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The Silver Lining Beyond Metros Silverine has tied up with banks and retailers in Jaipur for introducing spa offers for their chosen customers at a discount.
Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.
You're reading Entrepreneur India, an international franchise of Entrepreneur Media.
The quest for physical, emotional and spiritual wellness has moved beyond from being a thing for just metro city dwellers. And the opportunity seems bigger in tier one cities, ripe for disruption in the local wellness market. Silverine Spa & Salon, a young unisex beauty and wellness brand launched in Jaipur by noted beauty expert Purnima Goyal, is taking a shot at the makeover of city's salon and spa market.
Goyal has Shishir Goyal, her husband and partner in crime, whose family deals in silver jewellery business. So not just the name – Silverine comes from her husband's lineage in silver jewellery but it also adds up to their business of salon and spa.
"The idea is to promote the silver jewellery among its customers who are mostly women. Also the salon's theme is silver and white color even as there aren't many silver-only jewellery showrooms here," says Goyal.
The duo launched Silverine in 2015 as a franchisee partner for Cleopatra - Chandigarh-based salon and spa chain and it is the biggest salon in Jaipur in terms of size. "Ours is a 4,000 sq. ft centre. We are technically collaborated with Cleopatra which has around 13 centres, primarily in Punjab," she opines.
But there was a catch for Goyal and her husband. They acquired space for launching Silverine on the second floor of a mall in Jaipur which already had low footfall. And to attract customers to a salon and spa centre two floors up wasn't quite a good idea.
So Goyal had to direct her investments for the first year into marketing and advertisement that did drive a good chunk of people to walk up to second floor. "Gradually the word of mouth started working for us and from last year we have now scaled up to 50 new customers every day," she adds with a differentiated price offering which is around 50 per cent cheaper than brick and mortar chains. For e.g., Silverine's haircut costs Rs 200 against around Rs 400 charged by local centres with average bill value of Rs 1,000-1,500 and around 70-80 per cent customers returning for the service.
Despite being a non-metro salon and spa brand, Silverine has managed to come with its own uniqueness. "Our semi-precious stone basin for pedicure which has lights inside it is unique across India," smiles Goyal.
BRANCHING OUT B2B
Silverine has also expanded to business-to-business model in a short time span. The brand has tied up with banks and retailers in Jaipur for introducing spa offers for their chosen customers at a discount.
The brand is now looking at expanding to Ajmer and Udaipur which are rich in tourism apart from Jaipur also via franchising route. Goyal is also aiming at collaborating with budget or three star hotels where guests looking for such services don't want to burn hole their pockets.
"Bigger hotels have their own spas and salons. We are focusing on three star and affordable hotels to partner with and offer our service at a reasonable cost for their guests," explains Goyal.
For her husband, Shishir is launching a lifestyle magazine called High on Persona in May this year focusing on the richness of the city and Rajasthani culture apart from weddings that remains highlight for other print platforms. In the fray, is also a women's club in the city to drive more customers to the salon business through memberships.
THE WELLNESS WIZARD
Year Of Launch: 2015, Jaipur
Total Centre: One CENTRE SIZE: 4,000 sq. ft
Daily Walk-ins: 50
Corporate Tie-ups: HDFC Bank, Shoppers Stop AVERAGE
Bill Value: Rs 1,000-1,500
(This article was first published in the May issue of Entrepreneur Magazine. To subscribe, click here)


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Source: The Detroit News
quote: relatively low "$20K' price
quote: However, no one considered the fact that consumers may not want a tiny two-seater car that has a top speed of 65 mph and a hefty $42,000 price tag.
quote: WE ALL know this is not what they are for...
quote: In January 2010, Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels boasted the idea of bringing Think to Indiana in an effort to make the state a top electric supporter.

domain: news


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By Debra Kaufman
August 23, 2018
On September 14, Amazon will end ad-free viewing on Twitch Prime, which has been complimentary since it was launched two years ago as a benefit for Amazon Prime subscribers. Twitch Prime has since evolved into its own thriving platform, featuring free games, in-game prizes for some titles and a monthly channel subscription credit that the user can award to a streamer of his/her choice. These perks will remain despite the end of ad-free viewing. Amazon is positioning the change as a way to better support creators. Continue reading Amazon Adjusts Ad-Free Viewing on its Twitch Prime Platform
By Emily Wilson
March 21, 2018
Facebook wants to be the next home for online content creators, aiming to displace YouTube, Patreon and others with additions to its Creator app, which launched in November on iOS and will be available on Android soon. The social media giant is currently testing ways Creator users can make more money and connect with their fans. One such way would allow monthly subscribers to gain access to exclusive content from their favorite creators and allow them to earn fan badges similar to those used on Patreon.
Continue reading Facebook Plans to Be Next Home to Online Content Creators


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In the News
How China plans to lead the computer chip industry
Part of the BBC Rivals series, this clip looks at how China is looking to diversify its economy and engage in import substitution, by producing its own, high quality, computer chips.
The difficulty is that many experts think it will struggle to match the advances made by its rivals in this field, notably Qualcomm. At the moment there is no Chinese chip manufacturer to rival the world leading providers from Silicon Valley.


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(AllHipHop News) Joey Bada$$ recently performed a show at the NXNE festival in Toronto. While at the event the Brooklyn based rapper decided to share a brand new song for the crowd. He didn’t give the name of the song, but the MF Doom produced track will appear on Joey’s upcoming Summer Knights mixtape due out July 1st.
Bada$$ previously released the Lee Bannon produced “95 Til Infinity” and “Word Is Bond” produced by Statik Selektah. The 18-year-old emcee also contributed to Statik’s new album Extended Play that is in stores today.
Watch Joey Bada$$ and his Pro Era partner Kirk Knight perform the track below.


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The trouble with DRMLast week we saw a vulnerability in TV3’s On Demand service exposed, forcing the broadcaster to shut down its video streaming service for…
Browsing: Eric Hertz
2Degrees says chief exec Eric Hertz and his wife on board crashed plane near Kawhia, “unlikely to have survived”.
It seems more and more mates are joining Bruce. 2degrees has announced a larger than expected growth, providing mobile services to 875,656 New Zealanders now, after two and a half years in the market. Included in this are more than 275,000 customers who brought their existing mobile numbers with them.
2degrees has sought urgent Commerce Commission action to stop Telecom from damaging competition in the mobile market. Telecom has confirmed it will lock the phones of customers who buy its planned ‘Skinny’ product, forcing them to pay a fee if they want to leave before a certain time. ‘SIM-locking’ is an anti-competitive practice the Commerce Commission warned against in 2008, when Vodafone tried to get away with it. Vodafone backed down after receiving a letter stating the practice was anti-competitive
The last time 2degrees released its customer numbers in February 2010, it had managed to attract 206,000 New Zealanders with a combination of attractive pricing, smart marketing, a much-loved frontman and a giant ‘log-oh’. Just over one year later—and 19 months since it first opened its doors in August 2009—that figure has more than doubled to 580,112.
I got three main insights from this week’s Marketing Forum, an annual assembly of New Zealand’s top marketers. Hats off to the Marketing Association which once again pulled in 100-plus of our most senior marketers to compare notes, share war stories and drink modestly. Well mostly.


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LANSING, Mich. (WLNS) – On Wednesday, the Michigan House of Representatives adopted a bill making June 2023 Michigan Dairy Month.
The dairy industry provides over 111,000 thousand jobs in Michigan.
National Dairy Month is traditionally celebrated in June to encourage dairy consumption to promote healthy eating habits.
Last year, Michigan ranked 6th in the nation for dairy production.
The industry is an important part of Michigan’s economy and this aims to promote the industry.


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Components & Peripherals News
Intel Q3 Earnings Preview: 4 Things To Watch From Layoffs To Mobileye IPO
Santa Clara, Calif. chip powerhouse Intel is expected to post disappointing quarterly earnings on Thursday. But CEO Pat Gelsinger will continue to promote his ambitious comeback plan after the company successfully lobbied for the $53 billion CHIPS Act.
It’s been a tumultuous period for big tech companies – riding the highs fueled by pandemic remote work needs and this year’s lows from decreased PC demand, inflationary pressure, supply chain issues and geopolitical strife.
Intel certainly wasn’t immune to those hardships but the company forges ahead with aggressive moves to rebuild the country’s status as the world’s premier chip manufacturer. On Thursday, Oct. 27, the tech giant is expected to post its second straight disappointing earnings release, according to industry analysts.
[RELATED STORY: Intel Forges Alliance To Back National Security Effort]
Zacks Equity Research pegs expected quarterly revenue at $15.49 billion – down 19.3 percent from the same quarter last year. If Intel can produce a surprise and beat low expectations, the firm can perhaps avoid a further stock plummet. The company has lost 50.99 percent of its stock price year-to-date, making it the Dow Jones Industrial Average’s biggest loser year to date.
In July, the company deflated its full-year guidance with its second quarterly results – ending the quarter with a $454 million net loss. “The sudden and rapid decline in economic activity was the largest driver of the shortfall but Q2 also reflected our own execution issues in areas like product design, and the ramp of AXG (Accelerated Computing Systems and Graphics Group) offerings,” Intel CEO Pat Gelsinger said on a conference call with analysts.
At the time, David Zinsner, Intel’s finance chief, told CNBC in an interview: “We do think we’re on the bottom.” He said the company was expecting a fourth quarter rebound would help bring gross margin back to around 51 percent to 53 percent.
CRN takes a look at four key things to look out for in Thursday’s earnings call:


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There's a new Monopoly game for people who hate losing
Pawtucket, Rhode Island - Over the years, Monopoly has caused plenty of tantrums and shouting matches. But people who are bad at losing now have their own dedicated version.
Monopoly For Sore Losers lets you collect special "Sore Loser coins" and use them to get advantages.
Whenever a player goes to jail or has to pay rent, they get one of these loser coins. Once a player has four or more coins they can exchange them for the powerful Mr. Monopoly token.
With this thug-like figure, you don't have to pay rent when you land on other people's properties. As Mr. Monopoly, you collect the rent instead. And once a player is Mr. Monopoly taxes and bills are a thing of the past. In fact, he gets you the money that you would have paid in taxes right from the bank.
The player with the Mr. Monopoly token is basically mob boss. If they draw a chance card that sends them to jail, they can make an opponent take the fall.
Losers are winners in the new version of Monopoly
And that's not all.
All chance and community cards benefit whoever is currently doing worst in the game. Negative cards can be turned into positive actions or passed on to other players.
The Mr. Monopoly character also makes it possible to steal property cards when the player lands on a competitor's property. And once the property is stolen, the former owner has to sit out a round!.
"This hilarious twist on the Monopoly game turns losing on its head and celebrates it instead," Hasbro said in a press release.
But losers should not celebrate too soon. This game may not be about collecting the most property, but players still need to have the most loser coins to be Mr. Monopoly!
The game is scheduled to go sale in mid-September.
Monopoly For Sore Losers is already available in select locations.
Cover photo: 123RF/Casey Martin


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Mosmos, a Kenyan save-to-buy platform is allowing customers to pay for high value products and services in convenient and flexible installments, as they earn rewards and unlock discounts.
Formed to bridge the affordability gap for high value products and services, and make savings targeted and achievable, Mosmos enables customers to save for items they want to purchase, interest-free.
“Over 75 per cent of the working population across Africa is informal. This is more often than not characterised by limited and inconsistent income and limited access to responsible financial products and solutions. When you have very little disposable income, it becomes challenging to upgrade your life comfortably,” Mosmos CEO Chengo Masha told Disrupt Africa.
“Similarly, in a market where loan apps and other credit options have doomed customers into a debt trap, financially responsible products like Mosmos are a breath of fresh air.”
Users certainly seem to think so, with Masha saying uptake has been “great”, while Mosmos is also proving popular with investors. The startup closed a pre-seed round earlier this year, from investors such as Antler East Africa, Sovereign Capital, StartUp Istanbul and the Nairobi Business Angel Network (NaiBAN). The latter unlocked a 3X matching investment of EUR60,000 (US$66,000) from Catalytic Africa, the co-investment fund established in 2019 by the African Business Angels Network (ABAN) and AfriLabs.
“The potential for save-to-buy is not only massive in Kenya, but the rest of the other emerging markets. Over the last few months we’ve seen different startups coming up across the world, and the conversation is slowly changing from “buy now pay later” to “save now buy later”,” said Masha.
“As we continue to grow, we continue to listen to our customers more, iterate on the product, strengthen our value proposition and create win-win partnerships that will drive Mosmos to product-market fit.”
The startup has a customer footprint across all 47 Kenyan counties.
“This just goes to show the massive scale that we are working so hard to unlock in the next few months. So, we are ruthless about winning in Kenya and making the Mosmos brand synonymous with SNBL and being the perfect and preferred solution for Kenyans,” Masha said.
Mosmos is looking at other potential markets, but is realistic about the cuttent climate.
“We are cognisant of the current challenges affecting the startup ecosystem and we are being careful enough not to bite more than we can chew,” Masha said. “Over the last few months we’ve seen startups scale down or shut down operations in other countries, so we are studying that very carefully.”
Mosmos generates revenues from suppliers and partners, and does not charge customers any extra fees. Masha said GMV and revenue growth so far had been “great”.
“We are always optimising towards profitability, so that is always at the back of our minds for every decision we make, every product line we explore, and we also maintain a lean but efficient team,” he said.


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After sitting empty for years, the large storefront in Hoquiam’s La Vogue building may finally have a tenant: a public market. Plans for the venture are still in the preliminary stages, but the market could open as early as June.
Space on the second floor of the building could be converted into an assisted living facility.
Building owner Wade Entezar and former Grays Harbor County commissioner Al Carter have joined forces for the market, hoping to lure shoppers downtown. Entezar said the market will feature local food, arts and crafts.
“We’re trying to make a market that’s made in Grays Harbor and that showcases the talent of Grays Harbor,” Entezar said. “We’re not looking for this to be a garage sale or to sell second-hand stuff.”
Besides some minor cosmetic alterations, the character of the storefront will remain the same. The store formerly housed La Vogue department store, commonly called “La Vogue’s,” for about 100 years. Carter said they’ll re-finish the tongue-and-groove fir floors that were installed when the building was first constructed, and the cabinets lining the walls will be used to display merchandise. And, of course, they also plan on keeping the antique cash register that sits in the center of the room.
“We couldn’t let that go,” Carter said. “It’s way to cool.”
The space will be divided into about 15 stalls, which will be leased out for short periods of time. Entezar said he wants to keep costs low for vendors. And the vendors won’t necessarily have to man the stalls — there will be a central cash register.
The market wouldn’t be open every day initially. Carter said he hopes the market will be open Saturdays, and if the venture is successful, they’ll expand from there.
“We want it to be a success so we’re starting off slow,” Carter said.
No vendors have committed to the project yet, but Carter said he’s hoping to rope in local staples like Michael’s Farm Fresh Meats or Jay’s Farm Stand.
While there’s already a market in Hoquiam, the Grays Harbor Public Market located on Sumner Avenue, Carter said he’s not trying to compete. He admitted that he was inspired by the market’s success, but said there’s more than enough local talent to go around.
When contacted about the prospect of the new market, Grays Harbor Public Market Manager Barbara Bennett Parsons declined to comment.
John Larson, director of the Polson Museum, said preserving the La Vogue building will be important for Grays Harbor culture, as the building and the former department store have long been staples of the community.
The building was constructed in the 1900s by the Lytle family, who owned a logging company and timber mill. The Bitar family later purchased the structure and opened La Vogue’s, which remained open and family-run until around the end of 2008. The Bitars began selling bicycles in the 1950s, and the bike shop still operates on the first floor.
“I have long been fascinated with the building,” Larson said. “I’ve been a patron of the bike shop since I was a small boy — and the department store. A lot of people who grew up around here are the same way.”
Entezar, who lives in Bellevue and runs Entezar Development Group, purchased the building in 2009. He initially wanted to open a 19-room boutique motel and restaurant, but abandoned the plan due to the poor economy.
Entezar listed the building with Premier Realty Grays Harbor for $650,000 in December of 2011, but it never sold. He said he plans on owning the building for the foreseeable future, and the public market and assisted living facility won’t be short-term ventures.
The assisted living facility is still in preliminary stages, and Entezar is currently going through the permitting process.
He said he hopes to find a local company to operate the facility.
Those interested in becoming vendors at the public market can reach Al Carter by phone at (360) 581-3220 or by email at email@example.com.


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Today is National Fish and Chip* Day, and tech giant Microsoft has wasted no time wading in with the police to school the UK about phishing scams.
In what must be one of the industry's most tenuous links, the City of London Police has urged internet pond life to "mullet over" before falling victim to a phishing email on National Fish and Chip Day. Cod-dit?
Even the pun lovers here at Vulture Central thought that was below sea level.
Who are we kidding? We just wish we'd come up with it first instead of plunging the depths for ever more convoluted ways of torturing the word "Huawei".
Fish/phish punning aside, the message is important. The UK's Action Fraud said over a quarter of a million folk had dropped it a line between April 2018 and March 2019, mostly regarding emails purporting to be from a well-known brand. Other users said they'd netted phisher folk on phone calls or text messages.
Pointing to figures showing that not-so-koi Brits handed over more than £19m to fraudsters over the last year, Microsoft joined City of London Police to tell users to bass-ically contact a brand directly rather than being reeled in by a message that is merely housed in a legitimate-looking shell.
The kindly software giant also modestly nodded at the $1bn bait it shells out every year for research into cybersecurity. Herring about that, its customers might pond-er the amount of time their PCs spend downloading patches for the company's software.
As well as research, the Windows giant discreetly waved a hand in the direction of its soon-to-be-defunct Edge browser, which topped the security charts back in 2017 for warding off phishing websites. Carp-e diem, right?
At the time, Edge blocked more than 90 per cent of fishy links, with Chrome swimming some way behind. That incarnation of Edge is, of course, due to be replaced by something shinier based on Chromium in the very near future.
For its part, Google would remind you about the Safe Browsing idea it's floating around, aimed at spotting slippery websites.
Sadly, a look at Google's statistics shows that its service alone has spotted thousands of new unsafe sites per week over the last year. By March, the count for phishing sites was heading toward the 1.5 million tide-mark. On the bright side, better security has seen the number of out-and-out malware sites sink.
Still, getting the message out to that special salmon in internet land to be wary of scams by dipping into the Fish and Chip Day lard bucket is surely not just floundering their resources for the halibut like some sort of cybersecurity minnow. The Reg would also suggest that, come July, readers should be on the lookout for phishing scams themed around hardcore prawn. ®
* For those confused, "chip" in the UK refers to those delicious bags of starchy grease available from fried food emporiums up and down Blighty. Not to be mixed up with the American interpretation, known as "crisps" on this side of the pond.


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MANGALORE: To augment the production of jackfruit in India, the Global Village Fruits Inc. on Saturday launched a campaign.
Global Village Fruits Inc. is a for-profit social enterprise started by pre-med anthropology concentrator and Harvard public service traveller Annemarie Ryu which has plans to export 25 tonne of dried jackfruit from India to the US.
"Many people in India do not know the various uses of the fruit. During my visit a year ago, I came to know that about 28 tonne of jackfruit is wasted in India as people do not make optimal use of it and the fruit does not have a profitable market too. When I realized its market potential, I thought of marketing it in the US," Annemarie said. There was overwhelming response when she supplied the fruit to 30 super markets in the US last year.
"I came back to India to start a campaign to promote jackfruit cultivation to meet the need for 25 tonne of jackfruit in the US in the next one year," Annemarie said.
There is huge demand for dehydrated fruit which is easy to export and has a shelf life too. "At present, we are exporting three varieties of the fruit. There are plans to introduce seed flour, jackfruit burger, cookies, juice, jam and other varieties of value added products from jackfruit to the US market," she added.
Annemarie's love for the yummy fruit does not end here.
She is also working on a book that will track the history of jackfruit, its nutritional benefits and uses across the world.


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Bob Woods, who helped create Topps magazine more than a decade ago has teamed up with the company again to produce a new book. Yankee Greats features front and back images of 100 classic Yankees baseball cards spanning the last 60 years.
From The Topps Company’s first baseball card set, the quirky 1951 Red and Blue back cards, to their latest series, millions of fans have been able to celebrate the game and players through the familiar photos-on-cardboard format. Now, for the first time, the Yankees and Topps have joined together to offer fans a unique package that provides a fresh link between America’s pastime and one of the sport’s most beloved teams.
Yankee Greats is packaged with four classic cards, now presented in the new 2012 Topps baseball star design. The players featured are Mickey Mantle, Yogi Berra, Reggie Jackson, and Paul O’Neill, and the new cards are exclusive to the book.
Woods is a freelance writer who grew up in upstate New York during the 1950s and ’60s, loving the Yankees and collecting Topps baseball cards. His affection for the Yanks only increased when he moved to New York after college and later intersected with his career after he teamed up with Topps to create Topps Magazine.
Yankee Greats has a $19.99 cover price but is cheaper on Amazon.com. Click here to check it out.


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The launch on Friday marked Astra’s first successful commercial orbital launch for the U.S. Space Force at the Pacific Spaceport Complex.
The company’s rocket LV0007 launched from the Pacific Spaceport Complex in Kodiak, Alaska, carrying a test payload for the U.S. Space Force.
“Congrats! Orbit is not easy,” Musk wrote in a tweet to Astra.
Astra joins SpaceX, Rocket Lab and Virgin Orbit in the group of U.S. companies that have reached orbit with a privately-funded rocket.
Launch time was 12:30 am EST (05:30 GMT) on November 20th at the Pacific Spaceport Complex, Kodiak Island, Alaska. The destination was Low Earth Orbit’
Smallsat launch startup Astra Space is slated to make another attempt at achieving orbit, now as early as Friday night. The launch window for LV0007 opened on November 18 (November 19 UTC), but a first launch attempt was scrubbed. Launch is now targeted for a backup opportunity no earlier than 9:00 PM PST on November 19 (05:00 UTC on November 20). The launch is to be conducted from LP-3B at the Pacific Spaceport Complex in Kodiak, Alaska.
Make room for yet another competitor in the market to provide broadband internet access from low Earth orbit: Astra Space, the venture that went public with a helping hand from Seattle-area telecom pioneer Craig McCaw, is asking the Federal Communications Commission for authorization to launch as many as 13,620 bit-beaming satellites.
Astra, the small satellite launch company, said Wednesday it will try again to send a test payload into orbit from Alaska as soon as Nov. 8 after three previous flights missed the mark.
Astra, a small launch vehicle business, has found the cause of a launch failure in August and says it will try again as early as late this month.
A roughly $30 million handshake between two rivals is the latest display of consolidation in the small launch industry


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We are proud to inform you of the successful installation of a complete battery regeneration centre in Cairo, the heart of Egypt! With this installation we confirm and expand our leading market position on the African continent. This battery regeneration centre will be the first of many, as our partner has taken on the role to further invest in our technology and increase the number of centres all over Egypt.
Our partner chose to buy the complete professional workshop package which also includes:
We already look forward to going back to the land of Tutankhamun soon.


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It's been a rough go for Darden Restaurants these past few years. Declining sales led to a proxy fight that ended with a new board of directors for the company. At that time, Darden sold its lucrative Red Lobster chain to another company and embarked on a bevy of cost-cutting moves. Some of the company’s moves smack of desperation: As noted in a Bloomberg report, the company has shampooed its restaurants’ carpets less frequently to save money.
Although Darden once enjoyed a solid reputation as one of the more responsible and sustainable restaurant chains in the industry, it has recently come under attack by several nonprofit organizations that say its environmental stewardship needs far more improvement.
And now the company, which owns the popular Olive Garden chain, has been accused of ramping up more cost-cutting measures on the backs of its employees.
According to a new report issued by Restaurant Opportunities Centers United, Darden saved over $5 million a year by shifting many of its employees from standard paycheck services to payroll cards. The result, according to many workers, is a financial windfall for banks while employees are stuck with a smaller paycheck.
Payroll cards have become a popular way to compensate employees, especially hourly wage earners, who are often unbanked. Visa and payroll services such as ADP have seized upon these services, with the argument that such payments are secure and offer employees access to their money immediately. Some writers insist that they are a better financial option for employees than having to cash checks at expensive and predatory check-cashing services.
But as anyone who has received a gift card with a Visa or other credit card logo on it knows, there is plenty of fine print to read and remember -- or the $100 on that plastic card can disappear. According to a joint report funded by the Social Initiatives Foundation, The Moriah Fund and the Discount Foundation, several problems have contributed to what Darden employees describe as their wages being consumed by bank fees:
- Almost a quarter of Darden employees say they were not given instructions on how to use their company’s payroll cards.
- 42 percent said they had problems accessing their wages via their payroll cards.
- Over 75 percent of employees surveyed said they paid fees to access their wages at ATM machines, while many complained about withdrawal limits.
- 63 percent said they were not told about the fees these cards can incur before a payroll card was issued to them; and almost half said they had no access to ATMs that do not charge them a fee to access their wages.
- And the statistic to which Darden really needs an answer: 26 percent of Darden employees said they were told there was no alternative to the Darden payroll card.
These complaints by labor activists only add to Darden’s woeful reputation as an employer, one that dives into public-relations missives about being a good corporate citizen while many of its workers seek public assistance to supplement their wages.
[Ed. Note: Darden reached out to us via Twitter share that they are "committed to serving responsibly-sourced food, supporting employees & the environment." and included a link to their citizenship report: http://bit.ly/1XiVDOp]
As many as 7.4 million people receive wages via payroll cards, the fees of which can push workers’ hourly wages to less than the federal minimum wage. This is the perfect example of how the road to hell is paved with good intentions, as paying employees in cash or having them rely on check-cashing services are not the best ideas, either. But as these cards benefit the bottom line of banks and companies such as Darden at the expense of workers, more states are looking into regulating this form of payment.
The state of Washington — which, incidentally, offers a Visa payroll card as an option for employees — is mulling legislation that would restrict the fees that these cards can charge. The banks and their lobbyists, however, will do everything to prevent that law from passing.
One problem with wages, how they are paid, and the fees they involve is structural. The U.S. is a dinosaur when it comes to financial transactions. Ask many Americans if they have a PayPal account, for example, and the response may very well be, “No, I just email him now.” Chip cards, which have long been the norm in Europe, are now standard issue here, but many merchants here are loath to update their systems as they complain about the cost. Mobile payment systems such as those available by Android or Apple have gained some traction, and therein lies a potential solution: Mobile technology can help solve this problem cheaply and effectively.
Mobile banking has become standard in Africa, so why not here? Banks, as well as companies such as Darden, love to talk about how socially responsible they are. Mobile banking could offer a cost-effective way to allow workers to become part of the banking system.
Image credit: Marlon E/Flickr
Leon Kaye has written for 3p since 2010 and become executive editor in 2018. His previous work includes writing for the Guardian as well as other online and print publications. In addition, he's worked in sales executive roles within technology and financial research companies, as well as for a public relations firm, for which he consulted with one of the globe’s leading sustainability initiatives. Currently living in Central California, he’s traveled to 70-plus countries and has lived and worked in South Korea, the United Arab Emirates and Uruguay.
Leon’s an alum of Fresno State, the University of Maryland, Baltimore County and the University of Southern California's Marshall Business School. He enjoys traveling abroad as well as exploring California’s Central Coast and the Sierra Nevadas.


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Cohn & Wolfe has published its inaugural Authentic 100, an annual index of global brands ranked by consumer perception of authenticity. Among the top 10 brands are Apple (number five on the list), Disney (number one), BMW (number two), Microsoft (number three), Amazon (number four), Intel (number six), Audi (number seven), Samsung (number eight), Adidas (number nine), and Lego (number 10).
The 2016 study by the a global communications agency on authenticity defines what consumers believe are the individual attributes of authentic behavior and whether a brand displaying these attributes will affect the actions of consumers. The study identifies a large "authenticity gap" between brands and consumers, with 75 percent of nearly 12,000 consumers surveyed across 14 markets indicating that brands and companies have a credibility problem. Key findings of the study include:
- High global cynicism: Consumer cynicism is highest in Western Europe, with only 7% of those surveyed in the UK, France, Germany and Spain – and a mere 5% in Sweden – describing brands as "open and honest." In the least cynical countries – China and Indonesia – that number only climbs to 36% and 35%, respectively. Americans fall somewhere in the middle, and closer to the global average of 22%, with less than a quarter of Americans (23%) seeing brands as honest.
- Privacy matters: Given the recent public standoff between Apple FBI over encryption technologies, it is worth noting that privacy concerns are now seen as a core component of what makes a brand authentic in the eyes of consumers. Globally, "protecting customer data and privacy" ranked as the fourth most important attribute of authenticity today.
- The authenticity opportunity: Nearly nine out of 10 consumers are willing to take action to reward a brand for its authenticity, including 52% who would recommend the brand to others and 49% who would pledge loyalty to the brand. Twenty percent would be prepared to put their money on the table and invest in a brand that proves its authenticity.
- Authenticity as a personal experience: Consumers are looking for daily, real-life reminders that they can count on brands. In defining authenticity, they prioritize "high quality" (66%) and "delivering on promises" (70%) over more lofty measures like "social responsibility" (57%) and "environmental responsibility" (55%).
"The rules of communication have irrevocably changed, and we're seeing consumers reward brands that understand how to engage with them openly and honestly. In fact, consumers will forgive the occasional corporate misstep if a company is upfront, and addresses the issue head-on," says Donna Imperato, CEO, Cohn & Wolfe. "The brands topping the Authentic 100 understand this, and have demonstrated consistently that they value more than just their bottom lines by fostering a genuine dialogue with their customers.”
Cohn & Wolfe's analysis has identified three key drivers of authenticity:
- Reliable: Consumers rate brands as authentic when they "deliver on promises" and are of "high quality";
- Respectful: These brands "treat customers well" and "protect customer data and privacy" – a key concern for consumers across markets;
- Real: Brands that rate high on this driver "communicate honestly" and "act with integrity.”
- The 2016 Authentic Brands study and the Authentic 100 are the result of a combination of primary and secondary research, including surveys on more than 1,600 brands, measuring 300 global brands, administered over two months (September to October 2015) to nearly 12,000 consumers in 14 markets: Brazil, China, France, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Italy, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom and the United States.
The full list of 1,600 brands included in the survey was based on an examination of the following reports: BrandZ's 100 Most Valuable Brands; Forbes' 100 Most Valuable Brands and the Reputation Institute's Global RepTrak 100 Most Reputable Companies list. Cohn & Wolfe also consulted Y&R Group's BrandAsset Valuator (BAV) to determine which brands should be included in each country's surveys, based on regional familiarity.


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A Michelin chef has taken a step away from the restaurant business to open a new sandwich bar in Newport.
Gunero, on 33 Upper Bar, officially swung open its doors today but has been trading since Tuesday morning.
The modern bar sells a wide selection of fresh deli, salads and hot pies.
And owner Guner Isik, who has worked in top eateries across Shropshire for over a decade, is hoping that his new business will prove a hit with Newport’s workforce.
He said: “I’m a chef by trait with experience in a Michelin restaurant in Bridgnorth.
“But I wanted to go out on my own and this is the first step for me.
“It’s a nerve-racking but exciting move. Everyone who starts a new business is taking a risk.
“I don’t know how Newport will receive us but I believe in good service and really hope we can offer something different. I’m very hopeful that this can be a success.”
Newport already has a fine selection of delicatessens with Subways, Greggs, Combinations and Wycherleys, among others.
But Mr Isik, originally from Bulgaria, believes that his location on Upper Bar - combined with reasonable prices - will produce good footfall.
He added: “We have builders and plumbers who work just around the corner so I’m sure that will create some business.
“It is true that there are other similar shops in Newport. But I think the town deserved something up this end.
“I have set the prices reasonably low because I believe that if you look after people, they will look after you.
“We’re supporting local businesses by buying local. The meat will come from Dave Matthews butchers, for example.
“I hope that Newport people will support us and keep the money in the town.
“Every complaint that we get will be taken on board to help improve the service.”
As well as the usual array of freshly made sandwiches and baguettes, Gunero will sell hot pies and salad boxes.
Telford-based Mr Isik, aged 35, added that he will be looking for additional staff in due course. Gunero is open from 7am to 6pm, Monday to Saturday and the same time on Bank Holidays.
By Sean Wozencroft


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An investigation by Chinese environmental groups, sparked by thousands of cases of lead poisoning in the country, has concluded with a report that urges foreign manufacturers including HP, Sony, Apple, and Vodafone to clean up their supply chains.
The report, written by a coalition of 34 non-governmental organizations, names 29 companies that the groups insist should be held more accountable for the suppliers of their parts.
In addition to the poor working conditions found in many such factories, the report states they are often in violation of environmental regulations as well. One manufacturer that produces batteries used in Vodafone and BT handsets was linked to the lead poisoning of 121 children last year.
Vodafone reported that their supplier stopped buying from that particular factory after the report was published, and other companies have been responsive to the groups' calls for greater accountability. For such large companies, however, supply chains are complex and deeply-entrenched systems, and scrubbing them clean is a considerable undertaking. Still, putting pressure on these companies from both sides—where their products are produced, as well as where they are sold—is one way to ensure that supply chain accountability remains a priority going forward. [Guardian via Greenbiz]
Image credit eutrophication&hypoxia


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Karla Lant is an experienced freelance writer, journalist, editor, and adjunct professor. She focuses on science, technology, politics, education, and technical writing. Browse by publication below.
One of the biggest concerns inventors and other innovators have about pitching their ideas is getting their intellectual property stolen. This isn’t a baseless fear. Theft of intellectual property including trade secrets is common, and without a patent you probably have a trade secret. Fortunately, there are some steps you can take to protect yourself.
May 3, 2013 was the Day Against Digital Rights Management (DRM) according to a press release from the Free Software Foundation (FSF). Timed to coincide roughly with the 20 year anniversary the open World Wide Web, FSF and more than two dozen other organizations announced the circulation of a petition opposing DRM measures to be delivered at the World Wide Web Consortium in Boston.
As this article posts we are midway through the latest meeting of World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) delegates who are trying to protect “traditional knowledge” as it pertains to intellectual property. The 24th session of WIPO’s Intergovernmental Committee on Intellectual Property and Genetic Resources, Traditional Knowledge and Folklore (IGC) is taking place from the 22nd to the 26th of April 2013.
This past Monday the Senate voted overwhelmingly in favor of taking up debate and amendment on the Marketplace Fairness Act, a bill that would force online retailers to collect Internet sales tax. A final Senate vote is imminent, and it seems that the bill will pass.
FundersClub is now the the first SEC-approved online venture capital platform. The company now has the legal green light as it received its “no-action” letter at the end of March. The online platform’s legality came into question based on its identity as either a broker-dealer or advising company. The distinction was key because FundersClub is not registered as a broker-dealer; instead, it argued in its response to the SEC that it was it was merely an entity advising on venture capital matters based online rather than offline.
As UpCounsel reported on April 16, 2013, the Supreme Court is set to decide the Association for Molecular Pathology v. Myriad Genetics case–the gene patent case–in June 2013 based on the oral arguments it heard on April 15. The case was originally fired up in the media and public mind in large part due to the controversy surrounding patents on the BRCA1 and 2 genes, also known as the breast cancer susceptibility genes. Especially given the radical ethical conflicts stirred up by the discovery of the genes—preventive mastectomies, for example, which have been elected since the discovery even by women who do not carry the genes—have stirred heated debate.
The White House budget proposal nearly always sees the light of day in February of each year, but this year the release came on April 10. The late release came with good news for the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), bad news for big pharma, and a mixed bag for everyone else.
Written by Karla Lant on May. 24 2013 under How-Tos & Tips · Due Diligence. While the excitement of licensing new products or tapping new markets can be ......
Aaron Greenspan, the software entrepreneur who founded Think Computer, is a little like Jason Voorhees of the Friday the 13th movies: he just keeps coming back. On Monday, May 6, 2013 the arch enemy of Facebook creator Mark Zuckerberg filed suit against not only that ubiquitous social network but most of Silicon Valley.
These days opening an online store is extremely appealing. It’s easier than ever given the many platforms to choose from and the easy technical support you can get for your store. And everyone has an idea for something they’d like to sell if they could only reach enough people.
No matter how wonderful a boss you are or how successful your company is, sooner or later you are going to have to fire employees. Between federal, state and sometimes even local employment laws, navigating through the legal pitfalls of losing bad or sour employees can be tricky. Here are the absolute best ways to shed your dead weight and stay on the right side of the law.


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updated 06:33 pm EDT, Fri June 8, 2012
Lack of filter makes for brighter e-paper displays
Fuji Xerox spent the opening day of the Society for Information Display's Display Week 2012 showing off its new color e-paper technology. The new e-paper is said to achieve a brighter, more vivid display due to its lack of a color filter. The technology generates a white screen by drawing all color particles to the back of the display board.
The technology works by establishing a different threshold value for each color in the display. Thus, different levels of charge moving through the display will cause different color particles to be drawn toward the front board to be seen.
Competitors are working on similar technology, such as Qualcomm's Mirasol displays, however the panels have proven to be expensive compared to traditional LCD, AMOLED or grayscale e-ink alternatives. Mirasol has been viewed as inferior in terms of color vibrance, despite its power efficiency (which is comparable to grayscale e-ink, far superior to current color display energy requirements).
Fuji Xerox' technology is still in the prototype stage, and the company says it plans to improve upon it, enabling full-color e-paper using three elementary colors instead of the current two used in the prototype. The five-inch screen size and the 600x800 pixel count likely make the technology unsuitable for use in a mass-consumer device anytime soon.


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New Delhi: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman introduced the Finances for the monetary 12 months 2023-24. The change in tax charges and customs obligation is about to impression the costs of products and providers. From items dearer to you, like cellphones and jewelry, to items day by day use have been impacted by the change within the taxes whereas the announcement concerning the earnings tax rebate and new slabs will impression the calls for of those items as effectively.
The federal government decreased the Primary Customs Obligation on elements of open cells of TV panels to 2.5% whereas the customs obligation on the import of sure elements like digicam lenses has additionally been decreased. Finance Minister introduced the discount of customs obligation on sure elements of cellphones. It will assist the electronics manufacturing sector and can cut back the costs of TV and mobiles. The concessional obligation on lithium-ion cells for batteries will proceed for an additional 12 months.
Jewelry and metals:
The costs for gold, platinum and imported silver to go up, which signifies that the gold, platinum and silver jewelry will get costlier.
The customs obligation on cigarettes has elevated, which implies that smoking will now price extra.
The central authorities and lots of state governments are shifting in the direction of digital autos. Maintaining a tally of the imaginative and prescient, Finance Minister introduced the discount in primary customs obligation charges on items apart from agriculture and textiles, and the costs of cars, e-vehicles and cycles are set to go down.
|Lithium-ion batteries||Imported silver|


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OUT OF THE POND HITS WILLIAMSBURG VA
Today the Billabong East Coast promo phenoms teamed up with Busch Gardens Amusement Park, creating a one day only 15 % off sale at the Billabong store located inside the Park. And as you can see in the photo things were popping off all day long.
â€šÃ„Ã¶?Ã‘??We kept everyone passing by entertained with Billabong trivia and a chance to check out Billabongs newest wake video "Out of The Pond,â€šÃ„Ã¶?Ã‘?? said Raven Lundy, who helped set up and run the event. Jason Borte made it out for the day to promote the Billabong camps onsite, and Billabong and the Camps program werenâ€šÃ„Ã¶?Ã‘? ¥t the only ones who benefited.
â€šÃ„Ã¶?Ã‘??Everyone on this end is very pleased and sales doubled from the Saturday before!â€šÃ„Ã¶?Ã‘?? said a very stoked Kimberley Beck the Visual Merchandiser from Busch Gardens. Doubling sales from a BB promo â€šÃ„Ã¶?Ã‘? ¨ now thatâ€šÃ„Ã¶?Ã‘? ¥s what we like to hear. All in all the crew had a lot of fun and it was a successful day!


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Trade Belgian beef exports stabilise at previous year's level
At around 200,166 t, global export volumes are stabilising at almost the same level as in the previous year. The main sales region remains the European Union, which absorbs 91.2% of Belgium's foreign trade with 182,588 t, an increase of 1.5% over the previous year.
The immediate neighboring countries continue to occupy the top positions on the customer list. The Netherlands ordered 68,629 t (-3.4%), France 39,296 t (-0.2%) and Germany 34,132 t (+4.5%). Third-country exports shrank by one fifth to 17,578 t compared with 2017. Ghana (6,247 t), the Ivory Coast (5,385 t) and Hong Kong (1,305 t) remain the most important destinations despite declining volumes.


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30179 Hannover, de
Residents told to "Recycle Now", but how can you protect your identity?
Environmentally-conscious residents are having to choose between protecting the environment and protecting their identity. By placing personal information like bank statements, utility bills, and even junk mail into recycling containers without destroying them first, consumers are putting themselves at risk of identity fraud.
It is impossible to miss the headlines calling on UK residents to recycle more household waste - under the threat of fines consumers are now recycling up to 66% of the paper they use[ ]. But as consumers seek to dispose of paper waste responsibly, many are shocked to discover that their councils refuse to recycle shredded paper. Research from Fellowes[ ] reveals that almost 45% of the British public are choosing the "green option", putting personal information in to recycling containers without shredding first. Fellowes urges consumers to re-think. With identity fraud on the increase in the UK, it is still possible to protect your identity and be green.
"Councils across the UK have recognised the importance of offering recycling services to residents," explains Tyron Hill, Marketing Director of Fellowes. "This is both necessary, and commendable.
However, it is a concern that shredded waste is not being recycled in some areas. It means that many households are not following police and Government advice to shred personal information before throwing it away, and are putting themselves at serious risk of identity fraud. People must shred their personal and financial details - and local councils should be proactively encouraging this."
"If your council does not recycle shredded waste," continues Hill, "it is still possible to shred and be green. Composting is simple, cost effective and helps the environment, for example - and many local schools will be glad to receive your shredded waste for papier mache projects. It also makes ideal wadding for packages and parcels."
Die Nutzung von hier veröffentlichten Informationen zur Eigeninformation und redaktionellen Weiterverarbeitung ist in der Regel kostenfrei. Bitte klären Sie vor einer Weiterverwendung urheberrechtliche Fragen mit dem angegebenen Herausgeber. Bei Veröffentlichung senden Sie bitte ein Belegexemplar an email@example.com.


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Friday, August 10, 2012
New study says 64% of Americans have less than $1,000 in the bank
TYLER - Cash, it seems to be harder to come by now-a-days. With a high unemployment rate, experts say it's becoming ever harder to find.
A new study says those who do have it, might not have that much in the bank. The study says sixty-four percent of Americans do not have one thousand dollars in savings and it boils down to a rotten economy.
One East Texan tells KETK "I used to have more than a thousand dollars in the bank but now that the economy is getting worse so I have less than a thousand dollars."
To find out what the problem was KETK spoke to an East Texas financial advisor.
"The reason why were notoriously bad savers is because people don't understand or have control of what their expenses really are. They take their income, they spend everything they have on day to day living and then they try to save what's left and the reality is there's usually no money left so it's hard to save."
The study points out that just because Americans may not have the "theoretical cash" in savings doesn't mean they'd simply give up.
Nine percent say they would take out a loan, seventeen percent borrow from a friend or family member, nine percent would get a cash advance on a credit card and even twelve percent would sell or pawn their assets.
Hopefully, experts say, it wont ever come to that, but they say it's always important to be prepared.
"Well I think what they have to do is try to make a plan for themselves so they don't find themselves in that situation."
Posted by pelanginaga at Friday, August 10, 2012


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MORE investment is needed to boost Leamington’s ‘rapidly expanding’ ‘Silicon Spa’ gaming cluster, says MP Matt Western.
The Warwick and Leamington MP held a debate in parliament to boost the profile of local companies and take forward their concerns.
Silicon Spa includes more than 30 studios employing some 1,500 people and contributes more than £100million to the regional economy every year.
Mr Western said: “In the last few decades, following inward investment and pioneering innovation, from the Silicon Spring in the 80s has gushed today’s ‘Silicon Spa.’
“Though the gaming sector has been one of the few to continue growing as the rest of our economy grinds to a half, it still requires support to stimulate growth even further.
“The government should consider increasing the rate of Video Games Corporation Tax Relief but also look to expand the UK Games Development Fund.
“I am also hoping to aid the development of the sector’s next bright stars through regional education in engineering and coding and partnerships with universities.
“The gaming industry has thrust Leamington onto a global stage and must be protected at all costs.”
Leamington and surrounding areas are home to the likes of Codemasters, Ubisoft and SEGA.
Classic games such as Far Cry, Little Big Planet and Forza were all conceived and developed in the town.
David Darling founded Codemasters in 1986. The company was then bought by EA for £1.2billion last year.
Mr Darling – who is now the chief executive of Kwalee – said: “Having been involved in the Leamington games industry from the very beginning, it’s amazing to see how much Silicon Spa has grown from the 1980s to now.
“What we would really love to see now is initiatives to improve the reputation of Leamington as a gaming hub across the country, and even globally, to compete with the likes of San Francisco and Bangalore.
“In places like Quebec, where the government awards significant funding up to $1.5million per gaming project, we’ve seen the amazing things that can be created as a result.”


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Sand 9 aims to disrupt $4B timing market in 2013, with better mobile devices a goal
After five years of work and $49 million in venture capital raised, Cambridge's Sand 9 expects to begin shipping commercial volumes of its micro-electromechanical (MEMS) devices — a substitute for ubiquitous quartz timing devices — in the second half of 2013, CEO Vince Graziani said in an interview.
Sand 9 is seeking to supplant quartz crystal from its near century-long dominance of the market for timing devices, which are found in every electronic device.
The company says its technology is more rugged, uses less power and is more immune to electromagnetic interference than quartz. The technology also does a better job of mimicking the useful properties of quartz than other MEMS previously invented, according to Sand 9.
The company plans to first provide its MEMS devices to communications infrastructure makers — for applications such as ethernet timing, network timing and cellular base station, Graziani said.
Sand 9 then expects to begin targeting its technology for wireless markets in 2014. Mobile devices are susceptible to malfunctions when a device is dropped and the quartz is dislodged, and would see advantages from the company's MEMS, Graziani said.
"The most likely thing to break when you drop your phone is your display. The second most likely thing is the quartz," he said. "It could be that you just dropped it, and your phone gives you an error message and you don't understand why."
Mobile devices also can easily lose GPS lock — and may possibly be dropping calls — due to the limitations of quartz, Graziani said.
Sand 9 thus has a number of implications for the consumer, he said.
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Second Half in America follows up on the uber popular Super Bowl ad titled Halftime in American and featuring Hollywood tough guy Clint Eastwood but where Halftime in America really didn’t promote
Anyone who knows about high altitude will understand why Jeep enthusiasts decided to name the new edition of blacked out 4X4’s ‘Altitude.’ Jeep is taking the all-new line to new heights and just in
The Chrysler Group has issued three very colorful pieces of artwork teasing the Jeep concepts coming to the 2012 Easter Jeep Safari in Moab, Utah but other than the new and the artwork; no informat
Nothing else is known about the specs and features of the new 3.2L Pentastar V6, nor is there anything really known about the vehicle that will replace the aging Jeep Liberty.
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Online gambling has become popular in a number of countries across the world, especially in Asia. This is largely due to the popularity of bitcoin and the adoption of new technologies in this sector. These innovations are designed to protect consumers and promote fair play. These innovations also help maintain the authenticity of gambling activities and prevent fraudulent practices. Furthermore, many online gambling sites offer free versions of their games, which creates a growth opportunity for the industry. Furthermore, many countries around the world have legalized gambling, which has created a variety of employment opportunities and increased tax revenue for governments. It has also helped to boost local retail sales in the hospitality industry.
If you are concerned that you may have an addiction to online gambling, there are a number of resources available to help you. You can consult your doctor or seek help from a mental health professional. You can also visit a gambling help website and find out which organizations are located in your area. Some organizations provide free assistance to those who are addicted to gambling.
Various countries restrict the operation of online gambling websites. For example, in some states in the United States, online gambling is banned, but it is legal in most other states. It is also legal in several parts of the European Union, including Canada. And several countries in the Caribbean have also made online gambling legal. However, in order to operate in these legal jurisdictions, online gambling service providers need a license from the relevant authorities. The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board and the United Kingdom Gambling Commission are two examples of such regulatory bodies.
Online gambling has become a global industry and the number of sites offering gambling has increased significantly. There are many sites offering different types of gambling, including casino games and poker games. However, despite the widespread popularity of online gambling, there are some risks involved. Insufficient regulation, payouts may not be fair, and children and vulnerable people may be exposed to predatory activities. Additionally, online gambling can be addictive. GamCare and other organizations provide help for those who may be suffering from addiction to online gambling.
In order to protect Americans from illegal gambling, the United States government has banned advertisements for many sites that advertise online gambling. This move comes after the United States Department of Justice announced that the Wire Act applies to all types of Internet gambling. This move could be considered aiding and abetting if it were to be done through advertising. The Justice Department’s move has faced criticism due to its lack of a clear legal basis, however.
While illegal online gambling is a problem, it is still largely governed by state law. State officials have expressed concern that the internet may be used to introduce illegal gambling into their jurisdiction.


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West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrissey recently released an urgent consumer warning to all Mountain State residents about impostor phone scams. Criminals have been using numbers from the West Virginia phone book to call residents throughout the state. Posing as representatives from the Attorney General's office, the scammers demand immediate payment of unpaid taxes. Consumers are threatened with arrest as a consequence of not paying, making many off-guard consumers react quickly and send money via wire transfers and pre-paid debit and gift cards.
Impostor scams can be incredibly convincing, thanks to clever con artists and caller ID spoofing, and they take on many shapes and forms. These are the most common types of impostor phone scams:
- IRS Phone Scam: The caller claims to be an officer with the Internal Revenue Service. They may give you credentials, such as badge number, but do not believe them. The IRS will never call you and demand payment, they always send you a certified letter via snail mail and give you the opportunity to dispute the amount you owe. The caller may pretend not to be calling from the IRS, but calling from your state's Attorney General or the police department and requesting payment on taxes. These are all the same scam and should be hung up on, blocked, and reported.
- Charity Phone Scam: The caller claims to be calling from a charity and asking for donations. The type of charity could range from a breast cancer foundation to a natural disaster relief fund. Another common charity phone scam is callers asking for donations to your local police or fireman's fund, the caller will conveniently leave out the city that they are calling from. It's best to tell these callers that you will call back if you'd like to make a donation, hang up, and do some research. Phony charities will use these boiler room telemarketing techniques to steal from kind-hearted individuals.
- Utility Phone Scam: The caller claims to be calling from your local utility company and states that they never received your last payment and your lights or heat will be turned off immediately if payment is not received. These types of scams seem to be most common during the winter months.
- Tech Support Phone Scam: The caller claims to be calling from Windows, Dell, Google or some other tech giant. They tell you that your computer has been infected with a virus and that they can help you solve this problem. In reality, these scammers will either have you download a malicious malware on your PC, will charge you for a service that did nothing, or will steal your personal information. In many cases, it's all three. Another variation of this scam involves you receiving a pop-up on your computer that states that it's infected and you must call a certain number to fix the issue.
These are just a few of the most common impostor phone scams that are out there. There are so many variations that it's important to always be on the defense when you receive an unsolicited, unknown call.
How to protect yourself
The majority of scam calls will all have distinctive characteristics:
- They will ask for personal information, including home address, bank account or credit card information.
- They say the situation is urgent.
- They will demand immediate payment via a wire transfer service, like MoneyGram, or prepaid debit or gift cards. The caller will often state that you cannot hang up the phone until payment is received or they will send police.
- They instruct you not to tell anyone what is happening to you.
If any caller takes any of these actions, hang up and report them. You can report scam phone calls to your state's Attorney General, local authorities, and the FTC or TIGTA (if it's an IRS phone scam).


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Hotel Chocolat has announced it attracted 200,000 new online customers in a year that saw its revenue grow 12 per cent.
A trading update from the Royston firm said it expects to announced full year revenue for the 12 months to July 2018 of £116m, a 12 per cent increase on the 2017 figure.
Profit will be "in line with market expectations", the company's board said.
The last year has seen the business opened 15 new stores, which contributed six per cent to sales, while 200,000 more people have been used its online service in the last 12 months. Plans are already afoot for the autumn and winter seasons, with new ranges planned as Christmas approaches. Yes, they're already thinking about Christmas.
Angus Thirlwell, co-founder and CEO of Hotel Chocolat, said trading since the end of the year had continued in-line with expectations.
He said: "Hotel Chocolat has had another strong year. Whilst there has been considerable recent media coverage of retail generally, we are encouraged by the performance of both our new and existing locations. Customers are continuing to respond well to our luxury brand and lifestyle propositions. During the recent heatwave in the UK, our new Chilled Chocolat drinks, unique Chocs to Chill, Ice Cream of the Gods and improved Cocoa Beers have been very popular.
"The deep knowledge of our School of Chocolate-trained retail teams and our experiential Chocolate Lock-in sessions continue to underpin the allure of our multi-channel model."
Hotel Chocolat has enjoyed considerable success in recent years, expanding rapidly across the UK and beyond. As reported in the News in June, the company has been able to repay £6.4m that it borrowed from customers in the form of 'chocolate bonds'.
It will announce its final results on September 27.


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At a glance
What we did
- Digital transformation
- Customer relationship management
- Website redesign
- Online experience personalization
- Self-service customer experience
The time leading up to the vacation of a lifetime should be about the excitement and anticipation of leaving the mundane details of life behind. Not the hassle of filling out paperwork.
The folks who run REI Adventures, the travel arm of the famous Seattle-based outdoors retailer, wanted their travelers to be able to spend the time before their trips dreaming about watching blue-footed boobies, traversing Machu Picchu, or kayaking through fjords.
But REI Adventures was grappling with an old-school system that required its customers who booked trips to fill out up to nine trip-related forms—by hand—and then send them back via snail mail.
They were mired in a lot of the operational processes, rather than garnering excitement about the trip.
It’s not just that REI Adventures felt like customers had to do a lot of work. Jimenez said the company also worried that its pre-trip relationship with its customers was more about nagging them—for payments, paperwork, and other bureaucratic reasons—than about getting them psyched for the trip.
That’s a far cry from the amazing experience customers get while they’re on the actual trips, noted another solution principal in Slalom’s customer relationship management practice.
So, the travel company decided to call on technology to help. It worked with Slalom to launch new technology that, among other things, allows customers to easily fill out paperwork online instead.
The sweetness of anticipation
Simplifying paperwork may seem like a small thing, but there’s actually science behind the idea of making the time before you go on vacation as enjoyable as possible. A study of Dutch vacationers found that people are generally happier than their peers before they go on vacation, but they aren’t necessarily happier after they return. The researchers speculated that that’s because people like the anticipation of an upcoming vacation, and look forward to the trip weeks or even months before it happens.
REI Adventures’ new system has other advantages besides enhancing anticipation.
The old system didn’t have a way of keeping track of customers’ information from trip to trip, so even the most loyal adventurers got a new mound of papers each time they booked a vacation. And if there was a problem with the paperwork, a game of phone tag could easily ensue.
The new system can keep track of customers’ information, so repeat travelers don’t have to fill out most papers each time they travel. The REI Adventures’ website has also been revamped, so customers can get information whenever they want, rather than just by speaking with one of REI Adventures’ service specialists.
The company built in other ways to help people get excited for their trips. A new portal lets people who’ve already booked a trip more easily see packing lists and other information about their trip. There’s even a countdown clock to tick off the days until departure.
“There’s a lot more information at the customers’ fingertips,” Jimenez said.
Going forward, REI Adventures is hoping to make that anticipation even sweeter. The company is working with Slalom to make sure its website works on mobile platforms, and also to incorporate social media into its systems. It’s also coming up with ways travelers can stay in touch with each other.
Melissa Rainboldt, a consultant with Slalom, said that for many people, it’s been a relief just to not have to deal with those papers.
“Customers are really excited about not having to fill out paperwork,” she said.


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Cheese Sold at Costco Linked to E.coli – A warning to consumers was released by the federal officials to avoid a cheese sold in five states over an E.coli outbreak that has left 25 people sick. The Gouda cheese was sold at Costco stores in Arizona, California, Colorado, New Mexico and Nevada.
Costco offered the Bravo Farms Dutch Style Raw Milk Gouda Cheese for sale and in-store tasting from October 05 to November 8.
According to the Food and Drug Administration, 25 individuals have been reported sick due to E.coli in the five states. Fortunately, no deaths have been reported.
To those who have purchased the cheese, the FDA suggests that they should dispose it in a closed plastic bag and place in a sealed trash can.
The FDA –Texas food plant tests positive for listeria. The cheese is Costco item 40654. Costco is also offering refunds to those customers who return the cheese.
E.coli symptoms include bloody diarrhea, stomach cramps, dehydration and extreme cases, kidney failure. Officials encouraged those experiencing these symptoms to contact a health care provider immediately.


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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 1/11/2012 (1756 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
MANITOBA'S digital media industry has launched a new initiative aimed at helping the industry grow.
The three-part initiative was unveiled at a news conference Thursday organized by New Media Manitoba, the not-for-profit association that supports the interactive digital media industry in the province.
NMM executive director Kevin Hnatiuk said the initiative, which will be rolled out over the next several years, includes launching a mentorship program for new media students and existing industry workers, developing a sales portal where industry members and prospective clients can get help in either obtaining or marketing new-media services, and establishing a co-work space in the Exchange District where new media companies and businesses can lease space and work together on projects.
Hnatiuk said a consultation process, which includes a survey of 420 local new media professionals, identified those as the top three priorities for developing a more competitive industry.
He said the mentorship program will provide subsidies to new media firms who need help in training new student employees, and in upgrading the skills of existing workers.
For example, he said there is a shortage of project managers in the industry, but many smaller firms don't have the time or the resources to train workers for those positions. So the mentorship program would provide a subsidy to help cover half the costs of bringing in someone to deliver the training.
The sales portal, which would operate through the NMM's website, would be a place where businesses needing new-media services can find a service provider. And new media freelancers and companies can also go there to obtain help to market their services.
Hnatiuk said NMM hopes to hire one or two full-time sales and marketing specialists for the new service.
He said the Exchange District is a logical place to set up the co-work space because that's where the bulk of the city's new media companies are located. He said NMM will manage it, and will also likely move its own operations into the new centre once it opens.
First, the association needs to find partners to help cover the estimated $400,000 to $500,000 in annual operating costs.
-- Murray McNeill


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Standard & Poor's put about $2 billion in Dillard's credit on its "watch" list with "negative implications." The department-store chain, like its competitors, has been pressured by "lagging consumer confidence, a poor economy [and] a rising unemployment rate," S&P said. However, Dillard's 7 percent May drop in sales at stores open more than a year "suggests that the economy and low consumer confidence are taking a heavier-than-average toll on Dillard's business," the agency said. Dillard's corporate credit and senior unsecured debt carry an S&P rating of double-B-plus. Its rating on preferred stock is B-plus.
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People who sell blow molding machines to the U.S. market are pretty optimistic, since the bellwether packaging business remains solid.
On the industrial side, makers of accumulator-head machines are still glum.
The brighter outlook for packaging comes from a trend to self-manufacturing by beverage makers, as they get into blowing their own PET bottles, machinery officials said. And some new technological advances could shift demand into higher gear for equipment to extrusion blow mold polyethylene bottles.
With $3 gasoline, self-manufacturing of PET bottles makes more sense than ever before, said officials of SIG Beverages North America Inc., Sidel Inc. and Krones Inc.
``It literally hurts to transport an empty bottle these days,'' said Peter Andrich, sales vice president at SIG North America in Hillsborough, N.J., part of Hamburg, Germany-based SIG Corpoplast GmbH & Co. KG. ``We continue to see a situation where more and more of the bottling companies that used to be buying bottles from converters ... now mold them in-house.''
Andrich said the self-manufacturing movement was one reason SIG North America enjoyed a strong 2007. ``Two-thirds of our business has really shifted to bottling companies, who never blew a bottle before,'' he said.
The move toward lighter-weight PET bottles also fuels self-manufacturing, said Gina Haines, Sidel marketing vice president in Norcross, Ga. The thinner the bottle, the easier it is to mar the finish.
``Empty-bottle handing, not only does it damage the bottles, but the fewer times to handle the bottle, the better,'' Haines said.
At K 2007 in Dusseldorf, Germany, held in late October, Sidel introduced its no-rib PET ``NoBottle,'' which it said weighs 25-40 percent less than traditional bottles.
Haines said PET still is the favorite bottle of consumers for most beverages. The biggest segments driving sales of blow molding machines include water, sports drinks and energy drinks.
Sidel and Krones both report good sales for turnkey lines, from bottle blow molding to filling to palletizing - again because of more in-house blowing.
``That's been an up-and-coming, growing opportunity for us, particularly with a lot of lightweight packages that are coming through the systems,'' said Dave Raabe, Krones director of blow molding technology in Franklin, Wis. ``When you're dealing with these lightweight containers, it becomes crucial that you can convey it without any type of scuffing or mishandling.''
At K, German parent Krones AG molded its own very thin bottle.
All-electric blow molding machines also proliferated at K 2007, for both PET and HDPE bottles. Bekum Maschinenfabriken GmbH, Nissei ASB, Techne SpA and Uniloy Milacron all introduced electric machines.
Italian supplier Techne, based in Bologna, stood out with its all-electric extrusion blow molder, called the Advance.
On the machine, up to four clamps move under a single, stationary extrusion. Each shuttle moves beside the extrusion head, the clamp turns 90 degrees to accept the parison and then moves out of the way to blow the bottles.
The machine at the K show produced 8,900 bottles an hour for the cosmetics market.
``We're not having to move this great amount of mass, but we're still achieving outputs that far equal or exceed standard long-stroke machines,'' said Kyle Grodzinski, sales vice president of Techne North America Inc. in Aurora, Ontario. Techne still makes long-stroke machines.
Grodzinski said all-electric technology makes a machine like the Advance possible, since it allows for multiple movements at the same time.
York, Pa.-based Graham Engineering Corp. used K to introduced its compact Mini Wheel, aimed at smaller molders that want to boost output dramatically over a shuttle machine but don't need the huge quantities of Graham's full-size wheel.
``The main focus is for coextruded containers,'' said Dave Yenor, vice president of global business development.
Graham also made news in shuttles, announcing a partnership with a firm in Petchaburi, Thailand, Sabmann Blasformtechnik, which will make the new SBG 700D using Graham's extrusion and process control technology.
One small company, W. Amsler Equipment Inc., has been making nothing but all-electric reheat strength blow machines for PET bottles since Werner Amsler founded the Richmond Hill, Ontario, company in 1994. Echoing other PET machinery officials, Amsler's U.S. sales coordinator, Bob Milne, said the market is changing. ``We seem to be getting a lot of interest from people who want to move in-house as opposed to the traditional custom blow molder who is already in it,'' he said.
Amsler is developing larger machines, capable of running five- and six-cavity molds, up from its current limit of four cavities. The company also now can run larger, 1-gallon PET containers.
Milne expect to see more conversion of blow molders of wide-mouth polyethylene, moving into PET.
Extrusion blow molding manufacturers have suffered from lack of radical new technology in recent years, but than is changing, said Robert Jackson, president of Jackson Machinery Inc. of Port Washington, Wis.
``Technology is really going to save us as a group of people that manufacture things,'' he said. The new innovations will help move machines in a U.S. plastics sector with aging equipment. Once one customer buys one, others will feel pressured to follow, Jackson said.
R&B Plastics Machinery LLC in Saline, Mich., had a ``very slow year'' selling new blow molding equipment, said President Robert LaGanke. ``But we had an unbelievably strong year on rebuilds, and had a good year on molds,'' he said.
LaGanke said R&B is busy rebuilding machines in all segments, including shuttles and wheels, and has reworked accumulator-head presses to make multilayer fuel tanks. Wal-Mart Stores Inc.'s announcement in September that it plans to sell only concentrated liquid detergent in its U.S. stores also is keeping R&B busy, retooling machines with new tooling and extrusion heads to run the smaller bottles.
The investments are a good sign, LaGanke said. ``It feels to me like there's a rebound, like we're at a real rebound state,'' he said.
Producers of accumulator-head machines wish they could say the same. ``It's a market that has been declining over the past years,'' said Wolfgang Meyer, president of Kautex Machines Inc. in North Branch, N.J. He has seen some activity in industrial packaging, such as plastic drums and intermediate bulk containers.
Kautex is a leader in six-layer lines for small fuel tanks, to meet tough standards of the Environmental Protection Agency for a range of products such as all-terrain vehicles and lawn equipment. But Meyer said new investments in the sophisticated machines were slowed this year because regulations have been delayed for some end products.
Resin companies also are working on new materials that could blow mold barrier-layer tanks on one, two or three layers, instead of six. But Meyer said the resins could be very expensive.
Yenor, at Graham Engineering, said some machines are sold each year, ``but it certainly is not nearly as large as it used to be five or 10 years ago.''
``There won't be six accumulator-head machines sold this year,'' said Frank Kennedy, sales director for accumulator-head machines at Davis-Standard LLC of Pawcatuck, Conn. Markets that fueled growth in the 1990s, mainly automotive, toys and plastic storage sheds, are down. Higher resin prices also hurt these resin-intensive products.
Kennedy pays attention to auctions and the used-machine market, as an indicator of investment. ``The one positive thing that I'm starting to hear, is that some of the custom molders I've talked to are pretty busy,'' he said.


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What: Svaha STEAM Angels, a line of science- and technology-inspired dresses.
Raised: $29,428 (as of March 17) of a $15,000 goal. The campaign began March 1 and runs through March 31.
Jaya Iyer’s daughter, now 4, has wanted to be an astronaut since she was 2. But when Iyer set out to find space-themed T-shirts for her, there was nothing available.
“That’s when I realized there were so many things she wanted that just didn’t exist,” she said.
Iyer, who has a background in fashion merchandising, decided to make her own line of children’s clothing that breaks traditional gender stereotypes. She and co-founder Eva Everett set up a Kickstarter campaign in May 2015, where they raised more than $30,000 to make girls’ dresses with soccer balls and dinosaurs, and boys’ T-shirts with cats and butterflies.
Before long, they started getting requests from the mothers who shopped on their site: Why didn’t something like this exist for them, too?
Everett, a molecular biologist, could relate to the womens’ frustrations.
“When I met someone new, the most common reaction I’d get was, ‘You don’t look like a scientist,'” she said. “There’s no reason you have to look masculine to love math, science and technology.
How will the money be used?
Iyer and Everett set out to raise $15,000 to cover production, shipping and import costs for about 1,500 dresses.
They met their goal in less than four days.
“Nobody else is making anything like this,” Iyer said. “If you think about it, there’s zero competition and we already knew there was a lot of demand.”
Many of the project’s backers are scienc- and math teachers, coders and engineers, Everett said. For a $49 pledge, donors will receive their pick of dress. For $69, they’ll get a dress and a scarf. And for $500 or more, project backers will get to design their own STEAM-themed apparel for the company.
Last year, Svaha sold $45,000 worth of childrens’ clothing between June and December. This year, they are hoping for sales of $200,000.
How do you get the ideas for your designs?
The process often begins with a Google image search, Iyer said. She sits down at her computer, types in a general term — “chemistry,” say — and combs through the results until she finds inspiration.
Once she is familiar with the topic, she sketches out a pattern, chooses colors and hands everything over to a freelance illustrator who creates the final design. The entire process takes a few weeks. From there, the sketches are sent to India, where the clothing is created using organic cotton and dyes.
Iyer and Everett have a number of designs in the works, including a caffeine-molecule scarf and a dress adorned with neurons.
The challenge, she says, is finding topics that have broad appeal.
“For example, the constellation dress — everybody likes constellations,and everybody likes black dresses,” she said. “You don’t have to be an astronomer to want to wear that.”
Editor’s note: Our coverage in this series does not constitute an endorsement. For more information about crowdfunding, please check out this SEC Fact Sheet.
Spotted or running a cool crowdfunding campaign? E-mail us here.
Follow Abha Bhattarai and On Small Business on Twitter.Welcome to On Small Business’s series spotlighting interesting crowdfunding campaigns. Every week, we’ll feature a new company or individual attempting to raise money through these new online portals.


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TV chef Jeroen Meus has eye on international exposure
On Saturday night an emotional Jeroen Meus, the undisputed favourite among foodies in Flanders, received a television star award for his television cooking programme ‘Daily food’. But Meus, who sells half a million cookery books each year, is not only loved in his home country. He has claimed considerable interest abroad and did extremely well during the Paris Cookbook Fair. “Jeroen can secure impressive figures,” says publisher André Van Halewyck. “A chef who sells half a million books to a market with five million readers is quite something. Edouard Cointreau, organizer of the prestigious Paris fair and well-known cookery book guru, also loosened his purse strings, sending a mail to his address book to advertise the Flemish wonder boy’s act. This promotional trick paid off. “There has been interest from various countries,” says Van Halewyck, who met with American booking agents while in France. But Meus’s plans for international expansion are closer to home. “Our first priority is the Netherlands,” says Van Halewyck. “In autumn we plan to launch a campaign to gain a foothold in the Dutch market,” he says of his plans to initially launch the cook books based on the daily TV series and even a TV programme on a Dutch channel.


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Ghanaian actress and video vixen Efia Odo has reacted after the launch of the new brands of apple products.
Apple yesterday released 4 models to the new iPhone 12.
The iPhone 12 and 12 Pro cost $699 and $999 respectively.
Well, Efia Odo in reacting to new models released by Apple made an interesting tweet on twitter.
According to her, more young girls are going to sick some di.cks just get the new iPhone.
Birches bout to suck some dick for that iPhone12


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Man guilty of 1080 blackmail plot named as inventor of rival poison Jeremy Kerr
A threat to contaminate infant milk formula with 1080 was a business ploy to drive sales of a competitor possum poison, the Crown says.
Businessman Jeremy Hamish Kerr, 60, appeared in the High Court at Auckland on Monday after pleading guilty to two counts of attempted blackmail.
Police revealed in March 2015 that Fonterra and Federated Farmers had received threatening letters, along with milk packages that tested positive for the poison.
The letters threatened to contaminate infant formula and other products if New Zealand did not cease to use the poison. It also threatened to disclose the matter publicly.
Kerr, who developed a rival product to 1080 – the cyanide-based poison Feratox – pleaded guilty in December.
On Monday he began a disputed facts hearing as to the details of his offending.
Kerr had initially had his name suppressed but his lawyer John Billington, QC, said his client had agreed his name could be published.
At the High Court on Monday, Crown prosecutor Christine Gordon QC said the disputed facts hearing would centre around what benefit, if any, Kerr expected to obtain from his offending.
She said Kerr had claimed he had nothing against the 1080 pesticide but over the years the eradication of possums had reached a "maintenance" stage and royalties he obtained from Feratox were dwindling.
Gordon said he became "agitated" and came to believe sales of his own product would increase by 30 per cent if 1080 wasn't used.
"His issues with 1080 were of a commercial point of view. Where it was used, Feratox wasn't," she said.
The court heard that Kerr's company developed Feratox, a pellet preferred by possum fur companies because it preserved its fur after death.
Witness statements from former company managers said Kerr had nothing against 1080 as a toxin, and had carried out some developmental work on the poison before moving onto Feratox.
However, they said Kerr became concerned that 1080 was outdoing sales of Feratox, and would ask company managers on a daily basis how Feratox sales were doing.
A co-founder of the company that sold the pesticide said Kerr was "extravagant" and "generous" with his money and described the royalties Kerr received from Feratox as so significant that it drained the funds of the business.
"He would always be dreaming of boats and holidays and would always be spending money. For Jeremy, money was always in the background for everything he did."
He said Feratox could in no way be a replacement for 1080 because it couldn't be aerially dropped, however if 1080 ceased to be sold it could increase Feratox sales.
Fourteen witnesses were due to give evidence over the coming days.
A $3 MILLION INVESTIGATION
* The investigation cost police more than $3 million, and about 35 officers were put on the case.
* More than 2600 people were considered as possible suspects, with more than 60 "significant persons of interest" approached for interviews.
* Orders from our biggest dairy market, China, slumped and the Chinese Government announced no milk powder would be let through until it was tested.
* Every tanker of raw milk processed by Fonterra was tested. All paediatric products and nutritional powders were also tested.
* By the time Kerr was arrested, the Ministry for Primary Industries and manufacturers had carried out 150,000 batch tests.
* Diary farmers said whoever had made the threat was a "coward", amid fears it would harm the industry, already struggling with drought and low prices.
* Despite assurances from authorities, some parents were left stressed and worried, with many turning over tins of formula to police, fearing they had been tampered with.
* Connovation Ltd and Connovation Research Ltd have issued a statement noting that its companies are not connected to any operated by Jeremy Kerr, saying there is an unfortunate similarity in the former names of his companies used at the time of his offence. There is no common shareholding, no common ownership, and no common management between its companies and his businesses, Connovation said. However Companies Office records suggest Kerr was a director of Connovation Research in 2002.


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Just last week, there was an article by this newsletter that off-shoring has peaked. Now this?
Also, Cognizant shared dipped by about 20% on a guidance that revenues in the financial sectors wll not see much growth.
Lets get some quality please!
Keep Up with TechRepublic


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November 10 - After 11 months of negotiations, Port of Corpus Christi commissioners have approved the sale of part of its Ingleside Facility to Canyon Supply & Logistics, LLC.
The approved sales agreement is for 185.5 acres (75 ha) for approximately USD66 million dollars, subject to appraisal modifications. To seal the agreement, Canyon agreed on a USD20 million dollar down payment with a nonrefundable USD1 million payment on the day the deal was signed. The balance of USD19 million will be due on December 20, 2011. The remaining balance will be paid in a promissory note of USD46 million over the next ten years and includes a balloon payment of USD20 million at the end.
"Port Commission and staff are looking forward to working with Canyon Supply and Logistics to complete the sale of the former US Naval Station Ingleside. Canyon is a great industry fit to redevelop the facility. They will be able to create many new jobs for the area affected by the departure of the Navy," said Mike Carrell, chairman of the Port Commission.
Canyon Supply and Logistics is a special service-purpose company that will develop the industrial part of the facility for offshore logistics to support the oil and gas industry in the western Gulf of Mexico.
US Naval Station Ingleside was designated for closure under the Base Realignment and Closure Act of 2005, which resulted in the departure of the Navy by April 30, 2010. On that date, ownership of the base reverted to the Port of Corpus Christi Authority. The US Naval Station Ingleside property encompasses 483 acres (195.4 ha) with more than 70 buildings, including warehouse facilities, administrative offices, barracks, fitness and recreation facilities, a capital-class pier and wharf area, and much more.