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In the media scrum to touch the new iPhone 5S and 5C, three things stand out: these are evolutionary devices but they are also a real shift thanks to iOS7; Apple is focusing on fashion-led markets with new cases and colours; and Apple is still committed to innovation.
Nobody in the European media has yet spent more than a few minutes holding a new iPhone, but in just that short time, it’s obvious that the 5C is a beautifully built product - it looks at first like a 3GS with a case around it, but in the hand it feels far more solid than that. The 5S barely looks any different from the 5, but it is blisteringly fast when you ask it to process slow motion camera footage or shoot ten pictures a second in burst mode. By comparison, the 5C’s burst mode plods along. Both of these devices are built to Apple’s traditional standards and there are none higher in the industry. The company is not pitching either of these as revolution: that’ll be the iPhone 6.
With the announcement of new colours and new cases, it’s obvious that Apple wants to get more people to incorporate their technology into an increasingly fashion-led industry. They’re not quite going down the Samsung line of designer collaborations, but they are certainly emphasising the “lovely colours and cases” in the words of the staff demonstrating the units. Apple knows that it can’t foist its aesthetic onto too many other users.
But the final thing that stands out is that while other manufacturers think NFC eye-tracking, face recognition or eye-scrolling is the way forward, Apple has other ideas. The fingerprint scanner makes the 5S both more secure and easier to use, and it comes coupled with the 64-bit processor that unleashed a computing revolution for Windows. These are two ideas no other technology has successfully executed. If Apple wanted to demonstrate that it’s still got some sort of mojo, these are good ways of doing it.
Is it enough to maintain the company’s golden glow? This was a press conference that didn't begin with graphs of extraordinary sales numbers - now Google does that. But Apple wants to make phones if not for the one per cent then maybe for the discerning 30 per cent. It’s still on course, and even if its brand is somewhat diluted by two models at different prices, its cash pile is likely to grow even further.
The question many left asking was simple, though: Apple is still performing at an incredible level, but are its best days behind it? The 5S and the 5C suggest that even if the Cupertino giant is on a plateau, it’s in a class of its own.


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The proliferation of the bring your own device (BYOD) trend is being driven by many factors, most notably the increasing attractiveness, in form and function, of the various mobile devices on the market today and the increasing use of those devices to access services on the Internet. In fact, most people already are using multiple mobile devices in their personal environments to access e-mail, social networks, or various other applications that are meant to make our lives easier.
So in this increasing environment of BYOD and bring your own identity (BYOI), what can enterprises do to leverage as well as protect their customer data? And how can companies manage the user identity lifecycle?
UnboundID, a platform provider for identity data, has developed an Identity Data Platform that helps companies in telecommunications, financial and cloud services to unify, personalize and produce identity data, increasing the value of the identity assets these companies possess, while offering a greater benefit to end customers.
MobilityTechzone recently had the opportunity to catch up with Nicholas Crown, director of Products at UnboundID, who will be a speaker at the upcoming ITEXPO 2013 session, “Bring Your Own What? BYOI vs. BYOD,” which will be held on Jan. 30 from 12 to 12:45 p.m. at the Miami Beach Convention Center. Our full exchange follows below.
What is the most significant technology trend impacting the way businesses conduct operations today?
NC: I believe there are really two major technology trends impacting businesses today: 1) the transition to cloud-based services, and 2) the increasing proliferation and adoption of mobile technologies. Sure, social media and big data are also influential, but they are not having as large of an impact today on business operations as cloud and mobile. It’s been said many times before, but “the perimeter” (the firewall around the business) is gone. Get over it. Now, that you’ve gotten over it, what can you do to enable the business to harness the power of the cloud and mobile while still maintaining some control over the crown jewels?
How is cloud computing changing the way you operate your business?
NC: As a technology provider, it impacts how we deliver our goods to the market. More and more companies are expecting support for cloud-based deployments out-of-the-box. No one believed that companies would trust a third-party service to manage their CRM data, but obviously Salesforce.com didn’t listen to the naysayers.
Have security concerns around cloud computing been effectively addressed by the market, or is security still impediment to adoption?
NC: Security is still very much an issue in cloud computing adoption. With that said, much progress has been made in the last couple of years to address some of these concerns. It pretty much goes without saying that if you need to store sensitive data in the cloud, then you need to take the responsibility to encrypt the data before you send it up the pipe. You cannot, nor should not, rely on someone else to manage encryption (keys, cipher strength, etc.) for you. The sad part of this story is that companies aren’t really doing a great job at securing the data that is stored inside their firewall, so why should we expect it will be any different in the cloud? I actually think that living in a cloud-based world might actually force some good security hygiene back into the enterprise. Trust no one, and always verify that your controls are in place and working as expected.
How has the unprecedented growth of social media changed the way you manage your customers?
NC: As a software vendor, it has certainly added a new dimension to our communication strategy. It is now a legitimate sales, marketing, and support channel that needs to be monitored and managed on an on-going basis.
“Customer Experience” has become a buzzword and 2013 may well become characterized as the Year of Customer Experience. What is your business doing to improve your customers’ experiences?
NC: Managing and improving the “customer experience” is one of the major problems that we help other companies solve. For us, it’s all about the data – customer data. We help companies unify, protect and leverage their customer data across all facets of the business. For instance, one of the key measures of the experience is how well you know your customer and their preferences, both of which require actionable insights (data) about the customer.
Keeping in mind that BYOD is now pervasive and no longer a phenomenon, will BYOD heavily influence your business in 2013 (whether from a security, policy or device or app management perspective) or have we moved beyond BYOD?
NC: BYOD and the challenges that it brings will continue to be a driver for our customers in 2013. More importantly, we see BYOI – whereby individuals leverage their own personal identifiers/credentials (e.g. Facebook, Google, etc.) to access company resources – also increasing in importance this year.
Should enterprises look to pre-empt Bring Your Own Storage (BYOS) issues by moving to carefully controlled cloud storage in 2013?
NC: That’s certainly an option, but I don’t believe that it will completely eradicate the use of personal cloud storage services. It might make sense to follow a dual-based approach whereby companies allow employees to leverage personal storage services for a class of enterprise information, but then provide a company-sponsored service for sensitive information. Without the use of end-point and network monitoring solutions that can inspect the content as it’s being used and accessed, this is really difficult to control.
Will 2013 be the year the laptop dies? Why or why not?
NC: No. For any “real” work, you still need the computing power offered by laptops. I could see a world evolving where tablets and powerful phones are plugged into terminals to provide the improved usability offered by larger form factors, but we are still some years off for this.
What is the most disruptive technology that will hit mainstream markets this year and why?
NC: It will be either the Apple TV or the next iPhone. Apple still has a few hard punches left in them, and, with the success that Samsung and others have had in the market over the past 12 months, it is time for the heavyweight from Cupertino to come out punching.
What is the one misconception you would like to see set straight in the technology markets?
NC: That building a system that reduces, or nearly eliminates, the need for passwords is too difficult to achieve. The day is coming when passwords will fade into obscurity, and I want more people to believe this is possible.
Edited by Jamie Epstein

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Alibaba’s largest shareholder is selling off nearly $8 billion of its stake in the company.
Softbank invested in Alibaba back in 2000 when the company was still an unlisted startup. The company has since grown to a market cap of more than $200 billion.
Softbank says it wants to cash in some of its 32% stake in the company to boost its own financial position.
The sale comes at a time when Softbank’s annual profits fell by 29% after taking a big hit from its ownership in US wireless carrier Sprint.
Following the news of its sell off the bank said it is still “committed to its partnership with Alibaba.”
This is the first time Softbank has sold shares in Alibaba since its initial investment 16 years ago.
Alibaba said last week that it’s the subject of an SEC investigation in the US over its accounting practices. The company’s membership in the International Anti-Counterfeiting Coalition was also recently suspended.
Alibaba shares declined 2.9% in after-hours trading in New York following the announcement. Alibaba launched a record-breaking $25 billion IPO in September 2014, shares have since dropped off by almost 13%.
As part of the planned sale, Alibaba will buy back $2 billion of its stock held by Softbank. The rest is being sold to a sovereign wealth fund, institutional investors and a group of individuals linked to Alibaba.
Softbank will still maintain a nearly 28% stake following the sale. The next biggest share-holder is Yahoo, which controls about 15% of the company’s ownership.


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Last week, Hootsuite’s Ryan Holmes wrote an outstanding piece about how the rules of social media marketing have changed.
Namely, how we’ve gone from “Town Square” to “Family room” (read the full post for his explanation).
While Holmes talked about how we’re in the midst of transitioning to a post-social-media landscape, I envision another stark trend: The comeback of community.
As Holmes states, years ago the frequent ask from brands and clients was: “We want this to go viral.” And, even if that wasn’t the ask, it was implied. Essentially, we want to create and share content that spreads across the internet. And, truth be told, it’s still an ask today–just in a different way (with reach, as the primary goal).
But, recently, I’ve noticed a shift. Fewer people are talking about virality and shares, and more people are talking about community.
There are a few different factors at play.
First, go back to 2010. Your brand was just getting started on Facebook. You were starting to gain fans. You were building a community. It got bigger. Bigger still. And you were engaging this community with interesting content (OK, maybe it wasn’t always interesting, but bear with me!).
Then, a few years later, Facebook changed everything. They started promoting ad products more, and organic engagement and reach rates plummeted. Suddenly, brands were paying to reach their audience. And, more to the point, brands were paying to reach their target audience OUTSIDE the community they had built.
In many ways, the original community they built was now essentially useless since organic engagement and reach rates were so low. You could post a piece of content and less than 1% of your community would see it. That’s still the reality today.
Second, despite all the negativity around social right now, brands still have two big reasons to use it: customer service and innovation.
Both of those issues can be partially solved by building strong online communities.
I mean, just ask Microsoft. This is what they’ve essentially done on Reddit. Build and facilitate a community of Xbox users who will answer customer questions for them!
And, I’m betting more brands will go down this route in the months ahead. Vendors like Lithium are counting on it with their community products that are being used by brands like Cisco and Sony.
Yep, community is primed for a comeback.
Even Facebook is taking notice. Its recent announcement to put more emphasis on Groups in its app wasn’t made haphazardly. They can see what’s happening. People are craving community.
One example: One of my clients is a large dental organization. In some research I conducted for them a couple years ago, we discovered one of the primary places dentists were spending their time online was Facebook Groups. One of those groups, Dental Hacks Nation, is extremely active. 20-30 posts a day. Many posts have upwards of 50+ comments! It’s a THRIVING community. This is what’s next folks. And the social media platforms know it.
Now the big question is: What do we, as communicators of brands, do about it?
That’s a different post for a different day.
Yesterday, the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) issued a four-sentence press release that officially booted the University of St. Thomas out of the conference.
And just like that a founding member of the conference was history.
Communicated with a 94-word press release. And no further comment from anyone at any of the other MIAC universities.
Predictably, backlash around the decision has been fast and furious on social media–especially amongst UST grads and supporters.
I hope St. Thomas beats the Oles, Pipers, and Auggie Tech by 200 points each.
— John Sharkman (@JohnSharkman) May 22, 2019
And, UST itself has not shied away from commenting on the situation. In fact, St Thomas president, Julie Sullivan issued a statement just hours after the MIAC’s decision. Understandably, she and the St. Thomas community were disappointed.
Throughout this “discussion”, it’s been interesting to me that St. Thomas has been the only one talking. Yesterday was no different with Sullivan’s statement.
St. Thomas is attempting (successfully) to control the narrative. Meanwhile, the rest of the MIAC seems perfectly fine burying their heads in the sand and hoping things go away quickly (which they will–this is not life or death, after all).
But, who is counseling these MIAC presidents to stay silent? No communications leader worth their salt would be counseling these leaders to stay quiet while the conference issues a four-sentence news release kicking one of the most storied programs in Minnesota history out of the conference.
Yet, according to the Star Tribune, multiple university presidents have refused comment (so far) and directly people back to the news release (which was, most likely, the agreed course of action).
So, no matter how you feel about this decision, you have to believe more people are going to ultimately sympathize with St. Thomas. Why? Because they’re the only ones talking!
If the MIAC had come out and justified their position and talked about why they came to this difficult decision, the backlash most likely wouldn’t have been nearly as harsh.
But, as we know, silence creates a vacuum. And St. Thomas has been filling that silence the MIAC has provided with their story, on their terms. And, I find it pretty compelling (personally, I’m with UST on this one–I find it ridiculous the MIAC is kicking a university out of its conference for being TOO successful! Wonderful message for today’s youth!).
The MIAC blew it here–not so much in the decision they reached, but with the way they handled the communication of the message and the entire situation. They had an opportunity to shape the conversation, but they relinquished that chance by staying silent almost completely throughout.
I gotta believe any PR or comms professor at any of these schools would have given their own institution of higher learning an “F” on this test.
The Facebook truth for brands: It’s not going away anytime soon (but it IS worth re-evaluating your presence there)
I’m not breaking news by saying Facebook hasn’t had the best year.
A slew of negative PR hits.
And, rumors that more people are leaving Facebook every day.
As a result, many pundits in our industry are predicting the end of Facebook–some (former founders) are even calling for it to be broken apart!
So, the “feel” around Facebook right now isn’t so great.
But, two big numbers tell a completely different story:
1 – Facebook had more then 2.38 billion monthly active users (MAU) worldwide as of March 31, 2019. This is an 8 percent increase in Facebook MAUs year over year. This is compared to 2.32 billion MAUs for Q4 2018. READ: Facebook is still growing!
2 – 1.56 billion people on average log onto Facebook daily and are considered daily active users (Facebook DAU) for March 2019. This represents an 8 percent increase year over year. READ: People are still checking in on Facebook (but might be representing something completely different to friends and survey administrators).
Sure, Facebook growth numbers may be hitting a plateau for the first time. But, the platform still has the most users and the best working ad platform in social media.
For that alone, it’s still worth investing in.
And, brand ad budgets haven’t been impacted by all this negativity at all. Brands are investing more heavily in Facebook Stories, too, believe it or not.
Anecdotally, in the work I’ve done with brands this year, Facebook continues to work just fine as: 1) A driver of engagement; 2) A traffic driver; and 3) A lead generator.
HOWEVER – things do feel a little iffy with Facebook right now.
Earlier this year, in giving my annual social media trends presentation at Social Media Breakfast here in MSP, I asked the crowd “how many of you have either deleted Facebook or thought about deleting Facebook in the last six months?”
Almost every hand in the room went up.
That’s not a great sign.
So, while I don’t see investment in Facebook going anywhere anytime soon on the brand side. I do think it makes sense to step back, take a deep breath and look at your holistic approach to social media marketing.
How much time are you spending on Facebook vs. other platforms? Should that change? Should you start shifting more time to Instagram, for example, if you’re seeing big organic numbers there?
How many dollars are you investing in Facebook advertising compared to other social AND digital channels? Does Facebook represent a disproportionate amount of your spend? If so, that might be worth a closer look.
And, is all the time you’re investing in Facebook keeping you from experimenting with others channels or formats? I’m thinking specifically about Stories here, as many people I’ve talked to recently say they’re simply too busy to take on more work. What if you spent less time on your Facebook marketing to free up that time to experiment more?
Bottom line: I don’t believe Facebook is going anywhere as a key social media marketing tool. Not in 2019. Probably not in 2020. But, the environment certainly feels a whole lot different than it did a couple years ago. There’s still a lot of negative juju around Facebook right now. For that reason, I would re-evaluate. Are you spending time in the right places? Are you spending your social media ad dollars in the right spots? Do you resources line up with where you’re seeing the best results?
All questions I’d be asking myself if I were a social media marketer right now.
Note: I don’t do this often, but if you ARE interested in re-evaluating your social media program, I offer a social media audit and strategy package that has been hugely popular with clients over the last few years. If you’re interested, send me a note at email@example.com to chat.
According to a recent Freshbooks survey, I say it’s all about control.
That was the number-one factor among those who have chosen to go the solo route.
In this sense, “control” meant a few different things:
- Mostly, it meant WHEN you work. Not surprising, as we see countless companies continue (stupidly) to chain workers to desks even though technology has made it easier than ever for us in the comms/marketing field to do our jobs anywhere.
- Also: How hard you work. Lots of people in the comms world complain about the amount of work. 60-80-hour workweeks are commonplace. And people are getting tired of it.
- Also: Professional development. People want more control over what they learn and how they learn it. In other words, I want to go to go X conference to learn more about X–and my company won’t pay for it. I don’t know how many times I’ve heard that over the last 20+ years.
- Finally: Where you work. Again, tech has enabled us to work when we want, and where we want. For some reason, companies still aren’t getting this. Which is why we have more people going solo now.
Fulfillment and finances were the other two big reasons for why people go the solo route. And, just 4%, surprisingly, went solo because of a previous negative work environment–I found that surprising (maybe people weren’t being completely honest?).
The control piece isn’t surprising. I’ve found that to be a chief satisfier for me, too. But, you really have to dig into the data in this survey to get at what’s really going on here, because it’s more interesting than what Freshbooks lets on.
Let’s start at the top: Control is the chief reason people are going solo–followed closely by fulfillment and finances. But, if you look at the data around the realities of today’s solo, it tells a much different story.
- 72% of solos said they expected to earn more money as a solo. The reality was only 55% said they did. That’s a huge gap and it can’t be too fulfilling to not be earning as much as solos thought at the outset.
- 64% of solos said they expected to have less stress as a solo, but only 55% said that was a reality. Truth is, solo life IS stressful–just in different ways from your previous day job. Yes, you may have marginally less stress, but you still have stressors–demanding clients, juggling competing needs and new business.
- 75% of solos said they expected to work harder as a solo. And 60% said this was the reality. That’s still a big number! And they’re right, being a solo is a lot of work! It’s not about taking 3-hour breaks in the day to go see a movie. I would argue it’s the opposite–it’s much MORE work. Think about it. In your former job, you were most likely asked to do the actual work (planning, tactics, measurement, etc.). But, as a solo, you have to do the actual work PLUS: new business, all admin work, all tech support, and a host of other smaller tasks. This is one of the hidden secrets of the solo work–it’s not less work, it’s much more.
My take on the solo trend: I really think it boils down to two things–people going solo because they want to work where and when they want; and people going solo because they want more control about the kind of work they do.
For me, it was definitely a mix of those two when I made the decision 10 years ago. I wanted to work more in social media and digital marketing. At the time, in my role at Fairview, I wasn’t afforded that opportunity. So, I made an opportunity. I also wanted more control of my schedule with a growing family. I wanted to walk my kids to school. I wanted to show up at every concert and soccer game. And, I wanted to volunteer in my kids’ schools. None of that would have been possible if I were working on the agency or corporate side.
As always, if you’re thinking about the solo route, go in eyes wide open. Yes, it is a lonely existence. Yes, it is a ton of work. Yes, it is stressful. But, you do have more control of your schedule and what you work on, and who you work with. As with all jobs, it’s all about trade-offs–which ones are you willing to make? That’s the question you really need to think about.
ICYMI, a (supposed) Starbucks coffee cup was caught on-screen at Winterfell in episode 4, season 8 of Game of Thrones last Sunday.
Predictably, Twitter went berserk.
Of course, it took Starbucks less than 24 hours to respond with a smart and uber-relevant tweet:
A day later, and people were saying Starbucks already had received 2.3 BILLION in free advertising from the situation. And, as it turns out, IT WASN’T EVEN A STARBUCKS CUP!
I’m a huge GoT fan, so this has been kinda fun to follow this week. But, as I watched this whole thing play out, I couldn’t help but think of all the brands out there that would KILL for this kind of opportunity. It was the ultimate opportunity for Starbucks to “newsjack”–and yet all they did was make a single tweet.
And man, was that smart.
Just one tweet–and, by the way, directly tied to a brand new product Starbucks is launching.
Starbucks could have really gone gang-busters with this. They could have created all sorts of content and shared across its social channels. But, they didn’t. They did three incredibly smart things in my estimation:
1 – They kept the conversation on the channel where it started. This is all about Twitter. Dual screens during GoT (or any big TV show) is not a new phenomenon. But, Starbucks kept the chatter where it was happening in big doses and not forcing it elsewhere. They even had a Facebook post on May 7 featuring the new Dragon Fruit drink, but didn’t connect it with GoT.
2 – They kept it simple. Just one tweet. Just one. But, they kept it culturally relevant (with the “TBH” reference. Smart and witty, without being TOO smart and witty.
3 – They tied it to business. The new Dragon Fruit drink is just in launch phase. What better way to promote than to tie to the biggest TV show of the season? Conspiracy theories are rampant at this point, by the way.
I think the lesson here for brands is this: when lottery tickets like this land in your lap, be smart, think strategically and resist the urge to overdo it.
With Starbucks vast resources, they could have done so much with this opportunity. Yet, the smartest thing they did was to keep it simple and minimize their involvement.
Food for thought the next time your client or brand wants to “newsjack” the next GoT-like situation.


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Five Guys Burgers and Fries, In-N-Out Burger, Chick-fil-A and Panera Bread topped the 2011 rankings of favorite quick-service chains in a poll conducted by Market Force Information. Market Force, a consumer trends research firm based in Boulder, Colo., surveyed 4,500 consumers nationwide in August, asking which quick-service restaurants were their favorites and why. According to Market Force methodology, consumers were shown a list of 55 top quick-service franchised restaurants and asked to ...
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Contact: Desiree Torres Desiree.Torres@penton.com


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People are scrambling to work at tech behemoth Google more than any other company in the UK, while high-street favourite John Lewis is the British company people most want to work for, according to figures published today.
Google, famous for fun offices and free food among many perks, has topped LinkedIn's annual ranking of the most in demand employers in the UK for the fourth year in a row.
Tech and retail were favourites, with Apple climbing one spot to claim second place and online fashion darling Asos rising eight spots to number four, while luxury department store Selfridges was a new entry in the top 10, as was Facebook.
Net-A-Porter and Topshop also made the list for the first time, taking the 15th and 17th spots respectively. Disney, Diageo and McKinsey also made their debut in the ranking.
The biggest losers, which dropped out of the list altogether this year, include Amazon, which recently came under fire in the US over the way it treats employees, British Airways, Goldman Sachs and Rolls Royce.
“This list represents the organisations that have most successfully built their employer brand and who use this to engage great potential candidates online," said director of LinkedIn Talent Solutions Chris Brown.
"They have identified what makes them special, what they can offer their employees, and have taken full advantage of digital and social media to bring this to life.”


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Most economic industry forecasts in January predicted a solid year ahead. But as I write this column in late August, the sweet spot of the restaurant industry is experiencing its worst slump since 1991. How quickly things can change.
Some of the biggest casual sector players, such as Applebee's, are reporting sharp declines in same-store sales. The casual segment has been sideswiped by rising gasoline prices and a host of other economic pressures. As a result, consumers just don't have the disposable income to visit these restaurants as much as they once did.
Dining-out frequency has long been considered a leading economic indicator, even though restaurants representing only about five percent of consumer disposable income. The decline in the casual sector signals a weakening of the economy.
Applebee's reports that a percentage of its customers can't afford to eat at its restaurants because their household incomes are below $35,000. When push comes to shove, poorer households must first deal with financial priorities like utility bills.
"It is pretty tough out there," says Bob Derrington, an analyst for Morgan Keegan & Company. "Both Brinker and Outback have reported that they have not seen consumer spending this depressed since the early '90s."
Gasoline prices are just the tip of the iceberg, he explains. Consumers are also seeing a rise in their utility bills, medical insurance bills and adjustable rate mortgage bills. "The inflation rate is far beyond what the government is admitting," he says.
On top of all that, minimum credit card payments have doubled from what they used to be and the interest rate on those cards is up substantially. All of it adds up to fewer dollars for discretionary spending on items such as restaurant meals.
Somewhat unfazed by all this are the lower and higher ends—quick service, fast casual and upscale restaurants. Regulars at casual dining restaurants are trading down, while upscale diners are less affected by gasoline and interest rate increases.
Nevertheless, margins are razor thin, so it's incumbent upon you to run as tight a ship as possible. Those who don't may not be around this time next year. We'll try to help, too. On page 35 you'll find a story on how some operators are picking up incremental business by keeping their doors open longer. Next month, our cover story will offer tips on how to cut your kitchen costs. The month after that, we'll offer a feature on gimmicks and promotions that will bring dollars to your bottom line. Hang tough.
Danny Meyer. In October, we will stage our 8th annual Concepts of Tomorrow Conference. It will be a two-day event to help you grow your restaurant concept. A late addition to that conference agenda is famed New York City restaurateur Danny Meyer, who owns several of the city's top restaurants, including Union Square Cafe and Gramercy Tavern.
Meyer is one of the country's great service providers. He, alone, is worth the price of admission. Call Katie Smith at 216-931-9559 for details.


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A major debate has unfolded around India’s economic prospects. On the one hand, you have Prime Minister Modi declaring at the 2018 World Economic Forum that India’s economy, already the fifth largest in the world, will double, to $5 trillion, by 2025. On the other hand, you have the media pointing out the country’s shallow middle class, growing inequality and joblessness, and a trail of multinationals frustrated by the lack of China-like success in India.
While India remains a challenging market, there are at least three reasons global firms cannot overlook the country without consequences.
India has seen growth in infrastructure spending. The country has been increasing its spending on infrastructure such as airports, cities, hotels, ports, roads, bridges, hospitals, and power plants. During the past three years, for instance, the newly formed Andhra Pradesh State has made massive investments in building out its infrastructure. India has expanded its solar generating capacity eightfold since 2014 and achieved the target of 20GW of capacity four years ahead of schedule. India plans to catalyze $200-$300 billion of new investment in renewable energy infrastructure over the next decade. Click to Read More
The advancements in technology are revolutionizing the way every industry and segment functions, with the financial domain being one of the biggest beneficiaries. The amalgamation of technology in finance has entirely transformed the way transactional operations are being handled. So much that the traditionally cash-driven Indian economy has gradually warmed up to fintech, with the term ‘fintech’ being mentioned in the Union Budget speech for the first time ever in 2019. Driven by factors such as a multi-fold increase in investments made, smartphone penetration, bolstered e-commerce and subsequent rise in customer expectations, the fintech segment has grown exponentially, pervading our daily lives and impacting most of our financial decisions. According to a report from NASSCOM and KPMG India, the fintech market in India is forecasted to double from its current value to reach USD 2.4 billion by 2020. Moreover, the transactional value for this sector is estimated to grow at a5-year CAGR of 22%, reaching USD 73 billion by 2020. Click here to read more
India has been one of the fastest growing large economies in the world, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has said, asserting that the country has carried out several key reforms in the last five years, but more needs to be done.
Responding to a question on India’s economic development in the last five years at a fortnightly news conference here, IMF communications director Gerry Rice Thursday said, “India has of course been one of the world’s fastest growinglarge economies of late, with growth averaging about seven per cent over the past five years.”
“Important reforms have been implemented and we feel more reforms are needed to sustain this high growth, including to harness the demographic dividend opportunity, which India has,” he said. Click here to read more


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01/5Can your fitness gadget prevent COVID-19 from spreading?
It's becoming evidently clear that COVID-19 is not going away anytime soon. Even if the infection rate starts to drop, there's no real possibility at this point that the virus will fully vanish.
In the lack of this, experts say that non-pharmaceutical measures such as social distancing, wearing a mask and disinfection to stop the spread of COVID-19 are only possible. Methods which could cut down on testing time and virus detection could also better our response to the pandemic. What if we tell you a simple gadget like a fitness tracker could help detect COVID-19 in the future?
Scientists are now working on checking whether fitness gadgets can serve a dual purpose of measuring health parameters as well as finding out if a person has COVID-19.
Smart gadgets and fitness trackers work to measure a person's health parameters and some have even been applauded for their ability to detect health conditions like heart attacks. Some work by tracking sleep and other definitions which measure general well-being. Since most fitness trackers work by measuring a person's heart rate, a vital parameter, scientists are now wondering if the same technology could be helpful in detecting a change in respiratory conditions as well.
For example, in a limited study done in the USA, scientists were able to observe that a popular fitness wear brand was able to identify people who had influenza-like illness depending on their heart rate elevation. Similar research is going on in Standford University, which aims to collect data from five different brands of wearables to predict illnesses, including COVID-19.
03/5How would it work?
Even though COVID-19 is characterized by the presence of typical symptoms like cough, cold, fever, an elevation of heart rate can also point out to developing an infection. For the study, researchers measured and recorded daily activity, so they can identify reduced levels of daily activity. Combining these two measures allowed the researchers to better predict who had an influenza-like illness.
Since fitness wearables record heart rate and are able to store data for a longer period of time, they will make for excellent gadgets to track and detect COVID spread, especially in times when proper testing can't be accessible.
While it's not possible to define whether a person has COVID just by looking at the parameters observed by the fitness watch, experts believe that it could lead to better awareness about the disease. By knowing who is at risk, or observing a change in health conditions, people can be asked to self-isolate, or better, practice caution when they are outside and get diagnostic tests done.
04/5What other tests are being developed?
Another interesting COVID-testing kit is being devised out of labs in Israel, with help from Indian scientists. The new test will make use of artificial intelligence and machine learning and the prototype will be tested in India too. It will make use of a breathalyzer test to recognize patterns and conduct a first level chemical test which can tell whether a person is COVID positive or negative. The one-of-a-kind test, which promises to deliver results in a fraction of time has never been worked on before. Other researches being done right now involve installing smart bionic chips beneath the skin, which could 'respond' to the presence of any harmful virus in the body.
Other wearable fitness trackers with smart sensors, which also have advanced filters which detect body temperature, sweat could also help observe any changes on the surface level.
Since body sweat is an indicator of pH levels and contains traces for nutrient compounds, a lot of growing research is being carried out on other gadgets which could come of use and cut down the time of detection of COVID and any other illnesses.
05/5Are there any drawbacks?
All being said, the biggest drawback perhaps is that even if these gadgets come handy in observing a change in the body's vital parameters, they won't really help detect viral load in the body. RNA detection is needed for the same, which is a complicated laboratory procedure and as of right now, there's a lot more scientific know-how needed before they can be included in small wearable gadgets.
There's also the problem of accessibility and affordability with many of these smart gadgets. Wearable trackers do come at a cost and won't work on all sections of the society. Logistical issues such as these would have to be solved before they can be deployed for medical use. As scientists say, it's a novel approach but needs a lot more research.
It could definitely be an indicator of how society adapts if the virus is to survive with us for a fairly long time.
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Vista sneak preview was right on
Seattle Times technology reporter
It turns out that Windows Vista details Microsoft inadvertently leaked onto its Web site a week ago were accurate.
The company today is confirming there will be six versions of the new operating system going on sale in the second half of the year.
Microsoft also is expanding its tiered pricing system with Vista, a move that could push more consumers and businesses toward higher-priced "premium" versions.
Pricing wasn't disclosed, but Barry Goffe, director of Windows stock-keeping-units strategy, said the basic home and business versions will cost about the same as the current Windows XP Home and Professional versions, which list for $199 and $299.
Goffe said the variety of systems reflects the changing ways people are using PCs. He said the goal was to "take into account all the different needs of all the different users and provide tailored offerings."
Microsoft also has realized one way to expand its mature Windows business is to introduce more higher-priced, premium versions, noted Mike Cherry, an analyst at Directions at Microsoft in Kirkland.
"I think they're going to continually ... be wanting to drive people up to the higher ends," he said.
One risk is that consumers will be confused by the options, which contrast with the one-size-fits-all operating system that Apple Computer provides for its Macintosh computers.
Goffe said the Vista lineup is more straightforward than Microsoft's current Windows XP offerings. Buyers also can get multiple features in a single package, instead of having to choose between specialized versions of XP such as the Tablet and Media Center editions.
"I don't think anyone will be confused, because there are no more versions on the shelf than there were before," Goffe said. "I do think consumers will be excited because their choices will be more rational."
• Windows Vista Starter, a bare-bones version for developing countries.
• Windows Vista Home Basic, a basic version for cost-conscious households that do only basic tasks such as e-mailing, word processing and Internet surfing. Because it's designed for lower-cost PCs, it won't have advanced graphics features.
• Windows Vista Home Premium, the "mainstream" version for consumers, will incorporate features now sold in the standalone Windows XP Media Center and Tablet PC versions.
• Windows Vista Business, a "mainstream" version for business users, includes special features for small businesses and Tablet PC features.
• Windows Vista Enterprise, available only for companies with multiyear licensing agreements, adds security features, including the ability to encrypt a hard drive, so that data is secure even if the PC is lost or stolen. It also has built-in support for multiple languages and virtualization features that simulate older versions of Windows, so that users can run old applications.
• Windows Vista Ultimate, a new "superset" version that includes all features in all editions. It's aimed at enthusiasts, advanced users and small businesses.
All but the Starter version will be available for 32-bit or 64-bit processors.
To comply with European antitrust restrictions, Microsoft also will offer versions of Home Basic and Business in Europe that don't include Windows Media Player.
Most consumers are likely to buy the Home Premium version, Goffe said. He said it will cost about the same as the current Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005.
Goffe also explained last weekend's leak. Microsoft planned all along to announce the Vista lineup after it released a test version Wednesday, but the list came out before the company was ready to formally announce it.
To help testers, the company posted documentation of the lineup on its Web site over the Presidents Day weekend. After it was noticed by journalists, the company took the document down and issued a statement saying the list was premature and incomplete.
Brier Dudley: 206-515-5687 or email@example.com
Copyright © 2006 The Seattle Times Company


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ConAgra Foods announced that it will sell off its loss-making private label business yesterday (30 June) in a move that, the company said, w...
Up-and-coming categories and companies are increasingly setting the pace in the US food sector. Demand for natural, healthy, fresh and susta...
It was a bumper week of 2014 financial results, particularly from the US, but a flurry of announcements - including some surprise admissions - from across the pond on Thursday perhaps best served to underline the challenges facing mainstream food manufacturers in the country.
Brazil-based JBS is already the world's largest meat supplier but it has its sights on growing further in value-added products and in Asia - and has turned to a business in Australia to help it achieve that goal.
Sales in the frozen aisle have been lacklustre in the US for some years. However, increased competitive activity from the likes of Nestle, ConAgra Foods and Tyson Foods could help rejuvenate the sector, Katy Askew suggests.
Tyson Foods has won through in the bidding war to acquire Hillshire Brands with an improved US$63 per share offer for the for the Jimmy Dean maker. But, at 16.7x EBITDA, is the lofty price of US$8.55bn overly inflated? Katy Askew investigates.
Tyson Foods unit Van's International Foods has agreed up to US$9m in settlement fees over a class lawsuit that alleged it "falsely advertised" products as natural when they "included a synthetic ingredient".
Tyson Foods reported higher first-half earnings on the back of a jump in revenue at its prepared foods unit, where sales were lifted by last year's acquisition of Hillshire Brands.
Former Hillshire Brands chief executive Sean Connolly has been appointed the new CEO at ConAgra Foods.
Tyson Foods said it made a "great" start to the year, as sales and earnings rose in the wake of its acquisition of Hillshire Brands.
In the first of the week's big deals, Post announced the acquisition of MOM brands, a fellow US breakfast cereal manufacturer. Post said the buy would cement its position as the third-largest cereal maker in the US.
Our analysis of the key developments and trends in emerging markets - both within the countries and how local companies are eyeing expansion - attracted your attention in 2014.
The takeover battles for Chiquita Brands International and for Hillshire Brands were among the stories that grabbed your interest in 2014.
Tyson Foods has announced the re-opening of its turkey processing plant in Storm Lake, Iowa, after a fire saw it idled for eight months.
Tyson Foods has delivered an increase in annual sales and profits, with the year ending with underlying fourth-quarter earnings per share that beat analyst forecasts.
Tyson Foods has agreed to sell its sow purchasing business in order to secure regulatory clearance of its acquisition of Hillshire Brands.
PepsiCo has insisted a lawsuit over the Aunt Jemima brand seeking US$2bn in royalties is "without merit".
US food group Hillshire Brands, set to be taken over by meat giant Tyson Foods, has reported a year of increasing sales and profits.
US food group Hillshire Brands is launching a line of "premium" all-natural lunchmeat.
US poultry processor Pilgrim's Pride has reported higher half-year profits as a lower cost of sales helped offset a dip in sales.
Hillshire Brands has extended its Jimmy Dean line beyond the breakfast table with the launch of lunch and dinner offerings.
This week, Treehouse Foods announced a deal to buy US private-label peer Flagstone Foods. In other M&A news in the US, Tyson Foods and Hillshire Brands finalised an agreement over a takeover of the Jimmy Dean meats manufacturer. Chinese firm Huaxia Dairy and ethnic foods supplier Shazans both announced expansion following investments in the companies. Elsewhere, Burton's Biscuit Co. was in hot water with union officials after announcing 64 jobs were to go at its Edinburgh site.
Tyson Foods and Hillshire Brands today (2 July) entered into a "definitive" agreement that will see the US meat processor acquire the maker of Jimmy Dean sausages for US$8.55bn.
Pinnacle Foods plans to use the break-up fee it will receive from the termination of its proposed agreement to be sold to Hillshire Brands to lower its debts.
US poultry processor Pilgrim's Pride has confirmed it is still looking to make acquisitions after pulling out of the race to buy Jimmy Dean sausage maker Hillshire Brands.
Free-from has been a focus for just-food this week. Growing awareness of dietary issues are propelling demand for free-from products from lifestylers and consumers with intolerances or allergies alike.
Pinnacle Foods has opened an R&D pilot plant at Rutgers University in a move it said would increase its R&D capacity, improve speed to market and advance its "mission" to "reinvigorate iconic brands".
Tyson Foods has confirmed that, following the conclusion of a competitive bidding process, it has submitted a US$8.55bn binding offer to acquire Hillshire Brands.
Tyson Foods has reportedly raised its bid for Hillshire Brands, outbidding rival Pilgrim's Pride in the battle to take control of the Jimmy Dean maker.
Several major deals were struck this week including ABF's buy of Dorset Cereals and Cloetta's acquisition of Aran. Pilgrim's Pride upped its bid for Hillshire Brands. Elsewhere Cloetta has been accused of using "sneaky" marketing tactics to sell its sugary Chewits product. Mondelez on the other hand pulled its Bar and a Half product in a bid to reduce per person calorie intake.
Nestle, Danone, Kerry Group and Tyson Foods are among the multinational consumer goods manufacturers presenting next week at the Consumer Analyst Group of Europe conference in London - of which just-food and sister site just-drinks.com are the exclusive media partners.
Tyson Foods has completed its US$8.55bn acquisition of Hillshire Brands, with shares in the Jimmy Dean sausage maker delisted before the market opened today (29 August) - and its CEO leaving the business.
- Interview: Sir Kensington's on sale to Unilever
- Analysis: Post discusses rationale for Weetabix
- Interview: "Disruptive" snack brand Hippeas
- Who will buy Danone's Stonyfield business?
- Column: Why snacking is the new meal
- Unilever buys US condiments maker Sir Kensington's
- Tyson shops Sara Lee bakery, Kettle and Van's
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- Tyson to buy burger-to-entree firm AdvancePierre


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A couple of stronger-than-expected U.S. economic reports also pressured the precious metals markets today. The second revision of third-quarter GDP came in at up 2.1%, year-on-year, which was better than the initial estimate of up 1.9%. Durable goods orders also rose a better-than-expected 0.6% in October from September. Other U.S. data released today were a mixed bag.
Asian and European stock markets were mixed overnight, with European shares mostly up and Asian shares mostly down. The U.S. stock indexes are mixed at midday after setting more records and contract highs overnight. U.S. markets are closed for the Thanksgiving holiday on Thursday.
There is still little risk aversion in the marketplace at present, amid notions the U.S. and China are moving ever closer to a partial trade deal, and as there are no geopolitical flare-ups that are spooking traders and investors. The stock markets worldwide are also benefitting from a very low inflationary environment that makes investing in stocks about the only game in town.
In overnight news, China’s industrial profits fell by the most on record in October—down 9.9%, year-on-year. China’s producer price index was down 1.6% in October, which continues to point to worrisomely low global . This gets a read by the metals markets, as it suggests shrinking demand from consumers and commercial end-users from the world’s second-largest economy and a major metals consumer.


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Last-Mile Delivery Is Game Changer in Industrial Sector, Says SIOR President
Del Markward will be logging a lot of frequent flyer miles over the next year as he travels around the country and abroad to meet with several chapters of the Society of Industrial and Office Realtors (SIOR), an organization with more than 3,200 members in 685 cities and 36 countries.
In addition to serving as the 2018 global president of SIOR, Markward is founder of the Markward Group, a real estate consulting, advisory and brokerage firm based in Allentown, Pa.
Markward was officially inducted as president of the organization in October at the outset of the SIOR World Conference in Chicago. He most recently served as president-elect of SIOR and before that was vice president.
The commercial real estate community recognizes professionals who have earned the SIOR designation as among the most capable and experienced brokerage practitioners in any market, according to the organization.
On the heels of the SIOR World Conference, REBusinessOnline interviewed Markward about some of the dynamic changes taking place in the industrial real estate sector today, including the sharp rise in demand for space driven by e-commerce companies. What follows is an edited transcript of the Q&A.
REBusinessOnline: Supply chain logistics is an industry undergoing a dramatic shift due to changing customer expectations in an e-commerce world. What opportunities and challenges does that shift create for the industrial real estate sector as a whole, and brokers in particular?
Del Markward: In the past 15 years, we’ve seen a huge uptick in big boxes — ranging from 500,000 square feet to 1 million square feet — all around the country to accommodate e-commerce. In that time, we have approximately quintupled the amount of cubic feet in the market. We’ve watched these buildings go up to 1 million square feet and 36-foot clear heights. That gives us 36 million cubic feet of space in one property.
We’re losing Sears and Kmarts, which are 1.2 to 2 million cubic feet of space (they only store product on the floor for display purposes). Those buildings are going away and being replaced with 36 million-cubic-foot buildings for retail purchases via home delivery. The sheer scale of available capacity for retail and other products is an interesting dynamic.
While we’re seeing lots of those 1 million-square-foot buildings still go up, slowly in the big cities we are seeing a dynamic shift toward the last mile of delivery. They’re taking older, in-city warehouses and beginning to convert them — even if they’re multi-story — into storage depots to be able to deliver product the same day to customers.
That’s just beginning to emerge. It’s going to happen in the big cities first, but it’s going to start infiltrating some of the other mid-size cities over a period of time. It’s crazy, but consumers have begun to expect items delivered not just overnight, but same day in many instances, which is truly a different dynamic than what we’ve been used to.
REBO: Your company is based in Pennsylvania. Where do you see this trend occurring most visibly in Pennsylvania?
Markward: The big growth in Pennsylvania for the big-box warehouses has been occurring from Allentown and Lehigh Valley all the way down through Harrisburg and to the Maryland border. Those two corridors have seen a multitude of 1 million-square-foot type product over the past 10 to 15 years. The last-mile items really haven’t hit the state yet, but you will start to see that in Philadelphia in your more densely populated markets. You’ll also see that to a lesser degree in Pittsburgh. None of the other cities in Pennsylvania will be ripe for that in the near future just because we have enough land within close proximity of those cities to do backfill with the last-mile type of warehouses, which are smaller warehouses.
REBO: According to Zac Rogers, assistant professor of operations and supply chain management at Colorado State University, there is more demand for industrial real estate today than there is supply. That’s largely because of the explosion in e-commerce business and the need for e-commerce firms to be near their customers. What effect has that had on rents and prices paid for industrial real estate?
Markward: We have watched land prices go up by as much as 30 percent in the last two to three years in many markets. Where there is land constraint, like in Los Angeles, you can’t find a piece of ground. If you do, the land values are rising up to $3 million to $5 million an acre just for an industrial lot, which is remarkable.
The rents have increased between 4 and 11 percent year-over-year in certain markets over the last three to five years. We have seen a significant rent increase partly because the cost to build has gone up. The days of constructing a building with land for $60 per foot are over, and it’s more like $100 to $150 per foot in many markets. Rents are running commensurate with those increases in costs to build.
REBO: How rapidly have land prices risen in California?
Markward: What happened in Los Angeles is that there is no more [available] ground inside the belts, if you will. That market has shifted a great deal to the Inland Empire, 60 miles to the east. That’s the nearest place where there is available land. A little bit to the north, up in Kern County, you see a little bit of activity, but most of it is in the Inland Empire. And the price of land in the Inland Empire has shifted significantly upward over the last five years for that same reason — pressures of population and the need to be near the population. The prices have followed.
It’s tough to answer the question with regard to L.A. proper. There’s almost no ground that’s ever made available. People are buying buildings there that would give them a land value of $3 million to $5 million. They’re tearing down existing product to put up a new warehouse, and the rents have to run with that new price structure.
REBO: Do you have any thoughts on the evolution of supply chain logistics from this point forward and the potential impact on industrial real estate?
Markward: We’re seeing high-density markets. We’re beginning to see multi-story warehouses, which is something we hadn’t seen before. Historically, we always tore down multi-story buildings to put in single-level buildings. A lot of textile mills in the old cities were either converted to apartments or torn down to turn into some other use.
Now, multi-story warehouses are making a comeback. Prologis is building the first one in the United States — Prologis Georgetown Crossings, a three-story warehouse in Seattle. It is an extremely land-constrained area with a high population density.
There is a seven-story warehouse in Tokyo for the same reason. The warehouse in Tokyo rises about 140 feet. Trucks are going up in a circular, spiral pattern to reach the upper-level floors, and they have a great network of elevators that help carry the product.
As for the next big wave that is coming at us, in the densest cities you’ll potentially see old warehouses converted to last-mile buildings. You will see multi-story warehouses in more dense areas.
Automation is coming fast and furious at the warehouses. Within two to 10 years, many if not most warehouses will be fully automated, eliminating the need for forklift and crane operators inside the warehouse. Some of the smaller companies and some of the 3PL companies don’t have the capital to do it fast and furious right now, but the Amazons of the world do and they’re beginning to implement full automation into their warehouses.
REBO: Is there some inefficiency created by going vertical versus doing it on one-story?
Markward: It will not be inefficient when it’s fully automated. The efficiencies will actually improve when it’s automated. There are 80- to 100-foot tall warehouses in markets now that are fully crane-served inside their space, but they are human-operated cranes in many areas. It is a movement toward a type of warehouse that is going to be more fully automated and taller — whether it be multi-story or just high-bay (80 to 100 feet high) with full crane operations.
The cranes get more difficult to be accurate the higher they go just because of the sway and the movement of the equipment. That’s why multi-story warehouses are a viable option as opposed to craning straight up and down.
REBO: Beyond e-commerce, what other industries are having a positive impact on the demand for industrial real estate?
Markward: E-commerce is obviously retail-oriented, so that’s been the No. 1 player driving a lot of what’s going on. Data centers are also proliferating all over the country. The volume of data that is now being utilized is expanding at an incredible rate. It used to be in 18 to 24 months you’d see double the capacity, and it’s going much faster than that now.
We’re now seeing exponential increases in the amount of terabytes and petabytes of data being used every day. It’s only going to increase, especially with “blockchain technology,” which never overwrites anything. It just adds to everything. The volume of data is getting so extraordinary that the data technologies are going to continue to expand. While computers can get smaller, you actually need bigger buildings because you need more of those computers.
REBO: There’s always been a need to store data, but why has this demand grown so much and so rapidly?
Markward: Think about it. This year there is going to be multi-trillion sensors built for all things Internet-related. Everything is going to have sensors. If you look at every Tesla built, they have sensors all over the car. All cars now are having multi sensors, and that’s just one industry. You’re seeing sensors being placed on refrigerators and microwaves. Sensors are being placed throughout buildings to measure the heat as the sun rotates around the building.
All of that data is being created from all of these sensors all over the world that has to be accumulated. And that accumulation doesn’t get overwritten, it just gets added to [the existing volume].
There is a huge industry just to manage that data because that data is going to be coming on so fast and furious. It’s going to require virtual reality, or artificial intelligence to help manage it.
REBO: So the information from the sensors in our vehicles needs to be stored somewhere?
Markward: Exactly. That data all gets pumped into the cloud (a network of servers), which then gets stored in the data centers. You also asked about the other industries driving this demand for industrial space. It’s the supporting industries to this new technological wave that’s coming. Whether it be robotics, or the sensor industries, all of those continue to grow, and some of that manufacturing is coming back into the U.S.
Sometimes we have a need for speed, and the only way you get the product back in the U.S. fast enough is to make it here. We’re starting to see some of those technological industries come back into the U.S. for some of the manufacturing.
REBO: Many investors are bullish on industrial real estate due to the property sector’s strong fundamentals. Is there a particular type of industrial product that investors are most interested in such as newly built, high-cube distribution facilities or mid-size modern, multi-tenant facilities?
Markward: Certainly the big-box warehouses are hot with investors. Very few of those trade regularly because the owners of those buildings hold onto them. Most of the REITs, for example, are not big traders of their real estate.
Beyond the big boxes, the triple-net leases such as the retail and other industrial triple-net leases are in demand because they are the easiest to manage. You have one tenant, one building and you have the ability to manage it very easily.
Then you fall off into multi-tenant industrial product, which is mid-market product. The cap rates on those buildings will begin to go up because they are a little more management-intensive, and there is a little more risk attached to them. The more management you inject in the projects, the higher the cap rate will go because that involves additional risk.
REBO: To what extent has the industrial real estate sector experienced cap rate compression in recent years? Do you expect cap rates from this point to compress further, hold steady or begin to rise?
Markward: Cap rates on the bulk of the items have reached their nadir at somewhere between 5 and 5.5 percent on a Class A, high-quality-tenant, big-box market. That’s pretty close to the bottom of the market. There have been trades of McDonald’s and some other triple A-rated, triple-net product that have been under 4 percent.
But when you hit 3.5 percent, I think we’ve bottomed out on where the cap rates could be because now your risk has gotten to a level that marries up to putting money in safer investments.
REBO: What advice do you have for prospective buyers or sellers in today’s dynamic industrial real estate marketplace?
Markward: It’s all about the credit of the tenant. It still can be a buyer’s market. The challenge is finding a seller who is willing to sell right now at a number that makes any sense for the future. We’re in balance. That’s how I would look at it. The balance is such that most of the sellers are recognizing that if they sell today it’s difficult to find a replacement product that marries up to their return expectations.
That’s why a lot of the product is not selling this year. I suspect that by 2019 we will begin to see some additional movement — it will be time to start moving the capital.
REBO: How serious of a threat is overbuilding and oversupply in the industrial real estate sector today given that so many investors have the property sector on their radar screen?
Markward: Overbuilding is a distinct possibility, but I don’t see that happening for another 12 to 24 months because land constraints are restricting the volume of new construction. It’s not the Wild, Wild West where people can go willy-nilly and build. It takes a long time to get projects permitted, and land constraints in all markets are putting some restrictions on how fast and furious you can put this product up.
REBO: Emerging Trends, the commercial real estate forecast compiled by the Urban Land Institute and PriceWaterhouseCoopers, writes the following regarding the industrial sector: “Today, there are far fewer non-institutional developers than in past cycles, with many having closed shop during the Great Recession.” Do you concur with that statement, and if true what does that portend for development activity in the near term?
Markward: I agree there are far fewer entrepreneurial developers than there were back in the 2005 to 2007 period. A lot of the consolidation has occurred in the well-capitalized, larger REITs and private development companies. In many markets, you’ll still have 15 developers, but back in the 2007 to 2008 period you had 40 to 50 developers that were running around doing one-off deals in multiple markets. It’s not the same today. It’s a little more consolidated than it was back then.
REBO: What are the hallmarks of a Class A warehouse and distribution facility today and how have those features changed over time? (Ceiling heights, truck bays, etc.)
Markward: There is more truck parking than there used to be. You need trailer parking because there is so much product moving in and out of the trucks and coming from multi-modals and such that finding locations for trailers and trucks is a big deal.
Newer models of buildings over the last seven to 10 years have had more truck turn area and more truck/trailer space to store. The buildings have gotten taller. In 1995, a 24-foot clear height was a standard, high-bay building. That evolved into a 30-foot clear height in the early 2000s, then 32 feet. Now 36 feet is the norm and a standard. Most developers would like to see us be able to go to 40 feet as a standard.
We’ve seen that evolution in those buildings. Overall, you have broader, taller and wider-spaced buildings. And certainly square footage has increased significantly.
— Matt Valley


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Bloomberg | Bloomberg | Getty pictures
Check the companies that make headlines after the clock:
Ulta Beauty – Shares rose more than 6% after hours as the beauty retailer’s quarterly report beat Wall Street estimates at the top and bottom lines. Ulta Beauty posted a first-quarter adjusted earnings of $ 6.30 per share with a turnover of $ 2.346 billion. Analysts had expected a profit of 4.46 dollars per share on a turnover of 2.1[ads1]22 billion dollars, according to Refinitiv. The company also provided better than expected future guiding for the full year.
Gap – The retail trade fell around 13% in expanded trading after Gap reduced its earnings outlook for the year. Old Navy weighed on the results when the Gap management said that the segment’s lower-income customers feel the pressure of inflation.
Costco – The shares fell more than 2% after the market despite the wholesale retailer having better quarterly sales than expected. Costco had revenue of $ 52.596 billion against the Refinitive Consensus estimate of $ 51.707 billion.
Dell – The laptop maker rose more than 5% in expanded trading after Dell reported a first-quarter sales rate. Dell generated $ 26.12 billion in revenue against the $ 25.043 billion Refinitive Consensus estimate
Marvell Technology – Shares rose 2.2% after working hours when the semiconductor company reported strong quarterly results. Marvell reported adjusted first-quarter earnings of $ 50.52 per share with a turnover of $ 1.447 billion. Analysts had expected a profit of 0.51 dollars per share on a turnover of 1.427 billion dollars, according to Refinitv.
American Eagle – The stock fell more than 10% after the trader had a weaker quarterly income than expected. The American Eagle reported $ 1.055 billion in revenue against the $ 1.142 billion Refinitive Consensus estimate.


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On Wednesday, European stocks recorded their worst results in two months amid concerns about the US debt ceiling and expected unprecedented inflation in the UK.
The composite index of the largest European companies Stoxx Europe 600 fell by 1.8%, reaching 457.65 points, which is the lowest value since April 5 last year.
The German DAX fell 1.9% to a three-week low as all 40 companies included in the index posted lower rates.
Britain’s FTSE 100 fell 1.75%, France’s CAC 40 fell 1.7% (to its lowest level in two months), Italy’s FTSE MIB fell 2.4%, Spain’s IBEX 35 fell 1. 1%. .
UK consumer prices rose 8.7% year-on-year in April. Although the pace of recovery has slowed from 10.1% in March, inflation was higher than analysts’ average forecast of 8.2%.
In Germany, the index of business confidence in the country’s economy fell in May for the first time since October last year. The value of the index, calculated by the Munich Ifo Institute for Economic Research, this month fell to 91.7 points compared to 93.4 points in April (maximum period of 14 months). Analysts at the Wall Street Journal had expected the index to fall to 93 points from the previously announced April level of 93.6 points.
Embracer’s share price plummeted nearly 45% in one day, the Swedish game developer behind the Tomb Raider and Lord series said. of Rings, he negotiated a strategic partnership for seven months, and all the documents were ready for signing, but the counterparty unexpectedly rejected him.
Prices for securities of automakers fell, including Stellantis – by 4.1%, Renault – by 2.8%, Porsche – by 3.9%, Daimler Truck – by 3.6%, Bayerische Motoren Werke AG (SPB: BMW ) – by 1.8%.
The share price of Swiss investment firm Vontobel Holding AG fell 5.7% after the planned departure of CEO Zeno Staub and COO Felix Lenhard was announced.
In addition, the value of shares of luxury goods manufacturers fell, including Hermes International by 0.2%, LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton by 2.1%, Christian Dior by 1%.
The Stoxx 600 also posted a 5.9% decline in UK insurers Prudential and Aviva and a 6.9% decline in cruise operator Carnival.
Marks & Spencer was at the forefront of growth among the companies included in the index, and the value of its securities rose by about 13%. The British department store chain increased its pre-tax profit by 21% in its fiscal year 2023, which ended April 1, and announced its readiness to resume paying dividends in about six months. fiscal year, although higher costs due to inflation.
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There is a demand of 11,000 buses in Delhi and as per an agreement between DTC and DIMTS, both have to run 5,500 buses each in the national capital.Aditi Shrivastava 22 Jul 2014, 11:27
After tasting success in the premium segment, liquor startup International Brands Beverages plans to enter the lowcost whisky market in October.19 Jul 2014, 04:40
Well travelled Indians, armed with rising disposable incomes and a will to spend, are rapidly developing a taste for international beer brands.Raji Reddy Kesireddy 18 Jul 2014, 06:15
The owner of a liquor retail chain said each of his shops is saving at least Rs 1,000 a day now, money which used to be spent earlier to procure coins.PTI 14 Jul 2014, 19:38
The company has entered into an asset purchase agreement with J P Impex lncorp, a partnership firm, for purchasing the building, plant and machinery.PTI 3 Jul 2014, 17:16
"This initiative will put India in the global vodka map with the other leading markets."ET Bureau 2 Jul 2014, 18:44
UK-based Diageo paid Rs 3,030 for a share of United Spirits Ltd (USL), more than double of Rs 1,440 it offered in the previous bid last year.Palak Shah 1 Jul 2014, 18:20
USL will have a lot to answer to its shareholders before it seeks their nod to sell its UK subsidiary White & Mackay with significant cash seems to have vanished from its books.PTI 1 Jul 2014, 00:15
Delhi government has decided to increase the retailer's profit margin in order to promote fair play and make the liquor trade look more profitable.PTI 30 Jun 2014, 22:05
Vijay Amritraj has joined forces with one of India's largest premium wine producers to launch a new range of fine wines for the UK market.
ITC's divisional chief executive for FMCG trade, marketing and distribution, Sanjiv Puri, said direct coverage would help the firm expand reach and sales.
Tickets to Guwahati and Srinagar that need to be bought in a rush can cost Rs 20,000, whereas those bought in advance are much cheaper.
State leaders are denying any division within the party but others say there’s severe internal strife with a reshuffle of the leadership at the state level.
Xbox One will be the first gaming console to be released in China since the government banned console sales in 2000, citing games' effects on mental health.
There’s Konkani Twist or Reshmi Kebab Roll, jostling for mouth-share with the standard Blueberry Muffin or the Chicken Sandwich — all coming from TajSATS.
Barring India, all other BRICS members saw their forecast being cut in IMF review, with Russia taking biggest knock — its likely growth is now pegged at 0.2%.
All India Bakchod, which was registered as a company a couple of months ago, earns money from sponsors of their videos on YouTube and ticket sales of shows.
2014 broke a two-year spell of sluggish hiring. Cognizant, ICICI Bank, Deloitte & Accenture have secured a place among the top 10 recruiters for four years running.
Industry analysts and safety experts say they can find no common themes. Nor do they think the events indicate that flying is suddenly becoming less safe.
Differences over each other’s strategic interests in South China Sea region & Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) cropped up in the 80-minute meeting, says official.
These meetings will be held to discuss position of the government on burning issues of the day & what could recur during the week as part of a media storm.
While the RoCE measures profitability against the entire capital — debt & equity — invested in business, RoE measures the return to equity shareholder.
Google has been active in Indian startup scene through its sponsorship of Nasscom's 10,000 Startups. So far, it has not invested in an India-based company.


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2022 Smart Signage range receives first industry certifications
Ahead of the ISE show in Barcelona, Samsung announced today that it has received several awards for developing and implementing more environmentally friendly processes and initiatives. Samsung improves the entire product lifecycle, from development to packaging and even lifespan, from an environmental perspective. Consequently, the carbon footprint of its product portfolio has been reduced.
Samsung operates under the “Together for Tomorrow” vision. With this in mind, the company has increased the use of recycled materials in the production of monitors and digital signage products. Reducing waste and reusing resources reduces greenhouse gas emissions.
Samsung’s digital signage solutions, such as Smart Signage 2022, feature certified energy efficiency ratings. These raise the prevailing standard in the industry. In addition, since 2021, Samsung has been using greener packaging, made from recycled materials, for all its signage products.
Using a System on Chip (SoC) solution, Samsung lets you play content on monitors and signage products without the need for additional devices. In doing so, the company saves waste and energy. And by extending the life of products, it further reduces waste.
In recognition of its environmental efforts, Samsung has received an ENERGY STAR certification. Additionally, the brand has received EPEAT (Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool) certification for enhanced improvements to energy efficiency and the use of recycled plastic in the 2022 Smart Signage lineup (QHB, QMB and QBB).
Samsung was also the first company in the industry to receive the Carbon Trust’s CO2 emissions reduction label for its LCD Signage (LH55QHB), LED Signage (LH012IWA) and Business Monitor (LS34A65) range. Additionally, Samsung has developed and implemented a new material made from ocean-sourced plastic, which is now used as a high-performance component in the S8 2022 high-resolution monitor.
In recognition of its global commitment to environmental sustainability, Samsung was named the winner of “Sustainability Innovation of the Year” at the May 10 AV News Awards.
Samsung’s stand at ISE 2022, which runs May 10-14 in Barcelona, is located at Gran Via, Hall 3, 3F600. For more information on Samsung’s latest display technology, visit https://displaysolutions.samsung.com/showcase/virtual-experience/ise-2022.


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Just before 3pm today, Kourtney Kardashian was spotted buying a hot dog at Iceland’s most famous hot dog stand, Bæjarins beztu. Kourtney’s presence garnered much attention and while she ordered food onlookers serenaded her with a birthday song, because today is her 37th birthday. Since the hot dog stand is right outside of Reykjavík Grapevine’s building, we decided to get in on the action and send our photographer to the scene. Soon after Kim herself arrived at the stand, allegedly ordering a hot dog with ketchup only.
As we reported earlier, Kim Kardashian and her husband Kanye West arrived in Iceland yesterday. Our sources tell us Kanye was spotted at the popular bar/restaurant Prikið, and the two will likely be spotted at yet more places around Iceland.
Buy subscriptions, t-shirts and more from our shop right here!


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For athletes competing at the Olympics, nothing is left to chance. When it comes to their daily routines, everything is mapped out and diarised, from their training, recovery, sleep, and the meals they eat. As any athlete will be quick to tell you, competing at the peak of your physical performance demands great attention across all sections and when it comes to food, most stick to a regimented diet that takes into careful consideration amounts of protein, carbohydrates and fibre. Safe to say, it’s unlikely you’ll see athletes at the Olympics perusing Uber Eats for a novel dinner option. But for those competing at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympic Games, their regimented plans have been thrown into chaos as enforced hotel quarantine has seen them held hostage to food they have been quick to declare as terrible.
According to a string of social media posts from athletes in hotel quarantine facilities, the food offered is unbearable. Russian biathlon competitor Valeria Vasnetsova posted a picture of her food to Instagram, with a post that detailed what looked to be a small portion of unseasoned chicken, a handful of plain pasta, five roast potatoes, unspecified red sauce and some kind of meat on a bone served atop a polystyrene tray. She claimed the meal was what she’d been given for “breakfast, lunch and dinner for five days.”
The Instagram post Valeria posted has since been deleted, but in it she described experiencing stomach pain as a result of the food offered to her,. “I’m very pale and I have huge black circles around my eyes. I want all this to end. I cry every day. I only sleep all day because I don’t have the strength to get out of bed. I only eat three handfuls of pasta a day because it’s just impossible to eat the rest of the food,” she wrote. She also added that she had lost weight as a result and that her “bones are already sticking out.”
Other complains levelled by athletes held in hotel quarantine include poor or no internet connection, a confusing Covid-19 testing regime, and lack of equipment and space to keep up their training and workout routine. This was echoed by Eric Frenzel, the three-time gold medalist in Nordic combined, who tested positive only to find his hotel conditions “unreasonable” with a small, unhygienic room and infrequent food deliveries.
All of this was enough to warrant urgent action and the Associated Press reports that steps have been taken to rectify the situation. A spokesperson from the Russian biathlon team shared a photo of a new meal tray given to Vasnetsova, which contained salmon, cucumbers, sausages and yoghurt. A stationary bike is also said to have been delivered to her.
According to Kit McConnell, the International Olympic Committee’s sports director, there is a “support network in place to deal with athletes’ concerns both individually and collectively.” McConnell added that the Beijing Olympic organising committee were also responsible for the dialogue with hotels used to host isolating athletes, and thus responsible for such conditions.


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“Analysts who follow Apple Computer Inc. say it is no surprise the company has already sold 1 million videos through its new iTunes Music Store service,” Rex Crum reports for MarketWatch. “‘No one had any doubt they would reach 1 million (downloads),’ said Shaw Wu, of American Technology Research. ‘But I think the speed of adoption is ahead of expectations. It’s a good sign for Apple, and its strategy.'”
“Investors appeared to have taken Apple’s plans to heart, bidding up the company’s shares by $3.01, or more than 5%, to $57.50 in Monday trading. The stock earlier reached a 52-week high of $57.71,” Crum reports. “Gene Munster, of Piper Jaffray, said it’s important to consider just what Apple is offering, how consumers have responded, and how video content providers need to look at Apple as a consumer-electronic force beyond the iPod and its flagship iMac personal computer. ‘What Apple’s doing is laying the groundwork for the next frontier in home entertainment,’ said Gene Munster, of Piper Jaffray.”
Crum reports, “Apple Chief Executive Steve Jobs wasted little time in letting content providers know his company’s strategy, and calling up them to realize the strength of Apple’s role in the video market. In a statement announcing the 1 million downloads, Jobs said Apple’s next challenge ‘is to broaden our content offerings so that customers can enjoy watching more videos on their computers and new iPods.’ Munster said, ‘What Jobs has done, is put out an open invitation to content providers. Apple’s showing that the demand is out there, and they (content providers) need to see that their customers are coming to Apple.'”
Full article here.
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The New iPod with Video. The ultimate music + video experience on the go. From $299. Free shipping.
The Motley Fool: Apple has done it again – this time with video – October 31, 2005
Apple in discussions with U.S. television networks to provide more iTunes video content – October 31, 2005
Apple’s iTunes Music Store sells over one million videos in under 20 days – October 31, 2005


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Roller skates, ice tongs and other summer-themed artifacts are currently on display at the Des Plaines History Center, 781 Pearson St., in an exhibit called “Keeping Cool in Des Plaines.” The exhibit is open to the public during regular hours, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Tuesday through Friday.
Enough popsicles for two baseball teams! You could make 18 flavorful icy treats at one time with the “Apparatus for Making Frozen Confections” (or, in other words, a popsicle maker; pictured above). The patent for this device was awarded in 1934 to Stanley Isenberg of Frozen Sweets, Inc., Chicago. Isenberg designed this popsicle maker for retail dealers of ice cream and confectionaries as an inexpensive alternative to buying pre-made, mass produced popsicles from large wholesalers. Using this device, ice cream sellers could create their own popsicles right in the store.
For more information about this and other programs, visit the Des Plaines History Center’s website.
Berlin Airlift Lecture
Come join us at the history center Thursday, Aug. 9, from 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. for a presentation about the Berlin airlift of 1948. Historian Anette Isaacs states, "It was perhaps one of the greatest adventures in American military history."


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An Garda Síochána Commences Operation Táirge
An Garda Síochána has commenced ‘Operation Táirge’, supporting operational activity aimed at detecting and preventing Organised Retail Crime (ORC).
Under ‘Operation Táirge’ Gardaí nationwide will work on reducing organised retail crime by:
- Using an intelligence-led approach to identify criminals engaging in retail crime.
- Disrupting the most prolific groups in operation through the use of organised crime legislation and proceeds of crime legislation.
- Working with retailers to strengthen their security and prevent them becoming victims of this criminality.
- Supporting those working in retail to report a crime.
- Identifying and targeting the areas where ORC black markets operate, and their leadership
- Working with high risk retailers to enhance prevention, investigation and prosecution.
- Deterring people from becoming involved in organised retail crime by raising awareness of the consequences of committing such offences.
Organised retail crime (ORC) typically refers to situations where a number of persons are acting together, targeting retailer outlets to steal significant quantities of goods to resell back into the retail supply chain through the black market. It can also involve refund fraud with the purpose of making a financial or material benefit. ORC is usually co-ordinated and well-organised by people who recruit others to commit theft from retailers.
The stolen goods are then sold to what is known as a ‘fence’ who then either sells them at a particular location or in some cases may sell them online in an activity known as ‘e-fencing’.
Minister for Justice, Helen McEntee TD said, “retail theft is not a victimless crime, and I welcome this new, nationwide operation targeting organised retail crime. I know from my engagement with the retail sector across the country, not only about the economic impact of thefts on our retail sector, but also the significant impact this type of crime has on staff retention, recruitment and personal safety.”
“An Garda Síochána is taking a strategic approach to this issue. Under the National Detection Improvement Plan, An Garda Síochána will provide a reliable and effective and consistent response to retail related incidents, and ensure that high visibility and targeted patrols are effectively implemented. This will help to provide a safe and unhindered shopping experience for members of the public.”
“Key to the success of Operation Táirge will be enhanced engagement with high risk retailers. Garda members will work with these retailers to educate them on Organised Retail Crime behaviours and to help them identify suspicious activity, act on it, make it known to investigating Garda members. I strongly encourage all retailers to maintain close contact with their local Superintendent, and I want to commend the work of An Garda Síochána in this area. I look forward to this making a real difference in helping us build stronger, safer communities.”
Minister of State for Business, Employment and Retail, Neale Richmond TD said, “Operation Táirge will be hugely beneficial for retailers across the country. Retail crime has a significant impact not only on retailers’ bottom lines, but also on their employees who deserve a safe workplace.”
“This intelligence-led operation will target the most prolific perpetrators of retail crime. It will support workers and assist businesses in preventing such crime and also act as a deterrent by raising awareness of the consequences of this type of criminality.”
“Gardaí are doing vital work in keeping our communities safe and Operation Táirge will play a key role in ensuring our retailers and their staff are protected from organised crime and the harm that it can do to their business, We are sending a clear message that there is no place for retail crime in Ireland.”
Chief Superintendent Padraic Jones, Garda National Community Engagement Bureau said, “organised retail crime (ORC) poses a significant threat to the viability of Irish retailers including Irish SMEs which are a core element of Ireland’s economy.”
“Operation Táirge has been established as part of An Garda Síochána’s Crime Prevention and Reduction Strategy in an effort to reduce the detrimental impact which criminals can have on retail businesses when they steal their goods.”
“We want business owners and staff to feel protected and safe from this kind of criminality, and we will continue to work closely with them in whatever way possible. Most essential is that we utilise our ongoing intelligence gathering to target and take out these groups – they’re no longer operating under any radar and they will be caught.”
The Irish Small and Medium Enterprises Association estimate that retail crime costs retailers over of €1.62 billion each year. Additionally, the Global Retail Theft Barometer indicates that Ireland has the highest cost per capita of retail crime (€339.31) – significantly more than both second and third placed countries, Iceland and Denmark.
Arnold Dillon, Director of Retail Ireland and IBEC board member concluded, “business owners across Ireland are adversely affected by organised retail crime and shoplifting each year and can lose a significant amount in revenue as a result. Continuing to work in close partnership with Government and An Garda Síochána to address the challenges caused by retail theft is essential to the maintaining the strength of Ireland’s retail community.”
Operation Táirge is led by the Organised Retail Crime Tasking and Co-ordination Group within An Garda Síochána and supports each Garda region to monitor and respond to emerging trends in their area. As is often the case in organised crime, organised retail crime can involve an international dimension, therefore the co-ordination group is also maintaining its close working relationships with counterparts including the UK and Northern Ireland.
Source: An Garda Síochána


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The saga of the coolest smartwatch of CES 2015 continues. Yesterday, Ulrich Hackenberg of Audi used an LG smartwatch to summon the self driving Prologue to the stage during a press conference. It was first thought that it could be the G Watch R 2 since it’s round. Then later, it was revealed that it was made specifically for Audi, but the assumption was that it was running Android Wear. Not the case.
Android Central was able to get up close and personal with it and found out that its running webOS. I guess this isn’t surprising since the word on the street is that LG plans on coming out with a smartwatch running webOS. Whether it will look like this watch is a great question, but we can only hope that LG will offer an Android Wear watch that looks similar to it.
source; Android Central
Come comment on this article: Turns out the LG smartwatch made for Audi is running webOS
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Farmers Markets: The time is ripe for produce shopping
When Holly Hollingsworth recites the list of fresh fruits filling the tables and bins at Green Market farmers market in Atlanta's Piedmont Park, she pauses to think — and names another fruit.
And another. And another.
"Did I mention figs?" asks Hollingsworth, the manager of one of Atlanta's popular outdoor markets.
Her intoxicating descriptions of figs follow mouth-watering details about other fruits — strawberries, early apples and that famous Georgia crop, peaches.
"The peaches have been coming in for about two weeks now," she says.
"And this week, mulberries are coming in," she says. "They're a good wild fruit that is in season right now."
Hollingsworth is one of thousands of farmers-market managers across the nation providing plenty of temptations to devotees of fresh fruits and vegetables as the growing season enters its main stretch. For the next six months, shoppers can find fresh, locally grown crops at more than 6,100 markets, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
The Green Market is entering its eighth year, coming on the heels of the 1994-2002 boom when farmers markets increased 79%, according to the USDA. That surge marked a time when people were searching for safe, reliable food from local farms practicing sustainable growing methods. The buyers became known as "locavores." More markets join the ranks every year, and now there are smartphone apps for locavores so they can find fresh produce when they travel.
Each market is unique, part of their appeal, says Erin Barnett, spokeswoman for Local Harvest, a website listing more than 25,000 farms, markets and shops that sell locally grown goods. One market's mulberries are another's mushrooms and another's maple syrup.
Hollingsworth spent seven years studying horticulture and working in greenhouses before signing on with the Green Market. She has helped enrich the experience, making it more than a place to get local foods. Bands play, chefs hold weekly sessions on what to cook with in-season ingredients. New this year: The market is offering four-hour canning classes at the community center's catering kitchen at Piedmont Park beginning Saturday and continuing through September.
"We wait all year for fresh, organic produce, and then, before we know it, it's gone," says instructor Lyn Deardorff (PreservingNow.com). "But if you take up canning, you can have great-tasting and healthy food all year long."
Deardorff used to grow and can vegetables when she and her husband, Tom, raised their children in Decatur, Ga. Now they live in an apartment in Atlanta.
Does she miss growing her own vegetables? Not really, she says.
"We did not have to give up a thing by moving into an apartment, because of the farmers markets," she says. "The food can't be any better than what we get at Green Market."


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Notice of Head Office and R&D Center Relocation
Notice of Tokyo Office Relocation
The 2nd Annual International Drone Expo was held at the Makuhari Messe from April 20th to the 22nd. At our booth, we held a technical exhibition unveiling our latest cutting edge commercial drones and peripherals from our partnering companies.
Our booth was overwhelmed at the event and we thank you all for stopping by.
There were far more visitors than expected and we all are grateful for the amount of interests from visitors.
We received so many valuable opinions and requests throughout, and we hope to consider them in our future product development.
PRODRONE won the best research award from The Institute of Electronics, Information and Communication Engineers for Higly-Secure Drone Communication
PRODRONE exhibits 16 drones including 6 new types at Japan Drone 2019