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There are more details about Madden nfl 22 coins when Zero Chill comes out and what kinds of content will be available for MUT 22. While we don't have confirmed information yet, Madden 22 has continued the pattern of keeping Ultimate Team thriving with frequent new promos.
This year, we've witnessed exciting new music videos like Bo Knows as well as seen the return of some classics like Most Feared and Blitz.We could have a mix of both this December, but it's unlikely they'll settle for an option that doesn't include an appearance by Zero Chill.
This exciting Winter themed campaign has been a staple to Madden Ultimate Team for years, replacing the former Ultimate Freeze promo in MUT 18 and has continued to be a hit every year since then.Though it's still not confirmed but we do have an idea of when you can expect Zero Chill to arrive in MUT 22.
They've always leaned towards Friday morning drops for each larger event on Madden 22 Ultimate Team, and they may kick things off this week or the following.
Either way, we'll likely get the program teased during a Wednesday edition Good Morning Madden, get an official announcement with the majority of the players, and then see the program on Thursday morning edition of Good Morning Madden, and that'll be followed by the program's drop early on Friday. That could put the program's first release as early as three days before Christmas in 2021, however, they've typically waited a bit longer into the month to get things going and the most likely date looks to be around December 10 2021.
The one thing you can be sure of out of buy Madden 22 coins Zero Chill or any other possible MUT December Promo that's already announced, is that you'll get new cards with Madden 22 Ultimate Team. The programs tend to come with different challenges and missions that are all centered around a collection of new cards that players will push to add to their own Ultimate Team.


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“The combination of the two airlines would position JetBlue as the most compelling domestic low-fare competitor to the dominant Big Four US carriers by accelerating JetBlue’s growth,” JetBlue said in its statement.
Spirit said it “will work with its financial and legal advisors to evaluate JetBlue’s proposal and pursue the course of action it determines is in the best interest of Spirit and its shareholders.”
For its part, Frontier defended its offer as the superior deal for passengers and shareholders.
“A combination of Spirit and Frontier will generate $1 billion in annual savings for consumers and offer even more ultra-low fares to more locations across the country, creating America’s most competitive ultra-low fare airline,” Frontier said, adding that the The combination would provide “shareholders with substantial growth potential for the combined company as a result of merger synergies.”
Both Spirit and Frontier operate as what are known in the industry as ultra-low-cost carriers, with very low base fares and additional charges for just about anything else a passenger needs, including even carry-on luggage.
While passengers may like the low fares offered by Spirit and Frontier, they have generally given the airlines low customer satisfaction ratings.
Spirit had by far the highest number of passenger complaints in 2021, with 11.5 complaints per 100,000 passengers, according to statistics from the US Department of Transportation. JetBlue had the second-most complaints on that basis with 6.4, but that was 43% less than the previous year. Frontier had the third most in the industry at 5.8. IN 2020, Frontier had by far the worst complaint rate at 49.3 complaints per 100,000 customers.
“Customers shouldn’t have to choose between a low fare and a great experience, and JetBlue has shown that it’s possible to have both,” said JetBlue CEO Robin Hayes.
Frontier played into that theme, saying that since only 18% of the routes flown by Frontier or Spirit are flown by both airlines, their deal would be much better for competing airlines. He argued that a JetBlue-Spirit combination would reduce competition and result in higher fares.
“It is surprising that JetBlue would consider such a merger at this time given that the Justice Department is currently suing to block its pending alliance with American Airlines,” Frontier said.

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Bloomberg Tax wrote about a new Good Jobs First that looked at major economic development programs across the nation. The report is "FINANCIAL EXPOSURE: Rating the States on Economic Development Transparency."
Right now, three tech companies—#1 and #2 microchip makers Intel and Samsung and electric-truck start-up Rivian—are staging secret subsidy auctions, playing states against each other for new facilities.
Good Jobs First talked with education expert Dr. Kendall Deas about the role corporate incentives and subsidies play in South Carolina, which in fiscal year 2019 cost the state’s public schools $423 million – a $99 million increase in two years, according to our analysis. The findings raise a key question: do newly arriving companies that get big tax breaks pay their fair share for the public services they and their employees utilize?
Whether or not it is a good idea to increase subsidies for renewable energy, one thing is certain: we need to stop giving them to fossil-fuel companies and start charging dirty energy for their “externalities,” i.e., the costs of carbon and other pollutant emissions.
It is not uncommon for state and local governments to pay out subsidies to companies to get them to retain existing jobs rather than creating new ones, but Iowa finds itself in the position of giving millions to food giant Kraft Heinz to eliminate far more jobs than it is saving.
Amid a global scandal in which Volkswagen admitted to equipping its diesel-engine cars with devices that cheat air pollution tests, Tennessee lawmakers are planning to review the state’s subsidy contract with the German automaker, including the clawback provisions.
92 percent of small business owners believe their state's economic development incentives are biased toward big business.
After losing to South Carolina in the competition for a new Volvo auto plant, North Carolina is trying to figure out what went wrong. Some blame the legislature’s gridlock over reauthorizing the state’s biggest subsidy program, the Jobs Development Incentive Grant (JDIG). Others say incentives had a minimal impact on Volvo’s decision and that North Carolina would never have been able to outbid South Carolina anyway.
Facebook just announced a third expansion of its $1.5 billion data center in Iowa. This followed a similar move by Google for its server farm in the state. These developments are fruits of the effort by officials to encourage big-name tech companies to locate in Iowa. This private investment, however, does not come free.


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People have to be entertained, that’s just a fact of life. Because of this, there are a ton of streaming services out there that offer people entertainment. However, many people subscribe to streaming services only to eventually unsubscribe for a myriad of reasons. Well, according to a new report, people seem all too happy to delete their YouTube TV and Netflix subscriptions.
A company can brag all they want about how many new subscriptions they get in a quarter. However, an important factor is also how many people choose to leave their subscriptions. A few years ago, Netflix dealt with a massive outflow of subscribers that totaled over a million. The company seems to be doing better now, even after it cracked down on password sharing.
Americans really want to delete their YouTube TV and Netflix subscriptions
Both YouTube TV and Netflix have seen price hikes in the past, and Netflix’s was the most recent. These are some of the more popular streaming services. YouTube TV (starting at $72.99/month) gives you access to a ton of cable TV channels that you can stream on several devices. As for Netflix (starting at $6.99/month), it has a huge reservoir of streamable movies and TV shows that you can get on demand. This includes its library of hit original series like Stranger Things, Bridgerton, Squid Game, Etc.
Be that as it may, not everyone is impressed. QR Code Generator Hub did some research into top streaming brands. The site looked at search volumes in the US market using Google Keyword Planner. It searched for terms like “how to unsubscribe from X” and “delete account X.” Then, it tallied the results.
The services people want to ditch the most
Of all the top streaming brands in the US market, more people searched for how to delete their YouTube TV subscriptions more than any other shipping service. It garnered about 35,491 searches monthly.
It’s important to note that this number does not directly translate into the number of people who unsubscribe from YouTube TV. It accounts for how many people are looking to unsubscribe. So, in a bit of a sad twist, the number of deleted subscriptions could be much higher. It could account for the people searching how to delete the subscriptions plus the number of people who actually know how to delete their subscriptions.
In second place, we have Netflix. While Netflix is in second place this number is a large margin smaller than YouTube TV’s. Monthly, 10,160 people searched for how to delete their Netflix accounts, which is 71% fewer than YouTube TV’s number.
Moving down the list, Hulu took the third spot with 5,350 monthly searches. In fourth place, Crunchyroll comes in with a slightly smaller 5,150 monthly searches. Finishing off the top five, we have Disney+ with an average of 3,557 monthly searches.
While so many people are looking to delete their subscriptions, none of these streaming services seem to be in deep trouble. People unsubscribing is just a natural part of hosting any streaming service.
As time goes on, and prices continue to rise, we’re definitely sure that the number of people wanting to unsubscribe will increase. We’ll just have to see how things go. It’s January now, so we should be seeing the Q4 2023 reports for these companies, so they will give us an idea of how many people are actually dropping.
The post Americans really want to delete their YouTube TV and Netflix subscriptions appeared first on Android Headlines.


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Worcester City goalkeeper Nathan Vaughan has sold the shirt he wore in the FA Cup first round win at Coventry City for £508 in a charity auction.
The 33-year-old saved a first-half Reda Johnson penalty as Worcester beat the Sky Blues 2-1 earlier this month.
Proceeds from the auction are to be donated to the Poppy Appeal.
Former England goalkeeper David James auctioned off his football memorabilia earlier this week but sold two shirts for less than non-league Vaughan's top.
While an England shirt worn by James in 2002 fetched £672, a Liverpool goalkeeper's jersey worn during the 1995-96 season sold for around £160 while a Portsmouth jersey from 2008 went for £480.
Worcester City travel to League One Scunthorpe in the second round of the Cup on Sunday 7th December.


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National pawnbroker closes without warning
Date published: 19 September 2019
Abelmarle and Bond pawnbrokers on Yorkshire Street
A national pawnbroker, which had a store in Rochdale town centre, has closed all its shops and website.
Albemarle & Bond (A&B Pawnbrokers), which had a store on Yorkshire Street, and sister brand Herbert Brown, shut its company last week whilst its website says "this store" has ceased trading.
The website offers no reason as to why the 116 national stores have shut, saying only that a letter has been posted to each affected customer.
A customer notice on the website on behalf of Oxford-based SpeedLoan Finance Limited, which owns the company, told customers, who pawn valuables for cash, that their items would be held at its pawnbroking centre for the duration of the loan.
It said: “Unfortunately, we were unable to contact all customers prior to the closure date. We apologise for any inconvenience this has caused.
“Your pledged item(s) will be held securely in our pawnbroking centre for the duration of the loan.
“If you do not redeem your loan on the agreed date your pledged item(s) may be sold in accordance with your pawnbroking agreement. If your item is sold for a surplus, we will write to inform you how you can receive these funds.”
Ray Perry, Chief Executive of the National Pawnbrokers Association (NPA), of which A&B Pawnbrokers is a member, said: “The NPA has expressed its concern that the communication of their actions to their customers falls below the standards expected of its members.
“In particular we are most unhappy with the fact that customers cannot get through to the helpline. We have demanded that the management of the company resolve this as a matter of urgency and the association will do everything in its power to ensure that customers rights are protected and that they are treated fairly and transparently.
“We have no reason to believe that the customers' pledges are at risk and have been assured that they are being safely held at a central location.
Customers can contact the company on 01865 798114 which is a dedicated hotline.
If customers are not happy with the response from the company, they can contact the Financial Ombudsman Service to complain on 0800 023 4567 or the Financial Conduct Authority customer helpline on 0800 111 6768.
Albemarle & Bond have been approached for comment.
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Oprah Winfrey may have developed an obsession with soups, according to People magazine. The 62-year-old TV mogul begins her new cookbook with 19 soup recipes, and now it becomes clear why.
Oprah Winfrey, who praises the power of soup in her new cookbook Food, Health, and Happiness, recently showed up on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert and opened up about her special connection to soups.
— Oprah Winfrey (@Oprah) January 3, 2017
Oprah, who claims she has lost 42.5 pounds with the help of Weight Watchers, told Colbert she had developed the special kind of love for soups while watching episodes of Lassie in childhood.
“At the end of Lassie, there was a Campbell’s soup commercial where his mom would always say, ‘Timmy, come here!’”
Although Oprah is now grown up enough to understand that it was simply a smart advertisement for Campbell’s soup, she admits that she didn’t know that at the time.
“I actually thought, ‘Oh gosh, little white boys get soup from their moms.’ I really did. And I thought, ‘Gee, if my mom could only serve me soup…’ I associated that soup as a love thing.”
— O The Oprah Magazine (@O_Magazine) January 10, 2017
But Oprah’s love of soups doesn’t end just there. In her new cookbook, one of the world’s most famous talk show hosts writes that in her childhood she was convinced her world “would be perfect” and her family would “live happily ever after” if her mom would just cook for her “a great big bowl of Campbell’s soup.”
Oprah explains in the book that her family couldn’t afford that, because her mom was a maid so after spending all day cleaning other people’s houses, it wasn’t in the cards to see her mom ladling up soup with a big smile.
“Even wishing such a thing was absurd.”
But being unable to afford Campbell’s soup isn’t the most terrible thing Oprah remembers from her childhood, as she writes there were even times when her family couldn’t afford any food at all.
“My mom did the best she could do, but to this day I have clear memories of putting grape Kool-Aid on my cereal because we were too broke to buy milk.”
— GONG! Food (@gong_food) January 6, 2017
At 62-years-old, Oprah is convinced that “soup is love.” The media mogul confesses that she cooks soup almost every day and eats it for lunch. In fact, Oprah’s “best food advice” goes like this: in order to feel “warm and well nourished,” there’s something magical about finding someone who “could use a shot of goodness” and offering them a “seat at your table,” some easy conversation and just a bowl of soup.
There’s also no denying that Oprah considers soups her best friends for weight loss, according to Self magazine. The media mogul, who has been recently shouting from the rooftops about the benefits of Weight Watchers, claims she knows the shortcut to weight loss.
Oprah Winfrey recently posted a new video on her website, where she opened up about her weight-loss journey. In the video, Oprah shows a clip of her 1985-self complaining about jumping from one diet to another and gaining 70 pounds.
In a voiceover for the video, Oprah says losing weight has been “the battle of her life,” and adds that she is still fighting that battle “every waking moment of my life.” Oprah claims joining Weight Watchers has been “the easiest” weight-loss process that she has ever experienced.
Oprah really wants me to have a hot bowl of nourishing soup. pic.twitter.com/GdjBWAHpDp
— (((Kevin Reiss))) (@kevin_reiss) January 7, 2017
Oprah, who joined Weight Watchers more than a year ago after purchasing a stake in the organization, recently said she had lost 42.5 pounds thanks to Weight Watchers. Of course, there are those who are disappointed with the former TV star, who has the eyes and ears of millions of people around the globe, for relentlessly plugging a weight loss program that she has a vast financial stake in.
What do you think? Is Weight Watchers really the magical weight loss solution that Oprah says it is, or is she simply selling another product that she has a financial stake in?
[Featured Image by Elise Amendola/AP Images]


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In the immediacy surrounding the bashing that the Pixel 2 XL’s OLED display took for color drifting and generally poor quality, Google decided in haste to extend the limited warranty of both Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL to two years. This left those who bought Preferred Care packages with no apparent time advantage — lest they decided against taking Google’s refund offer — over those who didn’t chip in extra money.
Well, as Android Police found out, Google has been able to negotiate a six-month extension for Preferred Care customers with the term of coverage totaling 30 months from purchase. While the guarantees apply for the full length of the term (two incidents of accidental damage), users will need to contact insurance provider Assurant after 24 months.
Considering the scopes of the limited warranty and Preferred Care, accidental coverage will always be a run for the money, but it’s some relief to see an extension here.


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Canadian National will soon offer its customers a new Internet tool to track automobile shipments by vehicle identification number (VIN). The tool will be available at the CN website, www.cn.ca.
“CN is announcing this new feature on the fifth anniversary of its interactive real-time Internet Shipment Tracking system. CN was the first railroad to offer its customers the ability to track CN shipments anywhere in North America, completely on the Internet. CN offers truck-competitive services and these electronic capabilities make it simpler and easier for customers to do business with CN at any time of the day or night from anywhere in the world,” said James M. Foote, CN’s executive vice-president, sales and marketing.
Since 1996, CN has upgraded its Internet capability for customers, including tracking for all shipments with a single click, the ability to obtain the estimated time of arrival of shipments; shipping instructions; local plant switching service; ordering for loaded or empty equipment into a plant facility; releasing of empty cars after unloading; and the viewing and paying of invoices interactively.
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SEMA, or the Specialty Equipment Market Association, has announced the winners of its second-annual Hottest Cars award for the 2011 SEMA aftermarket trade show, currently going on in Las Vegas.
Read This Article
Ford Motor Company has just released its first quarter earnings, and the results further suggest the Blue Oval's financial health, especially domestically.
Thousands of Mustangs are expected to join the "largest caravan of Mustangs in history," according to Ford.
Because today is Halloween and the SEMA aftermarket exhibition right around the corner in Las Vegas, we took some time to think of the tuner car companies.


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SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - Microsoft believes the latest version of its Windows operating system is off to a great start, but it's going to take more than that to prove the revamped software will win over enough people to revive the slumping personal computer market.
BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) - A New York man claiming part ownership of Facebook indicated Tuesday that his lawyer wants off the case because he's received threats, but he opposed the lawyer's motion to withdraw.
NEW YORK (AP) - ConAgra Foods is set to become the nation's biggest maker of store-brand foods, with a $5 billion purchase of Ralcorp that expands its stake in the growing market for cereals, crackers and other packaged foods sold under private labels.
BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) - More than 100 domain names were seized in an international crackdown on websites that sell counterfeit merchandise, federal authorities said Monday, just in time for the biggest online shopping day of the year.
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - Hewlett-Packard now has a legal headache to compound its misery as the company tries to recover from a series of setbacks that have hammered its stock price and raised doubts about its future.
NEW YORK (AP) - Wall Street came back to work after the Thanksgiving weekend and faced leftover worries about the "fiscal cliff" and the European debt crisis. Stocks retreated after one of their best weeks of the year.
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - Defense contractor Precision Castparts Corp. said on Monday that it has agreed to buy Synchronous Aerospace Group, which makes mechanical assemblies for commercial and military planes.
WILMINGTON, Del. (AP) - A hearing on whether to approve the bankruptcy sale of assets of electronics retailer RadioShack opened Thursday with the company seeking court approval of the purported winning bid, and an attorney for a losing bidder describing the auction as a sham and asking a Delaware judge to reopen the sale process.
NEW YORK (AP) - Some of the most familiar names in ketchup, pickles, cheese and hot dogs are set to come under the same roof after H.J. Heinz Co. announced plans Wednesday to buy Kraft and create one of the world's largest food and beverage companies.
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) - SeaWorld Entertainment Inc. is mounting a public defense of its animal handling in a new advertising campaign that began Monday, after a highly critical 2013 documentary left the park with declining revenue and attendance.
NEW YORK (AP) - OPEC and lower global oil prices delivered a one-two punch to the drillers in North Dakota and Texas who brought the U.S. one of the biggest booms in the history of the global oil industry.


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Sony PlayStation 4 to support 4K resolution?Posted 10:38 am on Thursday, August 23rd, 2012 by John 'Spartan' Nguyen
Is Sony planning to have the PlayStation 4 support 4K resolution? According to Yahoo, yes. Sony, and probably other TV companies, aren’t too happy with the numbers of 3D TV adopters. So what’s their plan to make people want to buy more TV sets? Sony is hoping that it would be the TV sets with 4K resolution. By having the PlayStation 4 support it, Sony is hoping that consumers would spend the dough on TV again with the 4K-resolution TV set. It is already headed towards pushing 4K technology with the 80-inch XBR LED television set, and it already has a 4K Blu-ray players on sale for $200.
What I’m more concerned about is the framerate on games. I just recently played Sleeping Dogs on the PS3, and it was kind of jerky, and most PS3 games are 720 anyway. For me, they’d need to fix the smoothness of the framerate before they can focus on anything else.
Because Sony was able to win the format war with Blu-ray being the victor, I’m assuming they think that they can do that for 4K technology.
John “Spartan” Nguyen is the editor-in-chief at Nerd Reactor and is based in Orange County, CA. He is a graphic designer and illustrator.


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Hall Aitken launches redesigned website with Alienation
Hall Aitken has launched its redesigned website, created by Alienation Digital, which aims to appeal to a younger and more tech-savvy audience.
Features of the website now include a ‘staff login’ section, a ‘Learning Zone’ which acts as a library of resources sorted into a selection of categories and sub-categories, and an events calendar than can be easily managed by the staff.
Alienation Digital said: “Each page features its own bespoke design, focusing around the new branding, colour scheme and application of prominent images.”
Content created with:
Two decades of experience and a forward-thinking team has resulted in a strategic digital agency that understands that there is no standing still when it comes to...Find out more


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A recent stock offering by Shuffle Master prompted Wall Street to sing the gaming equipment provider’s praises.
The third-quarter earnings from the Las Vegas-based distributor of table games and table games-related products added to the chorus.
Shuffle Master said Tuesday its net income for the quarter ended July 31 was almost $3 million, compared with $2.7 million a year ago.
Earnings per share came in at 8 cents, the same as a year ago but below 10 cents estimated by analysts polled by Thomson Financial.
Revenues rose 9.8 percent to $49.5 million from $45.1 million.
“In three months time, we committed to a refinancing solution and successfully executed it thereby strengthening the balance sheet,” Shuffle Master Chief Executive Officer Mark Yoseloff said. “We will now turn our attention to cost control and expense reduction.”
Last month, Shuffle Master completed a secondary stock offering of 20.3 million shares that raised roughly $86 million and increased the company’s lending capabilities by $60 million. The company plans to repurchase outstanding debt.
Company executives and analysts noted Shuffle Master is moving away from direct sales of its products toward a business model that focuses on leasing the equipment to casinos.
Deutsche Bank gaming analyst Bill Lerner thought Shuffle Master could raise earnings per share annually by 25 percent.
Stifel Nicolaus Capital Markets gaming analyst Steven Wieczynski said the stock offering may have helped flipped the company’s fortunes. Shuffle Master’s stock has traded anywhere from $16 a share to a low of $3.93 a share in the past year on the Nasdaq National Market. On Tuesday, shares of Shuffle Master fell 55 cents, or 9.91 percent, to close at $5.
“So far, management has taken the right steps in returning this company to a lease-based model,” Wieczynski said in a note to investors. “We acknowledge that it will take time for the results to become more consistent. We expect operational improvement will be key to bringing investors back into the shares.”
Shuffle Master acting Chief Financial Officer Coreen Sawdon said the company’s refinancing strategy helped retire a large amount of debt.
“We have significantly de-levered our balance sheet and improved the company’s financial flexibility,” Sawdon said.
Contact reporter Howard Stutz at email@example.com or 702-477-3871.


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Dealership lots are getting crowded due to slow sales during the coronavirus pandemic, so dealers are motivated to sell the still-new 2019 models they have on hand. You'll see some great deals, and shopping for an outgoing model may give you a leg up at the negotiating table, as sales managers are likely to be more aggressive with pricing on a vehicle that has been on the lot for much longer.
You Can Still Get a New 2019 Model, and the Deals Are Great
2019 Might Be Old News but the Cars Are Still New
We scoured national data to find vehicles with the highest available inventory of new 2019 models. Next, we narrowed down the list by selecting vehicles recommended by the Edmunds editors. Here are 10 new vehicles we recommend with a high percentage of new 2019 inventory remaining — although they might not last long. Follow the links below to check out more detailed reviews or to check the inventory in your area.
The 2020 Audi Q7 is an updated version of the popular three-row crossover that wows with its upscale interior and more powerful V6 engine. But in March of this year, more than half of all Q7 sales nationally were for the 2019 model. And there are plenty more left in stock. Audi dealers have thousands of Q7s available — enough to supply 66 days' worth of sales even if no more are shipped in.
The 2019 models are missing some of the bells and whistles of the new Q7, such as the V6 and a new dual-screen infotainment system. Navigation is standard on the 2019 Q7, and it has superb ride quality at a lower starting price than its replacement. In fact, we rated the 2019 Q7 the No. 1 three-row luxury crossover on the market. Here's your chance to grab one at a bargain.
Why mess with a good thing? The current version of the Chrysler 300 debuted in 2011 and has gone through minimal updates since. Predictably, there is little to differentiate the 2019 and 2020 models. So why not pick up the 2019 version? The big four-door has a comfortable and quiet cabin, strong engines and timeless style. Accordingly, it earned the No. 2 spot in our large sedan rankings.
And dealers currently have a lot. Chrysler sold nearly 1,700 of them in March, a whopping 80% of which were the 2019 model. Those dealerships are now stuck with enough supply to last about two more months and could be willing to part with them on favorable terms for buyers.
This should come as no surprise. With the F-150 the top-selling vehicle in the United States for more than 40 years running, it's said that Ford builds a new one every 53 seconds. And even though truck sales have stayed relatively unaffected through the coronavirus pandemic, that still leaves an awful lot of inventory sitting stagnant on dealer lots.
At the beginning of April, there were an astonishing 190,000 F-150s available across the country. That is by far the most of any single vehicle, and more than double all of them except the Chevrolet Silverado and Ram 1500. Even at an aggressive sales pace, there are enough trucks to last those dealerships more than three months. As foot traffic slows, look for great deals on 2019 models to become commonplace.
The Honda Fit is evidence that big things come in small packages. Though it's a compact hatchback, the Fit has impressive interior capacity and clever seat stowing that allows it to fit more equipment and cargo than you might think. Even better, there is little difference between the 2019 Fit and the 2020 version. Opting for the previous but still new model could save you some cash up front.
In addition to huge storage, it turns out the Fit also has a huge inventory. Honda dealerships headed into April with more than 200 days' supply of Fits in stock, which is among the highest in the industry. And since more than half of all Fits sold in March were 2019 models, there is likely still a healthy number of those vehicles available.
Like the Fit, storage and fuel economy are the greatest strengths of the Honda HR-V. Think of a Fit that's been stretched into a compact crossover, and one of the few that doesn't feel overly hampered by its size restrictions. Buyers will find a perfectly usable package whether they choose a 2019 or a 2020 model. We like the HR-V so much it's earned the No. 3 spot in our top-ranked extra-small crossovers.
Honda is flush with them. Starting in April, dealerships had more than 30,000 HR-Vs in stock, which is enough to last them more than 200 days. And the 2019 version accounted for nearly half of all HR-V sales in March, meaning you will likely find no shortage of the older model year that managers are very eager to move. If value is a priority, there are a lot of reasons to start thinking about a 2019 Fit.
Are the Fit and HR-V not enough Honda for your needs? Consider the Ridgeline, the automaker's midsize pickup that offers truck-like capability with the ride comfort of a crossover. Dealerships have a large number of vehicles in stock, and many of them are 2019 models. The older version made up 42% of Ridgeline sales in March, with plenty of supply still hanging around.
The Ridgeline differs from some vehicles on this list, though, because there are significant differences between the 2019 and 2020 versions. Most importantly, the 2019 Ridgeline does not have the nine-speed automatic transmission that comes standard for 2020. The same goes for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration and several advanced safety features. Still, if you need a truck and don't mind a six-speed transmission, the 2019 Ridgeline is primed for a good deal.
Hyundai completely redesigned its Sonata sedan for 2020, with sharp new looks and a great ride. And buyers are flocking to it. The 2020 model accounted for more than 80% of Sonata sales in March. But if you want to save some money and still get a solid sedan, the 2019 Sonata has a lot to offer as well.
Dealerships currently have more than five months' worth of Sonatas in stock. That means there are plenty of 2019 models, and sales managers will especially want them gone to make way for a brand-new version. Strike a deal and you'll walk away with a great package. The 2019 Sonata is equipped with a spacious interior, a usable infotainment interface and Hyundai's famous warranty coverage.
Demand for trucks remains strong, so you may not have much luck finding a deal on any old pickup. If you're in need of some serious towing power, however, the highly regarded Ram 2500 may be just the thing. Dealerships have a healthy supply on hand with about 115 days of inventory. But what makes the Ram stand out is the number of 2019 models being sold of late.
Nearly two-thirds of Ram 2500 sales in March were for the 2019 version. That means there are likely loads more ready to go. Even better news for buyers is that there is little difference between the 2019 and 2020 model years. You won't have the option of lane keeping assist or a massive 50-gallon fuel tank. But otherwise the powerful capability and superior comfort we hold in high regard is ready for the taking.
The three-row Highlander easily makes our list because it's fully redesigned for 2020, which means that dealerships want the 2019 models out, out, out. We specifically chose the hybrid version for several reasons. First, Toyota knows hybrids. Second, the floor-mounted battery lowers its center of gravity and actually gives the Highlander a better ride. Most importantly, though, there are more on dealer lots.
Toyota dealers have about the same days' supply of Highlanders and Highlander Hybrids. But in March, the 2019 version made up 44% of Highlander Hybrid sales and only 26% of standard Highlander sales. Chances are you'll be able to score a great deal on a better version of the crossover if you ask for the hybrid. And of course, you'll score extra points at the pump too.
We didn't forget about the driving enthusiasts. Easily the sportiest car on our list, the Golf GTI makes the cut for one simple reason: Dealers appear to have far more 2019 models than the newer 2020s. GTI sales in March were made up of 82% 2019 versions and only 18% 2020 versions, indicating the updated GTI has been slow to reach lots across the country.
The older model gets the same punchy engine and tight handling dynamics as the new one. You will miss out on a Wi-Fi hotspot and Driver Assistance package, both standard for 2020. But Volkswagen also raised the price for 2020 and reduced its factory warranty. So in the 2019 GTI you get great performance and better coverage at a lower price — plus a leg up at the bargaining table. Better get your driving gloves.


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One of the leading content providers in the whole iGaming industry, Spinomenal, partnered with NetBet Italy, a leading provider of sportsbook and online casino content in the country. The newly established content agreement will see Spinomenal’s impressive portfolio of content integrated into NetBet’s offering through an advanced Light & Wonder’s OpenGaming platform.
The company also partnered with popular Spanish operator CasinoBarcelona.es.
The players from Italy will be able to enjoy a range of unique games from the Spinomenal premium portfolio. Among the releases that will be included in the offering are hit titles such as Times of Egypt, Queen of Ice, Book of Demi Gods II, and Dark Wolf.
This is the most recent step in Spinomenal’s mission to expand across the key European markets and enhance its partner network as much as possible in order to strengthen its position in Europe.
Lior Shvartz, CEO of Spinomenal commented on the recent partnership: “Our relationship with NetBet continues to be extremely productive and we’re eager to strengthen our ties as we launch in Italy together. NetBet has a commanding influence in Italy, so it’s a wonderful chance to get our games in front of more slot enthusiasts.”
Claudia Georgevici, a PR Manager at NetBet Italy, added: “We are excited to be working with Spinomenal as part of our mission to offer our customers the best experience. They have a wide range of excellent content, and we are looking forward to making their games available to our players in Italy.”
Spanish deal for one step closer to the European expansion:
This deal is only a part of Spinomenal expansion strategy. The company also signed a new content agreement with CasinoBarcelona.es, one of the biggest industry names when it comes to the rapidly growing Spanish market. The content will be available to Spanish players also through Light & Wonder’s OpenGaming platform, which is famous for its smooth integration and easy access.
CasinoBarcelona.es is one of the most popular online casinos in the whole of Spain, so Spinomenal’s games will be available to a range of customers all across the country. The players will have a chance to enjoy some of the most popular Spinomenal titles, such as Demi Gods II, Wolf Fang, Queen of Fire, Majestic King, and many more.
Spinomenal currently launches up to three new games every month, and the provider’s portfolio has more than 100 unique titles developed by themselves, as well as more than 2000 titles available through its advanced Aggregation Platform.


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RareX allies with $6 billion China giant for rare earths growth
Special Report: RareX has taken a great leap forward, signing an agreement with global rare earths producer Shenghe Resources that opens up growth opportunities.
The non-binding memorandum of understanding with the $US4.6bn ($6 billion) company establishes the framework for the formation of a jointly-owned rare earths trading company sourcing for rare earths globally outside of China.
Importantly, it could lead to Shanghai-listed Shenghe investing in RareX’s (ASX:REE) flagship Cummins Range rare earths project in Western Australia, which has a current resource of 13Mt grading 1.13 per cent total rare earth oxides (TREO) with valuable neodymium and praseodymium (NdPR) making up 22 per cent of the rare earth content.
This is a significant breakthrough as Shenghe is a leading producer of rare earths, zirconium and titanium with interests stretching across the entire value chain from mining through to the production of downstream rare earths products.
Shenghe also has am 8 per cent interest in MP Materials Corp, the $US4.8bn operator of the Mountain Pass rare earths mine in California and the only producer of rare earths in the US.
There is also potential for the two companies to jointly invest in existing or proposed rare earth refineries located outside of China.
“We are absolutely delighted to be moving towards securing an alliance with a company of the size and quality of Shenghe in the global rare earths industry,” RareX managing director Jeremy Robinson said.
“This is an exciting development for RareX and our shareholders which opens up a number of significant growth pathways.”
Under the MoU, the initial equity ownership of the proposed trading company will see Shenghe hold 51 per cent while RareX will have the remaining 49 per cent interest.
Both companies will support the company in its activities, namely sourcing rare earths concentrates outside of China to supply Shenghe’s existing and proposed rare earth refining operations globally.
Commercial discussions will also be carried out towards the Chinese rare earths producer investing in Cummins Range and the trading company being offered exclusive marketing rights, on commercial terms, to any rare earths concentrates produced at the project.
This article was developed in collaboration with RareX, a Stockhead advertiser at the time of publishing.
This article does not constitute financial product advice. You should consider obtaining independent advice before making any financial decisions.


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By: Jaden Narwal
2020 was filled with new, innovative marketing trends. Here are four influencer marketing trends to look for in 2021.
1. While TikTok is gaining steam, Instagram is still the most impactful social media channel
According to Business Insider, 79% of brands choose Instagram as their premier platform to launch campaigns, far ahead of any other social media outlet. TikTok has done a phenomenal job in creating equal opportunities for users to get noticed and gain the spotlight. From a business perspective, Instagram has used its advanced engagement techniques to allow businesses to reach consumers through direct shopping, business profiles, and advanced profile analytics. In terms of popularity, While TikTok was the most downloaded social media app this past year, they still need to improve on adopting some of Instagram's business techniques in order to overtake them as the best app for marketing.
2. Influencers are turning into content creators
By 2022, it is projected that brands will spend up to 15$ billion on influencer marketing. As social media outlets continue to change, influencers must continue to adapt. By presenting themselves as content creators, they have allowed themselves to place greater value on their creative likeness, image, and content. It also allows them to grow their own personal brand and be more creative with their platforms.
3. There will be an increased focus on video content
With the continued growth of TikTok, other platforms are also putting more focus on short video content. Instagram has recently introduced “reels” while continuing to promote IGTV. Some version of “Instagram Stories” has also been adapted and introduced to almost every social media outlet. This is key for business and brand promotion. According to databox, videos are much more effective at grasping a user’s attention than a photo. Due to the initial interest created by the video, the consumer is more likely to intake the presented information. A marketer for ClearPivot found that clients using Facebook advertisements received “20 to 30% more conversions while utilizing video over images.”
4. Brands will no longer shy away from controversy
In the past, it was common for brands and companies to stay quiet on issues regarding politics, race, or other polarizing topics. Today, not only are brands more vocal, but they receive backlash if they do not release a statement or take action against injustices. The Black Lives Matter Movement, as well as the recent violence against Asian-Americans, are two prominent examples of crises in America that brands must be vocal about. This is a trend that hopefully continues as major companies must continue to use their platforms to speak out against prejudice, inequality, and discrimination.


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Brune Poirson, a secretary of state for France's ecological transition, said after the broadcast late Sunday that she was “shocked” by the allegations and would render businesses “responsible” for such practices.
“In the coming months a law will be passed in parliament that will outlaw this type of activity. Companies like Amazon will no longer be able to throw away products that can still be used,” Poirson said.
The “Capital” programme on M6 television showed footage from a journalist who got himself hired recently at Amazon's distribution centre in Saran, outside Orleans in central France.
He was able to film workers throwing dozens of coffee makers, unopened Lego boxes and brand-name packs of diapers into huge garbage containers, instead of recycling or donating them to charity.
— Anasse Kazib (@AnasseKazib) January 13, 2019
The report also showed drone footage of discarded items headed to incinerators or landfills, which environmental activists denounced as an “ecological disaster.”
Destroying unsold goods is allowed under Amazon's contracts with sellers on its “Marketplace” platform, which hosts third-party retailers who often have stock in Amazon warehouses.
It is often cheaper to destroy the goods than sending them back to producers or organising their distribution to charities, experts say.
Contacted by AFP, Amazon France said it does its best to reduce the number of products that must be returned to third-party vendors.
“For those products that can't be resold, we work with organisations like Solidarity Giving and the Food Bank so they can be given to people in need,” the retailing giant said.
But Poirson said the government intended to hold Amazon accountable for the proper disposal of unsold goods.
“We want to consider 'marketplaces' like Amazon's responsible by default for the outcome of the products they offer,” she said.
Amazon has faced similar accusations in Germany, where national weekly WirtschaftsWoche and broadcaster ZDF reported last June that huge amounts of as-new and returned goods from mobile phones to refrigerators were routinely destroyed.
In France the company also drew the ire of French environmental activists in November, when they dumped mounds of broken electronics, power cords and appliances at its French headquarters to coincide with the “Black Friday”
They accused the company of failing to recycle sufficiently as the second-largest retailer of electronics in France.
The French government is also pushing for an EU-wide tax on the revenues of digital giants like Amazon, which are accused of using avoiding taxes in the member states where they generate the bulk of their revenue.


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OnePlus 6T global launch today: Price, availability and full specifications
OnePlus 6T launch is just hours away. Here’s everything you need to know about the new smartphone.
OnePlus is set to launch its latest smartphone, OnePlus 6T, in New York on Monday. The smartphone will be launched in India next day. Here's everything you need to know about the new OnePlus phone.
OnePlus 6T: Price and availability
OnePlus 6T is expected to be priced higher than OnePlus 6. According to recent reports, OnePlus 6T will be available for ₹37,999. The smartphone will reportedly hit the shelves in the first week of November. Note that OnePlus 6 is available in India at a starting price of ₹34,999 for the base model with 6GB RAM and 64GB storage. Though there's also an OnePlus 6 Avengers Edition which is priced at ₹44,999 and offers 8GB RAM plus 256GB in-built storage.
When and where is OnePlus 6T launching?
OnePlus had originally planned to launch OnePlus 6T globally and in India on October 30. Later, the company rescheduled the launch date to October 29 in order to avoid clashing with Apple's important October 30 event where the iPhone maker will unveil new Macbooks and iPads.
OnePlus 6T will be launched globally on October 29 at 11AM local time (8.30PM IST) in New York City. The company will launch the phone in India next day at 8.30PM IST at KDJW Stadium (inside Indira Gandhi Stadium Complex) in New Delhi.
OnePlus 6T: Specifications and features
In-screen fingerprint technology
Another radical change that OnePlus 6T is going to come with is in-screen fingerprint technology. As the name suggests, the technology lets you unlock the phone by just tapping on the screen. This also means OnePlus 6T will do away with a dedicated fingerprint slot.
"It all starts with a new optical fingerprint module, which houses a small lens that can accurately register your fingerprint as it presses down on the cover glass. The screen is used as a light source to enhance the outline of your fingerprint, enabling the sensor to accurately read its exact dimensions and shape," OnePlus explained on its website.
"We use a dedicated 'Trust Zone' found in the Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 to store your fingerprint information, which serves as an isolated virtual space for the sake of confidentiality. Whenever Screen Unlock is used, your fingerprint is compared to the information stored in the Trust Zone to ensure authenticity and actively defend against false patterns," the company further said.
OnePlus faced big backlash over using a notch on its OnePlus 6. The successor, however, will retain the notch but this time around it will be smaller. Called waterdrop/teardrop notch, it will cover just the front camera on the screen, similar to what we have seen on phones like Realme 2 Pro and Vivo 11 Pro. Apart from a new notch, OnePlus 6T is expected to come with slimmer fomr factor as well.
No 3.5mm headphone jack
OnePlus 6T also joins the growing list of phones to abandon 3.5mm headphone jack. Instead, OnePlus 6T users will have to rely on the Type-C port and Bluetooth connectivity for audio over headphones/earphones. Describing it as one of the most difficult decisions, OnePlus co-founder and CEO Pete Lau earlier this month said, "After you experience the Screen Unlock you'll fall in love with it. [You'll] realize that it's the experience that you wanted."
OnePlus 6T will run on Qualcomm's Snapdragon 845 processor and latest OxygenOS. The phone is also said to come with a larger 3,700mAh battery.
In the camera department, OnePlus 6T is said to come with improved features. The phone will focus on delivering "honest results" while giving users options to tweak photos as per their preferences.
"With smartphone cameras, the smartphone itself is like the film stock. Let me explain: when you take a photo with your smartphone, the smartphone is pulling raw data from the camera sensor. It then interprets and compresses this data, creating an image file that's convenient to share and send, and broadly accessible on all devices," CEO Pete Lau wrote in a forum post last week.
"However, certain in-camera processing can hurt the final quality of the image. You can only do so much to correct an overly sharpened image. Excessive noise reduction can be permanent when applied in-camera. As with anything, moderation is key. A light touch is all that's needed."


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Clayton, MO, November 25, 2022 –(PR.com
)– Clinical trials are expensive to conduct but are also essential in modern medicinal and therapeutic development. There is a greater urgency to conduct swift, efficient, and quick trials that provide robust solutions and speed up the medical development process. CROs, sponsors, pharmaceutical companies, and others are constantly looking for modern technology that speeds up the entire process and ensures their trials’ safety and efficacy.
This is where ClinicalPURSUIT has stepped in to provide its clients with modern research technology. The company is offering a free demonstration of its products to help clinical researchers understand its system and how it can streamline the entire trial.
ClinicalPURSUIT is known for going above and beyond for its customers. Its no-compromise approach to providing quality products and services has enabled them to become an industry leader in the medical…


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It’s not often you can say that one of the richest people in the world has been the victim of bullying. But at least if someone firmly puts their tongue under their cheek, you can say the same about Meta and Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg, who was recently denounced for his metaverse selfie.
The image was obtained from the company’s metaverse project called Horizon Worlds, a digital arena in which users travel through a virtual space filled with digitized versions of themselves.
It sounds awfully futuristic, but alas, Zuckerberg’s digital self was a bit like a character from a decade-old cheap video game – conjuring up not so much a brilliant new future as a fake past.
The taunts were so loud and merciless that Zuckerberg posted a follow-up, promising that things would get better soon.
The question, however, is why go to all these lengths at all?
The answer is that Zuckerberg poured a staggering $10 billion of his company money into the project, believing it represents the next major evolution of technology. If the metaverse sounds like idle curiosity, the scale of the investment suggests it’s not at all.
However, despite all the hype, what will the metaverse actually do?
Most likely, instead of becoming a space in which we all communicate with virtual reality technologies on our heads, the metaverse will become the next evolution of e-commerce and enterprise technologies.
However, this may not be what the Meta is hoping for. As Facebook begins to stabilize in growth and is displaced by TikTok as a cultural import, the company has its eyes on what it hopes will be the next big thing.
Based on the Meta’s demonstrations and statements, it appears that Zuckerberg and company believe the Metaverse will be some sort of 3D replacement or evolution of what exists now. If today we meet on Zoom, post messages and chat on Facebook, then in the metaverse we will do the same actions, but in 3D, wearing virtual reality headsets to come together with cartoon versions of ourselves and our friends.
But that doesn’t sound so much futuristic as it sounds implausible, not least because technology is unlikely to ever get better by increasing friction.
Think about it: who wants to go through the extra hassle of VR to host a team meeting or just say hello to a friend, rather than doing what we’re doing now. Even if supporters promise things like virtual concerts, the pandemic we continue to experience suggests that people are much less inclined to socialize virtually when better, more human options exist.
That said, if the notion of a 3D metaverse in which we all spend our social time sounds unappealing — let alone dystopian — there are reasons not to be too dismissive of the concept as a whole.
For example, recently Pay Later service Afterpay conducted a study that showed that more than half of Canadians believe the metaverse will be part of everyday life in 10 years, while 70% of Gen Z shoppers want to be able to buy real goods. objects of the world from the metaverse. People, especially young people, are not so skeptical.
It makes some sense. Instead of, say, playing a guessing game when shopping for shoes or furniture online, with a virtual version, one can “hold” or “walk” an item, which may well give a better idea of what is being bought.
Industrial or corporate applications are also of interest. As one researcher I spoke with suggested, the ability to plan physical objects such as cars or buildings in virtual space would help deal with a huge $3 trillion global leak caused by architectural planning errors that were previously discovered only after how something was built.
So while it may not be a social space, the metaverse can still be used.
In this sense, the metaverse is not so much an evolution of Facebook as it is the transfer of commerce, logistics and design to a three-dimensional or virtual space.
If that’s the case, then at least the Meta’s massive investment makes some sense – even if it’s possibly misguided. We may not all be registered with the virtual Facebook, but the idea of a “digital twin” – a virtual copy of the physical world – seems not only plausible, but quite possible as the next major area of technology.
We only ever understand reality through complex systems of language, ideas, aesthetics and design. Writing has changed the way we think about the world and, in its own way, Excel spreadsheets.
The Metaverse as it is currently shown may seem frivolous, even laughable. But if seen as a way to anticipate and shape the world, it could actually be the next big thing — even if right now all we can see is Mark Zuckerberg’s clumsy fantasies.


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Amazon (AMZN) – Shares of the e-commerce giant hit a new record high, above $1,000 a share on Tuesday. Amazon crossed the mark within the first hour of trading, joining just four other U.S.-listed companies that trade above that level. Amazon’s current market value is about $478 billion after posting big gains in recent months. The stock has climbed about 33% year-to-date and is up 40% over the past year.
Alphabet (GOOGL) – Class A shares of the parent company of Google are following Amazon’s lead, inching closer to $1,000 a share. The stock was trading at $994.61 as of 12 p.m. ET on Tuesday. Shares have been gaining momentum recently, rallying about 25% since the start of the year.
Apple (AAPL) – Bloomberg is reporting that the tech giant is working on a chip to power artificial intelligence functions on devices, including the iPhone and iPad. The chip, dubbed “Apple Neural Engine,” could also be used for Apple’s plans for self-driving cars and augmented reality.
AMC Entertainment (AMC), Cinemark Holdings (CNK), IMAX (IMAX) – Movie theater stocks are under pressure after customer traffic disappointed over the holiday weekend. Revenue at box offices in the U.S. fell to its lowest level in nearly two decades over Memorial Day, totaling $176 million, according to preliminary estimates from comScore. Baywatch fell short of expectations in its opening weekend, while Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales, brought in just $78.2 million in the U.S.
For more on Tuesday’s big stock movers, check out the Final Round, live at 4 p.m. ET, right here on Yahoo Finance.


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This feature was originally published in the 2022 Winter issue of strategy magazine
By Will Novosedlik
It’s a coincidence that a brand as American as McDonald’s should arrive on our shores at the most Canadian of moments: our centennial year, 1967.
As George Cohon, McDonald’s Canada founder, put it: “We didn’t know a soul, we didn’t have much money and people didn’t know who we were. McDonald’s then was far from being the household word it is today.”
Apparently, the launch was met with a lukewarm response. Perhaps we were too preoccupied with celebrating our 100th birthday, or too distracted by the excitement of Expo 67. However, in a move to establish some much-needed affinity, McDonald’s founder Ray Kroc approved the addition of the maple leaf to the Golden Arches, something that has never been done anywhere else. If that gesture was Kroc’s way of recognizing that our two countries are different, the evolution of McDonald’s Canada over the last 55 years would set out to prove it.
Canada tells its own story
When taking the Canadian CMO role in 2014 (of which she held until early 2021), Antoinette Benoit acknowledged in an interview with strategy that there was a preconceived notion that McDonald’s was a faceless, international corporate behemoth.
That’s why the brand has been so laser-focused on building a local narrative, with campaigns such as “Welcome to McDonald’s” in 2015 that told the stories of Canadian customers and staff.
It’s also built a strong profile in Quebec through a continuous sponsorship of one of the country’s most iconic brands: the Montreal Canadiens.
The success of its Canada-focused strategy is borne out by the numbers.
Around 2.5 million guests visit 1,400 McDonald’s restaurants across Canada every day. Through its local franchisees, the QSR employs 90,000 Canadians coast-to-coast and has created more than 200,000 jobs, generating almost $4.5 billion in local annual economic activity. It injects approximately $4.2 million into local Canadian economies every day and $130 million in corporate income taxes annually. It’s safe to say that, in Canada, McDonald’s is no small potatoes.
Alyssa Buetikofer, recently appointed to replace Benoit as CMO, is committed to keeping it that way. Says Buetikofer, “As a brand, we’re focused on driving a meaningful connection with consumers. To do that we need to make sure that the stories we tell and the campaigns we bring to life are relevant to Canadians. If what we do here is picked up by other markets, that’s icing on the cake.”
A leader among markets
The Canadian brand’s 55-year history has seen a number of firsts. Since the invention of the McFlurry in 1995 by franchisee Ron McLellan in Bathurst, NB, many other Canadian ideas have been successful enough to be adopted around the world.
Just look to the early 2000s when McDonald’s – the home of the world’s most famous hamburger – saw its fortunes reverse after 47 years of growth. In December 2002, the global brand reported its first-ever net quarterly loss of $343.8 million, compared with a profit of $271 million for fiscal 2001. The loss was more than four times greater than what had been projected. Global CEO Jack Greenberg announced the bad news, and promptly retired.
The reasons for this setback were many. For one thing, pundits agreed that it had maxed out its markets. In Canada, for example, it had grown from one store in 1967 to 1,300 in 2002, and would add only 100 stores over the next twenty years, reducing its annual average retail expansion rate from 37% to 5%. Others cited changing demographics and increased competition. But the main culprit was simply that people’s tastes were changing, mostly driven by health concerns.
McDonald’s Canada, however, had the foresight to respond to changing consumer preferences by adding salads and wraps to its menu before any losses were counted. Trial of “Lighter Choices,” which was launched in 2002, was a big success. By the time the brand introduced its memorable “I’m lovin’ it” campaign in 2004, McDonald’s Canada was enjoying a 58% increase in trials of its health-focused menu. Lighter Choices was so successful that it was picked up by the U.S. in 2003.
Beyond introducing unique product offerings, the brand in Canada also targeted kids, moms with kids, and young adults. Instead of trying to be everything for everyone, it used sports, music and fashion to appeal to the latter demographic, leveraging hockey star Wayne Gretzky, sponsoring the Olympics and offering free music through its Big Mac Meal Tracks promotion.
Canada’s performance during this period made it a leader among markets. While the global brand saw a decrease in sales of 3.7% in March 2003, after monthly declines all through 2002, Canada saw the reverse: 2% growth in sales in 2002 and 9% growth during 2003. It wouldn’t be the last time Canada showed the way.
Transparency and sustainability
A part of the demographic shift towards healthier menu items in the early 2000s reflected a growing concern over the negative effects of fatty food and sugary drinks, with schools in the U.S. getting rid of soft drink vending machines and considering banning fatty snacks. These concerns prompted class action suits filed against McDonald’s for promoting obesity and other health problems, while hospitals began removing McDonald’s franchises.
While the brand introduced healthier items in response to these concerns, the online rumour mill still roiled with questions about the contents of its products. McDonald’s Canada took steps to address the problem.
It began in 2011 with its All-Access Moms program that gave four Canadian moms a behind-the-scenes look at how the company operates. The participants were then asked to share what they learned on their blogs and social channels.
But it really put its feet in the fire with the 2012 launch of the “Our Food, Your Questions” microsite, where anyone could ask the brand anything they wanted to know about how its products are made. With the help of Tribal Worldwide (then known as Tribal DDB), answers were made available in real-time so they could be easily shared on social media. The brand created 15 ads with responses in English and French, answering questions about everything from how the food is photographed to how its meat is processed.
The results were phenomenal. They expected 3,000 inquiries, but got 15,000. More than 1.6 million people spent an average of five minutes on the site. Questions and answers were shared six million times, with a global reach of more than 83 billion impressions. Almost 600 news outlets picked it up and it had a PR reach of more than 132 million impressions. Tribal Worldwide and McDonald’s won the Grand Prix at AToMiC and Best of the Best at the CMAs in 2013. The platform was subsequently reprised in markets around the world.
The next chapter in the quest for transparency was to connect consumers to the farmers from whom McDonald’s Canada sourced its ingredients. The “Not Without Canadian Farmers” campaign (also developed by Tribal in 2015) depicted images of McDonald’s products, with a piece of food that came from a Canadian farmer removed from the image. Later that year, the Cossette-created “Great Canadian Taste Adventure” campaign featured a rotating roster of limited-time menu items with ingredients sourced from different regions of the country. And in 2020, Cossette helped develop “Back to the Farm,” showing “the future” of Canadian sustainable beef ranching by speaking to young cattle farmers in southern Alberta.
To keep the company’s commitment to transparency going, in 2019, McDonald’s and Cossette created the “see-through kitchen,” an activation that saw the conversion of a shipping container into a glass-clad McDonald’s kitchen, allowing passersby to see how their favourite menu items are made.
These campaigns demonstrated that the brand’s commitment to transparency was not just one campaign long. Once again, McDonald’s Canada showed leadership, not only among the larger McDonald’s family but also the QSR industry in general – because, from transparency, it’s a small step to sustainability.
In a 2018 Greenpeace audit of trash collected from Canadian shorelines, Nestlé, Tim Hortons, PepsiCo, Coca-Cola and McDonald’s, were the worst offenders. So, in 2019, McDonald’s Canada began to experiment with “lightweight” coffee cups by removing one layer of paper from its outer surface – a move that eliminated more than 123 tons of paper. The cups also feature an aqueous coating that’s acceptable in recycling streams. The effort extended to wooden cutlery and stir sticks, paper straws and napkins produced with recycled fibers. It’s all part of the company’s goal of sourcing 100% of its guest packaging from renewable and/or recycled sources by 2025.
Buetikofer inherits a brand that has become one of the most highly recognized in Canada. It’s also one of the most active from a communications perspective, running 50 annual campaigns led by Cossette (creative), OMD (media) and Weber Shandwick (PR). While Buetikofer’s got a solid foundation to build on, she will be one of the busiest CMOs.
“We want to continue to connect with consumers through our campaigns, and we want to do the same thing through the channels that we’re using and how we’re using them,” says Buetikofer. “You’re certainly starting to see more use of social channels and different digital channels, video activations and static and display activations. You can expect to see much more of that in the future.”
The pandemic demonstrated that there is still strong brand love. “We learned during the pandemic that consumers do love our core food and our core icons, and there’s comfort in that,” continues Buetikofer. “We learned that the foundation we have with some of those core icons and equities remains positive.” A brand couldn’t hope for more.
One of the more engaging initiatives in recent years was the 2019 “Friends Wanted” recruitment campaign. Even though 75% of McDonald’s employees are under 25, research revealed that many in this demographic would not even consider working at the QSR for fear of being judged poorly by their friends.
To increase applications, McDonald’s worked with its long-time AOR Cossette to try to understand how they could overcome this barrier. Two insights emerged from research. One, youth want most from their first job is to work with friends. And two, what employees like most about McDonald’s is their relationship with their co-workers. So the brand created an integrated campaign that encouraged friends to apply together, interview together and work together.
Again, the results were significant. The first month of the campaign saw more than 75,000 new applicants. Facebook brand lift performance tracking for the campaign was the highest ever seen for any brand in Canada. Job interest increased 42%, recommendations jumped 29%, ad recall was +30.4 pts (216% above norm), and market awareness rose 154%.
During her seven successful years as CMO at McDonald’s Canada, Benoit left a strong legacy for her successor, Alyssa Buetikofer. Beyond the many integrated campaigns she led, Benoit ushered the brand into the digital age, increasing its proportion of marketing spend from 15% of the budget in 2014 to 50% in 2021.
In late 2021 McDonald’s Canada launched MyMcDonald’s Rewards, an app that allows customers to earn points on every order for free rewards like a Big Mac, McFlurry, Premium Roast Coffee or McMuffin. The digital upgrade of the sticker-based McCafe Mobile Rewards program is the latest in a long line of programs designed to keep brand love alive.
According to Buetikofer, the brand’s strategic focus continues to be on digital growth. “We are absolutely doubling down on the ‘three D’s’: digital, delivery and drive-through. We’re focused on convenience, personalization and allowing customers to order through the channels that make sense for them.”
Although the pandemic certainly accelerated the use of delivery and drive-through channels, Benoit had previously built a digital toolbox with which to encourage consumer engagement, both in terms of marketing communications and customer experience. An example is the 2019 “Snapchat Door,” created to increase awareness and trial of the national launch of McDelivery via Uber Eats and SkipTheDishes. The augmented reality program allowed customers to scan transit-shelter ads with their phone and view a 3D version of the door on their devices. A hand appeared and knocked on the virtual door, which opened to reveal a $5 coupon.
Snapchat and Twitch have been go-to platforms for the brand in recent years. To celebrate National French Fry Day in 2018, the brand gave customers the opportunity to share their love for fries by placing a drive-thru speaker at the top of Grouse Mountain in Vancouver. The “Friestream” activation incorporated the McDonald’s mobile app by live-streaming a broadcast of social media comments and videos from people across the country. The campaign engaged over 800,000 viewers and generated over 40 million media impressions.
The longstanding annual Monopoly contest is another example of how the brand is using digital to drive loyalty, with many components of the contest digitized to make it accessible through the McDonald’s app. In the 2021 edition, players were entered into a weekly $5,000 draw when they placed a mobile order, scanned their McDonald’s Rewards card or redeemed an offer on the McDonald’s app.
Alyssa Buetikofer, Antoinette Benoit, McDonald’s Canada


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NEW DELHI (Taiwan News) -- WaWa Waffle, a Taiwanese multi-location food chain, which has presence in China, Malaysia, Indonesia, Australia, etc and makes made-to-order waffles with an exquisite gesture and guaranteed deliciousness, has spread its wings to India too, with the opening of its 37th outlet at Punjabi Bagh West market in New Delhi, last week.
Taipei Economic and Cultural Centre (TECC) in New Delhi Deputy Representative Richard Y S Chiu, Economic Division Executive Director Yang Hung, Deputy Director Oliver Harn and First Secretary Michael HC Tao graced the occasion among others.
Chiu told Taiwan News "This is the first-ever franchisee in food sector given by a Taiwanese company to any Indian company. I hope this initiative will help to bring more Taiwanese companies in this sector to this country."
Chang Yin of WaWa Waffle said another two shops will be opened in the capital in the near future and 10 in different parts of the country within a year. He added that Chile and Dubai will have the company's presence by next year.
He also mentioned that wine and coffee are also served in its outlets in Malaysia apart from waffles, beverages and desserts of international taste. He said that 90 percent of the raw materials for the food items are sourced locally and the rest brought from Taiwan. He also said that there is no compromise on menu.
Rajiv and Preeti Aggarwal, partners of the Indian company said that they have plans to open shops in Nepal and Bhutan soon. Recalling how the venture began, he said, it was in 2016, when Taiwan External Trade Development Council (TAITRA) organized a food exhibition in New Delhi. The launch took one-and-half years to materialize due to demonetization and Goods and Service Tax (GST) issues.
(From left) Taipei Economic and Cultural Center in New Delhi Economic Division Executive Director Yang Hung, Chang Yin of WaWa Waffle, Rajiv Aggarwal and Deputy Representative Richard Y S Chiu.
During the period the couple had also visited Taiwan to familiarize with the food products and the country. "As Indians are sweet-loving we have added more in the products," said Preeti. Incidentally, she can speak Chinese well.
The company provides technical know-how to maintain its international quality. The shop was also designed by Taiwanese engineers.


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Founded in 1981 in Columbus, OH, UNIGLOBE Travel Designers is a minority, women-owned and family-owned award-winning travel management company. Since Elizabeth took over as president in 2012, the company has nearly doubled its revenue through acquisition of major accounts and expansion of its corporate travel business.
Prior to joining UNIGLOBE in 2006, Elizabeth had a vibrant career in retail management with Gap International in San Francisco and Miami, and EDUN, a mission-driven clothing line co-founded by Bono and located in NYC.
In addition to this peer-nominated recognition as a Visionary woman, Elizabeth has also been recognized as one of 12 Women “WELDing the Way” (2016), in the Forty Under 40 Class of 2016, as a Progressive Entrepreneur by Smart Women (2015), the winner of the 2014 Frederick J. Yates Memorial Scholarship Minority Business Award. Additionally, she was jointly awarded along with UNIGLOBE Travel Designers with the 2016 SBA Minority Small Business of the Year by the U.S. Small Business Administration-Columbus District Office, and for the Family Business Reinvention Award by The Conway Center for Family Business in 2015. Elizabeth is the 2nd Vice President for NAWBO Columbus and is in line to serve as president of the chapter in 2018-2019.
“The selection committee had a tough job this year,” said Laura MacGregor Comek of Comek Law. “We had five very different businesses this year and five very dynamic and truly visionary women. It has been amazing to hear their stories and learn about how they have created and grown their businesses. It would be difficult to imagine that our nearly 600 guests did not leave this event inspired.”
Also recognized at this year’s Visionary Gala was Sheila Mixon of the Greater Cincinnati Urban League and Ohio River Valley Women’s Business Council as Women’s Business Champion, and Barb Girson, President of My Sales Tactics, as 2015 Member of the Year.
The featured keynote was from Alex Fisher, President and CEO of The Columbus Partnership, and 10TV Anchor Kristyn Hartman served as emcee.
About the Visionary Awards:
In its 19th year, the NAWBO Columbus Visionary Award is bestowed upon a local woman business owner who has achieved success with her business while making notable contributions to her community, her industry, and to initiatives for other women in business. NAWBO Columbus hosts this coveted award as a prestigious way to recognize and showcase the amazing women who not only own and operate businesses that are vital to Ohio’s economy, but also find time and resources to identify needs and drive social change. NAWBO Columbus held its Visionary Awards Gala on July 29 to recognize Blount McCormick, Mixon, Girson, and the other Visionary finalists, which included Jill Frey (Cummins Facility Services), Joelle Brock (Leading EDJE), Leena Madan (geoAMPS), and Mary McCarthy (Your Management Team).
About NAWBO Columbus:
National Association of Women Business Owners, Columbus, Ohio Chapter, is Central Ohio’s premier organization for women business owners. With over 220 members earning more than $1 billion in annual revenues and employing more than 3,000 people, NAWBO Columbus has established itself as the go-to place for inspiration, resources, and opportunities for female entrepreneurs.


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Rewriting the Future: Innovation
While we navigate the stop-start nature of the COVID-19 pandemic recovery, U.S. consumer confidence and business optimism continues to strengthen and is rebounding sharply. The time to shape our collective success in the post-pandemic future is now. Foresight in this moment calls for a rewrite of the future by both addressing the vulnerabilities that have been presented in the last 18 months and examining the opportunities that lie ahead. As part of a multi-part video series, Samsung employees across business areas are sharing their views on the future of innovation sustainability, and diversity & inclusion (D&I), among other topics.
Companies have experienced widespread disruption – and significant transformation and innovation – over the past 18 months. During this period, Samsung has harnessed the power of technology to reimagine the way forward for businesses and to support the future values-based needs of consumers. But what’s next for innovation? Here’s what our employees have to say about rewriting the innovation playbook when it comes to infrastructure and 5G, creating the next-generation products that they believe will most enhance consumers’ lives like robotics, and investing in the boldest and most ambitious founders that are shaping a new tomorrow.


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MONTREAL — Gay affiliate program Buddy Profits today announced that it will offer their affiliates special membership discount pricing on all of the sites in their network to celebrate Masturbation Month.
Previous promotions of this kind have been conducted on a smaller scale and saw great results in affiliate traffic conversions, prompting Buddy Profits to offer the promotion for Masturbation Month on all Buddy Profits sites.
“This is a great opportunity for affiliates to get hands on and engage their audiences with top-quality content that is sure to generate a boost in conversions and self-gratification,” said Tina Andersen, one of Buddy Profits’ account managers.
The promotional pricing will be available from May 26-31.
For a full list of the 40-plus websites included in this promotion, visit BuddyProfits.com.
Affiliates have the option to receive $35 PPS or 50 percent revshare options on all memberships, including trials.
For more information about the Masturbation Month promotion, contact email@example.com.


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posted on May, 12 2003 @ 11:40 PM
Suit Seeks to Ban Kids From Eating Oreos
Kids in California may have to give up their Oreos, if a lawsuit filed by a San Francisco public interest lawyer is successful.
The lawsuit, filed last week in Marin County superior court, seeks a ban on the black and white cookies, arguing the trans fats that make the filling
creamy and the cookie crisp are too dangerous for children to eat.
The big difference between this suit and others that have targeted tobacco and McDonald's fast food is that consumers know that tobacco is bad for
their health and that McDonald's food contains a lot of fat, Joseph said.
CLICK HERE FOR STORY
They cant ban oreos, thats just crazy. I think they should just make it mandatory to put on the label everything
that is in the product so
there is no confusion.


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If you’re looking for a top-spec family-friendly people carrier, don’t make the same mistake as ‘Sports Dad’.
Ford explains how the all-wheel drive and Dynamic Torque Vectoring systems work in the new Focus RS.
The 2016 Ford Focus RS switches to all-wheel drive and Ken Block offers a helping hand in its development.
Jonny Edge heads to Barcelona to see if Ford’s latest Focus ST is better in petrol or diesel guise.
Ford have decided to tease us with a sneak preview of the next Focus RS, hot on the heels of its less powerful ST European launch.
Ford’s celebrated 1-litre Ecoboost engine gets a little extra power to liven up the Fiesta Zetec S.
More kit and more power. What’s not to like about the Ford Fiesta ST3 Mountune?
Ford and German magazine Sport-Auto have released a couple of videos of its Focus RS lapping the Nurburgring...
Ford have announced the price of the 2009 Focus RS. If you happen to have 25 grand stuffed under your mattress (well,...


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Bed Bath & Beyond shares plummeted more than 21 percent in trading Thursday after the struggling retailer slashed sales guidance and warned that weak brick-and-mortar store sales and tariffs on Chinese-made good would hurt its profits.
The share price plunge brought it to within a fraction of the stock's largest percentage drop on record, according to Dow Jones.
The company said its same-store sales fell 0.6 percent in its most recent fiscal quarter, marking the sixth consecutive quarter in which the key metric declined. Earnings fell to 36 cents per share, well below the 50 cents per share expected by analysts polled by Thomson Reuters.
Bed Bath and Beyond has struggled to maintain sales as more customers shift toward digitally savvy platforms such as Amazon and Walmart. Other competitors in domestic retail, including Target and HomeGoods, have also provided a tough challenge for the brand.
“The blunt truth is that Bed Bath & Beyond simply hasn't been up to the job of converting the momentum [seen] elsewhere in retail into its own commercial success,” said GlobalData Retail analyst Neil Saunders. “One of the key issues with Bed Bath & Beyond is that it fails to offer a distinct point of difference in a market that is now crowded with choice.”
Bed Bath & Beyond CFO Robyn D’Elia said the chain now expects full-year earnings to land at the low end of its forecast model, or about $2 per share. Same-store sales are expected to remain flat compared to last year.
The Trump administration has imposed 10 percent tariffs on $200 billion in Chinese-made goods, adding further pressure for the retailer.
“Regarding tariff, everything we know today about the impact on our business we’ve built into the back half [of the year],” D’Elia said. “For us, our direct imports from China represent a relatively small number of businesses. And we’re just -- we’re continuing to learn things through domestic vendors and we’ll continue to learn about that into the future.”


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EA has announced the release date of FIFA 14.
Posts Tagged ‘PS3’
Naughty Dog has always been known for the attention to detail they put in their games.
EA has announced the latest iteration of Need for Speed called Need for Speed: Rivals.
As expected Activision has confirmed that Call of Duty: Ghosts uses an upgraded engine.
Rockstar has announced the special edition and collector’s edition contents of Grand Theft Auto 5.
Metro Last Light was developed by 4A Games. A studio based in the Ukraine and for those of you that don’t know it’s not exactly the most welcoming of places to develop games.
The first review for Remember Me is out courtesy of Jeux Video Magazine.
Warner Montreal have revealed the box art and the full trailer for Batman: Arkham Origins.
Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 has received two DLCs so far, and we have the release dates for the rest.
Naughty Dog has released a new developer diary for The Last of Us.
Square Enix has released images of the Noctis perfume they have been teasing people.
Activision has released a teaser for Call of Duty: Ghosts and it shows some interesting things.


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MCDONALD'S is selling its popular Festive Pie in America but British customers travelling across the pond this Christmas might still be disappointed.
The fast food company confirmed that the holiday treat was back in stores in selected locations in the US to the Sun Online.
On Twitter, a spokesperson for the company in America, also told a customer: "Yep, the Holiday Pie is back in select locations! Be sure to call your local McD's to see and get ready to be festive."
But frustrated pie fans across the UK, who might have spotted the cheerful tweets from customers in the US, should not feel jealous.
The American and the British Festive Pies from McDonald's are totally different.
A spokesperson for the company said the seasonal favourite in the US features "creamy, smooth vanilla custard nestled in a flaky, buttery crust glazed with sugar and topped with rainbow sprinkles."
That's completely different from its popular Festive Pie in the UK, which was stuffed with mincemeat and custard.
We've never tried the American version but customers across the pond seem to love it.
A fan based in Wisconsin said: "I’d like to file a formal complaint with @mcdonalds because i was just trying to get some fries and they offered me a holiday pie and now I’m addicted and don’t even know what’s in it."
"I really need to get this off my chest. I never really told anyone this. I guess it’s time to tell the truth. I really love McDonald’s holiday pie.
#sorry #confession," one customer from California tweeted.
A customer from Iowa added: "Just bought some holiday pies from McDonalds! They are the best pies in the world!!!!!".
FESTIVE TREAT McDonald’s Terry’s Chocolate Orange McFlurry is back – but only for a limited time
McDonald's unveiled its Christmas menu in the UK last month, and its hot festive pie - the very staple of Christmas which was cruelly dropped from its holiday menu last year - was still nowhere to be seen.
The pie is stuffed with mincemeat and custard but its absence left some fast foodies fuming that it wasn't available.
And not even the introduction of a Terry's Chocolate Orange McFlurry was enough to quell their disappointment.
If you're still looking for a worthy alternative Baker Greggs is selling its popular festive bake, along with the rest of its festive treats including it Christmas sandwich and turkey, bacon and cranberry roll.
Meanwhile, Asda announced it is selling a Christmas dinner PIZZA in selected stores this December.
It's topped with Brussels sprouts, roast potatoes, strips of roast chicken and cranberry sauce.
We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online Money team? Email us at email@example.com or call 0207 78 24516


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Now in its sixth year, the Phuket Best Burger competition has become one of Phuket’s most-loved events. This year Phuket’s Best Burger will be getting all burgerliscious at the New Blue Tree Phuket on Saturday, March 28, when restaurateurs and chefs will all compete to see whose burger reigns supreme and become Phuket’s Best Burger 2020 under the theme “Greatness, Redemption, Glory”.
The event was a conceptualised in 2013 by Jay Leshark, while he was working with Phuket Live Radio and saving the Phuket airwaves with his weekend brunch radio show. Jay was looking for an event idea that would be something different for Phuket, something to do with food, and something fun.
“I honestly never thought it would be as big as it has become,” said Jay. “It was just a crazy idea I had which has grown over the past six years”
“It was the history of burgers that also really interested me. Burgers can be traced back to 1209 when Genghis Khan’s army needed food that could be carried on their mounts and eaten easily with one hand while they rode. Ground meat was the perfect choice, and if it’s good enough for Genghis Khan then who are we to argue.”
After Jay spent a couple of years of research – actually just going around Phuket eating burgers – and studying burger competitions around the world, the inaugural Phuket Best Burger event was held in March 2015, with Xana Beach Club claiming top honours. In 2016, Kata Rocks were declared the winner, Thavorn Beach Village & Spa took home the coveted prize in 2017 and 2018, and then last year the winner was Prime Burger, and for the new Vegetarian and Vegan prize it was Le Meridien Phuket Beach Resort.
This year’s event is set to be the biggest and best ever with over 25 burgers already entered as well as other great foods from Phuket businesses who will be at the event, including California Tattoo, Pura Organic Foods and gelato from Pluto Ice Cream.
The venue at Blue Tree is fabulous and there are some awesome sponsors, some such as Class Act Media who have been with the event since the start, Peter V James motion and stills and the amazing BBQ store.
There will be live music on stage from the Two Chefs band and Possible Chaos, the house band from Blue Tree Arena, as well as some great children’s activities organised by Kids Planet. There is also rumors that superstar international DJ El Tiburón.
The biggest change for this year is the judging panel. In the past five years there has been a group of judges who taste every burger. However, this year due to feedback from many of the chefs who have entered over the years organisers have decided to do a public vote this year, with no judges. More than 1,500 people visited the event last year and hopes are high to hit 2000 this year, with every one of those people having the right to say which is Phuket’s best burger.
Green matters to Phuket’s Best Burger and all the competitors have been told to use only sustainable or recycled plates and cups, and of course there will be no single-use plastic. The event will also be giving away an award to the competitor who has the least food waste. Everyone will be given a compost bin to collect all the food scraps and this will be put into Blue Tree’s very special compost machine to be composted down for use in the gardens and the new sustainable centre opening soon at Blue Tree.
So what does the winner get? Well not only do they get bragging rights for a year and the Phuket’s Best Burger trophy, they also receive a host of other prizes already totalling over B250,000, including B103,000 of advertising from Class Act Media, B25,000 of BBQ equipment from The BBQ Shop and B40,000 of photo and video production from Peter V James motion and stills.
Mark it on your calendar: Saturday, March 28 at Blue Tree Phuket, an event for all the family!


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Not clowning around: Costumes are big business
The McGuires have seen all the tricks and trends that come with owning Campus Costume for the past 13 years in Bloomington.
There was the sexy-movement that peaked in 2006, where the skimpier the better was a rule of thumb. Popular this year: Clowns.
Recent trends also focus on accessories, with fewer packaged costumes being sold. Customers want to custom-make their look, rather than buying it prepackaged and running the risk of seeing someone in the same exact costume.
“What saves us is the amount of accessories we sell,” owner John McGuire said. “Kimberly (John's wife) was ahead of the industry by bringing in costume pieces like a plain black dress, a plain black skirt, or a red shirt. As people stopped buying prepackaged costumes for $60, they build their own costume for $60 and they are more unique. I think the industry is just being more creative instead of buying it out of a package.”
This is the first Halloween season for Campus Costume in a new downtown location.
The business moved from a 4,500-square-foot shop at East 10th Street and the Ind. 45/46 Bypass and now has about 10,000 square feet at 216 S. College Ave.
The new location provides more space to hold 3,000 costumes, 5,000 rental costumes, fireworks, party planning accessories, dance wear and tuxedo rentals.
“We have a lot of people go to the old location, but the reaction as they come in is positive,” McGuire said of the new spot. “The other day, I walked through and counted how many people were shopping — it was 15 — and it just felt like there wasn’t very many people in here. If there were 15 people in the other location, we would’ve felt like we were slammed. It’s just a different feel.”


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Franklin voters to decide on alcohol sales
Voters in the village of Franklin will take up the question of whether to allow the sale of alcohol in Tuesday’s election.
Village President Paul Turpin Jr. said the proposition has come up a number of times over the years, but always failed. The vote is on the question “Shall the prohibition of the sale at retail of alcoholic liquor be continued in the village of Franklin?”
A “no” vote on the proposition will allow the sale of alcohol going forward, while a “yes” vote is against the sale of alcohol — keeping the law the same.
Turpin said package liquor sales were approved in the village by a proposition a few years ago, but the proposition on the ballot Tuesday would allow the village to give liquor licenses to restaurants that want to have alcoholic drinks on the menu.
Under the current rules, alcohol can be purchased at licensed retailers in Franklin, but cannot be consumed on the premises.
“I’ve had multiple calls for, ‘I’d open a restaurant, but I have to have alcohol sales,’” Turpin said.
OTHER QUESTIONS ON BALLOTS TUESDAY
• Shall the village of Eldred place a 1 percent sales tax on all purchases in the village of Eldred?
• Shall the sale at retail of alcoholic liquor be prohibited in the village of Pleasant Hill, Pike County, Illinois?
• Shall Pleasant Hill Community Park District be authorized to levy and collect an additional tax of not to exceed .25 percent for all corporate purposes as provided by Section 5-3 of The Park District Code?
Turpin said interest in putting alcohol sales on the ballot again was generated when local business owner George Hamilton approached the village board about it. Hamilton, owner of Hamilton’s restaurant in Jacksonville, is looking at a building that had been home to a restaurant and cafe in the past, Turpin said.
If voters decide to allow sales, the village board will be able to update ordinances and grant liquor licenses.
Turpin said, as the liquor commissioner, he’s the one responsible for ensuring the laws are being followed by businesses with liquor licenses.
“Either the business is going to abide by it or we’re going to pull their license,” he said.


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Alcohol Health Alliance says only one of 315 labels it examined had up-to-date guidance and none had illness warning
Alcohol brands are failing to include information on product labels about drinking guidelines and the health issues linked with consumption, according to a charity.
Researchers for the Alcohol Health Alliance (AHA), examined 315 labels across 27 UK locations and found only one one informed the public of the current low-risk weekly drinking guideline of 14 units a week.
This post was syndicated from Health | The Guardian. Click here to read the full text on the original website.


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XenoPort has exercised its option to co-promote Solzira, a restless leg syndrome treatment that is pending NDA approval, with GlaxoSmithKline (GSK). The company has also changed its U.S. detailing plans for Requip XL, a Parkinson's treatment produced by GSK. Xenoport says that it will now detail Requip XL near the Solzira product launch as opposed to beginning these activities upon its exercise of the co-promotion option and ending upon the launch of Solzira.
Under the revised terms, XenoPort will be entitled to continue these detailing activities until the earlier of the launch of a generic form of Requip XL or July 1, 2011. "We determined that it would be better to postpone the expense of building this sales force until Solzira is approved, while extending the period of time that our sales force would be able to detail a second product in concert with Solzira," says Vincent J. Angotti, XenoPort's svp, chief commercialization officer.
XenoPort will be compensated for each detail of Requip XL completed by its sales representatives through a fee that is separate from fees under the Solzira joint agreement. GSK originally bougth rights to Solzira in February 2007 when it was in Phase III development. Under the terms of that deal, XenoPort was to receive royalties on U.S. sales but retained the right to choose to co-promote in the U.S. By exercising this option, Xenoport has entered a profit-and-loss sharing arrangement. Prior to the launch of Solzira, cash payments to GSK representing XenoPort’s share of any loss will be deferred and will be repayable over a period of time following the launch.
Other News on Solzira
GSK and XenoPort Are Temporarily Withdrawing Their RLS NDA (Nov. 10, 2008)
XenoPort Shares Spike on Successful Phase III RLS Trial (Ap. 25, 2007)


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Will Work For Fashion
New York Fashion Week might be getting sort of stale as of late, but that doesn’t mean groundbreaking fashion isn’t being made. A quick stop off the L train is where the real cutting-edge styles of
tomorrow are happening today. Now in its 11th season, Williamsburg Fashion Weekend provides a platform of expression for emerging designers that push the boundaries in presentation and production. Fifteen designers will be exhibiting
collections this year, including Juanita Cardenas, Brittany Erb, Stephanie
Hinson, Mark Tauriello, Uta Bekaia, and Marco Santaniello.
Fri., Sept. 14, 8 p.m., 2012
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