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The cost of six geese-a-laying spiked considerably this year, while most of the items in the carol “The Twelve Days of Christmas,” saw little to no increase, according to the 31st annual PNC Wealth Management Christmas Price Index.
The chairman of the Liquor Control Board is tamping down speculation that the LCB is poised to take action that could raise booze prices in Pennsylvania.
Together they’ve merged to become the largest airline in the world, but as American Airlines and U.S. Airways slowly combine forces, passengers could be paying more than they have to!
Starbucks is raising prices on some of its drinks by 5 cents to 20 cents starting next week, and customers can soon expect to pay $1 more for the packaged coffee.
Chipotle is feeling confident that customers are willing to pay more for its burritos, bowls and tacos.
The trip to the grocery store has gotten a lot more expensive, especially when you head down the meat aisle.
Buying a car has come a long way from Henry Ford’s famous statement that a customer could have any color desired, as long as it was black.
Rates are slated to rise 17.5% over three years – significantly lower than the department’s original rates request of 28.5% over four years.
On Friday afternoon, Governor Chris Christie announced that the New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs has issued subpoenas to 65 businesses across the state for Sandy-related price gouging.
3 On Your Side Consumer Reporter Jim Donovan finds that in the near future, you may be offered a custom price for some of your favorite foods, and the secret to these savings is a swipe of your loyalty card.
The How Many? app calculates how much an item costs in terms of the number of hours you’ll have to work to pay for it.
Could be a “rocky road” for ice-cream lovers this summer. All thanks to a shortage in the vanilla crop by two of the world’s major suppliers, the price of vanilla has gone up considerably in the past couple months.
From $10 concert tickets to $3 steak dinners, Atlantic City is using low-cost incentives to try to bring more gamblers through the casino doors.
The cost of crude oil dropped 10 percent to close out the week at about $97 per barrel. Lower crude oil prices will eventually drive down the cost of gas.
AAA Mid-Atlantic says the average price of regular gasoline on Friday was $3.38, down a penny from last week.


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Tonight’s 16th annual Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show will be such a blinding blur of light, sound and skin it will be over before your brain has time to click into gear and make sense of it all. Which is partly the point of it all: just sit back, let the blizzard engulf you, then reach for your credit card.
But there’s a lot going on under the lights at the Lexington Armory besides just those gleaming, glittering, gorgeous costumed amazons. To help put the whole VS extravaganza into context, we’ve put together this little viewers’ guide.
This Year, It’s All About The Kids
Who can forget the highlight of last year’s VSFS, when junior Angel Chanel Iman got her wings and the offstage announcer could be heard gushing, “Go, baby Chanel!”? Well, this year at least eight of the 37 models will be younger than baby Chanel (who turns 21 on Thursday). Victoria’s Secret has been anxiously counting down the months on the calendar till they could enlist some of the current youth brigade of supermodels, including Karlie Kloss (19), Bregje Heinen (18) and Caroline Brasch Nielsen (18).
It’s a deliberate, and smart, move to fill in some of the conspicuous recent gaps in the Angel lineup after popular luminaries such as Heidi Klum and Marisa Miller — and now Rosie H-W — moved on. This year’s lineup skews younger (average age is 23.5), which fits nicely with the VS target market of youngsters with disposable cash.
Of course, the VSFS can also make you feel really old. Miranda is already 28 and Adriana and Ale, the grannies of the group, are the big 3-0.
This Year, It’s All About The Body
Hard to imagine, but there have been a few bumps in Victoria’s Secret’s gold-paved road to global domination this year. The company came under fire repeatedly (including here) for promoting unhealthy body types after several models (notably Candice Swanepoel and Lily Aldridge) appeared to lose weight dramatically. That perception wasn’t helped by occasional interviews in which Angels discussed their meager pre-show diets, and two (Miranda and Doutzen) bounced back from recent pregnancies to reveal to-die-for figures in record time.
A weak PR pushback tried to argue that these were simply healthy girls who spend a lot of time in the gym — not poster girls for eating disorders and compulsive weight loss. The launch this summer of a new sportswear collection gave VS the chance to show off its girls in a gym setting, but that didn’t silence the skeptics.
But this year’s Fashion Show gave Victoria’s Secret the final word after the company released a series of pre-show promotional videos showing Candice, Doutzen, Ale and Lily in workout sessions with personal trainers. Bottom line? These girls are astonishingly fit, flexible, toned and obviously very hard-working. Now that‘s good PR.
As a result, tonight’s show will be a kind of vindication for the Angels after a year of whispers and finger-pointing. Their version of body and weight management is still beyond the reach of most people, and the company still prefers models who are much, much slimmer than its average customer, but the Angels deserve credit for weathering the storm and projecting a kind of healthy, positive energy that radiates throughout the brand.
This Year, It’s All About The Boys
We tend to forget that Victoria’s Secret’s target demographic isn’t just sexy young women. It’s also horny guys.
Tonight’s Fashion Show acknowledges that reality by enlisting support from some of pop culture’s most notorious horndogs, Adam Levine and Kanye West, plus the superbly well-married Jay-Z. The VSFS is all about creating fantasies, and employing these stand-in stud doubles will give male viewers something to relate to … or at least aspire toward. And afterward, you know where they’ll do their shopping.
Yes, You Can Buy Those Outfits … Sort Of
The VS Fashion Show isn’t a typical runway show in that the brand isn’t strictly promoting a new collection (its holiday collection has been in stores and online for several weeks already). But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be making a shopping list while viewing tonight.
The extravagant costumes are all one-offs, so you won’t be buying them. Nevertheless, each costume has as its foundation (pardon the pun) key pieces from the VS catalogue — usually one of the newer push-up bras and lacey briefs.
And you can buy the zillion-dollar Fantasy Bra that Miranda will be wearing in tonight’s Aquatic segment. But no one will.
They’re Not Just Bodies, They’re People Too
One of our annual gripes about what is otherwise the best show on TV is Victoria’s Secret’s refusal to credit the models who walk its runway. Of course, most viewers will recognize the core group of Angels, who have almost ubiquitous media exposure in North America, but many of the remaining 30 models will be unknown to everyone except diehard fashionistas.
If prior years are an indication, tonight’s show will pass without the models being identified individually. There’s a logic to this — fashion catwalks are meant to focus on the wardrobe, not the models — but we still don’t like it. Don’t be surprised if you find yourself racing for your laptop after the show to try to put a name to some of those gorgeous
Here’s a tip: the fan site VSholic.com has a gallery showing every one of tonight’s models — and their names.
The Diversity Scorecard
The VS Fashion Show is fast becoming the Olympics of the fashion world: this year, models from 19 countries will be walk the runway. And here’s the big news: we have a new gold medal nation. The U.S. has reclaimed top spot, with 8 models appearing, beating Brazil (6), the hotbed of hotties that topped the field last year with 9 models.
There’s a strong turnout from Eastern European models, a pair from China and newcomers from Puerto Rico and New Zealand. What’s missing in this mix? India, Mexico, Japan and — wouldn’t this have been timely? — no one from the Middle East (although Shanina Shaik from Australia has some Saudi Arabian lineage). And get ready for a border skirmish when Canadian viewers realize that Jessica Stam and Coco Rocha didn’t make the cut this year. Whatever happened to free trade!?
A more serious issue relates to Victoria’s Secret sparing use of women of color in their shows and overall marketing. This issue has nagged the retailer for years, but this year’s show suggests the company is paying attention. You’ll see at least five women of color from four countries: Chanel Iman (U.S.), Anais Mali (France), Joan Smalls (Puerto Rico), Lais Ribeiro and Emanuela de Paula (Brazil).
Perhaps the best indication of the changing face of modeling can be seen in the young latte-skinned beauty Shanina: she counts Australia, Lithuania, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia in her heritage.
Like Junk Food for Fashion Snobs
Some of the most unlikely, but amusing, parts of the VS Fashion Show are the fleeting glimpses of celebrity audience members. Not the Angels’ rock star boyfriends and wannabe boyfriends, but the fashion industry heavyweights who always seem slightly out of place.
Keep an eye out for Anna Wintour, Carine Roitfeld, Alexander Wang, Donna Karan and others in the background and ask yourself: when was the last time they were in a Victoria’s Secret?
And tonight’s best stargazing moment? Beyonce!
Does It All Add Up?
Because it’s a paid-for package, the VS Fashion Show provides a revealing glimpse into the economics of broadcast television. With a budget this year of nearly $13-million, the show costs about six times as much to produce as a typical night on American Idol, or an entire season of Walking Dead.
And what returns does that investment create? Last year’s TV audience was about 9 million, putting the per-viewer cost above $1 — way too high to support most forms of ad-dependent programming.
Only VS knows, however, how much oomph the show delivers to its bottom line — and parent company Limited Brands has enjoyed consistently stellar results even throughout the recession. Of course, the company doesn’t need to be the biggest show on television, just so long as those who do watch spend afterwards.
Does This Show Have a Future?
Hard thought it may be to contemplate, the VS Fashion Show won’t be around forever … and possibly not for much longer. At least not in its current format, wedged into the late-night, post-family-viewing-hour slot by the FCC and network censors.
It’s not that the show isn’t a huge success — it is — but that technology might push it in new, more cost-effective directions. In short, you don’t need to pay CBS for an hour of prime-time real estate to win a big audience these days.
We saw a glimpse of the future of big-audience fashion shows last spring when French lingerie label Etam streamed its catwalk show live on the internet — and turned it into a slick, star-studded production. Fashion labels everywhere are looking at various live broadcast options that bypass television altogether and expand their reach.
And VS is already way ahead of the curve when it comes to cross-platform marketing. Tonight, they’ll stream a live “pre-show” at 9 p.m. on their Facebook page and website, the main event will be available through the VS iPad app, and there’ll be a constant blow-by-blow on Twitter.
Will all of this bring an end to the annual holiday tradition of watching the VS Fashion Show at home in the dark while your parents are out Christmas shopping? Possibly not for a while, but one thing’s certain: changing formats and a much bigger, broadly dispersed audience will turn the VSFS into an enduring “event”, not just a single hour of television.
This Year, It’s All About Timing
Sometimes, you just get lucky. When singer Cee Lo Green dropped out of the cast days before its taping, it left producers with a big hole in the schedule. They asked rapidly rising superstar Nicki Minaj to take the thankless job of stepping into Cee Lo’s oversized clown shoes.
Good move. A few days later, Nicki rocketed to the top of the hip-hop world by capturing the top prizes at the American Music Awards. It doesn’t hurt that the pink-haired rapper’s breakthrough album, Pink Friday, shares a name with Victoria’s Secret’s junior Pink line. Think that’ll make for a good music-fashion fit?
Oh, and Cee Lo’s late exit also solved another production problem: trying to get the Angels to agree to a lip-synch version of “F*** You“.
Finally, A Reality Show for Nerds
Let’s face it, the concept of “reality” is a bit elastic in the dungeon world of technology geeks (of whom we are one). But the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show is nothing if not a reality show for the reality-challenged.
The only problem is that, well, with all this damned media coverage those Angels can be just a little too real, and depressingly so. If only they were game avatars, we’d could relate to them as equals.
Mercifully, other geeks out there have addressed this problem. In addition to a handful of massive (and fanatical) VS fan sites, there’s a tiny community of gameboys and girls who have turned the VS Fashion Show into a fake version of itself in Sims land. Do a YouTube search on “victoria+secret+sims” and prepare to be both horrified and amazed. (If you don’t know what Sims is, stop reading and go back to your book.)
Here’s part 1 of the entire 2010 VS Fashion Show, converted into a Sims version by the heroic (female) Euro-blogger TechnoMicky. Believe me, it takes MONTHS to do this.
And you thought spending an hour watching underwear models on TV was a waste of your time!

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Motorola is a renowned brand known for its reliable mid-range and budget-friendly smartphones. Among its impressive lineup, the Motorola G series has gained popularity for offering high value at affordable prices. Now, exciting leaks from Flipkart suggest that Motorola is all set to launch its new budget smartphone, the Moto G14, in India. This article will delve into the features and specifications of the upcoming Moto G14, providing readers with an in-depth look at what this device has to offer.
Introduction to the Moto G14
The Moto G14 is the latest addition to Motorola’s G series, targeting budget-conscious consumers who seek a device that balances functionality and affordability. Let’s dive into its specifications and features to understand what makes it stand out in the crowded smartphone market.
Powerful Performance with Unisoc T616 SoC
Under the hood, the Moto G14 will be powered by the Unisoc T616 SoC chipset, ensuring smooth and efficient performance for day-to-day tasks and moderate gaming. Paired with at least 4GB of RAM, the phone will offer seamless multitasking capabilities.
Spacious Storage and Expandability
With UFS 2.2 storage, the Moto G14 will provide ample space for users to store their data, media, and apps. Additionally, the device will support expandable storage, allowing users to insert a microSD card of up to 1TB, ensuring they never run out of space.
Immersive Display and Audio Experience
The Moto G14 will feature a 6.5-inch FHD+ IPS LCD panel, providing users with vibrant colors and sharp visuals. Though it comes with a standard 60Hz refresh rate, the display is perfect for casual media consumption and browsing. Furthermore, the smartphone will boast stereo speakers with Dolby Atmos support, offering an immersive audio experience.
Long-lasting Battery Life
One of the standout features of the Moto G14 is its robust 5,000mAh battery. The large battery capacity, coupled with 20W fast charging support, ensures users can enjoy extended usage without worrying about frequent recharging.
Impressive Camera Capabilities
Rumors suggest that the Moto G14 will sport a dual rear camera system, headlined by a 50MP primary sensor. This setup promises to deliver sharp and detailed images, catering to photography enthusiasts on a budget.
Sleek Design and Color Options
The Moto G14 is expected to boast an appealing design that aligns with the aesthetics of its predecessor, the Moto G13. Available in Blue and Black color options, the phone will cater to users’ varied style preferences.
Keeping true to its budget-friendly ethos, the Moto G14 is anticipated to be priced competitively. Based on its predecessor’s starting price of 9 thousand rupees in India, the Moto G14 is expected to fall in the range of 12 thousand rupees, making it an attractive option for budget-conscious buyers.
4G Variants for Wider Reach
According to Flipkart’s revelations, the Moto G14 will be available in 4G variants, expanding its reach to users in areas where 5G connectivity is yet to be fully established.
In conclusion, the Motorola Moto G14 is shaping up to be an impressive budget smartphone, offering a compelling blend of performance, features, and affordability. With its powerful Unisoc T616 SoC, spacious storage, immersive display, and long-lasting battery life, the Moto G14 aims to deliver a satisfying user experience. As it hits the Indian market, smartphone enthusiasts eagerly await its launch, hoping to get their hands on a device that promises great value for money.
1. When will the Moto G14 be available for purchase?
As of now, the official launch date is yet to be announced. However, based on the teasers from Flipkart, it is expected to be available soon after its launch in India.
2. Can the storage be expanded in the Moto G14?
Yes, the Moto G14 will support expandable storage via a microSD card of up to 1TB, allowing users to have additional space for their files and media.
3. Will the Moto G14 support 5G connectivity?
As per the information available, the Moto G14 will be available in 4G variants, catering to users in regions with limited 5G coverage.
4. What color options will be available for the Moto G14?
The Moto G14 will be offered in two color options: Blue and Black, allowing users to choose a variant that suits their style preferences.
5. Is the Moto G14 a good option for budget-conscious buyers?
Yes, the Moto G14 is expected to be competitively priced, making it an attractive option for those seeking a feature-rich budget smartphone.


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By Celestine Osemeilu, Editor
If you were told there is a place on the face of the earth where humans eat baked mud as regular meal you probably would say it is incredible. Yes I intially thought so too. But it will be worthy to know it is true. There is actually a place where people eat mud for a living. That is no other than Haiti.
In an era where corruption and authoritarianism are rampant, it is often the ordinary people who suffer the most. Millions of people in Haiti are malnourished and cannot afford nutritious food, so many have had to resort to eating cookies made out of dirt in order to fill their stomachs.
As an impoverished country without a stable government, Haiti is a country where nearly one third of its 10 million plus population don’t have enough to eat. Hunger is becoming a serious issue. While the wealthiest 10 percent of Haitians earn 70 percent of the nation’s total income, most Haitians live on only $1 or $2 or less per day. Many adults and even more children suffer from malnutrition.
Nutritious foods such as fruit and other staples are often considered luxury items among many in Haiti. In order to survive difficult times, some Haitians have resorted to a generation-old recipe of mixing salt, vegetable oil, and dirt to make what locals call “bon bon terres”—or mud cookies.
Visit diplomatic watch TV on YouTube to watch a full documentary.


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PTI 24 Apr 2014, 02:33
Handling of coking coal, which is used mainly for steel-making, witnessed an 18.26 per cent increase, ranging from 18 to 33.12 million tonnes.
Mahindra Logistics finalising acquisitions to expand business
Mahindra Logistics is close to acquiring a majority stake in a freight forwarding company and expects to announce the deal in the next two to three weeks.
French firm Louis Dreyfus Armateurs serves global arbitration notice on India
The company has invoked bilateral investment promotion and protection agreement (BIPPA) and the notice was served on March 31.
New tariff rules being mulled for port operators
It will examine whether these operators have really taken a hit on their profitability as they claim and whether they are resorting to handling lower level of traffic.
Pipavav Port clips capital expansion target to Rs 460 crore
It said a slew of factors, including question marks over demand, led it to redraw the strategies and stop the capacity expansion on the bulk cargo handling front.
Gujarat Pipavav drops container berth plan
Gujarat Pipavav has dropped its plan to build a new container berth at its port and put its plan to increase bulk cargo handling capacity on hold thus slashing the cost of expansion.
Air France-KLM to add capacity in cargo business in India
Air France-KLM group would soon add capacity in their cargo business in India, increasing number of weekly freighter flights from Chennai and Mumbai.
Japanese trading houses put ports’ expansion on hold in India
Japan’s trading houses were interested in picking up a minority stake or in taking up operational control of a terminal to support their trading volumes.
India must accelerate port development: Experts
"Indian port expansion is on the way, investment is going in (and) infrastructure is being planned. But it is a big challenge for India."
Court stays termination of Gammon Infrastructure’s Goa Port project
Gammon Infra Projs got a stay on Mormugao Port Trust’s decision to terminate its Rs 204-cr proj following refusal of Goa’s state pollution control board to grant environ clearance.
» More from ET Cetera
|Hero upgrades its motorcycle and scooter line-up | Nissan Terrano launched at Rs 9.59 lakh | Bajaj Pulsar 2012 Price|
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The 2015 IndustryWeek Best Plants conference opened with a bang this morning, featuring a keynote from 3D Systems' Hugh Evans on the amazing future 3-D printed offers the manufacturing world.
After 30 years of development, the vice president of corporate development and ventures told the crowd, 3-D printing is finally ready to come out of the R&D labs and enter real, hardcore manufacturing in a big way.
"It was in the 30th year that the Internet really became mainstream and popular," he said. "It was approximately in the 30th year that the semiconductor industry really went horizontally relevant in many, many sectors.
"In our 30th year, we 're in that same moment."
To prove the point, he highlighted a scattershot of exciting projects happening in plants across the world, including everything from GE Aviation's much touted 3-D printed jet engine fuel nozzle, to the 20 million unique dental features already being churned out by printers at Align Technologies.
"After this 30 years of development, these machines are faster, cheaper, more reliable, more durable and use more materials," he explained. "Now we're finally seeing them enter production."
That transition isn't without disruption, however.
Designing for Function
The move requires what he called a "significant shift in mindset" for engineers and designers accustomed to working under the constraints of traditional subtractive techniques.
"You ask an engineer how many times their designs are compromised by manufacturability, they'll say 100% of the time," he explained. "They always have to do something different for manufacturing constraints or cost constraints."
With 3-D printing, though, those constraints no longer matter. Rather than designing for manufacturability, he said, it's time to start designing for function.
"We have to liberate the engineers and designers," he said. "Design for function. Make the best part possible to perform its function in the best way possible. "
For example, he points to the newly redesigned jet engine brackets announced by GE Aviation.
The design—part of a global innovation challenge issued by the company—transformed the industry-standard bracket blocks into a wild, bird-boned structure nearly impossible to duplicate on traditional machines.
The bracket, conceived by a 20 year old designer from Indonesia, matches the strength of the standard bracket, but reduces the weight by 84%.
That's a revolutionary development, and it's just the beginning.
"We're experiencing a really radical moment in aerospace where they can redesign parts to take weight out," Evans explained. "The industry is in the process of redesigning lots and lots of parts for function."
"When you flip the mentality from design for manufacturability to design for function," he added, "really incredible things can happen."
All of this design potential aside, however, Evans noted there are still a couple big manufacturing challenges that production 3-D printers still have to meet: quality assurance and quality control.
"The biggest constraint right now is QA/QC," he explained. "We need to be able to validate that every part that comes out of that printer is repeatable, durable and has the same material specs as the one before it."
While there are many new technologies and advancements aimed at this solving those issues, it remains largely unexplored territory for 3-D printing. And that is a big concern for manufacturers anxious to jump into the field.
"As long as the tool is being used in R&D and the part is meant to be destroyed, we didn't have to worry about QA/QC," he said. "But if I'm making hundreds or thousands of parts and those parts are flying an aircraft, there has to be tremendous QA/QC built around the process.
"That is really the biggest constraint right now: Building in that quality excellence."
Check out our post-keynote chat with Evans to see his vision for meeting these challenges: 3-D Printing: 'Like Having China in Your Garage'


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The DA of the central government and private sector employees is updated to adjust for inflation
every six months. The Seventh Pay Commission had decided to choose the CPI-IW as the index for adjusting inflation for central government employees. Even trade unions in the private sector use the CPI-IW to negotiate for the minimum wage of workers.
The CPI-IW hasn’t undergone revision since 2001 — an exercise which should usually take place every five years. The old base for the CPI has become outdated as the consumption patterns of households have changed drastically in the past two decades. The prices of the basket of certain goods and services are tracked for mapping inflation.
The CPI-IW with the base year 2016 will give more weight to non-food items than the food ones compared to the 2001 index, according to a copy of the presentation given to the committee, which met on February 27.
To develop the new index, the National Statistical Office conducted a survey of over 48,000 working families, tracking their consumption patterns, during January-December 2016. The new series will cover 28 states and Union Territories against 24 and cover 317 markets compared to 289 used for the 2001 index.
The weight for food and beverages components will decline from 46 per cent to 39 per cent in the new series. On the other hand, the weight for non-food items such as education, health, entertainment and recreation, household goods and services, transport and communication is set to jump from 23 per cent in 2001 to 30 per cent in 2016.
“The consumption pattern of families belonging to the working class is in consonance with other indicators which show that there is a shift in expenditure on non-food items from food items. The new index will be updated and keep this factor in mind,” a person who is aware of the deliberations said, requesting anonymity.
As prices of non-food items rise at higher rate than food items, the DA component of salaries of industrial workers and others would see higher hike if new CPI-IW is taken into account than the existing one.
After the committee’s approval last week, a national tripartite committee led by Labour and Employment Minister Santosh Kumar Gangwar will meet to approve the new CPI-IW index. This will be followed up by an approval from the Union Cabinet.


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The UK government on March 13, 2019 released the temporary rates of customs duty on imports if the country leaves the European Union with no deal. In the case of no-deal Brexit, these tariff rates will take effect on March 29, 2019 for up to 12 months.
According to the announced plan, around 87% of UK’s imports by value would be eligible for zero-tariff in the no-deal Brexit scenario.
Specifically for apparel products, 113 out of the total 148 tariff lines (8-digit HS code) in Chapter 61 (Knitted apparel) and 145 out of the total 194 tariff lines (8-digit HS code) in Chapter 62 (Woven apparel) will be duty-free. However, other apparel products will be subject to a Most-Favored-Nation (MFN) tariff rate ranging from 6.5% to 12%.
Meanwhile, the UK will offer preferential tariff duty rates for apparel exports from a few countries/programs, including Chile (zero tariff), EAS countries (zero tariff), Faroe Islands (zero tariff), GSP scheme (reduced tariff rate), Israel (zero tariff), Least Developed Countries (LDC) (zero tariff), Palestinian Authority (zero tariff), and Switzerland (zero tariff).
On the other hand, the EU Commission said it would apply the Most-Favored-Nation (MFN) tariff rates on UK’s products in the no-deal Brexit scenario rather than reciprocate.
Appendix: UK’s MFN tariff rate for apparel products (HS Chapters 61-62) in the case of no-deal Brexit.
3 thoughts on “No-Deal Brexit: UK’s Import Tariff Rates for Apparel Products”
Europe is home to many of the world’s fashion capitals and nearly every luxury fashion/haute couture house. By isolating the European Union and fashion-driven nations like France and Italy, the UK’s apparel industry will suffer greatly and clothing will be more expensive for consumers, which will reduce consumer purchases, hurting the economy of the UK as a whole. British fashion houses are in limbo as well, since they may import some of the materials used to make their products, which could bear a heavy tax.
I think it is interesting how the post talks about the Most Favored Nation tariff as a response to a no-deal brexit scenario. As we talked about in class, the MFN policy makes sure that whatever happens to one country regarding foreign trade policies must be applied to the others. With this knowledge, it proves the point that the EU commission would treat Britain like any other country. This raises the question of whether or not Britain has already ruined some of the benefits of being part of the EU, like the trade benefits of being a member.
I think that it is interesting that the UK is offering preferential tax duty rates on those specific countries. I think this could potentially be to help those countries continue to engage in trade since places like LDC might not be able to afford these tariffs. I wonder if other countries will take this exception as an unfair exception and try to fight it.


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The Rossland Cubs had a successful day last Saturday with their garage sale held at the Scout Hall.
Fred Fontaine, leader of the Rossland Cubs said they rose more than their original goal of $500 with this fundraiser. The grand total being over $700. The money raised will go towards future camping excursions as well as camping gear and equipment.
Members of the community, volunteers and Cubs alike gathered goods and delivered them to Scout Hall on Friday evening in preparation for Saturday’s garage sale.
Despite the official hours, “people were lined up as early as 8:30 a.m.”, said Fontaine. Items for sale ranged from candles and toys, to couches and sporting equipment.
After the garage sale, the club gave back to the community by delivering whatever was leftover to the thrift shop and reuse center in Trail.
The Rossland Cubs put on several fundraisers throughout the year such as this garage sale and the bottle drive they did this past fall.
The club itself has about 16 members making it one of the largest Cub groups in the area.
Thanks to all the local support they receive, the Cubs are able to participate in more events that get the kids out there enjoying the Kootenays!


text: Apple first introduced us to the Wild World of Coded Magnets in late January. Today, greater revelations are found in a new patent application form Apple published by the US Patent and Trademark Office. While Apple further discusses their technology relating to magnetic fasteners, they specifically reveal real-world applications for the iPad and iPhone. Moreover, Apple envisions their programmable magnets eventually working through to the sporting world via smart bikes, ski boots and snowboards. The energy surrounding Apple's smart magnet project is high and it's evidenced in their latest patent. In fact, the energy found in all of their programmable magnet patents thus far screams the message that they believe this is a breakthrough technology.


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Huawei has just teased its second-generation of xSport wireless headsets today. The company is a bit late with the refresh of the series as the original xSport launched in February last year. They weren’t exactly cheap as they were priced 299 Yuan. The headsets came with premium features like waterproofing and noise cancellation.
So, what will the new xSport wireless bring to the table? well, apparently it will feature heart-rate monitoring. That’s hinted by the teaser and that’s the only addition we know of. But we won’t have to wait a lot. If you’ll see the teaser, you’ll notice the design hasn’t quite changed from the original ones. Honor has also discounted the original xSport wireless to 228 Yuan. The price cut isn’t big which indicates that the new ones will be pricier.
Gizchina News of the week
Honor will also be launching two new smartphones at the event slated to take place on Wednesday. The Honor Play is one of them and it could come with Kirin OS that could steal the show at the event. The other smartphone is the Honor 9i (2018). Not a lot is known about these two handsets, but stay tuned as we’ll be bringing you the details.


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Posted on August 2, 2012 AT 12:34pm
We all knew that Sony would eventually bring LittleBigPlanet to the PlayStation Vita, and now we finally have a set release date. Originally revealed back in 2011, the game was noticeably missing from the Vita’s launch lineup, causing PlayStation fans to worry—but now, LittleBigPlanet Vita is set to release on September 25th for North America.
Better late than never, I always say.
Japan will be getting it five days earlier on September 20th, with Europe actually having first dibs on September 19th.
It makes sense, though, since developers XDev, Tarsier Studios, and Double Eleven are all European companies. For all the work it’s apparently taking for LittleBigPlanet Vita to actually get out the door, the developers apparently got Sony to release it close to home before everywhere else.
More than anything, this title’s biggest innovation will be the PS Vita’s camera, which can use photos incorporated into levels.
Of course, I suspect some nefarious parties will simply upload .JPEG images of MyLittlePony or X-rated material.
Source: PlayStation Blog
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Ford of Europe has hired long-time Audi sales executive Martin Sander to oversee its passenger cars division.
Sander, 54, will take over from Roelant de Waard, who retired at the end of last year, Ford said in a statement on Monday.
Sander, who was previously Audi's head of sales for Europe, will start his new role on June 1. He will report to Stuart Rowley, Ford of Europe president.
Sander will be based in Cologne, Germany, where Ford will build its first full-electric vehicle, which is based on Volkswagen Group's MEB platform, starting in 2023.
Sander, who has a degree in mechanical engineering, joined Audi in 1995 as a project sales manager in Germany.
His roles at the German premium brand included director of sales for northern Europe, Audi Canada CEO, head of Audi UK and head sales in the Americas, including the U.S.
Sander's assignments combine two senior leadership positions.
He will also be in charge of Ford's German operations, including its car plants in Cologne and Saarlouis. He takes over the role from Ford veteran Gunnar Herrmann, who also retired at the end of last year.


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Microsoft’s Carbon Negative Pledge: Is CSR Far More Complex Than We Think?
Microsoft recently pledged to remove "all of the carbon" from the environment that it alone has emitted since the firm began operating in 1975.
This news comes among a list of many large corporations acknowledging their power in the fight against climate change, and taking on the responsibility of dealing with it. However, despite wanting to do good and rectify past mistakes, companies are still not fully aware of the myriad of potential ramifications that can come with every decision like this.
Businesses are set up to deliver value, but stakeholders like employees, customers and shareholders now expect proof of not just financial, but social and environmental value too. Played right, it opens opportunities, but falling short of these demands creates new risks.
Often, it’s also the case that while a company may have vowed to improve in one area, it has not considered the negative impact this would have on other areas of its business, supply chain or workforce. For example, last year threats of walkouts from Amazon employees last year are credited with accelerating its commitment to going carbon neutral by 2040.
Sticking on a CSR initiative used to be popular, now it’s not enough. Having a ‘corporate purpose’ splashes headlines today – but has to be backed up by practical changes. There’s a growing weariness at worthy, politically-correct statements that have no real substance behind them. At the Golden Globes Awards this year, Ricky Gervais got straight to the point: no-one wants to hear about the political views of Hollywood celebrities. What do they know? Last month at Davos 2020, Greta Thunberg gave voice to a general feeling among consumers – that business leaders are always happy to talk about having a commitment to acting on climate, but are doing nothing.
In this climate of cynicism, CEOs need to demonstrate a firm grasp on what’s really happening in their organisations. They need to be able to speak up, but only ever on the basis of facts and a demonstration of a willingness to take action.
CEOs need to demonstrate a firm grasp on what’s really happening in their organisations. They need to be able to speak up, but only ever on the basis of facts and a demonstration of a willingness to take action.
At the root of the challenge are supply chains: the spine of an offering and increasingly the greatest source of risk and opportunity, spun out across countries with different cultures, standards and forms of legislation. In our age of hyper-awareness and instant activism, claiming a lack of knowledge of what’s happening in the supply chain isn’t good enough – and misses valuable opportunities for innovation.
Here’s what you should know about and act on, both for today and tomorrow:
An estimated 24.9 million people are in forced labour globally – meaning many supply chains carry the trace. It’s a legal and reputational risk, or an opportunity to fix a problem. Take ‘challenger’ businesses like Tony’s Chocoloney – they have a bold mission to end slavery in the chocolate supply chain. In 2018 they overtook the giant Milka in the Netherlands as the most popular chocolate bar with sales after hitting almost £40 million in sales in 2017. That’s the power of a great product and strong message.
We are seeing a range of pressures, from soaring demand for rare earth metals to contaminated water, soil erosion and biodiversity loss – many made worse by the growing impacts of climate change. Leading businesses are taking ambitious approaches to defeat these threats, from diversifying portfolios away from over-reliance on one crop, to taking waste product and packaging back to recoup the materials.
Poor quality jobs and conditions
Staying on the right side of shifting labour expectations is critical – as Uber have found in London. As labour costs continue to rise globally, but markets remain price sensitive, unscrupulous agents will turn to more hidden ways to mask abusive labour practices – like the factories in China illegally forcing schoolchildren ‘interns’ to work nights and overtime. The growth of AI, automation and shift to online shopping supply chains is also creating new labour challenges in developed markets, as it is associated with job losses, and a shift to short-term contract work with poor job security and protections.
Many companies are switching to ‘more sustainable’ products and materials but these can come with serious, unintended consequences. Avoiding plastics and turning to glass and paper can increase carbon footprints. Electric cars can reduce pollution but mean more pressure on scarce metals taken from mines in Africa where labour conditions can be poor. Balanced trade-offs will be a powerful art to master.
The next frontier of activism is from employees. Your staff will show you the way – and hold you to account when you stray. Whistle-blowing by employees at Amazon has led to reports by BBC’s Newsnight and the Daily Mirror into claims of exhausted staff and extreme working practices. Google staff walked out over responses to sexual harassment allegations.
By taking a joined-up approach to risk-mapping, boards can help their organisation find new solutions to the most pressing challenges. This could be as simple as borrowing best practice or as ambitious as leading new approaches to supply chain management. As the scale of disruption to supply chains grows, businesses cannot afford a disconnected, ad hoc approach that fixes one problem while making another worse – instead they benefit from more efficient ways to fix the whole picture.
Authored by Pendragon Stuart, a Consultant at international sustainability consultancy Sancroft. The full report New Shocks, Better Solutions – Beating disruption with stronger, more responsible supply chains, can be downloaded from sancroft.com.


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Christie’s auction house is embroiled in a bitter row over an Impressionist painting it sold as bona fide but which it now transpires was looted by the Nazis and even part of Herman Göring’s private collection.
The work’s rightful owners and the dealer who bought the painting from Christie’s have accused the auction house of failing to properly investigate its dark past, and then refusing to rescind the sale once its murky provenance became clear.
Next week, the current owner of Premier jour de printemps à Moret (First day of spring in Moret), painted by Alfred Sisley in 1889, is launching legal proceedings against the auction house.
“With Christie’s, it’s war,” said Alain Dreyfus, a French dealer with an eponymous gallery in Basel, Switzerland. “They did not do enough research.”
“If you buy a car in a garage and the police come and tell you that it’s stolen you hand it back to the garage and get your money back. That’s normal,” he told the Telegraph.
He has said he will return the work to its rightful owners, but he wants Christie’s to reimburse him. Last month, he sent a bill for €700,000 (£612,000) to Christie’s Zurich branch, demanding to be repaid the value of the work plus eight per cent interest.
Furious at, he says, receiving no response, he is taking up the “unpaid invoice” with Basel’s prosecution office, has hired a PR manager to launch a campaign accusing Christie’s of “selling stolen goods”, and is suing the auctioneers in New York.
The work’s rightful owners are heirs of French collector Alfred Lindon, né Lindonbaum, who had made a fortune as a gem dealer in London and whose art collection included works by Monet, Renoir, Degas, and Cézanne.
When the Germans invaded Paris, he fled after placing the works in a Chase Bank safe, which the Nazis forced open in 1940. Adolf Hitler’s right-hand man, Herman Göring requisitioned the entire collection of “the Jew Lindenbaum”, including the Sisley.
He later exchanged the impressionist painting, along with 17 other works, for a Titian to a corrupt dealer.
After the war, Mr Lindon recovered most of the looted works, but not the Sisley. Yet none of this was common knowledge when Christie’s New York sold Mr Dreyfus the work in 2008 for $357,000 (£312,000), along with a Renoir and Boudin.
It was only in 2016 that Canada-based looted art experts Mondex contacted Lindon heirs to inform them that they had positively identified the Sisley as coming from the family collection.
They had found the painting in an inventory of artworks confiscated from Jewish people by Hitler’s “Special Task Force”, known as the ERR database, and matched it to a photo from the Swiss gallery.
Mr Lindon’s grandson, Denis, filed a legal complaint to recover the work last August, telling a Paris court: “It is not serious to claim that Christie’s, which possesses a service specialised in research into looted art, could have ignored the origin of such a painting.”
In a statement to the Telegraph, Christie’s said: “All the known provenances and accessible history about the painting at the date of its sale a decade ago were extensively researched and referenced in Christie’s catalogue.”
At the time of sale, it argued, there was “no active claim on the work and no discoverable information that would directly connect this specific work with the claimant family”.
That only became clear two years after the sale, when the ERR database was digitised and more provenance information became available, it insisted.
Nonsense, Denis Lindon’s lawyer, Antoine Comte, told the Telegraph, calling it “one of the most shameful cases for Christie’s”.
The painting was on a French catalogue of looted art available since 1949, which has three works entitled Printemps (Spring) by Sisley, including one with the name Lindon next to it. “All they had to do was to pick up the phone and call the Lindons. We have, of course, pictures of the painting in the house with the initial member of the family,” he said.
Alarm bells should have rung due to a gaping hole in who owned the painting from 1923 to circa 1972 – often a sign that an artwork was confiscated during the war, he added.
The first owner after that was the France arm of the Wildenstein dealership, which is embroiled in a string of controversies over Nazi-confiscated art.
As for the current owner, Mr Dreyfus, Swiss authorities have sequestered the painting until the case is resolved, meaning he cannot move or sell it.
Christie’s insisted it took matters involving works subject to Holocaust restitution claims “very seriously” and had made several attempts to gather the concerned parties around a table to resolve the situation. It said the beef was now between the current owner and the heirs.
This is not the auction house’s first brush with alleged looted art. Heirs of another French dealer whose collection was pillaged are currently suing billionaire dealer David Nahmad over a Modigliani Christie’s London sold him in 1996.
Seated Man with a Cane (1918) was sold for £2m and is now valued at $25m (£19m). Mr Nahmad, who with his brother Ezra owns one of the world’s biggest collections of Modern and Impressionist art, has told French media that Christie’s has offered to reimburse him. James Palmer, head of Mondex, said the Sisley row should act as a cautionary tale.
“Sophisticated buyers of art are realising that buying from an auction house presents significant risks and auction houses need to do much more to ensure that they are not selling stolen goods,” he said.
“Buyers of art, at auctions, should insist that the auction house indemnify them in the event that a claim is ever made in the future. This would likely encourage auction houses to be far more accountable and therefore to stop selling stolen art.”


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Interactive Inc., a fast-growing firm in the Internet of Things (IoT) market, announces a collaboration with Exevio, a digital solutions firm with a focus on quality, execution and implementation of modern technologies. Exevio has engaged Ynvisible on a project in Croatia to produce a digital e-paper road sign that informs the availability of EV charging stations.
The project was supported by the Centre of Competence for Smart Cities (CEKOM), a government-backed organization that encourages R&D in the field of smart cities which includes electric vehicles.
With the electric vehicle market growing at a staggering rate, a growing issue is the lack of EV chargers on the road causing charging stations to be congested.
The problem is that when an individual arrives at an EV charging station to charge their car, they find the chargers occupied. Before Ynvisible and Exevio’s digital signage solution, the only way to know if a stall was available was to use a mobile app while driving, endangering yourself and others.
With the implementation of the digital signs on critical locations such as significant intersections, parking entrances or above the EV stations themselves, drivers can now be informed of the availability of the charging stations, thereby lowering the need to use a smartphone while driving.
The digital road sign needed to be extremely low power, energy independent and send out geo-location data in order to be sustainable and autonomous on the open road. It also needed to satisfy road safety law and emit minimum visual stimuli to prevent distraction when driving, whilst also looking like a traditional traffic sign.
Ivan Jokic, an engineer at Exevio said:
“We saw an opportunity to use electronic paper displays to achieve sustainability and autonomy. We needed a classic but new take on a sign for EV charging stations and engaged Ynvisible to produce this for us.”
“Ynvisible has an interesting take on e-paper technology – their display is able to show numbers, use low amounts of energy, easy to implement, and easy to repair and replace, enabling our product to have a low environment impact. Fast production at low cost; and the ability to implement our own custom design also played a key role in choosing Ynvisible.”
Ynvisible recently announced the latest release of their e-paper display, positioning the technology as the lowest energy-consuming printed display on the market. The technology is ideal for digital signage solutions because it requires very little power and is cheaper to produce than other alternative display technology. To read more about the partnership between Ynvisible and Exevio read their digital signage case study.
By supporting the concept of corporate social responsibility, Exevio strives to positively impact the environment and community through all elements of their work. Their primary domain is information technology and strive to approach innovations that enrich human lives in the broader picture. Additional information about Exevio is available at https://exevio.com.
On April 14, 2022, Ynvisible will be hosting an Investor Update. This webinar will be led by Ynvisible’s CEO, Mr. Ramin Heydarpour, to provide Investors with an update. There will be time for questions and answers.
Time: 9:00 AM PT/ 12:00 PM ET/ 5:00 PM CET
Register Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_EGhDMtDeSGGfh0xDBgbVQA
Ynvisible is a leading company in the emerging e-paper display market. They have the experience, know-how and intellectual property in electrochromic materials, inks, and systems. Ynvisible’s interactive printed graphics solutions solve the need for ultra-low power, mass deployable, and easy-to-use electronic displays and indicators for everyday smart objects, IoT devices, and ambient intelligence (intelligent surfaces). Ynvisible offers services, materials and technology to brand owners developing smart objects and IoT products.


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Witte Named VP, GM at Haan
Posted on June 13, 2012 by
LANCASTER, Pa.-Haan Corp. has appointed Barry Witte as vice president and general manager.
In his new role, Witte has assumed responsibility over the steam-cleaning tools manufacturer's sales, marketing and operations. He reports directly to Romi Haan, president and CEO, and has succeeded Chris Guckian, who has left the company.
Before joining Haan, Witte was vice president of North American sales for Applica Consumer Products. His career spans more than 10 years in the consumer-products market.


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Wizard rock duo Harry and The Potters returned earlier this year with Lumos, their first new album in 13 years, and went on a North American tour, mostly of libraries, over the summer in support of it. That's over now, but HaTP do have one live date coming up: they just announced the tenth annual edition of their Yule Ball holiday show. It happens at Brooklyn's Bell House on Saturday, December 14, and tickets are on sale now.
For the 2019 Yule Ball, HaTP will be joined by indie pop great Kimya Dawson (who made an appearance as Hermione on "Where's Ron?" from Lumos), Potter Puppet Pals, fellow wizard rocker Ashley Hamel, and The Dead Ringers. A portion of proceeds from ticket sales benefits The Harry Potter Alliance.
UPDATE: Harry and The Potters, Kimya Dawson, and Potter Puppet Pals are also bringing the Yule Ball to Washington DC's The Black Cat on December 13, and Cambridge, MA's The Middle East Downstairs on December 15.


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The Bank of England said the supplier of its new £5 note is looking at "potential solutions" over animal fat used in its production.
The announcement follows criticism over the use of tallow during the production process.
The Bank said it was "aware of some people's concerns" about traces of the derivative, known as tallow, in its polymer note since being introduced into circulation in September.
It said it was treating the concerns with the "utmost respect" and was in discussion with its supplier, Innovia.
In a statement, the Bank said: "This issue has only just come to light, and the Bank did not know about it when the contract was signed.
"Information recently provided by our supplier, Innovia, and its supply chain shows that an extremely small amount of tallow is used in an early stage of the production process of polymer pellets, which are then used to create the base substrate for the £5 note.
"Innovia is now working intensively with its supply chain and will keep the Bank informed on progress towards potential solutions."
Elisa Allen, Director, PETA UK, told Mirror Online: " Money doesn't grow on trees – and neither does tallow. When you consider that beef tallow is a co-product of a cruel and violent industry that kills millions of cows every year and is one of largest producers of greenhouse-gas emissions in the world, the decision to use animal fat in our currency truly doesn't make cents .
"Of course, it's worth remembering that the best way to help animals is not to avoid this fatty fiver – but rather to vote with our wallets and not give our cash to industries which harm animals and the environment."
We've also asked the Bank of England to tell us whether the £5 notes are gluten-free.
Some meat eaters have proposed a 'currency exchange', offering to swap £1 coins for the new £5 notes.


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Smart founders are good, complementary teams are better. This investor wisdom usually leads the money in the early company phase to where the founding team has all the important skills right from the start. Just like Lilo.
The proptech start-up was started by finance and real estate expert Emily Chan and techie Christopher Lass. They recently received three million euros from investors like 468 Capital – just three months after being founded in April.
With Lilo, they let high earners invest in real estate in European capitals and take turns living there for several weeks. In addition to the possibility of living in the property, customers hope for an increase in value. In order to be able to participate, they have to pay one eighth of the purchase price of the object. That's around 125,000 to 500,000 euros. On top of that, there are costs such as taxes and maintenance.
"It helps if customers can do everything with their own capital," said founder Lass in an interview with "Gründerszene". This means that those who are already wealthy currently have a clear advantage.
The business model is called co-ownership and has an American role model in the start-up Pacaso. The US company operates internationally and cooperates with the Santander Bank in Spain, among others. "We will also offer our customers financing options, for example through banks," says Lass.
In addition to Pacaso, which is valued at billions, numerous start-ups, also in Germany, are fighting for the top spot or, like Lilo, want to earn money in the niche. The start-up by Chan and Lass, for example, is initially focusing on metropolises, while other competitors are trying to lure customers with traditional holiday resorts such as Sylt or southern France.
Lilo is thus targeting a target group "that may at some point just get bored of sitting in a large villa in the French countryside for six weeks," says Lass. "Personally, I find it more exciting in Barcelona, for example, where I can also live and work."
According to the founder, Lilo's biggest competitor in Germany is Myne, who received almost 24 million euros from investors in June of this year. The portfolio of the Berliners includes villas on Mallorca, beach houses in Cape Town, but also holiday apartments in the Berlin area. Other strong competitors are Kocomo from Mexico, in which Picus Capital is invested, August from Great Britain and Everomes from Bavaria from Quandoo founder Ronny Lange and Villacircle from Düsseldorf.
According to Lass, there are around 15 players in the market worldwide. The founder and tech expert is German, the start-up and the second founder are based in London. The headquarters will be located there, but team members can also work hybrid.
According to Lass, there will probably also be offices in Berlin or Munich. He will move to the UK in the coming months as soon as visa permits. So far, the founders have been working remotely, but meet regularly.
Chan and Lass met in February this year after being introduced to each other by current investors, the founder said. The decision for the company was made in March and the founding took place in April.
But why is a techie interested in something that, viewed from the outside, offers few technical challenges? "While it's not super obvious with the business model, there are some tech challenges to challenge the status quo in this traditional industry," Lass said.
"The end consumer app is not as complex as digital onboarding, for example: How do I comply with all regulatory guidelines and at the same time offer a good user experience?"
There is also active sourcing of real estate: "Here we have to get the best real estate and faster decisions, for example for a real estate valuation, than the long-established players," says Lass. In addition, there will be a matching that conveys the best properties to a pool of interested parties.
Christopher Lass has been programming since school. Before graduating from high school, he started the joke site gefaellt.me as a 17-year-old teenager. According to Lass, it grew rapidly, by 400 percent every day in the first week, to over 700,000 views per day.
"I monetized the site with Google Adsense, which was enough for my first used car," says the founder. After two to three months there were 30 more sites with the same concept, then the traffic collapsed.
In addition, Lass and three techies launched the party app Bimble in 2015, which, based on the movement pattern, was able to deduce the alcohol consumption of the smartphone owner. “I learned a lot about my strengths and weaknesses. For example, that I am very good at building products, but that others are better at marketing than I am.” The start-up received an investment from the liquor company Diageo.
At the same time, Lass worked as a software developer for the AI startup Konux, did his master’s degree at the Technical University of Munich, spent a few months at Stanford, and has been IT manager at Passcon since 2020. He actually wanted to stay in the USA after completing his master's degree "to found a start-up or to join one in the early stages. Corona then threw a spanner in the works and I went back to Germany," said Lass. Now he is the founder again with Lilo.
With the real estate market, which is in upheaval due to interest rates and inflation, Lass and Chan did not choose an easy project. But the crisis also offers opportunities, says the founder.
“More reality has come back due to the stock and crypto values that have crashed. People are now putting their money back into more solid investments and not into leveraged ETFs," says Lass.
Lilo calls its own approach "Invest and experience" because it's about more than just investing. Lass talks about making real estate shares “collectable”. Like collecting NFTs or sneakers. That sounds unusual, but the number of competitors and financing amounts alone shows that there is a large market here.
"Everything on shares" is the daily stock exchange shot from the WELT business editorial team. Every morning from 7 a.m. with the financial journalists from WELT. For stock market experts and beginners. Subscribe to the podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcast, Amazon Music and Deezer. Or directly via RSS feed.


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Aprilia will expand its product portfolio in the Indian market with the launch of the Storm 125 by the end of this month. The Storm 125 will arrive at INR 65,000 (ex-showroom Pan India), making itself..
Piaggio India has announced that the entire range of Vespa and Aprilia scooters has been updated with ABS and CBS safety technologies. The two-wheeler brand had started rolling out CBS and ABS upgrade..
Piaggio could extend its Aprilia range of products in India as a new scooter was recently spotted in the country. The upcoming product was seen with a BS-VI 160 sticker on the apron. So could this be..
Piaggio is reportedly working on expanding its product portfolio in the Indian market with the launch of a 160 cc maxi-scooter. A report from Bikewale suggests that the all-new scooter is in the final..
IAB reader Lakshya Anand has shared images of an Aprilia SR 150 Carbon Edition that has been showcased at a New Delhi-based dealership. The special edition of the SR 150 was launched in September and..


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Ole Smoky Tennessee Moonshine announced Wednesday that beverage industry veteran John Cochran has been named CEO of the Gatlinburg distillery.
Cochran comes to Ole Smoky Moonshine after a year of building the AquaHydrate brand as CEO of that company. Before joining AquaHydrate, Cochran was CEO of Pabst Brewing Co., where he worked to rebuild that brand into an iconic status.
“Over the last year we have gotten to know John and are really confident with his past experience and the leadership skills he possesses,” Joe Baker, founder of Ole Smoky, said Wednesday.
“I’m looking forward to introducing the Ole Smoky brand to new audiences and to growing the business, both nationally and internationally,”Cochran said in a statement.
At AquaHydrate, Cochran built the brand for a joint venture between entertainers Mark Wahlberg and Sean Combs. Cochran built the Roll Global Fiji brand and developed the premium bottled water category, which he then applied to AquaHydrate.
While at Pabst, Cochran is credited with revitalizing the Pabst Blue Ribbon brand, the brewing company’s primary beer product.
Ole Smoky has reached a point that it needs someone with Cochran’s expertise, Baker said.
“As we have grown to distribute our product across the country, we recognize that we have a need for leadership with experience not only in national but international distribution” Baker said. “John is the perfect fit for that, with his experience with Pabst Blue Ribbon and the Fiji water brand.”
Baker said the company will likely recruit additional beverage industry veterans.
In 2012, Ole Smoky sold 100,000 cases of its six moonshine flavors — a 200 percent increase over 2011. The company now sells in 49 states. It has 156 employees, a production facility and a warehouse under construction.


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When Broadcom Ltd. (NASDAQ: AVGO) reported its most recent quarterly results after the markets closed on Thursday, the company said that it had $5.12 in earnings per share (EPS) on $5.33 billion in revenue. That compared with consensus estimates of $5.04 in EPS and revenue of $5.32 billion. In the same period of last year, the fabless semiconductor maker said it had EPS of $3.63 and $4.15 billion in revenue.
During the first quarter, Broadcom generated $1.685 billion in cash from operations and received $782 million from the sale of businesses and $237 million from the sale of real property. At the same time, the company spent $5.642 billion on acquisitions of businesses, including payment of assumed debt, $244 million on the purchase of investments and $220 million on capital expenditures.
The board of directors has approved a quarterly, interim cash dividend of $1.75 per ordinary share. A corresponding distribution will also be paid by the partnership, of which the company is the general partner, to holders of LP units, in the amount of $1.75 per LP unit. The dividend and the distribution are both payable on March 29, to shareholders or unitholders of record at the close of business on March 22.
In terms of the outlook for the fiscal second quarter, the company expects to see net revenues in the range of $4.925 billion to $5.075 million with a gross margin of 65% to 67%. The consensus estimates call for $4.64 in EPS on $5.01 billion in revenue.
On the books, Broadcom’s cash and cash equivalents at the end of the first fiscal quarter was $7.076 million, compared to $11.204 million at the end of the prior quarter.
Hock Tan, president and CEO of Broadcom, said:
We had a very good start to our fiscal year 2018 delivering first quarter revenue and earnings towards the upper end of guidance. In the second quarter, we expect to sustain topline momentum with strong data center demand for our networking and enterprise storage products, and a seasonal recovery in broadband access, to offset a sharp seasonal decline in wireless. Importantly, we expect gross margin to expand and drive free cash flow above our long term target of 40 percent of revenue.
Shares of Broadcom closed Thursday at $267.76, with a consensus analyst price target of $321.70 and a 52-week trading range of $208.44 to $285.68. Following the announcement, the stock was down over 1% at $264.01 in early trading indications Friday.


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Nokia Lumia smartphones got off to a decent start with better than average sales reported at AT&T stores during the initial few days of the launch. This followed with the holiday season too as people grew exceedingly curious to get hold of the latest and greatest Lumia smartphone. And now, the company has come out with a word that the past quarter i.e. the fourth quarter of 2012 reaped great results for them. They even stated that the quarter gave out better results than they had expected, so we’re guessing Nokia had very low expectations to begin with. Regardless, it’s good to know that Nokia which has been struggling to keep up with the market in terms of sales has finally something to smile about.
To give you the exact numbers, Nokia in total sold about 6.6 million “smart devices” in Q4 2012 which doesn’t include S40 phones like the popular Asha series of handsets. So Nokia’s list of smart devices consists of the standard Symbian Anna/Belle smartphones and Nokia Lumia smartphones. And the good news for Nokia is that out of the 6.6 million smart devices that it sold, 4.4 million were Lumia smartphones. The sales numbers in itself is not interesting, but it’s the fact that Nokia Lumia smartphones have outsold the other smart devices (Symbian smartphones) which has gotten the company excited. These Symbian phones made up for the remaining 2.2 million of sales. AT&T was selling the Lumia 920 for a great deal, so I guess that was a factor. But the numbers don’t just include the Lumia 920 or the 820 but even the Windows Phone 7.5 smartphones like the Lumia 610, 510 etc which are widely popular in developing nations. On a separate note, Nokia’s Asha series of handsets and other Nokia feature phones sold over 9.3 million units. Since these cover a whole different mobile segment all together, one can’t take its numbers into account.
We can certainly see the numbers come down for Nokia’s Symbian smart devices in due time, but feature phones will continue to sell. But even here Samsung is closing in on Nokia as evidenced by the Q3 2012 sales numbers. Lumia smartphones however will certainly have to pick up pace if it were to keep Nokia’s boat floating for the coming years. Failing which, we can see the company being taken over (which has been discussed on several occasions). With the Lumia 920 and the 820 launching in a few other key markets this month, things could certainly change for Nokia. The problem with its WP8 flagships have been limited availability and if the company can sort that out, we can surely see those sales numbers increasing. I’m sure Nokia will increase expectations with its devices after witnessing the Q4 2012 results.


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Rockstar Games has announced that it will release its Grand Theft series in a Trilogy pack for the PS2 in time for Christmas.
Grand Theft Auto 3, Grand Theft Auto: Vice City, and Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas will be released as Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy on 4 December in the US for $40.
Rockstar Games calls the series “a defining franchise for the PlayStation 2 system, becoming synonymous with genre-shattering gameplay, cinematic scripts, and ground-breaking soundtracks”.
The next episode in the Grand Theft series isn’t scheduled for release until 19 October 2007 in Europe, and will be designed for next-generation consoles PS3 and Xbox 360. Microsoft and Rockstar Games announced in May that episodic content for Grand Theft Auto IV will be made available via Xbox Live, giving gamers an ever-expanding choice of stories and options.


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AUSPACK, Australia’s biggest packaging and processing show, has launched a new service to connect visitors with exhibitors before the show.
The new Matchmake service allows visitors to pre-arrange meetings with exhibitors to discuss products or machinery at their convenience.
To use the service, visitors simply have to register, be granted access by the AUSPACK rego supplier, Lüp, and login into their profiles before setting up meetings with suppliers.
The service is also available through the event show app, visitors just have to login after registering.
Global and local robotics and automation experts will also present advancements in robotic technology and intelligent automation across processing and packaging at the show.
HMPS (exhibiting on Stand 69) managing director Mark Emmett said that robots can now complete a variety of tasks from simple to complex.
“There is a shortage of labour for repetitive tasks,” Mr Emmett said.
“Robots do an amazing job at doing the same task over and over with complete accuracy. We are finding even smaller producers have a need for automation. We are able to offer from very basic to very complex, customised solutions.”
To find out more about Matchmake and AUSPACK 2017, click here.


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February 2, 2012 4:46 am
This just in: One-third of Americans would choose their dream home over their dream significant other! These and other interesting statistics come from a recent survey conducted by Rent.com about love in order to better understand renter habits about relationships and moving in together. Here are a few other highlights from the survey data:
- 28 percent of men have delayed a break-up with someone they were living with because they didn’t want to look for a new place to live, while in comparison, 21 percent of women have done the same.
- While 39 percent of respondents aged 18-34 have delayed a break-up with someone they were living with because they didn’t want to look for a new place to live, only 22 percent of respondents aged 35-54 and 17 percent of respondents aged 55+ have done the same.
- 37 percent of those who delayed a break-up waited one year or more to end ties with their significant other, while 35 percent waited six months and 28 percent waited 3 months.
- 40 percent of females who delayed a break-up waited one year or more to end ties with their significant other, while 32 percent of males waited one year or more.
- 29 percent of females would choose their dream home over their dream significant other, while 32 percent of males would choose their dream home over their dream significant other.
- 25 percent of respondents aged 55+ would choose their dream home over their dream significant other, while 44 percent of respondents aged 18-34 would choose their dream home over their dream significant other.
February 2, 2012 4:46 am
For many Americans, tax season opens the door to an organizational nightmare as they sort through bank records, track down receipts, and figure out what financial information is needed and what can be discarded.
According to financial planner, Rick Rodgers, author of “The New Three-Legged Stool: A Tax Efficient Approach To Retirement Planning,” tax time is the perfect time to get organized and put a system in place for managing your finances moving forward. Here are five steps he recommends for a stress-free, streamlined financial life:
- Know what to get rid of. Discard the records you no longer need, including: tax returns older than seven years; bank records and credit card statements that are not related to the tax returns you’re keeping; brokerage statements that aren’t related to purchases of current holdings. Of course, make sure such private documents are shredded before throwing them out.
- Create digital files. Convert the documents you plan to save into digital images that are stored on your hard drive. Invest in a good scanner and scan as you go through your paperwork, shredding and tossing the hard copies. On your computer, file by tax year, so your 2011 folder will contain your tax return for 2011 and all pertinent bank records and receipts. Organize the previous six years the same way. Next year, you can delete the oldest folder when you add the 2012 folder.
- Go paperless. Stop receiving paper statements from your financial institutions—they’d prefer to send you documents electronically, anyway. Instead, download your statements electronically and store them in your new filing system. Most banks and credit card companies keep at least a year’s worth of statements available. You need to download these files only once a year to complete the year’s file.
- Back-up your files. Make backup copies of your files on CD. Choose a CD-R (recordable) as opposed to a CD-RW (rewriteable), because CD-R cannot accidentally be overwritten. Depending on your computer operating system, you may be able to continue adding data to a CD-R each year, until the CD is full. However, some operating systems won’t allow that, so you’ll need a new CD for each year.
- Apply your new system to all critical documents. Your new electronic filing system can be expanded to include all your financial records, from car maintenance receipts to pay stubs. Wills and insurance policies can also be scanned and stored but, of course, keep the originals in a safe deposit box or fireproof safe.
February 1, 2012 4:46 am
Textile and leather suppliers showcased their newest looks at the trade show “Showtime” held in High Point, N.C., this past December. Showtime is a semi-annual textile market produced by and for the members of the International Textile Market Association (ITMA). The internationally acclaimed market is said to offer one of the most thorough fabric, leather and trimmings presentations in the western hemisphere. Showtime provides retailers with a preview of key looks they can expect to see from upholstery manufacturers at the High Point Market furniture market this April.
Keep the following design trends from Showtime in mind for adding some cutting-edge style to your home:
- Teal and burnt orange were strong color contenders, closely followed by apple green and bright lemon.
- The neutral grays are morphing into driftwood or raffia tones.
- Botanicals are back, particularly in silhouetted prints of trees, ferns, or gingko leaves. Figurative florals are also key.
- Prevalent patterns included paisleys, cabana stripes, suzanis (a type of embroidered and decorative tribal textile made in Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and other Central Asian countries), toiles, lace, and Florentine tiles.
- Menswear designs inspired leather looks, including a houndstooth pattern on a hair-on-hide.
- Crocodile featured strongly on fashion runways this fall, and it’s back in a very big way for leather suppliers.
- Novelty patterns included folk-art birds, postcards, scientific equations, china plates, round chickens, and hamsa (a palm-shaped design).
- In trims, look for tassels to start appearing again, particularly Deco-inspired designs that step away from the traditional shapes.
February 1, 2012 4:46 am
Remodeling sentiment rose to the highest level in five years, according to the National Association of Home Builders’ (NAHB) Remodeling Market Index (RMI) for the fourth quarter of 2011. The RMI increased to 46.6 in the fourth quarter from 41.7 in the third quarter.
In the fourth quarter, the RMI component measuring current market conditions rose to 48.4 from 43.0 in the previous quarter. The RMI component measuring future indicators of remodeling business was also positive, increasing to 44.8 from 40.4 in the previous quarter.
An RMI below 50 indicates that more remodelers report market activity is lower (compared to the prior quarter) than report it is higher. The overall RMI averages ratings of current remodeling activity with indicators of future activity.
NAHB attributes this increase in remodeling activity to the growing number of homeowners choosing to stay put as opposed to putting their homes on the market in today’s economy.
Current market conditions improved significantly in all four regions of the country over the third quarter of 2011. The RMI reported higher market activity in two important categories: major additions 52.3 (from 45.2) and minor additions 50.1 (from 45.7).
February 1, 2012 4:46 am
While managing your credit is a critical task for every consumer and would-be homebuyer today, credit card companies often make that difficult to do. The average credit card agreement is a sea of confusing legalese with essential information, such as costs, features, and terms of the product, virtually impossible to discern.
To combat this issue and prevent consumers from heading into detrimental credit card contracts, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) has created a prototype credit card agreement that is shorter, written in plain language, and explains key features upfront. This agreement is part of the CFPB’s broader effort to protect consumers, Know Before You Owe.
According to the CFPB, there are an estimated 514 million credit cards in circulation in the United States. Americans used their credit cards to spend an estimated $1.9 trillion in 2010, and credit card debt is estimated at $700 billion dollars. While the Credit CARD Act of 2009 helps protect consumers from unsavory cost practices, two-thirds of cardholders still say they don’t completely understand how their cards work. And, as indicated in a recent CFPB report on credit card complaints received by the Bureau from July 21 to October 21, 2011, difficulty understanding the terms of their cards is a contributing factor in many consumer complaints.
The CFPB’s prototype is based on four key areas of improvement within credit card agreements:
- Length: The industry average for a credit card agreement is currently about 5,000 words; the CFPB’s prototype comes in at a substantially reduced 1,100 words.
- Language: The draft credit card agreement has an easy-to-read layout and is written in plain language. It is organized into three simple sections: costs, changes, and additional information.
- Consumer Appeal: The simplified agreement explains the prices, risks, and features of the credit card upfront, as opposed to burying it in fine print.
- Consistency: The prototype establishes standard definitions for legal terms like “card” and “balance transfer” that are contractually necessary but largely uninformative to consumers. These definitions are based on standard industry usage and practices and will be housed online where consumers can readily access them. For consumers who do not have Internet access, the definitions will be available from their issuer in printed form. According to the CFPB, doing this allows for a plain language document that clearly explains to consumers how the credit card works.
January 31, 2012 4:46 am
American workers spend an alarmingly high amount of their hard earned cash on somewhat average daily expenses, according to a new Workonomix survey by Accounting Principals, a finance and accounting staffing firm. The survey found that 50 percent of the American workforce spends approximately $1,000 a year on coffee, or a weekly coffee habit of more than $20. And the spending doesn't stop there. Two thirds (66 percent) of working Americans buy their lunch instead of packing it, costing them an average of $37 per week – nearly $2,000 a year.
Despite these high costs, the survey suggests workers are unclear about the biggest drain to their wallet. When asked which work expense they most want to be reimbursed for by their employer, 42 percent of employees chose commuting costs and only 11 percent chose lunch expenses. However, the average American's commuting cost is $123 a month or approximately $1,500 a year, which is well below the average annual lunch tab of $2,000.
This is especially true for young American workers. The survey found that younger professionals (ages 18-34) spend almost twice as much on coffee during the week than those ages 45+ ($24.74 vs. $14.15, respectively). They also shell out more for lunch, spending an average of $44.78 per week on lunch compared to their older colleagues who spend $31.80 per week.
However, it seems American workers of all ages are starting to realize the effect this incremental spending has on their personal bottom line. According to Accounting Principals' survey, one-third (35 percent) of employees have made it a financial goal to bring lunch instead of buying it in 2012.
Other survey findings include:
- Better food and coffee in the office might help cut back personal spending. Perhaps because of how much they're spending outside the office, American workers would like companies to invest in better food and drinks in the office. One-quarter (25 percent) of Americans wish their company would invest in better vending machine snacks and 22 percent of American workers would like their company to invest in better coffee in the office.
- Employers should focus on the "simple pleasures" to keep employees happy. Although better food and drinks would be a plus, employees most want to see their companies invest in better office equipment (46 percent) and more comfortable office chairs (32 percent) in 2012.
- Corporate discounts do not factor into employees' purchase decisions. Companies looking to attract new candidates shouldn't focus on corporate discounts as a selling point. The majority (82 percent) of employees say corporate discounts matter little or not at all when buying a new product or service.
January 31, 2012 4:46 am
In 2011, U.S. consumers were much more diligent in paying against their debts, resulting in significant declines in delinquency rates among the majority of tracked lending sectors, according to Equifax's December National Credit Trends Report.
The data also reflects a cumulative decline in total consumer debt, which now stands at $11.1 trillion. This represents a nearly 11 percent decline in debt from its peak of $12.4 trillion in October 2008.
Equifax's national analysis is sourced from data on more than 585 million consumers and 81 million businesses worldwide. Conducted on a monthly basis, the research provides detailed levels of consumer credit information from various vertical markets including, mortgage, automotive, student loans and bank and retail credit cards.
Most tracked lending sectors reported double digit declines in delinquency rates for 2011. Key findings from the report include:
Bank Credit Cards
The greatest improvement year-over-year (versus 2010 levels) was within the bank credit card lending sector, where 60+ days past due delinquencies declined by 29 percent. As delinquency rates continue to improve, bank credit card issuers have loosened lending standards and from January-October 2011, there was a 48 percent increase in new bank credit cards issued to subprime borrowers (those with Equifax credit scores below 660). In October 2011 (headed into the holiday retail season), monthly subprime bank credit card originations were up 22 percent over October 2010 levels.
Sixty-plus days past due rates declined by 19 percent in the auto finance category and in the auto bank category, 60+ days past due rates declined by 23 percent in 2011. Auto loan-amount totals were also on the rise with more than $30 billion in new auto loans originated in October 2011. That total is almost equally split between auto finance ($15.9 billion) and auto bank ($15.7 billion).
2011 first mortgage 30+ days past due rates declined by 13 percent and home equity installment 30+ days past due rates declined by 10 percent. While not quite as large a decline, the home equity revolving 30+ past due category demonstrated improvement as well, with a 7 percent reduction in 2011. While home equity delinquency rates were better for the year, home equity origination rates continue to be down, with declines recorded for both the number of home equity loans originated and average loan amount, extending a 5-year slide.
Retail Credit Card
In the retail credit card category, the (60+ days past due rates were down 15 percent) for 2011 and on the origination side, a 4-year declining trend was reversed as the number of new retail credit cards originated between January-October 2011 (26.8 million cards total) increased by 7 percent.
The exception among 2011 lending sectors was in the area of student loans that are 60+ days past due, which did not decline, but actually increased by 1 percent over 2010 delinquency levels. However, through October 2011, the industry is experiencing 3 consecutive years of increases in the number of student loans originated.
January 31, 2012 4:46 am
According to a recent report in Real Estate Economy Watch, nearly one out of three home sales in December 2011 went to buyers who paid all cash, adding credence to the belief that investors are key to the recovering real estate market.
The report was based on the findings from the Campbell/Inside Mortgage Finance HousingPulse Tracking Survey, which surveys approximately 2,500 real estate agents nationwide each month. According to the survey, in December, the overall proportion of cash buyers in the housing market surged to a record 33.2 percent, up from 29.6 percent a year earlier, and 74 percent of investors used all cash to buy homes. Investors accounted for 22.8 percent of home purchases in December 2011, up from 22.2 percent a month earlier.
The combination of all cash and shorter closing timelines convinced many sellers to accept lower bids. The survey found that cash buyers are able to bid significantly lower—and successfully—on many properties because they offer a shorter and more reliable closing timeline. This is particularly true for bids on distressed properties, because mortgage servicers selling foreclosed properties generally prefer transactions that can settle within 30 days.
The total share of distressed properties in the housing market in December, as represented by the HousingPulse Distressed Property Index (DPI), continued at a high level of 47.2 percent, using a three month moving average. This is the 24th month in a row that the DPI has been above 40 percent.
While investor bids may not be the first offers accepted, they often end up winning properties after other homebuyers are eliminated because of mortgage approval or timeline problems.
Source: Real Estate Economy Watch
January 30, 2012 4:46 am
According to the Conference Board Measure of CEO Confidence™, CEO confidence, which had declined in the third quarter, improved in the last quarter of 2011. The Measure now reads 49, up from 42 in the previous quarter (a reading of more than 50 points reflects more positive than negative responses).
Says Lynn Franco, Director of The Conference Board Consumer Research Center: “The bounce back in CEO confidence in the final months of 2011 was due primarily to an improved short-term outlook. Overall, however, CEO confidence remains rather subdued. On the inflation front, CEOs anticipate price increases of about 1.8 percent for 2012, down from last year’s estimate of 3.3 percent.”
CEOs’ assessment of current economic conditions was less pessimistic, with 17 percent saying conditions have improved compared to six months ago, up from just 11 percent last quarter. In assessing their own industries, however, business leaders were more pessimistic. Now, about 16 percent claim conditions have improved, down from 19 percent in the third quarter of 2011.
CEOs’ optimism about the short-term outlook improved from last quarter. Currently, about 32 percent of business leaders anticipate an improvement in economic conditions over the next six months, up from 19 percent in the third quarter. Expectations for their own industries are also more upbeat, with approximately 25 percent expecting conditions to improve in the months ahead, up from 22 percent last quarter.
The Conference Board is a global, independent business membership and research association working in the public interest. For more information, visit www.conference-board.org.
January 30, 2012 4:46 am
For many of us, winter means more time spent inside and less time spent in the great outdoors, which can often lead to a classic case of cabin fever and winter blahs. According to Debra Duneier, author and creator of EchoChi, with a few simple steps, you can transform your home into a place that makes you feel happier and healthier this winter:
- Use color creatively. Add warmth and excitement to your life by accessorizing your home with red, yellow and orange, says Duneier. These colors have a stimulating Chi (energy vibration) and have the energy of summer. This invigorates our environment, making us feel more optimistic and energized.
- Bake something. Turn on the oven to fight off the wintery chill. After all, who doesn’t feel better by the smell of chocolate chip cookies baking? Try a variety of ingredients like vanilla or cinnamon and experiment with baking an old family recipe, advises Duneier. Winter provides the perfect opportunity to slow down and reconnect to your home and family through baking.
- Use fragrance to bring the outdoors in. Scented candles can be especially helpful in the winter when we spend so much time indoors. Home fragrance can reconnect us to the natural world through our sense of smell. The scents of flowers, fresh rain, the forest, or ocean air are all essential to our well-being. Choose candles made of soy or bees wax with 100 percent cotton wick to ensure a toxic-free experience.


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11 April, 2018
Episode 36: George Sammans, Sammantics
This week on pod, we talk everything blockchain and cryptocurrency with Australia’s leading thinkers on the subject, George Samman.
A blockchain consultant/advisor, George Samman has co-founded and worked with numerous startups in the bitcoin and blockchain space since 2013. George strongly believes that blockchain and financial technologies are here to change how business is done across every industry.
George co-founded Magnr in 2013, a bitcoin trading platform, and Sammantics where he blogs about blockchain technology and use cases. He’s constantly researching the technology in great depth in order to explain its potential to institutions of all shapes and sizes. He recently co-authored a seminal report on blockchain architecture with KPMG.
George Samman is an entrepreneur in Residence for blockchain and cryptocurrency at Startupbootcamp, Tyro Fintech Hub, and has also advised startups such as Agridigital, Lightstreams, Investfeed, Gazecoin and Hedera Hashgraph.
So turn up the volume and dive into the crypto world!
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Friday, May 13, 2011
ShopSavvy Tests QuickBooks Integration
Dallas-based ShopSavvy, the developer of mobile barcode scanning and pricing comparison shopping, said this week that it is looking to help small retailers connect their Intuit Quickbooks Point Of Sale software with the app. The company said it has an API connection to the Intuit software ready for beta test, and is looking for small retailers willing to tryi t out. The API allows those retailers to share their pricing with the users of ShopSavvy's iPhone and Android apps, which allows users to scan a barcode and get comparison pricing from online and local stores. The firm did not say when it expects to release the software to all companies. ShopSavvy is run by Alexander Muse. The firm's app is one of the top mobile barcode scanning applications.


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- The Produce Marketing Association will take the stage next month at South by Southwest in Austin, Texas. Chief Marketing Officer Laura Scott will participate in a session titled, “Tap Primal Instincts to Fuel Your Food Movement,” alongside panelists from The Wonderful Company, Fresh Produce Marketing and Sentient Decision Science. Scott will also speak on a panel about the health benefits of eating plants.
- The organization developed and submitted the "primal" panel concept last summer, and was selected through a combination of community voting and evaluation from South by Southwest's staff and advisory board.
- At the conference, the Produce Marketing Association will also host an experiential component for the second year. Its Global Street Farm will be an exhibit with live music, fresh produce samples and street food, and will act as a home base for produce and floral industry members at the event.
As the food industry continues to be a hotbed for innovation and changing consumer habits shape the way food producers operate, it's essential for food organizations to have a platform. With visibility at this year's SXSW, the Produce Marketing Association can position itself as a thought leader and help put the food and produce industries at the center of new ideas and influence.
The organization has not released extensive details on its panel discussion, but said in a press release that it will share some of its own research into food choices and explore "why rational thinking alone can’t trump primal desires." The panel marks the Produce Marketing Association's first panel appearance at SXSW, and the topic is designed to appeal to marketers, researchers, food scientists and food lovers.
With its creative panel topic, the Produce Marketing Association is not simply promoting the sale of fruits, vegetables and flowers but also driving deeper conversations around wellness, global business and the intersection of food and culture.
In general, food plays a big role in SXSW’s programming. In addition to many free samples, there is a plethora of food-focused programming that tackles topics like food deserts, the future of eating, transparency and technology. This year, in addition to the Produce Marketing Association's submitted panel, there are two other panels featuring prominent produce and floral industry voices.
Besides being surrounded by other innovative businesses and influencers, SXSW positions PMA in front of a large audience of millennials. Last year, 37% of attendees were between the ages of 25 and 34 – the largest among all demographics. That group has been found to prefer healthy and organic foods. According to the Organic Trade Association, 52% of organic consumers are millennials and the group eats 52% more vegetables than older generations. SXSW is an ideal place to reach this particular audience.
When it started in 1987, SXSW was a relatively small music festival that brought 700 people to the Texas capital city and saw steady growth in the 1990s, eventually adding interactive and film events. Today, the annual event has become a destination for cutting-edge technology and creativity, and has expanded to include industries such as food, blockchain, marketing and media. As SXSW evolved, so did its content, becoming a showcase for emerging technologies, startups and digital trends. Twitter announced its launch there in in 2007, and the iPad 2 was unveiled there in 2011.