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LONDON — Agent Provocateur is breaking into the wholesale market with the launch of L’Agent, its first diffusion line, which has been designed in collaboration with sisters Penélope and Mónica Cruz.
L’Agent will be a stand-alone collection with its own design team — under the supervision of the brand’s creative director, Sarah Shotton — and be sold through retailers worldwide. It will not be stocked in Agent Provocateur stores or on the brand’s Web site.
The new collection will feature 15 styles, each with seven or eight pieces such as bras, briefs, thongs and corsets. The average price will be 40 pounds, or $64, and the collection will make its debut worldwide on Aug. 1.
By comparison, the average price at Agent Provocateur is 95 pounds, or $152. All figures have been calculated at current exchange rates.
Garry Hogarth, the brand’s chief executive officer, said in an exclusive interview with WWD that a diffusion line had been on managers’ minds for a while, and that Mónica Cruz, who appears in Agent Provocateur’s latest campaign, was enthusiastic about creating a line that would reach a wider audience.
Cruz, an actress and dancer, then pulled her actress sister into the project. In the past, the sisters have fronted and designed collections for Mango and Samantha Thavasa.
“It’s a proper design collaboration. They’ve been bringing in swatches and old vintage pieces and working with the design team,” said Hogarth, adding the Cruz siblings have worked on “every aspect” of the new collection, including the design of labels, hangtags, and hangers.
The sisters will also be involved with the visual campaigns for the new collections, although those details have not been nailed down.
“It is so exciting for me and Mónica to embark on this new adventure,” said Penélope Cruz. “We have always been huge fans of Agent Provocateur and both of us are very much looking forward to this long-term collaboration. We feel extremely happy to become part of this great team.”
Hogarth said the collaboration will last a minimum of five years. “It’s a long-term partnership with an option to extend,” he said. “They told us they really wanted to be part of the Agent Provocateur family. For us, everything just felt right.”
Hogarth said he’s looking to target three or four retailers in major markets, including Bloomingdale’s, Saks Fifth Avenue, Nordstrom and Barneys New York in the U.S.; Harrods, Selfridges and John Lewis in the U.K., and other stores including La Rinascente, Galeries Lafayette and Lane Crawford.
Within five years, L’Agent is set to generate 50 percent of the company’s revenue, which is currently 40 million pounds, or $64 million. Hogarth said this year organic sales are up 8 percent, while overall sales have climbed 18 percent so far.
Agent Provocateur sells exclusively through its Web site and its own shops, which will number 72 by the end of the company’s fiscal year in March. Twelve more stores are in the pipeline for the year beginning April 1.
Hogarth characterized the diffusion line as “a little younger, and perhaps less sophisticated” than the main line, but very wearable, very sexy and with the handwriting of Agent Provocateur.”
He said the designers of the main line are “not involved” with the new project, with the exception of Shotton. He said the new team consists of one new hire and former members of the core team.
There'll be no rest for those headed to Europe for men's, as Paris just closed the gap with Milan. According to a provisional calendar released by the Chambre Syndicale, Paris Men's Week will now open a day earlier on January 16. See new highlights on the official lineup on WWD.com. #wwdnews #wwdfashion (📷: @kukukuba)
BREAKING: Jonathan Saunders is leaving @DVF. The designer has resigned from his position as chief creative officer of Diane von Furstenberg, the company said in a statement on Friday. At the time of his hire, von Furstenberg said Saunders’ arrival symbolized and facilitated her stepping back from the day-to-day duties that occupy the work of a full-time creative director. The British designer joined DVF in May 2016 and was in charge of all product categories. #wwdnews
For @versace_official’s spring ad campaign, the brand emphasized the archival prints from the spring tribute collection dedicated to the late Gianni Versace. Closing out the show were five of Gianni’s favorite models: Cindy, Naomi, Carla, Helena, and Claudia. Bowing on December 18, the new campaign is yet another tribute to supermodel-dom as the images by Steven Meisel are fronted by @iamnaomicampbell, @cturlington, @gisele and more. #wwdfashion
Four-time Oscar-nominated actress Annette Bening has been waiting 20 years to play Gloria Graham in "Film Stars Don't Die in Liverpool," which will be released on December 29. The movie about Graham – a Hollywood star known for her controversial relationship with a younger Englishman named Peter Turner – is based off a memoir Turned wrote. "She felt vulnerable to him, because she loved him, she really did love him. And anyone that we really truly are in love with, we re vulnerable to in a very deep way," said Bening. Read our full interview with the modern icon of an actress on WWD.com. #wwdeye (📷: @ninebagatelles; Styled by @cristinaehrlich)
The crisp white button down: a staple that can be dressed up or down and accessorized throughout the decades. Here, on a Art Basel-goer in 2017 on the left and on the iconic Audrey Hepburn in “Roman Holiday” in 1953 on the right. #tbt #wwdfashion (📷: Andrew Morales)
Known for her work with @victoriassecret, 25-year-old model @georgiafowler is raising her profile in Hollywood. Fowler stars in @vincecamuto’s holiday campaign, which launched in partnership with “Pitch Perfect 3.” “Almost every shoot with Vince Camuto, I’ve had to face a fear…It was definitely a challenge. I’m so grateful for it, though. I’ve always wanted to be a pop star, so that was the perfect chance,” Fowler said. Head to WWD.com to read about Fowler’s experience modeling, including at the #VSFashionShow, and her relationship with Nick Jonas. #wwdeye (📷: @jilliansollazzo)
EXCLUSIVE: Huda Kattan just became the first beauty influencer to land a major beauty deal. Kattan's business, @hudabeauty, has received a minority investment from private equity firm TSG Consumer Partners. The brand, which industry sources say is on track to do $200 million in retail sales for 2017, will receive support on product, retail and geographic expansion through the deal. Get all the details on the deal and read @_a_collins' interview with Kattan on WWD.com. Link in bio. (📷: @jgreenery) #wwdbeauty #wwdnews
Peruvian model @juanaburga_official – who is known for walking the runways of @rodarte, @viviennewestwood and @torybuch – is making the move to the big screen with drama “Los Últimos.” The film premiered in Argentina in November and arrives in the U.S. and Europe in 2018. On making the switch from modeling to acting, Burga told WWD: “It’s a completely different thing – a lot of people think it’s similar or try to connect things, especially like getting used to the camera or being looked at all the time or playing these different characrers, but film is a completely different story.” #wwdeye (📷: @jgreenery)
London’s newly opened @designmuseum will look back on the life and work of Azzedine Alaïa in a show that the designer helped to curate before he died of heart failure last month. The retrospective, which Alaïa had worked on with Mark Wilson, chief curator of the @groningermuseum, will look at the impact of his work worldwide. The show, “Azzedine Alaïa: The Couturier,” will run from May 10 to October 7. Read more about the exhibit on WWD.com #wwdnews #wwdfashion (📷: @zefashioninsider)


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M&S won't appeal award to manager in dismissal
MARKS & Spencer Ireland has asked a judge to strike out its appeal against a compensation award to a sales manager whom the Employment Appeals Tribunal found it had sacked unfairly.
Judge Jacqueline Linnane heard in the Circuit Civil Court that shop manager Salma Ayoubi, who was dismissed for giving a customer €30 too much in change, had offered to repay the loss to save her job.
Barrister Eamon Marray told the court that Ms Ayoubi, of Blackbird Cottage, Pass of Kilbride, Miltownpass, Co Westmeath, had discovered and reported her error within an hour. She apologised for her admitted mistake and offered to repay the company's loss.
Ms Ayoubi had also said she was willing to accept demotion as punishment. Mr Marray said the error happened in January 2012 and within a month she had been dismissed for "gross misconduct".
The Employment Appeals Tribunal found she had been unfairly dismissed and awarded her €17,500 compensation.
Conor Power, counsel for Marks & Spencer, said two vital witnesses had been unable to attend the tribunal hearing.
The company was appealing its finding on the basis that the tribunal had not heard the full story and that Ms Ayoubi had been on a final warning relating to an earlier matter.
Ms Ayoubi had claimed she was unfairly dismissed from her job as a section manager of the Liffey Valley store over what the retailer said was a breach of the company's till procedure.
The tribunal heard she had a good employment record with the company.
Judge Linnane said she had read the correspondence in the case and could not find any reference by Marks & Spencer to Ms Ayoubi being dismissed for anything other than a mistake at the till, from which she had gained no benefit.
Following a brief recess, Mr Power told the judge the matter had been resolved and the court could strike out the appeal with an order for costs in favour of Ms Ayoubi to be taxed in default of agreement.

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An all-time record 3.6 million tourists visited Israel in 2017, 25% more than in 2016. The Ministry of Tourism believes that incoming tourism contributed NIS 20 billion to the Israeli economy.
The country from which the largest number of tourists to Israel come is the US - over 700,000 tourists, 21% more than in 2016. Russia was in second place with 307,000 tourists, a 26% increase. The increase in tourism from Russia is attributable to the growth in routes and flights from Russia to Israel, some of which are run by low-cost airlines, and the exclusion of Turkey from the Russian tourist map in recent years.
The company with the third highest number of tourist to Israel in 2017 was France with 284,000 tourists, 8% more than in 2016, followed by Germany in fourth place with 202,000 tourists, a 34% rise over 2016, and the UK, which supplied 185,000 tourists to Israel, 10% more than in 2016.
Other important sources of incoming tourism included Ukraine with 137,000 tourists, China with 105,000 - a country emphasized by the Ministry of Tourism due to its enormous potential as a source of tourist, Italy (93,000), Poland (85,000), and Canada (75,000).
59% of the tourists who visited Israel this year came for the first time. 25% described the purpose of their visit as religious, meaning a pilgrimage, 23% as touring and hiking, and 10% as entertainment and enjoyment. 24% came to visit relatives and friends, and 11% for business and being an emissary. 30% of the tourists came on organized trips and 64% independently, while 6% purchased tourist packages.
63% of tourists to Israel stayed in hotels, which explains the increase in tourist overnights recently reported by "Globes," based on figures from the Israel Hotel Association. 21% of tourists stayed with relatives and friends, while 4% stayed in youth hostels, 7% in rented apartments, and 1% in Christian hostels.
The Ministry of Tourism's marketing budget this year was NIS 440 million, and included campaigns in Europe, the US, and the Far East, some in cooperation with airlines that started routes to Israel, such as Wizz Air.
The Ministry of Tourism did not confine its advertising to the pilgrimage market, as it did for many years; it also marketed other aspects of Israel, such as night life, culinary aspects, and sports. The marketing measures included special treatment for the three millionth tourist, who received exposure; the lifeguard shed in Tel Aviv that became a boutique hotel; a social networks campaign in China; hosting 3,000 opinion-makers from all over the world, and more.
The Ministry of Tourism also gave grants and incentives to airlines that introduced routes to new destinations with incoming tourism potential. €250,000 grants were given for new direct weekly routes landing at Ben Gurion Airport (up to three flights a week) from a destination from which there were previously no flights to Israel. 18 new flight routes to Ben Gurion Airport were begun this year from destinations in Europe, Miami, and Iceland by various airlines, including Wizz Air, Ryanair, LOT, and Wow. The grants for routes landing in Eilat were per ticket, and amounted to €45 per passenger landing at Ovda Airport. There are currently 50 weekly flights operating as part of the winter campaign, in which Eilat hotels are taking part.
The Ministry of Tourism estimates revenue from foreign tourism at NIS 20 billion. The number of hotel jobs averaged 40,000, 8.3% more than in 2016. Given the regulations governing the employment of foreign workers, most hotels said they had a shortage of personnel.
Spending per tourist in the first half of 2017 was $1,600 and $162 per day. The main elements of tourist spending were overnights ($617); transportation, tours, and sites ($245); food and beverages ($200); and shopping ($168).
78% of incoming tourists visited Jerusalem, followed by Tel Aviv-Jaffa (67%), Dead Sea (49%), Tiberias and the Galilee region (35%).
Minister of Tourism Yariv Levin said, "The all-time record number of tourists visiting Israel this year is no accident; it is the result of a clear policy. The actions taken by my ministry since I took up my position have brought Israel an unprecedented peak in incoming tourism. The number of tourists visiting Israel increased by 700,000, setting a new record for incoming tourism to Israel and adding NIS 20 billion to the economy."
Published by Globes [online], Israel Business News - www.globes-online.com - on December 27, 2017
© Copyright of Globes Publisher Itonut (1983) Ltd. 2017


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STOCKTON - Denair has that special sauce. Or, perhaps, it's something in the water. Both startup businesses that shared this year's $20,000 San Joaquin Entrepreneur Challenge prize hail from that community outside Modesto.
Amalia's Cocina, a company headed by matriarch Amalia Portillo and run by her three daughters and a granddaughter, is finding initial success in selling a line of natural Mexican sauces in select West Coast supermarkets. It took top honors: $14,000 in cash and businesses services.
"This is going to be huge for us," said Stephanie Jourdan, one daughter after winning the challenge Wednesday night in Stockton.
"We're going to use all the money in marketing; $7,000 in marketing is a good amount for us," explained Jamie Norwood, the granddaughter who represented the business in the competition.
Taking second place and $6,000 in cash and services was Debra DeShon, whose Mussel Dogs service is the first in California to train a dog to detect the unwanted zebra and quagga mussels, which are invasive species that can damage fisheries and water systems.
Both were among the more than 70 to enter this year's contest, which challenges inventors, entrepreneurs and would-be business owners from San Joaquin, Stanislaus and Merced counties to develop business plans, then pitch their ideas to a panel of expert judges and audiences, as they are pared down through three rounds of live competition.
It's an "American Idol"-style contest for entrepreneurs, said Mark Plovnick, an event organizer and economic development director at University of the Pacific.
In its aim of encouraging economic growth in its two years of existence, he noted, "One-hundred fifty individuals or groups of individuals have taken the first steps toward starting their own businesses." And businesses have grown from some of those, too.
An initial live competition held March 2 at the Stockton Golf & Country Club winnowed a field of about 20 to eight competitors who reassembled Wednesday at the same venue for two more elimination rounds before a full house.
The first round Wednesday gave each contestant five minutes to explain their business and how it would grow and profit and five minutes to answer judges' questions. The four finalists then had to respond to hypothetical business problems and follow-up questions from the expert panel.
The questions were tough, but they were intended to provide a dose of reality.
Charlie Blackburn, chief executive of Trinity Venture Capital and a panelist, said the fledgling businesses or would-be businesses all have an optimism that is both a blessing and a curse.
"They all think they can get in the car and drive to New York on a single tank of gas," he said. "It's what makes entrepreneurs great, and it's also what makes them hit the brick wall."
Contact reporter Reed Fujii at (209) 546-8253 or firstname.lastname@example.org.


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text: Electronic Stability Control (ESC) is an advanced safety system to control and maintain the lateral stability of a vehicle in case of an unusual situation. During the last 3 years, the penetration of ESC in passenger vehicles has grown from about 19% in 2020 to 41% in 2022. Industry experts suggest that in a way ESC is preparing the base for new developments to be applicable to the market, including ADAS. Car testing agency Global NCAP has also revised its protocols to make ESC as a standard fitment for cars to achieve a five-star safety rating. With increasing awareness of vehicle and road safety, several carmakers have equipped ESC as a standard offering. The government has made ESC a mandatory requirement on buses from April 1 this year, but it is yet to be mandated on the truck segment.


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McDonald’s Restaurants in Canada are changing things up when it comes to some of the Happy Meal options on their menu. These child-oriented meals are going to be altered to have lower sodium in such items as the grilled chicken snack wrap. While this change entails decreasing the excess sodium in a variety of products, my hope is that this will lead to impacting other menu items as well.
This move comes at a time when the focus in Canada and the rest of the world are working to counteract the obesity and health crisis we are all facing. Fast food restaurants often find the finger being pointed at them for contributing to the epidemic, which makes these types of changes extremely important.
The more that fast food chains make these positive changes the better for the millions of people who eat at their establishments. I encourage those who eat at these chains to order the salads and healthier menu options. This will show the demand for wanting these types of options, and next thing you know, you’ll see more options that are healthy and taste good!
I wish I could say that McDonald’s in the U.S. was taking on a similar initiative, especially when Richard Ellis, the senior vice-president of communications and public affairs at McDonald’s Canada commented that “I’d call it a significant reduction in sodium.”
Many restaurants see reducing sodium as a big risk, as it can very much impact the flavor of menu items. This may be the reason McDonald’s Canada is only making changes to some Happy Meal options and not to the majority of food items sold by the chain. My recommendation is to eat fewer of your meals at fast food establishments and to try to select items that are lower in sodium in fat.


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Research: pulse flour market to grow19 Oct 2016
The global pulse flour market is expected to reach US$56.62 billion by 2024, according to a new report by Grand View Research, noting that pulses exhibit significant advantages over rice and wheat flour.
The global pulse flour market is expected to reach US$56.62 billion by 2024, according to a new report by Grand View Research. Pulses, it notes, are primarily a very low-fat source, comprising high fibre content, and low glycaemic index, with the product exhibiting significant advantages over rice and wheat flour. These can be fortified to obtain the necessary mix of nutrients and rare elements such as selenium, potassium, and sodium.Enhancement of innate immune response and treatment of joint pain is foreseen to fuel the demand in gluten-free foods. Over the past few years, extensive research is being conducted by the manufacturers in order to develop new products for utilization in applications such as feed and food. The companies have also been trying to study the pulse refining techniques on new pulse varieties, Grand View notes, which is likely to open new opportunities over the forecast period.Fndings from the report suggest: + Bakery & Snacks segment accounted for a share of over 90% in the global market in 2015. The common pulses when combined with bread are gaining more consumer attention owing to the new taste and enhanced nutritive value of the end product. The ability of the product to replicate the functional properties of other flours, without causing any side effects, is expected to propel the consumption over the forecast period.+ Lentil accounted for a share of over 10%, in terms of revenue, in 2015. High nutritional content and easy availability of lentils are expected to fuel the demand. Increased utilization in combination with pea flour is expected to have a positive impact on the demand.+ Europe dominated the market, in terms of revenue, in 2015. The market has witnessed an increase in development of new products over the past years. Bean based new product launches accounted for over 41.8% in 2014 while chickpea accounted for 35.0% share. In Asia Pacific, high cultivation of pulses is expected to propel the demand over the forecast period.+ The industry is characterized by new product development and mergers and acquisition. In February 2015, Ingredion Incorporated introduced a new range of pulse flour suitable for application in a wide range of bakery food items. The launch of 10 new flours was aimed at helping the production of high nutrition and certified gluten-free food.
Is algae oil about to go mainstream?
11 Oct 2018
Algae oil boasts some impressive nutritional, environmental and functional benefits – and several companies appear to be on the verge of broadening its use. The question remains, will food manufacturers (and consumers) buy it?Read more
Sustainable food is big business
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Sustainability in the food industry has become much more than a buzzword, as companies increasingly realise that it is vital to their long term profitability.Read more
Emulsifiers: The micro-ingredient that delivers major value
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For commercial bakers to create countless numbers of delicious, quality baked goods with the dependable consistency their customers count on, it takes more than the standard flour, sugar and eggs they use when baking for the family at home. Specialty i...Read more
Artisanal trend fuels ingredient innovation
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Craft and artisanal food and drink launches have seen a global CAGR of 28% over the past five years, according to Innova Market Insights, and suppliers are responding with investment in authentic, clean label ingredients.Read more
Givaudan inches closer to Naturex acquisition
10 Sep 2018
Givaudan now holds 9,436,645 of Naturex shares, representing 98.06% of the capital, based on the total number of shares as of 5 September 2018.Read more
PepsiCo launches Nutrition Greenhouse accelerator program
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PepsiCo has announced the launch of its Nutrition Greenhouse accelerator program in North America, an innovation initiative designed to discover and support emerging brands in the food and beverage sector.Read more
DSM report reveals consumer perception of acrylamide
7 Sep 2018
DSM has published a new report in its Global Insights Series which indicates that consumers are still largely unaware of acrylamide - but those who do know something about acrylamide, know enough to be concerned.Read more
Consumer concern over sugar hits new high
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Sugar has replaced price as the top concern for UK consumers when buying food, according to a survey from the nation’s Food Standards Agency. Concern about sugar content is similarly high across Europe, so how should food and beverage companies respond...Read more
Could climate change make chocolate extinct?
4 Sep 2018
Climate change poses a major threat to cocoa and chocolate production, with some researchers suggesting that cocoa could become extinct in some major producing regions within 30 years.Read more
DuPont creates "clean label hub"
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DuPont Nutrition & Health has announced it is expanding its R&D team by creating a “clean label hub” at the Brabrand facility, Intending to boost its project pipeline in healthy nutrition and clean label texturant offerings.Read more
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Pragmatic Solutions powered DAZN Bet goes live in Germany
DAZN Bet, the innovative sports betting operator for regulated markets is now live in Germany, powered by Pragmatic Solutions’ leading iGaming Player Account Management (PAM) platform.
This ground-breaking addition to the German iGaming landscape represents the companies’ third collaborative market launch out of the four new DAZN Bet markets, following successful rollouts in the UK and Spain.
DAZN Bet has recently been granted the German Sports Betting Licence, supported by Pragmatic Solutions’ platform extensive compliance capabilities, flexible technology and customised development services.
Leveraging DAZN’s established streaming & brand presence in Germany and its own betting brand experience, DAZN Bet is strategically positioned to engage local bettors.
DAZN Bet places a special emphasis on cooperation with the German gambling authority and is committed to the highest standards in the area of player protection. The product will have extensive self-regulation tools, clear information on safe gaming, as well as the latest technology for detecting problem gambling.
Mark Kemp, CEO at DAZN BET, said, “DAZN Bet is delighted to launch in Germany, our fourth successful new market launch for DAZN Bet in the last thirteen months. With our DAZN brand partnership, we are confident that German players and sports enthusiasts will enhance their enjoyment through the distinctive sports betting entertainment experience, offers and value of DAZN Bet. Sports fans can get more exclusively if they link their DAZN and DAZN Bet experiences.
Going live in another market further cements DAZN Bet’s strategy of establishing an integrated brand & advertising partnership between DAZN and DAZN Bet in DAZN’s major Global markets. Customers in the UK, Spain, Italy and Germany can take advantage of unique benefits simply by choosing to watch with DAZN, and bet with DAZNBet.
Pragmatic Solutions has played a vital role in our unique business vision. Beyond their strong platform technology and innovation, in highly regulated markets Pragmatic Solutions have also delivered all the complex regulatory compliance requirements to build DAZN Bet on, essential for our successful market entries across Europe.”
Ashley Lang, CEO at Pragmatic Solutions, said, “We are proud to continue breaking ground in the iGaming landscape with such an innovative brand as DAZN Bet.
This successful collaboration highlights Pragmatic Solutions’ position as a premier choice for operators seeking a flexible, reliable and compliant platform to thrive in regulated environments.
We are thrilled to be part of DAZN Bet’s remarkable journey and eagerly anticipate further expanding this unparalleled value proposition for players and sports fans.”


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singer. The barge travelled along the Seine from the Eiffel Tower to Notre Dame.
There were no guests on the boat, but anyone could watch the broadcast of the event on TikTok.
Olivier Rousteing said that he really wanted "to celebrate fashion and the fact that we feel kind of free in Paris now after two and half months in lockdown". "I think that's a message of hope: what we have done together," he added.


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“Black Friday Creep”: Should Stores Be Open For Business on Thanksgiving?
J.C. Penny says “NO!” …
But major retailers including Wal-Mart, Target and Toys R Us are opening their stores on Thanksgiving night! And while a lot of Americans – including the retailers’ employees – are aren’t very happy about this growing trend, eager shoppers are already lining up across the country! So, are Wal-Mart and others smart for opening their doors just hours after the turkey is served? Or could they face a possible backlash? And even if it’s good business, is honoring traditions more important?


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The odds of a December rate hike in the US increased to more than 90% yesterday, leading the US dollar to surge to a 13-year high against major currencies and a renewed sell-off in Treasuries.
Minutes from the Fed's November meeting said it would be appropriate to raise rates "relatively soon" reinforcing the case for a rate hike next month. A tool created by CME Group named FedWatch started...
The chairman isn’t answering his email
Reforms not enough
An economic cocktail
To encourage consumers to shop around
Will report to Pat Shea


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Media Expo Mumbai 2022
makes a record-breaking comeback with strong visitor footfalls
Three productive days of sourcing and intense business networking, Media Expo Mumbai 2022 gained a massive footfall of 13,199 trade visitors who witnessed a string of product launches and top innovations in indoor, OOH and signage advertising segments. Organised by Messe Frankfurt India, the expo was inaugurated by the renowned ad guru KV Sridhar a.k.a. Pops and others.
Other Chief dignitaries and figures from advertising and media sector at the inaugural session of Media Expo Mumbai 2022 included Rohit Chopra, COO, Times Innovative Media Ltd; Nilesh Taunk, GM – Airport Assets, Khushi Ambient Media Solutions; Balasaheb Ambekar, President, Maharashtra Mundran Parishad (MMP); Rajjat Kharbanda, Research Director, 6W Research; and Winston Pereira, GM, Messe Frankfurt Trade Fairs India Pvt Ltd. Following the inauguration, an exclusive whitepaper on ‘Indian Digital Signage Industry 2022 – 2028’ was unveiled by 6W Research, providing an insightful analysis and forecast of future trends in the industry.
Raj Manek, Managing Director, Messe Frankfurt Trade Fairs India Pvt Ltd, said he is quite happy finally to see the fruitful Mumbai edition of the show after a long pandemic break. He adds that people are enthusiastic about the return of the physical show in which they finally enjoy the feel and touch of the machines, materials and other products on showcase. Some of the leading exhibitors at the show were Colorjet India, Apsom Infotex, CDI, ADS LED, Cosign India, Mehta Cad Cam, Sun Sign & Technologies, HP India, EPSON, UNI Inks, among others.
Expo Mumbai 2022 served as a perfect launch pad for exhibitors who would unpack new machines and technologies. Apsom Infotex made a landmark announcement during the expo on its collaboration with the Swedish flatbed applicator manufacturer Rollsroller. On the strategic move, Goran Johansson, MD, Rollsroller, said, “We started our collaboration with Apsom Infotex three years ago, before the pandemic. Now, we look forward to marking a big presence in the Indian market through our partner,” Aniruth Dadu of Apsom Infotex Ltd mentioned that the fully-automated Rollsroller flatbed applicators will change the game of print lamination and finishing.
Apsom Infotex, a sole distributor of Roland systems in India, marked an impressive and crowd-pulling presence in the expo alongside its sister concern Colorjet India, which showcases its widely popular machines, viz Neptune, Softjet Plus, Polo Turbo and others. Cosign India unveiled some new and game-changing products like black Stato, 100 mm and bronze finish, as well as others like openable Light Box. “Enthusiastic crowds in the expo signify the revival in the post-pandemic market,” observes Tejasa Purandare. CEO, Cosign India Pvt Ltd.
Among the league of key participants at the expo were some first timers. Debutant UNI Inks at the show pulled crowds to its highly universal inks for all printing technologies. “We are a newly established digital wide-format ink company, eager to meet with new customers and this expo served as the right network for us,” said Pradipta Chawdhury and Bhavesh Patel, Co-Founders, UNI Inks. Likewise, the newly established Canopus marked its debut participation in the expo, with the introduction of new Canopus CP-3204 Plus high-speed industrial solvent printer. Deboshi Paul Choudhury (Debu), Director and Deepak Ashok Chavan, Director, Canopus Imaging Systems LLP, said that the expo helps them meet their targeted industry people.
ADS LED announced the launch of new Prism EX LED Modules. “Our newly launched LED modules are well crafted for both indoor and outdoor applications. These modules have longer life span with 3 Years Guarantee,” informed Gautam Bajaj, Director, ADS LED Private Limited. Kheizer Sign introduced new fibre laser welding machine at the expo. Riyaz Siddiqui of Kheizer Sign said the newly launched welding machine is designed for creating strong joint between metal components. SkyTek showcased the whole gamut of printers, materials and consumables. Santosh Nair, Group Director, SkyTek Technologies Pvt Ltd, said their overall showcases present three verticals—value proposition, customisation and fabric applications. The company’s showcase of TOYO ink bottles and BP Signage (new concepts of LED applications) pulled crowds, New from Monotech at the expo was a 10-ft PixelJet eco-solvent printer with KM 1024i (6pL) printhead. TP Jain, MD, Monotech Systems, said the market is gradually reviving and Monotech has set plan to unleash new machines and technologies required in the current market. German company Berger Textiles made its debut in the expo alongside its Indian partner SNM (Solutions N More), introducing a line of premium textile materials. Karl Heilfferic, Sales Director, Berger Textiles, said they foresee a dynamic future in the Indian market.
Sun Sign & Technologies, a sole channel partner of Starflex in India, demonstrated its high-quality LED modules and others. Deepak Gupta, Director, Sun Sign & Technologies, was elated for the fact that the expo served as the perfect meeting point for all after two years of pandemic break. Aditya Impex rolled out a line of premium media. BS Chahar from Adiyta Impex said the expo brings back the real zeal of physical event. Among the companies introducing new products and technologies, Admark marked the launch of a brand new Admark CNC router. Anita Deshmukh from Admark Digitech Pvt Ltd appreciated the expo as the right platform for ‘product launch.’
Arihant Uniglobe introduced an advanced LED Neon Flex, a new LED strips. Ashish Jain, Admin, Arihant Uniglobe Pvt Ltd, said the enthusiasm of the old days of physical expo has returned to the Media Expo Mumbai 2022. Italian company Gildo Profilati marked debu participation in the expo, showcasing its flagship profiles and thermoplastic edge banding materials. Dr Franco Bandelli from Gildo Profilati, said they have to foray into the Indian market and looking for channel partners in the country.
Printing material suppliers like MRT showcased innovative range of advanced printing materials, such as technical coated fabrics for diverse applications. Yashovardhan Parekh, Executive Director, MRT (Mahalaxmi Rubtech Limited), said their aim is to redefine the use of highly advanced and innovative fabrics for unconventional applications. Similarly, Duracoat rolled out highly advanced pressure sensitive lamination films and general purpose masking tape. Ranju from Duracoat mentioned that physical expo finally brings back the real zeal of business all over again.
AT Inks, as always in every edition of Media Expo, showcased the whole gamut of AT Inks. However, according to Neeraj Goswami, Managing Director – Technical, AT Inks, the focus of the overall display at the company/’s stall was on the values and tradition of water-based pigmentation AT Inks. Karni Alutaf at its stall revealed the quality and competency of absolute SEG solutions. Deepak Patel, Founder & Director, Karni Alutaf, said the footfalls at the show signify the return of business.
NEGI Sign Systems & Supplies showcased its new MUTOH Xpertjet 1641 SR PRO, alongside the company’s existing range of products. Shaurya Negi from NEGI Sign Systems & Supplies Co. said the expo gives more than what they expected as it witnessed high footfalls on all three days. Arrow Digital demonstrated the flagship EFI VUTEk 3r+, a high-volume production printer as key highlight. Sanjay Bindroo, VP – Sales, Arrow Digital Pvt Ltd, mentioned that the printer received tremendous feedbacks from the crowd.
Key showcase from Mehta Cad Cam at the expo was the live demonstration of high-speed RasterJet printer with RICOH Gen-6 prtinthead. Shailesh Mehta, Director, Mehta Cad Cam Systems Private Limited, said the machine is the need of the hour for high-speed production. Lisco Systems, a sole distributor of Gongzheng printers in India, demonstrated its versatile Gongzheng (GZM) systems at its stall. Yatinsinh Vaghela, Managing Director, Lisco Systems Pvt Ltd, said that trade visitors at the expo show excitement of new business and market revival. Demonstrating the range of indigenously manufactured and imported cyanoacrylate/water-based adhesives, Benson Polymers gathered huge crowd at its stall. Rohit Jain, Vice President, Benson Polymers Ltd, said the industry people now wake up from the pandemic slumber.
Among the crowd-pulling exhibitors at the expo was TechNova’s demonstration of Wei CB03 II Series flatbed digital cutter. “Wei CB03 II Series, which we demonstrate during the expo is for the display graphic applications, while the other model Wei CB03 II 1113 is designed for corrugated packaging,” said Ekta P Mhatre, Manager, Product Marketing, TechNova Imaging Systems (P) Ltd. HP India at its colossal stall showcased a gallery full of Latex applications. Demonstrated at the company’s stall were HP Latex 800 & 700 Series printers. “Taking innovations to another level, we also showcase the aqueous ink-based printing with our R-Series system,” said Vitesh Sharma, Country Head, Sign & Display Business, HP India.
Mimaki India pulled crowds to its colossal stall, which displayed lines of UJV-100, 300, 330, 550 and 600 Series UV printers. “So far, we have the entire range of UV LED printers in our portfolio, which consists of entry-level models. Now, we are gearing up to launch our UJV-1000 Series printers in the Indian market,” mentioned Kenichiro (Ken) Seki, Managing Director, Mimaki India Pvt Ltd. EPSON India demonstrated its popular flagship SureColor printers which impressed the trade visitors. Pratik S Mhasawade, Senior Executive – Sales, Epson India, said the expo pulled the right crowd of business visitors.
ORAFOL at its stall unpacked the whole range of premium materials for diverse range of applications. Raunak Kumath, GM–India, ORAFOL India Private Limited, said it’s time for business revival with innovative applications using ORAFOL media. Daksh, at its best, pulled crowds to its stall where its range of flagship products was put up on display. Tajuddin Siddiqui, GM, Daksh Enterprises, said the expo witnessed the business revival in the market.
Nilkamal presented its premium range of highly flexible and versatile range of Bubble Guard products. Shreeyoshree from Nillkamal Limited stated that POP/POS applications can be innovatively redefined with the versatile materials. Metamark, a leading printing material manufacturer from the UK, in collaboration with its India partner Wonder Images, unveiled a range of premium vinyl products and other media. Iain Wallace, Strategic Development Manager, Matamark, said they are very positive about the market revival and full restoration of businesses.
Another crowd puller at the show was Vinayak Impex. Deepak Mittal, Director, Vinayak Impex, mentioned that the expo proves that the industry is back to business now. In the similar tone, Vishal Doshi from Gita & Company, said people in the industry are elated to witness the revival of business. Gita & Company showcased a premium range of printing media comprising HeyTex. Mandhana Plastics pulled crowd to its range of media on showcase, which consisted of new PVC foam boards and rigid/flexible acrylic sheets. Ashok Gaur, Director, Mandhana Plastics, said the expo ultimately connects them with their customers and a host of serous trade visitors in person.
The next edition of the expo, Media Expo New Delhi 2022, will be held from September 01– 03 at India Expo Mart, Greater Noida, Delhi-NCR.


text: Concerning Jim Dublinski's letter "Collect online sales tax" (readers' forum Dec. 22), there is no need for Congress to pass a tax law for online sales, at least for Utah. Utah is way ahead of the game. We have the "use tax" on the books, which would take care of taxing anything purchased online from outside the state. The problem is it is a very unfair tax and is virtually unenforceable. Visiting with a tax preparer, it was estimated that less than 10 percent pay the use tax. The Legislature should take a hard look at it and either enforce it, make it a fair tax, or get rid of it, preferably the latter.


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Ottawa, ON (October 5, 2020) — Squash Canada is thrilled to unveil a new and freshly redesigned website. Through a partnership with US Squash and Club Locker, an entirely new interface that is easy to navigate and fully accessible on multiple platforms has been developed.
Throughout the process of developing the new website, Squash Canada’s focus was to meet the needs of the Canadian squash community. Understanding that we all live in a fast-paced environment and that there is a need to access content at the tip of our fingers was vital. According to statista.com, there is close to 28 million active mobile users in Canada of which 33 percent of online traffic is generated through mobile phones and another 10 percent via tablet devices.
- Mobile Friendly – The new design allows users to access a mobile-specific version of the website from their smartphone or tablet.
- Canadian Rankings – This interactive feature highlights the best Canadian players on both the Homepage and Canadian Ranking page with direct links to Club Locker profiles as well as the entire list of players that have a ranking. Check out where you rank!
- Where to Play Map – This interactive map allows users to click on their respective Province/Territory, revealing a list of clubs and facilities in that region that have squash courts.
- Photo Gallery – All photos from Squash Canada events over the years have now been collated in one place. This prevents squashers from having to search on different platforms to re-live some of their favourite memories.
- Video Gallery – Players and fans alike can now watch hours upon hours of past Canadian Championships and more from over the years in the new video gallery section.
- Hall of Fame Bios – These idolized figures in Canadian squash now each have a headshot and accompanying biography on our new Hall of Fame page.
- Live Upcoming Events Calendars – Players can now scroll through a list of upcoming event calendars linked to Club Locker that are being held across Canada. The tool displays events for all level of play, ranging from novice to professional (singles and doubles) to professional development webinars for coaching and officiating.
“With the geography the size of Canada it is important that Squash Canada maximizes all digital platforms to share its brand, information relevant to current and would-be squash participants, and to tell the many great stories about squash”, said Dan Wolfenden, Squash Canada Executive Director. “The new Squash Canada web page serves as a hub of information and news about where to play, events, people and opportunities in a format that is user friendly whether on a computer or mobile devices, and in both official languages. I encourage all squash publics to browse the considerable and easy to navigate content.”
To view the new Squash Canada website – Click Here


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It’s been a while now that analysts have been singing the praises of Mexican fast food chain, Chipotle Mexican Grill (NYSE:CMG). While many of the company’s competitors – McDonald’s (NYSE:MCD), Burger King (NYSE:BKW), and Taco Bell (NYSE:YUM) – have suffered slipping sales, Chipotle’s business has been stronger than ever, and that led Belus Capital’s Brian Sozzi to upgrade shares of Chipotle from Hold to Buy on Wednesday morning, also raising his price target from $500.00 to $600.00.
Benzinga reported the news later on Wednesday and highlighted the timing of Sozzi’s note that came just weeks after Chipotle’s impressive fourth-quarter results. Sozzi now believes that the company’s stock is “destined to hit $1000,” and the analyst cited a number of reasons this week why he and his fellow analysts are so optimistic about Chipotle. Though he had both short-term and long-term rationalizations for the Street’s confidence, we’ll sum up his top five.
1. Switch to a non-GMO menu
This is a big one for Chipotle, as it is one of the first restaurants that has committed to eventually offering its customers a complete GMO-free menu. GMOs, or genetically modified organisms, have drawn significant attention from health-conscious consumers as of late, and now that more and more Millenials are watching what they eat, Chipotle’s commitment to going GMO-free makes the restaurant especially appealing to them. Though there is still no conclusive evidence that GMOs are harmful to humans, many customers still feel better eating fast-food knowing that it is GMO-free, and that is what has kept Chipotles’ lines long and its consumers loyal.
Thanks to social media and good old-fashioned word of mouth, news have traveled fast that Chipotle is committed to its consumers’ health, and customers have rewarded Chipotle by continuing to support its business. Thanks in part to its new commitment, Sozzi is confident that this trend is one that is here to stay.
2. Quicker Service
Another strength that Sozzi cites is Chipotle’s quickening service. Yes, the company’s lines are usually long and now almost every hour is a peak hour at Chipotle. However, the company’s employees have worked diligently to improve the time they spend on each customer’s orders, and hungry eaters appreciate that. Lines move quickly and good customer service has kept Chipotle in the good graces of its consumers, and deservedly so.
What’s more, Chipotle’s business structure guarantees that order mistakes don’t get made. McDonald’s and Burger King customers often complain that when they get home, they open their take-out bag to a meal that they didn’t order, but such is never the case at Chipotle, because consumers watch every ingredient that goes into their dishes. Visitors are allowed to dictate exactly how much cheese, lettuce, guacamole, and salsa they want.
3. Introduction of New Menu Items
Like many of its rivals, Chipotle has worked to launch new menu items, which analysts see as important — but Sozzi also recognizes the chain’s “careful introduction” of new items rather than its interest in overwhelming consumers with them. Businesses like McDonald’s have actually suffered recently from making the mistake of overcomplicating their menus and overworking their employees, and Chipotle has been careful to avoid that — only introducing items one at a time and conducting significant research before making any big moves.
The chain introduced tofu in the summer, attracting more of its vegetarian Mexican lovers, and now it is focusing in on its sofrita efforts. In addition, the one time of day where you might not find long Chipotle lines is in the morning, and now Sozzi believes that the company is in the midst of slowing working to change that.
4. Menu Price Hikes
Here’s another strength that Sozzi believes will support Chipotle’s business in the long-run — even if it doesn’t exactly appeal its customers. After the company’s latest earnings reports back in January, we learned that Chipotle was considering a menu price increase of 3 to 5 percent by mid-2014. Many analysts sung the initiative’s praises, believing the price hike would significantly help Chipotle’s same-restaurant sales, but others questioned whether the higher prices would deter customers. As for Sozzi, he doesn’t believe the latter. The analyst is so confident in Chipotle’s appeal that he maintains that a price increase would only help the fast food company, not hurt it, giving the chain’s possible menu price hikes a spot on this list.
5. Mobile Payment Investments
Lastly, analysts see hope for Chipotle’s new-and-improved launch into the mobile world. The company has already allowed customers to order off its popular mobile app since 2009, but Chipotle executives announced earlier in February that they plan to invest $10 million to further develop its mobile platform, including adding mobile payment. That is expected to mean big things for the chain moving forward, further speeding up its service lines and ensuring that all food is made ready-to-order, and that investment is now just one of many reasons analysts like Sozzi believe that Chipotle is equivalent to stock gold.


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With nearly three-quarters of consumers saying they’re planning a trip in the next 12 months, new search data corroborates that more travelers are optimistic about the return of travel.
According to Expedia Group’s Q2 2021 Travel Recovery Trend Report, which combines the online travel giant’s first-party data and custom research, monthly global search volumes grew more than 70% quarter-over-quarter.
For the quarter, positive global search volume was seen during 11 of the 13 weeks, sharply contrasting the fluctuations that occurred during Q1 2021 and in 2020.
In week-over-week global searches, the week of May 10 saw the largest increase in searches (10%) following news about Pfizer vaccine expansion, including approval for adolescents and the European Union’s contract extension. In EMEA, the news resulted in a 15% increase in searches during the same week and contributed to month-over-month search growth for the region.
EMEA searches increased 70% between April and May compared to the 20% month-over-month progress seen between March and April and increased another 35% between May and June.
While half of global searches fell within a zero to 21-day search window, indicating travelers were opting for trips closer to home, the global search window is lengthening, another indication that traveler confidence is rising.
Global searches made 22 to 90 days in advance of travel dates accounted for more than 35% of searches in Q2, up 25% quarter-over-quarter.
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For global domestic searches, 55% fell within the zero to 21-day search window, while searches 22 to 90 days out increased by nearly 20% quarter-over-quarter.
Meanwhile, global searches for international destinations within the 31- to 90-day search window increased 30% from Q1. In EMEA, searches from 22 to 90 days out represented more than 40% of searches for international destinations in Q2, up from 15% in Q1.
In fact, global international search growth outpaced domestic for multiple weeks in Q2.
Compared to search volumes in Q2 2020, searches for destinations in EMEA, Asia Pacific and Latin America all saw increased volumes from American consumers in Q2 2021.


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Think back to 2005… Motorola cellphones, chunky highlights, and Rihanna’s Pon De Replay blasting on every radio station imaginable.
Who could’ve imagined that a seventeen-year-old, music industry newcomer would one day be the head of a $600m fashion empire?
Over the past fifteen years, Robyn Rihanna Fenty has sold $280m worth of albums, become the face of countless fashion brands, and graced the covers of some of the biggest magazines in the world. At 31, she is now the richest singer in the world, according to Forbes Magazine.
Now as the head of Fenty, a booming fashion and beauty brand under her last name, Rihanna takes on a new title: entrepreneur.
The adventure began in 2008 when Rihanna signed a leather goods line for Gucci. This move was then followed by collaborations with Giorgio Armani, River Island, Manolo Blahnik, and Puma, the latter of which she registered her family name, Fenty, as a brand.
Now, the days are long gone when Rihanna made headlines simply for changing her hair or the tragic moment when her ex-boyfriend, Chris Brown, laid his hand on her. On the music side, her fans are excited for her next release as her last album “Anti” premiered over three years ago.
On May 10, the world’s leading luxury goods company led by Bernard Arnault, LVMH, announced that it had “joined forces with Robyn Rihanna Fenty to create a new luxury house”. To both the fashion and music industries, the name of the new brand was simple yet explosive: Fenty. Named after Rihanna’s surname, Fenty is the first brand to be created by LVMH – which holds 50% of the shares since Christian Lacroix in 1987.
Fenty, whose pop-up store opened for the first time at the end of May in Paris, offers sophisticated, ready-to-wear, clothing, shoes and accessories. The brand is different from other fashion companies in that it has no permanent shops, no stock, no discounts, and rarely hosts fashion shows. Instead, the brand releases new collections on its website every month, similar to the release of a new single.
Even more, Rihanna explained to Style Magazine in the New York Times that Fenty’s capsule collections are all signed by different designers and are suitable for a wide range of silhouettes.
Most items on the website range from 350 to 1100 euros. The turnover expected by LVMH after one year of sales is just over 20 million euros which, by industry standards, is modest. Still, alongside other LVMH brands like Dior and Louis Givenchy, Fenty hits the target. Rihanna is the first black woman CEO of a luxury house in a group worth €6.35bn.
Through her many fashion phases the years, usually characterized by daring clothes and hairstyles, “Badgalriri” has become the international “It Girl.” For many Africans, we fondly remember her colorful, short wig phase, that was all the rage on the continent in the late 2000s.
Since the early days of her career, the Barbadian has been admired and styled by big names in the fashion industry, like Anna Wintour, the fashion priestess who heads American Vogue, the late Karl Lagerfield, and Olivier Rousteing, the artistic director of Beilman.
The artist has also graced the magazine covers of Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, and Allure, and many others. Always eagerly awaited during the famous MET Gala, Rihanna can also boast being a style muse of Armani Jeans, Dior, and Balmain.
Muses of charm
Since amassing 76 million followers on Instagram, the thirty-one-year-old has surrounded herself with a tight circle of models and tastemakers. Among them are Slick Woods, a 23-year-old from Los Angeles, who was raised by her grandmother while her mother was in prison.
Often recognized by her shaved head and wide smile, the Ivorian model left her mark last year when she catwalked for Savage x Fenty while pregnant. More icons in Rihanna’s inner circle include the top models, Duckie Thot, Selena Forrest, Hamila Aden, and Huan Zhou. Moreover, the mogul considers her associates and staff her family, even nicknaming them #TheCorp.
Cosmetics and lingerie
In May 2018, Rihanna launched her line of “inclusive” lingerie, called Savage x Fenty, aimed at women of all shapes, sizes, and skin colours. A few months later on September 20, she presented a new collection from her lingerie line at New York Fashion Week. The show featured live performances from musicians like Big Sean and Tierra Whack and is available for viewing on the American streaming platform Amazon Prime. The televised version is complemented by a backstage incursion.
Savage x Fenty is not the first brand that Rihanna has centered around inclusivity. In September 2017, just a year before launching the lingerie line, Rihanna created a cosmetic line called Fenty Beauty with LVMH as a co-owner.
Fenty Beauty offers products in fifty different skin tones which is a first in the cosmetic industry. When it first launched, the beauty brand was an immediate success. In 2018, after only fifteen months of activity, Fenty Beauty had already generated an estimated turnover of 570 million dollars.
According to Forbes Magazine, Fenty Beauty is worth more than $3 billion. Recently, the beauty brand has become available in Asia, with the most product circulating in China. To think that it all started with seven perfumes and a line of umbrellas (inspired by her hit single “Umbrella”) in 2006!
What about the music?
“The Navy”, a nickname given to Rihanna’s devoted fanbase (most likely in reference to one of her first films “Battleship”), has been growing impatient since her latest album “Anti” was released over three years ago. When will Rihanna release new music? Many of Rihanna’s 94 million Twitter followers have been asking her this question.
While she announced that her next release would be a reggae album, it was at the New York Times that the performer of “Work” unveiled a possible album title inspired by a hashtag “R9”. “R” for Rihanna and “9” for her ninth album.
The hashtag is inspired by the fact that over fifteen years, Rihanna has released eight albums, won 9 Grammy Awards, 12 Billboard Music Awards, 7 MTV Video Music Awards and 13 American Music Awards. Her best-selling album, Good Girl Gone Bad, featuring the hits “Umbrella” and “Don’t Stop The Music”, sold 9 million copies.
Small and large screens
Rihanna’s first film appearance was in 2006 with Solange Knowles in a film called American Girls 3. This debut was soon followed by compositional roles in movies such as Battleship (2012), Annie (2014), Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets (2017), and Ocean’s 8 (2018).
She also appeared in the Bates Motel series in 2017 and has appeared as herself in several television programs. In 2018, Rihanna played a lead role in the film Guava Island, directed by Hiro Murai based on a screenplay by Donald Glover.
Rihanna has performed at countless charity concerts throughout the years. Her leather goods collection in collaboration with Gucci was also part of a campaign with UNICEF and she was appointed as an ambassador by Barbados.
In 2017, Rihanna was also received by Emmanuel and Brigitte Macron in her capacity as founder of the Believe association, which aims to help children around the world with education or medical support. In addition, the philanthropist does not hesitate to call out heads of state on social media.
Understand Africa's tomorrow... today
We believe that Africa is poorly represented, and badly under-estimated. Beyond the vast opportunity manifest in African markets, we highlight people who make a difference; leaders turning the tide, youth driving change, and an indefatigable business community. That is what we believe will change the continent, and that is what we report on. With hard-hitting investigations, innovative analysis and deep dives into countries and sectors, The Africa Report delivers the insight you need.


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Medical marijuana edibles to be sold in Arkansas next week
Less than a week after Arkansas medical marijuana dispensaries officially opened their doors, patients who would rather eat their pot than smoke it will soon have their chance.
Robert Lercher, a spokesman for BOLD Team, says the cultivator intends to have gummy chews, concentrates and vape cartridges available with the next harvest, with products hitting dispensary shelves by the end of next week.
Dr. Janice Williams said for patients who have some severe symptoms smoking medical marijuana may not even be an option. She said those patients may need something like a topical or edibles.
“With edibles the onset of action takes a little longer, but then it last longer," Williams said. "So, it can get them through a night of pain where they don’t have to get up and re-dose”
Williams said she believes the edibles are a better product for most patients now that they are close to being available.
Victor Cuellar is a medical marijuana patient who was able to purchase the medicine at a dispensary in Hot Springs last weekend. "Edibles are a good alternative if you don’t want to smoke every 30 minutes or every hour or so," he said. "You can just pop an edible and some will last three hours. ”
Voters approved a medical marijuana amendment in 2016. Only two dispensaries, both in Hot Springs, are open and only one cultivator has harvested a crop, though two others expect to harvest their own this summer.
As of Tuesday night, the two dispensaries, Doctor’s Orders RX and Green Springs Medical, had sold more than 26 pounds of the drug in its flower form and totaled sales of around $177,000.
Advocates say edibles are a more controlled way to consume the drug and think demand is high, but cultivators and dispensaries are limited in what kinds they can manufacture and how they can package them, said Department of Finance and Administration spokesman Scott Hardin.
According to rules by the Alcoholic Beverage Commission, which regulates medical marijuana, cultivators and dispensaries can’t process or manufacture edibles that are “likely to appeal to minors,” which includes “candy, cookies, and brownies.” Edibles also can’t be modeled after foods primarily consumed by or marketed to children, or be in familiar shapes like animals, vehicles or characters.
Additionally, edibles can’t be manufactured by adding cannabinoid products to commercially available items, though patients can buy extracts and add them to those products at home.
And by law, edibles can’t be sold in non-childproof packaging or containers that might appeal to children by their shape, color, taste or design.
Beyond that, Hardin said, packaging should employ muted colors and simple designs.
“The concern is the presentation and whether it might imitate a common product that’s for children,” Hardin said. “Certainly the product also does fall within those regulations but in the day to day check our agents will be looking at the packaging.”
Bailey Moll, a spokesman for Doctor’s Orders RX, said that although the dispensary can legally package the edibles, they’ll probably rely on the cultivator.
BOLD will offer three different flavors of gummy chews, Lercher said, including lemon, grape and mango. They’ll also manufacture a series of options of vape pens and cartridges and a variety of concentrates, all of which will be sold in child-resistant packaging, he said.
David Couch, the attorney who wrote the medical marijuana amendment, said he thinks demand for edibles will exceed demand for the flower, which is typically smoked.
Since each batch of a product should have the same amount of THC, the drug will be more consistent.


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Gap Inc. has been experiencing some hard times, so it’s no surprise that CEO Art Peck has decided to close 175 underperforming stores in North America and cut 250 jobs from its North American headquarters. Meanwhile, Kate Spade unveils her newest collection of holiday-themed accessories, including adorable items such as a penguin-shaped purse.
-Of the 175 Gap stores scheduled to close, 140 will shut down by January, with the rest to follow soon after. Gap anticipates the cuts will save them $25 million a year. [Racked]
-Kate Spade turned to Alaska for her latest holiday collection, which includes items such as polar bear- and penguin-shaped clutches, a camera-inspired phone case and gold sequin-encrusted high heels. [Fashionista]
-Selena Gomez’s brunette mane has its first main role — as the star of Pantene’s TV and print ads. Gomez shared the good news on Instagram and issued a press release that stated: “I’ve always loved using Pantene, so it’s a dream come true to be the brand’s newest ambassador. Not only because Pantene stands for strong, healthy hair but also because it encourages women to be their best selves.” [Grazia]
-High-heel injuries have doubled in the US since 2002 — but why? The Journal of Foot and Ankle Surgery points to several culprits, including the fact that heels are higher today than they were a decade ago and that women are wearing them more frequently. Surprisingly, the most common place to sustain a high heel-related injury is inside your own home. [Vogue UK]
-Ostentatious accessories are so 2000. Popular luxury brands, such as Louis Vuitton, Gucci and Prada, continue to see sales sink for their logo-covered goods, a phenomenon known as logo fatigue. [Racked]


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OurTime, a nonprofit that advocates for the under-30, has launched a campaign to encourage consumers to buy products from young entrepreneurs who are creating jobs for young workers. Check out qualifying companies online.
For readers who also want to support the under 30 crowd in the Maryland area, here are some companies to check out:
OurTime, noting that the unemployment rate for 18- to 24-year-olds above 16 percent, also wants members of Congress to haul themselves back to Washington to get to work on creating jobs. The group has launched a petition drive that you can sign online.
The petition states: “ The political leadership in this country is devastating millions of young Americans. When will you wake up and realize that unemployment is the worst American tax of all? We call on you to CANCEL your vacation, head back to Washington, and get to work on behalf of your constituents.”
OurTime is focused on the younger generation, but apparently disgust with Congress has no age group. A recent CNN poll found that the approval rating of Congress has sunk to a record low of 14 percent. Does that mean members of Congress and their families make up 14 percent of the people polled?


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|Rediff India Abroad Home | All the sections|
Dhoom 2 set to make big splash
Aminah Sheikh in Mumbai | November 24, 2006 12:16 IST
Film production house Yash Raj Films will release its latest offering, Dhoom 2, on Friday with 1,800 prints, including 250 digital copies, the highest ever for a Hindi film. The previous highest was 1,600 for Farhan Akhtar's Don.
Industry experts feel the film will be the biggest revenue earner this year, surpassing Lage Raho Munnabhai. Shrikanth Hazare, vice-president (marketing) of Inox, said, "The movie is booked 40 per cent for the weekend, and we are going to screen 12-15 shows a day."
The number of shows screened per day varies from city to city. Hazare said, "We are starting with 12 shows in Mumbai and 15 in Pune."
Multiplexes have raised ticket prices for the movie. In Bangalore and Mumbai, the rates are Rs 250 (up from Rs 220) and in Nagpur and Pune, they are Rs 190 (up from Rs 150). Yash Raj Films is also believed to be demanding a larger revenue share from box office collections.
Film analyst Komal Nahata said, "Yash Raj Films has demanded 50 per cent profit share for the first two weeks and 40 per cent for the third and fourth week. It has demanded the same terms for the forthcoming movie, Kabul Express, as well. This a monopolistic attitude by the production house."
Hazare said, "All differences in the previous agreement have been sorted out. And, the tie-ups for the forthcoming movies are certainly going to benefit us, as they will give us the scope for planning our promotional activities."
On whether Inox agreed to the production house's terms, Hazare said the two parties had arrived at an mutual agreement. However, in several multiplexes in Gurgaon, last-minute negotiations are still on as Yash Raj Films is not ready to budge from its demand to increase the revenue share.
With a much higher budget of Rs 35 crore (Rs 350 million) compared with the Rs 10-11 crore (Rs 100-110 million) for Dhoom, Yash Raj Films has already started reaping benefits through advance bookings etc.
"On the table, the maker has earned Rs 15 crore (Rs 150 million), excluding the satellite rights, distribution rights, and other expenses," Nahata said.
Sanjay Bhandari, the film's funds consultant, said, "Fifty per cent of the funding was provided by EXIM Bank, and the amount has already been taken care of."
Usually, the lending bank expects the production house to repay the amount before the release of the movie. Yash Raj Films promos have spiced up the entire brand, Dhoom 2, with its tie-ups with Pepe Jeans and Coco-Cola. The ad campaign 'Coke Uthale, Dhoom Machale' with Hrithik Roshan sports the same gear as he has done in the new flick.
"Tie-ups with Pepe Jeans and Coco-Cola are going to be profitable. We, at Inox, will be distributing merchandise by both these companies - CDs and cassettes by Coco-Cola and jeans by Pepe," Hazare said.In another promotional exercise, a consumer buying two 1.5-litre bottles of coke will get a free ticket to Inox.


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New EU legislation will force Apple to incorporate USB-C on the iPhone by 2024
In a new legislative agreement, the EU has announced they will force all phones sold in the EU (including Apple and the iPhone) to use a USB-C port in order to charge by the fall of 2024.
Apple is famously known for being one of the last electronic manufacturers in the industry to hold out from using a USB-C port with the iPhone. Although rumors have circulated on several occasions throughout the years, the tech giant has continued to use its “lightning” port since its introduction on the in 2012. Now, the new legislation might force Apple to convert to a universal port sooner than they have liked.
The EU’s policy is an attempt to reduce “e-waste” and simplify things for the consumer by having one universally recognized charging cable across companies. The legislation goes beyond just smartphones. It extends to tablets, digital cameras, headphones, handheld video game consoles, and e-readers. Laptops will eventually also fall under this policy but at a later date.
“Today we have made the common charger a reality in Europe! European consumers were frustrated long with multiple chargers piling up with every new device. Now they will be able to use a single charger for all their portable electronics.” – Alex Agius Saliba, European Parliament’s Rapporteur
Apple sold 241 million iPhones globally, with 56 million of those sales going to consumers in Europe. They have consistently pushed back on the notion of the EU forcing them to switch to a USB-C port on their phones, claiming it would create more waste than not.
Image Credit: Denys Vitali from Pixabay


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Three years after it was formed, the Michigan Marijuana Regulatory Agency is getting a new name. The agency will be renamed the Cannabis Regulatory Agency and take up the task of overseeing hemp processing, distribution, and sales in addition to its current regulation of the marijuana industry. Governor Gretchen Whitmer said in a press statement that these administrative changes will help the state continue growing the hemp and marijuana economy, create jobs, and invest in local communities. “Consolidating multiple government functions into the newly named Cannabis Regulatory Agency will help us continue growing our economy and creating jobs,” Gov. Whitmer said. “And to be blunt-safe, legal cannabis entrepreneurship, farming, and consumption help us put Michiganders first by directing the large windfall of tax revenue from this new industry to make bigger, bolder investments in local schools, roads, and first responders.” The change, made under the executive order and set to take effect in 60 days, “will allow for a more effective, efficient administration and enforcement of Michigan laws regulating cannabis in all its forms,” Whitmer’s office said in the statement. Michigan is the home state of Benzinga. The Marijuana Regulatory Agency was formed by executive order in spring of 2019 to oversee the regulation of medical and recreational marijuana following the legalization of adult-use cannabis via ballot initiative in 2018.
Benzinga Staff Writer, The Fresh Toast, 02/14/2022 10:00:00
Open article: https://thefreshtoast.com/news/michigan-gov-whitmer-consolidates-cannabis-and-hemp-regulation-to-increase-efficiency/#utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=michigan-gov-whitmer-consolidates-cannabis-and-hemp-regulation-to-increase-efficiency


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MT. VERNON — Mt. Vernon.Net has announced the sale of its operations to Wisper ISP, Inc., of Belleville.
"Customers should not notice any changes other than Wisper offering higher speeds for all MVNB.net customers at no additional cost," said MVN.net Co-founder and President John Scrivner. "I have been very blessed with my role as president of Mt. Vernon-Net over these last 16 years. I cannot thank everyone enough for all your support all these years. MVN.net is on solid ground going forward with Nathan Stooke and Wisper ISP at the helm."
In a release describing the sale of the MVN.net operations, Wisper ISP, Inc. is described as "a local wireless Internet service provider that brings unlimited high speed Internet to customers in both rural and metropolitan communities. ... The hometown feel and support that MVN customers are used to is not going away but will now be a part of Wisper which is a larger regional company operating in Southern Illinois and Eastern Missouri."
"This is a huge opportunity for Wisper," CEO Nathan Stooke stated. "We love to provide people with high speed Internet. John and the employees at MVN have built a great company and network. We look forward to using the network as a spring board to expand coverage and provide super fast speeds in the Mt. Vernon areas."
Information states Wisper has already made improvements to the MVN network by increasing the network from 100 megabits to a full gigabit.
"This 10 times increase in available speed will allow customers ... to see marked improvements in their service during prime time when speeds are usually at a maximum," information states.


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Retail giant Wal-Mart plans to begin selling almost 300 generic prescription drugs for only $4 for a month's supply — up to 70% savings on some. It will test the program in Florida. Helen Palmer reports.
New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg has suggested paying poor people for making good choices such as staying in school or seeing a doctor regularly. Newt Gingrich, who joins Marketplace as an occasional commentator, says it's an idea worth considering.
British business mogul Richard Branson today pledged $3 billion to combat global warming over the next decade: 100% of the profits from Virgin's transportation and airline sectors. But there might be motive besides saving the planet, Sam Eaton reports.
Hewlett-Packard's stock price fell nearly 5% today as investors found out that the internal leak investigation might go all the way to the top. Host Kai Ryssdal talks to Adam Lashinsky of Fortune magazine who's been following the story.
Marketplace® is your liaison between economics and life. Noted for timely, relevant and accessible coverage of business news across both audio and digital platforms, Marketplace programs are heard by more than 14 million weekly listeners. This makes the Marketplace portfolio the most widely heard business or economic programming in the country.


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Apple has ditched Logic Express and SoundTrack Pro, put Logic Pro 9 in the App store as download-only for $199.99, and priced MainStage 2 at $29.99. Whoa!
So what does this mean? Answer: No one knows yet. But however this story plays out—and Apple remains famously secretive about future plans—it underscores some important changes that potentially affect us all.
The end of the box, the reign of the pipe—Software has been trending downloadable, but it looks like the transition to download- only software will soon be complete. This makes economic sense for software companies: It takes the retailer’s markup out of the equation, eliminates physical inventory and meshes perfectly with today’s instant gratification mentality.
Take this one step further, though. Software programs are getting bigger, and download-only means more dependence on the net. We’re already hearing rumors that the major labels are planning to phase out the CD, and movies will be next to join the download club—they’re already mostly there—so it looks like we’ll be saying goodbye to jewel cases and DVD boxes, too. With software and data that lives in the cloud instead of on your desktop, the width of internet pipelines is going to differentiate the haves and have-nots. This is one reason for the concern over a 2-track internet, which would create a digital divide on purpose; if you deal with pro audio or video, you better hope you’re on the right side of the divide.
Uncertainty—This has always been an issue (will X work with Y two years from now, whether you’re talking OS compatibility or interface protocols?) but now there’s uncertainty about the direction a product itself will take. What happened with Final Cut Pro X may provide some clues… but maybe not. When it appeared, there was a huge backlash from pros who felt it was missing essential features required for pro video and taken a step backward into being a “pro” version of iMovie. They felt that FCPX’s destiny was now set in stone as prosumer software.
Supporters said it was a much needed overhaul of an aging code base, and although it wouldn’t open files from previous versions (!) and was missing features, this was more an issue of it being released too soon, and surely updates would follow that would plug these holes. Neither side has been proven 100 percent right yet, but it seems one of those scenarios will indeed be FCPX’s fate.
However, Logic Pro 9 is following a somewhat different narrative, as the new version has been released with some minor, but important, updates like multi-core offline bouncing. No functionality has been removed, so Logic remains a viable choice for professionals. The uncertainty revolves around whether it will continue to be updated to remain competitive and current with other applications, or whether Apple has simply decided to pursue the highly lucrative consumer market rather than the more specialized, and demanding, pro market.
The blurring of prosumer, pro and consumer—There used to be a sharp price- and featurebased division between pro and consumer gear. When I started in video, tape decks and switchers were very expensive, but now Sony’s under-$100 consumer version of Vegas does 50 times more than that tape-based setup ever did. By dumping Logic Express, Apple has turned Logic Pro into a one-size-fits-all proposition that’s inexpensive enough for consumers, yet powerful enough for pros. If this trend continues, audio and video software may adopt the videogame paradigm—an easy level to get started, with progressively more difficult levels opening up more aspects of the program—so the experience is scalable depending on the user’s level of expertise.
Music software may be a mature market—How many more tracks and plug-ins do we need? For companies that depend on new products to maintain cash flow, that’s a troubling question. But if they can’t continue selling to existing customers, they’ll need to reach a broader audience. It’s the “Fender Twin Reverb effect”: This remains a sought-after amp that keeps selling to new generations of guitarists, even while veterans hold on to their classic versions. Of course, the Twin Reverb has undergone changes over the years, but its fundamentals remain intact. Perhaps Logic will become Apple’s Twin Reverb—a few revisions here and there, but overall, staying true to its core.
You can always count on Apple to shake things up, and more often than not, its controversial calls have been on target (“What? They’re removing the floppy disk drive? That’s ridiculous!”). Maybe the changes with Logic signal the start of a phase-out, and a disengagement from the “pro” market. But it’s Apple, which forces the question that if it really is phasing out, what’s going to be phasing in?
Craig Anderton is executive editor of Electronic Musician magazine and editor in chief of harmonycentral.com.


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U.S. Rep. Lee Terry (R-Neb.) this week led the way on unanimous congressional committee approval of legislation that would bring more international visitors—and the dollars they spend—to Nebraska and the Greater Omaha region.
H.R. 4450 would reauthorize Brand USA, a non-profit, public-private partnership dedicated to increasing inbound international travel to Nebraska and the entire United States. The legislation is sponsored by more than a third of the U.S. House, almost equally Republican and Democrat in number, while its Senate companion bill is sponsored by more than a quarter of that chamber.
“By providing critical leadership for Brand USA in the House of Representatives, Congressman Terry stands up for the thousands of individuals and small businesses in Nebraska that depend on travel,” said U.S. Travel Association President and CEO Roger Dow. “Brand USA helps promote Omaha and the entire state of Nebraska in major international travel markets to encourage more visitors to experience for themselves the heartland of America.”
Brand USA would strengthen Nebraska’s travel sector—a key component of the Cornhusker State’s economy. In 2012, travel:
- Contributed nearly $4.5 billion to Nebraska’s GDP, making it the state’s third-largest industry behind agriculture and manufacturing;
- Supported more than 44,000 Nebraska jobs; and
- Generated more than $600 million in tax receipts.
Brand USA delivers $47 in economic benefits for every dollar spent on marketing programs. Nationwide in 2013, Brand USA generated an estimated $3.4 billion in new visitor spending and supported 53,000 American jobs. Best of all, Brand USA does not cost U.S. taxpayers a single penny. The program is funded by a modest fee on foreign travelers together with matching contributions from the private sector. Brand USA is the fiscally conservative way to drive increased jobs and growth in Nebraska.
Terry chairs the Commerce, Manufacturing and Trade subcommittee of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce. Chairman Terry’s subcommittee approved the bill to reauthorize Brand USA last week on a 22-0 vote, paving the way for unanimous approval this week by the powerful Energy and Commerce Committee.
“We salute Congressman Terry for his leadership and will work with him to secure congressional reauthorization of Brand USA this year to further promote travel to Nebraska,” concluded Dow.
Click here to learn more about Brand USA.
U.S. Travel Association is the national, non-profit organization representing all components of the travel industry. In 2020, travel generated $1.5 trillion in economic output and supported 11 million jobs, a drastic decline from pre-pandemic figures. U.S. Travel's mission is to increase travel to and within the United States. Visit ustravel.org for information and recovery-related data.


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Czech companies invited to make investments in Azerbaijan's Karabakh
Azerbaijan’s Deputy Minister of Economy, Co-Chair of the Joint Commission on Economic, Scientific-Technical and Cultural Cooperation between the Government of Azerbaijan and the Government of the Czech Republic Sahib Mammadov has met with the Head of the Czech-Azerbaijan Interparliamentary Friendship Group Jan Kubik, News.Az reports.
During the meeting, the Deputy Minister drew Kubik`s attention to the potential for strengthening the economic and trade partnership between the two countries adding that the Azerbaijan-Czech Joint Commission is a useful platform in this regard. He said that the business conference organized within the 5th meeting of the Commission held in Prague in March this year and the discussions held with the heads of Czech companies contributed to the development of business dialogue.
Sahib Mammadov noted that there were ample opportunities for expanding cooperation between the two countries in the fields of investment, trade, industry, innovations, transport and transit and tourism.
Yan Kubik hailed the cooperation between Azerbaijan and the Czech Republic. The head of the friendship group noted that there were wide opportunities for partnership in the industry, including the automobile industry, transport-transit and other areas. He spoke about the activities of Czech companies interested in cooperation with Azerbaijan.
Sahib Mammadov highlighted the favorable business and investment climate created in Azerbaijan, the restoration and construction works carried out in the territories liberated from occupation. He emphasized that Czech companies were invited to make investments in Azerbaijan, including Karabakh.


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February 28, 2022 7:47AM EST
As Chaney Jones continues to spend time with Kanye West, she’s also dressing more and more like Kim Kardashian! Her latest look –for a night out in Miami — had her looking just like the reality star.
Chaney Jones could’ve easily been mistaken for Kim Kardashian when she arrived at Carbone in Miami on Feb. 27. The 24-year-old wore high-waisted, tight black pants and a simple black tank top tucked in. She paired the look with knee-high black boots and wore sunglasses, despite the fact that it was nighttime. This is a trend that Kim began favoring in 2021, and Chaney appears to be picking up on it! To complete her look, Chaney also wore black gloves and had her hair slicked back into a ponytail.
The social media influencer has been spending quite a bit of time with Kim’s ex, Kanye West, lately, and fans have definitely noticed her look-alike outfits to what we’ve seen Kim wear in the past. Earlier this month, she rocked a similar all-black look for a night out with the rapper. ‘Ye was also rocking a black ensemble for the outing, so they may even be coordinating clothes already! He pulled similar moves with Julia Fox, who he briefly dated at the beginning of the year before they split in mid-February.
As Kanye has been publicly parading around new women, Kim has desperately been trying to terminate and bifurcate their marriage. She filed legal docs at the end of 2021, asking a judge to restore her “legally single” status while she and Kanye worked on the specifics of their divorce settlement.
» Read Full Article
The post Chaney Jones Channels Kim Kardashian Again As She Rocks Skintight Black Outfit In Miami appeared first on Digital Online Fashion Magazine | Free Fashion Magazine | Fashion Magazine Online.


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Lummi Island's Willows Inn offers dining delights (slide show)
The Pacific Northwest is home to some of the most extraordinary destinations – short, memorable getaways that serve to refresh and inspire. The area is also home to a rich variety of wonderful restaurants.
One well kept secret, both a destination as well as a jewel of a dining spot, is Lummi Island, the most northeasterly of the San Juan archipelago, with a population of slightly more than 900. A short trip from Seattle and a beautiful destination, Lummi Island also is home to one of the top restaurants in the country, the Willows Inn.
In the 20 years I have been going up there, very little has changed. Time stops on Lummi. The little bargelike ferry can carry about 24 vehicles on the six-minute trip from the mainland.
The only noticeable shift on Lummi has been at the 104-year-old Willows Inn, which has become the subject of worldwide attention since chef Blaine Wetzel, 27, came on the scene. Wetzel saw the chef job posted on craigslist in 2010. He had been chef de partie (line cook) at the legendary Noma in Copenhagen, arguably one of the top restaurants in the world, and decided that it was time to return home to Washington state.
“It was like hitting the jackpot,” says Wetzel, of the job that he now lives and breathes. In the few short years he has been at the helm, Wetzel, who is now part owner of the Willows, has seen a noticeable change. “At first there were 10 people for dinner. Now we are full. We are busy, booked every day, filled up months out.”
Wetzel is the reason. The Willows Inn has been listed by The New York Times as one of the 10 places in the world worth flying to for dinner. Bon Appétit magazine lists it as the No. 3 food lovers' hotel in America. Travel and Leisure says Lummi is among the best secret islands on Earth. Gayot’s 2013 restaurant issue lists Willows Inn as one of the top 40 restaurants in the United States. Those are just a few of its many accolades.
Patti Payne is a columnist for the Puget Sound Business Journal. She can be reached at 206-234-6827.
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