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- Anata no tabi no tsugi no bubun wa,-fū ni hane, matawa magarikunetta michi de Z to naru koto ga ari
- Coastal Z Club Meeting 7pm January 20th 2015 The Exchange Tavern
- Our Next meeting will be This Tuesday November 18th, B&D Burgers on Abercorn in front of Lowes at 6pm! I hope to see everyone there!
- October 2014Coastal Z Club Meeting
- Coastal Z Club has Re-awakened
May 2019 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31
- Nissan LEAF Autech to go on sale in JapanThe Nissan LEAF Autech will go on sale in Japan on June 21 YOKOHAMA, Japan – The Nissan LEAF Autech will go on sale in Japan next month, adding exclusive styling to the world’s best-selling electric car.The customized model, based on the Nissan LEAF, will be launched June 21 by Autech Japan, Inc., a Nissan subsidiary.The […]
- Nissan and Delta enable EV-home charging in ThailandBANGKOK, Thailand – Nissan in Thailand has announced the official appointment of Delta Electronics (Thailand) PCL as the primary provider of electric vehicle charging systems.The deal supports Thailand's electrification goal of 1.2 million units on the road by 2036 and will provide Nissan LEAF owners in Thailand international-standard charging facilities with Delta's quality standard of […]
- Seamless Autonomous Mobility (SAM): The Ultimate Nissan Intelligent IntegrationAdvances in artificial intelligence are making vehicles smarter, more responsive, and better at making decisions in a variety of driving environments. But we are still not at a point where autonomous vehicles can know exactly how to handle unpredictable situations. This is one of the roadblocks to realizing a fully autonomous future for driving. The […]
- Nissan LEAF Autech to go on sale in Japan
Author Archives: Z32C
For those that do not know, Yutaka Katayama has died May the next part of your journey be as a feather on the wind, or a Z on a winding road.
The Next meeting of The Coastal Z Club will be at The Exchange Tavern at 6710 Waters Avenue! Same Z time (7pm) Same Z Channel.
Our Next meeting will be This Tuesday November 18th, B&D Burgers on Abercorn in front of Lowes at 6pm! I hope to see everyone there!
Our Next meeting will be This Tuesday November 18th, B&D Burgers on Abercorn in front of Lowes at 6pm! I hope to see everyone there! As a bit of added Coastal Z Club info, I got a call from Angel, … Continue reading
The Next Club Meeting will be at Sonic on Mongomery CrossRoads Tuesday 10/21/14 at 6:30 pm! Be there! We have had several inquiries from Z enthusiasts, and expect to see some new Zs! I will bring the camera, but will … Continue reading
OK! After a lengthy absence, Coastal Z Club is actively Pinging! As My health became an issue and no one jumped in to keep the club in progress, it waned, but now that my health is actually improving, I will … Continue reading
We (Trish and I) are Finally here! That freakin’ Murphy must have stowed away in the car…he set us up for delays and drama! From more rain than expected to missing Tire Valve stem expensions, to morons trying to cause … Continue reading
The Coastal Z CLub has been invited to the Dixieland Cruisers 26th Annual car Show on Sat, Mar 29 at the Windsor Forest Baptist Church on White Bluff Rd! Let’s see if we can get up a healthy participation-this is … Continue reading
Howdy Savannah and Low Country Z/Nissan/Datsun enthusiasts! The Next meeting of the Coastal Z Club will be on Tuesday, March 18th at 6:30pm at B&D Burgers on Abercorn! With any luck we will have a new to the area Q60 … Continue reading
Our next meeting will be on 2/18/14 at 6:30 at Cary Hilliards on Abercorn across from Home Depot/Lowes ZDayz is rapidly approaching, a little over 90 days out-that may sound like you have plenty of time, but the fact is … Continue reading
As the title says, 12/17/13 Hooters at 7pm! We will be giving Gary congratulations on his recent Car Show First Places(Yup, three of them!) checking on the progress on several members projects, Passing out issues of Z Car Club Magazine, … Continue reading


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By Mia Lamar
The U.S. Treasury Department said Wednesday it would sell its holdings in General Motors in the next 12 months to 15 months, closing another chapter from the financial bailout. The U.S. auto maker will purchase 200 million shares of its own common stock from the Treasury at $27.50 per share by the end of this year, a 7.9% premium to the stock’s Tuesday closing price. The remaining 300.1 million shares will be sold through “various means in an orderly fashion” over the next year to 15 months. Shares surged 10% to $28.04 premarket.
Knight Capital Group confirmed its decision to pursue a merger with electronic trading group Getco LLC. The $1.8 billion deal for Knight, which values the firm at $1.4 billion plus $400 million in debt held by Getco, will create a trading powerhouse ranking as one of the largest players on U.S. exchanges and the main trading partner of online brokerage firms that service everyday investors. A trading error this summer drove a $461 million loss for Knight, forcing the firm to seek a rescue investment from a group of six financial firms, including Getco. Shares jumped 6.6% to $3.55 in premarket trade.
Navistar swung to a wider-than-expected fiscal fourth-quarter loss as the commercial-truck maker booked several large charges and saw a double-digit percentage drop in sales. Shares slumped 4.8% to $21.75 premarket.
Standard & Poor’s said it will add auto parts manufacturer Delphi Automotive(DLPH) to its S&P 500 index, replacing Titanium Metals (TIE) ahead of its acquisition by Precision Castparts (PCP). Delphi’s shares rose 4.5% to $36 premarket. The shares of companies joining the S&P 500 often rise because many portfolio managers try to track the index. To do that, they must buy shares of the companies that become part of the index.
AAR (AIR) fiscal second-quarter profit edged up 1.1% as the aviation products and services supplier benefited from more sales to commercial customers, helped by acquisitions.
Moody’s Investors Service has placed the credit ratings of Alcoa (AA) on review for possible downgrade as declining prices for aluminum hurt the producer’s recent results.
U.S. cigarette giants Altria Group (MO) Reynolds American (RAI) and Lorillard (LO) said Tuesday they expect to recoup more than $1.5 billion in credits after reaching agreement with 17 states in a decade-old dispute over payments tied to a landmark tobacco settlement.
Apogee Enterprises (APOG) fiscal third-quarter profit jumped 45% as the industrial-glass manufacturer expanded sales and margins in sluggish end-markets. Results topped analysts’ expectations.
Career Education (CECO) said that an accrediting commission has lifted an order to defend the accreditation of 10 of the for-profit educator’s institutions. The Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges’ June order had come amid a crackdown on employment placement practices at for-profit colleges.
A group of investors led by Crest Financial Ltd. said Tuesday they have purchased more shares of Clearwire (CLWR), adding to the opposition to Sprint Nextel (S) $2.2 billion deal to buy out the rest of the debt-laden wireless company.
Health Net (HNT) said its total health plan enrollment is expected to decline in 2013, as the managed-care provider expects weaker commercial enrollment. The company also issued a downbeat revenue and earnings projection for next year.
Heico (HEI, HEIA) fiscal fourth-quarter profit rose 29% as the aircraft parts and repair company posted stronger sales. But the company lowered its 2013 earnings outlook.
Home Loan Servicing Solutions (HLSS) said its increased offering of 25.3 million shares priced at $19, a discount of 2.3% to its Tuesday close. The company, which owns mortgage servicing assets, unveiled an offering of 22 million shares early Tuesday, saying it intended to use the proceeds in part to buy the right to servicing and other fees from Ocwen Loan Servicing LLC.
Oracle (ORCL) first-quarter earnings climbed 18% as the technology company continued posting higher software revenue, thanks to organic growth in the segment. The earnings beat analysts’ expectations.
Pall (PLL) Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer Lisa McDermott will leave the company to “pursue other interests.” She will serve as CFO until March 10, 2013, or as soon as her successor is named, the filtration and purification products manufacturer said, adding that it is looking externally for a replacement.
Physician staffing company Team Health Holding Inc. (TMH) said its principal shareholder, an affiliate of Blackstone Group L.P. (BX), is offering 8 million of its shares.
Time Inc. appointed company veteran Martha Nelson as editor-in-chief starting next month. Ms. Nelson, who has been editorial director since 2010, will be the first woman to hold the top editorial position at the division of media giant Time Warner (TWX).
UDR (UDR) named industry veteran Tom Herzog as the apartment real-estate investment trust’s chief financial officer starting next month.
For more MarketBeat and other streaming markets coverage from The Wall Street Journal, point your mobile browser to wsj.com/marketspulse.

domain: news


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Calling all gearheads, the Monster Spectacular is roaring into Summerside’s Credit Union Place on May 18.
The show is bringing four monster trucks to the city, including: Bounter Hunter, Overkill Evolution, Black Stallion and Scarlet Bandit.
In addition to the truck themselves, Monster Spectacular is bringing freestyle motocross along for the ride. Also known as FMX, the riders pilot stock motocross bikes and perform aerial acrobatics.
Pro speed bike stunts will also be making a return, including from two members of the famous Pro Speed’s Extreme Riders.
Tickets for the event are on sale now. The show is here for one night. It starts at 7:30 p.m. on May 18.
Tickets for the event are available online at www.cupevents.ca and more information about the performers and vehicles is available at www.monsterspectacular.com.


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Shares of AOL are going ballistic today, with the stock price surging over 46 percent after it announced a deal to sell 800 patents to Microsoft for just over $1 billion.
A week of Windows 10, holograms and Exploding Kittens on Mars
Office 2016 launching this year, touch apps coming soon
Microsoft reveals the next version of Windows 10
Introducing Windows 10 for phones
Hands on with HoloLens
Download: Windows 10 build 9926
Last week, Neowin covered a story on a deal that Microsoft agreed with Itronix, which allowed the rugged computer manufacturer, access to some of the software giant's patent portfolio. Earlier today it was revealed that...


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The old adage “the customer is always right” incites an instant eye-roll for anyone who’s worked in the retail space. But as retailers face new challenges around assortment planning and design, it makes sense to let the customer guide those decisions.
And fit technology specialists at Shoptalk agreed that this is one area the old cliche holds true.
“Everything relies on consumer preference,” said True Fit co-founder and chief customer officer Jessica Murphy. “If the retailer doesn’t know how customers like to wear the clothing, that represents a missed opportunity.”
Preference also plays a large part in the data that Fit Analytics uses in its sizing tools, said CEO and co-founder Sebastian Schulze. “Our sizing platform draws data from three different sources, and analyzes them with machine learning,” he said. The company’s Fit Finder tool draws information from consumer-generated data, such as fit preferences, height, and weight; item specifications and size charts from partner companies, like Zara, Hugo Boss and Tommy Hilfiger; and transaction data that reports whether customers keep or return the items they buy based on Fit Analytics’ suggestions.
Schulze said engaging the customer in their preferences, and finding out what they want, is more effective than making them get out a measuring tape to record every part of their bodies. “Asking the consumer to put in that work is too much,” Schulze said. “In a brick and mortar situation, you can try on things and have an instant answer, but asking for full body measurements in e-commerce is too much.”
At MySizeID, the company’s tool does the measurement work for the customer, said Ronen Luzon, founder and CEO. “We use the sensors on the mobile phone with our algorithm to take full-body measurements, in under a minute,” Luzon said, demonstrating how the MySizeID app allows customers to measure themselves by moving the phone over their body. “There are no questions asked, no pictures taken,” Luzon said.
Alleviating stress from the consumer’s end is especially important, said Murphy, because shoppers already have a hard enough time finding their size. That makes it all the more vital that retailers cede control to the customer and help them find fit using tools that make them comfortable. “Retailers don’t always do a great job of seeing where the white space is,” Murphy said. “Retail is evolving all the time, and we’re living in a fast-paced environment, but the customer is in the driver’s seat.”
E-commerce is finally allowing consumers who were never served by the retail landscape to find clothes that fit, said Schulze—plus-size customers, athletes, even petite customers who have made do shopping in the juniors’ or kids’ section.
“We see higher engagement rates from people who are outside the ‘normal’ size chart,” Schulze said. Still, retailers often don’t realize the revenues they’re missing out on when it comes to sizing.
A high-end contemporary retailer and True Fit client found that around 15 percent of customers who spent time on the e-commerce site regularly—and reported the brand as one of their favorites—couldn’t find their size on the retailer’s website. And that’s because it wasn’t offered. The company was missing out on shoppers who were larger than a size 14. They didn’t realize the missed opportunity until they employed True Fit’s insights and reporting, which led the brand to expand its size scale and fold those would-be customers into the dedicated customer base.
Luzon agreed there are also specific niches where restrictive sizing charts are suffocating the market and limiting opportunities, especially in lingerie. Consumers are often uncomfortable trying on intimates in-stores, or going for a fitting, and there are limitations as to what they can access through e-commerce. “[MySizeID] makes the consumer feel confident, and that makes a change,” he said, explaining the comfort level comes from the fact that the tool doesn’t use photos to compile a customer profile, nor does it ask them to measure themselves.
If that’s how fit tech looks from a customer-centric perspective, what does it look like to retailers?Schulze said it translates to consistent profit growth.
“What we see on average is a 3 to 5 percent impact on the bottom line when brands use the core FitFinder product,” Schulze said. “Some of our additional products and tools allow an even more personalized experience, or contribute to the discovery phase, and for some brands that makes an even bigger impact.”
There’s also the profit increase that comes from capturing a segment of the market that’s been waiting on the sidelines for a chance to purchase, Murphy said. “Fit is the No. 1 reason consumers are hesitant to buy,” Murphy said. “When you can reassure them, that’s what contributes to repeat purchases and loyalty. The key to that is connecting with your consumers.”


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TECNO Mobile officially launched in South Africa
After a much long-anticipated wait since 2008, Africa's biggest premium mobile phone brand, TECNO Mobile finally made its way to the South African shores. TRANSSION, TECNO Mobile’s parent company ranked 5th in global mobile phone shipments and holds the largest mobile phone market share in Africa (*Data from IDC report), will now add South Africa to their list of markets. Officially launched the three smartphones to the South African market on the 5th of March 2020, TECNO mobile smartphones will now be widely available throughout the country. South African consumers can now purchase and enjoy TECNO smartphone from major retail stores and online outlets that include, Hi, Mr Price, loot.co.za and Takealot.co.za. TECNO smartphones have also been recognised as the most used affordable smartphones in Nigeria.
"As TECNO Mobile, bridging the digital divide has always been at the core of our business. We believe in delivering devices that allow our consumers to enjoy the benefits of a smartphone without compromising on quality, connectivity, access to the internet or breaking the bank. Affordability for our consumers is key for us to ensure that the African market has access to smartphones. As a mobile phone manufacturer we have ensured that the African market enjoys affordable premium smartphones ", says Jasper Zhan, Head of GTM and Marketing for Transsion’s subsidiary company in South Africa.
Although a limited range of TECNO Mobile devices has been available in South Africa since 2019, with the official launch, a wider range of TECNO mobile devices will now be available to the South African market. TECNO mobile will continue to consolidate its position as the number one smartphone brand in the African mobile market with the release of the CAMON series smartphones. South Africa will join Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana, Uganda, and India as the first market recipients of the CAMON series smartphones. The devices are a first for TECNO mobile that focus on overall camera and selfie experience.
"TRANSSION has sold over 124 million mobile phones globally. TECNO Mobile devices have been well received on the continent since we shifted our market entirely to Africa in 2008. It only makes sense for South Africa as the most progressive country in Africa to also enjoy the same benefits as the rest of the continent. We have had several requests from the South African mass market for access to our smartphones and we can now proudly say we have listened and delivered to the people of South Africa", says Yudi Rambaran, Head of Sales for Transsion’s subsidiary company in South Africa.
TECNO Mobile prides itself as the only mobile phone manufacturer that produces phones with cameras using insights that are designed to optimise the mobile experience for African users. The TECNO brand has particularly enjoyed an advantage over their competitors mainly due to the facial recognition software present in TECNO devices that have been tailored to the faces of African users, primarily using specific facial feature detection that is tailored to the African audience resulting in the superior quality of selfies for TECNO Mobile users.
"In the endeavour to deliver a premium product to our African market, TECNO Mobile takes its cameras under a rigorous test of a variety of lighting conditions that are synonymous with the in African environment to ensure that all our devices produce the quality that illustrates our unmatched colour detection technology," concludes Zhan


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Despite significant strides in LGBTQ+ representation across various media, video games lag behind film and television in depicting the diverse realities of the LGBTQ+ community. This discrepancy highlights the need for more inclusive storytelling in the gaming industry.
- LGBTQ+ characters and narratives are becoming more visible in video games, but the medium still trails behind film and TV in terms of diversity and representation.
- While indie games and certain mainstream titles have made progress, the overall gaming landscape shows a lack of LGBTQ+ characters and stories.
- Issues like stereotyping, the “bury your gays” trope, and the portrayal of LGBTQ+ individuals in negative roles persist.
- The role-playing element of video games offers unique opportunities for players to explore LGBTQ+ identities and relationships, underlining the potential for greater inclusivity in gaming.
LGBTQ+ representation in video games has seen notable improvement, with an increasing number of titles including LGBTQ+ characters and themes. Dr. Adrienne Shaw, the founder of the LGBTQ Video Game Archive, emphasizes the importance of diverse storytelling beyond marketing gimmicks, urging game designers to think holistically about the stories they tell. The archive documents a significant rise in games featuring LGBTQ+ content since the 1980s, indicating progress in the industry.
However, challenges remain. Historical archiving issues mean that many early games with LGBTQ+ content are forgotten or lost, and the portrayal of queer characters often reinforces negative stereotypes. For instance, the “Grand Theft Auto” series has been criticized for its negative depiction of queer characters. Furthermore, the gaming industry still largely caters to the stereotype of the straight, white, male gamer, overlooking the diversity of its audience.
Personal experiences shared by gamers, such as those in the “Mass Effect” trilogy and “Life Is Strange” series, highlight the potential of video games to explore and affirm LGBTQ+ identities through role-playing and character customization. These games offer players the chance to engage with LGBTQ+ narratives and characters in ways that can promote understanding and empathy.
Despite these advancements, a study titled “The Double-Edged Sword of Online Gaming” reported that only 0.03 percent of video game characters identify as part of the LGBTQ+ community, a stark contrast to the percentage of LGBTQ+ gamers and individuals worldwide. This underrepresentation underscores the gap between the potential for inclusive storytelling in video games and the current reality.
Recent years have seen the introduction of new LGBTQ+ characters in mainstream titles, such as “Alan Wake II,” “Marvel’s Spider-Man 2,” and “Horizon Forbidden West: Burning Shores,” indicating ongoing efforts to enhance LGBTQ+ representation in video games. These developments suggest a growing recognition of the importance of inclusivity in gaming, but they also highlight the need for continued progress.
In conclusion, while video games have made strides in LGBTQ+ representation, there remains a significant gap compared to film and TV. The unique interactive nature of video games offers unparalleled opportunities for storytelling and empathy-building. As the industry evolves, it faces the challenge of embracing these opportunities to create more inclusive, diverse, and representative gaming experiences for all players.


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Reopening Has Begun. No One Is Sure What Happens Next.
Keep reading for FREE
In the early phases of reopening, businesses could be required to operate at a reduced capacity.
Offices might operate in rotating shifts, but other businesses could have a harder time. Restaurants may have tight profit margins even in better times. Operating at half capacity may mean working at a loss.
The economy shut down almost overnight. But reopening it will not happen the same way. It may take months and possibly years to fully open, even under the most optimistic estimates.
Saying the economy should reopen gradually is more easily said than done. One business that could reopen may depend on other companies that are not allowed to reopen.
In countries that have avoided formal lockdown, people have sharply reduced their activities without government mandates.
Surveys show there is little evidence that the public is ready to return. The economy will only reopen when people are willing. The greatest fear is the second wave that could be too much to manage.
The proposed three-phase plan will allow many businesses to open in the first phase.
Schools and daycare centers can open in the next phase. But that means millions of working parents could be asked to return to their jobs before they have someone to take care of their children.
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November 3, 2022
Cristiano Amon, CEO and Chairman of Qualcomm, has signaled that 2024 will be the year that PCs powered by his company's Snapdragon silicon will make their mark on 2022.
And the likely difficult 2023 “and sales, general and Administrative expenses".
As device makers turn unused shipment backlogs into finished products, Qualcomm's sales slow.
"I would like to remind everyone that the current inventory is a cyclical adjustment that has no impact on the underlying long-term profitability of the company.
And we are on track to execute on our growth strategy and all fundamentals remain in place.
Javier became the 2nd no-hitter in Astros World Series history


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Just weeks after it emerged that Marks and Spencer was looking for site for a new food store in west Ipswich, the company has confirmed it plans to move more towards its grocery business rather than clothing.
The family behind Huffers in Sudbury are putting the final touches to their latest venture - a new fish restuarant which is set to open in Ipswich town centre next month.
Prices could be pushed up and a significant number of stores sold if supermarket giants Sainsbury's and Asda merge, the competition watchdog has warned.
Find out about Joe's many achievements, from working on the Spitfire to hand-printing books.
Plans to turn the former Argos store in Bury St Edmunds town centre into a mixed retail and residential site have been revealed.
A Suffolk duck meat firm is hoping to drive sales during Chinese new year with a joint supermarket campaign with the Blue Dragon brand.
Shower speakers, spring rolls and Sainsbury's pizzas are among the products being recalled following concerns from Trading Standards.


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Breaking news from Hasbro.... we're going to be waiting a while for these figures.
"We have previously announced that there would be three waves of our 30th Anniversary basic figures in Spring. That has now been changed - there will be only two
. The last wave (on shelf approx. early March) will be The Force Unleashed wave. Due to some last minute delays, the previous third wave has been picked up and moved to the new Fall basic figure line
. Nothing will be bumped from the Fall line....these will just be added in.
Fans should not worry as all figures will be coming to the shelf, including General Obi-Wan Kenobi, General Saesee Tiin, Clone Scuba trooper, and more. More details on this assortment will be released at Toy Fair. Similarly, due to production delays, we are pushing back the debut of the next wave of comic packs (including Anakin/Durge and Asaaj/Tol Skorr) until fall as well, but all announced packs *will* be coming out. "


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Dawsonrentals is rebranding to Dawsongroup to highlight the range of the company's services and reflect the changing nature of the business.
It ends more than 40 years of using the Dawsonrentals name across its various asset provision business.
The change means, for example, Dawsonrentals Truck & Trailer will be known as Dawsongroup Truck & Trailer.
The company’s other businesses, vans, materials handling, bus and coach, sweepers, temperature control solutions, temporary kitchens, portable cold rooms and finance, will each replace Dawsonrentals in their name with the Dawsongroup prefix.
Steve Miller, group chief executive of Dawsongroup, said: “There are two aspects to the decision.
"The first is that the ‘rentals’ element of our individual business names had become misleading: for many years now we have also offered leasing, contract hire, finance options and both new and used asset sales, so the new name is less of a ‘pigeon-hole’ for people’s perceptions.
"The second is that, for far too long, the group opportunity has not been fully appreciated by customers.
"The simple truth is that our truck and trailer customers are just as likely to be interested by what the group offers in vans, forklifts and sweepers, but the connections weren’t being made.
“Now, and the name change is part of this, we have started to help customers take advantage of the synergies and economies to be made by shopping across the group: a loyalty benefit, for want of a better description.
"In the past 18 months of starting to put the message across in a low-key way, we have seen remarkable sales uplifts.
"This is a welcome bonus from our point of view, but more important it is benefiting our customers, who enjoy enhanced price structures from doing business across other businesses in the group.
"It also makes their lives simpler in terms of contact, finance and administration, and we now have senior group sales and marketing personnel to help them get the most out of it.
"Each business retains its autonomy in terms of management, profitability and reporting, but they now have the added advantage of a cross-group sales and marketing structure to help them.”


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Crypto experts from Europe, Asia and the USA Will Share Their Experience of ICO Carrying Out, Talk About The Blockchain Integration Into Business And Explain How Keep Within The Law When Using Cryptocurrencies
On March 22, Estonia will host a large event dedicated to blockchain, cryptocurrencies and ICO: Blockchain & Bitcoin Conference Tallinn. Crypto experts from Europe, Asia and the USA will share their experience of ICO carrying out, talk about the blockchain integration into business and explain how keep within the law when using cryptocurrencies.
The reports are divided into four blocks:
Cryptocurrencies and blockchain in business
Stefano Virgilli, CMO at Copernicus Gold, will tell about blockchain and mining. Amir Kaltak, CEO at LEXIT, the blockchain-based marketplace for selling startups and copyright, will explain how decentralized technologies will disrupt the way companies and their IP are being bought, sold, and licensed. Josh Scigala, CEO at the Bitcoin and gold exchange, will reveal the issue of blockchain and precious metals fusion in a single ecosystem.
A spacious approach to the blockchain application will be presented by two speakers from the Catapult Labs IT company, Aleksander Tsoganov, the Software Engineer, and Heikki Kolk, the Managing Director. Using a specific example, they will explain how to monetize electricity and manage electric power industry with blockchain. COO at Chainium, Florian Batliner-Staber, using the example of the corporate development will show how blockchain-based supranational exchange will change the stock market.
Blockchain lawyer and Partner at CKR Law LLP, Alexandra Levin Kramer will give information on how to launch ICO in the USA, staying within the legal framework. The issue of cooperation with the target audience when promoting ICO projects will be covered by Aleks Bozhinov, CMO at Crowdholding. Expert advice on gaining trust of the crypto community when holding ICO will be provided by Martins Liberts, CEO at Debitum Network.
Thierry Vallat, the founder of Cabinet Thierry Vallat, a former member of Board of Directors, and a treasurer at ‘France-Estonia’ Association, will reveal the regulation prospects of digital assets in Europe. The topic of blockchain application as a trusted entity will be discussed in the report of Edgar Bers, Partner Relations Manager at HashCoins OÜ. Types of tokens and their legal meaning will be revealed in the report of Aviya Arika, the Head of Blockchain Innovation at Nir Porat & Co. Law Firm.
Vladislav Sapozhnikov, Co-Founder and CEO of Deex.Exchange, will tell attendees about the blockchain future in general and BitShares-based decentralized ecosystems in particular. Lukas Kairys, CTO at Cryptodus IT company, will reveal the possibilities and risks of smart contracts, as well as their technological goals.
The event will be held at the comfortable hotel in the center of Tallinn – Hilton Tallinn Park hotel.
Comprehensive program of the event and registration are available on the website of Blockchain & Bitcoin Conference Tallinn.


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A limited number of European fishing boats will be allowed to fish in Manx waters as part of the Brexit trade deal.
The free trade agreement, announced today by Prime Minister Boris Johnson ensures tariff and quota-free trade with the EU will continue for Manx produce.
While the Isle of Man was never a member of the EU, we enjoyed a special relationship, as did Jersey and Guernsey, because of our status as a Crown Dependency.
Chief Minister HQ said the deal will ‘protect our exports of agricultural and manufactured goods. It provides opportunities for our businesses, and gives certainty for the future’.
He added: ‘Any negotiation involves give and take. In order to secure a future free trade agreement, we were ready to allow fishing to continue in our territorial waters subject to some important principles.
’We have secured guarantees that it will not exceed levels that we are used to, from vessels that have a proven track record.’
As well as protecting exports, the deal announced today should prevent an increase in prices for imported goods.
The Chief Minister said: ‘While we, of course, have wonderful food and drink produced on the Island, we do still import a lot of products. This deal should ensure that shoppers do not see price hikes on a wide range of imported goods. This is important for families on the Island, and our wider economy.’
HQ will address Tynwald on how the deal affects us in an extra sitting on December 30. Later that day HQ will also hold a press conference which will be streamed live on Gef’s Facebook page.


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The Samsung Galaxy Note 20, which was first introduced in August of 2020, was able to attract attention at that time with the features it offered. Note 20, one of the last phones of Samsung to receive the Note jewelry, continues to receive security updates as well as the Android 13 update.
Galaxy Note 20 security update fixes over fifty issues
Galaxy Note 20, one of the flagship models of the South Korean manufacturer, appeared with Android 10. Now, the smartphone, which received the last major operating system update with Android 13, is not expected to receive a major update from now on. On the other hand, the security updates of the phone continue.
Samsung announced the January 2023 update for the Galaxy Note 20 last week. Now, the scope of the update is expanding and reaching new countries. The N98xFXXS5GWA7 version update is now available in Peru, Panama, Trinidad and Tobago, and Guatemala, following the US. The new update is expected to reach other countries soon.
The January 2023 security update, which fixes more than fifty security vulnerabilities, is of great importance in this sense. It is reported that with the update, which also contains fixes for Samsung’s own software, some problems with NFC, Secure Folder and Samsung Knox have been fixed.
You will likely receive a notification when the update reaches our region, but in case you missed it, you can follow these steps:
- Software update
- Download and install
In addition, users who want to manually update their phones with the help of a computer can download the update from the official site.
Although Android updates have ended here, the Galaxy Note 20 will continue to host security updates for a while. So what do you think about the Samsung Galaxy Note 20? You can share your views with us in the comments section.


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Here, we have been providing you the most important stories constantly transforming the fabric of digital market. Stay on board with us to catch the intriguing news surrounding the fast growing e-market of ebooks, ebook readers, tablets and publishers. The breaking news of this week is the rumor about Amazon’s product launch expected next week. We will provide you direct coverage of the events, so stay with us!
Amazon Kindle Fire 2 Launch Rumor:
It is quite obvious after FCC filings that Amazon is on its way to launch a next generation Kindle Fire and a brand new ebook reader. It is said that the new device will have GlowLight, a spectacular feature embedded in the Barnes and Noble Simple Touch with GlowLight. Also, Kindle Fire will be available according to various memory sizes and in a less costly adverts version in which Home screen and screensaver will showcase advertisements. Amazon has partners like L’oreal and others who can pay handsome bucks to have their products on the home screens of Kindle users.
Apple iBooks introduces Latest Support Options for Digital Publishers:
Apple has made lives easier by introducing a new customer support service phone line which is accessible for most hours of the day for digital publishers. The customer services operators are trained to guide on submission questions and to provide assistance in troubleshooting. Contrary to Apple’s new launch, other major companies are not that easy to access. To submit Google Books is quite a pain and Amazon is also not very courteous in answering questions asked by small publishing companies through its email service.
Barnes and Noble continue to acquire UK partnerships:
Barnes and Noble, regarded as the largest bookseller in the US, has made lots of efforts to launch its products in the United Kingdom. The company has acquired partnerships of John Lewis, Argos, Blackwell’s and Foyles, all of which will be selling Nook ebook readers through their online store, as well as local stores. Looking at ambitious developments of last week, we can safely guess that Barnes and Noble is still looking for some more partnerships.
HarperCollins experiencing huge growth in ebooks:
Harper Collins recently stated that it is receiving 20% of its revenue from ebook sales. Looking at the current sales figures, the company also predicted major growth on ebook sales in next year and a half. Ebook sales are fast increasing, now reaching 250% annually which means that digital publishers will experience huge sales in ebooks, those accounting for 50% of their revenues.
Shop e-Readers taking a leap in Canada:
Shop e-Readers is an important online store, in charge of selling ebook readers and everything connected. Last month, they have signed agreements with major Universities of Canada to take ebook readers in student libraries, student eBook stores and classrooms. The top universities to partner recently with Shop e-readers include St. Johns Private School, York University, University of Northern British Columbia and The University of Western Ontario. The older partners of the company are the University of British Columbia, Vancouver Community College, Simon Fraser University and many others.


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January 2, 2020
survey says over 90 of postpaid phones sold in us carrier stores are samsung or apple
According to a market analysis performed by Wave7 Research, Apple and Samsung control over 90 percent of the United States smartphone market. According to the report, 94% of phones sold at Verizon and 91% of phone sold in T-Mobile stores were either a Samsung Galaxy or Apple iPhone.
During the holiday month of December, the Apple iPhone 11 was the top-selling phone among the four major carriers (Sprint, AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile). The top-selling Samsung phone was the Galaxy S10.
Samsung Galaxy S10
Part of the reason is many of the popular brands globally aren’t available at…


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Again, he is an awful candidate for president but it wasn't a fluke that he built a fortune of up to $378 million. If chopping jobs could make him a few more dollars, Romney would and has consistently taken the money. As the CEO of Bain Capital, his exclusive focus was money. Period. For a person like Romney that lacks empathy, it was the perfect job.
Anyone who thinks Romney can suddenly change and show compassion or care about jobs is kidding themselves. Running a country where you have to care about everyone and not just the select few is radically different from running a venture capital firm. Ten times out of ten, Romney would chop jobs the way Staples is doing now.
The chain expects the U.S. store closings will result in a charge of about $35 million in the fourth quarter. For fiscal 2012, it anticipates about 30 U.S. store closings. Staples also expects 30 stores will be scaled down and stores being relocated.
In Europe, the store closures are expected to occur before the end of fiscal 2012. The company has also tapped John Wilson to serve as president of Staples Europe. Wilson succeeds Rob Vale, who is retiring.


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CORAF has partnered with a number of West African universities in order to further develop integrated fisheries and aquaculture educational programs.
The FoodShot Prize gives support to the most innovative ideas for feeding 10 billion people by 2050 healthfully, sustainably, and equitably; this years’ winners focus on enhancing agronomy.
With a dramatically growing global population, we can’t rely on the way we’ve done things this far to provide the scale and variety of natural foods that consumers now demand.
An innovative solution for food spoilage was brought to market in the U.S. by Apeel Sciences last summer and will now be available in Europe thanks to a new partnership.
By fixing the inefficient steps along the supply chain that lead to less available nutritious food, investments in Sub-Saharan Africa and parts of Asia can see better health outcomes.
Crop physiologists invest in research to develop climate resistant crops for smallholder farmers in the developing world. Sorghum and millet varieties that can withstand extreme climate conditions will reduce hunger and malnutrition.
We interviewed more than 200 inspiring individuals and organizations reshaping the food system and identified case studies to help understand foodservice from many angles.
For centuries, farmers have been isolated—geographically, economically, technologically. Big Data has the potential to transform agriculture in the 21st century and create a new global commons for agricultural knowledge that could allow farmers from Missouri to Myanmar to learn from one another.
The urgency to transform agricultural research and data into cutting-edge solutions for growers “is as if someone turned the volume up on the stereo,” says Stephanie Race of Crop Performance Ltd. and Earth Labs.


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An Air New Zealand flight to Tauranga had to turn back to Auckland because of a hydraulics issue. Flight NZ8439 had to return to Auckland Airport on Tuesday afternoon, an Air New Zealand spokesperson confirmed. There were 19 people on board the 50-seat Q300 and passengers have since departed on another aircraft to Tauranga. In the aftermath of the coronavirus alert level 4 lockdown Air New Zealand slashed its domestic routes.
Building products company Steel & Tube is making as many as 200 of its staff redundant. It says the weaker economic outlook because of Covid-19 has brought forward a planned restructuring. Chief executive Mark Malpass said the company would sack between 150 and 200 staff as it gets itself into a shape to cope with the near-term impact. The company has received $5.5 million from the government wage subsidy scheme.
Uber Eats has backed down in the face of consumer and political pressure, by cutting the costs it imposes on restaurants to deliver food. The company has been feeling the heat over its usual 30-35 percent commission on all orders - a big chunk of the revenue that struggling hospitality businesses will receive as they strive to get back on their feet in the new alert level-3 world. To support local businesses, Uber Eats announced it was: Giving independent restaurants in New Zealand and Australia up to $5 million to spend on in-app promotions for their customers, Axing service fees for restaurants on pickup orders until June 30, Waiving sign-up fees for new restaurants and caterers until May 4, Offering customers the chance to add a tip to their order - with the restaurant receiving 100 percent of the money, Giving restaurants the option to receive their payments daily


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Pumpkins taking over food world
No, you’re not the only one who has noticed— the food and drink world has been taken over by pumpkins.
“People are conditioned to crave anything that is pumpkin-flavored during this time of year,” said barista Peter Daley of The Flaky Tart, 145 First Ave. in Atlantic Highlands.
Apart from coffee, the store offers specialty pumpkin delicacies including pumpkin cheesecake, pumpkin spice carrot cake, and — wait for it — carrot cake cupcakes with pumpkin cream-cheese icing.
Another coffee shop that has embraced the pumpkin craze is Booskerdoo, which has locations in Monmouth Beach and Middletown.
Co-owner Amelia Caverlysaid that adding Torani pumpkin pie syrup to lattes and cappuccinos becomes quite popular during the fall months; and is the preferred flavor addition for an estimated 10 percent of customers each day.
“Pumpkin pairs very well with the flavor of coffee,” Caverly said. “Once in the bakery, we made a simple syrup of apple, cinnamon and other spices, and it was good with steamed milk, but not when added to espresso.”
Booskerdoo has featured an array of pumpkin products ever since opening its first location 3½years ago. One seasonal specialty that the company makes available is a “can-free” pumpkin pie that makes use of fresh pumpkin rather than pumpkin puree.
Other pumpkin staples on the menu include pumpkin cream-cheese baked doughnuts, pumpkin crumb cake, pumpkin banana scones and pumpkin granola that can top off a cup of Greek yogurt. These items are kept in stock through the new year, Caverly said.
“We definitely take a seasonal approach to our baking,” she added.
Confectionaries and bakeries are not the only businesses that have hopped on the pumpkin bandwagon. Chef Fredy’s Table, an American eatery at 82 Speedwell Ave. in Morristown, offers savory pumpkin dishes such as roasted pumpkin soup.
“Once fall kicks in, people really change their mentality, especially when it comes to soup and dessert,” manager Nestor Bedoya said. “When a restaurant offers butternut squash soup or pumpkin soup, people are all over it. It’s something about the cold weather.”
Justin Drake, public relations manager of quick-server restaurant franchisor Dunkin’ Brands Group Inc., agreed that the colder climate contributes to pumpkin spice popularity.
“When the temperatures begin to drop and the days begin to shorten, people naturally begin to crave comforting foods and the familiar ... ” Drake said.
Dunkin’ Brands Group Inc. is the business model behind acclaimed chains Dunkin’ Donuts and Baskin Robbins. Both corporations boast their own line of pumpkin products.
For instance, Baskin Robbins introduced frozen treats including pumpkin patch and fall harvest roll cakes.
Adults can enjoy the widespread pumpkin infusion at taverns such as Harvest Moon Brewery, 392 George St. in New Brunswick.
The establishment brewed 10 barrels of pumpkin ale spiced beer at the beginning of October, and the product sold out in two weeks according to an employee. The brewery also introduced pumpkin bread pudding at the start of the season to target dessert lovers.
Other brands have adopted pumpkin additives for their products, even if the resulting flavor combination may have previously been viewed as unconventional. Well-known chip brand TERRA is among them.
“TERRA pumpkin spice sweets are real vegetable chips made with sweet potatoes and topped with a cinnamon-nutmeg seasoning,” Hain Celestial Snacks senior brand manager Sam Garfinkel said. He added that the chips are gluten-free, kosher and made with non-GMO ingredients to comply with the brand’s other products.
The product will be available at participating supermarkets until the end of December and sells for a suggested retail price of $3.49 per 5.75-ounce bag.
Commercial bakery Pepperidge Farm also features confections such as pumpkin cheesecake cookies, pumpkin spice swirl bread and pumpkin Milano wafers.
Other sweets on the shelves this time of year include Turkey Hill pumpkin pie ice cream, Dreyer’s pumpkin ice cream and Nestle coffee-mate pumpkin spice creamer, available in 16- and 32-ounce packages. Artisanal vodka brand Crop has even introduced a pumpkin rendition of the alcoholic spirit.


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SINGAPORE - To cater to increased traffic during the Chinese New Year season, supermarket chains NTUC FairPrice, Giant and Cold Storage will extend operating hours of their stores islandwide.
Shoppers can grab last-minute groceries next Thursday (Jan 26) as 83 FairPrice stores will run for 24 hours that day, supermarket chain FairPrice said in a media advisory on Tuesday (Jan 17).
Also, 25 of its stores will remain open on the first and second days of Chinese New Year (Jan 28 and 29).
Additionally, more than 57 FairPrice stores will stay open for an extra one to two hours in the week leading up to Chinese New Year and close at 11pm or midnight. Normal operating hours will resume on Jan 30.
NTUC has 140 outlets nationwide. For more information on opening hours for specific stores, visit http://bit.ly/fairpricecnyhours2017
Giant Hypermarkets started extending operating hours in preparation for the festive season from Jan 13.
All Giant stores will open as usual on the first two days of Chinese New Year, a spokesman for the supermarket chain told ST on Tuesday.
"Most of the rest of our stores are already open 24 hours a day and will continue to do so during this period," said the spokesman. "Therefore, customers need not worry about not being able to get their Chinese New Year needs at the very last minute and continue to enjoy massive savings for their purchases."
Cold Storage will also be extending operating hours for some outlets in the week before Chinese New Year eve, a spokesman told The Straits Times on Tuesday.
Seven of its outlets will operate round the clock from Jan 27 to Jan 29.
These are the outlets at Kallang's Aperia Mall, Cluny Court, Holland Village, Jelita Shopping Centre in Holland Road, Rail Mall at Upper Bukit Timah, Serangoon's Nex shopping mall and Siglap Village.


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Two former Humboldt State students run their own companies
Over the past year, two former Humboldt State University students Oscar Perez and Tex Keith created and manage their own Humboldt County based companies at the ages of just 23 and 21.
Perez and Keith started off as football players for the HSU Lumberjacks but then decided earlier in the year to take a break from enrolling in classes in order to pursue their careers. Though both men’s companies are vastly different, they both enjoyed the idea of being their own boss.
“Seeing the way my old boss ran his shop looked really fun, but I’ve never liked authority,” Perez said.
Since freshman year of high school, Perez had always had a passion for cutting hair as a barber. He knew he wanted to one day open his own barber shop. It wasn’t until just a couple of months ago when Perez spontaneously decided to take a chance as he found a storefront available in a popular location in the middle of Arcata on K street. A month and a half later, The Speakeasy Hair Lounge opened up on Oct. 2.
“I’ve always dreamed of opening my own shop,” Perez said. “The opportunity came up quick. I saw the shop and just ran with it.”
As CEO of Inertial Media, Keith also manages a corporation within Humboldt. This business maven and marketing agency provides expert consulting, brand strategy, and social media management to help their clients. As Inertial Media grew larger Keith became more successful. Keith was awarded top 10 entrepreneurs and had his company featured in Entrepreneur Magazine.
“I’m using this as momentum to keep on growing and helping out other people,” Keith said.
As a college athlete, Keith had hopes of starting a career in the NFL. It wasn’t until after buying two laptops with extra financial aid money and discovering digital marketing did he make the decision to commit most of his time toward business.
As Keith learned more about marketing, he was sought out by one of the most successful self-made entrepreneurs in America, Tai Lopez.Keith continued to learn and grow in Lopez’s program which ultimately landed him a spot in Tai Lopez’s Exclusive 300 Group which consists of his best students. Keith is also planning to teach in one of Lopez’s upcoming courses.
“Going from seeing his YouTube videos in 2015, to being in them is pretty cool,” Keith said.
Keith has strengthened his team at Inertial Media by hiring other young like-minded marketers and brokers to keep things running smoothly. Perez also hired like minded barbers with similar hair cutting styles.
“I have a barber from Florida, Central California, and Riverside,”Perez said. “I never actually met any of them. I hired them through Instagram and gave them my pitch.”
Efrain Rosario is one of The Speakeasy’s barbers. Perez first saw Rosario’s barber skills as he posted pictures of his work on social media. After a few conversations, Rosario was convinced to stay in Humboldt County for a fresh start in the industry after moving from Florida.
“My experience working here so far has been pretty fruitful,” Rosario said.
Both companies have plans to expand and further their business along in the future. Perez and Keith have put in countless hours and given up many nights of sleep to get these companies to where they are today. The grit and determination of these two men have started to inspire others to also follow their dreams of starting up a business.
“Don’t hesitate,” Perez said. “Ride with the momentum and just go for it.”


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Sales at Gucci soared above pre-pandemic levels as the Italian brand lured young shoppers with its social media campaigns and benefited from easing lockdown restrictions.
Gucci revenue jumped 86 per cent on a comparable basis during the second quarter, owner Kering said in a statement on Tuesday. Analysts had expected a 77 per cent gain. The performance at Gucci pushed total group revenue in the quarter up 11.2 per cent from the same period in 2019.
Kering follows LVMH and Cartier owner Richemont in publishing stellar results as consumers across the world spend their savings accumulated during lockdowns on luxury handbags, shoes and jewellery. Like those companies, Kering was helped by an easy comparison with 2020, when many shops were shut.
All houses contributed to the result, with quarterly sales at Yves Saint Laurent and Bottega Veneta jumping 118.5 per cent and 69 per cent, respectively, on a comparable basis. Balenciaga and Alexander McQueen also recorded "outstanding performances," the company said.


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From The Issue: Designer Co-Op By Richard Gray
The fashion world is changing: the production, show and buying systems are evolving every season. In many ways, things have never been more difficult for a young designer – students, too. So how do London’s new and established fashion stars survive their first few years in the rag trade?
Floor 2, BA Fashion, Central Saint Martins, London: “the cupboard”. “Louis Vuitton are really good, they send bolts. And Lanvin. They’re also really good. Kim Jones sends some incredible things.” This is the fashion designer and Unit 1 Leader for MA Fashion, Louise Gray, talking. And “the cupboard” holds both bolts and neatly folded swatches of fabrics of the kind you hold up to the light. Leather, silks, cashmere, and so on. Everything in here, every single one of the extraordinarily expensive fabrics, has been given to the college by the world’s biggest fashion houses.
Just about everybody who studies is skint. The ones who aren’t are very lucky. As the government slashes funding for arts and art studies in the UK, affording food, let alone fabrics, is a very real problem for fashion students. Here’s Sarah Mower: as well as being a writer and fashion critic for American Vogue, she is the British Fashion Council’s ambassador for emerging talent and chair of the NEWGEN committee. Last year she teamed up with Liberty London to create Sarah’s List, an initiative to support fashion talent that came out of the “depths of despair at Trump being elected and Brexit coming”. But it’s not all depths of despair – “I’m from the generation that came out of university in the days of Thatcher and that was really, really dark,” she says. “And yet it was the most creative and rebellious and fantastic [period]. A do-it-yourself time for young London.”
Art students really began to feel the squeeze in 2010, when the Browne Review, an independent report on higher-education funding in the UK, recommended that the then-cap of £3,290 for fees be removed. This would, the theory went, create a new system for financing universities and allow for a 10% increase in demand for degree-level education. And thus, government-funded education became increasingly self-funded.
“I’ve given up on the government,” says Mower, shaking her head. Her support of designers including Conner Ives (who is still studying at Saint Martins but producing a collection and selling through Sarah’s List at Liberty London), Marta Jakubowski, Kitty Garratt, Samantha McCoach, Richard Malone and Richard Quinn, isn’t new. Mower started going into colleges and seeing people such as Christopher Kane more than a decade ago. “I realised there was something about him, which was, first of all, fashion. [Fashion design now] has to be fucking amazing, it has to make your hair stand on end to be able to justify itself as an entity as something to buy.”
This current generation of young designers – a new movement that seems to have found its speed in the past three or four years – has the seeds of something particularly interesting. Graduates and undergraduates now are ethical and political. They don’t believe in exploitation, they pursue diversity and are community-minded.
Last year, Quinn, an MA Saint Martins womenswear design graduate, won the H&M Design Award. For the past six years, the fund has supported and promoted young fashion designers, offering a prize worth £44,000 for the winner. Quinn created a sell-out collection with the high-street giant, too, and invested his prize money into a self-named print works, producing for fashion students and some big fashion houses that he refuses to name. Fashion students, note: Quinn’s studio prints come in at about 40%-50% cheaper than the nearest rival. Take sublimation – another printer would charge, say, £40-£50 per metre for the particular print technique, but for students and members, Quinn charges between £15 and £25, depending on what you’re printing on and, of course, the process involved.
“The professionals and big houses have started coming here because we can offer them privacy,” says Quinn. “If they’re developing new samples and they want to keep it quiet, we can open the studio for them only.” According to him, resourcefulness is key for any fashion student wanting to get into design: “I’d advise them that there’s always another way of doing something. If you can’t afford a simple process in your fabric development, it’s your job to find an alternative way. Things like this make you more resourceful. A lot of students come here and say, ‘I can’t do this or that’, and you say, ‘Well, what about this way instead?’ and they’re like, ‘Oh yeah!’”
Lulu Kennedy has been championing, inspiring and mother hen-ing young designers for the past 17 years with her non-profit initiative, Fashion East. It’s through these doors and from this catwalk that serious fashion-design businesses such as Holly Fulton, Craig Green, JW Anderson, Simone Rocha, House of Holland, Gareth Pugh, Roksanda Ilincic and many others have been propelled to success. Those lucky enough to be selected by the Fashion East panel also get free access to the London Show Rooms, the biannual showcase pop-up of London designers that welcomes and encourages some of the world’s biggest department-store, boutique and online buyers to spend their cash on our home-grown talent. It’s also now a place where young designers can swap information about which store buyers are spending on what and who is best to target. It’s an invaluable hub for fashion networking.
“It all used to happen at The George & Dragon [in Shoreditch],” says Kennedy. “Everybody used to help everybody else.” From 2002, that small pub at number 2 Hackney Road spilled fashion kids into the street on warm summer nights, and a few cold ones, too, for 13 glorious years until it closed in 2015. All swapped gossip and tips. I seem to remember a conversation about “the best zip producers” between Christopher Kane and Jonathan Saunders that lasted about an hour. Boring for some.
Follow the George & Dragon fashion ley lines up Hackney Road – a mere 10-minute walk – and you’re at The Joiners Arms (sadly closed, but with efforts to reopen ongoing). Here, too, much drunker by now, there was much of the same. And some pool and some dancing as well. Back down the Hackney Road, turn left onto Commercial Street, then take a sharp left onto Hanbury Street to get onto Brick Lane: “You have now reached your destination.” This is The Old Truman Brewery, home of fashion shows, sample sales, Fashion East and all things cool London for years and years. “When people go to the London Show Rooms in Paris, they sit and they chat and they really bond, just like at the George and Joiners,” says Kennedy. “You’re stuck in the showroom, meeting buyers, and in between appointments you swap gossip and also do the deals – ‘You should really speak to X’, and so on. And, of course, everybody goes out in Paris at night and gets drunk – just like we did back then.”
Fran Burns is the fashion stylist and one half (the other being the creative director Christopher Simmonds) behind the new fashion magazine PRINT. Burns is a keen supporter of young design: “Ashley Williams and Claire Barrow graduated together from Westminster.” Didn’t Barrow model in Williams’s recent show? “Yes, exactly,” says Burns. “The camaraderie among them all is really quite amazing. It’s a real community, like a fashion union. You have your peer group around you – they all help each other and inspire each other.”
Burns believes this “fashion union” is something that has always been part of the London scene. She recently found a box of old copies of The Face and i-D at a car-boot sale and has spent the past two days poring over every page. “Today’s culture is the same culture you used to see at both magazines,” she says. “There was a kind of pride in putting something together. And my God, all those fashion shoots in The Face by Simon Foxton and Caroline Baker, they are brilliant. It’s a top from a young designer and a top from Marks & Spencer and a top for £2 from a charity shop with a safety pin on the back – it’s all totally mixed up. I think that’s something, culturally, that we have here that’s so unique – we should be really proud of it.”
So far so positive, but it was only a few years ago that some shops in the capital were taking the fashionable piss with their “sale or return” policies… Store places an order for 25 pieces with a young London designer; the designer orders fabrics, sends them to a factory, or sews them in-house at great expense; the designer then delivers the 25 pieces to the store. However, sale or return means just that: if only seven of the 25-piece order sell, the remaining 18 are then returned to the designer and the store only pays for the ones they have sold. Thus, the designer is left with the original cost, no profit and out-of-season stock. Meanwhile, the department stores, for all their “we support young London designers” spin, only really support young designers on their very unhealthy terms, while garnering all the cool column inches the young designer brings. Tut-tut.
Thankfully it’s a little different now. Stores such as Selfridges have been “incredible” says Kennedy – early last year, the shop’s successful Fashion East pop-up sold young talent such as Caitlin Price, Matty Bovan and Christopher Shannon, with “really, really good sell-throughs”. Indeed, Selfridges have truly supported young London design talent. Since 2011, their Bright New Things initiative, now part of their Material World project, has given window and retail space to new labels for three months and, in 2016, young knitwear ace Katie Jones was awarded its first bursary of £30,000. In addition, the Old Selfridges Hotel has been provided, with no charge, as the venue for the past two Fashion East MAN shows.
Eden Loweth and Tom Barratt are Art School, the exciting London unisex label that incorporates and cleverly riffs on idiosyncratic queer codes and power dynamics. Their show at MAN last June, worn by friends and members of the non-binary community, was uncompromising and exceptional. But then they are uncompromising and exceptional. Their business model is unique in the way it operates simultaneously with, but also satellite to, the established seasonal buying system. The old theory goes thus: fashion house shows clothes, buyers buy clothes, customer waits six months to buy said clothes. Not even the relatively new system of “see now buy now” (nobody is still actually sure whether this is working at catwalk level or whether it will last) has anything on Art School’s ability to, as they say, “turn on a sixpence”. The two designers have developed close relationships with Matches and Selfridges.
“The label has quite an important message behind it,” says Loweth. “We have a responsibility to the individuals we work with and how we translate that into a business model. Non-compromise is the best business decision we made.” This “non-compromise” has worked particularly well in terms of the brand’s deliveries, and the house has made a deliberate attempt to cater for the pre-collection audience rather than the trade SS/AW way of delivery. Says Loweth, “We can have drops that come in, in succession, through the season, which basically means that we sell mainly to women’s but can also have our showrooms [when they show their products to store buyers] after our menswear-schedule show for a men’s drop.”
Art School also have stock throughout the year. By doing seasonal drops such as the Matches collaboration, the duo have regular conversations with Natalie Kingham, the store’s buying director, about ideas and product that chimes with a particular time of year. “It really helps in terms of both press and finance,” says Loweth.
This seasonal and drop culture – the elevated and thoughtful world of catwalk design coexisting with that year-long stream of drops, like, say, a unisex skate or T-shirt label – made the pair question what exactly they wanted Art School to say. “The show, for us, acts like Galliano did in the 1990s,” says Loweth. “And is an extension of our creative mind and shows everything in its wildest form, but then it filters down into pieces that people can really recognise themselves wearing, and that’s the element for us that means we don’t have to compromise. It’s interesting being a non-binary unisex brand, when people associate the idea of unisex with brands like Supreme. And I think that’s been a very interesting centre point to Art School, because the idea of unisex doesn’t have to mean streetwear. And I like the idea that people can buy something interesting after a show.”
Art School’s SS18 collection hit Selfridges last November, way before the competition – “But this makes you relevant and ‘out of season’ if people can buy things immediately and all year round – that’s important,” says Loweth, who advises students and young fashion businesses to look outside the system. “For anybody starting out in fashion design, don’t be restrained or restricted by the pre-existing boundaries of what you think the fashion seasons are. And how stores work.”
With the expensive fees the student demographic in London must have changed. “Oh God, yeah,” says the designer Richard Malone. Since graduating from Saint Martins in 2014, where he was awarded the prestigious LVMH Grand Prix scholarship, his bold and graphic pieces have been sold at Nordstrom, Joyce in Hong Kong, Brown Thomas in Dublin and our very own Machine-A. “The kind of student who goes to Saint Martins now is very different from those who went there in the past. Now it’s the rich. It’s just not accessible to people from a background like mine any more, so I think the diversity of the students, and the conversation you get from being put in that intense little room and having to work next to each other, aren’t things that happen as much. You don’t get those exciting conversations, because everyone is from a similar background.”
Not that having no money will stop those who really, really want success. In the old days, Saint Martins tutors such as Willie Walters and Louise Wilson told you straight: “You make it work. You find a way and you make it work.” It’s that kind of pragmatic and never-say-fold approach that taught Malone and his peers a valuable lesson.
“That was definitely the ethos that we grew up with,” says Malone. “They were like, ‘Just because you’ve got no money, you’ve still got no excuse not to make the most fabulous thing in the world.’ Or, ‘If it’s disgusting fabric, make it the most beautifully finished disgusting fabric in the world.’ And, ‘If you can tailor, then you make perfectly tailored polyester.’ Pull it out of the bag, pull yourself together and just make it! I think that’s what we learnt from those guys.”
Taken from issue 60 of 10 Magazine, ALAÏA SHIFT POWER NEW, on newsstands now…


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New Exhibit of Famous Chess Makes Canadian Debut at Calgary Mall
They say no one’s success is complete without failure, but a new international exhibit in Calgary proves that even some of the most talented innovators had some of the worst ideas for consumers.
The Museum of Failures officially made its Canadian debut when it opened on July 1 at the Southcentre Mall, showcasing over 130 exhibits of failed innovations.
Some of the low points include such monumental flops as Google Glass, Colgate Beef Lasagna, Fish Flavored Water, and the ET video game.
Calgarians were also able to discover a hula chair aimed at weight loss, an electric face mask and Jarts – a so-called “family-friendly” lawn dart board – which injured thousands of people.
The museum was originally designed by psychologist and innovation researcher Dr. Samuel West. Since its beginnings in Sweden, the traveling exhibition has visited cities such as Los Angeles, Paris and Shanghai.
Showpass CEO and founder Lucas McCarthy hosted the event in Calgary and said it offered unique insight into the risky business of innovation.
“We have all types of failures, business failures from a financial perspective, failures of the idea of naming things extremely incorrectly, research failures and just genuine incompetence,” he said. -he declares.
Since its beginnings in Sweden, the traveling exhibition has visited cities such as Los Angeles, Paris and Shanghai.
“But the most interesting part of this museum is that it all started from an idea that someone had of creativity and innovation, and that’s really what we wanted to try to highlight: the idea that creativity and innovation can sometimes lead to fruitless results.”
Museum visitors like Michelle Beldi couldn’t agree more that certain ideas, however insane at the time, could lead to great commercial triumphs.
“I think it’s absolutely a lot of fun,” she said.
“I’m actually going to bring some of these things I’ve learned back to work because we’re all about innovation, so there are ideas here that I can kind of capitalize on.”
The museum has also given Calgarians the chance to share their own personal failures by writing them down on sticky notes and taping them to the wall.
Everything from “texting my mother-in-law instead of my wife”, “drinking too much tequila” and “plugging a power bar into itself” was written down.
Joshua Harrop was amazed by the human element of the exhibits.
“It shows that you have to roll with the punches,” he said.
“But honestly never be afraid to ask for help, know your market because there are ups and downs, your idea will change.”
The Chess Museum is open until the end of August and is located at an exterior entrance on the south side of the Southcentre shopping center near the Decathlon store.
Hours of operation are 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday and tickets can be purchased online at showpass.com


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Jane Kleeb thinks that Democrats shouldn’t reject rural white voters as racists and dupes because they voted for Trump. Give them a choice beyond the lesser of two evils, and those voters will be open to a pro-rural left.
It’s a mistake to dismiss rural white voters who swung from Obama to Trump as racists or dupes. Their economy shows that rural white people have good reason to distrust Democrats.
Are tariffs of up to 30% on imported solar panels part of a Trumpian war on clean energy? Or is it something less sinister? And are the tariffs that big a deal anyway?


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Looks set to be released in September 2015
Early iPhone 7 rumours posted by China Topix suggest that the iPhone 7 could hit stores in September 2015 with a 5-inch screen.
Apple will also rid the device of bezels, meaning the entire face of the phone will be the screen. This means, while the phone will physically be the same size, the screen real estate increases.
Apple’s last quarter, the one which witnessed the release of the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus, saw the firm post earnings $8.5bn on a revenue of $42.1bn.
39.2 million new iPhone models were shifted, beating last year’s same quarter figures of 33.8 million phones.
How much do you know about smartphones released in 2014? Take our quiz!


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According to former Nintendo Of America president Reggie Fils-Aimé, Nintendo was engaged on a cross-platform controller, designed for individuals with entry wants.
Fils-Aimé stated Xbox’s adaptive controller was used “as a jumping-off point to create something that would be platform-agnostic and adaptable by any consumer,” in a brand new interview with Inverse.
“Imagine an adaptive controller that you could play with your latest Xbox, PlayStation, or Nintendo platform. That’s what we were working on three years ago,” he continued. However, since he left the corporate in 2019, he doesn’t know if the controller remains to be in energetic improvement.
“My hope is that the effort has continued. I’m not sure if it has or has not,” he stated. “But also, my hope is that the controller – and the ability for that controller to connect with all of the various systems – is launched and shared with consumers as quickly as possible.”
“I do believe the best solution is an industry solution that can work for all of the dedicated gaming platforms and for PC, and can truly be tailored to the player depending on their physical capabilities and what they can do,” he added.
Earlier this 12 months, Microsoft introduced a brand new vary of accessibility-focused equipment aimed toward aiding individuals who have issues utilizing a conventional mouse and keyboard, created in partnership with individuals with disabilities. Typically talking, accessibility refers to design selections or choices that permit gamers with motor, cognitive, or sensory variations to take pleasure in video games extra totally.
Following the launch of Microsoft’s Xbox Adaptive Controller, a key determine within the creation of the controller stated that he felt efforts to broaden entry had hit “a bit of a plateau”.
In different information, it’s been confirmed that the delayed Life Is Strange: Remastered Collection is lastly coming to Nintendo Switch subsequent month.
The two-game bundle brings collectively remastered variations of the unique Life Is Strange sport and prequel Life Is Strange: Before the Storm underneath the brand new title Life is Strange: Arcadia Bay Collection.


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Video Tour: HTC myTouch 4G Slide
Here is a video tour of the HTC myTouch 4G Slide for T-Mobile. This update adds a host of features to the camera, including swipe shot, HDR, burst shot, and 1080p HD video capture. Our video shows you what's what.
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Here is a video tour of the HTC myTouch 4G Slide. You can watch it here:
Or visit YouTube for more viewing and sharing options.
The HTC myTouch 4G Slide for T-Mobile boasts a fast and powerful camera, QWERTY keyboard, and a blazing fast dual-core processor. Phone Scoop puts it through its paces in this full report.
Jul 14, 2011
Hulu recently updated its Android application making it compatibile with four more handsets. All four are made by HTC, and include the EVO 4G, Droid Thunderbolt, myTouch, and G2.
Jul 13, 2011
T-Mobile today announced the availability of a new caller ID service for its mobile customers. The service works similar to that of standard wireline caller ID, and can access the name, city, and state behind any phone number, including those that previously showed as "unknown."
Apr 16, 2018
Sony today announced the Xperia XZ2 Premium, a high-end Android phone that boasts some of the most advanced imaging features available in a mobile device. The XZ2 Premium has a 5.8-inch 4K HDR display (16:9 aspect ratio) that Sony says is 30% brighter than its previous mobile 4K screen.
May 23, 2018
HTC today announced the U12+, its flagship handset for the year. The phone carries over the "liquid design" from last year's U11, but updates the color selection for the metal-and-glass chassis.


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SANFORD SEES CONTINUED IMPACT OF COVID-19
Sanford sees continued impact of Covid-19
Challenging conditions continued during the six months due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the demand for seafood and on international supply chains. Sanford reports net profit after tax (NPAT) of $16.2 million, which included a $13.3 million gain on sale for two non-core properties. This was 15% below the $19.0 million NPAT for HY20.
Its revenue for the six months ended 31 March 2021 (HY21) decreased 5% to $233.5 million. Adjusted Earnings Before Interest and Tax (Adjusted EBIT) for HY21 was $10.7 million, 54% lower year-on-year than HY20 $23.2 million, a period that largely preceded the impact of Covid-19. Overall conditions during HY21 are similar to the Covid-impacted second half of FY20, which had Adjusted EBIT of $15.0 million, a similar year-on-year decrease of 53%. Sanford says its second half tends to be seasonally stronger and it expects the same in FY21.
- Impacts from Covid-19 continue. Some early positive signs as markets start to reopen and new markets gain traction, although supply chain challenges continue
- Results consistent with recent market update
- Wildcatch performance was comparable to HY20, salmon strong volume growth, mussels remain under pressure • Team engagement at all-time highs
- Ready for reopening: positioned for foodservice reopening in key markets as vaccinations lessen Covid-19 impacts
- Balance sheet remains strong and net debt reduced by $3m since September 2020 CEO Peter
Reidie, who commenced the role in early April, says lockdowns and other necessary Covid responses taken worldwide have had wide-ranging effects.
“Covid-19 has had adverse effects on foodservice demand, prices, labour and supply chains, especially freight. However, we have been able to switch markets, processing plants and product formats to retain profitability. We continue to manage the Covid impact as best we can, whilst ensuring that we are better positioned for when foodservice markets reopen.”
On a divisional basis, performance became more differentiated during this period. Wildcatch and salmon, which were impacted earlier in the pandemic, began to show early signs of recovery, particularly in volume. However, prices for mussels, which held up in the six months to September 2020, came under substantial pressure during this period due to an excess of supply over demand. Wildcatch consistent: wildcatch profitability remains below pre-Covid levels with reduced global demand impacting price. It has started to stabilise with wildcatch profit contribution largely unchanged.
. The reconciliation is available in the presentation released today. Salmon volume improving: Sanford’s efforts to switch into the retail channel during 2020 are starting to pay off, with salmon seeing strong revenue growth of 12% from HY20 (+39% from H2 FY20). This was driven by a growing retail presence in both New Zealand and the US. Salmon made the largest profit contribution to the group in this half. Mussels challenged: current trading headwinds are centred on Greenshell mussels, which has the highest exposure to foodservice and was hardest hit by Covid-19 because of the restrictions on restaurants globally around the world. Mussels are expected to lag in their recovery.
Mr Reidie says “we are encouraged by the consistency in our wildcatch performance and volume growth in salmon. Whilst inventory levels of mussels remain high, we have seen some early signs of demand returning, which we are expecting to reduce inventory levels to historical levels by year end. We expect mussel pricing to remain under pressure for the remainder of FY21.”
Supply chain, balance sheet and outlook Mr Reidie notes that “global supply chain disruptions are also creating significant challenges. Container shortages and shipping disruptions have seen space constrained and freight prices rise significantly. Our supply chain costs have risen overall by 12% on a cost per tonne basis, mainly due to airfreight costs. At this point we do not see any short-term relief in global freight congestion.”
Sanford’s balance sheet remains strong. Net debt of $181m was $3 million lower than September 30, 2020 and the gearing ratio (debt as a proportion of debt plus equity) was at 23.8% (from 23.4% at September). Sanford continues to have good support from its lenders and sufficient debt headroom.
Mr Reidie says “Covid’s impact has been significant and remains so. However, we can see some signs of improvement as we focus on adapting by opening new channels where we need to, but also preserving our position in key sectors. We are ready for the reopening of foodservice in our key markets, and our response to the challenges arising from Covid-19 will leave Sanford a better and more dynamic business.”


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It doesn’t seem that long ago that Johnny Depp’s daughter, Lily-Rose Depp, was just an infant living in France with Depp and his then-partner, Vanessa Paradis. However, she’s come of age and like her parents, on her way to becoming a fashion and social icon. Along with picking up acting roles in movies such as Tusk and Yoga Hosers, plus numerous modeling gigs, she recently posed for French Vogue’s cover with fashion design icon, Karl Lagerfeld. Lagerfeld is the guest editor of this new edition of the popular fashion magazine that will appear just in time for Christmas. Recently, Lily Rose-Depp has become involved with product endorsement, particularly with Chanel. This has sparked much public interest in her own beauty looks, makeup tips and style concepts that separate her from other upcoming models and actresses her age.
Johnny Depp is known for being able to adopt many different looks as an actor—no matter how extraordinary—in films as different as Edward Scissorhands, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas and his Oscar-nominated turn in Pirates of the Caribbean. Vanessa Paradis was known to look stunning and fresh on any red carpet appearance, not to mention her appearances as a singer and actress in her native France. Hence it’s no surprise that daughter Lily-Rose Depp has adopted the best of both worlds from her parents.
Many fashionistas have noted that she has a fresh look about her face, much like her mother, which has been attributed to her natural pink facial pigmentation with the addition of complexion-warming mascara tints to her cheeks. And like her father, her eyes, with the aid of some added eye shade, have a haunting but alluring quality that enhances her facial character. These basic makeup tips are what give Lily-Rose Depp her unique looks and an easy beauty bag to pack for anyone seeking a similar look themselves.
The Christmas December 2016 cover appearance on French Vogue has brought much attention to both Depp and Lagerfeld, not to mention the talent behind the image. Hedi Slimane, the former creative director of Yves Saint Laurent who parted ways with the brand under controversial circumstances last spring, was responsible for the shoot, which has already circulated across global social media platforms.
More recently, Lily-Rose Depp has already gained additional media hype due to her becoming the face of Chanel No. 5 fragrance in 2015 and No. 5 L’Eau in 2016. She has also appeared in the recent French biographical film, The Dancer, about the famed Isadora Duncan.
Wagoner, M., “The Lily-Rose Depp Makeup Trick That Will Change Your Look,” Vogue web site, April 25, 2016; http://www.vogue.com/13429484/lily-rose-depp-chanel-makeup-blush-lipstick-eyeshadow/, last accessed November 29, 2016
“MUST READ: KARL LAGERFELD & LILY-ROSE DEPP COVER FRENCH ‘VOGUE,’ MODELS JOIN TAYLOR SWIFT’S MANNEQUIN CHALLENGE” Fashionista web site, November 25, 2016; http://fashionista.com/2016/11/taylor-swift-mannequin-challenge, last accessed November 29, 2016


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Vodafone has entered into a strategic partnership with Amazon to provide seamless access to a wide range of exclusive movies, US TV shows, kids show, comedies including global Amazon originals. As part of the deal, customers who register for a paid Amazon Prime membership via MyVodafone App or website will be eligible to receive Rs. 250 cash back directly to their Amazon Pay balance.
For instance, if you sign up for Amazon Prime service by paying a special price of Rs. 499, you will receive a cashback of Rs. 250 directly to your Amazon Pay account. You can then make use of the balance to purchase products from Amazon. However, the offer is applicable only for Vodafone customers with Android smartphones.
Commenting on the development, Sandeep Kataria, Commercial Director, Vodafone India disclosed that the partnership with Amazon helps the company to strengthen the customer service. Moreover, it will assist them to connect with customers across the country by providing free shipping to all products directly from Amazon including access to original movies.
Meanwhile, Nitesh Kripalani, Country Head, Amazon Prime Video India revealed that the purpose of the tie-up is to offer exclusive movies and TV shows with enhanced playback quality and less data consumption. Moreover, customers will be able to enjoy the rich benefits of content without any need to pay for services.
In addition to access to movies and TV shows, Vodafone customers will be able to get all the benefits of Amazon Prime. It includes free One-day and Two-day delivery to over 100 cities for all categories. Moreover, customers will be eligible to purchase products 30 minutes earlier than other customers for select items.
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Prepaid carrier Virgin Mobile announced today that it will begin selling the LG Optimus F3 for $179.99.
Already available for free under contract with Sprint, the 4G LTE device is equipped with a 4-inch IPS touchscreen and ships with Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean.
The handset also features a 5-megapixel rear-facing camera, a VGA front-facing camera, and a swift 1.2GHz dual-core processor.
I recently took a look at Sprint’s Optimus F3 and was particularly impressed by its long-lasting 2,460mAh battery, which has a reported talk-time of 16 hours.
Additional features include NFC, the ability to record 1080p full HD video, and a microSD card slot that’s expandable up to 32GB.
For more information on the phone, be sure to check out my review of its Sprint counterpart.
by Lynn La


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By the start of 2017, the top five international players (Mars, Ferrero, Nestlé, Hershey and Mondelēz) already accounted for a 66% share of China’s chocolate confectionery value sales, the market data provider said.
Key brands drive Mars’ growth
Euromonitor said Mars primarily benefits from its balanced brand portfolio of multiple well-established brands, including Dove, M&M’s, Snickers and Maltesers, and the company managed to maintain its lead in the category with various product lines targeting different consumer groups.
However, “challenged by the shift of consumers to more premium products, Mars, whose brands are mainly positioned within the low/mid-priced range, lost half of a percentage point of value share in 2017,” Euromonitor said.
The data indicated that, in 2013, Mars’ market share was 41.1%, and it decreased to 39.9% in 2014. In 2015 and 2016, the company’s shares in China were 38.2% and 27.2% respectively before dropping to the current share.
“Despite this slight share loss, Mars’ retail value sales saw slow growth in 2017, primarily derived from the expansion of M&M’s and Snickers, and the gradual sales recovery of Dove in this year,” Euromonitor added.
In April 2016, Snickers launched an advertising campaign featuring Chinese boy band, TF Boys, to “re-energize its sales,” and the brand reached more than CNY 1.1m ($0.17m) in two days, according to Euromonitor.
Snickers’ market share in China’s overall chocolate confectionery market currently stands at 5.7% in 2017 (same as in 2016), putting it on a par with Ferrero Rocher, data showed.
Godiva capitalizes premium trend
The average unit price of chocolate confectionery continued to climb in 2017 in China, with growth of 4%, responding to the increasingly noticeable premiumization trend, Euromonitor said.
Riding the momentum of this trend, Godiva registered the strongest sales growth in 2017, with a growth rate of 193%, to reach CNY 308m ($46.89m), the market research firm said.
“Godiva, renowned for its premium artisanal chocolate products, as well as exquisite gifting boxes packaged in seasonal editions” mainly relies on its directly-owned stores for distribution, Euromonitor added.
Godiva’s market share has reached 1.5% in 2017, increasing from 0.5% in 2016, the data showed. The only domestic company that takes up a larger portion of the Chinese chocolate market than Godiva is Fujian Yake Food (1.7%).
China’s chocolate confectionery sees a 2% retail volume decline and a 2% current value increase in 2017, to reach 124,838 tons and CNY 20.2bn ($3.08bn), Euromonitor said.
The category is expected to see a retail volume CAGR of 4% and a value CAGR of 5% at constant 2017 prices in the forecast period, with sales reaching CNY 26.1bn ($3.97bn) and 149,715 tons in 2022, Euromonitor predicted.
“Sales of better-for-you products, such as reduced sugar chocolate or functional products, as represented by chocolate containing probiotics, are predicted to grow robustly over the forecast period,” Euromonitor said.


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Huawei claims it is not involved with LZPlay
Huawei Mate 30
Will Huawei’s latest flagships succeed without Google apps? No they won't.
Huawei’s upcoming flagships get shown off
Google confirms the news, says it is due to the US trade ban
Huawei is taking leaps in terms of camera hardware
The Mate 30 series is scheduled to launch later this fall
The Mate 30 series will be Huawei’s next flagship series


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Consumer confidence buoyant for Christmas 2010
UK consumer spending is forecasted to rise this Christmas with 14% of consumers planning to spend more on gifts
The third annual survey of Christmas shoppers was carried out by Empathica, a customer experience management agency.
The survey of 1,053 Christmas shoppers revealed that the High Street could be seeing some green shoots, as the figure has risen from 11% in 2009 and 6% in 2008, respectively.
These results are supported further by the Office of National Statistics’ recent figures that retail sales rose 3.6% by value and 1.8% by volume in November compared to the same month last year.
Gary Topiol, Managing Director at Empathica, said, “Weather permitting, consumers are beginning to increase their spending, but the economic climate remains challenging and consumers are more demanding than ever. Therefore, retailers must work hard to deliver exceptional service to help build customer advocacy and satisfaction.”
The survey also revealed that 27% of shoppers have begun their shopping earlier than in previous years.
Topiol said, “Christmas shoppers may have taken to the shops earlier this year due to a variety of reasons. Once the poor weather at the start of December subsided, shoppers may have felt the need to get their Christmas organised early, beat the impending VAT increase and save time – those that did will have avoided the worst of the latest bout of bad weather.”
With consumers becoming more confident with spending, the research shows they are increasingly interested in the ease of their shopping experience and less so in the quality of the goods purchased. The importance of the former has risen from 16% in 2008 and 2009 to 18% this year, while importance of latter has dropped from 25% in 2008, to 21% in 2009 and 20% this year.
The research also shows that 19% of customers believe good customer service is more important than anything else.
Topiol added, “To encourage customers to shop, retailers must give them a pain-free shopping experience and deliver exceptional service. A good customer service experience could turn a one off Christmas shopper into a loyal customer of your store week in / week out.”
The Retail Bulletin is organising their 2nd Multichannel Summit, to be held in London February 2nd 2011. The event is sponsored by k3 retail and will look at how retailers can maximize profits, market share and loyalty through cost effective, seamless, integrated multichannel strategies.
If you would like to attend as either a delegate or Networking Partner, go to www.retailbulletinconferences.com/multichannel2011
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