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The store shelves and display cases at the Greater Nashville Association of REALTORS® building are coming down, its full-time retail clerk reassigned to member services. It’s a sign of the times, says Membership and Marketing Director Julie Davis. “With the change in the economy, and our change from classroom to online classes, we no longer need a full store, so we’re downsizing to just the most popular items, such as signs, pins, and logo coffee mugs.”
In its place, Nashville is building a member lounge where REALTORS® can access free Wi-Fi and coffee between appointments.
“We have seen many of our association customers closing their stores and consolidating,” says Renee Rocha, general manager of Real Estate Marketing Supplies.
Although cost-cutting has led many associations to shrink, eliminate, or move their stores online, some are still thriving.
“As other REALTOR® association stores have closed in recent years, we have bought their merchandise and sold it to our members at significant discounts,” says Carl Carlson, the director of retail operations at the Sacramento Association of REALTORS®, Calif. Its 1,600-square-foot retail center, launched in 1995, is a “full shopping experience,” says Carlson, and offers everything from open house merchandise to LED lightbulbs, and even snacks. It ships to more than 40 states, and 27 percent of total sales come from its online store at www.realtysupplycenter.com.
The Massachusetts Association of REALTORS® used to have a physical store and a printed catalog but moved both to a hosted eCommerce Web site with an Amazon storefront. “I can’t say that it has been very successful, but at least we don’t have to buy and store inventory,” says Communications Director Eric Berman.
Closing a physical store and opening one online enables associations to maintain the valuable service, with less overhead and staff time. Jim Dunne, at REALTOR Team Store®, says many associations are migrating to its online revenue-share store model (a program available through an agreement with the REALTOR Benefits® Program). “Our store becomes their store,” he says. “They earn 5 percent on anything their members purchase.”
Despite the convenience of online shopping, physical association stores endure in part because the most popular items among members are typically large, bulky, and expensive to ship.
“We’ve held back from opening an online store because the majority of the items sold—like yard signs, brochure boxes, and open house banners—have packaging and shipping costs that are higher than the cost of the item itself,” says Perry Crume, senior vice president at the Kansas City Regional Association of REALTORS®. Crume maintains the physical store in the association’s lobby, where it nets about $30,000 per year (not including staff expenses). Profitability, however, is definitely not the norm. Many associations tell RAE that their stores fare just above break-even and aren’t designed to be profitcenters.
Store as Core Service
“Our store is set up as a core member service to provide discounted products. It’s not a losing proposition, but it’s not viewed as a traditional for-profit store,” says Erin Milburn, marketing and communications director at the Minneapolis Area Association of REALTORS®.
Likewise, the Emerald Coast Association of REALTORS® doesn’t run its store at a profit, selling items at only 15 percent above cost to cover vendors’ shipping costs, according to communications director Michaela Mitchell.
Unique Items Sell
Associations striving to build profits from their retail outlets have been successful with offering unique and discounted products.
“One reason our store has remained viable is that it works in close conjunction with our on-site real estate school and provides students with the necessary books and software for classes,” notes Carla Gaydos, the store manager at the Charlotte Regional REALTOR®
Association. The Charlotte store offers more than 400 items, with best sellers including yard signs, maps, and key boxes.
Other associations have found success attracting members with discounted movie tickets and hand-made closing gifts. The Columbus Board of REALTORS® went with the REALTOR® maxim location, location, location and housed its store just inside its main lobby.
Carlson says his store is successful because the focus is customer service and he follows product trends. “You have to have the right merchandise at the right price and the right display, and personalized riders are a must,” he says.
If you don’t already have a physical store, it would be very difficult to set one up today to be a profit center, cautions Dunne. “It involves tying up money, space, and personnel. In addition, you have to have a feel for the right items, what color, how many, plus the marketing and advertising expense.”
Ultimately, associations report, a retail outlet must be a member directive. If members aren’t supporting it enough that it breaks even, it’s time to choose between two paths: Promote its value to boost support, or phase it out.
REALTOR® Store Best Sellers
According to National Sign Display and REALTOR Team Store®, which both sell products to association stores, the best-selling items are lock boxes, pins, brochure boxes, and all types of garments and awards. “Currently, accessories for all types of electronic items (iPad, iPhones, BlackBerries) are very popular,” notes Jim Dunne at REALTOR Team Store®.


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The markets bounced back strong from last week's sell-off, and despite renewed concerns about the possibility of rising inflation, investors jumped back into stocks-causing Wall Street's major indexes to regain some much of the losses suffered during the recent correction.
And whatever the case may be with inflation, we know that an improved global economy and impressive Q4 earnings results should help the broader market move higher for now. The latest earnings season is nearing its completion, and among the 362 S&P 500 members that have reported results, earnings are up 14.5% year-over-year on 9% higher revenues.
With that said, a number of marquee reports remain to be released, and these newer results could help set the tone as inflation fears begin to creep back into the market.
Investors should remember that they can always use the Zacks Earnings Calendar to plan out their schedules for earnings, dividend announcements, and other important financial releases. This handy tool is your perfect one-stop-shop to properly prepare for the market events that will have an impact on your own portfolio.
Today, we've made that task even easier for you. Using the Earnings Calendar, we looked ahead to next week and selected most-important reports to watch. Make sure to keep an eye on these companies as they prepare to report during the week of February 19!
1. Walmart Inc. (WMT)
Discount supermarket behemoth Walmart is scheduled to release its latest quarterly report before the market opens on Feb. 20. This stock tends to serve as a bellwether for the consumer economy, so investors will definitely want to pay close attention to its results. Shares of WMT have gained about 7% over the past 12 weeks.
WMT is currently sporting a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). Based on our latest consensus estimates, we expect the company to report earnings of $1.36 per share and revenues of $135.04 billion, which would represent growth of 4.6% and 3.1%, respectively. The key to any potential surprise will be Walmart's continued e-commerce growth, with an emphasis on margin expansion in this segment.
2. The Home Depot, Inc. (HD)
Home improvement retailer Home Depot is slated to report its latest quarterly results before the opening bell on Feb. 20. With a strong economy and housing market throughout the country, logic would imply that Home Depot could be ready to post an impressive report, but the exact details will be revelatory regardless. Share of HD have gained 8% within the past 12 weeks.
HD is holding a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) heading into its report date. According to our latest consensus estimates, the company is projected to post earnings of $1.62 per share and revenues of $23.67 billion. These results would represent year-over-year growth of 12.5% and 6.6%, respectively.
3. Hewlett Packard Enterprise Company (HPE)
Hewlett Packard Enterprise is slated to release its latest earnings report after the bell on Feb. 22. Things have been relatively up and down for HPE since its split from the former Hewlett-Packard Company in late-2015. Still, the company is coming off two-straight earnings beats, and a recent spin-off could help improve margins.
Nevertheless, HPE is currently sporting a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell). According to our latest consensus estimates, HPE is poised to post earnings of 23 cents per share and revenues of $7.03 billion. During the third-quarter of fiscal 2017, the company sold its Software business to British firm Micro Focus, so the most important year-over-year comparison for investors to keep an eye on will be in the net margin category.
Want more analysis from this author? Make sure to follow @ Ryan_McQueeneyon Twitter!
Wall Street's Next Amazon
Zacks EVP Kevin Matras believes this familiar stock has only just begun its climb to become one of the greatest investments of all time. It's a once-in-a-generation opportunity to invest in pure genius.

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Fashion brands have a significantly stronger social media presence than other UK retailers, by actively embracing various platforms for the benefit of both the customer and the business, according to a new survey.
Having measured the fundamental rise of ecommerce over the past decade with its eRetail Benchmark study, eDigitalResearch is now monitoring retailer’s social media as part of its benchmark activity, assessing brand’s presence over several different sites and their efforts to engage in two-way dialogue.
Assessing some 72 UK retail sites by looking at volume of followers alongside active interaction between the brand and consumer, the research found that fashion retailers are encouraging a larger degree of cross-communication through well-established Twitter accounts and Facebook pages.
Topshop and River Island claimed the top two spots, recording a large number of followers and higher levels of customer engagement. ASOS came in third, with New Look and Next completing the top five.
Ed Handasyde -Dick, Social Media Manager at eDigitalResearch comments, “It is not surprising that brands aimed at a younger, more dynamic audience came out on top. We are beginning to see more content-driven marketing from many multichannel fashion retailers, such as in-house produced magazines, focusing on subjects that potential customers regularly talk about. It is only natural that consumers are turning to social media platforms to engage and identify with their favourite brands. The next challenge is for companies to utilise all this user generated content and integrate it into within their future marketing and business plans.”


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On 22 November, MOL Group has signed a partnership agreement with InnoEnergy during the PowerUp! competition in Budapest. InnoEnergy is the largest European sustainable energy innovation accelerator and a world-class alliance of research institutes, universities and top European players in the energy sector.
The cooperation supports MOL Group’s ambitions to become a regional source of innovation in the energy industry. Through the partnership with InnoEnergy, MOL will be able to benefit from capabilities and a good track record of the partner in working with startups, while getting closer to meeting its long-term strategic goals. The associated partner status will enable MOL Group to get a priority access to the extensive InnoEnergy network, as well as startups offering innovative products and services.
Zsolt Winkler, Head of Open Innovation Hub at MOL Group said “The 2030 Strategy announced a year ago set MOL Group on a challenging yet exciting path. Advancements in technology and new consumer habits have fundamentally changed the entire industry, and we see embracing an open innovation culture as the right response to these challenges. Following the call for innovative startups, which we recently announced, the partnership with InnoEnergy is one of the next steps supporting our strategic goals. The cooperation will help us turn into a vital part of the European innovation ecosystem, which is undoubtedly an essential part of our journey to become the first choice of customer on the move.”
In order to boost its outreach towards the startup community, MOL Group became the main sponsor of the third edition of PowerUp!, the biggest regional competition for energy startups. We took a crucial part in selecting the winners this year, as Group Strategy and Business Development Senior Vice President György Bacsa sat on the jury and evaluated the contestants.
The application was open for participants from 23 countries in CEE, the Baltics and parts of the Mediterranean, out of which 15 best startups were selected to take part in the Grand Final in Budapest. Winners of the PowerUp! competition are invited to join InnoEnergy’s program called Highway, which offers support worth €150k to the most promising sustainable energy startups, along with three prizes of up to €20k.
Winners of the PowerUp! startup competition:
- HeatVentors (Hungary): Innovative thermal energy storage solution.
- FLASC (Malta): Energy storage device that integrates into a floating offshore platform.
- Via Alta (Czech Republic): New technology for the production of biofuel from biodegradable waste.
MOL Group as main sponsor, had the opportunity to give a wild card to a selected startup in the final, it was Mebius from Slovenia and develops new and more efficient hydrogen-based fuel cell system components.


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Kindle customers may get credit via settlements
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Amazon Kindle vice president Peter Larsen held the Kindle Fire HD at the introduction of the new Kindle devices in Santa Monica, Calif. on Sept. 6.
Photos: Dancers practice for Harlem Globetrotters, May 29
Photos: Shinnyo-En Lantern Floating ceremony, May 25
Photos: Paddling: Na 'Ohana O Na Hui Wa'a, May 24
More Photo Galleries »


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Valve’s owner Gabe Newell is surely worth a lot of money, enough to make anyone jealous, but is he worth enough to enter America’s top 400 richest people list? It seems so, according to the latest list released by Forbes.
“It was another record year for the wealthiest people in America, as the price of admission to the country’s most exclusive club jumped nearly 18%,” Forbes wrote. “The minimum net worth to make The Forbes 400 list of richest Americans is now a record $2 billion, up from $1.7 billion a year ago.”
Newell or Gaben as the Steam community fondly calls him, didn’t really struggle to enter the coveted list. Infact, he surpassed it by a huge margin with an estimated net worth of 5.5 billion.
Although Valve isn’t a publicly listed company, Forbes estimated Newell owns just over half of it, and took that into account for calculating his net worth.
Although Valve found early success by releasing games such as Half Life and Portal, what really changed its fortunes was the launch of Steam – the world’s most successful digital gaming platform.
“Some liken it to the iTunes of videogames. Steam sells game licenses to 125 million users of its own and other developers’ titles and collects a percentage of the sales.”
Gabe Newell sits on position number 97 on Forbes list of 100 Wealthiest Amercians. He is the only guy from the videogame industry to do so. Well, we surely hope this won’t deter him from releasing Half Life 3.


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Headquarters in USA
USA: Amazon drivers allege lack of overtime pay, missing wages & intimidation; inc. company statement
Author: Hayley Peterson, Business Insider
"Missing wages, grueling shifts, and bottles of urine: the disturbing accounts of Amazon delivery drivers may reveal the true cost of 'free' shipping," 11 Sept 2018...
- Related stories: USA: Senator Bernie Sanders calls on Amazon & Walmart to pay a living wage; includes company comments
- Related companies: Amazon.com FedEx UPS
BSR launches human rights-based blueprint for responsible business practice with regard to artificial intelligence
BSR has published three papers describing a human rights-based blueprint for responsible business practice with regard to AI within and beyond the technology sector. These papers explore the importance of a rights-based approach for governing and...
USA: Senator Bernie Sanders calls on Amazon & Walmart to pay a living wage; includes company comments
US Senator Bernie Sanders is calling upon Amazon and Walmart to pay a living wage and improve working conditions. Senator Sanders has introduced legislation that would require large employers to fully cover the cost of food stamps, public housing,...
Poland: Govt. to work with Amazon to improve conditions at facilities amid union concerns of worker exploitation; incl. co comments
Author: Dorota Bartyzel, Bloomberg
"Poland Vows to Improve Working Conditions at Amazon Warehouses", 30 August 2018...
- Related companies: Amazon.com
Commentary: Use of facial recognition technology in schools will result in loss of privacy & discrimination
Author: Toni-Smith Thompson, New York Civil Liberties Union
"Here's what happens when we allow facial recognition technology in our schools," 15 August 2018...
Author: Michael Guilloux, Développez.com
« USA : des ingénieurs rejettent les offres des recruteurs de la Silicon Valley à cause des problèmes d'éthique impliquant les géants de la tech », 14 août 2018...
Amazon workers strike over working conditions & collective bargaining rights urging customers to boycott Prime Day sales
workers at warehouses in England, France, Germany, Italy, Spain and Poland engaged in strike ...
Author: Brad Smith, Microsoft Blog
"Facial recognition technology: The need for public regulation and corporate responsibility", 13 July 2018...
- Related in-depth areas: Technology and Human Rights Technology and human rights - advances by business
- Related companies: Amazon.com Google (part of Alphabet) Microsoft
Author: Anthony Cuthbertson, The Independent
"AMAZON WORKERS 'REFUSE' TO BUILD TECH FOR US IMMIGRATION, WARNING JEFF BEZOS OF IBM'S NAZI LEGACY", 22 June 2018...
- Related stories: Shareholders & civil society groups urge Amazon to halt sale of facial recognition software to law enforcement agencies
- Related in-depth areas: Technology and Human Rights: Artificial Intelligence
- Related companies: Amazon.com IBM


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American manufacturing barely grew in September as a broader swath of industries suffered from the effects of a strong dollar and faltering overseas markets.
The Institute for Supply Management’s factory index fell to 50.2, the weakest since May 2013, from 51.1 in August, the Tempe, Arizona-based group reported Thursday. Fifty is the dividing line between expansion and contraction. Just seven of 18 industries grew last month, the fewest since December 2012.
What started out as oil-related weakness among energy companies is now spreading to computer, plastics and machinery makers as the stronger dollar combined with slower growth in emerging markets hurts foreign sales. One saving grace is American consumers, whose spending is bolstering auto dealers and construction companies.
Manufacturing is “clearly the weakest part of the economy,” said Jim O’Sullivan, chief U.S. economist at High Frequency Economics Ltd in Valhalla, New York, who is among the best forecasters of the factory index, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. It’s “highly exposed to foreign demand, and exports are declining.”
The median forecast of 85 economists surveyed by Bloomberg projected the ISM index would fall to 50.6. Estimates ranged from 49 to 52.
Last month’s slowdown was paced by weakening orders and employment. The ISM’s bookings measure dropped to 50.1, the lowest level since November 2012, while hiring proceeded at the slowest pace in five months.
With orders barely growing and backlogs diminishing, output probably will slow in coming months, Bradley Holcomb, chairman of the ISM factory survey, said on a conference call with reporters.
Shrinking order books “will relate to production in the future as much as anything else,” he said. Manufacturing is clearly “moving into a soft territory.”
Another report Thursday showed the building industry was holding up much better. Spending on construction projects climbed 0.7 percent in August and was up 13.7 percent since the same month last year, the biggest annual gain since March 2006.
Work on residential projects led the advance, climbing to the highest level since January 2008.
More confident American consumers are starting families, moving into new homes and buying automobiles. Sales of cars and light trucks last month were beating analysts’ projections, with General Motors Co. and Fiat Chrysler projecting the industry’s best month in a decade.
The Bloomberg Consumer Comfort Index, also out Thursday, showed households last week were the most upbeat since mid-July as Americans held the most favorable views of the buying climate in three months.
One reason for the brighter moods is job security. Firings have been hovering around the lowest levels in more than a decade and the total number of people collecting unemployment benefits earlier this month was the fewest since 2000.
Hiring is also firm. The September employment report due Friday from the Labor Department may show payrolls climbed by about 200,000 after a 173,000 gain the prior month, and the jobless rate probably held at 5.1 percent, the lowest since April 2008, according to the Bloomberg survey medians.


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Demand for big pickups has been the driving force behind a 9 percent increase in U.S. auto sales in June.
General Motors Co., Ford Motor Co. and Chrysler sold 157,480 full-size pickup trucks combined last month. That is up about 25 percent from the same month a year ago and almost double the number the companies sold in June 2009, a year when total sales sank to a 30-year low. GM said its new Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra, which went on sale last month, are spending just 10 days on dealer lots before being sold. A 60-day stay is typical.
The pickup boom helps everyone, but especially the Detroit automakers, which sell the vast majority of trucks. And prices are rising as automakers add fancier features. Pickup trucks sold for an average of $40,361 in June, up 2 percent from last year, according to Kelley Blue Book.
But trucks weren't the only thing driving sales. Small and subcompact cars sales were also strong, possibly because graduates went shopping for a new car, said Kelley Blue Book analyst Alec Gutierrez. Relatively high gas prices also may have steered some buyers to more fuel-efficient models, he said. Gas averaged $3.60 a gallon nationwide in June, 10 cents more than a year ago.
Sales of Ford's recently updated Fiesta subcompact more than doubled, while the Hyundai Elantra small car saw a 22 percent gain.
Auto sales maintain momentum. Page 6
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WYesterday the upheavals caused by the 2020 pandemic hospitality industry remains unprecedented – and with lasting fallout – this second full year of COVID-19 is also leaving lasting marks: staff issues, supply chain issues, new virus variants, unruly customers, hotel closures. permanent businesses and more.
Yet even among these difficulties, and as restaurants continue to recover, there were some bright spots as well. In the spring, diners could once again eat inside without major limitations. Ordering takeout is getting easier and easier. Fortunately, many small local restaurants have also rebounded quite quickly after the lockdown rules were lifted. Some have even grown!
There certainly hasn’t been a dearth of food-related news to cover this year, so let’s recap some of what we ate, drank and wrote in the inside food aisle throughout 2021.
ohone of the first restaurants of 2021 was that of Adam Hegsted BABA at Kendall Yards, the Mediterranean-inspired spot that replaced Wandering Table. Other new arrivals in the neighborhood are TEA bar boba and, more recently, MOLÉ RESTAURANT where Central Food was located. Nearby is another of the hottest new dining spots of the year, OLD SQUARE KITCHEN NOLA, serving Cajun and New Orleans style dishes.
Several places that have closed for long periods of time due to the pandemic have also seen welcome returns. The city center hosts the BABY BAR and NEATO BURRITO reopened in May and the South Perry South cuisine restaurant CASPER FRY returned in March. Chef Chad White’s ceviche ZONA BLANCA celebrated its move to a larger, fully renovated space in the city center after several months of closure. NORTH HILL ON GARLAND reopened under new ownership, while the former seasonal ramen and pho spot LITTLE NOODLE this fall moved permanently in the space that it initially took to test its concept. The beloved bar of the neighborhood CANDY, part of the historic Garland Theater, has also reopened after more than 18 months of closure.
The Garland district also got its very first brewery when Garland brewing workshops open in August. And just down the hill, Spokane’s first pop-up beer trailer, CAMP TAP, housed seasonally in the North Monroe business district at the vintage 1889 Salvage Co.
At the end of summer, DRY FLY DISTILLATION opened its new state-of-the-art distillery in the heart of downtown Spokane.
Mid-year also saw the downtown debut of Seattle’s Ethan Stowell restaurants. TAVOLATA across from Riverfront Park, where homemade pasta, super affordable happy hour, and a laid back vibe have since stood out. Stowell’s Pasta and Panini Counter BOSCO also open inside the historic Wonder Building.
Waffles, coffee and craft cocktails come together in two new connected places where the Observatory bar once stood, PEOPLE’S WAFFLE and EMMA RUE’S. Everything on both menus is gluten free.
While the previous owners closed it earlier this year, a new owner has since renamed it and brought the SOUTH PERRY LANTERN back with a refreshed look and menu in midsummer. Located in a historic train car, KNIGHT’S DINNER in the Hillyard area of East Spokane has also reopened with new owners after a recent closure.
Hillyard, meanwhile, is quickly becoming a hot new foodie destination, with the fall debut of KISMET, serving a menu with Latin influences, and THE BAD SEED, where Tex-Mex is served in a historic old library. (A few other ongoing catering outlets in the neighborhood aim to open in 2022.)
Also in the fall, diners and fans of Chef Tony Brown’s restaurants were delighted to learn that RUINS wasn’t shutting down for good, he just moved and replaced the short-lived Eyvind in Riverside. Brown also moved STELLA’S COFFEE and McRUINS, the latter his take on fast food.
While our own INTERIOR RESTAURANTS WEEK in 2020 ended just weeks before COVID-19 reached the United States, the 2021 version was pushed back to the summer when al fresco dining was possible, and transmission of the virus was somewhat weaker. (In 2022, the event returns from February 24 to March 5.) Earlier in the year, however, THE BIG DINNER encouraged locals to support local restaurants through take-out while many dining restrictions were still in place. While the 85th GREEK GASTRONOMY FESTIVAL stuck in a take-out race only between the peaks of COVID cases of the summer, PIG IN THE PARK just before this was again postponed.
Tthere were more openings than closings in northern Idaho over the past year, including a few Washington originals now operating on both sides of the state border. STUPID COW COFFEE open to Hayden and STORMIN ‘NORMAN’S SHIPFACE SALOON open in Coeur d’Alene.
The handshake also welcomed several startups. Athol has two new pizzerias: IRON PIZZA and HOUSE TAP PIZZA BEACON. In Pointe-de-Sable, BREAD + BONE started offering handmade sourdough and broth in select markets and online. MAISON TETON RESTAURANT open to Post Falls and TAYSTY RESTORATION replaced Sandpoint’s Cedar Street Bistro by following a similar menu.
The Riverstone complex in Coeur d’Alene has been very busy this year. CRANBERRY ROAD Vineyard brought its unique wines from western Washington to a prominent corner spot, yet close by TERRAZA WATERFRONT COFFEE started serving Latin American cuisine in style in May 2021. ROKKOS TERIYAKI moved to Sherman Avenue, and PHO LE have taken their place at Riverstone. Vine & Olive tree open PIZZA VICINO.
Many companies have moved to permanent locations or have modernized their locations. END OF TRAILS BREWERY moved to a brick and mortar location in late 2020, while OLIVE PASTRY AT THE PIE BARN moved into the building next to Curley’s Junction after functioning primarily as a pop-up. FLAME & CORK moved their wood-fired pizza oven to a newly built location in Hayden and closed their old location.
Several Idaho favorites have grown up with new locations. Serve wood-fired pizzas, BROKEN BY GREEN at Highlands Golf Course is the second location for owners of Embers by the Lake in Hauser. CNE AND COFFEE, originally in Sandpoint and Moscow, added a place to Coeur d’Alene, while BIRDIE’S PIE SHOP extended to Hayden. Serving Mexican cuisine since 2015, LA CABAÑA added a second Post Falls location in the Riverbend Commerce Park.
Sandpoint, meanwhile, has seen several long-standing restaurants close, including THE RISTORANTE D’IVANO, which had occupied several places since 1984. FORTY-ONE SOUTH at the Long Bridge and adjacent restaurant SHOGA SUSHI also both closed.
In Moscow, FLOWERING recently closed shop while SANGRIA GRID, which closed its Palouse Mall location in the spring, is moving forward with big plans for its downtown location (look for news in late 2022).
Finally, Post Falls’ acclaimed FLOWER OF SALT say goodbye to your guests in 2021. ♦


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Ferring Favorite To Get First Approval For Microbiota-Based Therapy
If all goes well, 2020 could see the Swiss firm's Rebiotix subsidiary get a green light from the FDA for its recurrent Clostridioides difficile fecal product.
You may also be interested in...
The promise of microbiome-based therapeutics to treat a variety of diseases has become a hot topic and the first to get to market will be targeting Clostridioides difficile infection. Ferring and its subsidiary Rebiotix are in pole position.
DuPont says it and P&G “have conducted extensive research on human commensals bacteria to help address metabolic health issues in humans.” The partnership "will help us further advance our probiotic innovation via a next generation solution that will prove beneficial to the health and well-being of consumers around the world,” says Paul Gama, P&G personal health care president.
The Swiss group has decided to launch FerGene with the private equity giant to give the gene therapy nadofaragene firadenovec, which has a priority review at the FDA, a better chance for a successful launch in the US.


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The new Acer Chromebook rolled out by Acer America on Monday is being powered by Nvidia’s K1 mobile processor and has a 13.3-inch display.
It offers two display options: a 1366 by 768 pixels display or a full HD display with a resolution of 1920 by 1080 pixels. The former goes for $279.99 while the later costs $299.99.
Other specs remain the same. It has 2GB RAM and 16GB SSD, and its sleek and fanless design is already causing excitement among many users.
There is another version of Acer Chromebook for commercial and education customers. It has a 1366 by 768-pixels display, 4 GB of RAM and a 16-GB Solid State Drive, and goes for $329.99.
Acer said that the Chromebook 13 boots up in less than 10 seconds and resumes nearly instantly from sleep mode.
According to Lisa Emard, an Acer spokesperson, the product targets students and families. And Bob O’Donnell, the chief analyst and founder at TECHnalysis says Chromebooks have been doing well in the market compared to other PCs.
It is predicted that in 2014 sales of Chromebooks will reach 5.2 million units, a 73 percent increase from the 2013 figure. And according to Gartner, Chromebook sales will nearly triple to reach 14.4 million units by 2017.
ABI predicts Chromebook sales of 3.3 million units worldwide this year, 78 percent of which will be in North America.
“Competition in the Chromebook market is intensifying as more vendors launch Chromebooks, with 8 models in the market in 2014,” said Isabelle Durand, the principal analyst at Gartner.
“Now that the PC market is no longer growing strongly, vendors are searching for new business opportunities,” she added.
The success of Chromebooks can be attributed to its strong demand in the U.S. educational marketplace. They are convenient to use in educational institutions.
“A lot of schools are finding that tablets, while great for a lot of things, are not the do-all and end-all many people hoped they would be, so they are reverting back to clamshell form factors; it’s a kind of netbooks all over again,” said O’Donnell.
Acer’s new entry is causing a stir since it has the Nvidia’s K1 mobile processor giving it a great battery life. Its battery life is up to 13 hours of continuous usage. This is very high considering that most gadgets can’t go beyond 10 hours.
Many Chromebooks use Intel processors. The Nvidia’s chip used in Acer suggests that it sees an opportunity to broaden its portfolio by touching the lower end of the netbook market.
Craig Stice, the senior principal analyst for compute platforms at HIS iSuppli told TechNewsWorld that the new device looks like a feature-rich system that will compete favorably in the market.
Craig said that there are many new releases from OEMS that are joining the Chromebooks, but the Acer Chromebook 13 has a competitive edge with the large sceen and the ability to support HDMI and USB inputs.
Even though its hard-drive storage is not large enough, it will depend more on cloud computing so that should not be much of a problem. Most educational institutions have free Wi-Fi for all and therefore the memory will easily expandable via the cloud storage.


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- BRF S.A. (BRFS) is benefiting from rising chicken prices and lower grain costs, which could improve its profitability.
- The company is forming a halal meat joint venture with Saudi Arabia’s PIF, which could open up new markets and revenue streams.
- BRF’s operational overhaul and cost-saving measures are expected to lift margins, providing growth opportunities.
- Brazil’s declaration of a 180-day animal health emergency amid avian flu cases in wild birds may impact the company’s poultry business.
- The meat industry’s dominance in Brazil’s trade delegation to China implies that any trade disputes or regulatory changes could affect BRF’s operations.
- Investors should monitor feed prices and other market conditions, which can have a significant impact on BRF’s financial performance.
investment score = chances characters count - risks characters count
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- 2023-03-01 UPDATE 1-Brazil’s BRF says fall in feed prices, operational overhaul to lift margins
- 2023-02-17 Inter&Co Announces New Members to Its Board of Directors


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TASMANIA'S international exports have risen on the back of strong demand from China.
The state's monthly exports have increased by more than $90 million, the strongest result in nearly two years.
The latest Australian Bureau of Statistics figures show Tasmania recorded $336 million in international exports in March this year, from $243 million in February.
Premier Lara Giddings said China had been the biggest importer of Tasmanian goods.
China represents around 28 per cent of total exports. US demand has also increased.


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NEW YORK — Diane von Furstenberg will continue in her role as president of the Council of Fashion Designers of America.
At a CFDA board meeting Wednesday, the designer was unanimously re-elected for a second two year term. At the meeting, the board also ratified 28 new members to the CFDA. They are Sophie Buhai and Lisa Mayock of Vena Cava; Thakoon Panichgul of Thakoon; Holly Dunlap of Hollywould; Jenni Kayne; Naeem Khan; Sue Stemp; Dana Foley and Anna Corinna Sellinger of Foley + Corinna; Scott Sternberg of Band of Outsiders; Amy Smilovic of Tibi; Michael Bastian; Philip Crangi; Ron Anderson and David Rees of Tenthousandthings; Andrew Buckler of Buckler; Rachel Comey; Erica Davis of Development; Cheryl Finegan of Virgin, Saints & Angels; Eunice Lee of Unis; Fiona Kotur Marin of Kotur; Malia Mills of Malia Mills Swimwear; Sandra Muller of Lila Gems, , Robin Renzi of Me & Ro; Brian Reyes; Loree Rodkin; Kara Ross; and Araks Yeramyan of Araks.
Elie Tahari and his wife, Rory, plan to welcome the new members to the CFDA at a cocktail reception at their SoHo home on Oct.21. The event is expected to draw a mix of existing CFDA members, retailers and editors, as well as the newly minted second term president.
“Diane’s unanimous election to a second two-year term as CFDA president is a great testament to the leadership she has demonstrated during her first term,” CFDA’s executive director Steven Kolb said. “In the past two years, the CFDA’s membership has increased and the overall visibility of the American fashion industry has risen. New programs and direct benefits for members have been initiated. Diane’s enthusiasm for and commitment to the CFDA have been unwavering.”
@tradesy is turning the concept of a showroom upside down with its new space in Santa Monica. Here, the company plans to hold events, art exhibits and a showcase rare fashion pieces like this Louis Vuitton boxing set. Get all the details on Tradesy’s first showroom on WWD.com. #wwdnews
Spotted last night at the @erdem x @hm launch event: Kate Bosworth, Rashida Jones, Kirsten Dunst and Selma Blair. The party, which took place in LA, also marked the opening of their pop-up shop. “I was interested in creating a collection that wasn’t in any way disposable. It was about pieces you’d create and keep forever, things that have a permanence to it,” designer Erdem Moralioglu said. #wwdeye (📷: Katie Jones)
Renee Zellweger in yellow in 2001 and again in 2017. Chosen as one of the 12 @pantone Leading Spring Colors (and dubbed “Meadowlark”), it only makes sense that the bright hue stands the test of time and is making a resurgence this season, seen already on stars like @blakelively and @gigihadid. (📷: Donato Sardello & @rexfeatures) #wwdfashion #tbt
Dior’s 70th anniversary celebration continues with a new exhibition at the Royal Ontario Museum in Toronto. “Christian Dior,” which is scheduled to run through March 18, takes a look at the founders tenure from 1947 to 1057 and feature 40 designs. Pictured here is an evening gown from the Ailée, fall 1948-49 haute couture collection. #wwdfashion (📷: Brian Boyle)
As one of the most recognizable models in the world, Christy Turlington Burns has an insider’s view of the fashion industry and the allegations of sexual harassment swirling around it. “I can say that harassment and mistreatment have always been widely known and tolerated in the industry. The industry is surrounded by predators who thrive on the constant rejection and loneliness so many of us have experiences at some point in our careers,” Turlington told WWD, along with her suggestions for how the modeling world should protect younger women and men. Read more on WWD.com. Link in bio. (📷: Tony Palmieri) #wwdnews
@asics America has tapped a new brand ambassador: famed DJ/record producer @steveaoki. This initiative is intended to set the tone for the new brand identity and philosophy and will include partnerships with influencers and in-store and off-line activations that will continue into next year. This is Asics’ most significant marketing effort in two decades, and is expected to attract younger consumers to the brand. #wwdfashion
24-year-old Jean Prounis is redefining the rules of jewelry. Formerly a studio assistant to Jemima Kirke and a design apprentice at Ghuran, she focuses on handcrafted subtleties and ancient goldsmithing techniques. “There was a really sterile feel in the environment and I wanted to have jewelry with character that shapes how you wear it everyday,” Prounis said. Each piece is hand made in New York, either by Prounis or three other jewelers in the district. #wwdfashion
“These collections continue to build on that vision, empowering differently abled adults to express themselves through fashion,” said @tommyhilfiger of his line of adaptive apparel, which launches today. The line consists of 37 men’s and 34 women’s styles based upon the pieces from the spring Tommy Hilfiger sportswear collection. #wwdnews


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ALTOONA, Pa. (AP) – A security expert is weighing in on a Pennsylvania-based convenience store chain’s decision to put Bitcoin ATMs in five shops around the state.
Sheetz, based in Altoona, Pennsylvania, announced Tuesday it has teamed up with Coinsource to put the ATMs in the five Pennsylvania stores and a shop in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
But does such easy access in high foot-traffic areas raise any security concerns for a currency that is, right now, unregulated?
“A lot of criminals will use crypto-currency such as Bitcoin to transfer money because it is virtually untraceable by the US government,” said President of INA, Inc., John Sancenito. “It becomes a currency of choice for criminal activity, for money laundering, for drug trafficking, for terrorism activities.”
Bitcoin is all electronic and is similar to money in a bank account, except there is no middle man: you type in your account number into the kiosk and either deposit money to add to your Bitcoins or your withdraw crash from an existing balance.
Sancenito adds that in addition to being an unregulated currency, Bitcoin is volatile meaning its value can fluctuate greatly day to day. There’s also virtually no way, he says, that any lost Bitcoin can be recovered.
“If an individual came into your account and withdrew money from your account by having access to your account, you would really have no means to prove that you ever owned that account,” said Sancenito. “This is certainly not for everyone, you have to have some knowledge of the bitcoin network in order to use this efficiently.”
Ryan Sheetz, a vice president at the company, says the chain is always trying to be innovative and give customers what they want.
Customers must enroll with Coinsource before they can use the ATMs. Then, they’ll be able to make transactions from $5 to $5,000 per day from the machines.
Family-owned Sheetz operates over 585 stores in Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Virginia, Maryland, Ohio and North Carolina.
The Pennsylvania Sheetz locations that have a Bitcoin kiosk are:
•1915 Pleasant Valley Blvd, Altoona, PA 16602
•1315 Lincoln Way E, Chambersburg, PA 17202
•7970 Linglestown Road, Harrisburg, PA 17112
•3025 Babcock Blvd, Pittsburgh, PA 15237
•101 Valley Vista Dr, State College, PA 16803
Copyright 2019 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.


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Smartphones are too smart for their own good. Users have come to rely on them so much that they constantly need recharging. The batteries just can’t keep up with the usage. One French company, The Sun Partner Group, located in Aix-en-Provence, has come up with a solution. As seen in the illustration below the company is combining narrow strips of thin-film opaque solar cells with alternating strips of transparent film and then harvesting the light energy by concentrating it using a layer of tiny lenses. The result is an almost transparent surface that lies on top of a smartphone screen providing energy to the phone from light sources while not diminishing the quality of the display. They have branded the technology Wysips Crystal.
Wysips crystal prototypes are achieving 82% transparency and 8% energy conversion today with the next release expected to improve to 30% efficiency while providing enough power to a cellphone to increase talk time by 50% or keep it fully charged while on standby throughout the day. With several cell phone manufacturers interested the company expect to have its technology in products starting with releases in 2014. Estimated cost for the technology to the consumer will be an additional $2.30 US over current mobile phone sticker prices.
The technology isn’t just limited to cell phone applications. E-readers and tablets as well as billions of low power outdoor devices could use this type of energy-generating technology. Think billboards, road signs, transit shelters, kiosks, parking meters and more.
Wysips can be incorporated into windows and textiles. Imagine the windows in your car generating enough energy to run air conditioning on a hot day without drawing any power from the motor or the battery.Or equipping a stadium roof with Wysips fabric to provide energy for lighting. And Wysips isn’t limited to outdoor applications. It can be incorporated into indoor devices capturing energy from artificial lighting albeit with less efficiency than if used outdoors .


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Posted September 25, 2018 06:27:52A lot of the time, when a game launches, the developer has to update all of its assets, including logos, to support the new features of the game.
The result is a lot of time and effort spent in re-rendering the logos.
This is a common problem, particularly when there is a new update, as it means the old logos are still visible.
Fortunately, PS4Pro has come a long way since launch.
Its now a fully functional, cross-platform and cross-region graphics interface.
It has all the latest graphics drivers and textures for PS4, as well as a full suite of advanced graphical effects, including anti-aliasing, antialiasing and anti-glare.
There are also plenty of new PS4 features, like the ability to launch with a higher resolution on the gamepad, a much more powerful GPU and improved audio and visual effects.
PS4PRO has also seen a host of visual improvements over the last few months.
It is much more stable than its predecessor, and it can be upgraded to the Pro upgrade.
The PS4’s graphical upgrade is well-received, and there are more than a few people who are currently playing PS4 for the first time.
In a recent poll conducted by the game’s developer, IMAX, a large majority of respondents said they would consider purchasing the PS4 in its new form factor.
IMAX’s new PSX-based PS4 console has a 1080p screen, while the PlayStation 4 Pro has a 1440p screen.
I can understand why people would want a higher screen resolution, but the PSX is more of a desktop device than a portable one, and its resolution is just too high for portable use.
The graphics update has made a huge impact on PS4.
In fact, the PSPro is currently the most popular PS4 device.
In our opinion, this is because the PS3 and PS4 have been hugely popular in the gaming industry for the last decade or so.
It’s no coincidence that the PS1 was released in 2007, and the PS2 was released a year later.
The graphical upgrade has also been hugely helpful for the game industry in general.
As games continue to evolve, more and more games are having to support different graphical technologies and standards.
For example, games developed for the PS Vita, which was released at the same time as the PSP, now have to support OpenGL 4.5 and AMD’s latest AMDGPU technology, along with DirectX 12.
In our opinion though, the graphics update for the PlayStation4 Pro is the best thing that has happened to the PSOne in years.
PSPro’s performance is much faster, its visuals are smoother, and more importantly, the game engine has been updated and improved.
While the PSone has been around for many years, the PlayStation Pro has been with us since launch, and is now the most powerful console out there.
We hope you enjoy PS4pro.


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Matt is the former News Editor for The Next Web. You can follow him on Twitter, subscribe to his updates on Facebook and catch up with him Matt is the former News Editor for The Next Web. You can follow him on Twitter, subscribe to his updates on Facebook and catch up with him on Google+.
We first brought you news on HotelTonight back in early 2011, an app which lets you book same-day hotel rooms for up to 70% less in more than thirty cities across the US, including New York, San Francisco, Boston, Chicago and Washington DC.
Then in March this year, the service finally landed on iPad before the startup went international by launching in Vancouver and Toronto in April.
Now, HotelTonight is making the move overseas by launching in London, bringing on board former Jetsetter Vice President Heather Leisman to oversee European operations.
HotelTonight is now available on iPhone/iPod Touch, iPad and Android in the United Kingdom, though the service will be launching initially with a selection of hotels in London only.
Unlike most other hotel booking service, HotelTonight differentiaties itself in that it curates the hotels included. It has a team of people who check out the hotel in advance to ensure a certain level of quality. At launch, HotelTonight will include Belgraves – a Thompson Hotel, Blakes Hotel, St. Martins Lane, The Langham, and The Cadogan.
HotelTonight specifcally targets hotels to help them shift unfilled rooms at the last minute, and ‘same day’ means any time up to 2am.
On top of its London expansion, HotelTonight has also today opened its London-based office in Shoreditch as it looks to expand globally and reach new users worldwide. In fact, HotelTonight plans to launch in additional cities in the United Kingdom and other markets in Western Europe in the coming months.
HotelTonight recently secured a $23 million Series C investment, led by US Venture Partners with continued participation from Accel Partners, Battery Ventures and First Round Capital.
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We look at the global GDP. It's hard to see how we avoid a recession right now, but it's hard to see how we're going to avoid a recession, he said.
GDP, or Gross Domestic Product, is a measure of economic growth. It is one of the most important ways to measure how well an economy is performing and is closely watched by economists and central banks.
It is used by governments to guide decisions on everything from tax to spending. It is a key indicator for central banks when considering whether or not to raise or lower interest rates, along with inflation.
He said that the forecast of China's growth before Russia's invasion had already softened, because of concerns about lockdowns in some of China's major cities, including the financial, manufacturing and shipping hub of Shanghai.
The world's second largest economy has been hit harder by the latest round of lockdowns than it had been at the beginning of the epidemic in 2020, according to China's premier Li Keqiang.
Mr Li said that progress is not satisfactory. Only 30% of businesses have been reopened, so the ratio must be raised to 80% within a short period.


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Publisher Gruppo Media has extended its delivery and warehousing contract with Castle Donington-based Spatial Global. The contract has been extended to include receiving, storing, pick and pack and dispatching merchandise to customers, along with delivering bulk orders to retailers. The operator will continue to provide pick and pack, warehousing, mail delivery and express courier services for the publisher- a contract it has held since 2009. Spatial Global collects magazines from the publisher’s printers on a monthly basis. It then packs […]
Christmas has come early for XPO Logistics, which has extended its contract with toy retailer The Entertainer for a further 10 years.
Morrisons’ agreement with Ocado to use its new customer fulfilment centre (CFC) in Erith, London, is far from a done deal.
Burton’s Biscuit Company has entered into a five year partnership with DHL Supply Chain. DHL will be working with the biscuit manufacturer, who produces brands such as Jammie Dodgers, Maryland Cookies and Wagon Wheels, to support their international and domestic growth. Neil Grocock, chief supply chain officer at Burton’s Biscuit Company, said: “Investing in our core logistic capabilities is part of a broader, brand-focused strategy we’ve adopted which enables us to align our skills, resources and efforts towards more impactful […]


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Apple’s unprecedented success over the past 10 years goes far beyond its ability to churn out hit products. It also has a knack for supply chain deals and is extremely efficient with its cash, and how it manages its balance sheet.
The Wall Street Journal takes a look at this in a new report entitled “Heard on the Street.” The piece explains, among other things, how Apple has streamlined its business to get paid for products faster than it makes them…
Here’s an excerpt from the article:
“Moreover, thanks to the efficiency with which Apple manages much of its balance sheet, the capital invested in its business is actually negative. In other words, Apple gets paid for its products faster than it pays to make them.
Cash comes in before it goes out in part because Apple has incredible negotiating leverage vis-a-vis its suppliers. On average, in fiscal 2011 it didn’t pay suppliers for 83 days after being invoice, according to Sanford C. Bernstein analyst Toni Sacconaghi. Yet Apple collected on its customer invoices much faster, 18 days on average. Meanwhile, it paid to keep just four days of inventory on hand in 2011, versus an already impressive 10 days in 2010.”
The entire thing is worth a read, as it demonstrates the genius behind Apple’s business. Mix in the company’s massive supply chain presence, and the fact that it controls its own distribution channel thanks to its widely successful retail chain, and it’s not hard to see why Apple’s on top.
Speaking of performance, Apple is set to publish its quarterly earnings this Tuesday. The company will also announce the numbers on a conference call that evening around 5PM PST. We’ll be listening in, and reporting back with last quarter’s sales numbers and other interesting info.


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Too many business owners being scammed
It’s one of the most common complaints by business owners relying on Google My Business; unsolicited, unwanted calls related to their Google Business Listing.
Google My Business is the most popular platform for business listings on the internet. It is also the most powerful, as so many other directory listing sites rely on Google for accurate information. Given the power and influence of the listing site, Google is clamping down on a large number of companies inaccurately representing themselves as being associated with Google.
Don’t Be Fooled
It is important to note:
- Google will never call you unsolicited.
- Google My Business is a free service from Google.
- If you are concerned about a call or email from a company claiming to be associated with Google, verify their legitimacy via their website or Google.
- No company can guarantee ad, listing or search engine results.
According to the news release from Google, “We’re committed to building products and programs that help small businesses grow.” As such, Google is taking legal action against a host of companies claiming to be associated. To read additional details, visit the full release here.
Protect yourself and your business. When hiring a company to help with your Listing, always talk with them at length to be sure you understand the full value of their service.


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Software that automatically finds defects and eliminates waste from Proto to Production
Instrumental raises series B and brings order-of-magnitude efficiency gains to engineering teams by addressing aggregation, access, and automation issues in manufacturing.
Introducing PDF report exports
Instrumental users now have the ability to export PDF issue reports on demand. Use these reports to communicate about important defects, provide status updates, and more!
Instrumental CEO, Anna-Katrina Shedletsky, named 2019 Top Woman in Cloud
This is the first time a manufacturing-focused organization has made the prestigious list, representing a larger shift in the manufacturing market.
Former Apple engineers working with Motorola to stamp out manufacturing defects (via CNBC)
Instrumental announces its partnership with Motorola Mobility to accelerate the smartphone development process.
Instrumental featured as one of The Information's Startups to Watch
Instrumental was honored as one of The Information's Startups to Watch.
CEO Anna Shedletsky speaks with The Prepared
Listen to this podcast to about defects, better outcomes, and buzzwords.
Instrumental manufacturing intelligence technology expands rapidly, hires COO to scale
Keith Lucas joins Instrumental as COO as adoption of Instrumental technology increases
Identifying user needs is Instrumental
Jeremy Intal, a Product intern at Instrumental this summer, shares his experience helping define customer value to drive product decisions.


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Customers on fixed-line NBN broadband connections experienced record high speeds in the month of May, according to the ACCC’s latest quarterly report.
According to the ACCC, May 2021 saw the highest speeds Australians have ever experienced on the NBN, which has been less than great since the launch of the network back in 2009.
Additionally, most consumers mentioned in the report received their maximum plan speeds more frequently during peak periods between 7pm and 11pm, which is a huge win for gamers, binge-watchers and other internet fiends.
The average download performance across the board in May was 98.4 per cent of plan speed, with the percentage being slightly lower at 97.6 per cent during peak periods.
The largest improvement across the telco sector was for Vocus Group (Dodo and iPrimus, specifically), which improved 5.4 percentage points across the board when compared to the last quarter.
The improvement comes after Vocus was found by the Federal Court to have not used an adequate speed-testing methodology. Back in June, Vocus Group was hit with a $2.5 million fine for misleading claims regarding internet speeds.
Other major improvements were seen from Vodafone and MyRepublic, which saw 4.3 and 3.7 percentage points increase respectively during busy periods in the last quarter.
Overall, retail service providers have seen a significant improvement across the board, hitting between 92.2 and 100.5 per cent of plan speeds across all major plans, which is a great thing for consumers.
“The performance gap between retail service providers’ download speed metrics has narrowed significantly in recent reports, however individual consumer experiences by retailer still vary,” ACCC Commissioner Anna Brakey said.
The same can’t be said for fibre-to-the-node services, however, which are still performing worse than other network connections across the board.
“There is a persistent cohort of fibre to the node customers that are still experiencing slower than expected speeds, and NBN Co and retailers have been slow to address this,” Ms Brakey said.
“While it’s encouraging that some of the fibre to the node services we monitor are improving, especially given the additional investment announced by NBN Co last year, retailers and NBN Co need to collectively do more.”
The Cheapest NBN 1000 Plans
Looking to bump up your internet connection and save a few bucks? Here are the cheapest plans available.


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Starbreeze has announced new content for Payday 2 that will “integrate characters and storylines” from Point Break into the Payday universe. That is, the upcoming Point Break remake – not the 1991 original.
The ‘Point Break Heists’ and the ‘Bohdi Character Pack’ for Payday 2 will be released on December 3 (the film itself releases on December 25 in North America, January 1, 2016 in Australia/NZ, and February 12, 2016 in the UK). The ‘Point Break Heists’ pack will be USD$7 and contain two all new heists: ‘Beneath the Mountain’ and ‘Birth of Sky’. The ‘Bodhi Character Pack’ will be free for all Payday 2 players and will introduce Bodhi as a new playable character and include a new sniper rifle primary weapon, a new melee weapon, and two new masks.
“Point Break has always been a huge inspiration for the Payday games, so to be able to integrate the film’s characters and storylines into Payday 2 is a dream come true,” said Starbreeze CEO Bo Andersson-Klint in a slightly confusing statement (considering “the film’s characters and storylines” being integrated in this case are those of the yet-to-be-released remake, while the “huge inspiration” for the Payday games has obviously come from the 1991 film).
Starbreeze has previously worked with Lionsgate to bring John Wick into the world of Payday 2, which has also led to the development of a John Wick VR game, planned to release in 2016.
Payday 2 developer Overkill Software recently issued an apology over its response to the handling of controversial microtransactions. Overkill sparked a row in October when it added microtransactions to PayDay 2 after previously stating that the game wouldn’t have them. The developer later defended the new microtransactions, saying that they helped support the growing number of people working on the game.
Luke is Games Editor at IGN's Sydney office. You can chat to him on Twitter @MrLukeReilly.


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GOLDEN VALLEY, Minn.- The reasons parents buy prepackaged food is more clear now than ever before. New research from the University of Minnesota School of Nursing explored why parents opt for processed meals. Reasons include:
• 57 percent of parents buy it they don't have time to prepare other foods
• 49 percent say their family really likes prepackaged foods
• 33 percent purchase prepackage foods because their kids are able to prepare them
• 27 percent said their inexpensive
• 22 percent of parents said they just don't know what else to make
• 11 percent percent say it's food the entire family will eat
So why does this matter? Research also shows these prepackaged foods have higher in fat, sodium, and the emulsifiers common in processed foods are even linked to cancer in mice.
Knowing the obstacles that hinder "real food" consumption are the first step in changing diet.
So with all of this in mind, Melissa Horning, who led the research, will share her tips for eating less processed foods.


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The metaverse is revolutionising the artistic and creative fields through live performances conceived, designed and created for the new virtual worlds.
Singers, dancers, and actors are already exploiting the potential of the metaverse by giving their audiences unique and original performances, by merging 3D graphics, interaction, immersivity, sound, and powerful storytelling.
This new way of engaging the audience is bringing many advantages to the artists: reaching wider audiences, attracting younger generations, and creating new business models.
Want to learn more? Read the last article of our CEO and Founder Elisabetta Rotolo on Artribune at the following link


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The presence of PMSL SEA adds to the number of new breakthroughs in PUBG Mobile Esports in 2023!
The PMSL SEA competition (PUBG Mobile Super League) has been announced by PUBG Mobile as a substitute for the PMPL SEA competition after the regional league ended.
PUBG Mobile Esports continues to bring new breakthroughs to support a better scene ecosystem in 2023. Apart from changes to the competition format, PMPL SEA Wildcard for certain regions, there are now other new competitions.
Yep, PMSL SEA will be a new competition that will replace PMPL SEA which has been running for almost the last 3 years since PMPL S1.
It was leaked some time ago through the PUBG Mobile Vietnam Facebook account. Now, PMSL SEA has been officially released and what is the competition model like? Check out the following reviews.
Complete review of PMSL SEA, the newest ‘partnership’ competition from PUBG Mobile
PMPL was previously predicted to become a Franchise competition in 2023. However, currently there has been no change regarding PMPL in all regions.
Currently PMPL has been implemented in several countries such as Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam and Wildcard (Cambodia, Laos, Philippines, Singapore, Myanmar). And similar leagues in America, Europe, MENA, LATAM and others.
Talking about PMSL SEA, this new competition as described will replace the position of the PMPL SEA Championship which has been running hand in hand with PMPL.
The PMSL SEA event will roll out in March 2023, ensuring that this new competition will not clash or collide with the PMWI 2023 tournament.
PMSL SEA will last for 1 full month (like the old PMPL format) but the list of teams has not been fully confirmed.
Come on, let’s just wait and see how exciting PMSL will be as a new competition in the competitive scene of PUBG Mobile Esports, friends.
Follow the official account ONE Esports in Facebook, Instagram And TikTok to get the latest esports news, results, transfer gossip and other daily updates.
READ ALSO: PMPL ID Spring 2023 schedule, results and how to watch


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For the 8th year, Top Rank Marketing Blog published a list featuring “women who rock” in the digital marketing space for 2017.
This time they asked influential men in the marketing space to nominate women, rather than asking former influential women winners to nominate. The goal was to provide these men an opportunity to recognize extraordinary women they’ve worked with who are making strides in the marketing world.
Brooks Bell was nominated by Seth Godin – Founder at altMBA. Said Godin, “The doyenne of landing pages. Her firm now has more than fifty people who are helping the biggest companies in the world optimize their landing pages. Built from scratch, by hand.”


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Posted by IcePets
Day 269, Year 10 (14th Jul 20)
It looks like Plushie Mania added some newly updated plushie to their shelves. The Wulfer Plushie and Sharshel Plushie spruced up their looks to match up with the other newly update plushies.
In addition, the Wulfer Plushies have also received a new Black and Brown version to complete the set! Penelope will be giving them out as rewards at the Book Quest, while the Plushie Quest will be looking for these in one week's time. If you haven't added these to your collection, or even just your toy chest, you should head down and pick them up today!


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Webinar zum Schutz von Konsumenten in Kenya
Webinar zum Schutz von Konsumenten in KenyaKenya is a global leader in digital financial service (DFS) usage; in 2021, 68.6 percent of Kenyans aged 15+ had a mobile money account, according to the Global Findex Database. But a growth in DFS use also means a bigger pool for fraudsters to fish from. An IPA survey found that 56 percent of Kenyan DFS users had experienced a phishing attempt by phone or text. But can people actually identify these scams? And if not, can we use fraud prevention tools to teach people how to identify scams?
In this webinar, researchers Lisa Spantig, Elif Kubilay, and Lucy Kaaria present their recent findings from a research project in Kenya, in which they study phone scams, develop a novel measure of consumers’ ability to spot them, and measure the effectiveness of scam education. The researchers are joined by Boniface Kamiti (Competition Authority of Kenya) and Willie Blackmon (Innovations for Poverty Action) to discuss consumer protection in DFS in Kenya and how these recent findings can impact local consumers.
- Lisa Spantig, RWTH Aachen University & University of Essex
- Elif Kubilay, University of Essex
- Lucy Kaaria, HOPAWI Management Consulting Ltd
- Boniface Kamiti, Competition Authority of Kenya
- William Blackmon, Innovations for Poverty Action
Moderated by Paul Adams, Director of IPA’s Consumer Protection Research Initiative. Register here to join the conversation on March 23 at 1pm https://poverty-action.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_xU8cZCqEQQmmXUGLAUbEpQ


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The newly launched product invests in countries that are reducing their carbon emissions.
The product tracks an index comprising global companies with low carbon intensity.
Carbon pricing can be a powerful tool to align emission reduction with business activity, UBS GWM said in a research report.
The framework can measure a company’s efforts to look for lower carbon emission substitutes.
A significant rise in greenhouse gas emissions is being driven by the rebound in global economic activity, said MSCI.


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GyroGear recently attended the International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society congress in Nice, France where founder and inventor Dr Faii Ong and commercial director Stuart Clarke were on hand to meet with neurologists and movement disorder specialists from all around the world.
Dr Faii Ong, founder and inventor of the GyroGlove, on hand to offer practical insight into the revolutionary GyroGlove and how GyroGear is helping individuals with hand tremors both now and in the future.
The congress was extremely well attended and with significant traffic to the GyroGear exhibition stand, attending clinicians were able to gain considerable insight into the GyroGlove, it’s mode of action and its potential application to help sufferers of uncontrollable hand tremor.
As Dr Ong commented “the meeting was a definite success for our business with great interest from so many clinicians about our technology and our plans for development. There is a very real appetite for a device to stabilise disabling hand tremors and help return an improved quality of life to patients. We’re very excited about the future for the GyroGlove device; the feedback and support we’ve received this week from clinicians about our technology, does nothing but spur us onward.”
A special thanks to the organisers of such a successful congress as GyroGear looks forward to continuing to support the International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society.
To learn more, please visit their website at https://www.movementdisorders.org/MDS.htm
With love from London,
The GyroGear Team.


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BMW has revealed a brand new idea plug-in hybrid electrical automobile, the primary in its M class to get an electrical motor, the corporate introduced. The BMW XM will go into manufacturing on the firm's Spartanburg, South Carolina, plant starting in late 2022, the company said in a press release.
The idea BMW XM has a V8 engine mixed with an electrical motor to supply 750 horsepower and 737 foot-pounds of torque. BMW spokesman Jay Hanson clarified in an electronic mail to The Verge that whereas the manufacturing model of the XM may have a V8 engine paired with a plug-in hybrid system, “horsepower and torque figures must be thought of preliminary at the moment.”
The corporate stated the weird front-end design, with two massive nostril-shaped openings, reveals off a brand new course for its future luxurious automobiles that features an illuminated model of its black kidney grille.
The inside options “vintage-look leather-based,” with a curved show that mixes the instrument panel and infotainment show right into a single design, Hanson stated. BMW M CEO Franciscus van Meel stated in an announcement that the idea XM “represents a whole re-imagining of the high-performance automobile phase.”
The corporate didn't present particulars about how a lot the automobile will price.
Whereas the XM isn't an all-electric automobile, BMW is transferring towards an electrified future: the corporate stated earlier this yr that it expects 50 p.c of its new automobiles to be totally electrical by 2030. It's creating all-electric variations of its 5 Collection and seven Collection sedans and its X1 SUV. However the iX3 will solely be out there in Europe and China, not the US.


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The Californian city of San Diego is known for many things. It is known for the University of California, San Diego, an educational institution whose medical institutions and focus on cultivating scholarship that focuses on the intersection between science and technology have helped put San Diego on the map as a hotspot for research and innovation.
It is also known for the San Diego Zoo which is a facility open to the public that contains more than 3,700 animals. San Diego is known for standing apart from other cities in the country when it comes to research, animal conservation and now restaurants.
Local businessman and Scottish transplant Brian Bonar is helping to put San Diego on the map when it comes to restaurants. Bonar has been slowly creating as small culinary empire under the radar in the San Diego area.
He is the Chief Executive Officer of Trucept Incorporation, a business that focuses on providing other companies specialized services that are designed to enhance their efficiency and performance.
When Brian Bonar is not serving clients through his work at Trucept Inc., he is overseeing Grand Restaurant Group, the parent company for his restaurants. The restaurants that comprise Grand Restaurant Group include Bellamy’s, Ranch at Bandy Canyon and more recently Ponsaty’s.
When Brian Bonar launched Bellamy’s he tapped the globally-renowned chef Patrick Ponsaty. Ponsaty, who is a native of France, is arguably the shining jewel of Bonar’s restaurant empire.
When he first connected with Grand Restaurant Group, he started with the company as the head chef of Bellamy’s. Today he is in charge of food operations for the entire company.
By bringing in Ponsaty, Bonar was able to distinguish Bellamy’s as a restaurant that combines the flair and the sophistication of French cooking with the familiarity and eclecticism of Californian cooking.
Food writers that have reviewed the meals that Ponsaty has prepared at Bellamy’s have raved over his desserts and entrees. A writer from San Diego Magazine praised Ponsaty’s famous penchant for ingenuity when he raved over a dish that included beet ice cream paired with a tart filled with goat cheese.
The dish illustrates how Ponsaty uses flavors that are unexpected but that are a thrill even just to read about let alone be able to eat. The San Diego Tribune notes that Ponsaty creates meals in a way that leaves his unique culinary stamp on them.
He cooks with fresh ingredients and uses a style that is a throwback to his roots in French cuisine. The guests who choose to stop by Bellamy’s and the other restaurants that Ponsaty oversees will be able to experience first hand why Ponsaty won the title of Master Chef of France.
Choosing to build a restaurant empire around Ponsaty speaks to Brian Bonar’s skill as a businessman and entrepreneur.


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Digital TV News: Synacor
ShortsTV selects Synacor's Cloud Identity Platform
Jan 15, 2019 – Synacor (Nasdaq: SYNC) and Shorts International have announced the integration of Synacor’s Cloud Identity Platform with the ShortsTV streaming App. Current subscribers to the ShortsTV channel in the US can contact their provider to access on-demand content.
News categories: Synacor, Shorts International, Himesh Bhise, Carter Pilcher, Apps, Content Protection, Digital TV, OTT, USA
Synacor tackles TV Everywhere password abuse
Apr 4, 2018 – Synacor (NASDAQ: SYNC) has announced 'Forever Login' to curb Pay TV password sharing. The cloud feature lets operators balance easy subscriber access with control over the maximum number of devices and the length of time before viewers need to login again.
News categories: Synacor, Service Electric Cablevision, John Kavanagh, Scott Young, Content Protection, Digital TV, TV Everywhere, Worldwide
Classic Video on Demand vendors risk losing half VOD market by 2018
Jun 4, 2013 – The shift of video consumption to tablets and smartphones is causing operator requirements for video on demand (VOD) systems to change as vendors struggle to keep up with current generation needs, according to ABI Research.
News categories: ABI Research, Content Distribution, Market Research
Netflix Leads US OTT Market
Oct 31, 2012 – In 2011 Netflix accounted for just over 50% of the OTT market in North America and despite missteps during the company's separation between streaming and physical media rentals, secured the top spot in ABI Research's US OTT Competitive Assessment.
News categories: ABI Research, Digital TV, Market Research, OTT, USA
$2 Billion Video Delivery Platforms Market Set to Double by 2017
Aug 27, 2012 – In 2012, revenues for video platforms distributing video on behalf of media & entertainment companies (including cable & satellite distributors) worldwide will reach $2.1 billion, and will grow to over $4 billion in 2017, according to ABI Research.
News categories: ABI Research, Content Distribution, Market Research, OTT, TV Everywhere
Adobe Pass for TV Everywhere: New Premium Video Authentication Solution Now Available
Mar 23, 2011 – Adobe (Nasdaq:ADBE) has announced the Adobe® Pass service, a new authentication solution that enables pay TV subscribers to easily access premium content from virtually any Internet-connected device.
News categories: Adobe Systems, Cable TV, Content Protection, Digital TV, DRM, Media Player, Mobile, OTT, Satellite, Set Top Box, Smart TV, Tablet
- Netflix releases 4Q 2020 results
- Pearl TV broadcasters welcome FCC easing of SFN regulations
- Paramount+ from ViacomCBS to launch on March 4th
- Firstlight Media builds OTT platform on Google Cloud
- Cogeco EPICO IPTV service launched
- Enghouse and Access Communications offer hosted TV services in Canada
- MENA pay TV revenues continue to fall
- FCA first automotive OEM with Alexa Custom Assistant
- Firstlight Media and NPAW optimise CDN switching for OTT providers
- ViacomCBS, DISH Media, Adcuratio enable broadcast inventory on MVPD STBs
- DoubleVerify earns MRC accreditation for CTV measurement
- Philco launches Roku TV lineup in Brazil
- Chips&Media introduces WAVE6 series of video codec IPs
- Worldwide semiconductor revenue up 7.3% in 2020
- Kantar expands TV audience measurement panel in Georgia
- TDS introduces live, streaming TV product
- LG announces 2021 NEXTGEN TVs
- GTPL Hathway digital CATV subscribers unchanged YoY at 7.35 million
- Nordic consumers’ media spend unaffected by the pandemic
- Amazon launches mobile-only video plan in India


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Back in July, the High Court in London ruled against Apple in a patent suit against Samsung, saying that consumers were unlikely to mistake its iPad with Samsung’s Galaxy Tab because it “wasn’t as cool.”
As a result of the ruling, Judge Colin Birss ordered Apple to run advertisements on both its UK website and in British publications stating that Samsung didn’t copy the iPad to correct the damaging impression.
Well, Apple might want to start planning its marketing campaign. Because it just lost the appeal…
“Apple Inc lost its appeal of a ruling that its rival Samsung’s Galaxy tablet computer did not copy Apple’s registered tablet designs in a British court on Thursday.
The decision is valid throughout Europe and should prohibit further legal disputes between the two companies over the design of tablets such as the iPad in the region.”
Apple can still, as a last-ditch effort, appeal to the Supreme Court. But the report goes on to say that the Cupertino company has shown no signs up to this point that it has any plans on doing that.
Here’s what Samsung had to say about the ruling:
“We continue to believe that Apple was not the first to design a tablet with a rectangular shape and rounded corners and that the origins of Apple’s registered design features can be found in numerous examples of prior art.
Should Apple continue to make excessive legal claims in other countries based on such generic designs, innovation in the industry could be harmed and consumer choice unduly limited.”
Apple declined to comment.
Although this may stifle design patent litigation between the two companies in Europe, they’re still going at it on other continents. Recently, Apple appealed a court decision in Japan, and the two parties are set to meet again in December here in the US.
What do you think of this decision? Any suggestions on how Apple could spin the Samsung ad?


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The FTSE 250 company announced today that it was "delighted" to be working with one of the leading retailers of Canada.
French supermarket Groupe Casino signed a deal with Ocado a year ago to use its grocery e-commerce platform to develop its online business.
The tie-up will involve Ocado helping launch Sobeys' online grocer service, and include investment by Ocado installing its grid and robots.
According to reports, Ocado will help Sobeys will build a warehouse outside Toronto and will enable the retailer to use its e-commerce, product-picking and logistics technology to take and deliver online orders. Sobeys will gain exclusive rights to the system in Canada and will pay an undisclosed fee upfront, the Hatfield, England-based company said in a statement Monday. It extended Ocado's rally since the Casino deal by around 60 per cent...
In November, it revealed a long-awaited global deal with French firm Groupe Casino, and Ocado said at the time it was eyeing more worldwide deals.
Second Women's March Since Trump Inauguration Sees Larger Turnout in Many Cities
The rallies were similar to the marches soon after Trump's inauguration as president a year ago. Previous year 750,000 people took part in the New York City march, the largest in the country.
Ocado said it expects the deal to be earnings neutral in the financial year ending in November and sees additional capital expenditure of 15 million pounds (US$20.8 million), with more spending expected in future years. The service will utilize Ocado's last-mile routing management technology, along with "customer service excellence and punctuality".
Sobeys is Canada's second largest food retailer, operating more than 1,500 stores across the country, and generating sales of CAD23.8 billion in its most recently ended financial year 2017.
Sobeys chief executive Michael Medline was quoted as saying: "This unique and innovative Sobeys and Ocado experience will offer consumers the biggest selection, freshest products and most reliable delivery available anywhere on the planet".
The deal will come as a boost to Ocado, as speculation grows that competition could intensify in Europe after the acquisition of Whole Foods by Amazon.


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Music legend and entrepreneur Jay-Z is now an investor in plant-based chicken company SIMULATE, which closed a $50 million funding round earlier this month. Led by SEVEN SEVEN SIX, an investment fund created by Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian, the investment round, a SIMULATE spokesperson confirmed to Bloomberg, included participation from Marcy Venture Partners (MVP), an investment fund created by Jay-Z, Roc Nation Managing Director Jay Brown, and venture capitalist Larry Marus.
Founded in 2018 by then 19-year-old entrepreneur Ben Pasternak, SIMULATE is in the business of making next-generation chicken from plants with input from customers that follows a model similar to software updates. SIMULATE’s mission of perfecting plant-based chicken is fueled by Pasternak’s desire to create great-tasting products that eliminate the outdated and environmentally destructive practice of slaughtering chickens for food. “Historically our food system has rejected the use of technology, resulting in a system that is highly inefficient and primitive,” Pasternak said. “This new funding will be used to create and protect the intersection of technology and nutrition.”
SIMULATE’s previous funding raises include $7 million in 2019 led by its manufacturing partner McCain Foods, along with Bob Pittman (founder of MTV and CEO of iHeartMedia), mattress company Casper founder Neil Parikh, and John Malony (former president of Tumblr). In 2020, the company raised $4.1 million with the help of Ohanian, former Whole Foods chief executive Walter Robb, and model Jasmine Tookes. The most recent round brought the valuation of the plant-based company to more than $250 million.
Simulating chicken with plants
Known as the “Tesla of chicken,” SIMULATE launched its first iteration of NUGGS (a plant-based chicken nugget) through a direct-to-consumer model in 2019. Since then, the company has used input from its customers to improve its vegan nuggets in terms of taste, nutrition, and texture. In 2020, SIMULATE launched NUGGS in stores and rapidly expanded their retail footprint to more than 5,000 locations, including Walmart, Target, Whole Foods Market, and Sam’s Club in the US. Earlier this month, the company expanded distribution of NUGGS—in original and spicy flavors—to retailers across Canada, including grocery chains Loblaws, Sobeys, Whole Foods Market, and Maxi. The company plans to expand its plant-based nuggets to an additional 10,000 retail locations by the end of 2021.
In an effort to continue innovating the chicken category, last year, SIMULATE launched DISCS, a product made to mimic nostalgic chicken patties but made entirely from plants. Currently only available on the company’s website, the DISCS—which are made of a proprietary blend of soy and wheat—will also undergo software updates.
The company will use the new funding to triple its internal team; accelerate the development of new products and technologies; scale its manufacturing capabilities; increase its retail and foodservice presence; and continue expansion in international markets.
Jay-Z’s vegan investments
SIMULATE might be the latest plant-based company that Jay-Z has financially backed but it’s not the first. In 2019, Jay-Z—known for countless hits spanning a nearly 30-year career in music—was the first hip-hop artist to become a billionaire and his vegan investments are helping him keep the momentum going.
In 2019, Jay-Z helped plant-based startup Impossible Foods raise $300 million in a Series E funding round which also included celebrities such as Serena Williams, Trevor Noah, Katy Perry, Questlove, Jaden Smith, and will.i.am. Later that year, Jay-Z’s MVP led a $1 million investment round in Partake Foods, a vegan cookie brand created by former Coca-Cola executive Denise Woodward. Through his entertainment agency Roc Nation, Jay-Z is also an investor in Oatly, a vegan brand known for its oat milk that went public earlier this year which also counts media mogul Oprah Winfrey, actress Natalie Portman, and many others as investors.
Jay-Z and Beyoncé: Plant-based power couple
Since 2008, the entrepreneur has been married to legendary musician Beyoncé—who ditched all animal products to prepare for her historic Coachella performance in 2018—and together, the power couple has engaged in various ventures to promote plant-based eating. In 2015, the couple teamed up with nutritionist Marco Borges to launch vegan meal delivery brand 22 Days Nutrition. In 2019, Jay-Z and Beyoncé revived their partnership with Borges to promote his multi-pronged The Greenprint project.
Named after Jay-Z’s hit 2001 album “The Blueprint,” Borges’ project aimed to raise awareness about the benefits of consuming a plant-based diet through three initiatives, including a web tool, clinical study, and documentary featuring plant-based clinicians, celebrities, musicians, and athletes. The project also resulted in the release of The Greenprint: Plant-Based Diet, Best Body, Better World, a book that featured a forward penned by Jay-Z and Beyoncé which urged readers to take “responsibility to stand up for our health and the health of the planet” by going plant-based.


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CHARLOTTE, N.C. – CARSTAR, a North American network of independently owned collision repair facilities, will support Alex Bowman at Watkins Glen Int’l.
The opportunity to sponsor Bowman’s No. 88 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet is thanks to a joint promotion with paint partner Axalta Coating Systems, which sponsors the No. 88 team and Bowman.
The CARSTAR logo will be featured on the roof and television panel. In addition, Bowman will wear a unique helmet in the race featuring a design created through a contest with cystic fibrosis chapters across North America.
“What CARSTAR is doing by building awareness in the need for a cystic fibrosis cure is amazing,” Bowman said. “I’m excited to see the winning design of the ‘Accelerate the Cure’ contest and will be honored to wear that helmet at Watkins Glen. Our team plans to put on a great show for everyone at Axalta, CARSTAR and their guests.”
“We appreciate the co-branding opportunity with one of our most important North American customers, CARSTAR,” said Seth Wilcox, Sales & Distribution Director, North America, for Axalta Coating Systems. “We’ve been partnered with CARSTAR for several years and our partnership has never been stronger. We are thrilled to go build on that relationship here and as we continue to grow together in the future. CARSTAR is one of the fastest growing MSOs in North America and we are fortunate to be their partner. We’d also like to acknowledge Alex for offering up his helmet to be custom designed in a promotion between Axalta, Hendrick Motorsports, CARSTAR and Cystic Fibrosis.”
“This year marks our 30th anniversary and we’re doing something special every month to celebrate this tremendous milestone, ” said Michael Macaluso, president of CARSTAR. “For our August celebration we are thrilled to take the CARSTAR brand to one of North America’s top spectator sports with a young star like Alex Bowman, as he helps us raise awareness for our charity of choice – cystic fibrosis. We can’t wait to see the No. 88 Axalta/CARSTAR Chevrolet on the track and share the CARSTAR story with millions of race fans.”
The Accelerate the Cure contest allows participants to illustrate what a cure for cystic fibrosis would allow them the freedom and ability to do. The contest is open to those with cystic fibrosis, their families and those affected by the disease. To participate, visit the Accelerate the Cure contest page www.acceleratethecurecf.com to download the helmet design template and contest rules. The contest runs June 17 to July 5.
The winning design will be selected by representatives from Axalta, Hendrick Motorsports, CARSTAR, Cystic Fibrosis Canada and the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. The winner will receive a special VIP race experience at the Watkins Glen race from Aug. 2-4, including travel and accommodations and suite passes for the NASCAR Cup Series race.


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The COVID-19 pandemic has hit smaller businesses hard, with many seeking new sources of funding such as government-sponsored loans to keep afloat. The health crisis has also caused many small businesses to shift their focuses, with some turning from selling wholesale — that is, sales to other businesses or universities — to offering their products directly to consumers.
Cash flow is thus still king, according to Caleb Benoit, founder of Illinois-based retail and wholesale coffee company Connect Roasters. The early months of the pandemic squashed revenues from the wholesale side of the coffee roaster’s business, Benoit explained in a recent PYMNTS interview, forcing the company to pivot to retail offerings to cover its existing costs, which remained undiminished.
“Our overhead costs are relatively small, but we have a physical space, so we have a lease and we have to pay that every month,” Benoit said. “Our landlord does not give us a discount if we are bringing in less revenue [in] March, April, May. We still have to pay our utilities, so I think that is the biggest and the most obvious challenge. Those overhead costs are not going away, regardless [of whether] business is booming or a pandemic sends your wholesale side of the business to zero.”
Keeping cash flow steady, especially for an SMB or microbusiness, requires having swift and transparent means of managing incoming payments and disbursements. Relying on paper checks or other legacy payment methods can put wrinkles in the process that are hard to smooth out, especially when economic conditions are still causing widespread concern.
Moving disbursements digital
Connect Roasters currently has approximately three to four employees and one brick-and-mortar location, which is in operation for roasting coffee and storing inventory but is not open to retail customers — though Benoit said he is still considering plans for the latter, despite having put them aside due to the pandemic. The microbusiness seeks to keep most of its payments digital so that operations — and cash flow — can run transparently and smoothly, Benoit said.
The company will accept or send out disbursements using paper checks during certain rare instances, however. There are still businesses that utilize checks for the majority of their bookkeeping, according to Benoit, either because they remain wary of digital technologies or they simply do not want to deal with the fees attached to online payments.
“One example of us receiving paper checks would be [from] a really small organization that is a customer, [and] it just so happens that is how they do all of their bookkeeping and their payments, accounts payable and accounts receivable,” said Benoit. “There is a small subset of our customers that still prefer to send us checks.”
This is relatively rare, however, as Connect Roasters handles approximately 90 percent of such transactions electronically. Other entities also appear to be tapping digital methods more often to send out funds to waiting businesses — including the government agencies tasked with distributing loans and grants to keep microbusinesses afloat. Connect Roasters applied for — and received — a federally supported PPP loan, an SBA loan and a state-run EIDL grant to keep its operations moving, Benoit said. All of these were disbursed to the business via electronic or direct deposit means.
“I was kind of surprised at how quick and seamless it was,” he said. “For the PPP loan, we worked with a local bank where we already had a relationship and we worked through them to communicate to the SBA. I heard some horror stories about some other businesses trying to go through bigger banks … but we had a lot of luck with our local bank.”
The microbusiness received the funding within a few days to a week, depending on the loan, he said, allowing it to meet its overhead costs while it focused more specifically on its direct-to-consumer business versus its wholesale operations. Having this diversity of income will be important for smaller businesses in the coming months, Benoit predicted, although that will still require them to be able to send and receive payments near-instantly.
The growing impact of instant payments
SMBs especially tend to be laser-focused on providing one particular service in one particular sales channel, which will need to change for these businesses to stay in the black as the pandemic continues to shift both consumers’ and B2B payments online.
“Let us say you are a coffee roaster going into the pandemic and 100 percent of your business was wholesale and that goes to zero,” Benoit said. “You are not set up to do any direct-to-customer sales, you are not set up to sell on Amazon, you have no grocery relationships … You are in a much worse place than if you had different channels you were selling through, so I think reliance on a single sales channel, that is going to change. You are going to see folks like us diversify their income streams … and try to own the relationship with the final customer as much as possible.”
This means that having a transparent view of cash flow is even more essential than in previous decades. Connect Roasters works with eCommerce platform provider Shopify to ensure it can both accept and send out payments in near-real time, for example — a capability that will likely prove critical in the days ahead, he added.
“When you are on platforms like Shopify, you can set up how often you are receiving disbursements from them,” he said. “You can do it on a weekly basis or even longer, I suppose — but anyone we are getting paid from, like a platform, we have set up to get a disbursement [basically] every day. Going back to the idea that cash flow is king, in this environment [in which] things are so uncertain, we do not want to be waiting for those payments any longer than we have to, so if Shopify will pay us out every single day, that is what we are going to choose.”
Making sure disbursements can be finalized as quickly and seamlessly as possible will likely become even more of a necessity for small businesses in the coming years. Reliance upon traditional payment methods such as paper checks has the potential to transform from a mild frustration for SMBs into a notable financial threat. It is essential for small businesses to examine how they can send and receive payments at the speeds necessary to stay successful in the new normal.


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This is Niche Imports. In this column, we regularly cover games that haven’t been announced for western audiences yet. Please leave feedback and let us know if there’s something you want us to cover!
Level-5 has announced (via Ryokutya2089) Yo-kai Watch 4 for the Nintendo Switch.
The game will release for the hybrid console sometime this year in Japan, news confirmed by Level-5 CEO and president Akihiro Hino. The company boss also said the game will be a huge improvement over previous titles, and that it will have mechanics to please and surprise all types of gamers.
Characters from the Yo-kai Watch Shadowside anime (featured above) will also make an appearance within the game.


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The recent spell of wet weather has hampered growth in the UK gardening sector, with sales at the lowest level in five years, according to BBC News.
The Garden Centre Association says that sales so far this year are around 15-20% down on 2017 figures, with an early Easter adding to the woes.
The Association’s chief executive Iain Wylie said people opted not to buy plants when the weather was wet, as gardens would be waterlogged.
Wylie said: “We need a sustained period of good weather. The worst thing would be one good day, one bad day. It’s been too cold and too wet and we need better weather to pick things up.”
Figures from the Horticultural Trades Association indicate that the UK garden market is worth £5bn each year. Around two thirds of British adults visit a garden centre at least once each year. Plants sales have not been this low since 2013.
Wylie hopes that the weather will get warmer later in the year, making up for the missed sales: “There will be some lost sales, but hopefully [the garden centres] will catch up with later selling plants.”
He continued: “Nurseries produce crops that bud and flower at the time they should, but if the weather outside isn’t conducive, it’s very difficult to manage the production cycle.”