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How much is Barnes & Noble's (BKS) chairman Len Riggio willing to pay to quash billionaire investor Ron Burkle's proxy fight for what's left of the company? Try $16.8 million. And that's not including legal fees. Riggio just exercised options to acquire 990,740 shares in the world's largest bookseller at a strike price of $16.96 -- a premium of $1.61 per share. It's actually just one more calculated grab for control.
The official party line from B&N states that Riggio's move shows that he "continues to believe B&N's stock is undervalued and this exercise of his options demonstrates his belief in the long-term strategy of the company."
But what Riggio gets by converting the options he was granted back in 2001 (hereafter known as "the good old days" when the company's value was $2.2 billion) is that he avoids triggering the "poison pill," the measure that prevents anyone from buying more than 20 percent of the stock on the open market. Otherwise known as a hostile takeover, that's what Burkle was fighting against from the beginning.
The options also allow Riggio to vote more shares which will come in handy now that Burkle's drawn his sword against the board. Burkle is demanding that the three board members up for re-election: Laurence Zilavy, Michael Del Guidice, and Len Riggio, each be unseated and replaced by three with friendlier relationships to Burkle's Yucaipa Cos.
Burkle wants to give himself a seat. To his right, he'd place Stephen Bollenbach, former CEO of Hilton Hotels and current chairman of KB Home (KBH) who served with Burkle for 15 years on that company's board. To his left, the chairman and CEO of Wheego Electric Cars, Michael McQuary, another board pal from the days when Liquid Audio was in Burkle's takeover sights.
While this complex drama of gaining control plays out in the courts, Barnes & Noble is falling victim to doomsday predictions of the death of the chain, and the prediction that independent booksellers will have the last laugh.
Brett Arends makes an alarming point at Marketwatch:
Barnes & Noble's annual filing shows that management and staff owns 5.5 million stock options, granted to them in previous years to give them an incentive to work harder and smarter. The options have an average exercise price of $20.19 -- meaning most of them, if not all, are now seemingly worthless.)
Though it's true that B&N stock is a fraction of what it was a decade ago, it's probably way too soon to shovel dirt on the company's grave. Riggio's not going to go down that easily. And though brick and mortar bookselling may soon go the way of the music stores of yore, someone is going to be selling e-books online and it may as well be B&N.
The company's online sales were up 51 percent in the fourth quarter, making B&N's predictions that in the next fiscal year, its Web sales are expected to increase 75 percent to $1 billion, very likely. And let's not forget that B&N's e-bookstore currently offers the largest selection of digital downloads.
By throwing down the gauntlet in the form of buying options, Riggio looks like an optimist -- one that's ready for battle.
Image via Wikimedia Commons CC 2.0


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SYDNEY Asian shares clung to modest gains on Wednesday on hopes that Beijing could stem the rout in its markets without damage to the economy, while caution ruled elsewhere ahead of a policy decision from the U.S.
Twitter Inc's shares fell more than 11 percent in extended trade on Tuesday after the microblogging company said its number of monthly average users grew at the slowest pace since it went public in 2013.
Wall Street has broken a five-day losing streak, helped by a round of better-than-expected profit results and easing fears about the volatile Chinese share market.
BERLIN— Volkswagen AG VLKAY 2.87 % 's after-tax earnings slipped in the second quarter because of weakness in China and restructuring charges in its trucks business, Europe's largest car maker by sales said Wednesday.
Washington • The first wave of long-range commercial drones should be allowed to operate in a narrow, low-altitude band and must agree to be tracked, according to Amazon.

domain: news


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MONTGOMERY – Today Secretary of State Beth Chapman announces new electronic services for business entity documents are available online on the Secretary of State website http://www.sos.alabama.gov/.
In addition to the very popular Certificate of Existence online function, copies of all scanned documents are now available online as well as the ability to obtain certified copies. These documents include articles of incorporation, amendments, terminations, and more.
There is also a third service available online for a smaller group of business filers. The annual LLP Annual Notice Report required of Registered Limited Liability Partnerships can now be filed online.
"Having these services online is just another way for my office to continue to provide more efficient and effective government to the people of Alabama," stated Secretary Beth Chapman.
All of these new features may be accessed by going to the Business Services section of the Secretary of State website and clicking on Online Services beneath the Business Entities subheading.
The paper method of filing is still available should customers choose to use it.
See the new online services by visiting the Secretary of State website at http://www.sos.alabama.gov/.


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Fears about the impact of inflation on global economic growth led to further stock market losses last week.
In the US, the S&P 500 suffered its biggest daily fall since the early months of the pandemic, closing down 4.0% on Wednesday following poor results from major retailers. On Friday, the index briefly fell into bear market territory, down more than 20% from its January high, as fears of a recession grew. The index finished the week 3.1% lower, while the Dow and the Nasdaq slid 2.9% and 3.8%, respectively.
The FTSE 100 slipped 0.4% as UK inflation soared and consumer confidence fell to its lowest level in nearly 50 years. The pan-European STOXX 600 declined 0.6% after the European Commission cut its growth forecasts for the eurozone.
Over in Asia, China’s decision to cut interest rates to support its ailing property sector helped to boost sentiment in the region. The Shanghai Composite gained 2.0% and the Nikkei 225 added 1.2%.
Last week’s market performance*
- FTSE 100: -0.38%
- S&P 500: -3.05%
- Dow: -2.90%
- Nasdaq: -3.82%
- Dax: -0.33%
- Hang Seng: +4.11%
- Shanghai Composite: +2.02%
- Nikkei: +1.18%
*Data from close on Friday 13 May to close of business on Friday 20 May.
UK house prices hit fresh record high
Most major indices started this week in the green, with the FTSE 100, Dax and S&P 500 up 1.7%, 1.4% and 1.9% at the close of trading on Monday (23 May). Comments from US President Joe Biden that he was considering lowering tariffs on certain products imported from China helped to boost sentiment.
In economic news, figures from Rightmove showed the average asking price of a UK property rose by 2.1% month-on-month in May to £367,501, the highest for the time of year since May 2014. On an annual basis, prices surged by 10.2% as supply failed to keep up with continued buoyant demand.
Stocks slipped back again at the start of trading on Tuesday. The FTSE 100 fell 1.0% as investors mulled the latest UK government borrowing data. According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), borrowing fell by £5.6bn year-on-year in April to £18.6bn but remained above pre-pandemic levels.
UK inflation hits 40-year high
The latest UK inflation figures showed consumer prices rose at their steepest rate for more than 40 years in April as the cost of food and energy soared. The consumer prices index (CPI) rose by 9.0% compared with a year ago, up from 7.0% in March. On a monthly basis, the CPI increased by 2.5%, up from a rise of 0.6% in the same month a year ago.
The ONS said the increase in the energy price cap was the main reason for the jump in CPI. The annual inflation rate for electricity and gas hit 53.5% and 95.5%, respectively. Average petrol prices rose to a record 161.8p a litre in April from 125.5p a year earlier, pushing the annual inflation rate for motor fuels and lubricants to 31.4%. Elsewhere, the end of a temporary VAT cut for the hospitality industry led to a 1.7% monthly increase in restaurant and hotel prices.
The rising cost of living meant GfK’s consumer confidence barometer fell to -40 in May, the lowest level since records began in 1974. “This means consumer confidence is now weaker than in the darkest days of the global banking crisis, the impact of Brexit on the economy, or the Covid shutdown,” said Joe Staton, client strategy director at GfK. The sub-measures on the general economy sank to -63 for the last 12 months and -56 for the coming year. “The outlook for consumer confidence is gloomy, and nothing on the economic horizon shows a reason for optimism any time soon,” added Staton.
UK GfK consumer confidence index
Source: Refinitiv Datastream
Retail sales jump despite rising prices
Despite the doom and gloom, separate figures from the ONS showed a surprise jump in retail sales in April. Sales volumes rose by 1.4% month-on-month following a fall of 1.2% in March. Economists in a Reuters poll had forecast a decline of 0.2%. The rise was led by strong growth in sales of alcohol and tobacco, which drove food store sales volumes up by 2.8%. Clothing sales were also strong as customers booked weddings and holidays.
On a quarterly basis, sales volumes fell by 0.3% in the three months to April, extending the downward trend in place since summer 2021. “Retail sales picked up in April after last month’s fall,” said Heather Bovill, ONS deputy director for surveys and economic indicators. “However, these figures still show a continued longer-term downward trend.
“April’s rise was driven by an increase in supermarket sales, led by alcohol and tobacco and sweet treats, with off-licences also reporting a boost, possibly due to people staying in more to save money.”
US housing market cools
Over in the US, data suggested the housing market could be slowing as rising mortgage rates make it harder for people to get onto the property ladder. Building permits dropped 3.2% month-on-month in April, led by a 4.6% fall in permits for single-family housing, according to the Commerce Department. Housing starts slipped by 0.2%, with single-family housing starts plunging by 7.3%.
It came after the NAHB/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index, a measure of housing market sentiment, dropped to the lowest level in nearly two years in May. This was blamed on rising prices for building materials and rapidly increasing mortgage rates. The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 5.3% during the week ended 12 May, the highest since July 2009, according to Freddie Mac data reported by Reuters.
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Performance is quoted before charges which will reduce illustrated performance. Investment values may increase or decrease as a result of currency fluctuations. Information is provided only as an example and is not a recommendation to pursue a particular strategy.
We or a connected person may have positions in or options on the securities mentioned herein or may buy, sell or offer to make a purchase or sale of such securities from time to time. In addition we reserve the right to act as principal or agent with regard to the sale or purchase of any security mentioned in this document.
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Information contained in this document is believed to be reliable and accurate, but without further investigation cannot be warranted as to accuracy or completeness.
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China’s Commerce Ministry has proposed a deal to end the crippling tariffs it has placed on Australian wine.
According to a report in China’s official newsagency Xinhua Ministry of Commerce spokesman He Yadong said: “We are willing to meet the Australian side halfway, further enhance mutual trust and co-operate on the basis of the settlement of the barley case dispute.”
China imposed of heavy tariffs of up to 218% on Australian wine in late 2020, with about 800 Australia wine exporters affected. The devasting impact saw export values collapse 99%.
A “package” resolution to the trade dispute would include Chinese anti-dumping and countervailing measures on Australian wine and similar Australian measures against three Chinese products, such as wind towers, railway wheels and stainless steel sinks, which could free up trade once more between the two countries.
He Yadong said China and Australia had been discussing ways to address the trade dispute since the beginning of 2023.
“After many rounds of discussions, both sides agreed that they will continue to work together actively to seek a prompt resolution of our other disputes, [China‘s] anti-dumping and countervailing duty measures on wine from Australia and [Australia’s] anti-dumping and countervailing duty measures on certain products from China,” he said.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese also raised the issue of wine tariffs with Chinese premier Li Qiang at the Asean meeting in Jakarta this month.
“It is in Australian wine producers’ interest to export wine, but it is also in China’s interest to receive it,” he said.
South Australian business delegation to China
Senior representatives from the South Australian wine industry took part in a business delegation last week, led by Premier Peter Malinauskas.
Treasury Wine Estates CEO Tim Ford was among the business leaders who participated. He told The Weekend Australian he “remained optimistic about a potential resolution to tariffs on Australian wine.”
“The delegation was really valuable and we saw how business and government are keen to keep exploring opportunities in China and building local relationships.
“We have strong relationships with our Chinese customers and we know they love our Penfolds wines.”
Malinauskas said: “Travelling with the CEOs of listed companies and industry associations means this is a full-court press to demonstrate how determined we are.
“I was able to express some of the real-life stories of the impact tariffs are having on family businesses.
“We’ve seen a great step in the right direction with the easing of tariffs on barley, which means Chinese beer producers now have access to high-quality South Australian grain.
“We want the same for wine and seafood.”
Australian vineyards struggle to stay afloat amid wine glut
An end to the trade dispute would be welcome news for Australian winemakers, who are drowning in an oversupply of wine.
Australia has the equivalent of 859 Olympic swimming pools worth of wine in storage due to the current wine glut.
RaboResearch associate analyst Pia Piggott, the author of the Wine Quarterly Q3 2023 report, said last month that the oversupply equalled two billion litres of wine or over 2.8 billion bottles of wine.


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Almost two-thirds of online mobile video viewing happens at home, according to a new study by Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB).
The study entitled, “Mobile Phone Diaries”, found that over 36 percent of mobile device video watching happens in a room with a second screen. Mobile video viewership also reportedly peaks during prime-time broadcast television hours. That information could lead marketers to prime opportunities for cross-platform advertising.
“Digital video marketing has skyrocketed over the past year and is primed to deliver even greater returns on a variety of screens, particularly on mobile phones,” says Anna Bager, vice president and general manager for mobile marketing center of excellence at IAB.
The study found that music videos were the most popular form of media seen on mobile devices, followed by movie trailers. How-to and tutorial videos ranked in third place.
According to IAB, over 92 percent of mobile video watchers share the videos they watch. The study marked funny short clips and music videos as the most common types of shared video content.
Another 48 percent of consumers reported that they preferred mobile video ads that were relevant to what they were watching. The numbers exemplify a recent report that found that consumers were more receptive to online video ads that related to their online viewing habits.
Lastly, 44 percent of the respondents said that they were able to recall mobile video ad spots that were between 10 to 15 seconds long.
IAB’s statistics were collated through a 200 respondent study over the period of two weeks.
While ad fraud has become part of every marketer’s vocabulary, attribution fraud—the practice of gaming outdated attribution models to justify self-serving means—has ... read more
On Monday, Netflix reported that it added 370,000 new subscribers in the U.S. in the third quarter, 20% more than the 300,000 it ... read more
Snapchat Discover has been a hit with publishers that want access to the popular messaging app’s highly-desirable audience, and some reports even ... read more
Little more than a year ago, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg streamed the first live video from Facebook headquarters. In April of this ... read more


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CARY, N.C. — It’s strawberry season in North Carolina, and at Phillips Farms of Cary, Michael Phillips, is carrying on a longtime family legacy. A legacy that's over 100 years old.
In 1976, Michael Phillips' father, Lee Phillips, purchased the farm from his grandfather. In 1996, their strawberry fields became an essential destination for people all across central North Carolina.
For the last 10 years, Michael Phillips has been running the farm, carrying on with the family tradition. While there are many different ways to enjoy a strawberry, Phillips has a recipe for picking the perfect strawberry.
“Depending on the weather, we can pick almost every day. We try to pick the fields clean. You have to pick the right berries when they’re ripe. You can’t wait,” Michael Phillips said.
Micheal Phillips says weather and farming go hand-in-hand.
“North Carolina has the weirdest weather. I feel like out of all of the states, keeping them protected late in the season is something different every year. You think you got it one year, and then the next it just switches,” he said.
His crew begins picking berries around 3:30 p.m. and into sundown. Micheal Phillips says on average, they pick anywhere from 500 to 1,000 pounds of strawberries daily.
They recently stopped offering U-Pick, where families could come to pick their own strawberries.
“We had done U-Pick in the past, but just the fact that we’ve had so much growth in our area, and so much growth with our seasons, we’ve had to move the strawberries farther and farther away,” he said.
Instead, they sell their strawberries by the quart at their on-site market, Busbee’s General Store.
“I usually weigh them, we put them in the back of the truck, and I carry them up to the store,” Phillips said.
This year, they opened the Philips Farms Farmers Market to help support local vendors and people in the community.
It’s open every Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. through August. Aside from strawberries, Phillips Farms of Cary also farms hay, straw, pumpkins and Christmas trees.
Looking for a good recipe for a dish to help you enjoy your fresh berrries? Try this one:
Lazy Strawberry Sonker Recipe from NC Strawberry.com
Lazy Strawberry Sonker
2 pounds fresh NC strawberries
1/4 cup sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup water
3 tablespoons cornstarch
1 cup AP flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 cup milk
8 tablespoons melted butter
1 teaspoon vanilla
Mix filling ingredients and transfer to a deep
dish pie plate. Place pie plate in another oven
safe piece of kitchen ware, such as a 9×13
pan, as the filling will spill over during the
baking process. Cook 35-40 minutes. Halfway
through, stir filling.
Mix topping ingredients while the first
ingredients are baking. Once out of over,
cover top of sonker with topping. Bake 35-40
minutes more. Let cool 20 minutes.


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Tracee Ellis Ross took a walk down memory lane this weekend. The 48-year-old actor was named Fashion Icon of 2020 ahead of Sunday's People's Choice Awards, and to celebrate, she's been sharing some of her most incredible fashion and beauty moments from over the years on Instagram. To top it off, she posted photos of what might just be her look for the award show, and as usual, it's a knockout.
Amid posting throwbacks on her Story, Ross revealed several glamour shots of herself posing in a bathtub on her grid. "Taking my fashion bath for tonight's festivities ...a day worth sparkles and feathers," reads the first half of the caption. "Tune in tonight cause @peopleschoice is giving ya girl a fancy award. I'm a fashion icon y'all ☺ #PCAs some fun stuff up in my story!!!"
In the stunning snapshots, Ellis is wearing a sparkly lavender jumpsuit and pink heels, along with makeup and hair accessories to match. On her lids, for instance, you can see she's wearing light purple eye shadow, and on her lips, she's sporting a bright bubblegum-pink hue. Then, of course, there's the pink and purple feathers in her slicked-back bun — a detail that adds a really fun, statement-making effect.


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For just over a year, 9 Brothers Building Supply has maintained a second home in Riverhead.
And no, nine brothers don’t run the business, as the moniker might suggest. Instead, the name represents the family who founded the masonry and supplies company in 1980 in Brentwood — five brothers who also had four other siblings.
Three and a half years ago, Ida Palmieri of Huntington and her sons Stephen and Victor purchased 9 Brothers Building Supply from her father-in-law and his four brothers. The business is still a family affair: Ms. Palmieri’s husband, Tony, and son-in-law Marco Vinaccia both work there.
Last March, 9 Brothers Building Supply opened a Riverhead location in the building across from the post office on Mill Road. To celebrate a year in business, the owners will host a grand opening Saturday, May 7, from 1 to 6 p.m.
Ms. Palmieri said the event will consist of family fun, with face-painting, snacks and a DJ. Vendors from companies and contractors 9 Brothers Building Supply works with will also be present.
The owners have focused on expanding the store’s offerings by adding new products and putting an even larger emphasis on customer service, said Stephen Palmieri.
“We’re constantly updating our inventory to meet people’s needs,” his mother added. “This market is a very specific market. People know what they want when they come here.”
Two and a half years ago, the owners noticed that the former Stone Center in Riverhead was looking to sell. They were immediately interested, said Ms. Palmieri, who is the store’s majority owner. On March 30, 2015, 9 Brothers Building Supply debuted its second location.
“Riverhead is the perfect place to be,” Ms. Palmieri said. “It’s not too far from the other business and it’s the perfect opportunity to reach both the North and South forks … We saw an opportunity to really grow in a Riverhead location.”
Stephen Palmieri added that the area’s up-and-coming atmosphere also made it the ideal place to open a second location.
Since the Riverhead location is larger than the Brentwood site, the owners were able to build a display center outside the store that showcases different stone, concrete and masonry options.
The company has a Woman Business Enterprise designation, meaning it’s primarily owned and operated by a woman. Ms. Palmieri said this has helped 9 Brothers Building Supply expand, as it brings in contractors and project managers seeking the designation.
While both of the company’s locations offer products suitable for both contractors and homeowners, Ms. Palmieri said the Riverhead location sees more of the latter.
For Ms. Palmieri, the best part of owning 9 Brothers Building Supply is watching customers find the item they’ve been searching for.
“Every day is different,” she said. “It’s exciting because I get to help people with projects. People love their homes and it’s fulfilling their dreams. It’s very rewarding.”
Photo Caption: Ida Palmieri, president of 9 Brothers Building Supply, with her husband Tony (center) and sons Victor (left) and Stephen at their Riverhead location on Mill Road. (Credit: Barbaraellen Koch)


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HONG KONG (MarketWatch) -- Shares of mainland China hypermarket chain C.P. Lotus Corp.
dropped 3.8% in Monday morning trade in Hong Kong after the company's board announced a record loss for the January-June half, citing slowing sales, rising wage costs and costs associated with the opening of new stores. Controlled by Thai billionaire Dhanin Chearavanont, the retail group operates 54 mega-stores and competes with the likes of Wal-Mart Stores Inc.
In a filing with the Hong Kong stock exchange Friday, the company said outside of the first-half profit warning, its "overall financial position remains sound and solid."


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Despite initial hiccups, more people will opt for Microsoft’s Windows based phones than Apple’s iPhone by 2015 thanks to Microsoft’s partnership with Nokia.
According to a Gartner research report, sales of Windows based phones will rise to about 216 million units during 2015; while only 190 million units of iOS based devices will be sold in that period.
However, Gartner has added that Apple’s iOS will remain the second biggest platform worldwide through 2014.
“By the end of 2011, Android will move to become the most popular operating system (OS) worldwide and will build on its strength to account for 49 per cent of the smartphone market by 2012,” Gartner said.
It has predicted that worldwide smartphone sales will reach about 470 million units in 2011, a 57.7 per cent increase from 2010.
Sales of open operating system devices like Android will account for 26 per cent of all mobile handset device sales in 2011, and are expected to surpass the one billion mark by 2015, when they will account for 47 per cent of the total mobile device market.
“By 2015, 67 per cent of all open OS devices will have an average selling price of $300 or below, proving that smartphones have been finally truly democratized,” said Roberta Cozza, principal analyst at Gartner.
“As vendors delivering Android-based devices continue to fight for market share, price will decrease to further benefit consumers,” Cozza added.
Research In Motion too will see a fall in its market share as competition grows in the sector, Gartner said.


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At 21 years old, I haven’t stepped foot inside a Toys ‘R’ Us in years; But if I do in the near future, it’s safe to say that I wouldn’t be finagling like these adults were. This mother and son duo managed to steal over $2 million from stores across the country! So what was their clever, illegal scheme?
Michael and Margaret Pollara (46 and 70, respectively) apparently visited 139 Toys R Us in 27 states where they bought nearly $7,000 worth of lower-priced items. According to news reports, they scoured stores looking for inexpensive toys that came in large boxes which served as the enablers for their scam. By emptying the contents of those larger boxes and filling them with more expensive toys, the Pollaras’ would hide the cheap contents somewhere else and finalize the deal when they paid for the inexpensive large box filled with more expensive merchandise.
Michael Pollara had more than $900,000 in eBay and PayPal accounts, according to reports. Authorities were able to finally catch them because they used a Toys R Us rewards card for all of their purchases. I guess they didn’t “account” for that part of the plan going sour.
The plan is pretty clever if you ask but of course bears some pretty heavy legal consequences. Find out more about this $2 million scam at the source. [via Bossip]
What do you think about the Pollaras’ scheme?


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Canada’s Best New Restaurants 2022 by Air Canada: Discover the finalists
In August, after another year of challenges such as the pandemic and restaurant labour shortages, Air Canada is proud to announce the 30 finalists for the Canada’s Best New Restaurants 2022 competition. For more than 20 years, Air Canada enRoute has celebrated the country’s best emerging restaurants, chefs, teams and talent through this program, and this year the Top 10 are back! The long list is available here.
Canada’s Best New Restaurants 2022 by Air Canada : A quest for culinary talents
This year marks the twenty-first year of the competition. It is the longest-running national search for culinary talent and the only Canada-wide restaurant ranking that uses a single anonymous food critic to taste the creations of these new establishments. On the recommendation of our national panel of food experts, Air Canada sent a staff member on a discreet month-long foodie marathon in search of the 30 most outstanding new restaurants in the country vying for a spot on the coveted final list.
The 2022 Canada’s Best New Restaurants longlist spans 15 cities across eight provinces. From a four-seat Sichuan noodle counter at a Chinese grocery store in Montréal to a steakhouse reimagined in a panoramic lounge 40 floors above Calgary, this year’s list features 30 restaurants in a range of formats, including a permanent pop-up, an art gallery-housed takeout spot, and pandemic-delayed visions that finally came to fruition.
“Air Canada applauds and congratulates the work of the chefs and restaurateurs who undertook the incredible journey of opening up a restaurant over the past year, which is already a feat during the best of times,” says Andy Shibata, Vice President, Brand, Air Canada. “We are committed to sharing their stories and how they also successfully embraced new ways to explore cultural identity and made strides to advance sustainability and workplace equity.”
The finalists for the Canada’s Best New Restaurants 2022 by Air Canada are :
- Bar Susu, Vancouver
- Le Clan, Québec City (which we recently visited and which we will tell you about soon)
- Delara, Vancouver
- Drift, Halifax
- Elephant, Vancouver
- Fonda Balam, Toronto
- Fox & Monocle, North Saanich
- Fu’s Repair Shop, Edmonton
- Gia Vin & Grill, Montréal
- Hayloft Steak + Fish, Edmonton
- Hearts Tavern & Bar, Kimberley
- J’ai Feng, Montréal
- Jeju, Tofino
- Major Tom, Calgary
- Mastard, Montréal
- Mimi Chinese, Toronto
- Mokili, Montréal
- Một Tô, Calgary
- Namjim at Bannerman Brewing Co., St. John’s
- Nola, Winnipeg
- Osteria Giulia, Toronto
- Parcelles, Austin
- Pei Pei Chei Ow
- Edmonton; Perch, Ottawa
- Pichai, Montréal
- Pop Wine Bar, Saskatoon
- Prime Seafood Palace, Toronto
- Restaurant 20 Victoria, Toronto
- Restaurant Alentours, Québec City
- Roy’s Korean Kitchen, Calgary
Canada’s Best New Restaurants 2022 celebrates the most innovative restaurants that opened across the country between late spring 2021 and May 31, 2022 and offer outstanding experiences through quality food, service and culinary creativity.
Who will join the Battuto and Arvi?
The Top 10 will be announced at a gala event in Toronto on November 1, 2022. The winners will also be featured on the website and in the November issue of Air Canada enRoute magazine. Plus, check out the new book inspired by 21 years of success, Canada’s Best New Cookbook, featuring the most memorable dishes Air Canada enRoute has unearthed in more than 20 years of scouring the country for exceptional meals.
The Canada’s Best New Restaurants 2022 by Air Canada event would not be possible without the support of sponsors Diageo (Gold) and American Express (Silver).


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Canada vows to resolve trash dumping issue after Duterte’s war threat
Marje Pelayo • April 25, 2019 • 4622
MANILA, Philippines — Canada has committed to resolve its trash dumping issue with the Philippines.
The Embassy of Canada in the Philippines released a statement on Wednesday (April 24) after President Rodrigo Duterte threatened to wage war if Canada will not take its garbage back.
“Canada is strongly committed to collaborating with the Government of the Philippines to resolve this issue and is aware of the court decision ordering the importer to ship the material back to Canada,” the Embassy said in a statement posted on its Facebook account.
The Embassy added that: “A joint technical working group, consisting of officials from both countries, is examining the full spectrum of issues related to the removal of the waste with a view to a timely resolution.”
On Tuesday (April 23), President Duterte issued a warning to Canada for its failure to remove its trash illegally exported to the country.
The President said he would no longer allow Canada to turn the Philippines into a “dumpsite.”
”For Canada’s garbage, I want a boat prepared. I will give a warning to Canada maybe next week that they better pull that thing out or I will set sail to Canada and dump their garbage there,” the President said.
“We will declare war. Load the containers to a ship and advise Canada. I will advise Canada that, ‘Your garbage is on the way. Prepare a grand reception. Eat it if you want to,’” he added.
It was between 2013 to 2014 when the Bureau of Customs (BOC) intercepted a total of 103 containers of mixed wastes shipment from Canada declared as “recyclable scrap plastics” but actually contained household trash, newspapers, plastic bottles and bags, and even used adult diapers.
During his visit to the Philippines to attend the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit in 2017, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau vowed to cooperate with the Philippine government in resolving the offending shipment.
Trudeau, however, said the Philippines and Canadian governments need to settle issues including who will pay for the shipment of the illegal trash to the country.
In its statement, the Embassy reiterated the Canadian government’s commitment “to working collaboratively with the Government of the Philippines to ensure the material is processed in an environmentally responsible way.”
The embassy added that the relationship between the two countries “is built on strong people to people ties, common interest in strengthening political, economic and cultural relations, and in mutual commitment to peace” and is highly valued as the two countries celebrate their 70 years of diplomatic relations this year. — Marje Pelayo
MANILA, Philippines — The Bureau of Custom (BOC) announced that its personnel at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) has intercepted a total of 775.6 kilograms of meat and meat products without Sanitary & Phytosanitary clearances from January to June 2020.
In a statement released on Saturday (July 4), the BOC said the meat and meat products that they have confiscated include 268.2 kilograms of pork, 106.4 kilograms of beef, 298.2 kilograms of poultry, and 102 kilograms of other kinds of meat.
The BOC added these products arrived without permits and health clearance, and were brought in through NAIA from African Swine Fever (ASF) infected countries.
“All the items were turned over to the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) for quarantine and immediate disposal to prevent the spread of the virus dangerous to local health and to the food industry,” the press release read.
It added that, with the emergence of a new strain of swine flu virus, the frontliners of the BOC-NAIA who man the passenger area and air cargo warehouses are on high alert against the possible entry of contaminated meat products.
“Customs NAIA has been consistent in protecting our local industry from any possible swine and agricultural epidemic and supports the directive of Commissioner Rey Leonardo B. Guerrero to continuously monitor and safeguard the country’s borders,” the statement concluded. —/mbmf
MANILA, Philippines – The Bureau of Customs (BOC) has confiscated P244-million worth of smuggled, unregistered or counterfeit personal protective equipment (PPE) and other medical supplies from March 25 to May 31, 2020, the Department of Finance (DOF) said on Friday.
In a statement, the DOF said the seizure is part of the BOC’s efforts to stop the illegal importation, storage and hoarding of goods deemed essential to the fight against the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.
In a report to Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III, the BOC said that while it has released various regulations to facilitate and speed up the process of importing PPEs and other medical supplies, some unscrupulous traders have taken advantage of the coronavirus-induced crisis to smuggle such items into the country.
In his report, Customs Commissioner Rey Leonardo Guerrero said he has issued 10 Letters of Authority covering the inspection of persons and premises suspected of selling or storing smuggled and/or unregistered medicines and equipment from March 25 to May 31 this year.
“Moreover, profiling/targeting of imported shipments suspected to contain contraband and other smuggled articles were intensified. As a result a total of P244.4 million-worth of smuggled/counterfeit/unregistered PPE and medicines were seized by the Bureau,” Guerrero added.
Last May 1, various PPEs, and P70-million worth of Chinese medicines that supposedly cure COVID-19 were seized by the BOC in a warehouse in Singalong, Manila.
Guerrero said in his report that the medicines, which were contained in about 360 boxes, were not registered with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
The BOC chief also said that they have seized other medical supplies in various operations including the following:
P5 million worth of masks, gloves, goggles, alcohol, thermal scanners, test tubes and syringes under the name of Philmed Dynasty Supplies Corp. based in Binondo, Manila;
An estimated P30 million-worth of various PPEs, such as gloves, masks, and googles under the name of ELJ1 Medical Shop based in Sta. Cruz, Manila; and
An estimated P9 million-worth of various PPEs, such as gloves, masks, goggles from the Medical Outlet based in Rizal Avenue, Manila.
An estimated P80 million-worth of various PPEs, such as gloves, masks, goggles, medicines, and foodstuffs from an establishment located at HK Sun Plaza, Macapagal Blvd., Pasay City.
An estimated P400,000-worth of various medical supplies and medicines from Ton Ren Tang Chinese Medication, Binondo, Manila.
An estimated P50 million-worth of various medical equipment and supplies from Omnibus Biomedical Systems.
“The cases involving these smuggled or unregistered products are now the subject of forfeiture proceedings by the BOC before the law division of the Manila International Container Port (MICP),” Guerrero said.
Aside from these items, the BOC also reported that it seized 2.2 kilograms of imported Chinese medicines without FDA clearance last April 27, and has initiated the filing of appropriate charges against their importers and consignees.
Another five boxes of Chinese medicines containing 48,000 medicinal tablets and bundled with 238 master cases of assorted imported cigarettes; 4 drums of toluene-2.4 diisocyanate; 2 drums of propylene glycol; 2 drums of glycerol-propoxylate-block-ethoxylate; 2 drums of vacuum pump oil; 2 drums of paraffin oil; 2 drums of power steering fluid; 1 drum of sodium hypochlorite; and 2 drums of siloxane were confiscated from a warehouse in Valenzuela City last April 30.
Guerrero said these were seized and taken into custody by the BOC for failure of the owner to present the required import documents for these items.
MANILA, Philippines – Various branded watches and other commercial goods estimated to worth P1.1 million were seized at the port of Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), the Bureau of Customs (BOC) said Thursday.
In a statement, the BOC said the undeclared items were confiscated on June 29. These were part of a consolidated shipment from the United States of America labeled as “personal effects.”
The seized goods include branded watches such as Michael Kors, Fossils, Anne Klein, Charriol, Invicta, Kate Spade, Diesel and Tommy, as well as bags, wallets, shoes — all in commercial quantity, the bureau said.
The items were intercepted after the shipment underwent X-Ray inspection.
The BOC-NAIA said it has issued a Warrant of Seizure and Detention against the confiscated goods for violation of the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act.
The bureau added the case records shall also be referred to the Bureau’s Action Team Against Smugglers (BATAS) for a possible criminal complaint against the personalities behind the foiled smuggling attempt.
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As the Keeneland November breeding stock sale concludes its ninth day, the market is showing resilience that is boosted by strength in the upper price ranges.
Based on the 2,169 horses sold through Tuesday, Nov. 13, there had been 112 horses sold for prices below $10,000, compared with 138 individuals in that price range one year ago through the same number of sessions.
At the other end of the spectrum, there were 41 horses selling for prices in excess of $1 million this year, compared with 27 seven-figure horses last year.
Breaking down the numbers even further, the numbers show the greatest weakness at the low end was in the $5,000-$7,499 range, where the number sold fell by 40.7% from 54 in 2006 to 32 this year.
Continuing on up the price ladder, there were only 129 horses sold for prices between $10,000 and $19,999 this year, compared with 190 a year ago.
The increases in number and percentage sold escalates as the prices go up. For example, there was an 11.7% gain in the $20,000-$24,999 price range, from 103 in 2006 to 117 this year, but there were only a nominal increase or decrease in the next major category of $25,000-$49,999, with 455 horses sold in that range this year, compared with 446 last year.
The strength of the market continued as the prices escalated, with a 16.5% increase in horses selling between $50,000-$59,999 (162 in 2007 versus 139 in 2006), a 7% rise in the $60,000-$69,999 range, and an increase of 21.7% from 92 last year to 112 sold for prices between $70,000-$79,999. There was only a nominal decrease of one horse in the $80,000-$89,999 range, but a 17.6% increase (from 51 to 60) from $90,000-$99,999.
Within the price range of $100,000-$199,999, there was actually a decline in number of horses sold so far this year, with 397 compared with 415 one year ago. The much broader price range of $200,000-$499,999 also showed a downturn, from 303 in 2006 to 283 this year. There was continued flatness from the $500,000-$749,999, from 49 in 2006 to 42 this year.
In addition to the very top, over seven figures, the next biggest gain came just below the top, as there 25 horses bringing final bids between $750,000 and $999,999, compared with only 13 in this category a year ago.


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Microsoft will unveil devices running its new Windows Phone 7 operating system for the first time Monday at an event in New York that some experts predict will be a make-or-break product launch.
Just days after Microsoft sued Motorola for infringing its patents with Android phones, the two companies are now saying they might work together to build a smartphone based on the upcoming Windows Phone 7 OS. On October 11 Microsoft will unveil the ...
Some wireless application developers are hesitant about next week's launch of Windows Phone 7 devices, preferring to wait and see how the phones sell before investing big in the platform.
Mobile operating systems will be key to changing the way enterprises work, AT&T's chief of mobility said on Wednesday.
Microsoft and Telstra have scheduled in a ritzy Sydney launch next Tuesday morning to unveil their mutual plans to start selling phones with the software giant's Windows Phone 7 platform.
Microsoft confirmed weeks of rumor and speculation by revealing that it will, in fact, launch Windows Phone 7 on October 11. A joint event held with AT&T, and possibly T-Mobile, will unveil the Windows Phone 7 devices although they're not expected to...
Microsoft plans to phase in a limited number of Windows Phone 7 applications, starting with the formal unveiling of the first handsets next week. By starting small, Microsoft plans to give precedence to "first mover developers" at the outset, then in...
Does Microsoft's Windows Phone 7 have what it takes to compete against Apple's blockbuster iPhone and the Android army? We'll find out October 11 when Microsoft officially pulls back the curtain on its smartphone at an event titled Windows Phone 7 Wo...
Looking to provide the best shopping experience for mobile applications, Microsoft is engaging developers in a phased approach with its upcoming Windows Phone Marketplace relaunch.
Microsoft will launch its latest mobile phone operating system, Windows Phone 7, in New York on October 11, according to a posting on its website.
Microsoft will debut three new smartphones that carry its revamped Windows Phone 7 operating system on Oct. 11, offering them on wireless carrier AT&T a month later, according to the Wall Street Journal.
Microsoft filed patent infringement complaints against Motorola and its Android phones in the International Trade Commission and U.S. federal court Friday, indicating that the software giant may hope to use its strong patent position as one way to se...
Acknowledging Microsoft's current, non-contending status in the smartphone space, a Microsoft official Thursday stressed that the new Windows Phone 7 platform would get the company back into the race.
Forthcoming Windows Phone 7 devices are expected to have most of the required features of today's smartphones -- an application store, a 5-megapixel or better camera, a touchscreen, gaming -- but there's one it won't have, and that's tethering.
Microsoft on Thursday began offering tools enabling Visual Basic developers to build applications for the Windows Phone 7 mobile phone platform.
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Umpqua Bank Sued for Overdraft Fee Assessments
January 5, 2012
January 5, 2012
A California woman has filed a class action lawsuit against Umpqua Bank, alleging the bank used misleading practices to charge unfair overdraft fees.
Umpqua, based in Portland, Ore., is not alone facing such allegations, as several other banks have also been sued recently in similar cases. Wells Fargo customers in California were awarded $203 million in damages in August 2010 related to the bank’s overdraft fee practices. Bank of Hawaii, Bank of Oklahoma, Union Bank and Westamerica have also repaid millions of dollars in overdraft fees in recent years, while Bank of America, Citibank and Wells Fargo have all adopted more consumer-friendly overdraft fee policies.
The lawsuit centers on allegations that Umpqua processed debit card transactions unfairly, re-ordering them from highest to lowest dollar amount. The implication is that Umpqua was intentionally depleting accounts by prioritizing the largest transactions, creating more overdraft fees as a result.
All financial institutions must choose a method by which they process debit card transactions, and Umpqua’s method—justified by assuring that consumers’ most important payments are paid first—is not uncommon, even though it causes low-balance accounts to go negative more quickly. Others process transactions in the order received, others in real-time, and others process the smallest transactions first.
“No matter which method is selected,” said Northwest Credit Union Association (NWCUA) CEO John Annaloro, “someone is likely to complain. The key is to make sure members have easy access to all the necessary information and that fee assessments are done in a manner that is consistent and fair.”
For credit unions, this issue is partially covered by Reg. E. As of July 2010, credit unions were no longer allowed to charge an overdraft fee on non-recurring debit card transactions unless members opted in to said programs. So, there are now two kinds of members. Those who have opted in have transactions in excess of their balances approved and subsequently pay a fee. Those who have opted out either have transactions in excess of their balances declined, or in certain circumstances, due to the electronic payments system, still get those transactions approved and pay no fee.
Mary Sroufe, director of compliance services for the NWCUA, said that the Association has addressed this issue in the past and continues to work with credit unions to develop strategies and policies that are fair to members without putting the credit union at risk.
“Because of the approved-but-no-fee situation, we brainstormed in compliance council ways to minimize the number of debit card overdrafts, and many credit unions mentioned they either already were or were planning to move to real time processing,” Sroufe said. “While some credit unions may still operate in an overdraft maximization mode, most are in an overdraft minimization mode.”
Tycko & Zavareei, the firm handling the suit against Umpqua, has been involved in a number of other suits against banks regarding improperly charged overdraft fees and likely isn’t finished.
“We are continuing to investigate Umpqua and other banks,” Hassan Zavareei said. “Customers must be compensated for bank practices that caused millions of dollars in improperly charged fees.”
Questions or Concerns? Contact Matt Halvorson, Anthem Editor: email@example.com.
Posted in Compliance News.


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On July 25, the U.S. Department of Commerce issued its preliminary antidumping duty determination against solar products from China and Taiwan. Will Commerce revisit its original scope decision and will there be margins for Taiwan? John Smirnow, SEIA’s Vice President for Trade, addresses these questions and more. Mr. Smirnow also provides an update on SEIA’s efforts to achieve a negotiated solution.
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On June 2, the U.S. Department of Commerce issued its preliminary determination in the ongoing countervailing duty investigation against solar products from China. John Smirnow, SEIA’s Vice President for Trade, will discuss the key aspects of the determination and its potential impact on the U.S. solar market. Mr. Smirnow will also provide an update on SEIA’s efforts to resolve the broader U.S.-China solar trade conflict, including efforts to facilitate a negotiation dialogue between key U.S. and Chinese industry representatives.
The latest anti-dumping and countervailing duty tariffs sought by SolarWorld threaten to dramatically increase the cost of solar PV in the U.S. - but by taking action now, SEIA member companies can help minimize the negative impact of these legal actions.
This webinar will provide a summary of the USITC’s preliminary determination, discuss any next steps by the U.S. Department of Commerce, and highlight importers’ rights and responsibilities in the event duties are imposed. SEIA will also provide an update on U.S. market implications and SEIA’s advocacy in support of settlement discussions.
On Wednesday, January 8, SEIA hosted a members-only webinar to discuss the new U.S. antidumping and countervailing duty petitions filed by SolarWorld Industries America against solar cell and module imports from China and Taiwan. The webinar addressed potential implications to members’ importing and purchasing decisions as well as SEIA’s response to the new litigation.


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Barneys to Build a Chain Of 100 Stores Nationally
By ISADORE BARMASH
Published: October 5, 1988
Barneys New York said yesterday that it planned to build a national chain of up to 100 apparel stores, beginning with three new stores in the East.
Just last month, the retailer opened its first satellite store, in the World Financial Center in lower Manhattan.
The first three stores, scheduled to open in fall 1989, are planned for the Americana Shopping Center in Manhasset, L.I.; the Short Hills Mall, in Short Hills, N.J., and the Chestnut Hill Mall in Newton, Mass. More Women's Apparel
The proposed new stores will offer 75 percent of their merchandise in women's apparel and 25 percent in men's, members of the Pressman family, which owns Barneys New York, said in an interview yesterday.
The decision to open a largely women's clothing store by Barneys, primarily a men's-wear business, is based on a long-term view that not enough retailers are offering ''quality women's clothes at a good value,'' Gene Pressman said. He and his brother, Robert, are principals of Barneys and will serve jointly as president and co-chief executives of a new company that will operate the proposed chain. Their father, Fred Pressman, who is president of Barneys, will be chairman of the new concern.
''While women's apparel has been slow throughout much of the industry in the last year, our women's store has shown a 20 percent gain in sales since Black Monday,'' Robert Pressman said. He said sales in the retailer's Co/op on which the new concept is based, had also grown 20 percent. The Co/op departments are sections within the main store that carry lower-priced designer clothes.
''We're long-term people,'' Mr. Pressman said, ''and being privately owned, we do not concern ourselves with immediate circumstances. We're confident that we can make a good dent in the women's apparel field.''
Women's designer clothes have become very expensive in the last year, Gene Pressman said, citing a women's blazer that cost $500 two years ago that now retails for between $1,200 and $1,500. ''This is one reason why industry sales are off,'' he said, adding that Barney's women's store ''often had to create its own merchandise to bring in people.'' 'Not Available in Other Stores'
The Pressman brothers said the new Barneys stores will present a range of fashion apparel, accessories, sportswear and shoes ''not available in other stores.'' Barneys's private-label merchandise will represent about 20 percent of the new stores' sales. Most of those items will be by famous designers, the company said, as well as new designers.
The Pressmans declined to identify the competition for its new stores but apparel trade executives think the main competitors will include big department stores like Bloomingdale's, Saks Fifth Avenue and Lord and Taylor, as well as major mass-apparel shops like the Limited and the Gap Stores. Other likely competitors would be Ann Taylor and The Talbots, which largely cater to career women. The niche that the Pressmans would seek to fill would also pit them against off-price designer retailers.
About five of the 6,500-square-feet stores are planned each year for the next five years, with anticipated sales between $3.5 million and $4 million, or about $600 a square foot of selling space, the Pressmans said. This is well above the average for women's apparel stores, but below the $800 a square foot for the Co/op. The Pressmans said they expect sales of about $100 million by 1994, when they anticipate having 25 new stores.
The company also said that Anne Ball, formerly an executive vice president of Printemps USA, and before that a vice president for Neiman Marcus, had been appointed vice president and general merchandise manager for the new company.


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For a cautionary tale on how a trade war with China could backfire against the U.S. under President Donald Trump, talk to REC Silicon ASA Chief Executive Officer Tore Torvund.
After the U.S. slapped duties on Chinese solar panel exports in 2011, China shot back about a year later with measures against the American polysilicon exports used to make those units. Along with other producers in the U.S., REC Silicon, a Norwegian company which produces the material at factories in Moses Lake, Washington and Butte, Montana, was clobbered.
The company’s U.S. workforce shrank by about 350 workers over the past three years as orders plunged, Torvund said in an interview in Beijing. The fix: opening a $1 billion joint venture factory in the central Chinese city of Yulin that’ll employ up to 650 workers.
“We need to build capacity inside China since we do not have access to China from the U.S.,” he said. “It started in the U.S. It’s what often happens: When one country makes a move, another country makes a different move.”
The case shows how the tariffs Trump threatened to impose on Chinese exports during campaigning may boomerang back to hurt America. Regardless of the merits of the U.S. tariffs on solar panels –- and of any similar ones Trump might impose -– the outcome was losses for China, the U.S. and the solar industry.
The story isn’t unique. A U.S.-China trade tiff over tires that began in 2009 probably did create a few jobs in that industry in America. But on balance, it led to an estimated overall loss of more than 2,500 American jobs as consumers spent more on tires and less on other goods, lowering employment in the retail industry, according to a…


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Brazilian retail giant Zema Group was ready to give up on its ecommerce system—until it discovered Oracle Commerce.
“We saw much higher earnings than we had expected in the first year. We are satisfied with the Oracle partnership, and the positive side is that we are using a tool that can reach 200 km/h; yet, we are merely running at 90 km/h, for now.”
Zema Group is a Brazilian retail behemoth headquartered in the interior of the state of Minas Gerais that has 420 stores spread throughout six Brazilian states. During its more than 90 years of operation, the company has always sought to understand and attune itself to current market trends. In 2019, nearing to its centenary, Zema Group inaugurated an ecommerce platform.
The leap to digital commerce was marked by difficulties. The group sought some operational implementations for the online environment, but after investments and partnerships that were neither optimized nor aligned, Zema almost abandoned the project. In a possible last chance for attempting a digital transformation, Zema called on Oracle.
It worked. By adopting Oracle Commerce, Zema was able to launch its ecommerce platform. But having one online store was just the beginning: The company’s plan was to improve its services and customer experience regardless of the platform consumers used to make their purchases: website, teleshopping, or physical stores.
With Oracle Cloud, Zema succeeded in integrating its online and offline channels to meet its customers’ growing and changing demands for ecommerce.
One of the points that weighed in Oracle’s favor was its globally recognized platform. We knew we could bet on it because it has world-recognized delivery.
Why Zema Chose Oracle
After its frustrated attempts to debut in the ecommerce space, Zema saw Oracle as a trusted partner in the marketplace—a key factor in choosing Oracle for its continuing digital transformation.
With Oracle Commerce, Zema launched its initial online store, but in the urgency to go live, the company launched the site without all the features it desired. The decision to go live proved to be a good one in the face of the challenges presented by 2020. Throughout that year, internet sales went from 1% of network revenue to 10%.
Even before the revenue jump, Zema’s ecommerce platform had already passed its first test—Black Friday 2019. “The site was launched in August 2019, and it was our first Black Friday online,” says Ferreira. “We had twice the traffic we expected and the platform behaved very satisfactorily. We had no big issues.”
In addition providing a stable platform, Oracle has improved other facets of the services Zema provides to its consumers.
For example, Oracle Responsys Campaign Management has brought significant improvements to both email open rates and conversion indicators. Zema also uses Oracle Service to provide cloud-based customer service. The company’s goal is to integrate Oracle Service with other areas of the organization, such as the ecommerce back-office and logistics department.
“Until then, many manual processes and contact between departments were made through email,” says Ferreira.
Both Oracle Service and Oracle Responsys are part of a second phase of Zema’s digital transformation. After a yearlong partnership with Oracle, the company has met its initial needs and sees opportunity for future benefits not yet explored.
Creating a commerce experience for customers was no small feat. Eletrozema needed to appeal to a wide variety of demographics and maintain its signature payment options while creating a simple yet efficient site. Oracle Commerce gave Eletrozema shipping gateways, simple and dynamic UI, and smart product suggestions.
More than 82% of Eletrozema’s ecommerce audience had no prior shopping experience at Zema. The site goes beyond inspiring brand loyalty. To date, the site has attracted over 10 million new customers. The public in Brazil has a general consensus on the site, with public reviews earning Eletrozema the prize of “Trustworthy Store” by Yourviews in 2020. Appearances and experiences go hand-in-hand; in a new frontier such as Brazilian online shopping, it can help set customer advocacy and brand loyalty.
Online revenue has seen a 902% increase when compared to the same time the previous year. The brand, once seen as traditional, has now paved the way for a new legacy of innovation. These efforts received recognition internationally. In 2021, Eletrozema was selected as a finalist for the 15th Annual Markie Awards for The Convert Award for Best Commerce Experience.


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- Real Items company is reaching out to manufacturers of KN95 masks in China to ensure authenticity
Blockchain-based consumer protection service provider Real Items is using blockchain to authenticate and reduce counterfeits of KN95 masks.
Amid the shortage of N95 masks in the United States of America, the Food and Drug Administration approved the use of KN95 masks. Unlike N95 masks, KN95 masks are regulated by the Chinese government. Although there are many similarities between the two kinds of masks, there has been a growing concern regarding how authentic the KN95 masks are.
David Nebard, CEO of Real items Company said that he reached out to the manufacturers of KN95 masks in China post the announcement of its usage in America. He explained to them how blockchain can be used to reduce counterfeits and ensure authenticity. He told Cointelegraph:
“I am aware that there are a number of fraudulent KN95 masks being produced today. After hearing these masks would be used in America, I was staying up 24-hours a day to get hold of a factory in China that would use real item’s technology to guarantee authenticity for their KN95 masks.”
Real Items is starting a Shopify plugin to ensure masks being sold online shoppers are authentic. This technology will be used to track and locate the source of their manufacturing.
Image Courtesy: Pixabay


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Onside Law is recruiting! We are currently looking to expand our team by recruiting a paralegal. Please click here for more details on how to apply. Applications close 31 October 2019.
A string of “toxic” brand ambassadors did little to dent the value of the Nike brand. However, the scandal engulfing the Nike Oregon Project could be more problematic?
Click here to read the full article by Jamie Singer.
Click here to see the Onside Law intellectual property team’s top ten tips for managing and protecting your trademark registrations.
Onside Law partner, Adam Leadercramer, writes on the challenge to “exclusive” sports data rights in light of the reported dispute between Sportradar and Genius Sports/Football DataCo.
Click here for the full article.


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Amazon is avoiding its China mistakes in India
Amazon has been in China for 14 years, but it hasn't been able to defeat homegrown rivals like JD.com and Alibaba. It is determined not to make the same mistakes in India.
The big picture: India has the world's fastest growing e-commerce market. To make sure it dominates, Amazon is over-investing there, but it's running into competition as U.S. rival Walmart does the same.


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Ryen VanHall is buying 41 Geyser St. in Saratoga Springs, New York, the former site of high-end bicycle manufacturer Serotta. He intends to turn the former factory into an incubator for small businesses.
The Geyser Road factory had been home to Serotta for 40 years. The company had counted celebrities like Gwyneth Paltrow and Conan O'Brien among its customers, as well as politicians and professional athletes. The bicycles sold for $6,000 to $25,000.
After declining demand, the business was sold to Brian Case in 2013 and renamed Saratoga Frameworks. Divine Cycling Group, a company formed to roll-up three bicycle brands, owned the Serotta brand. In March 2014, Saratoga Frameworks closed shop, according to a story from Bicycle Retailer.
VanHall, 28, is the vice president of Metro Metal Recycling in Watervliet. That is a scrap metal recycling business that was started by his father, Charlie VanHall. The Serottas are family friends and VanHall said he spoke with Ben Serotta, who founded the bicycle company, about the building.
VanHall said he is still negotiating the price for 41 Geyser St. He plans to invest more than $1 million in the property. It features a 2,000-square-foot colonial house and a 12,000-square-foot factory.
He plans to rent much of the warehouse and farmhouse space to small business tenants including a distillery, a yoga and boxing gym and a job search startup. The remaining 3,000 square feet is available for another small business that can fit with the entrepreneurial startup energy.
"I want to create a space under one roof where startup businesses in the Saratoga area can find an affordable space and like-minded neighbors," VanHall said. "That’s my biggest goal."


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A new and innovative online tool has been developed to help New Zealand’s tourism industry maximise the value it gets out of domestic tourism and encourage Kiwi travellers to visit more regions year round.
TIA Chief Executive Chris Roberts at the Summit
DGiT (Domestic Growth Insight Tool) and the extensive insight that sits behind it were revealed to more than 250 industry leaders at today’s Tourism Summit Aotearoa in Wellington.
The tool is the first key initiative to come out of a project to activate domestic tourism, spearheaded by Tourism Industry Aotearoa working with private and public sector partners.
TIA Chief Executive Chris Roberts says DGiT is designed for tourism businesses and regional tourism organisations.
“Free, practical and simple to use, DGiT helps tourism operators to identify which Kiwi travellers to target, when they want to visit, their motivation for travel, what else they want to do and their preferred type of accommodation. It can also suggest the best way to market to them.”
Mr Roberts says domestic tourism is worth $20.2 billion annually to New Zealand – more than international tourism. But until now there’s been a gap in readily available insight about who travels domestically and why.
Colmar Brunton was contracted to develop DGiT and undertake research into domestic tourism. That included surveying 6000 Kiwis about their travel habits.
“From family holidays to day trips, we have a tremendous opportunity to significantly increase the $55 million New Zealanders spend daily on domestic travel,” says Mr Roberts.
“Persuading more New Zealanders to use their discretionary dollars on a domestic travel experience will result in more successful tourism businesses. Other businesses that sell products and services to visitors will also profit, such as supermarkets, petrol stations, cafes and bars.
“Growing domestic tourism will also help address two of the industry’s biggest challenges – smoothing out seasonal peaks and troughs and stimulating regional dispersal. If Kiwis are given the right incentives and information, they’ll be attracted to travel to new parts of the country and at different times of the year.”
Mr Roberts says domestic travellers are the lifeblood of many tourism businesses before they expand into the international market.
“Grow this market and we’ll grow their business capability and ‘export readiness’.
“And the more we activate domestic tourism, the faster we’ll reach the tourism industry’s Tourism 2025 $41 billion aspirational goal.”


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UPDATE #2: Canon is planning an official announcement on September 5, 2018 (EST). Could this be their new Full Frame Mirrorless camera? Canon Rumors has reversed itself, based on talks with their insider sources, and now thing they could. But it may not be the camera we’re expecting.
UPDATE: With the hype that Nikon is generating with their breadcrumb strategy before Photokina, CanonRumors is reporting that Canon will ceed the field to Nikon at the Photo confab for any announcement they have planned, choosing instead to wait until 2019 to make their own official announcement. CES perhaps? NAB?
Canon is set to take the next step in their new focus on mirrorless cameras with the launch M5 Mk. II The first step came with the M50 last February, and as we work towards full frame cameras next year, it makes sense that Canon will want to announce the M5 Mk. II, and do it before Photokina in September.
It seems like everything is unfolding as we have come to expect, with the mirrorless M5 Mk. II to be the next in Canon’s mirrorless initiative. And according to the word on the street, the M5 Mk. II will get a modest sensor bump to 28MP, and will bring 4K video to the party. FINALLY! Canon is also redesigning the menu interface, and will toss in an upgraded DIGIC 8 processor.
Other than that, we won’t know more about specs, but we can divine some by looking at the Mk. I M5, which also came with the following:
- 28MP APS-C CMOS Sensor
- DIGIC 8 Processor
- Dual Pixel CMOS AF
- Focus Peaking
- On Screen phase detect
- 60p video (though, the M5I had 1080p)
- Tiltable Touchscreen LCD
- built-in electronic viewfinder
- EF-M mount
- Built in WiFi, NFC
- External mic jack
- HDMI out
I’m guessing that while it will shoot 4K, we may have to wait another generation for it to shoot in 60p. I’m also hoping that Canon will have improved on the M5s below average battery life and after five years of development, the M5II will enjoy a wider range of EF-M lenses to choose from.
As for price, no word, but the M5I sells for around $1050 with a 15-45mm STM kit lens, or $150 more for an 18-150mm zoom. I’m guessing a little more expensive, but not much.
Meanwhile that’s all we’ll get until probably next month. It’s ten weeks u til Photokina in September (man, this year is simply flying by!) and the talk is that the EOS M5 Mk. II will be announced ahead of that, so that Canon can showcase it at the annual camera confab in Cologne, Germany.
But this isn’t one of the rumored Full Frame mirrorless cameras that we’re expecting to come down the line in 2019. We’re guessing though, that like the M50 before it, the M5 Mk. II will give Canon the opportunity to start chipping away at market share in the mirrorless category, and then make a huge splash in 2019 with their higher end prosumer mirrorless designs.
So, would you get your feet wet on the M5 Mk. II before we officially know about the full frame offerings next year? It could be a good way to make a switch to mirrorless, so that once those higher end models some, you already have your lenses bought, and the crop factors all figured out. Then, you’d have a B camera as well.
In other mirrorless news, Nikon has announced that it is discontinuing the under performing N1 series mirrorless camera, and analysts indicate that this is so that Nikon can take the talent and resources devoted to that line and put it towards their upcoming pair of full frame models. We’ll know more about them next Spring.
Hat Tip DIYP


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APN News & Media shares have jumped more than 30 per cent after trading resumed following a $112 million capital raising to take full control of its radio businesses.
The dual listed stock surged 33.07 per cent, or 13.61 cents, to 54.75 cents on the ASX at 1436 AEDT shortly after it resumed trading.
The Sydney-based company raised $112 million from institutions, with about 98 per cent of those eligible investors taking up their entitlement.
A further $20 million will be raised from existing retail investors when the offer opens on February 27.
The capital raising will go towards buying out APN's US partner Clear Channel's stake in Australian Radio Network and The Radio Network in New Zealand for $A246.5 million.
The rest will come from $A60 million reaped from the sale of its outdoor advertising business and $A61 million in existing bank debt.
APN has been restructuring its business over the past year, quitting assets including its stake in an outdoor advertising venture, its unprofitable brandsExclusive online shopping site and a suite of New Zealand magazines.
APN made a $2.6 million profit in 2013, a turnaround from a $507 million loss in 2012 that included impairments on the value of its publishing assets.
Chief executive Michael Miller said APN's performance was its best in years, with strong earnings growth in radio, a record result in its advertising business Adshel, plus the benefits from the sale of several businesses.


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theQuestion: Is tying the minimum wage increase to inflation a good compromise?*
I think it’s safe to say that a vast majority of British Columbians could use a raise. Many of us work harder and longer than we did just a short time ago, only to earn the same amount or less. So, I don’t agree that those working for minimum wage in this province are the only ones who are feeling the pinch of rising costs and stagnant wages — they shouldn’t be singled out for a $9,880/year raise.
That’s the annual raise full-time minimum wage workers would have gotten if the Fight for $15 Campaign had gotten its way. Poverty activists and big labour have been lobbying governments across North America to raise minimum wages to $15 per hour, and here in B.C. pressure was on the provincial government to join the few jurisdictions that have made the leap.
Activists wanted government to hike the minimum wage by nearly 50%, from the current $10.25 per hour to $15 per hour. But last week they lost the battle when Jobs Minister Shirley Bond announced a $0.20-per-hour increase to the minimum wage, lifting it to $10.45 per hour, plus a commitment that future raises will be tied to increases in the province’s Consumer Price Index. The new wage floor goes in effect this September and yearly increases will be announced each March.
This is a shrewd move by the BC Liberals, both politically and economically. By pegging future increases to the CPI it removes politics from the decision-making process. As the cost of living increases, so too will the minimum wage. This is a fair compromise, which has the benefit of being predictable for both the wage earner and the employer. It allows wages to keep pace with inflation while at the same time providing small businesses a tool to manage labour costs.
Granted, a $0.20-per-hour increase is not a lot. But the proposed $4.75 increase to $15 per hour was entirely unreasonable. According to the government, there are 110,400 workers earning minimum wage and 62,500 (57%) of those are part-time. Meaning, there are 47,900 full-time minimum wage workers in the province.
Since we don’t know how many hours account for all the part-time labour, just calculating the cost of the proposed increase for full-time workers adds up to a whopping $473 million. Factoring in an estimate for part-time workers, the cost to the economy could be close to $750 million per year. That’s some raise.
The provincial economy could not afford to take this kind of hit.


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A rogue incarnation of popular altcoin wallet MyEtherWallet has finally disappeared from Apple’s App Store after gaining significant popularity.
Having risen to number three in the marketplace’s finance app category, Apple moderators at last removed the spurious MEW from sight.
Despite MEW itself not having an app and its desktop implementation being free to use, the fake charged $4.99 to download.
Developers sounded the alarm on social media Dec. 10, but it was not until more than a day later that Apple responded.
This is NOT US. We have file reports and emailed and reported. Would appreciate the communities assistance in getting these scamtards out of our lives.— MyEtherWallet.com (@myetherwallet) December 10, 2017
PS: We are #Foss4Lyfe https://t.co/SmI8cqNvxA
The false MyEtherWallet app has been removed from the iOS store. Finally.— MyEtherWallet.com (@myetherwallet) December 11, 2017
Thank you a TON to everyone who signal boosted this for us, including @verge and @TechCrunch.
You’re all the best. ? ?
Prior to its removal, TechCrunch notes, around 3000 people had paid and downloaded the app, netting alleged creator Nam Le around $15,000 in revenue.
The episode marks a further case in point of how difficult it is to protect entry-level users from threats common in the cryptocurrency space.
The huge influx of novice Bitcoin and altcoin investors gives multiple opportunities to more experienced hackers looking to defraud them of their newly-acquired coins or even the fiat used to pay for them.


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MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Regis Corp. (RGS) on Wednesday reported a loss of $1.6 million in its fiscal third quarter.
On a per-share basis, the Minneapolis-based company said it had a loss of 4 cents. Losses, adjusted to account for discontinued operations, came to 5 cents per share.
The owner of hair salon chains Supercuts and MasterCuts posted revenue of $55.8 million in the period.
This story was generated by Automated Insights (http://automatedinsights.com/ap) using data from Zacks Investment Research. Access a Zacks stock report on RGS at https://www.zacks.com/ap/RGS
Copyright © 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, written or redistributed.


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A round-up of what was happening in the consumer electronics industry at CES2011 in Las Vegas.
Developing economies lead CE market recovery
This year could see emerging economies overtake North America and Western Europe combined as markets for consumer electronics (CE), according to research released at CES2011.
In their initial 2011 Digital World forecast, the US Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) and European agency GfK have the two developed regions' combined share slightly ahead at 39 per cent. Asia and South America will have 37 per cent, led by the BRIC quartet: Brazil, Russia, India and China. Value will be $373bn against $357bn.
The global CE market could also exceed a trillion dollars for the first time, although the current Digital World prediction falls just short at $964bn, up 10 per cent on 2010's $873bn. The CE market is recovering briskly, having risen 13 per cent last year on 2009.
There is, however, one big question mark, an aggressive GfK forecast of 23 per cent year-on-year growth for Western Europe in 2011. GfK bases this on a release of pent-up demand in the EU and adjoining states.
The CEA is forecasting 15 per cent growth in North America for the same reason, though Steve Koenig, its director for industry analysis, told CES his organisation feels the European number 'might be optimistic'.
One major concern is the impact of austerity measures in countries such as the UK, France, Italy and Spain. The public sector in these markets accounts for a comparatively high proportion of employment and therefore consumer spending.
A further factor in the European numbers is that they include Value Added Tax. Its rate varies considerably across the EU, and several countries temporarily cut VAT during the downturn to boost consumer sales. Then there is the potentially volatile currency rate, amid continuing credit market twitchiness over the euro.
With only $16bn separating the two regional forecasts, lower-than-expected performance from Western Europe could tip the balance in favour of the BRICs – a change that Koenig expects to see in the next couple of years.
The growth of the BRICs and other predominantly Asian economies is already having a big impact on product design.
In the burgeoning health and wellness sector, Asia is seen as the more rapid adopter. It is developing mobile communications infrastructure more quickly and there is greater government support for widespread adoption.
One leading health OEM said: 'In the developed nations, there's still a lot of debate about where these devices stand. Are they simply sources of information or are they diagnostic? That question has serious implications for their approvals regimes. In, for example, China or Singapore, you have governments that have populations demanding major improvements in healthcare and they can simply say, 'Right, let's do this'.'
Intel eyes next-generation TV market
Intel’s second generation of its Core processors, the i-series, represents the company’s most aggressive attempt yet to go beyond the PC and reposition itself as a ‘TV everywhere’ company.As expected, the quad-core mobile, desktop and general purpose chips will feature an integrated graphics core alongside boosted performance. The strategy is partly aimed at encouraging OEMs to stop using separate lower-end GPUs from rivals like AMD (ATI) and Nvidia.
However, their increased capability also shows Intel taking a cue from Apple, which is shifting the iPad mostly on its capabilities as a content-consumption device.
One of the busiest men at CES was Intel futurist Brian David Johnson, whose new book, ‘Screen Future’, sets out the vision of a world in which by 2015 there will be 500 billion hours of content on the Web and up to 15 billion connected devices looking to organise and access it.
TV, he said, is becoming a consumer-controlled mix of broadcaster-supplied programming, packaged and downloaded media, social networking and more. This view is driving Intel’s technology roadmap for the next decade.
The company has been after the TV for years – and its attempts to move beyond microprocessors for computers have not always been successful. But this time, the play seems more closely integrated with – rather than parallel to – its main activities.
Tablet-makers rush to show their wares
Much of the hype at CES2011 surrounded tablet computers, with around 100 products being launched into the iPad-dominated segment. But, behind the glitz, several leading companies were either protecting their wares closely or admitting they are not yet ready.Demos of BlackBerry’s Playbook with its proprietary operating system (OS) were still driven by BlackBerry staff.
A more significant admission came from Motorola Mobility CEO Sanjay Jha, who showed off the forthcoming Xoom tablet but said his company was withholding demos because the Honeycomb 3.0 version of Google’s Android OS is not ready. The open-source Honeycomb OS is optimised for tablets and could be a step-change, supporting big displays and processor-hungry applications. It could boost the capability of iPad rivals for 3G and 4G cellular networks and seed new industrial, embedded and consumer designs.
Lenovo had another Android-based hybrid, the IdeaPad U1 (aka ‘LePad’) where the screen can be detached from the keyboard. It’s available in China, but sources suggest wider roll-outs also wait on Honeycomb.
Marketeers acknowledged that some products were being rushed on display because CES offered a chance for them to win column inches before “the first rev on the iPad comes along and sucks all the oxygen out of the room.”


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Xiaomi is all set to launch its upcoming smartphone in its entry-level Redmi series. On June 12, at a launch event, the China-based company will be launching its sixth-generation Redmi smartphone — Xiaomi Redmi 6.
Today, Xiaomi’s president Lin Bin has shared a poster of the Redmi 6 smartphone which reveals the front side of the phone, giving us a look at the phone’s design and what to expect from it. However, the image is similar to the one that recently appeared on TENAA, which is said to be of Redmi 6A.
Contrary to the previous reports, the newly released poster of the Redmi 6 reveals that it will come with a full-screen display but without a notch on top, which almost every smartphone manufacturer is embracing nowadays. However, the display is surrounded by thick bezels from all sides.
The recent TENNA listing of a phone with same design revealed that the smartphone will have a 5.45-inch HD+ display with screen resolution of 1440 x 720 pixels and 18:9 aspect ratio.
Further, the photo reveals that the smartphone will come with a single camera on the front side along with an LED flash for brighter selfies. The volume rocker and the power button are placed on the right side of the phone. We are expecting that the phone will have a fingerprint sensor placed on the back panel and the phone is also expected to come with Face Unlock feature.
The previously released poster related to the smartphone hinted that the Redmi 6 will come powered by MediaTek’s Helio P22 processor. The chipset comes with eight Cortex A53 cores clocked at 2.0GHz and the company claims that it is one of the first chipmakers to bring 12nm processors to the budget segment. The Helio P22 also comes with Mediatek’s Neuropilot tech which has support for TensorFlow, TF Lite, Caffe, and Caffe2. It can select the best available AI resource for developer efficiency.
The Redmi 6 is also expected to come with a dual camera setup on the back, stacked horizontally along with an LED flash on the top-left corner. The primary sensor in the dual camera setup is said to be of 12-megapixel. The phone will be running Android 8.1 Oreo operating system out of the box, possibly with the latest MIUI 10 on top.
It is speculated that Xiaomi will be launching the Redmi 6A and Redmi 6 Pro/Plus smartphones alongside the Redmi 6 on June 12.


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Cyanogen, a startup that created the Cyanogen OS as a custom version of Google's Android mobile operating system for device manufacturers to use, has unveiled the new Cyanogen Modular OS program.
The new program reveals the direction that the company is taking after its recent struggles. In July, the company laid off about 20 percent of its global workforce, with most of the fired employees said to be working in the company's OS department.
The move was said to be a precursor to the company's shift away from the development of operating systems into apps, but that was later denied by then Cyanogen CEO Kirt McMaster. He refuted the reports through a tweet, claiming that the company will remain focused on operating systems.
In a blog post announcing the upcoming changes to Cyanogen, the company's decision to remain in operating system development is confirmed, albeit in a different form than expected.
Through the unveiled Cyanogen Modular OS program, the startup looks to continue its original mission of creating an open, collaborative and unrestrictive Android-based operating system. The Cyanogen OS will now be broken into smaller pieces called dynamic modules and MODs, which can be used by device manufacturers along with the ROM that they choose, whether it be their own Android variant or a stock version of the operating system.
The program will also allow developers to take advantage of the artificial intelligence-powered cloud services of Cyanogen. The company's cloud system studies how users utilize the operating system, which leads to the discovery of smarter and more effective methods that can be incorporated into the components of the Cyanogen OS.
The announcement comes amid the news of a corporate reshuffling that sees McMaster stepping down as the CEO of Cyanogen and moving into the executive chairman role. Sliding into the CEO position is Lior Tal, previously the company's COO, while co-founder Steve Kondik is tapped as the new Chief Science Officer.
The future of Cyanogen OS, however, remains unclear. Cyanogen OS is the commercial version of the original CyanogenMod upon which the startup is founded, but the company seems to be moving away from developing the entire operating system. It is also not clear what the Cyanogen MODs will include.
Could this be a case of doing something different just for the sake of it? The company initially had success with getting the Cyanogen OS on the OnePlus One, but there were only a handful of other smartphones that chose the operating system after that. What the modular approach looks like and if it will be adopted by more device manufacturers remains to be seen.


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Good news for Amazon Prime Rewards cardholders!
Today, Amazon announced that those who have the Amazon Prime Rewards card will now earn 5% cash back on Whole Foods purchases, in addition to the 5% back, they already earn on Amazon purchases, 2% back on gas, dining and drugstore purchases, and 1% back everywhere else.
Amazon Rewards Visa Cardholders will receive 3% back at Whole Foods, in addition to 3% already earned at Amazon, 2% back on gas, dining and drugstore purchases, and 1% back everywhere else.
This new changes to these cards come just 6 months after Amazon announced that they were buying Whole Foods for a whopping $13.7 billion and makes the Amazon card even that much more exciting for folks who can now earn rewards on their grocery purchases.
As always, we'll support these new bonuses in the Birch app!
Why This Matters
This is important for a couple reasons. It shows that Amazon is finally finding more creative ways of integrating the Whole Foods business into their overall strategy in addition to working hard to stay competitive with their credit card offerings.
However, they're not the only ones who offer a rewards credit card that earns bonuses on groceries. The Hilton Ascend Card by American Express earns 6x the points on all grocery, gas, and dining and the American Express Blue Cash Preferred earns 6% cash back on groceries, up to $6,000 in spend each year. Just note that these come with steep annual fees, compared to the Amazon card which has no annual fee but requires a Prime membership.
What makes Amazon stand out in this category is their ability to partner with specific brands and products to earn rewards. Unlike Amex, Amazon has the ability to partner with these brands to offer incentives that will push product, beyond what Whole Foods already offers as discounts when you shop. It'll be very exciting to see how this shapes up over the next 6-12 months.
Amazon Prime Rewards Card
Chase Amazon Prime Rewards VisaApply Now
How it Earns: 5% back at Amazon.com and Whole Foods, 2% back on Gas, Dining, and Drugstores, 1% back everywhere else
How to Redeem: Redeem rewards when you checkout on Amazon.com
Sign Up Bonus: $70 Amazon Gift Card upon account approval
Annual Fee: $0, but requires an Amazon Prime membership
Foreign Transaction Fees: 0%


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While many industries brace for tough times, the alcohol industry has little reason to worry, according to new research from men’s publication Man of Many.
The study asked 20,000 Australians how they expect to spend their time as the country prepares to go into social isolation.
While social events like going to the pub or out for dinner are likely to decline, this doesn’t necessarily mean booze consumption will go down.
The Man of Many study reported that 78 per cent of respondents were more likely to consume alcohol in their own home, with 34 per cent saying they are now more inclined to order from alcohol delivery services.
A further 53 per cent also suggested they would be open to having friends over, rather than meeting at a third party venue.
The amount of time Australians spend on the internet is set to increase, according to the latest research conducted by men’s lifestyle publication Man of Many in a survey of more than 20,000 of its readers.
The study revealed that while concern over the COVID-19 pandemic was high, the majority of respondents were already putting plans in place to increase remote working access and online capabilities.
Of those surveyed as part of the study, 52 per cent confirmed they were likely to be working from home in the next two weeks. A further 43 per cent of respondents also indicated that as a result, their time spent browsing the internet, including social media would greatly increase.
The results come after recent advice from the Federal Government called for precautionary measures, such as a ban on indoor-gatherings of over 100 people and outdoor gatherings of over 500 were implemented nationwide.
studyAccording to the latest study, an overwhelming amount of Australians plan on following through with the advice, with 86 per cent of respondents noting they will abide by social distancing guidelines and a further 84 per cent reporting they would opt to drive rather than catch public transport.
Surprisingly, dating apps aren’t likely to face the same drop in patronage. Only two per cent of respondents said they were less likely to use the apps, with as little as 14 per cent reporting they were less likely to go on dates.
A major finding from the latest study was that the breadth of indoor activities Australians are open to was also likely to expand. Streaming and entertainment was an unsurprising focus; more than 75 per cent of those surveyed were already signed up to Netflix, with 64 per cent tuned in to Amazon and 35 per cent to Disney+.
But it wasn’t just television that Aussies are looking for to keep them entertained within the home. More than half of all respondents confirmed they were more likely to consider at-home fitness options over attending a gym or personal trainer. A further 33 per cent reported they were open to trying virtual fitness or app training in light of recent circumstances.
In fact, health and fitness emerged as two key factors for Australians. Thirty-one per cent of those surveyed reported they were more likely to purchase supplements and vitamins, with 18 per cent more likely to consider health insurance.
Where Aussies receive their goods and groceries was another sign of the times. Despite 28 per cent of respondents reporting they were more likely to use a meal delivery service such as Uber Eats or Deliveroo, only 11 per cent were more inclined to join a meal preparation service, like Hello Fresh or Marley Spoon.
According to the survey, the majority of respondents have enough supplies to last them for the next two weeks, however, that may not be enough. More than 43 per cent of those surveyed believe the COVID-19 pandemic will last for approximately three months. Twenty-four per cent believe it could stretch out to six months, with 11 per cent suggesting it could be a year-long recovery-time.
Among those surveyed, 79 per cent were male, with the largest age range represented being 35-44 years old, making up 22 per cent of total respondents. Following that; the age ranges of 45-54 and 65-74 each represented 21 per cent of total respondents, respectively, with 25-34-year-olds claiming 17 per cent and over 65s with 14 per cent.
Independent brand and digital agency, Archibald Williams (AW) has been appointed to lead the NBA account across the APAC region. The NBA is one of the most prestigious sporting leagues in the world and basketball is one of the fastest-growing sports in Australia. Effective immediately, AW said it was “excited” to work across all digital, […]
B&T's shining a light on industry folk prior to adland. Preference given to anyone purporting actual UFO abduction.
Leading digital outdoor company QMS has announced it is the first-ever inaugural partner for Most Contagious APAC, the landmark London event by creative and strategic intelligence company Contagious, which will be showcased in Australia on Tuesday, 12 December in Sydney and Wednesday, 13 December in Melbourne. Most Contagious is an event that delivers key advertising […]
Omnicom’s data and analytics division Annalect has partnered with Meta, giving it access to Advanced Analytics (AA) – one of Meta’s privacy-focused measurement solutions – to provide Omnicom’s clients with future-proof, next-level measurement. Omnicom is the first holding company to have access to AA. AA allows advertisers to combine their first-party data with Meta’s ads […]
WPP’s AKQA has launched Fixmas.gift, an environmentally conscious AI-powered DIY assistant, affectionately known as Fixie, for a one-stop solution for all things repair. Fixmas.gift hosts an array of guides and inspiration to empower people to prolong the lives of their belongings or purchase pre-owned items that need a little love and care. Fixie can: Help […]