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By Hala Bader al-Humaidhi
The corona epidemic led to massive changes in all walks of life, and led to an accelerated digital transformation that left its effects in various economic sectors, and the pandemic created new social habits due to the radical transformation in lifestyles and work until it was no longer possible to return to the lifestyle that prevailed before the it. The concept of life itself has become different. This ‘natural life’ is no longer what it was before. It is a natural life, but it is digital in everything.
Humanity is accustomed to using modern technologies in various fields, and the Internet and digital applications have become an essential part of our daily lives. We buy, shop, order food, hold business meetings, rent and sell apartments and buildings, and book plane tickets and hotels online.
Regarding this new digital life after the pandemic, Ruth Porat, Chief Financial Officer of Alphabet and Google, said during her participation in the Qatar Economic Forum that was held in Doha recently, “The shift towards digital has extended to all aspects and sectors. There is no going back, the change we see today is permanent and will deepen in the future, and it is very important for each of us to think about how we can take advantage of this transformation to develop and increase the efficiency of the business we do.”
During the pandemic and the long closing times that accompanied it, the restaurant sector closed almost completely to visitors around the world, and these restaurants suffered great suffering in the beginning, and little by little they depended on technology to continue to work, so orders for meals were made entirely via the Internet and various delivery applications.
Many expected that the need for these services would end after the ban ended, and restaurants were allowed to open their doors to visitors, but this never happened. Rather, online demand and modern applications to deliver meals continued as it was in the past, and increased in many cases.
In fact, a group of emerging companies that rely on modern technology in their work have played a key role in changing the way customers shop, whether to buy groceries and the requirements of daily life or order meals from different restaurants, and the technologies provided by these companies will contribute a vital role in the post-industry.
This is not confined to the food sector only, but extends to all sectors, even those that many people believe do not need modern technologies to work, and let us take a sector a little far from the daily needs of people, which is the real estate sector.
In fact, people have discovered the importance of digital and modern technologies in their lives and businesses, and the value of investing in technology has become more visible to humans during and after the epidemic, as 94% of the survey participants expected that technology investment will have a positive impact in improving their revenues during the next five years.
Brands have taken advantage of technologies such as augmented reality and virtual reality to connect with consumers and sell their products, with 31% of consumers using these technologies to purchase household items and furniture this year.
Yes, the form of life, the nature of work and its methods have changed, and “the clock will not turn back,”
* The author is a consultant in Public Relations and Personality Types. Instagram: @Tipsbyhalahill
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Three days in the same clothes
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One glass of potato milk, please


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Thursday, June 6, 2013
'Dat Money' Pikasso
WE ON WOOOOORRRRLLLDSTAAAARRRR NIKKAH!! lmao Okay okay yall know I had to get a little ratchet on behalf of my favorite artist (my baby brother) PIKASSO finally being recognized publicly via WorldStarHipHop.com. 'Dat Money' (released 05/13, produced by QueTrax) is the first single from Pikasso's upcoming project which is currently untitled. Video directed by JBD of ImageNation Academy.'Dat Money' is available for purchase on iTunes NOW (click here)! Pikasso recently flooded the streets with his 7th mix tape entitled 'MAX OUT' which can be downloaded FREE HERE ---> 'MAX OUT'! FullTimeHustla gear also available online now (click here)! Visit Pikasso's official website www.PIKASSOFLY.com for the latest news, updates, and gear. STAY TUNED MUCH MORE COMING SOON! #CHECKHISRESUME --->> www.youtube.com/pikassofly Follow Pikasso on Twitter @Pikasso251 & Instagram @Pikassofly.

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State Sen. Kip Bateman, R-sixteenth District, wishes domestic bakers to make plenty of dough, each actually and figuratively. Bateman is pushing a law that could remove New Jersey’s popularity as the only kingdom within the union that doesn’t permit the sale of cookies, desserts, and pastries made by using home bakers.
Forty-nine different states permit the sale of products made using domestic bakers. Bipartisan regulation subsidized by Bateman lifting the ban right here has handed the Assembly several instances but stays stalled in the kingdom Senate.
“This persevered prohibition of the sale of domestic baked goods is another instance of Trenton using its muscle to manipulate people’s lives,” Bateman stated in a statement. “Every different state acknowledges that oldsters aren’t going to keel over useless from cupcakes prepared in a domestic kitchen. New Jersey must forestall being a roadblock that prevents domestic bakers from using their abilities to supplement their own family profits.”
Central Jersey Girl Scouts have a good time one-hundredth year of cookie income.
While different states have loosened legal guidelines to permit domestic bakers to promote their creations, New Jersey must comply with them in shape. For example, the law exempts baked items that aren’t “doubtlessly dangerous” and are either served or bought at a feature along with a spiritual or charitable company’s bake sale. However, that exemption comes with the circumstance that customers are “knowledgeable using a surely seen placard that the food is prepared in a kitchen that isn’t always issued to regulation and inspection by way of the health authority.”
That caused the New Jersey Home Bakers Association and 3 home bakers to record healthy against the state Department of Health, calling the ban “arbitrary, irrational, unreasonable and oppressive.”
The suit additionally contends “there is no giant distinction among individuals who desire to sell now not-doubtlessly hazardous self-made ingredients, which includes baked items, for-profit extra harshly than the ones selling the identical specific meals for a church, charity or other nonprofit.”
In reality, the fit argues, the house-baked items “are just as safe, if not safer” than the ones made in industrial kitchens.
The in shape, which changed into filed in December 2017, is slowly making its manner thru the court system and is still inside the discovery phase earlier than Mercer County Superior Court Judge Douglas Hurd.
One of the house bakers who filed the in shape is Fanwood resident Martha Rabello, who creates Brazilian-stimulated cookies. Before transferring to New Jersey, she labored at a bakery in Brooklyn. After transferring to New Jersey, she rented a business-grade kitchen, at $35 an hour, to bake the cookies, which she sold wholesale to other bakeries.
But renting a kitchen, the lawsuit says, has become “hard, high priced and inconvenient” and while she had sons. As a result, she has become a stay-at-domestic mom.
But she wants to complement her husband’s earnings with baking at domestic and estimated she should make $five 000 a year. But at the same time, as she will be able to bake for her own family or a spiritual or charitable purpose, she desires a retail food established order license or faces hefty fines.


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PayMe by HSBC has emerged as the biggest winner at the 12th edition of Marketing Excellence Awards Hong Kong 2023 on 10 November and was crowned Marketer of the Year.
Designed to recognise outstanding work in the region’s marketing industry, the awards saw industry professionals gather at JW Marriott Hotel Hong Kong on 10 November to see if their companies would take home the top accolades. All entries were carefully evaluated by a high-profile panel of 32 professionals.
See the full list of winners here.
See the full jury here.
PayMe by HSBC took home nine awards and the coveted title of “Marketer of the Year”. The brand won four golds in Excellence in Customer Engagement, Excellence in Experiential Marketing, Excellence in Integrated Marketing, Excellence in Out-Of-Home Marketing; three silvers in Excellence in Customer Experience, Excellence in Innovation, Excellence in Interactive Marketing; two bronzes in Excellence in Advertising and Excellence in Gamification.
The campaign that wowed the judges is The Biggest Laisee of All Campaign - PayMe by HSBC. While most Hongkongers already had their preferred e-wallet choices on their mobile phones, the brand rewrote the playbook on user acquisition despite facing bigger and more established market players. Its campaign helped boost user acquisition and maximise sales transactions with merchants during the Chinese New Year.
In partnership with Ogilvy Hong Kong, Mirum and PHD, the campaign combined the superpower of QR codes and festivities. While QR codes are powerful in attracting people with their ability to generate instant responses, PayMe by HSBC wanted to take the opportunity of Chinese New Year to demonstrate deep understanding and resonation for the traditions while introducing a novel take on the joyful festivities, enriching them with its technologies and uniting HongKongers with surprising experiences.
Turning strategy into experience innovation, PayMe by HSBC launched an immersive experience that everyone can grab a laisee. Within the campaign, It created the first meta temple in Hong Kong, hosting the “god of fortune” PayMeow and its peers. It also leveraged the biggest QR codes as the trigger to attract people and generate instant responses.
Moreover, PayMe leveraged its online-to-offline (O2O) strategy by spreading fortune to HongKongers via a virtual temple through offline interaction.
In order to make the idea the talk of the town, PayMe by HSBC rolled out music videos featuring made musician PayMeow. It also amplified the campaign through KOL partnership and drove usage in the ever-growing ecosystem by partnering with brands such as McDonald’s, 7-Eleven and Wing On Travel.
By reinventing Chinese New Year laisee and gamifying transactions, PayMe by HSBC has successfully pioneered a new path to user acquisition among the fierce competition. It recorded 9.4 times daily registration on Chinese New Year's Day. It also recorded over 57K on registration in one month, four times more than fintech/ virtual banking brands with high incentives.
This year, the competition was incredibly tight with over 800 entries across 36 categories and a total of 109 trophies awarded to the leading brands and agencies across the regions at the ceremony.
MARKETING-INTERACTIVE extends heartfelt congratulations to all the deserving finalists for their outstanding performance in the face of the challenges posed by the pandemic. We hope that this year's awards have inspired the industry to keep fighting the good fight as we head into 2024.
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Posts Tagged ‘alternative fuel’
A little over a year ago, Kia Motors made headlines when the automaker announced that it would soon become the world’s next all-electric automaker. In early 2020, Kia Motors released its “Plan S” strategy, during which time the plan was to release 11 new electric vehicles (EV) by 2025 and eventually become the world’s leading EV automaker with 500,000 EVS sold worldwide. Now with 2020 nearing its final months and auto manufacturers back to work, Kia Motors has revealed its future plans with another look at its global electric vehicle (EV) business strategy.
“Kia has sold more than 100,000 BEVs worldwide since the introduction of our first mass-produced BEV in 2011, the Kia Ray EV…Since then, we have started to introduce a range of new BEVs for global markets and announced plans to accelerate this process in the years ahead. By refocusing our business on electrification, we are aiming for BEVs to account for 25 percent of our total worldwide sales by 2029.” – Kia President and CEO Ho Sung Song
The plans are to expand the lineup with 11 new Battery-Electric Vehicles (BEV) by 2025, with Kia Motors aiming to hold the greatest EV sales with these 11 accounting for 20 percent of the brand’s total vehicle sales in advanced markets, including Korea, North America and Europe. At the same time, these 11 BEVs are mainly just concepts at the moment. The first seven dedicated BEVs still won’t launch until 2027, with the first of these mystery vehicles code-named “CV”. It will be the first official BEV to come from Kia Motors but there’s still so much unknown about it.
Who said electric cars (EVs) can’t perform? High-performance vehicles with alternative fuel are quickly becoming the next big thing in the pre-autonomous auto market. Self-driving, autonomous vehicles are also on the horizon, but they may be a little further out. Many automakers have resigned to finally embrace the change of the alternative fuel market, and some are thinking, “Hey, let’s do what we do best.” Still, make high-performance vehicles but make them so that they’re powered by an electric motor. Sound crazy? Kia Motors doesn’t think so.
The 2020 Kia Soul EV debuted at the 2018 Los Angeles Auto Show, and it’s been getting the attention of a newborn baby! Following the pattern of the 2020 Kia Soul, the all-new 2020 Kia Soul EV is a last-generation replacement. With 40-percent more torque, nearly 85-percent more power, and an even longer driving range, the 2020 Kia Soul EV will be setting the stage for future Kia models.
Now that the 2019 Geneva International Motor Show has ended, we’ve seen all the auto industry had to offer over nearly two weeks. Kia Motors is one automaker that stood out, not because of a model or concept they debuted, but more of a promise for the future of their lineup. It’s not surprising – many names in the auto industry are starting to bring electric motors and batteries into the mix of their vehicles. Kia Motors, however, may have the most alternative fuel vehicles in their lineup than any other automaker. Not only this, but Kia has been on a mission to change the auto industry and are intent on leading the way. Style, tech, alternative fuel are the cornerstones of the new Kia Motors, but can they deliver?
What pops to mind when talking about Kia Motors and style? Is it the Kia Stinger? Currently the icon for Kia Motors, the Kia Stinger brought a whole new attitude to Kia Motors. The automaker was intent on “designing cars that drive as good as they look,” and the Kia Stinger definitely delivered. Able to surpass costly luxury cars that claim to drive fast, the Kia Stinger’s performance may have been the jumping off point for Kia Motors going GT, while giving all of their new vehicles a little taste of the Stinger’s style.
Making cars that look great is one thing, but a vehicle that performs at its best is definitely the GT line of the Kia Stinger. With different drive modes for sharp turns or a long ride, drivers enjoy getting behind the wheel of a Kia Stinger GT. Now, Kia Motors is coming out with a GT for many of its vehicles, starting with the 2020 Kia Soul, Kia Forte GT, and Kia Rio GT. If the automaker can deliver on performance this well, can they also upgrade the tech?
Kia Motors is really killing the alternative fuel vehicle scene. Nearly every time they make it big with a vehicle from their lineup, they turn it into a hybrid, then a plug-in, and if they’re really looking to push the envelope, then an electric vehicle. They followed that pattern with the Kia Niro, currently in production for an all-electric variant, the Kia Niro EV. To follow up, Kia is looking into other forms of fuel, and with the Fiat Chrysler Automobile Group (FCA) having recently designed and produced the eTorque system, Kia Motors will not be outdone. Hence, they’re about to launch their own mild-hybrid powertrain in 2018.
The eTorque system is a new mid-hybrid system from the FCA that is currently placed in the new 2018 Jeep Wrangler JL and the 2019 Ram 1500 pickup truck. The eTorque system is called a “mid-hybrid” system because it offers hybrid capabilities, such as auto stop/start, electric power assist, extended fuel shut-off, transmission shift management, intelligent battery charging, and regenerative braking. Like all hybrid systems, it also has an electric feature to it that can replace various car components.
When it comes to the 2019 Ram 1500, the eTorque system is able to deliver its own electricity to the truck, nullifying the need for an alternator, and is able to keep the Ram 1500’s original 12-volt battery charged as well as perform its hybrid functions. In addition, the eTorque system is actually a 48-volt system that can convert 12 volts into 48 without a prolific sweat. Kia Motors seems to be aiming for something similar if not the same.
Kia Motors Mild-Hybrid Powertrain
The full name for this new mild-hybrid powertrain from Kia Motors is actually “diesel 48v mild-hybrid powertrain.” Can you already see the similarities? This year, 2018, Kia Motors will be introducing its first 48V diesel mild-hybrid powertrain, called a new ‘EcoDynamics+’ powertrain that will reduce CO2 emissions by supplementing acceleration with electric power from an additional 48-volt battery and extending combustion engine ‘off time’ using a new Mild-Hybrid Starter-Generator unit. Yep, lots of similarities there, but we won’t fault Kia for getting in on the ground floor with what can easily become a revolutionary component for vehicles in the next few years (or decades, it’s anyone’s guess).


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The FTC says it'll be broadening its scope with the launch of a new Office of Technology Research and Investigation, described by the agency as "the next generation in consumer protection." The new division succeeds and replaces the FTC's current Mobile Technology Unit, which focused on safeguarding children from deceptive mobile apps and overseeing other smartphone-centric topics.
But technology never sits still. In 2015, we're faced with the growing Internet of Things, cars that get faster with software updates, and the expanding smart home. The FTC thinks now's the time to widen its net so that it may protect consumer interest across every facet of technology. Specifically, the OTRI will keep an eye on "privacy, data security, connected cars, smart homes, algorithmic transparency, emerging payment methods, big data, and the Internet of Things," according to the agency.
"We believe OTRI will be an instrumental source for research and information on technology’s impact on consumers," wrote chief technologist Ashkan Soltani in a blog post. Along with announcing the new office, the FTC says it'll be recruiting new technologists and opening up other positions as well. Among those is a Technology Policy Research Fellowship, which is aimed at recent graduates "with that rare education in both technology and policy." In this role, among other duties, fellows will "provide technical expertise to FTC attorneys and investigators" — probably to make sure they never publicly say anything foolish. As part of the changes, the FTC says it will be inviting more staff to publish posts on its Tech@FTC blog "about technical research findings and technology related issues affecting consumers."


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3D Systems has been on a roll lately when it comes to acquisitions and partnerships. One area which seems to be important for the company is the gaming industry. Just last week, 3D Systems announced a partnership with Hasbro, one of the largest toy makers in the world. This trend has continued today.
This morning, 3D Systems (NYSE:DDD) announced that they have acquired Digital PlaySpace, a company which is known for their interactive games such as Digital Dollhouse and Dreamhouse Designer. Both games incorporate 3D designs into a fun, social, educational gaming experience.
Digital Dollhouse, which has over 525,000 members worldwide, seems to be a great fit for 3D Systems, as the game already enables players to use 3D printing to create an actual 3D dollhouse with custom furnishings. In fact, the online video which promoted Digital Dollhouse featured a 3D Systems’ Cubify Cube printer in it.
Digital Playspace was founded by Jesyca Durchin, who has an extensive background in games, as well as being a key adviser for Disney Theme Parks, in which she helped with brand-sponsored exhibitions targeting women. Jesyca issued the following statement regarding the acquisition,
“We are thrilled to integrate our virtual and actual play experiences directly into the 3DS Cubify platform. Our vision is to deliver a ‘3D PlaySpace’ for everyone. The immersiveness and fun of our PlaySpace experience enhances brand recall and loyalty, enabling brands and retailers to connect with consumers in a whole new way. We designed Digital PlaySpace from the bottom-up for publishing flexibility and scalability, and 3DS is the perfect home for our growth.”
3D Systems appears to be venturing into mainstream markets, trying to acquire and partner with companies which have mainstream brand recognition. In doing so, they hope to create significantly more demand for their consumer based 3D printers like the Cube.
“We are excited to have Jesyca and her entire Digital PlaySpace team join our Cubify platform, enabling millions of new users to connect with family, friends and favorite brands in more immersive and socially creative ways,” said Cathy Lewis, Chief Marketing Officer, 3DS. “Digital PlaySpace’s ability to customize and rapidly publish mobile and web 3D printable content provides a differentiated value proposition for brands and consumers alike.
Talk About This Acquisition.
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SAN DIEGO (KGTV)— Thousands of eager kids and parents rushed to Fashion Valley Mall early Thursday morning to get the perks of Build-A-Bear Workshop’s “Pay-Your-Age” event. While hundreds went home with deeply discounted stuffed animals, the overcrowding forced others to leave empty-handed.
10News spoke to families that stood in line for hours. Kim Thi, her friends, and their children arrived at the mall at 8:15 a.m., anticipating the store’s usual 10 a.m. opening.
They were here for the "Pay-Your-Age” event. Customers only had to pay the age of their children instead of the regular price of the stuffed animal.
Tiffany Hong waited in line for three hours even before entering the store. Her son Ephraim just turned two, which meant his tab would only be $2, for a $28 Pokemon stuffed animal.
To get the deal, customers waited in zig-zag lines around the entire mall. Security was called to direct foot traffic, and mall staff even passed out free umbrellas for families that canoed out for hours in the blazing sun.
Some people were not so lucky. Many were turned away from the “Pay-Your-Age” promotion. Instead, they were given $15 off coupons, which are valid starting tomorrow.
“Hopefully we can come back this weekend,” one woman said, disappointingly.
But the Fashion Valley store was prepared. Many Build-A-Bear Workshops around the country and the UK could not handle the excessive lines. They did not have coupons ready either. So they ended up leaving customers empty-handed.
Per local authorities, we cannot accept additional Guests at our locations due to crowd safety concerns. We have closed lines in our stores. We understand some Guests are disappointed and we will reach out directly as soon as possible. https://t.co/aSFfPCcfsGpic.twitter.com/WZJ53tOAEH


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Tata Motors and Fiat have scaled up their alliance that was forged last year. The two companies will now undertake joint production of passenger cars, engines and transmission systems in India.
While the memorandum of understanding to establish a 50:50 joint venture was signed today, the shareholder, licensing and other agreements are being finalised.
Both the companies will use the Ranjangaon facility of Fiat in Maharashtra. The facility, which has been lying idle for long, is expected to exceed an overall output of 100,000 cars and 250,000 engines and transmission system.
Fiat will introduce the Fiat Grande Punto and the new Fiat Sedan— its premium cars for the B and C segments — and its small diesel engines.
Both the companies agreed to study for the next 60 days industrial and commercial co-operation in Latin America.
“In particular, the study will focus on different vehicles, especially utility vehicles and pick-ups, and on exploring the opportunity of using the existing Fiat production facilities in Cordoba in Argentina. Products manufactured there would be sold in various Latin American and overseas markets under both the Fiat and Tata Motors brands,” Tata Motors said.
Ratan N Tata, chairman of the Tata group and Tata Motors, said, “This is the beginning of what promises to be a far-reaching, long term relationship between the two companies. They have complementary strengths, convergent objectives and shared values. Together, we can meaningfully address markets in India and other select geographies, combing technologies, products and human skills of both organisations.”
Analysts said the development marked a renewed attempt by Fiat to boost its position in the rapidly growing Indian car market.
On the other hand, the Tata group would have access to modern engineering to support its growth plans, which were hit last year by the collapse of MG Rover, its British partner.


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August 20, 2010 by admin · Comments Off
San Francisco, CA, August 19, 2010 — With so many fashion and beauty brands to keep track of, have you ever wished you had just a single source that aggregates every Facebook and Twitter post for over 1,000+ fashion brands – all in one place? Call it the greatest ever alert system for fashion insider sales, contests, discounts & Facebook posts & Twitter tweets. Stylophane recently launched just such a tool for industry insiders and fashionistas alike: the FBI or Stylophane Facebook Index www.stylophane.com/fbi.
The FBI Index tracks and ranks Facebook ‘likes’ growth of over 1,000 fashion and beauty brands, updated daily in five of the major Style categories – Fashion, Denim, Footwear, Beauty & Fashion Publications/Blogs – with Jewelry/Watches coming soon. Read more
August 19, 2010 by admin · Comments Off
At the closing date on 16 August 2010, over 800 design entries were submitted from Thailand and other Asia-Pacific countries.
Bangkok – The Department of Export Promotion in association with Zenith Enterprise Co., Ltd, recently announced the closing for entry submission of the ZEQUENZ Design Contest “360° Creative Life” with overwhelming participation of designers and individuals from the Asia Pacific region. Over 800 entries were submitted from Thailand and Asia-Pacific countries. The entries which comply to the regulations of the contest will be posted on www.zequenz.com/360creativelife for worldwide voting from 1 to 30 September 2010. Read more
August 9, 2010 by admin · Comments Off
NEW YORK, NY (August 9, 2010)–After celebrating a successful 5-year anniversary and with the recent acquisition of The Makeup Show by Metropolitan Pavilion Events & Production from The Powder Group earlier this year, The Makeup Show announce today it is expanding to the Midwest with the addition of The Makeup Show Chicago in 2011.
The Makeup Show Chicago will take place on June 12 and 13 at a 12,000 square feet space, Venue One located at 1044 West Randolph Street, Chicago, IL 60607. Read more
August 5, 2010 by admin · Comments Off
Are Americans Choosing Style Over Substance When Voting for a Candidate?
NEW YORK, NY, August 4 2010 –Weatherproof® has launched a “Style vs. Substance” survey which will measure the influence a politician’s personal style and physical appearance has on the American public. Are Americans more concerned with the amount of hair he has or his amount of experience? The poll, which is now posted on The Huffington Post’s Style section (huffingtonpost.com/style) will also reveal which politician Americans find the most stylish. To participate in the poll, log onto www.huffingtonpost.com/style.
“We want to know if Americans are choosing style over substance when voting for a candidate,” said Freddie Stollmack, president of Weatherproof®. “I believe that political candidates are fast becoming our nation’s premiere celebrities, with their personal style scrutinized and critiqued like a movie star attending an Academy Awards ceremony,” he added. Weatherproof® has become a favorite among American politicians. President Barack Obama was recently photographed wearing a Weatherproof® coat while posing in front of the Great Wall in China. Read more


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Jamshedpur, June 14: Leading Japanese automaker Mitsubishi Motors has plans to set up its plant at Adityapur Industrial Area, the biggest auto manufacturing hub of Asia.
Mitsubishi India is gearing up to enter into an agreement with a Jamshedpur-based company. Though the name of the investor is yet to be announced, but the sources said that it supplies components to automobile makers in India. The initial talks have been positive and the partnership is expected to be announced in September this year.
A K Srivastava, chairman, Indo-American Chamber of Commerce, Jamshedpur said that they have received the information in this regard. The move will help to provide fillip to industrial growth in Jharkhand. He said that amidst the lockdown the industrial sector has received a set-back but this news has come like a ray of hope.
�I am really happy to know about the progress made over the investment. We promise to lend all support to the company. Moreover, we are confident that Hemant Soren led State Government will also provide all the necessary support to the auto company,� said Srivastava. He said that Adityapur Industrial Area has all the facilities to ensure success of the project.
Industry sources informed that the final go ahead on the new partnership is expected from the Mitsubishi headquarters in Japan. Around Rs 500 crore will be infused as the new investment. The investment will help Mitsubishi to set-up a new assembly line in Jamshedpur. The company will initially launch Completely Built Units (CBU) in India.
The company has plans to launch two new SUVs. The company will launch an all-new SUV to counter the Toyota Fortuner, while an affordable mid-sized SUV will also on the cards. This SUV will take on the likes of the Kia Seltos and the Hyundai Creta.
Mitsubishi is likely to launch the new products under CBU route to take benefit of Indian Government decision of allowing importing up to 2,000 cars without local homologation. Mitsubishi will use this route initially before starting local assembly or production.
The sprawling Adityapur Industrial Area houses 900 units- including 11 large-scale, 64 small scale and 166 tiny industries. A few important industries that has global presence are Usha Martin Group, RSB Group, Tata Steel Growth Shop(TGS) etc., too situated in this industrial belt, situated in Seraikela-Kharsawan. There are 20 industries, which export its products to the USA, Australia and other European countries.


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Whether it’s the mass adoption of Teams for communication in the remote working world, the production of ventilators to support the NHS or the creation of initiatives to enhance digital skills, Microsoft is experiencing something of a renaissance in 2020.
Testament to this is the tech giant’s ranking in BrandZ’s listing of the top 100 most valuable global brands for 2020. The company claimed third place in the ranking, growing its value by 30% to $327bn. This puts Microsoft ahead of the likes of Google, Facebook and Visa, and makes it the second fastest growing brand in the top 10 behind Amazon.
The BrandZ report makes much of the importance of brand equity and resilience. The idea is that having a core strength helps see brands through tough times, as does the ability to respond at pace to the ever-changing demands of a global marketplace.
For Microsoft, its communications suite Teams has become the most visible expression of that positioning in recent months. In a single day in late March, 2.7 billion minutes of meeting time were recorded on the platform, up 200% in usage from earlier in the month.


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Merriam-Webster Dictionary says a patriot is “one who loves and supports his or her country.”
Brands are not people. And notably the Top brand on a new patriotic brand list has been accused by leftists’ of racism because it has used the name of an Indian tribe for 1 of its most visible products.
Brand Keys assembled a list of patriotic brands and Jeep Topped the list, as it has done for 19 yrs.
The Jeep Cherokee products take their name from a tribe that has recently and publicly challenged its right to do so.
Jeep was followed by Walmart on this yr’s list. Just behind Walmart were Disney, Ford, Amazon, The New York Times, American Express, and Netflix.
Further down the list, several major league sports made the list, including the NFL, NBA, and MLB.
Aside from the Times, several other media properties made the list. These include Fox News, NBC, The Washington Post, CNN, and MSNBC.
Apparel brands were also well represented, including Nike, Levi Strauss, Wrangler, Old Navy, New Balance, and L.L. Bean.
Have a positive day, Keep the Faith!


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McKay Flooring Launches Instagram Competition
Hot on the heels of the successes of our recent Social Media and Pinterest competitions McKay Flooring are now calling for entries to our new Instagram competition.
To be in with a chance to win an £100 Amazon Voucher (or dollar / euro equivalent) simply follow the instructions below:
- Take a photo of your favourite wood floor
- Upload the photo to instagram and include the hashtags #mywoodfloor and #mckayflooring in the caption field
We’re looking for creative and inventive photos of wood flooring and each participant can enter up to 3 different photos.
The outright winner will receive a £100 Amazon voucher and the 9 runner-ups will all have their photos permanently displayed in our wood flooring showroom.
The competition is open until Friday April 27th and the winner will be announced via our Blog, Facebook page and Twitter account on Monday 30th of April.
You can find McKay Flooring on Instagram here.


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The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) highlighted prominent obstacles to open access of dairy products in its National Trade Estimate Report, a 500-page document released last week to help negotiators and diplomats determine policy objectives.
Published annually, the report outlines government laws, regulations, policies or practices that “protect domestic goods and services from foreign competition, artificially stimulate exports of particular domestic goods and services, or fail to provide adequate and effective protection of intellectual property rights.”
In October, IDFA submitted comments to USTR highlighting obstacles to trade that the U.S. dairy industry faces in Canada, the European Union, India, Indonesia, Russia, Thailand and Vietnam. Several of these issues were captured in the report.
Canada was featured prominently in the report, which identified several burdens to U.S. dairy trade:
- Restrictive regulations on compositional standards for cheese that discriminate against U.S. dry milk protein concentrate;
- Canada’s supply management system that subjects cheese and butter to tariffs of 245 percent and 298 percent, respectively, for over-the-quota products; and
- Producer marketing boards that regulate price and supply.
Recent expansions to the Special Milk Class Permit Program, which unfairly incentivizes the purchasing of domestic ingredients over imports, were also mentioned.
More information on Canada can be found here.
The report noted the European Union’s consistent attempts to expand protection guaranteed for geographical indications to common food names for the benefit of their domestic industries. It also identified several members of the EU that are in "the process of developing and implementing a variety of country of origin labeling schemes that would require an indication of the origin of milk products as well as the origin of milk, meat and wheat used as ingredients in certain processed foods.”
More information on geographical indications can be found here.
Other barriers faced by U.S. dairy companies also were included in the report, such as Indonesia’s restrictions on advertising or promoting milk products for children up to two years of age and Japan’s high tariffs levied against U.S. cheese imports. These tariffs amount to 40 percent of prices for processed cheese and 29.8 percent of prices for natural cheese respectively.
The full report can be found here.
For more information contact Beth Hughes, IDFA director of international affairs, at firstname.lastname@example.org.


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Co-op meeting draws a big crowd?
NEW HAVEN -- It was standing-room only Wednesday night at a meeting to discuss the Elm City Market, a hybrid co-op/supermarket that, based on this initial enthusiasm, expects to open in March.
The store will be located on the ground floor of 360 State Street, the city's new 500-unit apartment high-rise that just opened, but already has 160 tenants.
"This is confirmation about how wonderful this city is. There is incredible civic spirit reflected in this room," said Michael Morand, one of seven incorporators who got the project off the ground.
The one-time membership fee is $200 per household and entitles participants to yearly dividends once the store is profitable. All members are essentially owners who vote for the board of directors, set policy and determine the kind of food they want to sell. They will also have a membership payment plan over time and a reduced payment plan for those who qualify. It will be open to members and non-members, and there are no work requirements like some co-ops. The prices will be competitive.
Morand and others explained the project to some 200 people gathered in the Hall of Records who are eager for a grocery store downtown that can serve the needs of the wide range of residents who live and work in New Haven.
Bruce Becker, developer of 360 State Street, said a traditional supermarket would not commit to keeping a store open for the duration of its lease.
Mark Regni, the new general manager, who has been in the grocery business for more than 30 years and recently opened eight Whole Foods and Wild Oats stores, said, "Personally, I'm more excited about this project than any I have done in my career."
One of the new residents of 360 State Street, Regni has been on the job two months. "I can't help but believe that this is going to be one of the great success stories," he told the crowd.
Half of the $7 million cost to open the store, which plans to offer 70 percent natural-organic foods and the rest traditional groceries, is being picked up by the pension investment group that backed constuction of 360 State Street.
When 300 people sign up for memberships, the market can tap some $1.3 million from institutional investors and has about a dozen other equity investors willing to invest $10,000 to $250,000 with a return ranging from 3.25 percent to 6.25 percent.
Those interested in becoming members or investing in the project can go online to sign up at www.elmcitymarket.coop.
Josh Brau, a Yale University graduate student, who worked on the project this summer, said it is based on the City Market in Burlington, Vt., which has 3,000 members.
The store is expected to need some 100-125 workers and concentrate on local, regional, New England and Northeast food sources with 65 cents of every dollar spent staying in the community.
Tagan Engel, one of the core group that laid the groundwork, said a lot of effort will go into reaching the broadest reflection of New Haven. "A wide net has been thrown out there," she said, encouraging the audience to reach out to friends. Engel said the store is expected to compliment any grocer who eventually fills the former Shaw's on Whalley Avenue, as well as Edge of the Woods, also on Whalley Avenue.
"There is no co-op without all of us. It really is up to all of us," Morand said.
Mary E. O'Leary at 203-789-5731.


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November new car sales in Australia has increased by 17.9 percent from the same month last year as 95,080 vehicles were sold in this period.
According to the latest figures from the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI), the year-to-date total for this month is now 993,509 units sold across the nation.
“The automotive sector is continuing to recover from pandemic-related shutdowns, a global shortage of microprocessors, and the general supply chain uncertainty we experienced over the last two years,” FCAI Chief Executive Tony Weber said.
“The industry will deliver the one-millionth vehicle to the market in 2022 next week.”
“While this is positive news, many customers are still facing extended wait times for their vehicle, with expected delivery dates for some models beyond 12 months.”
Sales across all States and Territories were up. Western Australia increased by 36.5 per cent with 9,668 vehicles sold; Queensland, 28.9 percent (20,621 units sold); Tasmania, 23 per cent (1,783 vehicles sold); Victoria, 19.1 per cent (25,534 units sold); the NT, 14.1 per cent (815 units sold); South Australia, 12.3 per cent (5,673 vehicles sold); New South Wales, 7.5 per cent (29,545 sold); and the ACT, 2.5 per cent (1,441 vehicles sold).
Toyota continues to lead the market with 20,107 vehicles sold (21.1 percent share). Mazda followed in second with 7,549 units sold (7.9 percent), Kia was third with 6,120 units sold (6.4 percent), and Mitsubishi and Hyundai both has 5.8 percent of the market coming in 4th and 5th with 5,559 and 5,519 units sold respectively.
The best-selling model for the month is the Toyota HiLux with 5,440 sales reported followed by the Ford Ranger with 5,073 units sold. The Toyota Corolla came in third with 3,732 units sold followed by the MG ZS in fourth place at 3,051. The Toyota Landcruiser landed in fifth place at 2,269 vehicles sold.
According to the FCAI, electric vehicle sales continue to increase as 13,415 zero and low-emission vehicles were sold across the nation this month. Of this, 4,457 battery electric vehicles, 8529 hybrids, and 429 plug-in hybrids were sold.
“Purchase incentives for zero and low emission vehicles, and increased fuel quality standards are both important levers in reducing CO2 emissions from Australia’s light vehicle fleet,” Mr. Weber said.
“These need to be combined with a Federally led emissions target for the light vehicle sector. One which is ambitious, yet achievable and is cognisant of vehicle price, model availability, battery supply, and infrastructure requirements.”
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I read in the Sunday Times yesterday that there's a new investment fund being launched for lovers of luxury. CHIC plans to invest in luxury names and the minimum investment is only 5,000 pounds (about $10,000). It is also going to make public the companies it is investing in -- brands like Apple and BMW on the lifestyle side and LVMH and Burberry on the fashion side.
Although it is trading on the Irish stock market I'm tempted to invest. Sure, there's the old "invest in what you know" rationale but luxury has been going through a boom and what better way to hedge the inherent risk of fads and bad collections? Even major blips like September 11 haven't dented the sector for long.
According to Fund AIM Alternatives Intelligence Magazine, analysis of the brands in the portfolio over a three year period showed they beat the FTSE 70.63 percent to the FTSE's 44.22 percent.
Sign up to receive Upstart Business Journal’s free daily email newsletter, weekend edition and breaking news alerts.


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Stephen Oachs of ApertureAcademy.com posted some photos of the new Canon EF 200-400mm f/4L IS USM Ext 1.4x Lens being used in Kenya.
Mounted to the 200-400 was an unrecognized Canon DSLR. The Canon EF 600mm f/4.0 L IS II USM Lens was reportedly being used by the same individual.
Check out Stephen's story and pictures.
Camera Gear Review News
Photo Tips & Stories
Digital Photo Pro
Deals & Shopping News


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If governments want to bring on a wave of EV ownership, they need to encourage flexibility and free-thought among the risk-takers eager to build charging networks.
The young companies eager to build the charging infrastructure that will fuel the masses of electric vehicles set to roll onto our streets are keeping a secret as they hold out their hands. “There is no [EV charging] industry without subsidies and there will be much consolidation once all these guys realise there is no money in pay-per-use.”
That’s the verdict from Adrian Kinderis, who made his fortune in IT and is putting together Linga Network, a growing family of AC and DC chargers for drivers who want to take a stroll as they top up.
“As everybody knows, the only reason this industry exists is through government subsidies.”
Government money is welcome, as all the charging start-ups know, but if EV charging is the government’s job to get right, it should not restrict the commercial instinct of the entrepreneurs who are counting on it. “Governments should be careful they are not too restrictive over the ability for the industry to monetise charging stations,” Kinderis tells EcoGeneration.
The pay-per-use model is “tenuous at best” until EVs replace petrol-powered cars, he reckons, having looked at it from every dimension. Even after receiving government grants, the cost of installing a charger, maintaining it and supplying it with electricity does not stack up as a rational economic decision. “Having one car charging at one location once a week doesn’t get you a very strong return on investment on boxes that are incredibly expensive,” he says.
Layers of value
There are various ways an EV charger can make enough money to stand up for itself as a commercial proposition, especially if it’s one of many in a robust network supplied by one distributor. “Sadly, however, what governments are doing is giving out grants and allowing individuals to set up charging stations and then saying, OK, but it must have tap-and-go, for example,” he says.
That may sound reasonable enough to drivers who like anonymous transactions at petrol bowsers but Kinderis says it misses an opportunity for monetisation. “If someone comes in, pays with tap-and-go and leaves, you have no idea who they are,” he says. But when the driver has most probably only located the charger thanks to their smartphone, the stage is set to grab some data and start looking for ways to squeeze value from it.
“For example, if I know that every person coming into my town then goes to charge in the next town, because I’ve seen that trending [using data analytics], I can offer you advertising for that next town to say, hey, while you’re in that town make sure you go to this cafe which is known for its vanilla slices.”
These little layers of value will be easily apparent to owners of charging networks who may be naturals at sniffing out revenue streams and are geekish about activating them via algorithms.
“If all we are doing is setting up individual charging stations throughout Australia, that is impossible to do,” he says. “You can’t network that, you can’t see any trends and you can’t say, hey, government, look at this: during the tourist season this is where all the EV drivers are going.”
A well-connected EV network that is tuned to capture data could provide many more services than electrons, and provide them to many more people than drivers and passengers.
Thinking, fast and slow
According to Kinderis, it costs about $100,000 to buy and install a 50kW DC fast-charger. “It will take a long time to get a return on that when electricity is so cheap, especially for a charger located well out in the regions,” he says.
The owner of that charger could simply add a big margin to the electricity, but that’s no good because “everybody knows how much electricity costs because everybody gets an electricity bill at home.” The public will soon figure out that the price of charging can be far less opaque than the game that’s played at petrol stations.
If fast-charge gear is expensive and not much is known yet about how drivers will charge — quick top-ups or deeper, longer charges — it makes sense perhaps that slower AC technology shouldn’t be off the menu. (Kinderis says an 11kW AC charger costs about $10,000 and can be installed within a fortnight.) And yet the NSW government has developed a planning map to be used by networks that calls for DC charging at 50kW or more.
There is a lot of tax-payer money on offer with very little evident return, he says. “This money is going out there and it won’t come back.” Yes, NBN was horribly expensive and lumpily delivered but it provides a service pretty much to everyone. Grants for charging networks only go to EV drivers (which, eventually, you’d expect, would include everyone).
To get it right, Kinderis says, the government should be seeking a level of uniformity. That could include safety guidelines, installation standards, some sort of audit process, a list of recommended technology and service providers. That could also lead to a more homogenous experience for drivers, so they don’t end up with “50 different apps on their phones”.
“Providing some sort of regulation within there is going to be necessary,” he says. “You can’t set up a petrol station; that’s a heavily regulated industry. But right now I can buy a charger, put it out the front of my place and open that up to the public.”
Anything can happen
As with any emerging market, the early entrants will make breakthroughs and mistakes. Some will fail and others will form partnerships or be bought by incumbents in related sectors, in this case most likely energy retailing or distribution. The cost of charging could then be tailored to a customer’s home load profile and be included as an item in their quarterly bill, say. “It’s a very easy customer acquisition model for them [the large retailers] to chase down anybody with an EV because they know their energy utilisation is going to be increasing,” Kinderis says.
If payback periods for large-scale DC chargers are about five years (on Kinderis’s reckoning), they will become longer still if electricity prices rise and competition among charging networks sees margins tighten. With petrol, the fuel and delivery method never changed. With EVs, anything can happen — new battery chemistry, sharp advances in energy density, different plug types, wireless charging, cheap home-charging systems … anything.
Back to the NSW map, Kinderis wonders if it shouldn’t be wide open to AC alongside DC, fast or slow. Every council should be thinking about how they should support EVs, he says, and they should feel included. “If you’re not on that map, how are you feeling right now?”


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Some 60 Czech firms are presenting their goods at the Shanghai International Technology Fair, within a Czech Days in Shanghai promotion event organized by the Czech China Chamber of Commerce, the ctk news agency reports. The participants are businesses from high-tech sectors: environmental technology, machinery, aviation, IT and nano and bio technologies, among others. Skoda Auto which is already well-established on the Chinese market is presenting it latest models. A Czech-Chinese business forum is also being held on the sidelines of the fair, attended by Czech Industry Minister Jan Mládek and the Speaker of the lower house of Parliament Jan Hamáček. A Czech Moser glass store is to open in Shanghai on Saturday.
Czech researchers develop top-grade respirator for 3D printing
Why Chinese masks destined for Italy were seized (not ‘stolen’) by Czech authorities
A mask-tree as a form of solidarity
Economist Tomáš Sedláček: A positive look at the coronavirus crisis
Government to extend restrictions on movement until April 1st


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And the winner is...
HEROES of Britain's small and medium-sized businesses were rewarded for their efforts at London's Hilton Hotel this week in the Financial Mail Enterprise awards 2001.
The winners of seven categories, who shared cash prizes of more than £75,000, and the overall winner and runner-up, came from all parts of the country were selected from a panel of 17 finalists via a punishing schedule of interviews by industry experts including the government's small business advisory service Business Link.
Financial mail editor Ben Laurance said: 'These people are heroes. They show courage and stamina and deserve our support. They have earned our huge admiration.'
Runner-up was Swindon-based computer systems integrator Abilitec, which has reached annual sales of £4m in only its second year of trading. Andy Onacko, Tech Services Director and Adrian Holcombe, Sales and Marketing (right).
Marketing: Aromacology Patch Company, which sells vanilla essence to combat chocolate cravings, based in Ilkely, West Yorkshire. Managing Director Elizabeth Paul (Left) tries one of the patches being fitted Carol Neild her personal assistant.
Strategic Vision: North Newcastle-based Advanced Engineering Solutions, a pipe-testing firm.
Exporting: EXi Telecoms, a telecoms services company based in Warrington, Cheshire. Marketing Director, Derek Hussey and Stephanie Ekins the Quality & Risk Management Director.
Innovation & Technology: Telescope Technologies, which makes large astronomical telescopes and is based in Birkenhead, Merseyside. Managing Director, Michael Daly (Left) And Financial Director Michael Panteli.
Staff development: Clearwater Collection.
Financial Awareness: Abilitec.
Customer Focus: Abilitec.
Check out the highly commended and the other finalists
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RadioShack has named a new CEO with retail turnaround and transformation experience.
Dene Rogers will join the company as president and CEO on May 9, 2016.
Rogers, who will also serve on RadioShack’s board, previously served as
CEO of Target Australia and CEO of Sears Canada, which he led to become
Canada’s most profitable online retailer, according to RadioShack.
RadioShack brand was acquired out of bankruptcy last spring by Standard
General LP. It currently operates over 1,700 company-owned stores,
including 1,400 Sprint Stores at RadioShack, and nearly 500 independent
. . .


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T-Mobile has quietly started selling fiber-based home internet, as tipped to T-Mo Report and confirmed by the company to The Verge. T-Mobile says it’s testing fiber optic internet in certain residential buildings in Manhattan as a complement to its fixed wireless offering, which it made available to the public in April. The company isn’t deploying an entirely new fiber network for the pilot; it’s running on a local provider’s fiber lines.
Details on the dedicated T-Mobile Fiber site are thin, but it claims the service offers 940Mbps upload and download speeds. A Wi-Fi 6 router is included, along with chat and e-mail customer support for fiber customers. A T-Mobile rep had no other details to share with us, just that the program is a “very limited pilot” and more information would be shared “when and if” it becomes more widely available.
T-Mobile has some ambitious plans for home internet. As the company tried to convince regulators to let it buy Sprint in 2019, it argued that it would be able to offer competitive wireless home internet with the acquired spectrum. With the deal done, T-Mobile began a pilot program that included 100,000 households by the time it opened up to the general public. On a call with investors last week, the company said it was on track to meet its goal of 500,000 home internet customers by the end of this year.
It’s not clear how big of a role T-Mobile thinks fiber could play in its home internet plans, but it certainly seems to think it’s worth testing the waters.


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Nearly two weeks after its abrupt closure, there are still more questions than answers surrounding Nissan of Streetsboro.
In the past 18 months, there have been three owners of the Nissan store: Bernie Moreno Companies, Chris Lucas, and the presumed current owner, Automax Streetsboro LLC, which lists a Delaware, Ohio mailing address.
Ganley of Aurora General Manager James Reinart, who said he was Nissan of Streetsboro’s general manager two years ago, said he does not want to leave customers who’ve bought cars there in the past couple of years "out in the cold."
He said Ganley of Aurora, located on Route 82 just west of Route 43, will allow Nissan owners to bring their cars there and get free rental cars and car washes. He also said Nissans would be shipped to Ken Ganley Nissan and Mayfield Nissan to have warranty and recall work done.
"I was the GM there for around two years," he said. "Most of those people who are needing a car right now, I know and built relationships with."
He said he believes the Nissan Streetsboro dealership closed because it was mismanaged by the ownership company and was running low on money.
"They weren't run correctly," he said. "It’s an amazing location."
There have been 38 consumer complaints filed with the Ohio Attorney General’s Office against Nissan of Streetsboro this year, including 10 which are marked as "pending." The "pending" complaints include one filed Sept. 29 and nine more filed since Oct. 24, which is about when the dealership closed.
The Record-Courier has not been able to contact representatives of the current owner. One reason for that may be the plethora of LLCs with variations of "Automax Streetsboro" in their names.
According to the Ohio Secretary of State's website, there are five limited liability corporations whose names are subtle variations on "Automax Streetsboro." They are: Automax Streetsboro K, LLC; Automax Streetsboro N, LLC; Automax Streetsboro V, LLC; Automax Streetsboro Holdings, LLC; and Automax Streetsboro, LLC.
Lucas said he sold the dealership about 12 months ago, but both he and Moreno said they don't know why the dealership closed.
Streetsboro Mayor Glenn Broska said he doesn't know why the dealership closed, either.
"It was not because they were not selling cars, considering the Honda store and Kia store are doing fine," he said. "There are only, probably, a small number of people who know what happened, and they're not telling us."
Klaben Ford Lincoln of Kent filed a breach of contract suit Nov. 1 against "Automax Streetsboro, LLC" to try to collect $206 the Kent dealer claims the Streetsboro dealership owes it. The case is filed in Portage County Municipal Court.
Moreno still owns the building, which was built by Geis Companies in 2004. The dealership was originally owned by the Classic Auto Group, which still owns Classic Honda across the street.


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Facebook has officially rolled out its Avatars in Europe.
Resembling Snapchat Bitmojis, the stickers can be used by anyone in chats and comments.
They were launched in 2019, but hadn’t been available to European users at the time.
Users can create their own avatars and share them across the News Feed or in Messenger.
Facebook said the feature was aimed at users trying to make their engagements more fun on the social network.
They’re essentially more personalised emojis. That doesn’t make them a highly sought after addition, but they could still lend a bit of individuality to each post.
Rival Snapchat has taken Bitmojis even further and launched a dedicated TV channel to air weekly episodes featuring the animated cartoon characters.
It’s not clear whether Facebook will go to the same lenghts.


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The one-month anniversary of the legalization of cannabis in Canada is approaching, and over that stretch, many provinces have been ironing out the wrinkles in their unique provincial guidelines.
In Ontario, the source of legal pot is through the province’s online store but in the spring, that’s expected to change, with municipalities voting on whether they will allow for pot shops in their community.
“Our understanding is that we have until mid-January on if we’d want to opt out,” said Bryan Paterson, the mayor of Kingston.
Paterson says there are many questions that have yet to be answered by the provincial government such as the specific distance a store must be from schools and other sensitive areas, and the details surrounding regulations and licensing.
According to Paterson, in January, city council is expected to vote on the matter, which has city Coun. Jim Neill feeling uncertain about the city’s involvement in developing a new market.
“This sounds like it’s being totally dropped on the lap of the municipalities so we’ll have to craft zoning bylaws to try to protect our community,” said Neill.
Neill did not confirm nor deny whether he will vote yes or no to allow pot retail stores in Kingston because he says there’s research to be done on the topic, adding that they are lacking insight from the province.
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Serena Brown said if a Senate bill banning metallic balloons is passed, it will let the air out of her small business.
The owner of The Party Shoppe in Oroville, Brown said 50 percent of her sales consist of balloons, 25 percent of which are metallic balloons.
“I’m worried,” Brown said from behind the counter of her small store. “Very worried, in fact. People wanting balloon bouquets aren’t just going to come in for latex. They want to see the cute, fun and beautiful balloons along with it.”
While it’s not as severe a hit for Krista Knecht, owner of Chico Florist, she points out that metallic balloons meet a need.
“Schools and hospitals are latex-free, so the only balloons they can receive are the metallic ones,” Knecht said. “Flowers aren’t allowed in the Intensive Care Unit either, so really the only thing we can deliver there are the metallic balloons.”
Knecht said about $3,000 of her sales consist of balloon bouquets or a metallic balloon add-on to flower arrangements.
“It’s only 2 percent of our sales, but that’s 2 percent in our economy where everything is now adding up,” Knecht said.
Brown and Knecht are among countless retail owners troubled by Senate Bill 1499. Authored by Sen. Jack Scott, D-Pasadena, the bill calls for a ban on the sale of metallic balloons filled with helium, beginning in the year 2010. Retailers could be hit with a $100 fine for selling helium-filled balloons and even face misdemeanor charges for repeat offenses.
The bill stems from cries of help from power companies in the senator’s district who claim that metallic balloons do extreme damage when they break free and wind up in power lines.
“Metallic balloons can very easily cause power outages and we’ve seen a lot in the senator’s district,” said Wendy Gordon, spokeswoman for Scott. “This number is continually increasing and causing a huge loss for power companies and businesses.”
Gordon claimed that last year PG&E saw 211 power outages caused by metallic balloons; 150,000 customers were impacted.
Paul Moreno, corporate spokesman for PG&E in the north valley, said that number could be even higher.
“Oftentimes the balloons are destroyed or simply blow away after an outage,” Moreno said. “There is an understanding that there are many more outages caused by balloons that we simply cannot prove.”
PG&E is supporting the bill, Moreno said, primarily due to the impacts on the company’s 14 million customers.
“It is a significant public safety concern,” Moreno said. “Metallic balloons can cause fires, outages can impact traffic lights and then there’s just the overall customer inconvenience.”
The expense of metallic balloon outages is also something Sen. Scott’s office said is a concern, with Gordon claiming that each outage costs between $220,000 and $1 million a minute, depending on the businesses affected.
“We have a lot of fabrication and processing plants and movie companies that lose a lot of money when they have to go without power,” Gordon said.
But the amount of money balloon sellers would lose if the bill is passed is a much more startling amount, said Barry Broad, a lobbyist for The Balloon Council.
“This bill would eliminate $1 billion in sales and $80 million in sales tax revenue for the state,” Broad said. “With all of California’s problems right now, it doesn’t seem efficient to have this sort of bill.”
Broad said the outages caused by metallic balloons “pales in comparison” to trees hitting power lines in storms, and also said the outages caused by metallic balloons typically occur on outdated power lines. “It’s a matter of power companies not making investments in updating the lines,” Broad said.
The United Food and Commercial Workers Union, the California Retailers’ Association and the California Grocers’ Association are just a few groups that stand in opposition to this bill.
In Oroville, Brown recognizes the potential hazards of metallic balloons, but said there is no need for the bill if balloon retailers do their part to follow current state laws.
In 1990, California established a law requiring weights and labels be attached to metallic balloons, warning of the dangers when balloons come in contact with electricity.
The bill was approved by the Senate Public Safety Committee by a of vote of 4-0 earlier this month. It will now be read before the Senate Appropriations Committee before going before the Senate for a vote.


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Youtube has disclosed that podcasts would be added to Youtube music, soon.
YouTube podcasting head Kai Chuk announced this on Thursday.
“We will soon start to bring both audio and video-first podcasts to YouTube Music for users in the US, making podcasts more discoverable and accessible, with more regions to come,” a Youtube spokesperson told TechCrunch
“This will help make the podcasts that users already love on YouTube, available in all the places they want to listen.”
Free background listening will be offered, ensuring that your show won’t be interrupted even if you lock your phone while listening.
The free service will, however, be ad-supported.
This information, which was released at the Hot Pod Summit, comes in the wake of recent enhancements to YouTube features including multilingual audio dubbing for videos and personalized radio stations on YouTube Music.
YouTube isn’t particularly interested in establishing exclusive arrangements with podcasters, which has been a significant tactic at Spotify, according to sources from the event.
According to reports, YouTube also intends to combine the audio and video listening experiences for podcasts, allowing users to flip between the two in the middle of an episode to listen on the go.
This user experience might lessen friction, but it’s important to keep in mind that not all audio and video podcasts can be converted with ease.
But, the YouTube Studio will give artists access to podcasting tools, making it simpler to turn videos into podcasts.
Creators will be able to post podcasts through RSS feeds straight to the platform later this year, YouTube informed TechCrunch.
YouTube Music and YouTube Premium had more than 80 million subscribers as of November, including users who are on free trials. With more than 205 million customers, Spotify still commands the greatest market share in paid music streaming.


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Indonesia is undertaking measures to solve the high cost of logistics support, particularly in the manufacturing sector, which has affected the country’s overall competitiveness in the international market.
Indonesian Trade Minister Gita Wirjawan said that the high cost of logistics support in the country is caused by the limited infrastructure, particularly in the eastern region. Wirjawan explains that this has led to high disparity of growth between the eastern and western regions.
Citing as an example, Wirjawan said that cargo transport firms charged extra costs to move cargoes to the eastern region since there is no certainty that they could get cargoes on their return trip. Thus, the logistical distribution cost to the eastern region is higher than that of the western.
“This problem dampens the enthusiasm of prospective investors to invest in the eastern region. It would eventually slow down the growth in that part of the country,” Wirjawan said.
The minister added that the problem of logistics distribution would affect the economic growth of the country, particularly in the export sector. To address this problem the Trade Ministry is now developing a national logistic system that would improve the connectivity among the regions.
“It was conducted through traditional market revitalization, construction of regional distribution centers and development of networks that would connect logistic hubs in all the economic corridors,” the minister said.
According to the data released by the ministry, costs in logistics support take 24.64% from the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) that reached 1,800 trillion rupiah (about US$185.6) in 2011. Indonesia was ranked No. 59 in the results of Logistic Performance Index survey conducted last year, below Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam.
Sofyan Wanandi, chairman of the Indonesian Employers Association (Apindo), said that logistics cost in Indonesia takes up to 17% of the overall industrial cost, adding that it is the highest ratio in Asia.
“In Malaysia it is only 8%, while in Japan it is only 5%. The government should address this by building more infrastructure projects such as roads, seaports, airports and communications networks,” Wanandi said.
Indonesia, the largest economy in Southeast Asia, recorded high growth of above 6% in the last few years despite the global financial crisis.
Actually, the Indonesian government has already addressed the problem of logistics support by allocating 363 trillion rupiah (about US$37.4 billion) for the construction of new airports, seaports, toll roads, power plants and other infrastructure projects in a program called MP3EI which will last up to 2014.
The government has called for greater participation of the private sector in carrying out the program to solve the country’s logistics support problem.
Under its ambitious economic program, the government has set up six economic corridors aimed at spurring regional-based development that would contribute to its overall economic growth.
(Source: SCE Magazine)


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Anyone who lived in Victoria in the late 1980’s would remember the ad in the video below, from the State Bank of Victoria. The line “It’s your money, Ralph” became as common in regular conversation back then as “Not Happy, Jan!” became in offices around the country five years ago.
The news broke last Friday (at 5pm, of course) that Opel would be pulling its cars out of Australia after a spectacularly short 12 months where they sold just 1500-or-so cars to actual customers.
It’s hard to comprehend just how massive a stuff-up this is or how the supposedly smart people running a global corporation could make it, but it’s HUGE and they’ve done it. And believe it or not, this is just the second part in an ongoing saga called Will-GM-Exist-In-Australia-Or-Not?
Right now, there’s plenty of money on both sides of the wager over whether or not GM Holden will continue in any meaningful way in Australia. There’s a very real fear that Holden will cease manufacturing in the near term and become an imports-only business selling cars designed somewhere and manufactured in cheap labour markets in Asia.
Successive Australian governments have already poured millions into Holden and the other two local manufacturers, Ford and Toyota. With Ford pulling the pin on local manufacturing in 2016 and Holden making noises about doing the same, the appetite for propping up the local industry with taxpayer funds has withered considerably. There’s a feeling amongst the people that these global companies are just sucking money out of the locals and it seems to be happening with monotonous regularity.
This latest episode with Opel only poses more questions as to which inmates are running the asylum at General Motors. Why would the Australian taxpayer want to put another cent into a company when the global parent could get a market investment like Opel so completely and utterly wrong?
It’s your money, Aussies.
Australia has put billions of dollars into the car industry, more than $2billion going to Holden alone in the last 12 years. There’s another $2.3billion sitting in the Automotive Transformation scheme to be allocated over the next few years and with Ford pulling out of manufacturing in Australia, Holden is eyeing off a larger chunk of that pot, too.
Here’s a neat little table, courtesy of news.com.au
Government funding over the past 12 years (2001 to 2012):
Holden: $2.17 billion
Toyota: $1.2 billion
Ford: $1.1 billion
Annual average over the past 12 years (2001 to 2012):
Holden: $180 million
Toyota: $95.8 million
Ford: $87.8 million
Cars made locally in 2012:
Average taxpayer dollars per car built in 2012:
It’s your money, Dealers
There were 20 Opel dealers in Australia last Friday and they learned about the brand’s fate the same day we all did. GoAuto reports that they’d each spent between $500,000 and $3million getting Opel into their showrooms with some of them building brand new facilities for the brand.
Dealers will get some of their investment back directly from Opel, which will reimburse for some vehicles, marketing materials, etc. But what about that extra space that some dealers have just built or are still in the process of building?
What about the opportunity cost of two years wasted on just a year’s sales when that money could have been spent by dealers on a brand that was here for the long haul? Dealers who took Opel on had to sign up to a 5-year commitment. That’s why they put so much money into establishing their Opel presence on site. It’s more than reasonable for them to expect that Opel would honour their end of the deal.
Those showrooms, by the way, were built at Opel’s insistence. Either dealers allocated a significant/new building for Opel sales, or they missed the franchise. Nice.
It’s your money, Employees
First of all, let’s spare a brief thought for the Opel employees directly employed by Opel and working in Saab’s old offices here in Australia. There’s not many of them, but spare them a thought anyway because most will be out of a job now.
Same for the dealership staff employed to sell Opels that are no longer going to be sold. Some of them probably left decent paying jobs elsewhere to take up the challenge of building a new brand, one with a solid history within a global corporate giant. Oops.
Taking a wider view, however, and considering the rather large amounts of government assistance that Holden are both in receipt of and anticipating in the future, spare a thought for Holden’s vehicle assembly staff in South Australia.
The company wants a whole lot of government money in one hand. It’s putting its employees in the other hand – and squeezing.
A new employment deal being offered to workers includes a 3-year wage freeze, reduced leave (at a time Holden tells you is OK), reduced breaks through the day, regular drug testing, short notice for what is effectively compulsory overtime if needed and the threat of termination for a vaguely worded ‘inefficiency’.
Some of these are fair enough. I wouldn’t like my car to be built by a guy with a massive case of the munchies. But if I were a Holden employee, sick already from an axe hanging over my head, this new deal wouldn’t have me doing cartwheels or star-jumps.
Given that Holden’s likely to cut and run from assembly in Australia in the next few years anyway, I’d advise Holden workers to hit the halls at their local TAFE (training institution, for you non-Aussies) sooner rather than later.
It’s your money, Americans
The numbers we’re talking about in the Australian context are peanuts compared to the taxpayer funded bailout that GM received from the US government back in 2009. But still, this is GM we’re talking about and what we see here is careless planning and reckless behaviour from a bailed out company in a market that’s probably not going to be on the American radar.
My American friends – this is what your too-big-to-fail company is doing outside your borders. This is how they’re managing their business, reorganised and propped up for more than a few years by your money. Opel is a German unit of General Motors and they money they’ve spent on production for Australia, dealerships in Australia, marketing in Australia and even sporting sponsorships in Australia, will be booked back to Germany. But it’s still all part of the big GM family.
You can make of that what you will.
I like the fact that we’ve got a car manufacturing industry here in Australia. I like the fact that for the last however-many years, we’ve had a selection of Australian cars that were designed for Australian conditions. I like the fact that the industry drives innovation and creates jobs. I don’t want the industry to go.
At some point, however, you’ve got to wonder when the companies involved will develop and manufacture viable vehicles. GM got itself into a deathwatch position at the turn of the century because it was addicted to manufacturing vehicles that people were buying in reduced numbers. They completely missed the move to smaller, more fuel-efficient cars and they nearly died as a company because of it. It’s killing the Australian industry, too, because buyers moved to small SUV’s or compact cars a long time ago and GM/Ford have insisted on building large sedans right through that move.
I know it’s not easy or cheap to change, but it sure beats the unending losses that lead to closures. Holden seem to be very adept at hoovering the wallets of the Australian government but the whole mess with Opel makes me wonder about the wisdom of propping up a company that’s run at a global level by a bunch of inebriated man-clowns.


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Due to the extraordinary circumstances surrounding COVID-19, some of the remedies identified in recall press releases may not be available at this time. Consumers should check with recalling firms for further details.
It is important to remember that CPSC and recalling firms urge consumers not to use recalled products.
Name of product:
Cabina Bunk Beds
The screws that hold the bed’s mattress foundation to the bed’s guardrails can be loose and the mattress foundation can fall, posing a fall risk to children in the bunk bed.
March 4, 2021
This recall involves Casa Kids Cabina Bunk Beds manufactured in February 2018, June 2018, May 2019, and December 2019. A label on the lower part of the bottom bunk bed’s headboard panel contains the date of manufacture, in a MONTH.YEAR format, e.g., MAY.2019. They are made from Baltic birch plywood, in a combination of natural finish and white painted surfaces.
Consumers should immediately stop using their recalled Cabina Bunk Beds until they have inspected their beds to determine whether the screws that hold the bed’s foundation to the guardrails are tightly in place. Casa Kids is contacting all purchasers directly with detailed instructions on how to inspect and repair their bunk beds. Casa Kids will immediately send a new set of screws to any consumers who alert Casa Kids that their bed’s guardrails are not tightly in place.
Casa Kids has received nine reports from consumers that some of the screws that hold their bed’s foundation to the bed’s guardrails were spinning loose. In one incident, the foundation on one lower bed dislodged from one of its two bed rails. No injuries have been reported.
Online at www.casakids.com from April 2018 through November 2020 for about $1,500.
Casa Collection Design Group Inc., of Brooklyn, N.Y.
This recall was conducted, voluntarily by the company, under CPSC’s Fast Track Recall process. Fast Track recalls are initiated by firms, who commit to work with CPSC to quickly announce the recall and remedy to protect consumers.
About the U.S. CPSC
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is charged with protecting the public from unreasonable risks of injury or death associated with the use of thousands of types of consumer products. Deaths, injuries, and property damage from consumer product incidents cost the nation more than $1 trillion annually. CPSC’s work to ensure the safety of consumer products has contributed to a decline in the rate of deaths and injuries associated with consumer products over the past 40 years.
Federal law bars any person from selling products subject to a publicly announced voluntary recall by a manufacturer or a mandatory recall ordered by the Commission.
For lifesaving information:


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Is samsung on its way to becoming the most profitable tech company in the world?
We all know that for the moment, that title goes to apple with the latest quarterly profit number around the 8 billion range. But Samsung was nipping at their heels in the 7 billion range which kind of shocked me. They seem to be increasing profits faster than apple, and seeing as that android marketshare and dominance is far greater than apple in the world coupled with the fact that Samsung seems to be the go to flagship phone of choice for android, they may soon overtake apple in quarterly profits.
Not going to happen? I kind of hope they don't get there. Not because I want apple to stay on top, because that would mean not enough people are buying high end android devices from other vendors. At the moment, flagship android phones seems to have samsung in a similar position as apple was in the portable music player market with ipods.


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LAS VEGAS -- For plenty of data storage professionals, software-defined storage translates to bad news -- a buzz word, a marketing myth, a way of selling an old idea as something new.
EMC is asking storage pros to think again. At EMC's annual user conference in Las Vegas, the company took the lid off several EMC software-defined storage projects and enhancements, saying the time had come for improved data center protection and storage management -- and SDS is the smartest route to achieving that. Veteran industry analyst Greg Schulz said EMC has managed to shift the SDS conversation so that customers are willing to talk about software-defined storage management.
Talking to Storage Media Group Executive Editor Andrew Burton at EMC World 2015, Schulz offered a tip to storage vendors who are working on selling SDS to customers. "Ask your customers what they know about SDS management. It's not all about the packaging anymore. It's about managing storage."
Schulz said customers are thinking about SDS in terms of how it's going to define the storage functionality in your environment. "Which features are you going to turn on -- snapshot replication, etc.? The other aspect of that is how do you want it delivered to your environment?" Schulz asked. He noted that some EMC competitors are already focusing on delivering SDS through Virtual Storage Appliances. "We have to wait and see whether EMC does anything like that," he said.


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Frontier's 122 W. E St. location in Moscow was its only retail store in the Moscow-Pullman area prior to the opening.
Martin Erkela will remain the general manager for the Moscow/Pullman area.
"We're excited about adding another convenience for the residents of Pullman and surrounding areas," Erkela said in a release.
The Pullman store hours are 8:30 a.m.-6:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m.-6:30 p.m. Saturdays. The store is closed Sundays.
Pullman's Frontier Communications can be reached at (509) 331-5788.
Frontier Communications Corp. offers broadband and voice services, satellite video, wireless Internet data access, data security solutions and bundled offerings for residential or business customers. Frontier employs nearly 14,000 people.


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Our Latest Online Backup Reviews:Vembu SyncBlaze
Industry LinksTools and Graphs
08 Sep 2015
Dallas-Fort Worth area managed IT services provider refreshes site to extend enterprise-level IT practices and solutions to growing businesses throughout East Texas
DALLAS-FORT WORTH, TX – September 08, 2015 — /BackupReview.info/ — Wood Networks, a managed services provider (MSP) offering affordable enterprise-level IT solutions to growing businesses, today announced the company recently launched its new website http://www.woodnetworks.com. The new site has extensive content, including information about Wood’s innovative IT services and the many industries it serves, such as the oil and gas market. Wood builds and develops the infrastructure needed to deliver stable technology at affordable prices, and strives to resolve IT issues before they can cause expensive downtime for businesses throughout East Texas and the Dallas-Fort Worth area.
The website shares with site visitors Wood Networks’ business mission, vision and values. Wood is leveraging the power of technology to exceed the expectations of its clients and become a trusted advisor to them. Wood believes exceptional client-partner care with the utmost professionalism and responsiveness helps drive businesses forward so they can continue to grow.
“Our clients’ success is our success. As they grow, we grow,” said Jeff Wood, CEO, Wood Networks. “With our new site, we are now able to better inform about the technology solutions fit for businesses of all sizes and industries. It shows how our managed services can help transform and grow any company, and how we work with our clients to create customized IT solutions, while staying within their budget.”
To learn more about Wood Networks and its managed IT services and cloud computing solutions, please visit http://www.woodnetworks.com.
About Wood Networks
Source: Wood Networks
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Bugatti’s sales partner in Hamburg, Kamps in Hamburg GmbH & Co., has taken 10 orders for the new Chiron since it was announced at Bugatti Hamburg. Because of the success Kamps has had, the French automaker has made them the exclusive Bugatti outlet in Hamburg and has opened up a brand new showroom.
The new Bugatti Hamburg location is the 12th in Europe (four are located in Germany), with 34 dealerships spanning across 17 countries. Bugatti Hamburg’s new showroom measures in just over 1,000 sq. ft and “gives customers and guests an impression of the Bugatti brand values of “Art, Forme, Technique” and the flair of the company’s headquarters in Molsheim.”
“The extremely positive cooperation with Bugatti over the past few years and the results achieved have reinforced our decision to open an exclusive showroom in Hamburg for the super sports cars from Molsheim,” says Ronald Ludwig, Managing Director of Bugatti Hamburg. “It is a great honor for us to be able to present the world of this extraordinary brand with its history of more than 100 years to our demanding customers at a new address.”


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CBDCs And Adoption Of Blockchain: Moving $5tn To Digital Currencies By 2030:
Cryptocurrencies and blockchain technology have disrupted the traditional finance industry in recent years, and central banks are now looking to get in on the action. The rise of central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) is set to bring about a new banking system for centralized digital currency and drive the mass adoption of blockchain technology. According to recent reports, up to $5tn could move to CBDCs and other virtual money formats by 2030, roughly half of this being linked to blockchain technology.
This seismic shift towards a new banking system for the centralized digital currency will have profound implications for the broader world of finance, driving the adoption of blockchain and crypto in ways we have never seen before. Ronit Ghose called CBDCs a “Trojan horse” for blockchain, as they have the potential to introduce the masses to the benefits of using blockchain seamlessly and intuitively. Just as the Greeks used the original Trojan horse to sneak past the defenses of the city of Troy during the Trojan War, CBDCs could be the vehicle that helps people overcome their fear of blockchain technology and embrace its potential.
Measuring Blockchain‘s Success: The Billion-Plus User Milestone
As the world approaches a crucial turning point, the true potential of blockchain technology will finally come to fruition, with billions of users and trillions of dollars in value at stake. Successful blockchain adoption hinges on the technology becoming so seamless and ubiquitous that users don’t even realize they’re interacting with it. And with daily activities like gaming, social media, and financial transactions driving user numbers, the potential for widespread blockchain adoption is staggering. Central Bank Digital Currencies will play a vital role in this transformation, digitally representing a country’s currency issued by its central bank.
The UAE’s Adoption of Blockchain Strategy: Cutting Costs, Time, and Paperwork
Blockchain technology has revolutionized digital asset recording and transacting. The decentralized system employs cryptography to ensure secure communication, allowing for a fast and efficient transaction ledger. The Emirates Blockchain Strategy 2021, launched by the UAE in 2018, aims to move half of all government transactions onto the blockchain in three years. This adoption is set to save the UAE a staggering 77 million work hours annually and nearly $3 billion in transaction costs and document processing. With blockchain, the UAE is leading the way in modernizing its government infrastructure for the digital age.
From Euro to Renminbi: How CBDCs Could Revolutionize the Global Financial Landscape
With almost 2 billion people experimenting with digital currencies, central banks are preparing to unleash a wave of innovation by introducing CBDCs. CBDCs of significant coins like the euro, British pound, Indian rupee, and Chinese renminbi, which have already undergone trials, will soon be available to the masses. These four jurisdictions comprise more than half the global population and 35% of the world’s bank deposits, potentially making CBDCs accessible to at least 2 billion users and circulating trillions of dollars in value.


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Did you miss today's Nintendo Direct? We have the info from the Direct right here!
We here at GameOctane are huge fans of the Zelda Symphony, and we are so excited to help them announce their new tour dates! The Legend of Zelda Symphony of the Goddesses is now in its fourth season. The 66-piece orchestra and its accompanying 24-person choir have covered music from many Legend of Zelda games, […]
Earlier this morning, Nintendo producer Eiji Aonuma announced to us that Nintendo will be releasing an “expansion pass” for their next headliner, Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. Although Nintendo has dipped their feet into the world of DLC before, this is the first time they’ve done it for a Legend of Zelda game from […]
Last month, Nintendo gave us a lot of information during their Switch presentation. Some of the less appealing news was that Nintendo was going to start charging for their online gameplay services. Online access will be free at the Switch’s launch, but a paid subscription will be necessary for online multiplayer starting this fall. It’s fairly […]
This week Nintendo is blessing us with not one, but TWO presentations all about the new Nintendo Switch console! So far all we have on the Switch is the trailer, and a video of Jimmy Fallon playing the console. That video was pretty hilarious, but we want more info on the Switch! Luckily, the time […]


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Year-on-year, prices increased for: food (0.7 percent from 0.8 percent in the prior month, namely fresh food: 3.4 percent and other food: 0.3 percent), energy (9.3 percent from 9.9 percent) and services (1.0 percent from 1.1). In contrast, prices fell for manufactured products (-0.7 percent from -0.1).
On a monthly basis, consumer prices are expected to increase 0.1 percent, after a 0.6 percent rise in the previous month.
The Harmonized Index of Consumer Prices (HICP) rose 0.1 percent on the month, following a 0.7 percent increase in a month earlier . Year-on-year, it rose 1.4 percent, the same as in the previous two months.


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CAMDEN, N.J.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Sep. 4, 2009–
Campbell Soup Company (NYSE:CPB) invites interested shareowners,
investors and consumers to listen to and view the slides accompanying
its fourth quarter 2009 earnings conference call live over the Internet
on Friday, September 11, 2009 at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time.
|WHAT:||Campbell Soup Company Fourth Quarter 2009 Earnings Conference Call|
|WHEN:||Friday, September 11, 2009, 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time|
By Internet: www.campbellsoupcompany.com
By Telephone: 1-866-814-1913
1-703-639-1357 (International participants)
Simply log on to the Web at the above address, or call one of the
above phone numbers, several minutes prior to the start of the call.
A replay of this broadcast, along with the accompanying slides, will be
available at the above website. A copy of the earnings release and any
accompanying materials will be available in the Investor Center section
of Campbell’s website, www.campbellsoupcompany.com,
under the News & Events caption.
Source: Campbell Soup Company
Campbell Soup Company
Anthony Sanzio (Media), 856-968-4390
Driscoll (Analysts), 856-342-6081