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Thrasio, a company that acquires and then aims to quickly grow third-party sellers on Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN) has finalized $750 million in new funding, raising the firm’s valuation to around $3 billion to $4 billion.
The investment round was led by current investors Advent and Oaktree.
Thrasio has managed to make many strategic acquisitions including nearly 100 Amazon businesses (to date) and states it’s now focused on closing two to three deals every week.
A blog post by Fintech SoFi explains that Thrasio intends to establish scalable economies with these projects. Several other competitors have somewhat similar business concepts and models and are also beginning to attract interest from investors, SoFi confirmed.
Recently, Branded, a new firm which “rolls up” and grows third-party sellers, finalized a $150 million funding round. It’s quite likely that this industry will see dramatic growth as digital commerce continues to grow rapidly in a post COVID environment. Analysts believe this landscape may become increasingly competitive on an international level due to globalization.
BharatPe, a New Delhi-headquartered Fintech firm, has acquired $108 million via a Series D investment round. The Indian startup develops systems to assist businesses with accepting virtual payments even if their other company operations are not completely online. India is home to 600 million Internet users and is notably the second-largest digital market in the world, however, much of the nation’s population isn’t yet connected to the Internet.
BharatPe offers services to around 6 million small businesses including convenience stores and roadside tea stands in India.
This latest funding round brings BharatPe’s valuation to around $900 million. The firm’s round was led by Coatue Management along with participation from Ribbit Capital, Insight Partners, Steadview Capital, Beenext, Amplo, and Sequoia Capital. BharatPe, which offers services in 75 Indian cities, intends to use the capital raised to further expand its operations into other regions in India.
In another update shared by SoFi, the Fintech notes that returns have “always caused challenges for retailers.” With digital commerce now booming, stores have updated return-related issues to address these changes. Last year, the number of e-commerce packages returned increased by 70% when compared to 2019.
Industry professionals believe that some of the online shopping habits picked up during the Coronavirus pandemic are most likely permanent. A new survey cited by SoFi reveals that 42% of consumers claim they’ll shop online “even more than they do now once the pandemic subsides.”
Because of these consumer behavior trends, digital commerce firms, large and small, are currently working on more permanent solutions to the challenges they’ve faced with returns from customers.
As confirmed by SoFi:
“About 30% of all online purchases [in the US] are returned, which is roughly three times the return rate for items purchased in brick-and-mortar stores. E-commerce purchases are returned more for a variety of reasons. Sometimes items ordered online do not fit properly, or do not meet customer expectations for other reasons. Also, online shoppers often order multiple sizes or colors of items so they can see them physically with the intent to return what they do not want. It also tends to be easier for customers to simply put an item back in the mail than it is to go to a physical store and wait at the return counter.”
While sharing other tech industry developments, SoFi pointed out that 559 firms have gone public during the past year in the US alone, however just three, including Bumble, were established by women.
Bumble (BMBL), the dating app that requires women to make the first move in its matches, went public recently. The company had initially priced shares at $43, however, the stock was up around 63% toward the end of the trading period that day.
Bumble was launched back in 2014 by its CEO Whitney Wolfe Herd. Wolfe Herd, 31, notably became the youngest woman founder to take a US company public.


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A big office lease in downtown Oakland, Calif., suggests merchant processor Square Inc. is about to embark on a big expansion.
Square on Thursday signed a lease for an entire 356,000-square-foot building that once was a Sears department store and after that was briefly owned by the ride-sharing firm Uber. The building now known as Uptown Station reportedly has room for 2,000 employees. Square initially will staff it with 300 to 500 workers once it’s ready for occupancy in late 2019, according to the San Francisco Chronicle.
The Oakland lease comes after Square added about 100,000 square feet of space to its San Francisco headquarters earlier this year. The company said in a statement that it “plans to maintain a significant presence” in San Francisco.
A Square spokesperson refused to disclose the company’s current head count or say what the Oakland employees will be doing. But in its latest annual report, Square, which has several offices besides its San Francisco facility, said it had 2,338 full-time employees as of Dec. 31, 2017. That means the new Oakland offices could accommodate nearly the entire full-time staff as of a year ago. Square also has an undisclosed number of part-time workers and uses consultants.
Square has constantly added products and services since it introduced its card-accepting dongles for iPhones about nine years ago. Most recently, the company said it would resume its quest for a Utah industrial bank charter. If granted, the charter would enable Square to offer loans and other banking services directly to its merchants.
“As Square grows, its main hiring needs will be in customer service and fraud prevention,” Gil Luria, director of research at D.A. Davidson & Co.’s equity capital markets unit in Portland, Ore., says by email. “The closest comparable company is PayPal, which employs thousands of people around the world in those two functions.”
Local press reports described Square’s Oakland lease as one of the biggest ever in the city, which has mostly missed out on the tech boom in nearby Silicon Valley and San Francisco just across the bay. Square reportedly will be the biggest tech company in the city once it moves in.
“We’re excited to join the Oakland community as a partner, an advocate, a neighbor, and a customer of local businesses,” Square chief executive Jack Dorsey said in a statement. “As we continue to grow, we want to support our employees wherever they are so they can work and invest in the communities in which they live.”
Square said it would not build a large corporate cafeteria in Uptown Station; such cafeterias have generated opposition from California restaurants claiming lost business. Instead, the building’s developer will turn the first floor into a “grand paseo” featuring restaurants and stores, according to Square.
The Oakland facility ultimately may not be a sign of a big Square expansion if the company simply moves most of its San Francisco employees there. San Francisco voters in November approved Proposition C, a controversial plan to raise the city’s gross-receipts tax on large companies to fund services for the homeless. Square opposed the measure, but said it made its expansion plans before the Prop C vote, according to the Chronicle. Oakland also has a gross-receipts tax, but it’s lower than San Francisco’s.

domain: news


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The manufacturing industry has received praise for its part in contributing to Singapore’s economic growth in the second quarter this year. Two Panasonic employees tell us more about their careers in the dynamic industry.
By Nabilah Husna A. Rahman
When you think of “Panasonic”, the various appliances and gadgets scattered around your house might come to mind. But behind the brand equity and its strong market positioning lies a team of hardworking individuals who do their best to unleash only quality products into the market.
Unsurprisingly, diligence is a noteworthy ingredient of Panasonic’s long-standing accomplishments in the industry. It is a valued attitude appropriate for a successful career in manufacturing, as Chew Hung Rhen and Chan Yi Yan both proclaim.
Both employees and their teams play crucial roles in the development of Panasonic as a quality brand and service.
Down to the nitty-gritty
Hung Rhen, a Senior R&D Engineer from Panasonic Refrigeration Devices Singapore was attracted to Panasonic because of its stead as a Japanese company. “First of all, it’s a big organisation with a lot of products,” he says. “It’s very prestigious and since it’s a Japanese company, I have a good impression of the product quality and services.”


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International private equity group Finstar Financial Group has appointed Mark Ruddock as the CEO of FinstarLabs, a corporate venture group that identifies and invests in technologies that will enable the generation of new alternative financial services.
FinstarLabs is Finstar’s corporate venture group that identifies and invests in technologies that will enable the generation of new alternative financial services.
Ruddock has more than 15 years of leadership experience in venture-backed startups, spanning enterprise software, mobile applications and online financial services, which has included two successful exits.
Ruddock has joined FinstarLabs from Wonga, a credit provider, where he was responsible for overseeing the company’s businesses outside the UK, including consumer lending operations in Canada, Spain, Poland and South Africa, its investment in the Scandinavian company Folkefinans, and its ecommerce business, BillPay, in Germany. Prior to joining Wonga, Ruddock was the CEO of Canadian mobile startup Viigo. Before joining Viigo, he founded and led INEA, an enterprise software company.
Founded in 1996, Finstar operates in the financial services, IT, consumer retail and real estate sectors and has some $2 billion of assets under management.


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Brazilian Bank Itau Unibanco to Offer Cryptocurrency Custody Services in 2023 – News Bitcoin News – Bitcoin News
by Sergio Goschenko
Itau Unibanco, one of the biggest Brazilian banks, has announced it will offer cryptocurrency custody services in 2023. Itau Digital Assets, the cryptocurrency unit of the company, will be responsible for this offering, which will be first available to customers of the bank, and then to third parties as a service.
Itau Unibanco, one of the largest private banks in Brazil and Latam, has decided to step into the crypto-related services business. The company announced on Nov. 17, 2022, that it plans to launch cryptocurrency custody services in 2023. Itau Digital Assets, the division of the company that deals with all things crypto, will be in charge of the tech behind this solution.
For Itau Unibanco, custody services are an important part of the security framework that third-party companies can offer users. On this, Itau Unibanco’s product manager Eric Alftafim told O Globo:
Custody is a fundamental element in this context, because, especially in a new market like crypto assets, it brings security to investors. We will safeguard customer assets in a reliable environment.
The cryptocurrency custody service will be implemented in two phases. The first phase will allow customers of the bank to contract these services. The second phase will extend these services to third parties including other companies and institutions. Itau Unibanco expects to launch its custody solution in Q2 2023. However, the company did not reveal the assets supported by its solution.
While Itau Unibanco is one of the first banks to announce this kind of service, it is not the first in Brazil. BTG Pactual, another institution in Brazil, debuted its cryptocurrency custody services as part of the launch of its own crypto exchange, called mint, in August.
This is not the first time that Itau Unibanco flirts with crypto. The company announced that it might introduce cryptocurrency trading for its customers on July 14. In the same way, the bank is also operating a tokenization unit, that allows customers to issue tokens representing real-world assets in the bank’s own exchange.
Itau Unibanco is also part of this year’s LIFT Lab, where a series of institutions present their projects with the idea of innovating the current finance system. The company was selected to present a Brazilian real pegged stablecoin solution, that could allow for quick exchange between tokens representing other fiat currencies in a decentralized finance environment.
What do you think about Itau Unibanco’s new cryptocurrency custody service? Tell us in the comment section below.
Sergio is a cryptocurrency journalist based in Venezuela. He describes himself as late to the game, entering the cryptosphere when the price rise happened during December 2017. Having a computer engineering background, living in Venezuela, and being impacted by the cryptocurrency boom at a social level, he offers a different point of view about crypto success and how it helps the unbanked and underserved.
Image Credits: Shutterstock, Pixabay, Wiki Commons, ERGIO V S RANGEL, Shutterstock.com
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only. It is not a direct offer or solicitation of an offer to buy or sell, or a recommendation or endorsement of any products, services, or companies. Bitcoin.com does not provide investment, tax, legal, or accounting advice. Neither the company nor the author is responsible, directly or indirectly, for any damage or loss caused or alleged to be caused by or in connection with the use of or reliance on any content, goods or services mentioned in this article.
Tony Hawk’s Latest NFTs to Come With Signed Physical Skateboards
Last December, the renowned professional skateboarder Tony Hawk released his “Last Trick” non-fungible token (NFT) collection via the NFT marketplace Autograph. Next week, Hawk will be auctioning the skateboards he used during his last tricks, and each of the NFTs … read more.
Central Bank of Brazil Confirms It Will Run a Pilot Test for Its CBDC This Year
The Central Bank of Brazil has confirmed that the institution will run a pilot test regarding the implementation of its proposed central bank digital currency (CBDC), the digital real. Roberto Campos Neto, president of the bank, also stated that this … read more.


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LG Brings G8X ThinQ with Dual Screen to US
Updated: Corrected with AT&T statement that free Dual Screen is only for a limited time. Added Sprint offer info. Corrected to say that G8X does have wireless charging.
LG is bringing its dual-screen concept to the US along with a new variant of the G8: the G8X ThinQ. The G8X drops the 3D depth camera and quad-HD display resolution in favor of a 32-megapixel selfie camera, full-HD display, stereo speakers, and a larger 4,000 mAh battery. It also has an in-display fingerprint reader instead of the standalone sensor on the G8. Other features of the G8X are similar to the G8, including a Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 chip, standard and wide-angle rear cameras, high-end audio chip, extra-loud speakers, 3.5mm headphone jack, IP68 water resistance, NFC, wireless charging, fast charging, 6 GB RAM, 128 GB storage, and a memory card slot. The snap-on Dual Screen sports a full-HD OLED screen identical to that on the G8X, including the small notch. It also has an extra "cover" display on the outside that shows notifications, date, time, and battery life. The hinge folds a full 360º, and locks in place at 120º, 140º, 180º (flat), and 270º (tent). The phone + Dual Screen together will sell for $700 unlocked. Both AT&T and Sprint will offer the LG G8X ThinQ. AT&T is including the Dual Screen for free for a limited time. Sprint will offer an online rebate form for a Dual Screen, which will ship from LG. Sprint will have "more details to share next week" on its launch offer. Pre-orders start Friday, will full availability on November 1st.
Oct 30, 2019
Sprint has revealed its launch details for the new LG G8X ThinQ with its unique Dual Screen accessory. As we previously reported, the companies are offering a free Dual Screen accessory via rebate.
Feb 24, 2019
Nokia today introduced five new phones, all of which run a clean version of Android One, with a promise of three years of Android updates. The new range includes a unique new camera-oriented flagship, three very affordable Android models, and one feature phone.
Aug 7, 2019
Samsung today announced the Galaxy Note10 and Note10+. The company's super-flagship Note series for 2019 comes in two sizes: The Note10 packs a screen similar to the Note9 into a smaller body, while the Note10+ sports a larger display in a body similar in size to the Note9.
Jul 11, 2019
Sprint is launching its 5G network in Chicago this week. Utilizing the company's 2.6 GHz (band 41) spectrum, the network offers better coverage and building penetration than the mmWave 5G networks launched by other companies in Chicago to date.
Mar 26, 2019
Samsung today published selected details of the new Galaxy A70, A40, A20, and A10 Android phones. These complement the Galaxy A30 and A50 the company announced a month ago.
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Turkey’s Cypher Games raises $3.2M for casual mobile gaming
There’s definitely a mobile gaming boom going on in Turkey, much like there was in Finland in the early days of mobile.
Cypher Games has raised $3.2 million in pre-seed funding to develop casual mobile games. Founded in March, the Turkish company is one of many game studios making casual game titles in the country.
Play Ventures led the round, with 500 Global, Joakim Achrén (Founder of Next Games and Elite Game Developers) and Akin Babayigit (founder of Tripledot Studios) joiningthe round.
The company focuses on the next generation mobile puzzle games and aims to become a leading global
studio. The team previously has built Merge Barista together for Zerosum Games, acquired by Rollic in
CEO Anil Simsek said in a statement that the funding will be used to expand the team sixfold by early 2023 and to develop their first casual mobile game.
“Turkey has a huge talent base potential and we are rewarding a sizable stock option pool for our colleagues” Simsek said. “We believe in the cooperative success with involvement on equal grounds instead of a me-oriented approach. Therefore, we want our colleagues to be shareholders at our firm.”
After the launch of their first casual mobile game by early 2023, the company plans to open a new
office in Berlin to give its employees the opportunity work from anywhere.
“We are proud to lead the first investment round into Cypher Games as they begin their quest to become
a leading global casual gaming studio,” said Harri Manninen, the founding partner of Play Ventures, in a statement. “Turkish mobile gaming ecosystem is extremely strong and we are very happy to see young founders like the Cypher team emerging and joining the ranks of the existing players such as Peak, Dream and Bigger Games.”
Enis Hulli, general partner at 500 Global, said in a statement, “The success of the Turkish startup ecosystem in creating unicorns is a lagging metric. The leading indicator is strong teams building companies (like Cypher Games) and getting backed by leading global gaming funds. It’s still the very early days of the company, but it’s exhilarating to dream of what lies ahead and be a part of their journey.”
Akin Babayigit, cofounder of Tripledot Studios, added, “I am super excited to support Cypher games as they start on their exciting journey. I think it’s very obvious that Turkey is emerging as a gaming power house, and the team at Cypher really impressed me with the level of their ambition and motivation. I have no doubt we will all be reading up about them very soon. I feel privileged that they allowed me to be on
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Audio – Consolidating the shippers
The credit crunch that’s curtailing access to funding for many companies may lead to consolidation among companies that own and operate shipping lines.
Container ships are not cheap, and they take years to build, so investors who order one have to do so well ahead of time. Some have overextended themselves, and may now be ripe takeover candidates.
Seaspan, a company that owns and leases container ships, sees many opportunities for acquisitions in coming months, as smaller operators run into financial problems, its Chief Executive Gerry Wang told the Reuters Manufacturing Summit in Chicago.


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- Sales and Trading
- Grower and Project Planner Vertical Farming - Aarhus - Denmark
- Offre d’emploi de Responsable Commercial Senior Sales Manager
- Territory Manager - Brazil/South America, Argentina, Ecuador, Columbia
- Sales manager
- Head of Sales
- Sales Manager - Germany
- Key Account / Sales manager Fruit - DACH
- Associate Director International Procurement: Produce - Berlin
- International Procurement Manager - Berlin
Top 5 -yesterday
- Turning to charter vessels to move Chilean blueberries
- Kenyan horticulture regulator extends avocado export ban indefinitely
- "Spanish raspberry cultivation increasingly moving to Morocco"
- Cherry breeding in Africa provides opportunities to meet growing demand
- "The growth of the blueberry industry in Northland was eventually going to be stifled by a lack of post-harvest providers"
Top 5 -last week
Top 5 -last month
Victorian vegetable grower Bill Bulmer elected as AUSVEG Chair
Bill Bulmer is Director of Bulmer Farms, located in Lindenow in East Gippsland. Mr Bulmer is a long-serving member of the vegetable industry and currently sits on the Executive Committee of AUSVEG VIC and the Horticulture Committee of the Victorian Farmers’ Federation.
Mr Bulmer’s election follows the decision by Geoff Moar, who has held the position of AUSVEG Chair since 2013, to not nominate for re-election. Mr Moar will continue to serve on the AUSVEG Board. Queensland vegetable grower Belinda Adams has been unanimously re-elected to the position of AUSVEG Deputy Chair.
“During his time as AUSVEG Chair, Geoff Moar has been a steadfast and loyal advocate for the Australian vegetable and potato industries. Under Geoff’s guidance, AUSVEG has gone from strength to strength, with the organisation well-placed to continue its strong track-record of effective advocacy on important industry issues,” said AUSVEG Chair Bill Bulmer.
“On behalf of the AUSVEG Board I would like to thank Geoff for his hard work and dedication to the industry during his time as AUSVEG Chair. I look forward to working extensively with the wider vegetable and potato industries to continue Geoff’s enduring legacy and lead our organisation and the Australian vegetable and potato industries into the future.”
Mr Moar thanked the AUSVEG Board for its support and expertise during his tenure as Chair, indicating that the industry was in a healthier position as a result of its commitment and tireless work.
“The last four years have seen significant changes to both the organisation and the wider industry. It has been a rewarding and valuable experience to work with such a passionate and cohesive Board to help advance the causes of our growers in this time and I am happy to work with Bill and Belinda to continue representing our vegetable and potato growers,” said Mr Moar.
“The last 12 months have been an exciting period for AUSVEG, following our efforts to increase industry collaboration and work with the wider horticulture industry to provide effective services and representation for our growers. This was clearly demonstrated in Adelaide earlier in the year, when we partnered with the Produce Marketing Association Australia-New Zealand to deliver Hort Connections 2017 to nearly 2,500 local and international delegates,” said Mr Bulmer.
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Other news in this sector:
- 2022-01-25 Albanian vegetable exports down
- 2022-01-25 Coachella artichoke production season kicks off
- 2022-01-25 China: The overall vegetable price in Beijing Xinfadi market has risen significantly
- 2022-01-25 The 10 hottest chili peppers in the world
- 2022-01-25 Sinaloa's vegetable sector faces another season of plummeting prices
- 2022-01-25 Mini symposium on beans quality takes place on February the 18th
- 2022-01-25 "Erzberg tunnel offers optimal conditions for our King Trumpet mushrooms"
- 2022-01-25 Fennel in Italy is scarce and prices are soaring
- 2022-01-25 Potatoes and vegetables of the ‘borscht set’ to see increased acreages in 2022
- 2022-01-25 Tomato prices crash in Chennai market
- 2022-01-25 Looking back on the Chinese garlic market in 2021
- 2022-01-25 Belarus to introduce price regulation on ‘borscht set’ and apples
- 2022-01-24 The pink ribbed Cassarosa tomato is awarded the 2022 Flavor of the Year award
- 2022-01-24 There will be a lack of fresh artichokes because of the frost in the Region of Murcia
- 2022-01-24 40% drop in volumes of red garlic from Nubia
- 2022-01-24 Are consumers willing to buy CRISPR tomatoes?
- 2022-01-24 Fiji: Suva Market Vendors Association expects high vegetables prices for at least 3 more months
- 2022-01-24 Broccoli to help anti-cancer treatments
- 2022-01-24 The trial planting of "Old Beijing" green chives succeeded
- 2022-01-24 Two Australian family brands partner together to celebrate loved Aussie produce in pickled form


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Clorox judges that an attack on its IT systems will probably have a material impact on its results.
Cyberattack induces Clorox product shortages.
Cleaning product manufacturer Clorox disclosed in an SEC filing that the cyberattack it sustained on August 14th has led to ongoing consumer product availability issues.
An attack on IT had operational consequences.
Clorox stated, “The cybersecurity attack damaged portions of the Company’s IT infrastructure, which caused widescale disruption of Clorox’s operations. The Company is repairing the infrastructure and is reintegrating the systems that were proactively taken offline. The Company expects to begin the process of transitioning back to normal automated order processing the week of Sept. 25. Clorox has already resumed production at the vast majority of its manufacturing sites and expects the ramp up to full production to occur over time. At this time, the Company cannot estimate how long it will take to resume fully normalized operations.”
Clorox sees the attack as “material.”
The company added, “Clorox is still evaluating the extent of the financial and business impact. Due to the order processing delays and elevated level of product outages, the Company now believes the impact will be material on Q1 financial results.”
A business downturn with (physical) supply chain implications.
Darren Williams, CEO and Founder at BlackFog, commented:
"Last month's cyberattack on Clorox continues to impact the company’s supply and production rate. As a major manufacturer of consumer and professional cleaning products with pre-existing global supply chain issues, the shortages continue to have a wide-scale impact. This outcome is consistent with our research, which shows that business downturn is a primary consequence of such cyberattacks and often leads to customer frustration, financial losses and loss of trust in the business.
“To avoid the resulting financial loss and customer dissatisfaction, businesses should implement newer preventative technologies such as anti data exfiltration. These third-generation solutions stop attacks in their tracks and ensure that companies can secure their digital assets and maintain business continuity.”


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Nov 2, 2023
Apple sales dip again despite iPhone boost
Apple sales have continued to fall, despite strong demand for its iPhones and services like streaming platform Apple TV+. The tech giant says revenues dipped 1% to $89.5bn in the three months to 30 September when compared with the same period last year. It marks the fourth quarter in a row where sales have fallen year on year. In an update to investors, the firm said that profits had reached $23bn, helped by a new record for iPhone sales in the three-month period. Its Mac computers, for example, saw sales drop to $7.6bn for the quarter, down from $11.6bn the year before. On Thursday, the company said that sales in China had dipped by 2.5%, although Mr Cook said that after accounting for foreign exchange rates its business there had grown year on year.
Make a complaint about Apple by viewing their customer service contacts.


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News - Holden
Holden exits engineering too
Brain drain: Many automotive engineers axed by Holden will have no alternative but to seek work in Asia’s booming car industry.
At least 400 Holden engineers to go as GM slams door on local vehicle development
12 December 2013
GENERAL Motors’ decision to axe most of its Holden engineers by the end of 2017
along with its manufacturing operations spells the death knell for Holden’s
global vehicle engineering role in Australia.
Holden chairman and managing director Mike Devereux said today that although
its engineering centre and proving ground will close, the company will look to
use outside firms to tweak the suspension of its fully imported cars for
“When we look at tuning vehicles to the road conditions, that can also be done
in other engineering centres,” he told ABC radio.
“So to the extent that we retain that engineering centre (now) and wind it down
over the next three to four years, we will also retain some amount of local
tuning for the tastes of Australian consumers and to make sure that, no matter
what, we continue to give Australian consumers cars that are ‘Holdens’.”
Of the engineers to remain, most are likely to be assigned to supporting the
Melbourne-based design studio that will continue working on global projects.
GM has not spelled out exactly how many engineers will be made redundant,
saying only it will “significantly reduce” Holden’s engineering operations.
However, GoAuto understands that between the manufacturing engineers at the
Elizabeth plant in South Australia and the Port Melbourne engine plant – both
of which are closing – and the product development engineering team in
Victoria, Holden currently has about 500 engineers.
That is likely to be cut by at least 400, leaving between 50 and 100 engineers
on the payroll.
Society of Automotive Engineers Australia executive director Natalie Roberts –
herself a former engine calibration engineer for Holden – told GoAuto that many
of these engineers would struggle to find suitable employment in Australia.
She said she already knew of several engineers who had left Australia to take
up positions in Asia where car-makers were seeking to expand their car
“We keep hearing about this transition to new industries in Australia, but
where are they, what are they?” she said.
Ms Roberts said successive government had chopped and changed policy in
Australia, leading to uncertainty among car-makers about the long-term
viability of engineering products here.
“A new car platform takes 14 years, from its design and engineering and a
10-year model life, so manufacturers need policy certainty,” she said.
Ms Roberts said the fallout from the Holden decision would also cost
engineering jobs at automotive suppliers that develop products for local
The union representing engineers, Professional Engineers Australia (PEA), said
Holden’s decision to shut its manufacturing and engineering operations would
cost some of “the best jobs in Australia”.
PEA CEO Chris Walton said it was critical to Australia’s future to maintain a
robust, diverse economy for the long term, “yet we now face the end of
value-added manufacturing in Australia”.
He said urgent action was needed to ensure that there was not a brain drain of
highly skilled engineers from Australia.
“The automotive sector – at the apex of the manufacturing sector – drives
innovation, research and development and high-skill jobs,” he said.
“Without those jobs, highly skilled engineers and technicians will have no
choice but to go overseas."
Holden’s decision to axe its engineering operation will leave Ford Australia as
the only Australian manufacturer with the capability for a ground-up
development of new global vehicle architectures.
Ford Australia has carved out a significant global role in both design and
engineering at its Victorian operations for products such as the Ranger ute and
upcoming Everest SUV, with small cars for China also on the go.
But even this capability is under pressure, with Ford Australia president Bob
Graziano going before the Productivity Commission to call for continued
government assistance for such operations.
Toyota Australia has a small engineering and design capability in Melbourne,
working on projects such as chassis development for the next-generation HiLux
and design for the new HiLux-based Toyota Fortuna SUV.
Until recently, Holden was the “home room” for the company’s global Zeta
rear-drive vehicle architecture that underpins the Commodore, Caprice and their
United States export offshoots, the Chevrolet SS and Caprice PPV police car, as
well as the Canadian-built Camaro.
The Zeta program has been axed in Australia, and the decision to cut the
engineering capability – announced in yesterday’s media release from Detroit –
signals an end to Australian responsibility for global platforms.
The decision to shut the Lang Lang proving ground will mean the closure of the
most advanced vehicle development facility in Australia.
The proving ground not only has a maze of different sorts of roads for vehicle
chassis testing and durability trials but also international-quality testing
labs for things such as crash safety, emissions, noise abatement, hot and cold
extreme testing and engine calibration.
To build that facility from the ground up would cost millions.


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Early in 2011 President Obama made a comment about automated systems such as ATMs and automated grocery store checkout systems. His political opponents gave him a hard time when he explained that sometimes advances in technology hurts jobs, and other times make our workers more productive and competitive. We all know this to be a fact, and although he was probably using his statement as a reason for high unemployment rates, or perhaps an excuse – the point should be well taken.
Not more than a couple weeks later President Obama attended a meeting and gave a speech at the Carnegie Mellon robotics college about how future robotics would help our technologically advanced society and civilization. Apparently, too many people took what he said the wrong way, and out of context and he felt he needed to shore up the negative publicity. In doing so, he and the professors at Carnegie Mellon explained to the American people how our future was unfolding now, and how robotics will make us more efficient in everything we do. russian store
Indeed, another reason to study math and science and consider a field in robotics, which was a good pitch for the college as well. Three weeks later the West Coast grocery store chain; Albertsons, announced that it would be getting rid of its automatic checkout lines. The company that makes these automated checkout systems watched their stock deteriorate, but then gave a press compress explaining how grocery stores were only one of the many types of stores and industries that use their systems, their stock climbed back up.
Perhaps, you’ve seen these automated checkout systems in Lowe’s and Home Depot as well. There are also in Walmart and many other places. Now then, many people understand that having 4 or 5 of these automatic checkout systems being monitored by one checker, human, means that less people have a job. Indeed, human shoppers have not found these to be at their favorite way to buy their goods, as many are not used to it or are merely adverse to change. Albertsons realizing that it’s union grocery store clerks didn’t like them, and that the shoppers didn’t particularly like them either, decided to take them out.
Now then, this doesn’t mean in the future that you will not have an automatic checkout system which scans all the groceries you have put inside your cart, as you wheel it through some sort of scanning system, as that probably is the future, especially considering RFID tags. Still, and luckily for many people who are unemployed it will be a while, because the shoppers don’t trust these systems yet, the unions hate them, and our unemployment is rather high. Nevertheless, that will be our future. Indeed I hope you will please consider all this and think on.


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Fossil, the watch and accessories seller, said Monday that it named e-commerce veteran Mauria Finley to its board of directors.
Finley founded and ran Citrus Lane, a subscription-based seller of children's products, which was sold to Care.com Inc. in 2014. Previously, she held positions at eBay Inc. and its former subsidiary PayPal. She has also worked at AOL and Netscape Communication.
In a statement, Fossil CEO Kosta Kartsotis said Finley's technology experience "aligns with the strategic initiatives currently in place."
Shares of Fossil Group Inc., based in Richardson, Texas, fell 93 cents, or 1.5 percent, to $59.51 in afternoon trading Monday as the broader market sagged.
Copyright AP - Associated Press


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Press releases for Thursday, February 24, 2022
Source: Twellium Industrial Company Limited
Fotocopy, a talented musician from Ghana, has been unveiled as an official brand ambassador for Pure Delight Biscuit by Twellium Industry, a product that comes in 3 flavors, Strawberry, Chocolate and Milk produced from premium quality ingredients and natural milk.
The simple but colorful ceremony took place at the Royal Seed Orphanage Home in Papaase on Tuesday afternoon, where the Foto copy team and industry representatives from Twellium presented Pure Delight products and other items to the orphanage. of the Twellium industry.
Fotocopy expressed their gratitude to Twellium Industry for trusting their brand and offered to help promote the “Pure Delight” product to the next level. He also thanked his father, Qwaachi, who has been his rock since the beginning of his musical career, as well as Shatta Wale and all of Fotocopy’s fans for their unwavering support.
Mr. Ken, Head of Events at Twellium, explained why his company chose Fotocopy as its latest brand ambassador: “Our company believes in retaining brilliant creatives and driving them to their destination, from where Fotocopy’s signature.” Mr. Ken believes the young musician has great potential and collaborating with him to promote the Pure Delight Biscuit will help both brands succeed.


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The Brewers Association, a Boulder, Colo.-based trade group, has released its annual lists of the top 50 craft breweries and top 50 breweries overall based on 2010 sales volume in the United States. “At more than 1,700, the number of breweries in the U.S. is higher than any time since the late 1800s,” association Director Paul Gatza said in a prepared statement. “Beer lovers’ appreciation for American craft brewers and their craft beers continue to grow.”
The craft list includes only one Ohio brewery: Great Lakes Brewing in Cleveland at 22nd. (Great Lakes moved up one spot from last year.) The top five craft brewers in order are: Boston Beer Co., Sierra Nevada, New Belgium, Spoetzl and Deschutes. Anheuser-Busch tops the overall list, followed by MillerCoors, Pabst, D.G. Yuengling and Son, and Boston Beer. Anheuser-Busch, MillerCoors and Boston Beer have breweries in Ohio.
For the full lists, click here.


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Subaru sued due to defects in carsMay 22, 2020
Japanese car owners are suing the manufacturer.
Subaru car owners have filed a class action lawsuit against the manufacturer, as brand cars have defects that result in unintended acceleration.
We are talking about the 2012-2018 Subaru Forester crossovers, Legacy sedans 2015-2019 and Outback station wagons 2015-2019. So, one of the owners reports that she suffered from unintentional acceleration in December 2019, when she slowly drove through the parking lot. As a result, the SUV crashed into another car.
It is noted that the manufacturer was aware of this problem back in 2011, as the first complaints from customers began to come in and it was noted that even though the pedal was depressed, the car’s brakes unintentionally accelerated.
The lawsuit says that cars have trouble detection systems that cannot foresee the problem. It is clarified that the throttle position sensor, the throttle body assembly, the transmission control module and the motherboard are malfunctioning.
- Lotus will unveil a new sports car this summer
- 2022 BMW X4 M prototype spotted during winter trials
- Lancia will become Stellantis’ premium brand
- Grenadier plant to be relocated to Europe
- Ford renews Thunderbird trademark


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(PRWEB) May 15, 2015
“Mozido” was featured on NewsWatch as part of its monthly AppWatch, which takes a look at the latest and coolest applications on the market for iOS, Android, and Windows. Andrew Tropeano, the host of NewsWatch and technology expert, conducted the app review and shared with viewers how this application is mobilizing financial services.
More than one third of the global population is unbanked, meaning they do not have a bank account or access to a physical bank location. But almost everyone in the world owns a cell phone. And according to Quartz, there are almost more cell phones than there are people. In countries where banking options are limited, it can be incredibly difficult, if not impossible, to transfer or withdraw money. So, Mozido, is tackling this problem with their application.
Mozido is making it easier for people to make purchases at merchants or ecommerce sites, pay their bills, top off their mobile minutes, or send money to family members by mobilizing financial services. And to use it, users simply need to download the Mozido mobile app, go to a local merchant that works with Mozido, hand them cash, enter their phone number and pin, and the money is deposited into their mobile wallet.
Users can then use their mobile wallet instantly. It's like having a mobile bank account that doesn't require a brick-and-mortar bank. Mozido is currently working to bring these kinds of solutions to China, India, Africa, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Jamaica and Latin America. Their goal is to one day make mobile payment as universal as credit cards.
To learn more, visit http://www.mozido.com today.
NewsWatch is a weekly 30-minute consumer oriented television show that airs on the History Channel, FYI Network, and ION Network. NewsWatch regularly features top technology products and services, mobile applications for iOS, Android, and Windows devices, unique and beautiful travel destinations around the world, health and medical tips, and entertainment interviews on the show. NewsWatch airs on the History Channel at 6:00 – 6:30 AM ET/PT and on the FYI Network from 7:00 – 7:30 AM ET.
NewsWatch is located in the greater Washington, DC area and has been on air for over 25 years. For more information or to watch the most recent episode, visit http://newswatchtv.com/appwatch.html.


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Renaissance Homes of Lake Oswego, Ore., which was flying high just a year ago, plans to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy court protection from its creditors today, Sept. 23, or tomorrow while it reorganizes its finances.
The Portland-area builder's fast fall serves as a reminder that few areas of the country remain immune to the market plague and that growing fast has its own risks.
The company's problems began last fall and became critical by spring when the sale of 94 homes, roughly one-third of the company's backlog, fell through because the buyers couldn't sell their existing homes, says Kim Whitman, the company's vice president of sales and marketing. Up until then, the company had lost only between 6% and 10% of sales because buyers weren't able to sell their homes.
About half the houses that failed to close, which had original price tags averaging $600,000, still remain on Renaissance's books.
"They were highly amenitized," Whitman said, as the company's design center enticed buyers to add between $50,000 and $125,000 in upgrades. "That personalized house that came back to us was not what the next buyer necessarily wanted, so if they did make an offer they wouldn't offer the full value of the options. They'd kill you on that."
When revenue plunged, Renaissance managed to keep up its payments to its banks, but not to its subcontractors. Not long afterward, work ground to a halt, Whitman said.
Renaissance would have preferred not to file for Chapter 11, Whitman said, but after talking to the regional banks that provided its financing, the builder decided bankruptcy was the best option.
"We have worked out a deal with all our major banks to support our reorganization plan when we do file," Whitman said late Tuesday, Sept 22. "Those banks will be on board and support us with funding for new construction and operational costs going forward....I don't want to paint a rosy picture...but we will be able to sit down with all our vendors and suppliers and decide how to go forward with payment."
Through the first half of 2007, Renaissance's future looked rosy, according to Whitman. The company had doubled in size and was expecting to close 350 homes by the end of the year.
"But we had doubled in size in one year, and that's got risks in itself," Whitman said. "We knew when we were doing this [that] it is risky because when companies grow this fast one of the wheels is wobbling, but we didn't' know which one it was."
Still, "Through the first half of 2007 we were just rolling and thought, 'Gee, maybe we are going to dodge the bullet,'" Whitman said. "This place was growing nicely, but not crazily like California and Florida and Phoenix."


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Nov 6, 2013 ... New reports have hinted that the Samsung Galaxy S5 screen could be a stunning
2560 x 1440 offering.
Jun 18, 2014 ... Galaxy S5 gets 2560x1440 display and latest Snapdragon chip, but only in ... a
Quad HD (QHD) screen with a resolution of 2560 by 1440 pixels, and ... when
Samsung introduced the Galaxy S5 LTE-A. The smartphone's QHD ...
Nov 15, 2013 ... The latest report says that this upcoming Galaxy device could boast 2560 x 1440
pixels screen resolution. This is something Samsung itself has ...
Nov 19, 2013 ... Samsung said to be prepping 560ppi display, Galaxy S5 could be first up. By Matt
... Resolutions could be as high as 2560 x 1440 ... If Samsung's future phones
boast 560ppi and 2560 x 1440 resolution, it'll most certainly be a ...
Jun 18, 2014 ... We've heard rumours of a supercharged Samsung Galaxy S5 and it's now ...
Boasting a 5.1-inch QHD display, Snapdragon 805 processor, 3GB of RAM and
... The 2560 x 1440 screen resolution matches that of the recently ...
Feb 18, 2014 ... Pretty soon the smartphone will have the same resolution as the much ... Others
that could have that pixel count, like Samsung's Galaxy S5 and ... However, with
the extra resolution, you may not get a corresponding performance boost. ... (
above); and Qualcomm showed off a 5.1-inch 2,560 x 1,440 model.
Mar 3, 2015 ... Samsung's new Galaxy S6 smartphone is sleeker and more ... While the Galaxy
S5's 5.1-inch display offered a full HD resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels, the S6
goes beyond that with an even sharper resolution of 2560 x 1440 pixels. ... which
should give it a speed boost over the Qualcomm Snapdragon ...
Jun 19, 2014 ... The smartphone has a higher-resolution display, faster processor, and more
RAM. ... Samsung has officially announced the 2560 x 1440 QHD Galaxy S5 LTE
-A. ... The S5 LTE-A boasts a 2560 x 1440 QHD display, Qualcomm ...
Jun 18, 2014 ... The Galaxy S5 Broadband also bumps the display up to 2560×1440 display ... it
possible to switch the resolution from 2560x1440 to 1280x720, for battery .... VR
is getting a direct boost from these higher mobile resolutions.
Apr 7, 2015 ... Check Out the Smartphones Coming with Quad HD (1440 x 2560) Resolution
Displays ... Oppo was actually at the forefront of the QHD resolution back in 2014,
... of the Galaxy S5 flagship which Samsung is selling only in South Korea. The
phone boasts a 5.1-inch screen with a whopping 576ppi (might ...


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In the latest twist in the long-running, multi-national trademark battles between Gucci and the mid-market fashion brand Guess, the European Union ("EU") General Court has held that Guess’s interlocking “G’s” logo is dissimilar to an array of Gucci’s logos and therefore, cannot be blocked by the Italian design house. The decision – which may be subject to final appeal before the European Union Court of Justice – follows a number of mixed decisions from courts in the U.S., France, Italy, Australia, and China.
You may recall that Gucci initially filed a trademark infringement suit against Guess? in a New York federal court, asking to court to order Guess to pay over $221 million in damages for what the Italian design house called a massive trademark infringement scheme perpetrated by Guess?. That case closed in 2012 – following a three-week trial – with the court finding in favor of Gucci, and awarding the fashion house just $4.7 million in damages for Guess's infringement of its trademarks. Further, Judge Scheindlin, who presided over the case, awarded Gucci a permanent injunction against Guess's use of three of the four challenged designs at issue. The fashion house has since filed suits in Italy, France, China, and Australia – and the results have been mixed.
In regards to the case at hand, Guess? registered a European Union (“EU”)-specific trademarks for its logo in relation to cosmetics, apparel and accessories in classes 3, 9, 14, 16, 18, 25 and 35, as well as in the class that covers digital accessories. Gucci filed to invalidate Guess?’s pending trademark application, which Guess? filed in June 2012, asserted that it already holds EU trademark rights in at least five trademarks that consist of an interlocking “G” pattern. The Italian design house further argued that Guess?'s logo is confusingly similar to all of its earlier interlocking “G” logos.
Most recently, the EU Fourth Board of Appeal rejected both Gucci’s invalidity application and opposition, on the grounds that the logos were dissimilar. On appeal by Gucci, the EU General Court upheld the Board of Appeal’s decisions, stating that the marks are, in fact, dissimilarly, particularly given that “the average consumer normally perceives a mark as a whole and does not analyze its various details – only rarely having a chance to compare marks directly, and so having to rely on an imperfect recollection.”
With that in mind, the court, nonetheless, analyzed the two parties’ logos and found – among other things – that the relevant public would likely not perceive the capital letter “G” in the Guess? logo as the letter “G” but instead, as an abstract ornamental motif without world elements. In contrast, for most of the Gucci logos, the court held that capital letter “G” could be easily perceived in those logos. The Court held that, assessed as a whole, the marks were therefore “completely different.”
Since the marks were found to be dissimilar, the Court held that it was unnecessary to examine Gucci’s other arguments relating to the “allegedly exceptionally high” level of distinctiveness of the Gucci logos, their reputation, or their membership of a family of marks. It also followed that there could be no likelihood of confusion between the marks.
The Court held that it also followed that the existence of the Guess? logo in the market would not take unfair advantage of or be detrimental to the Gucci logos, as Gucci had argued. The Court acknowledged case law establishing that unfair advantage or detriment could result from a lower degree of similarity between marks, provided that it is sufficient for the relevant public to make a link between them. However, that required “some similarity, even faint,” and the Court ruled out any similarity between the marks in this case.


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Well-heeled mainlanders push up prices of luxury yachts
Affluent mainlanders have pushed up prices of luxury yachts, with some boat prices surging by as much as 30 per cent in just a year, according to dealers.
'Mainlanders have just started to buy yachts, and they want the most luxurious boats available. They think the priciest ones are the best, as they lack experience and education in yachts,' said Joe Chan Chi-wan, director and manager of super-yacht management company Master Yachts.
Some manufacturers are putting up their prices simply because of this mainland factor, Chan said, although in contrast to the free-spending mainlanders, Hong Kong buyers are looking for good bargains.
'Some manufacturers ask agents if their clientele includes mainlanders because they prefer dealers who sell boats to mainland customers,' Chan said.
'To many mainland yacht buyers, HK$10 million is just so many coins, and they buy boats with pricetags of HK$50 million, HK$60 million or even HK$70 million.' He said mainland buyers also preferred European brands, which they believed were more fashionable.
Inflation is another reason for the escalating prices. According to Jacky Cheung Yat-yeung, owner of yacht broker Smart Concept Craft, prices of yachts manufactured in Europe have increased by more than 20 per cent in a year, while those from the United States rose by more than 10 per cent.
Cheung, who works with yacht manufacturers in Taiwan, said overall manufacturing costs of yachts rose by 15-16 per cent in the past 12 months.
He blamed the increase on the surging price of fibreglass, a material used in the construction of boats, which he said had jumped more than 10 per cent in a year. Labour costs were also up by about 8 per cent and the weakening exchange rate of the US dollar was another negative factor for the company, as it needed to settle payments in the stronger Taiwanese dollar.
'But despite the higher prices, mainlanders in Hong Kong can still afford luxury items because they are so wealthy,' Cheung said, adding that he was about to close two deals totalling between HK$20 million and HK$30 million with mainlanders.
'There are so many industries in the mainland, even shampoo manufacturers, that come to Hong Kong to raise initial public offerings. The mainlanders are getting richer, hence they are happy and willing to spend,' he said.
Samuel Wong Kam-fai, executive director of mainland craft brand Accelera, said his company, which has about 40 years of history in boat manufacturing, launched the new brand two years ago and was now selling boats directly to clients on the mainland.
'Many of our clients are executives of Hong Kong-listed mainland companies, and they pay by cash in instalments. They pay a few million in each instalment,' Wong said.
Fewer than 30 per cent of his clients were from the mainland a year ago, but the figure has now risen to about 50 per cent, he said.
The firm took part in the three-day boat show at the Gold Coast Yacht and Country Club that ended yesterday.
Albert Wu, general manager of the club, said a boating magazine had arranged for a group of about 40 to 50 wealthy mainlanders to attend the show, demonstrating the strong interest and purchasing power of people from this market.


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Currently, the digital economy contributes 40% to ASEAN’s digital economy, valued at US$70 billion, which is estimated to more than double to US$146 in 2025, Hartarto said in a statement.
“The great potentials for Indonesia’s digital economy and digital talents must be taken advantage of properly to accelerate the development of entrepreneurs,” he said, according to Antara.
To expedite the nation’s digital transformation, the Indonesian government will be continuing its digital talent development programme this year, under the Communication and Informatics Ministry (Kominfo).
“The primary attempt is introducing digitisation to the community. There are 270 million Indonesians; however, only a very few of them understand digitisation,” said Kominfo Minister Johnny Plate in an online event.


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Discover more from Automotive Supply Chain Risk Digest
Elm Analytics - Automotive Supply Chain Risk Digest #146 - November 22 - 28, 2019
CHANGE IN MANAGEMENT
The Director of UAW Region 5, Vance Pearson, resigned from his post early this week amid the ongoing corruption scandal.
American Center for Mobility COO Mark Chaput is now interim CEO replacing Michael Noblett. Noblett had been brought on in Feb 2019. This is the second abrupt leadership change in two years.
As part of its plan to invest more in electric vehicles, Audi will cut 9,500 jobs in Germany by 2025. The move is expected to save the automaker around $6.6B.
Germany's BMW and labor groups have reached an agreement on cost-saving measures. BMW seeks to cut $13B by 2022.
Automakers expect sales of new energy vehicles in China to rebound in 2020.
UAW VP Cindy Estrada reported this week that their talks with FCA have made a lot of progress, but that some difficult issues remain to be solved.
Grand Rapids, Michigan stamping company, Gill Corp. and Germany's Benteler Automotive Corp. reached an out-of-court agreement after a breach of contract lawsuit. Gill manufactures parts that Benteler integrates into exhaust system assemblies. The Chrysler Pacifica and Dodge Caravan minivans, Jeep Wrangler and Gladiator, Ford Mustang and Toyota Corolla, use these assemblies. While Gill is contracted to provide parts until 2038, it also expects to close its Bond Avenue plant in April 2020. Gill is working to transition the work to other suppliers.
Baltimore's Paice and nonprofit The Abell Foundation have filed suit against BMW. The lawsuit alleges that BMW has infringed on its patents involving hybrid engines.
An antitrust probe in India determined that Tata Steel, SKF, and Schaeffler colluded on the pricing of bearings.
South Korea's SK Innovation and LG Chem have filled US lawsuits for battery patent infringements. The feuding firms are trying to stop each other from selling batteries in the US. This increases risks to the supply of batteries before an anticipated demand surge.
Ford is recalling over 78K 2019 Ford Rangers in North America due to issues with the taillights. The lights may have misaligned or improperly seated terminals that can cause them to work intermittently or not at all.
FCA is recalling 73K Fiat 500s worldwide due to degraded shift cable bushings on the vehicles. Some bushings can degrade when exposed to heat and humidity and cause the shift cable to separate from the transmission.
Mazda is recalling a series of vehicles with already recalled airbags. The potentially defective replacements are in 117k vehicles in the US.
MERGERS, VENTURES, ACQUISITIONS
FCA and PSA are reportedly set to sign a binding merger agreement in the coming weeks according to internal company communications. If the merger is finalized, it will create the fourth-largest automaker, with a combined value of around $50B.
Hyundai has entered into a memorandum of understanding with the government of Indonesia to build its first manufacturing plant there. The automaker will invest $1.6B into the plant and start production there by the second half of 2021.
A fire that broke out at Faurecia's plant in Abrera, Spain, last week affected and halted production at Seat's vehicle assembly plant in Martorell, Spain. Faurecia supplies dashboards to Seat on a just-in-time basis.
Vehicle production in the United Kingdom fell 4% in October due to weak demand.
China is setting more stringent guidelines to protect patents, copyrights, and other intellectual property. The new guidelines will beef up laws by increasing compensation for infringements, more strictly enforcing existing laws, and lowering the threshold for criminal prosecution of IPR offenses.
Uber has been stripped of its license to operate in London, England, over safety concerns. The organization that oversees the city's transportation system, Transport for London, said that the ride-sharing company is "not fit and proper" to hold a license as it has not done enough to stop unlicensed and uninsured drivers from transporting riders.
Russia will spend $78M in lending subsidies to counter sluggish car sales.


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Gender bending fashion has made its way on the runway for quite some time now. Traditional expressions of masculine or feminine are fast disappearing and the world seems to be moving into an androgynous direction. Whether it is Vivienne Westwood, Louis Vuitton or Alessandro Michelle’s Gucci, it looks like gender fluidity is here to stay.
The concept of gender bending is not new and has been in existence ever since there have been gender norms. Although the concept has been trending over the runway, its mass explosion and diffusion in retail is slow to come. There is definitely a change brewing. Muted colours and gender neutral silhouettes were the first trends to hit the shelves of mass market retail stores. However, we are still a long way from ‘his/her sections’ and creating a neutral space for gender non-confirming shoppers.
Paving way for genderless fashion
Selfridges paved the way for change in 2015, announcing a pop-up in their Oxford Street store titled ‘Agender’. The campaign created a gender neutral shopping space spanning two floors. Additionally, the campaign was also promoted in stores in Birmingham and Manchester as well as online.
Similarly high street brands like Zara, H&M and ASOS have had gender neutral collections and collaborations. It is still unsure whether retailers have cracked the code just yet. Zara’s ‘Ungendered’ collection, for example received flak for being too grey and dull.
The brand has definitely added colour over the years, but it is still hard for retailers to decode what exactly genderless means. For many transgenders, gender neutral doesn’t mean boring but redefining who exactly can wear a skirt or heels.
Kids wear has proven to be a booming market in the gender debate and retailers have been quick to take action. The wave of gender neutrality targeted the age old concept of ‘girls wear pink and boys wear blue’ first.
Retailers are now meeting the expectations of millennial parents and designing children’s clothes in all spectrum of colours. The focus is more on durability, comfort and function.
It is not just clothes, toys are getting a revamp as well. Hamleys, back in 2011 changed their signages from colour-coded gender based to category based. Thus, by offering a wide array of products irrespective of gender, parents have more options to suit kids preferences.
Transgender figures and gender neutral fashion spaces
On the marketing front, things are shifting too. Campaigns today prefer to show diversity and hire models from across genders. Talent agencies are scouting trans—inclusive models. The industry is creating an environment that moves away from recruiting people just based on their gender roles.
The issue still is that diversity and creating a comfortable shopping zone is still hard to come by. It isn’t too difficult to create a neutral zone. Shoe brands like Converse and Vans have similar styles kept in different sections of men and women, which can easily be placed in a common section for ‘Everyone’.
Similarly Gap is known to sell boyfriend jeans, but isn’t it high time we just call them jeans? Is it too much to ask for a genderless tab when shopping online? While gender lines have blurred, it is time they become more fluid on the shop floor itself. We have to let go of our pre-conceived notions of male/female and instead focus on a space for everyone.
Gender bending fashion and sizes
Sizing is another area that needs some fluidity. While women clothes in the UK comes in sizes 4-28, mens clothes are generally in sizes XS-XXL. The difference in metric makes it harder for people to shop across the board. A neutral size guide or labels that highlight both metrics is essential.
Some critics argue that fashion retail may not fully dive into this gender-bending trend as most expect it to. Millennials have been defying labels and rejecting judgements but a similar approach is harder for the so-called ‘boomers’ to adapt to.
Primark received some backlash after introducing gender neutral changing rooms in two of its stores early last year. While the installation was praised by equality campaigners, some have come out to boycott the brand all together.
The brand made the move several retailers like Topshop, Urban Outfitters and COS made the shift to genderless changing stations. It is clearly evident that no change will receive full support from the audience but this shouldn’t stop retailers from taking steps in a more gender fluid environment.
Gender roles are bound to be challenged in the years to come and while each new runway collection is keeping up with this change, the retail sector needs a bigger push and catch up.


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Easter 2017 brings us not only religious holiday, but growth of prices for foodstuffs, and meat, inclusive.
Special rise in price scored a pork, which in March added value of 2-3%, and did not stop on it, according to a statement of the State statistics. Poultry and beef are opposite – almost not changed its value. If compare 2016 and 2017, this year prices on meat increased to 18%.
According to the European Commission, the price situation in the European Union is slightly different from the Ukrainian. In the past year, the price increased only on pork (an increase to 22%), the cost of a kilogram of beef has not changed, but poultry meat on the contrary fell by 2% in average.
Also, on increasing of prices for meat and meat products as a result, has affected rise in price of concentrated feed, which jumped in price by up to 10% in dollar terms over the past year.
According to forecasts, the price of pork will still rise for some time. This is evidenced by the balance of supply and demand.
Informational source - ukragroconsult.com


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IIRR improves the entrepreneurial skills, knowledge, and organizational capacities of livestock enterprises through the CLI-MARK Project. In 2018, farmers acquired critical skills that enabled them to engage better with markets and gain higher income.
Tume Huka, a farmer who owns a herd of cattle, sheep, and goats and a shop selling motorbike fuel, is a member of a micro-enterprise group that buys, fattens, and sells livestock. “Before the CLI-MARK training, we never kept any records, and we didn’t make much money,” she says. “Now, I have learned how to monitor prices in the market, keep proper records, and work out the best time to buy and sell. As a result, we are making more money.”At El Waye market in Ethiopia,
Garbole Jaldesa, secretary of small livestock buying enterprise, discusses with a trader who has just spent 14 days trekking a beautiful herd of bullocks from Northern Kenya. “CLI-MARK helped us,” he says. “In the past, I didn’t know how to assess the price of an animal, but now I can! CLI-MARK has linked me to some lead companies. I now know what their specifications we are negotiating through an MOU,” he added.


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PARSIPPANY, N.J., May 09, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Avis today announced the opening of several car sales locations across Florida, Texas, and Massachusetts through its Avis Car Sales program. The large selection of newer, low-mileage vehicles which are competitively priced, are perfect for savvy car buyers. All vehicles are Avis Certified — meaning they have passed a rigorous multi-point, bumper-to-bumper inspection process completed by certified mechanics, including ASE-Certified and ASE Master Technicians.
“Trust is one of the most important factors for consumers buying a pre-owned vehicle,” said Gregg Nierenberg, senior vice president of fleet services, Avis Budget Group. “Our vehicles not only pass through rigorous mechanical and safety tests, but they are backed by the trusted reputation of the Avis brand, so consumers can buy with confidence.”
Sales of used cars are expected to continue rising through 2020, including more than 39 million cars sold by the end of 2018, according to Edmunds.com and other auto information groups. As demand increases, Avis now offers a direct-to-consumer model for individuals and families looking to purchase their former rental cars. The majority of Avis’ vehicles are rotated out of the rental fleet while they are still under the original manufacturer’s warranty. In addition, every vehicle is backed by a 12 month, 12,000 mile warranty and are available for purchase via AvisCarSales.com and the Avis Car Sales retail locations. Avis also offers the Ultimate Test Drive, available in more than 35 states, where a prospective buyer can drive any vehicle of interest for free for two hours or up to three days at an attractive rental rate.
Avis Car Sales is committed to providing customers with product and service above and beyond what is expected:
Lifetime Service Records: Avis is the original owner of each vehicle and has complete maintenance records for its vehicles and will provide them to potential buyers.
Certified Pre-owned: All Avis Car Sales vehicles receive factory scheduled maintenance, including regular washes, which often times is more frequent than average car owner care. Avis also includes a 12 month/12,0000 mile standard warranty for additional peace of mind.
No Open Recalls: Avis Car Sales does not offer any vehicle with an open recall or safety campaign.
Accident-Free History: Since vehicles have had no prior owner, we’ve chosen not to sell any vehicle that has been in an accident. In fact, we’ll provide potential buyers with a vehicle history report, powered by AutoCheck®, which is backed by Experian.
For more information, visit www.AvisCarSales.com.
Avis Car Rental operates one of the world’s best-known car rental brands with approximately 5,500 locations in approximately 170 countries. Avis has a long history of innovation in the car rental industry and is one of the world’s top brands for customer loyalty. Avis is owned by Avis Budget Group, Inc. (NASDAQ:CAR), which operates and licenses the brand throughout the world. For more information, visit www.avis.com.


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Latest from cholesterol
Kobayashi Pharmaceutical, which has been selling dietary supplements and over-the-counter drugs, recalled the product after concerns were raised.
High cholesterol levels could be the result of bad eating choices over a period of time. Here're foods that will you lower unhealthy cholesterol.
The research done by IIT Kanpur experts has the potential to lead to the development of new drugs that can lower cholesterol with lesser side-effects.
High cholesterol can play havoc with your heart health and increase risk of many disease. Here's what you should eat in the morning to reduce it.
Liver SOS: Want to battle fatty liver for a healthier tomorrow? Read on to understand its causes and know tips from expert on how to combat the disease
Published on Mar 05, 2024 01:01 PM IST
ByZarafshan Shiraz, New Delhi


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from last year, many Chinese retail enterprises have been operating in the winter: profit margins decline, sales growth fell sharply. However, maternal and child supplies in the area is a Balabala’s annual sales of Spring is in the air., such as Semir’s October mummy reached 4 billion yuan, annual sales of 1 billion yuan. A survey shows that China’s average annual birth of 16 million newborns. China’s new generation of maternal and child population per capita annual consumption of 5000 to $18000, by 2015, China’s total maternal and child market will reach 2 trillion yuan.
although the maternal and child market spending power is huge, but the parent child network war is still only subdivided into two types: E-Commerce Oriented and content based information of the two. Last year, e-commerce category of parent site were four, famous website red child was acquired, maternal channel Jingdong, Dangdang, suning.com on the line…… The information is the main content of parent-child sites have divided basic clear market positioning, but if the baby tree, cradle network, mother network, mother said membership scale in the millions of times the parent-child website on micro-blog, the past two years, the rise of mobile Internet fierce market environment, but also out of the way the transformation.
two years ago, my mother Forbes Chinese version of network founder reporters emerging in Guangzhou’s Liu Ying and chairman of the board, the vertical portal is called "local mother’s own website, has been in the country’s more than and 40 city fall flowering, the number of members reached 6 million people, Guangzhou area more than 600 thousand members in each year the big city held nearly 2000 field line activities.
the past two years, once again visit Liu Ying, she made a detailed analysis of a road transformation time the mother network in the past: city expansion slowed down, concentrate on the development of the city has dozens of local life information platform, it will make deep and stronger; focus on specialization of parent-child content in the field of mobile app. The new mobile Internet brings the opportunity to share. Local consumers and local brands of income on both sides, in the case of an increase of about 130% of the number of members, advertising revenue is about two years ago, about 5 times.
June 2011, $50 million in venture capital financing Mom Network formally Tencent, which began to attract outside attention, while the mother network also homeopathic launched 100 city plan, deep around the city life information community, and the expansion team, and strengthen technology.
Liu Ying, but Forbes admits that the Chinese network, the current hundred city plan has been basically terminated. After more than a year of exploration and adjustment, the mother of the network site is basically fixed in the country’s more than and 30 provincial capital cities.
she finally made the decision and not because of money or income to support the Tencent — has 50 million wind investment gold is still lying in the account is not used, but due to the localization of maternal vertical portals, many in the three or four line of the city is very difficult to find both the understanding of maternal information website characteristics, and understand the Internet talents. Team building can not keep up, content and operation must be.


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China Continues Importing U.S. DDGS
Despite erratic and hectic railcar availability and otherwise poor logistics reliability, DDGS imports to China continue to mark impressive growth.
For the first two months of the year, the U.S. has exported over 800,000 MT of DDGS. This equates to over 200% more than the first two months of last year and almost 40% of the entire year's worth of DDGS exports for 2012. Additionally, Chinese customs data reported 436,000 MT of DDGS imported during the month of March, up 15% month-over-month and just less than 200% year-over-year.
This blistering pace comes despite a myriad of obstacles, including the MIR 162 situation that continues without resolution and market rumors of “blacklisting” a handful of DDGS plants. JCI reports that on April 4, Qingdao Quarantine and Inspection Bureau held a meeting and issued a notice to increase inspections of imported DDGS for the unapproved MIR 162 event. For reference, China’s top ports to import DDGS for the first quarter of 2014 are, in order:
- Qingdao -- 609K MT
- Huangpu -- 338K MT
- Guangzhou -- 160K MT
- Shanghai -- 117K MT
- Xiamen -- 60,000MT
Sorghum continues to be a very popular and viable alternative to the uncertainty and risk of importing corn and DDGS. Trade sources estimate China to have purchased around 3MMT of sorghum -- which translates to just over 30% of U.S. production. Sorghum is also a very appealing feedgrain in China, because unlike corn, there is no import quota that private importers need to obtain to import it.
As a result, recent price action has driven the price of sorghum above and beyond the price of corn in the U.S. FOB Gulf prices have sorghum trading at almost a $30 premium to corn -- or roughly 112% the equivalent value. According to USDA data, China has currently taken 1.9 MMT of sorghum, with another 682,000 MT on the books and over a half million more yet to be shipped to “unknown,” which many widely speculate a lion’s share to be directed towards China.


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Luong Van Tu, chair of the Association made the announcement at a recent press conference noting that the intent is to mark the great contributions made by the coffee industry to the country’s economic development.
The Association chose the date of December 10 to celebrate in remembrance of the visit of President Ho Chi Minh to the Dong Hieu Coffee Farm in Nghe An Province on that date back in 1961.
A seminar on the future of the coffee industry will be organized on the margins of the event at which an announcement of the country’s most prestigious coffee producing and processing companies will be made.
The Association will also hold a coffee promotion and enjoyment cultural festival at the same venue – the Youth Cultural House – running December 9-11 to promote coffee consumption, he added.
He noted that Vietnam is the globe’s second largest coffee grower holding a 15% market share and that it has been forecast that gross revenue from coffee exports in 2016 will jump by more than US$300 million year-on-year to US$3.7 billion.
The coffee industry has given effect to a restructuring program to improve its competitiveness by raising productivity, quality and value and now has an area of 600,000ha under coffee cultivation and is focused on planting new trees with higher productivity and quality, said Mr Tu.
The industry will work diligently to increase the export of processed coffee to achieve yet higher revenues of from US$5-US$6 billion by 2030, he underscored.
Mr Do Ha Nam, the Association’s deputy chair, in turn said Asia and Africa are lucrative markets for Vietnamese coffee and exporters are setting their sights on these markets with high expectations of making inroads into these markets.
China, he noted, has a high demand for coffee and many Vietnamese companies like Trung Nguyen and Vinacafe have achieved a limited degree of success in the market, which holds great promise for expanded sales in the future.


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Press releases • Dec 13, 2017 14:45 CET
As part of its growth strategy, Panalpina has centralized its Supply Chain Solutions offering with plans to expand the existing team of experts and further invest in technology and infrastructure. Panalpina’s customers from across multiple industries will benefit from solutions that manage their supply chains from end-to-end and offer greater flexibility, customization, and visibility.
Press releases • Nov 02, 2016 09:00 CET
Following the acquisition of UTi Worldwide, DSV Road has now been established in North America with two business units: DSV Road Inc. (handling brokerage and 3PL activities) and DSV Road Transport (handling carrier and asset based activities).
Press releases • Feb 01, 2016 15:55 CET
Panalpina reached an important milestone in the implementation of its new operational IT platform. Singapore and Switzerland were the first countries to go live with the latest version of the SAP® Transportation Management application. Numerous customer shipments in December and January 2016 have demonstrated that the software is ready to be rolled out further.
Press releases • Oct 22, 2015 10:25 CEST
Three years ago, Panalpina announced its intention to deploy a single warehouse management system (WMS) across all of its logistics facilities throughout the world. The roll-out of the RedPrairie – now JDA – WMS is progressing ahead of schedule thanks to Panalpina’s experts in all regions and a specially developed and unique fast deployment model.


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The Southern Co-operative has raised £50,000 for over 100 charities as part of its community-focused campaign Love Your Neighbourhood.
The funds were raised by employees and customers at each of its 250 stores and funeral homes during Charity Awareness Week which ran between 23 and 29 July. Employees hosted events such as sponsored static cycle rides, book sales, raffles, cake sales, quiz nights, and walking challenges for customers and local people to attend.
Staff and donors raised £30,000 during the week, with Southern Co-op adding another £20,000 for the charities of stores which raised the most.
“Each of our stores and funeral homes has their own charity which is close to colleagues’ hearts. So when they hold fundraising activities, they are passionate about the cause,” said Southern Co-operative community investment manager Jessica Hughes. “We have been blown away by this year’s activities and it is really special to know this money raised will make a tremendous impact on our local communities. A massive thank you to all of our customers and communities who got behind the fundraisers.”
The Love Your Neighbourhood programme is a community engagement scheme to address key social themes such as making neighbourhoods greener, safer, healthier and more inclusive.


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Back in May, the Swoosh’s Sportswear team made the choice to dig into their archives and bring back the original version of one of their early lifestyle silhouettes: the Nike Killshot. So far this year, retailers across the world have gradually rolled out the white/red, white/navy, and white/green offerings, and now the silhouette is readying a fourth entry that will be eyeing a release towards the end of September.
Certainly the darkest-toned rendition that we’ve seen this year, this iteration that they’re dubbing the “Beetroot” shrouds its laces, mesh uppers and hairy suede overlays in its Fall-appropriate titular hue, the latter of which is dialed to a slightly faded tint. Following suit comes vintage-like foam tongues and natural white accents present through the Swooshes, sole pieces, and heel paneling. For those that are thinking of picking these up, you can find them releasing via Nike.com on September 29th for a wallet-friendly price of $90 USD.
Nike Killshot OG “Beetroot”
Release Date: September 29th, 2020
Style Code: DC1982-600
Make sure to follow @kicksfinder for live tweets during the release date.
Where to Buy
- Nike 10am ET


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DRUG-SPECIFIC INFORMATION GUIDELINES COULD BE DEVELOPED THROUGH USP; 95% COMPLIANCE BY 2006 WOULD BE DIFFICULT TO MEASURE, CONSULTANTS TELL NCPIE
The U.S. Pharmacopeia's standards development process would be an appropriate mechanism for crafting drug-specific guidelines for patient information, USP Executive Director Jerome Halperin maintained at the Northeast Pharmaceutical Conference in Philadelphia April 10.
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NEW DELHI: The government is considering permitting 100 per cent FDI
in the market place format of e-commerce retailing with a view to attract more foreign investments.
The norms on foreign direct investment (FDI) in the sectors of e-commerce, and IT and ITeS
are expected to be part of detailed guidelines, which would be rolled out soon by the government, sources said.
Last week, a group of senior officials from departments of DIPP
, Corporate Affairs and Economic Affairs, among others, discussed these matters in great detail.
According to sources, the DIPP has suggested that 100 per cent FDI should be allowed in "market place model e-commerce" activities.
In such a model, the e-commerce company provides an online platform for buyers and a sellers.
At present, global e-tailer giants like Amazon and Ebay are operating online marketplaces in India while homegrown players like Flipkart
have foreign investments even as there are no clear FDI guidelines on various online retail models.
An e-commerce firm carry its business either through market place model or inventory based model.
In the inventory based model, a company owns and keeps the goods in warehouses.
The officials also deliberated upon the definition of "e-commerce". It may broadly cover transactions between buyer and seller through electronic mode like internet, mobile and televisions.
The Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP) is working on guidelines for e-commerce sector in the backdrop of ongoing tussle between online and offline retailers.
The department has already carried out stakeholders consultations with states, e-commerce companies and other departments.
At present, 100 per cent FDI is allowed only in business-to-business (B2B) e-commerce and not in the retail segment.


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NEW DELHI, December 16 (MIC): The Government of India has nominated Huidrom Nabakumar Singh, a resident of Mayang Imphal Thana Mamang Leikai, Imphal West-II, Manipur as member of the Consultative Committee of the Food Corporation of India (FCI) for the State of Manipur with immediate effect for a period of two years.
An order to this effect was issued on November 27, signed by Under Secretary of the Department of Food and Public Distribution under the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution AK Rana.
Nabakumar who is currently in New Delhi said that as advised by the authority of the Food Corporation of India, Barakhamba Lane, New Delhi, he would be visiting Haryana and Punjab to learn how the procurement, storage and distribution operations of the Food Corporation of India in the two States took place.
With a view to protecting the interests of the producers as well as the consumers and to advice the Food Corporation of India on various matters relating to procurement, storage and distribution of foodgrains, the Ministry of Consumer, Food and Public Distribution, Government of India issued an order on October 10 last year for constitution of State/Union Territory level Consultative Committees for the Food Corporation of India, the release said.
The Consultative Committee shall consist of a Member of Parliament from the State concerned nominated by the Central government, the Secretary to the State Government dealing with Food and Civil Supplies nominated by the State government, the General Manger concerned of the FCI and non-official members nominated by the Central government, it said.
The Member of Parliament nominated to the Consultative Committee shall be its Chairperson and the concerned General Manager of the FCI shall be the Member Secretary of the Consultative Committee.
The functions of the Consultative Committee are to discuss and make recommendations on the matters of procurement and distribution of food grains; quality of food grains; storage of food grains; transit and storage losses; interface of the FCI with State Government on functioning of the Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS) including allocation, off take and actual distribution of food grains for Antyodaya, BPL and APL families and for various welfare schemes being operated by the Central or State Government; sale and disposal of stocks; and any other matter referred to it by the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution or the Food Corporation of India for its consideration.
The Consultative Committee shall normally meet once in every quarter. However, a special meeting of the Committee can be convened with prior information of the Ministry.
The Consultative Committee shall have the right to insect procurement, storage and distribution operations of the FCI. It shall also be entitled to inspect any godown where complaints about the quality of foodgrains stored or malpractices have been received by it. The inspection reports shall be forwarded to the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution and FCI Headquarters and the General Manager of FCI concerned.


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(TORONTO) – Toyota Canada Inc. (TCI) today reported February sales of 12,693 Toyota and Lexus cars, trucks and SUVs – up 25.2% from a year ago. This included 902 Lexus luxury vehicles, up 26.2% from last year to establish a best ever February for Lexus. Sales of 11,791 Toyota models were up 25.2% vs. February 2009.
A number of models recorded best-ever February sales, as follows:
- Toyota Prius: 258 (up 55.4% from February 2009)
- Toyota Corolla: 2,906 (up 9.0%)
- Toyota Matrix: 1,602 (up 38.6%)
- Toyota Tacoma 4x4: 635 (up 75.9%)
- Toyota RAV4: 1,398 (up 11.7%)
- Toyota Venza: 1,048 (up 112.6%)
- Lexus RX 350: 412 (up 49.3%)
“We thank our customers for continued confidence in Toyota vehicles - vehicles that are reliable, safe and fuel-efficient,” said Yoichi Tomihara, President of Toyota Canada Inc. “We also thank our team members at our coast to coast dealerships for their quick and reliable work in servicing recall repairs and bringing peace of mind to our family of Toyota and Lexus customers.”
Dealership teams have moved quickly to meet the needs of customers providing them with a range of options to ensure they continue to enjoy seamless transportation while their vehicles are in for service including rentals, pick-up and drop-off service.
In co-operation with Toyota Financial Services, Toyota Canada also announced that the Toyota “Best Ever Red Tag Days” program launched today. From March 2-31, customers can take advantage of a 0% finance option on select terms for the 2010 Yaris Sedan and Hatchback, 2010 Corolla and Matrix, and the 2010 RAV4. The 2010 Camry and Camry Hybrid now also offer 0% financing options up to 60 months. With this incentive program, customers looking for a Toyota Certified Used Vehicle can also enjoy finance rates as low as 3.9%. The popular “Toyota Loyalty Program” also continues until March 31, and now offers eligible customers up to a $1,000 incentive toward the purchase or lease of a selected new Toyota vehicle.


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The export market for steel slab and billet in Iran was very slow in the seven-day period to May 15 after the United States imposed
sanctions on the country’s steel trade, sources told Fastmarkets.
US president Donald Trump ordered new sanctions on Iranian metals - including steel, aluminium and copper - on Wednesday May 8.
“Today’s action targets Iran’s revenue from the export of industrial metals - 10% of its export economy - and puts other nations on notice that allowing Iranian steel and other metals into your ports will no longer be tolerated,” Trump said in a statement regardingthe sanctions.
Some bookings for Iran-origin steel billet were heard done in Asia at $380-385 per tonne fob last week. Offers were still around $380-385 per tonne fob this week, but no deals were heard.
Previous bookings of Iranian billet are able to be cancelled due to possible payment problems, some market participants said.
The US sanctions on Iran mean that payments cannot be made to Iranian banks in US dollar or gold, therefore limiting the country’s international trade.
The export market was silent over the week without any price changes because sellers were reluctant to buy and preferred to
wait and see.
Fastmarkets’ weekly price assessment for Iranian export billet was $380-385 per tonne fob on May 15, unchanged week on week.
In Iran’s slab export market, meanwhile, material was on offer at $385-390 per tonne fob this week, but again no deals were heard.
Fastmarkets’ weekly price assessment for Iranian slab exports was $385-390 per tonne fob on May 15, narrowing downward from $390 per tonne fob a week earlier, reflecting the lower offers heard in the market.


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- January 23, 2019
Longboat Key’s Garden Club is bringing a taste of the fashion and food of Sarasota’s keys to the Longboat Key Club Harbourside Ballroom on Jan. 30.
The 9th annual Taste of the Keys and Fashion show brings local food and clothing together to create a magical night for attendees, while raising money for the Garden Club’s scholarship and summer camp funds and other philanthropy endeavors.
Last year’s edition of the event celebrated the club’s 50th anniversary, leading to a stage-heavy evening as various past presidents and Garden Club dignitaries were honored throughout the night. This year, Garden Club president Susan Phillips said they want to focus on the attendees and the mingling portion of the evening.
“It was important to recognize the people who through the years have led the club and to recognize how we got to where we are,” Phillips said. “We need to focus more on the point of the evening, which is to have a good time and raise money for our mission. We want to have a good time and enjoy each other.”
In addition to bringing back all the favorite restaurants from last year, the club is adding Euphemia Haye to the roundup, as well as brand-new north-end restaurant Whitney’s. Binjara Traders/Sahara/Ivory Coast will provide the fashions and new models, including D’Arcy Arpke and Lynn Christensen, will walk the runway in local trends as well.
This year, the club has changed up what’s included in the event ticket. Previously, a $65 ticket got you in the door, with food, drink and a spot to watch the fashion show, while raffle tickets were $100 each. This year, a $100 ticket gets you all the food and drinks you can eat, plus an entry into any of the raffles. Call co-chairs Lyn Haycock at 544-2009 or Nancy McLean at 248-303-6595 to reserve table seats or lounge tickets.
The event has historically sold out before the big day arrives, but the club increased their capacity to allow more to come enjoy the food and fashion.


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Best Buy had a great third quarter, according to its financial report. The company managed to beat analysts’ expectations and, moreover, increased its revenue after almost two years when sale figures constantly dropped. The largest electronics retailer in the U.S. took a couple of measures that eventually paid off. However, the overall context was favorable to Best Buy. The launch of iPhone 6 was one of the factors that boosted the company’s revenues.
Best Buy reported a 2.2 percent same-store sales increase, while the Consensus Matrix forecast a 2 percent drop in revenue. A high demand for televisions, appliances and computers in the U.S. translated in a 3.2 percent increase in same-store sales. Best Buy shares are valued at $38.69, the biggest increase since February.
Total revenue in the third quarter was $9.38 billion, a minor year-over-year increase when compared to $9.36 billion recorded last year.
The unexpected news did wonders for the company’s shares. Before the opening bell, they were up 8 percent. The company earned 32 cents a share, 7 cents more than what both Bloomberg and Thomson Reuters analysts estimated.
Best Buy started its Renew Blue project in 2012. Under the initiative aimed at increasing efficiency, Best Buy shut down stores, boosted its cash reserve and slimmed down its management structure. Operating costs dropped 5 percent in the last three months. Year-over-year tax rate fell from 44.4 percent down to 39.4 percent.
Although third quarter revenues have been better than expected, last quarter figures will be less spectacular. In fact, the company expects “near flat” revenues because consumer electronics sales will fall. If the estimate turns into reality, it will mean that Best Buy may repeat last year’s performance, when fourth quarter sales decreased after an exciting previous quarter.
CEO Hubert Joly said that a weak fourth quarter is expected because sales of lower margin products will outpace other segments. The supply chain may be affected as well, because West Coast ports are in the middle of labor negotiations, which may disrupt shipment.
Other factors, such as heavy discounts during the holiday season, may take their toll on the company’s revenue as well. “The promotional environment is already intense, a little bit more intense than last year,” Joly said on a conference call.