities are formed of people from tribal bloodlines," Elizabeth Perry, an Aquinnah Wampanoag designer and artist, told Mic via email. "We look different, have different languages and histories. Don't expect everyone to be the same, and don't expect all designers to be the same."
Yet Native American culture is often perceived as a "blanket ethnicity," Bethany Yellowtail, an Apsáalooke fashion designer, previously told Mic. Lost in that blanket ethnicity are the rich histories of communities that haven't historically had the opportunity to benefit on a large scale from their artistry and work.
3. There are plenty of Native American designers out there, even if you can't tell their clothes are "Native."
Social media has become an important promotional platform for Native designers, as have museums and larger non-Native companies that are helping raise their profiles. In September, Martha Stewart included three Native designers and boutiques as contestants in an online competition spotlighting handmade American products.
Those designers, who are gaining bigger audiences every day, are the ones best positioned to design with Native American inspiration in mind.
"Artistic motifs tend to be distinct in each region, and it is the Native designer, and not the outside world, that has the cultural knowledge and sensitivity to know how and where specific designs can be employed without eroding those cultural beliefs and values," Perry said.
"It is the Native designer... that has the cultural knowledge and sensitivity."
4. What's sacred for one community may not be sacred for everyone.
As a result, what counts as "sacred" varies from tribe to tribe — which can lead to an awful lot of confusion.
"The complexity is there's so many different tribes," Pruitt said. "You know, you're dealing with 500-plus nations that each one is distinctly different and each one has very distinct cultural items that are precious to them."
The war bonnet, often recreated and sold as a feathered headdress, is a sacred item in many Native communities. While war bonnets are not a part Pruitt's community, he said he still has respect for the tradition.
"I do know what it signifies, where it comes from," he told Mic. "So I choose to support my Native brothers, because that is theirs."
5. If you're tired of talking about cultural appropriation, so are they.
The conversation about Native American style or symbols being appropriated by non-Native cultures has heated up in recent years. When the cultural copying or inspiration misinterprets the symbolism or glosses over its origin, as many Native American-inspired items appear to do, it can sting, particularly for a community that's long been marginalized and had its sacred traditions misunderstood.
"I'd say appropriation, such as stealing designs, erasing the artist's name and tribal origin, are a continuation of the colonization process, as much as naming a car after a sacred ceremonial observance or trotting out a sports mascot are also part of the same intense degradation of Native American people that has gone on literally for hundreds of years," Perry said.
But that doesn't mean only Native Americans can be inspired by Native American culture. Designers repeatedly mentioned how they hope the conversation steers in another, more positive direction. They hope to focus on the current achievements of Native designers while empowering and encouraging people at all levels of the fashion industry to take it upon themselves to research the histories of their inspiration.
"[Cultural appropriation] is not broadly an unreasonable concept, I just think it's over-cooked," Jamie Okuma, a Native American fashion designer from the Luiseño and Shoshone-Bannock tribes, told Mic via email. "So much so that it leaves a bad taste in the mouth and you don't want another bite. And that defeats any progress made."
Shoppers can do part of the work, though.
"There is opportunity that if you find something that, hey, you think might be Native, you can probably go search out artists that do stuff identical or very similar to that line of work and buy directly from them and have a very engaging experience," Pruitt said.
Designers repeatedly pointed to how easy it is to buy directly from Native American artists. It's one key difference between cultural appropriation and appreciation.
"Cultural appreciation means that you support the authentic, unkillable, poetic, daring, humorous, life honoring spirit that is embodied in the work of Native American designers," Perry said.


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The history of the brand started when its current CEO, Tomás García, made a trip to Australia. «I have always liked fashion and I have always had a lot of connection with it through the family business (a company dedicated to the production of components and accessories for footwear and textiles). I had been thinking about creating my own brand for a long time, and the lifestyle and spirit of adventure that I saw there gave me inspiration “, explains the executive.
It was 2006 and, how could it be otherwise, the first thing they launched was a collection of sandals, to which little by little they were incorporating new garments, such as swimsuits or T-shirts. Some garments that were well received, especially in the Canary Islands, the Balearic Islands and the Mediterranean coast, and that they also managed to distribute in Italy, France, Portugal or Greece, among other countries.
Thus, the collection grew until, in 2013, they decided to open their first store in Benidorm to the public, more for an image issue – “to show the brand’s total look”, according to its creator – than for business. The results surprised those responsible for the firm, since its casual fashion style and with a clear summer vocation – the firm’s motto is “Life is a Holiday” – found its best audience in the tourist capital of the Costa Blanca .
Success led them to repeat the formula and that is how they began to open establishments throughout the Spanish Mediterranean and the Canary Islands, always in clearly holiday enclaves. In fact, until now the company only produced clothes and accessories for the summer season and closed most of its stores in the winter months, with the exception of those it has in the Canary Islands.
In full covid, the firm decided to keep its bet and continued with the pace of openings it had planned. Thus, last year they opened eight new stores and this year they have already added as many, until completing a network of 39 stores, which before the end of the year will become 41, according to the executive.
The coastal areas continue to be its main objective, but the company wants to take the leap and rub shoulders with the big names in the sector throughout Spain, which is why it has opened up its radius of action. Thus, the company is already present in some shopping centers and Tomás García points out that they are in full search and selection of premises with the aim of starting their implementation in large cities throughout the country.
A process for which, logically, they have also had to change their collections strategy to be able to operate throughout the year. In this way, Koala Bay has launched its first collection of winter garments this year, which will allow them to keep 80% of their stores open next season, in which they expect to increase their turnover by around 30%, according to the executive.
García assures that it has not been difficult for them to transfer the fresh and carefree style of their clothes to colder weather conditions, although he acknowledges that they are garments designed for “warm winters, like the ones we have in the Mediterranean.”
The design and pattern of all its collections is carried out from the company’s headquarters in Crevillent, but production is outsourced to third parties in Spain, Portugal and Southeast Asia. With the pandemic they have chosen to review their supply channels to avoid the transport problems and delays that have occurred. “We have increased production in Spain and Portugal, and we have looked for new suppliers in Morocco and Turkey,” explains Tomás García.
The opening policy has allowed it to create 65 new direct jobs this year, bringing the company’s total workforce to 270 people. And its founder is convinced that this is only the beginning. Despite the fact that its expansion is mainly on the ground, from the firm, in fact, they assure that their bet is omni-channel, and that the physical stores and the online route complement each other.
Eddie is an Australian news reporter with over 9 years in the industry and has published on Forbes and tech crunch.


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Jordan Brand will be releasing these Air Jordan 8 Retro “Black/Citrus” on May 18th. You can pick your pair up for $160 online or at a local retailer.
Tag Archives: retroImage Image
Look out for these Air Jordan 4 Retro “Fire Red Toro” to release Saturday July 13th, through select Jordan Brand Retailers at retail price.
Look out for these “Fire Red” colourway of the Air Jordan 5 Retro set to release August 31st.
Look out for these two contrasting Black & White Air Jordan 5 Grape colourways both to release this year. The first out of the two to release will be the White Grape colourway which will release May 4th, and the other colourway Black Grape’s release is yet to be determined. Look out for the official release date to be announced sooner than later.
The Air Jordan 1 Retro High OG “Clover/Celtics” honour one of the greatest rivalries of the 1985-1986 season, Michael Jordan & the Bulls vs. Larry Bird & the Celtics. Despite his absence for most of the season due to a broke foot, Michael Jordan was still able to score 63 points during Game 2 of the NBA Playoff against Larry Bird and the Boston Celtics.
Don’t forget to pick up your pair of Air Jordan 1 “Clover/Celtics” which dropped today retailing for $140 online. You can pick these up at various online shops like EXTRA BUTTER, ONENESS, Overkill and NikeStore. Check out more pics after the click. Continue reading
Look out for these Retro High OG Air Jordan 1 “Black/Varsity Royal” planning to release on February 16, 2013 at local retailers.
June 15th, 2011
Here are the new pics of the 2012 Jordan 4 “White Cement” that will be dropping next January. Check out other colorways of the Air Jordan 4 that’ll be dropping next year. When more pics release we’ll keep you updated. Peep more photos in the post as the come.
Source: Yote City
It is confirmed that the Jordan 10 “Chicago” colorway are in fact dropping next January. As you can see, the mid sole has been changed from a black to white. The retros also include a 23 logo by the ankle. Stay tuned and we’ll keep you updated.
Source: Sneaker Files
Today, Jordan Brand announced that the Jordan 4’s “Oreos”, “Military Blue” and “White Cement” will be dropping next year. These pics arn’t the retros but pictures from the previous releases. The “Oreos” are coming back for the first time while the “Military” and “White Cement” are coming off 2006 and 1999 releases. You can cop the ’06 retros of the “Military” 4’s here on Ebay. Continue reading


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Amsterdam: Heineken N.V. is to nominate Moët Hennessy CEO Christophe Navarre as supervisory board member.
The company has announced that it will propose to the annual general meeting of shareholders on 23 April 2009, that Navarre be appointed a member of the Supervisory Board of Heineken N.V. for a period of four years.
Navarre is currently president & CEO of Moët Hennessy, the LVMH Wines & Spirits Group, a role he has held since 2001 following four years as President of Jas Hennessy & Co since 1997.
Prior to this, Navarre held a number of senior finance and market President positions with the Belgian brewing company Interbrew including President of the Italian and French operating businesses and CFO of the Belgian business. This followed seven years in Sales and Marketing management with the Esso Group, and six months at the Continental Bank where he began his career in 1980.
Navarre, 50, is Belgian and lives in France. He has a degree in business administration from Liege University in Belgium.
Subject to approval of the Annual General Meeting of Shareholders, the composition of the Supervisory Board of Heineken N.V. will be as follows:
Cees van Lede (chairman)
Jan Maarten de Jong (vice-chairman)
Maarten Das (delegated member)
Michel de Carvalho
Jan Michiel Hessels
Annemiek Fentener van Vlissingen


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May 22 Nordic telecoms firm Telia said on Monday it was buying Finnish cloud services firm Nebula from private equity company Ratos in a 165 million euro deal.
* Telia says buys 100 pct of Finland’s Nebula Top at an enterprise value of 165 million EUR ($185 mln) on a cash and debt free basis.
* Telia says expects synergies above 10 million euros within three years from cross sales and production cost savings.
* In 2016 Nebula had net sales of EUR 35.1 mln and an adjusted EBITDA of EUR 13.5 mln.
* Based on its 2016 results, the purchase price corresponds to an EV/EBITDA multiple of 12.8x, not considering synergies.
* Telia says deal is subject to approval from the Finnish Competition and Consumer Authority and is expected to be completed in the third quarter of 2017.
UPDATE 1-Telia buys cloud services provider Nebula from Ratos
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- PUBG Mobile Ban: After Rajkot, Surat PUBG Faces Ban in Bhavnagar And Gir Somnath


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Apple has hundreds of physical stores dotted around the world, serving as stores, repair centers and community hubs where people can learn to be more creative. Until now, though, none of these glistening Apple meccas have been built on water. As The Straits Times reports, the company has confirmed plans to open a dome-shaped store near the Marina Bay Sands resort in Singapore. We don't know when the doors will open, but a spokesperson said it’s “coming soon.” “It will be a space for you to explore, connect and create something new,” an official teaser site explains.
As Archigardner reports, the store is replacing a shard-shaped Crystal Pavilion that once housed a nightclub called Avalon. Apple has rebuilt the structure with glass panels that will reflect Singapore's skyline during the day and, according to materials published by 9to5Mac, glow like a lantern at night. "The structure’s shape informs an entirely new store layout," the company teased, and will be partly lit by a circular window at the top of the dome. Like the original Crystal Pavilion, it will be connected by a boardwalk and an underwater tunnel that connects to a nearby mall.
The eye-catching dome is the third Apple store in Singapore. The company built its first location at Knightsbridge Mall in 2017 before opening a second at Jewel Changi Airport in July 2019. The store opening is unusual at a time when most companies are still reeling from the coronavirus pandemic. Apple has plenty of cash, though — it recently hit a $2 trillion valuation — and is clearly confident that pre-COVID-19 foot traffic will return. Microsoft, for comparison, has announced that it will close all of its physical stores and transition four, based in London, New York City, Sydney and Redmond, into community-focused Experience Centers.


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A $3.6 million Kickstarter campaign for a drone, one of the largest crowdfunding efforts of all time, has come crashing down.
Despite raising all that money from 12,000 backers, the project missed its June 2015 delivery deadline. Now, a week after its CEO left the company, the Torquing Group has decided to cut its losses on the “Zano” drone project, reports Quartz.
While the project’s fundraising success spoke to the popularity of two trendy things these days—selfies and drones—it just couldn’t get off the ground. The company told backers that it was turning over liquid assets to its creditors.
Though the language used by the company implies that the funders may receive a portion of their money back, it’s important to remember they’re not creditors. Kickstarter doesn’t sell goods or equity—only promises, so backers aren’t really owed anything. Let this be another lesson to crowdfunders: Even the most seemingly successful of projects has no guarantee.


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Following the success of helloworld agents and agencies at the National Travel Industry Awards (NTIA), the helloworld advantage is stronger than ever.
Questex Travel Group today announced ASTA and CLIA would take the stage together for the first time to kick off the Travel Industry Exchange.
Amadeus, together with Tech Sauce, a Bangkok technology organisation, just wrapped up “Bangkok Startup Weekend 2015: Travel Edition, powered by Amadeus".
Travelport and TTS sign sales and distribution agreement for TTS products in the Africa, Middle East, and Asia Pacific regions.
Lufthansa is introducing a new price concept for flights in Europe. The new Economy Class fare options “Light”, “Classic” and “Flex” shall apply from 1 October 2015, for domestic and European flights...
With summer finished and the ski season in full swing, JUCY Rentals has partnered with Mt. Hotham to offer a ‘Ski4Free’ deal in Australia.
New South Wales and Victoria’s best inland regional tourism operators and attractions were named this evening at the 2015 Travel In Inland Tourism Awards in Broken Hill
The latest advice from our team of meteorologists and the Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre is that conditions in the vicinity of Denpasar Airport remain favourable and it is safe to continue flying
Tourism Australia and Expedia have signed a multi-million dollar three-year marketing partnership aimed to increase international travel to Australia.
The latest advice from our team of meteorologists and the Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre is that conditions in the vicinity of Denpasar Airport remain unfavourable and subsequently Denpasar Airport is ...
22 Jul 2015 11:16 AM AEST - Virgin Australia update on flights to Denpasar
Ethiopian Airlines Selamta Special fares to Africa from AUD$1080* plus taxes
Tourism Accommodation Australia (TAA) has called on governments at all levels to act against non-compliant accommodation providers.
The new Department of Immigration and Border Protection was unveiled on 1 July 2015, signalling a major change in the way Australia’s borders are managed.
The Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) is pleased to announce the winners of the 2015 PATA Grand and Gold Awards.
Luxperience, is pleased to announce Park Hyatt Sydney as a partner for this year’s event, taking place in Sydney on 6-9 September.
Aircalin is excited to release our lowest airfares ever, offering a 7 Day “Flash Sale” to Australia’s closest Pacific neighbour, New Caledonia
15 July 2015 5:14 PM AEST - Virgin Australia update on Denpasar flights
A new partnership agreement between the Department of Conservation (DOC) and the Tourism Industry Association New Zealand (TIA) was officially signed today.
15 Jul 2015 10:22 AM AEST - Virgin Australia update on Denpasar flights


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The Samsung Galaxy Note 4 will not launch until the end of Q3 2014, but rumors regarding its alleged hardware are already making the rounds across the internet. According to Samsung’s SVP of Global Product Strategy, Hankil Yoon, the upcoming Galaxy Note will feature a new form factor. While he failed to elaborate what the design would be like, it is likely that he’s referring to the YOUM flexible display that the company has been developing in its research labs for a couple of years now.
The three sided YOUM display allows users to read notifications and other content on either sides of the device, rather than relying on the primary display. This could be particularly beneficial when the front display is covered by a case. Bear in mind this is only a rumor at this point, so we can’t say with certainty that Samsung will actually launch the Galaxy Note 4 with the said display.
The smartphone will most likely carry most other hardware specs from the Galaxy S5 such as water/dust resistance, heart rate monitor and even the fingerprint scanner. We hope to come across more leaks in the coming days to give us a better idea of the smartphone’s features and hardware.


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October 4, 2016
The social network has just announced the launch of a new platform entirely dedicated to the sale and purchase of goods between its members, in order to compete with the leaders in the same field, such as eBay or Amazon.
According to the first reports, the platform is already filled with numerous advertisements for illegal or counterfeit products. As Facebook aims at becoming the largest marketplace between individuals, it is even more necessary for companies to monitor marketplaces and take the necessary action to avoid any attempted infringement of their trademark rights.
As of now, the platform is available to users from the United States, Australia, United Kingdom and New Zealand and will eventually be opened worldwide.
Your IP TWINS teams will work on integrating this platform into the marketplace monitoring tool as soon as the platform has been made generally available. Please do not hesitate to contact us for any information.


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A startup from Philadelphia is making its way into San Diego County.
Gopuff started as a way to deliver snacks to college kids, but the company has expanded so quickly and quietly that Global News & Entertainment claims "you're doubtless already a buyer without realizing it."
“We ship every part from snacks, ice cream and alcohol to child, pet and wonder merchandise and over-the-counter remedy. We do it in beneath half-hour, 24-hours a day for a flat $1.95 supply payment,” said Gopuff's Senior VP of Enterprise Daniel Folkman. “The way in which that we do that’s what makes us completely different.”
In 16 of San Diego County's BevMo locations, the company has added a curated assortment of comfort objects including brand-name snacks, coffee, playing cards, and frozen foods.
The new snack aisle at BevMo in La Mesa features products you can order via the Gopuff app.
The hybrid shops also act as distribution hubs for people who order online from Gopuff.
Since Thursday, July 29, Gopuff delivers to customers in San Diego County along with many north and east county neighborhoods.


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COME TOGETHER: For the second year in a row, French journalist Laurence Benaïm has rallied the fashion industry around an auction designed to raise funds for those affected by the coronavirus pandemic — and actress Charlotte Rampling is lending a hand by helping to promote the event.
Lots include a limited-edition sequined bomber jacket from Hedi Slimane’s debut collection for Celine; a pair of purple flower-shaped earrings by secretive jeweler Joel Arthur Rosenthal, aka JAR, and a visit to Gabrielle “Coco” Chanel’s private apartment on Rue Cambon with brand ambassador Caroline de Maigret.
Poignantly, Alber Elbaz donated a silk pajama, printed with cartoon figures in his likeness, from his debut collection for his new label AZ Factory. The designer passed away on Saturday at the age of 59 after a battle with COVID-19.
The virtual auction, to run from May 4 to 11, will benefit Co’p1 — Solidarités Étudiantes, an organization that helps provide food and other necessities to students in need. Forced to study remotely, and unable to earn money on the side through part-time jobs, many have been struggling with poverty and isolation since the pandemic hit.
Benaïm, known for her definitive biography of Yves Saint Laurent, tapped her high-profile industry contacts for exceptional donations, including an oil painting by Vanessa Seward; a Saint Laurent surfboard signed by creative director Anthony Vaccarello, and a sketch by rising fashion designer Charles de Vilmorin.
In addition to precious objects, the sale offers plenty of one-of-a-kind experiences: going behind the scenes on a fashion shoot with photographer Sonia Sieff; a visit to Belgian couture house Natan’s headquarters in Brussels, and a private lesson with Dior makeup maestro Peter Philips.
The sales catalogue is available on Tajan.com, and there will be no costs for either buyers or sellers in the auction. Last year’s auction benefitted charity SOS EHPAD, a nonprofit organization that supports the staff of nursing homes for the elderly.


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CrossFit workouts get too cluttered.
That’s what drove a Louisville resident’s to make kettlebells and medicine balls designed to hold varying amounts of weight.
“Both of the ideas came because I had been doing CrossFit and didn’t want multiple products around,” said Gary Pawlas.
The kettlebells are still a work in progress. But Pawlas, 60, launched Varia Fitness online in October, selling his patented variable-weight medicine balls — dubbed “Variaball.”
The medicine balls unzip, allowing customers to add or remove weights that rest in fixed cylinders inside the ball.
“What is cool about it and unique and patentable is that it basically stays balanced as you add weight,” Pawlas said.
There are two versions. A Variaball that can weigh from 8 to 16 pounds retails for $245, while one weighing from 14 to 22 pounds goes for $295. In addition to the company’s website, the products also are sold at CrossFit Cielo, where Pawlas works out.
He has worked in mechanical engineering and taught at the University of Colorado Boulder for 10 years before becoming an independent consultant in 2012.
Pawlas said the fabric shell of the medicine ball is made in Pakistan, and he assembles the rest of the product in his garage. He’s hired four students from CU Boulder to help.
“We buy components locally and then use my mechanical engineering background to make the manufacturing tools and foam,” he said.
Pawlas said he has invested $75,000 of personal funds, and money from friends and family, into the business.
Varia Fitness also has patented a design for the variable weight kettlebell, and Pawlas said he will start developing a prototype in early 2019.
“We think the ideal user is someone who’s space-constrained who wants five medicine balls or five kettlebells,” Pawlas said. “It saves space, it’s high-quality and allows you to change weights really quickly.”
Pawlas said he has considered licensing the product and is talking with companies that make smart sensors for workout products so that users can measure the speed and force they’re putting into their workouts.
Pawlas isn’t the only person tinkering in this space. A German Kickstarter campaign for variable-weight kettlebells and dumbbells was successfully funded last year, raising $20,473.


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Lineage Opens Cool Port Oakland, One of the World’s Most Advanced Food Storage & Transportation Hubs
November 01, 2018
OAKLAND, CA, November 1, 2018 – Lineage Logistics, LLC (“Lineage”) and Dreisbach Enterprises (“Dreisbach”) today announced the official opening of Lineage Cool Port Oakland (“Cool Port”), the world’s latest next-generation cold storage and logistics facility. Set on 25 acres at the Port of Oakland’s waterfront, Cool Port will serve as the newest hub for temperature-controlled cargo transitioning through Northern California.
Cool Port is a collaboration between warehousing and logistics industry leaders Lineage and Dreisbach, with additional funding and support from the Port of Oakland and the State of California. This combination brings together world-class cold-chain logistics expertise and steadfast commitment to innovation and community growth.
“We are excited to expand Lineage’s dynamic, temperature-controlled facility network with the addition of Cool Port,” said Greg Lehmkuhl, Lineage’s President and Chief Executive Officer. “The facility showcases the unique and unmatched value that Lineage can deliver to customers’ extended supply chains. Cool Port is now one of the fastest, most cost-effective and quality-controlled means of transporting perishable foods internationally.”
“Cool Port is a game-changer for global trade and the local economy,” said Jason Dreisbach, President of Dreisbach. “We’ll more efficiently connect U.S. producers to Asian markets and in the process create hundreds of jobs in our own backyard. The incredible impact of Cool Port on our organizations, the Port of Oakland and the Bay Area at large cannot be understated.”
Next Generation Full-Service Facility for Customers
Cool Port sets a new standard in efficiency, food safety and speed in the temperature-controlled and transportation industry.
The 280,000-square-foot depot with 90 truck dock doors can send up to 1,000,000 tons of perishable product through the Port of Oakland annually. Cool Port’s strategic proximity to the Port’s marine terminal entrance will expedite the transition process between ship and warehouse, thereby reducing transportation costs and energy expenditure. Oakland is the last port of call for transpacific cargo – ensuring faster transit times for shipping perishable food products to Asian markets.
A secure, fully cold-chain compliant facility, Cool Port offers 20,000 pallet positions, has three blast cells and includes a 100,000-square-foot, high-cube, multi-temperature storage environment. The new facility also supports a full range of services including rail transload and truck cross-dock operations, frozen and refrigerated storage, import-export services, onsite U.S. Department of Agriculture inspection and labeling capabilities.
Cool Port will significantly reduce truck usage compared to standard temperature-controlled facilities, resulting in reduced diesel emissions. Up to 36 railcars per day can go straight to shipping containers to be loaded eliminating the burdensome need to load cargo onto trucks for transfer between ships and rail.
Cargo-handling equipment for Lineage Cool Port is also 100% electric-powered, which is projected to prevent nearly 9,000 pounds of CO2 emissions in the first five years of operation. Cool Port will also use lightweight chassis and tractors to increase pounds per container, decreasing shipping costs and lowering transaction complexity.
Significant Economic Impact to Northern California
The Port of Oakland serves the Bay Area, one of the most vibrant and fast-growing regional economies in the world. The new operation will also drive job growth in the region, employing roughly 200 people from Oakland and other nearby locations. Oakland, already a hub for ocean transport of chilled and frozen meat products, will see eight new jobs created each time 1,000 new containers are moved through the facility.
The Port of Oakland has committed to a five-year strategic plan that ensures that the local Oakland community benefits as the Port progresses in its development. The Port of Oakland currently provides employment for 73,000 workers, and this number is expected to continue to grow.
“Partnering with these world-class organizations on Cool Port has significantly enhanced the breadth of services and capabilities the Port of Oakland is able to provide customers looking to import and export temperature-controlled goods through our terminal,” said Chris Lytle, Executive Director for The Port of Oakland. “The jobs created, the cargo added and the sustainable operation Lineage and Dreisbach support mean we all benefit from Cool Port.”


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Google has announced this week that it will be launching support for WebVR on to its Android Chrome operating system early next year during January 2017.
Megan Lindsay, WebVR Product Manager at Google, made the announcement during the two-day WebVR Spec conference where companies such as Mozilla, Google, Samsung, Microsoft, Oculus, The Khronos Group and more gathered to discuss the future of VR.
The WebVR API is currently available in Firefox Nightly builds, in experimental builds of Chromium, and in the Samsung Internet Browser for Gear VR, for more information jump over to the official WebVR website by following the link below.
Latest Geeky Gadgets Deals
Disclosure: Some of our articles include affiliate links. If you buy something through one of these links, Geeky Gadgets may earn an affiliate commission. Learn about our Disclosure Policy.


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The potential approval of IVIg products for Alzheimer’s disease in the next few years, and off-label usage of the same over the intervening period is forecast to positively benefit the market. Advances in research have revealed that Intravenous Immunoglobulin (IVIg) fraction from normal human donor blood demonstrates potential to provide passive immunotherapy for Alzheimer’s disease. IVIg could help treat the underlying cause of Alzheimer’s, while also slowing down symptoms of the disease. On the other hand, the positive results of ongoing studies also bring to fore certain issues the industry might possibly face in the event of IVIg showing success in slowing down progress of the Alzheimer’s disease. The question of whether or not the existing plasma manufacturers are capable of adequately meeting the anticipated significant rise in demand will be the most important among such issues.
The market continues to witness structural reformations such as mergers, vertical integrations, and increased manufacturing competencies in a bid for stable growth and market proliferation. The global market for IVIg is currently led by CSL Limited. Other key market participants include Grifols, Baxter and Octapharma. A notable event in the industry during 2010-2011 was the suspension of the marketing activity of Octapharma’s Octagam, one of the leading IVIg products in the industry. The suspension benefited other leading players including Grifols and Baxter, in the form of increase in volume sales of their IVIg products.
As stated by the new market research report on
Intravenous Immunoglobulin (IVIg), the United States represents the largest market, followed b
Copyright©2012 Vocus, Inc.
All rights reserved


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4. Cockroach Labs $86.6M
Round: Series D
Description: Cockroach Labs is the company behind CockroachDB, an open source, distributed SQL database. Founded by Benjamin Darnell, Peter Mattis, and Spencer Kimball in 2015, Cockroach Labs has now raised a total of $86.6M in total equity funding and is backed by investors that include FirstMark, Sequoia Capital, Index Ventures, GV, and Tiger Global Management.
Investors in the round: Altimeter Capital, Benchmark, Bond, FirstMark, GV, Index Ventures, Redpoint, Sequoia Capital, Tiger Capital
Month of funding: May
Industry: Database, Enterprise Software, Open Source, Software
Founders: Benjamin Darnell, Peter Mattis, Spencer Kimball
Founding year: 2015
Total equity funding raised: $195.1M
AlleyWatch’s exclusive coverage of this funding round: Cockroach Labs’s Series D round
Mastercard has been transforming how people pay and get paid for more than 50 years. Guided by a commitment to innovation, Mastercard helps businesses grow, improves the consumer payments experience, and advances a more inclusive financial system around the globe. Fostering a culture of innovation is critical to success and Mastercard attracts talented people with curious minds and big ideas across eight global tech hubs, including in the heart of NYC. Mastercard is also committed to working with developers and entrepreneurs, enabling advances in the payments ecosystem of the future. Learn more about innovation and life at Mastercard here.


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Whether due to flooding or just price gouging by opportunistic merchants, those attending this year’s Pattaya Vegetarian Festival will be paying more for their vegetables.
Seksarn Saajeng, a green grocer at Sophon Market in South Pattaya said a number of vegetables are more expensive than last year, especially popular veggies that form the foundation of the Oct. 4-14 festival. Morning glory, cabbage, cucumbers, eggplant, Chinese kale and chili peppers have nearly doubled in price, hitting hard the Chinese-Thais who often give up meat for two weeks in October and will begin three days before the festival kicks off.
Expect to pay more for vegetables at least until the end of the Vegetarian Festival on Oct. 14.
Seksarn attributed the price hikes to the rain and flooding around the country, which has made it difficult to transport the vegetables.
He said regular customers had complained about the price increase, but nothing could be done about it. Cabbages, which normally cost 100 baht per kilogram are now 150-170 baht, Chinese kale normally 20-25 baht per kilogram were now 50-70 baht.
Merchants know vegetarians will still buy them during festival time, so don’t expect to see prices drop until after the 14th.


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Do plastic bag bans reduce littering? That’s one of the questions up for debate. Photo: Flickr/katerha
This month, San Diego took a step toward banning the use of plastic bags in grocery stores and other retail outlets. Nearly 80 cities in California have already instituted similar bans, and cities and counties nationwide, from Dallas to Madison, Wis., are steeped in debate over the merits of the sweeping measures.
Supporters say plastic bags are an unnecessary environmental menace and that banning them is the best way to curb plastic bag litter, especially in waterways.
Opponents say such measures are an infringement upon personal choice, are expensive for retailers and actually do little to reduce litter.
Which side is right? The answer, like most other hotly contested issues in the U.S., is buried somewhere in the mess and the money.
Approximately 100 billion plastic shopping bags are used per year in the U.S., though only 1 to 2 percent end up getting recycled. Some reports have plastic bags as the second most common form of litter, behind cigarette butts.
Proponents of plastic bag bans often point to the prevalence of plastic bag debris in oceans, including the famed Great Pacific Garbage Patch.
Opponents of bans dispute such figures and are quick to reference one potential problem with reliance upon reusable bags: contamination.
Researchers from the University of Arizona and Loma Linda University in California found that 97 percent of reusable bag users surveyed heading into Arizona and California grocery stores have never washed their bags.
Eighty-three of 84 bags examined in the same study tested positive for significant amounts of bacteria. Half had coliform bacteria from raw meat or uncooked food contamination, and 12 percent contained E. coli.
The study did indicate that machine- or hand-washing reusable bags all but eliminated any traces of bacteria and recommended that proper care instructions be printed inside all bags or reinforced through public service announcements.
Litter isn’t just ugly — it costs cities lots of money to clean up.
San Diego’s Environmental Service Department says it spent $160,000 in the most recent fiscal year cleaning up plastic bag litter.
Outside of outright bans, some cities and counties have taken a fiscal approach to curbing plastic bag use and waste.
City Council members in New York City have proposed the idea of a 10-cent charge for each plastic bag. A similar bill proposed by New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg was shot down by state lawmakers in 2009.
Another financial consideration is that some retailers claim that plastic bag bans — and the increase in the use of reusable bags — have led to an uptick in shoplifting. Twenty-one percent of business owners surveyed in a Seattle Public Utilities survey say they’ve seen an increase in shoplifting since the city banned plastic bags in July 2012. One area grocery owner claims to have lost at least $8,000 in merchandise since the ban was instituted.
According to consumers, stores should have a say in the matter. Sixty-five percent of Americans oppose plastic bag bans, according to the results of a Reason-Rupe poll released in August.
The majority of those surveyed indicated that individual stores should determine what type of bags should be made available and whether a cost should be associated.


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Alcoa’s strong second-quarter results fueled a session-best 5.7% gain by the stock Wednesday and garnered several analyst upgrades.
While Alcoa’s $5.84 billion in sales last quarter topped the $5.63 billion analysts polled by FactSet had anticipated, revenue was not the main story. Margins were. Improved profit margins show the aluminum producer’s sometimes painful effort over the past two years to shed low-margin operations is finally paying off.
Much of the transformation Alcoa executives have touted to investors hinged on shifting the company\’s reliance on “upstream” commodity operations, with their obvious vulnerability to global metals prices, toward more profitable “downstream” products and manufacturing.
Since early 2012, Alcoa has cut its operating capacity by nearly 24% to 3 million metric tons. Meanwhile, it\’s invested heavily in value-added downstream operations. Analysts at Nomura cite Alcoa’s recent $2.85 billion acquisition of jet engine parts-maker Firth Rixson and deeper push into the aerospace sector as reason enough to bump up their annual profit growth forecast for the company to 7% over the next two years.
A note from analysts at Sterne, Agee & Leach Equity Research captures this theme, citing “impressive margin performance” by Alcoa’s Engineered Products & Services (EP&S) segment. While revenue was up 2%, adjusted profit margin was up 23%. The analysts predict more upside from Alcoa’s $5 billion aerospace business, the transportation sector (especially demand for light-weight forged truck parts in North America) and the non-residential market, which, they argue, justifies their $18 price target on the stock.
Base metals analyst Paul Massoud at Stifel Research took a similar view, raising his share price target on Alcoa to $17 from $15 on the company’s improved outlook in both upstream and downstream operations, while UBS analysts raised their share price target on Alcoa to $15.50 from $15 — more an affirmation than a great leap of faith given that the stock closed Wednesday at $15.69, a 52-week high.
– Jim Jelter
More must-read stories from MarketWatch:


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Last Updated on Tuesday, 15 October, 2019 at 3:41 pm by Christian Keszthelyi
Online entertainment and communications SOL Holdings is merging international internet holding SDVentures, essentially creating Dating.com Group, according to a press statement sent to Business Malta. SDVentures will receive $215 million in cash and an equity stake in Dating.com Group. The two holdings are merging their dating and social discovery products.
Dating.com Group will be the sole owner of two entities’ dating projects. Dating.com Group will have offices in seven countries and a team of more than 500 professionals.
Dating.com Group joint holding aspires to become one of the largest global companies in dating and social discovery industry targeting European, Asian and American markets. The holding is expected to have an annual revenue exceeding US$200m and counts more than 73 million registered users across the brands including Dating.com, DateMyAge, LovingA, Tubit, AnastasiaDate, ChinaLove, and more.
“Without a doubt, the deal between SDVentures and SOL Holdings not only increases the capitalisation of our company, but also takes us to a new level. Partnership with SDVentures and Dmitrii Volkov will allow us to expand our market presence and strengthen our global positions,” says Alla Gubenko, founder of SOL Holdings.
“I plan to dedicate a significant amount of my time and energy to the development of Dating.com Group, the new conglomerate. SDVentures does not currently plan to sell any other assets. Our goal is to focus on the growth and promotion of new projects, as well as on investments, particularly in technology companies,” says Dmitry Volkov, the founder of SDVentures.
Mr Volkov plans to reinvest the funds in technology companies and startups. Since the foundation of SDVentures in 1998, the holding has been engaged as a limited partner — mostly an institutional investor who commits capital to a venture fund — in venture funds such as Khosla Ventures, DCM Ventures, JVP, Blockchain Capital, Oaktree Capital, Mangrove Capital Partners, DN Capital, 500 Startups and others.
Mr Volkov’s direct investments have included technology companies such as Flo Health, Grabr, LinguaLeo, Layer, Academia, Halo Neuroscience, Patreon, Sunflower, Fable, and Harbor Space University, according to the press statement. Mr Volkov is also a general partner — the venture capital partner of the management company — of Gagarin Capital, a venture capital firm investing in AI projects in the Silicon Valley, CIS countries and Asia, the press statement adds.
SDVentures — headquartered in Gzira, Malta — is an international holding company that owns brands across 20 countries, mostly in the online space. SOL Holdings is an international internet-holding company headquartered in Malta. SOL specialises in the creation of websites, where people from different countries can expand their social and business connections.
EDITORIAL NOTE: The original lead suggested that SOL Holdings purchased SDVentures. The lead was rephrased after the issuer of the press release clarified that SOL Holdings only purchased a part of SDVentures’ assets.


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Lookers has created 32 new jobs through the creation of a new £3 million Vauxhall wholesale parts centre in Aston, Birmingham.
The new centre has been created within an an existing unit at Holford Industrial Estate and, following the installation of a mezzanine floor, provides 35,000 square feet of storage for 27,000 part lines along with space for an accounts department, call centre, offices and could eventually accommodate 50 new members of staff.
Steve Randle, parts manager at the site, said: “We are very excited to have opened this facility, which is already proving popular among the area’s motor trade community and far beyond.
“No one currently has the same offering that we have, with a huge range of parts for use in most models. I look forward to growing our distribution further over the coming years”.
Sales manager, Simon Watts, said: “As well as providing a fantastic resource for the local economy, we are also pleased to be creating new jobs in the Birmingham area.”
Lookers said that the opening of its new parts centre represents a shift in focus in its relationship with the Vauxhall brand following the closure of its dealership in Yardley last year.
The new site has been able to welcome back some of the employees that Lookers Vauxhall lost as a result of the Yardley closure.
Watts said: “It’s also great to see some familiar faces from Vauxhall Yardley who have brought us their wealth of experience and product knowledge.”
Lookers said that it feels Birmingham is perfectly placed to benefit from Vauxhall owner PSA’s new ‘hub-and-spoke’ distribution model due to its central location.
A statement issued by the group this week said: “As well as benefitting the motor trade across the West-Midlands region, the team at the new site now believe that its success could lead to more parts and distribution centres being set up in the North by PSA.”
Earlier this month Lookers announced the departure of its chief executive Andy Bruce and chief operating officer Nigel McMinn at the end of this year.
The news came as the AM100 second-placed retail group announced a profit warning and its plan to drive a process of "portfolio consolidation" to improve the future financial performance of the UK's second largest car dealer group.
Lookers will close 15 dealerships and, where possible, relocate or consolidate those businesses into existing group dealerships in adjacent territories, it said.


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The 2007 Mazda CX-7 is a totally new crossover utility vehicle. Mazda's CUV offers seating for five people, decent cargo...
Alfa Romeo is ramping up its lineup for when it re-enters the U.S.
Read This Article
Suddenly it's the weekend and you've been so busy you've barely been able to get on to Automotive.com to get your daily fix of all that's happening in the world of autos.
When asking consumers what is most important when buying a new vehicle, many will mention styling.
When a $19,000 subcompact car comes with a navigation system and keyless entry, it’s clear that the definition of "luxury car" has changed.


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Polish list of products subject to mandatory third party certification
Published: 16 September 2003
Policies & Issues: Legal
Letter to Commissioner Liikanen
Certification has long been an important issue between EU companies and Poland and many complaints have so far been lodged, especially from the engineering sector. Even if the reduced list of products subject to mandatory certification (dated May 2002) appeared to offer some relief in special areas, a large number of products still fall under mandatory certification in Poland.
Besides the fact that, according to our information, the list is not yet in force, Poland requires mandatory certification obligations for products, such as many types of machines, which in the EU are only subject to a manufacturer’s declaration of conformity.
It also appears that, for certain products subject to mandatory third party certification in the EU, Poland currently does not recognise all notified bodies in the EU and requests verification procedures to be carried out by Polish bodies.
Orgalime asks the European Commission to outline the European engineering industry’s uncomfortable situation.


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According to UK retailer, GAME, Yacht Club Games plans to release a Shovel Knight amiibo on November 27th, 2015.
This comes from a post on twitter which appears to have been pulled shortly after. Lucky for us, the folks over at @AmiiboNews managed to capture a screenshot of the post below:
While this doesn’t confirm the Super Smash Bros. appearance for Shovel Knight which we reported on earlier today, it does add credability considering an amiibo will be made for this character. What are your thoughts on this? Let us know in the comments below!


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China set to boost international trade
Updated: 2013-01-04 07:57
By Lan Lan (China Daily)
China's trade policies will become more open to boost its sluggish imports and exports this year, despite being set to miss its trade target for 2012, according to a senior official at a top government think tank.
China is losing some advantages, such as low labor costs, but future reforms will intensify its competitiveness, Wei Jianguo, secretary-general of the China Center for International Economic Exchanges, told China Daily.
"It's expected that overall reform, ranging from the tax and fiscal system to the function of the government, will be accelerated in this year," said Wei, the former deputy commerce minister.
This reform will be a "big bonus" to sustaining China's growth in all aspects, he said.
At the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China in November, there were indications that China will further promote its trade in a diversified way, said Wei, a guest economist for China Daily.
First, it should further cut import duties on more consumer goods, he said.
The Ministry of Finance has announced that from January 2013, more than 780 products, including milk powder for infants, robots for vehicle production and some rubber products, will enjoy lower import duties.
But Wei said such efforts lack variety, scale and scope.
"As a responsible country, China needs to increase its imports, which is important in building healthy bilateral trade and reducing trade friction," Wei said.
In the first 11 months of 2012, China's exports grew 7.3 percent from a year earlier, while imports grew 4.1 percent, according to the Ministry of Commerce.
The government had set a target of 10 percent growth for exports and imports last year, but it seems the goal will be missed, according to officials.
Increasing imports are helping China raise consumption.
Wei said he believes China will adopt a more proactive attitude in multilateral and bilateral trade negotiations.
"It has become a trend that countries are trying to abandon the multilateral framework and step up efforts in strengthening bilateral mechanisms," he said.
A free-trade agreement between the United States and South Korea took effect in 2012, with agreement on eliminating 95 percent of each nation's tariffs on goods within five years.
The European Union has completed final negotiations on a free-trade agreement with Singapore.
Under such circumstances, as a key Asian trading partner, China also needs to step up negotiations, and could consider establishing a free-trade agreement with the US, Wei said. The US replaced the EU as China's biggest trading partner in 2012.
More credit financing support will be given to enterprises, but unlike in the past, when such financing was frequently used to develop affiliated businesses such as real estate, more supervisory measures will be put in place, Wei said.
Enterprises will also see significant reductions in costs for logistics, customs, transportation and quarantine.
Dampened by weak demand in major markets, some of China's export-reliant companies have improved their innovative capability and exploration in new markets. However, the external environment remains pessimistic for China's imports and exports.
(China Daily 01/04/2013 page13)


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- NSA and GCHQ moles feeding Tor Project with bug reports, claims executive director
- MoD lays down cybersecurity challenge to suppliers
- Researchers malware steals Gmail password, online banking data
- US warns 'significant number' of major businesses hit by Backoff malware
- Your living room is vulnerable to cyber attacks
Internet Industry Association (IIA) - News, Features, and Slideshows
The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) is seeking public comment on its proposal to deregister the long-standing and outdated Industry Spam Code of Practice.
The Internet Industry Association will shut down, leaving the Communications Alliance to take responsibility for the collection of industry codes, such as the icode, that were developed and overseen by the industry body.
The Internet Industry Association (IIA) is asking for public feedback on the iCode, a voluntary industry code used by Internet Service Providers to identify malware on customer computers.
Australian small businesses need to overcome their fears of being washed out by big companies and create a culture where they use technology to bring about change, Ita Buttrose said on Thursday night.
Former Communications Alliance chief executive, Anne Hurley, has stepped into an interim CEO role at the Internet Industry Association (IIA) following the resignation of Steve Burrell this month.


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NFT Caribbean Art is pleased to announce the official launch of the One Thousand Brawlers “1000 Brawlers” NFT Collection release, with our first edition ‘Nandi’ being minted and sold at auction 08/11/21:
The new Owner will receive a number of additional rewards along with their NFT inclusive of long term promotion of Karibu Gardens to Nandi’s 80,000+ Followers, Sponsorship Credits in our upcoming IG Live Series & the ability to mint additional NFT Collections via our Metaplex integrated platform.
To celebrate our debut sale, all proceeds from the auction will go towards our IG Live Series prize pool which will be awarded to the most BRAWLING Participant as chosen by YOU!
Learn more about Nandi, Karibu & NFTs:
Nandi’s Instagram https://www.instagram.com/yourafricanqueen_nandi/
Book Karibu Gardens https://www.karibugarden.com/
NFTCaribbean Marketplace https://nftcaribbean.holaplex.com/
Look out for news in relation to our Brawling, Bubbies & Backshots Audio Collectible as we organize rewarding the NFT’s owners with a long term split of royalties from the recently released track.


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Vodafone Idea (Vi), one of India’s leading telecom operators, has just announced a partnership with OnePlus India, a global consumer technology brand known for manufacturing smartphones. The partnership aims to drive the ecosystem of 5G devices in India. India will soon have 5G networks. PM Modi is expected to launch 5G at the upcoming India Mobile Congress 2022.
OnePlus has one of the highest penetrations of Android-based 5G devices among smartphone users in the country. OnePlus flagship devices such as the latest OnePlus 10T, OnePlus 10 Pro, and OnePlus 10R, as well as the Nord 2T, Nord CE 2 Lite, and Nord CE 2, have been tested on the 5G frequency bands acquired by Vi in Delhi.
According to the recent Counterpoint India channel share tracker for the second quarter of 2022, OnePlus emerged as the leading 5G smartphone brand in online channels in the Rs 20,000 – Rs 30,000 segment in the first half of 2022.
With this association, Vi and OnePlus will work together to make 5G technology more accessible to smartphone users in the future.
Vi has planned exciting experiences for OnePlus users at IMC 2022 from Saturday October 1 to Tuesday October 4 at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi. Postpaid and prepaid Vi users with eligible OnePlus models can visit the Vi booth in Hall 4, Booth no. 4.15, to learn more about the 5G technology experience.


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US hemp-based CBD company HempFusion has a distribution with over 3,400 retailers and is now partnering with RADD Capital to advise the company on strategic fundraising initiatives including multiple staged private financings and a future Canadian Initial Public Offering.
“We are incredibly excited to partner with RADD Capital and leverage their extensive cannabis and hemp industry expertise and significant financial service capabilities,” stated Ian deQueiroz, co-founder and CEO of HempFusion. “This transformative business partnership is going to raise the bar and take our Company to the next level as we prepare to rapidly scale, deploy capital, and emerge as a leader in the global CBD industry.”
The company is FDA compliant and one of two companies with pending Self-Affirmed GRAS Affirmation. HempFusion has 31 products launched and 25 in the pipeline with two unique brands. It is one of the first 13 companies certified by the US Hemp Authority (GMP Verification).
RADD Capital has provided strategic advisory services to raise over $650,000,000 for cannabis companies since 2016. The company was founded by Rob Anderson, Dave Doherty, and Danny Brody and it leverages its extensive industry expertise to capitalize companies within hyper-growth sectors that have established brands, best-in-class products, and driven management teams and transforms them into world-class companies.
“HempFusion is the only company we have found that has established the entire platform for success including a proven management team with international distribution, sales across 47 US States and a proven product portfolio; the only missing component was access to significant capital,” commented Rob Anderson, CEO of RADD Capital. “With our track record of advising with respect to successful financings including Organigram, Emblem, TGOD and Plus Products, we plan to leverage our industry-leading experience, network, and intellectual capital to help build the next major player in the global CBD industry.”
Hemp Fusion is led by an equally impressive team. Ian deQueiroz is the co-founder and CEO. He’s a serial entrepreneur known for establishing multiple hemp and cannabis companies including Epican Jamaica, a leading vertically integrated Jamaican cannabis company, 49.18% owned by The Green Organic Dutchman. Dr. Jason Mitchell, N.D. is the co-founder and President – a Naturopathic doctor and previous Chief Science Officer at Country Life Vitamins (Acquired in 2006). He was responsible for formulations and the successful launch of over 300 products
Ashley Grace is the CMO. He was previously the CMO of Charlotte’s Web. Grace brings significant fortune 500 marketing experience with companies such as Campbells, Pepperidge Farms, and Brown-Forman and has 4 David Ogilvy awards for success. Debbie Wildrick is a co-founder and EVP. He is a distribution and channel expert with 30 years’ CPG experience with companies including Pepsi, Tropicana, and 7-Eleven. While at 7-Eleven, Debbie managed a $4 billion product portfolio
HempFusion says it has established itself as a top three best-selling CBD brand in health food stores across America. The company has launched a one-time online-only sale leading up to the launch of its brand-new e-commerce platform.
“We have incredible customers that have come to know and believe in our products because they work and taste great,” said Jason Mitchell, ND, co-founder, and President. “While we transition to the new platform expected in the coming days we wanted to give back and offer an up to 50% off sale. This is an incredible opportunity for all CBD consumers ranging from first time cannacurious consumers to seasoned enthusiasts utilizing CBD for sleep, stress and post-workout recovery, and even to customers looking for unique gift ideas.”


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Shoplifter arrested after stealing TV, then walking into a home without his pants
A Michigan man was taken into custody after police say he walked into a home without pants following multiple thefts. At around 10 o’clock in the morning, police responded to a home on Cecil Road in Haring Township. According to troopers, three children were home when a man in his underwear walked in carrying a TV. The children’s parents soon arrived, got the children out, and called 911.
Troopers and deputies entered the home and found 27-year-old Anthony Billett of Cadillac. He was wearing only underwear and a sweatshirt, and was also barefoot, scratched, and bloody from the knees down. Police say Billett had allegedly stolen the TV he was carrying from Walmart, right after stealing clothing from Meijer. He was lodged in the Wexford County Jail and charged with home invasion, receiving and concealing stolen property, and two counts of retail fraud. He was held on a $115,000 bond. [Source: MI News26]
Bad day for carjacker; foiled by a manual transmission
It isn’t Florida, but close by in Alabama, four car thieves once again proved how the manual transmission is one of the best car theft deterrents there is. In a TV report from Alabama’s FOX10 News, we’re able to watch the theft failure on surveillance video.
Four men pull up to a Quick Stop in Semmes, Alabama, in a black SUV, then notice a 1995 Honda Civic running, with the keys in the ignition, parked nearby with nobody around. (For the record, don’t do this.) So, a couple of the men from the SUV hop into the Honda. Instead of peeling out in a cloud of dust and VTEC noises, the suspects puzzle over the alien concepts of a stick shift and clutch pedal, sitting around long enough for the owner to find them failing in their efforts to get away. They eventually give up and run away from the Civic as the owner confronts them, attempting to pull the driver out of his own car.
The Civic’s owner wasn’t quite done with the thieves yet, though. He whipped out his phone and began to record them, getting their vehicle’s license plate number and the black SUV’s driver on video. A follow-up story by FOX10 News says the Mobile County Sheriff’s Office identified the suspect as 32-year-old Blake Lawrence.
You might think the story ends there, but it turns out Lawrence has been identified as the suspect in a convenience store robbery that went wrong the same day as the failed carjacking. Lawrence allegedly tried to pull off the convenience store robbery with a homemade weapon, but he wasn’t taken seriously by the clerk. He then proceeded to legally purchase a six-pack of beer at said convenience store. [Source: AutoBlog]
Actor John Goodman talks shoplifting
While appearing on “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert,” the “Roseanne” star spoke about his upbringings in Missouri and how he came into show business. When the late-night host asked Goodman if he ever got “in trouble” as a kid, the actor told a funny story of a failed attempt to steal a hat at a store when he was 14.
“I got caught shoplifting once,” Goodman recalled. “I saw a hat, I lost. I said, ‘This hat is so cool…I got to have it.’ So I grabbed it, tore the price tag out and I started strolling, strolling towards the front door.” “Right when I got to the front door, my spidey sense saw somebody behind me coming up on me,” he continued. “So I turned around started walking back. And [a man] goes, ‘Where you going with that?’ and I said, ‘Oh, to the cash register.'”
“By the time they stopped grilling me… they believed me… but they had already called my mother, who arrived on the bus with a bunch of tears [in her eyes],” he added. “And it really hurt her… I couldn’t get her to believe that I didn’t mean to steal it.” After hearing the story, Colbert joked in response, “And so your life was ruined and you had to go into acting.” [Source: TooFab]
C-store clerk stole dozens of lottery tickets… but she won over $1,000
An employee of a Burnsville gas station in Minnesota was charged with fraud and theft after authorities discovered she had stolen dozens of lottery tickets valued at more than $1,000. The complaint states officers began investigating the theft of the tickets in September of 2018. The store alleged several tickets were missing from inventory, which a further probe into surveillance found 29-year-old Britani Danz was probably responsible for the theft. Twenty-nine tickets with a value of $1,120 were cashed.
Danz later admitted that she took the tickets without paying and had a friend cash them for her. Danz told police she kept the proceeds for herself. She is being charged with one felony count of state lottery fraud, and one felony count of theft. Danz’s next court appearance is March 18. [Source: CBS Minnesota]
Suspect in ukulele robbery apprehended
Police on the island of Maui arrested a 47-year-old man after he was identified as the robber who fled after striking a store employee with a stolen ukulele in Lahaina town Sunday afternoon, police said. Jason Bero, who gave no local address, was charged with second-degree robbery. His bail was set at $20,000. The robbery occurred at about 5 p.m. Sunday when a man entered D&D Ukulele store, took a koa wood ukulele valued at $500 and ran out of the store without paying for it, police said.
As the thief was running through the Lahaina Marketplace Shopping Center, a store employee pulled the suspect to the ground by grabbing the hood of his green jacket, according to police. The suspect swung the ukulele at the employee, striking his chin. Bystanders tried to apprehend the suspect before he fled. On Monday afternoon, Bero was identified after police obtained surveillance video, and he was recognized from prior police contact, according to police.
Bero was arrested shortly afterward in Lahaina. He also was being held on contempt-of-court warrants totaling $1,250. [Source: The Maui News]
Pizza, Pizza manager arrested for stealing a lot of dough
In Florida, a Boynton Beach woman is accused of stealing a lot of dough from a Little Caesars pizza store where she worked last year. The business owner was at home November 30 and watching transactions at the shop through its surveillance system when he noticed manager Jenay Marie Evans put $300 in her purse, according to a Boynton Beach police report.
From September 10 through November 30, $15,963 was taken from the business, according to the owner’s calculations, police said. Evans, 25, was fired from her job at the store. She was arrested February 2 by the US Marshals Southeast Regional Fugitive Task Force and released on $6,000 bond, according to police and court records. [Source: SunSentinel]


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Warner Bros. to offer movie rentals on Facebook
NEW YORK (AP) - March 8, 2011 (WPVI) -- Movie rentals are coming to Facebook. Warner Bros. says it is testing a service that will offer select movies for purchase or rental through the public pages of these movies on the world's largest online social network.
Starting Tuesday, people who clicked "like" on the Facebook page of "The Dark Night" will be able to click a "rent" icon and pay 30 Facebook credits, or $3, to watch the movie.
The offering is only available to people in the U.S. Warner Bros says it will add other movies in coming months. Renters will have access to the movies for 48 hours. Warner Bros. didn't say how much it will cost to buy movies.
Shares of online movie rental company Netflix Inc. are down more than 4 percent in midday trading.
facebook, movies, netflix, business/finance
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Mike Ashley bags another prize asset in Mulberry
Mike Ashley’s retail empire has bought a 12.5 per cent stake in Mulberry, the British maker of luxury handbags.
Frasers, previously known as Sports Direct International, gave no detail on what it had paid, but, based on yesterday’s share price, the stake is worth almost £19 million. In a brief statement announcing the acquisition, the company said that the elevation of Frasers’ retail proposition and strengthening of relationships with “premium third-party brands” were priorities. A Mulberry bag can cost as much as £1,295.
Mr Ashley’s lieutenants had been in talks with the fashion house for months because its products are sold by House of Fraser, which he bought in 2018.
The tycoon, who also owns Newcastle United, the Premier League football club, has