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Cody Businessman Featured in National Commercial
Written by Andrew-Rossi on March 2, 2017
The owner of Domino’s Pizza locations in Cody and Powell is one of eight franchisees featured in a national commercial for the pizza chain.
Allan Erwin began his career with Domino’s as a delivery driver in Cody 24 years ago, working his way up to manager, and eventually taking the opportunity to purchase his first franchise. He now owns 30 Domino’s across New York, Wyoming, South Dakota, North Dakota and Montana.
The commercial will showcase the company’s new pizza theater store design. Highlights include a comfortable lobby, open-area viewing of the food preparation process and the ability to track carryout orders electronically in a lobby screen.
Erwin, who is still a Cody resident, splits his time between here and Rochester, New York. Erwin credits his success to his taking advantage of available opportunities while as a business student at Northwest College.
Erwin was given the opportunity to manage franchises in Bozeman and in Gillette, before taking the opportunity to purchase the Cody store when he was just 24 years old. Erwin has franchises in Cody, Powell, Sheridan, Gillette and recently opened a store in Buffalo, in addition to stores in four other states.
Erwin said he credits much of his ease with public speaking and ability to do television and radio spots to his first experiences voicing commercials for the Big Horn Radio Network.


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Entries in 'entatech' (114)
Entatech will show off its increased retail product offering at PCR Boot Camp North next month.
Entatech has announced its annual October promotion, offering resellers the chance to win a variety of prizes.
Northamber, VIP Computers and Entatech offer up their best deals to UK retailers.
VIP Computers, Northamber and Entatech offer up their best deals to UK retailers.
Distributor Entatech says it is growing 'massively' in the PC gaming space, having increased its number of vendor partners.
Entatech has added Otone Audio’s speaker line-up to its portfolio of products.
Distributor Entatech is confident it's the number one PC gaming distributor in the UK tech channel, despite increasing competition in the sector.

domain: news


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You are here
Alibaba-backed China car startup to raise 17b yuan this year
[SHANGHAI] Xiaopeng Motors, which counts Alibaba Group Holding Ltd and Foxconn Technology Group among its investors, plans to raise 17 billion yuan (S$3.54 billion) in funds this year as the Chinese car startup seeks to take on rivals in the world's biggest market for electric vehicles.
The company plans to start pre-sales of its first model, the G3 crossover, by the end of this month, founder He Xiaopeng said in an interview at the Boao Forum in China. He didn't elaborate on the fundraising plans.
Xiaopeng is among startups striving to become China's Tesla Inc and reshape the auto industry as the Asian country promotes new-energy vehicles in an effort to clean up the environment and cut its reliance on oil imports.
Already the biggest EV market, China accounted for more than half of worldwide sales last year. Sales of all vehicles grew at a monthly clip of more than 20 per cent in 2016 and 2017, according to data from the China Passenger Car Association.
Alibaba and Foxconn led a round of fundraising by Xiaopeng, investing 2.2 billion yuan, the carmaker said in January. That put the total investment as of end-January at 5 billion yuan, according to the company.
The investment marked Alibaba's latest move in the automotive industry, as the Internet giant bets connected cars will generate new revenue. The Hangzhou-based group has developed its own car operating system.
NIO, another Chinese electric-car startup, was raising more than US$1 billion in a new round of financing from investors led by Tencent Holdings Ltd, according to people with direct knowledge of the matter in November.
Companies investing in that round included Baillie Gifford & Co, the second-biggest institutional investor in Tesla, Lone Pine Capital, Citic Capital Holdings Ltd. and China Asset Management Co, one person said.
Xiaopeng's Mr He said the company will collaborate with Alibaba in maps and cloud products in a non-exclusive alliance, adding the company's focus is on ensuring quality of production ramp-up.
Xiaopeng supports China's plan to allow foreign automakers greater ownership in joint ventures as this will spur real competition and ensure the quality of cars made in China, Mr He said.
Separately, Chinese President Xi Jinping reiterated Tuesday that the nation will lower restrictions on foreign ownership in the auto sector, and measures should be implemented as soon as possible. China will also reduce import tariffs on vehicles, Mr Xi said in a speech at the Boao Forum.


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Who: Danone, with lg2 for strategy and creative, Cinélande for production, Post 430, BLVD and BAM for post production, and Wavemaker for media.
What: “It starts inside,” a new brand platform for Danone’s probiotic yogurt Activia that is about being more modern and engaged with its consumers as an “ally of women.”
When & Where: The campaign is live now. The focus at launch is on TV/online video and additional social media, but other creative and extensions of the campaign are in the works.
Why: Activia has long been about guts, or more accurately gut health, and the digestive benefits of its active probiotics. But Danone has increasingly become interested in Activia as a more holistic health brand, said Nicholas Paget, vice-president and executive creative director at lg2 Montreal. “They’ve been talking about how feeling good starts inside, and about how your gut is your second brain,” said Paget.
Danone is also a Certified B Corp., meaning it meets high social and environmental standards, and each one of its brands has CSR connected to it in some way.
“On Activia, we proposed you could bring CSR more into the heart of what your brand is,” said Paget. “It’s not an addendum. It’s not a side project. It could be the thing. And to their credit, the VP over there said ‘Go all in.'” That meant going all-in on positioning Activia as a brand that contributes to healthier lifestyles—not just physically, but also mentally and emotionally.
How: With “It starts inside,” (which replaces the previous tagline “Feeling good starts inside”) Activia is going beyond gut health to tell a more metaphorical and emotional story about having guts—as in being strong and courageous. The functional benefits of the product are still there, but the new creative vision presents gut health as a starting point for the kind of holistic health that gives women the strength—or the guts—to take on life’s challenges and defy conventions.
The 30-second launch spot shows a series of women taking on a range of challenges, from running a business or a family, to climbing in an ice cave, with only a few fleeting Activia product shots. “What we’ve done is come out and say ‘Hey, the things that you’re doing, we know they’re not easy… Keep doing what you’re doing if it’s good for you,’” said Paget.
“It was important to situate the brand promise within a more relevant socio-cultural context without reducing the equity and positioning that Activia has accrued over the past 20 years,” added Anne-Marie Leclair, partner, vice-president, strategy at lg2, in a release introducing the campaign. ”In this campaign, the brand’s promise moves beyond the product benefits of probiotics on digestive health, yet remains firmly anchored in the idea that everything begins inside.”
The guts message is heightened by narration from Geneviève Lamoureux (pictured), who has a stutter and is an advocate for Quebecers with speech impediments. “Public speaking is a major fear for lots of people, and it actually skews even more highly as a fear for many women,” said Paget. The fact that Lamoureux was willing to narrate the ad, in both French and English, is a perfect representation of the guts that Activia wants to celebrate.
“No one could better represent courage in this situation,” said Éric Maffert, senior marketing director for dairy, Danone Canada. “[W]e hope that featuring this woman will inspire others to find the courage to speak up. She was definitely an inspiration to us when we decided to defy the usual advertising codes and use a woman with a stutter to do the voiceover.”
What’s next: This ad is just the first declaration of Activia’s intent to be much more engaged on its agenda of championing women for being strong and overcoming challenges. “One of the things that we think is important is you can’t just say stuff, you have got to do stuff,” said Paget. “We are currently in the process of doing stuff, but you have to make a statement and then come out and back it up.”
And we quote: “The Activia brand enjoys strong brand love, and we want to nourish this trust by having the brand engage with a more modern, diversified and inclusive societal reality. When lg2 presented the concept of celebrating courageous women, we immediately recognized its relevance and audaciousness.”—Éric Maffert, senior marketing director of dairy, Danone Canada


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DARD MInister Announces 2012 LFA Compensatory Allowances' Rates
AGRICULTURE Minister Michelle O’Neill MLA today (Monday 31st October) announced the rates for the 2012 Less Favoured Area Compensatory Allowances Scheme.
The Minister said: “I have looked very carefully at what we can afford this year and can now confirm that for payments issuing in 2012, the rates will remain at the same level that we set for the last two years. I recognise the importance of these payments to hill farmers and I felt that it was necessary to ensure that, despite other pressures on my Department’s budget, these rates were not reduced.
“The payment rates for the 2012 Less Favoured Area Compensatory Allowances (LFACA) Scheme will be £23.81 per hectare for Disadvantaged Areas and Common Land and £47.62 per hectare for Severely Disadvantaged Areas. ”
Turning to the timing of these payments, the Minister added: “It is my intention that these payments will begin to be paid out in early March 2012, with the majority being paid by the end of March. I know that these payments will provide a welcome boost to both hill farmers and the rural economy.”
The LFACA scheme is part of the NI Rural Development Programme (NIRDP) 2007-13. The Department has received some 14,300 applications for the 2012 Scheme. Payments on eligible claims will begin to be paid out in early March 2012.The target is for 90% of payments to be made by 31 March 2012.
Applicants may also qualify for a cattle bonus which increases the area based payment for those producers who have 25% or more of their eligible livestock units as suckler cows or heifers.


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A young African man carries a sack of wet cobalt at a mine in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
“Blood Phones” are the new “Blood Diamonds.” The global economy puts an abundance of electronic devices at our fingertips, but leaves the stain of blood on the hands holding them. In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, armed groups make money to purchase weapons from the mining of minerals that are vital to the manufacture of consumer electronics. Several million Africans have died in conflicts there from war-related causes.
A group of “conscious consumers” that has had enough is raising the awareness of consumers and companies alike of the tragic circumstances associated with “conflict minerals.” Conflict minerals are metals such as tin, tantalum, and tungsten that are mined in the African nation with monies earned from the trade going to support one side or the other in the ongoing war. In August the Enough Project released a report ranking the largest consumer electronics companies—makers of electronic gadgets, including smartphones, that are marketed worldwide—on their efforts to foster trade in conflict-free minerals. The goal of the project is to persuade corporations to revamp their global supply chains so as to reduce or eliminate reliance on conflict minerals.
The companies that scored highest were Intel, Motorola Solutions, HP, and Apple. Enough’s scorecard is based on the percentage of its recommended actions that each company has implemented. However, according to Enough, there is still no way to guarantee that electronic devices have been manufactured without any use of conflict minerals. It plans to keep up the pressure on the consumer electronics industry while also focusing on other economic sectors where conflict minerals unfortunately play an important part: automotive, jewelry, mining, industrial machinery, and retail. In a related development, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) issued a new disclosure rule regarding use of conflict minerals.
Image Credit: © Schalk van Zuydam/AP Images
- Tech Companies Make Progress on “Blood Phones” and “Conflict Minerals”
This article reports on the impact that The Enough Project is having on tech companies’ use of “conflict minerals”—especially those used in the manufacture of cell phones.
(Source: CNN, August 16, 2012)
- Taking Conflict Out of Consumer Gadgets: Company Rankings on Conflict Minerals 2012
View the whole report by the Enough Project, with graphs displaying each company’s ratings and links to company responses to the report.
(Source: The Enough Project, August 16, 2012)
- The Enough Project
Visit the website of the Enough Project, which is dedicated to ending “genocide and crimes against humanity.”
(Source: Enough Project; accessed August 31, 2012)
- No More “Blood Phones”—Conflict-Free Electronics Can Help End the World’s Deadliest War
Read this simple summary of the “conflict minerals” issue as it relates to the Congo.
(Source: howstuffworks.com; accessed August 31, 2012)
- SEC Adopts Rule for Disclosing Use of Conflict Minerals
Check out this press release by the SEC detailing the new rule that requires full disclosure by companies that use “conflict minerals” in the manufacture of their products.
(Source: Securities and Exchange Commission, August 22, 2012)
at first thought it was wierd but then when i read it more it got more interseting
It seems like slavery to me
i was there
i am the boy in the picture….. good story
wow and alot of people use “blood phones”
wow interesting story wonder what they are gonna do about it….!!
If you need a new phone, do your homework! find out what you’re really buying! Is your fancy phone worth lives being ended?
this artical was hmmmm
i liked this artical just a little bit
i dont like this photo
i wish i had a phone bloody or not
i wish i had any type of phone since my mom threw it out the window
Didnt get it the first time
This story was interesting, but terribly sad.
why would someone do that or even take a picture of that?


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The explorer 50 would be priced at Rs. 2390, while the Explorer 10 is listed at Rs. 1990
To initiate the festive fever, Rashi and Plantronics are introducing the pair of Bluetooth headsets – Exp10 and Exp50.
The explorer 10 and the explorer 50 feature a black matte finish Lightweight architecture. This model marks the re-entry of famous Explorer series which come with contoured ear tips to reduce external noise. Plantronics has leveraged years of experience in designing the two, which fit comfortably in the ear. These headsets come with a deep sleep mode with a stand by battery of 180 days.
“Plantronics has been committed in pushing the envelope in the audio industry,” said Navin Mishra, Product Manager, Rashi Peripherals. “With the introduction of these Bluetooth headsets the company has filled the void of entry level Bluetooth with inbuilt A2DP for music. The new entry would help us target a wider audience; at the same time the ones who want value for money can now lay their hands on a product that only a company like Plantronics could perfect.”
The explorer 50 would be priced at Rs. 2390, while the Explorer 10 is listed at Rs. 1990, and will be distributed across the country by Rashi Peripherals.


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Quite a bit of interesting news today. So lets just slap it all together in one big old roundup. Never know this kind of thing might catch on. For those of you that wanted to read three to five different posts I can help. Just click on this one a bunch of time. Now onward to news like items
Yesterday I posted a bunch of rumors regarding Bungie. Fast forward to today and Bungie has confirmed that they will be announcing the game Destiny on Feburary 17th. Have some details.
Strange news coming out of Valve. No it’s not about Gabe eating people. Although that would be hilarious. It appears up to twenty five people were given the boot. Including several hardware development folks. You have to wonder if the Steam Box has sprung a leak. Possibly its taking on water rapidly. Insert your own Titanic joke here. Speaking of Titanic according to the site Develop, there is speculation that Jason Holtman, director of business has also left. Considering where I dredged up this story lets take it with a pinch or two of salt. Sorry no time for fact checking and like anyone else on the internet does. Given this is speculation its to early to say what this means for Valve overall. Still it can’t be anything positive for the company can it?
Jonkind type people rejoice. According to this post from CVG the kitty dragons aren’t dead yet. Game developer Fumito Ueda, the Last Guardian is still rolling along. Click the link for his quotes and to keep the dreaded copy pasta disease from spreading. Looks this game is either being held back for the PS4 or it’s on a Japanese milk carton.
On a closing note. Could someone please get Cliffy B back to work at a game company. He is more annoying semi retired than even anyone thought was possible.


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Cryptocurrencies are grabbing many investors’ attention lately, but the high price volatility scares others.
The thing is, volatility has been part of the crypto industry since its very beginning, and no one knows when and if it will stop; the key is to look for ways to mitigate and profit from it. It is not that hard if you take your research seriously and don’t jump to trade or invest in crypto immediately after discovering its existence.
All that matters is the way in which you manage your digital assets; in that case, the market’s volatility will come second.
The Wild West might not be that hard to go through. If you have the right strategies in place, you can profit from the price movements – in either direction.
Crypto’s volatility can be healthy and necessary, as it creates opportunities for traders to purchase and sell high or short an asset they forecast to fall in price.
Here are valuable facts about volatility and ways to turn it into profit:
Why Is Crypto So Volatile?
The question on everyone’s lips, “What causes those price movements” needs an adequate answer: The simplest explanation would be that crypto is still in the early stages.
But crypto is a fast-growing market, and even at this stage, it’s still volatile. The truth is that several other factors influence the prices of these virtual coins, including their scarcity and utility.
You have probably seen that a cryptocurrency increases its value when it starts to be used by influential people. Take the example of Elon Musk, who announced that he is going to accept Bitcoin as a payment form for Tesla cars.
Meanwhile, his declaration changed, and at the beginning of this year, he stated that people could use dogecoin to purchase his cars, boosting the asset’s value. Nevertheless, these things happen often, so ensure you are well informed about the utility of a particular cryptocurrency before investing in it.
Even the world’s largest cryptocurrency has undergone significant fluctuations throughout the years. Do not think that it has always been so stable. At the moment of its development, Bitcoin was only a few dollars, not thousands, as it is today.
So, what contributes to these price movements that characterize many of the existing digital currencies?
Did you know that there is a specific number of cryptocurrencies that can be mined? Thus, the rarer they become, the more expensive they will be. For example, the total number of Bitcoin individuals can mine is pre-established in the protocol at $21 million; that is one of the reasons the cryptocurrency’s value has skyrocketed so much during the last few years. More and more people started investing in it, hoping it would bring them impressive profits in the future.
There are also burning cryptocurrencies that remove themselves from circulation to become scarcer and thus increase the value of the remaining ones. Such tokens include shiba inu, ethereum, and binance coin.
As previously mentioned, how many people, what people, and for what purposes use cryptocurrencies will further determine their value. Similarly, if more individuals would spend their virtual coins to purchase products and services instead of simply keeping them in an electronic wallet, their prices would increase.
With increasingly more companies embracing crypto as a payment form, these virtual coins are likely to touch the skies. Among the many products that can be bought with crypto are car dealerships, jewelry, tech products, and even food.
In crypto, there is talk about the so-called whales. But what are they, and what do they do so that they influence volatility? These whales are nothing more but investors that hold huge amounts of holdings. In fact, according to Economic Times, these individuals have about 40% of the existing bitcoin tokens. When whales start selling, the magnitude of a crash can exceed limits, especially if millions, if not thousands, of dollars are at a stroke.
Top Cryptocurrencies That Whales Are Investing In
Apart from the famous bitcoin, dogecoin, and shiba inu, there are cryptocurrencies (some more explored than others) that managed to lure whales. Investors are hence interested in investing in:
- tamadoge (TAMA)
- battle infinity (IBAT)
- cardano (ADA)
- lucky block (LBLOCK)
- ethereum (ETH)
- polygon (MATIC) (it is emerging as one of the most profitable assets in 2022)
- decentraland (MANA) (an upcoming metaverse platform)
Ethereum, for example, has generated a buzz lately, as it is a platform that allows creators to develop various applications and investors to take their crypto adventure to the next level.
Besides, ethereum 2.0 is expected to be launched on 19 September 2022; this will be, without a doubt, a major event in the crypto world that will attract hundreds of whales.
Ethereum 2.0 promises to be focused on a PoS protocol, meaning that transactions would be more secure and the platform more sustainable. With this event in the game, investors are looking to buy ethereum for upcoming gains.
So, if you want to follow their example, ensure you are well informed about what this crypto has to offer. And most importantly, check the ethereum price regularly not to fall victim to a dramatic change in value. It would be recommended to use Binance as the main information provider, as it offers real-time data regarding crypto prices.
Many of the above-mentioned cryptocurrencies are also highly volatile, which makes them a direct target in the eyes of engaged investors and traders. Coins such as ethereum, tamadoge, shiba inu (SHIB), stellar (XLM), and litecoin (LTC) are estimated to reach unbelievable fluctuations in 2022, so you would better be on the lookout.
To invest or not to invest?
Volatility is undoubtedly something to be mindful of when embarking on the crypto journey, but it should not be an impediment. If you inform well before investing or trading and have the right strategies, there are fewer chances to lose.
Photo Credit: pexels


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There will be a planned maintenance on our servers that will be coducted on April 19 2020 starting at 10:00 pm (Riyadh time) and should not last more than two hours.
We announce the release of latest upgrade to our cPanel to newer version #78, which has added more features and enhancements, including the look and performance.
You can find out more details at cPanel Website.
We're glad to announce the latest upgrade to our cPanel to newer version #70, which is adding more features and enhances the look of the panel. You can read the detailed release notes for v70 at cPanel Website.
Our valuable customers are able now to place app developent orders for IOS and Android platforms.
Powered by WHMCompleteSolution


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B2B e-commerce vendor Unilog recently launched its partner ecosystem that’s targeted at value-added resellers (VARs.) Unilog, which is headquartered in Wayne, Pennsylvania, rolled out the ecosystem on Sept. 1
Deployments of e-commerce platforms by B2B distributors ramped up during last year’s pandemic as customers sought more online solutions for their buying needs. Unilog’s ecosystem includes reseller enablement and support as well as consulting-referral relationships.
An ecosystem for e-commerce can bring best-in-class partners together under one roof and speed up deployments while also improving ROI.
Generally speaking, an ecosystem is only as good as its partner members, and Unilog’s includes some well-known names. For the ecosystem, Unilog’s cloud-based commerce application has been integrated with many of the commonly deployed ERP solutions serving the distribution and manufacturing industries, including Acumatica, Epicor, Infor, SAP, and Microsoft, among others. VARs and agencies serving these markets can now expand — or build — their B2B-focused e-commerce practices.
Unilog’s CIMM2 platform can be combined with the company’s content enrichment service to deliver a full, turnkey e-commerce platform that works in tandem with the ERP software.
Unilog’s Brian Lombardo, senior Vice President of channels and partner, said his company has developed the integration capabilities for a number of the leading ERP systems in the wholesale distribution B2B and B2B2C spaces.
“Right now, we are focused on those partners that support the ERPs and industries that we have experience with and who have the need to offer a robust, turnkey, rapidly deployable ecommerce solution to their clients and/or add an ecommerce offering to their portfolio,” Lombardo said in an email to MDM. “Because of the heightened level of interest from the market, we put this program together and signed two in the first week. We are just getting this kicked off and are looking for more partners to expand and build this program out with us.”
Depending on the capabilities of the partner, the partnerships could evolve from referral-based to full on reseller, Lombardo said.
“We are looking for quality over quantity with a strong served market fit and those who could benefit from our growth and future product offerings,” he said.


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Pixel Stand Stories October 12, 2020
Pixel Stand Stories November 8, 2019
Last year, Google launched the Pixel Stand as a wireless charging companion to the Pixel 3. A year later, however, we’re finding that the Pixel Stand is actually better suited to the Google Pixel 4.
Pixel Stand Stories August 7, 2019
Android Q Beta 6: Pixel Stand UI updated with tweaked ambient view
Among the other various updates included with Android Q Beta 6, Google has also thrown in a minor update to the UI on the Pixel Stand, greatly simplifying the ambient experience.
Pixel Stand Stories May 9, 2019
Pixel Stand Stories September 26, 2018
Pixel Stand Stories September 21, 2018
We already know pretty much all there is to know about Google’s upcoming Pixel 3 smartphones, but there’s still a lot to learn about what else the company is bringing to its October 9th event. We’ve been keeping an eye on a device known as the “Pixel Stand” for a while, and in a fresh teardown, we’ve discovered a possible first look at the product.


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Bill to make alcohol delivery, curbside sales permanent in Oklahoma signed into law
Gov. Kevin Stitt on Thursday signed a bill into law allowing curbside sales or home deliveries of beer, wine and spirits to continue in Oklahoma.
The move was spurred by the COVID-19 crisis and utilized as a way to reduce the spread of the virus. The measure was authored by Sen. Roger Thompson and Rep. Kevin Wallace.
“During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Alcoholic Beverage Laws Enforcement Commission (ABLE) allowed restaurants, grocery and liquor stores to serve customers through curbside service and delivery. I’ve talked to many citizens who really appreciated the convenience and didn’t want to see it end. This measure will allow that service to continue,” Thompson said. “It’s another important step in continuing to modernize Oklahoma’s liquor laws, offering more choices to consumers.”
Read the bill in its entirety here.
Under the legislation, delivery or curbside service of beer, wine or spirits would have to be provided by the establishment holding the license—third party companies cannot deliver those products.
Restaurants, grocery and convenience stores can only provide curbside sales or home delivery of beer or wine. Liquor stores can provide that service for beer, wine and spirits, the bill states.
“We found during the COVID-19 pandemic that this practice worked well and posed no additional public safety problems for law enforcement or anyone else in the general public,” Wallace said. “This will allow this ease of commerce to continue in the future, and it’s a welcome addition to the services we allow consumers and our small business owners.”


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Optus partners with Google Cloud for AI-powered tech
Google Cloud has entered a three-year strategic partnership with Optus to deliver hyperpersonalised customer support through natural language recognition, faster processing and real-time access to customer insights. Optus is purportedly the first telecommunications provider in the ANZ region to use the Contact Centre AI (CCAI) solution from Google Cloud, and the partnership has already reduced customer resolution times.
This strategic initiative will see Optus working closely with Google Cloud AI experts to provide customers with personalised experiences and build advanced customised solutions. By using CCAI to support customers in reaching support teams 24/7 via messaging and eventually voice services, Optus will streamline customer access to support, removing barriers such as complicated phone menus and complex routing.
This will be enabled by Google Cloud’s natural language recognition technology, alongside faster processing and real-time access to customer insights, to enable shorter call times, faster resolutions, and a more natural and streamlined experience for customers.
Vaughan Paul, Vice President, Digital Consumer, Optus, said Google Cloud’s technologies will allow the telco to blend digital and human experiences to the benefit of its customers.
“It’s all about being more proactive, leveraging data insights and truly understanding our customers to deliver world-class service,” said Paul.
With the digitisation of interactions through CCAI, Optus is able to analyse and improve its customer service model. For live agent experiences, Google Cloud CCAI Agent Assist powers a real-time digital assistant that gathers relevant articles within the knowledge base and recommends personalised responses, enabling Optus to get to the root of customer queries faster with the right answer.
“Optus is leading the way in revolutionising customer service in the digital age. By supporting Optus with its industry-first use of our AI and machine learning technology, we can create a hyperpersonalised and seamless experience that drives better customer engagement and differentiates Optus in the market,” said Mark Innes, Vice President, ANZ at Google Cloud.
NICE has predicted the seven most dominant trends that will make a significant impact on call...
The Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman has revealed an increase in phone- and internet-related...
Microsoft's Peter Garner and Poly ANZ's Andy Hurt share their insights into the best ways...


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SomaliCoin Beta launched in 2012 and has been waiting for the perfect time to go LIVE. The SomaliCoin carry out tests on a new cryptocurrency before it is introduction into the national financial system Cryptocurrency wave has taken over the entire world. There is no single country that does not have a trace of cryptocurrency or blockchain technology including the developing countries that have shown great growth potential such as Kenya.
The main goal SomaliCoin wants to achieve by implementing it is reduction in remittance costs. Blockchain technology has proved to be effective in enhancing transparency and reducing costs associated with financial transactions in other parts of the world.
SomaliCoin keen on realizing the strengths of the digital currency as well as the weaknesses that they need to work on before the currency is launched to avoid inconveniences down the road.
If the results of the project will be positive, both countries have confirmed that they will go ahead and consider all the legal and economic requirements to facilitate smooth adoption of the cryptocurrency and blockchain technology.
Countries Developing Their Own Digital Currencies
The report that UAE and Saudi Arabia are testing a cryptocurrency with the hope of adopting it mirrors the report by Bank of International Settlements (BIS). The report indicated that countries from different continents are carefully monitoring the blockchain space and are keen on developing their own digital currencies. However, most of the projects are at the conceptual stage.
Note that this is not the first time that the two countries have been rumoured to be testing a new cryptocurrency. We hope that the findings of the tests will be positive to guarantee expansion of the blockchain technology in that side of the pool.


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CVG: "The PlayStation 3 MAG beta has been extended until Friday, December 4 - and guess what? We've got some beta codes to give away. 1000 of them."
Have an open beta to stress test the servers and what not?
This sites already crashed!
N4G is a community of gamers posting and discussing the latest game news. It’s part of NewsBoiler, a network of social news sites covering today’s pop culture.


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Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced that, for the second year in a row, New York is the yogurt capital of the nation. Preliminary data indicates that in 2013, New York produced 741 million pounds of yogurt, up from 695 million pounds in 2012. As confirmed by the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service, New York was the top ranked yogurt producer in 2013, a position it ascended to in 2012. New York once again exceeded California, which produced 591 million pounds of yogurt in 2013. For the entire country, USDA-NASS reported total yogurt production of 4,718 million pounds for 2013, up from 4,416 million pounds in 2012. New York accounted for 15.7% of total US yogurt production in 2013.
For the second year in a row, New York State has earned the distinction of being the yogurt capital of the nation. This is another example of how when government and the private sector work together, as we have done with New Yorks dairy industry to eliminate barriers to growth, the result is positive economic activity that translates into jobs and new opportunities for New Yorkers, Governor Cuomo said. New Yorks dairy farmers and yogurt producers are the cream of the crop in their industry, and I congratulate them on once again securing this well-deserved honor.
This announcement comes on the heels of news from earlier this year that New York passed Idaho as the third highest producer of milk in the nation for 2013. Also announced two weeks ago, Agrana Fruit, the top producer of fruit preparations for the dairy industry, completed construction of their new manufacturing and distribution operation in Onondaga County. Already creating 60 new jobs to date, when fully operational, the company will employ approximately 120 people at the $50 million facility, which will process all types of fruit for yogurt, including the possibility of New York-grown fruit.
As the company sought to expand its market presence and meet customer demand in North America, it considered more than 50 Northeast locations, and ultimately chose New York. The flourishing yogurt industry was a key factor in Agranas decision, offering the company a central location for production and distribution to leading yogurt companies in New York as well as the Northeast and Canada.
The industry is also helping to spur growth in other sectors of the state, as evidenced by the recent expansion of Feldmeier Equipment in Herkimer County. As a manufacturer of stainless steel storage and processing equipment, Feldmeiers expansion supplies even more equipment for yogurt companies including Chobani and FAGE.
In 2013, New Yorks dairy manufacturers employed an estimated 9,470 people with total wages of $513 million, up from 7,759 jobs and $400 million in wages in 2010. According to USDA-NASS, cash receipts from marketing of milk in New York increased from $2.21 billion in 2010 to $2.85 billion in 2013.
New York is a diverse state in the area of dairy and is also the leading producer of cream cheese and cottage cheese in the country. In addition to a 6.5 percent increase in yogurt production, two large dairy plants will be coming on-line this year: Cayuga Milk Ingredients (Cayuga County), which will manufacture dairy ingredients, and WNY Enterprises (Livingston County), which will use a cold-separation process to make skim and cream components.
State Agriculture Commissioner Richard A. Ball said, Governor Cuomo's commitment to the yogurt industry here in New York has helped our dairy farmers to ramp up their own production, making us the number 3 producer of milk in the nation. The fact that New York is now repeating as the yogurt capital of the U.S. is a testament to the fact that the Governors strategy of an entrepreneurial government is indeed working.
Empire State Development President, CEO & Commissioner Kenneth Adams said, Thanks to Governor Cuomo's leadership promoting the expansion of the yogurt industry and encouraging continued economic development statewide, our yogurt manufacturers are thriving. Agriculture is one of New York's most important economic engines, creating new jobs and fueling economic growth throughout the State.
New York Farm Bureau President Dean Norton said, New York holding on to the title of top yogurt producer is wonderful news for the states dairy industry. The surge in production signifies consumers are increasingly choosing the quality products made statewide. New York Farm Bureau salutes the states dairy producers and yogurt makers for a job well done, and we look forward to continuing to work with Governor Cuomo to ensure the agricultural economy prospers even more in 2014."
Contact the Press Office
The New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets
10B Airline Drive
Albany, New York 12235
The Great New York State Fair
581 State Fair Boulevard
Syracuse, New York 13209


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If a map-maker can become a local institution, Jimapco Inc. did it.
If you’ve ever used a printed map of a Capital Region community, there’s a good chance it came from the small building on a little-developed stretch of Route 9.
But 50 years after its founding, the second generation of the Fisk family to run Jimapco is ready to fold its last map, though others will take up the business components.
“My wife and I are ready to retire, so it’s time for some changes,” said David Fisk, the company president. “Fortunately our longtime employees want to keep Jimapco moving into the future, so we are delighted to report that the business will essentially continue — just at different locations and under different leadership.”
The retail store at 2095 Route 9, just south of Round Lake, will close on Friday.
The map business has changed in recent years with most people having ready access to road maps on their phones and tablets. Walk-in business at the flagship store has declined, but company Vice President Christina Fisk said map-making is still very much alive.
“Our customer map business has become much more significant,” she said Wednesday. “We’re able to layer information onto any kind of a regular map so the customer can see the relationship between demographics and certain sales.”
Much of that mapping is now done online, though Jimapco continues to sell detailed print maps of a region stretching from Maine to New York, with regional maps continuing as far south as Virginia.
Paul Hein, the company’s cartographic and production manager, will assume ownership of the cartography division, continuing the creation of the company’s retail and custom maps.
“One of our customers says ‘One map is worth a thousand spreadsheets.’ The cartographic sensibility — really understanding how to make a real map, is where our team truly excels,” said Christina Fisk, who is also the company’s general manager.
Sherri Odell, who helped manage the retail operation, will assume Jimapco’s brick-and-mortar store function as part of her new retail store, Wilderness, Water & Woods in Parkwood Plaza at 1758 Route 9. That store opened last week.
Odell will also manage the Jimapco online store and house accounts. The direct-store delivery operation was sold in 2013 to Jimapco Distribution Services, an independent company, and that will also continue.
Jimapco was started in 1966 by Jim Fisk, who was already well-known as the host of the Freihofer “Breadtime Stories” television show of the 1950s and ’60s. He retired in 1991 and died in 2011.
His son, David, began working for the company in 1978, and Christina joined in the 1980s.
The first Jimapco maps started with Burnt Hills and Schenectady, but the demand escalated until the company was perpetually in production on nearly 200 titles. Jimapco sold maps through Stewart’s, Price Chopper, Wal-Mart, Target, Barnes and Noble, and hundreds of other outlets.
In addition to the retail maps, Jimapco has made thousands of custom maps for business customers, fire companies, school districts, chambers of commerce, and government agencies around the country.
Reach Gazette reporter Stephen Williams at 395-3086, [email protected] or @gazettesteve on Twitter.


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After an uncertain halt, we are now receiving news regarding the next generation mobile GPUs. But the sad news is that according to a recent Gigabyte report, the releases are expected somewhere around the end of the year.
Speaking f what Nvidia has in its pipeline, we are looking forward to the GeForce 20 mobile series. As outlined by the company on various occasions, Ampere, Turing and Pascal Refresh are the upcoming performances packages but sadly, Nvidia hasn’t planned to release any of these in the near future. What’s more frustrating that even the rumor mill is silent on this topic so we need to wait for almost 6 months to finally see something happening.
This was stamped with approval by OverclockersUK forums where a Gigabyte UK Notebook representative confirmed that no Aero 15X refresh is expected till the new generation of (GeForce) graphics is available (until the end of this year).


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Low awareness, lack of motivation impede solar power industry
The Indian economy is growing at a rapid rate and energy shortage is bound to grow into a bit of a hurdle in the coming years. Unless we weigh our options and start depending less on non-renewable sources like coal that is almost at the stage of exhaustion we are bound have heavy energy crisis. Velocity MR conducted a Pan India study to scale the awareness and penetration of household solar energy products in Urban India.
Here are some of the coverages:


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After Jen Palmer had a bad experience shopping on KlearGear.com, she left a negative review of the merchant online and expected to move on with her life. Instead, the company demanded she remove the negative review or pay $3,500 for violating an alleged "non-disparagement clause" on their website.
Palmer and her husband ended up in a years-long battle with KlearGear, which they sued after the company hounded them and ultimately tainted their credit scores.
Now a bipartisan group of senators is considering legislation that would protect online reviewers from facing the same intimidation and retaliation that Palmer experienced. The Consumer Review Freedom Act would bar the use of non-disparagement clauses, referred to as "gag clauses" in form contracts between consumers and businesses.
It's sponsored by Sens. John Thune, R-South Dakota; Jerry Moran, R-Kansas; and Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii.
"A core tenet of the Internet is the ability to freely share information with whomever you like," Thune said in his prepared opening statement at a Senate Commerce Committee hearing on Wednesday exploring the issue. "What good is information if it's been sanitized to remove truthful criticism? Simply put, imposing consumer gag clauses can result in unfair bullying."
In addition to banning "gag clauses," the Consumer Review Freedom Act would empower the Federal Trade Commission and state attorneys general to enforce the new rules. It would still allow companies to pursue good faith defamation claims, Thune said.
At Wednesday's hearing, senators were in agreement that consumers should be encouraged to share their marketplace experiences online. "In a state like mine of Florida that's so dependent on tourism, we want visitors to share their experiences," Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Florida, said.
Robert Atkinson, founder and president of the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation (ITIF), told the senators that society has reached a "tipping point" where consumer protections are needed, or else the public may turn away from the custom of leaving consumer reviews.
People should be encouraged to leave reviews, Atkinson said. "They're actually being a public citizen, they're taking their valuable time," he said. "If we have a collective climate of fear, then people are not going to be able to do it."


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Sony released a PS5 launch trailer ahead of releasing its next-generation console this week (at least in the US). The video showcases a bunch of PS5 games and it’s neatly trimmed, but the point here is that it offers some exclusive scheduled release windows coming up exclusively.
The trailer features Gran Turismo 7, Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart, and Returnal tags all in the “first half of 2021”. Meanwhile, Horizon Forbidden West will be decommissioned in the “second half of 2021”.
These release windows aren̵7;t really surprising, but it’s nice to know the outline of Sony’s first year plans for the PS5. If all of these titles are out in 2021, then it looks like a very good 12 months for Sony’s system.
Do you like any of these games? Start creating wishlists in the comments section below.


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Canadians’ increasingly digital lives are affecting the way they interact with the world, says a Microsoft Canada report.
In an age of limitless computing power, people everywhere may be finding it hard to concentrate. But according to this study, Canadians digital lifestyles are changing their brains, reducing their attention spans to 8 seconds—one second less than a goldfish.
Down 4 seconds since 2013, the inability of people under 30 to focus stems from the ever-increasing availability of digital media at their fingertips. These savvy digital natives can view multiple screens, use social media, and consume the latest news, devoting seconds to each task.
While these skills may sound admirable, the study showed: “Multi-screening trains consumers to be less effective at filtering out distractions—they are increasingly hungry for something new.”
Infowars' most powerful product is back in stock! Get DNA Force Plus at 50% off now!


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From The Ladder Club to Oz and back again in less than a year!
Want to know the latest on how much the UK market is worth? Interested
Publisher Linda Wood leads a charge for environmentally-friendlier alternatives
Wrendale’s Hannah Dale on giving back to charity
Publishers sign up for the ‘seat of learning’ on November 6 and 7
Having slayed the Dragons, online entrepreneur shares the spoils with Ladder Clubbies
A new decade! And with it PG’s Jan issue sharing the news, views and fr
The Imaging Centre’s free seminar scheme aims to support and inspire new publishers


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Mon, Jun. 20, 10:31 AM
- Automaker stocks are taking news of increased support for the U.K. staying in the EU extremely well. The sector is considered sensitive to F/X disruptions due to the large footprint of the major manufacturers.
- This year has seen strong demand in Europe and better-than-anticipated volume numbers from China support aggressive plans for capacity in the industry and far-reaching R&D initiatives. Despite some bottom-line improvement, Detroit automaker Ford (F +2%) and General Motors (GM +2.2%) still trail the S&P 500 Index for the year and trade with single-digit PE ratios.
- Gainers today include Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCAU +5%), BMW (OTCPK:BAMXY) +5.1%, Daimler (OTCPK:DDAIF) +3.9%, Toyota (TM +3.6%), Tata Motors (TTM +3%), and Nissan (OTCPK:NSANY +3.2%).
Thu, Jun. 16, 7:43 AM
- Daimler (OTCPK:DDAIF) car registrations +14.1% to 79,908 units in May, according to the European Automobile Manufacturers Association.
- Overall EU registrations +16% Y/Y to 1,288,220 units in May, led by +20% gains in Italy, France, and Spain. Registrations were up 12% in Germany and 3% in the U.K.
- Daimler market share: 6.0% vs. 6.1% a year ago.
- Daimler YTD registrations +14.9%.
- Results include the Mercedes and Smart brands.
- EAMA release (.pdf)
Tue, Jun. 14, 1:51 PM
- EV truck maker Nikola Motors has taken a page out of the Tesla playbook by releasing pre-order information and scheduling an unveiling event for later in the year.
- The startup has taken down 7K reservations with deposits for the Nikola One electric truck. The reservations total $2.3B worth of orders. The Nikola One is promised to have 2,000-horsepower, 1,200 miles of range, and a 320-kWh battery.
- The class 8 semi-truck is due to be unveiled by the company at an event on December 2.
- "Our technology is 10-15 years ahead of any other OEM in fuel efficiencies, MPG and emissions. Weare the onlyOEM to have a near zeroemission truck and stilloutperform diesel truck runningat 80,000 pounds," says CEO Trevor Milton.
- "We believe wewill pass the current market leaderslike Daimler, PACCAR, Volvo andNavistar in sales orderswithin the next12-24 months," adds the exec.
- Related stocks: NAV, PCAR, OTCPK:GELYF, OTCPK:DDAIF, OTCPK:VOLVY, OTCPK:VOLVF.
Mon, Jun. 13, 6:39 PM
- Deliveries in China rose 11% Y/Y in May to 1.79M units, according to the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers. Total deliveries including commercial vehicles were up 10% to around 2M units.
- SUV demand was strong again, with deliveries up 36% during the month to 627K units.
- Dealer inventory fell to an average of 1.54 months from 1.55, but still stands above the 1.50 mark which is considered the beginning of a high level of inventory.
- The May tally is considered significant coming on the heels of the Beijing Auto Show in April when some new models were introduced.
- Previous on China May auto sales: Ford, GM, Mercedes-Benz.
- Related automaker stocks: OTC:CQCAF, OTCPK:GWLLF, OTCPK:GWLLY, OTCPK:GELYF, OTCPK:GELYY, OTCPK:BYDDY, OTCPK:BYDDF, KNDI, OTCPK:DNFGY, OTCPK:DNFGF, OTCPK:DDAIF, OTCPK:VLKAY, OTCPK:BAMXY.
Mon, Jun. 13, 7:54 AM
- Daimler (OTCPK:DDAIF) and state-owned BAIC Motor plan to invest 4B yuan ($608M) to expand an engine plant in Beijing.
- The joint venture partners manufacture Mercedes-Benz vehicles at the site.
- The signing of the agreement was presided over by German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Chinese Prime Minister Li Keqiang who are meeting in Beijing for trade talks.
Sat, Jun. 11, 9:34 AM
- Electric vehicles remain in focus with German automakers as the Volkswagen scandal continues to throw a spotlight on diesel emissions. There's also a touch more of reality on an EV future after German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s government backed a joint deal with automakers to invest heavily in incentives.
- Daimler (OTCPK:DDAIF) plans to unveil its long-range Mercedes-Benz electric vehicle at the Paris Auto Show in October. Sales of the Mercedes EV are expected to start in 2019.
- Audi aims to introduce a new EV model every year beginning in 2018. Electric crossovers and SUVs are a major part of Audi's strategy.
- A new all-electric flagship sedan is expected out of BMW (OTCPK:BAMXY) in 2021. In the meantime, BMW stepped up the driving range of its i3 with the 2017 model (114 miles). A two-pronged attack from BMW has the company investing heavily in self-driving car technology and mulling over partnerships.
- Porsche has the dreamy Mission E Electric sports car in the works. The concept version boasted nearly-Ludicrous stats (zero-to-62 mph in less than 3.5 seconds, 310 miles all-electric range, and 600 horsepower to all four wheels)
- The Volkswagen (OTCPK:VLKAY) brand is also making a major commitment to electric cars as part of its broad emissions-cheating mea culpa. Earlier this week, InsideEVs reported that the company is considering a second dedicated electric car platform that will bring larger models into the picture.
- Beyond all the EV developments in Germany aimed at the higher-price points - there's still Tesla Motors (NASDAQ:TSLA), Apple (see MacRumors' rundown), GM's (NYSE:GM) mass-market Bolt, and dramatic self-driving car partnerships involving Uber (Private:UBER), Lyft (Private:LYFT), Toyota (NYSE:TM), Google, and Fiat Chrysler (NYSE:FCAU) in the mix.
- Some analysts have suggested the best play on the EV production ramp is a bet on key suppliers. Now who has a sleeper pick to share?
Wed, Jun. 8, 10:35 AM
- BrandZ keeps a pulse on the value of brands with consumers. Does it matter? An index of companies in the BrandZ Strong Brands Portfolio outperformed the S&P 500 by 5X over the last nine years.
- The list of top risers in brand value this year includes Amazon (NASDAQ:AMZN), Starbucks (NASDAQ:SBUX), JD.com (NASDAQ:JD), Home Depot (NYSE:HD), Lowe's' (NYSE:LOW), Costco (NASDAQ:COST), Burger King (NYSE:QSR), MasterCard (NYSE:MA), and Chanel (private).
- Electrek notes that Tesla Motors (NASDAQ:TSLA) bumped Volkswagen out of the top ten in the ranking of automobile brands. Toyota (NYSE:TM), BMW (OTCPK:BAMXY), and Mercedes-Benz (OTCPK:DDAIF) hold down the top three spots.
Mon, Jun. 6, 6:02 PM
- Daimler (OTCPK:DDAIF, OTCPK:DDAIY) says it will lay off more than 1,200 workers at three plants in the U.S. and one in Mexico, the second such cut this year in response to falling demand for commercial trucks.
- The automaker says most of the jobs eliminated will be in North Carolina, with 600 workers to be cut loose by July 1 at its Mount Holly plant and 200 workers in Gastonia; the cuts amount to ~41% and 15%, respectively, at the plants.
- Also, 170 workers will be laid off from the Portland, Ore., plant, as well as 270 workers at Santiago, Mexico.
Mon, Jun. 6, 7:40 AM
- Global sales for Mercedes-Benz (OTCPK:DDAIF) rose 12.9% in May to 170,625 vehicles.
- The luxury automobile brand posted sales growth of 24% in the Asia-Pacific region, including a 39% gain in China to 38,271 vehicles. Sales in Europe rose 14% Y/Y.
- The E-Class Saloon and Estate were among the best-selling Mercedes-Benz models in May.
Wed, Jun. 1, 1:09 PM
- Mercedes-Benz (OTCPK:DDAIF) unit sales -1.9% to 32,567 units.
- Van sales were up 29% to 3,072 units.
- Smart sales declined 50% to 420 units.
- Sales growth by Mercedes class: C-Class -6% to 6,954; E-Class/CLS -17% to 3,699; S-Class -21% to 1,510; GLC/GLK Class +64% to 4,183.
- YTD Mercedes-Benz sales -1.1% to 149,167 units.
Wed, May 25, 8:57 AM
- An analysis of data from LendingTree suggests that millennials want to drive and own cars.
- "The share of millennial auto loan requests has climbed from roughly 27 percent in early 2013 to about 34 percent in 2016, suggesting a return of younger buyers to the car market," concludes Lending Tree after diving into loan requests.
- On a volume basis, the most popular cars that millennials requested a loan for were the Nissan Altima, Dodge Charger, Honda Accord, Chevrolet Impala, and Chevrolet Tahoe. Millennials opted for used vehicles at a slightly higher clip than older drivers, 46% vs. 44%.
- The crush of major automaker-tech firm partnerships (Toyota-Uber, GM-Lyft, Fiat-Google, Volkswagen-Gett) popping up is predicated in part on a younger generation attuned to ride-sharing and ride-hailing. There's also been an assumption by some analysts of a topping out of U.S. auto demand this year or next due in part to millennial disinterest.
- Related automaker/auto retailer stocks: PAG, ABG, LAD, GPI, SAH, KMX, AN, RUSHA, OTCPK:DDAIF, TM, HMC, TSLA, TTM, OTCPK:VLKAY, GM, F, OTCPK:NSANY, OTCPK:BAMXY, OTCPK:FUJHF.
Mon, May 23, 9:58 AM
- Shares of Fiat Chrysler (NYSE:FCAU) are down 4.8% in the U.S. after falling by a similar level in Europe.
- All eyes are on the findings from the Federal Motor Transport Authority in Germany to see if the agency's report that the company cheated with emissions testing alters the view with regulators from Italy and the EU.
- European automakers Ferrari (RACE -1.3%), BMW (OTCPK:BAMXY -1.6%), and Daimer (OTCPK:DDAIF -2.1%) are on watch amid the crumbling in confidence in the sector.
- Previously: Fiat Chrysler suspected of emissions cheating (May 23)
Thu, May 19, 5:57 PM
- Shares of truck makers and suppliers posted losses in today's trade after Daimler (OTCPK:DDAIF) lowered its truck division guidance, forecasting lower EBIT and unit sales because of weaker than expected global truck markets.
- Daimler Trucks says it now expects EBIT and unit sales to come in significantly below the "very good" prior-year levels; the division previously had anticipated EBIT at the prior-year level and a slight decrease in unit sales.
- Daimler says the "difficult situation" of global truck markets has worsened in recent weeks, and now expects the overall market for Class 6 to 8 trucks will contract by ~15% in 2016.
- In today's trade: OTCPK:DDAIF -2.4%, PCAR -3.4%, NAV -3.3%, CNHI -0.8%, CMI -2.3%, ALSN -1.8%.
Tue, May 17, 7:50 AM
- Daimler (OTCPK:DDAIF) car registrations +21.6% to 82,585 units in April, according to the European Automobile Manufacturers Association.
- Overall EU registrations +9.1% Y/Y to 1,273,733 units in April, driven higher by double-digit growth in Italy and Spain. Registrations were up 8% in Germany and 7% in France.
- Daimler market share: 6.3% vs. 5.6% a year ago.
- Daimler YTD registrations +15.2%.
- Results include the Mercedes and Smart brands.
- EAMA release (.pdf)
Thu, May 12, 9:40 AM
- BMW (OTCPK:BAMXY) CEO Harald Krueger says the automaker's long-range battery electric vehicle is still several years away from being introduced. The EV replacement for the 7-Series sedan is expected to come to market in 2021 -long after Audi (OTCPK:VLKAY), Mercedes-Benz (OTCPK:DDAIF), and Tesla Motors (NASDAQ:TSLA) are in with their aspiring game changers.
- Krueger made the announcement at BMW's annual shareholder meeting in Munich, Germany amid a broad talk on strategy.
- The iNext from BMW will include advanced autonomous driving features and the latest mobility technology on top of the +500 km range.
- The German automaker's slow roll into the long-range EV market has raised some questions with industry analysts, even as i3 and i8 EV/hybrid sales come in at a tepid pace.
- Car shopping data does seem to suggest that BMW needs to take the Tesla threat seriously. 28% of Tesla shoppers in March also looked at a BMW model which was the leading brand overlap by a wide margin (Toyota 23%, Audi 20%, Mercedes-Benz 19%, Ford 17%, Lexus 16%).
Tue, May 10, 7:30 AM
- Automobile sales in China rose 6.4% to 1.72M units in April, according to the China Passenger Car Association.
- Sales of SUVs were up 36% during the month to help make up for a drop in passenger car sales.
- Dealers offered discounts of 18% to help clear inventory, according to an estimate from Bank of America Merrill Lynch.
- YTD deliveries in China are up 6.7% to 7.36M units.
- Related automaker stocks: OTC:CQCAF, OTCPK:GWLLF, OTCPK:GWLLY, OTCPK:GELYF, OTCPK:GELYY, OTCPK:BYDDY, OTCPK:BYDDF, KNDI, OTCPK:DNFGY, OTCPK:DNFGF, OTCPK:DDAIF, OTCPK:VLKAY, OTCPK:BAMXY, GM.
The Daimler Group is one of the biggest producers of premium cars and the world's biggest manufacturer of commercial vehicles.
Sector: Consumer Goods
Industry: Auto Manufacturers - Major
Other News & PR


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Brokeree team visiting the Traders Fair in Bangkok, Thailand held on the 25th of February.
Produced by FINEXPO, Traders Fairs is a global series of financial events for the trading industry, taking place in Thailand, Malaysia, Philippines, Vietnam, and Singapore, attracting the world of traders to one place in one day.
Meet our specialist during the event for consultations or to discuss recent technology developments, industry trends, and services.
Tatiana Pilipenko – Senior Business Development Executive;
Malika Bakytova – Business Development Executive.
Schedule a meeting with the Brokeree Solutions team at Traders Fair via [email protected]


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The disputed patents pertain to technology for graphics processing and battery power conservation, which the San Diego-based company says improve the efficiency and reduce the cost of smartphones. The case involved a lawsuit Qualcomm filed against Apple in July 2017 alleging the company had infringed upon some of its smartphone tech patents.
Call it Schrodinger's Fortune: A U.S. District Court judge decided on Thursday that Qualcomm owes Apple almost $1 billion in rebate payments, Reuters reports. Apple has sought to dismantle what it calls Qualcomm's illegal business model of both licensing patents and selling chips to phone makers.
"Today's unanimous jury verdict is the latest victory in our worldwide patent litigation directed at holding Apple accountable for using our valuable technologies without paying for them", said Don Rosenberg, Qualcomm executive vice president and general counsel. We are gratified that courts all over the world are rejecting Apple's strategy of refusing to pay for the use of our IP. During one courtroom spat, Apple accused Qualcomm of witness tampering.More news: Missouri River flooding prompts interstate to close north of Kansas City
More news: Kylie Jenner nearly gave Stormi a completely normal (and super pretty) name
More news: No Man's Sky Beyond Adds Sprawling Online Multiplayer Component, Coming This Summer
In other cases against Apple, Qualcomm has won sales bans on iPhones in Germany and China, though the Chinese ban has not been enforced and Apple has taken moves it believes allow it to resume sales in Germany. That dispute is focused on Qualcomm's patent royalties with Apple and involves billions, Cnet said.
The verdict on Friday could come into play in the trial in April because it puts a per-phone dollar figure on some of Qualcomm's intellectual property.
The jury agreed with Qualcomm's contention that it should be paid $1.41 per iPhone relying on three of its patents. The most significant case goes to trial next month in San Diego, as a federal judge considers whether Apple owes Qualcomm royalty payments for the iPhone.
Qualcomm in turn alleged that it stopped paying the rebate payments because Apple had broken the agreement by urging other smartphone makers to complain to regulators and making "false and misleading" statements to the Korean Fair Trade Commission, which was investigating Qualcomm over antitrust allegations.


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Seventy years. In the grand scheme of things, that doesn't seem like that long ago — until you remember that in 1947, Harry Truman was the president and the MLB signed its first Black baseball player. It's also when drugstore brand Cetaphil was born. And, considering the fact that 70 years is double the life expectancy for the 1700s, we'll be damned if that isn't a cause for celebration.
After all, Cetaphil has been the Maker's Mark of skin-care lines for about as long — the training wheels for young people dipping their toes in the realm of beauty, if you will. Not only does every derm in the book swear by the stuff, and even the most sensitive types can tolerate its gentle, fragrance-free formulas, but it's also extremely affordable — and this weekend, for its big 7-0, Cetaphil is about to be even cheaper.
Think of it as a birthday treat of sorts. Starting September 17 at 12 AM EST, the company will be running a 70-hour flash sale across select retailers (like your local Walmart, Walgreens, Target, Rite-Aid, CVS, and more) through September 19 at 10 PM. All you have to do is head to Coupons.com at go-time to get $7 off any two products or more.


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YET this “solution” hit the headlines the other day, with most people not realizing its vast geopolitical ramifications, that it could finally end the possibility of war over the South China Sea disputes. It’s often referred to by its acronym RCEP, which makes it appear more inscrutable.
RCEP stands for Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, with the Philippines the 15th East Asian country to ratify it, just the other day — after China, Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand, and Singapore and eight Asean members in the past two years. It calls for the elimination of 90 percent of the member countries’ tariffs in a phased manner within 20 years of their ratification.
While its proponents boast that it will be the world’s biggest free-trade bloc, representing 30 percent of world GDP, hardly pointed out that China accounts for a huge chunk of this — 18.5 percent of the global economy. The shares of the other members of RCEP are far smaller: Japan 9.3 percent, Korea 1.7 percent, and Australia 0.9 percent. Except for its undiplomatic tone, it could be more accurately called the Regional China Comprehensive Economic Partnership.
In fact, RCEP has always been perceived by US analysis as a China-led free trade agreement that is “a significant geopolitical win for China.” Another analyst pointed out: “Although the agreement shall boost regional trade and stimulate economic growth, it is also indicative of a pivot to a more China-centric or Sino-centric trade in the region which could boost China’s influence in the region.”
Quite obviously, the fact that China with its 1.4 billion population, or 60 percent of the bloc’s 2.2 billion people, represents such a huge market, in which tariffs would be zero, that Japan, Korea and Asean rushed to join in. The Philippines was the last to join because of pressures from two unlikely allies: farmers’ groups and the US which resisted a China-dominated trading bloc. (Most agricultural products, however, aren’t subject to the RCEP’s tariff reduction schedule.)
RCEP will be the free trade bloc dominated by the superpower in our part of the world, China, just as the US has the Western Hemisphere, through its North American Free Trade Agreement, and Germany and France have their European Union. This is the reason why India has opted out of RCEP, as it sees China as its rival in terms of economic power, that the Chinese will manage to control the bloc to India’s disadvantage.
Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri, who led the body in asking for the ratification of the agreement, said that RCEP is an Asean-led Free Trade Zone. He’s wrong. It was China that pushed for the RCEP, which it rushed to have ratified after the US in 2022 announced a so-called “Indo-Pacific Economic Framework” that excluded China.
RCEP will be to the advantage definitely in the near future of China, Japan and South Korea which are already China’s biggest trading partners. As all free-trade arrangements have historically worked, RCEP puts at an advantage the more economically developed trading partners since their products, except for agricultural and low-tech products, are more competitive and less expensive because of the technology they use.
For instance, Japanese companies that produce electrical goods and electronic products, machinery, automobile components, and some agricultural and food products, will enjoy significant tariff concessions when they export to China. As a result, the Japanese government expects the accord to increase its own GDP by 2.7 percent and create approximately 570,000 jobs.
Already, in the first three months of RCEP’s ratification, exports and imports between China and RCEP members grew by 11.1 percent and 3.2 percent, respectively. China is deepening its trade with East Asia.
Zubiri’s press release quoted a 2021 study by three economists of the Philippine Institute on Development Studies that said participation in the RCEP will lead to a 2 percent increase in the country’s GDP while non-participation will result in a 0.26 percent decrease in GDP. An earlier (2016) study cited in that paper claimed that RCEP may result in trade creation particularly in areas of construction, transport machinery and equipment, and services; GDP increase of up to 3 percent; and poverty decline from 25 percent to 23 percent.
However, I don’t think the government’s decision to join the RCEP is based on any cold analysis of its costs and benefits. Indeed, there has been a dearth of studies on how the RCEP will impact our different industries.
For my part, I really can’t see which of our products can take advantage of zero tariffs in China, Japan and Korea. On the other hand, just going to a supermarket, one can conclude that China, Korea, and now even Vietnam, can wipe out in a free-trade arrangement our manufactured foods industry.
We had to join RCEP because all of our neighbors, even the richest among them, had joined it in 2021 and 2022. We had no choice, we would have been left out of what would be the biggest trading bloc in the world if we did not join RCEP. Nobody in his right mind, except for Sen. Risa Hontiveros, the only senator to vote against it, would probably want that.
What will determine if RCEP will be a bane or boon for us, is whether our big businesses, helped by the government, will be able to produce products whose competitiveness are boosted by zero tariffs in the exporting country. What is worrisome is that many of our big businesses — those with the necessary financial means — aren’t in export production but in real estate and finance.
The inarguable benefit of RCEP is that it will push to the background — as the Chinese have always insisted we should do — the territorial and maritime disputes in the South China Sea among China, the Philippines, Vietnam and Malaysia. With a “Sino-centric” RCEP, Japan and South Korea — which have US military bases having been American puppets for most of the post-war era — would use their geopolitical, and even economic clout, to rein in American belligerence towards China.
Referring to its territorial disputes with Japan, China’s revered leader Deng Xiaoping long exhorted both his country’s and Japanese leaders to put aside such quarrels for future generations to resolve as they may be smarter. RCEP is such a smart idea. Who would want the world’s biggest economic bloc to be buffeted by conflicts that could lead to war, which squabbles can simply be shelved for resolution in the far future. Indeed, France and Germany had been warring for centuries until the European Union was created.
Indeed, the US was audacious in encircling Russia (which provoked it to invade Ukraine) as except for its gas and oil, it had little trading clout in Europe. China is definitely not Russia it could demonize now, as the Asian superpower will be the hub of an Asian mega trade bloc.
We have claims in the South China Sea, and so does China, Vietnam and Malaysia. We should just recognize those differences exist and stop rattling our rusty swords and shouting to the world that “ours is ours,” and focus on how we can take advantage of the newest and biggest free trade market in the world.
RCEP will be a geopolitical game changer in Asia, just as economic blocs have been game changers in world history. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. should be praised for resisting US efforts to dissuade us from joining it


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Blue Frog Mobile scores
Seattle ringtone provider pulls in $16 million
Blue Frog Mobile, of Seattle, which sells ringtones, games and graphics for mobile phones, plans to announce $16 million in a first round of venture capital financing today.
The money, provided by Canaan Partners and MK Capital, will be used to grab a larger share of the fast-growing wireless entertainment market -- a market that the ARC Group estimates could surpass $27 billion in global revenue in the next three years.
"It is a very competitive market and we are competitive people," said Blue Frog Mobile Chief Executive Ron Erickson. "We want to win."
Currently, Blue Frog sells its content through five Web sites that target specific demographic groups -- LemonKiss.com, MackTones.com, Ringtopia.com, EdgeTones.com and PrideBeat.com.
Visitors to the MackTones.com hip-hop Web site, for example, are able to buy ringtones from Jay-Z or 50 Cent for $2.99. The Lemon Kiss site, which markets its content in magazines such as CosmoGirl! and Teen People, allows teenagers to download mobile phone graphics with sayings such as "I love Ashton" or "Girl Power."
"We have chosen to go to the market with a much more focused offering, targeted to very specific demographics," Erickson said.
He contrasts that with competitors such as Jamster, which he said is much more broad-based in its advertising. He declined to disclose revenue, downloads or whether the company has turned a profit.
Blue Frog also drives revenue by sending wireless subscribers daily prayers, horoscopes or jokes for a $2.99 weekly subscription. The company also allows mobile phone users to create their own ringtones and download the voices of celebrities such as Mr. T, who makes statements such as "I pity the fool who doesn't answer their phone" or "Pick it up, sucka" every time the phone rings.
Staying on top of trends -- especially among the young -- is a challenge, Erickson admitted. But the veteran technology entrepreneur, who previously led eCharge, Egghead Software and GlobalTel Resources, said they plan to invest in compelling content that attracts a wide array of consumers.
"When you are in the mobile media and entertainment business, you are always making sure your content is fresh, new, current and -- if you will -- hip," Erickson said. "It has to be appealing to the audience and so that is an ongoing process. You have to pay attention to what your audience wants."
While the market for wireless content is growing fast, Blue Frog faces plenty of competition. In the Seattle area alone, companies such as InfoSpace, Mforma, RealNetworks, Reaxion, Metaplay and Mobliss are attacking the market.
Unlike some of those companies, Blue Frog does not distribute its ringtones, games or graphics directly on mobile phones. That means people must seek out the company's content on the specialized Web sites, rather than simply browsing the ringtones or games directly on the phone. Erickson said that is not a disadvantage.
"Think about having your phone in your hand and scrolling through that offering on your screen as opposed to looking at a full page ad in CosmoGirl! You got a whole bunch of things right there you can choose from, so you can see it, put in a product code, send it to a short code and immediately get it on your phone," he said. "It is pretty straightforward."
In the United Kingdom, he said, only 30 percent of the downloadable content is distributed directly on phones.
Blue Frog employs about 75 people, 25 in the Seattle area. It also maintains a development center in the Philippines. As a result of the investment, Maha Ibrahim of Canaan Partners and Neil Cox of MK Capital will join the board. Erickson said the company entertained multiple offers from venture capital firms.


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Illovo prospects rosy as output rises
Johannesburg - Illovo Sugar [JSE:ILV] posted a 30% rise in first-half earnings on Thursday as output rose, and said it expects solid results ahead.
Illovo, a unit of Associated British Foods, said diluted headline earnings per share for the six months to end-September totalled 82 cents, compared with 62.9c a year earlier.
The firm - Africa's biggest sugar producer with operations in South Africa, Malawi, Zambia, Swaziland, Tanzania and Mozambique - said revenue rose 25% to R5.7bn.
Illovo said full-year sugar output was likely to increase by as much as 15% from the previous season. The company produced 1.526 million tonnes of sugar last year.
"This increase will be driven by an increase in South Africa, where a return to more normal growing conditions will likely produce an increase in cane crushed," it said in a statement.
The company also said a recovery in sales in South Africa and Tanzania is expected in the second half of the year.
Illovo shares have gained 25% so far this year, compared with a 16% rise in the broader All Share [JSE:J203] index.


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Enviro Technology Services Plc has launched a nationwide competition to find the best photos on the theme of ‘Air pollution’.
The company is a world class supplier and leading UK exporter of air pollution monitoring systems. The photos will be showcased on their website and used in their marketing materials which are distributed throughout the world.
The competition has two categories- the under 16’s and over 16’s and the winners in each category will walk away with Apple iPad (Over 16’s) or iPod Touch (Under 16’s).
Duncan Mounsor, Sales and Marketing Director at Enviro Technology, said: “People appreciate that air pollution has a negative impact on human health” and that certain gases contribute toward global warming. We have launched this competition to find inspirational photos that really demonstrate the topic of air pollution and what it means to individuals. We hope that the entries demonstrate the diversity of the topic and we will be proud to showcase the winning entries nationally and internally.”
More information about the competition can be found on the company’s website under the competition’s page http://www.et.co.uk/competitions/air-pollution-photos.


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Australian division of Lexus gives us the best indication yet of how much the electric RZ450e model will cost when it is released in May
Lexus will release its new RZ450e fully-electric midsize SUV in Australia in May 2023, but it is still working on locking in final pricing and specifications for the model with its Japan headquarters.
Lexus Australia chief executive John Pappas was able to give Chasing Cars readers some guidance about where the price of the electric RZ model will probably fall when the car is released in three months time – at least in relation to the new-gen RX hybrid SUV model.
“We haven’t gone out yet to position that car,” Pappas said. “But I would expect it to be between the RX500h and the RX350h hybrid – in there.
“I make it clear that is not confirmed. We haven’t confirmed where it sits. BUt that is where we should probably expect [RZ pricing] to go.”
Pappas referred to the two hybrid engines of the new-generation Lexus RX large SUV that launched in Australia this week.
The RX500h is the flagship turbo-hybrid model of the new RX range and it is priced at $126,000 before on-road costs in Australia.
At the lower end, the RX350h is a traditional non-turbo petrol-electric hybrid priced between $87,500 and $115,800 before on-road costs.
As a result, we’d hazard a guess that the RZ450e will lob around the $110,000 list price level when it reaches Australian shores in May.
Late in 2022, we reviewed a prototype version of the RZ450e at a private test track and found its handling likeable.
A further complication is that Lexus might choose to offer the RZ in two or three trim grades with different price points. A two-grade strategy might see the vehicle priced at, perhaps, $99,900 and $109,900.
What is known is that the RZ will launch with just one powertrain in Australia, as it has globally. Known as the RZ450e, the first version of the RZ has dual-motor AWD and produces 230kW of power.
Range is pegged at about 400km on the fairly accurate WLTP standard that is used in Europe. Chasing Cars will conduct its own independent highway range and charging test once the Genesis GV60 and BMW iX3 rival is released in Australia in May 2023.
Car news today: Porsche calling time on ICE Macan and 718 production, Mazda CX-80 SUV teased, and more – 12 April 2024
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About Chasing cars
Chasing Cars reviews are 100% independent.
Because we are powered by Budget Direct Insurance, we don’t receive advertising or sales revenue from car manufacturers.
We’re truly independent – giving you Australia’s best car reviews.
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Lexus GX specifications revealed for Australia! Toyota Prado sibling reported to have 3.5-tonne towing, three-grade lineup


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Inside this year's Golden Globes swag bags! From designer purses to a fancy facial, FEMAIL reveals the $600 worth of goodies celebrity attendees were treated to at the 2018 awards
- Each year, A-listers at the Golden Globes go home with a swag bag given to them at the end of the glamorous night
- During the 75th Golden Globe Awards last night at the Beverly Hilton in Los Angeles, the celebs in attendance received approximately $600 worth of gifts
- This year's prices are in the same range as the 2017 edition, but their value is way below the extravagant 2016 gift bags that reached $1,000
- Last night, the women in attendance walked home with a $328 Kate Spade tote and cosmetics including a $10.99 L'Oreal mascara and a $78 Murad moisturizer
- The men, meanwhile, received a $225 carry-on suitcase by the trendy label Away, as well as various items including a $20 travel adapter
A-listers at the Golden Globes never leave empty-handed, and this year, they found eclectic items including a trendy suitcase, socks, a 'red carpet facial in a box' and even a travel adapter in their swag bags.
The bags, which differ based on the gender of the recipient, contained about $600 worth of gifts. This year's value is in keeping with last year's price tag, but is a stark departure from the extravagant 2016 Golden Globes gift bags, which reached $1,000.
Among the offerings at the 75th Golden Globe Awards, which took place last night at the Beverly Hilton in Los Angeles was a Kate Spade studded leather tote with a price tag of $328—the priciest item of the evening.
Pricey gift: The most expensive item included in last night's swag bags at the Golden Globes is this Kate Spade leather tote, which comes with a $328 price tag
Travel: Men and women receive different items during the star-studded evening; last night, male guests took home this $225 Away suitcase
The women's goodie bags also included their fair share of cosmetics, according to the list published by People.
In the skin care department, stars received a $25 cleansing stick by Caolion, which acts as a make-up remover and as a face wash.
On a similar note, they took home a $78 moisturizer by Murad and a 'red carpet facial in a box' kit, which seemed especially on theme as awards season comes in full swing.
The trio of products, which includes a facial peel and a polishing mask, is sold at $105 by Olga Lorencin.
In addition, guests were treated to a $10 set of deep conditioning eye masks from Karuna, a $28 lipstick by Kosas, and a L'Oréal Paris Voluminous X Fiber Mascara, which retails for $10.99.
Eclectic: Men's gift bags also included a $19.99 travel adapter by Conair and $11.50 socks by Sock It To Me
Timely: Female guests took home a $105 'red carpet facial in a box' kit by Olga Lorencin, which seemed especially on theme as awards season comes in full swing
Cosmetics: Celebrities were also treated to a $78 moisturizer by Murad and a $10.99 mascara courtesy of L'Oréal Paris
The swag bags also delivered in the hair department with a $28 treatment by Olaplex.
In the swag bags offered to male attendees, the most expensive item was an Away carry-on suitcase.
The trendy direct-to-consumer brand, which has become a strong presence on Instagram bolstered by its 176,000 followers, sells the item for $225.
Gifts ranged from the swanky to the most elementary, and included a $19.99 Conair travel adapter, probably most helpful for on-the-go stars with demanding filming schedules.
Also in the convenient gift category, men received a $37 tumbler by RYU, a $12.99 fuzz remover by Gleener, a $54 packing set by Lug, and $11.50 socks by Sock It To Me.
Swag bag: Male attendees received an Egyptian Magic skin cream, which retails at $39 per four-ounce jar, and a $37 tumbler by RYU
Pampered: Men also received hair products, in the shape of a $4.99 L'Oréal Paris shampoo and the assorted $4.99 conditioner
Those looking to give their facial hair more structure must have been thrilled to find a $24.99 Conair trimmer in their swag bag, next to an Egyptian Magic skin cream that retails for $39 per four-ounce jar.
Skincare was a robust category, since the bags also contained a $32.50 sunscreen by EltaMD, a $25 moisturizer by Ernest Supplies, a $20 cleanser by H2O+ Beauty, and an $18 face scrub by Scotch Porter.
Men also received hair products, in the shape of a $4.99 L'Oréal Paris shampoo and the assorted $4.99 conditioner.
They took home a $16.99 aluminum-free deodorant and a $40 personalized flash, which according to People's photo of the items was engraved with the words: 'Awards show survival kit.'
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Lunchtime crowd split between the young and the health conscious
Monday 26 September 2011
Food court lunch hours can be split between two demographics: the younger diner scanning menus looking to stretch out their dollar as much as they can, and the older generation performing mental nutritional calculations while waiting in the soup and salad line.
At least, that's the assessment of food market research group Technomic, which last week released its "Lunch Consumer Trend Report" looking at how US consumers spend their lunch hour.
According to the report, there is a generational divide when it comes to defining the term ‘value.' For Millennials - those aged 18-34 - value is primarily considered to be how much bang they can get for their sometimes elusive buck. But for adults over 45, food quality and healthy alternatives are what determine value for money, analysts said.
"The most health-conscious consumers skew 45 and older, so their value equation is different than that of a younger person who sees value primarily as a price issue," said Technomic's Sara Monnette in a statement. "Older consumers are less likely to perceive value in dollar menu items because of the broader context of their motivations."
Millennials also eat out for lunch more than the older generation.
The report was based on the survey responses of 1,500 consumers.
Analysts found that about a third of consumers polled said they eat out for lunch at least twice a week, while more than half admitted to skipping lunch at least once a week - a good opportunity for fast food outlets to offer smaller-portioned, healthier options, the report reads.
The lunchtime crowd also turns out to be a faithful one, analysts found, as nearly half of respondents polled said they visit the same establishments over and over again.
Meanwhile, another food survey released last week by daily online deal site LivingSocial also found that when it comes to dining out, lunch is the most important meal of the day, with more people dining out at this time than for any other meal.
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Bass Pro a no go in Washington County?
It’s the white whale of big box stores that disappeared from Washington County years ago without ever really saying good-bye.
While Bass Pro Shops never opened a store near Tanger Outlets and the Meadows Racetrack & Casino, that doesn’t mean a Pittsburgh-based development professional isn’t working to lure a store that can serve as a major tourist attraction.
Mark Dellana, a former president of NAOIP in Pittsburgh and formerly the longtime point man for the Soffer Organization at the SouthSide Works, now works as the executive director of development for Genesis Partners. It's is working on a 1,700-acre project in Bridgeport, W.Va., less than hour south of Morgantown down Interstate 79. Still living in Mount Lebanon, Dellana said his project has been courting Bass Pro for five years now.
“This is right in the sweet spot for their clientele,” said Dellana. “Hunting, boating, fishing...no place says that more than West Virginia.”
Dellana and his team have been working with Bass Pro without any definitive word yet.
But Dellana also said the company has indicated to him a shift in strategy in which Bass Pro could set up in West Virginia instead of Washington County and then consider establishing a Bass Pro Shops north of Pittsburgh closer to Interstate 80.
He expects the possibility of Bass Pro going to Bridgeport is still alive, thanks in part to a state sales tax Tax Increment Financing program that will help provide subsidy for such a store.
“I’d like to have them in the project,” he said.
A big-ticket subsidy -- local politicians told me years ago that former governor Ed Rendell was working on a package of $25 million to bring the retailer to Washington County -- remains very much a requirement to lure Bass Pro, whose stores can be bigger than a Walmart and come with such elaborate features as man-made lakes and wildlife museums on site.
Tim Schooley covers retail, real estate, construction, hospitality, arts and entertainment, and government. Contact him at firstname.lastname@example.org or 412-208-3826.
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How a 'beer lunch' turns into a business – the Geist story
From importing beer to setting shop in Bengaluru, Geist is one of India’s oldest breweries.
It was the Summer of 93. Friends and colleagues at Intel, Narayan and Jeff stepped out in Portland, US, to enjoy the sunshine and grab a bite. Not rocket science then, that Narayan got among his first beer lessons that day.
“This was Portland, called the ‘Mecca of Microbrewery’ in the US. It is from here that the microbrewery culture moved into different parts of the US. Everyone around was passionate about beer, and I was the only one who didn’t know about it,” says Narayan Manepally.
One could say it was that sunny afternoon when Geist’s journey started.
Back in Bengaluru, what was once Chumbak’s old warehouse is now Geist’s brewery. “This was a depleted old shed. But I saw the old banyan tree and fell in love with the place,” says Narayan.
It took $2 million from personal savings and a seed investment to set up the brewery, and get the equipment. Most of Geist’s brewing equipment is made in India, and the company brews beer that is served at various restaurants and pubs in Bengaluru. It also has a microbrewery in Brewsky, an upmarket restaurant and pub in the garden city.
While at his ‘beer lunch’ with Jeff, Narayan learnt not just to appreciate the beverage, but many nuances of brewing it as well from Kevin, the owner of Portland’s Main Street Home Brew. A PhD in microbiology, Kevin had left a well-paying job to brew beer.
A $65 lunch and a lesson in chemistry later, Narayan and Jeff walked out with buckets and pipes – the bare necessities to make beer.
Back home, they brewed their very first batch of California Ale, and offered it to some friends a few days later. “To be safe, I had bought various craft beers!” says Narayan.
To this day, it stumps Narayan that their California Ale was near perfect. “The colour of the beer was perfect golden, the foam was great, and the beer tasted just as it should. Needless to say, the store-purchased beer was untouched.”
Loving his new-found hobby, Narayan wanted it to be way more and felt Indian audiences needed great-tasting beer.
Brewing in India
Back in India in 2003, Narayan met Paul Chowdhary. Paul had worked for companies like Motorola, Solectron and VA Linux, and had already spent a year back in India.
Bonding over beer at a school reunion, they decided to go into business together and brewed their first beer in Narayan’s parents’ basement.
Their first outing together was a wheat beer. They also roped in as a consultant Christian Myer, who had inherited his father’s beer company in Germany. They started with the basic equipment that Narayan had got back from the US. “Our true focus in the process and improving our recipes was brought in by Christian,” says Narayan.
The team would try new recipes on their friends. In 2006, Geist was incorporated and made 300-400 batches of beer over six to seven months. “We tried to source raw materials from wherever we could, and tried different things,” says Narayan.
The laws and regulations
The law, at that time, was not on their side and didn’t allow setting up of microbreweries. “Nothing is easy when it comes to alcohol,” he says.
Narayan and Paul then tried setting up a beer bottling plant, which again met with a dead end. In hindsight, Narayan says that was a good thing as Geist was in its early stages and the two founders had not really thought it out.
The next option was to take the recipes abroad, get them made there, and import to India. They chose Belgium as the licenses were easier to come by, the people understood their beer.
Geist’s first beers were wheat based - Whistling Wheat, The Dark and The Blonde. It also imported two other beers from the manufacturer.
“Even though the beer was expensive, the team was able to source to 140 outlets across Bengaluru,” says Narayan. Initially, the beer was sold at Rs 199 per pint.
While Geist didn’t make any money during this time, the founders learnt about distribution, setting up excise-bonded warehouses, transportation and logistics, packaging, and other government complexities.
Change in direction
The dollar exchange rate played spoilsport in 2013, and Geist had to stop manufacturing in Belgium. For instance, by the time a bottle of beer landed in India, its cost price was Rs 245, and with no takers at that price point, losses were a given.
Around the same time, other things were changing too. The country’s first microbrewery was set up in Gurugram.
When the The Biere Club opened in Bengaluru in 2013, Geist made their beer in an inhouse microbrewery. It followed the same model with The Big Brewsky and Brewsky.
As other pubs came on board, Geist set up its own brewery, and supplies draft beer to Bootlegger, Hangover, and Tipsy Bull in Bengaluru, among other restaurants and pubs.
Geist charges an establishment Rs 270 per litre, which works out to Rs 90 for a pint. The team’s latest addition to its repertoire is an India Pale Ale, which is priced at Rs 300 per litre.
The new shift
In August 2017, the team started its sales of draft beer. “The brewery business is the only scalable business model you can look at. Brew pubs cannot be one or two, and they are operationally intensive. The better option would be to get into draft and bottle beer business,” says Geist COO Mohan Alapatt.
The founders had sought licenses in various states but settled on Bengaluru. Every day, a company truck supplies beer to its clients and picks up empty kegs.
Currently, the Geist team is 20 people strong. “We built a brewing ERP science. If you look at ERP, it keeps track of production, inventory, finances, purchasing, invoicing. For us, everything starts with the recipe,” says Narayan.
The team is focusing on its brewery, and is also looking to set up the bottling facility.
Globally, the beer market is at $111.4 billion, of that craft beer is pegged at $26 billion. In India Craft beer is relatively new. An All India Breweries Association report suggests the market is growing at 20 percent per annum. While there are several microbreweries in the country, packaged craft beer is not yet a large segment in India. Geist counts Bira as its significant competition.
Geist has raised an undisclosed funding from high net worth individuals, which helped set up the brewery. According to the company’s RoC data, Geist’s revenue in FY 2017, was $15.7 million and claims to be growing at close to 10 percent month-on-month.
“The idea still, as when we stated, is to ensure that we get the customer a choice of beer that is tasty and fresh,” concludes Narayan.