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5 things Netflix needs to do to fend off competition from Disney and Apple streaming services in 2019
With both Disney and Apple launching their streaming services in 2019, the market's going to suddenly get very rich and very crowded. So what does Netflix need to do to keep its "streaming giant" status?
If 2018 is considered the year Netflix finally became a brand to reckon with in the film business, 2019 might just be the year that goes down as the one that saw Netflix's virtual dominance of the streaming content sphere take a huge hit.
News that both Disney and Apple are entering the streaming market has been around for a while, but now it's upon us, and the seismic shifts have been felt for a few months now. Take, for instance, the evaporation of Marvel content from Netflix, ostensibly so they can resurface with Disney: 'Daredevil' and 'Luke Cage' fans may have to wait till 2020, however, before their shows are rebooted on Disney's platform.
Now while Marvel's TV project has not gone as swimmingly as its film one, there was still a lot of its content that drew a host of subscribers to Netflix, and with DC getting its own streaming service, it could leave Netflix relatively superhero-free in 2019.
Disney has the financial muscle to strongarm Netflix, but does it have a legacy of supremely high quality? Not really, that mantle lies with Apple, which will reportedly launch its own streaming service in early 2019. But while Netflix will have Mickey Mouse in its crosshairs, it needs to keep a close eye on its other rival. Apple is said to have plans to spend $4.2bn on original programming by 2022, which is still a long way from Netflix's own original programming budget of $6.8bn, but with an extreme focus on big names, and, hopefully, high quality it could make a large dent.
So what does Netflix have to keep in mind to stay ahead of the game in 2019? Let's add our two penny's worth.
1. Increase focus on films
In 2018, Netflix really stretched their filmmaking muscle. From the millennial-pleasing 'To All The Boys I've Loved Before' to the strange but beautifully wrought Sandra Bullock-starrer 'Bird Box', the company began to really develop its credentials. Of course, the crowning glory came with Alfonso Cuarón's 'Roma', a film that drips pedigree and is widely-tipped as a frontrunner in the race for the Best Picture Oscar ('A Star Is Born' and 'Vice' may have something to say about that, but still).
'Roma' proved that Netflix could get into the ring with the big studios and deliver something close to a knock-out punch. Of late Netflix seems to be better at films than TV shows, and maybe that's where its focus should eventually gravitate to. All eyes will now be on Netflix's 2019 movie flagship, Martin Scorsese's 'The Irishman', starring Robert De Niro, Al Pacino, and Joe Pesci (yes, we had that feeling too). With a reported budget in excess of $150 million it could finally cement Netflix as a bonafide film giant.
2. Go for quality, not volume
Netflix produced a host of TV shows that were absolute pants in 2018. From the debacle that was the final season of 'House of Cards', to the atrocious 'Insatiable', it wasn't a very good year (anybody citing 'The Bodyguard', that was a BBC production).
Of course, supporters will point to shows such as 'Atypical', 'Altered Carbon', 'The Haunting of Hill House' and 'The Crown' as proof that the service hasn't lost any of the mojo that made it a global leader. But considering the amount of original content being put out by Netflix, you'd think they'd have a better success rate. And therein lies the problem. Maybe Netflix needs to sit down and take stock at the number of shows they're creating, after all, Disney will blow them out of the water in that regard.
Netflix needs to take a leaf out of the HBO and Showtime books (still producing the best TV shows by far) and opt for extremely high quality programming over the conveyor belt of mediocrity. The problem with global domination, some might say, lies in the word 'domination', which indirectly translates into volume, humbug!
Apple has dominated the high-end personal tech market for decades relying solely on quality and innovation, and that company is likely to bring that same approach to its streaming service. Apple has already hired a formidable brain trust: People who have been responsible for the likes of 'Narcos', 'Breaking Bad', 'Sherlock', 'Luther', and 'True Blood', to name a few iconic shows. Netflix is at a crossroads, the path it next chooses, may be its most important decision yet.
3. English is done and dusted
One thing Netflix has done exceptionally well, is acquire the distribution rights to some superb non-English films and TV shows from around the globe. From Brazil's 3% and Spain's Money Heist, to Italy's Suburra and Israel's Fauda, the quality is impeccable and far better than anything original Netflix has to currently offer in English. Maybe this is the way forward for the service when it comes to TV shows. Make fewer original TV shows, but of a much higher quality, and hoover up rights to the best non-English shows out there. And while this is happening the company can focus on its film business and on creating non-English original content for its mushrooming global audience.
If, however, there was ever a sign in 2018 reminding Netflix to never take its eye off the ball, then it's the blow that was tellingly delivered by HBO. For all Netflix's global muscle and keen eye for a good non-English show, they were completely gazumped when HBO and Italian networks RAI and TIMvision released 'My Brilliant Friend', arguably one of the best TV shows released in 2018, in any language.
Netflix cannot let down its guard, while there may be few that are bigger, there are quite a few who are better, and that's a fact of life the service will have to deal with.
4. Never forget the dark horse
All this talk about Netflix's upcoming battle with Disney and Apple tends to cloud over the fact that there is a rather large fourth player in the streaming industry, and it's been producing some rather good content: Meet Amazon. With a budget in excess of $8bn to spend on original programming, Amazon makes Netflix look like the young upstart.
Amazon may have only produced a fraction of the original programming Netflix did in 2018, but what they did produce was electrifying. 'Jack Ryan' was a revelation that has picked up the baton dropped carelessly by 'Homeland' over the last couple of years. 'Homecoming' may have been an acquired taste, but then again so is the finest malt whisky. And with 'The Man in the High Castle' and 'Goliath', Amazon proved it not only knew how to make good shows, but sustain them as well.
Amazon already have two highly-anticipated shows slated for early 2019 in Neil Gaiman's 'Good Omens' and 'Carnival Row', but it is what's coming further down the line that should really have Netflix worried. Playing off the huge success of HBO's 'Game of Thrones', will come Robert Jordan's 'The Wheel of Time' series and a mooted 'Lord of the Rings' show.
Amazon also seems to be looking at science fiction as a route to the top: Having already saved the superb 'The Expanse' from the TV boneyard, they've also lined up Iain M Banks's 'Consider Phlebas', and Larry Niven's legendary 'Ringworld'. Fighting Disney on the hills and beaches of an entertainment battlefield is all well and good, but the new world rescuing the old may come in the form of Amazon, if Netflix are not careful.
5. Diversify your content
If anything, 2018 was also the year the documentary regained its mass appeal. Showtime, HBO, Netflix, A&E, all delivered standout programming in the non-fiction and reportage space that we haven't seen in a long while. Sports continues to attract that highest number of eyeballs and the content that can be created around major sporting events such as the World Series, the Super Bowl, World Cup, not to mention Kentucky Derby, Ryder Cup, Wimbledon, etc, is phenomenal. So why not diversify? No one is doing it in a substantial way yet and while a streaming service for sports may be a veritable minefield at the moment, that can change with a consolidated effort.
With Disney and Apple entering the streaming service playground it's going to get very crowded very soon, and this crowd is playing for keeps. Netflix could do a lot worse than consider a diversified content strategy that will only serve to increase its user base and give it a chance to lay down a legacy in markets very few have. It's a thought.


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Wegmans 101: Industry observers reflect upon the art and science of Wegmans
May. 17, 2013
Industry observers reflect upon the art and science of Wegmans
While Wegmans' measured store growth — it averages around two to four new stores a year — doesn't result in sudden catastrophe for a market, its effects are there from the start, observers say. "Wegmans is one of the few retailers that's savvy enough from a merchandising perspective and sophisticated enough from a technological perspective to move into a new geographical area and be successful from Day 1," one industry observer, who asked not to be identified, said. "That's because they've done their homework, and they employ the lessons learned in their homeland to new markets."
"Most food stores will attract clientele from three miles out. Wegmans doubles and sometimes triples that, easily," said Barry Scher, a retired officer of Ahold's Giant-Landover division who witnessed Wegmans' arrival in Giant's Washington-Baltimore trade area beginning in 2004. "What happens when Wegmans comes along is that companies have to find a second gear. They will start new promotional programs to re-establish their identities in the market. They need remodeling and other in-store activities to hype up the staff."
Giant's response included a marketwide store renovation program along with specific tactics around service and pricing at specific stores in the trade area. But not everyone makes it. Since Wegmans' arrival in the DC market, both SuperFresh and Magruders have pulled out, although industry watchers say a variety of factors contributed to those departures.
"Wegmans has definitely had an effect in pockets of the Baltimore area grocery market given the size, product selection, and pricing in their stores," Jeremy Diamond, a consultant with the Diamond Group, Baltimore, told SN. "I've seen stores like Safeway and Food Lion hurt from Wegmans expansion. The stores that thrive are the stores that have a niche, despite Wegmans massive store size. Competitors who have a niche such as neighborhood grocery store where the associates know their customer's by name, carry an abundance of natural/organic products, or are simply very price competitive can compete effectively with Wegmans."
Looking further ahead, many observers see Wegmans' East Coast markets falling into the hands of still fewer players.
"Wegmans brings a strong merchandising and operating team to every store that they open, and over the last few years they've become even better merchants and offered even better pricing. So they are formidable," one source said. "However, strong operators like ShopRite, that have an established customer base and strong merchandising and pricing programs of their own, can compete very well with Wegmans. But the weaker players will find they have very little in their arsenal to compete."
ShopRite, considered by many to have successfully faced down Wegmans in New Jersey, is now encountering Wegmans around parts of Maryland and New York.
"The most formidable, and only true competitor they have in the Northeast is ShopRite, especially with the new larger format stores they are opening," the observer added. "Wegmans pays attention to Whole Foods, and they pay attention to Fairway, but they pay very close attention to ShopRite. I think ShopRite is the only competitor who can limit Wegmans' growth."
In Massachusetts, where Wegmans has opened a single store in Northborough in 2010 but has plans for at least three additional in the greater Boston area, Demoulas Supermarkets — whose Market Basket stores, like ShopRite, large and price-focused — should also withstand Wegmans' arrival, Flickinger said. But others may need to worry, at least based on the sales volumes Wegmans was showing in Northborough.
"Stop & Shop has some very interesting initiatives in foods that are good for you not only for kids but for seniors with special restrictive diets, so they're drawing from a wider customer base. Market Basket is winning in terms of feeding large families, and it's tough to beat their pricing and promotional discipline," Flickinger said. "But Wegmans can win on all consumer constituencies. It's going to be very difficult for anyone else to gain or hold market share and consistent sales levels once Wegmans opens there."
Factors that may limit Wegmans' growth include its deliberate store-development pace. The company also needs to maintain quality leadership.
"A limiting factor is that their store needs a certain type of trade area and population surrounding the trade area," one industry source said. "So by definition there's a finite number of places they can build, although there are plenty left. A more likely constraint will be the strength of their management team. Can the family develop strong management internally and externally to continue the approach that's been successful? They are to be commended for policies that develop the rank and file but will they be able to have strong senior management?"
Read More: http://supermarketnews.com/new-york/wegmans-101-industry-observers-reflect-upon-art-and-science-wegmans#ixzz2UVNkuw75

domain: news


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The internet’s fastest-growing industries
To succeed in the digital era, companies need to find new ways to adapt. The e-commerce and entertainment industries have been at the forefront of the online revolution for years, and here are some key numbers and statistics.
E-commerce and the rise of online grocery shopping
E-commerce is one of the fastest-growing industries in the world. The percentage of retail sales made online has been increasing for years, and the industry is on track to reach $6.5 trillion in sales in just three years. There are more than two billion online shoppers, which is almost a quarter of the world’s total population. Online shopping is already widely established in America, Europe and many Asian countries, but online retail sales are expected to boom in emerging markets such as India and Brazil.
Amazon is the undisputed leader in the e-commerce space. Founded in 1994 by Jeff Bezos, the America-based company is often referred to as “one of the most influential economic and cultural forces in the world”. Amazon revolutionised the e-commerce industry by focusing on user experience. By using complex algorithms, the store is tailored to each individual user. What’s more, third-party sellers and stores can use the Amazon platform instead of having to build their own web store.
Electronics, clothes and other consumer goods have been sold online for years, but online grocery shopping has been a long time coming. A brand new report by Business Insider shows that the current global crisis has made more people willing to buy their groceries online. U.S. online grocery sales grew 22% last year and are expected to grow 40% in 2020. Regardless of whether the current situation will continue, there’s little doubt that there are new opportunities for e-commerce companies who are willing to commit to online grocery shopping in the coming years.
Movies, music and gaming
The entertainment industry has always been at the forefront of adapting to the digital age. Streaming services like Spotify have made it possible for consumers to listen to millions of albums on the go, and most prefer to rent a movie on iTunes instead of going to the cinema. According to Business Wire, the online entertainment market size was valued at more than $183 billion in 2019 and is estimated to climb to more than $652 billion by 2027. Hollywood relies on online streaming services more than ever, as the cinema industry is facing falling figures across the board.
Online gambling is another gambling industry that has seen consistent growth over the last decade. The total industry, which includes casinos, sports betting, bingo and poker, is estimated to be worth $50 billion per year. Instead of visiting the local casino, more players prefer to play at online casinos. In addition to being more convenient, online casinos offer a larger selection of slots and table games. At the gambling site TeleVega, players can enter the live casino and play immersive games against real dealers and with real cards. As online casino games become more authentic, it is reasonable to believe that more players will choose to play from the comfort of their homes.
This article does not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editors or management of EconoTimes


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Another innitiative that comes up with a new technology to collect plastic debris in harbours. More information on this drone: https://www.ranmarine.io/aquadrones.
The WasteShark in action at the V&A Waterfront in Cape Town. Image: Trevor Samson
A shark has been released at the V&A Waterfront to feast on the contents of its waterways.
Capetonian inventor Richard Hardiman’s floating drone‚ the WasteShark‚ swallows all the plastic litter in its path.
The battery-powered WasteShark has been tested over the past year at the Port of Rotterdam in The Netherlands‚ and Hardiman said: “We are now able to bring the WasteShark back home‚ as it were‚ thanks to the dedication of the V&A Waterfront and their sustainability values.
“We are now actively looking to launch the product in South Africa‚ and are talking to key local and national government entities to execute this.”
Scientists say the world’s oceans are being choked by 5.25 trillion pieces of plastic weighing 269‚000 tons. Left alone‚ it will erode into small pellets that change ocean ecology.
V&A Waterfront CEO David Green told guests at the Volvo Ocean Race Ocean Summit on Thursday: “For us‚ ensuring that plastic from the harbour does not end up in the open sea is one way of tackling plastic pollution in our oceans‚ and the WasteShark offers a remarkably practical way in which to do this.”
The device runs for eight hours before needing recharging and has sensors that report on water quality‚ weather and depth of the harbour basin. Mapping technology steers the drones away from ships and they can reverse if they collide with anything.
As well as The Netherlands‚ the technology is being tested in Sweden‚ India‚ the United Arab Emirates‚ the US and Australia.
A recent University of Georgia study said South Africa was one of the world’s worst ocean polluters. In a list of 20 countries that generated the highest volumes of “mismanaged plastic waste”‚ South Africa came 11th.The worst offenders were China and other Eastern nations.
Source: Times LIVE
- Clean Tech
- Marine litter
- Macro debris
- plastic debris


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The growing wealth of consumers in emerging markets is a compelling and easily understood investment thesis, so it is no surprise that several ETFs offer exposure to this specific theme.
But many of these ETFs struggled last year, underperforming the Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF (VWO).
Despite this underperformance, there are signs that the investment thesis remains intact. A survey of emerging market consumers by Boston Consulting Group found that consumer sentiment in countries such as Brazil, China and India remain strong, with recovering demand for goods and services.
Though the pandemic presents a continued risk as access to vaccinations in these countries remains limited, acceptance of vaccines is high, which bodes well for these economies once access is more readily available.
First Of Its Kind
The first ETF to offer targeted exposure to emerging market consumers is the Columbia Emerging Markets Consumer ETF (ECON), launched under the EGShares label in 2010. The fund tracks a cap-weighted index of 60 emerging market companies split evenly across three sectors—consumer staples, consumer discretionary and communication services.
ECON was successful in gathering assets, with over $1 billion in net flows by the end of 2013.
Courtesy of FactSet
These inflows were no surprise given ECON’s dramatic outperformance of VWO. From launch through the end of 2013, ECON gained 34.7%, while VWO rose by a mere 2.9%.
Since then, the fund’s assets have fallen to $131 million, while competing ETFs continue to enter the space.
The Indian Consumer
Some ETFs offer a more focused play on this theme. Another fund to launch not long after ECON was the Columbia India Consumer ETF (INCO), which debuted in August 2011. Rather than focusing on broad emerging markets, this fund solely focuses on Indian consumer sector stocks.
This focused exposure has allowed INCO to outperform, gaining 177% since its launch. While ECON’s 15% allocation to Indian equities has benefited from this rise as well, its effect has been diluted by the smaller allocation.
India’s outperformance of broader emerging markets has been going on for most of the past decade as the country’s citizens gained buying power, boosting these stocks.
However, the most recent divergence in performance has had to do with ECON’s weighting to China, which makes up nearly half of the portfolio via the Hong Kong market.
Courtesy of FactSet
This outsized allocation to the country is common in cap-weighted emerging market ETFs, the risks of which became evident in last year’s regulatory crackdown by the Chinese government.
With Or Without
One issuer in particular is acknowledging the opportunities as well as the risks of China’s weight in emerging markets by offering two versions of an investment theme—one with and one without Chinese exposure.
The Emerging Markets Internet & Ecommerce ETF (EMQQ) launched in 2014, tracking a cap-weighted index of companies producing most of their revenue from internet and ecommerce activity in emerging markets.
Access to smartphones and the internet is a key driver of the emerging market consumer, as things like mobile payments and ecommerce take hold within these countries.
China makes up over half of EMQQ’s portfolio, and performance over the last year has suffered due to this regional allocation as well as the ETF’s tech focus.
In September 2021, The Next Frontier Internet & Ecommerce ETF (FMQQ) launched, offering similar exposure as EMQQ, but notably excluding China. Korea is the largest country weighting in this fund, making up a quarter of the portfolio.
Though the launch was likely driven by events of last year, performance of FMQQ has lagged that of EMQQ since.
Past performance is no indication of what the future holds, though. Kevin Carter, founder of EMQQ and FMQQ, believes that both ETFs have a solid case for investment going forward.
FMQQ’s allocation to frontier countries presents significant growth opportunities going forward. “China’s ecommerce market, the most developed of the world, is getting close to 30% of all retail. The population-weighted penetration rate for FMQQ is under 5%. So you’ve got four times the [number of] people and one-fifth the penetration [of ecommerce],” he explained.
However, Carter also feels that the drawdown in Chinese internet and ecommerce equities is driven more by investor sentiment than fundamentals.
“Sentiment is important, and if it’s not noise to everyone else, that’s going to play out in the marketplace,” he noted. “But I think, long term, [the Chinese government] knows capitalism works. It’s hard to believe that they’re going to go away from it.”
Contact Jessica Ferringer at [email protected] or follow her on Twitter


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Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz hasn’t been cleared for contact yet and says the decision on whether he’ll play Week 1 against the Falcons is “going to be close.”
Australian featherweight Alex Volkanovski says he’s fully recovered from a painful rib injury suffered last month and is ready to book his next bout. And Volkanovski has some opponents in mind for his next few fights.
Former Raiders cornerback Sean Smith was released from prison on Tuesday after serving five months of his one-year sentence.
From the All-SEC team to power rankings and Heisman hopefuls, we’ve got you covered.
The players replacing Baker Mayfield, Lamar Jackson, Sam Darnold and Josh Rosen have huge shoes to fill, while coaches have to reset the offense.
Amazon is running some fantastic video game deals. Better yet, many of the discounts are on Nintendo Switch games that don’t go on sale very often, so if you have a Switch it’s definitely worth looking at these deals to see if you want to add any of the games to your collection. But seeing […]
The Xbox One‘s backwards compatibility feature, introduced in November 2015, lets you play original Xbox and Xbox 360 games on the current-gen console. But what games are available? We’ve rounded them all up–and we’ll continue to update this post as new games are made available to the extensive list. More are added regularly, although new […]
Microsoft has added another pair of Xbox 360 games to Xbox One’s growing backwards compatible library. Ahead of the release of Shadow of the Tomb Raider next month, players can now revisit two of Lara Croft’s last-gen adventures on Xbox One: Tomb Raider Legend and Tomb Raider Anniversary. Originally released in 2006, Tomb Raider Legend […]
Patrick Soderlund, EA’s chief design officer, is one of its most recognizable executives; from taking the stage at E3 to bearing the brunt of the company’s recent lootbox controversy, he has been a major public face for one of the world’s largest gaming companies. Now, EA has announced Soderlund is leaving the company and “will […]
Dead Cells is already a critical hit, and some eagle-eyed fans have noticed a handful of Easter eggs that pay homage to several other recent games. The pixel-art backgrounds contain framed artwork with several iconic characters and items from around the industry. As spotted by Twitter user Third Editions, the portraits on the wall show […]


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Loss of festival and Honda Day ‘tragic’ for Peel - MHK
More details at http://www.iomtoday.co.im/news/Loss-of-festival-and-Honda.3720728.jp
With Honda not having their annual “Honda day” in Peel during TT week this year and it being the 30th Anniversary of arguably the most famous TT victory ever, which naturaly was on a Ducati, beating the Works Honda, could this not be a great chance for Ducati, hand in hand with the DOC(GB of course) to cash in on this stupendous gaff by Honda before Suzuki does?
Just a thought!
I can see it now, Peel “Ducati day”


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The Chinese smartphone brand OnePlus have a really great fan base in the Indian market and that’s why the company is leading the premium smartphone segment in India. The company also taking the Indian market very seriously and that’s why India is the company’s second Global base after China also started a local R&D centre in the country. Well, now the company has confirmed that it will not increase the pricing of its smartphones in the Indian market.
We all know that rupee is continuously falling against the dollar and it is now have the lowest ever rate of ₹72.56 against to $1 and under the situation the company has to sign a new contract for the supply at a higher rate than earlier to reflect the currency movements. However, the company will not increase the pricing of its devices even in this situation and that will be a great relief for all the smartphone lovers.
Furthermore, the company is also going to expand its operation in India and the company will give importance in the offline presence. The smartphone brand is planning to add almost 120 touch points including 100 Croma stores. That’s not all, the company is also gearing to open six new experience centres and it will also do the servicing of the devices. Moreover, the company will also open eight authorized stores through a franchise partner.


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It’s hard to predict what makes the NFT market tick, especially when seemingly mundane artworks trigger investor frenzy for inexplicable reasons. Take, for instance, the latest non-fungible token craze EtherRocks -- a collection of 100 identical paintings of stones, differentiated only by color -- which are selling for jaw-dropping prices on Ethereum.
On August 8, one EtherRock sold for 45 Ether, which was roughly equal to $135,240 at the time. On the same day, another token from the collection fetched 33 ETH, or $100,000.
EtherRocks were some of the first nonfungibles minted on the Ethereum blockchain, following the launch of CryptoPunks collectibles in 2017. Every digital painting in the collection is of the same size and shape, and can only be distinguished by its unique color. The project’s smart contracts were deployed in December 2017.
Creators of the EtherRock have already clarified that there’s no purpose behind their creation. The project’s website says:
Nonetheless, NFT collectors are using every means at hand to snag a rock for their personal collection.
Like CryptoPunks -- which were developed as an experiment -- EtherRocks weren’t always in vogue. In fact, data from Etherscan shows that the collection sold only 20 rocks in its first three years. The first token was sold on 26 December 2017 and was bought for merely 0.99 ETH ($300 at the time).
Slowly, but steadily the collectibles found more customers in the first half of 2021 and the recent explosion of the NFT space pushed buyers to heighten demand for the remaining rocks.
Presently, all 100 tokens in the EtherRock collection have been bought and anybody looking to buy one has to deal with astronomical resale prices, ranging from $96,000 to a whopping $1.9 billion.
Giving a hilarious overview of the situation, Ran Neuner, the CEO and co-founder of Onchain Capital, tweeted:


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Walmart: Joining Project Gigaton doesn't have to be a heavy lift
Scale will come in the form of many small commitments, at least to start.
More than 400 of Walmart's supply chain partners have embraced the nine-month-old Project Gigaton, the mammoth retailer's ambitious program to help suppliers reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 1 billion tons by 2030.
That's an admirable number, considering that about 250 suppliers were initially targeted at the launch in April. But as the initiative nears its first anniversary in April, Walmart and one of its key NGO partners, World Wildlife Fund, are doubling down on making the program more "accessible" — especially to smaller organizations that haven't yet embraced sustainable business practices.
"I think we've learned how do meet them where they are, how do think of this as a continuous journey and how do we motivate and recognize their progress wherever they are in that journey," said Laura Phillips, senior vice president for global sustainability with Walmart, during mainstage conversation at GreenBiz 18.
You can expect a deeper progress report in April, but if Project Gigaton is successful, the impact will be the equivalent of taking 211 million passenger vehicles off U.S. roads for one year, according to the company's calculations. That's on top of Walmart's own mission to cut Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions by 18 percent in absolute terms by 2025.
For perspective, the indirect Scope 2 and Scope 3 emissions represented by Walmart's agricultural partners, manufacturers, logistics experts and other suppliers represent almost 90 percent of the retailer's entire carbon footprint. Walmart has been engaging many of these allies for more than a decade in its quest to reduce its carbon footprint. Project Gigaton offers "recognition" opportunities to suppliers that participate, as well as all resources to help other starts doing "good work."
Walmart's long-term aspiration is to power its operations entirely by renewable energy; it's around 26 percent, according to Phillips. (That's the same number revealed in its 2015 Global Responsibility report.) How's it doing on zero waste? It depends on the country, but on a global basis the average retailer is diverting about 77 percent of what it produces, she said. (The U.S. number is higher, around 82 percent.)We are seeing that brands that invest in this that talk about this are the ones that experience high growth. That's how we can sustain this.
Phillips addressed Project Gigaton's progress alongside Sheila Bonini, senior vice president of private sector engagement with WWF. During the past nine months, Walmart has seen some supply chain partners accelerate the pace of leading-edge programs they already had in place, the two reported. Some have even gone so far as to set science-based targets, emulating Walmart's own. But the retailer needs to win over far more suppliers, and the "big middle" isn't exactly sure how to get started. That's a worry.
"For us to achieve these goals, we need more involvement," Phillips said.
To be clear, Project Gigaton isn't mandatory. At least right now. To make its case, Walmart is underscoring the business benefits suppliers can realize in the form of cost reductions, efficiency and customer loyalty, especially among the millennial set.
"We are seeing that brands that invest in this, that talk about this are the ones that experience high growth. That's how we can sustain this," Phillips said.
Bonini's advice to suppliers that feel overwhelmed: Start in small ways that can make a meaningful impact on your business, whether that's addressing the type and amount of packaging used for products, stepping up energy efficiency measures, reducing waste, adopting more sustainable agricultural practices or fighting deforestation.
That's something these organizations can learn from their own customers and employees, not Walmart or its NGO allies.
"Figure out where is the biggest impact and start there," Bonini said. "You don't have to do everything. The program doesn't require you to do specific things. It's not a one-size-fits-all approach."
Listen to an exclusive podcast interview about Project Gigaton.


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A new computer store is opening up in Brandon and will not only sell new and refurbished computers, but also be the only ones in the Wheat City that can take your E-waste for recycling. Brandon Computers owners Danny Tayler and Jon Walker said the shop will open up and around the first of August and will be the only place in town that is part of the Province of Manitoba’s E-waste Roundup Program. E-waste includes televisions, computer equipment, telephones and audio and video equipment. Walker said Brandon Computers, located in the old Breakaway Sports building at 1229-E Richmond Avenue, will offer a line of new HP computers and accessories as well as repair, refurbish and sell used computers. Brandon Computers is EPRA (Electronic Products Recycling Association) authorized and can take both residential and commercial E-waste. For more information about Brandon Computers, call 204-717-4365 or visit brandoncomputers.ca.
Super Thrifty Pharmacy
Super Thrifty Pharmacy, located at 1100 Richmond Avenue, has brought in an exciting high quality cosmetic line frequently used by celebrity makeup artists. Valerie Ferguson, head of cosmetics at Super Thrifty Pharmacy said NYX Cosmetics is the newest edition to Super Thrifty’s beauty lines and Super Thrifty is the only place in Brandon you can get the highly coveted makeup line.
“It’s pretty much professional quality makeup. It’s very similar in quality to MAC Cosmetics, but the quality is very good and the assortment and selection is massive,” Ferguson said. She said NYX Cosmetics has previously only been available to Brandonites through on-line ordering but now customers can go and check it out in person. NYX Cosmetics has a huge line of makeup products and a vast array of colour selections in eye shadow, lipstick, blushes, eyeliners, mascara, and nail polish. For more information call Super Thrifty Pharmacy at 204-728-5730.
The Green Spot
The Green Spot has recently sprouted a new location in Onanole. The Green Spot, located at 1320 Rosser Avenue East, has grown this spring and is now locating a new Green Spot at 10 Victor Avenue, across from Sportsman’s Park in Onanole. Bernie Whetter, Green Spot owner, said the new location is doing well in cottage country and is part of a bigger plan.
“An aquantence of mine approached me and thought our two businesses would work well together in this location,” Whetter said. The plan is for Sparrow’s Bakery owners Tyler Kaktins and Julie Halls to open up a café next year and have The Green Spot and the café beside each other. Whetter said since there was an existing building at the new location in Onanole, The Green Spot was able to set up a year early and have been operating a gardening centre out of Onanole since May. Hours of the new Green Spot are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekends. You might also want to check out the Green Spot in Brandon as they are having a big sale on all their annuals until the end of the month. Hours at The Green Spot in Brandon are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday thru Saturday. For more information, contact The Green Spot in Brandon at 204-727-5884 or in Onanole at 204-848-3516.
Republished from the Brandon Sun print edition July 21, 2012


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Fort Worth, Texas — RadioShack has tapped the advisory services of turnaround consultant The Maeva Group, and named its founder/CEO as chief revitalization officer.
In his new role, Harry Wilson will report directly to RadioShack CEO Joe Magnacca and the retailer’s board. Wilson was a senior advisor in the U.S. Treasury Department and a senior member of the Auto Task Force, which was responsible for the Treasury’s role in the restructuring of General Motors and Chrysler.
“Harry Wilson’s experience in guiding companies through successful turnarounds speaks for itself and will be extremely valuable as we continue our efforts to revitalize the company,” Magnacca said.
The move represents the second time the company has brought hired guns on board to help effect a turnaround. In September, Holly Etlin, a managing director at longtime RadioShack advisor AlixPartners, was appointed interim chief financial officer for the second time in seven months.
Wilson’s appointment comes after the company secured a rescue package from lead investor Standard General and Litespeed Management that helped avert a bankruptcy. The package includes a $120 million cash injection and a debt restructuring that frees up access to additional liquidity.
Wilson said in a statement: “RadioShack remains an important retailer serving many key markets. While challenging secular trends have undermined its performance in recent years, we believe that there is a great deal of opportunity ahead of it. We look forward to working with the management team, the board, customers and vendors to help address these issues as quickly as possible and to revitalize the company.”
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338cc Harley-Davidson Bike To Make Debut In June 2020
Ever since Harley-Davidson has joined hands with the Chinese firm Zhejiang Qianjiang, both the manufacturers have been in the news on their upcoming entry-level motorcycle. To jog your memory, Zhejiang Qianjiang is smaller-displacement motorcycle manufacturer for the Asian markets which also owns Benelli. Now, according to a recently leaked presentation which sheds light on the upcoming 2020 motorcycles by the brand, one can certainly expect a 338cc Harley-Davidson bike to make an official debut around June 2020.
Though there is no official confirmation on the specifications of the upcoming motorcycle, one can expect the 338cc Harley-Davidson bike to be based on the Benelli 302 streetfighter, which is powered by a 300cc parallel-twin engine that is capable of generating maximum power of 38.26hp at 11,500rpm and a peak torque of 26.5Nm at 10,000rpm. One cannot expect Harley to use such a high-rpm engine on their upcoming product while how the brand will tune its engine to perform better is yet to be seen.
Apart from the engine and chassis, the suspension and the design language is likely to be provided by Harley-Davidson and it will be based on other products under its portfolio.
One can further expect the upcoming 338cc Harley-Davidson bike to be first launched in the Chinese markets. Since the official collaboration between the two manufacturers promises lower-displacement motorcycles for the Asian markets like Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, Philippines, Malaysia, Japan, India, Nepal and Australia, the launch of the motorcycle in the Nepalese market is expected to be planned after its debut entry in China.
In addition to this, the leaked presentation also showcased other products to be launched under the Benelli moniker which includes the likes of Benelli TRK800 ADV and Benelli 600N/600RR though no official confirmation has been received on the same.


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(For a live blog on the U.S. stock market, click or type LIVE/ in a news window)
* Cisco falls on disappointing forecast
* Walmart posts strong third-quarter earnings, raises outlook
* Weak data from China, Germany spark growth concerns
* Indexes down: Dow 0.16%, S&P 0.14%, Nasdaq 0.24% (Changes comment, updates market action)
Nov 14 (Reuters) - U.S. stocks slipped on Thursday, weighed down by technology shares after Cisco’s dour forecast raised worries of a global economic slowdown and overshadowed strong results from big box retailer Walmart.
The pullback in the benchmark S&P 500 and blue-chip Dow Jones Industrial Average came a day after they closed at record highs.
Cisco Systems Inc fell 7.5% after the network gear maker said current-quarter revenue would drop 3% to 5% amid declining global spending on its routers and switches, some of which are made in China.
Walmart Inc posted robust same-store sales growth and profit, while also raising its full-year earnings forecast. However its shares reversed course to edge 0.4% lower after hitting a record high in the session.
Strong results from the world’s largest retailer come ahead of a crucial retail sales report by the U.S. Census Bureau on Friday.
“Despite all the negative headlines, we are near all-time highs and that is because the fundamentals of the underlying economy are still strong,” said Josh Markman, managing director at Bel Air Investment Advisors.
Five of the 11 major S&P sectors were higher, with defensive utilities and real estate gaining the most.
The tech index was 0.41% lower, as Cisco weighed.
The stock indexes had an uneventful open as weak data from China and Germany rekindled worries of growth concerns due to a prolonged U.S.-China trade war.
Hopes of a resolution to the trade dispute as well as a largely upbeat corporate earnings season have spurred Wall Street to record highs this month, but U.S. President Donald Trump recently tempered expectations with the threat of more tariffs if China failed to reach a deal.
Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell is speaking before the House Budget Committee on Thursday. On Wednesday, he spoke about a “sustained expansion” ahead for the U.S. economy, which supported stock markets in the previous session.
At 11:39 a.m. ET the Dow Jones Industrial Average was down 43.22 points, or 0.16%, at 27,740.37, the S&P 500 was down 4.23 points, or 0.14%, at 3,089.81 and the Nasdaq Composite was down 20.04 points, or 0.24%, at 8,462.07.
Dillard’s Inc jumped 12.8% as the department store chain beat quarterly comparable-store sales estimates.
Kraft Heinz Co dropped 4.3% after a report that Goldman Sachs had downgraded the food and beverage maker’s stock to “sell”.
Advancing issues outnumbered decliners for a 1.45-to-1 ratio on the NYSE. Declining issues outnumbered advancers for a 1.02-to-1 ratio on the Nasdaq.
The S&P index recorded 19 new 52-week highs and one new low, while the Nasdaq recorded 52 new highs and 84 new lows. (Reporting by Arjun Panchadar and Agamoni Ghosh in Bengaluru; Editing by Saumyadeb Chakrabarty and Shounak Dasgupta)


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HTC looks set to introduce its latest smartphone next week, the HTC U 11. The name alone has proved to be a bit of controversial issue as for a long time this smartphone had been going by the 'HTC Ocean' codename. Although as time went on, it suddenly became clear that this smartphone was going to follow in the footsteps of the latest arrivals to the newest HTC line – HTC U. Although, more recent rumors started to surface suggesting that this smartphone was going to be called the 'HTC U 11'. Which seems to be an attempt to play on both the new U line, while also somehow suggesting this is the next in the 'One M' line, following on from the HTC 10, which itself followed on from the HTC One M9. Rumors aside, the name does indeed now look to be HTC U 11 and the crossover of the two branding lines does indeed seem to highly suggest this is going to be HTC's main flagship device for 2017. In spite of some suggesting that HTC might not release a 2017 flagship device. Either way, with this new smartphone playing on the HTC One line, it did remind us of a video which surfaced two years ago to promote the then HTC 'One M' brand, as well as HTC in general – this was of course, HTC's 'Hold The Crown' video.
If you missed the video last time around, then this is one to certainly check out. It was never quite clear what the logic was with this video, with the general belief being that it was a marketing ploy to help promote the brand ahead of the One M9 launch (which took place a few weeks after the release of the video). Although, somewhat counter-intuitively the video does clearly focus on the One M8. To be fair to HTC, the video did certainly catch everyone's attention, albeit maybe not for all the right reasons. The video itself looked to take various digs at both Samsung and Apple with a number of references to both competitors (although without their names ever being directly mentioned) made throughout the video. One example being that "them" (read Samsung and Apple) took six years to get what "we" (read HTC) got in two years. Then there was the dancing (and trying to weight-lift) iPhone in the background.
Or the obviously aimed at Samsung line that read "we own the Universe, your Galaxy is overrated." As well as a Samsung Galaxy S5 being pushed around in the gym by the HTC One M8.
Of course looking back, there are a number of obvious changes that have happened since then. The HTC folk in the video do make a point of drawing on how "they" copied their metal design by moving away from their previous focus on glass. Which seems to be something that has changed, as certainly in Samsung's case, the Galaxy S range has reverted to a much greater use of glass. Likewise, the video made a point of HTC under Peter Chou, although since then Chou has left the company with the torch being passed over to Cher Wang. In fact, Wang took over the mantle as CEO about a month after the video was released – we are not suggesting the former was a result of the latter. Just another one of those happy coincidences. Adding to the list of changes since then, was the already-mentioned move away from the One M branding. Which happened the year after the release of this video (back in 2016) when HTC introduced its new forward-thinking and simplified "HTC 10" branding. Although, and again as mentioned, that already seems to be a short-lived branding with HTC in 2017 moving to the HTC U branding, and now seemingly settling on the HTC U 11 branding.
Anyway, two years is a long time in the smartphone game and so it should be expected that things will change in that space. Whether they have changed for the better or not for HTC remains to be seen. In either case, many will be looking to this new squeezable smartphone to see what HTC can bring to the table in 2017 to help differentiate itself from the
crown crowd. In the meantime, whether you saw the video or not the first time around, it is worth checking out. In truth, this is one of those videos that will always be worth checking out. And in case you want to sing-along, the chorus goes:
HTC, HTC, I say it loud,
HTC, HTC, you know that we hold the crown


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Costco (NASDAQ:COST) shares experienced a decline of more than 7% on Friday as the company’s second-quarter revenue fell short of market expectations, partially due to reduced demand for high-value items among budget-conscious consumers.
In the face of persistent high inflation and rising interest rates, shoppers have started to cut back on spending for larger purchases such as electronics and furniture. Despite this trend, Costco, known for its bulk sales of essential goods, has somewhat managed to navigate the slowdown.
Nevertheless, adjustments to the fiscal calendar and a drop in gas prices negatively affected the company’s net sales. For Q2, Costco reported a 6% increase in total revenue to $58.44 billion, which did not meet the anticipated $59.16 billion. Despite this, the company’s earnings per share of $3.92 exceeded the forecasted $3.62, buoyed by lower commodity and freight expenses.


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Supermarkets in the United Kingdom have reported their Campylobacter in chicken results for the first quarter of 2022.
The data covers January to March 2022 for nine retailers on high levels of Campylobacter in fresh, shop-bought, UK-produced chickens.
The Food Standards Agency (FSA) maximum level is 7 percent of birds with more than 1,000 colony forming units per gram (CFU/g) of Campylobacter.
Results at Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Aldi and Morrisons went up while Lidl and Asda recorded lower levels of contamination compared to the previous quarter. Figures for Waitrose and Co-op stayed the same.
For Marks and Spencer, 4 percent were in the maximum category in January, 3 percent in February but 10 percent in March from 376 chickens sampled.
In October 2021, 5 percent of chickens were above 1,000 CFU/g, 8 percent in November 2021 and 5 percent in December 2021 from the same amount of poultry tested.
More positive findings
For Tesco, 3 percent of 302 samples were above 1,000 CFU/g in the first quarter of 2022 compared to 2 percent in the fourth quarter of 2021.
Sainsbury’s Campylobacter results for the first quarter of 2022 showed that 5 percent of chickens had levels about 1,000 cfu/g compared to 3 percent in the past quarter.
Aldi revealed 4.2 percent of chickens sampled were in the above 1,000 CFU/g category compared to 3.3 percent in the previous quarter.
Morrisons had almost 6 percent of chickens at the top contaminated level from 101 birds tested compared to 4 percent of 123 samples in the final quarter of 2021.
Better or stable results
Lidl recorded 2 percent of birds in the highest category which is down from 6 percent in the previous quarter.
Asda informed that 1 percent tested positive for the highest level of contamination in the latest quarter compared to 2 percent in the previous three months.
Waitrose and Partners had 1 percent of chickens testing positive for Campylobacter at levels above 1,000 CFU/g for the second successive quarter.
Co-op results for the second quarter running showed no chickens were contaminated at levels greater than 1,000 CFU/g.
(To sign up for a free subscription to Food Safety News, click here.)


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We first got a glimpse of the ZTE Blade 3 six long months ago. While the phone was initially expected to only hit stores in Scandinavian countries, ZTE’s budget Android offering has now landed in the UK.
ZTE Blade 3 confirmed, coming to Northern Europe this month for around $230
There’s no sure sign of a high-ender coming soon from ZTE, but there’s a new mid-range (or low-end?) device on the horizon. The Blade 3 has popped up at Finnish retailer Verkkokauppa basically out of nowhere, and, according to the Nordic online store, it should start shipping in no more than four weeks.
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At this point in time, including in Milton, it is unknown what the world will look like in a week’s time or a month as this pandemic unfolds. For younger people, especially, their world is Milton.
Which is why town, school and park officials are working extra hard to make tomorrow better and the day after that even better for us all. A curfew should be enacted Sunday through Saturday, 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. We are in support of this method of forcibly protecting people who refuse to stay inside and at home, especially during those hours. Sometimes, people need to be protected from harming themselves or harming someone else.
And as you walk down the street, keep a bit of physical distance between the person you are walking with or to whom you are talking. It’s part of the need to keep a safe distance from one another.
So much has changed in a month’s time: schools closed, retail stores closed, so many people working from home.
The accepted, agreed upon rules of several months ago — bringing reusable shopping bags inside a grocery store and readily finding so many different items in so many different categories (including paper products) — are now upended with the coronavirus.
There remains no vaccine to cure this novel, or new coronavirus. Let’s hope one is developed over the next 12 to 24 months and publicly, and freely, given. However it is administered, a vaccine will be a welcome, world-wide relief.
Another formerly requested rule, usually by financial institutions, is to not wear a mask or covering blocking one’s facial identity by a bank employee. Removal of baseball caps and sunglasses usually accompanied that request.
Now, as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends, along with Boston Mayor Marty Walsh, wear a cloth mask or cloth facial covering such as a bandana or scarf over your mouth and nose. We call on all residents of Milton to wear a mask or face covering. (We take no stand on wearing a cap, hat or sunglasses.)
As the CDC notes on its website, cdc.gov, “ the CDC recommends wearing cloth face coverings in public settings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain (e.g., grocery stores and pharmacies), especially in areas of significant community-based transmission.
“CDC also advises the use of simple cloth face coverings to slow the spread of the virus and help people who may have the virus and do not know it from transmitting it to others.”
Think of the tragic case of Mary Mallon, also known as “Typhoid Mary, ” if more explanation is needed. Check out the March 20 posting (note the recent date) on https://www.nationalgeographic.com/history/2020/03/typhoid-mary-tragic-tale-exposed-health-impacts-super-spreaders.
Just remember as the CDC notes, “Cloth face coverings should not be placed on young children under age 2, anyone who has trouble breathing, or is unconscious, incapacitated or otherwise unable to remove the mask without assistance.”
Wear gloves if you can. Wash hands regularly. Don’t touch your face.
If the world seems a bit darker at the moment, keep your eyes on the bright spots that have emerged. Air quality is better as fewer cars are being driven into Boston, around Milton and other suburbs. Think of the long-range possibility of working from home that is now proven as doable in many cases. Think of one-day a week, perhaps, of remote learning by public and private school students to save money on institutional utility bills.
Stay open to change and be adaptable. We’re proving that we can find new economic and educational solutions. That’s a great lesson for all ages.
– Lisa D. Connell


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For three days starting with Sunday 9 February, Poland presented its offer at BIT in Milan. The region of Dolny Śląsk (Lower Silesia) attended the exhibition for the first time along with one of its most noteworthy must-sees - Książ Castle.
Italy’s second largest travel exhibition is aimed at the industry, with its first day open to general public and the remaining two days focused on events dedicated to professionals representing the travel sector.
The exhibition offers a wide range of side events and B2B options, including the My Matching match-making system, LEISURE and MICE exhibition projects, and segments dedicated to concrete tourism sectors: I Love Wedding, BIT4JOB and BETECH.
For the first time in the case of the discussed market the Polish stand presented Dolny Śląsk together with one of its most noteworthy highlights - Książ Castle. Visitors acknowledged the diversity of the region thanks to a tasting session of local products staged at the stand alongside a brief presentation and a multimedia competition, whose winners received packages of gadgets connected with Dolny Śląsk. The Polish presence also encompassed LOT Polish Airlines and Kraków-based Ivotrans tour operator.
The latest edition of BIT was attended by more than 40,000 visitors, showcased the offer of 1,300 exhibitors from 100 countries and featured more than 100 conferences.


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Opel: The Russians Are Coming!
Ah, the suspense of a spaghetti western: Chrysler Vice Chairman Jim Press and sales chief Steve Landry told U.S. dealers on a conference call to hold their breath until they turn blue because “the automaker expected talks aimed at clinching an alliance with Italy’s Fiat to run all the way to an April 30 government-imposed deadline,” says Reuters.
In the meantime, Fiat’s bid for Opel is running into a phalanx of counter-fire and looks deader by the minute. According to Das Autohaus, the powerful metal workers union is “strictly against” Fiat. Also the Opel dealers are not enthused: “We want a strong partner for Opel, and that’s not Fiat” said Thomas Bieling of the Opel Dealer Council. Opel Supervisory board member Schild has compared Opel and Fiat to “two sick parents” who would not create a viable ensemble.
EU Industry Commissioner Guenther Verheugen told Bayerischer Rundfunk radio that he’s surprised that a “highly indebted” Fiat would show interest in Opel, saying Fiat “isn’t exactly the European carmaker that’s best off.”
Fiat’s Sergio Marchionne spat back, saying that Verheugen’s comments weren’t helpful or supportive for the future of the car industry. In contratto, Verheugen was “issuing death sentences for the industry or unilaterally selecting who will survive,” Marchionne complained to the Wall Street Journal. Marchionne found little sympathy.
Even Hesse’s premier Klaus Koch, ever the politician, now has “grave concerns” about Fiat and Opel. Fiat has similar problems as Opel, both have to scale down, and Koch doesn’t want the scaling to happen in his backyard and on his watch. According to Automobilwoche [sub], Koch now champions Magna-Steyr, the Canadian-Austrian parts and contract manufacturer.
Magna has another partner who might be interested in the latest technology: Russia’s Gaz, formerly known for their atmosphere-murdering Gaz jeeps, which even the Chinese have banned from their streets. Gaz also made the T70 light tank in WW2. Funny twist of history: GAZ started in 1929 as NNAZ, a cooperation between Ford and the Soviet Union.
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- Daniel Bridger When y'all going to learn that nothing is free?
- MrIcky This vehicle had so many delays, then a poor launch, and then the recalls- but I look at the recall for lugnuts and I wonder if you can miss the torque spec on those, what else did you miss? This car just seems very first gen to me. I'm glad it's out there. I like competition in this space, but I'd wait until the refresh on this one. Just one too many things.
- Jalop1991 "Toyota and Daimler merging..."Wait--another merger of equals?
- SPPPP Aggression is pretty much the reason that racing exists, so I am going to call this an unsolvable problem. It's a contrived scenario in which you take risks to get rewards. You may be able to improve it ... but never eliminate it.
- MaintenanceCosts This is now our fourth 20th Anniversary GTI, and the third of those four that had major structural modifications for purely aesthetic reasons. I didn't picture Tim as the type to want to join the STANCE YO crowd, but here we are?
"In the meantime, Fiat’s bid for Opel is running into a phalanx of counter-fire and looks deader by the minute. According to Das Autohaus, the powerful metal workers union is “strictly against” Fiat. Also the Opel dealers are not enthused: “We want a strong partner for Opel, and that’s not Fiat” " I could see this coming. The Germans think it is beneath them to be rescued by the Italians. Opel wants to be rescued by another German company or Berlin. That's why Dumbler could never have really merged with Chrysler. What, and treat those Americans like equals? Can't wait for Mercedes turn.


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Since the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has changed its guidance about having to wear masks indoors, many state governments have rescinded their mask mandate orders – leaving businesses to enforce their own masking rules.
How much longer will certain businesses require masks? Is the decision to continue masks in certain businesses a political decision? Are patrons fed up?
MRCTV hit the streets of Alexandria, VA to unmask some the answers to these questions. Watch the video above.