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A new government-backed games investment fund has been launched in the Netherlands to support the country’s game industry.
Called GameOn, the organisation will target early-stage companies from the Netherlands and foreign firms looking to set up shop in the country.
As well as government support, the fund will also receive assistance from the Netherlands Foreign Investment Agency, which will work with GameOn to attract foreign game firms to move their business to the region.
GameOn will be launching the first Dutch Game Fund this quarter with €10m available for companies. Further funding rounds are also planned for next year.
“The games industry is evolving rapidly, with games companies and infrastructure providers constantly tweaking their content and business models to get an edge in the grab of the elusive consumers,” said GameOn funding partner Reinout te Brake.
“The industry is highly democratised and the current distribution models and game development tools make it relatively easy and inexpensive for developers to launch games. But as ‘free-to-play becomes the primary business model, developers also need a strong understanding of how first to get their games discovered and then how to monetise them successfully.
"We have a tremendous pool of talented and creative designers in the Netherlands, but they are mostly working for hire, and so we need to learn and build on our games magnetisation knowledge. Our aim is to bring together people with this monetisation and marketing knowledge along with the financial opportunity and creative talent to achieve explosive growth here in the Netherlands in this crucial sector.”
Dutch PM Mark Rutte added: “Entertainment games are serious business and opportunity is knocking at our door. I’m therefore pleased to support the GameOn initiative, which reaffirms our country’s position as a pioneer in creativity and innovation.”
Visit the official website for more information.


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It’s been two months since the ban of PUBG Mobile in India. The PUBG mobile ban in India came as a surprise and shook every gamer to the core. Due to border disputes between India and China-Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology banned enormously popular online multiplayer shooting game PUBG Mobile and PUBG Mobile Lite including 118 Chinese apps as a threat to the national security and privacy of the citizens of India.
Just two days after the ban of PUBG Mobile in India, Akshay Kumar unveiled an alternate Indian version Fau-G( published by Bengaluru-based nCore games) on his official Twitter account. He quoted the game to be in support of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Atma Nirbhar Movement and to donate 20 per cent of its revenue to the government’s fund for paramilitary forces called Bharat Ke Veer set up after the 2019 Pulwama terror attack.
FAU-G was later criticized by Netizens, questioning the originality of the game because of the modified stock picture and the name of game”FAU-G” which sounds similar to PUBG.
“FAU-G” Fearless and United Guards is an upcoming online multiplayer game which is said to be focused on the military aspects of India, educate players about the sacrifices of our soldiers and contribution of Indian Army to the country.
FAU-G is based on real scenarios encountered by the Indian Security Forces to deal with both domestic and foreign threats. The game is scheduled to launch soon.
Recently, Akshay Kumar revealed the official teaser of Indian battle -royale game FAU-G. The theme of the teaser focuses on India-China disputes with India going against China’s aggression and pushing them back to their territory.
On the occasion of major Indian festival ‘Dusshera’ and to signify the victory of good over evil -Akshay Kumar took it on his official Twitter account launching the official teaser of FAU-G. Teaser showcase a faceoff between India and China in the Galwan Valley.
The official release date of FAU-G has not been disclosed yet. The game may launch soon until next month. Stay Tuned.

domain: news


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Call of Duty Modern Warfare Warzone Season 5 news
Call of Duty Modern Warfare Season 5 is scheduled to begin in August 2020, bringing with it a host of interesting changes for both multiplayer and COD Warzone on PS4, Xbox One and PC. New multiplayer content, such as revamped maps and weapons, are expected to be announced in the coming weeks. But the biggest changes could be reserved for Warzone players, if recent leaks are to be believed.
Small hints have already been shared during recent updates, which suggest that map changes will be made to Verdansk during Season 5. This will include the Stadium becoming an explorable area, while yhere have also been teasers that a train will be running through the map very soon.
And according to Dexerto, new Points of Interest have been found by dataminers that hint at something even bigger coming to Warzone later in 2020.
These new POIs haven’t been found in the Modern Warfare game files, hinting at some big news for fans.
Instead, dataminers have been exploring what appears to be an Alpha version of the next Call of Duty game.
From what has been shared, the next COD game will be part of the Black Ops sub-series and will continue to support Call of Duty Warzone.
Call of Duty Modern Warfare and Warzone: Season four trailer
And when it does arrive, it could include an entirely new map for Call of Duty Warzone.
New POIs found in the game files suggest entirely new locations are coming to the game, perhaps connected to Urzikstan.
This would give the next development team the chance to try new things and use content and locations from the latest COD game in the franchise.
New POIs reportedly found in the game files include locations named Forest, Russia, Goldova, Battery, Sanatorium, Lake and Swamp.
It should be noted that none of this has been confirmed by Activision at this time and should be taken with a big pinch of salt.
And whatever does happen next, there’s still plenty left to explore in Modern Warfare and Warzone during Season 4 on PS4, Xbox One and PC.
The current Battle Pass still has a few weeks to run and is expected to end in August 2020.
So there is still plenty of time to complete all the tiers and unlock the more interesting Blueprints and skins.
This weekend has also seen Activision launch a new Double XP event, making it easier to hit those higher tiers.
The Call of Duty support team has confirmed that this will remain in place until Monday, July 20, across all platforms.
It has also been confirmed that the recent Twitch Drops offered by Activision by watching enabled streams has been extended.
A message from the official Call of Duty Twitter page explains: “The issue preventing users from connecting their Twitch and Activision accounts has been resolved. We've extended the Twitch Drop through Tuesday. Thank you for your patience.”
The drops are now expected to end on Tuesday, July 21, 2020 for PS4, Xbox One and PC players.


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IMSEE, the Monaco Statistical Office, has reported that the Principality’s retail trade in the first quarter of 2020 recorded the worst result ever registered. The biggest fall in revenues, as could be expected, was from the middle of March when lockdown was introduced.
Although shops such as Carrefour remained open for essential supplies, non-food outlets were forced to close, resulting in a drop in sales of 60 percent by value.
The retail sector, including car and motorcycle repairs, accounts for 1.5 billion euros in sales in normal times and is the eighth-largest contributor to Monaco’s GDP.
Monaco’s experience was echoed in France, where total economic activity fell by 32 percent in March and 27 percent in April according to the Bank of France. In April, industrial capacity in use varied from 77 percent in the pharmaceutical sector to eight percent in the automotive industry. The hit to French GDP is close to six percent so far, but this will worsen as the economy restarts only partially at first, the Bank said.
ILLUSTRATION: IMSEE graph shows the sharp decline in retail sales in March, 2020


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(WKBN) – Applications are being accepted right now for the Get Out and Dine program.
The program gives a dining card to people aged 60 and older, which allows them to get five free meals a month at participating restaurants.
It’s open every year to nearly 1,500 people in Mahoning, Columbiana and southern Trumbull Counties.
The program prioritizes applicants based on need.
Nearly 20 restaurants are among the dining options, which provide nutritious options.
The purpose of Get Out and Dine is to help seniors get out, socialize, and have a nutritious meal.
“This program allows them to be able to call their friend on the phone and go out to a restaurant and eat something that has nutritional value and something that they might not get all the time,” said Cassandra Valentini, with Direction Home of Eastern Ohio.
Contact Direction Home of Eastern Ohio online to get directions on how to apply for the program or call 330-505-2300 or 800-686-7367.


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The Instagram post was just like hundreds of others, with a simple cocktail photo and words superimposed in white: "Happy hour every day, 5 PM ~ 7 PM, $1 off draft beer, $1 tall cans, $5 cocktails."
If you happen to follow a favorite restaurant or bar on social media, you've seen similar posts, either scrolling by or taking note for future Friday afternoon plans. Yet unbeknownst to many business and most customers, ads like these violate the remnants of a 30-year-old Oregon ban on happy hour advertising.
This spring, the Oregon Liquor Control Commission expects to review and potentially roll back a confusing ban on some happy hour advertising, which allows restaurants and bars to trumpet the existence of their happy hours and any food specials, but not specific discounts on drinks.
Before 2010, Oregon bars and restaurants were prohibited from advertising happy hours at all. That year, the commission chose to roll back the blanket restriction, leaving in place a prohibition on "advertising a reduced price or discount on alcohol that is available only during specified days or times." At the time, the commission said they kept this regulation in place to prevent price wars that could lead to overconsumption.
Under those revised regulations, national chains such as Red Lobster or Applebee's could get in trouble just by posting happy hour menus to their websites. Even reciting happy hour deals to a customer over the phone could incur a warning, fine or liquor license suspension.
Some restaurant and bar owners -- or the employees handling their social media accounts -- might not be aware that their posts violate state regulation. And for the commission, which recently took over regulating Oregon's recreational marijuana industry, tracking thousands of even tens of thousands of daily posts has proved difficult.
"The enforcement of the happy hour rule is pretty challenging," says commission spokeswoman Christie Scott. "Clearly these places are still doing it."
Meanwhile, alcohol and substance abuse group Oregon Partnership, which opposed the 2010 rule change, shifted its mission toward suicide prevention in 2012. The nonprofit is now called Lines For Life.
Gabe Rosen, co-owner of close-in Portland restaurants Biwa and Noraneko, thinks the decades-old regulations, put in place to prevent binge drinking, might have misunderstood what draws people to happy hours.
"It's about serving cheap food for groups of office workers and professionals," Rosen says. "My best friend works downtown and we will occasionally go to Jake's and the usual spots, and it's a crazy-pants scene, with dollar-off pints, cheap crab cakes. It's very much about food for people who do it."
Rosen was not aware of the since-deleted December post from his Parasol bar advertising $5 cocktails and other happy hour drink specials. Rosen says he doesn't maintain the bar's Instagram feed and "would definitely never knowingly violate any OLCC regulations."
"Of course we want to be in compliance," Rosen says. "A lot of people think the OLCC is over burdensome, but I've always liked the Oregon model where anyone can get a liquor license for a reasonable amount of money and the regulatory environment isn't out of bounds."
In the three decades since the commission first enacted the advertising ban, happy hours have exploded in popularity, especially at bars near downtown cores (see Brix Tavern, pictured above). Today, many customers expect to find one at nearly every establishment. Even restaurants and bars that resist happy hours have difficulty holding the line.
A year and a half after opening sans happy hour, downtown Portland cocktail and wine bar Shift Drinks began offering specials all day, rather than the usual afternoon block, looking to cater to the baristas, hairstylists and other service industry workers nearby. Turns out, serving discounted drinks all day, every day -- including a $3 pint of house beer from Royale Brewing -- meant the bar could promote those prices without risking a fine.
The rule Shift Drinks co-owner Anthony Garcia would most like to see changed is the prohibition against "straw testing" cocktails, the industry phrase for bartenders tasting a small amount of each mixed drink to make sure the flavors are balanced. Though bartenders were allowed to begin sampling beer or wine to check for flaws this December, taste-testing cocktails is still forbidden.
"It's a tiny amount of alcohol," Garcia says. "You're not testing it to get drunk, you're testing it to make sure the customer gets a tasty drink."
At their November meeting, commissioners representing Oregon's five congressional districts began the process of removing the language restricting advertising happy hour drink specials. If approved, the new regulations will maintain the ban on two-for-ones and all-you-can-drink deals.
The commission will hold a public hearing at 11 a.m. on April 19th. A vote on changing the happy hour rule could be held as soon as April 27th.
-- Michael Russell


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Health ministry moots 5-yr jail, Rs 50 lakh fine for ‘magic cure’ ads
In a draft amendment to the Drugs and Magic Remedies (Objectionable Advertisements Act), 1954, the health ministry has proposed a jail term of up to five years and a fine of up to Rs 50 lakh for advertising medicines, products and other “magic remedies” for hair growth, fairness and improving sexual functions, among others.
The draft amendment has added 24 new conditions to the existing 54 for which remedies cannot be advertised, including conditions such as AIDS, fairness, power to rejuvenate, change of the sex of a foetus, increasing memory and brain function and premature ageing, among others.
Online advertisements have also been included under the ambit of the 66-year-old law.
“New conditions were added and punishments have been increased for putting up objectionable advertisements in the new draft. In a meeting of the department, it was felt that the current act was not adequately regulating these advertisements. In fact, now even when we take action in some cases, the advertisers can get away with paying a very small sum of money and hence it wasn’t a deterrent,” said AK Nasa, head, Delhi’s drug control department.
The proposal came after the Advertising Standards Council of India raised concerns over misleading advertisements on the basis of consumer complaints.
The draft has been placed in the public domain for comments for a period of 45 days.


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Next Tuesday, Carnival Corporation (NYSE:CCL) will release its latest quarterly results. Yet, investors already have a pretty good idea just how challenging a quarter this will turn out to be, and they’re right to be concerned about how the company plans to address the many issues that have plagued the cruise-ship operator lately.
Carnival Corporation (NYSE:CCL) is one of the largest companies in the cruise industry, with its Princess, Holland America, and Seabourn lines operating alongside its namesake Carnival ships in North America. Yet, the company also has an extensive operation around the world, with hotels and tourist transportation complementing its cruise offerings. Let’s take an early look at what’s been happening with Carnival over the past quarter, and what we’re likely to see in its quarterly report.
Stats on Carnival
|Analyst EPS Estimate
|Change From Year-Ago EPS
|Change From Year-Ago Revenue
|Earnings Beats in Past 4 Quarters
Will Carnival’s earnings sink or swim this quarter?
In recent months, analysts have slashed their estimates on Carnival Corporation (NYSE:CCL)’s earnings. Calls for the May quarter have fallen by nearly half, and a more-than-20% decline for full-year fiscal 2013 reflects negative sentiment following some unfortunate situations for the company.
Carnival Corporation (NYSE:CCL) has already let investors know that they should be prepared for rough seas ahead. A month ago, Carnival cut its earnings guidance for the full year, cutting its earnings-per-share range by $0.35, to $0.45.
Most people are familiar with the tragedies behind that negative guidance. Carnival Corporation (NYSE:CCL) has suffered several major problems with its cruise ships, with an engine fire in February leaving its Carnival Triumph vessel with only emergency power and no propulsion for days. Carnival had to have food and water transferred from other vessels, leaving passengers in uncomfortable conditions. Then, in March, the Carnival Dream suffered a generator problem that forced the early termination of the voyage. Followed by news of passengers falling overboard from its Carnival Spirit ship in May, Carnival has seen its credibility hit especially hard.
Carnival Corporation (NYSE:CCL) isn’t the only company facing problems, as a ship from rival Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. (NYSE:RCL) also suffered a fire last month. But at this point, mishaps from any operator are bad news for the whole industry. In addition to refunds and discounts, Carnival has had to cut prices and offer promotions generally, in order to entice traffic onto its ships. That will likely lead to price wars among the two companies as well as The Walt Disney Company (NYSE:DIS)‘s cruise division, and newly public Norwegian Cruise Line.


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Cultris Security Systems has announced a new security system for mobile devices, which it says is “designed for mobile use.”
The company said the new device, called the Cultris App, has the potential to “enhance your security by encrypting all communications, making it impossible to identify your device by fingerprints or other biometric data,” and can provide the same level of security as other mobile devices.
Cultris also said the app can be used to securely lock up phones, but will also have the ability to unlock phones remotely.
“We’ve spent the last six months developing Cultris, and have been working closely with security experts, to ensure that the Cultis App is a high-performance, high-end solution that is completely secure for all users,” Cultris founder David Lebowitz said in a blog post.
“With this release, we’ve added a new, streamlined way to securely secure your Cultris device.
Cultis users will be able to seamlessly transfer their Cultris data and data storage to their new mobile devices through a simple app update.”
Lebowitz added that Cultris users can also receive alerts when the device has been unlocked, and that the app will automatically scan the device for security flaws, which will be reported to the company’s security team.
Lebowitzer noted that Cultis security system will also be used by Apple devices.
“As Apple continues to develop its own security technologies, we believe the Cultures App can provide security and convenience to a wide range of customers,” Lebowitzer said.
“By combining the best of Apple’s security technologies with the latest Cultris technology, Cultris offers users a convenient way to secure their devices and protect themselves.”
Cultris will begin selling Cultris devices in the U.S. later this year, with the company aiming to launch in Europe in the fall.


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CHICAGO (MarketWatch)-- Burger King Holdings BKC, -0.43% and 3G Capital said Tuesday that a deal to take the fast-food chain private for $4 billion, including cash and assumption of debt, has been completed. Bernardo Hees will be the company's new chief executive while Alexandre Behring, managing partner of 3G will be co-chairman along with John Chidsey, the Burger King chief executive who helped negotiate the transaction.
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Each day, we are collectively responsible for over 5.6 billion searches on Google and send over 100 billion messages on WhatsApp. Additionally, every click, swipe, selfie, and video online create a continuously growing digital footprint. The one thing that every business and consumer has in common is that they will have more data tomorrow than they have today. These are just a few reasons why data privacy is becoming a growing concern for everyone.
Concerns around how our data is being used were exacerbated after reports surfaced that Facebook had boasted to advertisers how they could identify the precise moment when a teenager felt insecure and needed a confidence boost. In addition, the rise of the Internet of Things (IoT) and digital assistants added even more data points from binge viewing to heating systems and the contents of a smart refrigerator.
Consumers are regretting trading privacy for convenience.
After years of sacrificing privacy in the name of convenience, many are waking up to the fact that big tech companies are leveraging AI and machine learning to take big data into creepy territory. In the US, many Americans are beginning to feel that they have no control over their data and believe it’s impossible to go through their daily lives without being tracked. As a result, an increasing number of consumers are looking to brands to do the right thing as they begin taking their business to more ethical companies.
The reality for every consumer is that the moment their personal data becomes exposed, there isn’t a way to remove it from the internet. As a result, our digital footprints are becoming a permanent record stored against our user profile, which can be both good and bad depending on the circumstance.
In the UK, a digital forensics unit proved that an individual who claimed to be home washing his clothes had actually activated his smart washing machine using his phone at the crime scene. Other smart devices also create data points around heart rate and other activities during timeframes to help police with their investigations. We are all surrounded by big data that brands promise will make our lives easier. But in the wrong hands, it can work against consumers rather than for them.
There are many great examples of how data can offer impressive personalized services such as Spotify and Netflix. But get it wrong, and a business can quickly drift into creepy territory. Without consent and context, data collection can feel like an invasion of your customer’s privacy, leading to mistrust and suspicion. As a result, every business must repeat the mantra; with great power comes great responsibility.
Why privacy is a corporate responsibility issue
Consumers are demanding greater transparency about how their data is used. Many would be much more comfortable sharing their data with a brand if they knew how it would be used and were assured that it won’t be sold to partners or third parties. But a recent report revealed that only 53% of the business leaders surveyed indicated that they were actively informing users of how their data is used.
However, the arrival of the GDPR legislation has forced every business to take protecting customer data seriously. With fines of up to 4% of annual global turnover at stake, Twitter became the first tech giant to be on the wrong end of a cross-border enforcement action. Data breach penalties for millions of dollars also followed for British Airways and Marriott. But it was Amazon that received the largest GDPR fine to date with a fine of €746 million ($887 million) over its targeted advertising practices.
Similar legislations are also appearing in the US, with the California Consumer Privacy Act leading the way. Businesses of all sizes must have appropriate technical and organizational measures in place to protect their customers’ data. The trends around privacy regulation can no longer be ignored. Every business is challenged with re-examining their user engagement strategies and what data they are capturing at every data point along the customer journey.
Data privacy, an opportunity to rebuild customer trust
The KPMG report, Privacy Technology: What’s Next? Highlights how businesses can ensure that customer data is better secured while protecting their privacy too. We have come a long way since the wild west days of the internet when data protection policies didn’t even exist. Data privacy and data protection have become critical to every business as consumers increasingly demand a more transparent approach to how their data is used, stored, and shared.
As consumers become warier about sharing their data online combined with regulators demanding greater privacy requirements, the wind of change is transforming the digital landscape. Rather than fearing data protection and privacy, they should be seen as an opportunity to rebuild consumer trust in your brand and even creating a business advantage.


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AN UPDATE FROM WHISTLER CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
Local small business Japanada gets $10K grant from Canadian Chamber of Commerce and Salesforce
June 29, 2020
The Canadian Chamber of Commerce announced 62 $10,000 grant recipients from its Canadian Business Resilience Network Small Business Relief Fund today, including Japanada Enterprises, a Whistler based Japanese guided tours company. Japanada also arrange activities and accommodation, and provide Japanese interpreter services in Whistler.
“As we are an inbound tour operator it is going to be a while before we will get our regular business back. Until then we must survive by innovation. We are shifting to target people in the province for camping and hiking tours, and as our office is located in the Westin we are putting more weight on retail than we used to,” said Hisae Yanagisawa, Director of Operations, Japanada. “This grant will help us change our business model for sure. But it does not only show financial support to me, it shows the kindness of others and encouragement, which gives great strength. It really means a lot.”
More than 1100 small businesses across Canada applied for the 62 grants available. The lucky recipients were those that best demonstrated their financial strain, how the business will use the grant to change or innovate, how the change or innovation will sustain the business’s recovery and allow it to prosper, and how the grant will support the role each business plays in their community.
“I am so excited to hear that one of our long-time local businesses and long-time Chamber Member, Japanada Enterprises, was announced as one of 62 businesses in Canada to receive $10,000. We are all working so hard these days to keep doors open, every bit helps. A big shout out to the Canadian Chamber of Commerce and their commitment in finding ways to help Canadian businesses re-open and stay open,” said Melissa Pace, CEO, Whistler Chamber of Commerce.
The fund was managed by the Canadian Chamber of Commerce and made possible through the generosity of Salesforce (NYSE:CRM). The funding was designed to help small businesses across the country stay afloat and support their recovery efforts, paying salaries, retrofitting their workplaces and acquiring technology to adapt their business model. Salesforce has also provided grants to small businesses in Canada, the U.S., the U.K. and Australia, in addition to providing other resources.
“Reviewing the applications was both heartbreaking and inspiring, we saw how seriously small businesses across Canada have been hurt by the pandemic, but we also saw how determined these entrepreneurs are to preserve their employees’ jobs and to serve their customers and their communities. Today is a happy waypoint, not an end point, and we won’t stop finding new ways to help Canada’s businesses reopen and recover. We’ll be with them every step of the way,” said Perrin Beatty, President and CEO, Canadian Chamber.
“It has been incredible to see the resilience coming from Canada’s small business owners over the last few months. We know it hasn’t been easy,” said Margaret Stuart, Canada Country Manager, Salesforce. “The applicants have further demonstrated what we at Salesforce already knew to be true – that Canada is rich with innovation and entrepreneurial talent. We’re hopeful that these grants will provide essential support to small business owners as they return to work.”
A complete list of the winners can be found here.
Summer 2023 Chamber Advocacy Recap August 3, 2023 The Whistler Chamber recently welcomed visiting government officials to our resort municipality. Spanning June & July, we invited Members too meet and discuss their issues, updates and opportunities with Jordan...
3 Coaching Tips to Engage and Improve Your Team's Performance December 27, 2022 There are many different types of leadership, however one thing that all good leaders have in common is their ability to influence or guide other individuals, teams, or entire...
3 Reasons Why Championing Gender Diversity is Good For Business December 19, 2022 For many people, transgender issues are new territory and the concepts related to gender diversity may feel overwhelming or confusing. That's why, this year Gender Diversity Basics is...


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With the forthcoming release of the new Nike Dunk High "Deep Royal Blue." Nike and AMBUSH hope to continue their collaborative relationship. The Japanese motorsport-inspired label has already released two colorways of the silhouette and is preparing to release a third. Designed by Yoon Ahn, who took to Instagram to share a few photos of the latest look on the Swoosh Brand's esteemed silhouette.
Nike has released an official look at the latest colorway for the Nike Dunk High from the AMBUSH partnership, following the dope photos posted by designer Yoon Ahn. The silhouette's unveiling photos follow the release of the Friends & Family "Chicago" colorway, which features a striking combination of colors on the iconic Dunk. Although the concept isn't original for the company, it is one of its best, drawing inspiration from a long line of predecessors. Yoon x AMBUSH takes a few cues from Dunk's history and brilliantly combines them. Yoon also took to Twitter to show the public what's real, writing alongside a picture of the sneaker's unique tongue: "Take care. See lotta forgeries. Real has a blue label."
The sneaker features a clean white look on the leather toe boxes, quarter panels, and collars, with royal blue accents on the mudguards, heels, and collars. To tie it all together, the signature Swoosh branding stretches to the heel in a black hue.
Ambush x Nike Dunk High “Deep Royal”
Color: Deep Royal Blue/White-Pale Ivory-Black
Style Code: CU7544-400
Release Date: Spring/Summer 2021
The AMBUSH x Nike Dunk High "Deep Royal Blue" is set to drop this Spring/Summer for $180.
For more sneaker news and trends, peep the Reebok Pump Omni Zone II.


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OAKLAND, Calif. (KRON) — The Oakland Police Department is looking for someone who might have used a “skimmer” at a local gas station. Police described a skimmer as, “a machine that is installed on a credit/debit card reader and collects a person’s card number and pin information.”
OPD said what appeared to be a skimmer was used on the credit card reader inside a 7-Eleven at 3500 Grand Avenue on July 16, just after 9:00 p.m. OPD obtained surveillance images of the suspect, which can be seen below.
Two other skimming devices were spotted at 303 Hegenberger Road in Oakland, the location of a Bank of America ATM, on January 10 and April 21 of 2022, OPD said. Last week, the Petaluma Police Department said it found four instances of skimmers being used. Skimmers were also used at a 7-Eleven in Sunnyvale.
In Petaluma, police also found some cameras pointed at the keypads to record people’s PIN numbers. Thieves can use the credit card information and PIN numbers to make fraudulent purchases.
Police said skimmers can be hard to spot but can be identified with visual and physical inspection. OPD said skimmers are often placed on top of the card reader and typically do not fit correctly. People on the lookout for skimmers should “check for any loose parts between the reader and the panel underneath it.”
KRON ON is streaming news live now
Anyone who used a debit or credit card at the 7-Eleven on 3500 Grand Avenue on July 16 or 17 is urged to check with their bank for fraudulent activity. Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact OPD at (510) 238-3728.


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just spotted, brandon thomas lee (motley crue rocker tommy lee and pamela anderson’s son) wearing our latest wardements and ceft and company collaboration beanie. the limited edition v-3d beanie was released during the wardements + v magazine + inez & vinoodh pop up event for new york fashion week.
we’re super excited to see the scandinavian brand kastel shoes rolling out their new logo identity created by ceft and company on shoes and in store. stay tuned for more work by the very functional and water resistant shoe company.
come one come all to our annual shin dig and don’t forget to bring your dancing shoes, happy new year everyone. xx
ceft and company is excited to announce their latest project, an apparel/shoe design collaboration with historic california sneaker brand; kastel. a collection of three footwear designs will be coming out in succession. shoes will be produced in limited numbers, so lookout for updates coming soon as you may want to get your hands on a pair… we are very excited about this one!
very excited about the possibilities with one of the greatest and most prominent companies in the world. google has touched all our lives in a variety of ways, and their new line of products are sure to amaze us all. so glad to have been involved in their 2017 launch initiative. more to come…


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Second place on Clutch’s Leaders Matrix for Top Business Process Outsourcing Companies Globally.
Gilbert, Arizona, March 3, 2022 — Clutch, a leading ratings and reviews platform for IT and B2B services, announces the outstanding BPO Companies of 2022, with Unity Communications taking second place on its Leaders Matrix. The company emerged as a leading service provider in data entry, payment processing, medical billing, claims processing, virtual receptionists/assistants, and inbound call services.
Clutch assesses companies based on their industry expertise, ability to deliver, and other criteria, including services offered, case studies, awards received, former-client reviews, and brand reputation and visibility.
Unity Communications was also an honoree in Clutch 1000 Global Service Providers and a Top Global B2B Company in 2021. These awards reflect the company’s commitment to providing the most flexible, dynamic, and cost-effective outsourcing solutions to businesses of all sizes.
Unity Connect Advantage in BPO
As the world continues to adjust to the “new normal,” businesses recognize the need to deliver a sustainable response and strive for financial stability by outsourcing non-core functions. The global competition is fierce; thus, finding the key areas companies can leverage to improve overall efficiency and productivity will allow more human resources to focus on revenue-generating activities.
As a trusted outsourcing provider, Unity Communications strives to help small businesses and startups overcome challenges in productivity, streamline workflow, and provide additional resources that may not be available in-house. The company prides itself on providing low-cost, scalable, and long-term solutions through a growing partnership.
Unity Communications offers pilots and proofs of concept without a commitment, a 30-day program with A/B testing for startups, and competent onshore and offshore teams constantly calibrating to maximize efficiency.
About Unity Communications
Unity Communications is an award-winning BPO company that focuses on sales support, customer service, accounting, health care, and back-office services. With experience that spans multiple industries, such as e-commerce, technology, retail, financial technology (FinTech), and software as a service (SaaS), the company specializes in creating processes that make business operations efficient.
Founded by Patrick Brown in 2009, the company has evolved from a startup into an international BPO firm, serving small and medium businesses to Fortune 500 companies across the globe. Unity Communications forms co-innovation partnerships with clients looking to outsource for the first time and need a “white glove” experience.
Acknowledged by Inc. Magazine as one of the 500 fastest-growing companies in the U.S. and top 50 startups by LinkedIn, Clutch offers a data-driven field guide for B2B buying and hiring decisions. With its user base growing by over 50% each year, it is a top ratings and reviews platform for IT, marketing, and business service providers.
Learn more about Clutch at https://clutch.co/.
- Contact: Patrick Brown
- Tel: (480) 550 8700
- Send an email


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A popular board game has been optioned for development into a movie. Terraforming Mars, a competitive board game in which players compete to terraform Mars into a inhabitable planet, has been optioned for movie development by Cobalt Knight, a recently established production company founded by Christopher Kaminski and Christopher Knox. The movie hopes to take the game's unique theme of corporations snatching up resources and working towards building a future home for humanity and adapt it into a feature-length movie.
"The Terraforming Mars world offers incredible storytelling potential," said Kaminski in a press release announcing the movie deal. "We are excited to explore the unique human drama that inherently comes along with running a company tasked with literally creating oceans, building prosperous cities, and balancing the ecology of plant and animal life."
"In many ways, the game exhibits strong parallels to the Age of Discovery when European superpowers were sailing around the globe trying to lay claim to everything they touched," said Knox. "This makes it the perfect choice for adaptation, using a distinct and hyperrealistic setting to revisit a familiar narrative conflict."
Terraforming Mars has sold over 1.5 million copies since its release in 2016. The core game involves drafting cards and then spending resources to play the actions on said cards. Each corporation has its own specialty, and the terraforming process generates additional resources that can be used to take more actions. The game, published by Stronghold Games, has several expansions, with a roll-and-write spinoff funded earlier this year via Kickstarter.


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The WSJ states that “Based on the pace so far (in 2017), the brokerage estimates retailers will close more than 8,600 locations this year, which would eclipse the number of closings during the 2008 recession.”
With 300,000 sqft of retail under development at Belleview Station, 170,000 sqft next door at The Landmark, The Jones District under development at Dry Creek, Park Meadows a short drive away, ever increasing competition from online sales and a restaurant industry that has struggled over the last year and a half; is there a chance that retail may already be overbuilt?
Do we need another 300,000 sqft of retail in Greenwood Village?
What impact will new retail have on the existing grocery stores, restaurants and athletic clubs?
There may be a reasonable amount of new restaurants and retail that can be built and survive in the Orchard Station area, but that is already allowed in the existing Comprehensive Plan.
Vote NO on June 6 and maintain the existing vision and character of Greenwood Village.


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Seth Ward | Saturday Aug. 1st, 2020
Earlier this year, when stay-at-home became a way of life, many of us found ourselves with excess time on our hands. This kind of mandated free time, not unlike the kind imposed by winter storms, is nothing new to Montanans. It is a reflective time, naturally passed while reading a good book.
But for a few long weeks, Covid-19 restrictions made it difficult for readers to get their hands on new reading material. The public library and bookmobile were closed and then returned with reduced hours. Kids couldn’t access their school libraries. Local bookstores closed to browsing. Even Amazon (of course, the very last resort of a well-read Bozemanian) was delaying shipments of non-essential items.
These changes focused the attention of eager readers onto Bozeman’s “Tiny Libraries.” Seeming to sense the moment, the libraries’ hosts and boosters have answered the call. Also called Little Free Libraries, the idea is not new, but it has taken on new importance, and new roles in this unusual time.
A growing number of neighborhoods now feature these small, no cost book exchanges in front of a host’s home. Looking like something between a small bookshelf and an ornate mailbox, many of these libraries are decorated to match or complement that home’s decor. The largest number of them are clustered in “old” Bozeman around downtown, and in the neighborhoods around campus. But an online map shows tiny libraries spreading west and south as the town grows. Many of the smaller communities around the area have at least one of their own.
During the school and business closures this spring, demand at the tiny libraries grew, and for a time their selection was depleted. Hosts dug into their own reserves of used books. They put out the call to neighbors and social media groups to find the shelves restocked overnight. Public library staff toured a number of the little libraries in July. They added paperbacks and kids’ books to the selection, as well as bookmarks and flyers promoting educational programs.
In the early days of the closure, there were (arguably) more critical shortages than just books. Uncertainty about the food supply and changes in shopping behavior led to temporary disruptions in the supply chains of our grocery stores. Everyday items like toilet paper and non-perishable foods were gone from the shelves for weeks. During that time, a number of our book exchanges became tiny food pantries as well, following a national trend. The library hosts, and other often anonymous donors filled the shelves with dry goods and hard-to-find supplies.
The local media took notice at that point. In March and April, each of the local network TV affiliates and regional newspapers covered this trend. Locals recognized tiny libraries in their own neighborhoods and, eager to find ways to help close to home, dropped even more donations. Through spring it was common to see extra packs of toilet paper, or bags of canned goods stacked above and below those tiny spaces.
For now, things are returning to normal. The public library is open. Local bookstores have returned with distancing, and have mastered faster-than-certain-websites delivery. The grocery stores are stocked up again, and we don’t spend unhealthy amounts of time thinking about toilet paper. The tiny libraries are mostly back to their original role as a modest free book exchange. In their way, they reflect the best of Bozeman, and Montana as a whole. Ready to step up and help their neighbors before we think to ask, then back to work without a word.


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Cigarette, Bidi to be costlier
Published : Thursday, 7 June, 2018 at 6:14 PM Count : 1294
Use of cigarette, Bidi and other smokeless tobacco products are going to be costlier from the next fiscal under the new proposed budget.
Finance Minister Abul Maal Abdul Muhith made the proposal while placing the national budget for fiscal 2018-19 at Jatiya Sangsad on Thursday.
The minister during his speech said, "Maintaining harmony with the anti-smoking state policies of the states around the world, decreasing use of tobacco, reducing health risk and increasing revenue collection are the big challenges of this sector."
The Finance minster proposed to fix the price of the low segment for every 10 sticks of cigarette at Tk 32 and above while increasing the supplementary duty rate to 55 percent.
He also proposed to increase the price of the medium segment for every 10 sticks of cigarette at Tk 48 and increase the supplementary duty rate to 65 percent. At the same time, he proposed to fix the price of the high segment for every 10 sticks of cigarette at Tk. 75 and Tk. 101 and keep the supplementary duty rate to existing 65 percent.
Muhith said, “Bidi is more harmful than cigarette. Due to the overall improvement of socio economic status, bidi smokers are gradually declining. At present, number of workers presently working in the bidi industry is also less compared to previous years. Last year, we decided to abolish bidi production within 2/3 years.”
The minister further said, “I have earlier mentioned that our Honorable Prime minister has decided to make Bangladesh a tobacco free country by 2041. In line with this commitment, we have decided to abolish bidi production by 2030 and cigarette production by 2040. So, we will not increase the price of bidi this year. However, price of 20 sticks of filter bidi will be fixed at Tk 15 from existing Tk 12.”
Smokelesss tobacco like Zarda and Gul are another two healthhazardous items like cigarette and bidi.
In order to reduce the consumption of smokeless tobacco products, the minister proposed to fix the price of Zarda and Gul based on its weight. He proposed to fix price of 10 grams of Zarda and Gul at Tk 25 for next year.
🔴 Hiring apps-based vehicles to be costlier
🔴 Duty proposed on polythene to back jute bags
🔴 Govt mulls universal pension
🔴 Tk 100 cr allocates for women entrepreneurs
🔴 Govt for imposing tax on Facebook, Google, Youtube
🔴 Agri, rural dev sector get highest allocation


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Amplifiers for Sale
The Aston Martin One-77 will deliver 750bhp You expect a lot when a car costs £1,150,000 plus tax. So the Aston Martin One-77 needs to be special. After all, at that price, you can have your pick of any current car.Thu, 07 May 2009 00:00:00 -0700
The Audi R8 V12 Diesel - Audi confirm it won't be built [ad#ad-1] The interweb is full of stories today revealing that Audi has dropped plans to produce a diesel version of the fabulous R8. The Audi R8 V12 diesel was first shown to a pretty astonished motoring press (and it takes a lot to astonish us) at the Detroit Motor show early last year. So keen were Audi to get the press on-side with the car and the whole concept of a diesel supercar, that they made the R8 diesel available for motoring journalists to have a play.Mon, 24 Mar 2014 00:00:00 -0700
It was only a matter of time before German tuning house Brabus looked at the Mercedes-Benz CLA 45 AMG and said: nahh, it's just not powerful enough. Recall that the base CLA 45 AMG already produces 355-hp and 332 lb-ft of torque courtesy of its modestly sized 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-four (an impressive feat by itself, yielding the highest output of any production four-cylinder engine), which gives it the ability to get to 60 mph in just 4.4 seconds. Given its $48,375 price tag for stateside 4Matic all-wheel drive version, many would call that a bargain for the performance stats provided.
2003-2006 Saab 9-3 Amp1 Amplifier Under Seat Pioneer on 2040-parts.com
Sherburne, New York, United States


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Householders, retailers and traders are anxious over the state government’s decision to restrict timings of shops from 7 am to 11 am. They pointed out that crowds may, in fact, increase during these hours, unlike previously, when footfalls were dispersed through the day. Police may find it difficult to manage the numbers.
Multiplexes have been instructed to make arrangements with distributors to download a print of the film, and submit seating capacity of their morning shows to the Collector by Thursday morning.
Electronics traders in hubs like Lamington Road as well as retailers in enclaves like Vile Parle, Bandra, Andheri and Chembur say trade is yet to fully recover from effect of demonetisation.
This means, companies cannot charge a different price for water, aerated drinks, snacks or other packaged commodities at airports, hotels, malls or any other public place.
Not just restaurateurs and big businessmen, even neighbourhood grocery store owners are beset with worry and confusion as the goods and services tax (GST) deadline nears.
The legal metrology department recently waged a campaign against overcharging and dual MRP practices by high-profile corporates and business entities. The department attributed the success of the move to alert citizens who are keenly aware of their rights and are pro-actively coming forward to file complaints.


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A strong fourth quarter brought total worldwide business and general aviation avionics sales to approximately $2.4 billion for 2015, according to a new report from the Aircraft Electronics Association.
The result left avionics sales 4.4 percent short of 2014 sales, based on figures reported by 21 participating companies. The dollar value of net sales reported does not include repairs and overhauls of avionics, or extended warranty or subscription services, said the organization’s annual Avionics Market Report.
"As noted earlier this year, the report showed some softness in sales during the first nine months of 2015, as sales were down 7.5 percent compared to the first nine months of 2014," said AEA President Paula Derks. "However, that trend reversed itself during the fourth quarter, as sales topped $653 million, a 7.2 [percent] increase from the $609 million in sales during the last three months of 2014.”
Derks pointed to a developing trend indicating that total avionics sales “are now nearly evenly split between the retrofit and forward-fit markets."
Growth of activity to retrofit aircraft with avionics brought that segment’s 2015 market share to 49.1 percent of sales, with the balance being accounted for by “forward fit” activity—the installation of avionics in aircraft during original production.
It was the third consecutive year of retrofit activity increasing its market share, AEA said. In 2013, the retrofit segment’s share of sales was 45.9 percent. The complete report may be viewed here.
AEA introduced its Avionics Market Report on March 26, 2013, during the fifty-sixth annual AEA International Convention and Trade Show in Las Vegas to promote the industry to investors and make public policy officials aware of the industry’s “global economic value,” AEA said.


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Because of an editing error, in an article in last Sunday's Show section by Thomas P. Friel, chairman of the Home Recording Rights Coalition, a proposed antitaping encoding system for digital audio tapes was incorrectyl described as "inaudible." Friel contends that the proposed encoding is audible and therefore causes distortion in the music. (Published 7/9/87)
Music lovers should soon be enjoying the newest advance in consumer audio technology -- the digital audio tape recorder, or DAT. Like the standard audio cassette, the headset cassette player and the compact disc (CD), the DAT will make listening to music more pleasurable and more convenient. And like the last big development in video recording -- the home VCR -- DAT should be good for everyone, including the entertainment industry.
The DAT format puts into a compact and flexible package the technology that consumers have been enjoying for years. It uses the same recording method as the VCR to achieve high recording density -- lots of music on a little tape, so any portion can be located quickly. It uses digital electronics, like a compact disc player, to avoid problems of the standard "analog" cassette -- hiss, flutter and limited dynamic range.
But bills -- H.R. 1384 and S. 506 -- are pending in Congress to make it illegal to make or sell a DAT unless it includes an antitaping chip. The chip would automatically shut down the DAT's recording circuitry when it detects a certain inaudible signal, and so would prevent home recording of any records, tapes, discs or radio broadcasts that have been encoded with this signal, or "notch" in the audio spectrum. Essentially this legislation would ban, or severely limit, the DAT only because it is a superior consumer product. There is no justification for such an unprecedented measure.
Home taping is legal. Ever since the Sound Recording Act of 1971 first extended copyright protection to phonograph records, the legislative history has been clear that private, home audio taping by consumers is entirely legal and unobjectionable. And in 1984 the U.S. Supreme Court confirmed, in the famous "Betamax" case, that home video taping by consumers is legal as well.
DAT is a major opportunity for recording artists. Demonstration or limited-production DAT tapes will sound just as good as the biggest record company's compact discs. This also opens a whole new world for broadcasters, devoted to quality, who wish to feature new artists.
Despite the dire predictions about home taping, record companies are making record profits. According to Billboard magazine, in 1986 CBS Records, Warner Bros. Records and Polygram all achieved their best years ever, with each company recording sales of more than $1 billion and profits of more than $100 million. And as Forbes magazine observed: "It's like this all over the record industry."
New consumer audio formats have always helped, not hurt, the recording industry. The familiar audio cassette was developed by Philips as a business dictation medium. Record companies tried to ignore it. But now, with the Walkman, "boom-box" and car stereo fulfilling the potential of this format, prerecorded cassettes are outselling vinyl records 3 to 1. Last year the audio cassette generated more revenue for the recording industry than any other product. The Walkman -- personal headset stereo player -- according to some experts, did more than anything else to put the recording industry on track to its present prosperity. Yet without home recorders, there could never have been a Walkman.
The campaign to ban or curtail DAT was started last summer by the International Federation of Phonogram and Videogram Producers (IFPI), a worldwide association of record companies based in London. IFPI officials came to Washington to lobby the administration and key members of Congress. Last December, at a meeting in Vancouver, IFPI attempted to persuade potential DAT manufacturers based in Japan that antitaping chips should be "voluntarily" put in DATs. But the manufacturers didn't want any part of a system that so limits consumers.
The proposals before Congress are backed by IFPI's U.S. affiliate, the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). Following are the major arguments RIAA has made against home taping and the DAT, and why, in the view of the Home Recording Rights Coalition, they are insubstantial:
"Home taping costs record companies $1.5 billion per year in 'displaced sales.' " Nonsense. Every consumer survey has shown that home tapers buy more records, tapes and discs than anyone else, and the more they tape, the more they buy. More than half of all home taping is from albums the taper already owns. Why? Portability, editing, record preservation.
The 1983 RIAA study that generated the $1.5 billion figure asked tapers if they "would have" purchased any album from which they recorded. Of course they answered yes -- they already had! And the RIAA made no attempt to weigh the enormous stimulus tape recorders have given to music sales.
"The DAT is a threat because it makes perfect clones." It doesn't. Record companies were concerned that if a consumer had a CD player with a digital output (most don't), he or she could make a digital tape every bit as good as the studio master. But DATs can't do this -- they use a different "digital sampling rate" from CDs, and matching the rates would require a $10,000 converter. DATs also cannot make direct recordings from other DATs (or from CDs) if the master tape was recorded with a signal that only the digital input of a DAT will recognize. Commercial digital master tapes already contain this signal.
What DAT can do is record the "analog" output your amplifier hears from any component, including your CD player. The result is an excellent recording, but not a "perfect clone." If you want a "pure digital" recording, you will have to buy a prerecorded DAT tape or record your own performance.
"The DAT will promote commercial piracy." Whenever arguments against private consumer home taping grow thin, we hear objections to "commercial piracy." But when commercial pirates make illegal copies of albums, they don't use consumer equipment. And when a consumer buys a pirated album -- knowingly or unknowingly -- all he or she needs, to listen to it, is a player, not a recorder.
"No prerecorded DAT software." The record industry says the DAT doesn't offer it the advantages of other formats because there is "no prerecorded software." This is not so. Commercial duplicators are already available, and ultrahigh-speed duplicators will be available in about a year.
What the record companies don't discuss is that, according to Television Digest, at an IFPI conference in London five major record companies, accounting for more than half of the world's production, apparently agreed to a commercial boycott of DAT software. They said they would not issue prerecorded DAT tapes unless antitaping legislation is passed. Fortunately, smaller, high-quality labels, aware of the competitive advantage of an early start, have already produced prototype DAT albums. They sound terrific.
"New releases are down 43 percent since 1978." Until last year, 1978 had been the industry's all-time boom year. Record companies then cut back when disco died, but release rates have been climbing ever since. The main factor constraining new releases today is limited CD stamping capacity. Record executives will admit in private that if they can obtain only so many CD stampings, it is more profitable to use them for a few major-artist releases than for many releases by minor artists. DAT, by offering additional capacity, will help solve this problem.
If the formal objections to DAT seem thin, is there some other agenda behind this legislation, not so readily discussed? We think so.
For years the recording industry has been pushing for a royalty tax on blank tape and recorders, but has been told by members of Congress that such a levy would be unfair, overbroad and unnecessary. Now the industry might hope that, compared with the antitaping chip approach, a royalty tax would look reasonable by comparison.
When DATs showed up on the horizon, there was genuine concern in the recording industry that customers would fall prey to "format confusion" and stop buying CDs. It seems clear now that this won't happen. But record companies also have enjoyed much greater profit margins on CDs than on other products, because supply has lagged behind demand. Perhaps record companies have supported this legislation because they asked: Why help CD prices come down "prematurely" by putting out a competitive tape product?
What will happen if H.R. 1384 and S. 506 become law? It is, of course, up to individual manufacturers whether they would try to sell DATs that have antitaping chips. But many retailers say they would not even try to sell an initially expensive recorder (about $1,500) that often can't record.
Retailers also could not possibly predict which albums will be encoded and which won't be. The RIAA has suggested that record companies might put out more expensive, unencoded versions of albums, but the prospect of such a dual inventory has caused nightmares for record retailers, who have said the idea is ridiculous. (Even if practical, the effect would be to squeeze marginal artists off the shelves to make room for dual versions ofmore popular albums.)
As for customers, they would return nonrecording recorders or would try to disable the antitaping circuity.
And the consumer loss might not stop there. Tests using the only specifications published by CBS have shown that encoding albums causes audible distortion in the music. CBS claims that these tests are based on an incorrect implementation of its signal, but has refused to divulge the specifications of the signal it says its system now uses. At the request of congressional committees, the National Bureau of Standards will be studying the CBS system, but CBS still takes the position that the new specifications should not be disclosed to the public.
In short, passage of S. 506 or H.R. 1384 or S. 506 would probably be the death certificate for the DAT.


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adidas to Open Production Facility in Cherokee County, Creating 160 jobs
Gov. Nathan Deal and economic development partners today celebrated the news that adidas will open a new footwear production site in Cherokee County, creating approximately 160 new jobs. To read more about this new adidas operation in Georgia, read the company’s full press release here.
STATEMENT FROM DEAL:
“Georgia offers industry leaders such as adidas the necessary resources to compete worldwide,” said Deal. “Our state is emerging as a sports corridor for Southeastern U.S., and our business-friendly climate will be a match for adidas’ new operation. We look forward to working with our partners in Cherokee County and the Metro Atlanta Chamber to support adidas in future growth.”
STATEMENT FROM CHEROKEE COUNTY:
“adidas is a company dedicated to innovation, quality, and sustainability, as is Cherokee County,” said Marshall Day, Chairman of the Board for the Cherokee Office of Economic Development. “We appreciate the opportunity to work with our state and regional partners on this exciting venture.”
STATEMENT FROM METRO ATLANTA CHAMBER:
“adidas’ decision to open its new SPEEDFACTORY facility in Cherokee County further cements metro Atlanta as a gateway for global business,” said Hala Moddelmog, president and CEO of the Metro Atlanta Chamber. “We’re thrilled to see the leading footwear brand will increase its current Atlanta workforce with the creation of 160 new jobs.”
STATEMENT FROM GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT:
“We were delighted to be alongside Governor Deal in Germany when adidas’ leadership notified us of this great economic development win for Georgia,” said Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD) Commissioner Chris Carr. “Promoting Georgia as a premier place in which to do business on the global stage is increasingly important, and we have an incredible international team at the Department that is well-suited to facilitate. We want to thank our economic development partners in Cherokee County and the Metro Atlanta Chamber as they were instrumental in this process.”
GDEcD Director of International Investment Nico Wijnberg represented the Global Commerce division throughout this project in partnership with the Cherokee Office of Economic Development, the Metro Atlanta Chamber and Georgia Power.


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WFP monitoring confirms that the situation of the drought affected households in El Chaco Region and the south cone of Cochabamba continues to be fragile. The rainy season has started in these regions, and the next harvest will occur in April-May 2014. While the harvest will increase food availability, and contribute to food access, many households will continue to be unable to access sufficient calories and nutrients for an active and healthy life. Challenges and factors contributing to food insecurity include a lack of seeds and inputs for farmers, leading to smaller areas planted. Household food reserves are reportedly low. Many families cannot afford to purchase the feed needed for small livestock holdings.
The recent opening of the domestic market by lowering tariffs on main imported food produce helped decreasing high food inflation, now down by 1.2% m/m. Still, food inflation was at 10.44% y/y in December.


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The RPA have recently confirmed the 2016 payment rates for Basic Payment Claims. These are detailed in the table below.
[table “5” not found /]
The BPS 2016 payment window will open on the 1 December 2016 and the RPA have already stated that it aims to pay 90% of claimants by the end December and 93% by the end of March 2017.
Carys Studley of Rostons comments that “there may be a number of claimants that are still yet to receive their 2015 payments and as a result of this the BPS 2016 payment may not necessarily be correct”.
If you have any concerns over your payment or would like to check it once received, then please do not hesitate to contact one of the Team at Rostons.


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The latest of the IOE&IT Daily Update’s round ups of the latest supply chain news covers the impact of droughts on shipping, the trialing of new air freight technology and updates from the Amazon unionisation drive.
Drought limits canal shipping
Drought is forcing draft restrictions to be put in place along the Panama Canal, limiting the amount of cargo that ships can carry.
According to Bloomberg, from this week onwards Neo-Panamax vessels – the largest ships that can use the waterway – will be allowed drafts of up 13.56m, and the draft limit will decline again to 13.41m on 30 May.
‘Drafts’ are a nautical term for the difference between the ship’s keel and the waterline and play an important role in determining the safe transit of a vessel through certain waterways.
The change could translate to 40% less cargo on some container ships. In response to this, four ocean carriers have announced weight limits or imposed container fees between $300 and $500 per box, effective from 1 June.
Meanwhile, the Suez Canal Authority announced yesterday (25 May) that it has re-floated the bulk carrier that was previously stuck in the vital shipping passage.
Two years ago, the canal was blocked for almost a week when the Ever Given carrier ran aground.
Air freight turbulence
Some commentators are predicting a surge in freight capacity demand driven by an uptick in consumer confidence, reports the Loadstar.
Brandon Fried, executive director of the Airforwarders Association, said carriers are adding more aircraft to cope with summer passenger numbers, which will benefit freight forwarders.
However, Maersk’s Asia Pacific market update for May notes a decrease in global air cargo demand in March, albeit at a slower rate than in February and January, with cargo tonne kilometres (CTKs) falling by 7.7% year-on-year.
This is an improvement compared to the annual decline of 16.8% observed in January and double-digit decreases in earlier months.
Capacity grew 9.9% year-on-year, primarily due to the increasing belly-hold capacity from passenger aircraft.
Digital freight trial
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has announced the results of a trial of its new e-freight programme.
The One Record programme has been trialled by Alibaba’s logistics arm Cainiao Network on its airfreight service between China and Liege.
Cainiao said the trial achieved several breakthroughs including the first application of radio frequency identification technology, which automatically pushes the cargo status to the One Record exchange in real-time.
This eliminates reliance on phone and email communication, while enabling information exchange, unlocking the possibilities of a fully digital air cargo industry which could create opportunities for new services and business models, IATA claims.
According to the Loadstar, Champ Cargosystems and Lufthansa Cargo will begin collaborating on One Record.
Amazon workforce seeks union recognition
Workers at Coventry’s Amazon warehouse are continuing strike action this week as a pay dispute continues into its fifth month.
About 700 staff were set to take action over a “derisory” 50p pay rise offer, reports the Morning Star.
The workers’ union, the GMB, has applied for union recognition at the Midlands warehouse which would give GMB authority to negotiate with the retailer.
More than 51% of the workers in Coventry are GMB members, overcoming the threshold required to obtain union status, reports Bloomberg.
GMB has contacted the Central Arbitration Committee, the official judicial body that deals with workplace disputes, but the process can go on for months and Amazon can challenge the application.
Ukraine and Russia trade accusations
Ukraine accused Russia of effectively preventing the Ukrainian port of Pivdennyi from handling exports of Black Sea grain with Russia complaining that it had been unable to export ammonia via a pipeline to Pivdennyi, reports Reuters.
The Black Sea deal was brokered last July and was extended last week for two months, covering the export of food and fertiliser from the Ukrainian ports of Odesa, Chornomorsk and Pivdennyi. The latter has not received any ships since 2 May, however.
All ships are inspected by a joint team of Russian, Ukrainian, Turkish and UN inspectors, but Ukraine claims Russian inspectors have refused to inspect ships bound for Pivdennyi since 29 April.
Russia had threatened not to renew the deal unless a list of demands about its own exports was met, including restarting the ammonia pipeline.


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PayPal has built a great platform and a vibrant developer community. We've been privileged to have a long and close working history with PayPal, and are very proud to see the Eventbrite application recognized.
San Francisco, CA (PRWEB) June 18, 2008
Eventbrite.com, the leading self-service online event management and ticketing site, today announced it has been awarded the 2008 PayPal Star Developer Award for Most Innovative Application. The award was presented today at the 2008 PayPal Developer Conference in Chicago.
"We are grateful and honored to receive the PayPal Star Developer Award." said Kevin Hartz, Co-Founder and CEO of Eventbrite. "PayPal has built a great platform and a vibrant developer community. We've been privileged to have a long and close working history with PayPal, and are very proud to see the Eventbrite application recognized."
The Star Developer Awards are presented annually to recognize members of the PayPal/eBay Developers Program who have shown the most innovative use of the eBay and PayPal platforms and made notable contributions to the community.
Eventbrite is a self-service event planning website that empowers event holders with all the tools they need to publish, promote and sell tickets to their events. Eventbrite users enjoy higher attendance rates for their events and increased revenue. Eventbrite is based in San Francisco, California, and serves event organizers around the world. For more information about Eventbrite, please visit: http://www.eventbrite.com
About the PayPal Developer Community -- The PayPal Developer Community, established in 2001, is an online community of 400,000 registered Web developers, Web designers and software developers who provide e-commerce technology solutions using the PayPal platform. The program is among the largest of its kind in the world, offering developers free access to technical tools, online payments resources and related third-party applications. More information about the PayPal Developer Community can be viewed at http://www.paypaldeveloper.com.
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Foley & Lardner LLP announced today that after more than four years of contentious litigation and a five-week jury trial, a California judge granted nonsuit, the California equivalent of a judgment as a matter of law, in favor of the firm’s client Fusion Capital Management (Fusion). The plaintiffs accused Fusion of defrauding them out of their securities and participating in a conspiracy to manipulate senior citizens into purchasing annuities.
Fusion is a Registered Investment Advisory (RIA) firm with advisers across the country. One of the advisers in California recommended the plaintiffs sell some of their securities and purchase annuities as part of a diversification plan. The plaintiffs subsequently became unsatisfied with the annuities, accusing the adviser of manipulating them into selling their securities to obtain a high commission.
The plaintiffs sued Fusion as the RIA, the annuity company, the national marketing organization, the adviser, and the adviser’s independent business. The plaintiffs’ damage model exceeded $70 million, with claims that included the trebling of damages, attorneys’ fees, and potentially punitive damages.
On February 9, 2023, following a five-week jury trial, the court granted Fusion’s nonsuit, finding that there was not sufficient evidence to present the case against Fusion to the jury.
The Foley team included Partners J. Michael Thomas, Robert Slovak, Benjamin Morris, and Associate Stephanie McPhail.


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September 19, 2001 |
Media groups E.W. Scripps Co. and New York Times Co. on Tuesday joined a growing number of publishers warning that last week's airplane attacks would further dent advertising and hurt their financial results. USA Networks Inc., the media company run by Barry Diller, also warned of lower earnings, citing lower sales at its Home Shopping Network last week. Wall Street Journal publisher Dow Jones & Co.
May 7, 1996 |
Pulitzer Publishing Co. announced Monday that it has agreed to buy Scripps League Newspapers for between $230 million and $240 million. Five Scripps League newspapers are in California, including the Record-Gazette in Banning, the Hanford Sentinel, the Napa Valley Register, the Santa Maria Times and the Daily Midway Driller in Taft. Pulitzer publishes the St. Louis Post-Dispatch and the Arizona Daily Star of Tucson.
December 2, 2004 |
Ken Lowe had an idea that every room in the house, and the grounds outside, could have its own television show. The idea became Home & Garden Television. Since it went on the air a decade ago, HGTV has become one of America's most recognized cable brands, reaching 87 million households and sprouting sister networks for E.W. Scripps Co. "Not everybody recognized -- maybe even some of us who were there that fateful morning on Dec.
April 17, 2012 |
SANFORD, Fla. — As George Zimmerman's attorney filed a motion for the judge in the Trayvon Martin murder case to step aside, several media outlets sought Monday to unseal court documents. Zimmerman, a neighborhood watch volunteer, is charged with second-degree murder in the shooting death of the unarmed African American teenager on Feb. 26 in Sanford. The case has sparked national demonstrations and raised questions about race and gun control. Zimmerman, who is white and Latino, says he acted in self-defense.
November 17, 1990 |
Union employees at United Press International voted Friday to take a 35% pay cut rather than see the 83-year-old American news agency close down at midnight. But some said they voted for the reduction so they could have an income while they looked for other work, and some fear that the long-suffering company may not survive past Christmas. UPI's parent, Infotechnology Inc., had asked staff members to take the pay cut for 90 days, and perhaps longer, to give it time to find a buyer.
March 14, 2006 |
Gary B. Pruitt says that he would have been perfectly happy to remain in his former career as a 1st Amendment attorney -- fending off libel suits and arguing for the public's right to know on behalf of the Sacramento Bee and other McClatchy Co. newspapers.
August 26, 2009
Ventura and Los Angeles, Calif. - August 24, 2009 - The Ventura County Star and the Los Angeles Times Media Group (LATMG) today announced their participation in a late-week total market coverage advertising insert program, providing an effective distribution solution with targeted reach to 95,000 East Ventura County households, plus Fillmore and Mission Oaks. "We're pleased to be able to offer this combined preprint package to our advertisers and our community," said George Cogswell, President and Publisher of the Ventura County Star.
June 20, 2005 |
Lee Masters, who is credited with building E! Entertainment Television, hasn't played a high-profile role in the media industry in years. After cashing out of the cable channel in 1998, he ran an interactive TV company for four years, and then retired. Now, he's back. Today Idetic Inc., a Berkeley-based company that provides video content to cellphone users, is expected to announce that the 53-year-old Los Angeles entrepreneur has become a director, investor and senior advisor.
May 6, 2010 |
Media mogul Haim Saban wants to become a brand mogul, too. Saban, who first earned a fortune with "Mighty Morphin Power Rangers" and now is chairman and chief executive of Saban Capital Group, which counts the powerful Spanish-language broadcast network Univision among its holdings, is launching a new company, Saban Brands, and says he is committing $500 million in capital to acquire established entertainment and consumer names. Brands have become one of the latest obsessions for companies looking to reach consumers beyond traditional media.
October 12, 1999 |
Rite Aid Corp., the third-largest U.S. drugstore chain, on Monday reported a loss for its fiscal second quarter and said it might shed more West Coast stores. Higher interest payments and slowing West Coast sales contributed to the loss of $67.9 million, or 26 cents a share, including a pretax charge of about $34 million for closing or moving 106 stores, the company said. Sales rose 17% to $3.51 billion, with sales at stores open a year or more up 8%.


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SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Origame Digital’s Umurangi Generation won the Seumas McNally Grand Prize at the 23rd annual Independent Games Festival (IGF) Awards tonight.
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On Wednesday, the ACCC confirmed that Bank of Queensland (BOQ) has paid a penalty of $133,200 for allegedly breaching the Consumer Data Right (CDR) Rules.
In its first infringement notice issued for an alleged breach of the rules, the ACCC claimed that BOQ had failed to provide a service enabling consumers’ data to be shared.
The bank was meant to be in a position to share data for financial products, including savings accounts, term deposits and credit cards, by 1 July 2021. However, the competition regulator said that BOQ did not make the required services available until 13 December 2021.
“Under the CDR, consumers have a right to safely and securely share certain data with accredited providers, including fintech firms and other third parties, who in turn can use that data to create better-customised products and services for the consumer,” explained ACCC commissioner Peter Crone.
“For the CDR to work effectively for consumers, participants including all banks must meet their data sharing obligations within the timeframes set by the regulations.”
The ACCC noted that a number of banks had suffered delays with implementing their CDR solutions, partly attributable to the pandemic and a shortage of skilled IT resources.
It said that, before issuing BOQ with an infringement notice, it had taken into account a number of factors including the period of the bank’s alleged non-compliance, the number of customers potentially impacted, the resourcing constraints faced in developing CDR infrastructure and the steps taken to limit the duration of non-compliance.
“In the current environment of rising interest rates, consumers benefit from greater access to information and tools to help them compare products and make informed decisions about switching banks, and the CDR assists this,” said Mr Crone.
“As it is rolled out, the CDR will increase consumer choice and promote the innovation needed to improve competition in financial services and other areas. It will play a central role in enhancing productivity.”
The CDR was initially rolled out to major banks in July 2020 before expanding to other banks in July 2021. It has since expanded beyond ‘open banking’ to also cover energy and telecommunications along with a proposed expansion to non-bank lending, merchant acquiring, general insurance and superannuation.
The ACCC stated that it closely monitors compliance with CDR obligations and provides support for participants to assist them in preparing for and entering the CDR program.
Those that do not comply with their obligations may face enforcement action from the ACCC including administrative outcomes, enforceable undertakings, infringement notices, suspension or revocation of accreditation and court proceedings.
Jon Bragg is a journalist for Momentum Media's Investor Daily, nestegg and ifa. He enjoys writing about a wide variety of financial topics and issues and exploring the many implications they have on all aspects of life.


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Province Brands and Lost Craft Beer Announce Production Partnership for Cannabis Beers
On November 20, 2018 At 11:00 am
Responses : Comments are off for this post
TORONTO, ON – Province Brands of Canada has announced that it has entered into a partnership with Lost Craft Beer to produce cannabis-based beers using Province Brands’ patent-pending technology for making hemp and cannabis beverages.
Under the agreement, Lost Craft and Province Brands will collaborate on alcohol-free beer that will be brewed with cannabis plants rather than barley or other malted grains, and will intoxicate using THC and other phytocannabinoids.
The cannabis beer will be brewed at the 123,000-square-foot Province Brands facility currently under construction in Grimsby, Ontario, and will be launched and marketing under Lost Craft branding once the production and sale of edible cannabis products is made legal in Canada.
For more details, see the full announcement.


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California Closets Franchise News
Browse the latest corporate news from California Closets.
California Closets of North Carolina and Virginia Announces Three New Charity Initiatives Across Two States
California Closets® is pleased to announce several new charity initiatives.
California Closets® franchise owners, Joe and Graziella Marengi, announced today that they will be revamping their Raleigh showroom this year.
California Closets of Nashville has been named the top Franchise of the Year among the company’s nearly 150 showrooms throughout North and South America.
California Closets TN Announces Emergency Consumer Financing, Virtual Design Appointments, Organization Tips, Martha Stewart Desk Giveaway
Long-time Nashville business, California Closets Tennessee, CCT, announced virtual appointments, emergency financing for those impacted by COVID-19.
California Closets engaged McCann Canada along with enterprise web development agency Meticulosity to create an all-new website that was inspired by their corporate brand while still speaking directly to Canadian buyers.
Downy® Partners with Fashion Designer Lauren Conrad and California Closets to Inspire a Closet Love Affair
Procter and Gamble’s (NYSE:PG) Downy is partnering with Lauren Conrad and California Closets to show that caring for your clothes can help you fall back in love with your closet with a wardrobe you’re inspired to wear.
To kick off National Decorating Month this April, California Closets® wants to inspire decorators everywhere to incorporate pops of color and texture in their home to play up their personal style.
California Closets®, the leader in custom home storage solutions and an authority in design, today announced the opening of two showroom locations in the greater St. Louis area with the Manchester location opening today.
California Pizza Kitchen, Inc. (CPK), home to the Original BBQ Chicken Pizza and other innovative hearth-baked pizzas, made-to-order pastas, creative salads, appetizers, soups, sandwiches and desserts, opened a full-service restaurant in downtown Indianap
Bill Rancic Teams up with California Closets to Design Customized His and Hers Closets for Giuliana & Bill
California Closets®, the leader in custom home storage solutions and an authority in design, has been chosen to take part in the current season of The Style Network's Giuliana & Bill, which premiered on Monday, October 11 at 8 p.m. ET/PT, and will
Today, California Closets(R), the leader in home storage solutions and an authority in design, is announcing the launch of their first Facebook contest with the opportunity to win a $20,000 free custom storage solution and an in-home consultation...
California Pizza Kitchen, Inc. (CPK) (NASDAQ: CPKI), a leading casual dining chain featuring an imaginative line of hearth-baked pizzas, was recently named the "#1 Most Recommended Casual Dining Chain" restaurant in a newly created Recommendation Index...
California Closets, the founder of the organization industry and authority in designing, optimizing and customizing the best use of home spaces, announced their participation in the latest project spearheaded by Extreme Makeover...
California Closets, the pioneer in customized storage solutions, today announced its promotional participation in the upcoming film comedy BRIDE WARS (bridewars.com), scheduled for release in theaters nationwide January 9, 2009. California Closets...
A recent survey conducted by California Closets, the pioneer in spatial design solutions, reveals that a lack of space and organization in the home is a source of stress for 60 percent of Americans. In addition to strain resulting from disorganized...
California Closet Company, Inc., the pioneer in spatial design solutions, today announced the introduction of its new Lago collection – an assortment of premium finishes inspired by the picturesque landscapes and architecture of Italy's Lake Como.
California Closet Company, Inc., the pioneer in spatial design solutions, today introduced a new integrated marketing campaign.
California Closet Company, Inc., the pioneer in spatial design solutions, announced the selection of Ogilvy Public Relations Worldwide (Ogilvy PR) as its new public relations agency of record.
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Pandemic crisis: Global economic impact tracker
Simply sign up to the Coronavirus economic impact myFT Digest -- delivered directly to your inbox.
After easing restrictive lockdown measures over the summer, the coronavirus is surging again around the world and has already caused the most severe global economic contraction since at least the 1930s.
Economic activity had started to recover where lockdowns eased, but now faces headwinds from new restrictions as case counts climb. Because there is a lag of weeks to months between when official economic data is produced and the period of time it covers, it is out of date before it is published.
The FT is tracking the most relevant alternative indicators to provide an early view of changes in activity as they happen across key sectors and countries. As well as regular updates to the charts, new indicators will be added as they become available.
LATEST FEATURES ADDED:
July 31: Added air traffic data from Flightradar24
Household spending makes up the largest part of the economy in most countries, and the recovery largely depends on consumers regaining the confidence to increase spending from ultra-low levels.
Google Mobility data — which track footfall traffic — from retail and entertainment hubs is considered a proxy for consumer spending. It shows that after an initial uptick, fewer people are visiting crowded locations as case counts rise in many countries.
Cinemas tell a similar story. After a gradual return, visits have again dropped off in many countries where confirmed cases of the virus have risen.
Official unemployment figures suffer from a lack of international comparability. However, other information can help shed light on the impact of the crisis — which has caused millions to lose their jobs or rely on government furlough schemes — on the employment market.
TRAVEL AND TOURISM
Tourism was one of the sectors hit worst by the strict lockdowns and travel bans in March and April. Global arrivals are set to shrink by between 58 and 78 per cent year on year in 2020, according to the UN World Tourism Organization. The body estimates 100m-120m direct tourism jobs are at risk.
As lockdowns eased and borders began to reopen across Asia and Europe, flight and hotel occupancy data showed international mobility slowly resuming. However, the latest data from seetransparent.com suggest reservations have been hit by a resurgence of Covid-19 in many countries, with people remaining cautious about their future travel plans.
According to data published by Flightradar24 commercial air traffic volume in January was actually above the equivalent period of a year earlier. However numbers fell precipitously in late March and by early April were around a third of typical levels. Recovery has been slow, reflecting declines in both tourism and business travel during the crisis.
Reporting, data analysis and graphics by Steven Bernard, John Burn-Murdoch, Joanna S Kao, Emma Lewis, Caroline Nevitt, Alan Smith, Cale Tilford, Keith Fray and Aleksandra Wisniewska. Edited by Adrienne Klasa


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Sales tax collections remained very strong in September as the town races toward another record year.
The latest sales tax collection statistics, currently posted on the town's website, reveal that $1,365,654 in sales taxes were collected for the general fund in September 2015, a 21 percent over September 2014.
When you figure in the extra 1 percent sales tax that was approved by voters a year ago and went into effect in July 2014, the total sales tax collection for September 2015 was $1,707,068. That reflects $34,141,360 in sales and services for the month.
The area of the local economy that showed the most significant contribution in September was food. The food category contributed $547,720 to the month's sales tax collections, about 36 percent. Lodging collections were also up by 19 percent.
The only areas that showed a decline were automotive (down 39 percent) and professional (down 20 percent).
Through the first nine months, sales tax collections have totaled $7,884,218 at the 4 percent (general fund) rate. When you consider the overall 5 percent rate, sales tax collections have totaled $9,845,476. That makes it seem likely that the town could eclipse $12 million or even $13 million this year, easily setting new sales tax marks.


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The rumor that Apple is currently working on a cheaper low end iPhone for emerging markets is rife at the moment and former Apple CEO John Scully thinks it is a necessity for Apple to do just that. Sculley, who was Apple CEO between 1983 and 1993, believes that Apple must venture into the emerging markets with a low end iPhone if it is to continue its growth. Sculley was speaking in a television interview with Bloomberg from Japan last night.
“Apple needs to adapt to a very different world,” Sculley said. “As we go from $500 smartphones to even as low, for some companies, as $100 for a smartphone, you’ve got to dramatically rethink the supply chain and how you can make these products and do it profitably.”
“Samsung is an extraordinarily good competitor,” Sculley said. “The differentiation between a Samsung Galaxy and an iPhone 5 is not as great as we used to see.”
For those keeping track at home, a Scully comments are like Steve Wozniak comments, and should never be confused for anything other than one guys long-out-of-the-loop opinion. However, like Wozniak comments, mainstream media keeps eliciting them, and they can create interesting ripples in the discussion.
Sculley, for what it's worth, also believes that Apple has exactly the right leader in place now that Tim Cook is in charge. Cook’s expertise controlling the supply chain will be critical in Apple’s future success. Sculley will mainly be remembered as being the man who decided along with his board of directors that Steve Jobs was surplus to requirements. He subsequently steered Apple down the path of competing with IBM in a highly competitive market place and as profits eroded and sales diminished, he was forced out of Apple in 1993.
Taking that into account maybe it is no surprise that he still believes that Apple needs to compete in that market again today.


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The Point.1888 has been recognised as one of the world’s biggest brand licensing agencies in Licence Global’s Top Global Licensing Agents Report 2023.
Its first time on the list, it was placed at 39th, despite being only seven years old.
The Point.1888, which is part of True Purpose Enterprises Ltd – a portfolio that also includes retail specialist Spotlight.1888 and marketing agency Story.1888 – works with some of the most exciting brands around such as Moonbug, Team GB, Moomin, Barratt Sweets and Spinmaster to name a few.
According to License Global’s report, the last 12 months have been strong for brand licensing with revenue from licensed goods surging by $8 billion to an all-time record high of $87.92 billion – proof of the rapid growth of the industry.
In the report, The Point.1888 was also listed as one of the “Global Licensing Agents to Watch” and its The Raccoons collaboration was named one of the most exciting agency-led fashion collaborations of 2023. So far in the brand licensing programme, The Point.1888 has signed The Hut Group and Truffle Shuffle for two apparel ranges as well as Intercake for cake toppers. It has also brought on board Playology International and Retrokid for an apparel and collectible range, as well as Roo and You for modular furniture and silicone products which are launching later this year.
Commenting on the achievement, True Purpose Enterprises CEO, Will Stewart, said, “Breaking on to this list is a dream come true for us. We’re a young business, and a relatively small team, it just shows how much can be achieved when you break from tradition and find new ways to drive brand awareness and consumer engagement. Our incredible team works hard every day to create meaningful partnerships and creative strategies that help our partners realise their goals – both on a local level and globally“.
In addition to its impressive list of clients and collaborations across entertainment, apparel, stationery, home furnishings and more, The Point. 1888 has developed an enviable reputation for delivering exceptional results for its clients with its retail-led approach. By only creating new products that will fill an existing gap at retail, it consistently delivers a higher chance of retailer buy-in and a better sales performance for its clients.
To produce its report, License Global consults various industry sources, financial documents, annual reports, and relies on the fiduciary responsibility of each company for accuracy. To read the report in full, visit https://www.licenseglobal.com/rankings-and-lists/top-brand-licensing-agents-2023.