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Internet privacy — The World Privacy Forum’s guide on how to opt-out of tracking cookies has undergone a complete update. We have added new cookie opt-outs and have updated all of our descriptions of where and how to opt out of online ad tracking.
OECD | Fair Information Practices — At a key meeting of the OECD on the future of the Internet economy, the OECD Secretary General Angel Gurria reaffirmed support of the 1980 OECD Privacy Principles. Also, Secretary General Angel Gurria expressed support for formalizing the participation of civil society in OECD going forward and for paying more attention to information security and identity theft problems. Secretary General Gurria noted that “A more decentralised, networked approach to policy formulation for the Internet Economy that includes the active participation of stakeholders needs to be the norm.” Many parts of the recent OECD meeting may be viewed online.
Consensus document | Consumer rights and protections — Nine privacy and consumer groups, including the World Privacy Forum, unveiled a consensus document outlining key consumer rights and protections in the behavioral advertising sector. The document is directed toward the Federal Trade Commission, and urges the FTC to take proactive steps to adequately protect consumers as online and other forms of behavioral tracking and targeting become more ubiquitous. The consensus document was filed with the Secretary of the FTC and its commissioners. Behavioral advertising is the focus of the FTC’s eHavioral Advertising Town Hall meeting taking place November 1-2 in Washington, D.C. The network advertising sector has a self-regulatory plan, the Network Advertising Initiative, in place, and has had this plan in place since 2000. The consensus document addresses the many areas where the NAI plan has failedto protect consumers.
Internet privacy — The World Privacy Forum announced today that it would be filing a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission about the posting by AOL of a portion of its users’ search data on the Internet. While the data was not expressly identified by name, the search queries themselves included in some cases personally identifiable information such as individuals’ names, Social Security Numbers, and myriad other personal information. The World Privacy Forum urges consumers to take precautions when using search engines.


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Stepping up pressure on advertisers, National Broadcasting Co. said Tuesday that it would follow competitor ABC's lead and institute a new policy on how it sets ad rates.
The networks are abandoning the old method of how they guaranteed audience levels to advertisers because of what the networks claim are flaws in A. C. Nielsen Co.'s "people meter" national ratings system.
Nielsen has come under fire from ABC, CBS and NBC because television viewership declined sharply in the first quarter of the year and the ratings service has not been able to explain the falloff to the satisfaction of the networks. Nielsen maintains that it has inspected the system and can find nothing wrong with it.
Although technically different from ABC's new policy, NBC nonetheless seeks the same thing: to limit its liability from the steep falloff in viewers as recorded by Nielsen earlier this year. The NBC decision will affect a big chunk of the projected $4.3 billion in advertising time to be sold in the coming weeks.
Until now, the networks used the previous season's ratings for a show to set advertising rates for the upcoming year. Under the new system, NBC will use data from the previous six years, when available, to set the rates.
All three networks are worried about the accuracy of the current Nielsen system they might have to give advertisers hundreds of millions of dollars worth of free advertising time if ratings do not measure up to expectations. Only the fourth network, Fox, will guarantee the ratings of its shows based on the method used in past years.
Larry Hoffner, executive vice president of network sales for NBC, called the new policy an "interim solution" to the problem until a new measurement system could be devised. "We recognize there has been a trend in declining viewing, but what happened in the first quarter is larger than anything we've seen." Predictably, NBC's announcement was no more enthusiastically embraced by advertising agencies than ABC's decision had been the week earlier.
"The NBC plan builds in some anticipated decline," said Betsy Frank, director of television and new media at Saatchi & Saatchi Advertising Inc. in New York. "But it's basically the same thing as ABC's."
Frank and other advertising agency executives say they are satisfied with Nielsen's contention that the current "people meter" system is working properly. The agencies contend that the networks are using the current controversy to take the spotlight off their rapidly eroding market share.
Despite agency protests, however, there appears to be little that the agencies can do. Network television is still the only medium that provides the broad reach required of major packaged goods companies, and the alternatives, such as cable or syndication, are not yet big enough to attract national-scale advertising dollars.
But Hoffner acknowledged the confusion over new ad rates could extend the negotiations for the purchase of advertising time weeks beyond the customary July 4 wrap-up date. "It looks like a long summer," he lamented.
CBS is expected to announce its own ad rate policy by the end of the week.

domain: news


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No sharp improvement in industry outlook
Supply continues to be an issue with container fleet expected to expand by almost 7% in FY15, while demand growth is expected to be more sedate at 3-4%. Though bunker fuel prices have declined from US$600/MT in 2014 to about US$350/MT now, liners are increasingly passing on the savings to customers in a bid to win market share.
But delivering on cost control
Liner opex fell to US$2,242 per FEU in 2Q15, down 6% q-o-q and 14% y-o-y. NOL was able to record significant cost savings (around US$223m) in 2Q15 from better network planning, return of expensive charters and more targeted cargo selection strategy. Liner core EBITDA margin of 8.3% in 2Q15 is the best in several quarters. With the expected return of nine more chartered-in vessels in 2H15, we can expect further cost reductions to materialise.
Minor profitability looks achievable
Though freight rates, especially on the Asia-Europe lane, are still bouncing near multi-year lows, NOL’s strategy to sacrifice market share and focus on restoring profitability seems to be slowly yielding fruit. With the peak season coming up in 3Q, we see hopes of the liner returning to the black.
Though core ROE will still be nowhere near desired levels in the near term, NOL’s competiveness is on the rise and a healthier balance sheet puts NOL on a better footing. With valuation at an attractive level of 0.6x P/BV, we believe NOL looks ripe for M&A activities as consolidation is surely the way forward for the container shipping industry. Maintain BUY with a TP of S$1.08 (0.8x P/BV).
Key Risks to Our View:
Big mergers are rare in the container-shipping industry. The industry is dominated by family-owned businesses and sovereignwealth funds, who do not want to give up control and are typically better equipped to endure years of losses during long downcycles without going bankrupt. (Read Report)
Source : DBS Group Research


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BROOKLYN, Ohio - American Greetings announced on Wednesday it is delaying its plans for a new headquarters in Westlake.
In May, the Brooklyn-based company said it would move its world headquarters to Crocker Park within the next three years.
The board of directors made the decision after a move to make American Greetings private, a news release said.
"American Greetings still intends to develop its new world headquarters in the Crocker Park development located in the City of Westlake. American Greetings believes that the delay will be short and will have no material adverse impact on the Company," the news release said.
The new Creative Studios A.G. building in Crocker Park will include leased retail space on the first floor and a plaza.


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SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) -- NetApp Inc. NTAP, -0.87% on Wednesday reported a fiscal fourth-quarter profit of $197 million, or 59 cents a share, on revenue of $1.65 billion. During the same period a year ago, the data-storage technology company earned $174 million, or 47 cents a share, on $1.72 billion in sales. Excluding one-time items, NetApp would have earned 84 cents a share. Analysts surveyed by FactSet had forecast the company to earn 79 cents a share on $1.67 billion in revenue.
Read the full story: NetApp earnings are up, but sales slip


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The price tag for a hipster-sized insulin pump in the Netherlands is around $3.5 million.
The pump, designed by a Dutch firm called Koolhaas, is designed to be worn in public by anyone who needs access to a cool, refreshing and safe swimming pool.
It’s the first hipster pump of its kind, according to Dutch media outlet De Volkskrant, and it will go on sale in April.
The pump is made of an open frame that wraps around the user’s hip while it’s in use.
The hipster pumps are designed for people who need access to the pool or who have a limited amount of energy.
The device is powered by a series of internal rechargeable batteries.
The device was first developed for people with high blood pressure.
It is the first of its type in the world, and the company is currently seeking additional funding for further development, according the De Volkskerrant.
The company also says that the device will be able to work in environments where it’s not safe to swim.
It will be sold for around $10,000.
Koolhaes is the second-biggest supplier of insulin pumps in the United States.
The manufacturer of the pump has been selling its product in the U.S. since 2008.
The new device is made by Koolhaus, which also produces a hip-swimming device called the Hose, according The Verge.


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Do you screen responsibly?
With studies likening screen and social media dependency to cocaine addiction, many are starting to realize the toll digital devices are taking on their mental /social well-being — and on their eyes.
This new focus has sprouted a flock of apps– with names like Freedom, App Detox and Off the Grid to help screen users with their self control. Apple has jumped on board, too, including an app called Screen Time in its OS12 update that reports how much time users have spent on certain apps.
Now, Shire has created screen responsibly, an initiative to educate our patients about digital eye strain and dry eye caused (or exacerbated) by screen time, and to encourage them to talk to their eye doctor about ways to maintain eye health.
There is a consumer website www.screenresponsibly.com that has a screen personality quiz that guides users to content tailored to their unique screening style.


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Global marketing technology company Amobee has announced it has introduced new digital advertising solutions in Australia for Pinterest.
Amobee’s Pinterest Marketing Developer Partners program enables technology partners to build tools and services to help marketers reach audiences by scaling their presence on the photo sharing and ideas hub.
With API-level access, Amobee is giving brands access to Pinterest advertising products, including Promoted Pins and Promoted App Pins, which are displayed in search results as well as in category and home feeds.
Amobee’s managing director for Australia and New Zealand, Liam Walsh, said brands have a big opportunity to reach consumers in an intent-driven, data-rich personal environment with Pinterest.
“The Pinterest platform is made for marketing, as consumers use it to explore, share, save and organise,” he said.
“We are thrilled to be able to offer our advertisers access to such innovative social products through our API partnerships. Our partnerships mean that our advertisers get first look at the newest technologies in social and can harness the expertise of Amobee’s in-house social team to plan, manage and execute their campaigns.”
Amobee’s head of social in Australia, Ian Laurie, said the Pinterest offering is about reaching users in the discovery phase of the purchase journey.
“If Wikipedia is the hub of the world’s knowledge, then Pinterest is the hub of the world’s ideas,” he said.
“Advertising on Pinterest means brands can be part of the journey, as consumers move from inspiration to intent.
“The people that use Pinterest are passionate about a particular topic, subject, or product category, and they are open to absorbing new information from a variety of sources. Pinterest provides an avenue for brands to be at the forefront of consideration when consumers are looking to be inspired.”
Amobee’s new offering comes after the company signed an agreement last week to acquire marketing tech platform Turn for US$310 million.
Early bird ticket prices for Cannes in Cairns 2024 are ending soon, so you’ll need to move quickly to save money on the hottest ticket in town (or anywhere!). You have until 31 March to secure your ticket at the discounted price of $1,979.99 inclusive of GST. What’s more, you can get even tastier discounts […]
Marking a historic moment, THE LUME Melbourne will welcome original pages from Leonardo da Vinci’s Codex Atlanticus to Australian shores for the first time, as they touch down on March 9, before going on display to the public from March 16, when Leonardo da Vinci – 500 Years of Genius presented by Webuild opens to […]
Eyeota, a Dun & Bradstreet company and a global source of data for digital marketing, have selected Proximic by Comscore, a leading provider of audience and content targeting solutions for programmatic activation, as its preferred partner for making its full taxonomy of audience segments available for contextual cookieless targeting.
To promote the launch of its latest campaign, ‘Finding Brisbane’s Best Cafe’, The Coffee Commune (TCC) harnessed the power of radio, digital and programmatic OOH. The seven-week campaign also served to increase The Coffee Commune’s membership, and via TFM Digital, it saw a record 39,633 entries garnered (28,774 unique), with 880+ cafes nominated. Teaming up […]


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Ubisoft has been releasing a ton, and I mean a TON, of videos and trailers for Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag. If you’ve somehow missed out on all of them, Ubisoft has released a trailer that is a mashup of other trailers for the game because they really like trailers. But this trailer does pretty much sum up everything you need to know about Black Flag before it releases. Check it out above.
Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag is out October 29 in North America on current gen systems and on launch day for the PS4 and Xbox One.


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A recent report has claimed that companies might still be importing products made using forced labor, even if they have evaded partners from the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (or XUAR).
XUAR is notorious for its sprawling arrays of detention camps and controversy over Uyghur treatment, including forced labor.
On June 30, the Center for Advanced Defense Studies (C4ADS) released a report warning that China has been pushing mainland enterprises to move their production to Xinjiang. It is known as the Xinjiang Pairing Assistance Program.
At present, U.S. legislation and international companies have only paid attention to products directly from XUAR when it comes to forced labor.
But because of Beijing’s initiative, even those from other parts of China could be problematic as well.
The report stated that Chinese companies could mask the background of their products through conglomerate subsidiaries. It can also be less detectable if the firms use less direct links like investments by key individuals.
The report cited two international firms, Tesco and Esprit, which it believed might be unaware that their supply chain is infiltrated with the use of forced labor. Tesco is a British grocery and general merchandise chain, whereas Esprit is a Hong Kong- and Germany-based clothing manufacturer.
Study author Nicole Morgret told VOA News that the two companies source products from Xinxiang Chemical Fibre. It is a major chemical fiber producer and a state-owned conglomerate based in a city of Henan province.
Although Xinxiang Chemical Fibre is not headquartered in Xinjiang, it has two subsidiaries based in the Uyghur region. According to Morgret, that profile suggested this Chinese firm might be relying on forced labor in its manufacturing process.
Morgret, who is also a human security analyst at C4ADS, urged companies to enhance their due diligence practices to better assess the domestic Chinese corporate networks. Tracing these corporate links requires more thorough effort because they are deliberately veiled.
Morgret also urged Washington to cover up the loopholes in its attempts to denounce forced labor in Xinjiang. In order to more effectively detect products of troublesome origin, she said the U.S. should develop better methods to map complex supply chains.


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[photopress:logistics_Ningbo_Port.jpg,full,alignright]Tong Mengda, chief economist of Ningbo Port Group says the Port of Ningbo in Zhejiang province in the eastern China expects to handle container throughput of over ten million TEUs — where a TEU is a standard container — in 2008.
The railway, highway, and shipping and aviation infrastructure have improved so that Tong Mengda thinks the the container throughput will reach 10.6 million TEUs and the cargo throughput will be about 360 million tonnes in 2008.
This past year — 2207 — the port recorded a container throughput of over nine million TEUs. The figure is 31% higher than the container throughput in 2006. For seven consecutive years the port has had the largest growth among all major coastal ports in China. The new container throughput may help the port obtain the 11th position, up from the 13th, in global ranking.
Source: CargoNews Asia
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CIBC has been named the Best Consumer Internet Bank in Canada for the third year in a row by Global Finance magazine in its 11th annual “World’s Best Internet Banks” competition.
CIBC was chosen based on the overall strength of its online banking offerings including factors such as site design, functionality, and success at attracting and serving clients online.
“Millions of CIBC clients enjoy the convenience and security of doing their everyday banking online with CIBC,” says Christina Kramer, Executive Vice President, CIBC Retail Markets. “This award reflects the value our clients place in doing their banking online and our commitment to ensuring that our clients have a superior online experience.”
Each week, CIBC clients conduct millions of transactions online, proving that online banking has now become an integral part of their overall banking experience.
In addition to an award-winning online banking experience, CIBC continues to invest in greater access and choice for clients in how they do their everyday banking. Earlier this year, CIBC was the first major Canadian bank to launch a Mobile Banking App for iPhone, and then enhanced the mobile banking experience for clients using a BlackBerry or other Smartphones.
CIBC has also made significant investments in its branch network over the past several years, including opening, expanding or relocating over 70 new branches, extending hours, and introducing Sunday banking hours at 47 locations across Canada.
“We believe that access and choice is critical to the overall client experience so whether our clients want to bank by mobile, online, telephone, ABM, or in branch, we have the channel that’s right for them,” added Kramer.
CIBC is a leading North American financial institution with nearly 11 million personal banking and business clients. CIBC offers a full range of products and services through its comprehensive electronic banking network, branches and offices across Canada, in the United States and around the world. You can find other news releases and information about CIBC in our Press Centre on our corporate website at http://www.cibc.com/.
For further information: Rob McLeod, Senior Director, Communications and Public Affairs, CIBC, Tel: 416-980-3714, [email protected]


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NEW YORK – Stocks clung to modest gains Friday in volatile trading after economic data offered signs that the recession-strapped U.S. manufacturing sector might be improving.
The handful of investors present on Wall Street also did some bargain-hunting, one day after the Dow Jones industrials closed below 10,000 for the first time in more than four months.
The Dow gained 30.17 points, or 0.30 percent, at 9,949.75 as the blue-chip index was one of the casualties of August's grinding sell-off. The Nasdaq composite index added 13.75 points, or 0.77 percent, at 1,805.43 while the Standard & Poor's 500 index gained 4.55 points, or 0.40 percent, at 1,133.58.
For the week, the Dow fell 4.5 percent, Nasdaq tumbled 5.8 percent, and the S&P 500 slid 4.3 percent. Year-to-date, the Dow is off 7.8 percent, Nasdaq down 26.9 percent and S&P 500 has dropped 14.1 percent.
``The market just had a terrible month, and it's looking for anything positive,'' said Barry Berman, head of Nasdaq trading at Robert W. Baird & Co. ``We've had a lot of rallies and sell-offs and reversals of direction, but the trend has been down, and you just have to wait until the trend reverses.''
Trading activity was very light, with many investors already out on vacation. Advancing issues led decliners by about 3 to 2 on the New York Stock Exchange, where volume was 903.57 million shares, compared to 1.14 billion a day earlier.
In economic news, the Chicagoland Business Barometer rose in August to a seasonally adjusted 43.5 from 38.0 in July, the National Association of Purchasing Management-Chicago said.
Separately, the government reported new orders for goods ticked up 0.1 percent in July, well above expectations for a drop of 0.5 percent.
Both reports sparked hope that manufacturing has stopped deteriorating.
At the same time, the University of Michigan's closely watched consumer sentiment index showed a modest dip to 91.5 in August from 92.4 in the prior month, according to market sources, as the outlook for corporate layoffs worsened and the stock market weakened.
In other economic news, Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan said capital gains from stocks and homes will have a powerful influence on the economy but that current measures of the impact are inadequate.
Chip equipment maker Novellus late Thursday warned that lower-than-expected demand for some products would hit its bookings and shipments. Its shares fell $2.08 to $44.65.
Chartered Semiconductor Manufacturing Ltd., the world's third-largest contract manufacturer of microchips, maintained its third-quarter loss per share guidance but widened its revenue target band as woes persist in the computer chip industry. Its stock ticked up 78 cents to $26.75.
Consumer products giant Procter & Gamble Co. was in the spotlight after it and rival Unilever NV disclosed they were in talks over P&G's use of covert operations to find out the other's hair care secrets. P&G slipped 57 cents to $74.02.
Dell, the world's No. 1 personal computer maker, added to jitters by turning cautious on PC demand in Asia in the months ahead, blaming continued technology spending cutbacks as economies slow to a crawl. Dell fell 50 cents to $20.63.
Sun Microsystems, which slapped the market on Thursday when it warned weak European and Japanese sales would crimp its results, was the Nasdaq's most active, up 5 cents at $11.12.
The Russell 2000 index rose 0.50 to 468.56.
Stocks overseas were mixed. Japan's Nikkei stock average lost 2.06 percent. Germany's DAX index was up .20 percent, Britain's FT-SE 100 rose .50, and France's CAC-40 dropped .35 percent.
Reuters and the Associated Press contributed to this report.


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One of the biggest financial stories of 2017 has been the seemingly unstoppable rise of bitcoin, which has more than tripled this year and seems to make new records by the day.
Such a rally has inevitably raised questions over whether there is a bubble in the digital currency, or in the broader space of cryptocurrencies, which earlier this week topped $100 billion in combined market capitalization. Breaking that milestone was largely due to bitcoin /zigman2/quotes/31322028/realtime BTCUSD -4.56% , which by itself accounts for nearly half the value of the still-nascent sector. However, a new measure of bitcoin valuation, one based roughly on the price-to-earnings ratio applied to stock valuation, suggests that rally still has room to grow.
Gauging whether bitcoin is overvalued is tricky, as it is divorced from many of the standard attributes that can measure a security’s fundamentals. Unlike a stock, bitcoin has neither traditional revenue nor profits behind it, ruling out such equity statistics as price to sales or earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization.
And because it isn’t backed by a central bank or government, viewing it in the way one might a currency isn’t an apples-to-apples comparison. A commodity like oil can be measured based on the principles of supply and demand; bitcoin has no equivalent underlying asset. (The Internal Revenue Service classifies bitcoin as property rather than a currency, while the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission classifies it as a commodity.)
What is the future of bitcoin?
Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss run a bitcoin exchange on which investors trade on average $1 million in bitcoin per day. But is this cryptocurrency safe or a fad?
However, some analysts have developed what could be considered a price-to-earnings ratio for bitcoin, one that suggests the recent surge may not have taken it to bubble territory.
Bitcoin’s “P/E ratio” looks at the digital currency’s network value—the number of outstanding bitcoins multiplied by price; this figure is currently $44.69 billion—against its daily transaction volume.
“The reason I call it a P/E ratio is because when I think about what a P/E signifies for equities, it is basically the function of market cap and earnings. The earnings are the underlying utility—the cash flow of the company,” explained Chris Burniske, a blockchain analyst at ARK Invest, who has helped to develop this metric.
“Bitcoin P/E is composed of similar concepts. Instead of market cap, you have network value. That’s then divided by the underlying utility of bitcoin, which is its ability to move money. That’s bitcoin’s core utility, same as a company’s core utility is earnings.”
This metric currently gives bitcoin a ratio of roughly 50, which is under its long-term average and well below past peaks, which have been above 200, and one time spiked to nearly 450.
Courtesy ARK Invest
“On a stock, a P/E ratio of 50 would be pricey,” Burniske noted, “but I don’t know if it should be considered pricey for bitcoin. It looks to be in a comfortable range, it isn’t an outlier and right now the broad takeaway I have is that it doesn’t look like we’re due for a mean revision.”
He added that over time, cryptocurrencies would find a “base range” for valuation on this metric, “one that lets investors know what would be reasonable to pay based on the crypto’s daily utility.”
While high P/E ratios are often seen as sell signals for stocks, Burniske suggested that any kind of extreme reading on this metric could signal a bitcoin selloff.
“This ratio drops when bitcoin is in the late stages of rallies, because investors would take profits or move their money between exchanges out of nervousness. That leads to a lot of transaction value, which makes the denominator higher. That’s why it’s important to me, from a valuation standpoint, that it isn’t high or low.”


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Kaizer Chiefs boss Jessica Motaung says deal with Kappa is a game changer
Kaizer Chiefs director Jessica Motaung says their technical sponsorship agreement with Italian sportswear brand Kappa will significantly change the way kit deals are done in the country.
Last month, Amakhosi shocked their supporters when they announced their partnership with Kappa as the club’s official technical sponsor and licensing partner from the 2023/24 season for an initial period of five years.
Kappa, who kitted Chiefs out in the 1990s, will over take from Nike who have been with Chiefs since 2000.
“There were a number of bidders but for me it was the history, what we stand for and what they stand for, their unique approach to the deal and a whole lot of other factors,” Motaung said.
“At a commercial and club level, they understood where the club came from in terms of history and heritage, the type of players we have had and where we are going.”
Some of the great Chiefs players who donned the Kappa jersey in the past include the likes of Doctor “16V” Khumalo, Lucas Radebe, Fani Madida, Gary Bailey, the late Isaac ‘Shakes’ Kungwane, Marks Maponyane, Neil Tovey and Donald ‘Ace’ Khuse.
“Structurally it changes kit deals. Many people don’t understand that it will change the way the way kit deals are done. They allowed the club to generate the kind of revenue that clubs must generate. Also they have allowed us to market our brands in the way that changes how deals are done.”
Motaung also urged fans to be patient as they work behind the scenes to create a jersey that they will be proud of.
“The reunification between Kappa and Chiefs is going to be amazing and I am excited about it. Just how we worked and what we are doing together is amazing and our supporters are in for a treat and I am excited for the next five to seven years.”
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The 880-guest Fred Olen cruise ship Boudicca departed Dover in the UK last week on the longest cruise in the line’s history, a 168-night roundtrip voyage that includes 61 port calls.
Saudi Arabia has taken the historic step of introducing a tourist visa for travelers from 49 countries, including e-visas and visas on arrival for citizens of the world’s largest cruise markets.
Middle East residents who book a cruise with Jalesh Cruises can now avail a one-month free subscription to ZEE5(a digital entertainment platform with on demand content and over 60 live TV channels).
Celebrity Cruises new Edge-class cruise ship, Celebrity Apex, due in Spring, 2020, and her sister ship Celebrity Edge, launched last year, are perfectly suited to the wants and desires of the Middle […]
Abu Dhabi Ports saw a significant increase in cruise passengers in the first half of the year, with the total number increasing from 237,169 in the first half of 2018 to 321,277 […]
Viking Cruises has announced that Viking Venus will join its fleet in early 2021, giving the luxury cruise line the added capacity needed to return to Istanbul, with a range of Mediterranean […]
Jalesh Cruises, the new cruise line for the Indian market and the country’s first-ever domestic mainstream cruise line, has expanded its range of Indian cruise destinations for the winter season.
MSC Cruises is introducing the most Dubai cruise cabin ever aboard MSC Bellissima, which will homeport in the Arabian Gulf this coming November.
Costa Cruises has announced that Costa Firenze will cruise from Dubai in September instead of October, 2020, as part of a regional re-juggling of its Mediterranean fleet commitment for the summer.
Princess Cruises is offering free stateroom upgrades on nearly 1,250 cruise itineraries setting sail in 2019, 2020 and 2021. The offer is valid on all bookings made between September 4th and October […]
The threat of an attack on cruise ships by Iran off Oman or in the Strait of Hormuz is ‘moderate’, according to the Norwegian Shipowners’ Mutual War Risks Insurance Association (DNK), the […]
MSC Cruises is ramping up the hype ahead of new ship MSC Bellissima’s inaugural cruise season in Dubai (it will be the ship’s first Dubai cruise season, but MSC Cruises have been […]
Celebrity Cruises has announced its intention to replace Celebrity Constellation’s planned 2020/21 Dubai cruise season with a series of Caribbean itineraries from Tampa Bay, Florida instead.
Dubai is a popular port of call and turnaround port on the itineraries of many World Cruises, but a three-month voyage at sea is expensive and time-consuming. So, QE2 Dubai has stepped […]
Azamara, which recently re-branded from Azamara Club Cruises, will be offering a one-off luxury roundtrip Dubai cruise during the 2021/22 cruise season.
Cunard Line has confirmed to Cruise Arabia & Africa that at present it has no plans to change the cruise itinerary for Queen Mary 2’s upcoming cruise from Dubai to Hong Kong […]
AIDA Cruises says it has no plans to change it upcoming cruise itineraries from Dubai for the 2019/2020 cruise season, adding that the city “enjoys great popularity among our guests”.
MSC Cruises, Costa Cruises and TUI have joined Royal Caribbean in confirming that their planned Dubai cruise programs for the coming 2019/2020 cruise season are unaffected by the ongoing tensions between Iran […]
Iran’s seizure of a British oil tanker last month and the ongoing tension between Tehran and the West, has claimed its first casualty in the Dubai cruise market, with P&O Cruises confirming […]
Royal Caribbean is rolling out a vegan menu for its main dining room fleet wide this month, which means passengers cruising aboard Jewel of the Seas from Dubai for the coming cruise […]


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We are excitedly counting down the weeks until the return of the Consensus Great Brands Show (CGBS), which will take place September 13th, at the New York Times Center in Manhattan (CGBS Website). CGBS is returning for the 10th time, after a pause for COVID, and we are bringing the show back bigger and better than ever. With the date of the CGBS approaching, we are using this space each week to profile a different company that will be taking the stage in September. We hope our weekly previews underscore our growing anticipation for this year’s show and give you a head start on learning about these dynamic brands and entrepreneurs.
Mid-Day Squares is a rapidly growing snack food brand that makes protein packed, fiber rich, chocolate bars. Between Mid-Day’s delicious products and an innovative approach to marketing, it has become the fastest-growing functional chocolate bar brand on the market. The Canada-based company was founded by Nick Saltarelli, his wife, Lezlie Saltarelli and her brother, Jake Karls, in 2018 after coming from different careers such as product development and marketing.
Lezlie’s desire to get into plant-based foods spearheaded the initial vision of what became Mid-Day Squares. She created the brand’s first product, Fudge Yah, in her kitchen. The Fudge Yah product consists of a double layer of chocolate, chunky on top and soft on the bottom, that includes fiber, protein and Omega-3 to help satisfy the hunger cravings consumers get in the early afternoon.
Collectively known as “the tripod”, Lezlie, Jake, and Nick wanted to ensure Mid-Day Squares was a branded food company built for the next generation. Consumers in other industries, such as beauty and apparel, choose a brand and remain loyal to it based on their connection to its story and their emotional experience with the company. For the most part, grocery store brands lack that deep connection to consumers, so shoppers opt for competitively priced products. Realizing that their brand needs to tell a story, the tripod aims to connect with its customers by stimulating a strong emotional attachment and, eventually, brand loyalty. Their significant social media presence has created a connection with modern consumers and helped to increase demand – the Company now produces 50,000 bars per day (and has 122 thousand followers on Instagram). The Company’s savvy social media strategy is captivating and authentic. Lezlie noted that “Social media is a forever changing landscape, but storytelling has been around for as long as humans have existed.”
Mid-Day Squares’s tripod leadership team believes its online storytelling is one of its main competitive advantages. They vow to post unvarnished, authentic content for their viewers, and such unfiltered content has proved to be highly successful. The group has a podcast, “Mid-Day Squares Uncensored!,” which they view as a mix of Keeping Up with the Kardashians and Shark Tank. They hope to portray behind the scenes of building a business. Lezlie says it includes, “therapy sessions, legal battles, raising money, things that companies never show.” The Company’s unique ability to connect with consumers is clear – they have sold more than one million chocolate bars to date.
We are excited for you to hear the Mid-Day Squares story at the Consensus Great Brands Show on September 13, 2023, at the New York Times Center. Please check out Mid-Day Squares beforehand by visiting middaysquares.com.
Headline of the Week
L Catterton is set to launch an initial public offering of Birkenstock as soon as September that may value the iconic footwear maker at more than $8 billion, people with knowledge of the matter said. The private equity firm backed by luxury French fashion house LVMH is working with Goldman Sachs Group Inc. and JPMorgan Chase & Co. on a potential listing of Birkenstock in the US, Bloomberg News reported earlier this month. A listing could value the German sandal maker at as much as $10 billion, according to one of the people. The company’s sales have been boosted of late by the blockbuster Barbie movie, which stars Margot Robbie in the title role donning a pair of pink Birkenstocks in one scene. Deliberations are ongoing and no final decisions on the size or timing of an IPO have been taken, the people said, asking not to be identified discussing confidential information. An IPO of Birkenstock would come more than two years after the L Catterton and the family investment company of billionaire Bernard Arnault acquired a majority stake in the business, valuing it at about €4 billion.
Apparel & Footwear
Luxury shoe designer Tamara Mellon is partnering with licensing company Titan Industries to operate and manufacture her namesake brand, the two companies announced Friday. Under Titan Industries, which produces footwear for brands like Badgley Mishka and L’Agence, Tamara Mellon will enter wholesale for the first time next year. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. Titan Industries will manage Tamara Mellon’s e-commerce business, which has been its primary distribution channel since launching in 2016. Titan will also move the shoe brand’s production from Italy to Spain, where it has an established network of shoemakers and manufacturers. Mellon, the co-founder of Jimmy Choo, raised at least $87 million in venture funding for her brand, which was an early adopter of the monthly drop model over the traditional seasonal production cycle. In 2018, it opened a flagship location in Los Angeles. The brand generated around $30 million in sales that same year. Tamara Mellon raised $50 million in Series C funding in 2019, in a round led by London-based investment firm Centricus. Other investors included NEA and Quadrille Capital.
An activist investor has reportedly acquired a significant stake in Dr. Martens. According to a Saturday report on Sky News in the U.K., activist fund manager Sparta Capital has acquired “stock worth tens of millions of pounds” in Dr. Martens and is working with the brand’s board to help it improve the business. The report added that Sparta is now one of the footwear brand’s top 10 shareholders. Dr. Martens’ stock rose on the news. A Dr. Martens spokesperson did not confirm the Sky News report, but said in a statement: “We engage with all our shareholders on a frequent basis and met with Sparta as part of the regular roadshow after our full-year results.” At the time of its IPO in 2021, Dr. Martens’ listing price was 370 pence a share. The offering comprised 350 million existing shares and valued the boot maker at 3.7 billion pounds. This was more than 10 times what parent Permira Holdings paid back in 2014 to own the brand. Since then the footwear brand’s value has dropped as it has faced troubles in the U.S. market.
Gap Inc. stock closed up 3.1 percent Tuesday after Barclays upgraded the retailer to “overweight” from “equal” weight, as the company continues to trim inventories. An overweight rating suggests that the stock is worth more than it’s currently trading at while an equal weighting suggests the stock will continue to be in line with the average stock performance in the sector. During the first quarter of this year, all four Gap Inc. divisions — Gap, Banana Republic, Old Navy and Athleta — continued to lose market share. But the company did manage to sharply narrow its net and operating losses from the year before, and some near-term bottom line improvement seems probable. Last month, Gap Inc. disclosed two key appointments. Richard Dickson, a former Mattel and Jones New York executive, became president and chief executive officer of Gap Inc., a position that had been vacant for a year. Also, Chris Blakeslee, formerly of Alo Yoga, became president of the Athleta division. Barclays said it believes Dickson “has strong brand-building experience from his years overseeing Barbie, Hot Wheels and Fisher-Price as chief operating officer of Mattel, while also bringing to the table apparel experience from his time as CEO of brands at Jones Group.”
Levi Strauss opened an e-commerce fulfillment center in Erlanger, Kentucky as the company looks to drive growth in its direct-to-consumer and e-commerce business, CEO Chip Bergh said during a Q2 earnings call. The 575,700-square-foot facility will serve e-commerce orders for the East Coast, according to an announcement from the Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development, with shipping operations already begun in July, the CEO said. “This completes bringing our U.S. e-commerce business in-house, which will drive more agility and inventory positioning, reducing lead times, improving customer satisfaction and accelerating digital margin expansion over time,” Bergh told analysts. Levi’s struggled to fulfill orders throughout the pandemic due to capacity constraints at some U.S. distribution centers and trapped inventory in closed stores. Since then, the retailer has worked to optimize its fulfillment operations. While the Kentucky facility will serve East Coast customers, Levi’s Nevada distribution center fulfills West Coast e-commerce orders.
Athletic & Sporting Goods
Adidas will reportedly go back to the Yeezy well in August after a very successful first-selling effort in May and June boosted second-quarter revenues and prompted Adidas to raise its outlook for the year. The company announced a further release of Yeezy inventory with a range of existing products made available in phases throughout the month of August across the world. As previously communicated, Adidas said it will donate a significant amount to selected organizations working to combat discrimination and hate, including racism and antisemitism. As with the release in May 2023, the second release will feature products that were initiated in 2022. The range available will apparently include some of the most popular existing designs including the Yeezy Boost 350 V2, 500 and 700 as well as the Yeezy Slide and Foam RNR.
Nike is diving deeper into fitness with the planned opening of a “network” of fitness studios. The locations will be supported by an app for at-home workouts and will also feature social fitness events. The retailer also plans to sell merchandise at the locations, but Nike Studios merchandise cannot be returned to Nike retail stores. Nike Studios will offer month-to-month memberships that can be canceled at any time, but customers must give notice 10 days before their next payment to avoid being charged. Memberships are currently only functional for one location, but Nike plans to release an All Access membership tier in the future that allows for workouts at any of its studios. The retailer describes the studios as neighborhood locations with small class sizes, which will feature “blood-pumping tunes” and “‘let’s do this’ lighting.”
Manchester United signed a 900 million pound ($1.1 billion) deal with Adidas, renewing the English soccer club’s partnership with its official kit supplier for 10 more years. Manchester United, whose U.S. owners have been considering selling the Premier League club, will return to the lucrative UEFA Champions League this year after securing a top-four finish in the domestic league last season under manager Erik ten Hag. German sportswear giant Adidas became the club’s official kit sponsor in the 2015/16 season, reuniting after 23 years and taking over from Nike after sealing a 750-million-pound deal, which was a record at the time.
Cosmetics & Pharmacy
Japanese beauty giant Kao Corporation has acquired Australia’s Bondi Sands for an estimated US$450m. The deal sees the owner of John Frieda and Molton Brown expand into self-tanning. Founded in 2012, Bondi Sands is now available in 32 markets and has a strong presence in Australia, the UK and US. “The addition of Bondi Sands to our consumer family of brands will greatly advance our mission to be the preeminent leader in the global skin protection business and continue our journey of offering diverse products that promote a ‘kirei’ lifestyle that is healthy, inclusive and sustainable for all,” said Karen Frank, President, Consumer Care Business, Americas and EMEA.
Rhyz Inc., a strategic investment arm of Nu Skin, on August 1st announced the acquisition of BeautyBio, a brand offering skincare products and beauty devices. The acquisition provides Nu Skin entry into “the fast-growing hydration facial and microneedling markets,” according to an equity research note from Jefferies. While terms of the agreement were not revealed, the deal is expected to add around $10-$15 million in sales in the second half of the year. Nu Skin is forecasting annual revenues of $2 billion to $2.08 billion. When reporting its first-quarter earnings, the company had projected annual revenues of $2.03 billion to $2.18 billion. Annual revenues are expected to decline from $2.23 billion in 2022 and $2.70 billion in 2021.
After having announced the closure of all of its stores in Switzerland last May, Yves Rocher is also preparing to put an end to its retail business in Germany and Austria. “With its current business model, Yves Rocher can no longer remain operational in a sustainable and successful way,” explained the beauty brand’s German subsidiary to dpa news agency. About 140 shops and some 350 employees would be concerned in Germany. They were informed mid-March and a social plan has been prepared in collaboration with the employee representative committee.
e.l.f. Beauty’s Q1 fiscal 2024 net sales grew 76% year over year to $216.3 million, even as the company gained 260 basis points of market share. During Q1, gross margin increased about 280 basis points to 71%, while net income was $53.0 million on a GAAP basis. e.l.f. Beauty notes that the mass color category grew 6% in the period, while e.l.f. grew 48%. The brand now reportedly holds about a 9.5% share of the U.S. mass color cosmetic category. Meanwhile, while the U.S. facial skin care sector grew 10% in fiscal Q1, e.l.f. Beauty’s facial skin care business grew 127%. The brand now reportedly holds a 1.5% share of facial skin care dollar share.
Discounters & Department Stores
Walmart confirmed that it has acquired additional shares of Flipkart from Tiger Global. Although the company declined to share further financial details with Retail Dive, The Wall Street Journal reported that Walmart paid $1.4 billion for a larger stake in the India-based e-commerce company. “We value Tiger Global’s involvement and support over the last several years,” a Walmart spokesperson said in a statement emailed to Retail Dive. In 2018, Walmart became Flipkart’s largest shareholder when it paid $16 billion for an initial 77% stake in the e-retailer.
Dennis Mullahy, the first-ever chief supply chain officer at Macy’s, has left the company after four years in the position, according to a post on his LinkedIn profile. Macy’s confirmed his last day was July 14. The company said Mullahy modernized the department store’s supply chain operations and led a team during industry-wide supply chain upheaval. Mullahy also oversaw the launch of mini distribution centers at 35 stores and the opening of a $584 million distribution center.
Net operating income from Simon Property Group’s retail portfolio, which includes J.C. Penney and other retailers, fell 57% year over year in the second quarter to $50.2 million, according to an earnings presentation filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Overall at the company, funds from operations fell 1.4% year over year to $1.08 billion, and lease income rose 5% to $1.3 billion. Portfolio net operating income, which includes international properties at constant currency, rose 3.7%, while U.S. net operating income rose 3.3%.
Emerging Consumer Companies
Coop Sleep Goods and Comphy merge to create sleep platform
Coop Sleep Goods and Comphy have merged to create a partnership that combines their expertise in the sleep industry. Coop Sleep Goods, a portfolio company of Topspin Consumer Partners, offers fully adjustable sleep products, while Comphy is known for its luxurious and durable linens. Both companies were founded to address issues within the sleep industry, with Coop focusing on comfort and support customization and Comphy blending durability and sustainability with softness. The merger aims to provide customers with a seamless experience in designing their sleep environment. Coop Sleep Goods is known for its innovative sleep solutions, including a top-rated pillow, while Comphy is the leading luxury hotel and spa linen brand, with a 97% adoption rate among Forbes 5-Star rated properties. By leveraging their strengths, the two brands aim to solidify their positions as industry leaders and drive future innovation. The merger will allow them to reach more customers and bring their products to more homes across the country.
Podcast company Realm acquires kid-focused Pinna
Podcast company Realm has announced its expansion into the kids and family space by acquiring two podcast companies, Pinna and Lipstick & Vinyl. Pinna offers ad-free, subscription content for children and families, while Lipstick & Vinyl focuses on unscripted shows. Realm, known for its fictional series, sees this move as a logical step to grow its programming portfolio. Molly Barton, Realm’s CEO and co-founder, stated, “Expanding into kids and family makes a ton of sense for us. We already dominated fiction, and now we can take all that we learned and grow the kids and family categories.” The acquisition of Pinna and Lipstick & Vinyl will allow Realm to tap into the growing market for children’s podcasts and expand its reach to a wider audience. This move comes as the podcast industry continues to consolidate, with companies seeking to diversify their offerings and capture new demographics. The financial details of the acquisitions were not disclosed.
HerMD raises $18 million to expand women’s health clinic network
Women’s health company HerMD has raised $18 million in Series A funding to expand its network of women’s health clinics. Founded by Dr. Somi Javaid, HerMD focuses on providing specialized care for women at all stages of life. The company offers longer appointments and comprehensive women’s healthcare services, both in-person and virtually. It also provides aesthetic services like facial injectables and body treatments. With the new funding, HerMD plans to open new clinics in New York City and Nashville, as well as develop virtual services and enhance its training program, HerMD University. The company also intends to invest in mental health services and cutting-edge technologies for sexual health and menopause. Dr. Javaid envisions HerMD having over 200 clinics in the future and aims to establish partnerships with hospital-based systems. She believes that hospitals need a partner like HerMD because their providers often lack training in menopause and sexual health. Additionally, the company plans to introduce e-commerce and physician-curated products.
Food & Beverage
New York-based Livekindly Collective acquired California-based Alpha Foods on Tuesday, marking its sixth food brand acquisition. LKC is on track to become one of the plant-based industry’s leading food companies as the segment struggles with reduced growth and sales for a myriad of reasons. The acquisition comes just a few months after Alpha Foods partnered with the Every Company to create plant-based food with animal-free eggs. The partnership was intended to help Alpha Foods improve its products’ taste and texture — an issue that many companies across the category have dealt with.
Konscious Foods, a plant-based seafood startup, has raised $26 million in seed funding to expand its retail and foodservice businesses, support operations at its production facility and launch marketing initiatives. The brand debuted earlier this year with a line of frozen sushi rolls, onigri stuffed rice snacks and poke bowls made from plants. Formulations include ingredients such as konjac plant, pea fiber and organic red quinoa. The products are available across the United States and Canada at retailers including Whole Foods Market and Sprouts Farmers Market. The brand is slated to grow to more than 4,500 stores by the end of the year. Konscious Foods is the latest venture of Yves Potvin, the French chef who previously founded the Yves Veggie Cuisine and Gardein brands and created the first-to-market veggie hot dog. Investors include Protein Industries Canada, Zynik Capital and Walter Group, among others.
Diageo reported a 10.7% rise in net sales for fiscal year 2023, with premium-plus brands contributing 57% of overall organic net sales growth. Net sales grew organically 6% to $21.9 billion for the Don Julio owner, while organic operating profit grew 7%, thanks to price increases more than offsetting the impact of inflation costs. Spirits sales rose 6% organically, earning gains from higher prices and a more premium mix, although volume was flat. Spirit sales were driven by double-digit performances in scotch (+12%) and tequila (+19%). But in the U.S, net sales of spirits declined 1%. That drop contributed to organic net sales remaining flat in North America, which was offset by growth in Canada and Diageo Beer Company USA. The region makes up 39% of the group’s sales. Tequila was a bright spot in the U.S. where net sales grew 15%, driven in part by Casamigos (+14%) which benefited from the recent launch of its Cristalino expression.
Indoor farming company AppHarvest, which drew investments from major names including Martha Stewart and then-author J.D. Vance, filed for bankruptcy. The startup was a leader in the controlled environment agriculture space, opening one of the world’s largest indoor farming facilities in late 2020. But lower than expected crop yields and elevated operational costs weighed down profits, its Chief Financial Officer said in a court document. The Chapter 11 filing will enable the startup to restructure operations and find a buyer. AppHarvest’s high-tech greenhouses remain operational, and product will continue to flow to grocery chains, restaurants and other partners.
Grocery & Restaurants
Yum Brands on Wednesday reported mixed quarterly results as Taco Bell’s and Pizza Hut’s same-store sales disappointed. Yum executives said on the company’s conference call that inflation has peaked and started to slow in most developed markets. But emerging markets are still seeing inflation rise. Net sales rose 3% to $1.69 billion. The company’s digital sales increased nearly 30% in the quarter, accounting for nearly half of orders. Yum Brands’ same-store sales grew 9% in the quarter, topping StreetAccount estimates of 6.9%. The company’s restaurants saw growing customer traffic and market share gains, executives said. KFC’s same-store sales climbed 13%, fueled by returning demand in China, its largest market. KFC’s system sales in China soared 32%, while its U.S. system sales rose 5%. Most of its U.S. growth came from low-income consumers, Yum CEO David Gibbs said. Pizza Hut reported same-store sales growth of 4%, missing StreetAccount estimates of 6.3%. The pizza chain’s domestic same-store sales rose just 1%. Taco Bell’s same-store sales also rose 4%, falling short of estimates of 4.3%. Its U.S. same-store sales increased 4%, but its international same-store sales shrank 1% in the quarter.
Private equity firm TDR Capital has invested £50m into chicken shop chain Popeyes UK. Popeyes UK has so far opened 27 locations across the country since taking its first store in Stratford in November 2021. Tom Mitchell, managing partner at TDR Capital, said: “There is significant demand for the brand and its product, which makes this an exciting, long-term investment opportunity for TDR. Popeyes, largely known as a US fried chicken chain, muscled into the UK market almost two years ago with a plan to open some 350 sites over the next decade. The UK launch was part of a franchise agreement between Restaurant Brands International, Ring International Holdings and Popeyes UK co-founder and Dominos Pizza UK non-executive director, Elias Diaz Sese.
Starbucks was a tale of two coffee companies for the third quarter ended July 2: While international stores saw double-digit sales growth driven by China’s 46% same-store sales growth, U.S. growth did not fare as well, and transactions were just up 1%. U.S. same-store sales were up 7% driven primarily by price increases, beverage customization, and increased food attachment from customers, which led to record weekly sales, despite the traffic dipping. According to Starbucks, tighter margins in the North America markets can be attributed to investments in improved store experience and staffing as the Seattle-based coffee company moves full-speed-ahead with its reinvention plan, which was first introduced last year as a way to improve operations. A significant part of that plan is to listen to employees’ needs for better hours, benefits, and working conditions, all of which have been major complaints of the Starbucks Union. These store improvements include better equipment, like the continued rollout of the Clover Vertical Brewer, and moving forward with digital menu boards in all locations, both of which are meant to improve productivity and drive up same-store sales.
Home & Road
Continued improvements in performance, including achieving positive adjusted EBITDA as previously predicted, was one of the highlights for Wayfair’s second quarter earnings. The online retailer saw total net revenue drop by $113 million to $3.2 billion — a 3.4% year-over-year decrease — although U.S. net revenue fell by just 0.4%, ending up at $2.8 billion for the quarter. International net revenue was down 20.9% year over year, coming in at $386 million for the quarter. Wayfair reported a diluted loss of 41 cents per share and adjusted diluted earnings per share of 21 cents. Adjusted EBITDA was $128 million for the quarter and $114 million for the six months ended June 30. Non-GAAP free cash flow was $128 million for the second quarter. “Last year we laid out a plan to strengthen our business that included a path to sustainable and growing profitability with several key milestones,” said Niraj Shah, CEO, co-founder and co-chairman of Wayfair. “For the past few quarters, you’ve seen us execute against that plan to lower costs, focus on the basics and earn more customer and supplier loyalty. And you’ve seen the tangible impact of this plan as our performance has continued to improve.”
In a move that has increased its stock price, Tupperware Brands Corporation announced a finalized agreement with lenders to restructure its debt, according to a company press release Thursday. Tupperware’s agreement includes the reduction or reallocation of $150 million in cash interest and fees, access to a revolving borrowing capacity of about $21 million, a reduction in certain amortization payments and the extension of certain stated maturity. The company said the agreement improves its overall financial position and will allow it to continue its turnaround efforts. Tupperware’s latest announcement follows months of operational and financial distress at the company.
In the first quarter, The Container Store went from profits to a loss year over year under pressure from macroeconomic conditions that reduced sales and prompted the company to launch promotional initiatives. Net loss was $11.8 million, or 24 cents per diluted share, compared to net income of $10.5 million, or 21 cents per diluted share, in the year-before quarter, the company noted. Adjusted for one-time events, net loss was $10.1 million, or 21 cents per diluted share, versus adjusted net income of $10.5 million, or 21 cents per diluted share, in the fiscal 2022 period. Comparable sales declined 19.9%, with general merchandise categories down 20.5%, contributing 1,360 basis points of the comp decrease versus the year-prior quarter, Container Store stated. Custom Spaces+ comps declined 18.6% year over year in the period, negatively impacting comparable store sales by 630 basis points.
Top 100 retailer Ethan Allen generated more net income and earnings per share in FY2023 than it did in FY2022. For the full year, the Danbury, Conn.-based retailer picked up $791.382 million in net sales, down 3.23% from $817.762 million in FY2022. Net income for the full year totaled $105.81 million, or $4.03 adjusted per diluted share, an increase of 2.4% from $103.28 million, or $3.93 adjusted per share in 2022. In the quarter ended June 30, Ethan Allen posted net sales of $187.375 million, down 18.42% from $229.683 over the same timeframe in 2022. Net income totaled $25.41 million, or 96 cents adjusted per diluted share, down 19.4% from $31.52 million, or $1.25 adjusted per share in 2022.
As it updated its stores goal to 3,000 across the United States and annual plan of new openings to 90 per year, Tractor Supply announced its second quarter financial results including gains in net and comparable sales as well as earnings. The company posted a net income of $421.2 million, or $3.83 per diluted share versus $396.5 million, or $3.53 per diluted share, in the year-prior quarter. Still, earnings per share came up short of a MarketBeat-published analyst consensus estimate of $3.91 per diluted share as well as a revenue target of $4.26 billion. Net sales increased 7.2% to $4.18 billion in the quarter year over year as comparable sales gained 2.5%, led by 1.8% transactions growth, Tractor Supply maintained. Operating income was $559.3 million versus $525 million in the year-earlier period.
Jewelry & Luxury
After a successful trial run, Banter by Piercing Pagoda is expanding permanent jewelry to more than 60 stores nationwide and plans to add it at other locations soon. “We are excited to make our permanent jewelry services available to as many customers as possible,” Amy Robinson, president of Banter by Piercing Pagoda tells JCK. “We are thrilled to be a leader in the permanent jewelry experience.” Permanent jewelry has gone from a pop-up trend by some jewelers to a full-time offering at many stores in recent years, as evidenced by the entry of Banter by Piercing Pagoda in this experiential jewelry space.
Canada Goose’s first quarter total revenue increased 21% year over year to 84.8 million Canadian dollars (about $63.5 million), according to a company press release. The luxury apparel brand reported its net loss increased from CA$63.6 million the year before to CA$85 million. Driven by in-store retail sales, the company’s direct-to-consumer revenue grew 60% to CA$55.8 million. Meanwhile, wholesale revenue decreased 18% and operating loss jumped from CA$82.2 million to CA$99.7 million. Canada Goose’s first quarter results demonstrate the brand’s commitment to DTC channels.
Richemont acquired a controlling stake in Italian shoemaker Gianvito Rossi, the company announced. Though financial details of the private transaction weren’t disclosed, the company said in the announcement that the deal wouldn’t have a material financial impact on Richemont’s assets or operating results for its current fiscal year. Gianvito Rossi, the founder, CEO and creative director of his namesake brand, will retain a stake in the company and continue to “nurture and develop” the house in partnership with Richemont, per the release.
Marking its first wholesale partnerships, direct-to-consumer jewelry brand Aurate is releasing two exclusive product lines with Helzberg Diamonds and Macy’s. The Laure by Aurate line at Helzberg Diamonds will launch in August, while Audrey by Aurate at Macy’s is set to launch in September. The Audrey by Aurate line will be available in 167 Macy’s stores nationwide with a median price of $500. Meanwhile, the Laure by Aurate line will be available in 30 Helzberg Diamonds stores — with locations focused in the midwest where Aurate is less known — and on the retailer’s website with median prices at $350.
Office & Leisure
Hasbro lowered its annual revenue forecast as it expects a hit from the ongoing strike by Hollywood writers and actors, and said it would divest its Canadian film and TV business to focus on selling toys and games. Hasbro said it would sell its eOne film and TV studio to Lionsgate Entertainment by year-end for about $500 million, adding that its revenue forecast includes the performance of the business being sold. The eOne business made up about 85% of the company’s entertainment segment revenue last year, Hasbro CFO Gina Goetter said on a post-earnings call. The unit’s sale is aimed at creating an “asset light model for future live action entertainment, relying on licensing and partnerships with select co-productions,” CEO Christian Cocks said. “With the sale of its eOne Film & TV business to Lionsgate, Hasbro is dodging a bullet in terms of the content pipeline,” said James Zahn, editor of trade magazine The Toy Book. The toymaker said margins at its entertainment segment are expected to slide due to the strike as well as a $25 million charge it took from the lackluster performance of “Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves” at the box office.
GameStop plans to end its support for its cryptocurrency wallets “due to the regulatory uncertainty of the crypto space.” The retailer said it will remove its wallets, which operated through iOS and Chrome browser extensions, from the market on Nov. 1. The retailer’s decision comes about a year after announcing plans to launch its digital asset wallet, which allowed users to send, store, receive and use cryptocurrency and non-fungible tokens. GameStop advised in a brief note at the top of its crypto wallet website that all customers should verify they have access to their Secret Passphrase by Oct. 1, which will allow them to recover their account in a compatible crypto wallet. Ahead of the launch last spring, former CEO Matt Furlong said in a letter to stockholders that the company’s efforts and interest in crypto had begun the previous year with unspecified investments “to insert GameStop into the blockchain gaming and cryptocurrency worlds.”
Technology & Internet
Amazon reported second-quarter earnings on Thursday that sailed past analysts’ estimates and issued guidance that points to accelerating revenue growth. It was Amazon’s biggest earnings beat since its report for the fourth quarter of 2020. The blowout profit indicates that CEO Andy Jassy’s ongoing cost-cutting efforts are beginning to bear fruit. Amazon initiated the largest layoffs in its history, cutting 27,000 jobs since last fall. The e-commerce giant froze corporate hiring, and Jassy has looked to trim expenses in units across the company. For the third quarter, Amazon expects sales of between $138 billion and $143 billion, or growth of between 9% and 13%. Analysts were expecting revenue of $138.25 billion, according to Refinitiv. The guidance reflects the strength of Amazon’s 48-hour Prime Day discount event, held in July, which the company touted as its “biggest ever.” Amazon has returned to double-digit growth after expansion was mired in the single digits for five of the past six quarters. Jassy, who took over the helm from founder Jeff Bezos in July 2021, attributed some of the improvement to AWS, which had previously been seeing clients slow their spending due to economic uncertainty. Advertising continues to be a booming business for Amazon, with quarterly revenue jumping 22% in the period to $10.7 billion.
Shares of Apple were down 3% Friday morning after the company reported lower year-over-year revenue for its flagship products in its third quarter earnings report. Apple said revenue for its iPhone, Mac and iPad lines was down from the year before. Overall sales fell 1% year over year, the company reported. Still, Apple beat estimates on earnings per share, which came in at $1.26 compared to the $1.19 analysts had expected, according to Refinitiv. Revenue was also slightly higher than estimates, at $81.8 billion compared to $81.69 billion expected. During the company’s earnings call Thursday, Apple’s stock dipped lower when CFO Luca Maestri told analysts they expected similar sales results in the following quarter. But Maestri added that he expects iPhone sales to do better than the 2% decline in the June quarter, and that Apple’s services division should see an even higher growth rate in the following quarter.
Finance & Economy
Growing political instability means the U.S. will not regain its AAA rating with Fitch for the foreseeable future, according to Elliot Hentov, head of macro policy research at State Street Global Advisors. Global stock markets fell sharply after ratings agency Fitch downgraded the United States’ long-term foreign currency issuer default rating from AAA to AA+, citing “expected fiscal deterioration over the next three years” and an erosion of governance in light of “repeated debt-limit political standoffs and last-minute resolutions.”
Job growth in July was less than expected, pointing to slower growth in the U.S. economy, the Labor Department reported. Nonfarm payrolls expanded by 187,000 for the month, slightly below the Dow Jones estimate for 200,000. Though the headline number was a miss, it actually represented a modest gain from the downwardly revised 185,000 for June. The unemployment rate was 3.5%, against a consensus estimate that the jobless level would hold steady at 3.6%. The rate is just above the lowest level since late 1969.


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Stemlit Growers, a Washington based provider of organic fruits, was one of the first companies to adopt QR codes in early spring of last year. They began using the codes before they became popular and have enjoyed the attention their produce has been getting since implementing the codes. Now, Stemlit is taking their mobile marketing campaigns to the next level by adding QR codes to in-store displays and point-of-sale materials.
The 2d codes can be scanned with any smart phone that has a barcode reading application. They originated in Japan, developed by a subsidiary of Toyota, and were used to keep track of inventory for the manufacturer. Marketers adopted the codes when smart phones began to emerge. The codes have been gaining acclaim around the world as a useful way for companies to interact with consumers. They have only recently made their way to the U.S.
Stemlit currently uses QR codes on the display bins for their Pinata Apple brand and associated materials. When scanned, the code resolves to a mobile website where consumers can find a number of reasons why organic produce is better than conventional produce. Also available through the website will be recipes, storage and handling tips, and guides helping consumers transform their home gardens into organic gardens.
In the months ahead, Stemlit will feature QR codes on their summer merchandise which will include cherries and other seasonal fruit.
Stemlit will continue to use the codes as a means of connecting with their customers and providing a dynamic user experience.


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Activision's shooter Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War is still number one on UK physical sales charts. Ubisoft's Viking adventure Assassin's Creed Valhalla and EA's sim FIFA 21 follow closely, though.
According to the latest market data from GfK , almost 900,000 game consoles were sold in the United Kingdom during the month of November 2020. Of course, this also means huge game sales and in terms of boxed copies, around 2.38 million games were sold in the UK last month.
Interestingly though, Switch games were the most popular of the month, accounting for nearly 35 per cent of all games. The biggest new release is Activision's blockbuster shooter Call of Duty Black Ops Cold which took the top spot despite selling significantly fewer boxed copies that the previous game in the series - Call of Duty Modern Warfare. The majority of Call of Duty Black Ops Cold War sales are coming via digital download.
Ubisoft's Viking-themed action-adventure Assassin's Creed Valhalla follows closely while EA Sports' sim FIFA 21 is in third. Here are the top ten best selling games (physical only) for the week ending on November 28 according to GfK:
- Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War
- Assassin's Creed Valhalla
- FIFA 21
- Marvel's Spider-Man Miles Morales
- Watch Dogs: Legion
- Animal Crossing: New Horizons
- Mario Kart 8: Deluxe
- Minecraft (Switch)
- Super Mario 3D All-Stars
- Fortnite: The Last Laugh Bundle


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For farmers, the decision to start exporting their products can be daunting or even down right confusing.
UGA’s 2013 Farm to Port Ag Forecast economic outlook series will feature local producers and business people who will share how they broke into the export market and the benefits they’ve seen since making the leap.
“As we continue to move toward a global economy, there are new opportunity overseas and across our boarders that can provide a positive economic impact on Georgia’s farmers,” said Kent Wolfe, executive director of the UGA Center for Agribusiness and Economic Development, which is helping to organize the 2013 Ag Forecast. “However, being aware of these opportunities and the issues associated with accessing foreign markets can be an overwhelming task.
“Hopefully, our local speakers will be able to share some insight and their experience in exporting Georgia products hopefully paving the way for others to take advantage of existing and emerging foreign markets.”
UGA’s College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences coordinates the seminars in conjunction with Georgia Farm Bureau and the Georgia Department of Agriculture. The Ag Forecast seminars were made possible through an endowment funded by Georgia Farm Bureau. This is the seventh year the program has been offered.
The two-hour programs provide lunch or breakfast and bring together agricultural economists and economic development experts from around the state to give producers and business owners a preview of what they can expect from the market in the coming year.
The seminar series will be held January in Athens, Rome, Macon, Tifton, Bainbridge and Lyons. Georgia Department of Economic Development Director of International Trade Kathe Falls will deliver the keynote, and a local speaker will address the specific challenges and benefits of exporting from their region of Georgia.
Jim Sumner, president of the USA Poultry & Egg Export Council and president of the International Poultry Council, will speak at the Jan. 25 Ag Forecast at the Georgia Center for Continuing Education in Athens.
Georgia farmers are the largest producers of poultry in the U.S., turning out about 1.3 million birds a year. A growing number of those are for the export market, with farmers breaking records for exports in 2011 and on track to break records in 2012, according to Toby Moore, vice president of communications for the council.
The Poultry and Egg Export Council represents 220 poultry processing and trading companies across the United States. The council collaborates with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Agricultural Service to promote U.S. poultry and egg products in 13 foreign countries.
“As the nation's leading poultry and egg producer, no state has benefited more from exports than Georgia,” Sumner said. “Since 1990, exports of Georgia poultry have grown from about $93 million to an estimated $790 million in 2012. From a production point of view, Georgia's poultry industry has grown from exporting 7 percent of its total production to over 25 percent during that same period. That’s a success story we’re very proud of here at (the council).”
Maggie O’Quinn, who leads Certified Angus Beef ® marketing efforts in parts of the U.S. and in Latin America, will speak at the Jan. 28 Ag Forecast at the Rome-Floyd County ECO River Education Center.
O’Quinn has launched the Certified Angus Beef brand in 15 markets across the Caribbean and Central and South America. She currently serves on the executive committee of the U.S. Meat Export Federation.
Al Pearson, owner of Pearson Farms in Fort Valley, Ga., will speak at the Jan. 29 Ag Forecast at Georgia Farm Bureau Headquarters in Macon.
Pearson is a middle Georgia peach and pecan farmer who has grown Pearson Farms to include 2,700 acres of peach and pecan trees, a peak season workforce of 200 people and a growing export market.
Jimmy Webb, a managing partner with Harvey Jordan Farms Partnership in Leary, Ga., will speak at the Jan. 30 Ag Forecast at the University of Georgia Conference Center in Tifton.
Webb, a 28-year veteran cotton and peanut producer, has held leadership roles in a number of cotton and peanut trade groups.
He currently serves as a Georgia delegate to the National Cotton Council and to the Cotton Board, as president and director of Cotton Council International, as director of the Southern Cotton Growers group and as president of American Peanut Marketing.
Richard Barnhill, owner of Mazur and Hockman Peanut Brokers, will address the Jan. 31 Ag Forecast in Bainbridge at the Cloud (Decatur County) Livestock Facility.
Barnhill has worked in the peanut processing industry since 1986, and he is a former president of the American Peanut Council, a former board member of the Georgia Peanut Producers Association and past chairman of the Associate Board of the American Peanut Shellers Association. He will speak on the export market for Georgia peanut products.
Jon Schwalls, director of operations for Southern Valley Fruit and Vegetables, will address the Feb. 1 Ag Forecast in Lyons.
Southern Valley Fruit and Vegetable is a Norman Park, Ga. producer of cucumbers, peppers, squash, watermelons, green beans and other vegetables. In addition to their 3,000-acre farm in Georgia, Southern Valley operates a 1,500-acre farm in Mexico so that they can provide vegetables to their customers year-round.
This is the first year UGA has held its Ag Forecast in Bainbridge and Lyons. It is also the first year in several years that a Ag Forecast meeting has been held in Rome.
Registration is now open and information about the 2013 Ag Forecast is posted at georgiaagforecast.com and on Twitter through @GaAgForecast. For more information, contact your local UGA Cooperative Extension office at 1-800-275-8421.


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HOLLYWOOD – Hollywood was not only buzzing about designer dresses, flawless make-up and ice-colored gowns on the red carpet for the 86th-annual OSCARS®, but for the first time ever, they were mesmerized by the natural-looking spray-tans flaunted by so many celebrities.
For this year’s biggest red carpet event, Infinity Sun created a signature look that is identified by the natural, soft and radiant tones that adorned what the company now calls “The Goddesses” in anticipation of their very new spray-tanning system, ISIS.
Charlize Theron and Kate Hudson were two of this year’s more notable A-listers who caught everyone’s eye with the subtle glow of “The Goddess” by Infinity Sun.
When asked how to achieve Charlize Theron and Kate Hudson’s red carpet glow, Veronique Munro, Founder and CEO of Infinity Sun gave a step-by-step tutorial.
“Because of harsh dryness in winter months, we needed to prep the skin to prevent dry lines formed by color saturation,” said Munro. “To keep it soft, we started by misting the Infinity Sun anti-aging treatment elixir on the face and body and dried it very well. We applied a ‘light-medium’ spray with Infinity Sun Anti-aging Bronze Solution, and finished the following day with the Infinity Sun Extend with Shimmer to highlight the natural radiance under the lights,” she explained.
Naturally, not all Infinity Sun celebrity clients wanted a subtle glow effect. Infinity Sun veterans such as Giuliana Rancic wore a natural and intense blend for her pale ice gown, while Ali Fedotowsky from The Bachelorette went for more of a California Classic tone to highlight her royal blue and gold dress.
“Infinity Sun is honored that so many celebrities chose to work with us at this year’s OSCARS® and entrust us to get them ready for the world to see on such an important occasion in their acting careers,” added Munro.
“I would not trust anyone but Veronique Munro from Infinity Sun when it comes to high-profile events such as the OSCARS®,” said Raina Falcon, Celebrity Publicist at BWR-PR.
“She really knows how to work with skin tones for TV, pictures and red carpet lighting, which is especially important to my fair-skinned clients, especially Connie Britton from the TV show Nashville,” she added.
Located in West Hollywood, CA Infinity Sun is known for providing unique and advanced spray-tanning systems for mobile and salon use. Infinity Sun’s clientele are among Hollywood’s elite and used exclusively on the Britney Spears “Circus Tour.” Celebrity fans include Jessica Alba, Charlize Theron, Anne Hathaway, Kate Hudson, Connie Britton, Giselle Bündchen, Paula Abdul, Adrien Grenier, Mandy Moore, David Beckham and many more. For more info, visit infinitysun.com or call 323.782.1049.
Since 1997, IST Magazine (formerly known as Island Sun Times) has been committed to the success of salon professionals, while promoting the growth of the tanning industry as a whole.
Copyright 2020 ist Magazine


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Exclusive: Earlier this year, there were reports that online payments company, PayPal, was looking to apply for a domestic payment license in India. MediaNama has learnt from sources that PayPal has already received an approval for it. According to an internal e-mail sent by PayPal India GM, PayPal is now authorised to offer domestic payment processing services in India, and that the solution can be offered for online, mobile, offline (PayPal Here), for all industries as permitted by law. He also mentioned that PayPal’s India office would be the test-bed for its products, as soon as it can accomodate the required changes needed for India, and that it will focus on launching the product and implementing the auxiliary things. We had written to PayPal asking for a response, but PayPal has issued a boilerplate statement which does not confirm or deny the development:
“We do not comment on our discussions with regulators and partners in India. At this point, we are completely focused on helping Indian merchants of all sizes to grow their business by facilitating receipt of export proceeds when they sell to our 113 million active accounts in 190 markets worldwide.”
PayPal in India: PayPal is available in the Indian market for international remittances and payments. However, it is crippled as it does not allow users to receive more than $3000 per transaction, and automatically transfers them to the user’s bank account on a daily basis, due to RBI guidelines on export related remittances. It does not allow users to make payments using their PayPal balance, although they can use a linked credit card or bank account for the same purpose. PayPal, part of eBay, has development centres in Chennai and Bangalore.
Regulatory guidelines: At the moment, domestic remittance services are mostly offered through banking correspondent tie-ups, since the RBI has enforced strict guidelines and require KYC (know your customer) documentation. Although the central bank had proposed relaxations in the guidelines, and had removed the Rs 50,000 cap on mobile money transfers, the services haven’t really picked up in India.The move makes more sense as the e-commerce segment in India matures and digital downloads gain more acceptance, but the tricky part is that in case of Semi-Closed wallets, users cannot withdraw money. It would be interesting to see how PayPal is integrated along with other payment methods, and whether PayPal would allow users to store and use money received through remittances. A few weeks back, Ogone-owned online payment gateway service provider E-Billing Solutions (EBS) had partnered with PayPal, to become its first channel partner in the country, allowing over 5,000 online merchants using EBS payment platform, to add PayPal as a payment option to their EBS merchant account, and sell goods to 113 million active PayPal accounts in 190 markets, globally.
Competition: The company had stated that it was planning to open a new office in India, next year. That being said, it is not yet clear if PayPal will tie-up with Banks to launch a money transfer service, competing with NPCI’s mobile money transfer platform IMPS which currently covers all the major Indian banks and similar products from companies like ZaakPay, PayMate, Beam and mChek or launch a consumer product in form of a semi-closed wallet to compete with services like Airtel Money, Itz Cash, Done Card, Oxigen and Beam.


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For example, the chinese company smec is establishing a new cement factory this year near the old bajel cement factory in the hodeidah governorate, costing us113m, he said. general cement and smec recently signed the final agreement in the chinese capital, beijing, to start the construction of the new factory.
The albrah cement factory is currently negotiating with the japanese company, to set up a new production line and increase the current production capacity of 500,000t to 750,000tpa. the upgrade has an estimated cost of us20 million. the total of the production of yemeni cement is about 1.5mta.
Tengy cement (fiji) limited, located in veisari, lami is a chinese investment company worth us50 million that set up business in fiji in 2014 to help address the chronic shortage of cement in the country. pacific cement limited on the other hand was the only cement factory in fiji until 2014 when tengy set up an office in the pacific nation.
Chinese company bags sh1 billion tatu city infrastructure deal karsan ramji amp; sons has sought regulatory approval to set up a cement factory in engashura area, seven kilometres from nakuru.
A new cement factory will be established in fiji soon. this was revealed to the fiji sun by prime minister, commodore voreqe bainimarama, in an interview in shanghai, china, last friday. he said he met with representatives of a major chinese cement company in shanghai last tuesday. this company has indicated its willingness to set up their.
Written by : leone cabenatabua. a new cement factory will be established in fiji soon. this was revealed to the fiji sun by prime minister, commodore voreqe bainimarama, in an interview in shanghai, china, last friday. he said he met with representatives of a major chinese cement company in shanghai last tuesday.
It is the second chineseinvested cement factory in nepal after hongshishivam cement pvt. ltd. the new cement plant set up by the huaxin cement narayani pvt. ltd, a joint venture of huaxin central asia investment (wuhan) and the voith, has a production capacity of 3,000 tons per day, while hongshishivam is the largest with a daily production.
The new cement plant set up by the huaxin cement narayani pvt. ltd, a joint venture of huaxin central asia investment (wuhan) and the voith, has a production capacity of 3,000 tons per day, while hongshishivam is the largest with a daily production capacity of 6,000 tons.
Housing deficit: fibre cement board company underway. a chinese building materials company has announced plans to establish a fibre cement board manufacturing factory in abuja. the deputy general.
Besides investing in the constructing of a cement factory and power generating plant, the company also plans to construct an industrial park which would attract other investors to the area. another chinese company, car manufacturer jangsu automobile company (jac), has also expressed interest to set up an automotive assembly plant in the area.
Cement plant locations and information on united states can be found below. for full access to the database, purchase the global cement report™, 14th edition. purchase. summary. cement capacity (mt) integrated plants. 96. clinker plants. 0.
China cement clinker kiln manufacturers select 2021 high quality cement clinker kiln products in best price from certified chinese mining equipment, mineral processing suppliers, wholesalers and factory on.
China cement manufacturers select 2021 high quality cement products in best price from certified chinese building material, china concrete.
Complete set of cement machinery for sale jiangsu pengfei group co. , ltd is a national leading enterprise in building material industry, and our company has great comprehensive ability to provide the best services on turnkey basis with the entire equipments amp;amp;ndash; designing, manufacturing, installation and debugging for new type dry processing rotary kiln cement.
Central african cement company and sinoma cbmi have signed an agreement to set up a cement factory in ndola at the total cost of 480 million united states dollars.
The representatives of chinaled huaxin cement nepal private limited, which is building a new cement factory in nepal, had an informal meeting with ibn officials on monday, during which few documents were shared. we have already started informal talks with the chinese company on signing of the pia, said a highlyplaced source at the ibn.
Bua cement has signed an agreement with sinoma cbmi of china for the construction of three new cement plants of three million tonnes each per annum, a.
Bua cement has signed an agreement with sinoma cbmi of china for the construction of three new cement plants of three million tonnes each per annum, a project valued at 1.05bn. a statement by the.
Ife ogunfuwa bua cement has signed an agreement with sinoma cbmi of china for the construction of three new cement plants of three million tonnes each per annum, a project valued at 1.05bn.
Kathmandu investment board nepal (ibn) and huaxin cement narayani private limited have signed a project investment agreement (pia) for the chinese firm to set up a cement factory in nepal.
Here are makers row picks for the top 10 states leading furniture, apparel, and jewelry manufacturing in the united states. 10. texas. texas has about 381 factories throughout the state. if you are looking to start an apparel line or launch a new product, we recommend checking out stitch texas. this factory is based in austin and works with.
With anhui conch cement company, china united cement rizhao gangzhong company and china national building material group (cnbm), major cement manufacturers in china have become founding members of the world cement association. in december 2017, song zhiping, chairman of cnbm, was elected as the first president of the wca.
The chinese company, along with lafarge, a francebased, world leading cement maker which is also on its way to build a cement factory here at a site near to the chinese company, is presently building a 12km access road to.
Chinese investor plans new cement factory in tanzania published on: 29 january 2019 . sinoma and hengya cement to set a factory in mkinga, tanga..to read the rest of this article, please login with your cw group single signon first. india's kerala public companies to scale up cement production.
Plans to set up a cementmaking factory in zvishavane by the chinese have hit a snag after it emerged that the mining rights in the area belong to shabanie mashaba mines (pvt) ltd. staff writer top government sources told the zimbabwe independent this week the project was supposed to be set up some 30 kilometres from the mineralrich town of.
The chinese firm is set to construct a cement factory with an initial cement production capacity of 2.5 million tonnes annually with an eventual target of 7 million tonnes following further investment. alongside cement factory, the company plans to establish a power plant that can generate 1,200 megawatts.
Ibeto who is the lead partner of the projects, remarked that the first factory will be situated beside the moribund nigerian cement company (nigercem) nkalagu with a production capacity of 9, 000 metric tons of cement per day. we are not going to remove anything from the old plant but set up the new one beside the moribund factory.
Chinese to build shs1.8 trillion cement plant in mbale district wednesday, j updated on janu.
Shah cement industries limited. company profile: shah cement is that the leading and best cement company in bangladesh for over 15 years. its a priority of abul khair group; one of the biggest group of companies in our country. the brand became the market leader during the 1st year of introduction amp; demined the cement market every year.
Maple leaf cement factory limited (mlcf), one of the leading cement producers of pakistan has signed a contract with a chinese plant supplier, in a bid to expand its clinker production.
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AMD RDNA 3 GPUs could show up to challenge Nvidia later this year, as the rumour mill points towards an October release. The news follows reports of a slight RTX 4000 delay, pushing the green team’s next-gen ETA back a month. In other words, both best graphics card contenders might enter the gaming PC ring at roughly the same time.
According to hardware leaker Greymon55, AMD RDNA 3 GPUs will launch in “late October, no later than mid-November.” The insider also reveals that the red team’s Ryzen 7000 CPUs may launch slightly earlier than their graphics counterparts, which suggests a September release.
As with all release date rumours, it’s best to take these RDNA 3 whispers with a grain of salt. That said, Greymon55 claims the information is both new and reliable, so we may very well see AMD’s Radeon RX 7900 XT fight it out against Nvidia’s RTX 4090 and top-end Intel Arc Alchemist card in a spectacular graphics card royal rumble.
Intel should already be on the battlefield fending off current-gen RTX 3000 components, but delays continue to push Arc Alchemist’s arrival back. Failing to get ahead of the graphics card curb means the GPUs will likely struggle to trade blows with both Nvidia and AMD’s next-gen tech. High-end gaming laptop variants supposedly struggle against the RTX 3060, but we’ll need to wait and see whether Intel’s desktop offerings also fall short.


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e-Rewards, the parent of online panel firm Research Now, has acquired social media market research agency Conversition Strategies, just two years after its launch by former Ipsos and NPD executives Jean Davis and Tessie Ting. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Conversition, which has bases in the US and Canada, applies scientific principles to the collection and analysis of social media data. Its flagship product EvoListen collects data sourced from online social media outlets; cleans, filters and weights it; and then formats it into quantitative data sets.
e-Rewards President and CEO Chris Havemann says the acquisition will accelerate his firm's social media strategy while enhancing its research capabilities. He comments: 'With over half a billion consumers worldwide engaging in social media platforms today, we believe social media listening will continue to become an increasingly important way for businesses to collect valuable insights around the needs and wants of their customers'.
Last October, e-Rewards acquired San Francisco-based social media sampling firm Peanut Labs, which had previously teamed up with Conversition to launch the social media opinion measure SocialVoice.
Web sites: www.e-rewardsinc.com and www.conversition.com .
All articles 2006-21 written and edited by Mel Crowther and/or Nick Thomas unless otherwise stated.