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LG Electronics says that sales are on the way to exceed $10 billion in revenues in North America for the full year.
Michael Ahn, president and chief executive of LG Electronics North American Headquarters, said the company's strong emphasis on design and innovation are positioning LG as "one of the fastest-growing premium brands in mobile phones, digital appliances and consumer electronics in the United States today." LG has gained a 75% brand awareness and for the first half, LG Electronics' total revenues in the U.S. are up 39% from the same period last year.
LG has obviously evolved quite a bit over the last couple of years. Their product design become cutting edge and they even beat Samsung in the mobile phone sector in terms of profitability.
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The chemical distribution business is continually evolving as companies strive to meet the dual needs of customers and suppliers, as well as the quickening pace of market demands. While its fundamental role in the industry will not alter, what is changing is the depth and breadth of its services, its market reach and its technical expertise and segment/application knowledge.
Erik Fyrwald, president and CEO of Univar, says: “An intense customer-focus will continue to be the hallmark of successful chemical distribution in Europe and around the world. We are seeing a greater focus on providing customers’ product needs with on-time delivery, but complemented with technical capability and deep industry knowledge. Customers are also increasingly looking for a one-stop-shop for both specialty and commodity chemicals as well as packaging and blending.”
The share of the market serviced through distribution will increase, driven by the customer and the suppliers, says Biesterfeld CEO Birger Kuck. “Customers are looking for more service which the industry is not prepared to provide,” he says.
“Suppliers are interested in optimising their production and reducing the cost of supply chain services,” explains Kuck, who adds that the growing importance of overseas markets such as Asia – and now the US as a result of shale gas developments there – will require local distribution know-how that will influence the whole sector.
“Suppliers are interested in optimising their production and reducing the cost of supply chain services”
One example Fyrwald gives is methanol, which the US typically imports in large volumes. Now, he says, domestic capacity is growing rapidly and the region is becoming a significant net exporter, which is shifting the supply dynamics of a number of chemicals. “As a result, producers are adjusting their strategies and we in distribution must respond,” he says.
Fyrwald feels change will come through differentiation. “We are differentiating ourselves by offering not only logistics, but deep industry knowledge and technical insight. For example, we have teams dedicated to develop new formulations that make products better. From oil refining to snack food ingredients, our chemical engineers and technical development specialists are consultants to the industry spurring innovation,” he says.
Innovation is important in the longer term for both distributors and manufacturers, believes Brenntag CEO Steve Holland. He says innovation can increase process efficiency levels and enhance application technologies. “Innovation can be a competitive advantage and a key factor within the manufacturing sector in providing future growth and will be a major differentiator for suppliers and distributors,” he says.
For Kuck, the rising number and diversity of national regulatory requirements will strengthen the position of European distributors because of their local knowledge. Their know-how in handling, supplying and transporting goods will increase in importance too as manufacturing continues to move overseas.
“We also see a growing awareness of environmental issues in many markets”
“We also see a growing awareness of environmental issues in many Asian markets which will impact on the availability and cost of affected chemicals,” says Sul, who adds that at the same time the market is seeing the first implications from the uneven competition between industrialised regions.
“While especially European producers have been facing challenges in areas like energy costs, regulatory compliance and environmental requirements for several years, we see that in Asia, namely in China, new global players are emerging that do not have to deal with these issues to the same extent yet, providing them with a competitive advantage.”
Sul says Asian managers, who have often been educated and worked for “blue chip” producers in the West, are now quickly building up the capacities of key intermediates which were, until recently, imported from western countries. “In a second step, these new and competitive players then expand into specialties and focus on exporting these products to Europe, the US, and elsewhere,” he comments.
Is there a dilemma between overseas expansion and specialisation? Kuck says overseas expansion does not always correlate with specialisation but much depends on the specific market. Nevertheless, he says, there are enough markets where the industry is sophisticated enough to look for highly specialised products and application know-how.
He is referring not to markets in the US, Canada or Australia, but more the BRIC countries (Brazil, Russia, India and China) or the Asian tiger states of Hong Kong, Singapore, South Korea and Taiwan.
He says: “Customers here are keen to benefit from the know-how and expertise a specialty chemical distributor can offer. This is a good base to grow overseas business without losing the focus on specialties.”
“Producers are adjusting their strategies and we in distribution must respond”
Geographic expansion remains a strategic trend. Biesterfeld’s growth is being driven by countries in northern Africa and the CIS region. Kuck is also looking at Latin America or South Africa, and is watching emerging markets, especially the BRIC states, closely.
Kuck says: “They have different strengths and weaknesses. Biesterfeld is present in all of them, as well as in some other overseas markets, in order to follow developments and decide when the time is right to expand.” He says the company is less interested to expand to the US and most Asian markets as they are already too far advanced to open opportunities.
Although growth in emerging markets has slowed somewhat in recent years, Fyrwald sees great opportunities. He says: “China is a huge market for the chemical sector, but the distribution industry there still needs to be more developed for the benefit of both suppliers and customers. Other emerging markets that are also sizeable, but have slower growth than China, are Brazil, Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and now Africa is becoming significant.”
Commenting on market segments, Fyrwald sees the following offering good growth opportunities: oil and gas in North America; personal care, food ingredients, coatings, cleaning and sanitisation products in North America and Europe, and agriculture in North America and Brazil, where mining is also growing.
“Innovation... will be a major differentiator for suppliers and distributors”
Steve Holland CEO
Biesterfeld’s Kuck is in no doubt that the trend towards sustainability and environmentally friendly products will make specialty chemicals the main driver of future business growth, further reducing demand for commodities. Only in emerging markets does he see demand for commodity chemicals increasing. “We believe that this is, however, only short term. Soon specialties will be more interesting for them, too,” he states.
While Sul agrees it will be specialties that provide the growth, DKSH also sees the need for a balanced portfolio comprising both specialty chemicals and semi-commodities. He says: “Portfolio management for a com- pany’s focus industries is key in order to have an attractive basket of products to serve the customer. This again attracts suppliers.”
Change is the one constant feature to be faced by chemical distributors in the future. Whether that is changing market demand, changing growth opportunities, or changing regulations, those companies that can embrace the challenges to better serve their customers will see their businesses thrive.

domain: news


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Call of Duty Black Ops III is now available for free for PlayStation Plus subscribers. Apart from this, those who pre-ordered Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 is now receiving remastered Slums, Jungle, Firing Range, and Summit maps for free as part of the “Back in Black” DLC for Call of Duty: Black Ops III.
Sony says it wants to put Activision’s Black Ops 3 on subscription service PlayStation Plus, so as many people as possible can benefit from the offer. PS Plus regularly drops games to its members, who pay around $50 a year. Black Ops 3, which was released in 2015, will be on PS Plus for one month.


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Gold Medal introduces white whole wheat flour
MINNEAPOLIS — Gold Medal has expanded its offerings with a new white whole wheat flour.
Ground from hard white spring wheat, Gold Medal white whole wheat flour now is available at retailers nationwide, the company said.
Gold Medal white whole wheat flour is available in a 5-lb. bag for a suggested retail price of $3.85.
New research provides insight on consumers’ view of sustainable products
CHICAGO, and COLLINGSWOOD, N.J. — A universal product sustainability score would influence the brand purchase decisions of health and eco-conscious consumers, according to new research from Ryan Partnership Chicago and Mambo Sprouts Marketing.
In their One Green Score for One Earth sustainability research white paper — the first in a series on sustainability that reveals the results of a quantitative consumer survey and qualitative point of view interviews among retailers and manufacturers — the companies found that shoppers may increase their sustainable product spending only if they could determine which products were "truly green." What’s more, customers also are perceptive of what makes a product sustainable.
Additional highlights of the survey include:
Among shoppers, the vast majority (8-in-10 or more) want a product sustainability score. Even the majority (55%) of those who are not committed to buying sustainably would welcome such a score;
Three-in-4 consumers said a numerical score would be most useful in communicating sustainability. Symbols and text were less popular, favored by just more than 25%;
While a single score would seem simple and clear, shoppers understand that sustainability is complex and are open to the idea of multiple scores to improve the quality of communication;
At least 3-in-4 consumers looked for an independent organization or group of experts across different areas of sustainability (without a profit motive) to create the score; and
More than half of shoppers prefer that sustainability information be displayed within the store: packaging, labels and signage.
"We know that consumer commitment to earth-friendly products is increasing," Ryan Partnership Chicago president Christine Nardi Diette said. "But all of the green messaging is creating more confusion than confidence. Consumers are challenging manufacturers and retailers to be clear about their commitment to sustainability."
Mambo Sprouts Marketing CEO Matthew Saline said, "While consumers remain focused on a product’s environmental impact (e.g., energy conservation and carbon footprint), increasingly social, eco-economy and other facets of corporate responsibility are being considered including Fair Trade, cruelty-free and locally sourced."
For more information, click here.
Birds Eye emphasizes vegetables with new campaign, partnership
MOUNTAIN LAKES, N.J. — Birds Eye is encouraging consumers to eat more vegetables with several initiatives.
The brand on Thursday launched its "Discover the Wonder of Vegetables" campaign in New York’s Union Square. The campaign, which featured the Birds Eye vegetable snow farm to emphasize that "it’s always vegetable season," showed off live cooking demonstrations by chef Marcus Samuelsson, giveaways and new insights on inspiring vegetable wonder among children. Also on hand at the event: Cornell researcher Brian Wansink and representatives from Share Our Strength, a national nonprofit that seeks to end childhood hunger in America.
As part of its partnership with Share Our Strength, Birds Eye also has launched the "My Perfect Veggie-Powered Plate" Facebook application, which allows people to create and share their perfect meal — starting with vegetables. For every veggie-powered plate created on Facebook, Birds Eye will donate vegetables for 10 meals as a part of its Feed Kids Better initiative with Share Our Strength.
Additionally, in line with its campaign, Birds Eye also announced its strategic partnership with the U.S. Department of Agriculture and its MyPlate dietary guidelines, helping to support the USDA’s September kick-off of the "Make Half Your Plate Fruits and Vegetables" consumer education initiative.
"Birds Eye is a great partner of the MyPlate program and we appreciate both the research and consumer education they are dedicating to help Americans add vegetables to build a healthy plate," USDA Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion deputy director Robert Post said.


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Wal-Mart Minnesota is reportedly looking for local vendors of environmentally friendly products and services to work closely with its stores in Minnesota and Wisconsin.
Vendors could include farmers who sell organic foods, landscapers that use innovative techniques to conserve water, or recycling companies, according to a report in the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal.
Wal-Mart's corporate press office was not able to confirm the report, or provide additional information to Progressive Grocer yesterday.


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May 13, 2022 12:27 ET | Source: Loonbirds Loonbirds
Kallang, May 13, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The much anticipated Loon Birds NFT is about to drop on May 17th. People who win the White List spots can buy the NFTs at a discounted price of just 0.05 ETH. Buyers will be refunded 0.03 ETH after the purchase.
The Loonbirds NFT will drop on May 17th at 0.08ETH (the official price). The Loonbirds Project NFT avatar is being led by Spax*, a virtual studio supported and endorsed by a community of over a million social media followers and a laundry list of international customers. Only 10,000 are expected to drop, making it one of the most anticipated collectibles this year.
Spax* recently expanded by opening Game and Film departments that are responsible for producing content for AAA games in addition to Hollywood Blockbusters. The studio has a reputation for providing a full suite of services across some of the biggest names in the video game industry worldwide. It has been credited with contributions to titles such as Medal of Honor, Call of Duty, Battlefront, and Fallout, amongst many others.
Spax* virtual studio has also been one of the most prominent contributors to highly successful Hollywood cinematic franchises like Transformers, Marvel Cinematic Universe, and Star Wars.
Loonbirds has of late decided to follow the pixel art trend similar to Moonbirds, but with significant differences being building the community that owners of the collectibles can take advantage of. Every owner gains members access to various benefits, exclusive merch, and airdrops, amongst others.
Loonbirds has a three-phase roadmap which started with the pre-mint phase of the Loonbirds Genesis NFT, scheduled to be launched in Q2 2022. A couple of limited edition physical products will be paired with equivalent avatars exclusively for rare Loonbirds Genesis NFT owners. The partnership is with a few WEB2 brands.
The second phase in the program is the mint phase, aka the Loonbirds Membership. Starting Q3 2022, Web3 implementation will be done on loonbirds.xyz. All holders will be able to unlock their Loonbirds Alpha Membership. One of the most significant advantages of the Loonbirds Alpha membership is exclusive discounts on Virtuos Studio, fashion calibrations, and limited-edition products (physical).
The third phase is dubbed the Loonbird verse, in which the company will open up land acquisition possibilities in Web3 Space. The company will achieve this by hiring and teaming up with some of the leading experts in the industry. The work of leading 3D artists and in-house developers will be leveraged to create a custom Metaverse for Loonbirds.
Readers can find out more about Loonbirds NFT by visiting loonbirds.xyz.
“Honestly, there is so much for us to say about the Loonbird NFT, but we want the token to do all the talking. We can say that this NFT offers buyers a unique opportunity not only to own a highly valuable piece of collectible, virtual art but also to reap the benefits of joining a private Discord group and having access to a laundry list of exclusives. Owners of Loonbirds will also have access to future drops and have the ticket needed to enter the metaverse as planned; this is perhaps the most exciting part of owning the NFT,” said a representative for Spax*.
He added, “We can tell you that this is an excellent investment opportunity even if you are not an art fan. There is a great deal of potential for the value of our NFTs to increase in value in the next few weeks after launch. Plus, you join a private network where you rub shoulders with other investors and industry whales. You also have the opportunity to be whitelisted for upcoming NFT projects we have planned.”
The Loonbird NFT is becoming one of the most highly anticipated NFTs to launch since the board ape, backed by a reputed studio with lots of creative muscle.
Loonbirds Official Channels: Twitter: https://twitter.com/loonbirds_xyz Discord: https://discord.gg/XvvRAvddE8 Medium: https://medium.com/loonbirds Instagram: https://instagram.com/loonbirds_xyz.
For more information about Loonbirds, contact the company here:
21 MOONSTONE LANE, #06-02C, POH LENG BUILDING, SINGAPORE


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Cryptic adverts for the latest series of the Netflix show which include the slogan “the worst is yet to come” have been plastered across Old Street station. The “dystopian” and “heroically subversive” billboards are adverts for series four of Charlie Brooker’s hit programme which was released this week.
Messages posted on every single advertising board in the station, located under Old Street roundabout known to Londoner’s aptly as “Silicon Roundabout” for all the techie firms hereabouts, hinted at storylines from the show’s six new episodes. One advert read: “Brain implants let parents monitor teens.”
— steph. (@freckledvixen) January 3, 2018
Another said: “Hackers blackmail victims using their internet history.” Confused commuters took to social media to discuss the takeover.
The key to good parenting. pic.twitter.com/1eLks4754S
— Black Mirror (@blackmirror) January 3, 2018
Sophie Wright shared a video of the monochrome adverts posted on the wall next to an escalator at the station. She wrote on Instagram: “Dystopian posters as #BlackMirror takes over Old Street station. A marvellously upbeat message to start the NY.”
Another person wrote on Twitter: “If you are feeling unsure about life today do not go into Old Street station. Black Mirror adverts everywhere and fully just sent me under.”
lex Jurcynski added: “Buying all the ad space in Old Street station and turning the silicon roundabout into a giant ad for #BlackMirror is one of the most heroically subversive things I’ve ever seen.” Sophie Thomas said: “Kudos to the Black Mirror advertising for freaking me out as I moved through Old Street before I registered it could only be Black Mirror.”
Buying all the ad space in Old Street station and turning the silicon roundabout into a giant ad for #BlackMirror is one of the most heroically subversive things I’ve ever seen. pic.twitter.com/17CEG1uaEo
— Alex Jurczynski (@ajurczynski) January 2, 2018
The long awaited new series of the hit programme was released in the UK on December 29. Appear Here, who curate marketing campaigns at Old Street station, said: “We partnered with TfL to re-imagine the London Underground experience and enhance the everyday journey.
“We didn’t want to fill Old Street station with your average station retail and this activation embodies just that. Old Street is filled with forward-thinkers and early-adopters, which makes it the ideal place for brands to test out more daring ideas.”
Did you know that one of the new episodes of Black Mirror was filmed in Toronto? Here's where https://t.co/4EdDa7EY45
— Toronto Life (@torontolife) January 3, 2018
As for Black Mirror?
Television is our future. We will eat, walk and sleep with it. Breathe it in. And we won’t want to escape. Japanese TV causes outrage by bringing in New Year with blackface How do we know? Well, we’ve just seen a horrifying promo for Netflix Vista, the platforms’s new cutting-edge wearable technology which ensures all our viewing needs are met — and which sits inside our eye
Today, powered by its readers and contributors, from its cyber eyries in Ireland and the centres of the Irish Diaspora The Eagle casts its Cold Eye on Life and Death and much in between.


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PALPAY for Electronic Payment participates as a silver sponsor of Cards & Payments, Middle Ease exhibition, in Dubai, AUE
PALPAY for Electronic Payments exhibited and participated as silver sponsor in Cards & Payments, Middle East exhibition, specialized in cards and electronic payment solutions, held in Dubai, AUE, between the 12th and the 13th of May, 2015. The company was presented by Eng. Iyad Qumsieh, The CEO, and number of its experienced employees.
The exhibition was held with the participation of several specialized companies in smart cards manufacturing and electronic payment solutions, which presented their services.
By exhibiting and sponsoring in Cards and Payments, Middle East for the third year in a row, PalPay aims to expand its customer base and sell its solutions across the region, following its remarkable success accomplished in Palestine. The long experience and efforts made by the company teams, throughout the past years, for developing advanced, innovative electronic payments solutions, and software, were the key success factors to achieve best in its class payment solutions that are used and utilized by various sectors, including banks, mobile operators, telecommunication companies, e-government and acquirers.
PALPAY Payment solutions and software have proven their ability to keep pace with the changing needs of the vendors and clients, the software stability, agility and ability to adapt to the changing need and requirements, are the key success for PalPay software products.
The CEO, Eng. Iyad Qumsieh has expressed his gratitude towards the participation of PALPAY in the exhibition for the third year in a row, stressing that this show is one of the main bridges that give PALPAY the opportunity to sell and operate its products in the region.
He added, the ability to understand the requirements of the market, continuous learning and focusing on innovation in both the local and global markets, whether as exhibitors or visitors led to enrich the company's ability to innovate, and deliver the needed payment solutions and software.


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Aleratec’s Charge and Guard Secure Charge/Sync Cabinet 16 makes room for bigger and bigger tablets
Have you heard the rumors? A new, bigger breed of tablets is heading our way as Apple announced the release of the iPad Pro, a feature-laden tablet with a whopping 12.9” screen, out-inching Samsung’s Galaxy Tab Pro 12.2” tablet. While it wasn’t long ago that a 10-inch screen seemed like the large-end of tablets, Apple’s latest introduction means all bets are off as to how big these ubiquitous devices will grow.
Why Are Tablets Getting Bigger?
Consumers are becoming more accustomed to the increasing capabilities of tablets with large, ultra-high definition screens and laptop-like processing power. When Apple first launched the iPad in 2010, it boasted a 9.7-inch display and had what was, at the time, the most robust processing power and a seemingly endless collection of apps. Flash forward five years and the market is flush with plus-sized tablets, including models from Samsung, Microsoft, Lenovo, and other consumer electronics giants, either announced or rumored.
As tablets grow bigger so do their abilities, leaving Read more ›


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Chef Melanie Molinaro has all the trappings of a rock star chef: a fine-dining pedigree, a smattering of stylish tattoos, and close ties with a trendy, local farm. What’s less expected is this chef’s new concept, Stall 11, which will be elevating vegetarian and vegan fare.
Molinaro’s Stall 11 was the second concept to come onboard Baltimore food hall R. House, which will eventually host a total of 10 limited-service concepts.
“I had always really wanted to open up my own spot, but to open a restaurant, you need a lot of capital,” says Molinaro, who most recently served as executive chef at Italian fine-dining establishment Birroteca. “[R. House] allowed me to do exactly what I wanted on a smaller scale so it’s almost like a test run of a restaurant.”
Urban Pastoral, a vertical hydroponic growing facility in east Baltimore, also approached Molinaro with whom the founders had a mutual friend. Urban Pastoral, which is dedicated to revitalizing metropolitan areas that have fallen into disrepair, specializes in leafy greens and culinary herbs, making the operation an ideal partner for restaurants like Stall 11. Some types of vegetables, Molinara says, are even grown in repurposed shipping containers to maximize space.
Working in tandem with Urban Pastoral, Molinaro hopes to shift Baltimorians’ perception of greens and veggies.
“Vegetables can be badass, too,” she says. “We wanted to do was change people’s outlook on eating vegetarian and vegan. I think there’s a huge stigma behind it that the food is not good, and it’s kind of granola. Honestly, Baltimore has some of the best produce I’ve ever worked with. I have really close relationships with a lot of farmers here and pretty much what we’re trying to do is showcase their hard work.”
When Stall 11 opens in R. House this fall, its seasonal menu will feature ingredients like squash, earthy mushrooms, and Korean cauliflower with dishes like oat porridge with wild mushroom ragu.
Although her new concept will be limited service, Molinaro still wants customers to have a special experience, beginning with a mini market where they can buy produce, pre-made items, and snacks. For those ordering at the counter, turnaround time will be under five minutes.
Molinaro recommends aspiring restaurateurs—whether they be chefs like her or not—be 100 percent committed to their concept because changing it after opening can be “the kiss of death” for a new restaurant.
“Stick with your concept; have a strong attitude about it. Be completely organized with everything that you do, and really, really network with people because those are the people who are going to make or break you,” Molinaro says, adding that community support is also key.
And while the chef world is still a man’s game, she says female chefs like Jenn Louis (of “Top Chef Masters” fame) and Stephanie Izard of Girl and the Goat are helping change that dynamic.
“I think we’re a force to be reckoned with,” Molinaro says.
By Nicole Duncan


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- They are a safe haven (a place where you can invest with a very small risk). Government bonds used to be a safe haven, but who would like to invest in these when all the governments around the world are increasing their debt? It seems like the US debt ceiling is increasing each month.
- They have a better pricing power than their smaller counterparts
- Have a stronger balance sheet compared with smaller companies. Smaller companies will have more trouble to borrow money if the economic situation is worsening
- Are paying a dividend which is always nice of the price of the stock is falling
- Are not dependent on one market. Big companies are selling their products all over the world
- Are more diversified. Big companies are selling more than one product
- They look cheaper compared to smaller stocks
Source: The Telegraph


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The empty lot along Kuebler Boulevard where the shopping center is proposed. (Troy Brynelson/Salem Reporter files)
PacTrust Realty, the backers of a nearly 200,000-square-foot shopping center that was spurned by Salem City Council last week, says it will file an appeal to the state land use board.
The Portland-based real estate developer sent a notice to several neighbors Wednesday evening.
The news comes a week after a lengthy and highly attended city council meeting Dec. 12, in which councilors voted 5-3 against the shopping center. Councilors argued the Costco-anchored project had grown too large since it was first proposed in 2006 and was no longer compatible with the neighborhood. That ruling became officially ratified Monday night.
Salem city planners first approved plans for the shopping center in October. The plan included a Costco, four retail shell buildings and a 30-pump gas station.
But neighbors promptly appealed two weeks later. They mainly worried the project was too large and would clog nearby roads. They also did not want to see a grove of Oregon white oak trees be removed.
PacTrust has maintained the project meets all the requirements from when the field was rezoned in 2006 and that the firm has spent $3 million improving nearby roads for the development.
Have a tip? Contact reporter Troy Brynelson at 503-575-9930, [email protected] or @TroyWB.


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Nokia quietly announced that a new dimension of its Nokia Smart TV is coming. The new 43-inch Nokia Smart TV (109 cm) will be bringing the same experiences as seen before in the 55-inch model, and great sound quality through a JBL sound system.
The price and availability date are yet to be disclosed, but we can say with certainty that this TV will also be exclusive for the Indian market since Flipkart is the responsible partner for bringing the Nokia logo back in the TV business once again. According to photos available on the Nokia web pages, the design of a 43-inch model won’t be different from the 55-inch model. Flipkart is still quiet about the product since it is not available on their page.
So, if you can’t fit a 55-inch Nokia TV in your home, you’ll be happy to hear that a 43-inch version is coming soon.


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Abu Dhabi Winter Shopping Season sales start next week
The Winter version of this city-wide price drop will launch on National Day…
We’ve just received confirmation that the winter edition of Abu Dhabi Shopping Season will be returning to the malls and stores of Abu Dhabi from National Day, Thursday December 2 to January 31, 2022.
We don’t have the full details on it yet, but we do there are usually up to 80 per cent discounts across quite literally thousands of stores. With it launching amongst the Year of the 50th celebrations, we’re predicting stores going hard on the ’50 per cent off’ deals.
Als always, it’s being organised by the retail arm of the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (Retail Abu Dhabi).
Confirmed participating malls
This time around there are more than 20 participating malls, with more than 3,500 stores including Abu Dhabi Mall, Yas Mall, The Galleria Al Maryah Island, Al Ain Mall, Al Dhafra Mall, Al Ain Mall, Al Foah Mall, Al Jimi Mall, Al Raha Mall, Al Wadha Mall, Barari Outlet Mall, Bawabat Al Sharq Mall, Bawadi Mall, City Centre Masdar, Dalma Mall, Deerfields Mall, Fotouh Al Kahir, Hili Mall, Khalidiyah Mall, Marina Mall, Mushrif Mall, WTC Mall, Mazyad Mall, Madinat Zayed, and Nation Towers Mall.
Shop and win
We also know there will be a return of the popular Visa card Shop and Win tie ups.
Those spending Dhs200 on their Visa cards will be eligible for entry into prize draws.
You might also like
Prizes like millions of Etihad Guest Miles, and three Mercedes-Benz GLC200s.
There are usually competitions run simultaneously so make sure you’re following the @retailabudhabi social channels to stay on top of what’s coming up.
Food for thought
Overlapping with the launch of Abu Dhabi’s Winter Shopping Season is the tail end of Abu Dhabi Culinary Season and a very exciting mall-based promotion, Trademark story.
Here, again to celebrate year of the 50th, select restaurants in the participating malls listed below, will be offering one of the chef’s signature dishes for just Dhs50. Valid until December 9.
Abu Dhabi Mall; Al Ain Mall; Al Jimi Mall; Al Wahda Mall; Bawabat Al Sharq Mall; Bawadi Mall; Deerfields Mall; Hili Mall; Khalidyah Mall; Marina Mall; Mazyad Mall; Mushrif Mall; My City Centre; Masdar; Ruwais Mall; The Galleria; WTC Mall; and Yas Mall.
Images: What’s On Archive


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Manufacturing in Pune takes a significant leap forward as MPAAS, a pioneering tech company, introduces its groundbreaking technology platform, aimed at revolutionizing the manufacturing sector. With a keen focus on enhancing efficiency and productivity, MPAAS is set to redefine the manufacturing landscape in Pune and beyond.
The CEO of MPAAS, Mr. Akshay Singh, highlighted the significance of this launch by stating, "We are thrilled to introduce MPAAS to Pune, a city renowned for its rich manufacturing heritage. Our platform, which is poised to change the game in the manufacturing sector, brings the future of digital solutions to the local industry. We are dedicated to enhancing productivity, fostering collaboration, and empowering manufacturers and vendors alike."
Key Highlights of the Soft Launch Event:
In a recent soft launch event held in Pune, MPAAS achieved resounding success, with 100 attendees gracing the occasion. The event provided insights into the company's founders, their vision, and the innovative technology behind MPAAS. To the delight of attendees, MPAAS also announced a complimentary one-year subscription for the first 50 onboarded vendors, ensuring that manufacturers and vendors in Pune can experience the platform's benefits firsthand. MPAAS boasts a strong leadership team and visionary co-founders who are committed to taking this innovative product to a global level in the coming years. Their dedication and expertise underscore the company's potential for international growth and impact.
The AI-based market platform revolutionizes the engineering services landscape. Whether it's inspection, testing, design, reverse engineering, or 3D printing, MPAAS simplifies access to these critical services. Through its distinct Bid Engine, pre-registered vendors engage in competitive bidding, providing customers with a streamlined, efficient, and cost-effective solution for their engineering needs. MPAAS empowers customers to unlock engineering excellence effortlessly.
MPAAS is a technology company committed to reshaping the manufacturing landscape with its innovative platform. By providing advanced digital solutions, MPAAS empowers manufacturers and vendors to enhance efficiency, foster collaboration, and drive productivity, ultimately shaping the future of manufacturing.
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Deal marks a major step in whisky maker’s international expansion Loch Lomond’s management joins buyout groupHillhouse Capital Management, a global investment firm with a focus on innovative businesses in growth industries, today announced that it is partnering with the management team from Loch Lomond, one of Scotland’s most historic and iconic whisky producers, to acquire Loch Lomond Group from Exponent Private Equity. Since the original buyout of Loch Lomond from the Bulloch family in 2014, the company has invested significantly in growing its portfolio of brands, distillery and bottling infrastructure, global distribution platform, and management team. The business now generates about 70% of its revenue from more than 100 international markets, versus less than 10% at acquisition. Teaming up with Hillhouse offers a strong partner for the business to further develop its international presence, particularly in Asia where whisky has become increasingly popular in recent years, and a market where Hillhouse has deep knowledge and strong business relationships. Hillhouse also brings to the partnership a strong track record of building long-term relationships with innovative consumer brands, such as Peet’s Coffee and Gimborn, in helping them expand their global presence and reputation. Loch Lomond has a rich heritage dating back to the early 19th century and is a leading international producer of malt, blended and grain whisky. Its key premium Scotch whisky brands include Loch Lomond - “The Spirit of the Open,” Glen Scotia, and Littlemill, the oldest licensed distillery in Scotland. It also produces the “High Commissioner” and Loch Lomond blended Scotch whiskies, as well as Glen’s Vodka, the No. 2 vodka brand in the UK market, and Ben Lomond, premium Scottish Gin. The company’s production spans sites across Scotland. It operates its Loch Lomond malt and grain distilleries at Alexandria in Dunbartonshire, Glen Scotia distillery in Campbeltown, Argyll and has its own bottling plant in Catrine, Ayrshire. Commenting on the sale, Colin Matthews, CEO of Loch Lomond Group, said, “Over the past five years we are proud to have transformed The Loch Lomond Group into a premium international spirits business with a strong focus on innovation and a portfolio of award-winning brands. “We believe now is the right time to move forward into the next stage of our growth strategy as we look to innovate further, extend our portfolio of brands and continue to expand our international presence, particularly in Asia where Hillhouse has significant experience. “The team at Hillhouse have impressed us immensely, and we look forward to partnering with them as we embark on the next exciting stage of our journey. We share both their vision and dedication to premium consumer brands.” Wei Cao, Partner at Hillhouse Capital, commented, “Loch Lomond’s rich heritage in Scotch whisky gives the business a distinct advantage as they look to further build on their success across the world, especially in the increasingly discerning Asian spirits market. Hillhouse’s experienced operational team will work closely with Loch Lomond’s management to help it offer a premium consumer experience in international markets through channels like e-commerce and new retail. We believe that the strongest advantages in business are innovative and differentiated products and management teams, which is why we are so excited to help Loch Lomond realize the potential of its outstanding brands in huge new consumer markets, such as Asia.” Mark Taylor, Partner at Exponent, said: “We are very proud to have partnered with Colin and his team at Loch Lomond over the last 5 years, demonstrating Exponent’s investment philosophy of backing unique companies with great management and huge untapped potential. “We are delighted with the successful sale to Hillhouse, and we believe they will be great partners for the business. We wish both the management team and Hillhouse every success for the future and look forward to seeing the company continue to prosper.” Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Hillhouse Capital Announces Acquisition of Loch Lomond Group
- by Gemma Carlton
- June 07, 2019
- 3 min read


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This past Monday both Vox and Catalunya En Comú, Ada Colau’s party, have shown their recipes for dealing with the crisis with the possible departure of Nissan from the Zona Franca factory in Barcelona. The green party has sent the Nissan president, Makoto Uchida, a letter asking you to reconsider your decision to move production from the Barcelona factory to that of Sunderland (United Kingdom).
In the letter, signed by the group’s spokesperson, Iván Espinosa de los Monteros, Vox asks Nissan to stay in Spain: “We aim to create an environment that is less hostile to industry in general, and to the automobile in particular, for manufacturers that generate employment and wealth in our country.”
The letter assures that the interaction with the authorities of Catalonia has not been good but that all this can change: “We are many Spaniards who trust in a next change in the political cycle, that will offer again the certainties that perhaps today they think lost ».
“Maintaining our commitment to our country would save thousands of jobs and a multitude of companies in the auxiliary industry”
He adds that Vox understands “that as of today the EU has not yet imposed tariffs on imports from the United Kingdom, and therefore the transfer of production from the Barcelona factory to the Sunderland factory, where in addition to understanding they receive helps, it may seem more attractive at first sight ».
In his letter Vox understands that “maintaining the commitment to our country would not only save thousands of jobs and a multitude of companies in the auxiliary industry, but also be a key factor for competitiveness and innovation on which to build Nissan’s future” , reports Efe.
Comú Podem: «Boycott»
For its part, the recipe of the President of Catalonia in Comú Podem, Jessica Albiach, has put on the table the option of boycotting Nissan products as a “tool of pressure from the citizenry” against the Japanese multinational, “which intends to simply drop more than 20,000 families.”
At a virtual press conference, Albiach has stated that he is aware that it is a “strong” and “controversial” measure, but he stressed that it is also important that Nissan wants to leave prioritizing the mere economic benefit and after having received 170 million in public aid.
“If they leave people lying, we react,” said Albiach
“The boycott measure is a tool that could work,” said Albiach, who explained that he has already discussed this option of pressure with unions and other social agents to force the Japanese multinational to negotiate.
«It is an awareness of citizenship. If they conscientiously leave people lying, we react. There is no point in continuing to buy and not responding to that cruelty, “he added.
It would be, according to the candidate for the Generalitat of the Commons, a measure that would exercise citizenship and that would complement other measures that the administration must take against Nissan and other multinationals and that must be at the state level.
“Today is Catalonia with Nissan but tomorrow it can be Cantabria with Renault,” he said.
“The attack is not only to the affected families, but to the entire industrial sector,” he said.


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LG Confirms to Unleash 88-inches 8K OLED Panel at CES 2018 in Las Vegas
LG, the Korean consumer electronics titan has just confirmed its plan to raise the curtains for its newest and biggest TV yet, with an 88-inches 8K OLED
LG, the Korean consumer electronics titan has just confirmed its plan to raise the curtains for its newest and biggest TV yet, with an 88-inches 8K OLED (organic light-emitting diode) display panel sporting the world’s largest TV resolution at CES (Consumer Electronics Show) 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada as reported by South Korea news outlet Korea Herald a few hours back. The highest resolution on commercial televisions so far is 4K or Ultra HD, which is what TV manufacturers are pushing in their flagship models. With the release of its new display panel, LG will hopefully be the one to lead the 8K resolution (which implies that the screen has a resolution of 7680×4320 pixels) market this year. This new TV will literally as well as practically bestow LG the numero uno status quo in the OLED display segment, at least as far as big panels are concerned.
Why did LG decide on this model?
According to LG,
It’s actually easier to come up with 8K resolution for an OLED display than a liquid crystal display (LCD) panel.
LG used OLED for its new display because it does not require additional investment to manufacture.
Additionally, the panel won’t be needing extra power to work. Hence, power consumption won’t be an issue for consumers.
LG has also addressed the issue that many industry sources have with 8K technology. Regarding the said limit to OLED’s ability to adopt 8K at 33 megapixels per inch, which is four times the resolution of 4K displays, LG Display says it managed to come up with the 88-inches panel using an innovative process it developed on its own.
What to expect from LG at the CES 2018?
It’s quite evident that LG is working hard in making its presence very prominent at CES this January 9-12. Prior to announcing its 88-inch 8K display, it has already introduced the upgraded models of its famous monitor lineup with Nano IPS technology. The company is showcasing its 32-inch UHD 4K monitor (model 32UK950), 34-inch UltraWide monitor (model 34WK95U) and its QHD gaming monitor (model 34GK950G) at the Las Vegas mega event.
In addition, LG is also grabbing the chance to unveil its new premium audio devices lineup at CES. There’s the ThinQ Speaker that features Google Assistant and the new SK10Y soundbar that’s designed to seamlessly blend with LG’s high-end TVs. LG is also launching its portable PK series and all-in-one party machines next week.
What does the competition say?
The television manufacturing industry is witnessing several innovation similar to the smartphone market. Now we have curved screens, 4K resolutions, multiple HDR standards, and quantum or nano particles. LG’s closest competitor, Samsung, has already moved from OLEDs to QLEDs (Quantum LED), for its TVs, leaving LG as the undisputed leader in this space. When it comes to small OLED screens, however, Samsung’s Super AMOLED panels for mobile devices has had a fair success story as compared to LG.
This announcement comes at a time when LG is ramping up its OLED operations and increasing its production capacity. For the first time, it will be setting up its first OLED plant outside of Korea. The new facility in Guangzhou, China, has been recently approved by the Korean government as part of the two countries’ attempts to improve relations.
Looking at the statistics, while LG’s 88-inch 8K OLED TV is ready for CES 2018 this month, it’s going to take some time before it becomes ready for the market. Also this is not going to be a product for regular consumers, rather meant for premium segment. Let’s wait to hear more on the pricing and go-to-market plan for this new product.


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Meher Azeem Hakro
outbreak of the coronavirus has caused a great deal of trouble in Pakistan's economic and agriculture sectors. An important sector that provided many opportunities during Covid-19 pandemic was Electronic-Commerce (E-commerce) or online shopping or trading. During Covid-19, consumers turned to online shopping to avoid crowds, especially in developed countries. Prior to the coronavirus, online shopping was previously limited to most developed countries. Now, this trend has started in developing and less developing countries as well, creating huge employment opportunities for poor countries as well. Covid-19 pandemic has led to an increase in e- commerce business. E-commerce
activity of buying and selling products and services using the Internet or cellular phones, fax machines or other electronic devices is called e- commerce. An important feature of online trading is that an investor can buy or sell through the internet or cellular phone sitting in his office or home. E-commerce was first introduced on a small scale in Pakistan in 2001. At that time, there were PayPal payment services in Pakistan, but after a short time, PayPal stopped working in Pakistan, which caused many problems to the online business community. PayPal was an online financial service that allowed paying for products
using a secure internet account. However, e-commerce business companies and merchants had to rely on cash on delivery, and bank payment methods, the business community faced innumerable difficulties. There are numerous e-commerce companies in Pakistan that deal with everything from clothing to selling and buying cars online and also leading real estate e- commerce companies for buying, selling and renting houses in Pakistan. Recently, the Deputy Commissioner, Islamabad has introduced an app called Durust Daam from which anyone can order vegetables and fruits from home. These vegetables and fruits are available at notified market prices. Thousands of people were taking advantage of the app by placing orders during the coronavirus pandemic. There are many other apps
available that can be ordered online for vegetables and fruits. Due to some fake companies, e- commerce has eroded people's confidence in ordering online. Some companies displayed the products on a website but provided some inferior products, which eroded consumer confidence. Consumers faced many difficulties when they wanted to return defective products. Due to the lack of interest of e-commerce companies in solving consumer problems, e-commerce business began to decline in Pakistan. This is also because the Consumer Protection Act has not fully been implemented in
practice by the government. If the government convinces consumers that a company supplying substandard products can be fined and consumers will be given full protection. In this way, user confidence can be restored. After the coronavirus spread, when people were confined to their homes due to lockdowns, they preferred to order products online because their daily necessities stores were closed. With the emergence of this activity, e-commerce business in Pakistan also saw an increase. Pakistan's e-commerce industry can grow rapidly and create more jobs and collect more taxes and revenue. It has the potential to integrate remote areas into the national mainstream, develop small and medium-sized enterprises, and ultimately stabilize the country's economy by increasing exports through online trade. Pakistan is already far behind regional countries like Bangladesh, India and Nepal in e-commerce, ranking 120 th in the world. E-commerce is one of the most important drivers of a digital Pakistan. Therefore, the government should work on the development of an e-commerce policy framework to regulate and further develop the market in Pakistan. The government should also provide payment services in the country or find way of payment so that e-commerce merchants can easily take
their payments from abroad.
(-The writer is freelance columnist based Islamabad.)


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June 26 (UPI) -- The U.S. version of The Office will only be available on a new NBCUniversal streaming service as of 2021.
"The Office has become a staple of pop-culture and is a rare gem whose relevance continues to grow at a time when fans have more entertainment choices than ever before," Bonnie Hammer, chairman of NBCUniversal's direct-to-consumer and digital enterprises, said in a statement. "We can't wait to welcome the gang from Dunder Mifflin to NBCUniversal's new streaming service."
Starring Steve Carell, John Kraskinski, Jenna Fischer, Rainn Wilson and Mindy Kaling, the Pennsylvania-set, workplace comedy originally aired on NBC 2005-2013. The mockumentary-style show is based on the similarly named, U.K. sitcom created by and starring Ricky Gervais.
"We're sad that NBC has decided to take The Office back for its own streaming platform -- but members can binge watch the show to their hearts' content ad-free on Netflix until January 2021," Netflix tweeted.


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TWO Ashbourne businesses joined forces for a biannual fashion show.
Sally Montague Hair Group's award-winning art team collaborated with designer fashion store Young Ideas for the show, which was held at the clothing retailer's new flagship shop at The Green Man pub.
More than 90 guests were welcomed to the 17th-century former coaching inn for the sell-out seasonal event.
The fashion show portrayed key seasonal lifestyle trends for men and women, showcasing looks from holidays to city breaks and special occasions.
Each scene highlighted styles from international designers. Among these were Moschino Cheap and Chic, Belstaff, Paul Smith, Armani, Michael Kors and new names By Malene Birger, Stills and Heidi Klein.
Backstage, members of the Sally Montague Hair Group art team worked their styling magic on 11 models.
Group director Mrs Montague said: "We always look forward to the Young Ideas events, having collaborated with the store on its seasonal fashion show for many years. The new super-stylish store is the ultimate setting."


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HONG KONG -- Philip Morris Asia Limited (PMA), Hong Kong, owner of Australian affiliate, Philip Morris Limited (PML), today announced that it has served a notice of claim on the Australian government, stating its intention to pursue legal action over plans to introduce plain packaging in Australia for tobacco products. PMA is taking action under Australia’s Bilateral Investment Treaty with Hong Kong.
“The forced removal of trade marks and other valuable intellectual property is a clear violation of the terms of the bilateral investment treaty between Australia and Hong Kong. We believe we have a very strong legal case and will be seeking significant financial compensation for the damage to our business,” said Anne Edwards, spokesperson for PMA.
PML has a long history in Australia, manufacturing and selling cigarettes since 1954. Over this time, PML has built well-known brands such as Marlboro, Alpine, Longbeach, Peter Jackson, choice and GT. Plain packaging robs PML of its ability to use these brands to differentiate from competitor brands, effectively turning tobacco products into a commodity. Damages caused by plain packaging may amount to billions of Australian dollars.
“Legal action is not a course we take lightly, but the government has unfortunately left us with no other option,” continued Edwards. “The government has consistently ignored the concerns expressed by a broad range of domestic and international stakeholders about the adverse consequences of plain packaging and has failed to demonstrate that the policy will stop people from smoking.”
Renowned law professor at Georgetown University Law Center, Don Wallace Jr., Chairman of the International Law Institute and an expert on investor-state disputes, said “Plain packaging legislation would expose Australia to well-founded claims under the treaty, potentially costing the Australian government billions of dollars in damages.”
The notice served on the Australian government by PMA begins a mandatory period of three months during which the parties must attempt to negotiate a satisfactory outcome. If this is not achieved, PMA will then proceed to the next step of arbitration proceedings pursuant to the Arbitration Rules of the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law 2010.
About Philip Morris International Inc. (PMI)
Philip Morris International Inc. (PMI) is the leading international tobacco company, with seven of the world's top 15 international brands, including Marlboro, the number one cigarette brand worldwide. PMI's products are sold in approximately 180 countries. In 2010, the company held an estimated 16.0% share of the total international cigarette market outside of the U.S., or 27.6% excluding the People's Republic of China and the U.S. For more information, see www.pmi.com.
About Philip Morris Asia Limited (PMA)
Philip Morris Asia Limited (PMA) manages PMI’s business in the Asia region. PMA is based in Hong Kong where the company was incorporated under the Hong Kong Companies Ordinance in 1994. PMA owns the Australian affiliate, Philip Morris Limited (PML).
About Philip Morris Limited (PML)
Philip Morris Limited (PML) began operations in Australia in 1954 and has more than 800 employees. Based in Melbourne, the company manufactures and sells a number of well known brands, including Marlboro, Alpine, Longbeach, Peter Jackson, choice and GT. In 2010, PML held an estimated 37.5% share of the Australian cigarette market.
About Professor Don Wallace Jr.
Professor Don Wallace Jr. is the Chairman of the International Law Institute, a senior member of the international law faculty at Georgetown University Law Center, and a renowned expert on investor-state disputes. A graduate of Harvard Law School, Professor Wallace is a member of the US Secretary of State’s Advisory Committee on Private International Law and a US delegate to the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL). He has also been a dispute settlement panelist for the World Trade Organization in Geneva and an arbitrator in cases for the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID).
Philip Morris Limited
Telephone number: + 61 3 8531 1054
Professor Don Wallace Jr.
International Law Institute
Telephone number: +1 202 247 6006, ext. 117


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According to The 2017 Americas Alternative Finance Industry Report, the alternative finance market across the US, Canada, Latin America, and the Caribbean has grown 23% to $35.2 billion in 2016. A leading Billion Dollar Unicorn in this sector is Social Finance or SoFi. >>>
According to a Marketsand Markets report, the cloud storage market size is estimated to grow from $23.76 billion in 2016 to $74.94 billion by 2021, at a CAGR of 25.8%. Growth is driven by factors such as high demand for hybrid cloud storage, growing need for enterprise mobility, and the need for easy implementation of cloud storage solutions. Cloud-based storage services provider and Billion Dollar Unicorn Dropbox is one of the main IPO prospects for 2018. >>>
According to the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), the US streaming music accounted for a majority of the retail music industry revenues. For the first half of 2017, retail revenues grew 17% to $4 billion, of which streaming services accounted for $2.5 billion and grew 48% over the year. Revenue from listeners paying to listen to streaming platforms like Spotify and Apple Music grew 61% over the year to $1.7 billion. Of this, $0.3 billion came from ad-supported on-demand options and $0.5 billion from listeners paying for radio services. About 30 million people in the country listen to a streaming music site.
Oracle (NYSE: ORCL) may have delivered a rather tepid quarterly outlook as part of its recent result announcement. But the market is very hopeful of its cloud strategy as the company continues to battle it out with Amazon and adds more companies to its arsenal. First, the financials.
According to a Goldman Sachs report, the global ride-hailing market is expected to grow from $36 billion in 2017 to $285 billion by 2030. The average number of ride-hailing trips a day globally are expected to grow from 15 million in 2017 to 97 million by 2030. The ride-hailing companies are expected to charge an average 23% commission on the gross sales, translating to net revenues of $65 billion by 2030 for the industry. While Uber continues to remain the market leader in the industry, its recent troubles have helped drive usage for competitors, such as Lyft, to higher levels. Lyft may even beat Uber to an IPO listing this year.
According to a MarketsandMarkets report, the enterprise collaboration market is expected to grow from $26.68 billion in 2016 to $49.51 billion by 2021 at a CAGR of 13.2% driven by widespread usage of social media and mobile devices. Billion Dollar Unicorn Slack is a leading player in the market that has recently raised funding from the Softbank Vision Fund. >>>
It is hard to find a company these days that has stayed away from venture funding. Used car marketplace CarGurus is one such rarity. It recently went public on the NASDAQ under the ticker CARG. >>>
According to a an eMarketer report published earlier this year, nearly 38.9 million viewers in the US would have streamed a video program at least once a month this year using Roku. The number of users for Roku are estimated to have grown 19% over the year this year. Alphabet’s Chromecast and Amazon’s Fire TV are close competitors with Chromecast expected at 36.9 million users and Amazon at 35.8 million users. Recently, Roku (Nasdaq: ROKU), a Billion Dollar Unicorn club member, went public. It has had a good run so far.


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The Return of the Bitcoin Retail Investor (And Why That’s a Good Thing)
The majority of the world just doesn’t know it yet but Bitcoin is securing its role in our day-to-day lives more and more each day, bit-by-bit – or satoshi-by-satoshi!
First Mover: The Return of the Bitcoin Retail Investor (And Why That’s a Good Thing)
“Since the end of 2017, the assumed trajectory was that well-heeled financial institutions would take the reins from retail investors, becoming the main driving force and primary investor class in crypto.
But a report out last week from derivatives exchange ZUBR argues that retail investors are not just here to stay, they could end up absorbing more than half of bitcoin’s daily fresh supply in as little as four years.
‘By the time the next reward [halving] era comes around in 2024, retail could potentially account for eating up over 50% of the physical supply,’ the report predicts.
Using data from analytics firm Chainalysis, ZUBR found that the number of wallet accounts holding small whole balances, anywhere between 1 to 10 bitcoins – sizes that suggest retail rather than institutional – had risen rapidly.
Since bitcoin hit its all-time high at the end of 2017, the number of ‘retail’ wallet holders more than doubled, reaching 215,000 by the start of June 2020.
In total, these entities hold over 500,000 bitcoin (~$4.6 billion), up over 100,000 since the start of 2019.”


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March Communications was tasked with helping emotion AI company Affectiva elevate its PR program and brand awareness, beyond the inbound media requests we’d been receiving, to be more strategic and proactive; “own” the topic of “Emotion AI” in the media; and generate visibility in new sales verticals. With its impressive media relations and writing skills, March has worked closely with Affectiva over the last 1.5 years to create audience-specific narratives, demonstrate the value of “emotion AI” in verticals like automotive and robotics, and take advantage of events to showcase Affectiva’s innovative technology and establish credibility in the space.
In 2017 alone, Affectiva received more than 170 pieces of coverage in business and technology press including NPR, TechCrunch, The Next Web and Boston Business Journal. The number of people searching “emotion AI” on Google nearly doubled over a 12 month period and there was a 300% YoY increase in articles mentioning “emotion AI.” March also helped Affectiva put on the first-ever “Emotion AI Summit” in Boston that attracted more than 300 attendees, 29 speakers and 19 registered journalists. Additionally, March has had an impact on Affectiva’s recent success in an important sales vertical, automotive, with 29 pieces of coverage publishing in less than a year that feature or mention Affectiva’s capabilities in the space, including articles in VentureBeat, Forbes, CNET and Xconomy.
We consider March an extension of our team, and their ability to really understand what we do, communicate it effectively to media and our audiences, and offer daily strategic guidance on how PR can complement our business objectives, has been incredibly valuable to us. I recommend a partnership with March Communications to any technology company that wants to take its PR program and brand awareness to the next level.


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Consumer interest in protein, sustainability, and functional foods, along with breakthrough technologies like CRISPR, are among 2017’s top U.S. food and nutrition trends, according to the International Food Information Council (IFIC) Foundation.
IRI, the global leader in innovative solutions and services for consumer, retail, media and over-the-counter health care companies, announced the launch of the IRI Revenue Growth Management Suite, a group of prescriptive solutions designed for mid-market clients.
ABIMAPI, the Brazilian Manufacturers Association of Biscuits, Pasta, Industrialized Breads & Cakes, recently held its 15th International Congress in Florianópolis, Brazil. The event brought together Brazilian bakery executives to strengthen and grow their business, as well as international retail buyers and media seeking to learn more about Brazilian bakery products.
The Food Processing Suppliers Association (FPSA) announced the slate of speakers for the bakery breakout sessions for the 2017 FPSA Annual Conference taking place March 15-17 at the Park Hyatt Aviara in Carlsbad, California.


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April 17, 2018
By Dave Avran
MALAYSIANS are highly connected online, but they are also very sceptical of social media content, according to a new global survey of 70,000 people across 56 countries, including 104 in-depth interviews as part of a 2017 Connected Life study.
The research set out to explore consumer trust in brands underpinned by four themes: technology, content, data, and eCommerce.
Malaysians spend a large proportion of our day online, thanks to our mobile devices and ever-improving data costs and speeds. However, marketers need to realise that Malaysians are not easy targets in this digital world.
In comparison to other less developed countries in the region, consumers here are more mistrusting of what they see online, and are more uncomfortable with brands collecting their personal data.
Only 17 per cent of connected consumers in Malaysia believe content on social media is reliable. Only 41 per cent trust global brands, and 51 per cent are concerned about the level of personal data brands collect from them.
Malaysian government agencies are driving eCommerce development as one of the vital cogs in Digital Malaysia, evidenced by the establishment of the Digital Free Trade Zone (DTFZ), which is a collaboration between MDEC and China’s Alibaba Group.
Jack Ma has been appointed as Malaysia’s Digital Economy Advisor.
The study also showed that trust in brands varied significantly between markets. In Malaysia, consumers are moderately cynical, with only 41 per cent trusting global brands. This trust level falls significantly in other markets such as Australia (19 per cent). In emerging markets such as Vietnam, 54 per cent of consumers remain trusting of these brands.
This contrasts markedly with other Southeast Asian countries such as the Philippines and Indonesia, where 59 per cent and 61 per cent respectively trust this content. Thirty-one per cent have concerns about how much control social media networks have over the content that they see on their feeds.
So despite the benefits of sharing data, Malaysians are cautious about how much of their personal data they share online. Thirty-eight per cent of Malaysian consumers object to the monitoring of their online activities even if it makes their lives easier, compared to 15 per cent in Indonesia.
Malaysians are becoming increasingly aware of the price they are paying for their connected lifestyles, and many feel on the losing end of an unfair exchange.
We are unsure about chatbots – while 38 per cent say that they would accept interacting with an AI-powered machine if it meant their query was dealt with more quickly, a similar number (30 per cent) would object to using one. Less than one in three (29 per cent) of Malaysians are willing to pay for products using their mobile phone.
Cash is still king in Malaysia, so innovative solutions that make people’s lives demonstrably easier are needed before consumers are convinced to move onto newer payment options.
Trust is fragile.
To build and protect trust, brands need to put the customer first. That means understanding their motivations, understanding the right moments to engage with them, respecting their time as valuable, and being more transparent about how and when they collect and use their personal data.
Above all, that means putting the customer first – something that many marketers have forgotten to do.
So what are the secrets of better engagement?
The first consideration is the platform used to connect to Malaysians. Each platform in the digital space has its own distinct role, and marketers therefore need to understand how the brand should fit within it so that it does not feel out of place.
Secondly, content. Creativity is vital when engaging consumers – the most popular campaigns are always the ones that are creative, short, simple and leave a lasting impression.
Brands need an overarching creative that speaks to the audience, then invest time in tailoring the execution across channels.
Lastly, brands need to earn trust. Transparency is key here. Consumers want to know that any personal data shared with a brand is safe, and that it is being used in a way that will benefit them.
Trust takes time to build, so brands need to ensure they are doing all they can to develop the relationship with consumers or risk alienating them in the long-term.


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The number of customers on the Luno network has crossed the 3 million mark. This is happening about a year after the crypto-based company announced that it now had 2 million customers on its network.
Luno also recently added the Bitcoin Cash (BCH) to its network to allow its users buy, sell or trade BCH on the platform. This also makes it easy for its customers to buy products with Bitcoin Cash from their wallet considering that most of these customers already have the Bitcoin wallet.
We are in a new and exciting financial era. Developing economies are leading the large-scale adoption and application of cryptocurrencies. Luno has been part of this change and has listened to, and always worked hard to understand the needs of these developing economies. It is for this reason we have moved to expand our offering of secure and legitimate digital currencies to individuals, enabling cross-functional accessibility and transfer of funds.Marcus Swanepoel, CEO and Co-Founder of Luno
Since its launch in 2013, Luno has worked at its vision of enabling people experience the open and equal financial access that is possible with the power of digital currency.
The company built the world’s first fully-integrated crypto wallet and has gone on to deploy other products that leverage the functionalities of the crypto wallet. Some of the products developed since then include the Bitcoin wallet, Ethereum wallet and Luno exchange.
Presently, customers can trade Ethereum, Bitcoin and Bitcoin Cash on the company’s network. In a press release by Luno, the addition of the BCH as well as other coins which will be added afterwards are all part of further improvements and developments to the cryptocurrency platform.
According to the company, the addition of coins will be done through a process that ensures that customers are protected from coins with low liquidity and coins that are prone to manipulation. The new additions will only be coins that Luno has monitored over the years and is assured of their credibility.
Besides protecting the trust of its customers, Luno has also made it a priority to preserve the simplicity and effectiveness of its user experience.
As it adds more services and products for its users to enjoy, the cryptocurrency company’s efforts will also be directed at helping more people see the many options available with the use of digital currencies.
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EFFORTS to breathe life into Hamilton town centre will move up a gear later this month.
Eligible firms and shops will receive the blueprint for the town’s Business Improvement District (BID) proposal.
And they will also receive voting papers for the ballot to decide whether plans for the BID reach fruition.
A vote in favour of the scheme will trigger spending of £1m over the next five years on measures to promote the town centre.
Lesley Hamilton, chairman of the BID working group, who helps run Elspeth Hamilton Perfumery in Lamb Street, Hamilton, said: “This a great opportunity to bring much-needed investment back to the town.
“My family have run businesses from our current premises for over 80 years. “We have a long-term commitment to Hamilton and are convinced that the BID will help support both local independent businesses and the national chains.
“It’s also about supporting the evening economy. We want to work closely with restaurants and licensed premises to boost footfall into the town.”
Cash to fund the scheme will be raised by a levy on non-domestic ratepayers in the BID area.
Exactly what it will be spent on is for the businesses themselves to decide.
However, the business plan, to be sent out along with voting slips, will explain the projects that could be funded.
BID coordinator Gareth Walker said cash could be used to support bigger and better events in the town and run campaigns to attract shoppers back to Hamilton.
It could also support current businesses and attract new ones through property facelift grants and help address the look of vacant properties.
Mr Walker believes BID will give businesses a stronger voice as they seek to persuade public sector agencies to bring more investment into the town.
He added: “The BID needs the support of the business community to make it happen.
“In late August, all eligible businesses in the town centre will receive a business plan and a copy of a voting slip which will give them until 5pm on Thursday, October 11, to vote.
“This is a real opportunity to change the town.
“Business owners regularly tell me that something needs to be done in Hamilton.
“This £1m investment will help Hamilton fight its corner.
“I strongly urge business owners to support the BID and help make Hamilton a better place in which to work, live or visit.”


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Windmill Country: Supply, demand drive cattle market
The mid-year cattle inventory survey gives a 4 percent increase over head count at the same time one year ago. In turn the market price is down on the hoof and at the meat counter, proving again the old adage of "supply and demand" still drives the cattle business.
All cattle and calves in the United States on July 1, 2017, totaled 102.6 million head. All cattle and calves on feed for slaughter totaled 12.8 million, up 6 percent, according to the National Agricultural Statistics Service.
All cows and heifers that have calved, at 41.9 million, were up 5 percent from July 2015. The 2017 calf crop is expected to be 36.3 million, up 3 percent from 2016 and up 6 percent from 2015.
Cattle and calves on feed for slaughter market in Texas feedlots with capacity of 1,000 head or more totaled 2.67 million head on July 1, up 5 percent from a year ago. Producers placed 450,000 head in commercial feedlots during June, up 18 percent from a year ago. Texas commercial feeders marketed 420,000 head during June, down 2 percent from 2016.
According to the Texas Farm Bureau’s second quarter Grocery Price Watch survey, prices were mixed at the meat counter.
Sirloin steak led the increase, up 68 cents to $5.97 per pound. Lean ground beef rose by 27 cents to $3.89 per pound, but the price still remained lower than last year’s second quarter price of $3.93 per pound.
Meanwhile, the 16-staple item basket that make up the quarterly food basket survey – including produce, meat, grain and dairy products – came in for a total of $46.02.
“It was a slight increase for the year. When you compare the grocery prices from both quarters this year, it’s a 90-cent difference,” Texas Farm Bureau President Russell Boening said.
He said white bread was a notable decrease in the grocery basket. It dropped 16 cents, or 10.46 percent, to $1.37 per loaf.


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Habesha to launch draught beer
On the hills of a successful launch of the non-alcoholic product line, ‘Negus’, HabeshaBrewaries S.C. – now one of the most recognizable beverage producer in the nation – is set to launch the draught version of its signature beer ‘Habesha beer’later this year, The Reporter has learnt.
Now distributed nationally from its Debrebirhan based facility, the company is also expanding its corporate responsibility mantra and was most recently visited by Queen Maxima of the Netherlands and the current United Nations Secretary General’s Special Envoy for Inclusive Finance for Development, during her Ethiopian tour and highlighted its engagement with local farmers of the Arsi highlands as barley producers for Habesha. The Queen highlighted its corporate responsibility mantra in the area, its irrigation water project that has helped locals harvest crops, such as grains and vegetables.
The new draught beer is set to compete with those from Heinkene’s Walia and BGI’s, St. George brands.
The company is also known to finance access of seeds and fertilizers, to local farmers and supporting them to be less dependent on rain-fed agriculture which is the norm in the area.
“Fifty percent of the financial needs by these farmers will be provided by Habesha and the farmers pay this back with a portion of their harvest which the brewery guarantees to purchase the rest,” the company said in a statement. “This model helps boost yields and farmers’ incomes. Queen Maxima who is a supporter to the Dutch businesses in the Netherlands and abroad, showed great interest in the lives of the farmers and the local sourcing and community development initiatives led by Habesha Breweries.”
According to the CEO of Habesha, ZewduNigate, Ethiopia has the potential to be a self-sufficient producer of malt, among others, for the growing beer companies, now operating in the country.
“Between 2015 and 2018, averages of 10,000 farmers were supported with Habesha’s technical and financial scheme which is expected to grow to 40,000 farmers by 2025,” he said.
Habesha was started in 2015 by a local and international shareholders and has been growing ever since and has targeted 2024, as a year where its needs of barely would be sustained and exclusively locally sourced.


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Nearly 60% of global respondents said that loyalty programs were available where they shopped, and of those, 84% said they were more likely to visit those retailers, according to a new study by Nielsen published Tuesday.
Facing an increasingly competitive retail landscape, Canadian retailer Loblaw Cos. posted a slight lift in retail sales but, due to incremental margin investment in the back half of the year, lowered its earnings growth expectations for 2013. However, company executives are optimistic as the company remains focused on investing in what it refers to as the “customer proposition” and looks forward to its acquisition of Shoppers Drug Mart.
Like any company looking to stage a turnaround, Rite Aid has employed multiple tactics to return to profitability and win back investors’ favor, but few of those programs have been as important to the chain’s efforts as its loyalty card program.
A majority of Americans repeatedly buy products that retailers have on promotion and many also say they would return to a brick-and-mortar store when alerted to upcoming sales of previously purchased items, according to a new survey.
CVS/pharmacy’s SVP and chief marketing officer Rob Price was recently featured on Yahoo! Finance’s Big Data Download to talk about the launch of its new myWeekly Ad, which is a digital circular powered by its ExtraCare loyalty program.
This is important as it demonstrates that CVS/pharmacy continues to get major attention for the new program, and it further illustrates the push — major push — that the retailer is making on personalization.
With the excitement of the launch of CVS/pharmacy's new myWeekly Ad still in the air, SVP and chief marketing officer Rob Price was recently featured on Yahoo! Finance's Big Data Download to discuss the importance of the digital circular.
Demonstrating CVS/pharmacy’s increased focus on personalization, the pharmacy retailer has officially unveiled its new myWeekly Ad, a first-of-its-kind digital circular experience powered by the CVS/pharmacy ExtraCare loyalty program.
What helps build loyalty, but is not considered a loyalty program? What is fun, exciting and rewarding, and at the same time strategic, planned and designed to drive trips and/or purchases? Gamification. It’s the latest buzzword among brand marketers, and it’s gaining traction as early adopters begin to revolutionize the way customer engagement is done.
CVS Caremark plans to shorten the length of in-store receipts members of its ExtraCare loyalty program receive by about 25%. In a recent Facebook posting, CVS announced that in response to customer complaints it had found a way to shorten the length of receipts without reducing the amount of ExtraCare rewards and savings offered on them.
Walgreens continues to associate its brand with all things "well" with an ad campaign on the retailer's YouTube page that links its Walk with Walgreens initiative to the company's Balance Rewards loyalty program.


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As Carrefour continues to cement it’s footprints in the country, the store has now opened its first store in Mombasa. This is the ninth store countrywide and is located at City Mall in Nyali.
The new store has over 2,000 square meters of selling area and will be stocking a large variety of products to address the immediate needs of people in Mombasa and the surroundings. These products are such as non-food and electronics, and there is also a fresh fishery, butchery, and a deli.
Other than improving the economic outlook of the city of Mombasa, the new branch at the will also create both direct and indirect job opportunities for Kenyans by employing 190 people, including a dedicated Mombasa customer service team to assist in resolving any issues.
“This is an exciting milestone for us since we ventured into Kenya in 2016, and we are looking forward to extending our quality goods and services to our customers here on the coast. Mombasa tumewasili! Carrefour caters to the growing population looking for a wide range of products, sold at the best prices, with the promise of refunding its customers ten times the difference if they buy the same product at a lower price. Customers will also get loyalty points when they use our rewards app – My Club and gift vouchers will be available for purchase. This will give them the same great experience as our customers in Nairobi and offers us a chance to win new customers in Mombasa County.”Franck Moreau – Country Manager of Carrefour Kenya – Majid Al Futtaim Retail
True to its ambition to lead digital innovation in grocery retail, Carrefour Kenya also provides on-demand delivery services from its Nyali store through its partners Jumia Food and Glovo. The service allows customers to order from the comfort of their home and enjoy Carrefour quality and low prices delivered right to their doorstep.
Carrefour already operates eight stores in Nairobi, with plans to open an additional two stores in the Coastal region at the Diani Centre Point Plaza and Shanzu Mall.


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20 August 2008
Two Wrongs make a Right
First, I'd like to take a moment to mention that it's quite impressive that someone found a way to make dental work (at least the mirror) look sensuous.
You may recall my adventure in Dutch dental math a from a few weeks ago. Well, the problem has been solved in a rather welcome but unexpected way. The new bill arrived last week without the disputed fluoride treatment and also without any strange, unusual, or unexpected codes or charges. In terms of the the fight for consumer rights, it looks like this one was a winner. What a relief. Also nice to report positive news about the Netherlands instead of continuing a recent trend of complaining.
Now, if one of you can get the sun to come out, I'll be quite a happy camper!


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The Counter: How Did Your Restaurant Fare?
Each quarter, we take a look at publicly traded restaurant companies’ operating results to provide insightful benchmarking information. In this issue of The Counter
(previously known as quarterly Benchmarking Updates), we look at the first half of 2016—and introduce a new look.
Same-store sales—while net positive through Q2—are not quite on pace with figures reported for fiscal year 2015. Despite restaurants reporting lower traffic counts, softer same-store sales do not mean openings are also on the decline. With interest rates low and the industry remaining attractive for investors, new restaurants continue to pop up. The pizza segment in particular was a bright spot, seeing the greatest growth in same-store sales at 3.6 percent, led by Domino’s for the seventh consecutive quarter.
Cost of sales declined across all segments, buoyed by inventory management efforts, increased menu prices and favorable commodity prices. Beef costs in particular saw a notable decline as higher supplies pushed them down by 10 percent through Q2. Some restaurants are taking the opportunity to offer customers new promotions and menu items.
On the other hand, the cost of labor has increased across all segments, likely driven by growing pressure to boost wages coupled with anticipation of changing overtime regulations.
Overall, the latest edition of The Counter
finds that remaining competitive and profitable in an increasingly saturated and cost-heavy industry will be a challenge to restaurants across the board. Those demonstrating creativity and a deep understanding of their customers’ needs and preferences, however, are well-positioned to vault to the head of the pack.
See more insights and to see the full, refreshed report.
And be sure to follow @BDORestaurant
to stay up-to-date with the Restaurant Practice’s latest insights.


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Danone is to cut around 900 jobs in response to falling sales in southern Europe.
The world’s largest yoghurt maker said it is working on returning to more profitable growth next year, even as it forecast operating profit margins would continue to fall this year on a downturn in demand in Europe.
The layoffs – over two years – involve around 3.3 percent of the French company’s European workforce of 27,000.
Underlying sales for last year rose by 5.4 percent to 20.87 billion euros, but Danone – with just over half its market in Europe and 38 percent in western Europe – is more exposed to the eurozone debt crisis than its rivals, Switzerland’s Nestle and Britain’s Unilever, both of which achieved better growth last year.
Chief executive Franck Riboud promised this will be “a year of transition, with vigorous development in business in our growth markets and a drive to strengthen operations in Europe”.
As well as falling sales in places like Spain, Danone is also being hit by high costs for raw materials and packaging.
In addition the company is under pressure from a US activist shareholder to improve its performance.
Nelson Peltz, co-founder of investment firm Trian Fund Management LP, bought a one percent stake in Danone last year.
The billionaire businessman, who often challenges companies he considers undervalued or poorly managed, said he supports Danone’s management.
But he has argued that improvements are possible through boosting operating margins, cutting more costs and abstaining from mergers.
Danone’s dairy division, which accounts for about 60 percent of group sales and nearly 50 percent of profits, is now the group’s slowest-growing business.
The division posted a sales rise of 2.0 percent in 2012 against double-digit growth for water and baby food.


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A couple of days ago, many PlayStation 3 owners found that the latest version of Sony's firmware locked up their systems, causing the PS3 to hang indefinitely at startup. Sony quickly took version 4.45 of the software offline, saying it would work to resolve the problem. Now, PlayStation Europe has said that a fix is coming on June 27th, hopefully across all regions — though it hasn't been posted on the main PlayStation Twitter account.
Hi guys, we have identified the issue related to PS3 software update (4.45) that impacted a small number of PS3 systems earlier this week.— PlayStation Europe (@PlayStationEU) June 21, 2013
A new system software update is planned to be released on June 27 that resolves the issue.— PlayStation Europe (@PlayStationEU) June 21, 2013
It's never been clear how many people were affected by the problem, though Sony has insisted it wasn't widespread. This is a frustratingly long wait for anyone who will be effectively locked out of their console (barring extreme measures) for a week, but at least they'll have a hard date to look forward to.


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Large companies can hold the key to small and medium-sized manufacturers’ growth, but tackling these orders means negotiating terms, dealing with supply chain issues and managing cashflow. Chris Goodfellow speaks to manufacturers that have won big contracts and industry experts to find out how to win big business.
Landing that big manufacturing contract can make, or even break, small manufacturers’ business. Not only do you have to manage capacity and client expectations on a large scale, but maintain cashflow when orders can take months to be realised.
That doesn’t mean it can’t be done. Small businesses are supplying large international, companies with everything from Formula 1 communications equipment and “foul weather” gear for deep sea fishermen to recycling bins.
Nick Golding, sector lead for the Business Growth Service’s Manufacturing Advisory Service, a government-funded service which helps businesses grow, says the key to winning this business is looking at the value add you offer and targeting companies accordingly.
“When smaller firms are looking to work with larger manufacturers they can sometimes be weighed down by the barriers they believe to be there, whether that’s ‘we’re not big enough’, ‘our brand isn’t strong’ or ‘we don’t have the right accreditations’,” he advises. “These can all be valid concerns, but the starting point should always be ‘what competitive advantage can I offer the customer?’”
Finding the customer and the right contact point can be a difficult prospect.
Emma Woods, technical manager for Phoenix Speciality Oils, says getting your name in front of large suppliers can be the biggest challenge for SME manufacturers.
“The larger the potential client the more likely it is that they’ll be inundated with SMEs trying to be their next supplier,” Woods says. “To be successful you need them to notice you, so strive to become the authority in your own particular industry.”
This means it’s crucial to understand where in the supply chain your offering fits. Lawrence Davies, deputy CEO of the Automotive Investment Organisation (AIO), which assists businesses in the sector as part of UK Trade & Investment, says being a first tier supplier is unlikely as it requires a major engineering resource.
“Companies with less than 50 employees might not have that,” Davies says. “It can be advantageous to think about the second tier.” He adds AIO can help by arranging meetings and industry events to help facilitate these contacts.
The length of time it takes to design, manufacture, distribute and get paid for large orders can cripple a small business’ cashflow, and payment terms continue to be an issue of controversy.
Jon Horsfield, director of Recycling Bins, says it can take two months to move from initial concept to design, six weeks to manufacture and four weeks before they receive payment, adding to the difficulty of dealing with large customers.
“We’re currently dealing with a large supermarket chain,” says Horsfield. “Because the order value is in six figures you tend to have to bend over backwards before you see a penny or a pound.”
Recycling Bins uses a “decent” overdraft facility and capital to enable them to quote at this sort of level, and has the potential to use invoice factoring.
‘Foul weather’ clothing distributor Stormline International is currently working through this equation bidding for a contract with a Canadian company that has the potential to double their business. Not only does it mean dealing with increased production, but being paid on 90-day payment terms and offering a good price.
“There are those growth issues,” Regan McMillan, sales director at Stormline, says. “They [large companies] play a lot harder, there can be a lot more tricky to deal with. You’re one of many; we’re one client they have 30,000 product lines. We’re a valuable part of that, but at the end of the day its about the relationship you have.”
To date, Stormline has been self-funded and has no debt.
Woods warns small businesses to discuss terms at the beginning of the process: “It can be tempting to leave aside talk of payment and contract terms when it comes to winning over big new clients, but don’t. It’s important to set out your stall early on and stick to it. Try to walk the reasonable line between uncompromising and bending over backwards.”
High-tech communications equipment manufacturer Simoco Group is based in the UK, but sells products in over 30 countries.
Chief operating officer Andy Woodhall recommends looking for three-five year supply contracts and says Simoco’s consult, build and operate model means small orders have been built into large contracts over time.
The supply chain
Supplying OEMs or top tier companies often means managing your own supplying chain effectively.
Woodhall advises that stock is a key factor in managing these orders, advising that manufacturers should know their history and run rate, never over commit or leave your warehouses empty, which he calls a “sacrilege”, and ensure they have long-term arrangements with your partners.
If there’s an issue with material or build quality it needs to be dealt with promptly.
“The key challenge is maintaining quality,” says McMillan. “The biggest issue is making sure the materials are up to scratch, that can be a challenge and if there’s a problem it just multiples.”
McMillan says working with distributors has been crucial to servicing an international network of large clients, which range from deep sea fishing companies to mining operators.
“We’ve worked to get ourselves to be their primary supplier of rain gear and that’s happened through working with distributors, and building up ourselves and our products as being class leading,” he adds.
Simoco’s approach is to use a mix of small local sales teams in key markets and local partners.
Woodhall says this mix of direct and indirect sales has been crucial to building up the brand, adding distributors will often carry competitors’ products, so it’s crucial they understand your offering.
“You’ve got to meet them,” he comments. “You can’t be engaging just after looking at a website. We get to know their business and their requirements. It’s key they understand the product and what the key differentiators are. They have to be engaged.”
This means visiting them at least twice a year, regular contact through newsletters, offering a full turnkey range of maintenance and support, and a supplier portal.
Whether you deal with distributors and partners or go direct to big companies it’s crucial your manufacturing business is prepared to deal with the cashflow and capacity issues these contracts can create.
Often manufacturers will build up to larger contracts by starting with supplying small amounts of a product and this provides time to work through these issues. There’s also help available through your peers and government advisory services.