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Amazon Takes Fire TVs To Europe, Launches New Cube
Amazon said Wednesday that its is now collaborating with global retailers and TV brands to bring more than 15 new Fire TV Edition devices to Europe and North America.
Leading a string of related announcements, the e-commerce giant said it is teaming up with European TV-brand Grundig to introduce the first-ever Fire TV Edition smart TVs with far-field voice control, and the first OLED Fire TV Edition smart TVs for sale in Germany and Austria.
Amazon is also teaming up with U.K.-based retailer Dixons Carphone and MediaMarktSaturn to sell the next-generation Fire TV Edition smart TVs in the United Kingdom, Germany and Austria.
Elsewhere, home theater audio manufacturer Anker Innovations introduced the first-ever Fire TV Edition soundbar for Europe and North America.
Amazon also revealed the near global launch of a second-generation Fire TV Cube with a more powerful processor for faster, and more fluid operation of multiple voice-controlled tasks.
The announcements came in advance of the upcoming IFA 2019 technology show in Berlin, Germany.
In a statement announcing the deals, Marc Whitten, Amazon Fire TV VP, said: “Customers have told us how much they use and love Fire TV Edition smart TVs in the United States and Canada, with millions of devices sold and an average rating of more than 4 stars across all models. Today we’re thrilled to introduce innovative Fire TV Edition smart TVs and the first-ever Fire TV Edition soundbar from global brands that customers know and love. We can’t wait for customers to experience these new devices with the Fire TV experience built-in.”
Fire TV Edition smart TVs build into the television a version of the Fire TV OS used in Amazon Fire TV media adapters and streaming sticks. Integrated Fire TVs have been sold previously in North America and other regions under various partner brands including Westinghouse, Element, Insignia and Toshiba.
Building the OS into the television makes for a more seamless and easy-to-use user experience. The latest Fire TV Edition smart TVs can connect a HD antenna and use Alexa to instantly search for and watch live TV, or choose content from a broad catalog of content through popular streaming apps including: Netflix, YouTube, Amazon Prime Video, and others.
In European regions, local app partners will include ITV Hub, All 4, and My5 in the United Kingdom, and ARD, ZDF, TVNOW, ProSieben, DAZN, and waipu.tv in Germany.
Amazon said other television products can also add the Fire TV Edition experience by connecting an Echo device smart speaker or other Fire TV smart speaker product to offer hands-free control. Users can ask Alexa to find and play a favorite show, control playback, and perform other tasks, including operation of many compatible smart home control devices, such as connected cameras, lighting, security systems, and more.
More Toshiba Fire TV Edition Models For North America
Among the most recent Fire TV Edition televisions in North America were the first Toshiba Fire TV Edition models with Dolby Vision, which launched in June.
As part of the latest announcement, Amazon and Best Buy revealed the introduction of the first 65-inch Toshiba – Fire TV Edition smart TV with Dolby Vision, which will be available in the United States next month.
The Toshiba 65-inch 4K Ultra HD Smart LED TV HDR – Fire TV Edition will be available at Best Buy for $599, Amazon said. Toshiba TVs are currently manufactured under license by Taiwan-based Compal Electronics.
European Fire TVs
Now moving Fire TVs into the U.K., Amazon said it will be collaborating with Dixons Carphone, MediaMarktSaturn, and Grundig to bring the next generation of Fire TV Edition smart TVs to Europe. These models will offer native language support, and will be localized for European customers for more meaningful user experiences.
Amazon said it is also working with a growing number of TV manufacturers to produce Fire TV Edition smart TVs. New company/brand partners include China-based Skyworth, Arcelik, TPV, Compal, and others, which “can now build Fire TV Edition smart TVs for their customers with manufacturing and assembly capabilities around the world,” Amazon revealed.
Amazon and Dixons Carphone, which is the parent company of Currys PC World, have joined forces to launch JVC – Fire TV Edition Smart 4K Ultra HD HDR LED TVs. The first Fire TV Edition smart TVs in the United Kingdom are being sold at Currys PC World and on Amazon.co.uk (using Curry’s PC World was and affiliate partner). These include three 4K Ultra HD models in the 40-, 49- and 55-inch screen sizes and offer support for support for both the HDR10 and Dolby Vision HDR profiles.
Fire TV Edition smart TVs from JVC come with a Voice Remote with Alexa, which allows control of entertainment sources and compatible smart home devices via spoken commands.
Fire TV Edition Smart TVs are also being offered in parts of Europe by MediaMarktSaturn. IMTRON, a company of MediaMarktSaturn Retail Group, and Amazon will be managing private label Fire TV Edition products for the CE retailers MediaMarkt and Saturn, Amazon revealed. The first models will be available under private label next year in Germany and Austria, Amazon said.
Grundig Fire TV Edition TVs
Meanwhile, Grundig announced 11 Fire TV Edition smart TVs for Germany and Austria, including the world’s first Fire TV Edition with far-field voice control.
Grundig Fire TV Edition OLED TVs will be available in parts of Europe in four models—two with far-field voice control and two without, Amazon said. These will bring up to eight built-in microphones to work with Alexa enabling hands-free control of the television and connected compatible devices. Grundig and Amazon are also announcing the Grundig Vision 7 – Fire TV Edition with 4K Ultra HD and the Grundig Vision 6 – Fire TV Edition with Full HD. These also include the Voice Remote with Alexa.
The Grundig OLED – Fire TV Edition models will include 55- and 65-inch versions and will begin shipping October 28. Grundig Vision 7 – Fire TV Edition LED-LCD TVs are available for pre-order in Europe now in the 43-, 49-, 55- and 65-inch models starting at €349.99. Units will begin shipping on October 17. The Grundig Vision 6 – Fire TV Edition models can be preordered in Europe now in the 32-, 40-, and 43-inch models starting at €239.99. They begin shipping on November 1.
Nebula Fire TV Soundbars
Working with Anker Innovations, Amazon also introduced the first Fire TV Edition soundbars that integrate the Fire TV experience to access video and music streaming while producing high quality sound. Amazon said users will be able to add a Fire TV Edition soundbar to a multi-room music group in the Alexa mobile app to stream songs from Amazon Music and other apps throughout your home.
Anker Innovations and Amazon will sell 2.1-channel Fire TV soundbars in the United States, Canada, The U.K. and Germany under the Nebula Soundbar moniker. These audio-enhancing products will feature support for 4K Ultra HD, a unified smart TV user interface, near-field Alexa voice control, Dolby Vision pass through, and other benefits. Nebula soundbars will include a Voice Remote with Alexa for hands-free navigation and operation, with the TV on or off. Users will be able to use voice commands to control soundbar functions like power, volume and mute.
The Nebula Soundbar – Fire TV Edition is available for pre-order now for $229.99 in the United States, ($269.99 in Canada) as well as in the U.K and Germany. Units will begin shipping on November 21, Amazon said. Customers who pre-order the Nebula Soundbar – Fire TV Edition will be eligible for an Amazon Music Unlimited 90-day extended free trial of the premium music subscription.
New Fire TV Cube Now Available For More Regions
In related news, Amazon also introduced a new Fire TV Cube with far-field voice control, billed as “the most powerful Fire TV ever.”
The new and improved second-generation Fire TV Cube is launching in the United States for $119.99 and for the first time in Canada, the United Kingdom, Germany and Japan.
The new Cube incorporates a more powerful hexa-core processor, providing a faster and more fluid experience. The new Cube will offer instant access to Dolby Vision and 4K Ultra HD content at up to 60 fps; and will permit faster local voice control to play, pause, and browse content.
Amazon said the Fire TV Cube uses multi-directional infrared technology, cloud based protocols, and HDMI CEC, that when combined with Alexa, will control compatible TVs, soundbars, A/V receivers, cable or satellite boxes, as well as other smart home devices.
The Cube has a built-in speaker and will enable dimming the lights with compatible smart home dimmers, checking the weather, listening to the news and many other tasks. Amazon said that since the launch of the first Fire TV Cube, customers have been using the device more and more for home automation requests and are performing tens of thousands of Alexa routines every week.
Amazon reported it now has more than 37 million active Fire TV users “and is the No. 1 streaming media player family in the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, Japan and India.”
The Amazon Fire TV announcements followed Roku’s introduction of its first Smart Soundbar and Wireless Subwoofer extending the Roku TV streaming entertainment experience. By moving into the U.K. and Europe with built-in Fire TV Edition televisions, Amazon also got the jump on Roku, which has been growing a huge following behind Roku TVs, under various brand partners, in North America, but has not yet expanded Roku TV distribution to most other international markets.
By Greg Tarr
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Facebook is now allowing Chrome and Firefox users to ditch the black background and comments sidebar that surround photos and view them full screen by clicking an expansion arrow in the top right. It also now automatically shows photos at maximum resolution, which is the 2048 x 2048 pixel max upload size, and can be up to 4X bigger on large displays. Facebook has improved the sRGB color profile of photos so that colors appear more vivid and faithful without loading slower.
Before now, Facebook photos could only be viewed at roughly 3/4 of your screen size. Today’s updates will encourage high-res uploads, attract more professional photographers, and make the world’s most popular photo sharing service where 250 million photos are uploaded a day a better experience for everyone. [Update: Some users have now received the photo improvement rollout]
It seems kind of crazy that fullscreen viewing wasn’t an option yet, since people have a natural inclination to see photos as large as possible. But Facebook wants photos to be social. If it showed photos fullscreen by default, it would leave no room for Like, comment, share, and tag buttons. Clicks of these buttons create notifications, and get more people to see photos.
While Facebook’s product decisions don’t usually hinge on ad views, photos are one of Facebook’s core sources of page views beyond the homepage. A switch to default fullscreen photos where ads couldn’t be shown would slash revenue.
Fullscreen mode can also be reached by clicking “Fullscreen” in the Options menu beneath photos. Also, remember to check the “High Res” box when creating an album.
Facebook has made a series of improvements to photos over the last 7 months. In August it upped the maximum resolution of its photos from 720 pixels to 960 pixels and launched its original light box viewer that appears as a massive overlay. In November it improved its uploader to show progress and allow users to add captions and location details before uploads finished. Then in February it formally announced its new photo viewer design that shows comments and ads in the right sidebar rather than beneath photos, which drew many comparisons to the Google+ photo viewer.
Some users have now received the rollout of the photo enhancements, and everyone is supposed to get it today.

domain: news


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iPhone 5 To Get A Larger 4-Inch Screen?
Rumours have started to circulate that 4-inch screens made by Apple screen suppliers Sony and Hitachi have gone into production.
An “Asian source” has revealed that as well as the 4-inch screens, new displays for the iPad 3 have started to ship. No details have been made available regarding the resolutions of these panels though so we’ll have to wait and see if they turn out to be retina screens or not.
This isn’t the first time that an increase in screen size has been hinted at for the iPhone, with many expecting the last iPhone refresh to be more major, including a larger screen rather than the slightly reworked iPhone 4S. With Apple competitors packing larger displays into their handsets, it’s looking increasingly likely that Apple will follow suit in the next incarnation of the iPhone.
Do you think that the iPhone could do with a larger screen to keep up with it’s rivals, or are you happy with it as-is? Let us know what you think in the comments below.
- Previous Asus Eee Pad Transformer Prime: First Look (Video)
- Next Updated Sky Go iOS App gets Movies On Demand


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Vines Are Now Only A Swipe Away on the Apple Watch
After being worked upon for the past couple of months, Vine has finally come to the Apple Watch. The app had been under construction since at least this summer when it was first showcased in an on-stage demonstration at an Apple event in June.
The launch of the watchOS app, that took place yesterday on the 24th of November, allows users to run videos on their gadget, while at the same time allows a feature that other than being borderline obsessive also lets you keep track of the number of times your video has been looped.
However despite all of Apple’s efforts, there is a sense of incompetence with various apps on the Watch. It seems like too many iPhone features are being crammed up in a small space of a tiny watch-screen. This new app will shrink down a lot of your favourite Vines on the gadget making them available simply a swipe away. The entire endeavour, however, still seems a little wasted, owing to the size of the screen and the fact that they load at quite a slow speed.


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Nestlé launches new Smarties Bites
Smarties Bites are disc-shaped milk chocolate sweets each containing mini Smarties and are available in both a 32.5g single bag and a 90g sharing bag.
Maria McKenna, marketing manager for Nestlé Ireland Confectionery said: “We know that Smarties hold special memories for so many people, and they are much loved for their bright colours, taste and texture. At the same time, consumers tell us they like their favourite brands to keep things fresh with exciting innovations to try.
“Our Smarties Bites offer all the fun, colour and crunch of Smarties, enveloped in a delicious smooth milk chocolate bite. It is Smarties reimagined, and we are tremendously excited to introduce this new addition to the family. We hope fans love them as much as we do!”
Smarties Bites go on sale over the next few weeks in all major retailers and will appeal to consumers of all ages. With the launch of this exciting new innovation, the Smarties brand is set to continue driving incremental sales in both the singles and sharing categories and building on its 2019 market share growth of +13.1%


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College Avenue is known for offering many services, from restaurants and bars to quirky local shops, but it also offers a variety of clothing boutiques.
Let’s begin at the southernmost location, Magnolia Moon, on 608 S. Mason St. Magnolia Moon is unique because it is located between the CSU campus and Old Town. Several of its brands are from independent designers and made in the U.S.
While many boutiques in Fort Collins cater to the older, wealthier consumer, Magnolia Moon caters to college students and young professionals who do not have a lot of disposable income but who are looking for high-quality, versatile pieces.
The idea is that these pieces can be worn for work, interviews and events, as well as for going out with friends at night and on the weekend.
Magnolia Moon is owned by Cameron Moon, a CSU alumna who graduated in 2012 with a master’s degree in design and merchandising. She opened the store about 10 months ago.
With her boutique, Moon has had the opportunity to work through styling demonstrations with CSU students and faculty, prospective high school students, guest lecturers and CSU’s chapter of Fashion Group International.
Moon said she wants to give back to the community that helped to get her started.
College Avenue is the “heart of Fort Collins,” Moon said. To her, it offers a selection of businesses that can’t be found anywhere else in the country.
“College Avenue is such a vibrant and thriving part of Fort Collins and a must-visit stop for locals and tourists alike,” she said.
Continuing north on College Avenue, we come across Kansas City Kitty, which has been in Fort Collins for 13 years.
Located on 196 N. College Ave., Kansas City Kitty’s merchandise comes from 10 local designers, who make jewelry, accessories, T-shirts, candles, artwork and more.
The store’s demographic is catered toward many different types of women, ranging from high school students to women in their 30s or older.
Kansas City Kitty has a pretty solid standing in the Fort Collins community. It forged relationships with other local businesses and helps fundraise for causes like the Animal House, Crossroads Safe House and La Familia.
The store has advertised with CSU and donated items to CSU’s Department of Design and Merchandising.
“We strive to make a welcoming environment for everyone that comes into the shop,” said Trista Price, one of the shop’s co-owners. “We enjoy making that ‘home-sweet-home’ feeling to create a comfortable, happy place to come.”
Heading into Old Town Square, we come across Cira, a boutique that has its roots in downtown Denver but relocated to Fort Collins almost 16 years ago.
The store originally targeted college students but, over the years, found that college students only make up about 25 percent of its customers. The rest of its customer base is pretty diverse.
Cira offers comfort, style and more reasonable prices in comparison to other boutiques. It has a strong interaction with the sororities, supplying dresses for their events.
Cira also works with CSU’s Design and Merchandising Department by sponsoring its graduation program and supporting its internship program.
Cira constantly works to bring “stylish and fun” merchandise to Fort Collins while staying at a reasonable price. Its goal is to keep its customers happy and to keep them coming back, said owner Meriam Hanson.
“Because of what we do, we get to travel the world, and we can say by far this is one of the best and most unique places to live,” Hanson said. “That is why we call it home.”
Last but not least is the newcomer to the boutique scene: Sunday Supply Co. Opening its doors Oct. 7, Sunday Supply Co. is not just a boutique, it is a lifestyle store, according to owners Kelli Kroneberger and Amanda Hersh.
“Sunday Supply is more than a boutique,” Kroneberger and Hersh said. “It is a place of community. By offering unique, well-made products and hosting events, such as free yoga and creative workshops, we hope to serve as a lifestyle shop that truly encourages a healthy, beautiful and balanced life.”
Kroneberger and Hersh wanted to integrate the charm and history of Old Town into their vision and aesthetic. When their current location on 222 Linden St. became available, they didn’t hesitate to take the opportunity to be in such a beautiful and historic location.
The store is geared toward women who live a “simple and classically stylish lifestyle,” the owners said. Kroneberger and Hersh said they want to provide all the materials for individuals who enjoy comfortable, creative space and appreciate unique and well-made goods.
To Old Town’s newest tenants, College Avenue represents a thriving street that is changing in business, while still defined by the true, unique character of a small town.


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Iskander Utebayev has posted a new concept for the iPhone 6 featuring a three-sided display.
The concept puts quick launch icons on the side display along with controls for the music player.
It's unlikely that Apple will release such a design for the iPhone 6. However, Samsung is reportedly planning to release a Galaxy smartphone with a three-sided display that wraps around the edges of the device. In fact, a patent recently surfaced which demonstrated how the interface would work. You can check that out here.
Take a look at the iPhone 6 concept below.
You can now download the new Limerain App and follow Limerain on the go. Also follow Limerain on Twitter, Facebook, or RSS to be notified of any updates.
Send us a story or tip @ TipsForLimerain.firstname.lastname@example.org
- Posted using my iPhone 5s


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LONDON (CNNMoney.com) -- Kraft reached a $19 billion deal Tuesday to buy Cadbury, finally succeeding in its takeover of the 200-year-old British candy maker after sweetening its offer.
Cadbury's board said it was unanimously recommending the bid to shareholders.
The cash-and-stock offer values each Cadbury share at 840 pence, or about $13.72. Shareholders will also be entitled to a 10 pence dividend per share.
Under the terms of the deal, for each share they own, Cadbury shareholders will receive 500 pence in cash and 0.1874 new Kraft shares.
Cadbury (CBY) shares rose nearly 4% in London.
The deal, which creates a global food behemoth, comes after months of back and forth between the two companies.
Kraft, which makes everything from Oreo cookies to American cheese slices, had met resistance from some of its shareholders over its pursuit of Cadbury.
Earlier this month, billionaire investor Warren Buffett, whose Berkshire Hathaway is Kraft's biggest shareholder, voted against Kraft's proposal to issue new shares for its takeover bid.
Puerto Rico's governor called on Washington to change federal bankruptcy laws to help the island get out from its debts. More
The Facebook tool for turning profile photos into rainbows went viral over Pride weekend. More
Richard Branson picked these three businesses as his favorite in the final of the "Pitch to Rich" competition. More
An estimated 5 million more salaried workers may soon become automatically eligible for overtime pay, thanks to a pending federal rule change. More


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A deal has been struck between the United States and China that ends a fifteen year ban on American beef in the Chinese market, a move which many expect will prop up the lagging beef industry nationwide.
Congresswoman Kristi Noem released the following statement shortly after it was announced that China will resume US beef imports:
“Around 95 percent of the world’s consumers live outside U.S. borders. As the world’s largest beef producer, gaining market access is critical. I welcome the administration’s proposal and am hopeful this renewed access to Chinese consumers will help boost the long-depressed cattle markets that have threatened many South Dakota cattle operations” [Mike Leischner, “China Ends US Beef Ban,” KELO Radio, 2017.06.12].
China is requiring that U.S. producers track where in the U.S. their exported cattle are born and slaughtered. Funny Rep. Noem backs that but let die our own Country-of-Origin labeling rules to informed American consumers where their beef came from.
China is importing lots more beef than it did when it banned U.S. beef in 2003 out of fear of mad-cow disease. However, since Donald Trump has withdrawn us from the Trans-Pacific Partnership, we’ll have trouble competing for China’s business with more globally-oriented beef-producing countries like Australia:
The U.S. is not expected to get a major share of the Chinese market soon. That’s because Australia – also a major beef exporting country – has negotiated reduced tariffs in the free trade agreement it has with China. The agreement between the two countries will completely remove by 2024 Chinese tariffs on Australian beef that currently range between 12 percent and 25 percent [Bill Tomson, “USDA Announces Finalization of Deal to Lift Chinese Ban on US Beef,” Agri-Pulse, 2017.06.12].
Last year, the Chinese ate 16.9 billion pounds of beef. Only the United States ate more beef, 25.7 billion pounds, but to out-snarf our Chinese friends, each of us had to eat over 79 pounds of beef in 2016, compared to the Chinese per-capita beef consumption of 12.2 pounds. Our beef consumption was up last year amidst a four-decade decline. American beef producers can only hope the Chinese will catch up with the Hong Kong friends, who ate over 114 pounds of beef per person last year.


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Duty or ban urged on export of raw cotton
The government should impose a duty or ban on the export of raw cotton, as it was sorely needed by the value-added textile sector.
It is also imperative in view of the damage to around 10 percent cotton crop in recent flooding in Punjab and Sindh. The Value Added Textile Forum and exporters said exports of raw cotton increased by more than 67 percent while combed or carded shot up by 100 percent. Export of raw materials are discouraged and value addition is given all facilities and incentives in the world, but in Pakistan it seemed government is not interested and prefers export of the country’s most essential raw material by ignoring value-added textile sector.
Raw cotton export from the country during July 2015 witnessed an increase of more than 67 percent, about 4,000 metric tonnes, worth $5.605 million as compared to 658 metric tonnes, worth $0.330 million during the same period last year, said members of Forum and Pakistan Apparel Forum. Despite a dip in textile group exports in July 2015 that dropped by 11.75 percent from $1.162 billion in July 2014 to $1.025 billion in during July 2015 the government added fuel to the fire by increasing sales tax by 50 percent in budget 2015-16, they added.
The exporters were already facing liquidity and it is feared exports would be worst in the coming months 2015-16. Jawed Bilwani, chairman and chief coordinator of the Forum, said overall exports declined by 16.90 percent during July 2015 over June 2015. A large number of countries have devalued their currency against dollar and globally the race of devaluation has started. India devalued by 7.06 percent, China by 5.61 percent, Vietnam by 6.44 percent, Sri Lanka by 2.62 percent, Turkey by 35.81 percent and Bangladesh by 0.15 while Pakistan appreciated its by 3.18 percent.
The sector was burdened with multiple taxes and high cost of inputs further burden would hurt the potential of export. He appealed to the government to make a policy for reduction in all cost of inputs. On other hand Karachi Cotton Association has opposed imposition of sales tax on raw cotton, as it would discourage production and smooth flow of exports. Nowhere in the world sales sax is imposed on raw cotton and any bottleneck in the smooth exports of cotton would prevent the growers from getting a fair price for their produce.
Nearly 80 percent to 85 percent of cotton crop is exported in the form of raw shape-cotton yarn. Exporters of raw cotton are operating on narrow margins, therefore they could not bear to keep substantial borrowed amounts stuck-up by way of payment and refund of sales tax for a more than eight months or even longer.
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The Queen’s Gambit star and Dior ambassador arrived at the house’s fall 2022 ready-to-wear show in Paris, alongside other attendees like Rihanna, Alexa Chung, Blackpink’s Jisoo, and Yara Shahidi.
For the occasion, the actress wore a completely beaded shift dress covered in colorful floral, animalistic, and cloud icons, all of which are reminiscent of Dior creative director Maria Grazia Chiuri‘s penchant for tarot card-themed designs. Taylor-Joy accessorized minimally and in nearly all black, wearing a thin belt around her waist, an overcoat hugging her shoulders, a pair of pointed-toe heels, a Gossip Girl-esque headband, and angular cat-eye sunnies, also from Dior.
Long before Taylor-Joy was recruited to join the Dior family, she repped many of the house’s pieces at events like the Emmys, Golden Globes, and Venice Film Festival.
Her tenure as a global brand ambassador was announced last October. “Dior is delighted to announce Anya Taylor-Joy as new global ambassador for fashion and make-up,” the brand said in a statement at the time. “Seen wearing several house creations in recent months, for the 26th Critics’ Choice Awards she epitomized modern elegance in a draped and macramé-detailed tulle gown from the Dior couture spring/summer 2020 collection by Maria Grazia Chiuri.”
The actress recently starred in the Dior Addict lipstick campaign, along with Jisoo and artist Sharon Alexie.
This article originally appeared in Harper’s BAZAAR US


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UK: Co-op exec Taylor to join Spar's UK arm
Taylor, head of commercial operations for The Co-operative Farms, the retailer's farming business, will take his new role at Spar UK on 13 August. He replaces John Bleeze, who resigned from the position.
Spar said Taylor will look to increase the number of its outlets in the UK and develop its store formats.
Debbie Robinson, MD of Spar UK, said: "Ian's strong reputation for developing a growing, profitable and sustainable business by creating a strategic partnership approach to protect the security of long term supply makes him the ideal candidate to join SPAR UK in this extremely important and prestigious role."
Taylor added: "This is a fantastic brand to be working with given Spar's 55-year history in the UK and the fact that globally Spar is the largest food retailer in the world, and I am confident that my experience can help to drive the brand forward."
Fonterra is ranked in the top 20 among dairy players. However, this is due for the most part to its strong presence in Australasia. The company is looking to diversify, investing in a China-based dair...
French co-operatives Agrial and Eurial have announced a merger of their dairy activities....
In the final week before the Christmas and New Year break, just-food published its review of the year, which included lists of our most-read content and featured an in-depth look at the M&A, retail tr...
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Aiming to create a comprehensive policy ensuring the benefits of employees and employers alike, the Central Institute for Economic Management (CIEM) on September 18 organised the workshop titled “Draft Labour Code: Unexpected impacts on the economy” with the attendance of ministries, branches, business associations, international organisations, and other stakeholders.
Speaking at the workshop, CIEM’s director Nguyen Dinh Cung said that the scope of the Labour Code’s regulations is huge and deeply impacts the local business environment as well as the nation’s economic competitiveness. He went on to claim that the draft Labour Code contains several inadequacies. Once the draft is approved, it will ause a hiccup in the growth of manufacturing activities, which will lead to a fall in export turnover. As a result, the new regulations would first affect the lives of labourers, then the competitiveness of domestic companies.
One of the most debated parts of the draft is keeping the ceiling on overtime hours, introducing progressive payment for overtime (meaning a VND70,000 hourly bonus for working 95 hours overtime and VND100,000 after), and cutting the standard working hours.
For instance, if the new regulations are applied to Samsung Vietnam, the company will suffer $2 million in monthly costs, equalling about $24 million per annum. Such a huge cost burden will impact its manufacturing activities and may prompt the company to relocate its factory to another country. As a result, the local export turnover will sharply reduce and the performance of suppliers for Samsung Vietnam will be affected in turn.
Compared to other regional countries, the productivity of Vietnamese labourers is relatevely low. At the workshop it was shared that the country’s labour productivity in 2017 reached $10,232, equaling 7.2 per cent of Singapore’s, 18.4 per cent of Malaysia’s, 36.2 per cent of Thailand’s, 43 per cent of Indonesia’s, and 55 per cent of the Philippines’. Notably, Laos, Cambodia, the Philippines, and Malaysia still have 48-hour working weeks like Vietnam.
Accordingly, the draft Labour Code may have a six-fold impact on the economy. These include:
– Falling local export turnover;
– Falling government revenue;
– Falling competitiveness in international markets;
– Weakening the government’s efforts to attract FDI;
– Unclear clauses in the draft may obstacle the growth of companies, making them reduce manufacturing scale or start redundancy programmes due to the financial impact; and
– Undue cost burden on companies.
Vietnam Investment Review


text: In a continuing game of corporate musical chairs, Pinnacle Systems, the California-based video software company that acquired German audio software developer Steinberg (www.steinberg.de) in January 2003, has announced Steinberg's impending sale to Yamaha Corporation of Japan … More than three years after suspending operations, effects hardware manufacturer Electrix (www.electrixpro.com) is back in business. The maker of Repeater, FilterQueen, MoFo, and other unique processors and audio loopers has updated its Web site, offering product support, software updates, downloadable manuals, and online forums. New product announcements are expected soon … Line 6 (www.line6.com) has announced that it is the new U.S. distributor of Propellerhead Software products, replacing M-Audio, and will be responsible for all U.S. customer support … Focusrite (www.focusrite.com) recently acquired British synth and keyboard maker Novation Digital Music Systems, with U.S. distribution being handled by American Music & Sound … VirSyn (www.virsyn.com) is offering a free update to its vocal synthesizer Cantor (Mac/Win, $389). Cantor 1.5 features a revised synthesis engine that makes it easier to produce intelligible vocals, thanks to an improved filter model and a new rule-based phoneme sequencer … PG Music (www.pgmusic.com) has released Band-in-a-Box Pro 2005 for Windows ($88; upgrades $49 to $59), introducing more than 50 new features. The popular auto-accompaniment program now provides piano-roll editing and jazz chord symbols, and supports alternate guitar tunings. It also includes the Bonus 10-Pak with every new or upgrade purchase … Symbolic Sound (www.symbolicsound.com) is shipping Kyma X.1, a free upgrade to owners of Kyma X (Mac/Win, $3,470). It adds three new oscillator types, a new PresetSpace module, support for graphics tablets, and other enhancements.


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Founded by James Dawson, the group announced its second round of crowdfunding via investor website Seedrs in March, aiming to raise £750,000-£1m to fund further expansion. It has now raised 125% of its aim, at £1,287,429 entirely from private sources.
As well as Islington, the group now plans to open another venue in the City this year, with the funds raised going towards sites five and six next year.
It is aiming for 20 sites overall, at a pace of two to four openings per year, as well as development of the group’s wine club, and online presence.
It already runs sites in Battersea, which opened in 2015; and Fleet Street, which opened a year later.
Focusing on artisan wines from small, family-owned vineyards, Humble Grape stocks over 400 varieties from 11 countries. Each site also serves food designed to pair with wine, such as platters and sharing dishes, from head chef Kishen Raheja, using ingredients from independent suppliers and producers.
The Islington venue will feature a bar, dining room, wine shop, and wine library with wine books from around the world.
(Photo: Humble Grape)
Designed with architect Jean Duman of Trellik Design Studios, the site will champion reclaimed and natural materials, using paper from crushed recycled grapes, and a colour palette of deep greens, tan and clay.
There will also be a ‘winemaker wall’, with information and stories from the winemakers, including the experiences of ex-geologist Rose Jordaan, who produces Bartinney Sauvignon Blanc from a mountain on her family farm in Stellenbosch, South Africa.
Vecchie Terre Montefili, which claims to be the first region in Chianti to adopt entirely biodynamic farming and viticultural practices, will also feature.
“I've always loved Islington; the people, the neighbourhood, the buzz,” says Dawson. “We have plenty of clients who live around there too, so it felt like a natural home for the next Humble Grape. We've got some incredibly special new imports lined up just for [Islington]."


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News Update (July 2021)
Updated: Aug 6, 2021
1. Amazon launches IP Accelerator programme in India
On 5th July 2021, e-commerce giant Amazon announced the launch of its Intellectual Property (IP) Accelerator Programme in India. The Programme was first launched in the USA in 2019 and later expanded to Europe, Japan, Canada, Mexico. It garnered positive feedbacks after its pilot launch in India last year. Considering that the entire process of protecting IP can be complex and time-consuming, the programme aims at easing the process for sellers, especially small and medium-sized sellers with nascent brands. They can choose to engage with trusted IP experts and law firms for services like securing trademarks, protecting the brands and tackling infringement on Amazon.in and Amazon websites globally. The sellers do not incur any additional cost in accessing the IP Accelerator firm listings from the Service Network Provider (SNP) and can engage with the firms directly and independently on mutually agreed terms.
2. Delhi High Court directs the creation of Intellectual Property Division to deal with matters related to Intellectual Property Rights, notifies new nomenclature
As reported in April 2021, the Intellectual Property Appellate Board was abolished recently. On 7th July 2021, Delhi High Court issued directions to establish an Intellectual Property Division (IPD) to deal with matters related to intellectual property rights. The IPD of the Delhi High Court would specifically deal with:
All original and appellate proceedings, including Writ Petitions (Civil), Civil Misc. (Mains), RFA, FAO etc., relating to IPR disputes (except matters that are to be dealt with by a Division Bench);
All fresh filings in the various IPR categories;
IPR suits, revocation applications, cancellation applications, other original proceedings, appeals from the office of Registrar of Trade Marks, Controller of Patents, Copyright Registrar and all other proceedings which were previously maintainable before the IPAB under the Trade Marks Act, 1999; Copyright Act, 1957; Patents Act, 1970; Designs Act, 2000; Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999; Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers’ Rights Act, 2001 and Semiconductor Act 2000.
The IPD Delhi High Court Rules, which would govern the functioning of the IPD, are still being framed. Further, the High Court came out with nomenclature of the cases to be filed in the IPD, which came into force with immediate effect.
3. Department Related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Commerce presents Report on 'Review of the Intellectual Property Rights Regime in India’
The Department Related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Commerce, under the chairmanship of Mr. V. Vijayasai Reddy, presented a report last week before the Rajya Sabha on Review of the Intellectual Property Rights Regime in India. The Report addressed major challenges like a dearth of IPR awareness and IP financing and recommended ways to tackle them.
A few of the Recommendations were:
Undertaking a holistic review of the IPR policy.
Active participation of the State Governments in evolving strong IPR policies.
A comprehensive study of the benefits of improvement in IPRs for the economy.
Re-establishment of the Intellectual Property Appellate Board.
Creation of IP Fund and fostering IP Culture, especially in the remote regions of the country.
Establishment of an exclusive apex-level Institution for IPR development.
Disseminating IPR awareness amongst MSMEs, small businessmen, traditional artisans and craftsmen located in remote areas.
The Committee also recommended various interventions for building awareness about IPR, for instance, IPR Facilitation Centers in Tier-I, Tier-II and remote regions of the country, and introducing IP courses and curriculum in educational institutions.
4. Amul India wins trademark infringement case in Canada
Amul India moved the Federal Court of Canada against Amul Canada and a group of four other individuals. The group had created a fake LinkedIn page claiming to be Amul Canada, copied the trademark ‘Amul’, its logo, and even listed themselves as employees of Amul Canada. Amul contended that it had never licensed nor consented for neither Amul Canada nor any of the four individuals to use their trademarks and copyrights in any manner. Amul has acquired distinctiveness over time and holds a reputation within at least a certain segment of consumers of its dairy products in Canada. It had also satisfied all the elements of the ‘passing-off test’. Therefore, the Court ordered permanent restraint on Defendants from infringing Amul’s trademark and copyright. They were further ordered to pay Amul damages of $10,000 for actions contrary to the Trademarks Act, $5,000 for actions contrary to the Copyright Act and the costs in a lump sum of $17,733.
5. Dua Lipa sued for copyright infringement for posting a photo of herself
Dua Lipa is the latest entrant in the long list of celebrities sued for posting paparazzi photographs. In February 2019, Integral Images Inc snapped the singer at an airport and filed for copyright over the said photograph days later. However, in the period between the filing and the grant of the protection, Lipa posted the photograph on her Instagram account without seeking prior consent. Consequently, the company sued the singer earlier this month for copyright infringement. It claims that she knowingly posted the photograph and even benefitted financially through it. Along with seeking $150,000 as damages and a jury trial, the company also seeks an order enjoining her from further infringement.
6. Puma settles dispute over the usage of ‘Roar’ mark
Earlier this year, Brooklyn-based artist Christophe Roberts sued Puma for using his USPTO-registered ‘Roar’ mark. He claimed that Puma ripped off the mark to use on their clothing apparel line and in national ad campaigns targeting National Basketball League (NBA) consumers. In April, Roberts’ request for a preliminary injunction restraining Puma from using the mark was rejected. Later, Puma filed a counterclaim to invalidate Roberts' federal trademark registration. As per the latest reports, the parties have reached a negotiated settlement and have agreed to dismiss all previous claims and counterclaims. The exact details of the settlement are yet to be revealed.
7. Samsung India restrained by Bengaluru Court from using ‘Concierge’ mark
Dipali Sikand, the founder of Lesconcierges Services Pvt. Ltd. And Club Concierge Services (India) Pvt. Ltd, sued Samsung India and Story Experiences Private Limited for using the ‘Concierge’ mark. The said mark is duly registered and owned by Sikand. The plaintiff asserts that Samsung India misused the mark in various brochures, publicity materials, advertisements etc. in relation to the President’s Club (a loyalty program for dealers and distributors of Samsung). It is further claimed that by misusing the mark, the defendants are trying to piggyback upon the goodwill and reputation of the plaintiff. A City Civil Court at Bengaluru issued an ex-parte ad-interim injunction against Samsung restraining them from illegally using the mark till the date of the next hearing. At the same time, the Court opined that although there is a prima-facie case against the defendants for it to pass an ex-parte injunction order against them, they ought to be heard first. The hearing is to take place on August 5th, 2021.
8. South Africa and Australia confirm inventorship of an AI system
The question of awarding a patent recognizing an AI system as an inventor has plagued the IP Community for long. IP Offices around the world have contemplated the issue of granting inventorship to AI systems, for example, granting inventorship to DABUS, an AI system created by Dr Stephen Thaler for creating a food container based on fractal geometry. The USPTO, EUIPO and UKIPO have already rejected the patent application on the grounds that while DABUS created the invention, it cannot be called an inventor as it is not a natural person. In an interesting turn of events, South Africa and Australia recently recognized DABUS as an inventor and Dr Thaler as the rightful owner. On 28th July, South Africa published the said patent in its Patent Journey, and became the first country to take the step. On 30th July, the Australian Federal Court overturned the original decision of the Deputy Commissioner of Patents of the Australian IP Office which refused the decision. The International Bureau of WIPO published the international (PCT) application which formally recognizes DABUS as an inventor.
9. Spotify opposes registration of the mark ‘Opstify’
Sweden-based Spotify AB opposed a mark proposed for registration by Pennsylvania-based Opstify. Spotify claims that it has been using the registered mark ‘SPOTIFY’ since as early as 2008 and has developed valuable goodwill concerning the same. It further claims that the mark is widely recognized and considered distinctive and famous by the general consuming public. Spotify opposes the registration of the mark ‘OPSITFY’ on the grounds that if successfully registered, there is likely to be consumer confusion or mistake as to the source or origin of the services. It can lead the public to assume that Opstify is in some way connected with, sponsored by, or affiliated with Spotify.


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NoriTown Studio, game developer from Seoul, South Korea, announced today that it has released two social games, K-POP IDOL and Little Wizard, on Facebook. With K-POP IDOL, users can train and manage their own pop star or other celebrity. Little Wizard lets players start off as a novice magician striving to become the greatest wizard of all time.
K-POP IDOL lets users take over the role of a pop star manager, select and train a young talent as a singer, actor and other celebrity with specific training course including vocal, speech and acting. Unlike its earlier Korean version, the Facebook rendition provides group performance, in addition to single-character play.
NoriTown’s other new game, Little Wizard, is a combination of town building and Player-versus-Player (PvP) action. Players create and expand their own towns to achieve their goals, while also strengthening their wizard for battle. The game uses mouse-based gesture to provide fun and reality to handling the wizard’s wand.
NoriTown Studio is one of the first social gaming companies in Korea. First created as a startup-subsidiary team within AhnLab, NoriTown has branched off as an individual company in October of 2010. Since then, it has released ten games on Korean social networks such as Cyworld, Naver and Daum. Now, NoriTown seeks to expand their market onto global platforms like Facebook and Apple’s App Store.


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Tesla has just announced that it will update its software to support its new lithium ion batteries, which have been gaining popularity in recent years as a cheaper alternative to solid state batteries.
Tesla says the upgrade will be rolled out to its new batteries by the end of March.
It says the battery upgrade will also help it meet new market requirements, including the need to increase the range of its vehicles.
The company says the changes to its software will help it provide greater control over battery performance and provide more reliable power delivery, as well as increase the safety of Teslas vehicles and reduce energy consumption.
Teslas customers have been reporting problems with the battery since last month.
Teslagrad has said its new battery technology will improve its safety, as the new battery will help improve its range, and will provide safer driving.
Teslags new battery system is now a real-world application Teslages latest upgrade is the latest upgrade to its lithium ion battery technology.
Tesla announced a similar upgrade last year, but the company says it only offered it to its customers for three months.
Teslan has been the main target of the battery fire, and the company has been forced to shut down several production lines in the US, but it has promised to continue working on the batteries.
Tesla has not revealed how much money it has spent on its upgrade, but said it would make an announcement at the end for a full list of customers affected by the problem.
Tesla is also working to solve the problem of overheating issues in its cars.
“The new battery offers a number of safety features, including increased performance in high-speed acceleration, improved stability and increased fuel economy,” the company said.
This is the third update to the Tesla software in the past two months.
The latest upgrade will not be rolled into the next-generation Model 3, which is due to be unveiled later this year.
Read more: Teslas electric car fires in California and New York in 2017 Teslas update also includes updates to its Autopilot and Vision functions.
Teslags Autopark function, which allows drivers to request assistance with parking, and Autoplay function, allowing drivers to pause their car for safety reasons.
The updates will also include improvements to Tesllagrad’s vehicle management system, and a more comprehensive update to its vehicle safety and crash test program.
In addition to the battery update, Teslgas update to Model S software also allows the company to automatically detect when the battery is at an overheat state and automatically shut down the vehicle.


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Samsung is set to launch the highly anticipated dual-core Galaxy S II Android phone on 26 May in Australia, following its launch in Korean and UK markets.
Samsung's Galaxy S II Android phone is currently receiving some fantastic reviews from experts around the world, and the hype seems to have done Samsung plenty of favours — it claims three million Galaxy S II devices have been pre-ordered globa...
Sony Ericsson's latest Android phone, the XPERIA Neo, has been given a hands-on preview two weeks before its official release.
Australian owners of Samsung’s Galaxy S handset will be receiving the Android 2.2 (Froyo) update over the air to their devices shortly, if they haven’t already, according to the South Korean electronics giant.
There have always been perks to working for much-hyped global technology giant Google: Great food, 20 percent time to work on your own projects and an incredibly relaxed but innovative and work environment.
2011 is set to be the year of the dual-core powered Android phone and two of the biggest upcoming releases in Australia are the Samsung Galaxy S II and the Motorola Atrix.
2011 is set to be the year of the dual-core powered Android phone and two of the biggest upcoming releases in Australia are the Samsung Galaxy S II and the HTC Sensation.
It's set to be the year of the Android phone and two of the biggest upcoming releases in Australia are the Sony Ericsson XPERIA Arc, and the Samsung Galaxy S II.
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LONDON, United Kingdom — The fashion world found itself divided this week as Maison Martin Margiela, along with the brand's owner, the Italian billionaire Renzo Rosso, announced that it had appointed John Galliano to the role of creative director. While the response on social media to Mr Galliano's return — and indeed here in the comments on BoF — was generally positive, for many fashion insiders the case wasn't nearly so clear cut.
Understandably, some of the reaction was knee-jerk and emotional. For much of the fashion media, especially those who have known Mr Galliano all the way from his early days as a fledgling designer in London to his ascension to the post of creative director of Christian Dior, the reaction was decidedly less ecstatic.
How can the industry embrace Galliano once again when he flamed out in such a disgusting way, several editors wondered publicly and privately. Jess Cartner-Morley addressed the issue head-on in a piece for the Guardian, while another editor told me privately that she felt like she "might vomit" if the industry gives Galliano a standing ovation at his debut show for Margiela during the January haute couture shows.
I decided to go back to the original video of an inebriated Galliano, which played out over and over again in the wake of the scandal back in 2011. Watching it now, I understand those feelings. But I also watched Galliano's measured but honest interview with Charlie Rose, admitting his faults and apologising for his actions. Afterwards, I was still not sure where I stood.
I had the opportunity to interview John Galliano in January 2011 — just weeks before the flame out — and felt that he was really operating on a different plane of reality, because for so long he had been cloistered off into a strange protective bubble. Sometimes, we isolate (and elevate) talented creatives so much in the fashion industry that they lose connection with reality. The fame, the adulation, the ability to do no wrong — for the most sensitive and creative amongst us, these can provide dangerous approbation for ridiculous and sometimes extreme behaviour.
I don't question the decision to give Mr Galliano a second chance. But, perhaps the best way to make this transition, for both Mr Galliano and for Maison Martin Margiela, would have been not to make a big announcement, not to trumpet his return and not to fall back into a cycle where Mr Galliano can do no wrong, scrubbing away a series of events that are still so hard to comprehend, even today. Imagine if, at the end of the couture show in January, nobody came out to take a bow (in the longstanding tradition of the house of Margiela) and Galliano's talent was allowed to speak for itself.
Perhaps that would have been a better moment to announce the arrival of a new creative director (assuming it could have been kept a secret, something that Margiela has been very good at doing for all these years). Focusing on his collection might have reminded the industry why they fell in love with Galliano in the first place. And while they may not have forgotten the events that played out in that Parisian bar, they would have forgiven him for his mistakes and focused on the talent that got him here in the first place.
Please enjoy our top stories for the week gone by, including articles from our latest special print edition, available for sale here.
Pierre-Yves Roussel, Fashion Alchemist
As chairman and chief executive of LVMH Fashion Group, Pierre-Yves Roussel brings an uncommon blend of operational excellence and sensitivity for ‘creative casting’ to his reinvention of brands like Céline and Kenzo.
Reinventing The Department Store
In the fight for consumer dollars, department stores have lost significant ground to monobrand stores, specialty retailers and e-commerce players. Can they regain their relevance?
Burberry Remains Digital Luxury Leader, While Céline Trails Industry
With a few notable exceptions, luxury brands remain slow in building digital capabilities, revealed a report released by Exane BNP Paribas.
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BoF Exclusive | Apple Watch To Make Editorial Debut in Vogue China
BoF can reveal that the Apple Watch will make its fashion editorial debut on the cover of Vogue China’s November issue, featuring supermodel Liu Wen. We spoke to Angelica Cheung, editor-in-chief of Vogue China, to get the story behind the story.
Is Fashion a Credible Platform for Protest?
At Paris Fashion Week, Chanel’s light-hearted, marketing-savvy feminist ‘faux-test’ rang hollow. Can fashion be a credible medium for discussing social issues?
Inside the Eytys Explosion
In just over a year, Jonathan Hirschfeld and Max Schiller have managed to turn fledgling Swedish sneaker brand Eytys into a cult sensation, stocked at some of the world’s most influential stores. How did they do it?
And don’t forget to check out BoF Weekly, a week in review published with Flipboard and updated every Saturday.
Founder and Editor-in-Chief


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The new year is only a few weeks away so we may as well start planning our outfits. And luckily we now have the colour of the year. Pantone just revealed that Living Coral (a bright pinkish orange) is the 2019 Colour of the Year.
It is described by the company as a colour of carefree happiness, which we could use a bit more of in this crazy world.
According to the press release, it “symbolises our innate need for optimism and joyful pursuits.”
Why haven’t we been wearing this colour for years?
“A global team of colour experts comb the world looking for new colour influences,” said Laurie Pressman, vp of the Pantone Colour Institute. “This can include the entertainment industry and films in production, traveling art collections and new artists, fashion, all areas of design, popular travel destinations, as well as new lifestyles, playstyles and socio-economic conditions. Influences may also stem from new technologies, materials, textures and effects that impact colour, relevant social media platforms and even upcoming sporting events that capture worldwide attention.”
Pantone teamed up with Tribute Portfolio, a new brand of Marriott independent hotels, to launch a pop-up activation this week at Art Basel called Pantone Pantry by Tribute Portfolio.
LSD, Sia, music producer Diplo, and pop art illustrator Gabriel Alcala all created custom animations, digital projections and a playlist to celebrate the launch of this collaboration.
After Miami, the installation will travel to Savannah, Georgia, and Rotterdam in the Netherlands.


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La Guardia has joined in the Winter Bites 2010 celebration which begins tomorrow!
La Guardia will be offering a $15 lunch option and a $25 dinner option.
Founder and co-owner of WindsorEats and creator of amazing experiences. Lover of food and cats, though not necessarily together.
Named the Province of Ontario's 2017 Tourism Champion of the Year.
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Over the past few years, dire predictions about the independent agent’s future have gotten a lot of attention. With consumers increasingly adopting the latest technology-driven shopping and buying behaviors, some industry observers have questioned whether the independent agent will be able to remain relevant.
But new research suggests that the independent agent is uniquely positioned to win with the biggest and increasingly influential segment of consumers.
Survey says … maybe not.
Only the independent agent offers ease, choice and advice — a unique combination with the power to attract today’s consumers, especially Generation Y.
In a May 2015 research study commissioned by Safeco Insurance, 31 percent of Generation Y consumers placed themselves in a segment that values independent advice, choice among insurance companies, an expert advocate, and ease of understanding their insurance options.
Somewhat surprisingly, this proportion is higher than that found among Generation X (24 percent), Baby Boomers (23 percent) and Seniors (18 percent).
The implication: as Generation Y continues to grow into the insurance marketplace, independent agents will see an increase in the share of consumers preferring their unique value proposition of ease, choice and advice:
Provide tools that make it easy to understand, buy and manage coverage.
Provide the widest possible array of options to meet policyholders’ specific needs.
Share your expertise and advocacy to help policyholders make the best decisions about their coverage.
Each channel that sells insurance has its own strengths.
Direct-to-consumer carriers often provide easy transactions for pre-packaged products. Comparison websites provide choice between the products of different companies and online transactions. And consumers can get a range of advice and access to online tools through exclusive agents.
But only the independent agent offers ease, choice and advice — a unique combination with the power to attract today’s consumers, especially Generation Y.
On the “ease” front, the good news is that it is easier and cheaper than ever to deploy the online tools demanded by Millennials. Today any business can stand up a mobile-ready website that supports e-commerce in a few days, with only a modest budget and no technical expertise. All agents need to be active online with their own web and mobile capabilities and through industry portals like TrustedChoice.com.


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Billhop, which simplifies the payment of invoices and bills, has netted €4m in its Series A investment.
The round was led by VC Element Ventures.
With the equity burst, the FinTech plans to accelerate its growth plan, hire more staff, increase its market presence and further the development of its products.
Based in Sweden, the FinTech company offers businesses and individuals with a payment service to simplify their invoice and bill payments. Users can easily add the details of the invoice to the platform and approve payments with their debit or credit card.
The FinTech has witnessed tremendous growth over the past few years, with its allegedly being one of the fastest growing in Sweden, the article states. Billhop has grown by 768% over the past three years.
Billhop CFO and co-founder Ingemar Sjögren said, “The pandemic has led to massive reductions in Travel & Entertainment (T&E) spend traditionally comprising the bulk of corporate card spend. It has forced commercial card issuers to find new avenues to stimulate card volumes.
“In supplier payments, the issue has always been the low card acceptance – this is something that Billhop instantly addresses. Whilst card issuers always had a willingness to promote Billhop to increase transaction volumes, we see that this appetite is intensifying in the absence of T&E spend.”
Fellow Swedish FinTech platform Savr recently collected $6m in a funding round to further the development of its digital finance platform. The company empowers users to invest their capital into technology funds and sustainable index funds.
Investment in the Nordics FinTech sector reached new heights in 2020, according to FinTech Global data. A total of $1.5bn was invested across 83 FinTech transactions last year, up from $1bn and 80 transactions in 2019.
With the rising strength of FinTech in the region, Wellstreet partner and head of FinTech Armando Coppola believes Swedish FinTech companies will look to grow internationally.
Copyright © 2021 FinTech Global


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Thousands of shoppers for Instacart, a tech company that offers same-day grocery delivery through its app, are planning to strike Monday. The workers are claiming that the company has refused to provide them with adequate protection amid the current coronavirus health crisis and are seeking better pay.
Gig Workers Collective, an organization that represents the interests of gig economy workers at companies like Instacart, Uber and Lyft, organized the strike following complaints that Instacart has ignored shoppers' (the name Instacart gives workers who pick up groceries for customers) pleas to enact proper safety precautions to keep them safe during the pandemic.
“Instacart has refused to act proactively in the interests of its Shoppers, customers, and public health, so we are forced to take matters into our own hands,” Gig Workers Collective wrote in a statement posted Friday.
“We will not continue to work under these conditions. We will not risk our safety, our health, or our lives for a company that fails to adequately protect us, fails to adequately pay us, and fails to provide us with accessible benefits should we become sick,” the statement continued.
Shoppers who strike say they will not return to work until their demands, which include access to hand sanitizer, disinfectant wipes or sprays and soap provided at no cost; hazard pay of an extra $5 per order and a default tip amount of 10%; an extension and expansion of pay for workers impacted by COVID-19, and an extension of the deadline to qualify for these benefits, which is currently April 8, are met.
“With Instacart neglecting the basic wellbeing of its 150,000+ drivers, we believe there is no choice but to not only walk off, but to raise awareness to the company’s practices. They are putting us directly in harm’s way while profiting greatly,” the statement said.
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Vanessa Bain, one of the main organizers behind Gig Workers Collective, told TODAY that the group planned the last-minute walkout only a week ago due to the “urgency of the situation escalating so severely.”
Instacart currently has over 200,000 shoppers on its platform and serves 5,500 cities in the U.S. and Canada, though it’s unclear exactly how many people plan to participate in the strike.
On March 9, Instacart implemented new guidelines and policies to help support the health and safety of the Instacart shopper community. These included a new sick pay policy available to all part-time Instacart employees which can be used during work absences due to illness or injury; 14 days of pay for any employee diagnosed with COVID-19 or placed in mandatory isolation or quarantine as directed by a local, state, or public health authority, and a “Leave at my Door Delivery” option.
On Friday, Instacart added additional benefits for shoppers, including a bonus ranging from $25-$200 for employees based on hours worked from March 15 to April 15, and the ability to earn additional financial incentives based on customer demand.
“The health and safety of our entire community — shoppers, customers, and employees — is our first priority. Our goal is to offer a safe and flexible earnings opportunity to shoppers, while also proactively taking the appropriate precautionary measures to operate safely,” an Instacart spokesperson told TODAY in an email.
On Sunday, ahead of the anticipated strike, the company announced two new measures it would be enacting to help protect workers and customers, including working with a third-party manufacturer to develop its own hand sanitizer, which will be available to shoppers for free via a website only they can access.
Instacart also rolled out a new tipping feature: All existing customers' completed orders will now default to their last tip amount, instead of the previous 5% default setting. Instacart is also removing the “none” option in the customer tip settings, so if someone wants to tip $0, they will have to manually type in that amount. Additionally, if a customer lowers the tip on an order below 5%, the default will reset back to 5% for the customer's next order.
In a Medium post published Sunday, Gig Workers Collective responded to the changes.
"Aside from simply not being enough, this is insulting for a number of reasons," the group wrote. They also said "it's abhorrent" that it took this long for the company to make hand sanitizer available to workers.
As for the tipping changes, Gig Workers Collective called the update something that "will, in all likelihood, provide no meaningful benefit to shoppers." The group noted that the request for hazard pay has not been addressed at all.
The company, which saw sales jump 107% from a year ago between March 10 and March 16, according to CNBC, recently announced plans to add 300,000 full-service shoppers to meet rising customer demand over the coming months.
“As more people look for immediate, flexible earnings opportunities during this time, we hope that Instacart can be an additional source of income for those looking to earn while also delivering for the communities in which they live,” the company said in a statement. Since late February, the company said that 97% of all orders included a tip and that, on average, shoppers received a 30% increase in earnings from customer tips.
Bain said the announcement that Instacart would be hiring so many additional employees was the final straw.
“The issue isn’t the lack of shopper labor; it’s that shoppers aren’t protected and empowered to work,” she said, noting that she believes Instacart is taking advantage of people who are vulnerable right now and desperate to make money, regardless of the potential risks.
Despite Instacart's public announcements, Bain told TODAY the company has made no attempts to reach out to the organization directly, nor has it responded to their requests to speak with them.
“Our goal is to ensure that shoppers, our communities, customers, and public health is prioritized over profit, and if Instacart is unwilling to provide these proactively, then we are unwilling to provide our labor until they do," she said.
This isn’t the first time a dispute between Instacart and its shoppers has led to a walkout. In November, hundreds of workers went on strike when the company changed the default tip amount in its app from 10% to 5%.
“On November 3 through 5, we Instacart Shoppers held our largest walk-off yet," Gig Workers Collective wrote in a statement. "We had a fair and, by all accounts, common-sense demand — that Instacart return the default tip amount to the prior 10%. Instacart historically has refused to speak directly to us, so our only way to be heard was through collective action."


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NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) – August is Black Business Month, and Nashville started celebrating earlier this month at the Nashville Farmers’ Market when the Nashville Black Market set up shop.
Co-founded in 2018 by Javvon Jones and Carlos Partee, the Nashville Black Market seeks to provide resources and connections for Black and minority-owned businesses in the Nashville area. Held on the first Friday of each month at the downtown farmers’ market location, dozens of Black-owned businesses set up shop and “circulate the Black dollar.”
“I wanted to start this because I knew there was a lot of Black excellence in Nashville that wasn’t getting the light shone on them,” Jones said. “The importance is to circulate the Black dollar.”
Jones and Partee – both with clothing lines of their own – knew the challenges of opening up a brick and mortar location, so they opted to go a different route and offer Black businesses, entrepreneurs, and vendors the chance to forgo brick and mortar and instead set up flea market style.
What started with 35 vendors has grown precipitously, and Jones said the market is looking to expand operations and make their own mark on the Nashville landscape.
“We’re still looking for more space,” he said. “We have a huge waiting list of people who are trying to sign up but can’t because we’re at capacity.”
Friday, August 5th saw dozens of vendors selling their wares, some for the first time, like Kiara Johnson, who owns Emerald Row Clothing Boutique. She started her business during the beginning stages of the pandemic in 2020 in order to supplement her income.
She said the market was great because it served as a central location for so many Black businesses where each vendor and customer can support one another. Additionally, she told News 2, she likes the resources the market provides, such as clientele and possible business connections.
“I think that when we’re able to get in an environment like this, where we can learn each other’s business and learn what we can do differently, that’s really good,” she said.
Johnson said she has attended past Black Markets as a customer and supporter of Black businesses, but her first visit as a vendor was extremely successful.
“The foot traffic here is unmatched compared to other venues that I’ve been at,” she said. “It feels really good to know that we already have that support, and they haven’t been doing this that long.”
| READ MORE | Latest headlines from Nashville and Davidson County
Kimberly Pointer and her clothing business Lounge Cutie is also a newer vendor at the market who said the advantages were unsurpassed. She started coming to the Nashville Black Market about four months ago and said the market has been well worth the investment.
“I absolutely love everybody coming together once a month; I love the music, the entertainment, the food and supporting one another,” she said. The exposure is so large in the city. People really look forward to coming down here. Fortunately, I get a great turnout for my business. It’s well worth the investment I make to come down here.”
The Nashville Black Market also saw Mayor John Cooper stop by. The mayor’s office announced Cooper would be attending a series of events to highlight the importance of Nashville’s Black business owners and encouraging residents to support and learn more about them.
“Nashville’s Black-owned businesses are an essential part of the cultural and economic fabric in our city,” Cooper said in a statement. “As Mayor, I will continue to pursue equitable initiatives and policies that drive prosperity for minority-owned businesses and encourage entrepreneurship.”
Earlier in the summer, Cooper announced a $10 million investment into the transformation of Burrus Hall on the Fisk University campus into an “innovation incubator.”
“Modeled after similar programs at top universities around the country, the new Burrus Hall will host tech boot camps, mentoring programs, classes, workshops and events to assist emerging entrepreneurs and spur business development right in the middle of the Jefferson Street corridor,” the mayor’s office said of the investment.
The mayor attended the Nashville Black Market and attended a discussion hour with Ernie Allen the first weekend of the month. He will attend the Black Business Month Expo August 14th.
The Nashville Black Market takes place at the Nashville Farmers’ Market, 900 Rosa L. Parks Blvd, the first Friday of each month as well as the third Saturday of each month in The Gulch. For more information on the Nashville Black Market, click here or find them on Facebook and Instagram.


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Ogier Electronics Ltd. News
360 Vision’s Predator, Centurion, Black Hawk and Predator Stainless Steel PTZ cameras can be seen at the exhibition Supporting the security industry’s leading manufacturers and solutions providers, CCTV design and manufacturing company, 360 Vision Technology, will be fielding a massive range of their high-performance surveillance cameras at IFSEC 2016. Camera Displays To be found on five different IFSEC stands, 360 Vision’s high-performance Predator, Centur...
At IFSEC, Vemotion will get the opportunity to talk to their opposite numbers about the latest thinking on CCTV and wireless transmission Vemotion will be attending the IFSEC International conference in London this month. The event, which is one of the biggest security conference events of the year, runs from the 16 – 18 of June and the Thirsk based global wireless video transmission specialist is attending this year in collaboration with Ogier Electronics and will b...
Browse security news
exacqVision Cloud Drive
Innovative C•CURE Go Reader Mobile App
Dahua FSU6808U Environment Surveillance Server


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NEWS By Fozzie Nov 03, 2015 at 1:47am (EST)
UPDATE // Waiting on confirmation whether or not this is for Unchained X or just Kingdom Hearts X (Chi).
As information is streaming in from the D23 event in Japan, we've just heard word that a new world has been announced for Kingdom Hearts X (chi) and it's Beast's Castle.
Beast's Castle was in Kingdom Hearts 2 and hasn't made much of an appearance since then so it's exciting to hear that we'll be seeing Belle and the Beast once more.
New Kingdom Hearts 3 trailer will be released Wednesday at 3pm JST or 10pm PST so stay tuned!
Special thanks to aibo_ac7 for the info!


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Ukie has published its response to the government’s games tax breaks consultation and has called a 30 per cent relief rate to be enacted.
Drawing in feedback from 221 companies from the games industry, as well as 85 non-Ukie members, the trade body has made a number of recommendations to help best benefit developers with the scheme.
The report states that there is no need for a minimum budget threshold for games to qualify for relief, whilst it has urged the government to ensure the new scheme supports all elements of the industry, from small indie outfits to large triple-A studios.
The response has also asked for games tax breaks to recognised multiple business models beyond release, including an allowance for claims on production costs incurred from DLC and iterations.
It has also suggested that there should be a voluntary contribution allowed for companies to invest in talent development and skills.
As well as speaking to a number of developers and studios, Ukie also discussed its response with Tiga, which conducted its own report, to share feedback received by both trade organisations.
“This scheme is a real opportunity to grow all parts of the UK games industry – from small, to medium, to big businesses – and will help people make even more distinctive and innovative games,” said Ukie CEO Jo Twist.
“Having a system that recognises the new innovative business models and production processes in our industry, allowing developers to claim for DLC and continued development, post going-live to the public – gives the UK a real advantage over other countries.
“Introducing a rate of 30% for all games businesses, regardless of their size, is the best possible way to ensure that the scheme gives the UK the level playing field that it needs to become a global games powerhouse.
“We also want to urge government to effectively measure the true size of the games industry. As the recent report from Creative Scotland highlighted, it is crucial that we have accurate data so that we can judge the success of this scheme and other government policies.”


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Celine has made a surprise announcement that it will hold a virtual fashion show in Monaco next week.
The former designer and cofounder of Milly will design two collections a year for her web site.
The coronavirus pandemic has shifted the ways that consumers are spending this holiday season.
A series of folkloric figures, hand-embroidered and stitched by the designer’s interns using surplus fabric from his London studio, have gone on display at Dover Street Market in London.
The second car Kith and BMW partnered on is available for preorder and releasing in 2021.
Canadian designer Olivia Rubens scooped up the ITS Responsible Fashion Award, the top prize.
The two outfits will be sold at Christie’s to benefit the Obama Foundation’s Girls Opportunity Alliance.
The Sicilian designer will unveil his first collection for the brand in January 2021.
Deana Lawson will also get a show at the Guggenheim Museum next year.
Maluma designed his performance look with Kerby Jean-Raymond of Pyer Moss, and wore his own design for his arrivals outfit.
A new report shows measures to control the coronavirus pandemic have decimated hundreds of thousands of creative jobs in the city.
Nazario styled Lizzo and Naomi Campbell for the October and November issues of Vogue magazine, becoming the first Black stylist to style a cover for the magazine in its 100-plus-year history.
“Their sense of culture only becomes sensitive when it comes to political issues,” fashion scholar says.
The Adidas-produced brand will be accompanied by a campaign titled “This Is My Park.”
Called “Human Brains,” the multidisciplinary project kicking off next month is centered on the so-called brain studies that are part of the neuroscientific researches.
Sicilian designer Fausto Puglisi is said to be joining the fashion company.
She had been with Starbucks as vice president, loyalty, partnerships and licensed stores product and marketing.
Resembling a press day, The Apartment will showcase Filipino fashion, footwear, accessories, skin care and home goods.
The collaboration will raise funds for the National Forest Foundation.
The collection was modeled by a broad spectrum of humanity — and the fashion crowd couldn’t disguise its unease.
The British retailer is marking the anniversary with a new campaign featuring friends, old and new, recalling their most treasured fashion memories and the pure joy of dressing.
Mark Badgley and James Mischka want their new outpost at the Royal Poinciana Plaza to feel like home.


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Where do your tips go? A guide to how tipping works in restaurants
New plans were announced by the government today to ban restaurants from keeping any tips from staff.
Most people assume serving staff get the full share of tips - but that's not always the case.
A number of big chains have been criticised in recent years for taking a percentage of tips to cover administrative fees.
Here, we break down what employees are entitled to and where your money goes when you tip.
Do I need to tip?
Tipping is not automatically expected in the UK in the way it is in America, for example.
Employers are expected to pay the National Minimum Wage, but some waiting staff say that's not always enough to live on.
So, it's considered the polite thing to do at the end of a meal in many places.
So where does this money go?
Well, this depends on a few things.
A service charge is not the same as a tip
A lot of people think it is.
But actually, that 10-15% extra added to your bill isn't the same as a tip and is generally optional.
In fact, there's no guarantee your waiter will see a penny of that service charge. It's often added to cover things like breakages and people doing a runner.
A few big restaurant chains have been criticised for taking the bulk of the service charge to pay for administrative costs.
Customers can say they won't pay a service charge and leave a cash tip instead. They can also request for the charge to be taken off if they are unhappy with the service.
Tipping on card isn't the same as tipping in cash
With the rise of contactless, adding a little extra while paying on card can seem like the easiest way to tip.
Some places pool these tips and share them out in a system called a "tronc".
The person who shares them out - known as the "troncmaster" - is not usually a member of management.
But some restaurants have been accused of taking tips paid on card, or charging employees a fee for tips paid on card.
In 2015, Pizza Express stopped deducting an 8% administration fee from staff tips paid on card after a public outcry.
You still have to pay tax on tips
Legally, employees have to tell the taxman exactly how much they make in tips so they pay tax on it.
They should keep a record of how much they make and declare it at the end of the tax year.
What would the new rules change?
Currently, restaurants follow a voluntary code when it comes to tipping.
But they don't have any legal obligation to pass on all tips to workers.
The plans, announced by the Prime Minister Theresa May, would force high street chains to pass all tips to workers.
So that means no more deductions from tips paid on card.
But as this is a Conservative party conference announcement there's no guarantee this law will come in to force.
Labour says the government's proposal copied another of its policies, which the party announced in June.
Jeremy Corbyn had said then that a Labour government would legislate to ensure workers keep 100% of their tips.


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LONDON, Jan 27 (Reuters) – Drinks group Diageo on Thursday reported first-half sales up nearly 16%, buoyed by high-end spirits for home use while bars increased orders as they reopened after coronavirus lockdowns.
The maker of Johnnie Walker whisky, Tanqueray gin and Guinness stout also said it will speed up its share buyback programme, aiming to complete the 4.5 billion pound ($6 billion)plan in its 2023 financial year rather than by the end of June 2024.
Diageo, the world’s largest spirits maker, has benefited from shoppers stocking up on alcohol at home during the COVID-19 pandemic, often trading up to more expensive types of alcohol.
Sales of premium products made up more than half of net sales.
Then as lockdowns eased, particularly in Europe and North America, bars have had to restock, buying more than the previous year. Net sales grew 13% in North America and were up 27% in Europe.
“The impact that we’re seeing from COVID is kind of like ‘Whack-a-Mole’. It’s different in different parts of the world at different points in time,” Chief Financial Officer Lavanya Chandrashekar said. “Where there are no restrictions, we are seeing that on-trade is sometimes even better than people remember.
“But, I mean, the total number of people visiting Thailand has come down significantly, so business there is not doing as well as it was when in the heydays of travel.”
Operating profit rose by 22.5% to 2.7 billion pounds in the six months to Dec. 31, with its operating margin up by 190 basis points, Diageo said.
Net sales increased by 15.8% to 8 billion pounds.
Rival Remy Cointreau this week said it is confident demand for its premium cognac in China, the United States and Europe will underpin profit growth this year after the French spirits group beat quarterly sales forecasts.
The European beverages sector outperformed the wider market almost uniformly in the fourth quarter, Bernstein analysts said. The distillers led the way while global brewers were more subdued because of rising raw material costs.
Shares in Diageo have repeatedly touched record highs since the company said in November that it expects organic net sales growth to be between 5% and 7% for its 2023-2025 financial years, against 4% to 6% growth over 2017-2019.
On Thursday the shares were up marginally at 36.60 pounds.
Deutsche Bank last week raised Diageo’s target price to 46.50 pounds from 45.30 pounds.
Photo courtesy of Diageo


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Technology stocks continue to lead a small group of companies doing well amid the coronavirus lockdown.
Cisco Systems (CSCO), Square (SQ), Logitech (LOGI) and Datadog (DDOG) all reported strong quarterly results over the last week. Several are direct beneficiaries of employees working from home.
LOGI, the provider of computer peripherals like webcams and headsets, surged to new all-time highs after earnings and revenue blew past estimates.
“Video conferencing, working remotely, creating and streaming content, and gaming are long-term secular trends driving our business,” CEO Bracken Darrell said in the statement. “The pandemic hasn’t changed these trends: it has accelerated them.”
SQ, which rose about 1,000 percent between mid-2016 and late 2018, had a remarkably similar quarter to PayPal (PYPL). Its initial numbers missed after gross payment volumes missed estimates. That was a result of lockdowns hurting commerce in general.
But then investors focused on strength in its Cash App. Profit more than doubled at the direct-payment service, which competes against PYPL’s Venmo. Both have emerged as beneficiaries of the shift toward e-commerce.
Analysts at firms like Citigroup, Barclays, Canaccord Genuity and Keefe Bruyette & Woods responded by hiking their price targets on SQ.
CSCO also benefited as remote workers used its services like WebEx and AnyConnect. However its legacy infrastructure business, which still accounts for most of its revenue, is struggling with the economic slowdown.
For the most part, Wall Street views CSCO as slowly transitioning from old hardware to newer software and services. The change could result in higher multiples if it’s successful, although there’s still a long way to go.
DDOG, on the other hand, is already a pure-play software and services name. The 10-year old company rocketed to a new all-time high after earnings, revenue and guidance smashed estimates. Its business focuses on platform and infrastructure monitoring for IT operations teams.
Novavax Explodes Higher
Novavax (NVAX) also reported strong quarterly results, but its real news was a $384 million investment from the Coalition of Epidemic Preparedness Innovations. That was viewed as a major vote of confidence by the Bill Gates-backed organization, which is looking to develop a coronavirus vaccine.
Cardinal Health (CAH) was another medical company that rose on strong results. The drug distributor is in the midst of turnaround after years of weak pricing squeezed its core business. Despite an initial gain, it now faces weaker demand as coronavirus weighs on the broader health-care industry.
General Mills (GIS), the maker of products like Betty Crocker, Gold Medal flour and Totino’s frozen pizzas, is also benefiting from the stay-at-home trend. Earnings, revenue and guidance were all strong, lifting the stock to its highest level in over three years.
Under Armour Crashes
Under Armour (UAA) had another bad quarter. The maker of athletic clothing was already struggling before coronavirus. Now the one-time growth stock is facing even greater pressure and increased competition from rivals like Nike (NKE). UAA has lost about two-thirds of its value in the last year.
Hertz Global (HTZ) missed estimates after a cutback in travel weighed on car rentals. Its stock is now pushing new all-time lows.
Jack in the Box (JACK) had weak earnings as coronavirus kept customers away from its restaurants. However its revenue beat estimates as customers spent more per visit. The company was shifting its business toward quicker service times and new products like Tiny Tacos. Investors seem to think that turnaround story will continue after the health crisis passes.
In conclusion, coronavirus remains a major headwind for the economy and stock market. While most companies are suffering from the slowdown in demand, a handful of technology firms like CSCO, SQ, LOGI and DDOG have benefited.


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One of the biggest hits to release on the Nintendo Switch last year was Animal Crossing: New Horizons. It came just in time as well because the world was going through so many complex changes. With the worldwide pandemic going on to new scary heights, Animal Crossing: New Horizons was a bit of an escape. If you’re still actively playing the game, then you might be delighted to know more updates are coming.
With Animal Crossing: New Horizons, updates have been slowing down. Fortunately, things are going to be ramping right back up, and it actually starts this month. It looks like a new update will arrive for this game on July 29, 2021. Unfortunately, we don’t have a ton of information about this new upcoming update. All that’s been said so far is that we will receive weekly firework shows and new seasonal items.
This wasn’t the only tweet from Nintendo of America. Nintendo was also able to confirm that more updates are currently in development. Again, nothing more was said, but at the very least, we know that Animal Crossing: New Horizons hasn’t been dropped in support. All we can do right now is wait and see just what else the developers will be introducing players when the new set of updates arrive. Of course, it will also be interesting to see how many players show back up to see these updates, to begin with.
It’s been a while before we received updates on Animal Crossing: New Horizons. As a result, we might have seen more players hop onto something else. Still, there’s always the chance that if enough significant updates hit the game, then we could see a resurgence of players logging back online to explore their island or visit friends digitally once again.


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Brussels-based jingle house Brandy created a new jingle package for Media One Group's LFM in Lausanne, Switzerland
Vortex Communications will display its full range of products to its users in southwest England as part of the Broadcast Technology Roadshow visiting Plymouth on Thursday, Sept. 28. The event is of special interest to broadcasters, podcasters, voice-over artists and audio engineers in Devon and Cornwall.
The Roadshow emerged from IBC2019 when a small group of non-competing companies — Artel, Sonifex, Cedar Audio, Broadcast Radio and Vortex Communications — decided to tour the country to allow their regular technology users who could not get to the major trade shows to see their latest products first-hand. The roadshow has grown to include Angry Audio, Auras Pro, AquaBroadcast and Synthax Audio UK.
The Roadshow will feature special offers and is free to attend, and there is no need for registration. The Roadshow’s format encourages those interested to simply turn up while it is there, browse the new gadgets and services, and talk to the teams over a cup of tea or coffee.
The Sept. 28 Plymouth event is at the Copthorne Hotel from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.


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Yellowknife, NWT – The city of Yellowknife and the Yellowknife Chamber of Commerce are launching a spring shop local campaign throughout June.
Businesses and consumers are encouraged to interact and make posts on social media highlighting local shopping experiences.
Communications and Economic Development Officer Richard McIntosh with the city explains why the campaign is so important.
“Anytime someone spends money within Yellowknife, it has a multiplier effect. Local purchases help pay wages for employees, taxes are paid and then employees spend their money and so it multiplies that effect.”
McIntosh says a winner will be selected every week in June for answering questions related to shopping using the hashtag “shopyk” on social media.
He says winners will receive a $100 gift certificate that can be spent on any product or service offered by the city of Yellowknife.
Log on to shopyk.ca for more info.
CJCD Moose FM News


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03-25-2015 Business Trends Published in Restaurant Business Daily
It’s hard to win in business, especially in the restaurant business, without engaging Hispanic consumers, says Peter Filiaci, VP of strategy and insights/restaurants at Univision.
17% of the menus that utilize the term "sweet"...
Steve Easterbrook promised to be an inside agitator who’ll be more aggressive in developing and testing new ideas. Meanwile, the company will take a hard look at its huge real estate portfolio.
Can the owner of an establishment pass on their credit card charges to their employees? Advice Guy explains.