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Holzweiler secures significant investment from Sequoia Capital China
Contemporary Norwegian fashion and lifestyle brand Holzweiler has secured backing from venture firm Sequoia Capital China, supported by Carnegie Investment Banking, to help accelerate its global ambitions.
The family-run label, founded in 2012 by siblings Andreas and Susanne Holzweiler, said that the strategic partnership with Sequoia Capital China would accelerate and up-scale Holzweiler’s direct-to-consumer business internationally. The brand will utilise its new owner’s digital knowledge, global reach and resources to expand in key territories including the UK, US and China.
The investment will also be used to expand its bricks-and-mortar business with new physical retail experiences, including a new flagship opening in Copenhagen in October 2022 and its first London outpost in spring 2023. These will add to its existing six stores, including the fashion, beauty and furniture concept-store Holzweiler multibrand store.
It will also continue to build up its international wholesale network, which currently comprises some of the biggest luxury retailers in the world, including Net-A-Porter, Browns Fashion, Ssense, Neiman Marcus, and Galeries Lafayette China, and a fine-dining restaurant in the heart of Oslo.
Sequoia Capital China acquires majority stake in Holzweiler
Since its launch, Holzweiler has become synonymous with conscious practice and material innovation and has quickly established itself as a cult favourite in Scandinavia. Originally gaining attention with its silk, lambswool and cashmere scarf collections, the brand expanded to ready-to-wear in 2014.
Key categories for the brand include outerwear and knitwear, which have helped establish the brand international and contributed to its significant growth over the past three years of nearly 60 percent revenue CAGR.
The financial terms of the deal were not disclosed, Holzweiler said that while Sequoia Capital China have acquired a majority stake in the label, the Holzweiler family, including Andreas (chief executive), Susanne (chief commercial officer) and Maria (creative director) will retain a minority stake.
“We're incredibly proud to partner with the team at Sequoia China - this is a milestone moment for us and marks the beginning of a kind of 'Holzweiler 2.0,’ said the Holzweiler family in a statement. “From the outset, the conversation with Sequoia China felt symbiotic - they intrinsically understand what we're trying to achieve: a careful balance of vibrant growth and sustainable momentum."
Holzweiler to open London flagship in 2023 following investment from Sequoia Capital China
Holzweiler will join Sequoia Capital China’s fashion portfolio, which includes Parisian brand Ami and South Korean contemporary brand We11done, as well as luxury e-commerce company Ssense and Parisian women's ready-to-wear and accessories brand Destree.
Angelica Cheung, venture partner at Sequoia Capital China, added: "Holzweiler has a perfect mixture of quality, design, and a modern lifestyle approach. They have been exceptionally humble and understated; despite their incredibly dynamic business position.
“We believe they have a huge opportunity to expand to other parts of the world, especially at a time when audiences value nature, the outdoors and human connection more than ever before. Sequoia China will be supporting the family - with all our resources - along the way.”
The news of Sequoia Capital China’s investment comes ahead of Holzweiler showcasing its most ambitious catwalk show to date during Copenhagen Fashion Week on August 10. The project will see Holzweiler collaborating with a vibrant line-up of next-generation creatives, including movement director Yagamoto, producer and recording artist Yves Tomas, and stylist Celestine Cooney.


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Beyond the Bag Challenge reveals nine winners: “No single answer” to plastic bag pollution crisis
19 Feb 2021 --- The nine winners of US-based investment firm Closed Loop Partners’ Beyond the Bag Challenge are ChicoBag, Domtar, Eon, Fill it Forward, Goatote, PlasticFri, Returnity, SmartC and Sway.
Funded with US$15 million, the competition took off last July, prompting “suppliers, designers and problem-solvers” to submit environmentally sustainable design solutions and standard plastic bag alternatives.
“The nine winners represent a suite of solutions because there is no one answer,” Katy Daly, managing director at the Center for the Circular Economy at Closed Loop Partners, tells PackagingInsights.
“For years, there have been efforts to solve the single-use plastic bag global waste challenge, but there is still no industry-wide environmentally friendly solution that fully caters to the needs of the customer.”
The champions’ work ranges from reusable packaging systems to sustainability-incentivizing technology and bags derived from seaweed or agricultural waste.
The winners now enter the next phase of the initiative: working closely with the consortium to prototype, refine and test the viability of their designs as scalable long-term solutions.
Plastic bag rethink
Closed Loop Partners initiated the three-year Beyond the Bag consortium with CVS Health, Target and Walmart. Since last year, the consortium has welcomed ten additional partners, including Dick’s Sporting Goods, The TJX Companies and Walgreens.
“Stay-at-home mandates from many governments and work-from-home company policies are driving the growth of e-commerce and digitization, while consumer habits shifted almost overnight,” Daly details.
“This shake-up in retail norms presents the ideal moment for reinventing the single-use plastic bag. If there was ever a time to rethink the status quo of our retail system, it is now.”
And the winners are…
Over 450 innovators from around the world submitted their ideas on how to reinvent the retail plastic bag. The consortium then selected a shortlist of 58 concepts, from which it chose its winning cohort.
The winning plastic bag solutions fall into three categories: Reuse and Refill; Enabling Technology; and Innovative Materials.
Reuse and Refill
ChicoBag produces reusable bags, packs and totes designed for shopping, travel, organization and outdoor activities. ChicoBag further eliminates a common pain point for consumers: remembering to bring the reusable bag. Their service enables customers to borrow bags on-site as part of the sharing economy.
Goatote’s kiosk system allows consumers to access clean, reusable bags anywhere a kiosk is found. Consumers can download the Goatote app and scan a QR code to access the Goatote kiosk. After taking a reusable bag, users have 30 days to return them. Goatote collects, disinfects and quality checks the bags before they enter circulation again.
For online shoppers using pick-up services, Returnity designs and manufactures reusable shipping bags and boxes for products already on the market. It provides an e-commerce and delivery packaging system that replaces non-recyclable poly-mailers with boxes, garment bags and mailer bags made of cloth.
Specialized in the Internet of Things (IoT), Eon developed the CircularID Protocol, allowing brands to power circular and connected business models for a transparent tracking system and understand how bags are being utilized across the value chain.
Fill it Forward created a tag and app that connects to the reusable bag consumers already own. Every time a Reuse Tracker is scanned with the Fill it Forward app, users’ environmental impact is recorded and funds are donated to charitable projects worldwide.
SmartC, a tag solution co-created by 99Bridges and Envision Charlotte, is powered by the IoT to incentivize shoppers with rewards in a fun way every time they reuse their shopping bags. When participants take their SmartC bag into any participating retailer, they are rewarded with points and “the knowledge they have reduced the amount of single-use bags in the world.”
Domtar is developing a new bio-based, recyclable material of 100 percent cellulose fiber but with stretchable and more durable properties.
PlasticFri transforms agricultural waste, non-edible plants and other renewable resources into valuable bio-based products. Its Starch-Based Compostable Bag offers a new bag alternative for consumers.
Sway creates replacements for traditional plastic derived from seaweed. Its bags are bio-based, compostable and designed to be carbon-negative.
Winners will receive a portion of US$1 million in prize money and are eligible for additional financial support to support testing, piloting and scaling efforts.
Depending upon the type of solution, they will either be invited to join the Circular Accelerator or begin product testing to hone performance and customer experience.
The consortium will work closely with winning solutions throughout 2021, supporting prototyping, mentoring, and iterative developments toward piloting select solutions in-market.
Each winning bag design in the Beyond the Bag Challenge brings a unique approach to bringing goods home, concludes Daly, and together they can help pave the way for “larger, industry-wide sustainable change.”
In celebration of the 11th annual Plastic Bag Free Day last year, PackagingInsights delved into calls for the European Commission to implement more stringent plastic bag legislation.
By Anni Schleicher
To contact our editorial team please email us at email@example.com
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“What if we made banking social and fun?”
That’s the challenge that inspired the creation of Flyp, which integrates social networking, gamification, and rewards into a banking-as-a-service app.
As a digital banking and wallet provider, Flyp saw an opportunity to attract, engage and retain customers with challenges and quests.
A strategic partner of Flyp, Galileo is a strong believer in Flyp’s innovation in user experiences and embedded financial solutions as a way of building customer loyalty.
Galileo sat down with Flyp Founder and CEO BJ McAndrews to discuss the vision and inspiration behind the digital banking app, the market gap it is filling, and how Galileo is helping to solve Flyp’s compliance and fraud prevention needs.
Flyp’s purpose is to make managing finances fun, social and rewarding for anyone looking for a different and accessible experience in banking solutions.
Founders: BJ McAndrews and Gary Zukowski
Founded in 2020 by veteran Wall Street banker BJ McAndrews and serial tech-entrepreneur Gary Zukowski, Flyp officially launched in March 2022 after building out the platform and conducting extensive beta testing. The app is a new option for anyone who is looking for something different than their current banking experience.
Location: Charlotte, North Carolina
What They Do:
Flyp makes banking engaging and accessible through gamified rewards, sweepstakes, challenges, and quests. As a banking-as-a-service app, they offer a digital wallet with debit card and direct deposit functionality, free overdraft protection, and financial literacy education. The app has no hidden fees, and an engaging rewards program offering up to 110% cashback, making it an attractive and interactive option for those looking for perks in their banking.
“We chose Galileo as they are best in breed,” said McAndrews. “The people, the technology, where they were, and where they are going were all factors. We are excited to dig into Galileo’s Dynamic Fraud Engine and operational fraud expertise, as it matches very well with our view and what we can do.”
Customers who use Flyp will find an engaging banking solution that combines minimal fee options with the seamless digital first experience they have come to expect. “Flyp is Financially Liberating People,” said McAndrews. “When you look at the current financial landscape, it has become a one size fits all, and that excludes a large percentage of U.S. consumers. Some can’t afford many of the available options, others don’t trust the traditional solutions, and many want a better user experience, like they have grown accustomed to in sectors such as media, music and gaming. Flyp is here to be that destination.”
How Banks Are Leveraging Anti-Fraud Tech to Fight Fraud
Payments fraud is on the rise in 2023, presenting a growing threat to banks and their customers. Learn how FIs are leveraging anti-fraud technology and new industry alliances to address this challenge.
Experian and Galileo Help Consumers Build Credit without the Debt
As the world’s leading global information services company, Experian is focused on filling this void–and Galileo Financial Technologies is helping the company achieve that goal.
4 Ways Your FI Can Deliver Customer-Centric Banking in 2024
Siloed models and disconnected journeys lead to missed opportunities for FIs. Here's how a smarter, tech-based approach in customer-centric banking can create longer-lasting, more profitable banking relationships.
The Complete Card Launching 101 Manual [Downloadable Resource]
Our guide will walk you through all aspects of launching and managing a card, from understanding key partners and their roles, to designing a plan for long-term program success.
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With rising ACH payment volumes, fraud is on the rise. Financial institutions are turning to automation, like Galileo's, to reduce risks and operational losses from ACH fraud.


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- Individual consumers — including identical twins — have different responses to the same foods, according to new research from King's College London, Massachusetts General Hospital and nutritional science company Zoe. The results were recently presented at the American Society of Nutrition and the American Diabetes Association conferences, but have yet to be published in a peer-reviewed journal.
- The researchers followed 1,100 adults in the U.S. and the U.K. for 14 days — including 240 pairs of twins. Their fat and exercise levels, blood glucose and gut microbiome diversity were measured in response to specific foods, and their sleep and exercise habits were tracked. The results showed a wide variation in blood responses to the same meals.
- Researchers said their findings show one-size-fits-all dietary guidelines are too simplistic and a personalized approach to nutrition will provide better long-term health benefits. Zoe, which funded the study, is developing a personalized consumer nutrition test, Time reported.
These study results could potentially impact how food products are labeled and marketed. Instead of new products being pitched to consumers in general, more items could be tailored to personalized diets and contain information factoring in individual biological responses.
Manufacturers might see opportunities for target marketing and specialization in this scenario, but it could also mean additional costs in order to differentiate how products are made and advertised. Nutritional labeling might need to change if information about consumer responses to glucose or microbiome diversity end up being added to product packaging. However, such individualized information may be necessary in order to bolster the chances of losing weight or maximizing health outcomes from making certain dietary choices, according to Tim Spector, a co-investigator on the study and scientific founder of Zoe.
Spector told Time that success in personalized dieting may have more to do with the microbiome than with genetics. The study showed identical twins had about 37% overlap in gut microbes compared to 35% for people who aren't related, which he said provides a clue about why they have different responses to the same foods.
Personalized nutrition isn't new and some food makers have already waded into the segment. As consumers are more interested in healthy eating, personalized nutrition is seen as an effective way to tackle health problems. Last year, Nestlé introduced a personalized nutrition program in Japan called "Wellness Ambassador" combining artificial intelligence, DNA testing and meal analysis to collect consumer data on diet and tailor food products to meet those specifications.
But these study results may also raise questions about the types of product labels that are helpful and those that aren't for personalized products. Consumers are more liable to pay attention to dietary guidelines if they're related to specific situations than general nutritional advice, research shows. So while it could be useful to have information about how foods might affect their personal blood sugar or cholesterol, it might be hard for some consumers to access it without adequate technology.
To respond to such issues, the researchers behind the study are using machine learning to analyze nutritional data and develop an at-home consumer nutrition test and app. They said such tools are meant to help consumers choose foods to enhance metabolism, limit weight and enhance overall health. That could help consumers understand how each food would work for them specifically.
More companies could be looking to personalized nutrition approaches in the future as a result of this study, and it will take time to see how people respond. Some consumers may feel their individual biological responses to foods should remain personal, while others would take any opportunity to achieve better health. Achieving a balance between personal privacy and personal health could be key, so researchers and manufacturers might want to bear that in mind moving forward.


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https://www.wineintelligence.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/localism-image.jpg 756 756 Courtney Abernathy https://www.wineintelligence.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/logo5.png Courtney Abernathy2020-09-01 19:13:232020-09-02 11:45:34Consumers increasingly turning to safer and ‘local’ wine brands during the pandemic
As the pandemic continues to influence current consumer behaviour, drinkers in key wine markets are actively turning to safe, reliable and known - often local - wine brands at the expense of smaller market share and imported brands A consistent…
- How wine can keep its lead in e-commerce
- Wine brand equity stabilising after Covid, but yet to fully rebound
- Growing opportunity for lower alcohol wine in the US market
- How can wine brands survive the looming consumer spending crunch?
- Wine’s ‘natural’ benefits are the key to success in 2022 and beyond


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Sea of Thieves Human Cannonball Launch
On March 13th David “The Bullet” Smith broke the GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS title for Greatest Distance Travelled as a Human Cannonball for the launch of Xbox upcoming game, Sea of Thieves.
David launched 195ft through the air out of the Xbox Pirate Blaster, a 34 foot long cannon at Tampa Bay Bucs’ Raymond James Stadium, breaking his former GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS title of 193.8ft. The flight was a wild ride for David who was in the air for about five seconds before an impact stop on the landing airbag.
Sea of Thieves will be available on March 20 as part of Xbox Game Pass where fans can use their own cannons to take down enemy ships. Sea of Thieves is available for pre-order in the Microsoft Store now and allows gamers to experience a rich, fantastical world filled with pirates, danger and discovery – all in native 4K and HDR!


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Spare room boon: Australians missing out on $1.2 billion in potential rental income
Aussies could be raking in hundreds of extra dollars each week by renting out their extra room, according to new research by Finder.
Over a third of Australians (35%) – equivalent to 7.1 million people – are currently earning additional income through a side hustle, according to data from Finder's Consumer Sentiment Tracker.
Of those with a side hustle, 9% – equivalent to more than 600,000 people – are renting out a room in their home. Finder's data shows the average Aussie who is harvesting a profit from their spare room is making an average of $667 per month ($167 per week).
ABS data shows that 77% of households have at least 1 bedroom vacant, leaving a potential $1.2 billion in additional weekly revenue for Aussies who are willing to lease out a room.
Richard Whitten, money expert at Finder, said now is a great time to cash in if you have an extra room to rent.
"For many Aussies, living with a roommate is better than the consequences of missed repayments.
"It's also a good opportunity to create an extra revenue stream.
"You could be missing out on thousands of dollars by not making use of your extra room."
Whitten said it was important to do your due diligence before taking the plunge.
"Having a roommate isn't for everyone, and the onus is on you to ensure it's the right decision for your personal situation.
"If you do decide to go ahead with it, you'll need landlord insurance to be covered. Home insurance doesn't typically cover damage caused by tenants."
Finder's Consumer Sentiment Tracker shows the 2 most popular ways Australians are earning a second income is by selling pre-owned goods and collecting recyclable cans and bottles.
Whitten said there are other ways to make your expenses more manageable.
"Loyalty rarely pays when it comes to financial products. If you haven't compared utility or insurance providers in the last 6 months, you could probably be getting a better deal.
"Refinancing your home loan to a cheaper deal with a new lender can potentially shave hundreds of dollars a month off your mortgage.
"You could also ask your current lender for a lower rate. Lenders often have better deals for new borrowers. It never hurts to ask," Whitten said.
With the cost of living so high, here's 51 of the best side hustle ideas you can start today.


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- Amazon is in talks to acquire the renowned MGM Studios.
- MGM was looking for a buyer since December 2020, as per reported by media sources.
A bid of about $7 to $10 billion is being considered by Amazon for this acquisition of MGM Studios. The news of this acquisition came on 17 May, hours after AT&T reached a spinoff deal with Warner Media and merged it with Discovery. As per media sources, the negotiations are directly going on between the Senior Vice President of Amazon Studios and Prime Video, Mike Hopkins, with Kevin Ulrich, Chairman of MGM Board. The big takeover news of MGM studios in the US has helped in boosting the sentiment across global markets. As per Bloomberg data, the media takeover of $80 billion has been announced so far this year.
Synergies the deal could bring to Amazon
- This acquisition if sealed, would be Amazon’s largest purchase since it bought Whole Foods Market for $13.7 billion in 2017, although the company has been on an acquisition spree businesses since 1998.
- Amazon’s Prime Video is used by around 175 million people worldwide, plus this acquisition would add MGM collection of 4,000 title catalogue having the Bond series and Pink Panther, along with the series TV programs the Unexpected, Boston Blackie in its portfolio.
- If the deal materialises, Amazon - the new heir of MGM studios, would become the biggest player in the content game.
MGM Studios, an American media company, was founded in 1924. It includes production companies such as Evolution Media, EPIX and Big Fish Entertainment under its umbrella.
To launch a formal sale process, MGM hired Morgan Stanley and LionTree LLC In December 2020. A year back, in December 2019, Apple also reportedly was in talks with MGM.
Covid-19 pandemic has impacted media businesses as well, and MGM, major studios of Hollywood’s golden age has also been also hit by Covid pandemic like the rest of the film industry. Infect, James’s bond film "No Time To Die" had to push its release to October 2021. The company reported a revenue drop of 3 per cent year-over-year to $1.5 billion in 2020.
Keeping in mind the need for skills training in the UK, Amazon is planning to invest £10 million with a time frame of next three. Amazon has been building its media division rapidly. For the Amazon prime services, the company had spent $11 billion in 2020 on movies, music and TV shows.
Looking at the success of Prime, the company also launched miniTV. Although till date, no standalone app exists for miniTV, but an option is available within the Amazon shopping app itself. With the return of longtime executive, Jeff Blackburn who departed from Amazon in February 2021, the company is reshuffling its entertainment operations.
Amazon reported its revenue of 386.1 billion for FY 2020, an increase of 37.6 per cent compared to last year. Net income grew 603.30 per cent to 21.3 billion in comparison to FY17.
Amazon.com Inc (NASDAQ: AMZN) share price was down by 1.37 per cent to USD 3,203.08 at the day’s close on 21 May.


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Medicated Americans complaining about hefty prescription costs in this country can take heart. Sometimes the pharmacy chains have to pay up, too.
Do you think Walgreen could've gotten drugstore.com cheaper in Canada?
The $409 million transaction is going to turn heads. You have to go back nearly 11 years -- to the sudsier side of the dot-com bubble -- to find the last time that drugstore.com was trading in the double digits. It also closed yesterday mere pocket change from its 52-week low.
The fundamentals justify the pessimism before this morning's bailout. The Web-based retailer has missed Wall Street's profit targets in three of its past four quarters, posting losses in five of the past six quarters.
If Walgreen was in a bidding war a hefty premium would make sense, but who would it be up against? Rival pharmacies? Rite Aid's (NYSE: RAD ) debt-shackled balance sheet wouldn't allow it to raise a bidding card. CVS Caremark (NYSE: CVS ) is still grappling with the Caremark prescription benefits management business, a niche that Walgreen is in the process of unloading.
Wal-Mart (NYSE: WMT ) and Amazon.com (Nasdaq: AMZN ) would make more sense as potential gentlemen callers, but they're not the type to go berserk on the front porch. Wal-Mart has a thriving pharmacy business and ambitious dot-com aspirations, but the "everyday low prices" discounter's DNA wouldn't allow it to overpay. Amazon has been chummy with drugstore.com in the past, but it's already selling just about everything through its organically expanding virtual storefront.
I get it. Walgreen's move away from managing prescriptions and last year's Duane Reade acquisition signal a push back to retail. Why not overlook the iffy margins of a dot-com retailer for the sake of brisk existing sales and a killer generic domain name. Walgreen also posted a reasonable quarterly report this week that wasn't enough to please the market. If investors want more sizzle out of Walgreen, this morning's glitzy buy is one way to get there.
I'm just left wondering if it really had to pay that much and why corporate ambulance-chasing attorneys have the gall to argue that drugstore.com's board is actually selling itself cheap.
Do you think that Walgreen is overpaying for drugstore.com? Share your thoughts in the comment box below.


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$1,500 dollars for a phone?! Let us talk about how Apple got us to pay so much for the new iPhone.
Apple has slowly increased the price of an iPhone since 2007.
And last year it made a big leap: Apple announced the iPhone X for $999 – until then, the most expensive iPhone ever.
Do you know why it’s called iPhone X? The “X” stands for “expensive!”
And yes, it was a shock to many, but we bought it regardless of the price.
A year later, after the shock of a thousand dollar smartphone is gone, Apple made another jump.
It’s September 2018, and Apple just announced its most expensive iPhone ever: the iPhone XS Max.
The new phone starts at $1,099 and can cost up to $1,449, if you want the model with the most memory.
Why would Apple raise the price of their phones, even though the components that go into the phone are getting cheaper?
Well, check it out, Apple’s iPhone sales are flatlining.
At this point, everybody who wants an iPhone already has an iPhone.
If Apple can’t sell any more phones, how can they increase sales?
Answer: By raising the price!
Last years’ $1,000 price hike was a test, and it was successful.
The iPhone X was flying off the shelves, and it seems nobody cared that it was the most expensive iPhone ever!
In fact, Apple found out that people LOVED to pay $1,000 for a phone.
It’s a status symbol!
And since the guys at Apple are smart, they thought: “Let’s take this to a new level, and offer a $1,500 phone!”
The fascinating thing is that Apple didn’t really have to release a bunch of new features!
They “just” offered some new sizes and that’s it.
Yes, maybe the processor is a little bit faster and the camera has a new feature, but does this really justify the $1,500 price tag? – Hardly.
Apple has been doing a great job as a brand, and people happily pay a premium for the brand.
Well… It’s cool to have the shiny Apple logo on the back of the phone.
And that’s how Apple gets us to pay so much for the iPhone.
What do YOU think? How much will they charge for the NEXT iPhone?
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Iconic American-style restaurant Five Guys, famed for its mouth-watering burgers, hot dogs, fries and milkshakes, has opened a new restaurant at The Centre, Livingston creating 42 new jobs in the community.
Founded in Virginia in 1986 and launched in the UK in 2013 in London’s Covent Garden, the restaurant brand has amassed a loyal fanbase – with superstar fans including Ed Sheeran, Mollie King and Maya Jama.
Visitors to The Centre can now enjoy Five Guys’ famous freshly made and fully customisable burgers, made from Scottish Beef, with the option to choose from as many of the 15 fresh toppings, as well as hotdogs, fries, milkshakes and bottlomless soft drinks.
They will be able to enjoy 250,000 possible burger order combinations, as well as over 1,000 possible ways to customise a milkshake at the new site.
Five Guys prides itself on using high-quality, fresh produce prepared and cooked to order. There are no freezers or microwaves in any Five Guys restaurants.
Patrick Robbertze, Centre Director at The Centre, Livingston, said:
“We are delighted to welcome the famous Five Guys restaurant chain to The Centre, Livingston and the creation of 42 new jobs in the community.
“It’s a fantastic addition to our existing food offering and we’re confident our shoppers will love it!”
Paul Hamilton, Brand and Customer Director at Five Guys, added:
“The Five Guys crew are excited to welcome The Centre, Livingston visitors to enjoy fresh, quality and fully customisable burgers at our new restaurant.
“At Five Guys we are passionate about burgers, fries and people and we are thrilled to be bringing the UK’s favourite burgers to the heart of Livingston, as well as creating opportunities for the local community to join our energetic crew.”
The new 82-seater site, spanning 3,700 sq. ft located on the bustling Restaurant Avenue opened on September 13, bringing Five Guys’s fast-growing portfolio in Scotland to a total of 12 restaurants.


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The government has rolled out a new system that will help broadband providers easily verify whether customers are in receipt of social care, so they can be offered discounted tariffs for their internet connectivity.
Broadband providers have offered social tariffs for years – available to those on the lowest incomes and giving discounts of around £100 on the cheapest regular plan. However, difficulty in submitting proof of suitability (or simply not knowing such tariffs were available) meant that uptake was notoriously low. In fact, only 1.2% of all those eligible are thought to have taken up the offers available to them so far.
One major stumbling block was the sheer volume of admin needed to continue such a tariff. In extreme cases, consumers had to prove their entitlement (by submitting screenshots of their Universal Credit account or letters from the Jobcentre) every month.
Now, the government has taken steps to try and remedy the issue and make the process easier for both consumers and broadband providers, in a bid to help combat ever-increasing costs of living.
The Department for Work and Pensions is launching and running a new tool that will enable broadband providers to verify whether a customer is eligible for a social tariff (where the individual has given their permission for their data to be shared in this way).
Virgin Media and O2 have already come out in support of the scheme, with others expected to join shortly.
The government’s cost of living business tsar, David Buttress, told Sky News: “Some of the biggest network operators have already committed to take advantage of this new scheme, and we want to see other providers follow their lead so that everyone eligible for a social tariff can access one.” He added that the new scheme was just one way the government is trying to help those on the lowest incomes deal with rising prices; the new ‘Help for Households’ scheme building on the £37 billion package of support already being provided.


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The world's second-largest retailer, Costco, has won Auckland Council resource consent to build its first New Zealand store in a $100 million-plus venture at Westgate.
Auckland Council said consent had now been granted for the store of 14,740sq m.
Costco, second only to Walmart, has annual revenue around the same as New Zealand's gross domestic product.
Patrick Noone, Costco Australia and New Zealand managing director, today welcomed the council consent. Once completed, the warehouse and associated fuel operation with 30 pumps will employ 275 to 300 staff, he said.
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Asked if the timing was still to open next year, as announced last June, Noone indicated from Australia some doubt about that.
"Unfortunately, the current global climate has thrown off our timetable. At this stage we cannot comment on timelines until we see lifting of travel restrictions," he said.
Earlier this month, the Herald reported the Overseas Investment Office has just announced it has given consent for Costco Wholesale New Zealand to buy land at Massey's Westgate.
Costco needed state consent here because the land it is buying is classified as sensitive. It applied to buy a freehold interest in 2.7ha of land at the corner of Maki St and Gunton Dr at Westgate near the Harvey Norman store.
It also needed OIO consent because it plans to establish a business in this country where the expenditure involved exceeded $100m - the land purchase and the development of the giant new store with its fuel station, food court, pharmacy and hearing aid sales centre.
Noone said today Costco would present "a whole new way of shopping for New Zealand consumers. There is nothing like Costco in New Zealand. By simply offering a no-frills warehouse experience with the highest quality products at the best possible prices, we hope to quickly and firmly establish ourselves in the market".
"We also add a layer of competition to the market and extend the choice of the consumer. We also offer a value statement to our members. Members will be able to buy everything from fresh food and electronics to clothing and cleaning supplies, all in one warehouse. There will also be the added value of our speciality departments, such as our optical centre, hearing aid centre, tyre centre and fuel station," he said.
Costco had been well received in the Australian market "and hope for the same as we expand Costco's reach now to the New Zealand market", he said today.
The business already buys goods from New Zealand. Noone said last year those products included blueberries, apples and frozen croissants.
The croissants are in dozen-packs which are shipped frozen in containers across the Tasman, then thawed and cooked in the warehouse stores for customers to take home fresh.
"Our croissants are from Yarrows Bakery," Noone said.
Yarrows said: "Our flagship state-of-the-art bakery is located in the small south Taranaki town of Manaia and operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week. We supply an extensive range of breads, rolls, croissants, cookies and other quality baking products to leading supermarkets, retailers and food companies. All produced on highly specialised modern equipment."
Phil Yarrow, Yarrows Bakery executive director, said last year his business had sold to Costco for the last six years.
"We send one 40ft container of frozen baker products from Tauranga to Sydney a week, to go to Costco's distribution centre," Yarrow said.
Croissants, pizza bases and Danish pastries. New Zealand butter and apples gave us an edge in Costco stores, he said.
Noone said when he visited last year that Costco would seek to establish more relationships with New Zealanders to sell our goods in its stores overseas.


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SMALL firms across the county are hiring new staff at their fastest rate for 25 years, according to a survey.
UE Coffee Roasters, which supplies coffee and tea to Number 10 Downing Street, celebrity chef Rick Stein, and hotels and restaurants, has gone from eight to 11 employees in the past 12 months and plans to take on four more.
One of the new recruits is Barbora Krajcovicova, who joined the Witney-based company as a barista trainer this week. The 23-year-old from Kidlington ditched her job with a national coffee chain to join the smaller firm, where she will pass on the secret of a perfect latte to its 300-plus trade customers.
She said: “I prefer working for a small business as I can be more creative.”
Dominic Boyett, co-founder and director of UE Coffee, which has a £1.2m turnover and includes the Jericho & Jeeves brand, believes it is small firms’ flexibility that gives them the edge.
He said: “Because we are so adaptable it allows us to find niches in the market place, while big multi-nationals are not as flexible. We can be more pro-active in going out there to seek opportunities.”
The findings by the Institute of Chartered Accountants and CBI are echoed by the Federation of Small Businesses, which revealed firms are five times more likely to be recruiting now than earlier this year.
Small businesses are defined as those with fewer than 50 employees.
Two other firms creating jobs are The Granite House in Bicester, and The StudyBed Company in Thame.
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Stoned-Baked Pizza, Anyone? How Cannabis is Keeping Foodies 'Calm' at This South African Eatery
At the end of May, the South African government decided to legalise consumption of cannabis oil to a daily maximum of 20 mg per person.
Image for representation: Reuters
Port Elizabeth: If you're keen on pizza but Regina, Margherita or Hawaiian isn't your bag you can aim higher with a South African eatery proud to unveil one featuring cannabis.
"We love to stay ahead of the curve and are extremely proud to be the first restaurant in SA to launch a cannabis pizza," said Kinga Baranowska, founder of the Col'Cacchio chain in Cape Town. "We have always aimed to be innovative with our menu offering and provide our loyal fan base with the latest health positive trends," said Baranowska.
"It’s not going to make you high," Mike Saunders, founder of the firm supplying the chain, told local media. "It’s not going to make you giddy. But, by the end of your meal you'll start to feel the calming effects of CBD (cannabis oil)," Saunders said.
Customers wanting something more calming than traditional toppings can plump for a meat-free Green Goddess, featuring grilled zucchini, feta and fresh basil for 125 rand (8 euros/$9), or a Not-So-Plain Mary Jane with chicken, mushrooms and avocado dressing for 140 rand.
The chain has been able to embark on its new menu offerings thanks to recent amendments on regulations surrounding private cannabis use in South Africa. Last September, South Africa's constitutional court legalised cannabis consumption for personal use after a long debate similar to that in many other countries on whether to make the leap or not.
At the end of May, the government decided to legalise consumption of cannabis oil to a daily maximum of 20 mg per person. Lawyer Ricky Stone, a specialist in cannabis legislation, urged restaurants to tread carefully following the rulings.
"This is a relatively new area and there are still a lot of things which are not yet known and clear," said Stone. "For example, while the sale of CBD is now legal, it's limited to daily dosage of 20 mg. So while you can buy a pizza, if you buy, say four, then you are consuming 80 mg which is illegal".
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Some friends have expressed concern about online and mobile banking, given recent reports about cyberspace shenanigans, including the “hijacking” of my Facebook page.
Robert McGarvey, writing for MainStreet on MSN Money, addresses some questions on the safety of using mobile banking applications (apps).
Among his most important recommendations to make mobile banking safer is for people to set up a four-digit PIN or personal identification number (some gadgets, I found out, let the user choose between a PIN and a password) that locks the phone or tablet when not in use. “Fail to do that, and anybody can pick up your device and start clicking away. Create a PIN and that is a big protection,” he writes.
McGarvey says the PIN can be created in the “Settings” folder. In iOS, which Apple uses, “setting a PIN also activates data encryption, which means that even if a thief were to find a way into the phone, he would be confronted with indecipherable gibberish.”
Data encryption requires a separate step for Android-powered devices, he says. “Under ‘Settings,’ click ‘Security and Screen Lock,’ then data encryption.
“Don’t even think about jailbreaking an iPhone or rooting an Android,” McGarvey says. While doing so lets the user break free of restrictions of iOS or Android on what apps may be downloaded—which might be fun—jailbreaking, he says, nullifies many built-in protections in iOS and Android.
McGarvey quotes Domingo Guerra, president of Appthority, an app risk management firm: “The bigger problem, especially on the Apple side: a jailbroken phone can download apps from anywhere, not just the Apple App Store, where security checks on uploaded apps are rigorous. Download from anywhere, and that ups the possibility of encountering a counterfeit app, and we are seeing more of those.”
McGarvey says, “For Android users, the advice is to download only from the official Google Play store or from Amazon’s Appstore where, say developers, inspections rival Apple’s in rigor.”
In suggesting that people become more security conscious in using today’s smartphones and tablets, McGarvey says, “Mobile banking is the financial sector’s fastest-growing channel, with many experts predicting that this year it will eclipse online banking in volume.”
He stresses that, while banking apps may be a major convenience, they come with risks, hence the need to make sure sensitive data are secure.
“Praetorian, a security firm, said in its report that eight of 10 mobile banking apps contain security weaknesses. IOActive Labs Research claimed in its report that 90 percent of iOS financial services apps contain grievous flaws that put users at risk,” he says.
He says Dennis Fisher, security expert at Kaspersky Lab, which probes Internet vulnerabilities, suggests that consumers weigh convenience offered by banking apps against potential risks.
McGarvey adds that Terence Kam, founder of consulting firm eStrategyPro.com, has observed, “No matter how unsafe mobile banking apps are, they are still safer than banking through the web browser in your PC/Mac. Mobile devices’ operating systems are much more secure than PC/Mac operating systems because the latter is based on code design written decades ago, when security and connectivity were not issues. Mobile device OS are designed to make it extremely difficult to tinker (in Apple’s iOS, it is designed to make tinkering impossible), which means it is extremely difficult for malware to subvert the OS in order to steal information.”
Send letters to The Consumer, Lifestyle Section, Philippine Daily Inquirer, 1098 Chino Roces Ave. cor. Mascardo and Yague Sts., 1204 Makati City; fax 8974793/94; or e-mail firstname.lastname@example.org.


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Los Angeles-based Songistry, an AI-primarily based tunes technological know-how firm, has raised $5 million.
The funding was based on a professional-forma $20 million valuation.
On Songistry’s web-site, the business describes itself as “a frictionless discovery and licensing engine that democratizes obtain to tv/ movie, advertising and marketing and gaming licensing possibilities for audio creators”.
It provides that its “workflows permit licensee’s to establish songs with precision and accuracy applying proprietary AI”.
Songistry says that this financial investment will make it possible for it to further advance its expansion method and aims “to turn into one particular of the main forces in the Songs Sync Licensing Industry”.
hyprAUDIO is claimed to be “the very first of its kind” AI run look for motor solely made to hook up purchasers and sellers of audio for tv set/ film, marketing and gaming.
Songistry states that it is at present has extra than 100,000 “ready to license” copyrights.
“We will also be instantly checking out a variety of M&A possibilities in both tunes and technological know-how aimed at bolstering our present-day suite of expert services.”
Justin Grey, Songistry
Justin Gray, Founder and CEO of Songistry, said: “This major financial commitment arrives at a pivotal time.
“As a entirely funded firm, we are arranging to devote this money right into our IP and advancement roadmap which includes our flagship MDIIO system as nicely as our latest product hyprAUDIO.
“We will expand on our mission by making use of AI to redefine and disrupt how new music is identified and certified for film, tv, gaming and UGC.
“We will also be promptly checking out numerous M&A alternatives in both equally audio and technology aimed at bolstering our current suite of expert services.”Music Small business Worldwide


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Rising star mobile slot developer Betixon has signed an exciting deal with one of the most prominent operators in the industry, Betsson. Through this agreement, Betixon integrates its full range of unique titles with the operator.
The developer’s mobile titles, which can also be played on desktop, will launch to players based in Lithuania and Estonia through Betsson’s brands: Supercasino and Betsafe. This means players at both online casinos will have the opportunity to enjoy titles such as Wild Wolf, Boots of Lucky, and Ages of Halvar.
This partnership also includes an upcoming release, the Fortune Breakers series, which will become Betixon’s flagship game series. With each slot packed with striking graphics and animations as well as unique gameplay and features. Its titles are available to operators in the UK, Lithuania, Estonia, Colombia, Italy, and Romania, with more regulated markets coming soon.
Lior Cohen, Co-founder and CTO of Betixon, said: “This is a major deal for Betixon and marks our arrival as a major player on the slot development scene.
“Betsson is one of the biggest names in the business and it is a real honour to see our suite of mobile-first slot games launch to players in Lithuania and Estonia through its Betsafe and Supercasino brands.
“As a studio, we are focused on regulated markets and partnering with operators that share our strategy and vision, and in Betsson we have found the perfect partner.”
Ciara Nic Liam, Product Director for Gaming at Betsson Group, said: “We pride ourselves in offering our players the widest range of quality casino content localised to the market from which they are playing.
“Betixon has quickly emerged as a rising star on the slot development scene and we believe their games will prove to be hugely popular with players in Lithuania and Estonia.
“We look forward to seeing titles such as Boots of Luck and Fortune Breaks land in the game lobby at Betsafe and Supercasino and to enjoying a long and successful partnership with Betixon.”
Betsson is one of the well-known iGaming companies in the Nordic region. The company owns more than 17 brands including Betsson.com, Betsafe.com, NordicBet.com, and CasinoEuro, which offers sportsbooks, casinos, and other games. It aims to offer the best customer experience in the industry.
Betixon is a game studio for the online gaming industry that provides an excellent gaming platform with an initial focus on mobile devices. The company also offers complete turnkey online gaming solutions. The platform’s architecture, technology, and algorithms are based on the combined experience of their team members.


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A snappy trigger is one of the quickest ways to increase an AR's accuracy, but can cost some coin. HIPERFIRE has put the upgrade in its crosshair, with the introduction of a economically priced option.
Given its lasers' classes, the original DBAL-A3 was a tough accessory for civilians to lay hands on. But Steiner is giving every day shooters access to the device with an eye-safe model.
Every rifle Patrick Sweeney owns has had the following things checked and, if need-be, tended to. It just so happens that winter is the ideal time for these easy AR-15 DIY projects.
Shooters have been hunting out ACOGs, top-shelf ARs and other pricey merchandise at one Arizona gun store.
Why some guns can handle the pressure of +P ammunition and others cannot.
There's nothing like a little trigger time to put a smile on your face. Here are some sweet targets to make shooting more fun and improve your skills.
Ruger has already had an impressive year when it comes to new products, but the company isn't slowing down any time soon. It recently added new models to its popular scout rifle line and introduced a drop-in trigger for its iconic rimfire rifle.
If anyone knows revolvers it's Grant Cunningham. And the renowned instructor has whipped of a device, now being manufactured by CrossBreed, that makes toting extra ammo for a revolver a snap.
Customizing an AR is part of the attraction of owning one. For a retailer in the Bluegrass State, this has meant accessories for the firearm has flown off the shelves.


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More than 600,000 Mr. Coffee single-cup brewers recalled in U.S. and Canada
More than 600,000 Mr. Coffee single cup brewers -- including some 80,000 in Canada -- are being recalled because of a potential burn hazard.
More than 600,000 Mr. Coffee single cup brewers - including more than 80,000 in Canada - are being recalled because of a potential burn hazard.
The company, along with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and Health Canada, made the recall announcement on Thursday.
The units are imported by Jarden Consumer Solutions.
520,000 units in the U.S. and 80,700 in Canada are being recalled over what the company says is a build-up of steam in the water reservoir that can force the brewing chamber open and expel hot coffee grounds and water.
There have been 164 reports of the brewing chamber opening due to steam pressure including about 59 reports in the U.S. and two in Canada of burn injuries to consumers' face, upper torso and hands.
The affected coffeemaker comes in black with silver, red or white trim and is about 11 inches tall with a Brew Now /Off button and a removable drip tray. The water tank is on top of the unit toward the back.
The makers bear model numbers, printed on the bottom of the brewer, starting with the letters BVMC-KG
The coffee makers, which were made in China, were sold from September 2010 through August for between $60 and $80.
The coffee makers were sold online and at Bed Bath & Beyond, Brandsmart, JC Penney, Kmart, Lowe's, Target and Wal-Mart.
Consumers are being asked to stop using the brewers immediately and contact 1-800-993-8609 or go the Mr. Coffee website for details on getting a free replacement unit.
The recalled model numbers are:
The model number can be found on the bottom of the brewer.


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According to an article (which has been since removed) about this video, each Muslim “refugee” costs nearly a half-million Euros to care for in state benefits. What do they do to repay the German government? They rob donations intended for those who most need them.
Look at these men. They are well-dressed, healthy, and have no problems. They are NOT “refugees.” They are parasites living off of the system and will continue to feed on their host until it dies, after which they will try to find a new host to destry
From Mopo.de (now a dead link):
A man from an East German town has captured on camera what many are witnessing all around the country. Clothing containers, where citizens donate clothing to the homeless and needy are often looted by so-called “refugees” and migrants trying to take advantage of the current “no-limit” policy of the German government in regards to illegal immigration. Many are unsatisfied with the clothing provided by the government, so they search for more expensive, usually brand clothing and frequently break into the containers, stealing the most valuable items they can find. You can hear the man telling the migrants that the police are on their way, which either doesn’t seem to bother them or, more likely, means they don’t understand a word of German.
The theft method requires two people: One going inside the container (usually with a flashlight) picking out clothing he likes and an assistant that gets him back out.
Many homeless Germans, usually middle aged or the elderly living on the streets, are refused sufficient benefits and have died in the attempt to get clothing using this method without an assistant, consequently suffocating in the containers. 300,000 Germans are currently living on the streets. Especially elderly women are hit hard by this as having had children does not qualify you for a pension large enough to live on as you officially “did not work”. While so-called refugees receive luxurious care and are sometimes housed in hotels, many elderly Germans are forced to collect returnable bottles or beg on the streets. In 2014 a 35 year old German man in Hamburg painfully suffocated in the attempt to get clothing from a container to avoid freezing to death as he was refused shelter.


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��� 1(380)205 1127 ideal day to book flight
In what has come as a surprise, the upcoming festive season that includes Thanksgiving, leading up to Christmas and then New Year celebrations, has not lifted the numbers for flights bookings in ... more
In a welcoming initiative, Air India introduces “Air India Fly for Sure Offer.” The offer states that passengers can now make one-time flight change on same day. This means you have some leeway i... more
Restrictions on train and air travel in Indian will likely continue beyond May 3 as the country takes strict steps to contain the spread of COVID-19. When India entered the second round of lockdo... more
All Nippon Airways is back with the limited period Hello Blue Sale to bring special add-on fares for domestic routes in Japan in addition to international fl...
Air India today issued a statement on Twitter stating that bookings for domestic flights are currently closed. The bookings will resume only after the Government of India's approval.


text: Kanye West often faces criticism for his comments and political views. For example, when he was an avid supporter of Donald Trump, There was also the time that he said slavery was a choice. Now, he makes headlines for wearing a White Lives Matter t-shirt. Candace Owens owns a matching shirt. According to The Post Millennial,” West wore the shirt while speaking before showing his Season 9 fashion collection, where he also referenced his ex-wife Kim Kardashian, and discussed the recent fallout with Gap.” [tweet_embed]October 06, 2022[/tweet_embed] The Western Journal states, “West and conservative commentator Candace Owens were also seen in shirts that matched the hoodie, with an image of Pope John Paul II on the front.” The shirt instantly received vast amounts of backlash. Marc Lamont Hill tweeted, “Kanye West’s decision to wear a “White Lives Matter” shirt is disgusting, dangerous, and irresponsible. Some of you will rush to defend him. You should ask yourselves why….” Another tweet read, “sending a “WHITE LIVES MATTER” t-shirt down a runway in Paris is literal insanity, and no amount of gospel is getting that man through Heaven’s gate, I’m so sorry.” He was also labeled a white supremacist. Occupy Democrats tweeted, “BREAKING: Trump-supporting rapper Kanye West appears at an event for his fashion line in a t-shirt with the words “White Lives Matters” printed in big letters. The ADL recognizes the phrase as a popular slogan for white supremacists. RT IF YOU THINK KANYE IS A FOOL!” The Post Millennial points out several other instances when Kanye has received backlash. “‘When you hear about slavery for 400 years, that sounds like a choice,’ West said. ‘You were there for 400 years,’ he added, ‘And it’s all of you guys?’ This was around the same time West became a vocal supporter of then-President Donald Trump.” The article continues, “As a musician, African-American, a guy living out in Hollywood, everyone around me tried to pick my candidate. Then they told me every time I said I liked Trump that I couldn’t say that out loud or my career would be over,’ he said in 2018 during an appearance on Jimmy Kimmel.” White Lives Matter is a popular response to the Black Lives Matter movement. It’s labeled as a neo-Nazi slogan or racist. However, you can’t help but be proud of Kanye for always calling things how he sees them.


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AUSTECH 2017 Ocean Machinery, along with its manufacturing partner Peddinghaus and its local dealer Impact Machinery, exhibited the Ocean Liberator CNC Beam Coping machine at the recent Austech trade showRead more
At this year’s FABTECH Expo in Chicago, Ocean Machinery showcased our unique, super fast and versatile Avenger PLUS CNC Drill Line. Running demos non-stop for 4 days, this top-selling machine has becomeRead more
Check out the HOT behind the scenes action from the recent 2014 Oceanette Calendar shoot that took place at Mo Steel in Miami. From more than 300 applicants, Ocean MachineryRead more
The 2013 Fabtech trade show held in Chicago last week at the McCormack Center was a resounding success, not only for Ocean Machinery but for all the exhibitors. Not onlyRead more
The Oceanettes have become world famous with their legendary Oceanette calendar, CHIX STEEL showing the Oceanettes in steel fabricating shops around the world. The Oceanettes also make appearances at variousRead more
Peddinghaus and Ocean Machinery shared booth space at the 2013 Austech trade show with their new Australian dealer, Impact Machinery. The show was well attended and visitors spent considerable timeRead more
Once again Ocean Machinery's world famous Oceanettes showed off their remarkable prowess by being quickly embraced by renowned actor/comedian/economist Ben Stein, as well as political analysts James Carville and PatRead more
© Copyright 2023, Ocean Machinery Inc.


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And Now Copy Protection Comes To Mobile Phones
from the does-anyone-really-care? dept
In what may be a tremendous waste of time and money, a bunch of tech companies are going to make a big announcement that the press will eat up next week about a new copy protection scheme for mobile phones. They’re doing this under the mistaken belief that broadcast content is going to drive adoption of the next generation of phones and entertainment companies won’t offer content on mobile phones unless there’s copy protection. There are many problems with this theory. First, and most importantly, people use mobile phones for communication between multiple people not consumption of media from big companies. That’s always been the driving force behind mobile phones, and it’s not likely to change any time soon. The focus should be on improving the experience for consumers – and this doesn’t come close. It has nothing to do with what what people want to use their phones for. Second, as with any copy protection scheme all it does is hinder people from using the device as they see fit. They’re giving mobile phone owners less features, not more. That’s generally a bad strategy no matter what business you’re in. Finally, as wireless connections get better and more people move towards more open smartphone platforms this isn’t going to matter as much. The phones will be able to access the internet and any available content on the internet as a whole, and won’t be limited to the walled garden of content these companies want to build. Still, there will be any number of misleading news stories talking about what an important move this is.


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In recognition of outstanding merits for the Austrian export economy, the Austrian Chamber of Commerce (WKO) grants the award “Hidden Champion” to companies that significantly drive the Austrian export economy. LOYTEC ranks among the leading Austrian companies and was therefore awarded as “Hidden Champion 3.0”.
On June 24, 2014, managing director of LOYTEC Dietmar Loy received the award from Christoph Leitl, president of WKO, in the course of the Austrian Export Day 2014 in Vienna.
The recipe for success of Hidden Champions is explained by Georg Jungwirth from the University of Applied Sciences of Economy: ”Superior product quality, surpassing expenditures for research and development, a clear focus, well-trained employees with little fluctuation, customer orientation, early internationalization, and eventually, charismatic leaders with clearly defined goals.”
LOYTEC ranks among the leading European providers of intelligent network infrastructure products for building automation and is awarded as “Hidden Champion” because of superior expertise. “Our recipe is to not only integrate heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning, but also functions like lighting and access control”, Dietmar Loy explains the success of LOYTEC. By that, synergies and energy saving potentials can be utilized optimally. The premise that building automation reduces energy costs substantially is already proven by statistics: an energy saving potential of around 30% can be assumed.


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Rarely is the U.S. economy discussed these days without mention of China’s dominating influence, and the aftermarket is no exception as topics such as counterfeiting and trade deficits grace media reports and water cooler conversations. The automotive industry is one of China’s booming sectors and a hearty contributor to the country’s ascent as a global economic force.
Amid these discussions of China and its role in the U.S. aftermarket, we don’t quite know what to make of things yet as we become inevitably intertwined with this communist-capitalist country; the terms used will most likely vacillate between “friend” and “foe” depending on who you talk to, with avid arguments supporting each side.
Manufacturing jobs are moving overseas in droves, yet China is also exporting lower-priced goods back into the U.S., enabling American consumers to keep consuming. Additionally, China is voraciously purchasing U.S. debt, rendering itself a benefactor to many stateside lending institutions.
The closest comparison we can make is to Japan’s global rise in the automotive industry decades ago, but even that scenario was wholly different. After all, China is now pursuing capitalism with the same fervor in which it once pursued anti-capitalism, rolling across the world stage with all the might of a reckless freight train.
A look at China’s streets paints the picture of a country still settling in to the automotive age: Bicycles, mule carts and small conveyances with one-cylinder diesel engines still crowd the roads, especially outside of major metropolitan areas.
But China’s vehicle market is the third largest in the world, and its gross domestic product has expanded at a rate of about 10 percent a year, though some economists believe China has purposely understated its growth while depressing the value of its currency, the yuan, to remain more competitive, staying in lockstep with the diminishing value of the U.S. dollar. (Some estimate China’s real GDP to be between 13 and 14 percent.)
To offer a perspective on this growth, Ted C. Fishman, in Inc. magazine, writes that China “is closing in on a 30-year run during which its economy has doubled nearly three times.” China’s growth, he adds, has no equal in our modern history.
Unfortunately, this rise also is taking a serious toll on China’s people and its environment, a dilemma that will later be discussed in detail.
As far as China’s exports, the glut of products has helped trigger a devastating U.S. trade deficit, which lawmakers are trying to resolve by seeking to impose higher tariffs on Chinese goods. A $160 billion trading shortfall last year with China represented an increase of 31 percent from 2003, and the undervaluation of the yuan has cost the U.S. 2.6 million manufacturing jobs since 2001, according to legislators.
A group representing trade associations and unions that calls itself the China Currency Coalition is pushing for across-the-board tariffs on Chinese goods if the yuan is not re-evaluated, but the National Association of Manufacturers asserts the legislation would violate World Trade Organization commitments.
China has definitely taken advantage of opportunities here, but there are also opportunities in China for those in the U.S. aftermarket who haven’t already explored this unique global partnership. And it may not be too long before we see viable Chinese-brand automobiles hitting the streets in the U.S.
A number of stateside distributors we interviewed admitted that Chinese parts move quickly through the supply chain due mainly to their bargain prices. And the quality of goods coming from China has improved and is getting better, they say.
Still, the country is pinned as the top global culprit of intellectual property infringement and counterfeiting, a reputation China must make strides to upright.
Chinese companies have become adept at reverse engineering, which opens the doors for counterfeiting, says Frank Ordoñez, president of Delphi Product & Service Solutions and vice president of Delphi Corporation.
He reports seeing billboards in China featuring the Delphi logo that were neither approved nor purchased by the company.
Ordoñez, who says China’s government has recently put out a branding policy that addresses counterfeiting, believes as the country attains more engineering technology, the theft of intellectual property will decline.
There’s not much more that can be said about counterfeiting that wasn’t already addressed in our comprehensive report last October, and to expound on this topic would only reiterate the reports of other media.
The birth of an aftermarket
While China’s effect on the U.S. aftermarket is considerable — especially as it pertains to manufacturing jobs moving overseas — its own aftermarket may not even exist yet.
A majority of China’s 1.3 billion citizens are still too poor to own a vehicle, but the country’s expanding middle class is producing a drove of automotive consumers just waiting to be served.
Many Chinese citizens now own their very first car, says Lance Ealey, auto analyst for the Freedonia Group, which published a 2003 report on China’s auto industry. Coupled with the fact that these newfound drivers are unfamiliar with automotive maintenance (and basic driving skills, for some), Chinese motorists often lack aftermarket options.
“In just fundamental ways, there is no independent aftermarket, or it’s very small,” says Ealey. “It tends to be dealer-based.”
It will be interesting to see which aftermarket model China eventually adapts, he says. Will it be a robust, independent aftermarket like the U.S., or a European model, where dealers have the foothold? Ealey is putting his money on the European model as this lack of options is prompting Chinese motorists to return to the dealers.
U.S. suppliers with a Chinese presence, like Bosch and ACDelco, are also getting involved in the country’s automotive service, he adds. “These customers are demanding all the bells and whistles found in the U.S., and they’re getting them.”
Scott Mackie, regional general manager for the GM North America Vehicle Sales, Service and Marketing Northeast region, agrees the majority of Chinese drivers are still bound to OE service. The company has more than 100 service centers in China that are independently owned but carry the ACDelco banner.
Because of the sophistication involved with new vehicle engineering, Mackie says Chinese drivers will most likely continue the DIFM trend.
The distribution channels in China are highly fragmented, concedes Mackie, who adds they’re selling through 35 WDs, which, in turn, have thousands of customers, be they technicians or parts dealers. But, he says, consolidation is beginning to take root. “Now the first instances of buying groups are starting to form.”
Xiao Chen, manager of ACDelco Business Development, says the Chinese government is planning to consolidate its service industry, with proposed mandates that require those with less than five chain stores to join a larger chain or close, a move that could essentially drive “mom-and-pop shops” into extinction, though he could not provide a timeline for implementation.
Chen points out a fact that encourages DIFM-heavy Chinese motorists: “Ninety-nine percent of Chinese residents don’t have a garage.”
Delphi’s Ordoñez says China’s distribution system is no comparison to the sophistication of stateside networks.
“The Chinese distribution system runs from a fairly well-organized dealer network, which also acts as an aftermarket outlet, to what I’ll call a parts city,” he says. “A parts city is like a huge flea market; in this flea market are all these little stores full of parts.”
Ordoñez adds that there are no catalogs within these “parts cities”; people are basically left to guess which part to buy. The network of distributors is bound to become more sophisticated, Ordoñez speculates, and it will just be a matter of who will take advantage of this need, presenting an opportunity for U.S. distributors.
Another interesting trend in China is that very few companies have their own national brands. Instead, Ealey points out, many are relying on existing automotive makes such as GM and Volkswagen. Though these companies have Chinese partners, a requirement to do business in this country, the Chinese aren’t pushing their own brands, he adds.
In time, though, a legitimate aftermarket may emerge, says Ealey. “We’re just starting to see the creation of a used-car market (in China), and with the used-car market will come the creation of a true aftermarket.”
The aftermarket, he adds, is the trailing edge of a phenomenon that has taken place in China over the past 15 years.
The AutoZones and the NAPAs of the world should take note as China migrates to a buyer’s market and emphasizes the retail side of the automotive industry, Ealey advises.
Manufacturing a future
Ever have a customer ask for a “China price” on aftermarket parts or accessories? There’s a reason for that.
As a supply choice, Chinese manufacturers are a viable alternative, says Mackie, and “a little bit of a threat to those who haven’t globalized their cost base.”
He points out that having a manufacturing base in China is beneficial to ACDelco, especially because there are four GM assembly plants in China, forming a “local” network within foreign borders.
Dispelling the country’s checkered past for its notoriously inferior brake rotors, old perceptions are being shaken away as China advances as a global competitor with an immense labor force and access to raw materials, says Mackie.
He considers China an “untapped opportunity” for General Motors as a whole.
Delphi has been in China for more than 15 years, says Ordoñez, who admits the company has simply followed its OE customers. Delphi also wanted to be present in a market that Ordoñez considers “explosive.”
Delphi even sponsors an MIT-level university in China that’s churning out talented future engineers, he adds. “The benefits of operating in China are self-evident.”
Creating ecological casualties
The first and most obvious victim of China’s worldwide growth is its own citizens. Many economists accuse the Chinese government of depressing the value of its currency against the U.S. dollar by as much as 40 percent, as well as underreporting its growth rate in competition for development funds.
Meanwhile, China has invested in U.S. debt securities, when investments in its own economy have the potential to yield 10 times as much return, writes Fishman, who is also author of the book “China, Inc.”
According to Fishman, “The people of China, who earn on average just one-fortieth what Americans do, are indirectly subsidizing the insatiable shopping of Americans, who acquire ever more goods at the same time that Chinese consumers are hampered from buying goods from abroad.”
To emphasize the disparity between U.S. and Chinese currency, Fishman adds: “A dollar spent in China buys almost five times more goods and services than a dollar spent in a typical American city like Indianapolis.”
Despite the country’s global successes, unemployment and poverty remain very real concerns for China.
Another victim is the country’s ecological well-being, and the attendant problem of declining public health, as China relies heavily on unwashed coal to fuel its rapidly growing manufacturing sector. China burns coal for about 70 percent of its domestic energy, according to Brian Bremner, in Business Week Online. The country also wastes a tremendous amount of energy due to “primitive coal-mining techniques, loose building-construction codes and inefficient factories,” adds Bremner. It should also be noted that China suffers massive amounts of accidents and deaths in its coal mines every year.
Seven of the world’s 10 most polluted cities are in China, according to the United Nations World Health Organization. Water shortages, soil erosion and acid rain are all symptoms of China’s meteoric rise in manufacturing.
This dependence on coal for energy could change with construction of the Three Gorges Dam, expected to be complete between 2007 and 2009. The Three Gorges Dam will be the largest structure of its type in the world, but it will not be without its own share of troubles — like the displacement of more than a million residents, loss of more farmland and local environmental damage. However, the dam will most likely be a necessary evil to keep pace with continued economic change.
In the meantime, China is looking toward nuclear energy to help mend these environmental and energy wounds caused by this zealous climb toward global economic dominance. As the country anticipates stepping up production of nuclear power plants and technology to make its own nuclear reactors, some fear this may lead to increased nuclear weapons proliferation through China’s partnership with Pakistan, writes Thomas Orszag-Land in Oxford, England’s Contemporary Review.
China also has shown interest in coal liquefaction technology and liquid fuels based on coal substitutes, adds Orszag-Land.
But as these plans are bandied about, this most populous country on earth continues to consume more coal than any other nation in the world, and acid rain prompts vast deforestation and desertification, which, in turn, impedes its agricultural base.
The ‘Chery’ on the cake
It may not be long before Chinese-branded automobiles are competing for market share on U.S. streets.
The first cars we may see here are made by China’s Chery Automobile Co., and are expected to be introduced by entrepreneur Malcolm Bricklin. If his name doesn’t immediately ring a bell, Bricklin is responsible for introducing Japan’s Subaru to the U.S., as well as the ill-fated Yugo in the late ’80s.
Bricklin, who plans to bring Chery stateside starting in 2007, will charge about $15 million per dealership, which will fly under the banner Visionary Vehicles LLC.
Only time will tell if Chery can successfully compete in the United States market and improve China’s reputation, says Ealey. “Malcolm Bricklin is a good example of someone who did a great job with Subaru and a not-so-great job with other brands. If he rushes it, it could lead to a negative outcome.”
Japan’s introduction to the U.S. consumer certainly wasn’t a “Harvard Business School” best practice model, reminds Ealey, who adds that consumers can be unforgiving when it comes to brands that get a rough start in the U.S. marketplace.
Bricklin does and will have staunch competitors. Retro Motors, which is launching a line of remanufactured used vehicles, intends to go head-to-head with Chery both here and in China.
In a press release, Founder Allen Jaffe said he will offer royalty-based plant/factory outlet partnerships for $5 million per facility, undercutting Bricklin’s asking price.
Creating an additional black mark on China’s reputation for intellectual property infringement, Chery was recently accused of piracy by GM Daewoo Auto & Technology, which asserts that Chery’s QQ is an illegal duplication of its Matiz, licensed as the Chevy Spark. (A look at photographs of the two cars reveals that they are remarkably similar.) GM filed suit last December and the case is still pending.
QQ sales have been much higher than the Spark in China, according to China Daily, which adds the suit arose after China’s State Intellectual Property Office concluded that Chery didn’t infringe upon GM.
China’s government has been criticized more than once for its laxity when it comes to piracy and IP violations.
Honda filed suit against Shuanghuan Automobile for infringement last October, alleging the company lifted designs from its CR-V, and Toyota Motor Corp. filed an infringement lawsuit against privately-owned Geely last year, but lost the case, reports China Daily.
Next month, we’ll continue this discourse by exploring the effects of China on our stateside aftermarket and our growing trade deficit. We’ll also provide advice for those U.S. companies seeking to partner with China.


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Sergio Tacchini bought by South Korean group F&F Holdings
Another change of ownership for Sergio Tacchini. The Italian sportswear brand, founded by the eponymous tennis professional in 1966 and owned since 2019 by US investment funds Twin Lakes Capital and B. Riley Principal Investments, has recently been bought by South Korean apparel group F&F Holdings, the property of billionaire Kim Chang-Soo. The operation is worth $63 million, according to South Korean media.
F&F Holdings is buying all the shares in Sergio Tacchini Operations, based in the USA, as well as those of Sergio Tacchini IP Holdings, which owns the brand’s intellectual property assets. The operation is expected to be finalised on July 20.
Last year, F&F Holdings partnered with Centroid Investment Partners, a Seoul-based investment fund, to buy US golf equipment brand TaylorMade from US private equity firm KPS Capital Partners, for $1.8 billion. Two acquisitions that confirm the South Korean group’s willingness to tap the trend driven by the popularity of high-end sporting goods, for disciplines like golf and tennis.
F&F made a name for itself in the 1990s as the Asian distributor of labels like Benetton. The group holds various licenses, including that for US Major League Baseball, and owns brands like Italian down jacket label Duvetica, Korean urban sportswear brand Discovery Expedition, and its own beauty brand Banila Co.
Sergio Tacchini was declared bankrupt in 2007, and had been acquired by Hong Kongese entrepreneur Bill Ngok, who then sold it in 2013 to Wintex Italia, a company linked to a group of Hong Kong investors, and was finally acquired by the US investment funds that sold it to F&F Holdings.
Last year, Sergio Tacchini’s owners set up a joint venture with French company Movin to relaunch the brand’s European retail distribution. “We believe we have a bright future ahead of us with the new owner. Our role remains the same,” said Vincent Touzet, managing director of Marseilles-based Movin, speaking to FashionNetwork.com. He added that he was able to discuss Sergio Tacchini’s growth prospects with Kim Chang-Soo. “We are enjoying excellent double-digit growth in France and Germany. The outlook is highly motivating. [F&F Holdings] is a very successful player in Asia, and has managed to build a powerful group that wants to invest massively in marketing and advertising. We will now be able to broadcast a global message.”
Sergio Tacchini, which still relies on its long-standing Milanese design office, is set to adopt a globalised approach that will fuel its international plans.
Copyright © 2023 FashionNetwork.com All rights reserved.


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Kitty Hawk, the electric air taxi startup backed by Google co-founder Larry Page, announced Wednesday that it plans to “wind down” operations.
“We’ve decided to end Kittyhawk. We’re still working out the details of what’s next,” the company wrote in a brief. Joint statement on this LinkedIn And Twitter Page Kitty Hawk did not immediately respond to a request for further comment.
According to its website, Kitty Hawk had a lofty mission to “build autonomous, affordable, ubiquitous and environmentally friendly air taxis.” It was founded by Sebastian Thron, a former Google executive who led the company’s self-driving car efforts.
The startup operated in secret until 2017, when it publicly unveiled its first aircraft — an ultralight electric plane dubbed the Blower which was designed to fly over water. Page, was said to be one of the richest men in the world. 100 million dollars invested. Flying car startups including Kitty Hawk.
After more than 25,000 successful test flights, the Flyer was finally retired in 2020, according to the company. Allegedly laid off many of those who were working on the flyer at the time. The company launched other electric airplane prototypes and announced a partnership with Boeing in 2019.
Kittyhawk’s shutdown will not affect its joint venture with Boeing, dubbed Wisk. In a ___ TweetWisk said it is “in a strong financial position” with both Boeing and Kitty Hawk as investors.
Like the Kittyhawk, Wisk is developing an “all-electric, self-flying air taxi” that it says “takes off like a helicopter and flies like an airplane,” according to its website. According to the company it will “remove the need for an airplane runway and allow you to land where you need to be”.


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Each manufacturer has a specific strategy to win the competition in the Indonesian automotive market, and it turns out that the strategy of Atsushi Kurita, President and Director of New Mitsubishi Indonesia is interesting to watch.
Each manufacturer has a specific strategy to win the competition in the Indonesian automotive market, and it turns out to be a strategy AtsushiKuritathe new managing director of Mitsubishi Indonesia proves interesting to watch.
Kurita San’s strategy continues Mitsubishi’s hegemony
“I was the managing president of KTB 2017-2020, at that time I was focused on commercial business, now it’s different again. The focus is on passenger vehicles, it’s quite difficult to compare because the market is different,” said Atsushi Kurita, President Director of PT Mitsubishi Motors Krama Yudha Sales Indonesia (MMKSI).
In fact, “I became Chairman Director just three days ago, I’m afraid the answer I gave was not comprehensive. You are right, I see that we will really face many difficulties due to inflation and competition,” said Kurita San, l is Atsushi Kurita’s last name and nickname.
Furthermore, the man who previously served as General Manager – Automotive Business Division, ASEAN Automotive Dept., Mitsubishi Corporation, Japan also said, “Because during yesterday’s pandemic the market fell sharply and government support and good purchasing power have finally rebounded again,” said Kurita San.
Trust in the power of products
As one of the strategies to excel in the Indonesian automotive market, Kurita San truly believes in the strength of Mitsubishi products. “We have a strong product and will obviously work with the MMKI factory to conduct a manufacturing cost reduction review to cover these increases,” she said.
However, he also admitted that electrification has changed the map of the competition. “This time the rivals are not only Japan, but also China and Japan. But we are not worried because we also have the best technology in the field of electrification,” the bespectacled man is sure.
“We will actually produce Minicab-MiEV, end of this year, start selling early next year, we know the government has a strong desire to become the leading country in electric car industry. We will help Indonesia make it happen We have the product and I will try to sell it,” he said.
“We are also working with financial institutions that we have to provide attractive offers for consumers. Of course, to cover the cost increase is an increase in processing prices, but we are as much as possible to maintain the current price until there is a change later,” concluded Kurita San.


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Faced with a choice between normal cleaning products and more expensive "green" alternatives, many shoppers pay more to do their bit for the environment.
But store chains and specialist manufacturers may be exaggerating some of their claims for "eco" cleaners and washing powders, a process dubbed "greenwashing". according to a survey by a consumer group today.
The claims of 14 "green" household cleaners, laundry tablets, nappies and baby wipes were put to the test by a panel of experts assembled by Which?.
While all the products made by the likes of Ecover, Green Force and Tesco did some good for the planet, almost half of them made claims that seemed not to be justified.
Which? assembled a panel of experts including Dr John Hoskins, a toxicologist and former adviser to the Commons Environment Select Committee, and Dr John Emsley, a chemist who has written extensively about the impact of chemicals in everyday life.
While they gave a thumbs-up to disposable nappies and wipes made by Sainsbury's, Asda, Earth Friendly and others, they disputed some of the claims made for laundry tablets and, especially, lavatory cleaners.
The world's biggest ecological cleaning product company, the Belgian Ecover, came in for some of the heaviest criticism. Of its lavatory cleaner and laundry tablets, Which? said: "Some claims are greenwash". Its panel "found no convincing evidence" to show that the cleaner had a different impact on aquatic life once it had been through a waste treatment plant. The scientists levelled the same charge at its laundry tablets, and those made by another company, Simply Active Eco Smart.
On Green Force's lavatory cleaner, the scientists had reservations about the claim "formulated to limit the impact on the environment" and said there was no convincing evidence that it was kinder to fish and other aquatic life than the market leader. While Sainsbury's Cleanhome cleaner claimed it was biodegradeable and kinder to the environment, the experts said some claims lacked evidence, again saying there was no convincing evidence it was kinder to aquatic life.
Some of Tesco's claims for its Naturally lavatory cleaner "lacked evidence" – particularly the claim that it contained no phosphates and left no chemical residues, since, the panel pointed out, this did not apply to normal cleaners either. Although they did not criticise the products, Which? said it was unclear whether the clean planet logos on Ariel Actilift and Persil Bio tablets related to environmental action by the manufacturer or shopper. Which? questioned the "greenness" of several other, bigger products. Tests showed the eco steam setting of the Bosch Sensixx Eco iron used the same energy as a low setting on a normal Bosch iron, and the Ainsley Harriott Eco Express Kettle was no quicker or more efficient than a normal kettle. There were many more fuel efficient cars on the market than the Ford Focus 1.6 Econetic, which did 49 miles to the gallon in tests.
Eco labels disputed the findings of the survey. Ecover said its lavatory cleaner and laundry tablets surpassed environmental laws, saying: "Our products are fully degradeable in anaerobic and aerobic conditions, going further than legislation and differentiating Ecover from market leaders."
Green Force said its sugar-based detergent was less toxic than soap and 20 times better than a typical alternative. Sainsbury's said its cleaner was endorsed by the Government-backed Ecolabel scheme. Simply said its Eco Label status showed it met toxicity criteria "which most, if not all, the leading brands cannot meet".
Tesco agreed to remove the claim about phosphates but stuck by its line on hazardous residues, saying that in the case of accidents citric acid and naturally derived detergents were "much kinder to the skin" than acids found in other products.
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