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Negative Kodak pays for lack of focus
A Cambridge University academic says flawed strategy plunged Eastman Kodak into bankruptcy – and claims the crisis need never have happened.
The US giant filed for bankruptcy in the US a few days ago – exactly three years after closing its Cambridge UK R & D centre and five years after Dr Kamal Munir warned the company to spin out its Digital Imaging Division.
Dr Munir, who has been teaching at the Judge Business School since 2000, has followed Eastman Kodak’s fortunes for more than a decade.
He said that with sounder judgement the company could have hit the heights of Apple or created a Facebook or Flickr.
Dr Munir warned the company five years ago that unless it realised that the world had changed and came up with a new strategy for the digital age (like Apple had done with the iPod and iPhone), its ‘bits-and-pieces’ business model would not be able to save it.
“What Kodak should have done long ago was to completely separate out the Digital Imaging Division,” he says.
During his research of the company that created the famous ‘Kodak Moment’, Dr Munir found that the Digital Imaging Division was pawn to the powerful Consumer Imaging Division where it was viewed as ‘cannibalising’ Kodak’s operational strategy.
He said: “They should have taken this business (the Digital Imaging Division) to Silicon Valley, separated it completely from their existing business and given it a free rein.
“They could have invested in 10 different companies run by teenagers or ‘twenty some-things’ and today they could have owned the likes of Facebook today or Flickr.
“The best way forward for them was to reinvent themselves but they were completely entrenched in a mindset which was ‘people take pictures to preserve memories’.
“People change their behaviour all the time. They don’t take pictures any more to preserve memories – they take pictures to share experiences.”
Kodak had big plans for its Cambridge Science Park research hothouse in the UK – set up under the directorship of Sam Weller in July 2005. Ironically digital imaging was one of the thrusts behind the Cambridge move.
Cambridge University medical researchers and others on the Addenbrooke’s Campus had long since realised the potential power of digital imaging in the MedTech sector.
But it pulled the Cambridge facility in February 2009 and retrenched to New York as part of a global rationalisation that saw around 4,500 job cuts internationally.
The company said that maintaining a small team of researchers at a location thousands of miles away from the mother ship proved too expensive.
To listen to Dr Munir’s Judge Business School podcast or to watch the video, visit:www.jbs.cam.ac.uk/interactive/expert_comment/2012/munir_kodak.html
• PHOTOGRAPH SHOWS: Dr Kamal Munir


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SKOWHEGAN — A 14-year-old “very tech savvy” Augusta boy will be charged with making two telephoned bomb threats in less than a week to the Skowhegan Walmart, according to the Skowhegan police chief.
Police Chief Ted Blais said Thursday that the teen “was very tech savvy and had attempted to mask his cellphone by the use of an online service,” though he did not specify what service was used.
He said after the second threat, police had the telephone number used to call in the threats. They issued subpoenas to the phone’s network provider to track where the number came from.
Blais said the Somerset County district attorney’s office will review the case, which could lead to a class C felony charge of terrorizing or a lesser class D charge of causing a false public alarm. The boy’s name has not been released because of his age, Blais said. His name may be released later if a juvenile petition is filed in court for a felony charge.
District Attorney Maeghan Maloney said she will examine the police report; look at the boy’s criminal record, if he has one; and confer with juvenile corrections officials before she makes a decision on whether to charge him with a felony.
Either way, she said, the boy will not be bound over to face charges in adult court.
While police didn’t specify what the teen used to mask his number, cellphone apps that hide numbers are increasingly available.
For instance, an app called Mask My Number available through Google Play tells potential buyers “Mask My Number lets you hide your phone number when calling by sending any caller ID you want. We also allow you to mask your voice to sound like a man or a woman. Fake your caller ID with our app for endless fun.”
Another one for both iPhones and Androids available from iTunes App store and Google plan, Burner, makes its pitch: “Need a phone number for a day, a week, a month or longer? Create a Burner number on your iPhone or Android in less than 30 seconds. Keep the number as long as you’d like and burn it when you’re done.”
And one called SpoofCard urges callers to prank their friends and its website shows an example of “Barack Obama” calling “Mitt Romney.”
“They’ll never know it was you!” the website says.
Both Walmart bomb threats were called in at the same time — 2:05 p.m. Police said the caller sounded like a young man. Both times the caller said there was a bomb in one of the men’s rooms at the store.
The threats were called in to the store at Fairgrounds Market Place on Jan. 28 and Feb. 3. The store was evacuated both times and parking lot entrances were cordoned off with police cruisers, a firetruck and an ambulance. A Maine State Police trooper arrived each time with a bomb-sniffing dog and searched the outside and the inside of the building, but no bomb was found.
The store was closed for about 90 minutes each time.
Blais said Detective Josh King, of the Skowhegan Police Department, worked with the DA’s office to trace the cellphone number and find the caller’s identity.
Blais said Thursday that restitution will be sought for Walmart and the Skowhegan Fire Department response.
Walmart lost an estimated $38,000 in wages and sales, and the Fire Department response cost the town $2,600, Blais said.

domain: news


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Today is the birthday of Moofeus, a bovine who helped change the world of online-driven advocacy. My business partner and I published an article about Moofeus and his friends from The Meatrix last year; she has posted a copy on her ZNetlady blog, and it’s worth another read if you missed the original Marketing Profs piece.
- RT @sophieherbut: I want pro-life to also mean the life of the woman. 3 months ago
- TruthDAO introduces World’s First Web3 News NFT partnering with Project Galaxy by @truthdaoxyz link.medium.com/zqyFtON0Fqb 3 months ago
- #TexasSchoolMassacre #Uvalde https://t.co/uwscpveqRV 4 months ago
- No, but you can vote it out. #TexasSchoolMassacre #RepublicansAreTheProblem https://t.co/Sg0YdLYX7V 4 months ago


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20 posts tagged "Bulgari"
Isabella Rossellini is making her Bulgari campaign debut. The Italian actress was photographed by Annie Leibovitz at her New York studio for images that were inspired by the work of British painter Meredith Frampton. Rossellini is promoting her handbags for the label’s Fall and Spring collections. [WWD]
Vivienne Westwood, the politician? For now, at least. The British designer is set to front an international government campaign with advertisements on giant billboards the world over. The GREAT campaign initiative, announced by Prime Minister David Cameron, is to promote all things British, technology, entrepreneurship, shopping, and music. Westwood will represent the creativity category. [Vogue U.K.]
Jewelry designer Aurélie Bidermann is getting ready to open her first store. The Amalfi Coast-inspired flagship will be located in Paris’ Saint-Germain-des-Près district and will feature colorful decor in turquoise, emerald, yellow, and coral. To celebrate the occasion, Bidermann has designed a limited-edition necklace and bracelet engraved with iconic motifs. [WWD]
The French equestrian team will be riding into the 2012 Olympics in style. The horseback riders will be wearing Hermès riding jackets, designed especially for the games. The luxury label went back to what it knows best, having started out selling saddlery 200 years ago. The jacket is blazer-style, done in navy with red labels in a technical fabric. [Telegraph]
Hedi In Hiding? Designer’s First Men’s And Resort Collections To Be Shown To Buyers Only, And More Of The Day’s Top Stories
Good things come to those who wait, right? Hedi Slimane must think so. The French designer, who recently took over Stefano Pilati’s post at Yves Saint Laurent, has decided to present his debut collections for the house, women’s Cruise and Spring menswear, only to buyers. The rest of the world will see his debut during Paris women’s fashion week in September. [WWD]
Just on the heels of the New York City Ballet’s spring gala, which debuted ballets with costumes by Rodarte and J. Mendel, Valentino Garavani has announced he’s getting on his toes. Or, at least, he’s designing for those that do: He’s created all of the costumes for NYCB’s fall opening. [Valentino.com]
Queen Elizabeth II’s crown is getting a makeover. Luxury labels Bulgari, Mulberry, Valentino, and more have taken a stab at reinterpreting the iconic crown in celebration of her upcoming Diamond Jubilee, 31 of which are on display at Harrods department store in London. [NY Daily News]
Since Adam Yauch’s death on May 4, fans have paid countless tributes to the late Beastie Boy. But now, Brooklyn residents arelooking to pay a different kind of homage with something permanent. Residents of Brooklyn Heights have petitioned to rename Squibb Park, which is currently undergoing renovations to become a skateboarding facility, in honor of Yauch. [The Hollywood Reporter]
New York is triumphant, Gisele disappointed: The Giants walked away with a new Super Bowl ring last night. But for the legions of fashion fans tuning in last night, it was the halftime show that was the main event. Madonna delivered a rousing (if potentially lip-synched) performance that incorporated plenty of old hits, including “Vogue,” “Open Your Heart,” and “Like a Prayer,” along with her new single, “Give Me All Your Luvin’,” for a ten-minute-plus medley that ended with a full-on gospel choir. Along the way, LMFAO, Nicki Minaj, M.I.A., and Cee-Lo Green all made appearances. (M.I.A. even managed to elude censors to give the finger to the live television audience.)
And the wardrobe? Courtesy of stylist and costume designer B. Akerlund, who worked with Madonna on videos including “Celebration,” “Jump,” and “4 Minutes,” they incorporated an Egyptian goddess’ store of gold headdresses and jewels and a dash of Versace-inspired Greece. Her three looks all came courtesy of Riccardo Tisci for Givenchy Haute Couture: to begin, a gold cape hand-embroidered with gold metal, studs, crystals, and lined in leopard-print chiffon; in the middle sections, a black minidress in silk cady with leopard-print cape in silk charmeuse (also hand-embroidered) and hand-studded python belt with removable flaps (above); and to close, the long black coat in silk cady with hand-embroidered sequins and micro pearls. (Sketches of all three looks are below.) Philip Treacy created her gold metal hat for Givenchy, and the label also created her nappa leather gloves. In a statement, the designer said, “People say everything has a limit, but limits do not exist with Madonna.” (Twitter seems to concur: The site reports that her performance garnered an average 8,000 tweets per second for five straight minutes.) Madonna accessorized with 19.6 carats of white gold and diamond earrings by Bulgari and over-the-knee boots by Miu Miu. Her hair was styled by Andy Lecompte and makeup by Gina Brooke.
The rest of the evening’s fashion credits continue to roll in. Madonna’s “Music” backup dancers wore Jeremy Scott for Adidas; Nicki Minaj wore a headdress by Erickson Beamon.
Remember Melanie Griffith’s famous quote from Working Girl—”I have a head for business and a bod for sin”? We’re not sure the actress wore a pleated leather skirt in that classic eighties flick, but every time we see one on the runway, that’s the line that goes through our mind. One part lady, another part badass, they turned up at Celine and Prada for Spring and more recently at Calvin Klein Collection—glimpse model Jasmine Tookes working those buttery folds at last week’s pre-fall show. Karl Lagerfeld did one for his new collection, Karl, too. And we’ve got proof positive that these skirts make the cut on the streets. Model-off-duty Sara Blomqvist was snapped wearing a short version between shows in Paris, and we spotted actress-of-the-moment Felicity Jones working the look at the Bulgari holiday party in L.A.
CLICK FOR A SLIDESHOW, and let us know if you’re into the leather folds.


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Apple [AAPL] is working on iOS 7, though development is "delayed" according to a prominent Apple blogger who also claims the company is assigning developers from the OS X team to help bring the software back to schedule.
[ABOVE: Might this be the iPhone mini? A product idea rendering from Nickolay Lamm and MyVoucherCodes.co.uk.]
Daring Fireball tells us Sir Jony Ive's iOS team is working hard to deliver the software, which is already being tested using devices equipped with special screen protectors that disguise the OS running on an Apple device.
Development is behind schedule, Gruber argues, claiming Apple has assigned some of its OS X developers to the iOS team to help out. While it seems inevitable this does suggest big changes in the operating system under Ive's command.
iMore's Rene Ritchie states: "Ive's work is apparently making many people really happy, but will also apparently make rich-texture-loving designers sad." You can watch the conversation unfolding here.
So far the biggest changes identified by Apple watchers seem to be the removal of textured app backgrounds. Minimalist Ive is no fan of skeumorphic software design -- it over complicates the interface, betraying the innate design clarity that informs his work.
iOS 7 is important. Not only is it the software glue to underpin the iPhone, iPad and iPod touch, but it is also expected to appear in an all-new iPhone model scheduled to ship later this year, and may also be in the driving seat for an iWatch and/or Apple television. (If Apple really is working on these.)
[ABOVE: In a second image, Lamm looks at multi-colored devices.]
Seamless and simple
The decision to divert OS X development resources to the project suggests further integration between the two operating systems.
Delivering seamless near identical experiences across different devices is hard -- just look at the challenges Facebook has in creating such unified expression. To succeed, it's not enough simply to deploy a near identical interface, but also important to ensure UI elements are logical, necessary and intuitive.
iOS 7 will support the next generation iPhone, production of which has already begun. The software also seems scheduled to land on a new low cost (?) iPhone destined for release in time for Christmas.
The latter model is likely to use lower cost components, and may also be available in multiple colors, as illustrated across this article through a series of product idea renderings by Nickolay Lamm, from MyVoucherCodes.co.uk.
These renderings are based on ideas inspired by a recent Apple patent that described a translucent iPhone, in which "internal metal parts" will be visible through the case.
Software is really important. It's through the software Apple can differentiate itself from the increasingly homogenized smartphone market, a market in which innovation appears currently defined by display size.
"Innovation in smartphones has stagnated and I feel that a fun design like this may turn the tables on Apple's competitors, who are always making minor hardware upgrades. Rather than focusing on major hardware innovations or inventing a new form factor, Apple can remind people of the incredible technology that goes into their products. A lot of us are so used to using our smartphones that we forget about what's inside them. The iMac was made translucent so that it would seem less "alien" and more personal, compared to other options which all looked like gray boxes. Apple can incorporate the same idea into the iPhone," writes Lamm.
Maps mistakes are on the radar
Apple learned a big lesson with Maps. It learned that a great product can be let down by sub standard software. With new iPhone models and a bevy of additional products apparently already on the Apple road map, news that development of the operating system has become a high priority is no great surprise.
The firing of Scott Forstall and the decision to put award-winning designer, Jony Ive, in charge of user interfaces strongly suggests Apple has no intention of allowing its mobile OS to subvert a product release ever again.
This means the pressure is well and truly on Apple's design and software department as the company prepares to expand the iOS market once again.
Got a story? Drop me a line via Twitter or in comments below and let me know. I'd like it if you chose to follow me on Twitter so I can let you know when these items are published here first on Computerworld.


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Earlier this year WatchPro unveiled its Watches of the Year 2012 – the 10 winning timepieces and 90 highly commended watches that we felt boasted commercial appeal, innovation and had wowed consumers and retailers alike over the past 12 months.
Now we are showcasing a watch a day that made the cut in 2012. Today we reach a new category – Innovation watches of the year, commencing with this year’s winning timepiece from the technobrains at HYT.
Most Innovative Watch of the Year – HYT H1 Titanium
Water clocks might have been invented more than 3,000 years ago but making them work in a wristwatch was a technical challenge yet to be overcome until curiosity got the better of HYT and it dared to create a liquid mechanical timepiece.
The H1 has two reservoirs filled with liquids – one fluorescent, one transparent – containing molecules that repel, meaning there is a consistent boundary between the two.
As one compresses the other expands, resulting in the movement of the liquid in a capillary that surrounds the dial. As the hours tick by the fluorescent liquid advances until it hits six o’clock, when the fluorescent liquid returns back to its original position.
The reservoirs are driven by two pistons which is where the watchmaking element of the timepiece comes into play. The mechanical movement is situated in the upper part of the watch, and propels a cam, which pushes the piston and activates the bellows at five and seven o’clock.
The H1’s watchmaking team was led by Bruno Moutarlier, Jean-François Mojon and fluids company Preciflex, who together sought to create a waterproof watch in which mechanical and hydro systems could operate.
HYT says that the creation of the H1 was a human adventure that propelled two world typically at odds with each other towards a new joint era. We were wowed by this watch, a titanium-cased marvel that takes watchmaking to an entirely new, uncharted territory – a worthy winner of the Most Innovative Watch of the Year 2012.


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Uber has already raised billions of dollars from investors in the Western world. Now, it is close to receiving even more from one of the most powerful Internet companies in China.
The start-up is close to securing an investment worth hundreds of millions of dollars from Baidu, China’s top search engine, a person briefed on the matter said on Friday.
The pending deal would come on top of a mammoth $1.2 billion financing round that Uber closed last week. Even with that huge sum of cash, the company left open the possibility of raising as much as $600 million, which a person close to the company suggested could come from a Chinese technology concern.
Forging a partnership with Baidu could help Uber with its most ambitious goal to date: becoming the world’s private car service. No longer content with dominating the burgeoning “ride-share” business in the United States — an industry the company helped pioneer — it has set its sights on expanding its operations around the globe, including in China.
Though Uber has become a behemoth, valued at about $40 billion by investors, it has struggled to compete in China against local competitors backed by that country’s other two Internet titans, the Alibaba Group and Tencent. The startup has operated in China for about a year.
Joining with Baidu could provide a wealth of resources to help strengthen its operations there. The Chinese search giant is expected to provide Uber with access to its huge amount of data and its core map service.
Baidu could also help Uber in dealing with local authorities, a potentially important aid as the start-up grapples with regulatory pushback around the world. Spain, Thailand and several cities in India and the United States are among the regions that have banned Uber’s mainstay service, at least temporarily.
In return for its investment, Baidu will be allied with a mobile service that will help it be more competitive with Alibaba and Tencent.


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Bluffton Candles Gift Shop, a seaside retailer in Bluffton, South Carolina, has expanded and moved to a larger storefront in September at 54 Bridge Street Suite 101 in Bluffton.
The retailer opened its original storefront in 2019 at 3C Lawton Street in Bluffton. The retailer makes and sells its own line of candles as well as wholesale gifts, such as mugs, hats, magnets and greeting cards. Over the last four years, Bluffton Candles Owner Angie Evangelista says her business has outgrown its 500-square-foot Lawton Street location. She adds that she hopped on an opportunity to lease a 1,500-square-foot storefront in town.
Evangelista says the larger storefront will help her to expand the retail shop. She adds that she also wants to use part of the new storefront for hosting candle-making classes and private parties.
“We tested one class in December of last year, and we rented a space [for that event],” she says. “It was a good turnout. After that, everyone was calling, ‘Can you do a candle-making event for this group?’ There were so many inquiries.”
In addition to growing in size, Bluffton Candles has also become a well-known gift shop in the community. The seaside retailer won the 2023 Best of Bluffton Community Choice Award as Best Gift Shop in August. The contest allows community members to nominate and vote for their favorite companies in more than 180 categories.
Bluffton Candles beat two finalists in the award’s Gift Shop category. Evangelista says she accepted the award at a ceremony on Aug. 1 at the Savannah Convention Center in Savannah, Georgia.
“It was our very first time to attend that kind of an award ceremony,” she says. “There were a lot of business owners there. We were so blessed to be there and, of course, to win that award.”


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Tesla have announced a North American spring/summer tour. The trek will kick off on March 10 in Plant City, Florida, making stops at the Florida Strawberry Festival and M3 Rock Festival before concluding on August 6 in Monroe, Michigan.
Tesla played the first two shows of their summer 2021 tour (August 5 in Grants Pass, Oregon and August 6 in Grand Ronde, Oregon) without guitarist Frank Hannon, who had contracted COVID-19; filling in for him was Howie Simon (Jeff Scott Soto, Graham Bonnet, Stryper). Last August, Tesla released the official music video for their brand new single, “Cold Blue Steel”. The clip was directed by Brandon Gullion and produced by Frank Hannon. Tesla’s latest album, Shock, was released in March 2019, produced by Def Leppard guitarist Phil Collen.
For Tesla tour dates and ticket information, head here.
Editorial credit: Debby Wong / Shutterstock.com


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British Land, one of the UK’s largest commercial property owners, said it was renting space at the fastest pace in a decade, with tenants betting on the future of work and shopping.
FTSE 100 Group said On Wednesday, it rented a little less than 4 million square feet of space in its workplaces and in its retail and fulfillment centers a year until the end of March.
The jump in demand raised the group’s base profit for the quarter compared to the previous year, to £ 251m. The British Land portfolio rose by 6.8%. Including changes in value, the company moved from a pre-tax loss of £ 1.1bn last year Profit before tax of £ 960 million this year.
The company said the demand comes from occupiers of large corporations looking for modern offices, which they hoped would be an asset in the war on talent and are increasingly a necessity for businesses that have pledged to reduce carbon emissions.
British Land leased more than 700,000 square meters of space to a trio of blue-chip companies during the period: JLL Real Estate, Allen & Overy Law Firm and below, Facebook’s parent company.
The value of the British Land retail parks portfolio of around £ 2 billion has risen by 21% a year to the end of March.
On Tuesday, British Land’s competitor, Landsec, announced Record year For office leasing activities in London. The landlord has signed new £ 63m leases, saying tenants are demanding more modern sustainable space.
Demand is also growing for retail parks, which often sit on the edge of town and offer both personal shopping and click-and-pick services and have become buyers’ hotspots during the plague.
British Land’s leases hit fastest pace in a decade Source link British Land’s leases hit fastest pace in a decade


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“It is really time to get together and share ideas, identify research paths and coordinate efforts to make sure we fill the gaps in research, funding and regulatory issues for this market,” Dr. Handa told FoodNavigator-USA. “Insects really are abundant—there are 1,500 species we can eat that are already parts of diets of 2 billion people around the world. In that sense, insects are an ancient food, but we refer to them as the future of food for western Europe and America, because it’s incumbent upon us to eat them.”
Dr. Handa, along with the Future Food Salon Group and urban agriculture firm Third Millennium Farming are using a three-pronged approach to grow the sector: building a market for edible insects through events like the Future Food Salons, bug and beer pairings and arts exhibitions; consulting companies getting into the edible insect business about food standards, organics, marketing and developing insect farming and biowaste usage technologies; and advancing the knowledge of the sector through events like the Eating Innovation conference (in collaboration with the Montreal Space for Life Insectarium).
This interdisciplinary approach—involving everyone from farmers and chefs to artists, scientists, entrepreneurs, non-governmental associations and financiers—aims to foster enthusiasm for helping shape the future of food policy in the US. “We’re encouraging everybody to get involved because this is a really interesting kind of innovation. We’re taking something that was previously considered a pest or not considered at all that is now being considered food,” Dr. Handa noted.
A chance to get it right from the start
The nascent US market presents a number of challenges, such as determining how to classify insects (as meat or as their own separate category) and how to approach rearing them for human consumption from a regulatory standpoint.
Because typically the whole insect is consumed—as opposed to livestock such as poultry, swine and cattle, where much of the guts and areas where toxins concentrate are not eaten—Dr. Handa noted that food-grade insects should be fed organic as opposed to conventional feed, which presents challenges of its own because organic insect feed like carrot tops decomposes quickly.
“Everyone in the sector seems to be very keen to work with insects to highest possible standards in view of the fact that the moment we don’t have standards to adhere to,” Dr. Handa said. “We have a real opportunity here to do things right and get it right from the beginning. We need the cooperation of governmental and regulatory bodies to figure out how to do this properly.”
Funding is also a challenge, with investments largely coming from companies interested in the sustainability aspect of edible insects, though Dr. Handa is optimistic that as production costs come down, the field will become more attractive to investors. “It definitely takes a forward thinking corporation or foundation to understand why this is good to invest in,” she said. “Right now, the price for insects is quite high because the market is so small. As the market grows, it will become cheaper to produce them to a food grade standard.”
First the intrepid eaters, then…
The Future Food Salons’ appeal among trend setters and daring eaters (an upcoming consumer-geared event features beer and cricket canapés) will hopefully have a trickle-down effect, Dr. Handa noted.
“We get some people who come for the sustainability aspect, but there are also the intrepid eaters, who will try anything out of the ordinary,” Dr. Handa said, noting that this population subset can influence future tastes in the population as a whole.
“Intrepid eaters make up about 4% of the population. They were important as hunter-gatherers because they tried what others were too scared to try. They help expand our diets. We need them now, because there’s no way we’ll be able to continue with the amount of livestock we’ve been eating with the population on track to reach 9 billion in 2050.”
In the early stages, derivative products, such as protein bars and cereal that incorporate powders or crushed, dried insects, will also be essential to boosting wider consumer acceptance.
“As this market grows, it is going to be derivative products that are going to be more popular on the shelf. There’s potential for all kinds of products—be they corn flakes, cookies or crackers mixed with cricket protein; insect protein powders; dry roasted insects; BBQ or cheddar flavored meal worms. There are more niche products like lollipops with a whole bug visible inside. Obviously, you’re not going to eat for protein. But it helps people get accustomed to it.”
So will Westerners ultimately embrace entomophagy? Dr. Handa thinks so, likening the current environment to the one for sushi 40 years ago. “No one was eating sushi in the US then,” she said. “People thought, ‘Raw fish? Absolutely not.’ To this day, there are still significant portions of the population that won’t eat sushi. But unlike insects, sushi is not sustainable. Insects give us a totally different opportunity.”
The next salon will take place on Feb. 19, 2014, in Austin, TX.


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Garment makers in nine countries spanning Asia, the Middle East and North Africa have banded together to demand better contract terms from global clothing retailers, according to a draft document seen by Reuters.
A group of investors and other funds are ramping up pressure on Western companies over alleged human rights abuses in China's Xinjiang region, highlighting the challenges for brands trying to maintain business ties.
China’s top ride-hailing app dropped Swedish fashion retailer H&M from its listings as Chinese celebrities stopped endorsing foreign labels in a growing uproar over Western accusations of forced labour in Xinjiang.
The Spanish apparel group’s president insisted the business model is “solid” and said he is confident about the group’s recovery. If all Inditex stores will re-open in April, 2021 sales will be on par with 2019.
Retail giant Inditex hasn’t come out of the pandemic year unscathed. But the strength of its business model appears to have carried it through so far and its performance since its fiscal year ended has been encouraging
Inditex staff in Spain say they are being forced out as the owner of fast-fashion brand Zara rolls out its plan to shut up to 1,200 stores worldwide, despite a company agreement with Spanish unions to project jobs.
Uniqlo owner Fast Retailing has hit a milestone in its global ambitions with its value as defined by its share price reaching ¥10.87trn (€85bn) this week, more than any other company in the global clothing sector.


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Pollstar, both in print and on the internet, is considered the preeminent trade publication focusing on the worldwide concert industry. The publication is more than 25 years old and produces a weekly magazine and daily updates on its Web sites, which includes PollstarPro.com, a subscription-based site. In addition, the company produces an annual awards ceremony and trade show.
Besides the publications, Pollstar also lists tour announcements and produces highly regarded industry reports and rankings on the financial results of major popular music tours. The company gathers its information from extensive network of professional concert promoters, booking agents, artist managers, facility executives and other touring and entertainment personnel.
Concerts — they bring people together, unite a group with similar music taste, and allow fans the experience to connect with artists they love. Concertgoers plan trips to different states and cities – even countries – to attend a music event. So, what happens when the industry is suddenly... Read more
The live events industry has been especially impacted by the coronavirus pandemic and facing ongoing concerns about moving forward. To bring all professionals on a united front, Backstage Productions CEO Patrick Whalen and Pollstar’s Ray Waddell are moderating a virtual town hall event addressing concerns. Whalen and Waddell will... Read more
According to a report this week in the Australian Financial Review, a North American firm is considering purchasing TEG, the leading ticketing and live entertainment industry in the Asia Pacific market. TEG, which owns Ticketek and bills itself as “Asia Pacific’s leading Ticketing, Live Entertainment and Data Analytics business”... Read more
Since holding its final Concert Industry Consortium (CIC) conference in January 2009, industry resource and trade publication Pollstar has reimagined its yearly industry gatherings in the form of Pollstar Live! The inaugural conference will take place February 16-17, 2010, at the JW Marriott Hotel within the LA Live complex... Read more
Hard rock band AC/DC was voted Major Tour of the Year at the 20th Annual Pollstar Concert Industry Awards that were presented on January 30 at the Nokia Theatre L.A. Live in Los Angeles. Pollstar‘s annual awards honor acts, promoters, agents, managers, venues and production companies, who are voted... Read more
Pollstar, a leading touring music trade publication, is returning to Club Nokia at the LA Live complex in Los Angeles, CA, for its 2008 industry award ceremony on January 30, 2009. The annual Pollstar Awards, now entering their 20th year, include 32 categories that honor touring acts, promoters, agents,... Read more


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"The pullback in business spending and venture capital investing will winnow the field of startups, Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer in an May 6 speech at Stanford University. But “there’s really not a better time to start a business” in industries dependent on new technology, including energy production, environmental science, and computer interfaces, he said.
“There’s still, in my opinion, more venture capital than there are good ideas to support the venture capital,” Ballmer said in a speech to Stanford students studying entrepreneurship as part of the school’s “Entrepreneurial Thought Leaders” series. As the worldwide economy contracts, fewer mediocre business ideas will get funded, he said. That will result in a healthier startup environment than exists now, when “too many companies can hang on for almost too long with too much money.”


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In honor of Spiel 2016 which kicks of tomrrow in Germany and runs trhough the 16th, Digidiced is having a huge iOS app sale.
They have dropped the price of all three of their fantastic digital adaptations of Uwe Rosenburg two-player board games by over 60% for the duration of Spiel!
That means, right now you can grab Patchwork The Game for less than a buck as well as Le Havre: The Inland Port and Agricola All Creatures Big and Small for less than $2 (or the amount a crazy newspaper boy charges for delivery)!
It is worth noting that this is actually the first time Agricola All Creatures Big and Small has gone on sale since its initial release in early August.
With support for solo, local and online play, these two player titles are all great additions to anyone’s digital board gaming library and if you haven’t already picked them up, now would be a great time to do so.


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FIFA 15 Ultimate Team players waiting for incomplete transfers to clear don’t have to be patient much longer.
FIFA 15 has a really unpleasant issue where Ultimate Team coin and item transfers just – stick. They don’t complete, and you can’t make them go away.
After months of waiting, affected players will finally get a resolution.
“We recently ran into a technical issue that prevented us from properly resolving stuck content (player items or coins) for the FIFA Ultimate Team accounts of a small number of FIFA fans,” EA Sports wrote on the publisher’s support site.
“We are now able to review these select few accounts, and we will be working to unstick these items for the affected FIFA fans.”
The stuck transfers will be remedied gradually over the next few days, with a batch of fixes rolling out daily. To thank affected users for their patience, EA will award them “a one-time package of untradeable packs” as they resolve the stuck trades.
If you’ve experienced this issue, keep an eye out on your Origin email address or EA Sports Football Club News Alerts for confirmation of the fix.


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It's a great day to be a Final Fantasy fan! During 2019's first Nintendo Direct of the new year, Nintendo revealed a ton of new announcements for players to enjoy including some lovely news for one of our favorite magical franchises. Not only is Final Fantasy VII making the leap over onto the Switch, but Final Fantasy IX as well!
Nintendo announced back in September of last year that a plethora of Final Fantasy gamers were making their way home to the Switch but the announcement that IX would be available now came as a total shocker. For those that can't wait for Final Fantasy VII's arrival, that one will be making its grand debut on the Switch on March 26th.
In addition to the above two titles, the spin-off Chocobo's Mystery Dungeon: Every Buddy is also set to arrive in March on the 20th though these aren't the only games in the series on their way. Final Fantasy X, X-2, and XII: The Zodiac Age will be coming this year, with the former arriving on April 16th, and the latter arriving on April 30th.
With all of the excitement it's almost enough to forget that we still don't have any news on the Final Fantasy VII remake yet, though at least Kingdom Hearts III is a wrap so the creative team can put their focus wholeheartedly into that highly anticipated remake.
Are you excited to see the Final Fantasy franchise continue to spread its wings beyond PlayStation and onto the highly portable Nintendo Switch platform? Join in on the conversation in the comment section below, or hit me up over on Twitter @DirtyEffinHippy!
Missed today's showcase? You can check out our Nintendo hub right here for even more announcements such as the new Legend of Zelda arrival, more on Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, and other great reveals.


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Updated on : 07-10-2022
Sri Lanka’s Dialog Axiata said it had partnered with Sampath Bank to launch a US dollar pre-paid fuel card to tourists which can top up to a maximum of 300 US dollars and use to pump fuel as the country grapples with a severe currency crisis.
Sri Lanka is suffering the worst bout of monetary instability in the history of the island’s intermediate regime central bank whose rupee collapsed from 200 to 360 to the US dollar in a botched float after two years of money printing.
Forex shortages had led to fuel shortages.
Tourists with “accepted foreign currency” (paper money issued by foreign central banks which are widely accepted in Sri Lanka due to be being well-anchored) can top up the card with a minimum of 50 dollars.
The platform was developed by Sri Lanka based MilleniumIT ESP.
The cards can be purchased from 229 Sampath Bank outlets and at the airport and will be valid for two years. Lost or damaged cards can be replaced at Sampath Bank branches.
Tourists can access https://fuelpass.gov.lk/touristpass for information or contact a24-hour hotline on 1393 for any queries, Dialog said.
Initially fuel will be available at 300 Ceylon Petroleum Corporation and Lanka IOC filling stations. The network will be expanded to 500 outlets by end October.
“We are pleased to introduce the Tourist Fuel Pass (TFP) to encourage overseas visitors to Sri Lanka who may be concerned about availability of fuel for their travel within the country,” Power and Energy Minister Kanchana Wijesekera said in the statement
“The Government of Sri Lanka is committed to creating a safe and comfortable environment for all visitors to our beautiful country and the launch of TFP is one such initiative in that direction”.
Supun Weerasinghe, Group Chief Executive of Dialog Axiata said the TFC was a “collaboration with the private sector to utilize digital platforms that would overcome challenges and accelerate growth.”
“With the influx of visitors arriving in the country following the tourist season, I am pleased to see initiatives of this nature come to fruition,” Tourism Minister Harin Fernando said.
|Sri Lanka’s Trincomalee port starts night operations
|Sri Lanka tourist arrivals up 67.5-pct in April 2023
|Sri Lanka to give cut-price loans to small and micro firms hit by crisis
|Sri Lanka coconut auction prices continue to climb
|Sri Lanka mulls controlling rubber imports for export industries
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Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, contactless payments stood as one of the most noticeable changes in the retail industry.
According to a Forbes Technology Council post, the global contactless payments market size is expected to go from $10.3 billion in 2020 to $18 billion in the next five years.
When dealing with purchases and deliveries, the desire for contactless “everything” is not a trend; it’s a paradigm shift in the way people shop and receive packages at their homes.
In the past, contactless transactions were a convenient method of paying at the checkout counter. Who doesn’t like to tap a credit card or wave their smart device over a reader to register a sale? However, due to COVID-19, this convenience has shifted to a health concern because shoppers want to limit as many physical interactions with store employees as possible.
Now, retailers are adopting new ways to service customers, including a heavy emphasis on curbside pickups and local deliveries. Consumer-driven desires are truly changing the way retail operates.
A study by Incisiv during July and August 2020 confirms this by finding that 80 percent of shoppers expect to increase BOPIS (buy-online-pickup-in-store) and curbside pickup over the next six months, and 90 percent of shoppers prefer home delivery over a store visit.
Retailers are finding new ways to retool their customer experiences to conform with the new contactless “everything” supply chain, and artificial intelligence (AI) and computer vision technologies are lending a notable hand.
Out are the bulky metal lockers where customers had to open doors that many other people have come in contact with to retrieve their items staged from online purchases.
Replacing lockers are smart shelving systems using AI, computer vision, and pick-to-light technologies that allow organizations to track and monitor items while also providing a digital breadcrumb trail for the organization and consumer.
This is a welcomed change that is bringing more flexibility to a once rigid retail fulfillment model, and it’s being embraced by Main Street local businesses as well as large retailers such as Walmart, Target, Best Buy, Urban Outfitters, and Dick’s Sporting Goods — all of which cited BOPIS as a game changer on recent earnings calls.
In fact, BOPIS drove Thanksgiving Day 2020 online sales up 21.5 percent to a new record $5.1 billion, according to Adobe Analytics. An effective BOPIS fulfillment solution can improve store experiences with safe, secure, and fast merchandise retrieval or returns.
It’s important to note that all BOPIS systems are not alike, and merchants who are considering embracing omnichannel click-and-collect programs need to know the differences. The top three things retailers need to consider when selecting a BOPIS solution are:
- Expedite Retrieval. The time between customers’ arrival and having the purchased merchandise in their hands should take no more than two minutes. Speed is an asset; customers who wait more than two minutes for their items will typically not engage in repeat business.
- Scalability. Good systems scale not just with the retailer’s everyday volume but also easily expand to handle seasonality increases. If the BOPIS system does not scale well, it will either be under or over capacity at any particular time.
- Flexibility. The same system needs to be user and staff-friendly while accommodating various-sized items. BOPIS systems that utilize shelving in lieu of a locker-based approach are inherently more flexible due to the open spaces to stage items as opposed to finite locker dimensions that may limit storage possibilities. These shelving-based systems can also be used for curbside pickup as well as in-store, consumer-served merchandise retrieval.
A similar trend is happening in large apartment complexes where residents want to avoid contact with delivery personnel or facility management, fearing COVID-19 exposure. They, too, prefer a contactless experience when retrieving their delivered packages.
Package management is extremely important when you consider that by 2022, Amazon’s U.S. package delivery volume could more than double to 6.5 billion. That would beat UPS’s 5 billion and FedEx’s 3.4 billion package volume by that time, according to Morgan Stanley.
The contactless desire is not a fad that will dissipate with the arrival of a new vaccine. It’s a process that will remain a part of our lives. The need for large residential package retrieval has the same traits as retail purchases. That is, people want to limit their person-to-person contact as much as possible but still need to acquire items for everyday living.
For REITs (owners of multi-unit residential properties, student-housing facilities, office complexes, and mail centers), couriers can now access smart package rooms using a key fob with near field communication (NFC), then scan package labels which automatically assign them to residents.
Packages then are placed on a shelf inside the room where the same computer vision technology used for retail monitors and tracks every item. Upon package retrieval, residents scan their QR code and are guided by laser and audio prompts to obtain their packages — with zero personal contact.
Using these smart package rooms for tenants goes far beyond providing a contactless environment; it also introduces a much-needed element of security. According to a 2020 C+R Research study:
- Forty-three percent of Americans have been a victim of package theft.
- Sixty-one percent say they know someone who has had a parcel taken.
- Forty-three percent say they know a neighbor who was victimized.
- The average cost of a stolen package is $136.
Residents tried to get creative to protect their packages by installing doorbell surveillance cameras, requesting drivers to hide packages, and sending deliveries to friends and relatives. However, the same 2020 C+R Research study identified the number one theft prevention method preferred by residents was an in-store pickup, and given today’s pandemic climate, shoppers are doing more business with retail locations that offer a contactless experience.
But it’s not only the residents who are losing money when packages are stolen; the retail locations are losing money, too, as package thefts severely impact the bottom line for businesses. C+R Research also concluded that it costs businesses $109 on average to replace stolen items. This includes the full cost of the stolen item and the shipping and handling of the same order twice, not to mention the additional time spent to serve a single customer that could be used to grow the business.
When it comes to in-store retail and at-home package reception, high-touch interactions must be replaced with digital conveniences. Face-to-face interactions with sales reps and delivery persons are welcome experiences, but today, many of them need to evolve into safe and secure, self-service operations.
To achieve this, retailers don’t need to retool their existing point-of-sale (POS) systems, and REITs do not need to sacrifice large square footage. There are innovative and intelligent solutions that can quickly be set up to meet the new BOPIS and package management criteria.
Retail organizations that embrace a contactless “everything” experience will realize more repeat business with lower costs, and REITs adopting this philosophy will find happier and longer-staying tenants.


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Latest Boots Stories
SKELMERSDALE, England, Oct.
CHICAGO, Oct. 13 /PRNewswire/ -- The eight winning U.S. teams from City Chase, The World's Largest Urban Adventure Series, proved this summer they could battle like true reality TV stars in Regional one-day competitions across the country.
COLUMBUS, Ohio, Sept. 20 /PRNewswire/ -- Every woman knows that shoes can make or break an outfit, but for full-figured women, it can often be a challenge to find the season's latest shoe styles in a size that fits.
LONDON, Aug. 19 /PRNewswire/ -- House of Fraser, the leading premium department store, has launched its Autumn/Winter 2010 footwear collection by Dune online. The Dune Group offers affordable luxury shoes and accessories, with brands including Dune, Pied a Terre and Bertie.
The rubber boots that emergency personnel wear when responding to situations where hazardous materials (HazMat) are present may be functional, but they're not very comfortable.
VICTORIA, Texas, April 7 /PRNewswire/ -- The next time you visit Victoria, Texas, don't forget your boots. That's what a new marketing campaign, Bring Your Boots! (TM), launched this week by the Victoria Convention and Visitors Bureau wants you to know.
SANTA BARBARA, Calif., March 18 /PRNewswire/ -- Responding to recent publicity about the negative health impacts when wearing sheepskin boots, premium and luxury sheepskin footwear brand Koolaburra has accelerated the announcement of the launch of its newest innovation The Modern Classic boot style.
ROCKFORD, Mich., Feb.
Largest Commitment from an Outdoor Brand in National Park Foundation History ROCKFORD, Mich., May 14 /PRNewswire/ -- In an era when wired, indoor lifestyles threaten to consume natural outside inclinations, Merrell and the National Park Foundation (NPF) have partnered to get more people living active and outdoor lives.
- To give a box on the ear to.


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IRVINE, Calif., Sept. 27, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Medterra, America's most trusted CBD brand, which grew to $50M in annual revenue over four years, announced today that Gregory Reeder will step in as its new Chief Executive Officer (CEO). Reeder assumes the role, armed with a professional background and skillset that's ideally suited as the company transitions and scales its business beyond CBD and into broader holistic health and wellness products and solutions. Former CEO and Founder, Jay Hartenbach, will maintain responsibilities as Chairman of Medterra's board, while assuming a new position as Chief Innovation Officer (CIO).
"Throughout his career, Greg has found continual success in accelerating the growth of both well recognized and newer brands. That experience is going to be critical to our efforts to expand as a company," said Hartenbach. "Greg's success has only continued as he completely reshaped Medterra's international business. It was clear very early on that all of Medterra would benefit from this level of leadership."
After successfully entrenching itself as the industry leader in CBD products and solutions, the company will be expanding its focus into the larger and growing wellness category, while continuing to spearhead the evolution of CBD and its mainstream adoption.
"Medterra's achievements under Jay's leadership are truly an inspiration. The company is an unquestioned pioneer and leader in the CBD industry, recognized by consumers for offering a broad range of highly innovative products, and owns a privileged position as a trusted brand with premier retailers," said Reeder. "The word Medterra means 'from the earth,' and as such, it's long been our vision to go beyond CBD and identify broader levels of innovation where natural solutions are concerned. I'm honored with the opportunity to work with our incredible Medterra team as we evolve our business, while still driving the evolution and widespread acceptance of CBD forward."
Reeder initially joined Medterra in February as Managing Director of Medterra International. Prior roles included heading Pfizer's $1.8 billion Global Wellness business, General Manager of Pfizer Canada Consumer Healthcare, and Country Manager of Pfizer Romania. He started his career in Product Development and Brand Management at Procter and Gamble and earned a Ph.D. in Chemistry from the University of Cincinnati.
From Medterra's humble start as a broker of CBD isolate, its founders, Jay Hartenbach and JP Larsen, have championed the CBD industry in delivering safe, effective products that provide a holistic approach to physical and mental well-being. Founded in 2017, Medterra has quickly grown to become one of the leading global wellness brands in the industry.
Medterra products adhere to the brand's industry-leading quality and purity standards. Every ingredient is individually sourced to ensure high-quality, non-GMO, and organic cultivation, and the Certificate of Analysis (COA) is available on the website. Medterra has one of the most rigorous testing standards on the market and is developed alongside an in-house Medical Advisory Board. Each product adheres to the brand's industry-leading quality and purity standards, with only organically grown hemp from the United States and a COA QR code on every package and Medterra's website - putting transparency and education at the consumers' fingertips.
Medterra is the most widely distributed CBD company in the world, with its portfolio of products sold in over 23,000 retail locations in the U.S. and more than 120,000 distribution points globally, including necessary businesses like leading national grocery and drugstore chains, as well as online. For a store locator, please visit https://medterracbd.com/store-locator. For more information about Medterra, please visit www.medterracbd.com and follow @medterracbd on Instagram and Facebook.
CONTACT: Jason Farhadi, [email protected] , (678) 313-0799


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The growth of online media has changed the face of media completely, especially traditional public relations. When it comes to PR, speed is king in today’s digital world. However, there are a few things PR professionals can do to merge traditional skills with the world of online media.
First is creating a press release or advisory for the online audience and it is simple enough to make it more interactive with links, photos and videos. There are even easy ways to present the latest news as a website all its own. By creating links as well as interactivity throughout, you can heighten the traditional release into a digital destination.
Another way to merge traditional PR with online media is host launch events online. Apple hosts a #AppleLive stream for company keynote announcements. Lately, it’s been monthly. Here is a link to the September 9 event introducing the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus http://www.apple.com/live/2014-sept-event/.
While your company might be on a much, much smaller scale than Apple, it is possible to host an online event through webcams, Google Hangouts and more. And remember, just because a company is colossal, doesn’t mean its #Fail proof. The iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus #AppleLive was “a disaster” according to this Tech 2 article Fail: Why Apple’s live event stream was a disaster and the StreamingMediaBlog.com Inside Apple’s Live Event Stream Failure, And Why It Happened: It Wasn’t A Capacity Issue.
Finally, a key part of traditional PR is interacting with consumers and fans, getting their feedback, and inviting them to be involved with the company. Through Twitter parties, Facebook Q&A sessions and more, it’s now easier than ever to interact with supporters—and without having to wine and dine them. Allowing potential advocates’ access to your brand online is a great way to make them feel connected, no matter where they are.
By following these foundational concepts, you can combine traditional PR and online media to really amplify your brand and message.


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Since Marvel Universe is one of the biggest movie franchises in existence right now, there has been a huge increase in the number of people buying these comics. The Marvel Comics novels are some of the most popular series in the world and are still being produced by several writers. While these comics have been popular for many years, it's clear that as more people watch higher-grossing movies, they want more and comics are the best place to go. Schatz's solution is to turn the single-issue comic into an anthological number of several hundred pages and containing several stories supported by popular characters.
It has been almost as busy on the big screen in recent years, with a comic book offering dominating at the box office. However, superheroes have been the dominant genre in American comics since the 1960s and are still the first thing many people think of when they think of comics. For the many expert administrators who own and operate these comic book stores, their experience and backlog catalogs are second to none and can never be replaced. A lot of people will line up outside their favorite comic book store to wait for the new release before it sells out.
Schatz could be right, since the compiled format has dominated comic book sales in recent years. The opening Free Comic Book Day event was a resounding success and surpassed everything Field had imagined. That change has resulted in millions of new followers, many of whom may have never learned a real comic in real life. These graphic novels are much more popular today than you might think, and big publishers have a large fan base that queues outside comic book stores to get the latest issue.
Many of the most important and popular comic book stories have become blockbuster movies with Marvel leading the way in this area. Comic book culture is now an all-encompassing amalgam of passionate fans of the world with varying degrees of fanaticism. Finally, it's important to highlight those who are still attending conventions to celebrate their favorite comics and characters. A day after the New York Comic Con put an exclamation point on the media dominance that superheroes exercise over current entertainment and popular culture, data was shared at a private industry conference that indicated that a massive shift in the comic book publishing industry had reached a point of inflection.
The Diamond shutdown caused a virtual shutdown of the comic book market and caused cash flow problems for the distributor, delaying payments to publishers. It would be impossible to talk about the popularity of comics today without referring to movies.


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6/6/2018 10:18:00 AM/Categories: Popular Posts, General News, Today's Top 5, Livestock, Grains
Monsanto's new owner Bayer announced it will nix the brand name as soon as August, when its $66 billion acquisition of Monsanto is expected to be complete. The merger, approved by the Justice Department last week, will create the largest seed and agrochemical company on Earth, uniting Bayer's pesticide business with Monsanto's genetically modified crop portfolio. In the process of amassing that portfolio, Monsanto has become one of the most-hated large companies in the world. Its name is regularly splashed across protest banners and invoked in arguments against the alleged harms of pesticides and GMOs, reports the Washington Post. The decision to drop Monsanto's name is part of a wider campaign to win back consumer trust, said Liam Condon, president of Bayer's Crop Science Division, during a Monday call with journalists. In a separate statement Monday, Bayer chief executive Werner Baumann said the company would redouble its efforts to engage with critics. Bayer executives say it's too early to predict the exact form that engagement will take. While Bayer is set to formally acquire Monsanto on Thursday, the companies will not integrate until Bayer has sold off $9 billion in assets as part of an antitrust agreement with the Justice Department. Monsanto is a major producer of pesticides and genetically modified crops, selling a package of farm products that have improved yields and cut down on some pest problems. But while that business has made the company popular with many farmers, a series of scandals have damaged its reputation with consumers.
Photo Courtesy of Genetic Literacy Project
We always hear about the basis but how can you use it to make marketing decisions?


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July 31st, 2012
San Francisco – July 31, 2012– Joyent, the high-performance cloud infrastructure performance company, today announced that ModCloth, an online retailer specializing in vintage-inspired women’s fashion and décor, has chosen Joyent Cloud to ensure ModCloth customers benefit from a consistently great online shopping experience.
“Our customers have learned to expect an instant shopping experience that’s fun, engaging and constantly updated with new merchandise every time they visit our site,” said Blake Irvin, systems engineering manager at ModCloth. “In our competitive market, every additional second of latency translates into a 10 or 20 percent hit to your sales conversion rate … milliseconds really, really matter. Joyent is faster, more resilient and more efficient than AWS, which is truly crucial for our business to stay competitive.”
As ModCloth’s sales and revenues grew and traffic dramatically increased, the online retailer needed a stronger real-time infrastructure that provided the performance, reliability and flexibility needed to make changes quickly to take advantage of new opportunities and to respond to customers’ changing behaviors. ModCloth chose to move from a traditional Linux platform running Ruby on Rails to Joyent Cloud with Ruby on Rails running on Joyent’s SmartOS operating system.
“One of the advantages of going with Joyent is that Joyent is totally transparent with us as an engineering group. It’s easy to talk directly to engineers if that’s necessary,” said Irvin. “Joyent’s support team is very good about letting us know what is the root cause of an issue, so we can ensure the customer experience remains seamless.“
Joyent’s more efficient architecture and fast provisioning process has also enabled ModCloth to save money on Joyent Cloud by running resources at high utilization rates – up to 80 percent – without resource contention or performance slowdowns.
“At Joyent, we understand the tight link between public cloud performance and business performance,” said Steve Tuck, senior vice president and general manager of Joyent Cloud, Joyent’s public cloud line of business. “Joyent Cloud was designed to deliver consistently reliable high-performance computing that will support e-commerce businesses during peak shopping periods. ModCloth is a great example of how to leverage superior cloud performance to deliver a consistently great customer experience.”
ModCloth is an innovative online retailer of independent designer fashion and décor. They’re building a platform that will further empower their global community to directly collaborate on the production of unique and inspiring merchandise, with the mission to change the way fashion is discovered, developed and delivered around the world. ModCloth has gained media attention for cultivating one of the most active communities in fashion through groundbreaking engagement strategies that extend from their site to social networks like Facebook, Pinterest and Twitter. The company is founded by husband-and-wife team Eric Koger and Susan Gregg Koger, who now have a team of nearly 300 helping them make their vision a reality. They’re backed by Accel Partners, FirstRound Capital, Floodgate, Harrison Metal, StubHub founder Jeff Fluhr and Norwest Venture Partners.
Scott VanSickle The Hoffman Agency Phone: 408-975-3084 Email: firstname.lastname@example.org


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Citi is targeting the 'emerging affluent' market with the launch of a digital banking service designed for customers with between $50,000 and $100,000 in assets under management.
The service, dubbed Citi Priority, has been launched in several countries, including Australia, Hong Kong and Singapore, and provides an array of wealth management products for "aspirational" customers with assets under management of between $50,000 and $100,000.
According to the bank, members of this group are typically aged between 25 and 40, are well-educated with a rising income and are investment-savvy.
"Citi has introduced this service to meet the needs of an educated, energetic and globalised group of customers who are seeking more tailored banking solutions," Citi Australia head of retail banking and wealth Deirdre Wroth said.
Citi research has shown that the 'emerging affluent' prefer remote channels to manage their finances, with more than 50 per cent of customers across the Asia Pacific using digital banking, up from 30 per cent three years ago.
"In Australia alone, four out of five customers are now acquired via a digital channel, a proportion that has tripled in the past three years," a Citi statement said.
Citi Priority will therefore provide a number of services, including relocation account-opening assistance, fee-free global transfers and emergency cash.
It will also simplify account opening and everyday banking, offer deals for credit cards, consumer lending, insurance, deposits and investment products, as well as offering access to exclusive events.
The corporate regulator is investigating the former director of a Gold Coast fin...
The federal opposition’s financial services spokesman says the Treasurer’s r...
Accounting and financial services consultant Slipstream Coaching has grown its t...


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Volkswagen's 5 billion euro ($6.68 billion) cost-cutting plan has experienced a major setback after labor leaders forced management to axe detailed proposals drawn up by consultants at McKinsey, sources told Reuters on Thursday.
The cost-cutting target still stands, though, the sources said.
Volkswagen and McKinsey declined to comment.
The move underlines how much relations between management and workers have soured at Europe's biggest carmaker, which is struggling to raise profits amid stagnating emerging markets and low growth at home.
Late last month, CEO Martin Winterkorn told employees he sought 5 billion euros worth of efficiency gains at its core passenger-car brand by 2017.
The sources said managers had commissioned McKinsey to help streamline production and cut costs at VW, a company at which employees enjoy multiyear job guarantees.
Last week, Volkswagen said it had replaced its production chief Michael Macht after a new modular vehicle design failed to translate into higher profits at its main factory in Wolfsburg, Germany.
Rather than greater efficiencies in production, the new vehicle assembly components used on Volkswagen's flagship Golf model caused costly overtime work and delays, leading the company to report a drop in operating profit.
($1 = 0.7491 euro)
(Reporting by Edward Taylor, Andreas Cremer, Irene Preisinger; Editing by Maria Sheahan)


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Taiwan-listed companies reported a record-high profit from their investment projects on the mainland in the first half of this year, the island’s financial regulatory agency said on Wednesday.
Their investment projects on the mainland earned a total profit of 154.3 billion new Taiwan dollars (5.26 billion U.S. dollars) in the first six months, up by 41.7 billion dollars year on year, the agency said in a press release.
The agency attributed the profit hike to the increasing demand for consumer electronics and other IT products used for long-distance communication amid the COVID-19 epidemic.
A total of 1,191 Taiwan-listed firms have invested in the mainland, accounting for 74.02 percent of the total, according to the agency.
They have invested 2.52 trillion new Taiwan dollars in the mainland in the first six months, up by 13.4 billion dollars from the figure at the end of last year.
The new investment went to new branches and affiliated firms on the mainland or was used to expand business there, the agency said, adding that manufacturers of computer and related products, as well as electronic components, contributed to the biggest investments.


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The downward trend in asking prices continues, with new sellers now marketing at 4.9% less than 12 months ago, the largest year-on-year fall ever recorded by Rightmove. At the same time, â€œproperty vulturesâ€ are circling, looking harder and longer for a good deal.
Rightmove said new sellers increased their asking prices by 1% compared to last month, though the price rise was far less pronounced than the October norm of circa 2% seen in more buoyant years. This continued the tradition of an autumn bounce in asking prices as, in spite of financial mayhem, some sellers are tempted to think their own residence is more desirable than its competition. Estate agents are also competing for scarce additional stock on the off chance it will sell and boost revenues before Christmas.
However, all should note that for the first time, this month sees all regions of the country slipping into negative territory compared to a year ago.
- Average Property Asking Price Â£229,691
- Largest ever annual fall recorded as average asking prices now 4.9% less than a year ago
- Traditional autumn asking price bounce more muted than previous years with new sellers asking an unrealistic 1% more than last month
- Severe shortage of new sellers sees some agents willing to overprice before
- As credit crunch fallout continues, will there be a surge of forced sales to
drive prices down further?
Â· Housing market unlikely to ever be the same again
Miles Shipside, commercial director of Rightmove, comments, “Any potential buyer will drive a hard bargain, so the temptation for sellers to price up and negotiate later may seem like a good idea. These are not the tactics of sellers in real financial hardship, and it would appear that the economic downturn has yet to become an everyday reality to most people. This is about to change as, unfortunately it looks like rising unemployment and an increasing pipeline of repossessions will drastically alter the complexion of the market in 2009.”
“Most home owners have been shielded by 15 years of economic growth, coupled with historically low unemployment and interest rates. They hope that the Government intervention in the finance markets will lead to a more stable housing market rather than a catastrophic one driven by repossessions as came to pass in the early 1990â€™s.
With 38 million visits to Rightmove in the last month, there appears to be pent up demand at the right price by circling property vultures. Predicting outcomes is difficult in uncertain times, but we believe that the steps being taken to avoid a collapse in the global financial system will result in a paradigm shift in the UK housing market.”}


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Richard Branson's Virgin Group is investing $4.2m in a joint venture with Toronto-based leisure centre operator MagiCorp to create two location-based entertainment facilities - one in Manchester, one in Toronto - featuring digital content delivered over cinema-sized screens and personal table-top monitors.
Dubbed Lucid, the joint venture's concept seeks to create a community of consumers in a large dedicated indoor space -- typically 40,000 square feet -- with a variety of inexpensive audio and visual content as the stimulant and food and beverage service as the revenue driver.
Alan Moore, MagiCorp president and COO, told Screendaily, "Lucid is the next generation of location-based entertainment, taking advantage of advances in large-screen projections and to record acts and events for a reasonable cost and possible broadcast." The deal with Virgin, he says, "is a strategic relationship with a serious content provider."
The Manchester facility will open at Easter 2002 with the Toronto facility to follow sometime in 2003 and yet other cities later. Moore said the entertainment will be event driven; for example, a sports event tapping the family market by day and then an appearance by a prominent DJ providing adult-oriented entertainment by night. Another attraction will be big screen, on-line Internet gameplay. The business hopes to retain consumer loyalty by maintaining a simultaneous web presence. "You can enjoy it on location and then participate at home over broadband." He said the web presence will be scaleable for areas where broadband is less developed.
Originally launched in Japan in 1993, MagiCorp was initially a consultancy in the leisure field. It is now pursuing opportunities in joint ventures. Moore said MagiCorp is also pursuing a joint venture with AcerSnowmec, a UK-based specialist in indoor snow hills. "It's conceivable that we could record a snowboard competition at one of our snowdomes that is then projected at the Lucid facilities."
"The key is the content," said Moore. "Everyday needs a new show, a fresh event."


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Leak control specialist Primalec has announced its refrigerant sealants range is now being produced in the UK.
The on-shoring process for Airco Seal Pro, the micro leak repair system for air conditioning refrigerants, is now complete, leading to a shorter and more reliable supply chain.
Primalec’s Airco Seal Pro:
- permanently stops micro leaks in both metal and elastomer parts in
- is especially valuable for hard to find leaks and expensive to repair parts. Saves huge amounts of time and money in parts and labour
- makes previously uneconomic repairs affordable
- is the ideal low-cost repair for out of warranty vehicles
- contains no refrigerant, no propellant and no dyes or other additives in the vacuum can – just Airco Seal.
- Now in a choice two sizes: AC2132C – small cars, AC2133C larger vehicles.
Primalec, a leading UK producer of leak control and air conditioning service products and solutions for OEM production lines and aftermarket service, introduced refrigerant sealants to Europe’s professional automotive technician 20 years ago. It supplies leakage control products to some of the biggest names in the automotive industry.
Airco Seal Pro was developed in Texas by a family owned business, with which Primalec had a close personal relationship for many years. That relationship did continue after the family business was sold ten years ago but has since changed ownership several times. “That makes partnerships harder to sustain,” according to Primalec Director Richard Doran.
“Partnerships with suppliers and customers is key to Primalec’s business philosophy,” he said. “Our association with our former partners across the Atlantic dates back to when our business was founded in 1979. That has given us an unrivalled knowledge and understanding of this highly specialist product category, and why the market needs it.
“In the end bringing production in house was a no-brainer. Seal Pro is exactly the same product as before – the same unique ingredients and the same vacuum canister, same hose and same packaging specifications as before, but it is now made in the UK.
“Branding has been updated and, as it will be supplied direct from the manufacturer to the wholesaler, it will lead to greater security of supply and pricing in post-Brexit Britain.
“This is one of a series of new initiatives and products in the coming months that will help Primalec provide an even better service to our customers in the automotive aftermarket.”
Full details of Primalec’s range of products are featured in its latest product catalogue including its market-leading Glo-Leak UV, Snow Leopard, Airco Shield and Purifier brands as well as Neutronics and T-Line branded products.


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Biotechnology company Dendreon (DNDN) is not in good health in 2014. The company has lost around 34% of its market capitalization so far this year and its first-quarter results didn't inspire any confidence either, although they were marginally better as compared to last year. Dendreon's cancer drug, Provenge, turned in weak sales. As a result, despite cutting its losses in half from the year-ago period, Dendreon's shares fell.
But, on a year-over-year basis, management observed an increase in its revenue for the first time in the quarter. In addition, Dendreon says that sales of Provenge have stabilized despite facing stiff competition. As a result, the company expects that the drug's performance should improve in the second quarter.
Solid opportunity ahead
Dendreon has got a solid opportunity ahead of it given the solid growth expected in the market for prostate cancer drugs. According to Decision Resources, this market


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China’s first Legoland to open in Sichuan in Oct 2023; Hong Kong halts cruise-to-nowhere as COVID-19 suspected in crew member.
Chinese airlines see year-on-year decrease in September passenger traffic; Tibet to launch tourist route featuring countryside experience.
The ship is the first five-star luxury ship dedicated solely to the Chinese market.
The Genting Dream ship has been operating cruises to nowhere from Hong Kong for the past few weeks.
Chinese travelers still see US as most unsafe for travel; Hong Kong 'cruise to nowhere' a hit with expats.
Where this presented a barrier for many tourism operators, Genting Cruise Lines' president Kent Zhu said they were able to use it to their advantage.
Ailing Hong Kong travel sector requests government aid; UK charter flight from China sells out in 30 minutes.
50% of the global cruise fleet is expected to be back in service by the end of August 2021.
ChinaTravelNews is a wholly owned subsidiary of
©2022 TravelDaily China.


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If COVID-19 lockdowns have taught us anything, it’s that being able to shop for goods and services online has never been more relevant. For eCommerce retailers, the pandemic has been a real eye-opener when it comes to ensuring their store websites are up-to-date with the latest tools and technology to keep the shopper’s experience seamless. And where do a majority of a customer’s product searches begin?
Therefore, those sites that rank in the first positions for a given search will have an advantage over their competitors.
In short, it ends and begins with search engine optimization (SEO). It’s no wonder then that SaaS software providers like GroupBy Inc., a leading provider of relevancy-focused eCommerce solutions, are including SEO functions in their packages. The company recently announced an agreement with SaaS SEO platform Authoritas which will add SEO functionality to the GroupBy suite.
GroupBy’s SEO Accelerator
According to a press release by GroupBy, the launch of SEO Accelerator further accelerates customer acquisition by attracting more customers to eCommerce sites. The cloud-based SEO software, which utilizes SEO tools and data, will now be combined with the power of GroupBy’s Page Accelerator to further add value to the GroupBy eCommerce Search Suite.
GroupBy CEO Roland Gossage commented: “GroupBy is extremely excited about our partnership with Authoritas and it is already delivering additional value for our clients. Our new SEO Accelerator and North American Reseller Agreement will put us at the forefront of eCommerce and Digital conversations.”
Currently, GroupBy’s SaaS-based suite provides features for data enrichment, as well as enhancing navigation, personalization, merchandizing and search autocomplete. The company says it excels with complex, large-scale B2B configurations and in dynamic, high volume B2C scenarios.
Now, with the addition of SEO Accelerator, eCommerce stores will be able to make the most out of their SEO and content marketing efforts. That’s because the software solution mashes-up crawlers, analytics, ranking, links, social data and the sitemap.
In Europe, SEO Accelerator has already proven its success.
Authoritas’ eCommerce customer Rakuten, an electronic commerce and online retailing company based in Tokyo, has seen its search visibility improve by 41% within the first 2 months of implementing the solution.
Pairing the technology with GroupBy’s eCommerce Search Suite could take these results even further.
The importance of SEO is more relevant today than ever before, especially since Google announced that its Google Page Experience update is set to launch in May 2021. The update is expected to take user experience into consideration for ranking in search results.
According to a statement by Google: “We believe that providing information about the quality of a web page’s experience can be helpful to users in choosing the search result that they want to visit.”
Why is SEO key in helping eCommerce customers find an online store?
Because most of the traffic, conversions and sales come from it. In most cases, organic searches will rank as a top source of revenue for an eCommerce store. Further, Google drives the majority of profit-producing traffic. In fact, 93 percent of consumers use search engines like it to inform their purchase decisions.
For retailers, ignoring SEO means risking not being visible during the customers’ buying process.
When a store and its products are not visible on search results, fewer customers are aware it exists, which means less sales and profits for the store. At the same time, competitors who factor in SEO will increase sales and profits. And, SEO doesn’t have a shelf life. It just keeps going and going. Unlike most forms of marketing, SEO builds upon itself to grow stronger over time.
The bottom line is in highly competitive industries like eCommerce, SEO is a cost-effective way to increase revenue, and successful companies will prioritize their SEO efforts to optimize their websites for Google and other search engines.
As for the partnership with GroupBy to further optimize SaaS solution SEO Accelerator, Authoritas CEO, Laurence O’Toole said, “Together we can help you (retailers) attain world-class ‘Core Web Vitals’, identify content opportunities at scale and measure real-world improvements in your site’s SEO and revenue from organic sessions.”
Authoritas was the winner of the European Search Award for Best Software Innovation in 2018. As for GroupBy, the company says it is constantly adding new updates to its SaaS package, recently launching features around BOPIS, curbside pick-up, and time of day pricing.


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Food, agriculture products from BASF underpin first-quarter earnings beat
FRANKFURT (Business) – Demand for BASF’s farm supplies and ingredients for food, cleaning products and drugs helped the German chemicals giant cushion the downturn from the coronavirus pandemic and beat market expectations for quarterly operating profit.
BASF said on Thursday that demand for basic petrochemicals and plastic used in car parts was dragged lower by global lockdown measures, causing adjusted group earnings before interest and taxes to slip 6% to 1.6 billion euros (1.39 billion pounds).
But that surpassed average analysts’ projections of 1.47 billion, according to a consensus posted on the group’s website.
“BASF’s diversified portfolio offers advantages, especially in difficult times,” Chief Executive Martin Brudermueller said in a statement.
Late on Wednesday, the company withdrew its outlook for 2020, saying it was impossible to estimate the duration and severity of the coronavirus pandemic. But management stood by an earlier proposal to pay a dividend of 3.30 euros per share for 2019.
The company on Thursday described the transportation and automotive sector as the most heavily affected by the pandemic among BASF’s customer industries.
“This decline in demand from our most important customer industry is currently hitting us hardest,” said Brudermueller.
(Photos syndicated via Reuters)


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Plans to extend a city centre shop’s opening hours to 4am will go ahead despite concerns over “social issues” and “disharmony.”
An application by Anpalagan Subramaniam to vary the premises licence at the GoLocal store on London Road to open for an additional two hours has been approved by Liverpool Council’s licensing and gambling sub-committee. This was after fears were raised by a ward member over the potential increase in anti-social behaviour.
Cllr Westhead’s concerns about a rise in vulnerable people gathering at the shop late at night for hot food takeaways were dismissed, with licensing agent Ian Rushton explaining this would only amount to a “sausage roll”.
The GoLocal store trades from 7am to 2am, selling alcohol throughout the day. The new plans will now allow Mr Subramaniam’s shop to extend this by a further two hours, as well as the ability to provide hot food and drink until 4am.
A description of the shop included in documents released by the local authority said it was a “well established licensed general convenience store, operating under the popular Go Local branding, selling a wide range of goods such as groceries, soft drinks, cigarettes, magazines, cigarettes, dairy goods, snacks, confectionery, alcohol etc.”
Mr Rushton told a three-person panel at Liverpool Town Hall how it was a “commercial decision” to seek to open until 4am given the “competitive” nature of the area and presented an opportunity to grow the business. The agent also cited how Mr Subramaniam held a licence for a store on Lime Street as well as a nearby shop which held a 24-hour licence.
In her representation, Cllr Westhead said unlike other city centre wards, Brownlow Hill has no developed night time economy and “often attracts vulnerable people wanting to be away from police” in busier areas. She said that extending the opening hours would in effect be an extension of the city centre and would not want to set a “precedent” in the area by allowing later drinking.
Regarding the provision of hot food, Cllr Westhead said she was concerned by this addition, to which Mr Rushton said it would include a coffee machine and options to heat small items, adding, “It is just a sausage roll.”
The Labour member, who said she hoped to see the application rejected, felt the additional two hours would “exacerbate” social issues in the area and create “disharmony” in the community.
In granting the plans, the committee said the business must adhere to strict conditions including the outlaw of certain sales.


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VIDEO: 90 Seconds with… Rob Phillips, Uscom Limited
Link copied to
Got 90 seconds? Then listen to Uscom Limited Executive Chairman, CEO & Chief Scientist Rob Phillips tell us more about the company, its recent placement and near-term outlook
Uscom Limited (ASX: UCM) is an Australian medical device company specialising in the development and marketing of premium non-invasive cardiovascular and pulmonary medical devices.
Uscom recently announced a private placement to management and major shareholders. The capital will be used to finalise the costs of China and US regulatory approvals, build new USCOM 1A, BP+ and SpiroSonic devices following record manufacturing in June, and to support new marketing initiatives in China, Europe and the US.
We gave Uscom Executive Chairman, CEO and Chief Scientist, Rob Phillips 90 Seconds to tell us about the company, its recent placement and the outlook for Uscom in the near term.
Have a good idea for our next 90 Seconds With segment? Email us at [email protected].


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January 20, 2009 |
BANGALORE: At a time when most retailers are holding back expansion plans, auto company Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M) has made a quiet foray into the retail sector with the soft launch of its specialty format Mom & Me to sell infantcare and maternity products. The company, which had announced its plans to enter the retail space more than a year ago, has launched two outlets in Ludhiana and Ahmedabad. The company has invested close to Rs 100 crore in the venture. An email query to the company seeking details on business plans went unanswered.
April 26, 2004 |
COIMBATORE: The accent is clearly on babywear in 'chaddi-banian' territory, Tirupur. The apparel exporters in this cluster have quietly moved into the high-value and low-cost babywear category, which came out of the quota regime four years ago. From a negligible business then, Tirupur's exports in kidswear now stand at Rs 300 crore and is growing at 20%. The share of kidswear is quite sizeable compared to total exports of around Rs 5,000 crore,...
November 7, 2011 |
MUMBAI: DLF Brands, a subsidiary of real estate major DLF, has struck an agreement with Claire's Stores Inc, one of the world's leading fashion jewelry and accessories retailers, to bring the brand to India. The $3-billion Chicago-based value retailer, owned by global private equity firm Apollo Management LP , is largely present in North America and Europe but is now looking to expand its footprint in the Asian market with a big push in India. DLF Brands, which retails brands like Mothercare , Alcott and DKNY, plans to open 75 stores of Claire's over the next five years starting with the first one in New Delhi by December this year, said a DLF Brands official.
August 26, 2011 |
MUMBAI | BANGALORE: Paris Hilton-American actor, singer, fashionista and great-grand daughter of Hilton Hotels founder Conrad Hilton-will spread her business empire to India next month by launching her handbags and fashion accessories. The 30-year-old celebrity, who helped Chihuahuas become fashionable, will travel to India for the launch of her eponymous brand at Shoppers Stop, the department store chain's MD and customer care associate Govind Shrikhande said. Shoppers Stop will open Paris Hilton shop-in-shops across its metro stores.
July 31, 2014 |
NEW DELHI: Retail chain group Shoppers Stop Ltd today reported 54.26 per cent decline in standalone net profit to Rs 75.10 lakh for the first quarter ended June 30, 2014 on the account of higher finance cost. The company, which operates retail chain such as Shopper's Stop , Crossword , Mothercare and Hypercity , had posted a net profit of Rs 1.64 crore in the corresponding quarter of 2013-14. Income from operations in the period under review moved up to Rs 602.07 crore, an increase of 14.10 per cent from Rs 527.64 crore in the same quarter of the previous fiscal, the company said in a BSE filing.
November 16, 2011 |
AHMEDABAD: An employment system for girls in Tamil Nadu is threatening to waylay the country's $11-billion garment export industry, with several international retailers distancing themselves from supply chains that involve the allegedly exploitative scheme. India has often drawn flak from welfare organisations for poor vigilance against child and forced labour. In the latest sign that the West is serious about labour issues, multinational retailers, such as GAP , Walmart , C&A, H&M , Primark, Mothercare and Tesco, have instructed their Indian suppliers to stop sourcing raw material from textile mills that employ girls under 'Sumangali', a contractual arrangement that labour watchdogs say involves unfair practices and amounts to bonded labour . The development could have serious ramifications for the domestic apparel industry , which earns 80% of its business from Europe and the US. "We are aware of a number of new sources that continue to show the existence of child labour and forced labour in Indian garment production.
June 30, 2013 |
COIMBATORE: With an annual growth of over eight per cent, knitwear exports from Tirupur are likely to touch Rs 15,000 crore mark in a couple of years as the town is exploring new and non-traditional markets like Japan, sources in Tirupur Exporters' Association said. Entering knitwear export market in 1984, Tirupur recorded exports worth Rs 1,162.43 crore in 1993 and scaled new heights to touch Rs 13,000 crore mark in the next two decades, contributing 42 per cent of total knitwear exports.
March 22, 2010 |
COIMBATORE: The promoter family of the closely held textile garments group, the US $ 225 mn ( Rs 1000 crore), Eastman Exports which has been dominating the knitwear centre, Tirupur for more than a decade has decided to amicably settle the business in favour of one brother and his family. They have found it necessary to part ways in order to independently pursue their interests. Accordingly, Mr N Chandran (56), who has been at the helm of affairs for the last many years, will take complete control of the group business while his elder brother Mr N Palaniswamy (64)
December 3, 2013 |
MUMBAI: Children's Place, the largest children's apparel retailer in the US, may partner Arvind for an India entry next year. The $2-billion retail chain's discussions with Sanjay Lalbhai spearheaded Arvind are fairly advanced as the brand looks to expand outside its core North American markets, people familiar with the matter said. Both companies would soon decide weather the partnership will involve an equity joint venture or a licensing and distribution deal, sources familiar with the matter told TOI. Arvind Brands, a subsidiary of the Mumbai-listed Arvind, has been adding international fashion names to its portfolio — the most recent being Debenhams , Nautica and Next.
February 20, 2011 |
NEW DELHI: Italian fashion brand Alcott that had inked a franchise agreement with DLF Brands to enter India in 2008, is mulling to convert their partnership into a joint venture. "We are happy with the brand's (Alcott) performance in India and wish to grow here. Currently, we are talking to DLF to set up a joint venture in the country," Alcott Founder Salvatore Colella told PTI. He said the plan is to convert their franchise agreement into a JV , wherein DLF will have the majority shareholding and Alcott will be the minority partner.


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ITP brings food packaging innovations to Food Match 2024
Last March 7, ITP participated as a Silver Partner in Food Match 2024, where it was able to present the latest innovative solutions created for food packaging.
The event organized by Gruppo Food this year was marked by two crucial themes: the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into business processes and the development of innovative marketing strategies to engage consumers in new ways.
An important showcase for ITP’s new products
This event represented a valuable opportunity for ITP to showcase its product lines and solutions dedicated to food packaging: coextruded flexible films for laminating and thermal lamination, with different characteristics (peelable, sealable, barrier, resealable, antifog and anti-UV); film for frozen food, also in compostable versions, and vacuum skin film.
A special focus was given to ITP’s latest innovations:
- Triflex line: bi-oriented barrier films created with a state-of-the-art production system that allows for packaging that is up to 30% thinner and lighter, with reduced carbon footprint and excellent mechanical properties, controlled shrinkage and high gloss.
- FreezyPeel: the film for frozen foods that revolutionizes the accessibility of this category of packaging thanks to its easy opening, without the need for scissors.
The smart marketing of the future
The conference featured an analysis of the impact of generative AI in the world of advertising, enabling the creation of highly customizable content. Next, success stories were presented from companies such as Perfetti Van Melle and Henkel, which have leveraged AI to revolutionize their communication strategies, achieving surprising results in terms of brand awareness and purchase intention.
The importance of listening in purchase orientation was then emphasized, highlighting the potential of audio in the communication of brands such as Lavazza, Heineken and Algida through platforms such as Spotify.
The concept of nudging – an indirect persuasion technique that aims to influence people’s behavior, based on the idea that small suggestions or changes in the environment can guide people toward specific decision – was presented as another effective tool in communication. A common example of nudging has precisely to do with retail: it is the strategic placement of products on the shelves of a store; highlighting healthier items or promoting the purchase of environmentally friendly products can influence consumer choices.
Other speakers highlighted the crucial role of AI in redefining business models in the retail sector, putting the consumer at the center. It is precisely this focus, however, that makes the role of interaction with point-of-sale staff indispensable and indeed fortifies it: the human aspect must be geared toward providing high-quality assistance.
Finally, the results of a survey on innovation in the food sector were presented, confirming its strategic role as a growth driver and revealing an increase in investment in R&D and digital marketing by companies, especially in the bakery, dairy and frozen categories.
The awarding of the Best Food Product
The awards ceremony for the tenth edition of “Miglior Prodotto Food“ was held during the gala dinner: 14 new proposals launched in the large-scale retail channel in the last two years, with the participation of Pierluigi Pardo as presenter.
The awards were given to products that follow current trends, with an emphasis on organic and eco-friendly proposals, as well as products with high service content and new formats. Sustainability remains a crucial aspect, as do products linked to the territory and with geographic certifications.
Paola Centonze, ITP’s Chief Communication & Sustainability Officer, awarded Andriani Felicia the special sustainability award for Penne Teff.


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Roland Mouret today announces that he will show his resort collection in London on May 29, 2014. Whilst his mainline collection will continue to be shown in Paris in October and March during fashion week, Mouret’s Pre-collections will now be presented in his flagship home at 8 Carlos Place.
This invitation only event attended by press, buyers and Roland Mouret ambassadors, will be the first time a resort collection has been showcased in the fashion capital. Specifically a movement of showing the commercial relevance of Pre-fall and Cruise.
“I am thrilled to be showing my Resort Collection in London this year. The pre-collections count for about 70% of my business and so I wanted to celebrate and showcase that properly. I have my catwalk shows in Paris, my red carpet support from Los Angeles and a new store opening in New York at the end of this year. I wanted to complete my fashion world by showing in London - my home and where my brand has its heart”.
For further press enquiries, please contact the Roland Mouret Press Office:
Bita Khaki, PR Manager
+44 (0) 207 518 0700