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How about some fish oil in your dessert? Fatty-acid nutrients known as Omega-3s, derived from certain fishes, are a hot commodity these days because of their putative ability to cleanse arteries. So food companies are mixing them into everything from milk to sports bars to boost nutritional – and marketing – value. Now they are also seeking ways to mix large amounts of Omega-3s into foods like crackers or tomato sauce that can’t normally hide the fishy flavor – and in which the fragile oils more readily break down.
A number of companies are adapting encapsulation techniques already used in the drug industry. In processed foods, the techniques can preserve the fragile oils for months. BioDelivery Sciences of Newark, NJ, encases the fish oil in a calcium and soybean lipid matrix, the same approach it takes with antifungal drugs it has in clinical trials. Raphael Mannino, the company’s chief scientific officer, says the technology works in everything from pasta to chocolate chip cookies and is already “under evaluation by a number of major food companies.”
One company exploring nutrient encapsulation technologies is Kraft Foods of Northfield, IL, owner of brands like Nabisco and Oscar Mayer. Kraft says the widespread use of such technology is all but inevitable in the next few years. It is “the real new trend in the food industry,” says Manuel Marquez-Sanchez, head of the Kraft Foods Nanotek research consortium, which funds university research. Any new food products containing fish ingredients would likely fall under U.S. Food and Drug Administration allergen-labeling requirements.
The market could be large. Health-care analyst Bill Martineau of the Freedonia Group, a Cleveland research firm, estimates that the market for “functional” foods containing medically beneficial nutrients – which hit $23 billion in 2003 – will exceed $40 billion in 2008. So what’s good for you will also be good for the industry’s bottom line. Wendy Wolfson
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Purearth pledges to aid daily-wage labourers around Pune
Ayurvedic skincare and wellness brand Purearth has begun distributing essentials to day-labourers around Pune through its charitable organisation Pure Purpose Foundation and has launched a donation appeal.
“I have mobilised our Pure Purpose Foundation, a Purearth sister organisation and tax exempt charity based in Pune, India through which we are distributing ration- rice, dal, atta, oil, soap, and essential necessities to bastis, rozgaars and labourers’ families around Pune,” the brand’s founder, Kavita Khosa, announced on Facebook on March 29.
“Rozgaars- daily wage labourers and migrant workers have been terribly affected by the Covid-19 lockdown in India,” wrote Khosa.
“Jobless and homeless, thousands around our studio area in Pune are left hungry, with social distancing practically impossible and transmission a frightening prospect.”
Like most Indian industries, the fashion and beauty industries rely on day-labourers. Khosa has asked customers and fans of the brand to donate to a tax-deductible ‘General Fund’ and stated that a donation of Rs 1,000 ($13.16) can feed a family for 14 days.
Kavita Khosa launched Purearth in 2014 as a vegan and cruelty-free Ayurvedic beauty and wellness brand. Purearth retails from its dedicated e-commerce site and has a presence in multi-brand stores. The brand retails products including body butter, eye serum, face oil, and facial mist.
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All posts tagged "samsung"
Microsoft takes Samsung to court for refusing to pay patent royalty
Samsung: The company would review the complaint in detail and determine appropriate measures in response.
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- The shares trade at just 5.3 times forward earnings and pay an annual dividend yield of nearly 9%
- Investors should brace for a missed profit and be ready to buy stocks at attractive pullback levels
- Rising interest rates, recession risks and falling consumer spending are major headwinds
- Revenue growth fell from 25.4% in the prior-year period to just 5.2%
- Camping World reported its best-ever quarter by revenue and second-best quarter of earnings ending in June 2022
Camping products and recreational vehicle (RV) retailer Camping World (NYSE: CWH) has been a direct beneficiary of the pandemic as consumers discover or rediscover outdoor recreation. The lifting of COVID restrictions and the proliferation of vaccinations haven’t halted Camping World’s growth. Investors are wondering if a new normal is emerging for the industry. From a valuation perspective, the shares are trading very cheaply at just 5.3 times forward earnings with a whopping 8.75% annual dividend, assuming future estimates aren’t revised downwards. It’s actually trading at a cheaper valuation than RV maker Winnebago (NYSE: WGO) at a low 4.1 times forward earnings on a meager 1.9% annual dividend yield, or Thor Industries (NYSE: THO) at 9.2 times expected earnings and an annual dividend yield of 2.3% dividend yield.
preparing for a recession
The US Federal Reserve has hiked interest rates by 3% over the past six months to curb rampant inflation. Results have been slow to materialize, however, as September’s CPI came in at 8.2%, missing analyst estimates of 8.1% but still showing progress from June’s highs of 9.1%. The (-36%) drop in RV shipments for the industry in August could herald a drop in Camping World RV sales. Normalization and the potential for a slowdown in selling to be reported in the next earnings report should keep investors from rushing into the stock. The RV business has been in full swing since the pandemic lockdowns and appears to be very sticky as underlying consumer lifestyle changes continue to drive demand. However, rising interest rates and falling consumer spending have likely taken a toll on demand, and investors should brace themselves for potential deficits. Supply chain restrictions have been eased, as evidenced by vehicle inventories more than doubling from the same period last year.
Minimal and mobile lifestyle trend driver
The pandemic reinforced the trend towards minimalist and mobile living, as well as experiential travel and outdoor recreation. There are numerous new content providers on YouTube (NASDAQ: GOOGL) presenting the joys of van living and RV driving as a lifestyle adaptation that goes beyond vacationing but is also applicable as a mobile home and office. There’s a chance a recession could push more consumers toward minimalist and mobile living, especially as fuel costs continue to fall.
Will normalization come in the third quarter of 2022?
On August 2, 2022 Camping World reported its second quarter 2022 results for the fiscal year ended June 2022. The company reported earnings of $2.16 per share, beating analyst estimates of $1.79 per share by $0.37 per share. Revenue rose 5.2% year-on-year (YoY) to $2.17 billion, beating analyst estimates of $2.03 billion. Inventories of new and used vehicles rose to $1.7 billion from $782.5 billion a year ago, due to the easing of supply chain restrictions. The company continues to pay its quarterly dividend of $0.625 per share or annual dividend of $2.50 per share.
The prophet speaks
Prominent Camping World CEO Marcus Lemonis commented: “We are delighted with the sale of nearly 39,000 new and used RVs contributing to record second quarter sales. We believe our team has both the focus and experience to manage our business through changing market conditions, as evidenced by our solid financial results.”
Here’s what the charts say
Using the Rifle charts in the weekly and daily time frames offers a broader view of the landscape for CWH stock. The weekly Rifle chart formed a collapse as shares fell below $27.17 Fibonacci (fib) level to bottom near the Fib $23.03 level before embarking on a rally. The 5-period moving average (MA) weekly resistance is still falling to $25.96, followed by the rising 15-period MA at $27.68. 200-period weekly MA support is slowly rising to $25.23. The weekly 50-period MA resistance falls to $30.81. The weekly newspaper Market Structure Low (MSL) The buy trigger is still holding at $24.35. The weekly stochastic is breaking through the 40 bands and the weekly lower Bollinger Bands (BBs) are at $18.74. The daily Rifle chart is in an uptrend but is losing momentum as the daily 5-period MA support at $27.39 is tested, followed by a rising 15-period MA at $26.14. The daily stochastic broke through the 80 band. The daily 50-period MA at $28.83 almost overlaps the daily 200-period MA resistance at $28.99. Daily top BBs are at $30.27 and daily bottom BBs are at $22.14. Given the potential for a weak earnings report, it is best to await earnings reaction to a sell-off attractive pullback levels at $25.39, $23.98 Fib, $23.03 Fib, $20.83 Fib, $19.55 Fib and the $17.70 Fib level.
Hear this before you consider Camping World.
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Coca-Cola plans to buy full control of sports drink company BodyArmor for $5.6 billion, people familiar with the deal told The Wall Street Journal.
The transaction would value BodyArmor at about $8 billion, The Journal reported on Sunday.
Coke will buy the remaining 70% of the company that it doesn’t own from its founders, investors and professional athletes who invested and helped promote the drink, including the NBA’s James Harden, MLB’s Mike Trout and Mookie Betts and the NFL’s Kyler Murray and Baker Mayfield. The late former NBA star Kobe Bryant also had been an investor in BodyArmor, according to its website.
Coke, which currently owns 30% of BodyArmor, bought its initial stake in the sports drink company in August 2018. The original agreement gave the Whitestone, N.Y., sports drink company access to Coke’s expansive bottling system to help accelerate its growth.
The Gatorade rival is on track for $1.4 billion in retail sales this year. BodyArmor SuperDrink, created by co-founders Mike Repole and Lance Collins, contains potassium and other electrolytes, vitamins and coconut water. It has no artificial colors or flavors.
The company also markets BodyArmor Lyte, which has all the nutrients of BodyArmor but is naturally sweetened, has only 20 calories and 3 grams of sugar per serving.
BodyArmor SportWater is a premium sport water designed by athletes for athletes with a performance pH 8+ and electrolytes for sport.
Coke in May discontinued its Coca-Cola energy drink that it launched in January 2020 to compete with Red Bull and Monster Beverage. Shares of Coke on Friday closed 0.6% higher at $56.37. The stock rose 0.04% in after-hours trading.


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In the past couple of years New Yorkers and the ingenious operators of an ever growing number of gourmet food trucks have been entangled in a passionate, yet fleeting, romance. For many reasons – a desire to escape the cold and rain, burdensome city regulations, the allure of bigger projects – many of these plucky entrepreneurs eventually set their sights on “brick and mortar” ventures.
The Dessert Truck, which stole the city’s heart when it hit the streets three years ago – bringing creme brulee and warm chocolate bread pudding to the masses — was one of the first to go legit. They’ve now been ensconced on Clinton Street for about six months, operating a full-fledged pastry shop and cafe.
Recently Dessert Truck Works‘ mastermind, Jerome Chang, told us the time has come to branch out beyond decadent desserts. Along with partners Susana Garcia and Vincent Jaoura, he’s developing new menu items better suited for daytime consumption: light pastries, sweet snacks and a variety of coffees and teas.
Jerome says business is usually strong in the evenings. The shop was, of course, mobbed when they gave away free desserts one day last month. But Jerome freely admits he might have under-estimated the challenges in making the transition to a storefront on the Lower East Side.
The Dessert Truck was strategically located near NYU — where high foot traffic from ravenous college students helped make the business an instant hit. But Jerome says the truck was never the point. All along, his passion was to make gourmet desserts – the kind you usually only see in the city’s most expensive restaurants – accessible to all.
Most of the offerings at Dessert Truck Works cost $6 (as opposed to, say, the $14 you’ll pay for the chocolate mousse at Per Se). But Jerome also wanted to remove some of the pretension from high-end sweets. A graduate of the French Culinary Institute and (like his partners) an alum of Le Cirque’s pastry kitchen, he says all too often how a dessert looked was more important than how it tasted.
DT Works’ creations are definitely not mundane. You can have your chocolate bread pudding with bacon custard sauce. The warm molten chocolate cake is served with an olive oil grenache center and roasted pistachios. But Jerome says some of the simplest desserts are his favorites. Right now he’s especially fond of the “Boom Boom Berry” (summer berry sorbet, whipped creme fraiche, strawberries and rhubarb juice). A certain Lo-Down co-editor (hint: not me) goes crazy for the warm brioche donut holes with nutella filling.
While Jerome and Company are finding their place in the neighborhood, they haven’t dispensed with the dessert truck altogether. It still’s available for special events and parties.
The new menu items will debut in a few weeks. DT Works is located at 6 Clinton Street. They’re open 11am to 11pm (midnight on weekends).


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Apple’s iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus models, likely launching in September, will boast a 48-megapixel rear camera lens, according to Jeff Pu, an analyst at Hong Kong-based investment firm Haitong International Securities.
In a research note today, obtained and shared by MacRumors, Pu said the 48-megapixel lens on these models will use a new three-stacked sensor that can capture more light for improved image quality. Unfortunately, Pu says that, based on recent supply chain checks, the stacked sensor is likely facing yield issues that could result in production delays for the two lower-end iPhones.
A 48-megapixel camera lens debuted on the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max last year. The lens enables users to shoot 48-megapixel ProRAW photos, retaining more detail in the image file for better editing flexibility.
Pu has a decent record when it comes to iPhone rumors, and he was the first to report that iPhone 15 Pro models would no longer feature solid-state buttons due to “design issues.”


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According to a new report by the EPA, American consumers and businesses together throw out 35 million tons of food per year, more than plastic, paper, metal, or glass. What do you think?
“So, what should we do—eat more?”
Bill Lane • Catalog Editor
“More now than ever, America needs to invest in its Tupperware infrastructure.”
Sylvia Diston • Granite Countertop Marketer
“Don’t look at me. I’ve still got carrots in my fridge from last year.”
James Knowlton • Highway Overpass Photographer


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We’re almost halfway through the first month of 2023, and that means it’s nearly amiibo time! Yes, following on from a release confirmation at the end of last year, this week marks the arrival of the Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Kazuya (Tekken) and Sephiroth (Final Fantasy VII) amiibo.
While they’re both due out on 13th January, if you take a quick look on social media and other platforms like Reddit, you might have already seen how some collectors have already got their hands on them thanks to early pre-order deliveries. Here are some of the ones we’ve spotted in the wild so far:
It seems these amiibo are already popping up in-store as well, but from what we’ve heard they can’t be sold until 13th January. Kazuya and Sephiroth are part of the Super Smash Bros. Ultimate DLC Fighter Waves and will be followed by the release of Pyra and Mythra (Xenoblade Chronicles 2 amiibo) at some point later this year.
Will you be adding these latest Smash amiibo to your own collection? Have you been lucky enough to secure yours early? Tell us in the comments.


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The Moto Razr 2022 seems like a great alternative to the Galaxy Z Flip 4, but it’s only available in China
There’s been a lot of discussion around the new Moto Razr (codenamed Maven) over the last few months, but we finally know everything about this new flip phone. Motorola has put an end to all the speculation by officially unveiling the new Moto Razr 2022 in China. The new foldable device is a boldly reimagined version of the previous two iterations, and there’s definitely a lot to like here.
The new Moto Razr 2022 is a whole lot different from its predecessors, and it all starts with the design. The phone stays true to its iconic flip phone form-factor, but it features some major improvements over the previous models. It’s still very much a compact and pocketable device that opens up to reveal a gorgeous 6.67-inch FHD+ 144Hz OLED panel.
Moto Razr 2022: Specifications
|Specification||Moto Razr 2022|
|Dimensions & Weight||
|SoC||Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1|
|RAM & Storage||
|Battery & Charging||
|Front Camera(s)||32MP f/2.45|
As you can see, the phone has lost the “chin” from the previous iterations and now has a slimmer hinge. It now looks a lot like the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4 from the outside, but it sports a bigger cover display.
We’re now looking at a 2.7-inch AMOLED QuickView display to let its users access more information without having to open the main display. It offers support for nine widget panels that show weather, fitness goals, camera, notifications and calls, and more. Furthermore, you can even open certain apps on the cover screen and reply to messages.
Like the Galaxy Z Flip 4, the Moto Razr 2022 also supports a new Flex View that lets you fold the phone so it stands on its own, allowing you to take selfies, video calls, and more hands-free. On the inside, the phone packs Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1 SoC, paired with up to 12GB of RAM and up to 512GB of storage.
As far as cameras go, the phone packs two upgraded cameras on its back — a 50MP f /1.8 main sensor and a 13MP sensor for macro and ultra-wide shots. There’s also a 32MP selfie camera housed within the punch-hole cutout on the internal display.
Rounding off the hardware is a 3,500mAh battery, which offers 33W wired fast charging support. Although its battery is smaller than the one on the newly-launched Galaxy Z Flip 4, the faster 33W charging capabilities should offer a better experience overall. On the software front, the device runs Android 12 out of the box.
Moto Razr 2022: Pricing and availability
The new Moto Razr is now available in China at a starting price of CNY 5,999 (~$890), and it’s expected to remain exclusive to the Chinese market for the time being. Motorola has not shared any plans to launch the phone in other markets, which is a bummer as it would’ve given buyers a cheaper alternative to the Galaxy Z Flip 4.


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Google Inc. doesn’t hesitate to seek directions when it comes to trying to improve its online mapping service.
That’s why Google is asking its users to add more details to its U.S. maps. The suggested revisions can be made beginning Tuesday through an editing tool that already has been used to create and refine maps in 183 other countries since 2005.
Google, which is based in Mountain View, didn’t rush to introduce the map-making service in the U.S. because it already had good data in its home country. It decided instead to concentrate on filling in the gaps in other parts of the world where digital maps were far more primitive or completely unavailable.
As comprehensive as Google’s U.S maps are, the Internet search leader believes they can get a lot better with the help of citizen cartographers.
Google is hoping people will be willing to volunteer to designate where their favorite neighborhood hangouts are or perhaps label all the buildings on the campus of their alma mater or a nearby university. Other local knowledge conceivably could be used to plot which streets have bike lanes or the locations of community parks.
All proposed changes submitted through http://mapmaker.google.com will be reviewed for mistakes before they appear in Google’s mapping service. Google will rely on volunteer moderators in addition to using its computer to track the trustworthiness of the users who log into the mapmaking service.
Calling upon the collective knowledge of users with expertise in particular topics is similar to the approach used to create Wikipedia, the Internet’s leading online encyclopedia. Although Wikipedia has published some embarrassing mistakes during its 10-year history, it has proven reliable enough to become one of the Internet’s most frequented destinations.
Google says it also has found citizen cartographers to be diligent and accurate in the other countries where the map-editing tools already have been available.
The quest to make Google’s maps more revealing has gotten the company into trouble previously.
The biggest backlash has been directed at a “Street View” feature that provides photographic images of many cities in the online maps. Street View initially provoked privacy complaints because Google published photos that included people in public places or activities that they didn’t want to be posted online.
Last year, Google revealed that the cars also had been equipped with software that vacuumed up personal e-mail and other data from users on unprotected wireless networks in neighborhoods where the company’s picture-taking cars had been cruising. Google says it didn’t discover the cars had the snooping software until it responded to a regulatory inquiry.
Source: The Associated Press.


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Online sales tax bill gains momentum
FARGO -- The U.S. Senate is poised for a final vote Monday on a bill that would give states the authority to force online retailers to collect sales taxes on goods shipped to places like North Dakota and Minnesota.
The House will eventually vote on the bill, too, and unlike past attempts there is growing consensus a law will be enacted this time around.
“It’s about damn time,” said Greg Danz, owner of Zandbroz Variety store in downtown Fargo.
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Some business owners may be cheering the Trump administration’s effort to reduce or eliminate regulations, but this week a group of beauty entrepreneurs will meet with federal lawmakers to lobby on behalf of a bill that would increase oversight of their industry.
More than a dozen natural skincare and cosmetic brands have formed the Counteract Coalition, an alliance of companies that supports the Personal Care Products Safety Act. The bill, introduced by Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) and Susan Collins (R-Maine), would, among other things, require manufacturers to post complete label information about products online, and force beauty companies to provide the Food and Drug Administration with information about the ingredients used in their products.
The effort—31 percent of entrepreneurs say regulatory compliance was a concern when they started their businesses—is the brainchild of Gregg Renfrew, founder and C.E.O. of Beautycounter, which bills itself as a “cleaner cosmetics” company. “I set out to change the world, not just create a beauty brand,” she said. For Renfrew, that meant working to raise push for disclosure of potentially harmful chemicals in skincare and haircare products.
Renfrew, who also co-founded The Wedding List, a registry business that she sold to Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia in 2001, said she knows lobbying Washington for greater regulation isn’t exactly smiled upon by most capitalists. “I remember very early on, turning to a friend, saying, ‘We need to take that all the way to Washington,’” she recalls. “The reaction was: don’t tell the investment community.”
Other coalition members include Annamarie Skin Care, Biossance, côte, Goddess Garden, Follain, OSEA, Peet Rivko, Rahua, Silk Therapeutics, SW Basics, tenoverten, Vapour Organic Beauty, Joise Maran, and Vintner’s Daughter. Unilever unit Seventh Generation, which sells household products and baby care products, also is a member.
The Feinstein-Collins bill enjoys backing from a cross section of personal-care companies. According to Senator Feinstein’s office, supporters include Jessica Alba’s Honest Company, L’Oreal, Revlon, and The Estee Lauder Companies.
Renfrew said she hopes the Counteract Coalition will be successful in getting a hearing for the beauty bill. “We want them to move this forward,” she said. It is worth noting that the current safety guidelines, which essentially ask manufacturers to act on a sort of honor system, haven’t been updated since 1938. Beauty may be a virtue, but so is patience.


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It's been a rough year for Navistar International
Recently, the EPA nearly doubled the fines it was charging Navistar for non-compliant engines. Under the weight of these fines, Navistar will abandon its own 15-liter engine technology and adopt that of rival engine maker Cummins
Navistar had been paying a $1,919 fine per non-compliant engine sold, but the EPA ruling increased that figure to $3,775. In the wake of this announcement, Navistar announced that it will incur $40 million to $60 million in restructuring charges, and the company's president, chairman, and CEO, Daniel Ustian, resigned, effective immediately. Ustian had been a leading proponent of using a technology called exhaust-gas recirculation, or EGR, to lower the emissions of nitrogen oxide gas, a chemical known to cause lung damage and acid rain. Ustian pushed for EGR despite internal hesitation, so his ouster will be critical to moving the company forward.
Other manufacturers in the industry, such as engine-maker Cummins and vertically integrated truck-maker PACCAR
With the failure of the $700 million, decade-long EGR diesel engine project, not only must Navistar scramble to conform to industry standards, but it also has to contend with the two-year head start its SCR rivals have on it.
Navistar has lost customers by pursuing a dead-end technology. Between 2010 and 2011, for example, Navistar lost a quarter of its share in the traditional truck market, slipping from 28% to 21% while its competitors gain ground. PACCAR has gained not only market share but also pricing power over Navistar because of its superior technology. Cummins has found Navistar to be a great customer, as the company has been forced to rely more and more on Cummins' 15-liter diesel engines instead of its own.
Get that engine turned over
Recently, Navistar's board has been admirably proactive in trying to leave the EGR mistakes behind and making the tough decisions required to put the company back on the road to profitability. The request for Ustian, champion of the failed strategy, to step down is one such obvious move.
The company also swallowed the bitter pill of purchasing technology and engine parts from Cummins, long a rival, to make its own MaxxForce engines compliant. While embarrassing, and a great victory for Cummins, this was the right move for Navistar. By transitioning immediately to proven technology instead of trying to develop its own, Navistar can keep its important supply partnerships intact.
Navistar also secured a five-year, $1 billion loan from a consortium of lenders. With these moves in place, Navistar has secured its short-term future. If Navistar can make its way back to profitability, even with a severely impaired market share, investors getting in at today's prices should be richly rewarded. Expectations for Navistar, currently valued at 2.2 times cash flow, are low. If the company can stanch its loss of market share and pricing power, multiple expansion alone should drive the stock price up 50% or more. If the company can successfully execute a turnaround, and start to actually regain share or pricing power, today's investors will do even better.
One road sign to look for
One of Navistar's customers with a much less risky future is Caterpillar. The company remains a market-share leader in an industry in which size matters, and its quality products, extensive service network, and unparalleled brand strength combine to give it solid competitive advantages. Read all about Caterpillar's strengths and weaknesses, and whether the stock is currently a buy or a sell in our brand-new report. Access it now.


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NEW YORK — For Vera Wang, shopping with her daughters Cecilia, 21, and Josephine, 17, is a favorite pastime. Wang learns about their generation’s style on those trips to Bleecker Street or Madison Avenue, and the experience is now proving to come in handy as she launches into juniors apparel and accessories under the Princess Vera Wang moniker.
This story first appeared in the June 21, 2012 issue of WWD. Subscribe Today.
The collection, which officially launches at Kohl’s next month, is an extension of Wang’s fragrance of the same name, which she introduced in 2006.
“It made sense to leverage the success of the Princess fragrance into a complete juniors collection,” the designer said. “For me, it is also my chance to express the inner youth of my creative head. I love the freedom to mix and match at will, to layer and color, style and express fashion with energy.”
The collection embodies a younger spirit than anything Wang has offered so far, and is based on several teenage archetypes, like rock princess, preppy princess and flower princess. Case in point: an ocelot printed top layered over an orange tank, plaid twill pants, cropped blazers and graphic printed T-shirts — the kind of clothes girls might need for back-to-school. There are also handbags and shoes in the launch assortment.
RELATED STORY: Narciso Rodriguez Kicks Off Kohl’s Designer Program >>
Mario Grauso, president of Vera Wang, said the Princess brand “has resonated for us in a powerful way, even internationally. Vera and I felt strongly about expanding it at some point, and talked about doing more of a lifestyle collection within the brand.”
The lineup, priced at retail from $12 to $84.99, will be exclusively available through Kohl’s, which, since 2007, has been selling the Simply Vera Vera Wang line. Kohl’s official launch date is July 9, though merchandise will start to trickle into a select number of doors as soon as Friday (the promotional department store needs to carry merch for two weeks before it can mark it down).
Overall, the new categories are estimated to have retail sales of $36.3 million for the fall season, with apparel being the largest category at $27.9 million.
For Kohl’s, the addition could lift its overall juniors business, which “has been tough for us the last couple of years,” admitted Wesley McDonald, Kohl’s senior executive vice president and chief financial officer, at the Jefferies 2012 Global Consumer Conference this week. “It continues to be tough in the spring.…We also, obviously, didn’t have as much of a color denim. That’s a big trend in juniors, so that’s been rectified for back-to-school. We’ll be a big player in that business. So just like any other year, there’s always some content issues that we can improve upon.”
Wang and Grauso see Princess expanding into a soup-to-nuts lifestyle brand with the same kind of breadth of Kohl’s Simply Vera line. Asked about potential categories, Grauso cited cold weather and home as areas Wang would like to explore for Princess.
For Wang, it’s not just an additional business but also provides a way to snag her future clientele at an early age. “That’s certainly something we hope for,” Grauso said, adding that once that customer is captured, “We can then give her an offering through her wedding and beyond.”


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InfoWest, Inc. announced the acquisition of NetZing, previously Dixie IP, a privately-owned St. George-based wireless Internet service provider. NetZing provided Internet service to hundreds of customers within the St. George, Washington, Leeds, and Hurricane areas.
“We sold to further ensure our customers continue to get the best customer service, Internet capacity, and experience for many years to come,” said Weston Johnson of NetZing. “InfoWest will be able to provide the enhanced resources to boost our customers’ Internet experience now and into the future.”
“This acquisition will not only help us expand our network to additional areas in southern Utah,” said Kelly Nyberg, president of InfoWest. “It will also allow us to provide faster, more reliable service to NetZing’s customers and future InfoWest customers as well.”
The transition will take place over the next few months. InfoWest plans to integrate, improve, and expand the current network to provide customers additional bandwidth for faster speeds and a more reliable connection.
InfoWest currently deploys over 100 towers within the southern Utah area and will continue deploying towers in an effort to maintain and improve quality of service.
More information about InfoWest and the services it provides is available at infowest.com.


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Published on Friday, June 1, 2012
Matrix Private Equity Partners has sold its minority stake in Wimbledon-based ski and cruise specialist Iglu.com for £19 million.
The stake has been purchased as part of a secondary MBO financed by Growth Capital Partners.
Matrix originally invested £4.3m in the MBO of Iglu in December 2009 and has helped the online ski agent grow its cruise holiday business.
It claimed that during the period of ownership, revenues and profits have more than doubled to make Iglu "the largest independent retailer of ski holidays" in the UK and one of the UK's largest online cruise agents.
The company’s revenues now exceed £90 million.
Iglu founder and managing director Richard Downs said: "Matrix has been an excellent and supportive financial partner over the past two and a half years. We now look forward to further growing our presence in the cruise market both domestically and in Europe."
Move scroll bar (above) left to right for more videos!
Recently, roomsXML has launched its new version of API, which brings significant upgrades to its already reliable API. By upgrading the API, clients now have the ability to search for multiple hotels of their choice in a single request. This allows them complete freedom to only search for hotels they wish to sell.


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Macworld: Apple reportedly working on "large-screen technologies"Apple Computer may hold ambitions of taking its living room digital media strategy to the big screen — literally.
According to a research note released by American Technology analyst Shaw Wu on Monday, the company is working on "large-screen" technologies within its development labs.
"We are not certain on timing but our analysis indicates that AAPL is beyond prototype on large-screen technologies (for a larger monitor or possibly Apple-branded HDTV)," the analyst told his clients.
Wu maintained his Buy rating on shares of Apple with a $99 price target, recommending that clients buy the stock on dips.
On Topic: General
- Apple CEO Tim Cook calls doom and gloom 'huge overreaction,' turns sights to India
- Apple's Jony Ive previews The Met's 'Manus x Machina'
- Hulu could beat Apple to the punch with live TV subscription service
- This week on AI: Apple's no-good terrible quarter, a death in Cupertino, 'Apple Watch 2' rumors & more
- Apple redesigns Support website with clean layout, responsive UI


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Mark your calendars! Some insiders have reported that Meizu will hold a launch even on September 2 in Beijing where they will formally launch the MX4 as well as other products. They also released the MX3 at the same date last year.
Regarding the Meizu MX4’s specifications, right now, most people think that this device will sport a 5.4-inch 2K screen, an 8mp front-facing camera, and a 20.7mp rear-facing camera. Many also believe that it will use the Samsung Exynos octa-core chipset, have 3GB ROM, and that its operating system is the Flyme 4.0.
Furthermore, it looks like Meizu may release a low-end version with a lower screen resolution and RAM. Its other specs are expected to remain the same.


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A former oil change business on Route 38 in St. Charles would become a drive-thru grocery store under a proposal before city officials. (Stephanie K. Baer, Chicago Tribune)
A proposal to establish a drive-thru grocery store in St. Charles got the green light from the city's Liquor Control Commission on Tuesday night, but not without opposition from the commission's two City Council members.
The store, which would be located in a former oil change business at 2071 Route 38, would sell beer and wine — but not hard liquor — along with other grocery items. Unlike traditional fast-food restaurant drive-thrus where customers are served at windows, the proposed grocery store would literally have customers drive through the building.
"I probably have made myself very clear on how I feel about drive-thru liquors," said Ald. Maureen Lewis, referring to a proposal from Lundeen's Discount Liquors to establish a drive-thru window at its 1315 W. Main St. location.
"The argument was the same: it was the harried mother with the kids strapped in the car seat, it was the elderly who couldn't get out of their cars, it was the convenience of the laypeople," Lewis said. "It's not something I would be able to support."
The commission, which serves in an advisory capacity to the council, voted 3-2 to advance the proposal to a council committee, which would have to consider whether to amend the city's liquor code to allow for such an establishment. Lewis and Ald. Rita Payleitner voted against the measure, citing opposition from their constituents.
"I'm on the record as not seeing that St. Charles is ready to be a pioneer on this just yet," Payleitner said. "As we learned through the last review, there's no drive-thru liquor stores in all of Kane County … I just don't see the urgency of (it)."
The developer, Peter Bogle, a St. Charles resident and local business owner, said his proposal was much different from that of Lundeen's, noting that the grocery store would not include a window. Instead, because of the design of the building, employees would walk up next to a car after it entered, greet the customers and take the order.
"We're at ground level. That picker or the runner is actually there looking right into their eyes," Bogle said. "I think that level of security is certainly a lot more than that drive-thru window."
Mayor Ray Rogina, acting as liquor commissioner, voted in favor of the proposal to break the tie between the two aldermen and two citizen members of the commission. Rogina called the proposal an "out of the box" idea that could help boost the economic vitality of the area.
"When are we going to fill these empty spaces, which now includes a Kwik Lube on a very visible corner of our community?" Rogina asked. "If there's a faltering there, they'll pay the price."
He added that when discussing the Lundeen's proposal, location was more of an issue because the liquor store is surrounded by residential properties and a few blocks from several schools.
Aldermen will discuss the proposal at a committee meeting on March 3, according to Tina Nilles, administrative assistant for the city.


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Nantahala Brewing Pattons Run Porter, a fall favorite on draft since 2011, releases in bottles this year.
Pattons Run Porter, described as “a sessionable beer that is light in body yet has big roast and semi-sweet chocolate flavors,” compliments the fall season’s outdoor activities. “At 4.5% it satisfies people who want to have a few pints without sacrificing flavor,” says brewmaster Greg Geiger.
The Bryson City, NC based brewery offers Pattons Run Porter, named after the first major rapid boaters encounter on the Nantahala River, on draft in their tap room each fall.
This year it will be available in 22oz bottles at Nantahala Brewery on Friday, November 11th. Following the brewery release will be distribution to Tennessee and Western North Carolina.
Availability: 22oz Bottles, Draft.
Bottle Debut: November, 2016


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(Photos): 2016 Volvo V90 leaks
This vehicle is expected to make an official debut on February 18 in Stockholm, Sweden and according to Auto Car, the official images were published on social media. Images of the new model had already been leaked late last year, when pictures of a scale model of the car appeared online.
Earlier this year, the rear of the car was also caught undisguised in a Swedish garage.
These latest pictures confirm that the V90 will take styling inspiration from the Volvo Concept Estate revealed at the 2014 Geneva motor show, particularly with the design of its distinctive tail-lights. The front end, meanwhile, closely resembles that of the S90.
The V90 will be built on the Swedish manufacturer's SPA platform and is expected to use the same range of powerplants as the XC90, including the 394bhp T8 Twin Engine plug-in hybrid and the D4 and D5 diesel engines.
An official launch date has not yet been confirmed, but the V90 is set to go on sale in the UK in the second half of this year. A sporty Volvo V90 Polestar, tuned by the company's competition arm, is also likely later in the car's life cycle.
Although there are no pictures of the interior, it’s expected to mirror the S90's plush appointments.
Rivals for the V90 include the BMW 5 Series Touring, Jaguar XF Sportbrake, Mercedes-Benz E-Class Estate and the next-generation Audi A6 Avant.


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La Roche-Posay has teamed up with Apple to launch My Skin Track/UV, an innovative wearable for keeping tabs on ultraviolet radiation, pollution, humidity and pollen levels.
Essential reading: Smart UV monitors
The French cosmetics company recently became the first beauty outfit to enter the stretchable electronics field with My UV Patch. We wrote about it earlier. It works similar to a removable tattoo sticking to the skin for five days. The photosensitive dyes inside change colors when exposed to UV rays. Users are meant to take a photo of the patch and upload it to the accompanying smartphone app to assess the amount of UV exposure.
Now, L’Oréal has launched My Skin Track/UV, a new and improved version that measures UVA and UVB rays. But in addition to tracking your exposure to the sun, this one also keeps tabs on pollution, pollen and humidity. The device was developed in collaboration with L’Oreal’s skincare brand La Roche-Posay and Professor John Rogers from Northwestern University, a globally renowned developer in wearable technology.
You are meant to wear the sensor around your neck or clip it onto your clothes or bag. The water-resistant wearable uses NFC (near field communication) rather than Bluetooth to transmit its data, and there’s no need to recharge as its battery-free.
My Skin Track/UV is activated by the sun and provides instant status updates while storing up to three months of data. The beauty of this is that you can track exposure day by day through the year, rather than just a few days during the summer. The sensor even integrates with Apple HealthKit and sends out instant UV alerts.
“La Roche‑Posay believes that better looking skin starts with healthy habits.” said Laetitia Toupet, global general manager of La Roche‑Posay.
“That’s why we are committed to bringing scientific progress directly to consumers, so that they can make well‑informed decisions that will help them take exceptional care of their skin.”
L’Oréal’s new wearable has the potential to educate people on how often and how much they’re being exposed to UV radiation. The hope is the information will lead to an increase in sun-safe behaviors, such as seeking shade and applying sunscreen.
My Skin Track/UV is available now at apple.com and select Apple store locations in the US for $60.
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Denver, CO – July 11, 2012 – According to the real estate website, Trulia, the average cost for renting housing in Denver has increased 10.9 percent since June 2011, which is twice the national increase. As rent skyrockets in our community, the Better Business Bureau (BBB) says con artists take notice and consumers become more vulnerable.
Rental scams are especially common on sites like Craigslist, and those looking for a place to rent, as well as those who are trying to rent out their home to a tenant can fall victim. Homeowners can be victimized if a scammer sends them a counterfeit check for the deposit, which is made out for more than the amount due, and then asks for the difference to be sent back to them. Renters fall victim in several other ways. They can lose money sent for a deposit or even become victims of identity theft.
“When low rent is tough to find, those searching for housing should remember that any offer that sounds like an incredible bargain is probably a scam,” said Dale Mingilton, president and CEO of the BBB Serving Denver/Boulder. “Finding a new place and moving is stressful but you must take the time to choose carefully.”
The BBB warns of the following red flags of rental scams and advice for each:
· Red flag: The deal sounds too good to be true. # # # # About the BBB
The BBB is an unbiased nonprofit organization that sets and upholds high standards for fair and honest business behavior. Businesses that earn BBB Accreditation contractually agree and adhere to the organization’s high standards of ethical business behavior. The BBB provides objective advice, BBB Business Reviews , BBB Charity Reports and educational information on topics affecting marketplace trust. To further promote trust, your BBB also offers dispute resolution services for consumers and businesses. The first BBB was founded in 1912. Today, over 100 BBBs serve communities across the U.S. and Canada. Please visit www.denver.bbb.org for more information.
# # # #
About the BBB


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Congratulations on the excellent article, "Red State Rising" (HCN, 10/29/12). It was great to see a positive story about Utah. The Air Force moved me here 36 years ago, and for many of those years the state received more than its share of negative stories, usually focused on the failure of business and government leadership to plan and develop resources for future growth. A comment frequently made to newcomers then was, "Welcome to Utah, turn your watch back 100 years."
As Thompson's article pointed out, state and city leaders over more recent years have made a concerted effort to bring Utah into the 21st century. The success of the 2002 Winter Olympics demonstrated the state's ability to serve tourists from around the world, and certainly went a long way towards creating a more positive impression than was held by a great many from outside the region. The strong emphasis on outdoor recreation and tourism in general has increased steadily since then, as the article discussed, despite the protests of some locals who would "keep our beautiful state as it was!" Incidentally, Mr. Thompson, you do not have to go to a state liquor store here "to buy beer for your river trip." It has been sold at nearly every grocery store, drugstore and 7-11, seven days a week since I arrived in 1976! And restaurants will serve you wine with your meal and a cocktail beforehand. Spread the word!
Note from editor: Only beer with 3.2 percent alcohol or less is sold outside state liquor stores in Utah, hence the reference in the story.


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I only spent about 30 minutes with Samsung's new foldable flip phone, but I'm convinced Motorola should be worried
Lisa Eadicicco/Business Insider
- Samsung unveiled the Galaxy Z Flip on Tuesday, a flip phone with a foldable screen that bends in half.
- During my brief time using the Z Flip, I was impressed with its smooth glass screen, the way the hinge was able to keep the display propped open, and its compact design.
- The Flip still doesn't answer the overarching question of why you might want a foldable phone in the first place, but its glass screen, lower price, and higher-quality camera should give it a leg up over the very similar Motorola Razr.
- Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.
With its next foldable device, Samsung is bringing back the flip phone.
The company unveiled the Galaxy Z Flip on Tuesday, a new smartphone with a foldable screen that snaps shut like an old-school flip phone. For Samsung, it's the second iteration of what it believes could be the next evolution of the smartphone, coming after it launched the larger, tablet-sized Galaxy Fold last year.
The Z Flip's defining feature is its foldable display, which bends horizontally to give the phone a clamshell form factor. That's a major departure from the Galaxy Fold, the phone Samsung debuted roughly one year ago that opens and closes vertically like a book.
Samsung's new take on the foldable smartphone - and the other improvements it's brought to the Flip such as a flexible glass display and a hinge that's better at keeping out debris - serves as further evidence that major device makers are still experimenting with what's next for the smartphone. It also comes after Motorola just launched a very similar foldable phone, a revival of its classic Razr from the early 2000s.
After spending roughly 30 minutes using the new Z Flip, I can tell that there's promise in bringing back the flip phone. There's the convenience factor that comes with being able to fold a phone in half and more easily store it in small spaces, like a small purse or pocket, and the way the foldable screen neatly splits the display in half when using apps in split-screen mode. But whether that justifies paying a price that's slightly higher than that of the average smartphone has yet to be seen.
Overall, the Galaxy Z Flip doesn't feel all that different than using a regular smartphone, and perhaps that's a good sign. That it feels just as natural as the phones we use today and doesn't require a learning curve is a signal that there might be promise in the Z Flip.
Here's a closer look at what it's like to use the Galaxy Z Flip.


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Time once again for all those predictions for the coming year. You know what I mean. What celebrities will get married or divorced? What movies will be big hits or flops? Hit albums, hot trends, and the list goes on.
Here’s one you probably didn’t pick up. A survey by eMarketer predicts that 80% of businesses with more than 100 employees will adopt social media for marketing purposes in the coming year. That’s four out of five businesses. eMarketer also surveyed companies and found that while social media was definitely in the plans for the coming year, search ads and website creation/traffic conversion were higher priorities than social media.
The takeaway seems to be that while businesses recognize social media as important, many companies still aren’t certain what to make of social media. Advertisements and even websites are more tangible, more well-known and widely accepted in the business world. They are in our comfort zone.
But, if there is anything I have learned in my new career in PR, it’s the same lessons I followed in my previous career in TV news. Copy is king. We need to put as much thought into a social media campaign as we do into a website, press release or news story.
But unlike in news or even a press release, social media isn’t just about TELLING the audience something. The days of “shouting” our message are over. The beauty of online media is that we can engage in a conversation and make a connection. We invite thoughts and feedback. Companies can have a relationship with their customers, thanks to social networks. Companies are starting to grasp this, and that’s why we’re seeing numbers like the ones from eMarketer.
But the big unknown for most companies still is how to track ROI on social media.
So, if what eMarketer suggests is true, that 80% of businesses with 100+ employees will include social media in their marketing plans in 2011, then my humble prediction is that this will also be the year that organizations get serious on how to put a numerical value on our online relationships. Companies who’ve hired interns and entry-level employees to “tweet for them all day” (yes, we’ve actually heard respected executives use this term) may start replacing those positions with people who have more sophisticated marketing or PR backgrounds. We’ll see even bigger sales of books like this one from the authors of from Marketing Profs on How to Make Money With Social Media. Organizations are more likely to adopt tracking tools like Argyle Social or Sprout Social at faster rates, too.
In summary, we’ll see less talk and more action when it comes to social media. What do you think? Are we right? What are your big predictions for social media in 2011?


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Theatrhythm Dragon Quest Announced for 3DS
posted on by Egan Loo
Square Enix announced on Wednesday that it will release the "theater rhythm action game" Theatrhythm Dragon Quest for the Nintendo 3DS for 5,800 yen (about US$49) on March 26, 2015.
Attendees of Jump Festa 2015 can play the actual game on December 20 and 21, and the latest promotional video will also debut there.
[Via Hachima Kikō]


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Apex Motorsport gains global sales rights for Sailun motorsport tyres
Sailun Tire has entered into a partnership agreement with China’s Apex Motorsport. The deal, signed on 21 August by Apex Motorsport’s Jin Yi and Chen Zheng, deputy director of Sailun Motorsport, gives Apex global sales rights for Sailun Sports Tires including the full range of Sailun Gene R tyres. Sailun believes this agreement marks its “successful shift from the prosumer market to the consumer market following three years of racing events that put Sailun Tire products to various stringent tests.”
In addition to this sales partnership, Sailun is teaming up with Jin Yi’s King Crab Racing drift team. The tyre maker will support the team’s drivers and donate RMB 300,000 (£33,000) worth of tyres for King Crab’s use in competitive events and training.
The tyre maker established its Sailun Motorsport division earlier this year to oversee the development and marketing of motorsports tyres. Sailun Motorsport has also taken on responsibility for the drifting events that Sailun has partnered in since 2015, including D1GP, RDS, CDC, and IDC.


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Nvidia has announced Nvidia Omniverse Cloud, its first software and infrastructure-as-a-service offering, at Nvidia GTC 2022. It is a suite of cloud services for artists, developers, and enterprise teams to design, publish, operate, and experience metaverse applications anywhere.
The technology uses the cloud to tap the heavy-duty power of data centers to enable Omniverse tools wherever the users happen to be. More than 700 companies and 200,000 people are using Omniverse now.
Using Omniverse Cloud, individuals and teams can experience in one click the ability to design and collaborate on 3D workflows without the need for any local computing power. Omniverse Cloud will leverage Nvidia’s cloud gaming solution, GeForce Now, which has a global graphics delivery network.
“The next evolution of the internet called the metaverse will be extended with 3D,” said Richard Kerris, vice president of the Omniverse at Nvidia. “To understand what the impact of that will be, the traditional internet that we know today connects websites described in HTML and viewed through a browser. The metaverse will be the evolution of that internet connecting virtual 3D worlds using USD, or universal scene description.”
Omniverse Cloud is based on the open Universal Scene Description (USD) standard for interoperable 3D assets.
“The metaverse, the 3D internet, connects virtual 3D worlds described in USD and viewed through a simulation engine,” said Jensen Huang, Nvidia CEO, in a statement. “With Omniverse in the cloud, we can connect teams worldwide to design, build, and operate virtual worlds and digital twins.”


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Food retailing is one of the most vital parts of an economy – if not the most vital. Food, after all, is basic sustenance, and those who provide food, drink and household essentials keep people and societies moving forward on an everyday basis.
As the events of the past few years have shown, the food industry is open to threats that directly impact the flow of foods and goods to consumers. If this is an ultimate asset, it needs protecting at many levels.
While it’s often impossible to prevent a crisis and or even see it coming in the way it unfolds – the early COVID-19 pandemic days of 2020 being Exhibit A in that regard – planning and preparedness make a difference in how a situation is managed. FMI – The Food Industry Association – helps retailers, wholesalers and manufacturers anticipate and address a wide range of asset protection (AP) issues.
FMI’s team of experts are in place to help safeguard property, profits and, above all else, people. In fact, according to the 2022 FMI Asset Protection in Food Retail survey, the health and well-being of associates was the number-one concern listed among AP leaders. Given the breadth and depth of crises that have faced the food industry, FMI is regularly updating and expanding its resources to include comprehensive guides, research-based reports, collaborative training, and special events like the upcoming Asset Protection and Grocery Resilience Conference in Orlando– all specifically designed for the food industry.
That industry specialization has proven valuable for those involved at various points in the food retailing business. FMI offers tools and expertise for its members across the value chain — from retailers who sell to consumers, to producers who supply the food, as well as the wide variety of companies providing critical services — to amplify the collective work of the industry. Importantly, the organization also brings people in this essential industry together to share their experiences and ideas in an ever-shifting environment, through the annual AP conference and other forums, both online and in-person.
The Rising Threat Level
If food is at the crux of people’s lives, it’s also at the center of many safety and security challenges. Three of the major crises of the last three years – the COVID-19 pandemic, supply chain backlogs, and inflation – fell square into the food retailing space. Add to that social unrest, changing laws at the state and federal level, weather-related disasters, and a war in Ukraine – known as a breadbasket of the world – and you can see why preparedness has moved up the priority list for those in the food supply chain.
Accordingly, those tasked with protecting people, property, and profits in the food industry have a lot on their proverbial plate as the 2020s continue to be a disruptive time. A decade ago, protection encompassed the rather straightforward protection of merchandise and facilities – something that was gently dubbed “cops and robbers.” In today’s more complicated world, with challenges exacerbated by the pandemic and other socioeconomic and geopolitical circumstances, retailers must contend with a new crop of serious threats. The scope of their jobs has greatly expanded.
Fortunately, technology has accelerated to the point at which retailers can use various tools to largely address small-scale theft, guided by the principle of protecting lives over products. Such advances allow retail AP professionals to focus on the additional simultaneous challenges facing the industry right now.
- More opportunities for loss: Retail AP professionals must deal with traditional shoplifting as well as new and emerging forms of theft and fraud. The advent of grocery technologies like self-checkout, for example, has led to different vulnerabilities for theft, along with shrink and waste that are not intentional.
- The rise of organized crime: The rate of organized crime targeting the retail industry, including the grocery sector, is as high as it has ever been. Criminal operations have become savvy at working together to steal goods from shelves, use stolen credit cards to buy merchandise and manipulate ecommerce, among other activities. Moreover, some of those enterprises have become violent.
- Greater risk for conflict and personal harm: Unfortunately, security in the food retailing sector increasingly involves ways to protect shoppers and staff from violence. Situational awareness is pivotal, and active shooter training has moved to table-stakes education for retail employees at all levels, especially in the wake of mass shootings that occurred at grocery stores in 2021 and 2022. In addition to quickly identifying assailants and protecting associates and customers, teaching staff on how to de-escalate conflict is also a must to diffuse potentially explosive events.
Beyond these front-burner issues, retailers and their safety and security professionals must plan for other things that may arise, such as severe weather events that can affect virtually any part of the country, an adulteration attempt by an individual or group, or a labor strike that can compromise security. And that doesn’t even count the things that come seemingly out of the blue.
Resources for Retailers
Given the evolving and growing number of crises in the food industry, retailers have had to rethink, redeploy, and retrain their team members to handle what may come up. I, for one, didn’t expect to have to use a bleeding-control kit for a gunshot victim in the store when I was a store worker at age 17; these were more focused on accidents with box cutters or in the butcher shop and other such incidents. It’s a different world now, and one that requires different approaches and foresight.
To support its members, FMI offers several resources that share best practices, standardize nomenclature and offer other solutions for todays – and tomorrow’s – threats. These resources reflect FMI’s all-hazards, all-threats, all-crime, all-the-time approach.
- Crisis guides: FMI members who are part of the retail, wholesale and manufacturing sectors can utilize the many crisis guides that the organization has developed and made available. In addition to guides devoted to active assailants, de-escalation, civil unrest, and other matters, FMI links its members to additional resources from federal, state, and local authorities.
- Extensive training options: In addition to its own comprehensive training programs, FMI works in tandem with other experts to offer retailers and their AP teams with the latest education and instruction. One of those partnerships is with The Power of Preparedness, or TPOP, which provides online training focused on active assailant training and workplace violence preparedness. Covering several relevant topics, that training can be customized to different settings and includes short, succinct sessions. FMI has also teamed with Early Alert, comprised of a qualified team of professionals from the public, private and military sectors who help retailers and other businesses reduce risks and mitigate losses from hazards threatening their organizations; together, the groups offer real-time consulting that spans emergency management, disaster response and recovery and incident command and control, among other topics.
- Research and educational materials: Every year, FMI publishes a state-of-the-industry report based on research and insights from stakeholders on what keeps them up at night. That report sets a yearly benchmark for the industry. Throughout the year, FMI also hosts downloadable digital seminars featuring industry leaders and innovators talking about key issues.
- Special events: This spring – and for the second time in five years – FMI will host its Asset Protection and Grocery Resilience Conference at the Hyatt Regency in Orlando. Fla. Running March 19-22, the event provides an opportunity for professionals in loss prevention, risk management, workplace safety, and crisis management to collaborate and network on issues that impact their shoppers, employees, facilities, and overall business success. Those who are pursuing certification from the Loss Prevention Foundation can earn continuing education credits from this conference.
Several hot-button topics are on the agenda for the 2023 conference, including business continuity planning; organized retail crime; civil unrest; workplace violence; and cybersecurity. In addition to keynote presentations and breakout educational sessions, attendees will come together in business-to-business networking meetings to talk about challenges, learnings, and best practices. FMI will help facilitate those B2B meetings to connect trading partners and foster important discussions.
In addition to providing resources for its global members, FMI regularly keeps a pulse on happenings that affect the safety and security of food and essential goods. Among other year-round efforts, FMI’s team works closely with Federal Agencies, including the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), for preparedness and situational awareness to gauge and improve response to crisis events. While we all wish we didn’t have to think about such scenarios, it’s our mission of protection that goes hand-in-hand with sustenance.


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Because type 2 diabetes is linked to high levels of sugar in the blood, it may seem logical to assume that eating too much sugar is the cause of the disease. But it's not that simple. Leading nutritionist Lynn Grieger and Dr. Marilyn Glenville discuss the effects of sugar and how you can deviate from sugar bites while still enjoying the sweeter things in life. "The idea that sugar affects diabetics has been around for years, but the truth is that type 2 diabetes is a multifactorial disease with many different types of causes," explains Grieger.
"I don't think anyone has put their finger on what the real cause of diabetes is, or that we will find a single cause."
Diabetes.co.uk said on their website: "Having diabetes doesn't mean you have to cut out sugar completely. We all like to eat sugary foods sometimes, and there is no problem including them as a treatment in a healthy, balanced diet.
"But we eat too much sugar, just too a great deal and damages our health as a result. "
Doctor Marilyn Glenville said:" Excess sugar is very harmful, and even a slight increase in glucose levels in the bloodstream can be harmful to the brain, which can result in memory shortages and slow cognitive function.
"So, it's time to swap the sugary cherry drops for some naturally sweet dried fruit. Raisins and dates are good for fighting your sugar fix, and if you're into your cookies and tasty baking, add raisins or sultans to make a pie or crumble it a little sweeter.
"Spices like cinnamon and vanilla also add a lot of sweetness and flavor, so you can reduce the amount of other sweeteners in a recipe or remove it completely.
"Research has also found that reducing sugar consumption and supplementing with Omega-3 fatty acids improves working memory."
Studies have suggested that sugar massively affects the mood. According to a brain imaging study in healthy young people, the ability to treat feelings with elevated blood sugar is compromised.
Another study showed that people with type 2 diabetes reported increased feelings of sadness and anxiety during periods of elevated blood sugar. [1
" You may be shocked to find that so many foods contain sugar, not just the sweet and obvious ones. There is sugar in soups, tomato sauce, mayonnaise, salad dressing and even baked beans. Instead of relying on ready-made sauces, try making your own. This way you can control the amount of sugar or even chop out completely.
"Carrot and beetroot are naturally sweet vegetables; so instead of relying on salad dressings and side dishes like baked beans, use the sweet vegetables instead."
Elevated blood sugar damages blood vessels, and this can be a major cause of vascular complications like diabetes.
According to studies, frequent exposure to high glucose levels decreases mental capacity, as higher HbA1c levels have been associated with a greater degree of brain shrinkage.
Further research also shows that a diet with high sugar content reduces the production of brain-derived neurotropic factor, a brain chemical that is crucial for new memory formation and learning.
"It's time to ditch the sugar and burn with healthy alternatives. Use fruits and vegetables in dishes and don't be afraid to add lots together.  "When your taste buds get used to doing without it very powerful the taste of refined sugar, you will appreciate the natural sweetness of vegetables and fruits and even better, your health will thank you for it. "


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Oneplus 7T Software Update:
Oneplus has started to push the incremental rollout of Oxygen OS 22.214.171.124 for Oneplus 7T devices with the December 2021 Security Patch. It has also resolved an issue in WhatsApp where users were not able to send and receive files.
This OTA will have a staged rollout which will be received by a limited number of users today and will have a broader rollout in a few days after making sure they are devoid of critical bugs.
Oneplus 7T was released on 27th September,2019 with Android 10 out of the box.
Previously it was seen with October 2021 Security Patch, with a peculiar fix in the displaying call, as it had a delay which resulted to show the callers name after a few seconds.
Oneplus team making sure to better optimize and improve several key areas. Learning from past experience. Both Realme & Oneplus have picked up their pace in updating their devices to the latest security patch.
- Device: OnePlus 7T
- Android: Android 11
- OxygenOS: OxygenOS 126.96.36.199
- Build number:
- Android Security Patch: December 2021
- Update type: Software update/Security Update
- Release date: 23rd December 2021
Source: OnePlus Community
- Fixed the issue that WhatsApp cannot send and receive media files
- Updated Android Security Patch to 2021.12
- Improved system stability
How long did OnePlus take for the major OS updates?
|First OS update
|Second OS update
|Third/Last OS update
|Eligible – Not sure yet
Also Read>>> OnePlus Android 12 update list
How long will it get updates?
The OnePlus 7T has received one major OS update with Android 11. But Oneplus has promised 3 years of OS updates for its flagship series of devices.
Hence, it is eligible to receive two more major OS updates with Android 12 and Android 13 expectedly.
- Out-of-the-box>> Android 10
- First update>> Android 11
- Second update>> Android 12 [Eligible]
- Third update>> Android 13 [Eligible] [Last update]
How to update your OnePlus device with the latest Software Update?
The OnePlus 7T OxygenOS 188.8.131.52 Update is currently rolling out. It is expected to expand to other regions reportedly and will soon follow.
If you’ve not received the OTA notification yet, then please follow the below steps:
check system updates manually by heading over to Settings > System > System Updates
More on OnePlus from us:
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For more OnePlus Android updates please download our android app – available on the Play Store


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Buy now, pay later
Tesco boss Dave Lewis has secured a pay package that could prove more bargain than giveaway. Lewis, who stepped in to save the UK grocer after his predecessor was sacked amid profit warnings and woeful relations with suppliers, was paid 4.6 million pounds for his labours in 2015. He has offered to take three quarters of his 3 million pound bonus in shares, which aligns him more closely with shareholders who have watched the stock slump in the past year. Since Tesco is starting to turn its fortunes around, his timing may be shrewd.
As pay packages go, Tesco’s are on the right lines. Bosses are incentivised not just by revenue and cashflow but by their long-term stewardship of shareholder value. Some recent tinkering dilutes that a bit. From now on, shareholder returns will be less of a factor than they were in deciding how long-term rewards are paid out, nudged aside by a basket of “stakeholder metrics” that are probably reflected in sales, operating profit and cashflow anyway. But broadly, putting shareholder value up front is a good thing.
For Lewis, this needn’t be akin to switching from Tesco Finest pate to its Tesco Value equivalent. Food retail is a cyclical business, and the cycle is currently in the pits, owing in large part to a man-made price war between UK grocers. That isn’t going to end soon, but it might well by the time Lewis’s next slab of shares vests after three years. While analysts on average have the company as a “hold”, according to Eikon, they are also forecasting that Tesco’s return on equity will triple to 10 percent by the end of 2018.
Meanwhile, the number that matters more than any other for a grocer – like-for-like sales – rose 1.6 percent in the most recent quarter. That’s not enough to turn Tesco around, but it is a necessary precondition. Chairman John Allan has also been picking up Tesco stock and bonds in the market. What looks like self-sacrifice might be more like Lewis aligning himself with Tesco’s customers – and buying on the cheap.


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Game Livestreaming Explodes, But Women Are Less Likely To Be Paid Than Men
Published on May 30, 2018 at 12:00PM
A new study by game research firm SuperData Research and payment company PayPal found that eSports and game videos are driving explosive growth in livestreams. But PayPal also found a gender imbalance in pay. Women are less likely to be paid for their streams than men. VentureBeat reports: PayPal said that 34 percent of livestream viewers in the U.S. have spent more than $50 on livestream content in the past few months. But despite the growth in spending, almost half of women content creators (43 percent globally, 47 percent in the U.S.) don’t get paid for what they create. The U.S. had the largest gender pay gap of the countries surveyed: Almost half as many men (24 percent) do not get paid for content they create. Globally, active paying gamers polled shop across 14 different gaming platforms and nearly 30 different storefronts over the last three months, an incredible variety.
In the U.S., respondents surveyed purchased from 26 different gaming storefronts — the third most in the world, behind Russia (27), and Australia and Canada (28 each). While Steam is highly popular among millennials globally (31 percent buy from Steam), GameStop was resoundingly popular, with 45 percent of U.S. millennial respondents reporting shopping there for gaming content. In most countries, in-game spending is within a few dollars of average spend on full games. Surprisingly, in-game spending is skewing higher among older U.S. players: those aged 35-and-over have spent $50 on average, compared to $40 for those aged 18 to 34. Meanwhile, younger gamers are spending more in full-game downloads: $63, versus $48 for gamers 35-and-over.
Read more of this story at Slashdot.


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Inflation will go up again in September 2022, Head of Insights of investment bank, I C Securities, Courage Martey, has disclosed.
This follows a 2.2% increase in the year-on-year inflation to 33.9% in August 2022.
According to him, the increase in utility tariffs which took effect from the beginning of this month will trigger a surge in inflation, a situation which will impact heavily on consumers.
Mr. Martey tells Joy Business the situation will not change soon because the average price of necessary goods, particularly food and rent have gone up significantly.
He pointed out that the increase in utility tariff which took effect from September 1, 2022 will push inflation up in September 2022.
“Inflation will go up again because utility tariff if you disaggregate the non-food component, it carries the biggest weight of over 10%. You find out that it carries more than just water, electricity and other fuel”.
“So not only do you have energy [transport] prices, you also have electricity tariff and water all together carrying a bigger weight in the inflation basket”, he added.
Historically, the rate of food inflation has been far lower than non-food inflation. However, the situation is not the same as today because of the Russian/Ukraine war which has triggered increases of foodstuffs such as flour, rice, wheat and cooking oil.
Mr. Martey said “on this particular occasion we are not so bullish on the quantum of food harvest and the situation has been worsened by the utility tariff hikes”.
He added “inflation is very high for necessities looking at the basket [inflation] now. In that case individuals and institutions are spending more on necessary kids. The rising inflation will obviously push interest rate up to compensate investors.”
Transport, housing, food among drivers of September 2022
The drivers of the September 2022 inflation were Housing, water electricity, gas and other fuels (46.7%); Transport (45.7%); Furnishings, household equipment and routine household maintenance (44.7); Recreation, sport and culture (36.4%); Personal care, social protection and miscellaneous goods and services (36.0%) and Food and Non-Alcoholic Beverages (34.0%).
There was however wide disparity observed across the 13 divisions.
Food inflation in the month of August 2022 was 34.4%, compared with 32.3% the previous month.
Source: Ghana News


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The swipe is now the chip. Over the past two years, shoppers have been getting used to the new credit cards with the shiny silver or gold square.
At first glance, the carriage might look like any antique stroller to most passersby, but this was not the case for Pat Whitney. "I went up to Cutiques and saw it there on the floor. I happened to see it there with the original advertising. I walked out and I must have come back in three times before I eventually bought it," she said.
ECi Stores, dba Cutie Patuties, CP & Company and Q (specializing in kids, teens and ladies wear) plus Cutiques (for home decor and furniture) is a nationally recognized, customer centric consignment brand that has served the community for nearly 20 years and has become an industry leader and the largest operation of its kind in the Northeast. ECi is raising the bar in the resale industry and regularly mentor, consult, and coach international resale professionals and their businesses.
When Cassandra Abramson decided to go into business on her own 19 years ago, she had little more than an idea and motivation from family members. As it turns out, that was everything she'd need to become a successful entrepreneur and owner of ECI Stores, which includes local consignment shops Cutiques and Cutie Patuties. In recognition of her nearly two decades of work, Abramson was recently given the Girl Scouts of Central and Western Massachusetts' ToGetHerThere Award for entrepreneurship.
Earth Day-inspired arts and crafts, games, and face painting are just some of the fun activities planned for the third annual Earth Day Celebration at Cutie Patuties in Leominster.
ECI Stores recently presented Mayor Dean Mazzarella with a check for $1,000 for use in the city’s Energy Assistance Fund.
Black Friday has long been the stuff of retail nightmares and shopping glory and in recent years, Cyber Monday has also become a pillar of the holiday shopping season. Between those two, however, is another shopping day that has been gaining traction with consumers -- Small Business Saturday.
For the eighth year, the Leominster Champion asked it's readers to give their choices for favorite clothing store, restaurant, pet store, florist, bank and even favorite place for a cup of coffee. Cutie Patuties was chosen as "Best Consignment Shop" and Cutiques won for "Best Vintage/Antique Shop"!
It was a unique solution to a family quandary: Lose a valued resource? Birth its replacement — and raise it to be one of the biggest and best around.“When (my wife) Cassandra’s favorite consignment store in Worcester closed, she was left with no place to shop for our 4-month old daughter — and the idea for Cutie Patuties was born,” said Neil Abramson.
The Toy Industry Association’s (TIA) Genius of Play movement inspired the owner of a local toy store in Leominster, MA to hold a special event for families last week. As reported in the Sentinel and Enterprise, Cassandra Abramson, owner of Cutie Patuties, hosted a Saturday afternoon activity called “Let’s Play” to highlight the benefits of unstructured, creative playtime.
Despite dreary weather outside, the atmosphere was sunny inside the consignment store Cutie Patuties on Saturday, as children enjoyed the benefits of "unstructured play." From noon to 4 p.m. on Saturday, the Leominster clothing and toy store hosted an event called "Let's Play," inviting children to play creatively with a variety of toys.
What began as something of an experiment in finding new ways of bringing the community together has evolved into a much anticipated summer event in and around City Hall. But only half the residents are invited. Like a childhood clubhouse, this event has one rule: no boys allowed.


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Many tech commentators have noted a stagnation or slow-down period in computing related to ‘Moore’s Law’ being challenged, but has the shrinking of transistors within computer chips really hit a wall and what could drive innovation further?
What Is Moore’s Law?
Moore’s Law, named after Intel co-founder Gordon Moore, is based on his observation from 1965 that transistors were shrinking so quickly that twice as many would be able to fit into a micro-chip every year, which he later amended to a doubling every two years. In essence, this Law should mean that processing power for computers doubles every two years.
The challenge to this Law that many tech commentators have noted is that technology companies may be reaching their limit in terms of fitting ever-smaller silicon transistors into ever-smaller spaces, thereby leading to a general slowing of the growth of processing power. The knock-on effect of this appears slowing of computer innovation that some say could have a detrimental effect on new, growing industry sectors such as self-driving cars.
What’s Been Happening?
Big computer chip manufacturers like Intel have delayed the next generation of smaller transistor technology and increased the time between introducing the future generations of their chips. Back in 2016 for example, Intel found that it could shrink chips to as little as 14 nanometres, but 10 nanometres is going to be a challenge that would take longer to achieve.
The effect has not only been a challenge to Moore’s Law, and a challenge to how the big tech companies can keep improving their data centres, but also how computers are able to work for (and keep up with) the demands of business.
Mobile devices, which use chips other than Intel’s may also have the brakes put on them slightly as they now also rely, to a large extent, on the data-centres to run the apps that their users value.
What About Supercomputers?
Some experts have also noted that the rate of improvement of supercomputers has been slowing in recent years and this may have had a negative impact on the research programs that use them.
That said, the cloud means that IBM is now able to offer quantum computing to tens of thousands of users, thereby empowering what it calls “an emerging quantum community of educators, researchers, and software developers that share a passion for revolutionising computing”. It is doing this by opening a Quantum Computation Centre in New York which will bring the world’s largest fleet of quantum computing systems online, including the new 53-Qubit Quantum System for broad use in the cloud.
What Does This Mean For Your Business?
Many smaller businesses that are less directly reliant upon the most-up-to-date computers may not be particularly concerned at the present time about the challenge to Moore’s Law, but all businesses are likely to be indirectly affected as their tech giant suppliers struggle to keep improving the capacity of their data-centres.
Many see AI and machine learning as the gateway to finding innovative solutions to improving computing power, but these also rely on data-centres and other areas of computing that have been challenged by the pressure on Moore’s Law.
A more likely way forward may be that chip designs will need to be improved and highly specialised versions will need to be produced, and Microsoft and Intel have already made a start on this by working on reconfigurable chips. Also, the big tech companies may need to collaborate on their R &D in order to find the way forward in increasing the rate of improvement of computing power that can ensure that businesses can drive their products, services and innovation forward.


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The FINANCIAL -- Lisi Development, the first development company of its kind in Georgia, established in 2010, continues to develop the territories around Lisi Lake, one of the most beautiful recreational areas in Georgia’s capital and just a short drive from the city centre in the bustling Saburtalo district.
“We plan to develop the territory around Lisi Lake and make it more entertaining. By doing this we want to encourage more people to visit Lisi Lake and spend time there. We plan to build more parks and plant more trees in the area. We strive to offer customers the highest standard of residential district at Lisi,” said Nodar Adeishvili, General Director at Lisi Development.
Meanwhile, the company is successfully completing all the stages of implementation of its project ‘Lisi Green Town’. Green Town is attracting more and more customers thanks to the ecologically clean environment Lisi Development has created for them.
“At this stage the first district of ‘Lisi Green Town’ is already inhabited, where about 200 families live. Construction of a second district is due to be completed by the end of this year. After that we will start building the third district. Works will start in 2018,” Adeishvili said.
Lisi Development recently won the most prestigious and influential business award in Georgia - Golden Brand, for the third year in a row.
There are a number of reasons behind Lisi Development’s Golden Brand win, of which one of the most important is its concept - ‘80/20’. The idea of 80/20 is to allocate 20 percent of its territory for buildings, and the remaining 80 percent - for parks, planting and public spaces.
“We received a Golden Brand award because Lisi Development is a distinguished company on the Georgian market as it is establishing innovative standards. We are a green company whose concept is 80/20. Constant transformation and novelty has always been the main goal of our company and this helped us to be recognised as the best development company at Golden Brand,” said Adeishvili.
Besides planting trees, Lisi Development is the first company in Georgia to have launched waste sorting. The company has placed special waste containers in different locations across its property, so its residents can separate their discarded items.
“We are always looking for new initiatives, which are in line with the concept of Lisi Development and offer an ideal atmosphere for its residents. Having a healthy and clean environment has always been a core principle of the company,” Adeishvili said.
The company, with a focus on creating an ecologically clean environment, is the first among Georgian developers to have decided to install a charging station for electric vehicles on its property.
“So far only one of our resident families owns an electric car, but our company will do its best to promote electric cars among our inhabitants and open more charging stations for them in ‘Lisi Green Town’,” said Adeishvili.
Q. How does the company attract new inhabitants to ‘Lisi Green Town’?
A. We use different marketing means to attract new inhabitants. Also, we maintain friendly relations with our existing ones.
For us the biggest advertisement is satisfied residents.
We also have very good conditions for buying property in ‘Lisi Green Town’. In cooperation with one of the leading banks in Georgia – TBC we created very flexible payment conditions where at least 10 percent of the total price must be paid upfront while the rest of the money can be divided into payments spread over 15 years.
Q. Apartments in ‘Lisi Green Town’ are distinguished by their special and new architectural style. Who is in charge of the visual aspect of the buildings?
A. In order to offer our customers a beautiful environment inside and outside their homes we created the subsidiary company Lisi Renovation. The company offers Lisi inhabitants a full range of renovation services such as the measuring of works, designer service, creation of 3D interior design, selection of materials, all kinds of renovation work, and furnishing apartments with furniture, technical equipment and accessories.
Lisi Renovation exclusively serves Lisi inhabitants.
We also work with leading architects from Georgia and Italy. We are building 5-6 storey residential buildings where customers can choose a duplex with their own yard. We also offer penthouses and villas.
The construction materials we use that come from Europe are of the highest quality and are energy efficient. Thanks to them our inhabitants save 30 percent on utility fees.
Q. Lisi Development is famous for its contribution to greening the Lisi Lake area. What are the major works which the company has done in this direction?
A. We have been developing the Lisi Lake area since 2010 - the time we started construction of ‘Lisi Green Town’. During this time, we have planted more than 10,000 trees, of which 3,000 were planted within the last three months.
We have added jogging and bike tracks around the lake. Sports facilities and playgrounds have been built, a new open-air café, boating point, and beach for sunbathers.
About 50 people are employed every day to make sure that the area surrounding Lisi Lake is always clean and beautiful.
You may not have heard about the natural thermal springs that exist around Lisi Lake’s territory. Lisi Development renovated an old bath house in 2014. Now you can enjoy the healing waters of the sulphur baths, bath-house attendant service, and beautiful views from the bath’s terrace.
One of the main distinctive features of our projects is greenery and sustainable landscape design. For this reason, Lisi Greens - a plant nursery, is a logical addition to the project. Lisi Greens nursery offers a particularly wide range of quality plants exclusively from Italy: evergreen and deciduous flowering trees and shrubs, rare species of fruit trees, Japanese maple, Liana, bonsais, Rose and Juniper collections.
Q. Do you plan to implement a similar project in other parts of Tbilisi or in another city of Georgia?
A. At this stage the company is only developing its own territory around Lisi Lake.
Q. How has the construction sector and real estate market been developing in Georgia?
A. As competition is increasing impressively in the city it becomes more complicated to maintain high quality in the construction sector. Every company that is offering low-quality products to customers will leave the sector as time goes on.
Q. Besides Golden Brand what other awards is the company proud to own?
A. Golden Brand is not the only award which has been given to Lisi Development for its unique activities. Lisi Development has also been announced the winner of several nominations for different international awards.
Lisi Development won the nomination ‘Best Green Project’ at the EU GEO awards.
Lisi Development has won several nominations in one of the most prestigious awards in the real estate market - the International Property Awards, for the sixth year in a row. This year the company won two nominations for two different projects - ‘Lisi Green Town’ and ‘Lisi Tower’.
Last year the company won the nomination for ‘Best Green Developer’ in the awards held by European CEO, which is a leading subscription-based print and online publication, delivered quarterly to c-suite executives in 28 countries throughout Europe.