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Kraft Heinz Co's (KHC 1.31%) fourth quarter of 2017 fell decidedly flat as the consumer-staples titan recorded a paltry 0.3% revenue increase and booked a 0.6% decline in organic revenue. Management was able to point to a couple of bright spots in its earnings results. Revenue in Europe, for example, jumped 9.3% over the prior-year quarter, and even though 8.4% of this performance originated from favorable foreign-currency translation, the segment still notched a percentage point of organic-revenue improvement.
Kraft Heinz's "rest of world" segment fared much better, reporting 5.2% revenue growth and organic revenue expansion of 7%. Management noted that in both segments, its "big bet innovations" have paid off lately. Examples include the successful expansion of Heinz mayonnaise across Europe, Australia, and Latin America and the launching of Planters Peanuts in China.
There's just a slight problem with this picture in that sales outside the U.S. and Canada make up only 21.5% of the company's total revenue base. During the fourth quarter, U.S. sales of $4.8 billion declined by 1% versus the comparable prior-year quarter, and Canadian sales slumped by 4.1%, to $591 million. The performance north of the border was aided by a robust Canadian dollar during the last three months -- organic revenue in Canada actually slumped by nearly 9%.
North America's outcomes are disappointing given the investment the company has poured into the continent. During the company's earnings conference call on February 16th, CEO Bernado Hees pointed out that since the merger of the Kraft and Heinz organizations in 2015, the company has expanded the dollar volume of the Heinz brand by 17% in the U.S.
This is a credible achievement that Kraft Heinz should feel justified in touting. Yet the problem of running a large conglomerate with a stable of billion-dollar brands -- and a plethora of midsized ones -- is that a handful of product lines can often squash overall momentum in any given quarter. Take the U.S., for example, where management has called out an undersupply of Ore Ida potato products coupled with softer sales of Planters peanuts in retail-club channels as first-quarter 2018 headwinds that will pressure sales.
In Canada, the company is facing more onerous issues. Management attributed results in the fourth quarter to lower coffee shipments and the "discontinuation of select cheese products." At the same time, executives told investors that while retail inventory levels had been expected to decline in the fourth quarter, they came in below expectations -- and worse, the reduced levels appear to be permanent.
This "permanent" dip means that grocers and food-club organizations are limiting some of Kraft Heinz's shelf space in Canada, most likely in favor of smaller, cleaner-label brands. As I've recently written, other consumer packaged-goods (CPG) companies, such as Campbell Soup Company, are also suddenly finding their retail spaces crimped as consumer tastes change.
This may actually be a healthy headwind for Kraft Heinz's management to grapple with. The CPG industry is undergoing a sea change as nimble brands with low barriers to entry, fueled by social-media clout, are springing up to challenge some of the biggest names in the business. As I've previously argued, it might be fruitful for acquisition-minded Kraft Heinz to avoid undertaking a larger merger transaction this year. Instead, decisively proving to shareholders that the company can optimize balance within its North America packaged foods, which run the gamut from snacks to condiments, possibly could raise the its sinking earnings multiple:
Over the last 12 months, Kraft Heinz's forward price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio has fallen below its peer group, the consumer-staples sector of the S&P 500 Index, which presently trades at a forward P/E ratio of 18, according to Yardeni Research. Global opportunities may abound for Kraft Heinz, but the best way to stabilize and lift share price may be to tackle the hard work of product reformulation in North America.
Revamping ingredients to present cleaner labels to health-conscious millennials and winning back shelf space are key strategies to jump-start growth here at home. And home, after all, is where four-fifths of total company revenue presently resides.


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Here's another example of the see-saw type swings which characterise news on the US economy front these days.
Orders for U.S. durable goods slid in April, the government said on Wednesday showing another sign of the manufacturing sector's slump, while two other reports showed sluggish retail sales in early May. The Commerce Department said orders for durable goods -- items meant to last three or more years -- fell an unexpectedly large 2.4 percent in April. With Wall Street analysts having anticipated a smaller 1.0 percent drop, the report underlined the sluggish state of U.S. manufacturing. As the overall economy has been stuck in low gear, the factory sector has been the hardest hit, shedding jobs and plagued with excess capacity. "This is a disappointing report, with weakness in all of the key categories," said Anthony Karydakis, senior financial economist with Banc One Capital Markets. Financial markets took the reports in stride, though. The Dow Jones industrial average was up more 40 points in mid-morning trading, while the Nasdaq composite was up more than seven points.
Source: Yahoo News

domain: news


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In a Bloomberg NEF report, electric vehicle production could reach 14 million vehicles by 2025. Currently, Tesla and the Volkswagen Group (VW Group) are the two main forces in electric vehicle production.
According to Statista data, Tesla's share in the world electric vehicle market is recorded at 14.55%. This is based on Tesla's production which reached 421,000 units in the first half of 2021.
German car manufacturer, VW Group, is in second place with a market share of 12.52%. VW Group produces cars under a number of brands, including Volkswagen, Audi, and Porsche. General Motors (GM) from the United States is in third place with an 8.55% market share.
GM is known as the automotive group that oversees Chevrolet. China is on the list of countries with the largest electric vehicle market. There are two Chinese companies on this list, namely BYD with a 5.75% market share and Geely-Volvo Car Group (3.77%)


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TORONTO — Loblaw here said the growth of nonunion competition in Canada is forcing the company's hand in its negotiations with labor unions.
As previously reported, the company is in the midst of contract talks with four locals of the United Food and Commercial Workers Union covering nearly 30,000 workers. The workers have already authorized a strike but have not yet taken any action.
“I like being the best payer in the industry, but I also want to give the best customer service, and to give the best customer service we've got to have the flexibility that allows us to put the right people in the right place at the right time,” said Allan Leighton, Loblaw's president and deputy chairman, during a conference call discussing second-quarter results. “And there is a watershed in this industry — there are more nonunionized players than unionized players, and therefore, it's time for a change. Now my objective and the objective of the negotiating team is to negotiate that.”
The company said it expected negotiations to continue through the current third quarter.
Leighton reported a 6.7% decrease in net income for the second quarter, to about $173 million (U.S., at current exchange rates), while net income year-to-date was up 5%, to about $305 million. Sales of $7 billion were up 1.2% for the quarter, which ended June 19. Same-store sales declined 0.3%. Year-to-date sales were up 2.1%, to about $13.8 billion.
Gross profit for both the quarter and year-to-date periods was up significantly more than sales. For the second quarter, gross profit of $1.74 billion was up 6.2%, and for the year-to-date period, gross profit rose 6.4%, to about $3.2 billion.
Gross profit as a percentage of sales in the second quarter was 24.5%, compared with 23.4% in the second quarter of 2009.
Perry Caicco, an analyst with CIBC World Markets, Toronto, said the strong Canadian dollar gave Loblaw's margins a big boost in the most recent quarter.
“Given that the results featured huge gross margin growth with a poor sales performance, the primary driver of the over-achievement had to be the [Canadian/U.S. dollar] exchange rate, which continues to create windfall profits, mostly in the fruits-and-vegetables category,” he said in a report.
The high exchange rate has also trimmed private-label ingredient costs, he pointed out.
“The trouble with making big money on the exchange rate is that it can't last,” Caicco added. “Clearly, the exchange rate party is slowly ending and Loblaw will, by Q4, have to actually look for margin improvements the old-fashioned way.”
In addition to the strong Canadian dollar, Loblaw attributed the improved margins to “continued buying synergies, disciplined vendor management, improved control label profitability, and inventory management.”
The company also said it has begun testing a new pharmacy configuration for small-format stores.
The 400-square-foot pharmacy, inside a NoFrills store in Ontario, features high-density shelving, new technology for the pharmacist and a counseling room. Plans call for retrofitting the pharmacy into “about a dozen” stores in the next three to four months.
“I think it will become a pretty powerful model,” said Leighton. “You could run at probably 30% to 50% less scripts than you would in a traditional, conventional store and still make probably a better return than you do in a conventional store.”


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Sharp took the stage during CES 2013 and discussed several of the features that make its new IGZO displays so great. The firm said the screens are more natural and are easier to use for delivering more information. It hopes manufacturers will use the low power displays to create paper-like and hugely portable touchscreen devices (imagine a super thin tablet) and said it’s the leading display technology for the next decade. The tech will be used to create a 32-inch 4K IGZO LCD monitor that has a resolution 4x higher than today’s full HD display.
IGZO was first introduced on a mobile phone in the AQUOS Phone Zeta SH-o2E, which it says can run for almost two days thanks to the highly power efficient screen. Other devices, such as the IGZO Tablet AQUOS Pad take advantage of the same display technology.
Sharp said that the “nature of the display itself” is evolving “driven by a quest for higher resolution” and cost effective cost capabilities. The glass that IGZO will use for its displays will be provided by Corning and is called Corning Lotus Glass. The two said they plan to continue to collaborate into the future.
“With IGZO, we believe Sharp has created a new era in screen technology,” the company said.


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Nielsen, a global information and measurement company with leading market positions in marketing and consumer information, has published the study “Women of Tomorrow” where has polled nearly 6,500 women in 21 countries throughout Asia Pacific, Europe, Latin America, Africa and North America.
Nielsen has surveyed women from all corners of both developed and emerging economies. Reaching out to 21 countries representing 60 percent of the world’s population. This study shows important findings related to how female consumers buy and use media.
One of the main conclusions is that 90% of women believe their role is changing for the better. Women around the world think education is the way so as to get a better life. In fact, for 56% of women in emerging countries the education of their children is a top priority.
Most of women today accurately believe that have more opportunities than their mothers, especially in technology, financial stability, health and careers. Futhermore, women claim they’d like to share life’s decision and responsabilities with their partners, from taking care of the children to purchasing a car.
Women around the world have attitudes, shopping habits and media preferences very similar but there are generational differences. We can see these differences if we compare generations, from daughters to mothers to grandmothers.
It can say women of tomorrow are connected, they visit social and community sites. Women use social media as tool for solving problems, asking questions, creating a “circle of influence” and building a community.
Another important finding is that women trust recommendations from people she knows. Concerning source to get information, TV continues to be the most persuasive form of media. However, women also trust internet, newspaper and direct mail.
Finally, this survey shows for women of emerging and developed countries the driver of a brand loyalty is the quality.


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Corporate directors may need to re-evaluate their risk of being held personally responsible for the long-term negative effects of products on consumers and communities. Recent lawsuits seeking damages related to harm victims suffered from products...
In regards to his time at Uber, former A.G. Eric Holder says boards need to not pay too much deference to CEOs and superstar founders. He shares his other insights on what he learned from his investigation into the company.
Policyholders should always seek a conduct exclusion that clearly delineates what is and is not subject to the exclusion.
Corporate Board Member recently spoke with Gerber about the impact of Item 303 and other cases.
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I like using Google and use it for blogging and searching for interesting stories and pictures.
Youtube is a great source for old TV series, sports events and older films.
In the article I put the link in above it summarises thus:
SCHNEIER: "Unfortunately, we live in a world where most of our data is out of our control. It’s in the cloud, stored by companies that may not have our best interests at heart. So, while there are technical strategies people can employ to protect their privacy, they’re mostly around the edges. The best recommendation I have for people is to get involved in the political process. The best thing we can do as consumers and citizens is to make this a political issue. Force our legislators to change the rules.
Opting out doesn’t work. It’s nonsense to tell people not to carry a credit card or not to have an email address. And “buyer beware” is putting too much onus on the individual. People don’t test their food for pathogens or their airlines for safety. The government does it. But the government has failed in protecting consumers from internet companies and social media giants. But this will come around. The only effective way to control big corporations is through big government. My hope is that technologists also get involved in the political process — in government, in think-tanks, universities, and so on. That’s where the real change will happen. I tend to be short-term pessimistic and long-term optimistic. I don’t think this will do society in. This is not the first time we’ve seen technological changes that threaten to undermine society, and it won’t be the last."
We are being forced into having to use our credit cards for on-line shopping for goods and services. Banks, government departments, utility companies and major retailers are cutting back on their face to face services and wanting - demanding that we deal with them on-line. The problem is that they have not put enough safety procedures in for us to be able to do this securely.
Sure enough, last week I got emails from Ticketmaster apologising that several million customer accounts had been hacked and advising us to change or card details. Well we've changed the cards, no thanks to them but as we have two pending concert arrangements via them - Bob Dylan in August and David Byrne in November I'm waiting until these are out of the way before I totally cancel our account with Ticketmaster. We'll probably have to go back to the old manual system of queuing up at a ticket office and paying with cash in future.
A brave new world with convenient features?


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NEW YORK (AP) — Stocks that traded heavily or made big moves Thursday:
Sleep Number Corp., up $1.23 to $121.24.
The bed maker reported earnings for its latest quarter that easily beat analysts’ forecasts.
Cheesecake Factory Inc., up $3.87 to $51.20.
Despite missing analysts’ forecasts in its latest quarter, the company reported encouraging trends in its take-out business.
Twilio Inc., up $31.84 to $443.49.
The maker of cloud-based communications software reported a 65% surge in revenue in its latest quarter, far more than analysts expected.
SunPower Corp., down $7.28 to $36.33.
The maker of solar panels reported revenue that fell short of Wall Street’s estimates and forecast profits that also were below forecasts.
Stamps.com Inc., down $40.87 to $220.01.
The online seller of mailing and shipping services declined to provide an earnings forecast for this year, citing uncertainty about the pandemic.
Boston Beer Company Inc., down $96.75 to $1,116.87.
The brewer of Samuel Adams beer and other beverages forecast earnings that were below what analysts were expecting.
Albemarle Corp., down $16.01 to $141.46.
The chemical maker forecast full-year earnings that fell well below what analysts were expecting.
Walmart Inc., down $9.54 to $137.66.
The giant retailer lost more than $2 billion and said it would raise wages for more than a quarter of its 1.5 million U.S. workers.


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CMA CGM beats rivals to pick the Big Apple
After Macron came to call?
Container spot rates from Asia continued to soften this week, impacted by a slowdown in demand following the Chinese new year holiday (CNY).
The Shanghai Containerized Freight Index (SCFI) saw its comprehensive index shrink 5.6% to 729.49 as all the major tradelanes suffered a second week of rate declines.
The Asia to North Europe component of the SCFI slid by a further 4.4% on the week to $791 per teu, and has now fallen below the market rate of a year ago, which was about $850 per teu.
However, Asia to North Europe ocean carriers can at least be cheered by freight rate benchmarking firm Xeneta, which said that according to its crowdsourced data of agreed contract rates, the drop in rates post-CNY has not been as marked this year in percentage terms; falling by 7% this year, compared with 13% in the equivalent period of 2017.
With spot rates softening and carrier FAK rate increases on hold, shippers that have stalled over renegotiating longer-term contract rates are starting to “achieve heavier discounts than those secured in Q1,” said Xeneta.
“If long-term contracts and FAK rates become more closely aligned, as they were in the final three months of 2017, then further discounts to spot rates could become a reality,” said Patrik Berglund, chief executive of Xeneta.
Moreover, carriers will need to build into new contracts their extra fuel costs and a provision for expected oil price increases.
Meanwhile, spot rates for Mediterranean ports are also lagging the rates of the same period of 2017, which were about $854 per teu. This week the SCFI recorded a rate of $701 per teu – down another 2.8%.
However, there could be tragic reasons for rates to rise, albeit temporarily, on Asia-Mediterranean.
The Maersk Honam caught fire in the Indian Ocean on Tuesday. One crew member is known to have died and four others are still unaccounted for.
The ship was loaded with 7,860 boxes (12,416 teu) destined for ports in the west Mediterranean. The salvage operation is led by Smit Salvage and Ardent.
Notwithstanding the eventual salvage of undamaged containers in the aft holds of the stricken ship, which will be further delayed by a lengthy general average process, Asian shippers will need to promptly despatch replacement orders to ensure that retailers do not run out of goods.
In the case of the 8,110 teu MOL Comfort, which broke in two in July 2013 off the coast of Yemen, en route for North European ports, spot rates spiked in the aftermath as shippers booked urgent replacement consignments.
The ill-fated MOL Comfort had a much smaller load of 4,382 containers, but its total loss still caused a period of consumer goods shortages.
Elsewhere, just as annual contract negotiations with BCOs began, transpacific carriers saw spot rates from Asia to the US, as recorded by the SCFI, erode further.
For the US west coast, rates fell by 8.7% to $1,143 per 40 ft, and for east coast ports there was an 8.2% decline on the week to $2,181 per 40 ft.
This represents a significant drop on transpacific rates year-on-year, which stood at $1,496 and $2,955 per 40 ft respectively for the US west and east coast.


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The Northern District of California granted a motion for preliminary approval of class action settlement on Monday between consumers led by Alex Pygin, Bombas, LLC and Shopify, Inc. This settlement will reimburse consumers who were victims of a data breach through Bombas’ platform.
Bombas has been using Shopify since 2015 “to provide ecommerce technology for their customers to purchase items online.” The plaintiffs alleged that “the Shopify Plus platform takes the key payment and personal information from the customer to finalize the transaction, including name, billing and shipping addresses, payment card type and number, CVV code, credit card expiration date, email address and sometimes telephone number.” Shopify’s website says “running a secure ecommerce solution and keeping your online store safe is our number one priority” to businesses and “we protect your information from others” to consumers. However, Bombas customers received a Notice of Data Breach on June 3, 2020, where “malicious code could have successfully scraped customer information between November 11, 2016 and February 16, 2017.”
In July 2020, consumers filed a class action complaint and proposed a settlement fund of $225,000 to be given to class members, as well as costs of Claims Administration, attorney’s fees, and service award to be paid in full by Bombas. The defendants agreed to write a Written Information Security Policy, train employees to carry out this policy, implement a strong password policy and multi-factor authentication.
On Monday, the court preliminarily approved this unanimously agreed-upon settlement and appointed Alex Pygin as the Representative Plaintiff. The motion for final approval will be on November 5, and the final approval hearing will be on November 19.


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"Technology cannot be your only thing. It cannot solely drive sales," says Hottovy.
However, after spending years simplifying its menu, McDonald's is stuck between the need to offer customers something new and the fear of overburdening kitchens and slowing down order times. While 2018 saw the introduction of fresh beef, there have been no big product rollouts this year, irritating franchisees who clamored for a chicken sandwich that can compete nationally.
And while competitors like KFC and Burger King are introducing plant-based meat alternatives, McDonald's is moving cautiously to see if fake meat is more than a fad.
McDonald's is also using technology outside of the restaurant. In July, the company announced that it was expanding delivery options in a partnership with DoorDash. Around 9,000 U.S. McDonald's locations now offer Uber Eats, DoorDash or a combination of both. The company says all delivery orders are counted as store traffic at the location that provides the food.
McDonald's expects delivery to yield $4 billion, or roughly 4 percent of global sales in 2019, up from $1 billion in 2016. But delivery has downsides, complicating restaurant operations and bringing more dining options within customers' reach. That's a tough environment for McDonald's, which relied on convenient locations and low prices to drive traffic for decades.
"Traffic overall in the industry is an issue because there are too many restaurants," says Bloomberg Intelligence analyst Mike Halen. "Traffic is down, but the (sales) they are gaining from delivery . . . is massive."
Along with technology and delivery, McDonald's is making a physical bet on rehabbing restaurants under a plan dubbed "experience of the future." The remodels, which have taken place at 9,000 U.S. stores, include new technology features like kiosks and integration of the kitchen with mobile ordering, all in an effort "to provide a better customer experience, leading to increased frequency of customer visits with higher average check," according to McDonald's corporate filings.
So far, store overhauls haven't given McDonald's a traffic bump, and CFO Kevin Ozan warned investors that benefits from the upgrades will begin "leveling off for next year." That's bad news for franchisees who borrowed money to finance renovations in hopes that remodeled stores would attract a broader customer base.
A group of franchise owners was already concerned that the pace of store modernization was moving too quickly and that there wasn't enough evidence the bet would pay off. That prediction looks increasingly accurate and could create further tension next year, when debt payments steadily climb while McDonald's pushes to implement an array of new technologies.
"They didn't get much increase in the dining-room remodels. It's going to be a challenge to get the franchisees to reinvest in this new technology," says Richard Adams, a former franchise owner and founder of consulting firm Franchise Equity Group.


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Chrysler’s brand-new Pacifica is built on a new platform, which claims to be the lightest and stiffest in the segment. But what kind of people drive it?
Well, moms and dads, of course, since it’s suited for a large household, but Chrysler’s latest “Dad Brand” advertising campaign for the Pacifica puts a unique twist on the standard minivan customers, thanks to American stand-up comedian Jim Gaffigan and his family.
Gaffigan acknowledges the ways the vehicle is helping him with the upkeep of his “Dad Brand”, while Chrysler doesn’t try to advertise the Pacifica as something it isn’t.
The American car maker is aware that you know the Pacifica won’t make a rebel out of you, and it focuses on the things that make the minivan great and convenient to use, showing off its practical and “family-first” features.
So, is the Pacifica the first cool minivan? Well, it does come with nearly 40 innovations in its class and it is powered by FCA’s 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 hooked up to a nine-speed automatic gearbox, which delivers 287hp and 262 lb-ft (355 Nm) of torque in all trim models. Moreover, there’s a hybrid version coming in the second half of 2016, which will be the world’s first electrified minivan (according to Chrysler), offering an estimated all-electric range of 30 miles, along with an 80MPGe fuel economy rating within city walls.


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The French car firm PSA Peugeot-Citroen is under investigation by French prosecutors for cheating diesel emission tests, according to reports.
The Reuters and AFP news agencies say they have been told by judicial sources that the company is being investigated for breaking consumer protection laws.
Diesel emissions have been under the spotlight since the Volkswagen scandal.
But PSA said its vehicles have never been fitted with software to let its diesel engines deceive pollution tests.
A PSA spokesman said the company "respects regulations in all countries where it operates" and denied doing anything illegal.
The group was referred to French prosecutors by the consumer watchdog DGCCRF after its staff seized documents from PSA offices in France a year ago.
The accusation against PSA is that the emissions from its diesel engines might "render its merchandise dangerous for human or animal health".
Fraud investigators have already accused the partly state-owned Renault car firm of cheating on pollution tests for diesel and petrol engines for over the past 25 years, and with the knowledge of its top executives.
Since September 2015, Germany's Volkswagen has admitted fitting 11 million cars - 8.5 million of them in Europe - with devices to fool diesel emissions tests.
Last month, PSA agreed to buy Opel and Vauxhall from the US firm General Motors for £1.9bn in an attempt to challenge Volkswagen.


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Apple iPhone 4: recall coming tomorrow?
Apple's iPhone 4 has gotten a big black eye -- most recently from Consumer Reports -- for its antenna reception issue when users hold it a certain way toward the bottom of the phone.
After a couple weeks of avoiding the issue, it appears -- appears -- that Apple may be ready to address it head on in a press conference tomorrow (Friday, July 16).
Many think the company will announce that it will give away free bumper cases to people who buy the phone.
I'm not so sure. I'm speculating -- feel free to join me in the comments below -- that they're gonna do a recall, and either fix customers' existing phones or give them a modified new one in the near future.
If it was all about new bumpers, why would Apple give the world a two-day notice of a press conference? No, I think they're preparing for something more involved. They realize their reputation as a luxury brand is at stake here, and they can't have the entire tech press and consumer electronics industry taking potshots at the iPhone, which is their franchise, flagship product at the moment.
Free bumpers don't address the underlying issue that the phone seems to have a basic, underlying hardware flaw.
(BTW, an Irish betting company says the odds are that Apple will recall the iPhone 4.)
So, what do you think will happen tomorrow at Apple's press conference? Vote below and sound off in the comments.
This is an archived version of the technology blog. For updated coverage, see the current baltTech location: baltimoresun.com/balttech


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Bloomingdale’s has announced that its second “Bloomie’s” store is set to open November 17th, 2022 at the Westfield Old Orchard Mall in Skokie, Ill. Bloomie’s is Bloomingdale’s smaller store concept, with top brands featured within each department, a new tech-enabled stylist service, and a trendy dining experience at its new restaurant, bCafé. The first Bloomie’s location opened in Fairfax, Va., in 2019. Located in the greater Chicagoland area, the 51,000 square-foot Bloomie’s will include men’s and women’s fashion, shoes, and accessories, as well as fine jewelry, cosmetics, and home.
ABOVE: Image provided by Bloomingdale’s: Bloomie’s Fairfax, Va., exterior.
“Bloomingdale’s has always been a part of the Chicago area, and we are incredibly excited to introduce Bloomie’s to new and existing customers,” said Tony Spring, CEO, Bloomingdale’s. “While Bloomie’s is a new take on Bloomingdale’s, our guests will still be offered an assortment of contemporary and luxury brands across men’s and women’s fashion, home, and beauty, but with a fresh take on the shopping experience.”
To celebrate the grand opening, guests can stop in for “10 Days of Bloomie’s,” a series of holiday-inspired events and activations happening throughout the store, starting November 17th. Following the official ribbon cutting and throughout opening weekend, Bloomie’s is partnering with No Kid Hungry to kick off the celebration. Shoppers will enjoy interactive food trucks and carts from Garrett’s Popcorn and No Kid Hungry, as well as a DJ, holiday-themed photo booth, festive fashion illustrations, shoe and apparel customizations, and a custom “Medium Bloomie’s Bag,” as a gift with purchase.
On November 19th, Bloomie’s will partner with the Kohl Children’s Museum for an exclusive Santaland experience. In addition to the interactive food trucks, DJ, and customizations, in-store visitors can find Santa at the photo booth, glam touch-up stations in beauty, and Brown Bear personalization at Santa’s workshop. The winter wonderland will return to Bloomie’s on December 3rd and 10th.


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Feb 06, 2023, Bangalore: Swiggy, India’s leading on-demand convenience delivery platform, today announced that Mallika Srinivasan, Padma Shri awardee and Chairman and Managing Director of TAFE, Shailesh Haribhakti, Chairman of Shailesh Haribhakti & Associates, and Sahil Barua, Managing Director and CEO at Delhivery will join the company’s Board as Directors.
CEO and Co-founder of Swiggy, Sriharsha Majety said, “We’re very excited about bringing on Mallika Srinivasan, Shailesh Haribhakti, and Sahil Barua to Swiggy’s Board of Directors. They have very rich and diverse experiences in building sustainable businesses at scale. Getting these new and powerful perspectives and strengthening our governance will immensely benefit us as we march ahead in our mission to bring unparalleled convenience to consumers.”
“Swiggy is an enterprising and innovative company that has redefined customer convenience and impactfully altered lifestyles. I am pleased to join the Board as the company moves forward in pushing boundaries and redefining newer segments,” said Mallika Srinivasan, Chairman, and Managing Director of TAFE.
Shailesh Haribhakti, Chairman of Shailesh Haribhakti & Associates, said, “I am looking forward to being a part of the Swiggy board. As a young, privately held company, their focus on having the right discipline, governance, and expertise on the board makes me very optimistic about the company’s future, and its ability to bring its mission of delivering unparalleled convenience to users to life.”
Sahil Barua, Managing Director and CEO at Delhivery said, “Swiggy’s mission of creating value through convenience for its large ecosystem of consumers, delivery partners, restaurant partners, and sellers is truly ambitious and inspiring. I look forward to supporting the Swiggy management team in their quest to build a world-class business that serves millions of customers in their everyday needs.”
These are the first independent directors on Swiggy’s board and join current members: Sriharsha Majety – CEO and Co-founder of Swiggy, Nandan Reddy, Co-founder of Swiggy, Larry Illg, CEO of Prosus Edtech and Food, Ashutosh Sharma, Head of Investments- India, Prosus Ventures, Sumer Juneja, Managing Partner, India and EMEA, SoftBank Investment Advisors and Anand Daniel, Partner at Accel.
About Swiggy’s new Independent Directors
Chairman and Managing Director, TAFE
Mallika Srinivasan is a Padma Shri awardee, thought leader, strategist, and a well-known philanthropist with an abiding interest in ensuring the development of India’s agriculture, education, and healthcare. She is well-recognized for entrepreneurship, commitment to excellence, and contribution to Indian agriculture, machinery business, and academia. Presently the Chairman & Managing Director of TAFE – Tractors and Farm Equipment Limited, and Chairperson, PESB, she serves on the Board of AGCO Corporation – USA, Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA), and US-India Business Council (USIBC). She has served as a Director on the Boards of Tata Global Beverages Limited (2008-18), Tata Steel Limited (2012-22), and the Executive Board of the Indian School of Business (ISB) – Hyderabad (2002-22). She is a core member of the BRICS Women’s Business Alliance (BRICS WBA) and a member of the India-US CEO Forum.
Chairman of Shailesh Haribhakti & Associates
Shailesh Hairbhakti is the Chairman of Shailesh Haribhakti & Associates. He is a Chartered and Cost Accountant, an Internal Auditor, and a Certified Financial Planner and Fraud Examiner.
A well-known thought leader on the Indian Economy and Public Policy, he is a Board Chairman, Audit Committee Chair, and Independent Director at some of the country’s most prominent organizations. An Extech (Exponential Technologies), ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance), and IR (Integrated Reporting) evangelist, he has authored two books titled – “The Digital Professional” and “Audit Renaissance”- topics he is highly passionate about.
Managing Director & CEO at Delhivery
Sahil Barua is the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Delhivery. He holds a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from the National Institute of Technology Karnataka, Surathkal, and a post-graduate diploma in management from the Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore. He was previously associated with Bain & Company India Private Limited as a Consultant.
Founded in 2014, Swiggy is India’s leading on-demand convenience platform with a vision to elevate the quality of life for the urban consumer by offering unparalleled convenience. It connects consumers to over 200,000 restaurant partners in hundreds of cities. Its quick commerce grocery service Instamart is present in over 25 cities. Swiggy’s latest addition, Dineout, offers users experiences in high-use categories like dining out and events in 20 cities across the country. Using innovative technology, Swiggy provides a hassle-free, fast, and reliable delivery experience. Every order delivered by Swiggy’s delivery executives, ensures a host of customer-centric features like lightning-fast delivery, no minimum order value, live order tracking, and 24/7 customer support.


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Will.i.am likes solving problems. By his own admission his mind “works by pattern matching”. And it was via this diagnostic method of thinking that he dreamt up Ekocycle, an eco-friendly brand that creates products from recycled... Read more
Around three quarters of UK citizens and other advanced economies feel they are not meeting their creative potential and are unable to generate change or turn their ideas into reality, according to a new survey by the Royal Society of Arts ... Read more
Statistics show that an agency will now lose almost one fifth of their clients each and every year, so it has never been more important for those responsible for generating new business in an agency to know where the next new client is going to... Read more
Ad industry stalwart and Wieden+Kennedy co-founder Dan Wieden has revealed that the challenge of integrating the digital revolution into the advertising world will either transform the agency or “render us inert”.
... Read more
When approached by 20th Century Fox to create a video to promote the 2013 film The Secret Life of Walter Mitty, Neistat decided to spend the entire promotional video budget of $25,000 on delivering relief to typhoon victims in the Philippines with... Read more


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With a 280 per cent speed increase over the previous model, Mimaki's new flatbed printer launched at Fespa, the JFX-2513 EX, looks set to make an impact in the local market.
Jason Hay, Mimaki (left) talks about Mimaki at Fespa
The new EX version prints at the same speed with white. National sales manager Jason Hay told Print21 that it is a fifth generation LED flatbed. "Virtually all Mimaki printers are now UV LED, including the flatbeds, the rollfeds and the 3D printers. The benefits of lower power, a wide range of substrates, and vitality of the graphics are the reasons," he said.
The new flatbed EX will print at 35sqm an hour. It also has what the company says is 2.5D capability, to produce textured surfaces. It will retail for $119,995 in Australia.
Mimaki in fact has just had a record year in Australia: according to Hay, it sold 29 of the existing flatbed, and no fewer than 165 roll to roll printers in the last 12 months. He said, "Mimaki is expanding in every way - more installs, more staff, more prints, and significantly more print being produced."
Also on the Mimaki booth at Fespa was the TS55 textile printer. Hay said textiles are another fast growing area for Mimaki, with an upturn in sales of between 300 and 400 per cent in the last 12 months. The TS55 will produce 110sqm an hour and has a bulk reel capacity of 2500 linear metres.


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SINGAPORE, 11 OCTOBER 2018 – Arcadier, a Singapore-headquartered online marketplace builder, has been chosen by the United Nations Office for Project Services’ (UNOPS) Defeat-NCD Partnership as the partner for their Defeat-NCD (Non-Communicable Disease) Marketplace. The online marketplace aims to enable the cost-effective and efficient provision of essential NCD supplies to national NCD programmes in low-resource countries.
The Defeat-NCD Partnership is a Private-Public-People Partnership which was established in January 2018 to tackle the most significant global health problem of the age: NCDs kill more than 41 million people each year, equivalent to 71% of all deaths globally.
Set to launch by end Q1 2019, the marketplace will be made available to pre-approved buyers, including government agencies and non-governmental groups, who will be able to source for NCD supplies, including medicines, diagnostics and equipment, from manufacturers. Having these supplies in a global, private marketplace will allow multiple countries to pool their buying power and demand together; resulting in lower prices from greater efficiencies in planning, manufacturing and the supply chain.
Arcadier aims to deploy the marketplace in 100 resource-poor countries over the next three to five years. At launch, a pilot with six countries representing Southeast Asia, Africa, Central Europe and the Americas, will be able to purchase pre-approved supplies and undergo training from Arcadier on the use of the system.
Dinuke Ranasinghe, Chief Executive Officer of Arcadier, said, “We are honoured that UNOPS has chosen us as the partner for this innovative project for social good. An online marketplace can improve trust and connectivity, thereby increasing transparency and access to important and life-saving supplies. We believe that our deep expertise helping businesses build marketplaces can help effect serious change and impact people and communities.”
Arcadier’s role will include providing training and support to buyers across the world in the use of the marketplace, as well as engagement on aspects such as financing solutions, logistics, drug testing and warehousing, to create benefits of scale for users. To that end, Arcadier will be looking to increase their global staff size by at least 100 in 2019, from 45 currently, including operational expertise in logistics and warehousing, customer service, training and development. They will also be looking to open new offices in Europe focused on managing the project directly with the UN, and in East Africa to aid in the operational aspects of the project, on top of their current offices in Singapore, United States, Australia and the Philippines.
The Defeat-NCD Marketplace will be based on Arcadier’s technology platform, which has been in development since 2013 and used to create over 7,000 marketplaces in over 130 countries. The platform has been used by entrepreneurs and communities to build marketplaces through a Software- as-a-Service (SaaS) model, and for corporates through an enterprise platform model. To date, Arcadier has supported the sale of more than 3 million products and services, ranging from retail, to space and item rentals, and professional services.
Dr Mukesh Kapila, Chief Executive of the Defeat-NCD Partnership, said: “The world is moving towards digitisation and the UN is constantly seeking new technology to solve major world issues. We are excited to partner with Arcadier to create the Defeat-NCD Marketplace, which will reduce barriers and costs in the distribution of quality-assured NCD medicines, diagnostics and associated equipment to where they are needed most, speedily and reliably.”
The Singapore Government agency, Enterprise Singapore, that champions enterprise development, trade promotion and spearheads the growth of Singapore as a hub for global trading and start-ups, has been an important supporter in enabling this project. With their assistance, Arcadier will be able to connect with private sector partners (in pharmaceutical, financing and supply chain industries) to achieve the long-term goals of this partnership.
“Enterprise Singapore is pleased to support this partnership between Arcadier and the UNOPS. This is a great example of how a Singapore digital marketplace company is on its way to make a difference globally by connecting medical suppliers and buyers to combat NCD. This is made possible through Arcadier’s proprietary technology and it also shows how disruptive technologies and digitalisation can transform the way trade is conducted. Enterprise Singapore will continue to enable local champions like Arcadier, and welcome global collaborative projects like this to be sited in Singapore, where it can benefit from the robust infrastructure, skilled talent pool and excellent connectivity,” said Mr Satvinder Singh, Assistant Chief Executive Officer, Enterprise Singapore.
“This partnership is the next stage of our evolution of our business. This adds a powerful operational capability to our team and effectively moves us from a marketplace provider, to a technology company that manages and operates global, online marketplaces, with potentially thousands of SKUs from hundreds of sellers that will impact the lives of millions of people around the world. We’re confident that the experience we have working on commercial marketplaces around the world, and supporters like Enterprise Singapore, will lead us to success in this project,” Mr Ranasinghe added.
Arcadier is the world’s fastest growing SaaS (Software-as-a-Service) marketplace builder and is the recognised global leader of multi-vendor marketplace technology. Founded in 2013 in Singapore by senior PayPal executives, Arcadier powers more than 7000 online marketplaces in more than 130 countries. Arcadier enables start-up entrepreneurs, businesses and communities alike to build their own white-labelled marketplaces easily. Arcadier’s platform supports various eCommerce and Sharing Economy marketplace ideas; from retail to professional services and rental of space marketplace types.
Public Relations for Arcadier
PR@thebitesizeconcepts.com, +65 9009 5604


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New fountain honors JFK’s
The Kennedy Space Center has opened the first phase of a 10-year upgrade to the Visitor Complex, a $16 million entry plaza that includes a retail shop, restaurant, ticket stations and a fountain that pays homage to the dreams of President John F. Kennedy. Next up is the $100 million shuttle exhibit featuring Atlantis, scheduled to open in July.
Meantime, the center has extended three behind-the-scenes tours. Tours of the Launch Control Center and launch pad have been extended at least through March 31, and tours of the Vehicle Assembly Building have been extended through 2013. Information: www.kennedyspacecenter.com.
Big Apple tourism hits all-time high
New York City welcomed 52 million visitors in 2012, a new all-time high and a 2.1 percent increase over 2011, city officials said. Those numbers included an estimated 41 million domestic visitors and 11 million international visitors. Tourism is New York’s fifth largest industry, generating an estimated $55.3 billion in economic impact to the city’s economy in 2012.
3.6 billion fliers predicted by 2016
A forecast by the International Air Transport Assn. predicts that airports around the world will serve 3.6 billion fliers by 2016. That represents an average of 5 percent growth each year, adding about 800 million new fliers in four years.


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Next month, Bausch and Lomb shareholders will vote on the company's future.
The Rochester company's board has agreed to a sale to private equity firm, Warburg Pincus, for more than $3.5 billion.
B&L Friday filed a notice with the SEC, for a special shareholders meeting.
That meeting is set for September 21st at 10 am at the Clarion Riverside Hotel in Rochester.
If the merger is completed, shareholders will get 65 bucks a share.


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A woman pushes a shopping cart through the grocery aisle at Target in Annapolis, Maryland, on May 16, 2022, as Americans brace for the shock of the summer tag as inflation continues to grow.
JimWatson | AFP | fake images
People still seem willing to pay to travel, go to the movies and have a drink or two, even as rising prices and recession fears hold them back in other areas.
The way people spend their money is changing as the economy slows and inflation drives up prices everywhere, including gas stations, grocery stores and luxury retail stores. The housing market, for example, is already feeling the pinch. Other industries have long been considered recession-proof and may even be enjoying a downturn as people start to go out again after sheltering in place during the pandemic.
Still, buyers around the world feel pressured. In May, an inflation metric that tracks the prices of a wide range of goods and services jumped 8.6% from a year earlier, the biggest jump since 1981.. Consumer optimism about their finances and overall economic sentiment fell to 50.2% in June, its lowest level on record, according to the University of Michigan’s monthly index.
As gas and food prices rise, Brigette Engler, an artist who lives in New York City, said she drives to her second home upstate less often and cuts back on eating out.
“Twenty bucks seems extravagant right now for lunch,” he said.
Here’s a look at how different sectors are doing in the slowing economy.
Concerts, movies, travel and other experiences people missed out on during the height of the pandemic are among the industries enjoying strong demand.
living nation Entertainmentowner of concert halls and Ticketmaster, has yet to see people’s interest in attending concerts wane, CEO Joe Berchtold said at the William Blair Growth Stock Conference earlier this month.
In movie theaters, blockbusters like “Jurassic World: Dominion” Y “Top Gun: MaverickThey have also achieved strong box office sales. The movie industry has long been considered “recession-proof,” as people who forgo pricier vacations or recurring Netflix subscriptions can often still afford movie tickets to escape for a few hours.
Alcohol is another category that is generally protected from economic downturns, with people heading back to bars after drinking more at home during the early days of the pandemic. Even as brewers, distillers and winemakers raise prices, companies are betting that people are willing to pay more for better-quality alcohol.
“Consumers continue to trade up, not down,” Molson Coors drink CEO Gavin Hattersley said on the company’s earnings call in early May. It may sound counterintuitive, but he said the trend is in line with recent economic downturns.
Alcohol sales have also been sheltered in part because prices have not risen as fast as the prices of other products. In May, alcohol prices rose about 4% from a year earlier, compared to the 8.6% jump in the general consumer price index.
Big airlines like Delta, American Y United They also predict a return to profitability thanks to an increase in travel demand. Consumers have largely digested higher fares, which have helped airlines cover the rising cost of fuel and other expenses, though national reserves have decreased in the last two months.
It’s unclear if the race back to the skies will continue after the spring and summer travel rush. Business travel typically picks up in the fall, but airlines may not be able to count on that as some companies look for ways to cut expenses and even announce layoffs.
People’s desire to go out and socialize again is also driving products like lipstick and high heels that have been shelved during the pandemic. That recently helped sales at retailers, including macy’s Y ultra beautywhich last month boosted its full-year earnings forecast.
Luxury brands like Chanel and Gucci are also proving more resilient, with wealthier Americans not being as affected by rising prices in recent months. His challenges have been more concentrated in China of late, where pandemic restrictions persist.
But the fear is that this dynamic could change quickly and the short-term profits of these retailers could evaporate. More than eight in 10 American consumers plan to make changes to cut their spending in the next three to six months, according to a survey by the NPD Group, a consumer research firm.
“There is a tug-of-war between the consumer’s desire to buy what they want and the need to make concessions based on higher prices hitting their wallets,” said Marshal Cohen, senior retail industry adviser at NPD.
The once red-hot real estate market is among those clearly affected by the slowdown.
Growing Interest rates they have reduced the demand for mortgages, which is now about half of what it was a year ago. Homebuilder sentiment has fallen to the lowest level in two years after falling for six consecutive months. Real estate companies red fin and Compass announced layoffs earlier this week.
“With May demand 17% below expectations, we don’t have enough work for our agents and support staff,” Redfin CEO Glenn Kelman wrote in an email to employees that was later posted on the company’s website.
For the retail sector as a whole, data from the Commerce Department also showed a surprising overall drop of 0.3% in May from the previous month. That included drops at online retailers and miscellaneous store retailers, such as florists and office supplies.
And while demand for new and used cars remains strong, auto industry executives are beginning to see signs of potential trouble. With the cost of new and used vehicles rising in double digits over the past year, car and other motor vehicle dealers saw sales decline 4% in May from the prior month, according to the Department. US Department of Commerce
Ford Engine Chief Financial Officer John Lawler said this week that auto loan delinquencies are also starting to rise. Although the increase could indicate tough times ahead, he said it’s not yet a concern, as delinquencies had been low.
“It looks like we’re regressing further towards the mean,” Lawler told a Deutsche Bank conference.
The restaurant industry is also seeing signs of potential trouble, though how restaurants are affected could vary.
Fast food chains have also done better in economic downturns, as they are more affordable and entice diners with promotional offers. Some restaurant companies are also betting that people will continue to dine out as grocery prices rise faster.
The cost of food away from home rose 7.4% during the 12 months ending in May, but food prices at home rose even faster, soaring 11.9%, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. . International Brands Restaurant CEO Jose Cil and Wendy’s CEO Todd Penegor are among fast-food executives who have emphasized the gap as an advantage to the industry.
But mcdonald’s Chief Executive Officer Chris Kempczinski said in early May that low-income consumers began ordering cheaper items or reducing the size of their orders. As the largest restaurant chain in the US by sales, it is often considered an industry benchmark.
On top of that, traffic in the broader restaurant industry slowed to its lowest point of the year in the first week of June, according to market research firm Black Box Intelligence. That was after the number of visits also slowed down in May, although sales increased 0.7% due to higher spending per visit.
Barclays analyst Jeffrey Bernstein also said in a research note on Friday that restaurants are accelerating discounts, a sign they expect same-store sales growth to slow. Among the chains that have introduced new offers to attract diners are Dominos Pizzaoffering half-price pizzas, and Wendy’swho brought his $5 Biggie Bag meal.
Among those struggling to adjust to a shift in shopper behavior are mass-market retailers like Target and Walmart, which have issued cautious guidance for the coming year.
Target warned investors earlier this month that its fiscal second-quarter profit would take a hit as it discounts people who bought during the pandemic but no longer want it, such as small appliances and electronics. The big retailer is trying to make room on its shelves for products in demand right now: beauty products, home essentials and back-to-school items.
Chief Executive Officer Brian Cornell told CNBC that the company’s stores and website continue to see heavy traffic and “a very resilient customer” overall, despite changing shopping preferences. Rival walmart has also been discounting less-desirable items like clothing, though the retail giant said has been gaining share in the grocery store as buyers look to save.
— Leslie Josephs, Lauren Thomas, Michael Wayland, John Rosevear, Sarah Whitten and Melissa Repko contributed reporting.


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Japan mobile phone will monitor skin condition
TOKYO – A mobile phone that monitors the user’s skin condition, checking for blemishes and color, was unveiled in beauty-conscious Japan on Thursday.
The “Hada Memori” (skin memory) programme allows women to keep tabs on their complexion and track changes over time by storing records in the cloud.
Users can also share their data through social networking sites, said IT giant Fujitsu, which plans to use the information to target advertising of beauty products.
A spokeswoman said the skin system comes with a small card that has a 15 millimetre (0.6 inch) hole, which must be pressed to the cheek. The smartphone’s camera then takes a picture of the skin and analyses the result.
The Hada Memori is the first of a series of devices that will measure users’ stress levels, exercise habits and quality of sleep, helping the company gather a significant pool of health data which it can then sell on.
“We will be able to offer the data to service providers eventually,” said Hayuru Ito, senior manager of Fujitsu’s strategic planning division.
Fujitsu is aiming to have one million users of the system in the next two years.
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Constell Group seeks to expand diamond operations in Botswana
The Indian group, which advises Botswana's diamond industry, has joined the ranks of other major diamantaires that have recently flocked to grow their footprint in the country.
Ruri Diamonds is the result of an unlikely alliance between Botswana's business community and South African showbiz. The company's creation is further proof of the dynamism of the diamond sector in Gaborone, which is attracting investors from all over the world.
President Masisi wants to make De Beers share proceeds from polished stones from the Debswana mines that Botswana runs jointly with the firm. He hopes their new arrangement will be similar to miner Lucara's deal with diamond dealer HB Antwerp.
Stargems, until now present only in diamond processing and trade, is in the process of acquiring two South African rough stone production subsidiaries from the Luxembourg company Reinet Investments, which is run by luxury goods tycoon Johann Rupert.
As the first copper mines make their appearance in western Botswana, the number of would-be mining operators interested in the Kalahari Copperbelt is increasing. Among them, Michael McNeilly has already taken up a leading position.


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The Oneida Indian Nation will host its Annual American Indian Holiday Craft Fair at Turning Stone Resort Casino on Saturday, December 2, 2023 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. More than 60 vendors will be showcasing traditional American Indian art, including handmade jewelry, beadwork, carvings, artwork, textiles, ceramics and more.
Guests can explore handmade items created by Oneida Indian Nation Members and other American Indian artisans. The 2023 American Indian Craft Fair will also feature Haudenosaunee social dance exhibitions, featuring Chris Thomas and his Smoke Dancers at 1:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m.
The Annual American Indian Holiday Craft Fair will be located in the Turning Stone Event Center Corridor and is free to attend. Open to the public from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Saturday, December 2, 2023. Parking is free and available in the parking garage or any of Turning Stone’s parking lots.
Click HERE to view flier.


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USA Swimming adds Arena as apparel partner
USA Swimming closed a new sponsorship with the swimwear company Arena, giving the organization its second apparel partner in more than two decades.
The eight-year agreement, which industry sources valued at more than $1 million a year, follows USA Swimming’s decision to break up its apparel category and begin selling non-exclusive licensing and sponsorship deals. Arena will become a non-exclusive sponsor of USA Swimming, title sponsor of six Grand Prix swimming events and the exclusive sponsor of the U.S. national team, which will wear Arena apparel on the pool deck and podium at USA Swimming events.
|Rebecca Soni endorses Arena’s products.
That deal combined with the Arena deal means that USA Swimming’s gamble to break up the category has helped it increase total revenue from the licensing and apparel category. It hopes to sign more swimwear deals and possibly sign a deal in the fashion and footwear categories similar to the U.S. Olympic Committee’s deals with Ralph Lauren and Nike, respectively.
“[The Arena sponsorship] really supports what we want to do in terms of raising the profile of the national team and our national team athletes,” said Matt Farrell, USA Swimming’s chief marketer. “They also have a vision for growing the sport at the grassroots level, and for us that was a great combination.”
Arena’s sponsorship comes two years after the private equity firm Riverside Co. acquired it and began pushing the brand to increase its market share in the U.S. The brand is the top swimming brand worldwide but trails Speedo in the U.S. market. It hopes the sponsorship with USA Swimming will help change that.
Olympic gold-medalist and world record-holder Rebecca Soni is the most high-profile U.S. swimmer currently on Arena’s roster of swimmers.


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Roar materials: Kenzo’s pledge to help double wild tiger numbers by 2022
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On the morning of 21 November 2010, an unlikely group of activists prepared to change history. Their mission? To protect the world’s tigers, whose numbers had fallen to just 3,200. The 2010 Tiger Summit held in St Petersburg was the first of its kind, uniting leaders – including Vladimir Putin – from the 13 countries where tigers are found with scientists, conservationists and celebrities such as Leonardo DiCaprio, who donated $1m to WWF. What resulted was the biggest commitment to the species yet: a pledge to double the number of wild tigers by 2022, also known as TX2.
Ten years on, the official count of wild tigers is up by 700. “That might not sound like much,” says Jenny Roberts, director of development for WWF’s Tigers Alive Initiative, which has helped implement the project since its inception. “But in the conservation world, a species coming back from the edge is rare, especially if it’s a large predator.” The next two years will be critical. Although numbers have improved in India, Nepal, Bhutan, Russia and China, the tiger is functionally extinct in Laos, Vietnam and Cambodia, with Malaysia expected to follow if “stronger action isn’t taken”.
To accelerate the mission, Roberts needs three things: sustained government action in tiger-range countries; an end to the demand for tiger products; and support from players in the private sector. Cue Kenzo’s latest charitable initiative: a capsule collection launched in partnership with WWF.
Designed by creative director Felipe Oliveira Baptista, who took over from Carol Lim and Humberto Leon last July, the collection consists of 18 unisex pieces – T-shirts, sweatshirts and hoodies – priced between $155 and $495. Each will bear the brand’s celebrated tiger motif, which will evolve with the seasons until the end of 2022. For every item sold, Kenzo will donate $10 to the TX2 initiative.
But the collection’s value isn’t purely monetary. Each item is made from 100 per cent organic cotton certified by the Global Organic Textile Standard, which uses around 88 per cent less water and 62 per cent less energy than regular cotton. “For everything that we do, we try to think about how we can do it in a more sustainable way,” Baptista adds, pointing to the brand’s use of plastic-free and recycled polyester packaging.
It’s also a matter of impact. The global demand for tiger parts – bones, pelts, penis – is still ubiquitous. But with strongholds around the world, the reach that Kenzo has through its audience, including 1.9 million Instagram followers, is “critical”. “There’s going to be a lot of momentum as we reach the end of the TX2 goal,” Roberts adds. “We’ll be pushing for new commitments from governments, and Kenzo will help broaden our reach.”
Kenzo’s relationship with the tiger can be traced back to “Jungle Jap”, the Paris boutique that Kenzo Takada founded in 1970. Inspired by the wilds of his homeland, the designer established his brand’s aesthetic on Japanese flora, fauna and the perilous mystery of Henri Rousseau’s jungle paintings. It was Takada’s collection of early sketches that Lim and Leon consulted before introducing the tiger sweater for the autumn/winter 2012 collections – a design met with huge demand. “The tiger is part of Kenzo’s DNA,” affirms Baptista. “But you can’t just be about nature – you have to be for it as well.”
Baptista views the collection as something of a debt. “The fashion industry has played its role in the abuse of the planet’s resources,” he says. “This is payback.” Roberts agrees. “Brands have used tiger skins and, more recently, their patterns for generations,” she argues. “They need to give back to the things that they have gained from.” One of the biggest threats to the tiger is the strain on its habitats – ecosystems that supply both people and nature with fresh water and food. As a keystone species, tigers control everything below them in the food chain. “Without them, those areas are impoverished and out of whack.” If these areas are protected – a key element of WWF’s work – not only will tigers be able to breed safely, but we ourselves “can be sustained through what those areas provide”.
For the first iteration, Baptista has kept the design to a simple line drawing, with colours limited to blacks, greys and oranges. “We wanted it to appear like a manifesto,” he explains. It’s a new direction for the motif, which has been captured in bright neons in the past. But Baptista’s version has a quiet strength. Much like tigers themselves.


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American credit card applications are back to pre-pandemic levels, a trend that bodes well for the economic recovery but could backfire if surging inflation impacts consumers’ ability to pay off their debt.
According to a recent survey from the New York Fed, the application rate for credit cards rose throughout 2021, reaching 26.5% in October.
That's 10.8 percentage points higher than a year ago, which was a record low of 15.7% amid the pullback in spending during the early months of the pandemic.
Just over 11% of Americans also applied for credit-card limit increases in October, a rebound from about 7% for the same months last year and just below 12% in October 2019, months before the pandemic hit, according to the bank’s Center for Microeconomic Data survey.
The report also said application rates for all types of credit returned to pre-pandemic levels throughout 2021, after dropping by 11 percentage points to a record low in October 2020.
The survey also shows American households expect to request more of various types of credit in the future, including mortgages, credit cards, limit increases and auto loans.
For instance, 12% of respondents said they were likely to apply for a credit card over the next year, up from 8.3% a year ago, while nearly 7% said they planned to apply for a credit card limit increase over the next 12 months, versus 5.8% in October 2020.
The concern is whether consumers fully understand what they’re signing up for with some credit cards.
For instance, a WalletHub survey of more than 300 American consumers shows 56% of Americans don’t know how deferred-interest credit cards work.
The lack of knowledge, The Street reports, could lead to a large bill later on if you pay one month’s bill late, or even owe as little as $1 when the promotional period ends.
Americans have an average of 2.33 retail credit cards and an average balance on those cards of $1,887, according to Experian’s 2021 State of Credit Report.
That report also notes that consumers are managing credit well, with the average credit score climbing seven points since 2020 to 695, the highest point in more than 13 years.
Still, not all consumers are keeping up with their credit card payments: A recent NerdWallet survey found that 29% of consumers who put holiday gifts on a credit card last year still haven’t paid off their balances.
The survey of about 2,000 Americans also shows three-quarters of holiday shoppers this year will use credit cards to pay for gifts, charging an average of $620.
The New York Fed said recently that total household debt increased nearly 2% or by $286-billion to $15.24 trillion in the third quarter of 2021.
Credit card balances increased by $17 billion, the same size increase as in the second quarter, and $123 billion lower than at the end of 2019.


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The HTC One A9 has a lot of high-end features going for it, like Hi-Definition audio and a unibody metal build, but its specs make its flagship status a little questionable. A Qualcomm Snapdragon 617 processor, paired up with a 1920 x 1080 screen, 3GB (or 2GB of RAM) and 32GB (or 16GB) of storage, along with a 13-megapixel camera, paint this phone as one which falls between the high and mid-ranges. One of the best features that the phone seemed to have going for it at launch, was a promise made by HTC in which the company confirmed to prospective buyers that their phones would get major updates no more than 15 days after Nexus devices get them. According to a Tweet that HTC sent out yesterday, that promise has now been broken.
The Tweet, complete with promotional image, promised an update to Android 7.0 Nougat for three phones; the HTC 10, the HTC One M9, and the HTC One A9, all starting in the fourth quarter of 2016. The updates would come first to the unlocked versions, then when the last unlocked model, the A9, had its update, HTC would start working on the carrier versions of those phones. This clearly flies in the face of the promise HTC made to keep the A9 close to the Nexus lineup in terms of timely updates, since Nougat dropped on August 22, giving HTC until the first week of September to update the A9 as promised and obviously, September falls within the third quarter of the year.
In spite of what seems to be a broken promise with the One A9, this does still leave HTC as one of the best Android manufacturers when it comes to updates, aside from the phones that have found themselves alongside the Nexus devices getting developer previews, like the Sony Xperia Z3. XDA Developers who first reported this, reached out to HTC about the issue and were told that HTC is "aligning engineering resources around our most popular flagship products where the most customers will benefit." Essentially, HTC is largely admitting that the HTC One A9 is not one of thier most popular devices.


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Box-office report: Aamir Khan's 'Laal Singh Chaddha' and Akshay Kumar's 'Raksha Bandhan' under-performance shocks theatre owners
'Laal Singh Chaddha' released in 3,500 screens and 'Raksha Bandhan' opened in 2,500 screens in India.
After stumping Disney, Mukesh Ambani is coming for PVR’s popcorn
Death of the cinema has been debated ever since TV entered our living rooms. But two years of Covid has finally broken a multi-generational habit. The competitive lens of the movie business, especially movie exhibition, is in flux.
Mayday for FMCG, electronic companies as demand begins to sputter
Sales shrunk across categories in May led by commodities like edible oil and packaged atta which fell 32% followed by home care and confectionery which declined by 10% respectively.
Heatwave, pent-up demand, hybrid work push up summer product sales by 75-120% in March-April
Sales of cooling appliances AC and refrigerators expanded 15-20% in the past two months compared to the entire summer season sales, from March to June, in pre-pandemic 2019.
UP polls: BJP faces farm distress; law & order; welfare issues may help party
But if the 2017 polls were a no-contest for the BJP in western Uttar Pradesh like most of the state, the Samajwadi Party-Rashtriya Lok Dal alliance here is banking on a coalition of a big section of Jats and Muslims.
Box office fears going into a shell again as mini lockdowns beginMaharashtra has announced a night curfew in the state, asking all the shopping malls, cinema halls and restaurants to remain shut between 8 pm and 7 am. Many theatre chains had to cancel their evening shows of ‘Roohi’ and ‘Godzilla Vs King Kong’ on Sunday because of the order.
Edtech startup Leverage Edu raises Rs 47 crore in Series A fundingLeverage Edu will use the funding to accelerate expansion into newer markets, bring in more product innovation, and deepen its student-first approach.
When the silver screen went dark: Bollywood counts its losses in year of pandemicOn a yearly basis, total Hindi films earnings would have been about Rs 3,000 crore but they stand at Rs 500-600 crore only. So bollywood have lost out on making at least Rs 1,700-2,000 crore.
Maharashtra govt allows cinema halls to reopen from November 5The screens will have to follow the Covid-19 SOPs, in line with the ones issued by the central government, along with a 50% cap on the occupancy.
Film industry rejoice as government allows theatres to open from October 15The announcement has spread a huge cheer among the cinema owners as well as filmmakers, who have been lobbying to the central and state governments for permission to run.
Indian entertainment industry stares at losses due to coronavirus effectIt is hard to quantify exactly how much money is at stake but theatres in Delhi alone may incur a loss of Rs 2 lakh to 10 lakh in the coming 10 days without earning a single penny, said film distributor Joginder Mahajan, who is also the general secretary of the Motion Pictures Association in Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand.
'Sooryavanshi' release pushed indefinitely, Mohanlal's 'Marakkar Lion of the Arabian Sea' also delayed due to coronavirus outbreakThe Delhi theatre lockdown means more bad news for Bollywood.
Buy Bata India, target Rs 1,820: Jay ThakkarBuy Bata India Ltd. at a price target of Rs 1820.0 and a stoploss at Rs 1745 from entry point.
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Not releasing Bollywood films in Pakistan won't affect Indian film industry, say expertsBollywood trade analyst Taran Adarsh says Indian films have great viewership in Pakistan but the collection from the country does not contribute much to the worldwide box office numbers of Hindi films.
Sell Raymond, target Rs 785: Jay ThakkarSell Raymond Ltd. at a price target of Rs 785 and a stoploss at Rs 840 from entry point.
2018: Hunt for newer markets saw interesting crossovers in Indian cinema2018 was a remarkable year in this regard as Akshay Kumar, the quintessential Bollywood hero, traded his charm to play a villain in a Rajinikanth film.
Sell Bata India, target Rs 835: Jay ThakkarSell Bata India Ltd. at a price target of Rs 835 and a stop loss at Rs 879 from the entry point.
Sell Bata India, target Rs 970: Jay ThakkarSell Bata India Ltd. at a price target of Rs 970 and a stoploss at Rs 1020 from entry point.
Buy Bata India, target Rs 786: Jay ThakkarBuy Bata India Ltd. at a price target of Rs 786.0 and a stop loss at Rs 732 from entry point.
Akshay Kumar's 'Toilet: Ek Prem Katha' makes whopping Rs 13 crore on opening dayThe experts predict more footfalls in cinema houses and a decent business with holidays lined up on Monday and Tuesday.
Buy Apollo Tyres, target Rs 366: Anand RathiBuy Apollo Tyres at a price target of Rs 366. The period given to reach target is 1 year.
Salman Khan's 'Tubelight' makes slow start, earns Rs 21.15 cr on day oneThe Kabir Khan-directed movie released in 4,400 screens nationwide, yesterday.
Buy Jubilant Foodworks, target Rs 1110: Anand RathiBuy Jubilant Foodworks Ltd. at a price target of Rs 1110 and a stop loss at Rs 1035.0 from entry point
'Jolly LLB 2' mints over Rs 50 crore in opening weekendThe film has already created many records including the all-time-biggest February opening weekend in Bollywood.
Box Office: 'Raees' touches Rs 93.24 crore, 'Kaabil' at Rs 67.46 croreShah Rukh Khan's 'Raees' opened in 3200 screens while 'Kaabil' opened in 2200 screens.Load More
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There was a buzz around the macadamia growing region of Bundaberg last month when Lyndi Cohen, best-selling author of The Nude Nutritionist, flew in for an action-packed two-day tour.
A respected nutritionist, dietitian and influencer, Lyndi is also the regular TV dietitian on Australian breakfast program TODAY. Her no-nonsense approach to food is built on a passion for stripping back complicated nutrition information and busting outdated food myths. It’s an approach that has struck a chord with consumers, amassing her a following of close to 200,000 fans across her blog and social media channels.
Lyndi’s refreshing food philosophy aligns closely with the values of Australian Macadamias, making her the ideal partner for a brand collaboration.
“I’m really passionate about wholefoods, and foods that people should be eating more of, and macadamias fit those criteria perfectly,” she said. “I regularly use them in my own cooking, and love encouraging my audience to do the same. Flavour-wise, they work in just about any dish, and from a nutrition perspective they’re amazing.”
Here’s a look at how Lyndi’s trip to Bundaberg unfolded, as our team introduced her to a host of exciting macadamia experiences that have generated fresh content and strong media coverage.
Harvesting, sorting and cracking on-farm
Lyndi spent time with macadamia growers Tony Pashley and Rae Stuart, who generously hosted a tour of their orchard, and a harvesting , de-husking and sorting demonstration, with Lyndi trying her hand at sorting the freshly harvested in-shell macadamias.
This was followed by the opportunity to crack and taste the freshly harvested nuts, and lunch with more growers from the Bundaberg region.
Lyndi loved the opportunity to chat with growers in person.
“Learning what goes into a typical – and incredibly long – day for a macadamia grower during harvest was fascinating,” she said. “The growers I met are all so passionate about what they do, and that dedication is evident when you taste the product. I’d never had the opportunity to crack and taste macadamias fresh off the farm like that before. That deliciously creamy taste is like nothing else.”
Macadamia processing up close
Next stop was a tour of the processing plant and new tourist facility at Macadamias Australia. This was where Lyndi was able to appreciate the scale of the macadamia industry as she toured the extensive processing facilities that dry, crack and pack thousands of tonnes of locally grown macadamias each year.
“Seeing what happens once the macadamias are off the farm, and the scale and professionalism of that was impressive,” said Lyndi. “I particularly enjoyed seeing the Macadamias Australia product development lab where they’re working on some really innovative value-adding.”
The brand-new Macadamias Australia tourist visitor centre is due to open soon, and Lyndi is excited for what this means for the public. “It’s going to be great in terms of educating people about how macadamias are grown and processed. People increasingly want to know where their food comes from.”
Rounding out the Bundaberg experience
Bundaberg is a veritable ‘food bowl’ and home to a wide variety of crops and food and beverage producers. Lyndi was also treated to tours of a local distillery and a craft-brew beverage producer, as well as a macadamia fine dining experience.
‘This was my first trip to Bundaberg,” said Lyndi. “I was so impressed by the breadth and depth of what this region is producing, both by way of food crops, and innovative products that are popular not just in Australia but internationally too. And macadamias are obviously a really big part of that.”
Amplifying the macadamia message
Lyndi’s first-hand macadamia experience attracted national and local news coverage and is informing fresh content on both Lyndi’s channels and our own, collectively reaching a potential audience of 7.2 million people to date.
Lyndi also showcased macadamias on a recent TODAY show segment with hosts Karl Stefanovic and Ally Langdon.
For Lyndi, it’s an experience that has made a lasting impression.
“I’m proud to be involved with Australian grown macadamias,” she says. “They’re a product that we should all feel huge pride in, and one that I’m excited to share more about with my audience. Having experienced Bundaberg firsthand, I’m now an even bigger macadamia fan than I was before – which I didn’t think was possible!”
Bundaberg at a glance
Location: 4 hours north of Brisbane on the Queensland coast. It’s the southernmost gateway to the Great Barrier Reef.
Share of Australian macadamia production: 41%
2020 macadamia crop: 19,230 tonnes (in-shell @ 3.5% moisture)
Production growth since 2010: 121%
Other food crops grown: tomatoes, zucchini, squash, cucumbers, capsicum, chilli, sweet potatoes, strawberries, snow peas, beans, lychees, melons, pineapple, herbs, citrus, grapes, stone fruit, sugar cane.


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Although we’ve come to know the Dyson brand as an authority on vacuum cleaners – and more recently, fans that utilize Bladeless Fan Technologies – the company has also been quietly improving the lighting experience, too.
Led by Jake Dyson, son of company founder James, the company’s new CSYS line of lamps are capable of burning for a jaw-dropping 37 years without losing even a hint of their brightness.
Using Heat Pipe technology, a system that’s commonly found on satellites to keep the built-in LEDs cool in an effort to prolong their life, heat is pulled away from the eight LED bulbs and is redirected through an aluminum heat sink on the backside of the lamp’s shaft. This system keeps the LEDs at a constant state of 131°F whereas traditional LEDs burn at 266°F, which significantly damages their phosphorous coating and degrades brightness and color.
Similar to the company’s dedication towards allowing their vacuums to maneuver in multiple spaces with a range of angle adjustments, the new lamp designs feature a 3 Axis Glide Motion that allows the user to position the CSYS horizontally, vertically and rotationally in order to best make use of an interior environment. Additionally, memory-based touch dimming ensures that not only can a user control the amount of light, but also wont’ have to remember that every time they want to turn the light on again.
Of course, just like any other Dyson product, the new lamps come with a price tag that reflects the amount of R&D that went into its development. In the case of the CSYS, the desk lamp is $649 while the larger floor model is $150 more at $899 … however, when divided over 37 years, the price comes to less than $25/year to have a lamp that’s worthy of a James Bond villain.


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Long-Awaited Hudson Valley Restaurant Finally Opens
Throughout the past couple of years, many restaurants and businesses have opened and closed down. Some of them celebrated new beginnings as others said goodbye to communities, local customers, and their memories.
As they say, "Out with the old, in with the new".
This statement is perfect for Orange County restaurants that recently opened their doors.
More than ever, local businesses rely on residents and members of the community to assist them. During the warmer months, out of town and state visitors make these little towns blossom.
This Hudson Valley business felt like home to some residents.
However, the local residents have felt honored to be a part of the successful, homemade establishment that truly feels cozy and like home to many.
This Hudson Valley restaurant held memories, parties, and many dinners over the years that they were open.
88 Charles Street Café was one of the most popular restaurants within Orange County, especially in Montgomery. This former welding shop opened its doors in the late 1980s. Generations of residents spent time at this well-known restaurant.
They closed on March 25, 2020, due to the pandemic and made the decision to not re-open.
88 Charles Street Café was open for over 30 years.
What's the difference between the "café" versus the new "restaurant?"
This used to be referred to as a café however, the new business is a restaurant which is called 88 Charles Street Restaurant.
Thankfully, this building was purchased by new owners, who also own other establishments in Orange County.
They had their grand opening on March 3, 2022. They recommend making reservations on the busier days and look forward to welcoming the community on their new journey.
Take a look at their menu here.
Take a look at their cocktail menu here.
88 Charles Street Restaurant
88 Charles Street, Montgomery NY 12549
Another restaurant in Orange County has reopened its doors.
Here's the full story of this locally owned business and their story.
If you're ever wondering where to go for dinner that is lively, click below.
Here's a list of Hudson Valley towns with big restaurant scenes.
Where's your favorite restaurant in the Hudson Valley? Share with us below.


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McKinsey China forecasts that e-tailing could reach $650 billion by 2020.
China is expected to surpass the U.S. in e-commerce spending for the first time this year and the country is expected to spend $265 billion in 2013, according to a retailing report. McKinsey China also forecasts that the online retailing (e-tailing) industry could reach $650 billion by 2020.
At SES Shanghai, Eddie Choi, executive director at Milton moderated a panel with Angela Au-Yeung, digital commerce director from Bleum Commerce and Lawrence Wang, TedtoChina director and former global digital manager at Lee Kum Kee on this topic.
The discussion explored various issues:
Choi's insights to the panel discussion below:
Brands should adopt Taobao for their e-commerce development since it is a one-stop shop, less technical barrier. Besides, a brand should own its owned asset on Taobao, otherwise it will lose the property to the resellers who sell the same brand and product.
However, opening a TMall store has its limitations, such as having control over look and feel, and most importantly, the analytics is not comprehensive.
Mobile plays an important role but it's not for all product sectors. Products with presentation that fits into the mobile small screen will have better results. For example, cosmetics works better than apparel and fashion.
An e-commerce team within an organization structure can either partner with digital marketing or sales units. The latter tends to give better performance in terms of the return of the business.
Social may not directly contribute to e-commerce transactions but it develops influence toward the end result throughout the buying journey.
Adaline Lau, ClickZ Asia editor, oversees day-to-day editorial operations covering digital marketing from search to social media, mobile to analytics in the region. Before ClickZ, she was senior reporter at Marketing Magazine and has worked as a journalist for The Singapore Marketer and Asia Pacific Broadcasting. Connect with her @adalinelau or Google+.
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Your Search Returned 500 tagged news reports
E ach one of us, has at least once in our lives, wanted to visit that chocolate factory and see what it is like to be in the shoes of Willy Wonka from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory . For many youngsters today, this dream has taken the shape of a
The candy company posted better-than-expected third-quarter earnings of $1.03 per share on net income of $232.9 million, which was up close to 35% from $176 million, or $0.77 per share, a year ago...Net sales increased 6.1% to $1.85 billion, driven
24 October 2013 17 shares 16 View comments A dress made entirely of chocolate has been unveiled for National Chocolate Week. The strapless number complete with rippling skirt took two weeks to make, 24 hours to hand paint and weighs a heavy 50kg.
Whittaker's A Passion for Chocolate' Tin, which comes laden with an assortment of 30 Whittaker's Dark Ghana, 50% Dark and Creamy Milk Chocolate Squares - Whittaker's Mini Mix - a tube that comes filled with an assortment of 18 iconic Whittaker's Mini
Madelaine's is up and running in Rockaway Famous factory has re-hired only 125 of its 450 workers it employed before Superstorm Sandy wrought $50 million in damages to Rockaway's largest employer...Tuesday, October 22, 2013, 5:16 PM Debbie Egan-Chin/
If you find yourself sauntering down the runway wearing 40 pounds of chocolate, don't sweat it...So warns Fiona Bitmead, one of ten models who showed off edible chocolate creations Friday night at the Salon du Chocolat in London.
20 October 2013 5 shares 9 View comments If you're ever tempted to eat dessert first, Rabot 1745 is the place for you. With chocolate slathered over everything from root vegetables to red mullet, its menu looks set to keep slimmers awake at night.
In Town and Out How to Break A Bad Habit Oct 19, 2013 7:56 Longevity columnist Sharon Basaraba shares her tips...In Town and Out CBC Coverage of the Olympic Games Oct 19, 2013 7:19 CBC's Scott Russell says that the next three months are crucial for
Nearly six months after moving into the storefront at 5403 East Drive, Jama Cocoa is finally welcoming customers into the shop. Since coming to Arbutus last spring, the chocolate company has concentrated on selling its products online and increasing
ET High-end dark chocolates could face the steepest price increases over the next few months...Growing demand in emerging markets and bad weather in major cocoa producing countries is pushing up the cost of key ingredients, leaving manufacturers


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Dubai is all set for Retail Therapy this summer, as the three-day Super Sale, a new citywide retail initiative, to be held from 18th to 20th May 2017, will offer shoppers the opportunity to pick up amazing deals across a range of merchandise at participating outlets.
The three-day Super Sale will offer shoppers unbelievable discounts of 30 to 90 percent on select items for retailers across the city.
Dubai is already home to some of the world’s impressive shopping malls and outlets. Now, it is working its way to host the new retail event, with the support of Dubai’s retailers to ensure that shoppers enjoy a rewarding experience across diverse business segments, ranging from apparel to electronics, jewellery to fashion accessories, toys, homeware, and more.
Among retailers and brands participating in the three-day Super Sale are Bossini, G2000, Carpisa, Shoe Mart, Kazar, Kurt Geiger, Giordano, Cavalli, Roberto, Aldo, Desigual, Galeries La Fayette, Okaidi, Call It Spring, Aldo, Charles & keith, Rivoli, Nine West, Hour Choice, Think Kitchen, La Senza, Porsche Design, Al Jaber Optical, Paul & Shark, and several more.
The three-day Super Sale is part of the annual retail calendar in Dubai, featuring major retail-based festivals, mega sales, new season launches, clearance events, exclusive retail experiences and attractions, all aimed at further enhancing the retail sector in Dubai.
Find more information about the best places to shop in Dubai.


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Indifference to security alerts is growing among web users.
Computer security alerts shall be less effective when they interrupt a task. Thus, according to a study published in August 2016 on computer psychology, 87% of Internet users do not take into account warning windows, mainly because they appear at the wrong time, when they are into something else. According to some research by five US researchers in psychology, neuroscience and computer science at the universities of Brigham Young University and Pittsburgh, computer alerts are much less effective when they happen to be set without considering the user’s activity, which is generally the case.
When we talk about updating your OS version or launching an anti-virus software update for a periodic analysis, it turns out that these notifications disrupt the activity of the Internet user who tends to stop them or to postpone them. After several tasks were performed on a computer by a panel of 850 people whose activity was interrupted by alert messages, scientists saw significant variations in the attitudes of the people. Thus, when some of them were performing actions requiring strong attention (writing a text, watching a video …), more than 70% of them ignored the notification, with up to 87% for those who were already browsing between two windows, or doing some copy and paste activities from one window to another. Indeed, the same experience revealed that 60 to 80% of the tested people took into account the alert appearing at less active moments (loading or opening a page, finishing watching a video), or when the user had completed his activity.
The same scientists had already analyzed such behavior two years before, which they call “indifference to alert messages”. They thus hope that this experience will allow those working in the IT security field to be more careful of users’ activity to ensure that such security alert messages are taken into account. It is necessary to say that we are beset with security messages: one must in fact regularly update the OS of its mobile devices, find and memorize many passwords that shall combine many characteristics (numbers, letter in lowercase and capitals, special characters…) it is endless and tiresome at the end. So, a security alert telling you to update your password or schedule a scan of your PC can have a completely opposite effect. An American study even talks about safety fatigue, showing that we are more negligent about the safety of our aircraft.
That’s how Mark Zuckerberg for instance had his Twitter and Pinterest accounts been hacked, as he was using the same basic password for both accounts! Nevertheless, such behavior is dramatic. Online security is a real concern, given the frequency and volume of hacks from e-commerce sites, banks, social media and other sites which cause a large number of passwords to fall into the hands of cybercriminals. Thus, during the first 9 months of 2016, more than 500 million passwords were hacked, according to a new study by LastPass, a password management software company. Be sure to perform security updates as soon as your device notifies you. Also ensure not to use the same passwords on different accounts (email, social media …) and use a VPN to ensure your online security.
A VPN is the best way to secure your internet connections and to ensure that noone can spy on or trace your online activities. So, even if your connection is intercepted, as the data you transfer are being encrypted, they will be extremely difficult to read and understand for any cybercriminal whatsoever.
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We are seeing a rise in startups that are targeting the market for online learning. Coursera – the leader in the online learning space – announced recently $64 million in a Series D round of funding. In an interview to TechCrunch, Rick Levin, the Chief Executive Officer of Coursera, said that the online learning platform is planning to use the funding to accelerate its business in different areas.
Coursera isn’t revealing its valuation in this round: Levin
The CEO, who joined Coursera after a period as president of one of the more prestigious institutions of the old educational guard, Yale University, told TechCrunch that the company is planning to use the funding to accelerate the business in three main areas – to expand its range of full online degrees (versus one-off classes and short courses), to develop new technology in areas such as artificial intelligence to personalize as well as improve the learning experience, and lastly to continue building out one of its newer areas – targeting businesses and nonprofits and their own training requirements and corporate development needs.
The CEO told the news outlet that the online learning platform is not revealing its valuation in this round, but according to the sources of the online learning service, the valuation of the company in this round is around $800 million. In comparison to the previous round, we see a significant rise, valued from around $500 million to $800 million.
The complete list of investors of the online education service is quite impressive as well. The list includes names like New Enterprise Associates (NEA), GSV Asset Management, Learn Capital, and Kleiner Perkins Caufield Byers. A new investor that participated in the funding was ‘The Lampert Foundation’ whose name is pretty popular in health and education philanthropy. This takes the total funding raised by Coursera to over $210 million.
Coursera has 26 million registered users now
The online learning service, which has around 26 million registered users across its different courses and other offerings now, was founded in 2012. The online learning service offers around 2,000 courses in 180 specializations, master’s degrees in innovation, computing, business, and accounting and other courses for nonprofits and enterprises. Also, the company has around 150 university partners.
According to Levin, the latest programs are growing fast and the online education service is expecting these programs to become more substantial over time. Currently, there are around 50 companies offering courses through the online learning platform, including BNY Mellon, PayPal, Air France KLM, BCG and L’Oreal while nonprofit customers and government come from Egypt, the U.S., Pakistan, Singapore and Malaysia.
Michael Moe, founder and CEO of GSV Asset Management, said “We are excited to see Coursera emerge as the world’s learning platform, with a highly engaged global learner base and educational content from leading universities and top companies. In a global marketplace and knowledge-based economy, education makes the difference not only for how well an individual does, but for companies, and for that matter, countries.”