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The messages continue to flood inboxes, as a result of the Epsilon security breach, which put consumers’ email addresses into the hands of…someone.
I’ve seen my share of messages from the companies that used Epsilon, warning me of the breach, but I can’t say that I’ve noticed an increase in spam so far. I’m getting more emails from these companies themselves.
The reported list of companies that use Epsilon seems to keep growing. There are reportedly over 2,500 of them. The list includes: US Bank, Capital One, JPMorgan Chase, Citigroup, Best Buy, Kroger, TiVo, Walgreen’s, Target, Disney, Robert Half, Brookstone, Home Shopping Network, McKinsey & Company, etc.
Perimeter E-Security CTO, Andrew Jaquith said he received an email from McKinsey Quarterly notifying him of the attack and made a couple quick observations – first, this is embarrassing for Epsilon and second, the attack will be of no consequence to most people. He says that companies should take this incident as an opportunity to reinforce their security policies, but shouldn’t worry too much.
Still, there are plenty of questions that remain about the incident. Daniel Ionescu at PCWorld brings up some good points in that companies should probably do a better job of letting consumers know when they’re email addresses are given to third-parties, and that the mystery remains around how the breach even occurred in the first place.
Epsilon itself sends about 40 billion emails per year for its clients, so it’s likely that you’ve already been getting a ton of email thanks to the company. Now, you might get some more, as a result of the breach, and sure, it’s possible that some may end up being malicious.
If you haven’t been sent spam prior to this, however, you must be in the minority. Just treat it like the rest of the spam you get. Ignore it and filter it. That seems to be the message the security guys like Jaquith are sending out.
It does seem that people continue to fret about the breach, as Epsilon frequently appears as a hot search item in Google Trends.
Epsilon says it is investigating the breach.


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April 18, 2005 |
NEW DELHI: The Union Ministry of Tourism has bagged the 2005 PATA Grand Award for Heritage for its Ajanta Ellora Conservation and Tourism Development Project. The Ministry gained the trust of the community and the local authorities to effectively conserve, restore and promote the Unesco World Heritage Site as a high quality tourist destination. The awards were presented at the 54th annual conference of the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) which began its session at Macau Sar in China on Monday.
December 29, 2013 |
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Kerala has switched on to a festive mode to give a feel of its traditional and folk arts to domestic and foreign tourists as the high tourist season got under way. Branded as 'Utsavam', the cultural extravaganza will be staged in 60 venues across all the 14 districts of Kerala for three weeks, a Kerala Tourism release said today. 'Utsavam' (festival) has been an annual event since 2007. "This is an event aimed at sustaining and popularising the traditional art forms of Kerala, some of which are on the verge of decline," Tourism Minister A P Anilkumar said.
April 4, 2002
the 51st annual conference of pacific asia travel association will focus on "tourism ? looking ahead and beyond". the theme has been designed to take tourismm's agenda on to the next summit. global leaders will address current and pressing topical issues as well as map out the strategic route for tourism of tomorrow. participation in the pata annual conference is a must for industry leaders who wish to enhance their business and learn about a broad scope of critical issues. the conference will deliver strategic information about key economic trends, marketing shifts, crisis management, human resources development and sustainable tourism ?
January 11, 2005 |
SINGAPORE: Tsunami-wracked Asia has a new appeal to would-be helpers: Take a vacation. "If you have not planned a visit, please consider booking a trip. If you wish to make a difference, visit," the president of the Bangkok-based Pacific Asia Travel Association, Peter de Jong, said in a recent appeal to travellers. Images of the killer waves crashing into Asian beach resorts have badly spooked the tourists those areas rely so heavily upon for income. The tsunami that took more than 150,000 lives devastated Indonesia's Sumatra island, but also wrought havoc on tourism-dependent coastal communities in Thailand, Sri Lanka and the Maldives.
July 19, 2003 |
NEW DELHI: It's the cross-border diplomacy season. After resumption of the Delhi-Lahore bus service, it is now the tourism industry which is trying to build bridges for peace between India and Pakistan. Pakistan travel trade industry, with consent from their government, has invited the Pacific Asia Travel Association (Pata) as well as Travel Agents Association of India(Taai) to hold a joint tourism conclave in Lahore by end of this year. A 300-strong Indian delegation comprising representatives from government, trade and travel is expected to attend the conclave.
December 31, 2006 |
The country saw a healthy living resolution of sorts this year with the blossoming of day spas. With the metros reporting a 30 to 40% growth in day spas, there has been a discernible shift from fairness to healthy skin, from beauty salons to day spas that offer holistic health, and also more male interest in all these categories. India's emergence as the top medical tourism destination triggered the growth of stay spas and day spas. According to a CII official, the Indian beauty and wellness market is pegged at about $9 billion with the worldwide market for herbal products and services pegged at $150 billion.
June 22, 2015 |
BENGALURU: Karnataka government today landed in a controversy over a distorted map of India in an advertisement allegedly published by it in a Malaysian magazine, showing part of Jammu and Kashmir and the North-East missing from it. The BJP, which pointed out the lapse, sought an explanation from the Congress government. Speaking to PTI, senior BJP spokesperson and former Karnataka Minister Suresh Kumar said it was a very serious matter since it is an issue of sovereignty, which will only "delight" countries who are at loggerheads with India.
January 26, 2008 |
HONG KONG: Hong Kong, one of Asia's hottest destinations, hopes to welcome more than 30 million visitors in 2008 as mainland Chinese throng the city's shops and restaurants despite global stock market turmoil. The tiny city of 7 million has as many visitors a year as Japan, Thailand and Singapore combined but is fending off a resurgent Macau. It estimates it would take in a record 30.43 million visitors this year, more than half of those from China. Tourists were also expected to spend 11 percent more this year than last, an estimated HK$152.
November 19, 2003 |
MUMBAI: The prospect of Indian tourists visiting main sites of the Indus Valley civilisation in Pakistan in large numbers, or Pakistani tourists visiting Agra and Fatehpur Sikri may be a dream right now, given the difficulties of obtaining a visa, to mention just one hurdle. However, this has not prevented the tourism industry of both countries from taking the first tentative steps. A conference called, 'Tourism: Bridge for World Peace' to bring together trade professionals from both the countries will be held in Lahore in April '04. Over 250 travel and trade professionals from India, which includes, airline, hoteliers and tour operators will participate in this conference.
January 29, 2016 |
1 What makes Bengaluru tick? Bengaluru is where my heart is.The city is laidback in a way that there is lesser greed than anywhere else in India. Wealth and success is underplayed. The city's humility is a cherished quality. 2 What is your favourite Bengaluru moment? It has to be the Anna Hazare movement when I spent quite a few days at the Freedom Park. I seriously thought things are going to change. Another Bengaluru moment was when the city was chosen to host the Pacific Asia Travel Association Travel Mart 2015, where 80 countries par ticipated.

domain: news


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In this article written by Katy Scott for CNN, you will learn about one of the most exclusive and expensive Tequilas around the world…
Luxury tequila is having a moment right now. And Mexico’s Clase Azul tequila brand is capitalizing on the craze. Clase Azul—which sells bottles ranging from $100 to $30,000 USD each—has been served at some highly exclusive affairs, including movie premieres, the Screen Actors Guild Awards and celebrity parties.
The label has come a long way since it launched in 1997. Mexican founder Arturo Lomeli admits his first tequila was low-cost, “terrible” and packaged with a tacky sombrero and mustache.
Lomeli decided to go back to school to get a master’s degree in luxury marketing to elevate his brand. He quickly learned about the value of crafting a higher quality product in unique packaging. Clase Azul tequilas are now sold in hand-sculpted, hand-painted ceramic decanters that are shaped like massive restaurant-style pepper grinders.
“We started thinking in terms of exclusivity, in terms of giving the best that we can to those who can really appreciate it,” he said. Lomeli said he first became known as a high-end tequila craftsman in 2007 when he launched a $1,200 bottle of dark amber Clase Azul Ultra.
It was simply intended to cause a stir on the tequila scene, rather than become an enduring product. “We didn’t imagine that we were going to be in the business of selling super expensive bottles regularly,” he said.
Lomeli considers himself lucky that he launched his luxury spirits as Americans were getting a taste for premium tequila. U.S. sales of high-end and “super premium” tequila have surged by 67 percent over the past decade, recently surpassing sales of cheaper varieties, according to the Distilled Spirits Council.
Clase Azul’s most expensive offering with a $30,000 price tag features a ceramic bottle studded with items like amber and 24-karat gold. A collection of 15 of these luxury bottles were created to celebrate Clase Azul’s 15th anniversary. Clase Azul spirits are made in Mexico, but Lomeli has no plans to market the product to his compatriots—although he does sell a few bottles to wealthy U.S. tourists at beach resorts in Cancun and Los Cabos.
Instead, Clase Azul concentrates on export markets in the U.S. and Europe. “We decided not to sell to Mexicans from the beginning … because it’s difficult to make them change their preferences,” he explains.
In 2016, the company sold 234,000 bottles of Clase Azul, with U.S. sales up 46 percent from the previous year. Lomeli says his tequila is for savoring, not mixing in a cocktail or downing as a shot. “We want people to taste the tequila, to make them erase that bad memory that every single person has about low-quality tequila,” he said. “You can sip it and enjoy it neat without having that nightmare of hangovers.”
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Microsoft upped its cool factor today with introductions of some really great-sounding products, including a first for the company, the Surface Book convertible laptop.
Viewing two apps side by side on a Mac just got a lot easier.
Microsoft has taken the wrapping off the latest version of its two-in-one Surface Pro device -- let's see how it stacks up against its chief competitors.
Which Surface makes the most sense for you? Here's how they stack up against one another, and against the Apple competition.
As the initial 90-day trial winds down, Apple is trying to explain just how Apple Music works to help users still in the dark.
Are you a bit of a shutterbug? Add that to the list of reasons to avoid the 16GB model of the latest iPhone.
From London we see how the new iPhone 6S Plus shapes up against the Samsung Galaxy S6 and iPhone 6 in outdoor, low-light and selfie camera tests.
Explore the features on your shiny new iPhone with CNET's 6S and 6S Plus How To guides.
Using technology called carbon nanotubes, Big Blue takes a significant step on a years-long path to secure the computing industry's future as today's chipmaking technologies run out of steam.
Find free Wi-Fi hotspots without using any data at all.


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CNW Market Research, an expert in the analysis of the used car marketplace, is showing strong sales for October 2013 in the used car marketplace but there are some warning signs that can't be ignored that could hurt those in the market for a used car.
Used Car Sales for October 2013
According to CNW Market Research,franchised dealer sales continued to lead the way in October 2013 with sales estimated at 1.18 million, which is .4% ahead of October 2012. Independent dealer sales were pegged at 1.05 million, which is a substantive 7.7% drop from October 2012. Casual (or private) sales, which are transactions between consumers were at almost 843,000. That's an 18.2% spike over the same time last year.
Year to date, franchised dealer sales are at 13.19 million, an increase of 3.5%. Independent dealer used car sales are at 11.78 million, an increase of 0.6%, and private party sales are at 10.48 million, a 6.2% improvement. So far in 2013, 35.54 million used cars have been sold.
Used Retail Prices Up Over October 2012
Retail used car prices actually surpassed October 2012 – a virtual first for calendar year 2013, which has seen used car prices falling. That doesn't bode well for those who delayed getting into the used car marketplace.
According to CNW, while franchised dealers (dealers who also sell new cars) were asking about a half-percent more than a year ago, they were able to squeeze out a 2.6% gain in transaction prices (excluding taxes, fees, aftermarket products, etc.). For independent dealers, (those dealers who don't also sell new cars), the year-over year gain was a comfortable 7.2 percent or about twice the increase seen in asking prices.
The month-to-month differences still reflected downward pressure, but that’s not unexpected as the hotter summer season ends and back- to-school volume shrinks. The government slowdown, however, was primarily responsible for the increase in used-vehicle days’ supply climbing to nearly 47 days as some business-to-business and government employee sales were lost, according to the analysts at CNW.
Franchised dealers had an average asking price of $11,482 in October 2013. Independent dealers had an average asking price of $10,223. Interestingly, both were in the same ballpark when it came to final transaction price with the franchised dealers getting 94.28% of asking price while independent dealers fared slightly better at 94.56%.
Certified Pre-Owned Used Cars
Certified Pre-Owned (CPO) used cars continue to be the most desired used vehicles in the market. Sales have grown dramatically, according to CNW research.
Dealers, and manufacturers ridding their books of off-lease models, have found CPO used cars (click here for an explanation of certified pre-owned used cars) move off of lots significantly faster than the same vehicles that are not certified. While non-CPOs take an average of 40 days to sell – about four days faster than the industry average for all used vehicles – CPOs take slightly less than three weeks.
That's a huge bonus for used car dealers who need to turn cars quickly before paying higher interest rates on their financing. Selling a certified pre-owned used car 19 days faster means more money in the dealer's pocket.
Add to the faster turnover the premium people are willing to pay for a CPO model, CNW points out, and the extra expense of putting a car through the inspection process is well worth the cost. In September, the average CPO premium over non-CPO was $2,816 and the early October figure is nearly $2,900. The typical 160-point inspections most certified pre-owned vehicles require costs nowhere near that much money.
Used Car Leasing Increases
In September, nearly 107,000 used vehicles were leased rather than financed or bought for cash, according to CNW. That’s a 4.5% increase over a year ago marking the largest year-over-year gain of 2013 and the best unit volume since June 2009. The typical used-car lease is in the near-luxury and luxury segments including high-end SUVs with the Cap Cost steadily in the $40,000 to $41,000 range this year.
Used car leasing is different that new car leasing because consumers probably don't have the same loyalty to a particular line once the lease is up. Also, dealers need to be more precise in their residual value estimations than new car sellers because there is little wiggle room when it comes to profit.
The market is still relatively small with more than 38 million used cars usually changing hands. However, it could quickly become a profitable area of the business for dealers who might want to take vehicles that can't certify and turn them into lease vehicles instead.


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Givevia is a matrimony of two pastimes that have skyrocketed within the last year; online shopping and giving back to the community. Started by Tina Fisher in 2020, the platform has quickly grown as a way to help shoppers in Columbus and beyond support their cause of choice from the click of a button.
Fisher, who launched Givevia as a side gig during the onset of the coronavirus pandemic, explains the platform as proof of the vast impact that technology had on businesses during COVID-19.
“Technology has helped us all,” Fisher says, noting that during the last year, most people experienced having to rely on technology like Slack and Zoom for working from home.
“Look how that has helped so many businesses continue to thrive and stay in business,” Fisher says. “They were able to use Zoom and different technology to engage with their clients and supporters. I find that technology really makes a difference in our lives.”
Givevia, which started as a “shop to give” platform, does just that. The platform helps online shoppers donate to causes of their choice, while purchasing items they already need, from stores they already love.
“We have over 1,500 retailers on our platform right now, where anyone can go and shop and support a non-profit that they care about. So that non-profit may be an animal shelter. It may be a furniture bank, or a veteran’s program.” Fisher explains. “Maybe you care about human trafficking, maybe it’s a children’s charity. So many things we care about in our communities and Givevia makes the donation to the non-profit for every order that shopped.”
The “secret sauce,” Fisher also notes, is that not only is giving back easy through Givevia, but it’s also free of charge.
“It’s free giving to the non-profit from their supporters, for something they’re doing anyway,” she says. “People are shopping everyday online, more than ever. So we knew Givevia being a funding source for the non-profits would be valuable.”
But the platform aims to be more than just a funding source for non-profits. For Fisher and her team, drawing awareness to businesses and the community on a fundamental level remains a core priority.
“We know that non-profits in our community, they all touch all of our lives and lift up our communities in ways that make a huge difference,” Fisher explains. “Some of the mission critical non-profits, like a food pantry, why that’s so important is because people during COVID found themselves at a food pantry when they never thought they would need that level of help. The food, the personal care items from the pantries, they make a difference in our communities and we want to do everything.”
In addition to the shop to give model that Givevia initially operated on, the platform is working on utilizing search engine optimization to connect community members with non-profits they feel passionately about.
“We’re building technology around listed discovery tools to help online seekers discover charities that they care about,” Fisher says.
Through this technology, Givevia aims to help match cause-based searchers with charities of their choice, opening the door for volunteer opportunities and more.
“The generation today is very cause-aligned, but they may not know what non-profit to help,” Fisher says. “And so, this is where we come in because we’re helping match, if you will, a particular individual who is cause-aligned that may not know how to help a non-profit, we’re helping bring them together.
“That individual may have talent and skills to be on a committee to help that non-profit, so they volunteer, they may donate, they may shop to give again, there’s all these opportunities to bring together the non-profit and the people who were causing line supporters for that non-profit.”
What started as a side project for Fisher, now has the power and potential to be a major source of funding and upliftment for non-profits and social enterprises.
“When we lift up our non-profits, we lift up our entire community,” Fisher says. “And I can’t say that enough and more proudly because what we do as individuals makes a difference. So, if you’re an individual and want to help your community, think about what matters to you. Is it helping people with food and personal care items or helping a veteran’s organization? Reach out to the non-profit community and help them.”
For those looking to get involved, go to givevia.com for the shop to give platform. Non-profits can also join Givevia for free and get connected with supporters by visiting givevia.com/org.
Founded in 2014, SocialVentures is a non-profit organization that advances remarkably good businesses—businesses that intentionally integrate social impact as a non-negotiable component of their business model. To contact SocialVentures, send an email to [email protected] or visit socialventurescbus.com.
Be inspired by other social enterprises and turn your passion project into a business.


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AKRON, Ohio, Oct. 12, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- American small businesses are falling behind the curve in terms of effective use of the latest technological tools and revenue streams. Poor web design, unfulfilled marketing promises and glitch-prone e-commerce tools all combine to handicap American businesses, organizations and charities.
In the midst of these tough economic times, two Ohio businessmen, William Rogers and Keith Proper, have outlined an ambitious agenda to revitalize e-commerce. More than just another web design company, the pair has developed the American Restoration Plan for jumpstarting e-commerce at the grassroots level.
Gateway's E-Commerce Development Program is designed to empower businesses and institutions by providing them with premium e-commerce packages as an investment with no upfront costs. Customized plans are available for businesses, schools, charities and any organization needing to create or monetize their online presence via ad revenue, donations or merchandising. Many of these institutions have previously neglected to take advantage of the enormous potential of e-commerce tools. Others have been misled by pie-in-the-sky promises of instant return on investment.
"We are being ripped off by the companies dominating the industry," Rogers explains. "The overwhelming majority of American businesses have poorly designed websites with inferior e-commerce features and ineffective online marketing. We believe we can transform the nation's economy in ways that haven't been done before by utilizing e-commerce technology to maximize profits for American businesses, create new business, employment, and career opportunities, generate revenue for our schools and non-profit organizations, and provide quality resources for the American people.
"If marketed effectively, well-designed websites can earn ad revenue, sell products, collect donations, provide information, and perform a variety of online services for any business or institution. They can literally make money while we sleep."
Rogers and Proper also hope to tackle the thorny issue of online content production. Their Content Production Program creates legitimate employment and career opportunities for Americans interested in earning income online. "We can take just about any interest a person has and turn it into a profitable online business," Rogers says. "It's all part of our 'Content Revolution.'"
"One of our most popular sources of information calls itself an encyclopedia while collecting tens of millions of dollars a year in donations to provide us with a largely unregulated collection of unreliable, erroneous, and often poorly written articles written for free by 'anyone with an internet connection,'" says Proper. "If that's not bad enough, they actually pride themselves on employing as few people as possible. This isn't only irresponsible, it's an outrage."
The Content Revolution will include a network of informational websites and encyclopedias featuring accurate information researched from reliable sources by paid professionals who will continue to maintain and update the information. This network will employ tens of thousands of people, while providing a reliable source of information for the web-savvy consumers. It will also serve to generate ad revenue for worthy causes and charities.
"Our plan to stimulate the American economy has nothing to do with taxing rich people or reforming welfare. Unlike running politicians, we will work for America," promises Rogers.
About Gateway Media Productions
Gateway Media Productions is an Internet media production that specializes in the economic development of American businesses, institutions, organizations and entrepreneurs. The company provides investments in the form of capital and premium e-commerce technology.
This press release was issued through eReleases® Press Release Distribution. For more information, visit http://www.ereleases.com.
SOURCE Gateway Media Productions


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Netflix has got its hands full with anime nowadays. From original series to exclusive licenses, the streaming platform has become a force within the industry. These days, the service is wowing with its take on Castlevania, but the series isn't the only one Netflix is juggling. It turns out video game adaptations are becoming Netflix's thing as a new report suggests two more are in development.
As noted by Forbes, the new rumor comes directly from Activision Blizzard Studios. The LinkedIn page for the company's co-president Nick van Dyk raised eyebrows after a recent update. The exec, who was a producer on the Skylanders Academy series, mentions a Diablo anime series as well as an Overwatch cartoon.
According to his profile, the Diablo anime is in pre-production with Netflix. In the past, this series dug up by fans thanks to Andy Cosby. The writer posted on Twitter in a now-deleted post that he was in "final talks to write and show-run the new DIABLO animated series for Activision and Netflix."
Nothing ever came from the post, and Netflix has been quiet about such a project since. Now, it seems like Diablo will be joining Castlevania and Devil May Cry with an anime of its own. Plus, there's a good chance Overwatch will trail behind the three in time.
After all, Dyk's profile says he "developed and sold an animated series based on Blizzard's Overwatch franchise." The note doesn't say who the show was sold to but Netflix has become a safe bet for video game series. This sort of project would only expand upon Blizzard's current shorts, so fans are eager to hear more on this curious project.
While these reports are surprising to some, anime fans aren't so shocked by the news. Netflix has long invested in the medium, and its original series have been some of its best to date. Castlevania will debut its third season this year, and it is already working on an anime film for The Witcher. Netflix clearly has a theme going with its anime series, and video games aren't a bad direction to go. And if it can open up with Overwatch universe a bit more, well - fans certainly won't be complaining!
What do you make of this surprising report? Let me know in the comments or hit me up on Twitter @MeganPetersCB to talk all things comics and anime!


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A Wellington-born, Aboriginal owned food manufacturer is set to substantially increase its supply of Australian native biscuits and slices to corporate and travel markets, thanks to the NSW Government’s Regional Job Creation Fund.
Member for Member for the Dubbo electorate Dugald Saunders said an $180,000 grant will help Dreamtime Tuka improve its manufacturing capacity through automating production of its biscuits and slices, creating 10 sustainable jobs in the region.
“Dreamtime Tuka is a local success story, coming from humble beginnings in Wellington. Herb Smith has created a successful company that celebrates Aboriginal culture and heritage through native food products,” Mr Saunders said.
“The company currently supplies biscuits and slices to QANTAS, and through a local partnership with Dubbo’s Earlyrise Baking Company, they will be positioned to offer more products to more airlines and put our region on the map for Australian native foods.”
Dreamtime Tuka founder and CEO Herb Smith said the upgrades will include new baking racks and trays, conveyor systems, ultrasonic slice cutter and product sorting machines, that will drastically increase production to meet the growing demand in the travel industry.
“We are over the moon to have been successful in our application,” Mr Smith said.
“This will give us the opportunity to improve our current capacity in terms of our current markets, and will also increase our opportunities for bigger markets both nationally and internationally in the future”.
The Regional Job Creation Fund supports eligible businesses with grants to purchase new equipment, expand facilities, acquire technology, create new production lines or establish businesses in regional NSW.
Round one of the Regional Job Creation Fund has now closed. A second round will open in early 2022. For more information, go to: investregionalnsw.com/RJCFund.


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Iranian Rogue Carrier Blocks U.S.-Based National Iranian
Financial Times: US companies use stealth to sidestep Iran embargo
By Guy Dinmore in Tehran and Edward Alden in Washington
US companies are quietly strengthening their presence in Iran, circumventing
US sanctions in the expectation that improved relations between the two
countries will lead to a lifting of Washington's unilateral trade embargo
within a year.
In a calculated gamble that Washington will not raise objections, the
companies have found ways to use foreign subsidiaries or Iranian middlemen
to sell to Iran without technically violating the sanctions.
European businesses exhibiting at Tehran's trade fair this week accused
Washington of double standards. They say the US is turning a blind eye
towards its own companies dealing with Iran, while harassing foreign companies
operating in the Iranian market when they seek business in the US.
This is indicative of Washington's current ambivalence towards Iran.
President Bill Clinton is eager for an opening to Iran that could become
part of his foreign relations legacy.
But Iran remains a political time bomb in the US. The recent convictions
of 10 Iranian Jews on espionage charges has angered the US Jewish community
and its congressional supporters, blocking any chance of even a modest
US initiative until after the November elections.
President Clinton, citing Iran as a threat to national security, signed
an executive order in 1995 that barred US business dealings with Iran.
In 1996, Congress passed the Iran-Libya Sanctions Act, which allows for
sanctions against foreign companies participating in Iran's oil industry.
None of these efforts is preventing American products from being widely
available in Iran.
Hewlett Packard and Intel products are common sights on Jomhouri Street,
Tehran's most popular area for computer equipment. Iranian police and other
security services use Motorola radios.
General Motors has held discussions with Pars Khodro, an Iranian carmaker,
to get back into the Iranian market, Iranian officials say. General Motors
owned Pars Khodro before it was nationalised.
Many of the products make their way to Iranian markets courtesy of
Iranian middlemen, particularly in Dubai. Said one Iranian business consultant:
"The US is not monitoring things very closely. They must know that
agents in Dubai are importing far more US goods than the local Dubai market
But more direct routes are also available. While the trade embargo
prohibits foreign subsidiaries of US companies from trading with Iran under
the direction of the parent company, this restriction is easily sidestepped.
As long as the US parent does not "facilitate" the transaction
or directly approve the actions of a foreign subsidiary, those subsidiaries
are free to deal with Iran.
That channel has been particularly important for US oil companies,
which fear they will be frozen out of the development of Iranian oilfields.
Conoco, the US oil group, has analysed seismic data for the National Iranian
Oil Company through its British subsidiary.
Those transactions are currently under investigation by the Office
of Foreign Assets Control, the US Treasury agency that enforces the trade
embargo. Conoco has denied violating the embargo.
The uncertainty over enforcement of the sanctions regime has encouraged
US companies to take risks. "A lot of companies are out there pushing
the envelope because it is so grey," said a US lawyer who counsels
companies on trade with Iran.


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Despite a predicted long-term shortage of winegrapes and continuing economic pressures, California wine leaders are cautiously optimistic about the industry's future.
Those are the results of two surveys conducted by the University of California, according to a news release.
The industry most likely won't return to the somewhat biddy wine-buying days of 2006 and 2007 in the near future.
But industry leaders say that a strong and growing consumer base for California wines continues.
Robert Smiley, an emeritus professor and former dean of the UC Davis Graduate School of Management, has surveyed wine executives the past 11 years and winemakers for 21 years.
The wine executive surveyed involved heads of 24 leading wine operations, including wine companies, grape-growing and wine-distribution firms, and financial institutions.
Although this fall's harvest appears strong, it won't make up for several short years.
Most of the survey respondents say they're having to deal with grape shortages, which were caused by increased demand. At the same time, plantings of new vineyards and replanting of aging vineyards has not kept pace.
As a result, wine producers are paying more for grapes, buying from other countries, buying from lower-priced appellations, expanding or extending grower contracts and planting new vineyards.
In addition, wine executives say they've experienced vineyard laborer shortages.
When harvest of crops in a region overlaps the winegrape harvest, growers frequently find themselves having to compete for harvest crews.
Rising production costs and stagnant wine prices have conspired to squeeze winery margins from both sides, according to respondents.
Smiley's survey of the state's wine professionals involved 138 winemakers.
Many say that consumers are influenced less by brand and more by social media when making purchases.
As a result, they say social media played a moderately important role in their own businesses.
They cite Facebook, followed by Twitter, company blogs and LinkedIn as their preferred social media tools.
The winemakers predict that during the next three years, the strongest demand among red wines would be for cabernet sauvignon, pinot noir and red blends.
Among whites, it would be chardonnay, muscat and sauvignon blanc, followed closely by pinot grigio.
They expect to see the strongest growth in sales in the $10-$14 and $14-$20 ranges.
As the economy recovers, respondents say they are hopeful that consumers will return to buying higher-priced wines.


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Samsung Partners Gear VR With Galaxy S6
Samsung had previously produced the Gear VR for its Galaxy Note 4 phablet, having recently brought the Note 4 Innovator Edition to the Australian market.
The product of Samsung’s partnership with Oculus VR, the latest Gear VR has been optimised for the S6 and S6 edge, drawing on the 5.1-inch Super AMOLED display for a “fully immersive and cinematic virtual reality experience”.
Samsung states reduced pixilation and a wide field-of-view provides a better virtual reality experience with longer lasting usage time, while a 15 per cent reduction in size makes the Gear VR more comfortable to wear.
The Gear VR can now also be powered with its USB port for extended usage time.
Samsung has advised the Gear VR will launch in Australia in the coming months.
“The Samsung Gear VR Innovator Edition will deliver a rich and refined virtual reality experience for customers,” Prasad Gokhale, Samsung Electronics Australia vice president – IT & Mobile, commented.
“Those who have experienced Samsung Gear VR with the Galaxy Note 4 will understand the potential this technology can bring in terms of creating an immersive experience that can completely change the way we interact with digital content.”


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Don Jenkins’ Carolina Ford presents “Go Further with Ford Night” tonight from 4 to 7 p.m. – a free fundraising event that will benefit the American Cancer Society, engaging consumers in the final “Random Acts of Fusion” adventure and offering them a chance to see the all-new 2013 Ford Fusion in person.
Precision Ford in Lillington will have a “Go Further with Ford Night” tonight as well. The event will raise money for Children’s Flight of Hope.
Go Further with Ford Nigh is the fun finale to Random Acts of Fusion, the unique transmedia program hosted by Ryan Seacrest that has generated more than 12 million consumer engagements with the Ford Fusion by playing out a story arc through multimedia platforms.
For each person that attends the Go Further with Ford Night on Nov. 15, Don Jenkins’ Carolina Ford will donate $10, up to a total of $500, to the American Cancer Society. Precision Ford will have the same fundraiser for Children’s Flight of Hope.
While at the dealership, consumers will have a unique opportunity to compete to win a special VIP experience with “American Idol.” A computer with a webcam will be set up in the dealership to allow consumers to view a special message from Seacrest and test their judging skills on camera, in true “Idol” style. The next season of “American Idol” premieres in January 2013 on FOX.
Entries will be sent back to Ford’s program headquarters, where a team of experts will evaluate and select one winner to receive an all-expense-paid trip for two to Hollywood and a unique VIP experience with “American Idol.”
Consumers, 18 years and older, who are interest in participating in the Go Further with Ford Night may preregister for the event at www.RandomActsofFusion.com and be entered for a chance to win tickets to a live taping of “American Idol.” In addition, registrants at dealerships on Nov. 15 will be entered into a prize drawing to win an all-new 2013 Ford Fusion. No purchase is necessary and other restrictions apply.


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in response to a $3 billion suit SCO filed last summer, alleging that Big Blue had illegally copied proprietary Unix code into Linux. The two
companies have been fighting tooth and nail, exasperating Linux customers and partners in the process.
Big vendors are stepping in to offer help, though usually in contradictory ways. For example, in September, HP offered to take on the legal liability
for any of its Linux customers that are affected by an SCO lawsuit. (SCO has sent about 1,500 threatening letters to Linux customers it has identified
as infringing on SCO copyright.) Soon after the HP announcement, IBM said it would not indemnify its Linux customers, saying the move offered little
more than token legal support and runs counter to the open Linux ethos.
Regardless of how it all plays out, there's little mystery about where popular opinion stands. At this summer's LinuxWorld trade show, any criticism
of SCO's legal maneuverings was met with sustained applause, a sentiment the company should heed as it presses its case.


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YouTube is hitting hard this time.Content creators are majorly affected by these new policies a lot.Recently, YouTube has tightened their terms and conditions for the eligibility to monetize YouTube contents with ads attached to it.As their terms go, a channel must have 4000 hours of watch time and 1000 minimum subscribers for the last 12 months, in order to monetize their videos.This is also applied the same to all existing YouTube channels and contents as of 20th February in order to monetize.Any channel new or existing failing to meet these requirements will no longer be able to make income any further from YouTube.
Previously it was 10,000 public views required to monetize a YouTube channel and earn from it.Now, new smaller channels will be seriously affected by the new criteria where YouTube states themselves as they require more ways of buying itself to monitor who’s following the company’s guidelines where they will disqualify -‘ bad actors’.
“We’ve arrived at these new thresholds after thorough analysis and conversations with creators like you,” stated by YouTube in their recent blog post.Also, “They will allow us to significantly improve our ability to identify creators who contribute positively to the community and help drive more ad revenue to them (and away from bad actors).”However, no names never mentioned though it is somehow pointing towards the recent incidents related to Logan Paul stating, “These higher standards will also help us prevent potentially inappropriate videos from monetizing which can hurt revenue for everyone.”
To know more about the incident related to Logan Paul, one of YouTube’s star creator and influencer please have a look here.
This is not a new issue that has come up recently.It has been prevailing on YouTube for years and YouTube has taken corrective measures wherever needed to counter these issues.But this time it’s more rigorous and that’s what it made up for such a limelight.
To make a conclusion, ‘original YouTube content creators’ and advertisers will no longer be troubled by such issue as it happened now being part of the Google Preferred.And more contents will be appearing abiding by the new laws and regulations.
What do you people think about the new rules?Is it worth?And how do you want to contrast between the business of the content creators and YouTube itself?Do let us know in the comment section at the earliest.


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Secret Service Reveals More About Its NFT Collection
The United States Secret Service recently made an announcement that it has launched an NFT collection, featuring works from various artists. This collection is not for sale, but it is a way for the Secret Service to show its appreciation for the art world.
The collection includes works from artists such as Banksy, KAWS, and Shepard Fairey. It also includes works from lesser-known artists, such as the artist known as “The Digital Artist”. The collection is meant to showcase the talent of these artists and to show the Secret Service’s support of the art world.
The collection is not available to the public, but it is available to view on the Secret Service’s website. The collection is meant to be a celebration of the art world and to show the Secret Service’s appreciation for the work of these artists.
The Secret Service has also stated that it plans to continue to add to the collection in the future. The collection is meant to be a way for the Secret Service to show its support for the art world and to celebrate the works of these talented artists.
Benefits of NFTs
Non-fungible tokens (NFTs) offer a number of benefits that make them attractive to the Secret Service and other organizations. NFTs are unique digital assets that are cryptographically signed and stored on a blockchain. This makes them easily verifiable and ensures that their authenticity can be easily verified.
In addition, NFTs offer the potential for increased transparency and traceability. By storing the details of the asset on the blockchain, the asset can be tracked and traced, making it easier to identify the owner and any changes made to the asset. This can help to reduce fraud and ensure that the asset is properly protected.
Finally, NFTs offer the potential to create new and unique digital works. By using NFTs, organizations can create digital works that are unique and can be easily tracked and traced. This can help to create a new market for digital works and can help to increase the value of these works.
The NFT Collection
The Secret Service has recently revealed its own NFT collection, which includes works from some of the most renowned artists in the world. The collection features pieces from Banksy, Shepard Fairey, and other renowned artists. The collection is not for sale, however, and is instead meant to be a showcase of the Secret Service’s commitment to the digital art world.
The collection features a variety of works, ranging from digital art to music. Each piece is unique and has its own story to tell. The collection is meant to show the Secret Service’s commitment to the digital art world and to celebrate the creativity and talent of some of the world’s most renowned artists.
The Secret Service’s NFT collection is a testament to the power of digital art and its ability to bring people together. It is also a reminder of the importance of protecting digital art and ensuring that it is respected and appreciated.
The Future of NFTs
NFTs, or non-fungible tokens, are a new technology that is quickly gaining traction in the digital world. They are digital assets that are stored on a blockchain and are unique, meaning that no two NFTs are the same. This has made them incredibly popular in the art world, as well as in the music industry and the gaming industry.
The potential future of NFTs is incredibly exciting. In the art world, NFTs could be used to create digital art that is unique and can be sold to collectors. In the music industry, they could be used to create digital music that is unique and can be sold to fans. In the gaming industry, they could be used to create digital items that can be traded between players.
The possibilities for the future of NFTs are endless. They could be used to create digital works of art, digital music, digital items, and much more. They could even be used to create digital currencies, allowing people to trade and exchange digital assets in a secure and transparent way.
The future of NFTs is incredibly exciting and could revolutionize the way we interact with digital assets. It will be interesting to see how this technology develops and what new and innovative uses it will be put to in the future.
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Citrix Systems explores strategic alternatives including a sale
14 March 2017
US networking software company Citrix Systems Inc has been exploring strategic alternatives including a potential sale, Bloomberg yesterday reported, citing anonymous sources.
Citrix, which has a market cap of $13.2 billion and has hired Goldman Sachs Group to assist it in the process, had earlier looked at selling itself in the past, before spinning-off and selling smaller business units, the report said.
Several private equity firms have recently considered buying Citrix but decided against it since a leveraged buyout would not be profitable, the report added.
But private equity firm Thoma Bravo is still interested in acquiring Citrix, Reuters said.
Other interested suitors could be computer maker Dell and Citrix' long-time partner Microsoft.
Dell and Microsoft have been working on the upcoming Windows 10 desktop on Azure.
New York-based hedge fund Elliott Management, which was recently given a seat on the board of Citrix, had earlier asked the company to explore options for its NetScaler, a part of its business that helps speed up Web-based applications.
Founded in 1989 by Ed Iacobucci, California-based Citrix is a multinational software company that provides server, application and desktop virtualization, networking, software as a service (SaaS), and cloud computing technologies.
It employs around 9,500 people and has annual income of more than $300 million.


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The Trinidian government is under fire for spending over $869,000 in Trinidian currency ($140,000 US) to put on a Nicki Minaj concert last month.
The concert was widely publicized in local media and was featured in Nicki’s recent MTV documentary, “My Time Now.”
According to local newspaper, The Guardian, the money was spent on local advertising ($150,000); venue infrastructure ($75,000); local fashion show ($60,000); local culture (moko jumbies etc) ($26,000); COTT fees ($32,383); local artist fees ($40,000); Hilton Trinidad ($60,343); and, Nicki Minaj (her entourage and agent fees) ($382,000).
The concert was held to promote the Ministry’s Localize It campaign, but due to high ticket prices, attendance was below expectations.

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Twenty-five years ago, Mike Gamel, co-founder of Mexpress Transportation, had a vision for how he could improve cross-border transit between Mexico and the United States.
Gamel knew that cross-border trucking often got bogged down by the border-clearance process. He believed he could get around these snarls by creating a bonded road-feeder service between the U.S. and Mexico. A bonded road-feeder service involves moving cargo by truck between airports. Such a service, Gamel surmised, would allow the shipment to bypass the traditional border clearance process and instead clear customs at the airport—just as if it had been shipped by air—reducing delays and lowering costs.
It was a bold move that paid off. Mexpress currently provides full truckload (FTL) and less-than-truckload (LTL) service between the United States and 14 Mexican airports.
To honor his vision and the work Mexpress Transportation has contributed to the transportation industry, the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals (CSCMP) awarded Mexpress the 2022 Gail Rutkowski Transportation Excellence Award (GR-TEA) this past September at its annual EDGE Conference in Nashville, Tennessee.
Created in 2021 to honor shipper, carrier representative, and consultant Gail Rutkowski for her lifetime of service to the industry, the GR-TEA award recognizes companies or individuals who have excelled in using their knowledge, connections, and industry expertise to educate, support, and create long-term impacts in transportation-related fields.
For Mexpress Transportation, the past 25 years have served as an opportunity to create a unique company—one dedicated to improving supply chain inefficiencies between the U.S. and Mexico. According to the company, its transit times between the U.S. and Mexico are comparable to deferred air freight and are more cost efficient and consistent than air.
In this conversation with Supply Chain Quarterly’s Managing Editor Diane Rand, Gamel talks about the company’s vision and what the future looks like for cross-border trade between the U.S. and Mexico.
Mexpress has a unique business model. Can you explain what a “borderless” LTL and FTL road feeder service is?
Mexpress has a special “bonded” authority that allows our trucks to cross to and from Mexico without clearing Mexican customs at the border. Instead, the freight clears at the airports with exactly the same process as air freight. All other trucking companies have to deliver the freight to the importers—Mexican brokers’ warehouses—for clearance before entering into Mexico. This creates lots of delays and extra costs, not to mention that once the freight is cleared at the border, the truck can only have one broker per truck. Mexpress bypasses this process, so we can put multiple brokers on the same truck and go directly to the destination airport for clearance by the importers’ Mexican broker upon arrival.
How did the idea of creating such a service come about? What sparked the idea?
I received a call one day from Carlos Duron, now my partner and president of Mexpress, wanting to discuss a consolidation project he was working on for a client of his in Mexico. We got to talking about the border bottlenecks and all the other issues that U.S. truckers face every day to move freight in and out of Mexico. The more we talked, the more the idea emerged. That’s when we decided to approach the Mexican government to get their input. Although it took three and a half years of meetings, here we are!
What sort of hurdles did you face in setting up such as a service?
The biggest hurdle was establishing a process for paying duties and taxes to the Mexican government. All duties and taxes must be paid electronically on each shipment moving by traditional truck before it can cross the border. With Mexpress, a shipment cannot leave the Mexican airport until these duties and taxes are paid. The second issue was security. To ensure the security of the shipments on our trucks, we have had to take certain precautions like only using the toll roads that have military security check points and using satellite-tracked equipment that are monitored 24/7 with a “kill switch” in all power units. We also use a special bolt seal issued to us by the Mexican government, which cannot be broken by anyone but Mexican customs officials at the airports.
What advice would you give to someone who is interested in setting up their own company in the logistics space?
Base the company on service and honesty, not price. Service always wins out. The other advice I would give is to remember that the employees are the key to making your vision come true. So pick wisely and take great care of them!
How has cross-border trade between Mexico and the United States changed since you started Mexpress?
When we first started, Mexico was hardly a blip on anyone’s radar. Carlos and I knew that with the issues overseas, prices of air and ocean, along with the delays associated with getting the product to the U.S./Canada market, that Mexico was going to play an important role in future growth of our economy. When we started Mexpress, Mexico wasn’t ranked high as a trading partner with the U.S. In the last two months, however, it was ranked as the No. 2 trading partner, with Canada being No. 1 and China No. 3.
Do you expect to see an increase in nearshoring to Mexico in the next five years? Why or why not?
There is no doubt! Mexico trade with the U.S. and Canada is booming and is not going to stop.
How will such a shift affect your business?
It will definitely just increase our business.
The driver shortage has been a challenge for trucking companies for many years. What steps is Mexpress taking to recruit and retain good drivers?
We have not had an issue with driver shortages, as we have done a good job taking care of our team members. We have avoided some of the pitfalls facing other companies because we’ve put the focus on our employees.
You have been very involved with industry associations such as CSCMP and NASSTRAC over the years. Why has involvement in these groups been so important to you, and what do you think your company has gained from those efforts?
Not only has our involvement with CSCMP/NASSTRAC gotten us more business through meeting companies, referrals, and learning the needs of other members, we have made friendships that will last forever. CSCMP has a super supportive team, and we are proud to be a part of the organization for more than 35 years.


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With the encouragement of its new ownership, Urban Decay has brought on board a chief financial officer, geared up for aggressive international expansion and positioned itself to build its complexion products business.
Larry Thompson, formerly cfo and executive vice president of Pert Plus owner Innovative Brands and controller at The Dial Corp., has joined the Newport Beach, Calif.-based cosmetics brand in the cfo role. The hire is the first major executive move since private equity firm Castanea Partners purchased a controlling stake in Urban Decay, previously owned by the duty free operator Falic Group. The purchase took place earlier this year for an undisclosed amount.
“Our business has grown to the level where we need someone with that extra level of experience,” said Wende Zomnir, Urban Decay’s creative director and co-founder. Speaking of Castanea and Thompson, Urban Decay general manager Tim Warner, added, “The reason they bought our business is they loved our business model, so they want to support it.”
Urban Decay is carried in 952 doors globally, and Sephora, Ulta and Macy’s are its largest retailers in the U.S. Domestically, Warner projected around 40 percent growth this year and said the brand is notching growth of around “18 percent [on a] comp basis.” He forecast international growth to be 25 to 35 percent this year.
Warner estimated international revenues constitute about 20 percent of Urban Decay’s business, largely coming from the U.K. However, he foresees Urban Decay’s global business contributing some 50 percent of the total in 2013 or 2014. The brand is launching next year at Sephora in Spain, Italy, China and Southeast Asian countries.
Both at home and abroad, Urban Decay, known for its vibrant shadows and pencils in the brand-leading eye category, has been trying to establish its franchise of complexion and primer products, which Warner said constitute “in excess of 20 percent of our business.” Next year, Urban Decay will introduce a powder called Razor Sharp described by Zomnir as “super high tech” and tinted moisturizer to beef up its complexion range.
“We are seeing at the full-service [Macy’s] counters how much we can do with complexion. It is about educating consumers that we are not an eye-focused line,” said Zomnir. “It doesn’t mean we are abandoning eye. Hopefully, with the strategy of balancing out the mix, we are going to continue to see growth across the categories.”
A room full of toiles at the haute couture atelier in the Dior exhibition at Les Arts Décoratifs, open in Paris since July 5. This is just one of three major exhibitions that have been timed to coincide with the house's 70th anniversary. See the rest of the exhibits, plus read WWD's look into the iconic brand's history. Link in bio. #wwdfashion (📷: @dominiquemaitre)
For spring, Pamplemousse's Danica Zheng presented her signature slip dresses attached to a white T-shirt along with floral windbreakers, off-the-shoulder cotton blouses and more. For more highlights from the New York trade shows, go to WWD.com. #wwdfashion
The Green Carpet Fashion Awards closed out Milan Fashion Week yesterday. The fashion industry flocked to the event, showing its efforts to support and spread the message of sustainability. Supermodel Gisele Bündchen said "if each one of us took at least one step is this direction, there is no saying how much could be done." #wwdeye #wwdfashion #mfw (📷: Lodovico Colli di Felizzano)
Etro’s show, titled “The Tree of Life,” was a celebration of the house’s 50th anniversary. “My father founded the company in 1968, which was the year of counterculture and psychedelia. It’s really a show that celebrates that and the paisley design of India and its origin,” said Veronica Etro. #wwdfashion #mfw #ss18 (📷: @delphineachard)
For @msgm’s spring 2018 show, creative director @massimogiorgetti said “Words, sounds, colors. Synthesis and therapy of a collection,” were the inspirations behind the collection, showing today. Read the rest of Milan spring 2018 inspirations on WWD.com. #mfw #wwdfashion #ss18
For her first solo album in over 10 years, Fergie tapped Carine Roitfeld, Mert and Marcus, Giovanni Bianco and more to create a fashion-focused video approach for the record, Double Dutchess. "Giovanni really helped me get back in touch with my tomboy side, my hardside," said the singer. #wwdeye #wwdfashion ( : @slovekinpics)


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Marc was in the second month of a four-month kayak trip exploring the nooks and crannies of Baja’s 800-mile coastline when he received a cryptic message from home. Call Bill Tanler. A quick phone call from Bahia de Los Angeles and the deal was struck. They would launch Bicycle Retailer & Industry News in January 1992. Tanler, who passed away from a heart attack in 1999, lived to see BRAIN become the dominant trade magazine in the industry. Sani, who now serves as publisher, has helped steer the magazine over the years through several wrenching corporate transitions. Sani is a former wire service and newspaper reporter who thrives on news whether in print or on the web. He became interested in cycling and joined a local cycling club in the mid 1980s, but candidly admits that skiing is his first love and cycling was one way to stay in shape for backcountry powder.
All articles by Marc Sani
TAICHUNG, Taiwan (BRAIN) — Jerry Huang, who retired from Jagwire after 25 years with the cable-housing manufacturer, has launched his own line of products under the Ciclovation brand.
MORGAN HILL, Calif. (BRAIN) — The 2017 season has hardly begun and the industry’s two biggest suppliers — Trek and Specialized — are already re-pricing their bicycles. Specialized prices went up; Trek’s prices went down.
WASHINGTON, D.C. (BRAIN) — PeopleForBikes' Katy Hartnett wants to hear from suppliers who want Congress to ease or suspend import tariffs on parts, accessories or products that they sell in the U.S.
SPARKS, Nev. (BRAIN) — Many suppliers got a short email notice Thursday from the Sporting Goods Shipping Association (SGSA) with an article from the Journal of Commerce attached.
MELBOURNE, Australia (BRAIN) — A privately held Australian company that owns two bicycle seat patents, Icon-Intellectual Property, is suing Merida Industry and Selle Royal and has notified Giant Bicycles that it, too, may be infringing its patents.
TAICHUNG, Taiwan (BRAIN) — Continued turmoil in the global bicycle market has pummeled Giant Manufacturing’s first-half financial results, with the world’s leading maker of bicycles posting a 3.7 percent drop in revenue compared with a year earlier.
TRUCKEE, Calif. (BRAIN) — Surly is still betting big on the fat bike market, but has trimmed its 2017 line from five models to two — the Wednesday and the Ice Cream Truck.
Still, John Fleck, Surly's global sales manager, said a third model could be added later in the season.
TRUCKEE, Calif. (BRAIN) — If there were any doubt as to QBP's commitment to the growth of the bike packing market, then its new Salsa EXP Series should dispel that thought.
TRUCKEE, Calif. (BRAIN) — Over the next five days some 300 dealers, many of them authorized Salsa dealers, will get a peek at what Quality Bicycle Products has to offer for 2017.
PALM DESERT, Calif. (BRAIN) — Sid Dunofsky, a longtime bicycle industry executive and mergers and acquisition consultant, has passed away after suffering a heart attack.


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UK Retailer Scan Computers Now Accepting Bitcoins
The trend of Bitcoins becoming widely accepted as a form of currency are quickly becoming reality as another major PC hardware retailer, Scan Computers, from the United Kingdom announced that they’re now accepting Bitcoins as a method of payment. This follows a number of high profile companies such as Overstock.com and TigerDirect who’ve recently began accepting Bitcoins as a method of payment as well.
If you’ve been saving up on those Bitcoins in hopes of one day trading them in for computer hardware, this could be time to start cashing in!
— Scan Computers (@ScanComputers) February 6, 2014


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ELG Carbon Fibre contributes recycled carbon fiber for racing boat
ELG has partnered with INEOS Team UK to incorporate recycled composite materials into the A375 racing boat.
Source | ELG Carbon Fibre
ELG Carbon Fibre (Coseley, U.K.) is partnering with the British sailing team INEOS Team UK to ensure sustainable materials and practices are incorporated into The America’s Cup 2021 build program. Specifically, ELG's recycled carbon fiber materials will be used in the production of the AC75 boat that will compete in Auckland in 2021.
ELG has been a technical supplier to INEOS Team UK since 2018, and has reportedly processed 1,000 kilograms of carbon fiber manufacturing waste and end-of-use parts for the British Challengers.
From ELG’s specialist facility in the West Midlands, INEOS Team UK’s recovered fibers are converted into milled and chopped products to make thermoset and thermoplastic compounds and nonwoven mats. According to ELG, its recycled nonwoven materials have been used in the production of two cradles to support the AC75 during transit, as well as the hull and deck molds for the boat.
ELG’s technicians have reportedly conducted a range of fiber characterization analyses on INEOS Team UK’s feedstock. Every batch of material that is processed is also given a classification to support traceability and consistency in the fibers recovered, and therefore in the final product. All these processes are said to adhere to BS EN ISO 9001:2015 and EN 9100:2016 quality standards.
Both organizations say they view this partnership as a vital step in addressing the issue of global carbon consumption and raising awareness of the urgent need to move towards closed loop recycling within the marine industry.
“The reuse of carbon fiber products is a real game changer,” says Alan Boot, naval architect for INEOS Team UK. “We are diverting waste away from landfill and closing the loop in our production methods wherever possible. ELG’s products have fitted seamlessly into our manufacturing processes which demonstrates how successfully these materials can be in a range of commercial markets. This is a really exciting time in terms of boat production and will hopefully lead the way for other manufacturers to follow suit.”
“ELG’s recycled carbon fiber products are helping to support the vital message of sustainability in elite sport and that is something we are very proud to be associated with,” says Frazer Barnes, ELG Carbon Fibre’s managing director.
INEOS Team UK AC75 Boat 1 will be launched this summer.
Fiber-reinforced plastic (FRP) replacing coated steel in more reinforced-concrete applications.
Tried-and-true materials thrive, but new approaches and new forms designed to process faster are entering the marketplace.
Composites Technology Development's first commercial tank in the Type V category presages growth of filament winding in storage of compressed gases.


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WASHINGTON, N.C. – Despite the industry downturn, net sales at Fountain Powerboat Industries, Inc. (FPB), a manufacturer of high performance fish boats, express cruisers and sport boats, were up for the fourth quarter ended June 30, leading to a profitable period, the company reported in a recent statement.
Net sales for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2008 were $20,734,513, compared to net sales of $19,907,661 for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2007.
Gross profit for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2008 was $3,380,523, with a gross profit margin of approximately 16.3 percent, versus a gross profit of $3,749,583, with a gross profit margin of approximately 18.8 percent, for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2007, the company reported. Net income was $258,305 versus net income of $535,059 for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2007.
For the entirely of fiscal 2008, Fountain reported net sales of $68,202,620, compared to net sales of $68,829,987 for fiscal 2007.
Gross profit for the year was $9,402,572, with a gross profit margin of approximately 13.8 percent, versus a gross profit of $9,108,088, with a gross profit margin of approximately 13.2 percent, for fiscal 2007. Net loss for fiscal 2008 was ($2,199,828) versus net loss of ($5,046,286) for fiscal 2007.
"The decline in sales of the fiberglass recreational boat market has affected the segments of the market in which Fountain's boats are sold for the past two years," commented Fountain Chief Financial Officer Irving L. Smith. "Maintaining approximately the same level of revenue in this declining market was primarily the result of focused sales activities and promotions guided by specific goals and objectives."
"We are maintaining market share in the sport boat segment, and experienced improvement in the express cruiser segment in fiscal 2008," said Fountain Chairman, CEO and President Reginald M. Fountain, Jr. "The international market continues to grow, while the domestic market declines, and our international sales increased by 28 percent in fiscal 2008. We expect the Baja by Fountain product line to be a positive contributor to our revenue in fiscal 2009."
- For more of the latest news, click here.


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If your first check this year seems to be a little smaller than usual, it’s not an accounting error. In the fiscal cliff resolution that was reached just after the New Year, Congress let a temporary cut in Social Security withholdings expire.
Want More?Fiscal Cliff Resolution: What It Means for Your Wallet
Now, Social Security taxes are once again 6.2% of salary, rather than the 4.2% that workers had been enjoying for the last two years.
While two percentage points may not seem like a big deal, the average American household will see $18 to $20 less each week, which adds up to $900 to $1,000 each year.
As a result, many retailers are expressing concern that consumers will be more closely watching their wallets and looking for low-cost alternatives to the brand names they had previously purchased. One such consumer, Kari Barker, told The Wall Street Journal, “I used to be a diapers snob and would only buy Pampers or Huggies … Now I buy Target’s house brand, because it’s two-thirds the cost.”
While The Journal points out that the impact on the overall economy will be hard to predict, given that we don’t know whether that extra $20 was spent on consumer goods or put into savings, it’s very possible that retailers could see sales go down as consumers recalibrate their budgets.
Check out our helpful guide to the fiscal cliff resolution to find out more about how the deal will affect your bottom line.


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Cyberpunk 2077 will have a shorter storyline than the one found in The Witcher 3, developer CD Projekt Red’s last massive open-world game. One of Cyberpunk 2077’s quest designers explained that the developer had received numerous complaints about the length of The Witcher 3, and that looking at the data, many players never got around to finishing it.
“The main story run in Cyberpunk 2077 is slightly shorter than The Witcher 3,” said senior quest designer Patrick Mills during a panel with streamer CohhCarnage after today’s Night City Wire broadcast. “We got a lot of complaints about the Witcher 3’s main story just being too long, and looking at the metrics you see tremendous numbers of people played through that game really far, but never made it to the end.”
According to How Long to Beat, which collects game completion data, rushing through The Witcher 3’s main story and ignoring everything else can take as little as 32 and a half hours, while a more leisurely paced playthrough that includes the main story and extras takes up to 291 hours. Completionist runs take anywhere from 116 hours to nearly 469 hours, according to players polled.
Here’s the interview, clipped by a keen-eyed Resetera poster:
Shorter doesn’t mean simpler, however. We’ve already learned that CD Projekt Red has a “much, much deeper” role-playing system than was found in The Witcher 3, and that post-launch it plans to release more DLC expansion content than The Witcher 3 saw with its two sizable add-ons.
After a couple delays, the Cyberpunk 2077 release date is now – allegedly – set in stone, and it’s coming up soon. You can check out the Cyberpunk 2077 system requirements to make sure you’re ready when it’s time to drive into Night City.


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VIDEO: Street Fighter V - Gameplay Trailer [01:29]
[UPDATE 2] Capcom confirmed that Street Fighter V is being produced in partnership with Sony and is exclusive to the PlayStation 4 and PC. It also revealed that it will feature cross-platform multiplayer.
Capcom made the announcement at Sony's PlayStation Experience event in Las Vegas today, where it also revealed the first gameplay footage you can see above. Additionally Capcom said it that the game will be playable for the first time at the Capcom Cup 2014 event in San Francisco on December 13.
[UPDATE] As it turns out, Capcom isn't quite ready to show off Street Fighter V. Just minutes after we published this story, Capcom set the Street Fighter V video to private.
However, YouTube user Carl White was able to capture the video, and you can watch it above.
Expect a full announcement this weekend during PlayStation Experience. In addition, NeoGAF users were able to capture some stills from the original video. You can see those in the gallery below.
The original story is below.
The above teaser trailer was posted to Capcom's YouTube channel this morning. We already know that Street Fighter producer Yoshinori Ono is in Las Vegas for PlayStation Experience, and now it appears we know why.
Got a news tip or want to contact us directly? Email email@example.com


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By Kate Yuan
US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) banned sales of new telecom and surveillance equipment made by several Chinese companies including Huawei, ZTE, Hikvision (海康威视), Dahua (大华) and Hytera(海能达)for national security concerns, FCC announced on November 25.
Hikvision, Dahua and Hytera will be prohibited from exporting new products into the US unless they assure that the equipment “won’t be marketed and sold to for public safety, security of government facilities, physical surveillance of critical infrastructure, or other national security purposes,” the FCC said.
The bans do not cover all the devices from the above companies. If they can prove that they are selling the equipment for civilian consumer products instead of government use, they may obtain authorizations from FCC.
As early as 2020, the FCC ordered all US broadband and wireless network companies to stop using equipment from Huawei and ZTE. In March 2021, the FCC included five Chinese companies, Huawei, ZTE, Hikvision, Dahua, and Hytera in the list of "national security threats". In June, the FCC banned equipment produced by Chinese companies including Huawei and ZTE from entering the US telecommunications network.
In November last year, US President Biden signed the Secure Equipment Act, prohibiting the sale of equipment that "poses an unacceptable risk to national security", which provides the basis for the new FCC bans.
China’s Foreign Minister Qin Gang meets with Tesla CEO Elon Musk in Beijing05-31 14:26
China Daily: Chinese Commerce Minister urges Japan to rectify actions for better ties during his meeting with Japanese Trade Minister in Detroit05-29 23:47
Bloomberg: South Korea will avoid cashing in on China’s US chipmaker ban05-29 16:09


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cloud network hunting note: a third of indians need vision correction, including 15 million patients with eye diseases and 2 million children, the blind vision industry in India is definitely a broad market. Today, the rapid growth of India’s electricity Lenskart won the 1.3 billion rupees of financing, it will speed up the pace of expansion.
India glasses industry online retailer has announced in C round won the 1.3 billion Indian rupees (about 120 million yuan). In private investment firm TPG Growth, under the auspices of the Hong Kong capital and TR once investment Lenskart IDG capital together to participate in this round of financing.
Lenskart in 2010 by former Microsoft products via Bansal and his friend Amit Chaudhary, rags-to-riches Kapahi set up together. This appliance merchant provide Rayban including popular brands for Indian consumers, Oakley, Tag Heuer and Fastrack a series of glasses and sunglasses.
they provide private custom service to consumer choice in their habits of glasses, also promises to 14 day unconditional refund and one year warranty policy.
Lenskart as glasses industry, furniture industry of Urban Ladder and jewelry Bluestone such niche type electricity is India more and more popular, more and more people tend to through the network for consumption. Except electricity rich unique convenience and choice, another attracts consumers in India it thoroughly remoulds itself is they constantly offer discount.
like Urban and Bluestone Ladder, Lenskart also claim that the price of their product is much cheaper than offline stores. Co-founder and CEO Peyush Bansal explained: “intermediary link of the omit means that we can reduce the price at the same time get the income benefit of a good, in fact, we nearly 70% cheaper than entity shop offer.”
combination of online and offline sales mode
for those who insist on old-style “try before they buy” customers, Lenskart offers a door-to-door service. Choose this service, an optometrist will visit customer, he will provide optometry service and carry more than 200 lens to choose from and trial. After consumers choose, he will wrap up a online orders, according to the result of diagnosis is responsible for the eye to provide the best experience. This service is currently only in including bangalore, mumbai, Delhi, seven cities are available. Lenskart claimed that they provide more than 300 times a day the door optometry.
at present, Lenskart in more than 450 Indian cities with their delivery service. More than 60% of consumption from from the big stores on the medium and small cities. In these cities is often called a “Click & amp; Mortar “chain, consumers tend to order the optometry and glasses here, at the same time, a large number of after-sales service also by C& M in charge. At the same time, a lot of work with Lenskart eye doctors in their network platform for patients to order glasses.
this unique online with offline mode for Lenskart created considerable economic benefit. , according to the Bansal Lenskart profit every year in the past two years have reached more than 200% growth, but he gave no specific data. Lenskart currently owns a team of employees 150 people. In October 2011 they received $4 million from IDG capital investment, in February 2013 from Unilazer received $10 million of capital investment.
Bansal said: won money for this round, we can hire the best people and provide them with the best environment, to develop innovative thinking high comprehensive glasses market in India.
has four company serial entrepreneur
Bansal business from 2007, a real-time classification of campus portal Searchmycmpus began. The software design is designed to help college students to find suitable cheap accommodation, textbooks, tutoring, food and so on.
Searchmycampus has attracted special attention. Founded in 2008, Bansal Valyoo technology. This is a company operates multiple single class web portal. Start Lenskart project from November 2010, it’s the star of Valyoo platform project. Valyoo platform at the same time also has WatchKart, JewelsKart and BagsKart projects, like write the name of the project such as the, WatchKart sell table, JewelsKart selling jewelry, BagsKart sell bags.
final Bansal and his team decided to focus on Lenskart rather than rushing to expand new business “India is the largest number of people suffering from eye diseases in the world, a third of the population in our country the need for vision correction, however, is only 25% of the patients have the right treatment and help.” Bansal said.
according to the data: one-third of the blind, that is, 15 million patients with eye diseases are indians. Every year, 3 million people in India can produce cataract. At the same time, India has 2 million blind children, of which only 5% received education.
Bansal expectation through Lenskart project development to change the depressing state of affairs.


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Pakistan’s mango industry has taken a range of steps to overcome the challenges of Covid-19 and surpass its export target by around 45,000 tonnes.
According to a report from The Express Tribune, Pakistan has managed to export 125,000 tonnes of mangoes, reaching similar levels to 2019.
Waheed Ahmed, patron-in-chief of All Pakistan Fruit and Vegetable Exporters, Importers and Merchants Association (PFVA), said a proactive approach was key to handling the pandemic.
“Keeping in view the difficulties emerging from the global pandemic, the mango export target was set at 80,000 tonnes by the government,” Waheed told The Express Tribune.
“Against all odds, the country’s exporters managed to exceed the target by 45,000 tonnes by adopting aggressive strategies coupled with timely decision-making by the federal government.”
Waheed said exporters quickly switched from exporting via air to sea and land routes and targeting middle eastern countries such as Afghanistan, UAE, Iran and Oman. Promotional efforts were also increased with the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) sending mangoes to 30 heads of state in 24 cities around the world.
“Taking timely advantage of this unique opportunity, President Arif Alvi called a special meeting and directed the stakeholders to launch an aggressive campaign for the promotion of local mangoes,” he said.
“This was done by taking services of Pakistani missions abroad for sending mangoes as a gift to many heads of state with a view to improving diplomatic ties with those nations.”
Waheed said Pakistan International Airlines also supported exporters by reducingairfreightcharges, however, it has still provided an obstacle to accessing some markets such as China.
Mango exporter Adnan Hafez told The Express Tribune, said freight prices had been prohibitive.
“There are few planes this year, and the price of air freight has increased by two to three times. Besides, there are also various uncertainties in customs declaration and clearance between the two countries during the epidemic,” Adnan said.
“Some of my regular clients in China didn’t dare to do it when they heard the freight was so expensive. I need to add the consignment above 1.5 tonnes to get a special discount. The smaller the consignment, the higher the price.”
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Amazon has warned against the car industry receiving special treatment to address the chip shortage crisis that has shut factories around the world.
The technology giant told a review into Joe Biden’s plans to provide billions in subsidies for US chip manufacturing that a wide range of products from data centres to satellites were at risk from the shortage.
“Any government incentives and efforts to diversify the semiconductor supply chain should be made across the board, for access by and for the benefit of all users and customers of semiconductor technology,” the company said in its response to a consultation.
“No single sector should be favoured over other sectors, as semiconductor technology underlies a large variety of industries.”
The Biden administration is proposing to spend $50bn (£36bn) in subsidies for chip research and manufacturing, an effort to ease the current shortage of chips and to ease reliance on Asia, where the majority of advanced semiconductors are made.
While Amazon did not name the automotive industry, carmakers have said that a portion of this funding should be reserved for manufacturers who commit to setting aside supplies for vehicles.
The American Automotive Policy Council, which is backed by Ford, GM and the Fiat-Peugeot group Stellantis, said in its submission that 25pc of funding should go to facilities that allocate 25pc of their capacity to automotive chips. Carmakers have been particularly badly hit by the chip shortage, after cancelling orders in the uncertain early months of the pandemic left them with a lack of chips when demand unexpectedly improved.
The likes of Jaguar Land Rover, Ford and GM have shut factories or cut production in recent weeks. However, Amazon said that the shortages could hit multiple other areas, including its cloud computing business AWS, its Kindle and Echo devices, driverless car systems and internet satellites.
“Semiconductor supply constraints could slow down and hamper the progress of these development efforts,” it said. The company was joined by Silicon Valley lobby group the Information Technology Industry Council, which said the subsidies should come without “distorting the incentives or the semiconductor market by favouring some sectors or applications over others”.


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The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) worked to ensure the viability of American ag exports amidst a challenging year. Adjustments to normal operation, particularly in foreign markets, had to be made to navigate the challenges of COVID-19. Despite the obstacles presented by the ongoing pandemic, FAS was able to make progress on a multitude of issues.
“The U.S. agricultural industry and USDA have always taken pride in our ability to provide the world with high-quality, cost-competitive food, feed, fuel and fiber,” Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs Ted McKinney said in a press release. “Even in the midst of a global pandemic, that commitment remained unwavering. Our worldwide team closely monitored the ever-changing situation and remained engaged with our international partners, not only to help minimize the COVID-19 pandemic’s impacts on trade and global food security, but also to expand export opportunities for our farmers, ranchers and processors.”
Several successful endeavors were accomplished throughout 2020. The Phase One trade agreement with China was signed back in January, addressing several points of contention between the U.S. and China. Implementation of the U.S.-Japan Trade Agreement and the U.S.- Mexico-Canada Agreement was monitored by FAS during 2020. FAS was involved in the pursuit of bilateral trade agreements with the United Kingdom and Kenya. The agency also worked to expand agricultural export opportunities in Chile, Morocco, and Vietnam.
FAS worked to overcome logistical complications to ensure that American ag exports arrived quickly and safely at their intended destinations. The FAS Export Credit Guarantee Program also provided credit guarantees to support the sale of more than $2.2 billion in U.S. agricultural goods. Industry members were also kept up to date on market conditions through FAS virtual outreach which included workshops and seminars. FAS also overhauled market promotion activities to promote U.S. ag product in foreign markets while adhering to COVID-19 protocols.


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Binance will issue a number of tokens pegged to leading cryptocurrencies on Binance Chain to boost the number of trading options on its platform.
The tokens are also likely to be extended to Binance DEX, the firm's recently launched decentralized exchange, as they create the potential to in effect move cryptos from different blockchains onto its network.
The company said in a blog post that it expects to release the first such token – one pegged to bitcoin and to be listed as BTCB – in the coming days. A trading pair will be created on Binance.com between the pegged token and bitcoin (BTCB/BTC).
The crypto-pegged tokens, based on the exchange's BEP2 format, will be backed by Binance's reserves of the pegged cryptocurrency. Before the news was announced Monday, CEO Changpeng "CZ" Zhao tweeted a warning of an impending move of bitcoin for the purpose.
There will be a transfer of 9001 BTC soon, no need to FUD. It's for a good thing, details to follow. Waiting for whale_alert.
— CZ Binance (@cz_binance) June 17, 2019
Binance explained in the post:
The Binance team reasoned that the increase in the selection of tokens available on Binance DEX will increase trading volume and liquidity, thereby furthering the utility and value of the platform.
Also noteworthy is that Binance is eschewing the option to use to cross-chain atomic swaps or other decentralized approaches to enable exchanges of non-native tokens on the DEX.
The company said:
In the post, the firm said that the new tokens are "proposed" for launch on Binance DEX currently.
Additionally, because the reserve addresses will be published on the blockchain, Binance said the new crypto-pegged tokens will be easier to audit than traditional bank reserves.
The company is encouraging clients to issue pegged tokens of their own coins on the Binance Chain, offering (though not guaranteeing) to facilitate a pegged/native pair.
Earlier this month, Binance also confirmed to Bloomberg that it would soon launch stablecoins on its chain too.
Chief financial officer, Wei Zhou, said the first stablecoin offering, to be linked to the British pound, will be live on the platform “in a matter of weeks to a month or two.”
Changpeng Zhao image courtesy of Binance
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Apple is expected to release a 13.3-inch MacBook Pro with its new Silicon processors before the end of the year, according to a new leak from renowned analyst Ming-Chi Kuo.
On Friday, Kuo updated his roadmap for new ARM-based CPUs, claiming that the first device will be a MacBook Pro and that it is set to go into mass production in Q4 2020.
Recent rumours had suggested that the Mac line would debut before 2021, so this is not a great surprise, but his second piece of news is more interesting.
Kuo says that he also expected an ARM-based MacBook Air to go on sale in Q4 2020.
The two devices are likely to be similar in design to the recently launched MacBook Pro and MacBook Air devices, which are powered by Intel CPUs.
Kuo then expects a redesigned 14.1-inch MacBook Pro and 16-inch MacBook Pro to arrive with Apple Silicon and mini-LED displays in either Q2 or Q3 2021.
The later devices are tipped to have an “all-new form factor design”, which suggests that a slimmer and lighter build will accompany the new screen tech and processors.
One device that Kuo did not mention is the heavily rumoured 2020 iMac.
Recent reports have claimed that the desktop device will get a design overhaul and share the same aesthetic as the iPad Pro with slimmer bezels.
Apple is still expected to release a new iMac this year, but it probably won’t be powered by Apple Silicon.
Apple has set out a two-year transition period for its switch from Intel, so there is still plenty of time to launch updated devices.
MacBook sales have already been healthy recently, according to Kuo, and are forecast to rise to between 16m and 17m units for the year.
He also believes that the shipment volume could soar to 18m to 20m units in 2021 if demand is strong for the newly designed MacBook Pro models.
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Proper separate collection is good for the environment and the economy. To emphasize the importance of recycling and raise awareness of citizens and institutions in environmental protection, the Global Recycling Foundation has set up the world recycling day which is celebrated today, 18 March. On the occasion of this anniversary, Conai, the national packaging consortium, drew up a first budget for 2020.
In 2020, the recycling of packaging increases
The pandemic does not stop the recycling chain in Italy, which is increasing by 1%. Despite a 7% decrease in packaging placed on the market (i.e. one million tons of packaging less), recycling goes from 70% in 2019 to 71% by 2020: that is 9 million tons of recycled packaging.
“The release for consumption decreased in 2020, especially due to the lack of packs destined for the commercial and industrial sectors – explains the president of the National Packaging Consortium, Luca Ruini. – Contributions from the circuit of hotels, bars and restaurants have obviously dropped. But, thanks to the growth of urban separate waste collection, we estimate that the reduction in the total quantities sent for recycling is more contained. The recycling of packaging waste of domestic origin, therefore, has allowed us to exceed 70% in 2019: we should have achieved 71% of total recycling, even in such a difficult year “.
Conai is also optimistic for the current year which should show 71.4% of recycled packaging. It is therefore legitimate to expect that 2021 will close with almost 9.5 million tons of recycled packaging.
Sustainable packaging, the perception of Italians
The packaging? Practical and functional, first of all: 48% of Italians, almost one interviewee out of 2, prefer packaging that allows you to easily view the expiry date of the product. Immediately afterwards, attention goes to the ‘sustainable’ characteristics of the pack, especially those related to its end of life such as compostability (37%) and recyclability (36%). These are the data from the survey promoted by Conai, ‘Safe and sustainable packaging: perceptions” by the Waste Watcher International Observatory (Last Minute Market / Distal University of Bologna), based on a survey by Ipsos.
Sustainability and eco-design are increasingly at the center of research and debate for the new characteristics required of packaging: from the reduction of raw materials used to the opportunity to use recycled material, up to a design that ensures its recyclability or compostability. . The European legislation of the last two years has encouraged the sustainable evolution of packaging and companies, in turn, are moving towards increasingly innovative and efficient solutions, compatibly with the key role of packaging. The pack must in fact protect, store the product during transport and favor its optimal conservation, but as soon as it is placed on the shelf it undoubtedly affects the choice of purchase and the perception of the brand by the consumer.
But what affects the decision to buy a product, at first glance? The impact with the quality and safety of the product, from the origin of the raw materials to its provenance are crucial for 9 out of 10 Italians (89%), and so are the guarantees provided between certifications and traceability (88%). Packaging and its environmental characteristics are also elements that condition consumers’ purchasing choices (73% of respondents).
The reason is probably to be found in the dynamics of the relationship between product and ‘sustainability’ in the perception of consumers. The product is sustainable, first of all, if its packaging is recyclable (for 71% of respondents) or if it is made with recycled material (69%). What if a pack is not recyclable? 1 out of 4 Italians (25%) buys it the same; 47% buy it but unwillingly; 22% change their mind and focus on a product with a recycled or recyclable pack, 5% – 1 Italian out of 20 – in addition to not buying it, also discourages its use in the circle of friends and family.
It is interesting to discover how, in addition to recyclability and the use of recycled material, 39% of Italians also appreciate packaging that among their characteristics is reusable or resealable: a sign of the awareness of how much even the reuse of packaging is an important economic lever. circular and environmental protection.