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blog Every time I think I know just how dominant Apple’s iPhone unit is in Australia’s mobile phone ecosystem, I am forced to confront new information showing that I had underestimated the situation. For example, consider this news from Telstra today that it has sold more than 1.5 million 4G devices, of which a third or so are iPhone 5 units. Yup. Gizmodo reports (click here for the full article):
“Telstra said that the iPhone 5 is driving good mobile profits, with over 500,000 sold in the second half of 2012.”
There were a few other tidbits from Telstra’s latest financial results briefing session today (PDF here); the company is on track to expand its 4G network to 66 percent of Australia’s population by June this year; it’s recently enables another 480,000 customers to access ADSL2+ through upgrades, it has added a total of 607,000 new mobile customers over the second half of 2012, and even its fixed broadband division is growing, with 85,000 new customers. Plus, it’s now sold some 450,000 T-Box units and some 456,000 T-Hub units. Its cloud division is also apparently growing. All up, not bad.
But for me, what today comes down to is really the success of the iPhone 5. We knew that Australians are more highly focused on Apple than residents of other countries are, and we knew Apple was doing amazingly well in Australia (growing revenue by more than a billion dollars in Australia last year). But 500,000 iPhone 5’s since the handset went on sale since September last year? 1.5 million 4G services in total for Telstra right now? That’s just crazy. Vodafone (which has zero 4G connections right now) is increasingly being left behind when it comes to this 4G race, and we’ll find out next week during Optus’ own financial results session how well it’s doing in 4G. I suspect not anywhere near as well as Telstra.
Image credit: Apple


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One will dumb if he express’ his unawareness about Google Search, Gmail, Picasa or Google Map. But have you ever heard about Google Goggles, Google Health, Google Translate, Google Ketchup or Google checkout ? If you are Google Freak then all above Google services may not tickle your eyes but how many of you are really aware of? If you are Google Fan and always want to be on top of the information & latest release from Google, then here is something which you should surely check out.
The latest data shared by the CMIE aka Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy has highlighted a huge red flag.
As the developments have unfolded over the past week, the clock for WhatsApp seems to be ticking with every passing minute and...
In its recent move to safeguard national security, the United States’ Trump Administration has decided to go after China’s second-biggest smartphone marker...
After Google’s ban on Huawei in 2019, the Chinese-origin tech company is all set to roll out HarmonyOS later in 2021 as...

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Clinical trials group Icon flags profit growth of up to 14% in 2020
Irish business expects to buy back one million shares from investors this year
Clinical trials group Icon expects turnover to rise by up to 10 per cent this year. Photograph: Dara Mac Dónaill
The Irish group also intends to buy back a million shares in the company during the year – about 1.8 per cent of the shares outstanding. This would be “executed opportunistically during 2020 depending on cash commitments to support M&A pipeline”.
Shares in Icon have jumped close to 26 per cent over the past 12 months to close at $168,68 on Monday.
The update, released to coincide with Icon’s presentation to the JP Morgan Healthcare conference, said sales were expected to reach between €2.97 billion and €3.1 billion this year. That marks a jump of between 5.8 and 10 per cent on the projected figures for the year just ended, which are still expected to come within the range of $2.79 billion to $2.83 billion.
Earnings per share will jump by between 9.7 and 14.1 per cent in 2020, it said, which would bring it to somewhere between $7.55 and $7.85 per share.
Chief executive Steve Cutler said that, in addition to organic growth, the company would continue to “actively deploy capital to maximise shareholder value through a combination of M&A and share repurchases”.
Icon, which is based in Leopardstown in Dublin, employs 14,600 people at 99 locations in 40 countries. The company is due to report full year figures on February 18th.


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Two former Tesla workers at battery plant in Nevada sue company saying they were given no notice, as firm cuts headcount by 10 percent
Tesla has been sued by two former staff who say the company broke the law in laying them off, along with about 10 percent of Tesla’s workforce, without notice required by federal law.
The two workers, John Lynch and Daxton Hartsfield, said they worked at Tesla’s battery plant near Reno, Nevada, for about five years before being laid off this month without notice.
In a lawsuit filed late Sunday in Austin, Texas, federal court they said Tesla didn’t comply with the 60-day notification requirement under the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act (WARN) for mass layoffs.
The two said in the suit they were among more than 500 employees at the facility to be let go.
They are seeking class-action status for the lawsuit on behalf of others let go in May and June without notice, according to the complaint at the US District Court, Western District of Texas.
The WARN Act requires companies to provide a 60-day notice before layoffs affecting 50 or more employees at a single site.
Lynch said he was notified on 10 June that his employment was terminated, effective immediately, and Hartsfield said he was notified on 15 June.
“Tesla has simply notified the employees that their terminations would be effective immediately,” they said in the complaint.
Boston-based employment attorney Shannon Liss-Riordan, who is representing the two, told reporters Tesla had “blatantly” disregarded the WARN Act.
Tesla didn’t respond to a request for comment about the lawsuit.
The electric vehicle maker, which moved its headquarters from California to Austin last year, has grown to about 100,000 employees worldwide and has hired rapidly in recent months.
But earlier this month chief executive Elon Musk reportedly told Tesla executives in an email that he had a “super bad feeling” about the economy and to cut headcount by 10 percent.
The firm has declined to comment publicly about layoff figures, but profiles on LinkedIn confirmed that the cuts had begun, with former Tesla staff indicating they had been let go.
Speaking at the Qatar Economic Forum, Musk reportedly called the lawsuit “trivial”.
He said the “pre-emptive” lawsuit “has no standing” and that “anything related to Tesla gets a lot of clicks, whether it is trivial or significant”.
“I would put that lawsuit you’re referring to in the trivial category,” he said, according to Reuters.


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More than 250 business leaders from hospitality and leisure have written to the Chancellor Rishi Sunak urging the Government to keep VAT at 12.5% beyond March 2022. They call on the Treasury to maintain the current level to enable many fragile businesses to continue their recovery, to protect jobs, and to help stave off higher inflation in the economy.
Spearheaded by UKHospitality, signatories to the letter include individual businesses, a swathe of SMEs and some huge multi-national enterprises.
Commenting, Kate Nicholls, CEO of UKHospitality, said: “There are many compelling reasons why VAT should be held at the current rate given the current circumstances. However, this is about so much more than an extension to temporary measures in the face of the challenges brought by Covid; it’s about working to establish the right tax level for our world-class hospitality and tourism industries. It is vital, in the interests of competitiveness, job creation, growth and ensuring hospitality and tourism play their full part in driving the economic recovery.”
The hundreds of signatories to the letter include business leaders from: Apex Hotels, BaxterStory, Bourne Leisure, Big Table Group, Caffe Nero, Center Parcs, Côte, Fuller’s, Greene King, Hilton, IHG Hotels and Resorts, JD Wetherspoon, Loungers, Marston’s, Mitchells & Butlers, Moto Hospitality, Nobu, Parkdean Resorts, Pho, Pizza Express, Pizza Hut, Punch Pubs, Revolution, Rekom, The Restaurant Group, The Savoy Hotel Group, Wagamama and Young’s, plus many more.
The letter highlights the success of the lower rate of VAT applied for tourism and hospitality (on food, accommodation and non-alcohol drinks) in enabling businesses to survive, protect jobs and to continue their recovery, despite “the ravages of the pandemic”. It also says the policy has been paramount in helping businesses to keep as low as possible their prices to customers, in the face of significant cost pressure in the sector, including the cost of energy, transportation, wages and food and drink.
A major concern of the impact of the VAT rise is that businesses will have no choice but to significantly raise their prices, putting pressure on the cost of hospitality experiences and also further fuelling inflation across the economy.
The current rate of 12.5% is set to rise to 20% in April unless the Chancellor intervenes. The month will bring what has been described as a cliff edge for the hospitality industry with a rise in VAT set to happen alongside a rise in the national minimum wage, plus changes to business rate relief plus an end to the rent moratorium, which will impact thousands of operators.
HELPING TO CURB INFLATION
UKHospitality is also urging the government to keep VAT at 12.5% in the interests of limiting inflation. In a recent study of its members, 93% of companies said they intended to increase their prices by 11% in the next few months – double the headline rate of inflation in December 2021.
Due to the disproportionate impact hospitality has on the Bank of England’s ‘basket of goods’ – the cost of various items used by the bank to track inflation – an 11% price increase in hospitality would feed through into a rise of 1.7 percentage points to the headline rate of inflation, over the next 12 months.
Nicholls added: “We are asking the Chancellor to give companies and consumers room to breathe. We have had a very challenging two years where hospitality was hit first, hardest and longest. This industry has borne the full brunt of the economic restrictions due to Covid. Companies have no cash in the bank and are being squeezed from all directions. They must pass costs on or go bust. The only question is by how much prices rise.”
VAT MOVE TO SAVE £4.6 BILLION
The letter to the Chancellor comes hot on the heels of a joint study by UKHospitality, the Tourism Alliance, the British Beer & Pub Association, and the Association of Leading Visitor Attractions, revealing the massive benefits if the current VAT rate is retained.
The report found that a permanent rate of 12.5% would bring VAT on hospitality and attractions in line with the European average (at 20% it is nearly double) and set off a virtuous cycle of industry investment and growth, helping ‘level up’ UK regions.
Headline results from the study included:
- Creating 286,850 jobs over 10 years
- Generating £7.7bn of additional turnover over 10 years
- Delivering £4.6bn in net present value of fiscal gains to HM Treasury over 10 years
- Returning a positive gain on the Government’s investment in less than five years.
LETTER FROM BUSINESS LEADERS IN HOSPITALITY TO CHANCELLOR RISHI SUNAK:
The reduced rate of VAT that you introduced as part of the Plan for Jobs has been an incredible success, helping us to sustain jobs and businesses despite the ravages of the pandemic’s various waves. It has been critical in keeping prices affordable for our customers.
The pandemic highlighted how much the nation has missed hospitality and tourism, and the important part it plays in our lives. However, costs are increasing and our customers are feeling the pinch. The imminent return to a 20% VAT rate will exacerbate the squeeze on household finances.
The increase in input prices to hospitality businesses have been absorbed, largely through the headroom provided by the reduced VAT rate. As costs relating to labour, energy, and food and drink supplies continue to rise, the reduced rate is ever more important.
The reduced rate also bolsters deliverability of many of the Government’s key policies – including levelling up, high street regeneration, employment and skills growth, and investment in net zero –allowing our sector to fully play its part in an economic recovery.
The Government has rightly celebrated being the most open nation in Europe following the Omicron variant. As we look to revive our tourism, maintaining a reduced rate of VAT is imperative, as it simply brings us in line with the levels of VAT levied in our competitor European nations.
The policy has been a resounding success and is central to our sector and the nation’s economic recovery. We therefore implore you to maintain VAT at 12.5% and witness the hospitality sector rebound strongly and deliver jobs and growth around the country.
Kate Nicholls, CEO, UKHospitality


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Ubisoft consultant Teut Weidemann has come out with a statement declaring that Riot Games’ League of Legends has an inherently flawed system. The conclusion was reached as a result of examining the metrics of the game from public tracking services; as well as shareholder reports, press releases, and conference talks. Essentially, Weidemann believes that LoL is only surviving because of its massive playerbase.
The idea is that LoL has a massive player base but a very low conversion rate. With a conversion rate of less than 15-percent, Riot is not making as much money as it would by selling more items or heroes. Weidemann believes that the company is giving away too much free stuff, and it should adopt a model closer to that run by World of Tanks (who have a massive 30-percent conversion rate).
He states, “Riot doesn’t care. Optimising monetisation is not the top priority. They monetise purely through their reach. So it only works because of the large user base, and if you don’t have that user base or don’t expect to, you should not adopt their monetisation. It should not be a role model for your monetisation system.”
However, it would appear that this low conversion rate has not hurt the game at all. Riot is still pulling in a massive amount of revenue. To the tune of over US$600 million in 2013. It might just be that Weidemann is warning other potential entrants into the MMO market that they will not be able to survive by emulating the free-to-play model offered by LoL.
This being said, Ubisoft has been known to pursue extremely aggressive strategies for getting revenue. And hasn’t entirely had the best of reputations in gaming circles. Particularly as the pre-orders for Far Cry 4 and Assassin’s Creed Unity on Steam have been boycotted as gamers become fed up with large developers offering content available only as part of a pre-order; forcing people to buy games they are not even sure are good just to get the full experience.


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Sharps Brewery is supporting a new stand up paddleboard (SUP) event that is taking place on Plymouth’s waterfront during the Festival of Sail weekend, 28th-30th June
The public will be able to take part alongside regular paddleboarders in a knockout-style competition over a 100m sprint course. Registration is from 09:00am with the racing scheduled to take place between 10am-2pm each day. Entry is free but all participants are being asked to make a donation of £5.00 to the Marine Conservation Society to help protect our seas, shores and wildlife.
One-design SUP Racing is great fun and offers a fair competition format for everyone, regardless of size or experience.
The DOOM BAR SUP RACING experience is one of a number of public animations taking place on the waterfront this weekend with an expected 20,000 people due in Plymouth to watch the Route des Princes giant multihulls racing in Plymouth Sound.
The event is also a showcase for local producers and the public will be able to sample the delights of the UK’s No.1 cask beer in the UK, DOOM BAR.
James Nicholls, Brand Manager
“We are really looking forward to this weekend and the launch of the DOOM BAR SUP RACING experience. This is a fantastic opportunity for people to get out on the water this summer, it’s really accessible and great fun. SUP is a natural fit for DOOM BAR as the brand is inspired and named after the infamous sandbank in the Camel estuary near our home at Rock in Cornwall where we see increasing numbers of people taking to the sport. The event will provide us a great opportunity for us to engage with the public and thank loyal consumers in helping us reach recently achieved goal, Doom Bar No.1 cask beer in the UK (CGA data April 2013).”
For more information go to www.supracing.co.uk/doombar
The weekend forecast is looking perfect for this fantastic event. So head down to Plymouth for a fun day on the water, and help raise money for a great cause… and treat yourself to a pint of DOOM BAR at the end! Now that sounds like a perfect summers day!


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A surprise on the inflation figures for Britain as it slipped in May to its lowest in two and a half years – down to 2.8 percent from a year earlier. It had been 3.0 percent in April.
That was due to slower price rises for food and fuel.
That makes it more likely the Bank of England will introduce some stimulus measures to help the UK economy which is increasingly feeling the effects of the eurozone debt crisis.
Britain entered its second recession since the 2007-2009 financial crisis around the turn of the year, and signs that the eurozone crisis was deepening prompted UK policymakers last week to announce a plan to flood its financial system with billions of pounds to get a recovery moving.
In addition, Bank of England Governor Mervyn King hinted that more quantitative easing might be on the cards, and the chances that the programme will be restarted next month have been boosted by the inflation figures.
British inflation has been above the BoE’s 2.0 percent target since December 2009 and its slow fall earlier this year had made some central bankers reluctant to inject more cash into the economy despite signs that the recovery had stalled.
The Bank has blamed high inflation for sluggish consumer spending – which drives about 60 percent of Britain’s gross domestic product – and a forecast fall in inflation is one of the reasons why it reckons growth will pick up later this year.


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Loveland gained its first-ever Hyundai dealership when Fort Collins Hyundai moved to the Motorplex at Centerra this spring and became Crossroads Hyundai.
The dealership, formerly located with Fort Collins Dodge Chrysler Jeep on South College Avenue, is owned by longtime Fort Collins businessman Mike Downey and “Dealin’ Doug” Moreland of Denver.
Steve Hardy, general manager of both locations, said Hyundais are hot, and the owners wanted a larger and more central location for their product.
“We thought that it was a whole lot nicer facility than what we were in, and it gave us a whole bunch of extra service capacity to take better care of our customers,” he said.
In late April, the Hyundai dealership moved into the former L2 used-car facility at 3870 Byrd Drive. Hardy said the current owners of the Dodge-Chrysler-Jeep and Hyundai dealerships bought the business from the Lithia Corp. in 2009. Lithia also owned the L2 used-car business.
Hardy said the Hyundai dealership had been making do with a converted Furr’s Cafeteria location in Fort Collins, and the new showroom “is easily twice as big and a whole lot more modern.”
“Hyundai is one of the most up-and-coming car companies in the world right now,” he said. “The only thing that limits us with the new Hyundais is our inventory.”
The dealership has about 50 new and 60 used cars on the lot, he said, with plans to expand to 100 or more new Hyundais within the next two months.
Crossroads Hyundai employs about 30 people, Hardy said, an increase of five since April, and expects to “expand that even more.”
Craig Young can be reached at 635-3634 or email@example.com. Follow him on Twitter, @CraigYoungRH.


text: Some of the most active companies traded Wednesday on the Toronto Stock Exchange:Toronto Stock Exchange (15,265.63, up 63.53 points):Bombardier Inc. (TSX:BBD.B). Aerospace, rail equipment. Up 14 cents, or 5.53 per cent, to $2.67 on 9.3 million shares.Encana Corp. (TSX:ECA). Oil and gas. Down 22 cents, or 1.75 per cent, to $12.33 on 7.4 million shares.Air Canada (TSX:AC). Airline. Down 86 cents, or 3.96 per cent, to $20.88 on 4.9 million shares.Lundin Mining Corp. (TSX:LUN). Miner. Down 29 cents, or 3.17 per cent, to $8.87 on 3.8 million shares.B2Gold Corp. (TSX:BTO). Miner. Up two cents, or 0.65 per cent, to $3.11 on 3.7 million shares.Cenovus Energy Inc. (TSX:CVE). Oil and gas. Up 11 cents, or 1.08 per cent, to $10.26 on 3.6 million shares.Companies reporting major news:Cineplex Inc. (TSX:CGX). Entertainment. Down $4.05, or 8.19 per cent, to $45.43 on 1.7 million shares. The company reported earnings of $1.4 million (two cents per diluted share) in its second quarter, down from $7.2 million (12 cents per diluted share) a year ago. Revenue improved to $364.1 million, up from $338.0 million due primarily to higher amusement revenue as a result of growth and diversification.Restaurant Brands International Inc. (TSX:QSR). Fast food restaurants. Up 74 cents, or 1.00 per cent, to $74.97 on 752,689 shares. Tim Hortons plans to expand to Spain, its fourth venture abroad in recent months, as it tries to overcome lagging sales and an internal revolt from disgruntled franchisees in Canada. RBI, the parent company of the coffee-and-doughnut chain, said Wednesday it has signed a deal with a joint venture partner to set up shop in one of the largest cafe markets in Europe. RBI, which also owns Burger King and Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen, also reported second-quarter earnings attributable to common shareholders of US$89.5 million or 37 cents per diluted share, down slightly from earnings of $90.9 million or 38 cents per diluted share a year ago. Revenue totalled US$1.13 billion, up from $1.04 billion a year ago, boosted by the acquisition of Popeyes.Torstar Corp. (TSX:TS.B). Publishing. Down five cents, or 3.45 per cent, to $1.40 on 136,848 shares. The publisher reported a second-quarter loss of $7 million (nine cents per share), compared with a loss of $23.9 million (30 cents per share) a year ago. Operating revenue totalled $161.8 million, down from $177.9 million a year earlier.


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Rakuten customers to roam onto KDDI via virtualised Cisco functions
Japanese cloud-based mobile carrier Rakuten has launched its roaming agreement with KDDI to allow customers to keep in touch across the country.
Rakuten Mobile runs an existing 4G network and plans to launch its 5G services in June 2020.
The latest deal, working with Cisco, means Rakuten can offer service continuity for its customers, provide a superior connection, and allow data and voice services to move seamlessly from one operator’s network to another.
“With the launch of our S10 roaming service, we are setting a new experience standard for service and device continuity over multiple networks,” said Tareq Amin (pictured), CTO of Rakuten Mobile. S10 is a signalling interface approved by 3GPP, the global mobile standards body.
“With KDDI’s collaborative support, Rakuten Mobile and Cisco are showcasing new ways to combine our technology and talent to bring big benefits to the people who rely on our networks to stay connected every day.”
Amin is former CTO of Reliance Jio, the Indian mobile operator that has undercut other companies in the country. Rakuten, owned by a Japanese electronic commerce and online retailing company, is modelling its launch on that of Jio.
Cisco’s Jonathan Davidson, general manager of mass scale infrastructure, explained: “Adding S10 handover between Rakuten Mobile and KDDI offers Rakuten Mobile subscribers a seamless mobility experience with undetected transition as they move between networks.”
In the new service, Cisco’s virtual ultra-packet core connects mobility management entities (MMEs) between Rakuten Mobile and KDDI. The MMEs track relevant user data sessions to ensure smooth handover from one operator’s network to the next.
The data path will be managed by connecting the KDDI network with Cisco’s system architecture evolution gateway virtualised network functions (VNFs) supporting a control and user plane separation architecture.


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Three senior executives of Culver City-based MedMen Enterprises Inc. have departed in recent weeks amid the backdrop of nearly 100 employees who have left the cannabis retailer since January, according to filings.
An economic impact report released by the Los Angeles Tourism & Convention Board on May 7 found that the 50 million tourists who visited the L.A. region spent $23.9 billion, helping to generated $36.6 billion in total economic impact. Tourist spending was up 5% over last year. Nearly a third of those dollars were spent on hotel and accommodations.
Santa Monica-based Happy Returns Inc., announced April 25 an $11 million investment from PayPal Holdings Inc. that it will use to reach deeper into U.S. markets and expand its return services to international customers.
Investment firm Apollo Global Management will acquire Commerce-based Smart & Final Stores for more than $1.1 billion.
Los Angeles airport officials on April 4 unveiled preliminary plans for two new passenger terminals at Los Angeles International Airport.
In the space of three days at the end of March and early April, four nonstop flights were resumed or added at Los Angeles International Airport, according to announcements from various airlines.
February passenger traffic at Los Angeles International Airport eked out a slight gain of 22,000, or 0.4 percent, from January to reach 6.07 million and is up 0.8 percent on the year to 12.83 million, according to figures released by the airport’s governing authority on March 27.
Sawtelle-based brand licensing agency Global Icons acquired Fred Segal, the iconic Los Angeles lifestyle luxury retailer from Evolution Media, which will maintain a minority stake in the company.
FashionPass is alleging competitor Rent the Runway pressured more than a dozen mostly Los Angeles-based fashion lines into an exclusive relationship in an effort to drive the smaller subscription clothing company out of business, according to a lawsuit filed in Los Angeles Superior Court Tuesday.
Los Angeles International Airport surpassed Tokyo’s major airport to move up a notch to the No. 4 spot on the list of the world’s busiest airports as ranked by 2018 passenger traffic, according to a report released March 13.
Spirit Airlines will begin service in June between Hollywood Burbank Airport and McCarran International Airport in Las Vegas.
Home décor retailer Z Gallerie filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection and plans to close 17 stores as part of its restructuring.
El Segundo-based fast-casual restaurant chain Lemonade will merge with Denver-based Modern Market Eatery to form a new restaurant group with an eye toward franchising their healthy brand.
Clutter, an on-demand storage company that’s trying to shake up the storage market, raised $200 million to fuel its expansion into Philadelphia, Portland and Sacramento, it announced Wednesday.
LA airports – and the airlines that serve them – see flights tick up in 2018
L.A.-area airports see record number of passengers.


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- iQOO Neo 7 SE specifications have been tipped.
- The handset is slated to come with MediaTek Dimensity 8200, 64MP primary camera, an FHD+ AMOLED display, and 120W fast charging support.
- iQOO Neo 7 SE launch date is yet to be revealed.
iQOO Neo 7 SE specifications have once again been tipped ahead of the launch and this time by leakster Ishan Agarwal. The iQOO Neo 7 SE is the company’s next premium mid-range offering that is expected to launch in China very soon. The recently leaked poster image hinted at the colour options it will be available in. According to Ishan, the phone is expected to arrive with MediaTek Dimensity 8200, which is yet to be announced officially. The phone is tipped to get 120W fast charging support and an FHD+ AMOLED display.
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While earlier reports have said the QOO Neo 7 SE specifications leak via promo poster ahead of launch (91mobiles.com) the iQOO Neo 7 SE would have a 50MP primary camera with OIS, Ishan says the handset will get a 64MP primary camera instead. Furthermore, the device is expected to feature a 6.78-inch screen.
iQOO Neo 7 SE specifications (expected)
- 6.78-inch AMOLED display
- MediaTek Dimensity 8200
- Up to 12GB RAM, 256GB storage
- 64MP + 2MP + 2MP triple cameras
- 16MP front camera
- 5,000mAh battery, 120W fast charging
The iQOO Neo 7 SE is expected to come with a 6.78-inch AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate, 2400 X 1080 pixels resolution, and a punch-hole cutout for the selfie snapper. The device is rumoured to be powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 8200. The phone will have multiple LPDDR5 RAM and UFS 3.1 storage configurations: 8GB + 128GB, 8GB + 256GB, and lastly, 12GB + 256GB model.
Moving to optics, the iQOO Neo 7 SE is said to feature a 64MP primary camera on the back, paired with a 2MP portrait sensor and a 2MP macro unit. However, earlier rumours have claimed the primary sensor would be a 50MP unit with OIS, while that will be aided by an 8MP ultra-wide-angle lens and a 2MP macro unit. The phone will have a 16MP unit on the front for selfies and video chats.
The iQOO Neo 7 SE is expected to pack a 5000mAh battery with 120W fast charging support. While most specifications match with earlier leaks, the cameras are contradicting and it remains to be seen what the final ones would be.
Lastly, Ishan says the iQOO Neo 7 SE will be available in Interstellar Black, Electric Blue, and Galaxy colour options.


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2020 has been a challenging year for many eBay sellers, which makes the last quarter more important than ever. With the holiday season fast approaching eBay business sellers should be looking to boost sales during this peak trading period. The latest eBay update is vital reading for all eBay sellers to keep on top of the latest promotions, tools and platform changes to maximize sales in the holiday season so here's a summary of the main autumn update announcements that all sellers need to know:Continue Reading >
With a constant stream of loyal customers and great business growth potential, eBay is a highly attractive marketplace for many first-time sellers and small businesses.
What’s more, dropshipping on eBay has opened the door to this huge audience without the need for upfront capital.
Requiring far less financial input than a regular store, eBay dropshipping could provide an excellent gateway to online retail for sellers just starting out or looking to test the water.
So, how do you dropship on eBay? What are the pros and cons of dropshipping on eBay? And ultimately, is it worth it?Continue Reading >
It's no secret that consumer expectations for speed and choice are on the rise across all areas of eCommerce - delivery options, order fulfilment and customer service, just to name a few.
Well, these same expectations apply to the checkout experience.Continue Reading >
Knowing how much it costs your business to sell on eBay is paramount to the success and profitability of your online business.
After all, with a number of different fees incurred by selling on the marketplace, it’s crucial to understand what these are in order to effectively price your products and determine your profit margins.
With more than 25 million sellers on eBay, rising above the competition and getting your products seen by potential buyers can feel near-on impossible.
But it doesn't have to.
While there's no denying that boosting visibility on eBay is a challenge, there is a way you can significantly improve your chances of being found by prospective customers.Continue Reading >


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Last year the Meisho series from Tamashii Nation released the highly successful range of Star Wars Manga Realization figures, featuring unique Feudal Japan interpretations of classic star wars characters that included Samurai Taisho Darth Vader and Ronin Boba Fett.
I personally love these figures and purchased the Darth Vader on my trip to Japan last year. I particularly like the Lightsabre Katana!
Now, released this year, it’s the time for the Marvel universe to get the Japanese makeover, starting with Samurai Spiderman, featuring interchangeable hands, Japanese Katana’s and a Kaginawa web hook.
Next up due for release in Feburary 2017 is Samurai Iron Man featuring a steam punk style jet pack and flintlock rifle-esque cannons instead of hand repulsors.
Final the latest announcement for the Feudal makeover is Captain America, with pretty awesome looking shield and original blue and red coloured Samurai armour and helmet.
I’m sure more will be announced in the coming months and prices should be around 9500Yen. I think Samurai Hulk would be pretty unique!


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LONDON: June 03, 2016. The head of United Parcel Service in the UK Luis Arriaga has joined the CEOs of HSBC, BT Group, JP Morgan, PwC and corporate leaders in warning that a British exit from the EU “will damage the UK’s thriving service sector and put jobs at risk”.
Insurance industry leaders also warn that an exit from Europe will mean likely job losses among the 34,000 people employed directly in London’s commercial insurance sector.
Over 25 million people work in the UK service sector that includes retail, hospitality, transport, professional and financial services. According to a new report by Frontier Economics, the group contributes an annual £68 billion in exports to the UK economy.
Overall, 2,050,000 jobs in Britain are linked to the country's service sector’s exports to other EU countries.
Services now account for 79 percent of the UK economy – contributing £1.3 trillion to GDP a year.
In a statement against leaving the EU the CEOs noted: ‘Britain’s service sector includes everything from retail to the arts, from finance to education, and from hotels to architects. It accounts for around 80 percent of value added and 80 percent of employment, making it the jewel in the crown of British industries.
"As the leaders of some of Britain's biggest service businesses we believe that a vote to leave the EU would damage the UK's thriving service sector and put jobs at risk. We want to ensure that Britain remains a leader in this vital field, and that is why we support the UK remaining in the EU on June 23.”
The chief executives have also been joined by 60 start-up investors with over £14 billion under management in Britain who say tech companies rely on access to the Single Market and being able to easily recruit talented workers from across the EU.
In an open letter the investors said: “Every credible financial institution - from the IMF and the OECD to the Treasury - have made clear that Brexit would lead to an economic shock. Start-ups would be the biggest victims of such a shock, endangering the firms that everyone has come to love and rely on, and who will form major elements of our economy in the future.
“That is why those of us who can will vote to stay in the European Union and all of us urge Britain to remain.”
Last month UPS opened its first UPS Access Point in Vienna for package pickup and drop off at local businesses including neighborhood grocery stores, tobacconists and petrol stations. There are currently more than 15,000 UPS Access Points across Belgium, Luxemburg, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Spain and the UK.


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Healthy dogs are top priority as Newport Market business launches
Dog owners can now make the most of a healthy food stall for their furry loved ones in Newport.
Dogs' Health Shop has opened at Newport Indoor Market thanks to a £1,850 trial start-up grant through Telford & Wrekin Council’s Pride in Our High Street programme.
The stand, open on Fridays and Saturdays from 8am to 4pm and Tuesdays 8am to 4pm, offers natural dog treats and health supplements and brings a business with a difference to the town.
Business owner Nigel Paskin decided to have a physical presence on the market after seeing a steady growth in his online business www.dogshealthshop.com over the past two years.
The business replaces the previous pet stall in the market and sells the finest natural dog treats, with proven health benefits to keep dogs fit and active.
Treats and foods are sourced from all over the UK, using the best suppliers and offering incredible quality, and include sausages, cows ears, pig snouts as well as a variety of tasty chews.
Nigel sees the trial venture as a great opportunity to provide these products locally and is also planning a click and collect service.
The nearest shops selling similar products are large pet stores or chains that aren’t specialist high street stores.
Nigel said: “I think that many dog owners are now waking up to the fact that healthy dog foods and snacks improve the health of their dog and keep them in good shape.
“I’ve attended a number of trade fairs up and down the country with my products and they have always been very popular and attracted interest.
“These foods are only available from much larger retailers and are more difficult to find on the high street.
“I’ve already had a lot of enquiries about the new shop and people have said they will come and visit and see what we offer. I’m looking forward to welcoming them.”
Nigel also believes his foods will attract first time dog owners and people from further-a-field.
He added: “I’m feeling really positive about having a regular base in Newport and I’m hoping it will really take off. I pride myself on good customer service and knowledge.
“Hopefully, people who are becoming dog owners for the first time will want to do the best for their dog from the word go and people will travel from outside the area to see what we’ve got to offer.
“I’m really grateful for the support I’ve had through the Pride in our High Street programme which has enabled me to get my new stall up and running.”
Nigel is using the grant to set up the market stall and fund signage, advertising costs and other start-up materials.
Councillor Lee Carter (Lab), Telford & Wrekin Council’s Cabinet Member for Neighbourhood Services, Regeneration and the High Street, said: “Dogs are extremely popular pets for our residents in Newport and across the borough.
“This specialist stall is bound to capture people’s attention and is unique and a bit different to a traditional pet shop.
“Through the Pride in Our High Street programme it’s about giving businesses like Dogs' Health Shop the opportunity to launch on the high street, grow the business and see where it takes them.
“Having a permanent base and a focal point on the market will hopefully go a long way to making this new stall a huge success in the town.”
You can find out more about the Pride in Our High Street programme and the support which is available here.
Photo: Cllr Peter Scott (left) with Dog's Health Shop owner Nigel Paskin.


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The Samsung Galaxy S5 is expected to make it’s debut early next year. Right now, it’s still too early for purported images to surface on the Internet, but that doesn’t stop tech experts from trying to make educated predictions.
Rumors for Samsung Galaxy S5 release
Rumors indicate the Galaxy S5 could be introduced in March, like earlier this year. Samsung typically skips introducing big products at CES and MWC events. It’s highly unlikely it would return this year. The South Korean tech giant also gives each device a full year before introducing something new. We can expect this device to hit stores in either April or May. For now, the Galaxy S4.
Galaxy S5 features
Although the rumors for the Galaxy S5 are still relatively rare, the few rumors out there involve a certain feature. It’s speculated the camera on the next flagship phone will feature a 13-megapixel camera sensor. This feature will make it easier to take photos in low-light as well as minimize blurriness in images with Optical Image Stabilization. GottaBeMobile added, “Samsung says that it will start mass producing the camera in early 2014, a sign that it could come equipped on board a flagship Galaxy smartphone in the days ahead. This announcement came after rumors suggesting that the device would be carrying a 16MP camera sensor on board with, yes, OIS (Optical Image Stabilization). We lean towards the former, considering it’s an official camera sensor, but what’s clear is that Samsung is taking strides to improve the sensors inside its devices and that should translate into an improved camera inside the Galaxy S5 next year, whether it’s 13MP or 16MP.”
The S5 could also feature a metal body instead of polycarbonate. There are also reports that it could feature a water and dust resistant design similar to the Galaxy S4 Active. We have to wait at least half a year more before Samsung’s next phone arrives.


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The first super sports V12 hybrid HPEV unveiled in Japan
Tokyo, 9 June 2023 - Automobili Lamborghini Japan hosted the Lamborghini Revuelto Japan premiere on Tuesday 6 June at Ariake Arena. In the marque’s 60th anniversary year, Lamborghini premiered its first V12 super sports hybrid plug-in HPEV (High Performance Electrified Vehicle) in front of over 500 guests in Japan. The location, Ariake Arena, served as one of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games venues and is slated to become Tokyo’s new sports and cultural hub: Lamborghini is the first automobile manufacturer to host an event there.
Attending the premiere from Automobili Lamborghini were Mitja Borkert, Head of Design and Matteo Ortenzi, Revuelto Product Line Director, together with Japan representative Davide Sfrecola, Head of Japan.
With unprecedented new architecture, innovative design, maximum-efficiency aerodynamics, and a new carbon frame concept, Lamborghini Revuelto defines a new paradigm in terms of performance, sportiness and driving pleasure. An output of 1,015 hp is delivered from the combined power of an entirely new combustion engine together with three electric motors, alongside a double-clutch transmission (DCT) that makes its debut on a 12-cylinder Lamborghini for the first time. Making its global debut in the 60th anniversary year, the first electrified model delivers impact, excitement and innovation for Lamborghini owners and enthusiasts.
As Automobili Lamborghini unveiled its first V12 HPEV model, the brand also pays tribute to its iconic V12 heritage with a showcase of the past V12 engine models such as the 400 GT, Miura, Countach, Diablo, Murciélago and Aventador.
The Revuelto’s extensive customization possibilities were also on display in the dedicated Ad Personam area, where guests could touch and feel the various materials in order to customize their new vehicles with exterior and interior color and trim options, and special finishes that personify their individual preferences.
The design corner, replicating Mitja Borkert’s studio, was also one of the highlights of the venue, allowing guests to witness live sketching and to visualise the creative flow that led to the design of the new car.
“Lamborghini Revuelto showcases an entirely new style while still being faithful to the design DNA. We’ve made sure the design is recognizable at first glance as a next-generation model of the V12, which continues to attract fans to this day. Carrying the lineage of Lamborghini’s legendary V12 while simultaneously representing a new design era, the Revuelto opens doors to Lamborghini’s future.” said Mitja Borkert.
“Revuelto takes Lamborghini emotions to a new dimension. There’s no doubt it will define a new paradigm in terms of performance, sportiness, and driving pleasure. With the new 12-cylinder engine and hybrid technology, this new Lamborghini delivers a new level of driving emotions.” said Matteo Ortenzi.
“Today I am delighted to unveil the model to Japanese customers and celebrate the occasion together. Revuelto is the new flagship model in the future of Lamborghini. We look forward to commencing deliveries to Japanese owners and to seeing Revuelto on roads here in Japan.” said Davide Sfrecola.


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- Merck Requests That Covered Entities Submit Contract Pharmacy Claims to 340B ESP
Drug manufacturer Merck recently sent letters to 340B covered entities with contract pharmacy arrangements to request that they participate in a new web-based platform, 340B ESP, by August 14, 2020. Merck is asking covered entities to submit contract pharmacy claims data for Merck products to 340B ESP, which would then match this data against the rebate claims that Merck receives from payers. Merck stated that it will be collecting contract pharmacy claims data not only to identify duplicate Medicaid discounts, but also to identify duplicate discounts on Medicare Part D and commercial utilization through its contracts with commercial payers. According to Merck’s letter, this program is part of the manufacturer’s “integrity initiative” to monitor operations and ensure compliance with 340B program requirements.
The 340B statute protects a manufacturer from providing both a Medicaid rebate to a state Medicaid agency and a 340B discount to a 340B covered entity. However, the 340B statute does not protect manufacturers from paying duplicate discounts on Medicare Part D drugs or private commercial plans. Powers is concerned that Merck may use non-Medicaid claims data to withhold paying rebates on 340B drugs to Part D plans and commercial payers which, in turn, may cause these payers to lower reimbursement for 340B drugs.
In the letter, Merck states that, for covered entities that choose not to participate in the 340B ESP program, it may pursue “substantially more burdensome” methods for acquiring the data. The 340B community is concerned that Merck could stop honoring 340B chargebacks for contract pharmacy claims from covered entities that do not participate in 340B ESP. (See related article on Eli Lilly’s announcement that it would not honor 340B pricing for Cialis at contract pharmacies.) Additionally, Merck’s letter does not address what remedies it would seek if it discovers a Medicaid duplicate discount. Merck could potentially ask the State Medicaid agency to repay the rebate or seek repayment of the 340B discount from the covered entity.
Covered entities and their advocates, including Powers, are already reaching out to Merck to get more information about the 340B ESP program. On July 16, the 340B Coalition sent a letter to HHS Secretary Alex Azar requesting that HHS stop both Merck from implementing policies that pose a threat to safety-net provider’s ability to access drugs at 340B prices. (The letter also addressed Eli Lilly’s recent announcement of a limited distribution plan to foreclose covered entities from purchasing Cialis at 340B prices through contract pharmacies. See related alert.) Powers will continue to monitor the Merck situation closely and will provide updates.
- Eli Lilly’s Refusal to Pay Cialis at 340B a Clear Violation of the 340B Statute
In a notice published on the HRSA website, Eli Lilly and Co. announced that, effective July 1, 2020, it will no longer sell Cialis at 340B ceiling prices to covered entities through contract pharmacy arrangements. Lilly said that it will be limiting distribution of Cialis at 340B ceiling prices “directly to covered entities and their child sites.”
According to an FAQ document released by Lilly, the manufacturer is limiting distribution of Cialis due to its “concerns regarding contract pharmacy compliance and expansion and seeks to minimize the risk of certain penalties and repayment obligations associated with its participation in the 340B program.” Lilly further explains:
To address these concerns, Lilly is seeking to limit the number of 340B transactions to only those that are required by statute.
However, Powers believes that the Lilly limited distribution plan is a violation of the 340B statute, as well as the pharmaceutical pricing agreement (PPA) that 340B participating manufacturers sign, both of which require that manufacturers “must offer” covered outpatient drugs at or below the 340B ceiling price.
When questioned about the Lilly limited distribution plan, HRSA stated that it does not believe it has the regulatory authority to force manufacturers to sell 340B drugs to contract pharmacies. This statement directly contradicts prior published statements from HRSA that contract pharmacy arrangements are enforceable under state agency law and the provisions in manufacturers’ PPAs and the 340B statute that require manufacturers to sell covered outpatient drugs at or below the 340B ceiling price.
This is the first time that a manufacturer has refused to sell a drug at 340B pricing to contract pharmacies for the reasons stated by Lilly. Although Lilly’s limited distribution plan addresses only Cialis, Lilly’s action sets a dangerous precedent for other manufacturers that want to limit sales of 340B drugs to contract pharmacies and for Lilly to expand its limited distribution plan to other drugs.
340B provider groups are recommending that 340B covered entities notify HRSA using an Apexus form if, as of July 1 or later, they:
- Had to purchase Cialis NDC 0002-4463-30, 00002-4464-30, or 00002-4465-34 for more than the ceiling price for your contract pharmacy; and/or
- Attempted to purchase one of the NDCs at a 340B price for your contract pharmacy but were unable to do so.
Collecting this information may lay the groundwork for administrative and legislative advocacy and possibly even litigation.
On July 16, the 340B Coalition sent a letter to HHS Secretary Alex Azar requesting that HHS stop Lilly from implementing policies that pose a threat to safety-net provider’s ability to access drugs at 340B prices. (The letter also addressed Merck’s ESP program. See related alert.) Powers will continue to monitor the Lilly situation closely and will provide updates.


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Nov. 18, 2002
When Antony Tagliamonti heard the rumor, he thought surely it was joke.
He was told that Italian Minister of Agriculture Giovanni Alemanno is seeking to trademark pizza according to Neapolitan pizza-making standards (dough must be shaped only one way, all ingredients must be grown and made in Italy, and only certain toppings are allowed). Pizzas made outside those guidelines, Alemanno said, couldn't be sold as "pizza."
The rumor proved true, and Tagliamonti was incensed.
"It made me feel angry they'd try to do such a thing," said Tagliamonti, 23, and a two-store London-area Domino's Pizza franchisee. He said he's heard rumors of authentication squads moving throughout Europe, seeking non-compliant pizzerias.
Tagliamonti then set out to raise some awareness of the issue during the UK's celebration of National Pizza Week, Nov. 11-17. He called Domino's UK's public relations firm for advice on staging a protest that would attract some media attention, and asked customers at both his shops to sign a petition against the proposed "pizza trademark."
"We got about 600 signatures on the petition, and we took that and a pizza to the Italian Embassy (in London)," Tagliamonti said of the Nov. 12 protest. "There were about 25 of us, mostly employees and a few customers, who went to the embassy."
The small group waved signs and chanted slogans in protest of the threatened certification, and as a few TV cameras rolled, the unit moved toward the embassy's front door.
Domino's Pizza UK franchisee, Antony Tagliamonti, led a "Save Our Slice" protest at the Italian Embassy in London on Nov. 12. The 25-member group of employees and Domino's customers protested the Italian government's proposal to trademark pizza.
"We actually got through the gate to deliver the petition, but about 10 minutes later we were escorted out by security," said Tagliamonti. "They told us we had to leave, and we did."
When the not-so-dramatic showdown ended, Tagliamonti was happy he had fired a shot in what will likely become a pizza public relations war.
He had to do something, he said, because in essence, what the Italians have said by moving toward trademarking pizza is suggesting non-Neapolitan pizza is subpar.
"I don't think my pizzas are in any way an inferior product," said Tagliamonti. "I love Italian pizzas, but I'm just all for choice. If I want a Texas barbecue pizza or a Hawaiian pizza, I'll have it."
In 1984, the Associazione Verace Pizza (Genuine Pizza Association, or "Verace Pizza Napoletana" [VPN] as it's known in the U.S.) was formed in Naples, Italy, to promote the culinary tradition of pizza. The association claims pizza was born in Italy and perfected in Naples.
As the association developed, its Italian members moved not only to gain an official certification for Neapolitan pizza, but to examine whether restaurants that make pizzas in non-Neapolitan styles could be denied the right to call their products "pizza."
Not only would this mean every pizza maker in the world would have to buy only Italian ingredients, they would have to mix dough in an association-approved mixer, shape the dough by hand only -- not even so much as a rolling pin is allowed for this, and dough slapping is totally verboten -- top it with an austere assortment of toppings, and then bake it on the stone deck of a wood-fired oven.
Also in 1984, Evelyne Slomon published The Pizza Book, currently the lone seminal work on the origins of pizza. Asked whether the Italians had a chance to trademark their beloved pie, the pizza researcher snickered.
"I say, 'Good luck,' " said Slomon, a New York City-born chef by trade, who now co-owns Nizza La Bella restaurant in Berkeley, Calif. "What are they going to do? Go after every pizzeria in the world?"
Not only would that effort be futile, Slomon said, for the Italians to claim pizza -- as the world largely knows it anyway -- was born of their hands is bogus. Reading from The Pizza Book, Slomon said, "Italians may have made pizza famous, but they certainly didn't invent the concept of the dish. Here the debt is clearly owed to the Greeks."
British food historian Colin Spencer disputes Slomon's claim somewhat, but not to the Italians' benefit. Flatbreads topped with herbs, garlic, meat and fish, he said, have been eaten the world round for multiple millennia. In a recent Domino's UK press release, Spencer said, "Many people believe the Italians or the Greeks are the inventors of pizza, but this is simply not the case."
Even the VPN Web site details how the Romans returned from invading Palestine (a century before Christ's birth) and began copying the Palestinians' and the Israelites' practice of topping unleavened bread with herbs. Here, too, Spencer gives a nod to Middle Eastern peoples as co-creators of pizza.
Most sources do agree on the origin of so-called commercial pizza. Baker Raffaele Esposito is credited with making a simple pie of thin dough topped with crushed tomatoes, buffalo mozzarella and basil leaves as a birthday gift for Italy's Princess Margherita in 1889.
The dish was a hit not only with the princess, but with the Italians as well. So much so that just 16 years later pizza was being sold in New York City's Lombardi's Italian restaurant.
The price of authenticity
Tagliamonti said it's not only absurd the Italians want to dictate how pizza must be made, he's incensed Italy's agriculture minister would use such a strategy to increase the country's food exports.
"It's all about selling more of their products," Tagliamonti said. "They can talk about history all they'd like, but that's not their point."
A look at the U.S. VPN site makes clear another aim: the generation of association fees and dues.
If an operator wants to become a member, he must take a three-day training course in Marina Del Ray, Calif., where VPN president Peppe Mille owns and operates Antica Pizzeria. Course fee -- not including travel and accommodations -- is $2,600.
If after the course one wants to join, he must pay $700: $200 to register, $200 in annual dues (paid a year in advance), plus $300 for a sign that bears the "Verace Pizza Napoletana" insignia.
Still, said operator can't hang that membership sign until a VPN member/delegate visits his operation to approve said operator is following his training. Additionally, the prospective member must foot the delegate's entire bill for travel and accommodations.
According to the VPN Web site, there are about 70 members world wide. (Interestingly, the "VPN Store" link lists no items for sale.)
Two VPN members are U.S. pizza makers: Miele and Ron Molinaro, Jr., owner of Il Pizzaiolo in Pittsburgh. Neither could be reached for comment on this story.
In a Sydney Morning Herald story published in August, Pizza Mario owner David Cowdrill (See "Italian food certification proposal ...") said he's member #153 of the association, a designation he received after training for one month at a top Neapolitan pizzeria.
Australians, he told the paper, regard his genuine Neapolitan pizzas as somewhat austere. Somewhat surprisingly he said that Italian pizza makers don't mind pizzas with toppings beyond the certified norm -- to a point.
"When I told them in Naples the kind of toppings we use here, they were just amazed," he told the Herald. "They don't mind if people outside Italy want to put pineapple or tandoori lamb or whatever on their pizza -- but there is no way it could ever be a genuine Naples pizza."


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[NOTE: Blog commenters should read our updates (below) and the Washington Attorney General's blog comment policy. Note that this is the Washington State AGO - we aren't the contact for the Florida AGO's case. For your privacy, we do not post your contact information on our Web site. Thank you. Kristin, All Consuming Moderator.]
As gas prices rose earlier this year, so did the number of consumers fuming about so-called free gas offers.
Vouchers offering free gas appeal to not only drivers, but also businesses looking for a low-cost promotional tool to lure potential customers to car dealerships, seminars, etc. But these incentives can be misleading.
Complaints sent to the Attorney General’s Consumer Resource Centers and blog comments posted to All Consuming reveal a similar pattern: these “free gas” vouchers aren’t easy to redeem. In order to qualify, consumers usually have to purchase at least $100 of gas per month from a specific brand (eg: Exxon, Shell, Citgo, etc.) then mail those receipts to a business. In return, they receive a gift card for $25 to be used for fuel at the same station brand. One Washington consumer who followed strict redemption steps said the gift card he received can't be used at any of the gas stations in his community. In fact, he was told it can only be redeemed at certain stations in a handful of other states -- the closest is Minnesota!
Since we first posted this story in November, we've received more than 160 comments from consumers across the nation who have sent in their paperwork but not received the advertised rebates.
A Vancouver, Wash., car dealer must reimburse customers who responded to one such promotion that the Washington Attorney General’s Office says was deceptive. Tidewater Marketing Global Consultants, Inc., was behind the rebate program. Under the agreement, Curt Warner Chevrolet must make good by providing a $40 gas card – that works – to each eligible consumer. For more information, see this news release.
According to an article in the St. Petersburg Times, the Pinellas County Department of Justice and Consumer Services in Florida has opened a criminal investigation into the company. Separately, company president Crystal Clark pled guilty to drug trafficking charges for selling Oxycontin.
Where to complain:
- If you have a claim against Tidewater Marketing Global Consultants and Crystal Clark and you have not already filed a complaint with the Florida AG, you are encouraged to file a complaint with the court-appointed receiver. See Web site and claim forms at http://www.tidewatermarketing.com/.
- Pinellas County Department of Justice and Consumer Services at www.pinellascounty.org/
consumer or (727) 464-6200.
The really bad news: Unfortunately, Tidewater is reportedly broke. The St. Petersburg Times, which has been following the story, wrote on March 7: Tidewater Marketing Global Consultants, a Largo-Clearwater based company, owes customers more than $10 million but has
This photo of the Tidewater Marketing Global Consultants Fulfillment Center shows vouchers spilling out onto the floor. Source: Florida Attorney General
less than $300 in its bank accounts. It has no real property, no cars. The story quotes a state-appointed receiver as saying it's extremely unlikely the company would ever be able to redeem the certificates and issue cards.
BBZ Resource Management of Mesa, Ariz., is another company that sells "free gas" and "free grocery" certificates on a bunch of Web sites including freefuelcenter.com, claimyourgas.com and petroleumpromotions.com. Owner Troy Warren, reportedly has had other legal troubles, according to this St. Petersburg Times story. All Consuming blog readers have posted mixed comments about this company. UPDATE: The company has filed for bankruptcy, according to this July 1, 2009, story.
KING 5 aired a report on Dec. 10, 2008 about Gasoline Redemption Center aka Free Gas Central. Reporter Jesse Jones said:"I called the people behind Free Gas Central, now called Gasoline Redemption Center. They told me the company had a catastrophic computer failure this summer and they are about 30 days behind on orders, and they rushed Betty's card right out."The report listed a toll-free phone number for Gasoline Redemption Center that is no longer in service.
All Consuming continues to receive many comments from consumers about gas vouchers. The blog is for informal discussions; all comments are reviewed by the blog moderator prior to posting. Please note that comments posted to our blog are not processed as formal complaints or considered requests for informal mediation. If you are a Washington state resident or are writing about a business located in Washington state, you may wish to contact our Consumer Resource Center to file a complaint and/or request informal mediation. Residents of other states may wish to file complaints with their Attorney General's Office, the AGO in the state where the business operates or the Better Business Bureau. As a standard policy, the Washington Attorney General's Office does not confirm which businesses it is currently investigating or may investigate.


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South Africa is seeing a massive demand for – and a lack of – skilled IT professionals. This is becoming an issue for the country’s IT industry and if no change occurs, could be detrimental not only to the economy, writes GARETH HAWKEY, CEO of redPanda Software.
In a business environment that is now largely driven by innovative IT and software, there is massive demand for skilled and highly trained IT professionals. Sadly, as has been well documented, there is an increasingly dire shortage of these individuals in the local sphere.
This lack in supply seems to be partly the result of a formal education system that is not adequately addressing the needs of local companies and providing a reliable pipeline of talent. As it stands, gaining entry to top universities remains hugely competitive (and often too expensive), and many students are opting for more traditional careers as doctors, accountants or engineers.
In the short and long term, this means that there just aren’t enough young and ambitious people stepping into the IT industry to meet the ever-growing need.
Global tech bigwigs adding pressure
Simultaneously, this demand is being driven by global companies that are opening up branches in South Africa (e.g. Amazon and Facebook) as well as the growth of South Africa as a prime destination for offshoring. Naturally, this places added stress on the imbalance between the supply and demand of IT talent.
While these are the key factors behind the skills shortage, the mounting challenge for local companies is that IT salaries continue to grow exponentially (mainly because there are so few people in this group being fought over by so many companies). This inevitably puts an extra layer of cost onto recruitment and retention.
In the long term, this worrying trend could eventually lead to such a growth in the baseline cost for businesses that they run the risk of becoming too expensive to compete in a cutthroat international IT market. Given the local market conditions, this would be devastating for South African businesses with an eye on expansion.
Platform for Practical Learning
For local supply to meet demand, we should be producing thousands of new developers each year, for example. Arguably, this has to be addressed on a large scale – through a formal training and education process that takes place within the industry itself. In our view, this cannot be left solely to education or academic organisations to address, but instead, the industry (including business leaders) should embrace the skills challenge.
In a high-pressure environment, today’s companies require new recruits to be productive from day one – and in order to make this a reality, businesses and learning institutions need to provide the necessary theoretical and practical training.
For example, software houses should create a unique platform for learning so that they can produce hundreds, or even thousands of developers every year – who leave that educational forum equipped to be immediately productive and influential.
Training as a Strategic Objective
Given the urgency – and gravity – of the skills shortage within local IT, our view is that training and skills development should be a key strategic objective for savvy businesses. In addition, the issue of recruitment and retention needs to be carefully addressed by the top-level executives within every company in order for it to be part of the cultural fabric that runs through the organisation.
Ultimately, this means that the recruitment process has to be well defined, both technically and culturally… meaning that technical skills need to be a consideration as well as the cultural and personality fit of every new recruit.
Within our organisation, we believe that a career needs to be considered both from this technical perspective and a personal perspective – and both aspects need to be fulfilled in order to achieve the best results for both the individual and the company in the long term.
Critically, this requires educating and training managers to spot the right talent within their own organisation, and to grow this internal talent to meet the recruitment needs. It’s about empowering those managers and giving them the time and space with their team members to ensure that each individual career is always moving forward.
Leadership is Paramount
As countless examples have shown us, building a dedicated and loyal workforce comes down to walking the walk: you cannot simply promote the organisation during the recruitment process and then not follow through on the statements or promises made.
For example, if you say you promote from within, what are you doing to support this process? How are you training and educating people so that they can be promoted from within?
The ability to clearly demonstrate the results of this approach (for example, 9 out of the last 10 appointments in our company have come from within the organisation) will certainly resonate with employees and ultimately build loyalty and trust.
While financial rewards are undoubtedly a factor, developing a long-term culture of trust and a loyal workforce takes far more than money. It takes personal attention, and the ability to demonstrate that your organisation is truly investing in people, and in the country at large.
CES: So long, and thanks for all the beer!
Last week, the Las Vegas expo showed off its fun side with state-of-the-art technologies for enjoying beer, writes BRYAN TURNER
From craft beer-making machines to robots that pour beer, CES had more beer than usual in Las Vegas last week. And even free beer if you found the right stand. Stampede’s saloon-style booth offered beer to visitors who tried out its latest drones, virtual reality, and other gaming products. No beer tech, though.
Here are some of the beer technologies that stood out:
LG HomeBrew – Craft beer made at home
LG’s HomeBrew craft beer-making machine, debuted at CES 2019, brings the brewing process home thanks to single-use capsules, a self-cleaning feature, and an algorithm optimised for fermentation.
Like a Nespresso coffee machine, the beer maker uses capsules, which contain malt, yeast, hop oil and flavouring. At the press of a button, LG HomeBrew automates the whole procedure from fermentation and carbonation to ageing. A companion app lets users check HomeBrew’s status at any time during the process, from their handsets.
The beer machine not only offers a simple way to make craft
Designed with discerning beer lovers in mind, HomeBrew allows for in-home production of batches of more than 4 litres of beer in a variety of styles. The following five distinctive, flavoured beers are available now:
- Hoppy American IPA
- Golden American Pale Ale
- Full-bodied English Stout
- Zesty Belgian-style Witbier
- Dry Czech Pilsner
The only catch? It takes about two weeks to make, depending on the beer type.
“LG HomeBrew is the culmination of years of home appliance and water purification technologies that we’ve developed over the decades,” said Dan Song, president of LG Electronics Home Appliance & Air Solutions Company. “Homebrewing has grown at an explosive pace, but there are still many beer lovers who haven’t taken the jump because of the barriers to entry, like complexity, and these are the consumers we think will be attracted to LG HomeBrew.”
Click here to read about the party speaker that holds beer and robots that pour beer.
CES: Alienware gets Legend-ary
At CES in Las Vegas last week, Dell’s Alienware released a family of high-end, thin, light, and affordable machines for both amateur and professional gamers – and a new identity.
Alienware marked CES 2019 as a brand milestone with the debut of a new design identity, Alienware Legend. It aims to set a new bar of excellence for what gamers want most – performance and function. Alienware says it evaluated multiple concepts and chose one that was the biggest and boldest departure from its current look.
Alienware Legend, says the company, stays true to the brand’s core design tenets, taking cues from its deep roots in sci-fi culture and its early industrial designs, to distinguish the brand from the rest of the industry. The new Legend design is optimised with cutting-edge thermal cooling technology to achieve and sustain overclocking power, improved AlienFX lighting, and ultra-thin screen borders. It also unveiled a new “three-knuckle hinge” design that reduces the overall dimension while creating a stronger assembly, all combining to yield a better gaming experience.
“We’re excited to come to this year’s CES with some truly groundbreaking products, next-gen software and strategic partnerships that will bring more people to experience PC gaming and advance the industry,” said Frank Azor, vice president and general manager of Alienware. “The legend design answers the call for more and better from our gaming community, and the new G Series laptops will make PC gaming even more accessible to those looking for high-performance gaming at a cost they can appreciate.”
Click here to read about Alienware Legend in action with the Area-51m and m-series laptops


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Upgrades start at £10 and available until 30 minutes before departure
First class upgrades on Virgin Trains to be offered by Seatfrog
Travel upgrades app Seatfrog has struck a partnership with Virgin Trains for customers on the west coast mainline.
Virgin Trains customers can now bid for a last-minute upgrade to First Class across the whole of the west coast network on the Seatfrog app.
Upgrades are available from 24 hours right up to 30 minutes before departure from just £10.
Seatfrog said research has found 15% of Brits have tried and failed to blag an upgrade.
The top reason for Brits wanting to upgrade is additional leg room (62%), followed by getting better sleep (47%) and having access to better food (39%).
The research found that while the UK public would love to upgrade when travelling (79%), most don’t think they can afford to do so (67%) and half admit they don’t know how to go about getting one (54%).
Seatfrog allows travellers to bid on deals for empty seats in First Class. Customers can also grab a deal when upgrading their group bookings.
Customers who successfully bid on First Class tickets have their upgrades issued to their phone in seconds.
Sarah Copley, executive director, commercial, at Virgin Trains, said: “This is a great opportunity for our customers who fancy treating themselves at the last minute.
“This new partnership with Seatfrog is another example of our strong record in innovation – giving customers a unique chance to enjoy our First Class experience, which includes complimentary food and drink served by our amazing on board teams from our award winning menu.”
Iain Griffin, co-founder and chief executive of Seatfrog, added: “At Seatfrog we’re all about taking people’s journey beyond the ordinary and making it something special.
“Millions of first class seats sit empty each and every day and we want to liberate these, while at the same time helping passengers fall back in love with travelling by train.
“Our partnership with Virgin Trains is just the latest stop as we rapidly expand across the UK and Europe, giving more travellers the opportunity to upgrade their trip.”


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15 new screenshots for Battlefield 2142, the futuristic multiplayer 3D action game being developed at Digital Illusions, are now available online. The game's team play features allow up to 64 players to enter the action on the front lines as part of a formal squad, or work behind the scenes in Commander Mode to direct the strategic assaults of their teammates. With in-game success, players increase their rank and unlock awards, including new weapons, medals and more, delivering the most comprehensive and flexible persistence in the Battlefield universe to date.
Windows 11 build 23545 fixes a number of File Explorer bugs and more
windows 11 insider preview
This Week in Rocket Launches #132
Amazon's Project Kuiper internet satellites launching this week


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Discovery Health Medical Scheme launches WELLTH Fund in the hope of kickstarting a trend of preventative care
The COVID-19 pandemic impact to healthcare system led to consumers deferring non-COVID related healthcare General health checks were down 50% at the peak of the pandemic compared to pre-COVID levels Discovery Health Medical Scheme (DHMS) members now have access to an additional screening and preventative benefit called the WELLTH Fund Medical aid members on all plans have a once-off access durin
Cyclists set to enjoy a safer ride thanks to the Pothole Patrol
On Saturday the 21 January and Sunday 22 January, more than 400 cyclists will be taking part in the 2023 Gauteng Provincial Road and TT Champs starting and finishing at the Sterkfontein Caves in The Cradle of Humankind – a well-known ride venue in the Muldersdrift area that offers cyclists some scenic relief from the hustle and bustle of the city.
As captivating as places like these are in Sou
Discovery Vitality marks its 25th anniversary in SA with symbolic brand refresh and Summer with a V campaign
To celebrate their quarter century and new brand refresh, Discovery Vitality will reveal the pink branding to coincide with their summer campaign during the December holidays. This includes a massive prize from Vitality Travel with Discovery Bank. Members can win a year of Vitality Travel – two free return flights a month for twelve months – for themselves and a partner.
Discovery and Afrika Tikkun announce awards for exceptional drivers and new partnership in Western Cape and Gauteng for safe scholar transport
Cape Town, 14 December 2022 – The Discovery Fund, an arm of Discovery Limited’s corporate sustainability initiatives, today announced the relaunch of its programme – Discovery Safe Journey to School – in partnership with Afrika Tikkun. The announcement took place at an awards ceremony in Athlone, Cape Town, recognising the leading drivers in safely transporting children to and from school this yea
Best Domestic Contact Centre in South Africa takes 35 000 calls a day while high-quality service remains a priority
8 December 2022, Sandton: The Contact Centre Management Group (CCMG), a professional body of the contact centre industry in South Africa, recently announced the top businesses and professionals in the industry. Recognising it as a business role model in innovative ways of working, Discovery Health received both the “Best Domestic Contact Centre” and the “Best Contact Centre Support Professionals”
The Ongoing Impact of COVID-19 on health and mortality
While the worst appears to be behind us in terms of the climbing infections, high death rates and the economic impact of the global coronavirus outbreak, deaths due to cardio-metabolic (heart and nervous system) and cancer-related conditions are now strikingly high in this post-COVID world. This is according to annual Group Risk claims data released by Discovery Employee Benefits.
Vitality Health International is making waves in Africa
Translations available in French, Arabic and Portuguese – view lower down. Since its launch in January 2022, Vitality Health International has been gaining momentum in bringing health insurance that rewards healthy living to employer groups in the rest of Africa.
The 19th Discovery Walter Sisulu Soccer Challenge: Soweto’s favourite football festival ready for kickoff
The 19th edition of the Discovery Walter Sisulu Soccer Challenge will take place from 1-23 December 2022. Whilst the men’s category is full, some spaces remain for the u17 and women’s categories. Teams are encouraged to urgently secure their spots into Soweto’s number 1 diski challenge. Entries close on 30 November 2022.
Discovery and the South African Football Associati
Discovery Bank makes sure no one misses out with #HackBlackFriday
JOHANNESBURG, 23 November 2022 - It’s the week of Black Friday and since 2018, this day has been one of the biggest shopping events of the year. With belts being tightened everywhere due to the current financial environment, many South Africans are waiting to find the best possible deals on high-value items or general household items from retailers everywhere.
Everywhere we look there are mas
Guidepost and Discovery life team up to deliver world-first, tech-enabled diabetes care
14 November 2022, Cape Town: Guidepost, a South African diabetes telemedicine, clinical analytics and risk management company, and Discovery Life, have partnered to deliver a world-first, innovative tech-enabled diabetes management programme, which, in its pilot phase, has delivered significant results for those living with diabetes.
The pilot programme, launched during the COVID-19 pandemic, i
Vitality model saves more than two million life years for its customers in 2022
Discovery’s 2022 Sustainability Report quantifies the positive impact of its model for customers and society – and sets a goal of incentivising one billion healthy activities a year by 2030. In the 2021 financial year, Discovery recorded 470 million healthy activities, and returned R11.4 billion in value to customers through its shared-value model and impacted nearly 40 million lives.


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Chinese consumer electronics manufacturer Realme expanded its number series smartphone lineup with the launch of a new device on January 9 in India. Now, the handset is set to go on sale starting January 15 for the Indian market. It comes with an AMOLED display and is powered by MediaTek Helio G99 processor. Realme 10 4G: Sale date, time, availability and colours
The Realme 10 is scheduled to go on sale for the first time in India starting on January 15 at 12 am. The smartphone can be purchased via the official websites of Realme, Flipkart and your nearby retail stores. The device is offered in two different colour options of Clash White and Rush Black. Realme 10 4G: Price and bank offers
The Realme 10 smartphone is priced at Rs 13,999 and Rs 16,999 for 4GB+64GB and 8GB+128GB RAM and storage variants, respectively. However, buyers can get an instant discount of up to Rs 1,000 on ICICI debit cards, credit cards and EMI transactions via Flipkart and realme.com, bringing the actual price of the base model 4GB+64GB to Rs 12,999.Realme 10 4G: Features and specifications
The Realme 10 sports a 90Hz AMOLED display that offers a FHD+ resolution of 2400x1080 pixels. The phone comes with a 7.95mm thin build and weighs around 178g. Its design represents a “light particle” scheme on its back panel that would radiate different colour schemes depending on what angle light hits them. The smartphone is powered by MediaTek Helio G99 chipset paired with a dynamic RAM of up to 8GB that converts storage into virtual RAM to create more storage.
For the optics department, the Realme 10 comes equipped with a dual rear camera setup comprising a 50MP AI primary camera and a 2MP B&W portrait lens. The device houses a 16MP front-facing camera for selfies and video calls. Additionally, it has an exclusive street photography mode 2.0 with a 90s pop filter and manual zoom in and out controls.
The Realme 10 packs a 5000mAh battery unit that supports first-in-the-segment 33W of SuperVOOC charging. It promises to charge the smartphone up to 50% in just 28 minutes. The handset comes with UltraBoom speakers, providing a high-quality sound experience, and supports Hi-Res dual certification.


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Foreign retailers first to swoop down under in profit rush (1:33)
Dec. 16 - Australia is being targeted by a swathe of foreign retailers, piling pressure on a local industry already battered by weak consumer spending and ruthless internet competition. Sarah Charlton reports. ( Transcript )
Hard-edged reporting, insight and analysis, Reuters TV breaks ground creating informative news and financial videos. Showcasing Reuters’ 3000 award-winning journalists, Reuters TV delivers high-energy investigative journalism with concise explanations. Check it out and let us know what you think.


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SAN FRANCISCO — Fleetsmith, which lets companies easily manage their Apple devices, announced $30 million in Series B funding led by Menlo Ventures with participation from Tiger Global Management, Upfront Ventures, and Harrison Metal.
Naomi Pilosof Ionita, partner at Menlo Ventures and former product and growth lead at Evernote, is joining Fleetsmith’s Board of Directors. Matt Murphy, also a partner at Menlo Ventures, is joining as a board observer.
With its funding now totaling over $40 million, Fleetsmith will use this newest capital infusion to further develop its device management platform, grow its presence internationally, and hire new team members across a variety of functions.
“We were immediately impressed by Fleetsmith’s customer and product-centric mentality,” said Naomi Pilosof Ionita, partner at Menlo Ventures. “They are solving real pain points around device management and their product empowers IT, management, and security teams. Customers recognize the value of Fleetsmith in minutes—not weeks or months. It’s the way a modern product built for IT should work.”
Since announcing its Series A funding last April, Fleetsmith launched the general availability of its flagship product, a device monitoring product called Fleetsmith Intelligence, support for businesses using Office 365 and iOS and tvOS devices, new Dashboard and Audit Log product features, and a reseller program called the Fleetsmith Partner Program.
“This latest round of funding demonstrates continued confidence in our strategy, which has helped companies automate device management and put security first,” said Zack Blum, CEO and co-founder of Fleetsmith. “Over the past year, we have built an incredible team and shipped tons of new customer-requested features. Now, we look forward to growing the company so we can bring modern device management to even more organizations around the world.”
To support its rapid expansion, Fleetsmith said it will use its new funding to more than triple its employee count from about 30 currently and expand operations in Europe.


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APE aims to expand into sports event sponsorship and promotion and the operation of sports entertainment venues.
Macau.- The electronic gaming machines manufacturer Asia Pioneer Entertainment (APE) has announced it plans to expand into the sports sector.
The company says it will begin to operate sports and sports-related entertainment businesses, including sponsorship and promotion of sports events and the operation of sports entertainment venues in Macau.
The new activities will be operated through the wholly-owned subsidiary in Macau, APE Sports and Entertainment Limited.
Until now, APE only manufactured, sold and leased gaming machines to land-based casinos, as well as as offering consultancy and technical services.
APE said: “The group has been actively exploring new business opportunities in order to diversify its income stream and bring a higher return to its shareholders. Taking into account the increasing awareness of health and increasing demands for sports events in Macau, the Directors are of the view that the commencement of the new business will be a good opportunity for the group to diversify its income stream and may enhance the financial performance”.


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Dell 10-inch tablet with Windows 7 reportedly coming this fall
Dell is about to add a new addition to its line of Streak tablets for a fall release.
First mentioned in a briefing back in February, the 10-inch Windows 7 tablet should be appearing sometime this September at the earliest, according to sources from Forbes. The upcoming tablet would be Dell’s first 10-inch tablet, as the company currently only offers 5-inch and 7-inch variants of its Streak tablet.
Judging from the leaked Dell roadmap last month, the 10-inch Windows 7 tablet would be releasing quite closely to the possible Windows 8 tablet that is reportedly scheduled for Q1 2012. But since other companies such as HP and Asus have already released Windows 7 tablets, Dell may be deciding to introduce a Windows 7 tablet of its own as well. Current Streak models ship only with Android OS, so the new 10-inch tablet this fall would be Dell’s first to run Windows.
Forbes was also tipped with another 10-inch tablet coming from Dell for the summer, this time expected to run Android if released. Whether or not the tablet would be part of the Streak lineup is currently unknown, as the source claims the tablet is considered “unbranded” for now.
Further specifications for the tablets are still up in the air, but we expect more information directly from Dell about its potential tablets shortly, especially with summer coming soon.


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An official release date has finally been announced for the long-awaited game, Death Stranding. The legendary video game creator and designer Hideo Kojima has been one of the major reasons for the game becoming incredibly hyped up and garnering a sizeable fanbase. The title is a PlayStation exclusive that will officially be available in the PlayStation Store on 8th of November this year.
Death Stranding has been confirmed to be available in 4 different editions that feature add-ons from in-game items to actual real-life collector’s edition cargo case and a life-sized BB Pod Statue with a baby on the inside. The same baby that has been seen numerous times in [...]


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The date and admission prices have been finalised for our FA Carlsberg First Round tie against Tamworth.
City will travel to The Lamb Ground on Saturday 24 November 2012 for the game which will kick-off at 3.00pm.
Admission prices will be as follows:-
£10 for adults, £6 for 65+, £6 for U18s and £2 for U16s. U6s free.
£12 for adults, £8 for 65+, £8 for U18s, £4 for U16s and £2 for U6s.
Red Imps Travel Section coaches will depart Sincil Bank at 12 noon - price £13 for season ticket holders and £14 for non-season ticket holders.
Should the game go to a replay then this will take place at The 12th Imp Sincil Bank Stadium on Tuesday 27 November 2012, kick-off 7.45pm. Admission prices will be £10 for adults, £5 for concessions 60+ and £2 for U18s.


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DOMO aims at meeting high quality standards and at the same time offering competitive prices by being a part of the 'Make In India' campaign. This initiative will further nurture innovations and skill development in India.
Mumbai, Maharashtra, India- 13th November 2015,
Merely a co-incidence that Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the Make in India programme and DOMO Gadgets, the successful runner in the field of tablets, smartphones and various accessories is accentuating towards the Indian Government initiative of “Start-up India”. Travelling around the globe this campaign is making policies, hosting events and setting India to all new pinnacles.
The Campaign is setting new milestones for the manufacturing industry. The government’s vision for a growth of 12-14 % for the manufacturer will increase the domestic production globally. The electronics market of India is one of the largest in the world and DOMO’s contribution to meet their goal focuses on job creation and skill enhancement is a perfect fusion. DOMO has setup Tablet PC manufacturing plant in Mumbai and soon plans to manufacture Battery and Charger for Mobile Phones as well.
Sanjay Kaur, Business Development Manager at DOMO said “The growth of electronics manufacturing in India is not only related to government policies for this sector, it is also linked to the availability of trained professionals who can be employed by the companies. The ease of doing business is also a cause for concern; if the campaign is successful it will surely transform India to a manufacturing hub in this sector.”
Anuj Srivastav, PR and Media Manager at DOMO said “With again new feather of “Digital India” ,“Smart City” , ‘National Manufacturing Policy’ and ‘National Policy for Electronics’ will lead to boost in electronics manufacturing in the country and India will not only gain prominence but also make itself an attractive FDI destination.”
DOMO is known for manufacturing tablets, smart phones, 3D glasses, earphones and various other telecom and IT accessories that are being sold in the e-commerce and retail sector. DOMO has established itself in the market with a very strong service pattern and quality products, making it one of the fastest growing brands in electronics. The intention of the organization is clear: increase revenues by selling quality products and giving strong service backup, eventually achieving fame in every corner of the nation. Contact us for detailed information.


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AVON — A longtime Avon business destroyed by fire is set to rise from the ashes.
Powers Furniture and Appliance, a mainstay store in the small community’s business district, was destroyed by a fire that started Tuesday evening, March 26. The business, in operation for 52 years at the location, was a complete loss despite the efforts of the Avon Volunteer Fire Department and supporting fire departments from around the area.
But plans are in motion to reopen the store at a new location on Main Street, according to Stacey Powers, owner of the business.
“We’re very close,” Powers said earlier this week about reopening.
A lot was lost in the March fire, both in terms of inventory and property, but also precious memories. Powers grew up and spent decades of his life working at the store. To him and the family, the fire claimed more than just a building and furniture. A piece of their history was taken away, said Powers.
“It was very tough, very tough,” Powers said. “My dad was there for 52 years every day. And we grew up there, my sister and I. My kids grew up there. It’s almost like losing a loved one.”
Losing the building, which dated back to the late 1800s, was so much of a shock that he considered closing the store for good and moving on with his life. He wrestled with the question of what to do next.
“I didn’t know at that time,” said Powers. “At that time, I thought maybe it was time to do something different. I didn’t know what my future held.”
Powers, 50, grew up working with his parents, Kenny and Florence, at the Main Street location. The time invested in the business, the emotional and sentimental attachment to the store and the cherished heirlooms that burned away weighed heavily on his mind, and he wasn’t sure if there was a future for him in the furniture business that had thrived for over half a century.
He and his family consulted with insurance companies and contemplated the future. But even with the store in ruins, he kept busy and found encouragement from the residents and business community in Avon.
“I had customers calling yet for floor covering, appliances, furniture, service work. I figured that they still want me here,” Powers said.
The support kept the idea of reopening the business alive. And after nearly six months of weighing his options, an unexpected opportunity came knocking.
Powers got a call from some local residents who operated a small recreational business just down and across the street from the previous Powers Furniture location. The business had focused on golf and archery simulators, but the owners, who worked full-time at another Avon business during the day, were looking for more free time in the evenings.
That led them to talk to Powers, he said.
“So they came to me and asked if I possibly wanted to buy this building. They were busy all day and wanted to watch their kids play sports at night and thought maybe I would like to buy the building and they could get out of it,” Powers said.
It was the right opportunity at the right time, Powers said. The building, which was built in the 1950s, is considerably newer and smaller than the old location. At 4,000 square feet, it’s a cozy fit compared to the 22,000 square feet that the store boasted before. But it was in good condition and much of the preparation work had already been done by the previous owners.
“They had a lot of it Sheetrocked and they partitioned some of the rooms in the back,” Powers said. “I did a little flooring and put a couple of bigger doors in, but otherwise they had this building pretty well all fixed up and ready to go.”
Now preparations are in full swing to reopen the business after a long summer. Powers said he has been bringing in inventory, setting up displays and generally settling into the new location.
“I had a truck in this morning and three trucks last week. We have a lot of inventory coming in,” Powers said.
Powers is spending a lot of time working and making preparations at the new location, and said he’s looking forward to a time when all three store employees -- himself, his dad and his mom -- are back behind the counter helping customers with their home furnishing needs. He hopes to continue the family tradition of working at the store by bringing his wife Julie in to help when she’s not busy substitute teaching.
As his family prepares to get back into the swing of things, he said the Avon community has continued to be a source of support since the fire struck. And they have been especially happy to hear that Powers Furniture will be back on Main Street soon.
“(The support from the community) has been very good. People have been very supportive and happy to hear it,” Powers said.
Powers isn’t exactly sure when the first day of business will be at the new store, though he is aiming to open the doors by Nov. 1. After a long summer of uncertainty, Powers said he’s looking forward to getting back business. There is still some work to be done, but for the most part, Powers Furniture is ready to return to Main Street in Avon.
And so is the Powers family.
“I’m looking forward to it. Looking forward to getting back to a normal routine,” Powers said.