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Report: Health and fitness apps giving info to insurance, drug firms
- Staff Nashville Business Journal
The next time you use a smartphone to access information about migraine symptoms or to determine how many calories are in a menu item, there is a chance the information will be shared with insurance and pharmaceutical companies, reports Financial Times.
The paper reports that according to Evidon, a web analytics and privacy firm, the top-20 health and wellness apps, including MapMyFitness, WebMD Health and iPeriod, are transmitting information to up to 70 third-party companies.
Financial Times adds that third parties, which primarily include advertising and analytics firms, typically use the information gathered from consumers who are tracking diseases, diets, and even menstrual cycles to build profiles or display personalized ads.
"You are talking about some of the most sensitive details of your life being widely available to others," Jeff Chester, executive director of the Center for Digital Democracy, a consumer privacy group, told Financial Times. "That information is being sucked up and collected surreptitiously by a host of online companies that are sharing, selling and trading that information."
The paper said operators of several health-related apps, including WebMD, said transmitted information about their users is not personally identifiable and is not being sold.
WebMD also said it did not allow third-party companies to combine the consumer data collected about its users with other profile information or use it beyond its site.
Evidon's chief executive Scott Meyer said of the growing number of health and fitness apps, "If there is a lot of content that is being provided to you for free, data are driving the economy of that content."
Chief Financial Officer (CFO) The Kentucky Center for the Performing Arts | Louisville, KY
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IT Field Service Coordinator Insequence Corporation | Smyrna, TN
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DCS Officer Tennessee Department of Children's Services | Nashville, TN
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If you were one of the 35,000 retail industry professionals to attend NRF's “Big Show” in NYC, you’re probably still digesting all that was presented by the impressive list of keynote speakers.
While we were not surprised that many of the show’s speakers and breakout sessions discussed “the changing landscape of retail” and “how technology is impacting retail,” we do believe the following three takeaways capture what will have the most pronounced impact on the way retail is evolving in the immediate future.
1. Driving “Amazing” Customer Experiences through Data
According to reports from the show, Brian Krzanich, CEO of Intel, did more than just talk about transformation, exciting advances, and creative uses of technology in retail. His session also included numerous live demonstrations of solutions already available.
The thread tying them all together? Strategic gathering and use of data, now allowing insight and predictive abilities not thought possible in the past.
“We believe data has become one of the most important forces in all of technology,” Krzanich said during “Driving Retail Transformation: How Data and Smart, Connected Technology Deliver Amazing Customer Experiences.”
Data is the “new oil,” he said, with every bit as much possibility for changing the world.
“You’d be amazed at what can be predicted,” Krzanich said. “The question is, how big is the data set, and how accurate do you want it to be?”
Data is transforming every industry, but Krzanich believes it will impact retail in three specific ways: re-inventing the in-store experience, utilizing the power of data analytics and then creating what Intel calls the “store of the future.”
2. Life Changing Technologies
The Big Show also featured a panel moderated by Pano Anthos, founder and managing director of XRC Labs, who discussed new technologies that are seen to have the potential to make a significant difference in the way we conduct our daily lives. Panelists included Sentient CMO Jonathan Epstein, Leif Jentoft, co-founder of RightHand Robotics, Sandra Lopez, vice president of the new technology group with Intel, and Loomia founder Madison Maxey.
Leading off, Epstein described the impact artificial intelligence is having on retail websites. “The e-commerce conversion rate is 3 percent,” he said. “We’d shut down a store with those statistics. AI can solve that problem.”
The problem with retail websites, he said, is that they have not evolved significantly in the past decade. They tend to be built with a hierarchical decision tree structure that requires the consumer to walk a slow and tiresome path to find the products they want. AI applications, which query the shopper and quickly narrow down the range of products offered, can streamline and personalize this process. Websites using AI personalization, Epstein said, are racking up 40 percent conversion rates and 16 percent increases in basket size.
3. Mass Customization and the Future of Retail
According to a story written about the show by Jennifer Overstreet, “More than ever, experience matters in retail. There is no doubt we’ve seen a permanent shift in the way consumers shop and behave,” said Linda Kirkpatrick, executive vice president for U.S. market development with MasterCard, opening a keynote at NRF. Consumers across all age groups are more willing to spend on experiences rather than things, and are more interested in retailers who offer personal, custom, digital and social experiences.
Shoes of Prey, which launched seven years ago, allows shoppers to design their own shoes using digital tools that show how different materials, toe shapes, heels and other components can be combined to create a unique item. Indochino lets shoppers purchase custom suits just by inputting their measurements and choosing styles and fabrics. The suits are delivered to customers’ doors in just a few weeks for a lower cost than a traditional custom suit.
Shoes of Prey and Indochino, two companies that are creating customized products as well as unique and memorable experiences for customers, exemplify this concept. And in doing so, the companies are not only reimagining the customer experience, but the retail model itself. Jodie Fox, co-founder and chief creative officer for Shoes of Prey, and Drew Green, CEO of Indochino, discussed how experiential retailing is changing the industry and how mass customization and on-demand manufacturing are key to the future of retail.
In fact, all these concepts reflect what we found and released in the Mobile Retail Report. To learn more and see where today's retailers are missing the mark, download your copy of the Mobile Retail Report here.

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HOUSTON (KTRK) -- Thieves continue to target pickup truck tailgates throughout the greater Houston area.
"Most pickup trucks on the road without a tailgate have probably been heisted. It's just that easy," explained Robert Mills of Tommy Vaughn Ford. Mills and his body shop staff say that hardly a week goes by without at least one person rolling onto the dealership lot without a tailgate.
New pickup truck tailgates can cost upwards of $6,000 depending on the make and model of the truck. Many new tailgates feature LED lights, a rear camera, and an electronic locking system. But those features come with a price, one that criminals are eager cash in on.
In recent months the most popular tailgates for thieves were Ford F250 and F350 models. But it's the newest trucks on the road that thieves are after. New pickup truck tailgates can cost upwards of $6,000, and sell for almost the same amount on sites like Craigslist and Ebay. Many new tailgates feature LED lights, a rear camera, and an electronic locking systems.
One might think that such a high-tech auto part would be more secure. They're not. As the body shop staff at Tommy Vaughn Ford showed KTRK, a tailgate can be removed in under 30 seconds by using a screwdriver and exercising a little heavy lifting.
"Having anything taken from you; it's a feeling you can't really explain. You feel violated," said Preston Hall, who had his tailgate stolen last year.
"Fortuneately, I had insurance, but I was still out of pocket $500 after insurance paid the rest. And $500 is a lot of money, period," Hall said.
Hall isn't alone. According to a 2013 report by the National Insurance Crime Burea (NICB) , Texas tops the charts in tailgate thefts nationwide, with Dallas, San Antonio, and Houston reporting more thefts than all other cities across the country. Officials suspect thousands more thefts go unreported.
"If you don't lock your tailgate you can expect it to be stolen," said Samuel Morris, an NICB special investigator. "It boils down to common sense."
Morris advises truck owners to invest in an after-market anti-theft device. While prices vary, Morris says having one installed is worth every penny. And he said there is another cheap option.
"I've used a hose clamp which is less than three dollars at just about any auto or hardware store," Morris said.
Truck owners can also park with their tailgates facing a wall or garage door so that thieves can't access them. null
Thieves eyeing Houston-area truck drivers' tailgates
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While 2021 has held the promise of better days ahead, so far the year is picking up largely where 2020 has left off. For the cruise industry, that means more cancellations.
This morning Carnival announced it is extending its pause in sailing from the United States for another month. Previously all cruises from the U.S. were suspended through March. That’s now been extended through April 2021, with cruises set to return in May.
As we explained earlier this week, this cancellation isn’t a surprise. Its major rivals — Royal Caribbean and Norwegian Cruise Line — already announced suspensions through April. In previous extensions the cruise lines all announced similar anticipated return dates.
Furthermore, given the lead times required by the CDC in its framework to return to sailing, it’s at least an estimated 90 days that cruise lines face between when they apply for a simulated voyage and when they actually set sail with paying passengers. That timeline would already put a return at least in the later days of April, but no simulated voyages have been announced yet.
Mardi Gras Debut Impacted
While at this point more suspensions are seemingly commonplace, this announcement does have a major impact in one area — Carnival Mardi Gras.
Carnival’s newest ship was set to debut in 2020, but its arrival was delayed due to the pandemic. Most recently it was slated to begin sailing with an inaugural cruise from Port Canaveral in April. That’s now been pushed back.
The new sail date for Mardi Gras is May 29, 2021. The ship has plans to set sail on a week-long trip from Port Canaveral, with stops in Cozumel, Costa Maya, and Mahogany Bay (Roatan).
As explained in our 10 Bold Predictions for Cruising in 2021, this ship is likely to be one of the brightest spots in cruising for this year, whenever it does finally sail. The ship is also a new direction for what’s arguably the favorite cruise line in America. It looks completely different from any other ship in Carnival’s fleet and includes new restaurants, activities, and more — including the only rollercoaster on a cruise ship.
Having another delay in the ship’s debut is definitely a sour note. However, there is some reason to be optimistic about the future for Carnival and cruising in general.
As a vaccine rollout continues, there is finally a light at the end of the tunnel and some hope that we can soon return to something more normal than what we’ve seen for the past year. That includes a return to cruising — albeit with a number of differences to keep passengers healthy.
At this point all three of the major cruise companies have pushed their return dates until at least May. We are hopeful that by that point a vaccine will be widely available, sharply reducing the risk of spread on a ship, and meaning cruises can get back to sailing.


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PC sales in Brazil dropped 5% in the third quarter of 2022 compared to the same period in 2021, totaling 2.18 million computers.
In comparison with the second quarter, the drop is 10%. Data is from IDC Brazil PCs Tracker 3Q2022.
In terms of revenue, this market had a drop of 23%, moving R$ 7.55 billion on the same basis of comparison. The data are from the consultancy IDC released this Monday (5).
Corporate market results were positive, with growth of 12% compared to the third quarter of 2021 and 1.06 million units sold. However, retail suffered a drop of 17% and closed the period with 1.12 million machines sold.
According to Reinaldo Sakis, Research and Consulting Manager for Consumer Devices at IDC Brasil, “this scenario can be attributed to the movement of deliveries to the government, which, due to the election year, anticipated its purchases, and to the high inflation and interest rates, which decreased consumers’ purchasing power
Desktop prices decreased by 2% (recording an average cost of BRL 3,420) and notebooks by 22% (BRL 3,470) compared to the third quarter of 2021.
The result for the second quarter of this year showed a recovery in the market, which had registered sales of 511 thousand desktops and 1.77 million notebooks, growth of 27% and 8%, respectively, compared to the same period of 2021.
Revenues in the 2nd quarter were 7% higher in the same comparison, reaching R$ 8.9 billion. The average cost of a desktop was around BRL 3,242 and a notebook at BRL 4,135.
IDC noted that the 5% drop in Q3 reflects a global economic deterioration, which has impacted interest rates and inflation.
Source: CNN Brasil
A journalist with over 7 years of experience in the news industry, currently working at World Stock Market as an author for the Entertainment section and also contributing to the Economics or finance section on a part-time basis. Has a passion for Entertainment and fashion topics, and has put in a lot of research and effort to provide accurate information to readers.


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TWO Gardeners’ Fair events will take place in Market Rasen’s Market Place this summer it was announced by the town council last week.
This will be on top of the new Market Rasen Country Festival, organised by the Market Rasen Development Trust, and to be held at the racecourse on Saturday, May 21.
Mayor Brian Ricahrdson announced at last Wednesday’s town council meeting: “Market Rasen Town Council, in conjunction with regular Gardeners Fair traders, voluntary organisations, the Gardening Club and other interested parties, will be continuing the traditional Market Place based Gardeners’ Fair.
“This year we will hold two events, the first on Saturday, June 4, and the second, a larger event, on Saturday, July 30, in conjunction with Open Gardens and alongside the Flower Clubs Annual Show that will take place in the Festival Hall on the same day.”
He added: “It’s a good, interesting and very worthwhile event. Those who attend the Market are very much in favour of the Gardeners’ Fair also.”
The event also gained the backing of Laurie Povey of the Rotary Club of Market Rasen and Derek Anderson, of the Market Rasen Gardening Club and chairman of the 2010 Gardeners’ Fair.
Mr Povey said: “Representing the Rotary Club of Market Rasen, first of all we would be interested in helping to organise an open gardens and organise a gardeners’ fair as long as it was based in the centre of town.
“We were very dismayed that the Gardeners’ Fair was moving out of town and would like to continue it like in previous years.”
There will now be a meeting held on Thursday, February 17, at the Festival Hall to form a committee of interested parties to organise the Gardeners’ Fair.


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Primark is 'set to trial' online shopping for the first time
Online shopping is "on the horizon" for the chain
Primark is one of the most popular clothing stores on the high street.
Despite their traditional retail success, they have never taken the step into online shopping. But that could be about to change.
Reports suggest that Primark is looking at letting customers get their bargains digitally for the first time, with chief executive Paul Marchant telling bosses that plans were being made to trial online shopping.
He is reported to have said that the service was "on the horizon".
However, a source said that any move into that arena was a year or so away. It would also appear that it would only be a "click-and-collect" service, as opposed to actual deliveries.
“Even when rolled out, a click-and-collect offering will only drive an incremental benefit for Primark” reports The Journal.
The Irish chain first established itself in the UK in the 1970s, opening stores in Belfast in 1971 and Derby in 1973.
The company is known as Pennys in its homeland but was unable to use it due to the name being registered by US retail giant JC Penny in European - hence the new title.


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Goodservice, a 24 hour chat-based concierge app, has raised seed funding worth $1.6 million from Sequoia Capital. Goodservice will invest the funds in technology and scale up its operations. Currently available as an Android app, the company plans to release the iOS app in the next couple of weeks. Paytm wallet will be integrated with the app soon, though no specific date has been mentioned yet.
It is also planning to expand to other cities in the country and the metros in phases from its current Delhi NCR offering. The company is planning to expand its operations at a target of Rs 1 crore per day worth of service and product requests with the funding.
The app asks for a name and phone number for a login and users can submit payment and address info later. users can search for local services like running errands, electricians, plumbing, dance classes, food items among other things through chat. It gives the option to call from the chat as well and attach images if needed. The company claims that it will do the booking, calling as well as follow up on the request. Cancellations of request can take place before the service has been used and the money can either be held as Goodservice money or be refunded into the Paytm wallet.
Goodservice was founded by Vipul Aggarwal and Ruchir Jain last year. The team currently has 40 members and claims to process requests in local services and commerce worth Rs 30 lakh every day through its app.
Marketing technology startup Vidgyor has raised $500,000 from AngelPrime. With the funds, the company plans to expand to Southeast Asia in the next 6 months, expand its user base, develop its technology and increase marketing. The company is also looking to tie up with global content distributors on its platforms. Vidgyor was a part of Times Internet’s startup accelerator TLabs’ fifth batch from its accelerator program, termed as the Spring 2014 batch which was held between February and June 2014.
Vidgyor enables broadcasters and content distributors to offer personalised video ads for their live stream channels as opposed to showing the same ads from television, which are live streamed from satellites. Vidgyor ties up with ad networks to increase ad inventory for them, while optimising revenues from aggregating ad networks. The ads are also targeted by relevance for the user base.
Founded by Mahboob Khan and Parth Desai, the platform also offers multi-screen streaming solutions for video publishers. Vidgyor claims that its complete platform runs in real time through an API which is embedded into the broadcaster’s website, which, too, is customised at times. Through this, it is able to serve real time geo-specific ads filtered by product choices among other factors.
It is also working on making the streaming lag free as is possible, with an AI which will detect the coming of an ad to cache the live stream. The platform claims that it replaces the broadcast TV ads with personalised video ads across platforms from third party ad networks or in house ad sales. Currently an 8 member team, Vidgyor claims to have clients in YuppTV, IndiaTV and another TV channel.
Cupick, a platform where artists can sell their artwork, has raised seed funding worth $120,000 (Rs 75 lakh) from JKN Partners (angel syndicate), JK Patel, Sushil Agarwal from India and Kalpesh Shethia, Rajeev Mudumba, Dinesh Tadepalli and Sudheshna Vuppala from the US, among others. This funding came through via TermSheet.io, an online platform which connects founders and investors, looking to get seed funded or to seed fund.
Cupick will use the funds to expand its product line offering, product development and add to its team across verticals. It will also look to add to its assets and user acquisition. Run by Garage Labs Technologies, the platform claims that it handles the production, packaging, shipping, payments and customer service once an artist uploads their artwork to the platform. Launched in September last year, the company claims that so far, over 2,500 artists have registered on its site, uploading over 7,500 artworks.


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Ecommerce data specialist Conjura has appointed Adele Cooper, ex Pinterest, Facebook and Google and Paul Gedman, ex Hut Group, as non-executive directors to support the business as it continues to scale. Their strategic vision will help define the company’s 2021 growth strategy.
Adele Cooper has worked at some of the world’s most recognised technology companies, most recently as UK & Ireland Country Manager at Pinterest. Prior to Pinterest, Adele worked at Google and then at Facebook in both their European and US headquarters, across a variety of sales, marketing and operational roles. Adele earned an MBA from Harvard University and holds a BA in History from Stanford University.
She brings specialist expertise in sales and marketing built during her time at the world’s leading tech platforms and will assist Conjura in scaling up its sales and marketing functions. Adele will also support on HR matters helping to develop a talent acquisition strategy as well as providing operational advice.
Paul Gedman will help Conjura evolve and extend its e-commerce platform services building scalability into the heart of the business. He offers a wealth of experience in the global e-commerce sector by way of his time as CEO of the beauty, wellness and luxury divisions at the Hut Group for over eight years. Before that, Paul was Head of Online at Littlewoods Clearance, part of the Shop Direct Group.
Conjura has experienced fast-growth in 2020 as more businesses have needed to scale up, or pivot to data-led ecommerce models. These latest appointments complement other recent senior hires, including the arrival of COO Paul Savage, and CRO Franklyn Martin and highlight the company’s ambitious growth plans to bring best in class platform services to its clients.
Fran Quilty, CEO of Conjura, notes: “Adele and Paul are high-profile industry names in technology and ecommerce. Their arrival in the business is a huge endorsement of the potential that I and the senior team see in Conjura.
“They join us ahead of bold expansion plans for 2021 as we scale up our operations and launch a suite of new products to broaden our platform offer for e-commerce clients. I know their experience will prove invaluable in helping us deliver on our growth ambitions.”


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Institute for Floriculture Innovation to Seat Board of Directors
In 2012, the Institute for Floriculture Innovation will seat a Board of Directors composed of domestic and international representatives from horticulture, floriculture, design and lifestyle and retail.
The Institute for Floriculture Innovation (IFI), announced by Rocket Farms and Nurserymen’s Exchange in August, will seat a Board of Directors composed of domestic and international representatives from horticulture, floriculture, design and lifestyle and retail. Together, the Board will guide IFI in exploring, educating and inspiring the floriculture industry as it relates to driving consumer awareness and demand.
The IFI is being developed to address the fundamental challenges the industry is facing – such as declining household penetration and consumption, a fragmented marketplace, and negative impacts on the supply chain – and ultimately to create a united voice and answer.
To fulfill this mission, the IFI will establish a resource center through collaborations with academia and industry experts to discuss and publish the latest research findings in horticulture, consumer lifestyle trends and design and development. This information will be housed and made available through the IFI website that is to be developed and quarterly newsletters.
The IFI also plans to create and launch a consumer marketing campaign focused on driving consumer awareness of and demand for the floriculture industry and potted plant products.
“We are extremely excited to establish the Institute, and look forward to bringing some of the best minds in and outside the industry together to serve up new and innovative ideas and concepts to the industry and our consumers,” said Jason Kamimoto, vice president of marketing for Nurserymen’s Exchange.
An invitation will be sent to prospective Board members with the intention of announcing the IFI Board of Directors by early next year. IFI will continue to update the industry as the Institute continues to develop.
75 Applewood Drive, Suite A
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Since its humble beginnings in the late 1970s, JD Wetherspoon has become a hospitality staple – from raking in millions in profits to even having John Travolta as a guest.
Its cheap drinks, combined to the charm of its historic buildings, free WiFi and meal deals have made the carpet-clad pubs a beloved institution that has even won over the most snobbiest of customers on occasion.
But Tim Martin’s empire has been dealt a major blow this week as it’s announced it will be selling 32 of its 800 UK pubs amid rising costs, in what the company is describing as a ‘commercial decision’.
The chain warned of annual losses of more than £30million due to hiked wages and a slow sales recovery after Covid lockdowns in July.
It comes at a time where four in ten pubs across the UK are expected to close amid the cost of living crisis and increasing energy prices.
Here, FEMAIL looks at what made Martin’s chain a success and the setbacks it had to overcome…
Since its humble beginnings in the late 1970s, JD Wetherspoon has become a hospitality staple – from raking in millions in profits to even having John Travolta as a guest. The Capitol, in Forest Hill, is among the pubs that are closing
FROM HUMBLE BEGINNINGS TO EMPIRE
Martin, Wetherspoon’s founder and chairman, became known for making bold business decisions, which included having no music in his pubs, which was in place for thirty years until 2001, and opening the first non-smoking pub in London in 1991, ahead of the 2007 Smoking Ban
The hospitality chain counts Saturday Night Fever star John Travolta amongst its fans, as he was spotted in one of its pubs in Norfolk in April
The first Wetherspoon’s pub, initially called Martin’s Free House after its owner, opened in 1979 in Muswell Hill, North London.
Which Wetherspoon pubs are set to be sold off by the company?
These Wetherspoon locations are set to be sold off:
Barnsley – Silkstone Inn
Beaconsfield – Hope & Champion
Bexleyheath – Wrong ‘Un
Bournemouth – Christopher Creeke
Cheltenham – Bank House
Durham – Water House
Halifax – Percy Shaw
Hanham – Jolly Sailor
Harrow – Moon on the Hill
Hove – Cliftonville Inn
London Battersea – Asparagus
London East Ham – Miller’s Well
London Eltham – Bankers Draft
London Forest Gate – Hudson Bay
London Forest Hill – Capitol
London Hornsey – Toll Gate
London Holborn – Penderel’s Oak
London Islington – Angel
London Palmers Green – Alfred Herring
Loughborough – Moon & Bell
Loughton – Last Post
Mansfield – Widow Frost
Middlesbrough – Resolution
Purley – Foxley Hatch
Redditch – Rising Sun
Sevenoaks – Sennockian
Southampton – Admiral Sir Lucius Curtis
Stafford – Butler’s Bell
Watford – Colombia Press
West Bromwich – Billiard Hall
Willenhall – Malthouse
Wirral – John Masefield
A year later, Martin renamed it Wetherspoon, after a teacher who taught him at school in New Zealand.
As the brand’s success grew, more Wetherspoons opened across North London, before spreading to the rest of the capital.
Martin, Wetherspoon’s founder and chairman, became known for making bold business decisions, which included having no music in his pubs, which was in place for thirty years until 2001, and opening the first non-smoking pub in London in 1991, ahead of the 2007 Smoking Ban.
In 1998, the chain introduced its Thursday Curry Club, which Wetherspoon says made it the biggest collective curry house in the UK.
Another popular decision was opening the pubs from 7am nationwide to serve breakfast and coffee from 2000, and making WiFi available for free in all Wetherspoons from 2006.
The chain’s success has also been put down to its particular approach to supply chain, with Wetherspoons having its own taps and distribution networks, which allows it to keep costs down and to not be at the mercy of its suppliers.
By 1994, it had doubled the number of pubs it owned across the country, and began to expand outside of London, opening pubs in Manchester and Wales and later Scotland.
In 2000, the decision to buy out Lloys No.1 pubs saw Martin’s empire expand even more, making him vouch to buy even more pubs down the line.
As of 2021, and excluding the upcoming closures, the chain counts 861 pubs in the UK and Ireland.
In April, Wetherspoon made headlines again when Saturday Night Fever star John Travolta and his family were spotted at ones of its establishments.
The star chatted with fans as he enjoyed a tipple at the Romany Rye pub in Dereham, Norfolk, where he was filming.
Tim Martin expressed he was in favour of leaving the European Union ahead of the Brexit referendum in 2016.
Just days before the referendum, Mr Martin said his ‘own personal stance’ was that ‘anyone who’s working here now legally is perfectly entitled to stay’.
He told Wales Online: ‘People who are in the current EU countries should in the future be entitled to come and work in the UK.
‘I think that will be to our benefit. But I think the UK Parliament must decide whether any future people are entitled to come here, and I think anyone beyond those who are currently entitled to come should be subject to a points system.’
Martin, pictured with Boris Johnson in 2019, has been a supporter of Brexit since before the EU referendum of 2016
In 2017, Martin, who backed a no-deal Brexit, rolled out 500,000 beer mats in support of Britain’s post-fishing industry, accusing leading business and economic experts of misleading the British public about the impact of Brexit.
In 2019, he claimed he would be able to slash his beer prices to ‘an unbelievable low’ in celebration of Britain leaving the E.U. on 31 October 2019, before it was later moved to 31 January 2020.
In 2021, following the Coronavirus pandemic, Martin called on PM Boris Johnson to impose a ‘reasonably liberal immigration system’ to help fill jobs.
It came as Britain’s hospitality sector had been battling with a shortage of 188,000 workers while demand continued to skyrocket as covid-19 restrictions eased.
THE APPEAL OF UNIQUE BUILDINGS
Wetherspoon is known to buy unique and beautiful properties to set their pubs in, like the Opera House in Tunbridge Wells, pictured
One of the main appeals of Wetherspoon are its grand building and unique patterns designs.
The company prides itself on its unique locations, and carefully pick which buildings they acquire.
Tim Martin wrote on the Wetherspoon website: ‘We take immense pride in the restoration and refurbishment of wonderful buildings into Wetherspoon pubs. We feel that it is right to celebrate the history of the buildings.’
And plenty of listicles exist listing the most beautiful Wetherspoons open around the country.
One drinking hole, in Glasgow, used to be a bank where you can even dine in its vault; another, in Tunbridge Wells, was once an opera house, and still puts on shows for patrons.
In Keswick, Cumbria, pubgoers can relax in a former courthouse and police station – while it’s all aboard the North Western in Liverpool, which has strong links to a different station, of the railway kind.
Meanwhile, Wetherspoon has been the recipient of the Loo of the Year award several times, snatching the title last year in the hospitality category in 2001, 2010, 2018 and 2021.
CLOSING SOCIAL MEDIA ACCOUNTS
Wetherspoon announced they were closing all their social media channels in 2018, as Martin felt people spend too much time on the platforms
Some of Martin’s bold business decisions were thought quite controversial at the time they were rolled out.
The decision, in 2018, to close all of Wetherspoon’s social media accounts shocked its customers.
Martin closed the Twitter, Instagram and Facebook account for all of its pubs and its head office, because he felt people spent ‘too much time’ on social media.
At the time, he said: ‘We are going against conventional wisdom that these platforms are a vital component of a successful business,’ MailOnline reported at the time.
‘I don’t believe that closing these accounts will affect our business whatsoever, and this is the overwhelming view of our pub managers.
‘It’s becoming increasingly obvious that people spend too much time on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook, and struggle to control the compulsion.
‘We will still be as vocal as ever through our Wetherspoon News magazine, as well as keeping the press updated at all times.
‘We will also be maintaining our website and the Wetherspoon app and encourage customers to get in touch with us via our website or by speaking with the manager at their local pub.’
People took to Twitter to question the pub chain’s decision at the time. Some claimed Martin didn’t ‘understand’ social media.
CLAIMS OF ‘ABANDONING’ STAFF DURING COVID
As the Covid-19 pandemic hit the country in March 2020, Martin denied claims he was ‘abandoning’ his staff, and insisted the company could not afford to pay their wages during the crisis until it was reimbursed by the government
As the Covid-19 pandemic hit the country in March 2020, Martin denied claims he was ‘abandoning’ his staff, and insisted the company could not afford to pay their wages during the crisis until it was reimbursed by the government.
Martin also criticised the government’s decision to shut pub downs during lockdown as social distance measures were put in place.
The Wetherspoon chairman angered employees and MPs when he sent a video message to staff telling them they would be not paid until the government worked out the detail of its furlough scheme.
He reportedly told his staff to work for Tesco in the meantime, who was recruiting staff to help with rising demands in groceries as the country was facing a lockdown, The Guardian reported at the time.
Rachel Reeves MP, who was the chair of the business select committee at the time, said Martin’s decision was unacceptable, pointing out at the time that companies may not have received government support until April, which would’ve left staff out of pocket until then.
SLOW RECOVERY FROM COVID
The chain was slow to recover from the impact of the coronavirus pandemic, and warned of financial losses in July
‘Many people predicted a boom in pub sales when lockdowns and restrictions ended due to pent-up demand, but recovery for many companies has been slower and more laborious than was anticipated,’ the group said in July.
As many as four in ten pubs will be closed by this time next year
As many as four in ten pubs could be closed by this time next year, according to landlords, managers and owners.
Due to the cost of living crisis and without the help many wanted from last week’s mini-budget, pessimistic publicans believe they will have called time on their tavern by September 2023.
Only 59 per cent of UK pub managers and owners think they will still be in business in 12 months’ time, according to an ongoing bi-monthly survey of 200 pubs by Peckwater Brands.
It also showed those at the sharp end of the hospitality industry are losing faith in Liz Truss and her new cabinet – just 39 per cent now have confidence in the government, largely as a result of Kwarsi Kwarteng’s lack of help in his first budget.
Pubs – like bars, restaurants and hotels – are suffering from rampant inflation, lack of staff and high taxes and want to see measures that can help them manage costs without pricing out customers.
Two thirds of pub bosses – 68 per cent – want to see a cut in business rates, the same number want a cut in VAT and and 62 per cent want a change in visa rules to allow more foreign nationals to fill vacancies, particularly seasonal ones during busy periods.
Wetherspoon said staff costs were far higher than before the pandemic, with firms across the sector having to increase wages to overcome recruitment difficulties.
It added that it is now ‘with minor exceptions, fully staffed’.
Repair costs have also soared, with the group saying it will have spent about £99 million on this in the current year, compared with £76.9 million in 2018-19, due to ‘catch-up’ work since Covid restrictions lifted.
Boss and founder Tim Martin, said: ‘When Covid-19 struck in early 2020, most governments, with the exception of Sweden, abandoned their WHO-approved pandemic plans and copied China’s approach by “locking down”.
‘There have been many unintended consequences. Large numbers of people, as has been widely reported, have left the workforce, mainly through early retirement.
‘Many people now work from home, rather than from offices, which has had a significant impact on transport and hospitality businesses, among other examples.
‘The “fear factor”, used by governments to encourage compliance with lockdowns and restrictions, has also had lingering after-effects, with many people remaining cautious about leaving their homes.
‘Inflation, mainly a result of the “money printing” which was activated by governments and central banks to finance lockdowns, has proved to be far higher and more intractable than anyone anticipated.
‘Wetherspoon has tried to take a long-term approach to these issues, investing heavily in the workforce, in buildings, in marketing and in contracts with landlords and suppliers, which will hopefully create a solid base for future growth. The company remains cautiously optimistic about future prospects.’
Matt Britzman, equity analyst at Hargreaves Lansdown, said: ‘It looks like the older demographic’s still cautious to get out and about and that comes through in the numbers.
‘Lagers and ales were replaced by spirits and cocktails as sales in lively city locations, with music on the weekends, performed much better than quieter, suburban, pubs.
‘The difficulty now, for the entire pub sector, is that drinking and eating at home looks to be sticking around longer than first thought.
‘That trend’s likely to continue, as the cost-of-living crisis looks poised to accelerate the tightening of purse strings.’


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ERJ staff report (LMH)
Vienna – Semperit AG, which makes rubber and plastic products for the medical and industrial markets, has reported the strongest first-quarter in the company’s history. Revenue in the first three months of 2013 grew by 6.6% from the same period in 2012, totalling €215.2 million.
First-quarter earnings (EBITDA) grew by 20.4% year-on-year to €29.3 million. Semperit noted that profitability increased accordingly. The EBITDA margin improved 13.6%, compared to 12.1% in Q1 2012.
In the medical business known as Sempermed, which includes surgical and examination gloves, sales increased 21.4% to €106.8 million, while earnings improved by 87.6% to €12.2 million. Semperit said the acquisition and subsequent integration of Latexx Partners showed immediate results for the company. Sales were significantly increased in Europe, America and Asia, Semperit said.
In the industrial business, which includes hoses and conveyor belts, the weak economic environment had a cooling off effect on revenues in Q1, Semperit said. Sales of €108.4 million were down 4.7% from the previous year. Earnings were up slightly at €20.3 million from €19.6 million in Q1 2012.
Semperit said it expects a significant increase in consolidated revenue in 2013, mainly driven by the full year consolidation of Latexx Partners.
This is an external link and should open in a new window. If the window does not appear, please check your pop-up blocking software. ERJ is not responsible for the content of external sites.
News release from Semperit


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Sub-Saharan Africa: Tech Forecast 2015
In this technically driven world, it is becoming increasingly difficult to ignore the potential of technology in the events industry. Not only are event organisers beginning to realise the importance of engaging with delegates through event apps, but they are also beginning to see how technology is shaping everything about a show, from the materials being used to make stands, to the registration process, logistics, audiovisuals and more. According to The State of Event Apps, a research paper conducted by MPI and written by DoubleDutch, 63% of meeting professionals that took part in the study used apps to organise and run their events. “The primary reason these planners choose to use an event application is to provide more convenience to attendees, highlighting the app’s easy access to session details and streamlined schedule-building capabilities,” the study says.
Ticketing technology is always being updated to create an inviting and convenient atmosphere for the delegate from the moment they decide to attend the event. Platforms like Bookitbee allow organisers to set up and sell tickets online within minutes, while Eventbrite and NuTickets have become renowned for their unique organisational options – including mobile apps with easily navigable layouts and handy analytics. As Chris Edmonds, Chairman of Ticketmaster UK, so wisely said at the Ticketing Technology Forum, “It’s no longer about just selling a piece of paper (which ticketing was historically)…it’s now about understanding consumer behaviour and what their preferences and choices are.”
According to Justin Hawes, Managing Director at Scan Display and a trade show stalwart, people have become more accustomed to pre-show registrations. He says that the digital age has become a great platform for keeping up with happenings. “Gone are the days that we rely on printed mediums to give us this information – we are now able to get weekly, even daily updates on events taking place,” he says. “Exhibitions have become smart in the way that they gain traction and awareness around their events, they make use of Facebook and Twitter to drive awareness. A great example would be from the Coffee and Chocolate Expo that took place earlier this year. An expo with a low budget, [it] made use of Facebook to generate interest around the event – which helped make this event a success.”
Gary Corin, Managing Director at Specialised Exhibitions Montgomery agrees that the digital age has, in a word, taken over the ticketing process. “Research feedback from our exhibitors shows that more electronic invites were sent out than ever before. Online pre-registrations were at a record high across our portfolio of 11 shows this year.”
This brings us to the cheerleaders of event technology – conference and exhibition applications. Although they form part of the marketing process and definitely help create a smoother, more convenient event (not to mention saving on paper and printing costs), studies on the effectiveness of these apps are still few and far between. According to The State of Event Apps, which was released this month, in-app sponsorship opportunities are huge revenue drivers for trade show organisers. But that’s just the tip of the iceberg. “Event applications give associations and member-based organisations the ability to engage members in a year-round experience that lasts beyond their annual event,” the study says.
Corin can testify to this, especially since the company is well-versed in event apps. “We have developed an app for all of our exhibitions which can then be downloaded by exhibitors and visitors alike at each event. The app provides information about the event and allows for two-way communication with our respective audiences. Adoption is still slow, but this is where we believe the most rapid technological growth will emanate from.”
One of the chief reasons for the slow uptake is connectivity. “The WiFi needs to be robust at the venue to allow for so many users to be online doing something on their apps,” a survey participant for The State of Event Apps says. Budget constraints and mobile app education are other main reasons why apps aren’t quite as popular as they could be, although these problems will inevitably become scarce as broadband infrastructure is rolled out across the African continent in preparation for the digital switchover next year.
Thanks to constant updates in digital technology, audiovisual experiences at conferences have also been upscaled. According to Peter Day, Logistics and Support Services at Gearhouse, interactive displays, digital poster displays and hi-resolution indoor LED products are on the rise. “The use of sustainable resources, stationery, furniture and walling are trends in event technology,” he explains, saying that delegates are also using “electronic brochures rather than printed materials” and that QR codes are replacing business cards.
According to Jessica Green of LEDVision, the company recently acquired over 100sqm of Radiant MC7H 7.5mm 3-in-1 SMD indoor/outdoor LED panels. “These panels are lightweight and thin for fast installation, saving time and cost. The MC7H makes use of a revolutionary new black waterproof LED, and its unique design allows a 160-degree wide viewing angle.” These displays are huge, powerful and demand the attention of anyone in proximity, but they aren’t the only thing LEDVision has acquired for the conferencing industry. “We have also added Lighthouse FS25 25mm SMD outdoor flexible strips to our inventory. These versatile strips provide clients with an innovative way of adding a creative dimension to set and stage designs.”
Video conferencing is also on the rise, according to a recent article written by Corbin Ball Associates. “The ability for high-quality wireless picture-phones will provide the ability for instant teleconferencing and will bring people from around the world closer than they have ever been before.” On the back of this, polling is expected to grow as event tech becomes more sophisticated. Companies like Lumi have created holistic options for the industry including show apps where users can poll the audience, collect data and conduct research, as well as apps which provide rich content and broadcast messages, and plug-ins and software to conduct Q&A sessions and more.
Exhibitors are now combining all of the above to create innovative and attractive stands. There is a trend towards incorporating digital technology, demos and giveaways to increase interaction, with companies considering green, sustainable options during the stand construction process.
“We have noticed that more companies are making use of AV content on their stands, instead of printed graphics. Materials used consist of raw wood, and the introduction of cardboard,” says Hawes, “We have developed the power mouse, which is a good-looking plug box that is used regularly on site. We have also developed our own DB board, which is slim-lined and compact compared to the current DB board, and we have been able to bring in light boxes, which has changed the way exhibition stands and retail applications showcase their brands, products and services.”
Event Tech in the Future
The future is bright for event technology. We are on the cusp of a new digital era, one that has been slow to arrive, but that will, without a doubt, create new opportunities for many niche areas in eventing. According to Peter Day of Gearhouse, the next two to five years will see a rapid increase in electronic media, tending towards a paperless environment, with more video conferencing to overcome international travelling costs. Unique creations such as the Monster Power Card, which allows you to charge smartphones, tablets and other gadgets on the go, will also increase as delegates look for convenient tech travel companions.
Gary Corin of Specialised Exhibitions, however, sees the future in an entirely different light. “Technology is an ‘enabler’ in my opinion,” he says, “As such technological trends will continue to have an impact on how we communicate. Events will need to embrace these platforms to stay relevant and to physically communicate with target audiences. The fundamental driver, however, will always be to get ‘buyers and sellers’ or ‘producers and consumers’ under one roof,” he explains, “Human nature does not change. Technology impacts how it is expressed – we need to embrace that technology to ensure the sustainable relevance of our industry.”


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Many hail Starbucks as an evil corporation that exemplifies capitalism at its worst. Others see it just as another (extremely) successful business that has made a name for itself.
News of its recent purchase of juice company Evolution Fresh for $30 million has sparked new controversy over Starbucks’ further expansion in the industry. In his TIME NewsFeed article about the purchase, writer Nick Carbone points out that with this decision “Starbucks is pitting itself against juice stalwarts Odwalla and Naked Juice—owned by Coca-Cola and PepsiCo, respectively.”
He is correct, but I find that fact ironic since Starbucks is still selling Odwalla and Naked Juice products in its stores. Maybe they’re planning on gradually changing all the juice options to be from Evolution Fresh over a period of time? We shall see.
For now, anyone who has a problem with the purchase needs to calm down. This expansion is just business to Starbucks, and it’s their choice if they want to take advantage of offering health-conscious options. If people are buying these kinds of juices, the company would be stupid not to participate in their sales.


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Wal-Mart will not pay for an economic impact study of its proposal for a store off Northwest Drive, despite a request to the retail chain's top management in Bentonville, Ark.
Wal-Wal developer Robert Connor's refusal earlier this month to pay for a study assessing how a Wal-Mart store would affect local stores and property values prompted the town council to appeal directly to David Glass, the giant retailer's chief executive officer.
In a letter to Glass sent Thursday, Town Manager John Bohenko said he was concerned about Wal-Mart's impact on the local economy and asked that the retail chain pay for an economic and fiscal study as it has in other parts of the country.
But a spokeswoman for Wal-Mart said the responsibility of paying for an economic impact study, as well as for other studies required by the town, belongs to the developer, not to the store itself.
"It's a developer's call," said the spokeswoman, Betsy Reithemeyer. "There is no obligation on our part to do these studies. They are extremely expensive."
The response prompted town officials to charge that Wal-Mart is playing games with them.
"They're passing the buck," town council Chairman Richard Mitera said Saturday. "They're trying to put you in a situation where they just don't want to do it."
Connor, general partner of Northwest Drive Limited Partnership, Wal-Mart's developer, has made a commitment to pay up to $158,000 for an independent review of his proposed store's impact on traffic and the environment, as required by the town.
Although the town requires an applicant to pay for such studies when town staff doesn't have the expertise to do them, there is no local or state mandate forcing a developer to pay for an economic impact study, said Town Attorney Robert Michalik.
"To say, `We're not required to do it,' is not the point," said Al Norman, who became a national leader of anti-Wal-Mart movements after successfully campaigning to keep Wal-Mart out of his town of Greenfield, Mass., last year. "This is totally irresponsible for Wal-Mart officials to start going around and telling people they're going to create jobs unless they can prove it."
Wal-Mart officials have said their proposal in Plainville will improve the town's tax base and provide residents hundreds of jobs. But opponents have said Wal-Mart will kill Plainville's downtown and its mom-and-pop stores.
Studies of Wal-Mart's impact on local economies have been done in many municipalities in the United States at no cost to taxpayers. Either Wal-Mart or the developers paid the tab.
In Greenfield, Ithaca, N.Y., and St. Albans, Vt., the economic studies were conducted by the same consultant, RKG Associates Inc., of Durham, N.H., which is recognized as a leading expert in assessing Wal-Mart's impact on the economy, according to officials in the three towns.
States have their own regulations on what should be required of a developer seeking approval for a project. In New York and Vermont, an economic impact study can be mandatory.
That is not the case in Connecticut, prompting some planning officials to say that communities are often ill-prepared to deal with proposals for big retail outlets.
In Greenfield, where Wal-Mart was the developer and the proposal was defeated after intense opposition from citizens, the $36,000-economic impact study was paid for by Wal-Mart. RKG was chosen by the town after a bidding process.
In Ithaca, the independent study, costing about $30,000, was paid for by the developer, East Coast Development Corp. RKG's study there showed that Wal-Mart's net fiscal impact on the city would be positive, although downtown stores would lose sales, according to Ithaca's director of planning and development, Matthys Van-Cort. Ithaca chose RKG after a bidding process.
In St. Albans, Wal-Mart picked RKG Associates and paid for the study. After the town approved Wal-Mart's application, the state rejected it on the ground that the economic data provided by RKG had been underestimated.
Who pays for the study can depend on what deal exists between Wal-Mart and its developer, if any. But that information is hard to find out. "There is an agreement of some kind between the developer and Wal-Mart, otherwise, the developer wouldn't be there," said Van-Cort, the Ithaca planning director.


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Bibby Financial Services Urges U.S. Importers To
Prepare Now For Holiday Orders
July 13, 2010 12:32 PM Eastern Daylight Time
ATLANTA--(EON: Enhanced Online News)--The summer may have only just begun, but international trade
finance provider Bibby Financial Services (BFS) is calling on import business owners and managers to get their
inventory and financing in order for the upcoming holiday season.
Now through August, there is a flurry of import activity as companies look to guarantee that goods from around the
world arrive in time for the holiday rush. By securing cash flow now, they will avoid a funding bottleneck when trying
to meet an increase in orders.
"Firms must plan well in advance and consider the various funding options available to meet this increased activity
and keep cash flowing," said Ian Varley, managing director of Bibby International Trade Finance.
Many businesses experience cash flow difficulties during the lead up to the holidays, leaving them with poor financial
liquidity and little funding available for crucial business activities such as marketing and staffing. In 2009, 15,177 U.S.
companies declared bankruptcy in the third quarter of the year, up 31.9% from 2008. This indicates the ever
increasing pressure on holiday orders and the challenge of balancing stocking up while maintaining cash flow.
"The ability to ensure that orders can be fulfilled, customer payments are received, and cash flow is healthy, is often
the difference between business success and failure,” said Varley.
Bibby Financial Services' International Trade Finance offers U.S. importers up to 100 percent funding against
confirmed orders and ongoing funding against invoices raised once the goods have been delivered to customers.
International trade finance is a viable solution to the cash flow difficulties faced by companies looking to import
goods months in advance of receiving customer payment. It enables businesses to secure new orders, confident that
they have in place the necessary fi


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Another day, another confirmation of an HD-ified trilogy getting released on PlayStation 3. We already heard about the Tomb Raider bundle earlier, but now we’re also getting word that Sam Fisher is next in line for the re-release compilation mania.
Ubisoft told IGN that Splinter Cell, Splinter Cell: Pandora Tomorrow, and Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory will make up this specific bundle, and that it’ll be out in 2011. Other than that, the company wasn’t willing to divulge any more information. Who wants to bet that Trophies will be supported?
And, since this is developing into a full-blown trend, what other trilogies would you like to see brought into the era of crisp video and regular updates?


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Apple to probe death of Chinese woman electrocuted while using charging iPhone
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SINGAPORE — Apple Inc. is investigating an accident in which a Chinese woman was killed by an electric shock when answering a call on her iPhone 5 while it was charging, the U.S. technology company said on Monday.
Last Thursday, Ma Ailun, a 23-year-old woman from China’s western Xinjiang region and a flight attendant with China Southern Airlines, was electrocuted when she took a call on the charging mobile telephone, the official Xinhua news agency quoted police as saying on Sunday.
“We are deeply saddened to learn of this tragic incident and offer our condolences to the Ma family. We will fully investigate and co-operate with authorities in this matter,” Apple said in an email.
Apple declined to comment on details, such as whether this was an isolated case.
Ma’s sister tweeted on Sina’s microblog saying that Ma collapsed and died after using her charging iPhone 5 and urged users to be careful, a message that went viral on the site.
In April, Apple apologized to Chinese consumers and altered iPhone warranty policies in its second-biggest market after its after-sales service suffered more than two weeks of condemnation by the state-run media.
- Cop who assaulted G20 protester pleads guilty at police hearing
- Video Conservatives dump candidate touting therapies to turn gay youth straight
- Pompey, Carrera, Loup all on Jays' ALDS roster
- Video Canada's Arthur McDonald co-winner of Nobel physics prize
- Ontario government reaches tentative deal with OPSEU
- Elementary teachers, government talks show signs of progress
- Homeless-shelter stunt raises eyebrows in Leaside
- R.A. Dickey's career has come full circle: DiManno


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A New Zealand clergyman has been dubbed the "knicker-vicar" for coming to the aid of women in his town who found themselves with a brief problem.
Concern was raised when the only clothing shop in the small North Island town of Inglewood stopped selling women's underwear.
So the Reverend Gary Husband proposed starting a regular "knickers-run" to the nearby city of New Plymouth.
"We get all the essentials here - apart from the ladies' essentials," he said.
The first run is planned before Christmas and, if successful, could be become a regular monthly event, he added.
He said he came up with the idea after the problem was brought to his attention by women in his congregation.
"Someone came up with the point that it was a bit difficult that ladies' essentials were not able to be bought in Inglewood," he told National Radio.
"So we're going to have what's been called a knickers run."
Volunteers will take anyone without transport the 20km (12 miles) from Inglewood to New Plymouth.
Rev Husband said the scheme was open to all, regardless of faith.
"This is for the community... the response has been positive, we've had one (other) denomination get in touch with us, so it's spreading."


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Cyber Security: Scam Awareness
In light of the recent news that more than 500 million Yahoo accounts were hacked, we wanted to remind our customers of the importance of cyber security. Although they’re reporting that sensitive financial data was not part of the stolen information, having personal information of any kind puts you and potentially others at risk. Here are a few other recent scams to look out for:
- First, whether on a personal device or a work-provided one, it’s important to be mindful of the kinds of apps you’re downloading. One recent example is the Pokémon Go app, which is wildly popular. Researchers have discovered that many “online tutorials” for the app are linked to malicious software. There is malicious software that specifically targets Android devices while some will target iOS devices. Learn more here.
- Next, there are several social media scams to be aware of, including fake accounts, comments, discounts, surveys and more. Read about the top five social media-related scams here.
- Lastly, and perhaps most disturbing, many online scammers are preying on the public’s empathy for tragedies like the Orlando club shooting and Louisiana flooding by running fake charity scams. Click here for a few tips to keep in mind when helping out.
When in doubt, Google the latest cyber scams before clicking on an unfamiliar link.
We hope these tips will help keep your work and personal devices digitally safe. For more useful information, click here for the Department of Homeland Security’s “Stop.Think.Connect.” Toolkit.


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Frozen food specialist Cook is set to launch a subscription service later this month, following a successful trial of the new scheme.
Retail Week can reveal the subscription service will be launched on May 23 as part of Cook’s Home Delivery offering. Customers will be able to set up an automated home delivery option for meals from as often as once a week to a minimum of once every two months.
Cook customers will be able to repeat or edit orders, push deliveries back, change frequencies and cancel orders.
Founder Ed Perry said the subscription service differed from competitors because it was based on convenience, rather than discounted prices.
“We don’t feel we need to do that,” he said. “Customers can try Cook food by popping into a shop or buying one item on our no minimum order, free click and collect service.
“As people are busy, the benefits of a frozen, fully flexible, no ties subscription is that there really is no waste. If you haven’t eaten what’s in the freezer or don’t have room for more, just push the next delivery date back.”
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It just might be the world’s first paperless car: Hyundai Motor America will include an iPad — loaded with a digital version of the thick owner’s manual — with the luxury sedan it plans to launch this fall.
The iPad pitch is aimed to tap into the hype over Apple Inc.’s sleek tablet computer, which is slated to be released Saturday, and will be included as part of the package for consumers who drive off with Hyundai’s Equus luxury sedan.
People who purchase the South Korean automaker’s first venture into the super-premium auto market will also be able to use one of the tablet’s pre-loaded applications to make service appointments.
“They are trying to position themselves as a modern, in-touch, technologically savvy brand. It is the sort of innovation you would expect from BMW or Mercedes, but not Hyundai,” said Mike Bloxham, director of insight and research at Ball State University’s Center for Media Design.
Known for budget cars such as the $9,970 Accent and the $14,145 Elantra, Hyundai is trying to break into the high-end market with the Equus, which the manufacturer compares to the Lexus LS 460 and Mercedes-Benz S550 sedans. The three vehicles are similar in size and are equipped with engines that have about the same power — in the 380-horsepower range.
(Hyundai is pursuing a strategy similar to one used in the late 1980s by Honda Motor Co. and Toyota Motor Corp., which expanded their portfolio of products by moving into higher-profit luxury cars with their respective Acura and Lexus brands.)
The Equus will sell for $50,000 to $60,000, according to Hyundai executives. The exact price will be announced closer to the sales launch. But they note it will be thousands of dollars less than a similarly equipped Lexus, which has a sticker price of $65,380, or Mercedes, which has a suggested price of $91,600.
And, reasoned the auto manufacturer, customers who would be inclined to spend more on their cars were the same people who would be drawn to trendy technological gadgets.
“We thought it was keeping the vehicle in tune with the owners we expect to attract,” said Chris Hosford, spokesman for the Fountain Valley-based U.S. sales division of the automaker.
But whether Hyundai will be able to compete effectively in that market — even by offering a $499 iPad as an incentive — is questionable, said Rebecca Lindland, auto industry analyst at IHS Global Insight.
“The car itself looks great and is high-end, but I think people will have a difficult time justifying paying that type of money for a Hyundai,” Lindland said.
Article courtesy of: fox8.com


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24 Feb, 2011, 09:00 ET
BOSTON and NEW YORK, Feb. 24, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Technology leaders in mobile advertising today announced the launch of OpenRTB Mobile, a functional committee of the successful OpenRTB consortium, dedicated to increasing the adoption of real-time bidding (RTB) standards in mobile advertising.
OpenRTB Mobile brings together leading mobile advertising companies representing the supply and demand-side of the ecosystem, including Sell-Side Platforms (SSPs) Nexage, PubMatic, and Smaato; Demand-Side Platforms (DSPs) DataXu, Fluent Mobile, and [x+1]; and ad network Jumptap. The group's mission is to establish guidelines that enable technology platforms to build standard real-time bidding APIs with basic commonalities that increase the efficiency and speed of adoption and ease interaction between platforms.
"Our goal is to dramatically accelerate the adoption of RTB in mobile," said Jim Butler, CTO & VP of Engineering of Nexage. "We believe that by striking first at the core supply and demand interfaces, we will eliminate substantial friction in the marketplace, while maintaining an atmosphere in which healthy competition and differentiation can thrive."
OpenRTB Mobile's first initiative is to set standards for the actual real-time bidding protocol, which is the primary dialog between a supply source (SSP or exchange) and demand platforms (DSPs or bidders). Its interactions have several layers and complexities that have caused many online platforms to diverge. With RTB at an early stage in mobile, there was a clear opportunity to learn from the prior experience in online, pull this core specification together, and standardize the way in which buyers and sellers communicate to create a more efficient marketplace.
"Industry analysts report that mobile advertising will top $1 billion in 2011," said Bill Simmons, OpenRTB Consortium Founder and DataXu CTO. "Creating an open bidding interface between inventory suppliers and bidders will drive strong growth and drive greater innovation, cooperation and profitability for the entire ecosystem. We estimate a free and open standard will accelerate adoption of real-time bidding auctions by at least a year."
Future OpenRTB Mobile initiatives are planned to address the handling of rich media, reliable click tracking, and a number of mobile focused taxonomies and best practices.
The OpenRTB Mobile committee works closely with the OpenRTB consortium to align interests across the digital advertising ecosystem and disseminate information and standards to interested parties. Updates on the OpenRTB Mobile spec, standards, new initiatives, and participants' input can be found at http://openrtb.info/mobile/.
Companies or individuals interested in learning more or participating in OpenRTB Mobile can contact the committee at [email protected].
About OpenRTB Mobile
OpenRTB Mobile functions as the mobile sub-committee of OpenRTB, a consortium of digital media companies dedicated to accelerating the growth of the real-time bidding (RTB) marketplace, by providing open industry standards for communication between mobile ad inventory buyers and sellers.
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What could your business do with a $10,000 end-of-year bonus? Perhaps a giant staff party to farewell 2020 in style, or a grunty new coffee machine. You could pay off some bills or invest in a new tool. If you’re an owner-operator, maybe a new home office is on the cards.
Whatever it is, consider it your reward for getting through a year like no other. 2020 has thrown up some unique challenges and we are impressed by the resilience of small and medium-sized businesses that have made some tough calls, have pivoted to meet new trading conditions – and some are now busier than ever.
At Z Energy we want to help you to continue to build your business, and maybe take some time out to recharge and take stock. To that end, we have five $10,000 End of Year Bonus packages to give away, going out to small businesses throughout New Zealand – the backbone of our economy.
“As a company, we really wanted to show our customers that we support their ongoing efforts as they bounce back,” says Nicolas Williams, General Manager, Commercial. “We are keen to help deserving businesses launch new marketing campaigns, or invest in wellness programmes, or reward their staff.”
Entry to the $10,000 End of Year Bonus competition is simple: sign up for our Z Business Plus fuel programme offering discounts at more than 550 Z, Caltex and Challenge locations. If you are an existing Z Business Plus customer, you automatically qualify for the draw by swiping your card in-store.
“I think every New Zealander is ready to say goodbye to 2020, a year that will go down in history for many reasons,” says SME Segment Manager Marie Fryer. “When thinking about what we could do to show our support to SMEs and offer a hand, we came up with the End of Year Bonus. Who couldn’t use an extra $10,000 right now? I am excited to see what our winners will do to drive their business further.”
Sign up for Z Business Plus by December 6 to be in the draw. Go to z.co.nz/business.


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Earlier today, we pondered what Google and Facebook’s move into the realm of URL shortening might mean for the leader in the space -- Bit.ly. While it’s too soon to tell what the long-term ambitions of Goo.gl and Fb.me might be, Bit.ly’s not taking the potential threat lying down. Tonight, the company revealed plans for Bit.ly Pro, a service that lets publishers create their own custom short URLs that use the Bit.ly platform.
Bitly (formerly Bit.ly) is a URL shortening and bookmarking service owned by Bitly, Inc., a Betaworks company. The current CEO is Peter Stern.
The Bitly URL shortening service is popular on microblogging website Twitter because it was the default URL shortening service on the website since May 6, 2009, replacing TinyURL. Several competing services, such as Trim, shut down their services after they found that it was difficult to compete with Bitly on Twitter. In addition to its main URL shortening service, the website provides tools to view statistics related to users that click on generated links. The company behind Bitly launched a similar service, but for online videos, to determine what videos are the most popular on the web.
Bitly announced October 12, 2010 that users can now automatically generate QR Codes that, when scanned with a mobile QR code reader, automatically direct users to shortened links.
Bitly Enterprise is a sharing platform to allow a business to manage multiple...


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Verka makes significant contribution to save dairy business during covid pandemic: Preneet Kaur
Inaugurates new quality control lab at Verka Milk Plant equipped with Danish Milk Analyze Machine
Patiala: Mrs Preneet Kaur, Member of Parliament from Patiala said that Verka Milk Plants of Punjab have made a significant contribution in saving the dairy business even during the COVID pandemic.
She was here to inaugurate the new Quality Control Lab and MilkoScan FT-1 Analyzer set up at a cost of Rs. 85 lakh under NPDD (National Program for Dairy Development) subsidized scheme.
Mrs Preneet Kaur said that Captain Amarinder Singh led Punjab Government made available, milk and milk products to the people during COVID at reasonable prices even when all other private institutions were closed. She said that the cooperative organisations of the government had proved its worth to serve the people of Punjab day and night at these testing times. Apart from this, turmeric milk was also launched to increase the people's immunity to fight diseases during the pandemic.
On this occasion Gurmail Singh, General Manager, Verka Milk Plant, Patiala thanked the Member of Lok Sabha and informed that with this MilkoScan analyzer, 14 types of milk adulteration besides availability of essential nutrients like fat, SNF, protein and lactose can be tested in the milk samples. The adulteration can be detected in just 30 seconds, which will help in further improving the quality of milk by immediately inspecting the quality of the milk obtained.
He said that this would further enhance the quality of milk and milk products supplied to the consumers in the market. He said that under the guidance of Minister of Cooperation S. Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa and MD Milkfed Kamaldeep Singh Sangha, Milkfed has procured this Milko Scan from the Danish multinational company Indifoss. On the occasion, the Chief Minister's OSD Mr. Amrit Pratap Singh Honey Sekhon was also present.


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Executive level positions aim to help company grow in several key regions of the U.S.
DUBUQUE, Iowa – Upholstery and case goods resource Flexsteel has promoted four sales executives to new positions with the company.
Brian Des Biens, previously regional sales manager, has been promoted to regional vice president, sales for the North Central region.
Ben Groesbeck, formerly regional sales director, has been promoted to regional vice president, sales for the West Coast.
Brad Miller, formerly a sales representative, has been promoted to regional vice president sales, for the Southeast.
Brett Snyder, formerly regional director of sales, has been promoted to vice president, business development.
They report to David Crimmins, vice president, sales at Flexsteel.
“As we continue our pursuit of aggressive profitable growth, we are creating many new opportunities for our members to step into,” he told Home News Now. “These promotions are reflective of individuals delivering superior results. In addition to role changes for Brett, Brad, Brian and Ben, which align with our long-term channel development strategies, we simultaneously elevated our regional sales leader positions to vice president level. This promotion better aligns with the strategic leadership that our sales leaders deliver. I’m very proud of the results that all four of our promoted VPs have delivered over the last 18 months in bringing in record top line sales, while simultaneously navigating disrupted global supply chains and managing profitability in a period of significant inflationary pressure.”


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The top stories from 2016
Lambs steal the spotlight - Mon 5th September 2016
With the livestock industry abuzz with record cattle prices, lambs stole the spotlight at Tamworth Regional Livestock Exchange (TRLX) today with the region’s best lambs competing for the JV Goodwin Memorial Shield.
Now in it’s 8th year, the annual feature sale and competition is held in memory of auctioneer, Jason Goodwin, who tragically passed away from a heart attack in 2008. Since then, the Tamworth Livestock Selling Agents Association (TLSAA) has awarded a shield in memory of their “great mate” and the event has grown in size and reputation.
Event Coordinator, Simon Burke says that the event is named after a “great sheep man, great agent and probably one of the best sheep auctioneers I have ever seen”.
“The shield was named after Jason for his love of the industry, his love of his clients and his love of selling sheep and lambs,” he said, adding that he was also a hell of a good bloke.
This year’s title went to Barton Partnership, “Dunreath” Garoo for their pen of export weight (50+kg) lambs (pictured top left). Their lambs also won the medium trade weight (45-49.5kg) category while the light trade weight (40-44.5kg) title went to Janet Anderson, “Bobby Byrne”, Garoo. The shield was presented to the winners by Jason Goodwin’s father, Terry.
In a remarkable display of generosity Colin Barton donated the proceeds from the sale of the Grand Champion pen to the Westpac Rescue Helicopter with livestock agent, Ian Morgan, selling the 20 lambs for $400/head. They were purchased by Thomas Foods International and Fletchers. Other donations from the sale of lambs will see the Westpac Rescue Helicopter almost $10000 better off.
Is 400c/kg the new 300c/kg? Monday 8th August 2016
It was another week of not so average averages at TRLX with the best cows making over $2000, the top steers making over $2200, the best bull making over $3000 and heifers closing in on 400c/kg. A total of 1078 head sold and averaged 339c/kg or $1273/head across all categories.
- The only categories that averaged under 300c/kg were bulls at 278c/kg and cows averaging 243c/kg;
- Cows topped at 293c/kg and $2020/head and averaged 243c/kg and $1180/head;
- Heifers topped at 387c/kg and $2093/head and averaged 326c/kg and $1074/head;
- Yearling heifers topped at 392c/kg and $1656/head and averaged 369c/kg or $1310/head;
- Vealer heifers topped at 384c/kg for a top price of $1044/head and averaged 358c/kg or $768/head;
- Steers topped at 416c/kg for a top price of $2239/head and averaged 374c/kg or $1400/head;
- Yearling steers topped at 409c/kg for a top price of $2291/head and averaged 381c/kg or $1390/head;
- Vealer steers topped at 427c/kg for a top price of $1452 and averaged 390c/kg or $788.
Haling's Hillside hat trick no April Fools joke - 1st April 2016
Tony & Tania Haling, Hillside Park, Woolbrook have taken out the Virbac Weaner Challenge for the third year running with their outstanding run of calves sold through IML at TRLX today. Champion pen (pictured top left) went to their Angus steers by Texas Angus and Pine Creek sires out of big frame Riverina bred cows. The Reserve Champion pen went to Pine Hill for their 8-9 month old Simmental steer calves sold through B&S. The Haling family also scooped the pool with their Charolais x Angus heifers by Palgrove bulls winning first place and their Angus heifers runner up. Judge, Rob McCarthy once again credited vendors on an outstanding job in a season where we had “5 minutes of good and the rest no good..”.
Tony Haling says that the prices this year were significantly up on last year, despite probably being the lightest calves of all the three years they’ve won the title. Their top steers made $1110, compared to $905 in 2015, and their top heifers made $940, compared to $800 in 2015. The Halings weren’t the only happy vendors. Carrying the banner for numerous Gloucester producers, first time vendor Charles Pearson says that today’s prices were the best he’s received in 25 years of breeding cattle, adding that his neighbours would be ‘eagerly awaiting my phone call’ to find out what their cattle made. He says that TRLX is gaining a reputation in his district for attracting a premium that far outweighed the cost of transport.
Record blown out of the water at TRLX - 25th January 2016
Livestock agents at in Tamworth were riding high on bragging rights this morning after blowing the 400c/kg benchmark well and truly out of the water with a pen of lightweight vealer steers sold by Landmark, Tamworth on account Agmon Investments, Primley Angus, Guyra. They made 430c/kg and averaged 162kg to return $698/head. Landmark agent, Simon Rafferty (pictured left) says that the record breaking calves were exceptionally well bred, cold country calves with a quite temperament and renowned “doing ability”.
The previous high at TRLX was 400c/kg - also for vealer steers sold by Landmark just two weeks ago - and follows an upward trajectory since prices hit the elusive 300c/kg mark in June last year. Meat and Livestock Australia’s (MLA) National Livestock Reporting Service (NLRS) quoted price increases of upwards of 55c/kg for lightweight steers and heifers, “for similar quality cattle to the previous sale” and “high restocker activity on lightweight cattle on the strength of a solid rain forecast” at today’s weekly TRLX sale and TLSAA spokesperson, Michelle Mawhinney, says that the store cattle market has also started 2016 on a high.
“At last week’s store cattle sale yearling steers sold to $1165 and weaner steers to $1010, yearling heifers sold to $1010 and weaners to $1000 and cows and calves sold to $2000, ‘ she said, adding that, in some cases, the market has nearly doubled since the same time last year.


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Tech News Summary:
- Audi has unveiled the 2024 Q7 SUV with a major facelift, featuring a refreshed design, customizable laser headlights, new exterior color options, and advanced driver-assist features.
- The facelift includes an imposing single-frame grille, redesigned vertical corner vents, and customizable Matrix HD LED headlights with laser lights, as well as new exterior color options and updated driver assistance functions displayed in the virtual cockpit.
- Buyers can choose from a 3.0-liter diesel engine with two different states of tune or a more powerful 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 engine for the SQ7, with the launch scheduled for March in Europe and a gradual global launch following.
Audi has unveiled the latest facelift for its popular Q7 SUV, showcasing enhanced design, technology, and powertrain options.
The updated Q7 boasts a revamped exterior design, with a more aggressive front grille and sleeker headlights, giving the vehicle a more modern and stylish appearance. The rear of the vehicle has also been updated with new taillights and a revised bumper, further enhancing its overall look.
On the inside, the Q7 has been equipped with the latest technology features, including an updated infotainment system and an array of driver-assist and safety features. The cabin has also been given a luxurious makeover, with high-quality materials and a refined design, adding to the vehicle’s premium appeal.
In terms of powertrain options, the Q7 will now offer a range of engine options, including a new plug-in hybrid variant, providing customers with more choice and flexibility when it comes to selecting the right powertrain for their needs.
Commenting on the latest updates, an Audi spokesperson said, “The Q7 has always been a standout in the luxury SUV segment, and with these latest updates, we are confident that it will continue to impress our customers with its combination of performance, technology, and luxury.”
The facelifted Audi Q7 is expected to hit the market in the near future, offering a compelling option for customers in the market for a premium, high-performance SUV.


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“Not every CMS is on the same product roadmap,” says Chris Chodnicki, executive director of strategic partnerships and IT at R2integrated.
To sort through the landscape, R2i launched its annual CMS Comparison Report to aid business leaders, marketers, and brands in differentiating CMS platform features.
The report, which was also launched on an interactive matrix, allows brands to examine the industry leading CMS platforms in a wide-range of categories, including security, support, ease of use, performance, management, interoperability, flexibility, built-in applications, and third-party integrations.
“In this market, one size does not fit all and there are many unique factors that will matter for an organization’s selection,” says Chodnicki. “This adds to the differentiation of the brand message but also starts to confuse the lines between marketing technology products, especially when it comes to analytics, personalization and even marketing automation capabilities and features.”
In response, Gartner, which helped inform the data in the report, advised marketers to examine the solutions across organizational and operational boundaries in four areas: master audience profile, workflow and collaboration, intelligent orchestration, and unified measurement and optimization.
This sort of martech maturity has created, and will continue to impact, a new paradigm shift in CMS, according to Chodnicki, whereby a brand’s management of multi-channel content will have little to no IT involvement.
“Organizations will need more marketing technologists and less IT engineers to enable marketing activities,” Chodnicki says. “What organizations need moving forward are platforms that offer better content distribution, semantic search, context-based personalization, and content impact metrics.”
So, it’s more important than ever, for brands to choose the right platform with the right functions and feature for their goals.
The R2i CMS Comparison Report was informed by Forrester’s Wave for Web Content Management, Gartner’s Magic Quadrant for Digital Marketing Hubs, original documentation, sandbox instances, community groups, and hundreds of actual implementations.


text: Share This Post Lyft News Uber Reduces Losses On Food Delivery Expansion, Modest Uptick In Ride Bookings By admin on February 15, 2021 No Comments / 13 views Spread the loveShares had risen after smaller ride-hail rival Lyft Inc said on Tuesday it might become profitable during the third quarter, three months ahead of a …Click here for Original Article Share This Post Related Articles Ride Hailing Services Market, 2020-2026: Key Companies, Status Quo, Industry Structure, Supply … March 21, 2020 Amazon Flex drivers won't be paid if they have to stay home due to coronavirus, but Uber's will March 8, 2020 How Is Coronavirus Impacting Freelancers And Gigsters? March 9, 2020 Chicago's demand for scooters is outpacing the limited supply, says report from Lime July 26, 2019 Poll Of Mass. Residents Finds Sharp Shift In Commuting Attitudes Amid Pandemic May 27, 2020 Uber is making a fintech push with a New York hiring spree June 10, 2019 Pace proposed bus cuts will hurt homeless, disabled people, agency says October 28, 2019 GM to end gas-powered car sales by 2035 January 30, 2021 Lyft is offering ways to donate food to charity with rides to the Southern Wing Showdown and Taste … August 19, 2019 Leave a Reply Cancel ReplyYou must be logged in to post a comment. Connect with: This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.


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BT's profits rose in the third quarter and its key competitors all depend on its infrastructure and services.
BT Group (LSE: BT-A) announced a third-quarter rise in profits of 48% today, despite a 5% fall in revenue. The company reported a £65m rise in free cash flow over the quarter and a reduction in net debt of £938m over the last nine months.
Earnings per share were up 40% to 6.3p over the last quarter and BT expects to hit its 2013 EBITDA target of £6bn a year early. The company's shares boast an attractive 4% dividend yield and a modest price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of around 10.
Over the last quarter, 56% of new broadband sign-ups chose BT, taking its broadband customer base to 6m.
BT is like an iceberg -- mostly invisible
What you may not realise about BT is just how much of its business is with other companies. BT's Global Services division reported new orders worth £1.6bn in the third quarter. New customers in the quarter included J Sainsbury (LSE: SBRY), Standard Life (LSE: SL) and Deutsche Post DHL, while the company is expanding into Asia Pacific and Latin America.
On the consumer side, BT's Openreach division manages the integration of competing telephone and internet service providers into BT's network. ISPs pay Openreach to install their equipment in BT's exchanges, and larger ISPs such as TalkTalk (LSE: TALK) and Sky (LSE: BSY), which offer their customers line rental, pay Openreach to setup and maintain this service.
New deals with Sky and Virgin Media
It doesn't stop there, either. BT Wholesale provides telephone and broadband services to some of its competitors for them to resell. Sky's current broadband service is provided by BT and the fibre-based broadband service it announced this week will also be provided by BT.
Similarly, today's results included the confirmation of a three-year contract extension with Virgin Media (LSE: VMED) to provide managed telephone services to its five million customers.
BT also used these results to announce that it will double the speeds available to BT Infinity broadband customers in the spring. In most cases, this means speeds will rise from 40MBPS to 80MBPS, with a select few customers who have fibre directly to their premises seeing speeds of up to 330MBPS.
As safe as houses?
BT has a lot to offer investors, with solid earnings, manageable debt, a solid dividend and a modest P/E.
It can grow through customer acquisition and through providing the same services to its competitors -- what's not to like?
> Here's your free Essential Investor Kit. Over the next few weeks, you'll get share ideas, a sector report and much, much more. Don't miss out!
More from Roland Head:


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Tag: Yakuza Kiwami
News Multiple Yakuza Games Have Been Re-Added To Xbox Game Pass
Out of nowhere!
In a bit of a surprise move, Sega has brought three Yakuza titles back to Xbox Game Pass following their departures late last year. Yakuza 0, Yakuza Kiwami and Yakuza Kiwami 2 have all re-entered the library today, July 5th. As far as we're aware, there's been no formal announcement from Microsoft regarding this move, but it's a...
News Microsoft Announces More Xbox Game Pass Titles, Including Yakuza Kiwami
We can't wait
As part of Microsoft's Inside Xbox event held earlier today, the company announced various new titles coming to Xbox Game Pass in the near future. Six games were mentioned in all, although we're not sure whether all of them are arriving in April just yet. Some of the highlights include first-person adventure game Journey to the Savage...


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This is what every Apple aficionado is looking forward to - the iPhone which went on sale initially in the U.S. on Friday (June 29).
What's so great about the iPhone that people would want to cough up $499USD for this much-hyped gadget? By now most of you would know that this device has all the bells and whistles you would want in your mobile phone.
Here are some of the main features: it's a quad-band mobile phone, has 4 to 8GB of memory depending on which model you go for, has internet access, an MP3 music player, a 2 megapixel digital camera, and more.
The iPhone is not a cheapo gadget just like most of Apple's products. But you can give a hat tip to Steve Jobs for his usual flair in selling Apple's stuff.
The best news related to the iPhone launch is that every Apple employee with more than one year's service in the company will get one free.
The iPhone will only go on sale in Europe later this year. Apple said they expected to sell more than 10 million iPhones by next year when it hit the Asian market.
Apple's iPhone Makes It To Store
Apple's 'magical' iPhone unveiled
iPhone a smash - because everyone else is stupid
Going gaga over Apple's iPhone


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According to a report by tech website Tom’s Hardware, there has been a significant rise in value and product volume in the discrete graphics card market over the past year, favoring consumers.
The article says that discrete graphics card shipments from AIB partners surged, with John Peddie Research reporting a 32.2% year-over-year increase in overall shipments from Nvidia (NASDAQ:NVDA) and Advanced Micro Devices (NASDAQ:AMD).
While shipments rose, AIB market value fell from $12.4 billion down to just $8.6 billion due to lower GPU prices.
In addition, the market share between AMD and Nvidia is also said to have changed during the past year.
“In Q1 of 2021 AMD had a 20% market share in the discrete GPU market, with Nvidia at 80%. In Q1 of 2022, market share shifted towards AMD a little bit, with AMD now at 24% market share and Nvidia at 75%,” wrote Tom’s Hardware journalist Aaron Klotz.
While the change isn’t significant, it is a win for AMD as the company has struggled to gain a share of the GPU market front for years.


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Retailers are keeping their fingers crossed that a "Mega Monday" of brisk post-Christmas Day sales will lure shoppers endowed with holiday gift cards and bargain-hunters' attitudes.
Though final numbers won't be available for a few days, up to 60 percent more shoppers were expected to shop on Dec. 26 compared to last year, according to ShopperTrak.
At the Mall of America in Bloomington, parking ramps were jammed and people streamed into the building from overflow lots, some with bags of return items, others ready to spend.
Spokesman Dan Jasper predicted that more than 150,000 people would walk through the doors at the mall, outpacing last year's crowd of about 140,000. Even after an evening melee at the mall that involved groups of racing, screaming teenagers (see related story), shoppers were still flowing in.
"We've been waiting for the big sale after Christmas," said Dana Matykiewicz, 17, of West St. Paul. "We haven't been shopping in a while."
Her sister, Nicole, 15, sat outside Wet Seal surrounded by multiple bags that held such things as shoes she bought at Coach and a couple of summer skirts -- purchased at half off.
Last year, about 190 million people hit the nation's malls on Dec. 26, and spent about $5.7 billion dollars, according to ShopperTrak. This year, analysts expect Dec. 26 to be the third busiest shopping day, after Black Friday and Dec. 17.
A blizzard-free day as well as a turn of the calendar is expected to work in retailers' favor for a post-holiday boost.
The day after Christmas fell on a Monday for the first time in six years, providing retailers with a full day of store operations as well as a shopping day that didn't coincide with church or football.
In a year when online sales are expected to rise about 15 percent, many retailers, including Macy's and Target, opened their doors at 7 a.m. Monday, hoping extended hours would keep the cash register ringing.
At Crate & Barrel, known for its Dec. 26 deals on holiday clearance items, a line of early-bird shoppers snaked through the Galleria in Edina all the way to the Good Earth by 6:30 a.m., said Jill Noack, vice president and general manager. The parking lot stayed crowded through most of the day.
"Our tenants said there were plenty of bags coming out, so it wasn't all returns," Noak said.
Through Saturday, holiday sales at Galleria had increased in the "low double digits" compared to last year, she said.
The National Retail Federation predicts overall holiday sales to rise 3.8 percent over last year, boosting its original forecast of 2.8 percent.
This year may mark the return of consumers' urge to splurge on themselves, after years of penny-pinching. About 36 percent planned to shop for themselves on Dec. 26, according to an American Express survey.
Friends Rayna Meadows and Kayla Black, both 14, said they each spent about $120 on clothes and multiple bottles of Pink perfume from Victoria's Secret. It was the high school friends' first time out to the Mall of America on Dec. 26.
While taking a break at a fast food stand, both said they were eager to use their Christmas cash and gift cards at sales.
Joyce Thurow of Tomah, Wis., turned post-holiday shopping into a two-day vacation in the Twin Cities, starting at the Mall of America. She came to town with her daughter and two grandchildren, staying in a hotel that offered free shuttle rides to the mall.
"Just spending a little money on some odds and ends, looking for bargains," she said, with a bag resting at her feet. "Gotta keep the economy moving."
Granddaughter Keagan Cherrier, 9, had never been to the Mall of America. She was already wearing new tan boots she'd bought.
As for her first-time thoughts? "A lot of people."
Jackie Crosby • 612-673-7335