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An eight-year-old fundraiser has won a Hallowe'en pumpkin carving competition with a not so scary creation that wowed the Lord Mayor of Exeter.
Raising money for charity Children’s Hospice South West (CHSW), the Southgate Mercure Exeter Hotel gave out pumpkins to guests, businesses, supporters of the charity and others.
Amongst the many entries Hannah Sparkes, who uses the charity’s Little Harbour Hospice, in St Austell, won the children’s competition with her striking creation, which featured a huge smile beneath purple, pink and white hair.
Pumpkin kits are on their way to local businesses as part of a competition to help raise funds for Children’s Hospice South West.
For the second year running, the Mercure Southgate Exeter is holding a pumpkin carving competition, inviting Exeter residents, businesses, hotel guests, spa and leisure club members to get creative for charity.
Hotel manager Fiona Darde said: “We’re looking for people to get creative and help raise money for Children’s Hospice South West. Last year we had a fantastic response, ranging from quirky and fun to truly inspiring and scary.
In 2010, a very curious piece of furniture was bought from a Chester auction house, on account of its elaborate carving. Upon delivery, the owner thought it was not Victorian, as advertised, but early Tudor.
That would make it exceptionally rare. But in January 2013 Dr Jonathan Foyle examined it, and began researching in depth its puzzling symbolism and old surfaces. Over the course of 16 months evidence aligned to reveal its astonishing origin - it was the marriage bed of Henry VII and Elizabeth of York, made for 18 January 1486. Its importance is immense- it is the only surviving...


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‘Hoverboards’ are the latest craze, but online retail giant Amazon has told its customers to throw away certain hoverboards due to safety concerns about them being a fire-risk.
People who have bought self-balancing scooters, which have “non-compliant UK plugs”, have been asked in an email to dispose of them at a recycling centre if they have bought one. Those who do should expect an automatic refund within three days.
Amazon also emailed customers who had UK-compliant plugs on their hoverboards, to provide them with safety advice on the battery and plug use.
John Lewis, Argos and Tesco have also suspended sales of the hoverboards.
“We’ve suspended the sale of all hoverboards both in store and online as a precautionary measure.” said a spokesperson for Tesco.
Trading Standards recently seized more than 15,000 hoverboards deemed unsafe, with faulty chargers, plugs or cables, and then released safety information regarding hoverboards:
- Do not charge them unattended, especially whilst you sleep. It may overheat if there is a faulty cut-off switch.
- Beware of prices that seem too good to be true, and websites that might not be genuine.
- Many faulty hoverboards have a plug in the shape of a clover, so always check the plug.
Remember, at the time of writing it is illegal to ride the hoverboards on pavements or roads, they can only be used on private land with the owner’s consent.

domain: news


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Good job growth news for Kentucky
Kentucky small businesses posted a good month for job growth in January, leading the nation in percentage job growth, according to the latest Small Business Index from Intuit Payroll.
The survey found that Kentucky small business employment rose by 0.3 percent. Kentucky led only 24 states where small business employment rose from December levels. Employment levels fell in 22 states and was the same in four.
The Intuit report is based on responses from about 206,000 small-business customers of Intuit Online Payroll asnd QuickBooks Online Payroll.
The Intuit Inc. (NASDAQ: INTU) index provides insight into employment and revenue trends of the country’s small businesses, which are defined as companies with fewer than 20 employees.
The report found that average monthly pay for small business employees fell by 0.2 percent from December, to $2,703. Monthly hours worked fell 0.2 percent, to 107.2 hours.
Overall, small-business revenue declined 0.5 percent in January, the report said.
Ed Green covers economic development, commercial real estate, government, education and sports business.
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As session has commenced, Governor Moore’s initiatives were recently introduced in legislative form on the House floor.
Cannabis Legalization Work Group Updates
The work group discussed key topics including data that projects the Maryland cannabis market will hit $1 billion in adult-use marijuana sales within 20 months.
Webinar: The Maryland Minority Business Enterprise Program
In this exclusive procurement-focused webinar, learn how minority-owned businesses can create additional revenue streams with the state of Maryland through the MBE program.
Crossover Day in the Maryland General Assembly
Hundreds of bills, and 20 days to go. Read the latest on this important milestone in the current legislative session.
Governor’s Briefing on COVID-19: January 20, 2022
We’re “not out of the woods” says Hogan, but numbers are trending in the right direction.


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PepsiCo is reportedly vying with arch-rival Coca-Cola Co. to invest in Chobani, the US-based yoghurt maker that has driven the rise of the Greek yoghurt market in the country.
Reuters, citing unnamed sources, said the soft drinks giants were in talks to buy into Chobani, which has been weighing up expressions of interest from suitors wanting to invest in the business.
Chobani is looking to sell 10-20% of the business, including warrants owned by private-equity group TPG Capital, Reuters reported. Beyond PepsiCo and Coca-Cola, other companies are in talks with Chobani about investing in the company, the newswire said.
The yoghurt maker last year secured investment of US$750m TPG to "fund future growth".
Officials at Chobani, Coca-Cola and TPG in the US could not be reached for immediate comment.
A spokesperson for Coca-Cola said: "We do not comment on speculation or rumour."
PepsiCo and Coca-Cola have dabbled in the dairy sector. Through a venture with German dairy group Muller, PepsiCo sells yoghurts in the US.
Coca-Cola produces its dairy products in partnership with dairy firm Select Milk Producers. The two companies teamed up in 2012 to form Fair Oaks Farms Brands, which controls the Core Power protein milk shake brand. Last year, Coca-Cola launched Fairlife "ultra-filtered" milk across the US.


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Starting Monday, Apple is fixing cracked screens of its new “budget” phone- iPhone 5C in-store at its various retail outlets for $149.
Apple started offering in-store screen repairs for its iPhone 5 handsets in June. However, the company’s iPhone 5S and iPhone 4S devices have not yet been permitted in-store repair service.
The entire screen changing process is expected to take only near about one hour in any U.S. Apple retail store. Advanced display calibration machines will be used by technicians to ensure a perfect fit.
Before Monday, customers’ phones were shipped off to an off-site repair center to get cracked screens fixed, costing customers near about $229. An Apple Store employee confirmed that they have begun offering iPhone 5C screen replacements from Monday, reported CNNMoney.
Apple had released the iPhone 5C as a lower-cost smartphone in September last year. Its seems like Apple’s decision to offer in-store repairs has been taken taking into consideration following the rising popularity of third-party repair services which though are cheaper can void the devices’ warranty.
There are also rumors that the service program will soon find its way into Apple’s U.K. retail outlets. The news is though yet to be confirmed by the iPad maker.


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To meet the expectations of Wall Street, Apple is facing a serious problem in the form of declining demand for products.
According to J.P. Morgan analysts, it is extremely difficult for the company to achieve the expected result in the financial market due to problems with the supply of goods. A failure in the supply process entails a drop in demand for products.
Apple’s revenue for December may be below consensus expectations. This forecast is set out in an analytical note by Samik Chatterjee of J.P. Morgan. He lowered his Apple target price to $180 from $190 previously. The analyst also retained the rating of overweight stocks.
Samik Chatterjee says that the current circumstances under which Apple operates are not in favor of the company.
The firm’s main problem is related to iPhone shipments. J.P. Morgan reduces its estimate of Apple’s iPhone sales this year to about 242 million from 244 million previously. The deterioration of the forecast is due to the expectation of a decrease in demand.
Apple will report revenue of about $120.6 billion for the first quarter of the next fiscal year, up from $123.9 billion a year earlier. This forecast is given by J.P. Morgan.
Analysts also say that there are no prospects for further improvement in Apple’s financial performance. In their opinion, in the second quarter of the coming fiscal year, demand will not grow to values that could mean a significant increase in profits and a qualitative improvement in the company’s position.
At the end of 2022, Apple had problems at plants in China. Riots broke out at these factories. After that, the company published a statement about the difficulties with the release of the iPhone. This situation has already harmed the state of affairs at Apple. Last week it became known that company CEO Tim Cook decided to reduce the size of his salary.


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Digital technology has put a wealth of human data at our fingertips. How can we be sure we are using it responsibly and ethically?
There’s no doubt that facts and statistics offer valuable insights that can be employed to boost business. But it’s vital to lay down ground rules as a company before using personal information to our advantage, says Paul Daugherty, writing for MIT Sloan.
As technology romps ahead, it’s never been easier to gather wide-ranging details about people’s everyday lives, habits and even digressions. Data is a valuable currency in the digital age, but using it unwisely can cause long-lasting damage.


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France and Mexico bolster digital enforcement efforts
Mexico’s competition authority has created a new digital directorate, while France’s antitrust watchdog has named the head of its new digital unit.
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What do makeup and graffiti have in common? Thanks to MAC Cosmetics, a color cosmetics collection involving Fafi, the Parisian graffiti artist.
"We had the idea on a shoot to capture the spirit of a young woman having fun playing — with clothes, technology, fashion," said James Gager, senior vice president and creative director of MAC Cosmetics worldwide. "We were inspired by Japanese anime, and as we researched the movement, we discovered Fafi. We asked if she would collaborate with us on a photo concept, and the creation began from there."
Hermès is launching a Laundromat pop-up shop in NYC - dubbed Hermèsmatic - where customers can bring their old scarves to be dip-dyed by an expert. Get all the details on WWD.com. #wwdnews (📷: @donstahl)


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Bitcoin card issuers of VISA and MasterCard payment systems will face more stringent requirements. The changes will affect companies operating in areas such as Forex, binary options, cryptocurrency and ICO. It is reported by Finance Magnates , citing informed sources.
In April, MasterCard classified the areas listed above as high-risk. In particular, the company set a period of protest of a transaction by an issuing bank at 540 days.
Soon, similar requirements were established by VISA. The company sent letters to payment operators, stating that the above areas are associated with increased risk.
The new changes concern, first of all, the operators working in jurisdictions with an uncertain regulatory field. Thus, the difficulties will affect primarily offshore and other under-regulated companies. Some brokers and exchanges have already notified their clients about the suspension of payments from payment cards.
Finance Magnates also notes that the new requirements will be implemented by MasterCard on Monday. Changes for VISA cards will take effect in December. Payment operators are already suspending relationships with some customers until they find a viable alternative.
Recall that at the end of last year, problems with servicing MasterCard debit cards affected non-EU residents. Soon a similar step was taken by Visa .
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For douglas w. McCormick, his latest job is a trip back to the future.
The new president and chief operating officer of women's on-line network iVillage Inc. likens the Internet world to the beginnings of cable television in the early 1980s, when he helped launch the network that became Lifetime Television.
"This reminds me very much of the start-up of the cable industry," says the genial 50-year-old broadcast veteran, who assumed the newly created post in April after joining the iVillage board of directors last year. "What I want to do here is prove the vibrancy of this audience and its ability to help move product."
The leading women's Web site, which has been plagued by defections and a sagging stock price, is counting on Mr. McCormick to duplicate his success at Lifetime in the on-line world. Under Mr. McCormick's guidance, Lifetime's revenue more than doubled between 1993 and 1998 to $468 million, and its market value jumped to $4 billion from $900 million.
First things first
At iVillage, he's been given responsibility for day-to-day operations of the 450-person company, while Chief Executive Candice Carpenter focuses more on long-term strategy. Among Mr. McCormick's initial priorities is beefing up iVillage's sales force and market research capabilities to help boost ad revenue-the lifeblood for growth.
Last year, iVillage lost $107.5 million on revenue of $44.6 million. Revenue hit $21 million during the first quarter of 2000, while losses amounted to $25 million.
Part of Mr. McCormick's plan is to pitch iVillage to advertisers as a lower-cost alternative to increasingly expensive cable TV, the way he once lured household brands to advertise on Lifetime as a viable alternative to the broadcast networks.
Indeed, Mr. McCormick, whose polished manner can be traced to his days as a disc jockey and communications major at the University of Dayton, is credited with shifting that network's focus. It has evolved from medical and health-related topics to programming aimed at women, who it is estimated attract 60% of TV advertising dollars. During his tenure as chief executive, he helped to build Lifetime's audience by undertaking production of original movies and the network's Intimate Portrait series, which profiles prominent women.
Lifetime won widespread respect as well as advertising support from the likes of Ford Motor Co. and AT&T Corp. for its annual breast cancer awareness campaign with 20 hours of related programming.
Perhaps as important as his sales savvy will be Mr. McCormick's role as a steadying influence at iVillage, where top managers have come and gone at a dizzying pace under the hard-driving Ms. Carpenter.
Reputation precedes him
"His reputation coming out of Lifetime was that of someone who was able to keep everyone calm and focused, while executing the business plan," says Carolyn Trabuco, an analyst with First Union Securities who follows iVillage.
By winning an internal power struggle for the top slot at Lifetime in 1993, Mr. McCormick also demonstrated a determination that may serve him well in working with Ms. Carpenter. Now he just has to adjust to working in Internet time.
"It's taxing. I feel like an air traffic controller sometimes," he quips.


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Pfizer UK gears up for Viagra Connect launch
This article was originally published in OTC Bulletin & The Rose Sheet
Pfizer UK has rolled out a pharmacy training programme for its Viagra Connect (50mg sildenafil) product as the launch of the country’s first OTC medicine for erectile dysfunction edges closer.
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Sanofi seeks to delay decision clearing path for Mylan's Lantus biosimilar; says it should be able to get rehearing based on Federal Circuit's ruling that PTAB judges were not constitutionally appointed.
First Circuit reverses dismissal of direct purchasers' suit alleging improper listing of patent on device drive mechanism delayed competition; district court to decide if this constitutes antitrust violation.
Brands unfairly attacked by powerful influencers could raise the subject with the US Federal Trade Commission, which is asking for comments on its “Endorsement Guides."


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Spitfire Creative Technologies has completed the acquisition of Green Hippo, a developer and manufacturer of media servers and digital display products with offices in the U.K. and the U.S. The strategic move further expands Spitfire’s reach across commercial integration, live events and creative video technology.
“For 18 years, Green Hippo and Hippotizer have been part of live events around the world," Emma Marlow, CEO of Green Hippo said. "We have grown well and want to continue growing. Becoming a member of the Spitfire family allows Green Hippo to focus on growing further and faster. We look forward to their strong organizational support so we can do more to help our customers and users around the world deliver the best live video experiences.”
Spitfire also owns tvONE and Magenta Research, manufacturers of video processing and signal distribution products. With complimentary technologies all addressing AV, the combined companies will better address a wide range of markets globally from broadcast to large venue entertainment, according to the company.
"Green Hippo and tvONE each have core competencies in technology and customer focus that, when combined, provide superior solutions for both fixed installation and live events customers," said Denise Nemchev, president and CEO of tvONE. "Most important is the comprehensive value we bring our customers across the combined platform.”
The companies will continue to go to market with sales, branding, and distribution independently as further growth synergies materialize over the next few quarters.


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The closest you can get at McDonald’s
With McDonald’s extending their closure of Singapore’s outlets till further notice, it has left many fast food fans devastated.
Well, here’s how you can satisfy that craving.
Netizens in Singapore have been sharing their recent discoveries at local supermarkets. If you’re a fan of McDonald’s Chicken McNuggets, check this one out. According to a Facebook user, Leslie Koh, he found the frozen nuggets by Freezepak to taste almost similar to the Chicken McNuggets in McDonald’s.
The Freezepak nuggets can be bought from FairPrice and Sheng Shiong for around $6.95 – $7.95 a pack (1kg).
Another user, Nadiah Omar, shared that she bought a packet of fried chicken patty from a wet market at Vista Point that tastes like McDonald’s McSpicy chicken patty. You can buy it online at $9 per packet here.
Many people are now turning to the kitchen to whip up some of the chain’s most famous meals at home, so go ahead and pick these up if you are seriously missing the food from McDonald’s.


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by Mike Masnick
Wed, Aug 26th 2009 3:22am
A year ago, we noted that Hillcrest Labs was going after Nintendo, claiming that the Wii violated its patents. And, like so many other patent holders, Hillcrest got to take two separate cracks at Nintendo, suing in court and also filing with the ITC to block imports. Recognizing just how ridiculously costly it is to defend both the lawsuit and the ITC process, it looks like Nintendo has just agreed to pay up. The company still insists that the Wii doesn't infringe, but the system is stacked against companies who actually innovate. It's so costly to defend yourself, that it's usually just cheaper to settle. Consider it a tax on innovation... except the tax doesn't even go to anything useful.
If you liked this post, you may also be interested in...
- 532,900,000 Reasons Why We Need Patent Reform Now
- Cerf Warns Of A 'Lost Century' Caused By Bit Rot; Patents And Copyright Largely To Blame
- Elon Musk Clarifies That Tesla's Patents Really Are Free; Investor Absolutely Freaks Out
- Nintendo's YouTuber Affiliate Plan Is A Bureaucratic Mess Of Delays And Control
- Nintendo Plans For The Future By Pretending All Of Our Smart Phones Aren't Great Handheld Gaming Devices


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I wrote an early version of this in response to a Hacker News piece on the next generation of video games.
There is an increasingly clear picture of the future of TV screens. Ever higher resolution.
TV manufacturers are currently delivering quality HDTV 1080P sets in volume and at low prices. Nobody can really get out of a commodity play, and even the largest screens are unable to command premium prices.
The 3D diversion
The manufacturers have been trying to convince us to care about 3DTV, but the 3D gig is up. We collectively just don’t care about the 3D fad. The biggest issue is that we increasingly watch TV alongside other activities, such as surfing the internet, reading or talking. It’s hard to switch in and out of a 3D experience while multi-tasking, whether you use glasses or not. It speaks volumes that the biggest grossing film of the year, The Hunger Games, wasn’t delivered in 3D, and that “available in 3D” is becoming, for me at least, a sign of a truly crappy movie.
The other issue is 3D content and content delivery – there is (thankfully) not enough of the first, and poor means for the second. We are increasingly receiving our TV content over the internet, but even there we can’t see much of anything 3D.
Apple and Netflix, at least, are delivering up lovely HD 1080P content already, which matches the highest available TV screen resolutions. It’s an even match between content delivery and TV manufacturers right now, but Apple and Netflix have a huge advantage over time. They are using the internet to deliver content, and end to end internet speeds are on a continuous growth curve. Pretty soon they will be offering much higher resolutions, well beyond the maximum HD resolution of 1080P, and there is no reason to believe this resolution race will stop in the next decade. This time there does not need to be an endless squabble about HDTV broadcast standards, as the delivery will be through IP, and TVs will, just like your computer, be able to accept a variety of input types. They’ll be software and perhaps hardware upgradeable so new video standards can be adopted.
High Resolution TV
To match this content we need ever increasing higher resolution TV screens, eventually delivering an IMAX experience in the home. Later on we’ll see lower prices, touch and eventually iPad functionality on our walls.
Apple is rumoured to be entering the TV market, and we know it won’t be with a me-too commodity product. So why wouldn’t they launch with a higher resolution screen? Why wouldn’t they match the experience of the iPhone and iPad 3? Apple will be able to keep controlling the delivery of media through the Apple TV (built in or not), and, with the iPad already in the lounge, gaming on the higher resolution TV is essentially ready to go. TV manufacturers are surely expecting this.
So get ready for a resolution war, and the players will be the content owners (MPAA), the content delivery owners (Sky, Comcast etc), the ISPs and the television manufacturers. There are a couple of candidates for the weakest link in that mix, but my money is on Apple to be the first to tie it all together in compelling way. The TV screen has moved well beyond the broadcast era already, and with Apple it could be a seamless extension of the TV, iPad, iPhone and your computer.
The next generation gaming devices (XBox, PSx, Wii) had better launch alongside new higher resolution TVs (Sony can do this), perhaps higher resolution new movie content and with stunningly detailed graphics. If not we will rightly yawn at their arrival and stick with our computers, iPads and iPhones.
Heck – if Sony, Nintendo & Microsoft continue with their very slow release cycles for the gaming machines, then the next generation of video game devices may well be the last – and we’ll be driving big screen games using iPads and other tablets.


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HCMC – HSBC Vietnam has launched Vietnam’s first card made from recycled Polyvinyl chloride (rPVC) plastic, as part of the HSBC Group’s program to introduce sustainable cards across all its global locations.
The rollout starts in January this year with its Premier MasterCard credit card, Premier debit card and Classic debit card. It will then extend across further card products from May 2022 tentatively. The first rPVC cards will be issued to customers who require new or replacement cards.
To preserve their existing cards, recycled plastic cards will be issued as their old cards expire. The new cards are made from 85% recycled plastics originating from industrial waste.
Being among the leading card issuers in Vietnam, HSBC’s move to rPVC cards will help reduce carbon dioxide emissions by nearly half a ton and save 0.2 ton of plastic per year. Overall, HSBC Vietnam together with other markets where the HSBC Group operates can help reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 161 tons per year and cut 73 tons of plastic waste per year globally.
The switch is a first step in a gradual transition to issue cards made from sustainable materials, and HSBC will continue to evaluate other alternative materials too.
Pramoth Rajendran, head of Wealth and Personal Banking at HSBC Vietnam, said, “New sustainable materials, such as rPVC, offer the financial services industry a clear way to accelerate its efforts to build a more sustainable future, and we’re proud to be part of a movement which is gathering momentum across the world. Replacing our cards will be another step to help the bank and our customers make a positive impact on the environment.”
The move toward recycled cards enables HSBC and its customers to join hands together for a greener Vietnam, supporting the country’s climate action commitment at the COP26, which is reaching its net-zero carbon emission target by 2050, he added.
This move toward recycled cards is just one amongst many initiatives that HSBC is driving globally and in Vietnam in particular.
Previously, to help retail customers reduce carbon emissions and contribute to shaping a zero-carbon future for the world, HSBC has enhanced and expanded its range of green loan products in Vietnam, offering preferential loans on green construction and rooftop solar energy, and more green lending to come in the near future.


text: One of the highest-scoring businesses, Lendio ranks as a standout for employee engagement SILICON SLOPES, Utah – May 16, 2018 – Lendio, the nation’s leading marketplace for small business loans, has been named one of Inc. magazine’s Best Workplaces for 2019, the publication’s fourth annual ranking in the fast-growing private company sector. The list is the result of a wide-ranging and comprehensive measurement of private American companies that have created exceptional workplaces through vibrant cultures, deep employee engagement and stellar benefits. Collecting data on nearly 2,000 submissions, Inc. singled out 346 finalists. Lendio employees took part in a survey, conducted by Omaha’s Quantum Workplace, on topics including trust, management effectiveness, perks and confidence in the future. Inc. gathered, analyzed and audited the data, ranking employers using a composite score of survey results. This year, 74.2 percent of surveyed employees were engaged by their work—besting last year’s 72.1 percent. “The world of financial services is fast-paced and challenging. That’s why creating a positive workplace environment is one of Lendio’s highest priorities,” said Brock Blake, CEO and founder of Lendio. “Lendio’s success depends on every employee feeling invested in the company’s long-term, growth-oriented vision.” Inc. and Quantum found the strongest employee engagement scores came from companies that prioritize the most human elements of work. These companies are leading the way in employee recognition, performance management and diversity. It’s a different playbook from a decade ago, when too many firms used the same template: free food, open work environments and artifacts of fun. While researching the finalists, Inc. and Quantum saw distinct themes: \t 99 percent provide health insurance—and some cover the cost. \t 49 percent allow employees to bring pets to work. \t 65 percent take employees to offsite retreats to relax and recharge. \t 16 percent offer paid sabbaticals to reward length of service. "With today's tight labor market, building a great corporate culture is more important than ever,” says Inc. magazine editor in chief James Ledbetter. “The companies on Inc.'s Best Workplaces list are setting an example that the whole country can learn from." About Inc. Media Founded in 1979 and acquired in 2005 by Mansueto Ventures, Inc. is the only major brand dedicated exclusively to owners and managers of growing private companies, with the aim to deliver real solutions for today's innovative company builders. Winner of Advertising Age’s “A-List” in January 2015, and a National Magazine Award for General Excellence in both 2014 and 2012, Inc. has a monthly audience reach that’s grown from two million in 2010 to more than 20 million today. For more information, visit Inc.com. About Quantum Workplace Quantum Workplace is an HR technology company that serves organizations through employee engagement surveys, action-planning tools, exit surveys, peer-to-peer recognition, performance evaluations, goal tracking and leadership assessment. For more information, visit QuantumWorkplace.com.


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The French automaker aims to significantly increase the output capacity and market share of its Iranian joint venture, as the economy opens up, a senior executive said on Wednesday.
Renault targets a 20 percent market share in Iran, up from 10 percent in 2012, said Peyman Kargar, vice president of Renault’s Africa, Middle East and India region, and CEO of Renault Pars. In order to reach the company’s mid-term plan, capacity will need to be doubled, Kargar said on the sidelines of a conference in London hosted by the Financial Times. In 2015, Renault sold 51,500 vehicles in Iran, giving it a market share of 4.8 percent. For more than ten years, Renault Pars, the joint venture with Iran’s two main auto manufacturers, Saipa and Iran Khodro, has enabled Renault to produce nearly 500,000 vehicles in the country. Last year, two new vehicles were build, the Logan Pick-up with Iran Khodro and the Sandero with Saipa.
Iran’s automotive industry has become a very luring sector for the global automakers since the international sanctions were lifted back in January. The country’s car market reached a peak of 1.6 million vehicles in 2011 and it should regain this level within 2 years, hitting 2 million vehicles a year by 2020, Renault and Peugeot-Citroen forecast. PSA announced at the end of January it has reached an agreement for a 50:50 venture with Iran Khodro. The plan is to start the production of 100,000 vehicles a year in the second half of 2017 and to double the output capacity at a later stage. For revamping the 50 years old factory near Teheran, both sides agreed to invest 400 million euros (446 million dollars) in the next five years for building Peugeot’s 208 hatchback, 301 sedan and 2008 crossover.


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An improved 4 inch iPhone developed by Apple will contain the selfsame A9 processor as all the previous models; however, as opposed to them, it will include a NFC radio that is supposed to facilitate all the Apple Pay payments. The info was provided by the long time Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo.
However, other analysts disagree. For example, an unnamed KGI Securities analyst believes that the new 4 inch iPhone will be just an upgraded version of iPhone 5s. He further embellished on the prediction, adding that it will come with a metal casing and will have an identical camera as the current set.
So far, the assumption is that Apple is bringing out its new product in order to expand on less well-to-do markets. The larger models will still remain a sort of a luxury; but with the new model, actually owning an iPhone is something a lot of people can do.
It will still cost a pretty penny, according to Kuo; the price range is assumed to be between $400 and $500. While it will be more affordable, it still won’t be a good for mass usage. The earliest date he predicts the phone to be released is early in 2016, March at the earliest and May at the latest. He went beyond that by adding that the number of shipments should peak at 20 million.
The analyst said that the move was prudent; spring is a traditionally a slow period for Apple, after the tedious Christmas season, so this time interval should receive a new momentum due to the new release. This period is also important as Apple is expected to start taking orders for the brand new ‘iPhone 7’ during that time. The plan to launch the phone at that time is atypical for Apple; the company tends to release its new products in September. The same may hold true for iPhone 7; while we can’t know for certain when it will be released, it will probably be somewhere between March and September. We only have to wait and see.
While the new iPhone will supposedly look like its predecessors, it should be a far cry from being the same. For one, it will include a 2.5D cover glass. The glass is expected to be slightly curved, omitting the flat screen of iPhone 5s release. While the initial plan for casing colors was for them to come in three varieties (gold included), the idea was scrapped in lieu of silver and grey.
However, A9 processor rumors may turn out to be unfounded; there are other rumors claiming that A8 chip will be used in its stead. The famous 3D Touch feature of the larger scale models is also something we shouldn’t expect of the new model.
So far, Kuo has a pretty good record when it comes to Apple-related predictions. He correctly foresaw the decline in updates of 2015, and majority of his iPhone 6-related predictions came true.
Based on everything that has been outlined so far, what do you personally think about these rumors? Let us know your thoughts in the comment section below.
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Stone Forest Revamps Website
March 14, 2016
Stone Forest has launched a redesigned website that reflects the nature of the company’s products. The new website will be beneficial for anyone interested in learning not only about the materials used in each product, but also the “story” of the design of each product. The company’s challenge has been to convey each product visually, and given the technology currently available, the timing was right. The new site has many more environment shots, zoom capability for close-up views, more information about the design and designers who helped create the products, as well as background on how the products were conceived.
“I’m excited about our new website design,” said Michael Cahill, Stone Forest vice president. “We really focused on telling the story behind Stone Forest’s products, with carefully selected, enlarged images and minimal text contributing to a fresh look and feel for the brand. Since we create all of our own designs in-house and work with natural materials, we want to emphasize the process and craftsmanship behind each of these unique pieces that end up in our customer’s homes and gardens.”
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US-based manufacturer ThisCap has created a new range of tethered cap for bottled drinks.
Development of the new bottled cap is expected to support the California Assembly Bill AB-319 – The Tethered Cap Bill, which aims to mandate recycling of all plastic caps along with their bottles by 2020.
The caps are also set to ensure all single-use plastics are recycled and kept out of wildlife habitats and Earth’s delicate ecosystem.
ThisCap also noted that more than 6.5 billion plastic caps are opened every day and only 10% of these caps are recycled.
The remaining 5.8 billion is discarded to pollute lands, oceans, seas, lakes and rivers, killing millions of animals every year.
The new tethered cap features a patented solution that does not require additional manufacturing cost and can be implemented by flat cap manufacturers with a one-day setup.
ThisCap inventor and CEO Michael Maguire said: “The reason ThisCap can be implemented at no extra manufacturing cost is that our design utilises the existing manufactured cap with only a slight patented modification.
“No re-tooling of equipment is necessary, just a simple machine part change and any existing cap can become ThisCap.”
ThisCap expects its new tethered bottle cap to be used across Asia, India and Africa this year, and in Europe and the Americas by the first quarter of next year.


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All the news from the annual Google I/O event, including the latest on Android.
A cremation supplies company now claims to be selling 3D-printed memorial urns in the shape of your loved one -- or celebrity hero.
Computer scientists no longer need have Nobel envy -- at least financially. A Google cash infusion quadrupled the size of the top computer science prize.
Apple and Samsung will account for almost half of those shipments, but vendors in emerging regions will increasingly move the market, says research firm Juniper Research.
Nintendo's making toys, Destiny takes gamers back to a familiar place, elephants become weaponised, and a shooter classic makes a comeback in a packed day one for E3.
China Labor Watch and Green America say the iPhone maker hasn't lived up to its commitments to improve worker conditions in a China factory.
Nokia is rolling out its bright style to three new Lumia handsets, all running the new Windows Phone 8.1 OS, including the brand's first ever Lumia dual-SIM model.
The Laguna Seca racetrack, a sports coupe, and a PlayStation 3 racing sim come together to demonstrate the future of tech at Toyota.
Keen to see what HTC's new flagship actually looks like? We'll be live blogging the event from the wee small hours of Wed morning.
With asm.js and WebGL technologies, Mozilla's browser-based mobile OS will soon get games like Where's My Water.
An aeromechanical engineer has managed to design and 3D print a fully functional, fully assembled tape measure.


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Samsung galaxy on6 launched soon on flipkart in the first week of july , the cost of the phone around Rs 15000 for 4 gb ram and 64 GB Storage variant
Samsung india prious phone in the Indian market is Galaxy On7 Prime with some make in india features called as Samsung Mall. Making use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML), Samsung Mall does all the smart work and finds out the product within seconds.
The Samsung india ready to lauched the next smartphone to the Indian market and it is online exclusive only on flipkart the name of smartphone is on6
The Samsung galaxy on6 features unveiled in the first week of July, may cost Rs 15,000 for the 4GB RAM and 64GB onboard storage variant and other extra features unveiled soon only on flipkart therefore stay updated


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Meet the next generation of consumers where they are now. Join us virtually for The New Consumer, on March 30, for tips from Clutch, Mars Wrigley and more. Sign up for free.
Twitter acquired newsletter publishing platform Revue, which will continue to operate as a stand-alone service, saying that the move continues its efforts to improve conversation on its platform by helping writers grow their readership and connect with their audience.
Revue’s customer list includes major publishers such as the Chicago Sun-Times, Madsack, The Markup, Matt Navarra and Vox Media.
Product lead Kayvon Beykpour and vice president of publisher products Mike Park said in a blog post that starting Tuesday, Revue Pro features are now free-of-charge for all accounts, and the platform’s paid newsletter fee was lowered to 5% in order to enable writers to keep more subscription-generated revenue.
They added that Twitter is creating a “durable incentive model” through paid newsletters, and the addition of Revue will help “supercharge” that offering, writing, “You can expect audience-based monetization to be an area that we’ll continue to develop new ways to support, whether it’s helping broaden...


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The failure of the US government to pass a budget by the end of its financial year was a factor in a small fall in local consumer confidence in October.
The Westpac/Melbourne Institute index of consumer sentiment in October fell 2.1 per cent to 108.3 points, seasonally adjusted.
It has stayed above 100 points for the second month in a row, indicating optimists outweighed the number of pessimists.
In September, the index jumped 4.6 per cent to its highest level since December 2010.
The only reason for Australians to be less confident than a month ago would be the US government shutdown which started on October 1, CommSec chief economist Craig James said.
The Westpac survey was conducted between September 30 and October 4.
"Every other development over the past month would have supported confidence levels including stable interest rates, firmer economic data, an end to election uncertainty and a stronger Aussie dollar," he said.
"Generally Aussies are feeling more comfortable and that positive frame of mind will be enhanced once US politicians finally come up with an agreement on their budget and a decision to lift the debt ceiling."
Westpac chief economist Bill Evans said a fall in confidence in October from an almost three-year high in September was to be expected, given the US government shutdown and risk of a debt default.
He said the survey showed there was not much improvement in consumers' expectations about their own finances for the coming year.
That index only improved 0.8 points from a year ago, which could indicate a reluctance by consumers to spend.
"This lack of response around people's assessments of their own finances raises some doubts as to whether the healthy reads of the overall index will spur consumers out of their current spending torpor," he said.
There was also a shock in whether it was a good time to buy a dwelling - that index fell by five points.
"This month's decline comes after reports of strong gains in house prices, particularly in Sydney, suggesting that deteriorating affordability and warnings by some commentators of the potential for a price bubble may be driving the shift in sentiment," Mr Evans said.


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A new Apple patent reveals the company is looking into ways to integrate more gesturing into the iPad and other devices, a la Tom Cruise's holographic glove-controlled system in Minority Report.
Twitter and other social media sites are sparking an international debate over whether the forums serve the public good or make it easier to incite disorder.
The America Invents Act has been widely described as the biggest reform of American patent law in some 50 years, and that's certainly true. An overhaul of our patent system was long overdue, and there have been high hopes as to what it could accompli...
It has been widely accepted by both employees and organizations that what you say on a social media networkabout a company where you're working could get you fired. A recent decision by a judge in New York may have changed all that after he ordered f...
Google has acquired more than 1,000 patents from IBM in order to pad its portfolio. Patent litigation is a theater of the absurd in most cases, but it has evolved into a standard business practice among tech companies, and Google needs more fodder to...
Google is being scrutinized by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) for allegedly deceptive practices when it comes to online search and search advertising. A new report agrees -- outlining ways that Google stifles competition, but is Google really a p...
Don't put any dirt on Nokia's coffin just yet--the company still has some life in it. A victory in its patent war with Apple means a new revenue stream for Nokia, and a stronger position to enforce its patent portfolio with other mobile device makers...
Could you print counterfeit money, certificates, or other official documents on a color laser or LED printer? Some current printer models are indeed capable of creating reasonable facsimiles. The authorities, however, have already taken steps to thwa...
Voltage Pictures, producers of the Oscar-winning 2009 film "The Hurt Locker," is suing 24,583 BitTorrent users for downloading the film.
Apple iOS app developers are being threatened with patent infringement lawsuits. But, the app developers are simply following the rules that Apple mandated, so ultimately the ball is in Apple's court to find a resolution.
Apple is in the hot seat again in a new lawsuit that says iPad and iPhone user location data and other personal information is being shared with third-party advertisers. Apple is accused of aiding and abetting the "intentional taking and transmittin...
It is no surprise that Samsung retaliated against Apple's claims of patent infringement with some patent accusations of its own, but the fact that Samsung chose to file lawsuits internationally against Apple in three different countries seems a bit p...
Samsung has vowed revenge over Apple's recent lawsuit against the electronics maker that claims Samsung "slavishly" copied Apple's iOS devices for its line of Android-based Galaxy smartphones and tablets. Apple is reportedly miffed at Samsung for tak...
The Winklevoss twins will have to settle with $160 million from their dispute with Facebook, an appeals court has said. The twins' epic argument with Mark Zuckerberg over the ownership of Facebook -- dramatized in the Oscar-winning movie "The Social ...
Microsoft has taken legal action against Barnes & Noble, and its Android manufacturing partners, with both the International Trade Commission and the US District Court of the Western District of Washington.
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Circle co-founder and CEO Jeremy Allaire expressed delight at seeing major Web2 companies integrating blockchain technology.
USDC issuer Circle has announced its partnership with Southeast Asian technology startup Grab to pilot Web3 customer experiences in Singapore.
Established in 2012 as MyTeksi, Grab app is a multinational technology company that operates from out of Singapore and serves the entire South Eastern region. The company has a super-app that allows ride-hailing, door-to-door food delivery, and digital payments. Its services are available in Singapore, Malaysia, Cambodia, Indonesia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam.
According to reports, the Grab app has more than 187 million users in 330 cities across Southeast Asia. The partnership with Circle will serve to bring a Web2-based company into a Web 3 experience.
To achieve this, Circle has integrated its new Web3 services platform into the Grab super app. This is available as the Grab Web3 Wallet. Using this wallet, Singapore-based users can set up a blockchain-based wallet, earn rewards, and use non-fungible token (NFT) vouchers
Bringing Web3 Experience to Web2 Companies
According to Circle, it plans to bring everyday utility to internet-based global brands. This will be done through its Web3 services, which will help traditional firms to adopt stablecoins, digital assets, and smart contracts easily.
Circle co-founder and CEO Jeremy Allaire expressed delight at seeing major Web2 companies integrating blockchain technology. He said:
“Piloting our technology with Grab’s customers brings us closer to realizing the full potential of responsible digital assets innovation.”
Meanwhile, the collaboration with Grab is a pilot for the SG Pitstop Pack. It will allow Circle to demonstrate the real-world utility of its asset to the Monetary Authority of Singapore’s (MAS) Project Orchid initiative.
Circle Buys Into Singaporean Vision
This would not be Circle’s first engagement in Singapore. The latest collaboration with Grab is just the latest in a series of strategic partnerships.
In February, Circle collaborated with Tribe, a government-supported blockchain ecosystem builder, to upskill Web3 developers in the region. Later in May, it opened an office in the nation. By June 2023, Circle secured its Major Payment Institution License from the MAS in June 2023.
Head of Global Policy of Circle, Dante Disparte said that “Circle supports Singapore’s forward-thinking vision as a leading global hub for responsible digital asset innovation.”
An experienced writer with practical experience in the fintech industry. When not writing, he spends his time reading, researching or teaching.


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Customer or Citizen Experience: Helping is the new selling
What makes customers choose the same product or service over and over? ‘’Customer or Citizen Experience’’ is one of the categories at the Danish Digital Award. MARKETcommunity has asked Line Kierulf Dahl from McDonalds Denmark, who is chairman of the particular jury, how she describes great customer or citizen experience and how these experiences can affect a brand’s future.
Helping and selling are only two letters apart
In the age of information overload, companies are struggling more than ever to cut through the clutter. Today companies are not only competing for the attention of their current customer base, but also competing against their customers’ closest friends, relatives and family members. Heck, they are even competing against the latest viral videos and ‘LOLcats’. To win in this hyper-competitive environment, helping is the new selling.
As the clever author, marketing consultant and speaker Jay Baer has written: "the difference between helping and selling is just two letters." But those two letters are critically important for the success of any business today. So instead of focusing only on selling, ask yourself this question: “How can we help our customers


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Tag Archives: news
Prices Paid by Manufacturers Decline New York, NY — Prices paid by the U.S. manufacturers dropped in July driven by global weakness in demand and falling energy prices. The producer-price index, a measure of what manufacturers and companies pay to.
Sales Figures Almost Unchanged from Prior Month New York, NY — Retail sales in the U.S. were unchanged in July as consumers reduced spending on clothing and other goods, signaling some slowdown in consumer spending and raising questions over the.
New York, NY — Newmont Mining Corp (NYSE: NEM) may double its third-quarter dividend payout to $0.05 a share if the gold prices continue to trade higher, according to Chief Executive Officer Gary Goldberg. “We’ll look at modifying our gold-price-linked.
Potential for a 5% Dividend Yield New York, NY — The automotive sector is not really the hottest place in the stock market these days, but some of them still offer handsome dividends. In fact, one analyst just said that.
33% Increase in Annual Dividend Rate New York, NY—Radio broadcasting companies are not exactly known as go-to investments for income investors. But this one just announced a double-digit increase in dividends. On Thursday, August 11, Newfoundland Capital Corporation (TSE:NCC.A, NCC.B).
Rate Cuts Could See Diminishing Returns New York, NY — It has been over two years since the European Central Bank (ECB) adopted a negative interest rate policy. Now, two economists at the International Monetary Fund (IMF) are saying that.
Many Companies Borrowing from Bond Market New York, NY — An increasing number of companies listed on the S&P 500 are borrowing from the bond market to fund their share buyback programs, a research Bloomberg News shows. “It tells a.
Bureau of Labor Statistics Reports July Increase New York, NY — Prices of U.S. imports rose last month, signaling some inflationary pressure in the economy going forward. Imports advanced 0.1% in July, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today,.
Announces Fully Franked Final Dividend of $0.155 Per Share New York, NY—You might not have used its service, but this Australian telecom giant deserves the attention of income investors. On Thursday, August 11, the Board of Directors of Telstra Corporation.
Nominal Disposable Income Set to Grow 4.4% New York, NY — The latest data on growth in U.S. gross domestic product (GDP) turned out to be disappointing. But one of the major firms on Wall Street just said that income.


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Startups that tap the so-called gig economy, including ride-hailing powerhouse Uber Technologies Inc., have mostly targeted consumers. But a former Salesforce.com employee has launched one aimed at businesses—and she's off to a solid start.
The firm is called Torchlite and it connects companies with freelancers who specialize in digital marketing. It's based on the idea that some firms don't have the money or know-how to hire good web designers, email marketers and others, and there are a number of untethered specialists willing to take on these "gigs" as needed.
CEO Susan Marshall, an alumna of Adobe Systems Inc., Apple Inc. and Salesforce, launched the firm in June. She said the company, which also provides software that tracks results, has been doubling revenue every month and is closing in on $1 million in bookings, or contractual revenue.
"At Salesforce, we saw that more and more companies needed help," said Marshall, a 48-year-old Indiana native. "They needed help implementing their technologies, they needed help coming up with strategies and they needed help executing—writing emails, blogging, posting, tweeting."
Torchlite works like this: A business looking to launch a digital marketing campaign signs up for a Torchlite subscription, which ranges from $1,500 to $5,000 a month depending on the project. The client's business likely has a small marketing staff of no such staff at all, Marshall said.
Torchlite then taps into its network of highly trained specialists, which it calls torchliters, to assemble a freelance team and manage the project through completion. The subscription includes access to software that shows how effective the marketing campaign was, Marshall said.
"We're tapping into this collaborative economy … where experts are really gravitating, and we're skimming off the best possible talent," Marshall said. "Then we're showing the businesses through our dashboard whether or not what they're doing is really having an impact on sales or customers."
Torchlite has seven employees and more than a dozen clients, Marshall said, including companies in financial services and online retail. It has about 150 freelancers on deck.
The gig economy has taken off in recent years with the proliferation of smartphones. Some of the companies that connect contractors to consumers on demand include Chicago-based Dolly Inc., which is for moving and hauling, and San Francisco-based Thumbtack Inc., which is for a professional jobs like painting and voice coaching. Another is Fort Wayne-based Cuttly Inc., which is for on-demand mowing.
Marshall grew up in the Meridian-Kessler neighborhood of Indianapolis, graduated from Denison University in Ohio in 1989 and ventured to California for a job with Macromedia Inc., which was later acquired by Adobe. Her specialty was product marketing, which entails working closely with software developers on how software is presented to and used by consumers.
In the early 2000s, Marshall said she was among the legion of employees Apple CEO Steve Jobs hired to bolster his company's software offerings. At Apple, Marshall led product marketing and development for several offerings, including Final Cut Pro and iCloud.
She moved back to Indiana in 2007 for family reasons. She worked at question-and-answer startup ChaCha Search Inc. until 2010 and did a stint at ExactTarget (now Salesforce Marketing Cloud) until June.
She said she's in the middle of raising seed-stage capital from local angel investors and is based at The Speak Easy, a members-only co-working space in South Broad Ripple. But Torchlite may be leaving there soon.
"We're outgrowing it though now, so we're looking for other locations downtown," Marshall said. "But it's been perfect for this incubation period."


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Nearly 90 industry leaders will speak as over 2,500 retailers, loss prevention executives, cybersecurity experts and law enforcement officers assemble in Dallas June 11-13 at the annual NRF PROTECT conference. This year’s program is presented jointly by the National Retail Federation and the Food Marketing Institute.
“Once again, we are putting together the largest retail loss prevention and asset protection event in North America,” said NRF Vice President for Loss Prevention Bob Moraca. “This year, we will present highly skilled speakers who will challenge attendees to expand their thinking, invest differently and re-imagine the future of the industry. The show will help LP leaders anticipate change, find opportunities for professional success and learn the latest on how to protect their colleagues and brands from both traditional threats and those that remain to be seen.”
The speaker lineup begins June 12 with a look at the retail industry’s response to the devastation caused by Hurricane Harvey and other natural disasters titled “Retail to the Rescue.” Attendees will hear from The Home Depot Vice President of the Gulf Region B.J. Powers, Gallery Furniture owner Jim “Mack” McIngvale and The Kroger Co. Vice President of Operations, Houston Division Mike Krell on how to prepare for an impending crisis and manage both the human element and operational stability in severe situations.
JCPenney Company Chairman and CEO Marvin Ellison will share his perspective on the evolving retail climate and the actions, insights and objectives that leaders face in a session on “Leading in Uncertain Times.”
In addition to main stage speakers, eight concurrent speaker sessions will feature Caleb Popow, Abercrombie & Fitch’s southeast regional manager for asset protection; Barnes & Noble Vice President of Loss Prevention Rosamaria Sostilio; The Container Store Vice President of Loss Prevention, Payroll, Benefits and Legal Joan Manson; Supervalu Director of Loss Prevention Kelly Brandes and Senior Vice President of Legal Andre Lamere; and Office Depot Director of Loss Prevention Technology Don Burkett and Director of Corporate Investigations George Soto.
FMI will present two sessions focused on risk and safety. The first, “Making ‘Cents’ of Hazardous Waste,” will highlight best practices for reducing costs related to waste and remaining proactive in handling hazardous waste, featuring speakers from United Supermarkets, The Kroger Co. and the Albertsons Company. The second, “OSHA Enforcement: What is the Current State of Play?” will offer advice on navigating OSHA regulations with tips on how to best prepare for the agency’s inspections from experts at Giant Food and law firm Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart.
To close out the day, former White House CIO Theresa Payton will present “Cyber Risk: Following Digital Breadcrumbs” on the complexities of cybersecurity and mitigating the risks of attacks.
On June 13, “Antidote for Complacency: Change your Thinking” will feature Neiman Marcus Senior Vice President and CIO Sarah Miller, who will discuss how to embrace technology and innovation, and navigate the dynamic landscape of retail. In addition, retail trends consultant James Mullan, who is US senior vice president at GDR Creative Intelligence, will discuss ways loss prevention teams can create and lead innovation in “Trends Update: Retail’s Secret Innovation Lab.”
There will be eight concurrent sessions featuring Nuix Chief Technology Officer Stephen Stewart and Senior Vice President Keith Lowry; JCPenney eDiscovery and Information Manager Rich Robinson; Gap Inc. Senior Director Richard Giaquinto and Director of Digital Loss Prevention Jerett Sauer; HS Brands International President and Chief Operating Officer Mike Mershimer; Forever21 Global Director of Loss Prevention Jose A. Gomez; Macy’s Director of Asset Protection Training and Communications Tara Nutley; Vistelar partner Bill Singleton, and experts from Ascena Retail Group and Carter’s Retail Inc.
FMI will present an interactive session with Wakefern Food Corp. to discuss ways businesses can maximize their response to crises, develop recognition skills and improve reaction times during the “The Crash Course on Containing Crises.”
Closing out the conference will be a two final sessions starting with “Ripple Effects: Innovate by Learning from Other Sectors” featuring American Airlines Center Vice President of Guest Experience Gina Chapa, Galleria Dallas Shopping Center Director of Security Earl Morgan and Marriott International Senior Director of Global Safety and Security Services Patrick Murphy. Best-selling author and Deloitte Independent Vice Chairman Jay Samit will conclude with a presentation titled “Disrupt You! Strategies for Billion Dollar Success in This Era of Endless Innovation” examining ways individuals can flourish in a changing retail landscape and turn innovations into business breakthroughs.
Complimentary registration is available to editorial staff members of the news media and accredited retail analysts. To register, contact Ana Serafin Smith at smitha [at] nrf.com. For more information, visit nrfprotect.nrf.com.


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Sealed First-Gen iPhone Calls Bidders To Auction In Hopes Of Fetching $50,000
If you know anyone who owns an original iPhone (as in, the first-gen model released in 2007) that's still sealed in its original retail packaging, do them a solid and let them know it could be worth big money. We already saw an OG iPhone fetch over $39,000 at auction last October, and now another one has emerged with the seller hoping to rake in an even higher amount.
Once again, the first-gen iPhone is being offered up to bidders by LCG Auctions, the auction house that sold a factory-sealed iPhone for $39,339.60 just a few months ago. There were 28 bids placed on that one. It remains to be seen how many bids this follow-up act will attract, only that the auction house expects it to sell for at least $50,000.
The original first-release iPhone in factory sealed condition is widely regarded as a blue-chip asset amongst high-end collectors," LCG Auctions says. "There’s little doubt that interest in culturally relevant collectibles is rapidly increasing, and despite the impressive sales numbers, many believe the space is still in its infancy."
Two months before a factory-sealed OG iPhone fetched over $39,000 at auction, another one sold for north of $35,000. So why might this one top $50,000, if the auction's house estimate proves correct?
For one, these sealed, original iPhone models are proving hugely popular among collectors, even though it's a piece of tech that's just 15 and a half years old. Secondly, Apple items are red hot—an original Apple-1 prototype that Steve Woz hand-soldered for Steve Jobs sold for over $600,000 last summer. And third, this particular item that's up for auction has an interesting backstory.
It's owned by Karen Green, now a tattoo artist who received the iPhone as a gift from friends to celebrate her getting a management job at Petsmart at the time. While a thoughtful gesture, Green was already signed up with Verizon with three phone lines, and the original iPhone was exclusive to AT&T when it first came out. So, it sat unused and unwrapped all this time.
Source: Doctor & The Diva via YouTube
This particular unit has also been featured on the Treasure Hunt segment of "The Doctor & The Diva," a syndicated TV show. The episode aired in 2019. One of the hosts estimated the value at $503, while another guessed it was worth $1,500. Taking into consideration that this is the 8GB model rather than the base 4GB version, an antiques appraiser that appeared on the show valued the sealed iPhone at $5,000.
Green was wise not to sell the iPhone for that amount. Having waited just a few more years to offer it up for auction, she may rake in more than 10 times that appraisal, minus whatever fees and commission might be involved.
In an interview with Business Insider, Green explains that she would hold onto the phone for at least another 10 years if she could. However, she wants to sell it now and use the money to support her New Jersey-based cosmetic tattoo studio called Tattician.
At the time of this writing, the high bid for the iPhone at LCG Auctions sits at $2,500, with 16 days left to go. It will undoubtedly fetch much more than that, but where it lands is anyone's guess.
Top image courtesy of LCG Auctions


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Total Retail identifies that 86% of consumers will only shop with brands they trust. Trust ranks as the third-most important reason why people choose a brand, and this rises to the most important for older shoppers
Trust comes in many forms, from trusting the supply chain, to trusting that your data will be safe online. And trust is a factor that is as important internally as externally. Retailers need to build relationships based on trust, both with their customers and their wider stakeholders, including suppliers, investors, regulators and the media - as well as their own employees.
The survey also found that while many consumers are heading online, in every demographic the store is still the most popular way to shop.
Retailers need to run an operation that looks seamless on the outside, and runs seamlessly behind the scenes. From the brand experience, to the nitty-gritty of stocking and returns, if the store is inviting, professional and offers a stress-free environment, consumers will have more trust in the store and will continue to visit.
As well as these findings, the survey found that over a quarter of consumers would switch retailer if another one had more knowledgeable and attentive staff. People are loyal to stores because of the physical experience of shopping, and without this, retailers could experience a lower footfall and slump in sales.


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PETALING JAYA: Pharmacies are still facing a shortage of face masks despite an increase in the production of three-ply masks during the current Covid-19 scare.
Logistics, courier companies, and Internet-enabled transportation enterprises will be encouraged to take the lead in resuming work, by fully leveraging the new-generation ICT, China’s top industry regulator said on Feb 19.
BEIJING: Chinese authorities are carefully balancing efforts to control the novel coronavirus epidemic and minimize its impact on the economy as millions of people head back to work Monday after an extended holiday.
PETALING JAYA: The authorities should focus on reducing the demand for drugs through preventive education to complement admirable enforcement operations, says Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye.
KUALA LUMPUR: Only 15 days into the new year and the nation has already seen its biggest drug bust with the crippling of a major drug syndicate and seizure of 1.5 tonnes of drugs worth RM144.9mil.
KUALA LUMPUR: The police have seized approximately 1.5 tonnes of drugs worth RM144.9mil in a series of raids on Monday (Jan 13), says Tan Sri Abdul Hamid Bador.
In Japan, trucks are being designed for a driverless future with no cabin and interchangeable container areas that would allow vehicles to be highly customised for parcel delivery or even serve as mini-hotels or beauty salons.
JOHOR BARU: A businesswoman who was two-timing her online boyfriend with another man she met on Facebook ended up being conned of RM800,000 within a month.
Traditional members of Indonesia’s Baduy tribe shun footwear and live in woven bamboo houses without electricity, harvesting honey from natural beehives and weaving intricate traditional fabrics by hand. Some younger members then sell the stuff on Instagram.
The proposed increase in postal tariffs could be a boon for logistics companies. In particular, it could benefit national courier and postal service provider Pos Malaysia Bhd, which fell into the red in the financial year ended March 31, 2019 (FY19).


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Bricks-and-mortar stores lose out as e-commerce grows, but most retailers have now supplemented their shops with online businesses, the FT reports.
Realtor.com has released its year-end list of craziest places to live, from a pirate-themed mansions to a missile silo.
The yearlong average price of gasoline in 2014 will fall below $3.40 per gallon for the first time since 2010, GasBuddy's survey said.
Americans waited until the last minute to buy holiday gifts, but retailers weren't prepared for the spike.
Amazon is looking at the performance of delivery companies handling its orders after packages were left stranded this Christmas, the FT reports.
Saturday's loss in jobless benefits is bound to escalate the political battle. USA Today reports.
If your marriage is over, you’re a member of the jet set and earn less than your partner, London seems to be the place to get a generous settlement.
General Motors' China joint venture will recall close to 1.5 million vehicles due to potential safety issues.
The holidays are fun, but also a time of financial excess. Here is the cost of a poor credit rating, and how to fix it.
The end of emergency jobless benefits would be bad news for 1.3 million but actually could drop the unemployment rate.
High income earners might get an unwelcome surprise after New Year's. Here's how to deal with it.
StellaService, which rates retail customer service, scored sites on meeting promised delivery dates on holiday orders.
Thanks to a technical error some consumers were able to land round-trip tickets on Delta Air Lines for under $50.
A New York bakery is selling liquor-flavored doughnuts. CNBC did a taste test for Chew and Brew.
Six years later, why does it feel like the recession never really ended?
Volatility will likely pick up next year, Citigroup Chief U.S. Equity Strategist Tobias Levkovich says.
Americans received hundreds of billions of dollars' worth of gifts yesterday — and there's a good chance we don't want a lot of them.
Electric cars may be worth less compared to their original value over five years than conventionals. USA Today reports.
Those without electricity since last weekend's ice may not get their power back for another day — or longer.
The holiday season is synonymous with excess: a sharp uptick in gifts, eating and even trash, the Wall Street Journal reports.


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Electric vehicles have garnered quite a bit of enthusiasm from early adopters -- along with a healthy dose of misinformation and lack of knowledge amongst the general public.
Although the average driver travels less than 50 miles each day, half of people surveyed in IBM's recent report, The Shift to Electric Vehicles: Putting Consumers in the Driver's Seat, said that they would want a car that could go at least 200 miles on a single charge. Thirty-four percent want at least 300 miles of range.
The report found that while some consumers had misconceptions, such as the cost of maintaining an EV compared to an internal combustion engine car, there was also a problem of car makers not painting the right picture to interest people.
Cost is still a major driver, however, and without a battery breakthrough, electric cars could have trouble getting substantially cheaper, according to Travis Bradford, president and founder of the Prometheus Institute for Sustainable Development and co-author of the recent GTM Research report, Electric Vehicles 2011: Technology, Economics, and Market. One solution that the IBM survey noted was to move toward more innovative pricing models and better messaging about the advantages of electric cars and the average person's true driving habits.
“I was surprised how many people acknowledged they knew almost nothing,” said Kal Gyimesi, Automotive and Industrial Practice Leader for IBM Global Business Services, one of the report's authors. The survey found that 45 percent of more than 1,700 people said they knew little or nothing about electric vehicles.
That is not surprising to automakers, said Gyimesi, who are ramping up advertising and educational campaigns around electric vehicles. The respondents who said they knew a lot about EVs were more than twice as likely to consider purchasing one.
But car makers will have to do more than just get the word out. Nearly three-quarters of the auto executives surveyed said that government incentives are an important driver for mass adoption of electric vehicles, yet only 41 percent of consumers named government incentives as a primary driver.
Creative pricing models are one area where Big Auto could make electric vehicles more attractive to drivers outside of government incentives, according to Gyimesi.
Car makers are toying with the idea of battery leasing, although that will depend on the value of the battery in other markets after it has served its useful life in the car. It's still early days in that field. General Motors recently announced a partnership with ABB to test car batteries for grid services. American Electric Power and S&C are also running a Department of Energy-funded community energy storage pilot using EV batteries.
Besides creative leasing, Gyimesi also said that car makers could get creative in mobility packages. If a consumer needs to hit the ski slopes or go visit grandma in the neighboring state, she could have access to a gas or plug-in hybrid vehicle for the longer trip. This is one area where a connected car could have advantages. From color schemes to Pandora stations, the car that a driver takes for the long weekend trip could have the same personalization as his day-to-day all-electric vehicle. "That idea can help electric vehicles tremendously,” said Gyimesi.
Of course, the other option is that the average driver will just opt for the plug-in hybrid rather than the full battery electric vehicle, especially as a first foray into the world of EVs.
During The Networked EV conference, Bradford noted that plug-in hybrids will likely be the option of choice for the mass market, at least in the near term. Once people are comfortable with how little they use the gas engine, they could be more likely to switch to an all-electric model in the future.
For more insight on the electrification of personal transport, join GTM Research for its latest webinar, "Electric Vehicles 2011: Technology, Economics, and Market," on Tuesday, November 22 at 2:00 PM EST.


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Somewhat Favorable News Coverage Somewhat Unlikely to Affect PGT Innovations (PGTI) Stock Price
News articles about PGT Innovations (NYSE:PGTI) have been trending somewhat positive on Monday, Accern Sentiment reports. Accern rates the sentiment of media coverage by reviewing more than twenty million news and blog sources. Accern ranks coverage of publicly-traded companies on a scale of negative one to positive one, with scores nearest to one being the most favorable. PGT Innovations earned a media sentiment score of 0.20 on Accern’s scale. Accern also assigned press coverage about the construction company an impact score of 45.0746499129265 out of 100, meaning that recent media coverage is somewhat unlikely to have an impact on the stock’s share price in the next several days.
A number of analysts have weighed in on the company. B. Riley reiterated a “buy” rating on shares of PGT Innovations in a report on Wednesday, November 1st. KeyCorp reiterated a “hold” rating on shares of PGT Innovations in a report on Tuesday, September 26th. FBR & Co reiterated a “buy” rating and set a $15.00 price target (up from $13.00) on shares of PGT Innovations in a report on Monday, August 21st. BidaskClub upgraded PGT Innovations from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research note on Tuesday, October 3rd. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada restated a “buy” rating on shares of PGT Innovations in a research note on Thursday, November 30th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have assigned a hold rating and five have given a buy rating to the company’s stock. The company currently has an average rating of “Buy” and a consensus target price of $16.67.
PGT Innovations (PGTI) opened at $16.25 on Monday. PGT Innovations has a 1 year low of $10.00 and a 1 year high of $16.50. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.50, a quick ratio of 2.71 and a current ratio of 3.67. The company has a market cap of $806.99, a P/E ratio of 30.66, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.79 and a beta of 1.21.
In other PGT Innovations news, Director Richard D. Feintuch sold 50,000 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Wednesday, November 22nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $16.05, for a total transaction of $802,500.00. Following the sale, the director now owns 75,508 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $1,211,903.40. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, Director William J. Morgan sold 41,395 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Monday, November 20th. The shares were sold at an average price of $15.71, for a total transaction of $650,315.45. Following the sale, the director now directly owns 75,508 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,186,230.68. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders own 6.10% of the company’s stock.
About PGT Innovations
PGT Innovations, Inc, formerly PGT, Inc, is a manufacturer of impact-resistant windows and doors. The Company’s brands include CGI, PGT Windows + Doors and WinDoor. CGI serves residential and commercial markets in both new and existing construction. CGI manufacturing and delivery facilities are based in Miami, Florida.
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(New York, NY) -- A federal judge is fining U.P.S. nearly a quarter of a billion dollars for illegally shipping hundreds of thousands of cartons of untaxed cigarettes in New York.
According to a court filing on Thursday, the judge in Manhattan federal court ruled that the shipments deprived the state and New York City of millions of dollars in taxes. The shipping company is ordered to pay a total of 247-million dollars in penalties to the city and state. U.P.S. says it will appeal.
Copyright © 2017
TTWN Media Networks Inc.
Photo: flickr Open Grid Scheduler/Grid Engine


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By Marc Cieslak
Mega Man has sold over 28m units and has appeared in 124 different titles
From Sonic to Solid Snake, Mario to Mega Man, the Japanese love video games.
While it's taken years for games to become mainstream in the West, videogames are now as much a part of Japanese popular culture as the Walkman and Anime.
Their influence can be felt all over popular Japanese culture but, as Western developers are enjoying unparalleled global success with huge open world games and first person shooters, is the Japanese gaming engine about to come off the tracks?
during the Tokyo Games Show,
Keiji Inafune, head of global research and development and global head of production at Capcom, made some startling observations about the Japanese gaming industry:
"Everyone's making awful games - Japan is at least five years behind," he said.
"I don't think that Japanese games can't ever be popular overseas again. But they won't be popular any more in their pure state. It's like sushi. Everyone loves sushi in the West, but you can't just serve sushi over there like it is in Japan.
"Japan is isolated in the gaming world. If something doesn't change, we're doomed."
And he is not the only one who thinks this.
In 2002, it is estimated that Japan accounted for nearly 50% of the world's gaming market. That has now fallen to around 10% and without Nintendo, with the success of the Wii console, the figure would be even lower - around 8%.
"I've been in the game industry for a while and have some worries and concerns that the Japanese game industry's influence has become weaker and weaker in recent years," says Kaz Takeshita, general manager of games company UTV Ignition.
"The video games industry was born in Japan and then exported overseas. When the business side of things rather than creativity is prioritised, when efficiency and profitability is prioritised, creativity and originality is undermined."
Some of the most popular Japanese games are very different to titles played by Western gamers.
And while Japanese games traditionally enjoyed success in the West, the same is not true of Western games in Japan.
Sci-fi first person shooter Halo Reach topped the video games charts across Europe and the US but in Japan only reached the number four spot in the sales charts.
Hirokazu Hamamura, president of Enterbrain - the company which publishes Japan's most popular video games magazine Famitsu - thinks there are fundamental differences between Western and Japanese gamers.
"Halo's theme is warfare," he says.
Japan's gaming industry no longer dominates the global market
"The Japanese don't like shooting and war games very much. They prefer playing in fantasy worlds and battling with swords. I think there is very little interest in fighting with guns and this sort of combat game."
"It's only my guess but European and American game designers are probably more inspired by movies. In Japan, many creators are inspired by comics and animé. I think that's the big difference.
"There's another difference in graphics - European and Americans prefer realistic visuals whereas Japanese prefer more cartoon-like characters."
So if the games and gamers are different, how do Japanese software designers create titles which compete on the world stage?
At the Tokyo Games Show, Inafune pushed for higher investment in games and said that it could be too late to start entering the US market - instead he is looking to "the next big market", China.
Yet developers are still looking towards the West in their attempt to globalise.
In Tokyo's Shibuya district, a team of developers with credits that include the Devil May Cry games and Okami has been assembled to work on their next project, yet this company - UTV Ignition - is actually UK-owned and bankrolled with Indian investment.
It has its eye firmly on creating games with a global appeal.
"From the start we focused on a multinational feeling and wanted the game to look like it doesn't belong to a specific place," says Sawaki Takeyasu, game director of UTV Ignition.
The Wii has seen a real reversal of fortunes for Nintendo in the West
"We're satisfied with the result. The reason why this game looks very 'Japanese' to Western observers is because the Japanese make sophisticated games and it shows through."
over 350m units of the most recent generation of hardware
sold worldwide and a global video
entertainment and media industry that is expected to grow
to $1.7tn (£1tn) by 2014, it is a market that - despite the increased competition - many companies believe is worth fighting for.
"Game consoles are widespread and machines such as the PS3 will continue to grow," says Hirokazu Hamamura.
"There are rumours of Wii-2 and games for the iPad and iPhone have started to become more popular too. Social games for mobile phones are extremely popular.
"The number of gamers has dramatically increased, but there're more platforms hence more rivals for us.
"Japan's games industry is at a turning point."


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Öhlins USA will hold an open house on Saturday, May 12, 2012, in Western North Carolina to celebrate its 15-year history and the 36th year of Öhlins Racing AB. The event will include displays of numerous associates and friends.
Also featured will be the company’s racecar lab with Seven-Post Shake Rig Demonstrations and informative Motorcycle Suspension Set-Up Seminars. Food will be available for purchase and there will be a prize drawing that includes a Grand Prize motorcycle shock. Local Öhlins dealers and service centers will be present to fulfill personal suspension needs.
The Öhlins USA Open House is Saturday, May 12, 2012, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and will be held rain, shine or meteor shower at 703C S. Grove St, Hendersonville, North Carolina 28792.
Öhlins USA distributes and services performance suspension components for automobiles, motorcycles, and ATVs. For more information, call 828-692-4525 or visit ohlinsusa.com.


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Special Features Correspondent @TheStreet. Happy and Positive Guy.
Target says it will close on Thanksgiving Day. Walmart detailed this last week, too. @YahooFinance
"In the past few weeks, pants with buttons and zippers have begun outselling those with drawstrings or elastic waistbands at L.L. Bean Inc." via @WSJ
Walmart beats the government in giving money out to those impacted by the #coronavirus
J.C. Penney's losses: 2012: $985 million 2013: $1.4 billion 2014: $713 million 2015: $513 million 2016: $17 million 2017: $118 million 2018: $255 million 2019: $268 million Total: $4.3 billion Likely to file for bankruptcy by end of weekend. $JCP
Kroger and UFCW push to have workers designated as first responders #coronavirus


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On October 2, 1991, Disney Vacation Development sold its first timeshare deed for the Disney Vacation Club at Walt Disney World Resort. It was the culmination of an idea — to design and build a Disney styled timeshare ownership program — which traces its roots back to the early 1980s.
Thirty years ago this week it all began with one deed.
The first official announcement of what would become the Disney Vacation Club and Disney’s Old Key West Resort was made by Walt Disney Company’s then-Chairman Michael Eisner on January 14, 1990. Few specifics were given other than the resort would have 500 units and be built at Walt Disney World. About a year later on January 8, 1991, Disney was granted a timeshare license by the State of Florida. In May 1991, more detailed plans were filed showing the first 190 villas would be built around the Lake Buena Vista Golf Course.
Disney's Old Key West Resort
Sales for the Disney Vacation Club began on September 30, 1991. With a base price of $51 a point, new members buying 230 points made a one-time purchase of $11,730 for 50 years of ownership good until January 31, 2042. Annual dues were assessed to be $500 to $700 and owners received free admission to the Walt Disney World theme parks during their stays until 1999.
In 1991, there were no social media platforms, no Disney oriented bloggers or vloggers, Very few homes had internet access. Disney had to rely on face-to-face dealings with guests visiting Walt Disney World to market the Disney Vacation Club. Nevertheless, Disney had a good response to its new venture. In its first month, Disney sold 107 deeds containing 28,833 points. Within its first six months, 1513 deeds and 413,084 points were sold.
Disney's BoardWalk Inn & Villas
Right from the start, the Disney Vacation Club also appealed to international guests. The first international deed was sold on October 10, 1991 to a Canadian. In the first three months Disney also sold DVC deeds to residents of Germany, Mexico, Saudi Arabia, Isle of Man, Malaysia, Japan, and Venezuela.
Although sales started in September 1991, none of the early deeds were recorded with the Orange County Comptroller until January 9, 1992. One reason for the delay is that Disney did not record the master declaration for the Disney Vacation Club until January 6, 1992, more than three months after sales to the public had commenced. This is unheard of in modern times as the master declaration for new DVC resorts always predates the start of sales.
Aulani, Disney Vacation Club Villas
From its humble beginnings 30 years ago, the Disney Vacation Club has grown to 15 resorts in four States. Before the COVID pandemic in 2020, sales regularly exceeded 2 million points a year. Prices have also climbed considerable: From a base price of only $51 a point in 1991, Disney’s Riviera Resort commands a price of $201 a point before incentives are considered.
The fifteen DVC resorts currently represent almost 77 million points, with nearly 250,000 unique owners throughout the program.
Disney's Riviera Resort
There is no telling what the next 30 years might hold for DVC. Two years ago no one could have foreseen the devastating affects of the COVID pandemic on the travel industry. But Disney and its many fans are resilient. It will be interesting to watch DVC respond to the challenges its confronts in the years to come.
Special thanks to DVCinfo.com, Mike Prewitt and Chris Dantès.
Wil Lovato is a contributor to DVCNews.com and has been a Disney Vacation Club owner since 2009. His DVC Home Resorts include Bay Lake Tower, Animal Kingdom Villas, and Aulani. He can be found posting on many Disney discussion forums under the username of “wdrl.”


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Instacart has announced that Electronic Benefits Transfer for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (EBT SNAP) can now be used to buy groceries online via Instacart in every state, making Instacart the first and only online grocery marketplace to accept SNAP in all 50 states and Washington D.C. The company recently launched online SNAP acceptance in Alaska with Albertsons Companies banner Safeway, completing the commitment Instacart made in 2022 as part of the launch of its Instacart Health initiative and the White House National Strategy on Hunger, Nutrition and Health to bring SNAP online in all 50 states this year.
Instacart now offers online SNAP acceptance from more than 120 retail banners across more than 10,000 stores, more than any other online grocery marketplace. According to the US Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service (USDA FNS), more than 42 million people – more than 12 percent of the US population – are enrolled in SNAP. With the expansion, Instacart now reaches nearly 95 percent of US households enrolled in SNAP.
“Our mission is to create a world where everyone has access to the food they love. By expanding online SNAP acceptance to all 50 states, we’re delivering on our mission by modernizing access and connecting more communities to affordable and nutritious foods,” said Dani Dudeck, Chief Corporate Affairs Officer at Instacart. “Now SNAP families in every state can enjoy the benefits of online grocery from a variety of local retailers that meet their unique tastes, needs and personal budgets. We’re proud to have reached this landmark alongside USDA, state agencies and our retail partners across the country, and we look forward to continuing this work to ensure every family can access the food they need to thrive.”
Instacart first brought SNAP online in 2020, working closely with USDA FNS to pioneer the retail onboarding process and expand access to online SNAP payments across the country.
“USDA is committed to ensuring every family has access to affordable, nutritious food, and we recognize the important role of private sector leaders in expanding equitable access to SNAP online shopping,” said Stacy Dean, Deputy Under Secretary for Food, Nutrition and Consumer Services. “Such partnerships strengthen our collective commitment to advancing President Biden’s National Strategy on Hunger, Nutrition and Health.”
Research published last year by the University of Kentucky, No Kid Hungry and Instacart showed that online grocery shopping helps low-income families, including SNAP households, overcome mobility barriers, stretch food budgets, assist with meal planning, save time and money and decrease potential stigma associated with using benefits in-store. The study also found that SNAP recipients and families in lower income households who grocery shop online purchase more fruits and vegetables than in-store shoppers, without increasing their total grocery bill.
“We’ve seen firsthand that grocery delivery can play a powerful role in expanding access to nutrition – a cornerstone of our mission and Instacart Health initiative. With the launch of online SNAP acceptance in Alaska, we’re helping more people nourish themselves and their families,” said Sarah Mastrorocco, Vice President and General Manager of Instacart Health. “Online SNAP acceptance on our marketplace offers families flexibility, convenience and dignity of choice, and we’re proud to partner with Albertsons Companies to bring these benefits to Alaskans.”
With the launch of seven Safeway locations in Alaska, Instacart now partners with Albertsons Companies to offer online SNAP acceptance at 13 banners in 33 states and Washington D.C.
“At Albertsons Companies, we’re committed to solving for food insecurity, and we want to ensure that all our local communities can shop from our banners, regardless of access to a physical store. Through our partnership with Instacart, we offer SNAP recipients same-day delivery and help overcome mobility challenges, including physical disability and lack of transportation, to better serve our customers,” said Stephen Menaquale, SVP Ecommerce for Albertsons Companies. “Enabling SNAP online is a critical component of our ongoing efforts to create accessible, flexible and convenient shopping experiences for all customers.”
Where available, SNAP participants can shop for groceries on Instacart from local retailers for delivery or pickup in as fast as 30-minutes or scheduled several days in advance. Instacart offers a discounted Instacart+ membership for SNAP participants, designed to give more families access to same-day delivery and pickup from Instacart’s more than 1,400 retail banners across the country.
Through the program, anyone who has used an EBT SNAP card to purchase groceries on Instacart can get Instacart+ for 50 percent off (terms apply). With Instacart+, households can access free delivery and pickup on orders exceeding $35, 5 percent credit back on pickup orders and reduced service fees on every order.


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Discount grocery chain Grocery Outlet Bargain Market earlier this month opened its third store in New Jersey.
The spot is located in Hazlet at 3057 Route 35 in the Hazlet Plaza, taking over the space of a former ALDI. It opened Feb. 2 and operates daily from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.
The California-based supermarket chain offers shoppers deals on brand-name groceries, including fresh produce, meat, deli and dairy. The store also carries an assortment of natural and organic products, health and beauty care items, and seasonal buys.
The chain made its New Jersey debut early last year in Delran. Its other store is located in Hamilton.
Grocery Outlet was founded in 1946 in San Francisco and now operates over 400 stores throughout California, Idaho, Maryland, New Jersey, Nevada, Oregon, Pennsylvania and Washington.
The company opened 28 new stores in 2022.
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