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I can't say enough about the restorative magic of coffee, as it made me feel human on those school drop-off mornings. You know, when I couldn't find matching socks or school permission slips, or when the milk turned out to be sour and I was out of clean sandwich containers. And if you love your morning cup of joe just as much as I do, then you might be itching to know how you can get a free McDonald's coffee during the company's "McCafé It Forward" promotion. Not only is the promo a win for coffee-loving moms, but it's a great way for parents to give back.
McDonald's restaurants across the United States are set to launch what it's calling a "chain reaction of kindness" with their three-day "McCafé It Forward" event starting on Wednesday, Aug. 21, according to USA Today. After getting inspired by regular, everyday customers who would come into different McCafé's across the country and buy coffee in line for the person behind them, for example, McDonald's decided to follow suit in honor of the McCafé brand's 10th anniversary. It's mission? To give customers a free small coffee throughout the next three days.
Here's how it works: In the grand tradition of paying it forward, 500 local "do-gooders and coffee lovers," as noted in a McDonald's press release shared with Romper, will be given the first McCafé It Forward cards across the U.S. as a part of its "Good is Brewing" campaign. They will then be encouraged to share those cards with friends, family, or even strangers for their own cup of coffee. If the card continues to get passed on, every American could conceivably have access to a small free McCafé during this promotion. Dream big or go home, right?
As McDonald’s Senior Director of Brand and Menu Innovation Strategy, Elina Veksler, noted in a press release, the concept of paying it forward with a simple cup of coffee is already a very familiar one to many people out there. She explained:
We know McCafé customers are already sharing acts of kindness every day, and McCafé It Forward is a chance for us to amplify what they’re doing on a larger scale and prove good is truly brewing around every corner. We’ve been on a decade long journey with McCafé, and we share in that feeling of optimism each and every time our customers take that first sip of coffee.
Beyond these next three days, McDonald's is asking people to nominate someone in their community who is doing good (big or small) for their "Be A Brew Gooder" sweepstakes. Nominators and nominees could win McCafé for life, so that's a pretty amazing incentive. Nominations can be sent in between Aug. 26 through Sept. 29 via Twitter, Instagram, or an entry form on the McDonald's app and the Be A Brew Gooder's website, according to the McDonald's newsroom.
The power of a simple cup of coffee can't be underestimated, particularly one that has been offered in kindness. So if you're looking for a way to give back and get caffeinated in the process, the "McCafé It Forward" promotion is perfect for you.


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LAS VEGAS — Retailers were on the hunt for bargains at WWDMAGIC, which kicked off here Monday, and vendors tweaked their assortments to convince the cost-conscious group they are doing more for less.
This story first appeared in the August 26, 2008 issue of WWD. Subscribe Today.
“We have found some great deals,” said Deborah Meltzer, a buyer who handles misses’, plus-size and junior apparel at Gabriel Brothers, the privately held Morgantown, W. Va.-based chain of roughly 115 off-price Rugged Wearhouse and discount Gabriel Brothers stores. “The regular-price merchandisers are selling what they have at great prices.”
Buyers for boutiques across the nation said they were relying on proven merchandise and avoiding prices that would prompt sticker shock. Most were either filling in holes in their fall and holiday lineups or scouting while holding off orders for spring wardrobes.
“We are being a little more moderate pricewise,” said Cathy Lagorio, co-owner of women’s boutique Wish List: A Fashion Lounge in Stockton, Calif. “Anything that is over $200 is very difficult [to sell].”
Ahmed Abraibes, owner of Clogs-N-More in Portland, Ore., who was searching for shoes and mother-of-the-bride dresses, concurred that price was crucial. “I need to keep value in mind for our customer; it’s what people are looking for right now when they do actually come to shop,” he said.
Kathy Kulesh, a buyer for boutiques at the DC Ranch Health Club & Spa in Phoenix and Scottsdale, Ariz., characterized herself as uncertain about her buy. “We are all kind of seeing where the market is going. I am definitely not taking many risks,” she said.
Several exhibitors in the young contemporary and contemporary sectors benefited from retailers’ interest in combining the latest trends with moderate prices. Max & Cleo, the dress brand owned by Vernon, Calif.-based BCBG Max Azria Group, said business grew 30 percent from last year. Among the styles Max & Cleo presented at WWDMAGIC were a $63 sleeveless plaid wrap dress and a $55 purple strapless frock tied on the side with a bow.
Rousso Apparel Group, the New York-based sportswear firm that holds the license for Oleg Cassini and markets the junior coat line Coffeeshop, introduced contemporary coat label Latte by Coffeeshop. Wholesaling primarily from $50 to $80, Latte by Coffeeshop courts 21- to 50-year-olds who have sophisticated fashion tastes but limited budgets. “The girl still wants to look good, but doesn’t want to spend $400 for a top-brand coat,” said Mary Shawn DeGaetano, an account representative for Latte by Coffeeshop, which will soon hit shelves at Macy’s and Nordstrom.
Paul Astuto, a national sales manager at tops resource Tresics, which is owned by Los Angeles-based Damo, said Tresics’ business has held up due to its ability to provide T-shirts wholesaling from $2 to $8 with quick turnarounds. He estimated the vertically integrated company has a “500,000 unit flow at any given time” to fulfill the immediate needs of junior and specialty stores, under pressure by the demands of fast fashion to give customers trendy items at dirt-cheap prices. “We can feed the fire,” Astuto said.
Zova L.A., an eco-friendly label based in Newport Beach, Calif., went as far as giving buyers a 10 percent discount on all orders placed at WWDMAGIC. Zova L.A. president Deanna Hodges said the promotion, which was introduced at the expo’s last run in February, encourages buyers to buy more at the trade show. Indeed, she recalled that orders jumped 30 percent at the February 2008 show from the August 2007 event. “You have to give [buyers] something to incentivize them to choose you,” she said.
With retailers reluctant to experiment in this risk-averse marketplace, Desiree Langager, a sales representative for Montebello, Calif.-based junior denim brand Celebrity Pink, said they will aggressively stock up on any goods that have been moving. She pointed out, for instance, that junior retailers have stuck to skinny jeans even though wide-leg varieties have percolated through the contemporary segment. “It is going to take her [the junior customer] a while to catch on to that,” she said.
Perhaps the most popular silhouette in dresses was the floor-grazing maxi. South Korea’s Jessi, which is launching in the U.S. for next spring, presented an $88 printed silk number with a tiered skirt, and Los Angeles’ Nina Austin highlighted a $169 electric blue evening gown dazzling in huge rhinestones.
Across several categories, versatility emerged as a major trend. Twofers — or pieces that appeared as if two different items were combined into one — were highlights of the dress category. In addition to maximizing the fashion by integrating two seemingly disparate trends, the twofers also helped emphasize the message of value. Case in point: In a vintage-meets-nautical frock wholesaling for $35, BB Dakota merged a royal blue high-waisted skirt accentuated with gold buttons and an orange top spiced up with white ruffles.
In juniors, tunic-length shirts were prevalent at vendors, including Easel, Tresics and Kanvas. “You can wear it as a dress and also with leggings. It is more efficient,” said Jenny Oh, a sales representative for Los Angeles-based Easel.
Prints remained a staple, as seen in oversize florals in Irvine, Calif.-based P.J. Salvage’s beach line and plump sparrows at Australia’s Mink Pink. What’s more, a bright palette — deep purple, salmon pink, canary yellow and kelly green offset by black and white — reigned in contemporary apparel and junior denim.
Even the plus-size category received a jolt of color. Anathea France, which is owned by France’s Didier Parakian, made its debut at WWDMAGIC’s contemporary section with 80 styles for spring, in a black-and-white palette popping with hits of lime green and orange.
Although the overall mood was dour at the fair, there were a few bright spots such as international retail, which has benefited from a favorable exchange rate with the U.S. dollar, and television retailing. “This year, I have an increase in business and I don’t think lots of people can say that in retail [stores],” said Pamela S. McCoy, an on-air host and designer for TV shopping network ShopNBC, who came to WWDMAGIC to check out trends.
Moreover, Tadashi Kingusa, a Japanese retail buyer, said, “I have noticed a lot more Japanese people here today at least. The timing is good because prices are good for us.”

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Apple (AAPL -0.89%) stock's big gain recently will soon be put to the test. The tech giant just put a date to its fiscal first-quarter earnings release: Jan. 28.
The pressure is on. The report trails a return to top- and bottom-line growth, the launch of new products and services, and a 90% gain in Apple's stock price over the last twelve months. In addition, there's the fact that Apple's fiscal first quarter is seasonally its biggest quarter every year.
Ahead of Apple's earnings release, here are some key items for investors to watch.
Will revenue growth accelerate again?
After returning to top-line growth in its third quarter of fiscal 2019, squeaking by with a 1% year-over-year increase, the company managed to improve its revenue growth once again during fiscal Q4. Revenue increased 2% year over year during the period.
Can Apple keep up this momentum in fiscal Q1? Based on management's guidance for the important quarter, it's certainly possible. Apple said it expected revenue for the period to be between $85.5 billion and $89.5 billion. The midpoint of this guidance range implies 4% year-over-year revenue growth.
Given that Apple's revenue guidance is typically conservative, the tech giant is likely to see another period of accelerated growth. Although there are exceptions to the norm -- the tech giant missed its fiscal first-quarter guidance for revenue last year.
How is Apple's iPhone business faring?
Fiscal 2019 was a tough year for iPhone -- at least when compared to Apple's iPhone X-driven fiscal 2018. Total iPhone revenue in fiscal 2019 declined 14% year over year.
But the important segment started to show signs of improvement toward the end of the year. In fiscal Q4, for instance, iPhone revenue was down just 9% -- much better than a 15% decline across the first three quarters of fiscal 2019. In addition, Apple CEO Tim Cook said in the company's fiscal fourth-quarter earnings call that the launch of its newest iPhone models drove a "significant upswing in demand in the final part of the quarter."
Could iPhone revenue declines moderate even more in fiscal Q1 or -- even better -- return to growth?
Checking on wearables and services
Finally, investors will obviously want to check on the company's two biggest catalysts: services and wearables. Both Apple's services segment and its wearables, home, and accessories segment saw their already strong growth rates accelerate even more during fiscal Q4. Services revenue increased 18% year over year, and wearables, home, and accessories revenue jumped 54% year over year.
Investors should look to see if Apple was able to sustain these impressive growth rates during fiscal Q1.
Apple will report its fiscal first-quarter results after market close on Tuesday, Jan. 28. It will hold a conference call to discuss those results at 2 p.m. PT on the same day.


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Building on its current product portfolio, Samsung recently announced that it will be teaming up with auto manufacturer Hyundai to launch its newest automotive processor, the Exynos Auto V920. The chip will power in-vehicle infotainment (IVI) systems in future Hyundai models. This is also the company’s first collaborative effort towards automotive semiconductors.
A third-generation automotive processor, the Exynos Auto V920 packs “considerable upgrades” in terms of CPU, graphics and neural processing performance, according to Samsung. The V920 will likewise come with support for real-time driving information readouts, as well as entertainment software including media content and video games.
Samsung adds that it has designed the V920 CPU with 10 Arm cores for autonomous driving, giving it up to 1.7 times improved processing performance when compared to older processors. Other hardware details include support for LPDDR5 memory, enabling it to work with displays for dashboard, infotainment and rear seat entertainment systems, as well as a dozen camera sensors on compatible vehicles.


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Merton is today named as one of only two boroughs in London to achieve top marks for the quality of its food offer
Merton achieved joint first position in the Good Food for London report along with Islington.
Good Food for London cites local Merton businesses, Venus Bar and Brasserie in Colliers Wood, who have changed the oil they use to cook and prepare food, introduced salt shakers to reduce salt intake and provide a healthier choices menu. Another example of a business trying to make a difference is Jose’s Café in Morden, who advertise smaller portion sizes and ensure fresh fruit is displayed on their counter.
Looking out for the borough’s school children, Merton Council ensures all its primary schools benefit from freshly cooked food made on site. The council is also helping with a number of community food growing projects which benefit many residents who are getting involved.
Merton continues to actively promote Fair Trade produce to the public and its own caterers sell Fair Trade food to its staff. Merton leads a Fair Trade networking group which brings south west London boroughs together to share best practice such as promoting Fair Trade at school assemblies and encouraging businesses to promote Fair Trade produce.
Leader of Merton Council Councillor Stephen Alambritis said: “It’s great to see our hard work paying off. Encouraging people to choose the healthy diet option is so important for people’s long-term health. We remain committed to supporting good food initiatives and remaining at the top of the league. As well as choosing the healthy option, this is also about promoting ethical trade and environmentally sustainable produce too.”
The report’s author Ross Compton said “In the wake of the ‘horsegate’ scandal, Londoners want to know that their boroughs are serving good food that they can trust. With our league table now in its third year, the Good Food for London maps paint an inspiring picture of progress by many London Boroughs towards better food. The maps also challenge those boroughs that are lagging behind to follow the good example set by Islington and Merton, and take more action to make it easier for their residents and visitors to eat healthier and more sustainable food.”
Rosie Boycott, chair of the London Food Board , said “This excellent report provides an informative snapshot of London’s food scene borough-by-borough, with the aim of showing the good example being set in areas such as Merton and Islington.” Rosie Boycott added “In many boroughs, schoolchildren are now getting fresher, tastier and more sustainable food than last year, and tens of thousands of local residents have better access to green space for growing food. The maps are designed to share new ideas and good practice, helping other Boroughs make further improvements to help their residents eat better food. I am also very encouraged to see London Boroughs helping local businesses to serve healthier food on London’s high streets. This will improve Londoners’ health, provide good food jobs, and protect the sustainability of the food system on which we all depend.”
Notes to editors
- The ‘Good Food for London 2013’ report compares London’s local authorities on their support for good food initiatives, such as high quality school food, community food growing, improving food served by local food shops, and buying ethical food for schools and local authority canteens – including Fairtrade products, cage-free eggs and sustainable fish.
- Points are awarded across six food schemes: community food growing, Fairtrade food, Food for Life in schools, Sustainable Fish, Animal Welfare and Healthier Catering Commitment.
- Merton is also one of three London boroughs to achieve a Gold Catering Mark and the report highlights the Healthier Catering Commitment which is being implemented as part of the Sutton and Merton Responsibility Deal. The deal means local businesses, workplaces and organisations work together to help improve the health of the community, their customers and employees by pledging to make changes to encourage healthier lifestyle choices.


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A quick reminder for those Apple fans out there that Apple's event is tomorrow, October 23, 2012 and will likely showcase the announcement of the iPad Mini (or whatever its real name ends up being). In addition, there are some other rumors including:
- The previous generation iPad 2 will be discontinued - end of life
- The current iPad 3 will get a connection makeover, to include the new "Lightning" connector
- MacBook Pro (the smaller versions) to receive the Retina Display panels
Will the iPad Mini be a huge hit or a tiny flop? Are any of you looking forward to a smaller, more portable version of Apple's tablet? Can Apple make a dent in the 7 inch tablet market, currently dominated by Android tablets including the Nexus 7 and Kindle Fire? With Google's event only a week a way, there will be even stiffer competition for the iPad Mini to face soon. Stay tuned for the Two Tech Geeks coverage of the Apple event as it happens!


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VR enabling clients to experience their visions
HYPER, the London-based startup born from the EIT Digital-supported ‘HyperCRC’ innovation activity, has launched a spatial design platform that fuses virtual reality with real, motion-tracked models, enabling companies and clients to physically experience their visions.
Women in Motion art exhibit utilises AR and AI
Studio Moshon, a boutique creative animation studio, has announced the launch of their new portraiture gallery, Women In Motion Augmented Reality art exhibit, showcasing Ava DuVernay, Geena Davis, Meredith Walker and Dee Rees. Powered by artificial intelligence, Studio Moshon’s new offering marries cutting edge technology with traditional fine art, creating oil painted portraits celebrating inspirational women in entertainment and sharing t...
Ray tracing: a game-changing technology
For any engineer worth their salt working with AR/VR/XR, product design or simulation, ray tracing is a technology with which they should become familiar. This is because it is one of the most significant advances in graphics since the beginning of 3D itself and it is about to move from the rarefied world of movies and advertising, into embedded categories like mobile, wearables and automotive as new, more efficient ways of processing ray tracing...
Smart eyewear is within sight
There is a great deal happening in the smart eyewear space and it is time to sit up and take notice. Recent announcements hint at an exciting future for the technology, with some of the largest companies in the world moving resources into the space. By Dmitry Ogievich, CEO at Banuba
Malaria Must Die campaign releases new AR mosquito filter
The campaign ‘Malaria Must Die, So Millions Can live’, launched a digital and out of home advertising activation to inspire people to join the world’s first voice petition to end malaria. The campaign will activate online and on out of home displays and billboards across New York City during the annual United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) meeting which takes place from 23rd-27th September.
Travel and tourists brought closer through immersive video tech
Clicktivated, an interactive video platform that connects viewers to locations and information in video as they watch, have announced partnerships with tourism brands including Pure Michigan, Louisiana Travel, Explore Edmonton, Daytona Beach, and Visit Saint Paul to help viewers explore destinations through video and easily find information about individual locations and activities unique to each destination.
Hermes UK to deliver goods with smartphone barcode scanning tech
Hermes UK has taken a major step towards achieving its digital transformation goal by implementing mobile barcode scanning and Augmented Reality (AR) technology from Scandit. Hermes UK has deployed Scandit’s high performance barcode scanning on smartphones for verification and proof of delivery. Over the next three years, Hermes UK is working towards replacing more than 15,000 costly, dedicated barcode scanners with smartphon...
VRSG simulates MQ-9 Reaper camera views for training
MetaVR has announced that the US Army Joint Technology Center and Systems Integration Lab (JSIL) has purchased an additional 86 MetaVR Virtual Reality Scene Generator (VRSG) licenses to provide visuals for the continued rollout of US Air Force MQ-9 remotely piloted aircraft (RPA) simulators.
AR asset maintenance tool developed
Platinum Engineering has partnered with Schneider Electric to create a comprehensive tool for asset management and operations by integrating augmented reality (AR) within Wonderware System Platform. The new tool is called ATISA – Automated workflow, maintenance and Testing of In-Service Assets.
Simulation capabilities improve quality and reduce costly prototypes
Siemens Digital Industries Software has announced the availability of the latest version of Solid Edge software, which features numerous enhancements that will enable small and medium-sized manufacturing companies to accelerate product development and manufacturing processes.


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EDITOR’S NOTE: RVtravel.com is regularly invited to participate in nationwide conference calls with large RV dealers and others involved in the sales and servicing of RVs. We won’t be directly naming those on the call, nor the dealerships involved. While the situation is unusual, we feel the value of the candid comments and information that we can share with you outweighs the lack of the usual attribution. This time, you’ll just have to trust us that the quotes come from trusted, vetted sources.
If you’re in the market to buy a new RV, you might want to wait a bit. RV dealers on a recent nationwide conference call said the quality of most recreational vehicles now being produced is “pathetic.”
“It’s some of the worst stuff I’ve seen in 30 years,” said one longtime RV dealer. “It’s horrendous inside and out. But we have no recourse but to put it on the lot and try to sell it. You take what you can get, and you move on.”
The dealer said he suspects many longtime RVers are delaying purchasing a new rig, since it’s no secret – at least on social media and many blogs – that new RV owners aren’t happy with their purchases. “The lack of quality and all of the negative comments in the chat rooms have to be holding people back from moving forward with a purchase.”
The East Coast dealer said RV manufacturers are “building them as fast as they can, and there just isn’t any quality control. Manufacturers are not doing a good job of taking care of their customers. It’s gone from bad to worse.”
Will the industry topple?
One West Coast dealer echoed those thoughts. “My greatest fear now is watching the motorized RV industry get toppled,” he said. “They just don’t have the expertise to complete a motorhome in Northern Indiana anymore. Their labor force has no eye for quality and they have no way of teaching it. The industry is ripe for someone else to step in and start producing quality products, but it will likely have to be someplace other than Indiana. Right now, if the workers there get upset by something, they just walk off because it’s easy to get a job in Elkhart right now.”
He cited one manufacturer who admitted that he usually has no idea what his workforce will look like from week to week. “He said on Mondays, he never knows who is going to show up.”
A New England dealer said some manufacturers are only running their plants three to four days a week due to shortages in both parts and labor. “The quality that is coming out is just terrible,” he said. “Their ability to retain employees is bad. You can just tell that the guys on the manufacturing lines have been on the job for just a week. Plants don’t have the proper staffing, and they can’t do the service after the sale.”
Even newbies notice the poor quality
It isn’t just dealers who have noticed the drop in quality. “I had one newbie who purchased what they thought was the Taj Mahal of RVs,” said one dealer. “They take their first trip with it, and they come back in with 40 different problems with it. Then, I get to tell them they have to wait weeks or even months to get it fixed because nobody can get the parts.”
All of this angst on the part of dealers comes at a time when manufacturers are celebrating their success in producing record numbers of units.
The industry is projecting it will produce nearly 580,000 rigs by the end of 2021, and set a new record in 2022 with more than 600,000 new factory shipments.
“Continued robust demand for RVs, the need for RV dealers to restock historically low inventories, the strong financial standing of consumers, and sustained interest in the outdoors will work to keep RV shipments elevated,” said the RV Industry Association in a recent press release.
“Faced with many of the same kinds of supply chain and labor issues plaguing most industries over the past year, the RV industry has overcome these challenges and produced a record number of RVs month after month,” said Jeff Rutherford, President & CEO of Airxcel and RV Industry Association Chairman.
COMING NEXT SUNDAY: Roadside assistance companies stretched thin by huge growth in RVers and lack of available service centers


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IoT weekly round-up, Thursday 6th April 2017
In this week’s IoT round-up, Garadget throws its toys out of the pram following a rude review of its garage door opener app, Greenwich gets a taste of the self-driving shuttle bus and Amazon will refund millions of dollars in unauthorized in-app purchases made by children.
Amazon will refund kids’ unauthorized in-app purchases
Amazon will refund millions of unauthorized in-app purchases made by children on mobile devices. A complaint made last year by the Federal Trade Commission said that Amazon should be liable for charges to customers because its App store allowed kids to make unlimited purchases without parental checks or consent. Amazon has dropped its appeal against the ruling made by a judge who sided with the FTC.
Garadget blocks irate user and faces backlash
Garadget, the maker of an internet-enabled garage door device, blocked a customer who called it ‘junk’ on the start-up’s site after experiencing problems with the app. Garadget’s kit, which is designed to allow remote opening of mechanized garage doors, and provide a way to check if they’ve been accidentally left open, raised almost $63,000 on Indiegogo last year. Founder Denis Grisak blocked user Robert Martin after he swore about the app, but has since reversed the block following negative feedback from users on the community board.
Driverless shuttle bus will be tested in Greenwich
A few weeks ago, we wrote about a plan to test a driverless shuttle bus in London. The time for testing has come, and over the next three weeks, around 100 Londoners will travel in a prototype shuttle bus around the Greenwich area. The bus, whose self-driving technology was developed by Oxbotica, can travel up to 10mph only, and has no steering wheel or brake pedal. There will be a trained professional on board ready to stop the bus if things get hairy.
WhatsApp may launch peer-to-peer payments in India
Within six months, WhatsApp may enable peer-to-peer payments between users in India, according to a report from The Ken – an India based media company. WhatsApp co-founder Brian Acton visited India in February and said that the company was in the early stages of investigating payment services incorporation.
Facebook to block revenge porn reposts
Facebook will make it impossible to repost or share intimate images of people uploaded without their consent. The social media company will rely on users flagging images by using the Report tool to identify them as inappropriate content. The measure will be rolled out across Messenger and Instagram as well as Facebook, but not WhatsApp.
Pluto AI brings machine learning to water treatment
Pluto AI announced $2.1 million in fundraising this week to extrapolate insights from modern water treatment plants using sensors and analytics. The funding comes from Comet Labs, Fall Line Capital, Refactor Capital and Unshackled Ventures. Sensors and Pluto’s analytics platform will provide ratings between 0 and 100 on all the water plant’s assets, including temperature and pressure readings. Pluto can use this data to recommend ways that the plant infrastructure could function more efficiently.


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- Beginning on February 28, Amazon will start charging delivery costs for Fresh groceries orders under $150.
- Only Amazon Prime subscribers who pay $139 a year to join the program can receive fresh grocery delivery.
- According to a notification sent to clients, the online store stated that it is introducing fees to some orders to maintain cheap costs.
will begin assessing a delivery fee for Fresh groceries orders under $150, a move that the company claims will keep the cost of its services low.
In a note to customers seen by CNBC, the company announced that starting on Feb. 28, Prime members who want home delivery from Amazon Fresh will pay a $9.95 delivery fee for orders under $50, a $6.95 delivery fee for orders between $50 and $100, and a $3.95 delivery fee for orders between $100 and $150. The delivery service is only available to Prime members, but anybody may shop at an Amazon Fresh grocery store.
Previously, Amazon promised free delivery on Fresh orders over $35 to subscribers to its $139 per year Prime membership.
The letter explained that “this service fee will assist maintain pricing in our physical and online grocery stores as we better cover grocery delivery costs and continue to enable customers a consistent, quick, and high-quality delivery experience.”
The move coincides with Amazon CEO Andy Jassy’s broad examination of the company’s spending in response to declining sales and a deteriorating economic outlook. Amazon has considered firing 18,000 employees, halted or cancelled canceled initiatives, including a sidewalk robot and a telemedicine service, and stopped hiring its corporate personnel.
Amazon has previously adjusted how it handles the famously difficult from a cost and efficiency viewpoint business of online grocery deliveries. After formerly providing Whole Foods delivery orders to Prime members at no additional cost, Amazon imposed a $10 service fee in 2021.
Amazon Prime members will have to start paying delivery fees on grocery orders under $150
Amazon stated that beginning with orders under $150 for Amazon Fresh groceries, Prime members will have to start paying for delivery.
Previously, Amazon provided free delivery for purchases of groceries totaling at least $35. Delivery will only be free going forward for orders totaling $150 or more.
The decision to increase the grocery delivery fees was announced by Amazon in an email to Prime members. “This service fee will help keep prices low in our online and physical grocery stores as we better cover grocery delivery costs and continue to enable offering a consistent, fast, and high-quality delivery experience,” the company wrote.
Spending more money equates to lower delivery fees
Starting on February 28, Amazon will start charging these new delivery fees for Fresh shipments. Customers will be charged for delivery based on the total value of their orders:
- $50 and under orders: $9.95 for delivery
- $50 to $100 in order amounts: $6.95 for shipping
- $100-$150 orders will incur a $3.95 shipping charge.
Currently, Prime members can choose their delivery time from a variety of two-hour periods when placing grocery orders. Despite the adjustments to delivery fees, Amazon will continue to offer consumers the option to extend their delivery window to six hours. The lengthier delivery option also has a lower delivery price for those who choose it.
Consumers have recently been affected by the effects of inflation at the food shop. Grocery expenditures continue to be a huge expense for consumers across the nation, whether it’s the consistently growing price of eggs or how rising vegetable oil costs may affect the prices of other food items.
How Amazon Prime and Walmart Plus compare
In addition to free grocery delivery alternatives, Amazon Prime and Walmart Plus retailer memberships offer a wide range of other advantages, such as quick delivery when you order online for a variety of items with no additional shipping fees. In light of this, it’s crucial to consider which membership features you’ll use in addition to grocery delivery before choosing which to join up for.
In general, Amazon Prime has more benefits than Walmart Plus. The Amazon ecosystem, which includes the Prime Video streaming service, Prime Music streaming, Prime Gaming and Prime Reading, Amazon Pharmacy, Prime Try Before You Buy, and more, is accessible when you join up for Prime. You also get access to the Amazon Prime Day mega sale. In several places around the nation, there are real Amazon shops where you can conveniently shop. But the cost of all these services is higher: Amazon Prime has an annual subscription of $40 more than Walmart Plus. Additionally, paying for the vast streaming and entertainment options may not be necessary if you merely want to use Prime’s online shopping benefits.
Despite having fewer benefits than Amazon Prime, Walmart Plus may be a better match for certain people’s lives, particularly if you intend to buy at Walmart both in-store and online. Benefits of Walmart Plus include discounted gas rates at certain gas stations and mobile Scan & Go, which enables in-store consumers to pay for products as they are added to their shopping cart. Members also get savings at Walmart pharmacies (similar to those offered by Amazon Pharmacy) and a free membership to the streaming service Paramount+ Essential Plan, which is analogous to Prime Video.
It is ultimately up to you to decide whether to join Walmart Plus or Amazon Prime. Remember that both subscriptions have 30-day free trials as well.
In certain areas, Prime members may get free food pickup from Whole Foods Market and Amazon Fresh when their purchases exceed the local free pickup threshold. Rush alternatives are subject to additional charges.
In as little as 30 minutes, Prime members in selected cities may choose a pickup location for their purchase and secure an open pickup time window.
At checkout, you have the option of tipping your delivery person. The whole tip you choose to leave goes to your delivery driver. After delivery, you have up to 24 hours to change the tip you leave. The driver is not given information regarding your tip, such as the amount or who gave it.
About Bag Fees
In certain places, bag fees are mandated by legislation. Bag fees, if applicable, are added to the total item count and are reflected in the tax charges in the Order summary. Based on the quantity of your purchase, we estimate the required number of bags, and we’ll never charge you more than that estimate. We will instantly reimburse you the cash to the payment method used for your transaction if we utilize fewer bags than anticipated.


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In late 2017, a federal watchdog unit assigned a working group to keep an eye on cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin, and to sound an alert if those alternate currencies showed signs of becoming a risk to the stability of the US... Read more »
Another company headed by former Illumina executives has launched, fueled with a $17 million Series A round from investors including a local venture capital firm.
The new firm, Cradle Genomics, is seeking to commercialize improved non-invasive prenatal tests, which analyze blood... Read more »
Although Michigan is home to 2,500 small manufacturers and is the center of the domestic auto industry, it didn’t have a hardware technology incubator until Lawrence Technological University launched one about a year ago.
Flagstar Bank, headquartered in Troy, MI, and the Detroit FinTech Bay innovation hub are partnering to launch a new mortgage technology accelerator—and program organizers say it’s the first and only US accelerator focused exclusively on incubating tech startups in... Read more »
Carnegie Mellon University this week announced a five-year research partnership with Argo AI that will focus on advanced perception and decision-making algorithms for autonomous vehicles (AVs). Argo AI, a Pittsburgh-based self-driving car startup whose majority investor is Ford (NYSE: F),... Read more »
Degreed, which helps businesses upgrade the skills of their staffers through an online gateway to learning resources, announced Thursday it has raised $75 million to grow the service and expand internationally.
San Francisco-based Degreed is among the educational technology companies... Read more »
Southeast Michigan is now home to another unicorn startup.
Detroit-based e-commerce company StockX announced Wednesday that it has raised $110 million in a Series C funding round, increasing the company’s total value to more than $1 billion. The investment was led... Read more »
Vice President, Kauffman Foundation
CEO of Nutshell
Co-founder & CEO of Notion; Chairman & Co-founder of Nutshell
CEO of Civionics and Executive-in-Residence at TechTown Detroit
CEO and Fund Manager, Renaissance Venture Capital Fund
Founder and CEO, Tome
Founder and CEO, Purcell and Associates, LLC
President and CEO, The Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation.
Founder, NanoBio Corporation
Retired Technology Professional


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Easter shopping doesn't empty the shelves like a natural disaster, but credit card data shows it sure does draw a crowd. (Image: News Corp Australia)
Good Friday is one of two days (the other being Christmas Day), when almost all retailers around the country are forced to close their doors to customers, thus halting that 24/7, convenience-driven lifestyle that sustains modern Australia.
And it’s amazing what an impact this has on food retail sales.
This, in conjunction with a raft of celebrations that many Australians hold over the Easter break, drives the typical consumer into a spending frenzy, the like of which is only usually seen during the insanity of the Boxing Day sales.
This point is well and truly apparent in National Australia Bank’s latest round of credit card transaction data. Easter Thursday is typically one of the busiest retail days of the year. But according to this year's figures, this recent Easter Thursday beat last Christmas Eve in terms of the number of credit card transactions. And in a testament to the rise of card-based spending, the number of credit (and debit) card transactions has been growing year on year. It did, however, fail to dethrone Boxing Day - which is renowned as the biggest retail day of the year.
NAB wasn’t able to disclose exactly how much consumers are spending on their cards during this period. So we asked the other major banks for similar data. Commonwealth Bank didn’t have the data on hand. Westpac could only confirm the obvious -- that it saw more transactions in 2014 than it did in 2013. And ANZ failed to reply to our request before deadline.
However, another card payments firm, Tyro, was happy to provide both transaction and spending data for its 15,000 eftpos terminals around the country. And it confirmed the trend in NAB’s data – the Good Friday holiday really does send consumers into a spending rage.
Tyro saw around 720 transactions per minute at its peak on Easter Thursday. But this event was dwarfed by its Christmas Eve data. At midday last Christmas Eve, Tyro registered a jaw-dropping 1060 transactions per minute on its network. Last year, it also recorded around $79 million worth of transaction in the three days leading up to Christmas.
On December 23 alone, the firm put through up to $32 million worth of eftpos transactions – proving the Christmas still trumps Easter in terms of overall retail sales.
There are some limitations to this data. Even with all of this information, we can’t tell exactly what consumers are buying. However, an earlier study from IBISworld reiterated that food and beverage spending dominates the Easter shopping bonanza. It forecast that food and beverage spending to see a year-on -ear increase of 3 per cent to grand total of $1.2 billion this year.
So what can we draw out of all of this?
Well, firstly it seems public holidays don’t necessarily hamper retail. Sure, they may force retailers to pay double time to their staff to run the store. But in the case of food retail, the forced day off actually helps drive foot traffic and business. And secondly, it highlights how dependant we are on retail convenience – we shop as though in a panic when we know that the stores will be closed for a just one day.
Got a question? Ask the reporter @HarrisonPolites on Twitter or leave a comment below. And yes, he also participated in this year's last minute Easter Thursday shop-a-thon.


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Google takes on Twitch with YouTube site dedicated to gamers
A new version of YouTube designed specifically for gamers is being launched in the UK and US today. YouTube Gaming will let joypad twiddlers upload their gaming videos, create live streams of their gameplay and host pages for more than 25,000 different titles.
Google last year lost out to Amazon in its attempt to buy gaming video service, Twitch. Now the company is going it alone by launching a direct rival.
YouTube Gaming will offer many of the same features as Twitch, but unlike its Amazon-owned rival, it will include a DVR feature that allows viewers to rewind up to four hours of a live video stream. Many Twitch users already upload archives of their streams to YouTube, so Google will be hoping to persuade gamers to cut out the middle man and come directly to YouTube Gaming, which automatically converts streams into a YouTube video.
YouTube Gaming will use HTML5 video and allow streams to be broadcast at 1080p at 60fps, which “means silky smooth playback for gaming,” according to Google. Users will be able to add favourite games to their collection, with titles such as Asteroids and Zelda appearing alongside more contemporary releases, such as the Call of Duty series.
The YouTube Gaming site will go live today, alongside Android and iOS apps. It’s not clear if or when the company will launch apps for the major consoles.


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Piedmont Investment Advisors Inc. grew its holdings in Nordson Co. (NASDAQ:NDSN) by 391,500.0% in the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 3,916 shares of the industrial products company’s stock after buying an additional 3,915 shares during the quarter. Piedmont Investment Advisors Inc.’s holdings in Nordson were worth $544,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.
Several other large investors have also made changes to their positions in the company. Itau Unibanco Holding S.A. bought a new position in Nordson in the second quarter valued at about $132,000. Checchi Capital Advisers LLC bought a new position in Nordson in the third quarter valued at about $202,000. Keel Point LLC bought a new position in Nordson in the third quarter valued at about $203,000. Sawtooth Solutions LLC bought a new position in Nordson in the second quarter valued at about $205,000. Finally, Hartford Investment Management Co. bought a new position in Nordson in the second quarter valued at about $206,000. Institutional investors own 68.03% of the company’s stock.
Shares of NDSN opened at $124.58 on Friday. The company has a current ratio of 3.16, a quick ratio of 2.36 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.07. Nordson Co. has a 1 year low of $111.17 and a 1 year high of $151.84. The stock has a market cap of $7.24 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 23.20, a P/E/G ratio of 1.43 and a beta of 1.33.
Nordson declared that its Board of Directors has initiated a share buyback program on Tuesday, September 11th that authorizes the company to buyback $500.00 million in outstanding shares. This buyback authorization authorizes the industrial products company to buy up to 5.9% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock buyback programs are typically an indication that the company’s management believes its shares are undervalued.
In other Nordson news, Director Mary G. Puma sold 2,983 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, September 19th. The stock was sold at an average price of $145.44, for a total transaction of $433,847.52. Following the transaction, the director now owns 18,799 shares in the company, valued at $2,734,126.56. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this link. 2.01% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.
NDSN has been the topic of several recent research reports. BidaskClub upgraded Nordson from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Tuesday, July 31st. DA Davidson set a $160.00 price target on Nordson and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Tuesday, August 21st. Zacks Investment Research cut Nordson from a “hold” rating to a “sell” rating in a report on Wednesday, August 22nd. Finally, ValuEngine upgraded Nordson from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a report on Wednesday, August 29th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have issued a hold rating and four have assigned a buy rating to the company’s stock. The company currently has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $156.57.
TRADEMARK VIOLATION NOTICE: This news story was published by WKRB News and is the property of of WKRB News. If you are reading this news story on another domain, it was copied illegally and republished in violation of US & international copyright and trademark legislation. The legal version of this news story can be accessed at https://www.wkrb13.com/2018/11/23/piedmont-investment-advisors-inc-increases-stake-in-nordson-co-ndsn.html.
Nordson Corporation engineers, manufactures, and markets products and systems to dispense, apply, and control adhesives, coatings, polymers, sealants, biomaterials, and other fluids. Its Adhesive Dispensing Systems segment provides dispensing, coating, and laminating systems for adhesives, lotions, liquids, and fibers to disposable products and roll goods; and product assembly dispensing, coating, and laminating systems for use in paper and paperboard converting applications, as well as for the manufacture of roll goods.
Read More: Stock Symbols and CUSIP Explained
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Amazon and Unaffordable Family Formation, by Steve Sailer.
Amazon famously looked all over the country for where to place a “second” headquarters. …
Some of these decisions no doubt are related to how much shakedown local officials were willing to pay. But an interesting point was made by Spotted Toad.
A couple of years ago he pointed out how smart capitalists, and Jeff Bezos didn’t get to be the Richest Man in the World by not being smart, like Unaffordable Family Formation. It helps them squeeze more work out of workers:
The firms like being in places too expensive to raise a family– families are distractions, at least in the short-run. And once the smart set is composed of people living with roommates in their late 20s and early 30s, in the kind of neighborhoods that Arab princes and Chinese tycoons use as credit mobility vehicles, in a metropolitan mating market that facilitates everything but commitment, one can’t help but feel that the concentration of economic activity in spots of white-hot unaffordability will intensify, rather than relax.


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Kim Kardashian has ventured into the world of finance, launching her own private equity firm with the help of a former partner from the US powerhouse the Carlyle Group.
The billionaire reality TV star, business owner and celebrity influencer announced the move on Twitter, saying the firm, SKKY Partners, would aim to make minority investments or take controlling stakes in “high-growth, market-leading consumer and media companies”.
Along with Jay Sammons, a former executive at the private equity firm Carlyle Group, Kardashian’s firm plans to focus on consumer products, media, hospitality and luxury. It will also consider making investments in digital and e-commerce firms.
Sammons spent 16 years at Carlyle as head of its consumer, media and retail division, where he made lucrative investments in big brands including the headphones company Beats by Dre, which was founded by the rapper and producer Dr Dre.
“Together we hope to leverage our complementary expertise to build the next generation consumer and media private equity firm,” Kardashian tweeted on Wednesday.
She added that her mother, Kris Jenner, would also serve as a partner in the firm, though SKKY had yet to raise any capital to secure those investments, according to the Wall Street Journal.
Kardashian, who rose to fame alongside her family after starring in the reality TV show Keeping Up with the Kardashians, has previously run into trouble in the UK over a previous financial venture.
The then chair of the Financial Conduct Authority Charles Randell, criticised Kardashian in a speech last year after she posted a paid promotion for a token called EthereumMax to her Instagram stories, where she asked her 250 million fans: “Are you guys into crypto????” While the post was marked as an advertisement, Randell said Kardashian did not disclose that the token was created only a month earlier by unknown developers.


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GLAMOUR’s “Women of the Year Awards” Gives Out 3D Printed Trophies from HP
Condé Nast’s GLAMOUR recently hosted its 17th Women of the Year Awards at One Marylebone in London, an event sponsored by Samsung to honor feminist heroes. HP’s Personalization & 3D…
3D Printing News Briefs, December 3, 2022: Degradable Polymers & 3D Printed Trophies
We’re starting with some more formnext news in today’s 3D Printing News Briefs, as the Foundry Lab debuted its microwave technology for quicker, cheaper metal casting at the trade show….


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Orange in Botswana and Opera Software are set to provide the Opera Mini web browser to Orange’s more than 1 million mobile customers in the country, giving faster and less expensive web access through cellphones and tablets.
Like most African countries, most people in Botswana do not have access to fixed-line internet, so a mobile device will be their first, and often only, way to access the internet. Yet, Batswana love the web and their current
favorite mobile sites which are Facebook, Google, YouTube, Yahoo!, Wikipedia, Waptrick, Twitter, Blogger, BBC News, Dictionary.com and Answers.com.
Orange, which is committed to providing web access everywhere in the country, and Opera will provide a co-branded version of Opera Mini. Orange customers will also be able to access a range of Orange portals, with a single click on Opera Mini’s Speed Dial, found on the browser home page.
Opera Mini is one of the browsers made by Norwegian company, Opera Software. Opera Mini works on more than 3,000 devices and compresses data by up to 90% before it reaches consumers, giving users a fast and powerful mobile web experience.
The compression ability offered by Opera Mini means we can make far better use of our existing infrastructure while, at the same time, offering a lower cost and far quicker web access to our mobile subscribers,” says Lebogang Moruti, Offers and Services Manager for Marketing at Orange Botswana. “We anticipate our launch of the co-branded Opera Mini will be met with high demand by our customers.”
“Our offering is strong, particularly on basic phones in Botswana. We have worked hard as a company to provide a very smart mobile web experience even on old handsets,” says Lars Boilesen, CEO of Opera Software. “We have already seen strong growth in Botswana over the years, and this new relationship with Orange will see that develop even further.”
Orange Botswana is the second Orange operation in Africa to have chosen Opera Mini, and follows Orange Ivory Coast.
About Orange Botswana
Orange Botswana is a leading mobile operator and provider of telecommunication services in Botswana serving more than 1 million customers countrywide on a GSM/GPRS/EDGE/3G+ and Wimax network. For more information visit: www.orange.co.bw


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The Provimi Group announced that its sales increased to EUR$2,154.1 million, an increase of 12.3% compared to 2007.
On a like-for-like basis, sales growth was 13.9%, with particular good organic growth in France and the rest of the world.
Globally, the sales increase was linked to higher raw material prices. Higher sales in France were also linked to strong evolution of minerals and specialties for ruminants. In the rest of the world, the sales increase was also due to new contracts in South America, says the Provimi Group.


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Microsoft will no longer buy Chinese short video app TikTok. US company Microsoft has said that TikTok’s parent company Byte Dance has rejected Microsoft’s bid, which is why it has to be decided. Significantly, in the US, TikTok is on the verge of being banned and President Trump has given 100 days to sell TikTok’s American business from Bite Dance.
Oracle may buy tiktok:
According to the report, now the American company can buy the American business of Oracle TikTok. Microsoft has said that Byte Dance has said that will not sell their American operation to Microsoft. It is worth noting that last month. Microsoft had issued a statement that the company is preparing to buy TikTok’s business in the US, Canada and New Zealand. Now that Microsoft’s bid has been rejected. The American company Oracle is now ahead in this race. Recently there were reports that Oracle is also showing interest in buying Tik Tok’s American business.
Byte Dance has rejected Microsoft’s bid:
According to a Wall Street Journal report, Oracle Corp has won the bid to buy TikTok’s American business. This report is currently quoted by sources. Neither Oracle nor TikTok’s parent company Bytedance has so far confirmed that Oracle has won the bid to buy TikTok’s US operation.
However, the TWSJ report also said that Oracle could be announced as a trusted partner of TikTok America. In this report, sources have been quoted saying that it will not be completely like a cell.


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NEW YORK CITY -- The New York City Board of Health heard hours of testimony both for and against Mayor Michael Bloomberg's proposed supersize cup soda ban on July 25 at the only public hearing on the matter.
Under the mayor's plan, food outlets that require a health inspection, including restaurants, food carts, movie theaters, sports arenas and delis, would be prohibited from selling sugary drinks in containers holding more than 16 ounces. | SEE STORY
More than 20 food and beverage industry representatives, health advocates and politicians testified. Public health experts and doctors who favor the measure likened soda companies to the tobacco industry, charging that they focus their advertising disproportionately on youths and minorities. They pointed to sugary drinks as a contributor to diabetes, heart disease and other health issues and a prime culprit behind the obesity epidemic.
Those opposed to the ban, including members of the beverage, restaurant and movie industries, insisted that it unfairly singles them out, hurting small businesses and costing jobs. Others argued that soda is just one product that contributes to obesity and that the ban violates basic human rights by dictating what people can and can't drink.
In late June, the National Automatic Merchandising Association joined New Yorkers for Beverage Choices, a coalition comprised of business owners, city council members, unions and food industry associations, formed to oppose Bloomberg's proposed ban. In six weeks, more than 90,100 New Yorkers and over 1,350 businesses have joined the coalition.
"As the nation's largest association representing the $42 billion vending, coffee service and foodservice management industries, we strongly oppose the proposed policy in New York City banning sweetened beverages in larger than 16-fl.oz. packages. Quite simply, proposals like this distract from real solutions to help keep consumers healthy," NAMA said upon joining the coalition. | SEE STORY
The group organized a rally at City Hall on July 23, ahead of the public hearing, where it reportedly delivered more than 90,000 protest petitions from New Yorkers who oppose the ban.
"The citywide outpouring of opposition to this proposal is a testament to the fact that New Yorkers feel this proposal is arbitrary, unfair and ineffective," New Yorkers for Beverage Choices said in a statement. "Instead of helping us through this recession, the mayor's misguided proposal will target small business owners with additional regulations. We know we're playing against a stacked deck, but we ask the members of the Board of Health to please listen to the voices of the tens of thousands of New Yorkers who do not want this ban. We can make our own choices about what to eat and drink."
The Board of Health will vote on the proposal on Sept. 13. If passed, the rule will take effect six months later.


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BUZZ-U.S. STOCKS ON THE MOVE-Home Depot, Office Depot, Toll Brothers
(For faster updates on individual market-movers, Eikon users please use search string "STXBZ US"; for the Day Ahead newsletter, link.reuters.com/mex49s)
Dow Jones industrial average futures were up 0.09 percent at 18,102, S&P 500 futures were up 0.01 percent at 2,107 and Nasdaq 100 futures were down 0.01 percent at 4,444.
** HOME DEPOT INC, Tuesday close $112.28, +3.22 pct premarket
The world's No.1 home improvement chain, reported a 36 percent rise in fourth-quarter profit and said it would buy back $18 billion of shares.
** TOLL BROTHERS INC, Tuesday close $37.1, +4.04 pct premarket
The largest U.S. luxury homebuilder, reported a higher-than-expected quarterly profit and raised the low end of its full-year home delivery forecast as housing demand strengthened.


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Reading an article on an Italian newspaper, it really become clear how the record labels are thinking that we are still in the '70s.
I'm talking about Payphone, from Maroon 5.
In the USA it has been released on 16th April, making almost 500k downloads in the first week.
Instead in UK they decided to release it on 17th June, as if nowadays music goes back to the old world on a caravel.
A cover, released on 17th April, entered on the sales top10 before the official song was available for purchase!
The reasons to the waiting are a mystery for me. They did it to protect sales of the full album? Marketing?
The moral is: if people wants to PAY for a song, why deny it???
Otherwise people is forced to illegally download the mp3 from eMule 3 months befor the official release... and then they say that piracy hurts sales...


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By now, we pretty much know the game: Apple releases a new model number of iPhone, then the next year it releases the "s" version. 4, 4s, 5, 5s - you get the picture.
This year is looking like it could be a bit different. We're learning that Apple still plans an incremental upgrade - the 6s - and it could be the biggest, most dramatic incremental upgrade ever.
Apple usually keeps pretty tight-lipped on its products before their big reveals, but rumor from a well-placed source among Apple analysts is leaking a pretty interesting scoop. First, the new iPhone 6s will still have two different size options, but that's where the similarities seem to end.
Nearly everything inside will be new. The source says the new versions will jump from 1 GB of RAM up to 2 GB. That could allow you to have more apps open at once or allow software developers to make even more complex apps.


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Downtown disney construction 2019
WATCH LIVE. Several staples on the Downtown Disney strip are on their way out to make way for new construction on a grand Disneyland hotel, a company spokeswoman confirmed Wednesday. Six businesses and two Disney offices are set to shutter by June as construction for a new hotel, dubbed the Four Diamond hotel, is set to open in 2021.Disney's Caribbean Beach ResortWalt Disney World has embarked on creating a new transportation system, Disney Skyliner, which will give Guests a bird'seye view of Walt Disney World Resort while traveling via gondolas. During this time construction noise may be seen or heard throughout the resort, but noise should not be heard from Guest rooms downtown disney construction 2019
Set to open in 2021, this hotel will transform the west end of the Downtown Disney District and anchor a new gateway to the Disneyland Resort. The stunning 700room hotel will feature a sophisticated design and be a gamechanger for Anaheim, creating a dynamic dining, entertainment and hotel experience for resort visitors and local residents.
Also coming January 25 will be Disney California Adventure Lunar New Year Festival 2019 a. k. a. new food! Disney California Adventure. The bear with no name who no longer has an adorable holiday sweater sits proudly over his new construction zone. At least the Grizzly River Run construction wall fits the theme. Disneyland Park The new 700room luxury hotel will be located at the western edge of the resort on a 17acre parcel between the original Disneyland Hotel and the Downtown Disney Monorail station.downtown disney construction 2019 Soon, people seeking to park their cars at the Downtown Disney will be diverted to a new location, while heavy equipment will move in to begin construction of the new 700room hotel, expected to


text: The Amazon purchase of Whole Foods has dominated headlines since the merger was announced in June of 2017. What’s the impact of the merger on our food lives and on companies doing business in the retail e-commerce grocery space? On this episode we discuss the biggest food tech story of the year with: Ben Conniff, co-founded of Luke’s Lobster restaurants and Whole Foods supplier. Brad Harrison, co-founder and chairman of the board of Greensbury, an online retailer of grass-feed beef and wild-caught seafood. Craig Giammona, consumer reporter at Bloomberg News.


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Datameer Blog post
Supercharge Your Growth: How Startups Leverage Big Data to Succeed
by Datameer on Feb 23, 2018
Did you know that 90 percent of startups ultimately fail? Overall, eight of out of 10 businesses will close their doors within the first 18 months. Fact is, most young companies will never survive past their infancy. This shouldn’t discourage anyone from pursuing their entrepreneurial dreams, but it highlights the intense environment all young companies face.
To succeed, especially with fierce competition from established market leaders, these companies have to get scrappy and leverage every resource they have — and that includes data. But there lies a conundrum: younger companies must squeeze out actionable insights from every source of data they have. But typically, they also lack the resources (both time and money) needed to hire expensive consulting firms, data scientists or build up huge teams of expert analysts.
That’s why an increasing number of young startups are using self-service data analytics tools (like Datameer!) to collect, analyze, and act on insights found in their data. By empowering more people within their company to actually explore their data, these companies can quickly level the playing field. This not only increases their likelihood of survival, but it also drastically increases the likelihood of being able to compete with those market leaders.
Data Analytics Can Help Startups Grow
One startup that leveraged their data to compete is SHOEPASSION.com, an online shoe retailer. The shoe market is one of the most competitive and profitable markets in the world. Competition is fierce in every sub-niche and there are numerous companies such as Nike, Prada and Gucci that have more resources and a well-known brand.
SHOEPASSION.com had plenty of data on hand but, not surprisingly, didn’t have the resources to properly utilize it. In stark contrast, larger companies like Amazon and Nike have fully realized business intelligence units. These established giants are able to not only gather huge amounts of data, but also hire numerous staff members just to analyze this data. SHOEPASSION.com couldn’t afford such luxuries, which left them at a disadvantage in the beginning.
SHOEPASSION.com signed up with Datameer when their company was only two years old. Their first challenge was bringing their structured and unstructured data together, which was previously stored in Google Drive, Excel spreadsheets and their ecommerce platform.
Of course, gathering data is only the first step. The real work began with trying to find actionable insights such as:
- What does the data actually mean?
- Where are there opportunities?
- Where are we as a company failing?
SHOEPASSION.com used data to build a 360-degree view of their business. For example, they identified that customers who purchased shoes were more likely to buy matching belts. By tweaking their marketing campaigns, SHOEPASSION.com increased cross-sell revenues by 10 percent.
SHOEPASSION.com also had to address a serious challenge: the company’s finance team was overwhelmed with invoices and had to manually reconcile invoices with payment methods. But with the help of big data analytics, they automated this process to save roughly 40 hours of labor per month.
The Benefits of Big Data Analytics for Startups
By saving money and resources through data-driven decisions, small companies like SHOEPASSION.com greatly increase their survival chances.
SHOEPASSION.com has become one of those startups that survived the brutal early years, and now it’s a thriving company that’s enjoying global growth and success. Data remains a huge part of their efforts.
Almost all young companies can benefit from data-driven insights. In the past, fully leveraging data was simply beyond the means of many y0ung companies. But these days, smart and affordable data analytics tools can close the gap.
At Datameer, we’re obsessed with making data the most valuable asset in any organization. We believe that when people have unconstrained access to explore massive amounts of data at the speed of thought, they can make data-driven decisions that can wholly impact the future of any business.


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Saturday, April 11, 2015
Recent innovations in garment manufacturing have made it possible to have one design idea hit a London catwalk and, two months later, appear in mass production at a store near you.
The case of Ashya King, whose parents removed him from a British hospital, put the health service in an "impossible position," one of his doctors has said in comments released Friday.
Prince Laurent, brother to Belgium's King Philippe, attacked the royal family and their entourage Thursday, saying they were like the Stasi secret police and had sabotaged his career for years.
Taiwanese researchers have made a rare discovery of a new endemic snake species in Taiwan with the help of modern science and named it after the indigenous tribe with which it shares its habitat.
At a tightly guarded factory in central Japan, Mitsubishi, a maker of the Zero fighter planes of World War II, is launching its MRJ regional jet and aiming to fulfill Japan's long-cherished ambitions to regain status as a major aviation power.
Global sales of personal computers resumed their downward trajectory in early 2015 after a modest uptick late last year, surveys showed Thursday.
Friday, April 10, 2015
A diva's best feature is not what she wears but her confidence in choosing her apparel. Taipei IN Style once again exhibits a series of women's wear featuring brilliant designers who are each unique and distinguishing.
TThis year's aipei IN Style (TIS) kicked off yesterday with the theme Asia Fashion Hot Spot. The event gathers 115 domestic and international brands, creating a versatile platform for fashionistas, brand scouters and young designers.


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Lauding the satisfactory implementation of the Goods and Services Tax (GST), Additional Secretary of the GST Council, Arun Goyal on 4 July said India is slowly moving towards a 'One Tax, One Market, One Nation' regime.
"An analysis of the GST has shown that the implementation happened as we expected. Also, 22 states have dismantled tax barriers post the GST. This shows that GST has been taken in the right spirit. We are receiving good feedback," Goyal told ANI here.
Dismissing the requirement of a computer to function post the new tax regime, Goyal clarified that businesses need not change their operation cycle, adding that computers are required only to file for the GST, which is a monthly affair.
"There is a myth that has been spread on various social media platforms. However, the GST does not require any business to change the way they operate. Once a month, while filing for the tax, a computer is required. However, there is no compulsion," he said.
The GST council is slated to conduct meetings on the first Saturday of every month for the first three months, whereby any changes, if necessary, will be discussed.
"The council will be meeting to take stock of the implementation, on the first Saturday of every month. Any mid-course corrections, if required, will be deliberated upon," said Goyal.
The GST, which was rolled out at midnight on 30 June, is expected to benefit all the stakeholders namely industry, government and consumer as it will lower the cost of goods and services give a boost to the economy and make the products and services globally competitive, giving a major boost to 'Make in India' initiative.
Under the GST regime, exports will be zero-rated in entirety unlike the present system where refund of some of the taxes does not take place due to fragmented nature of indirect taxes between the Centre and the States.
However, the GST will make India a common market with common tax rates and procedures and remove economic barriers.
The GST is largely technology driven and will reduce the human interface to a great extent. The GST is expected to improve the Ease of Doing Business in India.
In a majority of supplies of goods, the tax incidence approved by the GST Council is much lower than the present combined indirect tax rates levied [on account of central excise duty rates/embedded central excise duty rates/service tax post-clearance embedding, VAT rates or weighted average VAT rates, cascading of VAT over excise duty and tax incidence on account of CST, Octroi, Entry Tax, etc.] by the Centre and State(s).
On March 29 this year, the Finance Minister of India tabled four GST Bills for consideration and passage in the Lok Sabha namely The Central Goods and Services Tax (CGST) Bill, 2017, The Integrated Goods and Services Tax (IGST) Bill, 2017, The Union Territories Goods and Services Tax (UTGST) Bill, 2017 and the GST (Compensation to States) Bill, 2017.
They were passed by the Lok Sabha on March29, 2017 and by the Rajya Sabha on 6 April, 2017.
The GST Council has decided the final structure of GST as follows:
• The threshold limit for exemption from levy of GST is Rs. 20 lakh for the States except for the Special Category, where it is Rs 10 Lakh.
• A four slab tax rate structure of 5 percent, 12 percent, 18 percent and 28 percent has been adopted for GST.
• A cess would be levied on certain goods such as luxury cars, aerated drinks, and pan masala and tobacco products, over and above the GST rate of 28 percent for payment of compensation to the states.
• The threshold for availing the Composition scheme is Rs. 75 lakhexcept for special category States where it is Rs. 50 lakh and they are required to file quarterly returns only. Certain categories of manufacturers, service providers (except restaurants) are out of the Composition Scheme.
Other important features of the GST are:-
· The GST envisages all transactions and processes to be done only through electronic mode, to achieve non-intrusive administration. This will minimise tax payer's physical interaction with the tax officials.
· The GST provides for the facility of auto-populated monthly returns and annual return.
· It also facilitates the taxpayers by prescribing grant of refund within 60 days, and provisional release of 90 percent refund to exporters within seven days.


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The economy might not be the healthiest it’s ever been, but wealthy households are still committed to giving to charity, according to a new survey from Bank of America conducted before Hurricane Sandy.
The 2012 Bank of America Study of High Net Worth Philanthropy found that average giving as a percentage of household income stayed stable at around 9% between 2009 and 2011. Between 2007 and 2009, that percentage had slipped two percentage points.
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However, the same cannot be said about the countrys trade sector, reeling under the impact of the global slowdown. Trade figures released by the commerce ministry on Monday showed import shrunk for the first time in this fiscal. January imports fell by 18.2% over the same month last year. Exports contracted for the fourth consecutive month. Shipments in January shrunk 15.9% to $12.38 billion from $14.7 billion a year ago. Government sources said the negative trend is likely to continue in the coming months, indicating that the $200-billion export target set for 2009-10 would be difficult to achieve.
On the automobile front, Maruti Suzuki India, the countrys largest passenger car manufacturer, registered a 5.4% jump in sales at 70,625 units in February compared to 67,005 units in January. In December, the company had sold 52,029 units. In fact, on a year-on-year basis, the company posted its highest growth of 19.08% in domestic market in February at 70,625 units compared to 59,311 units during the same month last year.
The increase in demand is an interplay of various factors, one being the impact of the second stimulus package, following which the interest rates had come down and car prices had been reduced. This boosted the sentiments of the buyers and fuelled growth, says Mayank Pareek, executive officer (sales & marketing), Maruti Suzuki.
According to Pareek, Martuis increased focus on the rural market, which is flourishing on the back of a good crop, and its tie-up with a large number of public sector banks have also helped Maruti to improve sales.
Sales of Hyundai Motor India, the countrys second largest player, went up marginally by 0.9% in February at 21,215 units as compared to 21,016 units in January. The company sold 15,602 units in December. On a year-on-year basis, the company posted a 45.3% jump in domestic sales via-a-vis February last year.
Tata Motors, however, registered a drop of 9.3% in domestic sales at 19,039 units in February compared to 20,996 units in January. However, on a year-on-year basis, the company saw a 1.5% increase in sales in February.
Despite this improvement, industry players feel the market situation continues to be challenging. The overall market situation continues to be challenging and not much should be read into the February growth as last year in February, the Budget was to be announced and a substantial amount of sales were deferred till March, says Arvind Saxena, senior vice-president (sales and marketing), Hyundai Motor India.
Adds Pareek of Maruti: These are turbulent times and its tough to comment on the future sales. But perhaps, we have reversed the decline, and we expect the recovery to sustain.
Sales of General Motors India went up 25.9% at 4,921 units in February against 3,907 units in January. However, on a year-on-year basis, the company posted a decline of 11.5%.
Honda Siel Cars India posted a decline of 3.36% in sales at 5,579 units last month compared to 5,773 units in January. On a year-on-year basis, the company registered a jump of 47.8%.
All this growth comes despite a 2-3% increase in car prices made by all players in January-February.


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Technavio market research analysts forecast the global electric vehicle (EV) battery market to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of close to 42% over the next four years.
Taylor Made Computer Solutions, based in Fareham, has announced plans to switch to electric cars, with a firm belief that the future is electric.
Ohio-based Workhorse Group Inc. has begun testing of its new N-Gen electric van.
A new report from French technology firm Report Linker states the hybrid system market is projected to reach a market size of $40.99 billion by 2022.
This week the US Department of Energy announced up to $15 million will be awarded for research projects on batteries and vehicle electrification technologies to enable extreme fast charging.
Hyliion has produced an electrification system which turns long haul trucks into electric hybrids with up to 30 percent fuel and emissions savings


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By Mia Albaugh
Youngstown State University’s Penguin Plugin Loaner Program has a large availability of personal devices for students to rent.
Sharyn Zembower, manager of the IT Service Desk, said the Laptop Loaner Program is an inexpensive and beneficial opportunity for students provided by YSU.
“Currently, we still have about 400 laptops available for the Dell 2-in-1 [laptops] and MacBook Pros combined,” Zembower said.
According to the YSU website, the program is in place to alleviate the costs of laptops, which can be financially difficult for students to purchase.
For the first two semesters, rentals through the program are free. After that, students will be charged $50 per semester for personal device rentals.
In Mahoning County, 87% of households have access to a computer, compared to the 90% of overall Ohio households with access to a computer, according to the Ohio 2020 Census.
Nearly 80% of homes in Mahoning County have access to a broadband internet spectrum, as 82% of homes in Ohio have access.
YSU’s Penguin Plugin Loaner Program has options for students without access to the internet as well.
“We do have mobile hot spots through the emergency broadband program with T-Mobile,” Zembower said. “If they are Pell [Grant]-eligible students, they can apply to receive a mobile hot spot.”
On YSU’s campus, students are free to use Wi-Fi for their personal devices. There are also study spaces with accessible PCs open, but the hours are limited. After hours, students must find other places to go for these resources.
Maag Library provides access to computers, outlets for recharging personal devices, Wi-Fi and a quiet place for students to study. The disadvantage of this location is the library’s hours are only from 7:30 a.m. until 7 p.m.
Spaces are available in the student center.
According to the YSU website, Kilcawley Center is open:
- 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday
- 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday
- 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday
- 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Sundays
James Yukech, AVP chief information officer of YSU, said there are plans in place to improve the laptop loaner program, but there are no set dates to implement these changes.
“Next year, we’re planning on putting in a kiosk where you can buy Dell or Apple devices at the university discount,” Yukech said.
According to Yukech, the kiosk will be in Kilcawley Center near the service desk.
A student would be able to see laptop models available and discount prices. Students can get additional support with device repairs, Yukech said.
“If you buy it from us, and you buy a support package with it, you’ll be able to bring it back here. We’ll give you a like for like loaner,” said Yukech. “You’ll be able to use a loaner that whole time.”


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The feds have seized millions of counterfeits. What’s a responsible mask wearer to do? Some advice.
As we’re launching our own N95 face mask pretty soon we thought we’d give you a little back story about N95 masks and why it’s so Important to check that they’re the real deal.
In a word ‘be careful’ what you buy, as Sue Carlton, Consumer affairs reporter at the Tampa Bay times tells us in a recent in-depth expose of millions of fake masks being seized by the feds.[Read more…] about N95 face masks are a must have. But if you can get one, be careful it’s not a fake.


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McMinn County's sheriff is calling for a 100-day ban on the sale of pseudoephedrine products throughout Tennessee.
Sheriff Joe Guy is asking that all retails stores suspend the sale of cold medicines that contain pseudoephedrine - the main ingredient in the manufacture of meth - and is asking for sheriffs across the state to promote similar requests, a news release states.
"Few can argue that if there is no pseudoephedrine, there is no meth," Guy said in the release.
Tennessee is second in the country for the number of meth labs seized. McMinn County led the state with 161 meth labs seizures in 2010.
For complete details, see tomorrow's Times Free Press.


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Grumpy Cat is a cat with a permanent grumpy face due to an under bite and feline dwarfism. Her owner, Tabatha Bundesen, posted a picture of the cat to social news website Reddit in 2012 and an official Grumpy Cat page was subsequently launched on Facebook. By December 2014 the Facebook page had over 8 million likes - a star was born!
There is now a range of Grumpy Cat merchandise available including toys, books and a branded coffee drink called Grumppuccino. Grumpy Cat's owner, Grumpy Cat Limited, holds a number of US copyright registrations and US trade mark registrations for the image of the cat and also for the word mark GRUMPY CAT.
California-based company Grenade Beverage LLC has a license agreement with Grumpy Cat Limited, providing limited rights to sell a line of iced coffee drinks under the brand Grumppuccino and using the image of Grumpy Cat. The drinks are sold under domain names GrumpyCat.com and DrinkGrumpyCat.com. Grenade do not have rights under the license to sell any other products. The license agreement states that any further product offerings would require further negotiations and approval from Grumpy Cat Limited. Despite Grumpy Cat's refusal to agree to extend the license agreement, Grenade proceeded to market a range of Grumpy Cat roasted coffee beans.
Grumpy Cat Limited learned that Grenade were selling the roasted coffee in 2015 and recently filed a federal lawsuit in the US against them.
Grumpy Cat's owner claims that Grenade's new product breaches the licensing agreement. Grumpy Cat Limited has requested an injunction to stop Grenade's sales of the coffee beans, damages of $150,000 for each copyright infringement, and $100,000 for Grenade's exploitation of the domain name GrumpyCat.com.
If you are affected by any of the issues raised in the article do not hesitate to contact the team at McDaniel & Co. on 0191 281 4000 or at firstname.lastname@example.org: Case Law, Companies, Contract, News, Trade Marks


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SINGAPORE--Fragmentation of long-term evolution (LTE) spectrum will impact roaming among Asia-Pacific countries less than it would worldwide roaming, said an industry observer.
During his presentation at LTE Asia 2011, Charles Moon, principal analyst for the Asia-Pacific region at Informa Telecoms and Media, said LTE roaming among Asia-Pacific countries will "probably not be an issue" because most countries have overlaps in LTE spectrum in the 700MHz, 1800MHz and 2600MHz bands.
However, spectrum fragmentation could hinder global roaming of LTE, he said, adding that there is currently a lack of clarity surrounding the issue.
That said, Singapore-based Moon believes that the 2100MHz band has the potential to be adopted as a standard for LTE spectrum. This is due to support by Japanese operators, he said, adding that there is also interest in this spectrum from Southeast Asian countries.
However, Singapore-based mobile operator StarHub sees "tremendous opportunity" for adoption of LTE in the 1800MHz range. Peter Cook, vice president of mobile network engineering at StarHub said 351 operators in 148 countries have licenses to use the spectrum.
The company has opted to devote parts of its 2G 1800MHz band for its LTE network trials, he added.
By refarming its 1800MHz spectrum, StarHub was able to reuse its existing infrastructure by upgrading its base station--a "straightforward" exercise--to support both 2G and LTE, said Cook.
According to Cook, StarHub trialed both 1800MHz and 2600MHz spectrum and found that the lower frequency spectrum was able to extend much farther and provided better in-door coverage.
He added that the company also saw cost savings as there was no need to purchase new spectrum.
Cook said measured by per-bit cost, the LTE network was able to save 20 percent of its original HSPA (High-speed packet access) network.
He added that StarHub will commercialize its LTE offerings in the fourth-quarter of 2011.
Rival operator M1 is currently the only Singapore operator offering LTE. Its coverage is focused on the city-state's commercial area.
Using 3G adoption as a lesson, Cook said the company has decided to wait for LTE devices to launch instead of forging ahead with a new network.
Hong Kong-based mobile operator CSL took a different route. The company launched out its LTE service to commercial customers in July 2010 with a full rollout to all customers last month.
Mark Liversidge, CSL's chief marketing officer, said by being the first to market LTE services, CSL gained a "time-based advantage" over its competitors in capturing the mindshare of customers in Hong Kong.
The company is aggressively moving its customers to its LTE network. Liversidge said. Since August, CSL has withdrawn its 3G packages off the market and currently only offers LTE for new sign-ups.
CSL also offers its customers subsidies for LTE handsets, which are more expensive than 3G devices. Liversidge noted that in the long run it would be profitable for CSL because the cost of serving LTE customers is lower than 3G.
Liversidge, however, lamented that global mobile phonemakers are not grabbing the LTE opportunity. He gathered from briefings with handset vendors that the 4G technology is not a priority for them.
When it comes to delivery of LTE devices, vendors often miss their deadlines, he pointed out.
Liversidge urged phonemakers not to wait for economies of scale before releasing LTE handsets for the mass market. Instead, they should grab the opportunity to tap sophisticated networks that are already in commercial use, such as CSL's, he said.


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Amazon to fill remaining space in Jeffersonville building
- Staff Louisville Business First
Amazon.com Inc. will expand in Jeffersonville, Ind., by using more of its distribution center space.
The News and Tribune reports that the company, which has been using about two-thirds of its 1 million-square-foot facility, is set to begin using the rest of the space this summer.
The distribution center, which began operations in October, primarirly ships apparel, watches and jewelry, according to the report. An Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN) spokesman told the News and Tribune that the expansion on the west side of the site will create "hundreds of new positions."
The facility is the company's largest in North America, according to the report, and currently employs more than 1,100 people.
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The race is on for potentially lucrative government charge card contracts, and the number of entries indicates it's going to be a tight one.
The General Services Administration shot the starting gun Thursday, issuing a long-anticipated request for bids to provide card services for more than $12 billion of annual federal spending.
Major commercial card issuers are salivating at the prospect. The government business is growing and opening up to more providers.
The federal administrative agency previously had contracted with one vendor in each of the card categories: travel and entertainment, purchasing, and fleet. Awards can now go to multiple vendors in each area.
A bidder conference is scheduled for Sept. 23, bids are due Oct. 28, and decisions are to be made next January for contracts that take effect the following November.
"We want a lot of new technology to be available to federal agencies," said Sue McIver, deputy director of the GSA's services acquisition center. "We've got a core group of services and we're looking for value-added services on top of that, from people who offer it at a reasonable price."
U.S. Bancorp, which today holds the federal purchasing card contract, is investing tens of millions to tailor its systems to revised specifications.
American Express Co., which now provides the T&E accounts, is hoping to get a piece of the fleet business as well. The current contractor for government vehicle fuel purchases is Multi Service Corp. of Overland Park, Kan.
BankAmerica Corp., Citicorp, NationsBank Corp., and First Chicago NBD Corp. are among the others hankering to play a role and marshaling the necessary, higher levels of technology.
"Everyone in the card industry is examining that work plan right now," said Cathy Raffaeli, Citicorp's executive director of commercial cards. "Clearly, the government is looking for a smart card solution."
Steve L. Abrams, senior vice president of corporate products for MasterCard, called the GSA auction " a tremendous opportunity to grow our business, and it's business that we don't have today."
Partnerships are also taking shape. American Express has announced an agreement with Wright Express, a major fleet card issuer, to make a collaborative bid. Amex does not now offer a fleet card on its own.
The current GSA contractors are not the only card issuers with experience handling government business. Banks with significant corporate card programs-and there are fewer than a dozen that hold sizable market share-already contract with states and municipalities for various business- type cards.
For instance, in late August, NationsBank and Visa announced a purchasing card contract with Florida. The state anticipates saving $300 million a year by converting all purchases under $1,000 from paper to electronics. Of 4.4 million Florida transactions a year, four million are for less than $1,000.
Those numbers would likely be dwarfed by any contract NationsBank won from the GSA.
"We're taking a very serious look at the (federal) government contract," said Jeffrey Rankin, senior vice president of NationsBank's card services division. "We have a team of individuals evaluating that whole opportunity, and I think you'll see NationsBank right in the middle of that."
NationsBank is the eighth-biggest issuer of commercial bank cards, according to The Nilson Report. First Chicago, which also counts states and municipalities as corporate card clients, is third.
The GSA business "is a significant opportunity for the corporate card providers, and we are looking to participate in that program," said David W. Houser, first vice president at First Chicago.
The three current contractors say the business has been a windfall for them, both in dollars and prestige.
"Taking on purchasing for the U.S. government absolutely cemented us in (the commercial card) business," said Philip G. Heasley, U.S. Bancorp vice chairman and president of its retail product group.
Through a subsidiary, Rocky Mountain BankCard System, Minneapolis-based U.S. Bancorp (formerly First Bank System Inc.) manages more than 239,000 purchasing cards issued to federal offices and agencies. The GSA estimates the purchasing card program has saved $700 million over seven years.
For travel needs, American Express provides 1.4 million charge cards for individuals and 8,000 cardless accounts for agencies, according to the GSA. (The latter are centrally billed accounts held by an agency, as opposed to an account assigned to a particular employee). The five-year estimated sales volume through the contract is $15 billion.
The fleet card from Multi Service Corp. serves 58 federal agencies, with transaction volume of $150 million to $200 million a year.
In the new contract cycle, the GSA plans to seek out "a wide range of vendors" with high-technology capabilities, said Ms. McIver of the GSA.
"We see these not just as procurement tools, but as feeding into agencies' backroom processing," she said. "We felt that some agencies might want to integrate all three of the cards into one program."
She said it is still uncertain how smart cards will fit in. "We just want certain functionality, and we think a smart card may be the best way to provide that. But we don't just want to say, 'Hey, put a chip on that card.' "
David Robertson, president of the Oxnard, Calif.-based Nilson Report, said the winning bids are likely to involve smart cards.
"The government will be interested in pushing the envelope as far as it can, which it typically does on contracts whether or not they're in the card industry," Mr. Robertson said. "That goes beyond simply low price. There certainly are a number of federal-level bureaucrats interested in finding out what chip can do for them."
With more banks claiming expertise in commercial cards than ever before, the competition for the government contracts is likely to be fierce.
Not resting on its laurels and seeking to further impress its government client, U.S. Bancorp has three smart card pilots under way. Though executives are deliberately vague about details, Steve Putney, president of corporate payment systems, offered a rough outline.
They are "very different than most other smart card pilots," he said. "They don't have a stored value function. They're more along the lines of putting multiple applications on the chip that are corporate-oriented."
The government is not its only target. U.S. Bancorp hopes the technology will attract large corporate customers.
"One of the reasons people utilize corporate payment systems is for the data," Mr. Putney said. "We have built in very sophisticated relational data bases, desktop management systems, and benchmarking so that clients can measure their performance versus peers."
Years of corporate card experience and service to the government have U.S. Bancorp sounding slightly cocky.
"Most of our competitors," Mr. Putney said, "are still trying to figure out how to provide a card."


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I wouldn’t be surprised if the MTM produced shows like Mary Tyler Moore and Bob Newhart shows move over to Prime or Freevee. I believe Amazon now owns the rights to those shows when they acquired MGM.
Remington Steele, another MTM show, started streaming on Prime and it’s the first time I’ve seen it streamed anywhere in recent years.
The creeps that run Disney are doing this. Eliminating “non inclusive” content.


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Looks like Tesla is planning to shake up the world of automobiles yet again. The charismatic, billionaire and founder of Tesla and SpaceX recently unveiled Tesla’s futuristic electric semi-truck at Hawthorne, California. The Tesla Semi looks very sleek and futuristic.
On comparing with diesel trucks used at the present, it is faster, much more economical and environment-friendly. Reports state that the Tesla Semi will come 4 electric motors and an automatic transmission. Also, the Semi can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph (100 kmph) in 20 seconds while hauling a maximum 80,000 pound (36,000 kilograms) load.
Tesla Semi will be able to travel 500 miles (800 KM) on a single recharge. That means, to the destination and back on a single charge since most truck routes are about 250 miles.
To compete with traditional diesel trucks, Tesla may offer new charging solutions. Jonas and Shanker said, “Tesla will have to clearly address these issues at the event to be able to sell the idea of an electric semi-truck to a deeply skeptical industry”.
Additionally, Semi’s cabin is also designed aesthetically with panoramic windshield, large space, and legroom. If safety is your thing, it comes with navigation aids like cameras, and sensors designed to minimize blind spots, abrupt lane changes, and emergency stops.
CEO Elon Musk has claimed that production is going to start in 2019. Therefore the deliveries will begin by 2020 but the company has not revealed the cost of Tesla Semi yet.
Just after the unveiling, the news has come that Walmart has ordered 15 trucks while the Canadian grocery giant Loblaw is purchasing 25 of these heavy-duty all-electric transport trucks.
In the upcoming time, Tesla may face serious competition by Daimler, Volkswagen, Nikola, Einride which are also developing electric truck prototypes. Some of these are equipped with autonomous driving functions and futuristic designs.