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The digital shift: Where have all the shops gone?
“If your time to you is worth savin’, then you better start swimmin’ or you’ll sink like a stone, for the times they are a-changin.” Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan wasn’t probably thinking that his lines would apply to global retailers as many as 55 years after writing them – but they do.
Consumers are changing habits so rapidly that not all brands and retailers are quick enough to adapt to the new reality. As a consequence, a few high-profile names have already started to sink like stones: Maplin, Toys R US UK, New Look, Poundland, House of Fraser, Homebase, Carpetright, Marks & Spencer and Debenhams are some of the names that have been recently challenged.
New and old generations are shopping online more than ever: Amazon’s expected revenues for 2018 are three times what they were five years ago as global internet sales growth seems a one-way street. The move to digital shopping may lead to some bankruptcies and restructurings, pushing retailers to reduce space and improve their online offering to survive.
Some may be more affected than others: Despite having the only pure online national food retailer in the world (Ocado), UK online food sales are relatively small, making the digital shift relatively less painful for the industry than it is for other categories (as seen on the chart).
General merchandise, such as toasters and televisions, is being particularly hit as online offers have pushed down prices to a point that the lower margins don’t justify the extra physical space that some retailers have built over the years.
UK Sainsbury’s acquisition of Home Retail Group (HRG) tried to address this: The food retailer is replacing its unprofitable non-food retail space with a profitable store within its stores – Argos, part of HRG, offers walk-in customers access to any products on its 1,600-page home goods catalogue, which it stores at the back of the shop, maximising space. The move aims to lure more customers in and lift margins.
Brands suffer too
Retailers are not the only victims of the digital shift. Brands are suffering too as consumers follow social media influencers who through online platforms such as YouTube, Instagram, Facebook and Snapchat challenge well-established names and sometimes can create a new hit in record time. Consumers are engaging with short, sharp and impactful videos, demanding content platforms that respond to their needs, becoming less and less attracted to unidirectional messages from producers that just want to sell. Media spend has shifted accordingly, to the point that digital media campaigns have become a significant part of advertising budgets, displacing print, as seen on the chart:
For brands, challenges have come along with opportunities: armed with digital cookies, producers know their customers more than ever before and they can also reach out to them directly, disintermediating the retailer. However, attracting consumers is becoming tougher: millennials, especially, tend to be less brand-loyal and generally sceptical of claims made by large corporations, as they can quickly check prices, quality and authenticity on their phones. This paves the way to new entrants, which face lower barriers of entry than before. Dollar Shave Club, for instance, has disrupted the sector just by advertising in new media – for minimum fee, consumers have their razors and personal grooming items delivered at home, replacing their need to go to the shops. The move forced razor giant Gillette to cut prices by 12% last year.
Combining social media presence with a successful online product can bring immediate success: Halo Top, today’s No. 1 US premium ice cream maker, sprung up six years ago – its only promotional tools have been social media platforms and digital ads.
Merge to survive?
Investors willing to participate in the opportunities offered by this change in consumer habits should be aware that the ongoing disruption in the sector may create as many winners as losers. Challenges, however, may turn into growth opportunities as companies seek to merge or acquire rivals (e.g. Wal-Mart’s acquisition of Flipkart, India’s biggest online store for mobiles and home appliances) in order to thrive or survive.
The Times they are a changin’.
Interested in investment opportunities in Retail? Watch Stephen Wilson-Smith’s short discussion with M&G fund manager Wolfgang Bauer
Also don’t miss the Bond Vigilantes’ new Panoramic Weekly.
The value of investments will fluctuate, which will cause prices to fall as well as rise and you may not get back the original amount you invested. Past performance is not a guide to future performance.
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Unilever is frustrating its shareholders. Last year’s stock market “rally in everything” bypassed the consumer goods giant entirely. The shares fell by a tenth and, at £39.42, stand roughly at their level of five years ago, soon after the group adopted a supposedly energising cost-cutting and deal-making overhaul in response to its close encounter with Kraft Heinz’s financial engineers. There have been developments since then, such as the offloading of the low-growth PG Tips tea business a couple of months ago, but none has stirred excitement.
Here’s fund manager Terry Smith, explaining to investors in his £29bn Fundsmith fund via his annual letter on Tuesday why the stock was a bottom-five performer in the portfolio: “Unilever seems to be labouring under the weight of a management which is obsessed with publicly displaying sustainability credentials at the expense of focusing on the fundamentals of the business.”
Smith cited the row over Unilever brand Ben & Jerry’s refusal to sell ice-cream in the occupied Palestinian territories, but offered other examples: “A company which feels it has to define the purpose of Hellmann’s mayonnaise has in our view clearly lost the plot. The Hellmann’s brand has existed since 1913 so we would guess that by now consumers have figured out its purpose (spoiler alert – salads and sandwiches).”
Make up your own mind about the Ben & Jerry’s affair (note that its founders enjoy semi-autonomy under the Unilever umbrella), but Smith’s criticisms play into a general sense that Unilever has drifted back into comfortable mode. In reality, the corporate emphasis on “purpose” may not be the problem since it has always been part of Unilever’s makeup. Rather, it’s the failure to convert those “value” credentials, which are supposed to be a commercial advantage these days, into serious acceleration in the profits line.
At the nine-month point last year, Unilever still showed underlying sales growth of 4.4%, so in the upper half of its totemic 3% to 5% range, but the share price underperformance versus its peers is striking. It can’t simply be explained by the fact that Nestlé has shifted mountains of pet food during the pandemic and Unilever isn’t in that game.
It’s more a case of chief executive Alan Jope’s expansionary ambitions in areas such as nutritional supplements, plant-based food and e-commerce beauty products looking lacklustre and very long term. Unilever, by reputation, is a formidable marketing machine, but the pace of transformation feels pedestrian versus expectations set after Kraft Heinz was defeated.
The lesson of that episode was that the best defence against interlopers who don’t share your values is a high share price. With a stock market value of £101bn, Unilever is surely out of range for would-be bidders these days but rumbling among shareholders carries its own dangers. Jope must know it goes wider than one fund manager. Others ask why Unilever’s rivals are better at sticking to their profit margin guidance, to which there is no simple answer.
A couple of strong quarters might banish the doubters and restore faith in Unilever’s brand and distribution clout, which are the qualities that persuade Smith to stick with the investment. But it needs to happen. A pandemic and inflation in the price of raw materials do not make Jope’s life easy, but he is now in his third year in the job. It is the point at which he is expected to deliver more than purposeful mayonnaise.
Heathrow boss indulges in a flight of fancy
Heathrow never passes up an opportunity to grumble about travel restrictions and its regulatory lot, and, sure enough, its chief executive, John Holland-Kaye, was at it again as passenger numbers for 2021 were revealed to be 19.4 million, lower than in 2020 and less than one-quarter of pre-pandemic 2019’s figure.
On travel restrictions, Holland-Kaye may be winning the argument slowly, but he’s pushing his luck in warning about “a return to the Heathrow hassle days of the early 2000s” unless the Civil Aviation Authority, which sets landing charges, focuses on “an outcome that improves service, incentivises growth and protects affordable private financing”.
Come on, the CAA, in its interim ruling last month, allowed Heathrow to raise its charges by 56% to £30.19 a passenger from the start of this year. The final outcome is awaited in the spring but, if 56% is an approximate guide, the airport’s wealthy owners should count their blessings. In pursuit of revival, shareholders in every airline have already been expected to dig deep.
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Chrysler Signs Export Venture With a Chinese Automaker
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: July 5, 2007
The Chrysler Group signed a deal Wednesday with China's biggest automaker, Chery Automobile, for a production venture that could export the first Chinese-made cars to the United States.
The first cars will reach Latin America or Eastern Europe within a year, and models might be exported to North America and Western Europe in two and a half years, Chrysler's chief executive, Thomas W. LaSorda, said at a signing ceremony.
The alliance offers Chery, a 10-year-old company based in the eastern Chinese city of Wuhu, an opportunity to realize its longtime ambition of entering the American market.
Chinese automakers already export low-price trucks and buses to Africa and other developing markets. But analysts say the automakers lack the technology to meet American and European safety and pollution standards on their own.
Chery's chief executive and chairman, Yin Tongyao, said the deal would help Chery improve its skills as it expanded foreign sales of its own models.
''Chery is still young, so we should learn from Chrysler and improve our own competitive edge in the near future,'' he said, calling Mr. LaSorda ''my teacher in the automotive business.''
The first Chrysler-Chery export will be based on Chery's A1 compact and will be sold under the Dodge brand, Mr. LaSorda said.
A 1.3-liter version of the A1 is sold in China for the equivalent of $7,100 to $7,900. Export prices have not been announced.
Others also have announced plans to export Chinese-made cars to the United States, but none has yet made it to market.
A Chinese automaker, Changfeng Motor, said in January it hoped to sell sport utility vehicles in the United States within two years, but gave no details. Chery had a deal with the American entrepreneur Malcolm Bricklin to sell cars in the United States, but that fell through.
Honda Motor of Japan has exported Chinese-built Jazz subcompacts to Europe since 2005.
Asked if Chrysler, which is being bought by Cerberus Capital Management, was worried that the alliance would help Chery develop into a competitor that might threaten its American partner, Mr. LaSorda said: ''No, we're not. With us or without us, they're going to grow. So the question is, are you going to go with a winner?''
Photo: Thomas LaSorda, chief of Chrysler, and Yin Tongyao, chief of Chery, struck a deal that may bring Chinese cars into the United States. (Photograph by Ng Han Guan/Associated Press)


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We drove a $31,000 Honda Accord and a $39,000 Toyota Camry to see which one is the better family sedan - here's the verdict
Benjamin Zhang/Business Insider
- The Toyota Camry and the Honda Accord are two of the best-selling and most respected cars in the world.
- Both the Toyota and the Honda are known for being exquisitely engineered and expertly put together with top-notch reliability.
- The base 2018 Honda Accord starts at $23,570 and our mid-tier Sport model starts at $25,780. The top-spec Touring starts at $33,800. With fees and the optional 2.0-liter engine, the as-tested price was pushed up to $31,200.
- The base Camry starts at $23,495, but our top-of-the-line XSE V6 opens at $34,950. With options, our test car left the showroom at $38,730.
- The Honda Accord's sportier driving dynamics and superior infotainment edges out the Toyota Camry's more attractive styling and silky smooth V6 engine.
Camry or Accord? It's a question that's confounded many a car buyer over the years.For the better part of three decades, the Honda Accord and the Toyota Camry have been the cars of choice for American families. Even though crossover SUVs have become the dominant force in the marketplace, midsize mass-market sedans like the Accord and Camry still have a major role to play. Advertisement
Last year, Toyota sold 387,000 Camrys in the US alone - making it the best-selling passenger car in the country. The Accord wasn't far behind with 323,000 sold.
For the 2018 model year, both the Accord and Camry are brand new with the Honda now in its 10th generation and the Toyota in its eighth.The newest offerings from Honda and Toyota comes just in time to compete with the new sixth generation Nissan Altima and a freshly updated Mazda 6. There are recently revamped models from Hyundai, Kia, and Chevrolet with which to contend as well.
Over the past couple of months, we had the chance to experience both the new Marysville, Ohio-built 2018 Honda Accord and the new Georgetown, Kentucky-made 2018 Toyota Camry on the roads in and around Business Insider's headquarters in New York.We came away impressed by both vehicles' comfort, refinement, build quality, tech content, and performance. Here's a closer look at how the 2018 Honda Accord and the 2018 Toyota Camry matches up:Advertisement


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The redesigned 2023 Prius – Japanese and European version – has been unwrapped and while the U.S. version won’t be revealed until this evening, there’s little reason to think it won’t be using the same attractive sheet metal, thoroughly modern interior and significantly more powerful hybrid gas-electric powertrain as its siblings in other parts of the world.
Come back this evening for the full rundown on the U.S.-spec Prius, we’ll have it all.
Meantime, here’s a look at what the Asian and European markets will be getting when the completely redone 2023 Toyota Prius hits the market. Europe apparently gets only the plug-in hybrid version, while Asia and, presumably, the U.S., will get both conventional hybrid and PHEV versions. The reveal was streamed live form Japan Tuesday evening.
Toyota said the unplugged hybrids will pound out 194 horsepower while the PHEV system will produce a stunning (for a Prius) 220 ponies. If that’s the case in the U.S. as well, it will represent a huge increase. The North American hybrid and PHEV Prius models are rated at a mere 121 horsepower for 2022.
Now take a look at what the rest of the world is getting (steering on the right side for Japan and the U.K) and check back at 6:30 pm California Standard Time for the U.S. reveal of the 2023 Toyota Prius:


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- Android Pie is now official
- Pixel & Essential smartphones starts receiving latest update
- Adaptive battery is one of the highlights of Android Pie
For Android fans who like living on the bleeding edge, the last few months have been a whirlwind of activity. Android P made first contact back in March, and we were quick to fire up our Pixels and install that early Developer Preview. Not only did we see more and more features land through the next few DP releases, but also had unprecedented access to these early builds thanks to support from manufacturers like OnePlus and Essential. Today it’s time to start putting all those previews behind us and formally enter the next era of Android, as Google announces Android 9 Pie.
We’ve largely tried to avoid the blind guessing game that is “name the new Android release,” but after hearing ideas ranging from Pecan to Pistachio to Pineapple, we’ve finally learned that Google’s chosen to keep things short and sweet. And as we’ve seen before, Google’s going with Android 9 rather than 9.0 for Pie’s version number.
Today’s news follows the release of DP5 by under two weeks and nicely fits with the early-August target suggested by Google’s initial Android P timeline. Recent rumours had hinted that the company might wait until August 20 for its release, but clearly Google had other plans.
In announcing Android 9 Pie, Google highlights features like the new swipe navigation system, predictive App Actions, and more under-the-hood improvements like Adaptive Battery.
Not everything that makes up Android Pie is ready to go as of today (even with all these Developer Previews under our belt), and some elements will instead debut at a future date. For instance, back at I/O we learned how Slices would let Android P give us quick peeks into our apps. Google’s still finishing up work here, and Slices will ultimately debut sometime this fall.
Another big absentee has been the Digital Wellbeing package also teased at I/O, consisting of the Android Dashboard, App Timer, Wind Down, and revamped Do Not Disturb mode. Today we finally get the skinny on what’s happening here: Digital Wellbeing will first arrive on Pixel phones during the fall. Support for other phones, including Android One models, will follow. But if you just can’t wait any longer, Pixel users can sign up now for early beta access — just follow this link for details.
Ready to get started with Android 9 Pie? OTA updates will start heading out today for Pixel & Essential phones. Handsets from other companies that participated in the P beta should also be updating to the final Pie release in the weeks to come. We can also look forward to Pie arriving for compatible Android One devices before the end of fall.
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When reading up on vaping, you’re likely to run into all kinds of legends let loose by the internet rumour mill. In the face of scare stories, it’s natural to be apprehensive about switching to vaping. We’re here to set things straight and give you the clarity you need to make an informed decision.
For many smokers, vaping is more attractive than nicotine patches, gum or other cessation treatments. By reducing harm while providing an experience that resembles smoking, E-cigarettes more than anything else provide a compelling reason to quit smoking for good, without having to commit to quitting nicotine. While it’s true that vaping shouldn’t be taken up recreationally, it is much safer than smoking; myths about vaping could be jeopardising smokers’ health by scaring tobacco users from switching to a healthier alternative. So without further ado, here are some of the most prevalent myths associated with vaping – and why they’re false.
1: Vaping causes ‘popcorn lung’
You might have heard that an ingredient alleged to be found in e-liquid called diacetyl (a chemical used to impart a buttery flavour) can cause a condition known as ‘popcorn lung’. That name comes from a case of workers in a microwave popcorn factory (where diacetyl was used as a flavouring) who were found to have developed the condition. While diacetyl has been detected in e-liquid vapour in the past, it’s now illegal to use in European e-liquids since the introduction of the TPD legislation on 20th May 2016 – and to date, there have been zero cases of popcorn lung reported in people who use e-cigarettes.
2: E-cigarette vapour contains heavy metals
Hitting the headlines in recent years were stories purporting that e-liquid vapour contained heavy metals harmful to the body. However, most of those articles neglected to mention that this came with a caveat – it’s been argued that, in studies where heavy metals had been observed in e-liquid vapour, the vaping equipment used may have been working at abnormally high output temperatures. For the general user vaping at sensible voltages, the results reported may not be directly comparable. Extremely high-powered vapes and vaping marijuana both result in much higher temperatures, the culprit behind heavy metals in vapour and e-liquid – to stay on the safe side, it’s best to steer clear of both of these.
3: We don’t know enough about E-cigarettes to say they’re not harmful
The first thing to keep in mind here is that no reputable E-cigarette retailer or manufacturer claims that vaping is completely harmless, only that it’s much less harmful than smoking tobacco. As a means to help users cut back or even quit smoking, and in the context of harm-reduction, E-cigarettes are safe. As opposed to cigarette smoke, which contains over 7000 toxic chemical compounds, the ingredients in e-liquid are well-researched and approved for use. That’s all to say that although vaping isn’t 100% safe (nicotine, for example, provides mild stress on the body), it is much safer than smoking.
4: E-cigarettes don’t really help you to quit smoking
Thousands of people have already stopped smoking with the help of an e-cigarette, and there’s a growing body of evidence in the way of clinical trials that e-cigarettes (especially when combined with expert face-to-face support) are more effective than nicotine patches, nicotine gum and other legacy treatments for smoking cessation. Vaping can help you to manage your nicotine cravings, while also giving you the ability to taper down on your nicotine intake by reducing the nicotine concentration of your e-liquid.
5: E-liquids contain THC
This concern probably arises out of a mix of horror stories – one being that, primarily in the United States, black market e-liquid cartridges filled with THC also came with other ingredients like vitamin E acetate which, when vapourised, were responsible for several cases of lung injury. As well as that, the fear that folks might be using vapes to get high probably arises out of ignorance – the natural suspicion that can surround any new product. Either way, regular e-liquids sold from reputable companies don’t contain the psychoactive compound THC – it’s illegal, and e-liquid industry is tightly regulated.
6: The E-cigarette industry targets teens and young people
In any industry, there will be unethical players who look for easy ways to cash in. Even so, there are strict laws to consider when it comes to advertising e-cigarettes and e-liquids to the underage, making it virtually impossible to target young people through social media platforms or search engines. Vaping companies that are worth their salt act ethically – they advertise their products as a healthier alternative to smoking, while discouraging young people and non-smokers from picking up either habit.
7: E-cigarettes are bad for your heart
As with any product that contains nicotine, vaping can have a detrimental effect on heart health, increasing blood pressure. The same comes with regular cigarettes – as well as energy drinks, coffee and other mild stimulants. The big difference is that while the nicotine from both e-cigarettes and tobacco cigarettes is bad for the heart, vaping leaves out the other 7000 highly toxic chemicals found in tobacco smoke – many of which are much worse for heart health than nicotine. As well as that, vaping gives you control over the amount of nicotine you’re consuming by letting you choose the strength of your e-liquid.


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In Episode 3 of The Retreadcast we spoke to Jeff Woodall, the Graphic Designer for Retreading Business.
The Retreadcast: Full Interview with Doug Conley
The full interview from The Retreadcast with Doug Conley, the President of Shamrock Marketing Inc. is now available on our YouTube channel for viewing.
Crescent International Tyre Tread Expands in the African Market
With the slowdown in the Indian domestic market, tread makers are increasingly looking towards expanding into new markets beyond India.
Fowler Welch Renews Contract with Bandvulc Tyres
Supply chain logistics provider Fowler Welch has extended its long-running tyre fitment and management contract with Continental Tyres subsidiary and retread specialist Bandvulc.
Autopromotec Postponed until 2022
Autopromotec, has announced the postponement of the next edition of the exhibition, originally scheduled in Bologna on 26-29th May 2021. The show has now been rescheduled to 25-28th May, 2022.
Retreadcast Rolls Out Episode 3
Episode 3 of The Retreadcast, the new video podcast series from Retreading Business is out now.
Eurorubber Invests in New Palletiser
Eurorubber S.r.l., the Italy based rubber compounder has installed a new palletiser for one of its two mixing lines at its factory at Pontetaro, near Parma.
Tarsus Group Appoint Sapphire Media as PR Partners for Tyrexpo Asia 2021
With effect from the 1st July 2020, Tarsus Group has announced the appointment of international Business Media Consultants – Sapphire Media to manage their impending Public Relations and Media Promotion campaign for the forthcoming Tyrexpo Asia 2021 Show in Singapore from the 17th to 19th March.
VM Rubber Open for Business
VM Rubber is the latest company to enter the retreading market. Based in Rovereto, Italy, the company has been founded by Pablo Versini, who has over twenty years’ experience in the retreading industry.
Galgo Receives ESR Award for 9th Consecutive Year
Galgo has, for the 9th consecutive year, earned the distinctive Empresa Socialmente Responsabile ESR (Socially Responsible Company) Award, granted by the Mexican Center for Philanthropy (Cemefi) and the Alliance for Corporate Social Responsibility (AliaRSE).


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Dutch agency ASML makes one of the crucial vital items of equipment required to fabricate essentially the most superior chips on the planet. U.S. chip curbs have left corporations, together with ASML, scrambling to determine what the principles imply in observe.
Emmanuel Dunand | AFP | Getty Images
Shares of ASML, one of many world’s most vital companies within the semiconductor provide chain, jumped 6% on Wednesday after reporting sturdy earnings that bucked the development of a slowdown within the chip business.
The Dutch company additionally mentioned that the most recent export curbs on high-end chips to China would have a “limited” impact on its business.
ASML doesn’t make chips. Instead, it sells $200 million excessive ultraviolet lithography machines to semiconductor producers like Taiwan’s TSMC, that are required to take advantage of superior chips. It is the one company on the planet making such machines, giving it a de-facto monopoly on this a part of the availability chain and making it one of the crucial vital companies within the semiconductor business.
ASML mentioned Wednesday income for the third quarter of 2022 got here in at 5.77 billon euros ($5.6 billion), beating analysts forecast of 5.41 billion euros, based on Reuters. That was a ten% year-on-year rise.
Net revenue totaled 1.7 billion euros versus forecasts of 1.42 billion euros, a 2.2% lower versus the identical interval final year, however increased when in comparison with the second quarter of this year.
Shares of chip companies have been battered in 2022 amid a slowdown in development amongst corporations like Samsung and Micron because the semiconductor increase hits a wall. ASML shares are down round 40% to date this year.
But the sturdy outcomes from ASML bucked the broader market slowdown, sending shares greater than 6% increased in European morning commerce.
“This is a classic case of ASML’s relative resilience versus the rest of its peers coming to the fore,” Amit Harchandani, head of European technology fairness analysis at Citi, instructed CNBC’s “Squawk Box Europe” on Wednesday.
“This strength overall that ASML sees … we would say is more a reflection of the relative positioning of the company as opposed to the broader semiconductor cycle … The broader cycle definitely seems to be going through a downward phase now.”
Peter Wennink, CEO of ASML mentioned Wednesday there may be “uncertainty in the market due to a number of global macro-economic concerns including inflation, consumer confidence and the risk of a recession.”
“While we are starting to see diverging demand dynamics per market segment, the overall demand for our systems continues to be strong.”
U.S. export curbs on China in focus
As a part of these guidelines, Washington restricted “U.S. persons” that help the event or manufacturing of sure chips in China, together with these for army makes use of, doing so and not using a license.
ASML instructed U.S. workers final week to cease servicing Chinese prospects consequently.
ASML’s Wennink mentioned the company is “continuing to assess and follow the new US export control regulations.”
“Based on our initial assessment, the new restrictions do not amend the rules governing lithography equipment shipped by ASML out of the Netherlands and we expect the direct impact on ASML’s overall 2023 shipment plan to be limited.”
ASML’s machines are vital for companies eager to take advantage of superior chips. If Chinese chipmakers cannot get their arms on the instrument, it will likely be extremely tough for them to catch as much as the likes of TSMC.


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The recent surge in demand now seen for PDO threads in London isn’t without good reason. This innovative, non-surgical procedure has been gaining attention thanks to its ability to provide long-lasting, natural-looking results. PDO threads have the ability to lift, tighten, and contour the face and neck without the need for surgery. The threads are composed of polydioxanone, a material that is used by surgeons for dissolvable sutures post-surgery. A biocompatible material, PDO threads are inserted beneath the skin’s surface to provide support and lift.
To add to all of this, in further detail
In addition to the cosmetic aspect of the threads, they also stimulate collagen production, thus producing even more lift and long-lasting results. The procedure is fast and completely safe, as well as being much more affordable than traditional surgery. Londoners are thus taking advantage of this revolutionary procedure to achieve a younger look. This is all without the hassle and cost of traditional surgery. This is why PDO Threads in London are now on the up.
In more recent times – how this is now a more key service
In recent times, the demand for PDO threads in London has seen a tremendous surge. This is due to their incredible benefits in facial rejuvenation. PDO ( Polydioxanone ) threads are a minimally invasive treatment option used to tighten and lift sagging skin. They are made differently to traditional anti- ageing treatments in that, instead of using the traditional method of cutting the skin and infiltrating chemicals to the deeper layers, PDO threads have a stimulating effect on collagen production, without the need for PDO Thread surgery.
This non-surgical approach provides a significantly lower risk and faster recovery time than traditional procedures. Due to the dramatic tightening of the skin, PDO threads can instantly reduce fine lines and wrinkles and lift the deeper layers of the skin to create a more youthful look. The results are immediate and can last between 9-18 months with minimal side effects and downtime. Additionally, they are safe to use on all skin tones and types. With its popularity among celebrities and their endorsement, it is no surprise that the demand for PDO threads has been on a steady rise in London.
The recent surge in demand now seen for PDO threads in London is truly astounding. Over the last few years, this trend has seen a huge increase in popularity and uptake amongst the capital’s population. Many people now looking to try out this new, innovative way of rejuvenating the skin in a safe, natural way. PDO Threads are made up of Polydioxanone, a synthetic polymer that is sustainable and has excellent biocompatibility and tensile strength. This is then used to reform the skin from within, lifting and tightening it without having to resort to invasive surgical techniques.
As more of these threads are inserted into the skin, it stimulates the production of proteins such as collagen and elastin, increasing skin tone, texture and volume. As a result, many individuals are now turning to PDO threads. This is all to help reduce wrinkles and fine lines, as well as giving the face a more youthful and rested look. With the convenience and affordability of these treatments, it’s no surprise that the trend is on the rise in London.


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The food industry has come under fire in recent years for the amount of salt used in products as a body of evidence has linked excess salt (sodium chloride) in the diet to an increased risk of high blood pressure and stroke.
The study, by the US-based organization Consumer Reports, which is published in the January 2009 magazine issue of the same name, analyzed the sodium content of more than 100 food samples.
It focused on 37 types of food and four salt substitutes to see how their actual sodium content compared with the amount claimed on the label.
In general it found the labels were accurate and some products actually had less sodium than stated.
However, it claimed that one product, Enrico's Traditional Pasta Sauce No Salt Added, stated on the label that it contained 25 milligrams of sodium per half-cup serving, but “one of the three samples we tested had about 160 mg and another had about 250 mg”.
A spokesperson for the Ventre Packing Company, which makes the Enrico's brand, told Food Navigator that an ingredient that it had specified with suppliers to be below certain sodium levels was not being verified by the suppliers before shipping.
Also, the sodium in some of its raw materials had increased naturally, due to growers reducing crop rotations and their water conservation efforts.
The spokesperson said checks have now been implemented to monitor sodium levels. The product label has also been changed from 25mg to 35mg of sodium and a statement has been added saying: “This is not a sodium free food".
Adding sodium is a considered a cheap way to improve the taste and texture of countless processed and prepared foods.
According to the US Dietary Guidelines, over three quarters of the salt in the average American diet comes from processed foods.
Food manufacturers have been trying to lower salt content, driven by consumer demand and health concerns, and there is a host of products on the market which can be used as alternatives.
Yet the report highlighted that large amounts of sodium appeared in “unexpected places”, such as desserts and that lower-fat products in particular might be higher in sodium compared to full-fat counterparts.
Jamie Hirsh, associate health editor at Consumer Reports, said: “That’s in part because when fat is taken out of full-fat foods, sodium is sometimes used to compensate for flavor.”
Pressure for change
A recent survey by found that sodium levels had stayed ‘essentially the same’ over the last three years but some companies “could easily lower sodium levels and still have perfectly marketable products”.
In 2005, the Center for Science in the Public Interest petitioned the US Food and Drug Administration to change the GRAS (generally recognized as safe) status of salt. FDA held a hearing in September 2007 but no action has yet been taken.
On the other side of the debate, the Salt Institute has encouraged a controlled investigation into whether a reduction in salt would really improve public health.
Dietary guidelines recommend that healthy adults get no more than 2,300 mg of sodium a day but the average American ingests 2,900 to 4,300 mg daily.


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On our recent 216th podcast episode, activist Jessika Ava joined us to discuss her new policy paper for Brighter Green, entitled Beyond the Pail, which charts the rapid expansion of dairy CAFOs in Asia, including in countries of East Asia that have never had a tradition of drinking milk and have widespread lactose intolerance. Many of you remarked how fascinating her interview was (we agree!). Today, we’re lucky enough to have Jessika back — this time joined by Brighter Green’s founder, Mia MacDonald — to expand on this important topic. We hope that you find Jessika and Mia’s feature, “Big Dairy is Gaining a Foothold in Asia; ‘Milk Life’ Waking?” to be as eye-opening as we did.
Big Dairy is Gaining a Foothold in Asia; ‘Milk Life’ Waking?
by Jessika Ava and Mia MacDonald
Got milk? Despite the seemingly ubiquitous ad campaign, milk consumption in the U.S. has been flat for decades and is dropping. The dairy industry is seeking new ways to market milk, leading it to abandon the “Got Milk?” tagline for a new one: “Milk Life.” This ad campaign is focused on kids. Will it work to revive U.S. dairy’s fortunes? It’s too early to say, but U.S. and multi-national dairy producers and packagers are certainly not relying on it. Instead, they have been looking much further afield. Globally, that is.
With the industrialized world’s dairy markets nearly saturated, “big dairy” is thinking outside the proverbial (milk) pail and expanding into a relatively untapped “emerging” market of nearly 3 billion potential new dairy product consumers. These include people in rural and urban areas in the global South (developing world) who in the past didn’t have much purchasing power or access to the animal-based foods people in the U.S. and Europe take for granted. And a primary target within these regions is school children.
Asia, with its large population (including in China and India, the two most populous countries in the world, and Indonesia, the fourth), growing middle class and increased exposure to Western lifestyles and products, is potentially the corporate dairy industry’s next big opportunity – even though milk has never been part of traditional diets in East Asia and lactose intolerance is widespread in the region. One estimate concludes that up to 98 percent of Asian children experience hereditary lactose intolerance.
Nonetheless, in several Asian countries, multinational corporations with dairy divisions like Nestlé and Tetra Pak have become major players in school milk programs and classroom nutrition education courses. Both can engender lifelong habits of milk or processed dairy product consumption, helping create the intended outcome: a long-term market of industrial dairy product consumers.
Asian nations, many of which lack animal welfare or strong environmental regulations, offer promising terrain for the introduction of Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs). CAFOs (aka factory farms) are characterized by the lifelong, indoor confinement of hundreds or even thousands of animals in a single location. In Asia, CAFOs are being established by private enterprises or through partnerships between multinational corporations and governments.
The scale of some of these facilities is immense. Viet Nam is constructing what will reportedly be the world’s largest dairy factory farm. It’s expected to have a population of 137,000 cows when it’s fully up and running. Asian dairy factory farms generate the same negative animal welfare, environmental, and public health impacts as those in the U.S., but awareness of these effects within Asian countries is still limited. That’s one of the major reasons Brighter Green published Beyond the Pail: The Emergence of Industrialized Dairy Systems in Asia.
Governments across Asia are eager to modernize agricultural production, leading them to welcome, and in some cases actively facilitate, corporate-led industrialization of their dairy sectors. Indeed, for governments in the region, rising dairy consumption is seen as good for their societies, improving nutrition and consumer choice. And bringing Big Dairy into their countries isn’t hard. Industrial agriculture – factory farms, feedlots, large-scale cultivation of “feed” crops like corn and soybeans – is a readily available system and large, mainly Western agribusinesses have speed and financing on their side, enabling them to set up CAFOs and related supply chains. Plus, in-country agribusinesses, often working in partnership with Western corporations or investors, are keen to get a piece of the action.
In China, domestic production of milk is expected to triple by 2030 and the number of dairy CAFOs is increasing quickly. China Modern Dairy set up China’s first CAFOs and now has 22 of them, with 180,000 cows. In 2013, a $140 million joint venture to build two, 10,000-cow dairy CAFOs was announced by China Modern Dairy, U.S.-based private equity firm Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. (KKR & Co.), and CDH Investments, a Chinese private equity firm.
Cambodia, where people traditionally consumed virtually no dairy and the little milk that was consumed was imported, milked its first cow when the country’s first dairy operation, a CAFO, opened in 2011. It’s a $250 million joint venture built on the edge of a national park that’s home to endangered leopards and tigers, raising the specter of CAFO pollution inside the park and lethal control of predators.
A dairy CAFO with 2,500 cows creates as much waste as a city of 400,000 people and the majority of CAFO wastes go untreated. Dairy CAFOs are also a significant contributor to city smog, and many Asian metropolises are already experiencing hazardous levels of air pollution. CAFOs also expose communities and employees to occupational hazards, including toxic air in and around CAFO housing systems and manure-holding lagoons. The World Health Organization (WHO) and public health experts confirm that routine use of antibiotics in CAFOs is a major cause of the development of antibiotic resistant bacteria.
Moreover, a majority of factory-farmed cows aren’t indigenous to Asia and are shipped, while pregnant, across the Pacific from New Zealand and Australia. The cows must endure a treacherous and painful journey for several weeks, only to be confronted by a hot, tropical climate to which they aren’t adapted, leaving them vulnerable to heat stress. They are then put into production and suffer the same brutal practices that are used to produce dairy in U.S. CAFOs.
One positive piece of news: developers of India’s largest dairy CAFO were thwarted last September when the state government in Andhra Pradesh banned the import of 9,000 pregnant cows, citing animal welfare and other concerns. This stopped work on the operation, which was to have housed an astonishing 40,000 cows.
The growth of industrial dairy production in Asia is taking place even as researchers, advocates, and some policy-makers in the U.S., Europe, Australia and New Zealand re-evaluate the desirability and sustainability of a CAFO-centered agricultural sector, the health consequences of high dairy consumption and the need for dairy in a healthy diet.
Asian policy-makers, civil society, and private sector investors have a chance to interrupt the cycle of more CAFOs and more dairy and, instead, create sustainable, equitable, and humane food and agriculture systems – before “milk life” becomes the norm.
Jessika Ava is the author of the new policy paper, Beyond the Pail: The Emergence of Industrialized Dairy Systems in Asia, published by Brighter Green, from which this piece is adapted. She has been working for animal rights in various capacities for over 10 years, from elephant conservation and primate behavior to food policy and vegan advocacy. In fall 2014 she will begin her PhD in Biostatistics. Mia MacDonald, a policy analyst and writer, is Executive Director of Brighter Green, a Brooklyn-based public policy action tank based that works to raise awareness of and encourage policy action on issues that span the environment, animals, and sustainability.


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Custom injection molder Bruce Plastics Inc. has invested $2 million this year to add a clean room, new machinery and liquid silicone rubber capability.
The clean room recently opened with three all-electric injection molding machines with clamping forces of 110-200 tons. The clean room also has automatic assembly equipment and will allow for more medical-device and food-packaging work, according to Barry Roos, national sales and marketing manager.
Roos said the liquid silicone rubber capability will address needs of the medical, appliance and electronics markets. The product has a temperature range of minus 75° to 500° F and complements Bruce's 35 years of experience with thermoplastics elastomers.
The Pittsburgh-based company hopes for a 10 percent rise in sales this year, after a flat 2003, according to Roos.
Bruce Plastics, founded in 1952, operates a 136,000-square-foot facility with 37 molding machines with 39-700 tons of clamping force.


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AP – Walmart is adding four new fulfilment centres to its existing capacity, a move that will bring more than 4,000 jobs and make next- or two-day shipping available to more Americans.
The announcement comes at a time when American consumers are relying on packages being shipped to their homes more than ever before.
While online ordering has continued to increase over the years, the pandemic saw a huge surge in such orders as Americans stayed home during lockdowns and had essential items and other goods delivered to their doors. While coronavirus restrictions have eased, many consumers’ online ordering habits remain.
Aside from a growth in online orders, Walmart and other retailers are trying to make sure that their shipping speed keeps pace with rival Amazon, which offers same-day, one-day and two-day delivery options for those who pay for its Prime membership.
Walmart said on Friday that its four next generation fulfilment centres will be built over the next three years. The centres, which feature robotics and machine learning, double the capacity and number of orders allowed to be fulfilled in a day.
The four fulfilment centres will be able to provide 75 per cent of the United States (US) population with next- or two-day shipping on millions of items, including Marketplace items shipped by Walmart fulfilment services.


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Injured Gadgets, a leading online supplier of wholesale smart phone and personal smart device accessories, replacement parts and repair services, proudly announces that the company will be exhibiting at the CTIA Super Mobility 2016 tradeshow running September 7, 8 and 9 at the Sands Expo in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Signal Boosters, a New Zealand based company today announced the launch of their new line professional signal boosters, a leading market provider of signal boosters in New Zealand.
A new game "Tap The Wall" is going to be officially launched tonight which is already making "gamers" turn crazy. The game will be distributed under the banner of "Arcade Games", a renowned name in the gaming industry. "Tap The Wall" is developed by a Czech game developer of Finnish app expert cooperation.
"Step into our Red Lance comic universe," welcomes creator Gary Bloom with the re-launch of RedLanceComic.com this week. The comic start-up's new website has a stronger focus on the forthcoming game app, not just digging into characters, but allowing visitors to vote on the new game's name. "You want to be a superhero, we all do," Bloom jokes, "so we're letting the people help make some decisions!"
Launching the first one of their 2016 Escort Your iOS 10 Upgrade Trip campaigns, the iMobie team behind AnyTrans & PhoneRescue want to give you a complete review on the Best iPhone Backup Extractor Software in 2016. Till last week, over 93% users are using iOS 9 or iOS 8, while the adoption of iOS 10 beta is less than 0.3%. It means in this Apple season, more than 1 billion active users will rush to upgrade their iPhone, iPad and iPod touch to iOS 10. In case the device is ever lost, damaged and replaced, and the users' important information is unable to be recovered, iMobie team took the effort to compose this original, unbiased, and detailed review article in order to help users retrieve their data and files via extracting content from iPhone / iTunes backup.
Phone getting slow? Don't worry the new turbo cleaner the new speed booster & performance optimizer utility for android phones is a savior for Android Phones. An incredibly light, powerful & worthy alternative to other speed booster apps that feel so lame in front of these new apps.
Originally released last month on Sony's PlayStation 4 (PS4), Call of Duty: Black Ops III's third expansion "Descent" is now available on Microsoft's Xbox One and PC. The third expansion features four new multiplayer maps: a remake of Call of Duty: Black Ops II's Raid map called Empire, a cryogenic prison, a Viking village and a robot fighting arena. The game has a brand-new chapter in the Zombies campaign, and players will have to fight against the undead and dragons. Yes, there are now dragons in Call of Duty.
Spotify, a commercial music streaming service provider, has launched a dedicated Gaming section or a new portal dedicated to video game music. All kinds of video game music can be found in this section, not only original video game soundtracks but also various playlists from community or Spotify itself.
Travel is a common passion among individuals from all across the globe. However, the high cost of flying and the ever-fluctuating airline prices often prohibit many people from embarking on the trips of their dreams.
All too often we lose track of what we eat and how we exercise day by day as the daily distractions of life get in the way. People committed to tracking their diet to lose weight might turn to one or more apps, as those pursuing physical fitness could use any number of tech solutions from smart watches to a dozen different apps while not keeping a close eye on their calories. This disconnected approach to health and fitness makes it difficult for people seeking a healthier lifestyle since it's an irrefutable fact that diet and exercise are inextricably tied to weight loss, good health and longevity all intertwined in a common cause; quality of life.
Ginstr, a comprehensive business solutions provider is saving companies worldwide time, error, and labour costs associated with filling out paper forms and entering information into computer systems.
Leawo Software officially updated its professional iPhone/iPad/iPod touch data recovery program, Leawo iOS Data Recovery for Mac, to version 3.3.1. After this update, people are able to use the software to recover WhatsApp messages and WhatsApp attachments from the latest iPhone/iPad/iPod models with iOS 9.3.4 and former versions installed on Mac with no limits, including the latest iPhone SE, iPhone 6S/ 6S Plus, iPad Pro and iPad mini 4. The new version also has an iOS device showcase order optimization and some minor bugs fixed.
In The Fight for System Haven, players will take control of freelance 'trader' Mercy Jelani and fight through 50+ levels that demand quick reactions, strong shooting skills and an explorative eye; all set to the backdrop of a universe that is constricting, slowly eaten away at all sides by a mysterious darkness.
As the popularity of online activities grows with every passing day, this cannot but concerns online games. They have become quite popular recently and millions of people across the globe keep looking for the best online games that will come up to their needs and expectations. This is where Top 10 Online Games will come in handy to the fans of this activity that has almost "conquered" the world today.
QIUB, a revolutionary new pocket-sized power bank, which triples as a memory card reader and a USB cable, is launching a crowdfunding campaign on the popular fundraising platform, Indiegogo. The money raised from the QIUB Indiegogo page will go towards covering the costs of mass production so the device can be made available to users around the world.
Consumer electronics maker Sound Caddy Golf has announced the pending debut of its first product, the Sound Caddy, and is seeking crowdfunding through Kickstarter to begin its initial production run.
We live in a world where technology has seeped into every aspect of our lives. We use it to socialise and to communicate with our business colleagues. We use mobile technology to make purchases and keep up to date with trends. We do not go anywhere without our phones in our pockets and our tablets in our bags.
FlipHTML5, the leading provider of magazine reading apps for mobile has launched a new app that allows readers to access and read numerous digital publications on their mobile phones. The new app will allow readers to access latest information and news about different events and happenings.
Berry Robotics has set out to revolutionize car performance and fuel economy through an innovative plug-n-play device with Bluetooth smartphone connectivity called Berry. The promise shown by this upcoming technology has terrified car makers, who have been scamming people out of the performance their cars are truly capable. Berry Robotics is currently campaigning to build support and acquire much needed funds to turn this invention into a reality. A crowdfunding campaign has been set up on Kickstarter, with an aim to raise $33,880 AUD before Mon, Sep 19 2016.
The team at Lifeline is pleased to announce their easy to use telemedicine platform is now available in the Philippines for their Lifeline members. The new service offers virtual medical services that connect medical professionals and patients seamlessly using a mobile app that has been successful in the United States.
Newly launched crowdfunding platform, PixelFunder, aims to support independent and up and coming video game developers around the world. The site distinguishes itself from other crowdfunding networks, like Kickstarter and Indiegogo, in that it focuses solely on the gaming world. Alongside the launch of the platform, PixelFunder is proud to announce its first campaign now available for funding: the sports game, WarpBall.
The Canadian National Vending Alliance (CNVA), a coalition of the largest vending operators across Canada, announces that it has partnered with PayRange to bring mobile payment across 100% of its vending machines coast-to-coast.
The world of gaming is incredibly quick paced and is constantly developing. With new games coming up on a regular basis it can be tough to stay with the times, Top Free MMOROG is here to help. Topfreemmorpg.net is a leading platform of information about multiplayer online role-playing games (MMORPG), the website recently revealed a list of the most promising upcoming top free MMORPG 2017 games.
It's undeniable that the market for smartphone cases is huge. Yet while the majority of companies out there make low quality cases and provide little to no flexibility in design, one company truly stands out above the rest. For those who are looking to protect their smartphone and give it a stylish look, GetExclusive.com sells Apple iPhone and Samsung Galaxy cases and covers in many different styles. They are proud that they're the only online store that allows visitors to their site to create their own personalized, exclusive, laser engraved Brazilian Cherry cases with their own one of a kind, unique designs.
Digiarty Software, an eminent multimedia software provider, today kicks off the first-time sales of its iPhone file manager software - WinX MediaTrans which engendered a smash hit when debuted. Participants can enjoy 50% off discount to get 1 year license, lifetime license or family license during the campaign, thus manage and transfer photos, videos and music between iPhone iPad iPod and PC at a small cost.
Kickstarter recently released a new crowdfunding campaign for a video game called Eliosi's Hunt. The game follows the titular character on his quest to become a bounty hunter. However, this endeavor quickly spirals out of control, as Eliosi discovers that his target's criminal enterprises run much deeper than he had originally thought, taking him on a mission that could have significant ramifications.
Locally based Ballasi Speakers now innovate and deliver different hand-made speaker models. The entire process of crafting the speakers including the engineering, assembly, finishing, as well as testing are completed in the United States, to ensure top quality production. The components of the speakers have been chosen and constructed from the finest materials collated all across the globe to build sounds that come with a character.


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The massive white tents and classic cars spread across Osceola Heritage Park on Jan. 7 signaled to auto enthusiasts that Mecum Auctions is back in Central Florida, bringing nearly 3,000 cars up for auction.
Shortly before 1 p.m. on the opening day of the 10-day Mecum Kissimmee event, a voice came over the loudspeakers, booming throughout the grounds.
“It’s good to be back,” said Mark Delzell, lead auctioneer with Mecum Auctions, who followed with a pandemic-inspired reminder: “Remember, when you’re not eating or drinking, please make sure you’re wearing your mask.”
Due to COVID-19, tables with chairs are spaced out with social distancing in mind, and unlike years past, entry to the auction arena is limited to bidders and one guest each. General admission attendees can watch the auction outside on screens.
This is the 16th year of Mecum Kissimmee at Osceola Heritage Park, and the auction’s CEO, Dave Magers, said the available lots have never looked better.
“What I like about Kissimmee is the diversity of the lots. If you go through the almost 3,000 cars, it ranges from pre-war cars all the way up to modern Ford GTs,” Magers said. “Our consignment guys, Frank Mecum and the group, have commented to me on several occasions that this is the best lineup of cars we’ve ever had at a Kissimmee auction.”
When wandering through the rows of vehicles, it’s clear to see the variety of lots available. Some cars are more than 100 years old, such as a 1916 Studebaker or a Ford Model T of the same year. Other lots come in the form of vintage off-roaders — Broncos, Land Rovers and Land Cruisers. High-ticket supercars include Ferraris, McLarens and Lamborghinis. American muscle is abundant at the auction with myriad Mustangs, Corvettes and Dodge cars from all eras.
Every vehicle has a story and a unique past. Certain examples may have had one owner who meticulously cared for the car for decades. Others were salvaged in poor condition and painstakingly restored, giving them new life.
Leesburg resident Gordon Brown spent countless hours restoring a shimmering teal 1962 Corvette Convertible, a vehicle that he loved but decided to part ways with.
“I spared no expense in putting this together,” he said. “I’ve only put 5,000 miles on it since 2012.”
Other vehicles appear well-worn, but Mecum reminded bidders on day one that everything is sold as-is and ownership transfers when the gavel hits.
If you go
Mecum Kissimmee 2021 opens at 8 a.m. through Jan. 16 at 1875 Silver Spur Lane in Kissimmee. Attendees must fill out a health questionnaire each day and undergo temperatures checks at the gate. Masks are required for everyone on the grounds of Osceola Heritage Park, where there are social distancing measures in place and hand sanitizer is readily available.
General admission tickets cost $30 per person, per day and must be purchased online. Registering to bid costs $200 for standard credentials or $500 for gold perks, including preferred seating, expedited credential pickup and access to all Mecum auctions during a 12-month period. Bids are also accepted online and via telephone.
Portions of Mecum Kissimmee will be broadcast on NBC Sports. For more information, visit mecum.com.


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Australian energy storage company Redflow has secured an order to immediately supply 27 of its ZBM2 zinc-bromine flow batteries for a Tasmanian farm owned by Simon Hackett – Redflow's founder and largest single shareholder.
Vodafone says it has ‘strengthened its commitment to regional Australia through an agreement which has seen it become the exclusive retail telecommunications partner of the NFF.’
I've gone to No Landline at all (never thought that would happen) with a 100GB/month mobile plan which includes unlimited[…]
I too have a copy of the document.
I wasn’t speaking for Labor. I was speaking as a fellow journalist aware of what actually happened. I don’t know[…]
No, you do not. I have not linked to any source. Some random quote is irrelevant to this story.
Why wasn't it sent to us? It was sent to some small outlets that are definitely not mainstream. How can[…]


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So far, many rumors and teasers have surfaced regarding the upcoming Z87 motherboards from numerous manufacturers. Today, we bring you yet another one: ASRock is the first company to get Thunderbolt certification for one of its boards. The motherboard in question is the Z87 Extreme9/ac. While this is not the first we've heard about a motherboard with Thunderbolt, ASRock is the first 8-Series motherboard that has passed the Intel Thunderbolt Certification process.
The Z87 motherboards will all likely be released very soon, in line with Intel's Haswell launch at Computex 2013. ASRock has done a lot to differentiate themselves in the motherboard market, with particular emphasis on its A-Style branding. The A-Style feature set includes five features: Purity Sound, HDMI-In, 802.11ac WiFi, Waterproof by Conformal Coating, and Home Cloud.


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CAn you Say Bye Bye;) This a just released Info for those who care for there stuff here you go
Judge finds DVD X Copy breaches DMCA
A Californian court has sided with the movie industry in a ruling involving 321 Studios, the maker of DVD backup software.
The federal court found in favour of MGM STUDIOS, which is leading the case, that 321’s software put it in breach of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA).
The court ignored a claim for the ‘fair use’ of the software in making backups. Its ruling states ‘…the downstream uses of the software by the customers of 321, whether legal or illegal, are not relevant to determining whether 321 itself is violating the statute.’
The EFF (Electronic Frontier Foundation) criticised the ruling and called for reform of digital copyright law. ‘In passing the DMCA, Congress certainly did not intend to eliminate all consumer copying,’ said EFF Legal Director Cindy Cohn. ‘This court’s reading of the statute in the 321 Studios case allows a ban on any tool that enables consumers to copy their DVDs.’
321 Studios has now been ordered to stop selling its software within seven days, but the company is likely to appeal the ruling.
It was only last week that we reported on the launch of Games X Copy by 321 Studios - Games copying software launched in face of copyright threats. ‘We designed Games X Copy with the parent in mind,’ said Robert Moore, President and Founder of 321 Studios. ‘This software is easy to use, so making backups of PC games literally takes one click of a button,’ Moore continued. ‘We designed it for parents, but it is easy enough to use that even the kids could make the backup, and take it on vacation or to a friend’s house - and parents no longer have to worry about the original being damaged or lost.’
As we pointed out at the time, although there is logic in parents wanting to keep a copy of games that can cost ?40 a time, it is unlikely that games publishers will see it that way. Indeed, they are likely to be encouraged by the latest American ruling to take an aggressive legal stance.


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U.S. President Donald Trump has plenty on his plate at the moment.
The economy appears to be heading towards a recession, total number of COVID-19 cases in the country have today surpassed China and he has an election to worry about at the end of the year.
But all of this hasn’t stopped him from attempting to thwart a 30-second ad which criticises his response to the coronavirus outbreak.
You can see the ad below.
We won’t let the Trump campaign intimidate us from telling the truth. Beginning Saturday we will be running this ad in Arizona, our first television buy there this cycle. pic.twitter.com/Zsqx3PYdee
— Guy Cecil (@guycecil) March 26, 2020
Put together by political group Priorities USA, which has previously supported Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton, the ad stitches together a number of the President’s quotes on the pandemic, including “we have it totally under control”, “this is their new hoax” and “we really think we’ve done a great job in keeping it down to a minimum”.
According to Forbes, a lawyer for President Trump’s campaign issued a cease-and-desist letter on Wednesday demanding the ad stop running.
There are also reports his legal team has sent a letter to TV stations warning that running the ad “could put your station’s license in jeopardy”.
Priorities USA chair Guy Cecil said in a statement: “the fact that Trump is going to such great lengths to keep the American people from hearing his own words adds to the urgency of communicating them far and wide.”
Twitter has just experienced its fastest growth in revenue since 2014, with the social media platform benefiting from increased interest from advertisers. Revenue was up 74 per cent YoY, according to the company’s Q2 results, reaching $US1.19 billion ($1.6 billion) from $US683.4 million ($925 million) 12 months ago. The strong results came in the same […]
Wild Turkey has announced the launch of its new global creative campaign and platform, ‘Trust Your Spirit’, featuring the brand’s creative director and spokesperson, Matthew McConaughey. The global campaign and platform ‘Trust Your Spirit’ is to encourage people to be bold, unapologetically themselves, and stay true to who they are. The global tagline and ethos […]
Telecommunications company Optus has announced it will launch the world’s first TikTok sign-language activated filter. Featuring Optus ambassador Ian Thorpe, Optus will unveil a branded effect that shows TikTok users how to say key phrases in Auslan sign language, including ‘How are you?’ and ‘It starts with Yes’, through the hashtag challenge #SignYes. Optus will […]
Podsights has revealed new insights into the effectiveness of advertising in podcasts, tracking global and Australian podcast advertising trends. This is the first Australian report to be published since ARN partnered with Podsights to set the standard for best-in-class podcast advertising measurement. The report includes additional analysis and follows a series of Measurement Masterclasses held for […]
NGEN’s 2021 charity cup has raised over $175,000 for UnLtd charity partner Gotcha4Life. Gotcha4Life is a not-for-profit foundation raising awareness and funding to provide educational workshops and innovative programs that build mental fitness in individuals and communities. While Sydney and Brisbane completed the Charity Cup in June, before Covid restrictions hit, the final leg in […]
Australian tech incubator Cicada Innovations and Biennale of Sydney are launching the ‘New & Sustainable Materials Challenge,’ in an effort to create a more sustainable future. The works of chosen material-makers will be showcased to millions of Biennale audiences, exhibition partners, and exhibition makers globally. The Challenge is open to any Australian and UK startups, […]


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The rise of reward crowdfunding in Europe
Harriet Green asks Indiegogo’s Anastasia Emmanuel about the platform’s experience in new markets
WHAT does the rewards and donation-based crowdfunding sector look like today? Despite having a longer history than equity and debt crowdfunding, the fast-growth of platforms which offer perks and non-monetary rewards in return for investment doesn’t get so much media time.
Indiegogo, a US-based platform set up in 2008, has 16m visitors a month. It doesn’t offer equity stakes in companies – only gifts and rewards. A campaign creator can choose between a flexible or a fixed fundraise, and the amount they make can come down to which option they pick. Fixed offers an all or nothing deal – if the campaign doesn’t hit its target, then the money donated is returned. Flexible means funding is secured despite not reaching a goal, but Indiegogo will take 4 per cent if it is reached, and 9 per cent of whatever is raised if it isn’t reached.
Increasingly, the platform has been looking across the pond to Europe for business. I spoke to Anastasia Emmanuel, European director of technology and design at Indiegogo, about crowdfunding in the UK, and how the European market is developing.
Since going international, what have you noticed about European markets?
As it stands, a third of our campaigns now come from outside the US. I think the UK in particular has started to adopt more of a “US mentality” in its execution of crowdfunding campaigns. We see lean, agile teams understanding the importance of creating increasingly sophisticated campaigns and building a community of supporters ahead of the launch. Execution is key, and as the crowdfunding market becomes ever more crowded, it’s even more important to prepare strategically and launch a strong campaign.
We’ve seen widespread adoption of rewards-based crowdfunding across Europe. Can you talk us through some country-specific developments and the kind of products you’ve seen raising money?
The industries coming to the fore, and ways that campaigns are executed, vary quite a bit from country to country. Spain is a really interesting one to look at: it’s not surprising to see strong innovation coming out of the mobile sector. That’s been influenced by the longstanding Mobile World Congress, and the largest Internet of Things (IoT) meetup in Europe. And next week, Barcelona will also be hosting the biggest IoT world congress event, which reinforces the city as a European hub for showcasing talent.
As a result, we’ve hosted campaigns for great products like 3D Pocketcopter, the world’s smallest flying camera (and it was around before drones came onto the scene), and Wattio, which helps people manage and save energy. Spain is also a very design led country, and lots of the products that list on Indiegogo are simple but very useful – like the Closca fsoldable helmet. As the crowdfunding market develops there, and the execution improves, I think we will see a lot more in the “smart” connected space and design sectors.
Another place worth mentioning is Finland, where there’s a big trend in IoT, with a huge amount of technical talent wanting to produce and market their own products, since the decline of Nokia. You see things like the Oulu-based Asmo Charger, which automatically switches off when not plugged in. One of the most exciting products this year for me was Puzzlephone, the world’s first modular smartphone.
I should also mention Germany, because its established engineering community means you often see creativity and technical ability combined – and there are lots of crowdfunding projects coming out of the country, particularly in Berlin and Munich. Panono, a panoramic camera ball, raised over $2m (£1.3m). We also worked on a product called Dolfi – a hand-size device that cleans your clothes using ultrasonic technology.
We tend to associate crowdfunding, and alternative finance more widely, with London. Are any other European cities making waves?
Certain cities have built a very strong ecosystem for crowdfunding: Paris is a good example, and it’s popular in other French cities too. The market there has evolved quickly because there’s so much technical expertise available.
Last year, the French government made a change in financial policy to make crowdfunding startup friendly. There are 28 crowdfunding platforms active in France (Britain has 44 and Germany 20). The new regulation brought in a quality label for rewards and donation-based platforms, issued by the government, for those that hit a specified level of transparency and customer protection. For loan and equity-based platforms, special statuses have been created which don’t require minimal capital, and there are some rules on cost, information and risk.
There are also increasing numbers of VCs and investors emerging in the hardware space. All of this makes France one of the fastest growing crowdfunding market in Europe. I have been working on Buddy, a family robot, which has raised $600,000 in the past few weeks. Beautiful design is also strong in France – you just need to look at campaigns like the Nevo minimalist watch and Bionic Bird.
Can you tell us about some growth plans that Indiegogo as a platform has been working on?
Earlier this year, we created InDemand, which allows our campaigners to move seamlessly into taking pre-orders after their campaign has finished. We’re also launching pilot initiatives with retailers such as Amazon Launchpad, distributors and manufacturers to help streamline the process as much as possible for our campaigners. After all, crowdfunding is an important but small part of the journey of bringing a product to market, and we want to build sustainable businesses that could be the next Nest or Jolla.
Since the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) produced new regulation for equity crowdfunding in the States, is that a market you’re now looking at?
Our mission at Indiegogo is to democratise access to capital, and we’re encouraged by the new regulations, because they will enable more startups and small businesses to secure additional funding, while also providing strong investor protection. And yes, we are continuing to explore how equity crowdfunding may play a role in our business model.
STAT OF THE WEEK from CityAMCrowdwatch.com
Powered by Crowdnetic, this crowdfunding information dashboard pulls data from major platforms, showing hundreds of fundraises in real-time. We feature one compelling statistic each week.
SERVICES COMPANIES ARE THE MOST COMMON CAMPAIGN CREATORS, ACCOUNTING FOR 39% OF RAISES ON PLATFORMS


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Guvera, a leading platform for music streaming globally, announced the launch of its popular service in India, offering a library of over 12 million tracks via web and mobile platforms. The mobile application, featuring free and unlimited music from local Bollywood albums and international artists, is now available on the Play Store for Android and the iOS App Store.
Developed in 2008 in response to the mass consumption of illegal music online, Guvera provides consumers with a free and legal way to access music whilst giving royalties to the artists and record labels responsible for producing it.
Guvera is a free, ad-funded service that offers users expert-curated playlists with no costs or subscription fees. A unique feature of the service is #Play, which provides users with the ability to tailor a music experience based on their current mood, activity or preferences by searching using hashtags(#). Consumers can also search and discover music, as well as manage and share their own playlists. The integrated social features enable users to follow friends and celebrities on Guvera, and access their playlists.
Guvera’s global partnership with Lenovo, one of the world’s leading PC companies, will see the Guvera app pre-loaded onto Lenovo smartphones and tablets across a potential 160 markets in which Lenovo operate, giving Guvera huge potential to reach millions of people around the world.
Commenting on the eve of launch, Mr. Claes Loberg, Founder and Director of Innovation for Guvera, said, “We are both proud and excited to be the first-of-its-kind international music streaming offering to enter India; a market that is truly diverse in terms of its taste for music. Guvera provides its users with an unmatched user-friendly experience. We plan to provide our Indian users with the best expert-curated local and international content – all they have to do is hit the ‘play’ button.”
Guvera’s commitment to providing music for free via an ad-funded model has been seamlessly integrated with the user experience via the introduction of branded channels. Premium brands including Nikon, Croma and Godrej have already launched brand channels on the Guvera India platform. Loberg explains, “branded channels are a great example of how users are able to engage with brands in a less disruptive manor. Guvera are putting the consumer in charge of the advertising experience. Moreover, advertisers know that they are paying for ads that consumers want. We believe that Guvera is a platform for advertisers and brands to connect with a significant database of users, made possible with the help of Guvera’s innovative content-targeting algorithm.”
In line with the strategy to serve a healthy mix of localized content, Guvera has entered into tie-ups with major music labels and content aggregators in India, including Sony Music, Hungama.com (T-Series & Speed Records), Universal, Saregama, Eros International, Times Music, Believe, Orchard, TuneCore, CDBaby and INGrooves.
Users also have the option to subscribe to Guvera’s premium on-demand service ‘Guvera Platinum’, for Rs. 199 per month, which gives users full control of their music experience.


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Jay Byers, CEO of the Greater Des Moines Partnership, came out to ice skate this morning and stopped by our microphones to tell us about all the things going on in Des Moines, especially downtown Des Moines. He says the official new bird of Des Moines is the "crane"!
Jordan Johnson of the Central Iowa Homeless Shelters stopped by just after the 7:30 news this morning. They have been running 80 beds short of the demand all winter long and are in desperate need of warm clothing for the homeless. They can't get enough warm socks. You can drop items by their location or the Brenton Skating Plaza anytime this weekend and they will get the items to them.
Kathy Coady of Hope Ministries dropped by the Brenton Skating Plaza this morning just after the 8:30 news to let us know the needs of Hope Ministries. They also serve the homeless community and they are in need of everything, but especially gloves. Thank you to all of you who stopped by with lots of warm clothing items! If you need more information on Hope Ministries, go to www.hope.org.
Darlene Lewis of Brenton Skating Plaza is the head of the "Learn to Skate" lessons. The next 4 week session begins February 4th. Other special promotions include the Valentine Skate on February 14th, the Relay for Life Fundraiser on February 16th and their February 18th annual mascot skate. For more information on all of these events and skating lessons, go to www.brentonplaza.com.
A big thank-you to Robbin McClelland, Deanna Nair, Mike Dittmer, Steve Rolsted and Darlene Lewis of the Brenton Skating Plaza for getting up so early this morning and offering our listeners a chance to skate free of charge.
Here's a look at all the warm clothing you folks dropped off this morning....
Have a wonderful weekend!


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Main Contents begins from here.
Nov 2, 2009
Announcement of a Basic Agreement between Minebea Co., Ltd. and Panasonic Corporation regarding the transfer of Information Equipment Motor Business
Minebea Co., Ltd. ("Minebea") and Panasonic Corporation ("Panasonic") hereby announce that both companies have reached an agreement in principle today regarding the April 2010 targeted transfer of the Information Equipment Motor Business of Panasonic to Minebea Motor Manufacturing Corporation ("Minebea Motor"), a joint venture company established by Minebea and Panasonic. The equity contributions to Minebea Motor (Minebea 60% and Panasonic 40%) will remain the same.
- Reason for the Transfer
Competition in the information equipment motor market is intensifying owing primarily to the emergence of overseas makers, and at the same time, is becoming very severely affected by the recent economic downturn. On the other hand, new demands have been created in the areas of digital consumer electronics, in-vehicle equipment, office automation equipment, high-performance game machines, and information terminals. Further growth in demand is expected in the information equipment market. The purpose of this business transfer and integration is to develop Minebea Motor further by combining the collective strengths of Minebea, which has put its energy into its motor business, with the brushless DC motor technology Panasonic has cultivated for many years.
- Outline of the Transfer
(1) Business to be transferred
Assets related to the Information Equipment Motor Business of Motor Company, an internal division company of Panasonic, (including related intellectual property rights, assets of related subsidiaries such as the Xiangzhou plant of Panasonic Motor (Zhuhai) Co., Ltd.) will be transferred, and, as a general rule, the employees of the corresponded business will be employed by Minebea Motor group companies.<Items manufactured and sold by the business>
- Small brushless motors (Applications: Optical disk drives, in-vehicle equipment, etc.)
- Power brushless motors (Applications: Printers, etc.)
- Polygon mirror motors (Application: Laser printers)
Net sales: Approx. ¥18.3 billion (for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2009)
Number of employees: Approx. 2,600(2) Transfer price
The transfer price will not be publicly disclosed.
- Future Outlook
Both parties will proceed with the discussions toward the scheduled conclusion of a definitive agreement in December 2009. The transfer will be executed in accordance with the terms and conditions specified in the definitive agreement, and at present, is planned to take place in April 2010.
Minebea Co., Ltd. http://www.minebea.co.jp/
ARCO Tower, 19th Floor,
1-8-1 Shimo-Meguro, Meguro-ku, Tokyo 153-8662, Japan
Corporate Communications Office
TEL: 03-5434-8637/FAX: 03-5434-8607
Panasonic Corporation http://panasonic.co.jp/
1006, Oaza Kadoma, Kadoma-shi, Osaka 571-8501, Japan
PR Group, Corporate Communications Headquarters
Banner area begins from here.


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Gas prices in the Mid-South are soaring as a result of Hurricane Ike, and prices are all over the place.
"Some people are taking advantage of the situation," said customer Keith Aubele.
Regular Gas is $4.69 at a station on Lamar Avenue and Shelby, while it's $3.99 at another station just across the street. With such big price differences, many customers feel stations are price-gouging.
"Unfortunately, it's out of control," said a customer traveling from Little Rock to Atlanta, who says he has seen vast price differences on route. "Where's the regulation? It doesn't make any sense to me."
But the American Automobile Association says gas station owners are actually going out of their way not to gouge prices.
AAA Communications Director Randy Bly says the wholesale price of gas is $4.85, which means station proprietors could legitimately charge $5.45 a gallon. It turns out many stations are actually eating the cost. But that's not easing customer's frustrations.
"Let's face it, they don't want to loose their customers," said Bly. "And they don't want to be accused of price gouging. They don't want all those headaches."
Many stations are out of gas because, not wanting to charge customers higher prices, they're holding out for prices to drop before purchasing more. Others are closing up shop until prices go down.
Bly says prices should stablize in the next week or two depending on how badly refineries are damaged by storms.
Even if the damage is bad, Bly says other refiners will increase production, and importation will increase to balance things out. He warns people not to "panic buy", which will only make things worse.


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Manufacturers must not “rest on their laurels” after continued cost pressures and weaker growth forced the industry into a fresh low, a report has warned.
Latest figures show the sector stumbled in March as slower consumer goods production compounded higher overheads caused by sterling’s Brexit-induced slump and rising commodity prices.
However, manufacturers did benefit from the pound’s weakness, with new orders from abroad complementing a steady stream of domestic contracts.
The update was revealed yesterday in a Markit/CIPS manufacturing purchasing managers’ index report, which said while employment numbers had risen for the eighth consecutive month and the sector was “solid” at the end of the first quarter, some caution was needed.
According to the survey, the industry gave a reading of 54.2 in March, which although ahead of the 50 mark used to separate growth from contraction, represented a four-month low and was down on the 54.5 recorded in February.
Economists had expected a figure of 55.
Duncan Brock, director of customer relationships at the Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply, warned businesses, many of whom have discovered newfound belief since the Brexit vote, could be tainted.
He said: “Between the EU referendum and triggering of Article 50, manufacturers have completed a remarkable return to confidence.
“Factories have revved up production, hiring (has grown) and the beginning of formal negotiations with the EU has failed to dampen the sense of optimism.
“But despite the confident mood, the depreciation in sterling, which has supported exporters, has come at a price.
“With the rate of new order growth showing early signs of easing, manufacturers must act to ensure they are not locked into costly contracts.
“Now is the not the time to rest on laurels.”
Rob Dobson, senior economist at HIS Markit, which compiles the survey, reiterated manufacturing output had slipped to its weakest pace of growth in eight months during March, which he said took some of the gloss off companies’ performance and could seep into the year ahead.
He added: “With growth losing further momentum, that weaker trend is likely to continue into the second quarter.
“High costs and weak wage growth are sapping the strength of consumers, with rates of expansion in output and new orders for these products slowing further.
“The impact of the exchange rate is still being keenly felt on the cost side and although purchase price inflation moved further from January’s record high, it remained among the steepest recorded in the 25-year survey history.
“The pass-through of these costs means selling price inflation remains stubbornly high.”
*** Source – The Northern Echo. ***


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At this year’s Conference for Circular Economy Entrepreneurs under the motto “ActInCircles”, the focus was not only on specialist knowledge, but also on specific tools, which help to put said knowledge into practice. The future belongs to the circular economy, because it respects limited resources and harnesses new business potential. Proponents of the circular economy combine profitability with a long-term perspective.
The CE² – Circular Economy Entrepreneurs – conference took place this year on 17 September 2020 in Interlaken, bringing together key Swiss players from economy, research and politics, shaping today the business models of tomorrow. The event was kicked off by former Swiss federal councillor Doris Leuthard.
In addition to keynote speaker Caroline Stern, Head of Circularity at Hilti, the event included several interesting Deep Dive Sessions. Participants could immerse themselves in various topics related to the circular economy and responsible entrepreneurship. Topics included circular innovation, accelerating international growth, design, and investment.
Switzerland’s most influential environmental prize is awarded to innovative companies which combine economic success with ecological impact. The Environmental Award for the Economy was narrowed down to five finalists from a selection of 40 nominations.
This year’s winner is a pioneer in the urban mining segment and thus acts as a lighthouse for the construction industry. The family-run business recognised the enormous significance and potential of the sustainable economy as early as 1983 and has invested heavily in the segment ever since. Today the Eberhard Building Materials Recycling Centre handles up to 450 000 tonnes of mineral building rubble per year, processing it for use in new buildings – without any loss in quality. The new Europaallee road in Zurich is a prime example of this, being constructed from 99 percent top-quality recycled building materials.


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The often controversial Uber gets one thumbs up from us today thanks to an announcement that should make it easier for Uber Go drivers to own their own vehicle.
The reason we’re not giving two thumbs up is because this solution is limited to Uber Go, the option for price-sensitive customers where hatchbacks are favoured over saloon cars.
Uber Go has partnered with Moove to offer drivers two options. The first is a weekly rental of a vehicle while the second option gives the driver the ability to pay the vehicle off over time.
Drivers on the Uber Go platform now have access to brand new Toyota Agyas from as low as R1 599 per week for Flexi Car Weekly Rental. Drivers can also pay R1 950 per week for Drive to Own deals, including zero deposit, free maintenance and free insurance.
“As we recover, we know we need to continue to offer solutions that respond to consumers who are now more price sensitive than ever. We also need to continue to offer drivers quality, compact and cost-efficient vehicle choices that will better help economically to boost their weekly earning, with the same Uber experience and door-to-door safety experience. We are excited to extend our partnership with Moove to make this a reality,” says Frans Hiemstra general manager for Uber Sub-Saharan Africa.
Applications for Flexi Car Weekly Rental can Drive to Own deals can be submitted here via this Google Form.
We also highly recommend checking out Moove’s website.
“We have been working tirelessly with Uber to ensure the financial costing for drivers makes economic sense, that drivers are well aware of their financial commitments and feel empowered in their business and partnership with Moove. We are excited to support drivers in South Africa to grow their businesses and improve their livelihoods within a shorter time frame, especially as mobility returns,” says Moove country manager Sinako Cetyiwe.
This is good news for Uber Go drivers but we would like to see a similar rent-to-own offer for all Uber drivers. While Uber does offer rental options from R2 500 per week (depending on your area) and the ability to join a fleet, the option to pay a car off would surely be welcomed.
Overall this is good news though and we hope to see more Uber Go drivers on the road on the back of this news.


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President Trump’s former campaign chairman Paul Manafort has been released from a federal prison due to coronavirus concerns and will continue serving his 7½ year sentence for tax and bank fraud from his Northern Virginia home, his attorney said Wednesday.
The release of Mr. Manafort, 71 years old, who was charged in special counsel Robert Muller’s Russia investigation, is part of a sweeping effort by the federal Bureau of Prisons to ease crowding to stem the spread of the virus behind bars. He was among nearly 2,500 federal inmates who have been placed on home confinement in recent weeks as prison officials try to identify those who are at high risk for the disease and low risk for re-offending.
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Sustainability in Licensing Conference 2023 Speaker line-up RevealedSustainability in Licensing Conference 2023 Speaker line-up Revealed
SiLC will present the next era in licensing industry sustainability when it makes its return to the Royal Geographical Society in London on Tuesday, Nov. 8.
October 12, 2023
Team GB, the LEGO Group, Tesco and the United Nations have been confirmed among the speaker line-up at this year’s Sustainability in Licensing Conference (SiLC), which takes place on Nov. 8 at the Royal Geographical Society, London.
SiLC 2023 will once again be an in-person event as well as live-streamed to audiences around the globe.
The LEGO Group, The Walt Disney Company, Bravado, Difuzed and DK Books will share a stage with leading names in retail, including Tesco, Asda and Lush, as well as key players in industry sustainable development, Dayrize, Fabacus, Upcycle Labs and Yellow Octopus to present what has been pinpointed as a new era for licensing.
SiLC 23 will be hosting a special session – delivered by James George, ambassador for circularity, Products of Change (POC), and Mike Swain, ambassador for packaging, POC – dedicated to exploring the latest legislation updates.
Also on the agenda is a special talk from Phil Korbel, co-founder and director of advocacy, Carbon Literacy Project, to explain the process of measuring the carbon and a session exploring sustainability in sports merchandise and licensing, featuring Simon Gresswell, ambassador for sport, POC, Scott Field, marketing director, Team GB and Rishi Jain, director of impact, Liverpool FC.
Dayrize will showcase the technological solutions it is bringing to the industry before Fabacus and the ethical clothing brand Nobody’s Child talk attendees through the Digital Product Passport.
Finally, Poetic Brands, Upcycle Labs, Yellow Octopus and Asda will showcase a circular system of managing textile at play, while Hasbro, Wastebuster and Tesco will talk attendees through the launch and trial of the cross-sector campaign, Recycle to Read.
“This year, SiLC 23 will be showcasing the solutions and answers to questions we have all been asking,” says Helena Mansell-Stopher, chief executive officer, founder, Products of Change. “The narrative woven through each session this year not only provides attendees the thinking space for how to progress their own journeys with sustainability but presents some hugely exciting and defining technologies and solutions as to how we, as an industry, can really start to move things forward. We cannot wait to celebrate a global industry in transition and believe the Sustainability in Licensing Conference 2023 will be one to remember as the moment a new era for more responsible and sustainable licensing was ushered in.”
Read more about:Products of ChangeTeam GBLEGOThe Walt Disney CompanyBravadoDifuzedDK PublishingLiverpool FCTescoPoetic BrandsAsdaU.K.
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