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3D printing is catching the attention of the global market. Identifying advantages across sectors, experts believe, it is the next disruptive technology that is bound to transform business models. Reseller ME finds out what this means for the regional channel.
When Johannes Gutenberg introduced the earliest form of printing to the world, way back in 1450, did he ever wonder where the technology would reach today? Probably not. Innovative technologies are constantly introduced to the dynamic IT market, but, every once in a while, a disruptive technology comes along, which transforms the way the industry views the market place. 3D printing is one such technology that has the potential to wipe out industries and create new methods of operations.
Imagine being able to think of an object and then design it with an appropriate software and have it printed immediately with a 3D printer. A tangible solid product that is printed as simply as printing a word file from a computer – this is what Chuck Hall invented close to three decades ago. Today, most 3D objects are printed in materials like PLA or ABS but even materials like metal, chocolate or sugar is an option today.
It may sound like a scene from the future, but according to reports, this technology is all set to go mainstream. The research firm, International Data Corporation (IDC), reported towards the end of last year that in terms of units shipped, 3D printer market will grow at compound annual growth rate of 59 percent and in terms of revenue, it will grow by 29 percent from 2012 to 2017.
However, Ashwin Venkatchari, Senior Program Manager, Imaging Devices and Document Solutions, IDC Middle East and Africa, says that although the potential is definitely there, it will have to be a wait and watch approach when it comes to the Middle East region. “Places like the US and China are driving this growth, in those markets you have a fair level of local consumption happening, but in this part of the world, the market still has not reached that level of maturity.”
Either way, this means a huge potential for the channel partners in the region. From previous experiences, we know that early adopters of new technologies are the ones who reap maximum benefits. And with a disruptive technology like 3D printing, which is expected to transform the landscape of the manufacturing industry, channel partners have the potential to grow immensely. From real estate and healthcare to aviation, education and automobiles, the possibilities are endless with 3D printing.
According to Ashish Panjabi, COO, Jacky’s Electronics, 3D printing will revolutionise and change supply chains all over the world, when it goes mainstream.
He says, “Depending on what you do, 3D printing has got several advantages. If you are a company that develops prototypes, it could mean that you can design products and have samples ready closer to home in an environment that you can supervise.”
Explaining further, he says. “This is why companies such as Apple, Samsung, Microsoft and others use 3D printers when designing new products as they’re able to constantly prototype in complete privacy until they’ve got a product that meets their requirements.” In a nut shell, 3D printing allows to test for fit, form and function.
With the technology soon available to the masses and with several retailers in the United States already selling 3D printers, Jacky’s Electronics is one of the early players in the region who has identified this trend and has already set up a business unit. “We had the MakerBot range of 3D printers on display at Gitex Shopper and sold several units from the stand. Apart from the printers, there is also an opportunity to earn money on consumables,” he says.
But agreeing with Venkatchari from IDC, Panjabi says the awareness level in the region is still relatively low. According to the retailer, to develop the market, vendors, distributors and retailers have to work together to make the products and applications more visible.
According to, Lothar Hohmann, Owner, Precise, a company that produces laser engraved 2D and 3D trophies, corporate gifts and mementos, “the Middle East market is not even an embryo, that’s how early we are,” he says. He agrees that early adopters in the channel will see the most advantages.
What will drive the mainstream market is growth of the content market. Channel partners must be well versed with the technology and be in a position to advise the customers as to why they should buy. As it is in its nascent stages, customers are not aware of the massive potential of 3D printing and needs a reason to buy it.
Channel partners should also be aware with what is happening in the 3D industry and keep a sharp eye on all the developments in this dynamic market as there is a lot happening, in order to best cater to their customers.
“When we have the distribution for various brands, we will be looking at partnering with channel partners. We need to partner with the right people as we don’t have retail shops ourselves, so we need to get the partners to understand this technology as much as we do,” he adds.
Representing MakerBot, Stratsys, SolidScape, Concept Laser and Artec, Panjabi says, “Apart from just selling products from these brands, we keep stock in the region, have consumables and spare parts readily available, can install products, provide training and give after sales support.”
He adds, “Most manufacturers either have their own distribution centres in the United States, China, Korea, Japan or parts of Europe and the Middle East was largely ignored but we hope to cater to the vacuum that has been created here as a result.”
The potential for the channel partners in 3D printing is unchallenged, it is only now a question of which channel partners will take it seriously and make an effort in educating themselves and their customers about this technology. As always, partners cannot go ahead in this space without the support and initiative from vendors in order to spread the awareness about this technology.


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A stylist who creates fashionable outfits on a shoestring budget has shown women how a basic Kmart T-shirt can be used as the foundation for countless ensembles.
Tina Abeysekara, 34, recently built three looks around the $15 ‘Short Sleeved T-Shirt’, which is sold online and in stores across Australia in black and white.
The Sydney blogger said her first look, which features a leopard print midi-skirt, beige heels and a matching bag, could be worn to a job interview, the office or a night on the town.
She described her second look – which features denim jeans, sandals and a drawstring pouch bag – as perfect for working from home or a casual weekend lunch.
Scroll down for video
Tina’s third look, which features loose linen shorts, an over-sized basket bag and white tennis shoes, is what she calls ‘holiday mode’ – ideal for a day at the beach or strolling around a park.
Photos of the outfits, which have amassed 3,595 ‘likes’ since they were uploaded to Instagram on January 4, have drawn dozens of grateful responses.
Many thanked Tina for showing them it is possible to look stylish without splashing out on expensive clothing.
‘Yes, this is great and exactly what I need! Love the idea,’ one woman replied.
A second said she loved the T-shirt and was impressed by how different Tina had made it look by pairing it with different accessories.
While Tina praised the quality and fit of the black T-shirt, she said the white version was ‘a little see through’.
The top is the latest Kmart find Tina has endorsed to her 112,000 Instagram followers, days after she raved about a $30 mango coloured maxi-dress that’s comfortable enough to run errands in while still being sufficiently glamorous for a night out.
The ‘Sleeveless Tiered Midi’ – which comes in a mango colour called ‘guava’ – usually costs $30 but shoppers say they have seen it reduced to $10 in stores across Australia.
Available in sizes six to 20, the cotton dress has a square neck that is suitable for most bust sizes and a tiered silhouette that hangs loose over the body, in a flattering style for every shape.
Tina’s photos, which have racked up 3,436 ‘likes’ since they were uploaded on Wednesday, have drawn delighted responses.
‘I got this on the weekend on sale for $10, looks amazing on you!’ one woman replied.
A second added: ‘Love it Tina! I got this one too and have worn it so much.’
A third tagged her friends and wrote: ‘I need this dress.’
The budget-friendly piece has also won praise from Tina’s fellow influencers.
‘Gorgeous colour on you,’ Melbourne mummy blogger Helen James wrote.
‘Looks lovely,’ added Canberra stylist, ‘This is Genevieve’.
Brisbane fashion blogger Jess Allen said she ‘loves’ the dress while Melbourne designer Neha called it a ‘gorgeous combo’ with the sandals and basket bag Tina used as accessories in her photos.

domain: news


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Apple is under increased pressure to distance its supply chains from China. But, as Patrick McGee and John Reed explain, shifting production to India hasn't been smooth sailing.
Apple’s chief rival has a cautionary tale for India
What it would take for Apple to disentangle itself from China
Apple signals iPhone push in India as Tim Cook opens first store
Apple shakes up sales by making India its own region
How Apple captured Gen Z in the US — and changed their social circles
The global economy needs a new powerhouse. India is stepping up


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LHI Jan/Feb 2023
Inside this issue
Honesty remains the best policy, even though people seem more prepared than ever to give the truth scope, observes Steve Napieralski, president at Oz Lifting.
The US Infrastructure Bill won’t bridge all gaps warns Richard Phillips, mechanical engineer at Casper, Phillips & Associates Inc (CP&A).
After a global pandemic and supply chain volatility, what does 2023 hold for the MEWP industry? Dan Jenkins talks to manufacturers full of optimism for the coming months.
As Ross Moloney, CEO of LEEA begins his sixth year at the Association, he reflects on key achievements and looks forward to the year ahead.
We look at the achievements and prospects of Kalmar’s Shanghai plant in one of China’s most dynamic manufacturing regions and one of the largest shipping hubs.
The way to sustainable warehousing is through automation, says Craig Whitehouse, managing director of Invar Integration.
MEWP manufacturer Skyjack has taken just ten months to turn a greenfield site into a new factory. Dan Jenkins looks at how it happened.
Chris Grote, senior marketing product manager of Crown Equipment examines the ways to retain skilled forklift operators in today’s warehouse environment.


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News and Articles About Foursquare
Start Up Your Day
Plus: Check out someone's Snapchat all the way from Mt. Everest.
Execs say the changes 'reflect Foursquare maturing.'
The partnership is being facilitated by Button, a New York company that strengthens deep linking between complementary apps.
In a conversation at TechCrunch NY, the co-founder and CEO spoke about not letting chatter about his company affect his point of view.
Mergers and Acquisitions
The recurring rumors, floated again today by Techcrunch, could mark a bid by Yahoo to ramp up its mobile prowess.
The new feature gives users the option of including their location in posts.
These fun facts and figures reveal everything from some of the now incredibly successful companies that initially launched at SXSW to what attendees are eating and drinking while in Austin.
Inspiring Your Team
While many of these benefits are just good policy, others definitely fall into the 'over-the-top' camp.
Refresh helps you make a personal connection by curating digital data.
Reviving a once-hot app is tricky. Foursquare, the darling of mobile check-ins, is hoping to lure new users in the old-fashioned way: with ads.
The location-based social networking platform continues its rebranding efforts with a new logo.
Looking to take on sites like Yelp and Facebook, the location-based social networking service is revamping its old app and adding a new app called Swarm.
Cloak, which lets you locate your friends, enemies or frenemies, is the latest app making a splash.
Some of today's most famous tech companies got their start at South by Southwest. But not everything that emerges from this annual Texan festival becomes bigger and better.


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Where are you? Just look at the floor!
6:26am 20th January 2010
Environmental campaigners say it's possible to tell which city you're in just by looking at the litter that's dropped on the streets.
Chewing gum wrappers are most common in Manchester, drink cans in Liverpool and paper coffee cups in London.
In Yorkshire two brands keep cropping up on the floor, that's McDonalds and Greggs the bakers wrappers.
It costs councils 780 million pounds per year to keep our streets rubbish free.
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Sign up now for our email updates.


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Amazon Seeks Prime Location for $5 Billion Second HQ
Continue Reading Below
Amazon plans to open a second headquarters somewhere in North America that will house up to 50,000 employees and cost $5 billion to build and operate.
Nissan CEO Looking for More Sustainable Targets
Four months into his job, Nissan Motor's new chief executive wants the company to slow down, worried its rush to expand sales was pushing it off track.
Boeing, Airbus Seek Profits By Making Aircraft Parts
As the world's largest aircraft component manufacturers tie up, plane makers look to tap the lucrative businesses of making, selling and servicing parts.
Continue Reading Below
Emirates Weighs Rebuilding U.S. Capacity as Demand Recovers
Emirates Airline may fully restore capacity on flights to the U.S. in the coming months with demand recovering after Washington sought to limit immigration from some Middle East countries and imposed a ban on use of electronics on inbound flights.
Citigroup Taps Second UBS Banker This Week
Citigroup Inc. has tapped a UBS Group AG investment banker to head up its chemicals coverage for Europe, the Middle East and Africa, the second time this week the big U.S. bank has announced a new hire from its Switzerland-based rival.
Nestlé to Buy Sweet Earth for Plant-Based Protein Foods
Nestlé has agreed to acquire Sweet Earth Foods, a maker of plant-based foods such as "Harmless Ham" and "Benevolent Bacon," its latest effort to respond to rapidly changing consumer tastes.
Trian Details Its Case for Changes at P&G
Activist investor Nelson Peltz laid out his case for why Procter & Gamble Co. should give him a board seat, painting a picture of a company impenetrable to outsiders and incapable of navigating the changing consumer landscape.
Why Florida Is Largely Insured by Companies You've Never Heard Of
Hurricane Irma will test a Florida insurance market where a wave of large insurers aggressively reduced their footprint, replaced by smaller firms and a state-backed body.
Multinationals Fight for Their Margins in China
Western multinationals are fighting harder to hold on to their margins in China due to overcapacity and an improvement in the quality of Chinese-made products.
NFL Touts Entertainment Value of Game in New Ad Campaign
The National Football League is launching a new ad campaign that promotes the entertainment value of the game as it grapples with a number of issues.
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
September 07, 2017 09:15 ET (13:15 GMT)


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A vintage clothes shop has got even bigger after expanding into the empty store next door.
Rock Retro, which specialises in 80s and 90s sportswear imported from America and Europe, was launched on May 13 last year after Adam Mann and his fiancée Michelle realised the old Back to Mono store had become available in Guildhall Street.
Since then, their business has gone from strength to strength, and despite coronavirus forcing the store to close temporarily, the business has still been able to prosper through sales online.
Recently, the shop next door, Gotham Games, revealed it was closing and with the store up for rent, the couple wasted no time in agreeing a lease and moving in.
Mr Mann, who is 23, told Lincolnshire Live: “We saw the opportunity and we were doing fairly well so we thought we could do better if we had a bit more space.
“We really want to push our online area so we were looking at a warehouse and this was only five grand more.
“We thought, why don’t we just have a bit more retail space and we then still have a big room that we can have for all our online space, so it kind of just made sense.”
After knocking down a few walls and putting in a staircase, the pair had the room to add in a sales room to appeal to Lincoln’s growing student population as well as more space for other stock too.
Some of the gaming aspects of the previous business are also being maintained and incorporated as part of the store going forward.
The new areas were opened to the public for the first time on Saturday, September 12.
Mr Mann said: “We have been able to put in a sale room. It is loads of bins with lots of stuff in.
“We have been able to put in a nice cool room where we can do FIFA competitions and stuff when coronavirus dies down a little bit.
“It has just let us be able to maximise our space and have more stock and new items as well as bringing in girlier stock.
“When you are in a limited space and you know you can get all this stock, it is really annoying. But now we can get it we are a lot happier.”
People will applaud a retail unit choosing to expand its store during the uncertain times caused by coronavirus.
Mr Mann, who grew up in Lincoln, admits it was a calculation – but insists it was one worth taking.
He said: “It was a bit of a risk with coronavirus but it wasn’t too bad. We did OK - we just did online during the lockdown.
“Retail is a bit weird. Some days are busy and some days are not.
“The opportunity came up and you either go for it or you don’t so you just have to hit it while you can.
“If you can take a calculated risk, you might as well.”
And Mr Mann isn’t stopping there as he and his fiancée have big aims for the business in the near future, including add two more workers to the five already employed there.
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He said: “We want to try to grow online within the next year and then by next year hopefully online has grown a bit more and we have grown the brand a bit.
“Then we will look at other cities to open more up. We want about five chains in and around a two-hour radius at the most. That’s the five to ten year vision.
“I am pretty sure we will be able to get our next one open within a year or two. It just depends on what happens with coronavirus.”


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Grafton calls in Rothschild to look at future of six construction traders
Grafton, the £2.6 billion stock market group behind the Buildbase and Selco building materials suppliers, has signalled that it is looking to sell off its sizeable British mainland construction industry interests.
In an announcement that took the market by surprise, Grafton said that it had brought in the merchant bank Rothschild to conduct a review of its builders’ merchants Buildbase, housebuilders supplier Civils & Lintels, groundworks and drainage operations PDM Buildbase, the Timber Group import operation, its bathrooms distributor and NDI, a supplier of wall and ceiling materials.
It has given no indication of why it might want to sell the operations or how large a part of the group they constitute.
The move indicates that Grafton wants to concentrate on its higher-margin businesses supplying


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Electronic Caregiver CEO, Anthony Dohrmann, was interviewed on the Techstination podcast today about Addison Care leading up the CES. He digs into what digital health tech is all about, the issues, and insights on where the industry is going.
Addison Care will be featured at CES, January 7-10, 2020, in Sands Expo, Halls A-D, Booth #42142.
“It’s an honor to provide and support these programs, especially these athletic programs.” Anthony Dohrmann CEO, Electronic Caregiver
“Staff and students will use the lab to conduct aging and functional lifespan research, along with research of visual search scenarios and motor performance environments.”
“We’re able to do things with this technology, that’s transformational and educational,” Anthony Dohrmann, CEO of Electronic Caregiver shared.
Post said. “One of the experiments that we’ll get started is caregiver training where you look around the house to see what potentially could be items that might be fall risks.”
Emerging technologies and leading innovators are merging with home care providers delivering new business models to access new market opportunities and to grow rapidly, and more profitably. The current home care technology revolution is providing a new way of building market opportunities and providing new capabilities specifically designed to assist home care providers with serving larger markets.
“Among the tech that is featured on this page, only one has a virtual character, which is part of what sets us apart from the others. According to these trend hunters, our product is also pretty trendy, rating at a 7.1 out of 10. Remaining on the bleeding edge of innovation is how we can stay ahead of the curve.”
-Dakota Marquez, Business Insights Manager
Where to find us
506 S. Main Street
Las Cruces, NM 88001


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The Mohawk Council of Kahnawà:ke (MCK) is challenging the legality and constitutionality of Ontario’s newly regulated iGaming market, claiming that it is “significantly” damaging Kahnawà:ke’s [...]
New York-listed gaming supplier Inspired Entertainment has launched its Virtual Sports products in Ontario with Kaizen Gaming’s Betano brand.
The launch in the Canadian province follows [...]
Ontario-based casino operator Great Canadian Entertainment has appointed Matthew Anfinson as chief executive to succeed the retiring Anthony Rodio.
Anfinson currently serves as the company’s chief [...]
London-listed iGaming technology provider Playtech is powering the launch of Mansion’s Casino.com and Mansioncasino.com brands in Ontario, Canada.
Expanding a long-term strategic partnership between the two [...]
Ontario-licensed operator NorthStar Gaming has been named as an authorized gaming operator of the National Basketball Association (NBA).
The agreement will enable NorthStar Bets to provide [...]
Kings Entertainment Group shareholders have approved the proposed business combination with Sports Venture Holdings (SVH), the parent company of Canadian betting and gaming operator Bet99.
Stockholm-listed sports betting technology provider Kambi Group has agreed a new retail sportsbook deal with Ontario’s leading casino operator Great Canadian Entertainment.
The multi-year agreement will [...]
Lottery supplier Instant Win Gaming (IWG) has rolled out its eInstant games portfolio for Canada’s Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG).
After recently being awarded a [...]
Ontario’s 24 licensed iGaming operators generated revenue of CAD$267m in the second full quarter since the opening of the market in April.
Total wagers (excluding promotional [...]
The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) is marking the six-month anniversary of Ontario’s regulated iGaming market with the introduction of new regulations.
The new [...]
Kambi has agreed a deal to provide its retail sports betting platform to Mohegan’s Casino Niagara and Fallsview Casino Resort in Ontario, Canada.
The agreement adds [...]
International Game Technology's IGT Global Solutions subsidiary has been awarded an initial five-year contract to serve as the primary provider of self-serve lottery terminals to [...]


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Beth Hackney has already bought three travel guides. One for Australia and two for New Zealand. “The second they open up New South Wales, I’m going to be like a rat up a drainpipe,” she says. “I’m going to get in a car and go.”
The Australian lawyer has been living in Hong Kong for years, but has been effectively stuck in home town Sydney since January after coronavirus lockdowns turned a short-term contract into an indefinite stay. The closure of international and state borders has scuttled a lot of travel plans for the 35-year-old: Tasmania. South Korea. New York. Greece. France.
Now, however, after months of not being able to leave the city, Hackney is looking forward to travelling her own country – or state – in earnest.
“I’m actually really excited when things relax a bit to go and see Australia, and New Zealand. And while it isn’t necessarily the travel I had wanted or had planned for this year – it’s not the start of the Tour de France in Nice, it’s not Greece – it’s the travel I’m getting, and the more I think about it, the more excited I am.”
With the anticipation of relaxation of regional, if not state, borders in the near future, there is speculation about what potential there is for a local-led rebound for the hard-hit Australian tourism sector.
Australians already constitute a significant majority of the total tourism market. Between day trips and overnight stays, local tourism was worth more than $100bn last year, and had been growing. International travellers, however, spend $45.4bn, or about third of the total market – a significant shortfall to make up in the event of long-term international border closure.
It is in the nearly $65bn that Australians spent overseas last year that Tourism Australia, and others in the sector, see hope for reviving the now dormant industry. And hope may not be misplaced – polling by the Lowy Institute last week found that 35% of Australians are now less likely to travel internationally than they were before coronavirus, borders open or not.
Some analysts have predicted a net gain for Australia. Richard Clarke, a global hotels and leisure analyst at research firm Bernstein, has calculated that Australia could stand to benefit from a closure of international borders, should the spending of Australian international travellers be redirected to domestic travel.
He says even if 60% of the amount of money Australians spend overseas is instead spent by travelling within Australia – as happened in the UK after Brexit – the total value of spending in the Australian market could end up even.
Tourism Australia is attempting to stoke domestic demand with a significant campaign, which included an hour-long live TV special, Live from Aus, on Channel Ten on Friday night, encouraging Australians to start making plans for travelling locally. They expect travel to pick up slowly, with day trips followed by regional and interstate travel.
Managing director Phillipa Harrison expects people to be keen to get outdoors, explore nature and do things they’ve missed out on, like dining out.
However, even though their own polling suggests that 60% of Australians are keen to travel the country as restrictions ease, Harrison is cautious about assuming the local market will make up for the loss of the international one.
There will doubtless be an increase in domestic travel, she says, but “it can’t fill the gap of international business entirely”.
Dr David Beirman, a lecturer in tourism management at the University of Technology Sydney, agrees that the losses of the year from bushfires, drought and floods, coupled with the continued border lockdown, will be a hole too deep to plug.
“Whichever way you look at it – even if you are the most optimistic person in the world – we’ve already lost several months of travel,” he says. “This year is going to be pretty diabolical, even at the most optimistic assessments.”
However, he says, there is opportunity for tourism to bounce at least partially back. “People will be stir crazy,” he says. “They’re going to want to go somewhere.
“How many people in Sydney go opal mining in Lightning Ridge? Or check out White Cliffs?” he says. “Wine tours in the Hunter Valley. Astronomical Tours in Siding Springs. There’s a whole range of experiences that we probably don’t market as effectively as we could.”
For some tourism and hospitality operators, business is already showing signs of lifting. Luxury resort and spa in the Blue Mountains, Lilianfels, has already started receiving calls for bookings in June and July.
John Fink, the creative director of the Fink Group which includes high-end Sydney restaurants Otto, Bennelong and Firedoor, says many people cannot wait to be able to return to the pleasantries of life. “I’m feeling it,” he says. “But also, when the word went out that they’re going to start easing restrictions our phones just rang off the hook: ‘When are you opening?’ ‘When are you opening?’”
Fink’s restaurants predominantly serve local patrons, but a significant minority of guests – Fink estimates between 10% and 30% depending on the restaurant – are international. He is confident that as people are finally allowed out of their homes, they will be craving nice experiences, particularly ones where they can connect with friends. Those who haven’t been financially affected by the crisis, he says, will have extra money to spend.
“I think Sydney will bounce back,” he says. “As long as everything is safe and everything goes according to plan with the slow easing of restrictions, in the dining scene I can really see Sydney coming back to life.”
However, Australia is not just capital cities and hatted restaurants. The regions, particularly tourist towns, have been battered by back-to-back unprecedented crises this year.
For the Youth Hostels Association Australia, the crisis has decimated business. The network is reliant on international travellers, who make up two-thirds of their guests. The remaining third is dominated by school and business groups. Just 19 of its 70 hostels are open, catering to a far reduced clientele. The backpacker not-for-profit has put nearly all eligible staff on jobkeeper, stood down others and made redundant yet others still. The regional hostels have fared particularly badly.
“We’re basically bunkering down and really waiting for the borders to open,” says the chief executive, Paul McGrath.
While his key market is no longer able to travel to Australia, McGrath is “pretty confident” that domestic travel could make up for the losses of foreign travellers. “People are going to want to get out and get into nature or go to the beach,” he says. “Just get out of their suburbs and cities.”
YHA is hoping that restrictions on regional travel may lift in time for the July school holidays. If border restrictions ease as winter bites in the southern states, he expects a mass migration to holidays north. If so, they will be encouraging people to support the bush, and marketing to families in earnest for the first time. The organisation is in the process of converting small dormitories into family rooms, as a low-cost option for family travellers.
“That’s where I see a great opportunity – to capture the attention of families for whom it may have previously been cheaper to go to Bali or Fiji,” he says.
And, says McGrath, they will be offering discounts to get people back into their accommodation. “We will certainly be price driven.”
Tourism lecturer Beirman says that YHA is not the only tourism operator likely to be offering deals. “If you’re a smart consumer, and you have the money, get in early because there’ll be a whole bunch of special deals going on. Regions, hotels, attractions will want to lure people to come to them and I think there’ll be some very good deals in the short term,” he says.
However, he says, that discounting won’t last, and travel in Australia may become more expensive in the longer term. “A lot of the tourism businesses which have been making no money for months are going to want to fill back the coffers.”
In the meantime, Hackney, who typically has multiple holidays in far-flung destinations a year, is hoping that restrictions are open in time for her parents’ annual holiday to NSW coastal town Forster.
“In the current climate, even something as simple as going to Forster feels like such an immense treat,” she says. Her holidays, she says, will now be slower, more meandering, with a focus on enjoying the things around her. This has been a reset.
“The world has shrunk,” she says. “But not necessarily in a terrible way.”


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Earlier this week I mentioned that I though the veggie burger being offered by Burger King was doomed to failure — despite claims by some overenthusiastic vegans and vegetarians, there is no great movement among the general population to foreswear meat. This is confirmed, ironically, by statistics from animal rights activists themselves.
Alex Hershaft, who had posted to an animal rights e-mail list about the importance of Burger King veggie burger, also recently posted statistics to the same e-mail list demonstrating why the veggie burger will fail.
In 1980, per capita consumption of meat in the United Stats was 196 pounds. By 1990, that had risen to 201 pounds, and in 2001 hit 209 pounds, according to the USDA Economic Research Service.
Consumption in beef and pork products are expected to decline somewhat over the next 10 years, but largely because people are expected to eat more chicken and turkey.
Hershaft tries to spin the change as also being due to increased vegetarian/vegan options,
Consumption is now leveling off, reflecting market saturation and increase consumer interest in meat alternatives like veggie burgers, soy dogs, and soy lunch ‘meats.’
The reality is, however, that after 20 years of trying to convince Americans to adopt vegetarian lifestyles, the animal rights movement hasn’t even made a small dent in meat consumption, with the biggest consumer change being eating more chicken and turkey rather than beef and pork.
Ironically, the switch to chicken and turkey will mean a massive increase in the total number of animals killed. Assuming the USDA is correct in its estimates here is how the numbers would change over the next ten years (these are very rough estimates intended only to show the magnitude of change):
Cows killed: -4.2 million
Pigs killed: -4.7 million
Chickens killed: +639 million
Turkeys killed: +31 million
Net: +661.1 million animals
If the animal rights movement really wants to minimize the total number of animals killed for meat, it should start with a campaign addressed to American consumers to the effect that if they are going to eat meat, the most humane option is beef. Just don’t hold your breath waiting.
2002 Death Statistics (PDF). Farm USA, Winter/Spring 2002.
More than 10 billion animals killed for food in the U.S. Alex Hershaft e-mail, accessed April 24, 2002.
US animal flesh consumption at 209 lbs. Alex Hershaft, e-mail, Accessed April 24, 2002.


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E-commerce is changing the way CT does business
It’s all about the e-commerce.
While much of the public’s focus when it comes to commercial real estate is on who is getting or losing corporate headquarters,
the state is quietly becoming a very attractive location for warehouses and distribution centers.
The warehouses and distribution centers are popping up all over the state, driven by the growth in e-commerce. Among examples are major projects in North Haven, Middletown and Cromwell, and state and local political leaders are realizing the warehousing and distribution economy has a key advantage over landing a headquarters.
Headquarters may come and go, but in the warehousing and distribution sector, it’s location, location, location. And few states in the Northeast — with the possible exception of New Jersey — are in an advantageous geographic position as Connecticut.
“Connecticut is beginning to realize that we’re between two economic powerhouses,” North Haven First Selectman Mike Freida said, referring to Boston and New York.
Christopher Metcalfe|, first vice president with CBRE/New England, an industrial real estate broker, said Connecticut “is one of the few places that you can distribute into both New York and Boston from.”
The manageable driving distance into both cities is critical, Metcalfe said, because there is a shortage of drivers in the trucking industry.
“It’s a real problem, very challenging,” he said.
Joe Scully, president of the Connecticut Motor Transport Association, said that as the truck drivers from the Baby Boom generation age, the industry is shifting from long haul routes, in which truckers are on the road for days at a time, to shorter trips.
“It’s one way to attract younger drivers and it helps that retailers are shifting to a decentralized business model, Scully said. “Things are just changing and both the truck drivers and business owners are already addressing that change.”
An October 2017 report from the New York City-based data firm Trepp said “retailers are eschewing efforts to keep physical storefront open and focusing on last-mile delivery via e-commerce channels.”
“The industrial (real estate) sector benefits greatly from this market shift as demand for warehouses, flex spaces and other property subtypes has surged,” the Trepp report says in part.
E-commerce retail sales as a percentage of all sales nationally was 6 percent at the end of 2014, Metcalfe said. By the end of 2017, it had grown to 9 percent, he said.
“All that stuff has to be stored, sorted and delivered from somewhere,” Metcalfe said.
The demand for warehouse space is outpacing the availability of it, according to a CBRE report. Demand for warehouse space at the national level was 6.2 million square feet greater than supply in the fourth quarter of 2018, the report said.
Though Connecticut is not considered one of the top 10 markets for warehousing and distribution activity, projects here point to the sector heating up.
Currently under construction in Cromwell is a 403,000-square-foot warehouse being built on speculation, with no tenant already in place, Metcalfe|,said. The project is being developed by Indiana-based developer Scannell Properties and is being marketed by CBRE/New England..
“There are few prospects looking at the building right now,” he said. “Once you get a tenant, it takes a while to build out the inside. But I’m sure that the building will be fully operational.”
The willingness to build warehouse space on spec “shows that smart investment money is seeing an economic advantage in this being built,” he said.
“We’re seeing a tremendous demand for these types of buildings,” Metcalfe said.
Cromwell Town Manager Anthony Salvatore said the Scannell Properties project has the potential “to be a catalyst to generate additional usage out there.”
The property being developed is to the west of Shunpike Road, also know as Route 3, Salvatore said, There are about 300 acres east of Shunpike Road that could be developed if there were enough interest, he said.
Other evidence the warehousing market is heating up in Connecticut, Metcalfe said, is the opening of a 600,000-square-foot distribution center for FedEx Ground on the site of a former Aetna corporate complex off Middle Street in Middletown.
The Aetna buildings on the 204-acre property were demolished in 2011, a few years after the insurance giant left the complex. FedEx Ground bought the property from Aetna for $18 million in 2016.
New construction, like what was done for FedEx Ground, is considered by many businesses to be preferable to trying to retrofit an existing building, according to Metcalfe.
“These users want to design the buildings to their needs and exact specifications,” he said. “In the end, it’s more cost effective for them and works out better.”
Jeff Pugliese, vice president of the Middlesex Chamber of Commerce, said that if the FedEx Ground warehouse in Middletown is successful, it might lead to other warehousing opportunities for other communities in the county. The FedEx Ground facility is located of Interstate 91 near the city’s border with Cromwell.
“It might not be a fit for some of our down county communities, which are more traditional New England small towns,” Pugliese said. “But we certainly have the infrastructure for it and we’re right in the central part of the state.”
There is less warehouse and distribution activity in Fairfield County, Metcalfe said with most of its focused in Stratford and Bridgeport.
“There are pockets here and there elsewhere in Fairfield County, but outside of those two areas, the focus is more on residential and office development,” he said.
But according to Ed Lavernoich, president of Bridgeport Economic Development Corp., there are a number of factors that make the state’s largest city less than ideal for warehouses and distribution center. The Bridgeport Economic Development Corp. is an affiliate of the Bridgeport Regional Business Council and as a non-profit corporate entity has the authority to undertake and manage development projects, borrow money and issue bonds among other things.
Lavernoich was with the city’s economic development office for 26 years and he said Bridgeport officials would be contacted several times a year by business interests asking if there was available space for warehouses and distribution centers close to Interstate 95 and Route 8.
“To develop a project like that, you need a minimum of 15 to 25 acres and that’s hard to come by in a city that is as densely populated as Bridgeport,” Lavernoich said. “I’d say the population density is roughly 8,500 people per square mile. The further you get away from the highways, the closer you come to encroaching on residential neighborhoods that are going to oppose 25-to 30 large trucks per day coming through their neighborhood.”
Developing any land along the railroad tracks that cut through the city comes with its own set of problems, he said.
“There are only about seven or eight railroad underpasses in the city that can accommodate tractor trailers with high tops,” Lavernoich said. “When I was with the city, we were working on developing the West End and it took moving heaven and earth just to piece together 15 acres and that wasn’t right along I-95.”
Bill Purcell, president of the Shelton-based Greater Valley Chamber of Commerce, said the city is host to a number of businesses that want a presence in Fairfield County, not just for corporate headquarters, but warehouse operations as well. Those businesses include BTX Global Logistics and Inline Plastics, Purcell said.
“The Valley is an ideal location along the Route 8 corridor, with easy access to Interstates I-95 and I-84,” Purcell said.
North Haven is perhaps the best recent illustration of how an attractive location — combined with a willingness by local officials to work with developers — can benefit a local economy.
E-commerce giant Amazon will open a 1.2 million square foot, $250 million warehouse on the site of a former Pratt & Whitney plant off Washington Avenue. The warehouse is expected to add 1,800 jobs to the local economy initially, with employment levels expanding to 3,000 over time.
Freida said the economic development power of a warehouse of that size shouldn’t be underestimated.
“They tend to be an economic development multiplier,” he said. “Plazas near the Amazon site are being redeveloped and property vacancies are being filled because the businesses that go in there want to serve the employees that will be coming to work there.”
North Haven has had more success attracting warehousing operations than many other New Haven-area communities, though the town’s good fortune in attracting warehousing operations began in the aftermath of a setback.
Stop & Shop announced in 2006 that it closing its warehouse off Interstate 91’s Exit 9. But about four years later, town officials were able to convince Cheshire-based grocery distributor Bozzuto’s to open a warehouse there.
Existing warehouse space in North Haven has also proved to be an attractive draw.
Massachusetts-based Calare Properties, which frequently invests in warehouse properties across the Northeast, purchased a 175,000-square-foot warehouse at 33 Stiles Lane at the start of last year for $10.5 million. Calare officials were then able to convince chemical additives maker BYK USA to expand into some of the space in that warehouse, Freida said.
BYK, which has a facility in Wallingford, added 100 new jobs as a result of the expansion, he said.
Connecticut has proven to be an attractive warehousing market for Calare. In addition to the North Haven warehouse and another located on Pepe’s Farms Road in Milford, Calare has sought to develop two new warehouses on the same site in Wallingford.
Last year, Calare officials proposed converting the sprawling former corporate campus of Bristol-Myers Squib into a pair of large warehouses. But that proved a tough sell to Wallingford residents, though it is in a zone along Interstate 91 near Exit 15 that was specifically designed for warehousing and industrial use.
The Wallingford Planning and Zoning Commission rejected Calare’s plan late last year. Jim Manley, Calare’s vice president of economic development, said company officials are weighing the next move in terms of developing the property.
“We’re trying to find a way to make this work,” Manley said.. “This is the best location on the I-91 corridor, better than the one in North Haven (where Amazon is building) because of direct access to the highway. I’m confident we’ll come to some sort of an agreement.”
But even as company officials are formulating plans for the property, Calare is moving ahead with plans to demolish the former research and development center and other buildings on the property, Manley said.
Company officials are working to obtain necessary permits from the town to tear down the buildings. If all goes according to plan, the demolition will start in about a month, Manley said.
Wallingford Economic Development Chairman Joe Mirra said he is hopeful Calare will submit a new plan to develop the property. He said once the former pharmaceutical research facility is torn down, “our tax revenues are going to take a big hit.”
The town’s reputation in the business community could take an even bigger hit, Mirra said,
“My concern with this is if we aren’t able to reach some kind of deal, businesses that might be considering coming here will now have to take pause and ask whether we are an attractive community,” he said. “I seriously doubt that you will find somebody who wants to build an office complex there. People have to understand where we are in the world today.”
Mayor William Dickinson Jr. said in late January that town officials have estimated that one-third of the office space in Wallingford currently is vacant.


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Beauty box maker Sams Beauty Supply, based in Toronto, has launched its first store in Montreal.
The new store, located at a mall near the Saks Beauty Centre, will be a small beauty supply chain for Canadian retailers, said the company’s vice-president of business development, Michael D’Entremont.
The store will have a smaller-scale presence in the city than the Sams store, but it will offer a wider variety of products, including a selection of skin care products and fragrances, D’ENTREMONT said.
The company’s products will be made available for purchase at its store, he said.
Montreal is an “incredibly popular place” for the company to expand, said D’ENEMONT, adding that the company is looking to expand to other Canadian cities in the future.
The Montreal store is the latest addition to the Sarsbeauty line, which has locations in London, London, Ont., Toronto, and Halifax.
The Sars brand is best known for its skin care line.
Sams was founded in the mid-1990s by a pair of brothers, Ben and David Hsu, and has a presence in Europe, Asia and the United States.
The chain currently has four locations in the United Kingdom, one in Australia and two in Canada.
The brand has more than 70 products in the U.S., with more than 100 in the Canada market.
Saks is owned by the family of billionaire Louis Vuitton heir Yves Saint Laurent, who is also the founder of the cosmetics and fragrance firm Balenciaga.


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Mattel reworks China strategy amid elusive growth
Mattel Inc is doubling down to corner a bigger share of China's fragmented yet lucrative toy market, but the success of its efforts hinges on its ability to navigate strict regulation and adapt to local preferences.
The maker of Barbie dolls struck deals with Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba Group Holding Ltd and online content developer BabyTree last month to sell interactive learning products based on its Fisher-Price toys.
The deals mark a shift for Mattel, which has built its business selling Barbie and Ken dolls in brick-and-mortar stores, and highlight the pressures U.S. firms face as they try to expand in new markets with sales stagnating back home.
Alibaba's reach and China's preoccupation with education could give Mattel the thrust it needs to win over the country's so-called "tiger mothers", who aggressively push their children to be the best in school.
"Chinese parents tend to buy more educational toys, science kits and learning toys than all their counterparts in America and Europe," said Shaun Rein, managing director of��China��Market Research Group.
While Mattel has garnered a nearly 2 percent share of the estimated $31.5 billion toys and games market in China, it has been unable to replicate the success it has enjoyed in the United States.
The company's inability to gain a firmer foothold in the Chinese market is in contrast to the brisk pace of growth in the country's toy market since 2010.
China's toys and games sector expanded about 10 percent between 2010 and 2015, compared with a meager 1.7 percent increase in the United States, according to market research firm Euromonitor.
Market leader Guangdong Alpha Animation & Culture Co Ltd held 4.4 percent of the market in 2015, while Danish toymaker Lego commands a 2.8 percent share.
Mattel opened shop in China in 2002, selling Barbie dolls in regional stores, and later introduced Ling, a Barbie with black hair and traditional Chinese attire.
An aggressive push to expand in 2009 by launching a 36,000 square feet "House of Barbie" store in Shanghai, the world's largest at the time, backfired due to high costs and low sales. The company shuttered the store after just two years in operation.
The setback proved that Chinese customers preferred tailor-made products and their buying decisions were not always price driven.
"Some of the partnership push is also done to make sure that they understand right and better cater to that market," said UBS Securities analyst Arpin�� Kocharyan.
Mattel's new strategy reflects an acknowledgement of the fact that one size does not fit all, especially in China where one in every five customers prefers to shop for toys online rather than in hypermarkets and toy stores.
Regulation is another stumbling block - getting approvals for educational content is difficult in China, where government censorship is high.
Mattel isn't the only U.S. company that has struggled to navigate the Chinese market.
Wal-Mart Stores Inc sold its online grocery store Yihaodian in China last year in return for a stake in e-commerce firm JD.com Inc , saying the country's e-commerce market was hyper competitive.
Several others including Home Depot Inc , Hershey Co and Costco Wholesale Corp have also struggled in China.
For now, nearly everything is riding on Mattel's partnership with Alibaba.
"It is just one of a hundred initiatives for (Alibaba)," said Rein. "But for Mattel, it is really do or die."
(Reporting by Gayathree Ganesan and Siddharth Cavale; additional reporting by Sruthi Ramakrishnan; Editing by Sayantani Ghosh and Saumyadeb Chakrabarty)


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All sectors of the printing and converting industries have been hit by the downturn, and Intergraf, the Brussels-based Confederation of Printing Industries, is leading an EU-funded project researching the socially responsible restructuring of printing companies. Restructuring is of course generally the code word for cutting staff and closing plants, and Intergraf’s secretary general is keen to emphasize the positive aspects of the study. “Overcapacity is certainly one of the continuous problems of our industry, but the project does not only address the problem of how to cope with the current crisis and the lack of orders. We also want to address the restructuring of the companies in the sense of ‘reorientation’. This means, for instance, finding new services to satisfy customers. The project will assess development of training, re-training and conversion possibilities for employees.” A workshop for small and medium-sized printing and converting companies will be held in April 2010, and several label converters have already signed up.
A conference in Brussels in November 2010 will present the findings of the study and of the workshop.
And has all this talk of restructuring brought despondency to Europe’s label sector? Strangely, it seems not. Two major paper manufacturers, Stora Enso and UPM Raflatac, both producing label papers, announced a return to profitability in the fourth quarter of 2009. Sales, however, were still sharply down from the corresponding quarter of 2008, and both companies have seen staff reductions and other cost-cutting measures.
Cost-cutting measures are also at the heart of several major brand owners’ strategies for dealing with the downturn. One of the countries benefiting from these moves is Poland; GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) has just announced plans to shift part of its European production from France to Poznan in Poland. GSK has already invested just over €100 million in the Poznan plant since acquiring it in 1998. Moves like this have kept Poland’s label presses turning throughout 2009.
From Poland also comes news of a major new combination press installation manufactured by Nuova Gidue, and supplied to Poland’s Colorpress, a converter of wine and vodka labels. The new press combines six offset units with nearly all the possible printing technologies (flexo, screen, hot stamping, embossing…). This is not the first press sold by the Italian manufacturer’s new structure built on the rubble of the now-liquidated Gidue. It is however further evidence that Federico d’Annunzio, Nuova Gidue’s unsinkable CEO, is back in the game.
Elsewhere in Eastern and Central Europe the recovery is patchy, at best. Avery Dennison’s area manager, Josef Hayek, who knows the region’s label sector intimately, told your correspondent, “Eastern Europe has not bottomed out yet, except perhaps in Poland where there are encouraging signs – and despite that country’s high unemployment we saw lots of Polish visitors to Labelexpo Europe last year. The Russian market, which grew fastest between 2000 and 2007, has been hardest hit. Throughout the Eastern half of Europe, boom-to-slump swings have been more dramatic than in Western Europe, but their recovery is likely to be equally dramatic.”
One of the more arcane side-effects of the recent cold weather in Europe has been to sweep global warming out of the headlines. “Green” issues, however, are probably here to stay, and nowhere more than in the label industry, squeezed as it is between the hammer of consumer action groups and the anvil of European emissions-cutting legislation. Belgium-based Xeikon, which modestly describes itself as the World’s Greenest Manufacturer of Printing Equipment, is still riding the eco-bandwagon. “Many people think that sustainability begins and ends with recyclable substrates, but that’s not so,” says Xeikon’s Lode Deprez. “The printing process must conserve water and use no VOCs, and the energy use and production of waste must be drastically reduced.” Xeikon’s toner-based digital label presses certainly use no water and produce no VOCs, so there is no disputing their environmental credentials for these criteria. Xeikon says its presses consume less energy, and that any printed waste can be easily de-inked for recycling. Since January 2010, Xeikon has utilized 100 percent green power from renewable energy in its toner manufacturing operations based in Heultje, Belgium.
HP Indigo too has not been shy in publishing its “green” credentials: A recent initiative in Britain offers converters a free used-components collection service for ink developer parts, empty ink cartridges, and used imaging oil (though nothing, as yet, for used liner). It aims to reduce the impact of HP Indigo print operations on the environment and to help customers to ensure that used materials are being disposed of in an environmentally sound way, according to program manager Cecile Mesmain.
A hard pill to swallow
You’ve heard of the smart label – now meet the smart pill. Swiss pharmaceutical giant Novartis, which recently acquired the American eye-care firm Alcon, has bought licenses on drug delivery technology developed by Proteus Biomedical, a small California startup. The sci-fi idea from Proteus is that when a pill is taken, stomach fluids activate a microchip which sends a signal to a smart RFID label stuck to the patient’s body. From there the information can be transferred by mobile phone or internet to a doctor. The idea may sound fantastic, but a recent study has shown that pills taken wrongly or not at all are costing $100 billion a year in the USA alone. Philips, the Dutch electronics giant, is also working on micro-chip-enabled pills. With Europe’s governmental and private health insurers insisting on proof of a drug’s effectiveness, pharmaceutical companies could well conclude that the advantages of the smart pill outweigh its costs. At least one major European label converter is said to be working with biomedical laboratories on the smart label part of this technology.
Sugaring the pill has of course long been the way of making people swallow unpalatable medicines, but Spain’s Azucarera Ebro Guadalete, said to be the world’s second biggest sugar producer, has also turned to RFID labels to ensure traceability and increase productivity at its huge plant in Jerez. So far only shipments out of the plant are RFID-controlled. According to Belgium’s Zetes, who developed and installed the system, when the second phase is completed, RFID will make it possible to ascertain and record the origin and weight of raw materials and full details of every pallet shipped, thus ensuring optimal traceability of its entire logistical chain.
Visitors to Europe will have noticed the intimate details shown on the labels of most of the products that go down European throats – sugar and salt content, calories, allergy indications, you name it. Some countries even have “traffic light” labels to indicate whether certain things are good or bad for you.
There’s just one exception to all this: alcoholic beverages, which need only state on the label the volume and the degrees of alcohol. This state of innocence, known in France as the “exception viticole,” was craftily written into a European directive dating back to 2000. However, the end of the exception may be in sight as Europe gears up to review all its labeling regulations. Several EU countries, including Britain, Finland, Denmark, and Holland, are fiercely opposed to letting wines and spirits off the hook. As for the French, Italians and Spanish … well, you’ve guessed. The World Health Organization wants all labels to carry “Daily Nutritional Requirements,” and the wine growers’ lobby suspects, not without reason, that the WHO’s idea of optimal daily wine intake may be different from theirs. The matter is of some urgency as the draft directive will be up for debate by the European Parliament in May of this year.
The name of Franck Benoist-Gironière is not widely known in the printing and converting business, but he has won modest notoriety for his study relating the cost of printing ink to that of fine wines. An average black ink for an office printer, according to Monsieur Benoist-Gironière, works out at €1,587 per liter; color inks top the €2,000 mark. Against that, a bottle of Saint Emilion Cheval Blanc 1999 can be had for a mere €360. So you can get nearly five glasses of the finest Bordeaux Grand Cru for less than the cost of one glass of ink.
If that doesn’t distress you, maybe you’re in the wrong business.


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SAN FRANCISCO – JUNE 07: Apple CEO Steve Jobs holds the new iPhone 4 after he delivered the opening keynote address at the 2010 Apple World Wide Developers conference June 7, 2010 in San Francisco, California. Jobs kicked off their annual WWDC with the announcement of the new iPhone 4. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
Have you ever wanted to know more about Steve Job’s death? Now you can via the latest episode of Reelz’s hit series ‘Autopsy: The Last Hours Of…’.
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Everyone who has ever owned an iPod or an iPhone knows who Steve Jobs is. Whether or not you hate being addicted to needing every new phone, or paying insane amounts of money for a MacBook, you know who Steve Jobs is. The Apple brand has been around since the mid-seventies and was the first company to give people the personal computer. The brand, and Jobs, have been known for making strides in computers, and electronics in general.
Many movies have come out about Jobs, including the famous Jobs, staring Ashton Kutcher playing the experienced businessman. But no one has really gone into the depths of what we all want to know, but never talk about. Not just the elephant in the room, but everywhere for people who knew Jobs. How a man’s life could be taken so young, at the tender age of 56. His death rocked the world, the electronic world, as well as everyone who knew him. Their lives would never be the same.
On October 5, 2011, Jobs died of pancreatic cancer, despite the fact that his cancer not always terminal. Forensic pathologist Dr. Michael Hunter is on the hunt to find out what might have been done to save the technological genius.
“Steve Jobs ignored medical advice, and waited nine months to get the surgery he needed to rid himself of cancer that was growing in his pancreas,” states Dr. Michael Hunter in our exclusive clip from tonight’s new episode of Reelz’s hit series Autopsy: The Last Hours Of… – which looks to explore the death of the tech icon.
9 years prior to when he died, in August of 2004, Steve Jobs went to Stanford University Medical Center and was diagnosed, two weeks later, he was recovering from a surgery. The pancreas, which helps digest food and absorb nutrients, had been cut in half to help rid cancer. With the new problems, the doctors told Jobs to go on a diet of meat and dairy, but since he had been a vegan since his early twenties, it was a challenge.
He had no idea that if he had followed the challenge, and doctor’s advice, he could have lived to see his legacy lived on.


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Our annual business publication Double the Vision gives an insight into the economic and political developments in both countries.
Auckland, August 2018 - The German-New Zealand Chamber of Commerce (GNZCC) is pleased to announce the release of the 12th edition of our bilingual trade magazine "Double the Vision".
"On behalf of the GNZCC Executive Committee, it is my pleasure to extend to you a very warm welcome to this edition of Double the Vision Recent confirmation that the EU will begin negotiating a free trade agreement with New Zealand is welcome news. There will be substantial gains for business through the FTA and the German Chamber will be keeping members and associates informed as negotiations progress. Germany, the powerhouse of the EU with a reported €235 billion current account surplus in 2017 has been a strong supporter in the lead-up to these FTA negotiations. With over 130 German Subsidiaries in New Zealand, this Chamber has a prominent role to play in terms of advocacy for inclusion of specific clauses in areas that provide mutual benefits for both countries generally and our members specifically. Areas such as the streamlining of processes around overseas investment, protection of intellectual property, mutual recognition of professional and trade qualifications and in product standards, to name just a few. These are exciting times to be involved in business between our two countries and I am confident we can look forward to an even more positive outlook in the years ahead." Jim Bibby President of the German-New Zealand Chamber of Commerce.
Enjoy reading this year's edition!


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In a surprise move, Universal Orlando made all of the Chance themed Halloween Horror Nights 26 merchandise visible in their online store overnight. It’s unclear if this was intentional.
Halloween Horror Nights 26 merchandise is scheduled to go on sale in a dedicated store near Universal Studios Florida’s Revenge of the Mummy on Wednesday, September 14. Annual Passholders will have exclusive access to the store from 9am to 12pm. At noon the store will open for the public.
Chance is this year’s icon, after spending multiple years acting alongside beloved icon Jack the Clown. Universal put 12 different Chance themed HHN 26 merchandise items on their website, even including socks.
Orlando Informer sources tell us this is only a portion of the Halloween Horror Nights 26 merchandise lineup, which will also include items that show off the event’s lineup of intellectual properties. This includes The Walking Dead, The Exorcist, Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Krampus, American Horror Story, and Halloween. There will also be a Annual Passholder Exclusive Pin ($7.95) and T-Shirt ($24.95).
Continue below for a full list of the Halloween Horror Nights 26 merchandise released, including pictures!
Halloween Horror Nights 26 kicks off Friday, September 16. Want to stand a chance? Visit the world’s most popular, free HHN.Guide! Stick with Orlando Informer for continuing coverage of Horror Nights and Universal Orlando.


text: Funeral service price comparison website Beyond, formally known as Funeralbooker, has announced an investment round of \u00a32m.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nThe company said that it will use this investment to drive customer acquisition for its growing portfolio of after life services and the launch of its rebranded website.\r\n\r\nThe funding round was led by Talis Capital, a London-based venture capital firm, focused on early-stage technology companies. Beyond\u2019s existing investors, including White Cloud Capital, also participated in the round.\r\n\r\nBeyond began offering customers funeral director price comparison services and has now partnered with over 1,000 independent funeral directors in the UK, representing around 30 percent of independent directors. From there, the company expanded its service offering to include funeral financing, estate administration and funeral pre-plans.\r\n\r\nMost recently in March, the company launched a new product that allows anyone in England or Wales to write a simple will for free online.\r\n\r\nThis round of funding for Beyond comes as the UK government announced an investigation into the funeral sector, following the publication of a short-sell report from Beyond on Dignity, which is generally held responsible by commentators for wiping over 60 percent (\u00a31bn) from Dignity\u2019s Market Cap.\r\n\r\nIan Strang, founder and CEO of Beyond, said: "The funeral market has long failed the consumer and we\u2019re hard at work fixing it. If even five percent of people arranging a funeral or writing a will used our services, the annual saving would be over \u00a31bn. This funding round will give us the ability to get our message out there to the public and change attitudes about shopping around for what is, after all, an inevitable purchase for us all."\r\n\r\n"It\u2019s great to have an investor like Talis involved because of their deep expertise in the technology sector and experience of working with consumer-facing brands, as well as to enjoy the continued support of White Cloud."\r\n\r\nVasile Foca, managing partner at Talis, added: "Beyond is a dynamic business with a truly unique proposition, which offers consumers transparency and choice in an often-opaque marketplace. With its innovative platform and inspiring leadership team, we believe that Beyond will continue to go from strength to strength, and we are delighted to partner with them as they embark on their next phase of growth."


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A Nottingham baker who had to make the difficult decision of closing their business has spoken out about how she’s now living her “happy ending” after a local confectionary company employed her. As the cost of living continues to rise there has been further emphasis on how important independent businesses are.
Fran Jesson, 30 alongside a business partner opened their multipurpose studio space of retail and a cake-making business last November, Butter+Sugar. It was described as a “feel-good” shop which was on Avenue C of Sneinton Market .
Now Fran gets to bake in the same studio on Avenue C after being employed as the Bakery Project Manager for the Treat Kitchen which is based in Victoria Centre . Jess Barnett, the brand director for the Treat Kitchen contacted Fran after she announced the closure of the shop earlier this year.
Fran said: “It was a difficult decision closing Sugarberry and as cliche as it sounds when one door closes another door opens. I had worked with Treat Kitchen before but had I not made the tough decision none of this would have happened.
“Unfortunately, many people don’t get those happy endings.” Fran has now been employed with the Treat Kitchen for just under two months.
She continued and said: “It’s the perfect combination, the two go hand in hand, baking and confectionery.” Now, Fran has a cake counter in the Treat Kitchen.
Fran added: “It’s amazing, I can’t have wished for anything better. I was sad about the idea of not being at Sneinton Market.
“A focus with my previous business was talking about mental health and when you're feeling rubbish it's hard to feel creative but now, I can give as much gusto as possible.”
In September 2022, the Energy Relief Scheme was announced. The government scheme will help some businesses, giving them energy bill discounts.
Fran spoke about whether or not she thought there’s been enough support for businesses. She said: “There isn’t enough support for small businesses, energy bills have hit a lot of people and there was a lot of support over Covid but this [the cost of living] is a domino effect and it impacts everyone. Budgets are tighter and there's only so much selection some business can provide as they can’t afford to have waste.
“Independent businesses are resilient, being in a position where I can be in Sneinton Market in an independent area with little gems is great. Independent businesses need to be celebrated and supported otherwise in a few years, they won’t be here.”
Jess Barnett, brand director spoke about how Jess has “injected joy” into the Treat Kitchen. Jess, 39 said: “Fran has brought a creative wave to the company in a busy time of year where everyones feeling wintery and it’s been wonderful, the baking workshops are going down a storm.” Jess saw Fran’s announcement that she was closing her business on social media.
Jess continued and said: “We were thinking we need someone to help and introduce baking to the consumer and with Fran there’s so many overlaps and shared interests to bring on and link to the Treat Kitchen
“The environment right now is tough but Fran has injected joy into the company, she’s a fresh pair of eyes and a real asset and has opened us up to a new audience.” Jess mentioned that Fran has also put the Treat Kitchen with more of the independent business community.
“Independent businesses make things with love and are creative. That's why Fran is such a fit for our business.”


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Eco-Handbags.ca celebrates its 15-year partnership with 1% For the Planet
Eco-Handbags.ca, an online boutique selling handbags and other accessories, home decor, jewellery, and more, made from recycled or eco-friendly materials, has been donating 1% of its annual sales to support non-profit organizations focused on the environment since 2006.
“Eco-Handbags.ca’s very core is the belief in the conservation and preservation of our Mother Earth. We are excited to be part of the 1% network and work with other member companies to be a driving force for positive environmental change. This partnership has been an extension of the giving back that we have been committed since our company has existed.” says Marisa Ramondo, founder of Eco-Handbags.ca.
Members of 1% for the Planet contribute one percent of annual sales directly to any of the approved non-profit environmental organizations in the network. Non-profits are approved based on referrals, track record and environmental focus. Thousands of non-profits worldwide are currently approved.
“Our member companies have donated more than $175 million to our environmental non-profit partners to date. Currently, only 3% of total philanthropy goes to the environment and, only 3% of that comes from businesses. The planet needs bigger support than this, and our growing network of member businesses is doing its valuable part to increase giving and support on the ground outcomes. Our members lead with purpose and commitment, characteristics that consumers support. We’re excited to welcome Eco-Handbags.ca to our global network,” says Kate Williams, CEO of 1% for the Planet.
“When we are not in the office, we are outdoors growing our own vegetables, tending our flower garden, hiking in a forest nearby, biking along the lake or just enjoying nature in our backyard,” says Marisa. “Giving back to the planet that feeds our souls is a natural part of the Eco-Handbags.ca ethos. We are proud to have been members of 1% for the Planet for the last 15 years and hope to continue to help leave the environment in an even better place for future generation.”
Eco-Handbags.ca is a one-of-a-kind online retail store that offers a collection of chic, unique and eco-fashionable handbags made out of recycled and eco-friendly materials.
Based in Montreal, Quebec, Eco-Handbags.ca was launched in the fall of 2006 to satisfy the ever-growing need of consumers to reduce their ecological foot print. Consumers are more passionate about helping the environment and are increasingly concerned at how our planet is slowly depleting its resources. Every year, there are tons of reusable products that are dumped in landfills that can easily be refurbished and transformed into renewable consumer products.
Over the years, as customers continually asked for more green products, Eco-Handbags.ca, started adding a variety of eco-friendly products including jewellery, personal reusable hand towels, produce bags, reusable water bottles, reusable shopping & everyday bags and so much more for the entire family.
Visit Eco-Handbags.ca to learn more.
About 1% for the Planet
1% for the Planet is a global organization that connects dollars and doers to accelerate smart environmental giving. We recognize that the current level of environmental giving – only 3% of total philanthropy – is not enough to solve the most pressing issues facing our planet.
Through our business and individual membership, 1% for the Planet inspires people to support environmental organizations through annual membership and everyday actions. We advise on giving strategies, we certify donations, and we amplify the impact of the network.
1% for the Planet was established in 2002 by Yvon Chouinard, founder of Patagonia, and Craig Mathews, founder of Blue-Ribbon Flie. Today, it is a network of more than 1,200 member businesses, a new and expanding core with hundreds of individual members, and thousands of non-profit partners in more than 60 countries.
Visit www.onepercentfortheplanet.org to learn more.


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The Nikkei 225 ended up 0.70% at 16,519.29 and the Topix closed up 0.80% at 1,311.50. Japanese stocks had risen on Friday after five days of losses amid nervousness about the Bank of Japan's policy meeting on Wednesday. Banking stocks had been particularly hard hit, on expectations the central bank would push its deposit rate further into negative territory.
On Monday Sumitomo Mitsui Trust closed up 5.6%.
Mitsubishi UFJ Financial closed up 2.7% and Sumitomo Mitsui Financial gained 2.4%.
Apple supplier Alps Electric led the Nikkei 225 higher, gaining 6.3% on analysts' commentary about strong sales of the new iPhone 7 and the costlier 7-Plus, which have been aided by the recall of Samsung's Galaxy Note 7. On Thursday Apple said initial 7-Plus supplies have sold out, along with those of jet black iPhone 7 models, and that the devices won't initially be available for walk-in customers at Apple stores.
(Apple is a core holding of Jim Cramer's charitable trust Action Alerts PLUS. See all of his holding with a free trialhere.)
Taiwanese chip maker Hon Hai Precision Industry (HNHPF) closed up 3.9%, while Advanced Semiconductor Engineering was up 3.3% in Taipei.
Australian legal firm Slater & Gordon edged 0.6% higher during a chopping Sydney session during which trading had to be halted because of technical problems at the Australian Securities Exchange.
Slater & Gordon said it would sue the U.K.'s Watchstone over last year's £673 million ($878 million) acquisition of the U.K group's professional services division , which triggered steep write-downs and a restructuring of its debt.
U.S. futures were up, with the Dow Jones mini gaining 0.42% and the S&P 500 mini up 0.40%.
In Hong Kong the Hang Seng was up 0.91% at 23,549.07.
On mainland China the CSI 300 was up 0.60% at 3,258.42.
Oil rose, with West Texas intermediate recently up 1.74% at $43.78 a barrel. The commodity gained on shipment problems at Libya's ports and a Sunday tweet from Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro claiming OPEC will reach an output cap at a meeting in Algeria later this month.
In Sydney the S&P/ASX 200 was down 0.04% at 5,294.80.


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This article is part of our special report Packaging recycling.
Getting enough volume is the first challenge for recyclers when it comes to dealing with lightweight packaging such as crisp packets and food wrappers. To boost quantities and make recycling worthwhile, the European Commission is looking at ways of harmonising waste collection across the EU.
The EU executive wants to ensure that “all packaging on the EU market is reusable or recyclable in an economically viable way by 2030” – an objective that will be reflected in the upcoming revision of the EU’s packaging and packaging waste directive, expected in July.
To get to 100%, the European Commission is looking at all possible waste streams, even “flexible multilayer composite packaging,” which are considered difficult to recycle, according to a preliminary assessment of the directive’s revision.
Flexible packaging like crisp packets and food wrappers are notoriously difficult to recycle, because they are so lightweight that massive quantities of it are needed for recycling to be worthwhile.
“The value for recyclers is low, there aren’t many buyers for it,” says Joachim Quoden, managing director of the non-profit Extended Producer Responsibility Alliance (Expra), which brings together packaging recovery organisations owned by the obliged industry.
“It’s also because of insufficient volumes – flexible packaging is not collected separately in most European countries,” said Justine Maillot from the Rethink Plastic Alliance, an environmental group.
The extreme variety of packaging types doesn’t help either. “If there are 100 different kinds of flexible packaging, how can we possibly sort them out in a financially viable way?” Quoden asks.
To make things worse, flexible packaging also tends to be “quite heavy in inks and additives,” which need to be removed, making it more costly to recycle, Maillot adds.
These economic and technical barriers to recycling flexible packaging were identified in a 2018 study by ETH Zurich university. And they tend to reinforce each other: as recycling is economically unattractive today, there are few incentives to address the technical barriers like ink contamination.
As a result, recyclers tend to focus on the more valuable, heavier waste such as PET bottles and other rigid packaging, while flexible packaging usually ends up in landfill or incinerators.
But with higher EU recycling targets on the horizon, the industry is chasing economies of scale to drive the business case for recycling the lightweight stuff as well.
They are helped by the fact that flexible packaging is incredibly plentiful. Flexible packaging represents “at least half of food primary packaging placed on the EU market (in product units) while accounting for only one sixth of packaging material used (in weight),” according to a cross-industry position paper published in November.
Making flexible packaging recyclable by design is one of the key solutions that industry is currently looking into. If flexible packaging becomes more standardised, and the variety of wrappers is brought down to four or five different types, then volume and weight will increase as well, supporting the economic case for recycling.
“You need volume in order to find a recycler who is willing to take that kind of material,” Quoden explains. “If we have four or five different sorts, I think we can then have enough volume so that recycling makes sense, both economically and environmentally speaking,” he said.
Ramping up collection
But the first step to secure more volumes of flexible packaging waste is to improve collection.
“In a circular economy, all flexible packaging needs to be collected so that it is available for sorting and recycling,” says CEFLEX, a coalition bringing together 170 European companies, associations and organisations representing the entire value chain of flexible packaging.
“This requires a significant increase in the collection of flexible packaging across Europe,” the coalition says.
To maximise recycling, municipalities must ensure separate collection of different waste streams such as paper/cardboard, organic waste, plastic and glass, CEFLEX says.
However, EU countries are dragging their feet when it comes to implementing EU waste legislation. In November, the Commission sent letters of formal notice to Bulgaria, Croatia, Greece, Romania and Slovakia to improve their treatment of waste.
Romania was also dragged before the European Court of Justice for failing to comply with a court order to meet its obligations under the EU Landfill Directive. Three years after the judgment, 42 landfills are still not closed, the Commission complained.
“A first step is for all EU countries to fully implement existing EU waste legislation,” Qudoen insists. “It’s as stupid and easy as it sounds: if a country is not implementing what has been agreed, then of course, it will be ages behind the other EU member states.”
According to Quoden, “nearly half” of EU countries are currently not fulfilling waste targets, not only for packaging but also for municipal waste in general, including Malta and Hungary.
“So that’s for me the most important thing before we discuss new legislation. Some member states need to do their job.”
There are positive signs as well. In recent years, more EU countries such as France and Belgium have started collecting lightweight packaging as part of increased recycling efforts.
In Belgium, the types of waste that can be thrown in the so-called “blue bag” was recently extended to all types of plastic, including flexible packaging. Belgian residents and small businesses can now put around 14 types of plastic into their blue bags.
And consumers seem to be on board. “The quality is good,” said Patrick Laevers, managing director at Belgian recycling scheme Fost Plus. “Only 5% of the contents do not belong in it,” he told the Brussels Times, a local newspaper.
“The New Blue Bag is a unique opportunity to develop a local circular packaging economy, with new sorting centres and recycling capacity for plastics here in Belgium,” the company says on its website.
Sorting it out
The Belgium example illustrates the close connection between collection and sorting. In an ideal world, sorting is done upstream by consumers before waste is collected by municipalities and sent to a recycling facility.
But even though collection of flexible packaging is now commonplace, it is not a guarantee that it will be recycled in the end.
“If you collect flexible packaging with other types of waste, then you have to separate it from the rest, which is a challenge and adds to the costs,” says Justine Maillot from the Rethink Plastic Alliance
“Another challenge relates to consumers: even though you might tell them to recycle of bring their packaging to a collection point, it might still not be recycled in the end because it has so little value. This is confusing for the consumers because at the moment, this waste is either exported, incinerated or landfilled.”
More fundamentally, a well functioning collection system for recycling flexible packaging “requires the collaboration of industry, legislators, local authorities and consumers,” according to CEFLEX.
And parts of that chain may not always work as intended. Even in a county like Germany, which is seen as a European leader on recycling, local authorities tend to be overwhelmed by the diversity of waste collection schemes.
“The big problem is usually that the municipalities don’t have enough money or don’t want to ask more money from their residents to run a proper waste collection infrastructure,” explained Quoden. And “the competences that were given to the respective industries” tend to complicate the matter further, he adds.
To boost recycling of flexible packaging, one of the keys therefore is to improve sorting after collection. And “since a relevant proportion of flexible packaging may remain in the mixed solid waste stream, the additional sorting of flexible packaging from the mixed waste is necessary,” notes CEFLEX.
Sorting is a costly activity, which is currently performed by “mostly small players with relatively low profit margins,” says the 2018 form ETH Zurich. As such, facilities either tend to rely on government support or are structured as state-owned monopolies.
Eventually, technology might come to the rescue. “The quality of the sorting needs to increase,” says Quoden. “That’s one of the reasons behind the Holy Grail project: we need additional technology to sort them in a better way.”
As part of the “Holy Grail 2.0” project, the industry is working towards invisible barcodes that sorting machines can scan in order to sort waste. “Near infrared sorting technology is fantastic, but we need even more. This might be by polysecure and marker technologies, or by digital watermarking, who knows. Let’s see who will win this race,” Quoden says.
Extending the “polluter pays” principle
To finance the collection and recycling of waste, the European Commission aims to expand existing approaches such as extended producer responsibility (EPR) schemes, which are based on the “polluter pays” principle.
“Extended producer responsibility is the idea to make those who are putting a product or packaging on the market responsible for its end of life,” Quoden explained in a December 2020 interview with EURACTIV. “This is partly a financial obligation, and very often it’s an operational obligation as well. And it forces producers to think of the end of life while designing their product, because it makes after life treatment cheaper.”
EPR is a concept enshrined in EU law but it is only mandatory at the moment for electronic waste. By 2024, however, it will be extended to all packaging.
Under existing EPR schemes, producers generally contribute the same fee regardless of how much they pollute. This is likely to change in the future, with EPR fees varying based on how much manufacturers contribute to pollution.
This so-called “eco-modulation of EPR fees” is expected to become the norm under the EU’s revised packaging and packaging waste directive that the Commission will table in July.
“In the future you will have a fee per subcategory: a special fee for bottles, for film, and so on. It will be much more differentiated than today. And some member states may differentiate between the best performers and the worst,” Quoden explained in an interview with EURACTIV.
Eco-modulation can penalise or reward producers based on the environmental performance of their products measured in terms of recyclability, recycling rate, reusability and percentage of recycled content.
By making the fees variable, the European Commission hopes to offer the right incentives to boost collection and recycling of flexible packaging.
And to simplify things further, one of the Commission’s ideas is to introduce a harmonised colour code for waste disposal bags across Europe. According to the Commission, this would put an end to consumer confusion about where the waste goes and make it easier to trade sorted waste across borders.
“There may also be an indirect positive impact on the administration of extended producer responsibility fee modulation if certain of its elements can be addressed in a harmonised way at EU level,” the Commission writes in its draft impact assessment of the PPWD review.
[Edited by Frédéric Simon]


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Steve Jobs isn't exactly well-like for his comments on other business
leaders in the tech industry, but the late Apple founder did apparently
have an appreciation for Mark Zuckerberg, the 28-year-old founder of
According to Business Insider, Jobs’s official biographer Walter Isaacson, states that the reason Apple didn’t “crack the code on social” was largely because of Facebook’s success. Here's what Isaacson had to say about the late Apple CEO's stance on Zuckerberg:
Maybe because Mark (Zuckerberg) did it so well. There’s not a need for a whole lot of social networks and Facebook has got it licked.
Isaacson says that Jobs admired Zuckerberg’s “intuitive feel”, and felt that Zuckerberg was willing to “do stuff that allows him to be on shifting sands — his willing to cannibalize old things. He felt an odd kinship to Mark.”
The only time Apple attempted to go social was the introduction in 2010 of Ping, a music-oriented social network. Apple has since been worked closely with Facebook and with Twitter to integrate their services into iOS.
New Balance and Horween Leather Company teamed up for another collaborative release dubbed The Horween Leather x New Balance M996BHR. It uses the M995BHR silhouette and wraps it in Horween's signature waxy and supple leather materials and features a deep burgundy leather upper with tanned brown accents throughout and will release on March 2 at New Balance stockists. Read more
DKNY and PONY teamed up to reimagine PONY's M-100 sneaker and gave it a luxurious makeover for modern times. The high-top shoe will be available at PONY retailers starting July 3 and will retail for $250 USD. Read more


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Gossy Ukanwoke, founder of BAU Research and Development has been selected to participate in the Ernst and Young (EY) Accelerating Entrepreneurs program.
According to a news release
EY World Entrepreneur Of The Year is a business award for entrepreneurs. It encourages entrepreneurial activity among those with potential and it aims at fuelling entrepreneurial growth while giving participants a platform to take their businesses to the next level.
Bryan Pearce, Global Leader, EY Entrepreneur Of The Year and Venture Capital, said, “The EY World Entrepreneur of the Year event brings together some of the world’s finest and most accomplished entrepreneurs, many of whom have grown to become global market leaders.”
The six participants will receive mentoring from “Growth Coaches” at EY World Entrepreneur Of The Year, where they will network with leading entrepreneurs from around the world.
The Entrepreneur Of The Year program cuts across more than 145 cities in 60 countries.
The event is slated to hold between from June 3 to 7 in Monaco.


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New Jersey media outlets are hosting a virtual job fair to help the state’s adult-use cannabis industry fill thousands of new job positions.
Garden State voters legalized adult-use cannabis retail sales back in 2020, but it took years for the state to finally get its recreational retail market off the ground. And in keeping with the theme of endless delays, the state didn't get around to authorizing its first recreational sales until April 21 – the day after 4/20, the pretty-much-official stoner holiday.
In order to address potential supply chain issues, state regulators awarded the first 13 adult-use retail licenses to existing medical cannabis producers and dispensaries. Last Thursday, twelve of these shops opened for business, and despite long lines and delays, were able to meet the massive demand for legal bud. As the year rolls on, the state hopes to award over a hundred additional adult-use licenses to growers, processors, and retailers.
And as these new businesses start opening their doors, the demand for weed workers will also grow. According to a recent report from Leafly, New Jersey's legal weed industry already employs 3,146 full-time workers, a 24 percent increase over the 785 jobs offered in 2021. New adult-use businesses will create thousands of new jobs as the market matures, including growers, trimmers, processors, lab technicians, compliance and finance officers, budtenders, and more.
The Cannabis Insider Live Virtual Job Fair, hosted by NJ.com and New Jersey Cannabis Insider, is offering prospective weed industry workers a chance to connect with new employers. Job seekers will be able to upload their resumes, browse online exhibitor booths, and chat live with recruiters who are looking to fill upcoming vacancies. Applicants can chat with recruiters from April 26 to April 27, and the virtual exhibition booths will remain online until May 26. At least 200 people are expected to join the event.
“The sooner that you get revenue going through adult-use dispensaries, the more people are going to hire and the more impact you’re going to have,” explained Sloane Barbour, partner at cannabis recruiting agency FlowerHire, to NJ Cannabis Insider. “Every million dollars in legalized cannabis sold in a state creates between 14 and 18 jobs. And in New Jersey, that means you’re going to have 30,000 to 40,000 jobs created based on those numbers, and 60 to 80,000 in New York.”
As of this January, the US cannabis industry employed over 428,000 full-time workers, according to Leafly and Whitney Economics' most recent annual job report. The industry added around 280 jobs a day last year, up 33 percent from 2020, and job growth is tipped to expand even faster this year. In addition to New Jersey, New Mexico also kicked off its adult-use retail industry this month, and Connecticut, New York, and Vermont might just get around to launching their recreational pot markets in 2022 as well.