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IDM changes name to include digital
By Daniel Farey-Jones, brandrepublic.com, Thursday, 19 May 2011 11:10AM
The Institute of Direct Marketing has changed its name to the Institute of Direct and Digital Marketing, but will retain the acronym IDM.
The new positioning is the first stage of a two-year change programme, approved by the IDM Board and Trustees, that will ensure the Institute continues to be fit to service the professional training and development needs of the next generation of marketers.
Derek Holder, IDM managing director, said: "In the face of today’s rapidly changing environment, every business needs to constantly redefine its purpose and market relevance.
"Given the impact of digital technologies on marketing and the fact that the IDM business model itself has changed dramatically over the past five years, it’s imperative that the Institute evolves to reflect the new values and priorities of the marketing profession it serves."
The change programme introduces a new brand identity for the IDM, a new website, two new, state-of-the-art, south west London training suites and three senior marketer appointments to the IDM board.
They are: Ewan Carpenter, global digital marketing director at GlaxoSmithKline; Lawrence Mitchell, marketing director of Reed Business Information; and Shane Redding, an independent consultant and director of Think Direct.
The IDM claims to be the first ever awarding body for an internationally recognised Diploma in Direct Marketing and the first to develop a professional Certificate and Diploma in Digital Marketing, in 2005.
Currently, 60% of IDM business is digital and just last month, the Institute launched its newest qualification, the IDM Award in Data Management, with an exclusively online study option.
This article was first published on brandrepublic.com
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Hong Kong Set to Host This Year’s Bitcoin Conference, Lawmaker Says
Hong Kong will host The Bitcoin Conference this year, local lawmaker Johnny Ng said in a recent post on X.
“The Bitcoin conference, the world’s largest fintech conference, is coming to Hong Kong. Let’s paint the city orange!” he wrote.
In a separate post, the official X account of The Bitcoin (BTC) Conference also confirmed that this year’s event will be held in Hong Kong’s Kai Tak Cruise Terminal, a premiere cruise ship terminal on the former Kai Tak Airport runway in the city.
The conference will be held between May 9 to 10.
— The Bitcoin Conference (@TheBitcoinConf) January 22, 2024
By hosting this event, Hong Kong is signaling its commitment to embracing the digital currency revolution, a stance that aligns with its longstanding reputation as a financial and technological hub.
What is The Bitcoin Conference?
The Bitcoin Conference, known as the world’s largest Bitcoin conference, aims to bring together leading experts, innovators, and policymakers from around the world.
Its objective is to foster dialogue, exchange ideas, and explore the potential of Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies in the evolving digital economy.
One of the key themes of the conference will be regulatory frameworks.
Discussions will likely revolve around how regulation can evolve to keep pace with the rapidly changing landscape of digital currencies.
In addition to regulatory discussions, the conference will showcase the latest advancements in blockchain technology.
Blockchain, the underlying technology of Bitcoin, has applications that extend far beyond cryptocurrencies.
Ng Urges Hong Kong to Follow US in Approving Spot ETFs
In the wake of the United States’ approval of spot Bitcoin ETFs, Ng, a member of the Hong Kong Legislative Council, called on the local government to swiftly follow suit and position the city as a leader in the cryptocurrency space.
He emphasized the importance of fostering innovation and taking proactive steps to solidify Hong Kong’s position as a global hub for virtual assets.
Highlighting the readiness expressed by the Securities and Futures Commission to accept applications for spot Bitcoin ETFs, Ng stressed the need for Hong Kong to capitalize on the rapid development and intense competition in the virtual asset sector.
“I hope that Hong Kong… can swiftly secure a position globally, particularly by taking the lead in implementing relevant policies and products in Asia,” he said in a post on X.
In December last year, Hong Kong’s Securities and Futures Commission and the Hong Kong Monetary Authority, the de facto central bank, announced that they had reviewed their existing policies regarding spot crypto ETFs.
The regulators published two circulars outlining the requirements for such ETFs, which indicates the regulatory bodies’ commitment to fostering a conducive environment for the development of crypto investment products.
Livio Weng, the Chief Operating Officer of Hong Kong-based crypto exchange HashKey, revealed that 10 fund managers, some backed by Chinese capital, are currently exploring the launch of spot crypto ETFs in the city.

domain: news


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Three men from Tampa who made the trek to South Florida hoping to sell 88 iPhones reported the phones stolen from their rental car.
The men met with a trio of potential buyers in a parking lot in the 3500 block of Northwest 72nd Avenue in Miami-Dade at about 1:30 p.m. Oct. 27, hoping to sell the new iPhone 6 Plus models, according to a Miami Springs Police report.
Three men pulled up in a gold Nissan Altima, according to the report. The trunk was popped, prices discussed and a deal reached — but the potential buyers needed “to return with the money.”
The sellers drove off to eat lunch at an IHOP on Northwest 36th Street in Miami Springs. Back at the parking lot an hour later, they discovered that the phones — valued at about $60,000 — were gone.
The victims confronted the would-be buyers, who denied any involvement. Police observed a pry mark on the rear of the trunk.
All the suspects were described to police as having black hair and beards, black eyes and standing about five feet, seven inches tall.
The victims told police they purchased the phones at an Apple store in Sarasota.
If you have any information, call Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at 305-471-TIPS.


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Peroni Nastro Azzurro has launched a new autumn/winter creative for its ‘Seasons’…
Bacardi Superior is launching price marked packs (pmps) across its full range exclusively in the convenience channel.
Heineken UK has revealed new advertising support for lager brand Foster's, with a new multi-million pound campaign that taps into the famous Aussie 'No Worries' approach to life.
Soft drinks brand JUST has launched a range of infused waters into Spar stores and select wholesalers.
Ferrero has unveiled its new confectionery products for the festive season.
Suívie Jabuticaba is a brand new soft drink now available in the UK.
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The Wine Show and When in Rome partner to launch ‘unpacked’ wine
By Lisa Riley, from Harperscouk
Published: 04 December, 2019
The Wine Show and When in Rome have joined forces to launch a wine specifically sourced for the ‘unpacked market’
NO MORE CORKS!
Are you in the hospitality industry looking to make the move from bottle to bag? Perhaps you’re a Zero Waste retailer looking for an eco-friendly way to store, serve and sell quality wine via a ‘re-fill’ service?
Following the recent explosion in success and popularity for the UK wine industry, both domestically and internationally, there has never been a more appropriate time to take stock of the growth experienced with a once overlooked area of UK
With 2018’s bountiful harvest yielding a significantly high quality of grapes due to the hot Summer temperatures and ideal conditions exposed to UK vineyards, the future looks brighter than ever for the UK Wine Industry moving forward into 2019


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In The Art of War, 6th century BC Chinese military strategist Sun Tzu examines how you can achieve your goal before the enemy does, despite starting late. The tactic of deviation- taking a long and circuitous route, and luring away the enemy - is sometimes what it takes to win the battle.
In Shanghai’s convenience store market, Taiwan’s President Chain Store Corp is aiming to overtake all the early birds despite being a latecomer. Nearly 6,000 stores are currently competing for customers in Shanghai. But President Chain Store did not launch its 7-Eleven franchise until this April, with just four stores as its vanguard.
Not that the company has been deliberately taking a long, circuitous route. A full decade had passed before it eventually got the go-ahead from Seven Eleven China (SEC) to open stores in Shanghai. SEC kept Beijing for itself.
“We are really coming at an opportune moment,” says Jackie Su, chief operations officer of President Chain Store Shanghai, beaming with optimism. “We’re just in time for a golden decade for Shanghai’s convenience store market.”
Timing is everything. Too early an entry and consumers may not have been fully ready for the kind of convenience stores imported from the west or Japan.
The Shanghai market did not experience explosive growth until about three years ago. Currently, most of the 5,000-6,000 convenience stores in China’s largest city are either controlled by the state or operated by the self-employed.
Of course, other franchise operators have also secured a footing: FamilyMart already has about 200 outlets and Lawson, 300. While most of its competitors have yet to start generating profits, President Chain Store sees room for newcomers who have something better to offer.
It is crucial to stand out from the crowd from the very beginning. Shanghai’s 7-Eleven stores take at least 120 square meters, making their stores about twice as large as those of their local counterparts, making it possible to have a better mix of products on their shelves.
To get noticed amid the hustle and bustle of the metropolis, Shanghai’s 7-Eleven stores-mostly located in commercial districts and near office buildings-have store fronts some eight metres wide. In contrast, some competitors tend to cater to residential communities and settle for back alleys to save on rental costs.
“Our strategy on store layout and location has paid off,” Su says. Per store, per day “sales of our six stores are 1.8 times those of FamilyMart, two times Lawson’s, and three times those of local outfits.”
In spite of being well ahead in terms of per store/per day sales, President Chain Store Shanghai dares not ignore the importance of scale. It aims to build a franchise of 165 stores by the end of 2011, paying close attention to where the stores are located and their appearance.
The immediate goal is to increase the number of stores to 15 from the current six by the end of the year.
“Acquisition is certainly an option,” Su says. “But our principle is that at least more than half of a potential target’s existing outlets are usable,” or should have the potential to be transformed into 7-Elevens in no time.
Shanghai’s 7-Eleven stores are also differentiating themselves through the product lines they carry. Kuai can dao, or quick meal counter, serves hot meals freshly made by an in-house cook. For its main clientele- white-collar workers and nine-to-fivers- this has proven an appealing alternative to more upscale eateries and lunch-box vendors with suspicious sanitary standards.
Another 7-Eleven attraction is hao dun, or good stews, a service President Chain Store Shanghai has cooked up in conjunction with Seven Eleven Beijing. It is patterned after Oden, a Japanese winter dish stewed in a light, soy-flavored dashi broth, but carefully modified to cater to the Shanghai palate.
Differentiation doesn’t mean entirely refraining from doing what the competition is already doing. Like their siblings in Taiwan and rivals in Shanghai, the 7-Eleven outlets also carry microwavable food in their freezers, giving those dining late some options.
For a cheaper alternative to Starbucks, there’s the 7-Eleven’s City Cafe, which serves freshly brewed coffee for take-out. With prices at about half those of Starbucks or the like, it is a convenient alternative for white-collar workers who want some caffeine on the way to work or any other time of the day.
But not every success back home in Taiwan can be readily copied in Shanghai. President Chain Store figures the Shanghai market is simply not ready yet for its “ibon” e-platform for booking tickets and paying various bills. Its “icash” stored value card, on the other hand, is effectively blocked by China UnionPay’s near total monopoly as the only domestic credit card organisation in China.
Incidentally, President Chain Store also operates the Starbucks, Cold Stone, Afternoon Tea and Mister Donut franchises in Shanghai, as well as in Taiwan.
The deployment of this group provides a significant strategic advantage in logistics. Still a relatively small cluster, Shanghai’s six 7-Eleven outlets are already serviced by President Chain Store’s unified distribution center located in Songjiang District.
President Chain Store is in no hurry to think of expanding beyond Shanghai, a market comparable to the whole of Taiwan in terms of scale. Shanghai’s resident and transient population of around 22 million people nearly matches Taiwan’s. Its land area is about one third that of the island.
On its home turf, it has taken President Chain Store three decades to get to where it is today with some 4,816 7-Eleven stores. It must prove itself to SEC in Shanghai first, before considering the rest of China.
President Chain Store’s close attention to detail means it would be unlikely to expand much faster in Shanghai even if wanted to, in part because of the service standards it expects from its staff.
At the beginning, moving from trainee to store manager in two months was commonplace. But President Chain Store does not want to expand too quickly at the risk of allowing service standards to go downhill.
“We want properly trained college graduates to be our store managers,” Su adds. “They are young, zealous and readily motivated by the career plan we have laid out for them. Customers will know the difference.”
President Chain Store’s 7-Eleven franchise in Shanghai aims to start making money in the fourth year after its long-overdue launch, that is, in 2012.


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Playism announced the Playism Game Show TGS 2022 Preview showcase is set for September 14 at 8 a.m. EDT.
The upcoming showcase features the latest titles from Playism participating at TGS 2022. Presenters for Playism Game Show TGS 2022 Preview include renowned host Chiaki Matsuzawa, Namari Kirin (voice only), Yamien, and PLAYISM representative Shunji Mizutani.
“We are thrilled to share these upcoming games from our end of 2022 and 2023 lineup with the world and celebrate alongside our global audience,” said Shunji Mizutani, Executive Producer of PLAYISM. “Our partners and community have shown us incredible support over the past decade-plus, and we plan to return that same support in kind with this new slate of games.”
Here’s an overview of the upcoming event via Playism:
PLAYISM GAME SHOW – TGS 2022 Preview will feature the world premiere of a brand new game along with multiple titles the company will localize and publish for a worldwide audience. Tokyo Game Show attendees will be among the first to go hands-on with another one of PLAYISM’s upcoming titles, appearing at the company’s TGS booth. PLAYISM will reveal console ports for multiple games during the broadcast, both previously-released and upcoming titles.
PLAYISM serves as a gateway between the best indie games from both Eastern and Western hemispheres. Since 2011, the studio has brought games from Eastern indie developers to the West, localized western indies for audiences in Japan, Korea, and China both digitally and physically, and worked on console ports for acclaimed PC releases.
PLAYISM’s growing portfolio includes hit titles including Bright Memory: Infinite, DEEEER Simulator, Idol Manager, Mighty Goose, and Momodora: Moonlit Farewell, the anticipated latest installment in the action-packed, lore-rich Momodora series. The studio’s portfolio also includes Independent Game Festival Grand Prize winner Umurangi Generation and BAFTA Award winner Night In The Woods, while its Asian catalog includes acclaimed titles like Doki Doki Literature Club Plus!, Subnautica, Godfall, VA-11 Hall-A, Necrobarista, and more.
Lastly, TGS 2022 is set for September 15-18 at the Makuhari Messe in Chiba, Japan.


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An auction to raise money for (Red) — the Bono led charity that supports the fight against AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria — will be hosted on the 28th of November, curated by Apple’s Jony Ive and Australian designer Marc Newson
Rodolfo Dordoni & the Minotti Family – A successful 20 year PartnershipAugust 1, 2018Dedece Melbourne
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SALONE MILAN 2018
Tom Dixon’s 2017-18 Catalogue
Dedece Skyscraper Project
“I’m probably the worst director on earth because I keep my mouth shut,” says John Bock – one of the most important German artists of our time. His work oscillates between video, performance and installation art. A creative cycle that is always open-ended – at the “green border”…
Thanks to the long-standing partnership between the Minotti and Engelen families – the latter at the helm of Dedece for 40 years – Melbourne welcomes the new home of the Minotti monobrand.
Launched at the Russell Street address in 2006, the store now has an exciting new location in Dale Street, Cremorne – the “leading edge” design furniture destination precinct.


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On the heels of Lycos’ strong third quarter financial results, which drove its stock up more than $8 to $120 per share (and rising) in less than a day, the online search engine company announced several new deals designed to keep that momentum going.
Lycos (Nasdaq: LCOS) said today it will launch a marketing and promotional campaign with West Coast Entertainment Corp., and yesterday the company agreed to acquire a minority stake in online auction service creator FairMarket, Inc.
The agreements with FairMarket and West Coast Video follow a prolific third quarter for Lycos, in which the company announced a cross-promotional deal with USA Networks and Ticketmaster Online-CitySearch, to salvage the failure of their planned merger, and deals worth a total of $200 million (US$) with companies such as Audio Book Club, Electronic Newsstand, Auto Connect, Web MD and Online Retail Group.
Video Give and Take
West Coast Entertaiment’s 400 West Coast Video stores will include Lycos in some of its in-store promotions, show Lycos commercials on the TVs in its stores and give away various Lycos promotional items to store visitors. West Coast Video stores will also carry Lycos’ “Beginner’s Guide to the Internet,” a free video rental starring acclaimed actor John Turturro.
In return, Lycos will provide links on its Lycos Entertainment Guide and from advertisements on its site, directing visitors to West Coast Entertainment’s Web site, Westcoastvideo.com.
Westcoastvideo.com sells videos, DVDs and movie soundtracks and provides an online database of movie information and reviews. Despite its name, West Coast Video’s stores are located primarily in the northeastern and midwestern United States and Canada.
Entering the Auction Market
In exchange for Lycos’ investment, which the companies did not specify, FairMarket will create an auction service on the Lycos Web site. Lycos has an option to acquire up to 9 percent of FairMarket, which has created auction sites for 11 other Web companies including Outpost.com, ZDNet, Zones.com and Auction Power.
FairMarket offers two standard auction service products — Community AuctionPlace and Merchant AuctionPlace — designed to offer customized online auction platforms operated by FairMarket.
Few details were available at press time about what Lycos’ new site will look like. The Lycos agreement marks FairMarket’s first deal with a major Internet search engine. While Lycos leads search engines in the race to attract online visitors, it was not first to the auction block.
Close number two search engine Yahoo! has been operating online auction services since last September and has built the U.S. site up to 2,000 different buying and selling categories. Yahoo! also recently launched auction sites targeting Australia and New Zealand, Canada, and the United Kingdom and Ireland.


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For all its 12 cylinders of raging Italian bravura, the Lamborghini Aventador has been known more for preening in Monaco or Miami than for screaming around a racetrack. That notion is shattered by the
As British cyclist Alex Dowsett was preparing last winter for an assault on the one-hour time-trial world record, his sports science team was fretting over the details – like the optimal temperature at
View 10 Photos A reader recently sent in shots of a Ford Focus RS mule conducting high-altitude testing. Now, our spy photographers have caught one testing in Michigan virtually undisguised. These shots
It's not just a Ranger, it's a 1991 SkyRanger—one of fewer than 20 built. And it's for sale on eBay. The Ford Ranger is one of the most mass-produced pickups ever, and so it may surprise many to know there's
General Motors has announced a recall of 330,198 fullsize pickups in the US in the aftermath of the announcement made on May 19 that doubled the number of vehicles being called in to replace Takata's airbag
It's possible the Lamborghini Gallardo would have had an even grander reputation as an everyday exotic if more people had used it to tow trailers and lug home-renovation materials from store to workshop.
Sergio Marchionne is adamant that global automakers will have to merge to remain profitable in the near future, and he'll tell that to anyone who's listening. Mary Barra, however, is not interested. According
Researchers at Audi have managed to do something that at first blush sounds impossible, or at least, highly illogical: They’ve created a small batch of synthetic gasoline without using any petroleum whatsoever.
At the very last minute, Dodge decided the 707-hp Hellcats needed a mascot. Here's how the company came up with the final design. Having cobbled together a psychotic supercharged golem to drop between
View 28 Photos Your technical director joined the Society of Automotive Engineers back in his college days at the University of Illinois during the Reagan era and has been faithfully attending the group's
We’re used to seeing motorcycle and surf culture intersect. But in chilly Stockholm? Where the average July temperature is just 18°C (64°F)? Strangely enough, the juxtaposition of moto and surf lifestyles
(Update: Google apologizes, removes it) Oh no, they didn’t! A giant Android pees on Apple in Google Maps
Update: Google has issued a statement to The Washington Post, apologizing for the now-removed image of a bugdroid peeing on an Apple logo in Google Maps. Google spokesperson Mara Harris says: We’re sorry
Way back in 1987, we knew the GNX would become seriously collectable. Did we dream one could sell for $165,000, though? Maybe. This article originally appeared in the June 1987 issue of Road & Track. this
This restomod fixes the main problem with old cars. There’s nothing wrong with old cars except the fact that they’re old. Bodies rust, suspensions creak, and most engines eventually eat themselves. Ford
It’s been a huge year for custom motorcycles. They’re back with a bang, and the mainstream media has noticed. Even the Financial Times has picked up on the resurgence, reporting on The Comeback of the
These are stories Report on Business is following Monday, March 30, 2015. Give and take Provincial governments are wasting little time snatching back the breaks the Canadian government gave taxpayers.


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Jamba Juice offers 22 beverages that have fewer than 250 calories per 16-ounce serving. These include Fruit Refresher beverages made with coconut water, Probiotic Fruit & Yogurt Blends, and smoothies made with all fruit or with a combination of fruits and vegetables.
Jamba Juice is launching all-natural smoothie mixes to be sold in grocery freezers, in Razzmatazz, Mango-a-Go-Go and Strawberries Wild flavors. The packages contain frozen fruit, nonfat yogurt and an antioxidant boost, and consumers add juice and blend.
A new study found that the children of women who are obese and diabetic during pregnancy have an increased risk of developing Type 2 diabetes in adolescence. The researchers said working to reduce obesity and diabetes among pregnant women could help prevent "youth-onset" Type 2 diabetes cases.
The Coca-Cola Co. has designed a major marketing campaign around the Beijing Olympics, including a digital program called "Design the World a Coke." The program, which focuses on social networking sites, allows consumers to design virtual coke bottles and share their creations.


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By Hayden Wright
Gucci Mane’s transition from prison to freedom continues to hit new highs: In addition to his successful “First Day Out The Feds” (and its accompanying video) and planned homecoming show in Atlanta, Mane is the new face of Supreme, the clothing retailer with previous spokesmodels like Lady Gaga and Kermit the Frog.
Harmony Korine (Spring Breakers) directed a minute-long ad featuring Mane, Prince music, and the ease of shopping online.
“I shop on the internet,” Mane proclaims. “I don’t go to the store. You mothaf—as think I go to the store? I hit the button.”
Gucci is pictured wandering around a spacious home, Solo cup in hand, laying down new tracks and luxuriating in his Supreme duds. At an electronic keyboard, he even sings a few bars from Prince’s “1999.”
Check out Gucci’s new ad now at Radio.com.


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HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) -- A fire tore through part of an upscale shopping center in River Oaks.
The fire started just before 2 a.m. near the River Oaks Theatre on McDuffie and West Gray.
Our ABC13 photographer captured flames shooting from an electrical box in the shopping center that contains a Steinway Piano store and an art gallery.
There appeared to be smoke damage to both businesses and possibly the theater.
Firefighters said there is at least $1 million in damage.


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True to form, Jean Paul Gaultier's first fashion exhibition is as unconventional as his flamboyant runway shows. "When clothes are static, they lose something. I really wanted to have an exhibition that felt alive and not like a stuffy retrospective," he wrote in an e-mail from Paris last week about the innovative multimedia show that arrives in San Francisco this month.
"Jean Paul Gaultier: From the Sidewalk to the Catwalk," a unique installation showcasing the couturier's 35-year body of work, opens at the de Young on Saturday after successful runs in Montreal and Dallas before moving to Europe. The catwalk moves, the mannequins speak, and Gaultier greets you via video.


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Bull and bear: FTSE 100 moves closer to all-time high
Category: Bull & Bear, News
Bull and Bear – an optimistic and pessimistic view of investment news. Today’s stories include: FTSE 100 moves closer to all-time high. Nationwide announces mobile phone payment. More retail winners emerge. Has the housing boom peaked?
FTSE 100 moves closer to all-time high
May 22 2013 was an important date in the story of the FTSE 100. On that day the index closed at 6,840, its highest level since the dotcom crash. It fell back afterwards from then on, and May 22 stands as the best day for this index since the heady days of the late 1990s. Last night, however, January 15 2014, the FTSE closed at 6,819.86, only the third time it had finished the day over 6,800 since the dotcom crash. You may recall that the index hit its all-time day on the penultimate day of the last millennium with a closing price of 6,930. It went close in 2007, passing 6,700 and then crashed. So right now the index is just 110 points shy of its record.
At the time of writing it was up another ten points. This is exciting stuff, like watching the football results come in live. It may even pass the record today; keep a beady eye on this one.
Drilling down, Tullow Oil did well. And still on the subject of drilling down, 2013 was year of drilling disappointments for the company, but it has since emerged as a possible bid target for Statoil. It has been predicted here that 2014 should be a good year for mergers and acquisitions.
But yesterday also saw the World Bank raising its forecast for growth for the world economy. It seems unlikely that had the effect of giving much of a boost, however. The World Bank, like most forecasters at the moment, is behind the curve (whatever the curve is). The markets had surely already priced in the forecasts that the World Bank has now come up with – these institutions rarely give us surprises.
In the US, the Dow hit another high, with yesterday being a good day for Bank of America, which announced better than expected profits.
Comment: Many think that the big theme of 2014 will be when central banks start tightening monetary policy.
Bear: US unemployment is 6.7 per cent, UK unemployment 7.4 per cent; in both countries it is approaching the level that the respective central banks said may trigger a rate increase. But in the US, the fall in unemployed is partly due to millions pulling out of the jobs market, whereas unemployment may be falling in the UK, but underemployment (that is to say the number of people working part time or fewer hours than they want) is still too high.
Bull: Both the Fed and the Bank of England get this. Janet Yellen appears to be in no hurry to up rates, and Mark Carney appears to be in the mood for changing targets just as we get close to them.
Besides as today’s Thought for the Day pointed out, there is a real danger of deflation across the global economy. In other countries, central banks are more likely to loosen, so would the Bank of England dare up rates, or if it does by more than a tiny amount, in such an environment?
Nationwide announces mobile phone payment
Getting your bank card out of your wallet or purse, having to lift it all the way to the terminal in a shop, and then having to make your aching fingers type in a password is such a hassle. Don’t you feel tired just thinking about it?
Never fear, out of respect for our aching joints, the Nationwide has rushed to the rescue. It has partnered up with the equally thoughtful Zapp (did you know there used to be a computer games magazine called Zapp?).
Zapp will enable people to make real-time payments from their smart phones to retailers via their existing Nationwide mobile banking app. Payments will be made using QR codes and pass codes.
Here is how it may work. You are at the till, and your bill is printed out. You open the Nationwide mobile banking app on your phone, you scan the QR code at the bottom of the bill and then you pay your money.
Nationwide said that it was the first financial services provider to launch the V.me by Visa digital wallet and Zapp highlights the building society’s continued drive to make it easier for its customers to manage their finances. It said that other Nationwide innovations “include a £1bn new banking platform, one of the UK’s highest rated mobile banking apps and Remote Expert, technology that allows customers to ‘meet’ a mortgage consultant through a high definition video link.”
Tony Prestedge, Nationwide’s chief operating officer, said: “By using Zapp, consumers will be able to make quick and secure payments directly from their existing mobile banking app. This announcement follows our launch of V.me by Visa and the deployment of a suite of best rated mobile banking and mortgage apps, showing our commitment to delivering innovative payments and online services. We will continue to invest in new technologies that will make our customers’ lives easier and give them more control of their money.”
But what are the longer term implications? If we pay by phone, will we need cash?
And what about this money thing anyway? If we pay by mobile phone the whole process of managing loyalty schemes becomes easier. Maybe we will be able to pay for goods by data minutes of kilojoules of energy.
What we mean by money may change.
More retail winners emerge
The hall of smiles is looking longer.
While M&S frowned, as did Debenhams, the smiles across the faces of other retailers have been growing.
But before we turn to the smiles, what expression do you think Debenhams will have when Mike Ashley gets his claws into the business? The latest, by the way, is that Ashley’s Sports Direct – the company with a very simple returns policy (the policy is that it doesn’t like them) – is to take a 7 per cent stake in the retailer.
But it turns out that among the supermarkets the last few weeks were good for Aldi, Lidl and Waitrose. According to the latest Kantar report, of the big four Sainsbury’s did best but its 3.1 per cent year on year growth, was positively sluggish compared to growth at Aldi, up 29.4 per cent, Lidl at 17.5 per cent, and Waitrose at 17.5 per cent. That’s according to Kantar.
Now we know that Argos and Dixons had good ones too. Sales at Argos stores open more than a year were up 3.8 per cent. Dixons saw like for like sales jump 5 per cent.
Tablets, smart phones and video games were the big sellers at Argos. Dixons did pretty well out of tablets and smart phones too. Well it was predicted here that it was going to be a tablet Christmas.
Argos is that place where you queue up to grab a manual, queue up to pay and then queue up to collect. For those who love queuing, it is a kind of heaven.
But the company had bad news for lovers of queuing, but maybe good news for everyone else. At one point over Christmas, sales using tablets and phones accounted for almost 30 per cent of its business.
Argos is a classic example of how online and off-line can work. It has even done a deal with Amazon, so that Amazon customers can collect their products from a local Argos.
The bad news for those who love to queue is that this practice may be dying out in Argos, but for the balance sheet, that may well be good news.
Has the housing boom peaked?
One month’s data does not make a trend. And the headline proclaimed more boom. Look a little deeper, and it appears things may have peaked.
The headline relating to the latest RICS residential market survey is that the number of homes sold per chartered surveyor reached its highest point since March 2008 last month. RICS talked about the nation’s property sector continuing to move “full steam ahead.”
But the headline index that tracks price changes in the weeks prior to the survey publication was down.
Okay it wasn’t down by much – from 58 to 56 – but the new buyer enquiries index dropped too.
But then again, the reading of 56 was still one of the highest scores ever for the index. The new buyers enquiries index fell from 63 to 49, which may seem like a big drop, but the new instructions index – which relates to supply – stood at just plus 4.
If you are a regular reader here, you will know that these RICS scores are created by taking percentage differences, for example the percentage number of surveyors who said prices fell, subtracted from the percentage number who said they rose.
So scores of 56 for prices rises and 49 for buyer enquiries are exceptionally high.
Besides, the index tracking price expectations rose to 60.8, which was the highest reading since 2009, although what it was doing being so high in 2009 is a puzzle.
These views and comments are those of the author alone and do not necessarily reflect the view of The Share Centre, its officers and employees


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Atlanta-based e-commerce data startup Springbot has raised $3 million from two early stage firms — TTV Capital and TechOperators.
Springbot wants to use big data analytics to give small online merchants Amazon-type business intelligence on their shoppers. The startup helps small and medium sized businesses get better insights into their online customers — information they can then use to more effectively market to those shoppers.
Springbot plans to invest the new capital in building its sales, customer service and software development teams. The company, which employs seven, plans to more than double its workforce in the next 12 months, co-founder Brooks Robinson said.
The capital will help Springbot sell through channel partners — consultants and system integrators who help small and medium sized businesses set up online shopping carts — and drive awareness of the product, said Robinson, who co-founded Cbeyond, an Atlanta based telecom that serves businesses with five to 250 employees.
Springbot, a graduate of the accelerator program Flashpoint at Georgia Tech, collects demographic, social and other information on clients’ online customers from data mining companies such as Rapleaf, Equifax and Acxiom.
Springbot then uses the data to recommend and prioritize the most effective marketing tools — whether it is e-mail, online, mobile, or social media. Springbot automates the marketing campaigns and measures their effectiveness by tracking how many customers responded, and how much in sales it generated.
The e-commerce market is a $200 billion industry, with the small and medium business segment accounting for about half that revenue.
Springbot’s customer base is fragmented. In the U.S., the top 10 e-commerce providers such as Amazon, Staples and Apple, account for 50 percent of all online sales. The rest of the market is scattered among 500,000 small and medium-sized businesses.
For Springbot, TTV and TechOperators bring operational experience and expertise in marketing technology.
TTV and TechOperators’ partners have a track record of building businesses, Robinson said.
“They have experience taking companies from a seed investment and turning them into high growth businesses,” he said.
TTV has historically invested in financial technology companies and can help Springbot make connections with channel partners.
Springbot's technology gives credit card processors a value-added tool to offer their online merchant customers, said Sean Banks, partner at TTV Capital.
Regulation has lowered the interchange fees that processors can charge merchants each time they accept a credit card. Springbot's e-commerce product helps online merchants grow their business, which in turn drives revenue for the payment processors.
"The merchant processing ecosystem is very competitive," Banks said. "The processors who can change the dialogue from being, "I'm charging you less per transaction,' to the ones who can say 'I'm helping you grow your business,' will ultimately be the ones who are the winners."
Last fall, Springbot raised $1 million from several investors, including John Shlesinger, vice chair of real estate powerhouse CBRE Inc.; Tom Cousins -backed Nonami Investments; entrepreneur Allen Nance; and former executive vice president of Turner Home Entertainment, Steve Chamberlain.


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- 2:40 pm Wednesday, September 7th, 2016 by M.M. Cloutier
It’s that time for going gaga for the seasonally popular pumpkin spice latte at Starbucks in the Esplanade—but don’t let that distract you from tempting new victuals.
Along with the annual autumn-only release yesterday of the pumpkin spice latte are a handful of new baked goods and other treats.
For instance, The Esplanade’s Starbucks, 150 Worth Ave. (bay 110 in the shopping promenade), now offers pumpkin scones, pumpkin cream cheese muffins and pumpkin-iced sugar cookies, plus caramelized-apple pound cake.
Those items range in price from $2.25 apiece to $2.95 apiece.
In addition, Starbucks in the Esplanade also features a new oatmeal variety: dark chocolate-and-caramelized banana oatmeal ($3.95).
That breakfast option starts with [More]
- 1:03 pm Wednesday, August 31st, 2016 by M.M. Cloutier
During one of his recent experimental jags with pizza flavors, Chef Luca Moriconi of the Four Seasons’ Jové Kitchen & Bar laid down a few parameters.
“I thought, `What is something that is unique, has a touch of luxury and will be really memorable for our guests?’”
The answer, in part: gold.
Or make that edible gold leaf.
Now add summer truffle shavings and a semi-soft Italian truffle-flecked cheese and you’ve got one of Moriconi’s newest stone-fired pizza offerings at the Four Seasons’ Jove, 2800 S. Ocean Blvd.
The Palm Beach ocean-view restaurant and bar—home to velvety risottos, prawns `saltimboca’ and a happening [More]
- 4:23 pm Monday, August 29th, 2016 by M.M. Cloutier
If you’ve yet to dine at downtown West Palm Beach’s Bistro Ten Zero One—after all, it’s hardly a cinch to breeze in and out of the hotel-based restaurant flanking a busy thoroughfare—now comes a promotion that shaves time and money from the equation.
The bistro’s new `Xpress’ lunch menu won’t introduce you to Chef Christian Quinones more inspired menu items—that would be, say, octopus anticuchos or seared sea scallops with green pea-asparagus risotto—but you’ll get an overall sense of the place in less than an hour and for $12 and change.
Every item on the Xpress menu at Bistro Ten [More]
- 12:52 pm Monday, July 18th, 2016 by M.M. Cloutier
Many years ago, Palm Beach restaurateur and Italy native Gianni Minervini was on a Caribbean cruise when he tasted something he’d never eaten before and it thoroughly delighted him.
“They don’t have of soft shell crab where I’m from in Italy,” says Minervini, who originally hails from Italy’s southern Puglia region and opened his first South Florida restaurant in 1986. “The first time I tried them—so delicious!”
Minervini, co-owner of Trevini, 290 Sunset Ave., has been hooked since—enough so that he’s set to feature a mini softshell-crab fest, of sorts.
“We’ve had soft shell crab as a nightly special at Trevini, [More]
- 3:13 pm Saturday, July 16th, 2016 by M.M. Cloutier
Buccan‘s outlook on summer Sundays: They’re for the birds—when fried, that is.
Every Sunday, Buccan, 350 S. County Road, now features executive chef/co-owner Clay Conley’s take on moist-and-crispy fried chicken: First, chicken pieces are cooked gently, sous-vide style, in buttermilk; then, they’re breaded and flash-fried.
Buccan’s Sunday fried chicken dinners, $26.50 a person, are as ample as they are tasty: drumstick, thigh and breast, all served with collard greens, baked beans and a jalapeno-cheddar biscuit.
Fried chicken and Buccan have enjoyed a summer fling for at least a few years.
Time was when Conley’s fried chicken was part of a summertime three-course prix-fixe menu [More]
- 3:29 pm Thursday, June 16th, 2016 by M.M. Cloutier
Though restrictions on travel to Cuba have been eased, one of the quickest way to get there, at least in spirit, may be via a popular French bistro in downtown West Palm Beach.
Pistache, 101 N. Clematis St., figuratively is on the move again as part of its Tour du Monde series of monthly themed events highlighting the cuisine, sights and sounds of different destinations.
After last month featuring New Orleans with a special menu and live jazz, Pistache is spotlighting Cuba this Saturday night (June 18) as the restaurant’s Tour du Monde continues.
That calls for a special Cuba-inspired a la [More]
- 12:43 pm Tuesday, May 17th, 2016 by M.M. Cloutier
Come on y’all—it’s time for crawdads and a slice of N’awlins.
Nick & Johnnie’s is bayou-bound and set to channel its Cajun spirit later this week with a boil-up of crawfish, otherwise known as crawdads or mudbugs.
This Friday, the Royal Poinciana Way restaurant is featuring a crawfish boil: Order a serving and you’re in for a mess of crawfish, plus all the traditional seafood-boil fixings such as corn on the cob.
“It’s going to be a great time with newspaper on the tables, where we’ll dump the crawfish and the fixings straight from the boil pot (with a strainer),” explains [More]
- 4:00 pm Friday, April 22nd, 2016 by M.M. Cloutier
Smoked fish dip—a perfect shmear for fresh, crunchy-crusted bread—is an old-school South Florida tradition, especially down in the Keys, but in Palm Beach, it’s not so easy to find when dining out.
That’s likely to change if the trend toward more casual small-plates fare continues on the island, but for now, where can you dig into some tangy fish dip, perhaps zinged with a spritz of spicy pepper?
Here’s a look at three Palm Beach places where chefs make their own smoked fish dip with, among other things, whatever white fish happens to be freshest.
- 12:44 pm Tuesday, April 19th, 2016 by M.M. Cloutier
When 264 The Grill closed last summer, a champion of annual restaurant Passover menus went with it, but at least one other Palm Beach eatery’s longstanding Passover dining tradition continues.
TooJay’s, in Royal Poinciana Plaza, 340 Royal Poinciana Way, has featured springtime Passover fare for more than 20 years and the gourmet deli does so again Friday and Saturday.
That means beef brisket, chopped liver, gefilte fish, carrot tzimmes and a lot more—even kosher wine to pair with a meal.
In addition to a special Passover dine-in menu, TooJay’s, open in Palm Beach for more than 30 years, is offering a takeout roster with a [More]
- 3:46 pm Tuesday, March 29th, 2016 by M.M. Cloutier
It’s official: Frites are royalty at Pistache French Bistro.
And the throne they sit on is a new bar top at the downtown West Palm Beach restaurant.
This Friday night at Pistache, 101 N. Clematis St., a new late-night `Frites Sheet’ menu debuts at 8 p.m.
The new late-night dining option features pommes frites in a variety of different ways.
You choose a serving size and a choice of toppings and dipping sauces from a wide selection that includes au poivre, smoked paprika aioli, sherry vinegar, harissa cream, and black truffle-roasted garlic, among several others.
The Frites Sheet at Pistache also offers foie-gras pommes frites topped with seared foie gras, cherry [More]


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Home service businesses continue to outperform other industries as demand for professional home services remains high in the fourth quarter of 2021. That demand will only be tampered by the ongoing workforce shortage.
A booming real estate market and domestic supply chain bottlenecks are expected to continue through the end of the year, which means high prices for business owners, according to Jobber’s Home Service Economic Report for the third quarter. Jobber surveys the more than 100,000 users of its business management software to create data for its reports.
- Invoice sizes saw an increase across the Home Service category in all the main segments: Cleaning, Contracting, and Green.
- Service providers who increased their headcount were able to schedule more work from the rise in consumer demand and increase revenue at a much faster rate.
- Although growth in new work scheduled is currently slower due to resource limitations, revenue growth in Home Service remains healthy due to the rise in invoice sizes.
- Green segment growth in new work scheduled during Q3 2021 continues to stay positive at just under 10% growth year-over-year.
- Inflation is resulting in increased prices across most categories; Home Service saw a substantial consumer price increase in the last 12 months.
- Revenue growth in Home Service outperformed all other categories in Q3 2021, including Grocery Stores and General Merchandise Stores.
Customer Demand is Up
Typically, Jobber reports, the amount of new work scheduled goes hand-in-hand with average revenue performance. In other words, the more new jobs scheduled, the more money companies make. In the third quarter of 2021, however, the rate of new jobs slowed. Yet median revenue is growing. Essentially, green industry contractors are unable to keep up with the demand for work, but the invoices they’re billing out are larger than usual.
The green industry experienced a very high growth last year as consumers invested more in outdoor projects such as landscaping, which could be done while staying within the parameters of physical distancing. The growth in new work scheduled in the third quarter of 2021, although below the growth rate of the same quarter in 2020, continues to stay positive at just under 10% growth year-over-year. However, the growth in revenue matches 2020 and is outpacing the growth in new work scheduled as a result of the increased cost of services, Jobber reports.
Inflation, high consumer demand and a shortage of workers means home services businesses are pinched for workers, reducing the number of jobs they can take on.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the 12-month change in overall Consumer Price Index (CPI), which represents changes in prices as experienced by consumers, grew from 1.4 at the start of the year to 5.4% in Sept 2021, the report states.
The 'household operations' category, a proxy for Home Service, represents 0.9% of total CPI weights and has a 6.6% increase in the past 12 months. Even though 'household operations' is not significant in terms of the weight, it generally had a higher year-over-year increase compared to overall inflation in 2021, Jobber reports.
The green industry during the past year and future growth is likely, the report states.


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Police urge bikers to ‘lock, chain and cover’ as Barking and Dagenham motorcycle thefts double in three years
- Credit: Archant
The Met Police have launched a ‘Be Safe’ campaign to crack down on rising moped thefts across the city.
In Barking and Dagenham there were 159 thefts of motorcycles, scooters, mopeds and three wheelers in 2013. By 2015, that figure had risen to 253, and in 2016 it had almost doubled at 311 thefts.
The Met’s new campaign urges bike owners to ‘lock, chain and cover’ scooters to make them less visible to thieves. Stolen scooters are directly correlated to the rise in crimes committed from bikes – last year, almost 23,500 crimes were committed using 14,000 stolen scooters, motorcycles and mopeds.
Assistant Commissioner Martin Hewitt of territorial policing said: “We have put a huge amount of effort into stemming the rise in moped-enabled crime and are now seeing reductions, which is great. However, we are not complacent. All the new tactics and technology we have introduced will be backed up by really proactive policing.
“We will keep arresting offenders and running proactive intelligence led operations to make the streets more hostile for criminals to operate. Also, through focusing our efforts on dismantling markets for stolen goods we will make these crimes less financially beneficial.
“I’d like to ask all scooter or moped users in London to become a part of our effort to make life harder for these criminals. Lock, chain, and cover your bike when you leave it. It is simple yet effective, and if it makes a thief think twice before stealing your bike then it’s worth it.”
In December 2016 alone, there were 14 mopeds stolen in Barking and Dagenham. Earlier this month, a 17-year-old from Dagenham was one of three men handed prison sentences for committing a series of robberies on stolen motorcycles in central London.
- 1 Barking Market extended to 'ease antisocial behaviour'
- 2 Dagenham mum says council is 'neglecting daughters' health'
- 3 Dagenham pub to host inaugural local Christmas fair
- 4 Thousands watch Barking Christmas lights switch-on
- 5 Plans to cut up to 600 Tube station jobs amid TfL 'funding crisis'
- 6 Festive events and family days out in east London this weekend
- 7 'Devastated' friends need £36k to help mum with bowel cancer
- 8 Student nurse charged with alleged rape
- 9 'It's the right time': Dame Margaret Hodge on not seeking re-election
- 10 Councillors visit Ben Kinsella Trust anti-knife crime exhibition
The advice being given by the Motorcycle Industry Association and police is to use a disk lock to secure the front brake disc of vehicles, or a brake lock to secure brake and throttle controls.
Chains should be looped through the back wheel as front wheels can be removed, and they should be attached to an immovable object on the street, like a ground anchor or street furniture.


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For the most part, online resell sites are associated with big price surges on some of the most coveted silhouettes. But that isn't always the case, with some items reselling for prices marked down from their MSRP.
In fact, StockX is currently selling some pretty sweet sneakers at lower prices than what they sold for originally. For example, the adidas Originals YEEZY Powerphase "Calabasas," which first hit shelves in March 2017 for $120 can now be copped with a 35-percent discount, reselling for just $78.
This also applies to even more recent releases such as the Air Jordan 3 "Chlorophyll," which dropped less than a month ago. The sneaker retailed at $190 but is now sporting a price tag of $123. Don't always believe the hype: when it comes to buying sneakers, resell sites should be one of your first ports of call, as you can end up copping kicks at a discount.
Below, we've rounded up some of our favorite sneakers currently reselling below their initial retail price, including the kicks already mentioned, as well as YEEZY's recent 700 "Mauve" and the atmos x Nike Air Max 1 "Green Curry."
Whether you've been contemplating putting some of your own deadstock up for sale or are looking for a bargain, browse our selection of under-retail kicks below.
Please note that prices are subject to change due to resale hikes and fluctuations, so prices might not be 100 percent accurate at the time of reading.
Our designated shopping section features products that we love and want to share with you. Highsnobiety has affiliate marketing partnerships, which means we may receive a commission from your purchase.


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A new strategic alliance was signed on 24 June 2021 at the National Convention & Exhibition Center (NCEC Tianjin), by the Tianjin Commission of Commerce, Messe Frankfurt Asia Holdings and the NCEC Tianjin. The partners announced a new co-operation agreement to expand exhibition business in Northern China.
The Tianjin Commission of Commerce and the global network and exhibition resources of Messe Frankfurt will be harnessed under the accord to develop more international branded trade fairs and events organised at the NCEC Tianjin. The Auto Maintenance and Repair Expo (AMR) will be the first trade show organised by Messe Frankfurt at this new fairground in 2022.
In April of this year, China’s Ministry of Commerce outlined plans to turn Tianjin into a new hotspot for global exhibition busines and, in early June, the Tianjin Government approved the proposal for a Tianjin national exhibition economic zone.
Tianjin is located in the centre of the Circum-Bohai Sea Economic Zone, bordering the Bohai Sea to the east. The NCEC Tianjin was the third state-level exhibition complex to be established by the Ministry of Commerce in China after Guangzhou and Shanghai.
The exhibition centre, which covers 1.38 million sqm, has 550,000sqm of exhibition space and modern conference spaces and a hotel.
As a global player in the trade fair industry, Messe Frankfurt has 30 subsidiaries organises various trade fairs and events in industry sectors including: Mobility & Logistics, Textiles & Textile Technologies, Entertainment, Media & Creative Industries, Consumer Goods, and Technology.
In recent years, the Group and its events have actively supported the new dual-circulation strategy by encouraging innovation and technology exchange, assisting Chinese firms to globalise and international companies to enter China’s market. Today, the company organises 42 trade fairs located in Greater China, including 38 fairs held since the beginning of 2020, attracting a total of 26,052 exhibitors and more than 1.2 million visitors. This includes Automechanika Shanghai, Intertextile Shanghai Apparel Fabrics, Guangzhou International Lighting Exhibition, Toy & Edu China, ISH China, Music China and more.
According to the new co-operation agreement, Messe Frankfurt and its two Chinese strategic partners will pool resources to foster the development of Tianjin’s national exhibition economic zone and work closely together to establish a world-class platform for exhibitions, conferences and events. They have also agreed to co-operate in terms of local and international marketing and promotion, exhibitor recruitment and training of exhibition personnel.
Mr Jason Cao, assistant managing director, Messe Frankfurt Asia Holdings Ltd, said: “The plan for coordinated development of the Jing-jin-ji (Beijing, Tianjin, Hebei) regional city cluster issued in 2015 has fuelled development in the area, and as a core city in the cluster, the success of Tianjin has been remarkable to see. As a market leader in the trade fair sector, we are thrilled to contribute to the development of Tianjin’s national exhibition economic zone using our global resources and expertise in the field. With the Government’s guidance, we are committed to bringing international trade fair platforms into the city that serve different industries, and to nurture a professional workforce in the region for the exhibition sector.”
Messe Frankfurt also announced that its first international trade fair to be held at the National Convention & Exhibition Center (Tianjin) will be the Auto Maintenance and Repair Expo (AMR), one of 40 plus trade fairs under the Group’s Mobility & Logistics cluster. Scheduled 24–27 March 2022, AMR is expected to attract more than 1,000 overseas and local exhibitors.
Responding to AMR’s relocation, Mr Wang Yanhua, deputy director general of China Foreign Trade Centre, and vice-president of National Convention & Exhibition Center (Tianjin) Co Ltd, remarked: “The co-operation supports the development of the Jing-jin-ji region and illustrates ways that the area is sharing trade and economic activities with the capital city… We sincerely look forward to advancing our partnership with Messe Frankfurt where we can nurture more large-scale and professional branded exhibitions to deliver mutually beneficial results.”
Tianjin has established a complete automotive supply chain, from auto parts manufacturing to car making. AMR can take advantage of the strategic partnership to propel new business opportunities in the region.
Photo: The signing of the strategic partnership in Tianjin. L-R, front row: Mr Jason Cao, assistant managing director of Messe Frankfurt Asia Holdings Ltd; Mr Li Hong, deputy director of Tianjin Commission of Commerce; Mr Wang Yanhua, deputy director general of China Foreign Trade Centre, and vice-president of National Convention & Exhibition Center (Tianjin) Co Ltd.


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Eat Smart, Stay Healthy
As corporations continue to push a fast food culture, it has become harder and harder to eat healthy. A new study reveals that people who eat organic food may actually lower their chances of getting cancer. The time to focus on your health is now!
Your keywords determine which category will be chosen for your video. Use keywords like health, technology, science, politics, food, etc., to make sure your video goes into the category you wish.


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FORT LAUDERDALE, FL, Sept. 22, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — SFLMaven Corp (OTC Pink: SFLM) (“SFLMaven” or the “Company”) (www.sflmaven.com), a leading provider of high-end luxury goods, is proud to announce that its online jewelry store Metaverse will be releasing new pieces early in the third quarter of 2022. The new pieces will stand out from the bridal line and focus on “blingy” and eye-catching jewelry. According to the company, the pieces will be released monthly in small batches.
This is exciting news for shareholders as it signals that the company continues to grow and innovate. SFL Maven has a solid reputation for quality jewelry eBay store, and these new Metaverse pieces are sure to be popular with customers. “With a steady stream of new releases planned for the foreseeable future, now is a great time for growth at SFLMaven!” – Joe Laden, CEO.
SFL Maven was founded in 2003 with the goal of providing high quality, handcrafted jewelry at an affordable price. Since then, the company has been known for its one-of-a-kind items, often inspired by today’s trends in Metaverse fashion. SFL Maven’s quality guarantees have attracted a loyal following among people of all ages on their current eBay store. It is assumed that the same will follow with that Metaverse Storage.
The release of new tracks is the latest example of the company’s commitment to growth and innovation. In 2022, SFL Maven launched its first eBay online shop. The eBay store has been a huge success, generating over $1 million in sales per month from tens of thousands of loyal customers, and plans are already in place to increase sales with eBay’s new authenticity program.
SFL Maven’s success is primarily due to its commitment to customer satisfaction. The company offers buyer protection and authentication on all of its products to ensure customers always get the jewelry they want. This philosophy has been extended to the Metaverse Store, where we are also developing one patent-pending NFT technology to authenticate the costume jewelry and even show its value to really show off that “bling” in the metaverse.
SFL Maven’s announcement of new Metaverse Store Jewelery releases is the latest example of the company’s commitment to growth and innovation. With a strong track record, a commitment to customer satisfaction, and exciting plans for the future, now is an excellent time for SFLMaven.
Follow SFLMaven on social media:
(SFLM) is a premium supplier of high-quality luxury goods. Famous for its Thursday night auction events on eBay, SFLMaven has generated over $140 million in sales since its inception and has received more than 100,000 positive reviews. Now SFLMaven has opened its new Metaverse jewelry store in Decentraland. The company intends to use the same marketing and sales tactics that have made it successful on the Metaverse Store.
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS: This press release may contain forward-looking statements, including management’s view of SFLMaven Corp.’s future expectations, plans and prospects. In particular, the words “believe”, “expect”, “intend”, “plan”, “anticipate” or “may” and similar conditional expressions used in the foregoing discussion are intended to identify forward-looking statements. All statements in this press release that are not historical facts about an action, event or development are forward-looking. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause the results of SFLMaven, its subsidiaries and concepts to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such statements. Unknown or unpredictable factors could also have a material adverse effect on SFLMaven’s future results. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release speak only as of the date of this release. SFLMaven cannot guarantee future results, activity levels, performance or achievements. Accordingly, you should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. Finally, SFLMaven undertakes no obligation to update these statements after the date of this publication, except as required by law, and assumes no obligation to update or correct any information prepared by third parties not paid for by SFLMaven.
SOURCE: SFLMaven Corp.


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From its 82nd position in 2021, Nigeria is now ranked 86th in the world regarding digital well-being out of 117 countries—that is 92% of the global population, according to the Digital Quality of Life Index (DQL).
Out of the five fundamental digital life pillars, Nigeria’s worst score is for internet affordability (ranking 114th globally), and the best is for e-security (66th). Nigeria’s e-infrastructure services come 86th, while e-government and internet quality rank 95th and 99th, respectively.
In the face of waging inflation, fixed broadband internet has become less affordable worldwide for the second year in a row, prying the global digital divide even further.
The DQL study is conducted by the cybersecurity company Surfshark. It evaluates countries based on five fundamental digital wellbeing pillars: internet quality, e-government, e-infrastructure, internet affordability, and e-security.
This year, Nigeria comes at the lower end of the index, ranking 86th and only making it into the top 90 in the final index. The country ranks 7th in Africa. The country has dropped by four positions since last year's edition, falling from 82nd to 86th.
Out of all index pillars, Nigeria's weakest spot is internet affordability, which needs to improve by 13970% to match the best-ranking country's result (Israel).
Internet quality in Nigeria is very weak
Nigeria's internet quality, considering internet speed, stability, and growth, ranks 99th in the world and is 26% worse than the global average. Regarding internet speed alone, Nigeria's mobile internet ranks higher than fixed broadband in the global ranking, operating at 25.2 Mbps/s (92nd globally). Meanwhile, the fixed broadband internet comes 102nd (18.9 Mbps/s).
Compared to Kenya, Nigeria's mobile internet is 5% faster, while broadband is of around the same speed. Since last year, mobile internet speed in Nigeria has improved by 10.8% (2.5 Mbps), and fixed broadband speed has grown by 15.9% (2.6 Mbps). In comparison, Singapore's residents enjoyed mobile speeds up to 104 Mbps/s and fixed to as much as 261 Mbps/s - that's the fastest internet in the world this year.
Internet in Nigeria is not affordable compared to global standards
Nigeria's internet affordability ranks 114th in the world. Residents can buy 1GB of mobile internet in Nigeria for 15 minutes of work per month, 2 times more than in Kenya. However, compared to Israel, which has the most affordable mobile internet on the planet (5s per 1GB), Nigerians work 183 times more. Its affordability decreased since the previous year, making people work 13 minutes and 16 seconds more to afford the same mobile internet service.
Fixed broadband costs Nigeria’s citizens around 36 hours and 13 minutes of their precious working time each month. To afford it, Nigerians have to work 112 times more than Israeli citizens, for whom the most affordable package costs only 19 min of work monthly. Since last year, broadband internet has become less affordable in Nigeria, making people work 40 minutes more to afford fixed broadband internet service.
Related Article: Four takeaways from the 2021 Digital Quality of Life research
The global digital divide is now deeper than ever
Globally, broadband is getting less affordable each year. Looking at countries included in last year's index, people have to work six minutes more to afford broadband internet in 2022. In some countries, such as Ivory Coast and Uganda, people work an average of 2 weeks to earn the cheapest fixed broadband internet package. The same trend was observed last year. With the current inflation, the pressure on low-income households that need the internet has become even heavier. Surfshark's study also found that countries with the poorest internet connection have to work for it the longest.
"While countries with a strong digital quality of life tend to be those of advanced economies, our global study found that money doesn't always buy digital happiness," – explains Gabriele Racaityte-Krasauske, Head of PR at Surfshark. "That is why, for the fourth year in a row, we continue analyzing the Digital Quality of Life to see how different nations keep up with providing the basic digital necessities for their citizens. Most importantly, our research seeks to show the full picture of the global digital divide that millions of people are suffering from."
The best and the worst countries to live in by the digital quality of life
Overall, 7 out of 10 highest-scoring countries are in Europe, which has been the case for the past three years. Israel ranks 1st in DQL 2022 pushing Denmark to second place after its two-year lead. Germany ranks 3rd, and France and Sweden round up the top five of the 117 evaluated nations. Congo DR, Yemen, Ethiopia, Mozambique, and Cameroon are the bottom five countries.
Regionally, the US stands out in the Americas as a country with the highest digital quality of life, while Israel takes the leading position in Asia. Among African countries, people in South Africa enjoy the highest digital life quality. In Oceania, New Zealand takes the lead outperforming Australia in various digital areas this year.
How the DQL report was compiled
The 2022 DQL research examined more than 7.2 billion people regarding five core pillars and 14 underpinning indicators that provide a comprehensive measure. The study is based on the United Nations' open-source information, the World Bank, Freedom House, the International Communications Union, and other sources. This year's study includes seven (6%) more countries than DQL 2021, most of which are African countries.
Access the final 2022 Digital Quality of Life report and an interactive country comparison tool.


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|By Business Wire||
|January 31, 2013 11:08 AM EST||
Braintree, the fastest growing payments platform for online and mobile commerce, today introduced Venmo Touch, a service that enables one touch payments across multiple applications. By facilitating a seamless checkout experience, Venmo Touch will save consumers the hassle of having to re-enter payment information on a mobile device across merchants in the Braintree network. The company is releasing Venmo Touch in private beta for select Braintree clients, with HotelTonight, TaskRabbit, Wrapp and several others enabling the service for their customers over the coming weeks.
Braintree currently enables repeat purchases for over 35 million consumers across thousands of e-commerce sites and applications by storing consumers’ payment information for future use at those merchants. Venmo Touch is taking one touch payments a step further so consumers can enter their credit card information once and pay across the many merchants in Braintree’s network.
Venmo Touch eliminates the need for consumers to re-type credit card numbers by providing a secure, connective layer across all apps on a mobile device. When users enter their payment information into one of the apps in the network, they will be prompted to “save the card with Venmo” to enable one touch payments when using other apps on the same device. This process protects against unauthorized purchases as the user simply enters the credit card security code when using a new app.
“Filling out forms and entering payment information on a mobile device is a real hassle for users,” said Bill Ready, CEO of Braintree. “Each time a user downloads a new app, the user needs to re-enter payment information, creating frustration for users and a huge obstacle in the user sign-up process for apps. Venmo Touch lets you store payment information once and then use it across multiple apps without requiring users to sign-up or download a separate app. This makes the payment and sign-up process much easier.”
“As an app developer laser-focused on customer experience, one of our primary goals is simplicity. It's great to offer customers who opt-in one fewer step between download and booking a hotel room,” said Sam Shank, CEO of HotelTonight. “Braintree understands that consumer experience is a huge differentiator for mobile apps, and Venmo Touch will make that experience even better.”
Venmo Touch is a result of the vision shared by Braintree and Venmo (acquired by Braintree in 2012) to design the best possible user experience for payments on mobile devices. Venmo Touch is free for consumers and Braintree clients. To learn more about Venmo Touch, please visit touch.venmo.com. Additional information can also be found at braintreepayments.com/blogs/blogtree or blog.venmo.com.
Braintree is the fastest growing payment platform for online and mobile businesses, offering all the tools merchants need to accept payments and provide consumers a frictionless experience at checkout. Braintree provides merchants with a secure payment gateway, merchant account, recurring billing, and credit card storage, as well as industry-leading customer service and an easy-to-integrate API. Braintree operates internationally, and allows merchants in over 30 countries to accept payments in over 130 currencies.
Braintree’s consumer brand, Venmo, offers a digital wallet and mobile payment application that extends Braintree’s payment platform to consumers, making it easy for consumers to make payments on mobile devices. The Venmo iPhone and Android apps connect your phone with your bank accounts, debit cards, and credit cards, so you can instantly send money to anyone. When you receive money, you can withdraw it to your US bank account overnight. To learn more about Venmo, visit venmo.com.
Braintree’s solutions have been proven to scale and support many of the most discerning, high-growth companies on the web, including Uber, Rovio/Angry Birds, LivingSocial, Airbnb, Fab.com, GitHub, OpenTable, LevelUp, TaskRabbit and HotelTonight. Founded in 2007, Braintree is now processing more than $6 billion annually from over 4,000 merchants, $1.5 billion of which is on mobile. Braintree enables single-click, frictionless purchasing at checkout for more than 35 million consumers. Visit Braintree at www.braintreepayments.com and on Twitter @braintree.
ScriptRock makes GuardRail, a DevOps-ready platform for configuration monitoring. Realizing we were spending way too much time digging up, cataloguing, and tracking machine configurations, we began writing our own scripts and tools to handle what is normally an enormous chore. Then we took the concept a step further, giving it a beautiful interface and making it simple enough for our bosses to understand. We named it GuardRail after its function - to allow businesses to move fast and stay sa...
Dec. 22, 2014 08:30 AM EST Reads: 1,424
In high-production environments where release cycles are measured in hours or minutes — not days or weeks — there's little room for mistakes and no room for confusion. Everyone has to understand what's happening, in real time, and have the means to do whatever is necessary to keep applications up and running optimally. DevOps is a high-stakes world, but done well, it delivers the agility and performance to significantly impact business competitiveness.
Dec. 21, 2014 07:00 PM EST Reads: 1,456
"BSQUARE is in the business of selling software solutions for smart connected devices. It's obvious that IoT has moved from being a technology to being a fundamental part of business, and in the last 18 months people have said let's figure out how to do it and let's put some focus on it, " explained Dave Wagstaff, VP & Chief Architect, at BSQUARE Corporation, in this SYS-CON.tv interview at @ThingsExpo, held Nov 4-6, 2014, at the Santa Clara Convention Center in Santa Clara, CA.
Dec. 21, 2014 01:00 PM EST Reads: 2,630
The major cloud platforms defy a simple, side-by-side analysis. Each of the major IaaS public-cloud platforms offers their own unique strengths and functionality. Options for on-site private cloud are diverse as well, and must be designed and deployed while taking existing legacy architecture and infrastructure into account. Then the reality is that most enterprises are embarking on a hybrid cloud strategy and programs. In this Power Panel at 15th Cloud Expo (http://www.CloudComputingExpo.com...
Dec. 21, 2014 11:30 AM EST Reads: 3,162
SYS-CON Events announced today that Windstream, a leading provider of advanced network and cloud communications, has been named “Silver Sponsor” of SYS-CON's 16th International Cloud Expo®, which will take place on June 9–11, 2015, at the Javits Center in New York, NY. Windstream (Nasdaq: WIN), a FORTUNE 500 and S&P 500 company, is a leading provider of advanced network communications, including cloud computing and managed services, to businesses nationwide. The company also offers broadband, p...
Dec. 21, 2014 08:30 AM EST Reads: 2,967
“We help people build clusters, in the classical sense of the cluster. We help people put a full stack on top of every single one of those machines. We do the full bare metal install," explained Greg Bruno, Vice President of Engineering and co-founder of StackIQ, in this SYS-CON.tv interview at 15th Cloud Expo, held Nov 4–6, 2014, at the Santa Clara Convention Center in Santa Clara, CA.
Dec. 19, 2014 11:45 PM EST Reads: 2,162
DevOps Summit 2015 New York, co-located with the 16th International Cloud Expo - to be held June 9-11, 2015, at the Javits Center in New York City, NY - announces that it is now accepting Keynote Proposals. The widespread success of cloud computing is driving the DevOps revolution in enterprise IT. Now as never before, development teams must communicate and collaborate in a dynamic, 24/7/365 environment. There is no time to wait for long development cycles that produce software that is obsolete...
Dec. 18, 2014 09:45 PM EST Reads: 2,061
"People are a lot more knowledgeable about APIs now. There are two types of people who work with APIs - IT people who want to use APIs for something internal and the product managers who want to do something outside APIs for people to connect to them," explained Roberto Medrano, Executive Vice President at SOA Software, in this SYS-CON.tv interview at Cloud Expo, held Nov 4–6, 2014, at the Santa Clara Convention Center in Santa Clara, CA.
Dec. 18, 2014 09:00 AM EST Reads: 2,377
“We are a managed services company. We have taken the key aspects of the cloud and the purposed data center and merged the two together and launched the Purposed Cloud about 18–24 months ago," explained Chetan Patwardhan, CEO of Stratogent, in this SYS-CON.tv interview at 15th Cloud Expo, held Nov 4–6, 2014, at the Santa Clara Convention Center in Santa Clara, CA.
Dec. 18, 2014 09:00 AM EST Reads: 2,017
The Internet of Things is a misnomer. That implies that everything is on the Internet, and that simply should not be - especially for things that are blurring the line between medical devices that stimulate like a pacemaker and quantified self-sensors like a pedometer or pulse tracker. The mesh of things that we manage must be segmented into zones of trust for sensing data, transmitting data, receiving command and control administrative changes, and peer-to-peer mesh messaging. In his session a...
Dec. 17, 2014 11:15 PM EST Reads: 2,337
"At our booth we are showing how to provide trust in the Internet of Things. Trust is where everything starts to become secure and trustworthy. Now with the scaling of the Internet of Things it becomes an interesting question – I've heard numbers from 200 billion devices next year up to a trillion in the next 10 to 15 years," explained Johannes Lintzen, Vice President of Sales at Utimaco, in this SYS-CON.tv interview at @ThingsExpo, held Nov 4–6, 2014, at the Santa Clara Convention Center in San...
Dec. 17, 2014 11:00 PM EST Reads: 2,330
As enterprises engage with Big Data technologies to develop applications needed to meet operational demands, new computation fabrics are continually being introduced. To leverage these new innovations, organizations are sacrificing market opportunities to gain expertise in learning new systems. In his session at Big Data Expo, Supreet Oberoi, Vice President of Field Engineering at Concurrent, Inc., discussed how to leverage existing infrastructure and investments and future-proof them against e...
Dec. 17, 2014 10:00 PM EST Reads: 2,312
"Desktop as a Service is emerging as a very big trend. One of the big influencers of this – for Esri – is that we have a large user base that uses virtualization and they are looking at Desktop as a Service right now," explained John Meza, Product Engineer at Esri, in this SYS-CON.tv interview at Cloud Expo, held Nov 4–6, 2014, at the Santa Clara Convention Center in Santa Clara, CA.
Dec. 17, 2014 07:00 PM EST Reads: 2,394
SYS-CON Events announced today that Gridstore™, the leader in hyper-converged infrastructure purpose-built to optimize Microsoft workloads, will exhibit at SYS-CON's 16th International Cloud Expo®, which will take place on June 9-11, 2015, at the Javits Center in New York City, NY. Gridstore™ is the leader in hyper-converged infrastructure purpose-built for Microsoft workloads and designed to accelerate applications in virtualized environments. Gridstore’s hyper-converged infrastructure is the ...
Dec. 17, 2014 06:30 PM EST Reads: 2,289
We certainly live in interesting technological times. And no more interesting than the current competing IoT standards for connectivity. Various standards bodies, approaches, and ecosystems are vying for mindshare and positioning for a competitive edge. It is clear that when the dust settles, we will have new protocols, evolved protocols, that will change the way we interact with devices and infrastructure. We will also have evolved web protocols, like HTTP/2, that will be changing the very core...
Dec. 16, 2014 11:45 PM EST Reads: 2,291
SYS-CON Events announced today that Creative Business Solutions will exhibit at SYS-CON's 16th International Cloud Expo®, which will take place on June 9-11, 2015, at the Javits Center in New York City, NY. Creative Business Solutions is the top stocking authorized HP Renew Distributor in the U.S. Based out of Long Island, NY, Creative Business Solutions offers a one-stop shop for a diverse range of products including Proliant, Blade and Industry Standard Servers, Networking, Server Options and...
Dec. 16, 2014 09:30 PM EST Reads: 1,854
You use an agile process; your goal is to make your organization more agile. But what about your data infrastructure? The truth is, today's databases are anything but agile - they are effectively static repositories that are cumbersome to work with, difficult to change, and cannot keep pace with application demands. Performance suffers as a result, and it takes far longer than it should to deliver new features and capabilities needed to make your organization competitive. As your application an...
Dec. 16, 2014 08:00 PM EST Reads: 2,134
An effective way of thinking in Big Data is composed of a methodical framework for dealing with the predicted shortage of 50-60% of the qualified Big Data resources in the U.S. This holistic model comprises the scientific and engineering steps that are involved in accelerating Big Data solutions: problem, diagnosis, facts, analysis, hypothesis, solution, prototype and implementation. In his session at Big Data Expo®, Tony Shan focused on the concept, importance, and considerations for each of t...
Dec. 16, 2014 05:00 PM EST Reads: 1,979
The 3rd International Internet of @ThingsExpo, co-located with the 16th International Cloud Expo - to be held June 9-11, 2015, at the Javits Center in New York City, NY - announces that its Call for Papers is now open. The Internet of Things (IoT) is the biggest idea since the creation of the Worldwide Web more than 20 years ago.
Dec. 15, 2014 10:30 AM EST Reads: 8,249


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Scott joins Leo today to talk about the new initiative launched by television manufacturers to make Hollywood directors happy. Filmmakers complain about "motion smoothing" or "frame interpolation" which can create the "soap opera effect" that makes the image look far too crisp. It takes out the motion blur by adding additional frames to make the image sharper. It's great for sports events, but terrible for movies, and directors HATE it. Tom Cruise and Chris McQuarrie took a break from Mission Impossible: Fallout to make a public announcement, encouraging viewers to turn off motion smoothing in their TV settings. But now, television manufacturers have taken the next step by offering a new "Filmmaker mode." The announcement came from the UHD Alliance, a consortium of TV manufacturers, movie studios, and select filmmakers who established a spec that will disable motion smoothing and other "enhancements" at the touch of a single button.
According to Vizio, 85% of viewers don't change their settings from their out of the box settings. And that's because options like frame interpolation is buried deep within the menu settings, so you have to hunt around to find it. And it's called something different from TV to TV. So adding a single button on the remote is most helpful.
The new Filmmaker Mode will make its appearance in new TVs at CES in January.


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NEW YORK (MarketWatch) -- ITT Industries Inc. ITT, +0.19% said Friday first-quarter net income rose to $155.9 million, or 83 cents a share from $116.5 million, or 62 cents a share a year ago. Excluding a one-off gain linked to the sale of its auto tubing and Richter businesses, as well as other items, the company would have earned 64 cents a share. The maker of fluid and water management products said revenue rose 7% to $1.89 billion. The Thomson First Call average estimate was for earnings of 61 cents a share on revenue of $1.86 billion. ITT raised its 2006 earnings forecast, saying it now expects to earn between $2.91 to $2.97 a share, excluding special items, up from a prior forecast of $2.89 to $2.96 a share. The company also raised the mid-point of its full-year revenue outlook by $50 million to a range of $7.9 billion to $8.01 billion, from a prior range of $7.82 billion to $7.97 billion. The First Call average estimate is for 2006 earnings of $2.95 a share on revenue of $7.94 billion. On Thursday, the stock fell $1.02 to $53.11.
ITT Inds earnings beat estimates; lifts 2006 profit view


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For 20 years, the vintage-inspired furniture brand was sold to design professionals on the east coast. But the crippling economy of the last several years forced the company to rethink it’s strategy. It continues doing business with the trade, but over the summer, Bradshaw Kirchofer launched a web store, making its solid wood furniture in a palette of 21 finishes available to the public for the first time.
And at the top of the website it proudly states “Made in USA.”
Monday, November 18, 2013
A comeback for ‘Made in America,’ and Southern California factories have a piece of the action
As the dollar cheapens, this sort of stuff will take off like a rocket.


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Last week’s highlights
US manufacturing rises
Manufacturing activity in the United States rose to a two and half year high in December.
Official data from the ISM institute showed that the manufacturing gauge rose to 60.7 during the month. It comes on top of November’s increase to 57.5, making the December data the highest since August 2018.
The increase came on a rebound on supplier deliveries which rose from 61.7 in November to 67.6 in December. New orders sub-index rose to 67.9 in December, up from 65.1 previously.
German factory orders rebound in November
Factory orders from Germany posted an unexpected rebound in November.
Demand rose by 2.3% in November compared to estimates of a 0.5% decline. The factory orders were more than 6% above the pre-crisis level, according to official data.
The increase marks a 7th consecutive increase in factory orders. The data comes as Germany extended its lockdown restrictions through the end of January.
Investors brush aside FOMC meeting minutes
The US Federal Reserve released its meeting minutes from the December monetary policy meeting.
There was nothing new for the markets which broadly dismissed the minutes. However, the minutes showed that the new forward guidance was qualitative, which undermines the current scenario of chasing the inflation target and unemployment rate.
The minutes also showed that policymakers discussed the tapering process. But, given the 2013 – 2014 taper tantrum, no further details were discussed at the meeting.
The minutes underlined the fact that the Fed is likely to maintain the status quo.
Payrolls post the first decline since April 2020
The monthly US nonfarm payrolls report released on Friday saw the labor market losing jobs for the first time in 8 months.
The data reflects the drop in hiring in the hospitality sector amid renewed restrictions.
Nonfarm payrolls fell by 140,000 from the previous month, according to official data. The unemployment rate, however, bucked the trend, holding steady at 6.7%.
The unchanged unemployment rate puts an end to 7 consecutive monthly declines.
Despite the lower than forecast jobs data, the markets continued to be spurred on by hopes of new stimulus under the Biden administration.
US services sector activity unexpectedly rises in December 2020
The US services sector activity posted a surprise increase in December, marking a faster pace of expansion.
Official data from the Institute for Supply Management showed that the services PMI rose to 57.2 in December. This comes following a headline print of 55.9 in the previous month.
The median forecasts pointed to a decline in the index to 54.6. The services sector composite index grew for the seventh consecutive month following a decline in April and May.
The gains in the services sector come following an uptick in the increase in the business activity index which rose to 59.4 in December from 58.0 in November.
Upcoming Economic Events
China exports set to rise, albeit at a slower pace
The week ahead will kick off with data from China covering exports and inflation.
On the exports front, data is likely to show that the recovery continued into the year-end. Another double-digit growth is forecast in exports.
Following an increase of 21.1% previously, export data for December is set to rise by 13%. Meanwhile, inflation is also likely to improve.
After falling 0.5% on the year in November 2020, headline consumer prices are forecast to decline by just 0.1%, marking a modest improvement from the previous month.
Similar trends are expected in the producer prices index as well. PPI is forecast to fall by 0.8% following a 1.5% decline on the year in November.
ECB to release the December monetary policy meeting
The European Central Bank will be releasing its meeting minutes from the December monetary policy meeting.
The central bank announced an increase in its bond purchases in December. However, investors will be keen to see the deliberations.
It is already well known that the ECB included a caveat that not all of its targeted 500 billion euros would be used for purchasing bonds.
Instead, the ECB was forced to note that it may not use the entire amount in a bid to secure the backing of the hawks in the ECB governing council.
The December meeting already showed ample disagreements among members, which could be highlighted in the meeting minutes.
US retail sales likely fell in December 2020
The monthly retail sales report is due out this week on Friday.
According to the median estimates, it is quite likely that retail sales fell during the month. This marks a 3rd consecutive decline in retail sales.
The declines are attributed to the surge in the Covid-19 cases amid renewed restrictions. Headline retail sales are forecast to fall by 0.1% following a 1.1% decline previously.
Economists expect the retail sales excluding auto and gas to fall by 0.4% after a 0.8% decline in the previous month.
Consumer prices in the US set to rise in December 2020
Consumer price index data from the United States is due out this week.
Forecasts show that headline inflation rose by 1.3% on the year in December. This marks a slight increase from 1.2% previously.
On the other hand, economists forecast that core CPI prices, which exclude food and energy, will remain steady at 1.6%. This will see the same pace of increase in core CPI as in November on an annual basis.
UK monthly GDP to contract in November
Economic activity in the UK is heading for another contraction in November.
The declines come after a fragile recovery in the previous month. The median estimates point to a 4.6% decline on a monthly basis for November.
The drop comes after a 0.4% increase in the previous month. It also coincides with the UK entering into a partial lockdown.
Looking ahead, the nation entered into a stricter lockdown since January. This is will result in a deeper impact on the economy in the coming months.
Due to the anticipated contraction in economic growth, the fourth-quarter GDP could also come out lower.
Last week’s highlights


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Rise in online sales of pork
Bpex has welcomed reports that online sales for pork have increased, highlighting that pork purchasers are using modern purchasing methods.
Bpex reported a 21% rise in “both value and volume” of online sales, which it said could be down to the price of pork remaining relatively flat for the past year, according to Kantar Worldpanel. In particular, grilling and frying cuts, such as chops and steaks, are proving popular online.
Bpex director Mick Sloyan said: “These are good results overall and show a small, but growing market. Modern purchasers are purchasing in a modern way and it is good to see pork is part of that.
“It is also good to see above-average growth from a number of retailers, which are 100% British in their sourcing of fresh pork.”
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27 October, 2016, 8:30
Next steps for tackling obesity: prevention, sugar consumption a
01 - 03 November, 2016
China Foodtech 2017
07 November, 2016
Butcher’s Shop of the Year
01 December, 2016, 8:30 - 13:30
Policy priorities for the UK food, drink and farming industry


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Technologies like video analyzers and Wi-Fi trackers could find increased usage in stores.
American shoppers are still eyeing tablets, but two-in-one devices may satisfy some.
Google says its top Shopping results are clearly labeled as sponsored by merchants.
Qualys found that nearly four in 10 browsers have at least one critical vulnerability, making online holiday shopping a very risky proposition.
Called Prime Air, Amazon's service will be powered by drones and will be ready from a technology standpoint as soon as necessary regulations are in place.
Jeff Bezos of Amazon.com said Sunday the company plans to deliver packages in 30 minutes or less to customers by using unmanned aerial vehicles, perhaps as early as 2015.
Tokyo's world-famous Akihabara district lost one of its signature stores on Saturday, and with it a piece of the area's rich electronics history faded away.
The FBI this week issued a series of reminders to online shoppers to beware of scams and to use their common sense.
Holiday e-commerce is expected to jump as much as 17 percent this year over 2012, and much of the action will come from mobile devices.
Online rebate sites like Ebates and Swagbucks will give you a small percentage of your online purchases back in cash or gift cards, but you must jump through some hoops first.


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June 10, 2015
BodyMedia's patents, now owned by Jawbone, are at the heart of the new suit.
For the second time in less than a month, Jawbone is suing Fitbit in advance of the latter company's planned June 17th initial public offering. This time the allegation is patent infringement.
Jawbone is now suing Fitbit over alleged infringement of three patents Jawbone obtained when it purchased BodyMedia in 2013....
May 28, 2015
Just a few weeks after Fitbit filed for an IPO, one of the company's biggest competitors, Jawbone, has sued Fitbit, according to the New York Times. Jawbone alleges that Fitbit poached employees who downloaded sensitive data about Jawbone before leaving the company.
The full text of the suit can be read here.
"According to the complaint, recruiters for Fitbit contacted nearly a...


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Effective August 1 this year, the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA) will start handling 20% of container traffic at the ports for 2 years.
This arrangement was agreed at a meeting between the GPHA and Meridian Port Services (MPS) after the local labour union of the GPHA staged a demonstration over the matter.
In 2015 a concession agreement was signed between Meridian Ports Services and the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority -GPHA which allowed MPS to exclusively handle all container traffic.
However, an appeal was made to President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to intervene in the matter after which cabinet decided in 2019 that 20% of the container traffic be ceded to the GPHA.
Following a July 12 and 13 demonstration by the GPHA workers which halted vessel activities, the Director General of the GPHA, Michael Luguje held a crunch meeting with the ministry of transport, the board chairman of GPHA and the CEO of MPS Mohammed Samara.
After that a letter was issued and signed by the CEO of MPS that effective August 1, 2022, 20% of gateway container traffic will be ceded to GPHA for 2 years.
GPHA which manages the sea ports of Ghana handled over 1.5million tonnes of container traffic in 2021 at both Tema and Takoradi ports an increase from 1.2 million in 2020.
Plans are far advanced to expand the Tema port and operationalize the Keta port in the nearest future.


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Sony Ericsson has joined the Mobile DTV Alliance as a contributor member aligning with other industry leaders in the wireless and entertainment markets, the alliance announced at NAB2006.
The move further rounds out the DVB-H ecosystem that the alliance is building to support its mission to drive acceleration of DVB-H deployment in the North American market.
According to Scott Bloebaum, Deputy CTO, Sony Ericsson, global standards will be critical to the success of the broadcast mobile TV market. Sony Ericsson’s move puts it in step with other large companies, such as Intel, Microsoft, Modeo, Motorola, Nokia and Texas Instruments, in the effort to align North American DVB-H technology with the global DVB-H standard and ecosystem.
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- 1 min read
Exotel announces new brand identity
The new platform combines an omnichannel contact center, communication APIs, and conversational AI.
Customer conversation platform Exotel has announced its brand relaunch, featuring a fresh logo and a compelling new tagline.
The new logo emphasises the phonetic beginning of 'x' in Exotel in six different colors with a refreshed appearance. The dynamism in the shape of 'x' is also incorporated into the brand graphics with a free-flowing shape that conveys Exotel's approach towards seamless connectivity.
To accentuate its ability to create harmonious movements across customer conversations, Exotel has devised its new tagline, "like a friend."
Udit Agarwal, vice president and global head - marketing, Exotel, said, " Our new identity reflects our capabilities to enable businesses to connect with their customers like friends on their preferred communication channels, through a single platform encompassing an omnichannel contact center, communication APIs, and conversational AI."