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Hoodwinked Portsmouth, NH Marketing Firm Gets Restitution
A California man pleaded guilty to taking a payment of nearly $37,000 to build a specially designed ice cream truck for a Portsmouth marketing company but never delivered.
The company called TH vetted three companies as part of their campaign they created to introduce their client's ice cream in the San Francisco area in 2019, according to acting District of New Hampshire United States Attorney John J. Farley. Jesse Hernandez, 58, of Los Angeles and his company Mobie Experiential Trucks was the low bidder for the truck after a slide presentation for TH Marketing and hired by TH Marketing.
Hernandez later admitted his presentation was made up of images from other companies to misrepresent his experience and work and he never intended to deliver a completed truck, according to Farley.
Mobie signed a contract in mid-June 2019 to complete the truck by July 9, according to Farley, but Hernandez wanted full payment of $36,941 before he would deliver the work. When TH staff flew to California to get the truck Hernandez would not respond to messages to arrangements for pick up.
Hernandez later told federal investigators he received the payment, deposited the funds and spent them on purposes unrelated to the truck.
Hernandez will pay restitution to TH in the amount of $46,615.29 and be sentenced in March, 2022.
“Fraudsters can use a host of different methods to steal from their victims and we all must remain vigilant to protect ourselves from scammers,” Farley said in a statement. “This defendant’s fraud scheme used lies and misrepresentations to defraud a New Hampshire company out of thousands of dollars. Thanks to the hard work of the FBI, this schemer has been held responsible for his criminal conduct.”
Contact reporter Dan Alexander at email@example.com or via Twitter @DanAlexanderNH


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LAFC don't kick a ball in MLS until next season, but they continue to impress in the community and with their fanbase. Last week LAFC hosted a "Dia de los Muertos” supporter event at local retail community partner Niky’s Sports.
The event was to continue to celebrate the community, establish LAFC as a creative platform for Angelenos, fuel our fans on social media, and raise funds for our LAFC 3252 Independant Supporters Union via limited edition merchandise. You can see the two pieces from the limited collection in the photo above (shoutout Denise Jones here!).
Check out these Manchester United inspired adidas 92 Sneakers

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The implementation of free trade agreements (FTAs) will continue to prove fruitful for Vietnam in 2023, said Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien.
In a recent interview granted to the Vietnam News Agency, he noted the country has signed and implemented 15 FTAs, becoming an important link in global supply chains.
A special highlight last year was that amid the complex COVID-19 pandemic, the participation in FTAs, especially new-generation ones like the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), the EU – Vietnam FTA (EVFTA), and the UK – Vietnam FTA (UKVFTA), has helped the Southeast Asian nation secure impressive export growth and partly mitigate the pandemic’s adverse impacts on its economy.
Dien cited data from the General Department of Vietnam Customs that in the first eight months of 2022, exports to other CPTPP members reached some 41 billion USD, up 38.7% year on year. Shipments to the EU also increased 24.2% to over 32 billion USD.
Meanwhile, Vietnam’s exports to other members of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) agreement hit 108.48 billion USD in the first nine months of 2022, rising 16.4% from a year earlier.
With this upward trend, the implementation of FTAs will continue generating fruitful results for Vietnam in 2023, especially when it comes to potential markets, the official opined.
In particular, the RCEP will bring about long-term benefits as it will help form stable export markets for Vietnamese goods and facilitate the development of new regional supply chains so that the country can engage more deeply in regional and global supply chains, he added.
However, opportunities for capitalising on preferential treatment under the FTAs have yet to be truly balanced between domestic and FDI businesses. Many key exports of Vietnam haven’t solved their origin-related issues so as to benefit from preferential tariffs. The building of brands for “Made-in-Vietnam” products in demanding markets like the EU is also a matter needing more attention.
Minister Dien said that in 2023, the world is likely to continue witnessing changes in the goods, financial, and monetary markets. However, thanks to new-generation FTAs, it is hopeful that state agencies and enterprises will continue to work together in addressing difficulties. The idea is to maintain FTAs as a driver for exports and to help Vietnamese goods gain a foothold in global markets./.
Source : Vietnam


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Tuesday, March 11, 2003
In a BBC interview Princess Anne has highlighted the threat that illegal logging poses to the forests of many tropical countries.
Princess Anne also outlined the need to provide economic alternatives to the cash on offer from loggers and to ensure that communities have access to the funds + law enforcement necessary to protect their natural resources...
It was also pointed out that consumers in rich countries bore a responsibility to avoid buying the unsustainably harvested hardwoods commonly used to make expensive furniture + ornaments.
Posted 8:48 pm by Matt Prescott


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A new Internet-focused discussion group and workshop event will make its debut Tuesday when E-Day hosts Scott Shamp as the featured speaker. Shamp will speak at 8:30 a.m.
Shamp is director of the New Media Institute at the University of Georgia. E-Day, sponsored by Online Athens, the Web site of the Athens Banner-Herald, is designed for local business owners to learn about Internet opportunities. Internet professionals will be on hand from 8 a.m. to noon to answer questions about Web site development, economic opportunities and e-commerce.
UGA's New Media Institute was created to offers courses to teach creative, critical and commercial implications of new digital communication technology.
E-Day is free and open to the public. Coffee and pastries will be provided. For more information, contact Mary Ellen McDonald at (706) 208-2293.
Cobbler Mount buys Alps Shoe Repair
Alps Shoe Repair, located in the corner of Alps Shopping Center, recently got a new owner. J.R. Mount, who has been a shoe cobbler at Alps Shoe Repair for 15 years, bought the business from Miriam Gearing. Miriam Gearing and her late husband Roy had operated the business for 36 years.
Mount, is a fourth generation cobbler, according to Steve Bray, who will manage the shop. Bray had been in the auto repair industry for 10 years. He said Alps Shoe Repair will keep all its previous services and will be taking on other jobs such as repair work on luggage, leather and equestrian tack -- saddles, bridles, straps etc.
Chamber offers support of new district
The Athens Area Chamber of Commerce board of directors lent its official endorsement to state Rep. Louise McBee's proposal for developing a new congressional district with Athens as its center.
The chamber endorsed the ''Clarke II'' map proposed by McBee, D-Athens. The district she is proposing would encompass 21 counties around Athens, including Clarke, Barrow, Franklin, Jackson, Madison, Oconee and Oglethorpe.
McBee filed the proposal with the House Legislative and Congressional Reapportionment Committee. The Georgia General Assembly will convene in special session Aug. 1 to draw the state's legislative districts and will later meet in a separate session to draw congressional district lines.
The proposed district ''will do much to ensure aggressive, knowledgeable and articulate representation in Washington for the needs of the University of Georgia, the business community and our region,'' chamber board President Paul Chambers said in a news release.
Workshop scheduled for month of August
Athens consulting firm Change Partners, L.L.C., will offer four workshops in August.
Preventing Workplace Harassment, will be offered Aug. 7; Interviewing Skills will be taught Aug. 13; Mediation of Conflict in the Workplace is scheduled for Aug. 20; and Accountability in the Workplace will be presented Aug. 27 and 28.
The slate of instructors includes Don Carton, career HR professional; Susan Keeter, internationally experienced, bi-lingual (Hispanic/English) conflict mediator; and Joe Crosland, career facilitator in continuous improvement culture-making. Sessions are limited to 15 participants in each.
For information on costs and class lengths, call Nat Chen, at (706) 546-4045.
Retailers offer training on cigarette sales
Several Georgia industry associations representing thousands of retailers, wholesalers and convenience stores are conducting a wave of statewide training sessions designed to educate retail employees in preventing underage tobacco sales. Athens will serve as a site for one of those training sessions.
Supporters of the "We Card" training program are the Georgia Association of Convenience Stores, Georgia Food Industry Association, Georgia Oilmen's Association and Georgia Retail Association.
In Athens the free training workshop, called "Under 18, No Tobacco: We Card," will be held from 10 a.m. to noon on Tuesday at the Holiday Inn, 197 E. Broad St.
This article published in the Athens Banner-Herald on Sunday, July 22, 2001.
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In a bid to boost revenues from its mobile services, web giant Google has introduced targeted ads into its Maps app for Android and iOS devices. The move could put a dent in mobile operators’ plans to create new revenue streams using location based services.
August 12, 2013
In a bid to boost revenues from its mobile services, web giant Google has introduced targeted ads into its Maps app for Android and iOS devices.
The move could put a dent in mobile operators’ plans to create new revenue streams using location based services.
With the revamped Google Maps, relevant ads from sponsors appear at the top or bottom of the Google Maps screen after a user performs a search. The ads include a title, ad text, and a link to get directions to an outlet. Users can tap or swipe upward to see more information.
“When users click on an ad to get location details, they’ll see additional information such as the business’s address, phone number, photos, reviews and more. From here, there are a number of paid and free click actions they can take,” Google Maps’ product manager Salahuddin Choudhary wrote in a blog post.
“Paid clicks include the initial ‘get location details’ click, get directions, click-to-call and clicks on the ad headline. AdWords will only charge for up to two paid clicks per ad impression. Reporting for these paid clicks can be found by segmenting reports in your account by ‘click type.”
He added that free actions include saving business information for later, sharing a business with a friend, or starting navigation.
Location based advertising has proven a challenge for some players, particularly in the US. AOL recently canned its Patch local news service, which CEO Tim Armstrong had said was part of the firm’s long-term strategy for growing the business through local advertising sales. The venture failed to generate a profit for AOL, which has now closed over 300 of its local sites as part of a restructuring effort.
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Mahindra launches eKUV100 priced at Rs 8.25 lakh
The company claims that electric KUV 100 (eKUV 100) is India's most affordable passenger electric vehicle in the segmen.
eKUV100 offers peak power output of 40kW, torque of 120 Nm and a range of 147 km, ideal for city commuters. It comes with automatic transmission and could be fast charged to 80 per cent within 60 minutes.
Besides, the company showcased e-XUV300, which is expected to hit the market in the second half of 2021 to strengthen its position in the EV segment.
The company, part of USD 20.7 billion Mahindra group has also showcased Aton, a new age urban mobility solution and Funster, a roadster electric concept with convertible rooftop.
"It is our firm belief that shared mobility would drive large scale adoption of electric vehicles and hence our product offerings would continue to redefine shared mobility space. We intend to offer widest range of vehicles to meet the needs of shared mobility, " said Mahindra & Mahindra Managing Director Pawan Goenka here.
He further said " affordability" is the guiding principle of the company in EV category.
Speaking on e-KUV 100, he said it was an ideal vehicle for shared mobility and personal mobility.
Sharing the details of e-KUV 100, Mahindra's Head of Electric Vehicle Development Ashish Malik said it would give the thrill of driving an SUV and eco-friendly feeling at the same time.
" It comes with a city friendly motor of 15.9 KV, which is perfect for city commute. It delivers power of 40 kw and torque of 120 Nm. The range is almost 150 km," he said.
It can be fast charged to 80 per cent in 55 minutes.
"It comes with a liquid cool battery pack and also offers the convenience and comfort of auto transmission and many connected car features as pre cool and switch it off and on remotely or even digital connected features which would be revealed at the launch," said Malik.
While talking about eXUV300, Goenka said, "it would be launched in the second half of 2021."
The eXUV300 is powered by a powerful motor and a large battery capacity ensures a long range. It has a new futuristic design with new features, smart and premium interiors with blue highlights to accentuate the new character of this SUV. It has been built on a platform that has 5-star safety rating from GNCAP.
According to Goenka, the company has invested around Rs 1,700 crore on development of electric vehicles which includes technology, infrastructure and products.
"Right now we are investing another Rs 500 crore to set up a new R&D centre at Bengaluru and a new capacity which we are setting at Pune," he said.
Goenka further said shared mobility would be the driver of growth as it would be commercially viable.
"I do believe that in EV in India the primary segment for drive the growth would be shared mobility. The reason is that the EV would be commercially viable. They have to be driven 150 to 200 km in a day which cannot happen in personal use mobility," he said adding " that is the reason Mahindra is focussing on shared mobility before we get into vehicle like eKUV 100 or eXUV 300."
The company also has plans to launch Treo.4 of its first lithium battery based three-wheeler auto.
"This will have everything locally manufactured except lithium cell," he said adding "it would be coming out very soon".
On the future of electric three-wheelers, he said: I wouldn't be surprised if in 3 to 5 years 50 per cent three-wheelers sold in India are electric three-wheelers."
While talking about Funster, Goenka said it was designed at the company's own design studio at Mumbai.
Funster offers an output of 230 kW with a top speed of 200 kmph, clocking 0 to 100 kmph in 5 seconds.Mahindra has showcased 18 vehicles in the Auto Expo and has one of the widest displays of EVs by an Indian OEM here. KRH ANUANU
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The Salvation Army Thrift Store recently celebrated their grand re-opening with an official Fergus Falls Chamber of Commerce ribbon cutting event held on Wednesday, Feb. 23.
The store has expanded their linen section by adding another bar rack. Some of the items in linen will include blankets, pillowcases, towels. Also another has been added for purses and different accessories.
The store is about 80% complete, with smaller items being added gradually that will make the shopping experience more enjoyable. Some of the carpeting by the front door is also being replaced.
“The electronics area, it might seem like a lot, we have contact wrapped the shelves back there now so they’re not particle board as you saw there previously, so a little better presentation for that,” added Lt. Anthony Nordan. “The three Ps of thrifting are people, product and presentation, and that’s what the thrift store redesign has really been focused on, and using those three Ps and making the thrift store experience much better for everyone.”
Another update are the security cameras. The store has installed cameras in the back exterior portion of the store in an attempt to prevent what Nordan refers to as “dumping.” Dumping has always been an issue at the store he says, with sometimes up to five old televisions each week. He said they take those to the landfill and have to pay up to $25 per appliance. The store is hoping the new cameras will discourage the dumping after collection or store hours.
Fergus Falls and area residents that make purchases from the Salvation Army Thrift Store directly fund critical programs and can provide hope and healing by meeting the basic needs of families and children.
Nordan says overall he thinks people will have a much better time finding things in the store and having a really fun experience as well.
Donation collection hours are strictly limited to 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Monday through Friday. The newly redesigned store is located at 917 Pebble Lake Road and is open Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m.-5 p.m.


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As I wrote last summer, I’m very excited to see progress on our continued efforts to transform IWCO into an even better partner for our clients. And that includes today’s announcement: We’re relaunching our brand with a new name (we’re now “IWCO”), logo, identity, website, and brand platform, Making Better HappenSM. But what hasn’t changed […]
CHANHASSEN, Minn., Jan. 17, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — IWCO Direct today announced a refreshed brand identity, expanding on its history as a performance improvement organization and expert marketing partner that continually conceives better ways to drive results for clients, partners, and employees.
Greetings from IWCO Direct! I hope this post finds you and your families healthy and happy. Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday because it is a national holiday celebrated by everyone in the United States. For me, Thanksgiving brings to mind family traditions, a long weekend to gear up for the holiday season, football games, parades, […]
I’ve been saying since I joined the company as CEO, and it’s never been more true: it’s an exciting time at IWCO. I’ve spent the majority of the last few months meeting with teams across our platform to discover what’s working, where we can improve performance for our clients, and how we can continue to […]
Happy Birthday to IWCO! 53 years is no small feat, and after spending just a few weeks here, I can say our legacy is built on the knowledge of the experts who make up our team. As the new CEO of this great company, I’d like to thank all my new colleagues for their warm […]


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Following closely on the new watch, Apple announced its latest version of its TV on Tuesday. It’s 4K — and live sports and news are on the way.
CEO Tim Cook brought up Eddy Cue, Apple’s senior vice president of Internet Software and Services, to introduce the latest Apple TV to ”bring cinematic quality to virtually everything you watch.”
Apple TV 4K is the name of the new product, and it includes:
- 4K, with four times more pixels than HD and featuring HDR 10, ”delivering highest picture quality ever;”
- new fancy screensavers, including a nighttime view of Dubai showing incredible details right down the automobiles moving around;
- a new faster chip used in the iPad and running the latest tvOS;
- “4K movies for the same price as HD;”
- Apple is working with Netflix and Amazon to bring their titles to Apple TV (Netflix has been available on an app, but Amazon has not);
- upgraded Apple TV app now available in seven new countries;
- live sports on the app will start later this year, including notifications of when your favorite game’s about to start;
- live news comes to the TV app as well;
- share music, apps, games and photos on the TV screen from your iPhone or iPad;
- the news comes after Apple announcement at its Worldwide Developers Conference in June that Amazon Prime video would be coming to the Apple TV in the fall.
- $179 and up; order Sept. 15 and it ships a week later;


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Feltrinelli, an Italian publisher, stacked up three consecutive years of losses totaling nearly 11 million euros, or about $12.4 million. It managed to secure a €50 million line of credit at an interest rate below what top-rated companies in Europe were paying.
Benetton, a clothing retailer that has lost €240 million since 2012, also managed to get a loan at a below-market rate.
How? They (and others) can thank Italian banks, whose liberal lending seems to have ignored the lessons of Japan’s zombie lending cycle in the 1990s.
As the European Central Bank has freed up cash to spur the eurozone economy, Italian banks have continued to lend to inert companies. That has held back economic growth in Italy and increased the country’s pile of bad loans. Italy’s €360 billion in bad loans makes up about a third of the eurozone total.
Italy is not, however, the only culprit. Greece is also struggling with nonperforming loans — its total is around €108 billion and rising. The problem, according to the Center for Economic Policy Research, is that Italy has not learned the lessons of Japan’s experience, which led to a lost economic decade.
Will Italy become another zombie nation?
Redstones Said to Win the Fight for Viacom
It had the makings of a Shakespearean tragedy: feuding family members, a struggle for money and power, a disputed inheritance, and sullied reputations. In the end, the victor was Sumner M. Redstone, 93, the mogul with a $40 billion media empire whose mental capacity was questioned time and again.
A truce has been called, according to people briefed on the agreement. Mr. Redstone’s empire will remain firmly under his and his daughter Shari Redstone’s control. Philippe P. Dauman will be dismissed as chief executive of Viacom but will depart with a severance package worth about $72 million.
There could still be one more twist though.
Keryn Redstone, Mr. Redstone’s granddaughter, who asserted that she had been disinherited of $6 million and potentially $1 billion more, also filed to join the lawsuit over Mr. Redstone’s mental capacity. Her lawyer said she had not participated in the settlement negotiations. That trial is to start on Sept. 19.
Marcus: Goldman Sachs for the Masses
We’ve had Earnest for lending, Oscar for insurance and now we have Marcus for Main Street. Goldman Sachs, not exactly known for its youthful bona fides, has jumped onto the start-up trend for simple brand names and given its retail banking operation the same name as one of its founders, Marcus Goldman.
Marcus is likely to make its debut in October, offering relatively small consumer loans online. It is unclear whether the brand will be merged with GS Bank, which began offering online savings accounts in April.
Goldman has traditionally eschewed consumer lending and has preferred to serve corporations, governments and the ultra-wealthy. But times are tough for Wall Street and even Goldman has to find other ways to make money.
The question is whether retail banking can help the bank shed the reputation it acquired after the financial crisis of being a “great vampire squid wrapped around the face of humanity.”


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Shoppers have spent nearly $22 billion in the first 40 days of the holiday selling season, according to market research firm comScore.
Gift-givers have spent $21.95 billion from the beginning of November to Dec. 11, boosting sales figures by 12 percent compared to the same time period last year, when shoppers shelled out about $19.7 billion, comScore notes. So far, Cyber Monday, the Monday after Thanksgiving, has been the most profitable single day for online retailers, with consumers forking over more than $1 billion.
The week of Dec. 6 was also quite profitable, pulling in more than $5 billion, an 11-percent increase compared to 2009. On Dec. 6 alone, shoppers spent about $943 million, making it the second most profitable shopping day, to date, comScore notes.
However, experts say Americans will continue to spend big as the holidays near.
"It's clear that while deal-seeking shoppers may have driven stronger-than-anticipated spending early in the season, Americans continue to demonstrate a significantly greater willingness to spend online this year than in seasons past," says comScore Chairman Gian Fulgoni. "This coming week, beginning with Green Monday, [the second Monday of December], should see some of the heaviest online shopping activity of the season, and we expect at least one more day to surpass the billion-dollar spending threshold."
Green Monday might be that day, as it has been among the busiest online shopping days since 2005, when shoppers spent $556 million. Last year that number was up to $854 million.
"We anticipate that Green Monday this year will be another strong day for online buying, leading off what will be the heaviest spending week of the season," Fulgoni continues. "However, with Free Shipping Day occurring on Friday, Dec. 17, it is likely that buying will get distributed more evenly across the week rather than concentrated so heavily in the early days of the week. As a result, several days in the upcoming week are candidates for the heaviest online spending day of the year."
Other Entries by this Author
Auctiva staff writers constantly monitor trends and best practices of those selling on eBay and elsewhere online. They attend relevant training seminars and trade shows and regularly discuss the market with PowerSellers and other market experts.


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We wrote about this upcoming auction earlier this year in the post Banksy from Josh’s Valero to Sell at Auction; Likely Worth $150,000+.
The former owner of the Valero that used to be at Beverly and La Brea sold his gas station a couple of years ago, but not without removing the section of a wall where an original Banksy street art had been painted. Here’s a picture of the Street Art either under cover or being removed (as captured by Google Street View team):
This Valero is now a Chevron station.
That wall – with Banksy’s ‘Flower Girl’ and all – will be on auction at Julien’s inaugural Street Art Auction next week and is expected to bring more than $150,000. Viewings begin on Monday. The auction is scheduled for Thursday, December 5 at 6pm.
We’ve all seen the Google Street View vehicles that ride around with the cameras on top. Here’s a video that shares just how Google Street View works when the Google team has to document some of the toughest places to reach.


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LonoLife, a brand of portable, powdered bone broth and collagen products, announced its newest innovation, which aims to meet consumers’ need for elevated nutrition, convenience and flavor. LonoLife Noodle Soups are made with 20g of protein, use high quality egg noodles and contain savory, flavorful bone broth.
Set to hit Amazon and retail store shelves early September 2020, the new LonoLife Noodle Soup will be available in traditional Beef Bone Broth Noodle Soup and Chicken Bone Broth Noodle Soup at an SRP of $4.99 per unit.
Through LonoLife’s newest product expansion, consumers have been granted an opportunity to bring convenience to a meal that tends to be associated with comfort and ease. Each variety of noodle soup offers an all-inclusive meal, with nutritional benefits that are attributed to bone broth, such as high quality protein and multi-beneficial collagen.
According to recent research from Innova Market Insights, global snacking launches featuring claims of high protein had a compound annual growth rate of 16.8% between 2015 and 2019. Balancing a world that continues to increase in speed and activity, shoppers have made it clear that they want their food to be both nutritious – while bringing them the unique emotional lures of comfort and nostalgia.
Every product from LonoLife totes a strict guideline of no artificial colors, sweeteners, preservatives or flavors, bringing health-conscious shoppers a convenient, shelf-stable and nutritious solution. The full line is also made with clean ingredients in mind, with no added sugar, fish or shellfish, and are even soy-free and contain no MSG.


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Ford EcoSport is currently on display at the 2013 Geneva Motor Show, and so is Renault Captur and Peugeot 2008. All three, are being displayed for the first time in Europe, while the latter two are making their first global appearance.
Peugeot 2008 comes to 2013 Geneva Motor Show. Main highlight of the 2008 crossover is that is has been built on a lengthened version of the 208 platform that makes it stand long at 4,160 mm lengthwise. It is 20 cm longer when compared to the 208 supermini.
Peugeot officially revealed the 2008 compact crossover, which will be launched first in China, Brazil and France. In Brazil it will compete with Ford EcoSport and Renault Duster.
The official world premiere of Peugeot 2008 crossover is scheduled for 2013 Geneva Salon in March 2013, however photos of what one can expect are already…


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When the owners of Sherman's Maine Coast Book Shops decided over the winter to open another store to replace the one they closed in Camden at the beginning of the pandemic, they found a great spot in the Topsham Fair Mall.
The 6,600-square-foot space nestled between fellow Maine family-owned businesses Lamey Wellehan and Renys would be the chain's biggest, and take away some of the sting from the Camden closing.
Then a broker they were working with told Sherman's owners Jeff Curtis and Maria Boord about available space in the Windham Mall. This one, too, was next to a Renys.
"We said, 'That's a good opportunity, too,'" Curtis said. "So now we're up to two."
Around the same time, Parker Howard, of Priority Real Estate Group, who they'd worked with on the Topsham site, pitched a vacant standalone store in Rockland.
Curtis and Boord liked that location as well, particularly because it was in the same area as the closed store, where they'd left behind a loyal clientele.
"We weren't looking for three stores, we were looking for an opportunity," Curtis told Mainebiz as he stocked shelves in the Rockland store last week.
But three stores is what they got. Curtis said they were struck this past winter by the customer loyalty, both online and at bricks-and-mortar locations. This spring, on Independent Booksellers Day, the owners announced they would open three stores.
Supply-chain challenges, along with the logistics of opening three stores at once, have made it a juggle, but the Rockland store is expected to be the first to open, Fourth of July week. The other two will open by the end of the summer.
It's a far different landscape this summer than it was in March 2020 for the family-owned chain, which will have eight stores with the new locations.
When the Camden store closed for good 15 months ago, at the beginning of the pandemic, it seemed like a death knell for the retail industry. Curtis said at the time it was a hard decision, and he and Boord still feel that now. But it was a leased location, and with the uncertainty of the pandemic, they had no idea what they would face.
But customers from across the country who shop at Sherman's when they visit Maine, as well as local ones, kept coming, both online and when the stores reopened last summer. The company also reconfigured its website, featuring the top sellers from each store every week, and more.
Since October, Curtis and Boord doubled their sales forecast. Over the winter, they determined they had the resources to open another store.
The new stores push Sherman's old model to a new place — rather than downtown coastal tourist-rich towns, Windham and Topsham are inland. And none of the three new stores are in a downtown.
Curtis said that while the downtown model has worked for Sherman's since the first store opened in Bar Harbor in 1886, they found that during the pandemic, customers were going downtown just to shop at the book store. The three new locations all have ample parking, easing the challenge of finding a spot at most of the chain's other stores.
Curtis's father bought Sherman's Book Store, in Bar Harbor, from the Sherman family in 1962. Curtis opened the Boothbay store in 1989, and Freeport followed in 1999. Camden opened in 2004, and Portland in 2014. At the time, the company, which Curtis bought from his mother in 2006, was Sherman's Books & Stationery Stores. In 2015, after buying Damariscotta's Maine Coast Book Store, they changed the company's name to Sherman's Maine Coast Book Shops.
The Rockland store, at 47 Maverick St., has its roots in Maine family-owned business, good karma for the new owners. It was built as a LaVerdiere's drug store in 1986. Priority Group Real Estate, in Topsham, bought the building in 2003, and it was most recently an Aaron's rent-to-own furniture and appliance store.
"We hope this is more of a regional store," Curtis said, of the Rockland site. "We hope to pick up the customers who were coming to Camden, as well as maybe some new ones."
Howard, business development manager for Priority Real Estate, had helped on the Topsham location, which Sherman's is leasing from Kevin and Paul Kelly. Howard thought they might like the Rockland location, too.
"The fact that they had been in Camden, and I knew they wanted to be in that market" were factors, Howard said. The size and layout is also similar to Topsham.
He said both the Topsham and Rockland locations are notable for the amount of traffic that passes by. The Rockland location is on Route 17, the main Rockland-Augusta route, and near the intersection with U.S. Route 1.
The Topsham Fair Mall, just off Exit 31A of Interstate 295, is at the beginning of the Coastal Connector and gets an average of 54,000 drive-bys a day, according to the Maine Department of Transportation.
'It's a great halfway point between Portland and Augusta," Howard said, of the Topsham shopping area. Being next door to a Renys, too, means that there will be a lot of foot traffic.
Curtis and Boord said that they're excited about being next to Renys, both in Topsham and Windham. The Damariscotta store is also down the street from the first Renys store.
The Maine flavor doesn't stop at Sherman's door. The stores make an effort to stock not only books by Maine authors, but gifts and crafts made in Maine, Boord, the store's director of operations, said.
Boord said that in the towns that get a lot of tourist traffic, the stores have more souvenir-type gifts. "We'll let the customers decide" what they like in Topsham, Rockland and Windham, she said.
Overall, Maine-made items are their strongest gift items, including fudge, jam, salt water taffy and other packaged treats from places like Maine's Own Treats, of Bar Harbor, and Downeast Fudge, of Boothbay; maple items from Kinney's Sugarhouse, in Knox, and more.
The stores have always had partnerships with local businesses. "But since the pandemic, we've really nurtured our relationships with local vendors," Boord said.
"With the pandemic, customers really showed us what they wanted," she said.
She said store staffs have a lot of input into what sells and what doesn't, and that extends, of course, to books.
One new feature during the pandemic was that each store takes a turn listing its best-sellers on the website, and those go up on a featured shelf in the stores, too, with a sign, "As seen on shermans.com." Boord said it helps promote books that may fly under the radar at some stores.
A recent top seller was the Robert McCloskey classic Maine children's book, "Blueberries for Sal."
"Who would have guessed that?" she said, with a laugh.
Keeping with the Maine-made strategy, the chain also has a robust consignment program for authors (dealing with the writers, not a publisher or distributor), and sells books by hundreds of Maine authors, who also get a tab on the website.
"We're really proud of that," Curtis said. "We well a lot of books on consignment."
Curtis and Boord said that, besides selling books, they see Sherman's stores as a way to help the small businesses that also help them.
"We wouldn't be here without them," said Boord. "We support them, and they support us."
They also focus on taking care of staff, and plan to hire up to 15 new people with the new stores, at a starting rate of $15 an hour.
Curtis said one advantage of the Rockland site is that Sherman's was able to buy it. That makes four of the chain's stores that it owns, and four, including Topsham, Windham and Portland, that it leases.
When the Camden store was closed in March 2020, uncertainty about how to make payroll and rent was a concern, Curtis said. Owning gives the owners a comfort level.
He said the pandemic-driven decision was a gut check. Now, with three stores to open, the concerns are about when the shelving fixtures will arrive, and when subcontractors will be available. It's an exciting place to be, even if opening dates aren't quite nailed down.
Reflecting on the past 15 months, he said, as far as this summer's frenzy, "We just decided we weren't going to be nervous about it."


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But the pair took their matching looks a step further by literally wearing the same bikini. It’s a tradition the legendary skier and her hockey hunk boyfriend started in 2018 and continued Thursday.
“Who wore it better year 2! This is getting out of hand. I love my crazy @subbanator ❤ #happy4thofjuly,” Vonn captioned the Instagram post showing herself and Subban donning identical stars-and-stripes bikinis while throwing up the obligatory “#1” signaling the might of America.
What’s more, Subban, who was recently traded from the Nashville Predators to the New Jersey Devils shared a video to his respective social media account of himself sporting the nation’s colors and jumping into a swimming pool.
“What can I tell you... It’s become a 4th of July tradition 😂🇺🇸,” the 30-year-old defenseman captioned the video.
Last year, the fun pair kicked off the big holiday in a similar fashion – except they elected to share Vonn’s USA-themed one-piece while vacationing together.


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On April 30, Tesla Motors (NASDAQ:TSLA) CEO Elon Musk announced the company's hotly anticipated plan to enter the energy storage business by utilizing its automotive-class lithium ion batteries for energy storage in the residential, commercial, and utility power markets.
The announcement also gave birth to Tesla Energy, which will initially offer two products: Powerwall for residential installations in seven- and 10-kilowatt-hour varieties, and Powerpack in 100-kilowatt-hour towers for commercial and utility installations that can be scaled to over 10 megawatts -- enough to power approximately 1,600 homes in the U.S.
Powerwall and Powerpack aim to offer reliable energy storage for a host of different uses, including buying and storing electricity from the grid when it's cheapest, storing solar energy for a later use when the sun isn't shining, providing backup power, and being able to sell excess electricity back to the grid.
Ultimately, with Powerwall and Powerpack, Musk is hoping that it provides a clear path for humanity to reduce its reliance on fossil fuel by making it easier to store and distribute renewable energy sources.
Although Musk did an excellent job selling this as a noble cause with a tremendous addressable market, the truth is that Tesla faces fierce competition in energy storage.
Energy storage isn't a new idea
To paraphrase my colleague Travis Hoium, the energy storage market has been growing in the shadows for years. Stem, Sunverge, AES Energy Storage, and SunEdison all offer energy storage solutions in commercial and industrial markets.
Going a step further, a quick Web search reveals there are numerous others companies doing business in all segments of the energy storage market, including General Electric, Alevo, JLM Energy, and SolarGrid.
At this point, it's reasonable to wonder how Tesla can stand out in a industry that often relies on commodity products for energy storage.
The missing piece
During the Powerwall launch event, Musk took issue with existing batteries for energy storage, and candidly explained, "The issue with existing batteries is that they suck -- they're really horrible."
Musk then showed the following slide, which lists a host of issues plaguing existing energy storage batteries:
According to Musk, "There's not one integrated place you can go and buy a battery that just works, which is what people really want to buy." Musk called this shortcoming "the missing piece," which is exactly how Tesla's Powerwall and Powerpack are being positioned.
In other words, the biggest difference between Tesla's battery storage and competitors' is that it's being billed as streamlined energy storage solutions that are practically no-fuss after installation. The Powerwall, for instance, is a wall-mounted unit that can be hung outside, eliminating the burden of needing a "battery room."
Off to a promising start
In less than a week of being open to reservations, Tesla Energy received 38,000 reservations for the Powerwall, 2,500 for the Powerpack, and 2,500 requests from companies that want to distribute and install Powerwalls and Powerpacks. The demand was so robust that Tesla's battery storage products are now sold out until the middle of next year.
In total, Musk estimates the 38,000 Powerwall reservations will translate to about 50,000 to 60,000 Powerwalls being sold, and 2,500 Powerpacks will sell 25,000 Powerpacks. At a cost of between $3,000 and $3,500 per Powerwall and $25,000 per Powerpack, Tesla stands to generate up to $835 million in revenue from these initial reservations -- or about 15% of its 2015 sales estimates.
Between the initial response and high-profile companies like Wal-Mart, Amazon.com, and Target piloting Powerpack installations, it's possible that concern about Tesla's competition in battery storage is being overstated.
After all, according to Bloomberg New Energy Finance, by 2020, global investment for stationary-grid energy storage is expected to be worth $5.1 billion, a 17-fold increase from investment levels in 2013. It's entirely possible that the market for energy storage will grow large enough to accommodate multiple players, including Tesla.
Looking ahead, as Powerwalls and Powerpacks get into the hands of customers later this year and early next year, it'll validate whether Tesla's claims that they're "the missing pieces" in energy storage is true.


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STM is a relatively well-known Australian company that makes great quality, but slightly pricey bags and cases for your gadgets. What I’ve always loved about the company is that most of its bags don’t look anything like the typical accessories you’d associate with consumer tech. They just look like regular bags, except they’re not. Nowhere is that more clear than with the STM Drifter; a well-made, lightweight, spacious and durable back pack with enough pockets and compartments to carry virtually anything…
cases Stories September 26, 2015
cases Stories September 22, 2015
Spigen’s first round of affordable new iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus cases were ready to order even before Apple’s September 9 special event. Now that the iPhones are about to hit stores, Spigen has a new collection of slim protective cases ready, and you’re going to love them.
The lineup starts with a minimalist sub-$10 case that can magnetically attach to your car’s dashboard. Next, for under $15, you can get a shock-absorbing clear case that shows your new iPhone’s “S” badge or rose gold color. Or if you want to add wireless charging and a drop-proof case to your iPhone for under $30, you can. Below, you’ll see how Spigen has covered all of those bases, and more…
cases Stories September 14, 2015
iPhone 6s and 6s Plus are on their way with preorders kicking off over the weekend, so now is the time to buy a case for your new device in order to have it in time for an official launch set for later this month on September 25.
As is tradition, we’ve put together a roundup of the best choices for to protect your new iPhone with our selections of the best iPhone 6s and 6s Plus cases available to order now. expand full story
cases Stories September 11, 2015
If you don’t want to spend $50 for a case every time Apple announces a new device, you still have great options: cases with comparable quality are available for much less money if you do your research. One of the best brands for that is Poetic, maker of an Apple Watch stand we loved, and today the company has released brand new, sub-$20 iPhone 6s and 6s Plus cases called Revolution and Affinity.
They are both available to order now in anticipation of the new iPhone launch later this month. Here’s the rundown… expand full story
cases Stories September 9, 2015
Following the announcement of the new iPhone 6s today, Apple debuted several new accessories for the upcoming smartphone. The company announced that the existing silicone and leather cases will be available in five new colors, while a new line of metal docks will be available in colors matching the phones at $49.99.
cases Stories July 15, 2015


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Macy’s stores reopening around the country are down 50 percent at the outset — and that’s OK with chairman and chief executive officer Jeff Gennette considering his expectations were far lower.
Gennette told WWD on Tuesday that stores were first anticipated to be down 80 to 85 percent. “We were modeling off of other countries opening brick-and-mortar, but as soon as we got those first bites at our stores we adjusted the plans, the staffing and the support, to make sure customers had a positive experience.
“Business in the stores is getting better — three to five points each week. At some point, they will be plateauing,” Gennette said in an interview. “Customers love being back in stores. They are happy to be out of their houses and doing a familiar activity again. There is optimism here.”
As of June 1, Macy’s Inc. had about 450 stores reopened, with the majority opened in their full format; others offering just curbside pickups. Macy’s Herald Square soft-launched curbside pickup Tuesday, and makes it official today. The planning is for New York City to launch phase two of reopening the local economy in about two to three weeks, which includes in-store shopping health precautions are taken such as social distancing, sanitizing and wearing masks.
On Tuesday morning, a severely COVID-19-impacted Macy’s Inc. reported a loss of $652 million, or $2.10 a share, for the first quarter ended May 2, compared to profits of $137 million, or 44 cents a share, in the year-ago quarter. Net sales amounted to $3.02 billion, a 45 percent decline from $5.5 billion in the year-ago quarter.
The adjusted net loss was $630 million, compared to an adjusted net profit of $137 million in the year-ago period. The loss last quarter from operations was $969 million, versus an operating profit of $203 million in the 2019 period.
The $24.6 billion Macy’s Inc., which operates Macy’s, Bloomingdale’s, Bluemercury and Backstage stores, said the results were preliminary, but better than expected. “We are seeing strong sell-through of seasonal merchandise, and anticipate that we will exit the second quarter in a clean inventory position,” Gennette said. “The holiday season will be crucial, and the team is working now to get the right merchandise and assortment in place.”
Still, Macy’s has “modeled a gradual return to normal. However, we do not see a return to normalized trends until well into 2021 and possibly not until 2022,” Felicia Williams, the retailer’s interim chief financial officer, said during a Cowen virtual conference on Tuesday.
“Our stores were down substantially to last year, and our digital business was down in the low single digits versus last year,” said Williams. “We did expect some disruption in our digital business due to campus consolidation. And also, when the pandemic started, we did turn off our initial digital marketing spend. But in April, we opened our stores to fulfillment and curbside pickup. As we have said previously, our digital business was weaker in March as the pandemic was cresting. And in the month of April, it was improving, and our May trend has been very strong.”
Adding a large dose of optimism for the multichannel retailer, this week the company closed on $4.5 billion in financing, to fund operations, bring in fresh inventory, cover debt, resolve payables and otherwise enable the department store to weather the pandemic.
Macy’s temporarily closed all of its stores on March 17, then started offering curbside pickups and fulfillment from stores in April and total reopenings began in May.
Women’s sportswear, specifically dresses, workwear and dressy styles, has been the worst-selling segment at the company. It was performing poorly before the pandemic and slipped further as customers switched to casual and active labels as their lives changed to adapt to the pandemic.
“When you look at suits and dresses, that has been tough,” Gennette said in the interview. “I believe those categories will definitely surge again. I don’t know the timing of that.”
“When you think about the female consumer in America, she is an inveterate shopper. I don’t think that changes,” said Gennette, during the Cowen conference.
While noting the obvious — that wardrobing changes with people working virtually from home versus physically in the office — Gennette emphasized, “The lure of having appropriate fashion for our customer, all the way from mass to off-price to luxury, is still incredibly potent.…I do believe people are going to go back to weddings. I do believe people are going to go to parties. The ability to look your best and the ability to express your individuality through fashion is as relevant today as it’s ever been. It’s going to be a question of how that sifts out with trends over the next number of months.”
Certain categories, in particular beauty, have become more important during the pandemic. “There are areas in beauty that we got into as a result of COVID-19 that we didn’t have a lot of traction with before,” said Gennette. “When you look at fragrance, hair, nails — they are tangential businesses that could become quite big and important. As a department store, we have the opportunity to go after those, either through vendor direct with limited economic downside to it, or to own them fully because that is what our customers care about through the entire omni journey.
”When you look at beauty, we were struggling losing market share in key categories for some time. In 2019, we made a comeback. Our crackerjack team was very aggressive going after hair care, men’s grooming, home fragrance, bath and body, nails and hair. Obviously skin care is big win online. Fragrance has been very strong.
“Our first tranche of reopenings were in time for Mother’s Day. The beauty areas were crowded. Our beauty advisers wear masks. They don’t touch customers. They do tutorials using a diagram of the face.
“We expect Father’s Day to be good. We will have almost all of our stores opened,” the ceo added.
Macy’s launches a “friends and family” promotion today, which runs through after Father’s Day.
Gennette said the re-commence has become “very important. When you think about this Gen Z customer, and their value structure, and you ask them about DNI [diversity and inclusion] and sustainability, it’s off the charts compared to other generations that came before them. This is not a fad. This is going to stay with us.”
He said that with ThredUp, “the better the brand, the better they sell.” Last August, Macy’s began selling ThredUp used merchandise at several of its stores, supporting sustainability.
As for the reopenings, Gennette said, “The first tranche was May 4. The second was May 11, this week a little over 400 stores will be fully opened. Each tranche gets a little bit better” with business. “The digital business was up 80 percent in May. We don’t expect that 80 percent to hold as stores continue to open.”
One bright spot in brick-and-mortar is with the Backstage off-price departments operating inside Macy’s stores. “It’s not surprising that Backstage, when a store reopens, is performing better than the balance of the whole store, about 10 points better,” Gennette said.
Inventory receipts were down 7.2 percent in the first quarter and will be down again significantly in the second quarter. “We will attain sales to stock parity,” said Williams. “We expect to head into Q3 with clean inventories and just as important with newness for our customers.”
Gennette has been surprised at “just how comfortable everyone is [with] running our businesses virtually, for a guy who believed the team needed to be in the offices. My perception of that has changed dramatically. The team is scrappy and agile,” he said, citing “the efficiency of virtual meetings. Operating in a virtual environment has been much better than we expected.”
The big question, he added, is what does the situation look like when office life becomes a “hybrid” between the virtual and the physical? “Any brand is going to have to think that through, to be the employer of choice.”
Gennette outlined several priorities in the pandemic-plagued society, first underscoring the importance of curbside pickups. “I give the team a great deal of credit for developing, getting it into 300 stores in 17 days. By Friday, we will be in virtually every single store in the Bloomingdale’s, Macy’s and Blue Mercury chains. Customers love the safety of it, the security of it, and the speed of it.”
The ceo also said improving search and personalization functions on the company’s web sites, seamless checkouts, improving the mobile experience, expanding same-day delivery, contactless returns in stores and through curbside pickup, and providing instant credit for returns are among the more important priorities. “We want to have the best-in-class omni-experience. We are really clear-eyed where our gaps are and where the friction is,” Gennette said.
In February, Macy’s said 125 “neighborhood” stores, which are those in weaker malls, would close over three years. More closings are expected, but Williams said it was too soon to commit to a definite level of store closings.
“When you look at the malls we are in, we remain in about 500 of the 1,200 malls in the nation. We have identified about 100 ‘neighborhood’ stores that we will close. We might accelerate the timetable as we get closer,” said Gennette. Neighborhood stores are those in B-level or lower malls.
“The remaining 400 stores represent about 85 percent of our overall business. Fifty-one percent of our stores and 65 percent of our sales are in A malls. They are the best malls in the country. They will stand the test of time. The developers are looking at remixing the tenant mix, reducing their dependency on apparel and accessories. They are increasing entertainment, food and pharmacy. Anytime they are able to do that, you are seeing big changes in the mall traffic. We benefit from that as well. We are investing in these stores through our growth store strategy,” the ceo added.
“We will be a smaller company coming out of this pandemic,” said Williams. “We clearly need to right-size our cost base to properly align with the new reality. All costs have been on the table.”


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Nikola’s story just went from bad to worse, with Reuters reporting that the much-beleaguered EV truck startup has received a delisting notice from the Nasdaq stock exchange. It apparently no longer meets the minimum bid price requirements set by the exchange.
That doesn’t come as too much of a surprise, though. As of the publication of this story, Nikola stock is down around 19 percent today, and it’s hovering right at 63 cents per share. In 2022, the stock fell 78 percent as battery material costs increased and production concerns took hold.
Nikola has reportedly been attempting to raise cash for operations by selling equity, and it has recently urged shareholders to vote in favor of increasing the number of shares at its annual shareholder meeting in June.
It wasn’t long ago that we reported Nikola is changing gears slightly and expanding its hydrogen truck project as well as its hydrogen refueling business called Hyla. The company apparently has 140 fuel cell trucks on order, and has halted production at its factory in Coolidge, Arizona to retool it. Nikola says it has delivered 162 battery-electric trucks to customers, and made a total of 33 retail sales in the first quarter of 2023. None of this is really a winning recipe that’ll keep it from being delisted.
What It Means To Be Delisted
Basically, being delisted means a stock is being taken off of the exchange on which it trades. In this case, that would be the Nasdaq and the stock would be Nikola. A stock can be delisted for a number of reasons, but the most common is that it fails to meet an exchange’s list of requirements, according to Investopedia. Those requirements may include trading price thresholds for certain time frames, minimum revenue standards, market cap thresholds and shareholder percentage requirements. Put simply, you don’t want to have your stock delisted.
More from Jalopnik


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The California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) went into effect on January 1, 2020 with a six-month enforcement grace period. That end date is now here.
The basics. As a refresher, CCPA explicitly applies to companies that qualify under one or more of the following statutory criteria:
- Have gross annual revenues in excess of $25 million;
- Possess the personal information of 50,000 or more consumers, households, or devices; or
- Earn more than half of their annual revenue from selling consumers’ personal information
A number of categories of businesses are explicitly exempted from CCPA compliance, including certain industries covered by federal regulations. However, most publishers will need to be ready to enable U.S. consumers to opt-out of third-party data transfers and demonstrate compliance to regulators in the event of an investigation or complaint.
Attorney Aaron Tantleff, a partner at law firm Foley & Lardner, offers a sliver of hope that CCPA may not apply to everyone, while cautioning that the law has few geographic boundaries. “We have spoken with many clients that have called in a panic to discover that CCPA does not apply. The applicability of the CCPA, like the GDPR, is not limited to only those organizations based in California. It may apply to organizations that lack any physical presence in the State.”
Broad application to businesses globally. As a practical matter the statute will broadly apply to most commercial enterprises, whether or not they explicitly target California residents. For example, an early analysis of the legislation by the IAPP says:
Companies may pass [the personal information of 50,000 consumers] threshold more quickly than anticipated because the scope of personal information is broad. Most companies operate websites and inevitably capture IP addresses. Notably, companies need to comply regardless of whether the website targeted businesses or individual customers in California given that the term “consumer” is defined to mean any “resident.” Even individual bloggers and relatively small businesses outside California may find it difficult to ensure that they do not receive personal information of more than 50,000 California resident visitors to their website annually, simply from having it be passively accessible from there, and, within California, most retailers, fitness studios, music venues and other businesses will meet this threshold.
Risks of non-compliance. The California Attorney general can impose financial penalties up to $2,500 for non-willful violations and $7,500 for intentional violations. But these numbers can multiple quickly if thousands or millions of users are implicated. In most cases there will be no liability where the violation is “cured” within 30 days of receiving notice. There is also a private or individual right of action when personal information is wrongfully disclosed under CCPA. (The first CCPA class action lawsuit [.pdf] was filed in February against Hanna Andersson and Salesforce.)
According a recent Ethyca survey of 218 general counsels of technology companies, 56% said they were “unprepared for new privacy regulations coming in around the globe,” which includes CCPA. During the months leading up to the enforcement deadline, 43% of respondents said they had deprioritized privacy preparedness because of COVID-19. The survey also found that lack of resources or cost was the greatest challenge in complying.
What to do now. “For businesses still looking to button up on compliance, the essential — and only — first step is to figure out the personal data you possess and where it lives,” says Cillian Kieran, CEO of Ethyca. “After you’ve built a data map that has a thorough and complete record of the data you hold, and where it lives, you can worry about putting the structures in place to address various compliance tasks. But it all starts with the map.”
Attorney Tantleff adds, “Document everything. By now, organizations should have a robust set of security measures in place. However, under the CCPA, an organization must demonstrate that it has implemented reasonable security measures designed to protect personal information based upon the nature and sensitivity of that information.”


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The IPO market has been frozen for most of 2022, and it shows no signs of reopening.
On Wednesday, software vendor Justworks and food retailer Fresh Market withdrew their filings for initial public offerings. Both companies initially disclosed plans to go public last year. In short filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, they said they no longer plan to pursue share sales, without providing a reason.
They don’t have much explaining to do. After banner years in 2020 and 2021, including a record-setting level of activity last year, investors have shown no appetite for new issues amid this year’s market plunge. The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite has dropped 28% so far in 2022, underperforming the S&P 500, which is off by 20%.
To read the rest of the story, please go to: CNBC


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PITTSBURGH , Sept. 2, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ --Douglas Sicker has joined Carnegie Mellon University as head of its Department of Engineering... ...http://in.advfn.com/p.php?pid=nmona&article=63450262
Ayla Networks (www.aylanetworks.com), a leading provider of Agile Internet of Things (IoT) platforms, today announced that Yifang Digital... ...http://www.efytimes.com/e1/fullnews.asp?edid=147338
From the Wires Sep. 2, 2014 02:20 PM DALLAS, September 2, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- The HetNet Bible (Small Cells, Carrier WiFi, DAS &... ...http://in.sys-con.com/node/3168382
Nokia Networks targeting its telecom operator clients will enhance its mobile broadband offerings shortly. The new additions will focus on... ...http://www.telecomlead.com/telecom-equipment/nokia-networks-enhances-mobile-broadband-offerings-52708
Airtel said in order to drive data consumption, it is targeting six categories including social networks, video, music, gaming, e-commerce and... ...http://www.livemint.com/Industry/9hwpSKeYmb8UlLM0l1xQCI/Airtel-launches-cross-operator-music-app-Wynk.html
A mobile phone is a device that can...
Fring gives you access to Yahoo...


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In court documents filed on April 20, KIND noted that several other ‘all-natural’ lawsuits against defendants including Hain Celestial and Blue Diamond Growers have recently been put on ice on primary jurisdiction grounds in the wake of the FDA’s November 2015 announcement inviting views on whether it is appropriate to define ‘natural’ on food labels, and if so, what the definition should be.
Ninth Circuit decision has broad repercussions for ‘natural’ lawsuits
It also noted the Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit's recent decision to stay a high-profile false advertising case against Chobani (Kane v Chobani LLC 2016 WL 1161782) over ‘natural’ and other claims on primary jurisdiction grounds.
KIND added: “Deference to the FDA’s ongoing regulatory process will avoid conflicts arising from court rulings in the natural cases pending across the country and instead allow the FDA to resolve the issues on a uniform nationwide basis."
The bigger picture: What next for ‘natural’?
So what does all this mean for ‘natural’ lawsuits?
The Ninth Circuit decision "ought to help stem the deluge of food mislabeling claims being filed by plaintiffs’ lawyers under California’s Unfair Competition Law," predicted Richard Samp, chief counsel at the Washington Legal Foundation.
However, it technically only buys time, as it is by no means certain that the FDA's probe into ‘natural’ will result in a new legal definition.
Ivan Wasserman, a partner at Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP, for example, recently predicted the whole 'what is natural?' question could ultimately end up in the 'too difficult' box, adding: "This is truly a no-win situation for the FDA."
Perhaps reflecting this possibility, the Ninth Circuit also acknowledged – in a footnote to its March 24 decision – that the District Court may at some point lift the stay on the Kane v Chobani case if “future events render the FDA’s apparently imminent resolution of the ‘evaporated cane juice’ and ‘natural’ issues illusory”.
“At Annie’s we haven’t even used the term ‘natural’ on labels since the early 2000s because it doesn’t mean anything… I think that the natural products industry will move to organic. That’s where it’s going and it’s what consumers want.”
John Foraker, president, Annie's (see what other CEOs think in our 'natural' vox pop)
No guarantee that FDA will come up with a new legal definition of ‘natural’
Another factor that may impact ‘natural’ claims on food labels, meanwhile, is the GMO labeling law in Vermont (effective July 1), as it prohibits the use of the term ‘natural’ on any products made with GE ingredients.
As many large CPG companies (ConAgra, Kellogg, Mars, Gen Mills et al) are now changing labels nationally to comply with the Vermont rules (in the absence of a federal GMO labeling rule) this may lead to a further reduction in ‘natural’ claims on labels, predict food law attorneys.
“A natural food should be defined as any food made exclusively utilizing ingredients that were widely available for human consumption before the Industrial Revolution.”
Anthony Flynn, co-founder & CEO, YouBar (see what other CEOs think in our 'natural' vox pop)
% of new US food/bev launches making natural claims is going down
The percentage of new foods & beverages launched in the US making 'natural' or 'all-natural' claims has dropped off slightly, falling from 13.76% of launches in 2013 to 12.63% of launches in 2014, and 11% of new launches in 2015, according to Mintel Global New Products Database figures shared with FoodNavigator-USA.
This was likely due to multiple factors, from the threat of legal action, to the rise in organics (seen as a stronger claim), to the fact that some firms feel there are other ways to indicate naturalness (shorter ingredients list, clean labels, packaging design) beyond stating it on pack, and in part because claims are getting more specific, said Mintel's director, innovation & insight, Lynn Dornblaser.
“Natural to me means a non-processed product with few, unadulterated ingredients. The ONLY products that satisfy these criteria are fresh produce and bottled water. I think we need to eschew ‘natural’ as a term because it has been misused widely and no longer has meaning. Instead we should focus on specific claims like non-GMO, no added sugar, and vegan.”
Vincent Kitirattragarn, CEO, co-founder Dang Foods (see what other CEOs think in our 'natural' vox pop)
Annie’s president: ‘Natural’ doesn’t mean anything
Speaking to FoodNavigator-USA at Expo West last month, Annie’s president Jon Foraker also predicted that the term ‘natural’ would fade in importance as organic continued to gather pace, adding: “At Annie’s we haven’t even used the term ‘natural’ on labels since the early 2000s because it doesn’t mean anything… I think that the natural products industry will move to organic. That’s where it’s going and it’s what consumers want.”
George Gavris, CEO of frozen food brand Good Food Made Simple – which is transitioning to an organic platform – added: “All-natural is such an abused phrase that we’re removing it from all of our products. We want to be clear what we stand for and ‘all-natural’ is not clear.”
Click HERE to read what food and beverage CEOs think 'natural' means.
Click HERE to read some of the comments submitted to the FDA as part of its probe into ‘natural’ claims (the comment period closes on May 10).
*The case, which consolidates multiple class action lawsuits filed in different states, is no. 1:15-md-02645 in the southern district of New York. The plaintiffs alleges that selected KIND bars are not ‘all-natural’ because they contain ingredients from GM crops and ‘heavily processed’ ingredients such as soy lecithin. They also allege that they do not meet FDA criteria for making ‘healthy’ claims as they contain too much saturated fat (click HERE).


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I blogged a week ago about how Delta Air Lines lets customers book airline tickets on the Delta Facebook page. EasyJet also has this application on its page on Facebook. Now Lufthansa has also introduced the same functionality to its page and it is available for customers in Sweden, USA, Germany, India, Spain, Great Britain, Greece, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates. Further markets will be added by the end of the year.
Lufthansa also cooperates with the location-based site Foursquare in Germany and users who check in at three different locations via Foursquare can get a 20 euro voucher for their next Lufthansa flight booking.
Users who select a certain country, get local news (see below from Sweden).


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CONFERENCE ON DIGITAL ECONOMAY CONCLUDED
Pakistan Telecommunications Authority (PTA) in collaboration with The Internet Society -Asia Pacific (ISOC-APAC) concluded the three-day INET Islamabad – Pakistan’s premier conference on the Digital Economy and the role Internet plays in the country’s viable development, in a local hotel today. The conference, which ran from November 16-18, featured several ICT experts with national and international speakers to discussed the current climate and the way forward required and steps being taken towards a digital economy in Pakistan with an eye on the ICT agenda required for sustainable development.
During the concluding session, Chairman Board of Investment (BoI) and Special Assistant to Prime Minister Mr. Miftah Ismail said that deliberations through such conferences are helpful in providing foundation for ICT agenda. He said that the focus needs to be on software exports as the economy is progressing now. He said inflation has come down and macro economic stability can be felt.
On this occasion, Chairman PTA Syed Ismail Shah said that this conference was very helpful in highlighting issues related to cyber security, e-government and digital economy. PTA will continue to host such events in future also to have fruitful discussions.
Earlier, Chairperson Higher Education Commission (HEC) Mr. Mukhtar Ahmed opened the second day’s dialogue on the growth of ICT industry in Pakistan with efforts needed to bring more research and development projects to Pakistan.
“International transit prices in Asia are higher compared to North America & Europe”, explained the CEO of LIRNEasia Ms. Helani Galpaya. She emphasized on the role that the operators, civil society organizations and investors need to play in training the individuals involved to build their capacity on a larger scale. Managing Director Pakistan Software Export Board (PSEB) Mr.Asim Shahryar Husain also spoke at the occasion and briefed about the country’s IT industry and PSEB’s contributions to it with around$2.5 billion of revenue a year.
Asia-Pacific’s Director for the Internet Society (ISOC) Mr. Rajnesh Singh, on the issue of scarcity of data available on the e Internet in the national language, unveiled the initiative by the ISOC where three online identity-training modules were launched in Urdu by the Chairman PTA Syed Ismail Shah. The modules provide the user with a better understanding of the implications of their online activities. On the subject of digital economy in Pakistan Mr. Singh explained how the digital economy is integrated in all the sectors that contribute to the industry growth, be it any sector but without sufficient electricity, the benefits of all the e-services available for the consumer will fail.
PTA in collaboration with ISOC-APAC held three days INET Islamabad – Pakistan’s first-ever conference on the Digital Economy and the role the Internet can play in sustainable development. ICT agenda required for sustainable development was also a focus of the conference.


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E-cigarette use among teens in Nevada has exploded in the last couple of years and could lead to injuries and long-term health problems that reach epidemic proportions. The manufacturers of e-cigarettes might be responsible if people develop addictions and illnesses because of the products. Juul, one of the most popular brands of e-cigarettes, comes in fruit flavors which may attract teens. Recent studies reveal that two-thirds of young Juul users were not aware that the product always contains nicotine and other toxic chemicals regardless of flavor.
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 25 percent of high school students and 7 percent of middle school students reported that they had used tobacco products, including e-cigarettes, within the last 30 days in 2018. Among high school students, the use of e-cigarettes increased from 11.7 percent in 2017. Among middle school students, the use of e-cigarettes increased from 3.3 percent in 2017. The rapid increase in the use of e-cigarettes has been called an epidemic by the federal Food and Drug Administration. One brand of e-cigarettes called Juul is especially popular among teenagers because of its design. Juul e-cigarettes look similar to USB flash drives and emit only small clouds of vapor so that teens are able to use them without getting caught.
Dangers of E-cigarettes
Juul and other e-cigarette manufacturers claim that their products are a safe alternative for adult smokers. However, studies have demonstrated that when teens and others inhale the vapor from Juul e-cigarettes, they also ingest some of the same types of toxins that are contained in regular cigarettes. The fruit flavors make them appealing to teens, who may be unaware of their addictive potential.
Potential Responsibility for Injuries
Several parties might hold responsibility for injuries that result from using e-cigarettes. Manufacturers of the products such as Juul may be liable because of deceptive marketing practices. The company claims that they are marketed to adults, but the inclusion of fruit flavors means more teens are drawn to them. Third-parties who sell them to teens may also be liable if the teens develop cancer or other health conditions. People need to be aware of the potential dangers of these products.


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Videos Getting a Boost in News Feed
There was a really interesting article in the NY Times a few weeks ago about how Facebook’s news feed is giving a huge boost to video.
According to the article, “Since June, Facebook, which has about 1.3 billion monthly users worldwide, has served up an average of a billion video views a day, two-thirds of them on mobile devices. About 100 million new videos are uploaded every month. While that is a small fraction of YouTube’s traffic, it is up significantly from just a few months ago.”
That is A LOT of video views! They article also said “that people interacted more frequently with video than other types of posts.”
This is really important for summer camps, especially as they go into recruiting season. You should be asking yourself, how can I use more video in both my organic and advertising posts? Camps have the best videos around and with increased visibility in feed it is more important than ever to use them!


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Scratch Baking takes the cake: named top bakery in state
Lesli Flick said one of the things she likes best about her bakery business is watching people getting into their cars after leaving Scratch Baking and start eating their purchases before they’ve even started driving away.
Scratch Baking in downtown Milford was recently named a ‘best local bakery’ in the state by FlipKey, a subsidiary of TripAdvisor.
“There is something to be said for charming, local bakeries where irresistible sweet treats tempt passersby from their display cases and the smell of made-from-scratch baked goods greet visitors at the door,” states the FlipKey website. “From fresh fruit tarts, to classic chocolate chip cookies and masterful, layered cakes, your sweet tooth should be satisfied by any of the goodies on the menu when you find a great bakery.”
Scratch Baking at 58 River Street definitely fits the description. Tucked at the back of the building that houses Corner Convenience, this bakery may seem somewhat off the beaten path. But no problem, word of mouth has made the place a go-to spot.
The menu is stuffed with offerings: artisanal breads like ciabatta and brioche, cinnamon raisin buns, quiche, croissants and pastries, bread pudding muffins, scones, cookies, bars and brownies, cream puffs, eclairs, specialty cakes and more.
The staff at Scratch Baking works together like a family, said Flick. Alex Malaspinas, the manager, handles a lot of the front end and the marketing; and bakers Kate Donato and Crystal Bransfield are professional bakers, as is Flick. There are several others that work here, especially during the busy holiday season, including Milford resident Heather Gramelis, and each brings their own art to the table.
One of Bransfield’s specialties is the croissant; and Donato helped create one of the weekend signature items, the breakfast pizza.
The downtown bakery got its start in 2010, setting up first at the downtown farmers market to start spreading the word about what they had to offer.
Shortly after that introduction, Flick opened the bakery.
Flick, who hails from New York and remembers time spent baking in the kitchen with her mother, said she always loved bakeries and sought them out on her rounds through the city.
Creating this special bakery of her own was a natural thing to do after culinary school.
After graduating from Union College and completing her formal training at the Institute of Culinary Education (formerly Peter Kump’s), in New York in 2002, Flick began her professional baking career under the guidance of 2002 Pastry Chef of the Year and Food Network Regular Andrew Shotts of the Garrison Confectioners, according to the Scratch Baking website.
“Since that time, her desserts have graced the pages of Food and Wine, Oprah Winfrey’s O-Magazine, Wired and Connecticut Cottages and Gardens,” the website continues.
Flick has been a key contributor to three cookbooks, including the SONO Baking Company Cookbook. Her cakes have been featured on the Martha Stewart Show and the STYLE Network’s Art of Wedding Cakes 2.
“We’re artisanal, so everything is made by hand here,” Flick said on a recent day at Scratch Baking. “We cater to our customers.”
One time a customer asked for a bourbon pecan pie, and Donato was able to pull it off, complete with whipped cream.
Donato also experiments with the breakfast pizza, which she said started as a sort of a trial one weekend and really took off. Whole wheat crust, roasted veggies, different cheeses and eggs cracked on top is one variety.
There is also coffee from Ashlawn Farm Coffee, and tea from SerendipiTea.
The open kitchen lets customers actually see the busy bakers at work: Recently the bakers could be seen rolling gingerbread and cutting little gingerbread men, and compiling cookie trays and other delicacies for the holidays.
The open kitchen concept is an added treat. “We try to keep it different for the customers, and for us too,” Flick said.
Malaspinas, who studied contemporary American literature in college, said the Scratch Baking team has created its own unique business on their own creative terms.
“Every day as we make and build, it’s our heartfelt initiative,” he said.
The team was more than pleased to learn about being named a top bakery in the state.
“It was a big, awesome surprise,” Flick said. “I got an email and showed it to Alex, and he said ‘this is huge’.”
The bakery is open Sunday from 7 a.m. to noon; closed Mondays; open Tuesday to Friday 6:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturday 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.


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Carrefour Brasil and delivery app Rappi have entered into a partnership to sell and deliver food items.
It will offer two delivery options - express and supermarkets. Under the 'express' option, orders will be delivered within 35 minutes while 'supermarkets' will deliver within an hour.
The prices of products will be the same as in the physical stores.
New Operational Model
In the coming months, the retailer aims to introduce a new operational model, where Carrefour will be responsible for picking the orders from its dark stores and Rappi for the delivery.
The new model will improve efficiency, since the stock will be separated from the sales area of the stores, and will exclusively cater to the delivery service.
Rappi will send its shoppers to Carrefour stores and customers will have the option to talk to the shopping assistant, and ask for a photo of the goods for evaluation and replacement.
A Leading App
With more than 13 million downloads in Latin America, the Colombia-based Rappi has emerged as one of the leading service apps in the region.
In 2018, the startup increased the number of products delivered by seven times and registered a monthly growth of 20% in the seven countries where it operates. In Brazil, this number was even higher, exceeding 30%.
The alliance between Carrefour and Rappi comes at a time when other retailers are also moving to gain a share in e-commerce, and develop solutions that enable swift delivery.
GPA, formerly Rappi's exclusive partner, recently bought 100% of the local app, James Delivery.
Carrefour Brasil has also partnered with startup Zaitt to open the first 100% autonomous market in Latin America, which started operations in Itaim Bibi, a busy neighborhood of São Paulo.
As Zaitt’s strategic partner, Carrefour will be responsible for a part of the product assortment offered to customers.
The focus of the 24-hour market will be on food service, snacks, beverages, cleaning products, personal hygiene, organic, among others, including fresh and ready-to-consume products.
Using an app developed by Zaitt, customers can add products to the virtual card and make their payment before leaving the store.
The market uses RFID technology, which enables automatic product identification by means of wireless signals without the need for product-by-product scanning.
As part of its digital transformation strategy, Carrefour Brasil has also introduced the Carina virtual assistant, which aims to solve doubts and offer suggestions to customers, through voice and text channels, including WhatsApp.
© 2019 European Supermarket Magazine – your source for the latest retail news. Article by Branislav Pekic. Click subscribe to sign up to ESM: The European Supermarket Magazine.


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Here it is. You can read more about it on NYT's
New York Times
Today's NYT crossword is a tribute to the late Apple CEO.
5 innovations in radiology that could impact everything from the Zika virus to dermatology
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CHINESE nationals exhibiting at the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF) in Bulawayo raised eyebrows after reducing the standards of the showcase to a flea market by selling their products directly to the customers.
report by Musa Dube
A trade fair is an exhibition organised so that companies in a specific industry can showcase and demonstrate their latest products and services, hoping to receive orders and establish partnerships that will last for years.
However, the Chinese violated the exhibition rules when they started selling their products directly to the customers on the day the fair kicked off. The Standard witnessed the Chinese exhibitors, being assisted by the locals, busy selling their products instead of showcasing.
While other business people bro-ught heavy machinery and equipment for exhibition at the trade fair, most of the Chinese exhibitors brought some boxes containing cheap jewellery, clothes and handbags. The jewellery prices ranged from US$2 to US$5 and their stands were a hive of activity as people swarmed to buy the
products that were lowly priced.
Other products that were being sold were pharmaceutical goods such as Vicks and cosmetics. During the peak of the economic decline in 2009, the ZITF had allowed some local small to medium enterprises to sell their goods after big companies had shunned the show.
However in 2011, ZITF banned the selling of goods by exhibitors during the event to prevent the fair from being turned into a flea market. Flea market traders in Bulawayo said it was unfair that the Chinese were getting preferential treatment.
“The ZITF management should next time also give us space to sell our products, because it’s unfair to allow other people to sell while denying others,” said
Jessica Moyo. “Some years back we used to sell various goods directly to people but the ZITF stopped us saying this was a platform for exhibiting, not for selling but surprisingly we are now seeing the Chinese selling their products in the show. It’s unfair.”
ZITF general manager Daniel Chigaru said the Chinese had been told to stop selling at their stands, as this was not allowed.
He said no serious exhibition anywhere in the world allowed the direct selling of goods from stands.
“We have very strict rules that prohibit selling of goods. We normally send a circular stating that no selling is allowed in the exhibition. We don’t take kindly to those who decide to sell directly to consumers,” Chigaru said.
China was the biggest exhibitor after South Africa, occupying about 600 square metres. There were about 16 foreign nations participating at this year’s fair compared to last year’s 14. The countries included Botswana, Brazil, Ethiopia, Germany, Indonesia, Italy, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Pakistan, South Africa and Tanzania.


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Should I buy an electric vehicle next?
While once a curiosity, electric vehicles (EVs) are an increasingly popular option for many drivers both here in Britain and abroad. Figures revealed by the Office of National Statistics (ONS) show that more than half of the UK’s younger drivers are likely to swap to EV within the next 10 years. With the UK Government’s intention to end the sale of diesel and petrol cars by the year 2030 such motorists can be forgiven for wanting to get a head start with an EV experience of their own. In the next sections, we’ll take a closer look at some of the benefits buying an EV can bring, to help you decide if it’s the right ride for you when you need a new car.
Perhaps one of the most common reasons people pick EVs is their green credentials. Unlike traditional gas-guzzling vehicles that need petrol or diesel to run, EVs use an electric battery pack instead. Using essentially the same technology as a modern smartphone but on a far larger scale, EV batteries emit no harmful toxins into the air making them a far eco-friendlier option. If your conscience is concerned with the carbon footprint you present, an EV is an excellent solution.
"The latest electric battery packs allow vehicles to cover a greater distance than ever before."
No vehicle tax to pay
A knock-on benefit of EVs releasing zero tailpipe emissions is that their drivers pay no vehicle tax. UK law states that providing that a car runs on electricity either from an electric storage battery or an external source that is not connected to a power source while the vehicle is in motion is exempt from paying vehicle tax. As a result, EV drivers can enjoy lower costs in terms of tax each year.
Preparing for the future
As mentioned earlier, the Government is set to prohibit the sale of inter combustion engine (ICE) vehicles in 2030. Buying an EV as your next car can effectively futureproof your transport for years to come and keep you ahead of the curve.
Improved electric batteries and charging infrastructure
Two key concerns for many prospective car buyers regarding EVs are range and charging infrastructure. From EV experts like Tesla and Dacia to other auto brands dipping their toe in the electric market like Mercedes, research and development teams in the automotive industry are constantly pushing the boundaries of batteries. The latest electric battery packs allow vehicles to cover a greater distance than ever before. Furthermore, the UK is focused on improving the charging infrastructure available to British drivers and has even offered grants to help homeowners install charge-points at home. With more charging stations becoming available around the country, the limitations of the range will have a lower impact. From supermarkets to business retail parks, many locations around the UK are already offering EV charging options, with some offering a free facility to paying customers.
Lower running costs
EVs deliver enormous environmental benefits due to their non-existent tailpipe emissions, but they also offer a significant saving regarding running costs. On top of the fact that they don’t require vehicle tax, they are often more affordable than ICE cars to keep running. While EVs cost less than petrol and diesel cars to fuel, their inner workings also include fewer moving components. As a result, EVs typically enjoy lower service costs.
Electric vehicles once had a reputation for being expensive vehicles to insure, but fortunately, this is no longer the case. Today, many policies for EVs are more affordable than the cover for internal combustion engine vehicles. Statistics uncovered by the Association of British Insurers (ABI) state that in 2020, insurance policies for EVs dropped in price in 2020 as more insurers were joining the market to support the growing number of electric cars on British roads. Data provided by the Society of Motor Manufacturers & Traders (SMMT) that UL uptake of EVs doubled in 2021, leading many new insurance companies to launch specific protection policies for EVs.
GAP insurance can be a worthwhile option for car buyers who are worried that their standard motor insurance won’t allow them to buy a brand-new vehicle if an accident renders it a total loss. Insurance policies pay car owners the current market value for their vehicle in such circumstances, but due to the rapid rate of vehicle depreciation, such pay-outs don’t cover the cost of a like-for-like vehicle. However, a GAP policy will make up the difference between your insurer's payment and the price of an all-new EV. For expert advice on GAP insurance, contact our team at Direct Gap today.


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In 1996, Dodge showed off the T-Rex 6×6, a six-wheel-drive beast with an 8.0L V10. Back before Daimler entered the scene and shut the party down, Chrysler was on a roll with turning concept cars into production pieces and the moment the bronze tri-axle truck debuted, pickup fans were salivating enough that cleanup workers in Las Vegas were armed with mops, buckets and dehumidifiers. Chrysler had swagger back then…the Viper was fresh, the Ram had been a runaway smash hit, and with the LH sedans, the “cloud cars” and the Neon all doing well, there was a fairly good chance that if Bob Lutz liked the response, the truck would be produced. Sadly, it wasn’t. But now Hennessey is going to produce something…well, kind of like it.
They call it the Mammoth. They are only building three of them, all three packing a 1,200 horsepower Hellephant crate Hemi V8, all three upgraded with an off-road oriented suspension, all three wearing the off-roading bits like bumper modifications and roll bars and LED lights that are commonplace. And they will be expensive. Like, “24k Gold” expensive. $500,000, which includes the base Ram Rebel TRX that the conversion process starts with.
Good ever-loving God. The order bank for this rig opens on September 4th, 2020 at 12 noon Central Time, and you have to call 1-800-897-0426 to place your order.
The team at Hennessey Performance Engineering (HPE) is planning to build the biggest and most powerful truck in the company’s 29-year history. HPE will soon be building a 6X6 conversion of the 2021 Ram TRX truck. However, the 702 bhp factory Hellcat supercharged V8 will be replaced by a specially tuned 7.0L Hellephant engine that will deliver over 1200 bhp.
Since 2017, the Hennessey team has built and delivered a total of 15 VelociRaptor 6X6 and GOLIATH 6X6 trucks to clients from around the world, making them some of the most exclusive vehicles ever produced by Hennessey Performance. Hennessey will only be building a total of three Mammoth 6X6 Hellephant-powered Ram TRX trucks which will make it the most powerful and most exclusive truck ever offered by the company. It will also be the most expensive with a cost of $500,000 which includes the base Ram TRX.
“We are very excited about the Ram TRX,” said company founder and CEO, John Hennessey. “MAMMOTH 6X6 powered by a 1200 HP Hellephant motor is just a completely ridiculous idea, which is exactly why we are doing this. We are only going to build three examples which will likely make this the most exclusive and most expensive truck we’ve ever built.”
In addition to its all new 6-wheel drive and all new truck bed conversion, MAMMOTH 6X6 will have a fully upgraded off-road suspension, bespoke interior, upgraded front and rear bumpers with upgraded LED lights and more.


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Lululemon Athletica Inc. on Thursday reported quarterly earnings and revenue that beat analysts’ expectations.
Shares of the company were up around 7% in after hours trading.
Here’s what the company reported compared with what Wall Street was expecting, based on a survey of analysts by Refinitiv:
Earnings per share: $2.20, adjusted, vs. $1.87 cents expectedRevenue: $1.87 billion vs. $1.774 billion expected
Same store sales grew 23% which beat StreetAccount’s estimate of 17.6%.
The company also raised its full-year guidance. It said it now expects 2022 revenue of between $7.865 billion and $7.940 billion, up from the range of $7.610 billion to $7.710 billion it stated last quarter. The company also raised its adjusted earnings per share outlook to a range of $9.75 to $9.90, from last quarter’s guidance of $9.35 to $9.50 adjusted.
Net salesrose 29% percent to $1.87 billion.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.


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The home-sharing company hopes to replicate its success in heading off restrictive legislation in San Francisco in cities around the US.
Get as close as you can to entering the worlds of Mario, Donkey Kong and other video games with these properties that resemble locations from several top PC, console and mobile games.
Ford owners in London, Portland, Chicago, Washington and the Bay Area will be able to rent their cars to other drivers.
Technically Incorrect: Some of Hertz's NeverLost systems now have cameras and mics -- which the company claims it doesn't intend to use at this time.
If you're hitting the road or the skies this holiday season, use these tools to make your journey less of a headache.
After a woman reportedly earns $6,500 per month off Airbnb for her rent-controlled Manhattan apartment, a judge issues her a temporary injunction to halt immediately.
Looking to get away for a "Lord of the Rings"-themed vacation? These properties will take you to J.R.R. Tolkien's whimsical world and transform you into a hobbit.
The nation's third-largest wireless carrier says you can stream videos to your phone without eating up your data allotment. CNET breaks down the details of the plans.
Stephen Colbert imagines what we can only hope is Activision's next project, a movie based on the popular Candy Crush game.
The home-sharing business promises to pay its "fair share" of taxes, be more transparent with data and ban users from listing investment properties.


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Island Air recently announced plans to serve locally grown coffee on morning flights. MauiGrown Coffee Company will provide the beans. The service started April 1 and features coffee harvested from Ka'anapali Estate.
"It's great to feature locally produced coffee on our flights," said Island Air Chief Executive Officer Lesley Kaneshiro. Passengers have the opportunity to view the 500 acres of Arabica coffee trees when flying over West Maui. MauiGrown is the largest independently operated coffee grower in the U.S.