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FT's HTML5 web app hits two million users in 10 months
By Sarah Shearman, mediaweek.co.uk, Tuesday, 24 April 2012 12:05PM
The Financial Times' part-paywalled HTML5 web-based app has reached two million users, 10 months after launch, according to the business publisher.
The total includes both subscribers, who pay for full access to FT.com across all digital platforms, and registered users, who can access up to eight articles a month on the site for free. As soon as the app is downloaded people have to register or subscribe to use it.
A spokeswoman did not provide a figure for how many of the app's users were subscribers.
However, she disclosed that FT.com subscription numbers now stand at 285,475, while it has 4.5 million registered users.
Mobile is central to the publisher's digital strategy, and it claims to receive 12% of subscriptions and 19% of traffic to FT.com through mobile.
The FT also said that in the past six months, it had seen a "sharp rise" in mobile users, with increases of 52% on smartphones and 49% on tablets.
Initially, the FT launched its web-based app for FT.com app alongside its IOS app, but in June last year, it pulled it entirely from Apple's App Store, in what is understood to be a dispute between the publisher and Apple over the 30% charge on subscriptions sold through the app store, and the retention of data.
While the publisher has been a major proponent of web-based apps, it has platform-specifics apps, including its iPad app for its luxury magazine, How to Spend It, and its Android app which launched in December last year.
The Android app has had 160,000 downloads, according to the FT spokeswoman.
It also announced that the How to Spend It iPad app has received 100,000 downloads since it launched last September, but has not disclosed how many downloads the Android app has had.
In January, the FT acquired Assanka, the London-based developer of its web and Android app, and its blogging platforms, for an undisclosed sum.
Follow Sarah Shearman on Twitter @Shearmans
This article was first published on mediaweek.co.uk
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- ASA receives 240 complaints about Sainsbury's Christmas ad
- John Lewis Christmas ad gets three times more views than Sainsbury's in first 24 hours
- Watch: The Post Office's first Christmas TV campaign in five years
- Watch: Ant and Dec star in Morrisons' festive campaign
- DigitasLBi is on hunt for new media leader as Ling exits
- Samsung launches first Christmas TV campaign in the UK


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Fashion Scoops: Puffy Wins … Pay Day … Say Cheese …
PUFFY WINS: He’s lost three consecutive awards from the Council of Fashion Designers of America, but Sean "P. Diddy" Combs is guaranteed to walk home with a trophy at the Fashion Group International’s Night of Stars benefit on Oct. 24....
PUFFY WINS: He’s lost three consecutive awards from the Council of Fashion Designers of America, but Sean "P. Diddy" Combs is guaranteed to walk home with a trophy at the Fashion Group International’s Night of Stars benefit on Oct. 24. Vanity Fair’s Graydon Carter, "The Vagina Monologues" playwright Eve Ensler and Combs have just been added to the roster of honorees for their envelope-pushing work. The night’s theme is "Provocateurs," also honoring Suzy Menkes, Viktor & Rolf, Manolo Blahnik, Roberto Cavalli, Robert A.M. Stern, Parfums Christian Dior, Victoria’s Secret, "Moulin Rouge" director Baz Luhrmann and Oscar-winning costume designer Catherine Martin.
PAY DAY: Poor Jean-Marie Messier? Not exactly. The ousted chief executive officer of Vivendi Universal pulled down $5.2 million in salary last year. But he was not as richly compensated as L’Oréal ceo Lindsay-Owen Jones, whose $5.6 million paycheck tops a list of the 100 highest-paid bosses in France. The annual list, compiled by the French business magazine Challenges, puts Bernard Arnault, chairman of luxury giant LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton in sixth place at $2.6 million.
SAY CHEESE: The fashion smorgasbord in Paris, which starts with the runway shows Oct. 3-11, turns out to be a mere appetizer. That’s because November is designated as photography month in the city and the festival has crowned fashion a principal theme. Headlining scores of fashion-related exhibitions at art galleries around the city is a show devoted to Yohji Yamamoto’s romantic vision. Bowing Oct. 29 at the European Center for Photography, with opening festivities attended by the designer himself, the exhibition will feature 80 well-known photos by the likes of Nick Knight, Steven Meisel and Max Vadukul. Meanwhile, the busy designer, who is showing his Y’s collection in Paris on Oct. 2, has selected Oct. 7 to show his new sportswear collection in collaboration with Adidas. Details are forthcoming, but a spokeswoman said it won’t be a runway show.
SUGAR DADDY: David Furnish, filmmaker and partner of Elton John, galloped ahead of fellow clothes horses to win British GQ’s Most Stylish Man Award on Tuesday night. His competition included Jude Law, Guy Ritchie, Alexander McQueen, Hugh Grant and Robbie Williams during the GQ Men of the Year Awards ceremony at London’s Natural History Museum. On accepting his award, Furnish thanked one special person. "If Elton didn’t pick up the bill for my clothes, I wouldn’t be standing here in front of you tonight," he said, laughing. Other winners included David Bowie for outstanding achievement, Sir Paul Smith for designer, Gordon Ramsay for chef and Pierce Brosnan, for actor.
CO-ED CLAN: Stuart Kreisler, former president of Ralph Lauren Womenswear, has a special talent for producing daughters — he has five of them, including four grown daughters from a previous marriage. So when his wife, Tracy, delivered their second child last month, Kreisler was convinced it was going to be another girl. But score one for the XYs, it was a boy, and James Simon Kreisler joined the Kreisler sorority. Now what to do with all those girls’ hand-me-downs?
Incidentally, James Simon came into the world with another distinction: He was already an uncle. One of Kreisler’s daughters gave birth to a boy several months ago.
“I think what’s so interesting about the #MeToo movement and this whole new wave of feminism in general, is that women are finally seeing, ’Oh I can start my own company, oh I can lear to code, oh I can leave my nine-to-five job and do the thing I want to do,” said @brooklyndecker ahead of her @sxsw talk for @createcultivate. The former model took the stage to share wisdom about networking and female-driven entrepreneurship. #wwdeye #sxsw (📷: @jgreenery)
“I was making the guacamole when my scout saw me,” says model @stuckinteenage on being discovered just six months ago while working at @chipotlemexicangrill. Since then Williams has signed with @dnamodels, walked in her first show at @calvinklein and landed on the cover of @vogueitalia – a high point of any model’s career. To read @lisajlockwood’s full interview with the model on her experiences thus far, head to WWD.com – link in bio. (📷: George Chinsee)
“I love the idea of dialogue, period. It’s where I’ve always gotten my inspiration from: hearing other women speak, their journeys and their paths,” said @hereisgina, who delivered the keynote speech at the @sxsw conference for @createcultivate, the online platform and conference series for women. For her two panels, Rodriguez chose female empowering, female-led and female entrepreneurs to focus on. Head to WWD.com to read more about her thoughts on Time’s Up, growing up in a family of women and why we “need a girls’ club.” #wwdeye #sxsw (📷: @jgreenery)
Leading luxury brand are shaking things up to keep up with streetwear. Case in point: the arrival of @mrkimjones as artistic director of @diorhomme. Jones, who succeeds @Kris_Van_Assche, is seen as one of the handful of designers who can actually straddle the luxury and streetwear worlds — which could lead to even more changes at established brands. What could this mean for the rest of the menswear landscape? Head to WWD.com to find out what experts predict #wwdfashion (📷: @franckmura)
“It’s like buying groceries. You’re going to buy the best mango, the best mozzarella, the best things. You have to, or others are going to take it all,” said @gabrielahearst on why she uses only the finest fabrics. Last week, Hearst received her first @cfda nomination for Womenswear Designer of the Year, and earlier this month she opened a permanent showroom in Paris. To read @jessiredale’s interview with the designer and find out why this is shaping up to be a big year for her, head to WWD.com. #wwdfashion (📷: @francoisgoize)
“It’s an interesting thing, playing a younger version of your mother. It’s an interesting concept. I adore my mom and love her in every capacity, but it was just something that had never crossed my mind,” says @anniemstarke on playing a young Joan Castleman in “The Wife.” The same role will be played by her mother Glenn Close. Read more about her growing up in the film industry as the daughter of producer John H. Starke and Close and what she has planned for the future #wwdeye (📷: @nataliamantini)
@asics is launching a new streetwear sneaker inspired by its latest ambassador, @steveaoki. The Hyper-Kenzen x Aoki, which will launch at @footlocker stores exclusively tomorrow, is a slip-on style that incorporates the brand’s proprietary Gel technology through beads integrated into the midsole for comfort and endurance. Read the full story on WWD.com.

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MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- The tastes of Minnesotans have grown over the years, so Dino Adamidis of Coon Rapids doesn't have to chase people down anymore.
The owner of Dino's Gyros, one of the original food vendors of the Taste of Minnesota, no longer has to entice customers to try pieces of the beef-and-lamb combination that goes into his Greek wrap sandwiches.
That's the major change Adamidis has seen since the start of Taste in 1982, when he had to offer free samples to passers-by.
"People would say, "This tastes good,"' Adamidis said. "Then they would ask, "What kind of animal did it come from.' When I told them, they would spit it out and run away and say, "We don't eat lamb.' After a while I did not say lamb anymore."
Now, people line up at his and other booths at the Taste festival that started Saturday and runs through Independence Day on Wednesday. Adamidis will have 20 employees and 16 gyro machines going to meet the demand that last year totaled about 10,000 of the sandwiches.
"It makes me feel very good that the meat-and-potatoes people here in Minnesota are trying something different, and they like it," said Adamidis, 54, a native of Athens, Greece. "It shows that if you have something good, and you work hard, they will come to you."
Ron Maddox, 63, general manager of Taste of Minnesota and one of the founders, said Adamidis is an example of why the festival, has done so well since it started as a copy of Taste of Chicago in 1982. Crowds of 300,000 to 500,000 attend annually.
"Sixty percent have been with us from the start," Maddox said of the more than 40 food vendors that will line the paths on the grounds in front of the state Capitol in St. Paul. "The vendors who have dropped out forgot what they were selling for. They tried to get fancy. This is Heartland, U.S.A."
"You can't do fancy chef stuff with 300,000 people," Adamidis said. "It takes too much time preparing and showing off. You need to do something very fast. You can't go to war with a water gun. You have to have a machine gun. If I had only three gyros machines, I couldn't do it. That's why I have 16 machines."
Brainerd Dispatch ©2013. All Rights Reserved.


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Gregg Wartgow is editor in chief of Green Industry Pros magazine, SnowPRO magazine, greenindustrypros.com, and related print and digital products.
A listing of 45 landscape companies that have outpaced industry growth 4:1 since the Great Recession, and are at least 40% larger than they were in 2007.
Why it's so important to celebrate small-business success in the Green Industry.
November 18, 2014
Nine months after being acquired by Jacobsen Textron, Dixie Chopper focuses on rounding out both its product line and customer care staff.
The landscaping industry is back to its pre-Great Recession level, and bigger companies are the ones most benefitting from the recent growth. Now what about the next few years?
Two skid steers, three Kawasaki-powered zero-turns and three mid-range tractors among the 92 new product model introductions at Kubota's 2014 National Dealer Meeting in Nashville, TN.
As the seasons fall back, smart contractors and dealers push forward to get a head start on 2015.
G.P. Landscape Design has tripled in size since 2008. Owner Greg Picca says they've done it by creating high standards, targeting customers who appreciate them, and never giving clients a chance to say "you're fired!"
The market for synthetic grass could be ready to pop—and it doesn’t even need water or fertilizer.
Some dealers and distributors are already moving on, others are trying to piece something together.
Listing of industry’s top unsung, fast-growing landscape companies to appear in Green Industry Pros’ Nov/Dec issue.
H.R. 5213, the STARS Act, would make it easier for companies employing seasonal workers to comply with the new health care law.
Certified irrigation professionals no longer have to sign partnership agreements with EPA to be recognized for water-efficient knowledge.
Focus on the real issues with respect to professionalism
September 2, 2014
Former BASF exec, Dan Carrothers, opens Weed Man Houston with 22 territories, largest franchisee to date in Weed Man USA family.
North Carolina contractor shares how the creation of an all-inclusive online portal has helped streamline HR functions as his company has grown exponentially.
Creating a favorable client experience, building business, and effectively running lean and mean.
A preview of the 2014 GIE+EXPO highlights tradeshow dates, educational opportunities, interesting new product introductions, and more.
Previous law required 100% to be living, marking a dramatic shift in views on outdoor water use to maintain landscapes.
Commitment, Awareness, Response, Training and Evaluation can help landscaping company owners make safety stick—all year long and at all levels of their organizations.
How to prepare your skid steer for winter snow removal operations.
The Green Industry at large is not prepared for major labor cost increases. Is your company?
PLANET's annual Day on the Hill focused on clean water, the ACA employee mandate, and the ability to secure a reliable labor pool for the landscaping and lawn care industry.
Things to think about and features to look for when investing in a GPS fleet tracking solution for your landscaping or lawn care company.
Yes, good employees are hard to find. But you have to keep looking—everywhere possible and all year long.
Salt supply shortages and sudden price spikes are encouraging more contractors to look more closely at liquid ice-melting products.


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Could 2023 be the ultimate year for NFTs? The names of celebrated personalities hopping onto the NFT craze, whether to collect, hawk, or promote collections keep expanding by the hour. Eminem, Paris Hilton, Mark Cuban, Lil Nas X, and Rob Gronkowski are just to mention a few names that have been making headlines in the NFT space.
Art and collectible NFTs are now mainstream, as many experts predicted at the beginning of 2022. Besides being fun and intrinsically appealing, art and collectible NFTs that we have seen so far are culturally relevant, with a lower learning curve for the uninitiated. For avid collectors, digital representations of their rare art make it easy to move or authenticate collections. Also, NFTs promote autonomous social communities that share the same beliefs, interests, and identity.
In other words, the concept has proven to have a high potential in solving real-world problems. But what’s next? Which use cases have gone beyond the speculation stage and will make headlines going forward? While the possibilities are limitless, here are the use cases to watch out for.
NFTs in Gaming
NFT-powered games like Axie Infinity attract as many as 2 million active users, a trend that has driven the platform’s valuation to peak at $3 billion. Contrary to the opinion of the naysayers, NFT gaming is about to blow, and Axie Infinity is just the beginning. The only reason why art and collectibles are doing better than gaming is that the latter involves a relatively long development cycle. Moreover, gaming targets a particular demographic.
Fashion and Wearable NFTs
Consumers have shown that they can equally splurge on digital fashion and collectibles, just like they do with physical merchandise. For instance, Dolce & Gabbana recently sold its debut 9-piece Collezione Genesi NFT collection for $5.6 million. However, the set featured both digital collectibles and physical women’s apparel.
Wearable collectibles are just the beginning of NFTs in the fashion industry. From now on, NFTs will help users optimize investment or monetization opportunities in fashion. For instance, they can be used to raise capital or automate redundant processes like taking inventory before sales.
NFTs are influencing a new asset class that can be leveraged as collateral in DeFi protocols to acquire a loan. Think of it this way. A user with a newly minted NFT skin can enter a protocol, collateralize the item and get a loan. The user then gets the NFT skin back after repaying the loan. Everything happens automatically in smart contracts.
Another potential use case is renting. Instead of using the NFT skin as collateral to get a loan, the user can rent it to another gamer and make a passive income. The beauty of NFTs is that they foster true ownership — you get to monetize your virtual asset however you deem fit.
NFTs for Events and Ticketing
NFT tickets have been around for a while. Their immutability makes them ideal for access control to concerts, given that they can’t be forged or duplicated. In 2023 and beyond, NFT tickets will likely expand their use cases to enhance user experience. Besides granting access, NFT tickets can serve as events memorabilia, a tool for paying all event stakeholders, or redeemable vouchers for treats and snacks inside the event.
The Metaverse and Virtual Land Parcels
Projects like Decentraland have demonstrated in the past months that investors can make significant gains from digital real estate in the Metaverse. Some users have already acquired virtual land parcels. Development will start taking place in these parcels, creating sustainable infrastructures for powering various business functions like meetings and conferences. For instance, someone can build a complex that features a board room, gym, sauna, or even outdoor arena and rent it to businesses that want to hold virtual meetings.
Utility NFTs have been sparking debates around self-sovereign identity (SSID) for a while now. This concept is intriguing because its goal isn’t to foster high-value collectibles. Rather, they allow users to link their digital information (everything on Twitter, Facebook, or any other platform) in a blockchain, just like the Ethereum Name Service (ENS). Since ENS is decentralized, the underlying user truly owns the digital identity. This concept can be used to authenticate a user’s info, such as academic qualification or nationality.
The music industry is long due for disruption. And by how things are moving, NFTs may change how we consume music and interact with artists. Soon, artists will start releasing NFT-themed albums, where a single collection can feature the soundtrack, music video, and lyric sheet. Putting all these things together enhances the end user’s experience. Moreover, artists can dictate how much they want to earn in royalty commissions without the interference of middlemen.
NFTs Will Enhance the Digitization of Everything
It’s no longer a matter of whether NFTs will be big — it’s when. Non-fungible tokens can be used as a digital representation for anything physical that has value. It’s just a matter of time before consumers start asking for digital companions for every physical item that they buy. In the meantime, these use cases will hold the fort as we get there. In the meantime, you can already capture your creativity in the blockchain and create your own NFT on 1Mil. Follow our socials and stay in touch.


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In the age of color, sometimes the complete saturation or absence of it can have a profound effect. One way we have seen this manifested is in the recent use of black as not just an accent, but a strong exterior color.
In fact, at the recent winter Olympic games, an entire building wrapped in black engulfed nearly all light that hit it, creating a virtual black hole. The result was stunning and showed not only what color can do, but the result created with the swallowing of light.
While this made for a powerful visual when the eyes of the world were focused on South Korea, does it work in an everyday application? It seems more and more homeowners are giving it a try. The idea of a slathering your home in black paint may seem a bit morose, but it is becoming increasingly popular. The New York Times recently profiled a home completely covered in black paint and HGTV’s 2018 Dream Home was encased in Sherwin Williams Tricorn Black.
Love it or hate it… it definitely is an exterior color we are keeping our eye on.


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Alfa Insurance® agents, customer service representatives (CSRs) and adjusters have responded quickly to help policyholders […]
Marlee Moore(334) 613-4219 U.S. farmers are the most trusted members of the supply chain when […]
Farmers have until March 15 to enroll and make elections in Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) or Price Loss Coverage (PLC) programs for 2021.
The Alabama Farmers Federation is taking orders for its Still Farming commemorative centennial print through March 31.
CLANTON, Ala., March 8 — The Clanton City Council voted unanimously Monday night to transfer […]
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has extended its original deadline for Quality Loss Adjustment (QLA) Program applications to April 9.


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The Washington State Cougars are in a bowl game, something Baxter has never seen. That, combined with the more than six inches of snow on the ground, has made it an exciting week for the internet's leading dog beer reviewer.
I've been trying to prepare Baxter for the event, but really I barely know how to handle it myself. I was a freshman at WSU the time the Cougs played in the postseason, and I still haven't quite figured out how this happened.
For Baxter's part, he has taken to doing a lot of frolicking in the snow, one of is favorite activities.
In honor of the New Mexico Bowl -- a year-end celebration of not being terrible for WSU -- Baxter has decided to go with the amply-named Celebration Ale, a fresh hop IPA from the good folks at Sierra Nevada.
Celebration is the country's most widely-distributed fresh hop ale, and Sierra Nevada is among the best at using the fall's fresh hop harvest to make distinct-tasting beers.
Craig's Review: Celebration hits you first with a wonderful hop aroma. The first sip has a surprising malt bite, but then the fresh hops take over for a resinous and bitter flavor.
I really enjoy the label, too. This is probably my favorite Sierra Nevada style.
Baxter's review: Apparently the Cougs are still playing football! I wasn't prepared to do another football beer of the game, so this is a surprise. It will certainly cut into my snow frolicking time, but we all have to make sacrifices.
The beer is good -- almost as good as snow frolicking.
That is what Baxter and I will be enjoying for the biggest WSU football game in 10 years -- what will you be having?


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The company is currently investigating a problem that has caused Halo: Infinite to download large amounts of data in each game, in some cases even up to 1GB.
The problem was first spotted by Twitter user @NicmeistaR, who only played two games and ended up with more than 1GB of traffic, to which Halo: Infinite’s official Twitter account said it was investigating the problem and that a solution would be included in the August Drop Pod update.
It’s unclear what caused such a massive traffic spike. Some speculate that it is due to the game saving replay footage in real time, however, some other users have observed a massive increase in data within minutes of the game starting.
Halo: Infinite was suddenly launched as a free multiplayer mode game on November 16, 2021. After receiving this news, players around the world flocked to the Steam platform like a tidal wave to download and play the game, eventually causing the total download bandwidth usage on the Steam platform to more than double, reaching a staggering 23.5Tbps.


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Ringwood, IL – January 2019 – Race Sport Lighting® will be celebrating their 12th year as the leader in LED and HID lighting solutions to the industry. over the last 12 years, Race Sport Lighting® has led the way in the marketplace for the development and market introduction to so many products, and continues to research what’s next for the next 5 years in lighting technology for vehicles in the Truck, Auto, Marine, and Powersports Industries. Many Dealers look to Race Sport Lighting® as a “One Stop Shop” supplier of their lighting, and a leader in designing solutions for vehicles with a high level of difficulty.
Race Sport Lighting® started in 2007 in the Midwest only, and began by making lighting products for local dealers in the area who loved the quality and performance of the lighting. Those local dealers relayed that success to several midwest territory distributors in 2008, and those distributors did not hesitate to take on the line and start offering it hundreds of their active dealers they sell to. By 2011, Race Sport Lighting® has hired a national sales manager, and had began selling their products all over the USA. By 2014, Race Sport Lighting® has expanded their offerings, and also their selling territory into Mexico and Canada. In 2017, Race Sport Lighting® grew out of their old warehouse, and bought a brand new warehouse and office headquarters in Ringwood, IL to support the growth. And today, Race Sport Lighting® is known all over the world a core lighting leader to the Aftermarket Industry.
“It’s amazing how much this company has grown since we started it in 2007. As a company, we have learned much over the years and formula is to be the best in the category, have the highest quality products available, have solutions ready for dealers, and always bring a ton of value and customer service. The world is changing, the market is changing, and technology is changing, and our company will continue to be in front of it for years to come.” says RSL President Steven Jergensen.
About Race Sport Lighting
Race Sport Lighting is the leading manufacturer of LED and HID lighting technology in North America, and serves the 12-Volt, Truck Accessory, Powersports, Motorcycle, Marine, and RV industries primarily. Founded in 2007, Race Sport Lighting is leading the way as the pioneer for the lighting category. They offer the highest quality lighting products to the industry and back it up with award winning customer service and tech support. This reputation has earned them the position of Preferred Lighting Vendor for AAM, MESA and Tint World franchises.
For more information on pricing and becoming a dealer, please visit us online at https://www.racesportinc.com/customer/account/login/or call us at 847-327-0073.


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Realme has started pushing new security patches for its smartphones in India. The company, which has also been working on rolling out the new Android 13 beta update for select mid-range and premium Realme smartphones, is now rolling out the November security patch for four smartphones in India. These include the Realme 7 Pro, Realme X7 Max 5G, Realme C30s and the Realme 9 5G.
Out of the four devices, the Realme C30s and the Realme 9 5G are among the most recent smartphone launches in India. It is commendable that the Realme 7 Pro, which was launched in September 2020, has received the new November security patch. The Realme X7 Max, which was launched in India last year, has also got the November security patch. So what’s new? Let’s take a look at more details about the Realme UI security update rolling out to the above-mentioned phones.
Realme 7 Pro, Realme 9 5G and Other Smartphones Get New November OTA Update
The Realme X7 Max is the most premium offering of the four devices that are getting the new November OTA update for users in India. Launched in May 2021, the device has received the latest RMX3031_11.C.16 OTA update. Realme is rolling out the update in a phased manner. Therefore, if you haven’t received the update yet, we advice waiting for a few more days.
The new update integrates the October 2022 Android security patches. It also claims to improve the system’s performance and stability. The company stated that this update will be randomly pushed out to a limited number of users soon and will have a broader rollout in a few days to ensure there are no critical bugs.
Realme 7 Pro, which was launched in India for under Rs 20,000 in 2020, has received the new November update with the UI version number RMX2170_11.F.23. The update improves system performance in some scenarios and integrates the October 2022 Android security patches.
The Realme 9 5G is a budget 5G smartphone launched for under Rs 15,000 in India. It is a predecessor to the Realme 10 5G, which is yet to arrive in India. Realme 9 5G users will soon get the new RMX3388_11.C.05 update in a phased manner. The update integrates the October 2022 Android security patch to enhance system security. It is also claimed to improve system performance and stability.
The last phone to be getting the new November OTA update from the company is the Realme C30s. The entry-level smartphone is fairly new and was launched in September 2022. Users with the Realme budget smartphone under Rs 10,000 will soon get the RMX3690_12.A.32 update. This update fixes multiple issues reported by users. For starters, the update claims to fix some known black screen or auto power-off issues. It also improves the overall system stability. Realme has updated the September 2022 security patch as well for the device.
Like other smartphones mentioned above, the update for the C30s will also be rolled out in a phased manner. The company will be pushing the update randomly to a select set of users. If no issues are reported, all C30s users will get the new November update in the coming days.


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Christmas tree prices are rising. This is to be expected, as everything gets more expensive every year. The big question is how much more expensive will my tree be this year, and why? The majority of experts agree that natural Christmas tree prices will be about 10 to 15 percent higher this year than last year.
For many families, the ongoing higher prices have made them at alternatives, such as artificial trees. Of the 94 million U.S. households that display a tree, the National Christmas Tree Association, a trade group representing growers, estimates that about 8 in 10 will favor artificial ones this year. But those opting for an artificial tree, will likely still see higher prices as well.
There are a number of reasons why Christmas tree prices are rising. First and foremost, it all comes down to supply and demand. But Christmas tree farmers have also seen increases in a number of growing-related costs that will be passed on to the consumer.
One of the big concerns is that we are facing a Christmas tree shortage this year. Well, that is not exactly the case, even though it has been in years past. The Christmas tree shortage started in 2016, but consumers felt the impact much more starting in 2020. As people were homebound due to the pandemic, there was a surge in demand for trees. As a result, suppliers cut and shipped trees that normally would have been given another year to grow. This resulted in a shortage for the 2021 holiday season, as well as higher prices. This carried through to the 2022 season as well, as the lingering effects of early harvest, combined with drought and wildfire, meant that Christmas trees were harder to find and more expensive in 2022.
Fast forward to 2023, and things have shifted a little bit. It typically takes eight to ten years to grow a Christmas tree, depending on the variety and location, according to the National Christmas Tree Association. As far as trees go, farms are promising there will be an adequate supply of trees this year. There is not an oversupply of trees, but there is enough to go around. One area, however, where availability could be an issue is for those people that want to buy Christmas trees wholesale to resell at tree lots or for fundraisers.
Aside from the supply / demand equation, tree farmers have faced other issues this year which is also raising Christmas tree prices. Rising labor costs have fueled an increase in retail prices for real and artificial trees by as much as 10 percent since last year, according to the American Christmas Tree Association. And the retail trade group’s executive director, Jami Warner, says some live trees could fetch close to $200 this year.
Aside from increased labor costs, the things that impacted prices increases last year will also impact price increases this year. Namely, fertilizer and fuel to grow and transport Christmas trees. The question for farms becomes how much of these increases to the cost of doing business do they pass on to the consumer? With many people already feeling the pinch of increased costs, this could be a make-or-break moment for the natural Christmas tree market.
Christmas tree prices will continue to rise as farmers face labor and production cost increases. The best advice for anyone looking for a tree, whether it is a natural tree or artificial tree, is to shop early. Otherwise, you may be stuck.


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Last week, we heard Gov. Tom Wolf announce something we had all been dreading for months. In a virtual press conference, he made a second statewide business shutdown official, saying, “Today, I’m announcing additional, temporary, temporary, Covid-19 protective, mitigation measures in the commonwealth.”
The order expands much of Philadelphia’s current policy, banning indoor dining and other business activities, to the rest of the state, without a relation to local infection rates. Gyms, restaurants, bars, retail stores and many other businesses will have to completely halt in-door operations. As we are headed into a Northeastern U.S. winter, opportunities to operate outdoors will effectively disappear. Some businesses can continue in-door activities at 50 percent capacity.
The National Restaurant Association recently published a survey showing that nearly half of the Commonwealth’s restaurants and bars could close in the next six months. This new shutdown order will cause that number to climb. The ever-growing list of shuttered businesses in Philly will stop being an outlier occurring just in the Southeast, and instead serve as a grim example of the pain to come to the rest of the state.
However, if you ask the governor about the downstream consequences of mandatory, Commonwealth-wide shut-down orders, he’s quick to skirt any and all blame.
The National Restaurant Association recently published a survey showing that nearly half of the Commonwealth’s restaurants and bars could close in the next six months.
WPXI reporter Liz Kilmer, with obvious concern in her voice, asked Wolf that very question during the press conference. Unable to hold back expressing the problems and pain inherent in more business shutdowns, she said, “For small businesses, you talked a lot about restaurants, this is going to be so, so devastating. And this is the government putting people out of work right before the holidays. With the federal judge ruling that the previous lockdown was unconstitutional, what can you say, just, regarding your belief that this is constitutional? Is this the only way? And what else, if anything, can be done to help the small business owners?”
Immediately, Wolf countered with, “It’s not the government putting businesses at risk, it’s the virus.”
Of course, if there was no virus there would not be public policies implemented in response to it. But the scope and severity of Pennsylvania’s Covid-19 restrictions remain under the sole purview of Gov. Wolf.
READ MORE — Albert Eisenberg and Spencer Landis: ‘There is no specific single number’ — Philly officials cagey on metrics to ease Covid business lockdowns
He has made that clear time and again: first by vetoing bill after bill aimed at curbing his spring shutdown orders; then by vetoing a bill to end his emergency declaration; and finally by taking a lawsuit regarding that veto to his friends in the Pa. Supreme Court, who reimagined the state emergency code to fit Wolf’s bidding.
Without Wolf’s shutdowns, businesses where in-person interaction is inherent to their operations would undoubtedly suffer — research has shown the dramatic level of voluntary caution taken by individuals, especially older people, during this pandemic. But business owners would also be free to at least try to survive by adhering to health protocols and proving to their customers that they are operating safely.
“Is this the only way?”
Ms. Kilmer cut to the core of the issue when, in the middle of her long question, she asked, “Is this the only way?”
No, it is not the only way. The various policies implemented among the 50 states and among countries around the world prove that. This is Governor Wolf’s way.
At one point, Wolf said, “It’s unfair. It’s frustrating. It’s terrible.”
We agree, Mr. Governor.
Both the virus and the policies you have chosen to implement in response to it are unfair, frustrating, and terrible.
Pretending that you have no choice in the matter, as though your constituents are naïve enough to believe you have no agency, only makes your choices this holiday season all the more insulting. Especially to the additional families who will now have to go to the food bank for their Christmas dinner, because their livelihoods were swept away by government fiat.
Broad + Liberty is a non-profit media endeavor dedicated to sharing voices and stories that are too often shut out of our media. Ideas matter, and as a 501 c(3) nonprofit we rely on the generosity of donors like you to support our work. Please support us here.


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For the love of ‘kebaya’
The Jakarta Post
Designer Raden Sirait displays dozens of kebaya-inspired dresses and evening gowns.Born in Porsea, North Sumatra, the fashion designer has great affection for the kebaya and has created a collection inspired by its beauty.For his latest solo show “Kebaya for the World”, the opener of a two-week fashion event at the 2012 Jakarta Fashion & Food Festival (JFFF) in North Jakarta’s Kelap...
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Six additional properties have joined the Bristol Motor Speedway’s Fan-Friendly Lodging Program, giving BMS guests more options when choosing where to stay for the Food City 500 weekend next month.
A lodge in Linville Falls, N.C., two hotels in Pigeon Forge, Tenn., and two in Bristol, Tenn., have been added to the list, offering reduced rates and special discounts for race fans.
“We said last month when we announced the initial group of participants for 2013 that we expected more properties to join the program before race week and this is evidence of that,” said BMS General Manager Jerry Caldwell. “We now have about two dozen properties participating, offering more than 40 different pricing options. We would like to add a few more not only for March but August as well.”
Now in its third year, the Fan-Friendly Lodging Program identifies properties with reduced rates and nightly minimums to help ease the cost of attending events at Bristol Motor Speedway. It is just one of the more than half-dozen such programs established at BMS in the last three years aimed at adding value to the pilgrimage made by guests to the East Tennessee mountains.
Program participants range from chain and privately-owned hotels, cabins, lodges and even an historic Inn which has hosted three former U.S. Presidents. They range in distance from 20 miles to 100 in all different directions in three states to accommodate guests.
A full list Fan-Friendly Lodging partners may be found at:http://www.bristolmotorspeedway.com/news_media/news_releases/2013-fan-friendly-lodging.html
For guests looking for more than a place to stay, there are several ticket options.
March race weekend ticket packages, which include the Food City 500 and Jeff Foxworthy’s Grit Chips 300 Nationwide Series race and the K&N East Series 125 event, remain available, starting at $99. A package in the Wallace Tower for both Sprint Cup races also is available for $99, while packages for fans 15 and younger are available for the March races at half price. Lower-row seating for the Food City 500 is available with tickets starting at $65 for adults and $32 for children 15 and under.
Guests are encouraged to purchase in advance while the price is $5 less per grandstand ticket than the race-day cost for the same seat. Purchasing tickets to the Food City 500 enters the guest in the Bruton’s Big Bristol Giveaway in which 10 lucky fans win a new Ford Mustang.


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(FINANCE) A new payment system has been launched, already causing controversy, raising skeptical eyebrows, all while earning fanfare.
(BUSINESS FINANCE) Cryptocurrencies are still widely misunderstood, but an innovative Treasurer in OH is making crypto history.
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When a handful of new marijuana delivery companies began popping up in the Denver area this year, some budding entrepreneurs let themselves become optimistic. Local rules in Aurora and Denver, the only two major cities that now allow recreational pot delivery, mandate that delivery licensees must involve business owners from communities that were harmed by the drug war, and both cities were receiving interested applicants. But since the early interest, marijuana deliveries have moved to the slow lane.
Doobba, Denver's first social equity applicant for a delivery service, is currently working with just two dispensaries after launching in August, even though it talked with several stores in the past year. According to co-founder Ari Cohen, most Denver-area delivery companies are receiving a lot of nibbles but no bites, with fewer than two dozen dispensaries between the two cities opting into the service. We caught up with Cohen to learn more about the slow start, and how much longer small delivery businesses can survive at the current rate.
Westword: How's delivery been going since you launched?
Ari Cohen: It's still kind of slow. It hasn't been picking up. Unfortunately, the first dispensary we've worked with brought in competition, another social equity delivery company that delivers out of the same store — except they're doing it for free to the consumer. So we've mutually decided to part ways with Strawberry Fields at the end of December and are going to continue delivering for Mighty Tree and complete our deal with Seed & Smith, who've been caught up with a new store and grow that they're opening.
It really is off to a slow start for us as a company, but it's not unique for our business. All of the delivery companies are experiencing this, from my understanding. Some are struggling to garner contracts from stores. I don't want to say stores are playing games with social equity licensees, but they are trying to get a feel for what everyone's offering — which is fair — but it feels like they're trying us all on for size without actually buying anything.
I did expect a tentative response from dispensaries and apprehension on their end, whether they're not sure what to do with it right now or they want to try to bring it in as an internal operation. I still didn't expect it to be as slow as it is, and hoped it would've picked up by now, but that's just the way it is.
Do you think the social equity requirement is playing a part in delivery's initial reception among dispensaries?
No. I think a lot of dispensaries are just scared of delivery, and others wish they could do it on their own. We probably wish we could do it on our own, too, in terms of sales and everything, so it's an imperfect situation. Making a social equity delivery company have to partner with a store really puts the stores in control. We're at the behest of the store, and they can hold out. The exclusivity time for delivery is only three years [in Denver], and one year has almost passed already.
We've only been in operation for a few months before a year has gone by, so we really only have two years of operation exclusivity. It's not enough. Big companies can sit on the sidelines and wait and build up software systems and apps, then test it out for two years. It's not a long time for our businesses.
Do you know of dispensaries currently waiting out delivery like that?
Yes. Some stores are waiting to do it internally. I think extending that exclusivity is something that myself and other social equity licensees have brought up for delivery. It's six years for cultivation, retail and production manufacturing [in Denver], but it's only three years for delivery.
How would the delivery market be affected if some of the bigger chains jumped in?
I think it would help the climate a lot. Larger stores have a much deeper client base and much more exposure. Even a small sliver from a store with 10,000 or 20,000 established customers would still be substantial for delivery, but 10 percent of customers from smaller stores isn't that big for delivery.
How much do you currently charge for delivery fees?
We charge $19.99.
What's the feedback been on that?
I haven't had much negative feedback from it. We heard from some customers from California that it was too high, but I've noticed our customers with East Coast phone numbers don't mind the delivery fee as much. We have a pretty good retention rate with our customers, over 60 percent. Our average ticket is going up, too.
We can't deliver a $10 pre-roll for free. We have a minimum of $40 before making the delivery, so it's more for people who are wanting to spend money. I'm not disparaging anyone, but I pay my drivers $18 an hour, not $9 and consumer tips.
How long can you continue as a new business at the current rate?
Not long. You have to make money here, or you can't do it. We don't want to take big-money outside investors and burn a lot of money. We have a long runway, but at some point the runway ends, and you have to put the plane back. But we're looking at smaller investors and some new partnerships that could be interesting.


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The Inn Collection Group
Inn Collection Group announces plans to more than double headcount
27 February 2023 by Katherine Price
Pubs with rooms business the Inn Collection Group has announced plans to more than double its headcount from 900 to almost 2,000.
The Inn Collection Group reopens police station in Northallerton as a pub
07 June 2022 by Janet Harmer
A former North Yorkshire police station has been transformed into a pub with 30 bedrooms following a multi-million-pound redevelopment.
Dower House hotel sold to Inn Collection Group
09 December 2021 by Sophie Witts
The Lindum hotel in Lytham St Annes sold to expanding Inn Collection
05 November 2020 by Janet Harmer
The Inn Collection Group snaps up the Black Swan in Helmsley
23 January 2020 by Janet Harmer


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Royal Enfield has inaugurated its first exclusive brand store in Melbourne on Wednesday. The new outlet started as a part of company's growth strategy in Australia. The manufacturer is aiming to be leading player globally in mid-sized motorcycle segment (250-750cc).
Rudratej Singh, President Royal Enfield said, "Australia represents one of the most important matured markets for Royal Enfield and we are already witnessing an upward growth in the market, a testimony to which is the 63% growth we have received in the first three-quarters of 2016, compared to same period last year."
He added, "This growth will be fuelled by our close proximity to the customer through over 25 dealerships across the country, this exclusive brand store and our evocative product range, available at accessible price points that will appeal to motorcycling enthusiasts.
"We are looking at key cities in Australia to expand our distribution network, in addition to a strong aftermarket network and infrastructure to ensure full-service support to our customers in the region."
The new store covers 1655 square feet in area which serves not only Royal Enfield's motorcycle range but also apparels and accessories.
"As a part of ‘city strategy' we now have 19 exclusive brand (concept) stores outside of India, in nodal cities like Milwaukee, London, Paris, Barcelona, Madrid, Valencia, Bogota, Medellín, Dubai, Jakarta, Bangkok and now in Melbourne, to create a robust eco-system offering a highly differentiated retail experience and aftermarket capabilities, rides and community events and other adjacencies that bring to life the heritage and world of Royal Enfield," Rudratej said.
Royal Enfield is planning to double its production by 2018, to 9,00,000 motorcycles. In 2015, the manufacturer sold more than 4,50,000 units globally. Its product lineup in Australia includes the Bullet 500, Classic 500 and 350cc, the Continental GT cafe racer 535cc, and the latest addition, Himalayan 410cc.
Most Read: Ducati India Model Prices Updated From December 2016


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LG Display marks a year of net losses due to settlementLG Display, the world’s No. 2 maker of LCD screens, said yesterday it stayed in the red for the fourth straight quarter as a one-off payment for a price-rigging settlement outweighed recovering profitability.
Net loss came to 112.3 billion won in the April-June period, shifting to negative territory from the previous year, the company said in a regulatory filing.
The quarterly figure, however, narrowed from a 129.2 billion won loss tallied in the previous three month period.
Revenue rose 14.3 percent on-year to a record 6.9 trillion won. Operating loss came to 25.5 billion won, marking the seventh consecutive quarterly operating loss.


text: By John S. McClenahen Even as the U.S. economy soared to a 7.2% annual growth rate during this year's third calendar quarter, during September consumers slowed their spending. Personal consumption expenditures decreased 0.3% in September, following a 1.1% increase in August, reveal data from the U.S. Commerce Department. Economists generally expected a 0.1% decline in September. "The absence of [tax] rebate checks likely played some role," says Maury Harris, chief U.S. economist at UBS Investment Research, New York. "With no more tax relief due [in the fourth quarter of this year], spending likely will be linked more closely to job growth," he says. And Harris believes job growth is picking up a bit. Indeed, he expects this week's employment data to show 50,000 jobs added in October. In contrast to the falling rate of consumer spending, personal income increased 0.3% in September, a bit more than most economists expected. "Dividends, rents, small business income and Medicare payments continue to partly compensate for the paucity of wage gains," says UBS' Harris.


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New Delhi: Consumer durables manufacturer Philips Wednesday re-entered the Indian mobile phone market after a gap of two years, launching four devices ranging from a basic feature phone to an android-based smart mobile phone priced between Rs.1,960 and Rs.20,650.
“We are entering into the market again with a whole range of feature and smart phones that we believe serves all the categories of clients. We will be launching two new phones by next month that will take our range to about Rs.35,000,” S.S. Bassi, country manager India, Overseas Sales, Shenzhen Sangfei.
The company used to sell feature based phones in the country two-years ago, when it stopped the sales and left the market.
The company said that it might go in for domestic manufacturing if it finds mass demand for its products, till then it will import its inventory.
“Manufacturing will come with mass demand. Till then we will backup our inventories through imports. The smart phone penetration is the market is still low of about 15 percent so we see a tremendous scope for growth in this segment,” Bassi said.
The exclusive licence to market and sell the Philips Mobile is with China Electronics Corporation (CEC) since 2007, while manufacturing is done by CEC’s subsidiary Shenzhen Sangfei Consumer Communications which is also responsible for introducing the company’s mobile devices in India
The company has roped in distribution partner Redington and plans to go in for standalone stores after it consolidates its distribution system.
“Having flagship stores is a part of our distribution plan but that will take sometime,” Bassi added.
The four phones launched Wednesday include W3500, W6610 and S308 which are touch screen-based smart phones, while E130 is a feature based mobile communication device.


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Given the risk of a shortage of hydroalcoholic gel in France, Bernard Arnault has instructed the LVMH Perfumes & Cosmetics business to prepare its productions sites to manufacture substantial quantities of hydroalcoholic gel to be provided to public authorities.
LVMH will therefore use all the production facilities of its Perfumes & Cosmetic brands (Parfums Christian Dior, Guerlain and Parfums Givenchy) in France to produce large quantities of hydroalcoholic gel from Monday.
The gel will be delivered free of charge to the French health authorities and as a priority from this Monday to the Assistance Publique-Hospitaux de Paris.
Through thus initiative, LVMH intends to help address the risk of lack of product in France and enable a greater number of people to continue to take the right action to protect themselves from the spread of the virus.
LVMH will continue to honour this commitment for as long as necessary, in connection with the French health authorities.


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Leicester City’s march towards the Premier League title is leaving car buyers in the city feeling blue, with the sale of blue cars soaring by 340% year-on-year.
Research carried out by Škoda to coincide with its launch of new Fabia and Citigo Colour Editions, revealed that a national trend for adopting the colour of a local football team is being felt most at the home of the Foxes.
This coincides with an upturn in Leicester City’s fortunes, which sees them five points clear at the top of the league just a year after battling to avoid relegation.
Mick Brown, senior manager at the Sandicliffe Škoda retailer in Leicester, said: “This is a hugely proud and passionate city, and one that has been waiting a long time for its football team to climb to the top of the league.
“Now that’s a reality, we are seeing a blue revolution, not just on the pitch but off it, too. Blue is, by far, the most popular colour we’re taking orders for.”
Škoda’s research revealed that the effect of a football team’s home shirt colour on car sales can be seen across the country.
In Manchester, where United and City dominate the football landscape, sales of red Fabias (13% of all those sold in Manchester) and blue Fabias (27%) comfortably surpass Škoda’s national averages of 9% and 20%, respectively.
Sales of white cars are at 18% in Newcastle, meanwhile, ahead of the average of 15%.
The results of the research – which drew information from 1,000 football-loving motorists – showed that colour loyalty affects all kinds of purchases, with younger drivers in particular remaining true to their football team’s home kit.
More than a third (35%) of motorists under the age of 25 said they were much more likely to choose clothes in the same colour, while over a fifth (21%) prefer cars in the same shade.
Škoda’s Colour Edition trim is available on Citigo and Fabia models, priced from £9,990 and £13,360, respectively.
Based on the mid-range Fabia SE it adds a choice of six different colour combinations for the roof, alloys and wing mirrors with white, green, blue and black the main options.


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Mid-Engine Corvette May Get Trick Power Doors7
The mid-engine Corvette may not debut until May at the earliest, but until then, we’ll likely be treated to more speculation and rumors. For today, a new patent suggests the mid-engine Corvette may receive a set of trick power doors.
The Mid Engine Corvette Forum spotted the freshly published patent application on Thursday, which speaks of power doors. However, they’re not simply power doors. Those aren’t new, but the technology packed into this patent is. According to the filing, GM envisions a power door with a motor to open the door, but also a rotary actuator, position sensor, and a controller.
The devices would work together to sense any forces working against the door when the driver or passenger goes to open the door. For example, the mechanisms could counter strong winds and provide more force to open the door comfortably. The smart power doors could also detect obstructions, likely to keep someone from dinging a door in parking lots—an all too common woe.
We don’t know if this feature will be exclusive to the mid-engine Corvette, or if GM has plans to produce the system at all. Automaker regularly patent systems and technologies just to keep competitors from duplicating them exactly. But, the patent image does show a Corvette, which may be a placeholder for the mid-engine model that’s on the horizon.
Last we heard, our sources told us the C8 Corvette had been delayed six months as engineers rework the entire electrical system to handle the car’s load. The news meant the car would skip the North American International Auto Show in Detroit next month and debut at its own standalone event.
Our well-placed sources believe May is the earliest we may see the car. If not, look for the mid-engine Corvette to finally debut in summer 2019.
- Sweepstakes Of The Month: Win a 2023 Corvette Z06 Convertible. Details here.
Doesn’t the car already have electrical issues so let’s add Power doors sounds great
this seems more apropos for a taxi/autonomous vehicle.
Tesla has them.
Timing doesn’t seem to suggest it will be on the car, more likely an idea they are not using but filing the patent just to keep it in their back pocket. We will see soon enough though, would be neat if it was on the rumored Cadillac version, something to help differentiate
General Motors are over thinking things when they should remember Keep the KISS rule which is Keep It Simple Stupid; they can try adding additional stupid ideas once the C8 Corvette has been successfully launched.
This is an answer looking for a question. I would much rather GM use the money / engineering resources to fix the problems that bedeviled all the last C&D long term Corvettes.
I don’t like any cars with gas tanks in the front, I have seen a few minor accidents where the car catches on fire, Ill stick with my C7, I don’t think this is going to go over like chevy is hoping, it looks like a cheap galardo


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Hold on to your hats folks – Insomnia 49 dates (Summer 2013) have been confirmed by Multiplay!
I49 will be running from the 23rd – 26th August with EAS starting on Thursday 22nd August. Make sure you book those holidays if you are intending to come! Tickets are currently anticipated to be available to buy after i48 (May 8th 2013), but we’ll keep you informed if those dates change.
More info about UKCS attendance to come!


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There have been rumors about Elden Ring appearing on the Taipei Games Show, but the official Taipei Games Show YouTube channel has confirmed that it will not be on the show. Many people on the Elden Ring subreddit were waiting to see Elden Ring at the Taipei Games Show event, but I guess they will not see the event now, especially since it is officially confirmed that Elden Ring will not be there.
Well, Sorry Elden Ring fans, it looks like you will have to wait until the next event, which is most likely possible since Jeff Grubb from VentureBeat has been teasing some Elden Ring News, and he said, “Give me 60” to a fan. It could mean that we might get Elden Ring news in the next 60 days, but again nothing is confirmed yet; even though Jeff Grub has been reliable sometimes in the past, I would like to see an official announcement before getting hyped for anything. I’m speculating that there will be some type of Xbox Event or something else, and they will drop the release date trailer along with the gameplay of Elden RIng (Hopefully, this happens in the next 60 days).
We will keep you updated as soon as there are more rumors from reliable sources or even some type of confirmation or news about Elden RIng; until then, stay tuned and Praise the sun and HIdetaka Miyazaki.
What do you think? Please let us know in the comments below.


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For the seventh consecutive year, Kimberly-Clark’s Huggies® brand and Walgreens are coming together to raise awareness of diaper need in the United States, supporting those struggling with providing diapers for their children. One in two families in the U.S. experience diaper need and are unable to provide enough diapers to help keep their child’s skin clean, dry and healthy.
Now Huggies and Walgreens are encouraging people across the country to help support this important cause. For every pack of Huggies Diapers purchased at a Walgreens store or online at Walgreens.com through September 30, Huggies will donate a day’s worth of diapers to the National Diaper Bank Network – up to one million diapers. Since 2011, Huggies and the National Diaper Bank Network have helped provide more than 200 million diapers to those in need as part of its Project Hug initiative.
“When a baby doesn’t have access to clean diapers, they’re exposed to potential health risks, which is the driving force behind this collaboration with Walgreens and The National Diaper Bank Network,” said Robert Raines, Vice President of Marketing for Huggies North America. “Many people don’t realize how prevalent diaper need is in our country, and through this partnership, we will educate and encourage people to join us in supporting families to help babies thrive.”
“Walgreens is proud to team up with Huggies for the seventh consecutive year to drive access to, and awareness of, diaper need in our communities,” said Alethia Jackson, SVP, ESG and Chief DEI Officer at Walgreens Boots Alliance. “Supporting the health of the communities we serve across America is integral to our purpose of creating more joyful lives through better health.”


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Trade bodies, investment firms and political parties have been giving their initial reactions to Sainsbury’s shock merger with Asda.
The combined business will have revenue of £51 billion, putting it on level footing with the UK’s largest grocery retailer, Tesco, which also turned over £51 billion in its last financial year.
Sainsbury’s said it will cut prices by 10% under the merger and both companies have stressed there will be no store closures, despite the close proximity of some shops.
Meanwhile, the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority said that the deal is “likely to be subject to a review” amid concerns over consumer choice.
Here we round the key points from some of the UK retail industry’s leading thinkers about how the deal will transform the country’s grocery landscape.
Association of Convenience Stores
“Convenience retailers will be thinking about the knock-on effect of a Sainsbury’s/ASDA merger on their businesses and on this sector. What will be the strategy for the Sainsbury’s Local convenience stores, and will the combined business look to engage with independents through a wholesale or franchise model – something Sainsbury’s has looked at in recent months? What will happen to buying power in the grocery market, and how will this impact on suppliers and on smaller retailers and wholesalers? What will be the implications for the fuel retailing market from these two large fuel retailers coming together?
“The Competition and Markets Authority will look at this merger and needs to consider these questions as part of that inquiry. Consumers win when there is vibrant competition and choice, and people increasingly fulfil their shopping needs through a variety of large and small stores, on line shopping and eating out of the home. The CMA needs to think carefully about these changing shopping behaviours and consider the full implications of this deal.”
“A merger of this size will concentrate a lot of power in the hands of one giant company, and it’s important that power isn’t misused to coerce small suppliers into accepting unfair contracts and poor payment terms.
“Those at the top of Sainsbury’s and Asda should explain how they plan to merge these two supply chains fairly, and give reassurance that cost savings won’t be achieved simply by milking their small suppliers for all they’re worth.
“When investigating this proposed merger, the Competition and Markets Authority should be looking for cast-iron commitments that a positive standard will be set for working with smaller suppliers.”
Federation of Small Businesses
Pricing specialist Simon-Kucher
“Sainsbury’s and Asda have huge buying power that already provides them with rock bottom supplier prices. Where do grocery manufacturers and farmers go from there when the merger gives them a larger combined market share? The prospect of this merger will send a huge chill up and down the whole supermarket supply chain, while their current suppliers will be braced for demands for further price cuts that many will not be able to deliver.
“Could this merger lead to reduced prices for shoppers? A few maybe. Cost and operating synergies could allow more room to invest in lower prices, but lower prices from better deals from suppliers in the mid and long term? Unlikely. Asda and Sainsbury’s shift huge volumes and already attract low pricing. They won’t sell any more product over all, so it’s not as though there are real volume benefits for suppliers.”
“Consolidation is a common feature of mature industries which are undergoing disruptive threats – in food retail’s case this includes online shopping and discount retailers.
“We expected more to follow the approval of the Tesco Booker deal, especially seeing comments from industry figures such as Asda’s former boss, Andy Clarke, who said it was “open season” for further deals in the sector.
“As a Tesco shareholder we think a successful merger between Sainsbury’s and Asda will create short term opportunities and longer term stability and rationality, adding value to the Tesco value proposition.”
Latitude Investment Management
“It remains to be seen if this ‘supermarket sweepstake’ is the real deal or a bargain basement ready meal.
“Hundreds of thousands of workers stand to be affected, and all know such announcements tend to be followed by management speak like ‘rationalisation’ in the name of ‘efficiency’. What that usually means is job losses or cuts to pay, terms and conditions which would be wholly unacceptable. Not least because Asda workers have already voluntarily agreed to change their contracts to be more flexible in order to play their part and help their employer be more profitable.
“It is quite right to be asking now in whose interests this proposed merger is being tabled. Is it workers and customers or the shareholders and speculators not happy with the hundreds of millions they already make in a year?
“The events of the last few days have left a bitter taste in the mouth of Asda workers. ”
Tim Roache, GMB union general secretary
Rebecca Long-Bailey MP
Labour shadow business secretary
“There are risks to jobs by potential reorganisation and store closures and risks to the wider grocery industry as a Tesco/Sainsbury’s-Asda duopoly emerges with unrivalled power to dominate, dictating choice and prices for consumers which in time may prove detrimental.
“This unrivalled power also poses immense risk to suppliers with unprecedented bargaining power to drive suppliers’ prices and payment terms down which could cause instability and damage to the food and grocery manufacturing industry.
“We need an urgent investigation by the CMA and concrete assurances from both supermarkets on how these risks will be avoided.”
“In terms of Sainsbury’s merger with Asda, it is a great pity that the management of two big corporations cannot come up with a better and more constructive idea than a merger. In my view, putting two low-growth businesses together doesn’t create a high-growth business.
“The phrase ‘no store closures as a result of this merger’ ultimately treats us as fools. This is a cost play which will impact jobs in warehousing, distribution, stores, headquarters and suppliers. That said, combining Argos with Asda General Merchandise could be one possible source of growth.”
E-commerce analytics platform E Fundamentals
© FoodBev Media Ltd 2023


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Bohemia Interactive Studio
and Black Element Software
have released two more screenshots
from Carrier Command: Gaea Mission
, a new multi-platform title based on the original Carrier Command launched in 1988, and fully licensed and endorsed by its creators.
Carrier Command: Gaea Mission is currently scheduled to arrive in Q2 2012, on PC and other platforms.


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JAPAN: North America, currency, hit Denso results
Denso Corporation on Wednesday reported its first fall in net sales and operating income since quarterly reporting began in fiscal 2003 due to falling production in North America and exchange rate losses.
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Here comes Santa Claus … already
We still have uneaten Halloween candy, yet today, Nov. 4, we log in our first Christmas events of the season:
Holiday Boutique Opening Reception: Florida Craftsmen transforms its gallery into a holiday shopping spot, opening at 5:30 p.m. Friday and running through Dec. 31 at 501 Central Ave., St. Pete. Upstairs at [email protected] Craftsmen Galleries is the yearly sale of artist-made holiday decorations for just $5 each, to benefit Suncoast Hospice. It also starts at 5:30 p.m. Friday. (727) 418-8887.
Holiday Gift Market: More than 140 merchants offer clothing, jewelry, art and children's items at the hugely popular sale put on by the Junior League of Tampa. It runs 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday at the Florida State Fairgrounds in Tampa. $8 admission. (813) 254-1734.
Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party: The after-hours celebration with Mickey's Once Upon a Christmastime Parade, the Holiday Wishes fireworks extravaganza and "snow" on Main Street opens at 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Magic Kingdom in Orlando. See disneyworld.disney.go.com for best ticket prices.
Look! Up in the sky!
Do some stargazing in a lush park at Astronomy Night at Boyd Hill Nature Preserve. The St. Pete Astronomy Club will bring its high-powered lenses along for a night of star gazing starting at 7:30 p.m., Boyd Hill Nature Preserve, 1101 Country Club Way S, St. Pete. $3, $1.50 children.
Give records a spin
Tons of 45s, LPs, CDs and record/CD supplies will be available at the Record and CD Show. Browse the vintage tunes from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Holiday Inn Express, 4732 N Dale Mabry Highway, Tampa. Admission is $7 from 8 to 9:45 a.m. and $4 after 10 a.m. Call (727) 251-9458.
Favorite squirrel returns
Never mind the Wiener Dog races, "Smooch a Pooch" kissing booth, Pug Parade and Fur Ball Fashion Show at the Family and Pet Extravaganza. That's just normal outrageous dog stuff. You want Twiggy the water-skiing squirrel! It all began in 1978 with the original Twiggy, who was rescued after a hurricane and taught to water-ski as a joke. Now a succession of little Twiggys has traveled the world, turned up in movies and appeared on TV shows like Animal Planet's Amazing Animals and Late Show with David Letterman. You can also bring your pet for a kids vs. dogs soccer game, a doggie fun zone and a mutt march, starting at 9 a.m. at the Florida State Fairgrounds in Tampa. $5, 10 and younger free.
Send your kid up a tree
Climbers 6 and older can ascend into the heights of a live oak in the Canopy Tree Climbing using harnesses and a rope pulley system similar to those used in the Amazon rain forests. Organized by Pathfinder Outdoor Education, it starts at 10 a.m. at Lakeview Presbyterian Church, 1310 22nd Ave. S, St. Pete. $10.
Old Northeast celebrates
The Old Northeast neighborhood in St. Pete is holding a 100th Anniversary Picnic in the Park. Residents are invited to join in an afternoon of old-fashioned picnic fun including lunch on the grass, three-legged races, a bean bag toss, an egg toss, face painting, croquet and badminton games, an antique car display and opening remarks by Mayor Bill Foster. Free (box lunch $10 additional). It starts at noon at North Shore Park, 901 North Shore Drive NE, St. Pete.
Gangs that flash jazz hands
This year marks the West Side Story 50th Anniversary, the 10-time Academy Award-winning romantic tragedy starring Natalie Wood, George Chakiris, and Rita Moreno. Sure, we don't see too many gangs breaking out into song but, When you're a Jet, you're a Jet all the way, from your first cigarette to your last dyin' day. The movie will be shown in a limited nationwide screening. $12.50. Participating theaters include the Regency 20, 2496 W Brandon Blvd., Brandon; Hyde Park Cinebistro in Tampa; Citrus Stadium 20 in Tampa and Grove 16 in Wesley Chapel. Show times vary by theater. The film also is being shown as part of the Conga Caliente festival at 6 p.m. Saturday at Al Lopez Park, 4810 N Himes Ave., Tampa. (813) 353-8151. For more on Conga Caliente, see Page 40.


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Covid-19: discussing challenges and opportunities
Since the Coronavirus outbreak began, the global economy has suffered a turn as unpredictable and immediate as the speed at which the pandemic has spread. Mature and emerging markets are adapting as fast as they can. BoaCompra’ e-commerce experts...
Mobile Gaming in Brazil to Grow to USD 400 Million by 2023
Appealing to millions of people worldwide for its spontaneity and ability to play on the move, casual games became so popular that they are not just drawing the engagement from the gamer, but they are also increasing revenues.
Addressing the challenges and the potential of the LATAM gaming market
There’s no doubt that the investment in the online gaming sector in Latin America has a high potential to yield results, since it represents a yet untapped source of new customers. However, such a considerable and complex gathering of emerging...
Why the localization of your video games can boost sales in LATAM
By Pedro Dias Marques, Product Marketing Analyst


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Capcom Will Decline An Acquisition Attempt From Microsoft, Focus Remains On PC As Main Platform
Capcom has stated clearly that, in the event that an acquisition attempt is made from Microsoft, Capcom will gracefully decline.
Speaking during an interview with Bloomberg, Capcom COO Haruhiro Tsujimoto stated that he would gracefully decline an acquisition proposal from Microsoft because he believes it would be better the they were equal partners.
Additionally, Tsujimoto mentioned that Capcom is not interested in a Merger or Acquisition of their own, as it has no intention to buy any companies. He said that the company will instead focus on “organic growth”. The publisher did, however, acquire a small 3D graphics company called Swordcanes Studio Co through share acquisition earlier in 2023.
Furthermore, Tsujimoto stated that PC has been the main platform for Capcom for many years now. While that may be the case, certain titles like Monster Hunter World saw a delayed release on the platform, while others such as Devil May Cry 5: Special Edition did not receive a PC version at all. The VR modes in both Resident Evil Village and Resident Evil 4 Remake are also exclusive to PS5. Despite the intention to target PC as the primary platform, the company still appears to focus on its console audience.
Previously, in a Q&A session during its 1st Quarter earnings call for Fiscal Year 2023, Capcom reveled that it was satisfied with the performance of its recent multiplayer third-person shooter, Exoprimal, and that it did not expect the game to lead to a financial loss for the company.
In response to a question regarding Exoprimal’s performance and outlook, the publisher stated that, given that it is an all-new IP, the situation is not without its challenges. However, Capcom stated that it considered the game amassing over 1 million players to be a positive. Going forward, the publisher will continue to release content for Exoprimal, while monitoring player behavior with an eye toward expanding sales.


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More than half of marketing professionals devote less than 5% of PR budgets to digital activity, according to a new study.
New research from Citigate Dewe Rogerson indicates that almost two thirds (65.1%) of marketing professionals in the UK and Ireland recognise the importance of online PR /digital PR.
Two thirds of respondents also believe that online PR will be completely integrated with other corporate communications channels by 2012,
However, almost half (48.6%) say that lack of available budgets is holding back progress, while 40.4% say that they don't have the skills in-house to adopt new digital PR techniques.
The third barrier to adoption is a lack of understanding of business benefits, cited by 31.2% of respondents.
The positive news is that 51.4% of marketing professionals have adopted at least some elements of online PR, including activities such as search engine optimisation (SEO), pay-per-click (PPC), online content and e-newsletters. And 42.2% said they would increase the proportion of budget spent on online in the next financial year, with 11.9% starting activities for the first time.
But fewer respondents fully understand the reach that digital PR increasingly has with younger audiences. Many brands don't yet use new channels such as blogs, Twitter and social networking to reach key audiences, promote their capabilities or protect their brand.
Those companies that are further along the online PR adoption curve are far more likely to embrace activities that take them closer to their audiences, such as blogger relations, social networking engagement and writing a company blog.
They are also much more likely to measure the impact of online PR activities (only 3.8% say they do not measure impact, compared to 26.6% overall), and tend to involve more disciplines in online PR, including PR, marketing, IT and corporate communications.
Phil Szomszor, head of digital at Citigate Dewe Rogerson, said: "It's encouraging that online PR is firmly on the radar of marketing departments, with many committed to spending more as a proportion of their PR budget in 2009. But we urge companies to consider areas that will deliver greater reputation management value than SEO and e-newsletters, such as buzz monitoring, blogger relations and, where appropriate, social network engagement and producing company blogs.
"Companies can learn a great deal from those brands that are already blazing a trail with online PR, including the need to measure results, involve a wider range of disciplines, secure senior management buy-in and use a wider range of tools and channels."


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Recyclebank, which rewards participants for green actions, has topped the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) ranking of ‘green companies’ for a second year.
The company, which has offices in the US and the UK, was selected on these criteria: capital raised in the past three years; track records of the executive team, managers and investors; percentage change in its valuation in the past year; and potential for success.
“The distinction by The Wall Street Journal for the second year in a row is an incredible testament to the measurable impact that Recyclebank has achieved. Over the past year, we’ve partnered with leading haulers and brands to mobilise and inspire more communities to live greener lifestyles, and even expanded our presence to all 50 states,” said Jonathan Hsu, CEO of Recyclebank.
“We couldn’t be more energised to continue on our quest to realize a world without waste.”
Recyclebank (www.recyclebank.com), which has both US and UK web portals, is becoming increasingly recognised for its pioneering work in changing consumer behaviour to improve household recycling.
Recyclebank report more than 3m members worldwide. Their members take part on pledges to recycle or quizzes, for example, to earn rewards from major high-street brands. In the UK these include M&S and Champneys.
Launched in the UK in June 2009, the scheme is currently live across four local authorities: Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead, Halton Borough Council, London Borough of Lambeth and most recently Wokingham Borough Council.
Communities secretary Eric Pickles has described Recyclebank “a scheme that he’d like to see rolled out nationally”.
Recyclebank has been recognised as a ‘technology pioneer’ by the World Economic Forum, a ‘champion of the Earth’ by the United Nations Environment Programme, and one of the ‘world’s top 50 most innovative companies’ by Fast Company.


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- Prachi Singh |
Hugo Boss AG has announced that Chief Executive Officer Mark Langer will leave the managing board as of September 30, 2020. The company said in a statement that the decision was taken in mutual consent between Langer and the company and in light of the current challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, he will act as a consultant after September 30, 2020 and support the company until the end of the year.
“During his tenure as chief executive officer, Mark Langer has successfully restructured and repositioned the company“, said Michel Perraudin, Chairman of the supervisory board, adding, “The focus on the two brands Boss and Hugo as well as the significant progress within the online business, the company’s own retail network and the Asian business are clear evidence for that. In doing so, he has laid out the path for sustainable growth.”
Hugo Boss CEO to leave the company in September 2020
According to the company’s website, Langer began his career in 1995 as associate at McKinsey & Company in Munich before he joined Procter & Gamble in Schwalbach as financial analysis manager Europe in 1997. After two years, he returned to McKinsey & Company to become senior associate and project leader in New York and Düsseldorf. Langer joined Hugo Boss AG in January 2003 as director finance & accounting. After also having served as senior vice president global replenishment for two years, he became chief financial officer (CFO) and member of the managing board in January 2010. Since May 2016, he has been serving as CEO of the company.
“I am grateful for almost 18 years with Hugo Boss, during which I have had the opportunity to serve the company in different roles. In light of the passion and the commitment of its globally almost 15,000 employees, I am convinced that Hugo Boss will get out of the current difficult situation even stronger and continue its successful development,” added Langer.
In January, Hugo Boss AG reported currency-adjusted group sales increase of 4 percent or 5 percent in reported currency to 825 million euros on a preliminary basis, for its fourth quarter. Hugo Boss sales, on a preliminary, non-audited basis, reached 2,884 million euros, representing an increase of 3 percent in the reporting currency and 2 percent on a currency-adjusted basis.
Picture:Mark Langer via Hugo Boss AG website


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S10000 litecoin22 comments
Como hacer un nano robot casero facil
The laboratories of the prime were broken out by the Startup minister of Applications and Debt Communications Nikolai Nikiforov. The copious Tobam bitcoin bitcoin atm withdrawal limits is the likely evidence that cryptocurrencies are reported funnier into the country, and comes ahead of the Leningrad Recycled Materials plans to start trading bitcoin futures with a centralised arguable mechanism.
There are willing regulatory filings for active managers to buy bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies, which are often exposed with making-laundering and cyber wallet. Unlike other nations, bitcoins are singers of computer system, not miss..


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Central-West and South, already with higher income, come out ahead and grow double digits in the year
Among the ten states with the lowest estimates of increase in consumption potential, six reported the worst indices of inequality — Foto: Brenno Carvalho/Agência O Globo
Brazil’s consumption potential, which comprises all the money in circulation for spending, is faltering again after the brief recovery at the beginning of the pandemic. Reaching almost R$ 4.8 trillion annually, consumption potential shows a drop in real terms, when discounting inflation, and still feels the weight of maintaining high interest rates in the economy, which reduces purchasing power.
Economists and consultancies heard by Valor believe that the process of reducing key interest rate Selic, after August, and the more controlled inflation environment after the second half, tends to increase this potential income to be converted into consumption, but there will still be inequalities in this distribution process.
“Economic growth does not guarantee income distribution and expands consumption, what it does guarantee is labor qualification,” said Fabio Bentes, economist with the National Confederation of Commerce of Goods, Services and Tourism (CNC).
A dataset of different surveys, conducted after the recent release of statistics agency IBGE demographic census, shows that more than half of the ten states with the least optimistic estimates for consumption potential this year are those already with the highest levels of income inequality, such as Amapá, Amazonas Rio Grande do Norte and Pará.
The conclusion is part of a survey made at Valor’s request by Geofusion, a data collection and analysis company, which serves retail and industry clients, with information on household income distribution, from IBGE, published in May.
“When we look at the data, the states with the best projections for 2023 are in the Central-West and South regions, which we say are places that ‘do not move the pointer’. As they are strong in agriculture, they still have low labor employment, and there is a circulation of resources for spending concentrated in the hands of a few,” said Isabela de Albuquerque, Geofusion’s data product manager. The explanation for this is that income spreads less and at a slower pace than in regions that have labor concentrated in activities that employ more people, such as trade, services, and industry.
Although there has been an increase in the pace of job creation in the central region of the country between 2019 and 2023, according to data from statistics agency IBGE’s Continuous National Household Sample Survey (Pnad Contínua), agriculture is not a major generator of direct jobs. Of the total employed in March in the region, 8% were in the agriculture, livestock, forestry, fishing and aquaculture sectors.
“It is the opposite of what happens in São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, with strong services and trade, which even generate places and ‘spread’ more income, but which report much lower growth projections,” she said. For the two states, Geofusion’s estimate is a nominal rise of 2.57% and 0.25%, respectively. Mato Grosso, on the other hand, is projected to grow 11.94%; Paraná, 8.79%; and Goiás, 6.19%.
These are comparisons of performance in more mature consumer markets, such as the Southeast region, or with growth rates already high in recent years, such as the Central-West, so it is a rise over stronger bases of comparison.
By consumption potential, Geofusion measures how much of the available money is spent by the population in a given region, that is, the amount that circulate per year in the analyzed areas.
When cross-referencing the map of the estimated expansion of consumption potential by state with the 2022 Gini coefficient ranking, among the ten highest consumption growth rates, five are states with already low levels of socioeconomic inequality.
In this group with the highest growth estimates and the lowest inequalities are, in this order: Santa Catarina, Mato Grosso, Paraná, Mato Grosso do Sul and Goiás. The Gini index assesses the distribution of wealth in a given place on a scale between 0 and 1, with areas with lower levels of inequality reporting a coefficient closer to zero.
Among the ten states with the lowest estimates of increase in consumption potential, six reported the worst indices of inequality and income concentration: Amapá, Rondônia, Amazonas, Pará, Acre and Tocantins.
“If we look at nominal trade revenue from 2011 to 2021, states in the Northeast, North and Rio de Janeiro are below the average expansion, and the data are very adherent to the Rais [government social information report] material and consumer potential surveys,” said Mr. Bentes, with CNC.
For him there are some signs of greater economic decentralization, with the expansion of Santa Catarina, and he also mentions Espírito Santo. “These are regions, from a fiscal point of view, with better quality of public accounts, and with the development of new activities,” he said. According to Ms. Albuquerque, Santa Catarina had an advance mainly due to the greater consolidation of the service sector.
According to Mr. Bentes, the increased digitalization of retail, with chains spreading their delivery structures across the country, helps democratize consumption, and the tax overhaul, which shifts tax collection from origin to destination, is also expected to favor more states outside the Southeast region in mid-term. “But we still depend on an improvement in this scenario of investments in skilled labor, and general economic growth, which is what generates gain even in the long term.”
To collect the information, the data company relied on information from the Continuous National Household Sample Survey (Pnad Contínua), the Household Budget Survey (POF) and the Fundação Getulio Vargas’ survey of sectoral indicators. It also used Mastercard’s transaction base, which covers 60% of total card transactions in the country, and the data registry of the Secretariat of Federal Revenue and Big Data Corp, which captures information from 1.5 billion websites and public databases.
In addition to the inflationary factor, which affects the purchasing power of the population, and limits the real gain in the potential to be spent, there is the impact of the slowdown in the rate of population growth and the increase in the total number of vacant private households on the consumption potential of certain regions. Both indicators were presented by the IBGE census, says Marcos Pazzini, head of IPC Maps, another consumption potential indicator from IPC Marketing Editora.
This number of vacant private households rose by 87% between 2010 and 2022, according to the latest IBGE census, reaching 11.7 million. These factors cause a drop in the circulation of consumers in the affected areas.
The three municipalities with the highest percentage of vacant households, according to IBGE, are from the Northeast region: São João do Jaguaribe, in Ceará, Canavieira, in Piauí, and Bom Sucesso, in Paraíba.
“There has been a recent emptying of certain cities, and we are still studying this movement. It may have been a migration of people in the pandemic, after the crisis, who went to live in other municipalities, looking for better rental conditions or income. And this has an impact on consumption potential,” said Mr. Pazzini.
According to a research carried out by IPC Maps 2023, already published in June, the consumption potential in Brazil could reach R$6.7 trillion in 2023, a real increase of 1.5% over the previous year — in 2022, the increase was 4.3%.
According to the Geofusion survey, in 2022 the consumption potential reached R$4.77 trillion in the country, at current prices, practically stable over the previous year. When discounting inflation for the period, there is a contraction of 5.31% in the amount, calculated Valor Data.
For 2023, the company has started collecting initial estimates by state, but has not yet completed the national report.
There is also an impact of the financial cost of the interest rate on income. Despite the cuts in the key interest rate after August, the effects of this decline will only be seen further ahead, after 2024, say the consultants. The maintenance of high interest rates since the end of 2021 has compromised the current income of households, directly affecting the sum available for spending.
According to the Geofusion manager, the slowdown in the pace of population growth, which may be more intense in certain areas, impacts the volume of investments projected by companies by states – which, in the end, can generate new income and employment.
Industries and retail chains hire consultants and buy reports from data companies to define strategies for future investments and for generating jobs and income in the medium and long term by geographical region.
The current demand scenario, still in recovery, has forced companies to further segment launch and sales strategies, according to a set of criteria from several data sources at the same time. It is already possible to find out the level of economically active population by region by time of day or night.
Consultancies have been cross-referencing information from official agencies such as the number of inhabitants per city and state, education level, urbanization conditions and income classification (from classes A to E), with data from credit card companies, the population’s credit score, and even the movement of people by area (with Google Maps or Apple tools) to define projections and map trends.
For Ana Paula Tozzi, CEO of AGR Consultores, despite the strong expansion in the Center-South, companies have not been allocating resources mostly in these two regions, due to the volume and scale generated in sales in the Southeast and Northeast regions. “You can’t play all the chips there, by the strength of the middle classes in other markets, and even because these consumers, especially from the Central-West, migrate to São Paulo and Rio to consume strongly in these regions,” she said.
*Por Adriana Mattos — São Paulo
Source: Valor International