text:
The Department of Health and Social Care has announced that over 2.7 million at-risk individuals across England are to be offered a free supply of vitamin D to see them through the winter months.
Care homes will automatically receive a supply for their residents and individuals on the clinically extremely vulnerable list will be invited to opt in for a free-of-charge delivery of the vitamin direct to their homes. The deliveries, which begin in January, will provide four months’ worth of supplements.
“Because of the incredible sacrifices made by the British people to control the virus, many of us have spent more time indoors this year and could be deficient in vitamin D,” says Matt Hancock, Secretary of State for Health and Social Care. “The Government is taking action to ensure vulnerable individuals can access a free supply to last them through the darker winter months. This will support their general health, keep their bones and muscles healthy and crucially reduce the pressure on our NHS.
“A number of studies indicate vitamin D might have a positive impact in protecting against COVID-19. I have asked NICE and PHE to re-review the existing evidence on the link between COVID-19 and vitamin D to ensure we explore every potential opportunity to beat this virus.”
A number of studies indicate vitamin D might have a positive impact in protecting against COVID-19
Dr Alison Tedstone, chief nutritionist at Public Health England, adds: “Vitamin D is important for our bone and muscle health. We advise that everyone, particularly the elderly, those who don’t get outside and those with dark skin, takes a vitamin D supplement containing 10 micrograms (400IU) every day.
“This year, the advice is more important than ever with more people spending more time inside, which is why the government will be helping the clinically extremely vulnerable to get vitamin D.”
The Government is advising anyone who is able to buy the vitamin to do so now and start supplementation immediately, even if they are eligible for a delivery at the beginning of next year.
Commenting on behalf of the health food industry, Graham Keen, executive director of the Health Food Manufacturers’ Association (HFMA) says: “We warmly welcome this news, having been in discussions with the Department of Health for several weeks about extending the supply of vitamin D supplements to at-risk groups. At a recent meeting with the Public Health Minister we were able to present the latest research on vitamin D and reassure authorities that the health food industry could deliver vitamin D of the highest quality.”


text:
Mitsubishi's very light lithium-ion powered electric car is the "greenest" car on sale in America today, according to the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy, a Washington D.C.-based non-profit group. The i-MiEV, also known as the i, is powered by a 66 horsepower electric motor.
One car you won't see anywhere on this list is the Chevrolet Volt. That's because the ACEEE uses vehicle weight as a criterion for scoring, under the assumption that a heavier vehicle causes more waste in production.
These 10 cars will likely become collectibles and will sell for big bucks.
|Nearly 25% of Chinese stocks have stopped trading|
|Why your next dollar shouldn't go to your 401(k)|
|IMF warns U.S.: Your financial system is (still) vulnerable|
|Amazon says new 'Prime Day' will bury Black Friday|
|One more try for a Greek deal as time runs out|

domain: news


text:
Tax reductions could make a Tesla Mannequin 3, retailing for round $62,000, cheaper to lease per thirty days than petrol automobiles just like the Mazda 3 Astina, which sells for as much as $42,000.
With the common lifespan of a passenger automotive in Australia being 10 years, market analyst Bloomberg New Power Finance mentioned EVs would wish to succeed in 100 per cent of recent automotive gross sales by 2033 for the transport sector to attain web zero emissions by 2050.
The federal government’s personal Intergenerational Report, launched in August, forecast that with no main coverage intervention, electrical vehicles wouldn’t attain 85 per cent of the nation’s car fleet till 2063.
Nonetheless, Bloomberg New Power Finance’s head of analysis Kobad Bhavnagri mentioned whereas EV gross sales had been at present on observe to succeed in 50 per cent of recent automotive gross sales by 2033, Australia may “completely” shut the hole with reforms to spice up their uptake.
“A gas effectivity normal is vital. It is likely one of the most economically environment friendly and scalable methods to extend adoption,” Bhavnagri mentioned. “When coverage help is launched, you see the uptake quickly enhance and mannequin availability enhance.”
Gasoline effectivity requirements restrict common emissions, measured in grams of CO2 per kilometre, produced by the general fleet of automobiles bought into the market by a producer to encourage them to promote extra EVs.
Australia is likely one of the few international industrialised international locations to not have one, and the federal government is working late on its pledge to launch an impression evaluation exhibiting the choices into account by the top of the 12 months.
That define is now anticipated subsequent 12 months. However even with out it, Electrical Car Council chief govt Behyad Jafari mentioned EV gross sales have doubled yearly for the previous three years, gaining market share in much less prosperous areas as costs fall.
Early figures point out that previously 12 months, nearly all of EV gross sales occurred outdoors of main cities’ inside suburbs.
“The areas the place persons are shopping for electrical automobiles has actually modified in the previous couple of years, with the most important areas of uptake within the outer suburbs, significantly round western Sydney,” Jafari mentioned.
Minimize by the noise of federal politics with information, views and knowledgeable evaluation from Jacqueline Maley. Subscribers can signal as much as our weekly Inside Politics e-newsletter right here.


text:
Microsoft has deployed a new update to select Windows 10 devices with reliability improvements to Windows Update Service components. The updated version of KB4023057 for Windows 10 replaces the previously released update 4022868. Also Read - Microsoft buys developers of Fallout, Wolfenstein, Doom, Elder Scrolls ahead of Xbox salesAlso Read - Xbox Series X, Series S pre-orders in India starting September 22
Microsoft says that the update us meant for certain builds of Windows 10, versions 1507, 1511, 1607, 1703, and 1709 (Fall Creators Update). The devices running those select builds will automatically get the update downloaded and installed through Windows Update. Also Read - Microsoft's Your Phone App gets new features with the latest update
The update is not offered through the Microsoft Update Catalog, it’ll be shared directly to Windows Update Client for some devices that have not installed the most recent updates, according to Microsoft blog (via Windowslatest).
The updated version of KB4023057 for Windows 10 includes reliability improvements to Windows Update Service components, which essentially means it’ll fix the issues that affect the update processes in Windows 10 which may prevent important Windows updates from being installed.
“This update includes files and resources that address issues that affect the update processes in Windows 10 that may prevent important Windows updates from being installed. These improvements help make sure that updates are installed seamlessly on your device, and they help improve the reliability and security of devices that are running Windows 10,” noted Microsoft blog.
Watch Video: Microsoft Surface Book 2 First Look
The update may need enough space to install, so Microsoft has suggested to free up disk space on your device before updating as the update otherwise includes steps to free up disk space in the process.


text:
This November The Gadget Flow Goes to Web Summit: Where the Diverse Tech Community Comes Together
Called by Bloomberg as “The Davos for Geeks” and “The new hot ticket on the tech conference scene” by Forbes, it’s time the tech world enjoyed being part of a new ecosystem at the Web Summit (Dublin) 2014. An event which started as an informal meet-up among 450 members from the tech community in 2010 at Dublin is now considered as one of the largest tech conferences of the planet. Even the opening of the Nasdaq market was conducted live on stage this amazing conference last year. Undoubtedly, it’s one of the biggest tech conferences which brings eminent personalities from the tech world under one roof. From highlighting the future of business, design, marketing, IoT to infrastructure, development, sales and advertising – The Web Summit is divided into various phases looking into all that’s happening from the tech world, one at a time.
This year the Summit will be held from November 4-6 that will comprise of over 20,000+ attendees from 100+ registered countries that includes 500+ speakers and 1000+ journalists. From Drew Houston of Dropbox to Phil Libin of Evernote, to call the Attendee’s list simply overwhelming would be an understatement. Three days of complete tech nostalgia is going to overpower the entire community of fresh and futuristic thinkers soon. But what’s really special to us is the fact that this year The Gadget Flow is also an attendee among all the techspirational people and startups.
Having already received a warm welcome as one of the 12 Great Startups from the South-East corner of Europe, we are all set to discover the latest products from the tech world during this wonderful meetup. Making new connections has been our favorite since the time we launched our product hunting platform and we hope to meet great product manufacturers and tech industry experts soon.
We’ll be coming up with a stall at the Web Summit and keep you informed with live updates, new product discoveries, showcase and a lot more. Three days of real fun from the tech world awaits all those who’ve been with us in this journey of discovering products till date. Stay tuned and get set to unveil a real tech extravaganza this November as we fly over to the Web Summit. Cheers to the tech universe!
Want to meet during the summit? Send us a tweet @thegadgetflow with the #websummit hashtag.


text:
Oculus’ entry-level virtual reality headset will soon be no more. Facebook is discontinuing sales of the Oculus Go this year to go ‘all-in’ on upgrades to position-tracking headsets like the Quest and Rift. While software will still be available for the Go, the Oculus Store will stop accepting apps or updates after December 4th, and won’t add those apps to the store after December 18th.
Simply put, the company is responding to feedback. The Quest has been very popular (it’s still hard to find stock) — the public said “loud and clear” that six degrees of freedom movement is the “future of VR,” according to the Oculus team. You won’t see any more three-degree Oculus headsets as a result.


text:
Galactic Fury Trailer
37Games introduces its new space strategy MMO with a single server: Galactic Fury.
Videos You May Enjoy
Articles You May Enjoy
- WEBZEN Launches a Brand New Gaming Portal
- WEBZEN, a global leader in free-to-play MMORPGs, announces the official launch of www.webzen.com, a brand new, global game portal.


text:
12:56 25th Nov, 2014
Google Plans Strategy Shift To Boost Android One Sales
The company has tied up with several new OEMs and component vendors, apart from focusing on offline retail
Google's take on disrupting the low-end smartphone market – Android One, may have created shockwaves among the press, but in the real world consumer response has been at best, lukewarm. Now, the company is planning to revamp its efforts with a new marketing campaign, tie-ups with new OEMs and component vendors and is even planning a program to create awareness among retailers.
Android One devices haven't been able to severely dent the overall entry-level smartphone market, despite the massive push from Google. The first three devices from Micromax, Karbonn and Spice went on sale in September, with market analysts suggesting over 5 lakh devices were sold by October-end.
“We continue to get strong consumer demand. We track things like average number of people walking into stores and asking for Android One devices. From that perspective we are extremely happy,” said Sandeep Menon, Director of Marketing at Google India, according to a BusinessLine report.
Industry experts claim one of the major shortcomings of Android One was the lack of availability of the devices in offline stores right from the word go. Making matters worse, several offline stores have decided against stocking Android One devices citing double standards in pricing and margins when compared to online retailers.
“Pricing and margins for retailers are in the hands of the OEM partners but we are constantly engaged with them. Our engineers are working with new suppliers in China to benefit OEM partners in terms of choice and availability,” added Menon.
Google is assuring offline traders that it has no bias against them, and has already announced a number of partner OEMs for the Android One program. The company has also tied up with chipmaker Qualcomm to integrate its components into upcoming devices, and hopefully also bring low-cost LTE devices to the market.
Analysts say that Google did not provide enough emphasis on one of the greatest strengths of Android One – timely software updates, thereby hurting sales. The company should work harder to make consumers aware of the benefits of running the latest versions of its software, adding value to their purchases.
Android One has never been about flashy hardware, but in a market where consumers are heavily swayed by hardware specifications, it's of great importance that the devices at least match the competition. With big brands like HTC and Lenovo planning to enter the Android One fold, that could soon change.
- NETGEAR Orbi RBK50 Mesh System to Augment Your Home Wi-Fi Network for Improved Work Efficiency
- Motorola announces its new flagship in India with the Fastest, Loudest, Boldest; motorola edge+
- Surface Pro X, Surface Pro 7 and Surface Laptop 3 are now available in India
- Genelec Announces 1235A: Classic Heritage, Cutting Edge Performance
- Unbox Robotics, an early stage startup from the maiden cohort of Entrepreneur First, receives initial round of funding
- boAt audio ranked No.1 in India in the earwear category
- Kodak HD LED TV launches India’s most affordable Dolby vision Android certified 4K TVs
- Global debut of Redmi Note 9 Pro Max and Redmi Note 9 Pro in India
- POCO announces ‘Head for Red’ sale for Phoenix Red POCO X2
- Xiaomi India launches new Mi Dual Driver In-Ear Earphones


text:
Ever since I was a little boy, I have always had the privilege of living in a clean environment. My grandmother would always make the effort to keep the house free of any debris. One of the ways she keeps tidiness in our home is by washing the dishes. Although dish washing to most people would be considered a tedious chore, she does it with quiet grace and more water than someone would use for their daily shower. With today’s epidemic of the water shortage, my grandmother definitely contributes to the ever-growing problem of the drought in California. It is with people like her that we can see various instances where Californians are not aware of how they are contributing with the vast water epidemic.
The view of the drought in California is as real as the most recent view of climate change. The people of California are not surprised of the drought warnings, and expected for it to come. News organizations say that, “The water situation is about as bad as you can expect it to be after four years of drought”(Lee). The people in California are aware of the problem at hand, and have been well aware of it for a while. The epidemic needs to be solved by all means, or the public will have to face a dry season.
When think about water conservation, people tend to think that taking a 10 minute shower as opposed to a 15 minute shower, will make a difference. To end the drought, we do not need for people to just limit their water usage by a little. That will now help California’s drought. That will not be enough to stop the water shortage here. What the entire state of California needs to do is start to find better ways conserve water. According to LA Times Journalist, Joseph Serna states that as a result from the drought, “Many parts of the state are still in pain” today. What we need to do is think of a water alternative to this problem.
The way that I had envisioned for this tragedy to be solved, is plastic. We must shift over to a water alternative, which is going to be water bottles. These water bottles get shipped from manufacturers, and they will be used for the main source of water instead of our faucet waters. Obviously one of the most viable plans to be made, because there is an endless supply of them. When you go to the store, they are always just sitting there waiting for you to buy them. Buying water bottles will in no way hurt the drought. By buying water bottles and marketing them effectively, the people of California will buy water bottles non stop.
Not only is this idea viable and attainable, but it would bring in money for the U.S. The tax on water bottles, could go to government spending. With over 39 million people residing in California, that means over 39 million people will be buying water bottles (Population Estimates). Water is a resource that is essential for life. As in the mindset of some of the politicians in society today, why not make some money off of it.
Do not reinvent the wheel. Why fix a thing that isn’t broken. According to the Business Insider, in as of 2011, people drink more bottled water than they do milk or beer. If the people have already shifted over to the use of bottled water, then all we have to do is start implementing them into the culture of California.
Over the course of the few weeks, the course for the water levels in California have changed drastically. The drought seems to be slowly fading away. From a recent research, the drought zone maps seems to have relieved all of California of drought. California does not have to worry about drought conditions or water conservation ever again. We will now be able to run the water parks all year long and not have to stop them. It's a foolproof plan, because we will never run out of water. Just turn your sink on at home. The water just keeps coming out. We will make enough profit to if we ever “run out of water” to buy some more water and have it shipped out to us.
Noted in the graph above, the number of water bottles used per year is growing exponentially. The people in California need to open their eyes and look at the water alternatives. If they do not like this idea, then I suppose that they should create an improved idea, that surpasses this genius plan. The time to improve the state now, so why not start here.


text:
A recent report from SuperData Research has revealed that Supercell's latest game, Clash Royale, generated $133 million in March 2016.
This makes it the highest grossing mobile game of that month, with Clash of Clans taking the second spot, having generated $118 million.
This gives Supercell a combined $251 million in revenue from two of its four games.
Assuming this rate of revenue continues (and also adding in some revenue from Hay Day and Boom Beach), it would mean Supercell is well on track to generate over $3 billion in 2016.
In 2015, its total sales were $2.3 billion.
One mover, no shakers
The remainder of the top 5 mobile money-makers is no big surprise, with Game of War, Candy Crush Saga, and Monster Strike completing the list.
The reports of Clash Royale's revenue are slightly higher than reported by Newzoo in April 2016, although both reports agree that its success has not affected Clash of Clans' revenues in any significant way.


text:
January 23, 2018
Electronic Payments was recently recognized as one of the “Best Entrepreneurial Companies in America” by Entrepreneur magazine’s Entrepreneur 360™
List, a premier study delivering the most comprehensive analysis of private companies in ...
December 11, 2017
Electronic Payments today announced that the 2018 Founder’s Club Getaway will take place in Pompano Beach, Florida, at the Fort Lauderdale Marriott Pompano Beach Resort & Spa on May 16th – 19th, 2018. Transitioning from a traditional incentiv...
November 20, 2017
Electronic Payments recently announced its participation in this year’s Small Business Saturday®, taking place on November 25th. Small Business Saturday is a day dedicated to supporting local small businesses and strengthening communities across t...
May 26, 2017
EY announced that Michael Nardy, CEO of Electronic Payments, is a finalist for the Entrepreneur Of The Year® 2017 Award in the New York program. The prestigious awards program recognizes entrepreneurs who excel in areas such as innovation, financ...
May 10, 2017
Electronic Payments today announced the acquisition of MobileNosh, a premier mobile ordering app for businesses and consumers, to further enhance the experience of SMBs using Exatouch® Point of Sale. MobileNosh allows merchants to build and manage...


text:
In the near future, Apple consider to release the first flexible Iphone.
According to the Business Korea, Apple contacted the manufacturers of flexible displays, including Samsung and LG, for future iPhones. Citing industry sources, Korea claims that Apple Business is serious in preparing a current iPhone to rival LG G Flex and Samsung Galaxy S6 edge.
Such a move would cause Apple to move to OLED panels, a technology that Apple uses only moments Watch. Given that Apple has recently received approval for the telephone more flexible, this news is not surprising.
However, such a phone will not be released anytime soon. According to the source of the Business of Korea, the iPhone would be released only after 3 years.
“It is very likely that the first flexible iPhone to be unveiled in 2018, the distributors of displays to Apple you are working on this,” he says.
Apparently, the LG distributors would be elected South Korean manufacturer producing increasing curved and flexible displays.


text:
Hyperice announces Brightex as its new distributor for India
NewsVoirNew Delhi [India], May 31: Hyperice, the leading global high-performance wellness brand, is pleased to announce its collaboration with Brightex as the master distributor for India. This strategic partnership aims to further strengthen Hyperice's presence in India by increasing the number of offline stores across the country.
In addition to expanding its physical retail footprint, Hyperice is committed to offering a more inclusive brand experience through its direct-to-consumer website,Michael Auer, VP of International Business - GrowthStrategy for Hyperice stated, "Hyperice delivers diverse benefits to individuals. For some, it's a high-performance device that reduces stress and enhances recovery, while for others, it aids in achieving better sleep. However, the one common factor is the results. Our mission is to create awareness about the importance of personal wellness and fitness, emphasizing the pivotal role Hyperice plays in achieving these goals."Hyperice offers a wide range of recovery devices, including percussion massage guns, vibration rollers and balls, and dynamic air compression devices. It has gained popularity among top-performing athletes worldwide, including Indian Cricketer Virat Kohli, Japanese professional tennis player Naomi Osaka, Irish Golfer Rory McIlroy, American Basketball player LeBron James, and Norwegian Footballer Erling Haaland, among others.
While Hyperice products are favoured by high-performing athletes, they are also beneficial to a broader customer base. Whether seeking a quick massage or a relaxing session after a hectic day, individuals from all walks of life can benefit from Hyperice's offerings. The company's focus is to make these products accessible to a wider audience, allowing them to experience the transformative effects of Hyperice products. To achieve this goal, the brand plans to implement various initiatives, including events, temporary setups in organizations and fitness centres, and in-store experiences.
Initially positioned in the premium range, Hyperice has adjusted its pricing strategy to cater to the Indian market. The percussion massage guns, which were previously priced between Rs. 16,999 to Rs 38,999, now range from Rs. 10,999 to Rs. 30,999.
With its expansion plans in India, Hyperice aims to revolutionize the recovery devices market in the country and provide world-class products to help athletes and individuals achieve their fitness goals.
Hyperice is a technology-driven company with a mission to improve the movement and quality of life for everyone on Earth. For over a decade, Hyperice has spearheaded a global movement at the intersection of recovery and wellness. The brand specializes in percussion (Hypervolt line), dynamic air compression (Normatec line), vibration (Vyper and Hypersphere lines), thermal technology (Venom line), mind technology (Core by Hyperice), and contrast therapy (Hyperice X). Today, as a holistic high-performance wellness brand, Hyperice caters to elite athletes, leagues, teams, and consumers worldwide, empowering them to unlock their full potential and do what they love. Recognized as one of Fast Company's Most Innovative Companies, Hyperice has applied its technology and expertise to various industries, including fitness, hospitality, healthcare, massage, physical therapy, sports performance, and workplace wellness, on a global scale. Through transformative acquisitions of Normatec, RecoverX, and Core, Hyperice continues to accelerate its innovation agenda as it embarks on the next phase of global growth.
(Disclaimer: The above press release has been provided by NewsVoir. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same)


text:
NEW YORK (FOX5NY) - Food allergies in some children could be linked to baby wipe use according to a new study.
Researchers at Northwestern University linked infant and childhood food allergies to a mix of environmental and genetic factors that they say must coexist to trigger the allergy.
The researchers say that cleaning wipes leave soap on the skin. That, along with skin exposure to allergens in dust and skin exposure to food from those providing infant care, can trigger the allergy.
So, for instance, if a parent handled peanuts and then cleaned up their baby's bottom using baby wipes, they could potentially trigger a food allergy in the baby.
The authors of the study recommend that parents wash their hands before cleaning their child and using baby wipes to avoid any potential allergens from transferring to the baby's skin.
The doctors say an ingredient in the baby wipes breaks down barriers in the fatty barrier in the skin of some babies and introduce the allergy. That, in conjunction with a genetic mutation in some babies, led to the food allergy. The ingredient in question is called sodium lauryl sulfate.
Clinical evidence shows up to 35 percent of children with food allergies have atopic dermatitis and much of that is explained by at least three different gene mutations that reduce the skin barrier.
Food allergies are on the rise and affect an estimated 4 to 6 percent of children in the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.


text:
CEOs and business leaders have a responsibility to take a stand on social issues, said Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, senior associate dean at Yale School of Management.
"There is a role for the leader to act as more than a convener but to actually take a position of conscience," Sonnenfeld said Wednesday on CNBC's "Power Lunch."
He said "[business leaders] should get involved" to help prevent tragedies such as the mass shooting in Parkland, Florida, on Feb. 14 that killed 17 people.
Sonnenfeld was responding to a commentary in The New York Times written by CNBC co-anchor and Times columnist Andrew Ross Sorkin on Monday regarding the role of businesses in curbing gun violence. Sorkin argued that financial companies such as Visa and Mastercard should refuse to do business with gun retailers, such as Walmart. As a result, the stores would stop selling guns because they don't want to be cut off from the credit card system, Sorkin reasoned.
"There's a real opportunity for the business community to fill the void and prove that all that talk about moral responsibility isn't hollow," Sorkin wrote.
Sonnenfeld agreed and pointed out that the U.S. is only 5 percent of the world's population but represents a third of the world's public mass shootings.
"Something is wrong here," Sonnenfeld said. "Is there no limit to the artillery that we let someone have in their backyard?"
But Bill Simon, former U.S. Walmart CEO, said that approach is not realistic. While he called Sorkin's piece "thoughtful," he said it was wiser — while firearms remain legal in the U.S. — to have reputable stores that can keep records of gun sales and assist law enforcement.
"You want responsible retailers selling [guns] so they can be documented and videotaped and tracked," Simon told CNBC on "Power Lunch" on Tuesday.
The responsibility, instead, lies with state and federal legislators to improve the current gun laws, Simon said.
But Sonnenfeld called Simon's rationale the "when-in-Rome argument."
"You can set a higher standard as a business leader," he said. "We're not going to stop all murders. We're not going to stop all thefts. People will still run out of a restaurant without paying. Does it mean you don't try to enforce it? You try to enforce it to the best of your ability, starting somewhere."
Sonnenfeld said companies such as Apple and Starbucks have adopted firm positions on social issues without asking for a majority vote by shareholders, as have individual leaders, such as Merck CEO Kenneth Frazier after the white nationalists' rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, last summer.
"And they've survived just fine," Sonnenfeld said.
If it's a privately owned company, he pointed out, taking a side is easier. But for public companies, the situation gets tricky.
Businesses risk alienating customers if they take a side, said Steve Odland, CEO of the nonprofit Committee for Economic Development.
"Customers, employees, owners, communities are all split on these issues," Odland said on CNBC's "Closing Bell" on Tuesday.
Some companies do experience boycotts, Sonnenfeld said. "And they weather them fine." He pointed out that customers can choose to boycott a business for not taking a stand. He said taking a stance on an issue can help reinforce the company's corporate brand.
A representative for Visa said the company acts as a payment processor and does not have a direct relationship with its merchants.
In a statement, Mastercard said, "Our payments network is governed by standards that have been established over time. Chief among these is that we do not and will not permit merchants to engage in unlawful activity on our network. When we're made aware of any illegal activity or violations of our rules, we work with law enforcement and merchants' banks to shut down those efforts."
Walmart did not respond to a request for comment.


text:
PR.com 2016-01-25 San Jose, CA, January 25, 2016 --( PR.com )-- Bible APP Dev, a Hong Kong-based startup has announced its entry into the video... ...http://www.bizwireexpress.com/showstoryPRcom.php?storyid=392828
At the event, Atul Jain, COO of Smart Electronics Business, LeEco India, who was previously the Senior Vice President at Samsung South-West Asia... ...http://www.dnaindia.com/scitech/report-leeco-s-flagship-le-max-now-available-in-india-2170039
Samsung Electronics today announced the launch of the Dual SIM edition of its recently launched flagship smartphone - Galaxy Note5 in India. A true... ...http://efytimes.com/e1/181515/Press-Release/Samsung-Expands-Frontiers-With-The-Launch-Of-Galaxy-Note-Dual-SIM
The Apple TV is a great networked media player, but it would be greater still if it supported more file types and played from more locations. By... ...http://www.itvoice.in/index.php/it-voice-news/vlc-for-apple-tv-review-goodbye-format-woes
From the Wires Jan. 15, 2016 10:30 AM WinXDVD.com , in collaboration with Giveaway of the Day (aka GOTD), is to offer full licensed copies... ...http://in.sys-con.com/node/3635985
Simplifying Methods In wmv to imovie
Certain devices for example online...
Get to know about edit wmv file
Read the best and honest BDlot DVD...


text:
It’s typical of Kathleen Donahue, owner of Labyrinth Puzzles and Games (645 Pennsylvania Ave. SE), that when she is asked to talk about her efforts to help the community even as her own business suffers she deflects attention to others. She’s grateful to her customers for their concern and continued support. She’s grateful to Mr. Henry’s Restaurant, just down the street, for acting as a pick-up location for purchases from Labyrinth’s new e-commerce site, and to the Jason Martin Group, which selected her business as a beneficiary for their April 21st Tuesday Trivia Night fundraiser.
“Just having the businesses working together has been really wonderful too,” she said. “I just think it’s really great how the community is coming out to support different people.”
Donahue downplays how she and Labyrinth are also coming out to support people, even now while her business has been closed and revenue is down as much as 75 percent. Last weekend, she took an idea brought to her attention by her friend Anne Phelps and spearheaded an effort to gather more than 150 puzzles and games for children staying in the District’s family shelter system, run by the Department of Human Services (DHS).
‘A Story of Kathleen’
“It’s such a story of Kathleen,” said Phelps. “I’ll tell you that here she is, so worried about her staff –as she should be– and a business she’s poured her heart and soul into in this terrible time, and yet despite all that is immediately moved to action to do something generous for her community.”
Phelps had learned of the need for activities for the children living in shelters through a colleague working at DC Council and shared the need on social media. Seeing it, Donahue immediately contacted Phelps and offered to facilitate the donation, offering to acquire games at cost or to use Labyrinth’s Teacher Wishlist Fund, created to supply games to District teachers.
After Donahue posted about the need on Labyrinth’s Facebook page, Phelps said, it really exploded. “What was originally going to be sort of small but incredibly meaningful donation from a handful of folks turned into this enormous outpouring of generosity from a group of dedicated customers,” she said.
Originally, DHS had created an Amazon Wishlist to describe the kinds of things kids might need, but with inflated pricing as a result of recently increased demands, the regular prices at Labyrinth were better than those at the e-commerce giant. Customers donated more than $1,700, and Donahue used the funds to buy games at cost, stretching it to more than $2,000 retail and bringing three gigantic boxes of activities to Phelps so that she could arrange for DHS to get them.
The effort was a way to help people support Labyrinth as well as kids in shelter, Phelps said. “The galvanizing nature of Kathleen’s post and people wanting to help in some way I think it speaks to both the generosity of people,” Phelps said, “but also the loyalty people feel toward their local businesses.”
Donahue has been transparent about her fears for her business and her employees on social media. “We have 15 employees and I am absolutely terrified what happens to them if we can’t make it,” she said. “They mean the world to me, and I just can’t let bad things happen to them no matter what as long as I can figure out something.”
Kathleen Donahue, Bonny Wolf and Pat Joseph are the 2020 Capitol Hill Community Achievement Award recipients. Photo: Elizabeth Dranitzke/PhotopiaHowever, Donahue is unwilling to compromise her values, even amid the economic stress of the COVID-19 crisis. “When I started Labyrinth, I had some very, very strict ideals about what I wanted the store to be,” Donahue said. “I wanted it to be a very community space and I’m not going give that up just because we’re you know, 75% down on our income.” Labyrinth is still running online gaming, asking participants to pay what they can because she considers the community connections and support most important right now.
The Capitol Hill Community Foundation (CHCF), recognized Donahue’s role in creating community by honoring her with the 2020 Steve Cymrot ‘Spark’ award. Donahue said that she was sad that the gala dinner had been deferred to Spring 2021, but not sad that she won’t have to wear a fancy dress. (She has always joked that one reason she opened Labyrinth was so that she’d never have to wear high heels again. “I was really stressed out about that dress,” she said).
You can continue to support Labyrinth by visiting their new online store. Items can be picked up from Mr. Henry’s Restaurant (601 Pennsylvania Ave. SE), which in addition to offering takeaway food and adult beverages between 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. is also a pick-up point for Labyrinth’s neighboring business, East City Bookshop.


text:
The announcement Wednesday that Toronto-based Supreme Hashish plans to accumulate Truverra underscores the curiosity in accessing European markets.
Supreme valued the acquisition at roughly $20 million.
Supreme Hashish famous that Truverra Europe already has distribution on the continent and can “present an extra entry level into Europe’s CBD wellness market.”
The transfer comes amid uncertainty within the European CBD market.
European Union regulators have mentioned the molecule can’t be added to meals or dietary dietary supplements with out further scientific evaluation, one thing European hemp producers try to undo. (As in america, CBD merchandise are broadly out there in Europe regardless of conflicting steerage from well being regulators.)
Supreme is traded on the TSX Enterprise Trade as FIRE. Truverra is privately held.
Subscribe to our Publication


text:
We hope that everyone is welcoming multiple markets re-opening and we hope that you are watching the markets as closely as we are, by tuning into our national price page where we update those averages daily. We are continuing to look at all of the comments that we see on social media, which give us a much better direction on how and what you are looking for and looking to learn about.
Every other Wednesday, we are going to be doing a Q & A session on our weekly Facebook Live at 1 PM (EDT) which will give us the opportunity to answer more of your questions. Please ask away and we will get to them over the next couple of weeks.
- $0.03 – Copper markets down recently, not shocking as trade fears are on the horizon.
- 11 – 11 More states have begun soft Phase-1 Openings for restarting their economies.
Social Scrap from Our Facebook Group
Scrapper Ray M. was out and about loading things that we use all the time – shopping carts! We have seen some creative uses from shopping carts before for different scrap metals being transported around yards to different people using them around their outside home yards. But at the end of the day – they all get scrapped.
As we’ve watched the copper prices reacting in a positive way, we have a couple of things that we have been watching to see what type of domino effect is going to happen. With possible trade problems between the United States and the Chinese again over the origin of the COVID-19 spread, there’s talk of the Phase 1 Trade agreement being canceled or changed or delayed. This will affect the copper prices as manufacturing could possibly be started in the United States as opposed to in China. Different companies are talking about moving their operations from China to the United States and that will have a big impact on how some copper prices will be handled moving forward.
There are so many outside factors that are going to affect the scrap markets right now, we are constantly watching to see what is going to be going on as things change and adjust over the next few months.
Reported Non-Ferrous Scrap Prices (5/6 – 5/12):
|Port Allen, LA||Christmas Lights||$0.08 / lb|
|Rockaway, NJ||#1 Bare Bright Copper Wire||$2.00 / lb|
|Peoria, IL||Lead Wheel Weights||$0.08 / lb|
|Glasgow, KY||Aluminum Cans||$0.25 / lb|
|Cleveland, NC||Lead Batteries||$0.22 / lb|
|Colorado Springs, CO||#1 Bare Bright Copper Wire||$1.60 / lb|
|Provo, UT||Insulated Copper Wire||$1.20 / lb|
|Billings, MT||Brass Scrap||$0.90 / lb|
|Jacksonville, FL||#2 Copper Tubing||$1.50 / lb|
|Minneapolis, MN||#1 Copper Tubing||$2.01 / lb|
|Bowling Green, KY||Aluminum 6061||$0.24 / lb|
|Oakland, CA||#1 Bare Bright Copper Wire||$2.05 / lb|
Stability Is Not A Bad Thing…
We have seen a stable oil market shaping up and we are starting to see parts of the economy in the world re-opening their business. All of these things will be extremely crucial when it comes to the iron and steel market increasing. If you think about how things work, we have to have an active manufacturing market to be able to warrant higher steel prices.
Until we begin to see a return of manufacturing and more normal buying patterns from consumers inside of the United States and the world, it’s going to be tough to expect any type of an increase in the steel markets for the foreseeable future.
The fact that we saw an increase in the steel prices over the last five weeks is a very positive sign considering the deep decline that we saw in the month of March. Now, a lot of what we do is going to be focused on how the economy is going to react to manufacturing reopening and the possibility of more products finally being produced and sold.
Reported Ferrous Scrap Prices (5/6 – 5/12):
|Harrisburg, PA||Shreddable Steel||$40 /ton|
|Warrenton, NC||Scrap Iron||$3.50 /CW|
|Hurlock, MD||Light Iron||$4.25 /CW|
|Bowling Green, KY||Shreddable Steel||$100 /ton|
|Indianapolis, IN||Shreddable Steel||$90 /ton|
|Wilkes Barre, PA||Light Iron||$0.03 /lb|
|Lebanon, TN||Shreddable Steel||$50 /ton|
|Lansing, MI||Shreddable Steel||$100 /ton|
|Mulberry, Fl||Light Iron||$0.035 /lb|
|Alliance, OH||Shreddable Steel||$90 /ton|
|Denver, CO||Shreddable Steel||$55 /ton|
We have seen the prices of gold stay above $1700 per ounce but one of the big problems that we have heard is that a lot of material that was previously being pushed overseas for refinement is now staying domestic or not getting purchased at all. On top of that, the Nickel market which will affect items like stainless steel and different grades Inconel has seen a deep decline and has become very difficult to move.
The catalytic converter market has seen declines in most of the three metals that affect it. While we have seen a little bump in the rhodium market as of late, overall, we have not seen the recovery near to the record levels we saw the first six weeks of this year nor do we expect to see those anytime soon. If you’re looking to get more pricing on your catalytic converters please click here.
We want to thank all of the first responders and healthcare professionals, as well as the trucking outfits and food services that continue to service the nation. We hope that everyone continues to stay safe and positive.
- Iron Recovers, While Aluminum Slips – 5/6/20
- Why Do Oil Prices Affect Scrap Prices?
- The Economy: What’s Scrap Got To Do With It


text:
The pontoon boat segment was the first to recover in the wake of the downturn, and it continues to post steady and consistent sales growth year after year. Is this the new normal?
“We’re again looking at growth in the high single-digit range.”
“We expect growth to continue at the same rate, or even a little better than what we saw last year.”
“We have no reason to believe next year will be any different.”
For the past several years, statements such as these have been a part of virtually every conversation about the booming pontoon boat category.
Pontoon boat builders talk of expanding their plants to boost production, as former pontoon builders return to the segment with all-new models, and V-hull manufacturers leap into the fray with new pontoon lines of their own, some purchased and others home-grown.
There’s no question that the pontoon boat market has provided the foundation for the resurgence of the recreational boating industry. The question in everyone’s minds, however, is how long can this go on?
In the years immediately following the downturn, there was some belief that the rapid growth in pontoon sales was just a bubble, one which would see its day in the sun then collapse under the weight of market saturation.
But no one believes that now, as it becomes increasingly clear that the once humble pontoon has completely replaced the formerly ubiquitous fiberglass runabout as the core of North America’s boating culture.
Pre- and post-downturn sales data support the notion that what we’re seeing is not a bubble at all, but a new state of normal in the recreational boating hierarchy.
According to Grand Rapids, Michigan-based Statistical Surveys Inc. (SSI), in 2005 American boat builders shipped more than 66,000 fiberglass runabouts and deck boats, compared to approximately 44,000 pontoons.
But since the downturn, things have shifted radically. The expectation for 2018 is that pontoon sales will climb to over 50,000 units, while sales of fiberglass runabouts and deck boats will top out somewhere in the 17,000- to 18,000-unit range. Where pontoon sales have now eclipsed their pre-downturn high water mark, sales of fiberglass runabouts remain only about one-third of their pre-downturn levels.
It’s a rate of change that may even be accelerating. SSI notes that for calendar year 2017, sales of pontoon boats in the U.S. grew by 7.20 percent overall, while sales of fiberglass runabouts and deck boats dipped by 4.09 percent.
On a 12-month rolling basis, pontoon boat sales increases were reported for virtually every Basic Trading Area (BTA) that SSI monitors, with the sole exception of Houston. Yet in spite of the catastrophic destruction caused to that region by Hurricane Harvey, pontoon sales in the Houston BTA dipped by only 2.33 percent below 2016 levels. Until the hurricane, the Houston BTA was trending to finish the year with positive growth too.
In other markets that enjoyed more stable weather, pontoon sales flourished, with double-digit year-over-year growth reported for markets like Atlanta, Birmingham, Milwaukee, Knoxville and New York. The Fort Wayne, Ind. BTA led the way in 2017, posting an astounding rolling YOY growth of 22.43 percent.
“We’re seeing strength at the retail level across the country, no question about it,” said Peter Barrett, senior vice president of marketing and corporate development at New Paris, Indiana-based Smoker Craft Inc., builder of the Starcraft, Sylvan and SunChaser pontoon lines. “The boomers are still active in the market, but we’re starting to see more younger buyers who recognize the do-it-all nature of these boats. They appreciate the pontoon’s ability to accept higher horsepower outboards that offer better performance, and they value being able to accommodate a lot of people on the boat. Pontoon boats are the SUV of the water right now, so they appeal to a diverse range of buyers.”
Versatility is key
Part of that growing appeal lies in the extreme adaptability of the pontoon platform. The same basic boat can be used with equal effectiveness for fishing, water sports, twilight cruises, taking the family for picnics on distant islands or just hanging out at the sandbar.
Boomers look at the pontoon’s wide entry gates as providing easy access for elderly relatives, and the flat floor being able to accommodate a wheelchair. Millennials see those same entry gates as offering easy dock-level access for a pregnant spouse, and the flat floor as able to accommodate a baby stroller. The same boat is seen by different buyers in entirely different ways.
“We really thought the market was going to be a big influx of boomers, all coming to that age where it’s time to retire and get something with greater stability, something that they can enjoy with their grandkids,” said Brunswick Freshwater Boat Group President Jeff Kinsey. “In fact, what we’re seeing are boomers, and millennials, and GenXer’s in between all participating in the same market at once. That’s extremely unusual. Pontoons are attracting a broad demographic range of buyers, and a large part of that is the result of their versatility.
“The other thing we’re seeing today is that people just are not overnighting on their boats like they used to,” Kinsey said. “There’s been a clear shift toward day boating, and that speaks directly to the pontoon with its seating capacity, its open space, its amenities and its comfort.”
Market data from the National Marine Manufacturer’s Association (NMMA) confirms the shift toward day boating and away from vessels with overnight accommodations.
Over the past five years, pontoon boats have earned a market share in the range of 20 percent for all boats combined. Yet over the same period, market share for cruisers with overnight facilities has consistently held in the low single digit range. For example, in 2017, pontoon boats enjoyed a market share of 20.6 percent, compared against 3.2 percent for cruisers.
What’s even more interesting is the pontoon’s relative market share among boats powered by outboard engines. For 2017, pontoons represented nearly 32 percent of the outboard-powered market with a whopping 31.8 percent share – a figure that has been consistent across the past five years.
Designed for today’s buyer
The widespread appeal of pontoon boats is also supported by the sheer variety of models available in today’s market. Few other boat categories can claim to appeal across such a wide range of sizes, feature sets or price points.
“A lot of the conversation around pontoon boats in recent years has focused on high performance. While that’s an important part of the market, we have to remember that first-time buyers and young families with small kids aren’t starting out with fully loaded luxury models powered by twin 300s,” said Greg VanWagenen, director of marketing and communications for Manitou Pontoon Boats. “That said, they can buy a nice pontoon like our Aurora VP with a 150-horsepower engine for somewhere in the low to mid $30,000 range. A boat like that is absolutely comparable to what a runabout can offer in terms of speed and overall performance, plus it offers a lot more room for passengers and their gear. So I think buyers are starting to weigh those options as they shop different types of boats, and we’re seeing more of them gravitating toward pontoons than they used to.”
Apart from adaptability, practicality is also seen as a key element in the pontoon boat’s appeal, especially to younger buyers.
“We’ve had a good following with the millennial group, mostly because the pontoon boat seems to be a no-nonsense purchase,” said Premier Pontoons President Lori Melbostad. “It’s something that’s functional, and versatile enough to be able to do it all. We have good following among the mid- to late 20 year-old group that doesn’t just want a water sports boat. They’re looking for something that can do a lot of other things as well, and that’s where a pontoon really delivers.”
While it is possible to find pontoon boats today ranging from less than 16 feet to more than 33 feet in length, the core of the market is represented by boats in the 21- to 26-foot range.
NMMA pegs boats in this class as accounting for nearly three quarters of all pontoon sales in 2017. SSI notes that 23-foot and 25-foot boats led all other lengths in sales growth, posting year-over-year gains of 18.15 percent and 14.02 percent respectively. These boats represent the sweet spot in the pontoon market, being large enough to handle bigger outboards and offer performance, while remaining trim enough to meet a range of price points and allow for sales volumes.
“Sales of higher horsepower boats are off the charts,” Melbostad said. “We’ve never seen them this strong. Dealers are not afraid of stocking boats that are going to be equipped with the higher horsepower motors because they know they’re going to sell them easily. Our overall volumes are down this year because of the company’s reorganization, but mid-line boats with a powerful engine on them … they’re the meat-and-potatoes boats. The reality is that not everyone is going to buy a 12-foot wide pontoon boat with triple engines on it, but everyone wants some level of performance.”
Achieving that magical balance between performance and affordability has been key for pontoon builders. “There’s a lot of recent attention on high-end boats that go 60 or 70 miles an hour with twin engines and triple tubes,” Kinsey said. “But the great thing about a pontoon is you don’t have to go that way to have fun on the water. You can get a basic boat with a single 200 horsepower outboard and still enjoy excellent performance. You can go fast, you can do water sports, but you can also just relax and enjoy the day. Pontoons allow consumers to enjoy a bit of performance while still having all the seating and all the features, and they offer that over a wide range of price points.”
While the trend toward higher horsepower began years ago, a newer evolution is taking place at the back of the boat where the traditional twin loungers are increasingly giving way to more adaptable seating arrangements, suiting the demands of today’s buyer. “We see a lot of customers gravitating toward boats with more utility in the stern, whether it’s aft-facing seating that overlooks the back deck, or more versatile seating like lounges that convert into a table,” Barrett said. “We’re seeing more demand for innovative furniture and layouts that can serve multiple functions. We’re also seeing a lot of growth in our higher-end fishing pontoons, which offer plusher features, bigger fishing seats and more versatility that what you can get with a standard back seat.”
With their comparatively modular construction, builders generally have an easier time reconfiguring pontoons with furniture changes or feature upgrades that they do reconfiguring comparable fiberglass boats, which might require significant changes to the deck molds. This not only allows for more rapid product development and evolution, it also provides manufacturers with a means of achieving a level of mass customization. “We’re seeing some customers looking to customize the rail color, or the panel colors, for example,” Barrett said. “Other customers look for custom interior colors and different flooring options, and we can provide those with a pontoon boat.”
The look ahead
A stable economy, continuing low interest rates, comparatively low fuel prices and robust consumer confidence give little reason to believe that the annual growth in the mid- to high-single-digit range that we’ve seen in the pontoon segment over the last several years is likely to change.
If anything, North American sales of pontoon boats could grow further as the Canadian economy picks up steam.
According to NMMA Canada’s 2017 Statistical Abstract, retail dollar sales for new boats and outboard engines in the Canadian market totaled $2.3 billion in 2016, a 9.2 percent increase over the previous year. Outboard engine sales were up in nearly all provinces, with growth led by Ontario (up 8.3 percent), British Columbia (up 7.8 percent), the Atlantic provinces (up 7.1 percent) and the Northwest Territories (up 7.8 percent).
“The Ontario east market has been huge for us this year,” said VanWagenen. “I think we signed 10 or 12 new dealers in those provinces just in the last year or so.”
There is also potential for further market growth here in the U.S., as anticipated tax reductions could further boost consumer confidence.
For now, though, it’s steady as she goes for the pontoon category, and a promise of smooth sailing for at least another year.


text:
Good evening! Catch up on some of the main headlines on Sunday, July 24.
Couple who fled S'pore after alleged luxury goods scam: Checks on all departures will worsen traffic, says ICA
Robots that deliver goods among features at new Punggol neighbourhood centre
Shoppers can use phones to browse the offerings while shopkeepers can use robots to deliver their goods from loading bays.
Tourists stay longer as S'pore seen as safe place for first trip since Covid-19 hit
"They haven’t travelled in two years, so they might as well make their first trip longer," said one industry player.
Monkeypox: From beginnings in Africa to becoming a global health emergency
As monkeypox infections jump around the world, here's a look at how the disease has spread since it first appeared in Africa in the 1970s.
AMO Residence condo in Ang Mo Kio over 98% sold on first day of launch
Fall in number of PMD riders injured in road accidents but some still riding recklessly
Residents of HDB block steered clear of woman who harassed next-door neighbour
Commonwealth Games: Nicole Heng gains confidence through weightlifting
She had body image issues as a discus thrower in JC and incorporated lifting into her training routine during her NUS days.
It's not OK to be OK with racist remarks
A friend's experience at work is a reminder that we all have to fight against discrimination, says Nadine Chua.
Minor Issues: Learning to go slow with a special needs child
For my child with autism, small achievements are the result of steady, patient repetition or are just things she is finally ready to do, says writer Jill Lim.


text:
The company, which still has the largest number of landline customers in the UK, said that it would be putting up prices by 5pc or less, with some of its most popular services taking the brunt of the price hikes. The changes will come into effect in December, and follow a round of price hikes in April of this year.
“We have been putting up prices a couple of times in a year, and now we are promising to freeze them for a year until 2013,” said a BT spokesman. “Ok, it’s not exactly balloons and hats in the air time, but we are trying to balance business needs and the fact that times are hard for our customers.”
Monthly line rental for customers will rise from £13.90m to £14.60. It had already increased from £12.79 in April. Other rising charges include the cost of daytime calls, the cost of the popular Anytime call package, and the call connection fee. The changes take effect from December 3 2011.
The price of calls from landlines to mobiles, broadband and Vision on Demand services will remain the same, meaning that older and more vulnerable customers, who simply use their phones to call friends or relatives, will bear the brunt of the hikes. Those who can afford to pay in advance for twelve months line rental with Line Rental Saver can save £55 off their annual bills, while those who cannot will end up paying more.
Michael Phillips, product director at price comparison site Homephonechoices.co.uk, said that he was “disappointed” by the decision. “While BT’s price increases of ‘5pc or less’ may be in line with inflation, it will prove very unpopular with households who are already feeling the pinch,” he said. “This marks the 10th price rise from a major provider this year alone and it is inevitable that others will further add to this total.”


text:
Online business discovers pink purchasing power
As a group, they spend nearly 10 times as much time online as the average internet user – 25 hours a week compared to 11 hours a month. They are among the most technologically savvy of all consumers, and are far more likely to buy new electronics when they come out than most other consumer groups. For both men and women, they have higher incomes and are better educated than any other consumer group online. And they show strong company and brand loyalty to organisations that target them – whether or not services are specialised to niche tastes.
The group? Gays and lesbians. If you’re talking about the colour of money, a series of recent studies and research reports show that the pink euro, pound and dollar is the currency of choice online.
“Gay men and women have the technology attitudes and demographics that marketers dream about. Gays are among the first to adopt new devices and online tools, making them prime targets for digital marketing as well as emerging technologies,” states a July Forrester Research study.
Though the numbers may seem small, with only 5 per cent of men and two per cent of women stating they preferred same-sex partners in a recent survey of US households by Forrester Research (though another 20 per cent declined to answer the question), an estimated 17 million Americans are homosexual and their collective buying power is tallied at $464 billion – outstripping US Asians or Hispanics and, in per capita terms, well ahead of all US minority groups.
The Gay/Lesbian Consumer Online Census (GLCensus), an OpusComm Group and Syracuse University research partnership, found that nearly 32 percent of the male respondents and 17 percent of female respondents in their 2002 survey reported household incomes of $100,000 or more.
“Two things also mitigate against this market being ‘small’. The first is gay and lesbian buying power, and the second is that this is a fairly identifiable audience. There are clear websites that people go to, and events like Gay Pride that make it easy to target them,” says Forrester analyst Mr Jed Kolko, author of the July study.
It’s a niche market that, it turns out, isn’t very niche. Consider that the number one American website to reach single men with household incomes over $75,000 is – no, not CNN sports, but Gay.com, according to research by @plan.
Those kinds of demographics have made gays and lesbians the target of campaigns by big name companies online, not just those which offer gay-specific services or products. Gay.com pulls in big name advertisers like American Airlines, Viacom, Procter & Gamble, BMG Entertainment, General Motors, Merck, US Airways, Chase and IBM. Gay.co.uk has snapped up Debenhams, Visa, Sainsburys, Amex Insurance, and AOL.
Research shows that gays and lesbians are among the most company and brand-loyal of consumers as well, responding to companies that advertise in gay publications and websites. A gay-specific approach has made companies like American Express and Absolut the leading brands with gays and lesbians. Overall, gays and lesbians are 87 per cent more likely to give their custom to companies that target them specifically.
Mr Kolko’s research shows that gays and lesbians are more likely to be university graduates, to be online, to have broadband net connections, to shop online, to bank online, and book travel online. They are more likely to own almost every type of digital device or gadget than heterosexuals, excluding camcorders and video game consoles. And, they are more likely than straight people to join in every conceivable type of online activity from dating to downloading music, using instant messaging, reading newspapers online and sending e-greeting cards. The only things they don’t do in greater numbers are visit sport sites and play games alone.
Based on those kinds of figures, PlanetOut Partners, the parent company of Gay.com, has adopted an aggressive marketing approach to go after advertisers. “The average middle-class family spends over one million dollars to raise a child through age 22. Some gay people have kids. Most don’t. Where are they spending that money? On your products and services,” says one advertiser pitch on its corporate website.
Advertisers are clearly biting. The company startled many in the struggling online publication world recently when it announced it had gone into the black based on the kind of revenue its cluster of online sites pulls in. These include Out & About Travel, PlanetOut.com, eight international sites for Gay.com, and a shopping site targeting gays and lesbians, Kleptomaniac.com (the name comes from a comment by conservative former US senator Trent Lott, that homosexuals were sick and should receive medical treatment just like alcoholics or kleptomaniacs).
Dublin-based Gay Community News is hoping it can wield some of that advertiser draw in the Irish market. Its website, which gets about 3,000 hits a month, was revamped into a more interactive format recently after GCN relaunched in a glossy magazine format, says GCN manager Ms Marie Mulholland.
“Even with the constricted website that we had, we were getting 400-500 hits a week, and we knew there was something to respond to,” she says.
Online advertisers already include an Irish travel company and bookstore, but GCN believes it offers an attractive audience for British companies, too, and is looking at potential advertisers.
Not for profit, community sites like Outhouse.ie – the online presence for Dublin-based gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community centre Outhouse – and GayCork.com, a news, discussion, and small ads site, say the internet is an important resource for gays and lesbians.
“So much about this particular community goes through the web,” says Outhouse manager Ms Louise Tierney. People use it to get information, to meet others, to buy products with an anonymity and sense of like-mindedness that us often unavailable in the ‘real world’, she says. She notes that Outhouse provides PCs and internet access for Irish people who don’t have the high incomes touted in the studies.
The internet provides “a way for gays to talk in common,” says Mr Jonathan Neville, webmaster for GayCork.com, which also gets about 3,000 visitors monthly. “The web has totally opened that up.”
Mr Kolko believes these are some of the reasons why so many gays and lesbians are online – for them, the web is transformative. “The fact that the virtual [gay] community is so strong suggests it has changed the experience of being gay,” he says.
It also has changed the attitudes of many mainstream companies who might once have been cautious about advertising in gay and lesbian publications, online or offline – much less running gay-themed advertisements in the mainstream media, as Ikea, Tanqueray and others have done.
For companies, it might not be a bad idea to think seriously about viewing the online world through rose-tinted glasses.
Note: This article originally appeared in the print edition of the Irish Times on the 6th of September 2003 and it appears here with the kind permission of Karlin Lillington.
Trackback from your site.


text:
Toyota is to suspend production at its North American plants in five one-day shutdowns this month because supplies of components remain limited.
The Japanese car giant said the move was "due to parts supply difficulties" following the damage caused by earthquake in Japan on 11 March.
All 13 of Toyota's North American plants will be affected.
Last week, Toyota head office said reports it would halt production there were a "total misunderstanding".
That comment came after a US spokesman for the carmaker said a temporary halt was "inevitable" following the damage caused by the earthquake and tsunami in Japan.
Toyota now says vehicle production and almost all North American engine and parts plants will be affected.
The dates of the shutdowns are 15, 18, 21, 22 and 25 April, although manufacturing at the Kentucky factory will not be stopped on 21 April.
Toyota said that no decisions had been made yet regarding production after 25 April.
Production at the company's domestic factories has resumed, although at a reduced capacity.
Factories in Japan will be shut down again between 27 April and 9 May, although that includes the traditional Japanese Golden Week holiday.
Other companies have been affected by supply-chain problems too.
Last week, Honda said it was halving production at its factory in Swindon in the south of England.
And Nissan said it would be suspending its UK production for three days at the end of the month due to a shortfall of parts from Japan.


text:
Crackle announced that its mobile video streaming app is now available for Windows Phones and Barnes & Noble’s NOOK devices.
Qumu announced that it has updated its Video Control Center (VCC) platform to support mobile devices including Windows Phones, iPhones and iPads as well as Android phones and tablets.
Microsoft announced its new Xbox SmartGlass application as well as Internet Explorer for Xbox and new TV, movie and music offerings at E3 2012.
Netflix announced that its streaming video service is now available to its subscribers in Latin America, the UK and Ireland on Windows Phone.
IHS iSuppli announced that smartphones will account for more than half of the worldwide cellphone market in 2015.
IHS iSuppli announced that, according to its latest research, Apple’s share of the smartphone market grew to 19.2% in the first quarter of 2011 while Nokia’s portion dropped to 24.9%.
Appcelerator and International Data Corporation (IDC) announced results from a joint survey of mobile developers around the world.
Amazon.com announced Kindle Library Lending, which allows Kindle users to borrow Kindle books from over 11,000 libraries in the United States.
ASUSTeK Computer announced its new O!Play BDS-700 Blu-ray Disc (BD) player and BW-12D1S-U external 12x Blu-ray writer at CeBIT 2011.
Renesas Electronics and Renesas Mobile announced their new MP5225 3D mobile platform.
IHS Screen Digest announced its analysts believe that Sony’s forthcoming handheld next-generation portable (NGP) game player faces diminished prospects due to the increasing popularity of smartphones.
Nokia and Microsoft announced plans to form a strategic relationship that would see Nokia adopt Windows Phone as its principal smartphone strategy.
AT&T and Microsoft announced the Oct. 15, 2010 launch of AT&T’s U-verse TV Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) service on Xbox 360. According to the statement, AT&T also announced the upcoming launch of U-verse Mobile for Windows Phone 7 devices.
Microsoft Corp. announced the further international expansion of Zune, its digital entertainment service. According to the statement, this fall, Zune will expand its music and video footprint and bring the free Zune software, Zune Marketplace online store, Zune Pass music subscription service and enhanced features on Zune.net to new markets on Windows-based PCs, Windows Phone [...]


text:
VESTAL (WBNG) — Part of a local shopping mall bustling with business is contaminated with dangerous chemicals. The Department of Environmental Conservation took 12 News to the site at the Vestal Town Square Mall where the investigation into the contamination is still underway.
Underneath the pavement of the busy shopping center dangerous contaminants are hidden in plain sight and shoppers have no idea.
“People at risk are notified,” said Department of Environmental Conservation site manager Gary Priscott. “People here shopping are not at risk.”
Priscott said the contamination at the Vestal Town Square Mall came from just across the street.
The Lowe’s Parking lot is a brownfield site which by DEC definition is an area where contaminant levels exceed health or environmental standards.
“As far as the groundwater plume its moved from the brownfield cleanup site which is in the southwest corner of a parking lot on the other side of the street and it moves beneath the road and beneath the parking lot area beneath the Town Square Plaza,” said Priscott.
According to a DEC site record, harmful chemicals and possibly even hazardous waste were dumped there prior to redevelopment, meaning its the businesses that occupied the space before Lowe’s that are responsible for it, not Lowe’s.
The DEC cleaned up that area a few years ago, but not before contaminants moved off-site.
“We want to know where that contamination has gone and look at any of the risks as it travels with the groundwater,” Priscott told 12 News.
The DEC started investigating that in 2015, during the cleanup of the site at the Lowe’s parking lot.
Priscott said, “And that really defined a lot about where the contamination existed and the contaminant types and their concentrations.”
Four years later it’s still not done, “Now we’re doing some follow up investigation and processing that data now to figure out what we can further do to enhance the cleanup,” Priscott explained. The cleanup at the Town Square Mall hasn’t even started. “We have to nail down where exactly the contamination exists.”
The contaminants at the site are tetrachloroethene or PCE, trichloroethene known as TCE, vinyl chloride, and Cis 1 and 2 dichloroethene.
According to the Department of Health, these chemicals are linked to cancer, liver and kidney damage, reproductive and developmental effects, and nervous system toxicity when humans are exposed to them in the air over long periods of time.
While these contaminants are deep within the ground, “They can evaporate from the ground water surface and become part of the vapor in the soil matrix itself so we want to look to see where that is occurring as well,” said Priscott.
It’s called soil vapor intrusion. It happens when vapors from volatile contaminants migrate into the soil which can then enter a building.
Priscott said however, they haven’t felt a need to test air inside nearby stores.
“Department of Health in consultation with them have not had us so any indoor air sampling because of where the contamination is occurring,” he explained.
The DEC said in the meantime there is no danger to shoppers or businesses. The agency will continue to monitor sampling to determine if soil vapor intrusion becomes a threat or if there are other concerns.
“We also get migration of contaminants because of the hydrogeology of this area,” Priscott told 12 News.
Not knowing if there are other hidden dangers. “We want to investigate to know where the contaminants are,” he said.
While the groundwater at the site is contaminated, the DEC stresses that it won’t impact drinking water for residents or local businesses.
The Department of Health said there are no immediate public health concerns because the contaminants are covered by pavement.
12 news reached out to the company that owns the Town Square Mall, a representative did not wish to comment and referred us to the DEC.
We also reached out to all the stores at the mall and Lowe’s who either didn’t wish to comment or did not get back to us at this time.


text:
Clear out to help out by donating unwanted items
Barnsley, Doncaster and Rotherham Councils and recycling contractor FCC Environment are urging residents to ‘Clear Out to Help Out’ by donating good quality unwanted items for resale at its reuse shop, with proceeds of £9,000 already going to supporting local Food Banks in the area as well as the charity Doncaster Refurnish.
Located at Conisbrough in Doncaster, on Sheffield Road, the reuse shop gives good quality items a new lease of life. Proceeds received at the reuse shop also benefit Doncaster Refurnish, a charity dedicated to offering training and employment opportunities for those in the local community.
Residents can declutter and drop items off at their local Household Waste Recycling Centre (HWRC) in Barnsley, Doncaster or Rotherham, all are open at least five days a week.
Dropping donations at your local HWRC is the perfect way to make some space in your home. Items of interest include bikes, books, furniture and electricals. All are checked over and tested before being resold at the reuse shop in Conisbrough.
Gavin Foulstone, Contract Manager at FCC Environment, said: “We welcome Barnsley, Doncaster and Rotherham residents donating unwanted goods at their local household waste recycling centres. By donating and purchasing at our re-use shop, you are giving items a new home as well as showing support to the community.”
“With donations being accepted across the different sites, it’s incredibly easy for residents to find a new home for unwanted goods that are taking up space in their homes and we would encourage local residents to show their support, whether that’s through donations or purchases.”
For more information, please contact firstname.lastname@example.org or visit Doncaster Refurnish on Facebook.


text:
Land Rover’s design boss has admitted that the styling of the new Defender will be “polarising”, adding that he doesn’t expect diehard Defender fans to buy the new one.
Codenamed L663 D7u, the new-generation Defender is expected to run on the automaker’s all-aluminium platform, ditching the original’s ladder-frame chassis.
Gerry McGovern, the British brand’s design director, told Drive that while the next-generation Defender would retain the original’s off-road capability, it wouldn’t necessarily look much like its iconic predecessor (and would certainly do without exposed rivets).
“I do think it needs to acknowledge the great heritage of Defender in terms of its capabilities, durability and its robustness, but not necessarily in terms of its visual quality,” McGovern told the Australian publication.
“I think you have to be careful. I don’t think we should be doing a pastiche of what we have been doing before. What we have to do with the new Defender … it will be quite polarising to the Discovery and Range Rover. If [the loyalists] are expecting a facsimile of the old one with all this new technology then I don’t think they’ll be pleased,” he admitted.
McGovern explained that he would not allow hard-core Defender fans to “dictate” to him, even though he “respected” them.
“I think if you get preoccupied with it, then you mess it up. I would love for the loyalists to harness the vehicle for what it is. The reality is the loyalists are loyalists and they love their Defenders, but they probably won’t buy a new one because they love the old one.
“While we respect them, it would be wrong to be dictated [to] and preoccupied by them. This vehicle will have to appeal to a new generation by virtue of its scale – it will need to sell in much bigger numbers than the original. And in order to get the investment back that’s going into it, it will be a global vehicle and it will have to bring more people to the brand. There will be a lot of people coming to it that won’t have any preconceived ideas about it and will consider it on its merit.
“The design language has to reflect the age we live in and the Defender is the one that can embrace a more industrial design approach,” he added.


text:
Aldi and H-E-B last year ranked as the fastest-growing grocers in the United States by new stores and added square footage, respectively, according to commercial real estate and property investment firm Jones Lang LaSalle (JLL).
Supermarket expansion in 2022 maintained the momentum from 2021, with smaller-format operators opening more new units and larger-box grocers putting up more square footage, Chicago-based JLL said in its “Grocers Grow Formats Big and Small” report, released last week.
In terms of store openings, Aldi led the field with 49 new locations, almost doubling the count of runner-up Grocery Outlet at 28 new units and Publix Super Markets at 25 new units, JLL said. No other chains opened at least 20 stores in 2022. Next up were Sprouts Farmers Market with 16 new openings, H-E-B with 12 and Whole Foods Market with 11.
“Aldi is once again the leader of new store openings. In early 2022, the small-format discount grocer announced plans to open 150 new stores by the end of the year. However, only 49 locations actually opened, totaling nearly 804,000 square feet of new space,” JLL stated in the report. “The expansion focused predominantly on the Southeast and Gulf Coast, with 22 new locations across the region. The retailer also opened its 26th regional distribution center in Loxley, Ala., in July. This distribution center will support nearly 100 stores in the region.”
Batavia, Illinois-based Aldi U.S. opened roughly 100 stores in 2021 as well as in 2020. The chain entered its 37th state, Arizona, in 2020 after making its debut in its 36th state, North Dakota, the year before. In 2022, Aldi entered Louisiana, its 38th state, in February. The growth is part of a $5 billion, five-year expansion strategy unveiled in 2017 to expand Aldi from 1,700 to 2,500 stores nationwide by the end of 2022.
“Aldi has continued its aggressive expansion in the past five years, cementing the grocer as the third-largest [supermarket operator] by store count, with a current total of 2,270 stores,” the report said.
Texas grocer H-E-B came in first by overall new space, adding 1.2 million square feet in 2022 and edging out the 1.175 million square feet added by Southeastern chain Publix, JLL reported. Following them were Aldi with 803,600 square feet of space, Grocery Outlet with 700,000 square feet, Whole Foods with 418,000 and Sprouts with 384,000 square feet.
JLL noted that San Antonio-based H-E-B bested all other grocers in foot traffic in Texas. “The retailer arrived in North Texas and the highly competitive Dallas-Fort Worth area in 2022, opening its first location in Frisco in addition to multiple land purchases in the area,” the report said. “The entry of H-E-B in the fast-growing Dallas-Fort Worth market demonstrates that the grocer continues to fight for Texas market share.”
Lakeland, Florida-based Publix wasn’t far behind in new square footage, expanding mainly in the southern region, including its home state of Florida.
“The retailer made its first entry into the Kentucky market with the opening of three new stores, with plans for a fourth in 2024,” JLL said. “This marks the eighth state of operation for the regional grocer.
Meanwhile, Emeryville, California-based Grocery Outlet “made good” on expansion plans unveiled early in 2022, opening 28 new stores, JLL commented. That included new locations in Maryland and Pennsylvania as the company stretches its footprint on the East Coast along with its mainline West Coast expansion.
Small-format grocery concepts remained in the spotlight during 2022, as Schnuck Markets, The Save Mart Cos. and Meijer all unveiled more-compact stores. JLL noted that Schnucks debuted a convenience brand dubbed Schnucks Express in Columbia, Missouri, while Save Mart opened a less-than -0,000-square-foot outlet under the Lucky Bayview banner in San Francisco.
Supercenter operator Meijer, which has rolled out neighborhood supermarket formats in recent years, announced plans for a 40,000-square-foot store in Cleveland, due to open later this year, and small-format Meijer Grocery concept of 75,000- to 90,000-square-feet in metropolitan Detroit. The latter format opened late last week in Michigan’s Lake Orion and Macomb townships.
“Many shoppers appreciate the speed, convenience and accessibility of small-format stores. GreenWise Market, a small-format specialty chain operated by Publix, has experienced a greater year-over-year increase of monthly visits and sees longer visits compared to standard Publix stores in Florida, according to data from Placer.ai,” JLL explained in its report. “Small-format stores are also cheaper to build and require less land or space to buy or lease. This allows access to more markets than a larger-format store would. Furthermore, as retailers continue to invest heavily in e-commerce, these smaller stores can act as fulfillment centers for online orders.”
Conversely, H-E-B has shifted from its standard 50,000-square-foot box to stores of more than 100,000 square feet, accommodating a “more experiential store” with offerings such as tortillerias, BBQ restaurants and garden departments.
“Several grocers explored new formats in 2022. While going smaller was the choice for some, H-E-B has decided that bigger is better,” JLL said.
Within the next couple of years, the grocery store arena could be in for a shakeup with the pending mega-merger of The Kroger Co. and Albertsons Cos., the nation’s largest and second-largest supermarket operators, according to JLL. The $24.6 billion deal, expected by the companies to close in early 2024, would create a retailer with 4,996 stores in 48 states and the District of Columbia.
“To win approval for the deal from antitrust regulators, the two companies may need to sell existing stores, as was the case when Albertsons and Safeway merged in 2014,” JLL said in the report. “Kroger has proposed plans to appease regulators by selling or spinning off 100 to 375 stores. While the deal has many months—if not years—before an approval decision is made, the potential resulting company would create a new dominant player in the grocery landscape.”


text:
- Subscribe NowLimited Time Offer
Sign Up for the Louisville Business First Afternoon Edition Newsletter
Send this story to a friend
Alliance Cost Containment merges largest franchise
Louisville-based Alliance Cost Containment, a company that helps mid-sized, privately held companies and nonprofits reduce their operating expenses, has merged with the largest of its 24 franchises, Louisville-based The Cost Reduction Group.
The parent company made the move, which was completed earlier this month, in part to better manage sales leads from Derby Agency LLC, a new company Alliance has partnered with to grow its sales. (For more about Derby Agency, see this article in today’s print edition of Business First.)
Alliance Cost Containment now has 12 employees in Louisville, and officials plan to add four or five over the next few weeks, Miles Lee said. He declined to reveal revenue figures for the company but said it is growing.
Much of the revenue growth is coming from a change in sales strategy implemented a year ago, Lee said. Whereas the company once worked exclusively through franchises, it now sells its services directly in cities where it doesn’t have a franchise, he said.
He expects that the company will grow even more because of the partnership with Derby Agency.
Kevin Eigelbach covers these beats: Financial services, residential real estate, property and casualty insurance, construction, unions, engineers, architects, agriculture, South End, Southwest County, Bullitt County.
- Most popular
- Louisville businessman to host national reality show
- Finally, a business story about hair bands
- RecoverCare announces merger
- U of L's new Adidas deal worth an estimated $39 million over five year
- Humana promotes executives
- All Coldwater Creek stores to close
- Former Kentucky university athletic director sentenced to prison
- Experiencing the Barnstable Brown Gala was a night to remember
- GE to open a micro-factory on U of L campus
- A big crowd turns out for Thunder
- Associate Attorney Huddleston Bolen LLP | Louisville, KY
- Business Advisor Indiana Small Business Development Center | New Albany, IN
- Nursing Instructor, Breckinridge School of Nursing & Health Sciences-Adjunct ITT Educational Services Inc. | Louisville, KY
- Production Supervisor (Louisville, KY) MasterBrand Cabinets, Inc. | Fairdale, KY
- Weekend janitor Elmcroft Senior Living | Louisville, KY


text:
The launch of the Australian Milk Price Initiative (AMPI) has been hailed as a “breakthrough in milk price transparency and buyer competition” with regional milk spot markets delivering forward hedging as seen in other commodity markets. AMPI enables dairy farmers and processors to lock in prices up to three years forward for some of their milk with various bids across the three Victorian regions made with prices exceeding $9kgMS for the spot market. Individual months in the new season traded above $8kgMS.
In a statement, Australian Dairy Farmers (ADF) president Rick Gladigau said AMPI will improve risk management across the supply chain, providing back-to-back pricing from customer to processor to farmer, with the ability to lock in margins across the chain. With better margins and risk management, better planning is possible which will drive investment and growth across the supply chain.
AMPI is part of a 2019 federal election pledge of $560,000 to develop a milk trading platform as part of ADF’s commitment to deliver new measures to increase transparency and help manage market risk.


text:
Affiliate links on Android Authority may earn us a commission. Learn more.
YouTube TV finally makes its way to Amazon Fire TV devices (Updated)
Update, September 30, 2019 (3:35 PM ET): The YouTube TV app is now officially available on many Amazon Fire TV devices. We updated the article with all of the relevant information.
In a press release posted this April, Amazon announced that two things were happening few of us would have expected: Google’s YouTube and YouTube TV apps were coming to Amazon Fire TV and Amazon’s Prime Video app was coming to Google’s Chromecast and Android TV devices.
After months of waiting, Google’s cord-cutting service YouTube TV just landed on many of Amazon’s Fire TV devices like the Fire TV Stick 4K, the new Fire TV Cube, and many more. Support for Prime Video on Google devices arrived in July, but we are still waiting to see support for YouTube and YouTube Kids on Amazon Fire TV devices.
For a long time, Google only allowed the YouTube apps on Android TV devices, Apple TV (post-second-gen), and a few others, with Chromecasts having casting abilities. Eventually, Google rolled out the YouTube app to Roku devices but still kept it off Amazon Fire TV devices until YouTube TV arrived this morning.
Likewise, Amazon’s Prime Video service was available on most media streaming boxes but not on Android TV or Chromecasts until only a few months ago.
It’s not clear how this feud between the two companies began, but Amazon earned Google’s ire when it refused to sell Chromecasts via its shopping hub. Amazon’s explanation for that was because Chromecasts didn’t support Prime Video, which might mean Google started it.
In 2017, Amazon said it would start selling the Chromecast soon, but didn’t officially list them for sale until December last year. Before then, a search for “Chromecast” on Amazon brought you a listing of Amazon Fire TV devices.
This show of compromise between the two companies is very surprising, but we are glad to see they are making peace nonetheless.


text:
James Hill is the Director of Hillson Estates Limited.
The company was founded by James and Chris Hill in 2020, during the pandemic, and James has spent the last year buying and letting properties in Jersey.
James has joined Louisa “Wizzi” Magnussen on The Business of before, where they discussed his work as a musician but he is here with Wizzi today to talk about his new venture on The Business of Property Management.
Soon to launch his business, My Delivery Guy, Kelvin Hewlett chats to Louisa “Wizzi” Magnussen about how to start a business in logistics, the importance of fair staff treatment for delivery drivers and how his career in multiple industries has set him up for success. An inspiring listen for anyone thinking of starting a business.
Cody Howell is the co-founder of Shipping Department, with his wife. They started their fulfilment centre out of their house in the United States and within 6 months grew into a full on fulfilment centre with a warehouse and employees.
They have moved across the country to grow their business and Cody is here with Louisa “Wizzi” Magnussen to discuss the Business of Shipping.
Dr Phil Wu is the founder and CEO of Absolar – a tech startup with the mission to solve the climate change crisis. Learn all about Phil’s groundbreaking work in tackling the slow uptake of renewable energy in The Business of AI in Renewable Energy as Louisa “Wizzi” Magnussen conducts this in-depth interview.
Barnaby Roberts is the founder of Violet Elephant Clothing, a sustainable, ethical clothing brand based in the South West of England.
In the Business of Sustainable Clothing hear Barnaby’s inspiring story and discover how businesses and individuals can contribute to an ethical, sustainable future through this in depth interview by Louisa “Wizzi” Magnussen.


text:
India's online marketplace Flipkart on Wednesday announced the launch of the new 'Image Search' feature on its mobile app.
The added feature has been designed for Flipkart's fashion category to provide users a real-world like shopping experience. This feature will allow the use of any image to find visually similar products on Flipkart.
With 'Image Search', users can now click a picture or use a photo on their phones to find fashion products of same colour, pattern or style on Flipkart. In addition, users can browse a range of similar products by tapping directly on the product they like on Flipkart.
This new feature aims to fundamentally change the way people shop for fashion online, by helping them find what they're looking for, without going through the usual step-by-step navigation.
With more and more users accessing Flipkart through their smartphones, the company plans to use the in-built features such as camera and bring an offline-like experience with just a few clicks.
"Discovering a fashion product online varies from user to user and is more complex as compared to other categories. A lot of fashion purchase decisions are influenced by similar products seen by users. The image search feature provides a way to find similar products on Flipkart as well as reduces the search/ browsing time, making the overall product discovery and shopping experience simple." said Flipkart's Chief Product Officer Punit Soni.
"This is in line with our ambition to create a very intuitive thoughtful mobile experience that is universally accessible to everybody, regardless of whether they use text or visuals to communicate with us," he added.
The 'Image Search' feature, currently at the beta stage of development, will be available to customers through an app upgrade. With more than 75% users accessing Flipkart through their smartphones, mobile app dominates the total visits on the platform. And there will be more such innovative features and developments in the coming months.


text:
A crisis is emerging in e-commerce. From week to week, new studies are published showing fraud attempts in e-commerce – and successful frauds – are rocketing. Meanwhile, governments in the... read more
The post Presence-assured face biometrics can stop the current fraud spiral. Here’s how appeared first on Payments Cards & Mobile.
As digital commerce becomes a mainstay of everyday life, better automation in monitoring transactions for fraud is a necessity. Despite the best efforts of our industry, payments fraud continues to... read more
The post Current fraud defences aren’t working. Fraud engines need supercharging! appeared first on Payments Cards & Mobile.
The enforcement deadline for Strong Customer Authentication (SCA) has passed for most European countries and the latest data from the CMSPI Failure Rate Tracker for August 2021 suggests a European... read more
The post SCA: EU failure average of 26% leads to e-commerce losses of €82 billion appeared first on Payments Cards & Mobile.
The US is beating the UK in the rollout of the 3D Secure 2 (3DS2) multi-factor authentication protocol, new data from Ravelin shows. 68% of transactions in the US now... read more
The post US leads UK in 3DS2 use for payment authentication appeared first on Payments Cards & Mobile.
Ravelin has released an update to its Global Payment Regulation & Authentication Report, with analysis of billions of transactions during Q1 2020. In the run up to the original PSD2... more


text:
Britain’s decision to introduce a temporary tariff regime in the case of a no-deal Brexit is an “ill-thought out” proposal aimed at breaking European Union unity and frightening Ireland, Phil Hogan has said.
The European Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development condemned the British government for proposing to impose “a draconian regime” of tariffs on March 29th and said the contradictions of the proposal “beggars belief”.
“We don’t even know if it’s legal, if it’s compatible with the World Trade Organisation rules,” Mr Hogan told RTÉ’s Six One News. “I think this is an ill-thought out proposal to change the news cycle in London. In the event of a new deal I don’t believe these issues will actually be relevant.
“The purpose of this is to try and break the European Union unity in respect of Ireland in particular. The EU has been very strongly supportive of the Irish issues and the UK do not like this. So every effort is being made between now and the European Council meeting next week to try and break that unity, and it will fail.
“We don’t expect that there will be any move in the short term in order to impose the type of draconian regime that the UK are seeking to frighten Ireland with today.”
The UK’s proposal for temporary tariffs in the case of a no-deal scenario was published following British prime minister Theresa May’s Brexit defeat on Tuesday. Under the plan, the UK would not apply tariffs on goods crossing the Border into Northern Ireland. However, goods entering the rest of the UK from the Republic would face tariffs.
The new tariff schedule would apply from 11pm on March 29th in the event of a crash out of the European Union and would be in place for up to 12 months.
It’s understood that while 87 per cent of UK imports would face no tariffs under the proposed temporary no-deal plan, tariffs would be high in some sectors and would be a particular threat to the Irish beef and dairy sectors.
Mr Hogan said he did not doubt the support of the European Union for Ireland in the coming weeks, but warned that the Irish beef industry remained “particularly vulnerable”.
“I can assure you the EU stand ready to help our Irish beef farmers in the case of a no deal scenario,” he said. “Hopefully at some stage in the coming weeks the UK will come to reason and not abandon its own consumers who want to see high quality European products – and they want to continue eating good quality Irish beef.”
The Irish Farmers’ Association warned on Wednesday that the proposed no-deal Brexit tariff regime would be “disastrous scenario” for Irish food exports if implemented. “Our most exposed sectors, particularly beef, simply will not survive the kind of tariffs being talked about. This would have a devastating effect in the rural economy,” IFA president Joe Healy said.
“We export over 50 per cent of our beef to the UK. If this is subject to tariffs, it will be a direct hit of almost €800 million on the sector,” he said.