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The J. M. Smucker Company SJM on Monday, April 20 updated its fiscal 2020 financial outlook on the back what it called “unprecedented customer and consumer demand” amid the coronavirus pandemic that has seen more people eat at home and stock up on food. So, let’s dive into why investors might want to consider buying shares of SJM during a time of unprecedented economic uncertainty.
The Coronavirus & Consumer Staples
Roughly 26 million Americans have filed for unemployment benefits since the coronavirus social distancing and stay-at-home push began. Despite the massive economic downturn, Wall Street and investors have pushed stocks higher, with the S&P 500 up roughly 25% from its March 23 lows.
But stocks could fall again as more companies start to pull their guidance and report their first quarter earnings results. For example, our most recent Zacks estimates call for overall S&P 500 earnings to fall over 14% in Q1, down from the +4% projected in January. And things are expected to get worse, with Q2 earnings now expected to plummet -28.1% and Q3 expected to suffer a -15.3% decline (also read: Making Sense of the Earnings Picture During the Coronavirus).
Energy, transportation, autos, consumer discretionary, and other sectors look as though they will be hit the hardest. However, Consumer Staples stocks look set to see their first quarter earnings climb 9% on 3.6% higher revenues, based on our Zacks estimates.
J. M. Smucker’s Simple Pitch
J. M. Smucker’s portfolio features over 40 brands that it boasts “are found in 90% of U.S. homes.” The company’s brands include Jif peanut butter, Folgers coffee, Milk-Bone dog treats, and much more. SJM has also expanded through acquisitions of both upstart and established brands.
The nearby chart shows that SJM stock has crushed its industry in 2020, up 13% compared to the Food Market’s 14% decline. Clearly, it’s no easy task to be up this big when the S&P 500 has tumbled over 13%. That said, the stock is down around 4% in the last 12 months and up around 2% in the last five years. This still comes in above its industry’s 7% decline.
J. M. Smucker is also trading at a discount compared to its peer group, at 14.3X trailing 12-month earnings vs. 16.2X for a group that includes Kellogg K, Campbell Soup CPB, Conagra CAG, and more.
Along with solid value, SJM’s dividend yield rests at 2.99% to top the 10-year U.S. Treasury’s 0.60%, the S&P 500’s 2.07% average, and its industry’s 0.32%. Plus, the company’s payout ratio sits at a sustainable 43%.
As we touched on at the top, J.M. Smucker on Monday raised its fiscal year outlook on “unprecedented customer and consumer demand” in its fourth quarter. The company now projects its net sales will slip only 1%, compared to its previous guidance of a 3% drop, “primarily due to increased demand across all U.S. and Canadian retail channels, slightly offset by a decline in products sold in away from home channels, which represent less than 10% of the Company's total net sales.”
J.M. Smucker also said it expects to exceed the high end of its previous adjusted earnings per share guidance. Our current Zacks estimates call for SJM’s adjusted Q4 earnings to climb 7.2% to hit $2.23 a share. Meanwhile, the company’s fourth-quarter fiscal 2020 revenue is projected to jump 6.4% to $2.02 billion.
J.M. Smucker’s top and bottom lines are expected to jump again in the first quarter of its fiscal 2021. We can also see that its earnings revision picture has turned far more positive recently, which helps it earn a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy).
SJM also sports a “B” grade for Value and an “A” for Momentum in our Style Scores system, and it is part of an industry that rests in the top 17% of our more than 250 Zacks industries.
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Today CHEM Trust has written to the UK Government, alongside 26 UK public health and environmental NGOs, to outline 12 Key Asks that must be prioritised in the UK’s new Chemicals Strategy. If implemented, these asks would provide strong protection from hazardous chemicals for people, wildlife, and the environment.
Synthetic chemicals are used in many different applications in our modern society, in everything from food packaging to soft furnishings. Many have been linked to serious health concerns, including fertility problems, issues with reproductive development and hormone-related cancers. Ubiquitous chemical pollution is also fuelling our biodiversity crisis, placing an additional burden on wildlife populations already under threat from the climate emergency.
The UK Government has promised a new Chemicals Strategy to set out its approach for managing chemicals, following the UK’s departure from the EU. The process to develop this strategy is still underway, with a consultation expected in late 2021.
The 12 Key Asks highlight a range of actions that need to be implemented:
- Apply the precautionary principle;
- Phase out the most hazardous chemicals from consumer products, for all non-essential uses;
- A plan to address endocrine disrupting chemicals including timelines to phase them out;
- Phase out the use of PFAS and other very persistent chemicals;
- Speed up regulation of harmful chemicals and avoid regrettable substitution by adopting a grouping approach;
- Address the combined exposure to chemicals – the ‘cocktail effect’;
- Maintain and expand on workers’ health and safety;
- Ensure a clean circular economy with products that are safe by design;
- Develop an effective monitoring and alert system;
- Stop the continued accumulation of legacy chemicals in the environment;
- Remain aligned with the world-leading chemical regulation EU REACH;
- Ensure more transparency and use of all relevant science for assessing health risks.
The UK must keep pace with EU improvements to chemical regulations
In October 2020, the European Commission published its Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability (CSS), as part of the delivery of the EU’s zero pollution ambition in the European Green Deal. The strategy commits to a range of actions that will better protect human health and the environment from harmful chemicals, including several that are reflected in these 12 Key Asks.
If the UK Government does not implement these 12 Key Asks in the new Chemicals Strategy, the UK runs the risk of falling behind EU controls on hazardous chemicals.
Dr Anna Watson, Head of Advocacy at CHEM Trust, said:
“The UK Government must develop a chemicals strategy that properly protects citizens, wildlife, and the environment from hazardous chemicals. These 12 Key Asks must be prioritised to ensure this protection.
The UK should also keep step with the ambitious EU Chemicals Strategy and EU chemical related regulations. Otherwise UK consumers and environment will be considerably less protected than in the EU, and this could give rise to the dumping of products on the UK market that do not meet EU safety standards.”
If your organisation would like to sign on to support the 12 Key Asks, please send your logo to: email@example.com

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Editorial: The restaurant industry is feeling the effects of labor shortages
“Hiring,” “Help Wanted,” followed by text highlighting how much the job will pay an hour (and a signing bonus!). We’ve all seen these signs in restaurants over the past few months – from fast food outlets to family favorites.
The staff shortages that many restaurants are experiencing are having a negative impact on the services they provide, whether it is limited opening hours, slower service rate or increased prices of their menus.
Therefore, we shouldn’t be too surprised not to get the service we usually expect.
This has been the case for some restaurants near UNC. For example, Omar Castro, the co-owner of Breadman’s, couldn’t provide comment to the Carolina Alumni Review during a busy brunch because the restaurant was so understaffed he had to personally wait for tables.
Another example is Dame’s Chicken and Waffles, located on Franklin Street. Even with the lifting of COVID-19 restrictions earlier this year, the restaurant struggled with opening hours and was understaffed. Dame’s was open for lunch on weekdays and only expanded its hours after hiring new staff.
These examples show that while things may seem to be gradually returning to normal, some aspects could be affected for a long time, even after the worst of the pandemic has passed.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor said employment in food and beverage establishments in May was still 1.5 million jobs below pre-pandemic levels, down about 12%.
There is no one definitive cause for the labor shortage, and it has become a political point of contention. Republicans argue that the unemployment benefits the government has provided during the pandemic are taking away the incentive for people to return to work. Meanwhile, Democrats argue that the often low minimum wage for restaurant labor discourages potential workers from returning.
However, another explanation is that the problem lies with the industry itself and the effects of the pandemic have simply made the problems more apparent.
Many restaurant jobs are very stressful and often have long, inflexible hours for low wages and few benefits. These people also deal with rude customers who will take their frustrations out on employees without a second thought. Additionally, many people may not be comfortable working indoors and interacting with large numbers of people while the pandemic still exists.
According to a survey by Joblist, half of former hospitality workers said they would not return to their previous job, and a third of respondents said they would not fully return to the industry, citing reasons such as wanting a higher salary, better benefits and a new work environment.
As customers, we shouldn’t take our frustrations out on restaurant staff so easily, as they might have to do the work of multiple people while carrying the burden of rude customers and long shifts to compensate for the reduced number. of employees.
The obvious solution to restaurant labor shortages is to increase wages and benefits, as many restaurants have already done. However, it could also mean higher prices that customers have to pay – something Chipotle made headlines for when it announced it was raising prices by around 4% to counter an increase in the average hourly wage. of $15.
While many of us will regret having to pay a little more for food from the places we love, this may be the only way restaurants can once again attract more workers. This may be the new normal.
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Today’s Consumerist notes that Comcast, the biggest media communications company in the world, consistently ranks as one of the most-hated brands in the U.S. because of its notoriously bad customer service.
In an interview with Marketplace, company CEO Brian Roberts says that this wouldn’t be such a problem if the company weren’t so darn successful.
The big question from Kai Ryssdal comes around the three minute mark on this audio clip:
“You want consumers to want you. How come you guys have such a lousy consumer reputation? You rank in the bottom of all the consumer surveys.”
Roberts’ response: we’re just too big for our own good.
What unfortunately happens is we have about … 350 million interactions with consumers a year, between phone calls and truck calls. It may be over 400 million and that doesn’t count any online interactions which I think is over a billion. You get one-tenth of one-percent bad experience, that’s a lot of people – unacceptable. We have to be the best service provider or in the end, this company won’t be what I want it to be.
We’re not sure Roberts’ answer is effective. One-tenth of one percent of a billion is still a hell of a lot of angry customers ready to voice their displeasure.
Comcast tried to control the ongoing damage by getting personal with customer service on Twitter, but according to some the message is still “we’re sorry we’re so bad, but we can’t really do much about it.”
No one likes monopolies, and millions of Americans are just itching to cut their cords. We think you’ll agree that Comcast will have to do a lot better than Twitter feeds and interviews like this one to boost its reputation.


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Showing of 0 - 10 from 486 results
Alibaba - Total results - 486
Aug 16, 2017
Tencent beats revenue forecasts through mobile game success and WeChat; to boost AI researchTencent Holdings trumped forecasts to post its best-ever quarterly results, driven by higher income from smartphone games, payments and online advertising.
Aug 14, 2017
JD.com posts wider net loss as higher marketing costs upset revenue forecastJD.com Inc, posted a wider net loss in the second quarter as marketing costs offset higher-than-forecast revenue growth, sending its shares sharply lower.
Aug 11, 2017
SoftBank's $2.5 bn Flipkart deal makes Indian e-tail hot again, it's no longer a cakewalk for AmazonThough Amazon has been investing hugely in the Indian e-commerce space, Flipkart has been able to answer it fittingly at every step.
Aug 08, 2017
Marriott to team up with Alibaba to tap into the growing number of Chinese citizens travelling abroadMarriott said joint venture with Alibaba would allow Chinese travellers to book rooms at Marriott hotels via Alibaba's travel service platform, Fliggy.
Aug 02, 2017
China's ride-hailing company DiDi to invest in Taxify to rival Uber in Europe and AfricaChinese ride-hailing company DiDi Chuxing is investing an undisclosed amount in Estonian online taxi firm Taxify to help it expand in Europe and Africa.
Aug 01, 2017
Paytm may launch messaging services by the end of August; to rival WhatsAppPaytm wants to attract people in India to use a messaging service embedded in its payments app which many already use to buy food to plane tickets.
Jul 28, 2017
Xiaomi inks deal for $1 billion loan to accelerate retail store development and expansion outside ChinaThe three-year syndicated loan comes as China's tech giants look to diversify their businesses as e-commerce growth slows, with rivals from Baidu Inc.
Jul 28, 2017
Google to train 10 million people in online skills in Africa over next five years: Sundar PichaiGoogle also hopes to train 100,000 software developers in Nigeria, Kenya and South Africa, a company spokeswoman said
Jul 27, 2017
Axis Bank set to buy Freecharge from Snapdeal for about Rs 400 cr, announcement likely todaySnapdeal is also looking at selling its e-commerce business and has been engaged in discussions with larger rival Flipkart for the past few months.
Jul 26, 2017
Facebook is working on a smart speaker with a 15-inch, touchscreen display: ReportFacebook wants to focus more on image display which would in-turn further Facebook's agenda of promoting its livestreaming and video tools.


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As unemployment numbers continue to soar and economic uncertainty looms due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, food banks across the United States are experiencing a surge in demand.
At the same time, however, a parallel narrative has emerged as new reports and social media posts detail farmers dumping or throwing out produce, dairy and even animals destined for slaughter. With restaurants and other big venues closed, many farmers and food processors have lost their largest buyers.
Now, many are questioning why these surpluses can't be redirected to those in need. According to food industry experts, solving this problem isn't impossible, but it will require an efficient plan and help from the government.
“This year, the COVID-19 crisis is driving more of our neighbors into food insecurity and putting a strain on food banks to provide more meals,” Feeding America chief executive officer Claire Babineaux-Fontenot said in a statement last week. “Never has the charitable food system faced such tremendous challenge, and we need all the resources we can get to help our neighbors during this terrible time.”
Feeding America, the country’s largest food-relief organization which oversees a network of 200 food banks and 60,000 food pantries, said its food banks are experiencing “unprecedented strain” with 98% of all locations reporting an increase in demand since the coronavirus crisis took hold in the U.S. in early March. At the same time, more than half reported drops in inventory, higher operating expenses and dwindling donations.
As food banks struggle to keep inventories stocked amid skyrocketing demand, farmers across all industries are facing difficult decisions about how to handle the food they are unable to sell to former buyers. Dairy farmers in several states are reportedly dumping millions of gallons of milk every day, and individual farmers have destroyed thousands of eggs and millions of soybeans since the crisis took hold, the New York Times reported this week.
Download the TODAY app for the latest coverage on the coronavirus outbreak.
In light of the competing struggles, Feeding America joined with the American Farm Bureau Federation of America on Monday to call on the U.S. Department of Agriculture for support in expanding partnerships and working relationships between the two sectors.
“As you are aware, food banks are under tremendous pressure to meet the skyrocketing demand,” the organizations wrote in a joint letter. “At the same time, however, we are seeing literally tons of agricultural goods being discarded because of the shutdown of so much of the economy.
“The unfortunate consequences include public panic about an adequate food supply and plunging prices for farm produce.”
To help meet the country’s pressing needs, the organizations recommended implementing a voucher program between farmers and food banks, which they said would allow them to do business together directly, instead of going through the usual process that involves third-party distributors, packing plants and possible long-distance travel.
When reached by email, USDA Secretary Sonny Perdue reiterated to TODAY that this is a challenging time for Americans and commended individuals who have stepped up to help provide food to those in need. The agency head did not directly address the letter or proposed voucher recommendation from Feeding America and the American Farm Bureau Federation.
“USDA is maximizing our services and flexibilities to ensure children and others who need food can get it during this Coronavirus epidemic,” Perdue said in an emailed statement.
The jarring contrast between the simultaneous need and waste of food highlights the challenges many producers are facing as they work to adapt supply chains while meeting the shift in demands triggered by measures put in place to stem the spread of the coronavirus.
“It is confusing, certainly when you see all that. That shift in headlines at one time,” Brian Coffey, an associate professor of agricultural economics at Kansas State University, told TODAY.
Coffey explained that we are now witnessing the truly complex nature of modern food supply chains at work, particularly the division between products packaged and distributed for the food service industry — places like restaurants, school cafeterias and entertainment venues which handle large volumes of food — versus goods meant for at-home consumption.
“The reality is when you have a disruption of this size, it is quite difficult in a lot of cases to pivot from one of those supply chains to another," he said.
To understand the complexities of the modern supply chain model, one can look to the various ways corn is used today. A corn farmer in Iowa will likely sell his crop to a (far away) distribution center, which then creates various shipments to a variety of retailers: some of that corn will be processed into corn syrup at one factory, some of that corn will be sold to a feedlot, where it will eventually wind up as cattle feed, some will be sold to snack manufacturers and some will simply be sold fresh.
The majority of big distributor accounts belong to retailers that make a lot of food for a lot of people (restaurants, hotels or schools). Distributors have been scrambling to set up new accounts with grocers who have seen a soaring recent demand, but the goods consumers want often differ vastly from what's historically sold to bigger retailers. That means adjustments need to be made at other levels of the supply chain, further slowing down the figurative farm-to-table process.
Paul Zieminsky, executive vice president of global innovation at the National Dairy Council, told TODAY one of the main challenges the dairy industry is dealing with is figuring out how to take milk used for one sector and move it to other places in the network. As soon as the pandemic began to disrupt the market last month, the industry immediately started looking at how to move milk to organizations in need, like food banks. But it’s all still a work in progress.
While consumer demands shifted quickly as people rushed to their local supermarkets to stock up on goods, the agriculture sector's supply chain is much less nimble. With schools shut down, for example, the dairy producers have had to find new buyers for the small cartons of milk typically distributed to cafeterias. Another option farmers are working through is reorganizing production processes to use the milk for other purposes, like making cheese or yogurt, but that requires additional labor which may not be available now.
There are also challenges cropping up in the livestock sector, with the spread of coronavirus forcing meat processing facilities to shut down. Even temporary closures will create problems, leaving farmers stuck with a glut of livestock and no plants to break down or package that meat, Virginia Tech agribusiness professor Olga Isengildina-Massa told TODAY.
“That would be very difficult for our livestock producers to handle,” she said. “They have to find a way to move these animals and, in a lot of cases, they may have to do it at a loss.”
Still, in the midst of fighting the pandemic, it’s hard to know what the full impact will be on the agriculture industry, or what type of long-lasting changes may come as a result.
Coffey said the crisis is already serving as a much-needed reminder of just how much labor it takes at every level to keep America's food supply chains running.
“I think the fact that we don't sit around and normally talk and think about this stuff is an indication of just how well these supply chains work in normal times,” he said. “What we've been reminded of here is when we change one little thing in these supply chains, so many other things are affected.”


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A social networking site that caters to an older crowd is helping the open-source Apache Web server widen its market share lead over Microsoft's Internet Information Services software, according to market research firm Netcraft.
England-based Netcraft said Apache was being used to run 80.2 million Web sites worldwide as of the end of February, giving it a 50.9 per cent market share vs. 35.6 per cent for IIS, which is a bundled component of Windows Server. The next most popular Web server is Google's, with 5.2 per cent of the market, Netcraft said.
Apache is a longtime favorite of Web developers that has ruled the Web server roost since 1996, by Netcraft's counting. Its dominance peaked in November 2005, when Apache held 71 per cent of the market -- 3.5 times the 20.2 per cent share that IIS had. That caused commentators such as Oracle CEO Larry Ellison to declare that IIS had been "wiped off the face of the earth" by Apache.
But Apache's market share steadily eroded over the past two years, largely due to the growing popularity of Microsoft's Windows Live Spaces blogging platform and Google's rival Blogger technology, according to Netcraft.
In the eyes of some open-source advocates, the market share gains by IIS during that period also resulted from some illegitimate tactics on the part of Microsoft -- for instance, allegedly paying large domain name resellers to "park unused domain names in IIS instead of Apache.


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Why it matters: Though best known for its graphics software, Adobe has expanded significantly into the digital business and commerce area in recent years. In 2009, it agreed to pay $1.9 billion to acquire Omniture.
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THC products become legal in Minnesota starting Friday
MOORHEAD, Minn. (KVRR) – A new Minnesota law taking effect Friday allows people 21 and older to buy edibles and beverages that contain a limited amount of THC, the ingredient in marijuana that creates a high.
Edibles, like gummies, and beverages can contain up to five milligrams of THC per serving and 50 milligrams per package under the law. Five milligrams is about half the standard dose found in recreational marijuana products in other states.
Under the law, new THC products must be derived from legally certified hemp, but industry experts say five milligrams will produce the same effect whether it’s derived from hemp or marijuana.
Cannabis advocates say they’re surprised the law passed the Minnesota Legislature given Senate Republicans’ opposition to recreational marijuana legalization.


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Momentum is starting to return to the New York hospitality market in response to Fred Dixon, chief government of NYC & Firm.
Talking on the World Journey & Tourism Council (WTTC) World Summit, he defined: “It has been an extremely difficult yr for us all, and for city locations specifically.
“Our energy, density, that power, turned a legal responsibility.
“However we now have realized to dwell with it, to handle it.
“The previous four-to-five weeks we now have seen demand start to rebuild, led by leisure journey – we are actually above 50 per cent occupancy amongst up to date stock – optimism is rising each day.”
Dixon, nevertheless, defined round a 3rd of lodge rooms in New York stay closed.
The town went into the pandemic with round 124,000 lodge rooms, with 88,000 presently in operation.
Authorities count on the determine to rebound to round 118,000 by the tip of this yr – that means the everlasting lack of round 6,000 rooms as a consequence of Covid-19.
Dixon added: “Now we have found that we now have superb out of doors areas that we now have underutilised in New York, and we now have taken again lots of our streets for pedestrians.
“We’re constructing a café tradition, bringing an power we now have not seen for a long-time.”
NYC & Firm earlier unveiled plans for $30 million promoting marketing campaign, to debut in June, designed to advertise the reopening of the town.
New York’s official vacation spot advertising and marketing organisation predicts 36.4 million individuals will go to the town this yr, recovering greater than 50 per cent of the document 66.6 million guests that got here in 2019.
Dixon concluded: “Journey goes to be a coiled spring; it’ll rebound shortly.
“We have to talk clearly and emit positivity – individuals are searching for permission to journey and they’re able to go.”
The highly-anticipated WTTC World Summit, organised in partnership with the federal government of Quintana Roo, is being held in Cancun till April twenty seventh.
The showcase seeks to place itself because the main tourism occasion within the calendar, the place the highest-level trade leaders meet with key authorities representatives to behave on the most important points throughout the worldwide agenda.
This yr, the summit might be exploring the challenges forward and offering a platform for the restoration of the sector.
Discover out extra on the official web site.


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WALTHAM, MA, Sept. 23, 2008 – RailRunner, N.A., Inc., a developer of innovative container intermodal transport systems, today announced that Daniel P. Renzella has joined the company as chief financial officer. Mr. Renzella has 25 years’ experience in directing the financial operations of small, high-growth companies, most recently as CFO of Azure Dynamics Corp., a developer and manufacturer of electric and hybrid electric vehicles and components for the commercial transportation market.
“Dan brings a wealth of very relevant experience to our executive team,” said RailRunner CEO Charles Foskett. “He is very familiar with the challenges of the transportation industry and he knows how to steer a growing company to financial success.”
Mr. Renzella served as CFO for Woburn, MA -based Solectria from 2002 until its merger with Azure in 2005. He then served as CFO for Azure from shortly after the merger until the company relocated its headquarters to the Detroit area earlier this year. Solectria was a privately held design and manufacturing firm specializing in electric and hybrid vehicles and subsystems. Azure is a publicly traded company with a market capitalization of about $200 million focusing on commercial delivery and courier fleets.
“Although it is in a different part of the transportation industry, RailRunner offers the same sort of dynamic opportunity that I found at Solectria and Azure,” said Mr. Renzella. “It is a technology-driven company helping to reduce transportation costs, while reducing fuel use and pollution for shippers around the world.”
Previous to his position at Solectria, Mr. Renzella spent nearly 20 years in financial management for aerospace and technology companies. He received his bachelor’s degree from Brandeis University and his MBA from Bentley College.
RailRunner (www.railrunner.com) is an innovative rail products and services company bringing a new Road-Ready intermodal rail product to shippers worldwide. RailRunner’s worldwide patented container-carrying bi-modal system is designed to quickly; simply and efficiently shift chassis and container to and from highway to rail and back. With RailRunner’s low-investment Terminal Anywhere™ technology, no flatcars, pocket or well cars, huge cranes, high-value lift equipment or expensive terminal infrastructure are involved. Road-Ready trailers or chassis extend trucking or container services to markets and locations not previously reachable, improving shipping efficiency, lowering fuel cost, and reducing traffic congestion and air pollution, thus supporting environmental goals of transferring freight transport from road to more environmental-friendly rail. The company is privately held and based in Waltham, MA.
For further RailRunner press information contact:


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Small Businesses Are Falling Down Online. Surveys conducted by GoDaddy Inc. revealed that small businesses need to meet the expectations of Gen Zers and Millennials regarding online experiences, particularly around payments. Separate surveys were conducted with consumers and small businesses in the United States. For demographic purposes, Millennials are generally defined as individuals born between the early 1980s and mid-1990s, while Generation Z (GN Zers) encompasses those born between the mid-1990s and early 2010s.
According to the surveys, seventy-three percent (73%) of Gen Zers and eighty-three percent (83%) of Millennials consider a buy online, pickup in-store (BOPIS) option to be important; however, only thirty-four percent (34%) of small businesses offer this feature.
Another notable finding is that fifty-five percent (55%) of Gen Zers and sixty-one percent (61%) of Millennials believe it is crucial to be able to make purchases directly from a business’s website; however, nearly a third (28%) of small businesses do not have an online store.
Tell Your Story
Furthermore, small businesses that share their personal stories online are more likely to attract buyers. Approximately sixty-five percent (65%) of consumers state they are more inclined to purchase if they know the business’s narrative. Unfortunately, one in five small businesses provides these stories on their websites.
Is Your Online Experience Really Convenient?
There is a disconnect between small businesses and Gen Zers and Millennials. While ninety-one percent (91%) of small businesses claim they have a convenient online experience for customers, only twenty-one percent (21%) of consumers and nineteen percent (19%) of Gen Zers agree. Interestingly, seventy-three percent (73%) of Gen Zers and seventy-five percent (75%) of Millennials state that they would shop more at small businesses if offered the same shopping and buying convenience as the larger chain stores.
Lightboxes Reduce Friction
Casey Leloux, CEO of payments provider IntelliPay, says offering a payment experience like Amazon is easy using a lightbox. Lightboxes are pop-ups that float over an existing web page and have the same payment information layout as a credit card. Eliminating a lot of friction in the online experience.
According to Amy Jennette, GoDaddy’s trends expert, small businesses must meet these influential consumer groups’ convenience expectations to avoid losing out on potential business opportunities. As Gen Zers and Millennials continue evolving their preferences beyond what has traditionally been the norm, small businesses must adapt accordingly.
In summary, the surveys indicate prioritizing convenience is essential for small businesses to thrive as Millennials and Gen Zers increasingly replace baby boomers in today’s market. Recognizing and adapting to the changing preferences of younger generations, small businesses can position themselves for success in an increasingly competitive landscape.


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BAFFLED shoppers have spotted Cadbury Easter chocolate on shelves five months early.
It may not even be December yet but Creme Eggs and Mini Eggs have already gone on sale at some shops across the country.
Some shoppers said they were "confused but delighted" at the early appearance of the springtime seasonal favourites.
But others are annoyed that the treats are already on sale in November, one month before Christmas, when there are still five months to go until Easter.
One confused chocolate fan tweeted: "So Mary hasn’t told Joseph she’s pregnant yet, but Creme Eggs for Easter are already in stores. PS wrap them up as Christmas Baubles."
Shoppers on social media said displays of Creme Eggs have popped up at newsagents, convenience shops and even a Post Office around the country.
Major supermarkets, including Tesco and Asda, are not yet selling the Easter treats.
A Cadbury spokesman said that the firm's Easter treats go on sale at major retailers from January 1.
But he explained: "As some stores know that people can’t wait to get their hands on Easter products, they may decide to stock the product before Christmas.”
The Easter displays also reveal that last year's popular white Creme Egg treasure hunt is back again - and the top prize is even bigger this Easter.
White chocolate versions of the fondant-filled chocolate eggs will once again be hidden in normal Creme Egg wrappers and fans have to find them to claim a cash prize.
This year, the top prize is a huge £10,000 - up from £2,000 last year.
Last January, supermarket staff were accused of unwrapping Creme Eggs before they went on sale in search of a £2,000 white chocolate one.
We've asked Cadbury for the details of this year's white chocolate Creme Egg hunt and we will update this story when we hear back.
More on Money
In more appropriate festive news, Cadbury has launched a secret Santa postal service and you can get your hands on a free bar of chocolate.
Meanwhile, Sainsbury's and Home Bargains are selling unicorn chocolate for Christmas this year.
If you want boozy treats this yuletide, then we've rounded up the best treats containing a hit of Baileys.
We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online Money team? Email us at email@example.com or call 0207 78 24516. Don't forget to join the Sun Money's Facebook group for the latest bargains and money-saving advice.


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For Spierenburg, today, it’s all about exploring and illuminating the different fields of living and interiors from a variety of perspectives. That’s why the imm cologne serves as a multifaceted platform to bring exhibitors and visitors into intensive dialogue away from the exhibition halls. And in future, a combination of both face-to-face events as well as digital tools will allow the community to exchange ideas throughout the year.
For the full new experience, however, it’s not only the Pure space that will be getting a makeover, the Home area will also be expanded as an industry business platform in order to provide answers around topics such as digitalisation and logistics, among others. In short, the imm cologne is ready to take on the future, and the industry is too. Matthias Pollmann’s forecast is correspondingly confident: ‘The 2023 fair promises to be a festival of reunions, new encounters and new beginnings.’


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Toyota suspends domestic factory operations after suspected cyber attack
11:45 JST, March 1, 2022
TOKYO (Reuters) — Toyota Motor Corp. said it will suspend domestic factory operations on Tuesday, losing around 13,000 cars of output, after a supplier of plastic parts and electronic components was hit by a suspected cyber attack.
No information was immediately available about who was behind the possible attack or the motive. The attack comes just after Japan joined Western allies in clamping down on Russia after it invaded Ukraine, although it was not clear if the attack was at all related.
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said his government would investigate the incident and whether Russia was involved.
“It is difficult to say whether this has anything to do with Russia before making thorough checks,” he told reporters.
Kishida on Sunday announced that Japan would join the United States and other countries in blocking some Russian banks from accessing the SWIFT international payment system. He also said Japan would give Ukraine $100 million in emergency aid.
A spokesperson at the supplier, Kojima Industries Corp, said it appeared to have been the victim of some kind of cyber attack.
A spokesperson from Toyota described it as a “supplier system failure.”
The company does not yet know if the halt at its 14 plants in Japan, which account for about a third of its global production, will last more than a day, the spokesperson added.
Some plants operated by Toyota’s affiliates Hino Motors and Daihatsu are included in the shutdown.
Toyota, which has experienced cyber attacks in the past, is a pioneer of Just-In-Time manufacturing with parts that arrive from suppliers going straight to the production line rather than being stockpiled.
State actors have launched cyberattacks on Japanese corporations in the past, including an attack on Sony Corp in 2014, which exposed internal data and shut down computer systems.
The United States blamed North Korea for that attack, which came after Sony released “The Interview,” a comedy about a plot to assassinate the regime’s leader Kim Jong Un.
Toyota’s production halt comes as the world’s biggest automaker is already tackling supply chain disruptions around the world caused by the COVID pandemic, which has forced it and other carmakers to curb output.
Toyota this month also saw some production stopped in North America due to parts shortages caused by the Canadian trucker protests.
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Doowe Gas, THLD Group sign agreement to promote autogas fuel in Nigeria
Autogas is the LPG used as fuel in internal combustion engines in vehicles and some generators.
Doowe Gas – Nigeria's largest online retailer for cooking gas (liquefied petroleum gas) cylinders, LPG pressure vessels and skid plants – has announced a partnership with THLD Group, a Nigerian indigenous alternative energy solutions company. The aim of the partnership is to commence the conversation of petrol-engine vehicles to autogas-powered vehicles across the country.
The agreement, which was signed by James Atiti, CEO/Co-founder of Doowe Gas, and Olajuwan Olusegun, Managing Director/CEO of THLD Group, also aims to promote the sale and use of autogas as a sustainable motor fuel, which not only reduces greenhouse gas emissions, but also has the advantage of fuel economy and lower maintenance costs.
Autogas is the LPG used as fuel in internal combustion engines in vehicles and some generators. According to a statement by Doowe Gas, autogas is 40 per cent cheaper than conventional fuels. It is the world's most widely-used alternative fuel. The World Liquefied Petroleum Gas Association (WLPGA) says more than nine million vehicles in 38 countries currently operate on autogas.
The two companies said THLD’s autogas system is provided by STAG, which is one of the leading technologies in the world in the commercialization of autogas. The companies also said the agreement demonstrates each company’s commitment to developing more sustainable services and protecting the environment.
“THLD Group has come to Nigeria at the right time,” said Olusegun, THLD Group’s Managing Director/CEO. “The present economic recession has necessitated Nigerians to look for alternative but cheaper means of generating power via generator sets and fuelling of their vehicles. There is no better time than now for Nigerians vis-à-vis the governments and corporate bodies to embrace this innovation.’’
His Imperial Majesty, the Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Babatunde Adeyeye Ogunwusi (Ojaja 2), endorsed the partnership and initiative. The traditional ruler encouraged Nigerians to consider the introduction of the conversion technology as an opportunity to learn.
Doowe Gas has over 15 retail autogas stations in Lagos alone. The company's activities span across the LPG value chain, including LPG bulk supply/distribution, LPG plant construction and installation, logistics solutions and integrated project management.
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On Thursday, HMD Global announced the launch of Nokia 5.3 and Nokia 1.3 at its online event. The Nokia 5.3 marks the successor of the Nokia 5.1 as well as falls into the mid-range price segment. At the same time, the Nokia 1.3, is basically a budget smartphone that comes with Android Go under the hood.
Features and Specifications
Talking about the Nokia 5.3 runs Android 10 and packs a 6.55-inch HD+ Dual-gate’ display along with a 2.5D glass on top as well as have a waterdrop notch. The smartphone comprises of a resolution of 720×1600 pixels along with an aspect ratio of 20:9.
The Nokia 5.3 on the other hand, is powered by an octa-core Snapdragon 665 mobile platform, that has been coupled with three different options of 3GB, 4GB, and 6GB RAM. The phone comes with two storage options such as 64GB and 128GB, with support for a microSD card of up to 512GB. In addition to that, Nokia 5.3 also comes with unlimited Google Drive storage.
As far as the camera is concerned, the Nokia 5.3 comprises of four rear cameras, which includes a 13-megapixel f/1.8 sensor, a 5-megapixel ultra-wide-angle sensor with FOV of 118 degrees, and a 2-megapixel macro sensor, as well as a 2-megapixel depth sensor.
Coming to the front camera, it includes an 8-megapixel front-facing camera along with an aperture of f/2.0. In addition, the camera app comes with features like Night mode, Portrait mode, and AI Scene Detection. The Nokia 5.3 also gets a rear-mounted fingerprint sensor and is also backed by a giant 4000mAh battery.
The Nokia 1.3 runs on Android 10 (Go edition) and comes with a 5.71-inch HD+ display with a screen resolution of 720×1520 pixels as well as an aspect ratio of 19:9. The phone is also powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 215 processor that has been coupled with 1GB of RAM and 16GB of internal storage, which can be further expanded up to 400GB through a microSD card.
Coming to the Nokia 1.3 camera, it includes an 8-megapixel autofocus rear camera as well as a 5-megapixel fixed-focus selfie camera. However, you will get a Google Assistant button on the Nokia 1.3 but the fingerprint sensor at the same time is not available. Powering the smartphone, the Nokia 1.3 comes with a giant 3000mAh battery that charges at 5W.
Pricing of Nokia 5.3 & Nokia 1.3
The Nokia 5.3 is available in three different storage options but so far only the price of 4GB/64GB variant has been declared and it comes with a price tag of EUR 189. The smartphone, on the other hand, comes in Cyan, Sand, as well as Charcoal colors, and is going to be available in the month of April, internationally.
At the same time, the Nokia 1.3 is also going to be made accessible globally as well in April. The smartphone will costs EUR 95 and is available in three different color options such as Cyan, Sand, and Charcoal.


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The current Samsung Gear 2 smartwatch needs to be connected to a phone in order to make calls but that may be about to change. An upgraded version two of the Gear 2, said to be on the drawing board, will have its own SIM for making calls as a stand-alone device.
Samsung and South Korean Telecom are allegedly in talks, according to The Korea Herald, to create this updated version of the Gear 2. The new model would feature a universal subscriber identity module, or USIM, capable of making calls and supporting a 3G data connection.
LG released its Watch Phone in 2009 which was capable of stand-alone call functions. But while this sounds like a great idea for Samsung we imagine the battery life on the watch will be a bit of a problem.
Thanks to the 3G connection and the Gear 2's built-in camera users would, technically, also be able to hold video calls using just their watch. Inspector Gadget would be proud.
The Gear 2 hasn't even hit shelves yet so we're not expecting this USIM toting version to reach the UK soon. In fact, since these alleged talks are with SK Telecom, it may not even land outside of Korea. But with Google's Android Wear phones on their way we've got plenty to keep us excited.


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Our Black Friday 2014 countdown shows 184 days until Black Friday 2014. Black Friday sales really start days earlier though. The first Black Friday 2014 Sales are again expected to start at the beginning of November.
When is Black Friday 2014? Black Friday 2014 is on November 28th. This is again very late in the month. Black Friday 2017 will be for instance on November 24. Last year Black Friday was even a day later. Again Black Friday retailers will have a whole month to market Black Friday 2014 deals. We will again bring you news, reviews of all the Black Friday 2014 deals and will guide you to the hottest bargains.
Don't Miss: The best Deal on a new Samsung Galaxy S8
The Black Friday sales event is bigger than ever and extends into the steadily growing Cyber Monday sales event. Cyber Monday 2014 will be on December 1, 2014.
Check out the lists of the best Black Friday 2013 Deals the best Cyber Monday 2013 Deals, to set your expections to which deals you can expect this year. It is not clear yet if we will see any new hot product trends for 2014. So far it looks like we will again focus on TVs, Tablets and smartphones. Last year the new Xbox One and PS4 did not play a role in Black Friday sales. That will change this year. We will see great Sony PS4 Black Friday 2014 deals and Xbox One Black Friday 2014 Deals.
Our Black Friday 2014 Countdown stands at 184 days to go, but time flies.


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When coworking meets retail
Coworking companies are turning to non-traditional working spaces in order to grow and reach employees who may need a less expensive alternative to shared office space, and, in the process, turning retail into an unlikely ally.
Telecommuting is gaining popularity with both businesses and employees, and, often, remote workers turn to shared office space, or coworking space, for its office amenities and sense of community. According to The New York Times, the number of employed workers in the U.S. who spent at least some time working remotely has increased four percent between 2012 and 2016 to now make up 43 percent. As a result of a growing virtual workforce, coworking is undergoing explosive growth. Coworking companies are turning to non-traditional working spaces in order to grow and reach employees who may need a less expensive alternative to shared office space, and, in the process, turning retail into an unlikely ally.
It’s expected that more than one million people globally will work in approximately 14,000 shared work spaces in 2017. By 2020, coworking is expected to balloon to 26,000 spaces and 3.8 million remote workers. One of the limitations, especially for freelance or self-employed virtual workers, is the cost. Coworking space averages approximately $170 a month in the U.S., and that can price freelances out of the market.
Companies like Spacious and Reset offer a less expensive option by pairing with restaurants that typically only offer dinner service. Since restaurants that do not offer non-dinner service often have large, empty spaces during the day, both the startup and the restaurant capitalize on that unused space. During the day, virtual workers may use the tables and treat themselves to coffee and tea, Wi-Fi, power and the ambiance of a café versus an office. Once dinner service prep begins for the dining room, the workday is over, typically around 5 or 5:30 p.m.
Spacious is a startup founded by Preston Pesek and Chris Smothers that currently operates in New York City, where approximately 2,000 restaurants sit empty during the day. Virtual workers can be alone or in groups, and Spacious can also work with groups on private meetings. For $129 a month, virtual workers can get unlimited access to 11 Spacious partner restaurants in addition to having one free guest per hour. They also offer a reservation-free day pass for $20. Spacious features include coffee, snacks, Wi-Fi, work-friendly music, a host to take care of members and a digital platform for check-ins and payments.
“In a city where rent is such a meaningful component to a retailer’s expenses, and, therefore, its ultimate success or failure, Spacious is allowing restauranteurs to create a new revenue stream from their space during the daytime, when the space would otherwise have been vacant,” said Scott Aiese, JLL Managing Director in JLL’s New York City office. “It’s a clear evolution of the sharing economy and analogous to an accountant and a bartender sharing an apartment.”
Restaurants and members aren’t the only ones who have taken to what Spacious has to offer. Three venture capital firms, Lerer Hippeau Ventures, BoxGroup and SV Angel; MetaProp NYC, an accelerator; and private investors participated in a round of funding Scott Aiese last year, and the company is looking to expand to Boston and San Francisco.
The trend is also taking off in smaller markets like Austin, Texas, where restaurant coworking startup Reset operates. Founded by Siri Chakka and Silva Gentchev looking for a solution to their mutual struggle to find suitable workspaces in the city, Reset is, according to its website, “a way for people to experience new spaces in their local communities and get their work done – without breaking the bank.”
Reset charges as low as $3 per hour but have a flexible pricing model that ranges from day, month and even unlimited pricing. Currently in three locations, Reset has options that include teams and even students.
Shared workspace in restaurant and retail space combines current employment trends with commercial real estate. The situation can be a win-win for property owners, coworking companies and a growing virtual workforce.


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The deputy manager of a Lynn supermarket took to the stage with celebrities during an award ceremony.
Jeff Ireson, who works at the Sainsbury’s store on the Hardwick estate, was able to present the best skincare award during the supermarket giant’s annual beauty awards.
Fellow Lynn workers Karoline Irving and Alex Garner also handed over awards during the event, which was held in London and presented by Strictly Come Dancing’s Claudia Winkleman.
Mr Ireson said: “We were all really excited once we found out we had been chosen to attend the beauty awards but it has been even better than we thought it would be.”
Mr Ireson is pictured above at the ceremony with Claudia Winkleman, right.


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Blog: ABF among winners in industry HR awards
Dean Best | 19 November 2012
Allied Bakeries' Gareth Evans (r) picks up his award from yourfoodjob.com general manager Tony Allen
Associated British Foods' Allied Bakeries has been recognised for its work in recruitment at an awards ceremony held by industry careers portal yourfoodjob.com.
The Kingsmill firm was named "most desirable employer" at the inaugural yourfoodjob.com People Awards, held in Manchester earlier this month.
Michael Staniland, director at Focus Management, the company behind yourfoodjob.com, said those that worked in recruitment in the food and drink sectors should be recognised.
"With a turnover of over GBP70bn and half a million employees, it's the single largest manufacturing sector in the country, so it's time to applaud the serious accomplishments achieved by the sector’s top professionals," he told attendees at the ceremony.
Other winners included Feathers Brookbank for its work with Morrisons and digital agency Pink Squid for its venture with Kraft Foods' on graduate recruitment.
For a full list of the winners, click here.
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“If you look at the platforms they don’t put anywhere near enough effort into supporting their users because it’s just a cost to them and they like making profits,” he said. “We’re failing at every level when it comes to micro and small businesses, who rely on these channels.”
Phair said it was relatively easy for platforms to reclaim hacked accounts, but they were unwilling to resource the teams required to do it.
The phishing emails are often sent during the early evening and on weekends when the recipients are likely to be less vigilant.
For Michelle and Craig Tindale, the operators of True North Candle Collective, based in Noosa on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast, the message came as they were preparing to go out for dinner.
Like Spark, Tindale had clicked on a link in an email claiming to be from Instagram that claimed her business page had violated copyright laws.
After weeks of unsuccessfully attempting to reclaim the account, the couple gave up and opened a new profile.
“I’ve always said if my name was Kim Kardashian or Chris Hemsworth, I guarantee this would have been dealt with much quicker,” Tindale said.
A spokeswoman for Meta said users could verify emails by accessing a support inbox, which contained all of Meta’s official correspondence about their account.
“Online phishing techniques are not unique to Meta, and we will never request your password via email or direct messages,” she said.
Cybersecurity expert Guy Yunghanns said users failing to secure their online accounts were collectively “fueling this global criminal industry”.
Australians lost almost $300 million in scams since the beginning of the year, with phishing through messages and phone calls being the most widely reported scam nationwide, according to data from the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission.
In a bid to address rising rates of online crime, AFP last year established Cyber Command, a specialized unit that investigates matters such as compromised business emails and ransomware attacks.
AFP Assistant Commissioner Justine Gough said the unit had prevented millions of dollars from falling into the hands of criminal syndicates but added that ransomware attacks were probably underreported.
Gough said that in the same way that people needed to lock their doors and windows, they also needed to take steps to protect information online.
“The reason phishing scams are so prolific is that that’s a way to open a door to obtain personal banking details and steal money,” she said. “We really do need to ensure that we’ve got the hygiene or the discipline in the use of our devices and technology.”
This includes backing up files, using sophisticated passwords, and enabling multifactor authentication – an electronic verification method that needs two or more pieces of evidence of users’ ties to the account – on devices.
Other ways to avoid becoming the victim of a phishing scam include logging onto social media platforms using the app or typing the URL into a browser.
The Morning Edition newsletter is our guide to the day’s most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up here.


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US NEWS FEEDS
Patch.com The Chesterfield City Council voted earlier this month to allow temporary seasonal decorations, including inflatable pumpkins and Christmas trees, at the Taubman Prestige Outlets mall. The displays are intended to advertise a local pumpkin patch and ...
Chesterfield Missouri - Google News
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Chesterfield City Council Says Seasonal Signs Are OK - Patch.com


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On Thursday, Nov. 23, 2017, as many families shovel platefuls of turkey into their mouths, in the back of their minds they’ll be thinking of one thing: those must-have Black Friday deals. Still in their turkey comas, they rush to stores later that night or the day after to score the deals they’ve been drooling over.
Amidst the many items scheduled to go on sale for the busiest shopping day of the year are the essentials that every video gamer needs. From consoles to accessories, shoppers can see discounts as high as 50%, so long as they’re looking in the right location.
For the best deals in video gaming, there four stores tend to offer the largest discounts and carry the biggest stock.
Starting at 6 p.m. on Nov. 23, 2017, Target will be offering “doorbuster” deals on software and hardware including $100 off the PlayStation 4 1TB console, $14.99 off the newly released Call of Duty: WWII, and $100 off the PlayStation VR headset.
Additional exclusive offers include savings on PS4 and Xbox One wireless controllers, PlayStation Network and Microsoft store subscription cards, the limited-edition Legend of Zelda Nintendo 2DS, and games like Resident Evil 7, Watch Dogs 2, Assassin’s Creed Origins, and Wolfenstein II.
As with Target, Walmart will also be offering $100 off the PlayStation 4 1TB console but will also be discounting the Microsoft Xbox One S 500GB console to $189.99. Rather than offer the PlayStation VR headset by itself, Walmart’s deal is $100 off the bundle include the PlayStation camera and GT Sport.
Call of Duty: WWII will be $1.89 cheaper than at Target and games like Mortal Kombat XL, Grand Theft Auto V, The Evil Within 2, and 1-2-Switch will also receive hefty sales, some costing as little as $12 each.
Walmart locations will open at 6 p.m. on Nov. 23.
Best Buy locations will be getting the jump on Target and Walmart by opening at 5 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day. The store will also be selling copies of Call of Duty: WWII for $39.99, just over $3 cheaper than Walmart’s offer.
Best Buy stores will also be selling the Xbox One S 500GB console for $189.99 by itself or in a bundle with Madden NFL 18 for $229.99. Astro gaming headsets will be on sale for up to 25% while Turtle Beach headsets are marked up to $50 off.
Source: Best Buy
With the purchase of Star Wars Battlefront II, Best Buy stores are giving away a free Darth Maul POP Funko figure while supplies last. Though the Nintendo Switch isn’t on sale at any store, Best Buy’s Black Friday sale will mark essential accessories down to $19.99.
Though GameStop has yet to officially released its Black Friday ad, as with prior years, the ad leaked online on Nov. 16. The go-to retailer for gamers, GameStop stores will open on Thursday at 4 p.m. Included in the store’s offers the PlayStation 4 Pro 1TB at $50 off, an Xbox One S 1TB console with Middle-Earth Shadow of War for $299.99, and a $50 Gamester gift card with the purchase of HTC Vive VR.
Games like Wolfenstein II, The Evil Within 2, and Nier Automata are on sale for $24.99 while Fallout 4, Overwatch, Yakuza 0, and Persona 5 are marked at $29.99.
Other Stores to Shop
Beyond those four core stores, the following locations also have limited video game offers running on Black Friday.
When leaving the house isn’t an option – or a desire – Amazon is a reliable go-to source for Black Friday deals. With discounted keyboards and mice, headsets, and gaming accessories, Amazon is the ideal alternative for items not typically carried in an abundant variety in stores.


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Buick Achievers Awareness Initiative Launches with iPhone Introduction
DETROIT and BALTIMORE Buick and mobile ad partner Millennial Media today launched a five-week initiative in conjunction with Verizons launch of the Apple iPhone to raise awareness of the newly announced Buick Achievers Scholarship program.
Buick Achievers is a $4.5 million annual GM Foundation-funded scholarship program designed to recognize and reward 1,100 students who demonstrate excellence in both the community and the classroom. As one of the nations largest scholarship programs, it will provide 100 outstanding students who major in the science, technology, engineering, mathematics, marketing, business administration or other related fields with up to $25,000 a year, for up to four years. It also will provide 1,000 students with $2,000 scholarships, also renewable for up to four years.
To launch the new scholarship program, Buick will promote Buick
Achievers via an exclusive advertising campaign across Millennial
Medias network of mobile websites and applications on the Verizon
The goal of Buick Achievers Scholarship
program is to inspire, celebrate and enable human achievement, said
Craig Bierley, Buick director of advertising and promotions.
Were using innovative opportunities like this to educate potential
scholarship applicants nationwide.
Doug Reid, senior analyst, mobility and consumer technologies at Stifel Nicolaus, estimates that Verizon Wireless will sell approximately 11 million iPhones in 2011.
We are thrilled to partner with Buick to launch the first Apple iPhone campaign as the device debuts with Verizon Wireless, said Marcus Startzel, senior vice president of sales, Millennial Media. This strategic campaign will enable Buick to connect with more members of the community and tap into the social and viral aspects of mobile, as the highly engaged subscribers are introduced to the long-awaited Verizon iPhone.
The Buick Achievers Scholarship Program is the latest example of GM Foundation education initiatives to invest in the youth of America. The GM Foundation has provided more than $26 million in education related initiatives since 2005.
Note to Editors/Reporters: Screen shots and video demo of the
ads are available via Millennial Media or Starcoms press contacts
listed in this announcement. Data on the mobile advertising
industry is available via Millennial Media.
Buick is a modern luxury brand offering vehicles with sculpted designs, luxurious interiors with thoughtful personal technologies, along with responsive-yet-efficient performance. Buick is attracting new customers with its portfolio of award-winning models, including the Enclave crossover, LaCrosse sedan, Regal sport sedan and forthcoming all-new 2012 Buick Verano compact luxury sedan. Buick is the fastest growing automotive brand in the U.S., and remains a best-selling brand in China, with continuing record growth. Learn more about Buick cars and crossovers at www.buick.com , on Twitter @buick or at www.facebook.com/buick.
About the GM Foundation
Since its inception in 1976, the GM Foundation has donated hundreds of millions of dollars to deserving American charities, educational organizations and to disaster relief efforts worldwide. The GM Foundation focuses on supporting Education, Health and Human Services, Environment and Energy and Community Development initiatives, mainly in the communities where GM operates. Funding of the GM Foundation comes solely from GM. The last contribution to the GM Foundation was made in 2001.
About Starcom USA
Starcom (www.starcomworldwide.com) is a world-renowned media agency that simplifies human understanding to deliver meaningful brand experiences. Starcom does this by creating the Space for Ideas, in peoples' minds and in the world, via a unique approach that gives the agency an unparalleled advantage. With over 1,200 employees and an estimated $8.5 billion in billings in the U.S., Starcom helps get the right consumers attention and delivers brand-building results for many of the world's leading companies. Starcom is part of Publicis Groupe (Euronext Paris: FR0000130577) the worlds third-largest communications group, the worlds second-largest media counsel and buying group, and a global leader in digital and health care communications. With around-the-world activities spanning more than 104 countries on five continents, the Groupe employs as many as 44,000 professionals. With sister agencies MediaVest, ZenithOptimedia, Denuo, Digitas and Razorfish, Starcom is a member of Publicis Groupe's VivaKi, a global digital knowledge and resource center that leverages the combined scale of the autonomous operations of its members to develop new services, new tools and new partnerships.
About Millennial Media, Inc.
Millennial Media is the proven leader in mobile advertising. With the largest mobile media audience in the U.S., Millennial Media uniquely offers brand advertisers the only set of specific, scalable audiences. Our ability to reach, target and engage consumers is unparalleled. As an innovative technology leader, our mobile decisioning, serving, and mediation platforms are powering some of the largest companies in the media business today. The company is committed to growing the mobile advertising marketplace by becoming the preferred partner to all advertisers seeking to reach mobile consumers, all publishers and developers seeking to maximize ad revenue, and all mobile operators seeking to further monetize their networks. The company has received numerous industry awards including the 2010 OnMedia Top Private Company in Digital Media, the 2010 Stevie for the Most Innovative Company, and Paul Palmieri, president and CEO, was named the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year for Technology in Maryland. For more information, please visit http://www.millennialmedia.com, join our Facebook community, or follow us on Twitter @millennialmedia.


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The e-commerce industry had a significant effect on customers as seen with Amazon’s rapid growth.
Admit it, ordering stuff online isn’t just convenient, it’s also very addicting. All you have to do is browse through your phone, add the item you like to cart and pay. With just a few clicks of buttons, the sale is made.
That’s what Walmart is trying to do with its conventional brick and mortar stores throughout the country. They’re eyeing to deploy more tech assistants across its stores to replace tasks usually done by humans.
The robots will be made to do a wide variety of tasks within its stores following a “well-received” round of tests in 2018.
However, there’s an absolute fear that millions of people might lose their jobs over to robots. Walmart employs 1.5 million associates in the US alone. That includes people who do the cleaning, inventory, unloading, and so much more.
With more and more tech are being deployed, obviously, fewer people will be needed to do the labor.
Basically, what actual people will do is manage the robots and make them perform their tasks. That’s something only a handful of people can do rather than the usual headcount.
In response, Walmart says that the jobs that tech assistants will take over are routine work that usually becomes a nuisance for most Walmart associates; it either gets too dull, tiring and unfulfilling overtime. The company also said that many of the jobs that tech assistants will be used are where the company struggled to find, hire, and retain associates to do.
Also, they claim that they will still have plenty of work for its staff – like picking groceries for its booming online grocery business, for example. Grocery shopping, generally, accounts for more than half its annual sales and more of that business is shifting online.
With the advent of technology, routine jobs won’t be part of a usual Walmart associate’s job. They said in the press release last Tuesday that the additional tech assistants will give employees “more of an opportunity to do what they’re uniquely qualified for” which is serve customers face-to-face on the sales floor.
“What we’re seeing so far suggests investments in store technology are shaping how we think about turnover and hours. The technology is automating pieces of work or tasks, rather than entire jobs,” a Walmart spokesperson said. “As that’s happening, we have been able to use many of the hours being saved in other areas of the store — focused more on service and selling for customers,” they continued.
“We have now added over 40,000 jobs by reading over 100,000 cover letters over the last year and a half. These jobs didn’t exist a short time ago. The result so far: we’ve seen our U.S. store associate turnover reduced year-over-year,” the spokesperson added.
Tech Jobs in Walmart
- Auto-C: the robot janitors have been deployed in some stores in 2018. Basically, what they do is clean the floors of the expansive halls within Walmart. The company even goes ahead saying that these robots clean floors better than humans. “After an associate preps the area, this machine can be programmed to travel throughout the open parts of the store, leaving behind a clean, polished floor,” Walmart said. The company is employing a fleet of 1,500 autonomous Auto-C’s.
- Auto-S: the tech assistant will be able to check the prices of products, monitor shelving displays and inform human staff what needs organized and restocked, and keeps an up-to-date database of the store’s current inventory. Walmart says about 300 Auto-S’ will be rolled out in its stores.
- Fast Unloaders: they’re called fast for a reason. They will be able to unload a truck of merchandise along with a conveyor belt in a fraction of time that it could be done by hand. The machines automatically scan and sort the items based on priority and department, to speed up the process and direct items appropriately. The Fast Unloader will also work alongside the Auto-S for efficient backdoor-to-front-door product transport.
- Pickup Towers: These are sort of vending machines where people can usually pick up their purchases through online transactions. This is an efficient tech assistant because it basically drops expenses paying for shipping for the actual customer. Around 900 of these towers will be added to Walmart’s tech arsenal in the next months.


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Sub-Saharan Africa still has too few vaccines for too few people. Delivering more inoculations to the region deserves top priority. But there is another hurdle to overcome to successfully deploy vaccines: the region’s poor trade and logistics quality. Logistics are a network of services that support the physical movement of goods both within and across […]
The post African countries need to fix their distribution chains appeared first on EBNewsDaily.


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Winemakers Grappling With Prohibitive Shipping Laws
Kris Goodwillie keeps “the list” right next to the cash register in her Callahan Ridge Winery tasting room.
The 10-page document lists alcohol shipping laws for each state, letting her know which out-of-state customers can have wines shipped back to their homes and which can’t.
Goodwillie, co-owner of Callahan’s, is blunt in her assessment of the regulatory morass that governs direct-mail shipping.
“It’s a pain in the butt,” she says. “Most of our visitors come from out of state, and they don’t want to take the wines they buy back with them. They want them shipped. But a lot come from states we can’t ship to. So we have to tell them, ‘Sorry, we can’t do that.’ ”
Direct-mail shipping is the hot topic of conversation in vineyards and tasting rooms. Direct shipments are illegal in 24 states and regulated to varying degrees in the remaining 26. In Kentucky, Georgia and Florida, recent legislation makes shipping alcohol a felony. Oregon residents over 21 can legally receive up to two cases of wine per month.
Henry Estate Winery owner Scott Henry calls the laws “crazy.” Not only are there state laws regarding shipments, Henry says, but also laws dictating the type and extent of advertising his company can conduct.
“It’s anti-free market and it violates free speech. When it comes to alcohol, you have to throw out the Constitution,” Henry says. “It’s not just dollars and cents, either. If I have a customer who lives in a state I can’t ship to and don’t distribute to, they blame us. They feel like they’re being left out. I don’t only lose the sale, but now I have a customer mad at the winery.”
Regulators, however, say alcohol is a potentially dangerous substance and each state must have the ability to control its flow in accord with the values and mores of state residents.
“Liquor is not like tennis shoes,” says Paul Williamson, a spokesman for the Oregon Liquor Control Commission. “It’s a drug, and if it’s made available to someone under 21 or intoxicated, it can cause major problems. Our primary concern is the potential for abuse.”
Direct shipping laws date to 1934 and the ratification of the 21st Amendment, which repealed Prohibition. The amendment also gave each state the authority to regulate the sale of alcoholic beverages within its borders. The result is 50 states with 50 wildly varying laws. California, for instance, has a completely open market, while Pennsylvania controls the sale of alcohol through state stores. Texas is perhaps the most restrictive state, with half of its counties officially dry.
Although states have had laws on the books for years regulating direct shipping, violations were generally treated with a wink and a nod because of the relatively small volumes involved and the difficulty in monitoring shipments.
Recently, however, a combination of factors has led to a nationwide crackdown.
Partly to blame is the popularity of the product and concurrent growth of the industry. Thirty years ago there were fewer than 100 wineries nationally; today there are more than 2,000. In Oregon alone the number of licensed wineries has skyrocketed from 38 in 1985 to 127. The American wine market accounts for nearly $14 billion in sales annually. It’s estimated that direct shipments account for roughly 5%.
The higher visibility of underage drinking combined with the national “get tough on crime” trend also has fueled the crackdown.
In addition, those shipping alcohol often elude sales taxes, and cash-strapped state governments see millions of dollars slipping by.
But perhaps the biggest factor has been the explosion of wine clubs and mail-order wine retailers using the Internet to advertise and sell wines through the mail. Many blatantly disregard state shipping laws.
Even those who argue anti-shipping laws are necessary and proper concede it’s nearly impossible to stem the tide of mail shipments.
Paul Romaine is a lobbyist for the Oregon Beer and Wine Assn., an industry group representing the state’s alcohol distributors. His organization is fiercely protective of the laws, and for good reason--the 250 or so wholesalers and distributors nationally have a lock on alcohol distribution. Yet even Romaine admits buying through the mail saves money.
“I live outside Portland, and most of the wine my neighbors buy is not bought from a store,” he said. “It’s just cheaper to buy it through the mail.”
But Romaine stresses that the crackdown on direct shipping is necessary to ensure alcohol does not fall into the wrong hands.
“If the first word the public heard about it came from some kid who bought alcohol through the mail and then had an accident or something, the public would go wacko,” Romaine said. “It’s a bigger problem than people know about.”
Producers such as Henry scoff at that argument.
“When I was a kid, I could get a bottle of wine or whiskey pretty easily,” Henry said. “Do they really think some kid is going to wait a week to by an expensive case of wine? It’s just an argument thrown up to get people worried, but it has no basis in fact.”
Wine producers do agree that the problem of tax avoidance needs to be addressed. Henry, whose winery ships about 100 cases of wine a year but said he could easily double that were it not for the restrictions, said making felons of wine producers is not the answer.
“Ideally, all the states will get together and agree that shipping between states isn’t a big problem,” he said. “Someone likes our wine, wants to buy some and have it shipped to them. Why should that be a crime?”


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Krispy Kreme has recently revealed it is offering anyone who works for the NHS a whopping 50% off a dozen doughnuts throughout January.
The exclusive discount will only be available on Wednesday's - meaning there are still three more Wednesday's for staff to get some delicious doughnuts for less.
The American doughnut and coffee company announced the discount as a thank you to all NHS staff members for all the hard work they have provided during the pandemic.
It follows after McDonald's has announced it will also be treating NHS staff members this year by extending their 20% discount to all staff for the rest of the year.
Workers for the NHS, police, fire, social care sector and armed forces are all eligible for the discount which will be available until the last Wednesday of the month, which falls on January 26.
To access the tasty discount, NHS staff are encouraged to head to their local Krispy Kreme on any remaining Wednesday and present their ID badge to treat themselves to 50% off any dozen doughnuts that they would like.
Alternatively, the doughnut and coffee company has said workers can turn up in their uniform if they do not have their ID on them.
The exclusive discount is only available in Krispy Kreme stores across the country, meaning it is not available for online orders.
Krispy Kreme's epic discount comes after multiple organisations across the country have been providing NHS staff with discounts and deals to recognise their efforts during the on-going Coronavirus pandemic.
David Bater, marketing executive at NHS Discount Offers commented: "The UK still faces challenging times and it's great that Krispy Kreme can bring a few money saving smiles where they can to NHS staff. Its a fantastic offer and staff members can really be a bit savvy with their money and get 50% off 12 doughnuts.
Its a really kind thought from this well known brand and you can share a doughnut with a work colleague over a coffee. Its a really kind gesture."
NHS staff looking to take advantage off the 50% off discount with Krispy Kreme can head to their local branch now.
The offer will be available until Monday January 31 2022.
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HighTower Advisors, the Chicago-based open-source RIA, announced Tuesday, May 4, the beta launch of its HighTower Open Source Technology (HOST) iPhone and iPad application for advisors. The technology enables advisors to use HighTower’s clearing and custodial platforms from smart phones and other mobile devices.
More specifically, advisors can access and navigate HighTower’s technology platforms via a single online portal. The firm’s multiple custodians, investment products, trading capabilities, research capabilities, technology and tools and financial support services can all be reviewed and compared. With the addition of iPhone and iPad, the portal is now compatible with most major mobile technology products, including BlackBerry and Droid smart phones. Advisors gain access via a HOST icon on the iPhone or iPad home screen. The application also features Google search and a “Send to a Friend” option for sharing information from HOST to colleagues and clients.
“I realized early-on that if advisors don’t seek to embrace the post-boomer demographic, they’ll be left behind,” says CEO Elliot Weissbluth, when asked about the genesis of the technology. “In order to do that, I further recognized we needed to be more Mac friendly.”
By pioneering HOST and leveraging the accompanying technology, Weissbluth believes the firm to be on the leading edge of multi-custodial and multi-clearing technology.
“The infrastructure is designed in the clouds, meaning designed to be accessed by the advisor from anywhere at any time,” he adds. “Since they’re no longer tied to their office, they can do a better job for their clients if they are dialed in using this technology.”
HighTower has also expanded its Web presence with a Corporate and Institutional Services section on www.hightoweradvisors.com. Asset management for corporations and not-for-profit institutions is a rapidly growing core service at HighTower, adding to its wealth management services offered to high-net worth clients.


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MILAN — Davines Group — the Italian beauty company that owns professional hair care and skin care brands Davines and Comfort Zone — has teamed up with social enterprise Plastic Bank on an initiative raising awareness about plastic.
Dubbed “Rethinking Plastic,” the global campaign is aimed at preventing 100 tons of plastic from invading the oceans by the end of the year, while improving the quality of life of local populations involved in collecting the material, which is one of the most frequently deployed in the packaging of beauty products.
More from WWD
In particular, Plastic Bank builds ethical recycling ecosystems in coastal communities enabling local collectors to exchange their plastic waste for premiums, which help them provide basic family necessities such as groceries, cooking fuel, school tuition and health insurance. Then, the collected material is recycled to be reintegrated into products and packaging as part of a closed-loop supply chain.
Through a blockchain platform, Plastic Bank secures the transaction and provides real-time data visualization, ensuring transparency and traceability throughout the process.
Indonesia, Brazil and the Philippines are the areas involved in the project supported by Davines Group, since these countries present high pollution and poverty rates due to the lack of waste treatment infrastructure and the dependency on disposable packaging.
“It has become obvious that the only way to accelerate the needed transformation from the current socio-economic extractive model toward a new regenerative paradigm — a transformation that can no longer be postponed — is that of creating multilateral alliances and coalitions working together to reach that objective,” said Davines Group’s chairman Davide Bollati, who defined the partnership with Plastic Bank “a new step forward in our ongoing path of sustainability and regeneration.”
Courtesy of Davines Group and Plastic Bank
Since getting the B Corp certification in 2016, the Davines Group — which generated 153 million euros sales last year — has strengthened its commitment in rethinking actions in favor of a regenerative approach.
For one, it focused on increasingly developing packaging based on eco-design principles, producing lighter solutions from recycled materials or renewable sources from a single material, which are easier to dispose of and recycle. In doing so, it estimated to have saved more than 640 tons of plastic from 2014 to 2020.
Overall, last year, as in the two previous years, the company succeeded in sending zero production waste to disposal sites, recovering 86.3 percent of the total through recycling or energy conversion. In particular, 59 percent of all of plastic packaging came from renewable sources or was recycled.
Running through the end of the year, the Rethinking Plastic campaign is not the first environmental initiative promoted by the group. As reported, for Earth Day earlier this year, the company launched a collective challenge through the AWorld app with the goal to save 80 tons of CO2 in three months.
Over the summer, it also teamed with the Rodale Institute nonprofit specialized in regenerative organic agriculture, expanding its headquarters in Parma, Italy, to include a regenerative organic farm, research center and education hub aimed at supporting local farmers as well as exploring ways in which agricultural practices can influence the supply chain of personal care products while simultaneously helping to mitigate climate change.


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Emirates has added its name to the list of carriers refusing to allow MacBook Pro laptops in checked-in luggage on its flights.
The Dubai-based carrier had initially allowed MacBook Pro laptops to be checked-in, despite bans by neighbouring Etihad Airways, as well as Oman Air, Qantas, Singapore Airlines, Thai Airways and Virgin Australia.
However, the company now joined the rest. A statement on the airline’s website said: “Apple recently announced a recall of 15-inch MacBook Pro models sold between September 2015 and February 2017, citing defective batteries that could overheat and pose a fire safety risk.
“Therefore, as a safety precaution, travellers will not be permitted to carry these MacBook Pro models as checked or carry-on baggage on Emirates flights unless the battery has been replaced.”
The US Federal Aviation Administration last month said it alerted major US airlines about Apple’s recall. The FAA reminded airlines to follow 2016 safety instructions for goods with recalled batteries, which means the affected Apple laptops should not be taken on flights as cargo or carry-on baggage.
The European Union Aviation Safety Agency issued its own warning about the particular MacBook Pro models on August 1.
While there have been repeated incidents of phones, laptops and other devices overheating and catching fire in planes’ passenger compartments, a fire hasn’t ever gone out of control. There have been at least three accidents, two of them fatal, on cargo airlines since 2006 in which lithium batteries were suspected of causing fires.


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By Kara Baskin
If Literati’s success is any indication, kids are craving books during the pandemic. The Austin, Texas–based company offers subscription boxes of children’s books for infants to 12-year-olds, curated by a team of teachers, well-known writers, and librarians. The company has grown its subscriber base by 300 percent since last year and doubled the size of its team since the start of 2020. Kids receive monthly shipments of five lesser-known books that revolve around a theme (such as science and innovation); original art from illustrators; and extras like personalized book plates and letters. Families pay a minimum of $9.95 per month, with the option to purchase their favorites (at prices competitive with giants such as Amazon) and return the rest.
CTO Charlie DeTar SM ’09, PhD ’13 is responsible for the architecture of Literati’s website—which showcases books and authors and allows customers to sign up for and customize their subscriptions—as well as all the software systems (warehouse management, shipping, billing) that allow the business to function on the back end. He joined the team when it launched in 2016, searching for a position that combined technology with social good, having previously worked with Prison Legal News, a website and print magazine devoted to protecting human rights for prisoners, and the National Council for Occupational Safety and Health (through the Research Action Design collective).


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As the first provider: Vodafone increases prices for DSL and cable tariffs for existing customers
Vodafone is increasing the prices for some older DSL and cable landline tariffs. According to the comparison portal Verivox, the competition could soon follow suit.
A report by
Older DSL and cable landline tariffs are probably the most affected. This also includes the gigabit tariff “GigaCable Max”. In the meantime, Vodafone has also confirmed the price increases to Verivox.
According to Jens-Uwe Theumer from Verivox, the development does not come as a surprise: “Vodafone is also faced with increased network expansion costs and high inflation”. According to Theumer, other providers could soon join.
Vodafone raises prices: will the competition soon follow suit?
According to Verivox, the price increases at Vodafone will apply six weeks after receipt of the customer information at the beginning of the new calculation cycle. Affected customers can assert a special right of termination.
The Verivox report shows that Vodafone, like Telefónica O2 and PŸUR, will increase the prices for some tariffs by five euros as early as November 2022. At that time, however, almost exclusively new customers were affected.
1&1 had also increased the prices for new customers. Telekom, on the other hand, initially only reduced the discounts for new customers.
The original of this article “Vodafone increases prices for DSL and cable tariffs for existing customers” comes from chip.de.


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Kanye West puts an end to the cryptocurrency which drew on him as inspiration, Coinye, with a new lawsuit.
A legal beef has been brewing between Kanye West and the creators of a new cryptocurrency named after, and inspired by, Mr. West, Coinye. The new currency was meant to rival Bitcoin and Dogecoin currencies, which are all forms of digital exchange-- basically peers can use the digital currency for various transactions on the internet, and the coin only exists as a computer code, there are no physical forms of it.
Coinye first launched with an image of Kanye West wearing shutter shades on their coins, however when 'Ye's lawyers got wind they sent out a cease & desist letter to the Coinye creators. The creators responded by changing the image of the coin, going with the South Park joke of a gay fish, they turned the image on their coin into a fish-version of Kanye (still sporting shutter shades).
When the creators (who have remained anonymous) found out Kanye was taking legal action, they attempted to release the new form of currency early last week. However, now the Coinye coders have officially given up, with a new trademark infringement lawsuit filed by Kanye naming Coinye and Amazon.
"Defendants have willfully and admittedly traded upon the goodwill and notoriety of Kanye West, one of the most famous entertainers and brand names in the world," the suit reads, which was filed in Manhattan federal court by Kanye and his company Mascotte Holdings. "Without hesitation, defendants have usurped Mr. Westâs name and likeness for the sole purpose of propping up the perceived âvalueâ of the defendantsâ âdigital coin mineâ and its âcryptocurrency.â"
The suit continued, "Consumers are likely to mistakenly believe that Mr. West is the source of these digital coins."Â
Coinye's website has now been taken down, and they've released the message "COINYE IS DEAD. You win, Kanye."
[UPDATE: Coinye Is Back Up & Running Despite Lawsuit]
As we reported yesterday, it seemed as though the new form of digital currency, inspired by Kanye West, Coinye, would be defunct before it really had a chance to spread because of a new lawsuit from Mr. West. Coinye announced on their website, "COINYE IS DEAD. You win, Kanye."Â
Today, it seems they've had a change of heart. Their website is up and running, with a new message."Contrary to popular media opinion, we areÂ not dead," the message on the homepage reads.Â "We are working hard to bring you some exciting new additions!"
They also distance themselves from Kanye West, stating,Â
"IsÂ KanyeÂ [West] involved?â the siteâs message continues. "Absolutely not! We would like to make it clear that we are entirely independent of the man, and there should be no confusion as to the intent or origin of this project. The name âCoinye' is intended solely as parody, not an indication or implication of endorsement or involvement."
We'll have to see what 'Ye's next step will be if he wants to continue to pursue the cryptocurrency Coinye.
[UPDATE #2: Kanye West Wins Coinye Lawsuit]
In unsurprising news, Kanye West has come out on top of the Coinye lawsuit. Coinye was a short-lived form of electronic currency known as cryptocurrency, which attempted to capitalize on Kanye's name in their branding. Of course, this didn't sit well with Kanye at all and he quickly went after the founders of the cryptocurrency in court.
Kanye West's victory was declared in legal documents filed on July 22nd. Some of the Jane and John Doe founders never bothered to respond to Ye's complaints, thus they lost be default.
Only three defendants ended up settling with West,Â Richard McCord, David McEnery and Harry Willis. McCord actually denied being involved, and his lawyer stated, it is "unfortunate that a parody turned into such an expensive endeavor."


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Press Release: March 09, 2016
BlossomZone, the crowdfunding platform for East Anglia, has added a new campaign to raise money for a Tolkein-inspired holiday dwelling to be built in rural Suffolk.
The campaign owner, Jan Lengyel of West Stow Pods, is looking to raise £25,000 by the end of April to build a submerged house which will be a holiday destination.
West Stow pods which is based near to Bury St Edmunds intends to build an underground dwelling inspired by our Anglo-Saxon ancestors. The Poddit Hole halfling house will be a simple yet comfortable place where exciting adventures are likely to start. Podditon is the name given to this group of holiday homes because the ‘pods’ form a small village or homestead (-ton in Old English), hence Podditon.
The project will be a sustainable development. The house will be a showpiece of modern, low-impact environmental building techniques and materials whilst employing the latest technology in low carbon power generation to supply under floor heating and domestic hot water.
The intention is to create a holiday destination for people who want to engage with activities which will involve an overnight stay in the Poddit Hole but could also include a guided tour of the nearby Anglo-Saxon Village and other activities to form part of your very own exciting adventure.
Supporters of the campaign can choose from a variety of rewards including the chance to become one of the first people to stay a night in the house.
Edwin Bailey, founder of BlossomZone, said: “We are proud to help to Poddit Hole crowdfund for this project. It is an original and exciting idea for family holidays in rural Suffolk.”
The Poddit Hole campaign runs until 30th April 2016.
Link to campaign at http://bit.ly/1UanD5h
BlossomZone is East Anglia’s very own crowdfunding platform. Designed for small and medium businesses, social enterprises and charities to raise reward finance BlossomZone aims to help entrepreneurs and companies fulfil their potential.
More information at www.blossomzone.co.uk or call 01603 554 029
For more information, please contact:
Visit the newsroom of: blossomzone


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Romney repeatedly called China a currency manipulator because China has artificially decreased the value of their currency (by increasing money supply). As a result the US Dollar might buy more Renminbis and it’s cheaper for Americans to buy Chinese products than American products. This is according to Romney. He does not mention that the Fed has decreased the purchasing power of the US Dollar for years and that other Central Banks do the same to the currencies of their countries. Moreover Romney said that he favored tariffs to make it more expensive for Americans to buy Chinese products which protects American industry. American consumers would undoubtedly be harmed.
Regarding Iran, a currency can not only fall due to an increase in the money supply but also due to a decreased demand. Sanctions are hurting the Iranian economy which results in a lower demand for the Iranian currency.