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Technology and innovation is paving the way for a payments revolution, changing the way banking services function
A new world of payments is rapidly unfolding, one that is instantaneous, digital and most importantly, driven by data. The convergence of technologies, increased regulatory requirements, and a fast growing digital payments ecosystem are driving the innovation behind a rapid rise in new ways to pay, and shifting payments to a more strategic weapon for creating new commercial opportunities and transforming customer propositions.
With one in four of all UK payment transactions processed by NatWest, the bank sits at the heart of both business and personal customer transactions. “For many, payments are viewed as the natural end of a process; but the payments revolution created a seismic shift, moving payments to the epicentre of the digital transformation, impacting the economy, society and the lives of individuals,” says Simon Eacott, head of payments NatWest.
“Payments is the most exciting and rapidly evolving part of the finance world; the prime interface between us and our customers enabling us to provide the smart, simple, and secure payments they need, and which is a crucial element of our differentiation.”
As cash payments continue to decline, alternative payments methods continue their meteoric rise in popularity, accelerated by the pandemic. Change is also being driven by industry regulation. The renewal of the UK’s central payments infrastructure as well as the Payment Services Directive Two (PSD2), and open banking, aim to increase competition and innovation, while also improving safety and resilience. “Identifying the opportunities and creating the benefits, while implementing the regulatory requirements is central to the NatWest strategy,” says Eacott.
Focus on customer need, not payment need
Since the Faster Payments Service first emerged in the UK over a decade ago, it has been on an upward trajectory, revolutionising payments. However, it’s what is built on the back of the payment and embedded into the customer journey, the things people do on a day-to-day basis, such as buying a coffee through their app, with a focus on customer need, rather than payment need, that matters.
Embedded finance, the integration of financial services traditionally obtained from a bank within the products or services of a non-financial organisation, has the flexibility and universality to be applied to any company or industry with a transactional element. Examples include online stores offering short-term loans in the form of buy now pay later (BNPL), and digital wallets on smartphones that enable instant contactless payments.
Digital innovation has created opportunities to build more capability into the payment stream, creating a frictionless journey for the customer and fresh revenue streams for businesses. Eacott adds: “Our focus is on unlocking the power of payments to create value for every customer.”
With this level of integration in the world of payments and banking, APIs are driving a digital economy that drives efficiencies and lowers costs. But this is just the beginning, says Dan Globerson, head of bank of APIs at NatWest: “The use of API technology to connect systems opens up capability for non-financial services companies to offer financial services; banking as a service (BaaS) enabling them to lend, for example, through their channels via our technology. Companies now can provide a payment service, a lending service, or a credit service from a bank, but through their customer user interface.”
He adds: “We embed the whole payment, the whole banking experience, within a different company’s offering. And by embedding a contract as part of that payment between both parties it introduces trust. We use payments as an agent of change; a catalyst to increase value, drive innovation, foster inclusion, and build confidence in the future of money.”
For businesses, embedded finance opens up new channels and creates huge opportunities for growth, for example, by helping them get more products to market, drive sales, meet growing consumer expectations, and attract and retain customers.
Data-driven global payments in real time
Digital innovation is also transforming cross-border payments, with advances in instant or real-time payments allowing people to receive funds from overseas much faster, aided by schemes and mechanisms for cross-border connectivity and interoperability. Advanced payment technology provides access to richer payments data, the key to identifying new growth opportunities and becoming a real-world vehicle to drive positive change, not only within cross border payments but also cross-border partnerships.
Digital currencies also have a role in the future of payments. Three notable categories include central bank digital currencies (CBDC), being explored globally as an alternative way of exchanging and settling transactions in central bank money. Stablecoins are not central bank money but are linked to or backed by some asset and payment can be made on the back of it, while cryptocurrencies, such as bitcoin, are more speculative in nature, with values being subject to volatility. Nevertheless, bitcoin is increasingly being accepted as a payment method in its own right, although far from universally.
Frictionless and secure
Customers want great user experience and frictionless payments but they also seek peace of mind, especially at a time when online payment scams, in particular authorised push payments, where individuals and businesses are unwittingly duped into sending money to criminals, are rising.
“The importance of trust in the payments arena cannot be underestimated,” says Jessica Richards, head of market development, payments, NatWest. “Our goal is to implement the right technologies to protect our customers from fraud, while delivering a fast and efficient payment journey. It’s vital that we collaborate with the industry and regulators to maintain focus on this critical issue.”
A good example is Confirmation of Payee (CoP), a new name-checking service for UK-based payments, which strengthens payment security by allowing people to verify who they are sending payments to in real-time. “During the pandemic, NatWest was able to use this service to help government get payments out to people who needed them most,” adds Richards.
Protection from fraud, as well as financial crime, which has been in the global spotlight recently, can only be addressed through collective and collaborative effort, and at both the industry level and individual bank level, a huge amount of investment and innovation is being channelled into it. The challenge, says Globerson, is finding the balance between frictionless and secure. “While customer experience needs to be seamless, creating that balance between frictionless customer experience and appropriate checks and balances along the way is the key to fighting financial crime,” he says.
Looking to the future
What does the payments revolution mean for traditional ways of making payments, including direct debits (DD) and cash? With the advent of open banking, alternatives to DD are already making inroads. Request to Pay is a new initiative that gives customers greater control over when and how they pay, while variable recurring payments (VRP), allow customers to safely connect authorised payment initiation service providers (PISPs) to their bank account to make regular payments on their behalf.
Eacott says: “We know there are challenges with some of these changes, and as a responsible finance provider our role is to ensure that all individuals and businesses have effective access to payments and that we don’t leave anyone behind. The industry still needs to provide access to cash for those who want and need it.”
In an increasingly complex networked payments ecosystem, where cost and infrastructure barriers to market entry are lower and competition is rising, Eacott emphasises the benefits of collaboration within the industry. He says: “Whilst competition is important to drive innovation, banks and other financial services organisations must work together to accelerate the evolution in payments in a purposeful way and ensure success for the long term.”
NatWest specialists predict the five key trends in payments
1. The true value of payments data
The opportunity for better, richer payments data is the single most important point of value to banks and others along the payment chain. By unlocking the true value of payment activity data, banks can develop more personalised products in a more secure environment. And in the fight against financial crime and fraud, predictive analytics becomes a powerful tool for staying ahead of potential threats, reducing risks, and ensuring compliance.
2. Tradition being eclipsed by digital
Cash payments have been in decline for several years. In 2021, the proportion of UK payments made using cash fell to 15%. Direct debit, a long-established method of paying regular bills appears to be plateauing. While the volume of direct debit payments grew in 2021, with 4.6bn payments made, it was at a slower rate, according to the UK Finance report 2022. With global smartphone ownership predicted to continue to grow over the next five years, any significant return to traditional payment methods is unlikely.
3. Digital developments drive the payments revolution
The payments-as-a-service (PaaS) and banking-as-a-service (BaaS) model is gaining traction due to cost-effectiveness and is a fast-moving trend for banks and financial institutions looking to accelerate digital innovation, stay relevant, and avoid losing new and existing customers. Embedded finance is one of the most exciting digital developments in the evolution of payments. With consumers demanding fast and frictionless ways to make payments from a variety of devices, from wallets to wearables, embedded payment options can open up new revenue channels for non-financial organisations.
4. A catalyst for overseas trade for the startup economy
In the payments and movement of money space, it’s no longer just large corporations that can get involved with instant payments. Faster payments, not just in the UK but across international borders, can be integrated at near zero cost by startups and small businesses, allowing them to not only drive down the cost of transactions between them and their suppliers, workers, and customers but also take advantage of newer digital tools, embedded lending, embedded payroll and embedded accounts payable.
5. Purposeful payments
Sustainability is at the top of all agendas, including finance. Digital transactions have the potential to drive real choice, providing sustainable payment alternatives and support the transition to a net-zero economy. By 2030, of the projects that NatWest helps fund, it aims to at least halve the impact on the climate.
Financial inclusion is a hugely important topic, particularly against the current backdrop of rising inflation and the cost of living. A big part of the payments evolution is about widening the function of payments to broader sections of society. Richards says: “It’s about making sure that our entire customer base have access to the payment capability that works for them.”
For more, please visit natwest.com/corporates
Promoted by NatWest


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and have had no impact on the rate of underage drinking," says Mark Sorini of the Flavored Malt Beverages
Coalition, an advocacy group sponsored by the alcohol industry.
Sparks, the flavored malt beverage
Miller Brewing acquired from McKenzie River in 2006, is bucking that segment's declining trend.
beer market, the overall category saw declines in almost every segment: Premium beer dropped 7.4%, popular brands slowed by 6.8%, flavored malt beverages
slipped 3.4%, ice beers lost 0.7% of sales and malt liquor declined 5.9%.
WASHINGTON, DC -- After considering more than 16,000 comments filed by the public in relation to creating guidelines for the production of flavored malt beverages
(FMBs), the Alcohol & Tobacco Tax & Trade Bureau (TTB) of the U.S.
Freeman said Phusion has developed resealable containers for some of its flavored malt beverage
products, including its 23.5-oz.
US Beverage company, which also markets Seagram's Coolers, recently debuted Seagram's Smooth flavored malt beverage
in two flavors -- citrus and red, a berry flavored version -- claiming to have less sweetness and lighter carbonation than the leading RTDs.
The new Michelob Ultra Light offering is of this ilk, a light-bodied tea and lemonade flavored malt beverage
. While many superlight/malternative drinks from the Big Two have a weirdly heightened sweetness, intended to satisfy the millennial palate, this one doesn't.
"The flavored malt beverage
segment is driven by news," notes Laura Emory, brand manager, Skyy Sport at Miller.
For consumers looking for an alternative to beer, there are a number of new offerings in the flavored malt beverage
The line extension will help the company maintain its lead in the flavored malt beverage
market, the company said, by providing consumers with more choice and variety.
Adding a new "twist" to the flavored malt beverage
segment, Twisted V is the first line of fruit flavored malt beverages
of its kind in the U.S.
Coca-Cola and Danone said they would honor all existing contracts with bottlers not affiliated to the Coke network, which currently distribute the brand Finally, look for another ready-to-drink malt beverage to enter the market with a big brand bang: Miller Brewing will be soon introducing a Jack Daniel's flavored malt beverage
to its customers.

domain: news


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Awards and recognition NCR and its people have received from publications and organizations around the world.
NCR Corporation was recognized as a 2018 Top 100 Global Technology Leader by Thomson Reuters. The inaugural program identifies the tech industry’s most operationally sound and financially successful organizations. The study, the industry’s first holistic assessment of today’s leading tech companies, utilizes a 28-point data-driven algorithm to objectively identify organizations with the fortitude for the future in today’s complex business environment.
NCR won a total of four awards for the following designs: NCR 80 Series Demo, NCR SelfServ 84 Walk-up - Exterior Through the Wall Multi-Function ATM, NCR SelfServ 88 - Freestanding Drive-Up Island Multi-Function ATM, & NCR Fastlane SelfServ – Latest Generation of NCR Self-Checkout Solutions. In 2017, the award program received submissions from several thousand of the world’s leading manufacturers and industrial and graphic design firms representing the most important and critical mass of influential corporations in the design industry from over 55 countries. This year marked the most significant year for GOOD DESIGN™ with foremost design firms comprising critical mass from FORTUNE 500 companies participating.
In its third annual Mobile Banking App Study, MagnifyMoney compiled the ratings mobile banking apps from over 100 of the biggest banks and credit unions in the US. Of the 10 highest ranked apps, 8 of them used NCR’s Digital Banking solution, cited for its simplicity and reliability by end users.
2016 - The WorldatWork Work-Life Seal of Distinction recognizes employers who demonstrate leadership in creating a culture that supports employees at work and at home
After a comprehensive evaluation process that consisted of an employer survey as well as a Talent Board survey of each employer’s 2014 employment candidates, NCR stood out from among 130,000 employers.
July 2015 - NCR has been named among America’s most reputable companies in the technology industry, according to the new list released by Reputation Institute. NCR ranked #7 overall on the 2015 list of America’s top 25 most reputable technology companies, ahead of some of the most recognizable brands in the world.
June 2015 - NCR continues to lead the world in self-checkout (SCO) technology, shipping more units in 2014 than all other vendors combined for the 5th consecutive year according to research published by strategic research and consulting firm RBR.
May 2015 - NCR has been named by Forbes magazine as one of America’s best employers for 2015. This is the first time that Forbes has published a Top Employer list and NCR was among the select group of technology companies recognized.
April 2015 - Members of the NCR senior leadership team recently met with professors from Harvard Business School to discuss the transformation of NCR. The professors were interested in writing a Harvard Business School Case Study on the steps we have taken to reinvent NCR over the past ten years.
December 2014 - NCR announced its subsidiary, Cornell-Mayo, once again ranked first in more categories than any of its competitors in RIS News’ annual Software Leaderboard. This yearly ranking is considered the industry’s most influential guide to the top retail technology software companies.
October 2014 - As the global leader in consumer transaction technologies, it only seems fitting that NCR Corporation (NYSE: NCR) was recently honored with four awards for employee learning programs that span the world from Atlanta, Georgia, to Mumbai, India.
September 2014 - NCR SilverTM, an advanced tablet point-of-sale system (POS) for small businesses, received a Bronze Stevie Award for “Best Business-to-Business Product” of the year during the 12th Annual American Business Awards Sept. 12, 2014.
August 2014 - First National Bank and NCR won the award for “Best ATM and Kiosk Project in Africa”, at The Asian Banker’s Middle East and Africa Country 2014 Award ceremony. FNB was the only bank in Africa to win an award in this category and was joined at the ceremony by Bytes Managed Solutions, which represents NCR exclusively in Southern Africa.
June 2014 - NCR is once again the world leader in self-checkout (SCO) technology according to strategic research and consulting firm, RBR. The “Global EPOS and Self-Checkout 2014” indicates 2013 was another record year for SCO with shipments. According to RBR, NCR is the leader in SCO shipments with a total of 71 percent share, more than double the number of SCO shipments for all other competitors combined.
June 2014 - NCR has been honored by IDG’s CIO magazine as a recipient of the 2014 CIO 100. This prestigious award recognizes top companies from around the world that use information technology (IT) in innovative ways to deliver business value. NCR was chosen for its creative use of big data analytics to optimize the company’s solutions portfolio.
May 2014 - Digital Insight, an NCR company, has been awarded a 2014 Confirmit ACE (Achievement in Customer Excellence) Award. A nine-time award winner, Digital Insight was recognized for its long-term commitment to overall customer satisfaction. Receiving a Confirmit ACE Award is a distinct honor that demonstrates the recipient’s rigorous application of customer experience processes and its outstanding performance as measured by those processes.
May 2014 - NCR was recognized for its “Leading for Success” global leadership development program as part of the 2014 Leadership 500 Excellence Awards. HR.com and Leadership Excellence unveiled award recipients at the Global Leadership Excellence Forum. A commitment to investing in training and development for leaders and employees is a key tenet in NCR’s transformation into a hardware-enabled, software-driven business.
NCR Chairman and CEO Bill Nuti honored with Atlantic Legal Foundation's annual award
April 2014 - Bill Nuti was honored with the Atlantic Legal Foundation's Annual Award for 2014 in recognition of his “strategic vision, integrity and demonstrated leadership in bringing innovation to the global marketplace.” Each year, since 1988, the Atlantic Legal Foundation has honored a person who exemplifies the ideals and principles of public service and private enterprise.
Technology Association of Georgia recognizes NCR as a Top 10 innovative company
April 2014 - NCR had been named as a recipient of the Technology Association of Georgia (TAG) "Top 10" Award, as one of Georgia's 10 most innovative technology companies. TAG is the state's leading association dedicated to the promotion and economic advancement of Georgia's technology industry.
NCR wins global award from Digital Screenmedia Association for interactive wayfinding solution
March 2014 - The Digital Screenmedia Association selected NCR for providing the “Best Travel & Hospitality” application of digital signage for helping millions of passengers at the Dubai International Airport reach their gates, shops, restaurants and more.
NCR reinvention among the most interesting in tech 2013
December 2013 - TMCnet recognizes that reinventing a large established corporation can be as difficult as launching a startup. The publication selected NCR as its top startup of 2013 for understanding that the two drivers of revenue and profits in the technology industry are software and services.
NCR’s Cornell-Mayo Group takes most #1 rankings again in 2013 RIS Software Leaderboard
December 2013 - NCR’s subsidiary, Cornell-Mayo, ranked first in 20 categories and in the top ten for 14 additional categories, more top rankings than any other vendor. The annual RIS News Software Leaderboard is considered the industry’s most influential guide to the top retail technology software companies.
Meet the FinTech Top 10: NCR shifts to software, secures highest ranking everNovember 2013 - NCR secured the #4 spot on the FinTech 100 as a result of growth in software and related services. New software platforms will unlock the full potential for banks as they re-engineer their branches and mobile footprint.
NCR recognized as a top technology innovator on InformationWeek 500
September 2013 - NCR ranked in the top 25 on the 2013 “InformationWeek 500” a list of the top technology innovators in the U.S. This marks the third consecutive year that NCR has been recognized on the InformationWeek 500 and is the global tech company’s best ranking yet at #24.
NCR ranked #1 in retail self-checkout technology and gaining share according to leading consulting firm
June 2013 - NCR is the world’s largest supplier of retail self-checkout (SCO) technology, according to strategic research and consulting firm RBR. The “Global EPOS and Self-Checkout 2013” report shows that 2012 was another record year for SCO shipments, with NCR the leader in SCO shipments with a total of 70 percent share, an increase of 6 percent in 2012.
Hertz wins industry award from Digital Screenmedia Association with NCR technology
June 2013 - Hertz has won the Digital Screenmedia Association’s Industry Excellence Award for “Best Travel Deployment” for the company’s ExpressRent virtual agent kiosks, designed and deployed with NCR, the global leader in consumer transaction technologies.
NCR ranked #1 in multivendor ATM software by leading consulting firm
April 2013 - NCR is the world’s largest supplier of multivendor ATM middleware and applications, according to research published by strategic research and consulting firm RBR. More financial institution ATMs in North America and the Middle East and Africa region rely on NCR’s APTRATM software suite than any other provider.
NCR ranked #1 for retail industry product support in Gartner market share report
April 2013 - NCR was ranked the global market share leader in retail industry product support in 2012 by Gartner, the leading provider of research and analysis on the global information technology industry. The ranking is based on product support revenue.
NCR named a leader in Gartner vendor landscape report
April 2013 - NCR and its Retalix division were named leaders by Gartner in research entitled “CRM Vendor Landscape: Multichannel Customer Analytics is a Critical CRM Capability.” Retalix and NCR placed #1 and #2 respectively in CRM software.
CRM Service Awards “Rising Stars”: NCR Building Next-Era Customer Tech
March 2013 - CRM Magazine recognizes NCR for creating new solutions that enhance the customer service businesses can provide consumers who increasingly expect 24-hour, personalized service. Whether it's from the hardware or software side, NCR is constantly looking for ways to expand and always seems to be in the right spot.


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Get ready for your trip to Virtual Sanrio Puroland! For the first time ever, Sanrio is teaming up with U.S. company VRChat for an entirely virtual music festival, SANRIO Virtual Fes in Sanrio Puroland on December 11 and December 12, 2021. Guests will be able to enjoy the event using a VR Headset, a PC, or a smartphone.
The concert space will feature both live and virtual artists (VTubers), as well as popular Sanrio characters in a massive five-story underground space beneath Virtual Sanrio Puroland. Participants will also be able to transform their avatar into the Sanrio character


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The Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) will launch negotiations with Israel on creating a free trade zone.
The decision was made at a meeting of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council on Friday.
Formed in January 2015, the EAEU boasts a common market comprised of five nations (Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Russia), 176 million people, and a gross domestic product of 2.5 trillion dollars.
Trade between the regions has also been on the rise in the past years.
Since 2007, volume has more than doubled exceeding 20 billion in 2014. The size of the EAEU and its importance in world trade have not gone without notice.
More than 40 countries and international organizations have expressed interest in establishing a free trade zone with the EAEU — China, Indonesia, Thailand and Cambodia included.
The EAEU is the first integration association between countries of the former Soviet Union that is recognized by the global community.


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MRC Global Inc. (NYSE: MRC), Houston, TX, No. 1 on MDM's 2013 list of top industrial pipes, valves and fittings distributors, reported sales for the second quarter of $1.3 billion, a decrease of 11 percent from the second quarter of 2012. Profit increased 13 percent to $43.9 million.
The sales decrease for the quarter was due in part to a planned reduction in the company’s lower-margin oil country tubular goods business. OCTG represented 9 percent of total sales in the second quarter, compared to 14 percent of sales in the second quarter of 2012.
Continued weakness in the company’s line pipe product group within the midstream and upstream sectors also impacted sales. Line pipe sales were $231.1 million for the second quarter, compared to $294.4 million for the same period in 2012.
U.S. sales in the second quarter were $975.2 million and reflected an expected decrease in OCTG revenues of $83 million from the second quarter of 2012. Canadian sales in the second quarter were $153.6 million, down 4 percent from the same quarter in 2012 due primarily to a longer spring break-up in 2013. International sales were $139 million, a decrease of 8 percent from the same period in 2012.
For the first six months, sales for MRC Global were $2.6 billion, an 8.5 percent decrease from the same period a year ago. Profit increased 30.8 percent to $90 million.


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OCEAN ISLE BEACH, NC (WWAY)– Here in the south, we all know humidity can wreak havoc in many, many ways. Our Extraordinary Person of the Week developed a new way keep indoor humidity from creating mold. Set it and forget it! He turned mold into a gold-en idea….
It can get quite hot and humid on this stretch of Highway 17 in Ocean Isle Beach and the sign says so!
It can get kind of steamy in this warehouse…too. Perfect place for a biology expert, right?
“Mom and Dad weren’t too happy when I deviated from my degree in biology,” Brian Smith said. “So it’s kind of neat that full circle I get to use my biology degree and figure out why mold grows in an apartment.”
Mold is making Brian Smith a very popular man in the apartment construction industry.
From builders, to even homeowners from across the country, he has found a way to improve mold’s arch enemy…the dehumidifier.
“This one is going to California, to a single family homeowner,” Brian explained as he spoke of the spawning business.
In his Ocean Isle warehouse are boxes of his Innovative Dehumidifier soon to be shipped out.
“Architects and engineers have caught on as well,” he said. “We presented in Chicago, at the AIA, wich is the national architects show(2014 American Institute of Achitects)”
His new dehumidifier took home top prize this year. The problem with the traditional dehumidifiers, Brian says, is that people in mold prone apartments weren’t using them properly when given to them as the mold remedy. “If it’s noisy, people aren’t going to use it,” he said. “If it’s in the way, people aren’t gonna use it. If they have to continuously drain a tub or pan, they are less likely to use it.”
So, put it in a wall, make it self-sufficient, and make it bring humidity levels down without people knowing it. It is that ‘set it and forget it’ concept that’s now spreading, but unlike mold…it’s a welcome sight.
“One, or 1000, is not an uncommon order for us,” Brian said of the wide range of folks interested in the product.
A new way to deal with an old, mold, problem, Brian? Well…that’s extraordinary!
For more information on Brian’s Innovative Dehumidifier, check out his website.


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Apple has bought yet another startup. The company has reportedly acquired Tueo Health, a small start-up that was working on a system that allows parents to monitor asthma symptoms in their children.
CNBC reports that the company might have acquired the company in late 2018, which is around the same time Tueo Health’s founders change their employer to Apple on LinkedIn.
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It’s not clear how much Apple paid for the acquisition.
Tueo Health’s technology involved a mobile app that worked with commercial breathing sensors to monitor asthma symptoms in sleeping children, and alert parents when needed.
Apple has been increasing its focus on health in recent years, the company added ECG to the latest Apple Watch, for example. On iOS 13, Apple is also introducing a redesigned Health app that allows users to better track their health, including things like menstrual cycles. It’s not clear if Apple will introduce any new features or products that make use of Tueo Health’s technology, or if it will integrate the company’s tech into the Apple Watch in the future.

I suggest one more news

gizmodo.com/class-action-lawsuit-accuses-apple-of-intentionally-and-1835036124

“what happens on your iPhone, stays on your iPhone”


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Published by T3 Expo on December 10, 2018
The International Association of Exhibitions and Event (IAEE) will be celebrating its 90th anniversary in New Orleans, LA this week; and, it wanted to use the anniversary to demonstrate how the organizations is poised for growth. The IAEE was looking for a partner that could bring something new and creative to IAEE and its attendees. It was looking for a new vision for its show design, an inside/out approach and a way to bring together the rich history of the IAEE along with bright future.
IAEE chose T3 Expo as its partner and official contractor because T3 Expo was able to put together a unique one-of-a-kind proposal that outlined all of the elements that IAEE wanted and more.
T3 Expo’s corporate experience applied to IAEE’s new trade show models, design and innovation combined with the company’s creativity stood out to IAEE. T3 Expo also gave IAEE some additional strategic counsel that would allow its new brand to be shared from the inside out and to have it come alive in a unique and fun way for every attendee.
IAEE recently went through creating a new brand—that included a new look and feel — using hexagon shapes of blues and greens. T3 Expo proposed incorporating the new branding into the elements of the show. In addition, T3 Expo will place various sized hexagon shapes on the floor – creating pathways to different stations and exhibitions.
T3 Expo also proposed bringing the vibe of New Orleans into the event by infusing blends of French, Spanish and U.S history- and acknowledging the 300th anniversary of the City (founded in 1718).
The rows of exhibitions will be labeled with famous streets of the City, such as Duval Street, instead of traditional numbers. In addition, T3 Expo will take inspiration from different areas of the city that represent its culture: a Voodoo Lounge; Inspiration Alley, and elements from Crescent Park and the French Market. This will all come to life through different landmarks throughout the show floor as well as strategically placed musicians, street performers, a unique DJ and artists.
For more information about IAEE, give us a call or check out the IAEE site at https://www.iaee.com/


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Bitcons: cryptocurrency investment scams on the rise
Scams involving Bitcoin, Ethereum and similar currencies are the latest ploys criminals are using to get your cash.
Bogus cryptocurrency is the new go-to hook for financial scammers. They use the perplexing nature of blockchain to trick people into making “investments”.
Only, your money doesn’t go towards buying a gleaming digital coin – it’s simply pocketed. Sometimes, the currency doesn’t even exist.
Crypto scams reported to Cert NZ, a cybersecurity government agency, cost New Zealanders $500,000 from March through June. But that’s likely just the tip of the iceberg, because few victims report their losses.
In its latest quarterly report, Cert warns that cryptocurrencies are high risk and highly volatile – investment opportunities offering high, guaranteed returns are likely too good to be true.
While scams come in many forms, those that take hold here often operate within communities, spreading through real-world networks such as churches.
The multibillion-dollar OneCoin pyramid scheme, for example, ran from 2014 to 2019. Victims around the world, including New Zealand, were duped into believing they were making huge profits through a new currency. It turned out, OneCoin was never actually traded and couldn’t be used to buy anything. It was a multi-level marketing scheme, meaning early victims unwittingly helped to fleece their friends and family before realising they were out of pocket.
The Financial Markets Authority (FMA) received 158 complaints about investment scams and fraud in the first half of 2021, up from 88 in the same period in 2020.
FMA investor capability manager Gillian Boyes isn’t surprised criminals have latched on to cryptocurrency.
“Scammers try to align their pitch with whatever is a ‘hot’ investment, so crypto is often used as the bait. Cryptocurrencies aren’t regulated in New Zealand, so if anything goes wrong it can be hard to get your money back,” Boyes said.
“Don’t assume something is safe just because a friend recommends it, or it pops up on social media.”
Netsafe senior marketing and communications manager Angela Boundy said some messages aren’t even from who they appear.
“Netsafe is seeing an increase in the reports of social profiles being hacked or socially engineered and then used to convince the friends, family or followers of that account to invest.”
Boundy said her organisation has seen a spike in cryptocurrency scams.
“We’ve received nearly 400 crypto-related scam reports in the past 12 months, which is a significant increase when compared to the previous year.”
The latest episode of our Consume This podcast focuses on Rachel, a tax accountant from Auckland. She was tricked into losing $100,000 on fake Bitcoin investments via an elaborate romance scam.
“It was a new thing for me. I met this person and he knows about cryptocurrency, it was a good opportunity to learn about it,” Rachel said. “I couldn’t see any way that he was scamming me. My money was in my account, under my name. How could he scam me?”
Listen to Rachel’s story below.
How to avoid scams
- Any investment opportunity received from somebody you don’t know is suspicious. If you do know the person, but the behaviour seems out of character, try contacting the sender via another channel to check.
- Investment offers from people you’ve never been in contact with are unlikely to be genuine. It’s illegal to send an unsolicited marketing email in New Zealand.
- It’s a red flag to be asked to make a transfer through a foreign bank, wire service, or into a bank account with a name you don’t recognise.
- Before handing over any money, ask someone you trust whether the investment sounds above board. Make sure they have no connection to it themselves.
- If you want to invest in cryptocurrency, use a New Zealand-based platform on the Financial Service Providers Register. It won't give you much protection, but it's better than trading with an overseas company.
It’s not just crypto
A text message scam is currently spreading through New Zealand by preying on the fact that we’re shopping online more than ever. The message claims to be from a courier but, if you follow a link in the message, an app is installed to your phone that can steal your information, including passwords.
Named FluBot, this malware then attempts to “infect” your friends by harvesting their phone numbers from your contacts and pulling the same trick.
The FluBot text messages are changing over time to keep people guessing. For example, a recent message suggests you have a voicemail, rather than a parcel.
Never click a link in a text message unless you’re confident of the source.
Have you been the target of a digital scam? Contact me at [email protected] so we can use your story to protect others. You can choose to remain anonymous, and I promise I won’t try to sell you Dogecoin.


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Google is rumored to be releasing three versions of the Pixel 2, and according to the latest reports, the next-generation smartphone could arrive earlier than expected.
Evidence that the Pixel 2 is already in development seemingly appeared when code commits from the Android Open Source Project (AOSP) were uncovered by SlashGear.
According to the publication, the upcoming Pixel 2, Pixel 2 XL, and Pixel XXL have the codenames Walleye, Muskie, and Taimen, respectively. These three names are consistent with Google's tendency to name their upcoming devices after fish. To note, the Pixel and Pixel XL went by Sailfish and Marlin, respectively, while they were in development.
In another set of code commits, Google senior software engineer David Zeuthen is seen talking about a "real device," and later saying, "Finally got around to manually testing this on a walleye device."
It's possible that these physical devices are merely prototypes or that they are bare-bones versions of the final product. Nevertheless, their tangible existence has led many to believe that the smartphones could soon be arriving — if not the entire lineup, then maybe one or two of them.
In terms of technical specifications, not much is known at this time. However, reports suggest that all three models will be powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 processor. The Google Pixel 2 XXL or Taimen is also expected to have a larger display, possibly similar to the Samsung Galaxy S8+'s 6.2-inch screen.
The Pixel 2 smartphones are also likely to be manufactured by HTC, just like the first-generation Pixel and Pixel XL.
There's no specific release date yet for the Pixel 2, but official details could be announced at the Google I/O developer conference scheduled for Wednesday, May 17, to Friday, May 19, at the Shoreline Amphitheatre in Mountain View, California. In the meantime, rumors and speculations regarding the Pixel 2 should be taken with a grain of salt.


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Global players in the CFD and currency trading markets are known for their lavish marketing budgets as they compete in the congested marketplace for retail traders.
Over the last few weeks, two brokers in particular have come to the fore, shouting at the top of their lungs about an uncommon USP. Unlike their peers who glamorise their trading technology, pricing or promotion, UK-based IG & CMC Markets (CMC) are talking about their age!
IG, previously known as IG Markets, is the god-father of CFD trading. The London-head-quartered broker has been a pioneer in the world of financial trading and 2014 was a year to remember. The broker marked it’s Ruby anniversary in November, and it’s not shy about letting people know.
The firm is known as a big spender with annual marketing expenditure topping 50 million US dollars. However, it’s core messaging was overridden by news of its 40th year in the business, a point the broker has taken seriously as it’s marketing reinforced that notion on its website, banner adverts and other marketing materials.
Equally jubilant is CMC Markets, another UK-origin broker that has played a significant role in the country’s margin broking space through its Deal 4 Free solution. For CMC, 2014 marks the firm’s Silver anniversary–25 years in the market. Like rival IG, the history of being in business has replaced its core competences relating to the platform, technology and pricing. With 25 years to talk about, its keeping its anniversary message in the middle of its radar.
Both firms have had their anniversary celebrations during the last quarter of the year, which leads into the lapsed festive period before it rekindles in the second week of January. In a less congested market, CMC is pushing forward with its campaign. The firm is active on mainstream UK portals. One example is ADVN, a multi-asset news portal. The firm has taken central positions on both the top and middle of the page (e.g. taking over the sky banner).
“We usually get a heap of unused inventory in December, but one major broker has managed to help me meet in reaching my targets,” explained a sales manager for a UK portal.
In its outdoor marketing, CMC has done the same. Its messaging clearly acknowledges its 25-year presence in the industry.
The firm has also been pushing its video marketing. On YouTube, the firm is playing its technology video called “Built for Traders by Traders.” Its video labelled “CFD & Forex Trading” has gained sharp viewership in a two-month period. Since launching on the 29th of September, there have been over 69 thousand views. The firm is pushing the video through its Google PPC spend.
IG Adds Stock Broking
IG’s marketing efforts have been shaped around its position as a UK-regulated stock broker offering sophisticated trading platforms and solutions. The firm has been pushing its “New Standard in Stock Broking” message and offers new clients commission-free trading. IG has positioned itself as a provider for active participants that trade in the equity markets through online investing platforms.
The Men Behind the Firms
Both IG and CMC were established by veterans in the London market. IG was formed in 1974 by Stuart Wheeler, a British business man.
CMC Markets was formed in 1989 by Peter Cruddas, who is regarded as one of the most richest men in the “city.”
CMC Markets has had a volatile post-2008 period. Its earnings have seen a roller-coaster ride with profit and loss throughout the period.
In its current filings, the firm reported that it had a $50 million profit before tax. Listed provider IG reported $304 million net income for the year ending May 31st, 2014.
The FX Rush
UK-based providers have been strong players in the CFD markets with a large portion of their revenue coming in through stock indices, equities, commodities and fixed income instruments, all traded as OTC products with the firm. However, IG’s indulgence into the world of retail FX through its implementation of MetaTrader 4 was a sign that the low volatile environment meant that it had to source new channels of revenue, hence the firm’s entrance into a market it previously overlooked.
A similar stance with CMC Markets. Although the broker has been true to its promise of deflecting any other platform but its own, it has started expanded its foothold on news and information portals that were uncommon territory for its advertising. CMC Markets has placed its brand on FXStreet, one of the most established portals for traders in the FX markets. At the same time, IG has been advertising on Investing.com, a prominent portal for FX traders.
IG, CMC and City Index are the oldest players in the UK market and have been reiterating the facts. Recently, City Index was acquired by broking giant, GAIN Capital. The firm also acquired GFT a mid-tier CFD provider.
The time-factor is a key benefactor for both IG and CMC and their continued reinforcement of their age gives them a value-added proposition that their competitors are unable to fight against. The upbeat marketing spending has its pros and cons for the wider market. On the one hand, as a portal owner your inventory during the sluggish December trading month has been taken. On the other hand, “other” brokers are battling against the giants for space without any bargaining chips!


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Food stamp participants to get fruit, vegetable discounts in Maine
Fosters Daily Democrat
PITTSFIELD, Maine (AP) — Participants in the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program are going to get more bang for their buck when they shop at farmers markets.
Starting June 15, more than 30 farmers markets in Maine will offer incentives to SNAP customers to encourage them to buy more fruits and vegetables as part of an effort to promote healthier eating.
Leigh Hallet, executive director of the Maine Federation of Farmers' Markets in Pittsfield, says SNAP shoppers will receive discounts, "bonus bucks" or something similar they can put toward fruits and vegetables.
The effort is being funded through a more than $31 million grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Over the next three years, farmers markets will receive $200,000.


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EV start-up Arrival will scale back production of its van after half-year financial report.
New electric commercial vehicle start-up Arrival’s all-electric panel van will start production this summer with 20 vans expected to go to customers before the end of the year. The announcement was made in the firm’s Second Quarter 2022 Financial report.
The van’s production will take place in the UK where it was designed. Simply called the Arrival Van, it has already entered a brief trial phase this year with a select group of businesses and private customers, and will soon begin trialling in central London.
The firm’s second production plant will be in Charlotte, North Carolina, its opening has been delayed until 2023.
“We have had big achievements in Q2 including the European certification of our Van and Bus products and successful internal trials of both Van and Bus on public roads.” said Denis Sverdlov, Arrival founder and CEO. “In addition, we’ve made recent strategic decisions that will allow us to start production this quarter in Bicester, deliver our first vehicles to UPS this year, and start production in Charlotte in 2023.”The brand has plans to open more assembly lines, each of which will employ a further 200 people and increase annual production capacity by 10,000 units. However, in the latest financial report, Arrival reported losses of $89.6m (AUD$126.2m) in the second quarter of 2022, compared to a loss of $56.2m (AUD$79.2m) in the same quarter in 2021.
The Arrival Van itself will have plenty of rivals in the large electric van segment, which was relatively lacking in numbers only a few years ago. There’s the Ford E-Transit and Mercedes eSprinter to contend with as well as the Stellantis models such as the Fiat e-Ducato, Citroen e-Relay, and Vauxhall Movano-e. Arrival says its new van has a maximum payload of 1975kg and, depending on the wheelbase, a maximum capacity of 14.6 cubic metres.
Arrival electric van4
The battery pack system is modular, with capacities ranging from 67kWh to 133kWh. The entry-level 67kWh van claims an estimated range of 200km on a single charge, while two mid-range 89kWh and 111kWh options are pegged at 240km and 300km respectively. Arrivals claims that the 133kWh version of the van is capable of 340km on a full battery, while every version comes with 120kW DC charging technology.
Unlike its major competitors from Stellantis, the Arrival Van is built around a purpose-made electric platform. To keep the van’s kerb weight to a minimum and maximise range, its chassis is made from aluminium and its body panels are made from lightweight composite plastics.
Arrival says this latter innovation could also help to keep repair costs down, as the composite panels are more resistant to dents and scrapes than painted steel bodywork. If a panel does get damaged beyond use, it’s also quicker and cheaper to replace. None of the van’s structure will rust either, which increases its life expectancy.
The Arrival Van uses little welding to construct. Instead, the platforms and bodies are bolted and bonded together, which the brand says makes the vehicles both quicker to assemble and cheaper to buy as there’s no need to invest in expensive specialist tooling.
Patrick Bion, Arrival’s Vice President of Product, told Automotive Daily: “Our material cost alone will never be our best competitive attribute, but when you balance that off with the cost of the assembly process, it’s far, far better. The cost to bring a product to market – or 10,000 – is far, far lower than using the traditional processes.
Further costs are saved by the use of a new, cheap composite material in the construction of the van.


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At a Philadelphia Zoning Board meeting yesterday, it was the prospect of alcohol that caused emotions to run high.
About 80 West Philadelphia residents, mainly local Muslims affiliated with the Masjid Al-Jamia mosque, filled the zoning hearing to capacity, standing in firm opposition to the relocation of the liquor store on 41st and Market streets to 4237 Walnut St.
The Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board and the owner of the controversial proposed site, Daniel DeRitis, want to close the current liquor store and open a new, expanded store at 42nd and Walnut streets, in what used to be a Rite-Aid.
But members of the local community, especially attendees of the Masjid Al-Jamia, which is located across the street from the proposed site, say it will harm their neighborhood and offend their religion.
The city Zoning Board of Adjustment, after hearing evidence from all parties, ended the session and will announce its decision within the next few weeks.
Ronald Patterson, an attorney for DeRitis, argued for re-zoning the new store's site, saying that the establishment of a liquor store would be merely another element in a commercial corridor consisting of the Makkah Market, the Restaurant School and the beer distributor University City Beverage.
He said that the objections of the mosque and its congregation were purely religious and asked the Zoning Board to vote according to the law rather than moral issues.
Patterson also claimed that most neighborhood residents are in favor of the liquor store's relocation, saying that "never has this area seen so many people vocally supporting" a new development.
In fact, several community members testified in favor of the new store, and Spruce Hill Community Zoning Committee head Barry Grossbach wrote a letter to the Board advocating the move.
On the other side of the heated debate, Fred Schofield, an attorney who represented Makkah Market at the hearing, emphasized the "affront to [Muslims'] religious beliefs" and the proximity of the new liquor store to the Masjid Al-Jamia.
However, the spokesman for the mosque itself, Rayaul Muhammad, based his arguments not on religious differences but instead on the threat to the nearby Penn-Alexander school, the right of local residents to object to changes in their neighborhood and the detrimental effect a liquor store would have on the entire area.
Muhammad said that, under Pennsylvania state law, a liquor store cannot be within 350 feet of a school, and that any application for a liquor store within 300 feet of a place of worship could be opposed.
And while the Penn-Alexander school, located at 42nd and Spruce streets, stands outside the 350-ft. parameter, Muhammad argued that it is close enough to the proposed site that the area's students would still be negatively affected.
Moving the liquor store would bring "a liquor infestation . in the midst of a family-oriented neighborhood," Muhammad said.
"We beseech you . to exercise your moral decency," he implored the zoning board.
Henry Blocker of the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board, which authorizes alcohol sales in the state, countered that the new store would actually bring increased safety to the area, since the store would have a lit parking lot and extra security.
Muhammad also presented a petition with 890 signatures protesting the move, though Patterson argued that many of the signatures came from outside the area.
Wednesday's hearing was the third for this case, with the other two having been delayed to allow the two sides to negiotiate.
Martin Cabry, director of zoning for Councilwoman Jannie Blackwell, said the Liquor Control Board and representatives for the mosque had met a number of times but had not been able to resolve their differences.Comments powered by Disqus
Please note All comments are eligible for publication in The Daily Pennsylvanian.


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It has been a long time since Apple introduced a new product that has me standing on the sidelines, waiting until after the dust settles. That’s Apple’s soon-to-launch HomePod; the competitor to Google Home and Amazon Echo.
Yes, this $350 wall of sound may be the best sound money can by for a talking device, but it should be clear Apple has some catching up to do, and more than a few critics are calling the HomePod crippled before it reaches the Apple Store.
Crippled? Ben Lovejoy:
Those waiting eagerly for Apple’s HomePod smart speaker have now twice been disappointed. First, when Apple delayed the release from December until February
Coming this year in a free software update, users will be able to play music throughout the house with multi-room audio.
So, HomePod won’t do what Apple last year said it would do. How much is Apple CEO getting paid to deliver later than planned but missing key features?
Last year Tim Cook banked more than $250,000. Per day. Every day. For all of the 365 days in 2017. And for all that money customers get a line of aging Macs, iPads that haven’t been upgraded in years, backordered products, and a not-yet-released talking speaker system that might hit the market three years after Amazon’s first mover Echo.
HomePod will finally go on sale more than three years after Amazon launched the Echo smart speaker, which kickstarted the market and still dominates it, and more than a year behind Google Home. And there are plenty of other rivals, from Samsung to Sonos.
To be fair, the talking speaker is a nascent market. Amazon seems to be doing well but nobody has a handle on how big talking speakers are now, and Apple already has more than a billion talking speaker devices in the wild (iPhones and iPads with Siri inside), not to mention that Apple seldom is a first mover and tends to define technology gadget markets over time.
The iPhone wasn’t the first smartphone by any means, but Apple brought the various elements together in a winning combination. Similarly, the iPad wasn’t the first tablet, while many companies had been trying to get smartwatches right before the Apple Watch appeared.
HomePod seems different. All it brings to the market is 1) a very high price tag relative to competitors, 2) better sound to match up with Apple Music, and, 3) Siri. That’s the problem. Siri may be the worst of the most popular artificial intelligence personal assistants. Amazon’s Alexa is pretty good at what it does but isn’t all that mobile. Google Assistant is excellent and very mobile. Microsoft’s Cortana is too desktop bound. Siri should be the industry leader but Apple’s executives let Siri lapse into a coma and the sleeping Apple hare has been passed by the tortoise which seems to have figured out how to run like a hare.
Amazon’s Echo Dot is a hot seller at $50. Google’s Home Mac is almost $400, so priced slightly above HomePod, but if you want that stereo-like sound you’ll pay.
Apple also makes much of how great two HomePods will sound in the same room, but at nearly $700 it may be a long time before most of us can afford to discover that for ourselves.
As Ranger points out, Apple has one angle not available on Amazon Echo or Google Home. Privacy and security. Apple doesn’t make money by listening to who is in the room. Alexa and Assistant are there to capture information about you; the former so it can sell you more products, and the latter to use you as the fodder it sells to advertisers.
That differentiation might be enough to make HomePod a hit but not at $350– unless HomePod sounds terrific and works better than Siri does now.
HomePod is a product that will leave me standing on the sidelines waiting for early adopters to signal thumbs up or thumbs down.


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The app-based ride service provider Uber has already kicked off its marketing campaigns to make the most of this festive season in India. Uber Gift Cards, as the company calls it, is launched in India today. The company is aiming to lure its existing customer base and online shoppers who always look out for something unique to gift their near and dear ones during the festival season.
In partnership with Qwikcilver – India’s leading SaaS-based prepaid card & gift cards solution provider – the first of its kind Uber Gift Cards is a unique gifting option for corporates who recognise and reward their employees in the most memorable and useful way.
“At Uber we are continuously innovating to make the experience of our users enjoyable and convenient. The upcoming festive season gives us the perfect opportunity to launch the Uber Gift Card, a first-of-its-kind initiative combining fantastic offers across food and transportation at the tap of a button,” says Madhu Kannan, Chief Business Officer, India and Emerging Markets, Uber.
Corporates and Individuals can buy Uber Gift cards from all the leading e-commerce platforms including Paytm. These Gift cards could be redeemed against availing Uber rides or ordering food from Uber Eats by a click on a button.
As the festive season is about to begin in India, Uber has set its eyes on the corporate gifting market. By positioning this as the unique gifting card option Uber is trying to strengthen its market presence in India – one of the most promising markets for Uber. Uber debuted in India in August 2013 and since then it has completed over 1 billion rides.
“Qwikcilver has pioneered the Gift Card category in India and working to innovatively scale the adoption across consumer segments. As the issuer of the Uber Gift Card, we do believe that this Qwikcilver partnership with Uber can be a game changer for the consumer adoption of Gift Cards,” says Kumar Sudarsan, CEO & Director, Qwikcilver.
So far it has been a roller-coaster ride for Uber in India. However, in the last two years, the app-based ride service company has started recording a significant surge in its revenue. In FY’16, Uber’s revenue grew 442% YoY, followed by 10% YoY growth in FY’17. Uber revenue jumped from mere Rs 69 Crore in FY’15, ended in March 2015, to whopping Rs 410 Cr in FY’17.
While the revenue growth slows down in the last financial year, Uber generated more profit compared to the previous year. Uber’s profit went up to Rs 30 Cr in FY’17 from Rs 28.8 Cr in FY’16.
Uber’s strategy to introduce Gift Cards right before the festive season appears to be the perfect marketing strategy. During the festival season, every year shoppers both offline and online, spend billions of dollars in a short span of time, mostly due to the discounts and deals offered by brands. Last year, online shoppers alone spent $3.2 billion during a month-long festival season, which eas the highest ever sales recorded in the history of Indian e-commerce industry.
There are millions of people in India who use Uber rides for their daily commute. Hence, Uber Gift Cards is the perfect gifting option for food and commute as people may find it the most useful and adorable gift to receive and give.


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Bear Crossing in Winter Park launches second sales phase
July 3, 2008
Three years ago, Bear Crossing broke a Winter Park record in its first phase of townhome sales, selling $50 million worth in three hours, according to Stacy Strayer, director of sales.
“And that was preconstruction,” she said. “So, they hadn’t (even) put a shovel to the dirt yet.”
That is why Strayer is eager to announce a second phase of sales, which will include quarter share ownerships for some of Bear Crossing’s more distinguished townhomes, starting under $200,000.
“We kept back a few of the more premier townhomes, and those are the ones we’re releasing in the quarter shares,” she said.
Bear Crossing is located on seven acres of land roughly one mile above Winter Park’s main street, and backs up to the Arapaho National Forest. The townhomes range from 1,950 to 2,600 square feet, and include features such as double master suites, high volume ceilings, hardwood floors and hot tubs. Each home is fully furnished, contains three bedrooms and three to four bathrooms, and has an unobstructed view of the Continental Divide.
“That’s probably one of the better perks,” Strayer said, who explained that each townhome sits up on one of the highest points in Winter Park. “(They have) expansive views that are permanent. Nobody can build anything in front of this development that would block the views.”
For its second phase of sales, Bear Crossing is offering quarter-share ownership, something that is gaining in popularity in the market, Strayer said.
“It offers flexibility. You can enjoy a second home but not a hefty mortgage,” she said.
Quarter-shares are deeded, she added – unlike timeshares. The property does appreciate, and if three people own a townhome and one of them decides to sell their share, the other two property owners are allowed first refusal, Strayer explained. “So, you can pick up another quarter share or more if you wanted to, or invite friends and family who are interested in (purchasing) that home as well.”
Strayer added that most of the townhomes are ready for immediate occupancy this fall, and anyone interested should call to make reservations.
She hopes to accept reservations soon so tenants might move in as early as mid-September, she said. She believes the quarter-shares are a good opportunity.
“For that price-point, you’d be hard-pressed to find another quarter share in town with the same kind of finishes and amenities,” she said.
Anthony Solo, the developer of Bear Crossing, also stated in a press release that quarter shares “are a great choice in today’s market,” especially considering most people are only able to use their second home on occasion. “This option makes affording a second home in the mountains far more reasonable,” Solo said.
Priority reservations for the quarter share release will be accepted at a VIP event held Thursday, July 24, at the JW Marriott in Cherry Creek North. The event starts at 6 p.m., and is an opportunity to bring Winter Park to Denver, Solo said.
“Winter Park has steadily grown in popularity during the past few years and is on the cusp of becoming a destination that will rival some of Colorado’s most famous resorts,” Solo said. “We are pleased to be able to offer a unique opportunity to people who remain interested in a mountain home.”
A fully furnished model is available for viewing, and is open every weekend. The Bear Crossing’s sales center is open every day and is located next to the Winter Park Post Office in downtown Winter Park.
For information regarding Bear Crossing’s second sales one may contact the sales center at (970) 726 4545, or visit http://www.bear-quarters.com.


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Single family home sales were up 5.6% and prices were up 7.4% as the median sales price is now $635,000 on Oahu. In addition, homes that sold got 98.4% of asking price, which is the highest we’ve seen in years.
This Alewa Heights home (MLS# 1208603) is listed for July’s median price of $635,000
Well priced homes have been moving briskly as the median days on market to sale is now down to just 25 days. There was also less homes coming on market, with just 364. That is down over 15% or 431 new listings in June.
In any appreciating market, you typically see a lag in condo sales and prices compared to homes. Last month, the pendulum swung in favor of condos and sales were up 21.3% and prices were up 15.5% to $320,000.
The average days on market for condos that sold in July was 29, the lowest we’ve seen in years. In addition, other recent milestones are 521 pending sales and the ones selling are getting 97.4% of asking price.
As Ron Margolis said in his recent article on the Kauai real estate market, months of remaining inventory is major barometer of the market. Here on Oahu, months of remaining inventory are down to just 4.1 months for condos and 3.6 months for homes. According to the National Association of Realtors, anything less than 6 months is a seller’s market. We’re well into that seller’s market. If you’re thinking of selling, now could be the time…
Here’s a recap of July real estate trends on Oahu:
Neighborhoods “Hot” for Sellers
- Home sales in Kapahulu–Diamond Head were up 108%
- Home prices in Makaha–Nanakuli were up 40%
- Condo sales in Kapahulu-Diamond Head were up 250%
- Condo prices on the North Shore were up 194%
Neighborhoods “Hot” for Buyers
- Home sales in Makakilo were down 62%
- Home prices on the Windward Coast were down 77%*
- Condo sales in Waipahu were down 47%
- Condo prices in Waipahu were down 9%
* There was only 1 sale on the Windward Coast for $136,000 which really threw off the stats.
As always, all real estate is local. To find out what is happening in your neighborhood, contact one of our great Realtors on Oahu to see what is going on in your market, and if now is the time to buy or sell.


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Fashion retailer Sisley launches its global spring/summer 2003 campaign this month, designed by New York-based EnergyProject with photographs by Terry Richardson. The work includes point-of-sale displays, catalogues, posters and advertising. Entitled Wet, Wet, Wet, the design has been conceived to ‘get the most out of the four elements – water, fire, air and earth,’ says a Sisley spokeswoman. The images are ‘heated up with [graphical images] of flames, electric jolts and flaming hearts,’ she adds.
The Guardian Media Group’s Sunday paper, The Observer, has launched a biannual, print design magazine, which looks to bridge the gap between consumer and specialist publications.
Online art shop RoomFifty has worked with studio Intoart, commissioning four disabled creatives to design prints that are being sold for £20 each.
Protests against climate change and ecological destruction are currently taking place across the world – we speak to graphic designer, Clive Russell, about how the eco group has used creativity
Samsung says its Space Monitor has been designed to address the customer desire for more deskspace by offering an elegant solution, which allows the product to blend into its environment.


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Boston Beer (NYSE:SAM) is set to announce its earnings results after the market closes on Wednesday, April 24th. Analysts expect the company to announce earnings of $0.89 per share for the quarter. Boston Beer has set its FY 2019 guidance at $8.00-9.00 EPS and its FY19 guidance at $8.00-9.00 EPS.
Boston Beer (NYSE:SAM) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, February 20th. The company reported $1.86 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the Thomson Reuters’ consensus estimate of $1.77 by $0.09. Boston Beer had a return on equity of 20.22% and a net margin of 9.12%. The business had revenue of $225.22 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $227.89 million. During the same period last year, the company earned $2.57 EPS. The firm’s revenue was up 9.2% on a year-over-year basis. On average, analysts expect Boston Beer to post $9 EPS for the current fiscal year and $10 EPS for the next fiscal year.
NYSE:SAM opened at $268.40 on Wednesday. Boston Beer has a 12-month low of $215.05 and a 12-month high of $329.95. The firm has a market capitalization of $3.07 billion, a PE ratio of 35.93, a P/E/G ratio of 3.04 and a beta of 0.56.
In related news, VP David L. Grinnell sold 500 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Thursday, February 28th. The stock was sold at an average price of $312.50, for a total transaction of $156,250.00. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, insider John C. Geist sold 8,000 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Wednesday, March 27th. The stock was sold at an average price of $287.20, for a total value of $2,297,600.00. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold a total of 26,959 shares of company stock worth $8,115,964 in the last ninety days. 29.20% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.
ILLEGAL ACTIVITY WARNING: “Boston Beer (SAM) Set to Announce Earnings on Wednesday” was first reported by Community Financial News and is owned by of Community Financial News. If you are accessing this story on another site, it was illegally stolen and reposted in violation of United States & international copyright laws. The legal version of this story can be accessed at https://www.com-unik.info/2019/04/17/boston-beer-sam-set-to-announce-earnings-on-wednesday.html.
About Boston Beer
The Boston Beer Company, Inc produces and sells alcohol beverages primarily in the United States. The company's flagship beer is Samuel Adams Boston Lager. It offers various beers, hard ciders, and hard seltzers under the Samuel Adams, Twisted Tea, Angry Orchard Hard Cider, and Truly Hard Seltzer brand names.
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Two longtime rivals both wanted the same thing. Only one could win.
Rivian has been in the news a lot lately for a very good reason. It recently filed its long-awaited IPO that valued the company at over $95 billion. Its two chief financial backers, Amazon and Ford, are now enjoying the benefits. The Blue Oval's 12 percent stake is currently worth around $12 billion. Not bad at all considering it initially invested $1.2 billion. Now that some of the dust has settled, some interesting things are being revealed as to how Ford and Rivian first struck a deal.
The Wall Street Journal reports that General Motors was initially very interested in investing heavily in Rivian. Advanced negotiations took place between Rivian founder and CEO R.J. Scaringe and GM's CEO Mary Barra and President Mark Reuss.
At around the same time, Amazon was finalizing its own investment deal with the EV startup and that got Ford's attention. This was back in 2018 and Ford was under heavy pressure from Wall Street after missing earnings targets. Something had to be done. Enter Ford's now-former president of global operations, Joe Hinrichs. He met with Scaringe, listened to the latter's pitch and overall vision, and came away impressed.
Hinrichs correctly recognized that Rivian's Skateboard platform, which underpins both the R1T and R1S, could underpin a future Ford or Lincoln model. Also, a young startup like Rivian could teach a century-old corporation like Ford a thing or two about innovation.
Hinrich made clear to Scaringe that Ford was interested in making a deal. Executive Chairman Bill Ford, Jr. also met with Scaringe and he gave the green light. However, Scaringe told Hinrich that he was already in advanced negotiations with GM but the Ford exec refused to back down, reportedly saying "just because you got engaged to someone doesn't mean you need to marry them."
That made Scaringe and his team think twice about signing with GM, whose terms were not as flexible as Ford's. Rivian and Ford announced their deal in April 2019 and the rest is history. As for GM, it later invested in a certain other EV truck startup, Nikola. We all know how well that turned out.


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While the internet may seem ubiquitous these days, we are still far from living in a totally connected world. According to a fascinating new report from the Boston Consulting Group, China is expected to add almost 200 million internet users by 2015. India is also slated to add 100+ million too.
As we discuss in a recent note, the size of China's market is not only staggering, but its internet users outpace their American counterparts in online engagement. As we have previously argued, China will be a major growth center for smartphones and tablets.


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WESTWOOD, Mass. (AP) _ Chase Corp. (CCF) on Wednesday reported fiscal fourth-quarter earnings of $10.1 million.
The Westwood, Massachusetts-based company said it had profit of $1.07 per share. Earnings, adjusted for non-recurring costs, were $1.10 per share.
The protective materials maker posted revenue of $70.1 million in the period.
For the year, the company reported profit of $32.7 million, or $3.46 per share. Revenue was reported as $281.4 million.


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Takeaway.com NV made a 5 billion pound ($6.2 billion) bid for rival Just Eat Plc, continuing its consolidation push with a deal that would intensify competition with the likes of Uber Technologies Inc. in the food-delivery space.
The Dutch company is offering an implied value of 731 pence for each Just Eat share, 15% more than the target company’s stock price on July 26, the day before talks first became public. The new company intends to remain based in Amsterdam, with a premium listing on the London Stock Exchange. Just Eat shares rose as much as 26% to 799.4 pence in London, suggesting investors are betting that possible rival suitors might drive up the price of the asset.
The food delivery industry in Europe has become a battleground, with rivals competing on prices and copying each other’s business models. A deal would mark the second time Takeaway.com has entered the U.K. The company first launched in the country in 2012, but sold the business four years later to Just Eat, after struggling with growth.
“A combined entity can achieve over 10 billion pound market cap short term,” said Marcus Diebel, analyst at JP Morgan in a research note. “A new leadership will bring what Just Eat lacks, execution on tech and an acceleration in disposals.
Takeaway.com has been rapidly expanding following a surging share price. In December it agreed to buy rival Delivery Hero SE’s German operations for about $1 billion, ending an expensive rivalry in a country where both were competing for market share at the cost of profitability.
Joining forces with Takeaway.com would mark something of a bailout for Just Eat, which has stuttered in the face of pressure from rivals and an activist shareholder. Once the dominant player in the food delivery market in the U.K., its shares have fallen amid growing competition from Uber Eats and Deliveroo, and the company is without permanent CEO after the departure of Peter Plumb in January.
Takeaway.com’s implied 15% premium all-stock bid for U.K. food-delivery leader Just Eat is fair—but may be raised, in our view—and the lack of country overlap, bar Switzerland, limits regulator risk. The combined entity would dominate in Europe vs. Uber Eats and Deliveroo.
Diana Gomes, consumer goods analyst
The combined company would be one of the biggest in the sector. Their combined market value was about $11 billion before news of the talks broke on July 27. While both have a similar valuation, Just Eat shares had fallen 25% over the past 12 months while Takeaway.com’s shares had risen 46%.
Rather than sparking a bidding war, Takeaway.com might decide to sell on parts of the assets, Barclays analyst Andrew Ross said in a note to investors.
“It is perfectly possible that Uber gets involved down the line – it is possible that Takeaway.com could decide that markets like Australia and Canada are non-core within Just Eat and looks to sell those down the road,” Ross said in the note.
Just Eat shareholders would own approximately 52.2%. in the new combined company, while Takeaway.com shareholders would own approximately 47.8%.
Takeaway’s chief executive Jitse Groen—who has about a $1.4 billion fortune, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index—has been penciled in as the CEO of the combined company, while Mike Evans, currently the chairman of Just Eat, will assume the same role for the combined group, according to the statement.
Investor Cat Rock Capital Management LP has been lobbying for Just Eat to merge with a rival, arguing that consolidation would be the only way to deliver “real value.” Cat Rock holds a 4.9% stake in Takeaway, according to a filing with Dutch market regulator AFM. It’s stake in Just Eat stands at 2.6%, according to Bloomberg Data.
Goldman Sachs, Oakley Advisory and UBS advised Just Eat, while Bank of America Merrill Lynch and Lazard advised Takeaway.com.
More must-read stories from Fortune:
—Where you should eat, visit, and stay on your trip to Copenhagen
—This tiny Caribbean island grows 44 types of mangoes
—Your next getaway: Tulum is out, this island is in
—Inside the “ultimate high-performance luxury lifestyle” experience at the new Equinox Hotel
—Listen to our new audio briefing, Fortune 500 Daily
Follow Fortune on Flipboard to stay up-to-date on the latest news and analysis.


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The Tourism Conservation Fund (TCF) has launched an innovative product to aid in the conservation of rhinos, offering the public a way to make a difference, while getting something memorable to enjoy and take back home.
RHINO GIN was created as an inherently South African product that draws its ingredients from local fynbos plants and is representative of the rhino and its struggles against poaching.
The Black rhino used to roam the Western Cape fynbos biome but have now been whittled down due to poaching – just as the Renosterveld fynbos (the main ingredient in RHINO GIN), which used to grow wild and in abundance, now grows in patches, and is extremely valuable and protected.
Founder of the craft gin revolution, Roger Jorgenson, used Helichrysum, Confetti Bush, rich spicy African wormwood, wild sage, rosemary, and aromatic Buchu alongside the Renosterveld fynbos, to flavour the gin – which is distilled in a 200-year-old Cape copper pot.
All plants used to flavour the gin were pruned in their natural habitat, and not destroyed.
The gin is distributed without charge by Under the Influence, which is excited to be a part of the RHINO GIN project. “This is a true conservation brand, crafted expertly by Roger Jorgenson. Importantly, the ability to create a direct link from guest glass to conservation funding, in a sustainable way, is a model that we want to put our collective energy into. The fact that the first batch is almost sold out before it has even been released is a testimony to the support of the project, and its long-term viability and growth,” says CEO, Allister Kreft.
“100% of all proceeds from the sale of RHINO GIN will go to conservation initiatives, to combat poaching and to address the causes and consequences of wildlife crime in South Africa. We will also support innovative anti-poaching initiatives – depending on the availability of resources,” concludes Paul Zille, CEO of the TCF.
Source: Tourism Update


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MORE than a fifth of Yorkshire households are now struggling to keep up with bills, a survey has revealed.
The survey by polling body YouGov and insolvency industry group R3 found that 23% of households in the region now find meeting their bills “a constant struggle” or have fallen behind with their financial commitments.
Figures also showed that for the first time ever, some 600,000 British residents say they are repaying debts under a Debt Management Plan – an unofficial, but formalised agreement between an individual in financial strife and their creditors.
DMPs do not show up in the Government’s official quarterly insolvency statistics – but the survey said the figure for DMPs was now four times higher than the total for people working their way through insolvency via an Individual Voluntary Arrangement.
It is also twice as high as the number who said they were currently bankrupt or had been declared bankrupt in the past.
Nearly 15m households – 63% of the British total – said their financial circumstances had worsened in the past six months, with only 13% seeing an improvement.
This comes at a time when 43% of the adult population currently uses an authorised overdraft, while 34% have a credit card that is not repaid in full each month. Only 30% have no borrowing at all.
Almost half of those polled said they now spent less money on items like DVDs, CDs and jewellery while 38% were buying more own-label or value goods.
R3 is predicting a dramatic rise in corporate and personal bankruptcies over the next 12 months – due to careless use of credit cards, borrowing without thinking about how to repay the money and “irresponsible lending by credit providers”.
Peter Sargent, R3’s Huddersfield and Halifax spokesman, said: “People’s attitude to debt has softened to an alarming degree and we are not surprised that people are borrowing with no idea of how to repay.
“The proliferation of credit cards in the late 1990s has led to a situation where 30% of the economy is based on consumer spending. Escalating house prices have given a false sense of wealth and provided security for less scrupulous creditors to lend irresponsibly.”
Meltham man Mr Sargent, who heads Begbies Traynor in Halifax, said: “This is a situation which everyone will have their part to play in diffusing. The key point is that people should not be afraid to seek advice from a qualified practitioner – and the earlier the better.
“The survey also revealed that fewer than half of those in serious financial difficulties have sought professional help, which is deeply worrying. People should be less afraid of seeking advice than the consequences of not seeking it.”


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LONDON: Music company HMV Group’s chief executive officer Alan Giles is intending to quit the company, according to newspaper reports Wednesday. Giles is expected to announce the decision when the company comes out with its interim first-half results and update on Christmas sales Thursday, according to the reports.
The company did not comment on the report.
Giles has been holding the position in HMV since 1999. He has been credited with successfully steering the group through its 2002 flotation on the London Stock Exchange.
There are rumours that the music and book retailer had poor Christmas sales. In case Giles, 51, announces his decision to quit, he will be the first victim of the retail downturn. His departure will probably stall HMV’s attempt to acquire smaller rival Ottakar’s. The deal has been mired in controversy and has come in for criticism by book publishers and authors. It is now under referral to the Competition Commission.
Ottakar’s is also a target for another rival, WH Smith Group, where Giles was employed previously, although a deal may still require the Competition Commission’s approval. WH Smith will be required to sell some of Ottakar’s shops.
In September, Giles had warned of a gloomy outlook for the company. He had told the regulator that HMV’s like-for-like sales in the first 21 weeks of the financial year had fallen 9.2 per cent. He had also said at the time he could not remember a worse three months during his career in retail.
The company is severely exposed to the clout of internet and downloads of music and books have been a direct threat to its operations. The music sector is perceived to be most affected by the advent of online sale digital content.
HMV has some 580 stores in eight countries.


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WWW: The Hackers’ Haven
"Last year, Whatsapp changed its encryption algorithm several times and, every time, it was breached,” says Saket Modi, hacker, entrepreneur and CEO of Lucideus Technologies, which just created an app that monitors wayward activity on your smartphone. That’s geekspeak for: “Your WhatsApp chats, including deleted ones, would have been accessible to any hacker worth his salt”. And we are talking about a company that was valued at $19 billion at some point during the year. Only in November 2014 did WhatsApp finally embrace end-to-end encryption, which will ostensibly address the issue.
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Interestingly, your online financial payments may be relatively more secure, thanks to Reserve Bank of India’s dogged persistence in continuing with the two-step verification process for electronic payments (a one-time password and PIN verification). The central bank drew a lot of flak for barring taxi app Uber from storing payment information and automatically deducting charges at the end of a ride. But Modi isn’t impressed. He likens the two-step verification to a batsman going onto the pitch wearing just a helmet. “The rest of your body is still exposed,” he says.
But what is the problem if somebody has all the details, you may ask. Is the potential risk greater than the possibility of a perfect match? A PTI report from 2009 talks about a confession by an Indian Mujahideen operative who used information from such sites to get a student identity card as well as a driving licence. Mukul Shrivastava, a partner in the forensic practice at EY, gives you another alarming scenario. Let’s say somebody trawls your Facebook, what is the amount of information that such a person can get access to? Your daily routine, your physical movement, your favourite restaurant or whether you will be at home at a certain time (from a status message like “Can’t wait to watch the Devils trouncing Liverpool at ManU Café tonight!”). Even if a physical attack is not on the agenda, much of the information can be used to guess security questions (favourite cat, first school) and find out required details for phone banking (date of birth, email address, mother’s name). An HDFC Bank official says there is a rise in vishing (the voice equivalent of phishing) attacks, where people with access to bank account numbers as well as personal details pose as bank executives and lure customers with special benefits and convince them to divulge their banking passwords.
With the IoT, you have devices talking to one another, opening up multiple places to be breached, says MobME’s Gopal. From your shoe to T-shirt, everything becomes a potential bot. India should be concerned. Research by securities provider Symantec says India tops the list of countries wherein Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks originate. DDoS attacks are those where hundreds of bots target a website (say, an e-commerce company) on its big discount day, thereby slowing down traffic to the site. The report says a bot’s services can be bought for as low as Rs 300 to bring down a site for a few minutes. Monthly subscription plans are available for lengthier attacks.
Disclaimer: The views expressed in the article above are those of the authors' and do not necessarily represent or reflect the views of this publishing house. Unless otherwise noted, the author is writing in his/her personal capacity. They are not intended and should not be thought to represent official ideas, attitudes, or policies of any agency or institution.


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With few other options, investors bid up Chipotle
NEW YORK — For $320, you could buy 37 burritos at restaurant chain Chipotle Mexican Grill. Or a single share of its stock.
Since going public in January 2006, Chipotle has jumped from $44 a share to $320 on Friday— a 630 percent return for investors who held on the whole time. The company, which sells upscale fast food tacos and burritos, is now one of the most expensive stocks in the Standard and Poor's 500 index based on its price compared with its earnings. That's the measure most investors use to evaluate the future growth prospects of a company and the demand for its stock.
Chipotle is a darling of the stock market because of its profitable business model, rapid growth, and a concept that resonates with customers. But its stock is also up for another reason, analysts say. It's one of the few rapidly-growing companies that allow investors to target U.S. consumers who can afford regular $8- to-$10 lunches.
"There just aren't a lot of growth names left," says Steve West, an analyst at Stifel Nicolaus who covers restaurants. "When you think about how many mutual funds and hedge funds out there need to invest in consumer growth names, it's becoming a supply and demand problem."
It seems harder than ever for these stock pickers to find a middle ground in the market. Since the recession ended in early 2009, luxury and low-end consumer companies have outperformed. Jeweler Tiffany & Co., for instance, has returned 350 percent since March 2009 because its affluent customers are spending money again. At the other end, discount consumer goods retailer Dollar Tree Inc., has returned 165 percent to investors over the same period by taking market share from companies like Wal-Mart and Target. During the same period, the benchmark Standard and Poor's 500 index has returned about 100 percent after dividends.
Chipotle and a handful of growing companies like Panera Bread and Green Mountain Coffee Roasters are among the few that reach middle income consumers. They sell affordable products with higher quality ingredients that appeal to consumers who don't worry about handing over $10 for lunch a few times a week. Hungry office workers might not be confident enough about the economy to treat a coworker to a sit-down lunch, but a freshly-made burrito or a chicken salad sandwich is another story.
As a result, these middle-market companies are outperforming the stock market. Chipotle has outshined the rest of the group. It jumped 13 percent over the last three months and has returned nearly 500 percent since March 2009. Analysts expect the company to report that earnings per share will be up 15 percent when its quarterly report is released Tuesday.
Investors like Chipotle in part because it is small but getting bigger. Chipotle has barely made a dent in the U.S. market. The company was founded in 1993 and operates about 1,000 stores across 35 states. Compared with a former hot growth stock like Starbucks Corp., which has 17,000 stores worldwide, analysts see a lot of room for growth — both at home and overseas.
Twelve of Chipotle's 20 largest stakeholders are actively managed growth-oriented mutual funds that try to beat the overall market. Fidelity's $79.9 billion Contrafund owns nearly 10 percent of the company's 31.1 million outstanding shares, or 1.2 percent of its portfolio. The $5.4 billion Columbia Select Large Cap Growth Fund owns nearly 700,000 shares, enough to make up nearly 4 percent of its portfolio.
What's more, analysts say that Chipotle's simple menu and fast service have led to its sales to top $700 per square foot in the last quarter, the most of any restaurant in its category. Chipotle customers come back more frequently and spend more at every visit than customers of other fast food restaurants. That has helped sales at restaurants open at least a year to rise 12 percent over the last year. Chipotle made $46 million in profit from $509 million in revenue its first quarter. Sales have grown at an average of 24 percent a year over the last five years.
Chipotle trades at 54 times its earnings. The Standard and Poor's 500 index, on the other hand, costs 15 times its earnings per share. Even Apple Inc., one of the most-loved stocks in the market, costs just 17 times earnings.
Some of the most bullish analysts think that the stock will outperform the overall stock market for a long time.
"A decade from now we are still going to look at Chipotle as a high growth story," says Bart Glenn, an analyst who covers the company for DA Davidson & Co. "People are going to look back and wonder, 'How did I miss this?'" me
Of course, that's exactly the sort of talk that has propelled other companies that developed cult-like followings on Wall Street — only to later take a substantial fall when growth declines, price pressures or problems arise. Krispy Kreme Donuts Inc., Starbucks, and Research in Motion are among them.
Will the same thing happen to Chipotle? Any off notes when the company releases its quarterly results on July 19 could send the stock down quickly.
Rising food costs could also cut into Chipotle's bottom line. In the first quarter alone, its food costs rose 32 percent. In late June, the company announced it would raise prices on some items. And Chipotle warned investors that lower than expected avocado harvests from California are expected to cut into its margins for the rest of the summer. Another concern: an investigation currently under way by the Department of Justice into its hiring practices. The company would not comment on these concerns, citing its upcoming earnings release.
And 3 of the 25 analysts covering Chipotle advise their clients to sell, according to FactSet.
Brian Elliot, an analyst at Raymond James, is one of the few on Wall Street to rate Chipotle a sell. He downgraded the stock on January 26, when it was priced at $222, because he thought that expectations had gotten ahead of reality. Elliot thinks that Chipotle's stock price will fizzle as its growth rates slow, and that other companies will draw the attention of investors.
"It's simply the natural evolution of a chain," he says. "In consumer retail-restaurant land, that's a story that's played out many, many times."


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Last year, BMW killed off the i3, its quirky electric hatchback, but it's working on a successor. Many BMW fans will be relieved to hear that it won't share its predecessor's funky looks but will instead look more traditional.
"A lot of people liked [the original i3], but in the eyes of others, the i3 was not a real BMW. A bit of an outsider in the classroom if you will. We will not repeat that in this form," BMW development boss Frank Weber told Automotive News' sister site Automobilwoche.
The next BMW i3 will be built on the Neue Klasse platform, a new all-electric architecture that will underpin all of the brand's new electric vehicles. BMW recently debuted its Vision Neue Klasse concept, which is rumored to be the next-generation i3, and it ditches the old i3's futuristic hatchback shape for a more traditional sedan body. While still a bit funky, the Neue Klasse has shades of classic BMW designs, such as the E12-generation 5 Series. The idea is that its more traditional design will make it feel less like an outsider to loyal BMW fans, which is especially important because the next i3 will be the brand's electric entry point for most customers.
"BMW definitely needs to bring to market an affordable, compact car,” Weber told Automobilwoche. "We attach great importance to offering customers the best possible access to the BMW brand. That is why we are thinking very carefully about how an entry offering can be part of the Neue Klasse family."
It seems unfair to lob design criticism at the BMW i3, though. As strange as the i3's design was, it was far from being as offensive and controversial as some of BMW's other recent designs, such as the XM and M4 Competition. Yes, the Neue Klasse is far more traditional looking than the i3 but the i3 wasn't the problem. At least its strangeness was charming.
Regardless of which Bimmer becomes the design scapegoat, though, it's encouraging that BMW understands its customers' wishes for simpler, more traditional designs moving forward.
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