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The downturn that wasn’t2017 was the year when the downturn didn't happen. All the macroeconomic indicators were turning down - inflation was rising, real incomes were falling, at the end of the year we had the first increase in interest rates in 10 years, and Mintel's own consumer confidence surveys showed that consumers were becoming more cautious. But retail sales held up well, even in October and November when the comparisons were especially challenging. In absolute terms the credit figures look alarming, but in real terms they are still a long way below the 2008 peak. When we look back on 2017 it seems to have been dominated by corporate news: the Tesco/Booker deal, the first Bunnings store opening, Amazon's Whole Foods takeover, and right at the end of the year, Steinhoff's accounting concerns.
Looking ahead to 2018The retail sector is well placed heading in 2018. In 2017, the clothing retailers had a much better year, after the negative weather effects we saw in 2016. But that wasn't reflected in the performance of the market leaders as both Next and M&S lost market share. Online increased its share of retailing, though, again, roughly half of online sales are through the websites of store-based retailers and it would be overly simplistic to blame online for the problems of the leading fashion retailers. Dixons Carphone stands out in household goods for another strong performance, fully justifying both the merger and the store based strategy of the group. The books sector is tiny, but highly significant in that it is the first sector to regain market share that had been lost to online. 2018 must surely bring the slowdown that we were expecting for 2017. The squeeze on consumers pocketbooks can only get worse and the markets are expecting another increase in interest rates around mid year. But consumer confidence is all important because Brits will not increase their borrowings if they are more worried about their prospects. Mintel consumer confidence indicators show that confidence is weak. If we are right, then it will be the household goods sectors that will be worst hit. Food retailers are always among the more resilient sectors, but Aldi and Lidl continue to grow and the shift towards shopping locally is far from finished. Clothing demand must slow after such a strong showing in 2017. Online will, again, see the strongest growth. So on that note, we wish all our readers a very happy New Year.
Richard Perks is Director of Retail Research at Mintel where he advises clients, writes retail reports and presents webinars. Richard joined Mintel in 1999 and oversees the content and strategy of the retail reports. He regularly provides analysis to the global media on retail issues. Almost all of Richard's career has been in retail analysis and before joining Mintel, Richard worked in the City, both on the buy side and sell side, and as a journalist.


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Entertainment News Archive - January 23, 2012
MUMBAI, India, January 23, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- - World's leading experts to provide "access all areas" advice on how to assess, implement and integrate effective mobile
LONDON, January 23, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- In preparation of Nordic IPR Forum 2012 [http://www.nordicipr.com/Event.aspx?id=640938&utm_campaign=PRNewswire&utm_medium=External&utm_source=PRNewswire&utm_content=Homepage&MAC=19568.002_PRNewswire
OSLO, Norway, January 23, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Music streaming services are gaining ground fast in the Scandinavian countries and revenue to the music industry is increasing.
LAS VEGAS, Jan.
Vodafone is the first Australian carrier to offer the contested Samsung Galaxy 10.1 Tab, with pre-orders already open . Sydney, Australia (PRWEB) January 22,
Greg Owsley of The Storied Brand(TM) lends his expertise to create a unique and targeted brand story for the revolutionary new FIN Electronic Cigarette.
FIN Electronic Cigarettes are now available in all Circle K stores across the country. NORTHBROOK, Ill., Jan.
DAVOS, Switzerland, Jan.
LONDON, January 23, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- comparethemarket.com launched its new and improved credit card comparison service with its latest TV advert last week.

domain: news


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Nevada’s premier tech accelerator, X Co, is partnering with Wefunder, the country's first and largest crowdfunding platform.
Startups that join X Co’s R.E.A.L. program - short for “Rapid Entrepreneurial Acceleration Launch,” will eventually launch on Wefunder’s platform, which includes a community of 1.03 million investors.
“The democratization of new investment opportunities, regulatory frameworks, and access to previously unobtainable opportunities like early stage startup investments is groundbreaking. And as a leading edge startup accelerator, it is right in line with our mission of innovation,” says Shaunt M. Sarkissian, Founder and Executive Chairman of X Co. “The platform, team, and truly effective regulatory operations at We Funder were by far the best. And this made a partnership a no brainer.”
Currently X Co’s Alumni company, PersonaFi, an online community for retail investing, has enjoyed success on We Funder, raising $349,000 in only a few weeks.
"Wefunder is extremely stoked to be working with the X Co team in creating a more robust investment process for startups within our communities to raise capital. The expertise and raw talent X Co looks for in their founders made it an extremely easy decision to partner with them,” says Adie Akuffo-Afful, Director of Partnerships. “We look forward to a long partnership with Shaunt, Cameron, and the rest of the X Co family as we begin this journey."
Wefunder is the nation's leading investment crowdfunding platform, with the mission to revive the American dream. The platform helped hundreds of companies raise over $304M from fans. Wefunder companies have gone on to raise over $5B in venture capital. The company is also a Public Benefit Corporation and B Corp, with the goal of helping 20,000 founders get off the ground by 2029
About X Co: With offices in Reno and Las Vegas, X Co is dedicated to another “Next” – the next regional technology powerhouse of Nevada 2.0. Led by a team of seasoned entrepreneurial executives, our mission is to accelerate early-stage tech startups in the emerging U.S. technology ecosystem.


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From Razer to Lenovo, here's your chance to upgrade your gaming gear on the cheap
The Razer Meka headset is for all of the female D.Va aficionados out there — and that's actually pretty cool.
MIT researchers have developed AlterEgo, a headset that can analyze brain activity and bone vibrations to identify your words and obey your commands.
The Magic Leap will apparently cost around the same as the iPhone, and the company is also partering with the NBA.
Mad Catz is back from the dead and will debut a new mouse, keyboard and headset at CES 2018 in Las Vegas.
Asus' ROG Strix Fusion headset lights up as part of Aura Sync, and can match wirelessly with your entire esports team.
Razer's ManO'War headset now comes in a wired variation, allowing even more gamers to take advantage of its rich sound and comfy earcups.
The Plantronics Rig4VR headset is designed to offer an immersive audio experience for the PlayStation VR.
The Katana HD, a new peripheral from Mad Catz, channels audio directly from an HDMI source -- a first for a gaming headset.
An edge-of-your-seat first-person-shooter-action title with a twist, Bullet Train is an epic good time.
The ROG 7.1 headset and the Swift PG34BQ monitor are the two latest contenders in a bid by Asus to put out hardcore gaming peripherals.
Having impressed convention-goers at CES, Vuzix has begun taking pre-orders on their high definition iWear headset.
TAIPEI, Taiwan - In what could be music to your ears, ChipSip launched a new SiME Smart Headphone at Computex. The headset looks like it is the result of a tryst between Google Glass and a set of over-ear headphones. The device may be available in the t
HTC's upcoming Vive Headset is powered by technology from gaming giant Valve and aims to revolutionize the VR market.
Samsung is reportedly working on a Oculus Rift competitor that the company will debut at IFA 2014 this September.
Google Glass may support Google Wallet in the near future to let you send money to a friend via your voice.
Google introduces a try-before-you buy program for potential Explorers, allowing people to try a dummy set on at home.
The affordable VR headset will be released in a mobile version for Android devices, to be released around the same time as when the PC model launches next year.
This week, we try a new PC gaming headset, mess around with Curisma, and get reminded about how Apple customer service really rocks, sometimes.
In under 30 minutes, you can make tech accessories at home – with readily available stuff. 3 DIY Projects: speakers, cases, and earbud holders.
Roccat and its peripherals have been big over in Europe for years now, but how will the company fare in North America?
Beats Electronics has partnered with Monster for almost five years. However, the contract between the two is set to run out later this year, and when it does, Beats reportedly won't be renewing it.
Mice! Headsets! Controllers! Madness! The Consumer Electronics Show always has plenty of new gaming gear for PC gamers and console junkies alike, and CES 2012 was no different.
We go to CES with the hope that we'll find something totally unexpected, something that will make us say, "I must have it." The Zik headphones are one of those products.
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A new round of funding has been raised by Multiscription, the Danish mobile gaming startup to promote the expansion of its Unleashd service, a subscription-based replacement for current free-to-play marketing and monetization. With additional funding from Sweden’s Tigrim and The Danish Growth Fund, a state-backed, independent fund that invests in Danish start-ups, this most recent $1.6 million investment was headed by Sisu Game Ventures. This is the organization behind the €800,000 ($9,43,724) investment that was previously mentioned for September 2021.
According to a report, Subscription-based gaming will see the fastest growth in the coming few years
According to recent report from Grand View Research, subscription-based gaming will be worth $24.1 billion annually by 2030, with mobile gaming forecast to expand at the fastest rate of any platform, at 16.8 percent annually. Mobile devices are extremely common, and in areas like India, Brazil, and most of Asia, customers primarily use them as gaming platforms.
Unleashd is a unique subscription service for mobile games. It offers developers and publishers an alternative to current free-to-play (F2P) monetization that works in conjunction with their current revenue streams. Mobile game producers can quickly add their titles to the Unleashd subscription app. This allows users to play games without annoying commercials and have access to premium features like character upgrades, score multipliers, and exclusive in-game rewards. For seven days, Unleashd is free for gamers to try out; after that, the monthly subscription fee is 4.99 Euros.
The monthly subscription now includes 22 games. It has to Conduct This!, Bonfire 2, and the recently added Tiny Rails from Trophy Games; other games are constantly being added.
This new funding will enable Multiscription to extend its platform and enhance the technology
The funding is essential to Multiscription’s growth objectives since it enables the business to extend the Unleashd platform development team and improve the technology used to integrate new developers and their games.
Samuli Syvähuoko, the founding partner of Sisu Game Ventures, said, “More than half of all game profits worldwide come from mobile gaming. But little has changed in terms of how game publishers make money from their titles. Unleashd takes a subscription model that we are aware consumers prefer and gives it a mobile-first twist to offer a novel method of discovery and revenue”. He added, “We are excited by what Teis and the team are doing and its potential to challenge the F2P status quo.”
Publishers using the service are still able to offer rewarded advertisements and in-app purchases. However, Unleashd gives them the chance to make additional subscriber-only exclusive offerings.


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Digital sports platform FanCode on Friday announced it had raised $50 million from parent company Dream Sports’ investment arm called Dream Sports Investments (DSI).
Since its inception in 2019, FanCode has over 20 million users and has partnered with some of the biggest global sports brands such as the NFL, MLB, Cricket West Indies, New Zealand Cricket, NBA, and Bundesliga, multiple IPL teams, live streaming nearly 30,000 hours of sports content.
Founded by sports industry veterans Yannick Colaco and Prasana Krishnan, the company offers interactive live streaming of sports matches with customizable data overlays, the fastest ad-free live scores, and a flexible choice to subscribe for content by introducing Match Pass and Tour Pass.
“The funding from Dream Sports will help us enhance our existing offerings and invest in further innovation in the sports tech domain as we scale up to our goal of growing to a user base of 100 million sports fans by July next year,” said Colaco.
In March, dream Sports, a homegrown company that owns brands such as fantasy sports platform Dream11, FanCode, and Dreamz, announced the completion of a $400 million (approximately Rs 2,904 crore) secondary investment led by TCV, D1 Capital Partners, and Falcon Edge.
Founded in 2008 by Harsh Jain and Bhavit Sheth, Dream Sports currently employs close to 600 people.
“We are happy to support FanCode’s efforts in scaling up the business and making sports more accessible to over 800 million fans in India,” said Jain, CEO, and Co-Founder of Dream Sports.
FanCode personalizes content and commerce for all sports fans.
“In a short period, FanCode has created not only a best-in-class digital sports platform but also pioneered several user-first initiatives in India,” added Krishnan, another co-founder of FanCode.


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The beginning wasn’t the end for Amazon’s Z: The Beginning Of Everything, it seems. The Hollywood Reporter writes that Amazon has renewed the Zelda Fitzgerald-inspired series for a second season. A spokesperson for the streaming service told THR that Amazon had been sold on a “good pitch for season two,” but the publication speculates that perhaps it wanted to counteract any notion that it was an inhospitable home for female-fronted projects. That opinion stems in part from the controversy over the cancellation of Good Girls Revolt, which resulted in charges from that show’s creator that the studio simply didn’t “care” about the drama about women fighting for equal rights at a magazine in the late 1960s. On top of that, THR points to a recent Vox article arguing that the development process has a “sexist loophole” given that male showrunners have received straight-to-series order while female ones have not. Amazon did just invest in Amy Sherman-Palladino’s The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, giving it a two-season order, but it also went through the pilot season.
Z was created by Dawn Prestwich and Nicole Yorkin, counts Ricci as an executive producer. In our review, The A.V. Club noted that its “main advantage is a previously unexplored feminist take on what Zelda’s life must have been like.“


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Update on the "No Meal Tax" Campaign
TORONTO, Jan. 28 /CNW/ -
Dear Premier Campbell and Minister Hansen:
Over the past few weeks, nearly 200,000 British Columbians have signed petitions in restaurants and on-line at nomealtax.ca, voicing their strong opposition to a new 7% tax on restaurant meals. Many have also shared their views. Here are three from the thousands of comments received.
- "We have already cut back on going to restaurants due to the economy
and if this tax does come into effect then we'll reduce going out yet
- "As a senior with extremely limited income, one of the few pleasures
is to meet friends for coffee at a restaurant at least once a week.
Now that will likely be curtailed to once a month if at all."
- "This new tax means many of my loyal customers will cut back on their
spending causing my boss to give me less hours..."
Not exempting restaurant food from HST will be devastating to our industry and our employees, just as the implementation of GST was in 1991. The new tax comes at the worst time for the struggling foodservice industry. The drop in sales resulting from a new 7% tax - while competitive food products in grocery stores remain completely tax free - will have an enormous job loss effect. Our low margin foodservice industry will have to reduce work hours or lay off thousands of our 173,000 employees. This includes 80,000 young people, who rely on their jobs to help pay for their education. With a youth unemployment rate of 15.8%, we can't afford to jeopardize the jobs of the largest employer of youth in the province.
Foodservice operators from every community in B.C. have been overwhelmed by the support they have received from their staff and customers. They are looking to your government to mitigate the negative impacts of the HST on our industry as promised in your September 1st budget speech.
Canadian Restaurant and Foodservices Association
SOURCE Restaurants Canada
For further information: For further information: Mark von Schellwitz, CRFA Vice President Western Canada, 1-866-300-7675 or firstname.lastname@example.org; Prasanthi Vasanthakumar, CRFA Communications, 1-800-387-5649, ext. 4254 or email@example.com


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We had some people over for dinner on Friday, one of whom is a higher-up in the Wells Fargo organization. He was expressing skepticism about my bullish posts on the iPhone given: it requires carrier switching, is a closed system and costs a lot of money.
He also said he thought there was a “gross-factor” here. He wondered whether the phone’s all-touch screen interface would pick up a lot of disgusting grease from the actual faces of users.
I responded: Regardless of whether the actual iPhone is a huge commercial success it is already having an impact on the market and the thinking of competitive handset makers.
Here are three interesting “datapoints” on the outlook for the iPhone:
- Hitwise’s LeeAnn Prescott found search volume for the iPhone has outpaced iPod. (“This early surge in interest should indicate a rosy future for the iPhone when it becomes available in later in the year.”)
- Compete says they found a meaningful number of iPod shoppers were willing to switch carriers to get the phone (although pricing is a barrier. Listening AT&T?)
- And a piece on mobile marketing in iMedia today opines that because Apple influences influencers, the iPhone will have a significant impact on mobile content and advertising.


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SLIDESHOW: NACDS TSE 2016 – Hot OTC Products
BOSTON — Drug Store News editors scoured the show floor at NACDS Total Store Expo for the hottest, most innovative products. Below, DSN presents our Hot Product Picks in the OTC category.
Six Sigma Laboratories
Six Sigma Laboratories, represented at NACDS Total Store Expo by National Sales Solutions, is introducing a new clinical hydration solution called NormaLyte that was developed by pharmacists for pharmacists to recommend to their patients suffering from dehydration caused by diarrhea, vomiting, chronic illness or excessive sweating. The powder formulation — packaged so it can easily be added to a bottle of water — contains no artificial preservatives, colors or dyes.
NormaLyte also contains optimal concentrations of sodium and glucose to help facilitate rapid absorption of electrolytes.
Good Morning Boston! Hyland’s at NACDS Total Store Expo launched a new homeopathic energy booster called Good Morning that targets consumers looking for a natural revitalization solution, following a night of tossing and turning in bed. Good Morning contains no caffeine, is stimulant-free and is non-habit forming. According to Hyland’s research, 38.3% of Americans have trouble sleeping, with stress being the leading cause of their restlessness. Of those Americans who have trouble sleeping, 35% have used a sleep aid, and 33% have not used a sleep aid but would be interested in a homeopathic remedy.
Ansell Healthcare is introducing a new condom in Skyn Elite that is the “best of the best” across its premium-positioned Skyn line of condoms. The newest condom from Ansell is 10% thinner than other polyisoprene condoms, delivering more sensitivity than ever before. A 10-count package of condoms is retailing for a suggested range of $8.99 to $16.99. “It’s our thinnest and softest Skyn,” Jeyan Heper, president and general manager of Ansell Healthcare Products, told Drug Store News. “[It] is now expanding into new retailers; we will have more stores carrying Elite by the end of this year.”
Mission Pharmacal had its recent Rx-OTC switch Lycelle Head Lice Removal Kit on display for NACDS Total Store Expo attendees. Lycelle uses a nonpesticidal formulation that is safe for use with children as young as 2 years old, and is typically effective with just one 10-minute use. That’s important because many other head lice treatments rely on pesticides to remove lice, and recent reports have indicated that in 25 states, many forms of lice have developed resistance to OTC treatments containing pesticides. Each Lycelle Head Lice Removal Kit contains one bottle of pre-combing gel and a single fine-toothed comb that is used to remove the lice and their eggs.
Looking to energize your TENS device set? Wahl is featuring its Wahl Pulsing Massage Patch at NACDS Total Store Expo. According to the company, it is the first and only wearable massage device that adheres to the body and uses massaging pulses to ease pain. Unlike TENS devices, it provides customizable pain relief through massage and vibration as opposed to electrotherapy. The lightweight and flexible patch design has reusable adhesive gel pads that conform to the body. The $29.99 suggested retail price is competitively priced as compared with other TENS devices, and a $9.99 refill means the potential for a repeat purchase.
Levin focuses on digital in path to purchase
BOSTON — Beauty is three times stronger in terms of its relative share online, and the category presents a huge opportunity for retailers, according to new data from IRI.
Larry Levin, EVP consumer insights and thought leadership at IRI, presented the data during an Insight Session titled “The Impact of Digital Marketing in Shaping the Path to Purchase” at NACDS Total Store Expo on Monday.
“Beauty is 6.5% of total CPG sales. But when you look at online CPG sales, beauty makes up 14%. The opportunities are enormous to connect with beauty customers. It’s also really important to drive beauty because it helps to drive a bigger basket,” Levin said.
Although all of the categories within beauty have been increasingly strong online, Levin said, fragrance and skin care sales have been especially robust.
“A lot of that has to do with YouTube, how-to videos and social. So when you think about your assortment, you have to think about whether you are bringing the right products and promotions in front of your customers,” Levin said.
The data show consumers continue to rely on digital media — social and paid — as a critical partner to plan their path to purchase. Many categories, especially in the area of health and wellness, are capitalizing on consumers’ thirst for knowledge and products that satisfy their needs to look and live a vibrant life.
Levin also said retailers in the digital age also must plan their assortments around “click ’n pick.”
“How are you making sure the right products are online to be clicked and picked? But also, both manufacturers and retailers have to think about the customers who don’t just pick up their stuff and leave. You want to put the right product in front of those who walk the store and see what else could be bought,” Levin said.
Levin ended with four key takeaways for both CPG companies and retailers:
- Online retailers fighting below Amazon have an opportunity to take that No. 2 spot.
- Make sure that you are connected to Internet influencers who support your products.
- Consumers expect more personalization than ever before.
- Leverage the blurring between health and wellness. Beauty also is about wellness.


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Jeremy C. Fox for Boston.com
Organizers announced on Wednesday the names of 30 restaurants set to take part in a new open-air food festival on City Hall Plaza.
Local favorites such as Aquitaine, Blue Ginger, Estelle’s Southern Cuisine, and Tresca will participate in the Boston Fork Lift Food Fest from July 18 to 21.
The tasting event is set to coincide with the closing days of the new, free, nine-day performing arts festival Outside the Box, according to a statement from festival creator Ted Cutler, along with event planners Marjorie Clapprood and Chris Spinazzola of Clappazzola Partners.
Outside the Box will bring more than 200 performers to Boston Common, including the Boston Ballet, the Commonwealth Shakespeare Company, La Notte della Taranta, Rhythm of the Universe, and the Smithsonian Jazz, as well as popular acts such as the reunited Mighty Mighty Bosstones, the Blind Boys of Alabama, Boys Like Girls, Buffalo Tom, the Lemonheads, Los Lobos, Siobhan Magnus, and Ricky Skaggs.
“It’s my gift to the City of Boston and arts lovers everywhere,” Cutler said in the statement. “I want families to come out and enjoy all the great music and talented performers without having to buy a ticket. Their growing appreciation for the arts is priceless to me.”
The food festival will include celebrity chef demonstrations, book signings, and a beer and wine emporium, as well as opportunities to sample the fare from more than two dozen restaurants using tasting tickets, which will be available in sets of five sold at $1 per ticket. Each chef will set the price of his or her dish in the range of one to five tickets.
Participating restaurants include Aquitaine Bar & Vin Bistro, Artisan Bistro, Aura at the Seaport Hotel, Barrio Cantina, Batch Ice Cream, Blue Dragon, Blue Ginger, Bokx 109 American Prime at Hotel Indigo, Boston Kabob, the Chart House, Davio’s Northern Italian Steakhouse, Empire Asian Restaurant & Lounge, Estelle’s Southern Cuisine, Gourmet Caterers, Grilled Cheese Nation, Innovative Food from Jarvis Green, Jerusalem Pita & Grille, Kowloon, Legal Sea Foods, Lobsta Love, the Melting Pot, Salvatore’s, Scampo at the Liberty Hotel, Shake Shack, the State Room, the Bristol Lounge at the Four Seasons Hotel, Tresca, Tribe, Towne Stove and Spirits, and Trotilleria La Niña.
For more information, visit: www.outsidetheboxboston.org.


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When I started this blog series in January, I thought Cyber Monday would become more popular than Black Friday. After all, why would you want to spend your Thanksgiving in the mall or battle the crowds the next day, if you could just wait until Monday and find great deals from the comfort of your home or office?
But today, I’m beginning to question my optimism. While Cyber Monday sales have been growing each year, they still account for only 16.7 percent of revenue compared with Black Friday,according to a recent report shown below. And this holiday season, only 25 percent of Americans are expected to shop online.
What’s behind Cyber Monday’s case of the Mondays? It could just be the result of more options for shopping. As more stores open on Thanksgiving Day, Black Friday has become less congested, and some consumers get all their shopping done before Cyber Monday. And flash sales and online deals are happening all the time, providing many online consumers no need to shop on Cyber Monday.
I have to say, though, that another factor may be at play as well. In the past 11 months, we’ve seen a good number of rather large retailers suffer data breaches, with hackers gaining access to millions upon millions of customer credit card accounts. Are consumers getting more worried about stolen credit card information? Are they less comfortable shopping online? It depends who you ask.
Some studies suggest its business as usual. According to a recent survey by ISACA, 94 percent of shoppers are aware of the recent data breaches, but only 45 percent have taken steps to change their online passwords and/or PIN codes. In addition, only 15 percent have made fewer purchases with mobile devices, and only 13 percent have made fewer purchases on desktop computers.
Other reports suggest that credit cards may be losing ground. A survey by creditcards.com found that 48 percent of shoppers are more likely to use cash this holiday season because of security breaches. (Like my grandfather used to say, “Cash is king.”)
Personally, I’ll check out the sales online and, if the deals look good, maybe buy some gifts. But as I suggested in a recent blog, there’s no way to protect any credit card completely. I’ll be saving my receipts and checking my credit card bills online frequently to make sure they’re correct with nothing suspicious appearing. And I’m thankful that my credit card companies are keeping an eye on my spending patterns for anything out of the ordinary.
If you want to enter the cyber insurance market or learn about any of ISO’s various cyber insurance product offerings, visit the ISO Cyber Risk Solutions website, www.verisk.com/cyber, or e-mail me at email@example.com. You can also follow me on Twitter @doughertyshawn.


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Richemont exits Responsible Jewellery Council over ties to Russia
Cartier jewellery maker joins Pandora in protest at the trade group’s openness to doing business in Russia
Richemont, the maker of Cartier jewellery, and Pandora are leaving the Responsible Jewellery Council (RJC) in protest over the trade group’s openness to business in Russia.
Richemont and all its brands, which include Van Cleef & Arpels, have left the trade group, which was set up in 2005 to promote sustainable jewellery amid controversies such as blood diamonds. Danish jewellery maker Pandora also said on Wednesday it’s withdrawing after having been a member for 12 years.
“It is not part of Richemont values to be part of an organisation that includes members supporting wars,” Cartier CEO Cyrille Vigneron told journalists on Wednesday in Geneva. “The RJC has lost its very purpose.”
The Responsible Jewellery Council has almost 1,500 members, including LVMH’s Tiffany & Co and Russian diamond producer Alrosa, according to its website.
“Pandora cannot in good faith be a member of an association that does not share our values,” CEO Alexander Lacik said in a statement.
The controversy is growing over gems from Russia, which supplies a third of the world’s diamonds. Tiffany said last week it will stop buying new diamonds mined there as pressure builds on companies to cut Russian products from their supply chains.
Alrosa stepped down from the position of the RJCl’s vice-chair earlier this month, temporarily leaving the board of directors. The UK imposed sanctions on the company last week.
Retailers face challenges tracking Russian diamonds, especially smaller and cheaper stones. Before smaller gems are sold to jewellers, they’re often sorted based on size and quality, with no tracking numbers assigned to individual diamonds. Many diamonds are sent to countries such as India to be cut and polished.
Pandora said it suspended all business with Russia and Belarus on February 24, the day Russia invaded Ukraine. The company has also told suppliers that none of its raw materials, products or services can come from those countries.
Richemont continues to pay its 350 employees in Russia, as well as rent on stores. More than two-thirds of those workers are with Cartier. The company also stopped buying diamonds from Russia on February 24, according to Richemont CEO Jerome Lambert.
Richemont had been purchasing a significant portion of diamonds from Russia, though there are enough other sources to replace them, executives said. “It will create some disruption,” Lambert said.
The company declined to comment on any potential asset seizures in Russia after the government warned several companies about that possibility.
Bloomberg News. More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com
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Nvidia, Google, Meta, Microsoft, Apple & Amazon: Who Said AI The Most On Their Earnings Call? – NVIDIA
The Week in Review highlights significant events in the tech industry. Firstly, Apple faces an antitrust lawsuit alleging monopolistic practices, drawing parallels to Microsoft’s past. Apple defends its ecosystem’s value while experts foresee a lengthy legal process. Microsoft’s acquisition of Inflection AI’s leaders underscores its commitment to AI, positioning Mustafa Suleyman and Karén Simonyan in key roles. Nvidia’s GTC event unveils surprising developments including a prediction of artificial general intelligence within five years and the introduction of a humanoid robot AI platform, GR00T. Talks between Google and Apple hint at Google’s AI model integration into iOS, raising questions about the future of their relationship. Concerns about privacy emerge with investors’ ties to spyware and gaming tournaments halted by hacks. Glassdoor users report unauthorized profile changes, highlighting privacy risks. In IPO news, Reddit and Astera Labs witness strong market debuts, while The Browser Company secures funding amidst uncertainties about its monetization strategy. The challenges of AI spelling errors and Fisker’s financial struggles round out the updates, emphasizing ongoing technological and financial dynamics in the industry.
#TechNews #AI #Apple #Microsoft #Nvidia


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A local resort is offering couples a chance to celebrate Valentine's Day.
Stonewall Resort is offering a Retreat to Romance this weekend.
The package gives couples a chance to relax and share some quality time at the resort.
It's available Friday and Saturday and includes a breakfast the following morning.
Call Stonewall Resort at 304-269-7400 for more information.


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(Yicai Global) July 13 -- Ningbo Shanshan Co. [SH: 600884] will buy shares of metal mining developer China Molybdenum Co. [SH:603993] and carry out strategic cooperation to lock up upstream raw materials of lithium battery anode materials, and accelerate its business development of lithium battery materials, a company statement said.
Ningbo Shanshan, a listed company based in Zhejiang Province, said yesterday it had signed a strategic cooperation agreement with a major metal mining developer, China Molybdenum, to purchase private offering A-shares through money trust plan. The investment amount is about CNY 1.8 billion (USD265 million), it said.
The statement said China Molybdenum will raise money by private placement, and the fund to be raised will be used to purchase mineral assets project in Brazil and Democratic Republic of the Congo, but failed short of mentioning the shareholding ratio after the deal.
Both sides will carry out strategic cooperation on purchase and sales of cobalt products of Tenke Fungurume copper-cobalt ore in the Democratic Republic of the Congo that China Molybdenum holds, it added. Both parties will also consult to establish strategic partnership when purchasing, acquiring and investing in metal resource recovery projects such as cobalt and lithium in the future.
It said global cobalt ore resources are relatively concentrated. As the demand of new energy and energy storage industry are increasing and the capacity of lithium battery keeps expanding, the cobalt resources have been seeing a large gap for a long time, and the demand for it is expected to keep rising. China Molybdenum is the second largest cobalt manufacturer in the world.
Public data shows Hunan Shanshan Energy Technology Co., the holding subsidiary of Ningbo Shanshan, is an important lithium battery anode material manufacturer, and mainly produces lithium cobalt oxides and Ni-Co lithium manganese.


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With Nokia's handset business now part of Microsoft, the Finnish phone maker is left to focus on its networking, mapping, location, and other technologies.
Articles about Nokia
Microsoft's feature phones will soon have the Norwegian company looking after their browsers.
Microsoft has updated the low-end 630 with LTE connectivity and a larger price tag to match.
Michael Halbherr is stepping down after just a few months in the job.
Microsoft has launched its new 'most affordable phone' with specs that match the price.
Mobile technology has evolved at a rapid rate, and it’s not slowing down. These things are the five best in the genre today. In addition to these five, there is a bonus technology included that may surprise you.
We have seen phones targeted at teens, Facebook users, people with small hands, and more over the past few years -- and some failed devices only lasted weeks.
People drop their phones all the time. A recent survey shows that 50 percent of college students break their phones. Here are some low cost options and warranty options to protect your investment.
After cutting the bulk of people behind Nokia feature phones, Microsoft has launched a new cheap device for the billion or so first-time mobile buyers.
Microsoft employees belonging to the firm's Nokia handset arm have taken to the streets in China, protesting against job losses deemed "hostile" and "violent."
With Microsoft's cash in its pocket, Nokia can't seem to stop acquiring at the moment.
It has an intriguing new OS, but needs to rethink its price points if it is to stand even a sliver of a chance in the fastest growing smartphone market in the world
The first set of results since selling its devices and services business to Microsoft show new CEO Rajeev Suri is keeping things on a very even keel.
Microsoft's fourth quarter 2014 earnings will be the first to factor in impact from the Nokia devices and services business Microsoft acquired in April. Here's how the company's reporting structure will change as a result.
With one in five Nokia staffers in the country now facing redundancy, politicians are calling on Microsoft to support outgoing workers.


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Castellini Group names Chiquita exec as new COO
The Castellini Group of Companies, a fresh produce distributor based in Downtown Cincinnati, has appointed Brian Kocher to the new position of chief operating officer.
Kocher was previously interim CEO of Chiquita Brands International, according to a Castellini Group news release.
"As chief operating officer, he will help us continue to focus on growth, operational efficiencies and effectiveness and adding customer value," said Bill Schuler, Castellini Group president and CEO in the release.
The company, founded in 1896 on the original Cincinnati produce terminal market, ranked third on the 2014 Deloitte Cincinnati USA 100 list of the largest privately held businesses in the Cincinnati region. It had 2013 revenues of $1.2 billion and more than 2,000 employees.
At Chiquita, Kocher also held positions of chief operating officer, chief financial officer, president of North America operations and president of Europe and the Middle East operations.
"Brian's extensive operations and sales experience combined with his financial acumen will help the Castellini Group ... continue its success as we move to new markets and pursue new business opportunities," Schuler said in the release.
Kocher is also the incoming chairman of the United Fresh Produce Association, an industry trade group.
The Castellini Group offers more than 2,500 fresh fruit and vegetable products. Bob Castellini is the company's chairman, as well as being the principal owner of the Cincinnati Reds.


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2022 Product of the Year USA Winners Span 40 Categories
Awards are based on 40,000 American shoppers surveyed by Kantar.
NEW YORK — Product of the Year USA announced the winners of its 2022 Product of the Year Awards, which span 40 categories and are granted for outstanding innovation. The awards are based on a national survey of 40,000 American shoppers conducted by Kantar.
"Given the continued flux and uncertainty over the past two years, we're prouder than ever to provide consumers with the vote of 40,000 fellow shoppers as a guide they can trust when making important purchase decisions for themselves and their families," said Mike Nolan, global CEO of Product of the Year. "One of the great strengths of Product of the Year is that we champion manufacturers for putting forward products that reflect the latest trends and offer consumers the solutions they're looking for."
The winners of the 2022 Product of the Year Awards are:
Alcoholic Beverage: ALDI-exclusive Peaks and Tides Pinot Noir, ALDI
All-Purpose Disinfectant: OxiClean Daily Clean Multi-Purpose Disinfectant, Church & Dwight
Bakery: ALDI-exclusive L'oven Fresh Garlic Knots, ALDI
Bathroom Cleaning: 9 Elements Bathroom Cleaner, P&G
Breakfast: ALDI-exclusive Specially Selected Brioche or French Toast Bagels, ALDI
Candy Bar: Kinder Bueno Mini, Ferrero USA
CBD Gummies: Charlotte's Web CBD Gummies, Charlotte's Web Inc.
CBD Ingestible: cbdMD Drink Mix, cbdMD
CBDPet: CBD Daily Chewies by D Oh Gee, Oh Gee
Cheese: ALDI-exclusive Emporium Selection Cracker Cuts, ALDI
Coffee & Tea: Joyba Bubble Tea, Del Monte Foods Inc.
Cold & Allergy: Allegra Hives, Sanofi US
Convenience Meal: ALDI-exclusive Park Street Deli Hawaiian or Coconut Thai Chicken, ALDI
Dips & Condiments: ALDI-exclusive Park Street Deli Mexicali and Street Corn Dip, ALDI


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Updated May 10, 2018 10:21am Updated May 11, 2018 5:48pm A new concept for a new type of packaging factory, the Sky Factory, has arrived on the App Store.
The concept, which will be available in the U.K., France, Italy, Germany and Belgium, will help customers save on costs while maintaining high-quality products, and it’s available to download now.
The Sky Factory concept will help you manage your packaging infrastructure, like the size of the package you are delivering, and will also help you reduce the cost of packaging materials, according to Sky Factory founder and CEO David Vavrinde.
A single package is about 40 kilograms, and is divided into four parts.
Each part of the parcel is divided up to three units, and the total is roughly 3.2 kg.
The Sky Factory will manage this process using a combination of machine learning, data science and artificial intelligence.
The company has partnered with a variety of suppliers to make the SkyFactory a reality, including Gourmet Packaging, the UK’s largest and most prestigious wholesale packaging firm.
A new type for a brand of packaging factories has arrived.


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From its channel experiences to its approach to personalization, the retailer puts customers first.
With as much as a third of RTB ads served up to bogus sites, software companies build up arms to battle the bots and the spammers.
What cultural anthropology can tell you that lightning-speed data analysis can't.
One in five say they pay little or no attention to nasty comments or complaints.
Email is an opportunity for a two way dialogue, but too many marketers miss the opportunity to be proactive and strategic with this highly effective channel.
In a post-recession world, companies are less focused on efficiencies and more intent on customers—and hence on their CMOs—says a new study.
New product, update, and partnership announcements from the Microsoft Dynamics Convergence conference that concludes today in Atlanta.
The company's Q4 Cross-Platform report says smartphone users are in apps 10 times longer than they're surfing the Web.
The head of the American Catalog Mailers Association discusses the effects of higher rates on mail volume, and suggests how mailers should get involved in postal reform.
With YouTube as with life, sometimes the hardest part is just showing up.
Twenty minutes on Adobe's cool new Web assessment tool will give you an idea—and a colorful pie chart!
Direct mail is far from obsolete, and investing in it could save the USPS.
Food chains like H.E.B. and Trader Joe's do it right, healthcare companies like Coventry Health and Empire BlueCross BlueShield don't.
ABC's livestream debacle did worse than turn me off one time—now, I'm not likely to tune in next year. And neither is the Internet Generation.
The ratings company appoints a new CMO and chief digital marketing officer.
Company of the week
Marketry can connect you with the right audience, using effective channels and deliver measureable success. Whether your plan includes online media, offline direct marketing or an integrated combination - we can help.
A growing number of marketers are making digital marketing a top-shelf priority.
Think of telemarketing as a long-term activity, built on a solid database marketing approach, and you'll reap its greatest rewards.
Sales attribution is imperative for a company and its growth.


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Lookout! Records — the venerated Berkeley, California-based indie through which some of the first recordings by Green Day, Operation Ivy, Rancid and the Donnas were released — laid off its staff on Tuesday in the wake of Green Day's recent decision to reclaim its catalog releases from the long-running punk label.
According to Lookout! publicist Tristin Laughter (whose eight-year stint with the label ends September 1), the label has long been behind in royalty payments to Green Day from the sale of four of the band's early releases: 1989's 1,000 Hours EP, 1990's Slappy EP, 1991's 1,039/Smoothed Out Slappy Hour and 1992's Kerplunk. Green Day has regained control of the masters for all four recordings.
Laughter emphasized, however, that the relationship between the band and the label has been and remains "very warm and amiable."
"There's no acrimony," she said. "From Lookout!'s perspective, Green Day was way more than reasonably patient. Lookout! got so delinquent in paying the royalties that Green Day was forced to say, 'We can't continue to float this. We need to put [these albums] somewhere where we can reliably get the royalties.' But Lookout! was their original home, and they have nothing but affection for them." Green Day has not filed any legal action against Lookout! to recoup the delinquent royalty payments, she said.
The label's owners — President Chris Appelgren, Vice President Molly Newman and General Manager Cathy Bauer — have suspended all artist signings and new releases for the foreseeable future, and may need to sell the building that houses the label's offices to settle its debts. Most of the six laid-off employees will continue working at the label until August 15. However, Newman said the label hopes to regain its footing and is considering its options. Lookout!'s most recent releases are the Hockey Night's Keep Guessin' and Troubled Hubble's Making Beds in a Burning House.
Green Day's current label, Reprise, did not respond to e-mails requesting a comment from the band, which is the latest of several acts to break away from the label. In recent years, previous Lookout! artists Screeching Weasel, Avail, Pansy Division, the Riverdales, the Lillingtons and Enemy You have rescinded their master rights from the label, citing, like Green Day, breach of contract over unpaid royalties.
"The label is going to have to regroup and rebuild," Laughter said. "The Green Day catalog has been the bedrock of the business."
As Green Day's American Idiot has became one of the past year's biggest sellers, sales of the band's catalog have increased dramatically. According to SoundScan, 1,039/Smoothed Out Slappy Hour has sold more than 568,000 copies, scanning on average 900 copies per week this year. Kerplunk, which has scanned more than 685,000 copies since its initial release, averages weekly scans between 700 and 800. The label's third-best-performing catalog disc, Operation Ivy's Energy, has scanned more than 419,000 copies since its release back in 1990, and averages between 300 and 400 in weekly sales.
Where the master recordings will end up has not yet been announced. Laughter said it's possible Adeline, Green Day frontman Billie Joe Armstrong's imprint, or Warner Music Group (home of Reprise) could wind up releasing them.
In a statement on the label's Web site, Appelgren wrote that "Lookout! Records is proud to have been [Green Day's] first home," and that "despite any rumors or conjecture to the contrary, Lookout! and Green Day's long relationship has always been based on trust, friendship and partnership, and those bonds remain shared between the label and the band now and into the future."
[This story was originally published at 5:27 p.m. EDT on 08.03.05]


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Wal-Mart: A Solid Dividend Story
Shas is a member of The Motley Fool Blog Network -- entries represent the personal opinion of the blogger and are not formally edited.
Wal-Mart (NYSE: WMT) may not be one of the most liked companies in the US, but with its solid dividend yield and stock price appreciation, the stock is certainly loved by investors. The company is securely on its way to bigger growth, despite employee unrest and general dissatisfaction of the masses with its allegedly inferior-quality products.
At its prevailing market price, the company offers a rather attractive dividend yield of about 2.3 percent, and the stock is popular among income investors. The company has a track record of paying increasing dividends over the past 38 years, and with about a 32 percent payout ratio, it is highly likely that the dividend stream is going to be fairly reliable for the near future. Wal-Mart is scheduled to announce its fourth quarter and full year numbers on Feb. 21 and, due to weak guidance, the numbers are expected to be less than spectacular. However, since the company has long held tradition of increasing its dividends, it is expected that Wal-Mart will continue with the theme and put more money in its investors’ pockets.
The retail chain store company is also going big on its expansion plans. It is expanding big time to counter its closest rival Target (NYSE: TGT) in foreign markets such as Canada. Target is looking to open about 125 new stores in Canada. In response, Wal-Mart announced the outlay of $454 million to expand its presence in the Canadian market. The big box retailer already has 379 stores in Canada and is planning to add 37 more.
While both Wal-Mart and Target are mainly brick and mortar retailers and thus have somewhat similar cost-structure, Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN) is putting up a good fight as it has considerably lower costs. Wal-Mart positions itself as a discount retail chain, but Amazon is able to provide similar low costs and thus eats into Wal-Mart’s business in many segments, such as apparel. In order to fight the competition, Wal-Mart started new plans like same day delivery and sprucing up its online presence. However, Amazon currently drives up the volume by charging minimal margin. In order to be competitive, Wal-Mart may have to engage in price wars, putting pressure on its bottom line.
Wal-Mart also seems to be running into regulatory messes fairly regularly. In the recent past, it has been implicated in bribery scandals in Mexico and India. While these controversies seem to be already priced in, these ethical missteps may cost the company in its PR exercise. The company is also looking to clean up its public image. After a recent fire incident at one of its suppliers’ facilities, the company reviewed its sourcing policy. The company has now moved on from its ‘three strikes policy’ to ‘zero tolerance norms.’ The step may add to the company’s sourcing cost, though it will also help in creating goodwill.
Another area of concern for Wal-Mart is related to its workforce. The retail giant is constantly being sued by its employees for discrimination, poor working conditions and dismal pay policies. Increased labor costs are certain to eat into the company’s bottom line.
Wal-Mart’s Q3 financial numbers were weaker than anticipated, and its full year guidance also fell short of expectations, raising concerns about the future growth rate of the company. While it is difficult to retain accelerated rate of growth, Wal-Mart needs to up the ante to fight the competition from its peers like Target and Costco. In comparison to Wal-Mart, Target is looking to increase its annual revenue by more than 6 percent. Costco has also been posting good growth for its same store sales and is looking forward to perform well.
Wal-Mart is expanding its global presence. In the previous financial year, the company derived about 28 percent of its revenue from the markets outside of the US. However, international sales showed much healthier rate of growth than domestic market. Its international revenue grew at 8.4 percent per annum in the past three years, while the rate of growth for domestic revenue stood at a feeble 1.7 percent. However, its attempts at international expansion have run into several problems including adoption of unethical measures. It has planned to slash its expansion plans in Brazil and China. This pullback may have an impact on its projected revenue growth.
Wal-Mart is an established player and possesses resources to counter competition from other brick and mortar stores and online businesses. The stock is currently about 10 percent below its 52 weeks high price and offers a good entry point. Its regular dividend payment is the cherry on top.
StockRiters.com has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool recommends Amazon.com. The Motley Fool owns shares of Amazon.com. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. Is this post wrong? Click here. Think you can do better? Join us and write your own!


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Welcome to the latest edition of our Commercial Real Estate News for February.
In this month’s news, we bring you the latest updates and insights on the commercial real estate market. As we move further into the new year, the real estate industry is showing signs of steady growth, and we have seen significant shifts in the market, including an increase in demand for office space and changes in the retail landscape. Our team of experts has analyzed the latest data and trends to provide you with valuable information that can help inform your real estate decisions. Whether you are a property owner, investor, or industry professional, we aim to provide you with insights that can help you navigate the complex world of commercial real estate. So, read on to stay up-to-date with the latest news and developments in the industry.
Scottsdale firm invests $100M in Glendale commercial real estate projects
PHOENIX — A Scottsdale real estate firm is expanding its portfolio to the West Valley with the announcement this week of $100 million of investments for a handful of Glendale developments.
Diversified Partners in a press release said the investments are for commercial real estate projects including the Cambria Hotel, the En Fuego retail development, the retail development at 91st Avenue and Cardinals Way as well as the space at 75th Avenue and Bethany Home Road. More
Commercial Properties Are Struggling to Refinance Debt:
Feb. 24, 2023, 6:00 AM
Many commercial property owners are struggling to refinance debt, which is creating opportunities for providers of emergency financing, said Jeff Kaplan, managing partner at Meadow Partners.
Kaplan, whose firm manages $5.8 billion of assets, spoke to Bloomberg’s Erin Hudson in a series of conversations ended Feb. 23. Comments have been edited and condensed.
McCarthy Building Cos. expands Valley footprint, opens new training facility
The state’s second-largest general contractor renovated a building formerly used by the Arizona Department of Transportation and USA Today in Chandler for its new workforce center. Justin Kelton, president of the Southwest region for McCarthy Building Cos., shares why the company is expanding.
Is This a Return to Normal for Phoenix’s Industrial Market?
So, what does this mean for the industrial market?
Developers have been on a buying spree trying to find land to put up more boxes. We now have nearly 40 million square feet under construction, with 12 million of that pre-leased.
Developers have been looking at developing in all parts of the Valley. The big box market is reaching into the outskirts of Buckeye, while Mesa Gateway is thriving with activity. Infill projects everywhere are still in demand. ViaWest, in partnership with Prospect Ridge, is developing two industrial parks on parcels along Interstate 10 in the southeast valley. Sight Logistics is rising out of the ashes of the former Insight Enterprises corporate headquarters in South Tempe. The former office building has been demolished and two new industrial buildings are under construction in their place. Read Full Story
Phoenix Commercial Advisors Brokers $11.8 Million Sale of Mesa Gateway Retail Property in Arizona
Phoenix Commercial Advisors has arranged the $11.8 million sale of Mesa Gateway, a three-building retail property located in Mesa. Totaling 31,824 square feet, the three buildings were fully leased to tenants including Verizon, Comerica, Jimmy John’s Sandwiches, Fit Body Boot Camp and Boba CuTea. Danny Gardiner and Chad Tiedeman of Phoenix Commercial Advisors represented the undisclosed seller in the transaction. Shopping
Developer Creation to build $60 million industrial center in Scottsdale Airpark.
Commercial real estate developer Creation has announced the acquisition of 18 acres within the Scottsdale Airpark with plans to develop a $60 million industrial center.
The Phoenix-based company will break ground later this year on Thunderbird Commerce Park, a 243,360-square-foot, Class-A industrial building located east of the southeast corner of Scottsdale and Thunderbird roads. With direct adjacency to the Scottsdale Airport, building features include 51 truck doors, 32-foot clear height, 3,000a power, four electric vehicle dual charging pedestals, 130-foot truck court depth and 322 car spaces. Read More
Marcus & Millichap Negotiates Sale of 4,500 SF Retail Property in Chino Valley, Arizona
Sherwin-Williams occupies the 4,500-square-foot retail building at 89 West Road 2 in Chino Valley, Ariz. Read More
Commercial real estate executives are optimistic about future market conditions
The Real Estate Roundtable’s Q1 Economic Sentiment Index reports that commercial real estate executives, while optimistic about the future, remain uncertain about current market conditions, citing inflation, rising interest rates, and supply chain disruptions as concerns. However, executives also express that perceptions and outlooks differ across asset classes, as some remain strong and others show concerns. Full Story
The Glendale sports complex is one of two this land investor has proposed for the West Valley in recent years. Here’s a look at the conceptual renderings for the facility.


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DETROIT, MI- It’s official: The Chevrolet Camaro Z/28 is arguably the most track-capable Camaro ever built.
Chevrolet today revealed a video of the all-new, 2014 Camaro Z/28 (right) lapping Germany’s challenging Nürburgring road course in 7:37.40, a time comparable with some of the world’s most prestigious sports cars.
In rainy condition, according to GM, the Z/28’s lap was four seconds faster than the Camaro ZL1, and beats published times for the Porsche 911 Carrera S and the Lamborghini Murcielago LP640.
"One of the challenges of testing at the 'Ring is that the track is so long that conditions can change radically in a single lap," said Al Oppenheiser, Camaro chief engineer, in a statement. "Adam Dean, the development driver for Z/28, did a heroic job driving in deteriorating conditions. Based on telemetry data from our test sessions, we know the Z/28 can be as much as six seconds faster on a dry track."
The Z/28’s 7.0-liter LS7 engine, which was first used in the C6 Corvette Z06, is SAE-certified at 505 horsepower (376 kW) and 481 lb-ft of torque (652 Nm).
To bring out the full potential of the Z/28, GM reduced weight by about 300 pounds compared to a supercharged Camaro ZL1. To do that, GM took out the trunk carpet and insulation, installed thinner glass for the rear window, made air conditioning optional and removed all but one speaker.
While the new Camaro Z/28 is not intended to compete in a specific race series, it is solely focused on track capability.A team spent a week at the Nürburgring as part of the Z/28's performance-validation regimen, accumulating a total of 10 hours and nearly 1,000 miles on the track. Each lap took less than eight minutes to complete. The tested hours are part of the grueling 24-Hour Test, which simulates a full year's worth of track use of track days or amateur-level competition at the hands of an owner.
The 2014 Camaro is available in showrooms now. The Z/28 is expected out in early-2014. The vehicles will be produced at GM's Oshawa assembly plant in Ontario, Canada.
The Z/28 was unveiled alongside the 2014 Chevrolet Camaro SS at the 2013 New York International Auto Show in March. The 2014 Camaros will arguably join the strongest of lineup of Chevrolet performance vehicles in decades, including the 2014 Corvette Stingray convertible, 2014 SS sedan and 2014 Corvette Stingray coupe.


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Results of two consumer surveys suggest expectations for inflation in the medium and long term are slipping.
A monthly poll conducted by the University of Michigan showed U.S. households projected annual inflation will average 2.5 percent 5 years to 10 years from now, according to data released Friday. That matches the lowest on record in data going back to 1979.
Federal Reserve officials kept their benchmark interest rate near zero this week, right where it has been since Dec. 2008. But they suggested in a statement that the first increase in nearly a decade could come when they next meet in December.
The statement, published Wednesday in Washington, repeated that policy makers need to be "reasonably confident that inflation will move back to its 2 percent objective over the medium term" before raising rates.
Actual inflation has been depressed by a large drop in oil prices and appreciation in the value of the U.S. dollar against other currencies that has made imported goods less expensive. The U.S. central bank has missed its 2 percent price goal for more than three years.
Core inflation, which strips out the volatile food and energy components, is also low. A Commerce Department report published Friday showed the Fed's preferred measure, based on personal consumption expenditures, rose 1.3 percent in the 12 months through September, right in line with the average recorded over the first eight months of this year.
In other words, inflation is stable at a low level.
Most Fed officials have voiced confidence that as the labor market continues to improve, inflation will rise back to the central bank's 2 percent target. Importantly, Fed Chair Janet Yellen and others have said that for this reason, they don't need to see actual inflation begin to move up again before they begin raising rates.
However, much of their faith is also predicated on the stability of expectations.
"Inflation expectations have been so well anchored over in recent years, that that seems to be the more powerful determinant of what actual inflation actually is," New York Fed President William C. Dudley said during a panel discussion at the Brookings Institution in Washington on Oct. 15.
A survey of consumers conducted by the New York Fed indicated expected inflation was sliding as well. Results released earlier this month showed the median forecast for annual inflation three years from now was 2.8 percent, marking the lowest reading in data going back to June 2013.
Survey-based inflation expectations measures can run higher than the government's actual price data because they don't take into account quality improvements in goods and services. Fed officials pay close attention to the trend in survey and market-based measures -- up or down.
The statement released by Fed policy makers this week noted that "survey-based measures of longer-term inflation expectations have remained stable." The latest readings don't offer much reassurance.


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Paradise Co Ltd, an operator in South Korea of foreigner-only casinos, reported casino sales of KRW17.07 billion (US$14.2 million) for February, down 5.9 percent sequentially, and a decline of 5.7 percent from the prior-year period.
Table-game sales last month were down 4.9 sequentially from January, and 4.1 percent year-on-year, at nearly KRW15.38 billion, according to a Wednesday filing to the Korea Exchange.
Machine-game sales were down 13.6 percent month-on-month, to nearly KRW1.70 billion. Such sales declined by 17.7 percent in year-on-year terms.
February’s table drop – the amount paid by customers to purchase chips at the table – was 14.6 percent down on January, and 11.5 percent down on February 2021, at KRW105.38 billion.
The figures are based on the group’s casino business division, covering Walkerhill in Seoul, Jeju Grand on Jeju island, Paradise City at Incheon – run via a venture with Japan’s Sega Sammy Holdings Inc – and at Busan.
Since mid-January, all casinos in South Korea have been required to ask customers for proof they have either completed a course of vaccination against Covid-19, or possess a valid ‘negative’ test result.
Last month, Paradise Co reported positive earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) for the fourth quarter of 2021, helped by “stable demand” from its customers. But it recorded a net loss of KRW40.12 billion in the final quarter of 2021, according to its earnings release.
Sep 26, 2022An increase to 40,000 tourists daily to Macau is “achievable” under the mainland China travel easing steps announced on Saturday, noted Andy Wu Keng Kuong, president of the Macau Travel...
”The epidemic has had a great impact on the economy of Macau. Macau must revive tourism to restore economic vitality”
Ho Iat Seng
Macau's Chief Executive


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Pragmatic Play Inks Live Casino, Bingo Partition Deal with SoftSwiss
Online gambling software lending institution Pragmatic Have fun announced at present that it has signed one more multi-product content distribution deal that will broaden its profile and will help it to boost the popularity of both its flagship together with newly brought out products.
The organization has recently inked a material distribution binding agreement with iGaming software solutions provider SoftSwiss. Beneath terms of the offer, SoftSwiss’ newlyweds, including a amount of major online gambling operators, will gain access to Pragmatic Play’s Live Casino solutions plus to it’s recently announced Bingo product or service.
Pragmatic Play’s Live Casino merchandise provides mobile-friendly online casino experience and includes well known casino scratch cards such as black jack, roulette, and also baccarat. The actual provider’s casino studio options 4k digicam technology , while casino action is certainly handled by way of professional seller.
In addition to Realistic Play’s Live Casino, SoftSwiss also has agreed to rotate out her new partner’s newly announced Bingo supplement. In a statement from early on today, Matter-of-fact Play acclaimed the prosperous start of its new bingo offering which features a volume of variants within the popular traditional.
News pertaining to Pragmatic Have fun with signing a deal breaker that would drastically increase the impact of it’s Live Casino device arrive right after the company introduced that bingo operators Interwetten and 1xBet would be among the first in the arena to go live with the unveiled crafted together with released live casino at redbet games.playpokiesfree.com
Commenting on you another important option, Pragmatic Have fun Chief Internet business Development Policeman Yossi Barzely said that their own Live Casino supplying has seen considerable good results so far and maybe they are delighted to ‘be capable of sign yet another partnership that should further cultivate our reputation in this oriented vertically . ‘
Mr.. Barzeli put in that all their SoftSwiss bond is a ‘fantastic opportunity’ pertaining to his company to expand its Bingo reach precisely as it looks to realize customer base on this ‘dynamic market. ‘
SoftSwiss BOSS Ivan Montik said that Practical Play’s Play live casino online and Stop products accommodate their characteristic of constantly introducing ‘cutting advantage, game-changing subject material . ‘
In May, Matter-of-fact Play introduced two big Live Casino relates to online gambling employees. The company very first revealed that Austrian online video games and gambling on veteran Interwetten would be one of the primary operators to travel live with Sensible Play’s completely new live casino game. The deal empowered the iGaming software professional to widen its casino reach during the lucrative German-speaking markets, and others.
Pragmatic Engage in announced after that that 1xBet would move out a Live Casino products. That offer, too, represented a main opportunity for the online casino game titles supplier to present their new providing to a more expansive gambling people as 1xBet boasts profile in a number of foreign markets.
With its Casino offering, Realistic Play says that it recreates ‘the adventure of the land-based atmosphere with the advantages of internet play. ‘ The game titles allow simple seo placing connected with bets, give detailed gameplay statistics and also a player’s full bet historical past, and feature powering sound effects plus animations.


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Ford Motor Co. on Thursday said it plans to add a new battery cell chemistry to its electric vehicle portfolio to increase capacity and make them cheaper to build.
The automaker plans to add lithium iron phosphate cells to standard-range versions of the Mustang Mach-E next year and to the F-150 Lightning in early 2024, a move it said will reduce material costs for those vehicles by 10 to 15 percent. The automaker currently uses nickel cobalt manganese battery packs for those vehicles and its E-Transit van.
The chemistry addition is one of a number of battery-related initiatives Ford announced Thursday as it seeks to ramp global EV production to a run rate of 600,000 vehicles next year and 2 million by 2026. Ford said it already has secured all of the battery cell capacity needed for the 2023 target and has 70 percent of what it needs to achieve its 2026 goal.


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Disney’s Blizzard Beach Water Park is FINALLY going to reopen soon! It’s been closed for almost all of 2022, and in the meantime, Typhoon Lagoon (Disney World’s other water park) has been welcoming guests. However, that’s about to change.
Blizzard Beach is going to reopen on November 13th of this year with some new Frozen-inspired decorations and treats as well as some holiday offerings. Disney has announced that, once that park has reopened, Typhoon Lagoon will CLOSE for refurbishment.
On Disney World’s webpage for Typhoon Lagoon, there is now a notice that this water park will close temporarily for refurbishments after November 12th, 2022. On the same day that Blizzard Beach opens, Typhoon Lagoon will close. (We previously saw that Typhoon Lagoon wasn’t showing hours past November 12th, but now the closure has been confirmed.)
This isn’t the first time that Disney World’s water parks have swapped. Earlier this year, Blizzard Beach closed at the same time that Typhoon Lagoon reopened (on January 2nd). So although both parks have been going through refurbishments, there has usually been at least one open (aside from during the pandemic closures, of course).
Disney hasn’t announced how long Typhoon Lagoon’s closure will last. Currently, the calendar is showing that there are no times available through mid-April 2023 (as far as the calendar goes right now), but that could change in the future.
We’ll continue to watch for more updates from Disney World, so stay tuned to DFB for all the latest news!
Have you visited Disney World’s water parks? Let us know what you thought of them in the comments!


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Nintendo and other news sources reported online multiplayer in the upcoming Legend of Zelda: Tri Force Heroes for Nintendo 3DS will have region lock (meaning you can only play with players in your region and not worldwide).
However the official North American game website came up recently and I read the part under "Online" stating "Go online via Wi-Fi to team up with people from your Friends List or other players around the world.". The sentence didn't state "Go online via Wi-Fi to team up with people from your Friends List or other players around your region." instead. Here's a screenshot on the wording of the site.
Am I reading it wrong or is region lock really going to be gone? Or is it Nintendo's mistake?
Official Website: http://zelda.com/tri-force-heroes/
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New York - The French Caribbean Island of Martinique, also known as the Isle of Flowers, will participate in IMEX for the first time. From October 16 to 18, 2018, representatives from the Martinique Tourism Authority in the U.S. and from the home-based Martinique, will exhibit at the France pavilion, booth #3629.
KINGSTON, JAMAICA – Director of Tourism Donovan White met with route development professionals during World Routes 2018 in Guangzhou China.
As we commemorate World Tourism Day, along with the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), we celebrate what digital technology has done and can do for tourism.
MONTEGO BAY, JAMAICA – On the heels of Jamaica celebrating an overall market growth of 5.4 percent for the first six months of the year, the destination entertained an enthusiastic audience at the 28th annual Jamaica Product Exchange (JAPEX).


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Another new tenant has been announced for the SLO Public Market shopping center.
Torricella Pizzeria will be located in the Market Hall.
The restaurant is named after the Italian neighborhood where Chef Ben Harrison's family is from.
San Luis Obispo Public Market at Bonetti Ranch is located at the corner of S. Higuera St. and Tank Farm Rd.
Other recently announced tenants include NEXUS: Ballroom Dance Community, Brooks Burgers, and California Tacos Cantina and Distillery. Orangetheory Fitness was the first business to open in late June.


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Pac Bell counting on it for Internet users
Published 4:00 am, Tuesday, March 30, 1999
An ultra-fast Internet connection is the consumer technology du jour.
Every major telephone and cable TV company across the country is furiously betting its future on Internet hookups that allow customers to pull up Web sites in seconds rather than minutes.
The issue took center stage last week when cable giants Comcast Corp. and MediaOne Group Inc. agreed to merge for the express purpose of delivering fast Internet connections to an even bigger customer base.
Pacific Bell is squarely in the competitive mix with its ADSL modems, which can transport data over the Net up to 50 times faster than a dial-up modem. But industry analysts are skeptical about Pac Bell's chances in this fledgling market, saying the phone company isn't nimble enough to navigate through uncharted, fast-moving technology waters, especially as it faces heavy competition from cable television companies.
Nevertheless, Pac Bell jumped into the fray last July, offering ADSL service in more than 60 California cities, including San Francisco, San Jose, Oakland and Berkeley. The beauty of ADSL, which stands for asymmetrical digital subscriber line and is sometimes referred to as just DSL, is that it allows customers to go on-line and talk on the phone at the same time.
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Michele Pelino, an analyst at Boston-based Yankee Group Inc., estimated that Pac Bell parent company SBC Communications Inc. has about 5,000 ADSL subscribers overall in its service territories, which include California, Connecticut, Kansas, Missouri, Nevada, Oklahoma and Texas.
The monthly cost of ADSL service ranges from $49 for a package aimed at home users that is about 13 times faster than a traditional modem, to $189 for a package geared toward businesses that provides a connection that's 50 times faster than a traditional modem. Both packages include unlimited Internet use.
Analysts say the company, as well as the other Baby Bells offering fast Internet hookups, has a tough road ahead because of stiff competition from cable companies.
Analyst Pelino said many cable firms have rolled out modems that transport data faster than DSL. And, unlike phone companies, cable firms have been very aggressive in marketing their high-speed services.
TCI, the Bay Area's dominant cable carrier, wouldn't disclose the number of subscribers for its cable modem service, but some industry statistics estimate there are about 40,000 customers in the region. That's eight times the estimated number of subscribers SBC has throughout all its territories.
Via its partner, AtHome of Redwood City, TCI offered cable modem service last year in 40 Bay Area cities, but it is not available in San Francisco. Three more South Bay cities will receive the service in the coming weeks.
TCI's cable modem service is priced at $39.95 per month, and the company charges $150 to install the modem and ethernet cards as well as perform any necessary rewiring.
In addition to being more aggressive than the phone companies, Pelino said cable firms have an advantage because they create Web content.
She said this is important because most customers will want to get more for their money than just the ability to download Web pages faster.
"The average person is going to need to see additional benefits out there," like streaming audio and video capabilities, Pelino said.
Pac Bell Internet President Steve Hubbard said his company is working on content.
Jeffrey Kagan, a telecommunications consultant in Atlanta, said phone companies need to move quickly to sign up customers. He said that in the regular dial-up arena, customers hop from one ISP to another if they don't like the service. But because customers have to pay close to $200 for the high-speed modem - whether it's ADSL or cable TV - they'll likely stay with their original carriers.
"There's actually some pain involved" in switching, Kagan said.
He also said being nimble and innovative aren't part of the local phone company culture. And if they did start acting too quickly and aggressively, their shareholders would get nervous.
Despite being slow and not as aggressive as competitors, both Kagan and Pelino conceded that phone companies have more customers than cable firms, and they may be able to leverage their brand names for one-stop communications shopping.
Kagan said: "It's easier to maintain customers than win them. The question is, will (phone companies) thrive in a marketplace that rewards gazelles? Time will tell."
Pac Bell has upgraded 87 of its 650 central switching offices throughout the state to offer ADSL, and plans to have upgraded 255 offices by the end of the year. With this, ADSL will be available to about 5 million homes and 900,000 businesses in California.
Pac Bell doesn't plan to upgrade all its central offices because access to ADSL requires customers to be within three miles of a switching station.
ADSL has received a boost from America Online, the nation's largest Internet service provider, which said earlier this month that it would resell the service to its customers beginning this fall. In addition to selling Pac Bell's ADSL service to customers in California and Nevada, AOL will also sell the service in SBC's other territories.
Pac Bell established an Internet business two years ago to offer dial-up modem service. Today it has more than 200,000 dial-up subscribers - just a fraction of AOL's 16 million customers.
Analysts said Pac Bell needs to plan ADSL's rollout carefully and avoid the problems it faced launching ISDN service five years ago. In essence, Pac Bell wasn't prepared to handle the onslaught of customer demand for ISDN, another high-speed Internet connection.
"ISDN was the first test of a Bell's nimbleness and flexibility," Kagan said. "Everybody wanted it, but nobody on the other end of the phone knew what to do" to provide the service to customers.
Steve Dimmitt, Pac Bell's vice president of consumer marketing, said Pac Bell has been careful in rolling out ADSL. For the first six months, it was available to a limited number of California cities to make sure customer service and technical bugs were addressed before rolling it out to more cities.
In addition, the company has not even started to advertise ADSL. Dimmitt said marketing will begin in the summer or fall and will consist of direct marketing materials, print and TV ads.
Despite these measures, some customers said Pac Bell's ADSL service still has bugs. Recently they have complained about installation problems that prohibit them from accessing the Internet. Customers have also complained about Pac Bell technicians missing installation appointments.
Pac Bell representatives said some of the problems were due to a recent spike in demand for ADSL service. This happened because the company last month lowered the monthly cost of the service from $89 to $49.
Spokesman John Britton said the company now has the problem in hand. "We've identified a process issue, and we think we've fixed it this week," he said Friday.<


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Oak Harbor’s Kmart is closing its doors for good in late April, according to a company spokesman.
Howard Riefs, director of corporate communications for Sears Holding Corp, said 68 employees, mostly part-time and hourly workers, will lose their jobs.
And another commercial property will sit empty in the city.
Kathy Reed, director of the Oak Harbor Chamber of Commerce, said an inordinate numbers of businesses have closed in recent years. The lot of the old Ford Dealership remains empty, the Whidbey Furniture building is deserted and several buildings downtown are vacant — including the large property of the former Armed Services YMCA.
Kmart Corp. owns the 89,000-square-foot building and the 1.48 acres it sits on. The assessed value is $925,000, according to the Island County Assessor’s website.
Riefs didn’t say what, if anything, the company plans to do with the property.
He said eligible employees will receive severance and have the opportunity to apply for open positions at Sears or Kmart stores.
Sears Holdings Corp., the parent company of Sears and Kmart, announced in 2011 that at least 100 stores will close because of declining sales.


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British mobile workforce and goods tracking specialist Skillweb has launched an NFC and QR code-based proof of attendance service. “SmartTask Field Service uses the core SmartTask product engine to deliver a simple and 100% accurate means of monitoring proof of attendance by mobile and field based workers,” says Skillweb MD Paul Ridden.
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Watch us on YouTube Live at 8:30AM EST
Tesla – Beat Wall Street expectations for first-quarter revenue recording record deliveries for the three-month period on robust demand from China. The company had said it delivered a record 184,800 vehicles globally in the January to March quarter, beating market expectations. The carmaker, led by billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk, said revenue rose to $10.39 billion from $5.99 billion a year earlier. Analysts had expected revenue of $10.29 billion.
GameStop Corp – At the beginning of the month we learned GME was planning a “at-the-market” stock offering which at the time was viewed as a way to capitalize on its recent head-turning, WallStreetBets led history making rally. GME announced aftermarket yesterday it had sold 3.5 million additional shares, raising $551 million, proceeds that will be used to speed up the company’s e-commerce transformation.
United Parcel Service Inc – Shares were up nearly 8% premarket the parcel delivery company posted a 27% rise in Q1 rev beating analyst est., helped by a surge in online purchases during the COVID-19 pandemic. Adj EPS was $2.77 per share in Q1, beating est of $1.72 per share. UPS said revenue in its U.S. domestic unit rose 22.3%, led by growth from small- and medium-sized businesses.
General Electric – Reported a 20% decline in quarterly profit, hit by a slump in demand for aircraft engines as airlines struggle to recover from a pandemic-led collapse in travel. The company, however, reaffirmed its full-year free cash flow and earnings per share outlook. On an adjusted basis, GE’s industrial profit fell to $828 million, from $1.03 billion a year earlier. Excluding items, GE earned 3 cents per share in the quarter, compared with 2 cents per share a year earlier. Revenue fell 12% to $17.12 billion.
Mind Medicine Inc – Set to make its debut on the Nasdaq this morning trading under the symbol “MNMD”. The New York-based company will become the second psychedelic company ever to go public on a major American exchange. Shroom drug developer COMPASS Pathways CMPS was the first listing coming to market only six months ago, while another “drug growth platform,” called Atai Life Sciences ATAI, filed to go public last week.
MicroVision Inc – Continues its impressive, WSB led run up another 10% premarket, the recent “meme” stock leader jumped 47% on Monday while other Reddit favorites also rallied, suggesting that interest in so-called meme stocks remains strong after a wild ride this year. MicroVision, which develops laser scanning technology for automotive lidar sensors and augmented reality, was the most mentioned stock on Reddit’s popular WallStreetBets forum again on Monday, according to sentiment tracker SwaggyStocks.
Snap Inc – Announced plans to offer $1 billion of convertible debt due 2027 in a private placement aftermarket yesterday, with the proceeds set to be used for general corporate purposes. Notes will accrue interest payable semiannually in arrears. The company said it also plans to give initial purchasers of the notes option to purchase up to additional $150 mln of notes.
Churchill Capital IV Corp – Up another 3% premarket after yesterday’s rally that was fueled by rumors of a possible arrangement with Apple. An interview with Lucid Motors CEO was circulated online where the company didn’t immediately deny the possibly of discussions but also did not comment further on the topic.
Ocugen Inc – Trading lower in the premarket after three straight up days, the move was kicked off by further positive data on its covid 19 vaccine which it teamed up with India-based Bharat Biotech to develop and bring to the American market. Ocugen will receive nearly half of all U.S. profits from Covaxin without having to make an investment in partner company Bharat Biotech.
RiceBran Technologies – Micro-cap food processing company updated its current quarter quidance to the upside, saying it expects to report a 6.8% decrease in revenue to $7.766 million from $8.33 million a year ago, according to the estimate from one analyst, the decline would be smaller than first expected.
Aldeyra Therapeutics Inc – The company’s recent conjunctivitis treatment trial meets late-stage study main goals.


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Click here to read the complete illustrated article as originally published or scroll down to read the text article.
Scranton Manufacturing has its headquarters nestled in Scranton, Iowa, a town with a population of 550 residents. “Our vehicles are sold around the United States, but can also be found in many other parts of the world, from Russia and Dubai, to South American locations like Ecuador,” says Jim Ober, Vice President of Operations for New Way Trucks, adding, “it may be hard to imagine that these vehicles came out of a place as humble as Scranton, but we’re very proud of our duel-based nature of a company that has small town roots yet with a global ambition.”
The company has been around for over 40 years, cofounded by current CEO John McLaughlin. Beginning as an agricultural manufacturer, they focused on producing customized bail feeders and livestock gates for farmers before shifting into the development of standard grade garbage trucks, and then further evolving through the incorporation of front loading and automation into its vehicles’ capabilities in the early 90s.
“We hit a tough time with the agricultural industry in the 80s, and, after finding an individual looking to get out of the garbage truck manufacturing business, we found our next step,” says Ober, continuing, “by the 90s we had acquired the innovation and skill to further enhance our trucks through front loading and later automation, and from there, the business has been steadily growing to the point we find ourselves today; as one of the international leaders in supplying high quality refuse trucks to the various waste and waste removal markets.”
Heavy Duty Vehicles
Ober says that the main product offered under the New Way brand has been their rear loader, in which they have five different models: Cobra, King Cobra, Cobra Magnum, Diamondback, and the Viper. “Our trucks range from 6 to 43 yards of cubic space, allowing our products to cover a wide spectrum of needs in the garbage and recycling businesses,” he says, adding, “given the potential hazards of the waste removal sector, which is ranked as the 6th most dangerous job by Forbes, our customers can be confident that they are getting a vehicle that has the capacity and structural reliability to get the job done in a safe manner.”
And yet, while their rear loaders, particularly their Cobra Viper, represent the most volume in sales for them to date, he says demand for their automated side loaders has been surging in recent years. “You see the growth in ergonomics and the need to improve efficiency out of workers, and with the garbage and recycling industries, more people are shifting to automated trucks from manual-based units as a result,” he says, adding, “And it makes sense, with our automated side loaders, they are able to pick up 50 percent more than a rear loader can, and does so through the smooth control of a joystick, rather than having to lift what could add up to be thousands of pounds a day.”
Scranton Manufacturing’s automated side loader is called the New Way™ Sidewinder XTR, and has become the company’s top seller over the last year, a trend Ober doesn’t see stopping anytime soon. “The Sidewinder is characterized by ergonomic in-cab controls with a frame-mounted arm that features a gripper in line that is further strengthened through heavier steel and hardware than most other models, creating a product that is both technologically and materially superior.”
Ober says that the success of their products like the Sidewinder stems from their continuous investment into innovation. “Our engineering side has grown dramatically over the last few years, to the point where we can draw up our models in a digital program, conduct tests such as the finite element analysis, and see which parts and systems work best in the environments our trucks are going to be used in.” He says that on top of product development, the company also uses its engineering aptitude to come up with solutions to current needs expressed by their customers in the market. “Whether we’re drawing something up from scratch, or receive a request for an improvement in a specific area by one of our customers, we will go to our engineers regardless of the issue and see if it’s something we can make a reality.”
Aside from innovation and engineering, central to Scranton Manufacturing’s success is, to put it simply, their manufacturing. Headquartered in Scranton, Iowa, the company runs its production through its fabrication department and its four dedicated assembly lines, along with a few additional sites down the road responsible for prepping, painting, and mounting. “Inside our facilities you’ll see automated saws, drilling and milling machines, and high definition plasma and brake presses,” he says, adding, “we also do cleaning, wiring, and can mount a completed body onto almost any chassis such as, Mack, or Ford.”
This past June, the company also announced an expansion project of their facilities, a move characterized by 56,000 additional square-feet of floor space and the creation of 75 local jobs. “While others may still be recovering from the economic downturn and trying to get back to their previous levels, our recent success has our foot firmly on the gas pedal,” he says, adding, “this new facility will be responsible mainly for welding assembly and painting, and will increase our overall capacity by 50 percent, taking us to another level as a company.”
Adding to Scranton Manufacturing’s ambitious pursuit of further growth, is their recent unveiling a brand new vehicle, called the ROTO PAC™, based around the removal of municipal solid waste and organics. The vehicle is a fully-automated side-loader organics collection truck and represents the first mobile compactor with a leak-proof truck body that packs with the rotary action of an auger instead of a traditional packing panel. “One of the big trends in the waste industry right now is the effort to divert organics from going into landfills and instead preserving them to be converted into re-usable resources, like energy and land feed,” Ober says, continuing, “There’s never been a machine dedicated to this procedure before and because of this, we feel the product will provide a number of benefits to those involved in this growing business.”
The truck provides a position of growth for the New Way brand, and by extension Scranton Manufacturing, while also bringing reliability and a service to users that they didn’t have access to before; a ‘Win-Win; situation. And that’s exactly how Scranton Manufacturing goes about its business each and every day. Ober concludes, “We know that if we bring a quality product to the market, maintain a positive and engaging partnership with our customers, and foster a skilled and efficient workforce, the rest will take care of itself.”


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The total remittances from the telecom sector through the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to the coffers of the feral government grew and reached a whopping N344bn in 2020, a document from the telecom regulator has revealed.
These remittances, according to the document titled ‘Telecoms in 2020: A Review of NCC’s Regulatory Activities’, were largely generated from the sales of the spectrum, operating surplus and sanctions.
Apart from spectrum auctions, remittances were also realized from spectrum re-planning, re-farming to optimise the usage of the scarce resource while it continued to address the quality of service (QoS) delivery through effective monitoring of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and development of KPIs for Third Generation (3G) and Fourth Generation (4G) networks.
This financial performance and remittances to the federal government, especially at a time when all other sectors of the economy were comatose can be attributed to effective regulatory initiatives emplaced by the telecoms regulator, under the leadership of the Executive Vice Chairman (EVC), Prof. Umar Danbatta since his appointment in August 2015.
Meanwhile, despite the ravaging Covid-19 pandemic, available data obtained at the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), showed that the Nigerian Communications Commission helped grew telecoms contribution to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) to over 14.30% as of the second Quarter of 2020. This translates to N2.272 trillion in Q2, 2020.
Active mobile voice subscribers increased from 184 million in December 2019 to 208 million by October 2020. This represents an additional 24 million active mobile lines accessed by Nigerians across mobile networks from December 2019 to October 2020. Accordingly, teledensity (the total number of telephone lines per hundred people in an area) increased from 96.76% in December 2019 to 108.94% by October 2020.
NCC’s regulatory activities also resulted in increased connectivity in the country. From, 126 million in December 2019, Internet subscriptions rose impressively to 152.9 million as of October 2020. In the same vein, broadband (i.e. high-speed Internet) penetration maintained an upward swing to 45.93% in October 2020, up from 37.80% in 2019.
Mobile Number Portability (MNP) service continued to offer a wider option of service for telecoms consumers in 2020. In the year under review, 158,128 telecom consumers ported their lines between January-October, 2020, as against over 120,000 lines that were ported in 2019. The increase in MNP service usage is due to increased public education and awareness by the Commission’s head office and its zonal offices, as they intensified awareness on the availability, usage and benefits of MNP across geo-political zones. (Mobile number portability is a service introduced by NCC on mobile networks that allow telecoms consumers to switch from their current network to another preferred network, without changing their mobile number, when they feel a need to do so).
The Commission was able to successfully resolve over 98% of the total consumer complaints received from telecoms consumers via the NCC Toll-Free Number 622, NCC Consumer Portal, social media platforms and written complaints. Subscriptions by telecoms consumers to the NCC’s Don-Not-Disturb (DND) 2442 service reached over 30 million in 2020 compared with 22 million in 2019.