text:
The European Commission on Friday announced it has charged Apple and the App Store with antitrust violations in the music-streaming market.
In its Statement of Objections, the commission states the company “distorted competition in the music streaming market as it abused its dominant position for the distribution of music streaming apps.” The charge concerns mandatory use of an in-app purchase mechanism that Apple imposes on other music-streaming developers in order to distribute their apps via the App Store. Through this mandatory mechanism, Apple charges competing music-streaming developers a 30 percent commission fee on all subscriptions they receive.
The commission also alleges that Apple’s “anti-steering provisions” on competing developers prevent them from informing Apple users of their products. The result, the commission states, is that Apple users are paying “significantly higher prices for their music subscription services or they are prevented from buying certain subscriptions directly in their apps.”
The charges, if proven, would find Apple’s rules and business practices in violation of Article 102 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, which prohibits the abuse of dominant market positions. Apple mobile devices currently hold a 30-32 percent market share in the EU.
These charges are the outcome of a thorough investigation that commenced in June, following a complaint from the Swedish music-streaming giant Spotify. When this investigation first went underway, the European Commission’s Executive Vice-President Margrethe Vestager noted that “Apple obtained a ‘gatekeeper’ role when it comes to the distribution of apps and content to users of Apple’s popular devices.” She expressed the need to ensure Apple is not distorting competition in the app development market in which it competes.


text:
Mobile technology will play an important role for Facebook as it tries to find new sources of revenue, but building its own device doesn't make much sense since since competition in the smartphone market continues to be very tough, according to analysts.
Facebook is revitalizing its effort to create a smartphone, recruiting engineers who have experience with mobile devices, according to a weekend story in the New York Times.
Facebook may acquire Norwegian browser maker Opera Software, developer of the Opera and Opera Mini browsers for desktops and mobile phones, according to a report by U.K.-based technology website Pocket-lint.
Facebook Camera looks a heck of a lot like Instagram. But it's seemingly aimed at a different crowd. Here's our hands-on.
Facebook will settle a class-action lawsuit in California that accused it of appropriating its users' likenesses for its Sponsored Stories advertising feature.
The Mac Gems blog focuses on reviews of great, inexpensive software, but every once in a while we call your attention to past Gems that are currently even less expensive. Here are 13 Gems you can get for a steal.
TransFire XP is meant to simplify chatting between you and your friends who speak other languages. Unfortunately, however, the app is uniformly awful.
Twitter says it will begin delivering a weekly email digest to highlight for users the tweets they are most likely to be interested in.
The California assembly passed a bill on Thursday that prevents employers from demanding job applicants' passwords for accounts on Facebook or other social networking sites.

domain: news


text:
Tags: total non-residential spending spending
Despite a 0.9-percent drop in construction spending in July — including both residential and non-residential building — spending is up 9.3 percent year-over-year, according to the Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) report, citing the U.S. Census Bureau’s Sept. 4 numbers. Non-residential construction spending ...
SUBSCRIBE & FOLLOW
- What to expect at the 2014 ConExpo-Con/Agg show259 Views
- 25 Days of RollOuts: Atlas Copco’s bucket crushers240 Views
- Komatsu's WA1200-6 wheel loader offers more horsepower, lower costs193 Views
- 25 Days of RollOuts: Caterpillar’s 988K wheel loader178 Views
- Rare dinosaur skeleton found in quarry sells for more than $544,000167 Views


text:
Discover how American Expediting can solve your most complex Healthcare logistics + shipping challenges
FOLCROFT, PA, UNITED STATES, December 7, 2023 /EINPresswire.com/ — American Expediting, a renowned name in the transport logistics industry, celebrates its remarkable journey from a humble beginning to becoming a global leader with over 50 hubs worldwide. Specializing in sectors like pharmaceuticals, life sciences, manufacturing, and food and hospitality, American Expediting has set a benchmark in delivering time-critical logistics solutions.
Founded in 1983 in Philadelphia by Victor Finnegan, then a business student at the University of Pennsylvania, American Expediting started as a one-person, same-day courier operation. Finnegan’s vision and dedication quickly propelled the company past its competitors, establishing it as one of Philadelphia’s leading time-critical delivery organizations by 1988.
The company’s growth is a testament to its commitment to excellence and the loyalty of its team, many of whom have been with American Expediting since its inception. This dedicated workforce has been instrumental in evolving the company into a premier national provider of specialty transport, logistics, storage, and distribution solutions.
At the helm of American Expediting’s continued success is CEO Robert Betchley, a seasoned leader with over two decades of experience in logistics and healthcare. Betchley’s expertise and innovative approach have been pivotal in driving the company’s growth and maintaining its reputation for excellence in the logistics sector.
Mark Fries, Founder and Director of Client Relations at TranscompSS Consultants, thanks American Expediting for its exceptional service and partnership. “American Expediting has been a proven partner through various leadership roles at different logistics firms. Their ability to negotiate exceptional rates and deliver outstanding service is unparalleled. Thanks to American Expediting, we’ve experienced the pinnacle of time-critical shipping and logistics. Their years of support and partnership have been invaluable,” says Fries.
As American Expediting continues to expand its global footprint, it remains committed to its core values of reliability, efficiency, and exceptional customer service. The company’s journey from a one-person operation to a global logistics leader is not just a story of business growth but a testament to the power of vision, dedication, and teamwork.
About American Expediting:
Founded in 1983, American Expediting has grown from a one-person operation into a leading provider of specialty transport, logistics, storage, and distribution solutions. With a presence in over 50 locations worldwide, the company caters to diverse industries, including pharmaceuticals, life sciences, manufacturing, and food and hospitality.
email us here


text:
Just Released: Full Text: 2011 Social Media Consumer Trend Report
Made available online (free, registration required) today by Experian/Simmons. The report is full of color charts.
From an E-Mail Summary:
- Fully 91% of online adults today, or 129 million individuals, access social media in a typical month.
- 98% of online 18-to 24 year-olds already use social media each month.
- The greatest growth sector is among older Americans. In fact, the share of those in the 65-plus cohort who use social media grew a relative 49 percent in the past two years alone. Today, nearly 3-in-4 online seniors use social media in a typical month as do 82% of those ages 55 to 64.
- Experian Simmons reports that while 46% of all online adults today say they use social media to communicate with their friends (up from 32% in 2009), 27% of those with a brother or sister say they communicate with their sibling via social media, up from 15% in 2009.
- Parents and children are also connecting with one another at an increasingly high rate. In 2009, only 6% of parents said they communicated with their children via social sites, but today fully 18% of parents communicate with their kids through social media.
- Likewise, 14% of adult children also say they communicate with their parents over social media today, up from just 5% in 2009.
- Experian Simmons reports that nearly a third of Hispanic consumers who use social media today (30%) say they follow their favorite brands and companies on social sharing sites.
- By comparison, 18% of non-Hispanic users of social media say they follow brands. Moreover, 19% of Hispanic adult users of social sharing sites say they are more likely to buy products advertised on social sharing sites compared with 8% of non-Hispanics who say the same.
- The higher than average use of Twitter among Hispanic consumers (18% of Twitter.com visitors are Hispanic versus 14% of the adult population overall)
- Heavy Facebook users, defined as those online adults who visit Facebook.com more than 15 times per month, are found in heaviest concentrations in America’s college towns.
Register and Download Full Text: 2011 Social Media Consumer Trend Report (16 pages; PDF)
About Gary Price
Gary Price (firstname.lastname@example.org) is a librarian, writer, consultant, and frequent conference speaker based in the Washington D.C. metro area. He earned his MLIS degree from Wayne State University in Detroit. Price has won several awards including the SLA Innovations in Technology Award and Alumnus of the Year from the Wayne St. University Library and Information Science Program. From 2006-2009 he was Director of Online Information Services at Ask.com.


text:
China Association for the Promotion of International Agricultural Cooperation Participated in the Sixth Baotou Beef
and Mutton Industry Conference
July 26-28, the Sixth Baotou Beef and Mutton Industry Conference and Green Agricultural and Livestock Products Expo was held in Baotou International Convention and Exhibition Center. The congress is sponsored by Baotou People's Government and the Agriculture and Pastoral Department of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region.On the morning of the 26th, Standing Committee Member of the Party Committee of the Autonomous Region and Secretary of Baotou Municipal Party Committee, Zhang Yuanzhong declare the conference open; Director of the Rural Industry Development Department of the Ministry of Agriculture and Villages Zeng Yande, Vice President of China Cuisine Association Li Yaguang, Director of the Agriculture and Pastoral Department of the Autonomous Region Sun Zhenyun, Baotou Mayor Zhao Jiangtao each delivered a speech. Wu Erbin, Deputy Mayor of Baotou, presided over the opening ceremony.As the co-organizer of this conference, deputy secretary general of China Association for the Promotion of International Agricultural Cooperation,A Yongxi was invited to attend the opening ceremony of the conference.
With the theme of "green agriculture, quality agriculture, brand agriculture", the Conference attracted 340 enterprises to participate in the exhibition, more than 380 buyers attended the conference, during which the third China Mutton Food Festival and a series of activities were held.
As a professional organization dedicated to international agricultural cooperation and industrial development in China, China Association for the Promotion of International Agricultural Cooperation has conducted friendly communication and exchanges with beef and mutton production and processing enterprises and equipment supply enterprises participating in this conference.In addition, the Association shared the current development status of the industry and the support provided by the association in cattle and sheep breeding, product processing and terminal sales, aiming to provide a platform for communication and cooperation between upstream and downstream enterprises in the industrial chain.


text:
It's hard to believe we're already through the third quarter of 2022. That means a plethora of automaker sales stats are flooding our inboxes, and a number from Toyota caught our attention. Exactly zero bZ4Xs were sold in September, but it's not due to a lack of interest from buyers for Toyota's first fully electric vehicle.
In June, we reported on a recall issued by Toyota for the bZ4X. Something was causing lug nuts to loosen, potentially leading to wheels that could come off. Toyota said that approximately 260 vehicles were involved in the recall, which matches the total number of bZ4Xs sold so far this year. At the time of the recall, Toyota said an investigation was underway to determine a remedy and advised owners not to drive these vehicles.
According to a Toyota representative, that remedy is still being investigated and as such, no new bZ4X sales are happening until it's taken care of. The issue also affects the Subaru Solterra, but no Solterras had been delivered prior to the recall.
Gallery: 2023 Toyota bZ4x
Toyota also registered a whopping nine Sequoia deliveries for September, though that's also not indicative of customer demand. An all-new Sequoia debuted early in the year to replace the seasoned model, but production didn't begin until mid-September. The sales numbers posted represent the dwindling stock of previous-gen models, and with bones dating back to 2008, we don't blame buyers for holding out until the new SUV reaches dealerships.
Despite these two blemishes, Toyota finished September up by just over 17 percent. Curiously, strong performances from the Corolla and Camry were factors in the uptick. Corolla sales were up 32 percent for the month and Camry was up 45.8 percent, suggesting that a market for compact cars and sedans still exists. Meanwhile, SUV sales were largely down, save for the RAV4 which posted a strong 50.8 percent increase. Toyota truck sales were up as well; 18.7 percent for the Tacoma and 11.2 percent for the Tundra. However, it's still a mere fraction compared to pickup sales from Detroit automakers.
September was a positive month for the Japanese automaker, but overall year-to-date sales at Toyota are down 15.4 percent.
Get up-to-speed on the latest new vehicle debuts and more in the Rambling About Cars podcast, available below.


text:
No one will argue that the Internet of Things (IoT) is the buzzword in today’s internet-driven world. From connected light bulbs to smart fridges and coffee machines, the IoT phenomenon is promising to change our lives in ways that weren’t imaginable a few years back.
But in tandem with becoming smarter, our homes are also becoming less secure, and the billions of devices that are being added to our hyper-connected world every year are creating countless new possibilities and attack vectors for hackers with malicious intents.
As the IoT continues it chaotic growth, is becoming more critical than ever. Hacked baby monitors, cars that are shut down remotely, and televisions that spy on you are just some of the stories that might give you the creeps and make you lose your trust in your own dishwashing machine and other home appliances.
I had the chance to talk to some of the experts in the IoT security field, and here are a few warnings you should consider if you already own IoT devices at home, or are planning to buy a new connected appliance.
In their haste, IoT developers overlook security considerations
While IoT is going through its “gold rush” phase, manufacturers are more concerned about shipping feature-complete products, and in their haste to avoid losing the competition, they’re prone to neglecting security issues. In a survey carried out by security firm Auth0, 85 percent of polled developers admitted to being pressured to rush an application to market despite security concerns. According to developers surveyed by Auth0, “IoT devices are often pushed to market too quickly, forcing developers to cut corners.”
Therefore, hundreds and thousands of vulnerable devices have already been installed in consumers’ homes, with hundreds more entering the fray every day.
A blog post by security expert Graham Cluley states that more than 200,000 IoT devices suffer from the Heartbleed bug, one of the most serious security holes discovered in recent years.
In another research led by security consulting firm SEC shows, millions of IoT products were found to use shared SSH and HTTPS keys, which make Man-in-the-Middle attacks a breeze.
Patching and updating IoT devices involves too much trouble.
The second point to consider is the mechanism needed to patch, update or re-flash IoT firmware once it is found to have a vulnerability. Since many gadgets are sorely lacking in this domain, their owners are left to choose to either dispose of the product or to keep it and live with the fact that there’s a vulnerable gadget in their home that can be compromised by malicious hackers.
As Mika Majapuro, the director of business at security tech-firm F-Secure, told me, “there is no way to manually install security products on your IoT devices. How would you install anything on your toaster?”
There’s also the issue of managing all these connected devices. Majapuro further elaborated on the issue by pointing out, “Many of these devices have a long life-cycle. If you buy a connected fridge, you probably want to keep it for several years. How will you know when a software update for your fridge is available?” You’ll probably have to check its vendor’s site for update. But then you have many of these devices in your home. Majapuro added a twist by asking, “What if your fridge vendor stops supporting the model you have or the vendor goes bankrupt?”
IoT devices away your living habits
And by this, I mean more than those evil smart TVs that snoop on your watching habits and listen to your conversations. As a study by LGS Innovations points out, even when IoT devices encrypt their communications, hackers can monitor IoT network activity in your home to remotely figure out your daily habits, including the times you’re not at home (you know what happens after that).
And that does not account for individual devices being hacked. When I asked Dr. Paul Judge, co-founder of tech-startup Luma, about smart home security, he wrote, “IoT devices tend to hold your most personal information – like camera footage of your home, your health information, location and family info. If you do not address security for IoT devices, then every new device that you bring home has the potential to steal your identity and invade your privacy.”
IoT devices can enable intruders to access more sensible devices
IoT devices might not contain critical information per se, but they can allow hackers to access more critical information that can be found in your network.
Most devices are immune against intruders from outside your network, but they’ll likely trust a device that is in your local network. For instance a web server in your home network might not accept connections from outside, but will trust HTTP requests coming from within the home network.
As Majapuro told me, “Most hackers are not after your connected coffee maker. They are after your personal information, e.g. your banking information. Hackers might use your connected coffee maker as an entry point into your home network. Once in, they can try to get to you laptop and tablets and that way gain access to personal information e.g. banking and credit card information.”
Cybercriminals use vulnerable IoT devices to assemble their botnet armies
This might not directly affect your life, but it is a serious issue nonetheless. In case you didn’t know, one of the most famous types of cyber-attacks are Distributed Denial or Service (DDoS) attacks, in which hackers hijack a large number of devices called botnets, and use them to send countless requests to target servers in order to overload them and bring them down.
In days of yore (I mean ten years ago, maybe), such a feat could only be accomplished by compromising personal computers, which was a challenging task given that most users tend to install some sort of anti-virus or malware protection software on their PCs. But with a host of vulnerable IoT devices at their disposal (which have no means to protect themselves), hackers no longer need to go after desktop workstations and laptops.
Without knowing it, your smart fridge or connected light bulb can become a slave (or a willing member) of a dark botnet army, doing the bidding of some evil hacker who wants to ransom an unfortunate victim.
Ok, the threats involved in the IoT industry are freakishly scary, but the goal of this post wasn’t to convince you to change your mind and stick to the same dumb, decades-old appliances you owned before, you’re wrong. In fact, as the , I’m always on the lookout for new gadgets and cutting edge technology, and I have quite a few smart things at home and I see great potential in the future of IoT. And the tech community is already taking great strides to make sure more secure and are used for the purposes they were made.
The point is, you need to assess the risks, identify the weaknesses, and plug the holes that cybercriminals might use to turn your dream home into a nightmare.


text:
Hubig Pies Are Coming Back to New Orleans
Anyone who has spent a little bit of time in New Orleans knows that the food, drinks, music, and people are some of the best around.
One little delicacy that has been missing from the city is Hubig’s Pies. These tasty little treats could be found all over the city until a fire took out the whole operation in 2012.
It is coming up on 10 years that the sweet, tasty pies have been gone. Wednesday, July 27 will mark 10 years since the city watched the Hubig’s Pie facility burn down to the ground.
No one has been able to get their hands on these pies since that tragic day however the owners recently reaffirmed their commitment to coming back despite being gone for so long.
Drew Ramsey would not give an exact timetable for when these products would be back however he did reaffirm his commitment to the product.
“There are still some factors beyond my control,” he said, declining to elaborate. “But we’re going produce a product that people recognize and remember and enjoy, and we’re closer to that than we’ve ever been.”
Drew Ramsey and his staff are working around the clock to bring this popular product back to its consumers. Part of the process is to secure a new assembly facility which will now be located just off of Jefferson Highway.
“We haven’t changed a grain of salt or a scoop of sugar in what we do, but we had been off the market long enough that we had to go through the whole approval process again,” Ramsey said.
In 2016, Haydel’s Bakery announced that they would be bringing back their own hand pies and while that brought joy and happiness to some, a lot of residents have been waiting for the day to get their hands on a Hubig’s Pie.
I personally can not wait to get one or maybe a hundred of them. It has been a long 10 years but I am looking forward to the day that I can buy the famous pies agan.
5 Netflix Titles With New Orleans In A Starring Role
You Know You're From Louisiana


text:
2K Games is set to announce the content that will be featured in the Collector’s Edition of WWE 2K19 as soon as tomorrow. Hopefully the extra content is worth it!
The official WWE 2K19 Twitter page posted the following announcement: “TOMORROW it’s time to reveal the
#WWE2K19 Collector’s Edition!“. Last year’s special edition was John Cena themed so this one might be centered around someone else.
Check back with us tomorrow to now more details about this Special Edition. It’s likely going to include many digital and physical goods for you to take home.
The game releases on October 9th, 2018 for PC, PS4 and Xbox One. The Deluxe and Collector’s Edition is out first though on October 5th, 2018.


text:
There’s nothing worse than waking up with the dreaded hangover. But many adults are finding relief in an unexpected form: Pedialyte.
That’s right. A growing number of adults are heading down the infant-products aisle to snag a few bottles (or powdered mix pouches) of the children’s electrolyte drink to help treat their hangover, The Wall Street Journal reports.
Pedialyte, which delivers a mix of electrolytes and minerals, has traditionally been used to help treat dehydration in children recovering from a stomach bug. But adult consumption of the drink has skyrocketed 60 percent since 2012, the WSJ said. In fact, adults now comprise more than a third of Pedialyte’s sales.
The drink has been used for years to rehydrate adult athletes, but its use as a hangover treatment is more recent.
Pedialyte has a higher electrolyte and lower sugar content than other hydration drinks, Mason said. But it also comes with a heftier price tag. While an 8-count of Gatorade Thirst Quencher powder packs will set you back about $3.78 at Walmart, a 6-pack box of powdered Pedialyte runs about $10, the WSJ noted.
The brand is now targeting adults with ads that promise, “When last night’s party threatens to ruin today, those in the know reach for Pedialyte,” CNBC said.
Pedialyte plans to release new adult-friendly flavors, like orange and strawberry-lemonade, this month. The company also plans to give away free samples of the drink at nearly 150 music festivals and sporting events across the country this year.
Pedialyte expects its annual sales to grow from a typical “midsingle-digit” percentage this year to “double-digit” percentage growth because of its popularity with adult consumers, the WSJ said.
I give my kids Pedialyte when I’m concerned about dehydration due to a stomach bug, but they don’t really like it. Like them, I think it’s sickeningly sweet tasting. I’d rather drink a Gatorade or Powerade myself.
As for helping your body recover after a night out, it’s worth a try. In college, I swore by a Snickers bar and fruit punch Powerade.


text:
A Brave, New Multichannel World
May 30, 2005-- Home Textiles Today,
New York — We're well past the simple Internet.
Anywhere, anytime, anyone retailing is already entering the mobility revolution of the 21st century, fueled by lightning fast broadband connections and a steady stream of feature-loaded devices.
“We're entering a new world where consumers expect to be able to touch you as a retailer or a manufacturer anywhere they are,” said Jim Crawford, vice president of Retail Forward, and the consultancy's expert in multi-channel retailing and next generation technology.
Although the current e-commerce experience is limited mostly to point-and-click actions within a browser window, desktop or notebook computer, the future will incorporate a variety of mobile devices that will offer consumers multiple touchpoints within the shopping experience, Crawford explained during Retail Forward's Strategic Outlook Conference.
The point is that consumers are rapidly learning to expect 24/7 access in the air around them, free from the limitations of traditional Web sessions. And beyond simply offering a broader selection of products, retailers will use the mobile Web “to offer individualized products to individual consumers,” he said.
One of the most overlooked marketing and shopping devices to date has already eclipsed the installed base of computer users. There are more than 65 million cell phone users in the United States, two million more than are on computers, Crawford pointed out.
Forty percent of them are sending text messages, 22 percent are taking pictures and 18 percent are accessing the Internet through their cell phones. (Other data suggests there are more than 2.5 billion text messages being sent daily worldwide, by a mostly younger demographic.)
How does that translate for retailers? Crawford noted that in Japan retailers are taking advantage of cell phone cameras which have downloaded software enabling users to photograph product bar codes in stores. The photos will trigger an Amazon response with product information and reviews and a list of nearby retailers and their prices.
Crawford provided the example of a consumer standing in one retailer's store, photographing the bar code, reviewing the information and clicking to buy.
“They've just bought it from your competitor,” he offered. This is the real world that's here today.”
Related Content By Author
New homes for Indo Count, Trident


text:
We’re incredibly proud of the women at CPM & Retail Safari who show our business and our clients everyday just how resilient, creative and smart they are. As we celebrate IWD 2019, here are some of the stories from our talented team. CECELLIA TELKES “It’s tough trying to balance work, family and life […]
Big news! We’re delighted to announce yet another milestone in the Retail Safari journey: our brand refresh and new website. You’ll be able to see our new look anywhere from our website to our social networking pages (e.g., Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube and Twitter). Our overall new look is light and modern, packed full of energy […]
At last night’s 2018 Shop! Marketing at Retail Award, Optus and Retail Safari were awarded the Gold prize “2018 Field Marketing Excellence Award”. The industry event is dedicated to celebrating and recognising the innovations of retail and shopper marketing across Australia. “We are incredibly proud to receive this industry award,” Nabs Awad, Managing Director, Retail […]
Oct 13, 2017 – At last night’s 2017 POPAI Marketing @ Retail Awards, Microsoft and their agency partner – Retail Safari – were awarded the “2017 Field Marketing Excellence Award”.
In the lead up to Christmas, we surveyed Australians to discover their shopping intentions for this Christmas season.
Bricks-and-mortar retailing is as strong if not stronger than ever. In fact, the store is and will remain the centre of the sales universe.


text:
Samsung Display’s subsidiary Samsung Corning Advanced Glass will sell its factory in Gumi, South Korea to a Chinese company.
The company held a board meeting last week and decided on the matter, TheElec confirmed on Monday.
Samsung Corning has two factories in South Korea __ one in Gumi and another at Asan.
Gumi facility has been producing target materials which are used to make thin films to coat displays and solar panels with.
In displays, it is used to coat liquid crystal displays, organic light emitting diode (OLED) and touch screen panels.
Samsung Corning Advanced Glass acquired the target business from Samsung Corning Precision Materials back in 2014.
The company’s Asan facility produces glass for OLEDs. A person familiar with the matter said Samsung Display wants to focus on OLED and this is the reason why it is selling the Gumi factory.


text:
The recent history of consumer surcharges has been educational, at the very least, for those companies who have attempted to add them. Not all have paid attention to that experience despite, for example, Bank of America’s $5 debit card usage fee debacle. Now, we can add Verizon’s $2 convenience fee to the fee scrap heap. The strong consumer backlash, both in store and online, as well as a few well placed comments by Federal Communications Commission members, was enough to convince Verizon that forcing people to pay $2 more for the privilege of paying their bills is not a great way to improve customer relations.
Outrage and Outages
To its credit Verizon has been aggressive with the rollout of its new high speed wireless service, but there have recently been deployment bumps. The fee outrage comes at the same time as a series of Verizon network outages with its new 4G LTE network, down three times in the last month, despite assurance by the company that the problem was fixed.
One can understand that Verizon is eager to have its customers pay their bills and, perhaps (and it’s a stretch), its $2 fee announcement was just a ploy to get folks to pay via automatic deduction from their bank account or simply to be more timely with their payments. But, given those service interruptions and the ability to simply shut off a customer’s access to mobile service when they’re late paying, the $2 was doomed in the first place.
The outrage was not just limited to the technorati and the blogosphere. This alternate URL is from Fergus Falls, Minnesota, population 13,620. Midwesterners are known for being nice, but even their Verizon store had plenty of unhappy customers. Hopefully, they were nice about it.


text:
After launching a bunch of Android phones in the market, PC maker Lenovo has decided it is time to bring some integration between the two platforms, and the different operating systems will not be a hindrance. Lenovo has announced the partnership with Bluestacks, to bring the Android App Player to its range of Windows 8 laptops, ultrabooks and desktops.
This is a critical announcement, because users will now be able to access the same Android apps they may be using on a phone or a tablet, on their PC as well via this dedicated software. Bluestacks has said that the ability to sync apps and SMS between the phone and the PC will be launched soon.
"Innovation is vital to leading in the PC world, and we're winning by continuing to push the limits in both software and hardware," said Lenovo's VP of Worldwide Marketing. "Our alliance with BlueStacks puts us in a unique position to offer the most popular games and apps on flagship PC products like the Horizon Table PC in order to give our customers engaging user experiences."
"As the PC market leader and a growing smartphone maker in China, it's huge that Lenovo is implementing our vision of creating a blended experience across smartphones, tablets and PCs," said Rosen Sharma, CEO of BlueStacks. "Consumers want access to all of their apps across all devices. Artificial barriers and silo-ed ecosystems have long been a source of confusion and frustration. The digital world is a celebration of heterogeneous devices. My PC, tablet, smartphone and TV may or may not be from the same brand, but that does not mean that my apps should not work across devices. To take it a step further, my game state and app data should also sync."
It is interesting to note that the App Player was launched exactly a year back. This is the second big partnership for Bluestacks, after the recent tie-up with AMD was announced, again for the cross-platform integration – AMD App Zone, which currently has 500,000 apps.
Lenovo will be implementing the App Player in the Idea-branded Windows 8 laptops, ultrabooks and desktops.


text:
Each year there is a day millions of shoppers around the world are looking forward to. By the time the sales start, people are surfing the sites to catch the best prices for their interest. Innovative retailers are expanding their capabilities and moving sales from real stores to e-commerce sites.
Now, shopping takes place in the locations and at the time that is convenient for customers – their homes, offices, bus stops, etc. They look for special offers on household goods, gadgets, gifts, plan trips, and buy tickets for the next year. If you are among these people, be sure about sales and prices by checking Black Friday sales ads already available.
Why Black Friday Moves Online
American stores and retailers have created huge discount sales on Black Friday to encourage people to spend money at Christmas time. It has become one of the busiest trading days of the year. Buyers lined up in huge queues, ran into shops at the moment of opening, and grabbed everything they saw from the shelves.
Despite its American roots, the Black Friday phenomenon has left the US borders and moved across the planet. Thanks to the Internet, it has been “exported” to the UK and other markets. Such large American retailers as Walmart and Amazon tried to promote it. Thanks to them, Black Friday sales have not only crossed the borders but moved the customers online. Is it really more profitable to do shopping online than offline? Let’s figure out.
Online or Offline?
Nowadays, many buyers are not so reckless about November sales. Most of them use special sites that allow them to track and compare prices. So, you can analyze and think whether the discount is included in the price or not. According to GfK FutureBuy, 45% of European consumers say they spent more time comparing prices in 2020 than in 2019. Mass media influenced this decision, urging buyers to be careful about sales, discounts, and promotions.
Meanwhile, if we are talking about large retailers’ deals, there is no difference if you purchase goods online or offline since prices are the same. However, you should also compare large retailers and smaller stores’ prices because there can be a difference. You can read more tips on how to save while shopping online by following the link.
The Future of Black Friday
Marketers predict the end of the Black Friday era because the younger generation pays more attention to the environment, so second-hand purchases of equipment and clothing are trending.
Black Friday has created a hype around pre-Christmas shopping, but a number of alternatives to the consumer craziness emerged. For example, with its partners from the Fashion Revolution, Greenpeace organized an event where artists held workshops on how to reuse creatively, repair, or recycle consumer goods.
In Canada, the alternative to Black Friday is “Buy Nothing Day,” an international day of protest against consumerism culture. On this day, actions and theatrical performances are held in protest against overconsumption, which is largely artificially imposed by advertising.
Secondly, the widespread practice of discounts that coincide with various holidays throughout the year, combined with skepticism about Black Friday discounts, has created a more cautious attitude towards thoughtless shopping. Thus, there is a tendency that the profit and thoughtless consumption gradually develops into the purchase of better quality branded goods at best possible price, which is required and appreciated by buyers.


text:
"Grey's Anatomy" star Patrick Dempsey has apparently placed the winning bid in Thursday's bankruptcy auction to buy the Tully's Coffee chain.
Dempsey, known as "McDreamy" on the hospital-themed television drama, is visiting Eastside locations at Clyde Hill and downtown Bellevue this morning, according to his Twitter feed.
Dempsey dropped by the Lincoln Square Tully's this morning, after the news that his group of investors placed the winning bid to buy the entire Tully's Coffee chain.
Fans, alerted to his presence through his Twitter feed, greeted Dempsey for pictures and to congratulate him.
Tully's Coffee was sold to an investor group led by Dempsey in a bankruptcy auction on Thursday. Starbucks, which also participated in the auction, says it's in a "back up" position to buy about half of Tully's remaining 47 stores.
"We met the green monster, looked her in the eye, and...SHE BLINKED! We got it! Thank you Seattle!," Dempsey wrote on Twitter Thursday.
The Associated Press reports Dempsey's placed the bid through his company Global Baristas LLC and plans to keep the Tully's brand. But Starbucks, which also participated in the auction, says it's in a "back up" position to buy about half of Tully's remaining 47 stores. A final decision on the winning bid will be determined in court on Jan. 11.
Pam Miller, who works in Lincoln Square tower with Colleen Kraus, said that they are glad that to see that the Tully's brand will stay together.
"I've been keeping abreast of the news of what's going on with the bankruptcy and the auction, and that he's potentially buying it," Kraus said.
"It's good to see that Tully's was staying together versus going to Starbucks," Miller said. "And talking with the staff, also, they're excited that they're going to stay as a company as a whole, versus being spun off to Starbucks and being sold in parts and pieces."
Christine Wood and Meghan Pearson, who are private dining sales managers at Maggiano's Restaurant next door to the Lincoln Square Tully's, invited Dempsey to eat the restaurant sometime.
"I thought it was pretty cool, especially since he's on a show that is set in Seattle, definitely I think that will give the brand a good name. He seems to be a great person not a celebrity who has a lot of drama or anything going on," Wood said. "I think he's a good representative."
"We're just happy to keep Tully's alive and that's going to stay alive," Pearson said.


text:
Water companies have been given various incentives to improve their customer service, but none has been as impactful as customers utilising their right to switch.
More and more retailers are using predictive listening tools such as social media and analytics to gather intelligence about their customers.
The ‘see now, buy now’ trend that retailers saw throughout 2016 looks like it’s here to stay and is sparking a rise in “seasonless” fashion.
The UK Telecoms regulator is clamping down on the broadband speeds that Internet Service Proviers advertise to ensure minimum speed for consumers.
Microsoft has finally given up on the Windows phone. Over the weekend, Microsoft’s Corporate Vice President for Windows, Joe Belifore confirmed the news.
BIFM, the professional body for Facilities Management has published its latest Good Practice Guide to Winter Maintenance.
Facilities solutions provider ABM UK has provided its 7,000 UK-based employees with a state-of-the-art handheld smart device.
Deep ocean wind power could offer three times as much power as is available from onshore projects of the same size research suggests.
Water market regulator Ofwat has stated that water companies should do more to help customers who are struggling to pay their bills.
The Environment Agency has sent a report (5 October) to water companies detailing what it wants from them as they prepare for PR19.


text:
Apple has changed its guidelines referring to in-app subscriptions, allowing developers more freedom over the prices they charge for content.
The iPhone maker announced the wide availability
of timed subscriptions for in-app content back in February, giving developers a new way to distribute their downloadable content.
Game makers are able to use subscription plans to offer complete access to extra level sets, offer regular access to weekly song releases for a music game, or simply meter basic access to a games for a set period.
However, the guidelines stated that any external subscriptions offered outside of the App Store must also be offered as an in-app purchase, and that the price of the subscription app must be equal or less than that of the external subscription.
As reported by
MacRumors, Apple has now altered its guidelines, removing this particular clause and giving developers complete control over the price of subscriptions, no matter if they already have an external subscription service set up or not.
Apple will still take its standard 30 percent share of subscriptions made through the App Store or the app itself. App makers can keep the full proceeds from subscriptions made outside the app.


text:
Sales at Boots fell less than expected over Christmas after the chemist cut prices and relaunched its beauty range.
Sales dipped 0.7 per cent in the three months to the end of December, about half the fall City experts had forecast.
But Boots, which plans to merge with its rival Alliance UniChem, remains cautious about prospects in the coming months. Sales in each of the previous three quarters were lower than in 2004. The company will not be lifting profits targets of about £385m for the full year.
Richard Baker, Boots' chief executive, said: "I think it will be a tough next three months. People are going to see some big bills landing on their doormats. There is nothing I see on the horizon that is going to change conditions for consumers. I think it's going to be quite a tough year."
Higher energy costs and steeper mortgage payments have left Britons with less cash in their pockets. Boots has also been hurt badly by stiff competition from supermarkets such as Tesco.
The encouraging Christmas followed a string of promotions, including successful three-for-two mix-and-match offers.
"Our plans for a seasonal offer focused more on our health and beauty expertise, with more products unique to Boots and more gifts at lower price points," Mr Baker said.
Sales of its beauty products, which typically carry higher profit margins, were 7 per cent better after the relaunch. Sales over the internet soared 44 per cent.
Boots, which is based in Nottingham, took on less stock than usual over Christmas, with more lower-priced goods. More own-brand products and better buying contributed to a further improvement in gross margin, which is a key measure of profitability.
The £1.9bn disposal of Boots Healthcare International, the over-the-counter-medicines business, to the household goods giant Reckitt Benckiser is expected to go through at the end of this month.
Boots investors will be paid a special dividend of 200p a share no later than 24 February. Boots shares have improved by almost 6 per cent in the past month. Yesterday, they rose 14.5p to 651.5p.


text: Following a high profile public battle between secular activists and Ashdod Mayor Yehiel Lasri, the latter has announced the city will stop issuing fines to businesses in large shopping centers in nonresidential areas for operating on Shabbat.At the beginning of this year, city officials began issuing warning notices, and then fines, to shops in Ashdod’s Big Fashion and Star Center shopping malls for opening on Shabbat, which contravened a municipal bylaw that had never been enforced in these areas.Secular activists began a concerted campaign of protests which attracted the attention of Yisrael Beytenu chairman Avigdor Liberman and other high profile politicians.And on Wednesday night, Lasri announced that the fines would stop. The mayor explained, as he has in the past, that a ruling by the Ashdod Magistrate’s Court has forced the city to enforce its 1976 bylaw regulating businesses opening on Shabbat.Lasri said that the city had begun issuing warnings and fines to supermarkets and grocery stores opening up in residential areas of the city, and even close to synagogues, on Shabbat, and that the court approved legal action against these stores but insisted that enforcement be applied equally across the city in light of the bylaw.The mayor said that the recent spate of fines that were issued came in order to comply with the court’s decision, and were carried out over a limited period of four weeks, which has now ended “in order to restore the city’s enforcement ability.”Said Lasri, “This process has now ended. That’s it. We finished it already a few weeks ago.” He added that he has now issued instructions for enforcement efforts to be concentrated only in areas close to the religious community and against any stores which open on Shabbat and are near synagogues.“We will not allow anyone, at home or from outside, to erect walls of hatred among us, the residents of the city,” said Lasri during his announcement.“And we won’t allow anyone to lead us to a civil war... [for] anyone to fan the flames anew, to gain votes and mandates is an attempt to wage war against us all, all the city residents. Against life together and mutual respect, mutual respect that has existed for decades. And city residents, secular, religious as one, will not forgive these efforts to harm our coexistence.”Members of the opposition in the Ashdod City Council welcomed the new situation, saying that the political pressure from them and activist groups in the city had been effective in bringing it about.Some activists are still insistent however that the city council pass a bylaw anchoring the rights of businesses to open on Shabbat in law.


text:
Aussie Apple resellers receive boxes with "DO NOT OPEN" warningAustralian resellers began receiving mysterious packages from Apple on Friday with a warning across the top that breaching the boxes ahead of June 10th would be a violation of their non-disclosure agreements with the company.
mactalk.com.au, which posted the below photo to its forums, notes that June 10th in Australia is actually around the same time of Apple chief executive Steve Jobs's June 9th WWDC keynote in the US. The site adds that it believes the boxes contain a single demonstration 3G iPhone to be displayed by the resellers immediately following the company's announcements.
Earlier this year, the Australian Apple fan site published a report in which it said that local resellers had started to receive guidance from the Cupertino-based company regarding a local 3G iPhone launch during the final week of June.
The report added that the touch-screen handset would arrive unlocked for use on many of the nation's wireless carriers and that Australian Apple resellers, unlike those in the US and Europe, would be privy to market the device to their customers.
In recent weeks both Vodafone and SingTel have announced deals with Apple to market the next-generation iPhone in Australia.
On Topic: iPhone
- Sources: iPhone 6 series 'touch disease' now accounting for about 11% of Apple Store repairs
- 'iPhone 7' production affected by low yields on waterproof speaker, dual camera - report
- Intel plots attack on Apple's partnership with TSMC, looks to build A-series chips by 2018
- Apple again rumored to axe iPhone home button in 2017
- Apple to integrate Japan's FeliCa tap-to-pay standard in next-gen iPhone, report says


text:
The year 2020 may go down in history as the year outside sales died. After all, business travel came to a sudden halt, and face-to-face meetings became impossible as clients and customers retreated to their home offices and restaurant lunch spots shuttered their doors.
But outside sales lost its luster well before the pandemic struck. And sales teams were already becoming leaner thanks to technology integration, allowing teams to do more with less. The writing was on the walls by 2013, when PointClear reported inside sales was growing at a rate of 15% each year and predicted that 20 million salespeople would be reduced to 8 million by the year 2020.
And now? What will sales teams look like in 2021?
“We’ll see the rise of the professional salesperson — automation powered by AI will require it. The majority of salespeople will be efficient, so the most effective will win out and the rest will be replaced by technology. This means we’ll also see a rise in the need for excellent sales training around conversational abilities and navigating complex sales effectively,” Rex Bibertson, principal, Rexb.co LLC, told Hubspot’s Brian Signorelli.
“The future isn’t ‘death of a salesman,’ it’s ‘death of a lazy salesman,’” adds Chris Fago, a cloud security specialist for RedLock.
“Sales people who can find and convert new prospects will always be needed. It’s just that technology is making the process more efficient. Employers want to see verified results and evidence of what a job candidate’s process has been to turn a prospect into a client,” she says.
That process is increasingly melding traditional sales tactics with tools like CRM software and automation. And while soft skills like leadership, big-picture thinking, self-motivation, and adaptability are critical, so is technical and digital know-how.
“Turning your customer insights into actionable intelligence means recognizing when and how things are changing. Often, that means being fluent in modern business intelligence and CRM…[sales people] need to look beyond yesterday’s Excel and PowerPoint,” says Blueadz’s Erika Giles. “…It might seem like the role of sales is getting smaller. When you look closely at most organizations, however, it becomes obvious sales isn’t shrinking. It’s just getting more agile.”
FIND GREAT TALENT NOW
The HT Group fills roles in Temporary Staffing, Executive Search, Technical Recruiting, and Retained Search.


text:
Policy Tools to Change Food Consumption Behavior
Aug 18, 2017
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC), 70 percent of adult Americans over the age of 20 were overweight or obese in 2013--35.7 percent were obese This is not a problem limited to the United States--a 2014 Lancet study estimates that there are more than 2 billion people in similar condition globally, in both developed and developing countries.
In addition to potentially causing health problems for the individuals involved, there are also significant costs for the U.S. economy. It is estimated that addressing chronic health problems like diabetes and hypertension often associated with obesity cost between $147 billion and $210 billion every year, or as much as one-fifth of total medical spending in this country.
These high shares of Americans suffering from being overweight or obese has come about relatively quickly. In less than 15 years, we have gone from no states reporting statewide obesity rates greater than 14 percent in 1987 (18 states reported no data in that year) to all states but Colorado reporting rates of 15 percent or higher as of 2001.
There are a number of factors contributing to this phenomenon, but it basically boils down to two trends--on average, people are eating more calories, with much of the gains coming from highly processed foods that are energy-dense but nutrient poor, like junk food and soda. A 2012 survey by Gallup found that more than half of Americans drink at least one soda per day, with average per capita consumption at 39 gallons in 2016. Interestingly, that level represents a more than 25 percent decline since its peak in 1998, although some of that decline has been offset by increased consumption of other caloric beverages, like energy drinks. Today’s Americans eat out at restaurants more frequently as well, often receiving bigger portions leading to increased food consumption. In 1970, such food accounted for 29 percent of all food consumed by Americans--by 2012, that share had risen to 43 percent.
On the other side of the ledger, many people are getting less exercise than did their counterparts of past generations, in day to day living both on and off the job. Statistics maintained by the labor confederation AFL-CIO indicates that the share of white collar jobs in the U.S. economy rose from 18 percent in 1900 to 60 percent one hundred years later. While such jobs are typically better paying than industrial occupations, they are also largely sedentary and less likely to be physically taxing. Most Americans don’t engage in regular exercise either--a recent survey found that only 20 percent undertake the recommended level of exercise on a weekly basis.
In response to these developments, a range of policy options have emerged that seek to change the downward health spiral that Americans find themselves in. With the major exception of the ‘Let’s Move’ campaign initiated by former First Lady Michelle Obama, which included an effort to encourage children and teenagers to exercise more, most recent policy initiatives have focused on the ‘eating’ side of the ledger.
These policies can be divided into two categories--those that provide positive incentives for people to eat more nutritiously, and those that attempt to restrict or otherwise penalize the consumption of less nutritious foods. Many policies of both types have focused on low-income households because most of them directly participate in federal programs aimed at improving their nutrition, even though problems with obesity affect Americans of all income categories.
Policies on the positive side include making fresh fruits and vegetables more accessible and affordable to low-income households, such as the ‘Double-Up Food Bucks’ program offered at farmers markets and grocery stores around the country. At those locations, participants in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) have the opportunity to receive coupons that enable them to buy twice as much fresh produce with their SNAP resources than they could otherwise afford. The program started in Michigan in 2009, which is now available at 250 farmers markets and groceries in that state alone, as well as dozens of locations in 23 other states.
On the restriction side of the ledger, a number of jurisdictions have sought to bar SNAP recipients from using their benefits to purchase soda and/or junk food at grocery stores. For example, in 2011, New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg sought to bar purchase of soda and sweetened drinks by SNAP recipients in his city. To date, all such proposals have failed to receive approval from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which oversees the SNAP program. In general, USDA officials have determined that such efforts would be too difficult to implement, with stores needing detailed guidance as to which specific food items would fall under the ban and which would not.
There are also policies which are designed to discourage consumption of such foods by the general population, such as by imposing additional taxes on such consumption. The drinking of soda has been the target of most such efforts, starting in Mexico in 2014. Several U.S. cities, such as San Francisco, Oakland, Philadelphia, and most recently Cook County Illinois (which includes the city of Chicago), have followed suit over the last year or so. A recent study showed that soda sales fell for two consecutive years in Mexico after the tax was imposed--it is too early to gauge impacts in the U.S. cities where the soda tax in now in place.


text:
QUETTA: The Quetta Chamber of Commerce and Industry (QCCI) has called upon the authorities to start business activities at the Bazarcha border terminal at the Taftan border to bring trade and job opportunities to residents.
Speaking at a meeting of the chamber, which discussed border trade and other issues, QCCI President Fida Hussain Dashti regretted that despite the consent of the Federal Board of Revenue and relevant agencies, it was surprising that the NLC has put up obstacles in this regard.
He said construction and operation of the Bazarcha border terminal were a long-standing demand of Taftan residents and people associated with Balochistan’s trade and industry, especially transporters.
Mr Dashti said the demand had already been brought into the notice of Senate Chairman Sadiq Sanjrani, FBR Chairman Muhammad Ishfaq Ahmed and Senate Standing Committee for Trade Chairman Zeeshan Khanzada during their visit to Taftan.
In this regard, a memorandum of understanding was also signed between the QCCI and Pakistan Customs in March this year.
Later, a notification was also issued, after which the QCCI Terminal Operations Trust started construction work.
The QCCI president said although the construction work was completed ahead of schedule, the terminal had yet to start operations.
He insisted that starting commercial activities at the Bazarcha border terminal would not only increase the revenue of the country and the province but also create hundreds of jobs.
Published in Dawn, July 7th, 2022


text:
Fuel import increased by 70% in the first quarter of the year, amid the unfavorable weather conditions in the winter and revisions at the refineries in Romania.
In the first three months of the year, Romania imported 23.853 tons of gasoline and 402.138 tons of diesel, according to data provided by the National Institute for Statistics. Compared to the first three months of last year, gasoline imports fell by 8% (from 25.992 last year), but diesel imports, the most used fuel in Romania, increased by 10%, from the corresponding volume of 365.122 tons, related to the first three months of 2016, according to e-nergia.ro.
In terms of import value, they were 217 million euros in the first three months, up by 70% from the same figure last year (116 million euros). At the same time with an increase in fuel imports, there was a decline in exports over the same period, negative for a country whose operational refining capacity is almost double that of domestic consumption. In the first three months of the year, gasoline exports were only 385.889 tons, a third lower than the 576.000 tons, corresponding to the first three months of the previous year. In diesel, the situation is even worse: exports totaled only 279.189 tonnes, 42% less than the over 482.000 tonnes exported in the first three months of 2016.
Overall, in terms of volume, gasoline and diesel exports fell by over 37% to around 665.000 tonnes, from more than one million tonnes in the previous year. Valorically, exports amounted at 325,8 million euros, 4.6% less.


text:
the people, places and issues impacting all areas of farm country. WorldNow and this Station make no warranties or representations in connection therewith. Thorns DIY, based on Exchange Street in Norwich, is investing in redecorating the exterior of its shop and setting up an e commerce site later this year. The announcement comes after the firm recently collected two silver awards at the DIY Week trade awards for Retail Communicator of the Year and Hardware Retailer of the Year.
Now, they are looking for some.
the e commerce side. heard at the DIY Week award ceremony how companies were benefiting from going online, so that is something we want to push. will help, but it is also important to go back to old fashioned customer service that goes a long way and the big retailers seem to forget that. used to go for the higher end of the market Flyknit Racer Hyper Jade On Feet when it came to buying tools.
About American Farmer:American Farmer is a breakthrough program on a mission to showcase the latest advancements in agriculture and farming. From seed to harvest, livestock and more, our producers have traveled the country covering Nike Flyknit Racer Black White Volt
Emily Motts, business development manager at Thorns, said the retailer Nike Flyknit Air Max Crimson
am. Viewers will learn about services and technology at E4 Crop Intelligence, as well as their ability to transform raw data into actionable crop intelligence. Additionally, American Farmer will feature Becks, the largest family owned, retail seed company in the United States. Audiences will learn how Beck strives to provide all customers with the tools needed to succeed on their farm. It important to stay informed on the latest innovations and advancements today," said Charlie Cowan, producer for American Farmer. "This episode is jam packed with important educational information.
was exploring new revenue streams after experiencing a difficult year on the high street, with sales of DIY and gardening goods being hit by the wet weather in the summer. She added: has been a tough and challenging year but we are updating the website and we are exploring Nike Flyknit Free 4.0 Womens
Home / Flyknit Racer Hyper Jade On Feet
Nike Flyknit Racer Kanye West
Nike Flyknit Air Max Women 2015
Nike Flyknit Barefoot
Nike Flyknit Air Max Womens Grey
Flyknit Racer Hulk
Flyknit Racer Hyper Punch On Feet
Free Flyknit Nsw
Nike Flyknit Max Blue Lagoon


text:
Disney isn’t finished calling off trips due to Covid19. Guests have begun receiving notifications about the latest round of cancellations.
Walt Disney World Cancellations
Although Walt Disney World announced its plans for a phased reopening of the theme parks, there are still a handful of dates left in the system that will inevitably be canceled. The theme parks will not begin reopening until July 11 for Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom and July 15 for Hollywood Studios and Epcot.
Since the theme park’s reopening will not begin for over a month, it is probably not shocking that Disney is sending out cancellations. Walt Disney World has begun sending cancellation notifications with guests who hold reservations for June 14, 2020 to June 21, 2020.
We may see an Annual Passholder Preview window pop up between now and the park’s opening. But otherwise, guests will need to wait until July 11 to re-enter the parks.
Disney Word has also announced cancellations of Fastpasses, dining plans, and dining and experience reservations through at least the end of the year. For more on the story, click here.
While Florida Theme parks have plans for reopening, the story is different on the opposite coast. Disneyland and Disney California Adventure have not announced a date to begin phased reopenings.
Because of this, some guests may be disappointment to find that they are the recipients of the new wave of Disneyland cancellation announcements. Reservations from June 21, 2020 to June 27, 2020 will be canceled.
Disneyland has also pushed back its dates for accepting Hotel reservations. For more on the story, click here.
Hopefully a sense of normalcy for theme park fans is on the way. The KtP team will keep you updated as news comes.


text:
GrubHub founders Matt Maloney (left) and Mike Evans were MBA students at the University of Chicago when they won the New Venture Challenge for the online ordering and meal delivery site. They've since raised more than $50 million in venture capital. This year, the company merged with New York-based Seamless and announced online ordering and delivery from 25,000 restaurants around the U.S. and London.
The UpTake: With nine exits in the last year, including the high-profile sale of Braintree to eBay, the University of Chicago is ready to brag about its New Venture Challenge. In its 15th year, the challenge argues that it provided the foundation for the accelerator model made popular by Y Combinator and TechStars.
Instead of simply applying to the challenge, MBA students participate in different events each fall to come up with ideas and find teams to help pursue them. In February, they submit an early business plan, and then 30 of typically 100 teams are chosen to begin the process, which includes a course for credit.
Kaplan and Ellen Rudnick, executive director of Booth’s Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, each take half the teams, pair them with coaches and take them through an educational curriculum. They’re also matched with mentors from throughout the University of Chicago and New Venture Challenge alumni networks and the greater business community.
In April, the teams present their businesses to established entrepreneurs and investors and get handed all kinds of constructive criticism, Kaplan says. They fine tune those pitches and then present again in May, when the top 10 businesses are chosen to participate in the finals for a convertible note worth up to $100,000 from Zebra Technologies founder Ed Kaplan (no relation to the professor).
“We don’t say, ‘Here’s how to start your business.’ It’s not a cookbook course,” Professor Kaplan says. “But what we do is really increase the odds they succeed and the speed at which they make progress.”
An example is a startup called MouseHouse, which started the 2012 challenge as a plan to provide software to help scientists manage their lab mice. Kaplan’s network helped them find 30 potential customers, of which 25 agreed to beta test the software. The team is out raising money today.
“People now come to the school here to do this,” Kaplan says. “I cannot think of another business plan competition that has had as big of an exit as Braintree’s in the last five years.”
Laura Baverman is a business journalist newly relocated to Raleigh, North Carolina. Before her move, Laura spent nearly four years tracking Cincinnati's growing technology and startup scene for the Cincinnati Enquirer.
If you are commenting using a Facebook account, your profile information may be displayed with your comment depending on your privacy settings. By leaving the 'Post to Facebook' box selected, your comment will be published to your Facebook profile in addition to the space below.
Sign up for the latest business news, opinion and analysis from Upstart and get the best the site has to offer each week day.


text:
Price increase is twice as sharp at daily shopping
It wasn't a delight to pop out to the corner store
Driven by fuel, tobacco prices
Consumer price index could have reached upper end of tolerance range in Dec19
Steady price pressure
No surprise there
No change in monetary policy conditions, as expected
Core inflation hits new record
Core inflation rises to 4%
Base effect helps
Monetary Council takes decision on interest rate conditions
Monetary easing in the next few months may be on the cards
What do analysts make of the latest data?
Consumer price rise below target
But there will be a few rough months
And higher inflation too
Turnaround in tax-adjusted core inflation index.
While internal price pressure remains significant.
Key macroeconomic events and data of the week.


text:
Dapatkan promo member baru Pengeluaran SGP 2020 – 2021.
Tesco has warned that sales are likely to fall in the UK – including online – as customers return to more normal behaviour by eating out and attending the office, my colleague Sarah Butler reports.
The supermarket reported a 0.5% rise in sales in established UK stores in the 13 weeks to 29 May, down from an 8.8% rise in the previous quarter.
Underlying sales across the group, which also operates stores in Europe as well as the Booker grocery wholesaler, rose 1% to £13.4bn.
Tesco’s finance director, Imran Nawaz, said the company anticipated sales would fall by a “few per cent” in the year ahead as restrictions on dining out and travelling were removed.
Ken Murphy, the chief executive, said Tesco had enjoyed a “really strong first quarter” but admitted it was “definitely going to be challenging to stay in positive territory” on sales in the UK.
British food and drink exports to the EU fell by £2bn in the first three months of 2021, with sales of dairy products plummeting by 90%, according to an analysis of HMRC data.
Brexit checks, stockpiling and Covid have been blamed for much of the downturn, but the sector has said the figures show structural rather than teething problems with the UK’s departure from the EU.
Dominic Goudie, the head of international trade at the Food and Drink Federation (FDF) says:
“The loss of £2bn of exports to the EU is a disaster for our industry, and is a very clear indication of the scale of losses that UK manufacturers face in the longer-term due to new trade barriers with the EU.”
He called on the government to “stop prevaricating” over proposals to help exporters “shut out of trading with the EU”.
ByteDance, the Chinese parent of TikTok, more than doubled its revenues last year as usage of the hugely popular video app boomed.
The company, which last year weathered pressure from Donald Trump to sell its US operation as part of a trade war with China, reported a 111% increase in revenues to $34.3bn (£24.7bn).
ByteDance also reported a 93% increase in gross profit to $19bn, according to an internal memo released to staff.
There has been stratospheric growth in user numbers for ByteDance since TikTok launched worldwide only four years ago, hitting 1.9 billion active monthly users at the end of last year. This includes the Chinese version of TikTok, called Douyin, and products such as the news aggregation app Toutiao.
TikTok has proved to be a social media juggernaut, drawing hundreds of millions of users, most of whom are in the advertiser hotspot of 12 to 24 years old, to short videos from creators including the singer Doja Cat, the social media personality Charli D’Amelio and the illusionist Zach King.
Overall, ByteDance reported a net loss of $45bn last year. The company attributed this to a one-off accounting adjustment, and not operational performance. The operating loss was $2.1bn, compared with $684m in profit in 2019, and was mainly down to the cost of share-based compensation for shareholders…
Here’s the full story:


text:
Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag‘s first story DLC, Freedom Cry, will be available later this month, according to a new advert.
An advert in the latest issue of Game Informer‘s digital magazine states that the DLC will be available from Tuesday, December 17. The DLC will be free for season pass holders and Ubisoft promises a four-hour plus story.
“Born a slave, Adewale found freedom as a pirate aboard the Jackdaw as Captain Edward Kenway’s second-in-command. Fifteen years later, Adewale has become a trained assassin and finds himself shipwrecked in Saint-Domingue with no weapon nor crew, starting a new adventure of his own,” reads the publisher’s official description of the DLC.


text:
- Subscribe NowLimited Time Offer
Sign Up for the St. Louis Business Journal Afternoon Edition Newsletter
Send this story to a friend
Ralcorp settles legal challenges to ConAgra deal
According to a regulatory filing, the private-label food maker agreed to file amended and supplemental disclosures with the Securities and Exchange Commission concerning the proposed merger, which was announced Nov. 27.
Company officials said they have “scrupulously complied” with their fiduciary responsibilities but entered the settlement to avoid the burden and expense of litigation; put claims against the company to rest; and avoid delaying the deal’s closure, according to the filing.
Ralcorp shareholders are set to meet Jan. 29. The deal is expected to close by March 31.
Earlier in January, the transaction cleared two regularly hurdles, including passing the waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976. The Canadian Competition Bureau also indicated it will not challenge the deal.
Under a merger agreement, approved by the boards of both companies in November, Omaha, Neb.-based ConAgra will pay $90 per share in cash for Ralcorp. ConAgra officials said they intend to finance the Ralcorp acquisition primarily with cash on hand, existing credit facilities and new borrowings.
The deal will create one of the largest packaged food companies in North America, with annual sales of about $18 billion and more than 36,000 employees combined.
St. Louis-based Ralcorp (NYSE: RAH), led by President and CEO Kevin Hunt, produces private label products including cereal, pasta, crackers, jellies, jams, syrups and frozen waffles. The company also makes branded and commercial/foodservice products.
Food and beverage, Health care, Retail, Hospitality and gaming
- Most popular
- On the market: the most expensive homes in Richmond Heights
- Here are the highest-paid private college presidents in Missouri
- 5 things you don't need to know but might want to
- Serving up french fry fortunes
- Boeing to hire up to 400 for new R&D centers in St. Louis
- Danforth takes new role at Danforth Plant Science Center
- Frontenac’s ‘Nest’ tells customers to eat, stay and play
- BJC’s plans for former Highway Patrol land move forward
- Will Washington union vote on Boeing's final 777X offer?
- Charter ready to offer $140 a share for Time Warner Cable
Email Newsletter Signup
Afternoon Edition: The latest local business news delivered to you each afternoon.
Pulaski Bank Home Lending
Wesley House Associaton, Redevelopment Opportunities of Women & Pay Back, Inc.
Wesley House Association, Redevelopment Opportunities for Women and PayBack, Inc.
US Bank Home Mortgage
- Careers at Verizon Wireless Verizon Wireless | Local Opportunities
- Bookkeeper/Office Administrator Assistant Jordan Search Consultants | O Fallon, MO
- General Counsel Bi-State | Saint Louis, MO


text:
I don’t know how many times I’ve said, “If you want people to sit up and take note (of whatever), send a FedEx.” An email, no matter how well written, is never going to compete with an overnight package. Evolution Bureau obviously understands this, because I just came home to a FedEx box, which naturally […]
Viral + Buzz
Check out Scotsman Danny MacAskill in this new VW spot from TRY Advertising in Oslo, Norway. in April, MacAskill placed a five-minute video of himself doing bicycle stunts to the tune of Band of Horses’ “Funeral” on YouTube. The video has since been viewed more than 12 million times. Todd Wasserman of Brandfreak says the […]
Samsung is encouraging people to become Mobile Explorers and film behind the scenes events in Vancouver.
Do you ever enter a hip retail store and the people working there look like they just stepped from the pages of a fashion mag, and you think you could never talk to them, because they’re too damn pretty? Well, PUMA wants to make the hotties in their stores more available to you. For instance, […]
According to The New York Times, Steve Pacheco, director of advertising at FedEx, believes “lunchtime is the new prime time,” a fact which led him to supply BBDO-made, YouTube-distributed infotainment starring Fred Willard. The Times says the shipping company needs a successful campaign. Pummeled by the downturn and high fuel prices — not to mention […]
According to AdAge, Zack16 and his missing man parts is an effort to sell more Tampax. “It was inexpensive for us to do this one little effort and kind of get a feel for how much pickup it gets, if it goes viral or if it doesn’t,” a P&G spokesman said. Leo Burnett is the […]
Zach Galifianakis, Tim and Eric in Absolut Zach (Part One) from Zach Galifianakis The New York Times Sunday Magazine ran a feature on comedian Zach Galifianakis a couple weeks ago. In the piece, author John Wray mentions the Absolut Vodka “ads” Galifianakis did. The resulting three sketches, made in collaboration with the absurdist comedy duo […]
The lyrics herein are brilliant: Sung to Don McLean’s “American Pie”, this 19 stanza song was written and produced in just one day by “L. McDuff”.
In a culture awash with self-help books and DVDs, Tony Robbinsesque seminars, and late night pitches on TV, Leroy Smith really has little to worry about. That’s because his infomercial is simply better than all the rest. Learn more at GetYourBasketballOn.com.
A band like Phish with legions of loyal followers doesn’t need advertising. But they have it anyway…


text:
Haystack, the music sharing and discovery site, has launched its first widget, and it's doing things up right.
Coinciding with an iPhone Giveaway, the widget will be used as your way of entering the contest. To celebrate the release of Killswitch Engage's Special Edition of "As Daylight Dies" the giveaway will promote the band and Haystack, and give you a chance to win an iPhone. The widget itself is pretty cool. It features 13 songs from Roadrunner's (Killswitch Engage's record label) roster, including Megadeth, Dream Theater, Stone Sour, Daath, 3 Inches of Blood, and more. The Killswitch Engage video "Holy Diver" is also features on this widget.
Taking advantage of Clearspring's one-click distribution options for widgets, the Haystack widget can be easily sent to existing networks including MySpace, and now Facebook, which is a recent development for Clearspring. In addition, Haystack's widget is powered by MediaRiver, which launched its Clicksurge widget technology earlier this year. As MediaRiver's Clicksurge can be used for advertising purposes, this is a good example of how a marketing campaign can leverage existing technology for widget creation and distribution in order to engage users and make it easier for the widget to be spread across the web. The more times a user places a widget somewhere on the web, the more entries that user gets for Haystack's iPhone giveaway.


text:
Is CCPA, wait & see smart? With Data Breach class action suits accepted by courts unassociated with CCPA, may be your answer. Surveys indicate that many CEOs, including those of mid-market companies, rank the risk of data breaches as among their highest risk concerns for the foreseeable future. https://lnkd.in/ecFTysk. B2C & B2B.
The Macy’s data security class action lawsuit asserts that the department store did not take appropriate measures to protect customers before the breach. https://lnkd.in/e2iPhUA
The complaint filed by Morgan & Morgan in the District of Maryland accuses Marriott of negligence, breach of contract, breach of confidence, and deceptive and unfair trade practices. https://lnkd.in/esX_4zd
Newman, Wisconsin, seeks certification of the complaint as a class action, which would allow other motor carriers to join the data breach suit against TQL. https://lnkd.in/eC9hBZ3
Wawa facing lawsuits over data breach at all of its stores. https://lnkd.in/eXFnMrH
Facebook has agreed to pay $550 million to settle a class-action lawsuit over its use of facial recognition technology in Illinois. https://lnkd.in/en2kg4y
Get: DSAR, Discovery/Encryption, Outliers, Right of Erasure, Usage, Consent, Biometrics, IoT, Data Migration to Cloud, Machine Learning
#CCPA #GDPR #PII #ML


text:
Indigo-dyed knitwear may not be new, but the potential audience for these styles has grown during the pandemic as loungewear became the leading fashion.
More than ever, consumers are seeking out comfortable clothing. Indigo knitwear is stepping up to give consumers their denim fix in fabrications that allow for more ease. Even outside of Covid, indigo knitwear fits into consumers’ increasingly active lifestyles.
Carved in Blue asked some members of the denim community about indigo knits’ place in the future of denim.
Read more on Carved in Blue.
This article is one of a series on Rivet from Lenzing’s Carved in Blue denim blog. From conversations with the experts behind the mills that make some of the world’s most-wanted denim to the global brands bringing novel denim made with TENCEL™ Lyocell and Modal to the market, Carved in Blue shares the stories of those whose roots run deep with denim. Visit www.carvedinblue.tencel.com.


text:
Stuffed rabbits for sale at a local yard sale (Carter Giegerich/Johnson City Press)
They say one man’s junk is another man’s treasure, and this weekend’s beautiful weather provided a perfect backdrop for prospective treasure hunters in Johnson City.
“I think they’re all treasures,” said Kathy Baker, one of many Johnson City residents who puts together yard sales during the summer months. Baker helps friends and family put their yard sales together, bringing some of her own things to sell and helping them sell their unused things.
“I do them mostly to help people,” said Baker. “There’s a lot of people that don’t have money to pay their electric bills and water bills. What I’ll do is go around to my friends and people that need me and sell my stuff and their stuff too — try to help.”
For a lot of folks in Johnson City, yard sales are a great way to make a little extra cash while freeing up space around the house at the same time. What they see as just another knick-knack lying around the house might be a toy that brightens a kid’s day, or just the thing to make their neighbor’s living room complete.
“The best part is getting rid of the clutter. There’s more space,” said Tony Trivett, who spent his Saturday helping his daughter get ready to move by selling her excess stuff.
Community yard sales also have a way of bringing neighborhoods together — Carter Crossing held its community sale this weekend and many nearby residents came out to see what their neighbors had to offer.
“The neighborhood has a sale every year, and we usually participate,” said Barbara Sesney as friends and neighbors perused her spot at the yard sale. Sesney, a schoolteacher, said the sale was a great way to make a little extra cash in the teaching offseason.
There’s no telling what you might find out for sale at a local yard sale, whether it’s a vintage Atari video game console, some like-new exercise equipment or clothing in all sorts of styles. If you’re looking for something special or just want to check out what’s been collecting dust around the neighborhood, your local yard sales are a great way to spend a sunny Saturday morning.


text:
New Equipment, Fiberglass and Hardware Options Debut at GlassBuild America
September 17, 2013
Meetings & Events
Atlanta–Buoyed by an uptick in the housing market, increased sales volumes and positive predictions for the year ahead, the mood was upbeat among the more than 6,200 attendees and 360 exhibitors here at GlassBuild America: The Glass, Window & Door Expo, September 10-12. And while very few companies were willing to say that a recovery is in full swing, most were optimistic that sales would continue to trend upward into 2014.
Equipment suppliers, many of which made new introductions at the Georgia World Congress Center, reported sales are up, as companies begin to unleash the tight reins they’ve held the past five years over capital expenditures.
“Business has shaped up nicely,” said Jay Campbell, sales manager for Billco Manufacturing. “There is a remarkable difference between this year and the several years previous. The market is in an upswing, and companies are again investing in needed machinery. Things started booming in the first quarter and have been improving steadily since,” he said on the show floor. “It was as if someone just turned the spigot on.”
Joseph Sigmund, vice president of Rotox USA Inc., Stow, Ohio, which introduced a new multi-head welding machine in Atlanta, agreed.
“We are up 15 percent over last year, and have got quite a bit [of jobs] quoted for next year,” Sigmund said. “We are starting to see more projects quoted that are already funded”—unlike many of the previous years when the funding often failed to materialize. “People are looking for equipment that they are actually going to buy.”
Stürtz Machinery was among the equipment suppliers closing sales on the show floor and also reported an upturn in purchasing activity.
“Business is way up the last three months,” said Mike Biffl, national sales manager. “We have had an increase in bid activity and in orders, and have closed a lot of deals since July. The number of quotes is where we would expect it to be before a show like this. That wasn’t the case the last five years.”
As for the type of machinery in demand, “companies are looking for equipment that will allow them to do more processes and keep up with the volume without increasing their workforce,” according to Biffl.
Efficiency―both in terms of manufacturing and end-use product― is also of utmost importance, suppliers reported.
On the show floor, GED Integrated Solutions introduced the brand-new RC-100 RoboClean robotic corner cleaner. The first beta machine is expected to go out the first of the year, with production machines available in late Q1 or early Q2 of 2014. "The unit features a robotic arm with a 'star' hub at the end of it," explained Joe Shaheen, director of sales and marketing. "That hub enables the robot to reach all sides and angles of the profile. It can access every aspect, every angle of the profile without changing tools, so one tool can do a variety of things. From the point of quality, we have the opportunity to engage the tool at the optimum angle on the surface to clean the profile. From a maintenance standpoint, there are no exposed cables or wear items. All of the wear items, the sensors, the devices are self-contained within the robot. There is nowhere vinyl dust or chips can get to it and destroy or degrade the quality of the components. From a maintenance standpoint, the only thing you will have to do is change the tools when you’ve worn them out," he said.
Bystronic Glass Inc. unveiled for the first time globally its Rapidline linear motor high-speed glass cutting machine, designed by Hegla. “The benefit is the linear drive,” said Scott Knisely, president. “You have decreased maintenance and increase performance speed 30 percent” compared to a typical rack-and-pinion cutter, he said.
Rotox’s SMH510 multi-head welding machine also debuted on the floor. It can simultaneously weld four frame profiles at an angle of 90° with parallel feed controlled by servo-drives. “It makes sure every corner is welded properly at the exact time. You have less remakes, less bad parts, more production with fewer people and can weld twice as fast,” Sigmund said.
To save space and reduce the number of equipment operators needed on the production floor, Pro-Line Automation USA introduced its Zipper by Pro-Line equipment that combines three processes into one for inserting a polyamide strut into aluminum profiles.
Also new on the floor was the ExactaBlend AGP advanced glazing proportioner from Graco Inc. The machine sets the ratio for the use of sealant and adhesive electronically rather than using linkages and rocker arms. “You get better repeatability, faster set-up and more uptime,” said Todd Louden, worldwide product manager for the applied fluid technologies division of Graco. “The machine will not dispense unless it is on ratio. For typical medium-volume applications, you can save up to $6,000 per year in material waste.”
Billco also reported it is working on several improvements to its existing machines. For example, the exhibitor has developed and patented an adaptive loading option for use with its crane loading system. “It provides a more consistent flow of glass to the cutting table and reduces mechanical wear on the crane,” said Campbell. “Crane systems currently on order will have this feature implemented.”
Windows and Doors
With markets and business rebounding, numerous new window and door products—from lineals to profiles to complete systems—filled exhibitor booths at the show. The biggest trends: doors and windows designed to differentiate dealers, builders and manufacturers in the marketplace, and a burst of fiberglass fenestration products.
“What the market is saying is: ‘It’s about me, my market, my region and how do I differentiate that white rectangle, because the pie is no bigger—and is actually shrinking. So whether you are on the extrusion side, the window side, the fabricator side, or the builder and dealer side, you have to take share to grow,” said Gary Hartman, director of marketing and new business development for Chelsea Building Products Inc.
“More than anything else, our customers are looking for value-added products to fill holes and gaps in their product lines, expand their market segments and gain a competitive advantage,” added Dave Byers, manager of the window and door division of L.B. Plastics Inc.
At the show, L.B. showcased its new folding and sliding door that has fewer parts, making it easier to fabricate. The door also has a thermally-broken aluminum frame around the perimeter, a multi-wheeled rolling system, and a compression seal throughout for water and air tightness.
Veka unveiled its PD5 three-track, three-panel sliding door with an-all vinyl frame, designed for greater energy efficiency.
Quanex Building Products introduced five new vinyl window systems to its Mikron Series. “Product differentiation is dependent upon having a variety of options to meet your unique goals,” said Chris Stan, product marketing specialist, Quanex Building Products. “Our new Mikron series window and door systems are designed to help OEMs create unique products that stand out in the marketplace.”
And Deceuninck North America caught the eye of many with its prototype sliding door that has a PVC frame and a polyurethane sash. ”With a PU sash you don’t have to reinforce it; the strength is already there,” said Filip Geeraert, president and CEO. “We are ready to begin production if we see positive feedback.”
On the fiberglass side, Inline Fiberglass Ltd. debuted its pop-and-slide door system that can accommodate anywhere from 7/8-inch double to 1 3/8-inch triple-glazed insulated glass units. “There is a trend shift toward more energy-efficient products,” said company president Bernard Rokicki. “The low air infiltration and strong thermal values are the key to this product. It is especially strong when it comes to structural and thermal performance.”
Fiberglass window and door frame component manufacturer Omniglass SCT—which partnered with Structural Composites Technologies and reentered the market about a year ago after a fire destroyed its manufacturing facility—unveiled its new fiberglass patio door system that utilizes the company’s OmniCor technology developed to make the assembly of fiberglass sash and frame members easier and less costly.
“Our OmniCor technology saves time and money, increases performance, reduces the potential for failure and delivers a uniform one-piece construction,” said Laurie Davies, sales and business development manager. “There is a mold-in corner, and production can be highly optimized and automated for fast production.”
Diversified Structural Lineals, which entered the fiberglass window and door market in February, launched its sliding patio door that has no exposed weatherstripping.
“Strength and color are two of its selling points,” said Mark Back, vice president of operations for parent company, Diversified Structural Composites. “We also have a flexible, economic design that hasn’t been available before in the marketplace.”
“Fiberglass has been limited in the past because the few available systems have been proprietary,” Back said. “Companies have been looking for a superior material and the right solution to offer better performance. We believe this will be the technology of choice for the next 30 years.”
Hardware and Coatings
Supporting the array of new window and door introductions were a number of hardware and decorative coating products.
Truth Hardware displayed its High Performance Hardware package for casement windows that features a casement hinge and operator capable of handling up to a 140-pound sash. The GlassBuild America exhibitor introduced the package in response to demand for hardware capable of handling bigger, heavier products such as triple-glaze IG units and coastal windows.
Also on the hardware side, Hoppe North America Inc. unveiled its new retract-and-slide patio door system aimed at the upper end of the market. The design permits weathersealing all around instead of just on the edge the door slides on. The three-position handle allows secure ventilation without the top of the door tilting inward.
Savio Window & Door Hardware, which makes hardware and handles for the aluminum fenestration industry, debuted a turn handle for top-hung awning windows. “It is an aesthetic design feature,” said Jeff Raimonde, vice president of marketing. “Our customers asked us to do away with the crank.”
In addition, Savio introduced rollers, locking mechanisms, locking points and ball bearings for lift-and-slide doors—driven by customer requests. “2013 has been one of our better years,” Raimonde said. “We are up almost 20 percent and projecting probably another 15 percent growth for next year.”
Vision Industries also debuted several new products at the show, including a lock-and-tilt combination system for vinyl windows and a wood window lock-and-tilt system that incorporates full-length aluminum reinforcement to enable wood windows to achieve a DP50 rating, according to Glen Paesano, national sales manager.
New coatings and finishes, many of them in textures or earth-like coatings, were on display as well, including a metallic finish developed specifically for PVC surfaces by Evotech Industrial Coatings, and the new water-based TruStain spray-on stain system for fiberglass doors and PVC, wood and composite products from AquaSurTech OEM.
On the glass side, Guardian Industries introduced two new ClimaGuard residential glass products in Atlanta: ClimaGuard 53/23, designed to provide solar protection while maintaining light transmission and crisp view-ability in the southern climate zone; and ClimaGuard 72/57, a product for northern climates that will allow many window systems to meet the new Energy Star V6 criteria without major redesign, according to the supplier.
“We are introducing two new products to the ClimaGuard line in response to the changes in Energy Star,” said Andy Russo, director, Residential Market Segment, North America Flat Glass. “ClimaGuard 72/57 is designed to allow window companies to hit the new Energy Star V6 requirements with minimal change to design, without having to go to triple glazing and without having to add fourth-surface coatings. So, [a window manufacturer] can essentially use a traditional low-E type solution with a double-glazed argon-filled unit to hit the northern energy requirements if it has a window that is generally a good performer,” Russo explained.
“The new Energy Star is also driving a new requirement for the northern-central zone,” the Guardian exec explained. “With this product [72/57], you can actually flip it. You can put it on surface three to meet the northern requirements and you can put it on surface two to meet the northern-central requirements. So, a window manufacturer could actually reduce the complexity, the number of SKUS it would need to have on the floor to hit the requirements.”
With business picking up, software maker Friedman Corp. also unveiled several new products: the A+W Business Production ERP software aimed at small and medium window fabricators, and a Spanish version of its Winsys ERP application.
“We are expecting a strong 2014,” said Friedman reps on the show floor. “Our pipeline of business has increased 50 percent in the last six months.”
More sights from this year's show can be found at Snapshots from GlassBuild America 2013. In addition, our coverage includes videos from the show floor and continuing coverage of new products introduced in Atlanta.
Next year, the event moves to Las Vegas where it is scheduled to run September 9-11.


text:
A town centre’s popular shopping reward scheme is set to hit the road thanks to an innovative partnership.
Rotherham’s award-winning Shop Local scheme, which has so far encouraged more than 15,000 cardholders to enjoy the benefits of discounts, offers and free gifts in over 100 stores, is now joining forces with First Buses.
When presenting their Shop Local card to the driver on any First Rotherham bus, travellers can get a First Day family or group day ticket for £7.80 instead of £8.50, which will allow unlimited travel for up to two adults and three children.
Bernadette Rushton, retail investment manager, said: “The Shop Local card has been a huge success here in Rotherham.
“This new and unique partnership will help the scheme to grow in strength, and hopefully encourage more shoppers to visit the town centre.”
Paul Flanagan, Rotherham business manager from First South Yorkshire, added: “We’re always very keen to support the town centre and Rotherham in general.
“We look forward to working more in partnership with the town centre team and enjoying the journey with them.”
To sign up for a Shop Local card, visit www.rotherhamtowncentre.co.uk