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By Therese Poletti
Large public companies proved Wednesday that spending big bucks to sway Californians’ votes will provide an excellent return on their investment, receiving valuation bumps of roughly $10 billion after spending more than $300 million to win at the polls.
Uber Technologies Inc. /zigman2/quotes/211348248/composite UBER -2.44% , Lyft Inc. /zigman2/quotes/208999293/composite LYFT -1.77% and other “gig economy” companies like DoorDash Inc. created and funded the most expensive ballot campaign in California history, spending more than $200 million to back Proposition 22 in Tuesday’s election, which would exempt them from California law forcing the companies to classify their drivers as employees instead of independent contractors. Proposition 22 got 58% of the vote , and Uber and Lyft added about $8 billion in combined market value during trading Wednesday, easily recovering their share of the hefty campaign spending, and much more.
Uber and Lyft, which together spent about $100 million, were not the biggest-spending companies individually in the 2020 election cycle, however. That title belongs to DaVita Inc. /zigman2/quotes/204229673/composite DVA -0.74% , which operates low-cost kidney dialysis clinics often found in strip malls, and spent more than $66 million to fight Proposition 23, California’s second attempt to regulate such clinics. The initiative would have required an on-site physician while roughly 80,000 kidney patients are treated each week in California, and other patient protections, such as a requirement to report data on dialysis-related infections to the state health department and not refusing to provide care on the basis of who is responsible for paying for treatment.
DaVita was joined by a rival clinic chain, Fresenius Medical Care /zigman2/quotes/210057637/composite FMS -0.34% , in raising approximately $105 million to fight the measure, according to Ballotpedia , with $66.8 million from DaVita and $29.8 million from Fresenius Medical. After winning with 64% of the vote — likely a large enough margin to spook the labor unions backing the measure from trying a third time — the dialysis chains added roughly $2 billion in market cap Wednesday, with the bulk of that going to Germany-based Fresenius.
The companies used the standard tactics of consumer advertising on TV and YouTube, as well as endless mailers, but Uber and Lyft even went as far as using employee time to create messages sent to customers and ads when consumers opened up the app to order a service. In San Francisco, a few Uber drivers and non-profits sued Uber, contending that “Uber has taken advantage of its raw economic power and its exclusive control over communications through its driver-scheduling app by wrongfully pressuring its drivers to actively support Proposition 22.”
Voters rescued the companies from having to properly compensate their California-based employees in the gig companies’ case, and properly staff their facilities to protect customers in the other. In exchange, California gets … well, not much, to be honest. Proposition 22 guaranteed drivers minimum earnings and some health-care benefits, but avoids other basic parts of employment, including paying into unemployment insurance so that drivers can be protected if something like a pandemic comes along and ruins their livelihood.
In both cases, the companies involved showed that funneling hundreds of millions of dollars into fighting the attacks on their business models can pay off, which is a troubling precedent. As California attempts to regulate the technology companies that were largely born and grew dominant from within the Golden State, these failures have shown a clear path to beating back such attempts.
More from Therese: How California is trying to regulate tech companies
In hindsight, Alphabet Inc. /zigman2/quotes/202490156/composite GOOGL -0.19% /zigman2/quotes/205453964/composite GOOG -0.23% and Facebook Inc. /zigman2/quotes/205064656/composite FB +2.33% must be kicking themselves for not paying up to fight Proposition 24, which creates a new regulatory board that will seek to regulate the privacy practices of internet companies and enforcing the state’s privacy act (CCPA) passed into law in 2018. There are some loopholes in Prop. 24, which privacy advocates such as the Electronic Frontier Foundation did not support , but it will lead to greater scrutiny of the Silicon Valley giants no matter what.
Other states should now expect similar moves from Uber and Lyft, and President Donald Trump’s Labor Department is expected to give the gig economy a gift soon no matter if he stays or goes . The Independent Drivers Guild, a large gig-worker organization, said it is calling on state legislatures in New York, New Jersey and other states to act quickly to empower gig workers with collective bargaining rights.
These companies are willing to pay royally to protect their low-cost business models, because they know investors will reward them. California voters had the chance to punish them for a relentless focus on the top line at the cost of not treating employees and customers as they deserve. Instead, the money won again.


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This illustrated chicken has nothing to do with the article
A Hasidic butcher from New York has been accused of stocking the shelves of a kosher grocery store with non-kosher chicken and selling it to thousands of Orthodox Jewish families, authorities said.
"To sell non-kosher as kosher is one of the biggest acts of betrayal that a Jewish person can do to another," said Rabbi Menachem Meir Weissmandel of Chemed Shul, a local synagogue. "This is the darkest day in the history of our community since we settled in this area many years ago."
The butcher, Moshe Finkel, owns Shevach Meats, which buys kosher meats in bulk and slices and packages it for grocery stores, religious schools and Hasidic camps in the Catskill Mountains.
The state's Department of Agriculture and Markets are trying to determine the origin of the chicken, whether it was ever certified as kosher and advertised as such at the store, a spokeswoman for the Agriculture Department said. Violators are subject to fines of up to USD 1,000.
Weissmandel said Finkel was banned from the grocery store. He said store owners confronted the butcher after they noticed the shelves lined with kosher meats, even though Finkel's suppliers had not made a delivery. An early morning call to Finkel's home Thursday was not returned.
Since sundown on Saturday, when the Jewish Sabbath ended, families in the community who keep kosher have been scrubbing kitchen counters and stoves and dipping pots in scalding water as a cleansing ritual for being exposed to non-kosher foods.


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The New Vmoto F01: A boost to your ride-sharing/delivery business
Our new partner in Ecuador organised a launch event in June to introduce its new store and present our 100% electric models.
It was a great party that attracted many passionate and curious people in the electric world.
We are proud to have a new partner in our family.
Welcome to Ecuador.


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http://www.hoffmanschocolateblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/fountains.jpg 1002 1500 Terry Frank http://www.hoffmanschocolateblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/blog-logo-300x138.png Terry Frank2015-05-05 21:12:122016-04-07 14:28:52Hoffman's Chocolates opens in Plantation
Hoffman’s Chocolates opens in Plantation
Plantation residents are in for a treat: Hoffman’s Chocolates announced the opening of its newest store this week in the city’s Fountains shopping plaza.
The 1,280-square-foot store, at 801 South University Drive, is the candy brand’s eighth location. It offers 70 types of chocolates and confections, and 24 flavors of ice cream. A grand opening celebration is planned for May 30.


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Google Releases Google Camera App To Play Store
After plenty of rumors of a redesign Google has finally done it, and at the same time they’ve released it to Google Play! Dubbed the Google Camera, this new camera app brings along a completely redesigned interface from the current Stock Camera app found on Nexus devices and even adds a couple new features.
The redesign simplifies the interface and makes it much easier to find settings. The app overall just has a much better feel to it while retaining the features that made it unique like Photo Sphere. Panorama, Photo Sphere, Photo, and Video are the features carried over from the previous version of the app and a brand new feature is added in by way of Lens Blur. Lens Blur mode brings “SLR-like photos” with a shallow depth of field.
Google Camera is available on devices running Android 4.4 and above. If you have a Nexus device you should have it installed already so be sure to check your updates!
Via: Android Police
Source: Google Play


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Green tea demand growing by 17 per cent in domestic market
Demand for green tea is growing at a rate of 17 per cent per annum against only 3 per cent for black tea in the domestic market.
Assam produced 2 million kg of green tea of the estimated production of 11 million kg in the country during 2013, Tea Board Executive Director (Incharge) Dipankar Mukherjee said while inaugurating a workshop on Green Tea here.
India is the largest producer and consumer of black tea in the world while China is the largest producer and consumer of green tea in the world.
"The demand for green tea is rapidly increasing in India whereas in China, the demand for black tea is on the rise," he said emphasising the need for scientific and sustained production of green tea.
The workshop was organised by the North Eastern Tea Association (NETA) in association with PARCON (India) Private Limited and supported by the Tea Board.
More than 100 tea planters from Assam, Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh along with several small tea growers participated in the workshop.
The workshop discussed various issues including the manufacture of green tea, its market prospects in India and machinery available for production.
Local entrepreneurs shared their experiences of producing hand-made green tea, organic tea and tea processing machinery.


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Conforce opens flooring plant in Indiana
Conforce International has begun producing flooring for truck trailers at a new factory in Peru, Ind.
The Toronto-based company said it has received initial orders from CIMC Vanguard National Trailer Corp. topping $450,000.
Conforce said its “EKO-FLOR” product is made of composite material and is lighter, stronger and longer lasting than other floors. It said it has been in discussions with other trailer makers and expects broad adoption of its product.
The company said it will begin running its plant around the clock five days a week by mid-July, and start 24/7 production in October.
A spokesman said the company has also completed several trials with major shipping companies and projects by 2012 to have a facility established in China, which would focus completely on composite flooring for containers.
CIMC Vanguard is a subsidiary of container manufacturer China International Marine Containers Group Co. Ltd.
A Bloomberg story last month quoted Helane Becker, an analyst at Dalhman Rose, as saying CIMC along with Singamas Container Holdings Ltd., and CXIC Group Containers Co. Ltd., control 83 percent of the container manufacturing market.


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According to the Amazon 2020 Small Business Impact Report, there are more than two million independent partners in the U.S., including small and medium businesses such as sellers, developers, authors, delivery providers that work with Amazon. From May 2019 to May 2020, they sold over 3.4 billion products in the online store, which averages out to 6,500 products per minute, this represents an increase of 2.7 billion from the past year (60%).
Although Amazon SMB sellers are based on all 50 states, the ones with the most sellers per capita are Iowa (nearly 10,000), Delaware (nearly 3,000), California (nearly 100,000), Wyoming (nearly 1,000) and New Jersey (nearly 20,000).
According to the report, Amazon Web Services (AWS) is helping hundreds of thousands of SMB startups, customers, and partners launch and scale businesses that enrich their communities and the world. Since June 2019, Amazon has provided more than $1 Billion in AWS credits to help startups accelerate their growth and development.
Jeff Wilke, CEO of Amazon Worldwide Consumer, said “I’ve always admired our small business partners’ entrepreneurial spirit and drive to
innovate. Recently, I’ve been inspired by their ability to adapt and deliver urgently needed products to our most vulnerable customers. This SMB Impact Report demonstrates and celebrates the success of those entrepreneurs. While no one has a perfect playbook for how to respond to COVID-19, our commitment to supporting them has never been more steadfast. We at Amazon want to congratulate and thank the millions of SMBs whose work is represented here”.


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Meredith grants Limited Waiver so Media General can conduct due diligence on Nexstar offer
The deal between Meredith and Media General, which would create a new company to be called Meredith Media General, is on thin ice thanks to an unsolicited offer from Nexstar.
At least two shareholder groups, Oppenheimer and Starboard, have expressed a preference for the offer from Nexstar – not least because it does not involve Meredith’s print properties. Those print properties, some of the best known consumer magazines in the business, might be spun-off as a separate company or sold off at some point after a deal is finalized – or at least, that is the speculation.
In the meantime, Media General will be sizing up Nexstar’s offer. The release below is Meredith’s Limited Waiver to Media General, as well as more arguments for the original deal. Should the original deal fall through, Meredith will be due a $60 million break-up fee should Media General terminate the acquisition.
Here is Meredith’s statement:
DES MOINES, Iowa – October 14, 2015— Meredith Corporation today confirmed that it has granted a Limited Waiver to Media General, Inc. in connection with the definitive merger agreement between Meredith and Media General announced on September 8, 2015.
The Waiver allows Media General to conduct due diligence on the unsolicited offer it has received from Nexstar Broadcasting Group, Inc., and to provide Nexstar with certain information to attempt to support its previously claimed synergies. Meredith believes this analysis will confirm that a Meredith–Media General combination is in the best interest of both companies’ shareholders.
Meredith is extremely confident that Meredith Media General has the potential to generate significant shareholder returns superior to Nexstar’s offer for Media General. The Meredith–Media General combination creates a powerful and diversified multiplatform media company, and provides multiple avenues for growth. The Board of Directors of Meredith continues to recommend the proposed transaction with Media General.
Additionally, Meredith said today it is increasing the estimated synergies from a Meredith–Media General combination to at least $85 million, up from the $80 million identified when the merger agreement was announced. Meredith also believes synergies could be even higher as the two companies move forward with integration activities.
The new Meredith Media General will be a diversified, multiplatform media company with a strong financial position, unmatched content creation capabilities, deep consumer insights and data, and expansive reach. Its compelling attributes include:
- A powerful competitor in the media industry with $3 billion in revenues, over $920 million of EBITDA, and at least $1 billion in pro-forma cumulative free cash flow in the first two calendar years post-closing.
- Best-in-class capital stewardship, including a disciplined capital allocation plan that balances investments in the business with returning cash to shareholders via dividends and share repurchases.
- More than 80 television stations across 54 markets that reach 30 percent – or approximately 34 million – U.S. TV households. These high-quality local broadcast assets will include 25 Big Four network-affiliated TV stations in the Top 50 DMAs, making Meredith Media General the largest owner of Big Four stations in Top 50 markets.
- A powerful digital platform reaching over 200 million monthly unique visitors via a combination of leading national and local consumer sites and business-to-business digital capabilities in key growth sectors such as content, mobile, social, video and native advertising.
- Leading multiplatform national media brands with a top female reach of 100 million unduplicated American women and over 60 percent of U.S. Millennial women across multiple platforms including print, digital, mobile, video and brand licensing.
The new Meredith Media General will also be positioned for long-term growth in the media industry:
- Meredith Media General’s 30 percent TV household reach provides for further expansion in the television space, as it is well below the government-mandated 39 percent ownership cap. A Nexstar-Media General combination puts it at, or possibly above, the ownership cap.
- Meredith Media General will possess a powerful digital business with projected first-year revenues of approximately $500 million, with tremendous growth potential. Meredith has an established and profitable digital business and is well-positioned to maximize opportunities inherent in Media General’s current digital activities.
- Meredith Media General will build on Meredith’s success in generating revenues not dependent on advertising via its high-margin brand licensing and its nationally recognized and profitable marketing services businesses.


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Acquired by Natura & Co in 2012, Aēsop was created in 1987. The brand is renowned globally for its skin, hair and body products. With its signature amber packaging, plant-based ingredients, sustainable vegan formulations, and its bespoke customer service, Aēsop has evolved into a global brand available across luxury retail, beauty, and hospitality locations around the world. Aēsop currently operates around 400 points of sale across the Americas, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, and Asia, with a nascent footprint in China where the first store opened in 2022.
The brand posted sales of USD 537 million in 2022.
Natura &Co says the sale of Aesop will help the group reduce debt while freeing up resources for its strategic priorities, such as strengthening the Avon brand in Latin America, and improving The Body Shop operations. “With a strengthened financial structure and a deleveraged balance sheet, Natura &Co, exercising strict financial discipline, will be able to sharpen its focus on its strategic priorities, notably our investment plan in Latin America,” explains Fábio Barbosa, Chief Executive Officer of Natura &Co.
Aesop will be integrated into the luxury division of the L’Oréal group, with the aim of reaching a turnover of one billion dollars.
“I am very excited to welcome Aēsop and its teams to the L’Oréal Groupe family. Aēsop is the epitome of avant-garde beauty, whose products are not only made with great care and exceptional attention to detail; they are a superb combination of urbanity, hedonism and undeniable luxury. Aēsop taps into all of today’s ascending currents and L’Oréal will contribute to unleash its massive growth potential, notably in China and Travel retail,” said Nicolas Hieronimus, Chief Executive Officer, L’Oréal Group.
The closing is subject to certain regulatory approvals and other customary conditions and is expected to close in Q3 2023.
“Targeted acquisitions of emerging and established players with engaged audiences have allowed L’Oréal to stay relevant in the rapidly evolving beauty industry. L’Oréal has employed this strategy to consistently align with shifts in consumer behavior and preferences, and its latest acquisition of Aesop is no different. Aesop’s clean aesthetic resonates with Gen Z and Millennial consumers and although its products have a high price tag – a 500ml hand soap is GBP 31 (EUR 35) – it has broad appeal that enabled it to launch in various premium retailers. Aesop’s products will continue to resonate with the 38% of global consumers who associate high quality products and ingredients in the beauty & grooming industry with value for money, as identified in GlobalData’s 2022 Q4 Global Consumer Survey," commented Lia Neophytou, Lead Analyst of Health & Hygiene at GlobalData.


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A small wood shop fire prompted a response from firefighters at Wethersfield High School.
The fire was contained to the outside of the building in the wood shop area on Thursday morning, according to fire officials.
It was in a dust collection system.
While there was no damage, smoke made it into the wood shop and the school itself. It was quickly flushed out.
No injuries were reported.
A cause is still being investigated.
Copyright 2016 WFSB (Meredith Corporation). All rights reserved.


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The world's second-largest economy is sputtering. In 2015 it grew by only 6.9 percent. Beijing says that slower growth is acceptable as long as enough new jobs are created. But Chinese workers are feeling the impact of the slowdown.
In the second quarter of 2017, the German economy grew slightly less than expected by economists as slowing trade dampened an overall expansion which was driven by strong household spending and rising state expenditure.
The economies of the 19 countries sharing the euro currency expanded by more than previously forecast, as a slew of positive data suggest that the recovery in the bloc is well on track.
Two of the world's biggest trading nations saw both exports and imports cooling lately. While Chinese trade growth in July slowed significantly compared with June, German exporters even suffered a surprise decline.
The word's third-largest economy has grown by a much stronger rate than expected by analysts, fresh figures from the government have shown. The expansion came on the back of stronger domestic demand.
© 2017 Deutsche Welle |
Legal notice |
| Mobile version


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Google has confirmed that it's winding down support for its mobile VR platform, Daydream, citing decreased usage and limited adoption of the technology.
Daydream initially launched in November 2016, as a portable, affordable VR solution, and as a response to Samsung's similarly positioned Gear VR headset. And now, just shy of three years later, Google has announced that its new flagship Pixel 4 phones will not support the feature, and that it will no longer sell the Daydream View headset.
In a statement provided to Variety, a Google spokesperson explained that, "There hasn't been the broad consumer or developer adoption we had hoped, and we've seen decreasing usage over time of the Daydream View headset". However, the company says its Daydream app and store will remain available for existing users.
"We saw a lot of potential in smartphone VR - being able to use the smartphone you carry with you everywhere to power an immersive on-the-go experience," Google's statement continued, "But over time we noticed some clear limitations constraining smartphone VR from being a viable long-term solution. Most notably, asking people to put their phone in a headset and lose access to the apps they use throughout the day causes immense friction."
As noted by Variety, several notable companies - including HBO and Hulu - have discontinued support for Daydream over the course of 2019, with Google itself even opting to shut down its Play Movies & TV app for Daydream VR.
Google is reported to have shifted its resources internally from VR to AR, something the company's statement also referenced. "We're investing heavily in helpful AR experiences like Google Lens, AR walking navigation in Maps, and AR in Search that use the smartphone camera to bridge the digital and physical worlds," it wrote, "helping people do more with what they see and learn about the world around them."
Google's winding down of one technology comes at the same time the company is attempting to convince customers that it's worth investing in another of its endeavours. Google's game streaming service, Stadia, launches next month, on 19th November.


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Apple has unveiled its most popular phone, the iPhone, in an all-new avatar.
The restyled phone has been loaded with stainless steel case, two cameras, improved display and is 24 percent thinner than the last version.
Another feature that comes with the latest version is a gyroscope which, when coupled with the existing accelerometer and compass, gives it six-axis motion sensing.
The mobile was unveiled at Apple”s Worldwide Developers Conference in San Francisco during the keynote speech.
The phone is up for grabs from June 24.
The 32 GB model in the US has been priced at 299 dollars and the 16 GB variant comes at a price of 199 dollars, reports BBC.
“These phones are getting more and more intelligent about the world around them,” Jobs said.


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“Peter has advanced the industry’s policy initiatives at all levels of government. With his legal experience in the retail industry spanning a 33-year period, he has been an advocate for the industry in the nation’s capital and in his home state of Massachusetts,” commented Tim Hammonds, FMI president and CEO, in presenting the award.
Phillipes helped FMI develop proactive policies on issues such as electronic benefits transfer (EBT), antitrust, and employment laws and regulations. He serves on FMI’s Public Affairs Committee and is a member and past chairman of FMI’s Legal Affairs Committee.
At the state level, Phillipes was instrumental in the effort to repeal Massachusetts’ blue laws and is a leader in efforts to challenge limits to state liquor licenses. He also helped the state to adopt electronic shelf-labeling requirements and was a key figure in the defeat of legislation calling for stringent packaging requirements for all grocery products sold in the state.
At Stop & Shop, Phillipes has strengthened the company’s commitment to diversity. His efforts have led to substantial minority representation at all levels of the company, and he helped elevate the issue on the food retail industry agenda.
“Peter has raised the bar of excellence in public service to our industry. He is a man who is totally committed to the best interests of our industry and our nation.”


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Apple is expected to take the wraps off the Series 4 Apple Watch in September. Ahead of the big release, the device was assumed to leak out in some form. We have now come across filings on the Eurasian Economic Commission (EEC) describing six new models for the Apple Watch Series 4. Interestingly, the Apple Watch Series 3 was launched in eight variants, for a total of four core versions, so this suggests a cut down of the total models from the lineup.
It is speculated that Apple will not have Ceramic versions of the Series 4 this year given that they’re a niche product with an exorbitant price tag. The listing also mentions that these variants are running watchOS 5 on board, thus confirming that this is the real deal. Not too much else is known about the Series 4 Apple Watch from the listing, although the mention of the model numbers is enough to reveal their existence.
The Apple Watch Series 4 will have the following model numbers as per this listing: A1977, A1978, A1975, A1976, A2007, and A2008.
Previously, listings on Eurasian regulatory databases have revealed the existence of the iPhone 7 as well as WWDC launch products from 2017. So this isn’t an ordinary rumor that we’re coming across. The question now remains as to what changes Apple is making to the Apple Watch lineup this year.
It is rumored that the Series 4 Apple Watch will feature a new design and a display that is 15% bigger than the predecessor. There’s also talk of the device featuring solid state buttons with haptic feedback. It’s too early to tell if these rumors will materialize, but given the upgrades we’ve seen over the past three iterations, a change in size and buttons makes sense.
What new features would you like to see on the Apple Watch Series 4?[Via Consomac]


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High: 61°F ~ Low: 33°F
Tuesday, Dec. 1, 2015
PayPal comment on new income reporting lawPosted Thursday, August 7, 2008, at 11:27 AM
Here is the link to PayPal's comment on the new law. https://www.thepaypalblog.com/2008/08/pr...
I noticed that there is a discrepancy between what I got off the news-wire and this statement. The difference? Originally it was $10,000 and/or 200 transactions. PayPal sees it at $20,000 and/or 200 transactions.
Hopefully it will become a little more consistent by the time the law is enforced.
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Steve Mills and his wife have one daughter and live on a farm outside of Bell Buckle. They previously owned two coffee/ice cream shops, currently operate an internet sales company and teach classes, but his primary job involves the paper industry worldwide. Hobbies and interests lie in gardening, photography, recorded music and of course, their pets.
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Ford To 'create Or Retain' 800 Jobs At Michigan Plant, 2 Days After Confirming Job Cuts
Ford Motor Co. said Friday it will invest $350 million in its Livonia Transmission Plant in Michigan, which will "create or retain" 800 hourly jobs. The investment will support production of a new fuel-efficient transmission. The auto maker said it expects to begin adding jobs in late 2017, with most of any new jobs coming in 2018 and 2019. The announcement comes two days after Ford confirmed with MarketWatch plans to cut 1,400 salaried positions in North America and Asia Pacific. Ford's stock, which gained 0.5% in premarket trade, has shed 11% year to date through Thursday. In comparison, shares of rival General Motors Co. has lost 6.8% and S&P 500 has advanced 5.7%.
Copyright © 2017 MarketWatch, Inc.


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It's a crazy shoe that is slowly leaving the virality of social networks to impose itself in real life. We're talking about the "four-finger" boots of Avavav, a label founded in 2017 by Linda and Adam Friberg, bought in 2020 by two Swedish buzz enthusiasts: Johanna Blom and Beate Karlsson. Since then, this leather accessory, characterized by its four fingers that act as an extension of the toes, seems to be a unanimous choice on the red carpet. She was spotted on the feet of Lyas, co-founder of fashion app Fenzy, at GQ magazine's Men of the Year ceremony on Nov. 30. A few days earlier, it was British Vogue journalist Alex Kessler who adopted them at a party in London. The price of this new fashion fad? 1,350 euros.
The Viral Boot
Presented by Avavav for several seasons, the "four fingers" ankle boots really made a splash at the Spring/Summer 2024 show, which was held in Milan at the end of September. On this day, the show relied on a false improvisation. Understand that the models, like movie actors, were parading at a run, their faces sometimes panicked, sometimes made up with fake tears. True stars of the catwalk, the boots were worn several times: with faded low-rise jeans, a skirt and hoodie combo worn inside out and, the highlight of the show, a suit made entirely from post-it notes. "I wanted to transfer the anxiety of the dizzying pace of the fashion industry into this collection, which denounces the lack of time, and the stress and frustration that comes with it," Beate Karlsson told Fashion Network backstage. This show-show has been viewed more than 5 million times on the brand's Instagram.
Avavav Spring/Summer 2024 show. (Milan, 24 September 2023) Imaxtree
To further promote its signature boots, Avavav is betting on virality. Judging by a campaign published on his Instagram page in early November, featuring "paparazzi" models leaving supermarkets or airports. To highlight this accessory, there is no need for celebrities, the label preferring to bet on unknown faces in the battalion. An offbeat choice, which is starting to have an effect: for its December issue, the British edition of Cosmopolitan magazine offered its cover to Julia Fox, fully dressed in iconic Avavav pieces such as the "three-finger" gloves and the "Cunt" cap. It remains to be seen if the model, known for her eccentric style, will soon be tempted by the boot of the moment.


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Oracle sees software growth amid weak hardware sales
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Oracle Corp's hardware sales tumbled 24 per cent from a year earlier as the technology giant struggled to turn around its Sun computer division at a time when businesses are tightening technology budgets.
The company run by Silicon Valley billionaire Larry Ellison reported on Thursday that hardware product sales fell to $779 million in its fiscal first quarter ended August 31. It had forecast a decline of 7 to 17 per cent.
It's a very competitive market and there is not a lot of strong demand, said Forrester Research analyst Andrew Bartels.
He said rivals including Cisco Systems Inc, Dell Inc, Hewlett-Packard Co and International Business Machines Corp are taking market share away from Oracle in the computer market.
Global Equities Research analyst Trip Chowdhry said his research shows that the market began to improve in August, emerging from a terrible climate in the first two months of the quarter.
Oracle also reported that new software sales rose 6 per cent from a year earlier to $1.6 billion, in line with its own forecasts.
Oracle met that key revenue target after reorganizing its sales operation in the United States, its biggest market, following the departure of Executive Vice President for North American sales and consulting Keith Block.
The world's No. 3 software maker had forecast that new software sales would climb between 0 to 10 per cent from a year earlier when it last reported earnings on June 18.
Investors pay close attention to new software sales because they generate high-margin, long-term maintenance contracts and are an important gauge of the company's future profits.
Oracle posted first-quarter profit, excluding items, of 53 cents per share, matching the average forecast of analysts surveyed by Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S.
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Apple is reportedly in talks to buy up to 90,000 square feet of space in the Pittsburgh Athletic Association building on Fifth Avenue in Oakland (via Post-Gazette).
It’s unclear whether this would be space for new offices, or a relocation of its current Pennsylvania headquarters in the Strip District. It’s one of the few locations outside of California to have an Apple corporate office.
This building is close to the University of Pittsburgh, as well as Carnegie Mellon. Many graduates of these schools go into technology and engineering. Walnut Capital bought the building in 2018 for US$12.6 million, and plans an additional 30,000 square feet of retail space.


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CNS Canada — Prices for Canadian bison are slowly gaining ground as the industry continues to try and expand its global footprint. While the U.S. remains Canada’s largest export market, efforts have been made to increase access to Mexico, Europe and some parts of Asia.
Last year, roughly 11,500 animals were slaughtered domestically while 17,600 more were sent to the U.S.
“The industry is certainly interested in growth,” said Terry Kremeniuk, executive director of the Canadian Bison Association (CBA) in Regina. “The North American industry has set a goal of trying to grow the herd from 400,000 to a million over the next decade.”
Prices for bison have jumped in the past few years. In 2011, the price for a pound of grade A bison (hot hanging weight) was around $4 — and stayed relatively the same until the latter portion of 2014 and 2015, when bids rose to $5.30.
Prices for bison are now around $6/lb.
The impact of the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) has improved Canada’s access to the European Union, Kremeniuk said.
“There used to be a 20 per cent tariff on high-quality products going into the union,” he said, adding he could see volumes increasing into the EU in the future.
More importantly the decline of the Canadian dollar has made bison exports more attractive to international buyers. On June 1, 2014 the loonie was worth 94 U.S. cents; it’s now closer to 77.
This season looks to be another good one for the industry, although producers are keeping a wary eye on dry conditions afflicting the Prairies.
“I am sure some people are concerned about it,” he said, adding it was still a little early for the dryness to affect most producers’ marketing decisions.
According to the CBA, there were roughly 55,000 bison living in Alberta in 2016; Saskatchewan was next with 40,400, then Manitoba with 14,000 animals. The Canada-wide total was just under 120,000.
— Dave Sims writes for Commodity News Service Canada, a Glacier FarmMedia company specializing in grain and commodity market reporting.Tagged bison, bison market, bison prices, Canadian bison, CETA, EU, European Union, exports


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A record four million Europeans went on a cruise holiday last year – a 17% increase on last year.
The latest figures from the European Cruise Council’s Markets Report show that the number of Europeans going on cruises has increased far quicker than predicted. The ECC had forecast that the number of cruise holiaymakers would hit four million in 2010.
Five years ago only 2.6 million Europeans took a cruise holiday and by 2006 it had hit 3.4 million.
The UK was the top source market for cruise passengers last year with 1.3 million, a growth of 11% on the previous year. Around 467,000 passengers took ex-UK cruises and 870,000 were on fly-cruises last year. This compares with 2003 when UK cruise passenger numbers were 964,000.
ECC chairman and chief executive of Carnival UK David Dingle said: “The popularity for European holidaymakers is growing faster than anyone in the industry envisaged. We’re seeing increasing numbers of cruiselines basing ships in the region, which will encourage more Europeans to cruise in future.”
The second largest source market in Europe last year was Germany, followed by Italy, Spain and France.
Germany had 763,000 cruise passengers last year, 8% growth on the previous year. Overall the country accounts for 19% of cruise passengers from Europe and is predicted to have one million cruisers by 2010, stimulated by the recent joint venture between TUI Cruises and Royal Caribbean Cruises for the German market and market leader Aida Cruises.
Italy had 640,000 cruise passengers last year, year-on-year growth of 24% Spain had 518,000 passengers, growth of 32% and France had 280,000 passengers, 16% growth.


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Ikea Launches Furniture Leasing
The Swedish furniture retailer Ikea has announced that it is launching a pilot for a “scalable subscription service.” Members of Ikea’s program, which is being tested in Switzerland, will be able to rent furniture for a period of time, after which the furniture will be refurbished by Ikea and become available for other members to rent. This program is several things at once: it’s an effort to build loyalty through memberships (atypical in the furniture space); it’s an effort to maximize profits by reducing production costs; and, it’s a green initiative, as more materials are being reused. Ikea has stated that this is part of the company’s effort to reduce its climate footprint by 15 percent over the next four years.
AI and Machine Learning Are Changing Omnichannel
Louis Columbus has compiled a list of the 10 ways AI and machine learning are altering omnichannel strategy, enabling new possibilities for brands. This list includes:
“Achieving price optimization by persona is now possible using AI and machine learning, factoring in brand and channel preferences, previous purchase history, and price sensitivity.”
“56 percent of brands and retailers say that order track-and-traceability strengthened with AI and machine learning is essential to delivering excellent customer experiences.”
What’s New about Marriott Bonvoy?
Marriott has merged its extant loyalty programs into Marriott Bonvoy. The new program is in keeping with the “experience-based” rewards trend, as in addition to the typical hotel rewards, like discounted stays, Bonvoy will also offer perks like exclusive hiking excursions. The unification also simplifies and extends the brand’s offerings to members, as they will now have the ability to redeem across Marriott’s broad international portfolio.
“Marriott Bonvoy marks an evolution in travel because it represents more than a loyalty program,” said Stephanie Linnartz, Global Chief Commercial Officer, Marriott International. “Marriott Bonvoy is a travel program designed to bring to life our extraordinary portfolio of global brands in 129 countries and territories, while also providing endless inspiration for members to keep traveling and pursuing their passions.”
EU Data Rules Are Here
The EU has reached “a political deal on the first-ever rules aimed at creating a fair, transparent, and predictable business environment for businesses and traders when using online platforms.” This development has major implications for any brand involved in e-commerce. Among several changes, the rules regulate the termination of user accounts and the disclosure of advantages platforms may have against third-party sellers. The new rules will take effect in 12 months.
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As has been rumoured since dinosaurs ruled the world, Dragon's Dogma Online is in production at publisher Capcom. The title, which emerged courtesy of a trademark filing late last year, was revealed in the latest issue of famous Japanese publication Famitsu, and is a free-to-play fantasy role-playing game for the PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 3, as well as the PC.
According to a translation of the abovementioned magazine's article, series creator Hiroyuki Kobayashi will serve as the executive producer on the project. The title will feature a full open world, including lobbies for up to 100 players at once. You'll be able to form parties of up to four people, where you'll then be able to go on quests. There'll also be Raids for up to eight players.
It's all sounding a little bit Phantasy Star Online so far, and just to add to that, a Capcom UK representative has told Eurogamer.net this morning that there are no plans for a Western release just yet. This is odd, considering that the title first leaked as part of a European classification. Let's hope that the Japanese firm's simply being coy, because we quite like the sound of this.


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According to Newzoo’s upcoming 2015 Global Games Market Report, the global games market is expected to grow quite a lot from last year to this year.
The report explains that the market will grow by 9.4 percent, moving from $83.6 billion last year to $91.5 billion this year. It also shows that China’s game market is expected to grow by a whopping 23 percent this year, meaning it could move it past the US and make it the largest market in the world. The numbers show that by the end of the year, China’s market is thought to reach $22.2 billion, while the US market is thought to reach $22 billion.
Whether or not that will actually happen remains to be seen, but it will be interesting to read the full 2015 Global Games Market Report when it releases in June.


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Manufacturing continues upward growth in June
By John Liu, The China Post Thursday, July 3, 2014, 12:05 am TWN
TAIPEI, Taiwan -- Taiwan's Purchasing Manager Index (PMI) registered at 58.2 in June, indicating great expansion in the manufacturing sector, according to a report released by the Chung-Hua Institution for Economic Research (CIER, 中華經濟研究院) yesterday.
PMI measures manufacturing expansion. Any score above 50 points represents expansion and any score below indicates contraction.
All five sub-indices that make up the PMI showed expansion in June. The new order index was pegged at 59.6, the production index at 61.7, the employment index at 56.8, the supplier deliveries index at 57.4 and inventories index at 55.3.
According to CIER's report, all major manufacturing industries demonstrated expansion in June, and in order of expansion scale, the chemical, biological and medical industry's PMI registered at 61.1, the electronics and optics industry at 60.9, the transportation equipment industry at 60.7, the foods and textiles industry at 56.2, the electrical and machinery equipment industry at 56, and the basic raw materials industry at 51.2.
The Electronics Industry as the Main Growth Driver
The output of the electronics and optics industry accounts for roughly 40 percent of Taiwan's PMI, said CIER assistant research fellow Chen Shin-hui (陳馨蕙), adding that the industry was the main driver for growth in June.
The PMI of the chemical, biological and medical industry saw the largest surge in June. This was contributed by higher oil prices, the CIER said. The transportation equipment industry also performed well, due to increased new car sales in the month, according to CIER scholars.
Businesses in general are upbeat about the future. The "six-month outlook index" registered at 68.4 in June, which was a new record, the CIER said, adding that the figure had reached 60 or above for six consecutive months.
Looking into the future, the greatest uncertainty lies in China's demand and growth momentum down the road, research fellow Chen added.
US Leading the Growth
Taiwan's PMI score of 58.2 was comparatively better than that of most other nations. According to CIER's latest data, the U.S.' PMI was pegged at 55.4, Europe at 51.9, China at 50.8, Japan at 51.1, South Korea at 49.5, Singapore at 50.8 and Hong Kong at 49.1.
According to Steve Lai (賴樹鑫), the executive director of Supply Management Institute in Taiwan, the American manufacturing sector has performed well in the first half of 2014, and has allowed the nation to continue leading economic growth in the world.
Among manufacturing highlights in the U.S., production capacity is expected to grow 4.8 percent in 2014, and capital expenditures are expected to grow 10.3 percent, indicating companies' willingness to ante up on investments, Lai said. In addition, employment in the manufacturing sector is expected to grow 1.5 percent in the remainder of 2014, and revenues are forecast to grow 5.3 percent in the year.
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Walk into any local Hispanic grocery store and head straight for the back counter.
That's where you'll find a product that sets these stores apart from your typical chain grocers: Chorizo, which is a specialty sausage made from the butcher's own recipe.
Despite the down economy, these small, family-owned stores don't mind the expense of cutting meat to order.
In fact, it's one of a few ways these stores keep people coming back - by focusing on customer service and specialty products - even though there may be fewer patrons, store managers say.
In the past few years, shopping patterns have changed; clerks say weekdays are slow, while Saturdays and Sundays are packed with families getting their shopping done. And, anecdotally, some note there are fewer Hispanic customers in general, ever since the debate about immigration laws came up a few years ago.
Nevertheless, customers continue to return to the carnicerias, looking for sausage or ground meat just the way they like it.
"This is the way we bring people to the store. We cut it the same day," said Teodoxio Garcia, an employee at Costa de Jalisco on Barber Street in Athens. "We want to tell people it's fresh."
The supermarket gets sides of beef and pork delivered every day. And next to the meat counter, a stainless steel vat cooks fresh-cut pork skins - another big seller.
A CHANGE OF PACE
A few years ago, the Normaltown parking lot in front of Los Compadres on Prince Avenue in Athens would be bustling any time of the day. But lately, employees have plenty of time to restock shelves and organize the merchandise during the week.
"Three years ago, we had more people," said Adilene Peralta, an employee at Los Compadres. Fewer families are doing their shopping during the week, she said, and instead they flood the store on the weekends.
The same pattern occurs at Dona Rosy, a cake shop and party store on U.S. Highway 441 north of Athens.
Originally in two locations - the store on U.S. 441 and the bakery on Prince Avenue - the drop in business in the past few years forced the family to close the Prince Avenue shop earlier this year and focus on just one larger store.
"My auntie is known for her cakes, and we would prefer to have two stores," said Candy Torres, 21, a niece of the owner.
But the more family members pulled together, working long shifts to keep both locations open, the more they realized it was better to focus on just the one larger space. "It was a much better deal for us to move and have them both together," she said.
The economy is partly to blame, store managers say. A lot of customers either lost their jobs, or took on an additional job, which changed their shopping patterns.
But the slump in sales at the Hispanic markets reflects an overall trend in the Athens area, according to Carol McDonell, area director of the University of Georgia's Small Business Development Center in Athens.
"In general, among the retail and restaurants in Athens, things are slower and more difficult," McDonell said. "We hear comments from business owners that revenues are down, and they have to work twice as hard to make a profit."
But many businesses are hanging in there, she said, and are focusing on new ways to bring in customers.
But in the case of the Athens-area Hispanic community, many residents simply have left.
A TICKET BACK HOME
Because the economy's slump coincided with a national discussion on immigration reform, some stores saw a decline in business not only from customers with less money, but also because customers left.
Peralta at Los Compadres said when the store started selling bus tickets, she noticed a lot of customers coming in to buy one. Today, she says, she realizes those customers left and haven't been back.
That sentiment was echoed by Debi Krause, vice president of member services for the Barrow County Chamber of Commerce, who tried to organize a group for Hispanic business owners.
As people in the Hispanic community lost their jobs because of the economy, she said, many ended up moving back to their home countries rather than uproot and try again in another community.
"When companies started scaling back, people started losing jobs and a lot of our folks went back to Mexico," she said. "I see (the group) as a need, but when they told me how bad things were, I decided to hold back."
Krause said she originally planned a Cinco de Mayo celebration in Winder, but few business owners had the time and the resources to volunteer for the event. In the end, Krause had to abandon the event and, more recently, the idea for a Hispanic business owners' group. But she hopes to pursue the idea as part of a larger regional endeavor when the economy gets stronger.
The businesses are "still here, but when they look at the chamber, they didn't realize what we're about," she said. "If they see there are more Hispanic businesses getting together, they may be more apt to be a part of it."
Handmade sausage isn't the only way many local Hispanic markets are distinguishing themselves. At Los Compadres, an area of the store that once was dedicated to boots, hats and shirts has been converted into space for soft drinks and snacks. The change makes it easy for customers to grab something and go, Peralta said, and the store's management realized the clothing wasn't selling too well.
The Mexican pastries at Los Compadres are made fresh each day, and while many people buy the oversized, sugar-coated breads, it's the cheesecake that's the big draw, Peralta said.
"They love the cheesecake," she said, motioning toward a case of caramel-colored pastries. "They love the bread, but we sell more of the cheesecake."
At Supermercado la Jalisco on Old Jefferson Road, one section of the store is a taco bar, with a menu offering tongue, tripe, carnitas and other more American-style, tacos.
Black, white and Hispanic customers sit and wait at the counter for their orders of tortas or tacos al pastor.
At most shops, there also is a freezer by the door filled with fruit popsicles. And shelves at each store are lined with authentic tortillas, dried beans, coffee, crackers and fruit sodas, all of which draw a diverse base of customers.
Garcia noted his store's section of products from Peru and Colombia, like fried potatoes, flax seeds and tea. And there's also Mexican Coca-Cola, which is made with cane sugar, not corn syrup.
"Tortillas are one of the things that we have to have all the time," he said. "The Spanish community is not too big, so we don't need a big, big store to bring them here."
And having the custom meats is the icing on the cake, Peralta said.
"They tell him how to cut it," she said. "Every time, when people come in, and they're going, 'I want to make tacos.' And he can cut it."
"That's why they come to the Spanish stores," he said. "They come for things they can't get at Walmart."
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Verizon and Yahoo's deal price gets cut, ISP privacy rolled back
This is c|net, and here are the stories that matter right now.
After a number of cyber attack controversies rocked Yahoo last year, Verizon's deal to purchase the Internet company seemed to be in jeopardy.
Now comes word from Bloomberg the price of acquiring Yahoo will be dropping by $250 million.
The deal still appears to be lucrative for Verizon, as it will be buying Yahoo's fast internet assets which extend well beyond Yahoo's content.
The Wall Street Journal is reporting that both Google and Amazon are flirting with the idea of turning their Home and Echo assistive devices into smart speaker phones.
However this presents a significant and privacy issue.
These gadgets are already familiar with even without speaker phone functionality.
There's also a logistical hurdles to consider as the trigger word could accidentally call or hang up on a contact.
And finally, said of FCC consumer protection regulations might be rollback by a plan put forth by republican Senator.
Senator Jeff Flake plans to submit a resolution that would free ISPs from requiring permission to collect information about users, including things like browsing history, the apps you use and location data.
You [UNKNOWN] by downloading the CNET Tech Today app in the Apple or Google Play store.
FDA approves Fitbit ventilator, attempted cyberattacks on US...
CES 2021 plans to be in-person, Apple's rumored iPad may be delayed
Civil rights leaders slam Zuckerberg, Amazon's COVID-19 data...
Tech giants pledge funds to fight racial injustice, Facebook...
Zoom works on end-to-end encryption, SpaceX crew lands on ISS
HBO Max is here, Xbox announces more Series X features
Google search changing, Microsoft brags about Xbox Series X
HBO Max goes live, Instagram experiments with badges
Global device shipments to drop 14%, Facebook launches CatchUp
Twitter's automation issues, Elon Musk changes baby name


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The number of internet users has increased in Turkey while household access to the internet has also seen an upsurge, the Turkish Statistical Institute (TurkStat) revealed Thursday.
The rate of internet users reached 82.6% this year up from 79% in 2020. This rate covers people between the ages of 16 and 74.
The rate of households with internet access increased by 2% to 92% this year.
Istanbul, the most populated city, had the highest internet access rate, ahead of the capital Ankara. The majority of users in households used mobile broadband while the rate of the fixed broadband connection for households was 61.9%.
A survey by the institute shows more than 80% of internet users were online almost every day in the first three months of 2021. The rate increased compared to 2020. Another surge was registered in the number of people using e-government services.
Online shopping also rose, with the rate of people using the internet for purchasing goods rising to 44.3% from 36.5% in 2020. Men were ahead of women in terms of online shopping. According to figures from the first three months of 2021, around 70.7% of people purchased clothing, shoes and accessories online while 40.8% used the internet to order food.
Films and series took the top stop among the most purchased or subscribed digital content at a rate of 30.6%, ahead of online purchases of transportation services. Some 37.2% of individuals who bought or ordered goods or services over the internet for private use in the first three months of 2021 did so one or two times, while 17.4% purchased more than 10 times.
These rates were observed as 45.6% and 11.2% respectively, in the same period last year.
The top reasons cited by 34.8% who had access to the internet but did not purchase goods or services online in the first three months of 2021 were that they preferred to shop in-person, like to see the product, loyalty to certain shops and force of habit. This was followed by 28.8% who did not feel the need to buy online in the last three months.


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Maserati will be asking the owners of certain 2014-2016 Maserati Quattroporte and Ghibli cars to return to their dealerships to repair a problem that could affect speed control. According to the defect report, these vehicles were manufactured with a driver side floor mat anchor which could break over time. The mat could become trapped between the accelerator pedal and carpet and affect the operation of the throttle position. A stuck accelerator pedal could startle the vehicle operator, thereby increasing the risk of a crash. However, the vehicle is equipped with a brake override operating function which will disable any engine torque command requests by the accelerator pedal command.
Maserati will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver-side floor mat and the accelerator pedal cover as necessary. For more information about the problem, owners are asked to contact Maserati customer service at 1-201-816-2600. Maserati’s number for this recall is 301 and the NHTSA campaign number is 16V-122.


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THIS Wednesday’s full year results from Marks & Spencer will be a milestone for CEO Steve Rowe as they cover his first year in charge at the iconic but troubled retailer.
After the 2016 festive quarter saw M&S enjoy its first underlying growth in nearly two years, hopes were high that Rowe had finally come up with a winning formula for the 133-year old retailer whose clothing arm has lost its lustre. But the recovery is now looking short-lived.
In the first three months of 2017, clothing and homeware sales are forecast to have tumbled more than 3 per cent. The food business is also expected to post a dip in underlying sales.
That would be a big blow for Rowe. Made CEO in April 2016, he initially concentrated on running fewer promotions in clothing while promising female shoppers more wearable fashions. Then he unveiled a five-year plan to reduce the amount of trading space devoted to clothing by 10 per cent while expanding the upmarket food halls.
Some analysts have argued that Rowe’s plans are not radical enough as sales are lost to the internet and nimbler rivals such as Zara and Primark. Meanwhile, rising living costs are forcing Britons to tighten their belts at a time when a weaker sterling means the cost of imported goods for retailers is increasing.
M&S recently drafted in some big guns to assist Rowe as the pressures mount, most notably retail turnaround king Archie Norman who is to succeed chairman Robert Swannell later this year.
They will have their work cut out: M&S has been left playing catch up in a difficult mid-market position. Veteran retail analyst Nick Bubb pulls no punches, saying the M&S clothing business is “in long-term structural decline” due to heightened competition. He believes that any evidence to the contrary is just a blip and wants further cuts to clothing space; other analysts say more stores need to go.
Investors eventually lost patience with Rowe's predecessor Marc Bolland who left the retailer with its current dichotomy of high end food and non-premium clothing. With the share price down 11.6 per cent year-on-year, M&S lifer Rowe will need to pull out the stops to avoid the same fate.


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- The Good Food Institute, a nonprofit that promotes plant-based dairy and meat alternatives, has sued the FDA. GFI's complaint includes four counts related to the agency allegedly maintaining varying stances on use of the term "soy milk" and its failure to comply with deadlines for FOIA requests.
- The dispute dates back nearly two decades when the Soyfoods Association of America allegedly requested the FDA's formal recognition of the term "soy milk" as the common name for "liquid food derived from the cooking and processing of whole soybeans with water." The FDA did not respond, but the FDA and industry used the term going forward.
- However, the agency issued warning letters to California companies in 2008 and 2012 for their use of the term "soy milk" because the product does not contain dairy milk. "This has resulted in consumer confusion and an uneven competitive landscape," GFI stated in its complaint.
The dairy industry has allegedly been involved in this dispute. Though not a party to the lawsuit, the "National Milk Producers Federation and several dairy state senators allegedly sent letters urging the FDA to enforce the standards of its warning letters in 2010 and 2012," Courthouse News Service reported.
The "milk" common meaning argument resembles another recent determination by the FDA. The agency ruled that the term "evaporated cane juice" was misleading in part because use of the word "juice" is confusingly similar to the more common meaning of "juice," which refers to liquid extracted from fruits and vegetables. Here, dairy milk producers could argue the same for "milk" in conjunction with "soy milk."
However, such a decision would impact manufacturers beyond soy milk, including all plant-based milk producers, such as almond, coconut, rice, cashew, and pea-based milk, in addition to cheeses and other products made from those plant-based milks.
While many plant-based dairy alternatives still come from the startup level, larger producers like WhiteWave Foods have made plant-based dairy alternatives a significant part of their portfolio.


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The WWD Global Stock Tracker registered a 0.1 percent gain in its first day of operation, moving to 100.10 from its baseline of 100.
The largest gains among the 100 international fashion, retail and beauty issues now tracked by WWD came from Elizabeth Arden Inc. and Inter Parfums Inc., which rose 3.3 and 2.9 percent, respectively, to close at $21.30 and $29.49. Under Armour Inc. and Kate Spade & Co. finished nearly as strongly, with gains of 2.9 percent to end the day at $59.91 and $38.12, respectively.
Click Here for the WWD Global Stock Tracker >>
Among issues pulling back on the day were Quiksilver Inc., down 6.4 percent to $3.36; Safilo Group SpA, down 5.1 percent to $15.33; Youngor Group Co., down 2.5 percent to 6.69 yuan, or $1.08 at current exchange; and Shanghai Metersbonwe Fashion & Accessories, down 2.4 percent to 8.17 yuan, or $1.32.
Shares of Coach Inc. were off 1.4 percent to $34.50 after analysts at Buckingham Research downgraded the stock to “underperform” from “neutral” and cut their price target to $28 from $32.
A number of British retail stocks fell in the day’s trading, after the British Retail Consortium reported late Tuesday that prices in British shops fell 1.8 percent in June compared to the same month last year. That marked the biggest annual drop in prices since 2006, the BRC said.
That contributed to a 2.4 percent dip in shares of Marks and Spencer Group, which closed at 4.18 pounds, or $7.15.


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We all know where we stand on the latest phonesex news.
However, it seems there are some users that don’t agree with the whole idea of the chatsite.
In this video, we take a look at some of the biggest issues with the chatroom.
In the video above, we’re going to be taking a look into the latest devices from the US and UK.
The UK has been rocking the best phones in the world for a while now, and its got some of our favorite phones in there as well.
We’ve got the Galaxy S8 and S8+ in the UK, and the LG V30 in the US.
We have a few things we’d like to see from this chatsite before we leave.
The first is that the phone number and email address of the person who owns the device is displayed.
This way, it’s easy to find who owns what device.
This can be used for some sort of trade and sales system.
There’s also the ability to send out a notification when someone has a new phone and/or is upgrading from a device.
Another cool feature would be the ability for the person to send you a message when they have a new device.
The last thing we’d love to see is for the people in the chat room to get to see all the different people in their contacts.
The last feature we’d really like to have is for you to be able to share your phonesex information with other people.
For example, if you’re in a chat with a friend, and you see someone else’s phone number, you can share your phone number with them.
This will let other people know that you are connected to their phonesex, and that you’re on their list.
This is a nice feature that can really help users.
If you’re not on the chatsites, you’re missing out on the ability.
This is a great feature, and we think it would make people feel more connected to the people they’re connected to.
We think it could also help users to save money, and also make phone calls and texts easier.


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EPR Retail News Editors
EPR Retail News
The suppliers that do not sign the commitment will not be allowed to work with H&M. H&M has an equivalent ban on cotton from Uzbekistan since 2013.
The reason for this ban is that H&M under no circumstances accepts underage workers and/or forced labor being used anywhere in our value chain, including in cotton cultivation. Unfortunately this is sometimes the case in Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan and H&M does therefore not accept conventional cotton from Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan or Syria in our products.


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Market analyst Roskill issued a report where its experts say that they expect concerns over carbon emissions from the transport of nickel sulphate feedstocks such as mixed hydroxide product (MHP) to grow over the coming years.
According to Roskill, increased worry from OEMs over the carbon footprint of transporting these materials is going to be the result of the rising supply of MHP aimed at responding to the demand for battery metal commodities.
“Given the expected increase in production of nickel sulphate products, spurred on by Li-ion battery demand, scrutiny of this supply chain is inevitable, as downstream OEMs look to exert more control and demand greater transparency of potential ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) issues within their supply chains,” the document reads.
The report explains that emissions from shipping can constitute a significant percentage of a commodity’s total CO2 emissions. This is due to the nature of shipping, transporting large volumes of material over significant distances worldwide and the less stringent nature of regulation over engine fuel use.
Within the nickel sulphate feedstock supply chains, Roskill’s analyses have determined that MHP contributes the greatest quantity of CO2 emissions, approximately 16,000t in 2020.
“The reasons for this are simple: MHP constitutes approximately a quarter of total feedstock demand (on a contained nickel in NiS feedstock basis) for nickel sulphate refining and additionally, has a moisture content significantly higher than other feedstocks, increasing the volume of material required to be shipped and therefore, carbon emissions,” the report states.
Given that Roskill forecasts the supply of MHP to increase over the next decade, with several high-pressure acid leach projects in Indonesia planned to come online, original equipment manufacturers are also expected to be paying more attention to the environmental implications of moving the products across the world.


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When Big Data Yields Disappointing Results
BY Nick Judd | Friday, February 24 2012
The Associated Press' Kelli Kennedy reports that an expensive and newfangled computer system designed to prevent fraudulent Medicare payments has yielded disappointing results:
Launched last summer, a $77 million computer system to stop Medicare fraud before it happens had prevented just one suspicious payment by Christmas. That saved taxpayers exactly $7,591.
Hoping for much better results, a disappointed Sen. Tom Carper, D-Del., says, "I wondered, did they leave out some zeros?"
The congressionally mandated system was built by Northrum Grumman and a group of other companies, Kennedy reports, and has yielded its savings so far after flagging 2,500 leads and 600 suspicious cases.


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world tour Tarsusturn back
Berdan Cam has increased its capacity by 40 percent with its new investment.
Berdan Cam produces decorative glass, thermopane, mirror blasting, stained-glass, beveled glass and mirror, ready-to-use kitchen, plastic and door production and increased its capacity by 40 percent with its new facility and jumbo cutting line investment. The company has increased its market share in Mersin to 40 percent, and also completed its first triplex project by entering the construction sector.
Berdan Cam General Manager Berdan Kaya, stating that they have 32 years of history in the construction sector for PVC, glass, marble, aluminum, structure materials and contracting and highlighted that they have reached to 30 million lira turnover with almost 100 workers. Kaya expressed that they are regional dealer of Fırat Pen for plastic door and window and Trakya Cam for glass and they continue their investments in 2016 and commissioned their second factory. They were having activities in 1.500 square meter previously and their new facility is established on total 10 thousand square meter area with 5 thousand 500 square meters indoor area. Besides, Kaya highlighted that they added new machines into their machine parks and realized total 6 million TL investments with facilities and machines. Kaya also stated that they have started qualified glass production in their new facility and added “We accelerated our production with the new jumbo cutting line and expanded our service portfolio by cutting large sized glasses. Thanks to the large sized glass cutting, we minimized the waste rate and improved our profitability and we have increased our capacity to monthly 7 thousand square meters for glass cutting”.
We constructed 10 million TL triplex project
Kaya informed us that they have added a new business branch to their organization and started build-and-sell. They have completed their first projects within this scope and highlighted that they have constructed 22 triplexes on total 11 thousand square meter area. He stated that they made total 10 million TL investments and they will deliver triplexes in first 3 months of this year. Kaya, “We made plan and investment of next five years. Our activities will continue in the sector with our new projects”.
We are aiming to produce tempered glass
Kaya stated that they are aiming to purchase temper line in their facilities at the end of this year, and quick freezing has increased resistance to the glass. He highlighted that a normal glass can be divided into very small pieces those will not damage people after breaking, and added “Therefore, all house glasses will be tempered at certain floors after 2017 with the new law. There are few producers from Mersin to Antalya making tempered glass production. We want to be among rare companies of the region with that production.”
Kaya stated that they started their activities as Berdan Cam on 1985 with mirror production, expressed that they sustain their growth by acquiring Fıratpen PVC Door and Window assembly dealership on 1998. Kaya, expressing that they continuously improve their service qualities by adding decorative glass, thermopane, mirror blasting, stained-glass, beveled glass and mirror, ready-to-use kitchen, plastic and door productions depending on continuously changing and renewed customer requirements and added that they are in projected works. He stated that their market share is almost 100 percent in Tarsus and their share is 25 percent in Mersin. He added that they are aiming to increase their activities and share they receive from the region and “we are aiming to be the best producer of the region in our sector. We want our customers to find all products they search for.”


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This week it was announced that the winner of the giant cabbage at the Fair in Palmer, Alaska, was the 10-year-old boy named Kevan Dinkel, has raised cabbage weighing 42 kilograms. Kevan was the owner of two thousand dollars. As stated in the organizing committee of the event for 18 years of the competition for the biggest cabbage in it for the first time won a child.
Contests giant vegetables – a very popular phenomenon. They are attended by both amateur gardeners and professional farmers who specialize in growing and selling giants of their seeds. We have collected 7 vegetable-champions from different countries.
1. Kevan Dinkel and his cabbage-winner named Bob.
2. Peter Glazebrook from the UK – a person known among fans of the giant gardening. His bow weighing 8.16 kg in 2012 broke his own previous world record. (John Giles / PA)
3. Nissan Tamir of Omer, Israel shows them radishes grown, each of which weighs 10 kg. (Azulai / Israel Sun / Rex Features)
4. And this pumpkin won the Fair of Alaska in 2011. Her weight was 584 kg.
5. This pub-winner of the annual fair in Herrougeyte, United Kingdom in 2012 and brought up Peter Glazebrook. And raise a vegetable, which weighs 54.3 kg, over the head trying weightlifter Jonathan Walker. (John Giles / PA)
6. Ian Neale from Newport, South Wales, in 2011, set a record for the biggest swede. This specimen of a giant gardening weighs 38.92 kg.
7. Antonio Martone with tomato weighing in at 450 grams and a diameter of 38 cm, this giant has grown from a seed that Antonio had sent his family from Naples. (Solent News / Rex Features)


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Canadian grocery giant Metro Inc. is already facing pressure from suppliers to accept higher prices in light of a recent tariff war with the United States and consumers should expect slightly higher food bills in the future, its CEO said Wednesday.
“We’re starting to get demands from some suppliers who are, whose products will be, affected by the new tariffs,” Eric La Fleche said during a conference call with analysts Wednesday after the company released its third-quarter earnings report.
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The Canadian government implemented tariffs on Canada Day on a number of American-made goods, including yogurt, orange juice and maple syrup, in retaliation for U.S.-government imposed tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum products, which are also putting pressure on some Canadian food manufacturers.
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The company is currently reviewing suppliers demands and negotiating prices, La Fleche said.
“If it’s legitimate and if it’s industry-wide, sometimes we won’t have a choice and we will have to accept,” he said, adding the company has already agreed to some minor cost increases.
Metro will continue to ensure its retail prices are competitive, he said, but expects the company, as well as the market as a whole, will have to accept some cost increases.
Ontario’s new minimum wage, which rose to $14 at the start of the year, is adding extra pressure on prices.
“We expect that the cumulative effect of all these cost pressures should start to be reflected at retail,” La Fleche said. “We’re just starting to see some minor price increases — nothing major.”
Empire Co. Ltd., which operates subsidiary Sobeys Inc., predicted a similar outlook in late June, when the company reported its latest quarterly earnings. Sobeys CEO Michael Medline said at the time that the pending tariffs could result in higher grocery store prices, though he said the company would try to resist accepting suppliers’ cost increases.
A number of companies whose products use cans, including the Campbell Company of Canada and Molson Coors Brewing Company, have said that the 10 per cent tariffs the U.S. has slapped on aluminum imports have forced them to consider price increases.
La Fleche’s comments came as Metro reported it earned lower-than-expected earnings in its latest quarter.
The company earned $167.5 million, or 69 cents per share, in the third quarter ended July 7, as it completed its acquisition of the Jean Coutu Group on May 11, falling from compared with a profit of $183 million or 78 cents per diluted share a year ago.
On an adjusted basis, which excluded acquisition-related costs, Metro earned 75 cents per diluted share for the quarter, up from 70 cents per diluted share in the same period last year. However, the results fell short of analysts’ expectations for adjusted earnings of 78 cents per share, according to Thomson Reuters Eikon.
Revenue for what was the company’s third quarter of its financial year totalled $4.64 billion, up from $4.07 billion a year ago, boosted by the Jean Coutu acquisition.
Excluding Jean Coutu, Metro says sales would have been up 2.4 per cent for the quarter.


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Belvidere, New Jersey-based Edible Garden AG Inc. has appointed three new independent members to the company’s board of directors as of May 4: Mathew McConnell, Tracy Nazzaro and Ryan Rogers.
McConnell has served as CEO of Marco Polo Securities Inc.’s MPS Chaperone and Distribution business since March 2020. In this position, he oversees international equities, trading and capital markets processes for this U.S. broker-dealer, offering cross-border regulatory and distribution solutions to a network of local securities firms across the world.
From 2018 to 2020, McConnell served as managing director, head of equity capital markets of Tellimer, including as a member of its U.S. executive committee. Prior to Tellimer, McConnell was head of capital markets at Auerbach Grayson from 2014 to 2018.
Nazzaro is the president, CFO and general manager for Trader’s Hill Farm, a greenhouse farming operation in Hilliard, Florida, that produces specialty leafy greens. She joined Trader’s Hill Farm as CFO in late 2015.
Prior to joining Trader’s Hill Farm, Nazzaro was a certified business analyst with the University of North Florida SBDC, where she provided strategic advisory and financial consulting services to businesses in Northeast Florida. Nazzaro is also the executive director of the RWB Foundation Inc., a non-profit organization providing financial assistance and operating guidance to small agriculture businesses in Florida.
Rogers spent nearly two decades working in the food retail industry in merchandising, sales and sourcing positions. After 18 years at Target Corp., where he held various senior buying and sourcing roles within its produce and grocery divisions, he joined FDM Sales in 2021 to help guide and sell emerging brands into retail. In 2022, as an effort to develop small and start-up consumer brands, he founded Retail Optics, a consulting firm focused on navigating complex problems within the retail space.
“I am pleased to welcome Mathew McConnell, Tracy Nazzaro, and Ryan Rogers to our board of directors,” said Jim Kras, CEO of Edible Garden. “They each bring tremendous experience in their respective fields, which will be invaluable as we implement our growth strategies to establish Edible Garden as a leader in the controlled environment agriculture farming sector.
“Mathew’s success on Wall Street will be instrumental in supporting our growth objectives. Tracy brings both agricultural and CEA experience, as well as a background in corporate finance. Ryan brings a proven track record in big box retail and brand management within the food industry. In addition to leveraging their collective experience and relationships, we believe these appointments reflect our commitment to maintaining sound corporate governance.”
For more information, visit ediblegarden.com.


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BBDO Detroit will unveil a $60 million campaign for the Dodge Charger, a "muscle" car that has been out of circulation since 1988. The three-month campaign begins June 1, and includes in-cinema and elevator ads, as well as online, TV, print and outdoor.
Thanks in large measure to workplace cubicle culture, 67% of U.S. workers regularly eat lunch at their desks, according to a survey by the American Dietetic Association. Eating lunch alone in a cubicle lets people check e-mail and avoid office socialization while gobbling food quickly -- but workers should remember that their food odors are not confined by cubicle walls.
Suhaila Suhimi-Waldner will join WPP Group's mOne Worldwide as senior partner and media director, working on accounts for American Express Co., Cisco Systems, IBM and SAP. Previously, Suhimi-Waldner was VP and group account director at Havas' Media Contacts.
Online job search company Monster is moving creative duties away from Interpublic Group's Deutsch, but has yet to name a new agency on the account. Deutsch will retain the media buying and planning accounts.


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Credit cards offer superior protection against unauthorized use
By Jeremy M. Simon | Published: May 1, 2007
Recent stories of personal data theft involved leaks from remote computer centers that resulted in the theft of millions of credit card and debit card numbers. In 2006, fraud losses to existing credit card and debit card accounts totaled $20 billion, according to Javelin Strategy & Research.
But when it comes to protecting yourself from unauthorized charges, credit cards offer superior protection against unauthorized use when compared to debit cards.
Experts say that paying with a credit card offers greater protection, since purchases are initially paid for by the card issuer. That means the victim generally does not pay anything before discovering the unauthorized transaction. Meanwhile, debit card payments come directly out of the cardholder's bank account.
Additionally, debit card losses can take weeks to recover after being reported to the card issuer. That could leave the cardholder's bank account empty while the bank investigates.
With a credit card, the maximum a victim of unauthorized charges will pay is $50 if the loss or theft is reported within 60 days. Since the laws covering debit cards in the event of theft are less protective than for credit cards, a debit card user is on the hook for losses up to $50 if the theft is reported within two days of being discovered.
And, after two days, the debit card holder could have to pay as much as $500 for unauthorized charges. If the theft goes unreported for 60 days, they are legally responsible for all the losses after that period. So debit card losses should always be reported ASAP.
The basic steps for protecting information apply to both credit cards and debits cards. First, consumers should just carry those credit cards, debit cards, and ID cards they use often -- and should never carry a Social Security card or any document featuring their Social Security number.
Separately, consumers should try and receive credit card, bank, and other statements and invoice in electronic form over the Internet, rather than getting paper versions that could easily get lost in the mail or stolen. When choosing passwords and IDs for their accounts, consumers should use once that are tough to guess.
Finally, consumers should never provide their credit card, debit card or other sensitive personal information to a party whose identity they cannot verify.
- Debt relief firm that claimed ties to US government sued by CFPB – The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau sued two companies both known as FDAA for an allegedly illegal debt relief scheme targeting credit card debtors ...
- In the wake of Equifax hack, Congress proposes credit bureau reform – Lawmakers call for changes in credit report system to protect people's data, or at least give them more control over it ...
- Poll: 1 in 4 Americans checked their credit after Equifax breach – The flood of post-breach consumer action is encouraging, but many still didn't check their credit ...


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A closed-door unveiling of the forthcoming Google Home smart speaker platform included the nakedly anticompetitive news that vendors whose products support Amazon's Echo will be blocked from integrating with Google's own, rival platform.
These platforms are typically designed to allow their vendors to invoke Section 1201 of the DMCA, which makes it a felony to change their configurations in unauthorized ways, meaning that Google could convert its commercial preference ("devices either support Google Home or Amazon Echo, but not both") into a legal right ("we can use the courts and the police to punish people who make products that let you expand your device's range of features to support whichever platform you choose to use").
Of course, having a live, networked, corporate-controlled mic in your bedroom, living room and toilet is an idea that is so unbelievably terrible on its face that you could use it as the introduction to a term paper in 2040 explaining how human civilization nearly collapsed in the early 21st century.
The device is powered by Google Assistant: A smart, personalized assistant in the cloud that can respond to questions and commands, making use of the data Google has about its users.
Google Home also integrates with Google Cast, the same technology that powers Google’s popular Chromecast streaming adapter. Consumers will be able to launch audio from their favorite Cast-compatible streaming apps on Google Home, including Spotify, Tunein, Pandora, NPR One, SoundCloud and more.
At the same time, Google Home also works as a Cast sender, which means that it can launch media playback on other Cast-compatible devices. Consumers will, for example, be able to launch YouTube video playback on their TVs by telling Google Home what they want to watch. What’s more, Google Home can play music in sync with other Google Cast-capable speakers or Chromecast Audio-equipped stereo systems.
How Google Plans to Take Down Amazon’s Echo (EXCLUSIVE)
We’ve seen Disneyland-scented candles before but now there are new contenders in the category of “Things that smell like something you’d find in a Disney resort.” While the Magic Candle Company in Kissimmee, Florida is not affiliated with Disney in any official way, they have made an entire line of candles, wax melts, and spray-on […]
Steven Melendez discovered some public domain government documents in Google Books that the service wouldn't let him download because they had been misclassified as copyrighted; he filled in an online form and less than a week later, a human had reviewed the documents, agreed that they had been misclassified and removed all restrictions.
The EU is mooting a new copyright regime for the largest market in the world, and the Commissioners who are drafting the new rules are completely captured by the entertainment industry, to the extent that they have ignored their own experts and produced a farcical Big Content wishlist that includes the most extensive internet censorship […]
Competition in the job market is getting stiff, and while experience and a four-year degree can put you on the map, most employers prefer applicants versed in the tools that power their industry. To this end, certifying your skills with Salesforce is a smart move. The world’s #1 Customer Relationship Management (CRM) platform, Salesforce is […]
Warmer weather is coming, and so too is the hankering for iced coffee. But, since most of us don’t have the time—or foresight—to make a batch of cold brew the night before, we’ll be chilling our cups of Joe with ice cubes and watering them down in the process. The HyperChiller Coffee Chiller offers a different […]
For the uninitiated, Cisco is a worldwide leader in networking systems and solutions, and, as such, carrying a certification backed by them can fast-track your way to a coveted IT position in virtually any company. Of course, passing any of Cisco’s certification exams is no easy feat, but the Ultimate Cisco Certification Super Bundle can make the […]


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(MARYVILLE, TENN., June 6, 2013) Xtreme Tower Products (XTP) has hired industry veteran Mike McCrary as its Engineering Manager. Headquartered in Maryville, Tenn., XTP designs and manufactures custom watersports towers and accessories for boat builders and retail customers around the world.
“We are excited to have Mike on the XTP team,” said XTP President Tony Williams. “His project management capabilities and purchasing experience will be huge assets given our aggressive new product schedule.”
McCrary has more than two decades of marine industry experience including Senior Buyer/New Product Development Project Leader with Bombardier Recreational Products, Inc. (BRP) and purchasing positions with Crownline and Celebrity boats.
“The culture at XTP is invigorating,” said McCrary. “We have multiple innovative new product development projects underway and countless others under consideration. My first priority is to put in place some processes that will streamline new product integration so we can get to market faster with superior quality towers and accessories.”
“We’ve got a team of extremely talented, creative people,” said Williams. “Mike’s role will be to help channel all of that energy and transition great ideas from concept through production.” For more information, contact Xtreme Tower Products at 865-981-9898.


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2 Approaches To Ending Smoking: Laws And Labels
We hear it from smokers struggling to quit all the time: "If only they'd make it illegal, then I'd have to quit."
A fifth of the world's population sucks on cancer sticks, and while the West has cleared the air in some places with public bans, the global consumption rate has managed to creep up 13 percent in the past decade. Many countries have been experimenting with anti-tobacco strategies and legislation for years, but of all the efforts — from Orwellian-style bans to smoke-free cars — only a handful seem to have delivered results.
Oddly, making smoking illegal isn't one of them. In 2004 and 2005, the Himalayan Kingdom of Bhutan — which has measured its country's health not by GDP but by gross national happiness — became the first country to outright ban tobacco sales and make smoking in public places and private offices illegal. But it would seem that being happy, for some Bhutanese, depends on cigarettes, and enforcing the new laws — including harsh jail terms for minor possession offenses — has ruffled feathers while not necessarily reducing smoking rates.
That figure comes from the World Health Organization's Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, but it's a controversial statistic: Some experts believe the smoking rate in Bhutan is much higher and has remained unchanged since the ban. "We think that the smoking level in Bhutan is higher than you might expect — it's just that everybody's not doing it legally," says Jeffrey Drope, the American Cancer Society's managing director of economic and health policy research.
Publicly smoking or chewing tobacco products may be punishable offenses, but importing cigarettes in limited amounts for personal consumption is still allowed, provided taxes are paid. Like Prohibition did for alcohol, Bhutan's ban on producing and selling tobacco has fueled smuggling and under-the-counter sales.
So across the world, what has worked? Some anti-smoking experts cite the effort in Scotland, where displays by large retailers aimed at younger consumers are prohibited.
Others feel strongly that high taxation remains the most effective measure. In New York City, smokers cough up at least $10.50 per pack — the highest price in America — forcing many to rethink their addiction. Studies have shown that increasing tobacco prices by 50 percent leads to a 20 percent drop in consumption.
But surprisingly enough, something as simple as plain packaging can make a measurable difference, at least in Australia. Whether they're puffing on Marlboros or Camels, smokers Down Under have drawn cigarettes from the same brown package, often emblazoned with graphic photos of cancer-ridden body parts and warning labels, since 2012.
"It's a reminder to them every time they reach for the product that what they're doing is really bad," says Drope. Today, Australia enjoys its lowest-ever recorded smoking rate, having fallen from nearly 18 percent in 2004 to less than 13 percent in 2013.
So Big Brother can make a difference, just not necessarily with the long arm of the law.
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A new report in the Taiwan-based newspaper Economic Times (via Reuters) claims Apple plans to cut iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus production by nearly 50 percent in November and December. Cutting production of its latest flagship iPhone before the holiday shopping season would typically be a bad sign, but Apple is most likely preparing for the launch of the iPhone X.
Analysts believe that Apple plans to focus on the iPhone X which delivers a radical new design and new Face ID feature. However, Apple shares still "fell 1.5 percent in premarket trading on Thursday as brokers and traders speculated over poor demand and cuts in production of the iPhone 8," according to Reuters.
KeyBanc Capital Markets analyst John Vinh reported earlier this week that based on carrier store surveys the iPhone 7 is outselling the iPhone 8. The low sales of Apple's new iPhone are most likely due to consumers waiting for the iPhone X.
The iPhone X offers a new edge-to-edge display and is the first Apple handset to ship without a physical Home button. It also comes with Apple's new Face ID technology which replaces Touch ID and allows users to send Animojis.The iPhone X will retail starting at $999, compared to the iPhone 8 which starts at $699. The major price leap will help boost Apple's margins. One analyst believes iPhone X production will shift to 60-70 percent in December and continue higher yields than the iPhone through March.
The iPhone X will begin shipping in November. Pre-orders open on October 27th.