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All your Sports Tech news in one place, covering topics like AR/VR, Data Analytics, eSports, Live Streaming, Sports Betting, Wearables, etc.
Hi Sports Tech fans,
Another week goes by and another week filled with streaming deals, partnerships, eSports and betting news.
This week Google announced Stadia, a cloud based gaming platform that has the potential to play high end games using Google servers and graphics processors to do all the heavy lifting so gamers don’t need to buy high end rigs to play.
This is a clear play to get into the eSports business and with Youtube it has a ready made platform to get gamers streaming and consuming content all in the Google ecosystem. It’s part a shot at Microsoft and their new gaming platform and partly a shot at Twitch, the leader in eSports streaming, an Amazon company.
March 15, 2019NEW ORLEANS – During the Pelicans match-up against the Milwaukee Bucks on Tuesday, March 12, the New Orleans Pelicans and Unblockable Inc., launched HotStreak, a real-time sports prediction game on iOS. The app allowed fans the opportunity to compete for prizes by predicting player specific in-game occurrences during each quarter, such as how many points,
March Madness is the biggest betting event in sports along with the Super Bowl. The American Gaming Association expects American’s will wager near $8.5 Billion on the NCAA Tournament - through brackets, bookies, sportsbooks and online - as legal sports betting continues to grow across the country.
Google has unveiled its Stadia cloud gaming service at the Game Developers Conference in San Francisco. It’s a game stream service that will instantly stream titles to PCs, laptops, tablets, TVs, and phones
The American Athletic Conference and ESPN have reportedly reached a long-term agreement that is worth $1 billion. The new deal would pay UCF and other AAC schools close to $7 million per year when it goes into effect to start the 2020-21 academic year. ESPN would pay an average of $83.3 million per year, according to the Sports Business Journal. That’s four times the amount the AAC receives through its current rights agreement of a little more…


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Duncan Logan, founder of Rocketspace is originally Scottish and moved to San Francisco some time ago. His first venture didn’t work but 20 months ago, he then decided to found Rocketspace. Rocketspace could be described as “offices as a service” Logan said. He confided to our team of bloggers that he had read the Lean Start-up and he tested the principles he’d found in the book by creating a fake company and posting an ad on Craigs’ list. He got something like 10 requests by companies in 12 hours. Then he tried again by adding that only tech companies are wanted and he got 15 responses in 12 hours. That’s how Rocketspace, start-up accelerator in downtown San Francisco, was born. Today, Duncan Logan delivered his vision of why the Valley is the world’s most exciting place for high tech entrepreneurship.
Duncan Logan, founder of Rocketspace delivered his 360° view of entrepreneurship
a start-up accelerator in downtown San Francisco
15 companies are hosted by Rocketspace, and there is space for 150 people. According to Logan, this is the largest “tech accelerator” in San Francisco. “30% of companies hosted here are from overseas who want to mix with the ecosystem in the Valley. 30 other co-working spaces exist but this one is dedicated to tech companies” Logan added. Spotify was hosted here for instance, but there are also companies at seed money stage.
“Overseas companies have too broad offerings” Logan said, “US companies have narrower offerings and they therefore, they are much more focused; because it’s such a huge country” he said.
co-working spaces have nothing to do with real-estate
Within about 6 weeks from creation, it dawned on Duncan and his teams that “real estate has nothing to do with co-working, and that it was all about the eco-system. It’s all about speed here, most start-uppers don’t care about privacy” Logan added. As a matter of fact, most of them don’t worry about building a sales team either. ‘The real trend behind Rocketspace Duncan said is that before, you would have to raise a lot more money and spend more time on getting yourselves organised, now you don’t”. So how much would you need to get started? “Under half a million dollars” he responded “and after 15-16 weeks, they can have large numbers of customers without spending too much money” … that is in case it takes off, but the system is such that investors know what to expect.
young people don’t want to commute … nor get into an office
“Over here, young people don’t want to commute, they don’t want to own cars, so there has been a real emphasis for young companies to be based in San Francisco [rather than Silicon Valley which is an hour away from the City] and this is why real estate prices doubled in 18 months!” Duncan Logan added. Besides, “the valley is more about infrastructure start-ups (i.e. cloud computing, storage and servers etc.) whereas “the City is about young companies” he said.
“Tech founders aren’t very social”
Most of the companies here are at “A” stage he said. For most of them, the risk is on the entrepreneurs, VCs are always pushing for more evidence of future success, and when you are a first time founder you have to think about what business can be financed vs. trying to build the most amazing business” Logan said.
the 3 pillars of Rocketspaces’s business
Now we hit what was the most interesting part of the meeting. Logan delivered his vision for Rocketspace and described what makes it special. “We see ourselves as a kind of platform” he said and he described the 3 pillars of Rocketspace’s business:
- access to capital: close relationship with business angels, venture capitalists and Rocketspace have a very good view of deal flow, Logan said. Specially for outside companies, this is essential
- access to talent: MIT, Harvard, Stanford etc. “talent is one of the overriding factors” Logan said. “We nurture those relationships in order to bring talent to new start-ups and we can do this for nothing” he said
- access to customers: this is an “enormous growth item for Rocketspace” Logan said. Large companies like IBM or Microsoft are connected to the Office Space and this is what makes it possible for start-ups to connect to that ecosystem. “Smart companies are engaging with start-ups early in the process. They will come in here and they will say ‘we have a real interest in mobile payments’ for instance and we’ll start to shortlist maybe 4-5 start-ups and this is a very symbiotic way of doing business he said. IBM is working with dozens of start-ups for instance, and Rocketspace is constantly organising demo days and start-ups networking events. “Kodak, Blockbusters etc. took a different approach and refused to change the way they worked and they aren’t here anymore” Logan said.
“There are probably 250 very exciting companies around the world” Logan said, and we’d like to have them at least for Rocketspace for a year. This is our goal for the next 10 years.
How do you do networking?
We have four floors and 2 next door. We do a lot of dinners. “Tech founders aren’t very social” Logan said. We have up to 20 people at dinner and we have all the VCs that count at these dinners he said. There are 10 events going on every night on average in San Francisco and there are a lot of opportunities the entrepreneur said.
“We are not coaching hands-on like an incubator. Obviously it’s all our interest that they succeed. We never publicise who is here. We are fiercely independent. We give 3 contacts for bankers, VCs, partners etc. Rocketspace refuses to take sides.
A lot of this has a lot to do about how companies are getting funding. “VCs are aggressive. They probably see 250 companies before they invest in one. Yet, once they do they are pretty nervous. By the time a start-up is raising money, there will be up to 3-4 VCs competing with one another. So once they are committed they are pretty aggressive. It’s so hard to get in for them… Yet, for start-ups it can take them months before they can find an investor” Duncan Logan added.
I don’t think there is too much money, but the amount of money required to start a new company has dropped the founder of Rocketspace said.
why is Silicon Valley different?
There are great start-ups in UK, France and other places. But when you are in football you have to be in a environment in which you can rub shoulders with top class teams otherwise you don’t know whether you are good at the game or not. That was Logan’s way of explaining that the premier league is taking place in Silicon Valley, this is where you compare yourself to the best companies. People like Reid Hoffmann (founder of LinkedIn), you understand that they have a different understanding of the world Logan said.
but there are other reasons why …
Scale is the issue, mostly in Europe (where there are many languages spoken and smaller numbers of users who are culturally very fragmented). Indian and Chinese companies can scale Logan said. We see copycat ideas happening in certain places like China and India and “they can crack America!” he said. You have to be in the sort of size like dropbox, airBnB etc. and India and China can achieve that kind of scale and found multibillion dollar companies”.
“Even Russian companies” he added “when they want to conquer the world, come to America!”.
plans to expand to other countries?
“US immigration laws are ridiculous” Logan said. “We are tripling our size here in San Francisco but it would make sense to have a Rocketspace in Europe (it could be London or Berlin) and one in Asia” Logan added. Plug and play tech centre (where we are headed to now) were the pioneers he said, but their mentality is very commercial, and there is an obligation to fill the spaces. Roketspace sees themselves as very different from that.

domain: news


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You Searched For "db schenker"
DB Schenker uses high-tech labels for shipment tracking16 March 2023 3:45 PM GMT
Tracking hardware and battery fit in adhesive label; technology applicable for single cartons and small consignments
DB Schenker, MSC seal biofuel deal to reduce supply chain emissions15 Feb 2023 3:12 PM GMT
First-of-its-kind agreement between a freight forwarder and a shipping line
DB Group sets off on a profitable path29 July 2022 9:55 AM GMT
DB Group generates EUR 876 million in operating profit in the first half of 2022 and revenues are up by 28.4%
DB Schenker acquires logistics software provider Bitergo7 Jun 2022 6:07 AM GMT
The logistics service provider may satisfy particular client requirements and adapt to the rising complexity of logistics by using standardised...
DB Schenker appoints Kinjal Pande as India CEO11 April 2022 3:04 PM GMT
Pande to take over from interim CEO Vivek Chopra who remains in charge of air freight for India and Indian subcontinent
Ukraine Conflict: Employee safety first, says carriers, logistics cos25 Feb 2022 5:26 AM GMT
Russian invasion of Ukraine, which is getting severe, is fraying the already frayed supply chains
Lenovo joins DB Schenker, Lufthansa Cargo on their CO2-neutral flights11 Jan 2022 1:28 PM GMT
Another major global player joins DB Schenker and Lufthansa Cargo on their way towards greener supply chains: Global hardware technology provider...
DB Schenker pre-order 1,500 full-electric vehicles from Volta Trucks30 Nov 2021 12:37 PM GMT
Just days after the conclusion of the COP 26 conference in Glasgow, DB Schenker and Volta Trucks have confirmed an intensive partnership and pre-order...
DB Schenker extends booking platform connect 4.0 for Indian air cargo12 July 2021 10:15 AM GMT
July 12, 2021: DB Schenker announced the expansion of its digitally forward innovation, connect 4.0, the platform that allows customers to book air...


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Fraud prevention expert and Kount CEO Brad Wiskirchen explains how companies can both grow their digital business while reducing the...
In this episode, Vasu Jakkal, CMO of FireEye, shares her insights from the frontlines of the battle against cyber villains,...
Cyber security is becoming a matter of good corporate governance, good ethics, and quite simply – good business.
As every enterprise is becoming more and more data-driven, it is key for the Board to realize that cyber security is becoming a central tenet both of its core business and of its social impact and governance strategies.
It is now becoming crystal clear that cybersecurity – beyond good practice and good ethics – is quite simply good business. As a recent Cisco study made clear, cybersecurity will help fuel (and protect) an estimated $5.3trillion in private sector digital Value at Stake in the next 10 years. This is the kind of numbers boards cannot afford to overlook.
Talent alienation is the biggest issue behind the cybersecurity management skills gap, but it shouldn’t be the case
It is probably the dream of many CISOs to inherit one day such transformational challenge where money is – apparently – no object. In practice, however, it can also be a curse if you fail to deliver.


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aiBANK, a leading provider of integrated retail, corporate, and Islamic banking solutions in Egypt, announced that it has entered into a long-term partnership agreement with Visa, a world leader in digital payments, to provide customers with a new integrated package of e-payment solutions. This strategic partnership aims to provide customers with a comprehensive range of innovative products and services tailored to modern digital payment preferences.
The collaboration signifies aiBANK’s dedication to promoting financial inclusivity and accelerating the adoption of digital transactions in line with the directives of the Central Bank of Egypt and the Financial Regulatory Authority. By offering cutting-edge solutions aligned with the latest digital payment trends, this partnership aims to encourage customers to embrace electronic payment methods across all segments.
Key representatives from both aiBANK and Visa gathered for the protocol’s signing ceremony, which included Iman Badr, Senior Group Head Consumer & Business Banking at aiBANK; Malak Al-Baba, Visa Egypt’s Country Manager; Tamer Seif El-Din, CEO and Managing Director of aiBANK; Amr Gamali, Deputy CEO Business at aiBANK; Hisham Abdel-Aal, Deputy CEO Control & Support at aiBANK; Sherif Nada, Chief of Retail & Branches Network at aiBANK; and Mohamed Abdel Monsef, Head of Retail Products Development at aiBANK; and Ahmed ElKaffass, Director, Business Development from Visa.
Iman Badr, Senior Director, Consumer & Business Banking at aiBANK, said: “Our aim is to create a seamless banking experience by offering the latest digital payment solutions. In collaboration with Visa, one of the largest and most renowned payment brands worldwide, the bank will be able to provide the best service to customers in Egypt and during their time abroad, benefiting from Visa’s massive global network.”
“This collaboration broadens our e-payment offering, aligning with aiBANK’s goals to promote financial inclusion and digital innovation in the Egyptian banking sector. Our intention is to expand our market presence in Egypt by introducing innovative banking products catering to various customer segments,” added Sherif Nada, Chief of Retail, Branches Network at aiBANK.
Mohamed Abdel Monsef, Head of Retail Banking Product Development at aiBANK, commented on the partnership, saying: “The foundation of our initiatives is centered on nurturing strategic and impactful partnerships, fueling our robust research and development efforts to provide innovative, safer, and more exclusive products to empower customers and provide them with comfort.
Malak Al-Baba, Visa Egypt’s Country Manager, expressed enthusiasm for the cooperation, stating: “We are pleased to collaborate with aiBANK in providing advanced digital payment services to the Egyptian market. Our strategic partnership will introduce new solutions and enhance customer experiences, aligning with our shared vision to improve digital payment options and cultivate a convenient and secure environment for electronic transactions. Visa is committed to supporting aiBANK through providing innovative and reliable solutions and exceptional benefits that facilitate a seamless transition for customers, making digital payments an intuitive and preferred choice.”
This collaboration follows aiBANK’s earlier partnership with InstaPay earlier this year, which empowered customers to instantly transfer money between bank accounts, cards, and digital wallets using their mobile phones, underscoring the bank’s commitment to fostering digital payment solutions and promoting a cashless society.


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uDraw animating Down Under on Feb 24
THQ's illustrating tablet set to cost A$119.95 ($118.38) when it launches later next month.
During the height of the Guitar Hero and Rock Band craze, THQ raised eyebrows when it announced that it was also entering into the peripheral domain. After working on the project in secret for an unspecified amount of time, THQ last year unveiled the uDraw GameTablet and released it in North America just in time for the 2010 Christmas holidays. After enjoying successful sales in the US, THQ Australia has announced plans to bring the uDraw peripheral and accompanying software to Australia.
With its release set for February 24, the uDraw GameTablet will set gamers back A$119.95 ($118.38) and comes with a copy of uDraw Studio. Two other uDraw games--Pictionary and Dood's Big Adventure--are also planned for release on the 24th.
uDraw's heritage actually starts in Australia, with the concept for the gaming touchpad originating out of THQ's Australian office. From there it was sent to the software giant's research and development team, where it was further developed. Late last year THQ's executive vice president and CFO Paul Pucino hinted that if uDraw proved to be successful, the company would look at licensing out the ability to make games for the hardware. That would mean that non-THQ games for the peripheral could be released.
GameSpot may get a commission from retail offers.


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The Sports Trade Awards were hosted on 7 July to over 170 members of the industry to celebrate award-winning products, people, retailers and services. Despite untypically British sweltering conditions, there was an electric atmosphere as the trade waited with baited breath to find out who had won in each category. With a voting process in which over 700 individuals had their say, there was no question that each winner wasn’t thoroughly deserved and crucially, the event provided perfect networking opportunities.
Datateam Business Media Ltd has officially announced ISPO, the global trade show, as 'Best New Retailer' for the inaugural Sports Trade Awards.
Datateam Business Media Ltd officially announce Mizuno as the sponsor of Best Independent Retailer
Jordan Fitness and Canonbury announced as the latest Sports Trade Awards sponsors!
Datateam Business Media Ltd has officially announced Jordan Fitness as the sponsor of the ‘Best Fitness Retailer’ and Canonbury as sponsor of ‘Sports Brand of the Year’ categories for the Sports Trade Awards
Sports Awards Shortlist!
After the voting process, the following have been shortlisted for the Sports Trade Awards:
Emerald Frog Marketing announced as the latest Sports Trade Awards sponsor
Datateam Business Media Ltd officially announce Emerald Frog Marketing, the health and fitness PR company, as the sponsor of the after dinner favours
Sports Awards Nominations now closed
The nomination process for the inaugural Sports Trade Awards has now closed.
Sports Marketing Surveys Inc. confirmed as the latest Sports Trade Awards sponsor
Datateam Business Media has officially announced Sports Marketing Surveys Inc., the sports research business, as best Racquet Sport Brand sponsor for the Sports Trade Awards which is set to take place this forthcoming July.
Only one week left to cast your Sports Trade Awards nominations!
The nomination process for the Sports Trade Awards officially closes on Tuesday 7th May at 5pm
Skechers announced as the latest Sports Trade Awards Sponsor!
Datateam Business Media Ltd has officially announced Skechers as the sponsor of the 'Best Running Retailer' category for the Sports Trade Awards
Hi-Tec confirmed as Sports Trade Awards Sponsor!
Datateam Business Media Ltd has officially announced Hi-Tec, the British sports and outdoor brand, as the sponsor of the 'Personality of the Year' category for the Sports Trade Awards
Nike announced as charity sponsor for Sports Trade Awards!
Datateam Business Media Ltd has officially announced Nike, the multinational sports corporation, as charity sponsor for the inaugural Sports Trade Awards
On the night Nike will be sponsoring the charity 'Heads and Tails' game during the evening and offering a signed football shirt as a competition prize.
The nominated charity for the event chosen by Nike is 'The Girl Effect'. "With 250 million adolescent girls living in poverty, girls can play a key role in solving some of the most persistent developmental problems in the world today," said a spokesperson from Nike. "With key investment in education, health and economic investment, issues such as child marriage, teen pregnancy, and HIV/AIDS can be more successfully prevented."
Awards Category Sponsors
'I believe that brands and retailers should have some recognition for both their innovation and customer service, and what better way than to have an awards evening based on votes from the people they work with'
'British brand Hi-Tec is built on strong foundations supporting the sports independent and we will continue to offer unrivalled support to the industry including the Sports Awards 2013'
'Good PR and marketing isn't all about one way traffic, it’s about listening to the market place and understanding what they want. That's why we are in full support of the Sports Awards 2013.'
'As leaders in providing insight and understanding to the sports industry on the levels of sports participation, on what participants want from their sport and the brands being used, Sports Marketing Surveys Inc. are delighted to support the Sports Trade Awards and celebrate the brands and the industry who deliver outstanding performance.'
'Canonbury are delighted to sponsor ‘Sports Brand of Year’ and be associated with this fantastic event for the Sports Trade'
'The Sports Trade Awards reflect the thoughts and experiences of the users in the marketplace. There is no stronger endorsement for retailers than that!'
'At Mizuno we are dedicated to supporting the sports independent retail trade and there is no better way than sponsoring the award for Best Independent Retailer'
'Sponsoring this award is a great way for ISPO to support the industry and encourage new retailers to discover their potential with us.'
'With a global brand involved, it gives added legitimacy to the event and will ensure that the night will portray the whole industry under one roof. It really is a night not to miss!'
'The Skechers Performance Division, developers and producers of an extensive collection of technologically advanced and dynamic performance footwear are proud to be a part of the Sports Trade Awards and to show our support to all independent sports retailers.'
'It will be a great opportunity, that is long overdue, to give well deserved recognition to our hard working independent retailers and suppliers.'
'As the UK trade association for the sports industry, we're pleased to support an event which acknowledges our member companies' great work.'


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Experts have emphasized the need to implement a project to produce high quality tra fish breeds for the Mekong Delta region, which will bring high economic efficiency, improve product quality and develop a national brand to boost the sustainable development of tra fish industry.
Tra fish breeds
Experts said that poor quality strains of the fish have seriously affected the volume produced and harmed the economic efficiency of farming areas in the Mekong Delta region.
The tra fish is the most populous freshwater species in the region and the second most important Vietnamese export in the seafood sector, only second to shrimp.
A strategy has been worked out to develop An Giang into a hi-tech centre to supply high quality breeds for households in the Mekong Delta region.
The Mekong Delta region is currently home to over 100 artificial reproduction centres for tra fish and nearly 1,900 tra fish breeders households covering an area of about 1,500 ha.
It is estimated that over 16 billion tra fish are produced each most of which originating from Dong Thap, An Giang and Can Tho. An Giang in particular is the largest producing region of tra fish in the Mekong delta region, with output reaching 1.5 -4 billion fish breeds per year.
However, in recent years, the quality of the breeds has significantly decreased.
Nguyen Thanh Tung, director of the Institute for Fisheries Economics and Planning under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development attributed the unstable supply source to the market to the low quality of breeds, the prominence of diseases and scattered nature of the production process.
It is essential to enhance better coordination, which he believes, will enable higher quality fish to be bred in turn helping the sustainable development of the tra fish industry, he said.
The Prime Minister recently assigned An Giang province to develop a project to produce high quality breeds for the Mekong Delta region and devise orientations to turn An Giang into a hi-tech centre for tra fish high quality breeds.
Lam Quang Thi, vice chairman of The An Giang Province People’s Committee said An Giang is one of the cradles of tra fish breeds and houses the largest production plant in the country.
Mr Thi also underlined the importance of ensuring an all encompassing strategy for tra fish development, from producing higher quality breeds to seeking outlets for tra fish in order to turn it into a national product.
In a recent seminar to address the issue of declining standards, participants underscored the necessity of carrying out the project to produce high quality breeds at three levels for the Mekong Delta region. These measures will enhance economic efficiency, improve the overall product quality and improve the tra fish brand.
Dang Quoc Tuan, Deputy Managing Director of the Vietnam – Australia Group said businesses will play a leading role with in the drive for higher standards. Their financial muscle and management skills will assist in the search for advanced technologies and solutions for development.
He advised farmers directly involved with the production of tra fish to adopt a more open-minded approach to the application of advanced technologies in production. He also highlighted the need for a coherent strategy laid out by the state for the industry to follow in order to produce higher quality generations of fish and ensure sustainable development.
Vu Van Tam, deputy minister of Agriculture and Rural Development said the tra fish industry aims to provide around 50% of the demand for breeds by 2020 and 70% by 2025, equivalent to 2.5-2.8 billion of tra fish breeds for localities in the Mekong Delta region.
He added that creating a good source of breeds has played an important role in production of tra fish, noting that all relevant agencies need to co-ordinate in order to produce tra fish breeds at three levels.
The MARD plans to fine-tune technical standards from production conditions, varieties, and tra fish production chain, national brand building, origin traceability, to meet all market requirements especially from the demanding markets.


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When it comes to being a Global Brand, standing out from the competition becomes more of a challenge! So, for InXpress to once again be announced as one of the finalists for White Collar Franchise Of The Year, 2023, for the third consecutive year, is no mean feat!
The Global Franchise Awards represents “the most prestigious awards in franchising”, as franchises with a global presence are judged by an elite panel of franchising associations and governing bodies from around the world, including the bfa’s Pip Wilkins. Like other finalists, InXpress are being judged according to the following standards:
- The franchise has truly global intentions.
- There is a great relationship established between franchisor and franchisee, which comes from the level of
- communication between Head Office and the whole network.
- The franchise has an innovative marketing and promotions plan.
- The brand has advanced the cause of international franchising.
InXpress is an international franchise, successfully operating in 14 countries. They offer their franchise network the security of a shipping and logistics business model which works, no matter where they’re based. It’s why we have 450 franchisees who are building businesses in spite of the difficulties of the last year, with Brexit and the economic challenges as fuel and prices increased. None of this phased our network, who continue to work hard to deliver exceptional service, delivering on the promises they make to their customers. InXpress franchisees succeed because the support they receive from the franchisor gives them confidence in approaching new customers, whilst retaining current ones.
Winners of the Global Franchise Awards 2023 are set to be announced at the end of February, in Las Vegas, as part of the IFA Annual Convention. InXpress representatives will be there hoping they come home with the award, again, this year!


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US investment giant Fidelity Investments is reportedly looking for talent to help it launch a cryptocurrency exchange that will allow its clients to “buy and sell certain digital assets.” Sources familiar with the matter purportedly revealed the firm has been working on the project for over a year.
According to Business Insider the wealth firm, which manages over $2.5 trillion in assets, has sent employees job postings that reveal it is looking for a DevOps system engineer to “help engineer, create, and deploy a Digital Asset exchange to both a public and private cloud.”
Moreover, the company is looking to staff up its crypto division, the Fidelity Digital Asset Services unit, with workers that can develop a “first-in-class custodian services for Bitcoin and other digital currencies.”
The report cites unnamed sources said to be familiar with Fidelity’s crypto ambitions. While right now Coinbase users can use Fidelity’s platform to check their portfolios alongside other investments, the move would likely see Fidelity directly hold cryptocurrencies.
While launching a cryptocurrency exchange would be one of the biggest moves a prominent Wall Street firm has made into the crypto market, it would put Fidelity Investments in competition with other industry giants, including Coinbase, investment app Robinhood, and Goldman Sachs-backed Circle, which recently acquired Poloniex for $400 million.
At press time, it isn’t clear whether Fidelity Investments’ new cryptocurrency exchange would be available on the firm’s main platform, or whether it would be launched as a separate entity. Similarly, there’s no available information on when it’s set to be launched.
According to Dave Weisberger, a market structure specialist, Fidelity’s move may be a smart one, as it will help legitimize the market and would strategically make sense. He said:
“They have many of the components already: a significant retail footprint across the spectrum of active to less active traders, a prime brokerage area that knows how to account for custody of assets, they operate an ATS already (called 'CrossStream'), and have a reputation for excellence and risk control in their product offerings.”
It’s worth noting Fidelity Investments’ chief executive officer, Abigail Johnson, is a well-known bitcoiner. Last year, she revealed the company internally experimented with cryptocurrencies, and even launched a small mining operation that was “actually making a lot of money,” despite only being there for educational purposes.
At the time, Johnson revealed she is a “believer,” and that she was one of the few “from a large financial services company that has not given up on digital currencies.” The company’s charitable wing, Fidelity Charitable, raised over $22 million in bitcoin last year. At press time, it still allows philanthropists to donate using the flagship cryptocurrency.


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Long-standing provider of software solutions for the window industry, Windowlink, has doubled its workforce since the successful management buy-out engineered by the current MD, Mark Dudley, in 2013.
With five new additions to the team, including software developers and customer service experts, the company has also seen strong investment in IT and telecommunications. Mark said: “Over the past two years we have invested huge resources in order to further develop and improve our two market leading design, sales and presentation software modules – Vector for conservatories and orangeries, and Focus for windows and doors.
“We’ve updated our programmes constantly to reflect the changing market trends and the launch of new, innovative products, such as the solid tiled roof for conservatories, or the popular roof lanterns. But we’ve also developed new features to effectively help installers large and small across the UK sell their products easier to the end consumer.”
One of these features is Autograph, a digital signature facility, which allows sales reps to produce a contract and get it signed in one visit to the homeowner, on a touch screen device or an external pad, without affecting the consumers’ right to the 14 days cooling off period. Autograph allows sales reps to specify email lists, enabling them to send a combination of the job file, the specification and signed contract, directly from the application, to the customer and the office staff.
“This is an excellent addition for both Vector and Focus, which allows window retailers to save considerable time and secure more sales, faster and more easily. It also provides a clearer, more straightforward way of communication between the field team and the office, with no room for mistakes,” said Mark.
Investment at the company continues this year, as Windowlink looks to engage another software developer and sales executive, as well as to launch new features that will further enable window retailers to capitalise on and maximise all upselling and cross-selling opportunities during the sales pitch.
Mark added: “From designing the windows, doors and conservatories in high quality 3D graphics, to producing the quote and contract and getting it signed, our applications will manage the entire sales process, from start to finish, in the most cost-effective and time-saving way.”
For more information visit www.windowlink.com or call 01452 348575


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NEW DELHI: The luxury car market
in India is shrinking fast, and has even gone below the numbers it had touched nearly a decade ago.
Hit hard by corona woes, economic downturn and high taxes, the sale of highly aspirational cars from companies such as Mercedes-Benz
, Audi, BMW and Jaguar Land Rover slipped to an estimated 21,400 units in 2020 — a 37% decline over the nearly 34,000 units sold in 2019.
This number is the lowest since 2010 when the industry had sold 15,280 vehicles, according to data sourced from the industry. Interestingly, the share of luxury to overall passenger vehicle (cars, SUVs, MPV/UVs) sales also slipped below the 1% mark for the first time since 2010 when it used to be 0.7%.
Luxury’s contribution to overall passenger vehicle sales has generally been a little over 1% in the intervening years, though this is way lower than numbers in developed countries of the West and other emerging economies.
According to full-year numbers revealed by companies, Mercedes-Benz — the German car major that leads the category — had a fall of 43% as its volumes declined to 7,893 units against the 13,786 units it sold in 2019.
And if Mercedes’ fall seems steep, things actually became worse for compatriot Audi that saw its sales crash to 1,639 units in 2020 against 4,594 units in 2019. This is a drop of 64%, and a far cry from the near-10,000 numbers it had touched a few years ago.
For BMW, the sales declined by 31% to 6,604 units against the 9,641 units it sold in 2019. Other companies such as Jaguar Land Rover and Volvo are yet to make their numbers public.
Companies have often complained that GST tax rates on luxury vehicles are “exceedingly high” and need to be brought down gradually to drive in affordability in the category.
Martin Schwenk, MD of Mercedes-Benz, told TOI that demand has been coming back gradually as economic activity resumes and efforts to vaccinate the population gather pace.
“The summer was tough due to the lockdown, and we took quite a hit as an industry. However, as we closed 2020 and towards the fourth quarter of the year, the overall demand started to pick up. It was actually better than what anyone could have anticipated six months ago.”
Mercedes is planning a product offensive this year with as many as 15 new launches, including fresh launches and also upgrades to existing cars.
Balbir Singh Dhillon, the head of Audi in India, said there is optimism when it comes to demand.
“Our resilience was under test in 2020, but the worst is now over. We have a busy 2021 that started with the launch of new Audi A4. We will launch sedans, SUVs and performance cars this year.”
The industry has time and again petitioned the government to provide tax relief, complaining that higher prices are keeping a large number of buyers away.


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Toyota has released a teaser of the all-new 2019 Toyota Avalon, which is going to debut next month at the Detroit Auto Show. The teaser gives a preview of the 2019 Avalon’s new face, which will have a more aggressive face than the current model.
Toyota hasn’t released any other information about the 2019 Avalon, but we can expect it to be a lot more stylish and aggressive than the current sedan. Since sales of large sedans have dropped off sharply over the last few years, we can expect Toyota to pull out all the stops to breath some life into the Avalon.
Under its new skin, the 2019 Avalon might be based on the Toyota New Global Architecture, which is already used by the 2018 Camry. Under the hood we can expect the same 3.5L V6 and four-cylinder hybrid powertrains.
We’ll have all the details next month.


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The company continues to disclose its data for 2019. Apple recently announced its earnings in 2019. Now it’s time for Samsung. Samsung announced both the financial data for the last quarter of 2019 and the total results of 2019. Has Samsung earnings been at the expected levels in 2019 and in the fourth quarter?
Samsung earnings down in 2019
The fourth quarter of the year also includes the shopping season. This is an important factor in increasing the sales of manufacturers. Samsung earnings increased by only 1 percent in this period compared to the same period of the previous year. The company earned a total of $ 50.57 billion in revenue. Operating profit decreased 34 percent compared to the same quarter of 2018 and was realized as 6.05 billion dollars.
When we look at the total data of 2019, Samsung generated $ 194.55 billion in revenue. This means a 5.5 percent decline on an annual basis. The decline in operating profit was 52.8 percent.
The company’s mobile unit, on the other hand, achieved 7 percent revenue growth in the fourth quarter. There was a 67 percent increase in operating profit. When we look at the whole 2019, the revenues of the mobile unit increased by 6.5 percent, while the operating profit decreased by 8.9 percent.
As we said at the beginning, there is also a shopping season in the fourth quarter. During this period, interest in smartphones and tablets increased. Therefore, there was an increase in revenues. Strong sales of the Galaxy A series in particular helped increase profitability.
The company will introduce new models of the S series on February 11. Also, the vertically foldable Galaxy Z Flip model will be revealed here.


text: A last-minute rush to bag a bargain on the final day of the Hong Kong Brands and Products Expo yesterday helped total sales hit a record HK$700 million. The figure was a 15 per cent increase on last year, according to the organiser, the Chinese Manufacturers' Association of Hong Kong. For many of the 880 stalls, yesterday marked the busiest day of the 24-day exhibition in Victoria Park, Causeway Bay. It was difficult to get through the crowds with their suitcases, shopping trolleys and even baby buggies doubling as goods carriers. "We have been very busy today because more customers tend to come on the last day," said Arthur Lee, deputy sales director of Koi Kei Bakery. According to Lee, there were more mainland customers than at the 2011-12 expo, and Koi Kei Bakery had seen a rise in sales of two to three per cent year on year. "I think it's because of mainlanders' increased purchasing power," said Lee. A woman who identified herself only as Ms Lin, from Shenzhen, was bargaining at the Lock & Lock Company booth, a Korean-based firm, for an induction cooker. She said it was her second visit to the fair this year and had spent about 4,000 yuan (HK$5,000). "What we care about most is not the low price, but the good quality and variety of products in Hong Kong," she added. As one fair closed another one was opening - the Hong Kong Toys & Games Fair, Asia's largest fair of its kind, hit the go button yesterday. A new zone called Kidult World featured "iEra toys", classic games teched up for smartphones and tablets. There was a toy gun you put your iPhone into and traditional board games, including chess, remade for iPads. "People care much more about extra-experience," said Paul van Schijndel, of Spanish-based Diset. "They want to play both physically and online." Kevin K.Y. Mak, managing director of Hong Kong-based Maksco, said: "It's a trend that more and more toys combine the real environment with the virtual world."


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Notoriously anti-union Gov. Bill Haslam (R-Tenn.) can't be happy about this story. Haslam's family owns Pilot Flying J, a chain of travel centers, and workers at a Subway sandwich shop in the Pilot Flying J location in Bloomsbury, N.J., just voted to join the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU). Earlier this year, Haslam was one of the key players in the effort to defeat a union vote at the Volkswagen plant in Chattanooga. The company run by his brother, Jimmy, hasn't been as successful in denying workers their rights, as other workers at the Bloomsbury Pilot Flying J location voted to join RWDSU earlier this year.
The 13 workers are employed by Pilot Flying J, which owns the Subway franchises inside its locations. According to the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), the workers voted 8–5 to be represented by the union. Pilot Flying J has a week to file objections before the vote can be certified by the NLRB.
Ashley Sprouse, one of the workers who voted in favor of the union, says:
I am very relieved the election is over and very proud of my co-workers for hanging tough during the past three months of the campaign. The company threw many roadblocks in front of us and hired an anti-union professional to scare us to vote 'no,' but we overcame this and were victorious.
The Subway workers say they wanted the company to provide them with more regular wage increases and flexibility to have time off to meet family responsibilities without fear of losing their paycheck. Pilot Flying J attempted to derail the election by telling the NLRB that some of the workers who supported the union should be classified as supervisors and shouldn't be eligible to vote. The NLRB ruled against the company.


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Banana Republic has launched a dress which is inspired by the dress the Duchess of Cambridge wore to announce her engagement to Prince William, for just 65 pounds.
Banana Republic’s new collaboration with Issa is said to be selling like hot cakes as the dress is a complete replica, the Daily Express reported.
The high street chain and the brand behind duchess’s sapphire blue dress have launched a number of Kate Middleton-inspired dresses in online as well as in stores.
The original style dress wore by Middleton was for a mighty 565 pounds and differs from the newly launched dress in the material used.
The collection also includes a plum purple and a short-sleeved version, which are on sale for 75 pounds
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Here’s an interesting piece on the danger of believing everything you see on Twitter.
The Social Graf: Twitter Rumor Causes Oil Price to Rise
The author does a nice job of explaining how traders got caught with their pants down because no one bothered to verify the source of the original rumor.
Shipping giant FedEx Corp. is going small. Starting next week the Memphis-based company will
hold a series of Tweet Chats on small business issues.
On three consecutive Thursdays, the Boost Your Small Business Tweet Chat series will feature small business experts discussing topics such as: how to recession proof your business, making advertising pay off and branding on a shoestring budget.
The first Tweet Chat is Thursday, Oct. 6 at 8 p.m. (Eastern time). Melinda Emerson, author of “Become Your Own Boss in 12 Months; A Month-by-Month Guide to a Business that Works., will provide advice on how to recession proof your small business.
To attend the chat on Twitter follow the #fedexsmallbiz hastag.
Facebook and Twitter have millions of users worldwide, but a lot of corporate executives are worried the social media invasion could be bad for business, according to a survey released today.
Fifty-one percent of the chief financial officers who responded to the Accountemps survey said their greatest concern is that employees are wasting time at work. And 18 percent are worried employees are behaving unprofessionally.


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Official Google Voice app makes it to the iPhone
It seems that the Google Voice saga onApple's App Store is now officially over after Cupertino approved theapplication for its iPhone users. It took more than a year for GoogleVoice to get green light while tension between Google and Apple gotheavier.
Apple argued that Google Voice is aclose copy to the iPhone's native functionality while Google got theFCC involved. Finally, after a change in the App Store's policyGoogle Voice is out for the iPhone. Unfortunately, iPod touchusers are left behind as the app has to go through the iPhone's phonefunctionality to actually place calls.
In a nutshell, Google Voice offers youto sign up for a new phone number and then routes incoming calls tocell or home phones. But the big forte here is cheaper internationalrates and free text messages to any US number. Additionally, theservice supports voicemail and push notifications to keep youupdated. Earlier, Google rolled out an HTML5 web app with similarvoicemail features so if the app happens to fall under Apple'sscrutiny again you can always use the web version. In the meantime,Google Voice has been available on Android and BlackBerry devices forquite a while. But with Skype out there it has some toughcompetition. Which app do you prefer?


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Rumor: according to the Chinese media, via Moneyball, the planned manufacturing capacity of the all-new BYD Blade Battery in 2020 will be 10 GWh, reports INSIDEEVs.
Moreover, the unofficial number of packs for the upcoming BYD Han model will be 130,000, which would translate to an average of 77 kWh per car.
BYD’s ambitions are quite high for the Blade Battery, as the company sold about 135,000 plug-in cars within the past 10 months.
Han will not be the only model that will get the Blade Battery in the near future. The total manufacturing capacity at the Chongqing plant will be 20 GWh per year. BYD Han is scheduled for June 2020 with 605 km (376 miles) of NEDC range.


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SUN Stock: This 11.3% Yield Just Got a Lot Safer
1 High-Yield Stock to Consider
High-yield stocks are not known for their dividend safety. So when a double-digit yielder improves its financial profile and distribution coverage, it deserves the attention of income investors.
The high-yield stock in question in Sunoco LP (NYSE:SUN), a master limited partnership (MLP) headquartered in Dallas, Texas. It operates more than 1,300 convenience stores and retail fuel sites and also acts as a wholesale motor fuel distributor.
Like most companies in the energy sector, Sunoco stock plunged since the downturn in oil and gas prices started a few years ago. From August 2014 to today, the partnership’s unit price has tumbled nearly 50%.
The thing is, though, while dividend cuts were common in the energy sector during this period, Sunoco was actually raising its payout. The partnership’s quarterly distribution rate was $0.5197 per unit in the summer of 2014. Today, the amount stands at $0.8255 per unit for an increase of 58.8%. (Source: “Distribution History,” Sunoco LP, last accessed December 14, 2017.)
At the current unit price, SUN stock offers a generous annual distribution yield of 11.3%.
Of course, like most double-digit yielders, Sunoco’s aggressive dividend hikes have brought some investor concerns. In 2016, the partnership had a distribution coverage ratio of 0.98 times, meaning it wasn’t generating enough cash flow to cover its payout. (Source: “Sunoco LP Announces Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2016 Financial and Operating Results,” Sunoco LP, February 22, 2017.)
Most recently though, things have started to look better. In the 12-month period ended September 30, 2017, Sunoco’s distribution coverage ratio has increased to 1.04 times. In particular, the partnership’s distributable cash flow in the third quarter of 2017 provided 1.28 times coverage for its payout, leaving a much wider margin of safety than before. (Source: “Sunoco LP Announces Third Quarter Financial and Operating Results,” Sunoco LP, November 7, 2017.)
Other than providing solid distribution coverage, Sunoco has also made a very important strategic decision that could further improve its financial profile: divesting its retail business.
You see, Sunoco has a quite large convenience store business. But that business is not really known to be stable. Earlier this year, the partnership announced that it would sell approximately 1,110 convenience stores, mostly along the East Coast and in Texas, to 7-Eleven, Inc in a deal valued at $3.3 billion. On December 5, 2017, the companies issued a statement saying that they believe the transaction “to be in the latter stages of the regulatory approval process with the Federal Trade Commission,” and expect the deal to close in January 2018. (Source: “7-Eleven, Inc. and Sunoco LP Provide Update On Pending Transaction,” Sunoco LP, December 5, 2017.)
Sunoco said that the proceeds from this sale will be used to repay debt and for general partnership purposes. As a matter of fact, Sunoco has already been improving its financial profile. In the first nine months of 2017, the partnership’s leverage ratio—calculated by dividing its debt by its adjusted earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization (adjusted EBITDA)—has been lowered from 6.5 times to 5.6 times. (Source: “Investor Presentation,” Sunoco LP, last accessed December 14, 2017.)
Furthermore, even after 7-Eleven acquires these retail locations, they would continue to sell Sunoco brand fuels. The partnership has secured a 15-year fixed-rate, take-or-pay supply contract with 7-Eleven.
After this divestiture, Sunoco will have a stronger focus on fuel distribution. And that’s certainly a good thing because it’s a more consistent business than operating convenience stores and retail fuel sites. Historically, fuel margins for distributors have remained resilient during multiple economic cycles and commodity price cycles. The partnership’s long-term, fee-based distribution business model can provide it with stable cash flows.
Going forward, Sunoco expects to further improve its leverage profile by reducing its debt to adjusted EBITDA ratio to a target range of 4.5 times to 4.75 times. It also targets a distribution coverage ratio of 1.1 times. If everything goes as planned, Sunoco’s 11.3% yield could get a big upgrade in terms of dividend safety.


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E-commerce these days is now a major part of every retailer’s strategy, so technology builders and platforms that are helping them compete better on digital screens are seeing a huge boost in business. In the latest turn, Commercetools — a provider of e-commerce APIs that larger retailers can use to build customized payment, check-out, social commerce, marketplace and other services — has closed $140 million in funding, a Series C that CEO Dirk Hoerig has confirmed to me values the company at $1.9 billion.
The funding is being led by Accel, with previous investors Insight Partners and REWE Group also participating. Munich, Germany-based Commercetools spun out of REWE — a giant German retailer, and also a customer — and announced $145 million in investment led by Insight in October 2019.
This latest round represents a huge hike on its valuation since then, when Commercetools was valued at around $300 million.
Part of the reason for the big bump, of course, has been the wave of interest in digital transactions from shopping online. E-commerce was already growing at a steady pace before 2020, by some estimates representing more than half of all commerce transactions. The COVID-19 pandemic turbo-charged that proportion, with many retailers switching exclusively to internet sales, and consumers stuck at home happy to shop with a click.
While companies like Shopify have addressed the needs of smaller retailers, providing them with an alternative or complement to listing on third-party marketplaces like Amazon’s, Commercetools has built its business around catering to larger retailers and the many specific, large-scale needs and investment budgets that they may have for building their digital commerce solutions.
It provides some 300 APIs today around some nine “buckets” of services, and a wide network of integration partners, Hoerig said, and powers some $10 billion of sales annually for its customers, which include the likes of Audi, AT&T, Danone, Tiffany & Co., John Lewis and many others.
“Our main focus is the retailer with more than $100 million in gross merchandise value,” Hoerig said. “This is when it becomes interesting.” But he added that the force of market growth is such that Commercetools is also seeing a lot of business from smaller companies that are simply needing more functionality to address their fast growth. “So we also sometimes have customers that start at $5 million in GMV and quickly go to $50 million. With that scale, they also have specific requirements, so the lines get a bit blurry.” (And that also explains why investors are so interested: there is a lot of evidence of the market growing and growing; and by capturing smaller retailers on big trajectories, that represents a lot more scale for Commercetools.)
Hoerig is sometimes credited with being the person who first coined the term “headless commerce”, which basically means APIs that can be used by a company, or its team of strategists, developers and designers, to build their own customized check-out and other purchasing experiences, rather than fitting these into templates provided by the tech company powering the checkout.
But as the API economy has continued to grow, and the world of non-tech companies that use tech continues to mature, that has taken on a mass-market appeal, and so Commercetools is far from being the only one in this area. In addition to Shopify (which has its own version targeting larger businesses, Shopify Plus), others include Spryker, Swell, Fabric, Chord and Shogun.
Commercetools will be using the funding both to continue organically expanding its business, but also to make some acquisitions to bolt on new customers, and new technology, tapping into some of the scaling and consolidation that is taking place across e-commerce as a whole. What will be interesting to see is where consolidation will happen, and which startups will be raising money to scale on their own: right now there is a lot of enthusiasm around the space because it is so buoyant, and that will spell more money being funneled to more startups.
Case in point: When I first got wind of this funding round, Commercetools told me it was in the middle of a deal to acquire a company. In the end, that company decided to stay independent and take some more investment to try to grow on its own. Hoerig said it’s now pursuing another target.
Indeed, that is also the bigger force that has brought Commercetools to where it is today.
“The chance to invest in a fast-growing, innovative commerce platform was one we could not pass up,” said Ping Li, the partner at Accel who led on this deal, in a statement. “Commercetools provides e-commerce enterprises the technology necessary to capture revenue in the rapidly growing global e-commerce market.”


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In recent years, the new wave of super shoes has dominated the running shoe discussion, but it wasn’t long ago that you could only talk (or rather argue) about minimalist shoes. Despite all of the carbon-coated, ultra-springy shoes on the market today, there are still many runners who prefer a barely-there shoe out of shoes.
RELATED: Four Questions to Ask Yourself Before Buying Running Shoes
The study, published in the Journal of Special Operations Medicine, aimed to provide up-to-date information on the debate between minimalist and conventional shoes. The study looked at 61 trained runners over a period of 26 weeks, 31 of whom wore minimalist and 30 conventional shoes. Each week, the researchers increased the exercise time participants spent in their assigned shoe by five percent to see when the disadvantages of wearing minimalist shoes outweighed the advantages.
After six weeks, runners in the first group spent 35 percent of their total training time in minimalist shoes. At this point, their energy bills were lower and their 5K times were faster than those of the group wearing traditional shoes. However, beyond this point, they saw no further improvement over the group with traditional shoes, but experienced more running-related pain in areas such as knees, shins, calves, and ankles as they ran higher.
RELATED: Five Reasons to Change Your Running Shoes
What does this mean for runners?
These results suggest that runners should limit training in minimalist shoes to 35 percent of their total exercise volume. The researchers also suggest using this type of footwear in situations where you are trying to get optimal performance, such as when you are walking. B. at a race, a fitness test or a time trial.


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The rumor mill has been awash in plenty of outlandish predictions leading up to Apple’s special event today. Sorry to disappoint but Apple didn’t debut their illusory iWatch or flat screen TV’s. However, plenty of industry insiders accurately predicted the tech giant’s product release announcements. The three biggest stories to come out of the special event were:
- iOS 7: Apple’s newest mobile operating system will be publicly available for download on September 18th. The software has been in private beta since WWDC 2013 and has been in widespread use by the iPhone and iPad app developer community.
- iPhone 5S: The iPhone 5S is Apple’s premiere smartphone device. Unlike previous iPhone models, this device comes with Touch ID, a new fingerprint-reading technology for increased security and ease of use. The phone comes with a new and improved A7 chip that doubles processor speeds, providing a 40x increase in CPU performance and 56X faster graphics. 16 GB iPhone 5S devices can be picked up for $199 in the US with a cellular contract.
- iPhone 5C: Apple is now offering the 5C iPhone model for the lower end of the smartphone market. The 5C replaces the iPhone 5 in the product line and is produced with custom selection of colorful plastic casings. According to 9to5 Mac, “The iPhone 5c will run $99 for the 16 GB model and $199 for 32 GB with a two-year contract.”
As a Las Vegas iPhone app developer today’s product lineup announcements were not all that impressive. Android devices are competing on all levels with the iPhone and Apple’s release of a low end model probably won’t do much to help the company stave off a precipitous slide into obscurity. Apple’s pace of innovation has slowed down considerably while Google, Facebook, Samsung and others are nipping at their heels. The tech giant is showing an adversity to risk, holding back innovative product releases and therefore holding back the mobile ecosystem on a whole. Only time will tell whether baby steps will help this lumbering giant outperform the competition.Tags: apple iphone 5c, apple special event, fingerprint scanner, google android, innovation, iphone 5s, iphone news, tim cook


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California’s war on the gig economy continues. After past labor regulations nearly prompted Uber to entirely abandon the state until they were essentially undone by voters, Golden State regulators have a new plan to attack ride-sharing services—this time in the name of environmentalism.
The California Air Resources Board just unanimously voted to mandate that Uber and Lyft rides must almost entirely switch to electric vehicles.
“California's clean air regulator on Thursday adopted rules to mandate that nearly all trips on Uber and Lyft ride-hailing platforms have to be in electric vehicles over the next few years, the first such regulation by a U.S. state,” Fox Business reports. “The rules... mandate that EVs account for 90% of ride-hailing vehicle miles traveled by 2030.”
Make no mistake: This is a drastic switch. Right now, only a tiny fraction of cars on the road are powered by electricity. And electric vehicles, despite enormous government subsidies, continue to be significantly more expensive than the typical vehicle.
Yes, these regulators may have noble intentions and earnestly hope to help the environment. But using government force to arbitrarily speed up the ride-sharing industry’s transition to electric cars (which they are already planning on doing) will hurt drivers and riders alike.
Forcing those who seek the flexible work provided by ride-sharing apps like Uber and Lyft to buy expensive new electric vehicles will lock most working and lower-middle-class folks out of the market. This could lead to a driver shortage by shrinking the pool, and many of those who can afford electric vehicles are likely already entrenched in advanced professions that pay more than driving.
Regardless, the initial genius of Uber was connecting idle car owners with those who need transportation. When you ban most existing cars from being used, you undercut the very system that made ride-sharing such a significant societal and economic advancement.
Moreover, it’s almost impossible to see a scenario where this doesn’t lead to much higher prices for consumers. Uber already does not make a profit, so arbitrarily increased costs of doing business will have to come from somewhere—and the most likely source is customers’ wallets.
We can already presumptively add this latest expansion of California’s nanny state to the long list of well-intended regulations that ended up leaving us all worse off.


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A year ago, Ruth Lundquist and Darcy Olson were working moms struggling to get dinner on the table for their families. Today the suburban Minneapolis, Minn., residents are putting dinner on the table for hundreds of people every month. Their new business, Let's Dish, is one of a growing number of meal-assembly services across the U.S. that help busy amateur chefs whip up a month of gourmet entrees in a couple of hours.
Here's how the idea works: customers sign up for an assembly session with a preset menu. They come in and make their way around assembly stations, measuring prepared ingredients and putting them into plastic bags or disposable cooking pans. Everything is prechopped. Customers can tailor the dishes to their families' needs.
Entrees range widely, from coconut curry rice with shrimp to chipotle chicken with pintos and rice. All cooking is done at home (methods include stir-fry and using a crockpot or oven). The cost is less than $200, and at the end of two hours, customers go home with as many as 12 dishes for four to six people, ready for the freezer. When dinnertime comes, the meals are popped out of the freezer and cooked.
The idea has spread by word of mouth and news coverage. In the Seattle area, sisters Donna Calf Robe and Debora Graham have opened The Delicious Dish, a meal-assembly business that includes a wine shop. In Fargo, N.D., Deb Evenson, Nancy Kasper and Jean Ostrom-Blonigen dreamed up What's For Dinner while sitting at their sons' sports activities (they have seven sons among them). And there's the grandmother of the idea, Dream Dinners, a company based in Snohomish, Wash., that was launched in 2002 as a monthly gathering of the friends of former caterer Stephanie Firchau and has blossomed into 32 franchises across 11 states from California to North Carolina. "Our mission is really to get families back to the dinner table," says Tina Kuna, Firchau's partner and a mother of three kids, ages 8, 16 and 18. "I think society was just screaming for something to help relieve one of the stresses."
Most customers for the prefab meals are women. A few men show up, some with their wives as a date night. Then there are the people making meals for their elderly parents or college students looking to restock their refrigerators. Taste and convenience are the main draws. Says Laurie Stoltenberg, 40, of suburban Minneapolis, a mother of three with her own jewelry-bead business and a monthly customer of Let's Dish: "I like the idea that I'm putting a meal on the table that looks like I'm cooking from scratch--which I did, only not that night."


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Pizza Guys, a West Coast pizza franchise known for its specialty pizzas and fresh ingredients, is opening its newest location March 1 at 1109 University Ave.
Shahpour Nejad and Reza Kalantari founded Pizza Guys in 1986 with the goal of offering fresh, high-quality pizzas on the West Coast. Starting from a single restaurant location, Pizza Guys expanded its franchise over the years and currently has more than 70 independently-owned restaurants throughout California, Nevada and Oregon.
“We decided to open a store in Berkeley because of its community,” said Alireza Vahdat, owner of the Berkeley location of Pizza Guys, in an email. “It is a place of cultural diversity and we feel that we would fit right in!”
Vahdat emphasized the importance of community to Pizza Guys, stating that they strive to become a staple within Berkeley and provide the best customer service around.
According to the Pizza Guys website, the franchise has donated thousands of pizzas to fire evacuees, hospital workers and frontline firefighters. In addition, Pizza Guys makes its pizza boxes pink every October to spread awareness for those fighting breast cancer and donates a portion of its proceeds to the American Cancer Society.
“We are the communities we serve and we don’t take that lightly,” the Pizza Guys website states. “Through this campaign, we have raised over (…) $235,000 towards breast cancer research and services. It is our commitment to serve the communities that serve us.”
The fresh ingredients that Pizza Guys uses are what sets its franchise apart from other pizza restaurants, Vahdat added. Pizza Guys makes fresh dough and shreds its own cheese every day while also only using fresh produce and natural ingredients, according to Vahdat.
Additionally, Pizza Guys is home to a variety of specialty pizzas, including “Artichoke Fiesta,” “Buffalo Chicken” and “Texas Barbeque.” The chain also offers customizable pizzas, flatbreads, salads, pasta, wings and desserts, Vahdat said.
Soon after the pandemic began, Pizza Guys quickly implemented COVID-19 safety precautions at all of its various locations, which included cleaning procedures, sneeze guards, curbside pickup and contactless payment.
However, the pandemic has created challenges for the Pizza Guys franchise and the Berkeley location specifically. The process of getting licenses, approvals and permits has been extended as a result of the adjusted hours of many businesses and offices, according to Vahdat.
In terms of opening in Berkeley, Vahdat remains optimistic. He added that Pizza Guys has already received a lot of support, which it is grateful for.
“We are excited to be a part of the Berkeley community and look forward to introducing our brand to everyone,” Vahdat said in the email.


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Tuesday, June 14, 2011
As mounting evidence indicates that slow economic growth is prevalent, retail sales numbers released today were essentially flat in May compared to April and were up on an annual basis, according to data from the United States Department of Commerce and the National Retail Federation (NRF).
Is an inflexible or legacy warehouse management system putting your business at risk? Learn how to tell if your system strengthens or hinders your ability to build competitive advantage and grow your business.
There are critical differences between ERP warehouse management functionality and the functionality of a stand-alone, best-of-breed WMS. Uncover critical decision factors every supply chain professional must consider when comparing these two very different options.
While the International Air Transport Association further downgraded its 2011 airline industry profit forecast to $4 billion, Asia-Pacific carriers are expected to earn $2.1 billion—the most profitable of all regions.
Diesel prices fell for the fifth consecutive week and the sixth time in the last seven weeks, decreasing 0.8 cents to $3.94 per gallon, according to the Department of Energy’s Energy Information Administration (EIA).
UPS said it will be rolling out a new reverse logistics service geared towards high-end products for shippers in the high-tech, healthcare, and retail sectors in the United States, Canada, Europe, Mexico, and Puerto Rico, effective this October.
Monday, June 13, 2011
As she prepares her 22nd annual “State of Logistics” report, supply chain expert, Rosalyn Wilson, provided an exclusive forecast for the third-party logistics sector with Supply Chain Management Review -- LM's sister publication.
Panjiva’s new quarterly report, entitled the Quarterly Trendspotting Report, takes a detailed look at the macro trends that impacted global trade during the first quarter of 2011. One of its main objectives is to assist sourcing executives determine which geographies are “trending hot” for products they are looking for on a worldwide basis and what the current trends are on an annual basis.
Freight transportation and logistics services provider Hub Group Inc. said today that earlier this month its Comtrak Logistics Inc. subsidiary, which offers national drayage and truckload services, acquired Domestic Transport Inc., a Pacific, Washington-based provider of intermodal drayage services.
Many small businesses still believe warehouse management systems are too expensive for their budgets or won’t provide the right benefits. Learn how these misconceptions may be preventing your business from considering a competitive necessity.


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Philippine fashion designer Dave Ocampo has confirmed to attend the Lombok International Modest Fashion Festival 2023, scheduled to take place in Senggigi, Lombok from 6 - 9 July 2023.
Dave Ocampo - the Vice President for External Affairs of the Designers Circle Philippines, is a well-known figure in high-profile fashion event showcases in the Philippines. He is highly regarded for his contributions towards the evolution of the fashion industry in the Philippines.
Ocampo is a skilled artisan who promotes the creativity and essence of the Filipino fashion industry through his designs, fashion pursuits, and collaborations.
Ocampo's designs are a fusion of traditional Filipino elements and modern sensibilities. He is known for his use of vibrant colors, intricate embroidery, and unique silhouettes that celebrate the female form.
His designs have been showcased at various fashion events in the Philippines, including the Philippine Fashion Week, and have been worn by local celebrities and personalities.
Ocampo's inclusion in the Lombok International Modest Fashion Festival 2023 to showcase his latest creations are sure to impress and inspire the attendees.
The Lombok International Modest Fashion festival is set to be a platform for designers from across South East Asia to showcase their modest fashion creations. From traditional garments to modern interpretations, Limoff celebrates the beauty in diversity of modest fashion, making it a must-see event for anyone interested in the latest modest fashion trends.
About Badan Promosi Pariwisata Daerah - Nusa Tenggara Barat
It is the Tourism Promotion Board of the West Nusa Tenggara Province in Indonesia. Its primary role is to promote tourism in the region and showcase the diverse attractions and destinations of West Nusa Tenggara.
The board collaborates with various stakeholders, including the local government, tourism industry players, and other relevant parties, to develop and implement tourism promotion strategies.
Marketing & Communication
email : firstname.lastname@example.org


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Owner Frank DeViva saw a need for a great burger joint on the West Side.
That’s why he opened Biggie Burger in Edwardsville this spring.
DeViva, who owns the Bakehouse Bakery and Cafe in Kingston, said for Biggie Burger he wanted a relaxed environment where people could enjoy quality burgers, hot dogs and fries. Rock music plays overhead as the employees serve customers at the Gateway Shopping Center restaurant.
“Gourmet quality food in a relaxed, casual environment ... what I say time and time again to the crew is that we do real food right,” DeViva said.
The burgers are made with 100-percent Angus beef, DeViva said, and can be made with bacon or cheese with a choice of condiments. Extras include grilled onions or mushrooms — grilled fresh every day, DeViva said — or jalapeño peppers. The burgers come in two sizes, tiny and biggie, on buns baked fresh daily.
“Everything is made to order,” he said. “You can’t get it any fresher than what we do.”
They’ve introduced special burgers like the Cowboy, the Biggie Blue, or the Triple B with bacon, egg and cheese. The Biggie 5-0 evokes Hawaii with pineapple and plum crazy sauce.
“It’s a plum sauce with a little heat to it,” DeViva said.
The hot dogs have natural German casing, come from a place outside Syracuse, and can also come with bacon, cheese and toppings like relish or sauerkraut.
“People stand in line in the snow to get hot dogs from this place,” he said.
The fresh-cut French fries are never frozen, and come from a potato made especially for frying. A special oil and high frying point means the potatoes absorb less oil, creating a crispy fry that’s a bit healthier, DeViva said.
They also serve shakes, in chocolate, vanilla, strawberry and coffee flavors, made with real ice cream.
DeViva has worked in food service for more than 30 years, and started baking as a child. Originally from Queens, N.Y., he started out with restaurants in Long Island. He ended up working as a division coordinator for the baking department at Wegmans, traveling around and opening locations for the grocery chain.
“It’s a great business for a guy who loves food,” he said.
More than a decade ago, DeViva was working and commuting to New Jersey as director of baking for another company. He remembered dreading the commute, and asking his wife why there weren’t any quality bakeries and cafes on the West Side at that time. His wife, Patty, suggested he open one.
That turned out to be a great idea, as they celebrated 11 years at the Bakehouse Bakery and Cafe in February.
“It was a good decision,” DeViva said. “It’s been a great business.”
Likewise, he opened Biggie Burger because he saw the need for great burgers on the West Side. DeViva said they’ve had a good response since they opened.
“It’s the same approach to quality,” he said. “We are committed to quality and good service.”
Location: Gateway Shopping Center, Northampton Street, Edwardsville
Hours: Mondays-Saturdays, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Online: biggieburger.com, facebook.com/biggieburgers


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Fitness Expert Denise Austin is the AARP Wellness ambassador now, and introduced the Second Annual Fit & Fun Health Challenge.
In 2018, Denise and AARP launched the first Fit & Fun Health Challenge, an 8-week program encouraging consumers to grab a buddy and walk for 30 minutes a day. Entrants in the Challenge had a chance to win a spa getaway. The Challenge attracted over 82,000 participants, 45% of whom reported walking more than 5 times a week. 96% said they would join a similar program in the future.
This year, the Fit & Fun Health Challenge begins on May 1 and ends on June 30. website to enter
Gary asked Denise about her transformation into working with older Americans.
Denise Austin is a pioneer in the fitness industry who has sold more than 24 million exercise videos and DVDs, authored 12 books on fitness, and starred in the longest running fitness show in the history of television.


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Apple has outlined plans to make its business, manufacturing supply chain, and product life cycle completely carbon neutral by 2030.
In its 2020 Environmental Progress Report the tech giant said it planned to reduce 75% of its carbon emissions by 2030 and develop “innovative carbon removal solutions” for the remaining 25% of its global emissions.
Apple said it would expand energy efficiency and invest in renewable energy and innovation in processes and materials to achieve its goal.
Over 70 of Apple’s suppliers have committed to use 100% renewable energy for production in the next 10 years, equivalent to nearly eight gigawatts. Once completed, the move will avoid over 14.3m tonnes of CO2 annually, Apple said.
Last year, the firm bought its first “commercial batch” of aluminium which was produced without any direct carbon dioxide emissions. Apple said the low-carbon aluminum was “currently being used in production intended for use with the 16-inch MacBook Pro”.
The firm added it is investing in product recycling. Its latest innovation, a robot called “Dave”, disassembles iPhone’s “Taptic Engine” to recover key materials such as rare earth magnets, tungsten and steel. Apple also has a line of iPhone disassembly robots called “Daisy”.
As part of its plan, Apple said it would invest in minority-owned businesses that drive positive outcomes in its supply chain and in communities that are disproportionately affected by environmental hazards.
“Businesses have a profound opportunity to help build a more sustainable future, one born of our common concern for the planet we share,” said Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO.
“The innovations powering our environmental journey are not only good for the planet — they’ve helped us make our products more energy efficient and bring new sources of clean energy online around the world. Climate action can be the foundation for a new era of innovative potential, job creation, and durable economic growth. With our commitment to carbon neutrality, we hope to be a ripple in the pond that creates a much larger change.”
In 2018, the firm announced it used 100% renewable energy in its global facilities including retail stores, offices and data centres.
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The shares of Shopify (TSX:SHOP)(NYSE:SHOP) tanked by nearly 52% in the first quarter of 2022 to around $845.47 per share, starting the year on a strong bearish note. With this, SHOP stock has consistently been falling for the last four months in a row, as Q1 turned out to be its worst quarter since its listing on the exchange in 2015. During the last three months, Shopify stock’s market cap has fallen from close to $220 billion to just $106.4 billion.
Looking at SHOP stock’s massive losses in Q1, it’s obvious for anyone to assume that something might have terribly gone wrong with the company’s fundamentals lately. However, this assumption might be far from reality, as its massive selloff in the last quarter was primarily driven by external factors.
Rising inflationary pressures and expectations about tightening monetary policy hurt tech investors’ sentiments at the start of 2022, triggering a big tech sector-wide selloff. The recent tech meltdown has mainly hurt the shares of some high-flying growth companies the most, including Shopify. As a result, Shopify stock nosedived by nearly 30% in January and extended its losses by another 28.3% in February.
In the middle of the first quarter, the Canadian e-commerce giant released its fourth-quarter and full-year 2021 financial results. While its financial growth set new records in 2021, its expectations of a YoY (year-over-year) decline in its revenue-growth rate in 2022 prevented SHOP stock from recovering.
After posting outstanding 174% gains in 2019, the rally in Shopify stock intensified further in 2020 as COVID-19-related shutdowns and restrictions on physical stores accelerated the shift to digital commerce. This digital commerce trend helped Shopify post an outstanding 85.6% YoY jump in its total revenue in 2020, helping SHOP stock inch up by 178% during the year. However, this sudden and temporary spike in the company’s sales growth eased a bit in 2021 as it posted a 57.4% YoY rise in its total revenue for the year.
Amid reopening economies, it’s natural for Shopify’s sales growth rate to decline further in 2022. And this is exactly what Shopify suggested in its latest earnings event in mid-February. That said, you could still expect the Ottawa-based company to post strong double-digit sales growth this year — much better than most of its peers — as the demand for its commerce services remains strong.
In addition, Shopify’s increased focus on international market expansion could help it improve its long-term growth outlook. These positive factors could trigger a sharp recovery in SHOP stock in the near term, making it worth buying on the dip for the long term.


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Google’s Project Stream allows gamers to stream AAA games such as this month’s new Assassin’s Creed title, directly in its Chrome browser with minimal lag.
A new streaming service from Google has long been rumored, supposedly called Yeti, but now Google is no longer hiding its ambitions for a video game streaming service. As part of a partnership with Ubisoft, the French video game company behind the hugely successful Assasin’s Creed Series, a demo of Project Stream has been revealed.
The service launches on October 5th for a limited time. Google has not announced how long it will last, but we know it will be some time in mid-January. You’ll need to have at least 25Mbps of download bandwidth for the service to work, and it is only available in the US at launch. You must be at least 17 to participate. You can sign up to take part in Project Stream here.
Video game streaming has been slow to catch on compared to video services such as Netflix, Amazon Prime and Hulu. GeForce Now, by Nvidia, launched in 2015 and provides cloud gaming services. Sony also has its own cloud gaming subscription service called PlayStation Now, but it is largely filled with PS2 and PS3 titles. Now, ChromeOS is getting involved in the party.
One of the main problems with AAA game streaming is latency. Unlike with video services, players need to be able to control the action in real time, meaning even a little buffering is a deal-breaker for serious players. Google is calling Project Stream a “technical test”, with the goal of solving these issues.
Assassin's Creed Odyssey promises players an epic journey in Ancient Greece to become a legendary Spartan hero. The game is coming out on October 5 for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch and PC.
Source: Android Police


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"At Walmart we are committed to restore, renew, replenish and preserve our planet, and that is why, since last year, we joined the "Reciclemos hoy para Vivir mañana" program, providing space in our Walmart Santa Elena store to place the first recycling station", explained Sandra Ganuza, Corporate Affairs Coordinator of Walmart El Salvador.
This week two new recycling stations are being placed in Walmart Constitución and Walmart Santa Ana, as part of the support for this initiative and the company's commitment to the environment, said Ganuza.
This initiative stems from Nestlé's RE environmental strategy, which seeks to promote alliances between different sectors of society for proper environmental management and a sustainable future.
As part of Walmart's actions to advance towards its goal of becoming a regenerative company by 2010, it has been joining forces with Ternova through the Recicla 503 program, to promote a culture of waste separation and classification under the "Reciclemos hoy para vivir mañana" program.
The pilot project was launched in 2021, with the first recycling station located in the Walmart Santa Elena store, with the common objective of the companies, to promote a culture of separation and classification of waste in the population for a subsequent recycling process.
The "Reciclemos hoy para vivir mañana" project works through the provision of collection stations in Walmart stores, facilitating the area where its customers have special containers to deposit recyclable material such as paper, cardboard, aluminum, plastic or glass, to be collected later.


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Live will bring together buyers, suppliers, partners and thought leaders across Australia and New Zealand to network and explore the power of the Intelligent Spend Management concept to help drive greater efficiencies, transparency and accountability in pursuit of purpose and good business.
Buyers using the Ariba
Network, a digital business network connecting more than 4.2 million companies in 190 countries, will be able to seamlessly manage their payments and supply chain finance needs with the SAP Ariba
digital platform by the end of 2019.
Professor Yunus will close SAP Ariba
Live in Singapore with his moving story of how he embraced the term "spend better" by using the power of investment to help change the world.
Dahra," said Mohammed Al Khotani, head of SAP Ariba
, Middle East and North
Snap provides simple, affordable and scalable implementation options led by SAP Ariba
partners that enable growing enterprises to quickly get on digitization and begin delivering results.
"Using the Ariba
business platform, Saudi Aramco buyers and suppliers can gain new levels of business competitiveness, and simpler, smarter sourcing.
Through the SAP Ariba
source-to-pay applications, buyers and suppliers worldwide have benefitted from 60 per cent lower costs, at least 50 per cent greater efficiency, at least 5 per cent more sales, and about 15 per cent improved customer retention.
And SAP Ariba
is helping to fuel it, providing a dynamic, digital marketplace, where buyers and sellers can find each other, collaborate together and get more than $2.5 billion in commerce done every day.
WORLDWIDE COMPUTER PRODUCTS NEWS-August 25, 2016-SAP Ariba
to be available in China by year-end
NEW YORK: SAP Ariba
and American Express today announced that they are working together to reduce the complexity in the B2B procurement process.
said it is giving a complimentary personal subscription of its Digital Transaction Management (DTM) solution to every attendee of Ariba


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Stormont delays plan for a 5p tax on reusable bags until 2015
Plans to charge 5p for reusable carrier bags have been delayed until at least January 2015.
Stormont's environment committee said the DoE had agreed to hold off on the second phase of the bag levy to allow more time to prepare for the new charging arrangements.
The committee has just released a report on the department's plans to extend the current 5p levy on plastic single-use bags to cheap carrier bags to prevent them becoming the new 'throwaway' bag.
Currently reusable bags cost more than the 5p minimum charged for single use bags.
The fear is that if the reusable bags cost only 5p they will be seen as disposable by shoppers and undermine the progress made in reducing plastic bag waste.
The idea behind the plan once it is introduced is that people will opt for a reusable bag and there will be little demand for single use bags.
In response to concerns by the committee over timing, the department has given assurances that it will amend the Carrier Bags Bill and further charges will be delayed until at least January 2015.
Earlier this year, provisional Government figures suggested the first phase of the levy has cut plastic bag usage by more than 80%.
Committee chairperson Anna Lo (above) said: "We all know the problems that plastic bags can cause for the environment.
"They often end up as unsightly litter or landfill, or find their way into the sea and waterways, causing harm to wildlife.
"The committee is therefore pleased that initial evidence suggests that the first phase of carrier bag charging has led to a significant decrease in the number of plastic bags in circulation. While the committee was examining the Bill, however, members were concerned that the department's proposed implementation date for the second phase of charging – April 2014 – was too soon.
"They felt that it did not give the department enough time to prepare the public for these new charging arrangements.
"In addition, members felt that the department needed more time to gather clear evidence on how the first phase of charging has impacted on retailers, particularly smaller retailers, and on people's shopping habits."
The major supermarkets told the committee that a longer lead-in period would give them more time to get ready for putting the new arrangements in place, she said.
"In response to the committee's concerns, the department has now given us an assurance that it will amend the Bill, and we welcome the delay of further charges until at least January 2015," Ms Lo said.
"We hope that this later implementation date will give the department time to deliver a clear communications strategy to the public.
"The last thing we want is for shoppers to be confused: they need clear, straightforward information on exactly which types of bags will be subject to the levy and what they will cost at the checkout."


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Live Caption is an automatic captioning system that is fast and small to fit a smartphone screen.
Not all videos come with captions and not every time you remember to carry earphones. Google wants to make audio content more accessible to everyone, including those with hearing disabilities, with a new Live Caption system.
Live Caption is an automatic captioning system that is fast and small to fit a smartphone screen, the official Google blog notes.
It automatically captions videos and spoken audio on the device in real-time. As it happens on-device, it works even without cellular data or Wi-Fi.
Live Caption currently supports English on the Pixel 4 series. It will be rolled out to the Pixel 3 lineup later this year.


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Not even wine is safe in 2020: A video that shows a huge tank of red wine exploding has gone viral as social media users commiserate the loss of more than 13,000 gallons of alcohol. That's over 60,000 bottles' worth of wine. Oh the humanity!!!!!!!
See the story and the painful video that many compared the blood-red spill to the iconic elevator scene in "The Shining," where a torrent of blood rushes into the hallway.


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Tesla’s finished 2022 on a tear, bolstered by the latest price reductions for its secure of electrical sedans and SUVs. The automaker’s full-12 months 2022 earnings statement, produced at the close of marketplace Wednesday, discovered it sent 405,278 electrical cars and trucks in the fourth quarter — up from 343,830 deliveries in the earlier quarter. This provides Tesla’s full deliveries in 2022 to 1.31 million cars and trucks, which is a report high for the manufacturer and 40% progress yr-about-calendar year, but also just brief of its personal aim of 1.4 million deliveries.
In Tesla’s earnings release, it notes that the normal sale selling price for its motor vehicles has “usually been on a downward trajectory for lots of decades.” The automaker diminished costs by up to 20% on its lineup of electric powered vehicles late very last calendar year — a shift spurred partly by reduced desire but also to get the Design 3 and Design Y less than the $55,000 qualification cap for the $7,500 electric sedan federal tax credit rating provided in last year’s .
Go through far more:
“It’s always been our purpose to make automobiles inexpensive to as numerous people today as feasible,” Tesla’s CEO mentioned in a simply call Wednesday with buyers. “So I am happy that we are capable to do so.”
The automaker studies that the regular sale price of a Tesla has halved among 2017 and 2022 and will possible continue to tumble. Which is partially owing to rate drops, but generally thanks to the fewer expensive Versions 3 and Y now generating up the lion’s share of Tesla’s output and deliveries. In 2018, they accounted for just around 50 percent of Tesla’s 254,530 gross sales nowadays they’re all around 95% of the 1.31 million Tesla autos marketed in 2022.
In spite of the decreasing typical transaction rate, Tesla said it can be improved its working margins from a unfavorable 14% to a constructive 17% above the period of time of 2017 to 2022, crediting the very same change to products that charge much less to create, as very well as its investment decision in localized, much more economical factories. Previously this 7 days, Tesla introduced a new $3.6 billion investment in its , including two new factories to the facility: A 100GWh manufacturing facility will assist ample creation of its 4680 battery cells for up to 1.5 million gentle duty electrical vehicles on a yearly basis. In the meantime, a higher-volume factory will ultimately develop Tesla’s full-electric business truck.
Tesla also tasks that software package-similar revenue, just after-income and providers will just take up some of the slack of reduce transaction rates. “Whilst we keep on to execute on innovations to lower the charge of producing and operations,” the investor deck states, “in excess of time, we hope our components-similar profits to be accompanied with an acceleration of computer software-relevant income.”
Last yr, hasn’t been without controversy, it is an vital action in the automaker’s plan to speed up its software-connected earnings. FSD, as of a September 2022 price hike, is a $15,000 insert-on on top of the expense of the automobile. (We notice, as often, there are no self-driving cars at present for sale.)to all-around 400,000 consumers in the US and Canada who paid out for the driver-support application, and even though that start
“I’ve often reported that Tesla is as considerably a software package organization as a hardware company, but Tesla is truly a single of the world’s most primary AI organizations, the two on the software package side and the hardware side,” Musk explained on the trader connect with. “As we get nearer and nearer to fixing true entire world AI — this is the point that has buy-of-magnitude potential for Tesla.”
Employed car or truck income, profits from paid supercharging and advancement in its brick-and-mortar provider and cell assistance fleets also add to “substantially of the financial gain in 2022,” in accordance to the report. In the meantime, outdoors of car or truck-similar progress, Tesla also noticed improves in its(152%) and (18%) firms. In whole, Tesla posted a internet earnings of $3.7 billion, or $1.07 a share, compared with $2.32 billion, or 68 cents a share, in the fourth quarter. Income rose by 37.2% to $24.4 billion.
Searching forward, Tesla expects its advancement streak to carry on, predicting 1.8 million vehicles offered in 2023. A prolonged time coming, delivered to PepsiCo late final calendar year.is anticipated to get started later this 12 months in Texas, with much more facts because of at the automaker’s Trader Day celebration on March 1. In the meantime, the Tesla Semi has entered pilot output in Nevada, with the very first couple of illustrations


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'Tis the season for 2016 restaurant trend predictions: Mintel has already weighed in on consumer trends and global food and beverage trends, and Baum & Whiteman made their predictions for restaurant trends. Here, Nation's Restaurant News breaks down the ever-popular annual predictions from San Francisco-based hospitality consulting firm Andrew Freeman & Co., and gives real-world examples, starting with food trends.Read whole article via nrn.com
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The rumors and speculations about the Apple iPad 3 will definitely keep on coming till the day it is finally officially announced. The latest info suggests that the much anticipated device will arrive sometime in March equipped with impressive specs.
According to Bloomberg, production of the iPad 3 has already started and Apple’s manufacturing partners will work at full capacity by next month before the release of the tablet in March. Some sources are also claiming that Foxconn’s factories will run round the clock to produce the tablet, although a break is coming for the Lunar New Year holidays.
A launch in March for the iPad 3 has been rumored several times earlier. And rumors are also flying around regarding the October arrival of an iPad 4 from the company.
It is being claimed that the iPad 3 will arrive with a quad-core processor, the long rumored Retina Display and it will feature 4G LTE support as well. But no hints regarding that speculated HD FaceTime camera.
It will be interesting to see how Apple will manage to fit all the above said specs into their upcoming tablet without affecting its battery life. As you might know, the longer battery life is one of the iPad’s strongest points. And all the high-end features also mean a higher price tag.
And what about the device’s thickness, you ask? According to some, Apple has decided to go with Sharp’s IGZO technology for bringing out a thinner display. While some have indicated that they have chosen a dual light bar design which will result in a thicker iPad 3.
Stay tuned for updates.
Concept Photo: Guilherme Schasiepen