text:
Franchise owners of both brands merge operations and acquire eight Office Evolution locations to expand flexible workspace solutions across the Denver metro area.
Browsing: Franchise Owners
Venture X and Office Evolution Franchise Owners Form Alliance to Acquire More Locations
Office Evolution Recognizes Outstanding Franchise Owners & Revenue Success at 2022 Annual Convention
At the company’s recent convention, the Office Evolution team celebrated a milestone year and shared plans for substantial growth in 2023.


text:
People can fully avail the benefits of 16 e-services of Goa's transport department from Friday.
In a major step towards digitisation, 16 services of Goa's transport department have now been made available on their online portal. The state Transport Minister stated that the designated portal will be fully functional from Friday, allowing people to avail the e-services at their doorstep, easing the restrictive perils of the COVID pandemic. These services will now be available at the click of a button while earlier people had to go to the RTO (Regional Transport Office) for the same.
E-services to grant ease, transparency & safety!
Goa's transport department has a catalogue of 147 services and the Minister informed that the state aims to move as many of these, as possible, to digital platforms. For now, it is launching 16 services on an online portal to permit direct citizen access to their benefits. It will assist the people to renew new temporary permits, goods carriage permits, new national permit authorisations and other such services, without having the need to go to the RTO.
The digital footprint will add a sense of transparency to the system along with ease. People can track and monitor their permit applications and other details in the safety of their homes, rather than bustling to public offices. This is an effective means to control crowds as well as facilitating digital and fast-tracked solutions.
Goa second state after Chhattisgarh to provide online RTO services
Earlier on June 2, Chhattisgarh had also launched a similar provision for 22 of its transport-related services. These were provided under the banner of 'Tunhar Sarkar, Tuhar Dwar' scheme, which translates to 'your government, your doorstep'. It was inferred that the primary reason for the widespread popularity of digital cutdown is to cut down on the number of people stepping out of their homes, into the clutches of the pandemic.

domain: news


text:
Apple has quietly gone ahead and brought itself a mapping company called Placebase in July this year, a move, which some analysts say, gives a hint at Apple’s strategy to look beyond Google Maps.
Details of the deal between Apple and Placebase are difficult to come by as there has been no official press release from Apple on this subject.
It is interesting to note that Placebase offers the ability to layer third party data sets by utilising the company's proprietary API called PushPin, a feature which is already available on Google Maps.
Though many analysts believe that it is too premature to look at Apple’s acquisition of Placebase as a sign of it breaking off from Google Maps, others explicitly point out that Apple may be looking for a backup plan for future.
Google Chrome operating system could well appear on the market by 2010 and with Android already in the market, Apple may start to feel that Google is coming too close to its core businesses.
Google and Apple share a long standing partnership and Google CEO Eric Schmidt was even on Apple’s board of directors till August this year when he quit because of "potential conflicts of interest" between the two companies.
Google and Apple are on a collision course and we did mull the possibility in November last year that Apple could buy search giant Yahoo. Apple will certainly be looking to distance itself from Google as the latter becomes too invasive. This means swapping all the services that Google current offers for Apple-based ones. If only they had bought Yahoo...


text:
It's never been a better time to be a car shopper.
Read This Article
The 2014 Nissan Leaf gains new standard features and a slight price increase.
The Nissan NV200 will finally become the official taxi for New York City.
If this were a battle of which sports car had more syllables in its name, the 2014 Nissan GT-R Track Pack would be at a dead heat with the 2014 Audi R8 V10 Plus, as both have inordinately long names.


text:
Nike Hit with California Wage and Hour Lawsuit
The lawsuit was filed as a putative class complaint in California Superior Court by Omran Hamid, a resident of the Golden State who worked at a Nike retail outlet in San Clemente from October, 2015 to January of this year. He filed his lawsuit a month later, on February 17.
Hamid accuses Nike of failure to provide itemized wage statements and failure to tell the proposed class the amount of paid sick leave available to them or the amount of paid time off Nike would provide in lieu of sick leave, amongst other alleged wage and hour violations.
The purchase of uniforms, however, constituted the primary issue. Hamid asserts the purchase of uniforms by store employees was not only mandated as a condition of employment by Nike, but that employees were also required to maintain “an up-to-date apparel of each season’s product line,” the wage and hour lawsuit asserts.
“Plaintiffs are minimum wage earners, yet, are required to purchase the uniforms an average of four times a year and on an ongoing basis and pay taxation on their value,” the lawsuit claims, adding that such costs combine to drop an employee’s actual wage below minimum standards observed by state and local statutes, for each pay period in which the uniforms were purchased.
“Plaintiffs are manipulated to become walking advertisements of the store exemplifying the athlete image defendants want to portray to their customers at the expense of requiring plaintiffs to bear the cost of the uniforms,” the complaint asserts.
The putative class action seeks to represent all current and former nonexempt employees who toiled as sales associates at Nike retail locations throughout California over the past four years.
According to court documents, there has been substantial fluidity in the California wage and hour lawsuit over its short life. Within seven days of filing his putative class action, Hamid amended his lawsuit to include no fewer than 14 claims against Nike Retail Services. Those amendments included allegations of illegal terms of employment, and the unlawful collection or receipt of wages due, or so it is alleged.
A little more than a month later, on April 3 Nike petitioned to have the lawsuit removed to federal court. Nike also asserted the wage and hour lawsuit fails to state a cause of action, that the plaintiff lacks standing and that the plaintiff failed to comply with established procedures, and failed to act reasonably to mitigate damages.
The case is Omran Hamid v. Nike Retail Services Inc., Case No. 8:17-cv-00600, in the US District Court for the Central District of California.


text:
Photo: Hannah Choi/Allure
ABH's new Hydrating Oil, plus more of the latest skin-care launches.
Including a waterfall-inspired cream we love.
Yes, but also no. Here's what the experts say.
Because it "actually works."
There's an "ectoplasm" body wash, too.
According to the New Mexico Department of Health.
But it's not what you think.


text:
E-mail gets personal
Ryan Phelan, director of e-mail marketing at Sears Holdings Corp.
After a rough holiday season, multichannel retailers are struggling to come up with the right ways to build customer loyalty. For Sears, a new e-mail and Web personalization program has helped keep the customer conversation going and allowed the retailer to respond to customers' needs.
Previously, Sears had simply relied on “batch and blast” e-mails to an entire customer list, but in June the company shifted its strategy to a content-driven approach meant to make the messages more relevant. It is a strategic move from a mass-media mindset into a very specific customized experience designed for the individual customer.
“It's not just putting the customer's name in the subject line,” says Ryan Phelan, director of e-mail marketing at Sears Holdings Corp., who, along with manager of e-mail marketing transformation Andrew Kordek, was hired to take charge of the new program. “We want to speak to the customer in a more intelligent way. The offers that are presented need to be relevant based on what a customer has expressed interest in.”
Since Sears began the new e-mail program, the brand began A/B testing with its e-mails, dividing them between a control group that does not receive personalized e-mails and a test group that does. Compared to non-personalized e-mails, the test group of personalized e-mails have seen a 41% increase in revenue per clickthrough, a 178% increase in conversion, a 59% increase in average order volume and a 215% increase in clickthroughs. Phelan attributes this growth to Sears' new focus on personalization.
“[This] will define our e-mail program going forward,” adds Phelan. “It is not only your name that makes it personal, but what you like, such as apparel and shoes and electronics. We are sending offers that we think a consumer will react to.”
While these numbers demonstrate sales growth, the Sears e-mail program is not just about selling — it is also about CRM and building customer loyalty. During last year's Thanksgiving week, Sears relaunched its e-mail preference center so customers can pick and choose to receive relevant communications — for example, they can sign up to receive information on new products, special discounts, set the frequency of their mailings and even sign up for mobile alerts.
“Letting the customer speak about what is important to them gives us greater flexibility and segmentation ability,” says Kordek.
Integrating the personalized message through all channels of communications is a core aspect of the program. Based on what a customer does in e-mail, direct mail and mobile alerts are then personalized to fit a customer's profile. For example, if a customer buys a flat-screen TV monitor, a mobile alert with information on how to sign up for a warranty could soon follow.
“We do not silo our channels — we try to keep on message at every touch point with the customer,” Kordek adds. “The e-mail provides a deeper insight and helps us reinforce the message of direct mail. It's about speaking to the customer in a more intelligent way.”
To show their commitment to this kind of personalization, the relationship marketing department includes all of the direct channels that they use, including e-mail, direct mail, Web and mobile. “If we are going to succeed as a retailer, then we need to be consistent across all channels,” adds Phelan. “The message that we send to our customers needs to be relevant, and we have transformed this across all channels of communication that we communicate.”


text:
UK-based software developer CloudFabriQ has put out a call for partners as it begins final testing of its cloud infrastructure management solution, V-Maestro.
A fresh face in the market, having been set up 18 months ago, CloudFabriQ developed V-Maestro to optimise customer virtual machine environments on physical hardware, addressing systems management and datacentre energy costs, as well as VM sprawl.
CloudFabriQ EMEA VP of sales and operations, Steve Charnock, likened many datacentre estates to a road network, noting that however many new roads are built to absorb growing traffic volumes, the new roads end up clogged as well: he gave the hypothetical example of a customer with 1,000 VMs and 35 physical machines saying that that customer would tend to use all the physical kit at his disposal regardless. V-Maestro, claims CloudFabriQ, takes care of this problem.
Currently in beta-testing at two customers as of the end of September, V-Maestro should be a good fit for resellers that are already engaged in systems management and admin, Linux-centric ISVs, and server and datacentre VARs, but equally, said Charnock, could be interesting to MSPs.
“Less is more, and we’re certainly not going on a partner signing frenzy,” said Charnock, “I’m about finding the right channel partners who can lever our technology into starting new conversations with existing customers.”
With a crowded market for virtualisation support products, Charnock added that CloudFabriQ’s automation capabilities and scalability – it can handle estates of up to 100,000 servers – as well as vendor agnosticism should set it apart from the pack.


text:
There’s been a lot of discussion surrounding Apple’s 5 million sales figure for the iPhone 5 this past weekend, and the narrative seems to be focused on Apple selling fewer devices than analysts were expecting. And while it’s easy to lambast analysts for being, well, analysts, remember that expectations were arguably set when the number of pre-orders for the iPhone 5 was twice as high as it was for the iPhone 4S.
So what gives?
Some analysts are astutely pointing out that Apple’s 5 million sales figure doesn’t take into consideration pre-orders that have yet to be delivered to customers. As such, some estimate that there may be 1 million devices, if not more, still in transit and awaiting customer signatures before being added to the iPhone 5 sales tally.
Further, there have been reports that Apple retail stores were fully stocked with iPhone 5s while other retailers – such as Radio Shack and Best Buy – had exceptionally low quantities at launch.
Assuming that these reasons are, in fact, behind the lower-than-expected 5 million sales figure, why is this the case? How did Apple find itself in this situation?
Addressing that very question, Horace Dediu of Asymco has a pretty cogent explanation.
Some channels like Apple Stores may have gotten too many units while other channels like their on-line store, operator stores or retail partners did not get enough.
In other words, we have a situation of over- and under-supply (or over- and under-demand) simultaneously because the product is misallocated.
It’s possible that this year a larger group of consumers decided that braving long lines is not their cup of tea. Instead, this larger proportion could have chosen to bravely endure waiting for a package at home rather than the companionship of their fellow man. Maybe the population of buyers is broader this year as one would expect from such a large base, and there are fewer who have the time or inclination to queue for a device.
If the shift to online from in-store was unforeseen, the company could easily have allocated too many units to retail and not enough to online resulting in weeks-long waits for orders placed online and relatively short waits in queues.
At the end of the day, this is hardly a problem or a cause for concern for investors. Launch day sales figures for the iPhone 5 were 25% higher than they were for the iPhone 4S and the crux of the problem is that Apple is having trouble meeting surging demand.
Truthfully, that’s a problem that any other smartphone manufacturer would absolutely love to have. And besides, Apple’s international rollout of the iPhone 5 is much more expansive than it’s been for previous iPhone models, with Dediu noting that the 4S launched in 7 countries in 2011 with a combined population of 703.7 million people and sold 4 million units. “The iPhone 5,” Dediu points out in comparison, “launched into nine countries in 2012 with a total combined population of 709 million and sold 5 million in the same amount of time.”
“That means that 0.57% of the addressable market bought an iPhone 4S in three days and 0.71% bought an iPhone 5,” Dediu adds.
The takeaway is that there’s absolutely nothing to worry about, and if a company can sell 5 million units of anything in one weekend and have that looked upon as a failure, well, we’d venture to say that they’re doing things exactly right.


text:
Speaking in his new role as chief operating officer for Wood-Mizer’s worldwide business, Richard Vivers reports that 2010 turned out surprisingly well.
True, some areas are struggling but he sees progress in them and in any case the overall picture is good. This reflects the world economy. Global trade has risen 5% above its trend and quicker than was forecast twelve months ago.
Although Wood-Mizer is active in pretty well all regions Richard Vivers sees future growth coming mostly from the euro zone, the United States and, particularly, emerging markets.
The euro zone’s troubles have been real and affected Wood-Mizer’s trading. However, the zone grew at a decent rate for an ageing continent due to some ‘oomph’ from Germany, the quickest growing big rich economy in 2010.Improving 2011
Many people think this year will follow the growth of the previous one and Richard Vivers comments:
"We think 2011 will bring Wood-Mizer greater growth by virtue of our entering (re-entering in some cases) emerging markets.
"Our expansion into Asia and the Far East already delivers results and indications are that this will continue and could multiply.
"South American sales will re-establish themselves despite an inflation scare in the biggest economy, that of Brazil.
"Our growth in the euro zone could be sluggish but based on high turnover. However, most people and certainly Wood-Mizer feel that talk of the demise of the euro is foolish; its benefits far outweigh its temporary problems. It has been a boon to international trade in ‘euroland’, in the extended European Union and far beyond in non-EU countries.
Overall, our European sales grew 17% last year and we predict improvements in 2011.
"United States sales grew 20% in 2010 and as it moves away from austerity so will our sales increase there.
"I believe that one of the reasons we did well in the USA last year and reasonably well in Europe is because the two continents worked together and shared similar economic philosophies. Long may it continue!"Emerging markets
The new appointment of Luis Parrales to handle all South American sales will bring Wood-Mizer back into these expanding areas – not least into Brazil, one of the so-called bric countries, currently growing more than 8% per year.
Additionally, the appointment of James Wong in early 2010 as regional manager for Asia and the Far East has already reaped welcome sales in new and hitherto not so active parts of the world. From Wood-Mizer’s wholly-owned branch in Singapore, James Wong has supported a new distributorship in Bhutan, where he arranged a meeting between Richard Vivers and team with the deputy prime minister. The deputy pm indicated that Wood-Mizer’s technology fitted well with the country’s ‘gross national happiness’ policy which embraces a desire to conserve their natural forest resource.
James Wong is also actively supporting a distributorship in India (growing at over 8% p.a.) and has recently appointed Bobbie Ruban Joseph, based in Kerala, as sales manager for India to work closely with the distributor. Already several ‘orange’ sawmills and two slp lines operate in the sub-continent and now their numbers are set to increase.
Recent Wood-Mizer sawmilling equipment sales have been achieved by James Wong in Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam and Indonesia. Richard Vivers adds:
"We have high hopes in Asia and the East."Expanding branches
Wood-Mizer’s wholly owned branches bring advantages that reinforce the concept of a general policy of active, directed presence in major markets. Local operators and potential customers respond particularly to a supplier’s dedicated presence, where there is a well equipped office, and readily available stocks, individual training and maintenance and a manager who is sensitive to local needs.
There are fourteen worldwide.
The Moscow branch’s success recently led to relocation to a dedicated facility three kilometres from Moscow’s outer ring road. Here, 500 square metres are equipped to latest business requirements. A heated warehouse stores quantities of blade stock, sharpeners, setters and several sawmills.
In France our successful distributorship under Emmanuel Poulain in the north of the Pas-de-Calais has converted to a branch a few kilometres south, run by Mme Laurence Serrurier. Emmanuel Poulain now concentrates on spreading the Wood-Mizer word in Africa. The new branch may further expand into a Franco-Iberian sales function.
Singapore shows significant successes, Romania is doing relatively well in view of that country’s economy, the UK is improving (40% up on 2009) although the banking crisis remains a burden. Nordik (Norway/Sweden) has consolidated its position and returned to modest growth and Germany’s sales (at 2006 levels, regarded as a very successful year then) are static but of high volume.Sharpening blades sales
Last year also saw dramatic sales of Wood-Mizer’s band saw blades to both our own mill owners and increasingly to operators of other band saw brands.
Now, seventeen blades lines operate in Kolo and twelve in Indiana where four more are currently being installed to meet demand. The Russian branch sold more than one million metres of blades in 2010!
The sharpening of blades sales was partly stimulated by launch of the RazorTip
blade aimed at processors of abrasive, extra hard, wood species.Extending product lines
"We widened our product ranges in response to certain wood processing opportunities identified last year", says Richard Vivers.
He cites the MP100 moulder/planer attachment as attracting surprising sales levels. Originally aimed at northern Europe where for example log cabins are common it is also being bought in America and in Asia.
He also harbours high hopes for just-launched HR115 and HR110 simple resaws. These economical resaw systems are based on LT15 and LT10 sawing heads.
A single blade edger dubbed the EG50 has been developed for unveiling at Ligna
. Richard Vivers’ new role enabled him to ‘cross fertilise’ American designs with European norms to create a simply entry edger that is hoped to create much interest in Hannover at the end of May.
An industrial scale band sawmill, the WM3500 (evolved from the formerly-named LT300 mills) offers faster and more efficient log sawing, makes better use of the head, has better materials handling and is suitable for multiple shifts.
A new mill, the WM1000, designed to handle logs up to 1.7m in diameter, is also being released to production and will be officially launched at Ligna
Finally, offering segmented beds for mills has moved on from the widely successful LT20B. Now an LT40B and an LT70B join the line. All three can be used in static processing set-ups and be remotely controlled.Widening role
Richard Vivers is now president of Wood-Mizer’s corporate sawmills division, representing 95% of the corporation.
Worldwide Wood-Mizer sales, marketing, R&D, and manufacturing are his responsibilities. Jeff Laskowski remains chief executive officer and Mark Thompson, chief financial officer. Richard Vivers explains:
"This all follows a reorganisation by the board, reflecting its desire to maximise its ability to serve worldwide markets with our novel products and become a leaner, perhaps ‘meaner’ and more competitive supplier to wood processing.
"Our two strong manufacturing centres on either side of the world have been presented with a rare opportunity to rationalise their functions even more.
"We recognise the macro-economic cycle in which we operate. It is not over optimistic to expect its curve to improve!
"However, there is a new reality in world commerce where the high sales levels of 2007-8 are now viewed as unreal…dizzy, perhaps!
"We now compare our growth to our 2006 sales levels and we are doing well – and know we’ll be doing even better", concludes Richard Vivers.


text:
LTE received another teammate in the tug-of-war between WiMax and 4G LTE (Long Term Evolution) technology yesterday when Cellular South announced its intentions today to build out a 4G mobile broadband network.
The regional carrier has declared that it will build out its spectrum in the lower 700 MHz band, but not anytime soon,. Cellular South has the calendar circled for the fourth quarter of 2011.
In addition to sharing its 4G ambitions, Cellular South has also unveiled Samsung as its launch partner. The two companies penned a deal yesterday that will bring two Samsung smartphones to Cellular South in time for the carrier's LTE launch.
Neither Samsung nor Cellular South is sharing further details about the smartphones, the spectrum, or the terms of the deal. What we can infer is that the regional operator has no intention to let thepass them by.
MetroPCS became the first of the second-tier carriers to offer LTE speeds when it introduced the


text:
The price of the upcoming Apple iPhone 14 series could be almost the same as the launch price of its predecessor iPhone 13. According to a new report, the starting price of the upcoming iPhone 14 model could be around Rs 80,000. However, the latest iPhone series may not have a mini version. Instead of the mini model, Apple is likely to introduce a new Max variant, which could be placed between the standard and iPhone 14 Pro. Garena Free Fire MAX redeem codes for 3 August 2022: How to claim free diamonds and skins
A Korean Naver blog user named “yeux1122” shared a new post on the platform and tipped that Apple will not increase the price of its iPhone 14 series to attract more customers and achieve more sales despite high inflation and chain restrictions. Top five premium Upcoming Smartphones in August 2022
The post was first spotted by MacRumors. The post also revealed that the decision was made by Apple’s “top executives” due to the stagnation in the global smartphone market and a drop in demand.
According to current rumors, the iPhone 14 is speculated to be priced around $799 (about Rs. 63,200 in India) in the US. However, the price of the device is likely to be higher than in India as it will be subject to GST and import duty, among other things, once launched in the country. Moreover, Apple usually sets $1 as Rs.100. But since the price in the US is similar to last year’s iPhone 13 series, the same is likely to be true for the Indian market as well. So the iPhone 14 could be priced around Rs 79,990, which is the price of the iPhone 13 in India. Amazon Drive is Closed Now, backup your files or lose them
Note that Apple has not yet revealed the official price and other details of the iPhone 14 series. The company is expected to launch the iPhone 14 series next month, on September 13 to be exact. In addition, Apple is likely to lower the price of the iPhone 13 series after the launch of the iPhone 14, similar to the iPhone 12 series in 2021.
We have many rumors and leaks about the upcoming iPhone 14 series before its launch. The iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Max are expected to be powered by last year’s A15 chipset, while the Pro models are likely to pack the new A16 SoC under the hood. The non-Pro models are designed to offer the same dual rear camera setup we saw on the 2021 variants, but the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max are likely to feature a new 48-megapixel triple rear camera setup. iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max Specs, Pricing and Release Date
The iPhone 14 is now the most anticipated smartphone for this year and based on the leaks so far, it is sure to excite the masses. While the features and upgrades are essential for many, the most important thing is the price. Each new iPhone has largely continued to increase in price, and earlier this year, earlier rumors suggested a $100 premium on all models. And without the Mini this year, the iPhone 14 lineup was expected to start at $899 for the vanilla model. However, a new leak suggests otherwise.
Apple has decided not to raise the price of the base iPhone 14 worldwide, according to a post by the “yeux1122” account on Korean blog Naver. MacRumours reports that the decision has been made to increase sales to offset a drop in demand caused by a slowdown in the global market. Since there is no iPhone 14 Mini available at a price of $699, it would be crucial for Apple not to show the iPhone 14 as a more expensive model than the current generation iPhone 13. iOS 16 Hacks: How to edit or unsend messages in iMessage
The iPhone 14 will cost the same as the iPhone 13
The decision to freeze the price of the base 6.1-inch iPhone 14 is said to have been made at the top management level. Apple will keep the price low despite increased production costs and a disrupted supply chain.
However, we won’t be surprised if Apple later decides to announce a price increase citing these rising production costs. Remember that Apple will continue to sell the iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 Mini at a lower price after the iPhone 14 launch, and in several emerging markets such as India, Apple makes a lot of money on older models. We could also see a drop in the price of the iPhone 12, which has been around since 2020.
If this turns out to be true, the iPhone 14 could see huge demand among consumers. It remains to be seen how Apple prices the rest of the iPhone 14 models. The iPhone 14 Max, which is supposed to be a larger version of the iPhone 14, is expected to be priced at $899. Pro variants will start at $1,099.
- WhatsApp working on new feature for iPhone users to transfer chats without iCloud backup
- Google Pixel 7a: Leaked Specifications Ahead of Launch at Google I/O 2023
- WhatsApp to introduce ‘Channels’ feature for broadcasting messages
- WhatsApp to Introduce Channels Feature for Broadcasting Messages
- How to Create Stickers on Your iPhone with iOS 16 Trick


text:
Remember the days when EMI’s lawsuit against cloud locker MP3tunes was being watched closely by Amazon, Google and Apple as they mulled their own cloud-music strategies?
We’re wondering if history could be repeating itself with EMI’s lawsuit against secondhand MP3 store ReDigi. Why? Because Amazon has been awarded a patent for reselling digital content.
The patent covers “digital objects including e-books, audio, video, computer applications, etc” stored in a user’s personalised data store.
“When the user no longer desires to retain the right to access the now-used digital content, the user may move the used digital content to another user’s personalized data store when permissible and the used digital content is deleted from the originating user’s personalized data store,” explains the patent summary, which notes that there may be “a threshold number of moves or downloads” for a particular piece of content.
The patent was filed back in 2009, but was granted this January. How such a system would work with Amazon’s MP3 Store and Cloud Player service is pretty clear, but it would certainly raise music rightsholders’ hackles if they weren’t getting a cut of this secondhand distribution.
No wonder ReDigi got involved last week, issuing a statement on the patent aiming to show how its own service is more rightsholder-friendly than Amazon’s proposed copy-based system.
“ReDigi takes no position on the legality of this technique under copyright law, but simply notes that it has been central to the music and publishing industries’ skepticism and opposition to a ‘used’ digital marketplace, and that the ReDigi Marketplace does not use this technique,” claims the company’s statement.
Even so, ReDigi’s legal battle now carries even more importance, as Amazon and its rivals look on.


text:
I know going back is generally not the recommended direction of travel when it comes to privacy and security, and that movement encompasses both, but this going back is welcome. Not just in practical terms, I should add, but also in terms of perceptions.
Optics matter, and Apple knows it better than anyone after some recent decisions that have had a negative impact on how users perceive them as a privacy-focused company. Google, of course, still has a long way to go before it can catch up with Apple, even after hitting the CSAM bump on the road. But, being seen to be in the game is vital, and while still catching up with iOS, I’d say Google has given Android users something to be happy about. Some 2 billion of them, in fact.
Google emphasizes the intersection of privacy and security
The intersection between privacy and security is sharper than ever, and Google has decided to focus on both when it comes to Android app permissions. To be precise, what permissions you grant or deny an app when you first install it.
While seemingly a pure privacy issue, execute permissions are not also referred to as “dangerous” permissions for nothing. These are the permissions that Android prompts you to allow or deny when an app first attempts to access the camera, microphone, SMS messages, location sensors, contact lists, etc. . Many of them can seriously impact your security posture if this app has or changes over time to have malicious intent.
It is these changes over time that Google discusses here.
Last year, when Android 11 was released, Google introduced an auto-reset permissions feature that did what it said on the tin. If Android 11 detects that an app has not been used “for a few months,” it performs an automatic security rollback and resets those permissions to a default deny state, revoking any access the user had previously granted.
Ilia Koloshenko, founder of ImmuniWeb and member of Europol’s network of data protection experts, called it “a game changer for many unintentional Android users who mistakenly granted excessive permissions to mobile apps. who do not need it or even to malware “. Koloshenko warned that “several million” users of non-technical applications are tricked into granting such permissions to adware applications, for example, or installing malicious applications whose permissions can lead to total device compromise. . “The problem is particularly prevalent in less developed countries,” he said, “where mobile users use their devices for payments or other sensitive transactions.”
While being a cool feature, the problem with this is that of the over 3 billion Android devices, only the 750 million running Android 11 could benefit. However, that is about to change.
Google is playing catch up with Apple and itself
By means of a post on the official Android developer blog, Google has confirmed that “the auto-reset permissions feature will begin a gradual rollout on devices powered by Google Play Services that run a version between Android 6.0 and Android 10.” Bringing this crucial improvement in privacy and security to an additional 2.25 billion devices.
In addition, this auto reset feature will be enabled by default.
Now, there are a couple of things that can cause a little scratching to the head here. The first being how Google can roll out an update like this to billions of devices when the fractured nature of the Android ecosystem is what keeps three-quarters of users from running Android 11 in the first place.
The outcome of this puzzle is discussed in this quote from a developer blog: “powered by Google Play services”. The update uses the Google Play Services framework, installed on every Android device that comes with Google Play out of the box, which makes up the vast majority of them. It is this framework that is used by some apps to send notifications and by Google itself to ensure that fixes are in place so that access to the Google Play Store can be maintained.
There are flies in the auto-reset permissions ointment, however
As for the other somewhat confusing piece of the auto-reset permissions puzzle, is that when the feature kicks in? Google only said it does this when an app is not in use for a few months. Unfortunately, he hasn’t clarified what exactly this means, and according to reports this appears to be intentional in order to prevent developers from messing with the system.
Having said that, it also seems that developers can ask the user to disable the function on an app-by-app basis. The reasoning here is that some apps need to run in the background without interruption, such as smart device controllers, security apps, or sync data. It seems to me that’s exactly the kind of request that the developers of a malicious app would make, of course. Be careful with the granting of a white card in this way. Company-managed apps, with these permissions set by corporate policy, will not be affected by the auto-reset permissions feature.
Putting control back in the hands of users is not guaranteed
Sean Wright, Application Security Manager at Immersive Labs, told me that “at first glance, this seems like a great idea from a privacy standpoint; however, I have some concerns about its ease of use ”. Wright is concerned that, as seen with the cookie privacy notices, users typically blindly click to delete them in order to block everything they are trying to see. “I think we’ll see similar behavior when this feature is introduced,” he says, “after all, if a user approved these permissions in the first place, there’s a good chance they’ll approve them again, especially if they have an impact on the usability of the application. “
What might be a better approach, suggests Wright, is to make it easier for the user to determine what permissions are being used. “It would give them real control back,” he insists, adding that “functionality will always trump privacy, so we need to find ways to marry the two and give users a real chance to control how and where their data is used. “


text:
Smartly.io, the leading social advertising automation platform for creative and performance marketers, announced the addition of Ryanne Laredo as its first Chief Customer Officer. In this new role, Laredo will further elevate Smartly.io’s commitment to customers while supporting the company’s U.S. growth and leadership in enterprise advertising technology.
“At Smartly.io, customer centricity is in our DNA and thinking customer-first has been a core value from the start,” said Kristo Ovaska, founder and CEO at Smartly.io. “As we continue to innovate our platform and grow rapidly globally, we want to ensure our customers are set up for success and can maximize their performance. With Ryanne at the helm, our customer team can continue to ensure we are a strategic partner to some of the world’s most advanced advertisers. She is also an integral part of our next growth phase as we continue expanding our offering across multiple digital advertising platforms.”
Marketing Technology News: Apty Recognized as Leader in Digital Adoption Platforms
“At Smartly.io, customer centricity is in our DNA and thinking customer-first has been a core value from the start”
Laredo joins Smartly.io with more than a decade of experience in client services. She most recently served as Chief Customer Officer at Amobee, where she was responsible for fostering customer relationships and focusing on attraction, engagement, and development — ensuring customers were at the epicenter of everything the business did.
Outside of her executive experience, Laredo is committed to driving change in the adtech industry. She’s a co-founder of AdTech Cares, an organization that leverages adtech to combat misinformation and keep humanity well. The organization of 50+ companies spreads truth about COVID-19, supports fact-based journalism, and affirms that Black Lives Matter around the world. She’s also a founding member of Chief, a private network designed specifically for senior women leaders — rising VP level through CEO — to strengthen their experience in the C-suite and affect change from the top-down.
Marketing Technology News: Realeyes Named Winner In 2021 Artificial Intelligence Excellence Awards For Its Attention…
“The way consumers are engaging with brands is ever evolving and Smartly.io provides software and services that allow brands to harness opportunities to connect in meaningful, scalable ways. Smartly.io’s market leadership, agility, and proven customer-centric approach compelled me to join the team. Marketers are looking for technology partners that listen, advise, and innovate to drive their business forward. Smartly.io has proven that delivering together with brands using automation and creativity pays off,” said Laredo. “I look forward to continuing to build collaborative relationships with customers that allow Smartly.io to create industry first solutions, constantly improving the customer experience, and to be a part of Smartly.io’s next phase of growth.”


text:
September 17, 2009 |
MUMBAI: HCL Technologies Chairman, Shiv Nadar has bagged the UK Trade and Investment Business Person of the year award for unique contribution to bilateral trade. The award was presented by Britian's Trade and Investment Minister Lord Mervyn Davies. Winners under other categories include Glenmark Pharmaceuticals MD & CEO, Glenn Saldanha (Young Business Leader of the Year), Firstsource Solutions (Investor of the Year), Dar Consultants (business partnership of the year)
February 18, 2010 |
In 2001, when Sunil Godhwani (CEO and MD of Religare Enterprises Ltd ), joined the company it was a small stock brokerage.? He set out to create an Indian global financial services company. Eight years later, the New Delhi-based company has offices in 10 countries around the world thanks to its acquisition of Hichens, Harrison & Co, the oldest brokerage company in London.? Religare targeted London as an ideal location for its first office abroad, attracted by the city's status as a global financial hub. ?
November 2, 2006 |
MUMBAI: Lauding the significant expansion in Indo-British trade ties in the past couple of years, Prince Andrew, currently on a visit to India, on Wednesday said the UK companies were very keen on coming to India, both as direct investors and in the form of joint ventures. Presenting the first ever UK Trade and Investment India Business Awards here tonight, the Prince said, "I am here to say that whatever the case previously, the British business is now keen to come to India both as direct investors as well as partnering with Indian companies.
November 6, 2012 |
CHANDIGARH: State-owned Northern India Institute of Fashion Technology today said it is looking at partnering UK-based fashion designing institutes to offer degree courses. The institute today also requested UK Trade and Investment Director Barry Lowen to help materialise the partnerships with UK-based designing institutes. "We are looking at tie ups with UK-based institutes so that we can offer degree courses for our students," NIIFT Director Vishav Bandhu told reporters here today on the sidelines of an industry interaction with a representative of UK Trade and Investment body.
September 12, 2008 |
HYDERABAD: Testing, quality management and certification solutions company AppLabs announced on Friday that it has won the 'New Market Entrant of the Year' award at the UK Trade and Investment India Business Awards 2008 for successfully managing integration of intellectual property and business processes of Indian and UK operations. The UK Trade and Investment India Business Awards are a recognition and celebration of the UK-Indo business partnership, especially in terms of inward investment, collaborative business partnership, entrepreneurship and innovation, the company release said.
October 8, 2007 |
MUMBAI: Subex Azure on Monday said it has been felicitated with the Successful Listing of the Year Award at the London Stock Exchange (LSE) by UK Trade & Investment (UKTI). "This industry recognition further accentuates our commitment to global growth," said Subex Azure' Chief Counsel and Company Secretary Raj Kumar. The award is a testimony to the growing partnership between the UK and India and a reflection of how Indian firms have been taking advantage of the new economic landscape, Kumar added.
April 22, 2008 |
KOLKATA: A 12-member UK railway delegation will meet the Minister of State for Railway R Velu to discuss opportunity for possible partnership with the Indian Railways. Opportunities where UK expertise could be rendered would be discussed by the delegation with Velu tomorrow, UK Railway Industry Association, director (Int Business Development) Pim Grey told an interactive session with the Indian Chamber of Commerce. The members of the delegation hinted they were more interested in Metro Railway projects and could render services in project consultancy, passenger interface and information, track and train performance.
December 18, 2009 |
BANGALORE: IT major Wipro has "impressive plans" for developing low carbon business in the UK, Business Secretary of the UK, Lord Peter Mandelson said on Friday. "I have just come from a fascinating visit to Wipro, where (the company's Chairman) Azim Premji outlined impressive plans for developing low carbon business in the UK", he said launching the IISc-UK lecture series at the Indian Institute of Science here. During the visit to Bangalore-headquartered, New York Stock Exchange-listed company earlier today, UK Trade & Investment (UKTI)
February 18, 2013 |
CHENNAI :Financial technology company Polaris today said it has enhanced its existing centre in Belfast, United Kingdom, to a Research, Innovation and Development Centre (RIDC) in association with UK Trade and Investment, as part of its plan to strengthen overseas presence. The Chennai-based company, in a statement said the launch of the Centre enables it "to strengthen its leadership position by establishing a dedicated RIDC in order to support transformational outsourcing programmes for customers in Europe".
May 12, 2013 |
LONDON: An Indian-origin trade adviser is among nearly 1,000 high-profile Britons named on a vast database of offshore tax havens. According to a 'Sunday Times' report, Alpesh Patel - who advises UK Trade and Investment (UKTI) on trade with India - has been named alongside footballer John Fashanu . Both men have denied receiving any tax advantage from offshore arrangements. The set of 2.5 million leaked documents being looked into by the UK's HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC)


text:
European Union Calls for Global Companies to Disclose More Tax Data
The European Union wants companies to be more open about their taxes.
A proposal by the European Commission would require multinational companies to disclose the amount of taxes they pay in each of the E.U.’s member bloc countries and in offshore havens—a level of transparency that might reduce tax avoidance, according to The New York Times.
While the proposal was in the works before the release of the Panama Papers last week, officials changed it to include offshore tax havens in light of the revelations.
“By using complicated tax arrangements, some multinationals can pay nearly a third less tax than companies that only operate in one country,” EU Financial Services Commissioner Jonathan Hill said in a statement to Reuters. “Our proposal to increase transparency will help make companies more accountable.”
European Union officials have investigated a number of high-profile multinational companies, including Apple (AAPL), Google (GOOGL) and Amazon (AMZN), for their tax practices. In October, the European Commission ordered the Dutch and Luxembourg governments to recover money from Starbucks (SBUX) and Fiat after giving the companies special tax breaks.
The proposal would only apply to large multinational corporations with more than $855 million in annual global revenue, according to the Times.


text:
Once an iconic luxury car brand in the United States, Cadillac has seen its market share slip to rivals like BMW and Lexus. Johan De Nysschen is trying to recapture the magic that made Cadillac a world-wide symbol of automobile luxury.
The year 2017 will be the 60th anniversary of Hyatt, which was founded by Chicago billionaire Jay Pritzker in 1957, when he acquired the Hyatt House motel adjacent to the Los Angeles International Airport.
Riding on growing revenues, the five-star Sheraton Grand Taipei Hotel (喜來登) and Le Meridien Taipei (寒舍艾美) operator My Humble House Hospitality Management Consulting (寒舍餐旅管理顧問) went public in May.
When the Tokyo-headquartered Fujifilm Corp elevated Shigetaka Komori, 77, its CEO since June 2003 and group president since 2000, to chair-man in 2012, photographic products, the company's mainstay, were reeling from the digital onslaught.
Taiwan's high-tech guru John Hsuan (宣明智) aims for significant growth in mainland China's market in order to make the biotech industry the next pride of Taiwan.
Theo Spierings had deep experience from a range of leadership roles before he landed the job as chief executive officer of New Zealand's Fonterra Cooperative Group, the world's biggest dairy exporter known for its high-end milk products.
Greg Johnson, chairman and CEO of global financial giant Franklin Templeton Investments, owes his success to an innate passion about what he does.
Innovation is the driving force of an enterprise, which is unquestionably true for Minoru Usui, president and CEO of Japanese electronics company Seiko Epson Corporation, commonly known as Epson.
At 55, Irishman Willie Walsh can take some satisfaction over a career that began when he joined Irish state airline Aer Lingus as a trainee pilot straight out of high school at the tender age of 17.
Founder of Eagles Fund (老鷹基金) Steve Lau (劉小鷹) juggles many titles: entrepreneur, cyclist, mentor, investor extraordinaire. During a brief trip to Taipei, Lau sat down with The China Post for an exclusive interview. He takes out a stack of business cards, each in various shapes and sizes.


text:
The preliminary Winnipeg budget includes millions of dollars of supports and tax relief for small businesses.
Packed into the budget is a $3 million Economic Support Grant Program, an expansion of the Small Business Tax Credit threshold, the re-establishment of the Economic Development Office and a $2.3 billion six-year capital program announced.
tap here to see other videos from our team.
“There’s definitely lots to like for business in this budget,” said Loren Remillard, the president and CEO of the Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce. “The question, inevitably, is always is it enough. When you’re going through a global pandemic I don’t think you can ever say ‘this is enough.’ But it’s very helpful.”
The economic support grant is available to small businesses and non-profits that were forced to shut down during the pandemic or close their store front and will grant the first 2,000 qualified applicants $1,500. The funds can be put towards rent, utilities, wages, personal protective equipment, sanitizing equipment or other pandemic-related costs.


text:
The third-quarter earnings reported by Nike Thursday afternoon were mixed -- a drop in revenue but dramatic increases in digital sales -- as the retailer struggled with challenges from the pandemic. But bad news seemingly was about to follow when just a few hours later it was reported that the company also made a round of layoffs.
The layoffs were not mentioned in the company's earnings release, but its hometown newspaper, The Oregonian and the paper's website Oregon Live reported about five hours after the financial announcements that Nike instituted an "unspecified number of recent layoffs" in an effort to build a “flatter, nimbler company
FOX Business reached out to Nike for comment regarding the reported layoffs but is still awaiting a response.
These latest cutbacks were in addition to moves the company announced last year to shave 700 employees off its payroll.
For the quarter, Nike saw its total sales rise to $10.36 billion from $10.1 billion a year earlier. While the number was lower than the $11.02 billion forecast by analysts, it is not a horrible performance given retail's turmoil spurred on by the coronavirus. The athletic outfitter said in a statement that its "revenue performance was impacted by disruption related to the Covid-19 pandemic."
Fortunately, before the pandemic changed the world at large, the Beaverton, Oregon-based company had started adding muscle to its direct-to-consumer business. As a result, the shutdown of third-party brick-and-mortar retail did not dent Nike's armor. Nike Direct -- which operates both digital outlets and a network of company-owned stores -- registered a 20% increase in sales pulling in $4 billion. Its digital operations alone saw revenue soar 59%
“NIKE's brand momentum is as strong as ever and we are driving focused growth against our largest opportunities,” Nike Chief Financial officer Matt Friend said in a statement. “We continue to see the value of a more direct, digitally-enabled strategy, fueling even greater potential for NIKE over the long term.”
Still, the company faces challenges as it tries to bounce back from a difficult 2020.
North American revenue dropped 10% with Nike suffering the same supply chain challenges -- from the U.S. port congestion to global container shortages -- as other multi-national corporations. In addition, retail sales in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) saw a decline with approximately 45% percent of NIKE-owned stores experiencing mandatory COVID-19 closures for the last two months of the quarter. Currently, about 65% of Nike's EMEA stores are currently open or operating on reduced hours.
Overall, Nike reported net income of $1.4 billion, or 90 cents per share, compared with $847 million, or 53 cents per share, a year ago.
Nike also announced it would resume share repurchases after halting its stock buyback program last March to "maximize liquidity during the COVID-19 pandemic." Prior to the temporary suspension of the share repurchase program, a total of 45.2 million shares had been repurchased under the program for approximately $4 billion.
In the third quarter, Nike paid shareholders $434 million in dividends, up 14% compared to the prior year.
Nike shares fell slightly in after-hours trading Thursday following the earnings announcement.


text:
10.“We capitalize on your nostalgia.”
In the market for a new-in-package Transformer toy from the 1980s? Be prepared to shell out well into the four figures, Lindsay says. (New Transformers today go for about $10 to $50.) “People are trying to reclaim their childhood,” he says. “The market for Star Wars and Transformer memorabilia has been on a consistent upswing over the past decade,” he says. And in the past five years, it’s exploded. Reagan-era toys of all sorts are hot these days among bidders entering middle age.
Many adults today enjoy buying new versions of their childhood favorites — such as the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Transformers, and that old curvaceous standby, Barbie — for their kids. They tend to become collectors, buying vintage toys made during their youth, after the kids leave the house, says Christopher Bensch, chief curator of The Strong, a museum in Rochester, N.Y., dedicated to play. “It’s their chance before they begin downsizing to enjoy, relive, and perhaps get what those evil parents and grandparents never did,” he says.
On top of that, auction houses are drawing in customers by promoting collectibles as an investment. Just be careful to buy things you’re well-educated about, insiders advise. Stouder says it’s no coincidence that she gravitates toward farm equipment at auctions. Her grandfather was a dairy farmer in Vermont, and she spent her youth playing in his barn.


text:
One (dusty) step forward for Nevada tourism
Nevada is full of places you can’t get to in your car.
Now you can get to a bunch of them through your phone.
On Tuesday the Nevada Division of Tourism launched interactive virtual tours of nearly two-dozen remote locations from Goodsprings to Lamoille Canyon.
The tours are the result of a partnership with Google that used Google hardware and software to capture the landscape and present it in a way that gives viewers a greater sense of what to expect in the Nevada backcountry. The tours went live on Tuesday.
“We’ve talked about adventure travel and getting out into Nevada … we have talked about that for years,” said Claudia Vecchio, director of the Nevada Department of Tourism and Cultural Affairs. “But I do not believe until today that we had the technology required to bring that experience truly to life.”
Specifically, Vecchio was referring to the Google Trekker. It’s an image-gathering and processing device that weighs about 40 pounds and can be carried like a backpack.
It uses 15 cameras that each shoot a 75-megapixel image every two seconds. A processor tags the images by location within one-meter of accuracy. Then they’re sent to Google for color correction, exposure adjustment and addition to Google Maps.
The Trekker is essentially a backpack-sized version of the 350-pound, car-mounted cameras that gather images for Google Street View.
“We all know about Google Maps which is really great when you’re in a car,” said Steve Silverman, the Google engineer credited with creating the Trekker. “But we thought there is a lot more to the world than that. How do we get this technology off of the car and into the dirt.”
The Trekker first launched in 2012 with imagery from the Grand Canyon and has since been used in about 75 countries and survived in locations as varied as the top of Japan’s Mt. Fuji to the floor of Death Valley during summer.
Travel Nevada, the colloquial name for the Division of Tourism, got to borrow the devices by applying for a program through which Google shares them for about two-weeks at a time.
The idea was to capture virtual reality images of remote Nevada locations in order to attract more people to look beyond Las Vegas and Reno when they visit.
Travel Nevada content manager Sydney Martinez led the way in selecting shooting locations and recruiting volunteers to help collect images.
“She was incredibly willing to take this 40-pound contraption around the state of Nevada,” Vecchio said.
The next step is for Travel Nevada to leverage online viewership into boots-on-the-ground at the remote locations, which in some cases are several hours from major cities.
That involves using traditional and social media to push the content in a way that converts viewers into visitors.
Tom Sheckels, whose along with his father owns the historic Pioneer Saloon in Goodsprings, said he’s already seen results when it comes to attracting visitors to the tiny desert town.
Sheckels, who was among the Trekker volunteers, said visitation is already up about 20 percent since his saloon was featured in a Travel Nevada ad. The ads have an adventure tourism theme that content from the Trekker program is expected to enhance.
“That commercial that we did is probably one of the biggest things that happened for us,” he said.


text:
Teen Makes Prom Dress Out of Starburst Wrappers
ISHPEMING, M.I.--A Michigan teen was the talk of her prom when she arrived decked out in a dress made from Starburst wrappers.
Diane McNease got the idea when one of her friends started folding Starburst wrappers in front of her.
She said it took nearly 18,000 wrappers to make the dress, hair bands and purse.
As you can see, the top part of the dress is made from the wrappers and the bottom half looks like a traditional gown.
McNease said it took about five months to make the dress.


text:
Chen Danian was driven by the desire to help everyone — and anyone — to achieve self-actualisation by granting them access to free Internet
It is sometimes said that growing up with less can provide an individual tremendous impulsion to succeed; to elevate him or herself to a higher standing in society. Growing up humble can also imbue into someone the empathy to also pass forward the means to attaining success. After all, one never forgets his or her upbringing.
Chen Danian, CEO and Founder of WiFi Master Key — a crowdsourced WiFi app — is one such individual. Born in a poor rural village in China, Danian first came to know about the Internet as a high school teenager when he moved to Shanghai. In 1996, he applied for commercial access to China’s first Internet provider ChinaNET.
At that time, applying for Internet access was complicated for the average family. You needed “a household register booklet, and a pile of administrative forms and contracts to fill out and sign.” said Danian in an email to e27.
But, that wasn’t the end of Danian’s troubles; Internet access in the mid-90s was not only sluggish but priced at a steep premium. Yet, despite their existing financial burdens, Danian’s parents chose to foot the hefty bills — his father was a fervent believer in giving his children the best educational opportunities — allowing him to dig deep into this newfangled technology.
And it was because of this opportunity, he was able to recognise the boundless potential of the Internet to transform lives.
In 1998, he wrote an article in ICPCW, China’s leading Internet site, saying: “I have always believed that the societal impact brought by the internet will be no less than the invention of the steam engine, and since we are fortunate to be living in this time, we need to participate and push this revolution courageously”.
Also Read: This Singapore public bus service is now offering WiFi-On-The-Go
Together with his brother Chen Tianqiao, they founded Shanda Interactive, an online games distributor, in 1999. It eventually evolved into an all-rounded Internet corporation delivering cloud services and Internet literature in addition to online gaming. In 2004 it was listed on NASDAQ, and in 2013 raked a revenue of US$6.5 billion. Not too bad for a farmboy.
His rags-to-riches tale is admirable; yet, at the core of this self-described low-key leader’s passions, is a philanthropic desire to democratise Internet access — or to put it simply, give it away for free — particularly to people in less developed cities so that everyone can realise their dreams.
Bringing the sharing economy to Internet access
Projects to bring universal Internet access are not new. Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg sought to deliver free Internet via Free Basics to people in India (and received considerable flak for that) and Microsoft is still testing out its free Internet service, also in India.
Danian’s method is a little more, for the lack of a better term, grassroots. It is dependent on a mobile app and a little kindness from strangers (or friends).
The WiFi Master key, available on both the iOS and Android, works by tapping on to resources used by WiFi hotspots. It optimises the connection strategy to reduce the number of connection attempts for a more successful connection delivery. For example, the system will automatically select the optimal connection strategy based on factors like the WiFi strength, and the distance between the user and hotspot to help users get connected.
This methodology would undoubtedly spark fears of security risks. Danian, however, emphasises that a number of security features have been put in place. First, no password is given out and users can choose to disable their hotspot anytime they wish.
Also Read: China’s Netflix-like site iQIYI to build an open VR ecosystem
In addition, it uses encryption technology and establishes phishing hotspot identification via the cloud to prevent cyber attacks and enforce stronger safety protection. WiFi Master Key also is collaborating with internet security companies to prevent and protect hotspot network security against malicious attacks around the clock.
Recently, it partnered with an insurance company ZhongAn Insurance to provide protection to its users. They can receive up to RMB 100,000 (US$15,000) of compensation in the event of network security issues.
Early this year, the Chinese iOS version implemented a ‘one-touch WiFi connection’. It is also building a ‘hotspot hosts’ edition so owners can manage their shared hotspots with monetary benefits and other value-added features.
Achieving high growth and beyond
Since its launch in 2012, the WiFi Master Key has been well-received. It claims to have 800 million registered users with over 460 million monthly active users (MAU) globally. To put it in the context of the Chinese app market, it ranks at number 3, just below messaging app giants QQ and WeChat.
It has also acquired a coveted domain name wifi.com, and in August 2015 established an office in Singapore with the aim expanding into emerging markets in the region. WiFi Master Key is also active in other developing countries globally such as Mexico, Egypt, Brazil and Russia.
According to App Annie, WiFi Master Key is ranked 5th in the world in terms of combined iOS and Android downloads, below WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook and Facebook Messenger.
Naturally, the app has caught the fancy of many investors. Early last year, it raised a US$52 million Series A funding from Hating Taiyuan Equity Investment and Northern Light Venture Capital at a billion-dollar valuation.
Later in May 2015, WiFi Master Key initiated an equity crowdfunding project on crowdfunding portal choudao.com. The plan was to raise RMB 32.5 million (US$5 million) from 25 investors to buy 0.5 per cent of the company’s stake.
Also Read: Are Israel and China creating a Silk Road for startups?
However, due to overwhelming response, the subscription amount reached RMB 7.714 billion (US$1.2 billion), rendering it oversubscribed by 237 times. WiFi Master Key then sold another 0.5 per cent of its stake, increasing the crowdfunding to RMB 65 million (USS$10 million) in total. Currently, the company is undergoing a new round of financing with an expected valuation that multiplies by 3-5 times.
Currently, there are no plans to monetise the app, and it looks to be a purely altruistic venture. Despite his immense success, Danian prefers to be known as a hands-on programmer who stumbled into opportunity.
“I’ve always been grateful of how the Internet changed my destiny and hope to help people find their own happiness, and opportunities, or even, like me, change their own destiny, with the help of the WiFi Master Key,” Danian said.
The post Born into poverty in rural China, this guy made an app that gives free WiFi, got 800M users and raised US$52M appeared first on e27.
from e27 http://ift.tt/2abi8lh


text:
Tim Tebow may not be busy on the field, but he was busy in the city of sin this past week. Tebow was at CES where he debuted a new line of headphones, in which he will be the brand ambassador for, entitled ‘Soul.’ The company is called Soul Electronics,and their headphone line will feature high-endurance models for athletes, as well as a ‘business-inspired pair’ called the “Jet. We are hoping they are not like Tebow, and will actually play.
According to Mashable:
Tebow unveiled the new line at the 2013 International CES conference in Las Vegas under the Soul Electronics brand, which was founded by rapper and actor Ludacris.
In addition to the Jet, Tebow has become a brand ambassador for the company’s flagship SL300 signature headphone series — the latest model is available in blue, white and black for limited release. Meanwhile, Tebow’s Combat+ line features noise-cancelling technology and is designed for athletes, as well as more casual users.


text:
Pottermore's Harry Potter e-book sales were worth "over £1m" in the first three days following publication on 27th March, the business' chief executive Charlie Redmayne has revealed. Speaking to Radio Litopia's "The Naked Book" yesterday evening (4th April), Redmayne said sales in the first three days were ahead of what the firm had expected prior to launch, and also ahead of "anything I've ever seen for e-book sales".
The number means that the digital versions of the Harry Potter titles may have out-sold their print equivalents during that launch week. According to Nielsen BookScan, the seven Harry Potter print books brought in £36,000 in sales across bookshops that week, with total spending on the books so far this year at £588,000, but the worldwide figure would be much bigger. In the UK in 2011 the backlist titles brought in sales of £4m, from sales of 530,000 individual books sold. In the US Nielsen BookScan measured 1.6m units of the Potter books sold in 2011.
Redmayne said: "We had budgeted for a much lower figure, I had looked at the physical sales of the books, and tried to anticipate what proportion of sales would be digital, and that there was a certain amount of pent-up demand, but it surpassed anything we anticipated." He said post-launch the figure had "settled down" but continued to exceed predictions. "It is still running at a much higher rate than I was anticipating, even for the launch. It is still surpassing anything I've ever seen for e-book sales."
Redmayne said he had put in place an infrastructure and customer services team aimed at meeting customer demand. "Everything that Harry Potter does surpasses expectations. We had planned for something that we just couldn't anticipate."
Redmayne declined to say what the bestselling title was, but he said the top selling offer was the "bundle", which outperformed any individual title, with the average basket-size partly responsible for the high revenues.
Redmayne added that the company had seen a slight increase in piracy on launch day, but said he still hoped to see it fall. "The day we launched we saw a slight rise, and then we saw it fall back again. We reacted very quickly." He added: "We hope by making them available piracy will fall."


text:
Table of Contents
- America’s first $1 billion weed brand is here, and it’s named Cookies.
- Gilbert Milam Jr., more well-known as the rapper Berner, is the company’s cofounder and CEO.
- “I wanna live forever through my work,” Berner told Insider. “I don’t think money’s gonna determine when I retire.”
When rapper and millionaire entrepreneur Berner was 15 years old, living part-time with his mom in Arizona and part-time with his dad in California, he took a job at Wendy’s.
The fast-food chain was offering a $500 signing bonus at the time.
“I worked for two weeks. I got my check,” he told Insider in an interview last week. “I came to California, bought some weed, brought it back to Arizona, started flipping it.” That was the end of his career at Wendy’s.
Twenty-five years later, and Berner — formally known as Gilbert Milam Jr. — is now the head of America’s first legal weed empire: Cookies.
Like Steve Jobs is to Apple and Elon Musk is to Tesla, such is Berner to Cookies; it’s impossible to discuss the history of Cookies without him. The Cookies brand is the creation of Bay Area rapper Berner, who also serves as CEO of the company that oversees everything from retail dispensaries to clothing design.
It’s a company that he says is now worth at least $1 billion — the world’s first legal $1 billion weed brand.
“Based on revenue, and growth, and potential growth,” he told Insider, “we’re definitely a billion-dollar company.”
From a logo on a hoodie to a billion-dollar company
Whether you live in a place with legal access to marijuana or not, there’s a good chance you’ve heard of Cookies.
Beyond the company’s 49 marijuana dispensaries, Cookies is perhaps even more well-known for the popular clothing line of the same name that’s sold around the world. (It’s a not-so-subtle nod to the similar marijuana strain name that comes with legal complications.)
You can find Cookies hoodies with the trademark blue strings and matching logo in US clothing chains like Zumiez, in the company’s two clothing stores, and being worn by Berner himself in music videos going back nearly a decade.
The clothing line alone did over $50 million in sales last year, Berner said on a podcast interview in late 2021. And when a new Cookies dispensary opens, fans camp out overnight to be the first in line.
Berner’s successful career as a rapper and his successful career as a clothing and marijuana entrepreneur are intertwined: While working at a Bay Area marijuana dispensary named The Hemp Center in the last few years of the previous decade, Berner began publishing music that catapulted him to fame in the hip-hop world.
He leveraged that fame into the creation of Cookies, which began as little more than a logo worn by Berner on hoodies in his music videos.
“I did a video with Wiz Khalifa, Big K.R.I.T., and Chris Brown,” Berner said. “In that video I wore that hoodie, and that’s where I birthed the logo — the sweatshirt with the blue strings and the logo.”
From there, Cookies started life through a licensing deal with a friend of Berner’s to use the logo on a storefront in San Jose, California, around 2010. It would be another eight years before Cookies would open its first retail location.
He described this time period, between 2010 and 2018, when the first Cookies retail store opened, as a lengthy learning experience.
“I was just doing clothing and learning the actual brand aspect. I had a logo, it was a very early concept,” Berner said. “That’s why I was willing to take a little bit of money [on a licensing deal for the logo], because ultimately what I was trying to figure out was how is this shit actually really gonna work for us as Cookies?”
To say that Cookies has expanded rapidly in the last few years would be a massive understatement: Between 2018 and 2022, Cookies expanded from zero to 49 retail marijuana dispensaries. The company also added two flagship clothing stores, in San Francisco and Los Angeles.
While we spoke, a new Cookies location was opening on another continent — in the Negev Desert of southern Israel, in the city of Be’er Sheva.
Cookies’ rapid ascension to the top of the marijuana market
The growth of the brand is driven primarily through organic marketing: Berner’s increasing visibility as a popular musician feeds into the popularity of both the clothing brand and the marijuana dispensaries.
As his popularity has grown as a musician, so has the brand he created.
Berner wears Cookies clothing in music videos alongside a diamond-encrusted necklace with the “C” logo. His songs reference the weed strains that Cookies has popularized: the eponymous Cookies (née Girl Scout Cookies, or GSC), Gary Payton, Runtz, and many more. He created and stars in YouTube series like “Marijuana Mania,” which explores the culture of marijuana around the world.
He is a self-described “marketing machine” — but it’s more than marketing that drives Cookies fans to camp out overnight ahead of new dispensary openings: It’s the marijuana itself.
The marijuana produced by Cookies has won awards around the world, and demands high prices on the illicit resale market.
Berner spent years in the marijuana trade before opening any dispensaries, both illegally and legally, where he forged connections with growers and learned the business from bottom to top. That’s where he met Jai “Jigga” Chang, the head of genetics at Cookies — the Jony Ive to Berner’s Steve Jobs — and began creating the marijuana genetics library that serves as the foundation of Cookies.
That partnership gave Cookies a secret ingredient that the venture capital-backed marijuana startups didn’t have: Street credit with longtime marijuana smokers, a dispensary’s best customers and advocates.
“We really care about the bud,” Berner said. “I think that’s what separates us from some of these other bigger companies or the hypebeast companies.”
It’s evident from Berner’s social-media accounts and Cookie’s media arm, the Couch Lock Network, that he’s not kidding. It doesn’t take much searching to find videos online of Berner from 10-plus years ago judging the entries at the High Times Cannabis Cup in Amsterdam, long before the first Cookies dispensary had opened. His YouTube channel publishes lengthy documentaries about cannabis culture more often than he releases his own music videos.
A ‘hundred-year’ brand
In a time where the biggest, most-capitalized marijuana startups are facing major layoffs, Cookies has big plans for continued expansion as more American states legalize marijuana use.
The first Cookies product to be sold legally on the east coast launched in Massachusetts last year, and New Jersey is the next in line. Cookies dispensaries will eventually come to New York City, Berner said, but the regulations need to be sorted out first.
In the meantime, Berner said the company is eyeing a retail location for a third Cookies clothing store in the heart of one of Manhattan’s most iconic tourist attractions. “We are planning on signing a deal to open up a clothing store in Herald Square,” he said, “right across the street from Macy’s.”
Though he’s repeatedly been offered millions of dollars for his majority stake in Cookies, Berner has thus far refused to sell. He notoriously passed on an $800 million offer from an unnamed, publicly traded Canadian firm, which he said was primarily stock.
“In the $800 million deal, you get $30 million cash and the rest in stock,” he said. “I just was not down for that.”
If he had accepted the offer, he said, Cookies would’ve likely gone under. “That would’ve been a gold-rush moment,” he said. “That’s not what Cookies is. Cookies is a legacy, hundred-year brand.”
To that end, Berner has no plans to retire or sell any time soon.
“I wanna live forever through my work,” Berner told Insider. “I don’t think money’s gonna determine when I retire.”
And if he were to sell, he said, he’s got a conditional demand.
“Well, I would make it like this,” he said. “If you’re gonna purchase Cookies, then I have to stay head of creative control until I pass. And when I pass my daughter gets that.”


text:
ValTara SRL has released the PKR-Dual Delta Robot Cell. The company said the cutting-edge automatic case packing machine redefines efficiency and flexibility in the packaging industry.
The PKR Dual Delta Robot Cell is designed with a compact and modular structure, enabling operation of both cells either together or separately.
This feature empowers customers to adapt to varying production demands, maximizing productivity and optimizing resource allocation, it said.
The technology power Delta robot unlocks new capabilities
At the core of this robotic case packer are the dual Codian robots, integrated with dual Omron vision guided systems.
This powerful allows for precise pick-and-place operations. The robots effortlessly handle the delicate bakery products, efficiently placing them into corrugated cases with utmost care and precision.
Manufactured in Schio, Italy, the PKR-Delta Robot cells exemplify the highest standards of quality and craftsmanship, the company said.
Each unit is engineered to cater to the specific needs of our valued customers, ensuring seamless integration into their production processes.
The PKR-Dual Delta Robot Cell is not only capable of handling rigid packages but also offers exceptional flexibility in dealing with various types of flexible packages.
Email Sign Up
Get news, papers, media and research delivered
Stay up-to-date with news and resources you need to do your job.
Research industry trends, compare companies and get market intelligence every week with Robotics 24/7.
Subscribe to our robotics user email newsletter and we'll keep you informed and up-to-date.


text:
Few days back we had reported that HTC is working on a SIRI like Voice assistance tool, they had posted a photo on their social networking site Twitter and Facebook.
But now HTC has confirmed that they are not working on any voice assistance tool, they had posted photo just to celebrate pets week and its just a spoof to cap off the celebrations.
This news was confirmed by Jeff Gordon, HTC’s global online communications manager to answer the guys of Android Community.
I know its sad but we can just hope that HTC will introduce something like this in future, in the mean while you can share your views with us.
Some handpicked devices for you


text:
smallA.Ferretti_2237_AW13_PW.JPG_highGrowing up, I was an accident-prone child; almost all of my injuries were on my face and required a lot of stitches. My mom always worried the injuries would leave permanent scars, but it turned out my pubescent breakouts are what really left a mark.
Related Article: Want Makeup That Lasts All Day? Here's The Secret
Today consumers are flooded with peels, scrubs, serums - all which come with the promise of getting rid of stubborn acne-related dark spots and scars. But how real is that promise? Cosmetic Dermatologist Dr. Paul Jarrod Frank says, "Often (dermatologists) can improve scars by 40 to 85 percent, but true removal of a scar is very difficult."
In truth, my acne was never severe, which is why it surprises me that my skin has such an uneven texture today. When asked why only some people are left with acne scars, Dr. Frank listed three factors:
While being out in the sun may temporarily clear up your skin, it turns out it will also cause your acne to


text:
- Crown Imports
Jim Sabia, Chief Marketing Officer for Crown Imports, which markets brands including Corona, Modelo Especial and Victoria, gave insights into his company 2012 marketing plans in an interview with Convenience Store News. "We introduced Victoria to more markets in 2011 and brought in Corona Familiar. It is now in 11 states, but we plan to roll it out to all 50 states in 2012," he said, adding that Corona Familiar is the No. 1 SKU in Mexico. The convenience store channel will play a key role in that growth. "Convenience stores are very important to us because they are frequented by the beer-drinking consumer," Sabia said. Although only in 11 states, Corona Familiar is already performing well in the channel. Forty-eight percent of total case sales were in c-stores, he added. Earlier this year, Crown Imports kicked off a multimedia advertising campaign for Modelo Especial entitled "Descubre lo Especial" (Discover What's Special") that consisted of two 30-second television ads, four 60-second radio ads, out-of-home executions and digital efforts. The campaign hit key markets such as Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles and New York, and appeared on popular channels such as ESPN Deportes, Fox Deportes, Univision, Telefutura and Telemundo.
Jarritos–a Mexican soft drink company–has unveiled a new advertising campaign directed at the trend-setting, 18-24 year old non-Hispanic males residing in Los Angeles. The campaign consists of several strategies, including a new web-page and three murals painted by Austin-based street artist, Federico Archuleta, promoting–amongst other things–the product as a granulated sugar-based alternative to mass-market soft drinks using high-fructose corn syrup, PSFK reports. Jarritos’s new Web site features 10 playful videos aimed at young men. One shows a Jarritos taste test with a boomerang-carrying Australian aborigine. In another, a young female artist summons an eagle to pry the cap off her Jarritos bottle. Jarritos also is advertising on Federated Media’s network of independent Web sites; and Revision 3, a special-interest Internet video network. David Flynn, Marketing Director at Novamex and a recent speaker at Portada’s Emerging Hispanic Markets Forum, said that “Three years ago, we decided to broaden our reach. We saw opportunities elsewhere. We had pretty good awareness in non-Hispanic Los Angeles, the market is very integrated. It only makes sense that we talk to a wider audience particularly in a market like Los Angeles, where people know the brand. Novamex is also handing out samples of the soda in select neighborhoods in the Los Angeles area. The samples are transported by large tricycles driven by luchadores, or masked wrestlers, and a food truck. Painted with a Jarritos bottle and flames, the truck also carries a wooden sign with a wrestler’s mask design that has a functioning bottle-opener in the wrestler’s mouth.
- El Jimador – “your rules, your shot” contests
el Jimador announced the launch of its soccer-themed consumer contest, which will award 10 winners an opportunity to attend the MLS Cup in Los Angeles on Nov. 20, 2011, along with a guest.
- L’Oreal – Vme
Vme has relaunched Pase VIP, with a new name – Pase VIP de L’Oreal.
Toyota is undertaking a new major marketing initiative after its recall last year. It just announced the official launch of its marketing campaign for the all-new 2012 Camry: "It's Ready. Are You?" The campaign demonstrates how the seventh-generation model addresses changes in consumers' vehicle needs. More information on the Toyota campaign here.


text:
Nykris Digital Design in London is developing an interactive installation for music producer Malcolm McLaren, named the Casino of Authenticity and Karaoke, with architect Sham 96. The experience features four Barcrest fruit machines, modified to trigger archive film footage, music, pictures and sounds from McLaren’s life. ‘Playing on the Barcrest fruit machines lets the visitor play his life as a game of chance,’ says Nykris director Nikki Barton. The installation opens in the OnTaste exhibition at the Bonnefanten Museum in Maastricht, The Netherlands this month.
This week the Royal Mail began trialing a new postbox, heralding the first major design change in its 160-year history, prompting us to look at how it has developed.
We speak to Kelly Mackenzie, founding director at White Bear Studio, about new initiative SHAPE, how hard it is to break into the industry without connections, and the need to
AGL works with high-profile people such as Kate Middleton and David Cameron to boost their public-speaking and communication skills – its new identity looks to celebrate the beauty of grammar
The app, which allows users to write notes on a smartphone or computer in many different forms, has been given a refined visual identity focused on an updated elephant symbol,


text:
AFSA Supports FCRA Liability Harmonization Act
Today, Rep. Barry Loudermilk introduced H.R. 2359, the FCRA Liability Harmonization Act. The bill is designed to more closely align the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) with existing federal consumer protection laws.
“As a small business owner for over twenty years, I was fortunate enough to never face a lawsuit. However, some of my customers and suppliers were often tangled in litigation from frivolous claims that cost them a significant amount of time and money. I have seen how a small technical error, turned into a lawsuit, can affect everyone in a business, including employees, customers, and vendors,” said Loudermilk in a press release. “Unfortunately, suits under the Fair Credit Reporting Act have skyrocketed in recent years while leaving consumers inappropriately compensated.”
AFSA applauds Rep. Loudermilk, as well as cosponsors Reps. Ed Royce, Ted Budd, Peter King, and Ann Wagner, for their work on this important issue.
May 8th, 2017 by Dan Bucherer


text:
D23 Expo returns once again this year, and an on-sale date for tickets has officially been announced, along with some of this year’s event offerings!
Tickets will go on sale on Thursday, Jan. 20 at 12 p.m. PT, with an exclusive presale for Visa cardholders who are also D23 members starting Jan. 19 at 10 a.m. PT. Guests must be members of D23: The Official Disney Fan Club — either at the complimentary General Member level or the Gold Member level — to purchase tickets.
Discounted single-day ($89) and three-day tickets ($229) will be available exclusively to D23 Gold Members. Regularly-priced single-day tickets are $99 for a one-day adult admission and $79 for children, and three-day tickets will also be available. This year, a limited number of Hall D23 Preferred Seating tickets (which include admission for all three days and a reserved seating section for all Hall D23 presentations) will be available exclusively to D23 Gold Members. D23 Members who are also Visa cardholders, and who pay with their Visa, will have pre-sale access to a limited number of one-day and three-day tickets for 24 hours starting Jan. 19 while supplies last. Discounted hotel and Disneyland Resort park tickets will also be available to all D23 Expo ticket purchasers.
Along with an exclusive discount on tickets, D23 Gold Members can enjoy other benefits at the Expo, including on-site discounts from select retail locations and a compliemtnary gift.
“The Ultimate Disney Fan Event,” hosted by D23, will take place at the Anaheim Convention Center from Sept. 9-11, 2022, celebrating the magic of Disney entertainment past, present, and future and will serve as the kick-off for Disney100, the centennial celebration of The Walt Disney Company.
D23 Expo 2022 will feature more than 50 shows, presentations, and panels, including the Disney Legends Award Ceremony, as well as a new exhibit curated by the Walt Disney Archives commemorating the 100th anniversary of Disney.
The annual Mousequerade costume contest will return for this year’s expo, hosted by Nina West and featuring a star-studded judges panel including Yvette Nicole Brown (“Big Shot,” “Disenchanted”), Ashley Eckstein (voice of Ahsoka Tano and creator of Her Universe), and Ally Maki (“Toy Story 4,” “Home Sweet Home Alone”). The contest will feature new categories to challenge contestants, like “Off the Screen,” “Imagine That!,” “Magical Mashups,” and “Cast of Characters,” as well as a fan-favorite award voted on by the audience and a “Best in Show” prize of $2,300. Complete rules for entry can be found at D23Expo.com.
Also returning this year will be, of course, the massive show floor packed with experiences and opportunities for guests to see what’s next for Disney around the world — and attendees might even run into their favorite Disney stars, characters, Imagineers, animators, and filmmakers. Guests will also get to enjoy numerous shopping opportunities, with many featuring D23 Expo-exclusive collectibles, at an assortment of pop-up shops like the D23 Expo Emporium.
The 7,000-seat Hall D23 will also return, and will be joined this year by the 3,000-seat Premiere Stage, the 1,200-seat Backlot Stage, and the expanded 700-seat Walt Disney Archives Stage for more presentations curated by the staff of the Archives. On the main show floor, the D23 Expo Live! Stage will feature performances, appearances, demonstrations, and more all weekend long — many of which will be livestreamed to guests watching at home.
As Visa will be a presenting sponsor this year, Visa cardholders will have access to additional benefits and one-of-a-kind Disney experiences during the Expo.
In addition, D23 and the Walt Disney Archives, working with new D23 Expo Platinum sponsor Amazon, are resorting Walt Disney’s Grumman Gulfstream I company airplane, which is currently housed backstage at Walt Disney World Resort. The aircraft was on display for years as part of the former Studio Backlot Tour at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and will be transported (though not flown) to Anaheim for the convention, where it will be on display for guests to see in an exhibit called “Mickey Mouse One: Walt’s Plane.”
Amazon will also host the D23 Ultimate Fan Lounge on the show floor.
To learn more about tickets, ticket prices, and D23 Expo 2022, visit D23Expo.com.


text:
Santiago, Chile sits near the meeting of the Nazca and South American tectonic plates, vast slabs of the Earth’s surface that grind past each other at a rate of about three inches a year, sometimes causing earthquakes and tremors.
But what shook up this prosperous, stable nation last week was a U.S. Franchise Trade Mission, which brought 25 U.S. brands to a country with the highest per capita income in South America and a growing, diversifying economy.
Tony Valles, Vice President of Business and Concept Development for McAllister’s Deli, believes the country is more than ready for a franchise boom. “We came on the trade mission because we’re getting steady interest from Latin America. In the past, we took a more opportunistic approach. Given the potential of these markets, we want to take a more strategic approach,” he said.
The interest in McAllister’s dovetails with growth in the Hispanic market in the U.S. “The big operators are interested in our brand,” he said. “With a little tweak in the menu, we think our product will work very well in Latin America.”
Home Instead Senior Care President Jeff Huber jetted in to join Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Global Operations Yoshino Nakajima for a back-to-back set of meetings in Santiago.
Huber majored in English literature and also earned a law degree from Jesuit-run Creighton University in Omaha, Neb. before clerking for a federal judge and practicing law on the way to Home Instead, where he became President and COO two years ago. “For me, it’s about being of service,” he said. “We provide very personal care to vulnerable people in the sanctity of their homes. You need a high level of commitment and passion to do that well.”
As such, Home Instead looks for a special kind of business partner. But that hasn’t hampered international growth: The brand operates about 1000 units in 16 countries, so far.
With a well-educated population of 17 million, Chile has attracted other top U.S. firms, including Wal-Mart, Turner Broadcasting, Oracle, Equifax and MetLife in addition to the largest U.S. franchise brands.
Growing at about five percent per annum, it has the highest per capita income in South America – equivalent to Russia and Malaysia. And if the natural beauty, mineral wealth and educated populace don’t impress, hear this: Chile’s debt-to-GDP ratio is 10 percent – compared to 100 percent in the U.S.
…Now, back to positive thoughts.
By 2016 all tariffs on U.S. goods in Chile will be phased out, thanks to a 2004 bilateral trade agreement, further improving the attractiveness of U.S. products. Seventeen percent of Chile’s imports already come from the U.S. – with import growth surging each year overall.
Ray Hays of Edwards Global Services said his clients, BrightStar Care and Sport Clips, Inc., will benefit from the growth in Latin America. “In the case of BrightStar, it’s pretty clear where they fit. It’s the type of brand that is attractive and needed,” Hays said, adding, “It’s important for a master franchisee to know the regulatory and medical sector in the country.”
About Sport Clips, Inc., “People see it and they just get it,” he said. “The response has been, ‘This is something we could really use here.’ They have very few options for men’s hair care. The barber trade is disappearing. The franchise is able to offer more for a similar price and dominate the market.”
While Hays said due diligence and follow-up are necessary to further qualify potential franchise partners in Latin America, the trade mission fostered a series of high-quality meetings set up by the U.S. Commercial Service team led by Veronica Pinto in Santiago.
“The 2012 International Franchise trade mission to South America exceeded Global Franchise Group’s expectations in every way,” said Chief Development Officer John Barber, joined by Santiago-based international franchise consultant and former IFA executive Marcel Portmann on the trade mission. “We could never have scheduled this productive a trip without the help and support of the U.S. Commercial Service, the International Franchise Association (IFA), and Franchise Times.”
“For anyone still thinking that South America is a future possibility for franchising, I encourage them to rethink their position,” said Don Burleson, Executive Vice President of Jani-King, “because the opportunity exists now.”