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A majority of Americans (55.5%) do not feel cruise ships are equipped to handle serious medical emergencies, a new study reveals.
This represents a change from last year, when 60% of US consumers believed cruise ships could handle such emergencies.
The survey by travel insurance provider Allianz Global Assistance was conducted during the height of the wave booking season, which runs from January to March in the US.
When asked for their estimate of the cost of an air ambulance evacuation to the US from Mexico or the Caribbean, a quarter of respondents underestimated the cost at up to $10,000.
Another quarter of respondents correctly estimated cost as coming in between $10,001 and $20,000.
Among other findings, 38% of consumers surveyed thought that travel insurance is more important when booking a cruise than it is for other types of travel.
The poll also found that more than two-thirds of respondents would prefer to spend all or most of their time exploring their destination instead of staying aboard the cruise ship, a slight increase from last year.
However, safety concerns with the destination were still the top reason (35.7%) why US cruisers would be hesitant to disembark at port.
Other reasons include disinterest in the destination (18.4%), fear of not getting back on the ship in time (14.1%), previously having visited the destination (11.4%), taking advantage of all-inclusive food and drinks on board (9.7%), not having pre-booked an off-board activity (7%) and lack of internet/mobile connectivity (3.7%).
The wave season survey also analysed trends such as themed cruises, finding that almost a third were not interested in food, pop culture or music-themed cruises.
Fewer respondents are interested in adventure or expedition cruises to places like Alaska over sun and beach destinations compared to last year (43.8%, down from 48.9%).
Almost three quarters (74.2%) of those surveyed expressed interest in river cruises over ocean cruises thanks to more scenic routes (21.5%), lack of waves (13.5%), easier disembarking (13.4%), smaller ship sizes (12.2%), shore excursions being included in the price (9.8 %) and socialising opportunities (3.8%).
An Allianz spokesman said: “While cruising has become an increasingly popular vacation choice among Americans, consumers are wary of cruise lines’ ability to care for them during a medical emergency.
“Our wave season survey shows that cruisers have become more sophisticated and understand that most ships will disembark seriously ill or injured passengers in the closest port, regardless of whether the closest medical facilities can provide an appropriate level of care.
“Smart cruisers are covering themselves with travel insurance in the event that they must be medically evacuated to a facility that is properly equipped to treat them.”
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DBS is still a great business, but it isn't as great these
days, according to a new forecast from the Yankee Group.
The Boston-based telecommunications analyst firm now predicts the number of
DBS households will rise from 20.6 million by the end of this year to 27.1
million by the end of 2007.
That is a 9 percent drop compared to the original estimate of 29.7 million.
Yankee cut back its estimate based on the lower net growth rate for satellite
services in 2002 and the impact of video on demand in driving rival digital
Yankee also gives cable operators the digital TV edge overall, predicting the
number of digital cable households will rise to 22.6 million by year's end and
will reach 39 million by the end of 2007. Factors helping MSOs keep that lead
will be VOD and high-definition TV services, according to Yankee.
But DBS will continue to grow, in particular drawing away basic subscribers
at a rate of less than 1 percent yearly.
Going forward, the Yankee analysts predict News Corp. will buy out Hughes
Network Service's DirecTV Inc., but it will take as much as a year to get the
regulatory approval and another six to 10 months to reform the DirecTV
After that, it will start to gain subscribers at a faster rate than rival DBS
provider and one-time merger suitor EchoStar Communications

domain: news


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From Corporate Cancer, published in 2019:
The bright future of well-funded diversity departments and their growing cost to corporate budgets can be anticipated by looking at what some of the most converged corporations in the United States are doing. In 2015, Intel announced a $300 million commitment to diversity, pledging to spend $60 million per year by 2020 in order to establish a $300 million fund to be used by 2020 to improve the diversity of the company’s work force. This expensive program was supplemented by Intel Capital’s Diversity Initiative, which at $125 million, is “the largest venture capital resource ever created to focus on underrepresented entrepreneurs.”
So, this suggests Intel has entered Stage Five convergence, which means that it is now incapable of fulfilling its primary purpose. Which means this news will come as little surprise to those who understand the concept.
Intel contemplates outsourcing advanced production
Secretive labs and tightly guarded clean rooms in Hillsboro have long represented the leading edge of semiconductor technology. That’s where Intel crafted generations of new microprocessors, chips that led the industry for decades as engineers working at atomic dimensions invented new ways of packing more capabilities into a minute space. Those discoveries powered years of progressively faster, cheaper and more advanced computers.
And it’s there, in Hillsboro, that Intel began making these new chips at research factories tethered to its labs. Intel would then send its meticulously developed manufacturing technique to its other factories around the world where it was replicated precisely, a well-established practice called “copy exactly.”
The model led Intel to become Oregon’s largest corporate employer and one of the state’s major economic engines, convening researchers from all over the world to engineer new chips as the company spent billions of dollars on equipment to manufacture their microscopic marvels.
Now, Intel is laying the groundwork to toss the old model out the window. It is openly flirting with the notion of moving leading-edge production from Oregon to Asia and hiring one of its top rivals to make Intel’s most advanced chips.
They’re not contemplating outsourcing because they’re seeking better profit margins. They’re contemplating it, and they’re going to do it, because their repeated efforts to make the leap to the next level in chip manufacturing have consistently failed.
But they’ve got diversity now, which is nice.


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DALLAS, Aug. 11, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Overwraps Packaging, a leader in flexible packaging, announced today that it is now doing business as Overwraps Flexibles. This change reflects the company's broader commitment to quality and customer service by offering state-of-the-art equipment and turnkey solutions for all flexible packaging needs.
"The new name, Overwraps Flexibles, allows us to highlight our primary business objective, to exceed customers' expectations by delivering superior quality, expedited lead times, competitive pricing, dependability, and unparalleled customer service for all flexible packaging needs," said Bill Seanor, Owner and CEO of Overwraps Flexibles. "We have the best people in the business to help customers elevate their packaging, from graphics and pre-press to printed roll stock or bag making."
Coupled with this name change announcement, Overwraps Flexibles also enhanced its logo and overhauled its website to better portray all the services and capabilities at the company.
Overwraps Flexibles continues to grow its manufacturing capabilities. This fall, the company will commission a new 10-color flexographic Comexi press. Overwraps Flexibles also recently installed a new solventless adhesive laminator and three new high-speed duplex slitters.
In response to the rapidly growing pre-made bag market, Overwraps Flexibles brought bag-making capabilities in-house in 2015 and plans to add additional capabilities in 2016 and 2017.
These investments in technical capabilities will allow Overwraps Flexibles to continue its strong legacy of rapid response, high quality products and superior value for our customers.
Please visit our website at www.overwraps.com.
Overwraps Flexibles, a privately held US manufacturer located in Dallas, Texas, has provided flexible packing products and excellent service for 40 years. The company is the first flexible packaging convertor to be SQF Level 3 certified, a quality standard maintained now for 6 consecutive years.
Contact: [email protected]
SOURCE Overwraps Flexibles


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NewsOctober 6, 2016
Chamber Ambassadors Visit Bestpass
The Chamber Ambassadors Council held its monthly meeting at the Bestpass, Inc. facility at 500 New Karner Road in Albany. The group learned firsthand from CEO John Andrews how the company streamlines the toll system for commercial truck drivers nationwide. The innovative approach allows the trucks to drive across country through different toll systems all under one transponder. This type of business was in such demand that the company has been growing on average 30 percent a year for the past six years. The group toured the 13,000-square-foot modern work environment and was told the company is expanding to another 13,000 square feet elsewhere in the building. This is a true case of technology “meeting the road”, and the outcome is a business growing faster than even its founders thought was possible.


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The United Nations has removed a tweet following a global backlash from farmers.
Total exports reached $1.1 billion in March 2020, an increase of 12% on March 2019.
While overall exports to China during the month were down by 9% compared to March 2019 as a result of COVID-19, exports to all other major markets increased.
Sheepmeat export volumes were up 4% and value up 13% compared with last March. And while sheepmeat exports to China were down 11% by volume compared to March 2019, they still recovered significantly from February – doubling to nearly 25,000 tonnes.
A decrease in sheepmeat exports to the United States was offset by a significant increase in exports to Malaysia, up 131% to 3,310 tonnes.
There was a similar increase in beef exports, up 3% by volume and 14% by value. China was the only major market where beef exports decreased compared to March 2019. But, as with sheepmeat, they recovered significantly from February – doubling to 13,408 tonnes.
Sirma Karapeeva, chief executive of the Meat Industry Association, says the latest figures highlights the New Zealand red meat sector’s strong global networks and agility.
“These statistics are pleasing, especially given the challenges and disruption to the supply chain as a result of COVID-19. Some channels such as the food service sector have been significantly impacted. Processing and exporting companies have been agile enough to pivot to other markets and other segments such as retail and online channels.
“This strong export performance is also due to processing and exporting companies working hard under challenging conditions and strict COVID-19 processing protocols to keep their businesses operating.
“There is clearly strong global demand for protein, however we are also mindful of the considerable global volatility and uncertainty in the marketplace.”
Karapeeva says now, more than ever, the red meat sector is proving how important it is to the New Zealand economy.


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While Franklin & Marshall College may not have the cachet of Yale University in the eyes of most Americans, for trendy European teens the Pennsylvania liberal arts school easily trumps the Ivy League icon.
Among the hottest names in Europe these days is Franklin & Marshall, a name emblazoned on sweatshirts and other garb sold by an Italian company with an almost identical name.
While few of those wearing the clothes know about the school, “I don’t think they care,” said Entheo Leung, a salesman at London’s Selfridge’s department store, which sells the clothing line in a display with decades-old pictures of F&M athletic teams. “They just know it’s a brand everyone is wearing, and they want it.”
Italian designers Giuseppe Albarelli and Andrea Pensiero started Franklin and Marshall (the company uses “and” rather than the school’s “&”), after finding an old Franklin & Marshall top at a New York flea market in the late 1990s.
Without getting approval from the school in the former mill town of Lancaster, they started the line, which ranges from $43 t-shirts to $265 track suits, using the name in a bid to stand out in the crowded field of preppy clothiers such as Abercrombie & Fitch Co. (ANF) and Ralph Lauren Corp. (RL)
Many companies have long emblazoned their clothing with imagined school logos like “State University” or “Ivy Rugby Club.” Now, Franklin and Marshall and other European clothiers eager to cash in on the Preppy Handbook revival and lure coveted-yet-fickle 18-24 year-old shoppers are cementing ties to real U.S. colleges.
“This is a move by brands to reinforce some authenticity around what they do,” said Lorna Hall, retail editor at fashion forecaster WGSN in London. “The U.S. preppy college look translates well to Southern Europe. The Italians in particular love the formality and detail of it.”
Britain’s Jack Wills, which calls itself a “University Outfitter,” has relationships with club polo teams at Yale and Harvard University (as well as formal licensing deals with Oxford and Cambridge’s rugby and polo teams in England) to boost its brand.
Gant Co., a Swedish company founded in New Haven, Connecticut, in 1949, has a licensing deal with Yale to sell $115 button-down shirts bearing the university’s name. This year, Gant took the collection to the U.K., Europe, and Japan, and the company is putting as much as 25 percent of its marketing budget behind the Yale shirts, said Chief Executive Officer Dirk-Jan Stoppelenburg in an interview. “For us it was about rediscovering who we originally are,” Stoppelenburg said.
Gant, owned since 2008 by Swiss holding company Maus Freres Holding AG, also opened a store close to Yale’s campus, which carries the largest assortment of the Yale-branded shirts alongside Ivy League pictures and paraphernalia.
Franklin and Marshall, which didn’t respond to requests for comment, signed a licensing deal with the college in 2003 after using the name without permission for several years. The brand’s popularity has spread north from Italy and has taken hold in Britain. In 2011, the company opened a store-within-a-store at Selfridge’s.
“It’s selling really well,” said Leung, the department store clerk. “Christmas time was crazy. The higher prices actually attract [young people], and their parents are usually buying anyway.”
In addition to cash, the school benefits from greater visibility abroad, said Cass Cliatt, who helps oversee F&M’s licensing deals. “We are fortunate to work with a European company that promotes F&M around the world,” Cliatt said. In 2010, the company also donated 100,000 euros to fund a four-year scholarship for one student, and this spring executives from the company met with the college’s president for the first time, Cliatt said. Still, the college’s international applicant rate is largely unchanged over the past five years.
Apparel licensing deals are done country-by-country and typically require the licensee to pay about 10 percent of the wholesale price of each garment to the trademark holder, according to Chris Evans, managing director at Oxford Limited, which manages the University of Oxford’s licensing program. Cliatt declined to discuss the terms of the school’s agreement with Franklin and Marshall.
At Jack Wills, which generates sales of about 150 million pounds ($235 million) annually, the company works with U.S. students to promote the brand, forgoing formal licensing agreements. The company recruits several dozen college students each year to act as brand representatives on their campuses.
The job includes wearing Jack Wills clothing and coordinating promotional activities such as a “Study Your Pants Off” event at Jack Wills’ store in New Haven, where Yalies studying for final exams were given the brand’s yellow “Party Pants” underwear.
The company, which sell items such as $448 Hethering Boating Blazers, plans to open about a dozen U.S. stores over the next eighteen months, U.S. president Jim Hardy said.
One typical group of collegiate consumers might not be shelling out to emulate the academic look any time soon: alumni, normally one of the target markets for such apparel.
“It’s fantastic for the school that this company is marketing F&M as a high-end brand,” said Adam Marcus, an F&M grad now working at a Boston venture-capital firm. “But it’s unfathomable that I would pay $265 for a sweatsuit that I got for free in college as a soccer player.”
To contact the reporter on this story: Matthew Boyle in London at email@example.com
To contact the editor responsible for this story: Celeste Perri in Amsterdam at firstname.lastname@example.org


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Cheki Ghana, an online market platform that deals in cars is holding its first ever Auto Fair at the Accra Polo Club to interact, create awareness and expose new auto models available.
The event, which ends on Sunday, July 26, would offer stakeholders in the Auto industry the opportunity to converge at one place to network and advertise their vehicles to the public.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, the Country Director of the Company, Eric Amoako-Twum pointed out that was part of his outfit’s plans to strengthen its relationship with car dealers.
He said: “This is an opportunity for the various stakeholders in the auto industry to converge in one place and have the opportunity to interact with other car dealers.
“This enables individuals to avail themselves of brand new vehicles, fairly used parts, and accessories and also since it’s an online platform, we create the avenue for people to see those behind the business.
“Once, this is done, it generates some level of comfort for people who are quite skeptical about online platforms that we have.”
Mr. Amoako-Twum admonished the public about fraudsters who are prevalent in the society and to be cautious in their dealings and possibly check any vehicle with a trusted mechanic and in a comfortable environment to be confident when transacting business.
The Marketing and Sales Consultant of Fairllop International Limited Ms Esi Sika Mamford who participated in the event added that: “We participated so people will know our brands which includes Morris Garages (MG) 3, 5, 6, 750 G6.”
“We seek to enlighten the public to know about our brand and also our existence in the country. This will bring a lot of awareness with people trooping in to look at the cars, the parts and its functions and to know the quality of our products,” he said.
The Chief Executive Officer of GAT Motors Theophilus Oware also noted that, his motive of involving in the Auto Fair is to up sales for his outfit and called on Ghanaians and potential buyers to throng to the Accra Polo Club, Airport.
Cheki Ghana has more than 13,000 vehicles on site, 500 car dealers, 70,000 people visiting the site every month with 1.2 million per view monthly. —GNA


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Despite the Regional District of Kootenay Boundary’s latest push to upgrade the composting capacity at its Grand Forks facility, the Boundary Community Food Bank is doing its best to divert any food from the landfill in the first place.
Last December, Save on Foods began sending all of its produce and near-sell-by-date perishables to the food bank, resulting in a diversion of more than 15 tonnes of food waste in the two months the program has been operating.
In December, the food bank was able to process, recover and use 4,674 kilograms of food, while a similar quantity was taken by farmers for feed and their own uses. In January, the sum dipped slightly, but still resulted in a total diversion of 7,556 kilograms of perishable food that would up on plates and at farms, instead of simply decomposing in the local landfill.
“The impact of food recovery is huge,” said Boundary Community Food Bank president Mike Wakelin. The organization saw a 30 per cent increase in demand last year, as compared to the year before.
By taking meat that is still good from Save on Foods, but is unable to be sold at the store, the food bank has increased its protein offerings by 400 per cent – from servings of tuna and peanut butter to ground beef and other cuts.


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Plastpol offers a golden opportunity for Poland and other countries that want to mark their serious presence in the European market
The processing industry keeps reacting to geopolitical changes and global trends; companies from all over the world prosper for new supply chains and fresh solutions. The objective is to find new outlet markets. PLASTPOL expo held in Kielce is one of the chances to expand and grow bigger. This year Plastpol commences on 23 May. The show offers a golden opportunity for Poland and other countries that want to mark their serious presence in the European market.
“Poland already boasts of having a highly developed processing sector, employing over 200,000 people. According to Plastics Europe data, the local plastics production volume is estimated to reach 1.7 million tons. Therefore, a large part of the demand is covered by imported raw materials. Therefore, PLASTPOL – Poland’s International Fair of Plastics and Rubber Processing has become a popular destination for companies looking for investment and development opportunities.” – says Jacek Szczerba, an industry expert representing TWORZYWA.PL.
The upcoming PLASTPOL promises to be a focal point for industry representatives and business insiders from all around the world; Now, more than 500 companies have already registered to exhibit at PLASTPOL, the event already occupies all the exhibition pavilions of the Kielce exhibition and congress centre. Turkey, Italy, India, Iran, Portugal, Germany and many more countries’ representatives will exhibit their products and services.
Asian processing companies want to rebuild their position in Europe. Thus the PLASTPOL expo is a perfect tool to pave the way to European markets. After three years break, Kielce hosts representatives of Japan, Taiwan and China. The exhibitors bring an extensive offer designed to attract contractors’ attention, which wakened during the pandemic.
Knowledge mine at Plastpol
2023 is marked by a closing of production cycles in the industry. The current technology makes it possible to make machines that practically use recycled plastics. Not only is this a pivotal change but also good news for the processing sector because it allows for a fundamental change in thinking about plastics processing.
The analyses of global institutions which are the industry insiders have proven this trend. – The plastics industry keeps developing and introducing new technologies to the manufacturing process; this encompasses more recyclate, less virgin materials, recyclable designs and better performance designed to protect food and beverages better, a significant reduction of waste – Matt Seaholm, president of Plastics Industry Association.
Italian industry representatives will also share their knowledge as the Plastpol participants are offered the chance to participate in the seminar on the prospects for the Italian plastics processing industry. Significantly, according to Amaplast data, Poland is ranked the third market by the Italian processing industry. Thus Poland is ahead of China and many other countries.
The PLASTECH INFO Technical Seminar is one of the accompanying events at this year’s
27th PLASTPOL Expo in Kielce. The finals are held on the second day of the expo – 24 May. The meeting is held under the banner of “Advanced Polymer Materials – Technologies, Processing, Applications”.
PLASTPOL 2023 also hosts the annual presentation of industry report – the PlasticsEurope Polska Foundation delivers the latest data. On top of that, the Foundation in conjunction with the Waste Management and Recycling Cluster – National Key Cluster, hold two conferences. The meetings discuss “Coalition for plastics recycling” and “Circular raw materials and products”.
More information can be found at: www.plastpol.com and on the Linkedin Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/plastpolfair
The Targi Kielce’s 28th International Fair of Plastics and Rubber Processing PLASTPOL is held in Targi Kielce from 23 to 26 May 2023.


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Android One could be launching as soon as October, Google Play Music comes to new countries and Apple partners with IBM to take on the enterprise market. This and more past the break.
New reports claim the first Android One device will be launching in October, in India. Sundar Pichai is said to be visiting the country soon, bringing more details on the project. There is much more coming from Google, though.
The Search giant is planning to invest about a billion Rupees (close to $16.7 million USD) in advertising. This would help launch Android One and take it to other levels. There are real benefits to Android One. This program will allow manufacturers to produce affordable smartphones without abandoning them soon afterwards.
Because these devices will cary near-stock Android, little customizations and Google-backed updates. This means these devices will get a treatment similar to the Nexus or Google Play Edition lines.
Opinion: We know most people were hyped over all the other announcements, but Android One could have been the most exciting news at Google IO. It will change the market and could be what takes Android to the next level.
Google is taking Play Music all over the world, and today it’s reaching 6 new countries! These are mostly South American, but we do get some surprising additions.
The new Google Play Music-supported markets include Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Peru and Ukraine. This does include All Access support, so don’t hesitate to give the whole Play Music experience a go!
Opinion: Google Play Music is kind of an important service. Not only for the Play Access addition, but the main service is kind of an important Google product. I can no longer imagine living without it, so enjoy it if you just got it!
Apple may be the king in mobile, but they are nowhere close to taking the enterprise market. This is why the iPhone maker has partnered with IBM to take on the business world. How will these two giants accomplish this?
The idea is that IBM, who has a stronger foothold on the enterprise market, will start selling Apple devices to companies. These would come with pre-installed apps that focus around business needs.
There will be new suite of apps made to cater to this market. In addition, Apple Care would be introduced to this market, as well as IBM device management.
Opinion: With BlackBerry going out, a new platform needs to take over the business demand. Will Apple and IBM take this market? I think they have good chances.


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Keeping fit is now vital part of vacation for 95.6 per cent of Indian holidaymakers, as Hotels.com reveals global fitness tourism obsession
Hotels.com has released new data revealing a new wave of young travellers who are swapping beaches and beers for action-packed, celebrity-inspired fitness getaways, with this season expected to see a boom in ‘welfies’ – workout selfies. Results from the Hotels.com Activacations Survey show that a whopping 95.6 per cent of 18-35 year olds in India now consider keeping fit one of the most important parts of their holiday experience.
The survey carried out by travel experts shows that the rise of the ‘acti-vacation’ is also down to a barrage of social media ‘fit-fluencers’ who are combining sun, sea and sport. Social media is poised for the ‘welfie’ to make waves this summer with young holidaymakers now more likely to upload a photo of them engaging in outdoor sports (15 per cent) than a swimwear shot (10 per cent).
Indian millennial travellers are generally looking for richer, more unusual holiday experiences and admit that they use exercise to meet new people (38 per cent) and explore new places from an alternative perspective (29.8 per cent). Wanting to keep a jolly mood through the vacation (55 per cent) and keeping a check on holiday weight (32.7 per cent) also ranked highly as reasons for workout motivation.
Many Indian holidaymakers are happy to give up top-notch food (75.6 per cent), relaxing, (61 per cent), sightseeing (36.6 per cent) and even alcohol (15.3 per cent) to get their fitness fix on vacation. Fitness is now so ingrained in the holiday experience, demand for superior fitness experiences from hotels has also reached a new high. Free access to all excerise facilities (71.6 per cent), state-of-the-art fitness facilities (23.6 per cent), personal training (33.3 per cent), healthy menus (37 per cent) and complimentary massages after excerise (23.3 per cent) all feature high on the hotel wish list.
Whilst men seek to take part in extreme physical activities on vacation, such as boxing (17.2 per cent), beach hiking (36.6 per cent) and wakeboarding (19.9 per cent), majority of Indian women are opting for holistic wellness holidays with meditation (53.2 per cent), laughter yoga (40.3 per cent) and pilates (45.8 per cent) topping the activacation agenda. Running emerged as a clear winner amongst Indian travellers with an astounding 84 per cent of men and 80.7 per cent of women voting it as a preffered activity when on vacation.
The top five activities travellers would be prepared to try are:
Jessica Chuang, director, regional marketing – Greater China, SEA and India, Hotels.com, says, “We love that people are seeing sport as a way to have more rewarding holiday experiences. There’s been a real evolution in holiday priorities and millennial travellers in particular now demand more from a trip. They want deals and perks when they book, like collecting a free night for every 10 nights stayed with Hotels.com Rewards, and fulfilling experiences where they see destinations from a fresh and unique perspective. Social media plays a key role too, as young travellers want to share their life in the touch of a button, and fitness is the latest trend they’re embracing and Instagramming.”
She added, “Fitness options are now so important that millennials are choosing hotels based on how they’ll help them keep fit on vacation – and hotels are really upping their game. From tree house spin studios in St Lucia to guided running tours around Morocco, there are some incredible opportunities for a completely individual acti-vacation.”


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Priceline Group Inc.'s hotel and car bookings picked up speed in the second quarter despite a shrinking euro-to-dollar exchange rate that sapped its earnings.
Economic challenges in Europe, China and elsewhere apparently did little to dim vacationers' appetite for travel as gross bookings, or the value of all travel services purchased, rose 11% to $15 billion. Growth in the number in hotel rooms sold accelerated to 26%, while rental car days increased 20.1%.
"For a business our size, that's a pretty big deal," Chief Executive Darren Huston said in an interview, adding that the recent Greek fiscal crisis had little effect on the company's overall business in Europe.
Shares of Priceline climbed nearly 5% to $1,346.77 in recent trading, nearing an all-time high set in March 2014.
After relying on hotel booking commissions for growth over the past decade, Priceline is now looking for more new revenue streams. Its 2014 acquisition of OpenTable expanded the online travel giant's offerings into a new field of restaurant reservations. In May, the company agreed to buy hotel-data company PriceMatch and it has also increased its stake in China's Ctrip.com International Ltd., to grow its footprint in the world's largest outbound-travel market.
Priceline's revenue numbers were weighed down by a strengthening dollar that makes its overseas earnings lose value when converted into dollars. The biggest share of Priceline's profits come from its Booking.com brand, a website that dominates the online travel business in Europe. Total revenue grew 7.4% to $2.28 billion, compared with 26% growth in the same quarter last year.
Priceline issued a weaker forecast of third-quarter growth, a slowdown the company attributed partly to the lingering effects of currency translation.
Personnel costs, online advertising and other expenses also weighed on Priceline's bottom line in the June quarter. Its earnings fell to $517 million from $576.5 million a year earlier.
Write to Chelsey Dulaney at Chelsey.Dulaney@wsj.com and Drew FitzGerald at firstname.lastname@example.org
Subscribe to WSJ: http://online.wsj.com?mod=djnwires


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Quality Fleet Service, Inc. , based in South Hadley, Mass., has joined the Bell Trucks America team.
The company was in search of an articulated truck line to round out its heavy construction equipment offerings and Bell was a perfect match, according to Nicholas Moynihan, president of Quality Fleet Service.
As the newest generation of articulated dump trucks, the Doosan DA30-5 and DA45-5 represent the latest enhancements to articulated dump truck (ADT) performance, reliability, operator comfort and serviceability.
In conjunction with ConExpo-Con/AGG 2020, Doosan Infracore North America LLC announced the two newest models in its ADT lineup.
Built with the next generation cab, powerful engine meeting the current emissions standards andautomatic features to elevate productivity, the new Cat 725 articulated truck sets the market standard of excellence for articulated trucks, the company stated.
Introduced at bauma 2019, the all-new Hydrema 707G is a class size that essentially straddles the classification of articulated truck and site dumper. The Danish manufacturer designed this smaller-sized truck based on its 912 dump truck and incorporated features that meets or exceeds current world-wide safety specs for site dumpers, according to the manufacturer.
Terex Trucks' 28-tonne upgraded TA300 articulated hauler is making its first international trade show appearance and taking pride of place on the company's stand at bauma Munich 2019.
The recently updated Terex Trucks TA300 articulated hauler is making its first international trade show appearance on the company's outdoor stand: FN 720/9 at bauma in Germany.
Caterpillar unveiled a wide range of 24 new products and services during a two-day year-end press briefing Nov. 14 and 15 at Edwards Demonstration and Learning Center, outside of Peoria, Ill. This was the highest number of unveilings Cat has ever made during one press event, nearly doubling its previous high of 14.
In a year of multiple significant milestones for Cat mining and infrastructure trucks, Caterpillar announced delivery of its 50,000th articulated truck from its Peterlee, U.K., manufacturing facility. Since the start of Cat branded articulated truck manufacturing in 1985, Caterpillar has become an industry leader of the articulated truck design.
With confidence in the investment returns that Terex Trucks' machines offer, mining contractor Barhaul has purchased a new 30.8 ton (28 t) capacity TA300 articulated dump truck, for use in a barite mine near Aberfeldy in Perthshire, Scotland. Supplied by Terex Trucks' UK distributor, TDL Equipment, the TA300 has consistently impressed Barhaul with its ability to power through the harshest environments.
Komatsu America Corp.'s HD325-8 and HD405-8 off-highway trucks are equipped with an EPA Tier IV Final certified engine and feature increased horsepower and a new Komatsu Traction Control System (KTCS) to achieve improved productivity. These models have payload capacities of 40.3 tons (36.5 t) and 44.1 tons (40 t), respectively.
Offering a 45.2 -ton (41-t) rated payload capacity, the new Cat 745 articulated truck features a modern cab design, completely re-engineered from the inside-out using global operator feedback to advance comfort and ease of operation. The new external “spinal” ROPS structure boasts bonded rear quarter glass that eliminates the structural pillar to give the operator a dramatic improvement in visibility from the cab.


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According to a press release, the Peterborough location will “serve as Bobcaygeon’s Innovation Lab, with a focus on small batch and
unique brews,” and will feature a taproom and retail store.
Work will also continue on the primary Bobcaygeon Brewing facility, which was announced in 2017, and is due to open in the historic Old Post Office building in the brewery’s namesake town later this year.
Bobcaygeon Brewing was launched in 2015 as a contact brewer, and has two flagship brands – Common Loon APA and Dockside Red Ale – available across Ontario, as well as a number of seasonal brands.
Source: Bobcaygeon Brewing press release


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FSB Wales has today welcomed the announcement by Welsh Government of a new package of support for smaller businesses in Wales.
The support, part of which is targeted at addressing some of the pressing skills shortages currently challenging sectors such as logistics and hospitality as well as supporting businesses in the move to decarbonise, comes at a critical juncture as Welsh businesses begin efforts to re-build and grow following the challenges of the Covid pandemic.
Speaking about the announcement, Ben Francis, Policy Chair at FSB Wales stated:
‘While the Coronavirus Pandemic is far from over, as businesses continue to recover from the pressures of the last 19 months, it is welcome that Welsh Government is to deliver support which will help those businesses turn a page and move to the next chapter. We’re pleased to see that Welsh Government have listened to our concerns about skills pressures in key sectors of our economy and that part of this money will be targeted at addressing some of those challenges.
This money will also help ‘de-risk’ some of the financial pressure of investment and innovation and help businesses look to new processes and opportunities. However, with the Christmas period almost upon us, we now need to move fast to ensure that business owners are aware of this opportunity to encourage them to bring forward proposals to be funded. We look forward to hearing further details on the conditions and funding criteria very soon.
Local Government in Wales played a crucial role in getting support to businesses during the worst of the Pandemic and particularly during the lockdowns and so we’re pleased that expertise and network will again be used to ensure that this money gets onto the ground and is locally-responsive as quickly as possible.
However, we know that the cost pressures on smaller businesses have increased substantially in recent months and a hike in the cost of employment looming next April in the shape of increased National Insurance contributions and with more likely rises in energy costs, further support will be needed to ensure that regrowth and recovery is put on a more permanent footing. Welsh Government has an opportunity to offset those cost pressures further in the forthcoming Budget process by ensuring the continuation of the Business Rates holiday which is due to expire at the end of this financial year. We would urge Government to move soon to confirm further Business Rates support alongside this latest package of funding’
As experts in business, FSB offers members a wide range of vital business services, including advice, financial expertise, support and a powerful voice in Government. Its aim is to help smaller businesses achieve their ambitions.


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If you ever felt like your Girl Scout cookies don’t always taste the same, you could be right.
It turns out that the cookies are made in two different bakeries – one in Kentucky and the other in Virginia.
As a result, officials say the cookies can end up tasting and even looking a little different.
There are also different names for the same cookie, depending on where you live, such as Caramel Delights and Samosas.
(Copyright (c) 2018 Sunbeam Television. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)


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Surfshark, a well-known VPN app, has taken a big step by officially launching on the Microsoft Store for Windows users.
Surfshark’s listing in the Microsoft Store is primarily aimed at expanding the accessibility of its VPN app to a broader user base. By offering your app on this platform, Windows users can easily access Surfshark’s full services and enjoy its online privacy and security benefits.
By downloading the Surfshark VPN app through the Microsoft Store, users benefit from increased security and protection. By eliminating the risk of encountering rogue or malicious applications, users can rest assured that they are using the authentic and safe version of Surfshark. This ensures the protection of your online activities and the security of your personal information.
Although Surfshark is now available on the Microsoft Store, the company has ensured accessibility on other platforms as well. Android and iOS users can download the app via the Google Play Store and App Store, respectively. Furthermore, Surfshark is also available for desktop Linux users. This demonstrates the company’s commitment to providing security and privacy online no matter what platform users choose.
Surfshark and NordVPN
It is important to remember that both giants of the VPN world began their merger in February of last year. They joined forces through a merger to strengthen their position in the cybersecurity industry. This merger represents the combination of two experts in the field, and its objective is to establish itself as a powerful reference in Internet security and privacy.
The merger agreement between Nord Security and Surfshark was the result of Nord Security’s recognition of Surfshark’s rapid growth and the experience and professionalism of its team. By coming together, both companies seek to strategically align and more effectively meet the needs of their customers, as well as prepare for future challenges in the field of online security.
Importantly, despite the merger, Nord Security and Surfshark will continue to operate independently, maintaining their own infrastructure and product roadmaps. Both brands will continue to serve their respective user bases and improve their products separately.
NordVPN affiliate link: Click here


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King, the app developer behind popular game Candy Crush Saga, sparked controversy this week when it started issuing takedown notices to several games that had the word “candy” in their title. However in a statement released today, King denies that it’s trying to take down every single candy-related game from the App Store and it says that it only trademarked the word “candy” to protect itself against blatant copycats of its popular game.
“We have trademarked the word ‘CANDY’ in the EU, as our IP is constantly being infringed and we have to enforce our rights and to protect our players from confusion,” the company explains. “We don’t enforce against all uses of CANDY – some are legitimate and of course, we would not ask App developers who use the term legitimately to stop doing so.”
The company then explains specifically why it decided to issue a takedown notice to the game Candy Casino Slots.
Below is the icon that’s currently being used by Candy Casino Slots:
This is Candy Crush Saga’s App Store icon:
We’ll leave it up to you to decide whether they’re similar enough to confuse Candy Crush Saga players.


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To enjoy the full Mail & Guardian online experience: please upgrade your browser
01 Jan 2002 00:00
Microsoft Corporation will reveal hundreds of pieces of proprietary computer code from its monopoly Windows operating system in the next several weeks to comply with an antitrust settlement it signed with the US Justice Department last year, the company said on Monday.
The software giant said the disclosures are part of its first steps to comply with the settlement that must still be approved by a federal judge and is still opposed by nine state attorneys general seeking stiffer sanctions.
Microsoft plans to disclose 385 pieces of computer code and internal operating rules, previously kept secret, that outside developers can use to write programs to run on Windows.
But Brad Smith, a Microsoft senior vice president, told reporters during a conference call that, “It is probably too early to really determine how this will affect us and how it will affect our competitors.”
A representative for California Attorney General Bill Lockyer said officials were awaiting industry comment to gauge the effect of the disclosures. “We obviously believe there needs to be tougher remedies,” said Sandy Michioku.
In its original case against Microsoft, the Justice Department and 18 states had accused the company of deliberately withholding computer code in Windows to hamper competitors.
Microsoft reached a deal with the Justice Department in November.
Nine of the 18 states in the lawsuit agreed to sign on to the deal, but nine others are asking US District Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly for tougher restrictions.
Microsoft said that, in addition to 272 pieces of code, it also would reveal 113 proprietary software “protocols” that computer server makers can license to make their machines work better with Windows desktops.
UNIFORM TERMS, CUSTOMISED WINDOWS
The company said new, uniform terms for the licensing of Windows went into effect August 1.
Microsoft also said upcoming updates of the new Windows XP operating system will allow computer makers and consumers to add and remove access to some Windows features such as Microsoft’s Internet Explorer, Windows media player, and Outlook Express.
The provisions were central to Microsoft’s settlement with the Justice Department, which the department says is designed to let computer makers customise the machines they sell with more non-Microsoft software.
The Justice Department said it was reviewing the licensing terms for revealing the protocols “to determine whether they are compliant with the terms of the proposed consent decree.”
The dissenting states say their remedies would close loopholes in the Justice Department settlement and force Microsoft to sell a cheaper, stripped-down version of Windows, which could be customised by rival software makers.
In their final arguments before Kollar-Kotelly, the states said their most important demand was for Microsoft to disclose far more about the inner workings of Windows.
The nine states still pursuing the case are California, Connecticut, Florida, Iowa, Kansas, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Utah, West Virginia, plus the District of Columbia.
Microsoft’s critics in the computer industry were unmoved.
“They’re still retaining for themselves complete control over what they release, when they release it and what is suitable subject matter for release,” Ken Wasch, head of the Software & Information Industry Association said in a telephone interview with Reuters.
Wasch said that during the trial Microsoft took the position it was already disclosing enough technical information to software developers. “Were they lying to us then, or are they lying to us now?” Wasch said.
Microsoft representative Jim Desler said the company has always provided enough technical disclosure to software developers. “These are just additional disclosures, obviously required by the consent decree,” Desler said.
Microsoft has criticised the non-settling states’ proposal as radical and harmful to consumers.
Microsoft said on Monday there was one Windows “programming interface” and one server protocol it would still keep secret for security reasons.
In a landmark ruling on the case in June 2001, a federal appeals court dismissed parts of the government’s case, but upheld a lower court’s conclusion that Microsoft had used illegal tactics to maintain its Windows monopoly.
Microsoft has told the judge it would be catastrophic if other companies got too much access to the inner workings of the operating system.
It said that would allow them to “clone” Windows, prompting Microsoft to stop investing in research and development on the operating system. - Reuters
Create Account | Lost Your Password?


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Hushmail teams up with Comodo to provide SSL Certificates
Comodo Inc, a global leader in Identity and Trust Assurance Management solutions today announced it had secured an exclusive agreement to provide Hushmail; the worlds first secure web-based email service, with the PKI infrastructure needed to supply SSL certificates to its client base.
The agreement provides Hushmail with the immediate ability to sell their own branded SSL Certificates and to integrate the new certificate offering into their existing customer product portfolio. Comodo will operate the back end issuance and validation infrastructure.
Ben Cutler, CEO of Hush Communications said “by partnering with Comodo we were able to easily add the Comodo SSL certificate product range to our service portfolio, our customers will benefit by being able to fulfill a wider selection of their online security requirements from one vendor, achieving greater savings in the process”.
James Langman, VP Business Development Comodo Inc., believes the agreement will help Hushmail clients cut costs and streamline operations; “Hushmail and Comodo have always been partners in terms of philosophy; sharing the conviction that online communications and transactions demand the highest level of identity and trust assurance processes to mitigate internet fraud, Phishing and identify theft.”
Comodo were chosen because of their unique ability to provide the secure EPKI infrastructure within the Powered Partner program. The program allows companies to provide privately labeled 128-bit industry standard SSL Certificates and web identity products directly to end customers through their own branded interfaces. As a result, Hushmail can retain and leverage a consistent brand identity across the new service whilst their customers benefit from a single point of purchase for high assurance, high speed, low cost digital certificates.
Hush Communications is the leading global provider of managed secure email and storage solutions. Hush Communications Corporation is incorporated in the U.S. with operations in Vancouver, Canada, and Dublin, Ireland, Austin, Texas, and Anguilla, BWI. Hush is the provider of Hushmail and Hushmail Business, the worldwide standards in secure messaging. For more information, visit the website at http://www.hushmail.com.
Comodo is a leading global provider of trust and assurance services for the Internet with leading edge integrated solutions to address emerging needs in identity management, security and digital authentication. Today, more than 150,000 customers in over 100 countries rely on Comodo to deliver essential trust services through a portfolio of patented solutions for identity assurance and digital e-commerce all differentiated by a low TCO. Powered by Comodo’s Digital Trust Lab (DTL), Comodo is helping enterprises around the world protect the integrity of their brand strengthening customer trust and confidence in digital ecommerce while also creating efficiencies across their digital operations. Comodo’s industry leading, scalable solutions include integrated web hosting management solutions, infrastructure security services, digital e-business services, digital certification, identity assurance, customer privacy and vulnerability management solutions. For more information, visit Comodo – Creating Trust OnlineÃ¢â€ž? – www.comodo.com.


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As we get closer to the next generation iPhone launch, more parts seem to be leaking out.
Apple.pro has found a photo on PhotoBucket, which reportedly shows a full-assembled next generation iPhone front assembly.
A closer look at the image reveals a component that we haven’t seen before. Macotakara believes that the component could be near field communication (NFC) chip next to the front facing camera.
AppleInsider also points out that the square component covered by EMI shielding is in line with the dimensions of currently available NFC packages like NXP’s 5 millimeter-by-5 millimeter solution.
In previous “leaked” photos, Apple was shown to have swapped the locations of the rumored handset’s front-facing camera and IR proximity sensor, thus leaving a sizable space to the left of the earpiece.
iOS 6 comes with a new Passbook application to collect stuff like boarding passes, movie tickets, shopping cards etc. that you’d normally keep in your pocket or wallet. If Apple’s 6th generation iPhone has NFC chips then Passbook could turn it into a digital wallet. It could allow users to store credit card, bank, or other digital payment information on the new iPhone via the Passbook app and conduct transactions securely using NFC with authorized devices.
As we noted earlier:
If Apple can make its 400 million credit card holding customers comfortable with the idea of using their iTunes account for real world purchases, NFC would just be another technology that works behind the scenes.
We’ve heard that Apple was adopting a wait and watch approach towards mobile payments, however the fact that Apple’s CEO Tim Cook has said that the Passbook app is a key feature of iOS during the company’s conference call for the third fiscal quarter of 2012, seems to indicate that the NFC could be one of the major new features of Apple’s new iPhone.
What do you think?


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- New website lets users check if their online credentials were exposed in large data leaks
- Conventional insurance may not cover cyber security breaches: Centre for Internet Safety
- JP Morgan suffers cyber attack, 465,000 card customer details stolen
- PayPal DDoS attackers plead guilty, some may walk free
- 'ZeroAccess' click-fraud botnet disrupted, but not dead yet
- MenuetOS inches towards 1.0
- Senate orders release of Coalition's NBN review
- Brandis quizzed over PM's understanding of metadata
- Black Friday bargains prompt consumers to self-gift iPad Air
- US faces major Internet image problem, former gov't official says
riverbed in pictures
Upstarts Exinda and Ipanema challenge network optimisation kingpin, Riverbed
WAN optimization-as-a-service provider Aryaka has announced an aggressive buyback program that targets competitor Riverbed's customers, adding a new point of contention to an already heated rivalry.
Cisco this week extended the software capabilities of its ISR branch routers with previously separate security and application performance features, including WAN optimization.
Despite a substantial decline in Riverbed's stock price after the news of its $1 billion acquisition of Opnet this week, industry experts say that the buyout leaves Riverbed in a uniquely strong position in the network management arena.
A Riverbed software upgrade means more efficient distribution of video over WANs and optimizing traffic that runs over satellite links.
Cybercriminals have increasingly turned their attention to the web, which has become by far the predominant area of attack. Those who would do harm to our computer systems for profit or malice always manage to focus their efforts on our most vulnerable weak spots. Today, that is the web, for a wide number of reasons. Download to find out why and what you can do to protect yourself.
Microsoft Security Essentials provides your home PC with real-time protection. It constantly uses the latest technology ensuring that you will always stay up to date ...
Think back to the last time all your employees were in the office, at their desks, on the same day. It’s no surprise that you might struggle, between travel and off-site meetings, remote staff, flexible schedules and sick days. In today's competitive business climate, organisations need to maintain productivity and connectedness with their staff, despite not always being onsite. In this whitepaper, we look at five ways you can improve productivity, no matter where employees are.
- Distracted consumers spend less time on social than email marketing: Report
- New report busts myths about millennials and their digital and social behaviour
- Twitter gobbles up more cookies with retargeted ads, says users have privacy choices
- How to start the journey towards customer-centricity
- Gaining efficiency around search-based marketing: REA Group's keyword quest


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News & Press Releases
Press Release: PTWs exempt from Nottingham’s new parking scheme
17th April 2012
Motorcycles, scooters and mopeds are exempt from Nottingham’s new parking scheme Nottingham City Council’s new Workplace Parking Levy gives yet another reason for commuters to switch from four wheels to two - for their journey to work.
Press Release: New help for motorcycle customers to avoid hidden costs and faulty bikes
5th April 2012
If it’s too good to be true – it might just be. That’s the main message behind a new scheme to protect motorcycle consumers from rogue traders.
Press Release: Commuters Beat Petrol Prices with Super Fuel-efficient Scooters
2nd April 2012
The latest registration figures from the MCI (Motorcycle Industry Association) show the most popular scooter for February was a model which does up to 146 miles per gallon (52 km/l).
Launch of Buy With Confidence Scheme
1st April 2012
The MCI launched its Buy With Confidence Scheme on 1st April 2012.


text: After receiving a Freeze-Drying licence, GMP Pharmaceuticals opened a new Freeze Dry department at the new Huntingwood headquarters. This makes GMP the first company in Australia to produce and manufacture pharmaceutical grade freeze-dried dairy health and functional food products for sale in the domestic and export markets. The creation of the Freeze-Drying department is in line with growing market trends, with new markets interested nutritious food instead of pill supplements. Freeze drying – and pharmaceutical grade freeze drying – is very good at preserving the nutrition and flavours of food. GMP have very high standards, so everything will be made to a pharmaceutical grade standard.


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RELIEF FUND LAUNCHED TO AID DOWNTOWN MONTPELIER BUSINESSES
Eligible businesses will have access to grants to help offset the economic crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Montpelier, Vt. — The Montpelier Development Corporation (MDC) with one of its partners the Montpelier Foundation (MF) announced today the launch of the Montpelier Economic Need and Distress (MEND) Fund. The MEND Fund was created last week to respond to the burden faced by downtown businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic and the State of Vermont’s subsequent ‘Stay Home, Stay Safe’ order. MEND will provide funding the form of grants to assist with their recovery and revitalization efforts during this time of to downtown storefront businesses in unprecedented economic hardship.
“Everyone involved in the creation of the Fund understands the importance of Montpelier’s downtown businesses,” said Michael Nobles, President and CEO of Union Mutual Insurance Company, and member of the Board of the MDC. “When I reached out to my peers at Vermont Mutual, National Life, Northfield Savings Bank, and Noyle W. Johnson, they immediately expressed their support.” Collectively, those five companies are hoping that the over $200,000 that they have already pledged to the Fund will be matched with additional donations from other businesses and individuals.
Amounts raised by the Fund will be provided to businesses in the form of grants that will be awarded without restrictions. Any first floor store front in Montpelier’s Designated Downtown with fewer than four locations is eligible. The store is asked to make a pledge to stay open or to reopen when it is safe to do so.
“The fund is a welcome relief for us,” said Claire Benedict, co-owner of Bear Pond Books. “There are so many pressures being a small business owner right now and we are so grateful for the assistance from MEND. MEND is truly representative of the Montpelier spirit of supporting local business and the downtown. The grant will help ease some of the anxiety of these difficult times while we make sure our staff and patrons can remain safe. This will provide a much needed and appreciated relief.”
Businesses seeking financial assistance from the MEND Fund can use the MDC website (https://www.mdc-vermont.com/mend-covid-relief) to sign and submit their pledge by June 5th for review by MDC. Businesses will get their grants before the end of June. Tax-deductible donations to the MEND Fund may be made by going to https://www.mdc-vermont.com/mend-covid-relief.
“Montpelier, like all Vermont downtowns, is a community center where city’s conversations and commerce happen so helping our downtown sends positive ripples throughout the local ecosystem,” said Bill Kaplan, Chair of the Board of the Montpelier Development Corporation. “We want to do whatever we can to prevent COVID-19 failures from happening in Montpelier and believe this could be a model for the State.”
“The generosity of these donors is overwhelming,” said Wes Hamilton, co-founder and co-owner of Three Penny Taproom. “It’s a reminder of how lucky we are to be a part of this community.”


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11 Mar Domino’s Pizza Japanese app features Vocaloid singer Hatsune Miku
Pretty cool: Domino’s Pizza goes all in on mobile tech wizardry — at least for its Japanese market — with a new app featuring Hatsune Miku, a Vocaloid, synthetic/anime J-pop persona that’s entirely digital. According to a new video that has Domino’s Japan CEO Scott Oelkers introducing the app, Domino’s staff came up with songs for the app, and the Vocaloid software program generated the singing by the animated star Miku. Pretty cool…. wonder if Domino’s will be able to come up with an English-language US version, and if young Americans would order their pizza from a singing app?


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Grocery delivery gets a target market
The ideal grocery delivery customer is young and rich, new data from CivicScience shows.
Why it matters: Companies like Amazon and Walmart are investing further in grocery delivery and the data show who their target demographic could be.
- The research shows "Amazon has captured the attention and interest from more potential customers."
Details: The increase in the number of people 18–24 who use and like grocery delivery is a shift from last year, when enthusiasm about the services was split among age groups, CivicScience analysts note. While the youngest adults lead the way in adopting this tool, those aged 35-54 lead with intent to use.
- The interest gap between income levels is intuitive given the markup and delivery fees, but the higher participation from Gen Z, who are often the lowest earners, is explained by a reliance on "immediate gratification and saving time," the analysts note.
The intrigue: Respondents who have used and like grocery store delivery also report favoring specialty stores such as Whole Foods and Trader Joe’s. However, the greatest interest comes from those who shop at stores known for lower prices, like Sam’s Club and Walmart.
- "This echoes the data around price, suggesting that there is plenty of room for expansion in the direction of affordable, accessible stores."


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Bitcoin in the Mainstream: Navigating Adoption Trends and Overcoming Challenges 2024
Bitcoin, once considered an experimental digital currency, has gradually evolved into a mainstream financial asset with growing acceptance and recognition. This article explores the current trends and challenges surrounding the adoption of Bitcoin, shedding light on the factors that have propelled its entrance into the mainstream financial landscape.
Rising Institutional Interest:
In recent years, institutional interest in Bitcoin has surged, marking a significant shift in perception. Established financial institutions, investment funds, and corporations are allocating portions of their portfolios to Bitcoin, recognizing its potential as a hedge against inflation and a store of value. This institutional endorsement has contributed to Bitcoin’s credibility and mainstream acceptance.
Payment Integration and Merchant Adoption:
Increasingly, businesses are starting to accept Bitcoin as a means of payment. From small businesses to global corporations, the integration of Bitcoin payments is expanding, providing users with more options to utilize their cryptocurrency holdings in everyday transactions. This trend is fostering the integration of Bitcoin into mainstream economic activities.
Bitcoin ATMs and Accessibility:
The proliferation of Bitcoin ATMs worldwide is making it easier for individuals to buy and sell Bitcoin using traditional currency. These ATMs provide a bridge between the digital and physical worlds, allowing users to access Bitcoin conveniently. The growth of this infrastructure is a testament to the increasing demand for accessibility to cryptocurrencies.
Regulatory clarity is crucial for the mainstream adoption of any financial instrument. Bitcoin has faced a diverse regulatory landscape globally, with some countries embracing it and others imposing restrictions. As regulatory frameworks evolve, they play a pivotal role in shaping the future of Bitcoin adoption, influencing investor confidence and market dynamics.
Despite its growing popularity, Bitcoin remains a complex and relatively novel concept for many. Educational initiatives and awareness campaigns are essential to demystify Bitcoin and blockchain technology, fostering a better understanding among the general public. Increased knowledge can dispel misconceptions and contribute to wider adoption.
Bitcoin’s price volatility remains a concern for both retail and institutional investors. While some see it as an opportunity for significant returns, others view it as a barrier to mainstream adoption. Stabilizing the price could be a key challenge for broader acceptance.
As the number of Bitcoin transactions grows, scalability becomes a pressing issue. The current blockchain architecture faces limitations in terms of transaction speed and cost. Solutions such as the Lightning Network aim to address these challenges, but their widespread implementation is still underway.
Security and Regulatory Uncertainty:
Security risks, including hacking and fraud, persist in the cryptocurrency space. Regulatory uncertainty, particularly in terms of taxation and compliance, can deter businesses and individuals from fully embracing Bitcoin.
Bitcoin’s journey into the mainstream is marked by significant milestones, with increasing adoption, institutional interest, and integration into traditional financial systems. However, challenges such as price volatility, scalability, and regulatory uncertainty still pose hurdles. As the cryptocurrency ecosystem continues to mature, addressing these challenges will be crucial for Bitcoin to solidify its position as a mainstream financial asset.


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Ernst & Young has named Linglong Tire’s Wang Feng one of its entrepreneurs of the year in China. The tyre maker’s chairman and president was one of the ten award recipients at the 15th Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year Award China ceremony, which was held in Shenzhen on 18 December 2020.
A signing ceremony between Linglong Group and Qingdao University of Science and Technology (QUST) on 10 November paves the way for long-term cooperation between the two parties. So far Linglong has shared only a few details of the agreement, however it appears it covers training programmes as well as technological exchanges.
Shandong Linglong Tire recently unveiled a new range of bio-based rubber tyres. Developed in joint collaboration with Beijing University of Chemical Technology over the past three years, the tyres utilise a number of sustainable rubber ingredients.
The five-year-old sponsorship arrangement between Linglong Tire and German Bundesliga club VfL Wolfsburg has been given a further boost with a two-year extension of the 2019-initiated sleeve partnership. The continued presence of the Linglong logo on the left sleeve of players’ jerseys through to 2022 complements a partnership that also includes advertising on stadium LED boards, cam carpets, matchday hospitality and digital services.
Linglong Tire aims to become a top-five tyre maker by 2030. It voices this goal in a recently-published document outlining the company’s mid- and long-term strategy. Specifically, it intends to increase tyre production to 160 million pieces a year within the next decade, and by doing so grow annual sales revenues to more than RMB 80 billion (£9.1 billion).
Next week it’ll be a year since Shandong Linglong Tyre Co., Ltd. officially launched its project to build a new tyre factory in Serbia. Today the tyre maker is working with its new host country in a way unimaginable 12 months ago. It donated 300,000 disposable surgical masks, 2,000 sets of medical protective clothing, and 10,000 COVID-19 antibody test kits to the Serbian government yesterday via the country’s embassy in China.
Linglong Tire has been working hard to make good production shortfalls resulting from the coronavirus outbreak. The tyre maker reports that it shipped a record 280,000 tyres on 29 February, with nearly 300 employees working over the weekend at several of Linglong’s sites in China to ensure as many deliveries as possible.
This year got off to a good start, says Linglong Tire. Between 7 and 9 January, a team from Man Truck & Bus visited the Linglong International Tire (Thailand) Co., Ltd facility in Rayong, Thailand. The MAN team, responsible for auditing potential suppliers, spent three days at the truck and bus tyre plant. After it passed the MAN potential supplier audit, the team entered the facility into the MAN supplier system.
Positive experiences with original equipment tyres play an important role when it comes to choosing replacement tyres, and leading tyre makers therefore strive to gain approvals with OEMs. Linglong Tire recently scored a coup when FAW Group chose its tyres for what’s arguably China’s most expensive car, the Hongqi L5.
A ceremony was held on 11 January to officially inaugurate car tyre production at the Hubei Linglong Tire Co., Ltd. facility in Jingmen, China. The event was held in the same location where TBR tyre production was commissioned in December and was attended by nearly 600 guests.
Linglong Tire has begun making car tyres at its newest factory in China. These first Linglong Crosswind 4×4 HP tyres from the Hubei Linglong Tire Co. Ltd. car tyre plant in Jingmen were produced on 30 December, five weeks after the production of truck and bus radial tyres commenced. Company employees and local dignitaries were on hand to witness the occasion.
Linglong Tire has entered into a cooperative agreement with Chinese car-making joint venture company SGMW. The new partnership commenced with the signing of a strategic cooperation framework agreement at SGMW’s headquarters on 30 December. Under the agreement, the two parties will collaborate on product design, development, application, quality assurance, cost optimisation and manufacturing over a long-term basis.
On 21 December, Linglong Tire signed a tripartite strategic agreement with Tencent Cloud and Shenzhen Huazhi Technology Group. The tyre maker hopes that this deal, signed by the three parties at Tencent’s global headquarters, will help it build a “global industrial service platform and intelligent retail platform.”
Several weeks after entering operation, TBR production at the Hubei Linglong Tire Co., Ltd. factory in Jingmen, China was officially commissioned yesterday. Linglong Tire reports that nearly 600 guests, including government and industry representatives, attended a ceremony to mark the occasion.
Linglong Tire has withdrawn its support for the NBA China Games, which are taking place in Shanghai and Shenzhen this week. In a Chinese-language press release, the tyre maker stresses that the interests of the motherland, the People’s Republic of China, take precedence over everything else.


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HMD Global, a startup that designs and builds Nokia Android smartphones, wants to put the Nokia brand name back “where it belongs.” It helps that it’s made up of ex-Nokia employees. We go behind the scenes to see how HMD formed.
Waiting for Android updates can be a real chore -- but it's nothing compared to the work manufacturers have to do. HMD Global has released an infographic showing how Android updates like Android Pie are cooked.
The Nokia 6.1 was our favorite budget phone of 2018, so we were always going to get excited when details of a successor came to light. However, the Nokia 6.2 will exceed those expectations if leaks are true.
Nokia will be looking to kick off 2019 will a cracker of a phone, and the Nokia 8.1 Plus could be that phone. From the rumored pinhole display to the Zeiss cameras, here's everything we know about the Nokia 8.1 Plus.
The Nokia 9 PureView may be one of the most unusual-looking phones currently rumored for release, due to its five-lens camera (and two additional sensors) setup on the back. Here's what we know so far.
At $350, the Nokia 7.1 is a nearly perfect budget phone. It has a gorgeous body, good hardware, and a capable camera. Recently purchased the Nokia 7.1? Here are a few of our favorite tips and tricks to get you started with your new phone.
Call Nokia the comeback king, because it's put out some great smartphones in the last few years. The Nokia 7.1 is the latest of these, but it still needs protecting. Here are the best Nokia 7.1 cases to keep it safe.
HMD Global has taken the wraps off of the new Nokia 5.1, 3.1, and 2.1. The three phones boast improved specs over their predecessors from last year, along with larger displays. Each also runs on Android One and Android Go.
Nokia's mobile game has been strong lately, and that strong streak doesn't seem to be coming to an end, if leaks of the upcoming Nokia 7.1 Plus are to be believed. Here's absolutely everything we know about the Nokia 7.1 Plus.
After repurchasing itself from Nokia, Withings is back with the new Steel HR Sport fitness tracker. The hybrid sports watch may look familiar, but any resemblances to Nokia's Steel HR are only skin-deep.
How far off is a good night sleep? With the aid of the Nokia Sleep Sensing & Home Automation Pad, a more restful night is just in reach. Better yet, the app will help you prove you don’t snore as much as your significant other might…
Nokia's busting back into the budget market with the Nokia X5, a cheap phone with a premium glass body, a notched display, and a dual-lens camera. Could this be released globally as the Nokia 5.1 Plus?
It looks like we're getting a bit of Nokia love in the U.S. HMD Global has announced that the midrange Nokia 3.1 will get released in the U.S. The phone features a MediaTek MT6750 processor, 2GB of RAM, 16GB of storage, and more.


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Davidoff Cigars, proudly announces that their “Gastronomy Series”will return during Miami Art Week, where close to 100,000 art lovers and event goers will once again descend all over Miami. The week long event in collaboration with Sunny’s at Lot 6 will be located at 7357 NW Miami Ct., in the Little River area of Miami from Wednesday November 30th through SaturdayDecember 4th, 2021.
Due to COVID-19, annual festivals, and the most nationally and internationally recognized annual events were postponed. December 2021 marks the time where Davidoff Cigars looks forward to bringing the public the ultimate lifestyle event during Miami Art Week. Those wanting to enjoy a journey of the senses are invited to dine at this exclusive location and enjoy their after-dinner cocktails at the Davidoff Lounge. The lounge will feature a delicious array of specialty cocktails and spirits selected to pair perfectly with one of Davidoff’s world-class and iconic cigars.
Sunny’s, the pop-up that celebrated much popularity during the pandemic, is the brainchild of the same team behind Jaguar Sun. The beloved eatery returns this winter serving a wide selection of steaks and seafood, all cooked over a live fire. Guests can expect all their favorites from the original menu to return, along with an expanded seafood and raw bar selection, more sides, and vegetarian options. The menu will also feature brand new cocktails and the signature assortment of ice-cold martinis and Manhattans, poured table side, re-creating the outdoor steakhouse experience.
This extraordinary culinary experience, curated to speak to the most sophisticated palate, will finish with an exquisite Davidoff Cigar. The Davidoff Lounge at Sunny’s will be open Wednesday November 30th through Saturday December 4th, 2021, and dinner reservations will be available by booking via their website: www.jaguarsunmia.com. The Davidoff Gastronomy series during Art Week promises new and innovative culinary flavor experiences paired together with beautiful, classic Davidoff cigars.


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Via an interview at its official site, Sega's Sega-AM2 division has revealed that it will be announcing a new title shortly. The interview was conducted for the site's "Weekly AM2" section with new company president Hiroshi Kataoka.
In the interview, Kataoka reveals that the teams that were working on Macross (PS2) and Outrun (Chihiro arcade board) are all done with their work and should be starting on new projects soon. In addition, Kataoka makes the following comment: "We'll soon be announcing a new title. In addition to this, we're doing lots of other stuff, from new games to sequels."
Unfortunately, Kataoka wouldn't provide any details on what we can expect from the upcoming new title. He did, however, make reference to a game that GameCube owners should be excited about. Kataoka comments, when asked if Sega-AM2 will be abandoning the consumer market in favor of arcades, "That's not true. There's Virtua Fighter Quest, for instance. With regards to the consumer market, we're currently putting all our strength into Quest. Please look forward to it.
The news of a new Sega-AM2 game is, of course, always good to hear, as is confirmation that Virtua Fighter Quest, which was originally scheduled to be released this year, is still in development.


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Telexistence Inc. (Headquarters: Tokyo, Japan; CEO Jin Tomioka, / CTO Charith Fernando; hereinafter TX Inc.) has developed a mass production prototype for MODEL H, that uses remote control technologies utilizing the Telexistence® technology, VR, telecommunication, cloud and haptics. In the current robot industry, FA robots occupy a large market share. However, we have a […]
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Telexistence Inc. (headquarters: Tokyo, Japan; CEO: Jin Tomioka / CTO: Charith Fernando; hereinafter “TX Inc”), providing a new cloud-based solution and service for consumers and industries to control robotics and sensing technology, announced today that it was selected as partner company of NVIDIA – the world’s largest GPU maker – in their “Inception program”. TX […]


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In a new ad commercial, Pepsi appointed supermodel Kendall Jenner as its face. The ad features Jenner striking some sizzling poses for a photoshoot when she witnesses a bunch of protesters going by, calling for love and peace. The model abandons her shoot, switches from top-notch glam gear to everyday denims in the blink of an eye, and goes on to hand one of the police offers a can of Pepsi. The officer then breaks into a wide smile and the crowd cheers on. Pretty sweet, right? Apparently, that’s not what most of the critics thought.
According to the critics, the ad has allegedly been based on recent protests over police brutality against black people in America. And with that in mind, they have deemed the commercial insensitive and have condemned it for painting a “privileged, white” supermodel as a peacemaker between civil rights activists and police.
After Pepsi uploaded the ad on their YouTube channel, people took to Twitter to voice their opinion. Some even pointing out the uncanny similarity between Jenner and a picture of Ieshia Evans who was charged by riot police in Baton Rouge, Louisiana in 2016. Take a look.
Kendall Jenner: Can I copy off of you?
Iesha Evans: No.
Kendall:* Looks over shoulder anyway*
Damn that. I'm getting this Pepsi money. pic.twitter.com/NUXwCZnM7p
— ‼EMERGENCY‼RT MY PINNED TWEET + DONATE 🙏🏾 (@GuruBluXVIII) April 4, 2017
I can't believe Kendall Jenner stopped police brutality with PEPSI! We have achieved world peace, guys!
— coco 🦩 (@HBOgroupie) April 4, 2017
"Kendall please! Give him a Pepsi!" pic.twitter.com/VzJfSha5Mw
— E (@simplyebad) April 5, 2017
In a statement, Pepsi said: “This is a global ad that reflects people from different walks of life coming together in a spirit of harmony. We think that’s an important message to convey.”
Update on 7th April, 2017
Following the outbreak of criticism and allegations of the soda company being insensitive towards the “black lives matter” movement, Pepsi has retracted its ad featuring Kendall Jenner. In fact, people were so outraged by the whole commercial that the beverage giant actually had to issue an apology (or a “justification”, if you may), which was second to another miserable statement, in addition to taking down the video. Take a look.
And now that we come to think about it, it’s not just the sensitive civil rights propaganda that Pepsi’s playing on is what really irks our common sense, it’s a lot more than that.
For starters, the frustrated token hijab-clad Muslim girl joining the procession. Really, Pepsi? Might as well throw in a few LGBTQ protesters, anti-Trump demonstrators, and environment activists, and complete the party. Secondly, as Mashable also points out, what’s with Jenner so vigorously wiping her lip color? If anything it sends across a totally messed up message saying, “vanity and sincerity for politics or voicing an opinion cannot go hand in hand”. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg, there is plenty wrong with the commercial. Also, let’s not forget that it was actually shot in Bangkok, Thailand. Yeah, the same country that is currently in a political tussle over its new constitution.
Meanwhile, Jenner STILL hasn’t commented on the issue except for “favouriting” tweets that praised the Pepsi commercial and saying this in a statement prior to the ad’s release.
“I had never been to Bangkok before, so it was interesting to be in that city,” she says. “There were a lot of really cool people on set that I got to meet. It was fun, it was entertaining. The whole concept is really something that I’m about, so it was just fun to be a part of.”
It was FUN AND ENTERTAINING?! Really, Kendall? Fun is grabbing a big mac after your fashion show, fun is travelling the world, tasting all sorts of pasta; fun is binging on Cheetos. And I can’t even begin to imagine how and exactly at what point the model found filming a protest “entertaining”. The last time I saw so many smiling faces in a processing it was St. Paddy’s Day!
Adding to Pepsi’s faux pas was a totally on-point reaction by Martin Luther King’s daughter. Also, for future reference, this (below) is how the police would react if you hovered anywhere near them during a protest. Unless, of course, you are a millionaire, white citizen, privileged national (not necessarily in the same order).
— Be A King (@BerniceKing) April 5, 2017
Pour cold Pepsi on burnt area.
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The massive oil spill inside the Gulf of Mexico is a gigantic warning call for all of us. We all must cautiously reflect on the devastating effect the actions of companies and individuals are having on our world’s eco-system. A great deal has been said and will continue to be written about BP and the public relations nightmare it created itself through the epic oil spill inside the Gulf of Mexico. However you may not have been told that there’s an additional ongoing environmental controversy centered around the issue of deforestation and corporation called Asia Pulp and Paper (APP). Small businesses and organizations everywhere can learn an incredible lesson from the pickle APP finds itself in. APP is a division in the mega business, Sinar Mas, and calls itself one of the planet’s top pulp and paper companies.
APP has of late been connected to being a major contributor to deforestation. Deforestation, man-caused loss of naturally occurring forests by means of logging or burning, is a huge crisis in today’s world. It is estimated that approximately fifty percent or more of the planet’s plant and animal life reside inside the 7% of the earth where rainforests currently exist. For instance, the most well-known of rainforests, the Amazon, a majestic 1.4 billion acre rainforest located in South America encompassing sections of 9 separate nations, offers just 82.3% of the wet broadleaf forest cover it enjoyed in 1970. It is also estimated that between 1991 and 2000, the entire loss of Amazon rainforest increased from 415,000 square kilometers to almost 600,000. The data above is according to Wikipedia.
A different lesser known although still struggling rain forest, the Indonesian rainforest, has made recent headlines following a statement from Greenpeace. Inside the report, Greenpeace accuses Asia Paper and Pulp of “relentlessly trashing rainforests, driving species extinction and, if left unchecked, will threaten Indonesia’s efforts to address climate change.” Reported by CNN.com, Indonesia is one of the planet’s major culprits of emitting greenhouse emissions mainly due to clear-cutting and burning of rainforests for logging and additional purposes. Indonesia has long been a recipient of criticism for its environmental practices mainly because of disregard for global and even their very own laws. APP is currently going through a public relations nightmare due to the Greenpeace report, and of course is claiming Greenpeace’s claims are exaggerated. Nevertheless things recently took a turn for the worse for Sinar Mas as in July, 2010, Wal-Mart, announced they have taken steps to stop purchasing their paper, as a result of this and additional controversies associated with APP. Sounds like APP’s denial of the issue is making things worse and now costing them major business. The disappearance Wal-Mart’s business over the next year will considerably affect their bottom line.
This takes us to a great question: In today’s struggling international economy, how can organizations and businesses ensure they are instituting environmentally-friendly and energy efficient business practices and not on the incorrect side of a public relations controversy? Business.Gov, the official business link to the US Government, includes a 10-step guide to help organizations ensure they are energy efficient, meeting the requirements of environmental policy, and recognized as a green business. Listed here are the steps: Comply with Environmental Policies, Cultivate an Environmental Management Plan, Build Green, Purchase Sustainable Products, Agree to Energy Efficient Practices, Reduce, Reuse, Recycle Wastes, Preserve Water, Prevent Polluting of the environment, Make a Green Marketing communications Strategy, and Join Industry Partnership and Stewardship Programs.
Step 4 Acquire Green Products, is a good idea that numerous companies fail to think about. A unique method to raise awareness about deforestation while marketing your brand is through eco friendly promotional products like seed paper, which is made from actual seeds and can still germinate and sprout into a flower when planted. Something so simple as seed cards like a seed business card or a seeded thank you card can produce a truly memorable interaction with a consumer or industry colleague. You could also incorporate a statement on the subject of deforestation on the stationary, making it completely clear about where your company stands out on environmental issues. Another one that stands out on this list is step 6, Reduce, Reuse, Recycle Wastes. Remembering to reduce and reuse is the best way to eradicate the need to recycle in the first place. Now is the time to do something to prevent deforestation along with making certain your organization is recognized as being a green business, as a consequence solidifying your sustainable reputation. The 10 steps above are a great guide for any business owner or CEO to execute sustainable practices within your business. Embrace the challenge of continually improving your organization’s environmental footprint. Your company’s leadership and example will help end the terrible effects of deforestation and the investment is going to be well worth it.
Albert Jefferson is an educated author going over environmental and sustainability concerns in addition to spreading the idea to companies to use Uk marriage visa green shopping bags to advertise both their trademark and awareness for the environment.


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The second and third waves of the coronavirus pandemic, however, are threatening to derail the recovery of the travel and tourism sector.
Verdict has conducted a poll to find the next holiday destination for people after the pandemic.
Analysis of poll results shows that a majority 37% of the respondents voted for Europe as their next holiday destination, followed by Asia (15%) and North America (14%).
Further, 6% of the participants voted for Africa as the preferred holiday destination, while the Middle East, Australasia and South America were chosen by 5% of the respondents each. The remaining 12% of the respondents were yet to decide about their next holiday destination.
The analysis is based on 685 responses received from the readers of Verdict between 19 April and 18 May 2021.
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Tourism in the post-pandemic world
The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic led to a 74% decline in tourist arrivals in 2020 compared with 2019, according to the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO). The impact of the pandemic continued into 2021 with international arrivals declining by 87% in January 2021 compared to January 2020.
Asia Pacific region recorded a 96% decline in arrivals, followed by Europe and Africa with 85% decline and the Middle East with 84%. International arrivals in the Americas improved compared to the previous quarter although arrivals still declined by 77%.
Travellers are likely to visit destinations that are clean, healthy, and safe as international travel reopens after the pandemic, according to a report from the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA), a not-for-profit membership association.
Technology can play a pivotal role in helping the sector recover by facilitating social distancing and also through the implementation of touchless services to boost confidence among travellers.
The tourism-dependent countries will need to implement vaccine distribution and policy solutions as the health response to the pandemic can impact their competitiveness. The European Union, for example, is asking for a vaccination certificate for tourists to reduce the scope of virus transmission through holidaying travellers.
Further, the pandemic has increased the demand for other forms of tourism such as walking holidays and rural tourism. These new trends, travel policies, and health and hygiene systems will need to be aligned and integrated by countries or regions to ensure the recovery of their travel and tourism sector in the post-pandemic world, according to the World Economic Forum.


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The British Fashion Council has linked up with the Camera Nazionale della Moda Italiana to bring a team of burgeoning young British talent to the next Milan menswear season in January, in a rare display of unity.
The British label has decided to showcase its men’s collections in a new city every season. After a presentation in London last June, it will move to Milan next January to present the Fall/Winter 2020-21 collection.
The house of Hermès is taking its next cruise collection abroad – and its destination is London. The first time that its women's designer Nadège Vanhee-Cybulski has brought resort on the road outside France.
At 24 years old, Spanish fashion designer Domingo Rodríguez is making waves on the world stage through a skilled social media approach and celebrity partnerships with the likes of Lady Gaga and Taylor Swift.
Continuing its efforts to align itself more closely with consumers’ appetite for fashion experiences, the BFC has revealed the two designers who will be staging public-facing catwalk shows at LFW in February.
In her first Métiers d'Art collection for Chanel, Virginie Viard looked to Gabrielle Chanel's iconic apartment at 31 Rue Cambon, reinventing the brand's historical codes in a much-applauded show at the Grand Palais.
The 18th edition of Art Basel Miami Beach may not start officially until Thursday, but the worlds of art and fashion are already descending on the Magic City for a week of exhibitions, installations and fashion shows.


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Governments around the world are beginning to relax lockdowns, but companies on the frontline that deal with customers face-to-face know that it will take more than government encouragement and a discounted meal to get business going again.
Since March consumers have been told that they should stay at home for their own safety, and this has made them fearful of returning to “normal” life and take part in social activities like shopping and eating out, which many companies rely on. Even if people get over their fears, however, many will still not be spending the same way as before, with unemployment rates already rising and the Bank of England forecasting that the crisis will lead to the worst recession for centuries.
The global health crisis and an economic downturn has hit consumer confidence, with more than 80 per cent of people saying they remain worried about their own health and that of their family as well as the longer-term financial impact of the virus and resultant lockdown, according to one recent survey. Optimists like UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson insist that these psychological barriers to a recovery can be overcome, but signs of recovery remain inconsistent.
High street retailers and other businesses that were already struggling to compete with online competitors are already planning large sales to get footfall back into their shops and venues. However, the main selling point for bricks-and-mortar shops and venues compared to online alternatives was the experience – if employees are wearing protective visors and customers are scared then many will find it hard to survive the next few months even with deep discounts on offer. Large online retailers like Amazon can always compete on price, and who is going to visit a physical casino when they reopen next week when online operators are already out-competing them with free spins no deposit offers and online there is no risk of catching a deadly virus.
In the UK, the hospitality industry has already started reopening their doors to customers, and earlier this month Chancellor Rishi Sunak announced his “Eat Out to Help Out” scheme, which will see households given vouchers to use when dining out to try and tempt people back into pubs and restaurants. The move was welcomed by the industry, but it remains unclear whether the British love of a discount will outweigh their fears of coronavirus.
If the gradual reopening of the economy continues and the levels on infection remain under control with a combination of social distancing, mask wearing, track and trace, and localised lockdowns then consumer confidence may start to return. However, the soaring number of cases in the US after states tried to reopen too early and too widely are a warning that getting policies wrong can be catastrophic for both the nation’s health and its public purse.