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Governor-elect of Osun State Senator Ademola Adeleke should consider the revival of Ede cocoa processing plant which is the first factory to produce chocolate in Nigeria which the out-going Governor Oyetola has abandoned. I want to appeal to Senator Adeleke to honour the agreement ex-Governor Rauf Aregbesola entered concerning Ede Cocoa processing plant.
The Cocoa Products Industry Nigeria Limited in Ede, Osun State (SKYRUN COCOA FACTORY) has suspended its operations. The Cocoa Products Industry Nigeria Limited in Ede, (SKYRUN COCOA FACTORY) had suspended its operations. The set of Chinese running the company abandoned it in 2018. Currently, the facilities at the company are being used as stores for COVID-19 relief items donated to the State Government of Osun. It would be recalled that the company was revived by the Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola administration after 15-years of being in moribund state.
With a renewed effort to resuscitate cocoa cultivation, farmers across southern Nigeria are putting a structure together that will allow the region benefit from a product that gives them comparative advantage. The region is also the largest producer. To achieve this, the Cocoa and Plantain Farmers Association of Nigeria (CPFAN) is set to set up N1.5billion processing factories for cocoa and plantain in three states of the South West. The national president of the CPFAN, Chief Ayodele Ojo, said the association would cite the factories in llaramokin in Ondo State, lle-Ife in Osun State and Iperu in Ogun. They also intend to build mega processing factories in all the six geo- political zones of the country in the nearest future.
The Osun State Government in 2017 signed an agreement worth N216bn with a Chinese firm, Jiangsu Wuxi Taihu Cocoa Food Company Limited, on the establishment of an industrial park in the state. Aregbesola stated that the partnership with the Chinese firms would support the state on six different investments which include cocoa bean processing; chocolate and food processing; salt processing; cassava starch processing, gold mining and power plants and it represent a model of economic which has transited into diversification in Nigeria. While there is a decline in Nigeria’s annual production of cocoa, Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State, had encouraged cocoa farmers in Osun, Ondo, Edo, Delta and other southern states to boost production and this has led to the expansion of Ede cocoa processing plant, which is the only functioning plant in the country today.
Aregbesola had reignited national interest in cocoa production by partnering with a Chinese firm to reactivate Ede cocoa processing plant. Another lesson is that Aregbesola has turned cocoa to a vital product which contributes immensely to Osun economy and the welfare of the people. He has used cocoa to create an economy and other enterprises which have risen beyond producing raw cocoa by turning it into intermediate or finished products. Ede cocoa processing plant has moved from transition of a primary commodity exporter to an industrial producer. The plant has become strategic for national economic development and created incentives for the cocoa industry.
Smallholder cocoa farmers and other stakeholders were happy over the establishment of an elaborate cocoa processing plant. They were happy that the plant will be able to check the bleak future of the business which is presently facing stiff international competition as well as government overbearing influence, so the smallholder famers will stop to lament daily.
With Ede cocoa processing plant, Aregbesola had expanded assistance to cocoa farmers and numerous stakeholders regarding the development of cocoa in Nigeria. With over twenty million cocoa farmers in Nigeria, Osun-China’s cooperation over Ede cocoa processing plant has given lifeline to cocoa farmers who could not export their products before now. The partnership with one of China’s Most popular politicians and business leaders Qizan Zhao; Deputy Leader of the Communist Party of the People’s Republic of China and one of the leading businessmen in China is producing a N10bn investment in Osun and over 1000 jobs for local people in the next two years in the state especially youths.
“The total investment by Jiangsu Wuxi Taihu Cocoa Food Company Limited on the Industrial Park was $600m. The first phase of the project included six projects: Cocoa bean processing, chocolate and food processing, salt processing, cassava starch processing, gold mining and power plants. “The construction project of Jiangsu Wuxi Tiahu Industrial Park will strictly abide by the relevant laws and regulations of the State Government of Osun and Federal Republic of Nigeria. “The government will provide policy guidance for the construction of Jiangsu Taihu Wuxi Industrial Park and gave support of energy, infrastructure and other aspects. After the completion of the project, favourable tax terms will be given. “The state government was to set up a working group for the construction of Jiangsu Taihu Wuxi Industrial Park, which is responsible for the docking and service with China. The two sides agreed that the project would start in 2018.”
The General Manager of Jiangsu Wuxi Taihu Cocoa Food Company Limited, Mr. Liu Jianhui, commended the governor for exploring every opportunity to develop the state. He said the company decided to establish $600m worth projects in the state, having understudied the economic potentials of Osun to grow foreign investments.
One of the lessons was that Osun State had put a stop to billions of Naira that Nigerians are using to import chocolate and other cocoa products from EU countries. Osun Cocoa Processing Plant, Ede is now producing “Made in Nigeria” Cocoa Butter, Cocoa Cake, Cocoa Powder and Chocolates and set to flood world market with “Made in Nigeria” chocolates. Osun Cocoa plant, Ede is back after more than 30yrs of wobbling and fumbling. Despite living in one of the world’s biggest grower of cocoa beans, Nigerian residents have never quite embraced chocolate as part of the national diet. Aregbesola has provided lifeline for cocoa farmers in Nigeria Interestingly, Osun is a major producer of chocolate today and a major cocoa-producing state, and chocolate manufacturing center is in Ede. Osun State is the third largest cocoa producer in the South West after Ondo and Oyo states. The state largely draws its rising profile as a big role player and producer of the cash crop from Cocoa Farms.
Another lesson was that the arrival of a new chocolate factory in Osun State will also allow Nigerian planters to finally access the pleasure of chocolate.” Osun chocolate is targeting the local market, then progressively expand to the sub-region. The factory is initially producing cocoa powder and chocolate. Despite its Chinese ownership, the plant represents a victory in the continent’s battle to profit from its natural resources instead of exporting them to be processed elsewhere. The African country’s first major chocolate factory hopes to change all that.
Another lesson was that Smallholder cocoa farmers and other stakeholders were happy over the establishment of an elaborate cocoa processing plant that produce chocolate in Ede, Osun State, and the third largest cocoa producing state in the country. They are happy that the plant will be able to check the bleak future of the business which is presently facing stiff international competition as well as government overbearing influence, so the smallholder famers will stop to lament daily.
Another lesson was that with Ede cocoa processing plant, Governor Aregbesola had expanded assistance to cocoa farmers and numerous stakeholders within the cocoa value sequence regarding the development of cocoa in Nigeria. Governor Aregbesola has brought innovation and localized the processing of cocoa products in the 14 cocoa producing states in Nigeria. With over twenty million cocoa farmers in Nigeria, Osun-China’s cooperation over Ede cocoa processing plant has given lifeline to Nigerian cocoa farmers who could not export their products before now. The partnership with one of China’s Most popular politicians and business leaders Qizan Zhao; Deputy Leader of the Communist Party of the People’s Republic of China and one of the leading businessmen in China is producing a N10bn investment in Osun and over 1000 jobs for local people in the next two years in the state especially Youths and this will help to support the industrialization efforts of Governor Aregbesola
The moribund Cocoa Processing Company in Ede, Osun state, received a lifeline with the intervention of former Governor Aregbesola and two Chinese firms who have resuscitated the comatose industry. Governor Aregbesola is providing a lifeline for 14 cocoa producing states in the country through the cocoa processing plant which is the only plant that is functioning today in Nigeria. With this plant farmers can now distribute new high yield cocoa seedlings to cocoa farmers, and continues to allow the purchase of chemicals and inputs at 50% subsidy.
Inwalomhe Donald, writes from Osogbo, firstname.lastname@example.org
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Hong Kong — Gap Inc. has launched its first flagship store in Hong Kong. The company expects to grow the fleet to about 45 stores in China by the end of fiscal 2012.
Hong Kong — Gap Inc. has launched its first flagship store in Hong Kong. The store will be Gap’s ninth in the Greater China region as the company continues to expand the international reach of its brands.
The new store spans more than 15,000 square feet over four floors on the sought-after Queens Road in Hong Kong’s burgeoning Central District. The store has large floor-to-ceiling windows, white marble and oak floors.
“Opening in Hong Kong is a momentous occasion,” says Redmond Yeung, president of Gap Greater China.
Gap Inc. celebrated its first anniversary in China this month, and during this time has expanded to four stores in Shanghai and four in Beijing. In addition to Hong Kong, the company will open new stores in Shanghai, HangZhou and Tianjin over the coming weeks. The company expects to grow the fleet to about 45 stores in China by the end of fiscal 2012.
Gap Inc. is a leading global specialty retailer under the Gap, Banana Republic, Old Navy, Piperlime, and Athleta brands. Gap Inc. has about 3,100 company-operated stores, approximately 200 franchise stores, and e-commerce sites. For more information, visit www.gapinc.com.

domain: news


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Sun, 24 Apr 2016
THE MP for Newbury is canvassing for opinion ahead of the EU referendum and is asking for the views of local business two months before the crucial vote.
Richard Benyon has launched an online survey, asking the business community what it thinks ahead of the vote on June 23.
Mr Benyon said: “As MP for this busy and thriving area, I know there are many businesses in my constituency which makes a huge contribution to both the local and national economy.
“As we approach the date of the referendum on June 23, I am keen to know their views on Europe.
“To this end I have posted a short survey on my website.
“Answering the survey will only take a few minutes and I hope to reach as many businesses as possible.
“This is a momentous decision for all of us and I look forward to hearing the views of this important section of our community.”
The survey, which is confidential and stores personal details, can be accessed by visiting www.richardbenyon.com


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- 1 min read
H&M hires the Cambridge Analytica Whistleblower
Wylie has signed a consultancy contract with H&M, spokeswoman Ulrika Isaksson said in an emailed response to questions on Wednesday.
Wylie has signed a consultancy contract with H&M, spokeswoman Ulrika Isaksson said in an emailed response to questions on Wednesday. Wylie's main focus will be to help H&M get better insights on customers, products and markets, as well as support work on “sustainable and ethical” artificial intelligence, she said.
H&M is betting that big data and AI can help provide the insights it needs after inventory rose to a record level last year. The company has in the past few years struggled to adapt to consumers' online shift and is trying to catch up with Zara owner Inditex SA.
In September, H&M Chief Executive Officer Karl-Johan Persson said the effects of the company's revamp could start to be seen in sales, as the company developed better ways to forecast trends and prices.


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New Execs at Starwood Retail Partners
Company beefs up its commercial property leasing team.
Starwood Retail Partners has announced three new promotions in its leasing staff. Michael J. Powers (l.) is the new Sr. VP and Head of Leasing; Bryant Siracusa (c.) is VP, National Restaurant and Entertainment Leasing; and Joseph Nicchetta (r.) becomes VP of Leasing.
The company specializes in acquiring, redeveloping, managing, leasing, and operating a portfolio of 30 shopping centers in 16 states across the USA.


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Can & end making
Henkel’s senior experts in food safe packaging are hosting a range of dedicated webinars on global food safety regulations.
The International Metal Decorators Association (IMDA) has expanded to include can manufacturing and metal packaging, and has been renamed the International Metal Decorating and Packaging Association (IMDPA)
The Can Makers has launched its brand new website, giving fillers, retailers, industry bodies, governments and drinks manufacturers access to all the information they need in one easy place.
The Circular Economy was a primary focus of the Metal Packaging Europe “Ahead of the Pack” event held in Brussels on 23 January.
The Metal Packaging Manufacturers Association (MPMA) has said that claims it threatened pet food brand Pooch & Mutt to remove an advert telling consumers to ‘ditch the can and save the planet’ are not true.
CanTech International will be increasing its publications to 11 editions a year as of 2019. The current joint July/August editions will be splitting to make separate July and August issues, the latter becoming a full Supplier Profile issue.
Metal Packaging Manufacturers Association (MPMA) has called for retailers to make it ‘crystal clear’ how and where packaging can be recycled.
The prestigious CanTech The Grand Tour Awards will be presented at the CanTech The Grand Tour Gala Dinner on 26 March 2019.


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Why Illinois Restaurants May Vanish From Apps Like Grubhub
Food delivery apps like Grubhub, DoorDash, and UberEats have been around for quite some time. The COVID-19 pandemic brought those apps to the forefront, It caused delivery service apps usage to increase by 25% in 2021, according to ADJUST. Some restaurant owners are not pleased about it.
If you used a food delivery app like Grubhub you would likely agree there is a bit of convenience. It's great for restaurants that may not ordinarily deliver. It also makes browsing multiple menus easier than going from website to website. The problem, though, is that these delivery service apps may be hurting businesses. It may not be intentional but it's become a problem for some restaurants.
Restaurants work hard to maintain their reputation. The quality of the food is essential, yes, but there's more to it. Customer service is also of utmost importance if they want to retain returning customers. With food delivery apps the restaurant owner has no idea who will pick up the food and deliver it to the customer. If the delivery portion of the experience is bad it may reflect on the business and not solely on an app like Grubhub. This is why things are about to change in Illinois in 2023.
In 2020, restaurants in California and North Carolina filed a class-action lawsuit against Grubhub citing damages caused by the company posting menus without permission from restaurants. The exact reason for the lawsuit?
Significant damage to their hard-earned reputations, loss of control over their customers’ dining experiences, loss of control over their online presence, and reduced consumer demand for their services.
In the report, Grubhub claimed there was no intent for this to happen and they were simply trying to help businesses. The food delivery service won't necessarily have to worry about it for much longer, at least in Illinois. Governor Pritzker has signed the Fair Food and Retail Delivery Act.
The law prohibits third-party delivery apps from posting menus, logos, or any other intellectual property of restaurants without their express written consent; if they do, restaurants can sue for damages or $5,000, whichever is greater.
The law will take into effect on January 1, 2023. You can read more food-related law changes here.
[h/t Eater Chicago]


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Retailers Networking meeting
25 businesses attended the recent Lowestoft retailers networking meeting which was held at Beales department store on Wednesday 9th March 2016.
The meetings take place as part of the Healthy High Streets campaign and is hosted by M&S Store Manager Mark Leftley.
The main discussion point for the meeting was car parking in the town and the impact that the proposed changes could have to footfall and customer spend.
Lowestoft Vision had previously discussed the matter with Waveney District Council. The council have provided clear details that parking charges will go up in April. Waveney have explained in detail to Lowestoft Vision the reason for this and that they feel they have no other options.
Lowestoft Vision BID Manager Darren Newman explained that to tackle the cost of car parking businesses would need to develop a scheme which could be proposed to the council.
As part of the networking meeting the group discussed a range of issues around parking and possible schemes which could be introduced.
1) Refund voucher scheme
Businesses would agree to refund the customers first hour parking if they spent over £10 in store.
This scheme has previously been used in the town but very few businesses signed up. It was agreed that for this to be a success at least 40 businesses would need to take part.
After discussions businesses felt that the scheme would not work as it was not convenient for the customer.
2) Parking reward scheme
Lowestoft Vision along with possible sponsors could purchase a number of 1 hour parking passes. Businesses could then use these as rewards for customers and offer free parking for an hour for their return visit.As a town we would need to choose a day which the vouchers could be used.
After discussion it was agreed the scheme was too complicated and again did not offer convenience to the customer.
In the discussion Lowestoft Vision said it would look at other possible options, however businesses felt that more effort should be focussed on making the town more attractive.
Possible projects on making the town more attractive could include
- Town clean
- Window dressing training
- Display information
- Customer service training.
It was agreed that the theme of the next meeting would be improving the look of the town.
The next Town centre retailers meeting will take place on Wednesday 13th April 8am – 9am at Sams Coffee house in Bevan Street.
Businesses were asked to bring along another business with them to the next meeting.


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The sport of gaming has officially welcomed a new entrant into the ever rising business of betting in Nigeria, and promises to meet the need of all classes of persons in the society.
https://www.redsonbet.com is the website.
The event saw Ex Super Eagles player, Wilson Oruma introduced as the Brand Ambassador. Redson Bet also unveiled Mr Freedom Atsepoyi aka Mr jollof and Mrs. Anita Afoke Asuoha aka Real Warri Pikin as the Brand influencers.
Speaking at the official opening, in ceremony held in Best Western Hotel, Asaba, Mr Jeffrey Odumah, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), lauded the Delta Government for providing conducive environment for private businesses to thrive.
He said that the company was a unique brand with features that provides comfort for all classes of persons to play and win in a more conducive atmosphere than what obtains in other similar company.
According to him, the betting game is legal and as a multimillion naira business, creates opportunities for players to make money, keep people away from crime and create jobs for many.
He said that the choice of establishing the business first in Asaba was due to the existing peace in the state and government disposition to supporting private investors.
“Though we might be starting local but our plan is to go global, we want people to make money, we want to grow the economy and create jobs.
“Betting is legal, but here people see betting as a game for the poor but in the United Kingdom, everybody bets,” he said.
He said that the development of RedsonBet was to attract new people into betting market by providing a similar environment as in the UK and other advance countries of the World where people bet unlike the harsh environment that exist in other brands here in Nigeria.
He, however, he berated the current poor powers supply in the country, adding that every business need adequate infrastructures, and that most of its partners face the challenge of elliptic power supply.
On his part, Mr Adeyinka Soga-Oke, Head of Operations, said though the business started in Asaba, the company has partners (Agents) in Warri, Ughelli, Onitsha and Benin City in Edo.
“Our shops are like banks, it provides all the comfort for people to come in, play and make money in conducive environments,” he said.
Mr Rajendra Rowthu, Chief Operation Officer, said that the brand was unique and that as a betting company it was not afraid to face the competition and associated challenges.
He lauded the positive disposition and support from Nigerians, saying “I feel at home in Nigeria as if I am in India”.Fastest Paying Betting Site in Nigeria: Grab your 140% First Time Deposit Bonus Now — www.Sportybet.Com Copyright © 2021 Completesports.com All rights reserved. The information contained in Completesports.com may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without the prior written authority of Completesports.com.


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Tim Cook talks removing pre-installed apps, future of the iPad and more in new interview
Apple CEO Tim Cook spoke in a recent interview about Apple's latest announcements, the future of the iPad and the Mac, and the possibility of allowing users to remove pre-installed apps on iPhone and iPad.
Full story from the iMore Blog...
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Police and court records reported thefts in Brentwood in May and June.
Taylor Marie Borick, 23, of St. Louis was charged with stealing $1,440 worth of merchandise from the Ulta Beauty store in Brentwood on June 16. According to police and court records, Borick put the items in a mesh shopping bag and quickly left the store, not paying for the items. Borick dropped her mobile phone as she left. She was identified via video surveillance of the theft. She was arrested two weeks later and confessed to the theft. She said she had sold the merchandise to buy heroin.
Jimmy Johnson, 25, of St. Louis, was charged with stealing a MacBook Pro laptop computer, a Kate Spade wallet and a Kate Spade purse, valued at $2,500, on May 8. According to police and court records Johnson broke the windows in a Honda Pilot parked at the Drury Inn to steal the items. He also broke other vehicle windows. DNA analysis from blood found inside the car matched Johnson’s DNA. He denied any involvement in the theft.


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In a unanimous decision late last week, the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals resuscitated class claims against retail giants Nike and Converse that allege employees are owed compensation for time spent undergoing security checks when exiting the retail stores (Rodriguez v. Nike Retail Stores, Inc.; Chavez v. Converse, Inc.).
On Friday June 28, the federal appellate court held that the lower district court – which had ruled in favor of the employers by applying the federal de minimis doctrine – needs to conduct a do-over to comply with a recent California Supreme Court decision that all but eliminates the de minimis doctrine based on the facts before the high court. The bar set by the courts is high; California employers may now need to pole vault in order to scale it.
As a loss prevention measure, many retailers require their store employees to undergo a “bag check” or security check whenever they leave the store to confirm that are not taking any merchandise. But some employees have complained that they should be paid for the time they are required to spend during these checks, and these disputes have often ended up in court. California retail employers have seen the bag check battle waged several times over the past few years… JD Supra


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Realme has released a series of teasers that anticipate the announcement of new mobile devices as part of the presentation that will take place on July 12th. In particular, the event will showcase the flagship smartphone Realme GT 2 Master Explorer Edition and the laptop computer Realme Notebook Air.
It is said that the upcoming cellular device will be the world’s first smartphone equipped with LPDDR5X RAM. Compared to LPDDR5, these chips offer a 20% reduction in power consumption and an increase in performance. The amount of RAM is 8 and 12 GB.
The Realme GT 2 Master Explorer Edition will reportedly come with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 processor, a 6.7-inch Full HD+ AMOLED display (2412 × 1080 pixels) with a refresh rate of up to 120 Hz and be equipped with a UFS 3.1 flash drive with a capacity of 128 /256 GB, 16 megapixel front camera and triple rear camera in a configuration of 50 + 50 + 2 million pixels. It is powered by a 5000mAh battery with 100W charging.
For the Realme Notebook Air laptop, there is still no information on its technical characteristics. It should only be noted that the device will be equipped with a display with narrow side frames – 4.9 mm wide. Available in Star Gray and Sea Salt Blue color versions.


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This member story was featured in the 2017 APC Annual Report, as part of our work on use and development.
In 2017 Colnodo continued its efforts in building digital security skills through training aimed at journalists, activists, ICT centre facilitators and women. Hands-on workshops were organised and teaching materials were developed to promote safe online practices and raise awareness of the resources and tools available to mitigate digital risks. These experiences served as the foundations for the implementation of the Digital Security School in Colombia, in partnership with Canadian APC member organisation e.Qualit.ie, and the development of a digital security kit based on a kit designed by Derechos Digitales, another APC member.
Colnodo has developed innovative content to build knowledge among various sectors of the population, including women, entrepreneurs and librarians, among others, through online courses and mobile apps for Android and iOS. An app developed in partnership with the Norwegian Refugee Council, “Protection Tips at Your Fingertips”, is aimed at mitigating the vulnerability of social movement leaders in Colombia. In addition, as a way to facilitate access to knowledge for the unconnected or barely connected sectors of the population, Colnodo has developed versions of this online content that are accessible offline.
Meanwhile, 2,000 women entrepreneurs from 18 cities and municipalities across the country, including Bogotá and Medellín, were trained through the “Ella Aprende, Ella Emprende” programme, an initiative supported by Facebook which seeks to enhance the online presence and digital marketing skills of small enterprises headed by women.
Image source: Colnodo.


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HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) is warning self-assessment customers to be on their guard following the submission deadline, after more than 570,000 scams were reported in the last year.
At this time of year, customers are at increased risk of falling victim to scams, even if they don’t mention self-assessment.
People can be taken in by scam texts, emails or calls either offering a ‘refund’ or demanding unpaid tax, thinking that they are genuine HMRC communications referring to their self-assessment return.
In the 12 months to January 2022, nearly 220,000 scams reported to HMRC offered bogus tax rebates.
Criminals target unsuspecting customers to try and steal money or personal information. They use phone calls, texts and emails to try and dupe citizens, and often mimic government messages to make them appear authentic. In January 2022, phone scams rose to 3,995 compared to 425 reported in April 2020.
Myrtle Lloyd, HMRC’s director general for customer services, said: “If someone contacts you saying they’re from HMRC, wanting you to transfer money or give personal information, be on your guard.
Never let yourself be rushed, and if you’re in any doubt then check our ‘HMRC scams’ advice on GOV.UK.”


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MANILA – The tourism industry of the country is badly hit by the ongoing coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic. Among them is the accommodation and hospitality sector like hotels, restaurants and travel agencies that cater to local and international tourists and travelers.
According to Rafael Chico, legislative and liaison officer of the 270-strong Philippine Hotel Owners’ Association, about 70-80 percent of their members are in the brink of closure because of Covid-19 pandemic and even if the country will be under the general community quarantine (CGQ).
“Napakalaki na ang lugi sa accommodation business. Seguro about 70-80 percent ng miyembro namin are not operating or nag-total shutdown na,” (The accommodation business has already suffered huge losses. I think about 70-80 percent of our members are shutting down or not operating anymore), he said. Under the GCQ, accommodation business, restaurants, leisure and kid’s stuff are not yet totally allowed to operate.
He also feared that a total of 75,000 hospital workers in the country will be affected unless the government will assist the sector. In early May, Marco Polo, a five-star hotel in Davao City announced its closure due to the pandemic (May 8 issue of Sandigan News). About 300-400 employees and workers are affected by the decision of the management.
Moreover, Chico said another Hotel-Casino in Pasay is about to lay-off more than 1,000 of their workforce in June following the issuance of Department of Tourism Administrative Order No. 2020-02, requiring only 50 percent guest capacity and maintaining a skeletal operating force when it resumes to operate.
He laments that the pandemic came during the peak season. “Supposedly peak season namin ngayon. Masaya kami last year dahil about 8.2 milyon ang tourist arrivals pero ngayong 2020 ay nakaproblema tayo,” (It is supposedly peak season now. We were happy last year because of 8.2 million tourist arrivals but we have this problem in 2020), he said.
He further said that without government’s support, hundreds of hotels will be affected and thousands of hospitality jobs are at stake. Chico said, “The association has appealed for financial lifeline, labor force support; and, travel stimulus from the government.”


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More than 500 jobs are set to be lost after Monsoon Accessorize went into administration.
A total of 37 store closures have been announced in the UK and Ireland, with 545 jobs now at risk - but a deal has been agreed to save the majority of the chain's outlets.
The coronavirus pandemic scuppered the retailer's turnaround plan, with stores forced to shut in March.
Earlier this month the business reportedly wrote to landlords saying that shops would have to close if rents were not waived.
The closures come despite Monsoon's founder Peter Simon buying the business out of administration almost immediately.
But it will reopen with fewer stores, a source claimed.
It currently has around 220 stores across the UK.
See the full list of stores expected to close below.
The company is understood to have been trading profitably before the coronavirus lockdown.
All branches have been closed since March as the country grapples with the killer bug, which is now believed to have claimed more than 52,000 lives.
The deal will transfer around 450 jobs to Adena Brands, owned by Mr Simon, which has promised to inject £15 million into the business to allow the remaining stores to stay open.
Mr Simon will try to renegotiate with landlords to get a better deal on the remaining 162 store leases.
Tony Wright, joint administrator and partner at FRP, said: "We had to move quickly and decisively to secure the future of Monsoon and Accessorize, as many jobs as possible and the presence of these two iconic brands on the UK high street.
"After assessing a range of options this deal achieves those goals with least disruption to the business in an already challenging retail environment.
"We are now committed to working with Adena Brands as they enter talks with landlords to agree future terms across their store portfolio and look to transfer more jobs to the buyer.
"We'll also be working with the Redundancy Payments Service to support all affected employees through this difficult time."
The stores which it expects to permanently close are...
- Patrick Street A, Republic of Ireland
- Patrick Street B, Republic of Ireland
- Dublin, Republic of Ireland
- Liverpool Airport
- St Albans
- Sutton Coldfield
- Tunbridge Wells
- York Davygate


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Popular British rap artist Stormzy found himself being confirmed as the primary music talent for Watch Dogs Legion, alongside a brand new gameplay which went into detail on how recruitment works in Ubsoft’s latest open world actioner.
Welcome to the Resistance, #Stormzy… 👀🔥
— Watch Dogs Legion (@WatchDogs_UK) September 10, 2020
You can catch the new trailer below:
This announcement came from Ubisoft Forward which took place on September 10, at 12 PM PT, 3 PM ET, 8 PM BST, 9 PM CEST.
This was one of a number of announcements from today’s Ubisoft Forward event. In case you’ve missed out on even a single Ubisoft Forward announcement, you can catch every piece of news in our Ubisoft Forward hub.
Watch Dogs Legion releases for PS4 and PS5 this November.


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A class action lawsuit claiming Domino’s Pizza conducted background checks on applicants that violated federal law will survive in...
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Cable Show: CNN Serves Brunch, TNT Happy Hour
On Tuesday, the CNN brunch is from 12-2 p.m. Take a time-out from walking the show floor to enjoy brunch with CNN, and pick up a CNN branded travel mug at booth 1821.
TNT Happy Hour is from 3-5 p.m. Come by for afternoon beverages and pick up some giveaways from TNT’s upcoming original series The Last Ship.
On Wednesday, from 1-3 p.m., Cartoon Network characters Scooby-Doo, Regular Show’s Mordecai and Rigby and Jake and Finn from Adventure Time will be at the booth. And from 3:30-5:30 p.m., come celebrate TCM’s 20th anniversary with a Champagne toast and t-shirt giveaways.
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The UAE-based diversified business conglomerate, Jumbo Group supports people of determination amid COVID-19, in partnership with the Rashid Centre for People of Determination. “No one should be left behind in the fight against COVID-19,” stated Arvind Agrawal, CEO, Jumbo Group. Towards this end, Jumbo Group contributed three custom-made buses to help students travel to Dubai’s Rashid Centre for People of Determination.
Understanding the special needs for UAE’s People of Determination to continue with their education & rehabilitation programmes in a time when social distancing is the norm due to COVID-19, along with custom-made buses, Jumbo Group has also provided additional facilities such as an isolation room at the premises and more equipment for increasing individual physiotherapy sessions for the children.
The biggest need of the hour during a period of social distancing is to reduce the risk of any infection and, therefore Jumbo has also contributed towards sanitisation of the Rashid Centre for People of Determination and purchases masks and face shields.
As Jumbo Group supports people of determination amid COVID-19, Agrawal, said, “While the extensive social distancing measures have been tough but necessary to arrest the spread of coronavirus, some of those hit hardest by it are the most vulnerable in our society. As a UAE-born business, we wanted to extend our support to the most special part of our community; our people of determination, to ensure that we can help them adjust to the ‘new normal’. We look forward to doing more as we believe it is our role to support with faster adaption – just as much as the entire city of Dubai is responding quickly to the changes. We are all responsible for helping our people of determination to walk along-side us through these altering times.”
In recognition of this contribution, Maryam Othman, director-general of the Rashid Center for People of Determination presented a certificate of appreciation to Agrawal. “We appreciate the efforts of the Jumbo Group and its contribution to meeting the requirements of our students at the present time, as they face the same risks as everyone else and without a doubt, this contribution confirms the depth of the relationship that the Rashid Centre for People of Determination has with its partners from the private sector, especially the Jumbo Group, who have supported us over the past years and have extended a helping hand to people of determination particularly during this time,” she added.
“The Jumbo Group initiative undoubtedly provide an important aid to the children of Rashid Centre, to help them face the repercussions of COVID-19, in addition to enhancing their self-confidence. The support from Jumbo Group is also representative of a qualitative leap in our relationship that reflects the originality and generosity of the Emirati society and everyone who lives here. There is no doubt that what Jumbo Group has provided to Rashid Centre for People of Determination will remain engraved in our memories, and it will enable students to cross the current stage and secure a better future for them,” Othman concluded.
Indian TATA Group’s jewellery brand Tanishq announced the opening of its firstNovember 2, 2020 | By RetailME Bureau
MRF 2020 which will take place at the Conrad Dubai Hotel on November 25, 2020, willOctober 14, 2020 | By RetailME Bureau
Today’s on-demand streaming services are ripe with docu-series and explainer videos on
International food retailer, SPAR has today announced a global partnership to tackle food waste with the
UAE-based concept grocery retail chain, Grandiose has opened a new supermarket within
US-based fast food chain, Nathan’s famous Inc. brings another New York classic,
Dubai-based Union Coop, the leading Consumer Cooperative in the UAE, opened its
UAE homegrown marketplace, Noon.com has announced its Yellow Friday sale from November
UAE-based Al Maya Group officially launched an exclusive range of Woolworths products
Abu Dhabi headquartered LuLu Group has opened its latest hypermarket at Khalifa
elGrocer, the grocery delivery app with ties to some of the major
Jones the Grocer set to open its doors at Dubai’s newly launched
Saudi-based operators of hypermarkets and supermarkets BinDawood Holding Company has completed the
To mark the UAE’s 49th National Day, Expo 2020 Dubai has released a video
Mall of the Emirates, City Centre Mirdif and City Centre Deira are
Sharjah-based Arada has revealed a revamped Madar at Aljada, the new family
Global food and beverage company PepsiCo, has officially unveiled limited-edition Pepsi can
Retail Abu Dhabi, the retail platform of the Department of Culture and
UAE-based Union Coop, the largest consumer cooperative, opened its 3rd Mall, the
The UAE cabinet announced this week that the 100% foreign ownership law,
UAE-based Al Futtaim ACE, a home improvement and outdoor brand, announces the opening
‘Data is the new oil/soil’ has been the narrative across all industries
The Middle East Retail Forum 2020 kicked off with its first fireside
India-based Titan Watches is expanding its footprint in the UAE with 10 exclusive
The 13th annual Global Shopper Study, conducted by Zebra Technologies Corporation, has


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What should AML compliance look like in 2021?
As the digital commerce landscape changes with the times, how can our AML programs keep pace?
2020 was the year that changed the digital landscape forever. As the world descended into lockdown and brick and mortar commerce came to a halt, the online marketplace and financial services flourished. One downside of that advancement, unfortunately, was a marked jump in cyber crime.
A seismic shift like that obviously calls for a step-up in compliance measures. So, what changes should be made to our current AML/KYC systems for them to withstand the new challenges?
Robust Information sharing
In the first half of 2020, the Netherlands Transaction Monitoring (TMNL) project was given the green light. This project is one of the first of its kind, with a vision for multiple banks to jointly monitor their transactions in a single utility.
TMNL is a first-of-its-kind private company established by the five largest Dutch banks—ING, ABN Amro, Rabobank, Triodos Bank, and de Volksbank (the "Founding Banks"). TMNL will work closely with Dutch financial regulators and law enforcement agencies to curb money laundering through "faster, better, and more complete detection of money laundering and financing of terrorism."
If the project proves to be successful, experts believe it will most likely be replicated in other countries, perhaps even other industries besides banking.
Extensive adoption of biometrics
Asking a customer to walk into a branch to present documentation or paperwork has been difficult, if not impossible over the last several months. As a result, digital onboarding and remediation has become the norm and biometrics will increasingly play a big part in this. Hopefully 2021 will see the continuation of adoption of facial and voice recognition as a way of identifying and verifying customers.
Earlier this month, Jumio, a company that provides selfie biometric checks to numerous companies in telehealth, financial services, online gaming and social media, has secured an unprecedented $150M investment to expand. A huge vote of confidence has been cast and it is sure to echo across all industries currently hurting for remote KYC options.
Faster adoption of new technologies
With customer behaviours changing, financial criminals are evolving their tactics, too. Take, for example, the rise of virtual currencies in circulation. This can prove to be a breeding ground for money launderers, who can more easily slip into the financial system and remain hidden.
These new entry points can fool traditional rule-based systems. Thankfully, AI and machine learning can come to the rescue. With new AI/ML-based AML systems businesses will no longer have to rely on what a human thinks a cyber crime looks like, but what an intelligent machine flags based on historical behaviour, pre-analysed patterns and anomaly detection.
Secondly, as AI technology becomes more human, the need for human confirmation becomes less pressing. AI will empower, not replace human investigators, enabling them to react more efficiently and speeding up many aspects of AML, not least customer due diligence, which represents the lion’s share of money laundering cases.
But what seems to be the greatest advantage of AI/ML compliance is its revolutionary ability to keep businesses 100% up to date. For example, when you’re using a PEP / Sanctions scanner tool like DataSpike, its AI-powered search engine learns from the searches themselves and continuously enriches its database.
Overall, 2021 is shaping up to be a challenging but exciting year for compliance. If you’re looking to step up your AML game, digitalization should be your best bet in whichever form you choose to integrate it.


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With just one month to go before Christmas is upon us, businesses in one Suffolk town are saying that high street sales are looking good so far.
Consumer confidence has improved slightly and it seems more people are spending.
Over the last few months more vacant shops in Bury St Edmunds are being occupied.
"BID", the Business Improvement District, for Bury, says most of the towns car parks have been running at full capacity for the last few weekends.
Click above to watch Emily Knight's report.
More top news
Police think that one of the men involved in last week's abduction attempt at RAF Marham was given a black eye.
A father-of-three from Ipswich had a 'near hiss' when he found a large black snake he feared was a deadly constricter in his back garden.
Ipswich Town manager Mick McCarthy says his team were 'garbage' in their pre-season game at Cambridge United.


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Nestled in one of New York's most storied neighborhoods, the two-block stretch of West Eighth Street in Greenwich Village is looking for direction to help revive its business district.
The former shoe-shopping destination has seen the emergence of nearly a dozen new establishments in the past couple of years—ranging from fashion boutiques to bars, restaurants and a textile store that offers weaving classes.
Among the newbies are fashion boutique GiGi K, Alma 33 restaurant, Pour George, Textile Art Center and Amélie—a wine bar and French bistro that opened a month ago.
The owners of GiGi K and Amélie say that with several more projects in the pipeline, they hope the street is poised for revival.
Stumptown Coffee Roasters is slated to open at the corner of West Eighth and MacDougal street in late summer, while BD Hotels—owners and operators of the Bowery and Jane Hotels—purchased a former hotel building called the Marlton House at 5 W. Eighth St., where it plans to open a boutique hotel in early 2013.
"There are lots of changes coming with the hotel opening and hopefully it'll turn things around," said Samie Didda, owner of Amélie, which has an established outpost in San Francisco.
GiGi Kwon, the owner of GiGi K, which opened four months ago says it wasn't an easy decision to open her fashion shop on the strip, given struggling retailers and store closures in recent years.
"I hesitated to open this store because Eighth Street was dead," said Ms. Kwon. "But I'm hoping it has already touched the bottom and can only go up from here."
The district was home to dozens of shoe stores in the '90s, becoming a destination for shoe shoppers within the city and beyond, before many of the businesses crumbled in the past decade. The rise of nearby retail corridors such as Union Square, SoHo and Bleecker Street, coupled with a weak economy, led to the closing of most of the shoe retailers, leaving only a handful behind.
"We used to benefit from having so many shoe stores here because everyone knew this is where you came to buy shoes and that brought a lot of people," said Kathy Okroashvili, owner of Jubilee shoe store, which has been on Eighth Street for more than a decade. "Even if the landlord gives you a break, you can't survive without foot traffic."
Two other shoe stores that Ms. Okroashvili owned on the strip went out of business within the past five years.
A number of retail vacancies still dot the strip.
Bill Abramson, director of brokerage at Buchbinder & Warren, which represents nine mixed-use buildings with 13 retail spaces on the strip, says finding tenants isn't a challenge but the overriding focus is to attract the right businesses.
"We can fill up the spaces but we are committed to bringing in interesting tenants like the Textile Art Center," said Mr. Abramson. "We held 30 W. Eighth St. vacant for six months because the landlord wanted a quality tenant who'd bring in more traffic." The property will be the new home of Stumptown Coffee Roasters.
But some longtimers have mixed feelings about the emergence of a new wave of businesses on West Eighth replacing the old.
"The shoes gave it a little bit of diversity—we are becoming a very high-end city," said Bernice Leventhal, an agent with Corcoran Group, who has lived in Greenwich Village for 20 years. "It takes away that flavor of what Greenwich Village was."
Ms. Leventhal added that rising commercial rents on a stretch surrounded by coveted residential real estate had also squeezed the shoe shops.
But the area wasn't always a shoe retail magnet.
For much of the 1960s and '70s, West Eighth drew literary luminaries to locales such as the Eighth Street Bookshop, a haven for beat generation writers that closed in 1979.
The Marlton House, meanwhile, attracted the likes of Jack Kerouac, Edna St. Vincent Millay and Neil Cassady in its former incarnation as the Marlton Hotel.
For now, new businesses continue to sprout on Eighth Street. Openings in the past few months include Growler Station, which offers fresh craft beers in to-go jugs, Apple Cafe and Bakery and Organic Avenue, which opened its doors on Eighth Street this week. As newcomers carve a niche for themselves and hope for an upswing, whatever the new identity for Eighth Street will be is still taking shape.
"What will determine its future is what ends up succeeding, what ends up working," said Andrew Berman, executive director of the Greenwich Village Historical Society. "That's what will proliferate."


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Related News & Articles
LucasArts has announced that Lego Star Wars II: The Original Trilogy is also to be released on Xbox 360.
Eidos has announced that it will publish LEGO Star Wars for the Nintendo GameCube.
A kid's game that adults can play yet still have fun? What were they thinking?


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The European Union said on Tuesday it was investigating a growing food scare in several member nations surrounding the discovery of synthetic hormones in soft drinks and pork products.
EU spokeswoman Beate Gminder said experts would meet to discuss the latest announcement by the Belgian Federal Food Safety Agency, FAVV, that traces of MPA were found in samples of glucose syrup sent to soft drink makers in Belgium.
MPA, or medroxyprogresterone acetate, is permitted as a growth hormone for animals in the United States and Australia but is banned in the 15-nation EU. In humans, it is used in birth control pills and in hormone replacement therapy. The same hormone was found in pig feed delivered to farms in the Netherlands last week.
"The MPA hormone was discovered in food and feed," Gminder said."We don't know for sure but it probably involves Germany, Spain, Ireland, the Netherlands and Belgium."
The Belgian agency said in a statement that traces had been found in two out of 21 samples taken at a waste disposal company, Bioland, which had previously filed for bankruptcy protection.
The Dutch-owned company, based in Arendonk, Belgium, also has a licence to produce liquid sugars and animal feed. Belgian authorities are investigating charges that medical waste containing MPA got mixed into the syrup. Bioland also allegedly used the same hormone in pig feed additives. The two positive samples were taken from deliveries made more than a year ago, FAVV said on Tuesday, adding that soft drinks made from the syrup were "no longer in circulation."
The agency said the samples were discovered at two soft drink companies, but it refused to identify them. In a statement, Coca-Cola Belgium, which makes and markets its Coke, Fanta, Sprite and Minute Maid fruit juices in Belgium and Luxembourg, said it did not buy additives from Bioland. "None of our beverages contain or have contained any ingredient supplied by the company Bioland," the company said.


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December 21, 2009
12/21: Traffic Rated #1 Holiday Hassle
Do the holidays give you a great big headache? You aren’t alone! The holiday season has its fair share of hassles.
The biggest – traffic. 32% of U.S. residents report that traffic is the biggest nuisance during the holiday season. Long lines and rude shoppers are tied for a distant second with 18% each. Unhelpful salespeople frustrate 9% of Americans while 8% are discouraged by finding hard to get gifts. During the holiday season, unruly children annoy 7% of the population.
Men are more put off by holiday traffic than are women. 37% of men are irritated by traffic jams compared with 27% of women.


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We speak with the independent executive recruiter and human resources consultant to launch a new series on the importance of mentorship in career-building.
Plus, Chloe X Halle cover "Teen Vogue."
Plus, '90s supermodel Shalom Harlow makes a career comeback
Plus, C-Suite changes at Balmain and Kate Spade New York.
Plus, Prada signs first fashion sustainability-linked loan.
Plus, the real social media stars of NYFW Spring 2020.
The runway featured many a familiar face.
Victor Luis, once tasked with turning things around at Coach, is out.
They're the perfect way to make you feel luxe, even if you're carrying around a canvas tote bag.
There's a new beloved silhouette in the purse game now.
Including bejeweled makeup, low ponytails, voluminous hairstyles, glitter nails and inventive eyeliner shapes.
The collection was all about the '40s as seen through the '70s.
These pieces are less Christmas morning, more Valentine's Day evening.
Runway hair and makeup drew from materials like foil, rhinestones, gold leaf, fine pigments — and, of course, straight-up craft glitter.
From fashionably chipped manis to blinged-out tips.
The creative director made her official runway debut with the brand's Spring 2019 collection.
The announcement comes two weeks after news of the founding designer's death.
Plus, Cynthia Nixon launched a line of "Sex and the City" campaign merch.


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McKINNEY, Texas — Encore Wire Corporation announced the addition of Schaeffer Marketing Group as its new manufacturer’s representative for the Eastern Missouri and Southern/Central Illinois territory. Effective September 1, 2020, Schaeffer Marketing Group will succeed The Kilkenny Group and begin covering the greater St. Louis and Southern and Central Illinois territory.
Since 1976, Schaeffer Marketing Group has provided exceptional customer service and value creation to its customers and manufacturers across the territory. With over 40 years of experience, Schaeffer’s product expertise and market relationships are second to none. Daniel L. Jones, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Encore Wire Corporation, said “The addition of Schaeffer Marketing Group will accelerate our growth in the Missouri and Illinois markets and expand our presence alongside our current group of high-caliber representative agencies. Schaeffer’s established history and proactive customer service approach are a strong complement to our shared focus on delivering the highest quality products and services to the industry.”Tagged with Encore Wire


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Volvo has removed four models from UK dealerships as it “consolidates” its line-up in the run-up towards going all-electric in 2030.
The Swedish manufacturer cited reductions in sales volumes and its electrification programme as reasons for their retirements.
The firm said it had no immediate plans to phase out the regular V90 and V60 estates, though.
Autocar has approached Volvo for current sales figures for each model. In 2016, the Cross Country version of the Volvo S60 saloon was axed after it scored just 34 sales in its first year on the market.
With sales of traditional estates declining in light of the rising popularity of SUVs, it remains to be seen whether Volvo will directly replace its estates with electric equivalents and whether any replacement will be sold in Cross Country guise.
Likewise, Volvo has been tight-lipped on any plans for a potential flagship electric saloon, although the S90’s current position as the firm’s lowest-volume car in Europe suggests it won’t be a priority.
A Volvo spokesperson said: “We’re rapidly transforming our product offer, which means not only moving towards full electrification but also shifting to new platforms and technologies across all our cars.


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Stop us if you’ve heard this story before: thanks to new technology, a new company starts selling goods remotely and delivers them right to customers’ homes. Though it initially offers just a few products, it quickly expands its selection to include everything from women’s apparel to musical instruments to furniture. Local merchants, unable to compete on price, are furious, and attempt to challenge the retailer’s business model.
This particular history happens to be Sears’, but it could just as easily summarize the current debate over the future of retail, with brick-and-mortar stores fighting what they perceive as the unfair advantage of cheaper, e-commerce sites. Their biggest concern, of course, is Amazon, which has been developing warehouses near major cities with the ultimate goal of making same-day delivery possible. The well-publicized liquidation of Borders and Best Buy’s decision to close 50 stores have also reinforced the idea that brick-and-mortar retailers are doomed. But it’s important to put e-commerce into context: while $194.3 billion is sales is admittedly a large chunk of change, online retail represents a surprisingly small part of the market—just 8.6% of all retail sales in 2011. In fact, several large chains have already experimented to find how brick-and-mortar stores can compete:
Offer exclusive products. To limit “showrooming,”—trying out a product in store but purchasing it for less online—Target has been working with its vendors to create limited editions and mini-boutiques that online vendors can’t replicate. This strategy also benefits smaller producers who do not have the resources to generate national exposure, such as The Candy Store in San Francisco, The Privet House Home in Connecticut, and the Polka Dog Bakery of Boston, some of the first participants in “The Shops at Target” campaign.
Curate. Who said a brick-and-mortar store has to be in the same place, all the time? This July, American Express, Target, and Paper Magazine sponsored the Super Duper Market, a three-day event featuring local vendors such as Brooklyn SodaWorks, Empire Mayonnaise Co., and Whimsy and Spice. Temporary markets give visitors a pressing reason to buy, and limit the retailers’ risk, as they never take possession of the goods.
Improve customer service. As anyone who’s wandered a floor in search of a salesperson can attest, good help is hard to find—literally. Retailers have cut back on floor help in an effort to lower costs and compete with online price, yet a recent Harvard Business Review study found this counterproductive. Low-cost retailers like Costco and Trader Joe’s that have higher labor costs due to increased training, salaries, and employees on the floor, are actually more profitable per employee and per square foot.
Adapt the experience to the location. With their smaller, non-standardized layouts, urban stores require a different strategy than big-box stores. Best Buy’s new, small-format Connected Stores, will be based on a showcase model, featuring highly trained staff, specialists, interactive displays, and tech workshops—all of which sound suspiciously like Apple stores. (If you’re going to copy a retail strategy, though, you’d be hard-pressed to find a better alternative—Apple’s sales per square foot are six times Best Buy’s). Meanwhile, Best Buy Express vending machines, typically found in airports, offer travel-oriented items but are entirely self-service.
In short, brick-and-mortar stores may not be able to compete on price, but by providing unique experiences and better service, they can maintain their relevance to consumers. Both online and brick-and-mortar retailers may end up converging in a multichannel approach—after all, even Sears eventually opened up stores, and stopped printing its famous catalog in 1993. The most important lesson though, is to be aware of new retailing opportunities: surprisingly, Sears, the company that was founded on mail-order retailing, didn’t launch a website until 1998.


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HeadSpin has closed a $20 million Series B, valuing the provider of mobile application performance software at $500 million. New investors ICONIQ Capital, Battery Ventures and EQT Ventures participated in the funding round. Existing backers GV, Telstra Ventures, Danhua Capital, Nexus Ventures Partners and NextWorld Capital did not participate.
The company emerged from stealth last year with Manish Lachwani at the helm. Lachwani was the former principal architect of the Amazon Kindle, chief technology officer of mobile gaming company Zynga and co-founder and chief technology officer of Google-acquired Appurify, which helped developers automate testing and optimization of their mobile apps and websites.
He’s been in the application performance management business for a long time; under his leadership, Palo Alto-based HeadSpin has quickly grown into one of the fastest growing, though relatively unknown, startups in Silicon Valley.
“What HeadSpin has been able to achieve in its first three years is remarkable, and it has already attracted dozens of major clients across the mobile ecosystem,” ICONIQ partner Will Griffith said in a statement. “The company is quickly becoming the new standard of record for all mobile ecosystem players going forward. It’s one of the fastest-scaling software companies we’ve seen.”
HeadSpin works with Tinder, DocuSign and some 200 other app providers, allowing the companies to test and monitor their apps in real time and on real devices before, during and after an app is released. The AI-enabled platform gives developers the ability to experience their app just as any regular user would and highlights high-priority issues so companies can quickly resolve customer’s problems at scale.
Founded in 2015, HeadSpin says it expects to double revenue in 2018 but did not disclose any financial metrics.
Chief technology officer Brien Colwell is the other half of the company’s founding team. Colwell is the founder and former CEO of Nextop.io, a Y Combinator graduate and app optimization startup. Colwell and Lachwani are joined by HeadSpin’s head of product Sriram Krishnan, Tinder’s former head of international growth. Krishnan joined HeadSpin in October 2017 after working with HeadSpin’s toolset in his role at the app-based dating company.
“When I signed up for HeadSpin, I found out how phenomenal the product was,” Krishnan told TechCrunch .
“A lot of what we built was predicated on the fact that the mobile ecosystem is still very new,” he added. “If you think about the apps world, it’s only been around 10 years … It’s the Wild West out there when it comes to understanding performance.”
Thu, 27 Sep 2018 14:45:40 +0000
Investors say HeadSpin, valued at $500M, is ‘one of the fastest-scaling software companies’ ever
Cargo, the startup that helps ridesharing drivers earn money by bringing the convenience store into their vehicles, has raised $22 million in a Series A round led by Founders Fund.
Additional investment came from Coatue Management, Aquiline Technology Growth and a number of high-profile entertainment, gaming and technology executives that include Zynga founder Mark Pincus, Twitch’s former CSO Colin Carrier, media investor Vivi Nevo, former NBA commissioner David Stern, Def Jam Records CEO Paul Rosenberg, Steve Aoki, Maria Shriver and Patrick and Christina Schwarzenegger.
To date, Cargo has raised $30 million in venture funding. As part of this latest round, Founders Fund partner Cyan Banister is joining the board.
Cargo provides qualified ridesharing drivers with free boxes filled with the kinds of goods you might find in a convenience store, including snacks and phone chargers. Riders can use Cargo’s mobile web menu on their smartphones (without downloading an app) to buy what they need. Cargo has previously partnered with Kellogg’s, Starbucks and Mars Wrigley Confectionery — companies looking for ways to market their goods to consumers.
“In just a few years, ridesharing has evolved from a niche service to an indispensable element of our global transportation system,” Banister said in a statement. “Founders Fund is excited to support Cargo in driving the next evolution: a better on-trip experience for riders and new revenue generating opportunities for drivers.”
The round follows Cargo’s partnership with Uber and an international licensing deal with Grab. The company, which was founded in 2017, has activated more than 12,000 drivers across 10 cities.
Cargo says it will use the capital to scale its business in the U.S. and internationally. It’s also working on new digital services — a development Banister eludes to — that will improve users on-trip experience. The strategic investments from gaming and entertainment executives is designed to help Cargo develop those digital services for riders.
“Our default behavior in an Uber is to shop, play games and listen to music on our phone. Riders have ordered more than two million products and today transact with us every five seconds,” Cargo founder and CEO Jeff Cripe said in a statement. “We brought riders instant commerce, now we’ll help them discover and enjoy games, music, and entertainment on one in-car platform.”
Existing Cargo investors participating in the round include CRCM Ventures, Rosecliff Ventures, Kellogg’s eighteen94 capital, RiverPark Ventures, and former Uber executives including Chief Business Officer Emil Michael, New York City General Manager Josh Mohrer and former West Coast General Manager William Barnes.[ + ]
Hansel, an India-based startup that enables more agile product development inside companies, has pulled in $4 million as it seeks to expand its business to the U.S..
The startup was founded in 2015 and it operates a real-time mobile app development platform that simplifies the process of product iteration inside companies. That’s to say that once a product is launched there’s a lot of work that is done to develop it, test new ideas and optimize but many companies overlook the process or lump it with the general engineering, which includes initial product development.
Hansel argues that product development and iteration are different, and its wider aim is to enable dedicated ‘product ops’ inside companies that until now never considered the process to be distinct from app development, or perhaps don’t have the budget.
“Product iteration is often neglected as people want to move to the next thing, but that means product building is only half done,” Varun Ramamurthy, CEO of Hansel, told TechCrunch in an interview. “We want to significantly accelerate product iteration and provide a platform for ‘product ops.'”
“Big firms like Facebook and Uber champion product ops teams inside their business but they have already built the infrastructure and have dedicated specialists. That allows them to move at breakneck on launched product and features, their competitive advantage is speed to market,” he added.
The Hansel ‘Lake’ platform is a single repository that decouples product development from the code itself, allowing teams to create a range of different experiences — iterations — that can be pushed out to different user segments. The company charges users based on end-user numbers, such as monthly active user bases, but it also includes customized pricing for some premium features, too.
Ramamurthy is formerly of Zynga in the U.S. among other places, and he met his Hansel co-founders Mudit Krishna Mathur and Parminder Singh while the trio were at Flipkart, the Indian e-commerce giant.
“We got together at Flipkart and saw a huge difference in speed between Facebook, other top firms and the rest of the world,” Ramamurthy recalled. “When it comes to speed of personalization and iterations of product, the rest of the industry had a lot of catch up. We want to help separate iterations and personalization from general engineering… today it is all confused.”
The startup has focused on India to date where Ramamurthy said it has large mid-market companies and enterprises as clients, including Uber rival Ola, Paytm and Magicpin. That work has given the team of 23 people a good grounding on what to expect for clients, how to work with them and how to package its service, and now the next phase is to do more business in North America.
Hansel is using the new funding to open an office in the Bay Area, where it has recruited its first two hires to drive business development and sales. Ramamurthy himself plans to spend more time in the U.S. as part of the effort, which will also see a product marketing team hired Stateside. R&D and product development will remain anchored out of Hansel’s India office.
This new round takes Hansel to $5.4 million raised to date. Vertex Ventures Southeast Asia and India led this Series A with participation from existing backers IDG Ventures India and Endiya Partners.[ + ]
Mercari, the eBay-like service that is Japanese first tech startup unicorn, has filed to go public in an IPO that could raise as much as $1.1 billion.
The company is scheduled to list on the Toyko Stock Exchange’s Mothers Market — a board for high-growth companies — on June 19.
The company reached the symbolic $1 billion valuation mark in 2016 when it raised a $75 million Series D. In doing so it became the first Japanese tech startup to become a pre-IPO unicorn. Earlier this year, that valuation jumped to $2 billion following a $47 million investment.
The five-year-old company operates an online ‘flea market’ that lets consumers sell unwanted goods with a focus on mobile.
Japan is its core market, but the company expanded into the U.S. in 2014 and last year it entered Europe, initially via the UK. It boosted its overseas strategy in June 2017 when it hired former Facebook executive John Lagerling as its first chief business officer to guide its global strategy.
The business passed 100 million downloads worldwide at the end of 2017. Mercari said that over 30 million downloads are in the U.S., with more than 60 million in Japan. Speaking earlier this year, CEO Shintaro Yamada — who sold his previous startup Unoh to gaming firm Zynga in 2010 — said success in the U.S. is essential if Mercari is to become an international player.
Reuters reports that Mercari’s forecasted share price of 2,200-2,700 JPY per share would see the company raise up to 117.6 billion JPY ($1.1 billion) at a total market cap of 365.4 billion JPY, $3.3 billion.
It’s common for Japanese startups to go public, but it traditionally tends to happen much earlier than in the U.S or other parts of the world. That’s often times down to investors — who seek to reduce the risk of their money not returning — and a relative lack of capital for startups, but Mercari has held out longer than most and that might set an example for future companies.
For another thing, the return on investment is impressive for many of Mercari’s backers, according to data from 500 Startups partner Yohei Sawayama — who tweeted out JPY estimates for potential returns.


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A surface cleaning robot is being recalled.
Officials say the spray bars on the 3000 PSI Briggs & Stratton surface cleaners can break and detach, causing broken pieces to fly at users.
There have been five reports of that happening.
The devices were sold at Lowe's stores.
Anyone who has one should stop using it and contact Briggs & Stratton for a free replacement.
You can read more about the recall here.


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small business | September 04, 2020
Lowan residents need to be able to support local businesses
With changes to Coronavirus restrictions to be announced this weekend for implementation on Sunday, 13 September the Nationals Member for Lowan, Emma Kealy is seeking an outcome that will allow Lowan residents to support local businesses.
“Dependent on what happens in Melbourne between now and then, if travel restrictions to rural areas need to be kept in place, so be it, but it is critical we allow our local businesses - including restaurants, cafes and pubs - to again open for local patrons as they did in stage two last time,” Ms Kealy said.
“While many have been able to get by until now by operating with altered business plans, including expanded take away menus and home deliveries, they cannot survive forever with this model.
“I have been contacted by a range of business people over recent weeks, stating that if they cannot open their doors to sit down patrons on September 13, they will likely have to close.
“The reality is some businesses already have closed and will not re-open, so we simply have to stop the damage.
“It is about a common-sense balance. While we need to get local businesses opening their doors again, we cannot take unnecessary health risks. One does not have to be exclusive to the other, it can be achieved with careful consideration and planning and co-operative communities.
“Under stage two last time, we had up to 20 people visiting cafes and restaurants and this was being done without any detrimental impact as local business people and patrons adhered to the rules.
“As a minimum we need something similar in place as a first step on September 13 in rural areas.
“The situation in Melbourne is trending well at present, but should there be a relapse, by all means maintain or strengthen restrictions where required around travel and the like.
“But it is absolutely crucial we are able to start allowing locals to support our local businesses that are hurting so much.”
Together we can make a difference
Help build a better LowanVolunteer


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If you’ve logged on to Fortnite over the last 24 hours, you’ve probably noticed that lobbies are overflowing with players who are wearing the same spooky costume. Veteran players know this as the Skull Trooper skin, a rare cosmetic that previously granted a high social status for Fortnite fans who donned it. Now, though, players are questioning whether or not the Skull Trooper skin is even special anymore.
Over the last year, Fortnite players have built mythologies around its skins, with each costume implying something specific about its owner. A suit that makes players look like John Wick, for example, is the infamous calling card of the bone-headed players with a lust for killing. Eventually, many players buy a skin because they want to communicate something about themselves to the larger fan base. The concept of rarity adds an additional dimension here: some skins have only been available during specific seasons, events, or holidays, or perhaps are simply not sold very often through the in-game store. The in-game economy, combined with player-dictated status, means that a lot of Fortnite’s culture revolves around skins. Even if you don’t want a skin, you likely have an opinion on the types of players who would wear any given costume.
Skull Trooper made its debut in Fortnite in November 2017, only to never appear in the shop again — until yesterday. During that time, the Halloweeny skin had gained a reputation and became one of the most coveted skins in the whole game. If you wore it, you were likely a badass, or so fans believed. So when Skull Trooper became purchasable again, nearly everyone wanted it. It didn’t matter that this time around, Skull Trooper was slightly more expensive: 1,500 v-bucks, or around $15 dollars, compared to the 1,200 v-buck cost of 2017.
Arguably, the increased price was meant to account for the bells and whistles that Epic Games added to the skin. The skin comes with a set of challenges that grant you a back-bling cosmetic, but more curiously, it can also be customized to glow in special colors — but only if you owned the skin before yesterday. Likely, the added customization option is Epic Games’ way of trying to preserve the sense of elite status for the skin. In practice, however, players are reporting that their lobbies have become nothing but Skull Troopers. Anecdotally, Fortnite fans at The Verge have also noticed this phenomenon in action.
If you’re curious about what this looks like in action, here’s a screenshot from a recent game by YouTuber Kiwiz:
Bringing back Skull Trooper has had repercussions: some players are miffed that their skin has become too common, thereby stripping it of its unique aura. Having a special color doesn’t erase the fact that nearly everyone can look a lot like you now if they have the money for it. Players who have built an identity around being “OGs” of Fortnite — Skull Trooper was introduced before the game properly exploded — feel like Epic has ruined the experience for them. Others just don’t want to wear something that’s too popular.
Whatever your opinion on the Skull Trooper is, one thing is for certain: if this many players are buying it, Fortnite’s developers likely made a fortune yesterday. (While we don’t have any specific numbers, try this conservative thought experiment on for size: if only 1 percent of Fortnite’s 78 million players bought Skull Trooper yesterday, that comes out to over 11 million dollars in sales.) In Fortnite, the in-game culture is an asset for Epic Games. The more players build something up and the longer the developer holds out on selling something, the more fans will want it, regardless of how good it actually is. Many rare skins aren’t even noteworthy, design-wise, compared to some of the elaborate skins that are being released now.
Skull Trooper may not be as special anymore, but that doesn’t matter: soon, another skin will take its place.


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These advantages include profit maximization and attractive low selling prices. Social Media Data driven decisions and technologies are more of a norm than an exception at Walmart.
CEO Trang Tran accepted the prize after pitching her company against four other finalists, selected from more than entrants from 57 countries, in a weeklong competition in Amsterdam.
The big data ecosystem at Walmart processes multiple Terabytes of new data and petabytes of historical data every day. Delivering value Being great merchants, particularly in fresh food and health and wellness Focusing on our key geographies of North America and China Appealing to customers in a blend of income levels And we will continue investing in our people.
Jatropha is a sustainable, low-cost, high-yield plant that produces oil-rich seeds. Jatropha is a sustainable, low-cost, high-yield plant that produces oil-rich seeds.
Walmart will be the first to deliver a seamless shopping experience at scale. American multinational retail giant Walmart collects 2. Walmart uses data mining to discover patterns in point of sales data.
If Thanksgiving or New Year comes once a year, retailers like Walmart have to make strategic decisions about how the sales will impact the bottom-line during the festive season.
And the one-day wait to use sick time will be eliminated, as promised. These seeds can be extracted and refined to produce biodiesel.
The combined changes will expand support for associates dealing with extended health issues and provide associates greater control over their paid time away from work. During this program the candidates are required to spend some time with the different departments in the company to understand how big data analytics is being leveraged across the company.
On Friday, April 18, student teams from eight colleges and universities presented their business plans to a panel of executives from Wal-Mart and other leading companies and non-governmental organizations.
Walmart is harnessing the power of big data to drive tools and services in order to get its mobile strategy in order. Walmart is fighting the big data skills gap by crowdsourcing analytics talent.
We are uniquely positioned to win the future of retail. Additional information about Walmart can be found by visiting http: However, the statement lacks other details, such as information about products, target customers, target markets, and business self-concept.
We hope this concept and the other great ideas presented will help build the businesses of tomorrow while protecting our natural and energy resources. The company, Mozergy, will develop and propagate jatropha crops in Mozambique and other developing countries.
This process not only reduces air pollution and stops the release of greenhouse gases, it also gives farmers an additional crop to increase their income by 50 percent. Bywe will mobilize a million new leaders to drive positive change in the workplace and the world. It is also abstract enough to encompass the business, and creates a beneficial challenge to motivate employees.
We're making significant investments in our people and technology. Additional information about Walmart can be found by visiting http: The solution to any particular problem can be found through these varied datasets and Walmart's analytic algorithms are designed to scan through the data in microsseconds to come up with a real-time solution for a particular problem.
Importance of corporate vision.
Whether it is in-store purchases or social mentions or any other online activity, Walmart has always been one of the best retailers in the world. We will also continue to lean heavily on the strategic work already underway that strengthens our business: Periodicals can be censured next a latinity neath factors, respecting your age, education, mystery trivet opposite flemish nor french, and tocharian thole experience.
Walmart will be the first to deliver a seamless shopping experience.
Middling soft outwith cash can swathe outwith sub forecasting, anthropomorphic jackets whilst punk adjoint tineid at cash flow. InWalmart crowd sourced analytic talent with another Kaggle competition where candidates were required to predict the impact of weather on sales of different products in the store.
Walmart has been able to hire skilled talent through these competition which they would not consider even interviewing based on the resume alone. This recommendation aims to make the vision statement holistic.
The changes taking effect include: With limited number of personnel possessing required big data skills —Walmart is taking every necessary step to overcome this challenge is that it does not have to fall behind its competitors.
The Social Genome product combines public data from the web, social media data and proprietary data like contact information, email address and customer purchasing data. The team includes students Ray Troy, Ph.
Specifics are provided below. With more than million customers visiting 10, stores and with 10 active websites across the globe, Walmart is definitely a name to reckon with in the retail sector.
Would you like to be updated when other readers reply to this question?. Wal-Mart has put people into place and the chain's management seems to understand the challenge, but actually solving the problem could require some very painful moves. Walmart, in collaboration with Net Impact, recently announced the winners of its annual Better Living Business Plan Challenge, a sustainable business plan competition for college and university students across the U.S.
The Challenge provides students the unique opportunity to pitch their ideas to business and sustainability experts, get. Bentonville, Ark., April 21, – Students representing the University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business and the School of Natural Resources and Environment won Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.’s first Better Living Business Plan Challenge.
Wal-Mart developed the competition to provide business students from around the world an opportunity to.
Business What is Seamless Shopping? Q&A with CEO Doug McMillon. By Walmart Staff. April 20, The following conversation with Walmart CEO Doug McMillon is excerpted from our Annual Report, which was released today. education and training to make Walmart U.S. a better place to work and shop.
We’re already seeing positive results. Warrington College of Business Administration. Walmart and Carrefour in China They provided the platform for improved living standards, better business and job opportunities, and an international showcase of China’s economic ceiling challenge with stiff business.
During the “Better Living Business Plan Competition,” student teams will present their business plans to a panel of judges made up of executives from Wal-Mart and other leading companies and non-government organizations.Walmart better living business plan challenge


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GoPro, Inc. (GPRO) Receives $8.27 Consensus Target Price from Brokerages
Shares of GoPro, Inc. (NASDAQ:GPRO) have earned an average rating of “Hold” from the twenty-six analysts that are presently covering the firm, MarketBeat reports. Ten research analysts have rated the stock with a sell recommendation, thirteen have assigned a hold recommendation, two have issued a buy recommendation and one has issued a strong buy recommendation on the company. The average 12-month price target among brokers that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is $8.27.
A number of analysts have weighed in on GPRO shares. Vetr downgraded shares of GoPro from a “strong-buy” rating to a “buy” rating and set a $9.54 target price for the company. in a research report on Tuesday, March 28th. Dougherty & Co reissued a “sell” rating and set a $5.00 target price on shares of GoPro in a research report on Tuesday, April 4th. Stifel Nicolaus reaffirmed a “hold” rating and set a $9.00 price objective on shares of GoPro in a research report on Monday, April 17th. Oppenheimer Holdings, Inc. reaffirmed a “market perform” rating on shares of GoPro in a research report on Monday, May 1st. Finally, J P Morgan Chase & Co set a $12.00 price objective on shares of GoPro and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Sunday, April 30th.
Shares of GoPro (NASDAQ GPRO) traded down 0.62% on Monday, reaching $7.96. 1,778,315 shares of the company were exchanged. GoPro has a 12 month low of $7.14 and a 12 month high of $17.68. The company’s 50-day moving average price is $8.15 and its 200 day moving average price is $8.70. The company’s market cap is $1.14 billion.
GoPro (NASDAQ:GPRO) last released its earnings results on Thursday, April 27th. The company reported ($0.53) earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of ($0.54) by $0.01. The business had revenue of $218.61 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $206.23 million. GoPro had a negative net margin of 34.63% and a negative return on equity of 49.75%. The company’s revenue for the quarter was up 19.1% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted ($0.63) EPS. On average, equities research analysts expect that GoPro will post ($0.15) EPS for the current year.
TRADEMARK VIOLATION NOTICE: “GoPro, Inc. (GPRO) Receives $8.27 Consensus Target Price from Brokerages” was first posted by The Cerbat Gem and is the sole property of of The Cerbat Gem. If you are viewing this report on another publication, it was stolen and reposted in violation of international trademark & copyright legislation. The correct version of this report can be viewed at https://www.thecerbatgem.com/2017/07/22/gopro-inc-gpro-receives-8-27-consensus-target-price-from-brokerages.html.
In related news, Director Anthony John Bates sold 41,076 shares of GoPro stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, June 6th. The stock was sold at an average price of $8.49, for a total value of $348,735.24. Following the completion of the sale, the director now owns 142,011 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $1,205,673.39. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. Company insiders own 28.69% of the company’s stock.
A number of large investors have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Creative Planning raised its stake in shares of GoPro by 21.4% in the second quarter. Creative Planning now owns 91,248 shares of the company’s stock valued at $742,000 after buying an additional 16,090 shares during the period. First Financial Equity Corporation purchased a new stake in shares of GoPro during the first quarter valued at $247,000. HighTower Advisors LLC raised its stake in shares of GoPro by 5.5% in the first quarter. HighTower Advisors LLC now owns 197,832 shares of the company’s stock valued at $1,718,000 after buying an additional 10,232 shares during the period. Tudor Investment Corp ET AL purchased a new stake in shares of GoPro during the first quarter valued at $1,063,000. Finally, Metropolitan Life Insurance Co. NY raised its stake in shares of GoPro by 4.4% in the first quarter. Metropolitan Life Insurance Co. NY now owns 71,873 shares of the company’s stock valued at $625,000 after buying an additional 3,061 shares during the period. 25.21% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.
GoPro Company Profile
GoPro, Inc (GoPro) produces cameras and mountable and wearable accessories. The Company’s product offerings include HERO5, which is a line of cloud-connected cameras featuring image stabilization, telemetry, cloud connectivity and voice control; GoPro Plus, which is a cloud-based storage solution that enables subscribers to access, edit and share content; Quik, which is a mobile editing application that creates edits on a smartphone; Capture, which is a mobile application that allows users to preview and play back shots, control their GoPro cameras and share content on the fly using their smartphones; Karma, which is its compact and foldable drone and versatile stabilization solution that includes the Karma controller, and camera stabilizer, and it all fits in a custom backpack, and Karma Grip, which is a handheld, body-mountable camera stabilizer.
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MILWAUKEE — Chrysler LLC wants to eliminate 18 Wisconsin dealerships as part of a plan to cut 789 nationwide, a move that dealers say unfairly punishes many viable businesses.
In a motion filed Thursday with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in New York, the company said many of the dealers’ sales are too low, in part because too many stores are competing with each other. It plans to close them by June 9.
Five of the targeted dealerships are in the Milwaukee area and three are in Madison. The other 10 are spread throughout Wisconsin.
Employees who answered phones at a number of dealerships Thursday said owners and managers weren’t available for comment. Most of the executives were huddled in hastily called meetings, the workers said.
Chris Snyder, the general counsel for the Wisconsin Automobile & Truck Dealers Association in Madison, said many of the dealers on the list are viable companies that are being forced out of business unfairly.
“When other people go out of business, it’s because they’re losing money,” he said. “These dealers aren’t going out of business voluntarily or because the market isn’t letting them go on. They’re just being told, ‘You’re no longer part of the team.”‘
Chrysler Vice Chairman Jim Press said Thursday the list of dealers was final and there would be no appeals. But Snyder said he was told otherwise by a dealer who spoke with Chrysler.
“We’ve been told there are some specific situations here in Wisconsin where Chrysler wants a couple of dealers to get together, to work together, to have one facility that sells all the Chrysler brands under one roof,” he said.
His organization plans to meet with all the dealers on the list to discuss their legal and financial options, Snyder said.
Chrysler has told at least two Madison dealers on the list they can remain open if they reorganize their product offerings, said Phil Harrington, the chief financial officer of Russ Darrow Group based in Menomonee Falls.
The Russ Darrow Group and Don Miller each own a Chrysler-Jeep dealership in Madison, and Don Miller also has two Dodge dealerships, Harrington said. Chrysler’s goal is to have two Chrysler-Jeep-Dodge dealerships in the city, which will happen if Russ Darrow completes its previous plans to acquire one of the Dodge businesses, he said.
“Hopefully everything will be complete by the June 9 deadline,” Harrington said, adding, “This is a market Chrysler doesn’t want to abandon.”
Communities where the dealerships are located also are likely to be hurt Chrysler’s decision. The closures could mean a loss of jobs, taxes and, often, sponsors for community programs.
Bart Wolf, the general sales manager at Wolf’s Motor Car Co. in Plymouth, estimated he donated an average of $10,000 per year for local high school and middle school events, supporting band trips and athletic activities.
“The way things are going now, that could be cut down to under $2,000,” he said. “It’s hard to say no to anyone, but this could make things tough.”
Wolf sells a range of used cars along with new Chrysler and Jeep vehicles. He said his new car sales have been down, like those across the country, but his business was still strong enough to survive. He said he would fight to get off Chrysler’s list but would persevere even if the decision stood.
“I imagine we’ll ramp up our used-car business and our (automotive) services,” Wolf said. “It’s not going to be an easy road to go down, but we’ll just reinvent ourselves.”
Chrysler spokeswoman Kathy Graham would not comment other than to say the company will notify dealers before speaking publicly. A hearing on Chrysler’s motion is scheduled for June 3 in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in New York.
Along with the dealers in Milwaukee, Madison and Plymouth, the closure list includes businesses in Eau Claire, Ellsworth, Frederic, Kaukauna, Lomira, New London, Oshkosh, St. Croix Falls and St. Nazianz.
Gov. Jim Doyle was “very disappointed about the widespread, negative effects that Chrysler’s bankruptcy is having on Wisconsin and across the country,” said his spokeswoman, Carla Vigue.
Chrysler announced last week that it would close its engine plant in Kenosha by the end of 2010, eliminating 800 jobs. Doyle has been fighting at the “highest levels” to save those jobs, Vigue said. His efforts include talking with officials at Chrysler and the White House and working with a Kenosha task force, she said.
The state Department of Workforce Development has not received any notices from dealers that jobs will be lost, department spokesman Dick Jones said.
That’s not surprising, since Chrysler just notified the dealers Thursday.
Under state law, companies with 50 or more employees must notify the state 60 days ahead of a closing affecting more than 25 workers. Companies with at least 25 workers must notify the state if there is a mass layoff affecting more than 25 percent of the employer’s workforce.